THE TV COLUMN : Once more with feeling: Yes, shows are returning
Posted on Thursday, April 3, 2008
This week I’ve gotten four e-mails from readers claiming I’ve never, ever told them when their shows are returning to the lineup.
I’ve run a list at least four times.
Plus, I got five more e-mails from those who say they’ve read the lists, but didn’t see their favorite show on them. I’ve explained that as well.
Finally, three more e-mails thanked me for reminding them when their programs are returning, because they keep forgetting to write them down and would hate to have missed them.
That said, here’s today’s updated reminder list of when programs are coming back.
Let me repeat: If you do not see a program on this list, it’s not coming back this season.
That means it may be renewed, but waiting for the fall; or it’s canceled and gone forever; or it’s on the bubble and may or may not be renewed for the fall.
Today: My Name Is Earl, NBC; CSI, Without a Trace, CBS.
Friday: Ghost Whisperer, Numb 3 rs, CBS.
Monday: Samantha Who ?, ABC.
Tuesday: Boston Legal, ABC; NCIS, CBS.
April 10: The Office, 30 Rock, Scrubs, ER, NBC.
April 11: Moonlight, CBS.
April 13: Desperate Housewives, ABC.
April 14: Rules of Engagement, CBS; One Tree Hill, CW; Bones, Fox.
April 15: Law & Order: SVU, NBC.
April 16: ’Til Death, Back to You, Fox.
April 17: Smallville, CW.
April 20: Brothers and Sisters, ABC.
April 21: Gossip Girl, CW.
April 22: Reaper, CW.
April 23: Law & Order, NBC; The Game, CW.
April 24: Grey’s Anatomy, Ugly Betty, ABC; Supernatural, CW.
April 28: House, Fox. Swirling sound. At least these programs know they’re coming back. The poor folks of Fox’s The Return of Jezebel James have been unceremoniously flushed after only two airings.
Once again, a network is training viewers not to bother even checking out a new show. One or two episodes and out is idiocy.
I know. It’s not my money.
Jezebel James may not have been the next brilliant comedy to come down the pike, but it deserved to make its run.
The series came from Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino and starred Parker Posey and Lauren Ambrose.
Here’s what Peter Liguori, Fox Entertainment chairman, had to say about the show when he introduced the cast and creators to critics last summer in Beverly Hills.
“We’re happy to have a new show from Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino called The Return of Jezebel James.” Liguori then give a brief series synopsis.
“You know, that doesn’t really do the show justice,” he said. “But rather than describe it, I’ll leave it up to Amy and Dan, who all of you know are quite brilliant.” If Amy and Dan are so brilliant, why is Jezebel James now replaced with repeats of Bones ? Sure, it only managed 3. 15 million viewers, but this is a weird season and a sad end.
In addition, Fox has quietly shuffled Canterbury’s Law from Mondays to Fridays. Friday is the off-ramp to oblivion. Cash in your Juliana Margulies stock now. Gimme a break. Fox at least has faith in Prison Break. The drama, which slipped to 8. 2 million viewers this season, has been renewed and is moving to Los Angeles from Dallas for its fourth season.
There are lots of cliffhangers to resolve. I confess I was one of the 1. 2 million viewers who bailed out this season and I never missed an episode the first two seasons. I’ll check back in with it come the fall, but it’ll be tough to get enthused. Spooky stuff. Sci Fi Channel has announced it’s bringing back Ghost Hunters International with seven new episodes this summer. The first seven episodes notched more than 2 million viewers, which is good news for a cable outfit. Scary stuff. Sci Fi Channel is also bringing back Scare Tactics. I have a problem with this series, which will trade former hosts Shannen Doherty and Stephen Baldwin for 30 Rock’s Tracy Morgan.
The premise will be the same — friends and family will put unsuspecting victims in staged frightening situations and watch their reactions as the cameras roll.
This is a disaster waiting to happen. This is irresponsible television. You should not watch it. Hayseed stuff. The CW Network has given a premiere date for its new reality series Farmer Wants a Wife. Look for the fish-out-ofwater series at 8 p.m. April 30.
This is yet another series copied from overseas. We’re told Farmer is a top hit in Australia, France, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium and The Netherlands.
But will it play in Iowa ?
In the show, 10 pampered city girls will strut their stuff to win the heart of a hardworking but lonely, lonely farm boy.
Romance will be sown and true love shall bloom. Right ? Hmm. More stuff stuff. Proving it knows how to keep on milking this cash cow, ABC is developing some sort of competition series that will somehow be tied to Disney’s High School Musical.
Variety reports the show should be on the air this summer and will feature contestants studying at a music conservatory once they reach the final rounds.
Expect all your teen heartthrobs from the two movies to put in appearances since High School Musical 3: Senior Year will hit theaters in the fall.
High School Musical, its first sequel and ancillary goodies have made Disney hundreds of millions of dollars and made household names (at least in households with ’tween girls ) out of stars Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale. The TV column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. E-mail mstorey@arkansasonline. com
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