On Sunday, November 23 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), the wait will be over as Fox presents a special two-hour 24 prequel event. Shot on location in South Africa, Jack Bauer battles an international crisis, while here at home the nation prepares for a new president on inauguration day. Taking place just a few months before the new day dawns, the prequel will set the stage and raise the stakes for Season 7. “We’re excited about the prequel because it explores Jack’s complex emotional state of mind and still has all the signature excitement and suspense that fans have come to expect from ‘24,’” commented executive producer Howard Gordon. “Shooting in South Africa affirms everyone’s commitment to making this season especially memorable for our fans.”
Celebrating its 150th episode this season, the series has resumed production on Day 7 and will unfold without interruption in its regular time period Mondays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) beginning in January 2009. Set in Washington, DC, “Day 7″ finds CTU dismantled and Jack Bauer on trial. Bauer’s day takes an unexpected turn when former colleague Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard) returns. Meanwhile, President Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones) leads the country alongside White House Chief of Staff Ethan Kanin (Bob Gunton) and First Gentleman Henry Taylor (Colm Feore). A national security crisis prompts an investigation by a team of FBI agents including Agent Janis Gold (Janeane Garofalo), Agent Renee Walker (Annie Wersching), Agent Larry Moss (Jeffrey Nordling), Agent Sean Hillinger (Rhys Coiro) and security specialist Michael Latham (John Billingsley). Although CTU is no longer, Chloe O’Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub) and Bill Buchanan (James Morrison) are back for another momentous day of shocking events.
Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, “24″ is a production of Real Time Productions and Imagine Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television. Howard Gordon, Evan Katz, Jon Cassar, Manny Coto, David Fury, Kiefer Sutherland and Brian Grazer are the executive producers.
A&E has announced that Duane “Dog” Chapman and his show are coming back to A&E. Network executives and Dog announced that reruns of the show will resurface June 25, with new episodes of Dog the Bounty Hunter turning up “a few weeks” later. Filming has already begun on the fifth season.
The popular cable reality show was pulled from the air last November, following in an incident in which its star, Hawaii-based bounty hunter Duane ”Dog” Chapman, used a racial slur in a taped telephone conversation. But on Wednesday, Chapman was flanked by his family and a civil rights organization representative when A&E announced his comeback in a carefully orchestrated press conference. Said A&E spokesman Michael Feeney, ”It’s not about ratings . . . . We know his heart. We know him and know he’s not a racist.”
New episodes, including some from the show’s fourth season that have yet to be aired, are expected to be ready after June 25.
Fox’s lineup includes three new dramas, two comedies and an unscripted series. The network plans to once again launch its fall season earlier than most competitors. During the week of August 25, Fox will air special two-hour premiere episodes of several series. Fox will start its fall season with a two-hour Prison Break on August 25. The show will then shift to 9 PM/ET with the return of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles as its lead-in.
The J.J. Abrams thriller Fringe, about a trio who explore paranormal mysteries, will have a two-hour premiere on Tuesday, Aug. 26. The show will then settle into its regular time period at 9 p.m. after House. A new workplace comedy starring Jerry O’Connell, tentatively titled Do Not Distrub, will be paired with Til Death on Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. Bones will air at 8 p.m.
The Sunday night animated comedy lineup will remain unchanged in the fall, next year the network will try out two new shows:Sit Down, Shut Up, a group of unconventional high school teachers, will air at 8:30 p.m. after The Simpson’s. The network will also launch the Family Guy spin off The Cleveland Show in the 9:30 slot after Family Guy.
Though not included in Fox’s release, the two-hour 24 prequel movie will also air in the fall.
Continue reading Fox Announces 2008-2009 Fall Lineup
CBS announced today its 2008-2009 Fall Primetime Lineup, featuring five new series - two comedies and three dramas - and the launch of a new comedy block on Wednesdays. The network canceled Moonlight, but mentioned the possibility of the show finding new life on The CW.
Continue reading CBS Announces 2008-2009 Fall Lineup
Welcome to the Spoiler Roundup, the most comprehensive weekly spoiler wrapup on the internet. We scour the web for all the best spoilers on some of the most popular shows on the air. Catch it here every Wednesday at The TV Remote.
This week: Big Love, Brothers and Sisters, Burn Notice, ER, Grey’s Anatomy, Lost, Numbers, Reaper, Smallville and The Closer.
Continue reading The Spoiler Roundup 05.14.08
Turner Broadcasting announced Wednesday it will try to extend its winning streak in scripted dramas on TNT with a group of series in development from such players as George Clooney, Donnie Wahlberg and “24″ co-creator Joel Surnow. Four of the TNT series revealed Wednesday at Turner’s upfront presentation at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City are cop-themed.
Among the cop shows, Delta Blues is about a Memphis policeman who is also an Elvis impersonator. It’s executive produced by Clooney, Grant Heslov, Abby Wolf-Weiss, Liz Garcia and Josh Horto, from Warner Horizon Television and SmokeHouse. Morse Code is set in Boston and stars Wahlberg as a DEA agent, as previously reported. It is produced by Wahlberg, Jon Avnet and Walon Green with Warner Horizon Television. Surnow’s project is yet to be titled, focusing on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent. Surnow is the executive producer with Todd Robinson and also the writer. Angel City is an Adam-12-like drama written by L.A. cop Will Beall and Barry Schindel with Mandalay Television.
Continue reading TNT Announces More Original Programming For 2008-09
The CW is leaving Monday and Thursday nights intact, while adding only three new series to its weeknight schedule: the Beverly Hills, 90210 spinoff; drama Surviving the Filthy Rich; and reality show Stylista. Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill will keep their Monday slots at 8 and 9 PM, respectively, while Smallville will continue to lead in to Supernatural on Thursday nights. Tuesday night will feature the all-new lineup of 90210 at 8 PM, leading into Filthy Rich. On Wednesdays, Ameica’s Next Top Model is staying at 8 PM, followed by Stylista, a reality show from the creators of “Model” and “Project Runway” that will feature contestants competing for an editorial job with Elle magazine.
Comedies Everybody Hates Chris and The Game will relocate from Sundays to Fridays, filling part of the void that will be left after WWE SmackDown’s move to MyNetworkTV. The comedies will air from 8-9 PM, followed by a repeat of America’s Next Top Model. As previously announced, the CW has partnered up with Media Rights Capital to program its Sunday primetime programming block next season. Details are yet to be announced.
Reaper will return at midseason.
Continue reading The CW Announces 2008-2009 Fall Lineup
CBS’ vampire drama Moonlight will not rise again. The Hollywood Reporter says the fan favorite will not be renewed by the network for a second season. CBS declined to pickup the series because it was failing to hold its Ghost Whisperer lead-in and declined in the ratings post-strike.
Last year CBS picked up cult favorite Jericho despite mediocre ratings, only to see the series plummet when it returned this year. With Moonligh having a serialized storyline, the chances of the show rebounding next season seems unlikely. The cancellation means The Big Bang Theory is the only member of CBS’ freshman crop to return next year.
The good news is that it looks like CBS is renewing The Unit, Rules of Engagement, How I Met Your Mother and the New Adventures of Old Christine.
NBC announced its 2008-2009 fall line-up of new shows. The network added seven new dramas, two new comedies, and four new reality shows. The network is also planning three half-hour SNL specials on Thursday nights during the second half of October to cover the pending Presidential election.
Surprisingly the network also announced its line-up for next Summer, including the return of American Gladiators along with three new reality shows. They include Chopping Block with chef Marco Pierre White judging competitions between New York City restaurants, America’s Toughest Jobs with everyday people tackling extreme occupations like extreme fishing or oil drilling, and Shark Taggers which is pretty much what it sounds like.
Renewals include 30 Rock, American Gladiators, America’s Got Talent, The Biggest Loser, Dateline NBC, Deal or No Deal, E.R., Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Las Vegas, Last Comic Standing, Law and Order, Law and Order: SVU, Life, Lipstick Jungle, Medium, Most Outrageous Moments, My Name is Earl, The Office, Sunday Night Football.
Cancellations include 1 vs. 100, The Bionic Woman, Clash of the Choirs, Journeyman, Las Vegas, My Dad is Better Than Your Dad, Quarterlife, Scrubs, The Singing Bee.
Continue reading NBC Announces 2008-2009 Fall Lineup
ABC announced its 2008-2009 fall schedule Tuesday at a press conference in New York City. The lineup included several expected pickups, such as alternative game show Opportunity Knocks, the David E. Kelly time-traveling police drama Life on Mars and transplanted NBC comedy Scrubs. For midseason, ABC has 17 pilots in development in addition to the return of Lost in an undisclosed timeslot. According To Jim and The Bachelor will also return to ABC this fall.
Continue reading ABC Announces 2008-2009 Fall Lineup
