Screen Rant » reaper

Joss Whedon: Dollhouse & Thoughts On The New Buffy Project

Bruce Simmons — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:54:31 +0000

Now that Joss Whedon has wrapped upped his work on The Cabin in the Woods, he’s starting to focus on his 2nd season of Dollhouse.

We’ve got different chunks of news for you today. First, we chat a little bit about the new writers for the show then some character news. Later on we make note on Joss’ opinion on the new Buffy The Vampire Slayer project.

Writing Staff Added To Dollhouse

For any Reaper fans that have become fans of the writers from that show, you will be happy to know that the creators / writers from Reaper, Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters, have come on board the writing staff for season 2 of Dollhouse. They’ve signed an exclusive deal with 20th Century Fox, and 20th Century produces Dollhouse.

Now don’t be confused. Yes, Joss was given a smaller budget for season 2 but they’re not adding staff. These two replace the spaces vacated by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain. Craft and Fain both moved over to the writing staff for Lie To Me.

Work On Dollhouse Is Getting Underway

The first thing we need to address are the rumors of who is or isn’t showing up on Dollhouse because they may have been exaggerated.

According to Joss Whedon, despite reports saying that there was a good possibility of Summer Glau coming on board, there may have been a liberal dose of misinterpretation involved.

I’ve previously reported that he asked Summer if she’d consider coming on board. More recently, Joss said that he first has to serve the work needs of the cast already assembled before anything can be worked out with Summer Glau. Joss says that if something came up that fit her, he’d “… hound her. But the rumors of her becoming part of the show are greatly exaggerated.“ But you have to admit, the potential of her presence on the show is pretty exciting.

Cast, Where Art Thee?

As far as other cast members showing up in season 2, have you noticed a few folks are on other shows? I did, and I was curious.

Continue reading ‘Joss Whedon: Dollhouse & Thoughts On The New Buffy Project’

You Might Also Be Interested In:

2009 CW Fall TV Line Up

Bruce Simmons — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:32:52 +0000

The CW released their 2009 lineup on Thursday, May 21st, following all the other network announcements this week. The lineup has a few new shows, is down a couple of fan-favorite shows and has one schedule twist that surprised me, sort of.

The CW is now a power hitter in the chain of networks. Their best rated show, America’s Next Top Model doesn’t even break the top 50 network shows. I know… you’re shocked.

Despite the obvious numbers, Dawn Ostroff calls their lineup of shows “culturally current, quality programming.” I guess that’s not inaccurate.

They only had 2 new shows to boast about, if you can call it boasting.

The revamped Melrose Place redo, and the thinly disguised Twilight copy, called Vampire Diaries. It’s about teenage vampires. I know. We’ve never heard that theme before.

Aside from adding the two aforementioned shows, they’ve pulled (that’s canceled in street talk.) Privileged and Reaper. For some reason they’d rather play an encore of dolls in heels (ANTM) on Friday’s than keep and air Reaper.

This tells me where their bread is buttered.

The other crazy news that came from The CW is that they’re adding the new Vampire Diaries in the time slot that Smallville had, and skewering Smallville by moving it to Friday nights where it will be the lead-in for the encore of America’s Next Top Model. If Vampire Diaries flounders, this move is going to gravely injure both Supernatural and Smallville.

Supernatural will be hurt because Diaries is the lead-in show. Smallville, because they’re getting the Foxed / Joss Whedon treatment.

Their programming outline has been referred to as narrow fem-driven strategy. It’s not a bad strategy as the demographic of women do make just as powerful a spending impact as men. We all blow money equally. Yet this strategy seems to work better on networks that have successful ratings from other shows that draw viewers in. I think it’s narrow-visioned, but that’s just me, the armchair network exec talking.

Here’s the 2009 fall schedule for The CW

Monday: Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill
Tuesday: 90210, Melrose Place (new)
Wednesday: America’s Next Top Model, The Beautiful Life (new)
Thursday: Vampire Diaries (new), Supernatural
Friday: Smallville, America’s Next Top Model (encore)

I’d ask how you feel about this, but I have a pretty solid idea what is about to hit the comment section! Have at.

You Might Also Be Interested In:

Weekly TV Wrap Up – February 5th, 2009

Bruce Simmons — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:37:02 +0000

Well, we survived the Super Bowl and the travesty of a 3D commercial and now we, what? Wait for the 2009 football season to start back up? Well, so be it. In the mean time, let’s check out what happened during the last week.

This week, we chat a little about the latest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, NBC’s Chuck, some wedding news about Fringe, upcoming episodes of The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Prison Break’s final episodes, Nip/Tuck going away, Supernatural feuds, and some sad or stupid news about Kyle XY, Reaper and the Digital TV transition delay.

Let’s get to it gang!

1) If you are a David Letterman fan, he’ll be unveiling the latest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue cover and the identity of the cover model! So keep your eyes opened on February 9th. I’m hoping it’s Marissa Miller! Source: CBS Entertainment

2) Believe it or not, last Monday night’s Chuck, shown in 3D, scored its highest ratings of the season with just over 8 million viewers… Viewership was up 24%. If for some reason you want that 1D headache using those 3D “glasses” you got for the Super Bowl, you can catch the 3D version of Chuck on NBC.com. Source: NBCUni

3) Fringe Wedding News: On Fringe, FBI Special Agents Olivia Dunham and John Scott were seeing each other behind the scenes. This is where real life mimics TV, or something like that. The actors that play those two parts, Anna Torv and Mark Valley, were married in December. Congratulations to the new happy couple. I wonder when a little Fringe-baby will be on the way? Source: Yahoo.com

4) Speaking of Fringe: With the season underway, it looks like we’ll be learning more about something called “the Pattern,” and there will be an amazing revelation of Olivia Dunham’s past. It’s been said that she’s not what she seems. We’ll even become privy to Peter’s background. Additionally, we’ll also be seeing some form of closure for Mr. Jones… if you remember him. Source: SciFi Wire

5) Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles will have an episode that is a preview of the upcoming new season. An injured Sarah is guided by the image of John’s father, Kyle Reese, while Weaver’s move to protect John Henry results in deadly consequences in “The Good Wound,” airing Friday, Feb. 13 (8:00-9:01 PM ET/PT) on FOX (SCC-214) (TV-14 V). Source: FOX

6) For any of our readers who are Aaron Douglas fans, (Chief Tyrol on Battlestar Galactica), he’ll be at the New York Comic-Con, BUT don’t be fooled by the website schedule. Aaron says it’s not correct and he has confirmed his own Con schedule:

Signing: Fri. 12noon – 1pm (Table 1 with Yuri Lowenthal)
Signing: Fri. 2pm – 4pm (Fan Expo Canada Booth)
Guest Panel: Fri. 6pm – 7pm (Emissary Guest Panel in room 1A08)
Signing: Sat. 12 noon – 4pm (Fan Expo Canada Booth)

Source: The Chief’s Deck

7) As Prison Break winds down, expect to see the boys back in prison in the final episodes. Sigh. Give it a rest people. Oh wait, they are. This is the last season of Prison Break. Source: E Online

If you were watching the Super Bowl in Tuscon Arizona on your Comcast cable service, you got a wee bit more than you bargained for! With less than 3 minutes to go, right after the big Arizona touchdown, poof: 30 seconds of the Club Jenna channel (for those of you who don’t subscribe to it, that’s a porn channel boys and girls), then back to the recap of the touchdown. Zoinks. The FCC is looking into it and Comcast said this might have been a malicious intrusion by neighboring Cox Cable. Double zoinks!! I wonder if anyone grabbed for their 3D glasses then? Source: E Online

9) For the unknowing Nip/Tuck fan, you do know this is their sixth and final season, right? That is all.

10) Just in case you were wondering when the supposed brotherly feud was going to erupt, it will be in the last three episodes of Supernatural where Sam and Dean don’t see eye to eye, or more bluntly put, Sam vs. Dean. Ug. I’m not looking forward to that one. I can’t imagine them being totally at each others throats. Can you? Source: EW.com

11) For you Kyle XY fans, you may want to pull out your crying towels. ABC Family is letting the show go in place of three new shows they’ve ordered to take its place. 10 Things I Hate About You, based on the feature film of the same name. Perfect 10, a drama set in the world of competitive gymnastics & Ruby and the Rockits, a comedy about a former teen idol whose own family life is turned upside-down when his brother/ex-bandmate shows with his daughter. Oh please, hold me back. Source: TV Guide

12) We know Reaper is coming back to The CW. But the new info is that it’s coming back sooner than planned. As of right now, it’s slated to return to the airwaves on March 3rd and slated to run its entire 13 episode run. Mark your calendars! Unfortunately, it sounds like the goat being led to the bait stake in Jurassic Park! They’re putting Reaper in at 8 p.m. Tuesdays, and sliding 90210 back to 9 p.m. to protect it from the competing American Idol show on FOX. It’s always the interesting shows that get screwed. Source: THR

14) The Digital TV transition is going to be delayed. The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to push the transition date back to June 12th. Basically, the “coupon program” ran out of money. Maybe some of the stimulas package money can go for this… it’s going for everything else. Welcome to the bright, shiny new America – the only government that will pay you to watch TV. Source: TV Guide

You Might Also Be Interested In:

Reaper Series Premiere: Another Great New Show

Vic Holtreman — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 03:27:48 +0000

Ok, what the heck is going on? This is the third show I’ve seen in the Fall 2007 season, and it’s the third one that I’ve liked. It’s bizarre… I need to see something crappy before readers start accusing me of being a shill for the networks.

On top of that, I tuned in fully expecting to not like this show at all based on the description. I’m not used to being surprised by actual quality on network television.

Reaper is the ongoing story of newly turned 21 year old Sam Oliver (played by Brett Harrison) who on his birthday discovers that his parents sold his soul to the Devil before he was born, and that on his 21st birthday he would be turned over for whatever nefarious purpose Satan (played by Ray Wise) had in store for him.

Sam has basically always been a slacker (he quit college after one month because it “made him sleepy”) who works at what looks like a cross between Home Depot and Costco as a sales clerk. His best friend is Bert “Sock” Wysocki (played with great glee by Tyler Labine) who revels in his slackerness and has far less ambition than Sam. Sam says he’s friends with Andi (Missy Peregrym), a hottie with “low standards” who is going to college but enjoys working at the store with these guys more than anything. Sam is burying his crush on her because he thinks he’s not good enough.

The show started out kind of weak, with his parents being portrayed as being your typical clueless late teens drams idiots. They won’t tell him what’s supposed to happen today (his birthday) but fall all over themselves trying to tell him to have the best day ever. However when the show moved away from them and concentrated on Sam, I couldn’t help but really like the guy. Brett Harrison plays him with quite the endearing quality, and kept reminding me of Jake Gyllenhaal. As a matter of fact, many of the characters reminded me of other actors, with Tyler Labine looking like he was channeling Jack Black and Missy Peregrym reminding me of Jennifer Garner.

Anyway, Sam experiences some odd things, including knocking a huge air conditioner out of the way before it falls on Andi without quite touching it. Eventually Satan shows up to fill Sam in on the fact that he is to be a bounty hunter for the Devil, tracking down escaped souls from Hell and returning them via portals located in various places. Sam’s first challenge is a big, buff bodybuilder-looking dude who was an arsonist 50 years ago and is back to continue his hobby. Sam’s weapon and method of capturing this escaped soul?

A Dirt Devil hand-held vacuum.

Kevin Smith directed this pilot episode and it demonstrates why he’s so loved by many when it comes to a certain kind of humor. This episode had me laughing out loud many times but it also had it’s serious and even touching moments. One example was when Sam’s father, now not acting the fool, finally explained why he and Sam’s mom made the deal with the Devil and how they thought they’d get around it by just not having a child.

Now I don’t know if Kevin Smith will be directing any other episodes, but much of the credit must also go to the actors – like Ray Wise who played Satan with utter charm right up to the moment where he shifts gears and reveals his true character. And then there’s Tyler Labine playing the best friend: totally irreverent and hysterical as the laid back slacker buddy.

And let’s not forget the writers. Some of the lines they came up with were so great that I just had to share them here:

“Sock” to Sam after he’s told about the deal Sam has with the Devil:

You’re the magic devil guy with kung fu mind grip now.

Sam’s prototypical, “Lord of the Store” manager giving him a pep talk:

It’s not just about ham, it’s about self respect.

And Satan, congratulating Sam on a job well done and talking about the arsonist he captured:

He’s right back where he belongs, getting his nuts burned off for eternity.

I don’t know if the show will continue to be as funny as the series premiere, but this episode definitely gets a (surprising) thumbs up from me.

Reaper airs on The CW network on Tuesday nights.

You Might Also Be Interested In:

Fall 2007 Shows Starting Up This Week

Vic Holtreman — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:13:11 +0000

The 2007 Fall television season has started and for those of you who are Tivo-less and need to know when shows are starting, there are some biggies coming up next week. I won’t be covering them all, because I already watch too much TV and some just don’t interest me, but here are the ones that I think may be of interest to Screen Rant readers:

Heroes: Monday, Sept. 24th – NBC
I won’t let the lackluster season one finale keep me from this series, which kept me riveted all season long last year.

Reaper: Tuesday, Sept. 25th – The CW
I haven’t seen much on this but the basic plot is about a 21-year-old who becomes a bounty hunter for the Devil after discovering his parents sold his soul when he was born. It’s a sci-fi-drama-comedy from what I gather. I may tune into the pilot just for grins, but a lead character that’s a 21 year old spoiled all his life kid doesn’t appeal to me right off the bat.

Bionic Woman: Wednesday, Sept. 26th – NBC
I haven’t seen the original pilot for this show, but I’ve heard that so much of it was awful that they went back to the drawing board and re-did most of it. I watched the original so I suppose I’ll tune in to see what this one is like.

Journeyman: Monday, Sept. 24th
This one stars Kevin McKidd from HBO’s Rome, who was at one point rumored to be in the running to play the title character in the upcoming movie: Thor. McKidd plays a San Francisco reporter who suddenly becomes able to travel back in time. It’s got some heavyweight writers behind it, so it may actually be decent. It will be on directly following Heroes.

Smallville: Thursday, Sept. 27th – The CW
This will be the seventh season for the show and the last one in which Lex Luthor is a regular. Up until recently it was supposed to be the final season for the series, but it seems now that it will go one more and end after eight seasons. As usual, the finale from last season left about half a dozen seemingly impossible to overcome cliffhangers, and the writers had their work cut out in writing their way out of them. This season adds another hottie to the show in the form of Clark’s cousin Kara, aka Supergirl.

Stargate: Atlantis: Friday, Sept. 28th – Sci Fi Channel

This show has gotten stronger while Stargate SG-1 got weaker as it headed towards the end. I really love McKay and Ronin, although Sheppard still seems a bit youngster-like for my taste as far as being a leader and don’t get me started on Dr. Weir, who was caught in an explosion in the season finale but I’m sure won’t stay dead, although I wish she would.

Cavemen: Tuesday, Oct. 2nd – ABC
Why is Cavemen in this list, you may ask? One reason: morbid curiousity. I want to see just how bad this show, based on the very clever Geico TV commercials, turns out to be. None of the actors who portray the cavemen in the commercials are on the show, and taking a concept that is funny in 30 second commercials and trying to turn it into a full season of half hour episodes is a bad idea IMHO. Kind of like taking a three minute Saturday Night Live skit and turning it into a movie.

There are a few that I watch that won’t be starting until halfway through the season around January or so, including 24, Lost & Battlestar Galactica.

That’s about all that caught my eye… if you have any shows that you think should be added to this list, please chime in below with the show and your reasons for tuning in.

Source: BuddyTV

You Might Also Be Interested In: