Image Credit: Chris Haston/NBCOne of the more interesting series to emerge from NBC’s 2010-11 development season was Love Bites, an anthology from Sex and the City scribe Cindy Chupack that was described as a modern-day Love, American Style. The show was originally set for fall but was quickly replaced with The Apprentice because star Becki Newton was pregnant and Chupack stepped down for personal reasons. Now, some more not-so-great news has emerged about the show: NBC has reduced the episodic order from 13 to 9. And there’s still no debut date.
An insider insists that the project remains a priority. It’s just that NBC has too much content to shove onto its midseason lineup so it didn’t make sense to pay for 13 episodes (for more information about the schedule, click here). In fact, NBC has yet to find slots for The Paul Reiser Show and Friends with Benefits, two other shows that were developed for NBC’s midseason lineup, as well. In retrospect, it might have been better to program Love Bites this fall instead of The Apprentice, which generated dreadful ratings on Thursdays at 10.
The only time I watch NBC is on Thursday and Sunday (NFL) night. It’s obvious why they’re in 4th place. Terrible programming!
Bring back Cheers. I need work.
Check Danson’s resume, dude. “Bored to Death” on HBO is a current series.
Networks shouldn’t develop this many shows. They should learn to stick with the ones they have, even if they are failing, and see if after a year or so, they rise. NBC had Cheers, the dead last show of 1982. What if it’d been cancelled? Think of the millions they and the city of Boston would never have made
I always site “Cheers” in defense of shows that struggle, but, the reality is the landscape of television has changed ions in those 30 years since that show debuted. The competition is much thicker so the patience for success is conversely much thinner.
My first thought reading this story was “well, why even watch?” (Although I loved Becki Newton on Ugly Betty!) But then I remembered that Parenthood only had a shortened season last spring, and NBC gave it a 2nd-season order–which is richly deserved. So, maybe this isn’t a death sentence for Love Bites.
I sure hope NBC isn’t holding this up because Heroes’ Greg Grunberg signed on for for a full season!
Bad enough they mishandled SouthLAnd (before selling it off to TNT), and then let Tim Kring kill Heroes in it’s final hour, then keep fans guessing on a “wrap up project” until they saw the first week sales on the fourth season dvd before finally axing it altogether.
Don’t even get me started on a certain ginger talk show host!
I don’t even watch the local NBC news anymore, I can’t stand that network!
It hasn’t even premiered yet and they’re already trying to get it canceled. I want to watch this show, I might like it.
I want this to be great. Say it with me: “Becki Newton!Becki Newton!Becki Newton!Becki Newton!Becki Newton!”
I dont think this means the death or anything! I think its actually pretty smart.
I cant wait to see the show!
How about Jordana Spiro, she back on the project or not?
Missing My Boys here…
I previewed “love bites” at universal studios this past spring. I thought the show was phenomenal; and have been patiently waiting for it to debut. I think the show will have a cult following from people within it’s targeted demographic.