THE FRIDAY FIVE | Returning series I could take or leave

I am fiercely loyal to my TV shows, often well past the point of reason. At least, I used to be. Procedurals, spinoffs, and sitcoms seem to rule this new season, still in its infancy. But series from each of these categories have all but fallen off my radar this year.

UPFRONTS | What was NBC in front of, really?

Yesterday was NBC’s much-ballyhooed InFront presentation, giving them a supposed two week head start on the traditional May upfront presentations of the networks’ fall schedules to advertisers. Except, NBC really only did half a presentation. They announced a bunch of renewals and six new series, complete with slickly produced NBC trailers (you know, the kind that could make I Love Toy Trains seem heartfelt and compelling). But they failed to include the fall schedule, which is the other half of these presentations.

They swear a schedule is forthcoming in two weeks at the regular upfronts, as soon as they advertisers help them decide what it will be. Granted, there’s not a whole lot of mystery here. Jay Leno is moving into primetime, taking up an hour from 10-11p/9-10c each weeknight. That doesn’t leave a whole lot of real estate to arrange, given that Saturday is for Dateline (remember when this was on five nights a week?) and reruns and Sunday is football night (I’m still amazed that NBC lost money on this year’s Super Bowl).

A few bubble series continue to hang in the balance (Chuck and Law & Order, for example). Their fates will also be finalized in two weeks, at the upfronts. So what was the point of this song and dance, other than to get a head start on the PR? The late Brandon Tartikoff, a legend among network execs, used to say that every show should be someone’s favorite show. With that in mind, I watched the preview clips NBC foisted upon us yesterday.

Community, the Joel McHale/Chevy Chase sitcom, should be a good fit with The Office and 30 Rock. The four-minute trailer of 100 Questions felt like half an hour, so I’ll likely be skipping that one. The best thing about Mercy that I can see is Guillermo Diaz (Weeds) as Angel. Parenthood, which I know is still shooting its pilot, seems soggy to me, though I clearly elude the target audience. I skipped over Trauma in much the same way I suspect viewers might in the fall.

I realize I’ve fallen into the “talk about us” trap that NBC set for the TV grist mill, but I doubt this tepid assessment is the kind of critical acclaim they’re hoping for. NBC is due for a comeback, eventually. TV is cyclical, and the Peacock has seen fallow periods before. But in the meantime, being known as a safe harbor for quality entertainment can’t be a bad thing. I might have been a little more selective and definitely would not ordered so many medical shows, but I’m no Brandon Tartikoff. Neither is Ben Silverman, I guess, but it never hurts to have heroes and aim high.