'Gossip Girl,' 'Chuck' are survivors

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Of the 29 shows that premiered on the broadcast networks in the fall of 2007, only five survive.

Only three of those are hourlong dramas. And two of those have something in common.

Josh Schwartz is executive producer of both "Chuck" and "Gossip Girl."

What makes this even more unusual is that, for much of the past three years, those two shows have aired opposite each other on Mondays.

Three years ago, Schwartz was not expecting either of his shows to survive, let alone both of them.

"I think anyone who has spent any time with me at all knows I do not plan on success. I prepare for failure at every turn," Schwartz said with a laugh. "Look, to have both shows still on the air is something that's just incredibly exciting — Something I'm very, very grateful for — And certainly not something I would have anticipated or been so naive to have thought was possible."

However, it's not quite the accomplishment Schwartz and "Gossip Girl" executive producer Stephanie Savage think it is.

"Josh, isn't it true that of all the shows that launched that season, how many are still on television?" Savage asked.

"Well, of the dramas of 2007, 'Chuck' and 'Gossip Girl' are the ones," Schwartz said. "So that was cool."

Well, that's not quite true. "Private Practice" also premiered in the fall of 2007. But, to be fair, most TV critics have forgotten "Private Practice" is on, too.

"'Big Bang Theory' is the other show, and obviously that kicks our (butt) completely," Schwartz said. "But we'll take what we can get."

ONE MORE SURVIVOR: There actually is one other show from the freshman class of fall 2007 — the reality series "Kitchen Nightmares."

The rest of the list is full of shows you may have trouble remembering, despite the fact that it was only three years ago:

"Aliens in America," "Back to You," "Big Shots," "Bionic Woman," "Cane," "Carpoolers," "Cashmere Mafia," "Cavemen," "CW Now," "Dirty Sexy Money," "Journeyman," "Kid Nation," "K-Ville," "Life," "Life Is Wild," "Moonlight," "Nashville," "The Next Great American Band," "Online Nation," "Pushing Daisies," "Reaper," "Viva Laughlin," "Women's Murder Club" and "Samantha Who?"