So it's tonight. Uh..more comments to come hopefully about it and the show once I watch this tonight. But I have to add 1 or 2 points already.
This series finale is called "Epitaph Part Two"..and obviously the title alludes to the fact there was an "Epitaph Part One" which was on the 1st Season DVD. An unaired 13th episode.
I don't OWN the 1st season DVD. Nor did I ever desire to fork over the $40 to do so. I also wouldn't be caught dead paying for it via Itoobs. Which leads to 1 of only a couple options:
a) don't watch it even if FOX fails to air it. Assuming the narrative at the beginning would fill-in the holes required to follow the finale.
b) hope the library or 1 of the video rental stores have the Season 1 DVD to RENT.
c) Try and watch it more or less LISTEN AND NOT BE ABLE TO SEE MUCH OF ANYTHING in the darkened screens from any stream/download/torrent etc.
well I caved and found it on a site to stream, but it wasn't really WATCHING but LISTENING. I could see maybe all of 5 or 10 minutes of it. I knew some of the voices thankfully.
But save for FOX changing their schedule at the last minute tonight, they kind of shafted the fans who just like to watch it on their tv's at home on the LIVE NETWORK AIR.
But of course airing the season premiere of "Kitchen Nightmares" is more important will give higher ratings at 8PM instead, lol. Yet they aired many 2-hour/double-episodes of the show the last 2 months.
FOX blows. Maybe I'll have a chance to rent it or it'll be picked up by SyFy eventually and I'll be able to see "Epitaph Part One" like I and all the viewers on the FOX network should have.
Then again, possibly replacing this old monitor with a lcd soon will help, but I'm skeptical. 8 or 9 out of 10 video content from dvds or tv end up looking unwatchably dark. Trying to watch and enjoy the lust-filled parts of TrueBlood would be utterly useless on a pc..at least with the monitor I currently have.
at least they will air the remaining episodes. The show was kind of screwed from the start given it was placed on Friday night and the storyline was fucked-with I guess..ie. not exactly how Whedon had written it.
He should go to Cable, plain and simple. Or Web-based (see Dr.Horrible).
Friday Nights, the night of death if you're a tv show. Somehow we've found bizarro world with this being one-of the busiest nights-of-the-week now. Stuff has been moved and somehow some of the networks have decided to bank on the lower viewership here. Maybe it'll cost them less? People often don't watch tv on Friday Nights because they go out. But in the age of the DVR and online stream/downloads, maybe some of them have decided to throw in the towel and save a little $, by gambling on new shows and more reality shows earlier in the week.
What it means for me is, this is a busy dvr/watching evening, which given some of the Cable shows also air on Fridays, I'm not all that crazy about.
7-8PM
Smallville (the CW 7-8PM Premieres September 25)
So this is now the 9th season of this show, lol. It started out the same fall as Enterprise. That's all you need to know. I mean obviously the writers are trying to eventually get Clark to become Superman and have him hook up with Lois Lane. And gradually they keep killing characters off. Although, Chloe, the one character in the Superman Cannon they easily could, they never have. She is a loved character, and Ally Mack has always been a cutie. But it's surprising. Jimmy is gone, but now we learn he wasn't actually THEE Jimmy Olsen that is part of the Superman lexicon, but the older-brother. Mmmmkay.
This really is the only show on The CW worth watching, even if some of the plots, acting, and stories can be a bit fluffy and lacking. However, the actors are attractive, and if you like the Superman universe, you probably still enjoy it. How much is there left to do before Clark actually is "Superman"? you'd think not a heck of a lot. He hasn't started flying yet I suppose (if he ever will, lol). And the plot with Doomsday ain't over yet of course. I gotta believe it's finally this season Lois will have a more central role on the show. And you'd think they will manage to bring Lex back again, at least a guest.
Also now just reading, it appears Brian Austin Green who we last saw on the now canceled Terminator show, will be portraying John Corben/Metallo. He was good in the Terminator show, so I welcome his appearance here.
Also Callum Blue apparently has been cast to portray Major Zod. Callum Blue I really enjoyed as Mason on Dead Like Me. Now part of that was his british accent/british personality traits and humor. As Zod though, who knows. The accent will probably be gone, and the humor? Perhaps they can write his dialogue a bit like Ray Wise in Reaper. Sure he's evil, but he's charming and thus funny at times. Speaking of Wise, a note about him in another Friday show in Dollhouse.
We'll see. Why they moved it to Friday is puzzling, but it must be some kind of budgeting thing.
Brothers (FOX 7:00-7:30 premieres September 25th) is a television sitcom scheduled to premiere on Fox on September 25, 2009. It will air on Friday nights at 8:00 pm as part of the 2009 fall schedule.
Michael Strahan can act? I like Daryl Mitchell, but if this turns out to be another one of Fox's black sitcoms, I don't know why I'll watch. But who knows, it might be better than most of the other new sitcoms the networks are trying out.
8-9PM
Dollhouse (FOX premieres September 25th)
Well, this show barely survived I guess (and Terminator did not, given the choice I would have gone for the other way around). Eliza Dushku and Joss Whedon reunited again. The premise was unusual, but the story arc actually got me eventually. Echo is a doll like the other dolls, but she is learning. Who the good and bad guys is a bit ambigious. Maybe The Dollhouse actually is a good thing? I do like Tahmoh Penikett who plays the FBI agent Ballard. He was good on Galactica, and also here. And Harry Lennix as well.
I suppose part of this show's fate could be if the story-arc doesn't fall into what happened with Heroes or even just with Buffy in the latter seasons. Can Joss keep it fresh and will the ultimate direction of the show keep the audience intrigued? The ambiguity might be the biggest reason why. Who really is the bad guy here? Echo will bust the Dollhouse, but how and when. Ballard will be involved with them now. And not just that Dollhouse, but all the others that exist across the globe.
EDIT: Ray Wise who was really good as the Devil for 2 Seasons on Reaper, will be guest starring on Dollhousearticle
it looks like Summer Glau from Terminator/4400/Firefly and another Whedon alum Alexis Denisof also will be guest-starring. Ugly Betty (ABC Premieres October 9th)
This show got moved to Friday too. I would like to care about it, and the show has never been bad, but just a victim of my time/interest compared to more appealing shows. I'm totally out-of-the-loop about it, other than the fact Rebecca Romijn is gone for Eastwick, and Tyler Jensen for Accidentally On Purpose. I can't say if or when I'll try and get back into this show, but I wouldn't rule it out.
8-10PM (Cable)
Caprica (SyFy Premieres January 22, 2010)
is a television series set in the fictional Battlestar Galactica universe. Beginning 58 years before the events seen in Battlestar Galactica, Caprica tells the story of how Colonial humanity first created the robotic Cylons, who would later plot to destroy human civilization in retaliation for their enslavement.
The trailers look intriguing. It has Eric Stoltz and Magda Apanowicz (Andi from Kyle XY) among others in the cast. It's the BSG writers. So, why have I not gotten around to watching the 2-hour pilot? Good question, other than I don't feel like paying for it. There is the option of a download of course, even on and in a dark and low resolution monitor.
I will see it. Hopefully SyFy will air the 2-hour pilot soon enough. And hopefully this show will not be an absolute direct prequel to BSG, but instead more of a complex origin of the new BSG story/universe. How did the Cylon race come to be? Have they been in existence for much longer than we figure. They didn't evolve from toasters did they?, lol.
And while it should have some good original characters, it could be nice to off-and-on reference the BSG characters we knew. Their ancestors, and even younger versions of them. Will any of the BSG cast show up? Somehow I think it's inevitable. Perhaps though, they could get Dirk Benedict finally to appear here, as he failed to do so on the recently finished BSG show; maybe have him play like an uncle or father to Starbuck.
No, I'm looking forward to this certainly, it's just a matter of can it come close to the quality of what Ron Moore set from BSG. I hope so. Especially since Warehouse 13 is done; we get another Stargate show, lol ("Stargate Universe" premieres October 2nd, Lou Diamond Phillips is cast) and Sanctuary (new season I guess premieres October 9th)?
This at least seems like SkeeFee's best potential show they got coming up.
Monk (USA network. 8PM Series Finale December 4th, 2009)
It's final season, and unlike the previous 7, it will air all the episodes in succession (more or less) from August through December. Normally they air an 8-episode Summer, and then 8-episode Winter schedule. I'll admit, I never got into this show until I started watching Psych in 2006. But it's grown on me a lot, and I will miss it. Shaloub gets nominated for a Globe and Emmy every year for this. I probably missed them, but he did win 3 Emmy's and 1 Globe, although those were early-on in the show's history (2002, 2003 mostly) which is the trend. He and the show will be eligible again next September for an Emmy again.
What or how will the show end? It's kind of obvious; he solves his wife Trudy's murder. They have been bringing on the big guest stars this final season. Expect to see Sharona return certainly.
Monk isn't entirely done though as the USA Network have a new "Web Series" called "Little Monk" (kind of like Psych's "Little Shawn and Little Gus" except it's live-action), so that is something to look forward to after the finale on December 4th.
White Collar (USA network Premieres October 23rd 9PM)
White Collar is about the unlikely partnership of a con artist and an FBI agent who have been playing cat and mouse for years. Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer), a charming criminal mastermind, is finally caught by his nemesis, FBI Agent Peter Stokes (Tim DeKay). When Neal escapes from a maximum-security prison to find his lost love, Peter nabs him once again. Rather than returning to jail, Neal suggests an alternate plan: he'll provide his criminal expertise to assist the Feds in catching other elusive criminals. Initially wary, Peter quickly finds that Neal provides insight and intuition that can't be found on the right side of the law.
It premieres on Friday October 23rd after Monk, which makes me think Psych will be done at that point. This doesn't look bad, although like every new USA Network show, they promote the hell out of it. I swear I've seen that trailer 100 times already. Matt Bomer was good on Chuck as Bryce Larkin. It also has Tiffani Thiessen, who generally is worth having on a show for eye-candy among other reasons anyway. Tim DeKay looks familiar, but looking at his credits, other than some guest-appearances, nothing stands out from my viewing memory.
Some of the word is this is basically a ripoff of the DiCraprio 2002 movie "Catch Me If You Can" but I don't exactly follow that. The ending perhaps. But also some mention of a 60's show called "It Takes a Thief" which based on that premise, I can follow a little bit more why. But people said Burn Notice was a ripoff of Dexter, Heroes a ripoff of The 4400 and X-Men. Yes and No.
Jeff Eastin is the creator, and his credits on imdb really give no evidence about how good this may be. But sometimes an unknown can be better anyway. Just imagine not knowing of Bryan Fuller with Dead Like Me, Steve Franks with Psych, or J Michael Straczynski before Babylon 5? (who btw, it appears is doing a Silver Surfer movie and Forbidden Planet remake..interesting) hell, even the guy who created Burn Notice, Matt Nix, didn't have a HUGE resume and the show may have been received all the better for that. we'll see, although it does have heavy-shoes to fill as the cliche goes with Psych leaving and then I imagine when Monk is done, Psych will get paired on Friday with this show depending on how many episodes are ordered.
Edit: 14 episodes, so certainly that will go through January.
Or depending on things, we may see what I'd really like is Psych and Burn Notice on Fridays, and then pair White Collar up with Royal Pains on Thursdays. I guess it may depend on how well this show does.
Psych (USA Network airing through October 16th, 2009. Then returning in January 2010)
The best show on tv. Well, close competition from Lost and The Big Bang Theory I suppose. It still is. And I do a podcast for it even. Why is it so good? It's funny, clever, rarely boring, and the plots are always fun and intriguing. It doesn't take itself too seriously, which is the problem with a lot of shows. The pop-culture references are addictive. Gilmore Girls and Buffy did them, Veronica Mars as well. Now it's Psych, and they are probably doing it as well if not better.
What's the story arc? only that he continues to get away with being a fake, but it doesn't matter that he is; what is important is we want him to remain known as a psychic for as long as possible. Dule Hill inconsistently is more funny than Roday I think. Sure, I'd love for him to get more credit for solving the murders; but it doesn't matter. He's funny, and Shawn's not as good without him.
So enough kissing-of-its-ass. With Monk's departure coming up, some big things could happen for Psych I presume/hope. For one, who are the academy/foreign press going to nominate for a Globe and Emmy with no Tony Shaloub for Monk? Come 2011 for the Emmys and Golden Globes we should know. And what show will the USA Network be pimping? I gotta believe it'll be Psych. It'll be the veteran show on their network, and frankly it deserves a lot more recognition from a media-standpoint in Hollywood, and just on their network itself. They air Monk reruns all-the-time, but Psych? Pretty rarely.
We'll see, but I'm optimistic about it's future prospects. It is the heir to Monk, and hopefully it'll reap the same benefits once the father is gone, handing the throne over to the son.
Mondays:
This is a cluster-fuck, like it was last year of course. And to complicate things more this season, the Terminator show is now on regularly and it's replacement in the Winter is to be the new Joss Whedon "Dollhouse" show which I'm at least curious about as well. I may either do some watching online (on the network's sites perhaps) or actually be forced to use my vcr in the case of 3 shows on at the same time. If a 4th comes up, like perhaps when KYLE XY comes back, well then the web or hopefully in that case, the common Encore at 10PM happens.
Good freshman show last year. Comedic spy dramedy. It never really got dull, and was a great lead-in to HEROES at 8. The only challenge may be to reproduce the charm and mystery it had. Perhaps it will help with the fact it only aired for 1/2 a season i.e. some of the good story ideas were casualties of the Strike. I wonder how long the writers will be able to keep Chuck's secret from his sister (and best friend). The hot blond, Sarah Lancaster and Adam Baldwin were all good along with Zack Levi of course. Tony Todd was a bit underused. A friend of mine thinks a good idea would be to bring in Rick Gomez who I last saw on "What About Brian" since his brother Josh plays the best friend of Chuck. Also it could be a bit of reunion since Sarah Lancaster also was a star on "What About Brian."
edit: apparently John Laroquette is joining the cast replacing Tony Todd. He was decent but not amazing on Boston Legal last season. I guess it'll depend on what kind of character he plays here. If he's the uptight CIA boss ready to meltdown, it could be good for some laughs.
This was perhaps the best new show of the season. Well-written sitcom about 2 science geeks and their 2 other friends, who are living across the hall from a cute blond girl who is a kind of genius in her own way socially by being able to interact with them. The writers of "Two and a Half Men" may have struck even more shiny gold with this one. While it replaced a show I really grew to like in "The Class" I'd say it was more than worthy of the 7pm time-slot. The nerd/scifi humor, when done well (and not taken too seriously), is some of the best comedic material in entertainment today (see Freaks and Geeks, Fanboys, and a lot of the stuff Judd Apatow has done).
No, this show is a big winner, the only hurdle it may face is trying to repeat it's brilliance again. The ole "sophomore slump" that may not be too much of an issue given the writers have gone through it before with Two-and-a-Half-Men already.
Probably the best veteran sitcom around. A few years ago, this was by far the best thing going on network tv in the sitcom game (Gilmore Girls being more of a Dramedy). Neil Patrick-Harris has finally received the Emmy/Globe recognition on after a few years of utter brilliance for his work on this show. Barney still steals every scene. The backwards storytelling formula, while it hasn't changed drastically, has a lot staying-power. Even if they haven't added a 3rd female character (maybe to avoid the Friends paralells). Not sure what romantic twists the writers will do this season, being the 4th already. Maybe addressing who the woman was at that party Ted claims to have met the kids future mother at. Sarah Chalke played the love interest last year, but given the fact Scrubs is back (and on a new network in ABC) she may be written out of the show pretty fast. No matter, this is still a can't miss show, with an occasional dull episode. But the best ones I find are great therapy on a Monday evening after a less-than-upbeat day at work.
A show that didn't seem to be that intriguing from the previews. But actually, amidst the Strike-period of last Winter, it was great at filling the void along with Lost then. The story got interesting with them hiding out in the future; perhaps trying to reshape the future. And the characters you grew to like. Sure, it wasn't exactly like the movies, but it had enough of the darker, epic saga built-in the tone and style that it won me and I think a lot more people over than expected. Lena Heady was pretty good along with Summer Glau as the John Connor protective Terminator. We don't still know about her programming or AI perhaps changing her agenda at some point. And of course along with the black FBI Agent's motivations. Even the possibility of him being a Terminator which I recall in the 1st or 2nd episode we sort of see a glance of his eye with one of those red lights. However, he would be so evolved that there's no way he would be able to mask it all those years. I'm doubting it, but it wouldn't shock me if eventually it turns out he is. And while I'm curious about the Christian Bale film coming next Spring, I can't say my interest is as high right now as this show. By next Spring I may know more.
The Dollhouse is a very secret, and very illegal, place where wishes come true. Clients with the right connections and enough money can hire "Actives", people who have been programmed to perfectly fulfill the needs, and desires of their clients. The Actives are people who have chosen, for their own reasons, to surrender their bodies and minds for a five-year stay in the Dollhouse. Now they can...
The premise sounds interesting. It includes Eliza Dushku and of course is a project of Joss Whedon, which may doom it for longterm airings (Firefly, Tru Calling). But that doesn't mean this will not be worth checking out. It also stars Battlestar Galactica's Tahmoh Penikett and Harry J Lennix whose familiar from the 2 Matrix Sequels and the Anthony Hopkins/Gary Sinise film "Human Stain." Maybe the biggest issue will be if Terminator is as good as it was last year, will this be able to fill it's shoes (and bring in the same audience). The viewership isn't exactly the same (Terminator and Whedon) but pretty close it may be a good enough fit. Let's just hope it doesn't get 86'ed, just based on ratings. I know the Whedon contingency will be all over Fox if it does, lol (another Firefly?).
The 2nd 1/2-season due to the Strike was honestly not as epic or creative as nearly all of the 1st season. Granted, there's your sophomore slump for you. Kristen Bell and some others didn't quite bring enough in, after the loss of likely a big part of the 1st season in writer Bryan Fuller. But, given Lost and BSG not on til '09, this perhaps is the best epic Scifi/Fantasy franchise on the air still. And given the abbreviated length of Season 2, like Chuck and some other shows, some of the best stories may have been shelved due to the Strike. "Heroes: Villains" is what they are advertising. Claire is evil now, Peter maybe has to choose sides. I guess given the way the trailers are done-up, I take them with a grain of salt. Peter and his situation with Adam Monroe is probably going to be early-on a big plotpoint. That and that whole group from the past with Mrs. Petrelli and Greg Grunberg's character's dad. That whole thing about a new character created by the viewers and "Heroes: Generations" hopefully will be addressed as well, although that still may come up during the break in the Winter. No matter, I am hoping some of the writing gets back to the quality of Season 1. I guess it may go in one of two directions. Either more of the Season 2 filler (the Mexican Brother and Sister's plot for example), or given the time off, the writers "Villains" plot gives the show a new intrigue. We'll know in a few weeks at least.
This show has been on for awhile, and especially compared to most other sitcoms on the air, it scores a lot lower in the dullness factor. Sort of a guilty-pleasure. Admittedly, the amount of guest-starring alluring women is enough reason to watch. But, how many more seasons are they going to be able to have Charlie get all the girls and Alan get pushed around? I do think they should bring back the Rose character as her abscence was felt last season. Maybe the writers felt they overused her, but the female characters that bug Charlie are some of the best humor the show has had. Additionally, Maya as well as Candy (Alan's gf and then wife) it may not hurt to bring back again. However, let's just hope it doesn't hang around too much longer ala garbage like Raymond and King Of Queens, which even though were far inferior shows, part of it had to do with the network milking them to death. This show may already be falling into that spot. Once the Jake character is in HS though, maybe it'll be enough for them to pull the plug, if not sooner. He was cute and funny as a little kid, but now he's just an annoying adolescent fat kid. The food and farting jokes have become pretty tiresome and old. Maybe the writers will finally realize that soon.
Worst Week , from the mind of Matt Tarses ( Scrubs ), is an American take on the British series The Worst Week of My Life . This CBS single camera offering centers on a young couple dealing with the groom's soon-to-be-in-laws during a family vacation. 13 episodes have been ordered for the first season. CBS ordered the show to series on 12 May 2008. The show is being produced by Hat Trick...
the premise and cast honestly don't do a ton for me, but I have found once in awhile with sitcoms that doesn't matter.
edit: Kurtwood Smith I do know as being the father on That 70's Show among other things, and Erinn Hayes looks familiar, but other than guest appearance or two, nothing in her credits rings any bells. I guess I figure this can't be much worse than the garbage they've trouted out in it's timeslot the last few years in the CHRISTINE show and RULES OF ENGAGEMENT. However, the one new show CBS put there last Spring "Welcome to the Captain" was pretty good, but of course not given a chance in hell. Suppose given the HEROES/SAMANTHA WHO? logjam already, if this thing bores me it'll at least save a portion of the evening's marathon.
This was a case of a sitcom ABC actually stuck-with for once (unlike the likes of Knights of Prosperity, Help Me Help You, In Case of an Emergency just the year before) and it payed off apparently as it received a couple of Emmy nominations. Perhaps being a freshman show and maybe of late Christina Applegate's unfortunate battle with Breast-cancer (let's hope it wasn't a sympathy nomination). But it had a lot of familiar faces in slightly different roles and worked, even though the premise seemed more tv-movie/mini-series-like. Tim Russ, Melissa McCarthy, and Barry Watson were among the reasons to watch. It kind of struck a happy medium of comedic absurdity, but was light-hearted enough not to seem ridiculous. While I don't think it was the best sitcom on the air, I definitely looked forward to it every week. What's going on with her memory? What will she remember next? (the flashbacks are good) Her mysterious relationship with her parents, and what happens with her ex-bf (and her condo that he occupies), even just her 2 friends relationship (or lack-their-of). No, there was enough plots and subplots going on here that I hope this show stays on the air for awhile. Let's just hope Applegate's health doesn't affect that regardless of what control ABC has over it.
I love William Shatner and James Spader has found a 2nd career in television with this show. Unfortunately the constant turnover has hurt it consistency for viewers. And as I read last Spring, I guess this will be the last season of the show and not without the regular turnover of cast. The only people back apparently are Shatner, Spader, Candice Bergen (whose the 3rd highest in the veteran quotient of the show), and the Christian Clemenson who plays Jerry. Much of the circumstances has to do with the creator David E Kelly and his new show "Life on Mars" which from another Spring gossip account, was forced-into working for to save BL even for 1 more season. Of course despite a bunch of Emmy nominations again, for what that's worth (obviously not much to the networks). And as I also recall, it's only to air 13 episodes and perhaps be gone in the Spring. ABC will be shuffling their programming around again as they always seem to do. But hopefully the show will go out with a bang. Better to quit while your on-top (or doing well) I suppose instead of hanging around for season-after-season (Law and Order, ER, The Simpsons, even the X-Files). But it will be sad to see it go along with some other shows this season (Smallville, BSG). Eli Stone I suppose may fill a bit of legal dramedy void after Shark and now BL's departure.
Edward Albright is a super spy. Henry Spivey is living the normal American dream in the suburbs with his wife, two kids and dog. The two men have one thing in common - they share the same body because Edward took part in an experiment several years earlier to create a split personality. Henry has never met his alter-ego Edward, and one day he receives an email from Edward saying that people...
Well..compared to some of the new shows and of course so much of the other crap on network tv, this probably fares ok. Given the evening it's on (for now) and not being that impressed by previews, I'm probably not even luke warm on this. I did like "Journeyman" last year, but that could be a coincidence since I didn't really get into "Studio 60" the year before. Maybe this will be the show that works following Heroes finally. And the cast isn't half bad with Slater doing what it appears many other film stars are (James Woods, James Spader, even Jeff Goldblum) taking-on a starring role on tv. Saffron Burrows was eye-candy on Boston Legal (ironically now at the same time as her former show), Madchen Amick as well. And James Cromwell I guess is cast too. I just hope the dark-tone of the previews is not entirely what this show has to offer. But I may give it a chance if I have the time.
Premieres: Monday January 12th, 2009 (ABC Family).
Given the amount of time this will be pushed back, it's probably not worth going too in-depth about this. But the fact this show got pushed back this summer for a new show on ABC Family "Middleman" might make it's return in the Winter all the more satisfying. With so much programming on Monday evenings, at least this typically having an Encore being cable, at 10PM, will help lessen the congestion. Also the fact in January many of the network shows are in reruns also should help it's cause. But as for the show itself, it'll be interesting to see where they take the plot with Kyle and Latnok. Amanda and what happens with Jessi and her mom (Ally Sheedy). It's funny though, it seems like ages ago I probably need some refreshing. Also not to be discounted, the more they do with the Josh and Andy characters, the better. Josh is funny (Jean-Luc..they need Patrick Stewart to guest star and make a Picard joke!) and Andy is funny and cute. Honeymoons don't need to last that long (once the boy finds the girl, it can get boring) but in this case, and Kyle healing her cancer, I think their being a couple may have more legs than your avg teenage romance.
