Posts with tag UsaNetwork
Posted Jul 1st 2008 3:10PM by Kristin Sample
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Industry, Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free
Debra Messing's Emmy-award winning miniseries
The Starter Wife is getting some new cast members. Joining the former
Will and Grace star are David Alan Bashe of
Lipstick Jungle, Danielle Nicolet of
Heartland, Brielle Barbusca of
Hope & Faith, and Hart Bochner of
Die Hard.
The USA original series follows the post-divorce hi-jinx of Molly Kagan (Messing) as she embarks on a new chapter in her life. USA is bringing back the hit miniseries for
ten episodes this fall. Messing is now executive producer as well.
Bashe will play Molly's ex-husband, Kenny Kagen. Nicolet will play Liz Marsh, Molly's new friend and wife a a pro-baseball player. Barbusca will play Jaden, Molly and Kenny's daughter. And Bochner will play Molly's new love interest and writing class teacher. Returning for guest appearances is Joe Mantegna of
Criminal Minds who plays Molly's former boyfriend Lou Manahan.
The series will premiere on USA in October. What do you think? Will
The Starter Wife work as a full-fledged series?
Posted Jun 24th 2008 10:57AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Industry, OpEd, Interviews, Celebrities, Reality-Free, Burn Notice
Miami in June is hot. Very hot. On the set of
Burn Notice, however, everything is cool. In fact, when I arrive at the Coconut Grove studios where the USA spy drama is shot, I find myself smack dab in the middle of a full-fledged film studio.
The old convention center, where I remember going to an indoor flea market in the late 1970s, has been completely transformed. There are trailers, production offices, standing sets, all geared up and working to bring
Burn Notice back for season two.
Continue reading Burn Notice: A day on the set
Posted Jun 23rd 2008 1:41PM by Richard Keller
Filed under: Programming, OpEd, Law and Order, Reality-Free
So, I'm watching a new episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent on USA Network this past Sunday and, like all upstanding Americans do, I was flipping through the channels during a commercial break. As I passed by these channels at the speed of light my eye caught something on Bravo. It was another episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Not a new episode, mind you, just a repeat of a repeat of a repeat that Bravo airs during their Sunday night block.
Now, you're probably saying to yourself 'So what? Cable channels are allowed to air whatever they damn well please.' Well, after lecturing you about your tone of voice I would mention that you had a point. But, thanks to the wonderful world of corporate synergy, your argument would not meet the mustard. You see, Bravo is under the huge umbrella known as NBC Universal, which is the same company that owns USA Network, which is currently airing new episodes of Law & Order: CI on Sunday nights. With all of this information at hand the following question comes to mind:
Who the hell is programming these networks?
Continue reading A new and old episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent walk into a bar...
Posted Jun 21st 2008 2:01PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Video, Psych, Reality-Free
So, I'm minding my own business the other day, watching one of last season's
Burn Notice episodes in anticipation of the new season, when I see a commercial that made me laugh out loud. It was a
promotion for the new season of Psych. Gus and Shawn (Dule Hill and James Roday) in a familiar-looking black and white set, at a grand piano, sitting side by side singing "Ebony and Ivory." It was hilarious. So funny that I decided you had to see it. (below)
James Roday laying on a Paul McCartney accent. The giant keyboard with the title
Psych where Steinway should be. Dule Hill in the Stevie Wonder part, with impossibly wide collar flaps and a toothy grin.
Continue reading Psych does Ebony & Ivory - VIDEO
Posted Jun 16th 2008 9:01AM by Keith McDuffee
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, TV on DVD, Video, Contests and Giveaways, Reality-Free
Hey everyone! This time we've got five copies of
Burn Notice - Season One on DVD for five lucky, random commenters. The DVD is available in stores starting tomorrow.
To enter, simply leave a comment below before 5:00PM Eastern, Friday, June 20 simply telling us if you're planning to catch
Burn Notice's second season this year. As always, we'll randomly choose five winners amongst the eligible entries. Some other details:
- To enter, leave a confirmed comment below stating whether or not you're planning to watch the second season of Burn Notice this year.
- The comment must be left before June 20, 2008 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
- You may enter only once.
- Five winners will be selected in a random drawing.
- Five winners will receive a Burn Notice - Season One DVD set (valued at $49.98).
- Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
Click
here for complete Official Rules.
Embedded below, the series premiere episode ...
Continue reading Giveaway Monday: Burn Notice season one - VIDEO
Posted Jun 16th 2008 3:32AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S01E03) For a change of pace,
In Plain Sight opted for a mainly comic episode. The results were mixed. The comedy wasn't really all that funny, and the plot was plagued by more than a few inconsistencies and holes. But once again, what's keeping viewers from switching to another channel is Mary McCormack as Mary Shannon. She's really a compelling actress, and this Mary Shannon is a complicated mess of a very cool character.
Mary's newest witness to be protected is a con artist, bigamist scumbag -- Mary's words -- named Treena. She ripped off her previous husband while on a Hawaiian honeymoon, getting away with $10 million in conflict diamonds before being arrested by the FBI. When Mary is forced to take Treena under her wing, she makes no secret of her antipathy for people of her ilk, saying, "God I hate con artists, even more than murderers."
There's an instant conflict between Treena and Mary, the uncooperative witness and unhappy marshal. Mary suspects that Treena is playing her and the system. She warns her that if you hang onto garbage from your past, sooner to later it starts to stink.
The machinations to get Treena into the WITSEC program is the first leap of faith in the episode. The second comes when she allows her picture to appear in the newspaper, announcing her sixth wedding.
Continue reading In Plain Sight: Never The Bride
Posted Jun 2nd 2008 10:08AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S01E01) You know that commercial that says, "The real question is, when you turn your car on, does it return the favor?" Well, over at USA Network, the question isn't whether "Characters Welcome" is their slogan, it's "Do I want to welcome these characters into my world?" In the case of their newest drama,
In Plain Sight, the answer is...I don't think so.
The series presents Mary McCormack (
The West Wing) as Mary Shannon, a U.S. Marshal for the Witness Protection Program, living and working in Albuquerque, New Mexico. To say that Mary is a bitch is an understatement. She's aggressive and grumpy and hard to take. As the pilot played out, Mary showed glimpses of a softer side, a need to fix the problems of others that led to her career protecting and serving those in the Witness Protection Program. However, unlike USA's other quirky character dramas,
In Plain Sight doesn't have the charm of
Burn Notice, the wit of
PSYCH, nor the whimsy of
Monk. It may be that this pilot was just overstuffed with too much of Mary's life, but overall, there's not much in Mary Shannon's life worth watching.
Continue reading In Plain Sight: Mary Sunshine (series premiere)
Posted May 23rd 2008 3:01PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Programming, Law and Order, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free
Just when you think it's over, they pull it back in! Actually, I think this is great news and nothing to bemoan.
USA Network has ordered 16 new episodes of Law and Order: Criminal Intent. The third spin-off from NBC's venerable -- 18 seasons strong --
Law and Order, CI moved to USA -- part of the NBCU family -- last year after six years on NBC. What's the difference between the shows on NBC and the shows on USA? Absolutely nothing. The quality of the show and the talent in front and behind the camera has remained the same, so I'm really happy that there'll be new
L&O: CI in the future. I prefer scripted drama to more reality TV.
Continue reading USA orders 16 new episodes of L&O: Criminal Intent
Posted May 22nd 2008 1:02PM by Jane Boursaw
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, OpEd, Early Looks, Reality-Free
"I really wanted to turn around and pop off one of those
Columbo questions. You know, the innocuous afterthought that lets the killer know that I know he did it." So goes the voiceover of Mary McCormack (
The West Wing) on USA's new original scripted series,
In Plain Sight, premiering June 1st at 10/9c with a 76-minute episode, followed by 11 one-hour episodes.
I participated in a conference call this week with McCormack and her co-star Fred Weller (
Law & Order: Criminal Intent), who dished about the show and each other. It's clear they have an easy-going camaraderie that will no doubt carry over into the series, and I look forward to checking it out.
Created and written by David Maples (
Home Improvement, Huff), and executive produced by Maples and Paul Stupin (
Dawson's Creek, Beautiful People), the dramedy revolves around the super-secret U.S. Witness Protection Program (WITSEC).
Continue reading Eight things you need to know about In Plain Sight
Posted Apr 30th 2008 9:22AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Monk, Casting, Reality-Free
With the untimely death of actor
Stanley Kamel, USA Network and the producers of
Monk were compelled to find another actor to play a psychiatrist for the OCD detective.
TV Guide has gotten the exclusive word that
Hector Elizondo has been cast as Monk's new shrink. The veteran actor -- you'll recognize him from every Garry Marshall movie from
Pretty Woman to
The Princess Diaries -- was most recently on
Cane. As Michael Ausiello points out, if Hector's doing
Monk, chances are that CBS has officially canned
Cane, even if they haven't announced it yet.
Continue reading Monk gets a new psychiatrist
Posted Apr 24th 2008 2:20PM by Keith McDuffee
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Battlestar Galactica, Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free
Tricia Helfer will be in good hands once her run with
Battlestar Galactica is over which, as we all know, is coming up very soon. As part of her recently announced
talent deal with Fox,
Helfer will be appearing on USA's Burn Notice when it returns to the air this July (Fox produces the show). She will be playing Michael's handler for an uknown number of episodes. Hey, the more episodes the better if you ask me.
I just love it when two shows I love come together and involve the same people that make each show great. No, I don't mean a cross-over; with the exception of spin-offs, I usually hate cross-overs. When I see a director or actor I love head over to another show I love (or, in the case of a new show, one that sounds up my alley), it's magic. It's like when you switch jobs and and old co-worker friend comes with you. Except the whole part about hating the first job you left. OK that was a horrible analogy.
Posted Apr 24th 2008 9:21AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Programming, Reality-Free
One of the most eagerly anticipated new series from USA Network,
In Plain Sight, will premiere on June 1st, a week earlier than previously announced. The Mary McCormack-Frederick Weller drama, the latest in USA's "characters welcome" campaign, was originally going to air on Sunday, June 8th, at 10 p.m., but that would have put the show up against two tough cable competitors -- the return of Lifetime's
Army Wives for a second season, and History Channel's second year of
Ice Road Truckers. This is USA's way of giving
In Plain Sight a leg up on the competition -- unless Lifetime moves
Army Wives and History moves
IRT, respectively, to June 1st. Quick, who's going to blink?
Continue reading USA bumps up the In Plain Slight premiere
Posted Apr 23rd 2008 5:41PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Psych, Casting, Reality-Free
This sounds like good casting to me.
Cybill Shepherd is joining Psych for a mini-arc as Shawn's mom. The actress, best known on TV from her hit series
Moonlighting (remember, her and Bruce Willis?), has recently been on Showtime's
The L Word. Cybill's not a great dramatic actress, but she is pretty funny and should fit in perfectly with the goofy, good-natured fun on
Psych.
When
Psych comes back to USA Network on July 18 with new shows, her episodes (at least two) will be broadcast. She's playing Madeleine, Henry's ex-wife and Shawn's mama. So far in the series, Maddie (like Maddie Hayes in
Moonlighting perhaps?), has not been shown in the scenes depicting Shawn -- and Gus's -- childhood. Corbin Bernsen, who plays Henry, has worn a hairpiece for the retro scenes and goes bald for the present day scenes. We'll see whether Cybill's in both scenes or not...
According to the show, when Madeleine appears in Santa Barbara, she's coming from Europe and wants to visit her sonny boy. The visit, so we're told, dredges up some old memories. And since this is a crime/caper/mystery show, perhaps Maddie's bound to get involved in one of Shawn's cases.
Posted Apr 17th 2008 10:24AM by Keith McDuffee
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Programming, Reality-Free
Set your DVRs, friends, because USA and USA HD will begin re-airing the first season of what I consider one of last years most overlooked, good new shows,
Burn Notice. In fact, the pilot episode starts airing tonight at 11:00 PM ET, but if you miss that you can catch it at 2:30 AM. Or Sunday at 10 AM. Or later, at midnight. Oh, and then there's the DVD set coming out in June. In other words, no excuses!
I just finished catching up with this show a couple of weeks ago
with Deb, and I'm glad I did. Joel recently had a quick
interview with Jeffrey Donovan of
Burn Notice, who mentioned how, even if you have no idea what the show is about, every episode starts with a very brief "what this show is about" montage that should set anyone straight. Still, if you haven't checked the series out yet, give at least the first couple of episodes a shot.
[Thanks Gordon!]
Posted Feb 20th 2008 11:05AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Programming, Monk, Psych, Pickups and Renewals, Ratings
Monk will be back for a seventh season. It isn't an even number, a fact that would irritate the OCD detective to no end, but it is a lucky one.
USA Network has ordered 16 new episodes of the idiosyncratic mystery series which has turned character actor Tony Shalhoub into an Emmy-winning star. USA has plans to run eight of the new episodes in July and August; then the other eight in January and February.
Before then, you can catch up with
Monk, and USA's other whimsical detective series
, Psych, when they air on
NBC in March. Although it has not be announced as yet, USA will likely pick up
Psych, too, and they will continue running in tandem.
Continue reading Monk returning for seventh season
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