The Good Wife Season Finale Review

Much in the same way that I don't think a bad season (or series) finale ruins the run of episodes that preceded it, I don't think it's impossible for good finale to salvage a lackluster season. Either type can influence how you end up anticipating a show's return, but it cannot erase all the highs and/or lows that came before.

"What's in the Box?" puts us (or at least me) in such a position. It was a damn fine finale, and it was probably one of the most entertaining, invigorating, and surprising episodes of The Good Wife's run thus far. But it capped off an uneven fourth season full of of ill-conceived and half-baked plots. The episode didn't make me forget any of it—in fact, it reminded me of one of the season's worst annoyances—but it did leave me brimming with anticipation about the show's future in Season 5.

Here are some rundown of Season 4's highlights and lowlights...
First and foremost was the Kalinda and Nick debacle. I'll admit that at first I thought the show was setting up an interesting parallel with Kalinda's inability to escape Nick mirroring Alicia standing alongside Peter, and choosing to do so time and again. That just never materialized. Instead we got sexually charged violence and defiled ice cream cones, with nary an insight into why Kalinda would tolerate this schmuck sticking around. At least it was nipped in the bud fairly quickly; while it did leave Kalinda a tad rudderless until the introduction of Robyn, a rudderless Kalinda is better than an anchored-to-Nick Kalinda.
Oddly for The Good Wife, the political campaign was sort of wishy-washy, but for that I place at least some of the "blame" on NBC and its decision to pick up Go On. I suspect the plan was for Peter to cruise through his primary and just keep campaigning against Matthew Perry's wonderfully smarmy and horrible Mike Kresteva. Since Perry was busy with Go On, we got Maddie Hayward (Maura Tierney) as a feminist challenger in the primary. It was a neat idea to pit Hayward's feminist politics against Peter's moral failures and past history, but it never really came together, and long gaps in Hayward's appearances sort of undercut her threat. Toss in the rushed "We're friends, and now we're not" plot with Alicia, and Maddie was a bit of a mess.

More egregious for me, though, were Eli's various plots, which also felt like the result of Perry's unavailability. T.R. Knight's Jordan Karahalios never actually seemed to do, well, anything even remotely impressive, despite being called a wunderkind by other characters. There was no evidence of him as a threat to Eli beyond his very presence on the campaign, and then the show even dismantled the idea the he was this brilliant campaign manager in the debate episode. His arrival as the campaign manager for the third party candidate in tonight's finale only locked in this idea that Jordan was nothing but an empty suit.
So while Jordan was lurking about, Eli dealt with that bizarre campaign finance corruption case. It was more of an entertaining bit of filler than a real conflict, between Elsbeth's quirky presence and Kyle MacLachlan's even quirkier Josh Perotti. I did appreciate that the show sort of acknowledged this with the musical chairs witnesses to prove the case—it very much said, "Yes, even we know this is kind of silly." At least it was a fun silly.
But while these elements had varying degrees of success (or none at all), at least Season 4 did a decent job with the ups and downs of Lockhart/Gardner. Nathan Lane as Clarke Hayden was an inspired bit of casting against type, and it paid off handsomely for the show. Lane hit all the right notes of pragmatism, loneliness, and zealousness, and all with a restraint that you don't typically associate with the actor. He was never a bad guy, or even an antagonist. He was delightfully more subtle than that, and it helped to give the first half of the season a solid dramatic core.
After recovering from bankruptcy, the show managed to pivot nicely to a new arc about labor issues within the firm. It highlighted the clashes between equity partners and the fourth-year associates led by Alicia and Cary... until the partners promoted Alicia in an effort to break the spine of the rebellious associates, and (again) Kalinda's place in the firm, and her value to them. Unlike past threats to the firm, be it Derrick Bond in Season 2 or the corruption charges against Will last season, this one pitted the show's characters against each other in ways we hadn't seen before, even when Cary was in the state's attorney's office.

All of which brings us to the finale.
"What's in the Box?" was timely (voter fraud and election rigging!), funny (Judge Abernathy! Judge Lessner! Patti Nyholm! Colin Sweeney?!), and surprisingly suspenseful in its final few moments. It also managed to tie up the labor issue surrounding Lockhart/Gardner in a way that promised to really shake up the show in Season 5. It didn't make me forgive any of the bad stuff we saw this season (only lots of drinking will make me ever forget about Nick), but it left me so completely excited for the next one that I cannot wait for the fall season to begin.
The big bombshell, of course, was that Alicia had decided to cast her lot in with Cary and the other fourth-year associates and leave Lockhart/Gardner. Alicia's fielded offers from other lawyers and firms before, the most notable and persistent being Louis Canning, but this time the offer coincided with a couple of factors that I think motivated her to finally accept. The first one is something I think we can all probably agree on, and the second is me perhaps reading too much into Alicia, though it's hard not to do that since she's so damn stoic.

The thread of Season 4 that I opted not to mention above was the Peter-Alicia-Will triangle. Part of the reason is that it's the aspect of the show that I find least interesting, but it's also a part of the show that it'll never give up, so I've generally decided to just take a wait-and-see approach with it.
This season as a whole ramped up the Alicia/Peter stuff, and continued to show Alicia's dedication to Peter, and his to her. The second half, though, brought that absurdly unmotivated kiss between Alicia and Will. While I wasn't a fan of how that played out, the ramifications of it—Alicia dreaming and daydreaming about her time with Will—brought me around on these emotions resurfacing for her enough so that the conflict didn't feel completely tired.
It's this conflict within Alicia, this concern about slipping further with Will—a man she doesn't see much of a future with—that I think led her to accept Cary's offer. The temptation will ease, the frustration will perhaps lessen if she doesn't have to see him every day. Out of sight, out of mind. It's an emotional decision for a woman who has tried to avoid making too many emotional decisions in recent years, but it speaks volumes about just how serious she is about making things work with Peter.
The other reason is a more business-oriented one and again this is just me spitballing. One of the reasons Lockhart/Gardner have kept Alicia on, and eventually offered her a partnership, and what attracts clients to her as well, was her connection with Peter. I think all this talk of being "management" sank in a bit, and now that she's the First Lady of Illinois, her standing has increased that much more. Why shouldn't she step into a firm where she can control and benefit from the influence much more directly? I do still think that, ultimately, the decision was one of emotion, but I given how much emphasis this season has placed on business and managing resources, I couldn't help but think about it.
I just hope it all sticks. One of my quibbles with the show has been its treatment of Cary, and how he was sort of a pinball, bouncing back and forth between L/G, unemployment, and the State's Attorney's office, and I really hope this big narrative shift isn't undone by Episode 2 next season. I want this plot to play out, I want to see the tensions we saw in "Red Team/Blue Team" occur over the course of a season, and I want to know where it all ends up for these characters.

Even before that final scene, "What's In The Box?" was firing on all cylinders. The issue of a tampered ballot box provided a way for the case-of-the-week to intersect with a larger story in the show, and that was refreshing. Normally the cases rely on twists and legal maneuverings to maintain interest, but with this one's connection to the election, it had a real sense of urgency. In typical Good Wife fashion, the legal proceedings ended up being undercut by something else, in this case the votes not mattering in the final count. That the show does this a lot (see last week's episode about the unionizing software coders) is supposed to be one last twist in the case to surprise you, but it also serves to exemplify the occasional futility of the legal system. This time, it was just a much happier ending than they normally have.
While that ballot box issue would be interesting enough, the reversals, the witnesses (poor Nana Jo, poor Buckley), the careful and restrained uses of the quirks of Patti, Abernathy, and Lessner, and the running back and forth also served to elevate the episode beyond a standard Good Wife-quality case.
There are still some stories lingering for us as we go into Season 5 beyond the law firm one. There's the video of Jim with the stuffed ballot box that does not look good for Peter or Eli (and possibly Alicia, since she was in court over the issue); there's the matter of Kalinda and Robyn and which of them ends up where (Kalinda's employment issues have never been the strongest element of the show, and it also only strengthens my conviction that the show never developed a strong baseline for Kalinda, which is why the character struggles with stories that don't involve Alicia); and finally there's Jackie and Cristian and whatever the hell is going on there.

The Kings' ( Shows Producers) gave an interview in the Daily Beast and next year will be the year of Cary and Civil Wars. There are so many intertesting twists that can come about now. My best guess is that Kalinda stays at Lockhart&Gardner and Robin joins Argos&Florrick, Peter is going to be ecstatic and Diane and Will are going to hit the roof. However Diane is still in play for a judgeship now that Peter has won. She was told that it was hers if she disowns Will. She will have a tough decision to make. Also I like the love triangle Will-Alicia-Florrick and am ready to see Will and Alicia spar with each other. She thinks that leaving the firm will quell her desire for Will wait until she has to meet him in Court and they go head to head.

We'll just have to wait for Season 5 to see where it all ends up.

Culled from TV.com

NBC Picks Up 8 Comedies Including Greg Daniels’ ‘Friday Night Dinner’, Dick Wolf-Produced Drama, Jason Katims/Jason Ritter Project

NBC brought the total number of pilots picked up today to 10 with two more comedy orders: to Greg Daniels’ adaptation of the British comedy "Friday Night Dinner" and an untitled half-hour produced by Jimmy Fallon. Both are from Universal TV.

"Friday Night Dinner" is a single-camera about a quirky family that has dinner together every Friday night. Daniels is executive producing with Howard Klein and the original series’ producer Big Talk TV. The project has already been doing preliminary casting, with David Koechner eyed for a role.

The Jimmy Fallon multi-camera project, written by Charlie Grandy, revolves around three thirtysomething guys who enjoy the adventures of parenting despite the fact they haven’t grown up themselves. Fallon, Grandy and Amy Ozols are executive producing. This marks the first pilot for Fallon’s company Holiday Road.

UPDATE: NBC has picked up three more comedy pilots: "Daddy’s Girl", a spec by Dana Klein produced by Aaron Kaplan, and projects by Hilary Winston and Stephen Falk.

The multi-camera "Daddy’s Girl", from 20th Century Fox TV and Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment, is about a young woman who returns home from overseas to find her father is seriously dating the “mean girl” from her high school. The spec was recently taken out, garnering strong interest by NBC and CBS, with NBC stepping up with a pilot order. Klein and Kaplan are executive producing. This marks Kaplan’s fourth broadcast pilot so far this season and his second comedy spec to get a production order at NBC, in addition to "Isabel", which is in production. Additionally, Kaplan has "The Manzanis" starring Kirstie Alley and an untitled Dan Fogelman comedy at ABC.

Stephen Falk’s Next Caller Please, from Lionsgate TV, is a single-camera gender comedy focusing on a brash alpha male DJ and his new, plucky, feminist co-host set in the offices of a satellite radio station. Lead cable player Lionsgate TV made a big push in broadcast development this season, and this is the company’s first broadcast pilot order in years.

The Hilary Winston single-camera project, from Sony TV and Jamie Tarses’ Fanfare, centers on a shy, focused woman who, after being dumped by her fiance, leans on her co-workers to help her come out of her shell and plot her revenge. Winston is executive producing with Tarses and Julia Franz.

PRIMETIME PILOT PANIC: The Latest Buzz

It’s pilot screening time. CBS just started viewing its pilots, with the other networks slated to follow over the next few days. Feedback from the screenings and extensive focus group testing inform the networks’ series pickup decisions and are capable of catapulting a pilot from an also-run to frontrunner status overnight, as it happened with CBS’ "Blue Bloods" three years ago. Here is what I hear as of this weekend, with information still missing on a few late pilots.



ABC ---- Drama "Lucky 7" may live up to its name. The blue-collar ensemble about gas station employees who win the lottery seemed a little off brand for ABC and its glitzy dramas. But I hear the project based on a British format, which hadn’t drawn much attention, came in above expectations, making it a contender in what’s shaping to be a very tight race. It’s tight because two slots have already been penciled in for "Marvel‘s S.H.I.E.L.D". and the "Once Upon A Time" spinoff, whose early footage I hear ABC brass liked. Also boosted by corporate synergy is major contender "Big Thunder", based on the Disney ride. Word is ABC may choose one of its two soapy pilots, "Westside" and "Betrayal", with "Westside" having the edge at the moment. (However, "Betrayal‘s" David Zabel has two irons in the fire as he is also behind "Lucky 7".) The gothic soap "Gothica" has cooled off a bit while high-concept "The Returned", about deceased coming back to life as their old selves, is heating up after another great pilot directing performance by Charles McDougall. Among the character procedurals, "Murder In Manhattan", "Doubt", "Killer Women" and "Influence" all seem in the mix.
"Bad Management", the untitled Adam Goldberg project, and "Back In The Game" (Cullen Bros.) are still getting solid traction on the comedy side, along with female starring vehicles "Trophy Wives" (Malin Akerman) and Rebel Wilson’s "Super Fun Night". I hear "Super Fun Night" is not exactly where ABC brass want it to be and will likely require tweaking but the network isn’t ready to pass up the opportunity to have hot Wilson on its air. Most of ABC’s comedies seem to be still in contention, including "Spy", "Mixology" and "Middle Age Rage", with John Leguizamo’s "King John" holding down the fort on the multi-camera side.



NBC ---- NBC appears very pleased with their comedy pilots, including the pilot for the Michael J. Fox project, which already has a 22-episode order. I hear the network brass feel their half-hour development is so strong, they may bet heavily on new series and hardly keep any of the existing comedy series (besides "Parks & Recreation", of course). Among the NBC comedy pilots that are hot are "About A Boy", "Welcome to The Family", "Family Guide" (D.J. Nash); Greg Daniels’ "Mr. Robinson" starring Craig Robinson, the Sean Hayes starrer "Sean Saves the World"; "Assistance" starring Krysten Ritter and Alfred Molina; and Bill Lawrence’s "Undateable". "The Gates" is a wild card, with the late John Mulaney pilot garnering promising early buzz.
"The Blacklist" continues to be super-hot on the drama side, with the untitled Rand Ravich in contention, along with JJ Abrams’ "Believe". Despite bumpy production, which saw the departure of executive producer Katie Jacobs, "I Am Victor" seems to have a shot, maybe competing with another starring vehicle, "Ironside". Also in the mix are the comic book-driven "The Sixth Gun", the "Chicago Fire" cop drama spinoff, medical drama "After Hours" and the modern day "Hatfields & McCoys".

FOX ---- No major changes in the pilot standings at Fox. Dude police/Army comedies Goor/Schur and Enlisted as well as Assistants and Friends And Family are going strong, with I Suck At Girls as a wild card. Rake, Gang Related and Human are still solid on the drama side. Sleepy Hollow and Delirium may go head to head, with Sleepy Hollow slight ahead at the moment.

CBS ---- CBS is once again hard to read, with many projects in contention for very few slots. Beverly Hills Cop still seems like a frontrunner, with Hostages, The Advocates and the NCIS: LA spinoff in the running and Second Sight, Intelligence, The Surgeon General, The Ordained and Backstrom in the mix. On the comedy side, Chuck Lorre’s Mom continues its march to the fall schedule. Greg Garcia has two horses in the race, a multi-camera comedy which is getting stronger buzz, and single-camera Super Clyde. On the multi-camera side, Friends With Better Lives continues to track well. On the single-camera side, the Robin Williams starrer The Crazy Ones is going strong, with the untitled Rob Greenberg in the mix, along with Bad Teacher and Rottenberg/Zuritsky.

CW ---- The CW already kicked off the new series pickup season on Friday with an order to The Vampire Diaries spinoff "The Originals". Vying to join it are two futuristic/sci-fi dramas, "The Tomorrow People" and "The 100", and royal teen soap "Reign". Just-renewed "Beauty And The Beast" has a potential new companion in another drama about an unlikely pair of star-crossed lovers, the human-alien romance "Oxygen". For now, "The Selection" 2.0 seems to be following the trajectory of the original pilot unless it gets a last-minute boost.

TNT ---- Along with its broadcast brethren, TNT also is getting ready to green-light new series as early as this week. Both pilots in consideration, "Legends" and "The Last Ship", look hopeful to get the nod.

AMC ---- Over at AMC, "Turn" is turning up the heat.

20 TV Pilots We Hope Get Made Into Series (2013 Edition) : Part 3.

Last part of the Continuation of our "2013 edition of our annual feature 20 Pilots We Hope Get Made Into Series" based on what little info we have.


== BACK IN THE GAME
Network: ABC
Genre: Single-camera father-daughter pasttime
Starring: Maggie Lawson (Psych), James Caan (something called The Godfather), Ben Koldyke (Work It), Lenora Crichlow (U.K.'s Being Human)
What it's about in one sentence: A recently divorced woman moves back in with her dad and reluctantly coaches her son's Little League team.
Why we want to see it: Lawson plays a woman who tried to leave sports behind, but gets dragged back into it. This one has a chance to have a lot of heart in addition to laughs, and since I love laugh-crying and killing two birds with one stone, it stands out.
Why it might not make it: This one is going to be all about tone, and if it hits that sweet spot (pun intended) between the magic of sports and how it can help rebuild lives, it should be a home run. Anything else could be a strikeout. Although there's the slight possibility that it could be like the infield fly rule, or even a ground rule double. Sports cliches!

== HOW THE HELL AM I NORMAL?
Network: ABC
Genre: Single-camera '80s nostalgia
Starring: Wendi McLendon-Covey (Bridesmaids), Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm), George Segal (Just Shoot Me!). From Adam F. Goldberg (Breaking In).
What it's about in one sentence: In the style of The Wonder Years, this look back at childhood in the '80s is based on Goldberg's life.
Why we want to see it: Television is ready for an '80s-set comedy. We're all finally over That '80s Show, right?
Why it might not make it: There's not a lot of starpower, and kids haven't been able to carry primetime since, well, The Wonder Years.

== SPY
Network: ABC
Genre: Single-camera comedy gettin' smart
Starring: Rob Corddry (Childrens Hospital), Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds), Nat Faxon (Ben & Kate), Ken Jeong (Community, this awesome music video)
What it's about in one sentence: Looking to prove himself to his son, a man (Corddry) accidentally joins the Secret Service.
Why we want to see it: If you've seen Corddry in any sort of police/secret agent role, you know he kills it. This has modern-day Get Smart potential, which could be way better than it sounds. Plus, we need Jeong on our TVs at all times in something other than Hangover reruns on Spike TV, and if Community doesn't make it, this is his fallback.
Why it might not make it: ABC might see this for what it is: a comedy that pulls in a small but loyal following. No one wants one of those right now.


== SURGEON GENERAL
Network: CBS
Genre: The biggest doctor drama you'll ever see
Starring: Jason Isaacs (Awake), Kathryn Morris (Cold Case), Beth Riesgraf (Leverage), Sean Astin (a hobbit)
What it's about in one sentence: You'll never guess what this one's about! Oh, I guess you can tell by the title. It's a medical drama following the Surgeon General.
Why we want to see it: Normally, a medical drama is been-there-done-that super snooze alert. But with Isaacs as the doc of the United States, this one could be a lot bigger than another soap with surgeries.
Why it might not make it: Then again, it's surgeries that usually add a lot of the tension to medical dramas. Will we be that pumped up for medical bureaucracy?

== THE HUNDRED
Network: The CW
Genre: Rebuilding Earth with hot kids sci-fi drama
Starring: Eliza Taylor (Neighbours), Henry Ian Cusick (Lost), Kelly Hu (Arrow), Isaiah Washington (Grey's Anatomy), Paige Turco (Person of Interest)
What it's about in one sentence: After stupid Earthlings nuke the Earth to smithereens, a spaceship housing the last of mankind sends 100 juvenile delinquents down to the planet to see if we can move back in.
Why we want to see it: No one is sick of post-apocalyptic shows yet, and who better to test out the scorched Earth than sexy young teens? There's a lot of potential here, and the cast is pretty established given that this is The CW.
Why it might not make it: Will this be too bleak to find an audience on The CW? Better keep the shirts off the hunks!


== UNAUTHORIZED GREG GARCIA PROJECT

Network: CBS
Genre: Multi-camera comedy, yes, a multi-camera comedy actually made the list
Starring: Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Margo Martindale (The Americans), Beau Bridges (My Name Is Earl), JB Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Mary Elizabeth Ellis (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia). From Greg Garcia, creator of My Name is Earl, Raising Hope.
What it's about in one sentence: A recently divorced man has to deal with new problems when his parents, who are having marital problems of their own, move in with him... yikes!
Why we want to see it: The cast and Garcia's proven history!
Why it might not make it: Everything but the cast! Can Will Arnett work in a multi-camera setup?
*Unauthorized appears to be a jokey Garcia synonym for "untitled."

== LUCKY 7
Network: ABC
Genre: Drama version of The Lottery Changed My Life
Starring: Stephen Louis Grush (The Mob Doctor), Isiah Witlock, Jr. (The Wire), Summer Bushil (90210)
What it's about in one sentence: The lives of gas station employees in Queens are forever changed when they pool together and win the lottery.
Why we want to see it: I've always wondered how this situation would play out in real life, so this is the next best thing. There are lots of crazy possible directions for this, and there's always compelling drama in the nouveau riche.
Why it might not make it: It's another adaptation of a British television series, and those seasons only last five episodes. How is this going to expand to 22?


Culled from TV.com

Shows airing this week 28th of April - 4th of May 2013

This week, 5 shows are ending their season this week, "The Good Wife", "Vikings", "The Following", "Bomb Girls" and "The Americans". "Vikings" and "The Americans" have both being renewed for new seasons, while no official word yet on the "The Good Wife", its still favored to be renewed, while "The Following" and "Bomb Girls" haven't been officially renewed yet.
Also this week, "Warehouse 13" returns after 6 months hiatus to resume season 4, also back is "Revenge" and "Nashville" who have aired only one episode in the last 6 weeks.

==== Sunday - "Game of Thrones" Season 3 Episode 5, "Mad Men" Season 6 Episode 5, "Vikings" Season 1 Finale Episode 9, "Once Upon A Time" Season 2 Episode 20, "The Good Wife" Season 4 Finale, Episode 22, "The Mentalist" Season 5 Episode 21, "Veep" Season 2 Episode 3, "The Borgias" Season 3 Episode 3, "Continuum" Season 2 Episode 2, "Revenge" Season 2 Episode 19.

==== Monday - "Revolution" Season 1 Episode 15, "The Following" Season 1 Finale Episode 15, "Bomb Girls" Season 2 Finale Episode 12, "2 Broke Girls" Season 2 Episode 22, "Castle" Season 5 Episode 22, "Defiance" Season 1 Episode 3, "Hawaii Five-0" Season 3 Episode 21, "How I Met Your Mother" Season 8 Episode 22, "Warehouse 13" Season 4 Episode 11.

==== Tuesday - "New Girl" Season 2 Episode 23, "Awkward" Season 3 Episode 4, "NCIS" Season 10 Episode 22, "NCIS:LA" Season 4 Episode 22, "Grimm" Season 2 Episode 19, "The Mindy Project" Season 1 Episode 22.

==== Wednesday - "Criminal Minds" Season 8 Episode 20, "Modern Family" Season 4 Episode 21, "Nashville" Season 1 Episode 18, "The Americans" Season 1 Finale Episode 13, "Arrow" Season 1 Episode 21, "Supernatural" Season 8 Episode 21.

==== Thursday - "The Big Bang Theory" Season 6 Episode 22, "Two And A Half Men" Season 10 Episode 22' "The Vampire Diaries" Season 4 Episode 21, "Grey's Anatomy" Season 9 Episode 22, "Person Of Interest" Season 2 Episode 21, "Elementary" Season 1 Episode 21, "Glee" Season 4 Episode 21, "Scandal" Season 2 Episode 20,"Community" Season 4 Episode 12, "Hannibal" Season 1 Episode 6.

==== Friday - "Nikita" Season 2 Episode 20, "Da Vinci's Demons" Season 1 Episode 4, "Vegas" Season 1 Episode 20, "Touch" Season 2 Episode 12.

==== Saturday - "Doctor Who" Season 7 Episode 11, "Orphan Black" Season 1 Episode 6, "Smash" Season 2 Episode 14.

20 TV Pilots We Hope Get Made Into Series (2013 Edition) : Part 2.

Continuation of our "2013 edition of our annual feature 20 Pilots We Hope Get Made Into Series" based on what little info we have.

== SUPER CLYDE
Network: CBS
Genre: Super-powered deep-fried single-camera comedy
Starring: Rupert Grint (Harry Potter's redhead), Tyler Labine (Reaper), Stephen Fry (Blackadder). From Greg Garcia, creator of My Name is Earl, Raising Hope.
What it's about in one sentence: A fast-food worker (Grint) receives a huge inheritance and decides to become a superhero.
Why we want to see it: We can talk about the great cast that includes Grint's first American TV role, the always hilarious Labine, and the legendary Frye, or we can talk about the fun and goofy premise, but really, we want to see a single-camera comedy on CBS.
Why it might not make it: It's a single-camera comedy on CBS. Unless CBS is really looking to get into single-cams, what does this pair with?

== BRENDA FOREVER
Network: NBC
Genre: Time-jumping adorkable single-camera comedy
Starring: Ellie Kemper (The Office), David Krumholtz (Partners, Numb3rs), Stephnie Weir (MADtv)
What it's about in one sentence: The story of a unique (we're guessing "adorkable") 31-year-old woman is told via flashbacks to her past as a 13-year old.
Why we want to see it: Another high-concept comedy, this time telling interweaving stories from Brenda's (Kemper) past and present. It's like The Adventures of Young New Girl mixed with New Girl, and Kemper has the chops to make this work.
Why it might not make it: Are we already over the quirky hot girl who can't get a date yet?

== HUMAN
Network: Fox
Genre: Kill All Humans cop drama
Starring: Karl Urban (Star Trek the movie), Michael Ealy (Common Law), Lili Taylor (Hemlock Grove so I guess she doesn't survive the first season?), Minka Kelly (Friday Night Lights), Mackenzie Crook (The Office U.K., Game of Thrones). But the biggest name here is J.J. Abrams, who shepherded this project with J.H. Wyman (Fringe).
What it's about in one sentence: ROBOT COPS ROBOT COPS ROBOT COPS working with human cops in the fuuuuuuuuture!
Why we want to see it: Because ROBOT COPS! This series could go in lots of different directions. Also, Abrams' participation attracted a great cast. And after Wyman's great run with Fringe, we're confident he'll have some great prime directives for this series.
Why it might not make it: Lots of people are trying to weave sci-fi elements into primetime television, and they're not having much luck. The combination of police procedural and ROBOTS might help, but this is still sci-fi. Get ready for plenty of "small but loyal audience" mentions in blurbs for this one.

== BLOODLINE
Network: NBC
Genre: Typical girl-needs-to-kill-her-mom-and-is-sought-after-by-two-families-of-assassins drama.
Starring: KaDee Strickland (Private Practice), Tom Everett Scott (Southland), Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad), Skyler Samuels (The Nine Lives of Chloe King), Chris Zylka (The Secret Circle)
What it's about in one sentence: An orphaned girl caught between two families comprised of hitmen and assassins is mentored by a Chinese man and must kill her mom to lead a normal life okay sure that sounds pretty normal.
Why we want to see it: Ummm, did you read that logline? This has epic insane drama written all over it with murder and Karate Kid and Kill Bill.
Why it might not make it: It could all collapse under its ambition and be toned down for network television, making it a huge dud. This has to be a 10pm show, and that's an unkind slot.

== EX- MEN
Network: CBS
Genre: Single-camera bachelor fest
Starring: Chris Smith (Paranormal Activity 3), Kal Penn (Kumar!), Jerry O'Connell (Sliders), Tony Shalhoub (Monk)
What it's about in one sentence: A young man (Smith) becomes buddies with a bunch of older dudes he meets in a short-term living complex that's popular with divorced men.
Why we want to see it: That's a pretty solid cast, led by the return of Penn and Shalhoub to television. But really, the idea of a bunch of loser men as the underdogs after being thrown out by their wives has appeal in a CBS-comedy sort of way.
Why it might not make it: Just as easily as this could work, it could really not work. And honestly, this was the last comedy to make the cut because I couldn't find anything better.

== THE SIXTH GUN
Network: NBC
Genre: Magical firearms Western drama
Starring: Michael Huisman (Nashville, Treme), Elena Satine (Melrose Place), Laura Ramsey (Ummm... My Generation?), Aldis Hodge (Leverage)
What it's about in one sentence: Based on a graphic novel, this Western follows the stories behind six magical guns with special powers.
Why we want to see it: Western. Sci-fi. Magic guns. Based on an established graphic novel. Yes, yes, yes, yes!
Why it might not make it: This is exactly the kind of ambitious genre project that NBC will butcher beyond recognition to make it easier to swallow for the masses.

== AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.
Network: ABC
Genre: Avengers for the small screen semi-superhero drama
Starring: Ming Na (Eureka), Clark Gregg (The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Avengers), Brett Dalton (Killing Lincoln), Elizabeth Henstridge (Hollyoaks), Iain De Caestecker, and a bunch of other people whose names you don't know but will be superstars. This is Joss Whedon's baby.
What it's about in one sentence: Action-drama from Whedon about Marvel Comics' famed secret intelligence agency that crosses over into superhero stories.
Why we want to see it: Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Whedon brings his success with The Avengers to your TV and you're asking why we want to see it? Puh-leeeeze.
Why it might not make it: It'll make it.

News: Pilots, Casting and Finales

--- J.J. Abrams' production company Bad Robot is in the process of acquiring the rights to Stephen King's novel 11/22/63 with the idea of adapting it for television. In the book, an English teacher travels back in time to to 1958 to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy by Lee Harvey Oswald.

--- AMC's "The Walking Dead" is tapping "The Wire" for another casting addition. Lawrence Gilliard, Jr., who played D'Angelo Barksdale in the HBO series, will play Bob Stookie in the zombie drama. The character will be quite different from the Bob Stookey in the comics, as Gilliard is much younger. "The Walking Dead" previously cast The Wire vet Chad Coleman as Tyreese.

--- FX has cast Corey Stoll as the lead in its upcoming vampire pilot "The Strain". Stoll played the substance-abusing and adulterous senator Peter Russo in the Netflix's "House of Cards". In "The Strain", he'll play a head of the CDC during a viral outbreak that smells like vampirism. Guillermo del Toro is on board as a director, writer, and producer, and Lost's Carlton Cuse is lined up as producer and showrunner if it goes to series.

... NBC made a few more scheduling decisions for its summer, with the highlight being a Sunday, June 23 launch for its new drama "Crossing Lines". The series stars William Fichter and Donald Sutherland as members of the International Criminal Court, a group that chases down international crooks who operate over multiple borders.

... AMC has ordered a pilot for "Line of Sight", a sci-fi thriller from "Brotherhood" creator Blake Masters. In "Line of Sight", a National Transportation Safety Board investigator survives a plane crash, and then his head nearly explodes from all the conspiracies that are involved in the accident.

OFFICE CLOSURE UPDATE
--- We now have some details on The Office series finale, so turn away if you want to avoid spoilers! Go ahead! Turn away! Set months after the end of the documentary project, the episode will feature a wedding that brings back past and present Dunder-Mifflin workers, including guest-stars Mindy Kaling, BJ Novak, Rachael Harris, Dakota Johnson, Joan Cusack, Ed Begley Jr., Malcolm Barrett, Matt Jones (Badger!), Andy Buckley, Mike Schur, and Bobby Ray Shafer. Steve Carell reportedly won't be there, but he's gotta be in this, right? The one-hour finale airs May 16. [THR]

News This Weekend: Finales and renewals

--- Airing this weekend on Sunday is the Season Finale of both "The Good Wife" and "Vikings", while "Revenge" is back on air after 3 weeks break.

--- The CW has renewed struggling "Beauty and the Beast" and "Hart of Dixie" for Seasons 2 and 3, respectively, and also given a series order to "The Vampire Diaries" spin-off "The Originals". They join "Supernatural", "Arrow" and "The Vampire Diaries" on the list of shows confirmed to be returning to The CW for the 2013-2014 TV season.

The quick series pickup of "The Originals" comes the day after its backdoor pilot debuted as an episode of "The Vampire Diaries". The CW apparently would rather take its chances with a new series that can sucker in a built-in audience.

The CW has eight pilots in contention as well as decisions to make regarding "Nikita" and "The Carrie Diaries". Rumors abound that "Nikita" is coming back for one final season and that it would be a short order of episodes rather than the normal 20-plus episodes. With a short order of 13 episodes, "Nikita" can come back next season and finish its series and be replaced by "The Carrie Diaries" which also has a 13 episodes order.

--- NBC has renewed five shows for new seasons, the network announced today. "Revolution", "Grimm", "Chicago Fire", "Parenthood", "Law & Order:SVU" have all been renewed. No word yet on "Hannibal" receiving a second season order while "Deception" and "Smash" will almost certainly be cancelled.

NBC says this was the drama round, so there's no word yet on "Parks & Recreation", "Community", "Whitney", "Guys with Kids" and others.

--- CBS has renewed its long-running comedy Two and a Half Men for an eleventh season. But the show isn't coming back the way you're used to. Angus T. Jones, who plays the half-man Jake, will not be returning as a series regular. It's probably a mutual agreement, as Jones has been thinking about going to college.

"Hannibal" : 3 Episode Review

"Hannibal", the latest in a long line of media offering based on the "Hannibal Lecter" character from the book "Red Dragon" by Thomas Harris. From creator Bryan Fuller, who created such series as "Dead Like Me", "Wonderfalls" and "Pushing Daisies".

The Vampire Diaries Spinoff : "The Originals" airs this week

The Originals' Dark Debut this week.

On Thursday’s Vampire Diaries, the CW series unveils its potential spin-off, The Originals. This is a spin-off that dwells primarily on and with the Originals, Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah and other add-ons. This episode is going to take place in New Orleans, as Klaus and Elijah go there to take o. A witch who has (potentially) risen up against them.

We don't know if the potential new show would be primarily set in New Orleans, which makes it different, beautiful and historic than Mystic Falls. The city of New Orleans's colors are vibrant and has a different feel. It’s a little darker.
The voodoo and the witches of New Orleans add a new element to the show. And the character dynamics are different. It’s still in keeping with The Vampire Diaries and what makes that show popular. [But] it’s taking it to a new level.

Nothing yet on whether this potential spin-off will be ordered to series yet, maybe the network is waiting for the episode to air and then decide on whether to pick up on the spin-off.

20 TV Pilots We Hope Get Made Into Series (2013 Edition) : Part 1.

2013 edition of our annual feature 20 Pilots We Hope Get Made Into Series based on what little info we have.


This year's crop of potential series is a huge step up from last season's, This year I can almost tell the truth! To make the list, I divided my picks equally among comedy and drama, then instantly threw out any series about normal detectives or doctors, all comedies about 20-somethings navigating the dating world, and pretty much every show about parents moving back in with their kids (seriously, there are like 10 of those in development).
Instead, I paid close attention to high-concept loglines that jumped off the page, talented cast members, and creators' previous work in picking out winners.

== UNTITLED DAN GOOR/MIKE SCHUR COMEDY
Network: Fox
Genre: Single-camera Keystone Kops comedy
Starring: Andy Samberg (the penis-in-a-box guy from SNL), Andre Braugher (Last Resort), Terry Crews (the really muscly Old Spice guy), Melissa Fumero (Gossip Girl), Chelsea Peretti (Parks and Recreation). From Parks and Recreation writers Dan Goor and Mike Schur.
What it's about in one sentence: A diverse bunch of New York cops get into comedy capers!
Why we want to see it: Because everyone loves Police Academy! Samberg has been overdue for a TV series for a long time, and even though Brauer is known for drama, the man can do funny very well. What's not to like about a bunch of goofy cops?
Why it might not make it: This has to be a shoo-in to make the schedule, doesn't it? The only way it won't is if a network exec suffers a brain fart. So I guess a 75-percent chance it doesn't make it.

== INFLUENCE
Network: ABC
Genre: Manipulative drama
Starring: Christian Slater (Breaking In), Steve Zahn (Treme), Megalyn Echikunwoke (Made in Jersey). From Awake creator Kyle Killen.
What it's about in one sentence: Two brothers, one a genius and the other a con, start an agency to solve problems using the real science of manipulation and motivation.
Why we want to see it: Though this sounds much more grounded than Killen's other material, the man knows how to make good television. Zahn is also a favorite, and we're rooting for Slater to break his curse.
Why it might not make it: Are manipulation and motivation sexy enough to draw in a big audience? Yes they are, especially in Killen's hands, and I'll give you a dollar to believe me.

== PULLING
Network: ABC
Genre: Single-camera British adaptation of a pretty good show
Starring: Kristen Schaal (Flight of the Conchords, The Daily Show), June Diane Raphael (New Girl), Jenny Slate (House of Lies, Saturday Night Live), Matt Oberg (The Onion News Network, Ugly Americans)
What it's about in one sentence: Based on the British series of the same name, three 30-something ladies live like they're college kids and are clueless about settling down.
Why we want to see it: Look at that cast! Schaal and Slate are particular favorites, and they're ideal for roles like this. Plus, when Schaal stepped in to replace Mandy Moore, one of the pilot's original casting choices (WTF?), it was a great sign that the creators had refined their sense of direction. We're hoping this is the big break for the very funny Oberg, too.
Why it might not make it: A wise man once said, "STOP IT WITH THE BRITISH ADAPTATIONS ALREADY!" That wise man is dead now—he was killed when NBC announced it was adapting Free Agents—but his wisdom still lives on.

== BEVERLY HILLs COP
Network: CBS
Genre: The old banana-in-the-tailpipe cop procedural
Starring: Brandon T. Jackson (Tropic Thunder), Eddie Murphy (Beverly Hills Cop), Christine Lahti (Chicago Hope), David Denman (The Office), Kevin Pollack (The Usual Suspects)
What it's about in one sentence: It's an update of the classic comedy, following Axel Foley's son as he tries to live outside his famous cop dad's shadow. From Last Resort and Terriers creator Shawn Ryan.
Why we want to see it: We'd watch a puppet show by Shawn Ryan, simply because of his superb track record. But have you seen Beverly Hills Cop lately? That movie holds up VERY well even today, and if Ryan can wrangle the spirit of the film, this could be the type of procedural that's worth watching.
Why it might not make it: Beverly Hills Cop was one of those films where everything went right; the TV update will need that kind of luck, too.

== MIXOLOGY
Network: ABC
Genre: Boozy, single-camera comedy
Starring: Kate Simses (What's Your Number), Ginger Gonzaga (Ted, Legit), Blake Lee (Parks and Recreation)
What it's about in one sentence: Hot chicks and hunky dudes head to a chi-chi Manhattan bar looking for lust.
Why we want to see it: The logline makes it sound as plain as a vodka soda, but there's a catch: There are 10 lead characters (which explains the "Who?" casting) and the entire first season chronicles one night. So it's like The Nine but with less murder and more maraschino cherries. We're still trying to figure out whether having the writers of The Hangover behind it helps it or hurts it, though.
Why it might not make it: I'm waiting for more serialized comedy, you're waiting for more serialized comedy, but TV networks HATE serialized comedy. This sounds like a serialized comedy, and that means it'll have to be really funny to make it to air. Then it can be unceremoniously canceled.

== THE SELECTION
Network: The CW
Genre: Post-apocalyptic deja vu teen drama
Starring: Michael Malarkey, Yael Groblas, Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Lucien Laviscount (who cares, look at that name!)
What it's about in one sentence: Based on a book and set 300 years in the future, the drama follows a young woman who wins a lottery to compete to be the next queen of a war-ravaged country.
Why we want to see it: Because it didn't make it to air last year when it was also on this list, and we want to see why The CW decided to give it another try with a total overhaul. Plus, I look forward to typing the name "Lucien Laviscount" over and over again when we cover it. But really, the story here is sort of Hunger Games-ish but with less killing.
Why it might not make it: It didn't work the first time, why should it work the second time?

Culled from TV.com

News This Week

NEWS BRIEFS!
--- USA Network has asked for five more scripts of the investigative comedy, a strong sign that it's thinking about adding episodes to the show's light, eight-episode order for Season 8. There's been talk that Season 8 may be the final season of the show.

... E! has unleashed its most recent development slate, here are the highlights:
---- The Wanted Life follows boy band The Wanted and debuts June 2.
---- Total Divas puts cameras on the ladies of the WWE and guess what? They're total head cases! Look for that on July 28.
---- Flash, a reality competition series for photographers: and
---- The Soup Investigates, a spinoff from the Joel McHale-hosted comedy program that gets to the bottom of silly TV stories.

... Revenge creator Mike Kelley is leaving the show, Kelly who served as executive producer and showrunner on the series, may return as a consultant. Kelley wanted to increase the quality of Revenge with a reduced episode order per season for the show, something ABC was not willing to budge on.

... Author James Ellroy (LA Confidential) has sold a project to FX based on his novel Shakedown. The drama would be set in the 1950s and follow the era's top Hollywood gossip gabber, a former cop turned loudmouth who exposes the saucy lives of celebrities.

... Mario Lopez is returning to Fox's "The X Factor" as host! But Khloe Kardashian isn't! Well, that's settled.

Zombieland , New series. A comedic approach to the undead series.

Zombieland is based on the hit Columbia Pictures movie of the same name, and finds four survivors outwitting zombies and searching for a place to call home. The Zombieland pilot comes from the film's original creative team, writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (G.I. Joe: Retaliation, The Joe Schmo Show), and producer Gavin Polone (Gilmore Girls, Curb Your Enthusiasm). Watch it here

It follows 4 people, a guy in his late 30s Tallahassee, a guy in his 20s Columbus, two sisters, a 12year old girl Little Rock and her older sister in her 20s Wichita. They named themselves after places they came from to keep themselves from getting them too attached. As they try and make do with life after the whole world has been taken over by zombies. Following a set of rules created by Columbus to help them deal with zombie situations, they navigate across America looking for other survivors while dealing with zombies along the way.

Watch the trailer here
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CE18P0K/

Shows airing this week 21st - 27th April 2013

Premiering this week is the second season of the Sci-fi series, "Continuum". Based on network changes, "Grimm" is moving from Fridays back to Tuesdays it was on in October, last year, so no episode of "Grimm" this week. Also "Castle" is switching its episode 21 with that of episode 22 because it contains the use of bombs in it, and based on the recent Boston bomb attack, it was replaced. No word yet whether the bomb episode would still air this season, or In the summer.
A lot of Shows are returning this week after 2-3 weeks breaks, Arrow, Person Of Interest, Supernatural, Greys Anatomy, Scandal.

==== Sunday - "Game of Thrones" Season 3 Episode 4, "Mad Men" Season 6 Episode 4, "Vikings" Season 1 Episode 8, "Once Upon A Time" Season 2 Episode 19, "The Good Wife" Season 4 Episode 21, "The Mentalist" Season 5 Episode 20, "Veep" Season 2 Episode 2, "The Borgias" Season 3 Episode 2, "Continuum" Season 2 Premiere,

==== Monday - "Revolution" Season 1 Episode 14, "The Following" Season 1 Episode 14, "Bomb Girls" Season 2 Episode 11, "Castle" Season 5 Episode 22, "Defiance" Season 1 Episode 2.

==== Tuesday - "Awkward" Season 3 Episode 3, "NCIS" Season 10 Episode 21' "NCIS:LA" Season 4 Episode 21.

==== Wednesday - "The Americans" Season 1 Episode 12, "Arrow" Season 1 Episode 20, "Supernatural" Season 8 Episode 20.

==== Thursday - "The Big Bang Theory" Season 6 Episode 20, "Two And A Half Men" Season 10 Episode 21' "The Vampire Diaries" Season 4 Episode 20, "Grey's Anatomy" Season 9 Episode 21, "Person Of Interest" Season 2 Episode 20, "Elementary" Season 1 Episode 20, "Glee" Season 4 Episode 20, "Scandal" Season 2 Episode 19,"Community" Season 4 Episode 11, "Hannibal" Season 1 Episode 4.

==== Friday - "Nikita" Season 2 Episode 19, "Da Vinci's Demons" Season 1 Episode 3, "Vegas" Season 1 Episode 19, "Touch" Season 2 Episode 11.

==== Saturday - "Doctor Who" Season 7 Episode 10, "Orphan Black" Season 1 Episode 5, "Smash" Season 2 Episode 13.

"The Vampire Diaries" : Human or Vampire, Elena still infuriates

Elena Gilbert, human or vampire, saint or sinner, hero or villain, innocent or guilty, victim or perpetrator. We've come to see the many faces of Elena Gilbert, how her character has impacted the town of Mystic Falls.





The Girl in the love triangle of "The Vampire Diaries" Elena Gilbert was a charming, naive small-town girl when we met her in season 1. A girl who fell in love for the mysterious new strange boy who moved into the town of Mystic Falls, and turned her life upside down, introducing her into a world of supernaturals, vampires, werewolves, witches, hybrids, curses and omens.
But now after 4 seasons and countless bodies, the Elena we meet is now a vampire, who has decided to forgo her humanity and revel in the lust of vampirism. She decides to leave without care, feelings or regrets about anybody, killing innocent people along the way, only looking out for herself. Yes, she lost her brother (cousin), but that doesn't give her the right to go off the rails.
The fact that the show puts a lot of spotlight and makes a big deal out Elena's new look and attitude is a joke. This new vampire Elena isn't different from human Elena. Human Elena was also selfish and self-centered, only looking out for her friends and families, not caring if other people died or not, a trait that has been taken up by her friends.
Countless times we've seen Elena make decisions that impacts a lot of other people's lives, going where she wasn't supposed to, making deals that endangered others.

News this Week

--- AMC has announced the return date for Breaking Bad.
Sunday, August 11 at 9pm
The Emmy-winning show from creator Vince Gilligan has just eight more episodes left in its run, and depending how you look at it, they either comprise the second half of Season 5 or the entirety of Season 6. Personally, I'm calling it Season 6. Assuming Breaking Bad airs uninterrupted for eight straight weeks, that would place the series finale on September 29.

---Starz has ordered a second season for "Da Vinci's Demons",
"Da Vinci's Demons" the series that replaced "Spartacus" after the show ended. The first episode of Da Vinci's was good, fun to watch, so a new season even after only one episode had already aired is showing the network's faith in the show.

--- Steve Carell to appear in "The Office" finale????
Rumors circulating that Steve Carell might appear on the Series finale of "The Office", even though he had insisted he'll never return to the series as Michael Scott, seemed to have gained a foothold when reports emerged he was on the set of the series, on the last day of shooting.

--- "Heroes" to return?????
Microsoft has been looking to bring in original programming to its gaming console for some time now, and in September the company hired former CBS president Nancy Tellem to create a television studio specifically aimed at developing original series for Xbox Live. With a new Xbox console allegedly in the works for later this year. But is Heroes the answer?

NBC's Heroes ran for four uneven seasons from 2006 to 2010, bursting onto the scene as a huge hit before petering out later on. Its ensemble cast and structure could make for a decent revival. Apparently the idea is to start with a whole new group of ordinary people with extraordinary abilities and bring in past cast members for cameos.

---- More ladies for Hank Moody.
"Californication" continues to beef up its cast for Season 7, adding Heather Graham (Boogie Nights) and Mary Lynn Rajskub (24) for substantial. Graham's will be a season-long run, and she'll play a woman from Hank's past. Rajskub's stay will be a bit shorter, and she'll play a neurotic writer. The Sopranos vet Michael Imperioli was also recently added to the cast.

AMC's Announcements today.

AMC, the Network that owns, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead and Mad Men has made some announcements that arent about their 3 top shows.
Congratulations to Comic Book Men, Talking Dead, and Freakshow... you're all coming back for new seasons! That's a third season for Talking Dead and Comic Book Men, and a second season for Freakshow, the reality program

Congratulations to Comic Book Men, Talking Dead, and Freakshow... you're all coming back for new seasons! That's a third season for Talking Dead and Comic Book Men, and a second season for Freakshow, the reality program that follows a Venice Beach sideshow.

IN DEVELOPMENT
With Mad Men and Breaking Bad approaching their end dates, AMC opened up the cupboard and realized, "Uh-oh. We need some new shows." The network has put seven scripted series in development:

Ballistic City – A futuristic drama, Ballistic City is the story of a former cop thrust into the criminal underworld of a city housed in a generational spaceship destined for an unknown world.

King – In the early 1960s, Floridian King Carmichael sells his soul to a corrupt, racist political machine to win a seat in the Senate. Having run as a segregationist, he is then tapped by Lyndon B. Johnson to champion civil rights in the South.

Ashland – Set in 1950 in Ashland, a tiny mining town in Kentucky, the Evans family has just relocated from California and the matriarch, Del, must hide her family's secrets and find a way to support her three children at the height of the Red Scare.

White City – The drama series follows western diplomats and journalists living in Afghanistan.

Untitled Dahvi Waller Project – Set against the New York automobile industry of the 1920s, two brothers struggle to keep their family-run company afloat with a class-hopping Ziegfeld girl and the daughter of an English competitor blurring the line between love and business.

Untitled Tim Lea/Anonymous Content Project – In America's near future, one family is nearly torn apart in the conflict between a repressive government and the emerging movement for a second American Revolution.

The Wall – In 1960s Berlin, an American businessman becomes embroiled in a web of East-West espionage.

AMC is also beefing up its reality slate, putting three unscripted series into development. We may as well look at those while we're here:

Majority Rules – A docu-style, unscripted series that celebrates the American democratic process. At the most grassroots level, whether it's an election for president of the birdwatchers club or a small-town city council, it will take a lighthearted look at democracy at work as the candidates vie for votes, because in America, Majority Rules.

All-Star Celebrity Bowling – (Previously announced, from Talking Dead host Chris Hardwick's production company.) Take a guess!

Cancelled – A social experiment that will attempt to determine just how far people will really go for fame. Over the course of eight weeks, six households will be outfitted with cameras that will give them the chance to compete for ratings that will determine which household has the most-watched reality show.

Culled from TV.com

"Rectify" is this the best new drama of the Season.

Rectify, created by Ray McKinnon, is exactly the type of show that would have once aired on AMC. (Ironically enough, it was originally developed for the channel.) It’s a breathtaking work of immense beauty and a thought-provoking meditation on the nature of crime and punishment, of identity and solitude, of guilt and absolution. It is, quite simply, the best new show of 2013.

Sentenced to die for the rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl, Daniel Holden (Aden Young) is released from prison after 19 years, when his original sentence is vacated, due to new DNA evidence that was overlooked at the time of his original trial. Thanks to the persistence of his headstrong sister, Amantha (a perfectly flinty Abigail Spencer), and his lawyer, Jon Stern (Luke Kirby), Daniel returns home to his mother (True Blood’s J. Smith-Cameron) and to a world he hasn’t seen since he was a teenager. In the small town of Paulie, Georgia, Daniel must rediscover a life forgotten and distant, while outside forces look to demonize him and swing the executioner’s axe once more.

After a two-decade stint on death row, Daniel emerges to a world that he does not recognize, and which largely sees him as a figure of scorn and hatred or, at the very least, curiosity and suspicion. Young delivers a dazzling performance as Daniel, a man metaphorically untethered from time and space. Daniel often feels as though he is still in high school, rather than a man in his late 30s;

Daniel’s release from prison creates ripples throughout Paulie, and his presence has unforeseen consequences for all of his family’s members.

The twin overarching plots—Did Daniel commit this heinous crime and, if not, who did? How does Daniel readjust to life outside prison?—are merely a gateway for exploring a host of substantive issues, ranging from morality and religious belief to issues of connection and isolation.

Rectify deftly walks a wire-thin tightrope when it comes to Daniel’s guilt or innocence. What happened the night of Hannah’s murder remains a tantalizing mystery, one with clues that will sprinkled throughout the six episodes. While Daniel attempts to come to terms with his hard-earned freedom, others—including a venal state senator (Michael O'Neill) and a lazy sheriff (J.D. Evermore)—look to pin the blame for Hannah’s rape and murder back on him, while some in this sleepy town might prefer to take their own brand of justice against Daniel.

"Awkward" , another season of awkward decisions and moments begins again.

Jenna's journey continues tonight as Season 3 of "Awkward" premieres.

MATTY OR JAKE?
Awkward.'s second season ended with an the series' big question—Jake or Matty?—answered. Or at least, as answered as possible in the world of a mercurial teenage girl. Jenna chose Matty, thanks in part to Tamara getting hosed out of a school trip to Europe because she procrastinated and Jenna giving Tamara her spot, leaving Jenna to spend the summer with Matty at the camp where he worked.
And at the end of the Season 2 finale, Jenna sat down with too-cool-to-dance Matty while watching Jake get goofy on the dance floor with Tamara. It was obvious that Jenna wasn't exactly at ease with her decision, as she realized that sometimes what you want isn't what you need. And oh boy, more confusion just in time for Season 3!

So we look at other people in the series that we expect to provide awkward moments in season 3 apart from Jenna, Matty and Jake.

WHAT'S UP WITH TAMARA?
Jenna's leftovers fell into Tamara's lap, and the chatty redhead now has her lips locked around Jake's. Jake seemed awfully okay with Jenna choosing Matty over him... almost too okay, if you ask me. And Tamara seemed as happy as can be with her new man and their extended first date to Europe. What will Jake and Tamara mean for Jenna and Matty? And does this mean that Tamara is climbing the social ladder? How will she handle that?

HOW ARE THE HAMILTONS?
Jenna's mom Lacey and dad Kevin had one of the most emotional moments in Season 2, splitting up after Lacey confessed that she wrote The Letter to Jenna. But the two reunited in the season finale with some shower sex! However, while they were separated, Lacey got busy with her old flame, and that secret's just dying to get out.

WHAT'S MING'S THING?
Ming finally found a guy in Kevin, but he's out of the picture. However, Kevin used to date Asian mafia queen Becca, and it seems unlikely that Becca would let their dalliance go unpunished.

HOW CRAZY WILL SADIE BE?
The scary coupling that was Sadie and Ricky Schwartz came to an explosive end when Sadie caught Ricky kissing... Clark. Needless to say, if Sadie wasn't already crazy before, she'll be absolutely institutional now.

SEASON 2 OVERALL
Season 2 had its share of highs and lows. There were some really fantastic heart-wrenching moments with Jenna and her mother, and "Once Upon a Blog" proved that the show isn't afraid to try different things (with great results). But the Season 2 finale was a big disappointment, and with the episode count pumped up to 20 half-hours this season, will Awkward. be up to the challenge? Thankfully, Season 2 further explored Jenna's circle of friends and the rest of Palos Hill High School, which should provide enough subject matter to soften the stress of a longer season.


Culled from TV.com

"How I Met Your Mother" Conspiracies

" How I Met Your Mother" has always been able to throw its fanbase into a frenzied round of theorizing. After almost eight seasons, HIMYM diehards have become quite skilled when it comes to crafting and debunking theories about the show.

Regardless, with eight seasons of material on the books, there's evidence to support all three options. So, let's take a closer look at each one and see if we can make some sense of it all.

Theory #1: The Mother is dead
This theory is actually one of the oldest HIMYM theories out there, speculating that Ted is telling his two teenage children the story about how he met their mother after she’s passed away. So, what breadcrumbs support this idea? For one thing, the Mother has never interrupted Ted's epic tale. Wouldn’t she want to participate in telling a story like this one?
Add to that the fact that, while HIMYM has shown us flashforwards on several occasions, the Mother never appears in them.

Theory #2: The Mother's not dead... Ted is
Something that Ted said in “The Time Travelers” made me question whether we’re looking at the "the Mother is dead" theory all wrong:
“Until the end of my days ... and beyond.”
If the Mother is, in fact, deceased, why would Ted have focused on the end of his own days?If Ted is alive, shouldn't he have said that he’d love his future wife even after she’s passed away? Instead, we saw Ted offering the haunting pledge to love the Mother even after he’s gone.
Of course, that brings up the question of how he's telling this story. Well, maybe he’s not. It could be that Ted knew he was dying and recorded a bunch of videos of him telling his kids about his escapades when he was younger, some sort of parental advice he wouldn't be able to give since he was no longer alive.

Theory #3. Nobody's dead—HIMYM is a sitcom, and the theorists doth assume too much
HIMYM loves introducing new rules. The "the Mother is dead" and "Ted is dead" theories both require lots of assumptions in order to work; they force us to read into minor details of the show that probably mean very little.

Why is the Mother never in the room while Ted is telling stories? Odds are, she’s at work or out running errands. Why is Ted telling his kids about past girlfriends and hook-ups? The guy's done a lot of dumb stuff in his life—couldn’t this just be another blunder?

Culled from TV.com

Shows airing this week 14th - 20th April 2013

These are the episodes of the various shows airing this week, some shows are still on break, while some have finished for the season, and some shows haven't started their new seasons. Meanwhile "Spartacus's aired its Series finale last Friday, meaning there will be no more episodes of "Spartacus", while "Go On" aired its season finale last week. "Once Upon A Time" is airing an highlight show of the whole season, and showing previews of the upcoming 4 final episodes of the season. "Suburgatory" is airing its season finales this week with a 2 episode blowout.
While this week will see the Season 3 Premiere of "Awkward" with 2 episodes airing, this week also sees the return to renowned places of power, while one is a comedic spoof of the White House, "Veep" takes a look at the office of The Vice-President of The United States of America. While "The Borgias" takes a look at the power struggle in the Vatican during the reign of Pope Borgias.
Also premiering this week is the Series Premier of "Defiance", a post apocalyptic series set on Earth in the future with humanity and aliens living together in a world ravaged by creatures. This Show has a game that accompanies it with characters appearing on both mediums.

==== Sunday - "Game of Thrones" Season 3 Episode 3, "Mad Men" Season 6 Episode 3, "Vikings" Season 1 Episode 7, "Once Upon A Time" Season 2 Episode 00, "The Good Wife" Season 4 Episode 20, "The Mentalist" Season 5 Episode 19, "Veep" Season 2 Premiere, "The Borgias" Season 3 Premiere.

==== Monday - "Revolution" Season 1 Episode 13, "The Following" Season 1 Episode 12, "Bomb Girls" Season 2 Episode 9, "2 Broke Girls" Season 2 Episode 21, "Castle" Season 5 Episode 20, "Defiance" Series Premiere, "Hawaii Five-0" Season 3 Episode 20, "How I Met Your Mother" Season 8 Episode 21.

==== Tuesday - "Awkward" Season 3 2-Episodes Premiere

==== Wednesday - "Suburgatory" Season 2 Finale, Episodes 21 and 22, "The Americans" Season 1 Episode 11.

==== Thursday - "The Vampire Diaries" Season 4 Episode 19, "Community" Season 4 Episode 10, "Hannibal" Season 1 Episode 3.

==== Friday - "Grimm" Season 2 Episode 18, "Nikita" Season 2 Episode 18, "Da Vinci's Demons" Season 1 Episode 2, "Vegas" Season 1 Episode 18.

==== Saturday - "Doctor Who" Season 7 Episode 9, "Orphan Black" Season 1 Episode 4.

Spartacus Series Finale Review : The Thracian whose true name we’ll never know

When history tells us the protagonists of our story are doomed, will the adaptation accept or elide that reality? Steven DeKnight and the Spartacus creative team addressed the central question of their series finale—albeit obliquely—right in the title. No matter the outcome of the war, or the fates of individual warriors, “Victory” promised a decisive end.

Defining victory, though, left plenty of room for interpretation. The show’s “live free or die” ethos has long made it clear that death is not synonymous with losing, nor is mere survival an automatic win. By his own measure, the protagonist of this story did succeed. Because of the struggle he inspired, everyone who died on that battlefield, every refugee intercepted by Pompey, every lucky soul who traversed the mountain pass, was able to die a free man or woman.

“Victory” worked well not only as a rewarding finale to a remarkably rich series, but also as a cohesive episode of television. Spartacus inspired his people not with talk of blood vendettas or personal glory, but of freedom, an ideal both grand and simple.

It was summed up just as well in his long-awaited tête-à-tête with his Roman opposite number, a dialogue that skirted perilously close to “we’re not so different, you and I” territory, but kept from teetering all the way in thanks to Spartacus’s visceral rejection of the parallel. Crassus has always understood his opponent’s mind strategically, but he’s never been able to fully grasp the man ideologically.

On the battlefield, most of the main rebels met the gods in worthy, if grisly, fashion, usually managing to take out a couple more enemies even after suffering mortal wounds.
Naevia’s was the grimmest, drawn out after being hobbled in a way that recalled her climactic duel with Ashur last season. She was in conspicuous isolation when she expired, the absence of Crixus looming large.

Lugo’s last moments definitely earned a gold star in badassery, deep-sixing a couple of soldiers while burning to death so badly that he made Harvey Dent look like a Neutrogena model. You died as you lived, Lugo: pulverizing dudes with a big honkin’ hammer while cursing in a proto-Germanic tongue.

As for Gannicus himself, it makes perfect sense that he would find a reason to exult in even the most excruciating end. His death wish finished its evolution from one rooted in guilt to one with nobler purpose. His satisfaction could’ve found no better expression than the vision of Oenomaus’s approving look (and kudos on bringing back Peter Mensah, even if only as a momentary silent delusion), followed by the cheers which have rung in his ears so many times returning to commemorate a truly worthy achievement.

Whether or not an afterlife awaited Spartacus, to reunite him with his wife and restore his original identity, his certainty of this future belied a well-earned earthly contentment. Though only half the refugees made it to whatever fate lay beyond the Alps, they constituted thousands more lives than would've had the chance without Spartacus and his rebellion. The dire fates of some can spare others, like Laeta and Sybil, from worse.

This is as near to a happy ending as anyone could reasonably expect from a series whose various subtitles have included the words “blood,” “vengeance,” and “damned.” Even a bleak, fatalistic show can find a break in the clouds. And its hero can be laid to rest beneath a cairn paying proper homage, adorned with the red serpent shield. It may've been crafted for Agron, but its herald belonged strictly to the "Thracian whose true name we’ll never know"—a weapon forged of devotion to restore power to a man violently stripped of it, an instrument of death, an instrument of protection, capable of great and unfortunate things.

– Spartacus’s signature end-credits tapestry offered the perfect vehicle for a clip show/roll call of pretty much every character who's played a part in every incarnation of the series. I have no doubt that lump set upon many a throat when "Andy Whitfield" sprang forth as the only apropos final image.

Culled from TV.com

News This Week

... Boardwalk Empire is adding "Medium" star Patricia Arquette to its cast in a major recurring role for Season 4. She'll play a speakeasy owner who tangles with Nucky. [Deadline Hollywood]
... The "Following's Jennifer Ferrin is joining the third season of AMC's Hell on Wheels as a regular. She'll play a New York journalist sent to cover the building of the railroad. [TV Line]
... "Homeland" loses one of its regulars. Actor David Marciano, who played snoop-for-hire Virgil in the first two seasons, is leaving the show to write and produce his own project. While Marciano will no longer be a regular on the series (he was promoted to that status in Season 2), he could recur as a guest star. Marciano's new project is a drama about a criminal enterprise that operates out of a prison, and it's currently being shopped around to networks. No word on Virgil's partner Max! [Deadline Hollywood]
... Prolific and versatile actress Alfre Woodard is joining the next season of BBC America's Copper. She'll play Hattie Lemaster, a former slave who's looking to start things over in the Five Points. [BBC America via press release]

BUSINESS TIME
... "Revenge" is planning on killing off one of its main characters in the upcoming Season 2 finale! [TV Line]
... Another day, another History miniseries in development. This time, the network that brought you "The Bible" and "Hatfields & McCoys" is fictionalizing the Revolutionary War in "Sons of Liberty". The series would follow Samuel Adams, John Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere, and that turncoat Benedict Arnold. Yesterday, the network announced that it's working on a Harry Houdini miniseries starring Adrien Brody. [THR]

Culled from TV.com

Da Vinvi's Demons, Spartacus's replacement????????

Following Friday April 12th Series Finale of Spartacus, another "historical fantasy" is about to be serialized and shown on TV.
The latest offering in the category of shows-about-sexy/smart-weirdos a la Sherlock, Elementary, Dexter, and Hannibal—though with much less of a police procedural/serial killer vibe and way more (maybe) magic and boobies—Da Vinci's Demons follows twenty-something Leonardo Da Vinci through the streets, sewers, and surrounding countryside of Florence as he "invents the future," according to Starz.
From the same network that brought us Spartacus, 'Starz', this is another series that brings looks into the life of an historical figure, this time it's the famous Artist, Painter, Scientist, Engineer, Author, Poet amongst other things, Leonardo Da Vinci.
There are definitely some thrilling (and thriller) aspects to what Starz is calling a "historical fantasy," but the demons in the title have less to do with monsters under the bed and more to do with young Leonardo's issues, At a time when the papacy and nobility kept the little guy down, young Da Vinci revels in his brilliance and inadvertently gets himself tangled in a web of conspiracy.
Created by David S. Goyer, he's written/co-written the screenplays for the Dark Knight trilogy and the upcoming Man of Steel. His most recognizable TV credit? Co-creating FlashForward for ABC.
Da Vinci himself is played by Tom Riley, He's joined by Laura Haddock (The Inbetweeners Movie, Captain America: The First Avenger) as the mysterious Lucrezia Donati.

When does this party begin?
Da Vinci's Demons premieres Friday, April 12—tonight!—at 10pm on Starz.

Culled from TV.com

Mad Men is back!

Season 6 of Mad Man premiered last night with a 2 hour episode.
The darkness that permeated Mad Men's fifth season culminated with the suicide of Lane Pryce, though the firm itself appeared to be flourishing when we caught up with Don, Joan, Roger and the others in the days leading up to New Year's Eve 1968.
Mad Men has long been about the journey of Don Draper/Dick Whitman as he struggles to discover and accept exactly who he is, but as the series has progressed, more and more of his peers have gotten in on the self-discovery action as well.
So lets see how this new season will unfold the drama over the coming episodes.

Shows airing this week 8th - 14th April 2013

These are the episodes of the various shows airing this week, some shows are on break, while some have finished for the season, and some shows haven't started their new seasons. Meanwhile Spartacus, Californication, House of Lies and Shameless will air their finales this week, Spartacus's is airing its Series finale this coming Friday, meaning this will be the last episode of Spartacus.

==== Sunday - "Game of Thrones" Episode 2, "Mad Men" ( Season 6, 2hrs Premiere), "Shameless" Episode 12 ( Season Finale), "Californication" Episode 12 ( Season Finale), "House of Lies" Episode 12 (Season Finale), "Vikings" Episode 6.

==== Monday - "Revolution" Episode 13, "The Carrie Diaries" Episode 13, "The Following" Episode 12, "Bomb Girls" Episode 9.

==== Tuesday - "New Girl" Episode 22, "The Mindy Project" Episode 21.

==== Wednesday - "Criminal Minds" Episode 19, "Modern Family" Episode 20, "Nashville" Episode 17, "Suburgatory" Episode 20, "The Americans" Episode 10.

==== Thursday - "Community" Episode 9, "Glee" Episode 18, "Go On" Episode 22, "Hannibal" Episode 2.

==== Friday - "Grimm" Episode 18, "Nikita" Episode 17, "Spartacus" Episode 10 ( Series Finale), "Touch" Episode 11, "Vegas" Episode 17.

==== Saturday - "Doctor Who" Episode 8, "Orphan Black" Episode 3.

The Detectives are back ........

After 2weeks break, Reese, Finch and Carter are back to save people in 'Person of Interest' who don't even know their lives are in danger. While Sherlock is definately going to continue his training of Holmes to become a good investigator when 'Elementary' returns tonite.
Two of the best detective series ( Castle, Criminal Minds, CSIs, Hawaii Five-0 , are also great, to name a few) returns tonite after 2weeks break. We should definately see some return into the season plots arc, instead of new standalone episodes that doesn't bring anything to the series narrative.

Reese's brashness, knee-capping and Finch's computer skills and resources versus Sherlocks brain and Watson's intuition, who would win.

Banshee, there's a new Bad Cop in town

Once in a season, there comes a new series that wows and awes. That's exactly what Banshee is, it's the newest series from Cinemax by the creator and former executive producer and show runner of True Blood, Alan Ball.
Banshee is about an ex-con who immediately after leaving prison is forced on the run from former enemies and by circumstances ends up in a town called 'Banshee'. Through chance events he makes himself the new sheriff in town where he has to face-off against old and new foes in a town where chaos seems to reign.
The first season is comprised of 10 episodes, and aired from January till March 2013.

Criminal Minds : 100 Reasons Not to Live in America

Anytime i watch Criminal Minds, it tells me how dangerous America is, the number of psychopaths, sociopaths and serial killers that live there. Their reasons for committing crimes are so ludicrous and appalling that I wonder if such crimes depicted in the show could actually happen. An FBI team that's tasked with catching criminals or offenders by thinking like them, trying to figure out why and how they think. This team is made up of interesting characters, " the Leader, old senior member, the computer geek, the black guy, the genius and the female character that brings feminine feelings to the show.
This show maybe serious and the death or kill scenes maybe too gruesome for some to watch, there's still some funny and light-headed moments, especially from Reese and Garcia. Reese is the Genius young Professor that was asked to assist in the 1st season and has been with them since, his quirks and way of interactions with people he meets is fun to watch, especially his know-it-all attitude. While Garcia is the tech-geek that brings the fun into serious situations with her banter with Morgan ( the black guy).
Criminal Minds is a show to watch, but not for the faint-hearted, it has its own heavy moments with its deaths, murders and criminal thought processes but its still a great show to watch, with its personalization of the team and their character's lives and how the job impacts and affects their lives.

The Best 'New' Comedy of The Year

==================== The Real Husbands of Hollywood ===============
You wanna laff out loud, people will think you're crazy, then u gotta watch "Real husbands of Hollywood", the fakest reality show ever. Based on the small skits created by Kevin Hart shown during the 2011 BET Awards, this show is the new comedy to watch.
Kevin Hart, Nick Cannon, Boris Kodjoe, JB, Duane Martins and Robin Thicke are the regulars on the show, coupled with a host of popular different celebrities making cameos, such as Nelly, Shane Mosley, Laila Ali, Keri Hilson, Cedric the Entertainer, Nicole Ari Parker, Tisha Campbell - Martin, Shaquille O' Neal and others.

The 'Dead' rules over the 'Bible' on Easter Sunday

So apparently people like watching a series about the undead than a series about the holy book. The Walking Dead season finale beat off The Bible season finale by 1 million people, 12m compared to 11m. And had the best series ratings for all series this season, 5.9 , ahead of The Big Bang Theory.

The Vampire 'Lost' Diaries

What can be said about Vampire diaries that hasn't been said. The series that contradicts itself so much that it has forgotten its own past. A series that causes you to bang your head on the nearest surface u can get your hands on, a lot of "WTF is happening moments".
This is a series that creates and abides by its own rules, using the myth and legend of the undead to create a world of interesting characters and people. The town of Mystic Falls has been the centre-piece of the series, it's the magnet that pulls all the characters in, allowing them to interact and cross paths with each other.
We've been introduced to vampires, originals, witches, werewolves, hunters, secret councils in the series. So it was necessary for the series to create its own sets of rules so as not to restrict it. The daylight rings, sire - bonds, original vampires, poison wolf bites, vampire - wolf hybrids, vampire folklores and so on.
So this is going to be an on-going critique of the many flaws, contradictions and OMG moments of the series, so onto part 1.
============== Part 1 ==================
== Katherine sired Damon and Stefan, we weren't told about the sire-bond then until when the series felt it would serve their purpose about Elena - Damon - Stefan love triangle, explaining Elena's love for Damon as an attraction through the sire-bond.
== When Rebecca kidnapped Stefan, Caroline and Elena and became a psychologist, compelling them to tell her what she wants to hear. Airing out Elena's loveless feelings for Damon and what she felt now for Damon. This is funny because we've seen Stefan fight compulsion before when he was with Klaus.
== Bonny trapping Klaus inside a spell in Elena's living room, and Caroline been able to enter inside and leave the spell, when in previous episodes anybody that enters into a spelled area can't leave until the spell is broken, like in the case of Stefan trapped under the church in the caves with Katherine.

So until next time, we'll return for part 2 when vampire diaries has given us more OMG, WTF moments.