The U.S. upfronts are just around the corner, but media buyers are talking about more than new shows. Series renewals announced south of the border last week gave a glimpse into programming imports on Canadian nets for the 2007/08 season.

Fox, for example, renewed Prison Break for a third season, to the doubtless delight of Global. ABC, meanwhile, ordered more Ugly Betty (seen here on CHUM), Brothers & Sisters (Global), Men in Trees (CHUM), The Bachelor (CHUM), Boston Legal (CH), Dancing with the Stars (CTV), Desperate Housewives (CTV), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (CH), Grey’s Anatomy (CTV) and Lost (CTV).

But ABC made headlines for more than its renewals. Media buyers in the U.S. are wowing over the net’s tentative (that’s the key word) talks about inserting commercials into program scenes — putting real commercials on the TV sets within a program, ads popping out of other media props within the shows, and other content integration schemes that would, it appears, require cooperation from writers and producers beyond current levels of product placement. Details are sparse, so far.

Canadian networks are hesitant to comment on fall lineups until they make their formal pickup announcements. (CTV’s, for example, are set for June 4). However, looking at U.S. network plans for the summer, fall and beyond reveals a number of new dramas, comedies and game shows on the slate that may make it north of the border.

Here’s a look at what’s in the works:

Drama: Fox has the two creators of 24 working on a show about an everyday guy who gets recruited by the CIA, tentatively titled NSA: Innocent. ABC has a show about two L.A. paramedics, The Call, and is planning to pilot a spin-off of Grey’s Anatomy, which could see the show’s female star, Kate Walsh, leaving for another medical clinic and a new gig opposite Taye Diggs. One of Grey’s Anatomy‘s writers is also writing a pilot about a group of female journalists. CBS pilots in the works include an exorcist drama, Demons, a 1970s-set suburban soap called Swingtown and a legal drama starring Janeane Garofalo.

Comedy: Former X-Files star David Duchovny is starring in a new comedy series for Showtime about a novelist raising a teenaged daughter and chasing an ex-girlfriend.

Game Shows/Reality Series: NBC, which owns Deal or No Deal, is eyeing a fall launch for a new game show called Let’s Play Crosswords. ABC is working on Wanna Bet? , a variety game show that combines celebrities with average people who bet on whether they can successfully complete various stunts. And Spike TV has got Murder in the works for this summer. It’s an alternative competition series that puts real police files in the hands of amateur wannabe crime-solvers.

From Media in Canada