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The smell of change in the morning

Some more fresh news hot off the printer.

Let’s begin with a quick follow-up to my awesome prediction from the other day on how 3-D will rule us all in a decade or so.

What’s the one industry that can make or break a format? Or, in our case, a new era of entertainment pleasure?
Was your first thought ‘porn’?
If yes, then you’d be right.
If we would have been talking about the 90s.
Porn embraced first HD DVD and look where that format went.
Bottom line is: Porn endorsement is now kinda useless, especially when everyone is basically downloading his (her?) porn.
There’s also no 3-D Porn in the works as far as I know.
But I have high hopes (or is that low expectations?) that one is coming our way soon.
No pun intended.
Seriously.

Don’t worry, I’m going somewhere with all of this.

So, back to the question.
What’s the industry that will lead Joe Six Pack to watch 3-D stuff?
It’s not per se an entertainment industry, but it definitely has its own (big, huge) weight.
I am of course talking about sports.
And to be more precise, the NFL.
Tomorrow night will be broadcast live in 3-D to theaters in Los Angeles, New York and Boston a game between the San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders.


I may go out on a huge limb here again, but I’m pretty sure that in 2 decades, if not less, watching 3-D sports at home will become a common thing.

Also, LG announced that they would try to market at least one 3-D TV in 2009.
And we’re already in December 2008 folks.

Meanwhile, CBS just announced its mid-season schedule while ABC the premiere date of some of its new shows.

Let’s begin with CBS.
First things first, Flashpoint season 2 will premiere Jan. 9.
Did I forget to mention that the missing 4 episodes from season 1 are added to the whopping total of 18 season 2 episodes ordered?
That’s a full season of 22 episodes for you.
The 13-hour Harper’s Island (I sense a backdoor series somewhere) will be broadcast from April 9 to July 2.

Not much more news regarding dramas since there hasn’t been much canceling lately on CBS’ side.

Remember how NBC only announced their January skeds?
Well it seems that ABC is announcing the premiere of its new shows — for around March-April.
Mondays (March 9) will see the arrival of the long-awaited Castle (by most Nathan Fillion fans).
The reboot of Rob Thomas’ Cupid will premiere meanwhile starting March 24 on Tuesdays.
The Unusuals will take place on Wednesdays (beginning April 8).

Why so late?
Well, you might have guessed this, but ABC wants to finish showing its fall shows before beginning its mid-season’s.

Notice a trend in all of this?
Mid-season shows are beginning more and more frequently to premiere late in the season (as late as April-May for some).
Are we converging to year-long original drama programming or what?

And it begins

Enigmatic post title, eh?
Well not really.

First, the casting for ABC’s Flash Forward has finally begun with Courtney Vance cast as Stan Wedeck and Jack Davenport as Lloyd Simcoe.

Look to your right to catch the pilot script.

I thought it was a good pilot. I completely see why people would want to match it with Lost. The way it is told is certainly reminiscent of a mythological show like Lost. I’ve already got a couple theories going on in my head!

For those who read the book, the show seems to be completely different so don’t worry.
And if you’re thinking of getting spoiled off the book, don’t get your hopes up. The book’s explanation for the FF is some pseudo-science stuff that is way too complicated for national TV.

Also, Caprica (BSG’s prequel show) is finally set to begin.
I’ll let that post-title double pun sink in now for a while.

Okay?
All Good?

Let me repeat: Caprica has finally had a series order.

Happy?

I posted several months back about the pilot so if you want to glean a tinsy bit of info on that script check the small post. Although you’ll probably be better off finding your own copy of the pilot script by now.

Also, beginning (or rather continuing) is Showtime’s momentum, growing at an impressive rate. 2008 is Sho’s fifth consecutive year of growth, with a 7% increase of subscribers in the last 12 months.
The L.A. Times has just published a pretty interesting piece around the reasons behind Sho’s success.
As usual, a business eye in the TV world nowadays is not a must but a given. So get involved in SRS BSNS if you know what I mean.
I sense a shift of cable-power coming up.

Don't chime in

We’ve had our fair share of strange events throughout 2008 but next year is gonna open with some crazier choices.

Case in point: NBC announced the other day its January schedule, as in only January, not mid-season schedule.

Life, Chuck and Heroes won’t be back in January.
They will probably premiere around mid-February for a continuous run without repeats similar to Lost’s.

Kings is still unanounced.

Without much surprise, My Own Worst Enemy, Lipstick Jungle and Crusoe won’t be back at all.

Wondering what’s replacing those shows?
Two words: Howdie & Dancing.
Meaning a hidden-camera show hosted by Howdie Mandel and another, again, dancing competition.

Oh and there’s the usual L&O repeats.

FNL’s season 3 is on Fridays but chances are if you’re a fan, you’ve already seen it.

SNL will try to re-create the Election magic but with sports, bringing Saturday Night Live Sports Extra to NBC’s Sundays.
They’ll also try to revive Saturday Night Live Film Festival.
Is SNL Fashion Edition next?
God I hope not.

Meanwhile, Crap Rider will be back in Jan., still showing on Wednesdays.

Prepare to be bored to death in January on NBC.