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Deathwatch Update: “Smith” and “Kidnapped”

October 06, 2006

Well, folks, it doesn’t look good.

The Ray Liotta-led ensemble drama “Smith” is all but dead. CBS has taken it off the schedule and halted production, effectively killing it.

Additionally, NBC’s “Kidnapped” was pulled from its regular time slot and moved to Saturday nights, where it will run out its final 13 episodes and die peacefully in its sleep.

While many had come to us with questions about “The Knights of Prosperity” (ABC) – we have kept it on the Deathwatch. ABC has postponed the premiere of “Knights,” supposedly because they have a lot of faith in it. Critics (good ones!) have seen the show, and agree that it has a very good shot at success as a mid-season replacement. Current odds = 8:1.

In other news, this week was a blend of stagnation and rapid movement.

“Brothers and Sisters” (ABC) has not budged from the number 9 spot in several weeks. Odds of cancellation are still 37:1, and we feel as though it should get a fair shake. It’s a great cast, but the show itself is a little overdone.

“30 Rock” (NBC) will have its much-hyped premiere on Wednesday night. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that it will improve from its number 12 spot. Tina Fey seems to be the sticking point. She’s the mint-chip-ice-cream of television – viewers either love Tina or they hate her. Odds of cancellation: 64:1.

“The Class” (CBS) has taken a terrible turn for the worse. The show began its Deathwatch at number 15, moved to 13 after the low-rated premiere, and is now at number 5. Keep your eyes open -- they’re getting jumpy over at CBS. Odds of cancellation are 15:1

Kipnapped is Comatose

“You’ve seen it before … stylishly edited.”

DeathWatch Odds : Coma)

BBCancelled: Better find the kid quick. This one might not last past Christmas. So what’s up with our voters? Why do they think this one will last? Well, actually, track back. This week, they think it will last.

We’ve seen this show before, only it was on the big screen and it was called Ransom. The setting is the same: The son of high-tone New York City parents (played by Timothy Hutton and Dana Delany) is kidnapped.

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Review: The Class Fails

October 05, 2006

“It’s not must-see TV for any network.”

DeathWatch Odds 18-1 (as of October 5, 7:35am EST)

BBCancelled: CBS’s new addition to its Monday night line-up is certainly likeable, but it's being voted “most likely to fail” by DeathWatch voters.

“The Class” comes with a pedigree. Its co-creator is David Crane, who helped birth another ensemble comedy featuring a group of 20-somethings that you may have heard of—“Friends.” Its executive producer is James Burrows, the man who gave grateful audiences both “Will and Grace” and “Cheers.” With that kind of TV royalty on the birth certificate, you’d think this bouncing baby would at least have violet eyes to die for. Nope.

While there’s some good characterizations and legitimate laughs, don’t pass out the cigars just yet.

“The Class” concerns eight former classmates who have shared a bond since their initial meeting in the third grade. They reunite twenty years later when one of them throws a party. Are they really “best friends forever?”

The characters and — more importantly — the cast of “The Class” are a likeable enough bunch, but with eight leads (plus a stray husband or two) crammed into a half-hour show, there are just too damn many of them to keep track of.

The most recognizable of the bunch are Jason Ritter (“Joan of Arcadia” and the son of the late sitcom great John Ritter) and Andrea Anders (“Joey”). The cast has chemistry, if not the lightning in a bottle appeal of the “Friends” ensemble.

The comparisons to “Friends” are inevitable: A group of good-looking, young, white people, all with great apartments and houses, bond as friends. Sitcom glory sometimes strikes only once in a lifetime for both actors and creators, and this is not the second coming.

While “The Class” is a nice fit with CBS’s Monday night comedy line-up, which really isn't saying a lot. The truth is: It’s not must-see TV for any network.

Deathwatch Update: October 3

October 04, 2006

The Deathwatch Watch has seen even more exciting news today. And this time, it’s good news!

One week ago, "20 Good Years” (NBC) was parked at Number 16 (odds of cancellation were 175:1) – we hadn’t seen it yet, but were pretty sure that a warmed-over “Odd Couple” was bound for the scrap heap. (Just look at this picture! That's crazy stuff.)

Then yesterday, when it found its way into the top five “least likely to be cancelled” shows. It now rests at number 20, with odds of cancellation at 251:1.

“The Class” (CBS) continued its downward spiral, falling another place since yesterday to land at number 5. The odds of cancellation last week at this time was 51:1 and now they are a pitiful 18:1. "The Class" is flunking.

“Runaway” (CW) is also tanking pretty fast, due to poor ratings and miserable reviews. The show was at the very bottom of the list until its premiere, when viewers bolted from it. It’s now at number 16, (105:1) falling from number 21 (238:1) in a week.

Other than that, there’s interesting news to report about “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.” Last night, it finished third in its timeslot, and lost a good deal of its audience over the hour it was on. Additionally, it was competing against “The Bachelor,” which is (embarassingly) a tough show to beat. "Studio" still lives at number 20 on The Deathwatch, and we’re going to start monitoring its vitals.

Until tomorrow, Deathwatchers – Vote early! Vote often!

DeathWatch Review: Runaway

October 03, 2006

“A trip you’ll be happy to miss.”

DeathWatch Odds 104-1, as of October 3, 2006

BBCancelled: No matter that DeathWatch voters give this show a more than 50% chance of survival. “Runaway” is a tale about a fugitive who takes a family on the lam—mini-van and all—is a trip you’ll be happy to miss.

Out of the unholy union of the old WB and UPN networks arrive the fourteen shows on the fledgling CW netlet, and only four are new. Three of them are Sunday night sitcoms. And one, in between models on the runway and wrestlers in the ring, is the drama: “Runaway.”

Sadly, we’ve seen it all before.

“Runaway” is The Fugitive combined with National Lampoon’s Vacation, minus the laughs. Donnie Wahlberg (“Boomtown”) is a D.C. attorney on the lam for a crime he didn’t commit. And he’s brought the wife and kids with him!

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Deathwatch Update: Monday

October 02, 2006

First off, Deathwatchers will be happy to know that they can now change their vote! Only your last vote will count, but if your opinion changes -- by all means, sign in and vote again!

You might also notice that we’ve added a numerical ranking to our listings. Number One (currently “Men in Trees” on ABC) means you’ve ranked that show close to cancellation, while number 23 (currently “The Nine” on ABC) means you have a lot of faith in a show.

It was a big weekend on The Deathwatch,with plenty of movement to write about. Interestingly, most of the major changes took place between 9am this morning and 2pm this afternoon. We smell blood in the water.

In the last week, CBS’s “The Class” has moved from its opening position at Number 13, to number 10, to number 8 by 9am this morning. In the past few hours, “The Class” has climbed to number 6. This makes it the show moving towards cancellation at a rate faster than any other.

In other late breaking news, for the first time since the game launched, “Ugly Betty” has been bumped out of its number two spot. Bolstered by good ratings (a 10.6!!) and high fan approval, the show has started its quick ascent toward safe waters.

Also continuing its comeback is “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” (NBC), which had fallen as far as number 18 last week. Its odds have improved over the week as it lands at number 20, while “Runaway” has been rocketing towards a near-death experience. "Runaway" moved from the relative safety of a number 21 position, to find itself running neck and neck with “Kidnapped" (NBC) at the 15th and 16th spots, respectively.

Here’s an interesting fact -- despite poor-ish ratings, audiences seem to really like “Smith” (CBS). This morning, it’s moved from position 16 to number 18. That's a a two place improvement in just two days -- not so shabby for so early in the week.

Keep checking in and voting! Remember, the odds are updated constantly, so you can keep voting as many times as you want! If your pick is cancelled, you could win an iPod!

How Beautiful is Ugly Betty?

DeathWatch watchers thought the show would never make it. (See the DeathWatch Odds.) But the underdog, untraditional (one-hour sitcom?) has become the most-watched new series of the fall television season so far.

The comedy, about a plain Queens girl who pushed her way into the fashion world, was seen by 16.1 million people in its ABC debut on Thursday night, according to Nielsen Media Research.

All but about a half-dozen of the 24 new series the broadcast networks are introducing this fall have made it onto the air already, and so far ''Ugly Betty'' stands at No. 1.

Read the full story here: BBCancelled News.