TV Listings - TV Fanatic

Fox Reveals Bones Midseason Premiere Date, Spring Schedule

matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:46:11 EST

Fox has unveiled its revamped, slightly confusing early spring schedule.

It includes the winter finale of Glee; many airings of American Idol; the return date (finally!) of Bones; and the debut of Hotel Hell, the latest Gordon Ramsay-anchored reality competition...

MONDAY
Monday, March 5:
8:00-10:00 PM ALCATRAZ (Special Two-Hour Episode)

Monday, March 12:
8:00-9:00 PM ALCATRAZ
9:00-10:00 PM TOUCH (Pilot encore)

Monday, March 19:
8:00-9:00 PM ALCATRAZ
9:00-10:00 PM TOUCH (Series Premiere)

Monday, March 26:
8:00-9:00 PM ALCATRAZ (Season Finale)
9:00-10:00 PM TOUCH

Mondays, beginning April 2:
8:00-9:00 PM HOUSE
9:00-10:00 PM TOUCH

TUESDAY
Tuesday, Feb. 21:
8:00-9:00 PM GLEE (Winter Finale)
9:00-9:31 PM NEW GIRL
9:31-10:00 PM RAISING HOPE

Tuesday, Feb. 28:
8:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Special Broadcast)

Tuesdays, beginning March 6:
8:00-8:30 PM RAISING HOPE (Time Period Premiere)
8:30-9:00 PM I HATE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER (Spring Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM NEW GIRL
9:30-10:00 PM BREAKING IN (Season Two Premiere)

Tuesdays, beginning April 10:
8:00-8:30 PM GLEE (Spring Premiere)
9:00-9:31 PM NEW GIRL
9:31-10:00 PM RAISING HOPE

WEDNESDAY
Wednesdays, beginning April 4:
8:00-9:30 PM AMERICAN IDOL
9:30-10:00 PM I HATE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER (Time Period Premiere)

THURSDAY
Thursday, March 1:
8:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Two-Hour Episode)

Thursdays, beginning March 8:
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL
9:00-10:00 PM THE FINDER

Thursday, March 29:
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL
9:00-10:00 PM THE FINDER (Spring Finale)

Thursdays, beginning April 5:
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL
9:00-10:00 PM BONES (Spring Premiere)

FRIDAY
Fridays, beginning March 2:
8:00-10:00 PM KITCHEN NIGHTMARES (two-hour encores for three weeks)

Fridays, beginning March 23:
8:00-9:00 PM KITCHEN NIGHTMARES
9:00-10:00 PM FRINGE

Friday, March 30:
8:00-9:00 PM KITCHEN NIGHTMARES (Season Finale)
9:00-10:00 PM FRINGE

Fridays, beginning April 6:
8:00-9:00 PM HOTEL HELL (Series Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM FRINGE

SUNDAY
Sunday, March 4:
7:00-7:30 PM BOB’S BURGERS (encore)
7:30-8:00 PM THE CLEVELAND SHOW
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (Season Finale)
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD

Sundays, beginning March 11:
7:00-7:30 PM THE SIMPSONS (encores)
7:30-8:00 PM THE CLEVELAND SHOW
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM BOB’S BURGERS (Season Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD

The CW Pilot Rundown: What's the Billboard?

matt@tvfanatic.com (TV Fanatic Staff) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:02:17 EST

The Vampire Diaries is on fire. Case in point: these ridiculously hot magazine covers.

But few, if any, other shows on The CW are particularly buzz-worthy these days. Gossip Girl still satisfies its niche of fans, but it's literally the lowest rated show on television. New programs such as The Secret Circle and Hart of Dixie? Solid, but none are breakout hits.

That's why CW’s development head Thom Sherman says he had one question for anyone who pitched him pilot ideas for this fall: What's the billboard?

The following programs must have passed this test, as each has received a green light and will soon go into production. Not all will make the 2012-2013 schedule, but which do you most hope to see on the network later this year?

Beauty and the Beast: It's "a contemporary grounded [love story]," says Sherman, adding that the female lead will be a cop and the beast will help "from the shadows," not always appearing as an actual beast.

The Selection: Based on the upcoming series of books by Kiera Cass, this drama is set 300 years in the future and has drawn comparisons to The Hunger Games, "apt" comparisons Sherman notes, elaborating:

“It’s a dystopian North American society that’s one vast kingdom after a world war has changed everything. But it also has palace intrigue and a prince looking for his princess among the various territories he overseas. Our goal is for the quality to be like a show you’d see on a premium cable network.”

Joey Dakota: A time-traveling filmmaker must go back and save the life of a rock star with whom she has fallen in love. Says Sherman:

“It’s a big swing for the fence. It’s a wonderful script by Bert Royal, the writer of Easy A. It’s a lot of fun with musical elements to it... It’s romantic, sexy and funny and there’s also a murder mystery."

Shelter: From the team of Mark Schwahn and J.J. Abrams, an "emotional and character driven [series] with a small weekly franchise element since it’s set at an inn, so you have weekly guest characters coming in.”

The Carrie Diaries: Self-explanatory Sex and the City prequel, although Sherman compares it to Smallville because "it’s an origin story - how she started writing, how she came to love Manhattan. Basically how we frame the show is, ‘Carrie at 16 found her first love and it’s not a boy - it’s Man-hattan.’ The other unique aspect is obviously the time period.”

Arrow: Will star Stephen Amell as the classic comic book character, someone Sherman describes as "very grounded, like a Jason Bourne."

Cult: Will star Jessica Lucas and an uncast blogger who investigate deaths that appear to be based on a TV show. Sherman refers to the project as “a twisted and sophisticated story."

First Cut: A younger version of Grey's Anatomy, with a nerdy medical school student looking to start fresh in a hospital

Being Human: Renewed for Season 3

matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:37:22 EST

Following just four second season episodes, Syfy has seen enough - and it's picked Being Human up for a third season.

Said network president David Howe in making the announcement yesterday:

"With the success of Season 2, Being Human has become a premier destination for Syfy viewers. [Executive producers] Jeremy Carver and Anna Fricke have taken this series to new heights this year and we’re excited to see where the third season will go."

Being Human Promo: "Addicted to Love"

Being Human has seen an increase in viewership of 27% over season one so far. As previewed above, it airs a new episode on Monday.

NBC Schedules Premiere of Awake, Bumps The Firm

matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:19:18 EST

NBC has finally set a premiere date for one of the best new dramas of the season.

On March 1, Jason Isaacs will anchor Awake, an Inception-like series that features his character - an injured cop - awakening from an accident and living in two different worlds: in one, his wife is dead; in the other, his son.

I've seen the pilot and it's terrific. Watch an extended Awake promo now:

Awake Preview

In related programming news, The Firm will be immediately sent to Saturday nights and Grimm reruns will air in its place until March 1.

ABC Family Renews Secret Life; Adds Sitcom, Reality Show

matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:08:37 EST

The Secret Life of the American Teenager just made history without airing a single episode.

ABC Family announced today that it had picked up the drama for a fifth season, meaning Shailene Woodley and company are now part of the longest-running program ever on that network. It returns on March 26.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager Promo: Spring Season

In other ABC Family programming news:

It will soon debut Beverly Hills Nannies, a reality series about... nannies in Beverly Hills.
It has purchased the pilot for Baby Daddy, a comedy about a man and his brother who raise a baby after the former's ex leaves her on their doorstep. It will Derek Theler, Chelsea Kane and Tahj Mowry.

Fox Programming Notes: More Alcatraz, Less House

matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:24:25 EST

In a move that bodes well for Alcatraz, but less well for House's chances of landing on the Fox schedule again this fall, the network has revamped its March lineup.

Alcatraz Promo: "Guy Hastings"

Hugh Laurie and company have been removed entirely next month in order to make room for one week of twice the Alcatraz; and two weeks of an Alcatraz/Touch pairing, as Fox likely wants to see how these two rate together before making any decisions for 2012-2013.

Here is a look at the new schedule:

Monday, March 5
8:00/7:00c - Alcatraz (Back-to-Back Episodes)

Monday, March 12
8:00/7:00c - Alcatraz (New Time Period)
9:00/8:00c - Touch (Encore of Pilot)

Monday, March 19
8:00/7:00c - Alcatraz
9:00/8:00c - Touch (Season Premiere)

Monday, March 26
8:00/7:00c - Alcatraz (Season Finale)
9:00/8:00c - Touch

Mondays (as of April 2)
8:00/7:00c - House
9:00/8:00c - Touch

CBS Schedules Premiere of NYC 22

matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:14:24 EST

CBS has scheduled a premiere date for NYC 22, a cop-based drama produced in part by Robert DeNiro.

The series - which follows around six NYPD rookies on the streets of Manhattan, basically Rookie Blue in America - will debut on Sunday night April 15 at 10 p.m., a week after CSI: Miami wraps up its season.

Among others, NYC 22 stars Terry Kinney, Adam Goldberg, Leelee Sobieski, Stark Sands, Judy Marte, Harold “House” Moore, Tom Reed and Felix Solis.

Showtime Renews Shameless, Californication and House of Lies

matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:28:13 EST

Showtime has announced the renewal of three programs, picking up Shameless, Californication and House of Lies for another season.

“These three shows are clearly resonating with audiences as evidenced by their steady growth on Sunday nights," said President of Entertainment David Nevins. "We are extremely pleased with the creative work being done by the casts, producers and writers – and I so appreciate that each of these series has such a clear and distinctive voice."

House of Lies debuted a few weeks ago as the network's second-highest premiere ever; Shameless averages 4.75 million viewers per week and Californication checks in at just under three million.

All three air new episodes on Sunday.

HBO Renews Luck for Season 2

matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:33:39 EST

Just two days after the premiere of its latest drama, HBO is feeling lucky.

The network has renewed Luck for a second season, despite merely mediocre ratings for the David Milch/Michael Mann-produced horse racing series. Just over one million viewers tuned in for the 9 p.m. showing on Sunday.

Luck Promo: Behind the Scenes with David Milch and Company

Still, a 10-episode second season will kick off in January 2013.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled with the critical response to this beautiful piece of work,” said head of HBO’ programming, Michael Lombardo. "And we are very excited about where David and Michael plan to take these incredible characters.”

What did you think of the pilot? Grade it now:

Cougar Town Season 3 to Premiere On...

matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:53:09 EST

Grab your giant wine glasses and celebrate, Cougar Town fans. One of the funniest sitcoms on television is FINALLY coming back with new episodes.

As expected, the sitcom will takeover the spot vacated by Work It and debut at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 14. We can't think of anyplace we'd rather be on Valentine's Day than snuggled up on the couch with our loved one, watching the cul-de-sac crew... can you?

Despite not having been on the air for months, Cougar Town has remained in the news. That's because creator Bill Lawrence and company have actually been touring the country, sponsoring their very own viewing parties and keeping buzz about the show going.

Just another reason why this is one of the coolest shows out there.