The TV Zone

Not back next season? Is this possible?

We may have the first evidence of the draconian effect of the writers' strike on returning series or, to be more precise, those series not returning.

ABC on Monday announced a slew of shows that will return for the 2008-09 season - "Brothers & Sisters,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Dirty Sexy Money,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Lost,” “Private Practice,” “Pushing Daisies,” “Samantha Who?” and “Ugly Betty.”

And on Tuesday, we get word that it's also cut back on its order of "Lost" for the remainder of the season.

Yesterday's list may be more interesting for what is NOT on it: "Cavemen," "Carpoolers," "October Road," "Men in Trees," and "Big Shots." The only truly surprising omission? "Boston Legal," which is the last surviving series of uber-producer David E. Kelley on primetime TV (and which of course, grew out of the ashes of "The Practice.") ABC says the show's fate won't be determined until May, but this definitely looks bad.

What could be going on here? Too expensive? That's a very real possibility - and I did note that William Shatner was asked in a recent magazine survey whether he missed working at the show during the strike, and his response (I paraphrase) was "not in the least..."

"Cavemen," alas, was expected to be a casualty, strike or no. The others were certainly bubbles, too, though the strike may have hastened their demise.

"The strength of our schedule this fall was unprecedented and speaks for itself,” said Stephen McPherson, president, ABC Entertainment, in a statement. “We’re looking forward to building on that success.”