CBS

TV News: Cancellation Axe Falls on ‘Dollhouse,’ ‘Eastwick,’ ‘Hank’

BrianTT — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:09:15 -0700

CHICAGO – Blogs everywhere are reporting that FOX has canceled “Dollhouse” and that ABC has canceled “Eastwick” and “Hank”. “Dollhouse” starred Eliza Dushku with “Eastwick” and “Hank” being headlined by Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and Kelsey Grammer, respectively. The series join “Trauma” and “The Beautiful Life” as early fatalities of the new season.

Eliza Dushku in Dollhouse.
Photo credit: FOX

After the surprise second season announcement, FOX officially decided to cancel the Joss Whedon series “Dollhouse”. The series will end once the current 13-episode order is complete. It’s not surprising to hear that “Dollhouse” has been canceled since the show’s ratings have been a big disappoint since the show first premiered.

Thanks to the show’s popular fanbase and decent DVR numbers, the show made it to a second season. The second season ratings, however, have sunk to a new low and the network was forced to end the series.

ABC has decided to cancel two of their Wednesday night shows. First is the Kelsey Grammer comedy series “Hank” and the TV remake drama “Eastwick”. “Eastwick” will continue to air until the already-produced episodes air. As of now, it’s unknown if “Hank” will continue to air episodes since it’s been replaced with specials and other fill-ins for the foreseeable future.

What shows are next? It appears that ABC’s “The Middle”, CBS’s “Three Rivers”, NBC’s “Mercy”, and ABC’s “The Forgotten” are in danger of being canceled next.

By ANGIE RENTMEESTER
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

DVD Round Up, Oct. 20, 2009: ‘Medium,’ ‘Princess,’ ‘Top Chef’

BrianTT — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:06:23 -0600

CHICAGO – Over the course of dozens of editions of HollywoodChicago.com’s DVD Round-Up column, we have brought our readers more than a few collections that possessed a remarkable variety of genres in one piece, but few match this week’s column, a quartet of titles that include supernatural drama, reality television, foreign animation, and classic fantasy.

It would be harder to say what these titles have in common than to point out their remarkable differences. All they really share is a launch on DVD around the same time. We truly have something for everyone this week. Synopsis, cast, technical details, and special features follow. Pick your favorite…

“Princess” was released on September 29th, 2009.

“The Gate” and “Medium: Season Five” were released on October 6th, 2009.

“Top Chef: Season Five” was released on October 20th, 2009.

“The Gate”

Photo credit: Lionsgate

Synopsis: “After an old tree is removed from the ground, three young children accidentally release a horde of nasty, pint-sized demons from the hole in a suburban backyard. What follows is a classic battle between good and evil as the three kids struggle to overcome a nightmarish hell that is literally taking over the Earth.”

“The Gate” stars Stephen Dorff, Louis Tripp, and Christa Denton. It was written by Michael Nankin and directed by Tibor Takacs. The movie runs 85 minutes. It is presented in its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by an English 2.0 Dolby Digital Audio track.

Special features include Audio Commentary with the Filmmakers, All New Cast and Crew Interviews Including Writer Michael Nankin and Special Effects Creators Randall William Cook and Craig Reardon, and the Theatrical Trailer.

“Medium: The Fifth Season”

Photo credit: Paramount

Synopsis: “Patricia Arquette returns as Allison Dubois, the psychic mom who tries to balance her challenging career with her family life at home. This season, a sense of order is restored when Allison return to work with D.A. Manuel Devalos (Miguel Sandoval) and detective Lee Scanlon (David Cubitt). Plus, her husband Joe (Jake Weber) sets up his own company, funded by a multimillionaire.

But it’s Allison’s daughter Ariel (Sofia Vassilieva) - more than her younger sister Bridgette (Maria Lark) - who has trouble accepting the gift she inherited from her mother. This season, unsetting visions about school and boys trouble this psychic teen. In this 5-disc set of Medium: The Fifth Season - which includes all 18 episodes - Allison’s life at home can be just as baffling as any police case.”

“Medium” stars Patricia Arquette, Jake Weber, Sofia Vassilieva, Maria Lark, Miguel Sandoval, and David Cubitt. It was created by Glenn Gordon Caron. The show runs 809 minutes and is not rated. It is presented in its original 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio and accompanied by an English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track.

Special features include “The Making of Medium: Season 5,” “Script to Screen: Apocalypse…Now?,” “JAck and Patricia Q & A,” and “Curious Maria”.

“Princess”

Photo credit: Palisades Tartan

Synopsis: “The 32-year-old clergyman August returns home from years of missionary work after hearing about the death of his sister Christina, who - after going from greatness to the gutter as the famous porn star The Princess - has finally died of drug abuse. She has left her five-year-old daughter Mia, with a prostitute. August visits the brothel to bring Mia home with him and becomes her guardian. Burdened by sorrow, guilt and unspeakable rage, August goes on a rampage to avenge his sister’s death and brings her small daughter with him. The mission escalates into a brutal and violent rout as August attempts desperately to protect the only thing he holds dear - namely Mia - forcing him to make a fateful decision.”

“Princess” stars Henrik Ibsen, Ida Dwinger, Jens Arentzen, Jiming Cai, Liv Corfixen. It was written by Anders Morgenthaler & Mette Heeno and directed by Morgenthaler. The film runs 90 minutes and is not rated. It is presented in its original widescreen 2.35:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by a Danish Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track.

Special features include just the original theatrical trailer.

“Top Chef: New York (Season Five)”

Photo credit: A&E

Synopsis: “The world-class culinary competition only gets fiercer in TOP CHEF: NEW YORK—the No. 1 food show on cable—as 17 new cheftestants head to the Big Apple to test their skills and compete for culinary stardom. Featuring some of the biggest names in food and entertainment, the fifth season of this Emmy®-award winning series welcomes newbie Toby Young to the judges’ table alongside host Padma Lakshmi, head judge and celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, and Gail Simmons. In the most challenging season yet, the cheftestants battle to prove they have what it takes to be crowned the next Top Chef.”

“Top Chef: New York (Season Five)” stars Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, Toby Young, and guest judges include Martha Stewart, The Foo Fighters, Jean-Georges, Rocco DiSpirito, and Eric Ripert. The show run 694 minutes and is not rated.

Special features include an exclusive cookbook, never-before-aired stew room footage, extended interviews, a cooking demonstration, and a PC game demo.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

TV Review: ‘Medium’ Jumps Networks, Still Delivers Thrills

BrianTT — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:24:21 -0600

CHICAGO – When NBC committed five hours a week to “The Jay Leno Show,” we knew a few corners would have to be cut when it came to scripted programming at the peacock network but no one really expected that the consistent (both creatively and in the ratings) “Medium” would get the axe. NBC’s unwanted program has found a new home on CBS and makes the network jump largely unaltered and ready to keep delivering the thrills that fans expect.

Television Rating: 3.5/5.0

In what would have been a cruel joke on the audience if CBS hadn’t save the day, the fifth season of “Medium” ended with Allison Dubois (Patricia Arquette) in a coma. After playing with the traditional “dream sequence opening” of the show, the sixth season premiere of “Medium” opens with Allison coming back to life. But has she returned the same?

Medium
Photo credit: CBS/Michael Yarish

Fans of the show will remember that Allison was concerned that the removal of her brain tumor would take away her gift, a psychic ability to solve crimes. Now, of course, with no gift, there’s no “Medium,” but the writers of the season-six premiere are awfully clever in how they bring Allison back to fighting form.

After waking from her surgery, Allison has minimal use of the right side of her body and, apparently for the entire summer, has had nothing but sleep-filled nights. No visions means no crime-solving and it’s left Allison a bit lost. She heads back to the police force to offer her assistance as a paralegal - the reason she was brought on in the first place - simply to make some money.

Medium
Photo credit: CBS/Michael Yarish

It turns out that as Allison’s body heals, so does her power. Like a limb twitching to life, Allison starts to have waking visions, sometimes of just a few minutes in the future. It’s almost like she sees alternate timelines and then reverses back to the starting point. Will her power remain like this or return to dream form? It’s unclear, but it’s a very well-used device in the first episode, as it starts to become unclear whether you’re watching something actually happen or something that Allison sees MIGHT happen. It makes for intriguing television.

The intrigue in episode one surrounds the case of a sports reporter allegedly being stalked by a crazed fan and videotaped in her most private moments. (The parallels between the case and the real tragedy of what happened to ESPN’s Erin Andrews can’t be avoided, making one wonder if it’s a coincidence or if the “Medium” writers are going for “Law & Order”-esque “ripped from the headlines” drama.) Of course, there’s more to the stalking case than meets the eye.

The case itself in week one is a little predictable and stale. I like “Medium” when it’s honestly dark and scary and I hope the switch to CBS doesn’t soften what can be a very grim show.

Surprisingly, the strongest material in the season premiere of “Medium” is within the Dubois family. Arquette and Jake Weber have developed such an easy-going believable chemistry that it’s taken for granted. And with the strong young actresses who play their daughters, the Dubois family is one of the most genuine on TV. I love that the writers throw in real issues like taking the kids to school and financial hardship. By grounding the Dubois in reality, the supernatural elements of “Medium” are easier to take.

The fact is that good-not-great shows like “Medium” find themselves on the surprising end of the cancellation axe every year. (Just ask the team behind “Without a Trace” and “My Name is Earl”.) They don’t all get a second chance on another network. But now that CBS has brought “Medium” back to life and given it a perfect timeslot on Friday nights, I think it could actually be on longer than it was on its original network, especially if they keep delivering episodes this solidly entertaining. Allison Dubois would have to see far into the future to see the end of “Medium”.

‘Medium,’ which airs on CBS, stars Patricia Arquette, David Cubitt, Maria Lark, Miguel Sandoval, Sofia Vassilieva, and Jake Weber, and was created by Glenn Gordon Caron. The season six premiere airs on Friday, September 25th, 2009 at 8PM CST.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

DVD Review: Great Second Season of ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Deserves Better Set

BrianTT — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:51:05 -0600

CHICAGO – CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” had a good first season but, like a lot of sitcoms, it became much more confident in season two and really developed a rhythm that I expect will carry it for years to come. Don’t believe me? Check out the nearly-perfect and Emmy-nominated second season of “The Big Bang Theory,” now available on DVD.

DVD Rating: 3.0/5.0

The first season of “The Big Bang Theory” set up the concept - two dorky guys, their two even dorkier friends, and the pretty girl who lives across the hall. The set-up was funny, the cast was good, but it was sometimes predictable and stale.

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Second Season was released on DVD on September 15th, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers Home Video

The brilliance of the second season was that it took the pretty girl across the hall and made her one of the guys. In season two, Penny (the highly underrated and gorgeous Kaley Cuoco) nearly became one of the guys, drawing closer to Leonard (Johnny Galecki) as a friend (and maybe more) and joining in on the social experiment that is Sheldon (Jim Parsons). Howard (Simon Helberg) and Raj (Kunal Nayyar) became their own distinct characters instead of just part of the dorky gang.

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Second Season was released on DVD on September 15th, 2009.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers Home Video

It wasn’t just the overall concept but the individual episode writing for season two was often brilliant with great episodes about Penny becoming addicted to online gaming, Sheldon learning how to drive, the best Christmas present that Sheldon could ever imagine, and one of the funniest trips to Vegas in the history of TV. Scene-stealing guest stars in season two include Sara Gilbert (who worked with Galecki on the great “Roseanne”), Christine Baranski, and Summer Glau.

The guest stars were fantastic, but the strength of “The Big Bang Theory” was in the cast. Parsons arguably deserved to win the Emmy he was nominated for having turned Sheldon into one of the most unique TV creations of the ’00s. Cuoco doesn’t get nearly the credit she deserves, more than holding her own with her quirkier male castmates. The “geeks” may get all the references and most of the physical humor, but Cuoco is the prettiest “straight man” on TV.

The show may be one of my favorite comedies on the air, but the DVD for season two of “The Big Bang Theory” is a bit of a disappointment.

First, it’s unacceptable for a current show, especially one with such a geek-centric audience, to not be released on Blu-Ray. “The Big Bang Theory” looks great in its original HD broadcast. It’s shameful that I can’t own it in the same quality. With the number of “BBT” fans who probably own a PS3 (the Comic-Con panel for the show was insanely popular and, well, there’s a bit of crossover between gamers and comic fans), you’d think that alone would justify a Blu-Ray release. The matted widescreen, Dolby Digital Stereo presentation of the show is the weakest thing about the DVD release.

Although the special features aren’t far behind. Wouldn’t it be fun to hear Galecki, Parsons, and Cuoco break character and do a commentary? No luck. All fans will find are a gag reel and two featurettes - “Physicist to the Stars” and “Testing the Infinite Hilarity Hypothesis in Relation to the Big Bang Theory”. The former is a look at the real physicist that serves as a consultant on the show and the second a look at the unique characters of season two. Neither are that interesting.

The second season set of “The Big Bang Theory” may have weak technical specs and light special features, but the show is good enough to warrant a look or maybe even a purchase. Let’s hope that season three is even better.

‘The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Second Season’ is released by Warner Brothers Home Video and stars Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kunal Nayyar, Simon Helberg, and Kaley Cuoco. It was created by Chuck Lorre. It was released on September 15th, 2009. It is not rated.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

TV Review: ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ Has Breakout Potential as Hottest New Show

BrianTT — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:27:11 -0600

CHICAGO – Doesn’t it feel like there will someday just be a few mystery franchises with several different iterations on the air? We have three versions of “Law & Order” and “CSI,” and now “NCIS” has joined in, expanding the franchise of this surprisingly popular show to “NCIS: Los Angeles” with appealing stars Chris O’Donnell and L.L. Cool J.

Television Rating: 3.5/5.0

“NCIS: Los Angeles” is an action/mystery show with theatrical caliber production values and two incredibly charismatic leads. If you were a betting man, I wouldn’t bet on this expansion of the “NCIS” franchise being cancelled any time this season, this TV year, or even the next. It’s practically a guaranteed hit that’s not going to set water coolers or critic’s groups on fire but fulfills a very human need for quality escapist television.

Chris O’Donnell, LL Cool J.
Photo credit: Cliff Lipson/CBS

The premiere of “NCIS: Los Angeles” opens with a shoot-out on the infamous Mulholland Drive and the discovery of a body in the back seat. Within a minute, audiences know what to expect - action, mystery, and a sunny location.

Chris O’Donnell, LL Cool J.
Photo credit: Cliff Lipson/CBS

The first episode details the return of Special Agent “G” Callen (Chris O’Donnell) to the Office of Special Projects, a division of NCIS charged with handling criminals who pose a threat to national security. Through flashback, we learn that Callen was recently caught in the crossfire and may be returning a bit more fragile or unstable than he was before the life-changing incident.

Callen’s partner is Special Agent Sam Hanna, a tough-but-cool U.S. Navy SEAL who has seen action in both Afghanistan and Iraq and a surveillance expert. Basically, everyone on “NCIS: Los Angeles” is tougher, smarter, stronger, and faster than your average TV show cop. The series is designed to portray these men and women as the best of the best, the front line between our safety and another terrorist incident.

Other cast members include Peter Cambor, Rocky Carroll, Adam Jamal Craig, Daniela Ruah, and Oscar-winner Linda Hunt as the woman who oversees the support staff and provides the latest high-tech gadgets for the team to fight the war on terror.

I’ve personally never been a big fan of television that uses real-life international drama as a source for fiction. It walks the fine line between entertainment and exploitation.

Having said that, it’s impossible to fault “NCIS: Los Angeles” based on the theory of judging a show on whether or not it deliver what it promises. It’s an expertly made, well-acted, briskly paced hour of television that I would be surprised to hear that any fan interested in TV action shows like it wouldn’t want to make a regular part of their viewing schedule.

Even with my general aversion to shows like it, I was entertained by O’Donnell and LL Cool J’s excellent chemistry, impressed by the well-used setting (the city is a major part of the show), and consistently in awe of the overall production value of the show. Most modern action movies don’t look this well-made. It’s a 44-minute action film every week with a pair of charming leads. Based on how well I expect this installment to do, location scouts may want to start looking at options for “NCIS: Chicago,” “NCIS: Boston,” etc.

‘NCIS: Los Angeles,’ which airs on CBS, debuts on September 22nd, 2009 at 8PM CST. It stars L.L. Cool J, Chris O’Donnell, Peter Cambor, Rocky Carroll, Adam Jamal Craig, Daniela Ruah, and Linda Hunt.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

TV Review: Promising ‘The Good Wife’ With Juliana Margulies

BrianTT — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:41:58 -0600

CHICAGO – From the non-stop ads (especially the ones that played all weekend locally with Bill Kurtis), you would be forgiven for thinking that CBS’ “The Good Wife” was solely about a scorned woman who enjoys slapping her lothario husband. There’s a lot more to the drama than that overplayed scene and the potential of the show is in the promise of watching a strong female character get past that moment, not play it over and over again.

Television Rating: 3.5/5.0

Emmy Award winner Juliana Margulies (“ER”) stars as Alicia Florrick, a woman who has always stood by her politician husband through thick and thin. You know those woman who you see standing next to the latest corrupt public figure as they give their apologies via press conference? That’s Alicia, who watches her world collapse when her husband Peter (Chris Noth) suffers a very public sex and political scandal.

Juliana Margulies.
Photo credit: Eike Schroter/CBS

With Peter in jail and no one left to support their family, Alicia decides to return to the work force and pursue her original career as a defense attorney, taking a job at a prestigious Chicago law firm. An old friend and firm partner gives Alicia a chance and “The Good Wife” becomes an unusual legal show, featuring a lead character who has been out of practice for years but also has a major public persona.

Juliana Margulies.
Photo credit: Jason Bell/CBS

The promos have pounded the infidelity of Noth’s character into the ground but it is a very minor part of the overall show. It’s the impact of his dalliance with a prostitute that drives the series not the scandal itself. Of course, public sex scandals involving politicians like John Edwards, Mark Sanford, and Eliot Spitzer makes that the hook to draw in the audience, but the show will live or die on what’s there after the tones of “Stand By Your Man” have faded from memory.

Less than ten minutes into the pilot, Alicia is moving on with her life, returning to legal practice where she’s joined by a great ensemble cast (who should really at least get a cameo in the commercials) including Josh Charles (“Sports Night”) and the always-excellent Christine Baranski. The young kids at the firm look at Alicia as a doormat, a dinosaur, or both, and Alicia gets tossed into boring pro bono case. Of course, she makes the most of it.

Margulies has been a great TV presence for years and her combination of intellectual grit and genuine sexiness drives “The Good Wife”. In just one episode, she’s completely believable, not falling into the melodramatic trap that a lot of other actresses would have allowed to overtake the show. Margulies takes this complex, interesting character and makes her completely three-dimensional. Even with good supporting work by Charles, Baranski, and Noth (who it’s hinted will be back in a much bigger role very soon), “The Good Wife” belongs to Margulies and she nails one of the most fascinating new characters of the season.

I worry that “The Good Wife” will lose sight of the real Alicia and simply become another case-of-the-week legal show. In the pilot, the strength is the people trying the case, not the case itself. If the show can stay focused on maintaining Alicia’s believability as more than just a plot device in a weekly case then “The Good Wife” could be actually be great.

‘The Good Wife,’ which airs on CBS, debuts on September 22nd, 2009 at 9PM CST. It stars Juliana Margulies, Christine Baranski, Josh Charles, Matt Czuchry, Archie Panjabi, Makenzie Vega, and Graham Phillips. It was created by Robert and Michelle King.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

TV Review: Emmy-Nominated ‘How I Met Your Mother’ Starts Promising Fifth Season

BrianTT — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:47:24 -0600

CHICAGO – CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother” reached a creative and cultural peak last season shooting up twenty-one places in the ratings and an average of 1.2 million viewers a week - a virtual tsunami of TV watchers in an era of constant erosion with broadcast TV ratings. Moving up a half-hour and being asked to anchor CBS’ Monday line-up, the debuting fifth season of “HIMYM” could be a make-or-break one for the show, the year when this sometimes excellent show finally becomes “the next Friends” or heads back in the other direction.

Television Rating: 4.0/5.0

It helped to have another sitcom that was consistently improving as a lead-in in “The Big Bang Theory” last season, but I think the increased notoriety for the show (which actually started with the Britney Spears cameo) lit a fire under a cast and writing crew that had grown a bit stale. I was very happy to see “Mother” get the attention of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences this year and hope the upward trajectory continues. Based on the fifth season premiere, there’s no reason to think it won’t.

“Definitions” — When Marshall (Jason Segel) and the gang finds out that Barney (Neil Patrick Harris, right) and Robin (Cobie Smulders, second right) are hesitant to define their relationship, Lily (Alyson Hannigan) forces them to confront their biggest fear. Meanwhile, Ted (Josh Radnor) is anxious about teaching his first lecture at Columbia, on the fifth season premiere of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, Monday, Sept. 21 (8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
Photo credit: Eric McCandless/FOX ©2009 Fox Television. All Rights Reserved.

“How I Met Your Mother” opens with Ted (Josh Radnor) teaching in a classroom that reportedly contains the “mother” that drives the entire show. Of course, that reveal isn’t happening without a month or two of build-up, so don’t expect to pick her out of the crowd. In the premiere, Ted isn’t really that good a teacher, more interested in pretending to be Indiana Jones (courtesy of a gift hat and whip) and crippled by fear of inadequacy.

“Definitions” — Ted (Josh Radnor), Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and the gang find out that Barney and Robin are carrying on a secret romance, on the fifth season premiere of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, Monday, Sept. 21 (8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
Photo credit: Eric McCandless/FOX ©2009 Fox Television. All Rights Reserved.

More of the focus of the first episode is on the budding relationship between Robin (Cobie Smulders) and Barney (Neil Patrick Harris). After kissing at the end of last season, they open the season having split up, something that Lily (Alyson Hannigan) takes harder than anyone, having dreamed of the double dates and family things the two friend-couples could do together. Of course, the break-up is just a front and the couple has merely been delaying defining their relationship while they fool around all summer, something Lily refuses to allow to continue.

The well-publicized and unusual relationship between the commitment-phobic Barney and high maintenance Robin will clearly drive a major portion of the new season and the show looks like it could easily be better for it. Harris should have won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor on Sunday night and Cobie Smulders has improved every year. They have a quirky, clever chemistry on the show that feels unique in the TV landscape. It will be fun to watch it develop.

What’s improved the most over the years that “How I Met Your Mother” has been on the air? The chemistry of the cast and the consistency of the writing. The first season of “HIMYM” was very promising but the show dipped significantly in season two before re-focusing on the characters that audiences cared about in the first place. Last year, the cast seemed reinvigorated, knowing that the writing was better than ever.

As for the rest of the cast, Hannigan is back and, once again, one of the funniest comedy supporting actresses television after a pregnancy-shortened season last year forced her to miss part of the year. Jason Segel has proven repeatedly, in films like “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “I Love You, Man” that he’s one of the best of his generation and I love that the writers and producers of “HIMYM” have avoided pushing their biggest box office star to the front and left the show as an ensemble. As for Radnor, he’s grown on me but is still the weak link in the cast.

The list of quality broadcast TV sitcoms is not nearly as long as it used to be. We’re no longer in the golden age and shows like “Cheers,” “Seinfeld,” and “Friends” are much harder to spot than they used to be. “How I Met Your Mother” is still not quite worthy of being mentioned with those heavyweights, but it’s regularly beating down the competition on the air in 2009. It’s a great way to start one of the most popular nights of TV of the week.

‘How I Met Your Mother,’ which airs on CBS, returns on September 21st, 2009 at 7PM CST. It stars Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Alyson Hannigan, Cobie Smulders, and Neil Patrick Harris. It was created by Craig Thomas & Carter Bays.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

DVD Review: Guilty Pleasure ‘Harper’s Island’ Could Become Cult Hit

BrianTT — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:26:52 -0600

CHICAGO – I’m still a little miffed that the “Harper’s Island” experiment didn’t work out for CBS. The show was far from perfect, but I still like the idea of a limited series with a predetermined beginning, middle, and end. Sadly, no one tuned in to watch “Harper’s Island” on CBS but the guilty pleasure could have a second life on DVD.

DVD Rating: 3.5/5.0

Was “Harper’s Island” any good? It depends on what you mean by “good”. If you’re looking for witty dialogue, detailed character, and clever plotting, look elsewhere. But not every show needs to be intellectually satisfying. For the same reason we go see silly horror movies, sometimes you just want to enjoy a guilty pleasure and “Harper’s Island” was the guiltiest of 2009.

Elaine Cassidy plays Abby Mills, the heroine returning to the titular body of land after seven years. Back then, a twisted soul named John Wakefield went on a horrible killing spree and one of the victims happened to be Abby’s mom. She’s a little fragile as the ghosts of the island return to her and she is forced to deal with her father (Jim Beaver) again. Oh, he just happens to be the sheriff who killed the bad guy the first time around. Can he do it again?

Harper’s Island: The DVD Edition was released on DVD on September 8th, 2009.
Photo credit: Paramount Home Video

Why is Abby back at all? Her close friend Henry (Christopher Gorham) is getting married to Trish (Katie Cassidy) on Harper’s Island. Henry is the poor kid and Trish is the wealthy daughter of the Wellington family (headed by the always-slimy Richard Burgi).

A wedding’s worth of victims await viewers of “Harper’s Island” as “secrets are revealed, relationships are tested and guests are being murdered, one by one.”

“Harper’s Island” should have been a delightfully trashy mix of “Gossip Girl” and “Scream” but both of those properties had clever, witty dialogue and characters who viewers actually care about. The characters and dialogue on “Harper’s Island” are mediocre to awful. It’s too much like a daytime soap than the clever mystery it could have been.

And yet I couldn’t give up on “Harper’s Island” (if just to prove that my hunch about the killer’s identity was true). I can’t believe that I was alone in my addiction to this mystery thriller and Paramount has treated fans of the show well with an excellent 4-disc set full of special features.

“Harper’s Island: The DVD Edition” is presented in 16:9 widescreen with an English 5.1 Surround track.

Special features include CBS Network On-Air Promos, Harper’s Globe Webisodes, Deleted Scenes, “Casting Harper’s Island,” “One By One: The Making of Harper’s Island,” “Guess Who?,” “The Grim Reaper,” and the following commentary tracks:

Episode 1 “Whap” - Jeffrey Bell, Art Schlossberg, & Dan Shotz
Episode 6 “Sploosh” - Karim Zreik, Dean Chekvala, & Matt Barr
Episode 11 “Splash” - Dan Shotz, Cameron Richardson & Matt Barr
Episode 13 “Sigh” - Jeffrey Bell, Dan Shotz, & Christopher Gorham

‘Harper’s Island: The DVD Edition’ is released by Paramount Home Video and stars Elaine Cassidy, Christopher Gorham, Katie Cassidy, Cameron Richardson, Adam Campbell, C.J. Thomason, Jim Beaver, Matt Barr, Amber Borycki, Richard Burgi, and Harry Hamlin. The show was created by Ari Schlossberg. It was released on September 8th, 2009. It is not rated.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

CBS Fall 2009 Premiere Dates For ‘The Mentalist,’ ‘CSI,’ ‘How I Met Your Mother,’ More

BrianTT — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:05:59 -0600

CHICAGO – CBS has announced their fall premiere dates and the network is starting with one of their ratings juggernauts with the launch of “Survivor: Samoa” on September 17th. The network has scheduled four new series for the season - the comedy “Accidentally on Purpose” launches on Monday, September 21st, freshman dramas “NCIS: Los Angeles” and “The Good Wife” start on Tuesday, September 22nd, and “Three Rivers” is the last new show to premiere on Sunday, October 4th.

The 19th installment of “Survivor” officially starts the network’s season on the 17th, but it’s not until the next Monday that you should expect to see most of your favorite CBS shows. Almost all of the network’s offerings are returning from September 21st-28th.

The Good Wife is a new CBS fall drama starring Emmy Award winner Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick.
Photo credit: Eike Schroter/CBS

Monday, September 21st features the return of “How I Met You Mother” in a new 7pm CST timeslot, followed by “Accidentally on Purpose” (with Jenna Elfman), “Two and a Half Men,” a relocated “The Big Bang Theory,” and the eighth season premiere of “CSI: Miami”.

The next day, Tuesday, September 22nd, features the return of “NCIS” followed by two new shows - “NCIS: Los Angeles” with L.L. Cool J and “The Good Wife” with Juliana Margulies & Chris Noth.

Wednesday, September 23rd begins the fifth season of “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and the second season of “Gary Unmarried”. The fifth season of “Criminal Minds” and the sixth season of “CSI: NY” round out the night.

One of the biggest nights of the week features the second episode of “Survivor: Samoa,” followed by the premiere of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” returning for its remarkable tenth season, and the relocation of last season’s No. 1 new hit “The Mentalist” at 9pm CST.

Friday nights start on September 25th with “The Ghost Whisperer” and “Numb3rs” returning and being joined by the network-jumping “Medium” in between. Saturday will stick with “48 Hours Mystery” and “Crimetime Saturday”.

Sundays start on September 27th with “60 Minutes,” a two-hour premiere of “The Amazing Race,” and the seventh season premiere of “Cold Case”. A week later, “Three Rivers” debuts.

CBS Fall 2009 Schedule
Thursday, September 17th - “Survivor: Samoa”
Monday, September 21st - “How I Met Your Mother,” “Accidentally on Purpose,” “Two and a Half Men,” “The Big Bang Theory,” & “CSI: Miami”
Tuesday, September 22nd - “NCIS,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” & “The Good Wife”
Wednesday, September 23rd - “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “Gary Unmarried,” “Criminal Minds,” & “CSI: NY”
Thursday, September 24th - “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” & “The Mentalist”
Friday, September 25th - “The Ghost Whisperer,” “Medium,” & “Numb3rs”
Saturday, September 26th - “Crimetime Saturday” & “48 Hours Mystery”
Sunday, September 27th - “60 Minutes,” “The Amazing Race,” & “Cold Case”
Sunday, October 4th - “Three Rivers”

Read our full review of the season-six “Medium” premiere!
Read our full review of the season-five 2009 “How I Met Your Mother” premiere!
Read our full review of the “The Good Wife” premiere!
Read our full review of the “NCIS: Los Angeles” premiere!

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

CBS Returning to Core; Betting on ‘The Mentalist,’ ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ ‘NCIS,’ ‘CSI’

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:42:37 -0600

CHICAGO – Though CBS is the turtle in selling sexy TV, the network is the hare when it comes to selling a broad audience what they ultimately want. CBS on Monday promised to return to its core of rock-solid dramas and sitcoms and plans to “make a lot of noise,” according to programming chief Nina Tassler.

“NCIS” on CBS with Mark Harmon (right) and guest star Joe Spano (left).
Image credit: Sonja Flemming, CBS

Tassler told critics on Monday that CBS is “finally at a place where we’ve got the goods”.

After falling flat on its face with some high-risk attempts (such as the musical “Viva Laughlin” and the serialized murder mystery “Harper’s Island”), some of its safer bets will see switched time slots. Top CBS hit “The Mentalist” is moving to Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT and the new hit comedy “The Big Bang Theory” is moving to Mondays at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.

After setting record ratings six years into its run, “NCIS” co-stars Pauley Perrette and Rocky Carroll will help launch the spin-off “NCIS: Los Angeles” on Sept. 22, 2009.

The top CBS drama “CSI” has seen its ratings plummet following the departures of stars William Petersen and Jorja Fox. In addition, “CSI” has seen lackluster viewer response from the addition of actor Laurence Fishburne. CBS will be making changes with “CSI,” the network says, in order to energize its ratings.

During the day, a new iteration of the game show “Let’s Make a Deal” will air beginning on Oct. 5, 2009 with host Wayne Brady. “Let’s Make a Deal” will replace “Guiding Light,” which will end its 57-year TV run on Sept. 18, 2009.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com