Demons

[anna]

mlm828 said:

I was wondering about this, too. I'm not optimistic about Demons' chances, but has someone heard some "inside information"?

Of course, it's not inside information, and of course it could still change. I was just joking based on what's been printed everywhere, including today's Hollywood Reporter.

CBS is swinging for the fences on the drama side and staying close to tradition on the comedy side.

On Monday, the network picked up four drama pilots to series: the musical mystery "Viva Laughlin," the partner-swapping period drama "Swingtown," the vampire crime drama "Moonlight" and the Latin family drama "Cane."

On the comedy side, the network gave the green light to "The Big Bang Theory," a multicamera comedy from "Two and a Half Men" co-creator Chuck Lorre.

Additionally, CBS ordered to series "Power of 10," a game show pilot from producer Michael Davies.

CBS also is close to picking up to series two single-camera comedy pilots: "I'm in Hell," starring Jason Biggs, and ensemble "The Captain."

On the returning front, CBS is close to bringing back the freshman comedy "Rules of Engagement" and the sophomore sitcom "The New Adventures of Old Christine." "Christine," which saw its ratings soften when it was moved from 9:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, is rumored to get a 13-episode midseason order.

Meanwhile the military drama "The Unit" was renewed Tuesday morning, along with "Shark," "Ghost Whisperer" and "Criminal Minds."

CBS' drama picks deliver on the network's promise going into the development season that it would step outside the CBS comfort zone of procedurals to go for bold, risky, noisy shows.

"Laughlin," from Sony Pictures TV, BBC Worldwide Prods. and CBS Paramount Network TV, stars Lloyd Owen as a family man who dreams of opening a casino in Laughlin, Nev.

"Swingtown," from CBS Par TV, is a swinging-couples drama set in the 1970s.

"Moonlight" (formerly "Twilight"), from Warner Bros. TV, stars Alex O'Loughlin as a private investigator who is a vampire.

"Cane" (formerly untitled Cynthia Cidre), from CBS Paramount Network TV and ABC Studios, stars Jimmy Smits as the head of a Latin American clan in South Florida.

Three other drama pilots -- Anthony Zuiker's LL Cool J starrer "The Man," the zombie dramedy "Babylon Fields" and the Stephen Dorff starrer "Skip Tracer" -- are said to still be in contention for midseason.

"Big Bang," from WBTV, stars Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons as science geeks who befriend a party girl (Kaley Cuoco). The project originally was developed last season and was reworked and partially recast in the summer.

The show's format and pedigree makes it a logical choice to launch behind "Men" in the 9:30 p.m. Monday slot.

"Power of 10," from Sony Pictures TV and Embassy Row Prods., features contestants competing to predict the results of nationwide surveys.

Demons? Not so much.

[Deleted]

anna said:

mlm828 said:

I was wondering about this, too. I'm not optimistic about Demons' chances, but has someone heard some "inside information"?

Of course, it's not inside information, and of course it could still change. I was just joking based on what's been printed everywhere, including today's Hollywood Reporter.

CBS is swinging for the fences on the drama side and staying close to tradition on the comedy side.

On Monday, the network picked up four drama pilots to series: the musical mystery "Viva Laughlin," the partner-swapping period drama "Swingtown," the vampire crime drama "Moonlight" and the Latin family drama "Cane."

On the comedy side, the network gave the green light to "The Big Bang Theory," a multicamera comedy from "Two and a Half Men" co-creator Chuck Lorre.

Additionally, CBS ordered to series "Power of 10," a game show pilot from producer Michael Davies.

CBS also is close to picking up to series two single-camera comedy pilots: "I'm in Hell," starring Jason Biggs, and ensemble "The Captain."

On the returning front, CBS is close to bringing back the freshman comedy "Rules of Engagement" and the sophomore sitcom "The New Adventures of Old Christine." "Christine," which saw its ratings soften when it was moved from 9:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, is rumored to get a 13-episode midseason order.

Meanwhile the military drama "The Unit" was renewed Tuesday morning, along with "Shark," "Ghost Whisperer" and "Criminal Minds."

CBS' drama picks deliver on the network's promise going into the development season that it would step outside the CBS comfort zone of procedurals to go for bold, risky, noisy shows.

"Laughlin," from Sony Pictures TV, BBC Worldwide Prods. and CBS Paramount Network TV, stars Lloyd Owen as a family man who dreams of opening a casino in Laughlin, Nev.

"Swingtown," from CBS Par TV, is a swinging-couples drama set in the 1970s.

"Moonlight" (formerly "Twilight"), from Warner Bros. TV, stars Alex O'Loughlin as a private investigator who is a vampire.

"Cane" (formerly untitled Cynthia Cidre), from CBS Paramount Network TV and ABC Studios, stars Jimmy Smits as the head of a Latin American clan in South Florida.

Three other drama pilots -- Anthony Zuiker's LL Cool J starrer "The Man," the zombie dramedy "Babylon Fields" and the Stephen Dorff starrer "Skip Tracer" -- are said to still be in contention for midseason.

"Big Bang," from WBTV, stars Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons as science geeks who befriend a party girl (Kaley Cuoco). The project originally was developed last season and was reworked and partially recast in the summer.

The show's format and pedigree makes it a logical choice to launch behind "Men" in the 9:30 p.m. Monday slot.

"Power of 10," from Sony Pictures TV and Embassy Row Prods., features contestants competing to predict the results of nationwide surveys.

Demons? Not so much.

HAHA! She said "Demons? Not so much."

Yea, I'm hearing a bit of "not so much" myself - ah, well, such is life, right?

[maggiethecat]

Okay, it's official . . . the new stuff looks pretty awful, not to mention forgettable, not to mention gone in three or four episodes (anyone remember the much-touted Smith?).

As for Demons . . . oh, dear. At the risk of incurring much wrath, may I tentatively say that this sounded somewhat hinky from the get-go? Oh why, why, why, couldn't we get the divinely talented Ron Eldard in a weekly drama where he just played a shrink, and not a shrink who runs around doing Sci-fi Channel-ish exorcisms? He has the emotional stuff to make any kind of material work, right? Why not put the guy in a "straight" drama where he can quietly show his stuff and not be lumbered by special effects? I hate to say it, but I ca just see the press creaming him for tackling another "weird" role. I mean, can't you just hear the sniping critics now? Ron Eldard, whom we last saw in Blind Justice, the failed Stephen Bochco drama about a blind cop, now turns his talents to playing an ex-Jesuit priest who does exorcisms . . . .

Any Ron is better than no Ron, but I was always a little worried about this particular project. There. I said it.

Not that I wouldn't be thrilled to see this guy on TV every week. You all know I would be -- wouldn't we all? I'd just like to see the guy in something that has a hope in Hell of attaining a mainstream audience and lasting beyond 13 episodes. I want to see this talented, lovely man (the thinking woman's eye candy) in something that's such a mega-hit that the Powers That Be will release everything he's ever done on DVD . . . and by that of course I mean Blind Justice!

I just was never completely convinced that Demons would be that star-making vehicle. Sigh.

BTW, what's Steven Bochco up to these days? How about another police drama starring our guy? What ever happened to the new cop shows he was supposedly doing for Fox, or the pilot he was shooting in South Carolina starring Frank Grillo?

I hate to say it, but . . . this latest crop of network stuff means I will be depending more than ever on the library and Netflix for DVDs, and on my tape cabinet for the tried and true.

Can anyone remember when they were really truly excited about the new TV season?

Me neither.

Mags

[Duchess of Lashes]

maggiethecat said:

Can anyone remember when they were really truly excited about the new TV season?

Me neither.

Mags

Yes, actually I can - when I saw the very first commercial for Blind Justice! And when I saw the announcement that Kyle Chandler was coming back to network television in Friday Night Lights (even if I didn't get to tune in as often as I would have liked - perhaps I can make up for lost time in the fall!)

[mlm828]

maggiethecat said:

Any Ron is better than no Ron, but I was always a little worried about this particular project. There. I said it.

Not that I wouldn't be thrilled to see this guy on TV every week. You all know I would be -- wouldn't we all? I'd just like to see the guy in something that has a hope in Hell of attaining a mainstream audience and lasting beyond 13 episodes. I want to see this talented, lovely man (the thinking woman's eye candy) in something that's such a mega-hit that the Powers That Be will release everything he's ever done on DVD . . . and by that of course I mean Blind Justice!

I just was never completely convinced that Demons would be that star-making vehicle. Sigh.

You've summed up my own thinking about Demons, as well as my hope Ron would finally be in a "star-making vehicle," as you call it. I would only add that I was holding out hope Demons might be something good because of the involvement of Barbara Hall, who (I understand) has produced some good things in the past. Unfortunately, I'm not optimistic we'll get to make our own judgments on the merits of Demons.

maggiethecat said:

Can anyone remember when they were really truly excited about the new TV season?

The last time I was excited about a new show on television was March 2005.

[Duchess of Lashes]

If some are already slamming the door on the possibility of Demons appearing on CBS, can someone say Sci-Fi Channel, please? It seems to have become a haven to some of those shows that weren't mainstream enough for "network" television, for example, breathing a greatly appreciated 5 extra seasons of life into Stargate SG-1 after its rumored cancellation. Perhaps we can hope that they see something in this little Pilot that might appeal to a mainstream sci-fi audience?

[mlm828]

longlashes said:

If some are already slamming the door on the possibility of Demons appearing on CBS, can someone say Sci-Fi Channel, please? It seems to have become a haven to some of those shows that weren't mainstream enough for "network" television, for example, breathing a greatly appreciated 5 extra seasons of life into Stargate SG-1 after its rumored cancellation. Perhaps we can hope that they see something in this little Pilot that might appeal to a mainstream sci-fi audience?

For what it's worth, Barbara Hall commented in one of her blog entries, "If we don't get picked up, I might just take the film on the road. That's how much I believe in what we are doing." I'm not sure what she means by "taking it on the road," or whether this is her current thinking.

[Duchess of Lashes]

mlm828 said:

For what it's worth, Barbara Hall commented in one of her blog entries, "If we don't get picked up, I might just take the film on the road. That's how much I believe in what we are doing." I'm not sure what she means by "taking it on the road," or whether this is her current thinking.

Perhaps she means shop it around? Take it on the road? Knock on some doors? See if there isn't some interest somewhere else....like maybe Sci-Fi?

[bjobsessed]

Optimist that I am, I refuse to think doom and gloom until the fat lady sings!

[Deleted]

May I just ask where everyone is getting their info from? I mean, CBS hasn't done the UpFronts yet - and I'm on 55th, Carnegie is on 57th - I'll snoop around. But anyway, as LL said, Sci-Fi? Correct me if I'm wrong, as I'm not a Star Trek/Stargate fan, but didn't Fox drop one of them and Sci-Fi picked it up?

[Deleted]

CBS reveals its Fall Schedule - Demons has not been picked up. See www.variety.com for official word.

[anna]

maggiethecat said:

As for Demons . . . oh, dear. At the risk of incurring much wrath, may I tentatively say that this sounded somewhat hinky from the get-go? Oh why, why, why, couldn't we get the divinely talented Ron Eldard in a weekly drama where he just played a shrink, and not a shrink who runs around doing Sci-fi Channel-ish exorcisms? He has the emotional stuff to make any kind of material work, right? Why not put the guy in a "straight" drama where he can quietly show his stuff and not be lumbered by special effects? . . . Any Ron is better than no Ron, but I was always a little worried about this particular project. There. I said it.

Not that I wouldn't be thrilled to see this guy on TV every week. You all know I would be -- wouldn't we all? I'd just like to see the guy in something that has a hope in Hell of attaining a mainstream audience and lasting beyond 13 episodes.

No wrath here. I agree completely. To me, the most encouraging thing about all of this is that Ron apparently is interested in returning to a television series. So, can everyone in LA please get serious and find a good show for him? An edgy Showtime or HBO series with thirteen or so episodes per year and plenty of spare time for plays and movies, anyone?

[maggiethecat]

anna said:

So, can everyone in LA please get serious and find a good show for him? An edgy Showtime or HBO series with thirteen or so episodes per year and plenty of spare time for plays and movies, anyone?

I believe the appropriate phrase is "FRom your lips to God's ears."

Hey, a Jesuit priest turned shrink who wrestles with his own personal "demons" and those of his patients would have been a wonderful show . . . but something about those exorcisms just sounded like an element that would have narrowed the audience and the appeal. I'm just sayin'.

Maybe it'll get picked up for mid-season replacement? Or maybe by then someone will have heard anna's plea to the universe and come up with a show that will give this guy the kind of well-written and meaty role he deserves, like, oh, Jim Dunbar?

*Sigh.*

[Deleted]

maggiethecat said:

anna said:

So, can everyone in LA please get serious and find a good show for him? An edgy Showtime or HBO series with thirteen or so episodes per year and plenty of spare time for plays and movies, anyone?

I believe the appropriate phrase is "FRom your lips to God's ears."

Hey, a Jesuit priest turned shrink who wrestles with his own personal "demons" and those of his patients would have been a wonderful show . . . but something about those exorcisms just sounded like an element that would have narrowed the audience and the appeal. I'm just sayin'.

Maybe it'll get picked up for mid-season replacement? Or maybe by then someone will have heard anna's plea to the universe and come up with a show that will give this guy the kind of well-written and meaty role he deserves, like, oh, Jim Dunbar?

*Sigh.*

Off topic for just a sec - I sent you a PM Mags just saying how great it is to see you back!

Back to our regularly scheduled program.......or not!

[doobrah]

Shop it around? Well, ok. How about start with CBS-owned Showtime? They're going gangbusters with the limited series -- like Dexter, The Tudors, Weeds, etc.

Sci-Fi Channel would work. Shoot, why not back to ABC? Here's a sample of their fall season, courtesy of the Washington Post:

Consider Monday's new sitcom "Sam I Am," starring Christina Appelgate as a woman who wakes up from a coma with amnesia and hilarity ensues.

And how about Wednesday's three new dramas? "Pushing Daisies," at 8, is described as a forensic fairy tale about a guy who can bring dead people back to life simply by touching them. When he touches them again, they're dead again, this time with no do-overs. Detectives love him. He can touch victims, ask who dunnit, then touch them again for the funeral. The guy also brings back his childhood sweetheart. Naturally, he can't touch her again, which, you gotta admit, is a pretty clever way to resolve that pesky will-they-won't-they dilemma that plagues writers of all good TV romances.

As Dave Barry would say, "I'm not making this up." And critics had a problem with Blind Justice?

You know CBS will probably quickly cancel this one (can you say "Cop Rock"?):
Hugh Jackman stars in "Viva Laughlin," an adaptation of the BBC show "Viva Blackpool," about a shady businessman. Music plays a central part in driving the series along. (Doobrah note: Viva Blackpool was a 6-parter and very weird.)

Sigh.