TGIF! continued...

Time again for some more of my thoughts on the Fall TV schedule. This entry will look at Wednesday & Thursday nights...

* again, my caveats: schedule as published today! all times listed as central/mountain- these are my thoughts only and should not be used against me ;-) Station reps, if you are reading this, I am sorry if I offend your network's show(s)!

WEDNESDAY
7p- This night is STACKED with new shows in all 3 hours, with 7p being no exception. ABC debuts 2 new sitcoms (Hank & The Middle) and NBC debuts an ER/Grey's Anatomy-style medical drama focusing on nurses called Mercy. FOX has SYTYCD results and CBS has 2 sub-par returning sitcoms in New Adventures of Old Christine (which actually is a decent show, just has never lived up to its expectations!) and Gary Unmarried. I think Mercy should win this hour, especially for those people missing ER and used to seeing that type of show on NBC.
8p- This hour brings 2 shows that I am particularly looking forward to- ABC's Modern Family and Cougartown. If you haven't heard about these sitcoms, you are probably living under a rock as ABC seems to have thrown most of their fall marketing budget behind them. Modern Family stars Ed O'Neill of Married with Children fame, and Cougartown features Courtney Cox Arquette, of (as if you didn't know) Friends fame. Competing with ABC's new programs is FOX's new show, Glee, about a high school glee club. Early previews of this show in May & over the summer actually did really well; I would expect this show could surprise some in how well it does. The remaining 2 shows are in the crime-solving drama genre; CBS airs Criminal Minds, and NBC has moved Law & Order: SVU to this hour. I think the Law & Order franchise has started to lose its staying power, and I don't expect this show to do as well as in years past. Look for FOX to take young demos with Glee, and CBS to win the older demos with Criminal Minds.
9p- CBS's best CSI franchise (CSI: New York) airs against Jay Leno and a new ABC show called Eastwick, a fantasy show about 3 witches. It looks and sounds a little too much like Charmed for my tastes, even though I adore Lindsey Price, one of the stars. CBS will dominate this hour. And it won't be close.

OVERALL: FOX & ABC are all over the board; NBC wins 7p, CBS wins 8p-10p
SHOW(S) TO KEEP AN EYE ON: Mercy, Modern Family, Glee

THURSDAY
7p- A lot of people are really looking forward to ABC's Flash Forward (taking the place of Ugly Betty, which got the unfortunate news it was moving to Friday nights- otherwise known as one step from the grave in TV speak). I am not one of them. FOX airs the increasingly popular Bones (but, like House, how long is this show going to last?), and CBS comes back with yet another season of Survivor. NBC doesn't have a chance to compete with SNL Weekend Update and Parks & Recreation (which I honestly was SHOCKED to see back on for another season) and will finish a distant fourth. I think ABC & CBS will fight neck and neck to win this hour.
8p- Probably the best hour of TV on the whole fall schedule; ABC airs Grey's Anatomy, CBS airs the original CSI, FOX airs Fringe, and NBC airs The Office followed by a new sitcom, Community, about a rag tag group of Community College students including the return of Chevy Chase. My guess is that Grey's will come out on top, but it won't necessarily dominate. Rating points in this hour will be split very evenly amongst the 4 networks.
9p- ABC's Private Practice has really been gaining ground since it moved to Thursday nights from its original Wednesday night slot. And CBS's The Mentalist was the #1 new show from last year. As in other nights, poor Jay Leno doesn't stand a chance and will finish a distant third. Just like in 7p, I think ABC & CBS will fight neck and neck again.

OVERALL: CBS/ABC tight race all night; NBC struggles 7p & 9p hours
SHOW(S) TO KEEP AN EYE ON: Flash Forward, Community

:-) AB