DeathWatch Watch

Update: "Underbelly" and "Standoff"

March 29, 2007

It's a tricky time to be a television show if you're not "American Idol."

In a highly unusual move, ABC took matters into its own hands this week, by moving Midseason comedy "Notes from the Underbelly" around the line-up in order to avoid the ratings bulldozer. The show will now premiere on Thursday, April 12 at 10p with two back to back episodes. We're curious...is the back-to-back new episode thing a way to compete with watching television shows on DVD? It's similar, no?

The show had originally been scheduled to go up against "Idol" but producers not only moved it out of harms way, they moved it into a spot that has a "Grey's Anatomy" lead-in.

In other DeathWatch news, "Standoff" is actually coming back to air. Although -- not until June 8th. It comes back the same night as "Bones." We had moved it to safe, because Fox had placed a finished order for the show -- but we weren't sure it'd ever make it back to air. Just how many hostage crises can one city have? Is "Standoff" worth keeping around? Were you watching?

Comments

Dan Steinmiller wrote:

It's Official: I HATE FOX! - I have never seen such ridiculous scheduling and treatment for new shows by one idiotic television network. "Standoff" was suppose to return in late February and since has been bounced around the network's schedule on 3 occasions. First, FOX bumped it back to the end of March and then the middle of April. Now, FOX is moving the show's new episodes to June 8th. My question, after putting up with all this crap, is simply this: Can it or Keep it, FOX - make up your damn minds once and for all!.

posted at March 30, 2007 04:40 PM

Shannon wrote:

I'm iffy about Notes from the Underbelly. I always feel weird about shows that compare themselves to other shows. In every commercial I've seen there's been mention of Sex and the City. Weak promotional move, in my opinion. I'm having doubts as to weather the show can stand on its own.

posted at April 2, 2007 03:52 PM

jlippman wrote:

PLEASE tell me I am not the only one who couldn't care less about American Idol. I don't care that much about people I actually know and care about, so why would I tune in day after day after week after year to hear strangers try to sing their way to fame.
It's not like there aren't thousands of talented singers out there pounding the pavement trying to get a break already. I am not interested in listening to THEM until they come to my neighborhood club or the radio so WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT THESE 12 WANNABEES????????
Please tell me resistance is NOT futile and American Idol will go away some day....

posted at April 2, 2007 04:09 PM

Michelle wrote:

I am so sick of American Idol! Is anyone else getting sick of it? I wish that Fox would get their crap together and figure out what shows are going to air and when. I myself watched Standoff and really liked it. It seems like every time my husband and I find a show that we like, it gets cancelled or something.

posted at April 3, 2007 08:12 PM

Lisa wrote:

I can't believe how quickly they are cancelling shows now! I will definitely be thinking twice before I get hooked on another new series from the beginning. This year, I had to give up Vanished, The Nine, Six Degrees, and now The Black Donnellys! While I'll admit that some were beginning to flop, they were not beyond repair (or a different time slot). The Black Donnellys could have been the best show this season. And Big Day and The Class are thriving!?!

posted at April 4, 2007 02:05 PM

Kirsten wrote:

Yes, jlippman, it's true. I can tell you that not only do I not care about American Idol, but I have never watched it. And btw, Dan Steinmiller, I hate all the networks lately. I have all but given up on their shows. I start to watch it and it is gone. Over and over this year. They don't even give half of them a chance. Which is why they are causing the demise of their own companies.

posted at April 4, 2007 02:27 PM

Amy wrote:

You ask if we are watching Standoff? #@*&%!@ yes we are trying to watch Standoff!!!! FOX can't seem to figure out how to market this show, or can't find the person to sign the checks to do it. Bottom line, they have an actor who is getting award buzz right now for the movie "Music Within" who signed on to do a TV Series on FOX. (Ron Livingston) He is the type of actor you let do your advertising for you. Even he has to be disgusted at the way FOX is bouncing around his show. The one positive I see, they paired it with Bones, which is something they should have done last fall. They gave Til Death an American Idol lead in????? Let's see here Brad Garrett, Ron Livingston, there isn't even a contest here. Get real FOX and back the series hit for the 2006-07 season; Standoff.

posted at April 5, 2007 06:11 PM

Pretzel Boy wrote:

FOX seems to have a problem stemming from an inferiority complex. It's never been the top rated network - at first that was good, because they were willing to take chances on new shows. But as soon as they had a few hits under their belt, they started looking for safae hits, just like the original Alphabet Networks. I admit, they have always aired crap, but at least there was a variety of crap on the channel. Now, between two and four hours a week of prime time are given over to Idol. Of course, COPS was one of their favourite time fillers when the network had nothing but The Simpsons, and the amount of production talent required is the same for Idol. Standoff always seemed to be on the cusp of being good. Same with Justice.

posted at April 20, 2007 06:08 PM

Paul wrote:

Having a baby a year ago, my wife and I really enjoy this show's sense of humor about pregnancy.

posted at May 18, 2007 10:42 AM

Celeste wrote:

I love Notes from the Underbelly. I think it's a fun show with good actors. I hope it's here to stay for awhile.

posted at February 25, 2008 05:19 AM

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