I wonder if the show’s producers were alluding to Jennifer Lopez when casting the movie star character Rachel Davenport. Larger than life, flashy, vain, secretly thrilled by paparazzi, etc. How nice of her to give Clark a present (of a red cape, no less. Why she gave him that specific item is beyond me, although I do “get” the future superhero allegory) for saving her life. Though the photo in this entry shows Clark and Lana in front of a barrel, that scene wasn’t in the episode. (The barrel is there to hide whatever the diminutive Kristen Kruek is standing on to make her look closer to Tom Welling’s 6-foot-4 height.)

Clark and Lana’s shocking platonic relationship continues. No smooches, hugs or even pecks on the cheek—even after psycho production assistant and fanboy Ben threw her off a building and CK saved her from being sidewalk splatter! Lana has turned into a robot whose passions for Clark are being surpressed by her mission to get back at Lex and Lionel. That’s no fun for us, who’ve waited patiently for them to FINALLY get his secret out in the open and start a REAL relationship. And BTW, Clark’s ultimate fear—that Lana’s knowing his secret would result in her being used as a pawn against him—came true with the building toss. Oops! Especially since Ben is still alive to rat him out.

Read more of this entry »

Does anyone else think that Clark and Lana’s relationship is surprisingly frigid? First off, when they were reunited—after Clark thought she was DEAD and Lana FINALLY knew all about the secret that had kept them apart all those years—they might as well have shaken hands and said to each other, “Oh, hi. What’s up?” Rational thinking would have had them falling into each other’s arms, crying, if not sobbing, with joy. And now, considering that they are the love of each other’s lives, they’re not all lovey-dovey as one might expect. They’re almost like an old married couple!!

Perhaps their distant behavior has something to do with Clark’s now being on his own and maturing into a man in his early 20s. As for Lana, she went through hell being married to Lex, and she’s certianly not the callow high schooler of past who would get all gooey over being reunited with her true love.

Read more of this entry »

Watch for Dean Cain, Tom Welling’s immediate predecessor as Clark Kent, on the Oct. 18 installment of “Smallville.”

CW says that Cain, who inhabited the blue suit and red cape on ABC’s “Lois & Clark: The New Adentures of Superman,” plays Curtis Knox, a medical doctor who’s been treating meteor-infected people and removing their abilities.

Read more of this entry »

Again, thanks Hollywood Reporter, for your understandable analysis of the daily Nielsen ratings:

First off, crime dramas reigned supreme last night, giving CBS a clear win in all measures for the night thanks in large part to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Still, Grey’s Anatomy and The Office posted pretty nice numbers, too. Here are the numbers for the premieres (reminder: “the demo” refers to the coveted 18-49 demographic advertisers like so much):

• CSI, 24.8 million
• Grey’s Anatomy, 20.5 million
• Without a Trace, 16.7 million
• Big Shots, 11.6 million
• Ugly Betty, 11 million
• ER, 9.9 million
• The Office, 9.7 million
• My Name Is Earl, 8.5 million
• Smallville, 5.1 million

Read more of this entry »

Last night, after all these years, Clark finally decided to accept his non-human status as a Kryptonion-American, which will help him shed all those “I’m-human-just-like-you” hang-ups and let him fulfil his destiny as Superman. It probably helps that Ma and Pa Kent are no longer around—he’s finally feeling like a grown-up by not being able to ask Jonathan and Martha for advice. In fact, he will be playing a semi-parental role to his cousin Kara, 17, who will be in need of reigning in once the two get to know each other.

As for Lana’s living in Shanghai and with that dopey wig, why Shanghai? Why not somewhere a bit closer yet also removed, like Hawaii or Canada? (Actually, the Asian city would make sense for Lana’s real-like alter ego, Kristin Kreuk, who’s half Dutch and half Chinese.) With her being allegedly dead and so freakin’ far away, how will she and Clark eventually hook up, as the show’s producers say they will?

I’m all for suspension of belief, but sometimes this show carries things a bit too far. If Chloe was declared dead, complete with a toe tag, wouldn’t the disappearance of her body cause quite a ruckus, with hospital and law-enforcement people sending out the dogs to find her body? Think of the legal ramifications the Smallville medical center alone would face!

I couldn’t help but notice that the Clark clone was also wearing Clark’s trademark red, heyseed jacket, although his was blue. Will someone please get the “Queer Eye” guys on Clark’s case? Perhaps a new wardrobe will come with his new-found maturity,

I will end this post on a sassy note: No matter what happens in the storyline, it’s always a good episode of “Smallville” when a scene calls for Tom Welling to take off his shirt. I’d like to thank the writers for last night’s disrobing.

The Man/Kid/Youth/Kid/Boy of Steel is back for his 7th season tonight! When left we left the denizens of the Kansas town in May, Martha had split for her new gig in D.C., Clark was up against an evil and powerful lookalike wraith, Chloe healed Lois with her meteor-freak powers but took on Lois’s wounds and collapsed in the process, Lex was hauled off by the cops, Lana confessed she was still in love with Clark and then got blown up, and the two super guys’ struggle made Reeves Dam (perhaps named in honor of former Supes George Reeves and Christopher Reeve?) break open.

The overall scenario takes a big turnaround this evening, though. Co-creator Al Gough finally said (to “Entertainment Weekly”) that (as fans with half a brain suspected) Lana didn’t die in her car bombing, adding that she and Clark will be starting a romance. Here’s my question: Will Lana remember about Clark’s true identity or will she, as frequently happens on the show, conveniently have gotten conked on the head and forgotten all about it? Also, Lois’s career takes a step up when “The Daily Planet” hires her as its new star reporter.

And according to The CW, the biggest trial for Clark will be in the form of his 19-year-old cousin, Kara (newcomer Laura Vandervoort, above). Read more of this entry »

It has arrived: Ãœber premiere week, though I don’t think that’s the official name. Anyhow, gobs and gobs of shows are premiering this week. Here’s what’s ahead:

Monday, Sept. 24
8 p.m. — Chuck (NBC)
— Dancing with the Stars (special 90-minute premiere) (ABC)
— How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
8:30 p.m. — Big Bang Theory (CBS)
9 p.m. — Heroes (NBC) (pictured, at right)
— Two and a Half Men (CBS)
9:30 p.m. — Rules of Engagement (CBS)
— The Bachelor (special 90-minute premiere) (ABC)
10 p.m. — Journeyman (NBC)
— CSI: Miami (CBS)

Read more of this entry »

Just because we heart you, Remote Access has merged all the fall premiere dates for new and returning shows into one handy-dandy list, by date.

Most premieres don’t get hot and heavy until the week of Sept. 23, but they start trickling out tonight.

Here, if you prefer not mixing and matching your networks, here are links to the original postings on all the fall lineups:
• ABC
• CBS
• Fox
• NBC
• The CW

Not sure what the heck you’re going to watch this season? Stay tuned to The Journal News, LoHud.com and Remote Access for our previews of the fall season.

On Sunday, in the Life & Style section of The Journal News is our fall TV preview. Then here, on Remote Access, we start a week-long series of webcasts on the entire fall lineup. We’ll give you the lowdown on all the hot shows coming to the small screen, from sci-fi to sitcoms.

OK, ’nuff said. Here’s the fall premiere dates:

Thursday, Sept. 6
8 p.m. — Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (Fox)
9 p.m. — Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Fox)

Saturday, Sept. 8
8 p.m. — Cops (Fox)
8:30 p.m. — Cops (Fox)
9 p.m. — America’s Most Wanted: America Fights Back (Fox)

Tuesday, Sept. 11
8 p.m. — The Biggest Loser (NBC)

Friday, Sept. 14
9 p.m. — Nashville (Fox) (pictured, at right)

Saturday, Sept. 15
11 p.m. — MADtv (Fox)
Midnight — Talkshow With Spike Feresten (Fox)

More premiere dates after the break.

Read more of this entry »

Yesterday, I posted an item about actor Richard Moll for Suburbarazzi. Moll, who played bailiff Bull Shannon on TV’s “Night Court,” was in Yorktown Heights on Monday to film a part for an upcoming Internet mockumentary about fantasy football.

Raised in part on “Night Court” reruns, I was giddy to land a phone interview with Moll today. For Suburbarazzi, I asked him about the Yorktown shoot. But since I pledge allegiance to two entertainment blogs, I figured I’d interview him about his career at large for Remote Access.

Below are some highlights of the interview, which has been rearranged for the sake of continuity and clarity. Although this snippet occurred about halfway through the interview, I figured I’d offer it up as a teaser:

Remote Access: Are you still in touch with anyone from the “Night Court� cast?

Richard Moll: No, we avoid each other assiduously.

Remote Access: Seriously, are you in contact with anyone from the show?

Richard Moll: I am not. I wasn’t in touch with them when I was working on the show.

Remote Access: Really?

Richard Moll: [Laughs.] I cannot tell that you that I’ve been in touch with any of them. I’ve encountered a few of them once or twice since (the show wrapped), but there’s nothin’ goin’ on there. [Laughs.]

Remote Access: Fair enough. I’m not trying to start a feud or anything.

Richard Moll: Too late. [Laughs.] No, it’s all right. I don’t know what to say about it, other than the fact that we’re not particularly close.

I’m not sure if this is sad, just part of the business, or both.

Either way, read on to learn about Moll’s inaccurate filmography on Internet Movie Database; his choice to live life these days without a TV or computer; his career in cartoon voice-overs, including the recurring role of Two-Face on the critically acclaimed “Batman: The Animated Series”; and his legendary prowess on “Super Password” and other game shows.

Read more of this entry »

Here’s a look at The CW’s fall schedule:

Tuesday, Sept. 18

8 p.m.: Beauty and the Geek

Wednesday, Sept. 19

8 p.m.: America’s Next Top Model

Friday, Sept. 21

8 p.m.: Friday Night Smackdown

Sunday, Sept. 23

7 p.m.: CW Now
7:30 p.m.: Online Nation

Tuesday, Sept. 25

9 p.m.: Reaper

Read more of this entry »

With the Television Critics Association summer press tour underway, tidbits are emerging about storylines for the upcoming season’s returning shows. According to boob tube bible “TV Guide,� the show’s seventh season premiere (Sept. 27) will find Clark (Tom Welling) having to keep his 19-year-old biological cousin, Kara, out of trouble. She came to Earth from Krypton at age 18, when Clark also arrived here but as little kid, and spent most of the time since then in suspended animation — that is, until the dam in last season’s finale burst and released her. And here’s the hitch that will prove to be a drag — and baby-sitting bummer — for Clark: She can fly and he can’t.

And here are my own two cents: There’s no freaking way that Lana died in that car bomb last season. Did anyone else notice how a van conveniently passed by the car right before it blew up? I doubt I’m taking a leap here when I say that Lana leapt into the van before the car went kablooey. And the tension between Lana and Clark — especially now that she’s married to Lex — is a major element of the show, so killing her off would take away that tension and intrigue. And as for the marriage of Lana and Lex, let’s hope that it goes away, and quickly. Having Lana do a 180 and getting hitched to him was pretty dadgum unfeasible. Drop it, already, and get a quickie divorce in Vegas.

And how about that intrepid Martha Kent, going to Washington to assume her post as a Kansas senator? With her gone, the Kent farm is going to turn into a flophouse for every Tom, Dick and Harry (and Kara) who flies, crawls or time-travels into the lives of Clark, Chloe and anyone else around. Though I enjoyed actress Annette O’Toole (but NOT her dowdy hairstyles), Martha’s alter ego, her role became somewhat superfluous after Jonathan died (boo hoo!) and Clark got out of high school. But she’ll most likely drop by every now and then.

P.S.: It was refreshing to see Tom Welling on the cover of “TV Guide� looking like his real age and not like Clark Kent—with those bangs, that blue shirt and the red jacket.

I hate to be one of those people who says, “I totally thought that was going to happen!” after the fact about a pretty neat twist.

But, I have to admit, it did cross my mind more than once that Kyle’s new friend, Cassidy, was all in Kyle’s head. It occurred to me at the end of last week’s episode, when Kyle couldn’t find Cassidy at the art school she purported to belong to.

When she wouldn’t go inside the house she took him to, that’s when I first really thought I was onto something. It didn’t make any sense that she wouldn’t go in.

I know this season is supposed to delve deeper into the mythology of the 4400s; I’m not so sure I love the idea of Jordan truly being a messiah. I do love the idea of a cult of Jordan Collier (which already exists, to a certain degree) growing up around Jordan, Shawn (the healer) and Kyle (the shaman).

Read more of this entry »

Sorry for my absence yesterday. You probably have read/heard/blogged/viewed/etc. about the CW’s new season already, but what Amy promises, Amy delivers.

Here’s a look at the new shows from the network, which is losing longtime hits “The Gilmore Girls” and “7th Heaven” and announced it’s cancelling the cult hit ““>Veronica Mars.”

Here are the new shows:

Aliens in America: 8:30 p.m., Mondays. A 16-year-old Muslim student from Pakistan is an exchange student in Medora, Wisc. It’s a sitcom. Or, quite possibly, a disaster.

The Reaper: 9 p.m. Tuesdays. A 21-year-old slacker finds out the reason his parents let him get away with whatever he wanted was because they sold his soul to the devil the day he was born. So now he finds out he has to serve as Satan’s bounty hunter. Kevin Smith of “Clerks” fame directed the pilot, so it actually could be a lot better than it sounds.

Gossip Girl: 9 p.m. Wednesdays. Based on the series of YA novels, it’s about a bunch of overprivileged kids in prep school who learn all the dirt on one another by reading the Gossip Girl blog, the writer of which is completely unknown.

CW Now 7 p.m. Sundays. Think of it as an Entertainment Tonight for young adults and teens.

Online Nation: 7:30 p.m. Sundays. The CW scours the Internet for the best web sites by and for young adults.

Life Is Wild: 8 p.m. Sundays. A veterinarian dad picks up his family and moves them to a game reserve in South Africa where his dead first wife’s father still lives.

Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants: Midseason replacement. Pretty self-explanatory, but here’s the twist – the crown is given to the best mother-daughter team.

Farmer Wants A Wife: Midseason replacement. Based on a British reality show (hey – America doesn’t have the lock on bad reality TV!), it’s considered a comic reality show where a farm boy goes to the big city to find a wife. I’m serious.

 

 

 

Here’s the CW’s schedule and then descriptions of all its shows, verbatim from the press release:

Following is The CW’s 2007-2008 primetime schedule, a night-by-night breakdown and accompanying details on all the programs.

THE CW’s 2007-2008 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

MONDAY

8:00-8:30 PM EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS

8:30-9:00 PM ALIENS IN AMERICA (New Series)

9:00-9:30 PM GIRLFRIENDS

9:30-10:00 PM THE GAME

 

TUESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM BEAUTY AND THE GEEK

9:00-10:00 PM REAPER (New Series)

 

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL

9:00-10:00 PM GOSSIP GIRL (New Series)

 

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM SMALLVILLE

9:00-10:00 PM SUPERNATURAL

 

FRIDAY

8:00-10:00 PM FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN!

 

SUNDAY

7:00-7:30 PM CW NOW (New Series)

7:30-8:00 PM ONLINE NATION (New Series)

8:00-9:00 PM LIFE IS WILD (New Series)

9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL (Encore Presentation)

 

MONDAY

 

8:00-8:30 P.M. “EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS�

Returning for its third season, this hit comedy was inspired by the childhood experiences of comedian Chris Rock. Rock also serves as the narrator of this hilarious, touching story of a teenager growing up as the eldest of three children in Brooklyn, New York, during the early 1980s. Uprooted to a new neighborhood and bused into a predominantly white middle school two hours away by his strict, hard-working parents, Chris struggles to find his place while keeping his siblings in line at home and surmounting the challenges of middle school. This responsible, resilient adolescent brings a distinct, funny spin to his everyday trials and traumas, in the Golden Globe- and People’s Choice-nominated comedy EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS. The single-camera comedy series stars Tyler James Williams (“Unaccompanied Minorsâ€?) as Chris, Terry Crews (“The Longest Yardâ€?) as Julius, Tichina Arnold (“Martinâ€?) as Rochelle, Tequan Richmond (“Rayâ€?) as Drew, Imani Hakim as Tonya and Vincent Martella (“Deuce Bigalow: European Gigoloâ€?) as Greg. EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS is a production of CBS Paramount Network Television Inc. in association with Chris Rock Enterprises, Inc. and 3 Arts Entertainment. Co-creator and narrator Chris Rock (“Head of Stateâ€?), co-creator and writer Ali LeRoi (“Head of Stateâ€?), Michael Rotenberg (“King of the Hillâ€?), Dave Becky (“Lucky Louieâ€?) and Don Reo (“My Wife and Kidsâ€?) are executive producers.

 

8:30-9:00 P.M. “ALIENS IN AMERICA� (New Comedy)

Justin Tolchuk (Dan Byrd, “The Hills Have Eyes�) is a sensitive, lanky 16-year-old just trying to make it through the social nightmare of high school in Medora, Wisconsin, with the help of his well-meaning mom Franny (Amy Pietz, “Caroline in the City�), aspiring-entrepreneur dad Gary (Patrick Breen, “Kevin Hill�), and his popular sister Claire (Lindsey Shaw, “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide�), who is sweetly unaware of how good-looking she is. When Franny signs up for the school’s international exchange student program, she pictures an athletic, brilliant Nordic teen who will bestow instant coolness on her outsider son. However, when the Tolchuk’s exchange student arrives, he turns out to be Raja Musharaff (Adhir Kalyan, “Fair City�), a 16-year-old Pakistani Muslim. Despite the cultural chasm between them, Justin and Raja quickly develop an unlikely friendship that just might allow them to navigate the minefield that is contemporary high school. It’s going to be a very interesting year for Raja, Justin, his family and the entire population of Medora. ALIENS IN AMERICA is from CBS Paramount Network Television Inc. and Warner Bros. Television with executive producers Tim Doyle (“Jake in Progress�), Moses Port (“Just Shoot Me,� “Mad About You�) and David Guarascio (“Just Shoot Me,� “Mad About You�). Luke Greenfield (“The Girl Next Door�) directed the pilot.

 

9:00-9:30 P.M. “GIRLFRIENDS�

Returning for its eighth season, GIRLFRIENDS provides an open, honest exploration of the hot-button issues about family, friends, relationships and careers facing women today through the lives and loves of three Los Angeles women. Taking on universal subjects that interest all women with fearlessness and sincerity ? whether it’s learning to date after divorce or balancing friendships and a new marriage ? GIRLFRIENDS treats them all with tenderness, care and respect. The series stars Tracee Ellis Ross (“Hanging Upâ€?) as Joan Clayton, Golden Brooks (“Beauty Shopâ€?) as Maya Wilkes, Persia White as Lynn Searcy and Reggie Hayes (“Getting Personalâ€?) as William Dent. GIRLFRIENDS is a production of Happy Camper Productions and Grammnet Productions in association with CBS Paramount Network Television Inc. Kelsey Grammer (“Frasier,â€? “The Gameâ€?), creator Mara Brock Akil (“The Game,â€? “Moesha,â€? “The Jamie Foxx Showâ€?) and Regina Hicks (“Sister, Sisterâ€?) serve as executive producers.

 

 

 

 

9:30-10:00 P.M. “THE GAME�

Returning for its second season, THE GAME is a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of the wives and girlfriends of pro-football players. This comedy tackles the way these women deal with egos, groupies and image consultants and shows how THE GAME is really played among the women behind the athletes. The series stars Tia Mowry (“Sister, Sister�) as Melanie Barnett, Coby Bell (“Third Watch�) as Jason Pitts, Pooch Hall (“Miracle’s Boys�) as Derwin Davis, Hosea Chanchez (“For Your Love�) as Malik Wright, Brittany Daniel (“White Chicks�) as Kelly Pitts and Wendy Raquel Robinson (“The Steve Harvey Show�) as Tasha Mack. THE GAME is a production of Happy Camper Productions and Grammnet Productions in association with CBS Paramount Network Television Inc. Kelsey Grammer (“Frasier,� “Girlfriends�), creator Mara Brock Akil (“Girlfriends,� “Moesha,� “The Jamie Foxx Show�) and Steve Stark serve as executive producers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TUESDAY

8:00-9:00 P.M. “BEAUTY AND THE GEEK�

Returning for its fourth cycle, BEAUTY AND THE GEEK is from the producing team of Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg. The hit social experiment pairs eight beautiful and socially savvy women with eight intellectually endowed, but socially stunted men. Living at opposite ends of the social spectrum, the geeks try to pass their brains on to the beauties, while the beauties provide social skills to the geeks. One couple will make it to the end and walk away gifted and gorgeous with a cash prize of $250,000. BEAUTY AND THE GEEK is from fox21, produced by Katalyst and 3 Ball Productions with executive producers Ashton Kutcher & Jason Goldberg (“Guess Who,� “Punk’d�), Nick Santora (“Prison Break,� “The Guardian,� “The Sopranos�), J.D. Roth (“The Biggest Loser,� “For Love or Money�) and Todd A. Nelson (“The Biggest Loser,� “For Love or Money�).

9:00-10:00 P.M. “REAPER� (New Drama)

For the first 20 years of his life, Sam (Bret Harrison, “The Loop,� “Grounded for Life�) wondered why his parents went so easy on him. Whether it was school, sports or career choices, Sam’s mom (Allison Hossack, “Falcon Beach�) and dad (Andrew Airlie, “The L Word�) always let him get by with the least possible effort, while at the same time pressuring his younger brother Keith (Kyle Switzer, “15/Love�) to excel. As a result, Sam skipped college, took a dead-end job and now wastes endless hours playing video games and wishing he had the guts to ask out his pretty co-worker, Andi (Nikki Reed, “Thirteen,� “The O.C.�). Everything in his slacker world changes the day Sam turns 21 and discovers the ungodly reason his parents let him slide: they sold his soul to the devil before he was born. Satan himself (Ray Wise, “24,� “The Closer�) drops by to personally explain that Sam must now serve as his bounty hunter, tracking down evil souls that have escaped and returning them to Hell. At first, Sam refuses to accept his bizarre fate, but after getting just a glimpse of Satan’s temper, Sam realizes that breaking a deal with the devil has consequences that are very, very bad. Armed with a constantly changing series of vessels ? starting with a Dirt Devil mini-vacuum ? to collect the escapees, Sam immediately finds that the work is dangerous and frightening, even with the goofball help of his friends and fellow slackers, Bert “Sock� Wysocki (Tyler Labine, “Boston Legal,� “Invasion�) and Ben (Rick Gonzalez, “Coach Carter�), along with Sock’s former-girlfriend-turned-paralegal, Josie (Valarie Rae Miller, “Dark Angel�). Still, as weird and scary as his life has become, Sam is surprised to find that he somehow feels good about his newfound “mission� ? removing evil-doers from the world and sending them back where they belong. With his friends and his trusty vessel-of-the-week at his side, Sam is ready to face his destiny as the Reaper. REAPER is from ABC Studios with executive producers Michelle Fazekas (“Ed,� “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit�), Tara Butters (“Ed,� “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit�), Mark Gordon (“Grey’s Anatomy,� “Criminal Minds�), Deb Spera (“Criminal Minds�), Tom Spezialy (“Desperate Housewives�) and Kevin Smith (“Clerks,� “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back�). Kevin Smith also directed the pilot.

 

 

 

WEDNESDAY

 

8:00-9:00 P.M. “AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODELâ€?

Returning with its ninth cycle, the runaway runway hit series features supermodel Tyra Banks. The show gives real people an opportunity to prove that they can make it in the high-stress, high-stakes world of supermodeling. With mentoring by Tyra Banks and exposure to high-profile fashion-industry gurus, young women of various backgrounds, shapes and sizes must endure a highly accelerated modeling boot camp and face weekly tests to determine who will make the cut as they vie for a professional modeling contract. The executive producers are Ken Mok (“Making the Band�), Tyra Banks and Daniel Soiseth (“Hell’s Kitchen�). The reality series was created by Tyra Banks and developed by Mok and Kenya Barris. AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment in association with Bankable Productions.

9:00-10:00 P.M. “GOSSIP GIRL� (New Drama)

The privileged prep school teens on Manhattan’s Upper East Side first learn that Serena Van Der Woodsen (Blake Lively, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants�) is back in town the way they learn all the important news in their lives ? from the blog of the all-knowing albeit ultra-secretive Gossip Girl. No one knows Gossip Girl’s identity, but everyone in this exclusive and complicated vicious circle relies on her text messages for the latest scoop. Serena’s closest friend, Blair (Leighton Meester, “Surface�), is just as surprised as everyone else to find that Serena has suddenly ended her self-imposed exile to boarding school and returned to Manhattan. The tension between Blair and Serena isn’t lost on Gossip Girl, who is determined to uncover and fuel any and all scandals. Does it involve Serena’s brother Eric (Connor Paolo, “One Life to Live�), Blair’s boyfriend Nate (Chace Crawford, “The Covenant�) or Nate’s buddy Chuck (Ed Westwick, “Children of Men�)? Maybe it has something to do with Dan (Penn Badgley, “John Tucker Must Die�) and his sister Jenny (Taylor Momsen, “Spy Kids 2,� “How The Grinch Stole Christmas�), whose middle-class background keeps them on the fringes of this exclusive clique. Even the parents ? from Serena’s mother Lily (Kelly Rutherford, “Melrose Place�), a former ballerina/rock-groupie, to Nate’s high-powered father Howie “The Captain� Archibald (Sam Robards, “The West Wing�), to Dan and Jenny’s dad Rufus (Matthew Settle, “Brothers and Sisters�), a former rocker turned art gallery owner ? are aware that their sons and daughters are constantly checking their Sidekicks to read Gossip Girl’s latest sightings and overheard tidbits. Overriding all the shifting friendships, jealousies and turmoil in this wealthy and complex world, the central mystery remains — Who Is Gossip Girl? Based on the popular series of young-adult novels by Cecily von Ziegesar, GOSSIP GIRL is from Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Paramount Television Inc. with executive producers Josh Schwartz (“The O.C.�) & Stephanie Savage (“The O.C.�), Bob Levy and Leslie Morgenstein (“Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants�). Mark Piznarski (“Veronica Mars,� “Friday Night Lights�) directed the pilot.

 

 

 

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 P.M. “SMALLVILLE�

Returning for its seventh season, this new interpretation of the enduring Superman mythology and its classic characters blends realism and adventure into an exciting action series. Fourteen years ago, a meteor shower burst from the heavens, raining destruction on the unsuspecting citizens of Smallville, Kansas. From the ashes of tragedy, emerged Clark Kent. Struggling to come to grips with his emerging superpowers, while battling the strange events that have plagued this idyllic Midwest hamlet since the meteor shower, Clark slowly learns to embrace his destiny. SMALLVILLE chronicles Clark’s journey toward becoming the Man of Steel and his relationships with girl-next-door Lana Lang, future love Lois Lane and soon-to-be arch-nemesis Lex Luthor. The series stars Tom Welling as Clark Kent, Kristin Kreuk as Lana Lang, Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor, Erica Durance as Lois Lane, Allison Mack as Chloe Sullivan, John Glover as Lionel Luther and Aaron Ashmore as Jimmy Olsen. Reinterpreting the Superman mythology from its roots, SMALLVILLE was developed for television by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar (“Shanghai Noon,� “Spiderman 2�), based on the DC Comics characters. Gough and Millar serve as executive producers, along with Ken Horton, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola, Kelly Souders & Brian Peterson and Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer. The series is produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions, Millar/Gough Ink and Warner Bros. Television. Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster.

 

 

 

9:00-10:00 P.M. “SUPERNATURAL�

Returning for its third season, this haunting series follows Sam and Dean Winchester, two brothers bound by tragedy and blood to their dangerous, other-worldly mission. Together, Sam and Dan journey into the dark world of the unexplained to find and destroy the demon that killed their mother. Crisscrossing the lonely and mysterious back roads of the country in their ‘67 Chevy Impala, the Winchester brothers encounter creatures that most people believe only exist in folklore, superstition and nightmares. Following the clues in their father’s journal, Dean and Sam take on his crusade to hunt down the evil that preys upon the innocent in the darkest corners of America. The series stars Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester and Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester. SUPERNATURAL is from Warner Bros. Television in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, with executive producers McG (“Charlie’s Angels,� “The O.C.�), Eric Kripke (“Boogeyman�), Robert Singer (“Midnight Caller�) and Kim Manners (“The X-Files�).

FRIDAY

8:00-10:00 P.M. “FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN!�

The internationally popular, totally outrageous FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN! delivers all-new, action-packed shows and specials 52-weeks a year. As the number one show on Friday night for young men, this unique, bigger-than-life two-hour saga continues to ratchet up the drama and intensify the classic rivalries between some of the WWE’s biggest Superstars as they put on an astonishing display of high-flying, hard-hitting athleticism. The executive producer is Kevin Dunn. Taped before frenzied crowds all over the United States, the series is a production of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

SUNDAY

7:00-7:30 P.M. “CW NOW� (New Reality Series)

CW NOW blends news and entertainment to create the ultimate source for everything that’s hip, hot and happening right now in the world of young adults. With a team of experts focusing on the topics and trends that appeal specifically to The CW generation, this new series will feature informative and entertaining reports on the hottest fashions, the coolest music, the must-see movies and the must-have gadgets and technology. CW NOW will be everywhere young adults are: from cyberspace profiling the best of the web, to hitting the streets and getting inside the most popular hotspots. With young adults’ insatiable appetite for all things celebrity, each episode will report on the latest news and gossip from inside the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Moving at a rapid-fire pace and utilizing eye-catching graphics and visuals, CW NOW fits perfectly with the on-demand lifestyle of adults 18-34. CW NOW is a co-production of Telepictures Productions and Warner Horizon Television with executive producers Lisa Gregorisch (“Extra�) and Mike Miller (“Extra�).

7:30-8:00 P.M. “ONLINE NATION� (New Reality Series)

Young adults have taken their quest for fame into their own hands as the amount of user-generated entertainment continues to explode across the internet. Now The CW is giving them a nationally televised stage to show off what they’ve got. ONLINE NATION scours the nearly infinite number of websites, blogs and user-generated materials on the internet to find the best, the hottest, the unique and sometimes, the flat-out bizarre, and presents it on The CW audience’s other favorite screen: the TV screen. This fun, irreverent weekly series features everything and anything that has captured the attention of the online world, from the most popular sites to the addictive viral videos being shared by millions, to insights from the digital tastemakers. Born of the internet and tailored specifically for this generation, this series also features an innovative interactive element as viewers will be able to see what others are saying and communicate with them live on the air. The CW is turning mouse potatoes into couch potatoes by putting all the greatest internet clips in one ready-to-use package. ONLINE NATION is from Room 403 Productions with executive producers David Hurwitz (“Fear Factor�) and Paul Cockerill (“Trigger Happy TV,� “Jimmy Kimmel Live�).

 

8:00-9:00 P.M. “LIFE IS WILD� (New Drama)

Katie Clarke (Leah Pipes, “Clubhouse�) may never forgive her veterinarian father, Danny (Brett Cullen, “Ghost Rider,� “Friday Night Lights�), for dragging their entire blended family out of New York City to spend a year living in a broken-down lodge called The Blue Antelope in a game reserve deep inside South Africa. Everyone in the family, including Katie’s 11-year-old brother Chase (K’sun Ray, “Smith�), Danny’s second wife Jo (Judith Hoag, “Armageddon�), her rebellious teenage son Jesse (Andrew St. John, “General Hospital�) and 7-year-old daughter, Mia (Mary Matilyn Mouser, “Eloise�), is sure Danny has lost his mind. But Danny’s reasons go beyond his desire to keep his troubled family together while making a difference in the lives of the people and animals of South Africa: his deceased first wife Claire grew up at The Blue Antelope and it’s still home to her reclusive father Art (David Butler). After just a few days in South Africa, the family has already encountered an injured lioness, a lost cub, and a gentle giraffe. They’ve also met a few locals, including a handsome young Brit, Oliver Banks (newcomer Calvin Goldspink) and his twin sister Emily (newcomer Tiffany Mulheron), whose father Colin Banks (Jeremy Sheffield), runs a safari business for wealthy tourists, and Tumelo (newcomer Atandwa Kani), a teen who dreams of becoming a veterinarian. While they are definitely outsiders, Katie and the rest of the family are nevertheless beginning to love the breathtaking vistas of the bush country and the vibrant culture enveloping them. A year in this strange but beautiful place might not be so bad after all. LIFE IS WILD is a production of CBS Paramount Network Television Inc., Warner Bros. Television and Company Pictures, an All 3 Media Company, with executive producers Michael Rauch (“Love Monkey,� “Beautiful People�), Charlie Pattinson (“Wild at Heart,� “Shameless�) and George Faber (“Wild at Heart,� “Skins�). Bryan Gordon (“The Office,� “Curb Your Enthusiasm�) directed the pilot.

 

 

9:00-10:00 P.M. “AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODELâ€? (Encore Presentation)

Returning with its ninth cycle, the runaway runway hit series features supermodel Tyra Banks. The show gives real people an opportunity to prove that they can make it in the high-stress, high-stakes world of supermodeling. With mentoring by Tyra Banks and exposure to high-profile fashion-industry gurus, young women of various backgrounds, shapes and sizes must endure a highly accelerated modeling boot camp and face weekly tests to determine who will make the cut as they vie for a professional modeling contract. The executive producers are Ken Mok (“Making the Band�), Tyra Banks and Daniel Soiseth (“Hell’s Kitchen�). The reality series was created by Tyra Banks and developed by Mok and Kenya Barris. AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL is produced by 10 by 10 Entertainment in association with Bankable Productions.

 

 

MIDSEASON

“ONE TREE HILL�

Returning for its fifth season to the town of Tree Hill, this drama revolves around the lives of two young men, Lucas and Nathan, who have little in common aside from their love for hoops and the fact that they share the same father. The star of the high school basketball team, Nathan hails from a wealthy family, while his half-brother Lucas is the only child of a single mom. The inhabitants of Tree Hill have witnessed Lucas’ metamorphosis from loner to high school basketball star, Nathan and Haley’s troubled marriage, and Peyton and Brooke’s tumultuous friendship. While the teenagers struggle to find their places in the world, the adults in Tree Hill continue to deal with the residue of decisions they made years ago. The series stars Chad Michael Murray as Lucas Scott, James Lafferty as Nathan Scott, Hilarie Burton as Peyton Sawyer, Bethany Joy Galeotti as Haley James, Paul Johansson as Dan Scott, Sophia Bush as Brooke Davis, Barbara Alyn Woods as Deb Scott, Barry Corbin as Whitey Durham and Moira Kelly as Karen Roe. ONE TREE HILL is from executive producer and show creator Mark Schwahn (“Coach Carter�), executive producers Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola (“Smallville�) and Greg Prange for Tollin/Robbins Productions and Warner Bros. Television.

“CROWNED: THE MOTHER OF ALL PAGEANTS� (New Reality Series)

Judges Carson Kressley (“Queer Eye for the Straight Guy�), former Miss U.S.A. Shanna Moakler (“Dancing with the Stars,� “Meet the Barkers�), and television personality Cynthia Garrett referee an eight-episode competition that dares to pit mother/daughter teams against each other in a no-holds-barred beauty pageant. CROWNED: THE MOTHER OF ALL PAGEANTS explores one of the most emotional and volatile relationships as mothers and daughters from all walks of life must compete together ? and against other mother/daughter teams ? in order to win. Faced with challenges that focus on preparing them for the pageant show finale, the women will have to brand a ‘style’ for their mother/daughter team via clothing and swimwear, create ways of expressing a point of view about issues in the world, and practice for the big pageant dance number. Not only do good looks, talent and a penchant for world peace have to run in the family, each team must also have patience, teamwork and a healthy sense of humor. In the end, one mother/daughter team will be “crowned� the winner and will receive a valuable prize package, including a $100,000 cash award, and, of course, a fabulous pair of tiaras. CROWNED: THE MOTHER OF ALL PAGEANTS is a production of Fox Television Studios, with creator/executive producer Laurie Girion (“Cheerleader Nation,� “Last Comic Standing 2�).

 

 

 

“FARMER WANTS A WIFE� (New Reality Series)

The CW cultivates romance a là “Green Acres� with FARMER WANTS A WIFE, a comedic reality series designed to help one farm boy find the city girl of his dreams. Based on the hit British format, this first U.S. version will find a charming, hard-working farmer who is happy with his life but lacking romance and wondering if he might find happiness with a woman from the city. The show’s producers will search the nation’s cities to select a group of 10 women who have had it with bad dates in the big city and are open to making a big change. The group will consist of women looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and wondering if a country man with country values might offer a more attractive lifestyle. FARMER WANTS A WIFE will bring these city women to the country farmer. T