It’s great to be a fan of TV these days. So many great shows to watch and discuss. This past week the TSA (Television Critics Association) Press Tour brought out TV’s stars, showrunners, and executives who talk to the press about what’s to come in the future. Below is a list of a handful of shows and clues to how their futures will pan out.
Gleeks rejoice! Glee has been renewed for a second season. FOX’s President of Entertainment, Kevin Reilly: “We’ve loved Glee ever since it was a pilot script, so it’s been an incredible thrill to watch the show take root and see audiences embrace these characters in such a huge way this season. The show is a true and rare gem in television. We couldn’t be more proud of what Ryan Murphy and the Glee team have created so far, and can’t wait to see what they come up with for Season 2.” In related news, the Glee execs will be holding a nationwide audition to fill in three new roles for season two. “Auditions will be open to amateur individuals as well as professionals between the ages of 16-26, and all hopefuls will be able to submit auditions online. Additional details will be announced soon [via] fox.com/glee.” Reilly adds that “the winners will be revealed in the first episode of the season.”
Glee returns Tuesday, April 13 on FOX. (Celebrate the news by watching a Glee flashmob after the break.)
Modern Family, the funniest new comedy of the season, has been given the green light for a second season! ABC also renewed Cougar Town and The Middle. Ugly Betty, Better Off Ted, and Scrubs are still in limbo. ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson says “I’m not going to lie. The numbers are not encouraging.”
Modern Family airs Wednesdays at 9PM on ABC.
What’s going on with Fringe? Last we heard ratings dropped due to its competitive timeslot. It airs at the same time as Grey’s Anatomy, CSI, The Office, 30 Rock and Supernatural. FOX’s Reilly on the matter: “I wish the ratings were higher, but frankly, we’re going to keep it right where it is, because it’s doing a job for us.” On the future of this season: “We’re going to bring on Past Life, give this a breather, then going to play I think ten episodes in a row in the back half of the season, to really try and blast this when the other guys are in repeats.” So he definitely feels a good vibe around the show. But what does the future hold beyond season 2? “They’re in a creative groove with it. We have a great relationship with the producers. They’re delivering a quality show and it’s got an audience…The audience hasn’t entirely left it behind; they’re just watching it on their DVR. So I don’t know. We’ll just have to see what happens in May.” Fringe resides in the wait-and-see category, but I have a strong feeling it will be coming back for many more seasons.
Fringe returns Thursday, January 14 on FOX. (Look after the break for an exerpt from an IGN interview with Fringe creator J. J. Abrams.)
Oh, Heroes. Season 1 was fantastic. I even enjoyed watching seasons 2 and 3 on DVD. Unfortunately most of its original audience lost interest by season 2 due to lack of creativity, among other criticisms. Though the outlook for a potential season 5 looks bleak, Greg Grunberg (Heroes’ Matt Parkman) is very confident that the show will get renewed. “We wrapped yesterday and the [final episode] is nowhere near a series finale. It is cliffhanger-y and exciting, but it is nowhere near an end to a series that people are so invested in. It does not tie everything up in a neat bow… I don’t have any doubt that the show will be back.” He adds, “We will wrap it up properly in the next season and get to 100 episodes. At least that’s what I would like to see happen. They take so much care in writing the show that I would hope we get the chance to end it right. Lost announced an end [date] and I think that helped both the people working on the show and the people watching it. They see the finish line and I think it gives them something tangible to invest in and be excited about. It’s like it’s a movie and they want to see the end of it. That’s what I hope happens with our show.” Heroes is one of two “DVD shows” for me. I watch every season on DVD when it comes out. It’s the DVD sales and the international popularity of the show that keep it alive, so we will wait and see how it all plays out soon.
Heroes airs its season finale February 8 on NBC.
FlashForward’s long hiatus has just gotten a little longer. Its return is being moved from March 4 to March 18 so that it does not have to compete with TV juggernaut American Idol. When it does return it will air back-to-back episodes in a two hour event. It will run straight to its finale on May 27 with new episodes every week. Note that the finale will also be two hours in length. And we are all looking forward to the April 29 episode, aren’t we?
FlashForward returns March 18 on ABC.
As we all start getting pumped for 24 season 8 to begin, talk about a potential season 9 is already making waves. Keifer Sutherland (24’s Jack Bauer) told reporters that he is “absolutely open” to making another season if the fans want it. Sutherland: “I’ve always said that as long as people wanted us to make it , and people were really interested in watching it, I would be interested. There are a lot of components involved. Right now my focus is on finishing season 8.” FOX’s Reilly: “Collectively, we just made a decision to launch the season [first] and then sit down in the next four to six weeks. But my sense is Kiefer will want to keep it going.” Executive producer Howard Gordon: “The way I’ve looked at it is that every single season [finale] could have been a series ender. We just want to take it across the line credibly and then let the [other part] take care of itself. As long as Jack’s not dead, anything is possible.” Hell yeah! Sounds like season 9 is a definite possibility. And don’t forget a 24 movie is in the works after the show ends.
24, Day 8 premieres Sunday, January 17 on FOX.
As for the future of V…no one knows yet. ABC’s McPherson was not keen on running such a short first “pod” of episodes this past fall, but due to production issues the show was forced to limit itself to four initial episodes. ABC plans on airing uninterrupted episodes of V starting in March which will run to its finale in May so that they can “turn [it] into an event.” As long as there’s more Ana, I’m hooked!
V returns March 30 on ABC.
Check back here for the latest news in popular network TV series; I’ll make sure to update when they are renewed or cancelled and when their premieres and finales are televised.
[Via EW, here, here, here, here & here; IGN, here, here, here & here]
Q: Would you like to direct an episode of Fringe?
Abrams: I would love to. That was before Undercovers popped up, but that doesn’t diminish my desire to do it. I never got a chance to work with Josh [Jackson], Anna [Torv] and John [Noble], and get in there, so I would still love to do that. It’s not something I’m ruling out at all.
Q: Do you feel like Fox is committed to doing a third season of Fringe, despite putting you on Thursdays?
Abrams: Despite our time slot, which is always frustrating, they’ve been wonderfully supportive. I have no complaints at all about how FOX has supported us or dealt with us. Though there’s no official news about anything, I’m hopeful that, despite everything, we’re holding our own with them.
Q: Is the season going to end on a cliffhanger?
Abrams: It will not end concluding the series.
Q: What has happened this season that you didn’t expect?
Abrams: There were certain stories, especially the Walter and Peter story, and things with Olivia, that were actually going to play out longer, but that we jumped to and did sooner. And, there are other things that we’ve talked about, like her stepfather, that we’re putting off. There’s a lot of opportunity for where we’re going beyond this season, and I’m going to be optimistic about that. I feel like we have a long way to go still, but the evolution was key. The show has found a rhythm that is nice to see, and I’m really proud of everyone doing it.
Q: Were you aware that people were having trouble warming up to the character of Olivia?
Abrams: Yeah. That was always a part of it. Her character is naturally someone who is in this weird world with these characters and situations, and it’s a little bit hard for her to be warm and cuddly in that role. So, it was about giving her some vulnerability and uncertainty in her own life, and where she’s from and where she’s going. That was one way in.
Q: Do you envision a six-year arc for Fringe, in the same way as Lost?
Abrams: With Lost, we didn’t get to a place until the third season where we said, “We need to know where half-way is,” and I feel like that’s something that, if we’re lucky enough to continue going, it would be smart to say, “Okay, let’s figure out what the actual date is, so we know how far we should push things.”
Q: But, you’re not there yet?
Abrams: Not yet.