*** Television, Summer 2009 ***

[bicker]

I haven't seen anything, which is strange given the Doctor Who announcement, and the earlier Torchwood announcement.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

This has now been delayed to June 25.

I could have sworn I read that was canceled. Must be thinking of a different show!!

 

[bicker]

Both are probably true; canceled and episodes being burned off.

 

[bicker]

Just a reminder: The two-hour series premiere of The Listener is on tonight.

"The Listener" centers on Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik, "The Timekeeper"), a 25-year-old paramedic who has a big secret -- he's a telepath. Until now, Toby kept his ability hidden, exploring its possibilities only with his longtime mentor and confidant, Dr. Ray Mercer (Colm Feore, "24: Redemption"). As he makes the rounds with his energetic paramedic partner "Oz" Bey (Ennis Esmer), "The Listener" follows Toby as he tries to help people in crisis, and in the process unravel the truth about his past. While his professional life is in check, Toby's personal life could use its own rescue. And with the help of Detective Charlie Marks (Lisa Marcos, "Diary of a Mad Black Woman") and his E.R. doctor/ex-girlfriend Olivia Fawcett (Mylène Dinh-Robic, "Da Vinci's City Hall"), Toby realizes his gift can help others.

Some of the names of the actors seem a little familiar, but it is definitely not anyone's star-vehicle. Some of the early reviews seem non-committal, or not convincingly positive or negative -- there seems to be some concern about the show being similar to other shows -- but the other shows are entertaining, and still running, so people obviously have an interest in watching that kind of programming, so I don't see the logic of the criticisms. I would think that similarity to something people like would be a good thing. :

(We'll probably record it and watch it over the weekend.)

 

[donald&daisy]

I just set The Listener to record. Also I wanted to say a big thank you to bicker and everyone else for putting all of the useful info on this thread and for making it so very user friendly, thanks!!!

 

[bicker]

Sunday, June 7

Premiere of The Next Food Network Star, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, Bridezillas, Amazing Wedding cakes, and some other reality shows

Season Premiere of Army Wives

Monday, June 8

Season Premiere of The Closer, Raising the Bar, Weeds

Series Premiere of Nurse Jackie

Wednesday, June 10

Season Finale of Mythbusters

Premiere of Top Chef Masters, Man Land

Thursday, June 11

Season Premiere of some more reality shows

Saturday, June 13

Return of Kings

Series Finale of Pushing Daisies

New Samantha Brown: Great Cruises


Next Week:

Season Premieres of True Blood, Hammertime, Wedding Day, Hawthorne, Saving Grace, I Survived a Japanese Game Show

Season Finales of Greek, The Unusuals, Don't Forget the Lyrics

Return of Eli Stone

 

[bicker]

I just set The Listener to record.

So how did you like it? We've only watched the first episode, and it was "pretty good".... a on the scale. We're not going to go out of our way to keep up with the series -- we didn't think it was that good, but it was interesting, and my wife says that there was a good amount of eye candy for her. We'll continue to record it, and watch episodes when we run out of other stuff to watch.

Unfortunately, the show didn't do that well. It was on up against Burn Notice on USA Network, and the cable show actually beat the broadcast network show -- that's awfully unusual. However, The Listener's saving grace might be that it is actually a Canadian show, simply being rebroadcast here in the United States, so what really matters is how well it does in Canada. As long as it does well-enough there, they'll renew it, and then sell it into the US market for some really low price, just because money is money, eh?

 

[bicker]

I just realized that this two-hour television movie wasn't mentioned in this thread. It was originally a pilot (first mentioned over a year ago), but that designation has been removed, so they're basically just showing the pilot as a one-time event not expecting it to get picked up for a series. It does sound interesting though:

The crew of the Phaeton is approaching the go/no-go point of their epic 10-year journey through outer space. With the fate of Earth in their hands, the pressure is intense. The best bet for helping the crew members maintain their sanity is the cutting-edge virtual reality technology installed on the ship. It's the perfect stress-reliever until they realize a glitch in the system has unleashed a virus on to the ship. Tensions mount as the crew decides how to contain the virus and complete their mission. Meanwhile, their lives are being taped for a reality show back on Earth

​

Clea DuVall is in this, and we've liked everything she's been in, so far. But she also seems to be the kiss of death for television series.

 

[donald&daisy]

So how did you like it? We've only watched the first episode, and it was "pretty good".... a on the scale. We're not going to go out of our way to keep up with the series -- we didn't think it was that good, but it was interesting, and my wife says that there was a good amount of eye candy for her. We'll continue to record it, and watch episodes when we run out of other stuff to watch.

Unfortunately, the show didn't do that well. It was on up against Burn Notice on USA Network, and the cable show actually beat the broadcast network show -- that's awfully unusual. However, The Listener's saving grace might be that it is actually a Canadian show, simply being rebroadcast here in the United States, so what really matters is how well it does in Canada. As long as it does well-enough there, they'll renew it, and then sell it into the US market for some really low price, just because money is money, eh?

To be honest we really weren't impressed. It wasn't the actors, they seemed fine and I realize that most beginning shows are a bit awkward, but I think the story was just too generic. We will be watching True Blood and I suppose one telepathic related show is enough However, we both LOVED Royal Pains. I just set it to record and didn't think I would care for it, but we both enjoyed it. Lighthearted and has interesting possibilities. Good for the summer time, we will keep watching it for sure.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Mad Men is coming back August 16th!!!!

 

[CourtasanSatine]

Unless I've missed it Turdors dates?

 

[bicker]

Mad Men is coming back August 16th!!!!

I'm trying to figure out if their intention is to start it really late for a summer series, or to start it really early for a fall series?

Unless I've missed it Turdors dates?

Uh which season are you waiting for? Season 3 just ended in May. Season 4, the final season, will be shown next Spring.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

Must have mixed my dates up again!

 

[bicker]

Sunday, June 14
Season Premieres of True Blood (HBO), Hammertime (A&E)

Monday, June 15
Season Finale for Greek (ABC Family)

Tuesday, June 16
Series Premiere of Wedding Day (TNT), HawthoRNe (TNT)
Season Premiere of The First 48 (A&E), Saving Grace (TNT)
Burn-off episode of Cupid (if no NBA Finals Game 6)

Wednesday, June 17
Season Premiere of I Survived a Japanese Game Show (ABC)
Series Finale of The Unusuals (ABC)

Friday, June 19
Season Finale of Don't Forget The Lyrics (Fox)

Saturday, June 20
Return of Eli Stone for burn-off (ABC)


Next weekremieres of Merlin (NBC), Impact (ABC), Secret Life of the American Teenager (ABC Family), Make It Or Break It (ABC Family), Superstars (ABC), America's Got Talent (NBC), The Cleaner (A&E), Primetime (ABC), The Philanthropist (NBC), Real World (MTV), Penn & Teller (SHO), Virtuality (Fox), Doctor Who (BBC America)

 

[HonnyDipp]

Has anyone heard anything about TBS picking up "My Name Is Earl?"

 

[bicker]

It was announced yesterday that it didn't work out, and that My Name is Earl is completely dead now.

http://www.thetvremote.com/cuts-too-costly-to-move-my-name-is-earl-to-tbs/

So essentially there just didn't seem to be enough money to be made.

 

[bicker]

An update on a show I said I wasn't going to watch.... Royal Pains.

First: Netflix hasn't received any of the discs I sent back from the mailbox at work this week, which leads me to believe that the mailbox either is broken, or the mail carrier is bypassing collecting from it for some reason. As a result, though, we have no Netflix discs for the weekend.

Luckily, I was recording Royal Pains, anyway, flexing the muscle of my DVR's new 1 TB hard drive. Lucky indeed, because it gave us something to watch last night. We watched the first two episodes of Royal Pains and they were very good.

Second, evidently, lots of adults agree. Not only is Royal Pains doing very well in the ratings, but the show has actually increased its adults rating week-over-week. This is probably going to be considered a hit show.

 

[bicker]

An update on a show I said I wasn't going to watch.... Royal Pains.

First: Netflix hasn't received any of the discs I sent back from the mailbox at work this week, which leads me to believe that the mailbox either is broken, or the mail carrier is bypassing collecting from it for some reason. As a result, though, we have no Netflix discs for the weekend.

Luckily, I was recording Royal Pains, anyway, flexing the muscle of my DVR's new 1 TB hard drive. Lucky indeed, because it gave us something to watch last night. We watched the first two episodes of Royal Pains and they were very good.

Second, evidently, lots of adults agree. Not only is Royal Pains doing very well in the ratings, but the show has actually increased its adults rating week-over-week. This is probably going to be considered a hit show.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I liked Cupid... it was cute.

Don't Forget the Lyrics just came back two weeks ago! What's up with that??? I hope it's not gone for good!

Ahh, glad someone else liked Royal Pains! I was expecting it to be kinda fluffy, and instead it was good drama. I only watched the first episode, but the second is waiting for me on my DVR. Love, love, love Marc Feurstein ♥

 

[bicker]

There are 7 episodes of DFtL still to air, but they are not yet scheduled. The show has not been canceled.