My love for ABC Family knows no bounds, and I cover most of their shows on my site. So when they announced three new shows that were picked up to go to series, I took notice. The following shows will have a 10 episode series to start, which is the way most ABC Family shows work. Weigh in with what you think! Will you be watching any or all of these shows?
The Big C is a new series coming to Showtime on August 16th at 10:30 PM. Laura Linney stars as Cathy Jamison, who receives life changing news and decides to change her life. I am very excited for this series. I love the leading lady and I think everything coming out of Showtime these days is quite wonderful.
Now you can watch the premiere of The Big C BEFORE it airs right here at The TV Chick. I am thrilled to give my readers such a great opportunity. It is definitely worth checking out (especially since it’s free! and right here!) Enjoy!
Summer is finally upon us! (Well not quite technically, but almost). There is always a big lull in TV over the summer, but there are definitely more exciting shows this summer. There are also some new ones I am looking forward to. Here’s my summer show list, in no particular order. Feel free to chime in!
Pretty Little Liars: This show premiered last week on ABC Family and has it’s second episode tonight. The show centers around four girls — Hanna, Spencer, Aria and Emily — whose best friend went missing. The show is based on a Young Adult book series of the same name, which I loved. Secrets abound in Rosewood, PA and I can’t wait to see what comes next. It airs every Tuesday night at 8 pm.
True Blood: The third season premiere kicked off on Sunday with a killer (no pun intended) episode. I am so excited this show is back and can’t wait to see more Eric, Sookie, Jessica, Pam and werewolves! Alan Ball has created one of the best vampire shows out there (based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris) and I look forward to being transported into Bon Temps week after week. True Blood airs Sunday nights at 9 pm on HBO.
Secret Life of the American Teenager: This show returned last week on ABC Family, and while the storylines have gone a bit off the handle (Adrian getting pregnant with Ben’s baby…seriously?) the show is still very entertaining week after week. It airs every Monday night at 8 pm.
Burn Notice had its 4th season premiere a couple weeks ago and it was pretty great. The lighthearted spy show is focusing this season on helping a spy that Michael accidentally burned. Color me intrigued! It airs on Thursday nights on the USA Network.
White Collar: My favorite boys of the summer are back! White Collar returns on July 13th and the premiere is fantastic. There’s mystery, humor and of course as Hilarie Burton describes him “one of the 7 wonders of the world,” Matt Bomer.
Make It Or Break It: A television show about gymnastics is like my dream come true. The girls of The Rock return to TV on June 28th on ABC Family at 10 pm. When we last left our favorite elite gymnasts, Payson finally got the courage to get back on the bars and there was a lot of relationships budding or coming to a close. I can’t wait to see more!
The Closer: Brenda Lee Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) and her priority homicide team will be back soon. The Closer returns July 12th at 9 pm to TNT and I’m sure hilarity will ensue. Well that and um, lots of crazy deaths and cases to solve.
The Gates: Let it be known that I love vampires. If there is a show involving vampires, I will at the very least give it a chance. The Gates is about a gated community where there is a lot more going on than meets the eye. It’s quite dark, with vampires and werewolves, but I enjoyed it. I don’t know if it would succeed as a fall show but I’ll give it a few more episodes before I decide if I am hooked. The Gates premieres on June 20th on ABC at 10 pm.
Rizzoli & Isles: A new offering from TNT, Rizzoli & Isles stars Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander as a Boston detective and medical examiner respectively. From what I’ve seen of the previews, it looks like a show that I will enjoy. I like that there are two strong female leads and I think it will be a great summer show paired with The Closer. It premieres July 12th at 10 pm.
Covert Affairs: A brand new spy dramedy from USA Network is premiering on July 13th paired with White Collar. It stars Piper Perabo, Christopher Gorham and Peter Gallagher as members of the CIA. I have seen the premiere and it is really original and had me on the edge of my seat. Perabo makes a great leading lady and I can’t wait to see more.
Losing It With Jillian: Since The Biggest Loser can’t be on all year, Losing It With Jillian (which premiered a couple weeks ago) gives me my Jillian Michaels fix. She moves in with a family for a week to get them back on track with their weight and health. Unlike The Biggest Loser, there are no immunity challenges or game play…which I like a lot. But there’s still Jillian and her screaming, motivating, inspirational ways. Losing It airs Tuesday nights at 8 pm on NBC.
What are you watching? What are you looking forward to?
This past week, I took part in something I have never done before: a virtual set visit of Drop Dead Diva. Live from the DDD set in Atlanta, Ben Feldman (who plays Fred) showed everyone around remotely. We even got to see a small bit of filming for season 2. I am always sad when the regular TV season ends, but Drop Dead Diva is a fantastic summer show.
Here is a little synopsis:
“Deb is a beautiful model-in-training, but a fatal car accident derails her hopes and dreams. Jane is an intelligent, unremarkable, but sweet plus-size attorney who ends up on the wrong end of a gun during a robbery. As she heads towards the gates of Heaven, Deb is confronted by gatekeeper Fred, who labels her a “self-centered zero.” After accidentally hitting a key on Fred’s computer, her soul is sent back to earth, but she accidentally ends up in Jane’s body. Horrified, Deb soon realizes that if she is going to continue living in her new body, she’ll have no choice but to come to terms with her new body — and it isn’t exactly going to be the easiest transition for anyone concerned. Will this diva finally learn that there is more to life than a pretty face?”
If you haven’t watched season 1 yet, what are you waiting for? It came out on DVD on June 1st, and you should definitely check it out. Season 2 begins tonight at 9 pm on Lifetime. However, here are some clips to get you excited for tonight and show you what the set looks like. There are also a couple interviews with the cast. Hope you enjoy! And be sure to tune in tonight for the 2nd season premiere of Drop Dead Diva!
Ben Feldman (“Fred”) welcomes viewers to the set of Drop Dead Diva
Ben Feldman finds Margaret Cho (Teri) sleeping on set!
Ben and Margaret find snacks at “craft service” on set.
Ben takes viewers behind-the-scenes in “Video Village” to meet the director and 1st AD
Ben asks Brooke and Kate what their favorite episodes were from Season One!
Summer lovin’ happened so faaaast…Ahem…
For my first post, I thought it would be appropriate to write about the shows I am watching (and lovin’) this summer. While I may not have caught up with “Wipeout” or “I Survived A Japanese Gameshow” there are many other shows that have my full attention.
Make It Or Break It: Mondays, 9pm on ABC Family: Full disclosure here, I love gymnastics and would probably love this show even if it was truly terrible. But it’s not! I think it provides an entertaining look at elite gymnastics, with interesting story lines and snappy dialogue. As long as they keep flipping, I’ll keep watching.
Army Wives: Sundays, 10pm on Lifetime: Back for its third triumphant season, Army Wives is better than ever. Even Roland, the army husband, is given his due. I think the premise is incredibly strong, and the actors convey (what I imagine to be) a realistic portrayal of life on the base. And I don’t mind looking at Trevor LeBlanc (Drew Fuller) for an hour each week!
The Closer: Mondays, TNT, 9pm: The Closer is the top-rated (ad supported) cable show on television, and for good reason. Brenda Lee Johnson (played by the charming Kyra Sedgwick) leads a team of hilarious (but great-at-their jobs) detectives, as she closes cases (get it, the title of the show…). My favorite continuing storyline: the obvious sexual tension between Assistant Police Chief Pope (the wonderful JK Simmons) and Deputy Chief Johnson. And of course, who doesn’t love Flynn and Provenza?
Secret Life of The American Teenager: Mondays, ABC Family, 8 pm: What I thought might be an outlandish look at a teen pregnancy, has really proven itself to be just the opposite. It may have some of those moments but in it’s 2nd season, Secret Life (for short) is as good as a lot of teen shows get these days. I may not be in ABC Family’s target demographic, but I do enjoy the drama that centers around a group of friends, and their families.
Top Chef Masters: Wednesdays, Bravo, 10pm: I’m a big fan of the regular Top Chef, but was pretty skeptical about this offshoot. Where’s Padma? Why aren’t there the same contestants week-to-week? Stop confusing me Bravo! But, all that aside, it has exceeded my expectations. The chefs are real masters and it’s fun to drool over their creations. I encourage more shows like this in the future.
“It turned colder that’s where it ends…” or shows I wish hadn’t ended so soon:
Party Down: Starz network: I plan on writing a bigger feature on this show, but Rob Thomas captured my heart again. And he does so in extreme fashion with every episode (or just about) featuring a cameo from Veronica Mars. He had me laughing (and crying from laughter, and awkward moments) at Ken Marino’s antics as the head of Party Down, a Hollywood catering company. Lizzy Caplan, Adam Scott, and Ryan Hansen round out the cast, all playing actors or former actors with their own issues. And Jane Lynch adds hilarity to the party as well. Get it, party?!
In Treatment: HBO: I realize that this show didn’t extend into the summer, but Dr. Paul Weston (played by the sexy blue eyed Gabriel Byrne) was back for a 2nd season with all new patients. This show is one of the most unique on television, in that it makes you feel like you are going through therapy with each patient. If you can handle some self discovery each week, I know you are waiting with baited breath for the 3rd season like I am.
So tell me, what are you watching?? What should I watch? I want to check out Hung, and I definitely plan on catching up with True Blood once I finish the books (which I highly recommend if you are a fan of vampire lovin’). There are also some new ABC Family shows coming our way that I plan to check out as well.
Show me some comment love!
