The TV Addict 

Question: For quite some time now you’ve been kind enough to provide your fellow TV Addicts with an incredibly useful calendar highlighting the month’s big TV events. Seriously, my cubicle at work is practically wallpapered with them and I really can’t thank you enough for your hard work. The only problem is that you totally dropped the ball when it came to August. Please explain yourself? — HookedonTVA
The TV Addict: Truthfully, the TV Addict was on strike. And by that I mean, if the networks aren’t going to bother to program quality television in August, I certainly am not going to take time away from my FREAKS AND GEEKS marathon busy schedule to help promote the return of MILLIONAIRE on ABC. Plus, between Comic Con, my much-deserved vacation and the Television Critics Association Press Tour, I simply ran out of time. That said — here in a nutshell is everything you need to know for August: MONK and PSYCH returned to USA on August 7, MAD MEN returns to AMC on August 16, PROJECT RUNWAY makes it’s Lifetime premiere on August 20, TOP CHEF returns to Bravo on August 19, while GREEK picks up exactly where it left off on ABC Family on August 31.

Question: GMMR has got me totally hooked on GREEK. Got any spoilers? — Cappietastic
The TV Addict: Are you sitting down? Because I’m about to drop an honest-to-goodness GREEK game-changer on you. A spoiler so big, it may-or-may-not rock Greek row forever. Ready for it? When the hit ABC Family series returns from hiatus on August 31 [Please take a moment to ensure that there are no spill-able liquids within your computer's proximity!] expect to see hear a proposal from a series regular.

Question: Loved your sneak peek at FRINGE’s second season premiere, but found myself wondering as to why it was completely William Bell free? — TheOtherSider
The TV Addict: Unfortunately, there is a very good reason that my little tease was completely William Bell free —because that’s exactly what the episode was. Leonard Nimoy was MIA. That said, FRINGE executive producer Jeff Pinkner did confirm at last week’s TCA panel for the show that Nimoy has already filmed one episode for season two and “is welcome back as much as he wants.”

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You’ve seen the teasers. You’ve heard the hype. Now there’s only one thing you want to know: Which of the new fall shows midseason offerings are worth watching and which should be avoided at all costs? In this continuing series, we give you the scoop on some of the most highly-anticipated shows of the season. Which will be the next GREY’S ANATOMY… and which will be the new JOEY? Next up, an early look at the FOX’s FAMILY GUY spin-off THE CLEVELAND SHOW.

Why We’ll Watch: Giving new meaning to the phrase “Animation Domination,” comes Seth MacFarlane with his third contribution to FOX’s Sunday night lineup: THE CLEVELAND SHOW. And while Cleveland Brown, alongside his 14-year old son Cleveland Jr. may not have been the most obvious choice for this much-buzzed about FAMILY GUY spin-off, fans will be grateful to know that MacFarlane, alongside executive producers Rich Appel and Mike Henry (who coincidentally enough, provides the voice of Cleveland among others) are smarter than the average bear (or, as the case may be, comedy writers). Cleverly surrounding the show’s somewhat less exciting titular character with; A newly adopted family which include a rebellious stepdaughter named Roberta and a foul-mouthed tyke named Rallo, who who may-or-may-not bare a passing resemblance to one Stewie Griffin, two off-beat religious environmentally friendly bears voiced by Arianna Huffington and Seth MacFarlane, a loudmouth redneck named Lester and a hipster wanna-be named Holt (Voiced by Jason Sudeikis). All of whom keep the yuks flowing and contribute to what may in fact be MacFarlane’s funniest project yet.

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You’ve read his take on the most promising fall shows and least promising ones. Now, in what we promise is our final look back at the Network’s UpFront offerings comes our very own Ken Tucker in-training Aleks Chan, with a look at the shows that fall somewhere in-between.

ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE (CBS)
After the horridly ill-conceived COURTING ALEX, Jenna Elfman returns to the small screen as Billie, a San Francisco film critic who hooks up with a younger guy and – surprise – gets pregnant. Pregnancy as a premise hasn’t always worked, and the clips don’t really provide much hope that AOP will be any different, but Elfman is one deft comedienne, so if anything, it’ll be tolerable. 

EASTWICK (ABC)
Also known as Charmed Lipstick Housewives and the City. Based on the John Updike novel about three women (Lindsay Price, Rebecca Romijn, and Jamie Ray Newman) who are imbued with magical powers, it looks as tawdry and superfluous as I remember CHARMED ever was – not that there’s anything wrong with that.  

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GLEE
According to the official FOX description: After a special preview event airing tomorrow, Tuesday, May 19, GLEE, the distinctive new comedy from Ryan Murphy (NIP/TUCK) starring Jane Lynch (The 40 YEAR-OLD VIRGIN) and newcomers Matthew Morrison (Broadway’s “Hairspray”), Lea Michele (“Spring Awakening”) and Cory Monteith (KYLE XY), will enter its freshman year this fall. Combining biting humor with a soundtrack of hit music from past to present, the inventive series follows an optimistic high school teacher who – against all odds – attempts to restore McKinley High’s fading Glee Club to its former glory, while helping a group of underdogs realize their true star potential.

According to the TV Addict: We’re GLEE-ful in anticipation. So much so that you’ll definitely want to return to theTVaddict.com tomorrow… trust us.

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Good News: THE CLEVELAND SHOW has officially gotten picked up for an entire season proving, as creator Seth MacFarlane so accurately put it, “that an African-American can make it in this country!” Bad News: Fans will have to wait until Fall 2009 for the show to premiere. [Source]

Good News: Bryan Fuller, the man who many (including this TV Addict) believe was responsible for the high quality of HEROES first season is getting set to re-join the show. Bad News: When PUSHING DAISIES finishes shooting its final episode this week. [Source]

Good News: Tori Spelling is getting set to return to the CW. Bad News: On SMALLVILLE, not 90210 (yet!) [Source]