ABC’s "Help Me Help You," "The Nine" and "Men in Trees" and NBC’s "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" — have received orders for additional scripts. The ABC shows have been picked up for four more scripts, while "Studio 60" — a high-profile underperformer — has been given an order for three. Ordering additional scripts of new series in lieu of an early full-season pickup has become the norm for the Big Four networks this season. Only five freshman series — NBC’s "Heroes," CBS’ "Jericho" and "Shark," and ABC’s "Ugly Betty" and "Brothers & Sisters" — have been given full-season orders. That is half of the 10 new shows picked up for a full season at this point a year ago. In the past several years, the networks gave additional script orders to a handful of ratings-challenged series, including NBC’s "E-Ring" as well as CBS’ "Threshold" and "Out of Practice" last year. In a stark contrast this year, aside from the two shows that already have been canceled — CBS’ "Smith" and NBC’s "Kidnapped" — virtually every other freshman show on the Big Four has received an order for additional scripts, including all the new Fox series: "Vanished," "Standoff," "Justice," "’Till Death" and "Happy Hour," NBC’s "Friday Night Lights" and "Studio 60," ABC’s "The Nine" and "Help Me," with NBC’s "30 Rock" also close to an extra scripts pickup. The number of breakout shows this year ("Heroes," "Ugly Betty") is the same as last year (Fox’s "Prison Break," NBC’s "My Name is Earl"). Still, the networks are massively hedging their bets with more backup scripts and fewer episode orders this year.
Reuters
I think the only two shows who haven’t got additional script orders are Six Degress and 20 Good Year.
