TVSquad

OK, before you Moonlight fans come after me, I'm kidding with the post title ... mostly. The similarities are rather striking though. Remember when team Moonlight brought in former Angel producer David Greenwalt, and most of the original cast was sent packing? Well, now comes word that former Angel producer Jeffrey Bell has been brought in as the new showrunner for Harper's Island, and Elaine Cassidy is the only actor being held over from the pilot. Eeerie, isn't it?

I'm still not exactly bullish on the idea that serialized horror/drama is something that CBS can pull off, but you never know. That's what makes TV so fun. And I'm enough of a fan of things in the horror genre that I'll certainly be game to give this one a look. Bell, who also counts X-Files, Alias, and Day Break among his credits, will be sharing executive producer duties with Jericho's John Turteltaub. Here's hoping things go better for Mr. Bell than they did for Mr. Greenwalt. If you haven't seen the preview for Harper's Island yet, it's embedded, after the jump.

I'm getting a bit concerned about the new CBS drama Moonlight. You know, the one about a vampire private-eye who works the streets of Los Angeles? No, I'm not confusing this show with Angel! See, that was a show about a vampire who was a private-eye working the dark streets of Los Angeles. Two totally different shows here!

I'm getting worried because of all of the changes going on for a show that hasn't even aired its first episode yet. I know that small changes can occur between the time that a show is picked up until its series premiere. But, when the changes include recasting everyone except the main character I foresee problems. And, when the person who decided to recast the show leaves after only a few short weeks I can see the words 'mid-season replacement' written all over the program.

When CBS first announced their new show Moonlight there were a lot of people out in tvland that raised an eyebrow. A vampire? Who just happens to be a private detective? Romantic drama with a mortal? It wasn't a tough jump to Angel. I was willing to wait and see, because there are a lot of ways the show could go. It wouldn't necessarily have to be a rip-off of Angel.

Now comes word that in addition to recasting the female lead, the network has brought in David Greenwalt as Executive Producer/Showrunner. Yes, the same David Greenwalt who was a writer/producer for Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and is credited as co-creating Angel. It's getting a little harder to give anyone involved the benefit of the doubt.

That doesn't mean the show isn't going to be good. I'd go so far as to say the addition of Greenwalt makes the show look like a more attractive option for your television viewing schedule. Along with the his Buffy and Angel work, he was also the showrunner for NBC's Kidnapped, and ABC's Miracles. While both of those shows came and went rather quickly, it wasn't because they were poorly made.