Well well well, looks like Flash Forward is gonna be called FlashForward after all.
Gonna change the label later…
In the meantime, I forgot to post about this longer promo from last month:
Continuing on another mythological show, Dollhouse added to its staff the two Reaper creators, Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters.
The duo is replacing Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain who have both joined Lie to Me, reuniting with fellow Angel and The Shield alumni (as well as creator), Shawn Ryan.
A few new interesting tidbits, including some from Sci Fi Wire who had a bunch of major Q&A these last few days.
Terminator‘s James Middleton first discussed what the future might have hold for the Sarah Connor Chronicles, explaining what would have been if the show hadn’t been canceled:
One theory about the ending is that by leaping to the future, John Connor never grew up to become the leader of the human resistance. That would free him of the burden of saving humanity.
“I think that that’s the right interpretation, because in the actual footage of the show, we see that Derek doesn’t recognize him,” Middleton said. “So, by jumping into this future, he has erased his existence in a certain way, and we see that. We see that nobody recognizes him.”
Middleton added that leaping to the future changes John Connor’s fate. “We would have to have explored that if we did get a third season,” he said. “If we had gotten a third season, I should say, we definitely would have explored what it all meant, but I think there’s a great moment where we see Allison [Summer Glau], and John’s look to her is very meaningful. I think that also would have been a great thing in terms of dramatic potential. Like I said, the show has ended, and it would all be speculation, and I really don’t want to raise anybody’s expectations.”
Another very interesting Q&A they had is one with Marc Guggenheim, executive producer on Flash Forward.
Here’s an extract:
Viewers will undoubtedly be happy to hear that you’ll be answering questions in the first season, because one thing viewers have grown to hate—partly as a result of Lost—is the feeling that the writers are vamping to keep it going, with an indeterminate end in the future.
Guggenheim: Well, I am very sensitive to that, actually, as a fan and as a writer. I actually understand that feeling, and I’m very, very sensitive about it. And towards that end, I can actually tell you a couple of things to make those fans who are concerned feel better. The first is, we don’t have a choice. We can’t vamp. We say in the pilot that the characters are going to see … a vision of their future [on] April 29, 2010. Which means we’ve got six months. There ain’t no vamping to be done.
We plant a very specific flag, so even if we wanted to vamp, we no longer have the option. That’s point number one. Point number two is, there are things laid into the pilot that don’t pay off until the very end of the series. So David and Brannon, in writing and directing the pilot, have also planted flags right there in the pilot that … you’ll be able to look back on and go, “Oh, they really did know what they were doing.” So my point always is, we are not only telling you that we have a plan, there are several reasons why you don’t have to just take our word for it.
Last but not least, Sci Fi Wire had another interesting Q&A with Pushing Daisies/Heroes‘ Bryan Fuller about the show and…Star Trek:
“I’m hoping that by the time they’re ready to do a television series that I am available and can participate, because, I mean, even if it’s J.J. Abrams’ team, I would love to join that team for a new Star Trek series. I think it would be a ball,” Fuller said.
Looks like he agrees with me that it’s Bad Robot’s way or the highway for everything Star Trek-related from now on.
And with all that, following ABC’s lead, FOX announced today its Fall premiere dates:
Wednesday, Sept. 16
9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT “GLEE” (Series Premiere)Thursday, Sept. 17
8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT “BONES” (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT “FRINGE” (Season Premiere)Friday, Sept. 18
8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT “BROTHERS” (Series Premiere)
8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT “‘TIL DEATH” (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT “DOLLHOUSE” (Season Premiere)Monday, Sept. 21
8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT “HOUSE” (2-Hour Season Premiere)Sunday, Sept. 27
8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT “THE SIMPSONS” (Season Premiere)
8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT “THE CLEVELAND SHOW” (Series Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT “FAMILY GUY” (Season Premiere)
9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT “AMERICAN DAD” (Season Premiere)Monday, Sept. 28
8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT “HOUSE” (All-New Episode)
9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT “LIE TO ME” (Season Premiere)
I can’t wait for this new season to begin.
Now that I’m (almost) fully caught up on the Upfronts, time to make a rundown of The Guessing Game 2009.
Like I said previously, what was the most surprising for me weren’t the actual pick-ups, but the schedules the networks made for this fall (and mid-season).
First, CBS.
I gladly called 3 of the new shows as well as their new timeslots save for Accidentally on Purpose which goes on Mondays.
The NCIS spin-off is now called NCIS: Los Angeles.
Ground-breaking.
We also have the renewals.
It wasn’t Cold Case that got canned, rather Without a Trace. Meanwhile, Old Christine also got renewed. NBC’s Medium jumped ship, joining the Eye on Fridays.
So that’s 6 out of 9 guesses correct for renewals.
Some previews:
Most of the CBS previews are unfortunately kinda nuked.
Not that much of a loss though.
On to NBC.
Now here starts the weird stuff.
I already posted the various previews for those of you interested.
Again, not a lot of surprises regarding the picks for the new shows, and as for the renewals, well, I’ve been waiting since several months to say that but: I frakkin’ called it for Chuck getting renewed! Hell yes.
As for the rest of the renewals, I think I can get half a point for Medium at least, making 6.5 out of 7 guesses correct.
Now, the strange part comes with the actual schedule.
Trauma is put right after Heroes on Mondays, a slot I would have thought Day One was gonna be put in. But no, Day One is mid-season after the 2010 Olympics and coupled with a 13-episode Chuck season. Perhaps too soon to tell, but I’m thinking neither Heroes not Chuck will live past the 2009-2010 season.
Community has been put on Thursdays whilst 100 Questions was as well pushed for mid-season.
Moving on to ABC and probably the strangest schedule yet and its 11 (!) new shows.
Some of the drama picks surprised me (like Copper), but overall pretty straight-forward choices with V, Happy Town, Cougar Town, and Eastwick.
Regarding the renewals however, there we have a few strange moves, not the least of which were the renewals of Better Off Ted, and also Scrubs, getting a ninth season (a disappointing renewal for me). Castle also gets a second season and keeps its slot, making 2 of my 5 guesses the right ones.
Time to talk a bit about the scheduling.
What the frak?
First, you’re putting what might possibly be your next new SF hit (Flash Forward) before Grey’s Anatomy, on Thursdays, and moving Ugly Betty on Fridays.
Then, you’re trying to imitate NBC’s old Thursdays, but on Wednesdays, putting 4 comedies followed by a drama.
This is madness!
And now, time for FOX.
Pretty surprised AbFab wasn’t taken, as for the rest, we’ll see.
Regarding the renewals, the biggest surprise on my part was Dollhouse, although I guess they succeeded in cutting the budget. The other picks were again somewhat obvious, so that is 6 out of 7 guesses correct.
FOX’s schedule, like the other nets this season is peculiar to say the least.
Dollhouse was obviously put on Fridays, but behind ‘Til Death and Brothers. I don’t really see the point of picking up Brothers and Dollhouse if you’re just gonna throw them out to die.
Another really strange move is not only changing Fringe‘s timeslot, putting it behind Bones, but putting it on Thursdays head-to-head against C.S.I., The Office, and Grey’s Anatomy, making this in my opinion one of the dumbest moves this season.
Human Target on the other hand gets a nice push by being put in mid-season just behind American Idol. I’m not sure though the audience will stay given that Target is sandwiched before and after its run by Glee. And let’s just say I doubt the audience for Glee and Target share much similarities.
Previews as usual:
Brothers
The Cleveland Show
Human Target
Past Life
Sons of Tucson
To sum up:
CBS – 6 out of 9 guesses correct
NBC – 6.5 out of 7 guesses correct
ABC – 2 out 5 guesses correct
FOX – 6 out of 7 guesses correct
All done.
Not bad for a first timer, right?
As for the actual shows, we’ll see this fall how all those crazy moves, pick-ups, and schedules, play out.
It should definitely be an interesting season…