'The Unit' stays, but Oprah's 'Big Give' goes

May 16, 2008

'The Unit" has been renewed for another season.

That's good news for fans of that CBS show, but much more news emerged from the "upfront" week in New York, where the broadcast networks unveiled their 2008-09 schedules for advertisers and the press. It was a relatively quiet week—most networks are bringing back the old shows and will relaunch a few series that debuted last fall.

One big surprise: A rare setback for Oprah Winfrey. "Oprah's Big Give," an ABC reality show, will not return. "It wasn't something Oprah wanted to do," ABC president Stephen McPherson said.

Speaking of dead projects, "Moonlight" has had a stake put through its heart, but Deadline Hollywood Daily blogger Nikki Finke says the CW may pick it up. "Cane" and "Shark" were canceled by CBS, but "How I Met Your Mother" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine," two comedies whose fates were uncertain, will be back.

On ABC, "October Road," "Miss Guided," "Women's Murder Club," "Cashmere Mafia" and "Men in Trees" have been canceled. "Eli Stone," which had been "on the bubble," will return for another season, "Boston Legal" will return for one more season and "Scrubs" moves from NBC to ABC in the fall. TV's biggest mystery continues: "According to Jim" has been renewed again. What about that sitcom makes it unkillable?

Fox has killed off "Back to You," "Canterbury's Law" and "New Amsterdam" (but wasn't the lead character on that last show supposed to live forever?). The renewal of the Fox action series "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" was announced a couple of weeks ago.

NBC announced its fall plans weeks ago, but I still get questions about "Las Vegas." It's been canceled.

As for the CW, it announced this week that the sweet comedy "Aliens in America" won't return, but the demonic series "Reaper" will reappear at mid-season.

Here's a bit of information about a few new shows for fall:

•The American version of the BBC's "Life on Mars" has been picked up for fall by ABC, but writer/producer David E. Kelley has left the project and the Hollywood Reporter says that some of "October Road's" creative team (and I use that term loosely) may take over. Is there a better way to ensure that the show will be awful? I think not.

•Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse" is on the Fox schedule, but it's not clear yet when it will air—in the fall or at mid-season. Fox also picked up J.J. Abrams' sci-fi flavored thriller "Fringe."

•Finally, next season the CW is launching an update of "Beverly Hills, 90210" called simply "90210," and Jennie Garth from the original show will have a recurring role as a guidance counselor. Tori Spelling told People.com that she may participate in the spinoff as well.

moryan@tribune.com