“Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost” solid entry in series
Tom Selleck and Joe the Dog in "Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost" - CBS Photo
Tom Selleck is back in “Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost,” the seventh in the series of television movies based on characters in the collection of books written by the late Robert B. Parker.
In this installment though, Stone is no longer police chief of the fictional town of Paradise, Mass., but that doesn’t stop him from looking into the death of a teenaged girl he had once tried to help; and from getting unofficially involved in the case of a convicted murderer who he thinks is possibly innocent.
Stone is also still battling a couple of familiar demons – alcohol and his ex-wife.
Selleck continues to embody the character of Jesse Stone well in this film, which is liberally paced as usual, but this is a format that works satisfactorily with these stories and roles.
A definite plus is Stone’s relationship with Reggie (Joe the Dog), which adds a little bit of an amusing touch to the drama.
Although it would’ve been nice to see a little more of Kathy Baker as police officer and Stone ally Rose, overall, fans of these movies won’t be disappointed.
“Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost” airs at 8 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
CBS: 19 series return to 2011-12 primetime lineup
From left: James Caviezel and Michael Emerson in "Person of Interest" - CBS Photo by Jeffrey R. Staab
Five new series have been ordered by CBS for the 2011-12 primetime season, while 19 shows will be returning.
Information on the five new series, provided by CBS, is as follows:
The new series include three new dramas and two new comedies: “Person of Interest,” a crime thriller from renowned executive producer J.J. Abrams starring Jim Caviezel, Emmy Award winner Michael Emerson and Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson; “Unforgettable,” starring Dylan Walsh and Poppy Montgomery as a former detective with a rare condition that enables her to remember virtually every detail from every day of her life; “A Gifted Man,” about a preeminent surgeon whose life changes forever when his deceased ex-wife returns, starring Patrick Wilson and Jennifer Ehle; “2 Broke Girls,” a comedy about two strikingly different young waitresses who form an unlikely friendship, starring Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs; and an odd-couple comedy, “How to Be a Gentleman,” starring David Hornsby and Kevin Dillon, about a refined magazine columnist and his very unrefined personal trainer.
Returning series include: “NCIS,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “60 Minutes,” “Mike & Molly,” “Survivor,” “The Amazing Race,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “NCIS: Los Angeles, “Criminal Minds,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, “The Mentalist,” “CSI: NY,” “Blue Bloods,” “Rules of Engagement,” “48 Hours Mystery,” “The Good Wife” and “CSI: Miami.”
“Undercover Boss” returns at midseason while “The 2-2″, a new drama from Tribeca Productions and Executive Producers Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal, is set to premiere midseason as well.
Time period changes for three shows are involved in the 2011-12 fall season as well.
“CSI” relocates to 9 p.m. Wednesdays; “The Good Wife” moves to 8 p.m. Sundays; and “Rules of Engagement” changes to 7 p.m. Saturdays.
The 2011-12 CBS primetime schedule, provided by the network, is as follows (N=New, NT=New Time):
MONDAY
7:00-7:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
7:30-8:00 PM 2 BROKE GIRLS (N)
8:00-8:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN
8:30-9:00 PM MIKE & MOLLY
9:00-10:00 PM HAWAII FIVE-0
TUESDAY
7:00-8:00 PM NCIS
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS: LOS ANGELES
9:00-10:00 PM UNFORGETTABLE (N)
WEDNESDAY
7:00-8:00 PM SURVIVOR: SOUTH PACIFIC
8:00-9:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS
9:00-10:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (NT)
THURSDAY
7:00-7:30 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY
7:30-8:00 PM HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN (N)
8:00-9:00 PM PERSON OF INTEREST (N)
9:00-10:00 PM THE MENTALIST
FRIDAY
7:00-8:00 PM A GIFTED MAN (N)
8:00-9:00 PM CSI: NY
9:00-10:00 PM BLUE BLOODS
SATURDAY
7:00-7:30 PM RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (NT)
7:30-8:00 PM COMEDYTIME SATURDAY
8:00-9:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
9:00-10:00 PM 48 HOURS MYSTERY
SUNDAY
6:00-7:00 PM 60 MINUTES
7:00-8:00 PM THE AMAZING RACE
8:00-9:00 PM THE GOOD WIFE (NT)
9:00-10:00 PM CSI: MIAMI
For more information on the 2011-12 CBS primetime schedule, visit www.cbs.com.
“Big Brother” “Ultimate Fan” sweepstakes on CBS.com
CBS.com has launched the “Big Brother” “Ultimate Fan” sweepstakes, which allows fans to complete a series of online challenges for a chance to win a trip to the “Big Brother” house in Los Angeles.
One lucky fan will win the ultimate “Big Brother” experience by getting to spend a day in the house with invited members of the press and will get to participate in “Big Brother”-inspired challenges, according to a news release.
To enter the sweepstakes, visit www.cbs.com/primetime/big_brother/ultimate_fan/.
Challenges in the sweepstakes include a houseguest personality quiz, Hall of Fame photo slams and “Who Said It?” trivia.
“Big Brother” centers on a group of people living together in a house filled with more than 52 cameras and 95 microphones recording their every move 24 hours a day.
The house guests vote someone out of the house each week.
The last remaining house guest wins the grand prize of $500,000.
The new season of “Big Brother” premieres at 8 p.m. July 7 on CBS and will air three nights weekly (7 p.m. Wednesdays starting July 13), with the live eviction show hosted by Julie Chen airing at 8 p.m. Thursdays, beginning July 14 and at 7 p.m. Sundays, beginning July 10.
Ashton Kutcher joins “Two and a Half Men”
Ashton Kutcher - AP Photo
CBS and Warner Bros. Television have announced today that Ashton Kutcher will join the cast of “Two and a Half Men.”
Kutcher joins Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones, Holland Taylor, Marin Hinkle and Conchata Ferrell on the series, which will begin production on its ninth season this summer for broadcast in the fall, according to a news release.
“I can’t wait to get to work with this ridiculously talented 2.5 team and I believe we can fill the stage with laughter that will echo in viewers’ homes,” Kutcher said in the news release. “I can’t replace Charlie Sheen but I’m going to work my ass off to entertain the hell out of people!”
“We are so lucky to have someone as talented, joyful and just plain remarkable as Ashton joining our family,” Chuck Lorre, creator and executive producer of “Two and a Half Men, also said in the release. “Added to that is the deep sigh of relief knowing that our family stays together. If I was any happier, it’d be illegal.”
Rex Ryan guest stars on “CSI: NY” this week; makes first “Late Night with David Letterman” visit Monday
Rex Ryan - AP Photo
New York Jets head coach (and former Southwestern Oklahoma State University football player) Rex Ryan will be making his first appearance on “Late Night with David Letterman” at 10:35 p.m. Monday on CBS.
Ryan will be promoting his new football memoir “Play It Like You Mean It: Passion, Laughs and Leadership in the World’s Most Beautiful Game,” scheduled for released in bookstores May 3, according to a news release.
Ryan and Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum are also guest stars on “CSI: NY” at 8 p.m. this Friday on CBS.
To watch a clip of Ryan and Tannenbaum on “CSI: NY,” click here.
Hallmark Hall of Fame movie “Beyond the Blackboard” continues inspiring tradition
Emily VanCamp in "Beyond the Blackboard" - HALLMARK HALL OF FAME PHOTO
Hallmark Hall of Fame’s upcoming movie “Beyond the Blackboard,” based on a true story, centers on Stacey Bess’ first teaching job.
Bess (Emily VanCamp) is assigned to the School With No Name, which is just a space in a homeless shelter used as a classroom.
Without books, student desks, and other teaching essentials, Bess turns the makeshift schoolroom into a real one for the children of all ages she instructs, with the eventual assistance from school board official Dr. Warren (Treat Williams).
Bess also learns about herself and gains new perspective while changing the lives of her students and their families.
VanCamp is proficient at portraying the kindheartedness of Bess without being cloying, and Williams lends a nice hand in his supporting role.
All of the children playing the homeless students are genuine as well.
As is usual for Hallmark Hall of Fame movies, “Beyond the Blackboard” succeeds in providing inspiration to look at people in diverse situations with compassion and respect while demonstrating how much of a difference one person can make.
“Beyond the Blackboard” airs at 8 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Oklahoma cowboys rally to avoid elimination in “Amazing Race”
Oklahoma cowboys Jet and Cord McCoy rallied from a costly mistake that placed them about a hour behind the other teams to finish fifth in the episode of “The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business” that aired Sunday night.
Jet, 31, of Tupelo, and Cord, 30, of Ada, were hurt by taking a later flight from Calcutta to Varanasi, India, than the other six teams, placing them in catch-up mode.
After arriving in Varanasi, one member of each team had to collect six clues from holy men to correctly solve the puzzle “Once you’re over the hill you pick up speed.” The cowboys overtook the father-and-daughter team of Ron and Christina to get out of last place.
The teams then faced a detour and were given the choice to “Feed the Fire” or “Feed the Buffalo.” The fire assignment was much messier. Teams had to make 50 fuel patties out of buffalo manure, place them on a wall to dry and then light some of the patties to heat milk. The picky judge even made them redo some of patties that were either too big or too small.
The buffalo assignment involved hauling hay bales across the Ganges River on boats and then delivering them to the other side. Fortunately, the cowboys picked the buffalo task and made a few cracks about it. “We’ve come to the other side of the world to haul hay,” Cord said with a chuckle.
The teams next had to reach the pit stop at an ancient fort. The team of Harlem Globetrotters “Flight Time” and “Big Easy” finished first and won a trip to Hawaii, and Zev and Justin were runner-up.
The cowboys high-fived after their fifth-place finish. Cord said, “Every time we had a chance to bust it and get back in the race by pure grit and try, that’s what we did.”
Finishing last and being eliminated from the competition was Ron and Christina.
Next Sunday’s episode will take the teams to Vienna, Austria.
Simon Baker, Morena Baccarin face off on “The Mentalist”
Morena Baccarin and Simon Baker in "The Mentalist" - Warner Bros. Photo by Michael Yarish
Simon Baker squares off with Morena Baccarin (“V”) during a murder investigation on tomorrow night’s episode of “The Mentalist.”
Baccarin plays Erica Flynn, who’s married to the murder victim, the owner of an online matchmaking service.
Baker, as Patrick Jane, suspects Flynn killed her husband and sets out to prove it.
Baker and Baccarin portray tantalizing adversaries, and extra kudos should also be given to Owain Yeoman as his character Wayne Rigsby plays the (humorous) part of a client of the matchmaking service. Rigsby also debates whether to actually ask out one of the clients he’s questioned in the case.
Overall, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” is an episode “Mentalist” fans should enjoy.
“The Mentalist” airs at 9 p.m. Thursdays on CBS.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
CBS announces 2010-11 season finale dates
From left, Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan in a scene from the April 11 "Ma Ke Kahakai"episode of "Hawaii Five-0" - CBS Photo by Mario Perez
CBS has announced the schedule for the finales of its 2010-11 season’s series.
The list of shows and finale dates, provided by CBS, is as follows:
SUNDAY, MAY 1
8 p.m. “Undercover Boss”
SUNDAY, MAY 8
7 p.m. “The Amazing Race” (two hours)
9 p.m. “CSI: Miami”
THURSDAY, MAY 12
8 p.m. “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”
FRIDAY, MAY 13
8 p.m. “CSI: NY”
9 p.m. “Blue Bloods”
SUNDAY, MAY 15
7 p.m. “Survivor: Redemption Island” (two hours)
9 p.m. “Survivor: Redemption Island Live Reunion Show”
MONDAY, MAY 16
7 p.m. “How I Met Your Mother”
7:30 p.m. “Mad Love”
8:30 p.m. “Mike & Molly”
9 p.m. “Hawaii Five-0″
TUESDAY, MAY 17
7 p.m. “NCIS”
8 p.m. “NCIS: Los Angeles”
9 p.m. “The Good Wife”
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18
8 p.m. “Criminal Minds”
THURSDAY, MAY 19
7 p.m. “The Big Bang Theory”
7:30 p.m. “Rules of Engagement”
8 p.m. “The Mentalist” (two hours)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25
9 p.m. “Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior”
Julianna Margulies stars in "The Good Wife." - CBS Photo by Justin Stephens
Oklahoma cowboys second after latest episode of “Amazing Race.”
After winning last week’s leg, Oklahoma cowboys Jet and Cord McCoy finished in second place in the episode of “The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business” that aired Sunday night.
CBS is airing “The Academy of Country Music Awards” next Sunday so there won’t be an episode. The series returns April 10.
Early in the episode, Jet, 31, of Tupelo, discussed the sacrifices his family was making during the competition that was taped late last year.
“My family is making as big a sacrifice as I am to be here,” he said. “My wife is staying home and taking care of the 2-year-old girl and the ranch. Same as Court. So it’s an added incentive we don’t want to go away empty-handed.”
From a tea tasting ceremony, the teams all caught the same 900-mile flight to Kolkata, India, where a bunch of cab drivers raced them to town hall for their next clue. In a humorous segment, the McCoys’ cab is shown racing past several other competitors’ cabs. “The guy has got some nerve,” Cord said.
Town hall didn’t open until 10 a.m. so the teams all camped on the street waiting for instructions to their next destination, a hall for another tea tasting. This time one team member had to find, from a table that holds hundreds of tea cups, the one that matches the tea they tasted back in China. When that happened, the teams got a battle of Snapple with the next clue on the inside of the bottle cap.
The McCoys were second after the roadblock, heading into the week’s detour with challenges of either Hindu art or Bengali literature. In Hindu art, teams had to paint and decorate a large statue of an elephant god, matching a model. In the literature challenge, the teams loaded eight stacks of books into a school bicycle cart and directed the driver to the school.
While five teams picked the art project, the McCoys, the father and daughter team of Gary and Malloy, and Zev and Justin delivered the books to the school.
The episode wrapped up with a race to the pit stop at the Fountain of Joy. Gary and Mallory finished first and won a special Indian feast with Bollywood dancers and $1 million in rupees, valued at more than $22,000 American. The McCoys were runner-up.
Margie and her deaf son Luke was eliminated for finishing in last place primarily because Luke stumbled miserably at the tea tasting challenge. “Sorry,” Luke signed to his mother. “I don’t hold him responsible for us being eliminated,” Margie said.
