Sunday September 2 – What to Watch

The hosts of The Chew are previewing ABC‘s new fall line up, guests include Nashville’s Hayden Panettiere, 666 Park Avenue’s Terry O’Quinn and Vanessa Williams and Last Resort’s Andre Braugher.

Also on ABC from 9 to 11 TV’s Most Dynamic Duos, presented by the Paley Center for Media. Sam and Diane, Maddie and David, Lucy and Ricky are all there. 

CBS is re-airing one of The Good Wife‘s best episodes from last season “Blue Ribbon Panel”. 

The Good Wife

Episode: Blue Ribbon Panel

While on a panel investigating a police shooting, Alicia starts to wonder about the chairman’s actions; the IRS starts looking at Kalinda.

TV’s Most Dynamic Duos: Presented by The Paley Center for Media

Remembering couples who graced the small screen with their chemistry, friendship and, often, sexual tension; Robin Roberts hosts.

The Chew Presents ABC’s Primetime Fall Preview Special

A showcase of new fall programming includes “666 Park Avenue,” “Nashville” and “The Neighbors”; interviews with actors Hayden Panettiere, Reba, Vanessa Williams, Terry O’Quinn, Andre Braugher and Jami Gertz

Fringe The Final Season

Anyone who followed my blog last year knows I am a die hard Fringe fan, the final season (13 episodes) begins its run September 28th on Fox.  I am glad that the powers that be decided to give the show a proper send off, I have no doubt that team Fringe will give their fans a fantastic ride and equally satisfying and loving farewell.

Please enjoy the promos below to get you ready for the ride.

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The DVD Box Set that Ate My Weekend

 It used to be a DVD box set, now it’s streaming episodes via Netflix or Amazon. It starts innocently enough, I see a repeat of a show I

Cover of Veronica Mars

watched back in the day, like Veronica Mars or the Dallas re-boot airs and I want be to revisit the show. 

The next thing I know I have spent the whole weekend watching all three seasons of Veronica Mars, or Season 1 of the original Dallas.  Alias, Buffy, Gilmore Girls, Dawson Creek and The Closer have all sucked me in. 

Has this ever happened to you? What show sucked you in?

The Closer – The Leak revealed

If you have been a faithful viewer of The Closer like I have, then the last few weeks have been difficult, last week Mama Johnson died, this week the leak was revealed and next week is the end. 

Brenda Leigh has been one of my all time favorite characters, Kyra Sedgewick was made for this role.

The reveal of the leak, was, as expected, it was Gabriel via his girlfriend, but that didn’t make it any easier to take. 

Gabriel was new to his role when Brenda Leigh came to Los Angeles, he was assigned to drive her around and quickly became her staunchest supporter. He helped her when budget cuts threatened the department, she protected him when he was wrongly accused of shooting an unarmed man.

Brenda didn’t accept his resignation, and we know Corey Reynolds, the actor who plays Gabriel is not continuing onto the spin off Major Crimes.  So how will the character be written out, will he die in the line of duty next week? Will he quit when Chief Johnson leaves?

Has the departure of a TV character bummed  you out? If so, which one?

Sunday 6/9 What You Should Watch

Say good-bye to Mad Men, welcome back True Blood.

Mad Men wraps up season 5 tonight, while I find it hard to belive that they can top the last two episodes, I wouldn’t put it past Matt Weiner to have something up his sleeve.  How you top, prostitution, suicide and Peggy’s departure is anyone’s guess.

The Tony Awards hosted Neil Patrick Harris air at 8 on CBS.

The Killing airs its second to last episode, we are only two episodes away from finally learning who killed Rosie Larsen. I wonder if AMC will renew this show and if Joel Kinnaman will return.

Highly recommend Gilrs on HBO

The Killing

Episode: Donnie or Marie

Sarah and Holder have the killer within reach; the Richmond campaign prepares for Election Day; the Larsens attempt a return to normalcy

Mad Men

Episode: The Phantom

There are opportunities for everyone; Pete meets a stranger on a train

The 66th Annual Tony Awards

At the Beacon Theatre in New York, the annual ceremony honors excellence on Broadway; Neil Patrick Harris hosts.

 

True Blood

Episode: Turn! Turn! Turn!

Sookie and Lafayette clean up a mess; Bill and Eric receive a visit from the Vampire Authority; Alcide’s werewolf pack goes after Sam; Jessica enjoys her freedom; Jason is visited by Steve Newlin; Alcide warns Sookie.

Girls

Episode: Leave Me Alone

Hannah starts work at Grumpy Café; Marnie finds it difficult to support Hannah; Jessa is confronted by her former boss; Shoshanna goes on a date.

Wednesday June 6 What You Should Watch

And the summer season premieres keep on coming

Tonight on USA Royal Pains and Necessary Roughness

Royal Pains

Episode: After the Fireworks

Hank and Divya treat competitive eaters; Evan steps into a business; Jill finishes at Hamptons Heritage.

Necessary Roughness

Episode: Shrink or Swim

The Hawks face a crisis in the preseason; Dani and Matt keep their relationship a secret.

Related articles

• Summer TV Changes and Premiers (robotbestfriend.wordpress.com)

Tuesday June 5 What You Should Watch

The summer season begins.

Rizzoli and Isles, Franklin and Bash and Pretty Little Liars are back tonight.

When last we left our favorite female detective and medical examiner, Jane Rizzoli had just shot Maura Isles‘ father. Guess that might cause a rift between the girls. 

Rizzoli & Isles

Episode: What Doesn’t Kill You

Jane and Maura’s friendship is strained after the shooting of Maura’s biological father; Jane’s relationship with Agent Dean is exposed.

 

Franklin & Bash

Episode: Strange Brew

Peter and Jared hope to sign a beverage company executive as their next client; Peter meets a beautiful police officer.

Pretty Little Liars

Episode: It Happened That Night

Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer are reunited following a summer spent trying to recover from the traumatic events in Rosewood.

Related articles

• First 10 Minutes of ‘Pretty Little Liars’ Season 3 Launches New Mystery (aceshowbiz.com)

2012-2013 TV Season

The networks have announced their 2012-2013 TV seasons, at the end of this post is a link to the best overall posting about the upfronts compliments of Television Without Pity.

Here is what I will be making room for on my DVR

NBC

Go On – Mathew Perry plays a sports radio host who is trying to come to terms with the death of his wife, he attends a grief support group. I know the premise sounds lame, but the trailer sold me. And I am a big Mathew Perry fan, I  will always love the Bing.

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Revolution – Do you remember when that special was on last year based on that book, called After Humans, well this show is sort of like this only the humans are still here but all the technology is gone. I don’t know about you but it certainly plays on a big fear we all have today. We have become so dependent on our smartphones and computers.   It’s from Erik Kripke (creator of  Supernatural), one of my all time favorite shows,  J.J. Abrams and Jon Favreau so I will check it out, but I am not sure if I will stick it out. As much as I love Billy Burke, I just don’t know about this one.

Chicago Fire – Stars Jesse Spencer (Chase from House) and Taylor Kinney (Mason from The Vampire Diaries), based on the trailer I am tuning in for two things, hot guys and hot special effects. It pretty much looks like every other show about everyone dating and screwing everyone at their place of work, Grey’s Anatomy, ER, take your pick. Like I said I am in it for the scenery.

CBS

Elementary – Modern Day Sherlock Holmes, I know BCC is already doing that with Sherlock staring Benedict Cumberbatch, but hey its too British for American audiences and I am sure we can do it better.  Yeah, we will see about that. What this version lacks in originality it makes up for in casting Johnny Lee Miller as Sherlock and Lucy Liu as Watson. The trailer pulls you in, so I will be checking it out. I realize I don’t need another murder of the week procedural but maybe this one will surprise me.

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ABC

ABC is offering up a lot of new shows this season but only one looks interesting enough to talk about, Nashville starring Connie Britton.

Britton plays a fading country star, she is pitted against the much younger Hayden Panettiere. It looks like a Country Strong ripoff without the suicide.  Could this be this season’s guilty pleasure, I’m gonna have to tune in to find out. BTW excellent supporting cast Eric Close and Powers Boothe.

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The CW

Arrow – Based on DC comics Green Arrow,(they dropped the Green part from the title ) and not staring Justin Hartley, ( he has another show), this Arrow comes in the form of Stephen Amell as billionaire Oliver Queen back from the dead and ready to fight for the little guy. Katie Cassidy (formerly of Melrose Place) plays his x. The trailer is hot, and looks dark and gritty, I am in.

 

Beauty and The Beast – Ok, I know all I did was complain about Kristin Kreuk when she was on Smallville, she couldn’t act, she was bland, blah blah, and I doubt she has gotten better, but I am curious to see if the rest of the cast (like the Smallville cast, Alison Mack and Michael Rosenbaum ) will be enough to rinse the bad taste from my mouth. The trailer looks good, and The CW knows how to bring the pretty and the epic romance. But it’s lead in is TVD, and the level of epic romance on that show is hard to compete with. Kristn plays a NY cop (big stretch), and the beast isn’t too beastly looking (please look at the picture)  If your beast isn’t ugly, and is easy to  fall in love with doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose of the story about loving what’s on the inside.

The Carrie Diaries – Based on the book of the same name, we meet up with high a school agee Carrie Bradshaw, her mother has just died and she is starting an internship in Manhattan where she meets Larissa a writer for Interview magazine and so begins here new life. The show is set in 1984, I can’t wait for the fashions and the music. It is a mid-season replacement, so we will have to wait until January to see how it all began.

Emily Owens, M.D – Stars Mammie Gummer ( Meryl’s daughter) frequent guest star on The Good Wife as a surgeon who is trying to prove herself at a Denver hospital, it also stars Justin Hartley as her love interest.  I know hospital shows are a dime a dozen, but this one seems to have a nice comic tone and is more charm than medical.

and finally Cult – This is also a mid-season replacement, and I will admit I am only on board, because Matthew Davis (Alaric from The Vampire Diaries ) is in it. Here is the premise, a scripted TV show about a cult leader, that people start taking seriously and following as a real cult leader. Alaric’s brother gets caught up in the craziness. It’s a show in a show concept, which may be too hard too follow for the average CW viewer. The couldn’t even keep up with Ringer.

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Fox

nothing caught my eye, I guess fox has seen better days

Here is a link to the full rundown for every network, including Bravo, TNT, USA, SyFy etc, etc

Television Without Pity Upfronts

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Tuesday 5/15 What You Should Watch

Both NCIS and NCIS LA wrap it up tonight, so does Private Practice.

But the really big news it’s nationals on Glee, will the gang finally win, it is senior year, and the core team is graduating so all signs point to yes.  But this is Glee and who knows with this wacky show.

Glee

Episode: Props; Nationals

New Directions prepares a high-concept routine; Tina suffers a head injury; the club performs at nationals for celebrity judge Lindsay Lohan.

NCIS

Episode: Till Death Do Us Part

Shaken by terrorism, the NCIS faces devastating surprises; the case impacts Jimmy Palmer’s destination wedding.

NCIS: Los Angeles

Episode: Sans Voir

Callen and the team pursue a criminal mastermind motivated by revenge.

Private Practice

Episode: Gone, Baby, Gone

The Seaside doctors go to Amelia’s side as she begins labor; Pete and Violet realize how they feel about each other; Addison must make a decision.

Smash “BOMB shell”

The aptly titled “Bombshell” was Smash‘s season finale.  My big question last night, as it has been all season is, why does everyone think Karen (Katherine McPhee) is soooo talented, when they clearly have a talented Broadway vet waiting right there to take over the role she was born to play. I didn’t think it was possible for a show to jump the shark in 15 episodes or less, but Smash has done it. Kudos it will be your greatest achievement.

Broadway is a business like any other business with millions of dollars at stake, as Eileen reminded us every week this season. There is no way a real producer would risk their money on a hack.  I do not understand why the creators/writers think there is drama in the whole “cinderella story”, there isn’t, its boring and watching Derek be led around my his little director is a clche.  Although I have seen many an actor or actress get and keep roles because the director wanted to bed them, it would have been nice if the show rose above the fray, Jack Davenport is another actor I hope gets a better gig, he is wasted here.

As the episode opens Derek decides Karen will take over the role of Marilyn for Rebecca Duval, basically they have a day to teach her all the blocking, shorten the costumes etc etc. Ok, wasn’t Karen Rebecca’s understudy, shouldn’t she know all this stuff already and shouldn’t wardrobe have her costumes ready to go for exactly this type of scenario.  Really Show, Really?

Anyhow, in one of the rare moments I actually liked Ellis this season, he tells Eileen that Karen sucks and what a bad idea this is, he also lets her know he slipped Becky the nuts. Eileen fires him. I was routing for this all season, and now that he is fired I am not sure I want him gone. But I guess this sets us up for the lawsuit storyline for next season, remember Marilyn was his idea.

Tom and Julia are frantically working on the new closing number, because the original ending, Marilyn’s suicide was such a crowd pleaser. Halfway thru rehearsal Karen loses it and runs off stage, Derek follows her and gives her a pep talk and offers his magic penis to help make her feel better.   Let’s see, after he slept with Ivy she crashed and burned on pills and Becky nearly died from peanuts, stay away Karen that penis is cursed.

Michael Swift hits on Julia, his wife has left him and moved to Seattle, she rebuffs and then goes to throw up. Literally she throws up which means she is preggers. Smash has now officially become a soap opera, the whole whose the daddy storyline is so played out and will be again next season.

The show continues destroying the Ivy character, god I hope Megan Hilty gets off this show she is too good for this crapfest. In retaliation for Karen getting Marilyn, she tells Karen she slept with Dev. 

finally the show goes on, Karen is awesome ( shows perspective not mine) earning applause mid-song during the new closing number.  Meanwhile Ivy is about to swallow a handful of pills.

Pathetic finale. I will tune in next year, I want to see if they have learned their lessons and if a new show runner EP will make that big of difference. But we will have to wait, Smash isn’t back until winter 2013.

What about you, are you coming back? What did you think of the finale? Are you done having the show tell you how awesome Karen is and crapping all over Ivy?