Gay entertainment news blog Afterelton.com reports that Ugly Betty’s move to Wednesdays has been confirmed by inside sources at ABC:
Just when I thought network programming was so bad that it had to be done by a bunch of drunk monkeys (see: NBCSucks), ABC goes and proves me wrong by moving Ugly Betty to Wednesday nights, rectifying their bone-headed mistake of moving the show to Fridays. Kristin at E! reported it as as a rumor this morning, but a source very close to the show has confirmed to AfterElton.com the move is definite although the time hasn’t been decided for sure.
It’s not very clear to me from that post what the fate of The Middle (Hank’s fate seems more certain, and it isn’t good) is in such a move, but I’d be surprised to see Ugly Betty at 10pm. Of course, I was surprised that they would move Ugly Betty from Fridays!
I’m sure sooner rather than later we’ll hear more and get official word from ABC along with the rest of its mid-season scheduling plans.
I have never heard of AfterElton blog until today..is he reliable?
8 PM – Ugly Better
9 PM – Modern Family
9:30 PM – Cougar Town
10 PM – Lost
How does that sound?
Do the promos of Happy Town that look so horrible accurately describe how the show is turning out? Are they just going to dump it on Fridays to let it play out? Because, Betty is dead either way. There’s no way it does any better than Eastwick currently is doing, and even less possibility that it does well enough to justify another season.
I’m really surprised by this if true. I think it could do a little better than Eastwick, but I think they should be aiming higher than that. It’s really, really hard to get people to come back to veteran serialized shows.
Several hints seem to be trickling in this week that ABC REALLY hates their midseason stuff…
I guess this means The Middle = over ?
spotupj: that’s my sense too.
Whaaa! They’re axing The Middle?! I think that show is funny. NYMag thinks it’s brilliant, and was surprised to learn that it isn’t doing well in the ratings. Oh well.
cool, I’ve talked to the AfterElton guy, and he’s seems OK. I don’t recall them doing much “breaking” news in the past though.
they are not axing the middle so far as I know (it has a full season order already), but it’s not clear exactly to me from the post that UB would move into the 10pm slot. We’ll know soon enough. Patience!
I wonder why they haven’t cut Happy Town’s order. It doesn’t seem like they really need all 13, and since it appears they aren’t happy with it, why not cut it?
Robert, Kristin at E! said that it would be replacing Eastwick, and After Elton seems to be confirming what she said.
Ok, thanks Bill
Yeah, if anything I would guess this will be thrown under the AI bus at 8pm, rather than the rumor of 10pm.
This does pretty much settle that MF/CT keeps Wed 9, if they are still looking for comedies to lead into the hour. I have no idea what ABC will air at Wed 10pm though, given that all the options are grim (Lost/V/FF/Forgotten) or dramatic (Happy Town).
AMAZING NEWS!!!maybe abc want to try to save the show no because it love it so much but to produce more episodes!!!!!
as sad i was earlier with eastwick’s cancellation that news r make my day!!
I’ve said it since the season started: The Middle could easily serve as this year’s Surviving Suburbia, airing at Monday 9:30. UB taking 8 (if it is
doesn’t mean the show is dead.
Bad Idea. Betty will provide worse lead-in numbers for Modern Family than Hank/The Middle. Just cancel Hank and put Scrubs in the 8:00. Ted is DOA.
Tom, I agree with you that making it Idol’s sacrificial lamb (ABC version of what CW did with Reaper last year) seems to make the most sense. We’ll see!
Julia, HAPPY TOWN was never 13 episodes. It was 8 episodes, and they are done shooting them all.
TVBill, someone should tell TFC to update their order number, then. That makes much more sense.
Why is ABC unhappy with Happy Town?
I really hope they don’t cancel The Middle. Its so funny and its doing so much better than Hank! It also could increase ratings over time. Networks are cancelling shows too soon. What happened to having fate in good shows?? Remember Seinfeld and Cheers? both initially struggled but came up and were one of the most watched! Come on ABC!
Happy Town finished shooting already? Damn.
Brad, the implication of not putting it Wednesday at 10, is that they don’t like it, since all the other 10 pm slots are full. Unless a show as dark as they are implying Happy Town is belongs at 8?
Aha. Wondered where that number came from. (To be more specific, it was a 2-hour pilot, plus 6 episode order, totaling 8 hours).
The should have just left Betty to die on Friday… the show’s done. They should have moved Scrubs and Better Off Ted (ABC’s best comedy) into that slot.
im so sad Eastwick was cancelled, but im happy ugly betty was moved to wednesday.
If Happy Town has a 2 hour premiere, and they plan to air the series this spring, I could see it time-sharing with The Forgotten, starting in January, with The Forgotten returning in March. That way it can air its two-hour premiere before DWTS returns. That does still leave the question of where/if The Deep End’s six end up on the air this season.
So where the fuck are they gonna put Lost?
I hope they’re not moving ugly betty on wednesday to replace it.
8 PM – Modern Family
8:30 PM – Cougar Town
9 PM – Lost
10 PM – Ugly Betty
What about this?
yeeeeeeeeeeeee betty!UB is the best dramedy on abc
I’m surprised by the move – but I must say I think the new season of Betty is really finding it’s feet now… it still veers into silliness and obvious slapstick too often – but the theme of change and the character growth in general is proving fun to watch
I’m happy as a clam
. This proves that someone reads my posts, lmao. Ugly Betty has been solid this year, though it’s getting to the point that she shouldn’t be called UGLY. Give me my endgame and I’m happy. The show has two mysteries going on right now and I’m intrigued in finding out the results.
What about this:
M
DWTS
DWTS/Middle
Castle
T
Flashforward
DWTS Results
Happy Town/Forgotten
W
Ugly Betty
MF/CT
Lost Repeats/V/Deep End?
R
Lost
GA
PP
F
Supernanny
Wife Swap/Copper
20/20
I like the “sacrifice to the American Idol gods” theory of a potential move to 8pm Wednesday for Betty.
Does anyone know 100% how many episodes Happy Town has i keep hear all kinds of numbers 6,7,8 and 13 anyone know for sure / has a reliable source?
Bill,
It does make a ton of sense.
Tom, I don’t think they would need Lost repeats Wednesdays at 10. Between V and Deep End they would have 15 episodes for the spring. The only problem I have with that is I don’t see them putting V after MF/CT. But there isn’t really anywhere else to put it, so it could be.
With ABC giving THE MIDDLE a full season and one other 1/2 hour comedy waiting in the wings don’t bet on BETTY taking over 8pm. ABC will put it at 10pm and remove HANK from the schedule altogether.
Tar, TVBill is a reliable source. He says it’s a 2 hour premiere, plus 6 one hour episodes, making 8 hours, but 7 episodes.
IMDB shows 8 episodes for all the actors as well.
With V performing above expectations and doing great numbers against powerhouse NCIS without necessarily hurting that latter’s numbers, don’t bet on ABC moving V to another night and time. Viewers found it at 8 on Tuesdays and they will find it again then as well.
Fugly Betty? Never understood the appeal of that show the only people at work I know who watched it are either gay or metrosexuals. Sacrifice it on the altar of Idol! Watch the decapitated heads roll down the pyramid steps after Simon Cowell rips their hearts out laughs maniacally.
Errol Lewis, Romantically Challenge could be saved for summer with the leftover Scrubs/BOT episodes. The Middle can be moved behind a 90 minute DWTS, unless ABC wants to continue propping up a show that isn’t likely to be renewed anyway.
Julia, you are right…they could do that, but they won’t. We’re only 2 1/2 month into the season. Anything can happen in the next 6 1/2 months remaining, but as this site says, the accountants are running the show and they want their money’s worth out of ROMANTICALLY CHALLENGED.
And they will get it over the summer. They do still need to program the summer.
As for V, viewers found it Tuesdays at 8 for one week. Even if it holds steady for the next three as well, ABC is not going to throw their (potentially) highest rated new show under the Idol bus. Because viewers will not find it when it returns after a long hiatus against Idol.
Well Eastwick is canceled. Ugly Betty is supposed to take it’s place I guess.
I don’t know about this ‘breaking news’. Are they SURE that this is the case with Ugly Betty? Because to me, it sounds like the Internet is taking a rumor and running away with it.
Julia/Errol:
V only has 4 episodes made. Even if they start up production without waiting for Week 3/4 ratings, it is unlikely to be on the schedule in January.
Also, if they don’t pick up more episodes of V, then what does ABC air there?
You’ll notice that even I put a question mark there, because I just don’t know what ABC will have available, much less that’s a thematic match with MF/CT.
AfterElton is quoting E!’s Kristen Dos Santos for the UB move. It is worthy to note that Kristen was mistaken when she indicated ABC was giving Eastwick a promo boost. As of today’s news, Eastwick looks like it’ll be cancelled not nurtured. http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b149773_This_Just_In__Jillian_Michaels_Is_Losing_It.html
It seems we need to await more information…
Tom, I presume they will start up production again and make the remaining 9 that were ordered, unless V sinks to <3.0 this week, which isn’t going to happen. I presume The Deep End would be scheduled in there first while they are finishing up the V episodes.
CK, he notes Kristin’s post as a rumor, but he says AfterElton has confirmed the move with sources at ABC.
I don’t think that’s really enough, though – saying they have ’sources’ who confirm it. I want to hear an official response from ABC about this.
I don’t understand this move. This don’t make any sense!!?
If Ugly Betty ratings on friday were above 2.0 i could agree, but i think they are below a 1.5, how this can be better than any wednesday show?
Are the deep end, happy town or romanticilly chalenged so bad shows???
V at 8pm on wednesday could help Modern Family a Lot.
Put Lost at 8pm on tuesdays.
More anyone knows abc winter schedule?
It was certainly likely discussed by executives as a possibility at ABC. When Variety or THR announce it, I’ll bank on it.
but the other 6 episodes of eastwick?
For the life of me…why do people watch this inane show. It is the most over-hyped, unfunny, BAD I HAVE EVER SEEN !!!! Please pull the plug…QUICKLY !!
….BAD SHOW…..
Well, I know for sure it’s 8 hours. They could always break up the two-hour pilot into two episodes, and looking at IMDB, they just may have done that. But for sure, @Tar, it is 8 hours.
“Happy Town” is eight episodes, because the two-parter is technically two episodes fused into one. (“The Office”’s episode list considers Pam’s Wedding episode #4 and #5, not just #4. There are numerous other examples.) Considering them two episodes boosts overall counts, making it closer to syndication numbers.
I feel vindicated. I’ll wait for confirmation from a more reliable source (ABC itself) before I gloat.
PaulT – Like I explained on ABC’s renew-or-cancel thread for this week, UB is down 50% from last fall, which must have raised alarm bells for ABC. There the whole “they just want enough episodes for syndication” excuse, which is likely true, but ABC can do better on Fridays with something else, and UB can do better on another night of the week. It’s being wasted right now – ABC is flushing a 1 million + down the drain every week it airs on Fridays.
I hope this is true but Ugly Betty at 10pm just doesnt seem right…It should get the 8pm slot like it did with thursdays. I hope this saves the show because this was honestly been the best season since season 1-the writing is so amazing, the acting is better, it is more creative and bold than ever and still continues to have a huge heart and make me feel smart after watching it.
ABC never even bothered putting out a midseason schedule at their upfront way back when, so I guess they anticipated it would be a tangled mess.
They seem to have lost confidence in their mideason shows.
They probably figure the last season of Lost will do about the same no matter where they put it, so that’s probably the last thing they’ll decide on. I bet they don’t even have a tentative spot for it yet. But the old Wednesday at 9 is pretty much ruled out because of how Modern Family and Cougar Town are doing.
Their schedule looks like a giant tangled mess from the outside, I wonder how they’ll sort it all out.
Happy Town is incredibly awful. I have seen the pilot. Trust me, ABC will not be giving it a prime slot. Maybe a Friday one. Or a summer run-off. That’s a train wreck waiting to happen.
The only reason I think ABC is doing this (if it’s true) is because they hate their midseason. Moving UB to Wednesdays makes room for Wife Swap to air on Fridays, and UB plugs the hole on Wednesdays. Tuesdays at 10 is starting to look more and more like the new home for Lost. I know that ABC wont put DWTS results show at 8 against Idol, but I think they would have good results if they air V at 9 on Tuesdays and follow that with Lost at 10.
it depends on V’s future ratings. If they hold up, it won’t likely move. If they drop a lot by the fourth episode then I can still see LOST slotting in at 8pm on Thursdays even if some of you think that’s nuts
I agree Robert, considering it’s Lost final season and it’s fans are pretty die-hard at this point ABC can put it practically anywhere they want. The only reason I don’t see them giving it a really bad timeslot is to avoid pissing off JJ Abrams. I don’t know how much of that will come into play, if any at all when ABC makes up it’s mind.
Yeah, I hadn’t thought about Lost on Thursdays until other people mentioned it recently, but it really kills multiple birds with one stone:
It moves the dying weight Flashforward out of prime advertising rates (and clears the way for the 10/11 slotholder).
It keeps ABC golden children MF & DWTSR out of AI slots (DWTSR getting that treatment is dumb, but regardless).
It should lead ABC to a solid demo win on the biggest night of the week (as well as providing us the irony of Survivor vs. scripted Survivor).
Lost has no lead-in value and boots lost cause (at the very least, in that slot) FF to the curb. It makes perfect sense.
I wouldn’t be so sure about ABC not wanting to slot DWTS opposite Idol. I really depends on how V does. If it ends its 4 episode run without sinking too far (I’m thinking around 10 million and a 3 to 3.5 rating in adults), I can’t see ABC throwing it under the Idol bus. Even if DWTS takes a hit opposite Idol, it’s an aging show that’s losing viewers anyway, especially for the results show, and especially in the key demos. If V is slotted opposite Idol, it’s dead in the water. This will be a test of ABC’s moxie – will it look to the past (DWTS) or to the future (V)?
If V sinks too far, it’s a moot point.
Here is the schedule I see:
Tuesday: DWTS/V/Lost
Wednesday: Comedies/UB
Thursday: As is.
I’m still not convinced that ABC will move FF yet.
Doug2 I agree with you about DWTS, but if V does hold up it may very well air against Idol. Lost held up against it on Wednesdays, and ABC may think V would be able to do the same.
Meanwhile I see no blog post on this site about Gossip Girl’s mid-season replacement.
http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/11/cws-life-unexpected-gets-debut-date-.html
Heradite, meanwhile, you were not using the very simple site search.
Robert, do you mean if FlashForward’s ratings hold up? I don’t see how V holding up will have anything to do with Lost on Thursdays. But if V does hold up Tuesdays at 8, I think ABC would be even more anxious to move it out of the way of Idol.
Would it be possible to increase the number of “Newest posts”? Tuesday is fairly busy.
I agree about the Middle being funny and I hope it stays. Mackey made sense by saying put scrubs on at 8 and forget about Hank and Better Off Ted.
J.R., it is. I doubled it (40 posts) but those who like to quickly scroll down to the most recent comments widget will probably be annoyed. I will refer them to you
Edit: even at 40, the Gossip Girl schedule post is the LAST post on the list. One more post and it will roll off, and we are posting machines!
Thanks, they can twitter me at @dosomethingelse.
Looks like TFC fixed their errors. They now have Happy Town listed as 8 episodes, and The Deep End as 7. I guess I need to stop depending on them as the source of all episode order information. But they are just so easy to read!
@Julia – Wow, someone must’ve been reading the comments here.
Kudos to ABC for giving Betty another chance at survival, but by how much could the ratings increase from Friday @ 9 to Wednesday night (probably @ 10 so it won’t face Idol)? It’s not like the time when CBS moved CSI from Fridays @ 9 to Thursdays @ 9, but it’s not like ABC has totally given up on it either. With Cougar Town as a lead-in, I’m guessing that Betty would get the ratings AFV used to get (solid 2’s in the demo).
Speaking of AFV, ABC should really consider moving it to a new night given the low ratings this season. Maybe it can be abbreviated into a 30-minute show on Wednesdays @ 8 that would lead in to The Middle. I can also see them keeping it as a one-hour show on Fridays or Saturdays (when there’s no football) @ 8. I would like to see EMHE anchor ABC’s Sunday night in the spring and Castle aired @ 8pm after EMHE.
They won’t be doing the show any favors if it ends up opposite GLEE instead, given that the audiences are so similar.
Julia,can you give me the link of that TFC website you are referring to? It’s the first time I heard about that site, just want to check it out
If UB will really move on Wednesdays at 10pm, the rights might be just on par with Eastwick 1.5-1.7 or if its lucky it could get to 2.0. Hopefully, this is true since the ratings it gets on Friday is devastating.
TFC= The Futon Critic = thefutoncritic.com It’s in our blog roll and i’m guessing you’ve been there before! They have a show database though and there is often info on number of episodes ordered, etc.
^ the rights might be just on par with Eastwick 1.5-1.7
Err… I mean ratings
Oh thanks Robert LOL stupid me. I only checked out their site for news and their articles. Thanks for the response
1.5-1.7 is about what I would expect from Betty at 10. It’s better than 1.2 on Fridays, but at least on Friday there’s the excuse that it’s on Friday. The show would still be just as dead on Wednesday at 10, which is why I don’t understand the move. Wednesday at 8 makes much more sense (Idol sacrifice). This is not an attempt to save a show, just to fill up their real estate.
Why would they? Ugly Betty got a 1.3 rating last Friday. That’s awful. I don’t believe that it can get a much better rating than it is now. Of course, Hank last week got a 1.4 demo rating so maybe they’re going to replace Hank with Ugly Betty.
Julia,
I have to disagree slightly. I think that Betty could get around a 2.0 Wednesday at 10. Not because of the strength of the show’s ratings (obviously it has fallen hard the last couple of seasons), but because it would be airing behind Cougar Town. I think CT would make a pretty compatible lead in for Betty, and would certainly provide a noticeable boost from the current start-off-the-night-on-friday situation.
CT is already down to 2.8 and come January it will be facing an Idol inflated Glee. I don’t see it helping.
If this is true I’ll be really pleased with ABC’s effort to help Betty. Hopefully at 10 though so it won’t be up against Idol and Glee.
Ugly Betty would have to air at 10, the series airing at 8 would break up the comedy block. 10pm may bet better so ABC can keep their comedy block intact. If Betty moves to 8 though and Lost airs at 10, Modern Family and Cougar Town will stay at 9 and 9:30 and The Middle will likely air post Dancing.
It seems ABC wants to save Betty after all. Atleast Wife Swap can return to fridays to air with Supernanny.
ABC has always been an odd network when it comes to attachment. theirs been a few other shows where the ratings haven’t been great but they’ve kept trying to bring the show to life. a move and new effort behind UB isnt hard to believe.
Given the show does have a following, ok dvd sales and has gone into syndication, its hard to imagine them not running the show fully, i think alot of people are wrong through about this being its last season. its very abc like to keep this show going for a last season to wrap up the storyline and number of episodes.
The most notable evidence to this idea is that the agreement between the tv guide network and abc has a statement that in the fall of 2010 UB will air same day on the tv guide network. it makes it sound as if abc has already been planning to have the show next fall in some capacity.
Well it makes sense, Ugly Betty is produced by ABC studios, so like Scrubs and According to Jim, more UB episodes = more $$$. With Betty likely moving to 8, The Middle should finish its order in another slot. While The Middle isnt axed, Hank is dead.
Tommy – Lost could air Tuesdays at 10 but now ABC has 5 more Forgotten so Lost is unlikely to air there. If Betty airs 8pm wednesdays, Lost could air 10pm wednesdays. 10pm isnt ideal for the final season but since the rest of the 8&9 slots are filled its the only place Lost can air.
ABC has way too many series for midseason. Ordering more Forgotten just complicated things. I wish ABC could just announce their sched.
Dan, I don’t think Lost is coming back in until sometime March, so ABC has enough time to air all of the forgotten by then. But I also like the idea of moving FlashForward to another timeslot and put Lost on at 8 Thursdays.
I still don’t see ABC changing the format on Wednesdays, I could very well be wrong but I think it would be a huge mistake to breakup the 2 hour comedy block, let alone break it up just to put UB in the 8PM slot.
Tommy – Lost has 18 episodes so I was thinking February. I still dont think Lost will air 10pm Tuesdays. Id guess Wednesday at 10, which would leave Betty to air at 8. The only reason Id see Betty moving to 8 is that the current occupants Hank and The Middle are only doing OK. Instead of axing Hank and airing a new comedy at 8, ABC finds it easier to just air UB as a lead in to Modern Family and Cougar Town. The Middle could air post Dancing if ABC really wants to save it. If Scrubs and Ted dont move to Wednesdays, its likely both will finish up 13 episodes in their current Tuesday slot until Dancing premieres. If their were no FlashForward then Lost could eaisly air at 8 Thursdays but ABC has 25 Flashforward.
i am sooo happy 4 ugly betty b/c the friday slot only means that ur gonna get cancelled and this show has just begun getting in 2 betty’s life
Ugly Betty may not be cancelled yet, ABC may just keep it for syndication purposes. If they really wanted to kill it theyd leave Betty on fridays but by moving it to wednesdays it shows that ABC wants to save the series.
Dramas, particularly non-procedural dramas, do not make big bucks in syndication. They make money, but there’s no evidence to show that they are kept around any longer than hitting syndication. Betty is dead. Even on Wednesdays.
Julia – ABC may benefit with Betty by keeping it just long enough to pass 100. They dont benefit as much as comedies but UB in syndication would do good enough. Thats why ABC has kept it around now despite low numbers. I agree Betty is likely to do as badly on wednesdays, but if ABC wasnt planning on keeping it then why would they try to save the series. 8pm Betty would get destroyed by Idol but it would probably do no better than Eastwick at 10. Im not sure which ABC would actually do but I think its more toward 8.
Dan if they are only keeping Betty for syndication they could move it to Saturdays just to free up Fridays for Wife Swap, and burn off Episodes. It’s probably more likely that ABC is using it to fill a hole until March. I don’t know what Betty’s episode count is, but I don’t think it has a 22 episode order.
Tommy – Moving Betty to saturdays would just be like killing the series. They wouldnt even do that with Eastwick (until summer). It seems in Betty’s case it was moved to fridays during the fall just because there was no more available timeslots (though Tuesdays at 8 would have worked) Now for some reason ABC wants to save Betty so they figure pull the struggling Hank and Middle and somehow Betty will do great at 8. And Betty does have a 22 episode order giving a total of 89 episodes for the series.
Dan, they kept it around to get it to what is now the magic number, which is mid-80s (usually 88 – four seasons), which will get it to syndication so they can make at least some money on it. No one cares anymore about 100 episodes. They aren’t planning on keeping and, guess what? THEY AREN’T TRYING TO SAVE THE SERIES!
But why would they move it to wednesdays then. To everyone it looks like ABC is trying to save the series, If not ABC wouldnt have moved it from fridays. I cant see how Betty can improve wednesdays.
Now Betty has reached the magic number of 89. Now the question is, Is Betty airing at 8 or 10.
Dan, Betty is already dead. It’s chances at recovering and going up to decent ratings are slim to none. Julia is right, ABC isn’t trying to save the series, they are only using it as filler. Even if Betty get’s slightly lower ratings Weds at 10PM then Eastwick ABC still has more to gain there.
Dan, they moved it from Fridays to fill an empty slot, and to make room for Wife Swap.
ABC has yet to schedule:
Romantically Challenged (season 1- 13 episodes)
Happy Town (8 episodes)
V (9 episodes left)
The Deep End(6 episodes)
Defying Gravity ( whatever episodes that are left)
Copper (13 episodes)
The Gates (13 episodes)
Then in that case, Id air Betty at 10 and keep the comedy block intact somehow. Then Id air Lost 8 on Tuesdays. If ABC is going to use Betty as a filler 10 would be the best slot, not 8.
So they should air Lost in its final season against Idol? Yeah, it’ll perform better than anything else they put there, but they’ll be severely limiting the numbers it could get if it doesn’t face Idol. And if I were ABC, I would want the glory of a huge final season for Lost.
Tommy – The Wife Swap thing I figured and Betty airing at 10 wednesdays is smarter then airing a new series there. But it just limits the time slots for new midseason dramas.
Dee – Thats a lot of series and with Betty and Forgotten taking up 10pm Wed and Tues the only thing that I can predict is that Happy Town or Deep End could replace Forgotten and which ever series doesnt replace Forgotten could replace Betty wed but ABC still has V.
I doubt Copper and The Gates will air earlier then the summer. There is just no available space left and ABC really should have capped the two dramas at 8 episodes. I originally thought Happy Town had 13 but 8 is great as is 6 for The Deep End.
Not to mention that ABC would probably really piss off JJ Abrams if they throw the final season of Lost under the Idol bus.
Julia – But would ABC rather have the strongest numbers possible for Lost. Its not like ABC has other slots. Wednesdays have the comedy block, and I doubt Lost would air at 10pm. The series could but for its final year, Id think ABC would want to air Lost earlier.
Tommy – Would Lost airing at 10 be worse then against Idol? Because when Idol moved to 9 wednesdays last March, Lost aired against it.
I think Robert’s idea of Thursday at 8 is the best possible spot for it. I don’t see them leaving FlashForward there, unless there’s a serious uptick this week.
Dan the big difference about comparing Wed Idol and Tues Idol, Tues is the live performance show, Wed is the results show. I personally think ABC should take Roberts suggestion and move FlashForward to another night and put Lost on Thursday at 8. If they don’t do that then Tuesdays (IMO) should be DWTS results at 8, V at 9, and Lost at 10. Lost would probably do very well at 10PM on Tuesdays because of the lack of competition. 10PM isn’t a death time slot. ABC just puts bad shows on at 10.
Then where will FlashForward go? Maybe Tuesdays at 8, until V returns. Theres simply too many series. I only thought ABC would leave FF on thursdays in order to stay consistent and so they wouldnt further complicate their schedule. Moving a series just may hurt it more and I dont think ABC would do that to a series that they have a 25 episode order for.
Julia, I swear I didn’t see your comment before I posted my last one.
Tommy – Then if Dancing moves to 8 it will be up against Idol and ABC wouldnt want that, despite the compatible V and Lost combo. Hopefully ABC airs out The Forgotten quickly. Theres no doubt Lost will do well, its just a matter of a slot where ABC can air it continuously for 18 episodes without having to worry about moving the series. Tuesday at 10 wont work because it seems ABC will use that slot for The Forgotten and then liekly The Deep End, Wednesdays 8-10 have the comedy block that ABC may not want to put Lost in, Wednesdays at 10 has Ugly Betty and Thursdays at 8 has Flashforward unless ABC moves the series.
There really are not too many shows. Here’s a sample schedule that fits everything (just as an example of how easy it is to fit everything in, not necessarily how I think ABC will do it):
Sunday:
AFV
EM:HE
DH
B&S
Monday:
DWTS (90 mins)
The Middle
Castle
Tuesday:
FF
DWTS
The Forgotten/V (timeshare)
Wednesday:
UB
MF
CT
The Deep End/Happy Town (timeshare)
Thursday:
Lost
GA
PP
Friday:
Supernanny
Wife Swap
20/20
Romantically Challenged gets held for summer to burn off with whatever is leftover of Scrubs and BOT. Copper and The Gates get summer treatment as well. Defying Gravity never returns to ABC.
Actually Lost has aired 10pm in the past, so that may not be too bad. I guess if Betty leads in to Modern Family and Cougar Town, Lost could air at 10pm wednesdays. Well know soon enough.
Dan I think that if V keeps a 4+ Demo ABC would be willing to put DWTS results against Idol. But keeping a Demo like that will be hard.
Julia – That could work. Maybe this too
Sunday:
AFV
EM:HE
DH
B&S
Monday:
DWTS (90 mins)
The Middle
Castle
Tuesday:
V
DWTS
The Forgotten (Jan-March)/Happy Town (March-May)
Wednesday:
UB
MF
CT
Lost
Thursday:
FF
GA
PP
Friday:
Supernanny
Wife Swap
20/20
As for Scrubs and Ted, with 13 episodes each, ABC can finish the duo before Dancing returns. Romantically Challenged could get a summer burn off (I really dont see a slot for this show), and Copper and Gates will likely get summer. As for The Deep End, with 6 episofrd the series could likely air anywhere, even as a temporary placeholder so longer dramas dont have to air repeats.
Tommy – I doubt ABC would ever move the results up to 8. It could help create a strong bridge for dramas airing at 9 and 10 but ABC would never go for it. They have their usual 8pm series then Dancing results then drama. Im very anxious for ABC’s midseason.
I think that they would if they think that V could do even better at 9. Ratings = Money which is all they care about. I’m sure they would rather have a 4+ Demo show on at 9 then a low 3’s show. I’m not saying V is a slam dunk to keep pulling 4+ Demos, but it has that potential.
Well once ratings for V’s second episode come out, well know if the series has hit potential or if it just had a strong premiere.
The following shows(from Canada & other countries) that are being shopped to ABC,The CW, CBS, Ion Television,NBC,FOX and various UScable networks are:
Lost Girl
Canwest announces series pick up on new one hour drama featuring Anna Silk and Kristen Holden-Reid
Canwest Broadcasting delves deep into the world of fantasy and action as it green lights the daring new series Lost Girl for Showcase. The 13-episode, one hour series will air on the channel in 2010.
A drama loaded with mystery, romance and intrigue, Lost Girl focuses on the gorgeous and charismatic Bo – a Succubus with heart. While Succubi are inhuman women who seduce and feed off their human partner’s sexual energy, Bo is not your average Succubus. Raised in secret by humans, Bo tries to survive in the human, modern world without giving in to her instinctive urge to kill. Refusing to embrace her supernatural clan and its strict regimes, Bo uses her feminine wiles – along with some help from her friends – to fight for the underdog. All the while, she is on a very personal mission to unlock the secrets of her origin and find her birth mother.
Leading the Lost Girl cast is Anna Silk (Billable Hours, Being Erica) as Bo. The gang of monster misfits and human helpers includes Kristen Holden-Reid (the upcoming Ben Hur remake, The Tudors) as Dyson, an inhuman cop involved in a love/hate relationship with Bo – he absolutely hates how much he loves her. Two-time Gemini Award winner Ksenia Solo (Renegadepress.com) stars as Kenzie, Bo’s street-smart and fiercely loyal human best friend. The cast also includes Rick Howland (Bon Cop, Bad Cop) as Trick, a friendly saloon keeper with something to hide.
“Lost Girl is so unique in that it weaves an array of genres – fantasy, romance, action – all the while developing these complicated, intelligent characters and rich storylines. We can’t wait to get started producing this bold and fun series,” said Christine Shipton, SVP Dramatic and Factual Content, Canwest Broadcasting. “With one of the hottest and most dynamic casts coming to television and an exceptional creative team, Showcase viewers can look forward to a sophisticated series chock-full of action-packed twists and turns laced with chemistry-fuelled relationships.”
Lost Girl will also offer a cross platform experience to viewers. Production is currently underway on the development of an interactive website, graphic novel and downloadable video game.
Lost Girl is developed and produced by Prodigy Pictures, with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Ontario Media Development Corporation. The series is executive produced by Jay Firestone, Paul Rapovksi, Plato Fountidakis, Michelle Lovretta and Peter Mohan. Lovretta also serves as Creator/Writer for Lost Girl and the series is also written by Mohan. Lost Girl is produced by Wanda Chaffey.
The Cult
Produced by Great Southern Film and Television
Executive Producers: Philip Smith, Rachel Gardner
Producer: Rachel Gardner
Directors: Peter Burger, Charlie Haskell, Michael Duignan
Story: Peter Cox and David Brechin-Smith, Kathryn Burnett & Nick Ward
Writers: Peter Cox and David Brechin-Smith
Airing: September 24, 2009…
Years ago, twenty-somethings Jenni, Andy, and brothers Ryan and Nathan, disappeared from around the world without warning and with no trace. Now, suddenly and mysteriously, their families have been alerted to their existence in a secret, isolated cult, hidden deep in the New Zealand bush. But reclaiming the people they’ve lost isn’t going to be easy. Everyone in Two Gardens has renounced their families, friends and all contact with the outside world, which they see as corrupt and impure. To them, Two Gardens is their home, a paradise, and their charismatic leader Edward North is the loving “father” of their family.
visit this website for more information on The Cult http://tvnz.co.nz/search/?q=the-cult
The Well: http://www.bbc.co.uk/switch/thewell/
A brother, sister and their friends discover, and disturb, something very ancient and dark at the bottom of a disused well. Their task is to get it back before someone dies, or worse. Of course, not all is as it seems. There are greater evils in the well, and the four teenagers are not the first ones to have tried to deal with it.
Episode 1: Whilst helping with a house renovation to make money for a summer trip a group of friends, Beth, Luis, Ivan and Coll discover a hidden cellar, which contains an ancient well. When Ivan climbs down the well to retrieve some stones which had fallen in to the murky water, he finds himself picking up more than just stones…
Episode 2: Ivan returns home to a nasty surprise, but is it real or just a bad dream? Coll discovers the ancient origins of the stones recovered from the well and Beth is drawn back to the house only to find it much different than she remembered…
Episode 3: With Ivan’s life hanging in the balance, the gang must act fast if they are to save their friend. But how can they break the spell? They return to the house in search of more clues, but realise they must reluctantly re-enter the well! Beneath the surface, things take an unexpected and sinister turn for Beth…
Their are more episodes to come
Living In Your Car
From a media release:
Bernie Madoff got 150 years.
Garth Drabinsky got 7 years.
Conrad Black got 6.5 years.
Steve Unger was lucky – he got his car.
Principal photography has started on the new 13-part half hour television comedy series from The Nightingale Company created by acclaimed writers George F. Walker, Dani Romain and Joseph Kay. Developed and licensed for Astral Media’s The Movie Network and Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central, the series is directed and executive produced by David Steinberg (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Weeds, Mad About You), and stars John Ralston (Life With Derek, This is Wonderland), Ingrid Kavelaars (Whistler, ReGenesis) and Colin Cunningham (jPod The Collector, Da Vinci’s Inquest). Filming will take place in Toronto and Hamilton from September 16 to November 24, 2009. The series is being produced by The Nightingale Company in association with BeActive.
This timely series set in a slumping economy follows the winding karmic adventures of fallen corporate exec, Steve Unger, who was caught cooking the books and now finds himself legally forbidden from working in any position that involves “other people’s money”. Clinging desperately to the last vestige of his former self – his luxury sedan – Steve hopes to begin anew. Shunned by family and friends, under court order to teach an ethics class to other “fallen angels”, Steve now makes his home inside his luxury car. Propelled ahead by his needs and whims, trying to simultaneously help and exploit everyone he meets, Steve attempts to survive in the land of the have-nots and at the same time somehow resurrect the charmed life he once had.
“When we first took LIVING IN YOUR CAR to the networks several years ago, it was in response to the Enron debacle. Fortunately for us, there has been no end to financial misconduct,” notes George Walker.
“When I was given these scripts to read, I was excited by how topical the subject was, how wonderfully written the scripts were and how funny. Who wouldn’t want to direct this?” says David Steinberg.
“This is a terrific fusion of talent with David directing the fresh, smart series created by George, Dani and Joseph. The essence of this story captures the zeitgeist of what’s going on in the financial world, at the same time as offering up a satisfying sense of ‘revenge’ catharsis, ” said Debbie Nightingale, President of The Nightingale Company.
LIVING IN YOUR CAR is created and written by George F. Walker, Dani Romain, the duo behind the critically acclaimed series This is Wonderland, and the recent, thrilling cop drama The Line (The Movie Network/Movie Central) and Joseph Kay. Walker and Romain are also Executive Producers on this series along with David Steinberg and Debbie Nightingale. Joseph Kay and Alyson Richards will serves as Co-Producers. Additional directors for the series are Bruce McDonald (Pontypool, Less Than Kind), Shawn Alex Thompson (Less Than Kind, Puppets Who Kill), Paul Fox (The Dark Hours, Life With Derek). Cinematography by Stephen Reizes (Flashpoint, Intelligence, Little Criminals), production design by Peter Emmink (The Line, This Is Wonderland), costume design by Michael Harris (The Line, H2O, Trojan Horse, The State Within), and editing by Dave Thompson (Wild Roses, Flashpoint, 24).
LIVING IN YOUR CAR is scheduled to debut in 2010 on The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Movie Central (Western Canada).
Crash & Burn
SEX, GUNS, THE MOB AND MONEY. JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE INSURANCE BUSINESS
Showcase launches new original series Cra$h & Burn
Sleek companion website will be loaded with thrilling interactive features including digital car collision and detective game
Showcase delves deep into the surprisingly dangerous and often unsavory world of insurance fraud and investigation with the launch of the new original dramatic series Cra$h & Burn. The 13 one-hour episodes will air Wednesdays at 9 pm ET/PT beginning November 18, 2009. This marks the first time a one-hour original drama has been solely commissioned by Showcase.
Cra$h & Burn follows streetwise insurance adjuster Jimmy Burn as he navigates the gritty city streets. He is squeezed between the cutthroat corporate culture that is big insurance, the con artists that make a living claim by claim and the city-wide infiltration of organized crime. Throughout the series, Jimmy must dodge shifty clients, crooked lawyers, backstabbing co-workers and the Russian mob as he fights to keep his job. All the while, fighting to make a life for himself and struggling to grab a piece of the middle-class dream – home, family and security.
Cra$h & Burn is executive produced by Whizbang Films’ Paul Gross and Frank Siracusa, as well as Malcolm MacRury (ZOS: Zone of Separation, Deadwood). MacRury also serves as the series’ creator and showrunner. The series stars Luke Kirby (Tell Me You Love Me; Slings and Arrows) as Jimmy Burn, the cocky yet charming up-and-comer looking to claim a slice of the corporate pie as an insurance adjuster. Casting also features Leela Savasta (Battlestar Galactica, Intelligence) as Lucia Silva, Jimmy’s feisty social worker fiancée; Caroline Cave (The LWord; This Beautiful City) as Catherine Scott, the company’s beautiful and cunning in-house lawyer; Clark Johnson (The Wire, Homicide: Life on the Street, also an Emmy-nominated director on The Shield) as Walker Hearn, a veteran insurance investigator and Steve Bacic (The Guard; Andromeda) as Korkov, a conman and Russian Mafioso hustling to scam the system.
A companion website for the series, http://www.crash-and-burn.com will launch on November 11. The site gives viewers an unprecedented digital experience as they interact with the show and its characters. A digital version of the Protected Insurance spokesperson – the advertising face and voice of Protected Insurance in each episode – will guide users through the site. In addition to a dynamic trailer for the series, character bios, an episode guide, a look at life from a Protected cubicle and faux commercials for Protected – there are two innovative content streams: “Autotopsy” gives viewers an up-close and personal look at a car crash with an interactive deconstruction of a major collision. Users can also channel their inner detective when the website launches “Protected Detective: Branch Investigation” (active November 18). This exciting addition allows viewers to become involved in an interrogation of Protected employees accused of insurance fraud and determine the perpetrator through an on-line vote. The site is being produced in association with the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund and the Canadian Television Fund. At the conclusion of the season the investigation will be resolved. Viewers can link to the site from showcase.ca.
Full episodes of Cra$h & Burn will also be available exclusively on showcase.ca the day after broadcast.
18 to Life
Galafilm and Sound Venture announced today that principal photography has begun on their new comedy series 18 TO LIFE, for CBC Television. The comedy is the story of two neighbours with total opposing points of view who become family after their teenage kids run off and get married. With one simple “I do”, the three couples are joined, for better or worse! The shooting started yesterday in Montreal, Quebec, and will continue through September.
Starring Stacey Farber (Degrassi: The Next Generation) and Michael Seater (Life With Derek) as the young lovers, 18 TO LIFE also reunites Peter Keleghan (Billable Hours, The Newsroom), Al Goulem (The Tournament, Stardom), Ellen David (Surviving My Mother, The Business), Angela Asher (Degrassi: The Next Generation, Queer as Folk), Jesse Rath (Prom Wars, Dead Like Me), and Tiio Horn (Indian Summer: The Oka Crisis).
The series is created, written, and executive produced by Derek Schreyer (Murdoch Mysteries, Cold Squad) and former network exec and International Emmy Award-winning producer Karen Troubetzkoy (15/Love, The Magician’s House). Andrew Orenstein (Everybody Hates Chris, Malcolm in the Middle) joins as executive producer and Rob Sheridan (Corner Gas, Less Than Kind) co-produces. The series will be directed by Peter Wellington (Slings and Arrows), Paolo Barzman (The Phantom, The Last Templar) and Stefan Pleszczynski (Da Vinci’s Inquest, Intelligence). Ian Whitehead and Neil Bregman produce the show.
Republic of Doyle
TAKE THE SHOT PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCES START OF PRODUCTION ON REPUBLIC OF DOYLE, A NEW ONE-HOUR COMIC DRAMA SERIES FOR CBC TV
Take the Shot productions is pleased to announce that principal photography for REPUBLIC OF DOYLE, a new one-hour comic drama series for CBC Television, will commence on location in St. John’s, Newfoundland on July 6, 2009 for 12 episodes of its inaugural season.
REPUBLIC OF DOYLE, created by and starring Newfoundland native Allan Hawco (Movie Network’s ZOS: Zone of Separation, CBC’s H20, Trojan Horse and Above and Beyond) as Jake Doyle, revolves around a dysfunctional family trying to make it all work as they run a very strange business – a Gumshoe racket in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The series combines the retro crime vibe of classic Rockford Files and the contemporary dramatic/comedic edge of Rescue Me and Californication, producing a blend of intriguing episodic mysteries and ever-churning relationship turmoil.
Award-winning renowned Irish actor Sean McGinley (Richard Attenborough’s Closing the Ring, Bleak House) co-stars as Jake’s father and business partner Malachy Doyle, opposite Lynda Boyd (Robson Arms, The L Word) as his girlfriend Rose. The series also features Rachel Wilson (75 El Camino) as Jake’s tempestuous ex-wife Nikki; Krystin Pellerin (The Tudors) as the “hot cop” Constable Leslie Bennett and Jake Doyle love-interest; Marthe Bernard (Young Triffie’s Been Made Away With) as Malachy’s rebellious teenage granddaughter; and Mark O’Brien as Des, a street graffiti artist-turned Doyle apprentice.
REPUBLIC OF DOYLE Executive Producers Allan Hawco, John Vatcher and Michael Levine are joined by Rob Blackie (Producer), Denis McGrath (Co-Executive Producer) and Ray Sager (Co-Producer). The series is written by Perry Chafe, Shelley Eriksen, Allan Hawco, Matt MacLennan, Malcolm MacRury and Jesse McKeown. MacRury and Chafe also co-created with Hawco. Directors on the series include Mike Clattenburg (Trailer Park Boys, jpod), Steve DiMarco (Heartland, Jeff Ltd.), Jim Allodi (Little Mosque on the Prairie, Rent-a-Goalie), Phil Earnshaw (Ghostly Encounters, Being Erica).
Meet Phil fritz
E1 Entertainment, Amaze Film and Television and Big Motion Pictures are proud to announce the signing of television star Jason Priestley for The Movie Network and Movie Central’s new half?hour series “Meet Phil Fitz,” shooting in Halifax. Jason Priestley will play Phil Fitz, a charismatic preowned car salesman who pushes the boundaries of acceptable behavior just a few steps too far…
“It’s a great chance to get back to Canada and flex some comedic muscles,” quipped Priestley. “I get to play a guy who is the embodiment of Freud’s ‘id.’ The writing is sharp, edgy and so fast it leaves you gasping for air. You don’t often have a chance to get paid to be morally bankrupt.”
Scheduled to air on The Movie Network and Movie Central in 2010, “Meet Phil Fitz” is a screwball black comedy created by writer and Executive Producer Sheri Elwood (“Defying Gravity”). Set against the backdrop of a family?owned dealership, the series focuses on the exploits of Phil when, after he botches a test drive and puts a customer in a coma, finds himself face to face with a new salesman on the lot, LARRY, a do?gooder claiming to be his ‘conscience.’ If Phil is a man who lives for the moment, Larry’s the foil, ready to pick up (and refurbish) the wreckage he leaves behind. If the “Odd Couple” had substance abuse problems and sold cars this would be that show.
Canadian actor Jason Priestley has just finished filming the BBC mini?series “The Day of the Triffids.” He has carved out memorable roles on both the big and small screens including “My Name is Earl,” “Medium,” and “Beverley Hills, 90210.”
The Dealership
CANWEST’S NEW DRAMA PILOT ‘THE DEALERSHIP’ SIGNS TRICIA HELFER, WILLIAM DEVANE & PATRICK J. ADAMS
Canwest’s Original Canadian Series pilot THE DEALERSHIP has signed on Tricia Helfer and William Devane, along with up and comer Patrick J. Adams to star in the new one-hour pilot about love, larceny and luxury used cars. In addition, Fremantle Media Enterprises (FME), a division of FremantleMedia, has signed on as worldwide distributor of THE DEALERSHIP.
The pilot, which was announced by Canwest in November, will star Helfer (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, BURN NOTICE) in the lead role of Rachel Carson. Rachel is the beautiful, tough as nails sales manager who runs Carson Luxury Auto Gallery, a civic institution started by her irascible father Frank, played by Devane (JESSE STONE, WHAT ABOUT BRIAN). Rachel spent the last decade waiting for her father to retire, cementing her defacto control of the dealership and holding off the banks. Now that the car industry in North America is in the grip of recession, Rachel is fighting to keep the place alive with the help (or in spite of) her unreliable younger brother played by Patrick J. Adams (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, OLD SCHOOL). When Frank un-retires and tries to help, things go from bad to worse.
THE DEALERSHIP is a darkly funny one-hour drama series about the dysfunctional world of Carson Luxury Auto Gallery, a family-owned, used-car dealership. Market collapse, credit crisis, the shrinking global economy – everything is conspiring against Rachel, Jack and Frank Carson. But this main street family isn’t going down without a fight and will do whatever it takes to make the sale and live for another day.
Tricia Helfer is notorious for her portrayal as Cylon ‘Number Six’ in the critically acclaimed award-winning sci-fi drama BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, which has enjoyed four hit seasons. In addition to BATTLESTAR, the current TV Guide cover girl has been heating things up in an eight-episode story arc on BURN NOTICE, and is slated to appear as Chuck’s new handler on the hit spy series CHUCK. Helfer recently wrapped production in Vancouver on the sci-fi drama HUMAN TARGET for director Simon West.
Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominated actor William Devane, has appeared in the television series WHAT ABOUT BRIAN, CRUMBS, and 24. Devane reprised his role alongside Tom Selleck in the fifth installation of the popular JESSE STONE franchise, titled JESSE STONE: THIN ICE. Distinguished for his political and “tough-guy” roles, the veteran actor’s additional television credits include STARGATE SG-1, THE WEST WING and KNOTS LANDING, among others. Feature film credits include SPACE COWBOYS, PAYBACK, MARATHON MAN, YANKS, and FAMILY PLOTS.
Patrick J. Adams made a dent on American pop culture with his scene stealing debut turn as “Patch,” in the 2003 Will Ferrell classic comedy OLD SCHOOL. In 2008, Adams landed back-to-back starring roles in a string of independent feature films including 2009 Berlin Film Festival competitor RAGE, with Judi Dench, Jude Law and Dianne Weist, and WEATHER GIRL, which was in competition at the 2009 Slamdance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah. His television credits include appearances on LOST, JACK & BOBBY, NCIS and GHOST WHISPERER.
THE DEALERSHIP is a Vérité Films production, created and executive produced by Virginia Thompson (RENEGADEPRESS.COM, CORNER GAS, INCREDIBLE STORY STUDIO), Writer/Showrunner Andrew Wreggitt (MAYERTHORPE, SHADES OF BLACK: THE CONRAD BLACK STORY, ONE DEAD INDIAN), Robert de Lint (RENEGADEPRESS.COM, CORNER GAS, INCREDIBLE STORY STUDIO) and Jeff Beesley (DOLAN’S CADILLAC). Bernard Bourret and Ty Hyland are producers for the pilot. THE DEALERSHIP is directed by Ken Girotti (MAYERTHORPE, RESCUE ME, LAW AND ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT).
Haven
(from Stephen King novel”The Colorado Kid)
This show has 13 episodes ordered. Not much of the plot has been revealed
Bloodletting & Miraclous Cures
Start of Production on Shaftesbury Films’ Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures Starring Shawn Ashmore
SHAWN ASHMORE STARS IN THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DRAMA SERIES BLOODLETTING & MIRACULOUS CURES
CAMERAS ROLLING ON NEW EIGHT- PART ORIGINAL SERIES FOR THE MOVIE NETWORK AND MOVIE CENTRAL
Based on Vincent Lam’s Award-Winning Collection of Linked Short Stories Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures
Co-starring Mayko Nguyen and Byron Mann
Shaftesbury Films (The Listener, ReGenesis) is pleased to announce that production has begun on the highly anticipated eight-part, one-hour drama series Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures starring Shawn Ashmore (pictured). Filming began June 29 and runs until September 23, 2009, in and around Toronto and Hamilton. The series is based on the Scotiabank Giller Award-winning set of linked short stories by Vincent Lam, Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures, and will debut on Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central (Western Canada) and Astral Media’s The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) in early 2010.
Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures follows the lives of three young doctors – ‘Fitz’, ‘Ming’ and ‘Chen’ – as they navigate medical school, residency and their first years as doctors in a busy downtown Toronto hospital.
“Prior to its winning the Giller Prize, we read Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures and knew that not only had Vincent Lam created a unique and bold look at ER doctors, but had done so with great visual flare,” said Executive Producer and Shaftesbury Films Chairman, Christina Jennings. “It was perfect material for Pay-TV and we’re delighted The Movie Network and Movie Central came on board so quickly. It has been great having Vincent as our consultant and working closely with the talented screenwriter Jason Sherman.”
“I fell for Bloodletting the moment I laid eyes on it. Ten pages in, I was already seeing how it could exist on screen,” said Writer and Co-executive Producer, Jason Sherman. “Two years later I’m actually seeing it on screen, with the complexity, depth of feeling and surprise of the original stories intact. Vincent Lam created fresh, vivid, compelling stories; adapting them to television continues to be a pleasure.”
Starring in his first one-hour drama series, Shawn Ashmore (X-Men, Terry) plays ‘Fitz,’ a troubled Air-Ambulance doctor with a lust for life and alcohol, who has never gotten over his love for ‘Ming’ (Mayko Nguyen, ReGenesis, Rent-a-Goalie), a painfully private OB/GYN. Ming is torn between ‘Fitz’ and her husband ‘Chen’ (Byron Mann, Dragon Boys, Dark Angel), an even-tempered physician hiding a sea of emotion. Through a series of events the three doctors are reunited in the ER department of Toronto Mercy Hospital where they struggle to resolve some unfinished business and put their feelings from the past to rest.
Author of Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures, Dr. Vincent Lam drew on his real life experiences working in international air evacuation and expedition medicine on Arctic and Antarctic ships and as an emergency physician.
The series is produced by Shaftesbury Films with Executive Producers Christina Jennings and Scott Garvie. Award-winning writer Jason Sherman (ReGenesis, Murdoch Mysteries) has adapted and written all eight hours of the series and also serves as Co-executive Producer. Shawn Ashmore is also an Executive Producer. Producers for Shaftesbury Films are Laura Harbin, Julie Lacey and Jan Peter Meyboom. Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures author Vincent Lam serves as Creative Consultant on the series. Phyllis Platt (Booky and the Secret Santa, Shania: A Life in Eight Albums) serves as Supervising Producer. The series’ award-winning directors include Rachel Talalay (Terminal City, Ally McBeal), Kari Skogland (50 Dead Men Walking, The Listener) and Erik Canuel (Flashpoint, Bon Cop, Bad Cop). Director of Photography is Miroslav Baszak (Shake Hands with the Devil, Pontypool) and Sandra Kybartas (Murdoch Mysteries, The Listener) is Production Designer. Executives in Charge of Production are Diane Boehme, Director of Canadian Independent Production, The Movie Network, and Erica Benson, Vice President, Programming, Movie Central.
Shattered(starring Callum Keith Rennie: 13 episodes oredered)
Starring Callum Keith Rennie (Battlestar Galactica, Californication, The X-Files) and directed by Bobby Roth (Prison Break, Lost, Criminal Minds), Shattered follows the exploits of Kyle Logan, a brilliant detective, whose multiple-personality-disorder has a major affect on his job.
Lawyers, Guns and Money is produced by Whizbang Films Inc., the Toronto-based company created by Paul Gross and Frank Siracusa who are the creative forces behind the Genie-Award Winning production Passchendaele.
Shattered is produced by leading independent studio E1 Entertainment and Force Four Films Ltd. Rick Drew wrote the pilot. Executive producers are Hugh and Debra Beard from Force Four (producers of the award-winning miniseries Human Cargo) and Noreen Halpern, John Morayniss and Laszlo Barna for E1 Entertainment, the company behind Hung, Copper and The Bridge. E1 Entertainment will handle worldwide distribution for the series.
These shows are all being shopped around. i hope they land on a US network. Tell me which network each shows could be on
You guys act like no one cares about Ugly Betty. Like “Oh well Betty is dead”. Perhaps this is Betty’s final season, but whether this is just to fill up a timeslot or an actual case of ABC trying to save the show, I’m thankful for either one of them.
Wednesdays is a good night to air Betty and I can gaurantee it will do better than Eastwick, especially because it has such a loyal fan base unlike Eastwick which seems to have been around for what? 7 episodes? Eitherway I can only see Ugly Betty benefitting from the move.
BEST NEWS EVER!!!
Ugly betty and Lost in the same night! SWEET!
“According to insiders, Betty also has a creative resurgence in the works, including an episode in the spirit of Run Lola Run in which Betty must race across town to deliver a diamond-encrusted bra”
Race across town to deliver a diamond-encrusted bra??
Keep this on Friday, thanks.
“Lost & V” should be on the same night, “Ugly Betty & DWTS” should also be together on another night. @ Bad Robot: Gays & Metrosexuals which isn’t even a word are not the biggest demographic that watch “Ugly Betty” it’s straight women 18-45 none of which you will ever get with because you’re a narrow minded biggot.
You all should read what ausiello wrote about this.
“Question: What’s the latest word on Ugly Betty moving to Wednesdays? —Alec
Ausiello: All signs point to… it not happening. ABC insiders tell me Betty is staying put on Fridays for now. The most likely candidate to inherit Eastwick’s Wednesdays at 10 p.m. timeslot early next year is Lost. Speaking of Betty, is it just me or is the show kind of on fire right now? Every episode this season has been a winner. I’m even staying awake during the Daniel scenes!”
Yet, Travis Yanan seems to be confirming the move. I’ll wait for the ABC announcement, as far as I know. Its moving to Wednesdays.
I trust Ausiello much more than Travis Yanan.
And remember that the original source of this is AfterElton, not exactly the most reliable site of the net.