Wow. So much can happen in just a few days; dates have been announced for the returns of my two favorite shows, a series thought dead has gotten a couple more episodes and new hope for the future, a great series is coming to a close, and a popular show is getting a webseries offshoot.
Lost, the best show on TV, will be starting its final season on February 2nd, 2010 and will air its remaining 18 episodes on Tuesday nights at 9pm. I’m on the edge of my seat. I don’t read (or post) any news or spoilers about Lost, I just like to watch and be surprised. I can’t believe we are so close to its conclusion.
I can also barely hold in the excitement that Chuck will be coming back early, on Sunday Janruary 10th, with back to back episodes, and than another new episode the next night as it retakes its 8pm time slot on NBC’s Monday night schedule. This will push the ratings struggling Heroes back to 9pm, where hopefully it can regain some of its former numbers (and glory). With the network ordering additional episodes of Chuck, bringing it back early, and trusting the series with a strong lead off spot on the schedule, this gives me hope that NBC is getting behind the series and is ready to give it a big push to help it get the numbers that it deserves. The list of guest stars for the upcoming season is amazing, with cult favorites Robert Patrick and Vinnie Jones, Superman himself Brandon Routh, Smallville‘s Kristin Kreuk, and former WWE wrestler Steve Austin to name a few. I can’t wait to see where Chuck and company go from here.
With Heroes moving to 9pm, that means that NBC’s Trauma is homeless. The freshmen Emergency medical drama, which was thought to have been canceled, just got 3 additional episodes ordered. Are they giving it a second chance? Or is this a sign that the network might be looking for shows to replace Jay Leno at 10pm? Trauma is better suited for the later hour just as ER benefited from a 10pm slot. Don’t get me wrong, I love Jay Leno, his show is just misplaced.
After eight seasons, Monk is coming to a close. There are just three episodes left! One of the last three airs tonight at 9pm on USA. In the new episode, Monk becomes Detective Monk after he is reinstated on the police force. Well, after 8 seasons, it is about time!
Finally, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy is expanding online! Starting this week on ABC.com and airing until Janruary 21st of the new year is Seattle Grace: On Call, a webseries spinoff of the medical drama. The series is shot in a documentary-style with four minute episodes set in Joe’s bar. They focus on this year’s new interns (Mark Saul, Molly Kidder, Joseph Williamson, Gloria Garayua, Brandon Scott), a few of the doctors that were recently merged into Seattle Grace from another hospital (Nora Zehetner and Robert Baker), and of course Joe the Bartender (Steven Bailey). I’m a big fan of webseries, and I think this is a perfect way for a show to keep people tuning in when they are airing reruns.
It is an exciting time for TV, I just wish I could say the same about movies.
