By Nellie Andreeva
1 hour, 38 minutes ago


LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Fox Broadcasting Co. has jumpstarted more of its 2006-07 primetime schedule with early pickups for two drama pilots, "Primary" and "American Crime."

"Primary" stars Ron Livingston and Rosemarie DeWitt as hostage negotiators who balance their budding relationship and their job. "American Crime," featuring "Alias" veteran Victor Garber, is an ensemble about high-profile defense attorneys.

They join drama pilot "Vanished" and comedy pilot "'Til Death," in getting series orders from Fox well in advance of the broadcast networks' fall schedule unveilings, set to take place next week in New York. Buzz was building on Friday that Fox was eyeing a renewal of the domestic comedy "The War at Home" as a possible companion to "'Til Death," which stars Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher as a long-married couple.

There also was speculation that Fox was looking to resurrect the animated series "Futurama," from "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening, on its Sunday lineup the same way that "Family Guy" was brought back last year. The network has an option for new episodes, which currently are being produced for Cartoon Network's Adult Swim late-night block.

Meanwhile, the chatter also was beginning to build last week that NBC is eyeing a move of its veteran drama "ER" out of the Thursday 10 p.m. slot that has been its home since the series premiered in 1994. There was speculation that the network could look to bolster its fortunes on Tuesday or Wednesday by shifting "ER" to a 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. slot and pair it with "Law & Order" or "Law & Order: SVU." NBC's new drama "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," which earned its formal greenlight last week, was said to be the contender for the Thursday 10 p.m. berth if "ER" moves.

At ABC, the industry's focus was centered last week on whether a move was in store for Sunday dynamos "Desperate Housewives" or "Grey's Anatomy." There was talk that "Housewives" could be headed for a Monday berth, as ABC prepares for its first fall launch without "Monday Night Football" in 36 years, and that "Grey's" could be bumped up from its current 10 p.m. slot to 9 p.m. Sunday in order to give a new show the benefit of its lead-in.

The pilot pickup picture at ABC is still hard to read, but good vibes seem to be surrounding drama "Day Break," starring Taye Diggs as a cop on the run; an untitled bank-heist drama; as well as "Drift," "Six Degrees" and the telenovela adaptation "Ugly Betty." Among comedies, the heat still seems to be on the rock star comedy "Him and Us"; an untitled project starring Donal Logue and featuring Mick Jagger; "In Case of Emergency," starring David Arquette and Greg Germann; and "Help Me Help You," featuring Ted Danson. "George Lopez" and "Freddie," two ABC comedies that had been on the bubble for renewals, are said to be looking good to return.

CBS is said to be poised to add hot midseason drama "The Unit" and midseason comedy "The New Adventures of Old Christine" to its previously announced roster of returning series, while veteran "The King of Queens" is not expected back in the fall. Among pilots, the top drama contenders at CBS are said to include "Jericho," about a small town isolated from the rest of the world after a nuclear disaster; "Shark," starring James Woods as a celebrity attorney-turned-prosecutor; and an untitled legal drama from "CSI" executive producer Carol Mendelsohn.

Over at the nascent CW, the pilot "Flirt," starring Wayne Brady, looks like the one to beat on the comedy side. Meanwhile, the WB Network's "Reba" is not expected to move to CW for a sixth season after UPN and WB fold their tents in the fall.

The show at present is wrapping up the first year of a two-year pickup struck last year between WB and "Reba" producer 20th Century Fox TV, which means its cancellation won't come cheap for CW. Sources said the decision will cost CW as much as $20 million, including compensating the studio for lost syndication revenues from the sixth-season episodes that will not be produced.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

Meanwhile, the chatter also was beginning to build last week that NBC is eyeing a move of its veteran drama "ER" out of the Thursday 10 p.m. slot that has been its home since the series premiered in 1994. There was speculation that the network could look to bolster its fortunes on Tuesday or Wednesday by shifting "ER" to a 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. slot and pair it with "Law & Order" or "Law & Order: SVU." NBC's new drama "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," which earned its formal greenlight last week, was said to be the contender for the Thursday 10 p.m. berth if "ER" moves.

"American Crime," featuring "Alias" veteran Victor Garber, is an ensemble about high-profile defense attorneys.

NBC's new drama "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," which earned its formal greenlight last week, was said to be the contender for the Thursday 10 p.m. berth if "ER" moves.