​The Big Five broadcast networks have ordered 54 new series for the upcoming television season, the same as last year.

But the big story coming out of the annual upfront presentations to advertisers in New York is that dramas are in, comedies are out, and everyone is preaching the gospel of “eventizing.”

Limited-run series designed to attract the oh-so-attractive live viewer are “clearly a big push everywhere,” ABC Studios’ Patrick Moran told The Hollywood Reporter. “There were very few shows that were announced that I think could even be the traditional 22.”

Overall drama orders were up by four over last year, while comedies were down by three. Single-cam comedies are still the favorite at 14, versus five multicam.

In total, 34 new dramas and 20 new comedies have been ordered for the coming season.

Other key takeaways from the Upfronts:

  • —Comics are still big, with shows based on comic books sprinkled across the schedule including “Arrow,” “The Flash,” and “iZombie” (The CW), “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and “Agent Carter” (ABC), “Constantine” (NBC) and “Gotham” (Fox).
  • —CBS kept the highest number of shows on its schedule at 21; NBC and The CW renewed the lowest number of series at 11 and 10 respectively.
  • —Only 8 freshmen dramas and 5 freshmen comedies out of 54 total new series this past season are coming back for a sophomore year.
  • —Critics seem to be impressed by the new crop of dramas, less so the comedies. One exception? “A to Z” on NBC, which landed in the “hits” column on AdAge’s annual “Hits and Misses” list.

Read More: The Hollywood Reporter, Ad Age

Brief Take: After a forgettable 2013-14 season, the networks are hoping that shorter-run dramas can do for broadcast what they’ve done for red hot cable in recent years.

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