PET SEMATARY

NBC has cancelled The Event and Law and Order: Los Angeles. And ABC has cancelled V.

« They had it coming. They had it coming. They had it coming all along. » (Cell Block Tango, Chicago)

As we wrote last year the biggest mystery in The Event, NBC's high concept serialized drama, was the reason the Peacock network commissioned it in the first place. Particularly after the predictable demise of ABC's FlashForward. Even those who celebrated FlashForward as the Second Coming (i.e. the new Lost) were cautious on this one and someone should have told Hollywood the 1990s are over. Amusingly in May 2010 we wrote about the NBC 2010 Fall schedule that Chuck looked like the only thing enjoyable, and the show will get a fifth and final season.

The cops from Law & Order: Los Angeles (aka LOLA) will investigate their own cancellation, as NBC has pulled the plug on Dick Wolf's Californian extension of the L & O franchise after a midseason retooling. Your humble servant didn’t watch when it was called L.A. Dragnet anyway... Obviously they unplugged the original Law and Order too soon.

There are television classics which should be left alone and Kenneth Johnson's miniseries V (1983) is definitely on the list. ABC cancels the 2009 struggling remake of this monument after 22 episodes. NBC just said no to David E. Kelley's Wonder Woman but don't worry, Mother Nature hates emptiness and the Alphabet network gave its green light to the Charlie's Angels remake.

http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/nbc-cancels-the-event-too/
http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/nbc-cancels-law-order-los-angeles/
http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/brothers-sisters-close-to-cancellation/
http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/its-official-nbc-to-bring-back-chuck-for-13-episodes/

ANNA WHO?

[20.24 - French Time] Digital Spy reports that American actress and pop culture icon Jane Badler, best known for her role as Diana in the original V (1983-1985), will join the cast of Aussie soap Neighbours next week.

Jane Badler moved to Australia more than 20 years ago after filming the revival of Mission: Impossible (1988-1990) Down Under. In Neighbours she will play Diana Marshall, a "super-bitch", says DS. Australian viewers will see her episodes in late june on Network Ten, and Brit viewers later in the year on Five.

Diana... again! The real deal.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s14/neighbours/news/a210890/jane-badler-joins-neighbours-cast.html

LOSE SOME, LOSE SOME

[9.00 - French Time] Variety reports that FlashForward showrunner/co-creator David Goyer is leaving his role as showrunner on the ABC series. He will continue as an exec producer.

Goyer is the second showrunner to leave the "high-concept" drama after Marc Guggenheim in the fall. David Goyer wants to focus on his film career - his feature writing credits include Batman Begins and The Dark Knight (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118014820.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&ref=verttv).

Overhyped as the next Lost, FlashForward struggled in the ratings before a pre-scheduled hiatus (the show returns on March 18). Like ABC's other high-concept genre show, V, which lost 35% of its audience (14.3 million to 9.3 million) over just four airings last fall (http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2010/02/06/flashforward-loses-showrunnerco-creator-report/).

The troubles of V and FlashForward will certainly nail the coffin of heavily serialized dramas (http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/446730-An_Entire_Genre_May_Be_Lost_.php?rssid=20065) after the finale of Lost on ABC. Anyway they are not a surprise for the readers of this blog.

See also:

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/31/are-heavily-serialized-dramas-heading-towards-extinction-on-broadcast-nets/40642
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/10/pitch-black.html

LIFE ON MARS?

[22.16 - French Time] Chuck executive producer Scott Rosenbaum has been named showrunner/executive producer of the remake of V, premiering today on ABC.

Scott Rosenbaum replaces showrunner Scott Peters, who stays executive producer (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118010788.html?categoryid=14&cs=1). This comes after the news that the new V will go on hiatus after only four episodes (http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a179211/v-to-go-on-hiatus-after-four-episodes.html) and the scrapping by the network of an ambitious plan to cover the skies of 15 major American cities with giant red "V"s to promote the debut of the show.

« [Still,] this isn't the sort of news you want to break on the day of a show's premiere. (Not that I think it will matter -- the premiere of "V" will likely do well in the ratings, but I'm not so sure about the next few weeks) » writes James Hibberd in The Live Feed (http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/11/v-swaps-showrunners.html).

The first four episodes of V are meant to end with a cliffhanger and the show is supposed to return in spring should the ratings of this first batch justify it. The 2009 version of the classic miniseries is scheduled to resume production in January (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i86ae90f3122997621998ffb7a2773776).

http://abc.go.com/shows/v

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/10/lizards-eat-skywriting-campaign-for.html

LIZARDS EAT SKYWRITING CAMPAIGN FOR ABC'S V

The Uh-Oh season, officially opened with the departure of FlashForward's co-showrunner/executive producer Marc Guggenheim, continues with another hyped entry from ABC: the 2009 reboot of V - the classic alien invasion miniseries by Kenneth Johnson.

According to The Live Feed, a blog of The Hollywood Reporter, the network cancels its ambitious plan to cover the skies of 15 major American cities with giant red "V"s to promote the debut of V on November 3 (http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/10/abc-scraps-plans-for-v-skywriting-campaign.html#more). After the announcement of the PR stunt, Lisa de Moraes wrote a column in the Washington Post where she estimated the impact of the operation on the environment (1).

Honestly, why should we care of the environment when lizards are [Major Spoiler Alert for our readers under 40] going to eat us all anyway. Last month came the news that the new V will go on hiatus after only four episodes (http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a179211/v-to-go-on-hiatus-after-four-episodes.html). Now this.

But to be perfectly fair with ABC and the people in charge of the promotion of the show, note that the network made the first eight minutes of the pilot available (http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/10/the-first-eight-minutes-of-abcs-v.html). This pilot and the first episode are directed by the respectable Quebecois director Yves Simoneau, who directed the pilot of The 4400 in 2004 for the same producer, and the excellent thriller Blind Trust (Pouvoir intime, 1986) (2).

At least we know what caused all that chaos in the Flashforward pilot: the giant face of the charming Morena Baccarin smiling on the huge flying screen of the mothership.

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/10/pitch-black.html

(1) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/19/AR2009101903260.html
(2) http://www.canuxploitation.com/review/pouvoir.html

THE NOT-SO-BEAUTIFUL DEATH? (2009 PRIMETIME FALL SEASON)

Every lucid observer and specialist has the notion that the 2009-2010 Primetime network season has all the ingredients to become the worst season in many, many years. But as Nikki Finke would say, be afraid, be very afraid.

Right after the announcement of the first casualty of the fall season, CW's The Beautiful Life (http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/cw-cancels-the-beautiful-life/), comes the news that the new V without Kenneth Johnson, creator of the original mini-series in the 1980s, will go on hiatus after only four episodes (http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a179211/v-to-go-on-hiatus-after-four-episodes.html). The show, which premieres on ABC in November is meant to come back on March after the hiatus. But rumours declare the 2009 version of V dead.

This happens after a temporary "creative hiatus" and the fact that producers of the "reboot" were considering the appearances of actors from the original version (or maybe they could call Heather Locklear). And the promo shown this week didn't help to convince your humble servant of the interest of this "reinvention" of one of the greatest chapter in the History of US television.

See also: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i470b0d4b362728579a5b16fab2819eee

ALIEN REINVENTION

It will be absolutely not a surprise for the readers of this blog [I promised I will not borrow Nikki Finke's "Toldja!" again so this will do]: Sci Fi (soon SyFy) is developing a remake of Alien Nation. A reinvention, as they say now. In May, your humble French scribe wrote: « Monuments should stay untouched, and if the new V succeeds expect Alien Nation 2010 » (http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/its-only-movie-ingrid-episode-5.html). They didn't wait...

Alien Nation started as a 1988 movie directed by Graham Baker, written by Rockne S. O'Bannon, and starring James Caan and Mandy Patinkin as an unlikely cop duo: a maverick human cop veteran and an alien detective in a Los Angeles where an alien civilization, the Newcomers, is integrated within our society but is victim of discrimination. In 1989 20th Century Fox Television and Kenneth Johnson (V) launched a television series adapted from the movie for the Fox network, but Fox cancelled the show after only one season. In April 1991, the mythical magazine Epi-Log wrote: « Has anyone hosed down the Fox Network corporate offices with salt water yet? » (1) The flesh of the Newcomers could be disintegrated by salt water and they could get drunk with sour milk.

From 1994 to 1997 Alien Nation was revived for a series of made-for-TV movies. And now, Tim Minear - an expert in science fiction, is working on a "reinvention" of the franchise for SyFy/Sci Fi, and Fox 21 (2). Variety explains:« The new Alien Nation will likely take place in the Pacific Northwest, and will take place about 20 years after the first ship of aliens - who have been banished as slaves - crash lands into Earth. By the time the show begins, some time in the 2020s, the alien population has multiplied from a few thousand to 3,5 million. And much of the "newcomers" live their own segregated existence, in what Minear compares to the North African ghettos in France ». The "North African ghettos in France"?! Er, maybe this needs a little specification.

Sci Fi wants a successor to Battlestar Galactica. « It's absolute perfect timing for this type of show » says Chris Carlisle, president of Fox 21 (3). No doubt about that, now Sony can revive Something is out there (1988). The Xenomorph beats them all, it will eat them all too.

(1) Epi-Log #7, June 1991.
(2) (3) http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118005577.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&nid=2562

THE LAST SHOUT

This month, Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/) gave us a most complete coverage of what will be the 2009-2010 Primetime network television season in Nikki's aptly titled Primetime Pilot Panic series. And nailed the coffin with a presentation of the network skeds.

Tuesday is Time Tunnel Day for the CW with the 90210 revival and now the revival of the original 90210 spin-off: Melrose Place (I hope you're not losing me). What is tragic in some way is that the original Melrose Place was the epitome of the "guilty pleasure" and a GP doesn't have to be particularly good to be appreciated. So if the new Melrose is as camp as the original the hopes are high and if the all "Young, bold, beautiful and restless" - hey, it's the CW - cast fails they can bring back iconic Heather Locklear to save the show. But Michael and Sydney return! I'm excited by a Melrose Place revival on the CW, just shoot me! I don't care about 90210, I didn't care about the original, but count me in for Melrose (http://www.youtube.com/user/cwtelevision?blend=1&ob=4).

Also on tuesday, on CBS, the NCIS spin-off: NCIS: Los Angeles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07XPSH-CWrI). Well, er, if the show is a hit we'll have NCIS: Miami, NCIS: New York, NCIS: Paris, and NCIS UK (with Freema Agyeman). But we'll give this one a try because of Chris O'Donnell and because the original is pure fun. CBS again, as the network finally picked the two medical shows: Three Rivers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZj3EIkQGXY) AND Miami Trauma (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18i3w6ZkVQY). At least CBS shows a lot of coherence, with all these crime shows on the network their medical personnel should have a lot to do. I want a Chicago Hope revival but lock Mandy Patinkin with a ten-year contract before.

Is the 2009-2010 season summed up by a single word: trauma? NBC's Trauma (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycgM884tMyE&hl=fr) looks like a blockbuster version of a Glen A. Larson show. I'll have a look at the pilot but can the network afford this every week? Talking about what you can afford, where the hell is Alyssa Milano when you need her? Eastwick - on ABC (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFtp-rnfz7A) - is Charmed revisited with a touch of Desperate Housewives. The only item of interest for your humble servant is that Darryl Van Horne is played by supremely talented Canadian actor Paul Gross (Due South). I didn't recognize him at first but it's always a pleasure to see him.

For The 2200 aka ABC's remake of V - Kenneth Johnson's monument (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahjPQjQGdbU), see what I wrote in my last Ingrid (1). So long, and thanks for the fish... Replace lizards by traders and maybe I'll watch it. Glee, on Fox (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNU0KoBIIdE&feature=PlayList&p=6E50EE8B2B923B5D&index=0), is fresh air in this rather bleak coming network season. The trailer and clips recall The Kids from Fame with plenty of humor, singing and musical talent, and rythm. I had recently the privilege to receive news from Stephen Tobolowsky (guest-starring in the pilot) and he's very enthusiastic and truly supportive of the show.

Let's stay on Fox with Human Target (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMkgobsb0Js). I was really expecting a lot of the idea of a new adaptation of the DC comic book (after the one with Rick Springfield in the nineties) and from what I see I'm afraid I'm gonna show some reserve for the moment as the result owes more to Walker Texas Ranger. I was not personally a fan of Walker but the post-series tv movie was very good and deserved a sequel. Mark Valley is charismatic and more than credible as Christopher Chance, the hero of this new Human Target - he served during the Gulf War.

The more I get old the more I enjoy (good) Reality tv. Thank God, there's still US cable and British television.

See also: http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/things-to-oh-whatever.html

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/index.php?s=pilot+panic

(1) http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/its-only-movie-ingrid-episode-5.html

IT'S ONLY A MOVIE, INGRID (EPISODE 5)

Where Ingrid returns not orange but green. Ingrid... The Grinch Edition.

THE 2200

Let's call that the Bernie Lomax Syndrome, old tv shows can't rest in peace. Of course, remakes allow new generations to discover a character or a concept (http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2008/08/young-barnaby-jones-chronicles.html). Without remakes the only on-screen Batman ever would be Lewis Wilson in the 1943 serial and the 2005 version of Doctor Who would not be the best series in the History of television (until Voyage of the Damned at least).

And the worst thing than the remake of an old show is the remake of a British contemporary show for the US market. We could hope that the demises of Life on Mars US and of the remake of Eleventh hour (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/primetime-pilot-panic-more-cbs-moves/) will vaccine American television executives but there's a Warner Brothers Primeval movie coming and even a US Primeval spin-off series(http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a156144/reports-primeval-spinoff-in-the-pipeline.html).

But now Hollywoodland doesn't just remake old shows, it "re-imagines" them, "reinvents" them, thanks to the success of Casino Royale - the 2006 James Bourne movie. And I suspect "reinvention" will be seen as the golden access pass to Penny Lane now that the new Star Trek is a worldwide phenom. The latest tv classic to be "reinvented" is V, the 1983 miniseries by Kenneth Johnson. The remake, produced by Scott Peters (The 4400), is due to be shown on ABC during the 2009-2010 season (1) and we can have a first look at the show through clips (http://scifiwire.com/2009/05/first-look-at-clips-for-a.php).

The original V was a political metaphor, It can't happen here or Jean-Paul Sartre's choice with lizards in orange mechanic outfits, and Brecht or Rod Serling in the shadows. A television event too: at the time the most expensive miniseries ever made, with stunning special effects, magnificent actors, an incredible soundtrack, the talent of Kenneth Johnson - one of the most brilliant television authors of his time (http://www.kennethjohnson.us/) - and some effective scenes still terrifying a whole generation by their single evocation. Sorry, but from what I see of the new V we're very (very) far from that. Monuments should stay untouched, and if the new V succeeds expect Alien Nation 2010 but experience shows that it's not a good idea to try V without Johnson.

NOT THAT ONE

We all make mistakes sometimes. May I please suggest that comedy genius Matt Lucas (of Little Britain fame) has made one with his "impersonation" of Britain's Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle for Heat Magazine (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/susan-boyle/5346071/Matt-Lucas-impersonates-Susan-Boyle.html).

Think what you want of producer Simon Cowell and his programmes (I personally believes he knows how to pack entertaining shows) but this was not funny at all and far from the standards of Lucas's duo with David Walliams. Susan Boyle may or may not win BGT (dance group Diversity is my favourite) but her first appearance on the show was really wonderful.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

Your humble servant is always amazed by your growing interest about this little blog and I was recently intrigued by the sudden affluence of visitors from a forum about the American version of Life on Mars (http://z3.invisionfree.com/Life_On_Mars/index.php?). I had to register to learn more and discovered that my use of the adjective "Unnecessary" to qualify their favourite show raised a honest, open-minded, fair, balanced and interesting four-page discussion.

No hard feelings for the Dead Pool quote as I often use it myself in private (preceded by "As a great philosopher of the 20th century once said") and the site administrator is a gentleman. The forum is also a "think tank" for a campaign to bring back Life on Mars US (http://z3.invisionfree.com/Life_On_Mars/index.php?showforum=1) so I mention it as some of you, faithful readers, are true fans of this version.

(1) http://abc.go.com/fallpreview/index?pn=v