Show Excursions for This Week

Summer viewing is here!  There will be a lot of new shows premiering in the coming weeks while other series are returning.  Here's what's on for this week:

MONDAY, MAY 27

ABC's long-running - and sadly addictive - match-making series returns with Bachelor-reject-favorite Desiree Hartsock now the one with the roses seeking love once again via reality TV (this has become the norm for the show ... taking a fan favorite from the previous Bachelor/Bachelorette season and making them the lead).  I'm sure there will be no lack of hunks, a few strange ducks and no limit to testosterone-posturing.  The Bachelorette premieres on ABC at 8 p.m.

TUESDAY, MAY 28

This short-loved but very entertaining show that aired for two seasons (2007-08 and 2009) on the CW starred Bret Harrison (V, Breaking In), Tyler Labine (Mad Love, Animal Practice), Missy Peregrym (now on Rookie Blue) and Ray Wise (24).  The premise:  On his 21st birthday, Sam (Harrison) discovers his parents sold his soul to the Devil (Wise) before birth and he must now be a bounty hunter for Hell until he dies. Despite only lasting 31 episodes, FEARnet has picked up the show for syndication this June.  Catch up with the former cast in a special airing tonight.  Reaper: Reunion airs on FEARnet at 9 p.m.

This decent procedural series starring Dana Delaney as Philadelphia medical examiner Megan Hunt was never a real winner for ABC, so the network has cancelled it.  I don't think the writers were told in time enough to give the show a proper ending, so we'll have to see what we are left with in the now-series finale.  Body of Proof signs off on ABC at 10 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29

What a delight! Join Bravo in celebrating 250 episodes of the quintessential actor-craft interview program and host with the questionnaire extraordinaire, James Lipton, featuring snippets from chats with some Hollywood's best and brightest.  Inside the Actor's Studio airs on Bravo at 7 p.m.

 

The only true fake-psychic show in my book (I'm talking to you, Mentalist) completes its latest series tonight.  Can't wait to see what trouble Shawn (James Roday) and Gus (Dule Hill) get into next!  Psych season finale airs on USA at 10 p.m.

Fall Season 2013 - My Thoughts

Overall, I'm happy with the Fall 2013 program landscape.  Most of my shows are returning and most have landed in time slots - either the same ones or in new ones - that present no current conflict.

I always wish I could be a fly in the wall in the rooms where the net execs make their big decisions.  I just picture the big bulletin board with all the index cards with the new and returning shows on them and the piecing together of each night.  What shows go together, what shows can act as lead-ins to the newbies, etc.  It's a job I don't envy and yet would like to give a shot.

Anyways ...

The CW is bringing Supernatural back to the time slot where it started it all:  9 p.m. on Tuesdays.  I am perfectly okay with this, because it makes Tuesdays AWESOME - Joss Whedon's Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is on at 8 p,m, on ABC and there are no other current conflicts for me.  This will allow me to check out Seth Green's new sitcom Dads on FOX at 8 p.m. and maybe do some catch up in the other free time.

This is my one very big disappointment:  CBS is banishing Hawaii Five-0 - which is going into its fourth season - out of its Monday @ 10 p.m. home to Fridays at 9 p.m.  We all know Friday is where shows pretty much go to die (with exception to The X-Files years ago and more recently Supernatural, which lived on the night for two season before being delivered onto Wednesdays).  So I can only hope that some new drama (no offense to them) doesn't live long and CBS frees this terrific, action-packed show from programming purgatory.  The CW's Nikita will remain on Fridays but is not returning till mid-season for its final 6 episodes (thanks to this network for consistently giving their shows a chance to wrap up and end instead of flat out pulling them - Smallville, 90210 ...).  And Shark Tank will not conflict at 9 p.m., since I have the record-two-programs-at once DVR  But who knows ... maybe H50 will do well on its new night, out of ABC hit Castle's path.

 ABC's Castle is another favorite of mine and is staying put Mondays at 10 p.m.  So Mondays for me stay cool, with CBS' How I Met Your Mother still at 8 p.m. and 2 Broke Girls at 9 p.m.  I'll have the chance to check out FOX's Sleepy Hollow at 9 p.m. Nothing else really interests me at 8 p.m., since I'm very over ABC's Dancing With the Stars.  But I do watch The Bachelor (yeah, I know, shut up), so when that returns later in the season, I'll have it non-conflicting.

As I predicted, Arrow is going to act as lead-in for the similar genre show The Tomorrow People, starring Arrow star Stephen Amell's cousin Robbie Amell.  This new superhero-esque drama about young adults discovering their abilities as the next stage of evolution (think X-Men) should be a nice fit for Arrow, which had a terrific and successful freshman season.  TTP also hails from good pedigree, being co-created by The Vampire Diaries' Julie Plec and Arrow's own Greg Berlanti.

While I had expected the CW to use The Vampire Diaries (Thursdays at 8 p.m.) to give a lead-in boost to its spinoff The Originals, its instead going to help launch new regal drama Reign - about young Mary, Queen of Scots' rise to power - at 9 p.m.  The show TVD helped launch last year, Beauty and the Beast, is moving to Mondays at 9 p.m.  The Originals will be the lead-in to Supernatural on Tuesdays at 8 p.m.  A nice pairing, I think.

No changes to my Sunday night:  Once Upon a Time and Revenge stay where they are on ABC at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. respectively.  New drama Betrayal at 10 p.m. seems like a good fit to Revenge, but ABC had not been able to keep a drama here for long (666 Park Avenue, Red Widow), so we'll see.

 

Aside from Supernatural's move, my Wednesday stays in tact, with Survivor at 8 p.m. on CBS followed by Criminal Minds at 9 p.m.  And no conflict in the latter hoir will allow me to check out the aforementioned The Tomorrow People.


Granted, NOTHING is set in stone.  There will be the inevitable cancellations and time-slot shifts as the Fall season moves ahead.  But right now, save H50's move, I'm a happy watcher.

Come back here throughout the summer for all the interim TV goodness I'll be covering, then join me in September for my reviews of the new shows, coverage of the Paley Center's Fall TV Preview Parties and more!

What's On For Fall and Beyond

Welcome to May Madness, TV Tourists!  Compiled together are the farewells to television seasons and some series, the mourning of cancelled shows and the buzz on all the pending shows tp be premiered in the fall.  I don't know about you but my head is SPINNING!

I have been reading the blurbs about all the new shows that have been picked up by the various networks and there is quite the range of comedies and dramas.  Some networks cleaned house more than others (hello, axe-happy NBC) to make room for new programs and there are some cool stars making their return to the small screen (welcome back Josh Holloway, James Caan and Sarah Michelle Gellar).

It's hard to make judgements of what I think will be worthy of watching this early on - and as always I will do my very best to review as many of the new shows as I can as my service to you - but there are shows definitely on my to-be-watched list based on their casting:

Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) heads up the new drama Killer Women, while It-Girl-of-the-Moment Rebel Wilson stars in Super Fun Night.  Back in the Game welcomes James Caan (Las Vegas) back to TV But the most anticipated show on this net for me is undeniably Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  A) you just can't go wrong with Joss Whedon; B) Clark Gregg's Agent Coulson is somehow resurrected; and C) Marvel is one hot property with the success of last year's The Avengers, current blockbuster Iron Man 3 and the upcoming Thor and Captain America sequels.

Lost hottie Josh Holloway heads up Intelligence, while Robin Williams returns to TV decades after Mork & Mindy to play dad to Sarah Michelle Gellar, making her own return after her failed Ringer, in Crazy Ones.  And movie comedienne Anna Faris stars in Mom.

I confess, I watch a LOT of the CW's programming.  Count em:  Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, Nikita, 90210 (miss you already), Arrow.  So I don't doubt I'll be checking out the new shows - actually the least new programming of any of the nets due to them renewing just about everything.  Technically I've already seen the pilot of The Originals (you can read my review on this site) and the net seems to be sticking with what they do best: angsty, relationship-driven dramas with often with mystical elements, heightened action and, of course, REALLY good looking people.  New shows include The Tomorrow People, The Hundred and Reign.

Coming off the inevitably hot blockbuster Star Trek: Into Darkness, Karl Urban headlines Almost Human, while cult darling and does-he-NEVER-age? Seth Green stars in Dads (maybe he and Anna Faris should do a crossover).

 

I feel like NBC is just going to keep revamping their schedule every season until they feel they get it right.  I'm fair sure they cancelled more shows than anyone, proving that if you're not hot out out of the gate and stay there, you go bye-bye real quick-quick.  But they've got some heavy-duty comedy players in the new line-up, including the return of Sean Hayes in Sean Saves the World and bigger return of Michael J. Fox in the aptly titled The Michael J. Fox Show.  On the drama front, I guess the net was thrilled to have Gillian Anderson on as a guest star on Hannibal cause they picked up her new series Crisis (midseason).  There's also a show based on the hit movie About a Boy called - you guessed it - About a Boy.  And then there's Believe from producer J.J. Abrams.  Man's got the Midas touch, so definitely a must-see to see what's what.

Fear not summer, tourists:  there is going to be PLENTY to watch while we all wait on the edge of our couches for the new fall season, so come back here and I'll keep you on track with all I deem watch-worthy!

Show Excursions for This Week

Bring on the Season Finales!

MONDAY, MAY 13

It only had half the life of its predecessor, but it fit a hell of lot of crazy drama and moving-at-the-speed-of-light plot lines into those five seasons.  See how it all ends tonight.  90210 series finale airs at 8 p.m. on the CW.

Is tonight the night we meet "the mother"?  Will Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Robin (Cobie Smulders) make it to the altar or are they possibly not meant to be?  How I Met Your Mother airs at 8 p.m. on CBS.

Will Max (Kat Dennings) and Caroline (Beth Behrs) - this century's Laverne & Shirley - find a way to restart their cupcake business? 2 Broke Girls airs at 9 p.m. on CBS.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15

 

The action series' freshman season finale is said to be on par with a feature film, and I don't doubt it.  This show about DC's archer hero (Stephen Amell) has been ambitious all season long and I can see them pulling no punches sending us off to summer on the edge of our seats.  Arrow airs at 8 p.m. on the CW.

 

The show's ninth season started kind of weak for me but man, have they turned things around to be one of the most exciting and heartbreaking of the series' run.  Will Sam (Jared Padalecki) be able to complete the third trial to close the gates of Hell forever?  Will Dean (Jensen Ackles) lose his brother again, permanently?  And what of Castiel's (Misha Collins) own mission to close Heaven's gates for good?  Can. Not. Wait.  Supernatural airs at 9 p.m. on the CW.

THURSDAY, MAY 16

 

Leonard gets a job interview overseas that he may not be able to refuse, despite the possibility of leaving true love Penny behind.  This show gets better and better and if you're not a fan yet, I recommend catching up with it this summer ... not a problem, since it's EVERYWHERE in syndication.  The Big Bang Theory airs at 8 p.m. on CBS.

 

Nothing will outdo Buffy The Vampire Slayer's graduation episode in season three of the beloved cult series, but that doesn't mean TVD isn't going to give us an exciting ceremony.  With Elena (Nina Dobrev) having her humanity back and the veil between the living and the dead lifted - not to mention Bonnie's (Kat Graham)  "condition," I'm poised for the thrilling conclusion to this killer (literally) season.  The Vampire Diaries airs at 8 p.m. on the CW.

I have to admit, I'm not a fan of this long-running sitcom, but I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't mention the swan song of the popular series about a dysfunctional work place full of quirky characters, signing off after an incredible nine-season run.  The Office series finale airs at 9 p.m. on NBC.

FRIDAY, MAY 17

One of the best reality shows on - yes, I'm saying those words - that helps intrepid, aspiring entrepreneurs possibly achieve their dreams of success, ends its season tonight.  Shark Tank airs at 9 p.m. on ABC.

Show Excursions for This Week

Welcome back, Tourists!  We're in the home stretch for TV as season finales are upon us.  But that's not all worth watching this week ...

MONDAY, MAY 6

In honor of Mother's Day, Cher is presenting a video love letter to her mom Georgia Holt in the documentary Dear Mom, Love Cher.  Among treasures shared in this special are Holt's own lost singing career, stories of Cher's childhood, Holt's feelings about once-son-in-law Sonny Bono, and more.  Dear Mom, Love Cher airs at 10 p.m. on Lifetime.

TUESDAY, MAY 7

I got hooked on this ridiculous but addictive competition show early on and tonight we find out who the celebrity diving champion will be:  Nicole Eggert (Baywatch), Drake Bell (Drake & Josh) or extreme skier Rory Bushfield.  Splash airs at 8 p.m. on ABC.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8

 

Tonight's penultimate episode is titled "Clip Show," but don't expect the usual montage of clips that you've seen on other long-running series.  This is Supernatural, after all, a show that has turned and twisted conventional TV plot devices in such a unique way, even Community's Abed couldn't see it coming!  Supernatural airs at 9 p.m. on the CW.

On tonight's Nashville, the claws are sure to come out tonight as country queen Rayna (Connie Britton) and vixen ingenue Juliette (Hayden Panettiere) go head to head at the Country Music Awards.  Nashville airs at 10 p.m. on ABC.

THURSDAY, MAY 9

New Directions, having received a surprise reprieve after a humiliating turn at Sectionals, are off to Regionals in tonight's season finale.  The competition is stiffer than ever with rival show choir Hossierdaddies' featuring their ringer Frida, played by American Idol alum Jessica Sanchez.  Also, I believe we'll find out if Rachel (Lea Michele) will achieve her Broadway dreams by winning the lead role in  the revival of Funny Girl.  Glee airs at 9 p.m. on FOX.

SUNDAY, MAY 12

Following the long-running reality competition series' penultimate episode on Wednesday, the latest sole survivor champion is decided tonight.  Since my favorites Malcolm and Reynold have been voted out, I'm rooting for underdog Cochran, who has played a rather brilliant game.  Survivor airs first on Wednesday at 8 p.m., then tonight at 8 p.m. on CBS.