A look at next season

With this television season basically finished, viewers’ attention is slowly turning to next fall.

And actually, all of that anticipation begins this month with upfronts. For those unaware, upfronts are soirees where the networks announce their fall schedules so that the advertisers can start paying for ad time. Full schedules might not be released, but ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and CW will all reveal what old shows are coming back and what new ones are debuting later this year.

Therefore, I am going to do a little prognosticating and discuss a handful of shows I think will not only be picked as series but also succeed when September and October roll around. When these are your new favorites, remember who told you first.

SHOW: “Flash Forward”
PROSPECTIVE NETWORK: ABC
Based on the Robert Sawyer novel of the same name, this program might be the most buzzed-about in the industry at this point in the development process. ABC has already begun running viral ads for the show during “Lost,” even though they haven’t officially picked it up. It will follow a group of people after everyone in the world sees an unidentified 2 minutes and 17 seconds of their future.
ABC obviously wants this to be the next “Lost” (hence the ads), but audiences are less willing to get involved in serialized programming now. However, the show has an excellent premise.

SHOW: “Parenthood”
PROSPECTIVE NETWORK: NBC
Also based on other source material (the 1989 Ron Howard-directed, Steve Martin-starring flick of the same name), NBC is hoping this family drama can revive the network’s stagnant ratings while garnering some critical acclaim. With a loaded cast that includes Peter Krause, Maura Tierney and Craig T. Nelson and a strong creative staff – executive producer/writer Jason Katims is the mastermind behind “Friday Night Lights” – this is going to be the show NBC shoves down our throats all year. The writing will determine if it’s good enough to make that promotion worth it.

SHOW: “Human Target”
PROSPECTIVE NETWORK: FOX
Taken from the DC Comics series of the same name (notice a trend?), this spy actioneer is a shoe-in to be picked up by FOX. With a very strong cast featuring Mark Valley, Jackie Earle Haley and Chi McBride and a solid premise that follows a body guard who switches identities each week to protect those in need, “Human Target” would be a fantastic partner with “24.”

SHOW: “Trauma”
PROSPECTIVE NETWORK: NBC
As the only show on this list with a premise not lifted from something else, “Trauma” stands out. The show, which follows emergency medics who deal with – you guessed it – traumatic situations in the field, is being lauded for a very explosive and energetic opening sequence. It is produced by Peter Berg, who is also behind the aforementioned “Parenthood,” giving NBC two great chances to re-make their brand. It’s shocking to see that NBC has the best pilots in development, but that happens when about 60 percent of your schedule is full of drivel.

Rant of the week
Kudos goes out to the numerous TV critics and fans around the Web for using Twitter to push campaigns to save their favorite shows. Though this time of the year always brings out the die-hards trying to save their favorite ratings-challenged programs, Twitter has allowed mainstream critics like Maureen Ryan and Allen Sepinwall to consistently pub their love for “Chuck” in a way they never could have before.

Moreover, the microblogging service has allowed numerous fan campaigns to gain more traction than they would have with just lame online petitions. Online viewing parties on official network sites and consistent re-tweeting about updates are just a few of the opportunities Twitter has provided fans – and this is surely just the beginning.

Finally, it has been a joy to provide you with television commentary this semester – I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have. As always, check out Weekend Watchers (idsnews.com/blogs/weekendwatchers) for updates, even through the summer.