Now that the strike is over, networks and the powers that be behind each shows are deciding how many episodes they can shoot in the coming two months or so to air by the end of May or early June. Their decision will be based on the storylines they can offer and wrap up in a small number of episodes as well as the production cost. Some series, like Heroes, that require more FX, flashy sets, more post-production time, may resume shooting in the coming weeks but those episodes will more than likely be for next season. But one thing most fans (I include myself in the lot) didn't consider in the equation to determine the number of new episodes will get are the actors' contracts.Posts with tag episode
Will actors' contracts impact the number of new episodes we get this spring?
Now that the strike is over, networks and the powers that be behind each shows are deciding how many episodes they can shoot in the coming two months or so to air by the end of May or early June. Their decision will be based on the storylines they can offer and wrap up in a small number of episodes as well as the production cost. Some series, like Heroes, that require more FX, flashy sets, more post-production time, may resume shooting in the coming weeks but those episodes will more than likely be for next season. But one thing most fans (I include myself in the lot) didn't consider in the equation to determine the number of new episodes will get are the actors' contracts.Continue reading Will actors' contracts impact the number of new episodes we get this spring?
Kevin Smith to direct episode of Battlestar Galactica
It looks like Kevin Smith is really getting his feet wet in the TV business this year, isn't he? Not only did he direct the very funny pilot to the CW's new series Reaper and write and direct the first episode of Heroes: Origins, but it now looks like he will also be directing an episode of Battlestar Galactica during its upcoming final season, as well.Smith revealed that little tidbit to our friend Angel Cohn at AOL's TV Tattler, where he spoke about how he came on board all three of his upcoming TV projects, as well as a couple of details about his non-TV work. But, for right now, the most important part of the interview will be the details about his BSG episode...
Continue reading Kevin Smith to direct episode of Battlestar Galactica
David Arquette to direct sister Patricia on Medium
Having a terrific brother myself, I have a great affection for brother-sister teams. Together, they work past the boring notion of sibling rivalry to achieve greatness. Amy and David Sedaris on the New York Theater Workshop stage. Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal in Donnie Darko. John and Joan Cusack in just about every film either one of them has made. Now, another team is looking to make the list of great brother-sister working relationships. David Arquette will be directing big sis Patricia in an upcoming episode of Medium. Patricia had this to say about the collaboration: "I was always a bossy little girl and being David's older sister I've bossed him around quite a bit. Now that he'll be directing me it will be payback time...I feel so safe with him. I think I'll be able to go to some of my darkest places." That's kinda creepy, but whatever, you work out those family neuroses. When you're done, maybe you could straighten those Baldwins out.
Fox subpoenas YouTube over 24 episode
Fox wants to know who in the hell is putting its clips up on YouTube! The network served YouTube with a subpoena yesterday demanding it release the identity of the users who uploaded entire episodes of 24 and clips of The Simpsons. It sent a similar subpoena to lesser-known video site LiveDigital.But don't freak out. Not yet, anyway.
Fox is only subpoening information about the user who uploaded the entire season premiere of 24 to the website before it even aired on the network. It looks as though Fox is searching for a mole within its midst. The user in question is 'ECOtotal' and, if you search for him/her on YouTube, you'll see that person's account is currently suspended. So far, YouTube has not said whether it will give up the user's personal information to Fox.
Final Smith episodes available on Innertube
There are seven episodes of Smith up on CBS' broadband channel, Innertube. The series was canceled after only three episodes made air. Presumably, seven episodes are all that were ever made of Smith, an action-drama about a band of robbers, starring Ray Liotta and Virginia Madsen. TV Guide said the series was canceled because of meager ratings and an abhorrent price tag of $3 million per episode. I'm not sure whether Smith actually wraps up in the seventh episode- I have the feeling that it'll leave you fans hanging.I haven't watched all the episodes and don't plan to since I wasn't a fan, but feel free to let us know in comments if it got any better!
[Thanks for the tip, Matt!]
Tomorrow's South Park tackles student/teacher sex
Once again jabbing recent headlines with its sharp satirical stick, tomorrow night's South Park will focus on an affair happening between a student and a teacher. In the episode, titled "Miss Teacher Bangs A Boy," Cartman is chosen to be Hall Monitor and becomes offended when he finds out the affair happened on his watch. And we all know how much Cartman hates it when we don't respect his authoritah. You can watch a very quick clip of the episode here. Also, check out the picture on the right with Cartman decked out like Dog the Bounty Hunter. Maybe Matt and Trey plan to weigh in on the current debacle surrounding the famed bounty hunter and his recent arrest. I haven't even seen this episode and I think I love it already.
David Duchovny to direct episode of Bones
According to David Boreanaz's Bones blog, actor David Duchovny will be directing an upcoming episode of Bones. The crew had just finished taping the episode "Aliens in a Spaceship," and Boreanaz writes that Duchovny will be directing the "next episode" which is listed as "The Headless Witch in the Woods," an episode that currently has no specific airdate at the moment. Boreanz also writes that Duchovny may appear in a future episode. Duchovny has been absent from television for awhile now as he ventures further into his film career, so if you've been anxiously waiting to see him on television again, this is your chance. Duchovny last appeared on TV in an episode of Sex and the City in 2003.
[via Dark Horizons]
Heroes: Don't Look Back
(S01E02) Tonight's episode adds to the puzzle and that's just fine by me. It's still early and, as packed with characters and plot threads as the opener was, this episode seems like the second half of a two hour premiere. We're just getting started, still meeting new characters for the first time, and only Flying Boy has yet to cross paths with any of the other heroes.We get our first intimations of a named super villain tonight: Sylar. He (it?) likes to collect, or eat, superhero brains. Sylar is Mohinder's father's "patient zero" which I guess means he's either the link to all the heroes, or the first one with powers, or maybe the cause of everything, or, who knows.
Evidently, Mohinder has a hard time entering an apartment without finding a government agent creeping about. This is the second week in a row. But this time at least he meets a super-cutie neighbor -- who luckily handles a gun pretty well for a antique bookstore clerk. But Mohinder needs to have someone to deliver his exposition to, so she comes in quite handy in that way too.
Continue reading Heroes: Don't Look Back
Smith pilot now available online
The new Ray Liotta, shoot 'em up series pilot is available for a preview on Google Video. Smith is about a guy who runs a gang of thieves, but is trying to get out of the business for the sake of his wife and kids. It's one of the few pilots that I haven't had a chance to see, but fellow TV Squadder Bob really enjoyed it (I did get a TiVo season pass though). Smith premieres on CBS on Tuesday, September 19th so you're getting it online almost one week before it airs.Other CBS series currently available for viewing on Google Video are The Class, The New Adventures of Old Christine, NCIS and all sorts of CSI.
[Via TV Guide.com]
How does an episode of Foster's get made?
If you're a fan of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, you might find this interesting. Creator Craig McCracken is posting, in real-time, a step-by-step description of everything that goes into creating an episode of the series. You'll have to check the production blog every day to see how they're coming along. The first step, naturally, is coming up with a story idea, which Cracken says is usually based on a certain character rather than some mere "concept." I guess that's a good approach, and it seems to have worked pretty well for them so far. The blog is still pretty new, so there's not a lot of stuff on it yet, but check out the archives anyway for some cool early sketches of the characters.
Amazon to offer TV, movie downloads
Amazon.com is getting in on the internet video craze. According to AdAge, next month it's launching Amazon Digital Video, a service that will make full-length movies and television shows available for download. There are reportedly two ways to pay for the service: 1) a subscription and 2) pay-per-view. No word yet on what the cost per episode or per movie will be. Apparently, Amazon was planning to focus on selling downloadable music but decided that iTunes has cornered that market. Video, on the other hand, is still fresh and new. While iTunes does offer a significant amount of video, it does not offer movies and the television offerings are somewhat limited (although more are becoming available every day). No word yet on which television shows will be available for download off Amazon.[Via Lost Remote]
Grey's Anatomy's latest episode to re-air Thursday
For those who may have missed the post-Super Bowl episode of Grey's Anatomy this week
(and haven't yet downloaded a torrent of said episode), you're in luck. ABC will be re-airing the show this Thursday at
9PM ET, replacing the episode of Crumbs that would've normally aired at that time, and shortening ABC News'
Primetime by a half hour. Hopefully, this time, your DVRs won't be confused.Write a 'fanisode' of The L Word
Writers of The L Word are
including the show's fans in a very unique way. They've started a 'fanisode' contest where fans team up with writers to
script an episode one scene at a time. Each week, the writers will announce a scene mission on their website and fans create it. Then fans vote on which submissions they like
the best. It's a process that repeats itself each week until an entire episode is created out of fan-chosen and
fan-created scenes. However, writers are not guaranteeing that the particular episode will air.The fans whose scenes are elected will receive prizes, mostly in the form of gift certificates or a piece of schwag from The L Word set. At the end of the competition, which is March 31, one of the previous winners will be randomly chosen for e-mail mentoring from one of The L Word's writers and a $1,000 gift certificate to Saks.
Everybody Hates Chris (I missed it)
Apparently one must be on his toes to catch new episodes of
Everybody Hates Chris. The show started going into reruns in November, but they did manage to sneak a new Christmas episode in.
However, after that it looked as if it was back to repeats again. I kept an eye on the TV schedule, and sure enough, it
was repeat after repeat. That is, until last week when a new episode aired and I totally missed it. TV.com has a summary of
the episode, which, by the way, is not even mentioned on UPN's site for the show. This week the episode is
a repeat yet again, but the week after that, February 2 to be exact, there will be yet another new episode. I'm all over
that one, I promise.
Giveaways reminder: Office, Eli Stone, Supernatural, South Park
Giveaway Thursday: Tickets to the New York Television Festival ... all of it!
I miss the media-friendly John McCain - VIDEOS
