For half of the big-four networks, this is changeover time.
NBC is shedding its Mondays, so it can go on a basketball binge; Fox is wrapping lots of shows, as it prepares a (mostly) scriptless spring.
Some of this is bad news long-range, but good for a while. We get an early flurry of finales, when shows are usually at their best. Details include:
NBC
“St. Denis Medical” wrapped its season Monday (8 p.m., April 6) with two key storylines: Dr. Ron underwent triple-bypass surgery; Matt and Serena faced the aftermath of their passionate first kiss.
The result neatly mixed humor and heart, reminding us that season-finales can be special. A week later (April 13), “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” has its final episodes of the episodes at 8 and 8:30.
Then (9-11 p.m., April 13), it’s the end of an abbreviated “Voice” season. A week later, the pro basketball tournament starts gobbling up prime time Mondays, Tuesdays and Sundays on NBC, plus Saturdays on ABC.
FOX
On Monday (8 p.m., April 6), “Memory of a Killer” came to a dreary end. After that, however, the scripted finales are promising.
“Best Medicine” has kept getting better as its first season went along. It wraps (8 p.m., April 7) with an amiable mix of humor, drama, goofiness and small-town charm.
A week later (8 p.m., April 14), “Doc” wraps an excellent season with two episodes. And April 23 brings the season-finales of two comedies — Joel McHale’s excellent “Animal Control” at 9 p.m. and Denis Leary’s so-so “Going Dutch” at 9:30.
Alongside them are the reality and game-show departures, including “The Masked Singer,” “Fear Factor” and (8 p.m., April 6), “Extracted.”
Not to worry: By late April, Fox will be awash in games, with zero scripted shows (cartoon excludewd).
Rob Lowe’s “The Floor” gets off to a fun, two-hour start at 8 p.m., April 8. And the network’s two best summer shows are arriving early — McHale’s “The 1% Club” at 8 p.m,. April 13 and Gordon Ramsay’s “MasterChef” at 8 p.m. April 15.
Also arriving: “The Quiz With Balls” at 9 p.m. April 13 and “Farmer Wants a Wife” and “Running Wild With Bear Grylls,” at 8 and 9 p.m. April 21.