The internet is abuzz with speculation that the big four Networks have secretly leaked some of their pilots online to generate some positive buzz for the upcoming Fall 2006 TV season. As of this morning, saavy TV fans can find offerings from ABC, NBC and CBS (THE CLASS, SHARK, and JERICHO from CBS, THE NINE and TRAVELER from ABC, and HEROES from NBC)
Naturally the powers that be won’t comment on whether this grass roots marketing campaign is actually just that – a cleverly planned move by the networks. Or a genuine error in TV Pilot security. It’s this TV addict’s opinion that this is a brilliant move, regardless of the cause. Positive buzz is being generated from these pilots – especially in the case of NBC’s HEROES, ABC’s THE NINE, and CBS’s JERICHO.
Those of you who frequent theTVaddict.com know that I’m a huge fan of FREE TV. This week, iTunes is offering up two new shows. Click here to download the series premiere of PSYCH (free!) and click here to download the casting special for the new season of PROJECT RUNWAY.
Fans of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER will not want to miss this. Check out the original unaired pilot of BUFFY. The episode was filmed before Alyson Hannigan was cast as Willow, rest assured, Sarah Michelle Gellar, not Lori Petty is Buffy! Check out the 25 minute pilot below.
One of the TV addict’s favourite alumni from Bayside High has finally found a respectable gig. According to Michael Ausiello of TVGuide, Mario Lopez, better known as AC Slater will guest star in NIP/TUCK’s upcoming third season (episode 3). Slater, sorry Mario, will guest as an ‘infuriatingly fit’ plastic surgeon that Christian meets at the gym. This TV Addict’s question: Does Slater wear his standard maroon Bayside High wrestling tights to the gym? or was that only a Wrestling team thing?
Before it signs off, the network that gave us Buffy, Felicity, Ephram and Dawson (and Angel, the Camdens etc….) is planning to go out with a bang. The WB will end it’s era on Sunday September 17, 2006 by rebroadcasting the premiere episodes of several of its most popular series. Including BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, FELICITY and DAWSON’S CREEK. As long as we don’t have to sit through THE MOUNTAIN, LIVING WITH FRAN and SAFE HARBOUR, this TV addict is happy!
Rumours are abound that Star Jones is going to announce her exit from THE VIEW this week. With Rosie all set to come on board, word is that THE VIEW’s coffee table didn’t have room for both strong personalities. Barbara Walters declined to comment. This TVaddict’s question: How long until Star shows up on Celebrity (insert reality shows name here).
This past Wednesday, KSTW/11 celebrated it’s new affiliation with the CW by throwing a big party at the Premier Club. One of the stars in attendance was VERONICA MARS’ Wallace (Percy Daggs III). Percy let it spill that there are big plans in the works for Wallace this season, “I definitely know that, in the big mystery for this season, I will be heavily involved,” Percy continued, “I’m looking forward to being the person that Veronica calls for a clue, It’ll be a big change from first season, when the only thing I had to do was, like, pull files.”
Of course with only a 13 episode commitment, Percy knows that his big part in season 3 may not even make it through the entire season. Daggs said “Veronica’s” normally confident creator, Rob Thomas, is on pins and needles these days, but that’s OK. “Before, we kind of felt like the big fish in a small pond, in terms of critical acclaim, if not ratings,” he said. But, he added, “This is the kind of pressure I like. … Everybody feels thirsty. It’s that same thirst we felt when our pilot got picked up. And that pressure is good because it keeps us from getting complacent.”
There is currently a lot of buzz surrounding the fact that JJ Abrams would like Matt Damon to play a Young Captain Kirk in his new STAR TREK MOVIE. Apparently, BABYLON 5 producer J. Michael Straczynski had a similar idea back in 2004 – recast the original Star Trek with younger actors. Straczynski, along with writing partner Bryce Zabel (DARK SKIES) even went as far as to write a fourteen page proposal for a re-imagined original Trek.
The treatment, called Star Trek: Re-Boot the Universe, feature a re-imagining of The Original Series, centering on the three main characters of Kirk, Spock and McCoy, set on the U.S.S. Enterprise on its first five-year mission, featuring a new cast and new storylines. In his blog, Zabel wrote:
“We wanted to do what they do in the world of comics, create a separate universe so we could embrace the good stuff, banish the bad, and try some new things. We wanted to use Kirk, Spock and McCoy, but show them off as you’d never seen them before.”
After reading the treatment, theTVaddict definitely feels like it was a winning concept. In fact, the success of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA proves how successful the re-imagination could have been. Ronald D. Moore has essentially done for BSG what Zabel and Straczynski proposed to do for Star Trek.
When the new fall TV season finally begins, do you often find yourself thinking, “Really, This is the best sitcom they could come up with? I could do so much better!” Well now’s your chance to prove that you have the artistic vision to choose the next FRIENDS (or RODNEY). The FX network has launched a contest on Myspace (myspace.com/sunnyfx). FX has chosen 20 videos (out of the 3,000 entries they received). You, the viewer gets to vote on the best video. The winner receives $50,000 to shoot a full pilot. Says FX Exec John Landgraf:
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” as a happy surprise that came in on spec from a struggling actor. There are lots of aspirants, filmmakers, actors, etc., on MySpace, the contest is both a development tool and a way to highlight the unconventional manner in which “Sunny” made it to FX’s schedule. It all comes down to creativity. That’s what we’re always looking for with potential shows.
Ever wonder what happens to TV sitcom pilots when they aren’t chosen to be on a Network’s Fall Schedule? Or, after viewing some truly awful network comedies (ie. Rodney, Modern Men etc.) do you ever wonder how ‘bad’ the sitcoms must have been that weren’t picked up? Well now is your chance to check out a WB pilot that was left to rot in the pilot cemetery.
Ironically titled, NOBODY’S WATCHING – was “Truman Show” like sitcom from the genius behind SCRUBS (Bill Lawrence – along with two FAMILY GUY writers). The show was pitched to both NBC and THE WB, and recently found its way on youtube.com. Creator Bill Lawrence is thrilled with the unexpected attention, “It’s validation for me because it proves that we weren’t completely crazy.”
The internet is abuzz with speculation that the big four Networks have secretly leaked some of their pilots online to generate some positive buzz for the upcoming Fall 2006 TV season. As of this morning, saavy TV fans can find offerings from ABC, NBC and CBS (THE CLASS, SHARK, and JERICHO from CBS, THE NINE and TRAVELER from ABC, and HEROES from NBC)
One of the TV addict’s favourite alumni from Bayside High has finally found a respectable gig. According to 
This past Wednesday, KSTW/11 celebrated it’s new affiliation with the CW by throwing a big party at the Premier Club. One of the stars in attendance was VERONICA MARS’ Wallace (Percy Daggs III). Percy let it spill that there are big plans in the works for Wallace this season, “I definitely know that, in the big mystery for this season, I will be heavily involved,” Percy continued, “I’m looking forward to being the person that Veronica calls for a clue, It’ll be a big change from first season, when the only thing I had to do was, like, pull files.”
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