TV News-Tuesday, April 25, 2006

• ABC has announced plans to launch an online game for Lost. The game will have a different storyline from the show. Players will collect phone numbers and other codes from the show. The game is scheduled to launch on May 3.
• VH1 has ordered a second season of Flavor of Love to premiere in August.
• Might 7th Heaven not be dead yet? There are rumors floating around that this may not be the last season. The CW has until mid May to decide on the show's fate.
• CBS won Monday's rating race once again in a night of few surprises. The only ratings news of note was What About Brian's horrible 3.9 rating.
• NBC has decided to supersize the season finales of its three big comedies. Will & Grace, My Name is Earl, and The Office will all get forty minute episodes on May 11.
• Maury Povich has been sued for sexual-harassment.
• ABC and eBay are teaming up for a reality show where families with dreams are given a chance to auction of their "hidden treasures" in an attempt to make their dreams come true. This show will likely air twice a week over the summer.
  

What's On TV DVD This Week (April 25)

• American Dad!, Volume One
• Law & Order: Trial By Jury, The Complete Series
• The Waltons, Season Three
• Reba, Season Three
• Tommy Lee Goes to College, Complete Series
• Inspector Gadget, Volume One
• The Avengers, Complete 1962 Set
• Odyssey 5, Complete Series
• A Touch of Frost, Seasons 9 & 10
• The Last Detective, Series One
• The Rifleman, Collection Five

Are you going to buy anything from this list? Discuss in the comments section.

What's On TV Tonight-April 25, 2006

• ABC has a repeat of According to Jim and new episodes of Hope & Faith (two fresh episodes), Less Than Perfect, and Boston Legal.
• CBS begins the night with new episodes of NCIS and The Unit and ends with a repeat of CSI: Miami.
• NBC has a mix of old and new with Most Outrageous Moments (new), Scrubs (repeat first then a new episode), Teachers (new), and Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit (repeat).
• FOX has new episodes of American Idol and House.
• The WB is fresh with Gilmore Girls and Pepper Dennis.
• UPN has a repeat of America's Next Top Model and a new episode of Veronica Mars.
• ESPN has a new episode of Battle of the Gridiron Stars.
• Bravo shows new episodes of Blow Out and The Real Housewives of Orange County.
• A&E has new episodes of Dog the Bounty Hunter and King of Cars.
  
• VH1 has the next unaired episode of Love Monkey.
• USA has the next round of Nashville Star.
• FX is new with Thief.
• MTV has new episodes of The Real World and 8th & Ocean.
• Nick At Night shows the next episode of The Search For the Funniest Mom in America.

What are you watching tonight? Discuss in the comments section.

What's On TV Tonight-April 23, 2006

• ABC has a mix of new episodes, repeats, and specials with America's Funniest Home Videos (new), Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (repeat), Desperate Housewives (special recap episode), and Grey's Anatomy (special recap episode).
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes, a repeat of Cold Case, and the telefilm In From the Night.
• NBC shows all new episodes of Dateline NBC, West Wing, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Crossing Jordan.
• FOX is new all night with Malcolm in the Middle, King of the Hill, The Simpsons, War At Home, Family Guy, and American Dad.
• WB has their easy view schedule and then episodes of Charmed and Pepper Dennis.
• HBO has new episodes of The Sopranos and Big Love.
• Lifetime has the original telefilm Eight Days to Live.
• VH1 has new episodes of The Surreal Life, Hogan Knows Best, and So NoTORIous (two back-to-back episodes).
• A&E has the first season finale of God or the Girl.
• Showtime has a new episode of Huff.

What are you watching tonight? Discuss in the comments section.

What's On TV Tonight-April 21, 2006

• ABC starts the night with a repeat of America's Funniest Home Videos and follows with an hour and forty-five minute Primetime and a short, fifteen minute episode of 20/20.
• CBS has repeats of Ghost Whisperer and Close to Home and a new Numb3rs.
• NBC begins the night with a repeat of Deal or No Deal and ends with the Miss USA Pageant.
• FOX has the movie Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.
• WB has fresh episodes of Survival of the Richest, Reba, and Modern Men.
• UPN shows Friday Night Smackdown!
• Lifetime has a new episode of Cheerleader Nation.
• SciFi has the next episode of Doctor Who.
• MTV2 has new episode of The Andy Milonakis Show and Wonder Showzen.
• E! has the series premiere of The Chelsea Handler Show.
• HBO has Real Time With Bill Maher.
• Showtime shows the fourth season premiere of Family Business.

Which shows are you watching tonight? Discuss in the comments section.

What's On TV Tonight-April 20, 2006

• ABC has two fresh hours of American Inventor and a new Commander in Chief.
• CBS has a new episode of Survivor, a repeat of CSI, and a fresh Without a Trace.
• NBC has the fourth night of Celebrity Cooking Showdown followed by repeats of My Name Is Earl, The Office, and ER.
• FOX shows two repeats of That '70s Show and a fresh The O.C.
• The WB has new episodes of Smallville and Supernatural.
• UPN is new all night with Everybody Hates Chris; Love, Inc., Eve, and Cuts.
• A&E has a new episode of Dallas S.W.A.T.
• SpikeTV shows new episodes of The Ultimate Fighter and TNA: Impact!.
• Comedy Central has a fresh episode of The Showbiz Show With David Spade.

What are you watching tonight? Discuss in the comments section.

Fall 2006 Breakdown-FOX

Note: This is a series of five articles analyzing the major networks going into the upfront presentations in mid-May. Look for a new article every few days. If you'd like to see my thoughts on CBS, click here. The CW's article is here. Today, I analyze FOX.

• Renewed For 2006-2007: 24, American Dad, American Idol, Bones, Family Guy, King of the Hill, Prison Break, The Simpsons
  
• Solid Bets For Renewal: America's Most Wanted, COPS, House, The O.C., MADtv
  
• On the Bubble: Nanny 911, Skating With Celebrities, Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy, Unan1mous, The War At Home
  
• As Good As Gone: The Bernie Mac Show, Free Ride, The Loop, Stacked
  
• Already Cancelled: Arrested Development, Head Cases, Killer Instinct, Kitchen Confidential, Malcolm in the Middle, Reunion, That '70s Show
  

• New Series Picked Up For 2006-2007: On the Lot
  
• Possible Shows For 2006-2007: The 12th Man, 13 Graves, American Crime, Drive, Faceless, Julie Reno: Bounty Hunter, That Guy, Til Death, Vanished, The Winner, Worst Week of My Life

The Skinny-FOX generally starts out slow in the fall but then picks up momentum as their big guns 24 and American Idol premiere. This season, they made some small splashes with decent ratings winners like Prison Break and Bones. FOX will look to continue that success. They have probably one of the top comedy pilots in Til Death. With a big name like Brad Garrett attached to the show, I don't see any way this comedy doesn't get picked up. FOX has also already picked up the next big Mark Burnett project, On the Lot, which will be like American Idol for movies. With two big names (Burnett and Steven Spielberg) this should be a huge hit. I'm just not sure if it will make it onto the fall schedule. The rest of the slate looks relatively weak but FOX doesn't need to fill as many holes as some of the other networks.

My Predicted Schedule:

Sunday: 7 PM-Football Post-Games/Animated Encores, 7:30 PM-King of the Hill, 8 PM-The Simpsons, 8:30 PM-The War At Home, 9 PM-Family Guy, 9:30 PM-American Dad
This is one of the strongest nights for FOX so I don't see it being broken up. The first three programs seem locked in and Family Guy will likely keep its slot. The War At Home has done a pretty good job holding onto The Simpsons audience so I think it will get renewed. American Dad has been renewed but I'm not positive it will keep its slot.

Monday: 8 PM-13 Graves, 9 PM-Prison Break/24 Wheel
13 Graves is one of FOX's potential shows getting the most buzz. It is also a decent fit for these two thrillers. I think that FOX would be wise to just have thirteen episodes of Prison Break to all air in the fall. Then it makes room for another day of 24.

Tuesday: 8 PM-Bones, 9 PM-House (American Idol in January)
Bones has already been renewed and it will get its old Tuesday slot. House is pretty much a certainty to get another season. American Idol has a chance to move to Thursday but I think FOX will keep its Tuesday/Wednesday setup. In January, House moves up to 8 PM and American Idol gets the 9 PM slot. Bones moves to Wednesday.

Wednesday: 8 PM-The O.C., 9 PM-Unan1mous, 9:30 PM-Til Death
This isn't a very compatible day but oh well. I think FOX will get The O.C. off of Thursdays were it is getting killed. It will serve as a decent lead-in for Unan1mous which has done well (even though it gets the benefit of the American Idol audience). I think that despite dropping a lot of Idol's audience, it will get another season. Then FOX will cap off the night with one of the most anticipated comedies Til Death. This should be an instant hit.

Thursday: 8 PM-American Crime, 9 PM-On the Lot (if its ready) or Drive
Putting the potential hit On the Lot up against CSI is incredibly risky but I think it can take several million viewers from the crime drama. If it isn't ready for the fall, Drive gets the nod. American Crime will be FOX's latest attempt at launching a successful crime drama.

Friday: 8 PM-The 12th Man, 8:30 PM-The Winner, 9 PM-Nanny 911/Trading Spouses Wheel
After several unsuccessful drama launches on Friday, FOX does things differently with two comedies with potential.

Saturday: 8 PM-COPS, 9 PM-America's Most Wanted, 11 PM-MADtv
This is one of the easiest nights to program. COPS and America's Most Wanted have been one of the few Saturday success stories and MADtv draws a decent amount of viewers.

Closing-FOX has a couple of hyped up shows in On the Lot and Til Death but the rest of its potential new shows lack luster. Luckily, there aren't a whole lot of holes to fill. Shows like Prison Break, House, and Bones can hold the fort down until powerhouses like 24 and American Idol start their seasons.

TV News-Wednesday, April 19, 2006

• Might one of the members of Lost be on the way out? (highlight the next paragraph if you want to know who it is, don't click the link if you don't want to know). Cynthia Watros (Libby) has been added to the CBS comedy pilot My Ex-Life. Its technically called a guest starring spot but it is probably just legal writing. Does this mean Libby will die/be written out? Only time will tell.
• Scott Brazil, executive producer and director of The Shield, died Monday.
  
• NBC has scheduled the miniseries 10.5: Apocalypse for Sunday, May 21 and Tuesday, May 23.
  

What's On TV Tonight-April 19, 2006

• ABC begins the final episodes of Alias with a two hour event and caps the night off with a new Invasion.
• CBS has all-new shows with The Amazing Race, Criminal Minds, and CSI: NY.
• NBC has night three of the Celebrity Cooking Showdown, a new episode of Heist, and a repeat of Law & Order.
• FOX has Bones, American Idol, and Unan1mous.
• The WB shows fresh episodes of One Tree Hill and The Bedford Diaries.
• UPN has a new America's Next Top Model and an encore of last night's Veronica Mars.
• SciFi has fresh episode of Ghost Hunters and Psychic At Large.
• MTV has a new episode of My Super Sweet 16 and the premiere of Tiara Girls.
• Comedy Central has new episodes of South Park and Mind of Mencia.
  
• Bravo has a fresh Top Chef.

What are you watching tonight? Discuss in the comments section.

Fall 2006 Breakdown-The CW

Note: This is a series of five articles analyzing the major networks going into the upfront presentations in mid-May. Look for a new article every few days. If you'd like to see my thoughts on CBS, click here. Today, it's The CW's turn.

• Renewed For 2006-2007: America's Next Top Model
• Solid Bets For Renewal: Beauty & the Geek, Gilmore Girls, Reba, Smallville, Everybody Hates Chris, Veronica Mars, Friday Night Smackdown!, Supernatural
• On the Bubble: Everwood, Modern Men, One Tree Hill, Pepper Dennis, Survival of the Richest, All of Us, Cuts, Eve, Girlfriends, Half & Half, Love, Inc., One on One
  
• As Good As Gone: The Bedford Diaries, Living With Fran, Related, Twins, Get This Party Started, South Beach
  
• Already Cancelled: Charmed, Just Legal, 7th Heaven, What I Like About You, Sex, Love, & Secrets

• Possible Shows For 2006-2007: Aliens in America, Flirt, The Game, Palm Springs, Runaway, She Said He Said, Split Decision, Untitled Aquaman Project

The Skinny-The CW has to be the most interesting network going into the upfronts. With two networks merging into one, there will be a lot of choices to be made. The CW has very few new series in production and it is easy to see why. Their entire schedule is almost full already. However, I don't see any way that the Untitled Aquaman Project won't be picked up and I'd say the spinoff comedy The Game is a solid pick as well.

My Predicted Schedule:

Note: The CW is taking The WB's old scheduling format.

Sunday: 5 PM-8 PM-Easy View Shows, 8 PM-Everwood, 9 PM-Supernatural
This is a tough night to schedule but the Easy View idea is definitely staying. Everwood is very much on the bubble but with its ratings on the rise and the critic's praise I think it will get a renewal. It is also helped by the fact that there aren't any big drama pilots in development. Supernatural doesn't really fit well with Everwood but there is nowhere else to put it.

Monday: 8 PM-Everybody Hates Chris, 8:30 PM-Girlfriends or another UPN comedy, 9 PM-The Game, 9:30 PM-Reba
Everybody Hates Chris acts as a solid anchor for this lineup of comedies. Girlfriends seems like the safest of UPN's comedies so that comes next. The Game is probably The CW's big comedy pilot and it fits well with its parent show Girlfriends. Reba doesn't really fit in with the rest but there is nowhere else to go with it.

Tuesday: 8 PM-Gilmore Girls, 9 PM-Veronica Mars
Every critic's dream lineup is about to happen. Gilmore Girls is almost a certainty to get the 8 PM spot. Veronica Mars is still on the bubble but I really don't see The CW dropping it. It should get a solid bump from the hit Gilmore Girls.

Wednesday: 8 PM-America's Next Top Model, 9 PM-Beauty & the Geek
America's Next Top Model is the only show that has been renewed so far. It will provide a solid lead-in to The WB hit Beauty & the Geek. During offseasons of these shows, there may be a spot for another Survival of the Richest.

Thursday: 8 PM-Smallville, 9 PM-Untitled Aquaman Project
This is almost a done deal. Smallville has done very well on Thursdays and Aquaman will be a solid partner. Barring a terrible pilot, Aquaman will almost certainly be picked up.

Friday: 8 PM-Friday Night Smackdown!
This is pretty self-explanatory however I toyed with the idea of moving it to Sunday.

Closing-This will be a year of tough decisions for the new network. Some hits won't be able to stay on the schedule. Other shows will have to move from their cushy timeslots. However, I think The CW is in a good position to gain viewers. With a much larger potential audience, some of these shows will finally get the viewership they deserve. Most of these series are high-quality and I'm sure the public will connect with them. Still, The CW shouldn't expect to finish better than fifth but I could see them making up some ground with FOX or NBC sometime soon.

What's On TV Tonight-April 18, 2006

• ABC starts the night with a repeat of According to Jim followed by new episodes of Hope & Faith (two episodes, both new), Less Than Perfect, and Boston Legal.
• CBS has new episodes of NCIS and The Unit and a repeat of Criminal Minds.
• NBC has the second night of the Celebrity Cooking Showdown, new episodes of Scrubs and Teachers and a repeat of Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit.
• FOX shows fresh episodes of American Idol and House.
• WB has new episodes of Gilmore Girls and Pepper Dennis.
• UPN has an encore of America's Next Top Model and a fresh Veronica Mars.
• Bravo shows new episodes of Blow Out and The Real Housewives of Orange County.
• VH1 begins showing new episodes of the critic's darling Love Monkey.
• FX has a new episode of Thief.
• USA has the next round of Nashville Star.
• MTV has fresh episodes of The Real World and 8th & Ocean.
• Nick At Night has the next round of The Search For the Funniest Mom in America.
• Spike TV has a special 90-minute presentation with Autorox.
• ESPN has the second episode of The Battle of the Gridiron Stars.
• A&E shows a new episode of King of Cars.

What are you watching tonight?

What's On TV DVD This Week

• Doogie Howser, M.D., Season Four
• The Sentinel, Season One
• Thundercats, Season Two, Volume One
• Remington Steele, Season Three
• The Amazing World of Kreskin, The Best Moments

Not a whole lot this week. Are you going to pick anything up?

Fall 2006 Breakdown-CBS

Note: This is a series of five articles analyzing the major networks going into the upfront presentations in mid-May. Look for a new article every few days. We kick it off with CBS today.

• Renewed For 2006-2007: Cold Case, 60 Minutes, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, CSI: Miami, NCIS, The Amazing Race (only one season), Criminal Minds, CSI: NY, CSI, Survivor, Without a Trace, Ghost Whisperer, Numb3rs
• Solid Bets For Renewal: The Unit, The New Adventures of Old Christine, 48 Hours Mystery
  
• On the Bubble: CBS Sunday Movie, King of Queens, Close to Home, Out of Practice, Game Show Marathon
  
• As Good As Gone: Courting Alex, Still Standing
  
• Already Cancelled: Threshold, Love Monkey, Yes, Dear

• New Series Picked Up For 2006-2007: The Class (fall), Creature Comforts (midseason)
• Possible Shows For 2006-2007: The Big Bang Theory; In the Shadows of the Law; Jericho; Sex, Power, Love, & Politics; Smith; You've Reached the Elliotts

The Skinny-CBS looks very solid going into next fall. Most of their schedule got renewals and the few holes they have will be filled with solid shows. The Class is sure to be a hit with its Friends connections. Creature Comforts is a series of animated episodes from the makers of Wallace & Gromit. Even though the last animated show tanked, I'd bet on Creature Comforts being a hit. Other shows that are possible pick ups include Jericho, a soap about life after several nuclear strikes, and Sex, Power, Love, & Politics (a comedy set on Capitol Hill).

My Predicted Schedule:

Sunday: 7 PM-60 Minutes, 8 PM-Cold Case, 9 PM-NCIS, 10 PM-The Unit
I think that the CBS Sunday Movie has seen its last airing. To combat Desperate Housewives I think CBS should move the male-dominated military dramas to provide a nice bit of counterprogramming. It's a huge risk but its CBS's only shot at taking out ABC on Sunday.

Monday: 8 PM-King of Queens, 8:30 PM-How I Met Your Mother, 9 PM-Two and a Half Men, 9:30 PM-The New Adventures of Old Christine, 10 PM-CSI: Miami
Even though I would like to see how ....Mother would do in the cushy 9:30 slot, you don't mess with success. This is the exact same lineup CBS currently has. King of Queens is a huge question mark due to contract demands but I think it will get one more year.

Tuesday: 8 PM-The Amazing Race/Creature Comforts (spring), 9 PM-Jericho, 10 PM-In the Shadows of the Law
With the move of NCIS and The Unit, this may be a trouble spot. I think the fall airing of The Amazing Race will be its last (except maybe in the summer). The spring will see the animated Creature Comforts as a replacement. Jericho looks like one of CBS's most promising shows and In the Shadows of the Law is the Eye's only legal show so a pickup is almost guaranteed.

Wednesday: 8 PM-The Class, 8:30 PM-Sex, Power, Love, & Politics, 9 PM-Criminal Minds, 10 PM-CSI: NY
I'm not sure if The Class and Sex, Power, Love, & Politics are half-hour shows but I believe they are. The Class should be an immediate hit and a welcome addition to Wednesday. Airing between solid shows; Sex, Power, Love, & Politics should get pretty good ratings. The two crime dramas keep their spots after a successful year.

Thursday: 8 PM-Survivor, 9 PM-CSI, 10 PM-Without a Trace
If there is any day we know for sure what will air, it is Thursday. I though about moving Survivor to Sunday since its ratings are beginning to drop but I decided to keep things the same. I'm sure CBS will too.

Friday: 8 PM-Ghost Whisperer, 9 PM-New Drama, 10 PM-Numb3rs
Ghost Whisperer and Numb3rs are the only two recent Friday success stories so they stay put. I'm not sure what to pick for the new drama so I will let CBS decide that. Whatever it is, it is likely to be a hit airing between two solid shows.

Saturday: 8 PM-Crime Drama Repeats, 9 PM-Crime Drama Repeats, 10 PM-48 Hours Mystery
Nobody tries anything on Saturdays anymore. 48 Hours Mystery has been one of the few Saturday shows to find an audience so it keeps its spot.

Closing-As America's #1 broadcast network, CBS is in a great position. They don't have a lot of holes to fill and they can definitely afford to take a risk or two. Their development season has been ok but nothing special. I see at least two hits in their class-The Class and either Jericho or Creature Comforts. If they live up to their expectations, I don't see anybody competing with CBS for quite awhile.

TV News-Monday, April 17, 2006

A roundup of today's biggest television news:

• What About Brian premiered last night to relatively good ratings. Today it moves to its normal time slot (Mondays, 10 PM EST).
• Kathy Griffin, Garry Marshall, and Tim Meadows were named as Last Comic Standing's guest judges.
• USA Network has agreed to air seven episodes of MLG (Major League Gaming). The premiere date is unknown.
  

What's On TV Tonight-April 17, 2006

• ABC has a repeat of Wife Swap, a fresh Supernanny, and the timeslot premiere of What About Brian.
• CBS has repeats of King of Queens, How I Met Your Mother, and Two and a Half Men; a fresh New Adventures of Old Christine, and an encore of CSI: Miami.
• NBC kicks off the night with a brand new Deal or No Deal, begins the five-night Celebrity Cooking Showdown event, and caps the night with a fresh Medium.
• FOX has fresh episodes of Prison Break and 24.
• WB shows new episodes of 7th Heaven and Everwood.
• UPN has a night of fresh comedies with One on One, All of Us, Girlfriends, and Half & Half.
• Lifetime premieres the telefilm The Accidental Witness.
• ABC Family has a fresh episode of Beautiful People.
• A&E has back-to-back episodes of God or the Girl.
• Showtime shows the next episode of Penn & Teller: Bull****.
• MTV has new episodes of Punk'd and Call to Greatness.
• Spike TV has a fresh episode of Pros vs. Joes.

What are you watching tonight?