TV after-strike schedules announced
With the Hollywood writers’ strike officially over, TV networks are rushing to firm their spring schedules, with a new crop of episodes to begin filming as early as next week.
NBC and CBS have announced their plans; others are tentative. But most shows will produce five to nine new installments, set to begin airing in March or April. Until then, expect plenty of repeats.
Some newer series will sit out until fall, including “Pushing Daisies,” “Dirty Sexy Money” and “Chuck.”
Others remain contenders for next season, including “Friday Night Lights “and “Las Vegas.”
The biggest casualty of the strike is “24.”
The Fox series had been scheduled to return last month, and eight episodes were filmed. But the network had committed to run a full season of the serial drama on consecutive weeks, which would have pushed the finale back to the TV doldrums of summer.
Instead, “24” fans will have to wait until next January to see Jack Bauer back in action again.
ABC’s “Lost” is expected to save the last of six remaining episodes to air after a four-week break, with five new ones starting in mid-April.
“Saturday Night Live” returns with new shows on NBC starting Feb. 23. No hosts or musical guests have yet been announced.
The latest word on what’s coming back, when, and how many new episodes are planned:
CBS
“”How I Met Your Mother” – back March 17, nine episodes
“”The Big Bang Theory” – March 17, nine
“”Two and a Half Men” – March 17, nine
“”CSI: Miami” – March 24, eight
“”Cold Case” – March 30, five
“”Criminal Minds” – April 2, seven
“”CSI: NY” – April 2, seven
“”CSI” – April 3, six
“”Without a Trace” – April 3, six
“”Ghost Whisperer” – April 4, six
“”Numb3rs” – April 4, six
“”NCIS” – April 8, seven
“”Moonlight” – April 11, four
“”Rules of Engagement” – April 14, six
“”Shark” – To be announced, four
NBC
“”My Name Is Earl” – April 3, nine
“”30 Rock” – April 10, five
“”The Office” – April 10, six
“”ER” – April 10, six
“”Scrubs” – April 10, five
“”Law & Order: SVU” – April 15, five
“”Law & Order” – April 23, five
“”Medium” – continues, 13
“”Heroes” – fall
“”Chuck” – fall
“”Life” – fall
ABC
“”Boston Legal” – early April, eight
“”Desperate Housewives” – mid-April, seven
“”Ugly Betty” – late April, five
“”Grey’s Anatomy” – late April, five
“”Brothers & Sisters” – late April, five
“”Lost” – continues, 11
“”Private Practice” – fall
“”Pushing Daisies” – fall
“”Dirty Sexy Money” – fall
Fox
“”Bones” – April 14, six
“”24” – January
CW
“”The Game,” March, eight
“”Gossip Girl” – late April, five
“”Smallville” – late April, five
“”Reaper” – late April, eight or nine
“”Supernatural” – May, four
“”One Tree Hill” – continues, 11
“”Everybody Hates Chris” – continues, 12
“”Aliens in America” – continues, eight