Without A Trace-related stories
Posted Sep 3rd 2009 2:08PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, OpEd, Reality-Free, British TV
Is it cynical of me to question the wisdom of
NBC trying to adapt the British detective series Prime Suspect for American TV? It probably is, but after the disappointment of
Life on Mars (I know, some of you liked the ABC version, but I was not in that camp), I have worries about the way American writers and producers rework excellent British TV shows and suck the life out of them in the process.
What makes
Prime Suspect particularly of concern is that the British show had a great actress starring in it.
Helen Mirren has deserved every award -- Oscar, Tony, Golden Globe -- that she's received. As the tough-as-nails detective chief inspector Jane Tennison, she was simply amazing.
Continue reading NBC to adapt UK's Prime Suspect
Posted Aug 4th 2009 8:57PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Programming, OpEd, Cancellations, Ratings, NCIS, Reality-Free
Amid the CBS Summer Press Tour this week, the subject came up about why the network had
cancelled Without A Trace. It wasn't ratings, which is clearly the truth because just this past weekend,
Without A Trace was pulling over six million viewers for a rerun, doubling the number of people who tuned in for the brand new ABC series,
Defying Gravity. Therefore, if
Without A Trace was still capable of besting the fodder produced by the competition, why on earth would CBS dump it?
"Every show has its own life cycle," said CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler, who went on to explain that the shows the network had in development were just too good to wait. In other words,
The Good Wife, Three Rivers and
NCIS: Los Angeles, none of which are proven hits, were more important than an established success.
Continue reading The real reason Without A Trace was cancelled
Posted May 22nd 2009 4:29PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, OpEd, Cancellations, Upfronts, Reality-Free
When the news about
Without A Trace ending its run was made official at the CBS Upfron
t this past week, I wasn't shocked. Rumor had it that either
Without A Trace or Cold Case would be dropped, and
Cold Case might have tipped the scales in its favor with a strong showing with its two-part season finale. But as much as I liked
Without A Trace, I'm not really sorry that it's calling it a day.
Seven years is a darn good run for a TV show. In fact, if it had been a British series, it might have ended after 30 episodes – unless you're talking
Coronation Street which is a freak of TV.
But here's the thing about
Without A Trace, it's been a solid show with a strong set of characters who've had a chance to shine as much as possible within the confines of a procedural. Anthony LaPaglia as Jack Malone was terrific. The high point in many an episode for me was when Jack lost it and got in someone's face. His personal life was generally a mess, so LaPaglia had lots of chances to show the troubled side of his character.
Continue reading It was time for Without A Trace to end
Posted May 20th 2009 8:06AM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Watercooler Talk, Reality-Free
If you haven't heard yet, last night's season finale of
Without A Trace has ended up being the series finale.
CBS decided to cancel the show. But did it feel like a series finale, or did it just feel like another episode because they didn't know it was ending when they filmed it? Would you have rather have seen this show renewed instead of
Cold Case and
Numb3rs?
Posted May 15th 2009 1:35PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Upfronts, Reality-Free
Next Wednesday, CBS will be announcing its schedule for the new season, and while rumors have swirled that
Cold Case or
Without A Trace might be on the chopping block -- despite good ratings -- one sure thing seems to be the spinoff from
NCIS.
Well, now that I've seen the two-part
NCIS episode that served as a pilot for the show, I'm hoping that CBS gives this new series a thumbs-down. I don't expect that to happen, but if it were my decision, I wouldn't dump a solid series with a loyal viewership like
Cold Case or
Without A Trace, for the hope of LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell's overly fussy, overly procedural
NCIS derivative step-child.
Continue reading Why CBS shouldn't pick up the NCIS spinoff
Posted May 5th 2009 4:00PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, ABC has a new Scrubs, followed by the season (series?) finale of Better Off Ted and new episodes of Dancing with the Stars and Cupid.- CBS has a new NCIS at 8, then new episodes of The Mentalist and Without A Trace.
- NBC has a new, two-hour Biggest Loser, followed by a new Law and Order: SVU.
- FOX has new episodes of American Idol and Fringe.
- The CW has a new Reaper at 8, then a new 90210.
- TNT has the Hawks/Cavaliers game at 8, followed by the Nuggets/Mavericks game.
- At 9, Discovery has a new Deadliest Catch.
- Hallmark has the movie Bound By A Secret at 9.
- At 10, FX has a new Rescue Me.
- Bravo has a new Real Housewives of New York City at 10.
- Sci-Fi has a new ECW at 10.
- Travel Channel has a new Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.
- Also at 10: History Channel has a new Life After People.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: Reaper, Rescue Me, Real Housewives
Posted Apr 28th 2009 4:04PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 7, Jimmy Fallon is a guest on G4's Attack of the Show.- At 8, ABC has two new episodes of According To Jim, followed by new episodes of Dancing with the Stars and Cupid.
- CBS has a new NCIS, then new episodes of The Mentalist and Without a Trace.
- NBC has a new, two-hour Biggest Loser at 8, then a new Law and Order: SVU.
- FOX has new episodes of American Idol and Fringe.
- The CW has a new Reaper at 8, followed by a new 90210.
- At 9, PBS has a new Frontline.
- There's a new Food Detectives on Food Network at 9.
- Sci-Fi has a new ECW at 9.
- At 9:30 (or after the Celtics/Bulls game), TNT has the Mavericks/Spurs game).
- At 10, FX has a new Rescue Me.
- Bravo has a new Real Housewives of New York City at 10.
- History Channel has a new Life After People at 10.
- MTV has a new episode of The Phone.
- At 10:30, TBS has a new My Boys.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: NCIS, ECW, 90210, Fringe, My Boys
Posted Apr 14th 2009 4:02PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, ABC has two new episodes of According To Jim, then new episodes of Dancing with the Stars and Cupid.- NBC has a new, two-hour Biggest Loser.
- FOX has two new episodes of American Idol and Fringe.
- The CW has a new Reaper at 8, then a new 90210.
- There's a new Nova on PBS at 8, followed by a new Frontline/World.
- TCM is showing Gone with the Wind at 8.
- At 9, Discovery has a new Deadliest Catch, then a new Out of the Wild: The Alaska Experiment.
- Food Network has a new Food Detectives at 9.
- BBC America has a new Last Restaurant Standing at 9.
- Also at 9: Sci-Fi has a new ECW.
- At 10, CBS has a new Without A Trace.
- FX has a new Rescue Me at 10.
- Bravo has a new Real Housewives of New York City at 10.
- HBO has a new Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel at 10.
- Travel Channel has a new Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern at 10.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: According To Jim, Fringe, Deadliest Catch, ECW
Posted Mar 31st 2009 4:06PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, CBS has a new NCIS, then new episodes of The Mentalist and Without a Trace.- FOX has a new American Idol at 8, followed by the series premiere of The Osbournes: Reloaded.
- NBC has a new, two-hour Biggest Loser at 8, then a new Law and Order: SVU.
- The CW has new episodes of Reaper and 90210.
- There's a new Nova on PBS at 8, then a new Frontline.
- TCM has I Married A Monster From Outer Space at 8, followed by the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
- Also at 8: Nickelodeon has a new Penguins of Madagascar.
- At 9, ABC has a new Dancing with the Stars, followed by the series premiere of Cupid.
- TNT has two new episodes of Trust Me starting at 9.
- Sci-Fi has a new ECW at 9.
- BBC America has a new Last Restaurant Standing at 9.
- At 10, Food Network has a new Chopped.
- Bravo has a new Real Housewives of New York City at 10.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: NCIS, Cupid, 90210, Osbournes, Trust Me
Posted Mar 11th 2009 2:28PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Industry, Programming, TV Squad Polls, Cancellations, Reality-Free
Citing "multiple sources," Michael Ausiello is reporting that both
Cold Case and Without a Trace might be canceled.
The reason? The usual: ratings and money. The sources say that the ratings that each show gets just don't warrant a renewal for another season. But another source says that they might try to convince the stars and staff to take a pay cut so they can do another year.
I can't say I would miss either of these shows. For a while there,
Cold Case was a very effective drama, telling some rather interesting stories and using period music to get the emotion across. I never warmed to
Without a Trace. It's not a bad show, it's just that I decided to watch it one night and the episode ended with them finding the body of the kid who was missing the whole episode. What a downer. So I didn't watch it again.
Continue reading Cold Case and Without a Trace might be goners
Posted Feb 17th 2009 4:03PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, ABC has a new Homeland Security, USA.- CBS has a new NCIS at 8, then new episodes of The Mentalist and Without A Trace.
- NBC has a new, two-hour Biggest Loser at 8, followed by a new Law and Order: SVU.
- FOX has a new, two-hour American Idol.
- At 9, PBS has a new Frontline.
- Food Network has a new Food Detectives at 9.
- BBC America has a new Last Restaurant Standing at 9.
- At 10, ABC has a new Primetime: What Would You Do?
- TNT has a new Leverage at 10.
- There's a new Chopped on Food Network at 10.
- FX has a new Nip/Tuck at 10.
- Also at 10: Bravo has a new Real Housewives of Orange County, followed by the season premiere of Real Housewives of New York City.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: Biggest Loser, Mentalist, Chopped, What Would You Do?
Posted Feb 3rd 2009 4:02PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, ABC has a new Homeland Security USA, followed by two new episodes of Scrubs and a new Primetime: What Would You Do?- NBC has a new, two-hour Biggest Loser at 8, then a new Law and Order: SVU.
- FOX has new episodes of American Idol and Fringe.
- There's a new 90210 on The CW at 8,j followed by a new Privileged.
- PBS has a new Nova at 8, then a new Frontline.
- BBC America has two new episodes of Last Restaurant Standing starting at 8.
- At 9, Discovery has a new Dirty Jobs.
- Sci-Fi has a new ECW at 9.
- At 10, CBS has a new Without A Trace.
- TNT has a new Leverage at 10.
- FX has a new Nip/Tuck at 10.
- Bravo has a new Real Housewives of Orange County at 10.
- Also at 10: Food Network has a new Chopped.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: Idol, Nova, ECW, Nip/Tuck, Chopped
Posted Jan 13th 2009 4:02PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, FOX has the two-hour season premiere of American Idol.- ABC has the series premiere of Homeland Security at 8, followed by two new episodes of Scrubs and a new Primetime: What Would You Do?
- CBS has new episodes of NCIS, The Mentalist, and Without A Trace.
- NBC has a new, two-hour Biggest Loser at 8, then a new Law and Order: SVU.
- There's a new 90210 on The CW at 8, followed by a new Privileged.
- At 9, Discovery has a new Dirty Jobs, then a new Wreckreation Nation.
- History Channel has a new episode of The Universe at 9.
- Sci-Fi has a new ECW at 9.
- At 10, FX has a new Nip/Tuck.
- TNT has a new Leverage at 10.
- Food Network has the series premiere of Chopped at 10.
- Also at 10: Bravo has a new Real Housewives of Orange County.
- At 11, TBS has a new 10 Items Or Less.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: American Idol, NCIS, Leverage, Chopped
Posted Jan 6th 2009 4:10PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
- At 8, CBS has a new NCIS, followed by new episodes of The Mentalist and Without A Trace.
- ABC has the series premiere of Homeland Security, then the season premiere of Scrubs (two episodes), and a new Primetime: What Would You Do?
- NBC has a new, two-hour Biggest Loser at 8, then a new Law and Order: SVU.
- The CW has new episodes of 90210 and Privileged.
- ESPN has the GMAC Bowl at 8.
- At 9, PBS has a new Frontline.
- Discovery has a new Dirty Jobs at 9, followed by a new Wreckreation.
- History Channel has a new episode of The Universe at 9.
- Also at 9: Sci-Fi has a new ECW.
- At 10, TNT has a new Leverage.
- FX has the season premiere of Nip/Tuck at 10.
- There's a new Real Housewives of Orange County on Bravo at 10.
- William Shatner interviews Leonard Nimoy on a new Raw Nerve, at 10 on The Biography Channel.
- At 11, TBS has the season premiere of 10 Items Or Less.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: NCIS, Scrubs, Frontline, Nip/Tuck
Posted Dec 19th 2008 7:29PM by Kona Gallagher
Filed under: Food/Home/DIY, Saturday Night Live, Festivus, The Office, Celebrities, 30 Rock, Reality-Free, Gossip Girl, Mad Men, Life on Mars, The Mentalist
Since I'm still new enough at TV Squad not to exist on the "Meet the TV Squad" page, this is my first Festivus. It's nice to be able to dig deep into my heart for all of my TV wishes in hopes that some internet fairy will grant them and make the television landscape just a little bit more awesome... for me, at least.
Without further ado, here is what I want for Festivus:
- Christina Hendricks and the rest of the Mad Men cast should guest-star on more shows. Ever since I started watching Mad Men, I've noticed Hendricks popping up places. She's on an episode of Without a Trace here, an old episode of Cold Case there... I love me some Joan Holloway and Mad Men isn't returning soon enough. I loved seeing Jon Hamm host SNL, and I'm super excited about his upcoming guest stint on 30 Rock. More please!
Continue reading All Kona wants for Festivus
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