With the major networks having announced their new fall lineups, I thought I'd take a look at other shows I'm watching (or have watched) on cable channels. This list is not exhaustive and is pretty much just what I follow...there are THOUSANDS of shows to cover at this point and I don't have enough time in the day or caring in my body to update you on every little one.
Monk -- returns to USA for a 5th Season on USA Friday July 7 at 9pm (an hour earlier than before). While Monk's ticks and phobias have started to grow a bit weary, the show is still relatively entertaining (even with the absecnce of Sharona).The first three seasons are on DVD. Season 4 arrives June 27, just in time to catch up on all the plot threads you'll need to know going into Season 5 (were there any?).
The Dead Zone -- also returns to USA for a 5th Season. Starting on Sunday June 18 at 10pm, look for Johnny Smith to continue his quest to stop armageddon at the hands of Greg Stillson. There are only 11 episodes and then the show could be gone for good (USA let everyone's contracts lapse during the long gap between shooting the episodes for season 5 and airing them). Hopefully, the ratings will keep things going. The first three seasons are on DVD and the 4th arrives June 13.
Doctor Who -- Sci-Fi airs Season 1 on Fridays at 9pm. There are two episodes left (airing after the Memorial Day Weekend break for a marathon of crap) and then hopefully we'll know if they're going to air Season 2 which is currently about to hit its half-way mark in Britain. Season 2 brings us the 10th Doctor as played by David Tennant and if you loved Chris Eccleston, you should also love Tennant. Some good, fun episodes have aired so far (for those who have obtained them in various ways) with the two-parter re-introducing the Cybermen (as well as explaining the concept of parallel universes) was great TV. Look for Season 1 to arrive in the U.S. on DVD July 4 (its been available in Canada since February and has the exact same contents and packaging). Season 2 will probably not arrive until after it airs on Sci-Fi (if it airs at all...if it doesn't, expect a DVD sooner). In the meantime, look for Classic Doctor Who episodes to arrive on June 6 (Genesis of the Daleks, Revelation of the Daleks) and again on September 5 (The Web Planet, Inferno) and again sometime in November (most likely The Hand of Fear and Mark of the Rani as they are the only others currently on schedule for Britain and not announced for here aside from the 1996 TV Movie which is tied up in legal hell stateside).
Battlestar Galactica -- Will return for a 3rd Season to Sci-Fi in October. This is great storytelling at its finest (even with the whole grounding/one year ahead jump at the end of Season 2). Season 1 and half of Season 2 are currently on DVD. The second half of season 2 comes out this fall before Season 3 starts. The show is also getting a spin-off set 100 years prior to events here (its called Caprica).
Justice League Unlimited -- Ended its run on Cartoon Network a bit prematurely if you ask me. This wonderful continuation of what began back in 1992 with Batman: The Animated Series, was fun for adults and kids. This last season took the old concept of Super Friends and turned it on its head while wrapping up story elements dating back to Superman: The Animated Series. The first season will be out on DVD by year's end...although both seasons of Justice League (before they added all the other heroes and villains) are currently available.
Teen Titans -- Another Cartoon Network/DC Comics cartoon that ended its run too soon. After 5 Seasons we barely got a wrap up and the direction of the show (mimicking the whole Super Friends Versus Legion of Doom thing from Justice League) was just getting started and had loads more potential. Season 1 is on DVD. Season 2 arrives in September. There will also be a direct to DVD movie Teen Titans: Tokyo available later this year.
Superboy and the Legion of Super Heroes -- is the latest entry into DC Comics animated universe. I've never been a big fan of this book, but I'll give the show a shot. I think it airs this fall.
Blade -- SpikeTV gets into the weekly series business with this spin-off from the successful film franchise taken from Marvel Comics. Starts with a 2 hour premiere on June 28. Should be interesting.
Nightmares & Dreamscapes -- Stephen King gets his own limited anthology series with an 8 episode run featuring stories from his various short story collections (so its not just stories from the collection the series gets its name from) and big name stars. The show starts July 12 and runs for 4 weeks (two episodes are aired back to back each week).
Rome -- Season One will be availble on DVD by summer's end. Season Two will be airing eventually.
The Sopranos -- The show has just ended the first half of its sixth and last season (the last eight episodes will air in 2007). The first five seasons are currently on DVD. The show seems to be getting a bit lacking...
South Park -- Still packs a bite. The first 7 seasons are available on DVD. Season 8 arrives this summer and Season 10 continues in October on Comedy Central.
Deadwood -- Has just started its third season with Season 2 just arriving on DVD. There will not be a fourth season, but there will be a few movies to wrap everything up. Oh well...that's what happens when shows get to expensive to produce.
Entourage -- has just returned for its third season (with season 2 just arriving on DVD). Still a wonderful show (the second episode was hysterical as the roilling blackouts kept affecting potential box office numbers on the "Aquaman" movie).
Poirot -- Four new "movies" will be made. As to where they'll air is anyone's guess. A&E funded the last two batches and are funding this one as well, but three of the last four aired on Biography Channel (the fourth never aired, but was released on DVD recently). Two of the novels being filmed are Mrs. McGinty's Dead and Dead Man's Folly. The others have yet to be announced. It certainly looks like David Suchet will eventually tackle the entire Christie cannon at the rate he's going.
Marple -- Dame Agatha's other famous detective returns for a second run of updated adaptations. The Sittaford Mystery, Sleeping Murder, By The Pricking of My Thumbs, The Moving Finger will all be properly butchered.
Well...that covers everything here...we'll be back in the fall with more TV reviews and such as the new season gets under way.
Be seeing you.
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