Film Review: THE BROTHERS BLOOM.

Ok, I have been posting about THE BROTHERS BLOOM for over two freakin' years now. At long last, the film is being released nationally. Two weeks ago, it had a limited release and has done amazing per screen numbers.

The Lynch Mob (Myself, Wifey and Cuz Randy) caught a screening a little over a week ago.

Here is a list of all of the theaters it is showing at. For those of you that often complain that Hollywood does not put out good films, put your money where your mouth is.
Writer/Director Rian Johnson has put together a fine cast and made the film he wanted to make, not what any studio dictated.

TBB starts with a glimpse of Bloom (Adrien Brody) and Stephen (Mark Ruffalo) at ages 13 and 10. They bounce from foster home to foster home, with various reasons given (none of them good). Stephan sets up a con in which his brother plays a key part, during that the young Bloom is able to come out of his shell. And so the brothers find their calling in life.

Upon the end of the con, we find out that there was one more aspect unbeknownst to us...a twist, if you will. For better or worse, that is a forebearer of things to come.

Fast forward to...well, I am not exactly sure when, but I suspect the mid 80s. Not because of acid-washed jeans, but because of a lack computers. Wait, there might have been a cell phone. Damn, I can't remember. While there is a lack of modern gadgets, the clothes and surroundings don't look too dated.

We come in at the end of another con and Bloom is tired of it. He has a conversation with Stephen that they clearly have had many times before. While Stephan loves the life of the con, Bloom wants to live "an unscripted life."

Bloom goes his own way and times passes. Stephen appears and once again draws Bloom back in, for "one last job."

The mark is Penelope (Rachael Weisz), a lonely, beautiful rich lady living in her childhood mansion. Because of childhood allergies (explained with a rather delightful twist) and then a mother with a lingering illness, Penelope has spent her entire life in, or around, said home. She is very socially awkward and struggles with new people.

I should say Rachael does an excellent job with the role. I had no problems believing that she was uncomfortable around people as her first scenes with Bloom are painful to watch. Then we learn that she collects hobbies. This gets damn funny as we see her skateboard, breakdance and juggle chainsaws.

Bloom draws Miz Penelope in and they head off on a grand adventure.

Joining The Brothers Bloom and Penelope is Bang Bang (Rinko Kikuchi). I am not entirely sure if Bang Bang is Stephen's girlfriend or just the third member of the crew. Rinko has 3 words in the entire film (not including a song late in the film) and does a great job with expressions. She handles the more physical side with fire and explosives. She is sort of the muscle of the trio.

I really can't explain too much more without affecting the viewing pleasure of the film. So instead I will give my overall thoughts:

I really enjoyed TBB, but it is not without it's faults. At various times, I thought I knew what was really happening, then was certain I did not, then thought I did once more, then actually started to stop caring. That last bit is not a good thing.

I understand the need for twists and turns, but too much can leave the audience feeling a little numb, and that is exactly what happened to me here. I stopped worrying about what was happening to our crew since I figured a gotcha was right around the corner. I was seriously feeling paranoid about what Rian was going to try to pull next. It felt like Rian was trying to do too much. A little more restraint would have resulted in a stronger film.

BUT, TBB has an outstanding ending that left me feeling quite a bit and smiling as I left the theater. The ending was the final twist and was one that not only worked really well, but was one that I did not see coming at all. The ending, for me, saved the film. It made total sense and even connected with some earlier scenes and dialogue.

The acting is uniformly good and the cast has real chemistry. Adrien Brody has the thankless task of playing the straight man. Pretty much everyone else has a character with quirks and oddities, while Bloom is the one that is not having fun and wants to be done with all this nonsense. Brody does a nice job of playing this part, but also having Bloom come alive at various points so we see that he is not only good at being a con man, but still has some love for it. Even Maximilian Schell and Robbie Coltrane, in minor roles, did fine. I will say that Schell character could have been written a little stronger. His character has a role in the latter stages. That role would have had more impact if Diamond Dog (Schell) was more fleshed out.

I have always thought of Mark Ruffalo as a straight man, but he plays the master con artist with gusto and delivers such charm that you can see folks buying whatever he sells. He makes you want to go hand and hand off to whatever adventure he has cooked up.

I also want to praise the script. The dialogue is entertaining and fun, yet rarely sounds staged. Credit goes not only to the cast for their chemistry but to the script as well. As it makes the brothers sound as thought they really have been together all their lives.

Following up BRICK is a hell of a thing to do, and I credit Rian for heading in different direction and presenting a film that is nothing like the one that garnered such a buzz for him. Many film-makers would be content to continue down the same path. I respect his desire to branch out. We hear of "sophomore slumps" but TBB better than most of the drek that is foisted upon us. It is full of energy and wit and is still a good film.

Overall, I give the The Brothers Bloom a 7. On the Lynch scale, a 7 is a good film. (See the bottom of the page for a breakdown of said scale.) We should reward films that try to be creative. I used to say of Robert Altman: Even at his worst, he was interesting, while his best was awesome. That could very well end up applying to Mr. Johnson. At it's worst, TBB is well-acted, charming and smart, and at it's best, it is utterly captivating.

Jeremy Lynch

10: A classic and one of the best. Think Casablanca, Usual Suspects and The Godfather.
9: Classic. Also can be for a film that you love with all of your heart, even if you deep down that it is not quite that good.
8: great film, perhaps one of the best of the year and can be revistied many times.
7: A good film, something that can be watched again.
6: Solid. Entertaining but not remarkable.
5: Ok, you did not waste your money, but likely won't remember it down the line.
4: Mediocre, but not one that will have you wanting to set fire to the theater. Some will likely enjoy it...but some also like White Castle.
3: A really crappy film
2: A truly wretched turkey. Retaliation against crew and cast not out of the question.
1: A film that never should have been made. I suggest the creators check into the witness relocation program.

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DVD Reivew: GALAXY QUEST - Deluxe Edition

Paramount Home Entertainment
Release date: May 12th, 2009
MSRP: $14.98

Director: Dean Parisot
Stars: Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell, Daryl Mitchell, Enrico Colantoni, and Justin Long
Writers: David Howard, Robert Gordon
Theatrical date: Dec 25th, 1999

What in the world are Tim Allen and Alan Rickman doing in the same film?! Making one hilarious movie! The actors from a canceled sci-fi TV series, with a huge following of fans, (Sound familiar? ...didn't think so), are "beamed up" to real alien space craft. Who's occupants had intercepted the sci-fi TV series and mistook it for Historical Programming and now want them to help save there race from extinction. Sam Rockwell is hysterical as "Guy Fleegman" an actor who was in one episode of the series and now goes to the sci-fi conventions acting like he was the star of the series, and who is also "beamed" into space with the others.

Video:
The picture is good, with only a bit of grain here and there. The colors are solid, it may have faded a bit over time, but still looks nice. The effects actually hold up. I thought the passage of time would hinder the look of the effects, but they still look ok. Nobody is going to mistake it for..the new Star Trek film, but it looks good. The film is presented in widescreen.

Audio:
The sound is good, it is clear some actual time went into this. The battles sound great and the overall mix is very nice.

The main track is Dolby Digital 5.1, but there is a Thermian 2.0 track that has all of the dialogue in the alien language. Interesting, but it gets old very fast. There is also a 5.1 Spanish track and subtitles are offered in English, French and Spanish.


Special Features Include about 5 documentaries about the movie, special effect, etc; and deleted scenes!

As Alan Rickman's character would reluctantly say, "By Grabthor's Hammer! ...what a great movie..."
Order Galaxy Quest.

Randy Otteson
For more reviews from Randy, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.

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Lithgow to join DEXTER, Carradine returning.

Michael Ausiello is reporting that Oscar nominee, Emmy winner John Lithgow (3rd Rock from the Sun, Footloose) has signed on for season four of DEXTER. His role will be

Walter Simmons, an unassuming suburbanite who has been living a dual life as one
of America’s most prolific and deadliest serial killers. When the mad man (who
is dubbed the "Trinity Killer" because he always kills in threes) relocates to
Miami, Dexter becomes obsessed (or inspired?) by his efficient killing methods
and ability to evade capture for almost three decades.

Also of note is that Keith Carradine will be returning as F.B.I. Special Agent Frank Lundy.

Excellent news. Carradine had very fun chemistry with Jennifer Carpenter (Deb).

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DVD/Blu-ray info: Art, details announced for season two of BURN NOTICE.

Fox Home Entertainment has announced they will be releasing season two of Burn Notice, on DVD and Blu-ray, on June 16th.

Covert intelligence operative Michael Westen has been punched, kicked, choked and shot. Now he’s being burned, and someone’s going to pay! When Michael receives a “burn notice,” blacklisting him from the intelligence community and compromising his very identity, he must track down a faceless nemesis without getting himself killed in the process. Meanwhile, Michael is forced to double as a private investigator on the dangerous streets of Miami in order to survive.

Blu-ray Disc (MSRP $59.99) Specs:
“Burn Notice” Season Two is presented in widescreen (16x9 aspect ratio) with English 5.1 DTS HD Lossless Master Audio and English, French and Spanish subtitles.


DVD (MSRP $49.98) Specs:
The “Burn Notice” Season Two episodes are presented in widescreen format with English and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Surround audio plus English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.

Extras:
Bad Blood audio commentary with Bronwen Hughes, Ben Watkins, Rashad Raisani, Matt Nix, Rob Benedict and Method Man
Double Booked audio commentary with Tim Matheson, Jason Tracey, Craig O’Neill and Matt Nix
Lesser Evil audio commentary with Matt Nix, Bruce Campbell and Michael Shanks
Gag reel
NIXin’ it up on “Burn Notice” featurette
Boom Notice Easter Egg
Deleted scenes

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DVD Info: Season two of SAVING GRACE announced.

Fox Home Entertainment has announced they will be releasing season two of SAVING GRACE, on DVD, on June 16th, 2009.

Hard-edged police detective Grace Hanadarko is certainly no angel, but she has one on her shoulder. Academy-Award winner Holly Hunter returns as Grace, a no-nonsense cop whose fierce dedication to her job belies her self-destructive lifestyle. Taking on kidnappings, homicides, and the dark specter of the Oklahoma City bombing, Grace receives celestial guidance from a gruff guardian angel who may be her last chance for salvation. Meanwhile, Ham, Grace’s partner and sometime lover, faces a staggering crisis that threatens his job, his relationships, and even his life. Dramatically engaging, darkly funny, and emotionally gripping, Saving Grace is television at its most transcendent—don’t miss it!

I am a huge fan of SG (Check out my review of season one) and have to say that ending of season two left me totally spent and emotionally rocked.

Special Features
The “Saving Grace” Season Two DVD is presented in widescreen format with English 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio and Spanish Dolby Surround Sound, and French, Spanish and English subtitles.

Bonus Features:
Have a Little Faith: The Successes of "Saving Grace"
The Wrap Party Red Carpet, Hosted by Dylan Minnette
MSRP is $49.98.

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Chapter three of the Michael Connelly penned, Terrill Lee Lankford directed CONFLICT OF INTEREST online.

Ok kids, it is time for the third and final chapter of CONFLICT OF INTEREST, by Michael Connelly and Terrill Lee Lankford.

Michael Connelly has always tried to give his readers bonus material with each
new novel. Short stories, lost chapters, and visual adaptations. This time we
have something new. A short film called "Conflict of Interest," which features
the exploits of FBI Agent Rachel Walling leading up to the point she enters the
story of THE SCARECROW. Don't worry, there are no spoilers here. The story runs
parallel to THE SCARECROW. The case Rachel is working comes very close to the
story Jack McEvoy is chasing. Written by Michael Connelly, the film is now
available in three chapters.

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DVD Review: PIE IN THE SKY - Series one.

Acorn Media
Release date: May 12th. 2009
MSRP: $49.99
Stars: Richard Griffiths, Maggie Stead, Malcolm Sinclair

Tony award-winner Richard Griffiths (perhaps best known as Harry Potter's uncle Vernon) stars as D.I. Henry Crabbe. After being injured, Crabbe opts to retire and, with the help of his wife Margaret (Maggie Stead), open a small restaurant. This restaurant, named Pie in the Sky, specializes in simple meals made with fresh indrediants. Crabbe is all set to leave his crimefighing ways behind him.

But that would not make for much of a mystery show, would it?

No sooner has he put on his apron, when he finds himself facing (false) bribery charges. His old boss, Assistant Chief Constable Freddie Fisher knows that Crabbe's skills were a large part of his own success and is not ready to let go of him.

So now Crabbe splits his time between the kitchen and the crime scenes. Not only does he have to deal with the day to day challenges of running a restaurant, but he also has to be at the beck and call of Fisher whenever a tricky crime arrises.

While this is an interesting scenario, Pie in the Sky never moves beyond being mildly entertaining.

For me, part of the problem is that Crabbe is...well, an ass. There really is not too many other ways to put it. His arrogance is mind boggling. While it is amusing to watch him tear into Fisher, his attacks on virtually everything else gets to be a bit much. To make this type of character work, you need to show a softer side so folks can get behind him. Sadly, we see precious little of that softer side.

I don't want to say the show is a total loss, as Maggie Stead is good as his long-suffering wife, and some of the restaurant scenes are interesting. I will also say Pie in the Sky did get better as the set went on. It looks like the writers slowly got used to mixing the mystery and food. Perhaps come set two, the show will have found it's grove.

Video:
Not unlike many other British shows, this has a softer look to it. I get the impression that the BBC does little to maintain their shows. It is not too bad and certainly does not make the show unwatchable, but the picture is not what one would find on most American shows.
Audio:
The sound is offered up in Dolby stereo, a format that more than does the job. Subtitles are offered in SDH English.

Extras:
An interview with Maggie Stead runs about eighteen minutes and is exactly what it sounds like. There is also some production notes and a text biography of Richard Griffiths.
The show apparently was pretty popular in England, so it is possible that I simply am not seeing what many others did. Food fans will likely enjoy the show, but straight-forward mysteries fans may find too little crime of substance. As I said, the show got better over the course of the episodes so I am interested in seeing how set two plays.

Order Pie in the Sky, series one.

Jeremy Lynch
For more reviews from myself, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.

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More Ken Bruen film news.

Crimespree Cinema has confirmed THR reports that David Logan will adapt Ken Bruen's Once Were Cops for the big screen.

Michael O'Shea is a member of Ireland's police force, known as The Guards. He'salso a sociopath who walks a knife edge between sanity and all-out mayhem. Whenan exchange program is initiated and twenty Guards come to America and twentycops from the States go to Ireland, Shay, as he's known, has his lifelong dream
come true—he becomes a member of the NYPD. But Shay's dream is about to become New York's nightmare.

Paired with an unstable cop nicknamed Kebar for his liberal use of a short, lethal metal stick called a K-bar, the two unlikely partners become a devastatingly effective force in the war against crime.

But Kebar harbors a dangerous secret: he's sold out to the mob to help his sister. Her rape and beating leaves her in a coma and pushes an already unstable Kebar over the edge just as Shea's dark secrets threaten boil over and into the streets of New York.

The film rights were purchased by Articulus Entertainment.

We hope to have comments from AE and pos Mr. Logan in the near future.

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DVD Review: THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE

Editor's note: I am very pleased to welcome Tom Piccirilli to Crimespree Cinema. Upon learning Tom was a fan of The Friends of Eddie Coyle, I asked him if he would be willing to offer up his thoughts on this fine film. He has generously agreed to share his time and talent with us.

I just completed THE COLD SPOT and had...well, fun might not describe the time I spent with Tom's hard crew, but enjoyable would be accurate.

It appears I am not the only one, The Mystery Writers of America nominated it for best Paperback original earlier this year.

Criterion
Release date: May 19th, 2009)
MSRP: $29.95
Theatrical release date: June 27th, 1973

Director: Peter Yates
Stars: Robert Mitchum, Peter Boyle, Richard Jordan, Alex Rocco, Steven Keats
Writer: Paul Monash (Screenplay), George V. Higgins (Novel)

In what may be the finest performances of his long and acclaimed career, Robert Mitchum plays small-fish gunrunner Eddie “Fingers” Coyle in director Peter Yates’s film version of George V. Higgins’s brilliant and highly influential crime novel. Forlorn and forsaken, Eddie is maneuvered into becoming a snitch for the cops as he works the seedy underbelly of Boston. He knows it’s a death sentence if he’s found out by his various crooked colleagues, but at his age he can’t handle another stretch in the can.

Mitchum gives a wonderfully nuanced and understated performance. His expressive features describe all the conflict and desperation that Eddie feels as he does his best to keep from being overwhelmed by heartless “friends” with agendas and a manipulative treasury agent. Mitchum claimed to have put his whole soul into the role, and it’s easy to believe him. He’s surrounded by some of the best character actors of the time. Peter Boyle, Richard Jordan, Alex Rocco, and Steven Keats all turn in top-notch performances as men even shadier than Eddie himself.

Paul Monash’s faithfully adapted script is compelling, convincing, and razor-wire taut. The dialogue is pitch-perfect poetry of the gutters. The location shooting in Boston and environs along with the semi-documentary style to the film lends an already dark and realistic movie even more gritty authenticity. The deceptively simple story shrugs forward step by step in the finest film noir fashion, advancing to an inevitable, gut-wrenching, yet subdued finale. A true cinematic gem, this is one of the best American crime films of the 70s.

The Criterion DVD release package features an informative commentary by director Yates as well as a booklet which includes two lengthy essays: a retrospective on the film by critic Kent Jones and an excerpt of Grover Lewis’s 1973 Rolling Stone profile of Robert Mitchum, from on the set.

Tom
Tom Piccirilli is the author of more than twenty novels including THE COLD SPOT, THE COLDEST MILE, THE MIDNIGHT ROAD, and A CHOIR OF ILL CHILDREN. He's won the International Thriller Writers Award and the Stoker Award, and he's been nominated for the Edgar, the Macavity, the World Fantasy Award, and Le Grand Prix de L'Imagination. Learn more at his official site: http://www.tompiccirilli.com/.

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Blu-ray review: 3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR

Paramount Home Entertainment
Release date: May 19th, 2009
MSRP: $29.99

Director: Sidney Pollack
Stars: Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max von Sydow, John Houseman
Writers: David Rayfiel, James Grady, Lorenzo Semple Jr., James Grady (source novel: Six Days of the Condor)

For those that are looking for a high energy, fast-paced thriller, 3 Days of the Condor is not for you.

If you want a smart thriller with great acting, 3 Days will make you think Christmas has come early.

Robert Redford stars as Joseph Turner, CIA anaylist codenamed Condor. Now before anyone starts to think of Bob (Old pals call him Bob...sometimes Robbo) lurking in alleys and trading shots with Russians, his job is scouring through books in search of anything that might be a code. His office is doubles as a publishing house.

One day, Condor is given the mundane task of picking up lunch for the office. Getting stuck with this job saves his life. While he is gone, a crew of men slaughter all of his co-workers. Justifiably freaked out. Condor finds a payphone and calls in the incident. It turns out that somebody within the Company is behind it.

The rest of the film sees Turner struggling to stay alive long enough to find out what he might have accidentally uncovered and take actions that will secure his future, not financially but in the breathing and staying alive sort of way.

While it may sound like many films you have seen before, Condor is, as I said, not a rock em sock em action flick. We follow a very scared and very paranoid Turner as he attempts to figure out what is going on. Some of his actions are more luck than super skills. He seems like a very smart man in over his head. It is those smarts (as well as a healthy does of paranoia) that keeps him alive. Each time he is faced with a challenge, he rises to the occasion, often just barely. Condor does an excellent job of maintaining tension while allowing us to have faith in Terry.

Redford does an excellent job, as does Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robestson and Max Von Sydow. Von Sydow plays the head of the assassins. His performance is fantastic and presents a quiet professional simply doing his job.

it's quite restful. It's almost peaceful. No need to believe in either side, or any side. There is no cause. There's only yourself. The belief is in your own precision.

Joubert (Max Von Sydow)

Sydney Pollock's direction conjures memories of vintage Hitchcock. Most of the characters are actually pretty subdued. No over the top villians. Even those that must be considered “baddies” have compelling reasons. The realities of global politics plays a role, yet Pollock avoids being preachy or self-righteous. Everyone's motivations make total sense.

Video: Condor is presented in 1080p with a ratio of 2.35:1.Condor looks very nice. While the film still has the same drab overcast look, the details in things like clothing really stand out. There is only a very small amount of grain, but I did not see any signs of DNR. I guess the best compliment I can pay it is to say that it looks very natural.
Audio:
The audio is presented in Dolby TrueHD 5.1, though there is precious little to be showcased here. You can notice the front channels being used, but I heard very little backwork being done. It sounds very good, with the dialogue being quite crisp.

Also offered is a French Dolby Digital 2.0 track as well as having subtitles in English, French and Spanish.

Extras:
One freakin' theatrical trailer. WTF? Readers of our reviews (OK, my reviews) have heard this before, but Paramount really needs to step up when it comes to providing bonus content. Especially on films of a certain level of relevance. Condor is a classic and deserves at least a little love.

3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR is a fantastic film. Pollack does an excellent job with a talented cast and a damn good script. Revisiting it for this review was a true pleasure. Somebody needs to show it to Redford to remind him just how good many of the films he has made are. Watching his recent dreck, one would never guess he is a part of so many great films.

Condor is smart and subtle, with only a few action scenes. And those few are very well done. Embrace the Condor, you will be glad you did.

Order 3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR on Blu-ray.

Jeremy Lynch
For more reviews from myself, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.

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DVD Review: TAKEN.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Theatrical release: January 30, 2009
DVD release: May 12, 2009
MSRP: $29.98
Stars: Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Leland Orser, Maggie Grace
Director: Pierre Morel
Written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen
Running time: 93 minutes

CIA counterterrorism specialist Bryan Mills (Neeson) has retired and moved to Los Angeles to reconcile with his estranged daughter Kim (Grace). Against his better judgment, Bryan allows Kim to travel with a girlfriend to Paris and, fulfilling his worst fears, they are kidnapped. Fortunately (and conveniently), Bryan is on the phone with Kim when Amanda is taken, and he's able to gather some crucial clues about her abductors. He flies to Paris and begins hunting them down.

I had some qualms the scenario and supporting acting leading up to the kidnapping. Maybe I was just anticipating the action. That action is paced well enough that I didn't dwell on the plot conveniences. At the same time, Neeson's presence alone makes Mills believable as a bumbling dad and ruthless operative. Mills also does enough detective work so I can't call this a pure popcorn movie.

A sequel to Taken is already in the works, and while I don't know what the plot could be, I know I want to see it.

The DVD includes the theatrical and unrated cuts of Taken, with a commentary in French (with English subtitles) by director Pierre Morel, cinematographer Michel Abramowicz, and Michel Julienne, and a somewhat sleepy commentary in English by co-writer Robert Mark Kamen. There are also a making-of featurette and footage from the movie's premiere (both in French) and a breakdown of how several stunt sequences were shot.

Order TAKEN on DVD.
Order TAKEN on Blu-ray.


--Gerald So
For more of Gerald's thoughts and observations, check out his blog: If you want to know about my Life...
For more reviews from Gerald, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.

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Anniversary special

We're celebrating 5 years of Crimespree and as part of that we're offering a special deal.

If you subscribe or renew your subscription before June 10th we'll add an extra issue to your subscription and enter you to win a cool and styling Crimespree T shirt.

You can subscribe here.

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DVD Review: BOSTON LEGAL Season Five.

Fox Home Entertainment
Release date: May 5th, 2009
MSRP: $49.98

Stars: James Spader, William Shatner, Candice Bergen,

Reviewing season five of BL is tricking. One the one hand, the quality is certainly better than that of season four, which was the weakest in the show's history. One the other hand, while it had sparks of vintage Boston Legal, it still does not match the magic of the first couple seasons.


Creator David Kelly worked with ABC to secure a fifth seaon as he wanted to give Denny, Alan and co a proper send-off. Watching this, it is clear they were all aware of this and worked extra hard on these final 13 episodes.

The result is enjoyable, though occasionally too fare over the top. I love that Kelly has no qualms about taking the characters places that not all producers would be comforable going, but thre are moments that left me rolling my eyes.

That said, the ending is absurd and vintage Boston Legal. In the end, we all knew that Denny and Alan would live happily ever after. From start to finish, BL was about the power of freindship and love. So while I am sad saying goodbye to Denny Crane and Alan Shore, I can't help but smile at the memories they have left me with.

Order season five of BOSTON LEGAL.

Jeremy Lynch
For more reviews from myself, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.

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Film Review: ANGELS & DEMONS.

Release date: May 15th, 2009
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of violence, disturbing images and thematic material.

Stars: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgård, Armin Mueller-Stahl
Director: Ron Howard
Writers: David Koepp & Akiva Goldsman (Screenplay), Dan Brown (Novel)


I haven’t been to a press screening for a while, so I was bemused to have to handover my PDA, cell-phone when admitted to the Leicester Square preview screening for the follow-up to The Da Vinci Code. It seems the film piracy is a huge issue, so the distributors were taking no chances.

Now I have to admit that despite not being a fan of The Da Vinci Code [neither novel or film]; I enjoyed the precursor Angels and Demons in novel form, but with quite a few reservation; so I was looking forward to see what Howard had crafted for the film adaptation. The film like the novel has a central theme of Science vs. Religion, which despite all the hokum and scientific mumbo-jumbo is very interesting. I was amused to see that due to the success of The Da Vinci Code, the film version of Angels and Demons has been made into a sequel [rather than a prequel], with Tom Hanks’ Robert Langdon, Harvard symbologist called in by the Vatican to investigate a terrorist plot centering on the base of the Catholic Church. The most disturbing aspect of the film is Hanks’ rather scary haircut. The plot to steal a vial of Anti-Matter from CERN has been updated for the film adaptation - the vial now originates from the Large Hadron Collider [LHC].

Then the film like Da Vinci Code, becomes a gonzo chase thriller. The film chronicles Langdon and his beautiful Italian helper [played by Ayelet Zurer] darting across Rome searching for kidnapped priests, who are rigged to die. The sub-plot of the election of a new Pope, the involvement of the Illuminati in seeking revenge on the church and corruption in the Swiss Guard [Vatican Police], all make this film rather confusing.

With Ewan McGregor in high camp mode; and a supporting cast who look anguished, confused and weary, this film flies along to the ticking of the Anti-Matter bomb. There is an excellent twist at the end with a spectacular flourish. As hokum goes, this is classy hokum and good fun; just don’t think too deeply about the plot as it is rather holy [pun intended]
– Ali Karim

Ali Karim is Assistant Editor at Shots eZine, a contributing editor at January Magazine & The Rap Sheet and writes for Crimespree magazine, Deadly Pleasures and Mystery Readers International and is an associate member of both the CWA and ITW. Karim contributed to ‘Dissecting Hannibal Lecter’ ed. Benjamin Szumskyj [McFarland Press] a critical examination of the works of Thomas Harris, as well as The Greenwood Encyclopedia of British Crime Fiction [ed. Barry Forshaw].

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CBS announces fall line-up.

The others have done it, now CBS announces the fall line-up. Of note is the fact that The Unit and Without a Trace were both cancelled. As was rumored, CBS picked up the NBC cancelled Medium.


The following is a press release by CBS.

CBS ANNOUNCES 2009-2010 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

America's #1 Network Adds Four New Series to Top-Rated Lineup

New Dramas Star Chris O'Donnell and LL COOL J,
Julianna Margulies and Alex O'Loughlin

New Comedy Stars Jenna Elfman

"The Mentalist" Moves to Thursday at 10:00 PM Pairing TV's #1 New Show With TV's #1 Drama ("CSI")

"The Big Bang Theory" Moves to Mondays at 9:30 PM Forming a Comedy Power Hour With "Two and a Half Men"


Ordered for Midseason:

New Dramas "Miami Trauma" and "The Bridge"

New Alternative Series "Arranged Marriage" and "Undercover Boss,"

Comedy "Rules of Engagement"



CBS, the only major broadcast network to grow its audience in all key ratings measures this season, announced today the addition of four new series to strengthen its already top rated primetime lineup for the Fall 2009-2010 season.

The new series include three dramas and one comedy. Chris O'Donnell and LL COOL J star in NCIS: LOS ANGELES, a spinoff from the hit drama NCIS; THE GOOD WIFE stars Emmy® Award winner Julianna Margulies in a legal drama about a steadfast wife and mother who boldly returns to work as a lawyer when her husband is imprisoned for a high profile political scandal; THREE RIVERS, a medical drama that stars Alex O'Loughlin as the head of a renowned transplant surgery team, and ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE stars Golden Globe Award winner Jenna Elfman in an ensemble comedy about a successful, single journalist who accidentally gets pregnant by a much younger man.

The freshmen series will join 18 returning series on the current CBS schedule.

CBS will return the season's #1 drama/scripted program - CSI; #1 comedy - TWO AND A HALF MEN; #1 new series - THE MENTALIST and the #1 news magazine - 60 MINUTES, along with two franchise reality series - SURVIVOR and the six-time Emmy Award winner THE AMAZING RACE.

The other returning series include: THE BIG BANG THEORY, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, CSI: MIAMI, NCIS, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE; GARY UNMARRIED, CRIMINAL MINDS, CSI: NY, GHOST WHISPERER, NUMB3RS, 48 HOURS MYSTERY and COLD CASE.

Ordered for midseason is a new fast-paced medical drama, MIAMI TRAUMA, from executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer; the new police drama THE BRIDGE; the returning comedy RULES OF ENGAGEMENT; and the new alternative series ARRANGED MARRIAGE and UNDERCOVER BOSS.

On the strength of its scripted series, and the success of its two reality franchises, CBS will win the 2008-2009 television season in viewers, its sixth victory in the past seven years, and in adults 25-54 (projected tie with Fox). CBS is the ONLY network to post ratings gains over the last season in all key measures: +12% in viewers, + 3% in adults 18-49, and +8% in adults 25-54.

This top-rated schedule will serve as the springboard to introduce four new series - all of which have established franchises as a lead-in.



The 2009-2010 schedule:

On Mondays at 8:00 PM, the critically acclaimed ensemble comedy HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER opens the night and serves as a strong lead-in for the new comedy ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE at 8:30 PM. From 9:00-10:00 PM, television's top comedy TWO AND A HALF MEN and the genius comedy THE BIG BANG THEORY form a power comedy hour. CSI: MIAMI, a perennial time period winner, completes the night at 10:00 PM.

On Tuesdays, NCIS kicks off the night at 8:00 PM, providing a seamless lead-in for its spin off NCIS: LOS ANGELES at 9:00 PM, followed by new legal drama THE GOOD WIFE at 10:00 PM.

Wednesday returns intact with the comedy block THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE and GARY UNMARRIED from 8:00-9:00 PM, as well as the crime drama tandem of CRIMINAL MINDS and CSI: NY from 9:00-11:00 PM.

On Thursdays at 8:00 PM, SURVIVOR returns to the time period it has won every year since 2004. And from 9:00-11:00 PM, CBS is pairing television's #1 drama, CSI, with television's #1 new series, THE MENTALIST.

On Friday, CBS plans to add the popular drama series MEDIUM at 9:00 PM, starring Emmy Award winner Patricia Arquette, to its top-rated Friday night lineup, forming a hauntingly compatible two-hour block with GHOST WHISPERER at 8:00 PM. NUMB3RS caps the night at 10:00 PM.

The Saturday night lineup remains intact, anchored by the night's highest-rated show, 48 HOURS MYSTERY.

As always, 60 MINUTES kicks off Sundays at 7:00 PM, followed by the six-time Emmy Award winning reality series THE AMAZING RACE at 8:00 PM, which leads into the new medical drama THREE RIVERS at 9:00 PM. The crime drama COLD CASE anchors at 10:00 PM.



The new DRAMAS:

NCIS: LOS ANGELES is a drama about the high stakes world of undercover surveillance at the Office of Special Projects (OSP), a division of NCIS that is charged with apprehending dangerous and elusive criminals that pose a threat to the nation's security. By assuming false identities and utilizing the most advanced technology, this team of highly trained agents goes deep undercover, putting their lives on the line in the field to bring down their targets. Special Agent "G" Callen (Chris O'Donnell) is a chameleon who transforms himself into whomever he needs to be to infiltrate the criminal underworld. His partner is Special Agent Sam Hanna (LL COOL J), a former U.S. Navy SEAL who has seen action in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and a surveillance expert who uses state of the art monitoring equipment to look out for those in the field and feed them crucial information. Both Callen and Hanna report to Special Agent Lara Macy (Louise Lombard), the OSP team leader responsible for directing the operations and making life-or-death decisions. Assisting the team is Special Agent Kensi Lo (Daniela Ruah), the exceptionally bright daughter of a slain Marine who lives for the adrenalin rush that comes with undercover work, and Operational Psychologist Nate Getz (Peter Cambor), adept at getting into anybody's head, profiling the target and monitoring agents' states of mind before, during and after missions. Armed with the latest in high tech gear and sent regularly into life-threatening situations, this tight-knit team relies on each other to do what is necessary to protect national interests. Shane Brennan ("NCIS") is the executive producer for CBS Television Studios.

THE GOOD WIFE is a drama starring Emmy Award winner Julianna Margulies as a wife and mother who must assume full responsibility for her family and re-enter the workforce after her husband's very public sex and political corruption scandal lands him in jail. Pushing aside the betrayal and crushing public humiliation caused by her husband Peter (Chris Noth), Alicia Florrick (Margulies) starts over by pursuing her original career as a defense attorney. As a junior associate at a prestigious Chicago law firm, she joins her longtime friend, former law school classmate and firm partner Will Gardner (Josh Charles), who is interested to see how Alicia will perform after 13 years out of the courtroom. Alicia is grateful the firm's top litigator, Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski), offers to mentor her but discovers the offer has conditions and realizes she's going to need to succeed on her own merit. Alicia's main competition among the firm's 20-something new recruits is Cary (Matt Czuchry), a recent Harvard grad who is affable on the surface, but will use any means to ensure that he, not Alicia, secures the one full-time associate position that's available. Fortunately, Alicia finds an ally in Kalinda (Archie Panjabi), the firm's tough in-house investigator. Gaining confidence every day, Alicia transforms herself from embarrassed politician's scorned wife to resilient career woman, especially for the sake of providing a stable home for her children, 14-year-old Zach (Graham Phillips) and 13-year-old Grace (Makenzie Vega). For the first time in years, Alicia trades in her identity as the "good wife" and takes charge of her own destiny. Tony Scott, Ridley Scott, Robert King, Michelle King, Dee Johnson and David Zucker are the executive producers for CBS Television Studios.

THREE RIVERS is a medical drama that goes inside the emotionally complex lives of organ donors, the recipients and the surgeons at the preeminent transplant hospital in the country where every moment counts. However, dealing with donor families in their darkest hour and managing the fears and concerns of apprehensive recipients takes much more than just a sharp scalpel. Leading the elite team is Dr. Andy Yablonski (Alex O'Loughlin), the highly-skilled workaholic lead organ transplant surgeon, whose good-natured personality and sarcastic wit makes him popular with his patients and colleagues. His colleagues include Dr. Miranda Foster (Katherine Moennig), a surgical fellow with a rebellious streak and fiery temper who strives to live up to her deceased father's excellent surgical reputation; Dr. David Lee (Daniel Henney), a womanizing surgical resident who's broken as many hearts as he's replaced; Ryan Abbott (Christopher J. Hanke), the inexperienced new transplant coordinator who arranges the intricately choreographed process of quickly and carefully transporting organs from donor to patient; Dr. Sophia Jordan (Julia Ormond), the head of surgery and a dedicated medical professional; and Pam Acosta (Justina Machado), Andy's no-nonsense operating assistant and best friend. In this high stakes arena, in which every case is a race against the clock, these tenacious surgeons and medical professionals are the last hope for their patients. Carol Barbee, Curtis Hanson and Carol Fenelon are the executive producers for CBS Television Studios.


The new COMEDY:

ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE is a comedy starring Golden Globe Award winner Jenna Elfman as Billie, a single woman who finds herself "accidentally" pregnant after a one-night stand with a much younger guy, and decides to keep the baby... and the guy. A newspaper film critic, Billie is barely surviving a humiliating breakup with her charming boss, James (Grant Show), who's still trying to resume their relationship. Suddenly expecting a child with her "boy toy," Zack (Jon Foster), Billie and Zack make an arrangement: to live together platonically. Billie's party girl best friend Olivia (Ashley Jensen), and Abby (Lennon Parham), her conventional, younger married sister, eagerly look forward to the new addition and offer their own brands of advice and encouragement. But when Zack and his freeloading friends, including Davis (Nicolas Wright), start to turn her place into a frat house, Billie isn't sure if she's living with a boyfriend, a roommate, or if she just has another child to raise. Lloyd Braun, Gail Berman, Gene Stein and Claudia Lonow are the executive producers for CBS Television Studios. Pamela Fryman directed the pilot.



The new MIDSEASON DRAMAS:

THE BRIDGE is a drama about a tough and dedicated police officer who is voted to become the police union's dynamic leader. To serve the public as well as his 8,000 fellow officers, charismatic Frank Leo (Aaron Douglas) battles criminals on the street, corruption in the ranks and his own bosses. On the force is his able partner and confidante Tommy Dunn (Paul Popowich), who rides with Frank across the bridge that spans the divide between the rich and the poor in the area they patrol; Staff Sergeant Bernie Kantor (Frank Cassini), a voice of reason and moral sounding board; Jill (Inga Cadranel), a detective with a lot of attitude who is moving up the ranks; Billy (Theresa Joy), a young female cop who is determined to prove herself to the guys; and Ed Wycoff (Michael Murphy), the shrewd Chief of Police. Abby St. James (Ona Grauer) is a sharp prosecutor who begins working with the police union, and shares a mutual attraction with Frank. In his new position, Frank Leo takes on the politically-motivated department brass... and makes many powerful enemies in the process. Craig Bromell, Adam J. Shully, Laszlo Barna, Alan Di Fiore and Robert Wertheimer are executive producers for E1 Entertainment, 990 Multi Media Entertainment Company and Jonsworth Productions in association with CTV and CBS Television Studios.

MIAMI TRAUMA is about a team of expert surgeons who work at one of the premiere trauma facilities in the country, where only patients with life threatening injuries are treated. Dr. Matthew Proctor (Jeremy Northam) is new to the trauma team, after a tour of duty in a MASH unit during the Gulf war. Dr. Eva Zambrano (Lana Parrilla) is a workaholic surgeon who is more comfortable in her scrubs than she is out in the real world. Dr. Christopher Deleo, "Dr. C.," is a playboy who thrives on the high-stakes of trauma medicine and is, by his own description, a genius redneck. Dr. Serena Warren (Elisabeth Harnois) is fresh out of medical school, and head nurse Tuck Brody (Omar Gooding) keeps the doctors on track and the patients' families updated in this chaotic corner of the medical profession. Together, this team of doctors excels in the "golden hour," the 60 minutes after being critically injured, when a patient's life hangs in the balance. Jerry Bruckheimer, Jeffrey Lieber and Jonathan Littman are executive producers for Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television Distribution.



The new MIDSEASON ALTERNATIVE series:

ARRANGED MARRIAGE is a series that brings the tradition of arranged marriages, which is still practiced successfully by many cultures throughout the world, to the U.S., where it is virtually an inconceivable option for most single Americans. Three adults who are anxious to get married, but who have been unsuccessful in their own search for a mate, choose a life-altering path. They rely on their closest family and friends, those who love and know them best, to choose someone for them to marry based on shared goals, values, experiences and the commitment to make it work. The series intimately documents these three arranged marriages, starting with the first meetings of the families and the wedding day; and then follows the couple through the day-to-day joys, challenges, and emotional tumult that results from their arranged union. Emmy Award nominees Jane Lipsitz and Dan Cutforth are executive producers for Magical Elves Inc.

UNDERCOVER BOSS is a new reality series that follows high level corporate executives as they slip anonymously into the lowest level jobs within their companies. Once undercover, they'll get their hands dirty with the rank and file, find out what their employees REALLY think of them and discover how smoothly their companies are REALLY run. In the process, these senior executives learn about themselves, the perception of their company and the spirit of their work force. Stephen Lambert is the executive producer for Studio Lambert, Ltd.





Following is the 2009-2010 CBS Television Network primetime schedule:


CBS TELEVISON NETWORK
2009-2010 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
(N=New, NT=New Time, all times ET/PT)


MONDAY
8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (NT)
8:30-9:00 PM ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE (N)
9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN
9:30-10:00 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY (NT)
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: MIAMI

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS
9:00-10:00 PM NCIS: LOS ANGELES (N)
10:00-11:00 PM THE GOOD WIFE (N)

WEDNESDAY
8:00-8:30 PM THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE
8:30-9:00 PM GARY UNMARRIED
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: NY

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR
9:00-10:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
10:00-11:00 PM THE MENTALIST (NT)

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM GHOST WHISPERER
9:00-10:00 PM MEDIUM
10:00-11:00 PM NUMB3RS

SATURDAY
8:00-9:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS MYSTERY

SUNDAY
7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES
8:00-9:00 PM THE AMAZING RACE
9:00-10:00 PM THREE RIVERS (N)
10:00-11:00 PM COLD CASE (NT)

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DVD/Blu-ray Info: DEXTER: The Third Season

Paramount Home Entertainment has announced season three of DEXTER will hit stores on August 18th.

"DEXTER is back and more killer than ever. The Emmy-nominated Showtime Original Series (Best Drama Series, Lead Actor in a Drama Series) returns for an all-new season – and this time Dexter’s got a new take on taking life. Having faced some of his darkest demons, Dexter’s ready to put the past behind him. Now, with family life, a day job catching killers and an uncontrollable urge to do away with the ones that get away, Dexter’s got his work cut out for him. And when a high-profile case sides him with powerful Assistant DA Miguel Prado (special guest star JIMMY SMITS), the pressure might be too great for even our beloved Dexter to hack."


The DVD runs $42.99 and the Blu-ray $59.99.

No word yet on extras, hopefully the folks at Paramount will deliver the goods for season three.

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Chapter Two of Michael Connelly penned, Terrill Lee directed mini-film.

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2009 Anthony Award nominations are up!

Today, the nominees for the 2009 Anthony Awards were announced.

The Anthony Awards, named after Anthony Boucher, are given out each year at the World Mystery Convention. This years con is in Indianapolis, from October 15 - 18, 2009


2009 Anthony Award Nominations

Best Novel
Trigger City by Sean Chercover [William Morrow]
The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly [Little, Brown and Company]
Red Knife by William Kent Krueger [Atria]
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson [Knopf]
The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny [Minotaur]

Best First Novel
Pushing Up Daisies by Rosemary Harris [Minotaur]
Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer [Doubleday]
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson [Knopf]
Death of a Cozy Writer by G. M. Malliet [Midnight Ink]
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith [Grand Central]

Best Paperback Original
The First Quarry by Max Allan Collins [Hard Case Crime]
Money Shot by Christa Faust [Hard Case Crime]
State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy [Berkley]
In a Dark Season by Vicki Lane [Dell]
South of Hell by P. J. Parrish [Pocket Star]

Best Short Story“The Night Things Changed” by Dana Cameron from Wolfsbane and Mistletoe [Ace]
“A Sleep Not Unlike Death” by Sean Chercover from Hardcore Hardboiled [Kensington]
“Killing Time” by Jane K. Cleland from Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine (November)
“Skull and Cross Examination” by Toni L. P. Kelner from Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (February)
“Scratch a Woman” by Laura Lippman from Hardly Knew Her [William Morrow]
“The Secret Lives of Cats” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch from Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (July)

Best Critical Nonfiction Work
African American Mystery Writers: A Historical and Thematic Study by Frankie Y. Bailey [McFarland]
How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries by Kathy Lynn Emerson [Perseverance Press]
Anthony Boucher: A Biobibliography by Jeffrey Marks [McFarland]
The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective by Kate Summerscale [Walker & Company]

Best Children’s/Young Adult Novel
The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein [Random House]
Paper Towns by John Green [Dutton Juvenile]
Kiss Me, Kill Me by Lauren Henderson [Delacorte]
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart [Little, Brown]
Sammy Keyes and the Cold Hard Cash by Wendelin Van Draanen [Knopf]

Best Cover Art
Death Was the Other Woman designed by David Rotstein and written by Linda L. Richards [Minotaur]
Death Will Get You Sober designed by David Rotstein and written by Elizabeth Zelvin [Minotaur]
The Fault Tree designed by David Rotstein and written by Louise Ure [Minotaur]
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo designed by Peter Mendelsund and written by Stieg Larsson [Knopf]
Money Shot designed by Steve Cooley and written by Christa Faust [Hard Case Crime]

Special Service Award
Jon and Ruth Jordan
Ali Karim
David Montgomery
Gary Warren Niebuhr
Sarah Weinman

Congrats to all the nominees. I have to say I am thrilled to see Crimespree breatheran like Jon and Ruth Jordan (Poppa and Momma Crimespree), Sarah Weinman, Ali Karim, Sean Chercover as well as fellow Minnesotan William Kent Krueger.

Again, congrats to all of the nominees!

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NBC announces Fall Line-up.

Here is NBC's Fall and mid-season line-up. I have included descriptions for the new scripted shows.

So without further ado, here is NBC's press release:


*New programs in UPPER CASE
All times in EST.

MONDAY
8-9 p.m. - "Heroes"
9-10 p.m.-"TRAUMA"
10-11 p.m. - "THE JAY LENO SHOW"

TUESDAY
8-10 p.m. - "The Biggest Loser" (two-hour edition)
10-11 p.m. - "THE JAY LENO SHOW"

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. - "PARENTHOOD"
9-10 p.m. - "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
10-11 p.m. - "THE JAY LENO SHOW"

THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m. - "SNL WEEKEND UPDATE THURSDAY" (multi-episode run)
8:30-9 p.m. - "Parks and Recreation"
9- 9:30 p.m. - "The Office"
9:30-10 p.m. - "COMMUNITY" (moves to Thursdays 8-8:30 p.m. after multi-episode run "30 Rock" returns)
10-11 p.m. - "THE JAY LENO SHOW"

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. - "Law & Order"
9-10 p.m. - "Southland"
10-11 p.m. - "THE JAY LENO SHOW"

SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. - "Dateline NBC"
9-10 p.m. - "TRAUMA" (encore broadcast)
10-11 p.m. - "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (encore broadcast)

SUNDAY
7- 8:20 p.m. "Football Night in America"
8:20-11 p.m. "NBC Sunday Night Football"

THE JAY LENO SHOW
Get ready for the biggest stars, the most influential newsmakers, and more laughter than ever before as Jay Leno hosts a new comedy show five nights a week at 10pm. His show will be the first-ever entertainment program to be stripped across primetime on broadcast network television and will showcase many of the features that have made Leno America's late-night leader for more than a dozen years.

Signature elements will include his opening monologue, new comedy skits, big stunts, and well-known segments like "Headlines" and "Jaywalking." Jay Leno is transforming television and it's going to be quite a ride.


PARENTHOOD
This is the story of the Bravermans - Sarah, Adam, Crosby and Julia - four grown siblings sharing the headaches, heartaches and unexpected joys of being a parent.

From Imagine Entertainment's Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, writer/executive producer Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights), and Emmy Award-winning director Thomas Schlamme (The West Wing) comes this contemporary re-imagining of the blockbuster film Parenthood, focusing on the everyday challenges that modern families face while raising children and starting over.


TRAUMA
Like an adrenaline shot to the heart, Trauma is an intense, action-packed look at one of the most dangerous medical professions in the world: first responder paramedics. When emergencies occur, the trauma team from San Francisco General is first on the scene, traveling by land, by sea or by air to reach their victims in time. From the heights of the Transamerica Pyramid to the depths of the S.F. Bay, our heroes must face the most extreme conditions to save lives, and give meaning to their own existence in the process.

From executive producer Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights), Trauma is the first high-octane medical franchise to live exclusively in the field, where the real action is.
NBC MID-SEASON 2010 SCHEDULE
(2010 WINTER OLYMPICS preempt regularly scheduled programming from February 12-28, 2010)


MONDAY
8-9 p.m. - "Chuck" (season premiere)
9-10 p.m.-"DAY ONE"
10-11 p.m. - "THE JAY LENO SHOW"

TUESDAY
8-9:30 p.m. - "The Biggest Loser" (90-minute edition)
9:30-10 p.m. - "100 QUESTIONS"
10-11 p.m. - "THE JAY LENO SHOW"

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. - "MERCY"
9-10 p.m. - "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
10-11 p.m. - "THE JAY LENO SHOW"

THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m. - "COMMUNITY"
8:30-9 p.m. - "Parks and Recreation"
9- 9:30 p.m. - "The Office"
9:30-10 p.m. - "30 Rock"
10-11 p.m. - "THE JAY LENO SHOW"

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. - "Law & Order"
9-10 p.m. - "Southland"
10-11 p.m. - "THE JAY LENO SHOW"

SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. - "Dateline NBC"
9-10 p.m. - "Southland" (encore broadcast)
10-11 p.m. - "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (encore broadcast)

SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. - "Dateline NBC"
8-9 p.m. - THE MARRIAGE REF
9-11 p.m. - "The Celebrity Apprentice" (season premiere; two-hour edition)

100 QUESTIONS
Charlotte Payne is looking for love. She's dated lots of men and has been proposed to ten times, but has yet to meet Mr. Right. So Charlotte decides to join a popular online dating site, where she has to take a 100-question compatibility test. The questions aren't easy for Charlotte to answer, and each one requires her to recount a poignant and humorous time in her life with friends Leslie, Jill, Mike and Wayne. The test becomes a journey of self-discovery for Charlotte and helps her realize what she truly wants in a relationship.

From Emmy Award-winning director James Burrows (Will & Grace, Friends) comes one hundred hilarious answers to the ultimate questions of love. Half Hour Comedy

DAY ONE
In the aftermath of a global event that devastates the world's infrastructures, a small band of survivors strives to rebuild society and unravel the mysteries of why the event took place and what the future has in store. Told from the point of view of an eclectic group of neighbors in a Van Nuys, California apartment building, this journey of survival will show us that hope is found in the smallest of victories and heroes are born every day.

From executive producer/writer Jesse Alexander (Heroes, Lost, Alias) and director Alex Graves (Fringe) comes this epic adventure that starts on Day One.



MERCY
You haven't seen inside a hospital until you've seen it through the eyes of those who know it best: its nurses. Veronica Callahan is one of those nurses. She just returned to Mercy Hospital from a tour in Iraq and knows more about medicine than all of the residents combined. Together with fellow nurses Sonia and Chloe, she navigates the daily traumas and social landmines of life and love both inside the hospital and out in the real world.

From executive producers/writers Liz Heldens (Friday Night Lights), Gretchen Berg & Aaron Harberts (Pushing Daisies), executive producers Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun, and Emmy Award-winning director Adam Bernstein (30 Rock, Rescue Me) comes a medical drama with a totally unique point of view. One-hour drama

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A look at Fox's PAST LIFE (with comments from MJ ROSE).

Obviously the upfronts are exciting and stressful for television folk. Actors and producers are hoping and praying they get picked up or renewed.

But the Fox upfronts were particularly exciting for one mystery writer. MJ Rose saw Past Life, the series based on her novel The Reincarnationist, get picked up.

"Have you ever experienced déjà vu or met someone you thought seemed familiar? Do you believe in karma, fate or love at first sight?

From writer David Hudgins (“Friday Night Lights”), and inspired by the book “The Reincarnationist” by M.J. Rose, comes PAST LIFE, a new drama series about an unlikely pair of past-life detectives who investigate whether what is happening to you today is the result of who you were before.

DR. KATE MCGINN (Kelli Giddish, “All My Children”) is not your typical psychologist. Confident, outspoken and highly educated, she works at The Talmadge Center for Behavioral Health in New York City, a world-renowned institute dedicated to the study of the science of the soul. After experiencing a past-life regression in her 20s, Kate became a believer in reincarnation. Using regression therapy and her natural gift for reading people, Kate helps solve the mysteries of her troubled clients who suffer from present-day problems caused by past-life traumas. She believes there are levels of consciousness and explanations for human behavior that science can’t begin to explain. Accustomed to skeptics, but not bothered by them, Kate is an unapologetic believer and a force of nature who marches to the beat of her own drummer.

Her partner, PRICE WHATLEY (Nicholas Bishop, “Home and Away”), is a different story. A former NYPD homicide detective, pragmatic and cynical, Price is a damaged soul who constantly battles grief and guilt over the accidental death of his wife. Price feels that Kate, though not certifiable, certainly operates on the fringes of science. It's a volatile relationship, but with Price's solid detective skills, and Kate's penchant for out-of-the-box thinking, together they make a formidable, if somewhat dysfunctional, team.

A fast-paced emotional thrill ride, each episode finds Price and Kate working with their colleagues to unravel a new mystery involving the past-lives of their clients. DR. MALACHI TALMADGE (Richard Schiff, “The West Wing”) is Kate’s mentor and the center’s namesake, an avuncular but gruff elder statesman who is a legend in the field of cognitive research. DR. RISHI KARNA (Ravi Patel, “Scrubs”) is the rookie of the group, a baby-faced therapist from Calcutta who loves bad American TV, Cuban jazz and driving everyone crazy.

Produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television, PAST LIFE is executive-produced by David Hudgins and Lou Pitt. Hudgins also serves as writer. Deran Sarafian (HOUSE, “Lost”) directed the pilot."

I spoke with MJ about Past Life.

On seeing her words brought to the small screen: "The last thing I expected when I wrote The Reincarnationist was that the book would go on to have a second life as a TV series but it sure fits the concept. Writers aren't supposed to use cliches - but there's no way to explain how thrilled I am than to say I'm over the moon. This is a such an amazing opportunity for my books to reach a wider audience - books that yes, are suspense, but are also about something that is emotional and has resonance."

On casting and the crew: "I was at the shoot of the pilot in Baltimore in March and was so impressed. David Hudgins (Friday Night Lights) did such a terrific job of creating something that is at once unique and yet is true to the essence of the book. And with Deran Sarafian (House) directing. Everyone in the cast is superlative but I have to say to have one of the characters from my all time favorite TV shows - West Wing - play Malachai is just perfect casting. If you read the description of Malachai in the novel - it's almost as if I wrote it thinking of Richard Schiff."





For more on MJ Rose and The Reincarnationist, check out her official website.

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ABC announces fall line-up.

ABC has announced the line-up for the 2009-10 season.

Happy Town and V have my interest, but little else.

Here is the press release:


All times in EST.

MONDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars" (two-hours)
10:00 p.m. "Castle"

TUESDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Shark Tank"
9:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show"
10:00 p.m. "The Forgotten"

WEDNESDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Hank"
8:30 p.m. "The Middle"
9:00 p.m. "Modern Family"
9:30 p.m. "Cougar Town"
10:00 p.m. "Eastwick"

THURSDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Flash Forward"
9:00 p.m. "Grey's Anatomy"
10:00 p.m. "Private Practice"

FRIDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Supernanny"
9:00 p.m. "Ugly Betty"
10:00 p.m. "20/20"

SATURDAY: 8:00 p.m. "Saturday Night College Football"

SUNDAY: 7:00 p.m. "America's Funniest Home Videos"
8:00 p.m. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
9:00 p.m. "Desperate Housewives"
10:00 p.m. "Brothers & Sisters"

"The Bachelor" will air Monday nights from 8:00-10:00 p.m. following the run of "Dancing with the Stars," and "Scrubs" and "Better Off Ted" will air at 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., respectively, following the run of "Dancing with the Stars The Results Show."


NEW FALL AND MIDSEASON SERIES

DRAMA

"THE DEEP END"

Each year one of LA's most prestigious law firms recruits four young lawyers from the finest law schools worldwide. The only way for these first-years to survive is to support each other...even as they compete against one another in the cutthroat arena of high-end law. Sex, greed, romance, betrayal - it's all part of being a first year associate at Sterling Law.

"The Deep End" stars Matt Long as Dylan Hewitt, Ben Lawson as Liam Priory, Tina Majorino as Addy Fisher, Norbert Leo Butz as Rowdy Kaiser, Leah Pipes as Beth Bancroft, Billy Zane as Cliff Huddle, Sherri Saum as Susan Oppenheim and Clancy Brown as Hart Sterling.

The series is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television. David Hemingson is executive producer/writer. The pilot was directed by Michael Fresco.


"EASTWICK"

Three very different women find themselves drawn together by a mysterious man who unleashes unique powers in each of them, and this small New England town will never be the same. The series is based on the popular movie "The Witches of Eastwick" and on the novel of the same title by John Updike.

"Eastwick" stars Rebecca Romijn as Roxie Torcoletti, Lindsay Price as Joanna Frankel, Jamie Ray Newman as Kat Gardener, Paul Gross as Darryl Van Horne, Sara Rue as Penny, Veronica Cartwright as Bun, Johann Urb as Will, Jon Bernthal as Raymond and Ashley Benson as Mia.

The series is produced by Warner Bros. Television. Maggie Friedman is executive producer/writer. The pilot was directed by David Nutter.


"FLASH FORWARD"

When a mysterious event causes the entire world to black out, humanity is given a glimpse into its near future, and every man, woman and child is forced to come to grips with whether their destinies can be avoided or fulfilled.

Adapting award-winning author Robert J. Sawyer's revolutionary novel, executive producers David S. Goyer (visionary co-writer of "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight") and Brannon Braga ("24," "Star Trek: Enterprise") invite you to embark on a journey to answer the question, "if you knew what your future held, what would you do?"

"Flash Forward" stars Joseph Fiennes as Mark Benford, John Cho as Demetri Noh, Jack Davenport as Lloyd Simcoe, Sonya Walger as Olivia Benford, Courtney B. Vance as Stan Wedeck, Brian O'Byrne as Aaron Stark, Christine Woods as Janis Hawk, Zachary Knighton as Bryce Varley and Peyton List as Nicole.

The series is from ABC Studios. David S. Goyer is executive producer/writer/director. Brannon Braga is executive producer and co-wrote the pilot. Other executive producers are Marc Guggenheim, Jessika Goyer, Vince Gerardis and Ralph Vicinanza. Guggenheim will be the showrunner, along with Goyer.


"THE FORGOTTEN"

From executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer comes a crime show in which a team of dedicated amateurs work on cases involving unidentified victims. After the police have given up, this group must first solve the puzzle of the victim's identity in order to then help catch the killer. They work to give the deceased back their names, lest they become -- The Forgotten.

"The Forgotten" stars Rupert Penry-Jones as Alex, Reiko Aylesworth as Linda, Michelle Borth as Candace, Bob Stephenson as Walter, Anthony Carrigan as Tyler and Rochelle Aytes as Detective Grace Russell.

The series is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Warner Bros. Television. Mark Friedman is executive producer/writer, Jerry Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman are executive producers, KristieAnne Reed is co-executive producer and Danny Cannon is executive producer/director.


"HAPPY TOWN"

Haplin, Minnesota, "Happy Town," is approaching almost a decade of peace after being riddled for years by unsolved kidnappings. But in the wake of this small town's first crime in seven years, some dark truths are being revealed about some familiar faces. They say every town has its secrets... that doesn't even begin to describe Happy Town.

"Happy Town" stars Geoff Stults as Tommy Conroy, Lauren German as Henley, Amy Acker as Rachel Conroy, Dean Winters as John Haplin, John Patrick Amedori as Andrew Haplin, Sarah Gadon as Georgia Bravin, Jay Paulson as Larry 'Root Beer' Rogers, Robert Wisdom as Roger Hobbes and Sam Neill as Merritt Grieves.

The series is from ABC Studios. Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg are executive producers and co-writers. The pilot was directed by Gary Fleder, who is also an executive producer.


"V"

"V" is a re-imagining of the 1980's miniseries about the world's first encounter with an alien race in which the aliens call themselves The Visitors, and have a seemingly friendly agenda that may or may not be a cover for something more malevolent.

"V" stars Elizabeth Mitchell as Erica Evans, Morris Chestnut as Ryan Nichols, Joel Gretsch as Father Jack Landry, Lourdes Benedicto as Valerie Stevens, Logan Huffman as Tyler Evans, Laura Vandervoort as Lisa, with Morena Baccarin as Anna and Scott Wolf as Chad Decker.

The series is produced by HDFilms in association with Warner Bros. Television. Scott Peters is executive producer/writer and Steve Pearlman and Jace Hall are executive producers. The pilot was directed and executive produced by Yves Simoneau.


COMEDY


"COUGAR TOWN"

Courteney Cox stars as a recently divorced single mother exploring the honest truths about dating and aging in our beauty and youth obsessed culture.

"Cougar Town" stars Courteney Cox as Jules, Christa Miller as Elle, Busy Philipps as Laurie, Dan Byrd as Travis, Brian Van Holt as Bobby, Josh Hopkins as Grayson and Ian Gomez as Andy.

The series is from ABC Studios. Bill Lawrence is executive producer/writer/director, Kevin Biegel is writer/co-executive producer, and Courteney Cox and David Arquette are executive producers.


"HANK"

Kelsey Grammer stars in this timely comedy as Hank Pryor, a titan of industry who suddenly finds himself out of work, almost out of money and around a wife and kids for whom he's never made much time. Despite his recent setbacks, however, Hank is confident he's on the road back to the top. He knows he is destined to return to greatness. And he is -- just not the greatness he imagines.

"Hank" stars Kelsey Grammer as Hank, Melinda McGraw as Tilly, David Koechner as Grady, Macey Cruthird as Maddie and Ryan Wynott as Henry.

The series is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with McMonkey Inc., Grammnet Productions, Werner Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television. It is written by Tucker Cawley. Tom Werner, Tucker Cawley, Kelsey Grammer and Mike Clements serve as executive producers. The pilot was directed by James Burrows.


"THE MIDDLE"

The Hecks are a middle class family living in the middle of Indiana, just trying to keep their heads above water. Emmy-winner Patricia Heaton stars as a wife and mother of three in a comedy about raising a family and lowering your expectations.

"The Middle" stars Patricia Heaton as Frankie, Neil Flynn as Mike, Eden Sher as Sue, Atticus Shaffer as Brick and Charlie McDermott as Axel.

The series is produced by Warner Bros. Television. Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline are executive producers/writers and Werner Walian is producer. The pilot was directed by Julie Anne Robinson.


"MODERN FAMILY"

Today's American families come in all shapes and sizes. Shot from the perspective of an unseen documentary filmmaker, this comedy takes a modern look at the complications that come with being a family in 2009.

"Modern Family" stars Ed O'Neill as Jay, Sofia Vergara as Gloria, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell, Eric Stonestreet as Cameron, Ty Burrell as Phil, Julie Bowen as Claire, Sarah Hyland as Haley, Rico Rodriguez as Manny, Nolan Gould as Luke and Ariel Winter as Alex.

The series is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television. Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd are executive producers. The pilot was directed by Jason Winer.


ALTERNATIVE SERIES


"SHARK TANK"

From Mark Burnett, executive producer of "Survivor" and "The Apprentice," and Sony Pictures Television comes "Shark Tank," an exciting new reality show that gives budding entrepreneurs the chance to make their dreams come true and become successful - and possibly wealthy - business people. But the entrepreneurs must first try to convince five tough, multi-millionaire tycoons to part with their own hard-earned cash and give them the funding they need to jumpstart their ideas.

In these trying economic times, it's difficult for an individual possessing a dream or even a working small business poised for growth to get a loan for a risky venture. Whether it be an imaginative enhancement for an existing product, a family recipe that has all the ingredients to become a profitable culinary treat, or the latest technological gadget that could take the world by storm, most of these dreams die an early death because no one dared take a financial chance on someone with an unproven and oftentimes outrageous proposal. Many of these people now see "Shark Tank" as their last chance at success. Some have been laboring on their ideas for years or even decades, have invested large amounts of money, and are being pressured to throw in the towel by friends and family. Others have simply never had access to the means to live out their dreams, until now.

Enter the Sharks of "Shark Tank" - Barbara Corcoran (Manhattan real estate titan), Kevin Harrington (king of infomercials), Robert Herjavec (technology tycoon), Daymond John (fashion mogul) and Kevin O'Leary (venture capitalist) - five multi-millionaires who lifted themselves up by their bootstraps to make their own entrepreneurial dreams come true and turned their ideas into empires.

Each week ambitious entrepreneurs from across the country will present their breakthrough business concepts, products, properties and services to the panel of ruthless investors. Their goal is to convince these merciless moguls to invest their own dollars in the concept. Convincing real-life millionaires to part with their own money is no easy task, because when the idea is poor, the Sharks will tear into the ill-prepared presenters and pass on the idea with a simple, "I'm out!" -- sending them running for the exit.

But these Sharks aren't just out for blood, they too have a goal: to own a piece of the next big idea. Entrepreneurs will be asked to give up a percentage of their companies' equity to the Sharks in order to get the investment they need. But when the Sharks hear a really top-notch idea, and more than one of them wants to sink their teeth into it, a war between them will erupt. Then the once-desperate entrepreneur can rejoice when the Sharks reveal their true interest in the product and bid up the price of the investment.

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FOX announces fall line-up.

Today, FOX announced it's fall line-up.

FALL
MONDAY
8:00-9:00PM HOUSE
9:00-10:00PM LIE TO ME

TUESDAY
8:00-10:00PM SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Performance Show

WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00PM SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Results Show
9:00-10:00PM GLEE

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00PM BONES
9:00-10:00PM FRINGE

FRIDAY
8:00-8:30PM BROTHERS
8:30-9:00PM ‘TIL DEATH
9:00-10:00PM DOLLHOUSE

SATURDAY
8:00-8:30PM COPS
8:30-9:00PM COPS
9:00-10:00PM AMERICA’S MOST WANTED
11:00PM-Midnight THE WANDA SYKES SHOW (working title)
Midnight-12:30AM ANIMATION DOMINATION ENCORES

SUNDAY
7:00-8:00PM THE OT (NFL post-game)
8:00-8:30PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00PM THE CLEVELAND SHOW
9:00-9:30PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00PM AMERICAN DAD

MIDSEASON
MONDAY
8:00-9:00PM HOUSE
9:00-10:00PM 24

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00PM AMERICAN IDOL Performance Show
9:00-10:00PM PAST LIFE

WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00PM AMERICAN IDOL Results Show
9:00-10:00PM HUMAN TARGET (January) / GLEE (spring)

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00PM BONES
9:00-10:00PM FRINGE

FRIDAY
8:00-8:30PM BROTHERS
8:30-9:00PM ‘TIL DEATH
9:00-10:00PM DOLLHOUSE

SATURDAY
8:00-8:30PM COPS
8:30-9:00PM COPS
9:00-10:00PM AMERICA’S MOST WANTED
11:00PM-Midnight THE WANDA SYKES SHOW (working title)
Midnight-12:30AM ANIMATION DOMINATION ENCORES

SUNDAY
7:00-7:30PM ANIMATION DOMINATION ENCORES
7:30-8:00PM AMERICAN DAD
8:00-8:30PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00PM SONS OF TUCSON
9:00-9:30PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00PM THE CLEVELAND SHOW

Obviously there are some new titles that most are not familiar with. Here are summaries on the new dramas:

HUMAN TARGET:
It takes a brave, selfless man to make himself a “human target” in order to save the lives of those in danger.

Based on the popular DC Comics comic book and graphic novel, HUMAN TARGET is a full-throttle action drama centered on CHRISTOPHER CHANCE (Mark Valley, FRINGE), a unique private contractor/security guard hired to protect.

Call him what you like, because for Chance, it’s about one thing only: saving his clients’ lives. When there is an unusual or imminent threat that can’t be solved through “normal” means of protection, Chance is hired to completely integrate himself into his clients’ lives – to become the human target. If you’re a corporate manager whose disgruntled employee has gone violently off the deep end, Chance is your new auditor. If you’re the president of a bank who’s been tipped off to a potential heist, Chance is your unassuming bank teller.

During each job, Chance, assisted by his business partner WINSTON (Chi McBride, “Pushing Daisies”) and hired gun GUERRERO (Jackie Earle Haley, “Watchmen”), puts himself directly in the line of fire as he races against time to save his client, while unraveling the truth behind the mission. With every new danger, Chance’s dark history will also unravel. Does anyone know who Christopher Chance really is, or what secrets lay buried in his past? What would make a man willingly become a HUMAN TARGET?

HUMAN TARGET is a production of Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Television. Jon Steinberg (“Jericho”), McG (“Terminator Salvation”), Simon West (“Con Air,” “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider”) and Brad Kern (“Charmed”) serve as executive producers. Peter Johnson (“Chuck”) is a co-executive producer. West directed the pilot."

MENTAL:
"When DR. JACK GALLAGHER (Chris Vance, “Prison Break”), a dynamic and radically unorthodox psychiatrist, is named Director of Mental Health Services at a Los Angeles hospital, his unconventional style leads some of his new colleagues to believe he may be as unstable as his patients.

MENTAL is a medical drama that explores the complexities of the human mind as never before. To Jack, each case is a puzzle to be solved. Confronted with each patient’s crisis, including unknown, misunderstood, and even misdiagnosed conditions, Jack must plunge inside the mind of his patients long enough to uncover what might be the key to their long-term recovery, often times working against the clock and his patients’ wishes. Ever the rebel, Jack insists on getting to the root of his patients’ illnesses by exploring first who they are as human beings, but as he fights to help his patients quickly, he must often work within only a legal 72-hour hold to determine a diagnosis.

Jack must reconcile his effective, yet highly unconventional practices with his conservative boss, hospital administrator NORA SKOFF (Annabella Sciorra, “The Sopranos”), who puts her own reputation on the line by hiring him. Unfortunately, his colleagues remain resistant to his treatment methods, including dedicated psychiatrist DR. VERONICA HAYDEN-JONES (Jacqueline McKenzie, “The 4400”), who was passed over for Jack’s position, and DR. CARL BELLE (Derek Webster, “CSI: Miami”), a master politician with a polished exterior who is dedicated to Jack’s downfall.

As seen through the eyes of doctors and patients who, as Jack points out, have more in common than they’re willing to admit, the series also features a team of doctors and hospital staff who work closely together to delve into the mysteries, oddities and wonders of the human brain, including first-year resident DR. ARTURO SUAREZ (Nicholas Gonzalez, “Brothers and Sisters”), young and cocky, but good at his job, he actually gets a charge out of Jack’s techniques; DR. CHLOE ARTIS (Marisa Ramirez, “The Young and the Restless”), drop-dead gorgeous with an attitude and very strong opinions, she’s passing time in a residency she feels is beneath her until Jack opens her mind to the inspirational benefits of psychiatry; and MALCOLM DARIUS WASHINGTON (Edwin Hodge, “Invasion”), a nurse who pulled himself out of the impoverished neighborhood he grew up in to pursue his medical career.

Produced by Fox Television Studios and Fox International Channels, MENTAL is executive-produced by Deborah Joy LeVine (“Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” “The Division”) and her brother and writing/producing partner, Dan Levine."


PAST LIFE:
"Have you ever experienced déjà vu or met someone you thought seemed familiar? Do you believe in karma, fate or love at first sight?

From writer David Hudgins (“Friday Night Lights”), and inspired by the book “The Reincarnationist” by M.J. Rose, comes PAST LIFE, a new drama series about an unlikely pair of past-life detectives who investigate whether what is happening to you today is the result of who you were before.

DR. KATE MCGINN (Kelli Giddish, “All My Children”) is not your typical psychologist. Confident, outspoken and highly educated, she works at The Talmadge Center for Behavioral Health in New York City, a world-renowned institute dedicated to the study of the science of the soul. After experiencing a past-life regression in her 20s, Kate became a believer in reincarnation. Using regression therapy and her natural gift for reading people, Kate helps solve the mysteries of her troubled clients who suffer from present-day problems caused by past-life traumas. She believes there are levels of consciousness and explanations for human behavior that science can’t begin to explain. Accustomed to skeptics, but not bothered by them, Kate is an unapologetic believer and a force of nature who marches to the beat of her own drummer.

Her partner, PRICE WHATLEY (Nicholas Bishop, “Home and Away”), is a different story. A former NYPD homicide detective, pragmatic and cynical, Price is a damaged soul who constantly battles grief and guilt over the accidental death of his wife. Price feels that Kate, though not certifiable, certainly operates on the fringes of science. It's a volatile relationship, but with Price's solid detective skills, and Kate's penchant for out-of-the-box thinking, together they make a formidable, if somewhat dysfunctional, team.

A fast-paced emotional thrill ride, each episode finds Price and Kate working with their colleagues to unravel a new mystery involving the past-lives of their clients. DR. MALACHI TALMADGE (Richard Schiff, “The West Wing”) is Kate’s mentor and the center’s namesake, an avuncular but gruff elder statesman who is a legend in the field of cognitive research. DR. RISHI KARNA (Ravi Patel, “Scrubs”) is the rookie of the group, a baby-faced therapist from Calcutta who loves bad American TV, Cuban jazz and driving everyone crazy.

Produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television, PAST LIFE is executive-produced by David Hudgins and Lou Pitt. Hudgins also serves as writer. Deran Sarafian (HOUSE, “Lost”) directed the pilot."

We will have some comments from MJ Rose tomorrow.

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SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES Exec Producer comments on show's cancellation.

While several geek-tanstic shows (Chuck, Dollhouse, Fringe) have been brought back, Sarah Connor Chronicles was not so lucky. Word officially came today that the show would not return for a third season.


Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles exec producer/writer Josh Friedman posted some comments regarding the end of the show:

By now most of you have heard the news that T:SCC is cancelled. I received a call earlier today from Peter Roth at Warner Bros. and I appreciate both his personal and professional support throughout this show’s life. I know a lot of you are angry about the cancellation and want to find a place to direct your anger and to that I say do yourself a favor and find a way to move past it. Every network wants a big fat hit, especially one with a brand name behind it, and Fox was/is no different. They supported the show, they supported my vision of the show, and they gave it plenty of time to find an audience.

And what an audience we found: passionate, intelligent, kind of nuts in a good way. My only complaint about the T:SCC fans is that there aren’t ten million of them. But I prefer to be happy for the ones we had instead of lamenting the ones we didn’t.

Good shows are cancelled every year; smart shows, worthy shows, shows which move their viewers to write blogs and have viewing parties and create action figures and bury executives’ email accounts under thousands of messages. I miss Deadwood and The Wire and Arrested Development but thank God that I still have Rescue Me and The Office and a recently renewed Party Down written by ex-T:SCC writer John Enbom.

Bad shows are cancelled, too. And certainly there are those who did not like what we did and had their own vision for what a Terminator TV show should be. It’s easy to look at low ratings or cancellation as “failure” and for those who believe we’ve gone about this all wrong I’m sure today’s news will only serve to confirm a world view that I would never try to change. We’ve written the show as best we can, executed it to the best of our abilities, and sent it out in the world knowing that we worked out asses off to do something that wouldn’t be a waste of anybody’s forty-three minutes.

Thanks to a brave and talented cast, a feature crew working on a TV schedule, and everyone else who I could list but won’t because they know who they are. Mostly I’d like to thank those of you who’ve supported us and fought for us and given up hours of your life to watch our show. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s about. The watching.

Hope we do it again soon.

Josh Friedman

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Sherlock Holmes trailer online.

So the trailer for Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes is finally here.

So I watched and
A) It looks fun.
B) Die hard Sherlock Holmes fans are likely already plotting to kill Ritchie.

"Robert Downey Jr. brings the legendary detective to life as he has never been
portrayed before. Jude Law stars as Holmes' trusted colleague, Watson, a doctor
and war veteran who is a formidable ally for Sherlock Holmes. Rachel McAdams
stars as Irene Adler, the only woman ever to have bested Holmes and who has
maintained a tempestuous relationship with the detective. Mark Strong stars as
their mysterious new adversary, Blackwood. Kelly Reilly will play Watson's love
interest, Mary."

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TREME picked up by HBO.

Was there ever any doubt?

Just in case you were nervous, word leaked out this week that HBO has indeed picked up David Simon's post Katrina series Treme. The cabler has ordered ten episodes (pilot plus nine more).

HBO has not put out any official statement, but sources from the channel have confirmed that the scuttlebutt is indeed true.

Because hurricane season is coming, filming won't resume until mid fall. The insurance company won't allow filming during said season. Because of this, it is unlikely we will see an episode until late December or, more likely, early next year.

Garth Franklin of the fine Dark Horizons spoke with Steven Zahn about his upcoming film Management. The subject of Treme came up, this is what was said:

Zahn: I’m going to go do this – “Treme”, this HBO series that just got picked up.

Question: That’s Agnieszka Holland, isn’t it? Did she direct the pilot?

Zahn: Yeah. She directed the pilot. It’s David Simon, who did The Wire and Generation Kill on HBO. It’s his – you know, he produced and wrote that. And it’s really good.

Question: What kind of character did you play in that?

Zahn: It takes place, like, two months after Katrina. And it’s kind of the rebuilding of the culture and life there, after through the eyes of these jazz musicians. And the Treme is a neighborhood off the French Quarter. And I play this kind of really smart deejay guitarist songwriter. But he’s really an infamous guy there, and is – you know, angry and bitter, but is just really eccentric. Kind of the voice of the jazz scene, you know? He’s their spokesperson.

Question: How much preparation did you do for that? I mean, in terms of –

Zahn: A lot. I went down for two weeks, and I – he’s really into this second line dancing and everything. And, I was so blown away by it. I mean, really, six weeks of just kind of hanging. More prep for this than anything I’ve ever done.

Question: Do they have an air date yet?

Zahn: No. Not yet. I have no idea. We’re going to start shooting – because we have to shoot after the hurricane season, for insurance reasons, I guess. I don’t know. But we start in November. So I would imagine, like – you know, either in the winter some time, or in the spring. I don’t know.

In addition to Zahn, the cast includes Oscar Nominee Mellisa Leo (Homicide: Life on the Streets, Frozen River), Clarke Peters (The Wire, Damages), Wendell Pierce (The Wire), Khandi Alexander (News Radio, CSI: Miami), Kim Dickins (Deadwood), Rob Brown (Finding Forrester, Stop-Loss)and Ntare Mwine (Heroes).

One thing I am very curious about is how well they nail New Orleans. Part of what made The Wire so amazing was that the city of Baltimore was key part of the show. Mr. Simon is from Baltimore and that clearly helped make it feel authentic.

How good a job will Simon and co do with New Orleans. Considering they are filming there, I would imagine they will get an earful on any mistakes they make. It is my understanding that some of the writers are natives of the Big Easy.

I am totally jazzed (no pun intended) about this. Many of the problems that arose after Katrina are not unlike the issues that The Wire tackled during it's five year run.

If anyone can do justice to the diversity of New Orleans, as well as the complexity of the aftermath of Katrina, it is David Simon.

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