'Parenthood' pushed Back, Grey's Anatomy of Space Aug 2nd, Summer of the Diasaster Mini Series

A few months back I blogged about 'Parenthood', the new NBC drama based on the 1989 movie. Production had to be pushed back to start in September because of an illness Maura Tierney (Amy Lockhart, ER) is undergoing evaluation for. 'Mercy', the medical drama about first responders ,originally scheduled for a mid season premiere, is being pushed up and will begin where 'Parenthood' was set to premiere. By the way, both series looked awesome and I am eagerly waiting in anticipation. This "medical evaluation" she is undergoing sounds pretty serious. Of course they would not elaborate further (nor should they have to, it's her business). Let's hope that she is okay. Let's also hope that this show isn't cursed somehow. Apparently production on the pilot was shut down when the VP of drama at NBC died on the set. EEK!

Okay, so I mentioned a few weeks back about the Grey's Anatomy of space coming to ABC.

'Defying Gravity' is set to premiere on August 2nd with a two hour slot with it's regular slot set for Sunday's at 10pm. It has an international ensemble cast led by Ron Livingston. Premise of the show is a story about 8 astronauts from 5 different countries on a 6 year mission through the solar system. While the series takes place in the near future, there will be flashbacks to the astronauts grueling training in the series past. ABC picked up 13 episodes. I'm eagerly anticipating this series and I sure do hope it fairs better than many of the other new shows that started this summer (Philanthropist, The Listener, etc.). I've put the commercial promo on the sidebar, so watch and enjoy. I'm sure most of you are catching it on the tube now.

Did anyone else notice that there are an onslaught of disaster mini-series or movies on TV this summer? First we had 'Impact' , this past weekend 'Meteor' premiered and coming soon is 'The Storm'. I do believe there was also one about an earthquake on this summer too. What is up with that? Okay, it's fiction, but do we not have enough real disaster with the economy? Perhaps the network thought we might focus on fictional cataclysmic life ending disasters to help us appreciate the fact that while the economy stinks (on a global scale) at least it's not as bad as possible extinction. Just a thought.

I am on a vacation visiting my mother. Normally on such a trip I would coordinate what shows I watch and she watches so that I don't fill up my DVRs with shows I'll watch with my mom. I was both lazy and busy (more busy than lazy I promise) to actually sit down and do that. I certainly hope that I don't miss anything. It's so hard to keep all the shows on and coming straight (I am interested in checking out Dating in the Dark on the 20th). I recorded 'Kings' and 'Eli Stone' on Saturday that I didn't get to watch before I left. I hope that they don't get deleted as space is needed (note to self.. and heck to all of you too.. make sure that you mark the series or the recorded episode as manually delete, rather than as space is needed). I'm regretting not organizing my DVR before I left.

I am trying to get into Big Brother 11, and the start of the season is always hard because you don't know the houseguests yet (I can't keep all the names straight). I'm a little lost because if you watch it on After Dark, they are far behind where the show actually started. I was so very confused when I turned on the first installment of After Dark after the premier episode because so much had happened between then and what I was watching on After Dark it was confusing. I think the best way to keep up with Big Bro and the televised episodes is to read the Jokers Update. I will say one thing though, the houseguests waisted no time in game playing. Right out the gate the alliance making and whispering began. Once I get that all squared away in my brain, I'll be sure to blog and have an opinion on the show. That's a promise.

'Hung' on HBO opens Big, 'Castle' Novel Coming Soon, ABC Picks Up New Series Billed as a "Greys Anatomy " only in Space

Hello everyone. I'm back. I have been sick and so haven't really blogged about much of anything. On the good side, being sick gives me the excuse to just lay back and be lazy watching TV. When I could (because I do have my son to look after) I did. Two whole days of bed rest , however, has left my house a mess and my blog neglected. No worries, I'm back on track today.


So, what is going on in the world of TV? In case you missed it , HBO premiered a new series 'Hung' and it opened huge. It was seen by 2.8M viewers and if you include re-broadcasts it actually grew to 3.7M. 'True Blood' in the meantime is HUGE for HBO drawing, with DVR viewing , rebroadcasts etc. , to 10.8M viewers per episode. I have not watched 'Hung' yet and will watch it on my ON Demand. If you don't know what the series is about, it is a comedy about a man with a talent..well the name says it all. I mean just look at the star of the show and that is motivation enough to watch! I really so badly want to watch 'True Blood' but I refuse to watch season 2 without having watched season 1 so I must rent it on DVD. It's on my to do list!

Are you a 'Castle' fan? The series , from ABC, is about a mystery author that follows a detective around to gather material for his novels. I'm a fan. Well ABC, in a move to promote their new second season episodes this fall, are going to publish a novel by the character Castle. Starting August 10th the first half of the book will be published at the website a chapter a week for 10 weeks. The full novel will be printed Sept 29th with Disney sister company Hyperion. Well, apparently the network teamed with Hyperion for the 2006 'Lost' tie in "Bad Twin" and "The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer" which tied into the ABC miniseries 'Rose Red' and they sold well. I'm at a loss because I never heard of either publication nor the mini series 'Rose Red'. I consider myself a very mainstream consumer, and I didn't hear of either in the mainstream. Am I not as mainstream as I think , or could they have done a better job of informing the public of these publications? If it sold well, imagine how much better it could have done had they gotten to people like myself. Maybe the only way I'd ever hear about the Castle novel publications is because I dig on the net for TV news. Come on networks, you have an AWESOME tie in here and you need to get it out to even more people. I love TV and I love to read. If you're not hitting the people like me you are missing out. And, given the new online way of tracking fans, this is truly a great tool. I'll be interested and will read the chapter a week starting Aug 10th. I'll be sure to post links on my blog.

Speaking of 'Lost', the final season will gain 1 hour. Filming is starting on the final season and there is one more hour added to the time already slotted for the series finale. Ooooh... this should be so good. Wrapping it up, getting some answers. But it will be sad at the same time. Lost will be no more but a memory of good TV that has passed.

ABC is dominating my blog today, but there is one more bit of news for sci-fi fans. A 13 episode series 'Gravity' was picked up by ABC. It has been pitched as a 'Grey's Anatomy' only in space. That has me intrigued already. If it is received well there will be more seasons of the show . Apparently the creators have three seasons blocked out already and an ending to the series. I kind of like this new trend in TV shows where the creators know where they are taking it and so it has a definite conclusion (ala Lost). Hopefully, if we get hooked on it, we'll actually get to see the ending.

Well, that is all for now. I am still scanning P2P's for any leaked pilot episodes of new shows this season. So far, nothing. But as soon as I find one, you'll all be the first to know.

DVR ALERT - Eli Stone Remaining Episodes to Air Starting This Saturday

As I mentioned in a previous blog a few weeks ago, ABC is going to burn off the remaining episodes of the canceled Eli Stone starting this Saturday at 10PM. They have been running the remaining episodes of Pushing Dasies in that time slot. There are only 4 episodes remaining, as it is set to end on 7/11. The remaining episodes of the canceled 'Dirty, Sexy, Money' will be taking it's place through August.

If you haven't noticed 'Samantha Who' has been popping up in your DVR if you haven't canceled it's season pass. I also thought I saw 'The Chopping Block' on my Guide set to record this past week, although I haven't looked to see if it actually recorded. That show was terrible, by the way. Hell's Kitchen is so much better.

Speaking of Hell's Kitchen, it's set to premier at July 21 at 8pm. I do feel like we just finished the last seasons and it's back so fast. I hope they have a better crop of chef's this time. Last season they all seemed terrible, at least at first. I kept waiting for someone to stand out to me as the probable winner and not one did until the very end.

I guess Ramsey's 'Kitchen Nightmares' wasn't making ratings as that show disappeared. Disappointing. I liked that one too.

Yeah Cougar Town!! ABC Preview - Courtney Cox is Back!!

Today I decided to throw in yet another review of the short preview of the upcoming 'Cougar Town' coming to ABC this fall (Wednesdays at 9:30).

I LOVE IT!! I've always been a fan of Courtney Cox who is playing a 40 year old divorcee pushed out into the dating world by her friends and meets a man 14 years her junior. It looks fun, feisty and gives us the Courtney Cox we've all loved from her 'Friends' days. Oh, and the Cougar is the local H.S Mascot.

It's got a lot of material to work with, her neighbor, her friends, dating younger men and the hot fellow divorcee across the street from her with his string of young college co-eds always leaving his residence (at least that's the impression I get from the preview).

I really do hope that this show does well. It looks like a lot of fun. I only wonder why this show is 1/2 hour long because I think I will want a lot more. This one looks like a winner and I hope it's as good as its preview.

My Take on the Four Medical Dramas Coming This Fall and Their Preview

It's Looking Ugly for Ugly Betty, Southland and Medium - Friday Night Death Slot

Friday night in the television industry is notoriously known as the Friday Night Death Slot. No joke, if you google it, it has an entry in Wikipedia.

ABC, in releasing their new schedule, has moved Ugly Betty from it's 8pm time slot on Thursday to Friday at 9pm. The show, a ratings grabber in it's first few seasons, has been declining in its ratings and so ABC has decided to put it on its death march! It will be replaced by the new show Flash Forward followed by , of course, Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.

Ugly Betty isn't the only show being moved to Friday. NBC has not renewed Medium. Fortunately for us Medium fans, it was picked up by CBS and will air after Ghost Whisperer on Friday nights at 9pm. This could actually be good for Medium because it will follow a similar themed Ghost Whisperer (I happen to be a fan of both of them) . CBS Friday night line up has actually been an exception to the Friday night death slot rule in having been mildly successful with Ghost Whisperer and Numbers (if these shows received the ratings they have received on any other night against other more popular shows, they probably wouldn't have lasted). The Ex List, a newcomer last season that filled the 9pm time slot, didn't survive and was canceled. I'm really hoping Medium holds it's own. I would hate to see it canceled. It is so very good.

Probably the most disappointing move to Friday for me is the new show Southland. It originally took over the ER slot on Thursdays. Apparently it started out strong in the ratings, but then fell off and so was moved to the 9pm hour between Law & Order (also moved to Fridays) and the Jay Leno Show. I think a new show starting the fall season on Friday is, well not so great for it's future. It's a shame. It really is a good show with lots of grit. Keeps me waiting for something to happen and on my toes. Kind of reminds me how ER used to make me feel when it was really good (it's been boring the last 2 or 3 seasons but I've stuck with it out of loyalty).

So.. my Friday night DVR will be recording:
8pm - Ghost Whisperer (CBS)
9pm - Medium (CBS) , Ugly Betty (ABC) & Southland (NBC)
10pm - Jay Leno (NBC)
Missing from Friday nights is Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles which has been canceled (bummer.. I loved that show too). Another example of a victim of Friday night time slots. I personally can't believe that Dollhouse was renewed. I thought the show was terrible. I don't think it will last very long and may be finished by the 2009-10 fall season end.

As further evidence that Friday night can signal the death of a TV show, the following shows were successful until they were moved to Friday night:

• Diff'rent Strokes
• 8 Simple Rules
• Life with Bonnie
• Step by Step (actually moved to CBS and put on Fridays and was it's last season)
• Family Matters (suffered same fate as Step by Step)
• Jag

Other Friday night failures included:

• Robbery Homicide Division
• Close to Home
• Moonlight (great show that no one was watching)
• Dr. Vegas
• Swingtown
• The Ex List

Evidence of how Friday night time slots for new shows affect a shows ability to capture an audience; at the start of Everybody Loves Raymond in 1996-97 season it aired on Fridays to low ratings. CBS kept the show, moved it to Mondays and, well, we all know how well that show has done (9 seasons). CSI also started on a Friday, performed poorly and was moved to Thursday and has been one of the most successful CBS shows catapulting CBS into the #1 watched network (knocking NBC from that slot).

All in all , if you are an Ugly Betty Fan, Medium Fan and you enjoyed Southland, it could very well be that they may not be around for much longer. Let's hope that that is not the case, but if TV history is any indication well it doesn't look good. I'll be watching the Nielsen numbers to see how they are holding up and whether they will be able to stick it out to stick around and of course I'll be blogging about it.

Wipeout Didn't Disappoint Last Night - Goode Family Tanked

Ah.. Yes. Bring on the big red balls! Perhaps they should say bring on those hurdles. Last night made me laugh so hard I cried. There is something just so hysterical about watching adults flail about when they bounce off those balls, try to get through the new "Bridge Too Far" (the name alone makes me laugh) and that sucker punch. Last year it was the Big Red Balls that were my favorite, but I think my new favorite is "The Hurdles". Just thinking about them right now is making me laugh.

For those who missed Wipeout last night, the new obstacle course is even harder. If it is even possible to make this course more Wipeout guaranteed, they have certainly done it. Those hurdles on the first course was the most laugh inducing thing of the entire night. Those things kept popping up and down throwing contestants in the air and flipping them over at times unaware. The best was the one contestant that was sitting on them and, as the host said , was doing a "ride em' cowboy". They improved the "Sweeper" and renamed it the "Sweeper Gyro" , the "Slippery wall".. man I just lost it, and the" Catapult" at the last and final obstacle course.. my goodness. There's much more (like Plank in the Face..LOL).. oh man, I'm laughing so hard as I type this.

And it was a hit last night with TV audiences. According to Marc Berman at pifeedback.com , Wipeout placed #2 in it's hour with 8.64 million viewers. The Goode Family, on the other hand, did not do so well ( I skipped this one. I just can't get into the cartoon family thing) with only 3.93 million viewers. I don't think the Goode Family is going to stick around. But I'm sure glad Wipeout will. I haven't laughed like that since I was a kid.

Remember When Summer TV was full of RERUNS?

Do you remember when the summer meant that there was at least 3 months where there was nothing but re-runs on TV? Before the days of the DVR, it was a great chance for you to get those shows you couldn't fit into your schedule when they re-ran. (At least that's what I used to do). I remember back in 1991 when FOX put Beverly Hills 90210 on in the summer and gave us a special Summer Season. That was the start of what has become a flock of summer shows!

TNT is really heavy on some good solid shows over the summer that also happens to run in the winter. I noticed that their seasons are "shorter" but more frequent and not as much time passes between their "season finale" and their new season. At least that is the case when it comes to shows like The Closer and Saving Grace. Raising the Bar did have a longer wait period between seasons as did Leverage. All of these shows are returning this summer.
Monday Night:
The Closer at 9pm followed by Raising the Bar a 10pm (EST)
Tuesday Night:
Hawthorne (new) at 9pm followed by Saving Grace at 10pm
Leverage and the new show Dark Blue will be on Wednesday at 9pm and 10pm respectively.

Two of my favorite from last summer are coming back. The hilarious Wipeout (ABC 5/27). I've had spontaneous bursts of silly laughter while watching people .. well wipe out. The commentary those two hosts make along with the drawings are just so silly it's hysterical - like milk shooting out of your nose funny . And then there is I Survived A Japanese Game Show (ABC 7/8). Of course, America's Got Talent on NBC is also returning on 6/23 and So You Think you Can Dance (LOVE that show) on FOX, is already under way. I can't wait to see more Mia Michael's choreographed routines. She is my favorite of all the choreographers. Her dances are amazing!

And then there is my ULTIMATE FAVORITE summer guilty pleasure BIG BROTHER on CBS returning in JULY! My mom and I watch that religiously. She even subscribes to the feed. She's fortunate to have a job that she can listen to the streaming feed while she works..LOL.. then she spills all the stuff to me on the phone later. I could technically since I"m at home, but I have a lot to do during the day and spend the time outdoors with my little man and watching a feed like that all day is a little over the top for me, especially when I could be outdoors in the beautiful summer weather. Getting the juicy stuff from my mom though, makes a difference. You totally view each of the housemates in a different light because there just isn't enough time to show all of their high jinx!

The rest of the summer landscape is a lot of reality and fluff TV from the networks. Although the Great American Road Trip on NBC sounds interesting.. especially for those of us foregoing a vacation in this economy. We can live vicariously through the TV families that will be..well taking that Road Trip across the U.S while competing against each other. I'm a Celebrity Get me Out of Here on NBC, while it sounds kind of cool, I have a feeling we'll get bored with it early. My husband is excited to watch that though. Dating in the Dark, on ABC also sounds interesting but pretty cheesy. We get to watch as people date each other over a course of a few weeks.. you got it, in the dark. At the end of the show the lights will come on and they'll have to decide whether they want to see each other or not. Shows like that are like train wrecks. You know their wrong, but you just want to watch to see what's going to happen. I'm not one for Cartoon family shows ala Simpsons and The Family Guy so I'm probably going to skip The Goode Family. Since I'm not much into sports, I'm probably going to also skip The Superstars.. both from ABC

I'm looking forward to The Listener on NBC and the Philanthropist. Not so sure how I feel about Merlin also from NBC.

I hear True Blood is going to be back on HBO this summer.. I really need to subscribe to HBO. but gave it up for Showtime because my husband LOVES Dexter (yeah.. it's pretty awesome) and I love the United Sates of Tara. I did watch he first season of True Blood and found it pretty cool. I may just add HBO to my subscription.

And my DVR thought it was going to get a vacation!

RECYCLED TV : Next up this FALL V from ABC

I was extrememly excited when I happened upon information about an upcoming series this fall. Anyone remember "V" from the 80's. I do. Man did I absolutely LOVE that series. Well, ABC is resurecting it this fall. The above is the trailer preview. It really looks good. I wish I could remember the other series and exactly what happened. I wonder if they'll just come up with completely different scenarios or similar situations. With today's high tech effects, the show should be amazing. Silly to be so excited about a TV show, but I can't help it... after all I'm a TV

DVR addict, remember..

I do hope that this one does much better than some of the other ill fated remakes like Knight Rider, Bionic Woman. So far Beverly Hills 90210 seems to be holding it's own. I must say , I do like it. It's my guilty little pleasure. Even though I'm no longer a teeny bopper (heck, I'm 34 years old!) it's strangely relatable. Smart of them to bring back some of the o

ld 90210'rs.. otherwise I may have just skipped it. I am also looking forward to Melrose Place due out this fall as well.

Let's hope that Melrose Place and V do well. Can't wait!