Thursday, May 19, 2011

CW Fall Schedule

The CW announced its fall schedule today. In addition to some returning favorites, a few new dramas and reality shows will be on the lineup.

The CW picked up Sarah Michelle Gellar's new show, Ringer, after CBS passed on it. I'd already seen indications that this was the case, but now we have the official word. The network also picked up Hart of Dixie, which stars Rachel Bilson.

Supernatural is staying in its Friday night timeslot. I really wish it had been paired with The Vampire Diaries and put back on Thursdays. Instead, Nikita is moving to Fridays, and The Secret Circle will be paired with The Vampire Diaries. This pairing makes sense, considering the fact that both shows are based on books written by L. J. Smith. Days of Our Lives fans will recognize Shelly Hennig, who played Stephanie until recently, as one of the stars.

In addition to Supernatural's undesirable timeslot, I was disappointed not to see Awakening on the schedule. I was looking forward to the zombie show.

The full story is here.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

CBS Fall Schedule

The CBS fall primetime schedule is in, and it includes five new series and major timeslot moves for CSI and The Good Wife. Check here for the full story.

The five new shows consist of three dramas and two sitcoms. One of the dramas is A Gifted Man, which is about a surgeon whose dead ex-wife starts appearing to him to teach him the meaning of life. I mentioned this in an earlier post, but the series was still untitled at that point. Julie Benz will play the doctor's sister.

CBS didn't pick up Ringer, Sarah Michelle Gellar's pilot, but all indications are that the CW did.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

ABC Fall Schedule

The fall 2011 primetime schedule for ABC has been released, and it includes thirteen new series.

Fans of canceled soaps All My Children and One Life to Live may not be interested, since many have vowed never to watch ABC again, but here's some info for those not affected by the daytime situation.

Once Upon a Time, ABC's fairy tale offering, is currently set to air on Sundays, which means it's not in direct competition with NBC's Grimm. Several of the new shows won't premiere until mid-season; these include Missing and Good Christian Belles.

Hallelujah sounded weird enough to get my attention but didn't make it to the schedule. Neither did Poe, the drama about Edgar Allan Poe as the world's first detective.

You can see the full schedule here.

Monday, May 16, 2011

FOX Fall Schedule

FOX has released their primetime schedule for this fall. It includes four new sitcoms, three new dramas, and one unscripted show.

The big news is that Terra Nova is finally on the schedule. After being postponed more than once, it's now set for Monday nights at 8pm.

Also of note, Fringe is staying in its current timeslot on Friday nights.

An important omission from the schedule is Locke & Key. I was really interested in that one.

A few more details about FOX's plans are available here.

NBC Fall Schedule Announced

NBC has released the primetime TV schedule for fall 2011; the full list is here. At this point, I'm not as concerned with when shows are scheduled to air as I am the shows themselves. The networks often move them around before fall, so I'd rather wait a bit longer to see what they're going to do.

The renewal of Chuck, along with its move to Fridays, is of special note to me. Chuck has been one of my favorite shows since the beginning. Although the ratings are terrible, the fans are extremely loyal and vocal. Now that it's moving to Fridays, it's clear that this is the final season. For many years now, Friday nights have been where shows go to die. It's said that fewer people watch TV on Friday nights, although that's based on how many Nielsen households watch TV then. NBC chief Bob Greenblatt even stated that this is Chuck's last season. At least it should get a proper ending--as long as the network doesn't decide to pull it before all the episodes air. It's happened to a lot of my shows.

Okay, so I said I wouldn't get bogged down with the scheduling details, but this fall's Friday schedule is making me nervous. Chuck is to be followed by Grimm, which I was hoping to watch. Because of its timeslot, I don't expect it to make it; it will be competing with Supernatural and Fringe (if they stay where they are). That will make it tough for those of us who want to watch all three.

If NBC's new show REM caught your eye, it's important to know that it has a new title. Now known as Awake, it's currently on the list of mid-season replacements. My question is why they would change the title to something so similar to the CW's Awakening.

I was hoping NBC would pick up 17th Precinct, but it's not on the schedule. Too bad.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Storms: My Life With Lindsay Buckingham and Fleetwood Mac

Last week's episode of Glee, "Rumours," highlighted the tension among the members of New Directions and compared the teens to Fleetwood Mac as they worked on their Rumours album. While watching this episode, I remembered reading an interesting tell-all book about the band.

Storms: My Life With Lindsay Buckingham and Fleetwood Mac was written by Carol Ann Harris. As the title suggests, the book is an autobiography of the author's time as a member of Fleetwood Mac's inner circle. It tells how she first met the band members, began dating Lindsay Buckingham, developed an antagonistic relationship with Stevie Nicks, and much more. Published in 2007, this book has very mixed reviews.

I don't read many autobiographies, but this one caught my eye. Although I enjoyed it, I didn't believe every word I read. After all, everything took place many years ago, and the memory is a funny thing. Also, the author was in an intimate relationship with one of the band members, and although she tried not to show any bias toward or against anyone, she didn't always succeed.

In any case, I felt Storms: My Life With Lindsay Buckingham and Fleetwood Mac was worth reading. Maybe those who have followed the band for decades already know everything mentioned in the book or can even dispute a lot of it, but most of it was new to me. All in all, I recommend it for anyone interested in learning about some of Fleetwood Mac's history.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Is General Hospital the Next to Go?

General Hospital is likely on its way out, or at least that's the rumor. Would you like to know what would go on the air in its place? A talk show headed by Katie Couric.

Although GH spin-off Port Charles was my favorite soap opera, I've never been a GH fan. Nevertheless, I'm angry about this development. It seems that all the soaps are being systematically taken away. Many are already gone, and All My Children and One Life to Live won't be around much longer.

Even people who don't get into the soaps have reason to be concerned. Soaps have a huge fan base that is being ignored. Certain demographics are considered important, and if you're not included, the TV execs don't give a hoot about your opinions. For now, soaps are the target. When they're all gone, what type of show will be next?

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Supernatural, Horror, Sci Fi, and Fantasy Pilots

The television networks have been busy selecting the shows that will be on the fall lineup. Although none of this is set it stone yet, there are quite a few supernatural, horror, science fiction, and fantasy pilots that could start airing this fall on the major networks. By that, I'm referring to ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, and NBC. Other channels such as Syfy will probably have a few new shows of their own that fall within at least one of these categories.

Here are the ones I've been able to find:

17th Precinct - This series, which is set in a world ruled by magic, has potential. The cast includes Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica), Stockard Channing (The West Wing), and Brandon Jay McLaren (Being Erica). (NBC)

Awakening - Zombie fans, take note. This show is set during a zombie uprising. It stars Lucy Griffiths (Robin Hood, Collision) and Meredith Hagner (As the World Turns, Royal Pains) as teen sisters who don't get along. I don't know how it will compare to AMC's The Walking Dead, but my guess is that it won't be anywhere near as graphic, which will make it a better choice for those who find the other series too intense. (CW)

Ghost Angeles - This one is about someone who talks to ghosts, but instead of being a drama or thriller, it's a sitcom. (NBC)

Grimm - David Greenwalt (Angel) is involved, which means it should be good. It's described as "dark but fantastical," and it has characters from fairy tales. I hope this one makes it to the air. (NBC)

Hallelujah - Terry O'Quinn (Lost, Millennium) has joined the cast of this series, which is set in Hallelujah, Tennessee. Hallelujah is a small town that's being torn apart by the forces of good and evil when a stranger shows up to help. Music is going to be an important part of this show, and probably not the way you think. The songs will be performed by a gospel choir that serves as kind of a Greek chorus. Um, okay. It all sounds interesting, but I have my doubts that this one will make it to the final lineup. (ABC)

Heavenly - It's not clear how much of a fantastical element this series will have. It stars Ben Aldridge as a man who used to be an angel. (CW)

Locke & Key - Based on the graphic novel by Joe Hill, this series should be a good one if it makes it to the fall schedule. It's about a woman and her three daughters who move into a creepy old house where a violent murder took place.

Once Upon a Time – Okay, what's the deal? This is another show with characters from fairy tales. This one takes place in a small town where fairy tales might actually be real. The characters include Snow White, Prince Charming, Pinocchio, and Grumpy. (ABC)

REM - This series has been described as a "procedural hybrid which follows the simultaneous and parallel lives of a detective who can not let go of any aspect of his fractured family after a horrible car accident." Further digging around led me to some clarification. Basically, the main character is caught between two different realities after being in an accident. (NBC)

The River – I have no idea why this one is described as a "horror drama," but since it is, I'm including it here. After a famous TV explorer and his crew disappear in the Amazon, his son decides to go searching for him. (ABC)

The Secret Circle - All the buzz says this one is going to be good! It's about witches and is based on a book series by L.J. Smith, who also wrote the books on which The Vampire Diaries is based. (CW)

Touch - This is the latest series from Tim Kring (Heroes). Keifer Sutherland stars as a man who learns that his autistic, mute son has psychic abilities. (FOX)

There is also the Untitled Susannah Grant TV Project in which a surgeon's ex-wife starts teaching him about life--after she dies. (CBS)

I'm also going to include Terra Nova, which has been postponed more than once and is now slated for a fall premiere. This Stephen Spielberg series is set 85 million years in the past! (FOX)

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Which Shows Are Coming Back in the Fall?

It's that time of year again. Television networks are finalizing their plans for the fall season. Some series have already been renewed, while others won't be back. Still others are "on the bubble," which means that the decision could go either way.

At this point, only one of my shows is on the bubble, right where I knew it would be. The fate of Chuck is always undecided until the last possible minute. It angers, annoys, and just plain bothers me, but that's just the way it is. Chuck's ratings are never very good, and that's something I'll never understand. It's a fantastic show.

To find out the status of your shows, there are a few places you can look. My favorite is TV By the Numbers. They have a renew/cancel index and much more. I also recommend following them on Twitter.

You can also check this list from the TV Squad, which is updated as news becomes available. They are also on Twitter.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Muse

Until I saw an article written by my friend Kenzy England, I had no idea that Matthew Bellamy and Kate Hudson were together. Most people probably recognize Kate, but those of you who aren't into alternative rock may be wondering who Matt is.

Matt Bellamy is the lead singer of Muse. I still remember the first time I heard his voice. I was absolutely mesmerized. I happened to see a music video of "Knights of Cydonia" being performed live, and it was pure magic. I had to know more about this band, so I started looking for more of their songs and videos. All I can say is that Muse is amazing.

In addition to the concert performance of "Knights of Cydonia," there is also a scripted video, known as the Western; both versions are well worth watching. "Uprising" is essential viewing. In fact, it received an MTV VMA award for special effects.

I encourage everyone who hasn't seen these videos to take a look. If you can't watch videos online and can't get them On Demand, I hope you'll be able to at least listen to the songs through last.fm or another website.