While television studios on the East Coast were shutting down production on their shows, and while late-night talk shows were filming without audiences, over on the West Coast, it was business as usual. As we’ve already reported, NBC reformatted Up All Night and dropped their planned spin-off of Schrute Farms, while ABC picked up full-season orders on their freshman sitcom Neighbors and their sophomore drama, Scandal.
I can’t really speak to the pick-up of Neighbors; I watched the first episode, hated it, and assumed that it would get an early cancellation, but it’s holding its own in the space between The Middle and Modern Family, and at least one television critic is heralding it has NOT THE WORST sitcom on television. High praise, indeed.
Meanwhile, laugh at me all you want, but I’m stoked about the pick-up of Scandal. It’s a solid drama, well acted, and smarter than you think. Plus, Joshua Malina, folks. And Columbus Short. AND Kerry Washington is gorgeous. I’m sure that many of you quickly dismissed it, but it’s worth a visit if you have space on your DVRs.
Elsewhere, over on AMC, the network has picked up a 10-episode third season of Hell on Wheels, and I can’t really speak to that, either. I quit halfway through the first season as it seemed like a bland, Deadwood-lite. I have heard, however, that it picked up significantly, and it’s second season was well liked. It may be a show I need to revisit before the third season.
I do like anything that keeps Common employed.
