Top 20 Shows For Average Viewership, 2008-9 Broadcast Prime-Time Season
Rank Programs Network STD Viewers Live+SD (000) HH Rating
1 AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY FOX 25,527 8.8
2 AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY FOX 24,741 8.5
3 DANCING WITH THE STARS ABC 19,766 6.8
4 CSI CBS 17,431 6.0
5 NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL NBC 16,835 5.8
6 NCIS CBS 16,800 5.8
7 DANCING W/STARS RESULTS ABC 16,313 5.6
8 MENTALIST, THE CBS 16,288 5.6
9 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES ABC 14,439 5.0
10 60 MINUTES CBS 14,143 4.9
11 TWO AND A HALF MEN CBS 14,111 4.9
12 CRIMINAL MINDS CBS 13,714 4.7
13 CSI: MIAMI CBS 13,171 4.5
14 SURVIVOR: GABON CBS 12,914 4.5
15 GREY’S ANATOMY ABC 12,885 4.4
16 CSI: NY CBS 12,531 4.3
17 SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS CBS 12,104 4.2
18 WITHOUT A TRACE CBS 12,047 4.2
19 HOUSE FOX 12,001 4.1
20 COLD CASE CBS 11,606 4.0
Top 20 Shows For Adults 18-49 For The 2008-9 Broadcast Prime-Time Season
Rank Programs Network STD Adults 18-49 Live+SD (000) P18-49 Rating
1 AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY FOX 12,196 9.2
2 AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY FOX 12,043 9.1
3 NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL NBC 8,533 6.5
4 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES ABC 6,799 5.2
5 GREY’S ANATOMY ABC 6,278 4.8
6 TWO AND A HALF MEN CBS 6,215 4.7
7 HOUSE FOX 6,140 4.7
8 DANCING WITH THE STARS ABC 6,135 4.6
9 CSI CBS 6,000 4.5
10 THE OT FOX 5,772 4.4
11 LOST ABC 5,597 4.2
12 SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK NBC 5,578 4.2
13 SURVIVOR: GABON CBS 5,543 4.2
14 OFFICE NBC 5,292 4.0
15 THE BACHELOR ABC 5,245 4.0
16 RULES OF ENGAGEMENT CBS 5,154 3.9
17 SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS CBS 5,073 3.8
18 BIGGEST LOSER 7 NBC 5,020 3.8
19 DANCING W/STARS RESULTS ABC 5,017 3.8
20 CSI: MIAMI CBS 4,836 3.7
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2009 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Elton and Billy @ the ACC
Last night I attended the "Elton John – Billy Joel Face2Face tour" concert at the Air Canada Centre. Piano men Elton (the Brit) and Billy (the Yank) have been touring together on and off since 1994 and the two men (now both in their 60s) can still deliver a powerful one-two punch. The evening was bookended by sets featuring the duo seated at grand pianos face to face, trading verses of songs alternately drawn from each of their catalogs. In between those duet sets were the two solo sets—the first featuring Elton and the second featuring Billy.
Elton, despite his reputation for flamboyance, was the more subdued performer (costume wise, only one change of shirt!), placing the emphasis on musicianship and on his very early 70s catalog. His set featured lengthy jazz and blues inflected versions of many of his songs, extended with multiple breaks for piano and guitar solos. John kept the chat to a minimum and ably demonstrated his mastery of the keyboard. Billy, on the other hand, enjoyed a free repartee with the audience and hamming it up. He joked about SARS, the acoustics at Maple Leaf Gardens and even threw in a Gordon Lightfoot impression for good measure.
Joel’s tight set for the most part featured faithful renditions of all of his radio friendly pop 45 hits, with the exception of “album cuts” Zanzibar and “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”, which really showcased his capable band (with a particularly strong horn section) which he took obvious pride in introducing (most hailed from places close to New York; although there was one player from Windsor and another very versatile female band member from Gary, Indiana).
In the final set, the duo played cover version of Beatles tunes “Birthday” and “USSR” (not the obvious choices since Elton’s cover version of “Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds” was a massive hit and he also released a live version of “I Saw Her Standing There” (performed in duet with John Lennon) as a B-side to that single. Conspicuous in their absence from the Billy’s set list were ballads “Honesty”, “An Innocent Man” and “New York State of Mind”. Among the favourites Elton eschewed were “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word”, “Philadelphia Freedom” and his cover version of The Who’s “Pinball Wizard” (from Tommy). John also chose not perform anything from his Oscar winning Disney film / musical play soundtracks.
The stage design-- open to seating behind the stage-- featured a very wide stage dominated by a curved LED screen hung above and used for lighting effects and to project live images of the performers and other animated and photo footage linked to the song selections. All tolled, the dynamic duo performed 35 songs in a programme that ran over three and one half hours. It appeared everyone left satisfied, having seen two rock hall of fame performers performing well past their primes yet managing to escape with their legacy firmly intact.
SET LIST:
Set 1: Elton John & Billy Joel together on stage
1 Your Song
2 Just The Way You Are
3 Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
4 Ode To Joy/My Life
Set 2: Elton solo
5 Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
6 Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
7 Burn Down the Mission
8 Madman Across the Water
9 Tiny Dancer
10 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
11 Daniel
12 Rocket Man
13 Levon
14 I'm Still Standing
15 Crocodile Rock
Set 3: Billy solo
16 Prelude/Angry Young Man
17 Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
18 Allentown
19 Zanzibar
20 Don't Ask Me Why
21 She's Always A Woman
22 Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
23 River of Dreams
24 We Didn't Start the Fire
25 Be Bop A Lula/It's Still Rock N' Roll To Me
26 Only the Good Die Young
Set 4: Elton and Billy together
27 I Guess That Why They Call It The Blues
28 Uptown Girl
29 The Bitch Is Back
30 You May Be Right
31 Bennie and the Jets
32 Birthday
33 Back in the USSR
34 Candle in the Wind
35 Piano Man
Elton, despite his reputation for flamboyance, was the more subdued performer (costume wise, only one change of shirt!), placing the emphasis on musicianship and on his very early 70s catalog. His set featured lengthy jazz and blues inflected versions of many of his songs, extended with multiple breaks for piano and guitar solos. John kept the chat to a minimum and ably demonstrated his mastery of the keyboard. Billy, on the other hand, enjoyed a free repartee with the audience and hamming it up. He joked about SARS, the acoustics at Maple Leaf Gardens and even threw in a Gordon Lightfoot impression for good measure.
Joel’s tight set for the most part featured faithful renditions of all of his radio friendly pop 45 hits, with the exception of “album cuts” Zanzibar and “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”, which really showcased his capable band (with a particularly strong horn section) which he took obvious pride in introducing (most hailed from places close to New York; although there was one player from Windsor and another very versatile female band member from Gary, Indiana).
In the final set, the duo played cover version of Beatles tunes “Birthday” and “USSR” (not the obvious choices since Elton’s cover version of “Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds” was a massive hit and he also released a live version of “I Saw Her Standing There” (performed in duet with John Lennon) as a B-side to that single. Conspicuous in their absence from the Billy’s set list were ballads “Honesty”, “An Innocent Man” and “New York State of Mind”. Among the favourites Elton eschewed were “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word”, “Philadelphia Freedom” and his cover version of The Who’s “Pinball Wizard” (from Tommy). John also chose not perform anything from his Oscar winning Disney film / musical play soundtracks.
The stage design-- open to seating behind the stage-- featured a very wide stage dominated by a curved LED screen hung above and used for lighting effects and to project live images of the performers and other animated and photo footage linked to the song selections. All tolled, the dynamic duo performed 35 songs in a programme that ran over three and one half hours. It appeared everyone left satisfied, having seen two rock hall of fame performers performing well past their primes yet managing to escape with their legacy firmly intact.
SET LIST:
Set 1: Elton John & Billy Joel together on stage
1 Your Song
2 Just The Way You Are
3 Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
4 Ode To Joy/My Life
Set 2: Elton solo
5 Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
6 Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
7 Burn Down the Mission
8 Madman Across the Water
9 Tiny Dancer
10 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
11 Daniel
12 Rocket Man
13 Levon
14 I'm Still Standing
15 Crocodile Rock
Set 3: Billy solo
16 Prelude/Angry Young Man
17 Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
18 Allentown
19 Zanzibar
20 Don't Ask Me Why
21 She's Always A Woman
22 Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
23 River of Dreams
24 We Didn't Start the Fire
25 Be Bop A Lula/It's Still Rock N' Roll To Me
26 Only the Good Die Young
Set 4: Elton and Billy together
27 I Guess That Why They Call It The Blues
28 Uptown Girl
29 The Bitch Is Back
30 You May Be Right
31 Bennie and the Jets
32 Birthday
33 Back in the USSR
34 Candle in the Wind
35 Piano Man
Friday, May 22, 2009
Summer reality TV
It been a busy week in TV Land. This was the week where the networks revealed their new Fall seasons in their "upfront" presentations and when the current regular season and May sweeps wrapped up (Wednesday night) . In prior years, the major networks rarely unveiled original programming in the Summer, when audience levels decline, preferring to re-run episodes of their scripted dramas and sitcoms. In recent years, facing heightened pressure from the premium cable specialty channels, they have started to produce more original programming. The networks have become very receptive to airing alternative unscripted "reality" series in the Summer months (versus scripted shows) because of the lower production costs. So Summer has become Nirvana for reality TV fans.
This Summer will mark the return of several Summer perennials such as Big Brother, The Bachelorette, Wipeout and (the Simon Cowell produced ratings hit) America's Got Talent (with new host Nick Cannon, following in Jerry Springer and Regis Philbin's footsteps . Speaking of Regis, he returns in two Summer offerings: First as host of CBS's gameshow Million Dollar Password (where no contestant has yet come close to winning a million!) and then, later in August, the 10th anniversary reprise of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire (basking in the afterglow of being featured prominently in last year's Oscar winning feature film).
This Summer it will also see the debut of several returning series new to Summertime. Notable among them is the return of ABC's Sunday staple from the 70s, "The Superstars", which will originate on location from the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas and will features celebrities paired in teams with pro athletes. Also returning on a new network (NBC) is "I'm a Celebrity; Get Me Out of Here" (which previously aired as a multi-night Fall-Winter sweeps ploy in an earlier ABC incarnation).
Among the new series are two shows that appear to be derivatives of long established reality favourites. first, there is "Great American Roadtrip" which, although it claims to be based on a BBC series, sounds alot like CBS's Emmy winning The Amazing Race's family edition, played out within the confines of this continent. Likewise dating series "More To Love" sounds like a cross between NBC's The Biggest Loser and ABC's "The Bachelor".
Here's a complete rundown of the major net's Summer reality premier dates:
Deal or No Deal 5/4 NBC
The Bachelorette 5 5/18 ABC
So You Think You Can Dance 5/21 FOX
Don’t Forget the Lyrics 5/22 FOX
Million Dollar Password 5/24 CBS
Here Come The Newlyweds 2 5/25 ABC
Wipeout 5/27 ABC
I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here 6/1 NBC
The Chopping Block 6/19 NBC
America's Got Talent 4 6/23 NBC
The Superstars 6/23 ABC
Big Brother 11 7/9 CBS
Are Your Smarter .. 5th Grader? 7/3 FOX
Great American Roadtrip 7/7 NBC
I Survived A Japanese Game Show 2 7/8 ABC
Dating in the Dark 7/20 NBC
More To Love 7/28 FOX
Face the Ace 8/01 NBC
Who Wants to be a Millioniare 11/9 ABC
This Summer will mark the return of several Summer perennials such as Big Brother, The Bachelorette, Wipeout and (the Simon Cowell produced ratings hit) America's Got Talent (with new host Nick Cannon, following in Jerry Springer and Regis Philbin's footsteps . Speaking of Regis, he returns in two Summer offerings: First as host of CBS's gameshow Million Dollar Password (where no contestant has yet come close to winning a million!) and then, later in August, the 10th anniversary reprise of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire (basking in the afterglow of being featured prominently in last year's Oscar winning feature film).
This Summer it will also see the debut of several returning series new to Summertime. Notable among them is the return of ABC's Sunday staple from the 70s, "The Superstars", which will originate on location from the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas and will features celebrities paired in teams with pro athletes. Also returning on a new network (NBC) is "I'm a Celebrity; Get Me Out of Here" (which previously aired as a multi-night Fall-Winter sweeps ploy in an earlier ABC incarnation).
Among the new series are two shows that appear to be derivatives of long established reality favourites. first, there is "Great American Roadtrip" which, although it claims to be based on a BBC series, sounds alot like CBS's Emmy winning The Amazing Race's family edition, played out within the confines of this continent. Likewise dating series "More To Love" sounds like a cross between NBC's The Biggest Loser and ABC's "The Bachelor".
Here's a complete rundown of the major net's Summer reality premier dates:
Deal or No Deal 5/4 NBC
The Bachelorette 5 5/18 ABC
So You Think You Can Dance 5/21 FOX
Don’t Forget the Lyrics 5/22 FOX
Million Dollar Password 5/24 CBS
Here Come The Newlyweds 2 5/25 ABC
Wipeout 5/27 ABC
I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here 6/1 NBC
The Chopping Block 6/19 NBC
America's Got Talent 4 6/23 NBC
The Superstars 6/23 ABC
Big Brother 11 7/9 CBS
Are Your Smarter .. 5th Grader? 7/3 FOX
Great American Roadtrip 7/7 NBC
I Survived A Japanese Game Show 2 7/8 ABC
Dating in the Dark 7/20 NBC
More To Love 7/28 FOX
Face the Ace 8/01 NBC
Who Wants to be a Millioniare 11/9 ABC
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Top 10 American Idol $ Earners
According to Forbes Magazine, based on 2008 earnings:
1: Carrie Underwood $14 million
2: Jennifer Hudson $5 million
3: Kelly Clarkson $4.2 million
4: Jordin Sparks $3.1 million
5: Kellie Pickler $2.3 million
6: Clay Aiken $2.2 million
7: Chris Daughtry $2 million
8: David Cook $2 million
9: David Archuleta $1.3 million
10: Taylor Hicks $300,000
full story here
1: Carrie Underwood $14 million
2: Jennifer Hudson $5 million
3: Kelly Clarkson $4.2 million
4: Jordin Sparks $3.1 million
5: Kellie Pickler $2.3 million
6: Clay Aiken $2.2 million
7: Chris Daughtry $2 million
8: David Cook $2 million
9: David Archuleta $1.3 million
10: Taylor Hicks $300,000
full story here
CBS TV Upfront
CBS unveiled its new Fall schedule today. It features three new dramas and one new comedy. The new dramas are spin-off “NCIS: Los Angeles”, “The Good Wife” and “Three Rivers”. The new comedy is entitled “Accidentally on Purpose”. Two new reality shows-- “Arranged Marriage” and “Undercover Boss”-- will be produced and assigned a mid-season timeslot. Also renewed for midseason are Rules of Engagement and Canadian crime drama Flashpoint. New Canadian crime drama The Bridge and a medical drama Miami Trauma (not to be confused with similarly titled NBC medical drama Trauma) will also join CBS’s schedule mid-season.
“On the bubble” shows that were not renewed include "Without a Trace" and "The Unit" . On the bubble shows winning renewal were “Gary Unmarried” and “Numb3rs”. The network also picked up Medium (which CBS produces but which NBC had aired previously) and sitcom “The New Adventures of Old Christine” that ABC had expressed interest in adding if CBS had axed it.
The new schedule:
(with new series capitalized)
Monday:
How I Met Your Mother
ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE
Two and Half Men
Big Bang Theory
CSI: Miami
Tuesday:
NCIS
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
THE GOOD WIFE
Wednesday:
The New Adventures of Old Christine
Gary Unmarried
Criminal Minds
CSI: NY
Thursday:
Survivor
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
The Mentalist
Friday:
Ghost Whisperer
Medium (new to CBS)
Numb3rs
Saturday:
Crime Time Saturday
Crime Time Saturday
48 Hours Mystery
Sunday:
60 Minutes
The Amazing Race
THREE RIVERS
Cold Case
Descriptions of New Series:
Comedy
Accidentally on Purpose
Former Dharma & Greg star Jenna Elfman plays a 39-year-old San Francisco movie critic who gets pregnant after a one night with a man 10 years her junior. The cast includes Ashley Jensen, Grant Show (Swingtown), Jon Foster, Lennon Parham and Nicolas Wright.
Drama
The Good Wife
After a Chicago district attorney resigns in disgrace and is sent to prison, his stay-at-home wife must go back to being a lawyer to support the family. Julianna Margulies (ER), Matt Czuchry and Christine Baranski (Cybill) star.
Three Rivers
Organ transplants and donation through the eyes of doctors, donors and recipients is the focus of this new medical drama. The cast includes Joaquim de Almedia, Christopher Hanke, Daniel Henney, Justina Machado, Katherine Moennig, Alex O’Loughlin and Julia Ormond.
The Bridge (midseason)
After being voted to become the police union’s leader, a tough and dedicated police officer (Aaron Douglas) has his hands full dealing with criminals on the street, corruption in the ranks and his own bosses. In association with Canadian network CTV and CBS Television Studios)
Miami Trauma (midseason)
A team of trauma surgeons in Miami who race against time to save patients with less than one hour to live is the focus of this new medical drama. The cast includes Richard Coyle, Elisabeth Harnois, Jeremy Northam and Lana Parrilla.
Nonscripted
Arranged Marriage (midseason)
Three single adults unlucky in love rely on their closest family and friends to choose someone for them to marry. Beginning with the first meetings of the families to the actual wedding day, the couple is documented through the day-to-day joys and struggles in their arranged unions.
Undercover Boss (midseason)
In this new hidden camera reality series, an executive goes undercover in disguise at the company he works for to get a real look at the people working there and the company itself.
“On the bubble” shows that were not renewed include "Without a Trace" and "The Unit" . On the bubble shows winning renewal were “Gary Unmarried” and “Numb3rs”. The network also picked up Medium (which CBS produces but which NBC had aired previously) and sitcom “The New Adventures of Old Christine” that ABC had expressed interest in adding if CBS had axed it.
The new schedule:
(with new series capitalized)
Monday:
How I Met Your Mother
ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE
Two and Half Men
Big Bang Theory
CSI: Miami
Tuesday:
NCIS
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
THE GOOD WIFE
Wednesday:
The New Adventures of Old Christine
Gary Unmarried
Criminal Minds
CSI: NY
Thursday:
Survivor
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
The Mentalist
Friday:
Ghost Whisperer
Medium (new to CBS)
Numb3rs
Saturday:
Crime Time Saturday
Crime Time Saturday
48 Hours Mystery
Sunday:
60 Minutes
The Amazing Race
THREE RIVERS
Cold Case
Descriptions of New Series:
Comedy
Accidentally on Purpose
Former Dharma & Greg star Jenna Elfman plays a 39-year-old San Francisco movie critic who gets pregnant after a one night with a man 10 years her junior. The cast includes Ashley Jensen, Grant Show (Swingtown), Jon Foster, Lennon Parham and Nicolas Wright.
Drama
The Good Wife
After a Chicago district attorney resigns in disgrace and is sent to prison, his stay-at-home wife must go back to being a lawyer to support the family. Julianna Margulies (ER), Matt Czuchry and Christine Baranski (Cybill) star.
Three Rivers
Organ transplants and donation through the eyes of doctors, donors and recipients is the focus of this new medical drama. The cast includes Joaquim de Almedia, Christopher Hanke, Daniel Henney, Justina Machado, Katherine Moennig, Alex O’Loughlin and Julia Ormond.
The Bridge (midseason)
After being voted to become the police union’s leader, a tough and dedicated police officer (Aaron Douglas) has his hands full dealing with criminals on the street, corruption in the ranks and his own bosses. In association with Canadian network CTV and CBS Television Studios)
Miami Trauma (midseason)
A team of trauma surgeons in Miami who race against time to save patients with less than one hour to live is the focus of this new medical drama. The cast includes Richard Coyle, Elisabeth Harnois, Jeremy Northam and Lana Parrilla.
Nonscripted
Arranged Marriage (midseason)
Three single adults unlucky in love rely on their closest family and friends to choose someone for them to marry. Beginning with the first meetings of the families to the actual wedding day, the couple is documented through the day-to-day joys and struggles in their arranged unions.
Undercover Boss (midseason)
In this new hidden camera reality series, an executive goes undercover in disguise at the company he works for to get a real look at the people working there and the company itself.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
ABC TV Upfront
ABC announced its new prime time fall schedule this afternoon. The network has completely revamped its Wednesday night line-up from start to finish. New series include dramas “Eastwick,” “Flash Forward,” “The Forgotten,” "Happy Town", "The Deep End" and "V"; sitcoms "Cougar Town," “Hank,” “The Middle” and “Modern Family” and reality series “Shark Tank”.
Renewed "on the bubble" series include “Better Off Ted,” “Castle,” “Scrubs” and “True Beauty”. Meanwhile renewed series "Ugly Betty" is moving to Fridays, where it will displace "Wife Swap" (still in production) and bump "Supernanny" u p an hour. The latter series will debut later in the season along with "The Bachelor," "True Beauty," "Better Off Ted," "Scrubs" and "Lost". New dramas "Happy Town," "The Deep End" and "V" will also be scheduled pending mid-season cancellation timeslots opening up. Among the better known series casualties not renewed were sitcoms "Samantha Who" and "According to Jim".
8:00 p.m. Dancing With the Stars (two hours)
10:00 p.m. Castle
Tuesday
8:00 p.m. SHARK TANK
9:00 p.m. Dancing With the Stars Results Show
10:00 p.m. THE FORGOTTEN
Wednesday
8:00 p.m. HANK
8:30 p.m. THE MIDDLE
9:00 p.m. MODERN FAMILY
9:30 p.m. COUGAR TOWN
10:00 p.m. EASTWICK
Thursday
8:00 p.m. FLASH FORWARD
9:00 p.m. Grey’s Anatomy
10:00 p.m. Private Practice
Friday
8:00 p.m. Supernanny (new time)
9:00 p.m. Ugly Betty (new day and time)
10:00 p.m. 20/20
Saturday
8:00 p.m. Saturday Night Live College Football
Sunday
7:00 p.m. America’s Funniest Home Videos
8:00 p.m. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00 p.m. Desperate Housewives
10:00 p.m. Brothers & Sisters
Descriptions of the new series in production:
DRAMA
“THE DEEP END” (not currently scheduled)
Each year one of LA’s most prestigious law firms recruits four young lawyers from the finest law schools worldwide. The only way for these first-years to survive is to support each other…even as they compete against one another in the cutthroat arena of high-end law. Sex, greed, romance, betrayal - it’s all part of being a first year associate at Sterling Law.
“The Deep End” stars Matt Long as Dylan Hewitt, Ben Lawson as Liam Priory, Tina Majorino as Addy Fisher, Norbert Leo Butz as Rowdy Kaiser, Leah Pipes as Beth Bancroft, Billy Zane as Cliff Huddle, Sherri Saum as Susan Oppenheim and Clancy Brown as Hart Sterling.
The series is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television. David Hemingson is executive producer/writer. The pilot was directed by Michael Fresco.
“EASTWICK”
Three very different women find themselves drawn together by a mysterious man who unleashes unique powers in each of them, and this small New England town will never be the same. The series is based on the popular movie “The Witches of Eastwick” and on the novel of the same title by John Updike.
“Eastwick” stars Rebecca Romijn as Roxie Torcoletti, Lindsay Price as Joanna Frankel, Jamie Ray Newman as Kat Gardener, Paul Gross as Darryl Van Horne, Sara Rue as Penny, Veronica Cartwright as Bun, Johann Urb as Will, Jon Bernthal as Raymond and Ashley Benson as Mia.
The series is produced by Warner Bros. Television. Maggie Friedman is executive producer/writer. The pilot was directed by David Nutter.
“FLASH FORWARD”
When a mysterious event causes the entire world to black out, humanity is given a glimpse into its near future, and every man, woman and child is forced to come to grips with whether their destinies can be avoided or fulfilled.
Adapting award-winning author Robert J. Sawyer’s revolutionary novel, executive producers David S. Goyer (visionary co-writer of “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight”) and Brannon Braga (”24,” “Star Trek: Enterprise”) invite you to embark on a journey to answer the question, “if you knew what your future held, what would you do?”
“Flash Forward” stars Joseph Fiennes as Mark Benford, John Cho as Demetri Noh, Jack Davenport as Lloyd Simcoe, Sonya Walger as Olivia Benford, Courtney B. Vance as Stan Wedeck, Brian O’Byrne as Aaron Stark, Christine Woods as Janis Hawk, Zachary Knighton as Bryce Varley and Peyton List as Nicole.
The series is from ABC Studios. David S. Goyer is executive producer/writer/director. Brannon Braga is executive producer and co-wrote the pilot. Other executive producers are Marc Guggenheim, Jessika Goyer, Vince Gerardis and Ralph Vicinanza. Guggenheim will be the showrunner, along with Goyer.
“THE FORGOTTEN”
From executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer comes a crime show in which a team of dedicated amateurs work on cases involving unidentified victims. After the police have given up, this group must first solve the puzzle of the victim’s identity in order to then help catch the killer. They work to give the deceased back their names, lest they become — The Forgotten.
“The Forgotten” stars Rupert Penry-Jones as Alex, Reiko Aylesworth as Linda, Michelle Borth as Candace, Bob Stephenson as Walter, Anthony Carrigan as Tyler and Rochelle Aytes as Detective Grace Russell.
The series is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Warner Bros. Television. Mark Friedman is executive producer/writer, Jerry Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman are executive producers, KristieAnne Reed is co-executive producer and Danny Cannon is executive producer/director.
“HAPPY TOWN” (not currently scheduled)
Haplin, Minnesota, “Happy Town,” is approaching almost a decade of peace after being riddled for years by unsolved kidnappings. But in the wake of this small town’s first crime in seven years, some dark truths are being revealed about some familiar faces. They say every town has its secrets… that doesn’t even begin to describe Happy Town.
“Happy Town” stars Geoff Stults as Tommy Conroy, Lauren German as Henley, Amy Acker as Rachel Conroy, Dean Winters as John Haplin, John Patrick Amedori as Andrew Haplin, Sarah Gadon as Georgia Bravin, Jay Paulson as Larry ‘Root Beer’ Rogers, Robert Wisdom as Roger Hobbes and Sam Neill as Merritt Grieves.
The series is from ABC Studios. Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg are executive producers and co-writers. The pilot was directed by Gary Fleder, who is also an executive producer.
“V” (not currently scheduled)
“V” is a re-imagining of the 1980’s miniseries about the world’s first encounter with an alien race in which the aliens call themselves The Visitors, and have a seemingly friendly agenda that may or may not be a cover for something more malevolent.
“V” stars Elizabeth Mitchell as Erica Evans, Morris Chestnut as Ryan Nichols, Joel Gretsch as Father Jack Landry, Lourdes Benedicto as Valerie Stevens, Logan Huffman as Tyler Evans, Laura Vandervoort as Lisa, with Morena Baccarin as Anna and Scott Wolf as Chad Decker.
The series is produced by HDFilms in association with Warner Bros. Television. Scott Peters is executive producer/writer and Steve Pearlman and Jace Hall are executive producers. The pilot was directed and executive produced by Yves Simoneau.
COMEDY
“COUGAR TOWN”
Courteney Cox stars as a recently divorced single mother exploring the honest truths about dating and aging in our beauty and youth obsessed culture.
“Cougar Town” stars Courteney Cox as Jules, Christa Miller as Elle, Busy Philipps as Laurie, Dan Byrd as Travis, Brian Van Holt as Bobby, Josh Hopkins as Grayson and Ian Gomez as Andy.
The series is from ABC Studios. Bill Lawrence is executive producer/writer/director, Kevin Biegel is writer/co-executive producer, and Courteney Cox and David Arquette are executive producers.
“HANK”
Kelsey Grammer stars in this timely comedy as Hank Pryor, a titan of industry who suddenly finds himself out of work, almost out of money and around a wife and kids for whom he’s never made much time. Despite his recent setbacks, however, Hank is confident he’s on the road back to the top. He knows he is destined to return to greatness. And he is - just not the greatness he imagines.
“Hank” stars Kelsey Grammer as Hank, Melinda McGraw as Tilly, David Koechner as Grady, Macey Cruthird as Maddie and Ryan Wynott as Henry.
The series is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with McMonkey Inc., Grammnet Productions, Werner Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television. It is written by Tucker Cawley. Tom Werner, Tucker Cawley, Kelsey Grammer and Mike Clements serve as executive producers. The pilot was directed by James Burrows.
“THE MIDDLE”
The Hecks are a middle class family living in the middle of Indiana, just trying to keep their heads above water. Emmy-winner Patricia Heaton stars as a wife and mother of three in a comedy about raising a family and lowering your expectations.
“The Middle” stars Patricia Heaton as Frankie, Neil Flynn as Mike, Eden Sher as Sue, Atticus Shaffer as Brick and Charlie McDermott as Axel.
The series is produced by Warner Bros. Television. Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline are executive producers/writers and Werner Walian is producer. The pilot was directed by Julie Anne Robinson.
“MODERN FAMILY”
Today’s American families come in all shapes and sizes. Shot from the perspective of an unseen documentary filmmaker, this comedy takes a modern look at the complications that come with being a family in 2009.
“Modern Family” stars Ed O’Neill as Jay, Sofía Vergara as Gloria, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell, Eric Stonestreet as Cameron, Ty Burrell as Phil, Julie Bowen as Claire, Sarah Hyland as Haley, Rico Rodriguez as Manny, Nolan Gould as Luke and Ariel Winter as Alex.
The series is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television. Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd are executive producers. The pilot was directed by Jason Winer.
ALTERNATIVE SERIES
“SHARK TANK”
From Mark Burnett, executive producer of “Survivor” and “The Apprentice,” and Sony Pictures Television comes “Shark Tank,” an exciting new reality show that gives budding entrepreneurs the chance to make their dreams come true and become successful - and possibly wealthy - business people. But the entrepreneurs must first try to convince five tough, multi-millionaire tycoons to part with their own hard-earned cash and give them the funding they need to jumpstart their ideas.
In these trying economic times, it’s difficult for an individual possessing a dream or even a working small business poised for growth to get a loan for a risky venture. Whether it be an imaginative enhancement for an existing product, a family recipe that has all the ingredients to become a profitable culinary treat, or the latest technological gadget that could take the world by storm, most of these dreams die an early death because no one dared take a financial chance on someone with an unproven and oftentimes outrageous proposal. Many of these people now see “Shark Tank” as their last chance at success. Some have been laboring on their ideas for years or even decades, have invested large amounts of money, and are being pressured to throw in the towel by friends and family. Others have simply never had access to the means to live out their dreams, until now.
Enter the Sharks of “Shark Tank” - Barbara Corcoran (Manhattan real estate titan), Kevin Harrington (king of infomercials), Robert Herjavec (technology tycoon), Daymond John (fashion mogul) and Kevin O’Leary (venture capitalist) - five multi-millionaires who lifted themselves up by their bootstraps to make their own entrepreneurial dreams come true and turned their ideas into empires.
Each week ambitious entrepreneurs from across the country will present their breakthrough business concepts, products, properties and services to the panel of ruthless investors. Their goal is to convince these merciless moguls to invest their own dollars in the concept. Convincing real-life millionaires to part with their own money is no easy task, because when the idea is poor, the Sharks will tear into the ill-prepared presenters and pass on the idea with a simple, “I’m out!” — sending them running for the exit.
But these Sharks aren’t just out for blood, they too have a goal: to own a piece of the next big idea. Entrepreneurs will be asked to give up a percentage of their companies’ equity to the Sharks in order to get the investment they need. But when the Sharks hear a really top-notch idea, and more than one of them wants to sink their teeth into it, a war between them will erupt. Then the once-desperate entrepreneur can rejoice when the Sharks reveal their true interest in the product and bid up the price of the investment.
Renewed "on the bubble" series include “Better Off Ted,” “Castle,” “Scrubs” and “True Beauty”. Meanwhile renewed series "Ugly Betty" is moving to Fridays, where it will displace "Wife Swap" (still in production) and bump "Supernanny" u p an hour. The latter series will debut later in the season along with "The Bachelor," "True Beauty," "Better Off Ted," "Scrubs" and "Lost". New dramas "Happy Town," "The Deep End" and "V" will also be scheduled pending mid-season cancellation timeslots opening up. Among the better known series casualties not renewed were sitcoms "Samantha Who" and "According to Jim".
Weekly schedule
Monday
8:00 p.m. Dancing With the Stars (two hours)
10:00 p.m. Castle
Tuesday
8:00 p.m. SHARK TANK
9:00 p.m. Dancing With the Stars Results Show
10:00 p.m. THE FORGOTTEN
Wednesday
8:00 p.m. HANK
8:30 p.m. THE MIDDLE
9:00 p.m. MODERN FAMILY
9:30 p.m. COUGAR TOWN
10:00 p.m. EASTWICK
Thursday
8:00 p.m. FLASH FORWARD
9:00 p.m. Grey’s Anatomy
10:00 p.m. Private Practice
Friday
8:00 p.m. Supernanny (new time)
9:00 p.m. Ugly Betty (new day and time)
10:00 p.m. 20/20
Saturday
8:00 p.m. Saturday Night Live College Football
Sunday
7:00 p.m. America’s Funniest Home Videos
8:00 p.m. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00 p.m. Desperate Housewives
10:00 p.m. Brothers & Sisters
Descriptions of the new series in production:
DRAMA
“THE DEEP END” (not currently scheduled)
Each year one of LA’s most prestigious law firms recruits four young lawyers from the finest law schools worldwide. The only way for these first-years to survive is to support each other…even as they compete against one another in the cutthroat arena of high-end law. Sex, greed, romance, betrayal - it’s all part of being a first year associate at Sterling Law.
“The Deep End” stars Matt Long as Dylan Hewitt, Ben Lawson as Liam Priory, Tina Majorino as Addy Fisher, Norbert Leo Butz as Rowdy Kaiser, Leah Pipes as Beth Bancroft, Billy Zane as Cliff Huddle, Sherri Saum as Susan Oppenheim and Clancy Brown as Hart Sterling.
The series is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television. David Hemingson is executive producer/writer. The pilot was directed by Michael Fresco.
“EASTWICK”
Three very different women find themselves drawn together by a mysterious man who unleashes unique powers in each of them, and this small New England town will never be the same. The series is based on the popular movie “The Witches of Eastwick” and on the novel of the same title by John Updike.
“Eastwick” stars Rebecca Romijn as Roxie Torcoletti, Lindsay Price as Joanna Frankel, Jamie Ray Newman as Kat Gardener, Paul Gross as Darryl Van Horne, Sara Rue as Penny, Veronica Cartwright as Bun, Johann Urb as Will, Jon Bernthal as Raymond and Ashley Benson as Mia.
The series is produced by Warner Bros. Television. Maggie Friedman is executive producer/writer. The pilot was directed by David Nutter.
“FLASH FORWARD”
When a mysterious event causes the entire world to black out, humanity is given a glimpse into its near future, and every man, woman and child is forced to come to grips with whether their destinies can be avoided or fulfilled.
Adapting award-winning author Robert J. Sawyer’s revolutionary novel, executive producers David S. Goyer (visionary co-writer of “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight”) and Brannon Braga (”24,” “Star Trek: Enterprise”) invite you to embark on a journey to answer the question, “if you knew what your future held, what would you do?”
“Flash Forward” stars Joseph Fiennes as Mark Benford, John Cho as Demetri Noh, Jack Davenport as Lloyd Simcoe, Sonya Walger as Olivia Benford, Courtney B. Vance as Stan Wedeck, Brian O’Byrne as Aaron Stark, Christine Woods as Janis Hawk, Zachary Knighton as Bryce Varley and Peyton List as Nicole.
The series is from ABC Studios. David S. Goyer is executive producer/writer/director. Brannon Braga is executive producer and co-wrote the pilot. Other executive producers are Marc Guggenheim, Jessika Goyer, Vince Gerardis and Ralph Vicinanza. Guggenheim will be the showrunner, along with Goyer.
“THE FORGOTTEN”
From executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer comes a crime show in which a team of dedicated amateurs work on cases involving unidentified victims. After the police have given up, this group must first solve the puzzle of the victim’s identity in order to then help catch the killer. They work to give the deceased back their names, lest they become — The Forgotten.
“The Forgotten” stars Rupert Penry-Jones as Alex, Reiko Aylesworth as Linda, Michelle Borth as Candace, Bob Stephenson as Walter, Anthony Carrigan as Tyler and Rochelle Aytes as Detective Grace Russell.
The series is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Warner Bros. Television. Mark Friedman is executive producer/writer, Jerry Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman are executive producers, KristieAnne Reed is co-executive producer and Danny Cannon is executive producer/director.
“HAPPY TOWN” (not currently scheduled)
Haplin, Minnesota, “Happy Town,” is approaching almost a decade of peace after being riddled for years by unsolved kidnappings. But in the wake of this small town’s first crime in seven years, some dark truths are being revealed about some familiar faces. They say every town has its secrets… that doesn’t even begin to describe Happy Town.
“Happy Town” stars Geoff Stults as Tommy Conroy, Lauren German as Henley, Amy Acker as Rachel Conroy, Dean Winters as John Haplin, John Patrick Amedori as Andrew Haplin, Sarah Gadon as Georgia Bravin, Jay Paulson as Larry ‘Root Beer’ Rogers, Robert Wisdom as Roger Hobbes and Sam Neill as Merritt Grieves.
The series is from ABC Studios. Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg are executive producers and co-writers. The pilot was directed by Gary Fleder, who is also an executive producer.
“V” (not currently scheduled)
“V” is a re-imagining of the 1980’s miniseries about the world’s first encounter with an alien race in which the aliens call themselves The Visitors, and have a seemingly friendly agenda that may or may not be a cover for something more malevolent.
“V” stars Elizabeth Mitchell as Erica Evans, Morris Chestnut as Ryan Nichols, Joel Gretsch as Father Jack Landry, Lourdes Benedicto as Valerie Stevens, Logan Huffman as Tyler Evans, Laura Vandervoort as Lisa, with Morena Baccarin as Anna and Scott Wolf as Chad Decker.
The series is produced by HDFilms in association with Warner Bros. Television. Scott Peters is executive producer/writer and Steve Pearlman and Jace Hall are executive producers. The pilot was directed and executive produced by Yves Simoneau.
COMEDY
“COUGAR TOWN”
Courteney Cox stars as a recently divorced single mother exploring the honest truths about dating and aging in our beauty and youth obsessed culture.
“Cougar Town” stars Courteney Cox as Jules, Christa Miller as Elle, Busy Philipps as Laurie, Dan Byrd as Travis, Brian Van Holt as Bobby, Josh Hopkins as Grayson and Ian Gomez as Andy.
The series is from ABC Studios. Bill Lawrence is executive producer/writer/director, Kevin Biegel is writer/co-executive producer, and Courteney Cox and David Arquette are executive producers.
“HANK”
Kelsey Grammer stars in this timely comedy as Hank Pryor, a titan of industry who suddenly finds himself out of work, almost out of money and around a wife and kids for whom he’s never made much time. Despite his recent setbacks, however, Hank is confident he’s on the road back to the top. He knows he is destined to return to greatness. And he is - just not the greatness he imagines.
“Hank” stars Kelsey Grammer as Hank, Melinda McGraw as Tilly, David Koechner as Grady, Macey Cruthird as Maddie and Ryan Wynott as Henry.
The series is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with McMonkey Inc., Grammnet Productions, Werner Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television. It is written by Tucker Cawley. Tom Werner, Tucker Cawley, Kelsey Grammer and Mike Clements serve as executive producers. The pilot was directed by James Burrows.
“THE MIDDLE”
The Hecks are a middle class family living in the middle of Indiana, just trying to keep their heads above water. Emmy-winner Patricia Heaton stars as a wife and mother of three in a comedy about raising a family and lowering your expectations.
“The Middle” stars Patricia Heaton as Frankie, Neil Flynn as Mike, Eden Sher as Sue, Atticus Shaffer as Brick and Charlie McDermott as Axel.
The series is produced by Warner Bros. Television. Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline are executive producers/writers and Werner Walian is producer. The pilot was directed by Julie Anne Robinson.
“MODERN FAMILY”
Today’s American families come in all shapes and sizes. Shot from the perspective of an unseen documentary filmmaker, this comedy takes a modern look at the complications that come with being a family in 2009.
“Modern Family” stars Ed O’Neill as Jay, Sofía Vergara as Gloria, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell, Eric Stonestreet as Cameron, Ty Burrell as Phil, Julie Bowen as Claire, Sarah Hyland as Haley, Rico Rodriguez as Manny, Nolan Gould as Luke and Ariel Winter as Alex.
The series is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television. Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd are executive producers. The pilot was directed by Jason Winer.
ALTERNATIVE SERIES
“SHARK TANK”
From Mark Burnett, executive producer of “Survivor” and “The Apprentice,” and Sony Pictures Television comes “Shark Tank,” an exciting new reality show that gives budding entrepreneurs the chance to make their dreams come true and become successful - and possibly wealthy - business people. But the entrepreneurs must first try to convince five tough, multi-millionaire tycoons to part with their own hard-earned cash and give them the funding they need to jumpstart their ideas.
In these trying economic times, it’s difficult for an individual possessing a dream or even a working small business poised for growth to get a loan for a risky venture. Whether it be an imaginative enhancement for an existing product, a family recipe that has all the ingredients to become a profitable culinary treat, or the latest technological gadget that could take the world by storm, most of these dreams die an early death because no one dared take a financial chance on someone with an unproven and oftentimes outrageous proposal. Many of these people now see “Shark Tank” as their last chance at success. Some have been laboring on their ideas for years or even decades, have invested large amounts of money, and are being pressured to throw in the towel by friends and family. Others have simply never had access to the means to live out their dreams, until now.
Enter the Sharks of “Shark Tank” - Barbara Corcoran (Manhattan real estate titan), Kevin Harrington (king of infomercials), Robert Herjavec (technology tycoon), Daymond John (fashion mogul) and Kevin O’Leary (venture capitalist) - five multi-millionaires who lifted themselves up by their bootstraps to make their own entrepreneurial dreams come true and turned their ideas into empires.
Each week ambitious entrepreneurs from across the country will present their breakthrough business concepts, products, properties and services to the panel of ruthless investors. Their goal is to convince these merciless moguls to invest their own dollars in the concept. Convincing real-life millionaires to part with their own money is no easy task, because when the idea is poor, the Sharks will tear into the ill-prepared presenters and pass on the idea with a simple, “I’m out!” — sending them running for the exit.
But these Sharks aren’t just out for blood, they too have a goal: to own a piece of the next big idea. Entrepreneurs will be asked to give up a percentage of their companies’ equity to the Sharks in order to get the investment they need. But when the Sharks hear a really top-notch idea, and more than one of them wants to sink their teeth into it, a war between them will erupt. Then the once-desperate entrepreneur can rejoice when the Sharks reveal their true interest in the product and bid up the price of the investment.
Monday, May 18, 2009
FOX TV upfront
FOX TV introduced its 2008-2009 primetime series roster at its upfront presentation today.
There are 6 new series (three sitcoms and three dramas) on the schedule plus the Fall debut of (the sixth season of) So You Think You Can Dance (previously used only as a Summer replacement series).
Not returning on Fox in 2008-09 are dramas Prison Break and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and animated sitcom King of the Hill. However drama Dollhouse, a clear “bubble” show, did indeed get renewed. Renewed but noticeably missing from the announced schedule are Gordon Ramsey's two reality series "Kitchen Nightmares" and "Hell's Kitchen"; presumably these will air in the Spring or earlier if other series falter badly out of the gate)
Here's the lineup by night for the two season segments-- beginning in September 2009 and January 2010
FALL 2009
Monday
8:00 p.m. House
9:00 p.m. Lie To Me (new day and time)
Tuesday
8:00 p.m. So You Think You Can Dance Performance Show (two hours)
Wednesday
8:00 p.m. So You Think You Can Dance Results Show
9:00 p.m. GLEE
Thursday
8:00 p.m. Bones
9:00 p.m. Fringe (new day)
Friday
8:00 p.m. BROTHERS
8:30 p.m. ‘Til Death (return, new day and time)
9:00 p.m. Dollhouse
Saturday
8:00 p.m. Cops
9:00 p.m. America’s Most Wanted
Sunday
7:00 p.m. The OT (NFL post-game)
8:00 p.m. The Simpsons
8:30 p.m. THE CLEVELAND SHOW
9:00 p.m. Family Guy
9:30 p.m. American Dad
JANUARY 2010
Monday
8:00 p.m. House
9:00 p.m. 24
Tuesday
8:00 p.m. American Idol
9:00 p.m. PAST LIFE
Wednesday
8:00 p.m. American Idol Results Show
9:00 p.m. HUMAN TARGET (Glee returns in the spring)
Thursday
8:00 p.m. Bones
9:00 p.m. Fringe
Friday
8:00 p.m. Brothers
8:30 p.m. ‘Til Death
9:00 p.m. Dollhouse
Saturday
8:00 p.m. Cops
9:00 p.m. America’s Most Wanted
Sunday
7:00 p.m. Animation Encores
7:30 p.m. American Dad
8:00 p.m. The Simpsons
8:30 p.m. SONS OF TUSCON
9:00 p.m. Family Guy
9:30 p.m. The Cleveland Show (new time)
New Program Descriptions
COMEDY
Brothers
A retired NFL star (Michael Strahan) moves back to his hometown in Houston and is reunited with his brother (Daryl “Chill” Mitchell), whose career in football was cut short because of a car accident.
The Cleveland Show
Everyone’s favorite soft-spoken neighbor on Family Guy, Cleveland Brown, moves back to his hometown in Virginia as he settles down with his college sweetheart, her unruly kids and his 14 year-old son. Mike Henry is the voice of Cleveland.
Sons of Tucson
Three teenage brothers higher a seemingly nice, but misguided man to pretend to be their father after their real Dad is sent to prison for a white collar crime. Davis Cleveland, Frank Dolce, Troy Gentile, Tyler Labine and Natalie Martinez star.
DRAMA
Glee
Will preview out of American Idol on May 19
An optimistic thirtysomething new teacher (Matthew Morrison) attempts to transform a group of misfits and outcasts in the high school glee club into serious competitors. The cast includes Lea Michele, Jayma Mays, Cory Monteith and Dianna Agron.
Human Target
Based on the DC Comics property, a private detective and bodyguard named Christopher Chance (Mark Valley) operates by impersonating his clients in order to eliminate threats to his boss. Jackie Earle Haley and Chi McBride (Pushing Daisies) also star.
Past Life
A psychologist with a specialty in reincarnation and past life regression therapy teams up with a cynical former NYPD detective to resolve people’s present day problems by exploring past life issues. Kelli Giddish, Nick Bishop, Ravi Patel and Richard Schiff (The West Wing) star.
There are 6 new series (three sitcoms and three dramas) on the schedule plus the Fall debut of (the sixth season of) So You Think You Can Dance (previously used only as a Summer replacement series).
Not returning on Fox in 2008-09 are dramas Prison Break and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and animated sitcom King of the Hill. However drama Dollhouse, a clear “bubble” show, did indeed get renewed. Renewed but noticeably missing from the announced schedule are Gordon Ramsey's two reality series "Kitchen Nightmares" and "Hell's Kitchen"; presumably these will air in the Spring or earlier if other series falter badly out of the gate)
Here's the lineup by night for the two season segments-- beginning in September 2009 and January 2010
FALL 2009
Monday
8:00 p.m. House
9:00 p.m. Lie To Me (new day and time)
Tuesday
8:00 p.m. So You Think You Can Dance Performance Show (two hours)
Wednesday
8:00 p.m. So You Think You Can Dance Results Show
9:00 p.m. GLEE
Thursday
8:00 p.m. Bones
9:00 p.m. Fringe (new day)
Friday
8:00 p.m. BROTHERS
8:30 p.m. ‘Til Death (return, new day and time)
9:00 p.m. Dollhouse
Saturday
8:00 p.m. Cops
9:00 p.m. America’s Most Wanted
Sunday
7:00 p.m. The OT (NFL post-game)
8:00 p.m. The Simpsons
8:30 p.m. THE CLEVELAND SHOW
9:00 p.m. Family Guy
9:30 p.m. American Dad
JANUARY 2010
Monday
8:00 p.m. House
9:00 p.m. 24
Tuesday
8:00 p.m. American Idol
9:00 p.m. PAST LIFE
Wednesday
8:00 p.m. American Idol Results Show
9:00 p.m. HUMAN TARGET (Glee returns in the spring)
Thursday
8:00 p.m. Bones
9:00 p.m. Fringe
Friday
8:00 p.m. Brothers
8:30 p.m. ‘Til Death
9:00 p.m. Dollhouse
Saturday
8:00 p.m. Cops
9:00 p.m. America’s Most Wanted
Sunday
7:00 p.m. Animation Encores
7:30 p.m. American Dad
8:00 p.m. The Simpsons
8:30 p.m. SONS OF TUSCON
9:00 p.m. Family Guy
9:30 p.m. The Cleveland Show (new time)
New Program Descriptions
COMEDY
Brothers
A retired NFL star (Michael Strahan) moves back to his hometown in Houston and is reunited with his brother (Daryl “Chill” Mitchell), whose career in football was cut short because of a car accident.
The Cleveland Show
Everyone’s favorite soft-spoken neighbor on Family Guy, Cleveland Brown, moves back to his hometown in Virginia as he settles down with his college sweetheart, her unruly kids and his 14 year-old son. Mike Henry is the voice of Cleveland.
Sons of Tucson
Three teenage brothers higher a seemingly nice, but misguided man to pretend to be their father after their real Dad is sent to prison for a white collar crime. Davis Cleveland, Frank Dolce, Troy Gentile, Tyler Labine and Natalie Martinez star.
DRAMA
Glee
Will preview out of American Idol on May 19
An optimistic thirtysomething new teacher (Matthew Morrison) attempts to transform a group of misfits and outcasts in the high school glee club into serious competitors. The cast includes Lea Michele, Jayma Mays, Cory Monteith and Dianna Agron.
Human Target
Based on the DC Comics property, a private detective and bodyguard named Christopher Chance (Mark Valley) operates by impersonating his clients in order to eliminate threats to his boss. Jackie Earle Haley and Chi McBride (Pushing Daisies) also star.
Past Life
A psychologist with a specialty in reincarnation and past life regression therapy teams up with a cynical former NYPD detective to resolve people’s present day problems by exploring past life issues. Kelli Giddish, Nick Bishop, Ravi Patel and Richard Schiff (The West Wing) star.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Canada's favourite TV shows
Top Ranked Regularly Scheduled Programs in Canada, 08/09 Year to Date (2+)**
1. GREY'S ANATOMY (CTV) 2,424,000
2. AMERICAN IDOL PERFORMANCE (CTV) 2,240,000
3. AMERICAN IDOL RESULTS (CTV) 2,186,000
4. CRIMINAL MINDS (CTV) 2,072,000
5. HOUSE (Global) 2,001,000
6. CSI (CTV) 1,996,000
7. SURVIVOR: GABON/TOCANTINS (Global) 1,906,000
8. DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (CTV) 1,897,000
9. CSI: NEW YORK (CTV) 1,895,000
10. THE AMAZING RACE 13/14 (CTV) 1,892,000
11. ER (CTV) 1,857,000
12. CSI: MIAMI (CTV) 1,810,000
13. TWO AND A HALF MEN (CTV) 1,509,000
14. SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA PERF. (CTV) 1,396,000
15. LAW & ORDER: SVU (CTV) 1,366,000
16. NCIS (Global) 1,318,000
17. CTV EVENING NEWS (CTV) 1,315,000
18. FLASHPOINT (CTV) 1,297,000
19. FRINGE (CTV) 1,291,000
20. 24 (Global) 1,266,000
Source: BBM Nielsen Media Research, CTV Total, Global Total and CBC Total
*excluding news and sports programming
**Sept. 22, 2008 - May 3, 2009, 8-11 p.m.,
1. GREY'S ANATOMY (CTV) 2,424,000
2. AMERICAN IDOL PERFORMANCE (CTV) 2,240,000
3. AMERICAN IDOL RESULTS (CTV) 2,186,000
4. CRIMINAL MINDS (CTV) 2,072,000
5. HOUSE (Global) 2,001,000
6. CSI (CTV) 1,996,000
7. SURVIVOR: GABON/TOCANTINS (Global) 1,906,000
8. DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (CTV) 1,897,000
9. CSI: NEW YORK (CTV) 1,895,000
10. THE AMAZING RACE 13/14 (CTV) 1,892,000
11. ER (CTV) 1,857,000
12. CSI: MIAMI (CTV) 1,810,000
13. TWO AND A HALF MEN (CTV) 1,509,000
14. SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA PERF. (CTV) 1,396,000
15. LAW & ORDER: SVU (CTV) 1,366,000
16. NCIS (Global) 1,318,000
17. CTV EVENING NEWS (CTV) 1,315,000
18. FLASHPOINT (CTV) 1,297,000
19. FRINGE (CTV) 1,291,000
20. 24 (Global) 1,266,000
Source: BBM Nielsen Media Research, CTV Total, Global Total and CBC Total
*excluding news and sports programming
**Sept. 22, 2008 - May 3, 2009, 8-11 p.m.,
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Stay tuned for major network "Upfronts"
Next week, most of the major US TV broadcast networks will be holding their "upfront" presentation meetings in New York to introduce their scheduled prime-time programme line-ups for the upcoming TV season beginning in September. Over the course of these meetings we will learn which "on the bubble" ratings challenged series airing during the current season have been cancelled, which have been renewed and which new pilots have been ordered to replace the cancelled series.
I intend to post updates on the line-up announcements at this blog.
The presentation schedule is as follows:
Monday May 18 FOX
Tuesday May 19 ABC
Wednesday May 20 CBS
Thursday May 21 The CW
(NBC got a head start on the others back on May 4th)
I intend to post updates on the line-up announcements at this blog.
The presentation schedule is as follows:
Monday May 18 FOX
Tuesday May 19 ABC
Wednesday May 20 CBS
Thursday May 21 The CW
(NBC got a head start on the others back on May 4th)
Review: Doubt (A Parable) at the StLC
On Tuesday May 12th I attended a performance of the stageplay "Doubt: A Parable" , produced by the Canadian Stage Company and presented in the Bluma theatre at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts (Front & Scott Sts, Toronto). Doubt is a short one act play (approx. 90 minutes in length) featuring a cast of 4 characters, set at a New York area Catholic school in the early 1960s. The play is the basis for the critically acclaimed feature length motion picture (featuring Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman) released last year. We had excellent seats (front row centre) that we were able to purchase for a song ($22.50 each @ a 20% discount for Toronto Star readers.) While the balcony was virtually empty, the lower house was largely filled-- a reasonable crowd for a Tuesday night performance mid run and toward the end of the theatre season.
The stageplay, written by John Patrick Shanley, is exceptional. The arc of the plot is deliberately ambiguous, in order to stir many thought provoking questions. The cast of characters includes Sister Aloysius, a hardened old widow and the matriarch of the school, young innocent Sister James, charismatic crusading Father Flynn, the new associate pastor at the parish that adjoins the school and Mrs. Muller, the mother of the first black student to enroll at a school where most students are of Italian and Irish extraction. The central conflict of the play pits Sister Aloysisus against the other three characters. She remains steadfast in her certitude about the correctness of her views in the face of opposition from the other three characters and ultimately prevails in imposing her will, against their resistance.
Sister Aloysius sees the world in dispassionate black and white terms. She is a no nonsense nun who believes in discipline, the three Rs and that rules should be obeyed and not be broken. She is an enforcer who rules with an iron fist and who sees separating good from evil (like weeds from the plants in the convent garden she is fond of tending), rooting out transgressors, seeking their contrition and doling out punishment as her life mission. Having lost a husband to war she is all too aware that evil does exist in the world and that there is a heavy price to pay if it is not held in check. She is not a likable character but considers the need to be liked a character flaw.
Sister James, on the other hand, is an idealistic young woman who loves teaching and longs for acceptance by her class and the approval of her boss (Sister Aloysius). When confronted with the possibility of evil deeds, she prefers to ignore them or re-interpret them in a way that gives the perpetrators the benefit of the doubt. She is compassionate, quick to forgive and mistrusts her own instincts. She prefers to romanticize the history she teaches as an escape from the harsh realities of the present. Conflict and confrontation make her uncomfortable. She is a trusting and giving person.
Father Flynn is a crusading young priest who seeks to have a positive inspirational influence on his parishioners and the boys at the school who he coaches. He wants to modernize the church and make faith a relevant, positive influence in the community. Yet he wields old-fashioned notions about the pyramidal hierarchy of the church and sexism (the dominance of male priests over female nuns) as weapons in his battle of wits against Sister Aloysius. He often seems more concerned about protecting reputations and driven by ego than by the wellbeing of the community he professes to value above all else.
Mrs. Muller is a working class mother seeking to shelter her son from a hostile racist community and the anger of her husband lashing out against the boy's emerging adolescent sexuality. She desperately wants her son to fit in and be accepted in the school so that he can graduate, succeed in high school and in life beyond matriculation. She prefers to see Father Flynn as a surrogate father figure and a positive influence in the boy's life, who poses less of a threat to her son that his natural father who beats him. She has no qualms about suppressing or concealing the truth and denying stark reality if it is likely to lead to a more expedient and positive outcome.
The play triangulates between the perspectives of these four central characters in resolving the conflict they become immersed in.
I found David Storch very effective as Father Flynn. Seana McKenna (who I also saw in a production of The Clean House last season) credible as Sister Aloysius and Raven Dauda exceptional as Mrs. Muller. If there was a weak link among the cast it was Daniela Vaskalic as Sister James. I also found all of the actors attempts at a New Yawk accent distracting.
The sets are spartan-- the action basically alternates between the convent courtyard (set between the rectory and the school) and Sister Aloysius's office, with one scene set in a locker room. There are also two framing sermons delivered by the priest alone on stage.
Overall it was an enjoyable night at the theatre. Fortunately, I was not hampered by any expectations informed by having seen the movie version previously. I do plan to rent the movie on video now, though, having seen the original stageplay source material.
The stageplay, written by John Patrick Shanley, is exceptional. The arc of the plot is deliberately ambiguous, in order to stir many thought provoking questions. The cast of characters includes Sister Aloysius, a hardened old widow and the matriarch of the school, young innocent Sister James, charismatic crusading Father Flynn, the new associate pastor at the parish that adjoins the school and Mrs. Muller, the mother of the first black student to enroll at a school where most students are of Italian and Irish extraction. The central conflict of the play pits Sister Aloysisus against the other three characters. She remains steadfast in her certitude about the correctness of her views in the face of opposition from the other three characters and ultimately prevails in imposing her will, against their resistance.
Sister Aloysius sees the world in dispassionate black and white terms. She is a no nonsense nun who believes in discipline, the three Rs and that rules should be obeyed and not be broken. She is an enforcer who rules with an iron fist and who sees separating good from evil (like weeds from the plants in the convent garden she is fond of tending), rooting out transgressors, seeking their contrition and doling out punishment as her life mission. Having lost a husband to war she is all too aware that evil does exist in the world and that there is a heavy price to pay if it is not held in check. She is not a likable character but considers the need to be liked a character flaw.
Sister James, on the other hand, is an idealistic young woman who loves teaching and longs for acceptance by her class and the approval of her boss (Sister Aloysius). When confronted with the possibility of evil deeds, she prefers to ignore them or re-interpret them in a way that gives the perpetrators the benefit of the doubt. She is compassionate, quick to forgive and mistrusts her own instincts. She prefers to romanticize the history she teaches as an escape from the harsh realities of the present. Conflict and confrontation make her uncomfortable. She is a trusting and giving person.
Father Flynn is a crusading young priest who seeks to have a positive inspirational influence on his parishioners and the boys at the school who he coaches. He wants to modernize the church and make faith a relevant, positive influence in the community. Yet he wields old-fashioned notions about the pyramidal hierarchy of the church and sexism (the dominance of male priests over female nuns) as weapons in his battle of wits against Sister Aloysius. He often seems more concerned about protecting reputations and driven by ego than by the wellbeing of the community he professes to value above all else.
Mrs. Muller is a working class mother seeking to shelter her son from a hostile racist community and the anger of her husband lashing out against the boy's emerging adolescent sexuality. She desperately wants her son to fit in and be accepted in the school so that he can graduate, succeed in high school and in life beyond matriculation. She prefers to see Father Flynn as a surrogate father figure and a positive influence in the boy's life, who poses less of a threat to her son that his natural father who beats him. She has no qualms about suppressing or concealing the truth and denying stark reality if it is likely to lead to a more expedient and positive outcome.
The play triangulates between the perspectives of these four central characters in resolving the conflict they become immersed in.
I found David Storch very effective as Father Flynn. Seana McKenna (who I also saw in a production of The Clean House last season) credible as Sister Aloysius and Raven Dauda exceptional as Mrs. Muller. If there was a weak link among the cast it was Daniela Vaskalic as Sister James. I also found all of the actors attempts at a New Yawk accent distracting.
The sets are spartan-- the action basically alternates between the convent courtyard (set between the rectory and the school) and Sister Aloysius's office, with one scene set in a locker room. There are also two framing sermons delivered by the priest alone on stage.
Overall it was an enjoyable night at the theatre. Fortunately, I was not hampered by any expectations informed by having seen the movie version previously. I do plan to rent the movie on video now, though, having seen the original stageplay source material.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Star Trek: The Younger Generation
Over 43 years after the first Star Trek series hit the small screen (on September 8, 1966), a new movie reinvention, with an all new cast playing characters introduced in that original TV series, will make its big screen debut this Friday. Interestingly, not a single one of the actors portraying the main four characters in the new movie were yet born in 1996, and all of them are younger now than the actors that portrayed the characters back in 1966, as follows:
Character Original actor New actor Age diff
James T Kirk William Shatner 35 Chris Pine 28 7
Spock Leonard Nimoy 35 Zachary Quinto 31 4
Scotty James Doohan 46 Simon Pegg 39 7
Leonard "Bones" McCoy DeForest Kelley 46 Karl Urban 36 10
Average age difference 7
Character Original actor New actor Age diff
James T Kirk William Shatner 35 Chris Pine 28 7
Spock Leonard Nimoy 35 Zachary Quinto 31 4
Scotty James Doohan 46 Simon Pegg 39 7
Leonard "Bones" McCoy DeForest Kelley 46 Karl Urban 36 10
Average age difference 7
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
