The TV Addict 

In a recent interview with the MTV Movies Blog, VERONICA MARS herself, Kristen Bell pretty much put to rest a possible MARS movie saying, “There’s [rumored] talk of a movie one day. Maybe. Who knows? [But] we haven’t even discussed it.” To that I say, thank you Mrs. Bell for providing the TV Addict with some much needed closure. Between a SERENITY sequel, X-FILES and ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, I can only spend so much time hoping my favorite TV shows find an afterlife on the big screen.

According to THE SUN, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES star Andrea Bowen will be getting herself a new onscreen boyfriend when the show returns this fall. You know what Bowen, who plays Teri Hatcher’s daughter Julie could use instead of a boyfriend? Some acting lessons. Rory Gilmore she ain’t.

Today’s least surprising piece of news — the incomprehensible disaster of series known as JOHN FROM CINCINNATI has been officially cancelled. No word on how HBO’s going to make amends for wasting ten hours of our lives. But they can start by delivering on those promised DEADWOOD movies.

While theTVaddict.com isn’t one to toot our own horn. The Hollywood Reporter is, not surprisingly reporting that ABC has yet again yanked THE NINE off its schedule. Okay we’ll say it… we told you so!

Why not brighten up the start of another dreary work week with FREE TV DOWNLOADS courtesy of our friends at iTunes. Scared off by FLASH GORDON’s mixed-to-negative reviews? Judge for yourself by downloading the pilot for free. Wish you jumped on board THE NINE bandwagon when the show premiered last fall (it really might have helped keep the show on the air!). The pilot’s now available as a free download by clicking here. And finally, while not technically ‘free’, iTunes is having a SIZZLING SUMMER SALE, offering some of the TV Addict’s favorite shows at a great discount. Click here to check out seasons of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, THE OFFICE, ANDY BARKER P.I., SAVED BY THE BELL and more at great low prices.

Its not often that we at theTVaddict.com ask a favor of our loyal readers. In fact, short of pleading with you to help SAVE EVERWOOD, we’re pretty sure that throughout our year and a half history, we’ve never asked you for anything. Today all that changes.

Tonight at 10PM, ABC will start to burn off the final episodes of its short-lived series THE NINE. No doubt many of you, like our friend Jennifer (of TubeTalk fame) are excited about the show’s long-awaited return. Unfortunately, we’ve got some bad news for you. As a result of the show’s swift cancellation, there will be no closure and no happy ending for fans of THE NINE. The mystery of THE NINE will remain just that — a mystery. With no chance of discovering what really happened during the show’s fifty-two hour stand-off.

With that in mind, we would like to take this opportunity to ask you to not watch the show tonight. It’s time we sent a message to the networks that they can’t simply yank away our favorite shows and expect us to tune back in whenever they feel like airing them. At the very least, ABC should have followed NBC’s footsteps and given THE NINE enough notice to wrap up its story properly (see: KIDNAPPED on DVD). It’s what the fans deserved.

Acting today will help ensure that fantastic new shows like PUSHING DAISIES don’t fall victim to ABC’s far-to-quick cancellation finger. After-all, star DAISIES Lee Pace only has the power to bring ‘people’ back from the dead — not quirky romantic dramedies.

According to Zap2it.com, ABC has cancelled the ratings-challenged series THE NINE, replacing it on Wednesdays at 10PM with special editions of 20/20 and PRIMETIME.

No doubt fearing the wrath of TV critics everywhere, the alphabet network took the cowards way out by making this announcement on Saturday when the majority of TV critics were busy celebrating the Thanksgiving Holiday (yes ABC, we noticed!).

ABC claims the show will return sometime later this season but offered no specific details. Looks like ‘job security’ will be one less thing nine actors in Hollywood can be thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend.

Hoping to generate buzz for their critically praised yet underwatched new drama, ABC has made the first episode of THE NINE available on iTunes for FREE! Click here to download it. Also currently available for free online is the first episode of BONES, Click here to download it. As well as the second season premiere of BREAKING BONADUCE. Now there are two words I never imagined would ever appear on theTVaddict.com. Click here to download it, if you dare!.

The most surprising thing about last night’s television watching was that between LOST, THE NINE, JERICHO, and KIDNAPPED I think I enjoyed JERICHO the most. There is just something so fascinating about the town of Jericho, its secrets and the mystery that’s unfolding before are eyes. A few quick notes about last nights TV.

JERICHO: Robert Hawkins clearly knows what’s going on. Why did he come ‘prepared’ with a Radiation Suit and what on earth is he sealing up in his basement. Also, how much did I love Gerald McCraney’s (the mayor) unexpected punch to the gut of his mayoral opponent (this is definitely a time for sticking together, not political maneuvering). Finally, the airplanes. How unsettling was that? There are clearly survivors outside of Jericho - and if next week’s preview is any indication, welcome and unwelcome visitors will soon be floating into the small town of Jericho.

KIDNAPPED: I have to be honest, I fell asleep with 15 minutes to go, so I don’t know how the episode ended, but if it’s any consolation, I LOVED the first 45 minutes. It’s disappointing that viewers haven’t given KIDNAPPED a chance. If the show is cancelled, it’s nice to know that the writers have a contingency plan to end the series properly after 13 episodes (yup, still bitter about how REUNION ended).

THE NINE: Fantastic premiere right? What on earth happened during those 52 hours in the bank? (Yes I realize I sound like a commercial for ABC - but in my defense, they did air quite a lot of them!). Needless to say, I’ll be tuning into to episode 2, 3, and 4 with the hopes of some answers.

LOST: And speaking of answers, LOST finally returned, and yet again raised more questions then answers. How do The Others know so much about Jack, Kate, and Sawyer? Why exactly will Kate’s next two weeks be ‘hell’? and most importantly, how long until Jack hooks up with Juliette? Okay, that last point, not so important, but once again, LOST confounds, confuses and frustrates (that would have been way cooler if I had another word that starts with a ‘c’). That said, I can’t wait for next week.

Although the title of this new drama refers to the number of people caught up in a life-changing bank robbery, it might just as well refer to the number of minutes it took for me to be sucked into this compelling new series set to debut on ABC at 10 p.m. EST on Wednesday, October 4.

Reminiscent in feel to 24 but perhaps closer in structure to LOST, THE NINE combines intriguing characters whose lives intertwine with flashbacks used to explain how they all became involved in a recently concluded hostage crisis. The first episode focuses on how each of the main players wound up in the literal line of fire on that fateful day.

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LOST (9PM ABC, Returns Oct. 4) Ancient ruins? A hatch explosion? A really cold (Antarctic?) listening post? Not surprisingly, last season’s LOST finale left most viewers, well lost. With that in mind, showrunners Damon Lindeloff and Carlton Cuse promise that season three will focus more on character, romance and action with less of an emphasis on the ‘mythology.’

Uncovering spoilers for the new season of LOST is as challenging as deciphering the secrets of the island itself, but here’s what we’ve found out. Three new castaways join the island: ER’s Elizabeth Mitchell, RELATED’S Kiele Sanchez, and the ‘Brazilian Tom Cruise’ Rodrigo Santoro. More importantly though, an event will occur midseason that will apparently ‘change everything’. As Lindeloff put it to EW, “Something’s going to happen in the middle of season 3 that blows the doors off the show again. You’ll look at [the Penny scene] again and say, ‘Sixty percent of what I thought I saw was dead-on, but the other 40 percent I never event considered!”

THE NINE (10PM ABC, Debuts Oct. 4) Although the title of this new drama refers to the number of people caught up in a life-changing bank robbery, it might just as well refer to the number of minutes it took for me to be sucked into this compelling new series.

With an all-star cast led by Tim Daly (WINGS), Scott Wolf (EVERWOOD), Kim Raver (24) and Chi McBride (BOSTON PUBLIC) — not to mention a new twist on the storytelling gimmick which has helped turn LOST into a cultural phenomenon — ABC would seem to have a can’t miss show on its hands. Throw in the fact that THE NINE will air in the much-coveted post-LOST timeslot, and it’s safe to assume that this show is like money in the bank.

30 ROCK (8:00PM NBC, Debuts Oct. 4) For the past few years, Tina Fey’s ‘Weekend Update’ was the only reason to flip on the [highly unfunny] SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. With 30 ROCK, you’ll not only get a little more sleep on Saturday night, you’ll also get to watch Tina Fey for a full half hour each week (okay 24 minutes minus commercials). Tina Fey stars (and created) 30 ROCK — a comedic look at a behind the scenes (SNL-type) show called ‘The Girlie Show’. Historically, viewers have rejected behind-the-scenes shows (see: ACTION, SPORTS NIGHT and GROSSE POINT), but thanks to Tina Fey and a highly likable supporting cast including Alec Baldwin, Rachel Dratch and Tracy Morgan, 30 ROCK looks to be a winner.

JUSTICE (9:00PM FOX, Debuted Aug. 30) Thanks to the success of HOUSE, the cantankerous yet brilliant professional is all the rage on TV - and nobody does ‘icy stare’ like Victor Garber. Fresh off his five year stint as TV’s coolest Dad (ALIAS), Garber returns to series television as Ron Trott, a brilliant, yet ego-driven attorney who will take on any case (as long as it’s high profile and ensures him a spot in the media limelight). Each week, viewers can watch Trott and his team (including DAWSON’S CREEK alum Kerr Smith) prepare for trial using the latest and greatest forensic (read: CSI-esque) technology. Already two episodes in, the show has featured some fascinating stories and top-notch acting. If there’s any ‘justice’ in TV land, Garber will remain on the small screen for years to come.

ONE TREE HILL (9:00PM CW, Returns Sept. 27) Television’s biggest mystery isn’t why audiences still enjoy 7th HEAVEN, it’s how on earth Chad Michael Murray (Lucas) and Sophia Bush (Brooke) can still act on the same show after their marriage collapsed amidst headlines of infidelity on CMM’s part. Aside from watching CMM and Sophia act as if they’re still in love (to their credit, they do an excellent job), viewers will also learn who didn’t survive the big limo crash in May’s finale and which of the women on OTH are pregnant. The show that parental supervision forgot returns September 27.

What happened during the 52 hours that THE NINE were being held hostage? Check out OnlyTheyKnow.com.