NBC, Fox, and ABC Renew Commitment to Scripted Shows

The popularity of unscripted reality programing may be waning as networks appear to shift their attention back toward scripted dramas and comedies. That’s good news for actors who have seen the number of roles plateauing in recent years as executives increasingly opted for cheap-to-produce reality shows.

Scripted programming now comprises around 57 percent of the networks’ schedules. That will likely tilt back, though, as networks tend to rely on non-scripted programing during the summer months. But that’s set to change once the 2012-2013 season begins in earnest.

NBC’s fall lineup will see about a 10 percent increase in sitcoms, according to one industry estimate. Its new shows include the Matthew Perry vehicle, "Go On," the veterinarian's office comedy "Animal Practice,” “Glee” creator Ryan Murphy’s “The New Normal,” and the Jimmy Fallon-produced "Guys With Kids." Those shows mean that sitcoms will make up about 25 percent of the Peacock Network’s fall lineup.

NBC is also bringing in dramas "Revolution" from “Lost” producer J.J. Abrams and "Chicago Fire" from “Law and Order” producer Dick Wolf, while opting to keep low-rated comedies such as “Whitney” and “Community” instead of canceling them in favor of cheaper, non-scripted programing. Both shows will move to Friday nights this fall.

The network’s leadership said it’s just doing what viewers want.

"Audiences have been very receptive to comedy and light fantasy drama the past couple of seasons,” Bob Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment, told McClatchy-Tribune.

Meanwhile, ABC has axed “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” from its lineup. ABC announced May 15 it had four new scripted dramas coming in the fall, and four comedies slated to premiere mid-season.  

Fox has also put its focus on scripted programing. The top-rated network announced this week it was instead adding three new comedies and two new dramas next season.

Its new shows include Mindy Kaling's comedy "The Mindy Project" and ensemble comedy "Ben and Kate." The latter stars Dakota Johnson and Nat Faxon as odd-couple siblings, while the former is a sitcom created by and starring Kaling, famous for her role as Kelly Kapoor on NBC’s “The Office.” Both shows will join “Raising Hope” and “New Girl” as part of Fox’s Tuesday night comedy block.

Fox, of course, is home to the ultimate reality show -- “American Idol” -- but it didn’t add any new reality programing to its fall schedule.

As far back as the early 2000s, analysts were predicting the demise of reality TV. Instead, the format proliferated on cable, forcing the networks to return to scripted shows in order to offer viewers something different.

One industry observer noted any dip in the amount of unscripted programing would only be temporary. Reality programming can be produced for 50 to 75 percent less than a scripted show because it “comes with an incredible amount of product-placement money,” Jennifer Pozner, author of "Reality Bites Back: The Troubling Truth About Guilty Pleasure TV", told Back Stage. “Any dip is not going to be sustained. [Reality programing] has increased exponentially since 2000.”