The above is my new wallpaper, by the way.
Here's the source of these, although I first noticed this in The Sun...
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The Less Reasons To Shop At Morrisons Post.
Here's the source of these, although I first noticed this in The Sun...
Monday, May 25, 2009
The Alttiere Guide To The New US Shows Post.
Oooh, I love this time of year, when the networks announce their new shows with the LA Screenings coming up, and we get an idea of what new US shows will be on the cable and terrestrial channels's shopping lists. At least there are more (and more interesting sounding) shows than last year's crop (The Mentalist? Go away), and since someone else came up with the acronym SAOR (Shallow And Obvious Reasons) but I came up with Alttiere I'll stick with that. (The Alttiere Factor is about whether or not there are attractive ladies in the cast - named in honour of Jessica Alba and Hayden Panettiere.)
As ever, we're not including unscripted shows, series switching homes (Medium is moving from NBC to CBS), or cable shows (but we should, perhaps, note the demise of Battlestar Galactica, Kyle XY, The L Word, The Shield, Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends, The Emperor's New School and Stargate Atlantis).
This portion of The Alttiere Guide To The New US Shows Post is brought to you by Rosanna Arquette.
ABC
Copper
From The Good Folks At: Thump, Inc. and E1 Entertainment.
What's It About? It's "a youthful, heartfelt, one-hour, character-driven workplace drama about five rookie cops plunged into the high stakes world of big city policing - a world where even the smallest mistake can have life-or-death consequences." Ah, so it's The Rookies of our day.
Wil I Check It Out? No idea.
Alttiere Factor: No idea.
Chances Of Being In The UK: Not something I'd bet on.
Cougar Town
From The Good Folks At: Doozer, Coquette Productions and ABC Studios.
What's It About? A woman in her 40s who gets in a relationship with a - duh-duh-DUHHHHH! - younger man. Friends once did an episode where Monica basically committed statutory rape; this is now spun out to a whole series. It even has Courteney Cox-Arquette!
Will I Check It Out? Apart from the episode with Courteney's sister-in-law up there, I couldn't be bothered with her last series Dirt. The same may apply here.
Alttiere Factor: From Courteney, not much. But Busy Philipps is another story!
Chances Of Being In The UK: Very good. Fiver, Five US, Living and the ilk.
The Deep End
From The Good Folks At: Twentieth Century Fox Television.
What's It About? Well, they could have called it The Young Lawyers, but another show got there first in the 1970s.
Will I Check It Out? Unlikely.
Alttiere Factor: Leah Pipes and Tina Majorino are capable of floating the odd boat.
Chances Of Being In The UK: Not out of the question.
Eastwick
From The Good Folks At: Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? It's The Witches Of Eastwick: The TV Show, with Paul "Benton Fraser" Gross as a much more plausible attractive devil than Jack Nicholson. Presumably Veronica Cartwright won't be playing the character she played in the movie (you know, the one who got killed).
Will I Check It Out? I might. It can't be worse than the book, and it might be better than the movie.
Alttiere Factor: Lindsay Price, Sara Rue, and Rebecca freaking Romijn. Well played.
Chances Of Being In The UK: Good.
Flash Forward
From The Good Folks At: ABC Studios.
What's It About? Everyone in the world gets a vision of the future in 21 years. What happens next?
Will I Check It Out? It's certainly an intriguing idea. If only the last TV series to involve Brannon Braga and David S. Goyer hadn't been the boring-as-all-hell Threshold...
Alttiere Factor: The only name that leaps out is Sonya Walger, but that's enough.
Chances Of Being In The UK: Extremely good.
The Forgotten
From The Good Folks At: Bonanza Productions Inc., Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? A group of amateur detectives who specialise in not only finding out who killed people, but also who the victims are. It's also about Jerry Bruckheimer trying to expand his TV success to other nets (he has yet to have a hit show on an American network not called CBS).
Will I Check It Out? I think I will.
Alttiere Factor: Michelle Dessler lives! One of the detectives is foxy Reiko Aylesworth, so I'm sold.
Chances Of Being In The UK: Detective show, Bruckheimer... I'd say it'll get a home.
Hank
From The Good Folks At: Bonanza Productions Inc., McMonkey Inc., Grammnet Productions, Werner Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? A Wall Street bigshot whose career falls apart, and has to go back to his hometown and family. With hilarious consequences.
Will I Check It Out? That last sentence might be for real, with a crew of sitcom veterans (Kelsey Grammer as Hank, James Burrows, Everybody Loves Raymond veteran Tucker Cawley). Then again...
Alttiere Factor: Not immediately apparent, it has to be said.
Chances Of Being In The UK: Between Grammer's involvement and Comedy Central and Channel 4, not bad.
Happy Town
From The Good Folks At: ABC Studios.
What's It About? Seven years after a small town was plagued by kidnappings, another crime affects the place...
Will I Check it Out? I'm not entirely sure about that, Scott Rosenberg's involvement notwithstanding. Alttiere Factor: Amy Acker means the Joss Whedon fans are sold. (Although it means she won't be on Dollhouse any more.)
Chances Of Being In The UK: Not out of the question.
The Middle
From The Good Folks At: Konk, Inc. and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? A middle-class wife/mother/car salesman in the middle of America. So not one for the edgy crowd.
Will I Check It Out? Unlikely...
Alttiere Factor: Creators Deann Heline and Eileen Heisler previously had Jennifer Finnigan in Committed. This one has Patricia Heaton. Not trading up.
Chances Of Being In The UK: Doesn't immediately say "Buy me," but Living...
Modern Family
From The Good Folks At: Levitan/Lloyd Productions and Twentieth Century Fox Television.
What's It About? A sitcom shot documentary-style focusing on three different families. From sitcom veterans Christopher Lloyd (not that one) and Steven Levitan...
Will I Check It Out? ...so quite possibly yes.
Alttiere Factor: One of the families features Julie Bowen, another one features Sofia Vergara... result.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: This sounds like it'll get a home.
V
From The Good Folks At: HDFilms and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? It's a new version of Kenneth Johnson's alien-invasion miniseries. Expect terms like "dark" to be flung about with regularity.
Will I Check It Out? Yes. I don't expect it to have the same impact as Diana's guinea pig swallowing or (in the Johnson-less sequel) Robin's C-section, but I hope it'll top the later regular series.
Alttiere Factor: Morena Baccarin, Lourdes Benedicto, Elizabeth Mitchell, Laura Vandervoort... plenty there for the straight guys and lesbians, which is what this post is interested in. Just deal.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: This WILL come to the UK. Sky and Virgin1 (and possibly ITV's digital channels) are airing their chequebooks as we speak.
This portion of The Alttiere Guide To The New US Shows Post is brought to you by Elisabeth Harnois.
CBS
Accidentally on Purpose
From The Good Folks At: BermanBraun and CBS Television Studios (the new name for CBS Paramount Television).
What's It About? A film critic who becomes a single mum after a one night stand.
Will I Check It Out? Probably not.
Alttiere Factor: Jenna Elfman and Ashley Jensen. Not for me.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: It might happen.
The Bridge
From The Good Folks At: E1 Entertainment, 990 Multi Media Entertainment Company, Jonsworth Productions, the CTV Television Network (yep, it's another US/Canadian venture) and CBS Television Studios.
What's It About? A cop who becomes the head of the police union.
Will I Check It Out? I've been not making time for cop shows lately, so...
Alttiere Factor: Inga Cadranel and Theresa Joy are new to me. Ona Grauer, less so. Not sure.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: If Flashpoint is any indication, good.
The Good Wife
From The Good Folks At: Scott Free Productions and CBS Television Studios.
What's It About? The wife of a district attorney who goes to prison, and who therefore has to return to work as a lawyer.
Will I Check It Out? Not out of the question. But not many people watched the last time Julianna Margulies played a lawyer (Canterbury's Law).
Alttiere Factor: With her and Christine Baranski, not high. If only Makenzie Vega was a year older.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Dunno. But never discount the involvement of Ridley and Tony Scott. Or David Zucker.
Miami Trauma
From The Good Folks At: Bonanza Productions, Jerry Bruckeimer Television and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? Trauma surgeons in Miami - it does exactly what it says on the tin. Written by Jeffrey Lieber, who wrote the original pilot script for Lost before J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof got their mitts on it.
Will I Check It Out? I just might, you know.
Alttiere Factor: High - not only Elisabeth Harnois (so beautiful I endured Point Pleasant far longer than I otherwise would have) but also Lana Parrilla (welcome back after Boomtown).
Chances Of Coming To The UK: High. Medical shows sell well.
NCIS: Los Angeles
From The Good Folks At: CBS Television Studios.
What's It About? A spinoff of NCIS (which in turn is a spinoff of JAG), it's about a Navy SEAL who works for NCIS in, well, Los Angeles.
Will I Check It Out? Um, no.
Alttiere Factor: Louise Lombard do you? UPDATE: Since this was posted, Louise is out and Linda Hunt is in (not the first time in this television universe that a key female player's been replaced by someone significantly less sexy - Andrea Parker played Harm's partner in the JAG pilot, but in the series she got replaced first by Tracey Needham and then by Catherine Bell).
Chances Of Coming To The UK: NCIS is a reliable performer for both FX and Five. This'll come over.
Three Rivers
From The Good Folks At: Deuce Three Productions and CBS Television Studios.
What's It About? It's a medical show, focusing on organ transplants from all angles.
Will I Check It Out? I may or may not. Probably not.
Alttiere Factor: Katherine Moennig and Justina Machado make up for Alfre Woodard (replacing Julia Ormond).
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Don't count it out.
This portion of The Alttiere Guide To The New US Shows Post is brought to you by Monica Bellucci.
CW
The Beautiful Life
From The Good Folks At: Katalyst Films, CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? Young up-and-coming models in New York and their ups and downs. Mostly downs. Shepherded by Ashton Kutcher.
Will I Check It Out? I probably will, but will this succeed where Models Inc. and Paper Dolls failed?
Alttiere Factor: High - Sara Paxton, Mischa Barton, Ashley Madekwe, and Elle Macpherson. The Elle Macpherson.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Guaranteed. E4 or Living, I bet.
Melrose Place
From The Good Folks At: CBS Television Studios.
What's It About? Having updated 90210, the spinoff gets the same treatment.
Will I Check It Out? No. I had no time for the original and I have no time for any redo.
Alttiere Factor: On the one hand, there's Jessica Lucas, Katie Cassidy and Josie Bissett (one of several returnees from the original). On the other hand, there's Stephanie Jacobsen and Ashlee Simpson. The Ashlee Simpson. So the pilots with her and Mischa Barton sold but those with Amanda Bynes and Hilary Duff didn't? I protest.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Likely to.
Parental Discretion Advised
From The Good Folks At: Mojo Films, CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? A teenage girl wants to get emancipated from the parents she never knew, but winds up in their temporart joint custody.
Will I Check It Out? I may do, if it shows up over here.
Alttiere Factor: The mom in this scenario is Shiri Appleby, making a welcome return to television.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Not great - it doesn't sound like something they'll be keen on.
The Vampire Diaries
From The Good Folks At: Bonanza Productions Inc., Alloy Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios.
What's It About? A teenage girl is the apex of a love triangle between two brothers - one's good and one's evil, one's a vampire and one's, er, a vampire. From the people beind Gossip Girl, and Kevin Williamson.
Will I Check It Out? Yes. Even though it was clearly greenlighted after Twilight.
Alttiere Factor: Although Nina Dobrev is a new name to me, shows like this usually remember to have decent eye candy for both sexes.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: I bet it does.
This portion of The Alttiere Guide To The New US Shows Post is brought to you by Laetitia Casta.
FOX
Brothers
From The Good Folks At: Impact Zone Productions, Tantamount and Sony Pictures Television.
What's It About? A retired footballer who goes back home, reuniting with his brother whose football career ended after a car accident (played by Daryl "Chill" Mitchell from Galaxy Quest and Veronica's Closet, who really is confined to wheelchairs now).
Will I Check it Out? Mitchell Hurwitz (Arrested Development) and Don Reo (Blossom, My Wife And Kids) are involved, so yes.
Alttiere Factor: Not immediately apparent. (CCH Pounder? Leave off.)
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Dunno.
The Cleveland Show
From The Good Folks At: Fuzzy Door Productions and Twentieth Century Fox Television.
What's It About? Cleveland gets his own show and moves from Rhode Island (and Family Guy) to Virginia. This was supposed to start last season, by the way.
Will I Check It Out? I might do.
Alttiere Factor: If this was live-action, it wouldn't do badly in this department. But Sanaa Lathan and Nia Long are voice-only, this being a cartoon and all...
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Very good. FX and BBC3 have done well with both Family Guy and American Dad!
Glee
From The Good Folks At: Ryan Murphy Productions and Twentieth Century Fox Television.
What's It About? A high school teacher's bid to restore the prior glory of his school's glee club.
Will I Check It Out? From Ryan Murphy, who gave us Popular and Nip/Tuck. So that's a yes.
Alttiere Factor: Jayma Mays and Jessalyn Gilsig... I am so there.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: I sure hope so; this sounds just the thing for me. Or Hallmark. Or Channel 4.
Human Target
From The Good Folks At: Bonanza Productions Inc., Wonderland Sound & Vision, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? A private detective/bodyguard who impersonates his clients to protect them.
Will I Check It Out? Despite the fact that the pilot's directed by Simon West, yes.
Alttiere Factor: No idea yet, but when has a series based on a comic book not had anyone fanciable? (Teri Hatcher as Lois Lane notwithstanding.)
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Excellent. Even Birds Of Prey made it to UK screens.
Past Life
From The Good Folks At: Bonanza Productions Inc. and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? A series about two investigators who delve into mysteries the key to which lies in clients'... well, the title and the source (MJ Rose's novel The Reincarnationist) should fill you in.
Will I Check It Out? I might.
Alttiere Factor: Not immediately apparent. West Wing/Australian Soap Factor is closer (Richard Schiff and Nicholas Bishop respectively).
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Not massive. But you never know.
Sons of Tucson
From The Good Folks At: J2TV/J2 Pictures (pick one!) and Twentieth Century Fox Television.
What's It About? A fellow who has to pretend to be the dad of three brothers when their real dad goes to prison. Executive produced by Justin "Reese from Malcolm in the Middle" Berfield, who should know the territory.
Will I Check It Out? To be honest, maybe not.
Alttiere Factor: It's all up to you, Natalie Martinez.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: If it does well for Fox, Sky here it comes.
This portion of The Alttiere Guide To The New US Shows Post is brought to you by Hayden Panettiere.
NBC
100 Questions
From The Good Folks At: Tagline Television and Universal Media Studios.
What's It About? A woman looking for her Mr. Right who joins an online dating site, which requires her to answer 100 questions on the compatibility test.
Will I Check It Out? Anything with a built-in target is living on borrowed time, so no.
Alttiere Factor: Sophie Winkleman looks cute.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Anything with a UK link seems to get bought, so...
Community
From The Good Folks At: Krasnoff/Foster Entertainment, Harmonious Claptrap, Russo Brothers, Universal Media Studios and Sony Pictures Television.
What's It About? A lawyer who's been disbarred forms a college study group made up of misfits (aren't they all) and learn about... yep, themselves.
Will I Check It Out? The Russo brothers of Arrested Development fame plus Joel McHale of The Soup equals "Yes." Chevy Chase is not a factor.
Alttiere Factor: IMDb indicates Gillian Jacobs and Alison Brie are cute.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Not bad, I'd say.
Day One
From The Good Folks At: Universal Media Studios.
What's It About? It's after a massive global catastrophe, focusing on a small group of survivors.
Will I Check It Out? As long as it's not the next Jericho, yes. The involvement of Jesse Alexander (Heroes, Lost, Alias) is encouraging...
Alttiere Factor: ...as is the presence of Julie Gonzalo (Veronica Mars) and Carly Pope (Popular).
Chances Of Coming To The UK: This has Sky One, Virgin 1, BBC2 or Sci-Fi written all over it.
Mercy
From The Good Folks At: BermanBraun and Universal Media Studios.
What's It About? A medical drama seen from the nurses' point of view. "Unique," it says here - Angels, Nurses and Nightingales apparently don't count.
Will I Check It Out? Yes...
Alttiere Factor: ...because one of said nurses is Michelle Trachtenberg.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: See Miami Trauma.
Parenthood
From The Good Folks At: Imagine Television and Universal Media Studios.
What's It About? The second TV series based on the hit movie of the same name focusing on the joys and pains of a family filled with parents.
Will I Check It Out? It has a fine pedigree both behind the cameras (Jason Katims, Thomas Schlamme, Ron Howard) and in front (Bonnie Bedelia, Peter Krause, Craig T. Nelson et al), so yes.
Alttiere Factor: Erika Christensen, Sarah Ramos, Maura Tierney, Monica Potter... not bad going, really.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Hallmark, or More4. Maybe even Channel 4.
Trauma
From The Good Folks At: Film 44 and Universal Media Studios.
What's It About? Paramedics in action. Basically, Emergency! for the noughties (so it'll probably get more viewers than the same suppliers' Friday Night Lights). Not to be confused with Miami Trauma.
Will I Check It Out? Um.... yes.
Alttiere Factor: Not entirely sure about Aimee Garcia and Anastasia Griffith, but in this case it might not matter.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Could well find a home.
In Memory Of:
As ever, we're not including unscripted shows, series switching homes (Medium is moving from NBC to CBS), or cable shows (but we should, perhaps, note the demise of Battlestar Galactica, Kyle XY, The L Word, The Shield, Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends, The Emperor's New School and Stargate Atlantis).
This portion of The Alttiere Guide To The New US Shows Post is brought to you by Rosanna Arquette.
ABC
Copper
From The Good Folks At: Thump, Inc. and E1 Entertainment.
What's It About? It's "a youthful, heartfelt, one-hour, character-driven workplace drama about five rookie cops plunged into the high stakes world of big city policing - a world where even the smallest mistake can have life-or-death consequences." Ah, so it's The Rookies of our day.
Wil I Check It Out? No idea.
Alttiere Factor: No idea.
Chances Of Being In The UK: Not something I'd bet on.
Cougar Town
From The Good Folks At: Doozer, Coquette Productions and ABC Studios.
What's It About? A woman in her 40s who gets in a relationship with a - duh-duh-DUHHHHH! - younger man. Friends once did an episode where Monica basically committed statutory rape; this is now spun out to a whole series. It even has Courteney Cox-Arquette!
Will I Check It Out? Apart from the episode with Courteney's sister-in-law up there, I couldn't be bothered with her last series Dirt. The same may apply here.
Alttiere Factor: From Courteney, not much. But Busy Philipps is another story!
Chances Of Being In The UK: Very good. Fiver, Five US, Living and the ilk.
The Deep End
From The Good Folks At: Twentieth Century Fox Television.
What's It About? Well, they could have called it The Young Lawyers, but another show got there first in the 1970s.
Will I Check It Out? Unlikely.
Alttiere Factor: Leah Pipes and Tina Majorino are capable of floating the odd boat.
Chances Of Being In The UK: Not out of the question.
Eastwick
From The Good Folks At: Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? It's The Witches Of Eastwick: The TV Show, with Paul "Benton Fraser" Gross as a much more plausible attractive devil than Jack Nicholson. Presumably Veronica Cartwright won't be playing the character she played in the movie (you know, the one who got killed).
Will I Check It Out? I might. It can't be worse than the book, and it might be better than the movie.
Alttiere Factor: Lindsay Price, Sara Rue, and Rebecca freaking Romijn. Well played.
Chances Of Being In The UK: Good.
Flash Forward
From The Good Folks At: ABC Studios.
What's It About? Everyone in the world gets a vision of the future in 21 years. What happens next?
Will I Check It Out? It's certainly an intriguing idea. If only the last TV series to involve Brannon Braga and David S. Goyer hadn't been the boring-as-all-hell Threshold...
Alttiere Factor: The only name that leaps out is Sonya Walger, but that's enough.
Chances Of Being In The UK: Extremely good.
The Forgotten
From The Good Folks At: Bonanza Productions Inc., Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? A group of amateur detectives who specialise in not only finding out who killed people, but also who the victims are. It's also about Jerry Bruckheimer trying to expand his TV success to other nets (he has yet to have a hit show on an American network not called CBS).
Will I Check It Out? I think I will.
Alttiere Factor: Michelle Dessler lives! One of the detectives is foxy Reiko Aylesworth, so I'm sold.
Chances Of Being In The UK: Detective show, Bruckheimer... I'd say it'll get a home.
Hank
From The Good Folks At: Bonanza Productions Inc., McMonkey Inc., Grammnet Productions, Werner Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? A Wall Street bigshot whose career falls apart, and has to go back to his hometown and family. With hilarious consequences.
Will I Check It Out? That last sentence might be for real, with a crew of sitcom veterans (Kelsey Grammer as Hank, James Burrows, Everybody Loves Raymond veteran Tucker Cawley). Then again...
Alttiere Factor: Not immediately apparent, it has to be said.
Chances Of Being In The UK: Between Grammer's involvement and Comedy Central and Channel 4, not bad.
Happy Town
From The Good Folks At: ABC Studios.
What's It About? Seven years after a small town was plagued by kidnappings, another crime affects the place...
Will I Check it Out? I'm not entirely sure about that, Scott Rosenberg's involvement notwithstanding. Alttiere Factor: Amy Acker means the Joss Whedon fans are sold. (Although it means she won't be on Dollhouse any more.)
Chances Of Being In The UK: Not out of the question.
The Middle
From The Good Folks At: Konk, Inc. and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? A middle-class wife/mother/car salesman in the middle of America. So not one for the edgy crowd.
Will I Check It Out? Unlikely...
Alttiere Factor: Creators Deann Heline and Eileen Heisler previously had Jennifer Finnigan in Committed. This one has Patricia Heaton. Not trading up.
Chances Of Being In The UK: Doesn't immediately say "Buy me," but Living...
Modern Family
From The Good Folks At: Levitan/Lloyd Productions and Twentieth Century Fox Television.
What's It About? A sitcom shot documentary-style focusing on three different families. From sitcom veterans Christopher Lloyd (not that one) and Steven Levitan...
Will I Check It Out? ...so quite possibly yes.
Alttiere Factor: One of the families features Julie Bowen, another one features Sofia Vergara... result.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: This sounds like it'll get a home.
V
From The Good Folks At: HDFilms and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? It's a new version of Kenneth Johnson's alien-invasion miniseries. Expect terms like "dark" to be flung about with regularity.
Will I Check It Out? Yes. I don't expect it to have the same impact as Diana's guinea pig swallowing or (in the Johnson-less sequel) Robin's C-section, but I hope it'll top the later regular series.
Alttiere Factor: Morena Baccarin, Lourdes Benedicto, Elizabeth Mitchell, Laura Vandervoort... plenty there for the straight guys and lesbians, which is what this post is interested in. Just deal.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: This WILL come to the UK. Sky and Virgin1 (and possibly ITV's digital channels) are airing their chequebooks as we speak.
This portion of The Alttiere Guide To The New US Shows Post is brought to you by Elisabeth Harnois.
CBS
Accidentally on Purpose
From The Good Folks At: BermanBraun and CBS Television Studios (the new name for CBS Paramount Television).
What's It About? A film critic who becomes a single mum after a one night stand.
Will I Check It Out? Probably not.
Alttiere Factor: Jenna Elfman and Ashley Jensen. Not for me.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: It might happen.
The Bridge
From The Good Folks At: E1 Entertainment, 990 Multi Media Entertainment Company, Jonsworth Productions, the CTV Television Network (yep, it's another US/Canadian venture) and CBS Television Studios.
What's It About? A cop who becomes the head of the police union.
Will I Check It Out? I've been not making time for cop shows lately, so...
Alttiere Factor: Inga Cadranel and Theresa Joy are new to me. Ona Grauer, less so. Not sure.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: If Flashpoint is any indication, good.
The Good Wife
From The Good Folks At: Scott Free Productions and CBS Television Studios.
What's It About? The wife of a district attorney who goes to prison, and who therefore has to return to work as a lawyer.
Will I Check It Out? Not out of the question. But not many people watched the last time Julianna Margulies played a lawyer (Canterbury's Law).
Alttiere Factor: With her and Christine Baranski, not high. If only Makenzie Vega was a year older.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Dunno. But never discount the involvement of Ridley and Tony Scott. Or David Zucker.
Miami Trauma
From The Good Folks At: Bonanza Productions, Jerry Bruckeimer Television and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? Trauma surgeons in Miami - it does exactly what it says on the tin. Written by Jeffrey Lieber, who wrote the original pilot script for Lost before J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof got their mitts on it.
Will I Check It Out? I just might, you know.
Alttiere Factor: High - not only Elisabeth Harnois (so beautiful I endured Point Pleasant far longer than I otherwise would have) but also Lana Parrilla (welcome back after Boomtown).
Chances Of Coming To The UK: High. Medical shows sell well.
NCIS: Los Angeles
From The Good Folks At: CBS Television Studios.
What's It About? A spinoff of NCIS (which in turn is a spinoff of JAG), it's about a Navy SEAL who works for NCIS in, well, Los Angeles.
Will I Check It Out? Um, no.
Alttiere Factor: Louise Lombard do you? UPDATE: Since this was posted, Louise is out and Linda Hunt is in (not the first time in this television universe that a key female player's been replaced by someone significantly less sexy - Andrea Parker played Harm's partner in the JAG pilot, but in the series she got replaced first by Tracey Needham and then by Catherine Bell).
Chances Of Coming To The UK: NCIS is a reliable performer for both FX and Five. This'll come over.
Three Rivers
From The Good Folks At: Deuce Three Productions and CBS Television Studios.
What's It About? It's a medical show, focusing on organ transplants from all angles.
Will I Check It Out? I may or may not. Probably not.
Alttiere Factor: Katherine Moennig and Justina Machado make up for Alfre Woodard (replacing Julia Ormond).
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Don't count it out.
This portion of The Alttiere Guide To The New US Shows Post is brought to you by Monica Bellucci.
CW
The Beautiful Life
From The Good Folks At: Katalyst Films, CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? Young up-and-coming models in New York and their ups and downs. Mostly downs. Shepherded by Ashton Kutcher.
Will I Check It Out? I probably will, but will this succeed where Models Inc. and Paper Dolls failed?
Alttiere Factor: High - Sara Paxton, Mischa Barton, Ashley Madekwe, and Elle Macpherson. The Elle Macpherson.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Guaranteed. E4 or Living, I bet.
Melrose Place
From The Good Folks At: CBS Television Studios.
What's It About? Having updated 90210, the spinoff gets the same treatment.
Will I Check It Out? No. I had no time for the original and I have no time for any redo.
Alttiere Factor: On the one hand, there's Jessica Lucas, Katie Cassidy and Josie Bissett (one of several returnees from the original). On the other hand, there's Stephanie Jacobsen and Ashlee Simpson. The Ashlee Simpson. So the pilots with her and Mischa Barton sold but those with Amanda Bynes and Hilary Duff didn't? I protest.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Likely to.
Parental Discretion Advised
From The Good Folks At: Mojo Films, CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? A teenage girl wants to get emancipated from the parents she never knew, but winds up in their temporart joint custody.
Will I Check It Out? I may do, if it shows up over here.
Alttiere Factor: The mom in this scenario is Shiri Appleby, making a welcome return to television.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Not great - it doesn't sound like something they'll be keen on.
The Vampire Diaries
From The Good Folks At: Bonanza Productions Inc., Alloy Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios.
What's It About? A teenage girl is the apex of a love triangle between two brothers - one's good and one's evil, one's a vampire and one's, er, a vampire. From the people beind Gossip Girl, and Kevin Williamson.
Will I Check It Out? Yes. Even though it was clearly greenlighted after Twilight.
Alttiere Factor: Although Nina Dobrev is a new name to me, shows like this usually remember to have decent eye candy for both sexes.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: I bet it does.
This portion of The Alttiere Guide To The New US Shows Post is brought to you by Laetitia Casta.
FOX
Brothers
From The Good Folks At: Impact Zone Productions, Tantamount and Sony Pictures Television.
What's It About? A retired footballer who goes back home, reuniting with his brother whose football career ended after a car accident (played by Daryl "Chill" Mitchell from Galaxy Quest and Veronica's Closet, who really is confined to wheelchairs now).
Will I Check it Out? Mitchell Hurwitz (Arrested Development) and Don Reo (Blossom, My Wife And Kids) are involved, so yes.
Alttiere Factor: Not immediately apparent. (CCH Pounder? Leave off.)
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Dunno.
The Cleveland Show
From The Good Folks At: Fuzzy Door Productions and Twentieth Century Fox Television.
What's It About? Cleveland gets his own show and moves from Rhode Island (and Family Guy) to Virginia. This was supposed to start last season, by the way.
Will I Check It Out? I might do.
Alttiere Factor: If this was live-action, it wouldn't do badly in this department. But Sanaa Lathan and Nia Long are voice-only, this being a cartoon and all...
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Very good. FX and BBC3 have done well with both Family Guy and American Dad!
Glee
From The Good Folks At: Ryan Murphy Productions and Twentieth Century Fox Television.
What's It About? A high school teacher's bid to restore the prior glory of his school's glee club.
Will I Check It Out? From Ryan Murphy, who gave us Popular and Nip/Tuck. So that's a yes.
Alttiere Factor: Jayma Mays and Jessalyn Gilsig... I am so there.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: I sure hope so; this sounds just the thing for me. Or Hallmark. Or Channel 4.
Human Target
From The Good Folks At: Bonanza Productions Inc., Wonderland Sound & Vision, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? A private detective/bodyguard who impersonates his clients to protect them.
Will I Check It Out? Despite the fact that the pilot's directed by Simon West, yes.
Alttiere Factor: No idea yet, but when has a series based on a comic book not had anyone fanciable? (Teri Hatcher as Lois Lane notwithstanding.)
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Excellent. Even Birds Of Prey made it to UK screens.
Past Life
From The Good Folks At: Bonanza Productions Inc. and Warner Bros. Television.
What's It About? A series about two investigators who delve into mysteries the key to which lies in clients'... well, the title and the source (MJ Rose's novel The Reincarnationist) should fill you in.
Will I Check It Out? I might.
Alttiere Factor: Not immediately apparent. West Wing/Australian Soap Factor is closer (Richard Schiff and Nicholas Bishop respectively).
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Not massive. But you never know.
Sons of Tucson
From The Good Folks At: J2TV/J2 Pictures (pick one!) and Twentieth Century Fox Television.
What's It About? A fellow who has to pretend to be the dad of three brothers when their real dad goes to prison. Executive produced by Justin "Reese from Malcolm in the Middle" Berfield, who should know the territory.
Will I Check It Out? To be honest, maybe not.
Alttiere Factor: It's all up to you, Natalie Martinez.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: If it does well for Fox, Sky here it comes.
This portion of The Alttiere Guide To The New US Shows Post is brought to you by Hayden Panettiere.
NBC
100 Questions
From The Good Folks At: Tagline Television and Universal Media Studios.
What's It About? A woman looking for her Mr. Right who joins an online dating site, which requires her to answer 100 questions on the compatibility test.
Will I Check It Out? Anything with a built-in target is living on borrowed time, so no.
Alttiere Factor: Sophie Winkleman looks cute.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Anything with a UK link seems to get bought, so...
Community
From The Good Folks At: Krasnoff/Foster Entertainment, Harmonious Claptrap, Russo Brothers, Universal Media Studios and Sony Pictures Television.
What's It About? A lawyer who's been disbarred forms a college study group made up of misfits (aren't they all) and learn about... yep, themselves.
Will I Check It Out? The Russo brothers of Arrested Development fame plus Joel McHale of The Soup equals "Yes." Chevy Chase is not a factor.
Alttiere Factor: IMDb indicates Gillian Jacobs and Alison Brie are cute.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Not bad, I'd say.
Day One
From The Good Folks At: Universal Media Studios.
What's It About? It's after a massive global catastrophe, focusing on a small group of survivors.
Will I Check It Out? As long as it's not the next Jericho, yes. The involvement of Jesse Alexander (Heroes, Lost, Alias) is encouraging...
Alttiere Factor: ...as is the presence of Julie Gonzalo (Veronica Mars) and Carly Pope (Popular).
Chances Of Coming To The UK: This has Sky One, Virgin 1, BBC2 or Sci-Fi written all over it.
Mercy
From The Good Folks At: BermanBraun and Universal Media Studios.
What's It About? A medical drama seen from the nurses' point of view. "Unique," it says here - Angels, Nurses and Nightingales apparently don't count.
Will I Check It Out? Yes...
Alttiere Factor: ...because one of said nurses is Michelle Trachtenberg.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: See Miami Trauma.
Parenthood
From The Good Folks At: Imagine Television and Universal Media Studios.
What's It About? The second TV series based on the hit movie of the same name focusing on the joys and pains of a family filled with parents.
Will I Check It Out? It has a fine pedigree both behind the cameras (Jason Katims, Thomas Schlamme, Ron Howard) and in front (Bonnie Bedelia, Peter Krause, Craig T. Nelson et al), so yes.
Alttiere Factor: Erika Christensen, Sarah Ramos, Maura Tierney, Monica Potter... not bad going, really.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Hallmark, or More4. Maybe even Channel 4.
Trauma
From The Good Folks At: Film 44 and Universal Media Studios.
What's It About? Paramedics in action. Basically, Emergency! for the noughties (so it'll probably get more viewers than the same suppliers' Friday Night Lights). Not to be confused with Miami Trauma.
Will I Check It Out? Um.... yes.
Alttiere Factor: Not entirely sure about Aimee Garcia and Anastasia Griffith, but in this case it might not matter.
Chances Of Coming To The UK: Could well find a home.
In Memory Of:
According To Jim
American Gladiators
Boston Legal
The Chopping Block
Crusoe
Cupid
Deal Or No Deal (network version)
Dirty Sexy Money
Do Not Disturb
Eleventh Hour
Eli Stone
ER
Everybody Hates Chris
The Ex-List
The Game
Harper's Island
In The Motherhood
Kath & Kim
King Of The Hill
Kings
Knight Rider
Last Comic Standing
Life
Life On Mars
Lipstick Jungle
MADtv
My Name Is Earl
My Own Worst Enemy
Prison Break
Privileged
Pushing Daisies
Reaper
Samantha Who?
Sit Down, Shut Up
Stylista
Surviving Suburbia
Swingtown
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
The Unusuals
The Unit
Valentine
Without A Trace
Worst Week
(Shows in italics have aired, or are due to be aired, in the UK.)
And Hilary Duff's pilot Barely Legal. We could have had Hilary Duff every week in a David E. Kelley show, people...
Saturday, May 16, 2009
The Jessica Claire Biel, Straight Guys And Lesbians Thank You Post.
"L.A. face with an Oakland booty. Ye Gods." - Butch Source here.Inspired by a post on Celeb Girlz pointing out how difficult it was to write anything about the Donald's sexy daughter when Fred had the first ever screen nudity of Jessica Biel as a link to his sister blog. And yes, Fred's post is linked to during this piece.
Down through the first century of film, male viewers have been crossing their fingers and hoping they'll get to see their favourite actresses (or actors, in a nod to those who lean that way) in a state of nature. While some managed to get lucky even back then - this link has more info - it's still surprising on those occasions when such pictures from the silent era turn up, and maybe if censorship had been less strict then there'd be even more... you just know there were 17-year-olds wishing people like Maureen O'Sullivan or Barbara Stanwyck would turn up naked. (Joan Crawford? Not the same.)
Today as then, some actresses see it as all in a day's work (Crash - the David Cronenberg one - features no less than three veteran screen nudists in Rosanna Arquette, Holly Hunter and Deborah Kara Unger) while others are understandably fiercely protective of what they've been given (we call this Kathy Ireland Syndrome). So while it's lovely when Laetitia Casta, Charlize Theron et al strip off, it's even more special when it's someone you never thought would do it, or when you've been waiting for a while and it finally happens. Which brings us to Jessica Biel.
Oh, Jessica. My second favourite Jessica after the Alba. For some the only reason to watch 7th Heaven on a regular basis (until 2002, obviously - actually a bad year for fans of sexy Jessicas, what with Dark Angel getting axed), for others the only reason the projectionists at cinemas showing Blade: Trinity and Summer Catch weren't lynched. The sporty tendencies both in real life and on screen (her 7th Heaven character Mary Camden was a basketball player, remember?) plus the throaty voice and well-developed arms all say "butch," but the closer attention is paid, the more signs there are that she's all woman. All woman with questionable quality control re script choice, but as both Big Bird and Hannah Montana have pointed out, everyone makes mistakes - and had Powder Blue gotten a cinema release of more than token status we'd be talking pre-Tom Cruise Katie Holmes status at least (remember The Gift?) instead of it being more like Anne Hathaway in Havoc. Still, it's called breaking down barriers. Not that it's up there with apartheid ending or anything, but you get the point. (I have to admit to being pleased that this seems to have caused less of a stir overall than Cindy's creamed-up Allure layout or her bikini shots earlier this week, though...)
Watch her in the most gratuitous bikini scene ever, constantly about to explode out of her naval whites and, as The New York Times put it, "wiggling her shapely rear through the North Korean backcountry," and Stealth becomes bearable. See her at premieres in clingy dresses and Justin Timberlake becomes... even more killable than usual. Listen to her sing (as she did on 7th Heaven and in Easy Virtue; see the video below) and you realise "What, she can sing as well? Fuck me!" Basically, what I'm saying is she's hot. And this is or could be the start of something big.
She gets bonus points for her last name - with all due respect to three-time Emmy winner Jeff, Beal is wrong (probably because it's close to Neal, which is one of my least favourite names ever. I don't know why). And even more bonus points for, at the time of writing, being due to sign on to romantic comedy Valentine's Day alongside the Alba, Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway, Julia Roberts... and Ashton Kutcher. Into each life.
Down through the first century of film, male viewers have been crossing their fingers and hoping they'll get to see their favourite actresses (or actors, in a nod to those who lean that way) in a state of nature. While some managed to get lucky even back then - this link has more info - it's still surprising on those occasions when such pictures from the silent era turn up, and maybe if censorship had been less strict then there'd be even more... you just know there were 17-year-olds wishing people like Maureen O'Sullivan or Barbara Stanwyck would turn up naked. (Joan Crawford? Not the same.)
Today as then, some actresses see it as all in a day's work (Crash - the David Cronenberg one - features no less than three veteran screen nudists in Rosanna Arquette, Holly Hunter and Deborah Kara Unger) while others are understandably fiercely protective of what they've been given (we call this Kathy Ireland Syndrome). So while it's lovely when Laetitia Casta, Charlize Theron et al strip off, it's even more special when it's someone you never thought would do it, or when you've been waiting for a while and it finally happens. Which brings us to Jessica Biel.
Oh, Jessica. My second favourite Jessica after the Alba. For some the only reason to watch 7th Heaven on a regular basis (until 2002, obviously - actually a bad year for fans of sexy Jessicas, what with Dark Angel getting axed), for others the only reason the projectionists at cinemas showing Blade: Trinity and Summer Catch weren't lynched. The sporty tendencies both in real life and on screen (her 7th Heaven character Mary Camden was a basketball player, remember?) plus the throaty voice and well-developed arms all say "butch," but the closer attention is paid, the more signs there are that she's all woman. All woman with questionable quality control re script choice, but as both Big Bird and Hannah Montana have pointed out, everyone makes mistakes - and had Powder Blue gotten a cinema release of more than token status we'd be talking pre-Tom Cruise Katie Holmes status at least (remember The Gift?) instead of it being more like Anne Hathaway in Havoc. Still, it's called breaking down barriers. Not that it's up there with apartheid ending or anything, but you get the point. (I have to admit to being pleased that this seems to have caused less of a stir overall than Cindy's creamed-up Allure layout or her bikini shots earlier this week, though...)
Watch her in the most gratuitous bikini scene ever, constantly about to explode out of her naval whites and, as The New York Times put it, "wiggling her shapely rear through the North Korean backcountry," and Stealth becomes bearable. See her at premieres in clingy dresses and Justin Timberlake becomes... even more killable than usual. Listen to her sing (as she did on 7th Heaven and in Easy Virtue; see the video below) and you realise "What, she can sing as well? Fuck me!" Basically, what I'm saying is she's hot. And this is or could be the start of something big.
She gets bonus points for her last name - with all due respect to three-time Emmy winner Jeff, Beal is wrong (probably because it's close to Neal, which is one of my least favourite names ever. I don't know why). And even more bonus points for, at the time of writing, being due to sign on to romantic comedy Valentine's Day alongside the Alba, Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway, Julia Roberts... and Ashton Kutcher. Into each life.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Holy Frakking Schmitt Post.
Evil: I assume you have already seen the new Cindy bikini pics
Me: Oh yeah. :) Fucking amazing.
she's still got the ass that one
Too true. Favourite WWTDD comment: "Cindy may have dated washed up '90s actors, but at least it was in the '90s."
lol
in case you were wondering..Opie and Anthony are American shock jocks
Thanks - I thought it was an Andy Griffith Show reference.
lol
sooo plowable
Mmmm-hmmmmm! Bold was on by mistake but it still works.
Cindy Crawford, demonstrating again her ability to turn men into teenage boys. This is from the shoot for an Australian TV commercial, so expect the YouTube link. Many thanks to the source for these shots. No thanks to the all-too-obviously jealous commenters at another blog.
Me: Oh yeah. :) Fucking amazing.
she's still got the ass that one
Too true. Favourite WWTDD comment: "Cindy may have dated washed up '90s actors, but at least it was in the '90s."
lol
in case you were wondering..Opie and Anthony are American shock jocks
Thanks - I thought it was an Andy Griffith Show reference.
lol
sooo plowable
Mmmm-hmmmmm! Bold was on by mistake but it still works.
Cindy Crawford, demonstrating again her ability to turn men into teenage boys. This is from the shoot for an Australian TV commercial, so expect the YouTube link. Many thanks to the source for these shots. No thanks to the all-too-obviously jealous commenters at another blog.Saturday, May 09, 2009
The It's Not You, It's Me Post.
Dear Lance,
Sorry for not updating your part of the Remaining Inhabitants bit that often, but it takes a million years for your blog to download. Why do you have to put so much good stuff on it? :)
Seriously though, I'll check in more often. Swear.
Best regards,
Victor
Sorry for not updating your part of the Remaining Inhabitants bit that often, but it takes a million years for your blog to download. Why do you have to put so much good stuff on it? :)
Seriously though, I'll check in more often. Swear.
Best regards,
Victor
The This Won't Go Down Well In Barbados Post.
Ken: Its always SO good to actually get nudity from celebrities we WANT to see naked ;-)
Cindylover1969: Specific names in mind?
didnt you get my email? behold... Rihanna :-)
Ah.
more than i ever thought wed see of her
Good grief.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/05/update-rihannas-record-label-wants-nude-pixs-removed-from-web.html
I only just got online so your email must have come when I was off.
well this is certainly something you want to be greeted by ;-)
True. But it would be a lot better if they were authorized (if you see what I mean).
i do indeed but im pretty sutre this is as close as well get so im gonna take what i can get and imagine coating that gorgeous dark skin of hers mmmmmm
Wonder how they'll react at home?
i imagine hitting the roof will be one option
Yes, it's a fairly conservative island officially (porn magazines haven't been sold there since 1990).
of course i imagine Rihannas concerns about that are less compared to how the record playing public reacts
True.
we have a tendency to make women grovel for forgiveness here... just look at the shameful treatment of Vanessa Hudgens
But it's all blown over.
true but at the time Disney put her through the wringer and the American media lynch mob decided she was the root of all societys ills anyways time for bed unless these pics have you feeling as amourous as i am ;-) heh oh well night :-)
Night.
Doubts have been raised as to whether it is indeed her (in all the pictures, anyway - unlike the ones of Cassie, where it definitely is her), but either way it's kind of sad. (Cellphone hacking? Bad. BAD.) Warning: The link also has references to P*r*z H*lt*n. I'm awaiting the reports from Barbados - they pay very close attention to Rihanna there, as you can guess.
PS: If these are Rihanna, and they were indeed leaked in the footsteps of Vanessa Hudgens, Vida Guerra, Adrienne Bailon et al, maybe Chris Brown might have been involved as theorised. Git.
Cindylover1969: Specific names in mind?
didnt you get my email? behold... Rihanna :-)
Ah.
more than i ever thought wed see of her
Good grief.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/05/update-rihannas-record-label-wants-nude-pixs-removed-from-web.html
I only just got online so your email must have come when I was off.
well this is certainly something you want to be greeted by ;-)
True. But it would be a lot better if they were authorized (if you see what I mean).
i do indeed but im pretty sutre this is as close as well get so im gonna take what i can get and imagine coating that gorgeous dark skin of hers mmmmmm
Wonder how they'll react at home?
i imagine hitting the roof will be one option
Yes, it's a fairly conservative island officially (porn magazines haven't been sold there since 1990).
of course i imagine Rihannas concerns about that are less compared to how the record playing public reacts
True.
we have a tendency to make women grovel for forgiveness here... just look at the shameful treatment of Vanessa Hudgens
But it's all blown over.
true but at the time Disney put her through the wringer and the American media lynch mob decided she was the root of all societys ills anyways time for bed unless these pics have you feeling as amourous as i am ;-) heh oh well night :-)
Night.
Doubts have been raised as to whether it is indeed her (in all the pictures, anyway - unlike the ones of Cassie, where it definitely is her), but either way it's kind of sad. (Cellphone hacking? Bad. BAD.) Warning: The link also has references to P*r*z H*lt*n. I'm awaiting the reports from Barbados - they pay very close attention to Rihanna there, as you can guess.
PS: If these are Rihanna, and they were indeed leaked in the footsteps of Vanessa Hudgens, Vida Guerra, Adrienne Bailon et al, maybe Chris Brown might have been involved as theorised. Git.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
The Say It Ain't So, Rande!... Oh, You Did Post
Although Cindy's second marriage has now lasted three times as long as her first, tales about Mr. Gerber's alleged penchant for living up to his first name still pop up. TMZ dished that Rande and other people in charge have been sued by a pair of former employees for rampant sexual harassment, and while it's not the first time these rumours have come up it's the first time lawyers have been involved.
Rande's denied it, and TMZ isn't the most trustworthy site, but... I hope this isn't true, for Cindy's sake. And everyone else involved.
Rande's denied it, and TMZ isn't the most trustworthy site, but... I hope this isn't true, for Cindy's sake. And everyone else involved.
Friday, May 01, 2009
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