ABC announces fall premiere dates
Network News Release …
Fall premiere dates for the 2008-2009 season were announced today for the ABC Television Network by Stephen McPherson, president, ABC Entertainment.
“We are very excited about the return of our core group of shows from last fall,” McPherson said. “They dominated for us, and it will be great to see viewers reconnect. We are building momentum for our two new shows, ‘Opportunity Knocks’ and ‘Life on Mars,’ and are thrilled by their tremendous potential.”
ABC primetime fall premiere dates are as follows:
Friday, September 19
9 p.m. — “20/20”
Monday, September 22
7 p.m. — “Dancing with the Stars” (special two-hour performance show premiere)
9 p.m. — “Boston Legal”
Tuesday, September 23
7 p.m. — “Opportunity Knocks” (new series debut)
8 p.m. — “Dancing with the Stars” (special performance show)
Wednesday, September 24
7 p.m. — “Dancing with the Stars Results Show Special” (special day and time)
8 p.m. — “David Blaine Special”
Thursday, September 25
7 p.m. — “Ugly Betty”
8 p.m. — “Grey’s Anatomy” (special two-hour season premiere)
Sunday, September 28
6 p.m. — “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (two-hour season premiere)
8 p.m. — “Desperate Housewives”
9 p.m. — “Brothers & Sisters”
Tuesday, September 30
8 p.m. — “Dancing with the Stars Result Show” (regular day and time period premiere)
Wednesday, October 1
7 p.m. — “Pushing Daisies”
8 p.m. — “Private Practice”
9 p.m. — “Dirty Sexy Money”
Friday, October 3
7 p.m. — “Wife Swap”
8 p.m. — “Supernanny”
Sunday, October 5
6 p.m. — “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
7 p.m. — “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (regular time period premiere)
Monday, October 6
8:30 p.m. — “Samantha Who?”
Thursday, October 9
8 p.m. — “Grey’s Anatomy” (regular time period premiere)
9 p.m. — “Life on Mars” (new series debut, stars Jason O’Mara, who is pictured above in ABC Photo)
Tuesday, October 14
9 p.m. — “Eli Stone”
Katie Holmes to guest star on “Eli Stone”
Network News Release …
Katie Holmes returns to television to guest star in an episode of ABC’s “Eli Stone.”
In the episode titled “Grace,” Holmes will play a non-profit attorney whose mysterious fate leads her to Eli (played by British actor Jonny Lee Miller).
“Eli Stone” reunites Holmes with co-creator and executive producer Greg Berlanti, whom she previously worked with on “Dawson’s Creek.” Most recently she starred in the feature film “Mad Money,” opposite Diane Keaton and Queen Latifah.
“Eli Stone” will return to ABC’s schedule Oct. 14 for its second season.
Program Planner: July 20-26
Sunday’s Oklahoman, which includes 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 July 20:
SUNDAY JULY 20, 2008
◊The 2008 ESPY Awards (8 p.m. on ESPN): Singer, actor and self-described sports fan Justin Timberlake (‘N Sync) hosts the 16th-annual event that honors athletic achievement. Categories include best male and female athlete, best coach, and best team on both professional and college levels.
◊“High School Musical: Get in the Picture” (7 p.m. on ABC): Nick Lachey (“Charmed”) hosts this new reality series in which young competitors, ages 16 to 22, undergo assorted challenges in a ‘‘summer music program.” The winner will appear in a music video that will be shown during the end credits of ‘‘High School Musical 3.”
◊“Mad Men” marathon (11 a.m. on AMC): Leading up to next week’s season two premiere of the critically-acclaimed drama, AMC will air all 13 episodes from season one
◊“The Next Food Network Star” (9 p.m. on Food Network): The remaining three finalists meet season two winner Guy Fieri and create a buffet for Las Vegas entertainers.
◊“The Simpsons” (7 p.m. on Fox): Glenn Close (“Damages”) guest stars as the voice of Homer’s mom, Mona, in the episde “Mona Leaves-a.” She leaves Homer riddled with guilt for not telling her how he felt about her.
◊“The Stagers” (9 p.m. on HGTV): This new series follows a team from Canada’s leading home staging company, Dekora, as they prep homes to sell as quickly and as profitably as possible.
MONDAY JULY 21, 2008
◊“American Gladiators” (7 p.m. on NBC): It’s the first round of the semifinals, as well as the premiere of the biggest and baddest Gladiator yet — The Beast.
◊“Catch 21” (6:30 p.m. on GSN): Alfonso Ribeiro (“Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”) hosts this new game show that blends pop trivia with the classic card game 21.
◊“Chasing Churchill: In Search of My Grandfather” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): Celia Sandys, Winston Churchill’s granddaughter and former traveling companion, retraces her grandfather’s footsteps in this three-part miniseries. Part one opens with Churchill’s private life at Sandhurst Military Academy, which he left in 1894 to begin a journey in search of adventure and danger.
◊“The Closer” (8 p.m. on TNT): Paul Michael Glaser (“Starsky & Hutch”) guest stars in the new episode about a recently paroled murderer who is found dead in an alley near a halfway house. Brenda must tread carefully, because the crime for which the victim was convicted was a major press event in Los Angeles.
◊“Date My Ex: Jo & Slade” (9 p.m. on Bravo): In this new dating competition series, Jo De La Rosa, who appeared in the first two seasons of “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” gets a second chance at love with a little help from her ex-fiancé Slade Smiley.
◊“Heidi Fleiss: The Would-Be Madam of Crystal” (8 p.m. on HBO): This new documentary follows the former ‘‘Hollywood Madam” as she attempts to start a legal brothel in Crystal, Nev., that caters to female clients.
◊“History Detectives” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Objects examined include a WWII Marine’s jacket with stitched inscriptions and sheet music bearing President Lincoln’s signature.
◊“Legally Blonde: The Musical: Search for the Next Elle Woods” (9 p.m. on MTV): The search for the next Elle Woods on Broadway comes to an end.
◊“Saving Grace” (9 p.m. on TNT): David Gallagher (“7th Heaven”) and Dee Wallace (“Cujo”) guest star in the new episode “A Survivor Lives Here.” Grace is called to a crime scene with blood everywhere, but there is no body.
◊“Take Home Nanny” (7 p.m. on TLC): Emma Jenner is the nanny with no naughty corner in this new series. She helps families in turmoil get ready for special events.
◊“Wanna Bet” (8 p.m. on ABC): British comedians Ant and Dec host this new game show in which celebrities attempt to win money for charity by betting on the outcomes of stunts and mental feats performed by ordinary folks. In the premiere episode, the judges include Sherri Shepherd (“The View”) and George Takei (“Star Trek”) and one of the stunts is identifying music CDs by licking them.
TUESDAY JULY 22, 2008
◊“Deadliest Catch” (8 a.m. on Discovery): Catch up with the captains and crews crab fishing in the Bering Sea with a 12-hour marathon. It concludes with the season four finale at 8 p.m.
◊“The Cleaner” (9 p.m. on A&E): Oklahoma actor Robert Blesse guest stars as a surfer in the episode titled “Chaos Theory.”
◊“Highway 18″ (9 p.m. on Golf Channel): This new series follows five teams competing in a golf road rally down Florida’s highways, fairways and byways. Teams will compete in challenges both on and off the course that will demand cooperation and ingenuity in order to survive elimination.
◊“Jail” (8 p.m. on My Network TV): This episode in the series, which follows individuals from their initial booking through their first moments in the slammer, features jails in Tulsa, Las Vegas and Hillsboro, Ore.
◊“P.O.V.” (9 p.m. on OETA-13): The new documentary ‘‘9 Star Hotel” spotlights young Palestinians working construction in Israel by day and hiding from the authorities by night in a crude camp in the hills.
◊“Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel” (9 p.m. on HBO): Highlights include a one-on-one conversation with former Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells and an in-depth look at women’s gymnastics.
◊“Road Tasted With the Neelys” (8:30 p.m. on Food Network): In this new series, Pat and Gina Neely from “Down Home With the Neelys” hit the road on a cross-country search for the best local, hand-crafted foods.
WEDNESDAY JULY 23, 2008
◊“Buzzin’” (9:30 p.m. on MTV): This new reality series follows the misadventures of music artist Shwayze, his best pal and producer Cisco Adler, their tour manager Warren Gumpel and Suretune Records manager Jordan Schur.
◊“Criminal Minds” (8 p.m. on CBS): Kate Jackson (“Charlie’s Angels”) guest stars as Agent Prentiss’ mom, a foreign ambassador who enlists the help of the Behavioral Analysis Unit when a Russian immigrant is kidnapped.
◊“Criss Angel Mindfreak” (9 p.m. on A&E): In the fourth-season premiere, illusionist Criss Angel attempts to walk on Nevada’s Lake Mead, the world’s largest man-made lake.
◊“Nova scienceNOW” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): This new installment features a segment on leeches, that today are used when reattached fingers and toes become engorged with excess blood that must be drained off.
THURSDAY JULY 24, 2008
◊“Dragons’ Den” (8 p.m. on BBC America): Five multi-millionaires are ready to back the best new ideas and innovations in this reality series. Items being pitched this episode include a hanging sofa and a recyclable lawn chair.
◊“Fear Itself” (9 p.m. on NBC): The installment titled “Community” stars Brandon Routh (“Superman”) and Shiri Appleby (“Charlie Wilson’s War”) as a young couple who find the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood … or so they think.
◊“Last Comic Standing” (7 p.m. on NBC): Hugh Hefner and his girlfriends Holly, Bridget and Kendra take part in this week’s challenge when the remaining eight comics are surprised with a trip to the Playboy Mansion.
◊“Live From Abbey Road” (9 p.m. on Sundance): The music series taped at London’s Abbey Road Studios features performances by Matchbox Twenty and Def Leppard.
◊“Ugly Betty” (7 p.m. on ABC): Betty White (“The Golden Girls”) guest stars as herself in a rebroacast of the episode “Bananas for Betty,” in which the other Betty (America Ferrera) agrees to an unusual double date.
◊TCM Tribute — 100th Anniversary of the FBI: The network salutes the investigative organization of the federal government by airing six classic FBI movies, including 1935′s “G-Men” (7 p.m.) and 1939′s “Confessions of a Nazi Spy” (8:30 p.m.).
FRIDAY JULY 25
◊“Duel” (8 p.m. on ABC): The head-to-head trivia competition concludes with the second-season finale).
◊“Extraordinary Animals” (8:30 p.m. on Animal Planet): Ayumu, a chimpanzee that has made headlines for its speed and accuracy in memory tests, is featured.
◊“Today” (7 a.m. on NBC): Miley Cyrus (“Hannah Montana”) performs live from Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.
◊TCM Birthday Tribute — Walter Brennan: The late actor was born on this day in 1894, and the network celebrates by airing eight of his films — 1936′s “Three Godfathers” (5 a.m.), 1938′s “Mother Carey’s Chickens” (6:30 a.m.), 1939′s “The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle” (8 a.m.), 1943′s “Slightly Dangerous” (9:45 a.m.), 1944′s “To Have and Have Not” (11:30 a.m.), 1946′s “Nobody Lives Forever” (1:15 p.m.), 1951′s “Best of the Badmen” (3 p.m.) and 1966′s “Glory” (4:30 p.m.).
SATURDAY JULY 26
◊“EliteXC Saturday Night Fights” (8 p.m. on CBS): The four-fight broadcast live from the Stockton Arena in California will be highlighted by a rematch between “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler and Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith for the EliteXC middleweight title. In the mixed martial arts event, which evolved from a number of ancient combat disciplines including judo, jiu-jitsu, karate, wrestling and kickboxing, the competitors engage in hand-to-hand combat and must adapt their fighting style to fit their opponent.
◊“Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour in Disney Digital 3D” (7 p.m. on Disney): Miley Cyrus sings as herself and as her “Hannah Montana” character in this 3-D event. Complimentary 3-D glasses are available at Wal-Mart Stores nationwide.
◊“Rolex Superstars of Show Jumping” (2 p.m. on Animal Planet): Defending U.S. champion Beezie Madden travels to Germany to compete against the top horses and rider in the world.
◊“Solstice” (8 p.m. on Lifetime): This 2008 thriller follows a group of high school friends on their summer vacation at a lake house. Things take a turn for the worse when one of the girls uncovers a secret about her twin sister.
◊The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz take on the Amarillo Dusters in arena2 football action airing live at 7:05 p.m. on KSBI-52.
–Penny TV
Fox 25 holding OKC Idol auditions Saturday
“American Idol” is on the search for singers for the show’s eighth season. Auditions begin today in San Francisco.
Although “American Idol” producers do not plan to stop in Oklahoma City, Fox 25 is giving one viewer a guaranteed audition. But you have to audition — and win — Oklahoma City Idol for that shot.
Auditions for Oklahoma City Idol will take place Saturday at the Will Rogers Theater (4322 N Western Ave). Registration begins at 10 a.m. and will continue through the first 100 participants or 11 a.m. (whichever comes first).
Participants, who must be between the ages of 16-28, will be asked to perform a song of their choice acappella. Judges will pick a winner based on vocal talent (80 percent) and stage presence (20 percent).
The Oklahoma City Idol winner will get a guaranteed audition for producers of “American Idol” Aug. 8 in Kansas City. The grand prize, however, does not include transportation, hotel or meals. For more information on OKC Idol, go to www.okcfox.com/sections/contests/okc_idol/.
If today’s “American Idol” auditions in San Fancisco are out of the question, and if Saturday’s Oklahoma City Idol doesn’t work out, there are still seven more chances to try out for the show.
Those chances are the upcoming auditions in Louisville (July 21), Phoenix (July 25), Salt Lake City (July 29), San Juan (Aug. 2), Kansas City (Aug. 8), Jacksonville (Aug. 13) and East Rutherford (Aug. 19).
Yes, you can drive yourself to Missouri for an audition opportunity. That’s what Carrie Underwood did, although the auditions for Season Four were held in St. Louis.
For more information, go to www.americanidol.com/auditions/.
–Penny TV
Tulsan among “Top Design” competitors for Season Two
Teresa Keegan from Tulsa is among the 13 designers selected for the second season of Bravo’s interior design competition series “Top Design.”
Although Teresa (in Bravo Photo at right) lives in Las Vegas where she runs her own design firm, Keegan Designs, that specializes in modern interiors and exteriors for custom residential and commercial projects, she was born and raised in Tulsa.
She grew up in a home that was designed by her mother and built by a construction crew made up of her father and older brothers. Teresa served as the “assistant” and water girl.
On Top Design,” which premieres Sept. 3, Teresa and the other 12 designers will live together in a deck-out loft and compete to create the “Top Design” for a chance to win $100,000 and a four-page showcase in Elle Decor magazine.
Teresa’s trademark in her designs always includes a bit of shimmer interwoven within the earth elements.
–Penny TV
Jason Alexander calls shots on “‘Til Death”
Network News Release …
Actor, writer, producer and director Jason Alexander is set to direct an upcoming episode of “‘Til Death,” the comedy starring Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher (in Fox Photo at right).
The third season of “‘Til Death” premieres Sept. 10 on Fox.
Best known for his role as George Costanza on the hit series “Seinfeld,” Alexander has built an impressive career in stage, television and film. He has garnered six Emmy nominations, four Golden Globe nominations, two American Comedy Awards, a SAG Award and a Tony Award.
Alexander’s directing credits include episodes of “Seinfeld,” “Everybody Hates Chris” and “Campus Ladies,” along with numerous theater work. He currently serves as the Artistic Director for the Reprise Theater Company in Los Angeles.
” ’Til Death” is a comedy about the funny — and annoying — things that happen between husbands, wives, neighbors and friends day after day after day. Garrett and Fisher star as Eddie and Joy Stark, your typical long-time married couple: Eddie is the unemotional, cynical and somewhat rude husband while Joy is the caring, loving wife. They live in suburban Philadelphia and spend their time hanging out with Kenny Westchester (played by J.B. Smoove), who is a recent divorce with a penchant for ice cream, roller-skating and giving Eddie bad relationship advice.
Oklahoma actress may or may not get Emmy nomination, but she will announce them
Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth will announce the nominees for the 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at 7:40 a.m. Thursday live from the Academy’s Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre in North Hollywood.
She could be saying her own name, as the “Pushing Daisies” star (pictured in ABC Photo at right) did make the list of finalists for best supporting actress.
Also in the running are Conchata Ferrell (“Two and a Half Men”), Jenna Fischer (“The Office”), Jane Krakowski (“30 Rock”), Judith Light (“Ugly Betty”), Elizabeth Perkins (“Weeds”), Amy Poehler (“Saturday Night Live”), Jean Smart (“Samantha Who?”), Holland Taylor (“Two and a Half Men”) and Vanessa Williams (“Ugly Betty”).
Actually, if Chenoweth is nominated, she probably won’t say her own name. Helping her announce the winners will be Neil Patrick Harris of “How I Met Your Mother.”
The nomination event will not be televised. The 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards will air Sept. 21 on ABC.
–Penny TV
New name, renewed vows for CBS series, star
Network News Release …
“Project Gary,” the new CBS fall comedy premiering Sept. 24, has been re-titled “Gary Unmarried.”
However, series star Jay Mohr, who portrays a recently divorced father on series, is anything but unmarried in real life. In fact, Mohr and his wife, actress Nikki Cox, are overseas this week renewing their wedding vows.
“Gary Unmarried,” which also stars Paula Marshall, Jaime King, Al Madrigal and Ryan Malgarini (in CBS Photo above with Jay Mohr), is a comedy about a recently single painting contractor, and his controlling ex-wife, Allison, who face post-divorce mayhem after 15 years of marriage as they each embark on new relationships.
AMC revisits “The Prisoner” for six-part miniseries
Network News Release …
Actors Jim Caviezel (“Passion of the Christ”) and Ian McKellen (“Lord of the Rings”) have signed on to star in AMC’s reinterpretation of the 1960’s cult classic “”The Prisoner.”
AMC is co-producing the six-part miniseries with ITV Productions and Granada International, with a worldwide premiere slated for 2009. “The Prisoner” is AMC’s second original miniseries and combines a wide range of genres, including espionage, thriller and Sci-Fi, into a unique and compelling drama.
Caviezel (pictured at right) will play the title role of “Number Six,” a part that was originally made famous when played by Patrick McGoohan. Two-time Oscar nominee McKellen will co-star playing the role of “Number Two.”
“General Hospital: Night Shift” gets new doctors for second season
Network News Release …
Award-winning actors Antonio Sabato, Jr. and Tristan Rogers will reprise the roles they created for “General Hospital” of Jagger Cates and Robert Scorpio, respectively, for the second season of “General Hospital: Night Shift” (SoapNet Photo of cast at right).
The SOAPnet series (channel 170 on Cox Digital Cable, 188 on Dish Network, 262 on Direct TV) begins its second season at 10 p.m July 22. It follows the lives of doctors, nurses and patients as they embark on journeys of self discovery, love and heartache.
In other casting news, Billy Dee Williams (Touissant Dubois), Kimberly McCullough (Dr. Robin Scorpio), Jason Thompson (Dr. Patrick Drake) and Sonya Eddy (Epiphany Johnson) will be back for the show’s sophomore season. Other members of the cast include Adam Grimes as Dr. Kyle Julian, Carrie Southworth as Dr. Claire Simpson, Ethan Rains as Dr. Leo Julian (he is taking over the role from his real-life brother, Dominic, who was unavailable for Season 2) and Azita Ghanizada as Dr. Saira Batra.
This season, Jagger will return to Port Charles after a 13-year absence with his five-year-old son, Stone, in tow. He will reconnect with Robin (McCullough), meet some new residents – including Robin’s boyfriend Patrick (Thompson) – along the way and, most importantly, face a difficult internal struggle as he grows emotionally as a man and a father. As for Scorpio, the super spy will have to face the fact that he is getting older and his health is failing. Upon his arrival in town, he’ll check into the hospital as a patient where his daughter, Robin, will be providing his care. Father and daughter will struggle to figure out their relationship as grown adults.
