The TV Addict 

CBS, the network that has yet to meet a procedural it couldn’t turn into a ratings smash continued to play to their strength by adding three new ones to their just announced Fall schedule. Joining THE MENTALIST (which is moving to Thursday at 10PM), CRIMINAL MINDS, COLD CASE and their 37 CSI spin-offs is the NCIS spinoff titled LOS ANGELES, the Juliana Margulies legal drama THE GOOD WIFE and THREE RIVERS — the medical drama starring some guy who fans may remember from that Vampire show MOON-something-or-other (Now, will you stop emailing us to Save MOONLIGHT!?)

On the comedy front comes the much buzzed about Jenna Elfman laugher ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE and
the a shuffling of the deck chairs on Monday night with HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER moving to 8PM and THE BIG BANG THEORY moving over to 9:30PM.

Snap Judgements to come, but until then, check out the full CBS schedule after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Because this TV Addict really isn’t sure.

On the one hand it’s summer, which means there’s virtually nothing else on in terms of quality scripted television dramas. Also in SWINGTOWN’s favor is that it features MELROSE PLACE alum Grant Show sporting an awesome 70’s-porn-star-moustache and a series premiere that was compelling enough that I’m asking, “what happens next?”

On the other hand, was anyone else slightly perturbed with how quickly Susan and Bruce Miller threw caution to the wind and cast aside their oldest/dearest friends in order to sign up for this new and exciting lifestyle? Not to mention the far more pressing issue — the fact that SWINGTOWN is a series that CBS has relegated to the summer — meaning that it’s more than likely already cancelled in the minds of the proverbial Powers that Be. Thus should I really be investing my time into a show that’s sure to follow in MOONLIGHT and JERICHO’s footsteps?

With that in mind, please feel free to post away with whether or not you’ll be returning to SWINGTOWN next Thursday, what parent’s Susan and Bruce must have been smoking to name their kid B.J., and your prediction as to whether or not uptight neighbor Janet Thompson’s marriage is falling apart because she seems a little too attached to her best friend Susan! Yes, you know what I’m talking about!

MONDAY
8:00 p.m. The Big Bang Theory
8:30 p.m. How I Met Your Mother
9:00 p.m. Two and a Half Men
9:30-10:00 p.m. Worst Week [New]
10:00-11:00 p.m. CSI: Miami

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. NCIS
9:00-10:00 p.m. The Mentalist [New]
10:00-11:00 p.m. Without a Trace

WEDNESDAY
8:00- 8:30 p.m. The New Adventures of Old Christine
8:30 9:00 p.m. Project Gary [New]
9:00-10:00 p.m. Criminal Minds
10:00-11:00 p.m. CSI: NY

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. Survivor
9:00-10:00 p.m. CSI
10:00-11:00 p.m. Eleventh Hour [New]

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. Ghost Whisperer
9:00-10:00 p.m. The Ex-List [New]
10:00-11:00 p.m. Numb3rs

SATURDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. Crimetime Saturday
9:00-10:00 p.m. Crimetime Saturday
10:00-11:00 p.m. 48 Hours: Mystery

SUNDAY
7:00-8:00 p.m. 60 Minutes
8:00-9:00 p.m. The Amazing Race
9:00-10:00 p.m. Cold Case
10:00-11:00 p.m. The Unit

Harper’s Island [New] and Rules of Engagement air sometime midseason.

In a press release sent out yesterday, CBS proudly touts that they’ve “renewed 11 series for next season in a move that will return 10 hours of the Network’s primetime schedule and eight of the top 20 scripted series on television.” Unfortunately, two of the series not officially picked up by the network include two of television’s absolute funniest and most under-appreciated comedies: HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE.

Naturally, this ridiculous oversight begs the obvious question. Is it possible the network is prejudice against hilariously funny shows simply because of the number of words in their title? In this era of post-WGA strike cost cutting measures, will all shows on the Tiffany network be mandated to start with those three magical letters ‘CSI’? Would HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER have more success if it changed its name to WITHOUT A MOTHER? Should THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE consider the more succinct COLD OLD CHRISTINE?

What exactly do HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE have to do to garner a little respect on Monday nights? Because clearly, being genuinely funny simply isn’t good enough.

After numerous re-casts, re-shoots and behind-the-scenes drama, actress Sophia Myles is as surprised as anyone that MOONLIGHT has done so well. Yet six months and one People’s Choice Award later, here she is. Kind enough to take some time out of her, well, not so busy schedule [courtesy of the Writer's Guild of America Strike] to talk to a group of reporters via conference call about MOONLIGHT’S jaw-dropping season finale airing tonight at 9PM on CBS (CTV in Canada).

The TV Addict: So honestly, after such an inauspicious start, are you surprised things have turned out so well for MOONLIGHT?
It’s definitely strange that MOONLIGHT has become such a force. I had no idea, coming over from here [from England], making the show, that it would have any life. But it’s become this organic thing that refuses to die. It seems to be getting stronger and stronger and more powerful with each episode.

Q. How was it you were cast in MOONLIGHT?
I was written a letter from the producers [Joel Silver] basicially asking me to come and do the part. At first I didn’t think it was legitimate, I couldn’t believe I’d be offered something so magical without an audition. But they already made the pilot and I was so intrigued to be in Los Angeles; being paid to do a fabulous job at Warner Bros. I couldn’t say no.

Read the rest of this entry »

After two months off the air in support of the WGA strike, LENO, CONAN, LETTERMAN, FERGUSON and KIMMEL all returned to the airwaves with brand new episodes.

Which begs the obvious questions: Am I the only TV Addict who thought LENO was the most entertaining host of the night? Was anyone else incredibly disappointed my Letterman’s low-key return and thinks its time for Conan and Kimmel to shave their beards? Post away with your thoughts.

Yesterday’s news that SEINFELD alum Jason Alexander would be guest starring on THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE this season got us thinking. What is CBS thinking?

If you hoped to find Julia Louis-Dreyfus on CBS’ fall schedule this September, you’re out of luck. Like the character she plays on TV, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE has been traded in for a younger model.

Remember RULES OF ENGAGEMENT? That generic CBS sitcom that did well enough during its six episode try out last spring to warrant a spot on the fall schedule following TWO AND A HALF MEN. Well it’s back and has at least temporarily replaced OLD CHRISTINE in the lineup because it attracts a slightly younger demographic.

Is anyone else grasping the irony here? THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE — a show that chronicles the everyday struggles of Christine Campbell after she’s been replaced by ‘new Christine’ was just replaced by a younger skewing sitcom itself! Are you ready for another generic CBS laugher that simply fails to illicit the laughs?

NEW CHRISTINE gives us a brilliant [an Emmy winning] Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the world’s smartest sidekick in Wanda Sykes and two mean mommies who are so funny they deserve their own spinoff. On the other hand RULES OF ENGAGEMENT has David Spade and an upcoming Heather Locklear guest spot. Two things we’d usually be thrilled about, but not in place of OLD CHRISTINE.

After two seasons on the air you’d think CBS would have learned a little something from OLD CHRISTINE by now. Newer and younger doesn’t mean better and funnier.

Is anyone else getting tired of all the negative publicity surrounding KID NATION? Because this TV Addict certainly is.

With Mandy Patinkin leaving the building and everything quiet on the GREY’S ANATOMY front, KID NATION has simply become the punching bag du jour for the media to take shots at. Allegations of child abuse! Calls for the show’s cancellation! Internal investigations! The media scrutiny’s become so loud you’d think Janet Jackson had another wardrobe malfunction.

Here’s an idea for everyone who’s horrified that CBS would take ‘advantage’ of these poor kids — how about you actually watch the show before you call for its cancellation (yes, I’m talking to you Deadline Hollywood).

Have I seen the show? No. But if I were to judge the show based on the extended preview CBS sent me, I’d say that KID NATION looks to be a once in a lifetime opportunity for a lucky group of kids. One that’s unfortunately about to be ruined thanks to this endless barrage of negative media.

With the new fall TV season creeping closer and closer [does anyone else think that 'with the new fall TV season...' should to be my de-facto opening sentence for every post from now until September?] this TV Addict thought he’d take the opportunity to talk about the level of online buzz surrounding each network’s new fall lineup.

Now I know what you’re thinking — why measure buzz? Well quite frankly, the better job networks do at generating buzz online with regards to their new slate of shows, the better chance they have of staying on the air. Remember last season’s short-lived Ray Liotta series SMITH? Didn’t think so.

This year, the networks seem to putting their online marketing muscle behind one or two shows, leaving the rest of their lineup to chance. NBC’s betting big on BIONIC, CBS is hoping KID NATION is the next SURVIVOR, ABC is all about DAISIES, the CW can only GOSSIP about one thing and FOX, well, outside of K-Ville, I think it’s safe to say that they’d like to fast forward to January and let IDOL speak for itself.

NBC
The Good: Let’s face it, to have not heard about NBC’s re-imagined take on THE BIONIC WOMAN, you’d pretty much have to have been in a coma. From their jam-packed panel at the recent San Diego Comic Con to the seemingly endless online ads and tie-ins (see bat-test.com) — THE BIONIC WOMAN is going to really have to stink to fail.
The Bad: HEROES. Memo to NBC — we get it, HEROES is your pride and joy, the saviour of the Peacock network, your beloved first born. One problem — the rest of your fall line-up is starting to develop middle child syndrome. When are you going to start promoting CHUCK (a hilarious new action/comedy hyrbrid from Josh Schwartz), JOURNEYMAN and LIFE? Do you not realize the new fall TV season is creeping closer and closer (okay, I’ll stop!)

CBS
The Good: If you subscribe to the theory that there’s no such thing as bad buzz, then CBS has had a remarkable summer. From abuse claims surrounding the new reality show KID NATION, to the whole CRIMINAL MINDS/Mandy Patinkin fiasco, CBS hasn’t had to work too hard to generate headlines.
The Bad: None of these headlines have anything to do with CBS’ new fall lineup. Is anyone talking about THE BIG BANG THEORY or VIVA LAUGHLIN? Sorry, let me rephrase — Is anyone saying anything positive about THE BIG BANG THEORY or VIVA LAUGHLIN?

ABC
The Good: While PUSHING DAISIES may have started off the summer as the little-show-that-could, it’s quickly evolved into the fall’s must see show. Thanks to tireless marketing and one timely internet leak, PUSHING DAISIES is officially the most buzzed about show of the summer. One that’s well positioned to — in this TV Addict’s opinion — become the biggest hit of the fall.
The Bad: SAMANTHA WHO doesn’t simply describe ABC’s new Christina Applegate vehicle. It summarizes ABC’s entire comedy lineup. Quick — name me another ABC comedy premiering this fall?

FOX
The Good: Kelsey Grammer is returning to television with BACK TO YOU. We’re also incredibly excited for THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES, THE RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES and NEW AMSTERDAM. Which brings us to… the bad.
The Bad: Most of FOX’s hot new shows don’t premiere until January 2008! Premiering this fall, a slew of reality television shows this TV Addict couldn’t care less about. KITCHEN NIGHTMARES, ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER, DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS, THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BAND, NASHVILLE, COPS, more COPS and AMERICA’S MOST WANTED. Call me when it’s 2008.

THE CW
The Good: Thanks to GOSSIP GIRL, we’re confident that regardless of what happens with CHUCK, Josh Schwartz won’t be looking for employment anytime soon
The Bad: The rest of the CW’s lineup. Where’s the much deserved hype for REAPER and ALIENS IN AMERICA? Is anyone else sensing two more JACK & BOBBY’S in the new future? (ie. brilliant but cancelled).

Does anyone else find it ironic that CBS — the least interesting network on screen — seems to be [at least as of late] the most interesting network off?

At this morning’s CBS executive session, MandyGate was in full swing as intrepid reporters tried numerous times to get CBS president Nina Tassler to comment on what really happened between Mandy Patinkin and the bosses at CRIMINAL MINDS. Needless to say, Tassler wasn’t talking and even went as far as to change the subject to another tabloid train-wreck — MINDS co-star Shemar Moore. Who recently found himself the subject of some very revealing photos! (Photos that you definitely should not be checking out at work.)

As the session continued, reporters hammered Tassler on more behind-the-scenes antics, this time focusing on the nasty backstage fighting between NCIS star Mark Harmon and showrunner, make that ex-showrunner Don Bellisario. Once again, Tassler skirted the issue, saying, “it’s the natural evolution of the show.” Translation: don’t mess with the talent.

In news this TV Addict genuinely cares about, Tassler revealed that there will be more clues with regards to the identity of the oft-mentioned ‘mother’ on CBS’ best show, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER.

Quickly followed by a plethora of news we couldn’t care less about. The season premiere of COLD CASE will be an all-Nirvana episode. Jake will enter junior high on TWO AND A HALF MEN (no word on when the show will start to be funny) and on GHOST WHISPERER, we’ll learn Jim and Melinda didn’t choose Grandview, Grandview chose Jim and Melinda. I think we speak for everyone when I say, “I have no idea what Grandview is!”