Question: With the writers' strike still going strong, is there any chance for canceled shows that still had episodes left over? Instead of more "reality" might Justice or Close to Home be revisited? Justice was probably my favorite "new show" last season, but when friends tried to view it, it kept changing nights, so it didn't really get a chance to establish a following. And if it doesn't get a comeback nod, is there any chance that the full season might be available on DVD?
Answer: The strike is not going to be a lifeline for long-dead series to be resurrected. Or for the networks to open up their lineups to classics from the past, or to shows from other shores. Or for most of the other schemes I keep hearing from frustrated viewers who wish the networks would resort to a strategy other than filling their schedules with bottom-scraping reality programming. Fact is: Some of this reality filler is performing better than expected, another sad consequence of this unfortunate work
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Question: Has CBS had any second thoughts about canceling timeslot-winning Close to Home for their "edgy" (and time slot-losing!) TV show Moonlight?
Answer: Not to my knowledge. In fact, from where I sit, exactly the opposite. For one thing, Moonlight isn't doing all that badly and is probably doing just as well if not better demographically than Close to Home (if I'm wrong, don't shoot me; I'm not a numbers-cruncher), which suffered from hewing too closely to CBS' crime-drama formula without breaking out sufficiently on its own. But the real issue here is a creative one. This season, CBS made a concerted and daring effort to break out of its rut with its new dramas. The results have been mixed. Viva Laughlin was a disaster, Cane is a disappointment, and Moonlight has become the surprise sleeper. I think of it as this season's Jericho. It may be generating more buzz than ratings, but as with Jericho in the wake of its cancellation, CBS is foolish to discount the importance of a show
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Question: I thought Friday night was supposed to be a TV dead zone. Now there are seven, count them, seven scripted prime-time programs across the original three major networks competing for my attention at a time that would otherwise be dedicated to the Sci Fi Channel. This season, CBS replaced Close to Home with the unproved Moonlight, so I thought I'd finally give Friday Night Lights a real-time shot when it started its second season. But I became disappointed with the direction FNL was taking when the couple panicked and dumped the body, so when Women's Murder Club debuted, I checked it out and stayed around for the enjoyable Men in Trees, even forsaking, as a math major and crime buff, the satisfaction of Numbers, which I'd watched in real time since its inception. But now it's all a jumble, because last Friday I switched networks every hour in prime time, having difficulty deciding which of the seven episodes in three hours to watch. And that's not uncharacteristic of other ...
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Skeet Ulrich in Jericho by Robert Voets/CBS
Frankly, I was surprised and a bit dismayed that CBS didn’t have symbolic bowls of nuts in the room as the network launched its portion of the TCA press tour Wednesday morning. Which didn’t stop Jericho from dominating much of the conversation when CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler took the stage to introduce one of the more ambitious and controversial new lineups in CBS’ recent history.Tassler said she couldn’t go to a neighborhood camera store, or even a doctor’s office (where the doctor pulled a bag of peanuts out of his coat in reference to the fan campaign) without being reminded of the furor over Jericho's cancellation and subsequent renewal for seven episodes at mid-season. She says she went on message boards, read the e-mails, “and what you saw was a huge segment of the population that really felt they were not being counted, but more specifically, that they had a knowledge and an awareness of the show that was so detailed and so committe...
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Anthony LaPaglia in Without a Trace by Mitch Haddad/CBS
In years past, CBS's stability (which you've gotta know the other networks covet) has often been criticized as complacency, especially in these last few years of wall-to-wall crime dramas. Zzzzzz. That's about to change, with a fall lineup of new, intriguing high concepts that could open some eyes where the Eye net is concerned and give CBS the one thing it most desperately desires: Buzz. Let's hope some of the new stuff sticks.There is reason to be skeptical. The few shows from last season that went particularly "off brand" didn't last, most notably the serialized crime caper Smith (gone in three weeks) and the apocalyptic Jericho (canned after one season, which ended in a hail of bullets between warring towns, leaving fans on edge and up in arms themselves). The nagging question is if CBS will truly give its offbeat new lineup a chance to distinguish itself or instead will fall back on the tried and true that works so well for a network known for its satisfying, crowd-pleasing mai...
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Lost uncorks a shocker — or several — in May.
Finales! Guest stars! Crossover episodes! Mark your calendars now so you don't miss your favorite shows!
Monday, April 23On 24 (9 pm/ET, Fox), Jack goes rogue in a desperate attempt to save Audrey from the Chinese. Wait, isn't he already rogue?
Tuesday, April 24American Idol (8 pm/ET, Fox) lays witness to the rarely seen softer side of Simon Cowell in the two-part "Idol Gives Back" charity special. Part 2 airs tomorrow, 8 pm/ET. On ABC, boxer Oscar de la Hoya mixes it up with George Lopez (8:30 pm/ET).
Wednesday, April 25Sun's babydaddy is revealed on Lost (10 pm/ET, ABC).
Thursday, April 26The season's best new sitc
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Question: Close to Home's ratings have been pretty good lately. Any chance it will come back for next season?
Answer: Three months ago I would've said (actually, I did say) no way in hell. Six weeks ago I still would've said no way in hell. And this week? I'm saying it's possible but still unlikely.
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Jonathan Silverman, In Case of Emergency
At the time this interview with Jonathan Silverman was set up, tonight at 9:30 pm/ET was supposed to present the season finale of ABC's In Case of Emergency. But just before Silverman called, ABC extended his sitcom's run, pushing its freshman finale to April 18. Regardless, TVGuide.com wasn't about to pass on the chance to chat up the funnyman who in addition to his role as ICE's Harry, is about to visit fiancée Jennifer Finnigan's Close to Home.
TVGuide.com: Just to be clear, I'm speaking to Jonathan Silverman and not Jason Schwartzman, right? I get yo
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Question: Got any info as to what is going to happen the rest of the season on Close to Home?
Answer: Did you see my exclusive item in last week's TV Guide about Jennifer Finnigan's real-life beau Jonathan Silverman doing a three-episode arc? He's playing a political operative hired by Conlon to help with his attorney-general campaign.
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Law & Order
The networks have started working on new fall series, which means pink slips are coming for some of your old favorites. Here's what could be on the chopping block.
NBC Did you ever imagine the day when Law & Order would be canceled? We're not saying it's going to happen — it probably won't. But costs on the show have risen while its ratings have dropped, which means its renewal is no longer automatic every year. NBC's other middling crime dramas — Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Crossing Jordan and Medium — are more vulnerable. The network has also yet to decide on another season for The Apprentice
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