With just a few days separating us from the networks’ upfronts, next season’s schedules will soon be decided. So now is as good of a time as any to check in on our most beloved shows, whose fates are still so desperately up in the air…
-After finishing its stellar freshman season with an ever-increasing viewership and a champion in NBC pres Kevin Reilly, Friday Night Lights does seem favored to return. And if its status as TV critics’ biggest wet dream isn’t enough to make you think it’s getting renewed, all the reports of ordered scripts and internal pats on the back seem to guarantee another season of Panther football.
-Saying that How I Met Your Mother hit its stride in the second season might be the understatement of the century. More dependably funny than anything on NBC Thursdays, the lack of any word on a renewal is a disappointment, to say the least. Other fans and bloggers don’t seem to be concerned, but CBS is not a network that is known for making shows sweat it out this long. And though the identity of the Mother still remains a secret, enough subplots are being tied with a bow to make me wonder if the season finale could be excused for a series finale.
-It seems silly to talk about Veronica Mars, because reading and writing endless speculation makes me more anxious by the day, but there’s so much promising news this week that the tiniest iota of hope has formed in my cold, shriveled heart. And though Veronica in any form is better than no Veronica at all, I’m increasingly leery of the FBI scenario. The last two episodes have been so flawless, I honestly think keeping Veronica in college is the way to go.
-Though it might seem these are the only three shows I care about, the last two weeks have shown that what we all thought was guarantee, is now an unlikelihood. Negotiations for another season of Scrubs have stalled for some time now, and it seems NBC isn’t keen on forking up the cash for Zach Braff’s requested salary. The show’s seemingly climactic storyline of JD once again swooning for Elliot and the network’s vague marketing of the “final” episodes all insist that the end is nigh.
Time will tell, and there ain’t much of it, so check back next week for coverage and links on all things 07-08 season. Also keep an eye out for continued coverage of American Idol and evaluations of the How I Met Your Mother season (gasp, series?) finale and the likely disappointing sendoff to our beloved Gilmore Girls.