US TV

An archive of articles about US television programmes and production.

US TV

Season finales: Smallville, Supernatural, CSI

18 May 2007 Rob Buckley Post a comment

Those season finales are coming thick and fast now.

Smallville

Unlike certain shows I could mention that don’t really do the cliffhanger thing, every season of Smallville ends on a cataclysmic series of deaths, destruction, revelations, and plot wrap-ups. This season was no different.

Despite being one of the strongest, creatively, since the show began, there has been a certain meandering quality to it, with plots laboured past their natural death point, minor reset buttons pushed and so on. I won’t tell you how many of the major cast ‘die’ – they’ll be back, you know they will – but it’s rather a lot and if one in particular doesn’t come back, well, I don’t think there’ll be much point watching next year for its final season.

Explanations, when they do come, are pretty far-fetched, but hey, it’s a comic book – what you going do about it? Superman fans, however, will be delighted by the arrival of at least two characters from the comic books, one expected, and one me am expecting, too (there’s a clue for you), although the origins of both have changed. And there is the possibility that something might finally have changed. Permanently. No going back on it this time.

Tension: 9/10 (1/10 really because we all know a giant magic reset button will be in the next episode, because there always is)

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News

Fox’s new shows for the Fall

18 May 2007 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

No embedded vids, because Fox is a bit backward and has stuck them all in its showreel thing, but it’s time to look at that network’s new shows for the Fall season.

I’m going to do my usual and skip the reality shows, because they’re not interesting, although I would just like you all to rush over to the Anchorwoman page to gasp in awe at the airbrushing on Lauren Jones’ picture.

Back To You



So first up, because I’m feeling alphabetical today and there are a lot of shows to get through (Fox kills them all very quickly so needs a big stock to work with), is Back To You, starring Frasier Crane – sorry Kelsey Grammer – and Patricia Heaton, about a couple of news anchors (hmm, is this Fox’s programming trend: news anchors?) who reunite after a decade apart. Also features Fred Willard from Anchorman. Boy is he getting typecast.

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First and last news of the week

18 May 2007 Rob Buckley 3 Comments

Normal service resumes on Monday – barring accidents or faulty alarm clocks

Film

Music

  • Ozzy Osbourne is going to be the first star on Birmingham’s Walk of Stars

Radio

  • XFM is axing its daytime DJs. Does that include weekends? No more Jimmy Carr… [free registration required]

British TV

US TV

News

Clips from CBS’s new shows

17 May 2007 Rob Buckley 4 Comments

I’m back in the UK now and half comatose from an overnight flight. But I wouldn’t dream of letting you guys down by doing the work I’m actually supposed to be doing or sleeping or something.

No, it’s time to look at CBS’s new shows for the Fall season. If you’ve ever heard Les Moonves speak (he’s the head of CBS), you’ll know just how much he loves the Internet. So it’s not surprising that CBS has been all forward thinking and created a ‘bloggers toolkit’ so that we can all gas on about the new shows with some handy video clips to hand.

Given that 90% of US television now stars Brits, is based on a British format or both, it’s hard to highlight one particular example of the new season’s shows that’s going to be of most interest to those of us over here. However, regular readers of this ‘ere blog are probably going to be most curious about the remake of Viva Blackpool that Hugh Jackman’s been throwing together: Viva Laughlin. It stars Monarch of the Glen‘s Lloyd Owen as a nice man who tries to open a casino in Laughlin, Nevada. It also features Madchen Amick (her off Twin Peaks), DB Woodside (Wayne Palmer on 24) as well as Jackman in a recurring role.

Unfortunately, there’s no video yet. Bugger. That’s not a good start, is it CBS? Here’s a pic though.

Viva Laughlin

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News

Clips from ABC’s new pilots

16 May 2007 Rob Buckley 2 Comments

ABC’s now joined NBC in providing us all with clips from their forthcoming Fall shows. Unlike NBC, however, they haven’t done the decent thing and put them on YouTube as well, so you’ll have to brave the ABC web site – and its geo-filter – to have a look at what’s coming up. Again, I don’t know if they’re going to work in the UK, so if someone wants to experiment, now’s your chance.

Pushing Daisies

Of most interest for genre fans is Pushing Daisies, starring Lee Pace as a private investigator who can bring people back from the dead for a minute. it also stars Anna Friel, Chi McBride, Kristin Chenoweth and Jim Dale (as the narrator) and is written by Bryan Fuller of Heroes, Wonderfalls and Dead Like Me fame. Might be a little too whimsical for the viewing public, but you never know.

Most of the new shows, however, seem to focus on really rich people.

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