TV News Roundup – June 2009 – Week 3
Comedy Central resurrects ‘Futurama’
New episodes begin airing mid-2010
The Comedy Central 26 new episodes order will run over two seasons. “Futurama” creators Matt Groening and David X. Cohen already are working on stories for the new batch of episodes of the sci-fi cartoon, slated to premiere on Comedy Central in mid-2010. The 26-episode order from Comedy Central was preceded by four feature-length original “Futurama” specials. When the series returns with originals in 2010, it will be seven years after the show’s last original episode aired on Fox.
‘Nurse Jackie’ picked up for second season
Monday debut attracted a million viewers
Showtime is giving a second season order to “Nurse Jackie” after the Edie Falco drama became Showtime’s most-watched series premiere ever Monday night.
‘True’ romance
“True Blood” creator Alan Ball discusses how he handled the news that his stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer were perfecting their chemistry off screen. [Video]
Four on crime scene for CBS, HBO
New dramas add cast including Adam Jamal Craig
Adam Jamal Craig has been added to CBS’ new series “NCIS: Los Angeles” as a regular, while “The Wire” alum Michael Kenneth Williams, veteran Dabney Coleman and Paz de la Huerta have joined the cast of HBO’s Martin Scorsese-directed drama pilot “Boardwalk Empire.”
Shawn Ryan sets ‘Terriers’ at FX
‘Shield’ creator’s new pilot is an hourlong comedy
Shawn Ryan, creator of “The Shield” and “Ocean’s Eleven” writer Ted Griffin have a new pilot at FX. The network has given a green light to “Terriers,” an hourlong comedic private-eye show which centers on a police detective who becomes a private investigator and takes on a young partner.
AMC resolves two-minute ‘Men’ issue
Third season of drama set to premiere Aug. 16
AMC has found a creative solution to the tempest surrounding its decision to add two more minutes of commercial time to the upcoming season of “Mad Men,” episodes will run a few minutes into the 11 p.m. hour to accommodate the extra blurbs. The news that AMC would add more commercial time to each telecast did not sit well with “Mad Men” creator-exec producer Matthew Weiner, who’s known for meticulously crafting every frame of the period piece.
LOST Producer Claims Show will End Epic TV Storytelling
There will be an ending to our show and I trust it will be a stimulating, satisfying ending¦ This show needs to be building toward a story finish. The audience can’t feel like the creative wheels are spinning and critically, there were times during [earlier seasons] where we were critically, and in terms of our audience, getting busted for spinning wheels a little bit.
‘My Name Is Earl’ is no more
Talks between Fox TV and Turner break off
Twentieth Century Fox TV has announced that talks with Turner to produce more original episodes of the laffer have broken off — and the show has ended its run for good.
NBC signs ‘Heroes’ writers
Aron Coleite, Joe Pokaski ink two-year deals
NBC has signed separate two-year pacts with Coleite and Pokaski, who will continue to write for “Heroes” but also start developing projects as well. Both writers are proteges of “Heroes” creator Tim Kring.
Eric Roberts joins cast of ‘Crash’
Starz series stars Dennis Hopper
Eric Roberts has joined the cast of Starz drama “Crash.” Series, starring Dennis Hopper and currently in production for season two in Albuquerque, N.M., will add Roberts as an entrepreneur hoping to bring a professional football team to L.A.
Fox announces fall schedule
‘Hell’s Kitchen’ nabs spot, ‘Dance’ cut short
Fox will get an early jump on fall, launching its Wednesday, Thursday and Friday skeds a week before the official TV season start. That’s still later than when Fox has traditionally kicked off its season; in years past, the net has spread its launches out within a much greater time frame. That included some shows launching at the end of August/beginning of September, as well as some shows waiting to premiere until the end of October or even November.
Two take on ‘Ghosts/Aliens’
Live-action project for Comedy Central, Viacom feature
Jonathan Sadowski and Keir O’Donnell have been tapped to star in the pilot for “Ghosts/Aliens,” a live-action comedy for Comedy Central that also is being developed as a feature for Viacom sibling Paramount Vantage. Based on Trey Hamburger’s supernatural comedy novel released in November, “Ghost/Aliens” centers on Trey Hamburger (Sadowski) and his loyal best friend, Mike Stevens (O’Donnell), two potheads who set out on a quest to expose the truth about the existence of ghosts and aliens.
Reveille on ‘The Nightshift’
Company buys format rights to Icelandic comedy
Reveille has acquired rights to develop the Icelandic workplace comedy “The Nightshift” for the U.S. market. The series, which premiered in 2007, follows three eccentric gas- station employees working the graveyard shift who try to stay motivated between run-ins with wacky customers.
The Fine Print
This is by no means meant to be a comprehensive roundup of the entire weeks’ news. All stories are chosen by me for no other reason than that they got my attention and might capture yours. If something you think is more important chime in on the feedback; we’d love to hear comments and have a conversation about it.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Looper – Podcast Review
The Hobbit & 2012 In Review – LIVE SHOW
Skyfall – Podcast Review
Seven Psychopaths – Podcast Review
The Cabin in the Woods – Podcast Review
After Dark – Courtney Solomon Interview
Interview with Andrew Constant about Torn – Comic Podcast
Priest – Cam Gigandet WonderCon Roundtable
Priest – Paul Bettany WonderCon Roundtable
Weird Al Yankovic – The Interview
Dr Who Season 7 – TV Trailer
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 – Animated Movie Trailer
Skyfall – Domestic and International Movie Trailers
Cloud Atlas – Movie Trailer
Oz the Great and Powerful – Movie Trailer
