The TV Addict 

BIG SHOTS
BIG SHOTS is the story of four friends at the top of their game.. until the women in their lives enter the room. Sound familiar? Think Desperate HouseMEN. But hey, when these men include Michael Vartan (ALIAS) and Dylan McDermott (THE PRACTICE), who’s complaining?

CASHMERE MAFIA
Four ambitious and sexy women try to balance their glamorous and demanding careers with their complex personal lives in the city that never sleeps. WOW, ABC really is going out on a limb with this one! Do viewers need another DESPERATE SEX AND THE CITY mash-up? Our guess is no.

DIRTY SEXY MONEY
The good — Peter Krause has returned to TV. The bad — if the footage screened at the ABC UpFront is any indication, his return may be short-lived. DIRTY SEXY MONEY did not impress and with a cast featuring the likes of Krause, Donald Sutherland, a Baldwin brother and Samaire Armstrong (THE OC), this TV addict expected a lot more.

ELI STONE
Greg Berlanti, the genius behind some of theTVaddict’s favourite shows (namely EVERWOOD and JACK & BOBBY) returns to television (after taking a ‘break’ to help right the BROTHERS & SISTER ship) with ELI STONE. The story of a successful San Francisco lawyer who tries to find a deeper meaning to his life when he realizes money isn’t everything. Okay, the concept’s a little hokey but what Greg Berlanti writes, this TVaddict will TiVo.

PRIVATE PRACTICE
What hasn’t been said about the GREY’S ANATOMY spin-off PRIVATE PRACTICE? Only this: Could Shonda Rhimes and ABC not have taken the time to think of a better title? Was PRIVATE PRACTICE the best we could do? Really?

PUSHING DAISIES
Every once in awhile, a television show comes along that changes the game. ER revitalized the medical drama, FRIENDS ushered in a new era of comedies and PUSHING DAISIES will, well we’re not actually sure what DAISIES will do. The one thing we can promise you is that it’s unlike anything on television (which is a good thing) and you’ll fall in love with DAISIES the moment they spring to life. Yup, you heard it here first folks. PUSHING DAISIES is the fall’s next big hit.

WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB
CSI + LAW & ORDER - MEN = BORING

Tune in tomorrow for theTVaddict’s take on ABC’s new drama offerings. And yes, CAVEMEN is just as bad of an idea on screen as it is on paper. Really, truly dreadful.

The following is the 2007-2008 CBS Television Network Primetime schedule” (N=New, NT=New Time, all times ET/PT)

MONDAY
8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
8:30-9:00 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY (N)
9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN
9:30-10:00 PM RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: MIAMI

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS
9:00-10:00 PM THE UNIT
10:00-11:00 PM CANE (N)

WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM KID NATION (N)
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: NY

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR
9:00-10:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
10:00-11:00 PM WITHOUT A TRACE (NT)

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM GHOST WHISPERER
9:00-10:00 PM MOONLIGHT (N)
10:00-11:00 PM NUMB3RS

SATURDAY
8:00-9:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS: MYSTERY

SUNDAY
7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES
8:00-9:00 PM VIVA LAUGHLIN (N)
9:00-10:00 PM COLD CASE
10:00-11:00 PM SHARK (NT)

*** Slated to return midseason: “THE AMAZING RACE” and “THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE” along with the New Drama “SWINGTOWN”

The one drawback from spending a week in New York covering the UpFronts is that I’m missing all of my favourite shows (once again, God Bless TiVo). Thankfully, unlike in Canada, US networks are on the cutting edge when it comes to streaming video and I was able to easily catch up with Monday’s episode of HEROES late last night courtesy of NBC.com (sponsored by Fedility Investments — you see Madison Ave, online advertising works!).

Talk about a death toll — Linderman, D.L. (although he looked pretty ‘alive’ at NBC’s UpFront presentation) and Thompson. Star Adrian Pasdar put it best when he said, “I signed on to do Heroes and I wound up being on Survivor. So I’m just trying to stick around for season two.”

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Draining even more suspense from tomorrow’s CW UpFront presentation (as this TV Addict ponders why he even bothered to show up in New York — oh wait, to paraphrase Barney, NYC is awesome!) — Variety is reporting that the CW has officially greenlit three new dramas, and gave Veronica Mars her walking papers.

Renewed series include SMALLVILLE, SUPERNATURAL and ONE TREE HILL as well as the hilarious and underappreciated CW laugher EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS.

Not so lucky is VERONICA MARS. While nothing’s official, sources close to the show say ‘Mars” is indeed coming to an end.

On the new drama front, THE OC’s Josh Schwartz is headed back to TV (and not a moment too soon, I’m still in OC withdrawl) with GOSSIP GIRL along with two new dramas REAPER and WILD AT HEART.

And finally, just in case you were worried, 7th HEAVEN remains cancelled with absolutely no hope for another last-minute miraculous renewal. When reached for comment, even the ‘big guy upstairs’ had to concede, “It’s about time” adding quickly, “I miss EVERWOOD.” We at theTVaddict.com couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

Word on the street (and by street I of course mean TVGuide’s Michael Ausiello) is that CBS has come to its senses and renewed one of the best comedies on television — HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER for a third season. This comes as fantastic news to fans of the show who were concerned that CBS would make the unforgivable mistake of cancelling the series before we found out who the heck this often talked about ‘mother’ was.

Unfortunately, THE CLASS isn’t so lucky, as rumour has it that the freshman laugher has been officially dismissed by the Tiffany network. Even though, in this TV Addict’s humble opinion, the show was definitely coming into its own near the latter half of the season.

And finally, the bad news continues if you’re a fan of JERICHO. Variety is reporting that CBS has dropped ANOTHER bomb on the freshman drama, cancelling it after only one season. Who else thought CBS should have showed a little patience with the one show on the network that attracted a young, internet savvy audience?

Tune in tomorrow for the official word from the CBS UpFronts. ‘

ALIAS + BUFFY + DARK ANGEL = BIONIC WOMAN
At first glance, NBC’s BIONIC WOMAN seems to have it all. Instant name recognition thanks to the original series, a sexy new star (Michelle Ryan) and some serious chick-on-chick fighting. With pop cultures most famous female heroines now benched, that leaves plenty of room for a new lady to ride to our collective rescue. But can the show rise above the somewhat campy images summoned up by its very title? Seeing as the show comes from David Eick — aka the man who made us forget that BATTLESTAR GALACTICA’s Starbuck was once a man — we’re already on board.

SETH COHEN + ED = CHUCK
NBC’s most original series revolves around an ordinary computer nerd named Chuck (played by LESS THAN PERFECT’s Zachary Levi) whose life is turned upside-down when he inadvertently downloads all of the government’s secrets into his head (don’t ask how). With CHUCK’s winning combination of humor and action, we’re thinking of selling shirts saying “Geek is the new black.”

SEX & THE CITY + MORE SEX & THE CITY = LIPSTICK JUNGLE
Why steal when you can go straight to the genetic source and conjure up a clone? That’s what NBC did by turning to SEX & THE CITY creator Candace Bushnell for their kinda new comedy, LIPSTUCK JUNGLE. The series — revolving around three of New ork City’s most powerful women — was the only presentation to elicit genuine laughs from the generally uptight upfront audience. (Of course, if we were trying to decide which shows to invest millions of advertising dollars in based on a few brief clips, we’d probably take the whole thing pretty seriously too!) It’s pretty much impossible to predict how big a show will hit (or flop), but this one looks like a winner. It could be NBC’s version of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES.

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Yesterday at the NBC UpFronts, theTVaddict had the chance to ‘play paparazzi’ for a few moments and snap this photo of NBC’s newest star Michelle Ryan. Needless to say, having witnessed the audience’s reaction to the clips shown at yesterday’s event, Ryan better get used to walking down red carpets as she’d destined for stardom. You heard it here first folks — Michelle Ryan — television’s ‘next big thing.’

Ryan stars as Jaime Sommers, a bartender and surrogate mom who’s life pretty much couldn’t get any harder. But when a devastating car accident leaves her at death’s door, Jaime’s only hope of survival is through a cutting-edge, top-secret technology that comes at a hefty price.

With a whole new existence and a debt to repay, Jaime must figure out how to use her extraordinary abilities for good, while weighing the personal sacrifices she will have to make. Ultimately, it’s Jaime’s journey of self-discovery and inner strength that will help her embrace her new life as…The Bionic Woman.

BIONIC WOMAN comes from the brilliant minds of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA executive producer David Eick and KIDNAPPED mastermind Jason Smilovic. The preview clips shown at yesterday’s UpFront were quite frankly fantastic, and this TV Addict cannot wait to watch Michelle Ryan kick some serious bionic butt. Don’t believe me, check out the video previews after the jump. ‘

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MONDAY:
8:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars”
9:30 p.m. “Sam I Am” (new comedy series)
10:00 p.m. “The Bachelor”

TUESDAY:
8:00 p.m. “Cavemen” (new comedy series)
8:30 p.m. “Carpoolers” (new comedy series)
9:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show”
10:00 p.m. “Boston Legal”

WEDNESDAY:
8:00 p.m. “Pushing Daisies” (new drama series)
9:00 p.m. “Private Practice” (new drama series)
10:00 p.m. “Dirty Sexy Money” (new drama series)

THURSDAY:
8:00 p.m. “Ugly Betty”
9:00 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy”
10:00 p.m. “Big Shots” (new drama series)

FRIDAY:
8:00 p.m. “MEN IN TREES”
9:00 p.m. “Women’s Murder Club” (new drama series)
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”

“Cashmere Mafia,” “Notes from the Underbelly” and “October Road” will premiere after “Dancing with the Stars” and “The Bachelor” conclude their fall seasons.

So, NBC threw out some shockers (at least FNL wasn’t cancelled. Sure, Friday at 10 is almost the kiss of death, but it’s fabulous, so yay!). With ABC set to change up their schedule and send some surprises our way, let’s see what’s coming for CBS, The CW, and FOX in the coming days!

CBS:

What do we not need to worry about?
Big Brother, Survivor – CBS isn’t big on the early renewals.

What shows are looking good for renewal, but haven’t gotten there yet?
48 Hours, 60 Minutes, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Ghost Whisperer, NCIS (especially now that Bellisario stepped down), Numb3rs, Rules of Engagement (who would have thought?), Shark, Two and a Half Men (really?), Without a Trace

What shows are riding that bubble?
The Amazing Race (not so much because ratings are down, but because they might not have a spot for it on the schedule right away), The Class (I would be sad to see it go…it got better at the end), How I Met Your Mother (seriously? I can’t imagine this being gone already), Jericho (I’ll be super upset if this is gone!!!), The New Adventures of Old Christine (I’m thinking it’s between HIMYM and Christine for the comedy spot…hopefully HIMYM stays), The Unit (no bad buzz here, but it’s probably the least “on the radar” procedural.

What should we prepare to say goodbye to, officially?
Armed and Famous, Close to Home (they never should have killed off Christian Kane’s character), Gameshow Marathon, Rock Star (if you hear nothing about it, chances are they aren’t working on it)

What shows did they already can?
3 Lbs (which is a shame, because I like Stanley Tucci), The Kind of Queens, Smith, Waterfront (I gotta be honest, I don’t remember this show even starting….)

What is still to come?
Creature Comforts and Pirate Master look to be interesting shows – we’ll see how they do.

Bottom line?
CBS has too many hits to know what to do with. To even consider getting rid of HIMYM or Jericho, it’s pure insanity. The latest talks point to neither of them getting the boot, but the fact that they aren’t incredibly safe just shows that CBS is doing really well and almost doesn’t know where to go from here.

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In general, theTVaddict tries to maintain a certain level of professionalism in his posts, an air of sophistication if you will. But having just returned from the 2007 NBC UpFront presentation, I’m going to take this moment to ignore my journalistic side and simply gush!

WOW… NBC sure knows how to put on a show. From meeting the cast of HEROES to scoring some truly delicious shots of the NEXT JENNIFER GARNER — BIONIC WOMAN star Michelle Ryan (remember you heard it here first) — this afternoon was truly an event theTVaddict won’t soon forget.

Be sure to check back later tonight for theTVaddict’s full 2007 NBC UpFront Report, including some fantastic exclusive photos.