CBS has a great track record with their shows and they get some pretty decent ratings from their present collection of programming. On top of that, I know there are some shows that folks are eagerly waiting for.

For instance, I know many Alex O’Loughlin (The Shield, Moonlight) fans are probably looking forward to the October 4th premiere of CBS’s Three Rivers.

Today, CBS presented a few press releases where they announced the swapping of episodes.  Specifically, the first two episodes.  That means that now the episode originally scheduled to be 2nd is now showing as the premiere episode, and the original premiere will be following the week after.

If this were Fox, I’d be suspicious that they were doing what they usually do with promising shows, but I don’t know what to think about this move from CBS.

Maybe they know what they’re doing.

As it stands, the new premiere epi of Three Rivers will be titled “Place of Life,” the 2nd episode will be titled “Tick-Tock.” That’s all I’m giving you. No spoilers here!

CBS press on the show:

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, the highly-skilled workaholic lead organ transplant surgeon, whose good-natured personality and sarcastic wit makes him popular with his patients and colleagues.   His co-workers include Dr. Miranda Foster, 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, a womanizing surgical resident who’s broken as many hearts as he’s replaced; Ryan Abbott, the inexperienced new transplant coordinator who arranges the intricately choreographed process of quickly and carefully transporting organs from donor to patient; Dr. Sophia Jordan, a brilliant surgeon at the top of her field and the head of surgery.  She has a vast amount of experience, training all around the world, which gives her an extremely diverse point-of-view; and Pam Acosta, 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.

SERIES REGULARS:

Dr. Andy Yablonski … Alex O’Loughlin

Dr. Miranda Foster … Katherine Moennig

Dr. David Lee … Daniel Henney

Ryan Abbott … Christopher J. Hanke

Dr. Sophia Jordan … Alfre Woodard

Pam Acosta … Justina Machado

Source: CBS Press

• 2009 CBS Fall TV Line Up: No ‘Eleventh Hour’
• Weekly TV Wrap Up – May 7th 2009
• Weekly TV Wrap Up – March 19th, 2009
• Stargate Universe 2nd Episode Ratings Improve
• Fox Fall TV Premiere Dates & Times
• Live Action Star Wars TV Show Closer To Reality

With the CBS 2009 season, we have a few favorites coming back, a show that changed networks and night and a huge gamble that paid out less than the California lottery.

The shows that got the digital advertisers ax were Eleventh Hour, Harper’s Island, The Unit, Without a Trace and Worst Week.

I’m bummed The Unit was cut and surprised by Harper’s Island lack of viewers.  Harper’s was well written compared to some but I guess viewers just don’t have the patience for murder-mystery dramas.  I have to admit, my first reaction was flat to the idea but I gave it a chance, got hooked and now, got disappointed.  Grr.

One of the most expensive television shows ever produced, Eleventh Hour, apparently was just as flat as I felt it was when I watched the first few episodes.  It never snagged me and seemed what I call OTTO (over the top obvious) in how they initially delivered their character introductions.  Shows that go OTTO on me usually lose me.  I’d rather see compelling story up front and slowly let the characters demonstrate who they are over time.  When I see OTTO, I always fear the show runners are scared about their stories and try to pump us full of concern for the 2-D characters right up front.

The NCIS spin-off called NCIS: Los Angeles is right behind NCIS on Tuesdays.  CBS also moved their huge hit, The Mentalist to Thursday nights which is bad news for the other networks.

The much anticipated Alex O’Loughlin drama 3 Rivers will be airing on Sundays between Amazing Race and Cold Case.

Medium was sent packing at NBC, but CBS snatched it up and is now going to air it on Fridays following Ghost Whisperer.  That should be a great combination of shows.  At least they’re not going to have two 30-minute, unrelated genre shows like comedies be their lead-in.

If you look closely, Flashpoint, which hooked me in one episode, is not mentioned as being canceled or renewed.  It’s in limbo, or more accurately, it will air during the summer time.  Along with Friday nights, the summer season is almost the worst for TV shows.  Most networks don’t air new shows they want to succeed during the summer…  it’s like a really long drawn out Friday to them.

Mid season shows that are coming at us that aren’t on the list below are:

The Bridge: Is about a tough and dedicated police officer who is voted to become the police union’s dynamic leader. It stars Aaron Douglas, of Battlestar Galactica fame.

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.  It will star Jeremy Northam.

Below is the schedule CBS released:

N= New Show.  NT= New Time

Source: CBS Press

• Upcoming 2009 TV Season Finales
• NBC Announces 2009 TV Schedule
• Friday Night Ratings: Dollhouse & Smallville
• Weekly TV Wrap Up – May 21st, 2009
• Weekly TV Wrap Up – March 19th, 2009
• Bruckheimer Pilot Coming To NBC

This is the weekly TV update coming at you yet again.  Today I chat about how Numbers has survived on Friday nights, I share my suspicions on what will happen with Chuck on NBC and I celebrate a bit about Fringe on Fox.

I’ll also touch on how the new Wolverine movie has already had its TV rights secured while I tell you about a couple of upcoming Sci-Fi Channel marathons, and then I’ll close with some depressing inclinations about Dollhouse and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.  At the very bottom, past my ratings chart, I actually make a suggestion about an episode of Criminal Minds that I suggest hunting down to watch.  (Yes, I make a recommendation.)

Let’s get on with it, shall we?

Numbers Survives On Fridays

Even though the viewing audience does not like programmable personalities, they sure do seem to like Numbers on CBS because it keeps trudging along despite airing on Fridays.

The show is about solving the crime of the week using mathematical calculations and you wouldn’t think a concept like that would jive with viewers who slurp up reality TV.  Heck, it’s a great surprise to me that Numbers has survived this long.

In reaching it’s 100th episode milestone, CBS is leaving the show in its present Friday night time-slot because it has a loyal following and they don’t want to upset the applecart.  FOX…  helloooooo?  Applecart?  Dollhouse?  Oh, Nevermind.

Source: Variety

Did I Hear Someone Asking About Chuck On NBC?

Chuck got 25% of the votes from an E Online survey about rescuing shows and there’s a lot going on right now to help Chuck survive.  But I have a bad feeling something is amiss.

Maybe it’s my natural distrust of the system but I think we’ve seen an interesting and probably honest mistake by the keepers of the web over on NBC. Check out the screen captures below of the Chuck website.

If you look real close that the middle of the right side, there’s the next on block…  here, let me zoom in for you:

Yes… it said at one point SERIES FINALE for Chuck.

The wording has since been changed but is this a taste of things to come?  Was NBC referring to the last episode of Chuck because that’s their intent and they’re just placating the fans by not making any decisions right away?  Or was that just an honest mistake?

The sharp guys over on TV by The Numbers thinks it was a screw up.  Color me suspicious, but I think the non-messages are adding up, hate it as I may to say that.

If Chuck does come back it will probably be on a different night because it looks like they will be pairing up Heroes with the new comedy, Parenthood.  Crickets…  What an odd combination of shows.  Which one are they trying to kill off?

Come on NBC, surprise me and renew Chuck!

Sources:  TV By The Numbers, THR Feed, EW

Fringe Gets Renewed

Didn’t I say last week that Fringe will probably be renewed? Fringe has been the number one performing (scripted) drama of the season for Fox and they’ve ordered a full 22 episodes for season 2.  After what Sci-Fi did to Battlestar Galactica, I’m always nervous to reference 22 episodes as a whole season.  Thanks Sci-Fi!  (No, I’m not bitter.)

Also – Keep your eyes out for Leonard Nimoy in the May 12th season finale of Fringe.

Side note:  Is that a Slusho in Walter’s hand?  Yes… and if you look carefully at any of J.J. Abrams other shows, you’ll see it pop up in the most surprising moments.  (I think I might do a report on that unnatural phenomenon.  What do you think?)

Source:  Sci Fi Wire

FX Network Is Getting Aggressive And Has Bucks To Spend

The TV guy gets to talk about movies for a change.  Cool!

Even though X-Men Origins: Wolverine has only been out for less than a week, FX smells a good thing when they see one and went on a spending spree.

The FX cable network has bought the network rights to broadcast Wolverine.  In fact, this isn’t the only movie they’ve snagged up.  In a massively expensive deal they’ve also acquired the network rights to Taken, Marley and Me, The Wrestler, the wonderfully stoic (read: boring) remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still, Bride Wars, 12 Rounds and Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li.

This is a big package deal and it can only be seen as an investment.

These latest acquisitions can be added to the network rights they’ve previously acquired for Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Baby Mama, Iron Man, Tropic Thunder, Hancock and DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda.

DVR, meet FX.  FX, meet my DVR.

Source: Variety

Family Guy Spin-off, Cleveland:  Already Renewed! (Weird)

If you order a show and it does well enough in the ratings, you order a 2nd season.  Right?  Well, in my world that’s how it’s done but what do I know?  (You don’t have to answer that.)

Fox ordered this spinoff from Family Guy called Cleveland.  The folks at Fox have gotten so excited about the show that they’ve already ordered a 2nd season… and it has yet to even premiere.  Yep, you read that right.  It hasn’t even aired yet.

First it was a 13 episode order, then they ordered more, making it a 22 episode order.  Then they got even more excited and ordered more, making it a 35 episode order.

From the looks of things Fox is locking up it’s animated talent so they don’t drift off to other network.  Or, the guys at Fox just have  a ton of faith in Seth MacFarlane at this point.

Cleveland is the product of Seth MacFarlane, Rich Appel and Mike Henry with MacFarlane and Henry also doing some of the voice talent for the show.

Source:  The Hollywood Reporter

Sci-Fi Channel Marathons

Over on the Sci-Fi Channel, we have a couple of all-day marathons coming at us.

If you’ve gotten this far in the article, and you’re a Star Trek fan, the Sci-Fi Channel is having a Star Trek marathon on Friday, May 8th.  It’s Star Trek: Enterprise, but at the end of the day, Star Trek: First Contact will air.  I’m guessing they’re trying to capitalize on the opening day hype of J.J. Abrams Star Trek.

If there are any Eureka fans in the crowd here, there will be a Eureka marathon on May 10th.

Source:  The Sci Fi Channel

Dollhouse and Sarah Connor

Dollhouse may have a faithful following, but the ratings aren’t reflecting that there are enough of the faithful tuning in.  Last weeks episode drew it’s worse estimated overnight ratings to date, with a 1.9 / 3 share.  (Huh?  I like using millions because it’s much easier to digest without having to consult my higher reasoning.  A rating point represents approximately 1 million viewers.  The share # is the % of TV’s that were turned on and tuned into the program.  I know it’s not hard, but I like the big numbers.)

The Sarah Connor Chronicles has an even stronger following than Dollhouse and yet Fox is silent about their plans on the show.

Over on E Online they had a “save the show” kind of poll and after all was said and done, TSCC had 53% of the vote.  It sounds impressive but that only accounts for 150k+ potential viewers.  That’s not millions, so I’m guessing Fox or the advertisers probably don’t care.

Josh Friendman, the show runner, hasn’t even heard from Fox so he’s in the dark as much as we are.

Sources:  Airlock Alpha, E Online

TV Ratings from April 27th to May 3rd

The Ratings for the last week had it’s usual ups and downs while Fox held on to the top spots with American Idol.  I have to say, if Adam doesn’t win this season, the voting process needs to change big time.  He is a true talent in the scheme of things.

Of the top 5 shows, 2 were scripted dramas.  Go NCIS and The Mentalist!  The Mentalist gained ~ 5 million viewers from the week before and jumped into the 4th slot.

Though 24 is getting better with each week, it oddly slipped from 16th to 22nd but the number of viewers remained the same. 

Fringe dropped 11 spots (dOh!) to 29th while retaining the number of viewers.

NBC’s newest hot show Southland (so they say) dropped 14 spots to 48th while losing 2 million viewers.

The Unusuals continued its downward slide by 9 spots to be 63rd of 90 shows, losing an additional million viewers in the process.

Bruce’s Closing Thought

Did anyone catch the April 29th Criminal Minds episode titled “Big Wheel”, where Alex O’Loughlin guest starred?  I have never seen an actor transform so differently between television roles like Alex did for this one.  In fact I watched the episode and it wasn’t until the teaser opener was done that I recognized his eyes.  And if I didn’t know at some point he was guest starring, I’d never have caught it.  He changed his looks, his voice and mannerisms to the point of being this character.

Aside from O’Loughlin guest starring, for the first time in my life, I felt truly bad for the murderer.  O’Loughlin pulled this off in a way I never expected and if you are even a partial fan of either the franchise or the actor, TRACK IT DOWN. That’s my recommendation for the week.

After seeing that, I truly am looking forward to his new pilot on CBS, a medical drama called Three Rivers.

• Weekly TV Wrap Up – July 30th, 2009
• Weekly TV Wrap Up – April 30th, 2009
• Weekly TV Wrap Up – February 26th, 2009
• TV Renewal And Cancellation Notes To Date
• Weekly TV Wrap Up – May 21st, 2009
• Fox Announces Fall TV Lineup & Squirms On Sarah Connor