Old Favorites Return as Viewers Get ‘Desperate’
A look ahead to 2005 television
12/31/2004
Michele E. Buttelman Features Editor
The promise of the fall television season has faded; much touted series have been canceled (“Dr. Vegas,” “Clubhouse” and “Hawaii”) and others have been relegated to the no-man’s land of “hiatus” – which in all practical terms often means the same as “canceled” (”Father of the Pride” and “Drew Carey’s Green Screen.”)
The carnage of canceled series has not approached earlier years, so new mid-season offerings will be fewer.
Among the highlights (or lowlights) of 2005:
Jan. 3: “Medium” debuts on NBC at 10 p.m. The series is based on the real-life story of research medium Allison Dubois. Patricia Arquette (“Stigmata,” “Flirting with Disaster”) stars as a young wife and mother who, since childhood, has been struggling to make sense of her dreams and visions of dead people.
Jan. 4: “Committed” (9:30 p.m. on NBC) is the latest comedy with a new edge from creators/executive producers Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline (“Roseanne,” “Murphy Brown” and “Ellen”) that casts an off-kilter eye on the bizarre whirlwind courtship of two opposites who attract each other despite outrageous circumstances. If folks of this pedigree can’t produce a winning sitcom, then no one can.
Jan. 5: ABC’s two-hour season premiere of “Alias” starring Jennifer Garner, Victor Garber, Ron Rifkin, Michael Vartan, Carl Lumbly, Kevin Weisman, Greg Grunberg and Mia Maestro begins at 9:01 p.m. The previous season ended last spring, so it’s hard to remember what dire peril “Sydney” and crew were involved in — but then, it’s “Alias,” what happened before doesn’t always have much to do with what is happening now.
Jan. 5: “The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott” will feature 13 aspiring performers on a cross-country bus trip competition. The winner will receive a record contract, $100,000 and will release a single. Rap superstar Busta Rhymes will guest star on the 8 p.m. premiere on UPN (channel 13). The only California contestant is Nic, 29, a disc jockey of Aliso Viejo.
Jan. 6: “Wickedly Perfect” – the search for the “new” Martha Stewart debuts 8 p.m. on CBS. This show is a hoot and a half. A must watch!
Jan. 9: 9 p.m. The return of the season’s surprise hit, “Desperate Housewives.” This dark comedy seems to have struck a nerve and become the latest “water cooler” must-see show. If you’ve abstained, you’ve missed a lot of fun. “Desperate Housewives” stars Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer, Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo, Marcia Cross as Bree Van De Kamp, Eva Longoria as Gabrielle Solis, James Denton as Mike Delfino, Nicollette Sheridan as Edie Britt, Steven Culp as Rex Van De Camp, Mark Moses as Paul Young, Ricardo Antonio Chavira as Carlos Solis, Cody Kasch as Zach Young, Andrea Bowen as Julie Mayer, Jesse Metcalfe as John and Brenda Strong as Mary Alice Young.
In the Jan. 9 episode, “Move On,” Edie organizes a neighborhood search for the missing Mrs. Huber, just as the absent busybody’s sister (guest star Harriet Sansom Harris) arrives on Wisteria Lane. Meanwhile, Bree resigns herself to her marital state and asks an attractive pharmacist (Tony Award-winning actor Roger Bart) on a date; Susan's ex, Karl (guest star Richard Burgi), suddenly reappears in her life; Lynette fears that Tom is attracted to the new nanny (guest star Marla Sokoloff); and Gabrielle sinks to new depths — she gets a job.
Jan. 10: ABC season premiere of “The Bachelorette” (9 p.m.). Does anyone care about “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette” anymore? After so many broken romances and only one wedding, the series has lost credibility. Not to mention that “the bloom is off the rose” for most reality series. In a bid to revive interest in the franchise ABC has moved the show from Southern California to New York for this installment of America’s new “Dating Game.” Jen Schefft, dumped by fiancé Andrew Firestone (of “The Bachelor 3”), is the lucky lady in search of love ... in all the wrong places? Time will tell. New twists for this edition includes Schefft becoming the first bachelorette to help select the men who will compete for affection and special performances by Vanessa Williams and Peter Cincotti.
Among the competitors for Schefft’s affections will be a handful of Californians: A.W., 27, a mortgage consultant, from Newport Beach; Eric T., 37, a firefighter, from San Diego; Jerry, 29, an art gallery director from Los Angeles; Keith, 28, a welder from Encinitas; Mark, 30, in commercial finance from Carlsbad; Matt L., 33, a lawyer who resides in Manhattan Beach; and Ryan S., 28, a teacher, also from Manhattan Beach.
Jan. 17: ABC will debut “Supernanny” at 10 p.m. British nanny Jo Frost is touted as “television’s newest superhero who can tame the wildest toddler, soothe the savage 6-year-old and get the most difficult child to overcome problems with behavior, sleep, mealtime, potty training and other challenges.”
Jan. 18-19: A new season of “American Idol” will debut 8 p.m. on Fox. Simple Simon Cowell, Foxy Paula Abdul, Randy “Dawg” Jackson and Hyperactive Ryan Seacrest will be back. William Hung won’t. The first nights will give audiences a taste of the auditions held in Cleveland, St. Louis, Washington, D.C., Orlando, New Orleans and Las Vegas. Will the new idol achieve the fame of Kelly, Ruben and Fantasia?
Jan. 20: “The Apprentice 3” (8 p.m.) will pit “book smarts” against “street smarts” in the battle to earn a job with “The Donald.” The cast will include a team where the contestants only hold a high school diploma (including two from the Los Angeles area: Kristen of Los Angeles, a real estate financier; and Angie of Lake Balboa, a gym franchise owner) vs. a team with college degrees (including Todd of Carlsbad, a sales manager; and Stephanie of San Diego a supply chain consultant).
Jan. 23: “Numb3ers” debuts 10 p.m. on CBS. A new drama that stars Rob Morrow as FBI agent Don Eppes, who recruits his mathematical genius brother, Charlie (David Krumholtz), to help solve a wide range of crimes in Los Angeles. Math geeks should love it.
Other January
dates to watch:
n Jan. 2: 9 p.m. “Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure” television movie. ABC.
n Jan. 3: 8 p.m. “Who’s Your Daddy” 90-minute special. Fox.
n Jan. 4 8 p.m. “The Biggest Loser” 90-minute episode. NBC.
n Jan. 5: 8 p.m. “Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit Model Search.” Series premiere. NBC.
n Jan. 8: 8 p.m. “The Will.” Reality show where a real family fights over a future inheritance. Sounds uplifting, doesn’t it? 90-minute series premiere. CBS.
n Jan. 9: 8 p.m. “24.” Two-hour season premiere. Fox.
n Jan. 9: 9 p.m. “Carnivale” season premiere. Shot in the SCV for HBO.
n Jan. 9: 9 p.m. “The Surreal Life, 4” season premiere. The show serves up an all-new eclectic mix of celebrity personalities including: former wrestler Chynna Doll; Jane Wiedlin (The Go-Gos); Christopher Knight of “The Brady Bunch;” Verne Troyer (”Austin Powers”); model Marcus Schenkenberg; rap star Da Brat; and Adrianne Curry (”America’s Next Top Model”). VH1.
n Jan. 10: 8 p.m. “Extreme Makeover: Home edition – How’d they do that?” series premiere. ABC.
n Jan. 11: 8 p.m. “The Biggest Loser” 90-minute season finale. NBC.
n Jan. 11 8 p.m. “The Rebel Billionaire: Branson’s Quest for the Best” two-hour season finale. FOX.
n Jan. 11 10 p.m. “The Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” season premiere. Bravo.
n Jan. 11 11 p.m. “The Queer Eye for the Straight Girl” series premiere. Bravo.
n Jan. 14: 9 p.m. “Battlestar Galactica” two-hour series premiere. SciFi.
n Jan. 14: 9 p.m. “Jonny Zero” series premiere. Fox.
n Jan. 17 10:30 p.m. “The Osbournes” new episodes begin. Who knew the show was still on? MTV.
n Jan. 26: 8:30 p.m. “The Simple Life 3” season premiere. Don’t you think this show is ... well... over? FOX.
n Jan. 26: 10 p.m. “Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica” season premiere. Ditto. MTV.
n Jan. 26: 10:30 p.m. “The Ashlee Simpson Show” season premiere. Huh? MTV.
n Jan. 30: 9 p.m. “My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss” season finale. I have my doubts, as the show has been on “hiatus” since before Christmas. If Fox cancels this show before showing the finale I pledge NEVER to watch another Fox reality show again... ever.
Further out:
n Feb. 3: 8 p.m. “Survivor 10” has tentatively been scheduled to debut on CBS. No word on cast but the location has been revealed to be Palau.
n Feb. 21: 9:30 p.m. “The Contender.” Series premiere of reality boxing show from “Survivor” creator Mark Burnett and “Rocky” star Sylvester Stallone. Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard will mentor young boxers as they compete for a million-dollar prize.
n March 1: 10 p.m. “N.Y.P.D. Blue” series finale. ABC.
n March 7: 10 p.m. “Fat Actress” series premiere starring Kirstie Alley on Showtime.
n March 16: 8 p.m. “America’s Next Top Model 4” the tentative season premiere. One of my guilty pleasures. Stars Tyra Banks and her fashion friends, including the very snotty Janice Dickinson (touted as the world’s “first” supermodel). UPN.
In May the networks announce the fall 2005 schedule and it all starts over again.
http://www.the-signal.com/News/ViewStor ... oryID=6119
Good to see the Survivor premiere(if this article is right), where it should be. Rumor had it a few weeks ago it wouldn't start until MARCH!
).
Im a funk for a charming englishman. 