Canceled or coming back?
If you want to lobby networks to bring back your favorite shows, now would be a good time to do so.
In a few weeks, ABC (May 13), CBS (May 14), Fox (May 15) and The CW (May 13) will unveil their 2008-09 fall lineups.
NBC jumped the gun and announced its fall schedule on April 2, but the network is scheduled to make a second presentation (revisions perhaps?) on May 12.
Following is a list of the networks’ shows and their current status, as well as contact information in case you care to share your thoughts with the network bosses.
ABC
►Will Return: America’s Funniest Home Videos, Brothers & Sisters, Dancing With the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Grey’s Anatomy, Lost, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, Samantha Who?, Supernanny, Ugly Betty, 20/20, Wife Swap.
►Won’t Return: Big Shots, Carpoolers, Cavemen.
►No word yet: According to Jim, The Bachelor, Boston Legal, Cashmere Mafia, Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann, Eli Stone, Men in Trees, Notes from the Underbelly, October Road, Oprah’s Big Give, Primetime, Women’s Murder Club.
►Who to write: Stephen McPherson, ABC president of entertainment, 2300 Riverside Drive,
CBS
►Will Return: The Amazing Race, The Big Bang Theory, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Ghost Whisperer, NCIS, NUMB3RS, 60 Minutes, Survivor, Two and a Half Men, Without a Trace.
►Won’t Return: Jericho, Secret Talents of the Stars, Viva Laughlin, Welcome to the Captain.
►No word yet: Cane, How I Met Your Mother, Kid Nation, Moonlight, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Rules of Engagement, Shark, The Unit.
►Possible new series: Flashpoint, Single White Millionaire.
►Who to write: Nina Tassler, CBS president of entertainment, 4024 Radford Avenue,
Fox
►Will Return: American Dad, American Idol, America’s Most Wanted, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, Bones, Cops, Family Guy, House, King of the Hill, Kitchen Nightmares, Prison Break, The Simpsons, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, 24.
►Won’t Return: K-Ville, Nashville, The Return of Jezebel James.
►No word yet: Back to You, Canterbury’s Law, Don’t Forget the Lyrics, Hell’s Kitchen, The Moment of Truth, The Next Great American Band, New Amsterdam, Til Death, Unhitched.
►Possible new series: Dollhouse, Fringe.
►Who to write: Kevin Reilly, Fox president of entertainment, P.O. Box 900,
The CW
►Will Return: America’s Next Top Model, Everybody Hates Chris, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Supernatural.
►Won’t Return: CW Now, Girlfriends, Life Is Wild, Online Nation, WWE Friday Night Smackdown (moving to MyNetworkTV).
►No word yet: Aliens in America, Beauty and the Geek, Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants, The Game, Reaper.
►Who to write: Dawn Ostroff, The CW president of entertainment,
NBC
►Will Return: The Biggest Loser, The Celebrity Apprentice, Chuck, Dateline, Deal or No Deal, ER, Friday Night Nights, Heroes, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Life, Lipstick Jungle, Medium, My Name Is Earl, The Office, Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock.
►Won’t Return: Amne$ia, Bionic Woman, Journeyman, Las Vegas, My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad, 1 vs. 100, Phenomenon, quarterlife, Scrubs (may be picked up by ABC), The Singing Bee.
►New Series: America’s Toughest Jobs, Chopping Block, Crusoe, Kath & Kim, Kings, Knight Rider, Merlin, My Own Worst Enemy, The Office Spin-Off, The Philanthropist, Shark Taggers, The Listener, SNL Thursday Night Live, Gear,
►Who to write: Ben Silverman, co-chairman of NBC Entertainment, 300 W. Alameda Avenue,
— Penny TV
Movie trailers on TVLand.com
Readers calling the TV Forum line lately haven’t had too many kind words for TV Land. Almost everyone wishes the network would drop the new reality shows and go back to airing classic TV series.
Whether or not that is going to happen is not known. But the network has made some nice improvements to its website.
An extensive movie trailer collection has been added to www.TVLand.com. From “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” to “Chariots of Fire” and “The Way We Were” to “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane,” nearly 1,000 movie trailers will give you the chance to relive the excitement, romance, laughter or fear of your favorite films via three minute snapshots.
The movie trailer collection spans from the 1950s to the ’90s, although the bulk of the movies are from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. It can be searched alphabetically, by genre or by decade, and it also features additional information on each film.
— Penny TV
Britney is back for more “Mother”
This just in from CBS …
LOS ANGELES, April 28 — Singer Britney Spears will return to “How I Met Your Mother” to guest star in an episode to be broadcast May 12 on CBS.
Production on the episode began today.
“We’re all so thrilled to have Britney joining us once again,” said Craig Thomas, executive producer and co-creator of “How I Met Your Mother.” ”And just to head it off at the pass this time around: Yes, Mom, Britney’s very nice and no, I can’t get her autograph for you.”
When Barney and Abby realize that they have one thing in common — their mutual hatred of Ted — the “couple” decides to go to the bar to flaunt their new relationship in Ted’s face. Desperate to get a rise out of his former pal, Barney pops a surprising question to Abby.
The third-season finale for “How I Met Your Mother” is scheduled to air May 19.
“Women’s Murder Club” cast answers questions
ABC Photo: Cast members for ”Women’s Murder Club” include, from left, Linda Park, Aubrey Dollar, Paula Newsome, Angie Harmon, Laura Harris, Tyrees Allen and Rob Estes.
This just in from ABC: Beginning today, fans can go to www.ABC.com to see questions answered by the cast of “Women’s Murder Club,” including video responses from Angie Harmon (Homicide Inspector Lindsay Boxer), Paula Newsome (Medical Examiner Claire Washburn), Aubrey Dollar (Crime Reporter Cindy Thomas), Laura Harris (Assistant D.A. Jill Bernhardt), Tyrees Allen (Warren Jacobi) and Rob Estes (Tom Hogan).
Topics range from personal reflections on the show’s storylines, sources of inspiration for the characters they portray, what a typical work day is like and whether or not there will be new or rekindled love interests that emerge in the show.
In addition, participants can view responses from fan questions submitted to bestselling author James Patterson, including whether there will be an eighth book in the Women’s Murder Club series and if there are plans for him to make a guest appearance on the show.“
Women’s Murder Club” airs at 9 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC. The show’s first-season finale will air May 13.
Message, not in a bottle, but on a TV screen
Want to send your mom a special message that she will see on TV?
That is the opportunity that the PBS Kids Sprout network is giving preschoolers on Mother’s Day weekend (May 10 and 11).
Sprout (channel 149 on Cox Digital Cable, 295 on Direct TV) is a 24-hour preschool destination available on television and online for children ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers.
Preschoolers and their parents can visit SproutOnline.com to send mom-themed messages that will be featured in a continuous on-air school through Mother’s Day weekend.
Sprout is also celebrating Mom’s Day with two special live blocks hosted by Nina from “The Good Night Show.” From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 10 and 11, Nina will be in the Sunshine Barn with Chica the Chicken from “The Sunny Side Up Show” and her sidekick puppet Star.
The trio will share special wishes for mom, showcase viewer-submitted Mother’s Day cards, make crafts and introduce mom-themed episodes of “Berenstain Bears,” “Angelina Ballerina” and “Pingu.”
On Sunday, preschoolers from across the country can call in live to tell Nina, Star and Chica why they love their moms.
— Penny TV
Want to be a TV contestant?
“Deal or No Deal” and “The Biggest Loser” are two shows that have sent casting producers to Oklahoma looking for contestants. But that is not how Howie Mandel’s show found Edmond firefighter Ryan Gleghorn for the “Million Dollar Mission.” Or how Neill and Amanda Harmer of Bethany wound up losing weight on national TV.
They sent in audition tapes.
Gleghorn (in NBC Photo at right) doesn’t want to give away all his video audition secrets, but he did start off by bench-pressing his wife while looking at the camera and talking.
The Harmers didn’t attempt any eye-catching stunts for their video. They just sent in a 5-minute tape showing their son, their home and their food selections. And they were on the show roughly three weeks later.
Here is information on shows currently casting. Just be sure to share information with The Oklahoman when the shows come a-calling.
►“American Gladiators” (NBC): Seeking weekend warrior types. Application available online at www.nbc.com/Casting/.
►“America’s Greatest Dog” (CBS): Seeking extraordinary teams of dogs and owners. Application available online at www.cbs.com/primetime/americas_top_dog/.
►“Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” (Fox): Seeking participants willing to test their knowledge against students. Application available online at www.fox.com/areyousmarter/showinfo/.
►“The Biggest Loser” (NBC): Seekings participants who want to lose weight. Application available online at www.nbc.com/Casting/.
►“Deal or No Deal” (NBC): Seeking enthusiastic contestants. Application available online at www.nbc.com/Casting/.
►“Don’t Forget the Lyrics” (Fox): Seeking participants who know the lyrics to hit songs. Application available online at www.fox.com/dontforget/casting/.
►“Duel” (ABC): Seeking participants with nerves of steel and a cunning strategy. Apply online at www.duelcasting.com.
►“Hell’s Kitchen” (Fox): Seeking participants with culinary experience. For more information, email hkcasting@granadaprod.com.
►“Here Come the Newlyweds 2” (ABC): Seeking participants who are newly married or getting married soon. Call 1-866-921-0116 or apply online at www.hcnwcasting.com.
►“The Mole” (ABC): Seeking participants with an interesting life story and background who are available to travel for 6 to 8 weeks. Apply online at www.MoleCasting.com.
►“The Moment of Truth” (Fox): Seeking participants willing to tell the whole truth. Application available online at www.fox.com/thetruth.htm.
►“Supernanny” (ABC): Seeking stressed-out parents. Call 1-877-626-6984.
Program Planner: April 27-May 3
Sunday’s Oklahoman, which includes the 44-page full-color and full-of-information TV Week, hits the newsstands in the Oklahoma City area on Saturday afternoon. And it arrives at the doorstep (or hopefully nearby) early Sunday morning.
But for those who can’t wait to begin planning the upcoming week around the best TV has to offer, here is a sneak peek at programs worth watching the week of April 27:
SUNDAY
►“Aliens in America” (7 p.m. on CW): Kala Savage, the younger sister of Fred Savage (“The Wonder Years”) and Ben Savage (“Boy Meets World”), guest stars as an annoying student who has a crush of Raja.
►“Carrier” (8 p.m. on OETA-13, pictured above): First two installments of new 10-part documentary that chronicles life aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz during its six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf. The remaining eight installments aire Tuesday through Thursday.
►“Washington Journal” (8:30 a.m. on C-Span): Jenks students Scott Mitchell and Nick Poss were the grand prize winners in The 2008 C-Span StudentCam competition. Their winning video, “Leaving Religion at the Door,” will air at 5:50 a.m. on C-Span. They will be interviewed during “Washington Journal.”
MONDAY
►“Conversations With Michael Eisner” (8 p.m. on CNBC): Guests include Rainn Wilson (”The Office”) and director Garry Marshall (“Murphy Brown”).
►“Deal or No Deal” (7 p.m. on NBC): Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) makes an appearance in this special “Star Wars” themed winner-take-all episode. Darth Vader fills in as the villainous banker.
►“House” (8 p.m. on Fox): Returns with the first of four new episodes.
►“Today” (7 a.m. on NBC): Take a trip around the world with no delays, no security lines and not lost luggage when the “Where in the world is Matt Lauer?” tour begins. Lauer logged over 210, 721 miles, popped up in 39 different destinations and said hello to America in 20 languages during his previous eight trips.
TUESDAY
►“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (9 p.m. on NBC): It’s the show’s 200th episode, and Robin Williams (“RV”) guest stars as an engineer whose life has gone terribly wrong with dramatic repercussions.
►“Nanking” (6 p.m. on Cinemax): This film, that won the 2007 Sundance Film Festival documentary editing award, tells the story of the Japanese invasion of Nanking, China, in the early days of World War II.
►“Nova: Sinking the Supership” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): This new installment tells the story of the Japanese Navy battleship Yamato, that sailed out the attack U.S. ships guarding the troops invading Okinawa in April 1945.
►“Shark” (8 p.m. on CBS): Returns with the first of four new episodes.
►“Women’s Murder Club” (9 p.m. on ABC): Returns with the first of three new episodes. Gerald McRaney (“Jericho”) guest stars.
WEDNESDAY
►“Farmer Wants a Wife” (8 p.m. on CW): In this new reality series, 10 city women compete for the affections of a farmer (Matt, 29, from Missouri) looking for love. European versions of the show are established hits in
►“Secrets of the Dead” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): This new installment titled “Escape From Auschwitz” tells a little-known heroic tale from World War II.
►“Tornado: Nature Unleashed” (11 a.m. on USA): This 2005 film follows a journalist, a producer and a town of gypsies whose lives are imperiled when a tornado strikes.
►“The View” (10 a.m. on ABC): The co-hosts welcome soap opera stars Rebecca Budig (Greenlee Smythe on “All My Children”), John-Paul Lavoisier (Rex Balsam on “One Life to Live”), Marcy Rylan (Lizzie Spaulding on “Guiding Light”), Van Hansis (Luke Snyder on “As the World Turns”), Alison Sweeney (Sami DiMera on “Days of our Lives”) and others for the 35th annual Daytime Emmy Awards live nomination ceremony. Winners will be announced June 20 during ABC’s live broadcast of the Daytime Emmy Awards.
THURSDAY
►“Don’t Forget the Lyrics” (8 p.m. on Fox): Poison front man Bret Michaels takes center stage for a chance to win $1 million for The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.
►“My Name is Earl” (7 p.m. on NBC): After waking up from a coma, Earl (Jason Lee) knew that he had to find Billie (guest star Alyssa Milano, “Charmed”), whom he felt karma brought to him to be his soul mate.
►“Without a Trace” (9 p.m. on CBS): The FBI suspects foul play is involved in the disappearance of a lottery winner who vanishes after coming into millions. Sprague Grayden (”Jericho”) guest stars as Paula Reiser, the best friend of the missing lottery winner.
FRIDAY
►“Ghost Whisperer” (7 p.m. on CBS): Melinda helps professor Payne juggle an ex, her 10-year-old son and the jealous ghost of his dead wife. Nikki Cox (“Las Vegas” and wife of series regular Jay Mohr) plays professor Payne’s ex.
►“Man vs. Wild” (9 p.m. on Discovery): Seasoned adventurer Bear Grylls returns with six of the most intense and daring episodes yet. This new installment will take Bear to one of the hottest and driest places on earth: the Namibian Desert.
►“Ringo Starr: Off the Record” (10 p.m. on HBO): Dave Stewart (best known as one-half of Eurythmics, along with Annie Lennox) interviews the Beatles’ drummer, who also demonstrates some of his iconic percussion riffs from classic Beatles recordings.
►“The Young and the Restless” (11 a.m. on CBS): Country singer Trace Adkins makes an appearance in Genoa City to help Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) surprise his wife, Phyllis (Michelle Stafford), for their first anniversary. He performs his latest hit, “You’re Gonna Miss This.”
SATURDAY
►“Destroyed in Seconds: Greensburg,
►“The Shell Seekers” (8 p.m. on Hallmark): This 2006 adaptation of Rosamunde Pilcher’s beloved novel stars Academy Award winners Maximilian Schell (“Judgment at Nuremberg”) and Vanessa Redgrave (“Julia”). Redgrave plays an independent, 60-something woman who takes stock of her life after a heart attack, reflecting on her loves and losses and trying to reconnect with her children and her famous artist father (Schell).
►The 134th running of the Kentucky Derby will air live at 3 p.m. on NBC.
–Penny TV
Emmy reality
And the nominees for outstanding host for a reality or reality-competition program are …
Jeff Probst (pictured at right) of “Survivor” is my pick to win that new category that will be added to the lineup for the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards airing live at 7 p.m. Sept. 21 on ABC.
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Board of Governors voted to create that new category, and the announcement was made today (April 22).
“Reality television has become such an integral part of television and our culture, so it only made sense for us to create this new highly competitive category,” said John Shaffner, chairman and chief executive of 
the Television Academy.
According to the rules and regulation of the Television Academy, “Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program” (category 66) is for the proactive master of ceremony host and does not include reactive participants or judges.”
Probst will probably get beat out by Phil Keoghan (pictured at right) of “The Amazing Race,” though. The “Race,” after all, has defeated all competitors (even ratings hog “American Idol”) to win five straight Emmys for outstanding reality/competition program.
— Penny TV
Oklahoma artists to take part in Dove Awards
At least two artists with Oklahoma ties will be at The 39th Annual Dove Awards airing live at 7 p.m. Wednesday (April 23) on the Gospel Music Channel (178 on Cox Digital Cable, 338 on Direct TV, 9717 on Dish Network).
Phil Stacey (pictured at right), last year’s “American Idol” finalist who has family in Shawnee, is scheduled to perform at the event that honors artists from every style of gospel and Christian music. Fellow “Idol” finalists Chris Sligh and Mandisa are also scheduled to perform, as are Wynonna, Rick Skaggs and the Whites, Point of Grace, The Isaacs and Charlie Daniels with Third Day’s Mac Powell.
Rob Beckley (pictured above), lead singer of the Tulsa-based Christian rock band Pillar, is a scheduled presenter for the awards show. So are Kirk Franklin, tobyMac, Matthew West and NFL player Ben Utecht from the Cincinnati Bengals.
In addition to the live broadcast, which takes place at Nashville’s famed Grand Ole Opry House, the Gospel Music Channel will rebroadcast the event at 9 p.m. Wednesday with additional airings to be announced.
For a list of nominees, go to www.doveawards.com. For more TV news, consult the TV page in The Oklahoman.
— Penny TV
Guests added to TV talk shows
CNN Media Advisory: First lady Laura Bush and daughter Jenna Bush will appear on “Larry King Live” at 8 p.m. Wednesday (April 23) to discuss their new children’s book, Read All About It.
Set in a school, the book depicts a mischievous little boy who likes to do everything but read. It is loosely based on Laura and Jenna Bushes’ experiences as teachers.
On Thursday’s show (April 24), U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will talk to King in her first interview following the April 22 Pennsylvania primary.
“Larry King Live” airs weekdays a 8 p.m. on CNN, with rebroadcasts at 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. For more information on upcoming shows or to locate past transcripts, go to www.CNN.com/larry king.
CBS Media Advisory: Danica Patrick, who on Sunday made history when she became the first woman to win an Indy Car series race, visits “Late Show With David Letterman” at 10:35 p.m. Wednesday (April 23).
Patrick finished six seconds ahead of her nearest competitor, Helio Castroneves, to win Sunday’s Indy Japan 300, her first win in 50 career starts.
This will be her fourth visit with Letterman, her former Indy Racing League employer. She got her IRL start in 2005 driving for Rahal Letterman Racing, the auto racing team Letterman co-owns.
