Blog

“ Tube Talk ”

Got a question about TV spoilers or scheduling? Ask the team here!

> Premiere List page
> NEW! US TV Show Tracker

I think we've found it

Published Thursday, Sep 21 2006, 06:00 BST | By Neil Wilkes

Recommend 0

Tweet 0

Over the next week keep an eye on DS for my thoughts on each of the new US series - including which ones to get excited about and which ones to dismiss.

Although a few are getting predictably rave reviews already, I should ask you to pay special attention to Victor Garber's new drama Justice (think House for lawyers) and Runaways (with Leslie Hope of 24 fame).

nikki: "hello?! its thursday 20.03, where's tube talk? you really shouldn't be doing this if you can never get it done on time"

Neil: Last time I checked it was still Thursday, Nikki. But feel free to come over and take the reins...

Jimmy: "Any idea on what channel will pick up the rights to show the US soap the Bold and the beautiful. It was on Living TV but before that it was on five. Will five get the rights again? I used to love that show and miss it gradually. Great column by the way Neil."

Neil: It's not exactly a case of channels fighting to the death for the rights to this show - or, for that matter, any similar US soaps. I'm not aware of anyone looking to screen it right now although long term it's going to be the case that pretty much everything will be picked up so my best advice would be to harass any new niche channels that come along.

Sam: "You mentioned last week a CSI:NY spinoff, what's that all about? Also, did any UK channels pick up The Unit yet? Have I missed it?"

Neil: I was referring to the NY series being a spinoff itself. Although again, give it time and I'm sure we'll get another incarnation. As for The Unit - not long to go now. The series premieres October 3 at 10pm on Bravo.

Jess: "Any chance of The Megan Mullally Show making it to our shores? I've seen the lineup for the first week and it looks pretty great and as a big fan of Will & Grace, I'd love to see what she comes up with! Give me Megan over Ellen any day!"

Neil: As much as I love the big MM, go wash your mouth out for that last comment. I'm sure Living TV will be circling around this before too long.

David Payne: "Hi, I remember reading on Tube Talk a couple of weeks ago, that apparently Lost will be shown from February in the US, so it can be aired without brakes. But according to the official site, it's back in October. Can you explain what you meant in more detail?"

Neil: It's back for a short run of six consecutive episodes in October - then the main stretch of 17 episodes airs, 24-style, from February. To that end the first six are being billed as part of a "mini-season" in itself.

In this week's swag spot there are three copies of My Name Is Earl season one on DVD up for the taking.

Click yourself here to enter for free!

Rabeel: "Smallville season 6 is starting on 28th or 29th of sept on CW channel...is there any channel on sky digital that will be showing the show then or will it be aired later and what can you tell me what channel that will be please - E4? Thanks for so many questions."

Neil: Well it's only one really but I do like seeing inventive ways of asking the same thing. And you have the answer, too - it's E4 from the new year.

Laura: "Greal column, I find out all the gossip here so that I know what is coming on, however, can you confirm when the new Robin Hood series starts ?"

Neil: The date I've been given is October 7.

Alex: "Any gossip on the supposed ....(removed)... in Prison Break Season 2?"

Neil: Well, maybe a smidgen. Head to the spoiler spot.

Jack Wilkins: "Please, will the sister show 'It Takes Two' be coming back with this new series of Strictly Come Dancing?"

Neil: Yes!

Ann: "Hi Neil, when does new season of prison break and ER start? Also why do British networks buy a show dispite it being cancelled in the US after a couple of episodes. Case in point Kitchen confidential and In Justice on UK Gold? They get you all excited about a show and then it promptly disappears from screens soon after??? Thanks and keep up the good work"

Neil: The new year for both shows. Often cancelled shows are bought by the UK networks before they are cancelled (Kitchen Confidential was but In Justice wasn't). This year will be no exception - as Five has already found out with Windfall.

chuck: "Have searched and found this snippet: 'The second season of Weeds goes into production shortly and will air on Sky One this autumn.' Is there any further information- would hate to miss the beginning of the new series."

Neil: It's already on air in the US but I don't have a specific date for Sky One just yet.

Fran: "Help - I became a Race addict at the start of the year, but when the latest re-run finishes I'll have seen all Living have to offer. Any plans for them or anyone else to pick-up the latest runs?"

Neil: No further seasons of arguably the best reality show out there have been picked up beyond the seventh.

Kate: "Lovin the column Neil! Just wondering if you know whether or not there is a series 3 of Hex going to be made? Also, new series on Fox called Vanished, are we going to be getting that over here at some point?"

Neil: No more Hex. Vanished will air on Five from January - but it may be the case that it lives up to its own name before then.

Anon: "Loving your work. Sadly i missed the 1st episode of afterlife series 2 any idea if and when it would be shown again."

Neil: There are no repeats scheduled at present. But click here to read about what you missed.

David: "Hi Neil, I know that the current series of Dragon's Den is ending this week, has the BBC comissioned a fourth series? I had heard this would be the last. Do you have any news on when the UK version of the Apprentice will be returning? Thanks"

Neil: DD hasn't been re-commissioned yet but will be. As for The Apprentice, the third series has just started filming and will air on BBC One from next Spring.

Darren: "So I missed the pilot of Studio 60...due to boredom 2 hours of Deal Or No Deal...god why!!!!!??? did it differ from the DVD screener? I only ask because the pilot of Heroes airs in a hour slot next Monday so I'm assuming bits have been cut from the DVD screener as it was nearly an hour without adverts to start with."

Neil: No difference between the to-air version of Studio 60, from what I can tell. A different story for Heroes, meanwhile, which has been trimmed from what was originally a 90-minute bow. The Greg Grunberg stuff has been put back to ep 2.

I'm still twitching with excitement over Robin Hood - and this week's star spot boasts another cast member. Click here to hear Keith Allen - who plays a slightly comic version of the Sheriff of Nottingham - admitting guilt in the stolen tapes scandal.

Mike: "Hi neil, I wonder if you could let me know if any if any UK channels are considering taking up the new series of standoff (just aired in the US) if so can you tell us where and when they may be shown?"

Neil: It's gone to Sky One and will air before the year is out but I'm not impressed from what I've seen so far.

karl: "Hey man, could you tell me the ratings for ashton kutchers Punk's in the uk. Also does it do fairly well over the pond and will it be renewed for a new series. P,S my mam say 'Hi'"

Neil: Hey mama. Punk'd rates very well on both sides of the pond. A formal pickup hasn't yet been announced - probably because the surreptitious nature of the show requires things to be kept hush-hush (you may recall that a couple years back Ashton actually pretended to pull the plug on the series).

Ted T: "Hey Neil just two questions, Will Season 2 of The Unit be 13 episodes or 20+ episodes and is there a UK release date for season 1 DVD of Robot Chicken?"

Neil: No word on an R2 release for Robot Chicken. The Unit has been picked up for a full 22.

JD: "I've asked this before but never got an answer...thought I might ask again since this is still a great column. Any chance you could tell me whether or not Channel 4 will do some more 'My New Best Friend'?"

Neil: I only managed to catch this great series a few months ago - it's a bonus with the Shirley Ghostman DVD - but I'm sad to report that there are no plans to do any more.

Anon: "Abc1 what is the fuss? Are there any new programmes coming soon or are they sticking to their repetitive schedule?"

Neil: Repetitive all the way. It's back to mostly comedies in primetime - including new episodes of Hope & Faith and Less Than Perfect - for the rest of the year.

As always, select the area to the right of each programme to read the text - but be warned that you may well be spoiled.

Prison Break: Apparenty Sara and Michael will "cross paths" before the season is out. If you've seen recent episodes in the States you'll have seen the seeds of that starting to be sewn. Prison Break airs on Five from the New Year

Send your requests for shows to be featured in the Spoiler Spot to the usual place.

More next Thursday!

Additional reporting by Kris Green