Television News and Notes

[NOTKyle]

This is the official thread for news, rumours, and announcements relating to the wonderful world of the silver screen.

DO IT

DO IT NOW

[Le Goat]

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" has solved the mystery of who will replace departing CBS series star William Petersen: It's Laurence Fishburne.
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/08/18/csi.fishburne.ap/art.fishburne.ap.jpgLaurence Fishburne will join the "CSI" cast as a lecturer and former pathologist with a secret.


http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/img/2.0/mosaic/base_skins/baseplate/corner_wire_BL.gif


Fishburne, an Emmy and Tony winner, will be introduced in the ninth episode of the upcoming 10th season, the network told The Associated Press on Monday. He'll play a forensics scientist with a secret.
"I am elated and delighted to be joining the cast of 'CSI,' " Fishburne said in a statement, adding that he looked forward to a "wonderful collaboration" with those involved in the series.
Fishburne plays a college lecturer and former pathologist who is focused on why people commit acts of violence.
The air date for Petersen's final episode has yet to be determined but will be early next year. Petersen has been with the series since it debuted in fall 2000 and will remain a "CSI" executive producer, the network said.
Fishburne's character has a deep connection to his work: His genetic profile has been identified in serial killers, CBS programming chief Nina Tassler said before Fishburne's casting was announced but as rumors swirled.
"This gentleman knows this about himself and is ... in this journey to discover who his true character will ultimately become," Tassler said last month -- but he's keeping the crucial information to himself.
Don't Miss



EW: Why Fishburne was selected (http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2008/08/its-official-la.html?cnn=yes)


The character meets members of the "CSI" team during a murder investigation and ends up joining them.
Fishburne, 47, received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Ike Turner in 1993's "What's Love Got to Do With It" and a Tony in 1992 for "Two Trains Running." He was a Tony nominee this year for the one-man show, "Thurgood," about Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
His film credits include the "Matrix" sci-fi films, in which he played Morpheus; "Apocalypse Now"; "The Color Purple"; "Mystic River"; "21"; "Akeelah and the Bee"; and "Biker Boyz." He also is a writer and director.
"CBS asked us, 'Who's at the top of your dream list?' " "CSI" executive producers Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar said in a joint statement. "Without hesitation, we said Laurence Fishburne. He is a powerful and intense actor, with an incredible range."
Fishburne earned an Emmy for the 1993 premiere episode of Fox's "Tribeca" and another for the movie "Miss Evers' Boys," which marked rare TV projects for the actor. Early in his career, he appeared in shows including "Miami Vice" and "Hill Street Blues."
The long-running "CSI" remains key for CBS: It finished last season as the network's top-rated series, ranking No. 9 among all shows with an average weekly audience of 17 million. Spinoffs "CSI: Miami" and "CSI: New York" ranked 16th and 28th, respectively.
Producers have been mum about upcoming plot points. But they said Petersen's character, Gil Grissom, will be reappraising his life after years of high-tech forensics investigations with the Las Vegas Police Department and after facing personal turmoil.
"CSI," which begins its new season October 9, is ready to deal with Petersen's loss, said Shankar.
"What makes shows go off the rails is they forget who they are. We're a crime-mystery-forensics drama" and that won't change, Shankar said in July

FUCK YEAH!

[Draven X 23]

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news08/stargateatlantis.jpg "Stargate Atlantis" will conclude its run on Sci Fi Channel after the current, fifth season ends next January according to MultiChannel News (http://www.multichannel.com/index.asp?layout=talkbackCommentsFull&talk_back_header_id=6550871&articleid=CA6589329).

The network has however greenlit a two-hour TV movie to run after that and say the show will live on as a network franchise.

The untitled Atlantis movie will air on the Sci-Fi Channel sometime next year and then be released to DVD.

[Draven X 23]

The Graysons are Coming to The CW

Source: Variety (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117993158.html?categoryid=14&cs=1)
October 1, 2008



The CW is developing a series based on Batman sidekick Robin's pre-Caped Crusader days, reports Variety.

"Smallville" executive producers Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson, as well as "Supernatural" executive producer McG, are behind "The Graysons," which has landed a put pilot commitment at the network.

Just as "Smallville" focuses on Clark Kent in the years before he became Superman, "The Graysons" will follow the world of Dick "DJ" Grayson before he takes on the iconic Robin identity and aligns himself with Batman.

"The Graysons" is seen as a potential replacement for "Smallville" should that show end its run this season, which has been speculated. Should "Smallville" return next year, "The Graysons" might also make a strong companion piece.

In the one-hour "Graysons," which will be set in modern times, young DJ will face challenges involving first loves, young rivals and his family (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=49254#) as he grows up. Souders and Peterson have come up with an original take on the character.

[bpb]

That sounds retarded.

[bixby]

So...it will follow a 6 year old and his family of circus performers? The fuck?

Cancelled. Calling it.

[bixby]

A lot of shows are going under this season.

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/18727/uploads/Cancellation.jpg

[Hobnail_Boot]

Wow. Smallville isn't performing poorly at all.

[comicfan]

Yeah! Really surprising given the loss of 2 of the original cast members. But still, I have heard rumblings this will be the last season whether it performs well or not. Course I really surprised that My name is Earl is doing so poorly... really like that show.

[AJ]

Web site says Fox close to scrapping Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles because of poor ratings.

Maybe the Terminator won't be back.
The small-screen arm of the Terminator franchise, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, is on the chopping block, according to the funny-spelled Web site SyFyPortal.com (http://www.syfyportal.com/news425418.html).
http://image.com.com/tv/images/genie_images/story/2008/t/terminator_cameronapple.jpg (http://www.tv.com/terminator-the-sarah-connor-chronicles/show/68708/summary.html) An apple a day keeps the axe away.


Terminator hasn't exactly been kicking behind in the ratings department this season, and apparently Fox is ready to pull the plug on the cyborgs. SyFy Portal quotes the ever-present inside source as saying that Fox is very bummed about the numbers. Terminator is drawing crowds of less than 6 million and averaging a 3.7 rating, good for third place in the crowded Monday-night battleground (fourth place if you count ESPN's Monday Night Football).


"Audiences just aren't responding to the show," says the Fox mole. "Our biggest surprise are the 18-to-49s [numbers], those numbers are in the toilet."
Requests for comment from Fox went unanswered as of press time. [UPDATE] Fox reps responded with the following to TV.com: "The rumors are all speculative and were never fact checked with the network or studio."
Fox suits are also worried that Terminator's Monday-night buddy, Prison Break, is also feeling the pain of Terminator's low numbers. Apparently Fox doesn't think viewers know how to change channels over the course of an evening.
Just over a week ago, EW.com (http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2008/09/ask-ausiello--3.html) also reported that Terminator was on the ropes, with a more likely reason than that audiences are simply not responding to the show.



"We're up against Monday Night Football," Terminator star Thomas Dekker told the site. "Which is tricky because we have a lot of football fans."
Monday night is also home to Dancing With the Stars, Chuck, Gossip Girl, and Heroes. In short, it's a bloodbath, with men tuning in to football and ladies checking out Dancing. Perhaps a move to another night could save Terminator?

I think this would be a shame. I enjoy this show and most people I know watch it.

[ShitBreak]

Just goes to show you that most of America is fucking retarded. Terminator has been insanely good this year all around.

[Hobnail_Boot]

Just goes to show you that most of America is fucking retarded. Terminator has been insanely good this year all around.
I'll enjoy it on DVD.

[ShitBreak]

I'll enjoy it on DVD.

Yeah, and then that will be it because no one fucking watches. I want more seasons, damnit.

[Hobnail_Boot]

Let's just hope Fox gives it a "full" season (i.e., the story arc is "completed"). Because this is Terminator, we kind of already know how it ends.

[Draven X 23]

V


ABC is developing a new adaptation of "V," the 1980s miniseries about alien lizards visiting Earth, reports Variety.

"V" spawned a second miniseries and TV spin-off — written by "The 4400" co-creator/executive producer Scott Peters.

Warner Bros. TV, which was behind the original, is once again producing the project, which was sold as a spec script to ABC.

Peters is set to executive produce, along with HDFilms principal Jace Hall.

The new "V" will center on Erica Evans, a Homeland Security agent with an aimless son who's got problems. When the aliens arrive, her son gloms on to them — causing tension within the family. As in the original "V," several storylines will unfold simultaneously.

As in the '80s version, the show will open with an enormous army of spaceships hovering over the world's major cities. The visitors say they've come to help Earth, but their motives are nefarious.

[Draven X 23]

Fox is through with Saturday morning cartoons, colorful cereal, footie PJs and fun in general. 4Kids, the programmers behind Fox's Saturday morning line up, have given up on entertaining the youth this December, and Fox is replacing their programming with infomercials. I knew yelly spokesmen Billy Mayes was the devil.
I warned us all, as Mayes was peddling Oxi Clean to the masses, that this bearded man would be our undoing — and now look. He's killed cartoons. More specifically, he's killed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Yu Gi Oh, and Chaotic.
Granted, Fox chairman Tony Vinciquerra tried to explain that the said programs wouldn't be infomercials byt his reassurance doesn't really help:
"These are hopefully not infomercials," said Fox Networks Group chairman Tony Vinciquerra. "These will be longform programs that highlights their product. In that regard, it will have a little better quality."
So it may be more like the Magic Bullet commercial, but still a giant advertisement. Plus, I can only watch that drunk at 3 AM.

This is simply un-American. How will children learn morals and values with our G.I. Joe's and other cartoon faces reminding them that "Knowing is Half The Battle?" Where will children turn to for love and understanding during the weekend? Surely not their parents. This will be the undoing of society, mark my words.

I blame the fall of man on the loss of Saturday Morning Cartoons. Also on the loss of Afternoon Cartoons. And don't give me the Cartoon Network BS. They have horrible cartoons. Where would all of the great of the world be today without Scooby Doo, Thundercats, GI Joe, Ducktales, He-Man and the millions of other awesome cartoons?

I'll tell you where... France.

[Jericho]

Really? Jesus.


June 1st of 2009 is when Conan O'Brien takes over the Tonight Show, and people have been wondering what Jay Leno will be doing when that happens. According to Variety (http://www.variety.com/), Jay Leno will be staying with NBC and be producing a nightly show at 10pm. NBC was thrilled when Leno agreed to the proposed idea, saying, "It will keep ratings leader Leno at the network, and away from the competition."

NBC was planning on cutting back to two-hours of original programming Monday through Friday, due to the recession, and the fact that NBC is trying to cut $500-million dollars from their budget. But now with the addition of Leno at 10pm, they will be able to keep the three-hours of original programming and it will be at a low cost. Leno's show doesn't cost much to produce, plus they will be keeping his current set. They are constructing a new set for Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show. Conan O'Brien is said to be pleased that he will have Leno leading into his program instead of competing against him.

[NOTKyle]

We're in a recession?

[opasewq]

I chose not to participate.

[Draven X 23]

Celebrate Good Times Come On!


TBS will not be bringing back his sketch comedy series Frank TV for another season, but he has a signed a new deal to continue his role with Fox NFL Sunday for another two years.

The TBS comedy series, which debuted in November 2007, gained notoriety early on mostly because it was heavily promoted by the network during its baseball playoff broadcasts that year, enough so that even Caliendo would joke about it in subsequent interviews.

[Erased]

Here's a list of the fall schedule of shows that are getting renewed/getting cancelled/already cancelled/likely getting cancelled. If anyone is interested.

Link (http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/04/fall-tv-cheat-s.html)


ABC
The Bachelor: Already renewed.
Better Off Ted: Could go either way.
Brothers & Sisters: Already renewed.
Castle: Could go either way.
Cupid: It's a goner.
Dancing with the Stars: Already renewed.
Desperate Housewives: Already renewed.
Dirty Sexy Money: Officially canceled.
Eli Stone: Officially canceled.
Grey's Anatomy: Already renewed.
In the Motherhood: It's a goner.
Lost: Already renewed.
Private Practice: Already renewed.
Pushing Daisies: Officially canceled.
Samantha Who?: Could go either way.
Scrubs: Prospects brightening.
Supernanny: Already renewed.
Surviving Suburbia: A long shot.
Ugly Betty: Already renewed.
The Unusuals: A long shot.
Wife Swap: Already renewed.
CBS
The Amazing Race: Already renewed.
The Big Bang Theory: Already renewed.
Cold Case: Could go either way.
Criminal Minds: Sure thing.
CSI: Sure thing.
CSI: Miami: Sure thing.
CSI: NY: Sure thing.
Eleventh Hour: Could go either way.
Flashpoint: A long shot.
Gary Unmarried: Could go either way.
Ghost Whisperer: Sure thing.
Harper's Island: It's a goner.
How I Met Your Mother: Sure thing.
The Mentalist: Sure thing.
NCIS: Sure thing.
New Adventures of Old Christine: Could go either way. ABC poised to pick up if CBS passes.
Numb3rs: Safe bet.
Rules of Engagement: Safe bet.
Survivor: Already renewed.
Two and a Half Men: Already renewed.
The Unit: A long shot.
Without a Trace: Could go either way.
Worst Week: A long shot.
FOX
24: Already renewed.
American Dad: Already renewed.
American Idol: Already renewed.
Bones: Sure thing.
Dollhouse: Could go either way.
Family Guy: Already renewed.
Fringe: Sure thing.
House: Sure thing.
King of the Hill: Officially canceled.
Kitchen Nightmares: Already renewed.
Lie to Me: Sure thing.
Prison Break: Officially canceled.
The Simpsons: Already renewed.
Sit Down, Shut Up: It's a goner.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: A long shot.
'Til Death: Already renewed (unfortunately).
NBC
30 Rock: Already renewed.
The Biggest Loser: Already renewed.
Celebrity Apprentice: Already renewed.
Chuck: Could go either way.
Friday Night Lights: Already renewed.
Heroes: Sure thing.
Kath & Kim: It's a goner.
Kings: It's a goner.
Knight Rider: It's a goner.
Law & Order: Likely
Law & Order: CI: Could go either way.
Law & Order: SVU: Already renewed.
Life: A long shot.
Lipstick Jungle: Officially canceled.
Medium: Safe bet.
My Name is Earl: Could go either way.
The Office: Already renewed.
Parks and Recreation: Safe bet.
Southland: Sure thing.
The CW
90210: Already renewed.
America's Next Top Model: Already renewed.
Everybody Hates Chris: It's a goner.
The Game: It's a long shot.
Gossip Girl: Already renewed.
One Tree Hill: Already renewed.
Privileged: Prospects brightening.
Reaper: It's a goner.
Smallville: Already renewed.
Supernatural: Already renewed.

[NOTKyle]

Why is Southland a sure thing. I don't get it. That shit is awful.

[jemeske]

Yeah it sucks. I'm curious where they'll move it, because Leno is obviously taking it's place. Really, NBC needs to dump more than it seems they will. More people watch CW than Heroes half the time. I know it has a hardcore following, but nobody but dorks who can't accept that it sucks balls watches it.

Also, do we really need a "news and notes" and "off topic" for the tv section?

[tormenta]

Lost renewed? I thought we get the last season and the Final solution to the whole damm thing? damm..

Prison Break cancelled, well that sucks, on the other Hand, they have done wonders to keep it fresh and interesting for so long, to put an end to Season 3 could have done it and I would have been Happy.

Scrubs may get a chance, thats terrific! I thought that would be the last Season.

[420monk]

Confirmed Official Cancellations:
My Name Is Earl
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Eleventh Hour
Medium
The Unit
Cupid
According To Jim
Samantha Who
The Unusuals
Priviledged
Without A Trace

Confirmed Renewals:
Castle
Bones
Chuck
How I Met Your Mother
Numb3rs
Cold Case
Dollhouse

[ADD]

But "Medium" was a safe bet...

edit: to be picked up by CBS and air after JLH's cleavage. Other than that, Friday night is where shows go to die.