Chaos theory is the idea of the moment, the trendy explanation for everything that seems random — from the nature of the universe to the movements of the stock market.
I’m not about to claim that I understand chaos theory, but from what little I know, I don’t think the people who came up with it intended broadcasters to make it the driving force of prime-time scheduling.
Nevertheless, when the 1997-98 TV season begins next month, seemingly random change — or chaos, depending on your point of view — will be everywhere.
Of the 120 programs on the four major networks and two minor ones, less than half are shows returning to their previous time slots. Between 38 new series and 30 returning shows moving to different time slots, the prime-time environment is 57 percent different from last season.
And broadcasters wonder why their share of TV watching, an activity that depends on habit, keeps slipping?
In their defense, networks have to stay on guard against self-delusion. The difference between stability and complacency — or, worst of all, creative stagnation — can be a very fine line. Is an unchanging program lineup, in other words, evidence of successful shows and enlightened scheduling or evidence that a network’s new-show development process has collapsed?
Sometimes, too, network programmers simply have a different perspective. If a time period remains consistent in the kind of program or programs it offers — a block of comedies, a drama, a news magazine — networks may see that as stability, even if the specific shows change. It’s hard to imagine that viewers see it that way, though.
And the numbers are not encouraging. This season, viewers will be faced with change on every night of the week. Of the four major networks, three are altering more than half of their program slots:
– On ABC, 68 percent of its 25 program slots are different; 48 percent with new shows, 20 percent with old shows in new time slots.
– On NBC, 60 percent of its 30 program positions are different, evenly split between new shows and returning shows that are moving.
– CBS is altering 54 percent of its 26 program slots; seven new shows and seven in different time periods, including two (“Family Matters” and “Step by Step”) that are moving to CBS from ABC.
– Fox’s lineup of 17 prime-time shows is only 35 percent different from last season, reflecting the addition of just five new shows and the time shifting of one.
– The two micro-networks, each broadcasting only three nights per week, clearly are in step with their bigger siblings. WB is changing 67 percent of its 12 program slots, adding two new shows and moving six others. UPN is scrambling 50 percent of its schedule, adding three shows and moving two.
To help lessen viewers’ inevitable confusion, here is a clip-and-save alphabetical list of the returning prime-time shows that are moving this season — and where they’re moving to:
“Boy Meets World,” Fridays at 7:30, ABC.
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“Caroline in the City,” Mondays at 8, NBC.
“Chicago Hope,” Wednesdays at 9, CBS.
“Clueless,” Tuesdays at 7, UPN.
“Cybill,” Mondays at 8, CBS.
“Diagnosis Murder,” Thursdays at 8, CBS.
“Family Matters,” Fridays at 7, CBS.
“Fired Up,” Mondays at 7:30, NBC.
“JAG,” Tuesdays at 7, CBS.
“The Jamie Foxx Show,” Sundays at 7, WB.
“Just Shoot Me,” Tuesdays at 8:30, NBC.
“Living Single,” Thursdays at 7, Fox.
“Men Behaving Badly,” Sundays at 7, NBC.
“Moesha,” Tuesdays at 7:30, UPN.
“Murphy Brown,” Wednesdays at 7:30, CBS.
“The Naked Truth,” Mondays at 8:30, NBC.
“NewsRadio,” Tuesdays at 7:30, NBC.
“Nick Freno,” Sundays at 6, WB.
“The Parent ‘Hood,” Sundays at 6:30, WB.
“The Practice,” Saturdays at 9, ABC.
“The Pretender,” Saturdays at 7, NBC.
“Sabrina,” Fridays at 7, ABC.
“Soul Man,” Tuesdays at 7, ABC.
“Spin City,” Wednesdays at 7, ABC.
“Step by Step,” Fridays at 8:30, CBS.
“The Steve Harvey Show,” Wednesdays at 8:30, WB.
“Suddenly Susan,” Mondays at 7, NBC.
“3rd Rock From the Sun,” Wednesdays at 8, NBC.
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“Unhappily Ever After,” Sundays at 7:30, WB.
“The Wayans Brothers,” Wednesdays at 8, WB.