Thehouseai’s Weblog

Here are the ongoing and new SciFi/Fantasy TV shows currently showing or on hiatus. Hopefully none of them have been canceled, but a few maybe/are in trouble. I’ve been checking for news, and have posted what I found, but it seems no firm decisions have been made on any of the series that I can find, except perhaps Journeyman. So hopefully we will be able to enjoy a lot of fantastic fun!

First up is:

Battlestar Galactica (coming in march)

“The world ended with no warning, and all that was left … was hope.

The Cylons were created by the people of the Twelve Colonies. Intelligent robots, they were used as slaves and soldiers to fight humanity’s wars. But the Cylons became sentient and they rebelled. Man and machine fought to a bloody stalemate, then the Cylons withdrew to a remote region of space.A truce between the Twelve Colonies and the Cylons lasted for 40 tense and silent years. Each year, on the anniversary of the treaty-signing, humanity sent an envoy to the neutral ground of Armistice Station to meet with a Cylon envoy. For 39 years, no Cylon envoy came.Then, on the 40th anniversary, a stunning blonde — a Cylon in human form — met the human envoy … moments before the Cylons vaporized the station and launched a genocidal attack on the Twelve Colonies.In one devastating day, billions of human lives were consumed by nuclear fires. Only those souls fortunate enough to be aboard starships were able to band together and escape and flee into deep space, led by the sole surviving Colonial warship, the battlestar Galactica.The Galactica and its crew seemed to be unlikely saviors for humanity’s fewer than 50,000 desperate survivors. The ship was old and had been about to be decommissioned and turned into a museum when the Cylon attack occurred. In the aftermath its commanding officer, William Adama, found himself responsible for safeguarding the last remnants of the human race.Meanwhile, the annihilation of the Colonial government on Caprica resulted in the succession of Laura Roslin, the Secretary of Education, to the presidency. Driven by prophetic visions and political necessity, she set the fleet upon a quest that will take it into the farthest reaches of unexplored space … in search of the mythical, lost “13th colony” — Earth.” SciFi http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlestar_Galactica_(2004_TV_series)

NEWS: March 22, 2007

“Struggling as a bartender and surrogate mom to her teenage sister, Jaime Sommers (Michelle Ryan, “EastEnders”) didn’t think life could get much harder. But when a devastating car accident leaves her at death’s door, Jaime’s only hope for survival is a cutting-edge, top-secret technology that comes at a hefty price.

With a whole new existence and a debt to re-pay, Jaime must figure out how to use her extraordinary abilities for good — while weighing the personal sacrifices she will have to make. Ultimately, it’s Jaime’s journey of self-discovery and inner strength that will help her embrace her new life as the Bionic Woman in this new action-drama series.

Also starring are: Miguel Ferrer (”Crossing Jordan”) as Jonas Bledsoe, the man who employs Jaime’s boyfriend; Molly Price (”Third Watch”) as Ruth Truewell, Jonas’ second-in-command; Chris Bowers (”Rescue Me”) as Will Anthros, Jaime’s boyfriend, who performs the operation; Will Yun Lee (”Witchblade”) as Jae Kim, the specialized operations leader; Lucy Kate Hale (”How I Met Your Mother”), as Jaime’s younger sister, Becca; and Mark Sheppard (”Battlestar Galatica”) as Dr. Anthony Anthros, Will’s father and the man who originated the bionic technology.

“Bionic Woman” is produced by Universal Media Studios and executive-produced by David Eick (”Battlestar Galactica”) and Jason Smilovic (”Lucky Number Slevin”). NBC http://www.nbc.com/Bionic_Woman/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bionic_Woman_%282007_TV_series%29

NEWS: 12/03/07

“Bionic Woman premiered in the United States on the NBC network on September 26, 2007, airing on Wednesday nights at 9:00/8:00c. It attained NBC’s highest midweek premiere ratings since the 1999 premiere of The West Wing, and was the second most watched program in its timeslot after ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy spin off Private Practice (though ratings declined in succeeding episodes).

Due to the strike by the Writers Guild of America, production of the series is currently in a forced hiatus.” Wikipedia

Chuck

“From executive producer, Josh Schwartz (”The O.C.”) and executive producer-director McG (”Charlie’s Angels,” “We Are Marshall”) comes a one-hour, action-comedy series about Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi, “Less Than Perfect”) — a computer geek who is catapulted into a new career as the government’s most vital secret agent. When Chuck opens an e-mail subliminally encoded with government secrets, he unwittingly downloads an entire server of sensitive data into his brain. Now, the fate of the world lies in the unlikely hands of a guy who works at a Buy More Electronics store. Instead of fighting computer viruses, he must now confront assassins and international terrorists.

With the government’s most precious secrets in Chuck’s head, Major John Casey of the National Security Agency (Adam Baldwin, “My Bodyguard”) assumes the responsibility of protecting him. His partner is the CIA’s top agent (and Chuck’s first date in years), Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strzechowski, “Gone”). They’ll try to keep him safe by trading in his pocket protector for a bulletproof vest. Also starring are Joshua Gomez (”Without a Trace”) as Morgan, Chuck’s best buddy, and Sarah Lancaster (”What About Brian?”) as Chuck’s ever-supportive sister, Ellie. Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak wrote, “Chuck,” which is produced by College Hill Pictures, Wonderland Sound and Vision, in association with Warner Bros. Television” NBC http://www.nbc.com/Chuck/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_%28TV_series%29

NEWS: 11/27/07

“Produced by College Hill Pictures, Wonderland Sound and Vision and Warner Bros. Television, the series premiered on September 24, 2007 on NBC, airing on Monday nights at 8PM/7c leading into Heroes. On November 26, despite the fact that the writers’ strike was still in play, NBC announced that Chuck received a full season pickup. Wikipedia

Doctor Who

“Following on from the phenomenal success of the multiple-award-winning first two seasons that have taken audiences by storm, the third season of Doctor Who (Best Drama Series, BAFTA 2006) is full of new thrills, new laughs, new heartbreak and some terrifying new monsters.

From the moment the Doctor walks into the life of medical student Martha Jones, he changes it forever. Together they find themselves traveling through time and space — encountering extraordinary events, amazing worlds and faces both old and new.

In Elizabethan London they meet William Shakespeare at the Globe Theatre, where witchlike creatures plot to create a Carrionite empire on Earth. In the year Five Billion and Fifty Three, mankind and catkind are caught in a terrible trap, while back in present-day London, 76-year-old Professor Lazarus recaptures his youth — with consequences that threaten Martha’s entire family.

Martha and the Doctor’s journey also brings them face to face with the ruthless Judoon, a vicious plasmavore, and the Doctor’s sworn enemies, the Daleks, who have been hiding in 1930s New York with a terrifying plan for humanity.” SciFi http://www.scifi.com/doctorwho/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Who

NEWS: 09/03/07

“A fourth series, scheduled to air in 2008, is in production. For that series, Catherine Tate will reprise her role of Donna Noble, from the 2006 Christmas special, as the Doctor’s latest companion. Midway through the series, Freema Agyeman will also return to her role of Martha Jones, following a multi-episode guest appearance in the Doctor Who spin-off series, Torchwood. John Barrowman will be filming for the show after Christmas 2007, continuing his role as Captain Jack Harkness, and Billie Piper will return as Rose Tyler for three episodes.

After a 2008 Christmas special and three further specials starring David Tennant, scheduled to air in 2009, Doctor Who is planned to return in 2010 for a fifth full length series.” Wikipedia

Eli Stone

Eureka

“As World War II came to a close with mushroom clouds over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the impact that science and technology would have on the continued security of our world became catastrophically apparent. America nearly lost the race to build the atomic bomb; it could not risk such a close call again.With the help of Albert Einstein and other trusted advisors, President Harry S. Truman commissioned a top-secret residential development in a remote area of the Pacific Northwest, one that would serve to protect and nurture America’s most valuable intellectual resources. There our nation’s greatest thinkers, the über-geniuses working on the next era of scientific achievement, would be able to live and work in a supportive environment.The best architects and planners were commissioned to design a welcoming place for these superlative geniuses to reside, an area that would offer the best education for their children, the best healthcare, the best amenities and quality of life. A community was created to rival the most idyllic of America’s small towns — with one major difference: this town would never appear on any maps. At least, none that haven’t been classified “eyes only” by the Pentagon. Thus, the town of Eureka was born. But for all its familiar, small-town trappings, things in this secret hamlet are anything but ordinary. The stereotype of the absent-minded professor exists for a reason, and most of the quantum leaps in science and technology during the past 50 years were produced by Eureka’s elite researchers. Unfortunately, scientific exploration is rarely what one expects, and years of experiments gone awry have yielded some peculiar by-products. From unrequited love to professional jealousy, from addiction to depression, the problems of Eureka’s townsfolk stem from life’s myriad of everyday challenges. But with the population’s unique talents, troubled psyches and limitless resources, these small-town concerns have a way of becoming big-time problems. It is at that intersection, where human frailty and super-science collide, that Eureka begins….” SciFi http://www.scifi.com/eureka/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka_%28TV_series%29NEWS: Sept. 27, 2007

Flash Gordon (ending in Feburary)

“SCI FI is putting a 21st-century spin on one of science fiction’s best-known names: Flash Gordon.

The new Flash Gordon follows Flash (Eric Johnson) and his companions, Dale Arden (Gina Holden) and Dr. Hans Zarkov (Jody Racicot) through wild and momentous adventures.

They’re ordinary people thrust, often against their wishes, into extraordinary circumstances. In fact, they are Earth’s last defense against the forces of a merciless dictator named Ming (John Ralston).

As the series opens, we learn that Flash’s father, the eminent scientist Dr. Lawrence Gordon, died in a laboratory fire when Flash was just 13.

Flash has no way of knowing that something is approaching that will undo all he thought he knew about his father’s death, and set him on a path punctuated by overwhelming responsibility and euphoric victories.

Flash’s adventure begins when a dangerous echo of his father’s old experiments reaches him. He seeks advice from his old flame, Dale. She’s a reporter for their hometown TV station, and she is engaged to police detective Joe Wylee (Giles Panton). Dale quickly becomes entangled with Flash in interstellar intrigue.

It’s no coincidence that Dr. Zarkov, a quirky assistant to Flash’s father, also reconnects with Flash at that critical moment. Zarkov warns Flash of a transdimensional rift — a tear in the universe’s fabric — like the one Flash’s father was trying to create the night of the fire.

That discovery might just turn out to be the least mind-blowing one that Flash will face.” SciFi http://www.scifi.com/flashgordon/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_Gordon_%282007_TV_series%29

NEWS: 01/21/08

There are only a few installments left - a two-part season finale on 2/1 and 2/8. Executive producer Peter Hulme says prospects for a second season are ’strong.” SciFi is negotiating the money right now he claims. “I’m not even acknowledging the possibility we won’t be back.” TV Guide

Heroes

“From creator/writer Tim Kring (NBC’s “Crossing Jordan”) comes the Emmy and Golden Globe nominated “Heroes,” an epic drama that chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities.

In its first season, “Heroes” was honored with a People’s Choice Award, an AFI Award, a Multicultural Prism Award, the TV Land Future Classic Award and was named the TV Critics Association Outstanding Program of the Year. In addition, “Heroes” received Golden Globe Award, NAACP Image Award, WGA Award, Satellite Award and Emmy Award nominations.

After a total eclipse casts its shadow across the globe, seemingly calling forth a multitude of everyday men and women with special powers, Dr. Mohinder Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy, “Blind Guy Driving”), a genetics professor from India, continues to champion his father’s theory that there are people with extraordinary abilities living among us. Claire Bennet, an indestructible high school cheerleader (Hayden Panettiere, “Bring it On: All or Nothing”), must hide her ability from her peers while working to maintain her relationship with her father (Jack Coleman, “Dynasty”), a man of mystery who has a keen interest in people like her. Niki Sanders, a Las Vegas single mother (Ali Larter, “Final Destination”) with astonishing strength - and a dangerous, amoral mirror image (Jessica Sanders) - struggles to support and protect her young son Micah (Noah Gray-Cabey, “My Wife & Kids”), a genius who can interact with electronic machinery through touch. Matt Parkman, a police detective (Greg Grunberg, “Alias”) from Los Angeles, attempts to put his ability to hear the thoughts of others to good use. In Japan, Hiro Nakamura’s (Masi Oka, NBC’s “Scrubs”) ability to pierce the space-time continuum and manipulate time has empowered him to change the future, as he embarks on wild adventures with his best friend Ando Masahashi (James Kyson Lee, “Shutter”). Nathan Petrelli, a congressional hopeful (Adrian Pasdar, “Judging Amy”) with the ability to fly, has his dreams dashed after failing to stop his younger brother Peter (Milo Ventimiglia, “Rocky Balboa”), a nurse with the ability to absorb the powers of others, from exploding over the New York City skyline.

And after this violent clash in New York, the fate of Sylar, a manipulative serial killer (Zachary Quinto, “24″) dedicated to violently collecting the extraordinary talents of special people, is unknown. Meanwhile, in the Dominican Republic, a young woman named Maya Herrera (Dania Ramirez, “The Sopranos”) and her twin brother, plagued by her threatening ability, attempt to make the dangerous crossing to the United States in search of help. And Monica Dawson, another young woman (Dana Davis, “The Nine”) with newfound special abilities, would give up everything to help the people around her. Their ultimate destiny is nothing less than saving the world…

Joining Kring as executive producer are Dennis Hammer (NBC’s “Crossing Jordan”), Allan Arkush (NBC’s “Crossing Jordan”) and Greg Beeman (”Smallville”). The drama is produced by Universal Media Studios in association with Tailwind Productions.” NBC http://www.nbc.com/Heroes/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroes_tv

NEWS: 11/01/07

“The second season of Heroes premiered on September 24, 2007, but only eleven episodes have been broadcast, due to the current strike by the Writers Guild of America. The dispute has also led to the postponement of a six episode spin-off, Heroes: Origins, which was originally expected to air in April and May 2008.”

Jericho

“JERICHO is a drama about what happens when a nuclear mushroom cloud suddenly appears on the horizon, plunging the residents of a small, peaceful Kansas town into chaos, leaving them completely isolated and wondering if they’re the only Americans left alive. Fear of the unknown propels Jericho into social, psychological and physical mayhem when all communication and power is shut down. The town starts to come apart at the seams as terror, anger and confusion bring out the very worst in some residents. Jake Green (Skeet Ulrich), prodigal son of the town’s mayor, becomes a reluctant hero when a school bus crashes as a result of the explosion. Mayor Johnston Green (Gerald McRaney) is conflicted with the return of his estranged son, but is called to action when the town begins to riot. Johnston’s wife, Gail (Pamela Reed), is the strong, savvy first lady of the town who runs interference between her husband and her favorite son. Attempting to usurp the mayor’s power is Johnston’s political adversary, Gray Anderson (Michael Gaston), who is not above putting his personal agenda before the welfare of the very community he wants to lead.

Though the cloud appears in the distance, it affects all the residents in Jericho, including Dale Turner (Erik Knudsen), the 16-year-old trailer park kid everybody picks on, who finds himself in a position that could change his status; Robert Hawkins (Lennie James), a mysterious stranger who seems to be a jack-of-all-trades as he steps in to help restore order; Heather Lisinski (Sprague Grayden), a pretty young schoolteacher on the bus with her students returning from a class trip when the glare from the explosion causes a terrible accident; Emily Sullivan (Ashley Scott), Jake’s high school sweetheart who lives outside of town and innocently goes about her business unaware of the catastrophe, Bonnie Richmond (Shoshannah Stern), a pretty 17-year-old who is hearing impaired; and Bonnie’s older brother Stanley (Brad Beyer), Jake’s best friend from childhood and an avid car lover who works on the family farm. In this time of crisis, as sensible people become paranoid, personal agendas take over and well-kept secrets threaten to be revealed, some people will find an inner strength they never knew they had, and the most unlikely heroes will emerge.” CBS http://www.cbs.com/primetime/jericho/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jericho_tv

NEWS: 12/03/07

“Though the producers seemed confident that the program would be picked up for a second season, the series was initially cancelled by CBS in May 2007. However, after a grassroots campaign to revive the series, CBS officially announced on June 6, 2007 that it had purchased seven new episodes of Jericho for broadcast as a midseason replacement. These seven episodes are complete, and will not be affected directly by the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike.

CBS announced on December 3, 2007 that Jericho will return for its second season on February 12, 2008. In the early days of January 2008 the first three episodes of the second season leaked on the internet via a DVD screener source.” Wikipedia

Journeyman

“From Emmy Award-winning writer-producer Kevin Falls (”The West Wing”) and Emmy Award-winning director-producer Alex Graves (”The West Wing”), “Journeyman” is a romantic mystery-drama about Dan Vasser (Kevin McKidd, “Rome”), a San Francisco newspaper reporter and family man who inexplicably begins to travel through time and change people’s lives. Along the way, he also must deal with the difficulties and strife at work and home brought on by his sudden disappearances.

However, his freewheeling travels through the decades reunite him with his long-lost fiancée Livia (Moon Bloodgood, “Day Break”) — which complicates his present-day life with wife Katie (Gretchen Egolf, “Martial Law”) and their son. Reed Diamond (”Homicide: Life on the Street”) and Charles Henry Wyson (”The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) also star.

“Journeyman” is a production of 20th Century Fox Television. Falls is executive producer and writer; Graves is executive producer and director of the pilot.” NBC http://www.nbc.com/Journeyman/about/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journeyman_%28TV_series%29;

NEWS:

“The show premiered on September 24, 2007, airing Mondays at 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The initial order from the network was for 13 episodes, all of which were produced prior to the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike by screenwriters. However, the series suffered from low ratings, and NBC allowed its option for a full season order to lapse by the December 11, 2007 deadline for renewal. According to trade reports, such an action effectively means the series has been cancelled. The final episode of Journeyman aired on Wednesday, December 19, 2007.” Wikipedia

However, until the strike is over, and things shake out, we won’t know for certain the true fate of this or any show.

Knight Rider (starting in Feburary)

“This two-hour movie event, based on the iconic 1980’s hit television series, stars Justin Bruening (”All My Children”), Deanna Russo (”The Young and the Restless”), Sydney Tamiia Poitier (”Veronica Mars,” “Grindhouse”) and Bruce Davison (”Breach,” “Close To Home”). In addition, David Hasselhoff (NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”) — who starred in the popular lead role as Michael Knight for four seasons during the original series’ run — returns as the same character during a special guest-star appearance.As the original story resumes, the new KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) is absolutely the coolest car ever created: its supercomputer capable of hacking almost any system; its weapons systems efficient; and its body — thanks to its creator’s work and nanotechnology — is capable of actually shifting shape and color. Plus, its artificial intelligence makes it the ideal good cop partner: logical, precise and possessing infinite knowledge. It is the ultimate car — and someone will be willing to do anything to obtain it.

Kyle XY

“Kyle XY follows a mysterious boy who looks like a teenager, but otherwise appears to be a newborn. The Trager family takes him in as one of their own.

The series is produced by Touchstone and executive producers J. Mackye Gruber, Eric Bress, and David Himelfarb.”

NEWS: 10/05/07

“ABC Family’s sci-fi teen drama coming back for 10 more episodes; no date set yet for return.

The kids are crazy for Kyle XY, and ABC Family has responded. The network announced today that it has ordered a third season for the show.

Kyle XY has become the ABC subsidiary’s flagship show since its debut in mid-2006. So far, ABC Family has ordered only 10 episodes for the third season. The show’s first season stretched 10 episodes, whereas the second season is set to be 23 episodes long.

Given that Kyle XY is currently only in the middle of its midseason break, more episodes could be tacked on to the third season.

Kyle XY follows the unraveling mystery of a navel-less teenager with an interesting story–he wakes up one day in a forest with no recollection of anything up to that point. As Kyle struggles to identify with who he is, he must also adapt to life as a semi-normal teenager.

The second half of season two is due to begin in early 2008.” http://www.tv.com/kyle-xy/show/35825/story/10276.html?tag=story_list;title;2; http://abcfamily.go.com/abcfamily/path/section_Shows+Kyle-XY/page_Detail; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_XY

NEWS: 10/05/07

“After a 10-episode debut season on ABC Family during summer 2006, news reported a total of 23 new episodes were ordered for the second season, which started on June 11, 2007, with rebroadcasts on ABC beginning on June 15, 2007.^[1] The second season’s 13th episode, “Leap of Faith”, aired on Monday, September 3, 2007; the remaining 10 began airing on January 14, 2008. The German version was aired 8 December, 2007. [1] Actor Jean-Luc Bilodeau (who plays Josh Trager) has said in an interview that the cast are “finishing filming in October”; the show started its second season in the UK on Monday, 3 September, 2007. On October 5, 2007 TV Guide reported that ABC family has renewed Kyle XY for a third season of 10 episodes.After a 10-episode debut season on ABC Family during summer 2006, news reported a total of 23 new episodes were ordered for the second season, which started on June 11, 2007, with rebroadcasts on ABC beginning on June 15, 2007. The second season’s 13th episode, “Leap of Faith”, aired on Monday, September 3, 2007; the remaining 10 began airing on January 14, 2008. The German version was aired 8 December, 2007. Actor Jean-Luc Bilodeau (who plays Josh Trager) has said in an interview that the cast are “finishing filming in October”; the show started its second season in the UK on Monday, 3 September, 2007. On October 5, 2007 TV Guide reported that ABC family has renewed Kyle XY for a third season of 10 episodes. TV Guide

Lost

“Awarded the 2005 Emmy and 2006 Golden Globe for Best Drama Series, “Lost” returns for the second act of its third season of action-packed mystery and adventure — that will continue to bring out the very best and the very worst in the people who are lost.

After Oceanic Air flight 815 tore apart in mid-air and crashed on a Pacific island, its survivors were forced to find inner strength they never knew they had in order to survive. But they discovered that the island holds many secrets, including a mysterious smoke monster, polar bears, a strange French woman and another group of island residents known as “The Others.” The survivors have also found signs of those who came to the island before them, including a 19th century sailing ship called The Black Rock, the remains of an ancient statue, as well as bunkers belonging to the Dharma Initiative — a group of scientific researchers who inhabited the island in the recent past.

As the second part of Season Three opens, Jack seems to have gained the upper hand, as Ben’s life literally rests in his hands. His demands are simple — release Kate and Sawyer as prisoners of “The Others,” let them safely return to the island and he’ll stay behind. But does Jack have a hidden agenda? Kate finally made her romantic decision between Jack and Sawyer by choosing the smitten con man — but were her feelings for him genuine? Juliet — one of “The Others” — makes a shocking decision that could endanger her standing with her people. After the death of Eko, Locke’s obsession to uncover the secrets of the island leads Sayid to believe that his intentions may not be in the best interests of his fellow survivors. Sun and Jin will continue to celebrate their pregnancy — but is the child really Jin’s?

Just as Charlie returns into the good graces of Claire and her baby, Aaron, Desmond drops a bombshell on him that could change the course of his life forever. After the hatch imploded and the electromagnetic charge was expelled, questions arise as to what effects it had on the island — as well as the outside world. Will Penny Widmore find the island and her long, lost love, Desmond, and can the survivors find a way to interact with the outside world?

The band of friends, family, enemies and strangers must continue to work together against the cruel weather and harsh terrain if they want to stay alive. But as they have discovered during their 70-plus days on the island, danger and mystery loom behind every corner, and those they thought could be trusted may turn against them. Even heroes have secrets.

“Lost” stars Naveen Andrews as Sayid, Henry Ian Cusick as Desmond, Emilie de Ravin as Claire, Michael Emerson as Ben, Matthew Fox as Jack, Jorge Garcia as Hurley, Josh Holloway as Sawyer, Daniel Dae Kim as Jin, Yunjin Kim as Sun, Evangeline Lilly as Kate, Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet, Dominic Monaghan as Charlie and Terry O’Quinn as Locke.” ABC http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/index?pn=index; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_tv

NEWS: 02/01/08

“Matt Roush: This situation is way different than last season’s fall “pod,” which was a calculated attempt to do a contained mini-arc of episodes as a curtain-raiser for the actual season, which wouldn’t begin until the new year. That strategy was not a success, and fans had a right to be frustrated — at least until the back half of the season proved itself, which it quickly did. What happens this season beyond the eight episodes currently in the can is up in the air, depending on when the strike ends, and I have no way of predicting that future. Variety recently suggested, rather hopefully, that if the strike is over soon, “it’s possible all 16 of this season’s episodes could air by the end of May sweeps. If it takes a month or more to wrap, however, ABC may end up condensing the planned 16 segs into as few as 11 or 12 episodes — or simply decide to hold all eight until next season.” Regardless, it seems unlikely ABC would let Lost run too far into the summer, but who knows. In the same Variety article, ABC’s chief scheduler, Jeff Bader, said, “I think the question is, will they be satisfied at the end of however long the run is, and I think they will be.” Which makes me wonder if he knows Lost fans at all. Nothing would completely satisfy this crowd except giving them the 16 episodes they were promised (and even then, satisfying them is far from a sure thing). But instead of the disgruntlement that greeted last season’s fall “pod,” Lost fans are just going to have to accept the reality that the strike has for now derailed the original plan of 16 episodes in a row. We’re all just going to have to be adults and deal with it.” TV Guide

“In May 2007, it was announced that Lost would continue for its fourth, fifth, and sixth seasons, concluding with the 117th produced episode in May 2010. These three final seasons were planned to consist of 16 episodes each, running weekly in the spring uninterrupted by repeats. The fourth season premiered in the U.S. and Canada on January 31, 2008, moving from Wednesday to Thursday at 9 p.m. Wikipedia

Moonlight

“Mick St. John is a captivating, charming and immortal private investigator from Los Angeles, who defies the traditional blood-sucking norms of his vampire tendencies by using his wit and powerful supernatural abilities to help the living. In a life-altering twist of fate, Mick was “bitten” 60 years ago by his new bride, the seductive Coraline. Forever 30 years of age, Mick’s as handsome and charismatic as the day he was “turned,” and he eschews others of his kind who view humans only as a source of nourishment. With only a handful of like-minded confidantes for company, including the eternally young, wealthy and mischievous Josef, a hedge fund trader who relishes his uniqueness, Mick fills his infinite days protecting the living.

One night years ago, a single act of kindness changed Mick when he saved a young girl’s life, making him want to be a better vampire. Now their paths cross again and Mick develops a distinctive bond with Beth Turner, who has grown into a beautiful, ambitious Internet investigative reporter. Reconnecting with her unleashes feelings Mick knows he can’t pursue without exposing that part of him that would make him a monster in Beth’s eyes. As Mick lives between two realities, fighting his adversaries among the undead and falling in love, he discovers the mysteries and pleasures that a valuable life has to offer.” CBS http://www.cbs.com/primetime/moonlight/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonlight_%28TV_series%29

NEWS 12/04/07

“On November 6, 2007, The New York Post reported that only eleven of the planned twelve episodes will be completed, due to a strike by the Writers Guild of America. This seems to be in error however, as the show is now scheduled for 12 full episodes.

Les Moonves, President of CBS, speaking on December 4, 2007, stated that Moonlight is likely to return for a second season (2008-2009). Wikipedia

New Amsterdam (premieres in March)

“Created by Allan Loeb (“Things We Lost in the Fire,” “21”) and Christian Taylor (“Showboy,” “Six Feet Under”), NEW AMSTERDAM is the story of a New York homicide detective unlike any other. He is brilliant, mysterious, reckless, magnetic, unknowable. And he has a profound secret – he is immortal. Pilot directed by visionary Lasse Hallström (“My Life As a Dog,” “The Cider House Rules,” “Chocolat,” “The Hoax”).

In 1642, JOHN AMSTERDAM (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, “Kingdom of Heaven”), then a Dutch solider in the colony of New Amsterdam – later to become New York City – stepped in front of a sword to save the life of a Native American girl during a massacre of her indigenous tribe. The girl in turn rescued Amsterdam, weaving an ancient spell that conferred immortality upon him. Amsterdam will not age, she told him, until he finds his one true love. Only then will he become whole and ready for mortality.

But Amsterdam has found this to be a mixed blessing. Over the course of three centuries, he’s experienced endless adventure and honed his many talents. But everyone Amsterdam meets must leave him in time; lovers and children die while he remains young. His sole confidant and current lifelong friend is the sage jazz club owner OMAR (Stephen McKinley-Henderson, “Law & Order: SVU”), the keeper of Amsterdam’s secret, as well as a few of his own. As the exhilaration of eternal life has given way to emotional isolation and bitter loneliness, Amsterdam discovers the blessing has become a curse.

Having witnessed its entire history from colonial outpost to mega-metropolis, John Amsterdam is the living embodiment of New York City. He and the island of Manhattan are now part and parcel of each other. Bringing to bear the unorthodox techniques and unique knowledge gained from his vast life experience, Amsterdam today is one of the NYPD’s best homicide detectives, sparring with his vibrant, strong-willed partner EVA MARQUEZ (Zuleikha Robinson, “Rome,” “The Lone Gunmen”) as they solve difficult murder cases. But when Amsterdam suffers and then recovers from what appears to be a massive heart attack while chasing a suspect, and DR. SARA DILLANE (Alexie Gilmore, “Find Love”) pronounces him dead in the ER, he realizes that the Indian girl’s prophesy may have come true – he felt the pain in his heart that she had foretold so long ago. His soul mate must have been nearby. As he works to find a killer on the streets of New York, Amsterdam understands that his own life – and possibly his death – have changed forever.

From executive producers David Manson (“Saved,” “Thief,” “Nothing Sacred”), Allan Loeb, and Steven Pearl (“Untraceable”), this intriguing series invites viewers to explore the enduring mysteries of life, death and true love.” Fox http://www.fox.com/newamsterdam/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Amsterdam_%28TV_series%29

NEWS: 10/16/07

“On Tuesday, October 16, 2007, an article in The Hollywood Reporter stated that production on New Amsterdam has been shut down indefinitely, with seven episodes of the series in the can. The article also mentioned that Fox has decided to take a look and then decide whether or not to order new episodes, something considered unlikely. A pre-air version of the Pilot episode was leaked onto Internet file-sharing services on December 2, 2007. On January 23, 2008 FOX resumed airing commercials for the show stated “coming soon”. The official website lists the first airings as 2008-03-04 and 2008-03-06 (both at 9:00 PM / 8:00 PM Central).

Reaper

“For the first 20 years of his life, Sam (Bret Harrison, “The Loop,” “Grounded for Life”) wondered why his parents went so easy on him. Whether it was school, sports or career choices, Sam’s mom (Allison Hossack, “Falcon Beach”) and dad (Andrew Airlie, “The L Word”) always let him get by with the least possible effort. As a result, Sam skipped college, took a dead-end job at the local Work Bench home improvement store and now wastes endless hours playing video games. Everything in his slacker world changed the day Sam turned 21 and discovered the ungodly reason his parents let him slide: they sold his soul to the devil before he was even born.Though his guilt-ridden parents try to explain the circumstances that led them to the forfeit his soul, Sam can’t wrap his mind around what is happening to him. He’s always been the under-achieving son, while his younger brother Kyle (Kyle Switzer, “15/Love”) was pushed to get straight A’s, excel at every sport and join every club. Kyle resents the easy ride Sam has enjoyed, and Sam can’t help but feel jealousy over Kyle’s achievements. What neither brother realizes is that their lives have been shaped by forces they can’t yet begin to understand.

“Reaper” is from ABC Studios with executive producers Michele Fazeka (”Ed,” “Law & Order, Special Victims Unit”), Tara Butters (”Ed,” “Law & Order, Special Victims Unit”), Mark Gordon (”Grey’s Anatomy,” Criminal Minds”), Deborah Spera (”Criminal Minds”) and Tom Spezialy (”Desperate Housewives”).” CW http://cwtv.com/shows/reaper; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaper_%28TV_series%29

NEWS:

“The show Reaper stopped airing after the tenth episode when the writers went on strike.

New episodes will air beginning Tuesday, March 4, 2008.” Wikipedia

Smallville (six new episodes are left)

“Now beginning its seventh season, this new interpretation of the enduring Superman mythology and its classic characters blends realism and adventure into an exciting action series. This season, Clark Kent (Tom Welling, “Cheaper By the Dozen”) and Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum, “Kickin’ It Old Skool”) have become the sworn enemies that comic book aficionados have always known and loved.

And upcoming, but no date yet:

Sanctuary

NEWS: 1/3o/08

“SCI FI Channel has ordered a full 13-episode season of the new original, scripted drama series “Sanctuary,” it was announced today by Mark Stern, Executive Vice President of Original Programming. “Sanctuary” is the first television series using live-action actors against mostly virtual sets and makes the leap to television from the Internet where it began as the World’s first high-definition sci-fi Web series.In the one-hour drama, Amanda Tapping (”Stargate’s” Lt. Col. Samantha Carter) stars as the enigmatic Dr. Helen Magnus who, along with her young protg, Will Zimmerman, played by Robin Dunne (”Dawson’s Creek,” Species 3), are on a quest to track down, aid and protect all manner of strange creatures that walk the earth. The show’s sets are 90% CGI and shot in the same cutting-edge style as the feature films 300 and Sin City. Sanctuary creator, Damian Kindler (”Stargate SG-1″) and producer/director Martin Wood (”Stargate Atlantis”) are Executive Producers. Tapping and Sam Egan (”Jeremiah,” “The Outer Limits,” “Masters of Science Fiction”) also serve as Executive Producers. In addition to her producing and starring turns on “Sanctuary,” Amanda Tapping will also make guest appearances on several episodes of SCI FI Channel’s “Stargate Atlantis” during its 5th season.“‘Sanctuary’ promises to be a totally fresh television viewing experience,” said Stern. “This stylistic approach to ‘virtual sets’ has proven hugely popular on the big screen, and we have been looking for a chance to use it on a television series. We’ve worked with Damian, Martin, Amanda, and Sam on numerous projects in the past, and think they are the perfect team to tackle something this ambitious.”

“Sanctuary” will be produced by Stage 3 Media in association with the SCI FI Channel. Tricon Films and Television are worldwide distributors of the show.” http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=41506; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctuary_%28web_series%29