*** Television, Summer 2009 ***

[CourtasanSatine]

Dates for Torchwood???

 

[bicker]

I haven't seen anything yet.

 

[bicker]

A four-hour (English language, German produced) sci-fi mini-series about humanity's efforts to survive after the moon is hit by a meteor and enters into a collision course with Earth.

​

 

[bicker]

In a remote observatory, Dr. Lehman (Emmy winner Christopher Lloyd, "Back to the Future"), discovers a meteor approximately three times the size of Mount Everest barreling its way towards Earth. His devoted young assistant Imogene O'Neill (Marla Sokoloff, "The Practice") feverishly types in the coordinates only to find the previously identified meteor named Kassandra is headed their way. It's only the beginning of their troubles as showers of smaller meteorites begin to lay waste to major cities around the globe. The impending disaster brings out the best and the worst sides in people as they cope by either lending a helping hand or taking advantage of the situation.

​

 

[bicker]

This is sort of like two big-name actresses coming to a ritzy party wearing the same dress. To be fair to NBC, they had Meteor on their summer schedule first, then, in March, ABC grabbed up Impact, which was produced in Germany (see earlier messages about how many shows we're seeing these days are being produced internationally, because of how expensive it has become to produce shows in the United States).

Impact is headlined by David James Elliott, Natasha Henstridge, Steven Culp and James Cromwell, so both mini-series have decent casts.

 

[Gina]

*cheers for disaster shows* Love those, for some odd reason! Usually, the cheesier the better, but like the ones with awesome special effects, too.

 

[bicker]

Okay, well then I have another one for you, Gina...

 

[bicker]

In "The Storm," also from RHI Entertainment, billionaire Robert Terrell (Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Treat Williams, "Everwood") has fulfilled a lifelong obsession and made history with "weather creation" technology though his Atmospheric Research Institute. But during a test run, a blast of energy is sent into the ionosphere with unexpected results. The experiments hurtle the planet towards destruction-hurricanes change course, winds go instantly from hot to cold, torrential rains bring regions to a standstill, and buildings crumble into ruins under explosive lightening storms. It's only the beginning. Only one scientist, Dr. Jonathan Kirk (James Van Der Beek, "Dawson's Creek"), steps forward to demand that the system be terminated. Terrell is undeterred and continues to push his team to move forward. His motives for the initially philanthropic technology is in truth far more opportunistic. With government cohort, Army General Braxton (David James Elliott, "JAG"), Terrell envisions the technology as a key military weapon to ensure super power status. Realizing he's powerless to stop the project by himself, Kirk contacts news reporter Danni Wilson (Teri Polo, "Meet the Parents") with plans to expose Terrell and explain the catastrophic weather to a bewildered and frightened world. It's a task that won't come easy, as Kirk quickly discovers the motives and loyalties of authorities are not in his favor. As devastating and extreme weather events hammer down on every corner of the Earth, it will be a race against time to shut down the system before the edge of extinction. Featuring a cast of television favorites including Emmy Winner John Larroquette ("Boston Legal"), Luke Perry ("Beverly Hills, 90210") and Marisol Nichols ("24"), "The Storm" is the ultimate tale of man against nature and an epic miniseries event posing a tantalizing and terrifying what-if scenario.

I cannot find a photo.
​

 

[KirstenB]

Bicker, thanks for all the intel!! I love Monk, Psych, and Burn Notice, but some of these new shows look promising too.

 

[Gina]

Okay, well then I have another one for you, Gina...

"The Storm" sounds right up my alley! Can't wait!!

 

[feenie]

I'm not sure when Torchwood will be, but it is a 5 night series this season.
Last I heard they would be playing in the USA on the SAME days they played for the first time in the UK....
BBC does not usually release their schedule until about 2 weeks out, so we may not know until just two weeks before.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

So David James Elliott is gonna be in two shows? Sweet!

 

[bicker]

Inspired by the hit movie, the Stratford sisters, Kat (Lindsey Shaw, "Aliens in America") and Bianca (Meaghan Jette Martin, "Camp Rock"), are two very different people, which is evident as they start at their new high school with very contradictory goals. Kat is a strong-willed, in-your-face feminist looking to save the world and get out of high school as fast as she can. Bianca is a social butterfly carefully maneuvering the minefield of high school popularity. Can each sister find happiness after getting off to a very rocky start at new school Padua High?

​

 

[bicker]

"The Goode Family" is a new animated series from Mike Judge ("King of the Hill," "Beavis and Butt-head," "Office Space"), John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky ("King of the Hill," "Blades of Glory"). With standards always changing, no matter how hard you try to be good, it's virtually impossible these days . . . especially for the Goode family. Meet Gerald and Helen Goode, a couple who live by the motto WWAGD ("What Would Al Gore Do?"). Gerald, a college administrator, and Helen, a community activist, are determined to obliterate their carbon footprint on the planet: They're zealous vegans, drive a hybrid, and recycle everything possible. Even the family dog, Che, is vegan. In the words of Helen, all the Goodes want to do is buy organic apples and call minorities by their right names. But despite their best efforts, something always goes haywire with their politically correct plans.

​

 

[bicker]

NURSE JACKIE is a half-hour dark comedy that is at turns wicked, heartbreaking and funny. Edie Falco stars as the title character Jackie O'Hurley, a strong-willed and brilliant -- but very flawed -- emergency room nurse in a complicated New York City hospital. A lapsed Catholic with an occasional weakness for Vicodin and Adderall to get her through the days, Jackie keeps the hospital balanced with her own kind of justice. Every day is a high wire act of juggling patients, doctors, fellow nurses and her own indiscretions.

​

 

[bicker]

"Ruby & the Rockits" follows Patrick Gallagher, a former teen idol who has chosen to lead a quiet life with his wife and two sons. But when his former Rockits band mate and brother, David, shows up unexpectedly with his new-found teenage daughter in tow, the Gallagher family's life becomes anything but normal. David, who refuses to give up his past glory days, comes to Patrick for help in raising Ruby while he continues to perform. Patrick must now put the past with David behind them in order to help raise Ruby and keep order within the rest of the Gallagher clan.

​

 

[bicker]

Okay, so four new comedies... and only four. And none of them thrill me. I think the reason is that, for me, the "comedy" genre is antiquated. It grew out of the whole "Here's a joke: Laugh!" approach that started in vaudeville. IMHO, it is very successfully been effectively replaced by the comedy-drama genre, perfected by David E. Kelley (i.e., Ally McBeal, Boston Legal), but also in evidence with Chuck, Psych, and others. So these efforts to keep the whole 30 minutes "sit-com" genre on life-support don't impress me.

 

[gonzo76]

I'm excited to watch True Blood and SYTYCD. I hope Glee is good. I have been waiting to see what it's like.

 

[feenie]

So we were watching BBC America tonight and they had a short preview for Torchwood Children of Earth and it said that it would air in July.
No word on WHAT days, but at least we have some idea!

 

[bicker]

The Summer 2009 television season begins this week...

Thursday, May 21
Premiere of So You Think You Can Dance


Next Week: Premieres of mini-series Diamonds, and of The Tudors and State of the Union, Mental, My Boys, Wipeout, The Goode Family, Surviving Suburbia, and the return of Pushing Daisies