pimblr.com

So now we know what’s coming back (Eli Stone, yay!) and what isn’t (Moonlight, boo!). And after glimpsing clips and snippets of the new stuff on most of the networks—sorry, NBC, I would have preferred to “experience” a taste of your new line-up instead of a carnival of empty hype—we’re even feeling a bit of buzz (welcome back, J.J. Abrams!) about the new season to come.
Looking back at a hectic week of TV, off and on screen, some reflections:
The Big Five networks are introducing a mere 16 new series collectively this fall: down significantly from the 20-something of a year ago and roughly half of what we used to see back when the networks were still serious about comedies. One upside: a lot less chaos and confusion, and the networks can focus their promotion on behalf of a handful of shows that might actually break out. Another upside: Fewer new shows means fewer freshman shows got canceled. Shows like Chuck, Life, Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money, Gossip Girl, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Samantha Who?, Eli Stone—all of which can be relaunched in the fall with as much fanfare as we used to see for brand-new shows.
The downside: With fewer new titles to sell and tease, there may be an overall lack of excitement when September rolls around. (Though not in my corner. I can’t wait for my sophomore faves to return, especially those cut short by the writers’ strike.)
So what stood out? J.J. Abrams’ Fringe on Fox, naturally. Looks slick and scary, and reminiscent of Lost, it begins with an airborne catastrophe (though ending far less happily). My main concern at this point, about this and Joss Whedon’s midseason Dollhouse, is that if the high-concept premise is too complicated to convey easily, it may have trouble breaking out beyond cult status. And with House as a mighty lead-in, Fringe may look like it’s not pulling its weight. But expectations are that it will open big (with a splashy two-hour premiere the week before Labor Day). I can’t wait.

seattlepi.nwsource.com

American Idol. Season 7. Final Three. Three Songs. I’m so freakin excited, I think I might pop a vein. *Chill* Before the Show starts, Bitten would like a brief word with the Final Three, a pep talk of sorts. That’s right, let’s all huddle around now…
Squinty – Awright Archie, you know I like to make fun of your squinty-eyed Barry Manilow-singing McFetus ass, but I still think you’re talented and a good kid to boot. Because I like you (and because everything I say is important), I’m going to give you some sage advice, which I will condense into one simple word: Emancipation. You need to break free from Poppie Dearest now, or you are going to come home from school one day and find Jonah Crawford roasting the family jewels on wire hangers over an open fire. Oh, and if Cra-zee Dearest gives ya any crap, Bruiser Bitten would be happy to come over there and personally pop a jujitsu on his overbearing, cap-wearing ass. Or Palais will run him over with her Zamboni. Either way, ya really need to cut the cord, luv. That’s all.
Timex – Syesha, gurl, nobody in Season 7 knows the view from the stools quite like you, and yet you have somehow risen like a Phoenix from the ashes each and every week. So… let’s all give it up for Syesha, a standing O for the Energizer Bunny, the freakin Timex watch that takes a lickin and keeps on tickin. Yeah, Gurl, I’m going to let you in on a little secret… I want you in the Final Two. Granted, I want David Cook to douse your flame with a big ole bucket of wodka and then join me for a mud bath as we frolick about and do the Nasty in your ashes (…TMI?), but I still want you on the stage, which is truly saying something. After all, I think you’ve earned it.

tvfan.ew.com

In 2008, the Philadelphia Eagles face perhaps their last chance to shoot for a Super Bowl in the Donovan McNabb era. Over the last few years, the Eagles schedule seems to suggest some easy wins in the first half of the season, and some very tough games in the second half. But slower starts and big finishes have been the Eagles traditional pattern. In the coming NFL season, the Eagles face a tough beginning and a tough end to their schedule.
On Opening Day, the Eagles open at home against the Rams, a team that the Eagles can easily beat. More difficult match ups in the coming weeks include a Monday Night game at Dallas in Week 2, a home game against the Steelers in Week 3, and a Sunday night game at Chicago in Week 4. Games on October 12′th at San Francisco and October 26′th vs Atlanta could provide a relief. The Eagles close out the first half of the schedule visiting the always tough Seattle Seahawks in Week 9.
In the second half of the schedule, the Eagles host the Super Bowl champion Giants on a Sunday night during Week 10, and visit them in Week 14. Weeks 11 and 12 have the Eagles facing AFC doormats Cincinnati and Baltimore, followed by a very rare Thanksgiving Day home game against Arizona. To end the season, the Eagles once again close out with games against NFC East foes, as they visit the Redskins on December 21’st and host Dallas on the final week.
The Eagles schedules features at least six to eight games they should be able to win against inferior competition. Their six games against NFC East rivals can go either way, as always. The Week 2 and 3 games against Dallas and Pittsburgh can establish the Eagles as a legitimate contender, or set the stage for another year where they struggle at .500. The Eagles have struggled to reach fast starts over the last few years, but with their window of opportunity almost slammed shut, starting off right will be very important. Still, other than the Steelers, no other AFC powerhouse team is in the Eagles schedule, and they are capable of beating any team in the NFC at any given time.

associatedcontent.com

Most of the network’s comedies were roughly on par with their pre-strike averages, but “The Office” spiked to deliver its highest rating since the show’s fall season premiere (9.2 million, 4.8/12). At 8 p.m., “My Name Is Earl” (7 million, 3.0/9) and return of “30 Rock” (5.7 million, 2.7/7) were down slightly from their averages as they were up against an “American Idol” results show. The return of comedy “Scrubs” at 9:30 was up 6% (6.6 million, 3.4/8). At 10 p.m., the return of “ER” was down 14% to match its all-time low (5.9 million, 3.1/8).
NBC came in third place overall, with Fox in first place airing a special “American Idol” results show (20 million, 6.8/19), which matched Wednesday’s “Idol Gives Back” event. After, an episode of “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” performed strong (10.9 million, 4.0/10).
In second place, CBS aired a series low “Survivor: Micronesia” (11.7 million, 3.8/11). “CSI” was down a couple ticks from last week’s return to originals (20 million, 5.7/14), but effectively matched “Idol” as the most-viewed show of night. “Without a Trace” held steady (14.6 million, 3.9/11).

hollywoodreporter.com

NBA (6:30 p.m., Ch. 14): Jazz at Mavericks
Survivor (7 p.m., Ch. 2): The tribes merge.
Desperate Housewives (7 and 8 p.m., Ch. 4): The two most recent episodes are repeated; a new hour airs Sunday.
My Name Is Earl (7 p.m., Ch. 5): Randy works on Earl’s list.
American Idol (7 p.m., Ch. 13): Another contestant is eliminated.
30 Rock (7:30 p.m., Ch. 5): Everyone is obsessed with a tawdry reality show.
CSI (8 p.m., Ch. 2): A toddler is murdered.
The Office (8 p.m., Ch. 5): Pam and Jim go to Jan and Michael’s house for dinner.
Scrubs (8:30 p.m., Ch. 5): Turk tries to learn Spanish.
Without a Trace (9:01 p.m., Ch. 2): A heart-transplant recipient disappears.
Eli Stone (9 p.m., Ch. 4): Eli represents a convict denied parole. (Another episode airs Sunday at 9 p.m.)
Thursday's are back! Yipee!
Linda | April 10, 2008 at 10:03 a.m.

deseretnews.com

In an exclusive interview with executive producer Ron Moore, it has been revealed that due to funding issues, the highly anticipated season 4 of Battlestar Galactica, due to air this Friday, has been postponed until June.
"We know our fans will be devastated by this announcement but NBC basically gave us no options. Season 4 will be an unforgettable adventure that will bring about drastic changes in the main storyline, introduce several new characters, and will include many new twists that should please everyone," said Mr. Moore. "Because of funding issues with the Sci-Fi channel, specifically the debt and poor viewership that has come about due to the airing of Ghost Hunters and the ECW, NBC has announced a strategic new plan for our show. This plan could possibly see BSG airing on mainstream NBC."
With the recent downfall of HD-DVD and the more recent release of Battlestar Galactica season 3 on DVD, when asked about the timing for the seasons to be released on Blu-Ray, Ron’s outlook seemed bleak.
"Look at how long NBC Universal took with the release of season 3 on DVD and even more how long it took the company to realize that Blu-Ray would be the accepted future format," Mr. Moore added. "We’re trying to keep fans happy but it’s difficult when the giant sloth of a company can’t get its act together. The BSG seasons will be released on Blu-Ray, but don’t expect them for at least another two years."
For now, it looks like Friday will go by with Stargate SG-1 re-runs.
Oh Jesus Christ. thank god its April Fools Day. I was about to throw up all over my computer. O thank the lords of Kobol
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2404.org

Firefly (Sci-fi, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.) - Joss Whedon’s cult space Western gets the marathon treatment.
Prison Break (FOX, 8 p.m.) - Say goodbye and good luck. It’s season finale time for the Prison boys.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (FOX, 9 p.m.) - Sarah’s got her hands full between trying to save Brian Austin Green and explaining her past to ex-boyfriend Charley.
History of the Joke (History, 9 p.m.) - Comic Lewis Black searches for what it takes to craft the best joke in this documentary also featuring George Carlin, Kathy Griffin and Robin Williams.
Medium (NBC, 10 p.m.) - After a four-week hiatus, the Dubois family is back with an episode directed by David Arquette and guest starring Steven Culp (Bree’s dead husband on Desperate Housewives). Tonight, Allison loses her hearing while working on a case involving a missing deaf girl.
American Idol (FOX, 8 p.m.) - The first live performance show kicks off with the boys.
Nip/Tuck (FX, 10 p.m.) - The always hilarious Jennifer Coolidge returns as actress Candy Richards while tragedy strikes the twisted McNamara/Troy family in tonight’s season finale.
American Idol (FOX, 8 p.m.) - It’s the ladies’ turn to show off their pipes.
America’s Next Top Model (The CW, 8 p.m.) - The dramatics are back with the return of Tyra’s not-quite-a-top-model competition, which has moved to New York.
Project Runway (Bravo, 10 p.m.) - It’s a reunion, which can only mean one thing: Ricky is going to cry.
American Idol (FOX, 8 p.m.) - The results are in, and four of the contestants are going home tonight.
Lost (ABC, 9 p.m.) - Here’s hoping we finally found who’s waiting at home in this Kate centric episode.
Supernatural (The CW, 8-10 p.m.) - At 9 p.m., Agent Henricksen finally catches up with the boys in the last new episode until April 24. At 8 p.m., find out how the Winchesters slipped through Henricksen’s fingers during their first encounter in a rerun of last season’s fantastic “Nightshifter” episode.
Eli Stone (ABC, 10 p.m.) - Eli takes on the man upstairs, and we do mean The Man.
Without A Trace (CBS, 10 p.m.) - This crossover rerun finds CSI’s Gil Grissom and Jack working together to track a serial killer.
Chuck (Sci-fi, 8 p.m.) - The NBC series’ delightfully escapist first season repeats on Sci-fi Channel every Friday.
The Soup (E!, 10 p.m.) - How about Joel McHale to replace Conan?
2008 Film Independent Spirit Awards (IFC, 5 p.m.) - Celebrate the performances and films that got snubbed by the Oscars with funny man/host Rainn Wilson.
80th Annual Academy Awards (ABC, 8:30 p.m.) - Now that the writers’ strike is over, the Oscars are going on as originally planned. Some of the things you can look forward to this year: musical performances from Enchanted’s Amy Adams, Pushing Daisies’ Kristin Chenoweth (singing “That’s How You Know” from Enchanted) and Once, as well as presenters as varied as Seth Rogen, Miley Cyrus and James McAvoy.
For those looking for more meaty programming, the following series are dark and grisly, much like many of this year’s Best Picture nominees:
Dexter (CBS, 10 p.m.) - It’s a sanitized rerun, but…
Starpulse.com contributing writer

starpulse.com