TV News, Previews, Spoilers and Reviews
On the TV Addict:
We reflected on the long journey of LOST, came out with the top 5 shows we’re embarrassed to admit we have yet to watch, and took a fairly controversial stance on the Winchester Brother’s non-appearance at San Diego’s upcoming Comic Convention… which by the way, we still stand by.
On the REEL Addict:
We reviewed BRÜNO, THE HURT LOCKER and MY LIFE IN RUINS, highlighted our favorite Sam Rockwell role and wondered what’s with all the biblical references in MOON?
1. Cobie Smulders: Not only was Cobie Smulders responsible for one-half of television’s most unexpected and delightful relationships of this past season, elevating her will-they-or-won’t-they with one Barney Stinson to that of legendary status. Her Canadian heritage continues to be the gift that keeps on giving, as evidence by ever more Robin Sparkles, Murtaugh, and one really handy list of Canadian Sex Acts.
2. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: With 60% of “The Final Five” Canadian born (Rekha Sharma, Aaron Douglas and Michael Hogan) BATTLESTAR GALACTICA has Canada to thank for their favorite crew’s happily ever after. Plus, we’re fairly certain your friends to the north deserve bonus points for being the birthplace of the eye candy that is Grace Park, Tricia Helfer and Tahmoh Penikett. We’re just sayin’
3. The CW: Little known fact: it’s not the Winchester Bros. talent for demon-hunting or Clark’s superpowers that have kept SUPERNATURAL and SMALLVILLE alive and well all these years. Rather, it’s a powerful yet rarely talked about ally known as the Canadian dollar. A dollar, whose low value in comparison to that of its American cousin has played a surprisingly large role in keeping both Vancouver based shows shooting all these years.
Not to start a panic or anything among SMALLVILLE fans, but… um, yeah, enjoy the upcoming ninth season because chances are, it’ll be the last. Looking to place blame? Thinking maybe the rising production costs (including the ever-growing salary of star Tom Welling) or the shrinking audience (season two averaged 6.3 million viewers a week while the eighth season reached only 3.7 million) will prove to be the show’s kryptonite? Possibly… but it’s beginning to look like an assisted suicide with the network itself playing the role of Dr. Kevorkian.
By: CT
For far too long, major cliffhangers have been relegated to the daytime soaps (and even many of them seem to have lost touch with the art they perfected many moons ago) and primetime’s season finales. But I’m happy to report that the cliffhanger is alive and well… and being used to great effect by some of television’s most intriguing dramas.
Although last night’s season premiere of TRUE BLOOD seemed headed toward a “Sookie dumps Bill… again” ending, the show wisely avoided breaking the pair up in favor of a shocking cliffhanger in which Eric’s animal side came out as Lafayette cowered in fear, leaving us to wonder what the heck is going on in that weird torture chamber (which seems to be located beneath a salon based on the villainous vamp’s interrupted-in-progress dye job!).
| Time | Network | Show | Rating | 18-49 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8PM | FOX | So You Think You Can Dance | 8.06 | 3.1/11 |
| CBS | NCIS (R) | 7.37 | 1.3/5 | |
| ABC | Ugly Betty | 6.14 | 1.8/6 | |
| NBC | My Name is Earl (R) | 3.32 | 1.1/4 | |
| CW | Smallville (R) | 1.42 | 0.5/2 | |
| 8:30PM | NBC | 30 Rock (R) | 2.79 | 1.2/4 |
| 9PM | CBS | CSI (R) | 9.64 | 1.9/6 |
| FOX | So You Think You Can Dance | 8.92 | 3.5/11 | |
| ABC | Ugly Betty | 6.12 | 1.8/6 | |
| NBC | The Office (R) | 3.28 | 1.4/4 | |
| CW | Supernatural (R) | 1.29 | 0.5/1 | |
| 9:30PM | NBC | 30 Rock (R) | 3.19 | 1.3/4 |
| 10PM | CBS | Flashpoint (R) | 7.49 | 1.8/5 |
| NBC | Southland | 6.39 | 2.0/6 | |
| ABC | Grey’s Anatomy (R) | 3.61 | 1.1/3 |
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Superman… moving to Friday! Which pretty much sums up the big shocker from this morning’s just announced CW Fall sked. SMALLVILLE will air what will likely be its ninth and final season on Friday night, followed by a repeat of AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL.
Turns out that spending money on actual programming is the CW’s kryptonite equivalent. With PRIVILEGED getting the ax, alongside THE GAME, EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS, potential pilots BODY POLITIC and LILY (The GOSSIP GIRL spinoff) and their entire Sunday night lineup.
Also joining the CW this fall is the network’s not-so-subtle-attempt to jump on the Vampire bandwagon with their TWILIGHT-inspired VAMPIRE DIARIES starring DEGRASSI alum Nina Dobrev, their Ashton Kutcher produced Mischa Barton AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL companion THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE and the much-buzzed about re-boot of MELROSE PLACE, which will air following their equally hyped uber-disappointing re-boot of 90210.
Snap Judgements to come, full schedule after the jump.
| Time | Network | Show | Rating | 18-49 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8PM | CBS | Survivor: Tocantins | 12.03 | 3.7/12 |
| FOX | Bones | 8.70 | 2.5/8 | |
| ABC | Ugly Betty | 6.83 | 2.0/6 | |
| NBC | My Name is Earl | 4.79 | 2.0/6 | |
| CW | Smallville | 3.15 | 1.4/4 | |
| 8:30PM | NBC | Parks and Recreation | 4.25 | 2.0/6 |
| 9PM | ABC | Grey’s Anatomy | 15.58 | 5.5/14 |
| CBS | CSI | 14.42 | 3.4/9 | |
| FOX | Hell’s Kitchen | 7.42 | 3.1/8 | |
| NBC | The Office | 6.72 | 3.5/9 | |
| CW | Supernatural | 2.90 | 1.3/3 | |
| 9:30PM | NBC | 30 Rock | 5.66 | 2.8/7 |
| 10PM | ABC | Grey’s Anatomy | 17.12 | 6.2/17 |
| CBS | CSI: NY | 12.84 | 3.0/8 | |
| NBC | Southland | 4.64 | 1.7/5 |
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING:
UGLY BETTY (8PM ABC, CityTV in Canada)
If it’s sweeps, it must be time for wedding fever! Which explains why there are not one but two proposals tonight.
SMALLVILLE (8PM CW)
When Tess and Lois clash, expect the unexpected. The eight-season finale also features Oliver stepping in when Clark seems kinda reluctant to kill Doomsday.
PARKS & RECREATION (8:30PM NBC, 9PM CityTV in Canada)
Frankly, I don’t think you should be able to tout something as a “season” finale unless you’ve aired at least 13 episodes, but hey, that’s just me. Anyway, this disappointing series — which managed to pick up a renewal for no reason other than it’s pedigree — wraps up with Andy’s first gig since he broke his legs in the pit. (That probably means something to the four of you still watching.)
GREY’S ANATOMY (9PM ABC, CTV in Canada)
The two-hour, fifth-season finale might just as well be called “Will They Or Won’t They?” as Izzie decides whether to have surgery, Mark decides what to do with Lexie and Bailey finds out whether or not she’ll be accepted into a pediatrics fellowship.
| Time | Network | Show | Rating | 18-49 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8PM | CBS | Survivor: Tocantins | 11.97 | 3.8/12 |
| FOX | Bones | 8.62 | 2.3/7 | |
| ABC | Ugly Betty | 7.49 | 2.1/7 | |
| NBC | My Name is Earl | 4.42 | 1.7/6 | |
| CW | Smallville | 3.40 | 1.5/5 | |
| 8:30PM | NBC | Parks and Recreation | 4.64 | 2.0/6 |
| 9PM | ABC | Grey’s Anatomy | 15.33 | 5.3/14 |
| CBS | CSI | 14.58 | 3.5/9 | |
| NBC | The Office | 7.71 | 3.8/11 | |
| FOX | Hell’s Kitchen | 6.53 | 3.4/9 | |
| CW | Supernatural | 2.78 | 1.2/3 | |
| 9:30PM | NBC | 30 Rock | 6.17 | 2.9/8 |
| 10PM | ABC | Michael J. Fox Special | 10.59 | 3.3/10 |
| CBS | CSI (R) | 9.72 | 2.4/7 | |
| NBC | Southland | 6.50 | 2.0/6 |
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING:
UGLY BETTY (8PM ABC, City in Canada)
The Karate Kid turns to Hilda for help in his run for office, while a member of the Meade dynasty is kidnapped even as Mode’s fate hangs in the balance.
PARKS AND RECREATION (8:30PM NBC, 9PM City in Canada)
Leslie makes a lasting impression at a banquet honoring her mom. Not a good one, mind you…
GREY’ S ANATOMY (9PM ABC, CTV in Canada)
Remember when the Chief’s niece was hospitalized before her prom back in season 2? Tonight, it’s a group of college students who wind up at Seattle Grace following a car accident that occurs on the way to their graduation ceremony. On, and there’s much, much talk of Meredith and Derek’s upcoming wedding.
THE OFFICE (9PM NBC, Global in Canada)
You know, if there’s one person on this planet you’d expect not to know that disco is dead, it’s Michael Scott. Tonight, he proves that to be the case by bringing dance music to the office.
SUPERNATURAL (9PM CW)
The apocalypse is coming! The apocalypse is coming! Unfortunately, Sam’s kinda tied up, what with having to detox from demon blood and all.