Another summer, another TCA. What is TCA, you might ask? TCA stands for the Television Critics Association and twice a year all the TV critics gather at the Ritz in Los Angeles for what really boils down to a two week press conference. Each of the networks is given a day or two to have panel discussions on whatever they choose. This usually turns out to be mostly new shows as well as a few returning shows. I am here to give you the highlights from this past session which ended with NBC’s presentation on Monday... and when I say highlights, really it’s just from what I have read on www.tvguide.com, www.ew.com and from talking to my TV publicist friends. Because of the writers strike most of the networks are sort of re-launching the returning shows that they launched last year.
Let’s try to pick a standout show from each network. As far as new shows, ABC’s most high profile newcomer is a series called Life on Mars. It’s a British import that just relocated to NYC – so be on the lookout! In Life on Mars, a detective in 2008 is hit by a car while chasing a criminal – and finds himself in 1973 when he wakes up, where he apparently is still a detective in NYC? Sounds weird but it’s getting a lot of buzz and apparently the British version was great. Catch it Thursday’s at 10pm ET, right after Grey’s!
FOX probably has the MOST buzzed about new show this Fall – Fringe, coming straight to us from the genius that is JJ Abrams. I think the pilot is being re-tooled but my “source” tells me that it’s kind of like Indiana Jones meets The X-Files. I mean, JJ is amazing. I will watch it. Go to www.fox.com to check out the homepage – it’s cryptic and creepy. Catch Fringe Tuesdays at 9pm ET on FOX.Also noteworthy for FOX is the return of Joss Whedon, the brilliant* mind behind Buffy, Angel and Firefly. Whedon brings us Dollhouse starring Eliza Dushku in a series about a lab that assigns tasks to its various residents, who then have their memories erased after the task is completed. Dollhouse is midseason and will start some time in January on FOX.
*I have never seen an episode of any of his former shows but apparently they are amazing.
NBC’s most noteworthy new show, simply because of the talent, would have to be another foreign import – this time from Australia – Kath & Kim. It stars Molly Shannon and Selma Blair as a mother and daughter duo who are crazy and funny. This in itself is funny because Shannon is 43 and Blair is 36… do the math. Also a noteworthy show because apparently Molly Shannon’s shorts were inappropriately short at TCA. Kath & Kim is on Thursdays at 9:30pm ET/PT.
The CW has a bunch of newcomers but clearly the most important is the new 90210! It stars Aunt Becky from Full House in the Carol Walsh role plus a lot of hot newbies. Jennie Garth returns as Kelly – she is now the guidance counselor at West Beverly. Tori Spelling is back as Donna – she owns a boutique in Hollywood. AND…Shannen Doherty is back as Brenda! Now a famous stage actress (from LONDON??), she comes back to direct the spring musical. Plus Kelly’s mom (random) and Nate make cameos as well. Catch 90210 Tuesdays at 8:00pm ET/PT on The CW.Do we even care about CBS? I don’t. Except for Survivor. But only because I want to be on it.
If you have something you'd like to write about just let me know, and you might be the next Summer Friday blogger!
Related Things:
- Read all the Summer Friday entries