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Seven to fast-track The Blacklist, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Seven re-thinks its fast-tracking policy and hits the button on 2 new US shows.

2013-09-02_1647Seven has confirmed it will fast-track two new US shows just days after their US premieres this month: The Blacklist and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..

Fast-tracking both new shows would appear to be a reversal of Seven’s philosophy that fast-tracking is best served for established shows.

Seven Head of Programming Angus Ross told TV Tonight in February, “In Australia the scoreboard for fast-tracking a show in its first season is an absolute zero at the moment. None of them have ever worked.

Either way it’s good news for hungry fans.

The Blacklist stars James Spader as “the world’s most wanted criminal, Raymond Reddington, who mysteriously turns himself in to the FBI and offers to give up everyone he has ever worked with. His sole condition is that he will only work with a newly minted FBI agent with whom he seemingly has no connection.”

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., co-created by Joss Whedon, is described as “a dynamic, action-packed drama that brings back Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) to lead a team of highly skilled agents to investigate extra-normal and super human people and events worldwide.”

Also coming this year are the ninth and final season of How I Met Your Mother, Breckin Meyer’s new workplace buddy comedy Men At Work, starring Danny Masterson (That 70s Show) and James Lesure (Las Vegas); and The Neighbors, a show about parenthood, marriage, family and close encounters of the third kind in New Jersey.

Seven also promises the return of US drama Scandal in just a few weeks.

28 Responses

  1. @Full Harddrive

    Cobie Smulders is in the pilot I believe.

    She will also be in some what of a reoccurring role.
    With the distinct possibility of joining full time once How I Met Your Mother ends.

    I seem to remember reading that the HIMYM schedule gives her time. I believe that’s being shot a bit differently than past years to accommodate the actors other projects.

  2. They’ve been running ads for them all so
    Seven were definitely thinking about it.

    Last year Seven tried buying up all sorts of other stuff to fill up the end of the year which all failed. This year they have some shows that aren’t essential to their 2014 line-up and as geek shows are more likely to be downloaded if they are any good. And if they are not any good then you may as well put them on before people figure that out.

    Of course every new show fast tracked in October has done badly, except for Heroes S1. Though the Networks have usually held their best one or two shows back even when they have been short of content at the end of the year.

  3. I will admit to an interest in both The Blacklist and particularly Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I’m not one of the viewers that need fast tracking. Although I fear silly timeslots might kill these shows. Not to mention unreliable EPG start times. I guess time will tell.

  4. Well I, won’t be watching Scandal on 7. The second season came out on Netflix last week (which goes to show you how long 7 have been hanging on to this) and I will binge on 4 to 5 episodes at a time. 🙂

  5. I agree, the devil is in in the details, on this one. Days for shows of this nature is too long.

    News and information is primarily sourced online these days with major plot lines just waiting to be spoiled asking fans to just not go online for days is impractical.

    I would absolutely watch a live stream of the episode on Seven’s online media player if they put it up at the same time. They still pull advertising dollars from those things and it offers hardcore fans like myself a legal opportunity to watch the show. Why isn’t this an option for fast tracking?

  6. Unfortunately David, the keyword in this statement is “days” 🙁

    There are some who believe they are entitled to see things the instant that other people do and these selfish people won’t be prepared to wait “days” to see a show. This is the main reason fast-tracking has not succeeded. People pirate the shows because they simply cannot wait and then they whinge that the networks do not show anything decent.

    Look, you already have one naysayer who is not going to watch the shows on the networks simply because it isn’t in HD for goodness sake!

    People are too greedy, selfish and entitled for their own good.

    Personally, I am looking forwards to both shows and hope they succeed.

  7. Awesome. Two of the most anticipated shows for me. And i actually think both will work in Seven’s favour. I’ll be watching, but that said if Seven have it on at 8.43 or 8.51 or ridiculous times each week, i’m out. I support fast tracking, but won’t put up with late starts.

  8. James Spader has just landed a great role in the next The Avengers film as well, playing another baddie. I cannot wait for both The Blacklist and Agent’s of S.H.I.E.L.D.

  9. Why wouldn’t they fast track? If it succeeds they build an audience and curb piracy, if if doesn’t succeed, then it’s not like it would have succeeded had they not fast tracked it. At least they can build audience confidence by fast tracking

  10. @Mr. J Channel 9 have been promoting new US fall shows ‘as coming soon’ for 2 weeks now – the key one being Hostages (airing in the US 24/9 AU time) with Toni Collette and Dylan McDermott. They just failed to advise when ‘coming soon’ will be 🙂

  11. Fasttracking a new show is risky as networks have no idea how they will fare, however these ones do seem like they will be hits. Its great that they’re giving Scandal another go, but not sure if it will take off here as its highly serialised and fast paced.

  12. I’m looking forward to both these shows. They are easily the best looking ones thats for sure. Can’t wait for Scandal too. Season 2 has been buzzed about so much and sort of annoyed Seven has taken this long to bring it to us.

  13. I am surprised that it is only 7 that is promoting new fall shows, usually they are more conservative and hold the big shows until feb, and they have had great sucess that way.
    I am a long way from convinced with fast tracking, the track record speaks for itself. If these 2 dramas flop I think it will be that nail in the coffin for fast tracking and it won’t be done for years on any network.

  14. @ Dave, “The Blacklist” actually premieres in the United States on September 23.

    @ D@GP, Seven haven’t been screening promos for the last six months. They started at the end of July.

    In any event, I hope this strategy pays off for them. I’m personally looking forward to “The Blacklist”. Anything starring James Spader engages my attention.

  15. You mean The Blacklist hasn’t even started in the USA?

    7’s been screening promos for it for six months at least!

    Mr K – any starting date as yet please?

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