Nieuwe Amerikaanse TV-series 2007/2008

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Op dinsdag 26 december 2006 09:27 schreef BliksemSchigt het volgende:
Midseason TV Premieres and Returns

Tuesday, Jan. 2
2:05 a.m. * "Poker After Dark" (NBC)
10 p.m. * "Dirt" (FX)

Wednesday, Jan. 3
8 p.m. * "According to Jim" (ABC)
9 p.m. * "The Knights of Prosperity" (ABC)
* "Deal or No Deal" (NBC, new night)
* "Beauty and the Geek" (The CW)
9:30 p.m. * "In Case of Emergency" (ABC)

Sunday, Jan. 7
8 p.m. * "Grease: You're the One That I Want" (NBC)
9 p.m. * "The Surreal Life Fame Games" (VH1)
9:30 p.m. * "The Apprentice" (NBC)
10 p.m. * "The L Word" (Showtime)
* "Living with Ed" (HGTV)

Wednesday, Jan. 10
8 p.m. * "Friday Night Lights" (NBC, new night)
* "Armed & Famous" (CBS)
9 p.m. * "Tease" (Oxygen)
10 p.m. * "The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency" (Oxygen)

Thursday, Jan. 11
10 p.m. * "Nashville Star" (USA)

Sunday, Jan. 14
8 p.m. * "24" (FOX)
9 p.m. * "Rome" (HBO)
10 p.m. * "Extras" (HBO)

Tuesday, Jan. 16
8 p.m. * "American Idol" (FOX)
10 p.m. * "The Real Housewives of Orange County" (Bravo)

Friday, Jan. 19
9 p.m. * "Monk" (USA)
10 p.m. * "Psych" (USA)

Sunday, Jan. 28
8:30 p.m. * "King of the Hill" (FOX)

Wednesday, Jan. 31
10 p.m. * "Top Design" (Bravo)

Monday, Feb. 5
9:30 p.m. * "Rules of Engagement" (CBS)

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January TV Preview What to Watch—or Avoid
By Kristin Veitch December 27, 2006 at 11:29 pm

Enough with the Rudolph and Frosty Claymation specials! Oh, who am I kidding? I love them just as much as the next guy, but it's time to start thinking about some real TV again, now that the New Year is upon us. Thank goodness, a slew of new shows and returning faves will be premiering in the coming month. (Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.)

We've got all the premieres listed below in order of airdate, along with the dish about which January newbies are—and aren't—worth watching. Allow me to break it down for ya...then mark your calendars, rev up your TiVos and get ready to get back on that couch!

Dirt (FX), Jan. 2
You know the dirt that gets so deep under your fingernails you can't seem to get it out no matter how hard you scrub? Well, that exact feeling came to mind while watching the first three episodes of FX's new show Dirt, and unfortunately, that's not meant as an endorsement. The show is just icky—and not in a good way like Nip/Tuck or Dexter. You'll feel like you need a shower. The biggest problem? Not a single character on the show is even remotely likable. I really wanted to enjoy this series—after all, it is Courteney Cox (who doesn't love her?) and a fantastic premise (tabloid journalism is so now) but unfortunately—at least for this viewer—Dirt does not live up to its promise.

In Case of Emergency (ABC), Jan. 3
Thankfully, half of the Courtney Cox and David Arquette duo got things right, because although it's hardly the next Arrested Development or The Office, In Case of Emergency is actually pretty entertaining. Arquette stars as a businessman who wants to kill himself, but instead accidentally shoots his foot, sending him to meet a hot doctor played by Lori Laughlin. Arquette is just one-fourth of the equation here—the show is about a quartet of highly dysfunctional fortysomethings who went to high school together: Jonathan Silverman plays the insecure dweeb, Kelly Hu is the hot girl turned hooker and Greg Germann is the diet guru suffering a mental breakdown. The plot is a little predictable, and a few of the jokes need work, but Emergency is actually worth checking out.

Knights of Prosperity (ABC), Jan. 3
Donal Logue is back on television! And finally, it seems he may have found a show that lives up to his talent. While the first episode of Prosperity leaves plenty to be desired, the cast has chemistry, and the show gains momentum with each new ep. It could very well be a contender for your permanent DVR lineup. Logue plays a washed-up janitor who assembles a gang of would-be thieves (who are just about the least-savvy crooks around) to rob Mick Jagger

Beauty and the Geek (CW), Jan. 3
The geeks are gettin' some! That's right. According to executive producer Jason Goldberg, this season's cast is one saucy group. Not only does one of the ditzy babes fall for one of the socially challenged dorks, but apparently there's a sex scandal as well! "There were a lot of fireworks in the house this year for some reason," Jason tells me. Sounds a little more like The Real World than B&TG to me, but Jason insists the show is still sweet at its heart. "It's funny because it's competition based and it has money at the end of it, but [the contestants] are actually there because they want the experience. That's what's different about this show. It's really humbling for people to admit their weaknesses and learn their strengths and ultimately celebrate who they are."

The L Word (Showtime), Jan. 7
Perhaps the most underappreciated series on Showtime returns with a lot of heat for its fourth season. It picks up right where the finale left off, with Bette on the run with Angelica, and Tina desperate to find her ex-lover and their daughter. Things only get crazier from there, with a breakup, a bad car wreck and a "gift" for Shane that turns her world upside-down—all within the first episode.

The Apprentice (NBC), Jan. 7
The Donald is back, and so is the hair! But Carolyn and George are history—and so is the show's former backdrop of New York City. In their place is this glorious place we call Hell-Ay (or L.A.), and the new boardroom babe is none other than Trump's own offspring, Ivanka. And of course, there is a new twist. Along with Donald and Ivanka, each week's winning team leader will be alongside to make the deciding factor on who is fired. But aside from the location and personnel change, everything else is pretty much Apprentice status quo—so bring on the backstabbing, crying and bitchery!

24 (Fox), Jan. 14
Of course, after its Emmy win and amazing fifth season, this new season of 24 is the most highly anticipated debut of January, and I promise you will not be disappointed. Not only will there be plenty of twists in Jack's family department, but Kiefer gets down and dirty, gritty and unshaven. This is not action-hero Jack but possibly deranged Jack, and the sixth season takes on an edgier tone than ever before. (I'll have much more for you on the new season in a 24 scoop extravaganza closer to the premiere!)

Extras (HBO), Jan. 14
So good. So good. Sooo good. That's what I can tell you about the first three episodes of the second season of HBO's Extras, which are so simultaneously cringe inducing and hilarious, you can't help but be thoroughly entertained. Ricky Gervais' alter ego Andy finally makes it big into his own show (a hokey, catch-phrase-laden "s--tcom"), and the success (or lack thereof) of the show provides a great through line, but as always, it's the guest stars that leave your jaw on the floor. Where else can you watch Orlando Bloom take the piss out of Johnny Depp (as he does in the first episode), David Bowie serenade a certain "little fat man" (second ep) or Daniel Radcliffe, aka Harry Potter, get his "Johnny" stuck in the hair of a veteran British actress (number three)? I am so in.

Rome (HBO), Jan. 14
Finally. The most addictive drama on HBO returns, after leaving us hanging with enough pulse-pounding, character-killing cliffhangers to set up a stellar second season. In case you haven't been keeping up on your history books, that dude Caesar really is dead, Marc Antony is livid and Octavio is stepping up in his role as heir apparent. But the most riveting (and heart-wrenching) drama comes from the mighty soldier Verenus, who goes off the deep end after burying his wife. As you may remember, she plummeted to her death after the Big V learned of her child with another man. Even if you didn't see season one, now is the time to catch up, because you have no idea what you've been missing.

The Hills (MTV), Jan. 15
Yes, the lowest common denominator of quality television—and the pinnacle of guilty pleasuredom—is back with a whole new season! I just caught up with Lauren Conrad (L.C.) herself, who revealed she has "a couple new love interests" this season. "Last season, we all had boyfriends," she explains. "And this season, we all start off single, so there is a lot more going out. I think we filmed, like, three times at clubs this last week—we do at least once a week going out. It's a lot more fun this year. You get to see me date, and I'm not very good at that. We [Audrina and Lauren] just went on a blind date together." Am I lame if I say I can't wait?

American Idol (Fox), Jan. 16
Have you heard of this show? Some guy named Ryan who works here told me it's good. I think I'm gonna check it out.

Monk (USA), Jan. 19
You know how Dexter Morgan channels his crazy into crime-solving do-goodism? Dude is just taking a page from Adrian Monk's book, and lucky for us, everybody's favorite obsessive-compulsive gumshoe is back on the case. Unlike Dexter, however, Monk has a certain charming throwback quality—it's not revolutionary television, but it's always fun—and it consistently delivers a great slate of guest stars. In the coming eps, look for Andy Richter as Monk's brand-new BFF (comedy gold, people!) and Sean Astin as a creepy Natalie-stalking murder suspect. The writers also have fun incorporating Traylor Howard's real-life pregnancy into the plot.

Psych (USA), Jan. 19
James Roday, where have you been all our lives? Roday as ESP fakester Shawn Spencer is a hidden gem of funnyosity, and Dulé Hill is now on his umpteenth year of stellar straight-man work (Martin Sheen's President Bartlet was his first foil). Throw in Corbin Bernsen as Shawn's perpetually annoyed cop dad, and you've got a recipe for a very funny detective show. The Santa Barbara-based cop series returns with Kurtwood Smith ("Red" from That '70s Show) guesting as an Alzheimer's-afflicted ex-cop who seeks Shawn's help in putting together the clues he can't find inside his own head.

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Op woensdag 3 januari 2007 15:50 schreef BliksemSchigt het volgende:
Iemand al iets gelezen over Dirt of zelfs al gekeken? Misschien waag ik me er vanavond toch aan.

quote:

Op woensdag 3 januari 2007 15:50 schreef BliksemSchigt het volgende:
Iemand al iets gelezen over Dirt of zelfs al gekeken? Misschien waag ik me er vanavond toch aan.

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FOX Develops 'Smarter' Thursday Plan
Quiz show will get an 'Idol' lead-in for multiple episodes

January 31, 2007

Viewers anxious to discover if they are, in fact, smarter than a 5th grader will be able to find out on FOX starting at the end of February.

FOX announced on Wednesday (Jan. 31) that Mark Burnett's new game show "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" will begin a six-episode run starting at the end of February, as the network experiments with the quiz format in a number of time periods.

The network will air half-hour episodes starting at 9:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Feb. 27 and Wednesday, Feb. 28 in the cushy post-"American Idol" time periods. "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" will also get a post-"Idol" run with hour-long Thursday episodes on March 1 and March 8 at 9 p.m. The next two weeks, March 15 and March 22, FOX will let the show lead off the night at 8 p.m. If viewers stick around for those last two episodes, you can count on FOX bringing it back.

The show focuses on knowledge that most American adults had at one point, but may have forgotten. Grownups will be quizzed on subjects they would have studied in grade school, with questions coming from actual 1st grade through 5th grade math, science, history and geography text books. If the adults are stumped, there's some provision for them to cheat and ask actual grade-schoolers the answer.

"Whereas most game shows in an odd way measure how smart you are, our contestants are going to be measured about how dumb they are," FOX Entertainment President Peter Liguori boasted to reporters earlier this month. "These are going to be questions you might ask your kids, where they will rattle off an answer like that, but given how distant we are from a 5th grade education, actually wind up being a bit tougher. We've seen the show through a couple of run-throughs. It is very funny. When Mark Burnett wound up pitching this show to each network president, in fact, only one network president left the six questions with money, which I think is a real glaring indictment against the intelligence of the people who sit in front of you here, but it also shows the fun of the show."

In case you're curious, Liguori claims to have been the only network president to have come out on top.

The FOX press release offered a trio of sample questions:

# In what state is Mount Rushmore located?
# What are the colors of a rainbow?
# What are the names of the five Great Lakes?


So? Are you smarter than a 5th grader?

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"Engagement" earns laughs playing by the rules
By Ray Richmond

That the CBS midseason entrant "Rules of Engagement" is undeniably funnier than most members of the couples-sitcom genre is to damn it with faint praise.

Are all white guys who are in relationships with women destined to be hardcore slobs obsessed with sex, sports and suds? Are all of the women who love them somehow glib, intuitively wise, exceedingly tolerant and overly emotional?

This is the world built by the traditional primetime broadcast network comedy, and it's perhaps why the form itself is in crisis. It needs a new hook, and "Rules" ain't it. On the other hand, it does have some clever lines, and any show that co-stars Patrick Warburton ("The Tick," "Seinfeld's" Puddy) and David Spade ("The Showbiz Show," "Just Shoot Me") is nothing if not well cast. So kudos to casting directors Leslie Litt and Suzanne Goddard Smythe for having the good sense to get these guys.

Warburton in particular is a comic gold mine, based on his bone-dry monotone delivery alone. I'd pay to hear him read a wine list, and would no doubt laugh heartily at it. In "Rules," he plays Jeff, a deadpan lug who has been married for 12 years to feisty Audrey (Megyn Price) and thus looks at the world through beer-colored glasses. He's always trying to figure out ways to combine sports and romance, or at least retain his tenuous hold on his masculinity.

On the other side of their apartment building, we have Adam (Oliver Hudson of "The Mountain") and Jennifer ("Dawson's Creek" alumna Bianca Kajlich), newly engaged and thus still really hot for each other in a way that Jeff and Audrey seem to be only on special occasions like birthdays.

Completing this motley quintet is Russell (Spade), who is single and thus a horndog commitment-phobe. (This is another network comedy rule: If you're a straight guy and aren't in a relationship, it is because you are constitutionally incapable of intimacy and therefore mask it with wisecracks.) Russell is Adam's best friend, and in the real world they are too different to have any realistic bonding potential. But this being TV, they're tight, and Spade's dependable cynicism and impeccable timing deliver the goods nicely.

In fact, there is really nothing all that wrong with the first couple of episodes supplied for review. The concept is to illustrate "different phases of the male/female relationship" (as in new, not so new and not anything). In the pilot penned by executive producer Tom Hertz, Adam and Jennifer have just gotten engaged, and Jeff warns Adam that he had better establish some rules or risk having his manhood erased. "She wanted a cat, and I didn't, so we compromised," he explains. "We got the cat." A second episode is sillier and less believable but has more of Warburton's sad-sack attitude, so it's easy to forgive.

Again, "Rules" is rife with attitude and snappy dialogue and the requisite mega-attractive characters. But there is a reason that the half-hour comedy as we've long known it plays like yesterday's news, and this show unfortunately embodies the same stale, cliche-riddled, boys-will-be-boys dynamic that the tube too often uses to pigeonhole adult relationship issues. White males remain the last group in America that you can pretty much smack around with impunity -- simple-minded, testosterone-driven doofs that they are -- and while you can still mine a few laughs from that, the calories being dispensed in the process are decidedly empty ones.