Around the Net

TV Trend Watch: Supernatural, Sitcoms Big For Prime Time

"The Dark And The Wacky Share Space On The Schedule." That's how a New York Times headline writer aims to categorize the 21 new broadcast TV shows set for prime time, as well as midseason replacements, shown at the upfronts last week.

"On one hand, shows with apocalyptic themes, among them 'Last Resort' on ABC and 'Revolution' on NBC, are joining returning series with supernatural and fantastical plot lines like 'Fringe,' 'Grimm,' 'Once Upon a Time' and 'The Vampire Diaries,'" writes Stuart Elliott. On the funny side of the street are nine new sitcoms.

Elliott looks to trendmeisters like analyst Shari Ann Brill and the advertising trades (including, ahem, MediaPost TV critic Ed Martin) for insights. Almost everybody mentions the monkey starring in the NBC sitcom "Animal Practice." “'If you are in the position NBC is in,' Mr. Martin [says], referring to its lagging ratings, 'I don’t know if you want to run the risk of a monkey being your high-profile star of the fall season.'”

advertisement

advertisement

Read the whole story at New York Times »

Next story loading loading..