CRAIG’S CHOICES
Most Promising Trailer: Manifest. Again, it could be derivative, but if executed well it could be a really good series.
Most Anticipated New Show: Manifest. It’s not like we have a lot to choose from.
Best Scheduling Move: I don’t know if it would be “best” so much as I’m curious how the three Chicago Wednesday goes. Seems like a pretty bold move, and I like it when the networks get bold and not boring, sometimes.
Worst Scheduling Move: I Feel Bad about NBC’s Thursday night. The first hour, we can expect not to set the world on fire but at least be good shows that entertain. Will & Grace and SVU will be fine. But NBC can’t afford to put mediocrity in those half-hour slots like they did back in the day when they’d sandwich shows between Friends and Seinfeld.
Most Likely New Hit: New Amsterdam. Follows This Is Us, and if The Good Doctor took off, maybe this one will too. I won’t be watching, but hey.
Likely First Cancellation: I Feel Bad. They’ll do the 13 episodes and then quietly disappear.
What I’ll Be Watching in the Fall: I’ll check out Manifest. Some year when I’ve invested in Kleenex I’ll binge This Is Us. I’ll still be watching Will & Grace, and I’ll certainly still be supportive of Superstore and The Good Place even though I rarely have a chance to see them.
SHILO’S SUPERLATIVES
Most Promising Trailer: Since we’re not cool enough to be invited to the big NBC upfront, we haven’t seen any of the midseason trailers. Of the fall shows, I liked the I Feel Bad trailer the most, as I’m a big proponent of Sarayu Blue (RIP No Tomorrow), irreverent female-led comedy, and more inclusive storytelling on broadcast TV. I don’t know how on-brand the show will be for NBC, which hasn’t had a family comedy pop in a while, but I thought the trailer was funny and I’m curious what this show looks like after it gets its legs underneath it.
Most Anticipated New Show: Abby’s. Aside from a solid creative team that includes Mike Schur and a cast that features likable TV vets like Natalie Morales, Neil Flynn, and Nelson Franklin, I’m very interested to see what a multi-cam that films outside looks and feels like. Admittedly, I’ve not watched many multi-cams in recent years, but juxtaposing this type of adventurous stylistic wrinkle with a premise that reeks of TV comfort food could be a refreshing change of pace for broadcast.
Best Scheduling Move: For now, I think the Chicago Wednesdays. While It could very easily turn into too much of a good thing and offset what gains will come from brand synergy, this is a great opportunity for NBC to flex its marketing muscle and something that should have the other networks worried going into next season. I do wonder how the affiliates feel about this, since they’re going from three well-rated, casual-friendly Chicagos at 10:00 to just the one, but the SVU swap and another medical drama after This Is Us feel like good compromises.
Worst Scheduling Move: I Feel Bad. Single cams and multi-cams generally don’t mix well, it doesn’t have as much Same Day time airing at the end of a comedy block, and Will & Grace isn’t a great lead-in after suffering steep drops this past season. NBC’s just asking for this show to be pulled.
Most Likely New Hit: I think Manifest will have a good premiere before cooling down significantly in subsequent weeks. It just doesn’t seem sustainable and putting something this overtly emotional against The Good Doctor could backfire big time. I don’t know if New Amsterdam has as high a ceiling, even with the post-This Is Us slot, or will generate as passionate a fan base, but I think it’ll end up being much steadier than Manifest.
Likely First Cancellation: I Feel Bad. Combine all of what I said under Worst Scheduling Move with the modest audience response to the trailer and NBC’s deep comedy bench (e.g. Abby’s, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, A.P. Bio) and I Feel Bad just, well, feels like a show the critics will champion that doesn’t find a mainstream audience.
What I’ll Be Watching in the Fall: I’m still in on Superstore, even though how they’re writing Jonah and Amy leaves a lot to be desired. I might binge Midnight, Texas this summer on recommendations from people I trust. As far as newbies, I’m curious about I Feel Bad, which comes from (and stars) people I like and whose trailer made me laugh.
