UsaNetwork-related stories
Posted Jul 3rd 2009 12:23PM by Nick Zaino
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, OpEd, Reality-Free

Apparently, there are a lot of medical emergencies in the Hamptons - deflated boobs, dying socialites, hemophiliac kids. And apparently, there is also a shortage of doctors in the area that is so bad everyone is clamoring to be attended to by a visiting doctor from out of town who has just been conveniently ostracized for having let a hospital trustee die in his care.
That's the basics of
Royal Pains, USA's latest edition to its "characters welcome" line-up. Unfortunately for Doctor Hank Lawson, the physician in the center of this maelstrom of health issues, none of his patients are particularly interesting, which means I didn't care if they lived or died or if any of their wounds were healed properly. Nor did I care if the overly ambitious would-be doctor's assistant Divya got her wish that Lawson hang his shingle in the Hamptons. Or if his brother found a way to get laid.
Continue reading Royal Pains throws everything at the wall, nothing sticks
Posted May 6th 2009 11:03AM by Isabelle Carreau

10 -
Survivor, CBS
9 -
Ghost Whisperer, CBS
8 -
The Bachelor, ABC
7 -
The Unit, CBS
6 - At least one
CSI, CBS
5 - At least one
Law & Order, NBC/USA Network
4 -
Brothers & Sisters, ABC
3 -
Private Practice, ABC
2 -
American Idol, FOX
1 -
Grey's Anatomy, ABC
Want to see the pictures or leave a comment? Click here.Posted Mar 25th 2009 9:05AM by Danny Gallagher
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Cable/Satellite, Casting, Reality-Free

The final season of the show that made USA famous for something other than playing non-stop reruns of
Wings is turning into a reunion special. Or should I say a special reunion?
Bitty Schram, the actress who played Sharona, Adrian Monk's original partner in fighting crime on
Monk,
will return for an episode sometime during the show's eighth and final season.
This will mark her first appearance on the comedy-mystery since she mysteriously disappeared from the show halfway through the third season. It should also make for an interesting close to a series that has redefined the way the higher channels on the dial create and produce their own series.
Continue reading Sharona returning to Monk
Posted Jan 5th 2009 5:19PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

Sing with me: here's a story about a doctor who is busy caring for rich folks in New York... Okay, it doesn't have the bouncy tune of a Sherwood Schwartz theme song, but this new USA show sounds like fun.
USA has picked up Royal Pains, a new summer series starring Mark Feuerstein as Hank Lawson, M.D., a doctor who is on-call to some of the most demanding patients around, the richie-riches who live in the fashionable Hamptons of Long Island.
There are a few reasons to be psyched about this new drama. For starters, it's coming from the same network that brings us
Psych, not to mention
Burn Notice, Starter Wife and
In Plain Sight. In other words, USA has been doing very well in developing idiosyncratic, interesting comedy-drama series. There's no reason to think that
Royal Pains will be a dud.
Continue reading USA says yes to Royal Pains
Posted Jul 28th 2008 12:26PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, In Plain Sight
(S01E09) If you've invested in this show from the start -- as I have -- here was a really welcome episode to fill in the blanks. Finally, we were given a little back story about Mary, the place she's living, her obnoxious family, her frustrations with her life and even Marshall's unrequited (or so he thinks) leering for his partner. There was even some good character stuff for Bobby D -- whom Mary colorfully calls a "little prick" -- which was really nice.
I liked the case of a Chicago cop doing a
"Serpico" -- going undercover to rat out police corruption -- and winding up killing a fellow officer in self-defense and being forced into Witness Protection was on target. And unlike the ridiculous Russian girl in the pilot who was asking WITSEC for new breasts, this was a realistic relocation. He resented being stuck in Albuquerque, and proving that he wasn't a stone, he was attracted to Mary. Of course, Mary did cross a line by sleeping with the guy, but that was all right, too, because it proved that she wasn't a stone, too. And since it was back story, it was pre-Raphael.
Continue reading In Plain Sight: Good Cop, Dead Cop
Posted Jul 21st 2008 11:41AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, In Plain Sight
(S01E08) In what might have been one of the stranger episodes, there was a point in the voiceover where Mary comments her clients, Ruth and Don. They're devout Catholics, but they hate each other and want to split. They don't because they cannot get an annulment. When Mary urges them to just get a divorce, saying that as a Catholic she understand them, they say they'll continue to suffer because it's God's will. That's when Mary's VO is, "Okay, too weird for me."
That's how I felt about this show. While it was an interesting examination of a couple facing a dilemma while at the same time being in Witness Protection, there were elements that made me cringe.
Continue reading In Plain Sight: Don of the Dead
Posted Jul 19th 2008 8:00AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Monk, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S07E01) It seems like only yesterday when Monk, the ultimate obsessive compulsive Sherlock Holmes, began on USA Network, and now here it is the start of its seventh season. In all that time, for a man who doesn't like change at all, Adrian Monk has had to endure quite a bit of upheaval. The untimely
death last April of actor Stanley Kamel, who played Monk's security blanket/therapist Dr. Kroger, was written into this premiere episode, in -- what I believe -- was a very subtle, graceful way.
Monk's sudden displeasure with his home is rooted in his discomfort in his life now that Dr. Kroger is gone. The ultimate egotist, in that Monk cares most for himself, Adrian is desperate to throw himself into work to avoid the irritating piano-playing coming from the little girl across the street and disturbing the sanctuary of his home. Kudos to the new therapist, Dr. Bell, for connecting the dots and quickly sizing up why Monk finds the music so displeasing.
Continue reading Monk: Mr. Monk Buys A House (season premiere)
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, In Plain Sight
(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, In Plain Sight
(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
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