Flashpoint premieres Friday, July 11, at 10 p.m. ET on CBS, and yes, it's another cop show, but it sounds gritty enough to offer something interesting. The new summer drama stars Enrico Colantoni as Sergeant Greg Parker, Hugh Dillon as Ed Lane, David Paetkau as Sam Braddock, and Amy Jo Johnson as Jules Callahan.
The series follows the lives of a Toronto-based Strategic Response Unit (SRU), unique cops who go beyond the call of ordinary cops to rescue hostages, bust gangs, defuse bombs, handle state-of-the-art weaponry and, of course, risk their lives to save others.
I participated in a conference call this week with Colantoni, Dillon, Johnson, and executive producers Bill Mustos and Anne Marie La Traverse. Some highlights of the call:
The Saturn awards ceremony was held last night, andLost dominated the television categories with four wins. The drama won the award for Best Network Series and nearly swept the acting categories. Evangeline Lilly lost the Best Actress award to Ghost Whisperer's Jennifer Love Hewitt, last year's winner. Most of the first-time nominees, such as Pushing Daisies and Journeyman, were shut out. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles was the only exception; Summer Glau tied for Best Supporting Actress.
Comedian Jeffrey Ross hosted the event. Hopefully this is just the beginning of a successful awards season for Lost. A complete list of winners in the television categories follows after the jump.
In a move as big as his executive producing Living with Fran, Jamie Kennedy has decided to return to series television. In fact, Jay Mohr's loss is Jamie's gain. Jamie Kennedy has signed on to the CBS psychic drama Ghost Whisperer. It's not a guest role or a mini-arc, he's a regular. Yes, Jamie Kennedy will be a regular and will play a dramatic role. Okay, he'll try to play it straight. Perhaps this will be the ultimate Jamie Kennedy experiment?
Jay Mohr was the college connection with whom Melinda consulted on Ghost Whisperer, but now that he's getting his own sitcom on the networks, Project Gary, GW needs a new character to provide the same kind of insight. Jamie will play Eli, a college grad student.
How swinging is CBS's new summer series Swingtown? It's not swinging in the Sinatra-Rat Pack-ring-a-ding-ding way. No, this Swingtown is set in an era ten years later, specifically July 4, 1976, the bicentennial. But Swingtown, which premieres on Thursday at 10 PM ET,is not a nostalgic, optimistic wallow. However, It does evoke a time when America was undergoing a lot of change as the college kids from the late sixties were moving into the seven-year-itch of marriage, raising children, exploring boundaries.
Swingtown reminded me of Knots Landing meets Boogie Nights with a dollop of The Stepford Wives thrown in there, too (maybe it was those scenes in the supermarket). Superficially, there are elements of Swingtown, in particular the attention to detail in the production design and music, that are as spot on for 1976 as Mad Men was for 1960. When you see that pop-top can of Tab, you can't help but go back in time.
Fans of the Tiffany network can do the happy dance. CBS has renewed 11 scripted shows for the 2008-2009 TV season. The lucky 11 are: CSI; CSI: Miami; CSI: New York; NCIS; Criminal Minds; Cold Case; Without a Trace; Ghost Whisperer; Numb3rs; Two and a Half Men; and The Big Bang Theory.
There are not a lot of surprises in this bunch, although it's great news that The Big Bang Theory, CBS's rookie Monday-night sitcom from Chuck Lorre's stable, made the cut. Still in limbo, however, are three other Monday-night comedies from the network: How I Met Your Mother, Rules of Engagement, and The New Adventures of Old Christine. The story speculates that Mother will get the greenlight for a fourth season soon, but Rules and Christine seem to be in competition for the 9:30-10:00 half-hour slot.
While CBS pulled Bob Barker up from daytime into the prime time spotlight a few times the past few years, they've yet to do so since Drew Carey took over as host of The Price is Right this season. But that's all about to change. For six weeks, starting February 22, CBS is shifting Ghost Whisperer back an hour so they can squeeze in all new episodes of The Price is Right at 8pm/7pm Central. Possibly to avoid double-Drew confusion, The Power of 10, also hosted by Carey, has been pulled from the schedule effective immediately, though it will likely return in the summer.
We've talked a lot here at TV Squad about how Drew is doing on TPiR this year and, while the jury may still be out, I think he's settled into a nice groove. No, he's not Bob Barker but do we really want someone who would go up there and act just like Bob did? They kept all the crazy games that make the show a classic, so I say let Drew be himself, and we'll get used to it. And if you haven't given him a try, here's a chance to curl up at home on a Friday night and see for yourself.
Jennifer Love Hewitt, the crush of many a young man the past decade or more, is getting hitched. UsMagazine.com tells us her lucky beau is Scottish actor Ross McCall, 32, and that they are currently vacationing in Hawaii. Look for reports of them getting hit by a drunk driving Lost actor anytime now. Hewitt rocketed to fame on FOX's Party of Five where her voluptuous beauty and aura of innocence made her a television pinup sensation.
She is currently starring in CBS' Ghost Whisperer, which has turned into quite a hit for the network on Friday nights. Especially after they discovered one of the great mathematical certainties in life. Lower Love necklines equals higher ratings among young men. Now the fact that it took them more than a season to figure this out means they haven't been watching her career very well. As the interwebs have known for years, young men Love low necklines.
As you may have already read, I went to the set of Ghost Whisperer on Thursday, October 18th at Universal Studios. There I got an interview with the producers, a visit to the Ghost Whisperer stages, and a sneak peak at the Halloween episode. What I neglected to mention (because the producers asked those in attendance not to write about this until they released the information on October 22) was that Orlando Jones would be joining the cast of Ghost Whisperer this season.
On Thursday October 18th, I attended a blogger event for CBS at Universal Studios in Los Angeles. After waiting a surprisingly long time to clear security (all the while the security guard kept my driver's license with him), I finally started my tour of the Ghost Whisperer stages. Along with a tour of the show's set, the press event also included interviews with the executive producers, a sneak preview of the Halloween episode (airing October 26th), and a tour of the show's back lot (in the context of the Universal Studios R.I.P. experience). Completely unrelated to Ghost Whisperer but interesting all the same, we got a sneak preview of How to Survive a Horror Movie: All the Skills to Dodge the Kills and an interview with writer/director Seth Grahame-Smith.
If you haven't entered our latest three giveaways yet (Ghost Whisperer season two, Numb3rs season three and The Kids in the Hall Megaset), you've got until 5PM Eastern today to enter. Just head on over to the posts linked above, read through the rules and make the applicable comment there (not here!) We'll notify the winners next week.
Not one, not two, but three giveaways today. To add to the list today, we've got five copies of Ghost Whisperer season two on DVD for five lucky, random commenters. The set is already available in stores.
To enter, simply leave a comment below before 5:00PM Eastern, Friday, October 19, simply telling us why you'd like to own this series. As always, we'll randomly choose five winners amongst the eligible entries. Some other details:
To enter, leave a confirmed comment below stating why you'd like to own a copy of Ghost Whisperer season two on DVD.
The comment must be left before October 19, 2007 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
You may enter only once.
Five winners will be selected in a random drawing.
Five winners will receive a copy of Ghost Whisperer Season 2 DVDs (valued at $59.99).
This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we'll supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by emailing us at tvsquad at gmail dot com or call and leave a message at 917-421-9477 (NY) - your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.
This week we have: Bones, Ghost Whisperer, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, House, How I Met Your Mother, Jericho Prison Break, Smallville and The 4400. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)
The new fall season isn't etched in stone yet. The networks could still make some changes, especially when it comes to time slots. But also to the casts that were in the pilots for the new shows.
Case in point, Moonlight. The new CBS vampire private eye show is already looking for a new leading lady to play opposite Alex O'Loughlin. Shannon Lucio was his romantic partner in the pilot, but they're getting rid of her and looking for someone else for the role. Lucio was formerly on The O.C.
CBS is on a good run, being the most watched network for the last five years, but they have taken a bit of heat for the formulaic way they have gone about doing it. Not arguing with success, the whole family of CSIs, and their crime based cousins, will be back, but the network is trying to branch out with some edgier programming. Most notably, Swingtown, Viva Laughlin, and Moonlight.
Returning:The Amazing Race, Cold Case, 60 Minutes, How I Met Your Mother, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Two and a Half Men, Rules of Engagement, CSI: Miami, NCIS, The Unit, Criminal Minds, CSI: NY, Survivor, CSI, Shark, Without A Trace, Ghost Whisperer, Numb3rs, 48 Hours Mystery.
New: Viva Laughlin, Swingtown, Moonlight, Cane, Big Bang Theory, Power of 10, Kid Nation
Out:King of Queens, Jericho, The Class, Close To Home
Moving:Without A Trace moves back to Thursday at 10. Shark heads to Sunday at 10.
Flashpoint premieres Friday, July 11, at 10 p.m. ET on CBS, and yes, it's another cop show, but it sounds gritty enough to offer something interesting. The new summer drama stars Enrico Colantoni as Sergeant Greg Parker, Hugh Dillon as Ed Lane, David Paetkau as Sam Braddock, and Amy Jo Johnson as Jules Callahan.
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In a move as big as his executive producing Living with Fran, Jamie Kennedy has decided to return to series television. In fact, Jay Mohr's loss is Jamie's gain. 
How swinging is CBS's new summer series Swingtown? It's not swinging in the Sinatra-Rat Pack-ring-a-ding-ding way. No, this Swingtown is set in an era ten years later, specifically July 4, 1976, the bicentennial. But Swingtown, which premieres on Thursday at 10 PM ET, is not a nostalgic, optimistic wallow. However, It does evoke a time when America was undergoing a lot of change as the college kids from the late sixties were moving into the seven-year-itch of marriage, raising children, exploring boundaries. 
Fans of the Tiffany network can do the happy dance. 
While CBS pulled Bob Barker up from daytime into the prime time spotlight a few times the past few years, they've yet to do so since Drew Carey took over as host of The Price is Right this season. But that's all about to change. For six weeks, starting February 22, CBS is shifting Ghost Whisperer back an hour so 
Jennifer Love Hewitt, the crush of many a young man the past decade or more, is getting hitched. 
As you may have already read, 
_thumbnail.jpg "Front of Ghost Whisperer House")
_thumbnail.jpg "Living Room of GW house")
_thumbnail.jpg "Kitchen in GW house")
_thumbnail.jpg "Bathtub in GW house")
_thumbnail.jpg "Antique Store (Inside) from GW")
If you haven't entered our latest three giveaways yet (
Not one, not two, but three giveaways today. To add to the list today, we've got five copies of Ghost Whisperer season two on DVD for five lucky, random commenters. The set is already available in stores.
The new fall season isn't etched in stone yet. The networks could still make some changes, especially when it comes to time slots. But also to the casts that were in the pilots for the new shows.
CBS is on a good run, being the most watched network for the last five years, but they have taken a bit of heat for the formulaic way they have gone about doing it. Not arguing with success, the whole family of CSIs, and their crime based cousins, will be back, but the network is trying to branch out with some edgier programming. Most notably, Swingtown, Viva Laughlin, and Moonlight.
Celebrate the 4th by watching television!
Stargate Atlantis season five - An early look
Saving Grace season two: An early look
