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RENEWAL ALERT: The Office, Parks and Recreation, Whitney, Up All Night

NBC seems intent on renewing nearly everything as it added The Office, Parks and Recreation, Whitney, and Up All Night to its renewal list.

The Office was renewed for an ninth season. Despite the big declines in the ratings in the first post-Steve Carell year and much critical derision over the year, it will be back again. There are also still possible plans to segue Rainn Wilson into a Dwight spinoff next year but John Krasinski, Ed Helms, and Jenna Fischer all signed deals to return which confirmed the renewal. NBC would be wise to move this to 8pm or another night and make it the last season because it has been on the decline creatively and in the ratings for awhile now.

Also renewed was Parks and Recreation for a full 22 episode fifth season. Despite the renewal coming later than usual, Parks and Recreation's chances were never really in doubt. The show has been consistent even though its low rated and it does better than Community and 30 Rock, which received renewals already. It is also much fresher than the aging Rock and Office and NBC picked up many single cam series, so it definitely can find a spot somewhere.

NBC also renewed the multicamera comedy Whitney for a second season. It wasn't looking good for Whitney as upfronts neared but then NBC only picked up one multicam comedy - Guys with Kids and it seemed likely that they would pair it with another one. When they passed on all their other pilots including Roseanne's Downwardly Mobile, Whitney was given the green light for a season two. The show did not do well airing after The Office in the fall but actually did better than expected leading off Wednesday night. Still, I'm surprised NBC didn't go more aggressively into the single cam format.

The biggest surprise (though it has been rumored) was the renewal of Up All Night for a second season. The show got off to a strong start airing on Wednesdays at 8pm in the fall. NBC moved it to the seemingly better 9:30pm Thursday slot which many thought was a good move at the time but it really fell apart there. Still, it comes from Lorne Michaels and stars people that NBC loves. Maybe a relaunch can bring people back. Both Up All Night and Whitney are rumored to be 13 episode renewals.
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