TV Tidbits 62 - Renewals & The Office

TVGuide.com has posted a handy dandy list of shows that have already been, are likely or not-so-likely to be renewed, as well as those that have already been canceled. And it looks a little somethin' like this:

With the networks poised to begin unveiling their plans for the 2009-10 TV season, we thought it time to begin keeping tabs on exactly which shows have earned a pick-up, which have already gotten the hook, and which are still in a state of limbo. We're focusing on the major broadcast networks, to keep things simple.

The Not Yet Renewed category includes some no-brainers — yeah, as if CBS would snuff any of its CSIs! — but until each network announces their double-secret, official prime-time plan, each of those shows shall remain put, before being assigned a different fate.

The list of series awaiting renewal breaks down each show's outlook for earning a spot on its network's line-up — GOOD, FAIR or POOR, based on ratings performance, the latest buzz and other considerations (such as Jay Leno claiming five NBC prime-time hours for himself). Those designations can change daily (or even hourly) throughout the coming weeks, depending on new intel.

NOT YET RENEWED | Outlook GOOD
20/20, ABC
48 Hours Mystery, CBS
60 Minutes, CBS
America's Most Wanted, FOX
Better Off Ted, ABC
Bones, FOX
Castle, ABC
COPS, FOX
Criminal Minds, CBS
CSI, CBS
CSI: Miami, CBS
CSI: NY, CBS
Dateline NBC, NBC
Deal or No Deal, NBC
Fringe, FOX
Ghost Whisperer, CBS
Heroes, NBC
House, FOX
How I Met Your Mother, CBS
Law & Order, NBC
Medium, NBC
The Mentalist, CBS
My Name Is Earl, NBC
NCIS, CBS
The New Adventures of Old Christine, CBS
Numbers, CBS
Parks and Recreation, NBC
Without a Trace, CBS

NOT YET RENEWED | Outlook FAIR
Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?, FOX
Chuck, NBC
Cold Case, CBS
Don't Forget the Lyrics!, FOX
Eleventh Hour, CBS
The Game, CW
Gary Unmarried, CBS
Kitchen Nightmares, FOX
Privileged, CW
Samantha Who?, ABC
Southland, NBC
Surviving Suburbia, ABC
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, FOX
The Unit, CBS
Without a Trace, CBS

NOT YET RENEWED | Outlook POOR
Cupid, ABC
Dollhouse, FOX
Everybody Hates Chris, CW
Harper's Island (next incarnation of), CBS
In the Motherhood, ABC
Kath & Kim, NBC
Kings, NBC
Knight Rider, NBC
Life, NBC
Reaper, CW
Scrubs, ABC
Sit Down, Shut Up, FOX
Stylista, CW
The Unusuals, ABC
Worst Week, CBS

CANCELLED/NOT RETURNING
Boston Legal, ABC
Crusoe, NBC
Dirty Sexy Money, ABC
Do Not Disturb, FOX
Easy Money, CW
Eli Stone, ABC
ER, NBC
The Ex List, CBS
In Harm's Way, CW
King of the Hill, FOX
Life on Mars, ABC
Lipstick Jungle, NBC
My Own Worst Enemy, NBC
Opportunity Knocks, ABC
Prison Break, FOX
Pushing Daisies, ABC
Valentine, CW

OFFICIALLY RENEWED FOR THE 2009-10 TV SEASON
30 Rock, NBC
90210, CW
The Amazing Race, CBS
American Dad, FOX
American Idol, FOX
America's Funniest Home Videos, ABC
America's Next Top Model, CW
The Bachelor, ABC
The Big Bang Theory, CBS
The Biggest Loser, NBC
Brothers & Sisters, ABC
The Celebrity Apprentice, NBC
Dancing with the Stars, ABC
Desperate Housewives, ABC
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, ABC
Family Guy, FOX
Gossip Girl, CW
Grey's Anatomy, ABC
Law & Order: SVU, NBC
Lost, ABC
The Office, NBC
One Tree Hill, CW
Private Practice, ABC
The Simpsons, FOX
Smallville, CW
Supernanny, ABC
Supernatural, CW
Survivor, CBS
'Til Death, FOX
Two and a Half Men, CBS
Ugly Betty, ABC
Wife Swap, ABC

Outlook "poor" for Reaper?!!! Mew. :o( But I love Ben! I hope this season wraps some things up if it winds up not coming back...

And because Robert has a man-crush on Creed from The Office, I thought I'd post this interview with him (the man, not the character - though they do share the same name) from TVGuide.com:

Thursday night will turn into casual Friday on The Office. The Dunder Mifflin gang is poised to get comfy this week at work — and with each other for two Dunderheads. Creed Bratton — the actor, not the character — gives TVGuide.com a taste of what's (and who's) to come in the episode and in the season finale, which is the show's 100th episode. Get the scoop below, as well as his thoughts on Labor Pains costar Lindsay Lohan and his dream Office mating.

TVGuide.com: I hear we finally get to see more Creed this week.
Creed Bratton: I've got a couple scenes with Jim. It's called "Casual Friday," and it'll be casual! Creed's going to get down to his jammies — I think it was a white outfit. There's some really aggressive stuff going on there and I hide in the break room to avoid it all, and so does Halpert. So we start to just hang out and start talking, which is kind of weird.

TVGuide.com: Are you guys the new BFFs?
Bratton: Well, no one will be best friends with Creed because he's just too weird, right? But we're there and we're not working. We start playing chess. You have to watch to see.

TVGuide.com: You've been pretty MIA during the whole Michael Scott Paper Company arc. We last saw you at the pancake luncheon.
Bratton: Creed didn't like the pancakes, so imagine how bad they had to be! And I'll eat anything! As actors, we never know what's going to make it in. There are some instances in the season finale and whether they make it in, I don't know. The finale is the 100th episode. We had a company picnic out in Malibu and there were 360 extras. It was a big deal.

TVGuide.com: And Charles and Holly will be there since it's company-wide...
Bratton: Well, you know your Office. You're right. They should be there. Would Creed remember them there? No. He's just there watching what's going on. He's like the Greek horse.

TVGuide.com: Is there ever going to be a Creed-centric episode?
Bratton: I'd love for one. People ask me that all the time and I guess obviously people want to see it. I think [there hasn't been one yet] because everyone at NBC and Greg [Daniels] think Creed's just so funny in small doses. They know he can come in when we need to get a little chuckle. I don't think they're worried he cannot do more, but if it works, why mess around with it?

TVGuide.com: Well, how about this — will Creed ever get a love interest?
Bratton: Oh, boy, have I lobbied for that! I want to get some femmes for Creed. You know who I think would be great? Jane Lynch! We met at a party last year Rainn [Wilson] was having. I said, "It would be so cool if you came on as a woman from my past and it'd be hysterical." She said, "I'd love to work with you." I told Greg that and he said, "We'll see." They all know I want to work with her. ... There could be a Creed-centric episode where a woman from his past appears with a love child with money, and Creed ended up scamming her, taking her money — that'd make sense. [Laughs] Or the kid could come with college money and Creed will end up taking his college money. That's what he would do!

TVGuide.com: Is there a reason why your blog hasn't been updated since August?
Bratton: Oh, Creed Thoughts. Well, I just haven't had any really good things to write about lately. You've heard the story before — and it's absolutely true — the writers put these things on my forehead when I'm taking a nap after lunch. It's a CIA machine — NASA technology — and they just download stuff and spit it out on the computer. So if I'm not around, they can't get the stream of consciousness and I'm too lazy to send them stuff.

TVGuide.com: What about Twitter? That's shorter.
Bratton: Oh, that's too young! I'm not going to do that. No, no. Besides, Creed's, like, in his late-80s now. He's in good shape for his 80s. I think it's the ginseng suppositories. [Laughs]

TVGuide.com: You're also in Labor Pains.
Bratton: That was fun to work on — Lindsay Lohan, Cheryl Hines and Chris Parnell. I don't follow any of the stuff [about Lindsay], but she was right on the money.

TVGuide.com: Have you heard from Christopher Nolan about that awesome Joker you did?
Bratton: Thank you. I worked pretty hard to get him down. A lot of people said it was really eerie and kind of uncomfortable. And I said, "Good!" I haven't heard from him, but that would be cool. When we finally get through with the show — who knows how long it will be? — I'd like to be established as a character actor that I can go straight on into character parts. I don't want to stop working because I like it too much.

There's also this little scoop from today's Ask Ausiello:

Question: Please, please, please have some good scoop for The Office. I feel like it has been forever since we have learned something new.
Ausiello: Here's what you already know: Everyone (including Amy Ryan's Holly) gathers together for Dunder Mifflin's annual company picnic. Here's what you don't know: The episode ends with a doozy of a twist, the repercussions of which will be felt well into next season.

I am behind 5 episodes on The OFfice because I don't like the whole 'Michael has his own company' twist. Well, at least I think I don't from what I've read about it. :o) Hopefully, the doozy of a twist won't make me even less motivated to keep up with the show...