as networks revamp lineups
New series debuts and artful rejiggerings
By Andrew Wallenstein
It only took half a century, but in the year 2000 the networks have finally realized how important the midseason is.
January was once an afterthought to Big Four brass, who reserved the month mainly for pilots that weren't ready for the fall.
But with series like "The Practice" (ABC), "Dawson's Creek" (WB) and "Providence" (NBC) emerging as hits despite launching long after September, the midseason is sporting a higher profile this year. All six networks are introducing new series in the coming weeks.
In the TV world, the turn of the century will best be remembered for the renaissance of the quiz show. Hot on the heels of scorching November sweeps Nielsen results for ABC's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" NBC and CBS are following Fox's lead by introducing rip-offs.
With "Millionaire" now on ABC's schedule as a permanent series three times a week beginning January 9th, imitators abound. Fox's "Greed" returns January 7th, CBS introduces "Winning Lines" January 8th and NBC premieres the remake of "Twenty One" on January 9th. "Twenty" will also be double-pumped Sundays and Wednesdays.
The game-show glut makes for an interesting case study in strategic programming for primetime. Originally, ABC planned to unveil "Millionaire" on January 11th. But after competitors set their debut dates, "Millionaire" was cleverly pushed ahead two days and extended as a nightly marathon running eight consecutive days.
That way, ABC can cast a shadow over NBC's and CBS' launches, but the move isn't that aggressive: Premiere episodes of "Lines" and "Twenty" will avoid head-to-head competition with "Millionaire" because they air in different time slots.
In addition, NBC has countered by pushing off its second episode of "Twenty" until January 16th, after the "Millionaire" marathon ends.
Nevertheless, the marathon format is a good way for ABC to convey its confidence in its offering to this budding genre.
But will this genre prematurely exhaust itself due to the surplus?
Most definitely, but not to any severe degree. Fox proved there was ratings room for a second primetime game show (although notice "Greed" has moved to Friday to escape "Millionaire," which will run Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays).
"Twenty" and "Lines" also have a decent shot at staying afloat, but the sheer volume of game shows will quickly wear on viewers.
Look for the new series to perform respectably but gradually fade out over the coming year, including the mighty "Millionaire."
The resurgence of game shows really has less to do with any substantial public demand and more to do with needing an alternative primetime utility player to the newsmagazine. Once a network darling for its ability to yield nice Nielsens at multiple time periods, franchises like "Dateline NBC" and "20/20" have taken a noticeable downturn. Game shows are also much cheaper to produce.
To clear room for "Millionaire," ABC revamped its schedule and drop-kicked the programs "It's Like, You Know" and "Oh Grow Up," both of which deserved it. There was some speculation the critic-friendly, ratings-challenged "Sports Night" would also exit, but ABC will keep it on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. "Spin City" moves to Wednesday at 9:30 p.m.
However, the most interesting time slot to watch will be Tuesdays at 10 p.m., where "NYPD Blue" will supplant "Once & Again" beginning January 11th.
ABC will run 22 fresh episodes without any reruns, a move that could be copied if successful. Although dramas dominate the 1999-2000 schedule, some networks found out this December that sitcoms retain more viewers when episodes are rebroadcast.
In addition to "Twenty," NBC gave itself a primetime makeover set to take effect in January.
Eight shows will move time slots, including three new dramas. Upstart startups "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Third Watch" should weather the switch well, but doubts linger as to whether Saturday weakling "Freaks & Geeks" can rise to the occasion in its new Monday slot. NBC will also add a new sci-fi series, "The Others," on February 5th.
Among the other networks, some new programs bear watching in the coming months. CBS hospital drama "City of Angels" kicks off with a sneak-peek airing on January 16th before settling into its regular Wednesday slot.
With all the controversy surrounding the lack of African-American actors in primetime, "City's" multiracial cast will draw attention. CBS is smart to hand over the "Touched By An Angel" slot to "City" for a test run; that same strategy helped boost the biggest rookie hit of the season, "Judging Amy."
Other new series include Fox's "Malcolm in the Middle" (Jan. 9); UPN's "I Dare You" (Jan. 18); WB's retooled "Zoe" (Jan. 24) and "Brutally Normal" (Jan. 31). None of them has breakout potential.
In the movie category, the ABC biopic "King of the Hill" about Muhammad Ali will air Jan. 10 without competition from a Fox biopic also about the legendary boxer.
At first Fox toyed with airing its Ali movie the same week, but ducking ABC was probably wise, given the push "Hill" would get from "Millionaire." The film will probably air later this season, as will a pair of biopics about Jesus from CBS and ABC; NBC already aired its Jesus movie in November.
Imitation is becoming the sincerest form of programming specials: In 1994, two networks aired movies in the same week about the Menendez brothers and three networks tackled the Amy Fisher story on the same night in 1993.
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Andrew Wallenstein covers TV programming for Media Life.