Note: I want to let everyone know that I leave today for L.A. to cover the annual Television Critics Association summer press tour. Beginning tomorrow and for two weeks, I will try my very best to schmooze up all the key U.S. players for you folks back in Canada, accumulate knowledge on all the new and returning series on tap for this fall and gather information to continue answering all of your TV questions. Check TV Guide Canada (tvguide.ca) for my daily blog and news stories, and take a gander at my agenda to see if any of your shows are on my hit list. Now on to this week's questions.
Hey Amber, by fluke I came across Virtuality last week. I PVR’ed it, thinking it was a made-for-TV movie that sounded interesting. Well I just watched it now and LOVED it! I Googled it and was disappointed to see it did not fare well in the ratings, and now its future as a series is in doubt. Do you know if Fox will go ahead with it, and when? Thanks. – Angie
Amber: Am I the only one who’s noticing Fox’s trend of pretending it’s all about the sci-fi series, but then never really giving them a hope in hell of lasting more than a couple of seasons? Virtuality was originally created as a two-hour pilot, but the network aired it as a two-hour movie event to see how it would fare in the ratings. As you’ve already pointed out, it didn’t do well, scrapping together fewer than two million watchers in the U.S. However, I don’t think that’s a fair number, given that both Farrah’s Story and a Michael Jackson 20/20 special went head-to-head with it. Hopefully, Fox airs a repeat (backed with some actual promotion to make viewers aware) and makes a decision based on that. As creator and executive producer Ronald Moore said on a call, there’s potential. “It’s got some pretty heavy things that go down in it. I think right now it doesn’t look like it’s going to series, but anything is possible.”
Hi Amber, I am a huge fan of Degrassi: The Next Generation, but it seems like CTV is only running repeats of the same episodes. It's crazy. What is going on? – Lawrence
Amber: Degrassi is like any other fall show: new episodes will be unveiled this fall. If you enjoy the series that much, you’ll love the announcement I have in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, you can look forward to the special movie Degrassi Goes Hollywood on Aug. 14.
Hi Amber, what are the chances that we are going to see True Blood on a network in Canada, other than HBO? Entourage and several other HBO shows are on other networks, but so far I have been unable to find True Blood anywhere else! It blows having to wait for the season to come out on DVD just to see it! Thanks! – Jodi
Amber: Tell me about it. I sneak off to my parents’ house to watch both Entourage and True Blood because I can’t justify the $17 a month extra it costs to get those shows. The thing you have to keep in mind is that you’re in for a wait, even if a major Canadian network chooses to pick up the vamp-tastic series, because the bottom line is that HBO Canada has the rights to air it in first run. Another network could potentially pick up the rights to air older episodes down the line, but both CTV and Global tried that during the writers’ strike with series like Mad Men, Dexter, Raising the Bar and Big Love — unfortunately those shows didn’t pull in ratings to warrant a continuation of the trend. Still, I find a lot of networks get pulled into the buzz, so there’s always hope.
Hi Amber, do you know if there is going to be a release of Seasons 5 and 6 of the show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on DVD? – Jay
Amber: Not anytime soon, unfortunately. I think Aunt Viv might still be cheesed about it though, if it’s any consolation.
When will Uncle Tim be back on Dog the Bounty Hunter? – Lilian
Amber: If the series goes on for a seventh season, I guess it’s possible. “Uncle Tim” (a.k.a. Tim Chapman) has been through a pretty tough year though, and he has been taking some much-needed time off from the show. I mean, come on: first Dog was cancelled, then Tim and his wife separated, leaving Tim to live in his car; then when he reportedly spilt orange juice on himself and tried to change, he was charged with indecent exposure and with threatening to harm a police officer when he chose to drive off and almost hit the poor guy. Thankfully, the threat charges were dropped, and he was acquitted on the indecent exposure bust.
I was looking at the TV schedule you had written up and wondered why I hadn't seen Grey's Anatomy or Private Practice. – Melissa
Amber: You probably missed them — they’re coming back on Sept. 24 and Oct. 1, respectively. Actually, this is probably a good time to plug TV Guide Canada’s upcoming Fall Preview, which we’ve been working feverishly on for weeks and weeks. I promise you, everything you need to know (and more!) will be available quite soon.
Hey Amber, I was wondering if Rules of Engagement and Heroes were returning in the fall. Thanks. – Anonymous
Amber: Yup, yup — both have been renewed for lucky fourth seasons. Heroes returns Sept. 21 with a two-hour première (fans better watch; I have a feeling this show is on its last legs), while Rules will be back midseason, sometime in early 2010.
Hi Amber, do you know if Food Network Canada has any plans to air Top Chef Masters? It has already started to air in the States and I feel like I am missing out. – Melissa
Amber: You and me both, Melissa. If you’re following online, I advise you to stop: The Food Network plans to unroll Masters as part of its fall schedule.
Amber, was the person who played Chloe on Harper’s Island also on America’s Most Smartest Model? I didn’t see a lot of AMSM, but one of the models sure looked like Chloe. Also, are the two actors on Harper’s Island, with the last name Cassidy, related? There should be more limited-run series, with the production costs being what they are nowadays, don’t you think? – Dan
Amber: I just went through a series of model headshots to double-check (gee, doesn’t my job suck?) and nope, Cameron Richardson (the actress who played Chloe) was not on AMSM. She did do a two-episode stint on Entourage, however.
Elaine and Katie Cassidy are not related, but the latter’s dad, David Cassidy, was a 1970s pop star. Oh, and Katie is also starring as one of the leads in the new Melrose Place spinoff.
As for how I feel about shorter-run series, check out my Top 10 on the subject.
Will Mad Men Season 3 be shown in Canada at the same time it is going to air on AMC? I have been counting down the days since Season 2 ended and now that I find out that CTV’s A channel did not purchase Season 3, I am going crazy! Please advise. Thanks. – Mad Mad Men fan
Amber: Sorry, you’ll have to subscribe to AMC in order to catch the series, which returns Aug. 16. But rest assured there are many good packages available and the station is worth your time: it also features the brilliant Breaking Bad, and has the remake of The Prisoner starting up soon, too.
What happened to My Boys? It hasn’t been on for a number of weeks. – Cynthia
Amber: Season 3 consisted of a nine-episode run that ended at the end of May. Perhaps that’s why you haven’t seen it lately. As for a fourth season, we’ll find out within the next couple of months what the future holds for P.J. when TBS announces its decision.
Hi Amber, I really enjoy reading you column and I had a question for you. I was wondering if the show Cold Case has come out on DVD at all, or if it is ever going to? – Rachel
Amber: Aw, shucks. I enjoy reading your questions, y’all. Blush. As for Cold Case, nothing is available yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it did in the near future. After all, CBS decided it was worth keeping instead of The Unit, so there’s got to be something there, right?
Hey Amber, two points: 1) I like The Mentalist the way it is – are they trying to get in competition with other "cop" shows by taking the spotlight away from Patrick Jane? 2) NCIS: Los Angeles – do they really think that genre can support another show? Or is it the competition for The Mentalist? Thanks. – Sharon
Amber: I loved The Mentalist. In fact, as soon as I saw the pilot last season, I knew it would be a hit – sorry if that sounds braggy, but the show was just that good. I’m not totally convinced bringing in Terry Kinney next season is a brilliant move, but the series could use a shake-up going into its sophomore year to establish that bar and push Baker’s character into evolving a little.
As for NCIS: Los Angeles, it’s airing Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET (Mentalist moves to Thursdays at 10 p.m.) and they’re both on CBS, so there’s no competition there. Look at the success of the Law & Order and CSI spinoffs: I think this one will work too.
Good afternoon, Amber. I am a huge fans of Kings and I keep hearing that the network will cancel it after the 13-show run. Is there somewhere that I can write to in order to plead for the show's life? Am I alone in thinking the show is beautifully shot with wonderful plotlines and characters? Thanks. – Sarah
Amber: Now might be a good time to join Twitter. Not only can you follow me, but you can join in the epic battle to save Kings, too. Otherwise, try this guy:
Ben Silverman
3000 W. Alameda Ave.
Admin Bldg.
Burbank, CA 91523
Hi, are they doing a second season of Sons of Anarchy? And if so, when will it air? – John
Amber: Sons of Anarchy returns to FX on Sept. 8, but no word yet on when or if SuperChannel, which aired the first season, will host the second. Hopefully, the network does, since I hear Adam Arkin guest-stars as a white supremacist, as well as Henry Rollins. In the meantime, you can invest in the first season DVD as of Aug. 18.
I was wondering when Season 2 of The Riches would air in Canada? –Mélanie
Amber: Sorry darling, it already did, on Showcase. The series is now kaput, but the DVD is for sale.
I'm almost afraid to ask, but is Eleventh Hour coming back this season? I think its one of the best shows that's on. Thanks. – Patty
Amber: Yikes, sorry Patty, but the Rufus Sewell drama got the boot. Maybe now’s the time to jump on the Fringe bandwagon?
That's all for this week!
What's your question? amber@tvguide.ca
Follow Amber on Twitter!
Make sure to check back Mondays at www.tvguide.ca to see if your questions have been answered!
______________________________________________________________________
A TV junkie, Amber will watch just about anything – once. One of her biggest pet peeves is when networks bounce shows around their schedule, leading to an eventual cancellation. While current gems include The Office, Dexter, Pushing Daisies, House, Brothers & Sisters and The Big Bang Theory, she’s still crying over the cancellations of Cashmere Mafia and Kitchen Confidential.
Now Amber devotes her time to analyzing the current state of TV and helping readers dissect complicated schedules. She’ll answer a variety of questions about past and present shows, spoilers and casting: anything is — and should be, up for discussion.
______________________________________________________________________
