US TV

CBS’s upfronts 2012-3 – a rundown and clips from the new shows

Elementary with Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu

Following on from NBC, Fox and ABC, today we get to have a look at the shiny new shows that CBS has lined up for us for the 2012 to 2013 season.

CBS is, of course, the 10-tonne gorilla that dominates the US TV ratings. So powerful is it that it can cancel CSI: Miami because “it doesn’t fit” and comedies like Rob, which gets 12m viewers, because it thinks it “can do better” with the same time slot – if NBC had a show that got 12m viewers, it would be its top-rated scripted show and pride of place in its line-up and left to do whatever it likes.

With so many top-rated shows on its hands, CBS can pick and choose and doesn’t need to add too many new ones. So after the break, we’ll have a look (with trailers, for once) at the few new shows CBS has to offer, as well as its schedule for the Fall:

  • Elementary – a modern day version of Sherlock Holmes starring Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu, as well as Prime Suspect‘s Aidan Quinn. Hmmm…
  • Vegas – a rodeo cowboy becomes a Las Vegas sheriff in the 1960s. Stars Dennis Quaid, No Ordinary Family‘s Michael Chiklis, Life on Mars/Terra Nova‘s Jason O’Mara and The Matrix‘s Carrie-Anne Moss
  • Made In Jersey – a working class woman (Janet Montgomery) compete with colleagues at a Manhattan law firm. Stars Kyle MacLachlan, Stephanie March and Erin Cummings among others.
  • Partners – two friends, one straight (David Krumholtz from Numb3rs/The Playboy Club), one gay (Michael Urie). Straight guy proposes to his girlfriend (Sophie Bush) and problems ensue. Brandon Routh (Superman Returns/Chuck) also stars.

There’s also cop show Golden Boy and comedy Friend Me lined up as mid-season replacements, but there aren’t any trailers for those yet. Sorry.

Any look good to you?

Continue reading “CBS’s upfronts 2012-3 – a rundown and clips from the new shows”

Thursday’s “BBC1 loses kids programmes, Chris Moyles is King Herod and new Cougar Town showrunners” news

Film

Trailers

  • Trailer for Won’t Back Down with Maggie Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Holly Hunter, Rosie Perez and Lance Reddick
  • Trailer for Hit and Run, written by, co-directed by and starring Parenthood‘s Dax Shepard

Theatre

  • Mel C, Chris Moyles and Tim Minchin to star in Jesus Christ Superstar
  • 39 Steps creator to adapt Ben Hur

UK TV

  • BBC greenlights adaptation of Emile Zola’s Ladies’ Paradise
  • BBC to move kids TV to digital channels, cut BBC3 and BBC4 drama and factual budgets, shut BBC HD for BBC2 HD and launch regional BBC1 HD channels
  • Silk gets 5.6m viewers

US TV

US TV pilots

Sitting Tennant

Wednesday’s Sitting Tennant (week 20, 2012)

Hebbie's Sitting Tennant

Oops. Forgot to do Sitting Tennant yesterday. That’s what comes with not checking your To Do list. Still, hopefully this picture from Hebbie will make up for my failings.

  1. Hebbie, Shilohforever, Sister Chastity: 20
  2. Toby: 10

Sitting Board of Winners 2012
January
Hebbie, Sister Chastity

February
Sister Chastity

March
Sister Chastity

April
Sister Chastity, Shilohforever

Got a picture of David Tennant sitting, lying down or in some indeterminate state in between? Then leave a link to it below or email me and if it’s judged suitable and doesn’t obviously infringe copyright, it will appear in the “Sitting Tennant” gallery. Don’t forget to include your name in the filename so I don’t get mixed up about who sent it to me.

The best pic in the stash each week will appear on Tuesday and get ten points; the runners up will appear on Friday (one per person who sends one in) and get five points.

Each month, I’ll name the best picture provider and then at the end of the year, the overall champion will be announced for 2012!