NBC takes chances on new shows
Stephanie Metz
Arts & Entertainment Editor
“Heroes” kicked off its new season Monday at 8 p.m. with cast interviews and sneak peeks leading up to the premiere episode. The show follows the lives of ordinary people who discover that they possess incredible powers. The heroes have saved the world before, will they be up to the challenge again this season?
The show’s inital success garnered a large following, but its second season was not as well-received. Creators will have to recapture their fans if they hope to live up to their potential and remain on the air.
“ER” begins its final season this week after 15 years on the air. Fan favorite Dr. John Carter (Noah Wyle) is promised to return sometime this season, but previews have also hinted that a beloved character will die within the first hour. Angela Bassett will also guest star in the premiere episode.
As one of television’s most popular shows ever, look for “ER” to come out with a bang, premiering Thursday at 10 p.m.
The zany coworkers at Dunder Mifflin will also return this week during “The Office” premiere. Unfortunately, the usual cast of characters will not include loveable oddball Toby (Paul Lieberstein ) who moved to Costa Rica after the season finale last May. Ryan (B.J. Novak ) was hauled off by the fuzz for committing corporate fraud on his website, Dunder Mifflin Infinity.
Relationships seem to appear in the forefront of this show lately with Jim’s (John Krasinski) thwarted proposal plans, Angela’s (Angela Kinsey) engagement to Andy (Ed Helms) and her subsequent hook-up with Dwight (Rainn Wilson).
Also, don’t forget Jan’s (Melora Hardin) pregnancy and Michael’s (Steve Carell) attraction to Holly (Amy Ryan), the new Human Resources representative, to add lots of awkward moments.
The season premiere is entitled “Weight Loss” and focuses on the office’s attempts to shed their extra pounds.
“The Office’s” hour-long season premiere airs Thursday at 9 p.m.
“Chuck” is a geek-chic approach to spy dramas. After premiering last season, the show was cut short by the writers’ strike. “Chuck” will have to find a devoted audience if it hopes to see a third season.
The show centers on Chuck (Zachary Levi), a computer geek who tries week after week to transform himself into a secret government agent on par with James Bond, although there are numerous stumbles along the way.
To assist in his transformation, Chuck is paired with Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski), a high-level CIA agent. “Chuck” premieres Monday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m.
Another espionage-themed show premiering on NBC this year is “My Own Worst Enemy.”
The show stars Christian Slater and explores the life of a man with two very different personalities competing against one another. Slater plays both Henry Spivey and Edward Albright; Henry lives a normal life in the suburbs with his wife and kids, while Edward is a dangerous secret agent. “My Own Worst Enemy” premieres Monday, Oct. 13 at 10 p.m.
“Life” is another show from last season that will need to establish itself this year. Featuring British actor Damian Lewis (“Band of Brothers”), the show focuses on police detective Charlie Crews (Lewis) who spent time in prison for a crime he did not commit, but is now back on the police force solving cases. “Life” premieres Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 10 p.m.
“Kath and Kim” is a new show this season. Molly Shannon of “Saturday Night Live” and Selma Blair play a mother and daughter, respectively, who are getting used to living together once again after Blair’s character files for divorce and moves back home.
“Kath and Kim” premieres Thursday, Oct. 9 at 8:30 p.m.
“Crusoe” is an ambitious adaptation of Daniel Defoe’s novel “Robinson Crusoe.” Crusoe (Philip Winchester) is a castaway who must survive the trials of a foreign island with only the help of his friend Friday (Tongayi Chirisa), a native.
Fans of “Lost” in a literary frame of mind may want to check out this venture. “Crusoe’s” two hour series premiere begins Friday, Oct. 17 at 9 p.m.
Emmys disappoint avid TV lovers
Nora Heink
Assnt. Arts & Entertainment Editor
The Emmy Awards celebrated its 60th anniversary on Sunday night, awarding shows such as AMC’s “Mad Men,” NBC’s “30 Rock,” and FX’s “Damages.” The anniversary celebration also paid brief homage to classic television shows such as “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “M*A*S*H,” and “Seinfeld.”
Ironically, ABC’s broadcast of this year’s awards ceremony drew the smallest number of viewers in its history—a paltry 12.2 million at most, according to Nielsen ratings.
Those who did hunker down to watch the entire three-hour-long broadcast were rewarded with nothing less than three hours of self-conscious jokes about how terrible the scripted jokes were.
They were terrible alright. The show’s opening introduced the ceremony’s hosts—all five of them—as the nominees for this year’s new “Best Reality Show Host” category, as if one reality TV show host weren’t enough.
The awkward fivesome bumbled onto the stage after Oprah gave a gushing speech about the wonderful things television does for people. The five arrived only to banter about how unprepared they were to host the show.
“This is completely unscripted!” Ryan Seacrest told the audience,
referring to the hosts’ decision to open the show without help from teleprompters.
It quickly became clear that this would have best been kept a secret among the
five of them.
Apparently, the only “scripted” moment occurred when model-turned-reality-host of “Project Runway” Heidi Klum’s tuxedo was torn off to reveal a skimpy dress beneath.
Several of the stars that viewers were counting on for funny gags during a boring awards show failed to deliver worthwhile entertainment.
“The Office” actor Steve Carell ruined what could have been a hilarious moment for Ricky Gervais, who demanded that a deadpan Carell return the Emmy that he won at last year’s ceremony.
What was supposed to be a joke instead culminated in an uncomfortable two minutes of Gervais chanting, “Give me the Emmy” as if Carell had stolen his lunch money.
Fortunately, a handful of comedians came prepared to deliver. Comedian Don Rickles, who presented an award and later received an Emmy for his work in an HBO documentary, improvised a string of hilarious ad-libs ending with “Let’s read these funny lines they wrote for us.”
In what could have competed for the night’s most bizarre moment, Josh Groban performed a medley of TV theme songs, exchanging his rich, trademark sound for three minutes of interpretive yodeling to nostalgic tunes people prefer to remember in an undisturbed state.
Although, I must say that I would have enjoyed hearing Groban cover the theme song from “Survivor.”
Awards went to likely candidates: Paul Giamatti for his role in “John Adams,” Alec Baldwin for “30 Rock,” Glenn Close of FX’s “Damages” and creator Matthew Weiner for “Mad Men.”
The evening shaped up nicely for comedian Tina Fey, who took home two Emmys for her work as the creator and star of the sitcom “30 Rock.” Fey is enjoying a successful season, earning acclaim for her guest appearance as Vice Presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin on “Saturday Night Live.”
Why did she feel the need to plug the show during her acceptance speech for “30 Rock”? Viewers can’t blame her for trying to salvage TV’s reputation at the end of an unremarkable awards show.
ABC has fresh episodes, few new scripted shows
Stephanie Metz
Arts & Entertainment Editor
ABC kicked off their “National Stay at Home Week” with the Emmy awards show last Sunday along with a slew of premieres throughout this week and the next.
“Dancing with the Stars” kicked off last Monday night at 8 p.m. The premiere continued on Tuesday and on to Wednesday when a second couple will be eliminated. This season hosts an unprecedented thirteen stars including soap opera legend Susan Lucci, Kim Kardashian, former N*SYNC member Lance Bass and recent two-time sand volleyball gold medalist Misty May-Treanor. Look forward to slips, trips and some stellar transformations as the season progresses.
Tuesday nights on ABC this year will feature the return of “Eli Stone.” The show follows lawyer Eli Stone (Johnny Lee Miller), who recently began having visions. These visions transform Eli from a cold, heartless character into a lawyer who takes on cases that bring inner satisfaction instead of material rewards.
At the end of last season, viewers learned Eli’s visions were caused by a brain aneurysm, forcing him to choose between a surgery that will remove this aneurysm or retain the visions that have changed his life. Only the dreaded Neilsen ratings will tell whether “Eli Stone” will survive this season, or be cancelled halfway through the year. “Eli Stone’s” premiere, “The Path,” airs Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 10 p.m.
Critical darling “Pushing Daisies” is another show returning for its second season on ABC. The writers’ strike last year cut short this show’s first season, but it will have another chance to win over America.
Ned (Lee Pace) has the unique ability to bring people back from the dead with the touch of a finger. Unfortunately, if the deceased remain alive for more than 60 seconds another person nearby dies, thus preserving the ying-yan balance of the “Pushing Daisies” universe.
Ned’s real troubles began when he reincarnated his childhood love Chuck (Anna Friel), short for Charlotte. Although Charlotte is now a permanent part of Ned’s life, they can never touch each other again, an obvious problem for love interests.
Last year the writers found clever ways around this, from wearing beekeepers’ jumpsuits to installing a shield in Ned’s car; expect more offbeat solutions this season.
Last fall “Pushing Daisies” was lauded not only for its quirky concept and storylines, but for its consistently gorgeous cinematography. Fans of Tim Burton’s “Big Fish” will appreciate both the magical realism storytelling techniques, as well as the fantasy-inspired set of the show. “Pushing Daisies” premiere, “Bzzzzzz!,” airs Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 8 p.m.
Following “Pushing Daisies” on Wednesday nights is the “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff “Private Practice.” The show follows neonatal surgeon Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) as she transitions from Seattle Grace to a small private practice in Los Angeles run by her best friend Naomi (Audra McDonald).
Although love triangles, messy relationships and unique cases abound, just
like its cousin “Grey’s Anatomy,” creator Shonda Rhimes has
steered this show in a more mature, laid-back direction. “Private Practice’s”
first epidsode, “Hiding in Plain Sight,” premieres on Wednesday,
Oct. 1 at 9 p.m.
Thursday nights begin with “Ugly Betty,” the adorable, albeit clumsy,
secretary with enough inner beauty to withstand all the infighting at fictional
Mode magazine. Based on a Colombian telenovela, the show is akin to soap operas
in its frenetic pace and dramatic plot lines, but the acting is spectacular
and the show delves into serious themes just enough to keep it a part of primetime.
Last year’s season finale left Betty (America Ferrera) with the choice between flying to Tucson with Henry (Christopher Gorham), who just became a father, or spending the summer in Italy with Gio (Freddy Rodriguez), the rogueish deli owner who had his eye set on Betty.
The season premiere promises another appearance by Lindsay Lohan, but there’s no telling what else is in store.
The show’s first two seasons were shot in L.A., but the cast and crew have moved to New York, the show’s fictional setting. “Ugly Betty’s” first episode of the season, “The Manhattan Project,” premieres Thursday at 8 p.m.
After the season opener of “Ugly Betty,” stay tuned for the two-hour premiere of “Grey’s Anatomy.” Meredith’s (Ellen Pompeo) epiphany last May left her standing in Derek’s (Patrick Dempsey) arms.
Creator Shonda Rhimes has promised the couple will stay that way, but who knows
what the writers have been dreaming up over the summer.
New love interests have also been teased for Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) and unrequited
love between Callie (Sara Ramirez) and Erica (Brooke Smith).
The “Grey’s Anatomy” season opener, “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” premieres Thursday at 9 p.m.
One of ABC’s few new scripted shows, “Life on Mars,” will follow “Grey’s Anatomy” after its premiere in October.
The show turns the modern-day cop drama on its head, following detective Sam Tyler (Jason O’Mara) who is run over by a car and transported back to 1973.
Presumably Tyler will have to fight New York City crime the old-fashioned way, without the help of forensic science or modern technology.
The show’s cast also includes Harvey Keitel, Michael Imperioli and Gretchen Mol.
“Life on Mars’” premiere episode, “Out Here in the Fields,” will air Thursday, Oct. 9 at 10 p.m.
Catherine Stahl
Diversions Editor
Movie by Request
The Gallagher Student Center brings you the GSC Movie By Request at 11 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25 and Friday Sept. 26 in the GSC theater. This weekend’s film is “300.” Admission is free with All Card.
Stargazing
Join fellow students, faculty and staff in witnessing the night sky. Stargazing will take place at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25 in the Lindner Hall Observatory. A discussion of the evening’s objects precedes at 8:15 p.m. in Lindner 205.
Karaoke Wine & Cheeser
Honors students and faculty are invited to the first wine and cheeser at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26 in the Honors Villa. This month’s gathering will feature refreshments and karaoke.
Free Cooking Class
The Filipino-American Cultural Enlightenment Society will host a free Filipino cooking Class at 7 p.m. on Monday, Scpt. 29 at Buenger hall and at Gallagher Student Center. RSVP by Friday, Sept. 26. Contact Carolyn Marcelo at marceloc@xavier.edu. for more information.
