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What might have
been: 'Back to You'


It was the new Fox show that seemed to have it all

May 14, 2008

As expected, Fox only made room on its fall schedule for one struggling sitcom starring a former “Everybody Loves Raymond” actor. But surprisingly, it wasn’t “Back to You,” the much-touted first-year show with “Raymond’s” Patricia Heaton and “Frasier’s” Kelsey Grammer as a pair of squabbling local news anchors.

Instead, Brad Garrett’s “’Til Death” earned a third season.

Tonight at 8:30 p.m., “You” will air its now-series finale, in which Chuck (Grammer) and Kelly (Heaton) tell their newsroom colleagues that Chuck is the father of Kelly’s 10-year-old daughter, Gracie.

Word of the cancellation broke over the weekend, and producer Steven Levitahn and Grammer have since confirmed it.

Fox has been trying for years to establish a successful comedy block outside its Sunday animation block, but while 8:30 p.m.’s “You” and “Death” seemed fairly compatible, both focused on the dysfunctional relationship between two acerbic middle-aged wits, they never gained much ratings traction against minimal competition.

The two shows have averaged an identical 2.3 adults 18-49 rating, according to Nielsen. But there were signs in recent months that “You” might not make it. Producers say the network ordered them to replace the actress who originally played Gracie, and another character, weathercaster Montana, was written off the show.

“You” is reportedly the more expensive of the two to produce, with Grammer and Heaton’s considerable salaries, while “Death” had actually been getting some critical huzzahs lately for the addition of “Curb Your Enthusiasm’s” J.B. Smoove as Garrett’s Little Brother.

Still, this may not be the last of “You.”

CBS, which was in the running for the pilot last year, is rumored to be interested in acquiring the program. Considering “You’s” older skew, many media people had felt CBS would be the better fit for the show from the beginning.

 

A look at this week’s top TV draws

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14

Time

Network

Program

Description

7 a.m.

ABC

“Good Morning America” (N)

Tony Danza and “Supernanny” star Jo Frost guest.

8 p.m.

CW

“America’s Next Top Model” (R)

Season finale. One of the final three is bounced, and later the winner is selected.

8 p.m.

ABC

“Wife Swap” (R)

Has had some success in the watered-down timeslot, can it build more momentum?

8 p.m.

Versus

“NHL Hockey” (S)

Game four of the Western Conference Finals between Dallas and Detroit.

9 p.m.

CBS

“Criminal Minds” (D)

A murder suspect wakes up from a coma and doesn’t remember his crimes.

9 p.m.

Fox

“American Idol” (R)

Tonight’s results show will reveal the final two contestants.

10 p.m.

MTV

“The Real World” (R)

Dave brings a girl home and Kim’s not too happy about it.

THURSDAY, MAY 15

Time

Network

Program

Description

7 a.m.

NBC

“Today” (N)

Angelina Jolie, Jack Black and Candace Cameron all guest.

8 p.m.

CW

“Smallville” (D)

Season finale. Brainiac brings Lex to the Fortress to face Clark.

8 p.m.

NBC

“My Name is Earl” (C)

Season finale. Earl looks for relationship advice from his friends. Good luck with that.

9 p.m.

CBS

“CSI” (D)

Season finale. Warrick is accused of murdering a mobster.

9 p.m.

ABC

“Grey’s Anatomy” (D)

Alex finds out the truth about Rebecca.

9 p.m.

NBC

“The Office” (C)

Season finale. Toby leaves the company, then his replacement shows up and is hazed.

10 p.m.

ABC

“Lost” (D)

A battle between the survivors and the freighter group begins.

FRIDAY, MAY 16

Time

Network

Program

Description

7 a.m.

NBC

“Today” (N)

Blast from the past: New Kids on the Block guest.

8 p.m.

CBS

“Ghost Whisperer” (D)

Season finale. Melinda finds out why her father disappeared and why her mom kept it from her.

8 p.m.

ESPN

“NBA Basketball” (S)

Either a late conference semifinal game or an early conference finals matchup.

9 p.m.

CBS

“Moonlight” (D)

Season finale. Mick and Josef try to protect the identities of other vampires in the area.

9 p.m.

CMT

“Mobile Home Disaster” (R)

Series premiere. Can be described as “Extreme Makeover: Mobile Home Edition.”

10 p.m.

CBS

“Numb3rs” (D)

Season finale. The team faces a crisis, but Megan leaves regardless.

SATURDAY, MAY 17

Time

Network

Program

Description

1:30 p.m.

NBC

“NHL Hockey” (S)

A Stanley Cup playoffs conference final game.

3 p.m.

CBS

“PGA Golf” (S)

Third round of the AT&T Classic from Duluth, Ga.

3:30 p.m.

Fox

“Major League Baseball” (S)

It’s Brewers-BoSox, Dodgers-Angels or Indians-Reds.

4:30 p.m.

NBC

“Horse Racing” (S)

The second jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes.

8 p.m.

Fox

“Cops” (R)

A much-loved “Stupid Criminals” edition.

11:30 p.m.

NBC

“Saturday Night Live” (C)

Season finale. Steve Carrell hosts, Usher performs.

SUNDAY, MAY 18

Time

Network

Program

Description

3 p.m.

CBS

“PGA Golf” (S)

Coverage of the final round of the AT&T Classic, won last year by Zach Johnson.

7 p.m.

ABC

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (R)

Season finale. Two-hour season-ender has Ty and Co. head to New Orleans to help with Katrina rebuilding.

8 p.m.

CBS

“Academy of Country Music Awards” (A)

The 43rd annual event, hosted this year by Reba McEntire.

9 p.m.

CW

“The Game” (C)

Season finale. Derwin and Jerome get into a fight over Melanie.

9 p.m.

ABC

“Desperate Housewives” (D)

Season finale. Lynette is accused of child abuse and a round of death threats trouble Wisteria Lane.

10 p.m.

E!

“Keeping Up with the Kardashians” (R)

The girls travel to New Orleans for a charity pool tournament.

10 p.m.

VH1

“Viva Hollywood!” (R)

Daisy Fuentes teach the contestants how to be seductive.

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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