Time to update our Fall TV Scorecard! Just days before NBC is set to show its entire hand for the 2009-10 TV season, the network picked up the freshman drama Southland for 13 episodes. Southland could return in the fall, meaning that NBC thus far has two 9 pm dramas — Law & Order: SVU included — in the bank ...
Coming up this week on Fox's House (Mondays, 8 pm/ET), at least one sect of 'shippers will have their wildest dream come true when Dr. Crankpot and Cuddy (presumably) leave their animus on the nightstand in the name of getting horizontal. "It's a pretty hot scene," Lisa Edelstein, who plays Cuddy, tells TVGuide.com. When we asked the actress if the characters' coupling was "good" and thus worth the long (long) wait, she answered ...
In this week's installment of our Getting Lost video series: • On the heels of Lost celebrating its 100th episode, executive producer Damon Lindelof reveals the hour in time that he and Carlton Cuse wish they could get back. • Have viewers been shown all of the Smoke Monster's secrets? Get Cuse's answer. • How did Hurley find out about Flight 316? I reveal the theory shared by 77 percent of you. • Then check out this week's Burning Question, and send your best guess to GettingLost@TVguide.com. Coming next week on TVGuide.com: Inside scoop on the season finale's perhaps unlikely hero.
Can ABC's Better Off Ted produce laughs as well as far-out inventions? Is Parks and Recreation worthy of Amy Poehler's talents? Does Harper's Island slay us? Now that TV's new spring shows have had a few weeks to strut their stuff, TVGuide.com's senior editors gauge their areas of excellence — and how they can improve.
This week on Numbers (Fridays, 10 pm/ET), the CBS drama marks its 100th-episode milestone with a case that harkens back to Day 1, when a serial rapist vexed Don and Charlie. Original cast member Alimi Ballard, who week in and week out offers formidable back-up as Agent David Sinclair, gave TVGuide.com a look at the very creepy case to come, raved about the Fonz's utter coolness, and teased a season finale that will leave fans — and a very important something — hanging. TVGuide.com: A lot of shows seem to be celebrating their 100th episode these days. What is Numbers doing special for the fans this week?Alimi Ballard: We have a lot of humor, we have a lot of pizzazz, we have Josh Gad [returning as conspiracy theorist Roy McGill].... Numbers is going to be its most fantastic self, as much as humanly possible. TVGuide.com: And that involves giving longtime viewers a sense of déjà vu, back to the series' very first episode?Ballard: It's more than creepy. I don't want to give anything away, but it's ...
This Thursday's line-up bounced back nicely from that nasty week-ago wane. Here's how each show performed: 8 pm/ETSurvivor topped the hour with 11.73 million total viewers, up 350K week-to-week. Bones places second with 8.83 mil, up 7 percent. Ugly Betty returned to an audience of 6.8 mil, down 10 percent from its last fresh outing. In fourth, NBC's Earl (5.27 mil) dipped 230K, while Parks and Recreation was flat at 5.29 mil. Smallville (3.26 mil) saw a 260K gain. 9 pmCSI was No. 1 in total viewers (15.3 mil, up 850K), while Grey's Anatomy (13.94 mil, up 740K) dominated the demos. NBC's The Office was up a hair, at 7.3 mil, while lead-out 30 Rock (5.97 mil) dropped 380K. Supernatural scared up 2.96 mil, gaining 200 thou. 10 pmCBS won the hour with a Criminal Minds repeat, which with an audience of 10.34 million performed 38 percent better than time-slot predecessor Harper's Island (now airing on Saturdays). Private Practice was No. 1 the demos, and wrapped up its second season with 9.85 mil, up 7 percent. (Turn back around, Coop!) NBC's Southland skidded for a third straight week, this time dropping 16 percent (to 6.68 mil).Crave scoop on your favorite TV shows? E-mail senior editors Matt, Mickey and Tim at megascoop@tvguide.com.
Ed Westwick (aka Gossip Girl's I'm Chuck Bass) is the latest familiar face to be tapped for a guest-starring turn on Californication. The Showtime series returns for a third season this fall, with David Duchovny's Hank Moody trying his hand as a university professor. Westwick will play Balt, a student of Hank's — and one with a hunger for ...
Wednesday's ratings recap: 8 pm/ETPresident Barack Obama's 100-day touch-base drew 19 million total viewers across ABC, CBS and NBC. That's down 39 percent from his previous prime-time address, though one must remember that Fox was not carrying the POTUS this go-round. Fox instead went with Lie to Me, which matched last week's 7.88 mil. Similarly, Top Model held steady at 4 mil. 9 pmAmerican Idol's reveal of the Top 4 played to 21.85 million viewers, down 6 percent week-to-week. Criminal Minds claimed second with 13.27 mil, dipping 280K. Lost found 8.81 mil celebrating its 100th episode, down 200 thou from its last fresh episode. 10 pmCSI: NY topped the hour with 12.47 mil, on par with its last new episode. Law & Order followed with 7.7 mil, its largest audience since Feb. 4. ABC's The Unusuals was flat with 5.08 mil.
No less than 45 scripted shows await word on renewal as the networks prepare to reveal their plans for the 2009-10 season. Many of those shows are safe — would NBC really pull Law & Order? — but others may be endangered by low ratings, high production costs, or just being on the Peacock network, where Jay Leno takes over five hours of prime time in the fall. The senior editors of TVGuide.com hope the following shows will live. We chose them because we consider them the best of the shows that are in the worst danger. Make the jump to review our picks, then follow TV Guide on Twitter for updates on saved shows.
All is not entirely well with the Oceanside Wellness gang as ABC's Private Practice serves up its second season finale this Thursday at 10 pm/ET. As Addison fights her feelings for married dad-to-be Noah and one of their own "betrays" the practice, pregnant Violet is thrust to a genuinely shocking set of circumstances. Amy Brenneman spoke with TVGuide.com about where her complicated shrink has been and where she is about to go. TVGuide.com: First off, congratulations on the Season 3 pick-up. Were you concerned at all?Amy Brenneman: Uh, no. No. Not really. It would have been odd if we didn't [get picked up]. TVGuide.com: How do you think Violet has changed since Season 1? Was there anything you had hoped for or asked for?Brenneman: In Season 1 we met Violet at a pretty heightened point in her life, and I always thought she's not go to stay in this place of feel jilted and hysterical. I told [series creator] Shonda [Rhimes], "Listen, I will do whatever you want ...
This week on ABC's Grey's Anatomy (Thursday, 9 pm/ET), as if cancer-stricken Izzie didn't have enough to contend with, her mother, Robbie, makes tracks from the trailer park to Seattle Grace — and unannounced, at that. NYPD Blue alumna Sharon Lawrence shared a look at her, um, "colorful" guest-starring turn. TVGuide.com: I want to start off by saying that I for one did not buy you as someone old enough to be Katherine Heigl's mother.Sharon Lawrence: [Laughs] Well, think about it the way I did when they offered me the role. Like Izzie, she got knocked up when she was 16! Like mother, like daughter — there's absolute legitimacy in that. TVGuide.com: Plus, Robbie doesn't fancy herself as being old enough either.Lawrence: Well, no, she's an eternal child down deep ... and right there on the surface too! TVGuide.com: Is Izzie happy to get this surprise visit from her mom?Lawrence: No, she has no idea that ...
Now that "Stiletto" has kicked up her heels and gotten some good phone from the Blur, the CW's Smallville (Thursdays at 8 pm/ET) is just three weeks from its Season 8 finale. Here in Part 2 of our Q&A, Erica Durance shares a glimpse at the season-ender, in which Clark and Doomsday will go toe-to-toe (or at least cotton windbreaker-to-bony protrusions) TVGuide.com: Before we tease the season finale, I want to rewind a bit and talk about the episode "Hex." To accurately play Lois-as-Chloe, did you work with Allison Mack, or did you study her mannerisms from afar? The result was pretty spot-on.Erica Durance: Thank you for that. I was duly nervous to do that because of how good Allison is, and also because I know that the fans love the Chloe character. So I really wanted to make sure that I gave it my best effort. I did two things: I studied a lot of Allison's episodes, from this year specifically. And then, and this was really lovely, she would run over and ...
Tuesday's tallies: 8 pm/ETAmerican Idol Rat-Packed in an audience of 22.54 million total viewers, dipping 700K week-to-week. Part 1 of NCIS' spin-off set-up scored second with 16.32 mil, a drop of 7 percent. The Biggest Loser averaged 9.43 mil over its two-hour run, its largest audience since Feb. 3. Lagging far behind ABC's According to Jims, Reaper plunged 26 percent, to 1.82 mil. 9 pmThe Mentalist topped the hour with 16.9 million viewers, up 155 thou from its last fresh outing. Dancing with the Stars' results show followed with14.27 mil. At 10.6 mil, Fringe was up a hair from last week. 90210, meanwhile, sank 19 percent to hit an all-time low of 1.8 mil. That's right, 90210 got a Season 2 pick-up in February, yet Privileged is on the bubble. Join me in some head-scratching. 10 pmWithout a Trace was No. 1 with an audience of 12.35 million (down 800K), but SVU (10.5 mil, surging 16 percent) dominated in the demos. In fact, Stabler and Benson copped their best 18-49 numbers since Jan. 6, and their second-best such demos of the season. ABC's Cupid targeted 6.16 mil, down 440K and suffering significant tune-out over the hour. Crave scoop on your favorite TV shows? E-mail senior editors Matt, Mickey and Tim at megascoop@tvguide.com.
Every week, senior editors Matt Webb Mitovich, Mickey O'Connor and Tim Molloy satisfy your need for TV scoop. Please send all questions to megascoop@tvguide.com. I adored the "McFamily" scenes last week on Grey's Anatomy. What's next for Mark, Lexie, Meredith and Derek? — KellyMATT: For Mark and Lexie, much cuteness is on the immediate horizon. I mean, as much as Thatcher Grey makes my skin crawl (no offense, Jeff Perry!), the way things play out when he returns is better than I expected. For Mer and Der, there's the none-too-small matter of a stern ultimatum coming from the bride. As that gets sorted out, the would-be marrieds will find cause to fast-track their wedding, so get to updating that website, illing Izzie! So I'm guessing that Gaby will be hosting the spoiled teen diva on Desperate Housewives. They should totally get Selena Gomez to play the part! — DarcyMICKEY: I like where your head's at, Darcy, what with the Disney/ABC corporate synergy and all. It won't be Selena, but the Housewives casting elves ...
Can a serial killer played by Alex O'Loughlin slake his thirst for murder? The star of TV's too-short-lived Moonlight talked to TVGuide.com about his compelling guest spot on CBS' Criminal Minds (Wednesday, 9 pm/ET). Plus: Why Alex O's fans should give his new medical drama a chance. TVGuide.com: Where have ya been, man? We had a long stretch there, after Moonlight went bye-bye, where the fans were missing you terribly.Alex O'Loughlin: Yeah, I didn't work for like 10 months. I went back to Australia for a minute, and then I went and sat in a forest for a couple months and got my thoughts together. I did a bunch of writing.... Essentially, I went into a bit of a tailspin and left the country, to Mexico, out of phone range. I was kind of upset. TVGuide.com: Well, nearly a year later, not a week goes by that I don't get a Moonlight fan asking not if but when it is coming back. O'Loughlin: [Laughs] You know, the other day I was in Pittsburgh shooting [the CBS pilot Three Rivers], when this girl comes running up to me. Before I could finish ascertaining what I thought was going to happen, she pounced through the air, like a tiger, and landed on my chest ...
Chuck creator Josh Schwartz promised a "game-changing" finale, and boy, did he deliver! Chuck's hot new brand of flashes, though, left us with several burning questions. Schwartz was kind enough to address our queries, as well as offer a status report on the beloved, butt-kicking and yet still-on-the-bubble action-comedy.
As spied in spades last Thursday, the springing of spring seems to be keeping peeps' peepers away from the tube. This Monday, for example, nary a show showed a significant gain. Here's the recap:8 pm/ETDancing with the Stars averaged 19.09 million total viewers, dipping 6 percent week-to-week. House followed with 11.36 mil, down 480K from its last fresh outing.CBS' Big Bang (9.3 mil) and Mother combined for third, though both dropped 700 thou. Chuck's season finale whipped out its kung fu on 6.11 mil, up juuuuust a hair from last week. Gossip Girl sank 340K, to 2.02 mil.9 pmTwo and a Half Men dropped 700K, to 14.1 mil; lead-out Rules of Engagement (11.3 mil), though, enjoyed a 7 percent gain. 24 (10.56 mil) added 280K, while Heroes' finale was flat at 6.39 mil. One Tree Hill slipped a smidgen, to 2.24 mil.10 pmCSI: Miami was No. 1 with 11.96 mil, down 10 percent. Castle held steady at 8.38 mil, while Medium's audience shrank 9 percent, to 6.72 mil.
Just as JAG begot NCIS, CBS' NCIS is poised to produce its own progeny. In a two-part arc airing April 28 and May 5 and titled "Legend," Gibbs and the gang will interact with the Official of Special Projects, a Los Angeles-based agency populated by Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool J, Louise Lombard and other familiar faces. If all goes well, CBS will order this "backdoor pilot" to series for the 2009-10 TV season. Here in Part 1 of our Q&A with Shane Brennan, the NCIS executive producer shared a look at what fans of the original series can expect from its offshoot, and in what way it will be like nothing ever seen before on TV.
ABC is in talks to renew Scrubs for a ninth season, but one stumbling block is the availability of original cast members, none of whom have deals beyond this current season. See who's proving scarce for another round, and what monetary obstacle lies in Scrubs' way, after the jump.
Now playing in this week's Mitovich Mega Minute: * Grey's Anatomy's Meredith and Derek soon will hit a bump in the wedding-planning road. Get the scoop on the detour, and then speculate about who it involves. * Will Lois Lane have a front row seat for Smallville's season-ending smackdown? Actually, she may do the battling boys better! Hear what Erica Durance has to say about the finale. * What happens when Supernatural meets The Mentalist?Watch and discuss the new MMM after the jump.
CBS has confirmed its plan to join ABC and NBC in covering President Obama's upcoming prime-time news conference, and the ripple effect is far-reaching for the Eye's May sweeps plans. For starters, a Rules of Engagement-New Adventures of Old Christine pairing originally slated for this Wednesday at 8pm/ET has been pushed to May 13. As a result of CBS' small sitcom glut, Criminal Minds' two-hour season-ender has been pushed back an hour to May 20, starting at 9 pm (following the season finales of Old Christine and Gary Unmarried). The CSI: NY season finale, originally scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, will now air ...
Because Harper's Island is making a killing in the land of DVR playback and online screaming streaming, CBS is shuttling the slasher series to Saturdays at 9 pm/ET, effectively immediately. Though many deem that destination a "death slot," CBS senior executive VP Kelly Kahl posits that the preliminary returns on the freshman series' DVR+7 playback and online streaming data "suggest a passionate audience for Harper's outside its current Thursday time period borders.
