Ah, spring. The birds are chirping, the snow is slowly melting and new shows are premiering on television. It’s the perfect combination of bliss. Trading in snow boots for sandals and gloves for sunglasses can put a smile on anyone’s face. With warmer weather brings another favorite time of the year: a new spring lineup. What’s new, which popular favorites are returning and which have gotten the axe?
New Comedies
“Breaking In” will be airing on Fox on Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. Premiering after “American Idol” on April 6 and written by Adam Goldberg, “Breaking In” is a half-hour workplace comedy about a team of unusual geniuses who have been picked to work at a high-tech security firm. The company is run by Christian Slater’s character, Oz, – called a “manipulative mastermind” in the Fox Broadcasting Company’s description of the show – who makes his staff go through extreme measures to prove his protection services do the job.
The show, a creation of “Happy Madison Productions,” is likely going to hilarious. “Breaking In” puts the workplace comedy in an original type of workplace setting, where the staff is not only in the office bantering back and forth, but is also out on exciting missions.
“Happy Endings,” airing Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on ABC, is a romantic comedy as well as a take on modern friendship and what one group will do to stay together. Six young people, Max, Penny, Brad, Alex, Jane, and Dave have been friends forever, but after Alex and Dave, the couple who brought them all together, break up on their wedding day, the whole group deals with the fallout.
The comedy stars Casey Wilson, a Saturday Night Live alum, and Damon Wayans Jr. The preview looks funny. However, the show seems more like a Saturday night date night movie than a television show. The premise is fit more for an hour and a half romantic comedy, and producers may not be able to stretch it out over the 13 episodes ABC has ordered. It would do well at the box office, but whether it survives the small screen has yet to be seen.
Axed Shows, Uncertainties, and Returning Favorites
After receiving bad ratings, Fox has cancelled the romantic comedy “Running Wilde” and has yet to air the series’ remaining four episodes. CBS’s “S**t My Dad Says” and ABC’s “Better With You.” The show has yet to be renewed for another season and it is undecided whether we will seem these episodes this spring.
But there is some good news. Fox’s “Raising Hope” has been doing well in its spot after “American Idol” and has been renewed for a second season. Also, the new show on the block, “Traffic Light” hit a series high last week at 7.40 million viewers, putting it behind only “Idol.”
On ABC, “Cougar Town” will be returning April 18 following a 90-minute episode of “Dancing with the Stars,” but will return to its regular time slot of Wednesday night on April 20. “Happy Endings” will air back-to-back episodes on Wednesday, April 13 following a new episode of “Modern Family.” “30 Rock” will celebrate is 100th episode with a one-hour special on NBC Thursday, April 21.
Naychelle Lucas can be reached at [email protected].
