Every fall, people fertilize their lawns, get ready for back-to-school and winterize their cars. I write fall preview issues.I point out in the intro that fall 2010 seems a lot like fall 1985. Geezer stars Cloris Leachman (84), William Shatner (79), Dabney Coleman (79), Tom Selleck (65), Gerald McRaney (63) and other white-haired wonders all have key roles in new series. Networks other than The CW seem to have thrown in the towel on the sub-30 set, gunning exclusively for Boomers.
Why are Boomers retaking the tube? The question was put to NBC programming president Jeff Gaspin during the recent summer press tour. His succinct answer: “Boomers watch television. The generations after that are on the Internet.” The networks seem okay with the fact their audiences are aging and seem more content than they have been in years to age right along with them.
Even the new shows seem from another age, like CBS’ much anticipated remake of Hawaii FIVE-0 (starring Starweek cover boys Alex O’Loughlin and Scott Caan). Surf’s up on this action hour starting Monday at 10 p.m. on CBS and Global. If they can keep up the pace of the pilot–and shoot around Caan’s recently busted leg–CBS should have a hit. It easily topped the TVFMF poll as the new show readers here most want to see.
A lot of new shows begin this coming week, and if you click on the Fall Preview button above, or, better yet, buy today’s Star, you can find out exactly where and when.
