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Q&A: 'The Closer', 'CSI', Cat Deeley, more
Published Friday, Mar 28 2008, 21:26 GMT | By Neil Wilkes | 7 comments
Readers, this week I'm ashamed to admit I almost faltered. The lure of a pile of Dirty Sexy Money DVDs was nearly enough to drag me away from my weekly Q&A duties. (It's a beautifully enjoyable show, by the way, do give it a go).
You'll be relieved to see that my uninterrupted streak of answering your relentless slurry of questions - now SIX weeks in a row and counting - continues below. Surely we're heading for a fall any week now?
That's all for this week, but before I go, allow me to tease you about some great things coming up on Tube Talk next week. Torchwood writer Chris Chibnall previews the upcoming season finale (lest we forget, I found it very upsetting) and his new London-based Law & Order spinoff, the creators of Primeval dish on the upcoming third season plus there's news on the new series of Doctor Who and details of a HUGE Skins twist.
Do you miss Cat Deeley on Idol? What do you think of E4's first-look policy? Click the link below to add your comments to this entry! If you have any questions for the column please use the link at the top of the page instead.
Don't forget to scroll down to read previous editions you may have missed!
You'll be relieved to see that my uninterrupted streak of answering your relentless slurry of questions - now SIX weeks in a row and counting - continues below. Surely we're heading for a fall any week now?
Simon Rapley: "Hi Neil, you never answer my questions regarding this programme so here goes again :) .Can you tell me if any of the channel 4 franchise has picked up series 3 of The Closer, don't think to many people watch this but it has got to be one of the best usa imports i've ever seen"
Neil: Chillax! The new season of The Closer airs on More4 in a few months' time, alongside the brand new series of Without A Trace.
John Watson: "I'm a huge fan of Frasier therefore I'm thrilled that Kelsey Grammer now has a new sitcom Back to You. Any idea when it will be shown in the UK and what channel it will be on?"
Neil: Also More4! Expect to see it in July. The show doesn't actually do too badly in the US so has a reasonably good shot at coming back.
Jerome: "Hey Neil, just wondering when channel 4 will resume showing Ugly Betty because they still have 3 unaired episodes."
Neil: A few more than three. I hear it will be back for a short run alongside the new series of Big Brother at the end of May.
Vincent: "Last year there was talk of a spin off to Spooks called Rogue Spooks, to be shown early in 2008 on BBC3. Is this still going ahead and any news on when we can expect it?"
Neil: Full details on the six-part spinoff - now called Spooks: Code 9 - emerged this week. It launches on BBC Three in the first week of May.
JackWilkins: "I would love to know if Cat Deeley will be back on American Idol - I know I'm in the minority here - but I LOVED her presenting it and am very, very much hoping she's not gone... Thankyou very much indeed, if you are kind enough to help."
Neil: I think you're in a minority of one there - unless anyone else would like to stand up and be counted as a fan of last year's American Idol monstrosity on ITV2?
Gary: "Have you been watching BBUSA on E4? I hear CBS are making another series in the summer too, but are E4 airing that too?"
Neil: The current season of BBUSA has failed to capture my attention (and ditto for the US public, it seems). The summer season won't be shown on E4 - at least not in real-time - because of scheduling conflicts with our version. That's not to rule it out airing from the autumn, but given the unspectacular ratings it's unlikely.
Mikey: "Hey Neil, Do you have any info on the 5th season of One Tree Hill? When in April/May will it return? It's been a long time."
Neil: Obviously the big twist is that the show jumps, Lost-style, four years into the future when it returns. The current date I have is April 21 at 9pm, a week after the season four repeats end.
Mike: "Following the new Knight Rider pilot, will there be a full series? If there is, when will it be shown in the US and here?"
Neil: It's in with a very good shot. The backdoor pilot movie averaged around 12.7 million viewers so it's a real contender to be picked up. We should find out when NBC announces its 2008-09 schedule next week.
Justin: "What are Channel 4/E4 doing with Brothers and Sisters? One minute they complain about US drama costing too much and then they schedule it E4 only at 11pm on a Sunday!!! Are they hoping it will fail?"
Neil: Don't bother trying to figure out E4 scheduling rationales because it's a futile exercise (as many a One Tree Hill fan will tell you). I suspect the decision to air at 11pm is so that it follows on from a first-look Desperate Housewives at 10pm. It seems that the "first-look" policy has now changed so that rather than the next episode of a US programme airing on E4 straight after Channel 4, it instead airs on E4 on a random weeknight. "Go figure," I believe the expression goes.
fiona: "Hi! Any news on Men in Trees? We love it and read that ABC haven't committed to any further episodes yet. Reminds us of Northern Exposure! Thanks."
Neil: It's widely considered to be "on the bubble" but is in with a good shot of returning because it's popular with the bigwigs at the network.
chris: "hi have channel 5 shown all the pre strike episodes of CSI?"
Neil: It has indeed, and is now cycling back through season seven. The remaining six episodes of season eight will play out later in the year.
Kate: "I have got into NCIS on FX, but wondering when the new series will start. Are they going to show it, or will we have to wait for Five?"
Neil: No, it'll be on FX first, as Five sublicenses the rights from FX. Expect to see it in the next month or two - keep an eye on The PLP for more details.
That's all for this week, but before I go, allow me to tease you about some great things coming up on Tube Talk next week. Torchwood writer Chris Chibnall previews the upcoming season finale (lest we forget, I found it very upsetting) and his new London-based Law & Order spinoff, the creators of Primeval dish on the upcoming third season plus there's news on the new series of Doctor Who and details of a HUGE Skins twist.
Do you miss Cat Deeley on Idol? What do you think of E4's first-look policy? Click the link below to add your comments to this entry! If you have any questions for the column please use the link at the top of the page instead.
Don't forget to scroll down to read previous editions you may have missed!
Your Views
7 Comments
Your Responses
Samantha, Watford, on March 29th, 2008
Cat Deeley on Idol? Eugh! Thank goodness for Sky +. I recorded each episode so I could fast forward past the ads and her. She added no value to the show, and instead I think we missed some of the US banter from Ryan. I could understand it if we were watching idol in a differnt language (eg uzbechistan idol) and she was there to translate but US idol does not need it. This series is so much better thanks to the lack of Cat. I am pleased to see she has found a proper, useful job presenting so you think you can dance
Cat Deeley on Idol? Eugh! Thank goodness for Sky +. I recorded each episode so I could fast forward past the ads and her. She added no value to the show, and instead I think we missed some of the US banter from Ryan. I could understand it if we were watching idol in a differnt language (eg uzbechistan idol) and she was there to translate but US idol does not need it. This series is so much better thanks to the lack of Cat. I am pleased to see she has found a proper, useful job presenting so you think you can dance
Shaun, Baldock, on March 29th, 2008
if Brothers and Sisters can hit 11million viewers in the USA but about 600,000 in the UK then surely it might be worth figuring out how to schedule this obvious potential hit so it does better, not worse in a graveyard slot on E4?!
if Brothers and Sisters can hit 11million viewers in the USA but about 600,000 in the UK then surely it might be worth figuring out how to schedule this obvious potential hit so it does better, not worse in a graveyard slot on E4?!
Stephen, Livingston, on March 29th, 2008
Mmmm, Cat......
Mmmm, Cat......
Brekkie, Wales, on March 29th, 2008
E4 dropping the "first look" arrangement seems a strange move - especially when it often bought up to 1m viewers in the 11pm slot, compared to half that figure for many shows which air just "a few days" before C4. And talking of strange moves and E4 - what do you know about the Skins cull Neil?
E4 dropping the "first look" arrangement seems a strange move - especially when it often bought up to 1m viewers in the 11pm slot, compared to half that figure for many shows which air just "a few days" before C4. And talking of strange moves and E4 - what do you know about the Skins cull Neil?
JackWilkins, Bristol, on March 28th, 2008
Ahwell, I only asked.....
Ahwell, I only asked.....
Wesley Mead, Somerset, on March 28th, 2008
Someone liked Cat Deeley doing American Idol? I'm as shocked as you are, Neil! Worst decision ever made on a channel with plenty to choose from..
Someone liked Cat Deeley doing American Idol? I'm as shocked as you are, Neil! Worst decision ever made on a channel with plenty to choose from..
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Good riddance to Cat Deeley destroying American Idol...she was atrocious...flirtation is a way of life for that woman, but the important thing she forgets about flirtation is it only really works if the target of your attentions reciprocates...well I can say wholeheartedly; we the viewing public DID NOT! We didn't get american idol last year, we got a clip show with a beeping annoying host...I'd rather have ol' Tel's bloomers than that wet fish...