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We’ve had our fair share of strange events throughout 2008 but next year is gonna open with some crazier choices.

Case in point: NBC announced the other day its January schedule, as in only January, not mid-season schedule.

Life, Chuck and Heroes won’t be back in January.
They will probably premiere around mid-February for a continuous run without repeats similar to Lost’s.

Kings is still unanounced.

Without much surprise, My Own Worst Enemy, Lipstick Jungle and Crusoe won’t be back at all.

Wondering what’s replacing those shows?
Two words: Howdie & Dancing.
Meaning a hidden-camera show hosted by Howdie Mandel and another, again, dancing competition.

Oh and there’s the usual L&O repeats.

FNL’s season 3 is on Fridays but chances are if you’re a fan, you’ve already seen it.

SNL will try to re-create the Election magic but with sports, bringing Saturday Night Live Sports Extra to NBC’s Sundays.
They’ll also try to revive Saturday Night Live Film Festival.
Is SNL Fashion Edition next?
God I hope not.

Meanwhile, Crap Rider will be back in Jan., still showing on Wednesdays.

Prepare to be bored to death in January on NBC.

OMFG

Let’s start with 2 strange pick-ups from the last couple of days.

HBO has ordered a series adaptation (as in real series, not mini) of George R.R. Martin’s 7-book “A Song of Fire & Ice”, titled “Game of Thrones”.
Each season would represent a book, so it could go on for about 7 seasons, if it is picked up that is.
Did I forget to mention that “Game of Thrones” is in fact a fantasy series?
As in, magic and dragons.
On HBO.
In primetime.

Ridley Scott on the other hand is going to direct a movie adaptation of…wait for it…Monopoly.
The script is going to be penned by Corpse Bride/Monster House‘s Pamela Pettler and should be reminiscent of Blade Runner with its futuristic feel.

Meanwhile, Fox just ditched MadTV and NBC has canceled My Worst Enemy and Lipstick Jungle.
But no real surprise there.

Did you guys also hear?
The war in Iraq has ended, says the New York Times.


Oh but wait…
It’s a hoax.

And just because I’m a sucker for technology, and “the future is now”:
RED just announced today its massive new line of product and accessories, including the awesome $55,000 EPIC 617 Mysterium Monstro camera.
Just how awesome is it?
28k awesome.
That means it shoots at 25FPS images with a res of 28 000 x 9 334.
With the ability to also shoot 3-D.
Yeah, you read that correctly.

Sure, it’s only going to arrive in like 2 years, but who cares.
It’s revolutionary.

Scary business

Remember that news about NBC cutting costs?

Well CBS may also do that in the very near future as they announced yesterday a third quarter loss of $12.5 billion (linked to a $14 billion write-down) with ad revenue declining in its main divisions, including television.

Incidentally, digital revenues have rose 6% this year with a 12% increase regarding Internet display ads.

As for their revenues, they are up 3%, thanks primarily to CSI: NY’s cable syndication.

All in all, CBS is now in the top 10 Internet company and the “#1 producer and provider of premium online content”.

No wonder they are trying to cash in on the future.

Meanwhile, Yahoo Video is now the (distant) second in video streams with a 56% increase (to about 265 millions).
Still, Google’s YouTube is very far ahead with 5 billion video streams in September.
Let’s not forget though that most Yahoo Vids have ads in them (= money = good for the company).

Speaking of, Lisa Klink has posted about “[trying to come] at the TV biz sideways”. Meaning that wannabe TV (and for that matter any) writer wanting to break in will have better chance of doing that by trying various other “creative outlets”.
TV writing is becoming increasingly more competitive due to a number of reasons, including strong cuts in budgets, therefore creating a smaller gap for people to squeeze in.
Any kind of “out of the box” success will definitely be a plus, distinguishing you from the rest.