Posted by Dustin on 05.19.2009 at 11:29 am

Yesterday I posted a blurb that CBS might be interested in “Medium.” Well today NBC’s schedule was released and “Medium” was nowhere to be found. Is it gone? It looks like it.

An odd move, considering it’s been one of the few shows on NBC bringing them in steady ratings. I guess we now have to hope CBS will pick it up, or already has agreed to and NBC let it go for that reason.

*Update* The LA Times is confirming yesterday’s story that CBS is picking up “Medium!” CBS Studios, which actually produces the show, has gone on record saying NBC’s cancellation is “inexplicable to us.” CBS also went on to state what I did above, that ratings wise the show “outperforms many of NBC’s renewed shows.”

Posted by Dustin on 05.19.2009 at 11:27 am

*** View NBC’s snazzy online schedule as well as trailers for their new shows by clicking right here!

NBC announced today its 2009-2010 schedule featuring more original programming than ever before and a shared time-period strategy around NBC’s Olympics platform that, along with “The Jay Leno Show” (Mondays-Fridays 10-11 p.m. ET), allows the network to broadcast all-new content year-round.

In addition, NBC issued renewals to “Law & Order” and “Chuck” as part of its strong slate of new and returning shows announced recently at the network’s highly successful Infront.

“NBC has picked up more scripted shows than last season even with “The Jay Leno Show” at 10 p.m.,” said Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. “We’re incredibly excited about our new and returning series and have more comedy programming than anyone else, as well as two of the most buzzed about new shows, ‘Community’ and ‘Parenthood.’ We can’t wait for the fall.”

“We are extremely proud to introduce these strong new series to NBC’s schedule next season in strategic timeslots that position them for success,” said Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios. “They join some of the highest quality returning shows on television, which will serve as a strong foundation to the new schedule. I think viewers are going to be happy to see this lineup of great new shows that will truly fit the NBC legacy of quality, culturally defining shows.”

NBC’s shared time period strategy will kick off this fall on Mondays with the premiere of “Heroes” (8-9 p.m. ET) continuing with all originals before “Chuck” assumes the time period after the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, which will be a powerful launching platform with its broad, female appeal and strong ratings as the most-watched event of the year. Using “NBC Sunday Night Football’s” potent promotional platform, the new high-octane drama “Trauma” will debut Mondays (9-10 p.m. ET) with the epic event series “Day One” taking over the time period following the Olympics.

NBC’s successful “The Biggest Loser” series continues Tuesdays (8-10 p.m.) and will help launch the new Wednesday lineup this fall, with the new family drama “Parenthood” debuting (8-9 p.m. ET) and the new hospital drama “Mercy” assuming the time period post-Olympics. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” will air 9-10 p.m. ET following “Parenthood.”

NBC’s Thursday marquee comedy night will begin with the only live comedy between 8-10 p.m. on any network, “Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday” (8-8:30 p.m. ET), followed by “Parks and Recreation” (8:30-9 p.m. ET), “The Office” (9-9:30 p.m. ET) and the new comedy “Community” (9:30-10 p.m. ET). After “Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday” completes its multi-week run, “Community” will move to 8 p.m. and “30 Rock” will debut at 9:30 p.m., enabling NBC to feature more original comedy than ever before.

On Fridays in the fall, the enduring drama “Law & Order” will return for its record 20th season (tying “Gunsmoke” as the longest running drama series in primetime) and will lead off at 8-9 p.m. (ET) while “Southland” follows at 9-10 p.m. (ET), building a great crime block.

Saturdays will be a showcase for “Dateline NBC” (8-9 p.m. ET) and encore episodes of “Trauma” (9-10 p.m. ET) and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (10-11 p.m. ET).

“Football Night in America” (7-8:20 p.m. ET) and ” NBC Sunday Night Football” (8:20-11 p.m. ET) – the number one show of the fall — will return on Sundays in the fall with a fan-pleasing schedule of games to round out the fall season.

Utilizing the compatible demographics provided by the Olympics, NBC will launch the premieres of “The Marriage Ref” from executive producers Jerry Seinfeld and Ellen Rakieten (“Oprah”) on Sundays (8-9 p.m. ET) and the third season premiere of “The Celebrity Apprentice” on Sundays with two-hour editions (9-11 p.m. ET). In addition, the new comedy “100 Questions” will debut on Tuesdays (9:30-10 p.m. ET) following a 90-minute edition of “The Biggest Loser” (8-9:30 p.m. ET).

And coming in the summer 2010, NBC will telecast all original episodes of “The Jay Leno Show,” “Friday Night Lights,” “America’s Got Talent,” “Breakthrough with Tony Robbins,” “Dateline NBC,” with additional programs to be announced later.

To catch up on season finales, watch new “Heroes” and “The Office” web series, and more, please log onto NBC.com.

NBC FALL 2009 SCHEDULE
*New programs in UPPER CASE

MONDAY
8-9 p.m. – “Heroes”
9-10 p.m.—”TRAUMA”
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

TUESDAY
8-10 p.m. – “The Biggest Loser” (two-hour edition)
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. – “PARENTHOOD”
9-10 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m. – “SNL WEEKEND UPDATE THURSDAY” (multi-episode run)
8:30-9 p.m. – “Parks and Recreation”
9- 9:30 p.m. – “The Office”
9:30-10 p.m. – “COMMUNITY” (moves to Thursdays 8-8:30 p.m. after multi-episode run “30 Rock” returns)
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. – “Law & Order”
9-10 p.m. – “Southland”
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”
9-10 p.m. – “TRAUMA” (encore broadcast)
10-11 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (encore broadcast)

SUNDAY
7- 8:20 p.m. “Football Night in America”
8:20-11 p.m. “NBC Sunday Night Football”

NBC MID-SEASON 2010 SCHEDULE
(2010 WINTER OLYMPICS preempt regularly scheduled programming from February 12-28, 2010)

*New programs in UPPER CASE

MONDAY
8-9 p.m. – “Chuck” (season premiere)
9-10 p.m.—”DAY ONE”
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

TUESDAY
8-9:30 p.m. – “The Biggest Loser” (90-minute edition)
9:30-10 p.m. – “100 QUESTIONS”
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. – “MERCY”
9-10 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m. – “COMMUNITY”
8:30-9 p.m. – “Parks and Recreation”
9- 9:30 p.m. – “The Office”
9:30-10 p.m. – “30 Rock”
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. – “Law & Order”
9-10 p.m. – “Southland”
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”

SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”
9-10 p.m. – “Southland” (encore broadcast)
10-11 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (encore broadcast)

SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”
8-9 p.m. – THE MARRIAGE REF
9-11 p.m. – “The Celebrity Apprentice” (season premiere; two-hour edition)

Posted by Dustin on 05.19.2009 at 11:20 am

*** Check out photos and (to be added later today) trailers for ABC’s new fall shows by visiting abc.com here

New Series Include “Cougar Town,” “The Deep End,” “Eastwick,” “Flash Forward,” “The Forgotten,” “Hank,” “Happy Town,” “The Middle,” “Modern Family,” “Shark Tank” and “V”

“Better Off Ted,” “Castle,” “Scrubs” and “True Beauty” Join Previously Announced Returning Series “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “The Bachelor,” “Brothers & Sisters,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Lost,” “Private Practice,” “Supernanny,” “Ugly Betty,” “Wife Swap” and “20/20”

Stephen McPherson, president, ABC Entertainment Group, today outlined ABC’s plans for next season and unveiled the network’s 2009-10 fall schedule before the advertising and media communities at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall.

New fall and midseason series include “Cougar Town,” “The Deep End,” “Eastwick,” “Flash Forward,” “The Forgotten,” “Hank,” “Happy Town,” “The Middle,” “Modern Family,” “Shark Tank” and “V.”

“Better Off Ted,” “Castle,” “Scrubs” and “True Beauty” join previously announced returning series “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “The Bachelor,” “Brothers & Sisters,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Lost,” “Private Practice,” “Supernanny,” “Ugly Betty,” “Wife Swap” and “20/20.” “Saturday Night College Football” will also return.

“Our focus is always on delivering the best stories with the most memorable characters on TV, whether that’s established audience favorites or innovative new shows,” said McPherson. “This year we’ve got the best of both. We’re headed into the season with a strong slate of returning series as well as great new shows from one of our best development seasons ever.”

For the 2008-09 TV season, ABC claims four of the top 10 highest-rated TV series in Adults 18-49, including the top two scripted shows with “Desperate Housewives” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” For the fourth straight season, the Network remains a top destination for upscale viewers, delivering five of the top 15 highest-rated TV series and three of the top four scripted shows among Adults 18-49 in homes w/$100K+ annual income. During the fall, the Net finished No. 1 in the November Sweep among Adults 18-49 for the fourth year in a row. ABC’s audience is growing in 2009, delivering across-the-board gains over the same point last year: Total Viewers +2%, Adults 18-34 +14%, Adults 18-49 +4% and Adults 25-54 +3%. 

Fall premiere dates will be announced at a later time. However “Shark Tank” will premiere over the summer following the special 10th anniversary primetime return of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire,” and will then move to Tuesday nights at 8:00 p.m. Please note shows picked up but not listed on the schedule will debut later in the 2009-10 season.

ABC’s fall primetime schedule is as follows (all times listed are Eastern):

DAY TIME SERIES

MONDAY:
8:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars” (two-hours)
10:00 p.m. “Castle”

TUESDAY:
8:00 p.m. “Shark Tank”
9:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show”
10:00 p.m. “The Forgotten”

WEDNESDAY:
8:00 p.m. “Hank”
8:30 p.m. “The Middle”
9:00 p.m. “Modern Family”
9:30 p.m. “Cougar Town”
10:00 p.m. “Eastwick”

THURSDAY:
8:00 p.m. “Flash Forward”
9:00 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy”
10:00 p.m. “Private Practice”

FRIDAY:
8:00 p.m. “Supernanny”
9:00 p.m. “Ugly Betty”
10:00 p.m. “20/20”

SATURDAY:
8:00 p.m. “Saturday Night College Football”

SUNDAY:
7:00 p.m. “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
8:00 p.m. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
9:00 p.m. “Desperate Housewives”
10:00 p.m. “Brothers & Sisters”

“The Bachelor” will air Monday nights from 8:00-10:00 p.m. following the run of “Dancing with the Stars,” and “Scrubs” and “Better Off Ted” will air at 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., respectively, following the run of “Dancing with the Stars The Results Show.”

Continue on for the new show descriptions
Read More »

Posted by Dustin on 05.18.2009 at 11:03 pm

Not sure why I thought tonight’s episode of “Medium” was the finale, it’s not! What follows are the official NBC spoilers for the next two shows.

Read More »

Posted by Dustin on 05.18.2009 at 5:58 pm

This is an interesting bit of news! The Hollywood Reporter indicates that if things don’t pan out between NBC and the producers of “Medium” that CBS is interested in making a play for the show. It seems NBC and the producers have hit a snag in regards to the pick-up fee and number of shows NBC wants to order.

Posted by Dustin on 05.18.2009 at 12:40 pm

Fox has announced its 2009-2010 schedule, with several returning shows and several new shows. “Glee” will have a sneak-peak after the “American Idol” finale. The show has gotten rave reviews and is about a high school teacher trying to beef up the school’s glee club.

“The Cleveland Show” and “Brothers” are two new comedies set to premier in the fall. “Sons of Tuscon” is another comedy, scheduled for mid-season.

Comedian Wanda Sykes will get her own late night show on Saturday nights, apparently looking to compete with NBC’s SNL.

“The Human Target” is a new drama based on a DC Comics graphic novel and stars Mark Valley (Fringe). “The Past Life” is a second new drama, slated for mid-season, and is based on the book “The Reincarnationist.”

“So You Think You Can Dance” will begin airing in the fall for its sixth season. Other shows returning include “American Dad,” “American Idol,” “Bones,” “Dollhouse,” “Family Guy,” “Fringe,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” “House,” “Lie To Me,” “The Simpsons,” and “‘Til Death.”

Fox’s website has a handy little grid of the new shows and schedules, as well as descriptions, photos and video previews of all the new shows. You can check this out right here on Fox.com.

Posted by Dustin on 05.18.2009 at 12:00 am

So unlike “Private Practice” and “Grey’s” we weren’t left with an unhappy cliffhanger per say, but we were left with one.

Dave was unable to go through with his plan to kill MJ. He had a major breakdown before completing it. Mike, who ran to try and save MJ and Susan, was reunited with his family . . . and he kissed Susan!

The show ended with a wedding, Mike was getting married and kissed his bride, but we never saw his bride. Did he marry Katherine, who he was about to elope with but ditched to save Susan and MJ . . . or did he marry Susan?

I don’t know. Through the whole episode they dropped hints that Mike wasn’t over Susan, that he wanted her back. It was a lot of hints, even Jackson and Katherine basically said it out loud. Too many hints? I wouldn’t be shocked if it was Katherine he did marry.

Other bombs dropped . . . . Tom was excited about going to go back to school when Lynette revealed she was pregnant . . . with twins AGAIN! Oh lord, the last thing they need is two more babies. Frankly Tom has been a big baby all season. Oh and can I just say . . . Chinese? I mean if he was going back to get a Masters or Doctorate I could understand. However it seems he just wants another B.A. and to party and feel alive on campus again. Chinese? What is he going to do with that degree?

Orson and Bree apparently haven’t gotten divorced, and he’s getting really nutty. Bree it seems is having a thing with Karl on the side. Oh next season if Orson finds out, I expect him to really snap.

Gabby and Carlos took in Carlos’ teenage niece, who apparently is a teenage whore. I really don’t get this one at all. This screams later episodes of “The Cosby Show” when cousin Pam came to live with them. It didn’t work then, I’m afraid it won’t work now.

Of course Dave didn’t die, he is back in the insane asylum. Which of course means he’s free to escape at some point in the future.

Posted by Dustin on 05.17.2009 at 7:15 pm

So the season finale of “Ghost Whisperer” saw Jim/Sam and Melinda marry, but really the whole episode basically was a set-up for next season. For those wondering, yes the show has been renewed for net season.

In this episode Eli’s friend Zoe was killed accidentally when she fell down the steps, startled by an intruder in her house. They were looking for The Book of Changes, which Zoe was caretaker of.

I have to say I was bummed out. I really thought Eli and Zoe could have something, but now she’s dead! Eli became the caretaker of the book, and was warned by one of the watchers that people were after the book, he must safeguard it. Jason Brooks (Peter Blake on “Days”) appeared as one of the people after the book, working for someone higher up. He was also warned he must NOT show it to Melinda.

Melinda meanwhile was having nightmares and visions that her baby was in danger. She was sure by the things she was being told the baby was a girl. Jim had seen her chart and knew it was a boy. He knew they agreed not to find out, but he told her to ease her mind, so she’d see her visions and dreams were wrong.

Melinda however couldn’t get the idea something was wrong out of her mind and convinced Eli to show her the book. It had a lot of names in it, followed by odd dates. The dates were revered, Melinda realized they were dates of death. Jim was there, as was Sam, Zoe and even Eli from his near death experience. She was also listed as September 25th, which was her due date! It seems Melinda was the one in danger, not her child.

Eventually the one watcher she helped cross over and become a watcher earlier in the season talked to her, though he wasn’t supposed to. He said she would have to ready her child, teach it. She asked if the child would be able to do what she did? He said no, her son would be able to do much much more!

The show ended with Jim/Sam and Melinda’s wedding as many spirits gathered around to watch.

The finale basically set up next season’s story with the Book and Melinda’s baby. I don’t know, I’m feeling a bit of “Charmed” going on here right now!

Also kudos to Melissa for pointing out in the forum that there is some serious Soap Opera Baby Time going on here! Melinda’s due date is 9/25, Jim died in November (pointed out in this episode), yet we know Melinda conceived sometime before Jim died. That makes an 11-12 month pregnancy!

Posted by Dustin on 05.15.2009 at 5:04 pm

I had completely spaced on writing up last week’s “Harper’s.” Here is what I remember from the outline notes I jotted down originally 🙂

It was the day before the wedding and they were holding the dress rehearsal, but the priest was missing (we know he’s dead). Meanwhile Booth’s friends began to notice he was missing, and feared he either ran off with the money . . . or something bad happened to him. The guy who knew he died went off to the woods to basically say he was sorry. He stood over some bushy area, but we never actually saw a body or body part of Booth . . .

Abby found out her dad and that fisherman guy she liked were way too chummy. She and her dad reconnected, but later she found all these news clippings in his attic about Wakefield and other random killings. It seems her dad suspected that Wakefield may have had a partner in crime!

Trish and her dad went for a bike ride in the woods, only to get knocked off by some trap set by the killer (this giant swinging log which plowed into them! Then some scary man with half his face burned sent dogs after them, forcing them to hide out. Trish finally told her dad that his new wife was cheating with Richard, and he seemed stunned . . . like he didn’t know. However he didn’t want her to tell anyone, saying he would deal with this. They did make it back home alive and to the dress rehersal.

Henry was talking with the wedding planner when the little girl and someone else seemed to throw firecrackers down near them from a balcony. Later he found firecrackers in JD’s room and was furious. He told JD they were done, not to come to the wedding. JD said there was one final surprise he had . . .

As the show ended, the Sheriff found the reverends body chopped to pieces in the lake! Meanwhile at the rehearsal everyone finally began to notice people seemed to be missing, some for a day now. The show ended with a giant blade dropping from a chandelier and basically splitting Trish’s father’s head down the middle!

Quick Thoughts
The show continues to try and set JD up as having something to do with what is going on, or at least knowledge. I think it’s a red herring though.

The Sheriff clearly thinks Wakefield didn’t work alone, and next week it looks like they open Wakefield’s coffin to see who is inside . . . Should be interesting!

I’m still not convinced Booth is dead. Did the other guy perhaps drag him into the bushes or think he buried him? I doubt he would have left him just sitting out in the woods uncovered, and we didn’t see a body when he was “talking” to him.

Posted by Dustin on 05.15.2009 at 11:27 am

A big big possible spoiler follows . . . . .

Neal McDonough (Dave) appeared on “The View” and when asked about his character, if he would die or was supposed to die with Edie, he said . . .

“No, I’m the mystery for the entire year so I wasn’t supposed to die until the very last episode.”

Oops? The key word of course is “wasn’t.” So will he or has there been a change in plans, as the actor has been so well received. We’ll know soon enough I guess!

Source: LA Times