From Hermes Press

The Hot List:
Monday – “Life Unexpected” (CWB) [Season Finale!]; “24" (FOX); “House” (FOX) [Hugh Laurie directed!]; “Castle” (ABC); “Saving Grace” (TNT); and, “United States of Tara” (SHO).
Tuesday – “V” (ABC); “NCIS” (CBS); “NCIS - LA” (CBS); “Justified” (FX); “Parenthood” (NBC); “Law & Order - Criminal Intent” (USA); and, “The Good Wife” (CBS).
Wednesday – “Criminal Minds” (CBS) [guest-starring Forest Whitaker]; “Human Target” (FOX) [‘Six Million $’ Guest!]; “Law & Order - Special Victims Unit” (NBC); “Ugly Betty” (ABC) [Series Finale!]; and, “In Plain Sight” (USA).
Thursday – “Bones” (FOX) [100th episode!]; “Vampire Diaries” (CWB); “Known Universe” (NGO); “Supernatural” (CWB); and, “Fringe” (FOX).
Friday – “Miami Medical” (CBS); “Star Wars - The Clone Wars” (CAR); “Degrassi - The Next Generation” (TNK); “Wizards Of Waverly Place” (DIS) [guest-starring Shakira!]; and, “Stargate Universe” (SYF).
Saturday – “SciGirls” (PBS); “iCarly” (NIK); “Doctor Who” (BBC); and, “My Friends Tigger & Pooh” (DIS).
Sunday – “Victorious” (NIK); “Masterpiece Classic” (PBS); “The Simpsons” (FOX); “Brothers & Sisters” (ABC); “Family Guy” (FOX) [featuring ‘Hank Hill’]; “Army Wives” (LIF) [season premiere]; “The Pacific” (HBO); “Sonny With A Chance” (DIS); “Good Luck Charlie” (DIS); and, “Treme” (HBO) [series debut].

Breaking News:  Beginning 13 June, discover the secret of Eric (Alexander Skarsgard)’s interest in Sookie (Anna Paquin) in the new season of [HBO’s] “True Blood”. This is officially the last season of [FOX’s] “24" {though I’m holding-out hope for a theatrical film and a USA series!}. Given the quick rise to the top of the ratings, it would seem [NBC’s] “The Tonight Show” audience just preferred Jay Leno {guess they ain’t Conan friendly}.
  Sharon Stone, coming to [NBC’s] “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” beginning 28 April. ABC has announced, no renewal for “Scrubs”; so, it’s {apparently} really dead this time. And, one of it’s sci-fi’s will get the ax – “V” or “Flash Forward”? Alas, “The Forgotten”... {I forget}. CBS’ entire Friday night may end; gone, like “Cold Case”.
  It would seem, for ABC and CBS, the money is in new comedy. CWB is backing weekly drama in the “soap opera” venue. And, NBC is still kicking with action - though they’re hoping for big numbers (ratings and other network syndication) from “Heroes” and “Law & Order” to justify renewal. It’s a first for ‘Jack’ [Bauer] - an actual “intimate” moment during his hectic day (22 April)!

“The Biz:: Movie Stars’ Must-Have – A TV Role”:  ^Once upon a time, network casting executives who sought to hire Hollywood stars were met with a two-word response from agents, “No television”. But, now names once exclusively associated with the big screen are making their way into series television. Glenn Close, Kyra Sedgwick and Holly Hunter have become popular cable television series stars. While, Sally Field, Rob Lowe, and Laurence Fishburne haven’t hurt their careers any becoming popular network television series stars.^

From William Keck:  The writer’s of “Bones” have a rather odd decoration in their office – a skeleton displaying clues to every episode of this season [including those not yet aired] – and it’s being auctioned to benefit UNICEF beginning 01 April... {or maybe NOT}!? Lucy Davis, wife of Owain Yeoman (‘Wayne’), will be featured in the 06 May episode of [CBS’s] “The Mentalist”. David Boreanaz directed the 100th episode of [FOX’s] “Bones”, airing 08 April.

From Ingela Ratledge:  While ‘Ellie’ and ‘Andy’ are spending all their time with ‘Jules’, who’s watching their baby?! {Perhaps the folks on Wisteria Lane are simply 'desperate' for a brain?} Did ‘the visitors’ rewrite the natural laws of procreation [again]?! {Actually, given their bipedal nature and ability to appear and sound human, one could easily assume they aren’t strictly reptilian. Also, they’re likely to have technology well in advance of ours, including reproductive technology!} And, is Kara flirting with Simon on ‘Idol’?

“Getting Some Action” by Hugh Laurie:  ^Physician, direct thyself. That was the offer, challenge, piece of lead pipe they swung at my head. And, I knew straightaway I was in trouble.^

“Bye, Bye Betty!” by William Keck:  ^After four wildly colorful, fabulously gay and extremely bitchy seasons, ABC’s “Ugly Betty” will bid farewell 14 April. The final weeks of filming have proven emotional for America Ferrera, who long fretted over the show’s changing time-slots; moving studio locations; struggling ratings; and, wacky sub-plots.^

From Matt Roush:  This week’s “Masterpiece” [on PBS] is a new dramatization of “The Diary of Anne Frank” and will air [appropriately] on ‘Holocaust Remembrance Day’, 11 April. Patricia Cromwell’s “At Risk” and “The Front” come to Lifetime [Network] 17 April. Doctor Who is “especially amusing”, still “a pleasure” in the “capable and charming” hands of Matt Smith {star} [and Steven Moffet {producer}]. And, [HBO’s] “Treme” is “a feast for the senses and a gritty tribute to the soul and irresistible culture of a mighty city.”

“Walternate Reality” by Damian Holbrook:  ^As a ‘mad’ scientist, John Noble is going back in time and teasing some future shocks for [FOX’s] “Fringe”. For the past two seasons, Mr. Noble has been breaking our hearts and blowing our minds as ‘Dr. Walter Bishop’. Some major secrets are being revealed with the 01 April season premiere of “Fringe”, a flashback episode entitled “Peter”^ {And, look for a “musical episode” coming 29 April!}

Sci-Fi Preview:  [CWB]’s “Smallville” this season will feature ‘Amanda Waller’ (Pam Grier); Checkmate; and, ‘Maxwell Lord’ (Gil Bellows). David Sark (of “Alias”; “Heroes” and “24") will be featured on [CWB’s] “Vampire Diaries” beginning 15 April.
  Syfy is promising new aliens; a civil war; and possibly a baby during this season of “Stargate Universe”. Plus, a flashback episode revealing the tragedy in the life of ‘Dr. Rush’ and his “surprising” connection to ‘Daniel Jackson’.
  In addition to the 13 April episode of [ABC's] "Lost", ‘Libby’ (Cynthia Watros) and ‘Michael’ (Harold Perrineau) will join a host of other “killed-off” characters for the “top-secret series finale”. The 13 April episode of [ABC’s] “V” will reveal ‘the visitors’ “claws” and the leader of ‘The Fifth Column’.
  Matt Smith will debut [in the United States] as ‘The Doctor’ 17 April on BBC America, where “Doctor Who” apparently more popular than it was on Syfy Channel. {And, I still hope my local PBS station will air the classic series. Here in Rochester, PBS is broadcasting “Doctor Who” [one season behind BBC America] Saturday’s at 11PM. But, I’m campaigning for them to add the classic series to the schedule too!}
  Cartoon Network recruited fan favorites Adam West (live-action “Batman” circa 1966) and Kevin Conroy (the animated series circa 1996) for it’s 09 April “Brave and the Bold” prequel episode. Boba Fett will seek his revenge in [Cartoon Network’s] “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” beginning 23 April! Finally, “Ben10: Ultimate Alien” will debut 23 April!

“New Orleans Saints (and Sinners)” by Joe Rhodes:  ^David Simon (exec producer of “The Wire”) will explore the lives of survivors of Hurricane Katrina in HBO’s gritty new drama “Treme”. The scene, if it were taking place anywhere else in America, would seem contrived: In a hospital waiting room, a down-and-out trombone player, frustrated that no one will tend to his busted lip, has begun to sing a song to himself, conjuring alternative lyrics to “St. James Infirmary”. Eventually, half the people in the room start playing along, thumping their crutches, bobbing their bandaged heads, tapping out rhythms on purple plastic chairs.^

“For the Love of Gibbs” by Chris Willman:  ^As played by Mark Harmon [for CBS’ “NCIS”], ‘Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ has been notoriously unlucky in love. Ant, that’s been lucky for a couple of actresses with recurring roles on the top-rated drama. “Gibbs is a great character,” said Dina Meyer, on of the new additions, “and I’d think the audience would like to see his feathers ruffled just a little bit.”^

“I Owe It All to Raylan” by Elmore Leonard:  ^Names are important to me when I’m writing a book. If I give someone the wrong name, he might not talk when he’s supposed to, or be comfortable with himself. In “Bandits”, I called the main character ‘Frank Matisse’ and he almost refused to talk. I changed him to ‘Jack Delaney’ and I couldn’t shut him up. Other times, a name will just float down from the heavens and a character is born instantly. Such was the case when I met Raylan.^

From Michael Logan:  ‘Ma Walton’ is hospitalized! Yup, Michael Learned will join [ABC’s] “General Hospital” 16 April for “a multi-week run” as a dying cancer patient attended by ‘Elizabeth Webber’ (Rebecca Herbst). Alas, GH is getting another new ‘Michael’. Apparently, Drew Garrett [who replaced Dylan Cash {because ‘Michael’ was aged like seven years during his one year coma!}] is being replaced for the more appealing Chad Duell.
  Alicia Minshew (‘Kendall’) and Thorsten Kaye (‘Zach’) make a brief return to [ABC’s] “All My Children” 09 and 13 April.
  Peter Reckell (‘Bo’) hasn’t been fired from “Days of Our Lives” {where, incidentally, ‘Pa Walton’ can be seen as ‘Father Matt’} but he has been placed on a mandatory hiatus – because he’s reached his contractual maximum number of episodes and the studio doesn’t want to pay him for the overtime!
  Erin Karpluk (“Being Erica” and “Life Unexpected”) is moving to Los Angeles where she’s hoping to get some Hollywood work.
  ‘Kyle’ and ‘Fish’ are abruptly exiting [ABC’s] “One Life To Live”, skuttle-butt is “complaints from [homophobic] viewers”. {Those ‘viewers’ may be watching in the network exec offices because web, mail and phone response to the firing is contradictory to the official statement!}
  You may have heard about the “Dark Shadows” feature film starring Johnny Depp but did you know the original television series is now available on DVD and the cast is still performing the series!? Yes! You can find original audio dramas, featuring the original cast members, available from Amazon. {And, trade collection of the original graphic serializations are available from Hermes Press!}

Screen Gems by Karon West
08 April 2010
from TV Guide 05 & 12 April 2010