TV Zone
News, scoops, reviews and more from TV land.
CBS: 'Two and a Half Men' to Thursday
Photo credit: CBS Photo/
Sensing opportunity - nice word for “blood in the water” - CBS'll move “Two and a Half Men” to Thursdays this fall, effectively ensuring a clean win over “American Idol” and “The X Factor” - at least in the early-to-mid stages of their respective seasons. In addition, “The Mentalist” to Sunday. Another big move.
The network also added a new show called “Elementary” - that was expected - starring Jonny Lee Miller as a modern-day Sherlock.
Meaning of the "2.5 Men” move? Simple: CBS easily has the pieces to keep the Monday sitcom lineup intact - speaking here, of course, of resurgent “How I Met Your Mother,“ which will lead off the night. In addition, it's spent a fortune for this aging hit - speaking of "2.5 Men” - and now's the time to take full advantage of it, on a night where commercials are sold for a premium (in part because of movie releases) and where more viewers are available to watch. It also speaks to an extent about what CBS thinks about the forthcoming Britney Spears “X Factor,“ also airing at 8: That show will skew younger, but not a lot younger, and so the network clearly thinks it's vulnerable even with the bright new shiny judges (Spears, Demi Lovato.)
Here's the lineup:
MONDAY 8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER 8:30-9:00 PM PARTNERS (N) 9:00-9:30 PM, CBS's big new entry, from Max Mutchnick, David Kohan ("Will and Grace"), starring David Krumholtz, about two guys whose friendship is tested when one decides to get married. 2 BROKE GIRLS (NT) 9:30-10:00 PM MIKE & MOLLY 10:00-11:00 PM HAWAII FIVE-0
TUESDAY 8:00-9:00 PM NCIS 9:00-10:00 PM NCIS: LOS ANGELES 10:00-11:00 PM VEGAS (N), with Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis, about former Vegas sheriff Ralph Lamb, presumably a very colorful character; this is a period drama ('60s? 70s?)
WEDNESDAY 8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR 9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS 10:00-11:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
THURSDAY 8:00-8:30 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY 8:30-9:00 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN (NT) 9:00-10:00 PM PERSON OF INTEREST 10:00-11:00 PM ELEMENTARY (N)
FRIDAY 8:00-9:00 PM CSI: NY (NT) 9:00-10:00 PM MADE IN JERSEY (N) 10:00-11:00, 'nother legal drama, with Kyle MacLachlan, about a young lawyer with street smarts. PM BLUE BLOODS SATURDAY 8:00-9:00 PM CRIMETIME
SATURDAY 9:00-10:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY 10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS MYSTERY
SUNDAY 7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES 8:00-9:00 PM THE AMAZING RACE 9:00-10:00 PM THE GOOD WIFE 10:00-11:00 PM THE MENTALIST (NT)
ABC: Fall preview reel
Here for your viewing amusement and TV edification, a parade of trailers for ABC's new fall shows, including "666 Park." And take it away ...
'Dancing with the Stars:' All-star edition next fall (Palin back?)
Photo credit: AP File, 2010
As expected — thanks Mario Lopez! -- ABC will launch an all-stars edition of “Dancing with the Stars” next fall.
Lopez, a former contestant said a few weeks ago he was approached and ABC Entertainment boss Paul Lee has confirmed, though in a recent conference call said, he wants to have “fan favorites.” That may or may not rule out winners, although one would assume they are also fan favorites. But not necessarily. Bristol Palin was absolutely a fan favorite but does that mean an invite went out to her? (Lee did not address the question of names.)
Me? I'd like to see Cloris Leachman back, and definitely definitely definitely Master P. Please ABC — I'm beggin' ya: Master P.
ABC fall 2012: 'Revenge' to Sundays
Photo credit: AP
Here's ABC's fall 2012 lineup, and the big news: “Revenge” moves to Sunday. Otherwise, this is a fairly stable lineup, indicative of a very confident network. There are absolutely no surprises here -- including the move of “Revenge,“ necessitated by the failure of “GCB.“ Of real interest is that new Sunday entry, "666 Park.“ That's the Terry O'Quinn supernatural drama, also with Rachael Taylor, Dave Annable and Vanessa Williams, based on the book of the same name. That's probably ABC's most anticipated newcomer, and I've posted an extended logline from ABC below the lineup. Plus, I like the looks of that Andre Braugher series -- “Last Resort“ - and the Connie Britton show too.
This - in other words - looks like a good lineup...and a last note, "Last Man Standing" will be on the schedule in November (Fridays at 8), per ABC. So it's back too.
Monday: "Dancing with the Stars," 8; no word this morning from ABC E chief Paul Lee on potential contestants for the all-star edition but he did say he hoped "fan favorites" would return. "Castle," 10.
Tuesday: "Dancing with the Stars" results show (8); "Happy Endings" (9); "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment B" (9:30); "Private Practice" (10).
Wednesday: "The Middle" (8); "Suburgatory" (8:30); "Modern Family" (9); "The Neighbors" (9:30), about a family that moves into a gated community populated by aliens from outer space; "Nashville" 910), starring Connie Britton as a washed up country music star who has to open for a hot new talent (played by Hayden Panettiere); Connie's character's not happy about that.
Thursday: "Last Resort" (8), with Andre Braugher as a sub captain who disobeys an order to fire his missiles, and goes on the run with his sub, only to end up at an exotic isle...; "Grey's Anatomy" (9); "Scandal" (10).
Friday: "Shark Tank" (8); "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (9); "20/20" (10.) I should mention here that Lee will install comedies here during the November sweeps - the Tim Allen show and a new comer with Reba McIntire. It's not quite "TGIF" - looks like this duo will have a somewhat older appeal. (Her show is called "Malibu Country.")
Saturday: college football
Sunday: "America's Funniest Home Videos" (7); "Once Upon a Time" (8); "Revenge" (9); "666 Park" (10), with "Lost's" Terry O'Quinn and Vanessa Williams; about a Midwestern couple - played by Rachael Taylor and Dave Annable - who get a chance to manage the Drake, at 666 Park, a strangish building where - per the program notes - "anything you desire can be yours."
At the ominous address of 666 Park Avenue, anything you desire can be yours. Everyone has needs, desires and ambition. For the residents of The Drake, these will all be met, courtesy of the building’s mysterious owner, Gavin Doran (Terry O’Quinn). But every Faustian contract comes with a price. When Jane Van Veen (Rachael Taylor) and Henry Martin (Dave Annable), an idealistic young couple from the Midwest, are offered the opportunity to manage the historic building, they not only fall prey to the machinations of Doran and his mysterious wife, Olivia (Vanessa Williams), but unwittingly begin to experience the shadowy, supernatural forces within the building that imprison and endanger the lives of the residents inside.
'How I Met Your Mother' finale: World's quickest recap
Photo credit: AP
Missed last night's “How I Met Your Mother” finale because you were too busy watching Howard Stern (like me)? Solution! The world's quicket recap. Here goes. Marshall and Barney get back to NYC and Lily has the baby -- middle name, wait for it, wait for it, wait for it . . . Middle name is “Waitforit” -- and Ted doesn't marry Victoria, or, at least, not just yet because maybe Robin will be the one -- although there was no hint of that last night, just my long-standing assumption -- while Barney did get engaged to Quinn although when we flash-forward to the wedding day it's Robin. Phew.You can now exhale.
Check out this clip.
Howard Stern on 'America's Got Talent' review
Photo credit: AP
Howard Stern..."America's Got Talent"...the review you've been waiting for, or not, from this morning's paper, in case you missed (bottom line: Howard's the guy...)
The circus has begun. "America's Got Talent" - new season, new hype, new judge - got back to business last night, but all that matters for the moment is that judge.
Howard? Stern? Oy.
Per my suspicion...
Fox: New show trailers
Fox's new show trailers - "The Following," Ben and Kate," "The Mindy Project," "Mob Doctor" and "The Goodwin Games" are right here, right now...take a look:
Ben and KateMob DoctorTThe Goodwin Gamesfollowing
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Britney Spears, Demi Lovato new judges on 'The X Factor'
Photo credit: Getty Images
You can finally put that word “judge” next to that name “Britney Spears:“ Fox just announced she and Demi Lovato will join “The X Factor” this fall as judges, in what will surely amount to one long Hail Mary to the end zone that will either be caught or not. And that, of course, begs the question: If you can't make “Factor” a hit with one of the biggest female pop stars in the world, well then . . ....
'Mad Men' recap: Dark, dark shadows
Photo credit: AP
Betty, Betty, Betty. Where have you been? Well, of course we know where she's been: January Jones was pregnant, MIA during early production rounds, gave birth mid-September, and so . . . had to be written around for the first part of the “Mad Men's” fifth season.
But she's back and -- please allow this brief digression -- to mixed results, I think. The problem seems to me one of personal life...
Sarah Jessic Parker, Kate Hudson: Guesting on 'Glee'
Photo credit: Getty Images
Sarah Jessica Parker and Kate Hudson will have some extended arcs on “Glee” next season. Not a lot else to add to this — other than it's likely they'll play some significant role (or SJP will) in the New York piece of the puzzle next fall (where some grads will head post-McKinley). Kevin Reilly — Fox E chief, just told reporters that a show-within-a-show format will ensue — Kurt and Rachel head to New York, which will in some yet-to-be-clarified way comprised the show within the larger show. SJP will mentor Kurt, by the way.
