Summer Cable Series Score Renewals
Friday July 25, 2008
Over the last few years, the cable channels have experienced tremendous success during the summer months. Many of these series are repeatedly breaking cable-viewing records and have even caught the eye of those various award voters (i.e. Emmys). Viewers love these cable series, especially since the summer schedule offers a lighter diet of great television dramas.
What makes cable different?
Cable series have the luxury of being able to push the envelope a little further than series that are under the watchful eye of TPTB at the major networks. The writers are given more freedom to create bold and dynamic scripts and the actors are thrilled to have more time to pursue other projects since they produce significantly less episodes each season. Everybody wins.
This summer has brought much success to both new and returning series. ABC Family got a little riskier this summer with The Secret Life of the American Teenager, a series that deals with teenage pregnancy. Over on USA Network, In Plain Sight had no problem luring viewers away from an eternity of reruns. It should come as no surprise that both new series have earned season two renewals.
Summer Series Renewals
- Army Wives
- In Plain Sight
- The Secret Life of the American Teen
Summer Series Returning in 2009
- Big Love
- Brotherhood
- Damages
- Greek
- Kyle XY
- Rescue Me
- The Tudors
- Fate To Be Determined - The Riches
© 2008 Disney • ABC Television Group All rights reserved.
Rosie Perez Coming to Lipstick Jungle
Wednesday July 23, 2008
Over the last few years we've seen movie stars trading in the big screen for all the wonderful things the small screen has to offer, but the upcoming fall season has more movie stars than ever! The latest movie star heading to a living room near you this fall is Oscar and Emmy nominee Rosie Perez, who will appear on NBC's Lipstick Jungle.
Along with Mary Tyler Moore, Perez will appear in a multi-episode arc on Lipstick Jungle, beginning with the season two premiere on September 24. According to NBC, Perez will play the role of Dahlia, Victory's publicist, who brings a successful attitude to Ford's life.
Perez is best known for her roles in the hit movies Fearless, White Men Can't Jump, Riding in Cars with Boys and It Could Happen to You.
Photo by Will Ragozzino/Getty Images
Interview with Francia Raisa (Adrian, The Secret Life of the American Teenager)
Monday July 21, 2008
When a studio decides to create a sequel to a popular movie, the end result isn't always favorable. Being a new actress in her first film role is difficult in itself, but imagine taking that role in a sequel to the highly successful movie Bring it On.
Francia Raisa wasn't afraid to take on that challenge. In fact, this lovely young actress then went on to star in yet another sequel to the '90s cult classic The Cutting Edge. Luck was on her side when both sequels met with good reviews and impressive ratings.
Francia's latest role in the ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager has also experienced an incredible amount of success. The series scored a second season renewal after only a few weeks on the air.
Get to know more about this rising star as I chat with her about her role on The Secret Life of the American Teenager, celebrity encounters and her fellow cast members. Photography: Dimitry Loiseau/DimitryL.com Hair&Make-up: Valerie Noble/ValerieNoble.com
The CW Annouces Fall Premiere Dates
Sunday July 20, 2008
Believe it or not, the fall television season is only six weeks away - where has the summer gone? In the last few years, Fox has been the first of the five networks to launch their fall season. This year the CW will go head-to-head with those Prison Break boys on September 1 with Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill.
Easily one of the most anticipated new series this season is the remake of 90210. Now that Shannen Doherty has officially signed on to return to her roll as Brenda Walsh, things in Beverly Hills should get v-e-r-y interesting! In addition to Doherty's return, Jennie Garth, Tori Spelling, and Joe E. Tata are coming back to their old zip code. 90210 makes its premiere on September 2, but will it live up to all the hype? I'm still holding out hope that Brandon Walsh, Dylan McKay and Steve Sanders return to the zip code at some point during the series.
The CW's Fall TV Drama Premiere Schedule
Monday, September 1 Tuesday, September 2
- 90210 - two-hour series premiere
The 60th Annual Emmy Award Nominees
Thursday July 17, 2008
It's Emmy time! Each year when the Emmy nominees are announced and the winners chosen, many television fans are left outraged when their favorite shows are left out of the race.
This year's nominees are a nice mix of perennial contenders and new faces. Without The Sopranos and 24 in the running, many new candidates caught the eye of those Emmy voters.
Did your favorite shows and actors make the final cut? Find out who received a nomination and who got snubbed. The 60th Annual Emmy Awards airs live from the NOKIA Theatre in Los Angeles September 21 on ABC. Photo: © Fox Broadcasting Co.
Katie Holmes Returns to Primetime Television
Wednesday July 16, 2008
Those Dawson's Creek years are long gone, and Katie Holmes has done quite a bit of growing up since the days of choosing between Pacey and Dawson. After marrying one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, I never thought we'd see Katie back on primetime television, but it's happening this fall on ABC's Eli Stone!
ABC announced that Holmes is set to appear on the October 21 episode (titled "Grace"), playing a non-profit attorney whose mysterious fate leads her to Eli. Her role comes complete with a song-and-dance number, which happens during one of Eli's visions.
Holmes began taping scenes on Tuesday, with hubby Tom Cruise and daughter Suri in tow. The second season of Eli Stone premieres on October 14.
Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Nip/Tuck Coming to an End....In 2011
Tuesday July 15, 2008
FX is finally putting an end to the magnificent Nip/Tuck. No need to worry, the series won't end until 2011!
FX announced that they have ordered an additional 19 episodes, which will mark the sixth and final season of Nip/Tuck. The remaining eight episodes of season five will premiere in January, bringing the remaining episode count to 27. Once all is said and done, the entire series will consist of 100 episodes.
Will Christian and Sean finally find true love and happiness in the end? Will their kids straighten out their messy lives? Stay tuned....
In Other FX News
- Michael J. Fox has indeed inked that deal to appear in four episodes of Rescue Me. As previously reported, Fox's (wheelchair-bound) character will be involved with Tommy's ex-wife Janet. He makes his first appearance in the season premiere, which is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2009.
- Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden, Timothy Olyphant and William Hurt are joining the cast of Damages as series regulars for its second season, which is set to premiere in January of 2009.
- At long last -- the final season of The Shield premieres on Tuesday, September 2 and will consist of 13 episodes.
Television Events at Comic-Con: July 24-27
Monday July 14, 2008
The annual Comic-Con in San Diego begins later this week and television fans from all walks of life will gather to catch a glimpse of their favorite celebrities and get the scoop on what to expect this season.
The four-day event is jam-packed with television goodies such as:
- A very special presentation by "Octagon Global Recruiting" that is sure to keep Lost fans up all night chatting with fellow fans.
- The unveiling of the newly remodeled KITT Attack Car from Knight Rider.
- Exclusive sneak peaks at new series Dollhouse, Fringe and Life on Mars.
- Meet and greet with the casts of Heroes and Lost.
Thursday, July 24
- 10:00-11:00 Kings: Exclusive Sneak Peek Screening and Q&A with Cast and Executive Producers
- 11:15-12:15 Battlestar Galactica 30th Anniversary Panel
- 11:45-12:45 Knight Rider: First Look at the New Series and Q&A with Cast and Executive Producers
- 5:45-6:45 Dexter Q&A
- 12:00-1:00 Samurai Girl Panel
- 12:15-1:15 Stargate Atlantis Panel
- 1:30-2:30 Joss Whedon Panel (a must for Buffy fans!)
- 4:30-5:30 Bones Panel and Q&A with Cast
- 5:30-6:30 24 Panel and Sneak Peak
- 6:30-7:15 Prison Break Panel and Q&A with Cast
- 10:45-11:45 Heroes: Exclusive First Look at “Villains” and Q&A with the Entire Cast, Tim Kring, and Tim Sale
- 11:30-12:30 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Screening and Q&A
- 12:00-1:00 Lost Panel and Q&A
- 12:30-1:30 Kyle XY: Q&A with Cast and Producer
- 1:00-2:00 Dollhouse Panel with Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku
- 3:15-4:15 Pushing Daisies Screening and Q&A
- 3:30-4:30 Chuck Screening and Q&A
- 4:00-5:00 Lost Podcast with Jay and Jack
- 4:45-5:45 Fringe Q&A and Trailer Screening
- 10:00-11:00 Smallville Screening and Q&A
- 11:15-12:15 Supernatural Screening and Q&A
- 1:45-2:45 Ghost Whisperer Season Four: The New Spirit Mythology of Melinda
- 4:00-5:00 Buffy the Musical
Photo: © 2008 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. Credit: Bob D'Amico/Art Streiber
NBC Gives Heroes Fans a Much-Needed Fix
Sunday July 13, 2008
It's been more than seven months since the last new episode of Heroes aired and we still have another two months to go before season three begins. Itching for that Heroes fix? No need to wait any longer, TPTB have created a series of webisodes to help tide fans over until the new season begins on September 22.
This first series of webisodes is titled "Going Postal" and will air in three installments. This first set will introduce a new character named Echo DeMille, an ordinary mailman who discovers he has extraordinary abilities. He soon learns that he has enemies and must protect his girlfriend Gina before she becomes their next target. Once Echo gets Gina to safety, he sets out to destroy his enemies once and for all -- watch for a huge twist at the end.
The first webisode premieres on July 14, the second on July 21 and the third on July 28 on NBC.com. When making the announcement about the webisodes, Vivi Zigler, President of NBC Universal Digital Entertainment, issued the following statement:
"The teams involved, from the show to the studio and the digital group, really hit a home run with these webisodes. Fans of Heroes are going to find a satisfying installment that sets them up perfectly for the third season."Will these webisodes be enough to satisfy those "extraordinary" cravings? They may not clue us in on the fates of those characters in mortal danger, but it sure beats another two months of reruns!
Photo: Copyright © NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. Photo: Frank Ockenfels
As the Grey's of Our Lives Turns - Will Shonda Kill Izzie?
Friday July 11, 2008
Once again, it looks like yet another scandal is brewing on the set of Grey's Anatomy. I can't help but wonder if ABC should create some sort of hybrid reality-soap opera series about the goings on behind the scenes of the hit ABC series. It would probably score American Idol-like ratings and they would never run out of storylines.
When Katherine Heigl announced that she had decided to keep herself out of the running for an Emmy this year because she "did not feel she was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination," we knew it wouldn't be long before something big hit the fan.
E! Online reports that life on the set of Grey's Anatomy is not pleasant at all. To make matters worse, creator Shonda Rhimes may even be considering killing off Dr. Izzie!
Heigl has been pushing buttons for some time now, making it painfully obvious that she is looking for a way to get out of her contract. Will TPTB finally grant her wish? Would they actually kill off this popular character? After being a fan of shows such as 24 and Prison Break, where main characters are killed off all the time, not much would shock me anymore -- but would those die-hard Izzie fans still tune in once the dust settles?
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images