There's Nothing On...Fridays

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New series are blocked in red; returning series in a new time slot are blocked in orange.

One of the chief complaints about television programming is that there's nothing on.  This is the final part of the daily series to look at what actually is on each night (Saturdays you get Doctor Who and Saturday Night Live).  The focus will be on broadcast network programing and some of the key offerings on cable; there's no way to cover the hundreds and hundreds of cable networks.

The Big Gun: ...ummm...CBS?

CBS should dominate in the ratings, but Friday has its own threshold for success.  FOX has been able to keep Fringe on the air for the last two year despite anemic ratings because it's Friday night.  Which of course means great things about the long term chances for Whitney and Community.  That said there isn't anything here that is going to tap into any sort of zeitgeist.

DVR Gridlock:  None

How nice, or how sad, that there's never more than two shows that you really need to be watching.

Most Eagerly Anticipated Returning Show:  Fringe (FOX)

Fringe was not one of my favorite shows last year, but that won't mean I won't be here to see how the final 13 episodes play out.  I am a completist.  More than that, I really liked the episode last year that was set in the future after the Observers have taken over the world; I understand this final season will be set there.

Most Promising New Series:  None

I like the concept and cast for Malibu Country and Made in Jersey looks solidly made, by neither are going to get me to set my DVR.

Also:

--Paul Lee, chief guru at ABC, made his smartest programming decision yet when he decided to resuscitate the TGIF brand from the late 90's.  You'll remember TGIF as ABC's Friday night comedy providers of shows like Full House, Family Matters, Boy Meets World, amongst others.  Right now tweens, families and younger people look to Nick and the Disney Channel to find programming that will appeal to them. I say if broadcast networks want to compete with the growing cable programming, then they should compete on all levels.  I'm not a fan of Last Man Standing, and I'd like to like Malibu Country but don't see myself doing so, but I understand their broader appeal.  This is a genius way to capitalize on a discontinued brand and serve a vital segment of the populace.  My only thought is that this is a half measure.  I want to see The Neighbors be a moderate success, and then move it and The Middle here.  You could have an unbeatable family night of programming with broad appeal that may start slow but could build major dividends.

--I have been underwhelmed by Grimm since it's return.  The coyote episode was both the best the series had ever been and the most ludicrous (Was it only budgetary reasons that kept the final showdown in full daylight?).  I liked the easy streamlining away of some of the grander and more esoteric parts of the mythology, but am still waiting for that great hook to draw me in for good.  For future reference that hook will never be amnesia.

--I am on Team Whitney for the foreseeable future.  The show got quite good towards the end of its first season, and I'm curious to see how they restructuring of the show around the central couple works, because they were always my favorite part.

--The biggest NBC programming shake-up amongst its existing properties was with Community.  Producing partner Sony Pictures chose not to renew the contract with beloved series creator Dan Harmon.  Fans of the quirky, but low rated series were apoplectic.  Why not just cancel it outright, rather than rip the very heady heart out of the show?  Well, Joel McHale, Allison Brie and Danny Pudi are going to be big stars in their next series.  Donald Glover is on the cusp of being a star everywhere.  It is smart business to keep these folks around and away from the competition.  Plus, without Harmon, there is a chance that Community will become what NBC always wanted, a smart series focused on wildly different people who create their own kind of family.  Kind of like Go On.

--Take it with a grain of salt if need be, but Real Time with Bill Maher is still one of the most engaging and entertaining talking heads show around.

Series blocked in green get an unequivocal recommendation; series blocked in yellow are recommended but cautiously.