New For Summer

Well, as the 2009-2010 television season wraps up, some shows with a bang, some not-so-much, it is nice to see that some of the major networks are finally catching up with what the cable networks have had for a few seasons now - new scripted (and "unscripted" of course, but that isn't actually new...) dramas!! Well, at least ABC and FOX are playing ball with the likes of Showtime, HBO, and USA.

While I realize that it is summer, and that should mean vacations, being outdoors, and a slew of other reasons NOT to be inside watching television, those of us that live in the seventh circle of hell in the summer (aka Arizona) : ) can appreciate having something good on television when it is simply too hot to be anywhere else.

There are several good shows returning, and a few new faces that will hopefully make it past episode 3, and I've compiled a list of some of the notables below.

Please note, that I can't possibly cover ALL the summer shows (well, I could, but I do have a job...), but there is a pretty good article on new and returning comedies and dramas right here. And I am focusing on the scripted, although I am quite excited for Hell's Kitchen to return, unscripted, "reality" television has a need for its own post...which may or may not happen...

So, lets start with what's coming back:

Burn Notice - Out of all of the shows that I am discussing, this is the only one that I don't currently watch. Returning for its fourth season on June 3rd, Burn Notice has also been renewed for fifth and sixth seasons. USA has created several great shows, and this is supposedly one of them. I actually put this in here because I intend to start watching it and get caught up. Unfortunately, I can't really discuss it in detail, cause, well...I think I have seen all of, maybe 2 episodes...so, this serves more of a notice that it's coming back, and you should check it out.

True Blood - Ah, where would we be if we didn't have vampires on TV in some fashion. This increasingly popular breed has invaded primetime network (Vampire Diaries)and cable (True Blood) television, and also make an appearance in one of the new shows that I mention below (The Gates in case you hadn't heard). As the third season begins on HBO, this mature audiences drama crashes onto the scene with several new characters (from the previews I've seen and heard), new relationships, and a ton of, well, blood. Based on novels by Charlaine Harris, this steamy series has something for just about everyone. True Blood returns on June 13th.

Futurama - Yep, I said it. Futurama is back!! After cancellation from FOX in 2003, Comedy Central has resurrected this supremely funny animated gem. On June 24th, Comedy Central will present the first of 26 new episodes, with original cast members reprising their roles - which should lead to some classic comedy gold! Way to go, Comedy Central!!

Psych - Another great show from USA. Psych will begin its fifth season on USA on July 14th July 21st July 14th (there have been some plan changes and debate as to when it actually premieres, but I'm pretty sure it is the 14th). Shawn and Gus, the best fake-psychic detectives on TV today are back with more crime-solving, relationship issues, and above all else, good times. : )

So, that is about it for the returning series, now to move on to some new faces:

The Good Guys - Premiering on FOX on June 7th (although there was a sneak peek last week), this hour long comedy pairs Bradley Whitford (complete with awesome mustache) with Colin Hanks (when the heck did he grow up? Seriously!), and it has the makings of a great show (from what I have heard). Brought to us by none other than Matt Nix (who just happened to bring us the aforementione Burn Notice), this buddy cop action comedy has the potential to be a huge hit!

The Gates - Vampires, Werewolves, and other Supernaturals, oh my. This new drama from ABC premieres on June 20th and has been called "Eureka meets Desperate Housewives" which could be a complete disaster, or one of the best new shows. As someone who never really got into Eureka, (although I am told I would love it, which really isn't saying much, I like A LOT of stuff...) and who gave up on DH after they flashed forward five years, but the storyline didn't seem to improve any, I'm not sure how I feel about this. I really want to like this show, I like a lot of the people who have a part in it, and I am hoping that they will make it a worthwhile show, and not something that falls into one of the "sometimes eerily accurate, and not in a good way" descriptions of the ABC Network of Already Been Cancelled.

However, The Gates will have to find its footing quickly, because with the successes of Vampire Diaries and True Blood, television may be getting a little saturated with the pale and undead crowd, so they will need to bring more than standard vamp antics to the party.

Covert Affairs - As a die hard Alias fan (J.J. Abrams, you genius), I really hope that Covert Affairs can live up to the standard that show set, but I'm gonna be a realist about this. Piper Perabo as a rookie CIA agent has the potential to be great, with her blind handler leading the way, I am really hopin that the show will be original enough to hold new viewers, and pick up some spy-hard fans as well. Another USA opportunity, Covert Affairs premieres on July 13th.

Well, that in no way covers all of the new programming for this summer, but it is what I will be watching, and since that is pretty much all that matters (to me, which should mean to everyone), so that's all we're gonna talk about. Happy watching, and hopefully, as these new shows start, I'll be able to post some comments and thoughts.

-- Kelly ( :

Didn't We Just Go Through This

Ok, so I was going to do a post entitled "10 Things Every Amazing Race Contestant Should Know", but that show ended a couple of weekends ago, so it is a moot article, at least until the fall. But that made me realize that it is season (and series) finale time once again. (Um, wasn't Thanksgiving yesterday? Where does the time go?)

So, I thought I would mention some notable shows leaving the air:

24 - After eight seven grueling days (I know the show ran for eight seasons, but this final season was not all that noteworthy...even I stopped watching), spanning several years, Jack Bauer finally gets some time off from work...at least until the movie comes out. This show started off with an amazing idea, it was a new concept, a semi-original idea even, and it was done brilliantly! It kept viewers wanting more, and even if it was convenient that SOMETHING major happened just at the end of EVERY SINGLE hour of the day, I went back week after week. Until this year. I saw about the first 10 episodes, but couldn't get into it. It may have gotten better, and I probably shouldn't judge until I have seen the rest of the episodes, but IMHO, it should have ended after it's seventh season.

Heroes - Another show that probably could have gone away a lot sooner. I stopped watching it a while back, but all I hear from people are that it has gotten really bad, boring, and needs to be done already. So, while it too had a good concept, and was a different breed, it doesn't seem like it will be missed too much.

Lost - Ah, what can be said about the JJ Abrams mind-twisting epic? Well, most likely, "Huh?" followed by "WTF?". Seriously though, I missed the last two seasons (I'm sensing a trend here...), and although I have been trying desperately to get caught up, with the finale being this Sunday, it is unlikely that I will make it in time. However, I will still watch the finale, because I'm sure it will not only be one of the most watched episodes,and I want to see where the crazy train finally disembarks, but, well, now that Amazing Race is over, nothing else is on Sundays...(just kidding, sheesh!) The genius executive producer behind some of our most amazing televison (Alias, Fringe, Felicity (athough I never watched that one)), as well as what I hope will be some promising new shows, certainly created a buzz with Lost, and I know that it will be missed...even though it's time to move on.

I know that many other shows (iconic and not-so-much) ended this season as well, but...I can't focus on everything...well, I could, I choose not to.

I would like to take some time in future posts to discuss some of the new season of shows (including the new one from JJ Abrams) as well as returning favorites...so, stay tuned for that.

-- Kelly ( :

Just Something I Found Interesteing

Ok, so I know I haven't been here in awhile, and it is time to change that. I still have my MySpace...can't seem to get rid of it, but I don't really post there, I prefer this site, but I haven't been anywhere in a long time...but no more!! I need to get back into the blogging, cause I can't talk to all of my friends all at once...both of them.

Anyways, I don't know if you have heard about the whole T.R. Knight/Isaiah Washington homophobic thing or if you have been living under a rock and have no idea what I am talking about, but...

Basically Isaiah called T.R. the "f" word...no, not the four letter one, but well, I'm sure you can figure it out and there was all this backlash about it...Isaiah might get fired, he has to get counseling, etc. Great. People should not be ignorant and use words such as those and other people should be able to live whatever life suits them. Great. Over and done with. NOPE.

I watched last week's Grey's Anatomy (and if you haven't seen the episode yet, you may not want to read further until you have seen it...it was a great ep. by the way) and how do they "deal" with the issue? They marry George off right away. I mean, it's almost like saying, well, we know what is going on out there, so lets have George and Callie have gone to Vegas for a quickie wedding and not tell anyone and then the people will forget that T.R. Knight is a real person and not George O'Malley. I mean seriously. Now maybe this is just randomly awkward timing on the part of ABC, but c'mon could he have gotten hitched any faster? He had just proposed at the end of the previous show...it just seems like they are trying to cover up people's real lives with their characters.

Not that I am not happy for George and Callie, I think they make a great couple and it does get around the whole two happily engaged couples and what could have been a horrible double wedding scenario, but the timing was just weird. Maybe I am reading into all of this because my mind is so "pick everything apart-y" from film school...we'll see.

-- Kelly ( :

Old Friends

As much as I love the new television season, with all the great new shows...it really is the old favorites that make it worthwhile...in the past it was Buffy or Angel that would keep me away from everything...now, Lost, Alias and Desperate Housewives can make me completely ignore everything else in my life...I don't answer the phone, the door or any non-emergent anything. When I do chat with people I usually tell them "I haven't seen the latest episode of "Show X" so don't tell me what happened..."

Wednesday was the season premiere of Lost and it was everything I knew it could be...the same cliffhanging greatness that I have come to expect from JJ Abrams...he is truly a master of the suspense drama and keeping his audience interested in what they are watching.and I look forward to it with Alias this coming Thursday as well (last season's finale episode from Alias was quite possibly the very best cliffhanger I have ever seen!)

Tonight, however, the return of Desperate Housewives (DH) should be fantastic! So many secrets...so little time...and DH starts in about ten minutes, so...I'll be unavailable for the next hour or so...television calls.

(BTW, this is a great picture...you should enlarge it to see the details)

Of course, now that I finally have the pictures the way I want them, the show is over...I did have to work on it only during commercials...and it was amazing, also, I'll answer the phone again.

-- Kelly ( :

Too Much TV...

As the new fall television kicks into full gear I am reminded of one very important fact - I watch entirely too much television...

For the last couple of years I have been able to hide behind the "film degree" preparations, claiming that I was simply "studying"...let's be realistic here...I love television.

I always look forward to the new season, there is so many choices and it is tons of fun trying to figure out what will make it and what won't...I'm usually right (thank you film school)

So far I have seen five or six (lets just say a bunch) new shows and with the exception of Kitchen Confidential tonight I'm not sure...Kitchen Confidential was fantastic! Bradley Cooper, Nicholas Brendon and a great cast - you should really check it out!

I have strayed from sitcoms after Friends and Seinfeld with a few choice favorites that I have always loved (Family Guy, The Simpsons, etc.) but this year I really think that Kitchen Confidential will be truly great! (On a side note I am hoping that My name is Earl will be great tomorrow night too...the reviews are fantastic for it) The other four shows...they can go either way...some of them need to just find their niche, others will need substantial reworking and some change of pace in order to stay afloat...only time will tell with these. For now, I look forward to watching new casts find there places within the small screen.

-- Kelly ( :