Sexpionage! Violence! Romance! Steven and Samantha Bloom (Boris Kodjoe & Gugu Mbatha-Raw) are ready to kick ass and take names in the J.J. Abrams/Bryan Burk/Josh Reims spy series. The Abrams-directed pilot airs Wednesday night (9/22) at 8PM on NBC.
[Via IGN]
It’s mid-September, my favorite time of year. Brand new television programming begins and old favorites return. I’m going to run through the new network and cable shows that I’m most anticipating, let you know which returning shows you should be watching, and I’ll hypothesize about which new shows are likely to get the axe. Not so interested in my opinions? Simply click here to view the 2010 fall schedule for the big four networks (including synopses, cast/creator info, and trailers) and decide what to watch on your own terms.
CBS: There’s a reason why CBS is the most watched network–they mostly air procedural crime dramas that do not force viewers to tune in every week. Take, for example, the CSI franchise (which now includes CSI, CSI: NY & CSI: Miami) and the NCIS franchise (NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles). Sprinkle in some fantastic comedies like The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother plus popular reality shows like Survivor and The Amazing Race, and Undercover Boss and you’ve got a worthy lineup that does not require weekly viewing. Though I am not not the biggest fan of the procedurals, The Mentalist does a fine job of drawing me in when I happen to channel surf to the network. Also, I’ve only heard good things about The Good Wife, so you might want to give that a try as well.
Of the five new shows premiering this fall on CBS, there’s only one that I’m fully interested in: Hawaii Five-O. Again, crime procedurals are usually not my cup of tea but there’s no denying how action-packed and fun this 1960s reboot looks. (The show originally aired on CBS for 12 seasons from 1968-1980.) Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (Fringe) serve as executive producers and stars Alex O’Loughlin (Three Rivers), Scott Caan (Entourage), Daniel Dae Kim (Lost), and the beautiful Grace Park (Battlestar Galactica: The Plan) will work together to take down the villains. Except tons of explosions, violent action scenes, and quick, witty banter from Caan. It only helps that the backdrop to all of this is Oahu! Premieres Monday, September 20 at 10PM.
Getting the axe? $#*@ My Dad Says.
Yeah, yeah I know; we’ve already been privy to cast stills from NBC’s upcoming conspiracy thriller The Event. Well the network has decided to issue a new set of publicity shots, this time including a new cast group photo and stills from the series premiere. You know the drill–cast and premiere photos are categorized into the two galleries below. Go crazy.
The Event premieres Monday, September 20 at 9PM on NBC.
[Via IGN]
Heroes fans–where are you, oh there you are. According to EW, a “key source” from the NBC series claims that the potential Heroes TV movie to wrap things up is not happening. After the show was officially cancelled after a four-year run last May, there was chatter about creator Tim Kring possibly working on a two or four hour TV movie to give a definitive ending to the series for devoted fans. With the actors moving on to other projects and NBC’s aim to let go of the dying, low-rated series it doesn’t come to much surprise that Heroes the TV series is over. Back in June Kring talked with EW and inadvertantly spilled that even if the TV movie was not to be made, the franchise might live on in some other form.
“…the Heroes brand is an extremely broad premise. It was a premise about ordinary people, an undisclosed number of people all over the world, who were waking up to these extraordinary abilities. Any number of stories could happen around that. We never posited a single ending or a single premise. It wasn’t about getting off of an island or stopping something from happening. We told stories in volumes that had a beginning, a middle, and an end. Those volumes could go on and on and on with many different characters. As a result, that Heroes universe is something that can be tapped into again in many ways.”
Interesting, huh? Heroes is no stranger to the comic book and web series worlds. Perhaps we may see the characters one last time in either (or both) of those mediums. It’s unfortunate the creative path that Heroes decided to take. In the end, though, we can always think back to season one–an exciting, intense character-driven ride that very much played out like, well, a movie.
[Via EW]
Big, big news for fans of The Dark Tower. Deadline reports that Universal Pictures and NBC Universal Television Entertainment have been granted the rights to the enormously epic Stephen King book series (there are seven in total). It is going to be adapted for the big and small screen with director Ron Howard at the helm. He will be joined by his A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vinci Code cohorts Akiva Goldsman (writer, Fringe) and Brian Grazer (producer, 24, Friday Night Lights, Arrested Development).
The unprecedented plan to adapt The Dark Tower to the screen has me choked up in excitement. A feature film will introduce the characters and universe to viewers. A TV series will follow the first movie and act as a bridge to the second movie. Next the sequel will hit theatres, then a second season will air on TV. Instead of acting as a bridge to the final movie in the trilogy, season 2 will focus on the backstory of a young Deschain (the main character). The last movie will pick up where the sequel left off, following a mature Deshain completing his journey. Whoever is going to play Deshain (rumor has it it’ll be a big name star) will be required to carry on his role in both the feature films and the TV series. Deadline points out that by using the same sets, cast, and crew on the movies and TV series the production team will contain costs on what promises to be an expensive undertaking. It’s been confirmed that Howard will direct and Goldsman will scribe the first feature film and TV season. Goldsman, Grazer, and King will serve as producers.
King originally approached JJ Abrams and Lost executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse with the idea of adapting The Dark Tower for the screen. According to Deadline they “never cracked the sprawling plotline and all the characters”, so Goldsman wasted no time contacting his partner-in-crime Howard with the notion of helming the project. Howard recalls Goldsman’s pitch: “Akiva said, ‘Stephen will not let go of it, but it’s like nothing else you’ve ever read.” Howard continued, “It was frustrating because it’s one of those works where you read it, and then at odd times, the imagery and sensations just pop up in your mind. This is going to be an amazing life experience for us, trying to do justice to the story and the universe.”
Howard shared with Deadline his thoughts on how his approach with adapting The Dark Tower compares to Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Ring series: “What Peter did was a feat, cinematic history. The approach we’re taking also stands on its own, but it’s driven by the material. I love both, and like what’s going on in TV. With this story, if you dedicated to one medium or another, there’s the horrible risk of cheating material. The scope and scale call for a big screen budget. But if you committed only to films, you’d deny the audience the intimacy and nuance of some of these characters and a lot of cool twists and turns that make for jaw-dropping, compelling television. We’ve put some real time and deep thought into this, and a lot of conversations and analysis from a business standpoint, to get people to believe in this and take this leap with us. I hope audiences respond to it in a way that compels us to keep going after the first year or two of work. It’s fresh territory for me, as a filmmaker.”
King also commented on today’s news: “I’ve been waiting for the right team to bring the characters and stories in these books to film and TV viewers around the world. Ron, Akiva, Brian along with Universal and NBC have a deep interest and passion for the The Dark Tower series and I know that will translate into an intriguing series of films and TV shows that respect the origins and the characters in The Dark Tower that fans have come to love.”
A shooting schedule has not been mapped out yet, but you can be damn sure I’m keeping my hear to the ground and will report back any and all information regarding the plans moving forward for The Dark Tower adaptation. For a major studio to sign on and agree to telling a story on two vastly different platforms is a rare, unprecedented feat. With Howard, Goldsman, and Grazer on board, I have no doubt the upcoming epic will impress.
Update: Stephen King sat down for an exclusive interview with EW and shared more thoughts on the project. Look after the break for the goods.
[Via Deadline; EW, here & here; IGN] Continue reading Universal granted rights to Stephen King’s ‘The Dark Tower’, film trilogy and TV series coming soon
NBC’s Community returns with a BANG thanks to guest star Betty White. In “Anthropology 101” White plays a “slightly unhinged anthropology professor” named June Bauer. Doesn’t she just fit right in with the entire Community gang in that picture up there? Want to see more stills from the premiere ep? Look in the gallery below to find more Betty White plus images of fearless leader Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), Hawthorne Wipes’ Pierce Hawthorne (Chevy Chase), Annie Adderall (Alison Brie), Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), dream team Abed & Troy (Danny Pudi & Donald Glover), and Señor Chang (Ken Jeong) as a student! What, no Britta “Baagels” Perry (Gillian Jacobs)? She’s above, left. Oh, and didcha see Starburns?!
Greendale Community College is back in session Thursday, September 23 at 8PM on NBC.
[Via HitFix]
Ahh, this is so awesome! The Roots’ drummer Questlove was given the task of remixing the infamous “blind man is gay” reporter blooper with other topical clips. Using his drum kit and a DJ setup, Quest nails it. Short on time? Fast-forward to the 1 minute mark to watch the magic.
I have no idea! Sorry for the misleading post title there, but I couldn’t help myself. No one knows what the actual “event” from NBC’s new fall program The Event is, but I’m sitting here at the edge of my seat waiting to find out. Briefly introduce yourself to the upcoming conspiracy thriller with a quick synopsis and cloaked-in-mystery trailer. Then check out the brand-spankin’ new character stills in the gallery below. You will be aquainted with them on Monday, September 20 at 9PM on NBC.
Cast members include Jason Ritter, Sarah Roemer, Blair Underwood, Laura Innes, Željko Ivanek, Ian Anthony Dale, Scott Patterson, Clifton Collins Jr., Bill Smitrovich, Lisa Vidal, Taylor Cole, and Wes Ramsey.
[Via IGN]
You read that right, folks. At the end of the upcoming seventh season of NBC’s The Office star Steve Carell will leave his post as moronic boss Michael Scott. His contract is up next season and he simply wants to spend more time with his family. In his words: “I just think it’s time. I want to fulfill my contract. When I first signed on I had a contract for seven seasons, and this coming year is my seventh. I just thought it was time for my character to go.” With Michael Scott of out the picture, can the show still go on? According to Carell the answer is a resounding yes. “It doesn’t certainly mean the end of the show. I think it’s just a dynamic change to the show, which could be a good thing, actually. Add some new life and some new energy…I see it as a positive in general for the show.” When news broke of his potential exit from the show, he quickly became a trending topic on Twitter; fans were pretty upset. Carell addressed the reaction, too. “I didn’t see it as a huge thing and I certainly didn’t anticipate any sort of hubbub over it. I’m just not going to extend my contract, but I didn’t see it as a huge deal. And the show is great, and the ensemble is so strong, and the writers are great, so it’s just one part of that ensemble drifting off. They’ve incorporated so many new characters and so many new, great storylines that I have no doubt it’ll continue as strong if not stronger than ever.” While that is likely true, the show will not be the same with Carell absent. Though negociations are still open for debate, it certainly seems like Carell is ready to call it quits. And that’s what she said.
[Via E!Online]
SNL’s MacGruber (the movie is hilarious, go see it!) has accepted an invitation to guest star in NBC’s Parks & Recreation in a season three episode. According to Ausiello, Forte “will play a Pawnee resident whose obsession with the Twilight franchise complicates a pet project Poehler’s Leslie is working on. Hint: Think time capsule.” Forte will be third SNL member to visit Pawnee, following Fred Armisen as Raul, the head of the Venezuelan delegation, in “Sister City” and Andy Samberg’s loud-mouthed Park Ranger Carl in “Park Safety.”
[Via EW-AusielloFiles]
As one TV season ends, another begins. Every year the big networks hold their own press events to preview their new programming to advertisers and audiences. The Upfronts is a time when the networks release program information to the public like the creators, producers, and cast behind their new fall and mid-season shows. Be sure to look after the break for trailers, synopses, and creator/producer/cast information behind NBC’s upcoming TV lineup.
13 new series :: 7 new dramas (The Event, Chase, Undercovers, Law & Order: Lost Angeles, Outlaw, Harry’s Law, The Cape) – 5 new comedies (Outsourced, Love Bites, Friends with Benefits, The Paul Reiser Show, Perfect Couples) – 1 alternative (School Pride)
3 cancellations :: Heroes, Trauma, The Jay Leno Show
Returning series held for mid-season :: Parks & Recreation, The Apprentice, The Celebrity Apprentice, Minute to Win It
NBC head Angela Bromstad on the Heroes cancellation: “We felt we had satisfied the viewers desire in terms of the show and the length of its run.” Though Heroes was cancelled, creator Tim Kring and the cast are hoping that NBC gives them a slot to air either a two hour or four hour (stretched across two nights) TV movie to properly conclude the series. Bromstad says NBC is in talks with Kring about making a TV movie happen sometime next season.
NBC chairman Jeff Gaspin on why Parks & Rec is being held for mid-season: “It was our toughest decision to make. But to get new comedies on our schedule, Thursday is still the best place to launch. We expect Parks and Recreation to be back on the schedule Thursday and it’s not any way an indication that we don’t think it’s as good as any other comedy. We’ve learned from cable that you can wait as long as a year, create more anticipation and not lose any momentum.”
Jesse Alexander’s (Heroes) apocalyptic drama Day One is not being developed. Bummer.
Drama
The Event: What if there was a cover-up so big that even the President was on a need-to-know basis? And what if some average guy stumbled upon the truth – a secret so powerful it could literally change the course of humanity? You think that guy would stand a chance of survival? From Nick Wauters (The 4400, Eureka) and Steve Stark (Medium) comes a suspense-filled journey where the answers only lead to bigger questions.
Starring Jason Ritter, Sarah Roemer, Scott Patterson, Blair Underwood, Zeljko Ivanek, Taylor Cole, and Laura Innes. [Mondays @ 9PM]
And the first new scripted TV program of the fall is… J.J. Abrams’ spy drama Undercovers. NBC pounced on this back in December, and now it has been made official. NBC ordered an inital 13 episode run set to start in September. Undercovers is about a married couple (Boris Kodjoe & Gugu Mbatha-Raw) who play ex-CIA agents that are pulled back into the “into the world of espionage.” That’s right people; Abrams is going back to his roots (Alias, MI:3). Here’s the synopsis:
Outwardly, Steven Bloom (Kodjoe) and his wife, Samantha (Mbatha-Raw), are a typical married couple who own a small catering company in Los Angeles and are helped by Samantha’s easily frazzled younger sister, Lizzy (Jessica Parker Kennedy). Secretly, the duo were two of the CIA’s best spies until they fell in love on the job five years ago and retired. When fellow spy and friend Nash (Carter MacIntyre) goes missing while on the trail of a Russian arms dealer, the Blooms are reinstated by boss Carlton Shaw (Gerald McRaney) to locate and rescue Nash. The pair is thrust back into the world of espionage as they follow leads that span the globe — and Steven and Samantha realize that this supercharged, undercover lifestyle provides the excitement and romance that their marriage has been missing.
Jeff Gaspin, Chairman, NBC Universal Television Entertainment: “We have tremendous confidence in this promising series and feel this is a great way to kick off our upcoming Upfront development announcements. J.J. has delivered another signature series along with our partners at Warner Bros and we couldn’t be happier.” NBC President Angela Bromstad: “Having J.J. on our creative team is a great reason for celebration. In Undercovers, he’s found a breakout couple that is rich in character and brimming with romance and action. We feel he’s found the perfect cast.”
Abrams will servce as co-writer, executive producer, and co-creator (with Josh Reims). He also directed the pilot; this is the first time he’s directing a TV show episode since the Lost pilot. This should be good. Keep it on your radar.
[Via EW-Ausiello Files; IGN]