Newtown tragedy
Soon after news broke of the horrific December 14 elementary-school shootings in Newtown, Conn., the broadcast and cable networks scoured their schedules for anything that might be deemed offensive or inappropriate in light of the massacre.
"Caution carries the day," says one network executive. "You look up and down the schedule for shows and promos that might be uncomfortably close to the subject matter. Then you ask yourself, 'Are we being sensitive in a correct way or are we being overly careful?'"
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CSI
Putting together a primetime lineup takes more than just throwing darts at an empty schedule. (Well, most of the time.) As the networks put together their fall plans, it's up to the scheduling executives to parse test-audience scores, research data, producer pleas and gut instincts to determine which new and returning series should make it and when they should air.
But sometimes serendipity ...
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Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV
The DVR and online video streaming of your favorite shows has turned Must See TV into Must See When I Get Around to It. But Warren Littlefield, former entertainment president of NBC, has reminded us of what was possible not so long ago. His new book, Top of The Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV (May 1, Doubleday), recounts his successful run at the network and the inside stories of the shows that...
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Joel McHale
When it comes to comedy, the networks have some tough decisions to make in the next few months. Do they stick with low-rated but critically adored shows with rabid fan bases, like NBC's Community? Or do they attempt to emulate the success of sitcoms with broad appeal but little acclaim, like the CBS hit 2 Broke Girls?
A handful of shows — including Modern Family and The Big Bang Theory — manage to pull off the rare feat of landing big accolades and big ...
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Ashley Tisdale
Ashley Tisdale has sold a semi-autobiographical comedy project to ABC that she would star in and co-executive-produce, Deadline reports.
Under Construction follows a young woman who must sacrifice her independence and move back in with her family while her father...
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Damned
In a TV generation where vampires, werewolves and zombies run rampant, why not throw in demons, too?
Showtime is adapting Cullen Bunn's comic book The Damned as a one-hour drama, Deadline.com reports. Originally set...
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