Archive for June, 2008
By fred | June 19, 2008
So far I don’t think a decision has been (officially) made when it comes to the future of FX’s The Riches, but it may not look too good. Along with Dirt, the two series were uncertain to return next season, and it’s already been confirmed that Dirt was over.
As for The Riches, well, executive producers/showrunners Nicole Yorkin and Dawn Prestwich have joined ABC’s fantasy pilot Captain Cook’s Extraordinary Atlas, and will serve as executive producers/showrunners on the show, should it be picked up by the network. So nothing’s official, but it doesn’t look too good for The Riches I’d say…
This new project is described as Harry Potter meets Pan’s Labyrinth, and will center on a young girl (Jodelle Ferland) who finds a magical atlas that reveals a secret world underneath our own. Working on the pilot are also Tom Wheeler, who wrote the episode, and Emmy winner Thomas Schlamme, who is directing it.
Read the rest of “The Riches is over, The West Wing’s Donna (Janel Moloney) is coming back to TV !” »
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Shows: Captain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas, The Riches, The West Wing
By fred | June 19, 2008
(This week we look back at how each of the main networks handled things this past season, as well as looking at how things are looking up for the coming one. Agree ? Disagree ? Share your thoughts and grade networks in the comments below…)
The Good
This season NBC had some really good series on, and not only that but they had simply the best new series of the season : Life. Some very good new series (again, Life, but also Journeyman) and some very good returning series (30 Rock, The Office, …), at first it really looks like NBC might be a winner.
(Side note: For all fans of Life out there, there’s a new fansite around, The Path To Zen, on which you can find (among other things) a really great & interesting read about how Life could become a big hit, if NBC believed in it! I highly recommend the read, especially if you like the show…)
Adding to that the renewal of newcomers Life and Chuck, both deserving a second season for sure, or finding a way to save fan-favorite Friday Night Lights, NBC looks like a winner.
And yet, they’re not.
Read the rest of “The Good, The Bad And The Ugly… This Season For NBC” »
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Shows: 30 Rock, Bionic Woman, Chuck, Crusoe, Friday Night Lights, Journeyman, Knight Rider, Life, My Name Is Earl, Scrubs, The Office
By fred | June 18, 2008
ABC’s drama Dirty Sexy Money was already back in production for its second season, with three episodes already done, when everything had to be shut down, due to behind-the-scenes “adjustments”.
Showrunner Daniel Cerone is out, after the studios didn’t deem fit the new direction for the show Cerone had in mind. Cerone wanted the show to take a darker turn for its second season, but apparently the studios want the show to keep things very superficial and light I guess, which kinda suck if you ask me, but then again I was never really a fan of the show anyways.
Daniel Cerone, who used to be a showrunner on Showtime’s Dexter before, has now stepped down as executive producer/showrunner of Dirty Sexy Money after four months, and will be replaced with Jon Feldman - who has previously created Fox’s Tru Calling or another 2007 ABC drama series, Big Shots - who will be the third showrunner in the show’s short life, after Josh Reims and Daniel Cerone since February 2008.
Read the rest of “Dirty Sexy Money Shakeup” »
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Shows: Dirty Sexy Money
By fred | June 18, 2008
On Monday Showtime kicked off the new season of a re-invented Weeds, and after a disappointing third season it seemed quite a lot of people were welcoming the change.
Season 4 premiere of Weeds broke the Showtime record - previously held by the season two premiere of Dexter (1.2 million) - with 1.3 million viewers watching Showtime at 10.00 on Monday. Thus, season premieres for the show keep improving over time : the series premiere pulled in 488 000 viewers, the second season premiere grabbed the attention of 578 000 viewers and last season debut started out with 824 000 viewers.
After Weeds came another premiere, the series premiere of Secret Diary Of A Call Girl, holding on to 949 000 viewers (73% retention). A very good start for the British import, beating the series debut of The L Word in 2004 (936 000 viewers). Last season the post-Weeds slot was given to Californication, starring David Duchovny, which “only” had 550 000 viewers (67% retention).
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Shows: Secret Diary Of A Call Girl, Weeds
By fred | June 18, 2008
(This week we look back at how each of the main networks handled things this past season, as well as looking at how things are looking up for the coming one. Agree ? Disagree ? Share your thoughts and grade networks in the comments below…)
The Good
Fox wasn’t stupid enough to air only the first quarter of an unfinished season of 24, but decided not to air it until they could really/fully air it. Probably pushed by the strike, but they have also given their chances to new series like New Amsterdam or Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and of course they renewed the later, because we all want more Glaubot!
Read the rest of “The Good, The Bad And The Ugly… This Season For Fox” »
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Shows: 24, Back To You, Bones, Canterbury's Law, Dollhouse, Fringe, K-Ville, New Amsterdam, Prison Break, The Return Of Jezebel James, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Unhitched
By fred | June 17, 2008
(PreAir) This is so cool !! I have not hidden the fact that of all the new series coming up next season, there weren’t that many that I was really excited about. In fact, only two of them really sound truly exciting, both are new sci-ci shows to air on Fox, and both come from people we know and trust : J.J. Abrams (Fringe) and Joss Whedon (Dollhouse).
And recently, I was lucky enough to put my eyes on a screener of one of those, J.J. Abrams’ latest creation : Fringe. This show is the show everyone is talking about, this is the show everyone thinks might be the next big hit, next season’s top new series, and with the names associated behind it, pushed by the promo Fox is making about the show and thanks to the $10 million budget for the two-hour pilot only, needless to say there are enormous hype and expectations when it comes to Fringe.
I got to sit and watch this two-hour pilot, and while I’ll try as much as possible to remain spoiler-free not to ruin things for those of you who haven’t seen it yet, let me tell you this : I’m still incredibly excited about the show !!
Read the review of “Fringe: Pilot” »
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Shows: Fringe
In Series: Fringe Season 1
By fred | June 17, 2008
A new edition of the Teen Choice Awards is coming, and the nominations have been announced. The show, hosted this year by “teen sensation” Miley Cyrus will take place on August 4, 2008 and air on Fox at 8.00
The lead this year is without a doubt The CW’s new show Gossip Girl, confirming that while it may not do wonders in ratings (according to Nielsen at least), the show is extremely popular among its target audience, at the very least. The press release indicates no less than 14 nominations for the show (though I only counted 12, but who cares, right?)
I won’t list the entire list of nominees, focusing only of what we care about here : TV stuff. And while I know that this is the TCA, so I didn’t really expect Life to be nominated for best drama (though it deserves every possible award), some choice are a bit off nevertheless…
Read the rest of “2008 Teen Choice Awards Nominations” »
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Shows: 30 Rock, American Dad, Chuck, Desperate Housewives, Family Guy, Friday Night Lights, Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, House, How I Met Your Mother, Lost, Miss Guided, My Name Is Earl, One Tree Hill, Prison Break, Samantha Who?, Smallville, South Park, The Office, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, The Simpsons, Two And A Half Men, Ugly Betty
By fred | June 17, 2008
For its final season, NBC hit-drama E.R. is adding new blood to the show, welcoming four new interns to the show :
Shiri Appleby (previously seen in Six Degrees and soon to appear of NBC’s Fear Itself) and Julian Morris will play siblings Daria and Andrew Wade. Daria is a smart and eager to learn, while Andrew uses his looks, smarts and charm to get ahead.
Emily Rose (previously seen on Brothers & Sisters and Jericho) will play Tracy Martin, an ambitious intern who likes to control things, which often doesn’t go over well with her superiors.
Victor Rasuk will play Ryan Sanchez, a native New Yorker who’s a tad nervous and is often found on his cell phone, fielding questions from his wife.
Executive producer David Zabel said that “the new group of young characters — played by four charming and singular actors — adds a burst of fresh energy and a bunch of different personalities for us to play off of as we enter our 15th and final season. So while we will be reconnecting with the history of E.R., as well as telling the ongoing stories of our current regulars, we also will track the development of these new young doctors.”
Read the rest of “Fresh blood for E.R.” »
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Shows: E.R., To Love & Die
By fred | June 17, 2008
American Movie Classics (AMC) is really getting into original series, and given their past successes, with critically acclaimed series Mad Men and Breaking Bad, this can only be a good news.
AMC has already been developing several projects and plans to pick up two pilots by fall. They’re also working on two projects, Carter Beats The Devil and Ice, which won’t be ready in time to be considered but will be part of AMC’s 2009 pilot plans.
Carter Beats The Devil is a show about mysterious 1920s magician Charles Carter and his role in the death of President Warren Harding, while Ice revolves around a family in New York’s diamond district.
Read the rest of “More dramas for AMC” »
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Shows: Breaking Bad, Carter Beats The Devil, Ice, Mad Men
By fred | June 17, 2008
(S04E01) Last night was the season four premiere of Weeds ! Yes, the great little show about drugs (sort of) is back as our favorite summer fix, and it’s about time ! And as everyone was aware of, I would assume, we’re in for lots of changes. Because the last time we saw Nancy, she was ensuring that her house would burned down during the fire that was taking over Agrestic/Majestic, spilling gas all over the place and moving on.
I have not hidden the fact that I was quite worried about this new season, which would see the loss of many, starting with Heylia and Conrad, or the oh-so perfect song from the opening credits, Little Boxes. Well, the actual opening credits is going away as well as a matter of fact, since the Botwins are moving away and not looking back.
So I had my worries, and then came this episode.
Read the review of “Weeds: Mother Thinks The Birds Are After Her” »
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Shows: Weeds
In Series: Weeds Season 4
