Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2007 > May
May 2007
‘Starter Wife’ disappoints in spite of spunky Debra Messing
As much as I love Debra Messing — and I really do love her — she just can’t fix what’s wrong with “The Starter Wife,” USA Network’s comedy-drama miniseries that debuts tonight at 8.
That’s because what’s wrong with this picture, based on the 2005 novel by Gigi Levangie Grazer, wife of mega-producer Brian Grazer, is that it’s a seriously cliche-ridden premise. Messing, the Lucille Ball of “Will & Grace” fame, is still blessed with perfect timing and a down-to-earth wackiness. But it’s not enough to overcome an overused theme.
Hollywood is full of empty, heartless men sporting plastic trophy wives as accessories to their power and wealth. The men are silly and superficial; the wives are desperate and dependent. Everybody drinks too much and cheats on their spouses.
Messing stars as Molly Kagan, a 40something Tinseltown gal who has spent a dozen years starving herself, touching up her flaming red hair and organizing and pampering her thoughtless husband, studio exec Kenny Kagan (Peter Jacobson).
As if he were flicking lint off his Italian suit, Kenny informs Molly one morning that he wants out of the marriage. It’s over; he’s moving on. When he leaves their Beverly Hills mansion, he takes their friends and credit cards with him.
Molly is left with their 5-year-old daughter, a drunken best friend (played by a stunningly pale and sickly looking Judy Davis) and the requisite flaming gay friend (Chris Diamantopoulos). The talented Joe Mantegna is wasted as Kenny’s boss, who seems to have a thing for Molly.
Directed by Jon Avnet, the six-hour series is gorgeous to look at but filled with cardboard characters and bland storytelling. You will not be surprised to see a handsome and slightly mysterious beach bum pop into Molly’s life as she’s mourning the death of her marriage in a Malibu beach resort.
Tonight’s two-hour debut will be followed by weekly installments for a month. If you’re a huge fan of trashy summer paperbacks, maybe you’ll enjoy “Starter Wife.” But if you’re expecting something meatier, don’t bother.
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MyNetworkTV finally unveils fall schedule
MyNetworkTV, the Fox-owned mini-network formed last September after the demise of UPN and the WB, announced its new fall schedule Tuesday, two weeks after the major networks and the CW tooted their programming horns in New York.
For those who may have forgotten, MyNetwork airs in Austin on KNVA, the same station that carries the CW. The Fox fare has been scheduled weeknights from 9 to 11 p.m., following the CW’s shows.
After failing to capture an audience last fall with a prime-time slate of telenovela-style dramas, MyNetwork has decided to change course radically come September.
In place of romantic sudsers, MyNetwork will pack its limited lineup (two hours Monday through Saturday; no programming Sunday) with reality shows, entertainment specials and some live “sports” events.
What’s a “sports” event? “IFL Battleground” will follow coaches and personalities of the International Fight League, which bills itself the “world’s first professional mixed martial arts organization to compete in a team format.” In other words, you won’t find this “sport” at the Olympics or NCAA.
Also look for Pro Beach Volleyball and Gods & Goddesses of the Beach from the decidedly nonbeach city of Las Vegas.
The four new reality shows are:
“The Academy,” which follows recruits through an 18-week training course at the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department; “Jail,” which purports to capture “the harsh and sometimes humorous reality” of inmates’ lives; “Divorce Wars,” which promises an “intense real-life look at couples struggling to hold o to their relationships” while 24-hour TV cameras record their tearful efforts; and “Meet My Folks,” with the potentially disastrous premise of parents choosing mates for their offspring.
Rounding out the schedule will be 10 celebrity news specials produced by “Access Hollywood.”
Here is the Monday-Saturday fall schedule for MyNetwork (new series in caps):
MONDAY
9-11 p.m.
“IFL Battleground”
TUESDAY
9-10 p.m. “THE ACADEMY”
10-11 p.m. “JAIL”
WEDNESDAY
9-10 p.m. “DIVORCE WARS” (working title)
10-11 p.m. “MEET MY FOLKS”
THURSDAY
9-11 p.m. “My Thursday Night Movie”
FRIDAY
9-11 p.m. “My Friday Night Movie”
SATURDAY
9-11 p.m. Rerun of “IFL Battleground”
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‘House’ and ‘Boston Legal’ post late finales
The TV season is officially over now, but two popular network shows have their finales tonight — outside the big May sweeps rating period. We know not why …
Fox’s “House,” a consistent member of the Nielsen Top 20 group, takes a bow at 8 p.m.
I’ve tried and tried to embrace “House,” the sad saga of a really grumpy, drug-addicted doctor played by Hugh Laurie, but I just can’t get on board with this one. It’s the same story every week: bizarre illness strikes someone, usually a child, and just before the gruesome death, grumpy doc solves the medical mystery while ticking off everybody else on the show.
ABC’s “Boston Legal,” one of David E. Kelley’s quirkier offerings, also bids farewell for the summer at 9 p.m., and I’m totally taken with this show. You never know where this series is going, but the characters are uniformly weird and wonderful. Anybody who thinks this is just another legal drama has missed the boat.
The best thing about “Boston Legal,” as I’ve crowed many times, is the opposites-attract friendship of Alan Shore and Denny Crane. Alan is a young, liberal-minded crusader; Denny is an aging, “mad-cow” guy (his definition of early Alzheimer’s) who votes Republican and fires off guns in the office.
In spite of their differences, these two have a loving, unbreakable bond. Each episode ends with the legal duo smoking cigars and sipping scotch on the firm’s balcony, ruminating on life and (mostly) their friendship.
Tonight promises fun and fireworks as Denny and Alan go up against each other in (what else?) an unusual murder trial.
Texas lege equals riveting TV
I hadn’t planned to spend a huge chunk of my Memorial Day weekend watching Access TV, but that’s what happened. On a lark I tuned into Time Warner Cable Channel 6’s telecast of the Texas House and became glued to the unfolding melodrama involving Speaker of the House Tom Craddick.
Watching government in action can be tedious to the extreme, but the confrontations regarding Craddick’s tenure — challenged not only by Democrats by many members of his own Republican party — was definitely entertaining. Drama, melodrama, intrigue, comedy (where do those guys find ties like that?) … The Texas House had it all.
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Can ‘Jericho’ be saved?
Does “Jericho” have a future?
CBS canceled the post-apocalypse drama earlier this month after only one season and a tantalizing cliffhanger. But an online campaign has stirred up possibilities of, at the very least, an online conclusion or maybe even a wrap-up TV movie.
After the network announced its fall lineup on May 16 — and “Jericho” was conspicuously missing — viewers swamped CBS with angry e-mails, phone calls and letters. The network’s own message board has been bombarded with demands for the show’s return.
And the fan-based site has collected more than 60,000 signatures.
“We have read your e-mails over the past few days and have been touched by the depth and passion with which you have expressed your disappointment,” CBS president Nina Tassler responded online. “Please know that canceling a television series is a very difficult decision. … Thank you for supporting ‘Jericho’ with such passion. We truly appreciate the commitment you made to the series and we are humbled by your disappointment.”
The final sentence in Tassler’s message to viewers is the most tantalizing: “In the coming weeks, we hope to develop a way to provide closure to the compelling drama that was the Jericho story.”
Does that mean CBS will film a movie for telecast? Post a video online? Bring back the show for a second season? The latter is an extremely remote possibility, since the production has been shut down and most of the primary cast — including Skeet Ulrich and Gerald McRaney (who was killed off in the cliffhanger anyway) have moved onto other projects.
My guess is the writers will come up with a conclusion that viewers can read online. Filming a movie or even an episode would be a stretch. But who knows … this campaign might have legs.
“Jericho” started off with a bang, and we’re not just talking about a nuclear bang. The early reviews last fall were sterling, and viewers welcomed the series with open arms. But then CBS yanked the show off the air for a long stretch, and the audience did not return with the show, months later.
In other words, stupid scheduling killed “Jericho.” As CBS execs struggle to appease the clamoring fans, we’ll keep you posted.
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Finally, Jordin wins, 6th “Idol” ends
At the end of four months and 51 hours of television, 17-year-old Jordin Sparks, she of the dimpled grin and booming voice, was crowned the new “American Idol.” Beat-boxer Blake Lewis settled for also-ran.
Suspense was definitely in the air when time ticked down to 9 p.m., when the show was supposed to be over, and the winner had not yet been announced. Talk about dragging out the results. At 9:03, Sparks, whom just about everyone predicted would win, did.
More than 35 million viewers were expected to tune into the star-spangled, two-hour finale on Fox. Instead of one surprise performer, such as last year’s jaw-dropping appearance by Prince, this year’s edition was packed with big names. Who was there? Who wasn’t. Former “Idols” Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard sang, along with pop vets Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Tony Bennett, Green Day and Bette Midler. Motown songs were featured prominently, as were tunes by the Beatles.
Unflappable host Ryan Seacrest presided over the live telecast from Los Angeles’ Kodak Theater. A few technical glitches (Midler slid off key, apparently unable to hear the orchestra at first) didn’t seem to bother anyone, but Sanjaya Malakar, the castoff “Idol” with the bizarre hairdos and other-worldly sound, failed to stir the excitement producers had hoped when he bounded onto the stage with Aerosmith’s Joe Perry. No raucous cheering erupted.
There were sweet moments, like judges Randy and Paula dancing as Midler crooned “Wind Beneath My Wings.” There were stellar moments, like Melinda and LaKisha belting out a song with Gladys Knight — both of those rejected contestants sounded better than the two finalists. And there were excruciating moments, like the Golden Idol Awards, which are just an excuse to make fun of some of the most horrendous audioners from months ago.
After five seasons, “American Idol” remains a TV and pop culture phenomenon. A new season will gear up, with auditions to be held in as yet unnamed cities this summer. The TV show, always a No. 1 show in the Nielsen ratings, will return in January … and the beat goes on.
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‘Idol’ splatter!
Boy, that was kind of a mess, wasn’t it? First we had to hear about Paula’s broken nose and then we had to wade through both “Idol” finalists wrapping themselves around an awful song, the totally unsing-able “This Is My Now.”
Whew! It’s time for this contest to end, folks. When the best thing about the last performance is a guy who didn’t even make it to the final last season (that would be Chris Daughtry, in case you fell asleep), it’s Trouble with a capital T.
The judges, including the oddly attired Randy Jackson (in an extra-large Michael Jackson military jacket?), gave the edge to Jordin Sparks. I agree, but she wasn’t nearly as good as she has been, and poor Blake Lewis was painfully close to awful. Was he really relaxed or just not caring? Hard to tell. The 25-year-old man-boy made 17-year-old Jordin seem like a sophisticated lady.
Maybe the Kodak Theater intimidated Blake and Jordin. Maybe “American Idol” is getting old … or should shorten its season by a month or two. Hard to know what exactly made the night seem so dull, but I just kept wishing Melinda and LaKisha were up on that stage. Those gals have never been intimidated by anything in their lives.
Tomorrow’s two-hour results show is going to need Prince and about a dozen other big-time surprises to send this season off with a dose of luster.
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Sorry end to ‘24’ season
What a disappointing end to a largely disappointing season.
(If you recorded the season finale of “24” and haven’t yet seen it, this is your SPOILER ALERT.)
Jack Bauer, standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean, stared sadly at the dawn of a new day. Audrey was in a coma, and he had just professed his love before saying buh-bye. Sniff, sniff.
Oh, please. Is this any way to end a suspense thriller? In the early going, the two-hour finale looked like it just might help redeem a season plagued with silly romantic melodrama. At around 8:30 p.m., the government blew up an oil rig platform in the middle of the ocean in an attempt to prevent Jack’s father Phillip and the Chinese from getting away with the Russia’s nuclear computer codes.
Bill Buchanan was back (wife Karen had fired him from CTU, remember?) and flying this spectacular mission to help Jack save the world and his whiny nephew Josh.
It should have ended there, but it didn’t. The next half hour moved slower than pudding as Jack wandered off to find Audrey. Are we not sick of Audrey and Jack’s endless fascination with her?
Adding to the overall silliness of the evening was Chloe’s revelation to ex-husband Morris that she’s pregnant. The only possible reason to look forward to this little plot twist is to see if the baby will be born with the infamous Chloe scowl.
Left dangling at the end were two U.S. presidents — one former, one current. We last saw disgraced former President Logan being loaded into an ambulance after wacky wife Martha plunged a knife into him. Did he live? And President Wayne Palmer was last seen fighting for his life after an assassination attempt. Did he make it? And cold-hearted, stone-faced Vice President Daniels — good guy? Bad guy?
The only way for “24” to survive next season is to completely shake up CTU. Either get rid of Jack or put him in an executive position — or send him off to nurse Audrey forever. Take a break from the nuclear-threat-on-America theme. Stop circling the White House with intrigue and terrorist activity. It’s old and boring now.
And for the love of God, bring back James Cromwell in some capacity. Who cares if Phillip Bauer is dead? Bring Cromwell back. Give him a role, any role. He was just about the only thing interesting about “24” this season.
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Can two-hour finale redeem saggy “24?”
In case you haven’t noticed, this week marks the end of the TV season, and a bunch of finales and cliffhangers will be clamoring for our attention.
Of of two biggies tonight — Fox’s “24” (7 to 9 p.m.) and NBC’s “Heroes” (8-9 p.m.) — Jack Bauer and his clock-ticking thriller have the most to prove. Freshman hottie “Heroes” has been building breathtaking momentum for several weeks, while “24” has been in a bit of a slump.
Having said that, I’m not about to let go of “24.” Redemption is possible, and there were strong hints last week that this white-knuckle serial would indeed pull itself out of the doldrums.
Really, all it took was the return of Jack’s father Phillip Bauer (James Cromwell), a truly Shakespearean fellow who seems the perfect foil for stone-faced Vice President Daniels (Powers Boothe).
If tonight’s two-hour thrill ride concentrates on the threats and conspiracy, I’ll be able to forgive all those silly romantic turns. If Chloe resumes her scowl and Audrey twitches off into the sunset, “24” will be back on track — and just in time!
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Unhappy ‘Grey’s’
“Seinfeld” proudly proclaimed itself a show about nothing.
“Grey’s Anatomy” ought to go ahead and tout itself as a show about misery. And whining. And very unhappy endings.
SPOILER ALERT:
Last night’s season finale was one heartbreak after another. If this is the big tease for next season, I don’t think I can handle all the sorrow. This is entertainment?
At Seattle Grace, everybody has commitment problems, just about everybody has gotten dumped and now we’ve got Meredith’s younger, probably just as whiny sister on board. Lexie, we learned last night in the last few minutes, is the young woman McDreamy flirted with in the bar. She’s also a new intern, so we’ll have sibling rivalry next season on top of everything else.
“Grey’s” is best when it celebrates the humor in dark situations. Last night’s season finale had little if any humor — unless Cristina’s missing eyebrows count. I was afraid “Grey’s” jumped the shark when Meredith spent three episodes on death’s doorstep; now I think that’s exactly what happened.
Can the show redeem itself next season? That’s a difficult task under any circumstances, but with creator Shonda Rhimes dividing her attention between “Grey’s” and the new spinoff “Private Practice,” the chances of un-jumping that shark look slim.
Walter Cronkite: still 90!
Better late than never, right? Former CBS anchor Walter Cronkite turned 90 last November, but tonight his former network is throwing him an overdue tribute.
“That’s the Way It Is: Celebrating Cronkite at 90” airs tonight at 7 on CBS (KEYE Channel 42).
Singing Cronkite’s praises will be star newsies Katie Couric, Barbara Walters, Brian Williams, Charles Gibson, Dan Rather, Morley Safer, Don Hewitt, Mike Wallace, Ted Koppel and Diane Sawyer.
For reasons that are unclear, actor George Clooney and director Spike Lee also will pay tribute to the legendary journalist.
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Fox unveils fall lineup
The “24”clock will tick for two more seasons, keeping Jack Bauer in frantic mode until 2009. As usual, however, “24” will not return until January. Star-executive producer Kiefer Sutherland will continue in the show’s trademark “real-time” through the show’s eighth season.
There had been speculation, prompted by rumblings this season that the thrill of the “24” ticking clock was wearing thin, that the show might assume a more traditional format. Not happening.
Fox presented its new fall lineup to advertisers in New York today.
The network renewed “Prison Break” and “‘Til Death,” which were on the bubble. And the network picked up the entire Sunday night animation block, including Austinite Mike Judge’s endlessly funny “King of the Hill.”
Of course, “American Idol” will return, but not until January.
The new Fox dramas are “K-Ville,” starring Anthony Anderson and Cole Hauser as cops in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans; and “New Amsterdam,” about a New York homicide detective.
Only one new comedy will arrive in the fall: the eagerly anticipated “Back to You,” with Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton as TV anchors.
The new reality series scheduled for Fox are “Kitchen Nightmares,” featuring grumpy chef Gordon Ramsay on the road to allegedly help troubled restaurants; and the heavily promoted “Search for the Next Great American Band.”
And here’s something potentially weird: “Nashville” is a new Fox show described by the network as “an unscripted docu-soap chronicling a group of ambitious young people trying to make their mark on the music industry and Nashville society.” We’ll believe it when we see it.
2007-2008 FOX PRIME-TIME SCHEDULE
(New series in caps)
SUNDAY
6 p.m. “NFL Post-Game”
7 p.m. “The Simpsons”
7:30 p.m. “King of the Hill”
8 p.m. “Family Guy”
8:30 p.m. “American Dad”
MONDAY
7 p.m. “Prison Break”
8 p.m. “K-VILLE”
TUESDAY
7 p.m. “NEW AMSTERDAM”
8 p.m. “House”
WEDNESDAY
7 p.m. “BACK TO YOU”
7:30 p.m. “‘Til Death”
8 p.m. “Bones”
THURSDAY
7 p.m. “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?”
8 p.m. “KITCHEN NIGHTMARES”
FRIDAY
7 p.m. “SEARCH FOR THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BAND”
8 p.m. “NASHVILLE”
SATURDAY
7 p.m. “Cops”
8 p.m. “America’s Most Wanted”
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CW axes ‘Veronica Mars,’ announces fall lineup
The CW network, which was born last September when the WB and UPN merged, has canceled the cult hit “Veronica Mars.”
The teen noir drama, created by former Austinite (and former Reagan High teacher) Rob Thomas and starring Kristen Bell, reaped critical acclaim in its three-season run but never attracted a mass audience.
Also gone from the merged lineup come fall will be “7th Heaven” and “Gilmore Girls,” both of which decided to end production.
Good news? “Everybody Hates Chris” will be back! Yea!! And “One Tree Hill” returns in January.
Joining the CW’s fall schedule will be “Gossip Girl,”’ a sudsy drama bout prep-school teens in Manhattan; “Aliens in America,” a comedy about an American high-school student and a Pakistani exchange student; “Life Is Wild,” a drama about a New York family spending a year at a game reserve in South Africa; and “Reaper,” a drama about a 21-year-old guy who tracks down evil-doers who have escaped from hell.
Two news/reality shows also will join CW on Sunday nights: “The CW Now,” an entertainment newsmagazine for 18-to-34-year-olds, and “Online Nation,” about what’s hot on the Web.
New shows are in all caps.
SUNDAY
6 p.m. ‘‘ONLINE NATION’’
6:30 p.m. ‘‘THE CW NOW’’
7 p.m. ‘‘LIFE IS WILD’’
8 p.m. ‘‘America’s Next Top Model’’ (reruns)
MONDAY 7 p.m. ‘‘Everybody Hates Chris’’
7:30 p.m. ‘‘ALIENS IN AMERICA’’
8 p.m. ‘‘Girlfriends’’
8:30 p.m. ‘‘The Game’’
TUESDAY
7 p.m. ‘‘Beauty and the Geek’’
8 p.m. ‘‘REAPER’’
WEDNESDAY
7 p.m. ‘‘America’s Next Top Model’’ 8 p.m. ‘‘GOSSIP GIRL’’
THURSDAY
7 p.m. ‘‘Smallville’’
9 p.m. ‘‘Supernatural’’
FRIDAY
7 p.m. ‘‘Friday Night Smackdown!’’
(Fox also will release its fall schedule today, too, but it has been delayed.)
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Univision and Telemundo announce fall lineups
Univision, the top-rated Spanish-language TV network that is giving the major broadcast networks a run for their money these days, has announced a miniseries inspired by Jennifer Lopez’s new album, “Como Ama una Muher (How a Woman Loves)” and a Spanish version of ‘‘Desperate Housewives’’ for the new fall season. They are among 30 shows for the new season.
Other programs announced by Univision include ‘‘RBD: La Familia,’’ a behind-the-scenes miniseries about the successful Mexican pop group; ‘‘Los 5 Magnificos (The 5 Magnificent Ones),’’ a reality show about life in a circus; the soap opera ‘‘Pasión,’’ a story of love and adventure during the age of pirates; and ‘‘Muchachitas Como Tu (Little Girls Like You),’’ a teen-themed series.
Telemundo, the Spanish-language network that broadcasts bilingual programming as well, announced fall programming that includes several serialized melodramas: ‘‘El Otro Lado del Amor (The Other Side of Love),’’ a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, and ‘‘Las Brujas de South Beach (The Witches of South Beach),’’ about four women who were sisters in another life.
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CBS unveils fall schedule
The more successful you are, the fewer changes you have to make. Thus CBS, the No. 1 network in prime time, announced a slender slate of five new series for fall. Three dramas, a comedy and a reality show will debut in September. CBS unveiled its schedule for advertisers in New York this morning.
Joining the previously canceled “King of Queens,” “3 Lbs.” and “Smith” on the chopping block are “Close to Home,” “The Class” and “Jericho.” Exactly how the network will handle the explosive cliffhanger episode of the nuclear disaster serial “Jericho” is unclear.
Also missing from the fall schedule are “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and “Amazing Race,” but both will join the schedule at midseason, CBS says.
The new dramas are “Viva Laughlin,” a mystery-with-music, about an optimistic businessman and gambler (Lloyd Owen) who joins forces with an enemy (Hugh Jackman) to open a Nevada casino; “Cane,” starring Jimmy Smits as the head of a powerful Cuban-American family running a rum and sugar business in South Florida; and “Moonlight,” about an immortal vampire who turns his blood-lust to crime-solving.
The new comedy, “The Big Bang Theory,” stars Johnny Galecki as a member of a brainy geek squad trying to navigate real-life romance.
In the new reality series, “Kid Nation,” 40 children ages 8 to 15 will have 40 days to build a new society in a New Mexico ghost town. (At least it sounds more intriguing than “Bingo Night.”)
2007-2008 CBS PRIME TIME
(New series in caps)
SUNDAY
6 p.m. “60 Minutes”
7 p.m. “VIVA LAUGHLIN”
8 p.m. “Cold Case”
9 p.m. “Shark”
MONDAY
7 p.m. “How I Met Your Mother”
7:30 p.m. “THE BIG BANG THEORY”
8 p.m. “Two and a Half Men”
8:30 p.m. “Rules of Engagement”
9 p.m. “CSI: Miami”
TUESDAY
7 p.m. “NCIS”
8 p.m. “The Unit”
9 p.m. “CANE”
WEDNESDAY
7 p.m. “KID NATION”
8 p.m. “Criminal Minds”
9 p.m. “CSI: NY”
THURSDAY
7 p.m. “Survivor”
8 p.m. “CSI”
9 p.m. “Without a Trace”
FRIDAY
7 p.m. “Ghost Whisperer”
8 p.m. “MOONLIGHT”
9 p.m. “Numb3rs”
SATURDAY
7 p.m. “Crimetime Saturday”
9 p.m. “48 Hours Mystery”
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ABC’s new fall schedule
Ick, ick and more ick! The dreaded “Cavemen” sitcom, based on those hairy Geico guys, is on ABC’s just-announced fall schedule.
The Alphabet Network unveiled its lineup to advertisers in New York this morning, presenting seven new dramas, five of which will arrive in September with two more in the wings for later. Adding to the crowded field of newcomers are three new sitcoms for fall (plus one as a backup) and a couple of new reality shows we don’t have to care about yet.
One night, Wednesday, is stuffed with all new series, which most observers believe is risky business.
Axed to make room for all this new stuff: “George Lopez,” “According to Jim,” “Knights of Prosperity,” “Big Day,” “Day Break,” “Help Me Help You,” “In Case of Emergency,” “The Nine,” “Six Degrees,” “What About Brian” and “The Wedding Bells.” No surprises there, and if you’re mourning any of them, well, you’re on your own.
Two spring series, “Notes from the Underbelly” and “October Road,” will return after “Dancing with the Stars” and “The Bachelor” end their fall runs.
And “Lost” will return in January to run without interruption until the end of the season.
The new dramas that will debut in the fall are: “Big Shots,” starring Michael Vartan, Dylan McDermott, Christopher Titus and Josh Malina as business execs and best buddies with women woes; “Dirty Sexy Money,” starring Peter Krause as an idealistic lawyer forced to work for a corrupt family, headed by Donald Sutherland; “Pushing Daisies,” about a “special powers” guy who brings his childhood sweetheart back from the dead; “Women’s Murder Club,” based on James Patterson’s best-selling novels about four women who solve and prosecute murders; and “Private Practice,” the “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff starring Kate Walsh.
New dramas arriving later in the season are “Cashmere Mafia,” starring Lucy Liu as one of four sexy, glamorous, wildly successful businesswomen; and “Eli Stone,” about a San Francisco lawyer who seeks “deeper meaning” in his life after experiencing a series of bizarre hallucinations. (No, I’m not making this up.)
Besides “Cavemen,” the new comedies are “Carpoolers,” about four guys who bond and moan on their daily commute,” and “Sam I Am,” starring Christina Applegate as a not-so-nice person who strives to be better after suffering amnesia. (No, I don’t see the humor there either.)
Coming later in the season is “Miss/Guided,” a sitcom about a high-school guidance counselor with an eye for the school’s auto shop/Spanish teacher. Can’t wait.
ABC’s 2007-2008 PRIME TIME SCHEDULE
(New series titles in caps)
SUNDAY
6 p.m. “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
7 p.m. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
8 p.m. “Desperate Housewives”
9 p.m.“Brothers & Sisters”
MONDAY
7 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars”
8:30 p.m.“SAM I AM”
9 p.m.“The Bachelor”
TUESDAY
7 p.m. “CAVEMEN”
7:30 p.m. “CARPOOLERS”
8 p.m.“Dancing with the Stars Results”
9 p.m. “Boston Legal”
WEDNESDAY
7 p.m. “PUSHING DAISIES”
8 p.m. “PRIVATE PRACTICE”
9 p.m.. “DIRTY SEXY MONEY”
THURSDAY
7 p.m.“Ugly Betty”
8 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy”
9 p.m. “BIG SHOTS”
FRIDAY
7 p.m. “Men in Trees”
8 p.m. “WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB”
9 p.m. “20/20”
SATURDAY
7 p.m. “Saturday Night College Football”
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NBC’s new fall lineup
First out of the starting gate with fall schedule announcements is NBC, which unveiled its lineup to advertisers in New York this morning. The so-called upfronts continue through the week.
As previously reported, the Austin-based drama “Friday Night Lights” will be back. Now we know where: Friday nights at 9. The later time period is a plus, and at least the day of broadcast matches the title …
But high-school viewers and their families are likely to be watching real football games on Friday nights than watching the fictional Dillon Panthers on NBC. We’ll see what happens. There are definitely lower rating expectations on Friday nights, so maybe this will be a good move. “Lights” already is one of the most recorded shows on TV, so it could work.
Low-rated comedy “Scrubs” was a surprise renewal, and the entire “Law & Order” franchise survived, although “Criminal Intent” is being shipped off to cable’s USA Network and the original “L&O” won’t return until January.
Nowhere to be found on the fall schedule are “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” “The Black Donnellys,” “Kidnapped,” “Raines,” “20 Good Years” and “Crossing Jordan.” No surprises there. (“Medium” isn’t on the schedule for fall either, but it will return in January.)
The four new dramas are “Journeyman,” a romantic-mystery from the producers of “The West Wing,” about a San Francisco newspaper reporter (Kevin McKidd) who time travels through and alters people’s lives; “Chuck,” a comedic/spy thriller about a computer geek who becomes a government agent after spy secrets are embedded in his brain; “The Bionic Woman,” a remake of the original, with Michelle Ryan (“EastEnders”) as a young woman “empowered” after a car crash; and “Life,” about a cop (Damian Lewis) who returns to the force after serving time for a crime he didn’t commit.
The much-anticipated new dramedy “Lipstick Jungle,” from bestselling author Candace Bushnell (“Sex and the City”), is not on the fall schedule but will debut in January. Brooke Shields, Kim Raver and Lindsay Price are set to star.
Also being held for later in the season is NBC’s lone new comedy, “The IT Crowd,” based on the British series about misunderstood techies in the Information Technology department of a large, impersonal corporation.
NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR FALL 2007-08
(new series in caps)
SUNDAY
6 p.m.”Football Night in America”
7-10 p.m. “NBC Sunday Night Football”
MONDAY
7 p.m. “Deal or No Deal”
8 p.m. “Heroes”
9 p.m. “JOURNEYMAN”
TUESDAY
7 p.m. “The Biggest Loser”
8 p.m. “CHUCK”
9 p.m. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
WEDNESDAY
7 p.m. “Deal or No Deal”
8 p.m. “BIONIC WOMAN”
9 p.m. “LIFE”
THURSDAY
7 p.m. “My Name Is Earl”
7:30 p.m. “30 Rock”
8 p.m. “The Office”
8:30 p.m. “Scrubs”
9 p.m. “ER”
FRIDAY
7 p.m. “1 vs 100”
8 p.m. “Las Vegas”
9 p.m. “Friday Night Lights”
SATURDAY
7 p.m. “Dateline NBC”
8-10 p.m. Drama Series Encores
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What’s new? Canceled? Moved? Networks announce fall schedules next week
TV execs will be busy this weekend, fiddling with the final schedule that could make or break them come fall. Producers and stars of several series will be pacing and awaiting wondering.
Starting Monday, the broadcast networks announce their new lineups in flashy presentations to advertisers in New York. These are the so-called “upfronts” we hear about all year long.
First up will be NBC, the lowest-rated of the Big Three networks. It is expected to do a major overhaul of its sagging schedule, probably axing two of Dick Wolf’s three and “Law & Order” shows. The original “Law & Order” and “Criminal Intent” are both rumored to be on the chopping block.
At least we know “Friday Night Lights” is safe. But we won’t know until Monday where it will be on the schedule. Dream spot? Mondays at 9 p.m. Keeping all digits crossed.
On Tuesday, ABC will unveil its schedule, and we already know that the “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff, “Private Practice,” is a slam dunk. The much-talked about “Cavemen,” starring the Geico guys, apparently is toast. Thankfully.
CBS trots out its lineup Wednesday. Few changes are expected since the network remains No. 1 in overall viewers — at least in the months when Fox’s “American Idol” is resting. One new family drama is getting pre-announcement buzz: “Los Duques,” starring Jimmy Smits, Rita Morena and Hector Elizondo.
Finally, Fox and the CW announce their fall seasons on Thursday. Without “Idol” in the fall, Fox struggles, but it has high hopes for “Action News,” a new sitcom about a TV anchor team starring Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton.
We’ll report the networks’ announcements here Monday through Thursday and let you know what is not announced — the cancellations!
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‘Friday Night Lights’ lives!!
Details are sketchy, but this much we know: “Friday Night Lights” has been renewed for next season by NBC. An assistant to Austinite and executive producer Sarah Aubrey alerted us moments ago. Aubrey was at a lunch meeting, so we found out before she did!
How much of next season we don’t yet know, but an update will be posted as soon as the information arrives. (Maybe when Aubrey finishes her lunch.) A full-season order would be for 22 episodes, which is how many the fabulous Austin-based drama produced last season.
AND … the production is staying in Austin, where it will once again pump about $1.5 million per episode into the local economy.
More importantly, we’ll get to see Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton and all the cute young actors roaming on South Congress Avenue.
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LaKisha gone … ‘Law & Order’ too?
We knew it was coming, but it was sad nonetheless.
LaKisha Jones, the single mom with perfect pipes and no need for a microphone, was eliminated from “American Idol” on last night’s results show.
Barry Gibb’s songs Tuesday night didn’t really click with any of the Final Four, but LaKisha’s performance of “Stayin’ Alive” was one of the best. Apparently 45 million voting viewers didn’t think so. With tears streaming down her face, LaKisha reprised that song and went out with style at the end of the dragged-out show.
So now we’re down to three: beat-boxer Blake Lewis, who is still trying to decide on a hair color; 17-year-old Jordin Sparks, who shines more brightly every week; and pro backup singer Melinda Doolittle, the early favorite who has never had a bad night … but could be fading as Jordin’s star rises.
Next week’s trio of performances will decide the May 23 finale duo.
‘Law & Order’ — Canceled? Shipped off to cable?
Rumors have been rampant that when NBC announces its new fall schedule on Monday, the original “Law & Order” will be denied an 18th season. Since the show has been banished to Friday nights, it has lost a huge chunk of its once-faithful audience.
But now we hear that “L&O” may continue with new episodes but moved to NBC-owned cable network TNT. “The Closer” has done spectacularly well on TNT. Why not “L&O?”
One reason it might not work is that creator Dick Wolf will have to seriously cut the current $4 million per-episode budget. Industry insiders say he would have to bring each installment in for about $2 million if the show is on TNT.
Wolf is lobbying hard for NBC to keep the show that spawned an industry (“L&O: Criminal Intent,” “L&O: Special Victims Unit”) on the main network’s schedule in the fall. This may be the first time Wolf has lost a battle with the brass.
‘Wedding Crashers’ crashes
Effective immediately, NBC’s reality series “The Real Wedding Crashers,” inspired by the Vince Vaughn-Owen Wilson film and created for TV by Ashton Kutcher, is dead. The Monday time slot will be filled with “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” for the final two weeks of the television season.
If you’re crushed by the death of “Crashers,” you’re nearly alone. The show mustered a measly 2.4 rating the last time out.
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Turn ‘Lights’ on!!
OK, it’s about time for NBC to step up to the plate and do the right thing.
The network this week gave the gosh-awful “Medium” an early renewal Tuesday, but no word has come about Austin’s own “Friday Night Lights.”
But here’s the deal: “Lights” will be renewed. I’m staking my pathetic reputation on it. NBC bought six more scripts in April, when the wildly acclaimed drama took its April 11 first-season bow. It wouldn’t make sense to order new scripts if you weren’t going to produce them.
Because “Lights” was never able to rise above piddling ratings, however, I think we’re looking at a half-season rather than a full one. If the show does well in summer reruns and in the fall, the remaining episodes will be ordered.3
And, yes, the production will remain based in Austin … at least for the first half of the season.
NBC is scheduled to present its fall lineup to advertisers in New York on Monday (May 14). To be polite, the network execs should tell the “Lights” producers before Monday that they will remain among the living. Why make everybody twitch and moan all weekend wondering? Doesn’t make sense.
Early renewals already have been bestowed upon “Heroes,” “30 Rock,” “My Name Is Earl,” “The Office,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Las Vegas.”
Who hits the road tonight?
Boy, the Bee Gees night on “American Idol” was awful, wasn’t it? Those songs were meant to be sung by a group, in harmony, not solo.
Melinda, as always, did the best she could, and Jordin sparkled. But Blake and LaKisha were merely mediocre, and either of them could get the boot on tonight’s results show (8 p.m. on Fox).
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‘Dancing’ into Austin!
If you haven’t had enough elaborate hoofing by May 22, when “Dancing with the Stars” reaches its sequin-and-feather season finale, you can gorge on more when the pro-am dancers come to the Frank Erwin Center on Wednesday, June 20.
Tickets for the performance go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at all Texas Box Office Outlets (includes select Central Market and H-E-B stores in the area) and online at TexasBoxOffice.com. For more information, call 512-471-7744 or visit www.uterwincenter.com.
Ticket prices have not been announced yet, but a spokeswoman with the Erwin Center says they expect to have that info soon. And as soon as they have it, we’ll have it right here in the TV blog.
In its fourth season, “Dancing with the Stars” continues to be a phenomenon. The tour will include celebrity and professional dancers from the current season and past seasons. Among those scheduled are Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson, Drew Lachey and Cheryl Burke, Joey McIntyre and Julianne Hough, and Joey Lawrence and Edyta Sliwinska.
Slow death for ‘Lost’
ABC’s announcement that “Lost” will end in 2010 is depressing — and not because the once-fascinating show will go away.
The general consensus is that “Lost” has lost its way this season, with the plane-crash survivors thrashing around in search of a storyline that isn’t totally ridiculous.
The network and producers proudly proclaim that the series, which returned last fall only to disappear in November for more than two months, will be scheduled in three shorter, uninterrupted seasons. The goal is to built toward a “highly anticipated and shocking finale” in the 2009-10 season.
Barring a major stroke of genius by the writers, it’s hard to imagine this show limping along for three short seasons and then suddenly bursting into excitement in 2010. … unless the polar bear returns. Then a world of possibilities opens up.
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Series or Miniseries: ‘Paris does time’
Poor Paris. She may have to take a 45-day break from her life of luxury to learn what her parents apparently never taught her — namely that laws must be obeyed.
In case you missed it, heiress/celebutante Paris Hilton was told by a judge in Los Angeles on Friday that she will have to spend a bit of time behind bars.
The poor girl burst into sobs, comforted by her mother, who promptly began shopping her daughter’s woes to various TV outlets. It was unclear whether Mom Hilton was pitching a new reality series — “Paris Does Time,” “Celebutante in the Cell” — or just trying to get a positive-spin interview out while the tears were fresh.
Hilton actually stood before the judge and said she didn’t know she wasn’t supposed to drive on a suspended license because she doesn’t read her own mail. (Her license was suspended in an alcohol-related reckless driving incident.)
“I have people who do that for me,” she pouted to the judge. She also said she didn’t have time to talk with her lawyer about restrictions on her behavior during probation. So many parties, so little time.
Over the weekend, the 26-year-old Hilton quickly fired her publicist, who she said gave her faulty advice, and told several entertainment TV reporters that she felt she was treated unfairly because she’s blond, beautiful and famous.
One thing we can expect if Hilton does wind up in the slammer on June 5, her designated date for incarceration, is there will be cameras present, and Hilton will be posing. Everything is potential publicity, and nobody bathes in the limelight better than Hilton.
E! Network will undoubtedly use the poor girl’s plight to its advantage when “The Simple Life Goes to Camp” debuts Memorial Day (May 28).
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No surprise, but some sorrow for end of ‘Gilmore Girls’
Although it was completely expected, Thursday’s cancellation of “Gilmore Girls” was a bit sad.
Seven seasons ago, the smart, witty show, about a single mom and her daughter, gave the WB Network some much-needed class. Scripts by creator Amy Sherman-Palladino were as fast-paced and clever as Aaron Sorkin’s gems on “The West Wing.”
But when Sherman-Palladino left in a contract dispute last season, the show’s quality and ratings both slipped. It was still a thrill to watch stars Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel, but the show’s luster was gone — along with the actors’ enthusiasm. Both women had said they felt their characters had gone as far as they could go.
The “Gilmore Girls” finale airs 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 on the CW.
‘Rescue Me’ sets a date
FX has finally announced a fourth-season debut for Denis Leary’s searing comedy-drama. Mark your calendar for Tuesday, June 12 — exactly one week after “The Shield” departs the 9 p.m. time slot.
“Rescue Me” ended its previous season with Tommy Gavin (Leary) passed out in a burning house with his sometime lover Sheila. Since Leary is definitely back, we can assume he survives the inferno.
Susan Sarandon will reprise her guest-starring role.
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‘Idol’ guys go, ‘Grey’s’ grows …
America got it right! Whew! That’s a relief.
Voted off “American Idol” last night were Phil (baldie) and Chris (fuzzy). Bye-Bye, both of you!
That leaves the super-talented quartet of Melinda, LaKisha, Jordin and Blake. All well and good … But next week’s reject is going to be excruciating, no matter how you look at it.
Any of the four remaining contestants would be a worthy winner, so whoever gets the hook next is going to leave a big hole. I’m guessing it will be LaKisha, because she’s been in the bottom before. And if it is, look for her “last song” to blow the roof off the joint. The girl’s got power.
At this point, the remaining warblers are all practically guaranteed a recording contract anyway, so I’ll try to comfort myself with that prospect.
‘Grey’s’ tries to spawn tonight
If tonight’s two-hour “Grey’s Anatomy” (8-10 p.m. on ABC) successfully sets up a spinoff series starring the Addison character, what does that mean for the original?
It’s unclear exactly who among “Grey’s” regular cast might spin with Dr. Addison Montgomery, played by Kate Walsh. All we’ve been told for sure is that the new show, tentatively titled “Private Practice” and not yet announced for ABC’s fall schedule, will also star Taye Diggs, Amy Brenneman, Merrin Dungey and Tim Daly.
But will McSteamy go, too? How about George, who has applied for a transfer to another hospital in an attempt to straighten out his romantic entanglement with Izzie. George’s wife Callie would be a more logical choice to head off into the California sun with Addison, but who knows?
Shonda Rhimes, the highly secretive creator of “Grey’s” and the intended spinoff, declines to breathe a word.
What we do know from the multiple teases to tonight’s episode is that Addison leaves dreary, rainy Seattle to start a new life in Los Angeles. She tells a friend and future colleague that she wants to have a baby. With whom? We don’t know.
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“Idol” brutality: Two go home tonight!
Blood’s gonna spill on “Idol” tonight … Remember, this isn’t just a results show. It’s a double results show.
As in two rejects will be sent packing because the warblers got a bye on last week’s charity night.
Tuesday night’s performances this week were so universally swell that it could be a tough call. Vote totals from last week will be added to this week for the double-reject results.
Who gets the hook? LaKisha and Chris were in the bottom two last week, but LaKisha certainly redeemed herself last night with her growling rendition of Bon Jovi’s “This Ain’t a Love Song.” Simply splendid.
Chris, however, continues to be annoying. It’s not that he has a bad voice. He’s just too Timberlake and nasal. Not up to par with the rest of the contestants.
By now we all know how I feel about Phil, the lanky space cadet (actually, he’s a Navy guy). There’s something about him that just creeps me out, even though he’s not awful vocally. He has a weird vibe that I just can’t get around.
Top “dawgs” last night? Melinda, as usual, and the newly black-haired Blake. The prize for innovation and originality goes to Blake, who gave Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” his own special twist. If anybody can knock Melinda out of the winner’s circle, it’s Blake.
The bummer of the night was the cardboard appearance of President and Laura Bush. At the end of the performances, the duo thanked the nation for contributing more than $70 million to charity on the “Idol Gives Back” program.
In the taped appearance, the Prez asked Laura if he ought to sing. She said, “No, darling. They’ve already seen you dance.” (A reference to an unfortunate drum and boogie the Prez performed with a West African dance troupe recently.) The couple stared at the camera, frozen in their chairs, fake-chuckling and looking about as comfortable as a couple of polar bears in the Sahara desert. Not good.
Double elimination starts at 8 tonight … I’m already nervous.
“Cheers” mailman fired
John Ratzenberger, who played know-it-all mailman Cliff on “Cheers,” got booted from “Dancing With the Stars” last night.
While he wasn’t exactly graceful, Ratzenberger was a swan compared to Billy Ray Cyrus, who stomps his feet and flips his hair. Billy Ray dancing? Not so much. He lets his professional partner handle that.
Maybe next week Billy Ray will go bye-bye.
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‘Veronica Mars’ is back … for now
“Veronica Mars,” the stylish teen noir series from former Austinite and Reagan High School teacher Rob Thomas, returns tonight at 7 on the CW for what is likely to be the show’s final four episodes.
The series has been on the bubble and brought back from near-death several times, but this really does look like curtains. A critical darling since its debut in 2004 on UPN, “Veronica Mars” has struggled to find an audience through most of its run — and especially since UPN and the WB merged to form the current CW.
In the meantime, star Kristin Bell has developed some serious acting chops, so do yourself a favor and check out the monthlong swan song. To help lure newcomers (and former fans who may have drifted away), the episodes will be self-contained mysteries instead of the usual serialized story lines.
The finale, titled “The Bitch Is Back,” airs May 22, and the CW’s press machine describes it thusly: “Veronica must confront her feelings for Logan.” Not much to go on …
For those who refuse to give up on “Veronica,” the perpetual fan campaign called Cloud Watchers continues its effort to save it.
These are the same people who hired a plane to fly a banner (“Renew Veronica Mars!!”) over the network headquarters in Los Angeles when programmers were pondering the show’s fate previously. Instead of the sky, this time the Cloud Watchers have been papering streets with flyers.
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