Fringe’s Producers Discuss the Show’s Future
Fringe showrunners Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman have a lot on their plate at the moment. They're currently propelling one of TV's best shows through a remarkable season, biting their nails over moving to ratings-challenged Fridays, and have a whole second universe to think about.
But through some strange rift in time-space, they managed to find time to speak with reporters this morning, and they even give me a little one-on-two time.
We'll start with my chat with them, and you'll find highlights from the conference call below.
What changes did the show make to really get into gear this season?
Jeff Pinkner: As we're writing more, we're just getting better at it. We're learning stuff. If you go back to "White Tulip," that was the first time Jeff and I coined the term "mythalone." I know it seems very obvious to the outside now that you'd want to continue the mythology for the hardcore viewer, but you also don't want to alienate potential new viewers, so you if you make that a hybrid, it's a mythalone. That's a recipe, a mathematical equation to create a story that's a difficult one. On the surface it seems easy, but it's actually a very complex. Once we hit it, to be able to satiate our fans and keep the new viewers, the storytelling just got a lot better.
iCalTV Shows February 2011 Update 1 Released
Here is the first update for February, it also include some of March and April. Enjoy!
What did everyone think of the series finale of Friday Night Lights was on last night? For those that were able to watch it, of course. It was very touching and we here at iCalTV are sad to see the show finally come to an end. It was one hell of a series finale, the best that we personally have seen in a longer time. We don't think it could have gone any better, other than maybe giving us all another season, even though this was planned long ago to come to an end.
What TV show has been added in this release? Skins
Which TV shows have been updated in this release? Better With You, The Bachelor, Detroit 1-8-7, Brothers and Sisters, The Middle, Grey's Anatomy, Modern Family, Private Practice, Off the Map, Body of Proof, Castle, Mad Love, Rules of Engagement, Shit My Dad Says, The Mentalist, Two and a Half Men, Criminal Minds, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, CSI: New York, CSI: Miami, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, Blue Bloods, The Defenders, Mike and Molly, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Hawaii Five-0, Who Do You Think You Are?, The Cape, Harry's Law, Perfect Couples, The Event, Outsourced, Parenthood, Community, The Office, Chuck, Kitchen Nightmares, The Chicago Code, House, The Simpsons, Fringe, Bob's Burgers, Bones, Raising Hope, Glee, White Collar, SouthLAnd, Lights Out, Archer, Shameless, Californication, Pretty Little Liars, Greek, Nikita, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Supernatural, Hellcats, MAD and The Hard Times of RJ Berger.
Which networks have been updated in this release? ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, USA, TNT, FX, Showtime, ABC Family, CW, Cartoon Network and MTV.
NBC pulls ‘Chase’ from Schedule
As NBC is picking up new shows, it is also ditching old ones. Last Thursday, Deadline reported that the show Chase had been pulled to make room for an extended version of the game show Minute to Win It. Chase has suffered from troubled ratings all year and changed time slots once already. In retrospect, it’s curious that NBC ordered a full season of the show to begin with.
For those who aren’t familiar with Chase, the show follows a team of Texas federal marshals tasked with tracking down dangerous fugitives. It was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, who also produces the popular CSI franchise.
This is quite upsetting to the team here at iCalTV, as we have actually been enjoying this show. We hope that NBC will air the upcoming episodes that were suppose to air and just maybe, Chase might see a season 2.
Source: ScreenRant.com
Ricky Gervais Wants Will Arnett On ‘The Office’
As an executive producer on the U.S. version of his British series The Office, Ricky Gervais has a say in what happens on the show.
If it things go his way, Arrested Development star Will Arnett would be joining the NBC comedy after original star Steve Carell leaves later this season. "Had a little meeting with NBC about various things and recommended Will Arnett for a regular in The Office," Gervais wrote on his blog today. "I think he's amazing."
What do you think? Would Will Arnett make a good replacement for Steve Carell? It just might work out, however, the show not only will not be the same without Steve Carell. But are the other actors going to stay? Is there much left in the show to bring Will Arnett on it?
Source: Deadline.com
Production On ‘NCIS’ Suspended Over Death
Production on the hit CBS drama series NCIS was suspended today after a security guard working for the show died after being hit by a van. The accident happened while the show was on location in Santa Clarita for scenes that features several actors but not star Mark Harmon.
The guard was struck at "base camp" used by the cast and crew for the shoot when the driver of a van lost control of the vehicle, reportedly after passing out, and ran over the guard. The 52-year-old man was pronounced dead at the hospital.
"Everyone at the network, the studio and NCIS is devastated by the news," CBS and NCIS producer CBS TV Studios said in a statement. "Our hearts grieve for his family and friends for this tragic loss." The network and the studio said they are cooperating with the local authorities in Santa Clarita to help determine the cause of the accident.
Shooting at the location where the tragedy happened had already wrapped but the show canceled the planned filming for the rest of the day. Production on NCIS is expected to resume tomorrow.
Source: Deadline.com
FX Renews ‘The League’ For Season 3
FX has picked comedy series The League for a third season with a 13-episode order. In first-run, Season 2 of The League averaged 1.4 million total viewers and 1.1 million Adults 18-49, up +4% and +5% vs. season one, respectively. “We love the show, and the reaction the cast received across the country during their recent comedy tour is a sign the show is really building momentum,” FX's EVP Nick Grad said.
Set against the backdrop of a fantasy football league, the FX Prods.-produced The League is about friendship, marriage, parenting, and growing up…or refusing to grow up. It was created by the husband-and-wife team of Jeff Schaffer and Jackie Marcus Schaffer who serve as executive producers and directors. The ensemble cast features Mark Duplass, Stephen Rannazzisi, Nick Kroll, Paul Scheer, Katie Aselton and Jon Lajoie.
This is great news! I hope to see another season of FX's newest show Lights Out and a continuance of Sons of Anarchy too!
Source: Deadline.com
The CW Sets Date For ‘Smallville’ Series Finale
The CW's drama Smallville will finish its 10-year run, which started on the WB, with a two-hour series finale on Friday May 13. The following Friday, Smallville's companion, Supernatural, will wrap its current sixth season with a two-hour.
Farewell Smallville, Farewell.
Source: Deadline.com
Sneak Peak: Fox’s Terra Nova
Here is a first look at Fox's Steven Spielberg/Peter Chernin-produced prehistoric drama Terra Nova.
The FOX network just debuted the first promo during the Super Bowl. Similar to the Avatar-flavored trailer shown at TCA, the new promo for the first time peeks at the show's special effects, featuring a few shots of dinosaurs.
Now Terra Nova looks like Avatar meets Jurassic Park. The series is set to premiere in the fall after a preview in May.
Watch the HD video preview below:
Source: FOX.com's Terra Nova