UK Edition
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Kirsty: "Hiya, just a quick one. When will the new series of The Amazing Race be shown on Living TV? I'm getting confused with the repeats on Living 2 as to which I've seen or not!"
Neil: For the next couple months we'll be getting repeats of season seven (the one with Rob and Amber).
Megan Russell: "Hiya Neil, love the column! I was just wondering what the verdict was on Charmed - will season 8 be the last or have they comissioned a ninth series? Also, I heard a rumour that there is going to be a second series of Prison Break? Is this true as I am loving the first! Keep up the good work!!"
Neil: Charmed is officially dead and buried at the end of the current season. It hasn't been confirmed yet but consider Prison Break good for a second season. And speaking of that show, Michelle Forbes - perhaps best remembered as Lynne Kresge, the woman who took a tumble down the stairs in the second season of 24 - has just joined the cast.
Andy: "Seen the ads for Commander-In-Chief on abc1 and it looks good. I know it's launched in April but any idea on what date? Also, are they going to show the episodes on Freeview hours? Thanks, I've recently discovered Tube Talk and think it's great!"
Neil: Catch the premiere (plus a bonus episode) a week on Tuesday (April 4) at 9pm. You Freeviewers will be able to catch it Fridays at 2pm or Sundays at 5pm.
Alfie: "What are the ratings for 24 on Sky One?"
Neil: It does vary from week to week, but it's around the 700,000 mark for its first outing. Very impressive - a couple hundred thousand more than last season and in spite of the new competition from Supernatural on ITV2.
Mick: "Do you have any news on what will happen in the last episode of Charmed?"
Neil: Select the text to the right.... Leo's back, joining Piper on a visit to themselves in the future. In fact, there'll be a whole host of returning characters - but not Shannen Doherty.
Daniel: "Will Living be showing any new episodes of According to Jim?"
Neil: Yep, catch eps from the most recent season weekdays at 10.30am from May 15.
Katie: "Are there any plans to show the brand new series of 24 on Sky Three?"
Neil: Yes - but not for another two years (expect season four this autumn as a warm-up for season six on Sky One).
Tansley: "Thought it was about time you brought the cool, funny and original It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia to the attention of your readers. Was wondering how it was doing here in the ratings, it seems to be on Bravo every other night. It's also been picked up for a 2nd season, and they've recruited Danny DeVito to join the cast. Have you any idea when these will air here in the UK & Ireland?"
Neil: We'll be talking early next year for a UK airing. As for ratings, it's not doing too well: last Monday's finale had just 16,000 viewers.
Robert: "Hey Neil. Is Catherine Tate going to make a series 3 of The Catherine Tate Show? Also when can we expect Green Wing back on Channel 4? THANK YOU!"
Neil: Unfortunately she will be back for a new series. Don't miss the new Green Wing, this Friday at 9 on Channel 4. And YOU'RE WELCOME!
Sandy: "I was just wondering if you could tell me how Lisa Kudrow's new show - The Comeback - is doing over here in the UK and in the US? I really like this show - it's not as good as Friends, but still enjoyable. Much better than Joey! Will there be a second series of the Comeback?"
Neil: No, there won't be. Again, another "meh" ratings performer - just 22,000 last Thursday.
Katie: "Hello, I have been watching channel 4 recently and I noticed they have been putting adverts on for The New Paul O'Grady Show and to my complete horror they are putting this on instead of Richard and Judy. Is this a permanent change or only temporary?"
Neil: They've learned to share. O'Grady has thirteen weeks, then R&J, and so on.
ronankan: "Invasion getting bad ratings in the US - pity as it's my favourite of those alien shows but on that note can you let us know which shows are, as they say, "on the bubble" or in other words may or may not be renewed? Plus you did not mention Smallville on your CW roundup, has it been cancelled?"
Neil: Don't worry about Smallville, be more concerned about Veronica Mars, which is looking very shaky right now. DS fave Surface is so on the bubble it's not even funny (although as good as ditched), while things are looking up for Everwood. Other candidates for the axe include Invasion, Commander-In-Chief and Free Ride. The Apprentice is also not that hot right now, although that has already been picked up for a sixth season.
Marion: "Is Prison Break going to go on hiatus here after episode 13 like it did in the United States? If so do you know for how long? Thanks..."
Neil: Nope, it keeps on rolling.. and things get very exciting in that episode.
Sam Vaughan: "Do you know when the new Dr Who will be on our screens?"
Neil: Expect the announcement early this week, but we're talking mid-April. My guess would be April 15.
Before I go, a look ahead to some potential future shows to fawn over. Last week ABC and NBC released descriptions of the pilots under consideration for the 2006-07 season. As usual there are the rip-off, formulaic and downright uninspiring efforts but some possible gems shine through:
- 20 Questions (ABC): A new government conspiracy drama that reads like a small screen version of Enemy of the State. Jesse Bradford stars as a State Department worker left running for his life after he witnesses a murder at the Syrian Embassy.
- Day Break (ABC): Effectively a series-long version of Groundhog Day, but with a plot involving a man who is framed for shooting a state attorney.
- Six Degrees (ABC): A chain of six strangers going about their normal lives without realising the impact they're all having on each other.
- Traveler (ABC): Three good friends head off on a summer journey that meets a fast ending when an NYC museum they rollerskate through comes crashing down in a terrorist explosion seconds later. With one of the three presumed dead, the other two become the prime suspects - but is their "friend" really who he said he was? One of the most exciting new projects.
- Heroes (NBC): Strangers all around the world wake up one day with superhuman powers. This drama, featuring Alias star Greg Grunberg, is generating more buzz than any of the other new shows for next season.
- Kidnapped (NBC): Already picked up, this show follows the attempts to get back the kidnapped son of a self-made millionaire.
