Yesterday was the first official day of the 2007-08 TV season. This week is an especially critical time for networks as they unveil their newest contenders in the battle to win over as many viewers as possible. In a departure from years past this season’s new shows are straying from the reality genre and offering more of an escape from real life. Supernatural and science fiction genres featuring characters who use their “extraordinary” gifts to conquer the bad guys are getting the most buzz this season.
In other words, several networks are hoping to share in the success of NBC’s hit supernatural show “Heroes.” For example, CBS is debuting is a show called “Moonlight,” with a vampire who fights crime while struggling to tame his instinct to suck the blood from perfect strangers. Meanwhile, ABC is premiering “Pushing Daisies,” about a man who can revive the dead to solve crimes. Over at FOX “The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” is supposedly drawing its plotlines from the “Terminator” movie franchise. Another of FOX’s new dramas is “New Amsterdam,” which features a New York detective who was made immortal by an Indian spell cast in 1642. And, NBC execs say they are just giving their loyal viewers what they want by unveiling “Journeyman,” in which a reporter becomes a time traveler able to change events and “Bionic Woman,” an update of the 1970s show.
According to network programming executives, there are other ways to keep the tough “real world” at bay, like get lost in the lives of the fictional rich. Another trend in the new fall line-up includes profiling affluent families. For instance, CBS’ is offering “Cane” with Jimmy Smits as a Florida sugar baron; CW’s “Gossip Girl,” is about Manhattan prep schoolers, and a show that takes its cue from the likes of the Hiltons and Beckhams is “Dirty Sexy Money” on ABC.
Other new shows such as NBC’s “Lipstick Jungle” starring Lucy Liu and ABC’s “Cashmere Mafia” with Brooke Shields (both midseason replacements) feature strong and successful women. Meanwhile, “Big Shots,” starring Dylan McDermott, Christopher Titus, Michael Vartan and Joshua Malina, profiles very well off (make that loaded) male friends.
You may have noticed the return of fan favorites Brooke Shields and Dylan McDermott, but they aren’t the only famous faces returning to primetime. Take a look at some of the other familiar TV names that are coming back to network TV this fall:
Christina Applegate: “Married … With Children” to “Samantha Who?”
Amy Brenneman: “Judging Amy” to “Private Practice”
Tim Daly: “Wings,””The Sopranos” to “Private Practice”
Taye Diggs: “Ally McBeal” to “Private Practice”
Kelsey Grammer: “Frasier” to “Back to You”
Angie Harmon: “Law & Order” to “Women’s Murder Club”
Patricia Heaton: “Everybody Loves Raymond” to “Back to You”
Scott Patterson: “Gilmore Girls” to “Aliens in America”
Amy Pietz: “Caroline in the City” to “Aliens in America”
Isaiah Washington: “Grey’s Anatomy” to “Bionic Woman”
What will you be watching on TV this week?
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Television News – August 28, 2007