NBC's Fall 2005

NBC today announced their new Fall lineup and with it the shows that have been cancelled for this year. (List and grid originally provided by The Futon Critic.)

Cancelled: Father of the Pride, Hawaii, LAX (all cancelled long ago) Committed, Law & Order: Trial By Jury, Medical Investigation, Third Watch, American Dreams, .

Delayed to 2006: Fear Factor, Scrubs.

Retained: Las Vegas, Medium, The Office, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order, Joey, Will & Grace, The Apprentice, ER, Dateline NBC (Sunday), Crossing Jordan.

Moved: The West Wing (Wednesday to Sunday), Dateline NBC (Friday: later hour).

New: Fathom, My Name Is Earl, The Apprentice: Martha Stewart, E-Ring, Three Wishes, Inconceivable.

Complete Schedule (New Series in Capitals except ER)

MONDAY
8-9 p.m. FATHOM
9-10 p.m. Las Vegas
10-11 p.m. Medium

TUESDAY
8-9 p.m. The Biggest Loser
9-9:30 p.m. MY NAME IS EARL
9:30-10 p.m. The Office
10-11 p.m. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. THE APPRENTICE: MARTHA STEWART
9-10 p.m. E-RING
10-11 p.m. Law & Order

THURSDAY
8-8:30 p.m. Joey
8:30-9 p.m. Will & Grace
9-10 p.m. The Apprentice
10-11 p.m. ER

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. THREE WISHES
9-10 p.m. Dateline NBC (new time period)
10-11 p.m. INCONCEIVABLE

SATURDAY
8-11 p.m. NBC SATURDAY NIGHT MOVIE

SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. Dateline NBC
8-9 p.m. The West Wing (new day and time)
9-10 p.m. Law & Order: Criminal Intent
10-11 p.m. Crossing Jordan

Comments:
Surprised by a couple of things. The decision to save Fear Factor as a certain replacement for a series that fails is one, if only because it was still doing well in the 18-49 demographic. The delay of Scrubs is less of a surprise. Its ratings performance wasn't that strong but it is well liked by critics and fans.The loss of Law & Order: Trial By Jury though is not a big surprise. It's worth noting that Numb3rs on CBS was seeing a ratings erosion when it was opposite Medical Investigation but was not only solid but gaining viewers against TBJ after the Jerry Orbach episodes. I'm only sorry that Bebe Neuwirth has had another series die underneath her. Finally we've got The West Wing moving to the Sunday slot from Wednesday, which I actually think is a solid move if the show's old prestige can carry some viewers. I am not surprised to see The Office renewed since it was getting a good critical buzz and was improving after the first episode. Nice to see that NBC has decided to follow ABC's lead and drop Saturday night repeats in favour of a movie night. I'm assuming they're going for "family friendly" fare.

Details on new shows are rather sparse in the NBC news release but it may say something that the network has a large supply of shows available as replacements including Fear Factor and Scrubs. Or maybe not.