• by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, May 9, 2024

Star power -- and Jimmy Kimmel too -- will return next week to the Upfronts now that last year's actors' and writers' strikes are ancient history.

Last year, the scripted stars stayed away in support of the two striking unions, the Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild of America -- especially because of the presence of picket lines outside the Upfront venues that actors dared not cross.

Last year's presentations relied on reality stars, sports personalities and pro athletes to fill the void of the actors and casts who normally get trotted out at Upfront time.

The thinking was that reality TV and sports are not reliant on union writers and actors, which would appear to be true, although many reality-show participants put on acts, and some portions of reality-TV shows have been known to be scripted.

The point is that the absent stars will be present this year, including Kimmel, who is expected to deliver his annual, scathing roast of his own company, Disney, at the company's Upfront.

In recent years, the entertainment media has covered some of the Upfronts like they cover the Red Carpets at the major awards shows.

The coverage is an Upfront Week shot in the arm for the big TV companies, which take centerstage on the entertainment news shows at this time of year.

Last year, the coverage was subdued. This year, it won't be.

Long-range weather forecasts for next week indicate highs in the 70s and chances of isolated rain showers in New York City, which is pretty good weather in which to tramp around town to Upfront events.

The emphasis at all of the majors will be streaming, streaming, streaming. Will Disney and NBCU remember their legacy broadcast networks?

Except for Kimmel representing ABC late-night, ABC has been virtually absent from Disney's annual presentations recently, with much more time devoted to the likes of Hulu, ESPN and, of course, Disney+.

At NBCU, which kicks off Upfront week Monday morning at Radio City Music Hall, NBC generally gets folded in with all the other NBCU platforms, from cable to sports to Peacock.

By contrast, the Fox network will likely have a starring role -- or at least a co-starring one -- at the Fox Upfront Monday afternoon at the Manhattan Center. 

CBS is not having a public Upfront because Paramount Global has opted instead for a series of smaller meetings with advertisers and agencies. 

Plus, the whole company might be sold this week or smack in the middle of Upfront week, for all anybody knows.

For the TV Blog, this annual parade of TV stars and upper management never ceases to reap rewards. 

Among other things, they make for roughly a week’s worth of TV Blog topics. Plus, they give a home office-bound journalist an opportunity to check in with the TV biz and its pitchmen and pitchwomen to hear what’s on their minds up close and in person.

You may ask: Does this annual rite of May ever get old for the TV Blog? Yes, it does. But I go anyway.