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Trust me, I'm a doctor
Published Thursday, Jul 20 2006, 06:00 BST | By Neil Wilkes
Charles: "How are the ratings looking for the second season of Everwood? I may not be in Europe, but we Americans do care!! Everwood fans must unite! lol"
Neil: Not standout. Season two has averaged just 465,000 (an 8.8% share) for ITV1 so far; as I recall that's around half the numbers for the first season last year. BBC One has managed 1.24 million in the slot over the same period, while BBC Two has averaged 550,000. Channel 4 and Five are drawing roughly level with ITV1
Lee: "Please Please Please! Tell me that Hallmark contacted you about the terrible mistake about not showing season 6 of Gilmore Girls and it will begin next month. Please!"
Neil: Well..... no.
Sophia: "I began watching Weeds and was loving the series, but then went travelling and so missed the second half of the first series. Are there any plans to repeat the first series on Sky before the second begins. If not, any plans to bring it out on DVD?"
Neil: Try Tuesdays at 10pm. I'd guess towards the end of the year for a DVD release.
Sarah: "Hi, my Sky mag said that Huff would be back on FX next Tuesday but I can't find it on the planner. Any ideas? Many thankyou's."
Neil: It's now Mondays at 10. If you missed this Monday's episode you have a second chance Saturday night at 00.10. And a third chance, Sunday at 10. You've no excuse, really.
Paul: "When does the third season of Life Begins begin? It was penned in for February but no sign yet."
Neil: It's currently looking like the first week of September. For some early prattle on what to expect, head on down to the Spoiler Spot.
Art: "Are there any plans for a second season of Thief, starring Andre Braugher?"
Neil: There's no decision yet - although Braugher got an Emmy nod for best actor in a miniseries, which may sway things.
Adam: "Any chance we'll ever see a HBO'S The Wire on a UK Tv Channel?"
Neil: It's been and gone on FX.
Russell Chapman: "My question for you is with Fox premiering the new seasons of a lot of their shows earlier than the other channels, what are the chances of other channels following suit, this year or next?"
Neil: It could happen, but it's unlikely. The main reason Fox does it is because baseball comes along and hijacks the schedules in October.
James: "Neil, love the column! It is brilliant. I just wondered if you knew how well Only Fools on Horses did for the Beeb and whether there is any chance of it (or something similar) returning to our screens again? Possibly as part of the next Sport Relief or such?"
Neil: It did decent ratings, which is surprising, considering how generally ridiculous it was. It could come back next Sport Relief, unless they come up with a more compelling proposition for a celebrity reality sport crossover. All-star Ping Pong, perhaps?
Craig: "Like there is a UK version of Fox's "FX" - in the same way - will there, however in the dim-&-distant future, be a UK version of The CW network for Sky Digi-?"
Neil: Nope. Remember that the US broadcast "networks" are essentially primetime-only vehicles (whereas the cable networks are 24-hour stations). Most of The CW's primetime programming is already sold off. Apart from Gilmore Girls, that is.
This week I was honoured to have a good natter with Kevin Weisman, better known to you and me as techy wizard Marshall from the recently-departed Alias. A full transcript will be up in the DS cult section this weekend, but if your click yourself here you can listen to an exclusive audio snippet of Kevin discussing whether the time was right to end the show.Coming up I'm having Jemima Rooper (Sinchronicity, Hex) and Lenora Crichlow (Sugar from Sugar Rush) - do get any questions in for the girls to the usual address.
Denis: "Any idea if there is to be a third series of Worst Week of My Life?"
Neil: How about a Christmas Special? "The Worst Christmas Of My Life" - currently being filmed - follows the events leading up to a disastrous Christmas.
Dex Anderson: "I wonder if you could possibly stem the flow of venom JUST long enough to hint at whether Catherine Tate's show will be back some time this year? I have been reading your column for some time and I don't think I have ever seen you be so nasty toward one particular person with quite such regularity. I appreciate that critics have a job to do but I know alot of people that find her show entertaining and I wonder if there may be some other unknown factor that has led to this torrent of abuse....did she blank you at an awards ceremony or something?! Oh yes...and Shirley Ghostman? funny?! Do me a favour!"
Neil: I'm sure an "am I bovered?" type response would be appropriate at this juncture, but I'll save the laughs. On the subject of CT (new series begins at the end of the year, you'll be pleased to know), I'm not sure I've actually said anything especially nasty or venomous at all, I've merely stated that I don't find her show particularly f... oh, sod it. Am I bovered?
Mike: "Just wondered how well did Sinchronicity do ratings wise on Sunday. Also I know it has only just started but is there any chance of a future DVD release?"
Neil: Just a little over 400,000 viewers, which is not bad at all. No word on a DVD release but there's a good chance.
Rob: "Hey. Any idea how Christian O'Connell's Sunday Service did on Sky One last Sunday?"
Neil: Same slot as Sinchronicity, it's worth noting. Around 87,000 viewers, despite having a 600,000-strong lead-in from the Kylie interview.
Mal: "(mandatory approval comment) Any idea on how Star Trek TOS is doing on BBC on Saturdays ratings wise?"
Neil: What's with all the ratings questions this week? Last Saturday's (15th) episode had 522,000 viewers. Around average.
Mike Hird: "Hi there, I was wondering if you could help - I caught the first episode of the brilliant Sleeper Cell on FX a few months back and then missed the rest. Any news on whether its coming out on DVD and, if so, when? Also, any plans for repeats and/or a second season?"
Neil: The DVD is down for September 25. I've heard nothing on repeats, although I imagine there will be. A second season has been confirmed.
This week I'm spoiling you with some CSI goodness. Not only do I have three copies of CSI: New York season two, volume one to give away, but the lucky winners will also receive an "I love CSI:NY" T-shirt! Can I get an "ooh" and an "aah"?As always, entry is free and the question is insultingly easy. Click here to give it a go.
Uta: "Oh dammit, I just returned from a weekend trip finding my Sky+ fried and all my programmed shows erased. Can you tell me if BRAVO is going to repeat the 2-hour finale of Alias?"
Neil: Better than that, the whole fifth season will be repeated in August. The catch is that it's in ass-numbing quintuple bills, every Sunday from 12pm beginning August 6.
Justine: "You said The L Word would air on Wednesdays but it's not. I've searched high and low, and can only find it on Saturdays - that so not fair!! Did they move it without telling you?"
Neil: Apparently so.
Patrick: "Hey Neil love the column, usually I never miss the big shows that everyone is always raving about but Veronica Mars seems to have passed me by. Is there any talk of releasing a (region 2) DVD Box set anytime soon? Or should I just get the US version??Thanks"
Neil: This is a question I've been asked a lot over the last few months - and after quite a bit of digging, I finally have an answer for you. A region 2 version of season one is apparently in the works and will be released "early next year". Although apparently the R1 versions work on R2 players, so you may have luck there if you can't wait.
Amanda: "Could you please tell me when Season 7 of Law and Order: SVU will be returning to Hallmark?"
Neil: Certainly. Season 7 airs weekdays at 10pm/2am beginning August 8.
Barbara Gibb: "Is it possible to find out if ITV are likely to show any new episodes of Foyle's War and The Last Detective - both seem to have very short seasons, but 3 or 4 are better than none!"
Neil: If at first you don't succeed... I have nothing to report on Foyle's War, but I'm told there is a fourth series of The Last Detective upcoming - and it boasts more guest stars than the entire run of Will & Grace.
Paul: "Great column Neil. I've noticed that Season 3 of The OC is available for pre-order for September. Do you know when One Tree Hill Season 3 will be available. Thanks."
Neil: The provisional date I've been given is October 23.
Mark: "What are More4's plans for the finale of the West Wing? Will they copy NBC and show the pilot episode or will they show the West Wing retrospective that was cancelled in the US?"
Neil: No retrospective, but there is a celebrity fan quiz special, fronted by Rory Bremner and with David Tennant amongst the panelists. The final two episodes air back-to-back from 9.30pm next Friday, July 29. The following day you can watch eight classic episodes, including the pilot.
James: "Supernatural is great, but I've got behind on the ITV2 showings so I'm waiting for the DVD set. However, do you know if a complete set will be out (all these 2 part sets annoy me!)?"
Neil: Yes, I'm waiting for the full set too. Unfortunately it's not down in the schedules yet but I'm assured it will happen.
As always, select the area to the right of each programme to read the text - but be warned that you may well be spoiled.Jane Hall: Mandy (Gillian Taylforth) becomes the focus of next week's episode and unsurprisingly, Jane inadvertently gets caught up in the proceedings. Kicked out by Dave, Mandy is then suspended after two kids hijack her bus while she makes a quick toilet break. Taking up an offer from Jane to talk things over, Mandy crashes a meal with Robert, Richard and Karen - who, by the way, is distraught after her "boyfriend" dumps her. Then Sid joins the party to speak to Mandy, quickly followed by Dave for similar reasons. But he wants to know why Sid is there... Jane Hall airs Wednesdays at 9pm on ITV1
Sinchronicity: This week things get a bit complicated, so bear with me. Fiona starts off by telling Nathan that their encounter was "just a shag" and won't happen again. Meanwhile, despite insisting he's not gay, Jase goes on a date with Mani and brings Nathan along. When they disappear, Nathan is forced to cover for Jase and tells Fi an unconvincing lie. Still crushed by Fi's rejection, Nathan gets involved with an unholy Catholic girl, Rosie - but, of course, Fi gets jealous. As their fifth (yes, fifth) anniversary approaches, Jase decides to dump Mani. But he doesn't. Sinchronicity airs Sundays at 10pm on BBC Three
Life Begins: The third series will pick up seven months since the last series, and five months since Phil moved back home to Maggie. In an attempt to put the recent past behind them, the couple decide to make a fresh start and move into a new home. One theme that comes up a lot in the new series is sex - for starters, their new neighbours Mia and Nick love to swing, but their teenage kids will also start to feel the effects of hormones. Life Begins airs on ITV1 from September
NCIS: Wendy asks: "Has Gibbs left NCIS , or will he be returning for another series???" The answer is that he hasn't left - although there will be a new boss next season.
Send your requests for shows to be featured in the Spoiler Spot to the usual place.
That's your lot this week - more next Thursday!
Additional reporting by Krisp Green
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