To Do List: The Office Season 8

(Minor season 8 spoilers)

It's hard to believe, but the Office has made it to an eighth season, and while it still ranks among the top comedies on TV- both ratings and critically wise- it is showing some natural signs of wear and tear. And with the exit of the most central character and star in Steve Carrell's Michael, will the show be able to find a new spark, or will it be the show's shark-jump?

Here are some things it will need to do in order to make this season a successful one: 

1. Give the supporting cast some substantial story lines. 

For what seems like years now, it has been hinted that the supporting cast will be given more of a chance to shine, but for many a week, The Office seemed to continually fall back on the old guard of Jim, Dwight and in particular, Michael. Many expressed their thoughts on the over-emphasis on these characters, and for a while, it only served to make these characters either more cartoonish, or more unlikeable in making them mere caricatures; how often do you remember groaning at Michael acting like a petulant kid (seemingly leaving behind seasons of character development), or watching in horror as Dwight became even more detached from reality- almost to the point of a mental breakdown. The over-focus on Jim as co-manager in the sixth season drove many away from the male component of "Jam" (see no.4) as he became increasingly exasperated with his role (I should note that I wasn't an opponent to this idea, as it showcased a different side to Jim, it just didn't seem to draw that many laughs... and hence it didn't sit well with many fans). Basically, why wring all the life out of the main cast when there is a treasure trove of great characters still waiting to be mined. One of my favourite moments of the past couple of seasons character-wise, is when Michael finds out that Stanley was having an affair (Season 6, Episode 1 - Gossip)- it was not only an unexpected revelation but also fleshed out Stanley's character. Since then, plot lines for the rest of the supporting characters have been few and far between- and when they arise, they are largely insignificant (where has the Angela- gay state senator relationship gone?). But hopefully, there are hints of a mother-daughter revelation between Phyllis and Erin that look promising, as well as hopefully some others...

2. Make Robert California a funny character. 

Yes, it's that simple. Because, as much as guest stars such as Kathy Bates (who played the formed CEO of Dunder Mifflin-Sabre) were good actors, there weren't exactly barrels of laughs to be had when they were in a scene. And you might say the same about Idris Elba's Charles Minor in his brilliant Season 5 arc, but he played it so uniquely straight that it allowed other characters to shine. Also, the newest addition to the cast Cody Horn (who plays Jordan Garfield) was rendered so ineffectual and devoid of personality that it was easy to forget her character even exists - let's hope they find something for her to do. So most importantly, James Spader needs to at least provide some spark in the form of humour- he certainly showed glimpses of it in the finale, so here's hoping it is ramped up to 11.

3. Shake up the Jim/Pam dynamic

I'm sorry, "Jam" fans, but ever since the couple got married, then had their first child, the once wildly popular dynamic between the pair was largely quelled to within an inch of its life. The writers are understandably in a tricky bind; obviously viewers want to see them happy together (any suggestion of a  separation would not only send fans into blind fits of rage, but it is also completely implausible, knowing the characters), but comedy is not often (in fact, hardly ever) built on situations where everything is hunky-dory. Conflict is necessary in any interesting plot-line, but any attempt at driving even a slight wedge between the pair (such as the Season 7 Danny Cordray plot-line in which a former boyfriend of Pam's shows up at The Office) has been aborted by the writers before things got too ugly (Timothy Olyphant's Cordray came and went within the one episode). So, what to do? Just give them interesting plots for them to share, and trust that the writing will be snappy enough to get it over the line? Or perhaps change the dynamic entirely (which I'd hoped would happen a long time ago, with Pam undertaking the Office Administrator role)? Let's just say that for mine, the second baby plot will be a make-or-break moment for the couple...

4. Install either a boss that will shake things up. 

While Michael was a great character, storylines (or at least the A plot) became too predictable: Michael comes in with crazy idea/costume/voice, a meeting is called, everyone says something crazy, Dwight pulls out a knife, Jim and/or Pam say something sane, end episode.  A new boss could make things very interesting indeed.

5. Get back to the "Office" plots

What better way to win back original fans of the show than to bring the show back to its roots. The UK original was a show about human nature in and around the everyday machinations of an office- and for that, it needed to be based around the hum-drum exercises of office life. And for much of the early US version, it revolved around this key concept- and while the show has obviously departed quite notably from the original, it would serve it well to get back to basics. 

That means less plots about the mafia (Season 6), movies with Jack Black and Jessica Alba (Season 5) and dull corporate reshuffling (Season 6) and more about gossip, meetings and costume contests. 

***

In saying all of this, I realise that it may sound like the ramblings of an Office-basher, however, for a show that has lasted seven seasons, to have only five points that I take issue with, is surely nothing major. If it could even address one of them throughout the season, I believe it could extend its life by at least one more season. And it is still fundamentally a great show, why not prove the critics and naysayers wrong by propelling itself once again into the brilliant show category?

Teaser: The Office new boss to be a new cast member?

Surely, after all this stringing out of the new Office boss talk (which realistically began soon after Steve Carrell's departure was announced), they wouldn't introduce another outsider into the mix?

Well that seems to be the case, as, in addition to James Spader, there will be another addition to the cast, who may step into the boss' chair. 

Here's the quote from NBC Chicago:

"...they've kept a lid on the revelation of a SECOND major cast add, a mysterious someone who'll step into the Scranton managerial seat vacated by Carell"

With all the Kutcher-Two and a Half Men talk, it seems to have overshadowed this big reveal. 

But you'll still have to wait until Thursday night (Friday, AU time) to find out the real answer- will someone really overtake Daryl, Andy or Dwight?

Casting: Stephen Collins to play Andy's dad on The Office

Today it was announced that TV veteran Stephen Collins (Private Practice, Seventh Heaven, No Ordinary Family) will appear on The Office's eighth season as Andy's dad.

Andy, played by Ed Helms, joined The Office in early Season 3, and since then has become a fan favourite.

However, the fact that we will be seeing Andy's dad could in fact mean that there is more of a focus of Andy himself... does this mean that he will be the new Office manager (replacing Steve Carell's Michael?)

It would certainly seem logical, as Ed Helms has himself enjoyed a recent period of success career-wise with the success of the Hangover franchise.

I would suggest this is the case- The Office has never been a show that delves into the backstories of characters too much (in particular, their families).

The Office returns September 22 with a (confirmed) new big boss and an intriguing plot with an episode entitled "The List".

News: The Office: Season 8 Episode 1 Title, Plot Revealed + Trailer

When the appointment of James Spader to "replace" Steve Carrell was announced, it certainly raised a few eyebrows, but after seeing how the show will handle the new addition to the cast, it could well be the best thing that has happened to the show since the addition of Ed Helms as Andy in Season 3.


Here's what we know:

• "Robert California" is expected to appear in 15 episodes (much more than the previous CEO played by Kathy Bates did).
• He is appointed CEO
• He is a persuasive, mysterious and "enigmatic"character

And today, EW has revealed a number of story lines that will hopefully jumpstart the series, as well as establish Spader's character as one to watch.

EW calls the premiere episode's synopsis, entitled "The List", "simple" and "brilliant", and it's hard to disagree:

Spader’s persuasive and mysterious character Robert California is appointed CEO of Dunder Mifflin and, during a visit to the Scranton branch, accidentally leaves behind a piece of paper. There’s a line down the middle of it, with the names of every Scranton staffer either on one side of the line or the other. Employees go into a frenzy trying to figure out: What does this mean?... (It) will showcase California’s inscrutable oddness and his impact on the rest of the team as they struggle to figure him out.

Showrunner Paul Lieberstein also hints at other story lines which will surface in season eight: 

California challenges the office manager to double sales. Dwight builds a productivity machine that becomes a sort of Doomsday device when it threatens to shut down the company if people make too many mistakes. The entire warehouse staff wins the Lotto and quits. And, of course, there’s Jim and Pam’s second baby.

He also has a dig at last season's criticised "The Delivery" in which Pam gave birth to her and Jim's first child: “We’re not doing what we did last time; we’re not doing any weird rush to the hospital,” before he revealed what her second delivery will constitute:

“We’re doing something fun with her hormones, [which] are in a state where she doesn’t know who to trust. After a scene of everybody being very polite to her, saying she’s more beautiful than ever, and ‘the old and the pregnant are the most beautiful,’ Dwight is the only one honest with her. She starts to think Dwight is the only one she can trust.”

And remember, they still have to decide who the new boss will be...

The Office season 8 premieres September 22 on NBC.

Premiering: The Office Season 7 - Tonight on Eleven

And here's yet another reason why the multi-channels have been so successful...

Tonight Ten's multi-channel is finishing up Season 6 of The Office with the finale "Whistleblower", and barrelling straight into Season 7 of the show with the premiere episode "Nepotism".

Once upon a time (a time not so long ago), once the networks had dumped a show such as The Office (which Ten did many moons ago), it was anyone's guess when it would be seen on Australian TV again - if ever.

Now, since channels like Eleven have aired shows like The Office, fans have been able to catch up on seasons worth of shows.

Eleven has now run through seasons five and now six in a consistent timeslot.

In the US, fans are waiting for Season 8 to premiere in September, but if Eleven keeps up its consistent programming (two episodes every week), Australian Office fans will be almost level with their US counterparts.

The Office Season 7 Premiere airs 9:00PM Tonight on Eleven

News: James Spader closing in on The Office boss job

The long and arduous process of deciding who should replace Steve Carell in the hit NBC comedy The Office, and it's firming as James Spader, who appeared as Robert California in the season finale.
More after the jump!

TV News Wrap: Wednesday June 22

[caption id="attachment_783" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Source: The Hollywood Reporter"][/caption]

• Desperate Housewives will be adding another male regular to the cast in Season 8 (on top of the already great addition of Jonathon Cake as Bree's new love interest).

• Hawaii Five-O will also bag another Lost alumnus in the form of Terry O'Quinn (who played John Locke in the hit ABC show). It's also good to see him on TV in some capacity after the Marc Cherry-helmed Hallelujah pilot fell through earlier this year.

• Mad Men has locked down its most valuable asset in Jon Hamm for another three seasons- virtually assuring that the show will run through to Season 7. However, its future after that is on very shaky ground, with the strong word being that it won't continue much further after its seventh season.

• The Office has given The Hollywood Reporter a peek behind the scenes of its final episode. So check out these pics of Ed Helms, Creed Bratton and John Krasinski at work.

• The Walking Dead has cast (another) racist survivor for its second season, set to return in October 2011. His name is Otis and will be played by Pruitt Taylor Vince of The Mentalist fame.

TV News Wrap: Wednesday June 15

• Showtime's new drama House of Lies is shaping up to be a pretty interesting little show, especially when you consider it stars Australia's Josh Lawson (Thank God You're Here). I also hope, for Ben Schwartz's (Parks and Recreation) sake, that he is able to shed his "Jean-Ralphio" tag. Unfortunately, the Hollywood Reporter had misspelt Josh Lawson's name in this edit- so it's fair to say he's not quite a household name yet?

[caption id="attachment_771" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="We all make mistakes..."][/caption]

• It's the TV off-season in the US, so you have to take what you can get here, but Michael Ausiello at TVLine reports that Breaking In will probably not get a reprieve after being axed a short time ago.

• He also reports that Catherine Tate will probably not be the new boss on "The Office". This is very disappointing for some who were holding out hope for Tate to shake things up a bit, but I'd wait just a bit longer before you start jumping to any conclusions about the new boss (let's face it, if it's not her, it would only be between James Spader, Ed Helms and Craig Robinson).

• So, Fran Drescher (The Nanny) has a new show on TVLand entitled "Happily Divorced", which you could almost brush off as another "New Christine" if it wasn't for the semi-interesting fact that it's based on her life in that she and her husband split because he was gay. Hey, if it worked for "Raymond", right?

In Australian news

• You've got to admit that that the (non-?) story about comedian James Brechney popping up on Q and A posing as a climate change-skeptic was a doozy, for a number of reasons. I should state that while I would like to admit to picking him as a fake, I didn't; and let that be a credit to his comedic/acting skills. But at least I didn't jump up and down frothing at the mouth like half of Twitter did on Monday night- especially after he stated that climate change was "just a theory" like gravity. The small problem with his prank/political protest was that it wasn't really that far from what a sceptic would normally say, which caused the panel members to take him all too seriously. Garrett must be red-faced now, as now he appears to be pandering to the questioner- so probably the biggest indictment is on the ABC program. But kudos should go to Brechney for trying to prove a point- he has definitely come out on top. Here's the clip:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KkWJYWtk3o]

TV News Wrap: Saturday May 21

• There's a bit of "Office" talk floating about after its finale aired on Thursday night in the US. (Minor spoilers for Australian viewers). The response to the barrage of guest stars lining up to be the new boss has received a middling to negative response from most critics. Despite appearances from comedy heavyweights Ray Romano, Jim Carrey, James Spader, Ricky Gervais and Catherine Tate, some critics were scathing in their appraisal. Take Alan Sepinwall of Hitfix

"...I worried that a parade of big name guest stars would not only not fit comfortably into the world of the show but turn the finale into a disjointed mess.

I feel my fears were unfortunately correct with Ferrell's episode, and they sure seemed correct as I sat through last night's bumpy, awkward, great big mess of a finale. "

• In other "Office" news, TVLine's Michael Ausiello has signalled the possibility that Jenna Fischer's real-life pregnancy mights be written into the show... which I guess was kind of necessary? I mean the other choice was to write her out of the show for a block of episodes Tracy Jordan/Morgan-style, which wouldn't be a bad thing for The Office given the increasing staleness of the Jim-Pam dynamic. But nothing is set in stone yet.


• Which stars won't have a job (well in terms of the TV industry) next season? You've got to feel for Lost's Terry O'Quinn, what a great actor he was in Lost.


• Did Ricky Gervais really say that The Office jumped the shark in its finale? The internet has gone nuts over what Gervais said in his blog:

"If you're going to jump a shark, jump a big one."

The only thing is, he's referring to the Chris Martin episode of Extras, in which he makes a guest-appearance on: "I think it's a bit weird, celebrities just popping up in a sitcom", Gervais' character says. And now Warren Buffet has popped up on The Office. I think it's called irony... and "tongue-in-cheek". And anyway, even if Gervais does think the show has gone to sh-t, he wouldn't care all that much. And these days, jumping the shark isn't really used in the same pejorative sense as it first was, and this is just a light-hearted dig anyway...

• Regardless, the finale still rated well (3.8 rating in 18-49, beating Grey's Anatomy).


• Who will play the Ron Swanson's first ex-wife Tammy in Parks and Recreation. TV Fanatic throws up an interesting, logical choice.


• In other non-Office related news, for fans of the British TV show Luther, the trailer for its second season has been released. And even if you're not a fan of the show, or the brilliant Idris Elba, you've got to admit that this is a fantastic trailer. You've also got to love shows that go out and make great non-plot specific trailers like this which show you something about the character/s in the show, especially with a great song in the background. Soak this up:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWcCAQmxrQc]

• In Australian TV News, TV Tonight hints at a raunchy episode of Offspring coming up this Monday. For mine, the latest season has seemed to take this sort of turn- which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The premiere kicked off the season well, but let's just hope this raunchier turn doesn't turn more conservative viewers off the show. And I think this tweet by comedian Josh Earl nicely summed up the vibe the promos put out for the show:

TV News Wrap: Friday May 20

The stars are lining up to farewell Oprah (from one network to another). Today, it's been Jennifer Aniston and Hugh Jackman. Very emotional stuff... sort of. Oh, and THIS, which I was alerted to by Crikey.

As some would know, one of the games in Letters and Numbers involves drawing random letters from two stacks (vowels and consonants), with the contestant dictating which pile to draw from. On this occasion, maths guru Lily Serna pulled out letters spelling "PENISDUMP", so to speak. I have to admit, I started watching Letters and Numbers when it first started, but it became a bit monotonous and repetitive after a while. Fair to say that the chance of this happening again has reinvigorated my interest in the show.
(Alerted to this by crikey.com.au)

UPDATE: I suppose I better just say that I have recently found out that it is fake, which is disappointing. But you can still marvel at how well it has been put together. It just goes to show that not everything you see on the Internet is real, which is surprising; I may have have to reconsider the authenticity of some other things, like the above picture...

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmQyyiAiATA&w=560&h=349]

Thanks to EW, British actor Chris Vance will play The Transporter in the upcoming TV series of the same name. He has previously appeared in Prison Break and more recently, Dexter. He told EW:

“Fast-paced. Action-packed. Car chases. Stunts. Fights, Beautiful girls. Villains. Heroes. Guns. It should be a lot of fun

Sounds pretty good to me, Vance certainly has a steely, uncompromising style and given it will be executively produced by Luc Besson (writer of the 3 Transporter flicks), expectations will be high.

Catherine Tate has Chris Harnick, of TV Squad's vote to be the new The Office boss. For the record, she has mine too.

EW has a nice wrap-up of all the new shows that will grace TV screens in the US fall season, as well a discussion on some cancelled shows.

TV Guide, along with many others, haven't been too fond of Modern Family of late. Though, they have to remember, that like The Office, a "bad" episode of Modern Family is still about as good, if not marginally better than most other comedies on TV.

Let's hope Modern Family rallies for next week's season finale, because these last two episodes felt like they were written by Nolan Gould's dimbulb Luke Dunphy.

The ninth season of One Tree Hill will be its last, EW reports.

Renewal and Cancellation Wrap: May 11

Well, the axe has certainly been a-swinging down at FoxLand.

After a fairly hefty block of renewals over the past week (Family Guy, The Cleveland Show, House), there have been four fresh cancellations. One of which was a mercy killing, three others were not unexpected and the other coming as somewhat of a surprise.

The shows, in order of predictability are Human Target, Traffic Light, Breaking In, Lie to Me and The Chicago Code.

Human Target was struggling in the ratings and was never a hit critically.

Traffic Light was an interesting case in the way that people could instantly see right through it. It was yet another relationship comedy about x number of couples. That was pretty much it. However, it did try to eschew the typical hammy sitcom tropes by filming it in the style of The Office, or more specifically, Modern Family (in the way that there seems to be a documentary being filmed, however, it is never remotely acknowledged). It was never panned, yet no-one ever raved about it.

There was a similar situation with Breaking In, in that it wasn't terrible, yet simply didn't do enough to capture anyone's attention. Christian Slater can also chalk up another 'miss' on his... chalkboard. It also seemed a bit too "high-concept" for a comedy- it was about a crack team of professionals "Breaking In" to places to test their security. Even though it was a somewhat bizarre concept, at least it was original. But no-one could really see it going for six seasons.

Another "high-concept" idea was probably the death of Lie to Me as well, which was also axed. It lasted for three seasons and didn't seem to form any permanent connection with viewers. Essentially, it was the poor-man's House, and Cal Lightman came off as cold, without the accompanying endearing wit and flaws of Gregory House.

The Chicago Code had a lot of potential, if nothing else for the fact that it was created by Shawn Ryan (creator of The Shield), and there will be a small amount of outrage, yet it will probably blow over. Next!

30 Rock's Sixth Season to be the Last? (Confirmed??)

Bad news for 30 Rock fans... but sorta good news in a way.

Today Vulture has reported that Alec Baldwin has confirmed that the sixth season of 30 Rock will be not just his, but the show's last.

Cutting out all the other stuff he said, this is what you really need to hear;

"...Our show next year is our last year of the show."

Straight out of the horse's mouth, it seems.

This is something that many people have speculated on, including me, quite a while back.

And in terms of the legitimacy of Baldwin's claim, I don't doubt it for four primary reasons.

When he signalled a while back that he would most likely not renew his contract, he didn't, and stated that the sixth season would be his last.

Secondly, it seems logical for the show to end with Baldwin.

Thirdly, Tina Fey has achieved plenty with the show, from picking up a swag of Emmys among other lesser awards, to snagging pretty much every single A-lister to guest star on the show. And even Baldwin has stated that she will want to move on to bigger and better things.

Fourthly, NBC will not beg the folk at 30 Rock to extend the show for another season. It has never rated well, yet survived based on the amount of critical acclaim it garnered week-in, week-out. At best, it achieved good ratings, but basically, it won't be much of a loss to NBC in terms of viewers- unlike, say The Office, if it decided to pull the plug after Season 8. To put it bluntly, NBC probably wouldn't have minded giving it the chop after Season 4, but were too afraid of the wrath of the critics, fans, etc. And also the fact that they haven't been able to produce a hit show in ages.

Also, 30 Rock was the first of NBC's big four comedies to be renewed- that's not because its ratings warranted it, it's because they knew the sixth season would be its last.

And, not that it matters, but I think it is a good idea for the show to end too. Unlike the Office, where the load is spread more evenly over the whole cast, viewers tune in to 30 Rock to see the relationship between Liz and Jack develop, etc. While one may argue that Liz is the protagonist, Jack, in many ways is the antagonist. And what's a show without an antagonist.

Also, the show has well and truly run its course. Especially in terms of Liz's relationships. And Jack's. He has well and truly settled, now that he has a wife and child. It's hard to imagine his character developing much more than that.

The sixth season will obviously be the last, and expect NBC to flog the hell out of the fact it is.*

*(still to be officially confirmed).

30 Rock's Sixth Season to be the Last? (Confirmed??)

Bad news for 30 Rock fans... but sorta good news in a way.

Today Vulture has reported that Alec Baldwin has confirmed that the sixth season of 30 Rock will be not just his, but the show's last.

Cutting out all the other stuff he said, this is what you really need to hear;

"...Our show next year is our last year of the show."

Straight out of the horse's mouth, it seems.

This is something that many people have speculated on, including me, quite a while back.

And in terms of the legitimacy of Baldwin's claim, I don't doubt it for four primary reasons.

When he signalled a while back that he would most likely not renew his contract, he didn't, and stated that the sixth season would be his last.

Secondly, it seems logical for the show to end with Baldwin.

Thirdly, Tina Fey has achieved plenty with the show, from picking up a swag of Emmys among other lesser awards, to snagging pretty much every single A-lister to guest star on the show. And even Baldwin has stated that she will want to move on to bigger and better things.

Fourthly, NBC will not beg the folk at 30 Rock to extend the show for another season. It has never rated well, yet survived based on the amount of critical acclaim it garnered week-in, week-out. At best, it achieved good ratings, but basically, it won't be much of a loss to NBC in terms of viewers- unlike, say The Office, if it decided to pull the plug after Season 8. To put it bluntly, NBC probably wouldn't have minded giving it the chop after Season 4, but were too afraid of the wrath of the critics, fans, etc. And also the fact that they haven't been able to produce a hit show in ages.

Also, 30 Rock was the first of NBC's big four comedies to be renewed- that's not because its ratings warranted it, it's because they knew the sixth season would be its last.

And, not that it matters, but I think it is a good idea for the show to end too. Unlike the Office, where the load is spread more evenly over the whole cast, viewers tune in to 30 Rock to see the relationship between Liz and Jack develop, etc. While one may argue that Liz is the protagonist, Jack, in many ways is the antagonist. And what's a show without an antagonist.

Also, the show has well and truly run its course. Especially in terms of Liz's relationships. And Jack's. He has well and truly settled, now that he has a wife and child. It's hard to imagine his character developing much more than that.

The sixth season will obviously be the last, and expect NBC to flog the hell out of the fact it is.*

*(still to be officially confirmed).

Cancel and Renewal Wrap: 18th March 2011 - The Office, Community and Parks and Rec renewed! (!!!)

And now for the news of the year...

NBC has renewed three of its most critically acclaimed shows, and in order of acclaim, here they are;

Parks and Recreation has been renewed for a THIRD SEASON.

Community has been renewed for a THIRD SEASON.

The Office has been renewed for a whopping EIGHTH SEASON.

However, in terms of which shows were expected to be renewed,  the Office was probably most likely, with Community the least. However, it is great news regardless.

The US version of Being Human has also been granted a SECOND SEASON (it airs on Syfy). This of course follows the news of the renewal of its UK counterpart.

Shows on US TV: NBC

30 Rock

Renewed for a SIXTH and possibly final season. Especially since Baldwin is almost certain to leave at the end of the sixth season. Can the show continue past a sixth season? Find out more....

Community

UPDATE 18/03: Renewed for a THIRD SEASON.

Some very promising developments have occured over the past week. Take a look.

Parks and Recreation

UPDATE 18/03: Renewed for a FOURTH SEASON.

Winning great acclaim at the moment, but it could easily slip into the "50/50" catergory. But it is among the three best performing comedies on NBC, so a fourth season should be commissioned soon.

The Office

UPDATE 18/03: Renewed for an EIGHTH SEASON.


Even though it has copped a lot of flak lately and over its past two seasons, for being- well- not really that funny, interest is sure to spike around the time of Steve Carrell's exit- for good reasons and bad ones. It is also obvious that writers are prepping for an eighth season.

However, the real test will be, as we all know- when the show traverses fairly unknown territory without the its main star.

But even if it does take a significant dive quality-wise, it will still remain NBC's highest rating comedy, so don't expect cancellation for at least another two seasons.



Harry's Law

Rating very well- look out for a second season renewal.

Law and Order: SVU

Almost certainly will be renewed for a thirteenth season. Currently in its TWELFTH SEASON.

Minute to Win It



Chuck

The show lives constantly teetering between cancellation and renewal. Really, it is anyone's guess as to what NBC will decide. It will likely come down to how many other renewals of current shows NBC hands out.

UPDATE 9/3

TVLine.com rates it as “Could go either way”. They also state that NBC has confirmed this.

Parenthood

Ratings have taken a big tumble from its first season. Fans should be worried about its prospects for a third season. It is also coming second and third in its timeslot. Double uh-oh.

The Marriage Ref

Received middling reviews for its first season, and its SECOND SEASON will have to be pretty special to guarantee it a third. Some might say it has only been commissioned and kept up by NBC because of one thing: Seinfeld. But I wouldn't, of course.




The Cape

Ratings bad. Show bad. Not good.

The Event

Law and Order: Los Angeles

Perfect Couples

Ratings have been dangerous, certainly.

Outsourced

UPDATE: NOT renewed along with Parks and Recreation, The Office and Community. Its fan should be worried.

[Was "50/50"] Ratings are pretty mediocre, but a renewal wouldn't be a shock. However, it wouldn't be cheered by many people.



Chase

Effectively cancelled after only 13 episodes.

Friday Night Lights

This acclaimed drama is currently in the midst of its final season.

Being Erica to end after Season 4

Popular Canadian comedy-drama Being Erica has been confirmed to end after its fourth season.

Creator Jana Sinyor said on LiveJournal:

"Season 4 is the end. It’s important to Aaron and I to be able to finish the story in a way that is satisfying to our audience. This is going to be a big year for Erica, and by the end of it – she will have finished the journey she started…"

While it is unclear if the decision was network-influenced (in terms of ratings), what is certain is that they have decided to allow them one more season, and the creative team agree that it is the perfect length for them.

In other words, it's the old cliché: they want to end on a high. But funnily enough, in Hollywood, not many things do.

So, you always have to admire a show's creator who decides to end a show on their terms, and when they feel the show has run its course.

However, while this isn't always happy news for devoted fans, it can be looked back upon as a finely polished product, rather than a show which was flogged to death or jumped the shark.

Think the Simpsons during the past ten years and how many people lament the passing of the golden years. Then contrast this with Seasons 1 and 2 of the Office (the UK version), arguably one of the best comedies ever made, and only 12 episodes and a special. And the case could certainly be made that extending a show for too long can almost ruin its legacy.

For example, ironically, the US version of the Office hit its straps during seasons 2 and 3, and was still very good during seasons 4 and 5. However, of late, many commentators have been calling for the shows to wrap up, as it is not as good as it used to be.

Now, the overall opinion of the Office as a whole is lowered, due to not only an average run of episodes, but characters acting out of character and implausible plot lines, detracting from its realism that made it so appealing in the early years.

Having a defined end point can also allow writers to construct a more well rounded and balanced arc for characters. If the show was suddenly axed, there may not be sufficient time to design a satisfying ending.

Possibly the best example of this is in recent times when My Name is Earl was axed after its fourth season. The show not only had the rug pulled out from under it unawares, it also had decided to end on a CLIFFHANGER. There was even a "To be continued...", for Pete's sake.

(In case you forgot, Darnell- "Crab Man"- was found to not be the father of Earl Jr.)

So, in most cases, ending when the creator sees fit is the best option, as there is nothing more spirit-sapping in life than seeing a show which you used to love be a shadow of its former self for the sake of money. But, while ending on a high can be a triumph for the creative team, it robs the viewers of a possible 2 or 3 more guaranteed seasons of pure gold.

In this day and age it's just about finding the right balance between a show's integrity and making as much hay as you can while the sun is still shining.



Being Erica airs on ABC2 in Australia.

Arnett to be new Office boss? Maybe if Gervais has his way

(minor season 6,7 spoilers)

Ricky Gervais has recently set tongues wagging with an off the cuff remark in one of his blogs. Well, at least it seems to be off the cuff;

"Had a little meeting with NBC about various things and recommended Will Arnett for a regular in The Office. Thoughts? I think he's amazing."

As we all know the search is apparently on for the new host of the Office. But, do producers really expect us to believe that a new (or existing) character isn't being primed to take over as we speak?

But this is precisely what makes Gervais' remarks all the more interesting, as surely he isn't bringing a new name into the ring at the eleventh hour. But if he is, could he influence such a huge decision? Well, he and Stephen Merchant did conceive the show, so I'd say yes, unless of course the writers could strongly convince him otherwise. It was them after all who made it the success it is today. So who really knows who carries more clout these days? (My money would be on the writers.)

But surely NBC has had talks with Arnett already.

So is Gervais hinting that the new boss has already been chosen?

Or is Gervais putting his powerful weight behind one of the final few contenders?

Well, either way, many news sources are running with various stories including;

Zap2it: "'The Office': Could Will Arnett be the new Steve Carell?"

There's no question that Arnett would be a decent fit for the Office, as he's no stranger to big network comedies, with Arrested Development his first main starring role. He has since starred in the scene-stealing Devon Banks role in 30 Rock, also on NBC.

And of course, more recently, Running Wilde, which although cancelled, proved he can headline a show adequately.

Oh, and he's also the husband of NBC's Parks and Recreation's Amy Poehler who plays Leslie Knope; surely a exquisite synergy which wouldn't be lost on NBC bigwigs.

So, it certainly is possible that Will Arnett is the new boss; or at least will join the cast in some shape or form, as the Office are casting another male and female.

EW reported that producers are looking for a "good-looking, but not WB looking" to join Kevin, Oscar and Angela in the accounting department. He "used to work at a golf course, probably went a community college and is just happy to have a real job in this tough market."
Sounds like a great fit for Arnett, possibly even moreso than the top job, as arguably
Arnett is better in smaller doses.

However, credit has to be given to producers for keeping it all under wraps. However, we can almost certainly rule out who will replace Carrell.

Mindy Kaling (Kelly Kapoor): She of course is leaving the show along with Carrell, though understandably isn't receiving as much publicity.

Will Ferrell: He is of course joining the cast for a 4 episode arc, which also got people whipped up into a lather. But any suggestion that he will join for another 22-26 episode season is surely ludicrous, what with his thriving movie career.

Ricky Gervais: It may seem obvious to bring his name up, as he has denied it many a time, yet many still bring it up. There's not only the fact that he has another TV show yet to be filmed (yet alone written), another Idiot Abroad on the way, a Flanimals movie, the Ricky Gervais show, he will be the voice of Mole in the Wind and the Willows, as well as voicing characters in the Simpsons and Family Guy. Also the fact that he has made a great guest appearance as David Brent. In short, he has been-there, done-that.

Rainn Wilson: Dwight has already been the boss for an episode, in which he inflicted a typically tyrannical rule over the Office; hard to imagine they would go there again.

John Krasinski: Been there done that again... The sixth season was all about shaking up the Office and installing Jim as co-manager. It didn't work. Everyone grew to dislike a frazzled Jim- something people didn't like, and weren't used to doing. A couple more big movie roles and he's as good as gone too.

B.J. Novak: Already been in a position of authority.

Jenna Fischer: The new female cast member is said to be an assistant to Pam as office administrator, indicating that she will remain in this role.

And then there's the rest of the cast, of course, and it's anyone's guess as to if they go down that road.

And then there's the wild card, Todd Packer, who has an upcoming episode named after him. He is also over-the-top enough to follow in Carrell's footsteps. But whether he would be too abrasive week-in week-out would be the question producers will be asking.

UPDATE: Today, Joel Keller from TV Squad seems absolutely convinced the next boss will be Gabe. His reasoning makes perfect sense.
Have a read (spoilers of course)
http://www.tvsquad.com/2011/02/10/the-office-season-7-episode-15-recap/

S#*! My Dad Says in Danger of Cancellation?

Source: Channel Nine

Fans of the William Shatner vehicle, S#*! My Dad Says shouldn't get too attached to it, with some news sources warning it is in danger of being cancelled.

Its ratings have been good, however, and word of mouth has certainly not been as terrible as it was first made out to be. It has had to weather the ridicule of being based on a Twitter feed, as well as confusion over its title, but has won respect for Shatner's portrayal of a grumpy dad.

It debuted with 12.48 million, but has since dropped to figures of 10.14, 10.29, 8.74 (its lowest figure to date) and 10.45 million.

These figures even trump popular comedies The Office, 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation and Community.

These figures are not bad, by any stretch, but tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com has noted CBS' tendency to axe its lowest rated sitcom.

And it is- easily. Mike and Molly is looking pretty safe, with its 10th episode hitting a series high 12.93 million. The past three episodes will have also cemented its chances with sterling figures of 12.39, 12.80 and 12.55.



16 episodes of S#*! have aired in the US so far.

2 episodes have aired in Australia.

As we all know;

Two and a Half Men has been renewed

The Big Bang Theory has been renewed for another 3 seasons, meaning there will be at least 7 seasons altogether.



Source: CBS

Mike and Molly is looking good for its second season.

How I Met Your Mother will most likely get a seventh season, with a buzz-generating Countdown episode, and more recently guest-stars including House's Jennifer Morrison and Katy Perry.

Other shows which are looking good for renewal are NCIS: Los Angeles (with NCIS already renewed), Rules of Engagement, CSI, Criminal Minds and the Mentalist.

Ten would be concerned about Blue Bloods' performance, with a second season in doubt.



Source: CBS

The Good Wife should get a third season, although it is not a given.

Also, Hawaii Five-0 is performing well, and is an impressive product, but Ten would still be crossing their fingers for a second season.

Preview: Signs good for Ten's Traffic Light

Coming to TEN later this year is FOX sitcom Traffic Light.

On the outset, the set-up seems awfully similar- two couples plus a charismatic womaniser seems awfully similar to every other romantic sitcom on TV at the moment. Have a look at these plot summaries from wikipedia and see if you can spot the difference.

"Perfect Couples revolves around three unique couples at various stages in their relationships, yet who face similar problems."

Better with You: "The series revolves around three different relationships that are tightly intertwined in one family"

Rules of Engagement: "Two couples and their single friend deal with the complications of dating, commitment and marriage. It looks at different relationships in various stages."

Now let's see if Traffic Light is any different...

"Mike, Adam and Ethan have been friends since college, and the trio has seen each other through highs and lows.

Wow, this seems interesting...

"Now in their 30s, these men find themselves at very different stages in their lives.

Oh, right...

"Mike is a married lawyer...

"Adam recently moved in with his girlfriend...

"Ethan is the perpetual bachelor.

Yup... sounds the same. However, the title lends it a kind of uniqueness, in the way that it's like a metaphor for where they're at in their lives... yeah?

The only problem is, this means we have to endure a very crappy title.

Originally titled Mixed Signals, critics have also criticised (who woulda thought?) its bland title. It is also the latest in a long line of comedies trying to re-emulate the success of ABC's Modern Family, a show which, really, has reinvented The Office's mockumentary style to make a more accessible, more sitcom-styled show. However, it has been said to be better than some other current sitcoms, with Eric Deggans from the St Petersburg Times saying

"NBC'sPerfect Couples and ABC's Better With You are much, much worse."

Paige Wiser from Chicago Sun Times goes further to say

"The first episode’s a little stiff as the guys mark their territory, but by the fourth the show feels sweatpants-comfortable. “Traffic Light” deals mainly with trivialities, so the stakes are low. It’s easy to watch."

And there's no shortage of familiar faces, with David Denman, best known from his role as Roy in The Office (Seasons 1-3, with a guest appearance in an upcoming episode of Season 7!); Nelson Franklin also stars, who also found mainstream fame on the Office as the short-lived character, IT guy, Nick. Interestingly, he also joins the ranks of actors who have played two different characters on the same show (he first appeared as "Graphic Design Guy" in Season 4's Job Fair).

You would recognise Liza Lapira from NCIS, and Aya Cash is a relative newcomer on the scene.

Kris Marshall also stars, who starred in 2003's Love Actually. He joins the ranks of Jane Leeves of Frasier fame among others as English actors playing English characters in American sitcoms.

In Australia, it will be a good fit for Channel Ten, with its style matching Modern Family. However, don't expect any fast-tracking, unless it is a certified hit in the US.

WATCH/AVOID

 

 

30 Rock Wrap - Season 6 to be Last?

[caption id="attachment_34" align="alignnone" width="590" caption="Source: NBC"][/caption]

 

With 30 Rock returning to Australian screens this Thursday, February 10 at 11:30pm on Channel Seven, there is no better time to wrap-up the past 4 stellar seasons.

The show could be seen as a vehicle for its two central actors; Tina Fey- arguably Hollywood's funniest woman- and Alec Baldwin- whose deadpan delivery perfectly complements the beautifully frazzled Fey.

According to Wikipedia, its first 4 seasons have averaged 5.8, 6.4, 7.5 and 5.9 million viewers, respectively. So far, its fifth season has averaged 5.4 million viewers.

However, despite being its lowest rated season to-date, it seems to have regained its spark that was somewhat lacking during the fourth season.

This is despite both of the main characters (Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy) being in successful, stable relationships- usually classic shark-jumping material.

Most importantly, it has been renewed for a sixth season, which many speculate will be Baldwin's last, due to his none-too-frank revelation in Playboy magazine;

"I’m done in 2012"

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