'Saving Grace' will Wrap Up Next Summer, 'St. Elmo's Fire' Coming to TV, Cowell Will Remain on 'Idol' and

To all 'Saving Grace' fans; the show, starring Holly Hunter , will air it's final episodes next summer. It normally runs a 15 episode split season, with 9 to run this winter and 6 the following summer. TNT has added three episodes to the season and will air 9 in the winter and the final 9 in the summer, when TNT gets its best series ratings. The reason for the cancellation does not have anything to do with poor ratings, as it has been averaging 3.5M viewers this summer and more to do with the cost associated with the series. It was offered for a fourth season pick up , but for financial reasons a fourth season offer was not accepted . TNT has promised to wrap up the story lines with a conclusion, which is why three episodes were added to the third and now final season. I'm going to miss it. Holly Hunter is amazing and the show really goes where network tv wouldn't dare go.

Continuing on the trend of 80's movies becoming TV Series, ABC has landed the hour long dramedy series inspired by 'St Elmo's Fire'. It will take off from the movie and introduce six new friends, 3 boys and 3 girls. It will take place in Georgetown and St. Elmo's Bar & Restaurant will become St. Elmo's Bar & Grill. Schumaker, one of the original films co-writers and director, is said to be on board. I'm curious as to who they will cast in these rolse. I'm also curious how well received 80's movie revival 'Parenthood' and 'Witches of Eastwick' will be received this coming season. It will be a good predictor to determine how well the TV revival of classic 'St Elmo's Fire' may be received.

Simon Cowell is wrapping up his deal with 'American Idol' to remain as a judge for 3 more seasons. Honestly, if you lost Cowell it just wouldn't be 'American Idol' and I feel it would have taken a slip down the other side of the ratings mountain, if you know what I mean. I'm curious to see how the exit of Paula Abdul will play out with audiences this coming year. We shall see.

SYTYCD Finale Tonight, NBC Preview Special, Paula is Leaving 'Idol'

Before I begin tonight, just a little update on the new site. I'm still working out the kinks with Wordpress. It is far more complicated than I imagined, but then I think in the end it will be worth it.

'So You Think You Can Dance' is on tonight and the final four take the stage. Actually , I'm watching it now as I type! Very cool. Can't believe it's August already. I know I'm about to get really busy with this blog when the fall TV season starts this year! Can't believe how quickly the summer goes by.

Speaking of the end of summer and the beginning of the fall season, keep an eye out for NBC's special that previews the upcoming Fall Season that will, of course, highlight the new shows like 'Trauma' and 'Community' and will give us a peek at returning shows like 'Southland' , 'The Biggest Loser' and many more.

Speaking of 'Southland'.. please be sure to watch it. If you want to catch up NBC is airing the shows from its short first season in it's fall Friday night time slight. It's a great show that wasn't getting the ratings they had hoped for and it got pushed to Friday nights from Thursday (it originally took the ER slot left open after the series finale). As you remember from my blog about Friday nights.. it could spell death. To lose another great show like this would ..well suck!

Paula Abdul has decided to not continue on Idol. Apparently she turned down a 30% raise. WHAT!!! Is she smoking something? Paula..dear... before American Idol you had disappeared into obscurity. You are now once again on the radar and in American households BECAUSE of American Idol. You're offered a 30% raise in a ..well poopy economy.. one in which many would actually be happy to be employed.. never mind the raise.. and you turn it down!! Oh man.. it could be career suicide . Shame I did like Paula. I do like DioGuardi though. I felt she is much better judge than Paula. With Paula, though, the fun was wondering what weird thing she'd say next. She did always look like she was drunk. BTW DioGuardi is returning.

So, everyone .. brace yourselves for the new season. I'm curious as to what shows will last and which will not! I'll, of course, share my opinions right here on my blog as well as keep you informed with how each is being received by the public in ratings. We all know, no matter how good a show is, if it's not getting the ratings the network is looking for then the show is doomed.

Ah.. FYI.. despite reminding my readers to set their DVR on my last blog for the premier of 'Defying Gravity' I forgot to do it for myself. I'm now kicking myself. In my defense I've been very busy as of late with new projects (hey..I do do other things besides watch TV.. I swear!). When I realized today, after looking at my blog, that I completely spaced on it I went to look at the ratings. Folks, it's not good. It averaged only a 3.84M viewers! EEK!! Whether it is deserving of such low ratings in my eyes remains to be seen, as I have not watched the Pilot and first episode (both aired the opening night) however, I am going to watch it online at ABC's website. Once I do, I'll add my two cents!

Oh.. and one more thing. I've become an affiliate of WB of sorts and recieved my first free DVD to screen and blog about. I am late on doing that though, as they sent it to me while I was on vacation and have not had the chance to watch, but I will and will also let you and them know my thoughts. This stuff is pretty fun. I wonder how long it will take before I actually get to watch pilots before everyone else!! NOW THAT would be cool!

So Much for the Philanthropist, 'SYTYCD' to face off with 'DWTS' This Fall, Did I meet an Idol Auditioner Today?

I blogged last week that the 'Philanthropist' looked to be the better of the scripted network shows out this summer. Well, so much for that. In week 1 it opened with a modest 5.7M viewers. This week it lost 1.4M viewers and 21% among adults 18-49 and it managed to retain only 47% out of the 'America's Got Talent' lead in. OUCH. Doesn't look like the 'Philanthropist' is really going to be a winner after all. Oh well.

As we have seen , the networks are giving us new scripted shows in the summer months, but apparently they are doing so half ...well you know. Nothing they seem to be throwing is sticking.

Speaking of sticking, it appears as if 'I Survived A Japanese Game Show' is losing in the ratings too. It was fourth place in it's hour with only 3.83M viewers. Ah.. the show was okay. The BEST one , hands down, is 'Wipeout'. Always leaves me in hysterics and is doing pretty solidly in the ratings. Thank goodness. I definitely want it to return next summer. It's what I look forward to in Summer TV, along with "So You Think You Can Dance' and 'Big Brother'.

'Superstars' on ABC isn't fairing so well in the ratings either. The season winners are 'So You Think You Can Dance' and 'America's Got Talent'.

I find it very interesting that 'So You Think You Can Dance' will be competing this fall with 'Dancing with the Stars'. I wonder what prompted fox to temp such a dual. Now me, I prefer 'So You Think' to 'Dancing' , simply because I like the competition of real dancers breaking through. I never really got into 'Dancing With the Stars'. I'm probably one of the few who haven't. It's okay, but ballroom is not much my thing. I much more prefer the styles put forth in 'So You Think'. I absolutely love the hip hop and contemporary styles the best and certain choreographers in particular like Shane Sparks and Mia Micheals (she is my ULTIMATE favorite choreographer). It's the American Idol of the dancing world. I admire how beautifully they dance, a talent I wish I had (although I wouldn't trade my talent as a singer for dancing. I would love to have them both). But I think I know how someone who hears me sing feels when they say they wish they could sing, because I do wish I could dance. It leaves me in awe. Oddly enough, I noticed at least two contenders from SYTYCD showing up as the professional part of the partnerships on DWTS. I worry though, if SYTYCD will hold up in the ratings against DWTS and it makes me a little worried for the shows future if they do not perform well in the ratings this fall. Sometimes too much of a good thing is not so good and it might be best to keep us waiting in anticipation for the next summer installment. I will be watching SYTYCD this fall, I just hope all the current viewers, and then some, tune in as well.

And speaking of 'American Idol' I could swear that today, while sitting in a Wendy's in Whitehall PA I saw one of the bad audition chicks from the show, Alexis Cohen. I mean she looked just like her. I was laughing to myself, but wouldn't dare ask her if it was her. God forbid it wasn't and I would have insulted a perfect stranger, assuming that she would even know what I was asking. Turns out she is from Philadelphia and it just might have been her. Pretty funny and just thought I would share.