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Poised on the
bubble: 'Boston Legal'


Will this critic-fave ABC series be renewed?

Apr 30, 2008

“Boston Legal” has yet to secure a fifth-season renewal. Though it has desirable demographics, doing extremely well among high-income households, it loses more than a third of lead-in “Dancing with the Stars’” huge audience in its 10 p.m. Tuesday timeslot.

So tonight “Legal” is moving to Wednesdays at 10 for the remainder of its run, giving the female-skewing first-year bubble show “Women’s Murder Club” its Tuesday slot.

It seems unlikely that both “Legal” and “Murder” will return. “Murder” started strong on Fridays but quickly faded and has averaged just a 2.0 rating in adults 18-49. “Legal” has done better behind “Stars,” averaging a 2.6, but still is below ABC’s season average of 3.0.

It’s doubtful ABC can hang on to both shows. The network has already renewed low-rated first-year dramas “Pushing Daisies” and “Dirty Sexy Money,” meaning it has less room on the schedule for promising but little-watched programs.

The edge probably goes to “Legal,” which has a fiercely loyal audience and also a nice prestige factor. Its leads, James Spade and William Shatner, have both won Emmys, and it’s an awards crowd favorite.

The only bump will be if “Legal” totally tanks in its new slot, where it faces some decent competition in NBC’s “Law & Order” and CBS’s “CSI: NY.” Should it perform worse than “Men in Trees,” which held the timeslot for the past few weeks while sinking below a 1.8, and “Murder” does well behind “Stars,” then the latter may return instead.  

A look at this week’s top TV draws  

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30  

Time  

Network  

Program  

Description  

7 a.m.  

NBC  

“Today” (N)  

Bob Costas and Tyra Banks both guest.  

7 p.m.  

Versus  

“NHL Hockey” (S)  

Game four of the second-round series between the Canadiens and Flyers.  

8 p.m.  

CW  

“America’s Next Top Model” (R)  

One wannabe wins a Roman shopping spree and the girls do a photo shoot at a castle.  

9 p.m.  

Fox  

“American Idol” (R)  

After tonight the final four wannabe singers will be revealed.  

9 p.m.  

CW  

“Farmer Wants a Wife” (R)  

Series premiere. A “Bachelor”-style reality competition in which 10 city women vie for the affections of a farmer.  

10 p.m.  

CBS  

“CSI: NY” (D)  

The taxicab killer makes his presence felt once again.  

10 p.m.  

MTV  

“The Real World” (R)  

Dave and Kim try the old “friends with benefits” arrangement.  

THURSDAY, MAY 1  

Time  

Network  

Program  

Description  

7 p.m.  

ESPN2  

“MLS Soccer” (S)  

New York takes on Toronto up north.  

8 p.m.  

ABC  

“Ugly Betty” (D)  

Renee becomes convinced that Betty is in love with Daniel. But girlfriend’s already got enough problems with her two men.  

8 p.m.  

NBC  

“My Name is Earl” (C)  

Darnell and Joy move into the Crab Shack.  

9 p.m.  

CBS  

“CSI” (D)  

The team looks into a string of murders in which all the victims have green blood.  

9 p.m.  

ABC  

“Grey’s Anatomy” (D)  

Addison makes an appearance to perform a surgery, and get into other drama, of course.  

9 p.m.  

NBC  

“The Office” (C)  

Stanley yells at Michael during a meeting, so Michael tries to change his attitude.  

10 p.m.  

ABC  

“Lost” (D)  

Kate and Juliet have to work together to save Jack.  

FRIDAY, MAY 2  

Time  

Network  

Program  

Description  

8 p.m.  

CBS  

“Ghost Whisperer” (D)  

Payne’s wife’s ghost gets jealous when an ex of his shows up.  

8 p.m.  

CMT  

“Can You Duet” (R)  

Twelve teams of two are coached by Aimee Mayo then compete in front of judges.  

9 p.m.  

ABC  

“Duel” (G)  

A two-time champion returns to win more money.  

9 p.m.  

CBS  

“Moonlight” (D)  

Mick works for an actress who thinks the paparazzi are going too far.  

10 p.m.  

Sci Fi Channel  

“Battlestar Galactica” (D)  

Kara and her crew become tense as they search for Earth.  

10 p.m.  

CBS  

“Numb3rs” (D)  

The feds look into a mass suicide at a cult compound.  

SATURDAY, MAY 3  

Time  

Network  

Program  

Description  

3 p.m.  

CBS  

“PGA Golf” (S)  

Third round of the Wachovia Championship, from Charlotte, N.C.  

3:30 p.m.  

Fox  

“Major League Baseball” (S)  

Either Cubs-Cards, Orioles-Angels or Mets-Diamondbacks.  

5 p.m.  

NBC  

“Horse Racing” (S)  

The Kentucky Derby, live from Churchill Downs.  

7 p.m.  

Fox  

“NASCAR Racing” (S)  

The Crown Royal Dan Lowry 400 from Richmond, Va.  

8 p.m.  

Biography  

“Mobsters” (N)  

A look at the life of Henry Hill, the main character from the movie “Goodfellas.”  

10 p.m.  

HBO  

“Boxing” (S)  

Oscar De La Hoya takes on former “Contender” contestant Steve Forbes.  

SUNDAY, MAY 4  

Time  

Network  

Program  

Description  

1 p.m.  

ABC  

“NBA Basketball” (S)  

The first of an NBA playoff doubleheader, teams still to be determined.  

3 p.m.  

CBS  

“PGA Golf” (S)  

Final round of the Wachovia Championship, won by Tiger Woods a year ago.  

8 p.m.  

CBS  

“Cold Case” (D)  

Season finale. A former addict thinks she sees her son at the park, despite the fact that he supposedly died three years earlier.  

8 p.m.  

Fox  

“The Simpsons” (C)  

Lisa makes a film about her family then takes it to Sundance.  

9 p.m.  

ABC  

“Desperate Housewives” (D)  

Lynette finds out who started the fire at Rick’s restaurant.  

9 p.m.  

VH1  

“Celebracadabra” (R)  

The celebrities do magic tricks for an elementary school.  

10 p.m.  

Showtime  

“This American Life” (N)  

Season premiere. Teens in Philly use a method of transportation that hasn’t been used since the 19th century.  

A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.  

   



Diego Vasquez is a staff writer for Media Life.




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