NBC Renews ‘Friday Night Lights’
Posted on April 3, 2008
Friday Night Lights has officially been renewed by NBC in their early “in-front” presentation, which details the network’s 2008-09 line-up.
Rumours had been circulating for a while about a potential deal with DirecTV, but the drama is set to return to NBC on Fridays as a midseason replacement after first-run episodes air on DirecTV in October. The third season will consist of thirteen episodes.
Meanwhile, starting from the fall, Chuck and Heroes will air on Mondays followed by new drama My Own Worst Enemy, starring Christian Slater as a father who’s also unknowingly a spy. With Kath & Kim and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit snuggling on Tuesdays, Knight Rider has been scheduled for Wednesdays at 8PM on the same night as renewed Lipstick Jungle.
My Name Is Earl, 30 Rock, and The Office keep their Thursday slots, as an Office untitled spin-off will follow immediately afterwards along with ER. The line-up doesn’t see any mention of Scrubs. Finally, Crusoe and Life will run on Fridays, sandwiching Deal or No Deal.
Hannigan for ‘Buffy’ Reunion at PaleyFest
Posted on February 23, 2008
According to the Paley Center website, How I Met Your Mother star Alyson Hannigan, who played witch Willow Rosenberg in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is the latest person set to reunite with her old cast members at the PaleyFest Buffy reunion on March 20.
This follows the news that Sarah Michelle Gellar (the titular lead Buffy Summers) and Charisma Carpenter (once-snobby cheerleader Cordelia Chase) have also booked their places at the event, while sources are saying that David Boreanaz, who portrayed vampire Angel, will film a special message to the fans to make up for his absence due to family commitments.
Panelists already confirmed to be showing up are Amber Benson, Nicholas Brendon, Emma Caulfield, Eliza Dushku, Seth Green, James Marsters, Michelle Trachtenberg, and the mastermind behind it all, Joss Whedon. Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran for seven seasons before it ended in 2003, consisting of a total of 144 episodes, and spawned an Angel spin-off that lasted five years.
Other shows making an appearance at the annual festival, which runs for two weeks from March 14 to March 27 at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, include freshmen series Chuck, Dirty Sexy Money, Gossip Girl, Mad Men, and Pushing Daisies, as well as struggling NBC drama Friday Night Lights.
NBC to Share ‘Friday Night Lights’?
Posted on February 22, 2008
Friday Night Lights almost checks all the right boxes. Critically acclaimed and an Emmy-winning network favourite with a dedicated cult-like fanbase to boot, the only thing that it lacks is also the most important: good viewing figures. Averaging less than six million viewers an episode, the show would usually be heading straight for cancellation.
“I love it, you love it,” NBC Entertainment co-chairman Ben Silverman told Radar Online. “Unfortunately, no one watches it. That’s the thing with shows. People have to watch them.” But, despite unimpressive figures, strong rumours are circulating that NBC is desperately trying to give Friday Night Lights a third season, even if it means sharing it with other networks.
“[NBC] is having serious conversations with several networks about a plan to carve out multiple broadcast windows for the show,” Variety reports. The article goes on to say that NBC has already held discussions with The CW, E!, G4, and TNT regarding these plans. One possible roadblock, though, is its high asking price.