US TV

Preview: Traveler

21 July 2006 Rob Buckley 5 Comments

Traveler

In the US: ABC, but held as a mid-season replacement

In the UK: Not yet picked up

A while ago, I came up with a rubbish game called Through the D Hole. The aim of the game was to work out exactly who the target audience of a TV programme is using as few clues as possible – just the title if you can manage it.

The reason it’s (mostly) rubbish is because of shows like Traveler. You’ll never get what Traveler is about, just from its title.

Sci-fi show about a travelling alien? No.

Adventure/travel show? No.

You see, Traveler is the name of a man. Worse than that for our game, that’s not his real name: he’s made it up to fool a couple of his grad school friends before he frames them for a particularly heinous crime. Part 24, part Prison Break, but mostly Nowhere Man, Traveler is actually one of the better shows coming our way (hopefully).

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Fancy a load of spoilers for Lost’s third season?

21 July 2006 Rob Buckley Post a comment

In the UK, Channel 4 is only halfway through the second season of Lost. But you can find out what’s going to be happening in season three, thanks to a TV Guide interview with exec producer Carlton Cuse.

One thing I will say, without giving too much away, is that the all-out carnage in the finale that I talked about may not be as bad as I thought. Apparently, people were hiding under things after all. Not as bold and as daring as I’d have liked, then, but should open up a whole load of new scenarios.

Air dates and pick-ups for US shows

21 July 2006 Rob Buckley Post a comment

Digital Spy has some news on when ABC shows are going to air in the US this season, as well as which UK networks are picking up the remaining unwanted stragglers.

Lost is going to start again on October 4th and run for six straight episodes before taking a break until next year. It’ll then run uninterrupted for 16 episodes, starting in February.

This may seem odd, but remember that in the US, networks will usually show a run of new episodes then some repeats then more new episodes then some repeats and so on. Over the last two seasons, Lost has suffered particularly badly under this regime, with big chunks of repeats followed by only the occasional new episode or two before more repeats. This year, ABC wants to ensure that they don’t lose viewers to inertia, not being aware whether a new episode or an old episode is airing, etc. Anyway, the producers claim to be right pleased about it.

Previously unwanted hostage drama The Nine is going to follow Lost, premiering on the 4th October as well. I reviewed this a while back, and it wasn’t that great, I have to say. Digital Spy reports it has been picked up by Five, which now has the free UK TV and DTT rights to the show. This means that, along with Shark, Five will be able to show The Nine on its forthcoming digital channel Five US as well as the main channel.