I can’t wait! Below are the spoilers for the first two episodes! The Summer shows are here! This is also the time I usually have to actually watch and can keep up with blogging haha!
SAVI, KAREN, APRIL AND JOSS EMBRACE CHANGE AFTER EVENTS ALTER THEIR LIVES FOREVER, ON “MISTRESSES,” MONDAY, JUNE 2 ON ABC
“Rebuild” – Eight months later, Savi, having cheated death, makes the most of her second chance. Karen struggles to rebound from loss, both personal and professional. April’s life gets interesting when old friend, Mickey (guest star Joseph May), returns and pushes her to make some changes and Joss tries her hand at a new job, party planner to wealthy Angelenos, in the second season premiere of “Mistresses,” MONDAY, JUNE 2 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Soleil Moon Frye guest stars as herself.
“Mistresses” stars Alyssa Milano as Savannah (“Savi”) Davis, Yunjin Kim as Karen Kim, Rochelle Aytes as April Malloy, Jes Macallan as Josslyn Carver, Brett Tucker as Harry Davis and Jason George as Dominic Taylor.
“Rebuild” guest stars Corinne Massiah as Lucy Malloy, Ricky Whittle as Daniel Zamora, Rebeka Montoya as Antonia Ruiz, William Ragsdale as Dr. Blakeley, Catherine Haena Kim as Anna Choi, Joseph May as Mickey, Kathryn Gordon as Vanessa Cross, Ashley Newbrough as Kyra and Soleil Moon Frye guest stars as herself.
ROMANCE, WORK AND GHOSTS FROM THE PAST BRING CHALLENGES TO THE FOUR FRIENDS, ON “MISTRESSES,” MONDAY, JUNE 9 ON ABC
“Boundaries” – April throws caution to the wind and begins a blissful affair with handsome artist Daniel Zamora (guest star Ricky Whittle). Meanwhile, Joss and Harry seem to clash over everything when they’re hired to throw a lavish party for a wealthy housewife (guest star Krista Allen). Savi returns to the firm and bristles at sharing an office with stunning new attorney Antonia Ruiz (guest star Rebeka Montoya), who appears to have no sense of personal boundaries. Karen faces some ghosts from her past when she’s called upon to testify at Elizabeth Grey’s parole hearing, on “Mistresses” MONDAY, JUNE 9 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Penelope Ann Miller guest stars as Elizabeth Grey.
“Boundaries” guest stars Krista Allen as Janine Winterbaum, Ricky Whittle as Daniel Zamora, Rebeka Montoya as Antonia Ruiz, William Ragsdale as Dr. Blakeley, Rudolf Martin as Andre Breitling, Lauren McKnight as Brynn, and Catherine Haena Kim as Anna Choi.
This post has my quick thoughts on a lot of the shows from the past week (or two). Some are on the finales, others are on the near finales or mid-season finales.
Bates Motel
Bates will be back for a third season, I just hope it’s more interesting than this season was. The drug war going on was just boring as hell. With the way the season ended, and the heads of the drug families all ending up dead, hopefully the storyline is too. The reveal of Dylan’s parentage was good, and long overdue. The end of the season finally set up Norman as the lying sociopath we know from the movies. He passed a lie detector test because he truly believes he didn’t kill his teacher, that his imagined mother did. Creepiness! I’ll actually feel bad when the time comes for him to kill his mother.
Castle
In the finale few episodes “Castle” gave us great joy and great sorrow. After many seasons Kate finally nabbed her mother’s killer and put him away. It was about damn time, because if that dragged on another season I was going to lose my mind. As Kate and Castle prepared for their wedding, it was spoiled when someone mysterious ran Castle off the road. Kate found his car in flames in a ditch. Now we know Castle isn’t dead, the show is coming back. However if they pull some kind of amnesia storyline on us, I will be fuming. I want my wedding dammit! The “Castle” season finale . . .
Dallas
Dallas will be back late this summer to finish its season out, but what a ride the first half was. The mid-season finale was a roller coaster. Pamela finally learned about John-Ross and Emma, pretended like she wanted a threesome, but then spazzed out and we learned she had downed a bottle of pills. Now we know she’s not gunna die, she’s in the teasers for when it comes back. Why do they do these things to us? Meanwhile Elena started to wise up about her plot with Joaquin, but it was too little, too late. Joaquin is obsessed with her and poked holes in her diaphragm, then they made love. Meanwhile Elana’s brother Drew knows the truth and is out for revenge too. I still say there is something about that land deal we don’t know yet and it will leave Elena with egg on her face. Finally Christopher’s new girlfriend’s ex went and burned down Southfork, with a drunk Sue Ellen stuck inside. Bobby and John-Ross ran in to save her as the place started to come down around them. Oh boy!
Drop Dead Diva
Drop Dead Diva isn’t over yet, but we are getting close to the end. This time it really is going to be the finale, so they better to it right. However as of now I’m so angry that I don’t know if I want to stick around. Oh I will of course, but I’m that angry! After all this time they go and kill off Grayson? Are you kidding me? The only good thing from the previews is that he ends up meeting Fred in heaven and says he needs to get back to Jane. I have been hoping Fred would be back somehow. But if Grayson returns, it obviously will have to be in someone else’s body . . . but whose? Oh “Drop Dead Diva” . . .
Glee
I wasn’t a big fan of “Glee’s” finale either mind you. Just when everyone was getting settled into New York, everyone is now off for different places in the country as we head into the final season. Hate it! Oh and I really just want to grab Rachel and shake the crap out of her. After 5 seasons of having to hear her dream about being on Broadway, she finally gets her dream and after a weeks worth of shows is ready to move on to something else. Are you kidding me?
Grey’s Anatomy
I was waiting during the entire finale of “Grey’s Anatomy” for someone to die, and nobody did! I guess that was Shonda’s shock for the finale? There were other issues. Cristina finally left, and took her side-kick intern with her. Good riddance! I’m still angry it never came out what he did to Heather Brooks. Derrick and Meredith are fighting like cats and dogs over their jobs, and Meredith finally took a stand and told him off. Good for her, but bad for their marriage. Neither is going anywhere though, so we know they’ll work it out. It also looks like Amelia may become a permanent fixture next season. Yay! Poor Bailey though! She thought she had it all, back as head of ER surgery and was going to fill Cristina’s vacant board seat, until Alex learned Cristina left it to him. Noooooooo! Stop beating down my Bailey! The real shocker was the reveal of yet another Grey. A young girl, whom I think took over for Cristina, revealed to The Chief that she had recently found out her mother was Ellis Grey, but had given her up for adoption. That is why she wanted to come work here. Oh yeah, the girl is clearly half African-American, and The Chief knew exactly what that meant! Congrats dude, it’s a girl!
Grimm
I hate to beat a dead horse, but I’m still annoyed we never went anywhere with Nick’s mysterious illness at the beginning of the season. The finale saw Adeline use her latest potion to strip Nick of his powers. The potion he had to drink to restore them, which came from what little liquid was left from her spell, ended up being dropped and broken. It took ten minutes for that to happen, and you knew it was going to happen somehow. Nick seems to be SOL right about now. They left it as if it could be a blessing, that now Nick and Juliette could be happy. Pahleese! Even without his powers, he knows too much and will be a target. He just has to get his powers back, and it will likely take half of next season to do that. Meanwhile as he was investigating poor Renard’s shooting at Nick’s house, Wu found Nick’s Grimm book! He knows he isn’t crazy now. Oh and as for Captain Sexy Pants, he totally can’t die! He has to come back! It’s just like Nick no longer being a Grimm, it just can’t happen.
Nashville
I’m so happy that “Nashville” is coming back next year and for a full season. I thought the finale was really well done. Poor Juliette’s world crumbled around her as Jeff was blackmailing her. Rayna refused to let her go and promised they’d screw Jeff, while Avery learned the truth from Gunnar about Jeff and Juliette’s night of yuck. She begged him not to leave her, and that he was the only man she’s ever really loved, and blah blah blah. Juliette really makes it hard to feel sorry for her most of the time. Elsewhere, Will’s struggle with his sexuality came to a head as he finally told his wife, in the “privacy” of their bedroom, that he was gay. She looked shocked, but neither of them realize the reality show in fact hid a camera in their bedroom. Wow that’s a lawsuit waiting to happen! I still don’t know if Layla was totally clueless or not. Something makes me think she won’t let Will go, she will use him to get to the top and he’ll keep using her as a beard. Finally Luke proposed to Rayna, who accepted, only to have Deacon show up at her house and give her her engagement ring back and told her that he wanted her back too. What will Rayna do ?!?!?! We know in the end she’ll end up with Deacon, but I do like me some Luke. “Nashville’s” season finale . . .
Comments Off on Various Thoughts On Season Finales/Almost-Finales
Love that Patricia Arquette is returning to TV, but I feel like there are way too many NCIS and CSI shows as is without adding more.
CBS ANNOUNCES ITS 2014-2015 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
America’s Most-Watched Network to Introduce Eight New Series, Including Five New Shows for Fall and “NFL Thursday Night Football”
The New Fall Series Include Dramas “Madam Secretary,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” “Scorpion” and “Stalker,” Plus the Comedy “The McCarthys”
“NFL Thursday Night Football” Kicks Off on CBS on Sept. 11
Network Makes “Big” Moves on Monday, Launching the Season With “The Big Bang Theory” at 8:00 PM, Adding New Drama “Scorpion” at 9:00 PM And Capping the Night with “NCIS: Los Angeles” at 10:00 PM
CBS’s Top-Rated Thursday Entertainment Lineup Returns Oct. 30 With “The Big Bang Theory” Back at 8:00 PM
“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” Shifts to 10:00 PM Sundays; Spinoff “CSI: Cyber” Moves into the Time Period in Spring 2015
“Battle Creek,” From Acclaimed Producers Vince Gilligan and David Shore,And “The Odd Couple” to Premiere Later This Season
21 Series Return to Television’s Strongest Schedule
CBS today unveiled its 2014-2015 primetime schedule, featuring eight new series – with five to launch in the fall – as well as the premiere of NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL on the Network.
CBS, which will finish the current season as America’s most-watched network in viewers for the 11th time in 12 years, is introducing four new dramas and one new comedy this fall.
The new fall series are the drama MADAM SECRETARY, starring Téa Leoni as the newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State; NCIS: NEW ORLEANS, a spinoff of the #1 drama series NCIS, starring Golden Globe Award winner Scott Bakula; SCORPION, a high-octane drama starring Elyes Gabel, Robert Patrick and Katharine McPhee, inspired by the true story of an eccentric genius and his team of brilliant misfits working to protect the U.S. from high-tech threats; the psychological thriller STALKER, starring Maggie Q and Golden Globe Award winner Dylan McDermott as detectives who investigate stalking incidents; and the ensemble comedy THE McCARTHYS, starring three-time Emmy Award winner Laurie Metcalf, Jack McGee, Tyler Ritter and Joey McIntyre as members of a sports-crazed Boston family.
In addition to the new shows and the return of 21 established series, many of which rank among the top-rated shows on television, CBS will add NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL to its primetime lineup. The Thursday broadcasts, which will feature CBS’s lead broadcasters and production team, including Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, kick off on Sept. 11 with Pittsburgh-Baltimore from M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. CBS’s James Brown and Bill Cowher, along with NFL Network’s Deion Sanders, also will team up on the CBS and NFL Network primetime pre-game and halftime coverage each Thursday night.
CBS’s top-rated Thursday entertainment lineup will debut Oct. 30, with original episodes for most of the broadcast season.
For fall, the nine returning dramas are NCIS, television’s #1 drama; NCIS: LOS ANGELES, the #2 drama; time-period winners PERSON OF INTEREST, CRIMINAL MINDS, ELEMENTARY, CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, HAWAII FIVE-0 and BLUE BLOODS; and the acclaimed drama THE GOOD WIFE. The five returning comedies are THE BIG BANG THEORY, the #1 scripted series; THE MILLERS, which is the #1 freshman comedy of the 2013-2014 season; 2 BROKE GIRLS; the critically acclaimed MOM; and the long-running hit TWO AND A HALF MEN, which starts its 12th – and final – season. From alternative programming, the returning series are Emmy Award-winning reality series THE AMAZING RACE and SURVIVOR. From News comes 60 MINUTES, television’s #1 news program for more than four decades, and 48 HOURS, Saturday’s #1 non-sports program.
The returning series to be launched later in the season are three established hits: the comedy MIKE & MOLLY, starring Academy Award nominee Melissa McCarthy and Billy Gardell; the drama THE MENTALIST, starring Simon Baker; and the two-time Emmy Award-winning reality series UNDERCOVER BOSS.
Additional new series orders include BATTLE CREEK, the unique police drama series from Vince Gilligan (“Breaking Bad”) and David Shore (“House”), starring Josh Duhamel and Dean Winters; a modern take on the classic comedy THE ODD COUPLE, starring Matthew Perry as the loveable slob Oscar Madison and Thomas Lennon as uptight neat freak Felix Unger; and CSI: CYBER, a CSI spinoff from the creative team behind the signature series, starring Emmy Award winner Patricia Arquette as an investigator who delves into the world of digital crime.
“These eight new series and THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL add to the strength and stability of a Network that is returning 21 shows,” said Nina Tassler, Chairman, CBS Entertainment. “They will be part of an all-season, year-round strategy of original programming that starts in the summer with UNDER THE DOME and EXTANT, rolls into the fall with football and new series premieres, and extends into 2015 with the launch of more new and returning shows.”
The 2014-2015 night-by-night schedule follows:
MONDAYS – The #1 scripted series THE BIG BANG THEORY moves to 8:00 PM to start the season, providing a strong launch pad for the night. When THE BIG BANG THEORY returns to its Thursday night home, 2 BROKE GIRLS moves to the 8:00 PM slot, paired nicely with the critically acclaimed MOM, this year’s #2 new comedy, which is moving to 8:30 PM. At 9:00 PM, SCORPION, a new high-octane drama with a lot of humor, leads into NCIS: LOS ANGELES, broadcast television’s second-most-watched drama, which moves to Monday at 10:00 PM, delivering a strong finish to the night.
TUESDAYS – Television’s most-watched drama, NCIS, is back at 8:00 PM as a seamless lead-in to its spinoff, NCIS: NEW ORLEANS, at 9:00 PM. PERSON OF INTEREST returns at 10:00 PM, where it increased the time period by nearly +30% in key demographics this season, contributing to a consistently dominant night.
WEDNESDAYS – The resurgent reality series SURVIVOR returns at 8:00 PM, following another time period-winning season in viewers and demographics. CRIMINAL MINDS, which increased its audience this year and was the #1 program of the night, returns at 9:00 PM as an ideal lead-in for the gripping new psychological thriller STALKER at 10:00 PM.
THURSDAYS – NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL kicks off on Sept. 11, giving CBS a strong platform to launch the new season. The Network’s top-rated entertainment schedule resumes on Oct. 30, offering virtually all new episodes for the rest of the season. THE BIG BANG THEORY moves back to its 8:00 PM slot, leading into THE MILLERS, last season’s #1 new comedy in viewers and demographics, at 8:30 PM. With the popular TWO AND A HALF MEN returning at 9:00 PM, the new multi-camera family comedy THE McCARTHYS has three top comedies leading into its 9:30 PM slot. ELEMENTARY caps the night, returning to its time period-winning 10:00 PM slot.
FRIDAYS – At 8:00 PM, THE AMAZING RACE becomes the latest Emmy Award-winning reality series to open Friday night. It joins the top-rated duo of HAWAII FIVE-0 at 9:00 PM and the night’s #1 program, BLUE BLOODS, at 10:00 PM.
SATURDAYS – CBS’s Saturday lineup features CRIMETIME SATURDAY, encore broadcasts of the Network’s popular dramas at 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM, followed by the night’s top-rated series for the last eight years, 48 HOURS, at 10:00 PM.
SUNDAYS – Two key time period changes bolster the night. The renowned 60 MINUTES, television’s #1 news program, returns at 7:00 PM. Joining the night at 8:00 PM is the new stately drama series MADAM SECRETARY, providing an ideal bridge between 60 MINUTES and one of television’s finest dramas, THE GOOD WIFE, at 9:00 PM. The popular CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION is new to the night at 10:00 PM. When it completes its run of original episodes, the new CSI spinoff, CSI: CYBER, will take over, creating an extended run of original episodes in the time period.
CBS TELEVISION NETWORK 2014-2015 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
(N=New, NT=New Time, RTP= Regular Time Period) All Times ET/PT
MONDAY
8:00-8:30 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY/2 BROKE GIRLS
8:30-9:00 PM MOM (NT)
9:00-10:00 PM SCORPION (N)
10:00-11:00 PM NCIS: LOS ANGELES (NT)
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS
9:00-10:00 PM NCIS: NEW ORLEANS (N)
10:00-11:00 PM PERSON OF INTEREST
THURSDAY
8:00-11:00 PM, ET THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (N) (Sept. 11-Oct. 23)
5:00-8:00 PM, PT
8:00-8:30 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY (RTP) (As of Oct. 30)
8:30-9:00 PM THE MILLERS (As of Oct. 30)
9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN (As of Oct. 30)
9:30-10:00 PM THE McCARTHYS (N) (As of Oct. 30)
10:00-11:00 PM ELEMENTARY (As of Oct. 30)
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM THE AMAZING RACE (NT)
9:00-10:00 PM HAWAII FIVE-0
10:00-11:00 PM BLUE BLOODS
So glad “Nashville” is back, and for a full season! Moving “Grey’s” to 8pm though?
ABC UNVEILS 2014-15 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
New Series “American Crime,” “Black-ish,” “Cristela,” “Forever,” “Fresh Off the Boat,” “Galavant,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Manhattan Love Story,” “Marvel’s Agent Carter,” “Secrets and Lies,” “Selfie” and “The Whispers” Join the Line-up
Returning to the Schedule are “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “The Bachelor,” “Castle,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “The Goldbergs,” “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Last Man Standing,” “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “The Middle,” “Modern Family,” “Nashville,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Resurrection,” “Revenge,” “Scandal,” “Shark Tank,” “The Taste” and “20/20”
BC continues its commitment to world-class storytelling and new creative voices with the announcement of its 2014-15 slate of programming, including the addition of 12 new series. Paul Lee, president, ABC Entertainment Group, will unveil the network’s new lineup to the advertising and media communities this afternoon at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall.
“Our schedule reflects a judicious mix of boldness and stability,” said Lee. “ABC is finishing the season with momentum — we now have building blocks on every night of the week, and we’re using them to launch our new series. This season we set out to develop passion projects from world-class storytellers and showcase the faces and voices of America. Both plans unleashed a wave of creativity and we’re extremely excited about the new slate.”
ABC airs 7 of the Top 20 entertainment series on broadcast TV this season with Adults 18-49, more than any other network, including 4 of the Top 10: “Modern Family” – No. 3, “Grey’s Anatomy” – No. 4, “Scandal” – No. 8, “Resurrection” – No. 9, “Once Upon a Time” – No. 12, “The Bachelor” – No. 16 and “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” – No. 20.
New series for the 2014-15 season are “American Crime,” “Black-ish,” “Cristela,” “Forever,” “Fresh Off the Boat,” “Galavant,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Manhattan Love Story,” “Marvel’s Agent Carter,” “Secrets and Lies,” “Selfie” and “The Whispers.”
Returning this season are “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “The Bachelor,” “Castle,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “The Goldbergs,” “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Last Man Standing,” “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “The Middle,” “Modern Family,” “Nashville,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Resurrection,” “Revenge,” “Scandal,” “Shark Tank,” “The Taste” and “20/20.”
Fall premiere dates will be announced at a later time. Please note shows picked up but not listed on the schedule will debut later in the 2014-15 season.
“Marvel’s Agent Carter” and “Galavant” will serve as bridge programming between the fall finales and winter premieres of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and “Once Upon a Time,” respectively.
ABC’s fall primetime schedule is as follows (all times listed are Eastern)
DAY TIME SERIES
MONDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars”
10:00 p.m. “Castle”
TUESDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Selfie”
8:30 p.m. “Manhattan Love Story”
9:00 p.m. “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”
10:00 p.m. “Forever”
WEDNESDAY: 8:00 p.m. “The Middle”
8:30 p.m. “The Goldbergs”
9:00 p.m. “Modern Family”
9:30 p.m. “Black-ish”
10:00 p.m. “Nashville”
THURSDAY: 8:00 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy”
9:00 p.m. “Scandal”
10:00 p.m. “How to Get Away with Murder”
So last night was the big two-hour finale on “Once Upon A Time.” As much I’ve enjoyed this second half of the season, that was one hour too long. That really could have been edited into one hour. Rather than recap everything, I’m simply going to post my thoughts on what is going on.
First up, I can’t remember how we got Jiminy/Dr. Hopper back. Wasn’t he dead? All of the sudden he has just popped up out of nowhere.
Speaking of dead, it seems like Zelena really is gone. They claimed once she died, the power in her amulet was no longer tethered to her, and it was this that enacted her curse. I am going to choose not to believe that so that they can possibly bring her back at some point.
More on the dead! The Maid Marian twist confused the hell out of me. I swear she died of some kind of disease with Robin by her side, not executed by Regina. Or maybe it was in childbirth? I just know it wasn’t like last night’s episode. Regardless, if she lived and Emma freed her, wouldn’t that have had a huge ripple effect? When Hook and Emma returned home, Maid Marian should have been with Robin the whole time, but she wasn’t. Why? Also, if Robin had Marian, he wouldn’t have fallen for Regina, and Regina’s heart wouldn’t be broken now. I really hated that they ruined Regina’s happiness and have made her backslide into a vendetta against Emma that was similar to hers against Snow.
Snow and Charming named their baby boy Neil. I was really hoping that they could have changed things and saved Neil. Perhaps that could still happen?
Regina warned Emma that she had better hope she didn’t bring anything else back with what she changed in the past. Cue the shot to the portal where Elsa from “Frozen” emerged. Oh boy! A lot of people feel this is just too soon. I just hope they do it right.
With “Once Upon A Time In Wonderland” canceled, they are said to be bringing Will/The Knave of Hearts over to “Once” next season. With “Revolution” also canceled, I hope they can find a way to bring Sydney/The Mirror back too . . . even though I think they killed him off. It’s been so long!
There looks to be some good stuff here, especially the M. Night Shyamalan miniseries, if he can keep from introducing some predictable twist of course.
FOX ANNOUNCES FALL 2014 SCHEDULE AND NEW PORTFOLIO OF CONTENT
FIVE NEW DRAMAS, TWO NEW EVENT SERIES, FOUR NEW COMEDIES AND ONE NEW UNSCRIPTED SERIES JOIN SCHEDULE
POWERFUL UNTOLD ORIGIN STORY “GOTHAM,” YOUNG ENSEMBLE DRAMA “RED BAND SOCIETY,” 10-PART MYSTERY EVENT SERIES “GRACEPOINT,” MULTI-CAM COMEDY “MULANEY” AND BOLD SOCIAL EXPERIMENT “UTOPIA” TO DEBUT IN FALL 2014
NEW SERIES SET TO DEBUT IN 2015 INCLUDE MUSIC-INFUSED EPIC FAMILY DRAMA “EMPIRE,” FANTASTICAL ADVENTURE “HIEROGLYPH” AND OFFBEAT COMEDIC CRIME DRAMA “BACKSTROM”; M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN’S MIND-BENDING 10-PART EVENT THRILLER “WAYWARD PINES”; WILL FORTE’S COMEDY “THE LAST MAN ON EARTH,” SINGLES ENSEMBLE COMEDY “WEIRD LONERS” AND THE ANIMATED “BORDERTOWN”
Live Specials JUMP OF THE CENTURY (working title) to Make Grand Leap in Fall; PITBULL’S NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION (working title) to Explode into the New Year; and GREASE LIVE (working title) to Electrify in 2015
New York – Kevin Reilly, Chairman, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX), today unveiled the FOX portfolio of content for the 2014-2015 television season to the national advertising community during its annual Programming Presentation at the Beacon Theatre.
“Our portfolio of content this year reflects the biggest investment in programming we’ve ever made,” said Reilly. “FOX is redefining the network experience on our air and as a 24/7/365 platform, with distinctive series, addictive event dramas and can’t-miss live specials that will deliver broadcast’s most youthful audience at scale.”
Joe Earley, Chief Operating Officer, FOX, added, “The new series and specials we’re presenting today feature buzzworthy worlds and characters that we think will be the most talked about, liked, tweeted and shared of the season.”
Origin story GOTHAM and touching, coming-of-age series RED BAND SOCIETY are the two new dramas set to debut this fall. GOTHAM traces the rise of the great DC Comics Super-Villains and vigilantes, revealing an entirely new chapter that has never been told. From executive producer/writer Bruno Heller (“The Mentalist,” “Rome”) and starring Ben McKenzie (“Southland,” “The O.C.”), Jada Pinkett Smith (“Hawthorne,” “Collateral”) and Donal Logue (“Vikings,” “Sons of Anarchy”), GOTHAM follows one cop, destined for greatness, as he navigates a dangerously corrupt city teetering on the edge of evil, and chronicles the birth of one of the most popular super heroes of our time.
From Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television and starring Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer (“The Help,” “Fruitvale Station”), Dave Annable (“Brothers & Sisters,” “666 Park Avenue”) and a charismatic cast of fresh faces, RED BAND SOCIETY is a provocative, inspiring and, at times, comedic young ensemble drama told through the eyes of a group of teenagers who meet as patients in the pediatric ward of Ocean Park Hospital in Los Angeles.
Also this fall, 10-episode mystery event series GRACEPOINT, starring Welsh BAFTA winner David Tennant (“Dr. Who”), Emmy Award winner Anna Gunn (“Breaking Bad”), Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver (“Silver Linings Playbook”), Academy Award nominee Nick Nolte (“Warrior,” “Affliction”) and SAG Award winner Michael Peña (“American Hustle”), joins the schedule. The riveting mystery follows the tragic death of a young boy, and the major police investigation and nationwide media frenzy that subsequently overtake a picturesque seaside town, where anyone is a suspect.
The new comedy premiering this fall is MULANEY. MULANEY stars Emmy Award-winning writer and comedian John Mulaney (“Saturday Night Live”) as a rising stand-up comic trying to take his career to the next level, and the friends and mentors who lift him up, hold him back and push him around. The multi-camera sitcom boasts a cast of comedy all-stars, including Martin Short (“SCTV,” “Saturday Night Live”), Academy Award nominee Elliott Gould (“M*A*S*H,” the “Ocean’s 11” franchise), Nasim Pedrad (“Saturday Night Live”), Seaton Smith (“Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell”) and Zack Pearlman (“The Inbetweeners”).
One new unscripted series debuts in the fall: the groundbreaking social experiment UTOPIA, which asks, “Does a perfect world exist?” From unscripted mastermind John de Mol (“Deal Or No Deal,” “Fear Factor,” “The Voice,” “Big Brother”), and based on the Dutch hit of the same name, UTOPIA is a bold new series that moves 15 everyday Americans to an isolated, undeveloped location – for an entire year – and challenges them to create their own civilization. Will it be ultimate happiness or utter chaos?
In 2015, the portfolio of new content joining the schedule includes three distinctive dramas, EMPIRE, HIEROGLYPH and BACKSTROM; an evocative event series WAYWARD PINES; and three comedies, singles ensemble WEIRD LONERS, Will Forte’s THE LAST MAN ON EARTH and animated comedy BORDERTOWN.
From Academy Award nominee Lee Daniels (“Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” “Precious”) and Emmy Award winner Danny Strong (“Game Change,” “Lee Daniels’ The Butler”) comes EMPIRE, a sexy and powerful new drama about the head of a music empire whose three sons and ex-wife all battle for his throne. Set to an original soundtrack written and produced by hip-hop hitmaker Timbaland, the family drama stars Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard (“Crash,” “Hustle & Flow”) and Academy Award and Emmy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson (“Person of Interest,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”).
The world of ancient Egypt – a time of magic, Pharaohs, gods and thieves – lives again in HIEROGLYPH, an adventure series from creator/executive producer Travis Beacham (“Pacific Rim,” “Clash of the Titans”). The epic fantasy follows a notorious thief who is plucked from prison to serve the Pharaoh, forcing him to navigate palace intrigue, seductive concubines, criminal underbellies and divine sorcerers, as he races to stop the downfall of one of history’s greatest civilizations.
Created and executive-produced by Hart Hanson (BONES), offbeat comedic crime procedural BACKSTROM centers on Detective EVERETT BACKSTROM (three-time Emmy Award nominee Rainn Wilson, “The Office,” “Six Feet Under”), an unhealthy, offensive, irascible – albeit brilliant – detective who is brought back from exile to run the Portland Police Bureau’s Special Crimes Unit (S.C.U.).
Based on a best-selling novel and brought to life by suspenseful storyteller M. Night Shyamalan (“The Sixth Sense”), WAYWARD PINES is an intense, mind-bending 10-episode thriller starring Academy Award nominee Matt Dillon (“Crash”) as a Secret Service agent on a mission to find two missing federal agents in the bucolic town of Wayward Pines, ID. Every step closer to the truth makes him question if he will ever get out of Wayward Pines alive. The all-star cast also includes Academy and Emmy Award winner Melissa Leo (“The Fighter”), Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard (“Crash,” “Hustle & Flow”), Carla Gugino (“Entourage”), Shannyn Sossamon (“How to Make It in America”), Toby Jones (the “Harry Potter” franchise) and Academy Award and Emmy Award nominee Juliette Lewis (“Cape Fear”).
WEIRD LONERS, from writer Michael J. Weithorn (“The King of Queens”) and director Jake Kasdan (NEW GIRL), is a new single-camera comedy about four single 30-something underdogs who are unexpectedly thrust into one another’s lives and form an unlikely bond in a Queens, NY, townhouse. The series stars Becki Newton (“Ugly Betty”), Zachary Knighton (“Happy Endings”), Nate Torrence (“Hello Ladies”) and newcomer Meera Khumbhani.
Created by and starring Will Forte (“Nebraska,” “Saturday Night Live”) and directed by Chris Miller and Phil Lord (“The Lego Movie,” “21 Jump Street”), THE LAST MAN ON EARTH is a new single-camera comedy about the life and adventures of the last man on earth. PHIL MILLER (Forte) was once just an average guy who loved his family and hated his job at the bank – now he’s humanity’s last hope. Will he ever find another person alive on the planet? Would hoping that she is a female be asking too much?
A new animated comedy from FAMILY GUY’s Mark Hentemann and Seth MacFarlane, BORDERTOWN is a satirical look at the cultural shifts taking place in America. Exploring family, politics and everything in between with a cross-cultural wink, the series centers on two very different families living in a fictional Southwest desert town on the U.S. – Mexico border.
Also announced for the 2014-2015 season are brand-new LIVE specials JUMP OF THE CENTURY (working title), PITBULL’S NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION (working title) and GREASE LIVE (working title). This fall, on the 40th anniversary of Evel Knievel’s high-stakes attempt to jump across Idaho’s Snake River Canyon, two very different personalities – professional stuntman Eddie Braun and daredevil Big Ed Beckley – hope to achieve what Knievel could not by crossing the gaping 2,300-foot-deep canyon LIVE on JUMP OF THE CENTURY (wt). On PITBULL’S NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION (working title), global superstar Pitbull will be joined by some of his favorite A-list musicians and celebrity friends to ring in the New Year LIVE from the sandy beaches of America’s hottest city – Miami! Get ready to do the hand jive as FOX enrolls at Rydell High with GREASE LIVE (working title), a LIVE three-hour production of the massively popular crossover musical “Grease.” Featuring a young ensemble cast, GREASE LIVE (wt) will reintroduce the great music and timeless story to an entirely new generation.
Additional FOX series include: AMERICAN IDOL, ANIMATION DOMINATION HIGH-DEF, BOB’S BURGERS, BOOM!, BONES, BROOKLYN NINE-NINE, FAMILY GUY, THE FOLLOWING, GLEE, HELL’S KITCHEN, HOTEL HELL, MASTERCHEF, MASTERCHEF JUNIOR, THE MINDY PROJECT, NEW GIRL, THE SIMPSONS, SLEEPY HOLLOW and SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. TEEN CHOICE 2014 will also return to the FOX schedule.
Additional new and returning series and schedule information to be announced.
Following are the FOX fall 2014 primetime schedule, as well as social media information for and synopses of the new series:
SATURDAY
7:00-10:30 PM FOX SPORTS SATURDAY: FOX COLLEGE FOOTBALL
SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 PM NFL ON FOX
7:30-8:00 PM THE OT / BOB’S BURGERS
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM BROOKLYN NINE-NINE
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM MULANEY (new)
BACKSTROM (new), BORDERTOWN (new), EMPIRE (new), HIEROGLYPH (new), THE LAST MAN ON EARTH (new), WAYWARD PINES (new) and WEIRD LONERS (new) join the schedule in 2015, as do returning series AMERICAN IDOL XIV, THE FOLLOWING and GLEE, among others.
Below is the official press release, with a whole bunch of links to the websites for the shows, trailers, twitter etc . . .
“Parenthood” is back for a final 13 episode season, but “Revolution” and “Dracula,” among others have been canceled. Oh and the 13 episode mini-series reboot of “Heroes!”
FRESH COMEDIES, CAPTIVATING DRAMAS AND HIGHLY POPULAR RETURNING SERIES HIGHLIGHT NBC’S WELL-BALANCED AND DYNAMIC 2014-15 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
#1 New Show of the Season “The Blacklist” Moves to Thursdays in February and Earns Post-Super Bowl Timeslot
Emmy Award-Winning Series “The Voice” Returns Monday and Tuesday with New Coaches Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani
David Caspe’s New Comedy “Marry Me” Earns Tuesday “Voice” Lead-Out
Light-hearted Detective Drama “The Mysteries of Laura” Leads Off Procedural-Themed Wednesday Line-up
New Comedy Block “Bad Judge” and “A to Z” Move Into Thursday
Popular DC Comics Fan Favorite “Constantine” Comes to Life Friday
Ratings to Rock with Top Notch “Sunday Night Football” Schedule, Concluding with the Most-Watched Program of the Year, Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1
Midseason Moves Include Spy Thriller ‘Allegiance’ in Thursday Post-‘Blacklist’ Timeslot and ‘Bible’ Follow-Up Miniseries ‘A.D.’ to Launch on Easter Sunday
NEW YORK — May 11, 2014 — Coming off a season in which the network catapulted to No. 1 in the 18-49 demo and saw double-digit improvement in many prominent timeslots, NBC has announced a line-up of popular returning series, inventive new comedies, compelling new dramas and season seven of the Emmy Award-winning musical competition series “The Voice.”
NBC is on track to win the traditional September-to-May primetime season in adults 18-49 for the first time in 10 years. In “most current” averages through the season’s first 32 weeks, NBC’s 2.8 rating in 18-49 is up +17% versus one year ago, making it the network’s top average at this point in the season in five years, according to Nielsen Media Research.
NBC is also #1 for the season if its nights of Sochi Olympic coverage are excluded from its averages (giving it a 2.6 rating through 32 weeks, versus a 2.5 for #2 Fox). Also, NBC’s regular line-ups are up versus last season on five of seven nights of the week and even with last year on a sixth, while Sunday night is down just 2%.
In total viewers, NBC is up +35% to 9.4 million persons, its biggest overall audience at this point in the season in eight years. NBC ranks #2 in total viewers, marking the first time in 10 years the network has ranked higher than #4 at this point. Excluding its nights of Sochi Olympic coverage, NBC still ranks #2 for the season in total viewers and is up +21% versus a year ago to 8.5 million viewers.
Highlights of the just-announced year-round schedule, which will be bolstered by the Feb. 1 Super Bowl, include a pair of comedies — “Bad Judge” and “Mission Control” — from the brilliant and warped minds of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay; “Marry Me,” the new series from “Happy Endings” creator David Caspe; “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” from the Emmy Award-winning team behind “30 Rock” — Tina Fey and Robert Carlock; and projects from Ellen DeGeneres and the producing team of Rashida Jones and Will McCormack.
On the drama side, Emmy and SAG Award winner Debra Messing stars as a cop balancing her job and stressful home life in “The Mysteries of Laura”; Katherine Heigl returns to television as a high-level CIA analyst in “State of Affairs”; Hope Davis is forced to choose between family and country in the riveting modern-day spy drama “Allegiance”; a wildly popular DC Comics character gets a primetime makeover in “Constantine”; and NBC’s lineup of A-list producers includes Joe Carnahan, Peter Horton, Greg Berlanti and David S. Goyer.
The new drama additions are “Allegiance,” “Constantine,” “The Mysteries of Laura,” “Odyssey” and “State of Affairs.”
The new comedy additions are “A to Z,” “Bad Judge,” “Marry Me,” “Mission Control,” “Mr. Robinson,” “One Big Happy” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.”
Returning scripted programming includes “About a Boy,” “The Blacklist,” “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P.D.,” “Grimm,” “Hannibal,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Parenthood” and “Parks and Recreation.”
Returning alternative series include “America Ninja Warrior,” “America’s Got Talent,” “The Biggest Loser,” “Celebrity Apprentice,” “Hollywood Game Night” and “The Voice.”
Previously announced new event series will also join the year-round line-up, including “Emerald City,” “Aquarius,” “A.D.” and “Heroes Reborn.”
“We had a stellar year in scripted programming development that resulted in the unprecedented number of new original series joining the line-up during the coming year, which spans from September 2014-September 2015,” said Bob Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “I’m inordinately proud of NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke and Paul Telegdy, President of Alternative and Late Night Programming, for delivering such a high volume of new quality programming to augment a line-up that has begun to show strong signs of solidification.
“We have grown substantially year-to-year, even factoring out the boost from the Olympics, to get us to #1 in the 18-49 demo and #2 in total households. The overall goal was to maintain stability from our growing number of anchor shows, while, at the same time, striving to make every show an event — a guiding principle of our development strategy. And reinvigorating Thursday was a top priority, made possible by moving ‘The Blacklist’ there in the 9 p.m. timeslot after exposing it to the audience watching the Super Bowl.
“The multi-pronged strategy behind moving ‘The Blacklist,’ which has shown enormous linear ratings and record time-shifting, is to not only enliven our Thursday night lineup but also create two desirable timeslots — lead-outs from ‘The Voice’ (8-10 p.m. Monday) and ‘The Blacklist’ (9-10 p.m. Thursday).”
Said Jennifer Salke, President, NBC Entertainment: “Comedy is very important to this network, which is why we are launching new series on Tuesdays following ‘The Voice’ and on Thursdays in the fall as CBS frees up some of the comedy audience when it turns to NFL football. Furthermore, we have several of our strongest comedies by some of our best auspices being held for midseason, including the final season of ‘Parks and Recreation,’ Tina Fey and Robert Carlock’s ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,’ the Ellen DeGeneres-produced ‘One Big Happy,’ and ‘Mission Control’ from Will Farrell and Adam McKay. We also have the previously announced ‘Mr. Robinson,’ starring Craig Robinson.
“On the drama front, no fewer than seven new series and two new event miniseries will bolster a line-up that already includes three Dick Wolf shows (‘Law & Order: SVU,’ ‘Chicago Fire,’ ‘Chicago P.D.’), the final season of ‘Parenthood,’ plus ‘Grimm’ and ‘Hannibal.’ And, of course, we bring back ‘The Blacklist,’ the most successful new show on broadcast television. A trio of sophisticated new 10 p.m. dramas — ‘State of Affairs’ (starring Katherine Heigl), ‘Allegiance’ and ‘Odyssey’ — have a cinematic look and feel, as well as compelling action storylines. Part of NBC’s legacy is its strength in drama, and we’re extremely proud of both our rich history and what’s ahead.
“In addition, we have several attention-getting events, such as ‘The Bible’ sequel ‘A.D.,’ from Mark Burnett and Roma Downey; ‘Aquarius,’ which marks David Duchovny’s return to broadcast television as a cop on the hunt for Charles Manson; and a 13-episode reboot of the popular series ‘Heroes,’ titled ‘Heroes Reborn.’
“There is unprecedented enthusiasm that our turnaround will continue in a big way. As we aggressively schedule on a year-round basis, our goal remains to provide an exciting and vital line-up of unprecedented original programming.”
“NBC is clearly building upon its success of the season with this new schedule,” said Jordan Wertlieb, President, Hearst Television and current Chair of the NBC Affiliate Board, “The stability of the lineup coupled with a terrific development slate will excite NBC affiliates and advertisers.”
NBC FALL 2014-15 SCHEDULE
(New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET)
MONDAY
8-10 p.m. — “The Voice”
10-11 p.m. — “The Blacklist” / “STATE OF AFFAIRS” (beginning Nov. 17)
First up, “Grimm” was renewed back in March, so we will be seeing the show again. NBC, as well as all the networks, have been dropping the axe on many shows today, and first details of the new fall line-up are coming out. All the official releases and schedules will come next week. Fingers crossed for “Parenthood” and “Nashville!”
I have still been watching and enjoying Grimm, and wanted to get a quick post up before tonight’s episode discussing my thoughts on the show so far. So let’s get started!
So if you were hoping to see Mama Grimm and the demon-child back, that won’t happen until next season according to the writers, who have put that out on social media and various interviews. I’m a bit miffed that we went through all of that for no resolution this year!
I have really been enjoying the addition of Trouble/Theresa to the show. I really feel she may be Nick’s sister, they just don’t know it yet. Nick’s mom could have been pregnant when she was “killed” and then went into hiding. Not wanting to subject an infant to life on the run, maybe she gave it up? She couldn’t go back and give it to Aunt Marie, as that would clearly tip people off that she wasn’t dead. One thing they’s really have to explain, or just ignore all together, is the power situation. Initially Nick only got his powers when Aunt Marie died, and I assume she got them when Nick’s mom died. Initially it was only one Grimm per family it seemed, but Nick’s mom is back and they both have their powers.
The one thing that is really bugging me is the entire dropped storyline with Nick, the Voodoo death/zombification, and how it changed him. It seems like that went no where. Last week Trouble did tell Nick he looked like he really needed some sleep. I am hoping that is a tease that the storyline hasn’t just been forgotten.
The final shot last week revealed yet another one of those keys, and in Portland. How has Portland become the Grimm/Wesson capital of the world?
So first off, I can’t believe they really killed off Alejandro! I was so hoping that he would have been able to survive the gunshot, but then things would have been too easy for Carmen. I’m hoping thought that he’s left her something in his will, but if so it seems she will have to fight his family for anything. I’m guessing a little blackmail about Alejandro’s sexuality will be used here . . .
The Ethan, Remi and Valentina storyline is boring me. I’ve never really been that fond of Valentina, and I can’t stand the way she treats her mother. We the viewers have learned that Remi is very sick down in South America, and because some other girl answered his skype, Valentina jumped to the wrong conclusion. Meanwhile Ethan is, it seems, involved with the gang of thieves. We still don’t know what they are up to. I’m wondering if they are all the kids of maids, and this is how they know who to target? Is this some kind of Robin Hood story gone wrong?
The Opal storyline so far is the best part of the new season. As a friend pointed out, it seems to be inspired by the book/movie “Rebecca.” If you don’t know the story, it’s about a young girl who is involved with an older man who seems to be haunted by the specter of his dead wife. The wife died mysteriously, and he has a housekeeper who is obsessed with the dead wife. Yeah, it really is similar! We the viewers learned that someone warned Nick’s dead wife Dahlia about Opal and to get her out of the house. It seems Opal is the real evil here, not the wife. Well there is also the fact that it appears Nick killed his wife too . . . We still don’t really know what happened there.
The storyline with Spence and Peri is really on getting on my nerves too. Peri is so evil and never seems to get her comeuppance. She’s leaked to the tabloids that she and Spence are having problems, and that Spence may have cheated on “America’s Sweetheart.” Frankly I hope some tabloid exposes what a witch she is and soon. To be honest though, Spence has been such a wuss and caved into her so much that I don’t know if I want to see him with Rosie!
I love the storyline with Rosie’s new family and how she is helping Kenneth, the man of the house paralyzed with a stroke, to get better. Either his stripper wife or spinster daughter had to have caused his stroke somehow . . . should be interesting!
Evelyn’s infatuation with their security guard is amusing. I hope she doesn’t cross the line as I love her and Adrian! Sure their relationship is sick and twisted, but they bring the over-the-top camp to the show that it needs.
I’m actually not that sad over Zoila’s husband taking off. Honestly given last season, it seems she always settled for him because Genevieve’s brother was off limits. She needs to find someone who will make her happy. I loved the scenes between her and Genevieve this week after her marriage fell apart and Genevieve took on the strong supportive role for once.
So that’s my thoughts so far. Leave yours, and check out some spoilers for the next several shows below!
So last night was the big two-hour finale on “Once Upon A Time.” As much I’ve enjoyed this second half of the season, that was one hour too long. That really could have been edited into one hour. Rather than recap everything, I’m simply going to post my thoughts on what is going on.
