Old Christine Will Get A Fifth Season On CBS Or ABC

CBS’ comedy series The New Adventures of Old Christine is assured of a 22-episode fifth-season order. ABC has closed a back-up deal with series producer Warner Brothers TV that guarantees a full-season order to the show if CBS doesn’t pick up the show. This is the second consecutive year ABC has made such a deal for the multicamera sitcom starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The network’s chief, Stephen McPherson, is considered a big fan of the show.

The odds are in favor of CBS renewing The New Adventures of Old Christine, which helped the network open a second comedy block on Wednesdays. But with the comedy going down to the wire every year at CBS, the back-up deal with ABC gives reassurances to the show’s producers, who are seeking to sell the series in syndication.