UPDATED: Hi Amber, sorry if you've already answered this, I try to read your column every week. Will The Listener be back for another season? Love the show! Thanks – Cyndi

Amber: I can finally tell you guys that yes — The Listener WILL return to Canada for a second season thanks to a strong international showing and a commitment for 13 more episodes from CTV. The announcement comes Tuesday after producers were initially told they would know by September whether or not the series would be renewed for a sophomore season.

Obviously that didn’t happen and there was some nervousness, especially since NBC yanked the series from its schedule, but The Listener will definitely return sometime in 2010 to both CTV and Space.

I think kudos need to be sent to our Canadian programer on this one. First the network brought back Flashpoint ahead of CBS when the Eye jerked the show around, and now the renewal of The Listener. It proves that it's actually OK for Canadians to be proud of their own work, and doesn't need constant U.S. validation.

Rant over.

Dear Amber, I’m a big fan of yours and I read your column as often as I can. What is going on with Law & Order: CI? It is my favourite show. First I heard that it was off the air and then I heard that it was on the air, but Goran and Eames were leaving. Can you set me straight? I will be totally forlorn if either one is true, but if both are true then I am never watching TV again. OK, well except for CSI, my other favourite show. Cheers. – Brigit

Amber: Hey there Brigit, I’m going to need you to go ahead and brace yourself, OK? Here’s what I can tell you about Criminal Intent:

Yes, a ninth season of the series will happen. A split season, tentatively scheduled to begin in March 2010, will air on USA Network and then eventually trickle down into repeats on NBC so you can watch it there too.

But …

The series is losing four cast members, including Vincent D’Onofrio as Det. Goren, Kathryn Erbe as Det. Eames, Eric Bogosian as Capt. Ross and Julianne Nicholson as Det. Wheeler. The first three will say their goodbyes in the new season’s two-hour première when D’Onofrio hands over his duties to Jeff Goldblum, who will now be in the lead full-time. Saffron Burrows (My Own Worst Enemy, Boston Legal) will join as his partner.

D’Onofrio says that he could do guest stints in the future, but he’s ready to tackle new roles. Goldblum’s promotion also fits with the quirkier vibe USA Network seems to be sporting with series such as Monk and Burn Notice.

Amber, will the show Wild Roses ever be back on? It ended with the oil blast. – Nancy

Amber: Unfortunately, CBC gave this series the boot after one short season. It wasn’t pulling in the ratings the network needed to continue producing more seasons, despite the viewers it amassed along the way.

Over the summer I watched Merlin on Sunday nights, but halfway through August it wasn't on-air anymore. I didn't get to see what happened with the different storylines. What has happened to the show and will we see the rest of the episodes next summer? – Linda

Amber: CTV did air the entire first season of Merlin, but keep in mind that since it’s a British series it only consisted of 13 episodes. The second season is currently airing in the U.K.; however, CTV hasn’t announced plans to bring it back yet. The series did fare better here than it did in the U.S., where it aired on NBC to very low audience numbers. I doubt the Peacock will resurrect Season 2, but I have a feeling CTV just might.

Hi Amber, the 2008-09 season did not continue with the Canadian series Intelligence. Was this series dropped altogether? It was such a good drama, riveting in fact. I was really hoping it would be continued. What role(s) has the actor who played Reardon taken on now? Thank you for any info you can provide. – Jan

Amber: Unfortunately, Intelligence is long gone. CBC cancelled that series a couple of seasons ago and has no plans to resurrect it. As for Ian Tracey, the actor who portrayed Reardon, he hasn’t been up to much lately other than a couple of small films.

When is the third season of Murdoch Mysteries beginning? Regards. – Traci

Amber: New readers rock, and while I want to show them love, I’m also feeling lazy, so click here for an answer. 

Dear Amber, what is the situation with Chuck – has this show been cancelled or is it on hiatus? I haven’t heard any news as to whether this program has been renewed or what day of the week Chuck will be scheduled to air. Thanks. – Clayton

Amber: Chuck will be back as soon as NBC decides on a date, which was supposed to be in March 2010, but will probably be earlier now that additional episodes of Trauma haven’t been commissioned.

Dear Amber, I love the new series Three Rivers, but keep reading that no one else does – is this true? Please tell me it won't be cancelled. – Kim

Amber: I’m sorry, but I can’t stand the show either. I feel like the actors don’t have great chemistry and while there are definitely moving storylines, I just find myself not caring. I also can’t tell you that it won’t be cancelled, because the ratings have been pretty terrible. CBS hasn’t ordered additional episodes, which is never a good sign, but then again the network still plans on airing new episodes during November sweeps, which could also be taken as a sign of faith. Time will tell, and of all the networks out there, CBS has the most wiggle room thanks to its overall ratings domination, but I’m willing to bet on cancellation.

My boss is an avid fan of Martha Stewart, but has not been able to find her show being aired anywhere in Eastern Canada. Can you tell us what the scoop is? – Sharon

Amber: Martha’s show is very much alive and thriving, but it’s not available on CBC as it used to be. If you subscribe to a fancier cable package you can watch it, or else visit www.marthastewart.com for clips and excerpts. 

Hi Amber, love your column. Why did CBC make the IDIOTIC decision to rename Newsworld to CBCNN? Newsworld was a great name and I would have thought spending the (probably) vast amounts of money coming up with a stupid name like CBCNN is just wasteful, especially when the CBC is under such financial pressure. Thanks. – Chris

Amber: A lot of things Canadian broadcasters do make me scratch my head. I think right now there is a lot of worry in the industry about what’s happening to local news and programming, which you can see by the crazy ad campaigns going around about the TV tax.

Then we get things like this new show in Toronto called On the Rocket. Basically the chair of the Toronto Transit Commission sits in a streetcar and talks to people about transit … for an hour ... every week. It reminds me of a reality version of that experimental Train 48 series from a few years back. Terrible, terrible, terrible waste of money and time.

But I digress. Sorry about my mini rant. As for CBC, it’s just trying to stay relevant. You can read more about it here.

That's all for this week!

What's your question? amber@tvguide.ca

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Make sure to check back Mondays at www.tvguide.ca to see if your questions have been answered!

 

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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 Big Bang Theory, The Office, Dexter, True Blood, House, Lost and The Mentalist, she’s still crying over the cancellations of Kitchen Confidential and Pushing Daisies.

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.

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