Smithsonian Channel revisits D-Day landing
Network News Release …
History remembers D-Day, the greatest amphibious invasion ever attempted, as a great victory by U.S. forces, which were launched across the English Channel from the southern shore of England.
“D-Day – The True Story of Omaha Beach,” an original documentary premiering on D-Day’s 64th anniversary, evaluates evidence, old and new, to reveal that the pivotal battle at Omaha Beach was nearly a total disaster. Although an accidental breakdown in communications could have led to complete loss, the opportunity for victory was seized by a small group of men who were in the wrong place at the right time.
The documentary premieres at 8 p.m. Friday (June 6) on Smithsonian Channel (channel 267 on Direct TV, 374 on Dish Network). It sheds new light on one of the iconic stories of World War II through emotional personal testimony by U.S. survivors of the battle, interviews with historians and military experts from both sides of the Atlantic, and ambitious reconstructions of battle scenes using state-of-the-art computer-generated imaging.
Networks presents Sydney Pollack tributes
Three networks will pay tribute to Oscar-winning filmmaker Sydney Pollack with special screenings of his work.
Pollack, who won best director and best pictures Oscars for “Out of Africa,” died of cancer May 26 at age 73.
The network plans are:
Chiller (channel 199 on Dish Network, 257 on Direct TV) will air two episodes of “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour” that were directed by Pollack: 1962’s “The Black Curtain” (4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday) and 1963’s “Diagnosis: Danger” (5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday).
Oxygen (channel 127 on Dish Network, 166 on Cox Digital Cable, 251 on Direct TV) will air the 1973 film “The Way We Were” at noon Sunday. Pollack directed the romantic drama starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford.
TCM (channel 63 on Cox Cable, 132 on Dish Network, 256 on Direct TV) will devote an entire evening of programming to Pollack on Monday. The lineup includes 1965’s “The Slender Thread” (7 p.m.), which marked Pollack’s directorial debut; the 1982 award-winning comedy “Tootsie” (11 p.m.), which ranks second behind Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot on the American Film Institute’s list of best film comedies; and 1972’s “Jeremiah Johnson” (1 a.m.) and 1975’s “Three Days of the Condor” (9 p.m.), two of the filmmaker’s seven collaborations with star Robert Redford.
In July, TCM will present film critic and commentator Elvis Mitchell’s extensive, in-depth interview with Pollack, among the last interviews he ever gave. The interview will air July 7 as the premiere episode of the network’s new original series “TCM Presents Elvis Mitchell: Under the Influence.”
“Hour of Power” reaches milestone
Network News Release …
“Hour of Power” will broadcast its 2,000th consecutive weekly program at 7 a.m. Sunday (June 1) on Lifetime.
The broadcast will include interviews with individuals whose lives have been positively impacted by the show, as well as the world-premiere performance of “Gloria,” which was composed for the event by Hollywood film scorer Mark McKenzie.
“For 2,000 episodes, God has used the ‘Hour of Power’ to powerfully motivate and encourage persons across the world – from China to Pakistan, from Australia to South Africa,” said the Rev. Robert A. Schuller, senior pastor of the renowned Crystal Cathedral, whose Sunday services have aired as the “Hour of Power” since 1970.
“When we started the ‘Hour of Power,’ with Billy Graham as my guide and mentor, we didn’t know how long it would run,” said Dr. Robert H. Schuller, founding pastor. “But we were led by God to try it. And we kept going, week after week, thanks to God and the generous support of millions of persons who have made it possible.”
Today, 20 million people a week watch the “Hour of Power,” now the fourth longest-running weekly television program in history. Airing in the U.S. on Lifetime, the Trinity Broadcasting Network, and on more than 100 local broadcast affiliates, the “Hour of Power” also reaches all seven of the world’s continents, via the Armed Forces Network and the satellite and cable systems in 50 countries.
Watch Space Shuttle launch live
Network News Release …
HDNet (channel 79 on Direct TV, 362 on Dish Network) will broadcast live high-definition coverage of Saturday’s launch of Space Shuttle Discovery STS-124.
Coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. Saturday with the launch scheduled for 4:02 p.m. from the Kennedy Space Center. Greg Dobbs, HDNet World Report correspondent, will be joined on the broadcast by NASA astronaut Julie Payette, a veteran of space flight.
Discovery’s mission is to deliver Kibo, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency – or JAXA – station laboratory. It is the largest laboratory (and also the second component of Japan’s laboratory complex) to fly to the station. The Kibo pressurized module weighs in at 32,000 pounds. It’s so large that the shuttle’s robotic arm was left at the station during the last mission. There’s not room in Discovery’s cargo bay for both the boom arm and the lab.
New “Psych” and “Monk” coming soon
USA Network’s hit series “Psych” and “Monk” will return July 18 with new seasons — the third for “Psych” and seventh for “Monk.”
But that’s not all.
Golden Globe winner and Emmy nominated actress Cybill Shepherd (“Moonlighting”) will join the cast of “Psych” in a recurring role as Madeleine, the mother of Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and ex-wife of Henry Spencer (Corbin Bernsen).
Madeleine is a private practice psychologist by trade who has also worked freelance over the years for the Santa Barbara Police Department. She is a free spirit who spent the last few years living abroad, and quite clearly the source of Shawn’s adventurous side
and similar joie de vivre. She returns from Europe and shows up to visit Shawn and Henry, stirring up memories and issues…and a bit of trouble.
And Emmy-winning and Golden Globe-nominated actor Hector Elizondo (“Chicago Hope”) has signed up for “Monk.” He will portray Adrian Monk’s (Tony Shalhoub) much-needed therapist – a role that was recently left vacant with last month’s unexpected death of Stanley Kamel, who played Monk’s beloved therapist, Dr. Charles Kroger.
“Monk will always need a therapist — and it’s a part that is pivotal to the central themes of the show,” said Jeff 
Wachtel, USA Network’s executive vice president of original programming. “When we lost Stanley, we knew we needed an actor who could bring warmth, intelligence and humor to the role. Hector was actually the first person that came to mind, and we are incredibly fortunate that he’s agreed to do some episodes with us.
— Penny TV
NBC reveals fall series premiere dates
This just in from NBC … BURBANK — May 23, 2008 — NBC unveils the Fall 2008 series premiere dates for new programs and returning favorites including a three hour launch of the hit drama “Heroes” on Sept. 22, the Thursday night debut of the new comedy “Kath & Kim” (8:30 p.m.) on October 9. “
Thursday night comedy favorites return with a one-hour premiere of the fourth season of “My Name Is Earl” on Sept. 25 (7 p.m.) followed by the one-hour season premiere of the Emmy Award-winning “The Office” (8 p.m.). “ER” begins its 15th and final season on Sept. 25 (9 p.m.). The new comedy “Kath & Kim,” starring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair premieres Thursday, Oct. 9 (8:30 p.m.) and the Emmy-winning “30 Rock,” starring Tina Fey (”Baby Mama”) and Emmy winner Alec Baldwin, begins its third season on Oct. 30 (7:30 p.m.). Preceding the premiere of “30 Rock” will be three consecutive weekly “Saturday Night Live” special election editions of “SNL Thursday Night Live” (7:30 p.m.) on Oct. 9, 16 and 23. “Life” resumes its second season on Oct. 3 (9 p.m.) in the drama starring Damian Lewis as a wrongly imprisoned police detective who returns to the force searching for justice. “Crusoe,” the action-adventure, contemporary re-telling of the classic Daniel Defoe novel “Robinson Crusoe,” will debut on in a special two-hour premiere on Oct. 17 (7 p.m.). “
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 “Chuck” — (7 p.m.)“MY OWN WORST ENEMY” — (9 p.m.)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3“Life” — (9 p.m.)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 “KATH & KIM” (8:30 p.m.) FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17“CRUSOE” — two-hour premiere (7 p.m.) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30 “30 Rock” — (7:30 p.m.)
“Crusoe” cast grows
This just in from NBC …
BURBANK — May 22, 2008 — NBC announced that Sam Neill (”The Tudors,” “Jurassic Park”), Sean Bean (”The Lord of the Rings”) and Joss Ackland (”Lethal Weapon 2″) will join the cast of NBC’s new landmark series, “Crusoe” an epic and ambitious take on Daniel Defoe’s legendary tale.
“Crusoe” finds the dashing and resourceful Crusoe (Philip Winchester, “Thunderbirds”) after many years of being a castaway on a desert island with his companion Friday (casting to follow). Written by Stephen Gallagher (”Eleventh Hour”) and directed by Duane Clark (”CSI: NY”), “Crusoe” follows the adventures of the two island dwellers while looking in flashback at Crusoe’s life before he was thrown into an isolated existence filled with danger and adventure.
Among those are his tragic childhood with widower father James (Bean), the blossoming relationship with the love of his life, Susannah (Walton) and his endeavor to transform entrepreneurial aspirations into a business empire under the watchful eye of family friend, Jeremiah Blackthorn (Neill). Overcoming marauding militias, hungry cannibals, wild cats, starvation and apocalyptic lightning storms on his seemingly idyllic island, Crusoe dreams of the day he will be reunited with his beloved family.
Due to film in the
Fox news for fans
Fall begins early on Fox, but spring won’t come quick enough for fans of “American Idol” and “24.”
Those two shows won’t join the Fox lineup until midseason, but four others will premiere two weeks before the official start of the 2008-09 TV season. Fans of “Prison Break,” “Bones” and “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” will see two-hour season premieres of these shows the week of Aug. 25, while the new drama “Fringe” will begin with a two-hour pilot on Aug. 26.
Here’s a list of shows that will and won’t return to Fox in 2008-09, as well as info on new ones to look forward to in fall and spring.
►Will Return: American Dad, American Idol (midseason), America’s Most Wanted, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, Bones, Cops, Don’t Forget the Lyrics, Family Guy, Hell’s Kitchen (midseason), House, King of the Hill, Kitchen Nightmares, “The Moment of Truth, Prison Break, The Simpsons, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Til Death, 24 (midseason).
►Won’t Return: Back to You,
►New Series:
The Cleveland Show (midseason): This new animated series centers on the life of Cleveland Brown (voiced by Mike Henry). His high school sweetheart married another man, but Cleveland told Donna he would also be there for her. So when her husband leaves her, Donna offers Cleveland another chance at love.
Do Not Disturb: This workplace comedy is set at one of New York City’s hottest and hippest hotels: The Inn. Robert Wagner (“Hart to Hart”) plays the The Inn’s owner, who takes all the credit. Jerry O’Connell (“Crossing Jordan”) plays the detail-oriented general manager who will do whatever it takes to keep the hotel and its employees up to his standards.
Dollhouse (midseason): Eliza Dushku (“Tru Calling”) plays a member of an underground group who have had their personalities wiped clean so they can be imprinted with any number of new personas. Confined to a secret facility known as the “Dollhouse,” the members carry out engagements for the wealthy, powerful and connected.
Fringe (Fox Photo above): When an international flight lands at
Secret Millionaire (midseason): This dramatic unscripted series takes America’s wealthiest individuals away from their lavish lifestyles and places them undercover into impoverished neighborhoods. Shot under the guise of a documentary, the series reveals the dramatic personal return that millionaires will get when they leave their fortunes to invest in those less fortunate.
Sit Down, Shut Up (midseason): This animated comedy focuses on the lives of eight staff members at a high school in a small northeastern fishing town who never lose sight of the fact that the children must always come second. Providing voices are Will Forte (“Saturday Night Live”), Jason Bateman (“Juno”) and Henry Winkler (“Happy Days”). –Penny TV
NBC ready for ‘Super Season’
Network schedules are always subject to change, but NBC has mapped out a complete 52-week program strategy for 2008-09 that will stagger series premieres throughout fall, winter and summer.That way, NBC can take full advantage of its “super season” of events that includes the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and Super Bowl XLIII.Here’s a list of shows that will and won’t return to NBC in 2008-09, as well as info on new ones to look forward to in fall, winter and summer.
►Will Return: The Biggest Loser, The Celebrity Apprentice (midseason), Chuck, Dateline, Deal or No Deal, ER, Friday Night Nights (midseason), Heroes, Law & Order (midseason), Law & Order: SVU, Life, Lipstick Jungle, Medium (midseason), 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 (picked up by ABC), The Singing Bee.
►New Series (descriptions provided by NBC):
America’s Toughest Jobs (summer): This extreme competition series will test 12 people who venture out of their safe, comfortable careers and are injected into some of the most demanding jobs on earth – from logging high in the Oregon Forest to oil drilling on the Texas range.
Chopping Block (summer): Rock-star chef Marco Pierre White comes to America to host this reality competition set in the high-drama, high-stakes world of New York City restaurants. The teams, which are made up of couples, will be tested in challenges that vary from having less than a week to design and revamp a restaurant space to planning a menu and creating a signature dish.
Crusoe: In this new drama based on the “Robinson Crusoe” novel by Daniel Defoe, a young man leaves his true love to embark on an adventure — only to end up shipwrecked on a remote tropical island for 28 years. His desire to return to his wife and his strong and unlikely friendship with Friday are the only things that keep him sane.
Kath & Kim: Molly Shannon (”Saturday Night Live”) stars as Kath Day, a 40-something divorcee who finally has time for herself and her valiant search for love. Selma Blair “Hellboy”) plays Kim, her daughter, who is recently separated from her husband and decides to move back home. It is based on the most successful comedy in Australia of the same name.
Kings (winter): Christopher Egan (”Resident Evil: Extinction”) plays David Shepherd, a young soldier who rescues the king’s (Golden Globe winner Ian McShane, “Deadwood”) son from enemy territory and sets events in motion that will finally bring peace. Suddenly, David is thrust into the limelight, earning the affections of women — including the king’s daughter.
Knight Rider: On the heels of NBC’s hit movie, the iconic 1980s television classic comes roaring back to life as an updated drama series showcasing the new customized KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) Ford Mustang.
The Listener (summer): Craig Olejnik (”The Runaway”) plays a 24-year-old paramedic living with a secret: he can read people’s minds. This telepathic procedural takes viewers into the heart of a tortured hero who struggles to solve crimes with his unique gift.
Merlin (winter): This fantasy series is set in the mythic city of Camelot, but it is inspired by 21st Century storytelling. Before Merlin (Colin Morgan, “Doctor Who”) and Arthur (Bradley James, “Lewis”) became legends, they were ambitious young men looking for adventure, hoping to live up to their family’s expectations, discovering love and finding their own true destiny.
My Own Worst Enemy: Henry Spivey (Christian Slater, “Heathers”) is a middle-class efficiency expert living a humdrum life in the suburbs. Edward Albright is an operative who speaks 13 languages and is trained to kill with his teeth. Henry and Edward are polar opposites who share only one thing in common — the same body.
The Office Spin-Off (winter): The next chapter of what viewers have come to know and love about “The Office,” complete with new faces and new locations, but with the same unique sense of humor.
The Philanthropist (winter): Teddy Rist loves women, money and power. After the tragic death of his only child, Teddy has an awakening and becomes the world’s first vigilante philanthropist — a renegade billionaire who uses his wealth, connections and power to help people in need.
Shark Taggers (summer): This reality series follows daring marine biologists as they track down the ocean’s top predators and hand-tag them with cutting-edge satellite transmitters or investigate bull sharks’ sudden attacks on surfers.
SNL Thursday Night Live: With all of the excitement and attention around “Saturday Night Live” during the presidential primaries, the anticipation for the show’s take on this Fall’s election will be at a fever pitch, “SNL Thursday Night Live” will keep the momentum — and the laughs — going. — Penny TV
CBS answers a few TV Forum questions
Quite a few readers have been calling the TV Forum line to find out whether their favorite shows were coming back or not. And most inquiries were about the “The Unit,” starring Dennis Haysbert (brother-in-law to Langston University president Dr. JoAnn W. Haysbert).
“The Unit” fans will be please to hear that, yes, the CBS series will return with new episodes in fall. “Cane” and “Shark” fans, however, are not so fortunate. CBS canceled those shows.
Here’s a list of shows that will and won’t return to CBS in 2008-09, as well as info on new ones to look forward to in fall.
►Will Return: The Amazing Race, The Big Bang Theory, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Ghost Whisperer, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, The New Adventures of Old Christine, NUMB3RS, Rules of Engagement (midseason), 60 Minutes, Survivor, Two and a Half Men, The Unit, Without a Trace.
►Won’t Return: Cane, Jericho, Kid Nation, Moonlight, Secret Talents of the Stars, Shark, Viva Laughlin, Welcome to the Captain.
►New Series (descriptions provided by CBS):
Eleventh Hour: Rufus Sewell (”The Illusionist”) stars as a biophysicist and special science advisor to the government, who investigates scientific crises and oddities.
The Ex List: Elizabeth Reaser (”Grey’s Anatomy”) stars as a single, 30-something, successful business owner who is surprised to learn from a psychic that she’s already dated her future husband. If she doesn’t find him in the next year, she’ll remain alone forever.
Harper’s Island (midseason): A murder mystery that unfolds as friends and family attend week-long festivities at a destination wedding on a secluded and picturesque island off the coast of Seattle, infamous for a homicidal maniac’s rampage seven years ago.
The Mentalist (CBS Photo above): Simon Baker (“The Guardian”) stars as a detective and independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who has a remarkable track record for solving crimes by using his razor-sharp skills of observation.
Project Gary: Jay Mohr (”Ghost Whisperer”) and Paula Marshall (”Nip/Tuck”) star as a recently single painting contractor, and his controlling ex-wife, who face post-divorce mayhem after 15 years of marriage as they each embark on new relationships.
Worst Week: Kyle Bornheimer (“Jericho”) stars as an entertainment magazine editor who will do anything to please his girlfriend’s parents, but instead he becomes a one-man wrecking crew whenever he’s around them.
— Penny TV
