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Posts tagged as “Lost”

TV Fall ’08: The Complete Review – What is up with the networks

Let’s conclude with a little talk about the various networks and perhaps even what they are attempting to do with their new schedule and the use of the latest technology, you know, this little thing called Internet, in their programming.
Not that I know anything about that.

What’s up Net? From Network to InterNet.

Everybody’s watching CBS. Barely.

CBS since its 2001-2002 grand remodeling hasn’t changed its course, showing many, if not only, procedurals. This is good for basic television when that guy who works late every 2 weeks wants to watch a little CSI before going to bed once in a while without having to buy the DVDs. But this is not programming aimed at the future. What I mean by that is that the “new” Internet will ultimately replace what we call(ed) Appointment TV. Think Lost or 24 instead of NCIS.
In fact CBS has jumped late on the “full episodes wagon” wagon and I hardly doubt that CBS’ online shows work as well as they do when they are first broadcasted on the network.
CBS right now doesn’t seem to want to move to non-procedural shows and still rides on this train called “TV ratings”. They want smash hits on TV, they don’t really care (for now) about Internet.

There’s Something Old and New Happening at NBC.

The days of “Must see TV” are far behind us now it seems. For the past 3-4 years, little by little, NBC is trying to find its new awesome Thursday night and seems to have found more or less a good equilibrium with some hits and some half-hits. NBC, who is fourth, seems to want to explore the new trends and the new mediums. Case in point: for the first time in American history, NBC last year proposed full Heroes and The Office episodes on-demand, for mobile phones. Both those shows with their fanbase helped NBC move into the right direction and online entertainment.
Strangely though, the Olympics online programming and NBC coverage was pretty awful as far as I’m aware, so who knows.
The new NBC shows are also weird: who are they aimed to? The family? I mean okay Crusoe could be okay for everyone but what about My Own Worst Enemy?
Anyway NBC also seems to like remakes like Kath&Kim, but what the frak where they thinking with that show?
NBC with its mix programming is probably too vast of a choice to be a hit network but the Internet seems to be just great for them.

Start Here. Again.

Thanks to an extremely good 2004-2005 season that launched 3 hits (Lost, Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy), and a strong online viewing from the start, ABC had a lead that is little by little being eaten away by other networks and other online entertainment sites such as Hulu.
ABC for me is too much relying on those 3 hits and I think that around 2010-2011, if they don’t have any new hit shows, the network will be in a lot of troubles when said hits won’t be around anymore. The only new show this fall on ABC is Life on Mars, how original.
This season clearly shows that ABC is trying to bring new audiences to watch “old shows” or at least shows that suffered the Writers’ strike. Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money, among others, are scheduled to bring a fresh reboot to their show and Desperate Housewives’ 5-year leap is probably also something to bring in viewers.

Go FOX yourself.

Will the early premieres help FOX boost its audience? I don’t think the ratings will be strong but the online screening aimed at the network’s core audience will certainly build up on their online momentum, especially with Fringe.
Weirdly, even though FOX has a lot of shows aimed at a young and male audience they still struggles at showing their shows online, in a similar fashion to CBS’ website.
I’m not quite sure what FOX is doing besides wanting to create an online sensation with shows like Fringe and maybe Dollhouse.
Speaking of Dollhouse, let’s pray that the show won’t be canceled before it even premieres this spring. After all, we’re talking about the trigger-happy network here.

Every night is good. Except when it comes to ratings.

Despite combining two networks (The WB and UPN), The CW fails to have strong ratings (an average of 2 mil viewers it seems). But that doesn’t stop the CW in bringing in “fresh” and “hype” shows.
Gossip Girl doesn’t necessarily bring in much viewers but the show is certainly talked about by many, especially with the “shocking” promos and ads. A lot of people are also talking about 90210. The CW want the show to be a hit but I strongly doubt it will indeed be one. I’m also guessing The CW website is rarely visited, and online episodes are rarely watched, but that’s just me.

It’s not TV. It’s something weird.

Yes something weird indeed. The good ol’ Sopranos period is over now and HBO doesn’t have much shows left, if any. For obvious reasons HBO doesn’t stream its shows online although it could easily be done with a “members-only” access. HBO is still looking for the next great “it” show. Who knows when it’ll come. In the meantime, Showtime is becoming the new “it” network…with AMC.

The best stuff on Television. If you dare say so.

Speaking of Showtime, the cable network has strong, somewhat provocative shows (although not as provocative as Oz was back in the days). Opening the website to international users (for a long time restricted at U.S. visitors) was a smart move: let the international buzz continue!
Also Showtime was smart enough to stream their episodes online even this is a pay-to-watch cable channel.
They just love to surf on the Internet vibe, don’t they?

Ultimately, a main trend can be witnessed throughout the networks: the Internet and other new mediums are playing a part increasingly vital in their broadcasting methods. As I said previously, I strongly believe that the future of television is actually Internet.
Watch out. Everywhere.

And on that note, I’m out for two weeks.

TV Fall '08: The Complete Review – What is new

We now continue with Part 2 of our Television Fall 2008 coverage and the new shows that are coming up this fall.
A lot of adaptations from international shows and some weird new series.
Is this season any good?

They’re coming. Prepare for our new overlords.

– Worst Week (premieres Sept. 22): A remake from an english show. First made for NBC, now it comes to CBS. I’m not watching this.
– The Mentalist (premieres Sept. 23): I saw the pilot and strongly disliked it. I prefer to it the fresher (and funnier) Psych.
– Gary Unmarried (premieres Sept. 24): Another CBS sitcom that I won’t watch.
– The Ex List (premieres Oct. 3): Isn’t that the plot from Sex and Death 101 but upside down?
– Eleventh Hour (premieres Oct. 9): Again, another remake from the Sleeper Cell guys. Another show I’ll probably not watch!



– Knight Rider (premieres Sept. 24): I threw up a little in my mouth when I saw the pilot earlier this year.
– My Own Worst Enemy (premieres Sept. 29): Christian Slater in a modern spin of Jekyll&Hyde. I may watch it to see what it’s like.
– Kath & Kim (premieres Oct. 9): Oh, when will they learn?
– Crusoe (premieres Oct. 17): Is this going to be a minaturized version of POTC? Probably, but I’ll watch the premiere anyway just to make sure.
– Life On Mars (premieres Oct. 9): A failure waiting to happen.

– Fringe (premieres Sept. 9): If you’re reading this, chances are that you already know what this show is. I’m still waiting to see “what’s next” so I’ll tune in for the first episodes. Will the lightning strike twice?
– Do not disturb (premieres Sept. 10): Booooring.


– 90210 (premieres Sept. 2): Melrose Place is back in business. I’m not sure if people are actually going to watch that, I won’t.
– Privileged (premieres Sept. 9): Once named Surviving the Filthy Rich (no this is not a Paris Hilton reality show), it appears to be some sort of Gossip Girl 2.0.
– Valentine (premieres Sept. 21): What is that you ask? Some kind of spin on Greek Gods and love it seems. I won’t watch to find out the rest.

– True Blood (premieres Sept. 7): Six Feet Under is one of my favorite shows, if not my favorite show. So it is without saying (but I’ll say it anyway) that I REALLY wanted to see (and love) True Blood. I was fortunate enough to be able to see the pilot and I’m REALLY disapointed. Alan Ball what have you done? Hopefully the show will get better but…I honestly doubt it.

Come back tomorrow for the third and final part of our Complete Review. We will have something that resembles an analysis of what is up with the various networks.

TV Fall '08: The Complete Review – What is coming back

Here it comes, the inevitable fall preview post that is on every TV blog!
It is going to be so huge that I’ll have to split it into three parts (yes this is a lot of work).

First up right now, we’ll take a look at the shows that are coming back, and I’ll even adventure myself into making somewhat-wild guesses on the life expectancy of the shows.

They’re back. For the better and for the worst.


– The Big Bang Theory – Season 2 (premieres Sept. 22): Clichéd geeks are not, I repeat, not, geeks. I’m not watching that. Some people do so I’ll give the show 2 more seasons.
– How I Met Your Mother – Season 4 (premieres Sept. 22): Haaaaaave you met Ted? Of course I have. One of the only “classic sitcoms” I watch and enjoy. Despite me loving Sarah Chalke, I’m not that into her being the mother. Let’s hope I’m wrong and she’s not! Now suit up and watch so that the show has at least 2 years ahead of it.
– Two and a Half Men – Season 6 (premieres Sept. 22): No thank you.
– C.S.I.: Miami – Season 7 (premieres Sept. 22): Who puts a C.S.I. right after sitcoms? Anyway, the franchise is trying to change its main cast in each shows it seems as Megalyn Echikunwoke replaces Khandi Alexander. Unfortunately, since we’re talking about a C.S.I. series, my guess of how many seasons remain will probably be wrong, but what the hell: 4 seasons remain! Yeah, right.
– NCIS – Season 6 (premieres Sept. 23): I don’t watch that show, sorry. But given its strong ratings, I’ll give it another 4 years too.
– Without A Trace – Season 7 (premieres Sept. 23): Not watching so, uhm, ditto.
– Criminal Minds – Season 4 (premieres Sept. 24): Still not watching. And I’ll venture a guess and say 2 seasons remain.
– C.S.I.: NY – Season 5 (premieres Sept. 24): Woohooo, 100 episodes! You guessed it: I don’t watch, and since it’s a C.S.I. show, I’ll say maybe…3 seasons left. What can I say, I’m an optimist!
– Suvivor – Season 17 (premieres Sept. 25): Who said anything on me talking exclusively about non-reality programming? Survivor is awesome! And it is finally in HD, and now in Gabon (Earth’s Last Eden as they say, although I strongly doubt it). Unfortunately it follows an extraordinary Fans versus Favorites season and as the Survivor Law states: one in two seasons will suck big times. So my guess is that Survivor Gabon will be bad. Real bad.
– Cold Case – Season 6 (premieres Sept. 28): Season 5 plummeted in the ratings, perhaps this is linked to the Strike. Anyhow, if this trend continues, the show will be dead within a season or two at most.
– The Unit – Season 4 (premieres Sept. 28): As usual on CBS, I’m not watching this show but given its ratings, it’s losing its appeal real fast. Maybe another one or two seasons and then buh-bye.
– Ghost Whisperer – Season 4 (premieres Oct. 3): Again, ratings are going way down and the cast is being recycled. Perhaps 2 seasons?
– Numb3rs – Season 5 (premieres Oct. 3): Being the most watched show on Friday nights, I’m not too concerned about Numb3rs lasting at least 2-3 more seasons.
– CSI: – Season 9 (premieres Oct. 9): You know that cast change I was talking about earlier? Well the main even happens in the main CSI franchise show: CSI. Fishburne himself joins the cast and will probably be the long-term replacement for a Petersen that wants to GTFO. Goodbye also to Fox and Dourdan, but hello to Smith! Anyway, the show is getting tired and is losing leads like a hemorrhage, so I’m gonna say 2 seasons left, unless Fishburne pulls it off, in which case the show might never end. Hey, we’re talking about CS-freakin-I here folks.


– Heroes – Season 3 (premieres Sept. 22): A sucky second season, and apologies from Kring, lead me to think that the third volume will be much better, and perhaps be as good as the first season. The show probably has around 3-4 seasons left, at least, if they don’t blow it all away with crappy storylines.
– Law & Order: SVU – Season 10 (premieres Sept. 23): I’m not watching that but given that this is a L&O show, I think it can go to its 12/13th season and beyond.
– Lipstick Jungle – Season 2 (premieres Sept. 24): This has been renewed? Seriously?
– My Name Is Earl – Season 4 (premieres Sept. 25): I thought the third season was a bit less interesting than the first two but the show still has potential. I’m giving the show another 2 seasons.
– The Office – Season 5 (premieres Sept. 25): Yes, I’m going to watch The Office, over, and over, and over, and over, and over again. Let’s hope the show has 5 bright years ahead!
– E.R. – Season 15 (premieres Sept. 25): The show’s final season? Again? I’m not watching anyway.
– Chuck – Season 2 (premieres Sept. 29): Awesome first season but I’m not sure how they can pull it off again without going into the typical boring procedural. If they can do it with honors, I hope they get at least two or three more seasons.
– Friday Night Lights – Season 3 (premieres Oct. 1 – On Direct TV): Season 2 was pretty disapointing for me but I loved the first season so hopefully they can create the magic again…and not be canceled. But realistically, I think FNL won’t stand another season.
– Life – Season 2 (premieres Oct. 3): Great show and a pretty great surprise for me. I’m not really into cop shows but this one has a twist, heart, and mythology, hence me loving the show. Although not much information can be taken out of the U.S. ratings of the first season (due to the Strike), and despite the show’s top position in Australia, I think that NBC’s decision not to film any more episodes of Life after the Strike shows that, unless Life has great ratings, the series won’t last another season or two.
– 30 Rock – Season 3 (premieres Oct. 30): Fantastic second season. I’ll definitely be there for the new season and hopefully the next one, and the next one, after that…even though again, the poor ratings lead me to think that the show is not in a good spot.

– Boston Legal – Season 5 (premieres Sept. 22): The show’s last season. I won’t watch. I never watched that show anyways. Not much else to tell.
– Grey’s Anatomy – Season 5 (premieres Sept. 25): Ratings are strongly declining thanks to storylines that become more and more boring. Perhaps the show has another 2-3 seasons in it before it dies a horrible death. I’ll glimpse at it.
– Ugly Betty – Season 3 (premieres Sept. 25): I for one thought that the second season was much better than the first. With that in mind, the show still has some issues that perhaps the New-York move will fix. I’ll watch to see if I spot the differences in scenery (probably). 2-4 seasons left?
– Brothers & Sisters – Season 3 (premieres Sept. 28): I tuned out the moment Baitz left the show, and from what I heard season 2 went downhill from there on out. I suppose it has still at least 1-2 seasons left.
– Desperate Housewives – Season 5 (premieres Sept. 28): The time jump was a bold move, if not a desperate one (no pun intended). I’ll watch to see how it turns out but for me this is the make it or break it move (with or without Neal McDonough) leading DH to leave the air sooner than 2011.
– Dirty Sexy Money – Season 2 (premieres Oct. 1): The show I wanted to see last year with high hopes for it and boy did it deliver. Unfortunately the behind-the-scenes fights and problems (Cerone leaving to make room for the new showrunner, Big Shots’ creator Feldman) lead me to think this new season probably won’t be as good as the first one, at the very least. Is the implosion imminent? My guess is probably. Perhaps another season or two left at most.
– Private Practice – Season 2 (premieres Oct. 1): I thought the first season to be much fresher than Grey’s Anatomy’s 4th season but still lacking great storylines and ratings. Will it last as long as the mother ship? I’ll watch and see.
– Pushing Daisies – Season 2 (premieres Oct. 1): I loved the first season (not as much as others though). I’m anxiously awaiting the second season which promises to be even better and more, shall we say, mythological, even though a series reboot was announced due to the Writers’ strike. To put PD after PP is a bold move I think so I’m not so sure if PD will be able to produce even better ratings than in its first season. I’ll hazard a guess and say that Daisies has 2 years left.
– Samantha Who? – Season 2 (premieres Oct. 6): I stopped watching after a couple of episodes, although the show seems pretty secure with its last year’s spot as the “highest-rated freshman sitcom of the 2007-2008 TV season”. Probably 3 more seasons at least.
– Eli Stone – Season 2 (premieres Oct. 14): Who watches that show?


– Prison Break – Season 4 (premieres Sept. 1): The show was supposed to only have 3 seasons, instead it continues to go on and on. I’m tuning out. Me thinks Fox will probably hang on the the show for one or two other seasons.
– Bones – Season 4 (premieres Sept. 3):
– Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles – Season 2 (premieres Sept. 8): Even me not being a huge Terminator fan liked the first season (and especially the finale) of the show. The new Terminator movie that is coming out next year will possibly help the show in maintaining good ratings.
– ‘Til Death – Season 3 (premieres Sept. 10): Not watching this. As far as ratings go, the show is on the verge of cancelation.
– House M.D. – Season 5 (premieres Sept. 16): Sorry guys, I stopped the show in the middle of the second season. I don’t really remember why…possibly because it became too procedural for my taste.
– The Simpsons – Season 20 (premieres Sept. 28): It just won’t die, but that’s fine by me. The show may last until the next Simpsons movie, whenever that is.
– King of the Hill – Season 13 (premieres Sept. 28): Never gotten around watching that show. I guess it could also last for a long long time.
– Family Guy – Season 7 (premieres Sept. 28): Has lost its appeal since it came back, but since Seth MacFarlane is the new “it” guy I’m guessing the show will also last for a few years.
– American Dad – Season 4 (premieres Sept. 28): Pretty average show also. Again, made by MacFarlan, so probably also will last some time.


– Gossip Girl – Season 2 (premieres Sept. 1): Yes, this is my guilty pleasure. Yes, I saw the “provocative” ads. Yes, I’m waiting for Season 2 to start. Yes, I believe the show still has a few years ahead of it.
– One Tree Hill – Season 6 (premieres Sept. 1): Never watched that show and don’t intend to. Given The CW’s low ratings in all its shows, I’m not sure if OTH’s low ratings would qualify the show for a cancellation.
– Smallville – Season 8 (premieres Sept. 18): Probably the last season of the show given the fact that everyone is leaving one after the other, and I’m especially talking about Rosenbaum’s departure. No more Lex Lutho? My guess is everyone will tune out (if they haven’t already).
– Supernatural – Season 4 (premieres Sept. 18): Another CW show I have never watched because it didn’t really interest me. The “strong” ratings (for a CW show) seem to indicate a good future.
– Everybody Hates Chris – Season 4 (premieres Oct. 3): I’m guessing since it’s the last UPN show on the air today (besides the other one) it’ll last another two or so seasons.
– The Game – Season 3 (premieres Oct. 3): I barely know what this show is, so I wont make a guess (although it has a good average CW rating).


– Entourage – Season 5 (premieres Sept. 7): Even though Entourage is fun the last seasons were a bit disapointing to me, not much really happened. Let’s hope this new season is Entourage at its best, even though I heard that Michael Phelps was about to make a cameo (I mean really? Doesn’t he already have like his own talk show and video game to worry about?).


– Californication – Season 2 (premieres Sept. 28): I enjoyed the first season but the fact that Duchovny is really a sex addict is too creepy. We’ll see what the second season holds for us. Depending on Duchovny’s future, the show might get the ax earlier than expected.
– Dexter – Season 3 (premieres Sept. 28): I really don’t see how they can make the show original a third time. I saw the trailer for the third season and it was like watching the season two trailer all over again. Showtime has high hopes for the show so it’ll probably last at the very least another one or two seasons.

And it’s done.
Well, at least for the first part.

Don’t hesitate to pass the post and link around folks. Me need some McLovin’!

Join us later today for a review of the new shows coming up this fall, and tomorrow for an analysis of the networks.