​That’s not to say we’re feeling nostalgic for the network upfronts, but that this year’s Upfronts were all about nostalgia, as networks unveiled scheduling lineups heavily focused on familiar faces and past successes.

This trend was epitomized by Fox’s plans to bring back Kiefer Sutherland’s “24” after three years on the shelf. Meanwhile, ABC will anchor a night with a spinoff,from parent company Disney’s “Avengers” film, and CBS is looking to fright-master Stephen King with its show, “Under the Dome.” Other networks will present series based on such classic fare as “Dracula,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

But Ad Age is quick to point out today that for every successful big-budget show grounded in nostalgia, there’s one that flops, such as 2011’s “Charlie’s Angels” and NBC’s refresh of “Knight Rider.” The audience for the four major networks is down this season, slightly less so for cable, which can result in companies playing it safe.

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