FALL PREVIEW 2011: Friday

The good news is that the networks haven't given up on Fridays yet. In fact, both CBS and NBC will try new shows while every network besides ABC has at least one scripted program. Of course, how long some of these last is debatable. But at least networks aren't giving up.

ABC
8:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (9th season)
10:00 20/20 (35th season)

ABC is the only network not airing scripted programming but they are still making a move to make the night stronger. After eight years on Sunday nights, they are moving Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to Fridays and it might be able to find an audience there as it was always a steady performer on Sundays. It will actually start the season for several weeks on Sundays before moving to Fridays at the end of October. They were going to air Shark Tank at 9pm which seemed like a great move to me as it would pair well with Makeover and has done decently on Fridays in the past. But now they will hold it until midseason. Veteran newsmagazine 20/20 follows at 10pm where it will continue to compete with NBC's Dateline NBC.

CBS
8:00 A GIFTED MAN
9:00 CSI: NY (8th season)
10:00 Blue Bloods (2nd season)
CBS has continued to air all scripted programming on Fridays usually to decent total viewer numbers but old skews. Last year, they shored up the 10pm hour but 8pm has been a problem for awhile now with Medium, The Defenders, and Chaos all failing there last year. They will try again this fall with A Gifted Man which has gotten decent reviews but seems like a tough sell to start out the night. It's hard to imagine it doing much better than the failed shows last year and could skew very old. The 9-11pm block is more solid as veteran CSI: NY made a smooth transition from Wednesdays. While the ratings obviously dropped, it still performed solidly. They found success at 10pm with Blue Bloods. Though it skews ancient, it gets a great total viewer number for Fridays at 10pm. Old skewing shows with good total viewer numbers are about the best any network could ask for on Friday.

NBC
8:00 Chuck (5th season)
9:00 GRIMM
10:00 Dateline NBC (21st season)

Despite only one brief failed scripted entry in 2010-11 (Outlaw), NBC is trying again this time with genre programming. Chuck has been the show with nine lives despite underwhelming ratings throughout its entire run. Yet somehow it has made it to a fifth season which is supposedly the final one that will only air 13 episodes. Still, don't rule anything out especially if it can exceed expectations for Friday. It has a cult audience, but will that audience watch it live on Fridays? It is followed by supernatural drama Grimm which has an offbeat premise and looks very dark. While Friday was a good placement for it, it has to contend with a low-rated genre show on FOX (Fringe) that might have a lot of potential crossover audience. Grimm doesn't premiere until the end of October or else it would be a candidate for first cancellation of the season. Finally, Dateline NBC airs directly opposite 20/20 at 10pm.

FOX 
8:00 Kitchen Nightmares (5th season)
9:00 Fringe (4th season)
FOX is keeping its lineup from the spring in tact for another season after decent returns. Considering how disastrous the fall was for FOX with repeats and The Good Guys, this combo performed decently enough, particularly Kitchen Nightmares. Much like Chuck, Fringe is the little show that could as it continues to get renewals despite mediocre ratings. But the move to Fridays was probably the best thing that could happen to it as expectations have lowered. Unless Grimm surprises, it should be able to carve out a niche audience on Fridays. Whether that's enough or not for another go round, we'll see how FOX does.

New Friday Show Survival Chances
A Gifted Man (CBS) - Poor. This show doesn't seem like it will fix CBS's 8pm woes on Friday. It would need to be a self starter and this show won't be.
Grimm (NBC) - Very Poor. I applaud NBC for trying on Friday nights but there's no way this show is going to get the ratings it needs, even with lower expectations.