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 Photo: ABC, Eli Stone
ABC is still on my list – yes, I have one – for killing my beloved Eli Stone. From its musical numbers to its charming cast, it was a highlight in a dreary television week.
The good news is that this summer the network will air the final four episodes of the show, along with the final episodes of two other ABC canceled shows: Dirty, Sexy, Money and Pushing Daisies.
All three ABC shows were canned back in November, leaving fans clamoring for some finality to wrap up storylines. I guess I should be thanking ABC for at least giving fans some closure. But, for me, it is bittersweet. Having four more episodes of Eli and a singing Olive on Pushing Daisies may leave me longing for more, when I had just started to forget about them.
The shows will air this summer on Saturdays at 10 p.m., a time when the network assumes no one is watching television anyway. Here is the schedule.
Pushing Daisies – May 30-June 13 (final three episodes Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET)
Eli Stone – June 20-July 11 (final four episodes Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET)
Dirty Sexy Money – July 18-Aug. 8 (final four episodes Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET)
 It’s winter season premiere week and the TV goodies just keep coming. It seems most of them are scheduled for Tuesday night, so those of you without a DVR, you have my sympathy.
Tonight, one of television’s best comedies returns, but this time it’s airing on a network that actually seems to care about the show. At least it's getting plenty of promotion for the first time ever. Yes, I’m talking about Scrubs. (Oh, how I've missed you!) It moves to ABC and premieres at 9 p.m. ET, with Courteney Cox Arquette joining the cast. Please tune in and watch. Call me petty, but I'd like NBC to have serious ratings envy. (Yes, I'm still bitter about the shabby treatment Scrubs and Las Vegas received at the hands of NBC.)
For those of you anxiously awaiting the return of Nip/Tuck to see how Sean and Christian survived crazy teddy-bear lady’s attacks, the wait is over. The show premieres at 10 p.m. ET tonight on FX. I’ve seen the screener, but I don’t want to spoil you. So, tune in and check it out for yourself.
Also tonight, Privileged is back with a new episode on the CW at 9 p.m . (Yay!) I’ve seen the show and let’s just say that Megan has her hands full with her mother, sister, and a romantic plot from Rose, in which she tries to get Sage and Luis together.
If that isn’t enough for you TV junkies, then don’t despair. One of my favorite new shows, The Mentalist, is back at 9 p.m. ET on CBS with a new episode. Patrick tries to find the killer who murdered his family.
See what I mean about Tuesday? It’s crazy.
As for the rest of the week, it’s not any lighter. On Thursday, 30 Rock, My Name is Earl on NBC, while Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and Ugly Betty all debut new episodes on ABC. Then on Friday, Psych and Monk return on USA.
Finally, adrenaline junkies, your show, 24, is back on Sunday on FOX. Get ready for a change of scenery though, as the first hour takes place in Washington D.C.
And if you enjoy awards shows, don’t miss The Golden Globe Awards at 8 p.m. ET on NBC this Sunday. Here’s the list of nominees, for those of you who missed it the first time.
For a complete list of winter premiere dates, click here.
 Photo: Peter Krause, Lee Pace and Johnny Lee Miller
ABC dropped the hammer on three of its sophomore shows this week with a decision not to renew Eli Stone, Dirty Sexy Money and Pushing Daisies, according to E!Online and TV Guide.
I need to take a moment to ask ABC why they would cancel three unique entertaining shows, but keep on the most annoying TV drama to come along in years? Yes, I’m talking about Private Practice, a typical medical melodrama with plenty of bed-hopping characters. Despite a stellar cast, Private Practice doesn’t come close to matching the quirkiness and originality of Pushing Daisies, the soapy guilty goodness of Dirty Sexy Money, and the heartwarming plots of Eli Stone.
I already know the answer: ratings.
For some reason, people are watching Private Practice, but won’t give Eli and the others the time of day.
Pushing Daisies fans can at least take solace in that their show will continue on in comic book form, said series creator Bryan Fuller.
I’m so sad to see Eli Stone leave the airwaves. It was one of the highlights of my week.
Are you going to miss these shows? Sound off in the comments below.
The Golden Globe nominations were announced today and some familiar TV faces are among them. I’m thrilled that several new shows were recognized. Pushing Daisies, Damages, and Mad Men all got a nod for drama series, as well as old favorites Grey’s Anatomy and House. But where was Lost? It should have been among the best dramas.
As for individuals, it’s nice to see Lee Pace, of Pushing Daisies, Donald Sutherland, of Dirty Sexy Money, America Ferrera, of Ugly Betty, and Christina Applegate of Samantha Who? But I think Chandra Wilson, of Grey’s Anatomy, was overlooked. She’s done phenomenal work on that show, but for some reason Katherine Heigl is the more heralded actress.
Take a look at the list. Are you pleased, or was your favorite show/actor/actress snubbed?
TELEVISION
Series, Drama
'Big Love,' HBO'
Damages,' FX Networks'
Grey's Anatomy,' ABC'
House,' Fox'
Mad Men,' AMC
'The Tudors,' Showtime
Actress, Drama
Patricia Arquette, 'Medium'
Glenn Close, 'Damages'
Minnie Driver, 'The Riches'
Edie Falco, 'The Sopranos'
Sally Field, 'Brothers & Sisters'
Holly Hunter, 'Saving Grace'
Kyra Sedgwick, 'The Closer'
Actor, Drama
Michael C. Hall, 'Dexter'
Jon Hamm, 'Mad Men'
Hugh Laurie, 'House'
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, 'The Tudors'
Bill Paxton, 'Big Love'
Series, Musical or Comedy
'30 Rock,' NBC'
Californication,' Showtime
'Entourage,' HBO
'Extras,' HBO
'Pushing Daisies,' ABC
Actress, Musical or Comedy
Christina Applegate, 'Samantha Who?'
America Ferrera, 'Ugly Betty'
Tina Fey, '30 Rock'
Anna Friel, 'Pushing Daisies'
Mary-Louise Parker, 'Weeds'
Actor, Musical or Comedy
Alec Baldwin, '30 Rock'
Steve Carell, 'The Office'
David Duchovny, 'Californication'
Ricky Gervais, 'Extras'
Lee Pace, 'Pushing Daisies'
Miniseries or Movie
'Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee,' HBO
'The Company,' TNT
'Five Days,' HBO
'Longford,' HBO
'The State Within,' BBC America
Actress, Miniseries or Movie
Bryce Dallas Howard, 'As You Like It'
Debra Messing, 'The Starter Wife'
Queen Latifah, 'Life Support'
Sissy Spacek, 'Pictures of Hollis Woods'
Ruth Wilson, 'Jane Eyre' (Masterpiece Theatre)
Actor, Miniseries or Movie
Adam Beach, 'Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee'
Ernest Borgnine, 'A Grandpa for Christmas'
Jim Broadbent, 'Longford'
Jason Isaacs, 'The State Within'
James Nesbitt, 'Jekyll'
Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie
Rose Byrne, 'Damages'
Rachel Griffiths, 'Brothers & Sisters'
Katherine Heigl, 'Grey's Anatomy'
Samantha Morton, 'Longford'
Anna Paquin, 'Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee'
Jaime Pressly, 'My Name Is Earl'
Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie
Ted Danson, 'Damages'
Kevin Dillon, 'Entourage'
Jeremy Piven, 'Entourage'
Andy Serkis, 'Longford'
William Shatner, 'Boston Legal'
Donald Sutherland, 'Dirty Sexy Money'
For the film categories and the complete list, click here.
 Friday Night Lights
Tyra, your body is a wonderland. (And no that isn’t a dig at her cast mate Minka Kelly, who is dating John Mayer.) Tyra is hot. It’s no wonder poor Landry is in love with her. I don’t know how Tim Riggins has managed to resist her lately. Speaking of resisting, QB1, also known as Matt Saracen, has so many hot ladies throwing themselves at him; it’s sending his stuttering into overdrive. Julie realized that she shouldn’t have ended things with Matt and seems to be getting a little too cozy with her teacher lately. I don’t like where this is headed. Watch your back, teach, because if Eric finds you hitting on his daughter, you may find yourself being used as a tackling dummy during the next football practice. And how about the entertainment for the Pantherama rally? Having the football team strip was definitely thinking outside of the box. In my high school, everyone would have been expelled for that sexy stunt. But, this is Dillon, where football rules and apparently teachers and parents don’t mind the kids half naked and gyrating on the gym floor.
Dirty Sexy Money
I’m really enjoying the dysfunctional Darling family, especially serial bride Karen. The poor gal can’t seem to get over her first love Nick George and is set on winning him back. Mrs. George, you have been warned. The most surprising twist of this show for me is that I actually like former hard-ass Rev. Brian. The storyline with his son has softened him. OK, sure he made the kid pretend he was an orphan who didn’t speak English, so that Brian’s wife wouldn’t find out that he had an illegitimate son, but in the end, he came clean. He's even missing the little tyke. And so am I.
Private Practice
It’s been weeks since I invested in Private Practice. And much like the stock market, my sentiments about this show go up and down. This week, I hit an all-time low. Addison’s new dating companion had a strange fetish: he liked to insert objects in his rectum. Let’s just say I hope she never gets that shoe back. I don’t care if it is a Jimmy Choo. I’m trying to love Private Practice; I really am. But Addison is so… what’s the word? Silly. Yes, I never thought I’d describe my Addison as silly, but that’s what she’s become. And the rest of her co-workers are just as bad. The bright spot is that she and Pete have chemistry. Perhaps she’ll stop acting like a teen soon. The one character I am interested in, Dell, never seems to have much to do but fetch coffee. How about giving him a storyline? I think I may have to handle Private Practice the same way I handle broccoli. I partake from time to time, even though I don’t like it.
Ugly Betty
Just like the sun, Ugly Betty is the one show I can count on to be reliable. (Friday Night Lights is the other.) Betty never disappoints. It’s silly fun, and unlike Private Practice, the silly works. The show somehow balances comedy and drama perfectly. Eric Mabius has made me weepy several times. When Daniel Meade gets serious, look out. This week when he mourned his father, I was reaching for the Kleenex. His idea to black out the cover of Mode in honor of this father’s death was brilliant. In contrast, Amanda’s quest to find her father makes me laugh hard, every time she goes to the wall of photos of all her mother’s lovers. This week I caught Tom Selleck’s mug, Warren Beatty, Mick Jagger and Burt Reynolds. That Faye Summers sure got around, didn’t she?
Heroes
Not even the addition of my own personal TV hero, Kristen Bell, to the Heroes cast has rekindled my love for this show. I’m sad, Tubers, as I used to love it. I’ve tried hanging on, but the show simply doesn’t interest me anymore. There are too many characters, story arcs, and too little time with the characters I do care about. It pains me more than you know to remove a show starring Kristen Bell from my DVR lineup, but when it feels like an obligation to watch it each week, then it’s time to go.
Las Vegas
There was no new episode this week, which was a good thing since we never talked about the last episode. Cooper fired Sam! I don’t think I’m alone here when I say, “What?!?!!” OK, so she shouldn’t have dumped that milkshake over the cowboy’s head, but in her defense, the guy was a tool. But this is Sam. She’s my favorite character on the show. I usually have to rewind her rapid-fire witty dialogue a couple times, so I can enjoy and appreciate her sarcastic barbs. There is no Las Vegas without her. The new boss man had better come to his senses soon because I want her back at the Montecito hanging with Mr. Cooper.
 Here’s a little treat for Halloween night. Hottie Eddie Cibrian is dressing up as a towel-clad hunk for his role on Dirty Sexy Money tonight. OK, so he’s not really dressing up so much, as dressing down, but whatever, semantics.
The point is, Cibrian is back on the tube. It’s not clear for how long he’s staying or how he’ll fit in with the Darling family, so catch him while you can. (It’s no secret I have a little crush on Cibrian and his dimples, so please indulge me while I share this news.)
Blair Underwood is also amping up the tension on the show. And the Darlings make me laugh on a weekly basis. I’m enjoying Dirty Sexy Money more each week, how about you? And no, it’s not just because of Cibrian’s upcoming six-pack.
Dirty Sexy Money airs on ABC on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET.
 Despite the rumor, Smallville’s Tom Welling will not play Superman in the big-screen Justice League film, according to Smallville executive producer Al Gough. Gough answered that and other fan questions at TV Guide.
Seth Green has signed on for two episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Buffy fans, I have a feeling Oz is all grown up now.
Life is Wild star D.W. Moffet stopped by Tube Talk to weigh in on my review of the show. Cool, huh?
Former Freaks and Geeks star John Francis Daley has landed the role of Booth and Brennan’s therapist on the FOX show Bones. Is he old enough to be a therapist? No matter. The trials and tribulations his character suffered through on Freaks and Geeks, including that dodge ball episode, have entitled him to many years on the sofa.
One of my TV boyfriends, Eddie Cibrian, has landed upcoming guest roles on ABC’s Samantha Who and Dirty Sexy Money. Someone at ABC loves Cibrian as much as I do.
Actor Steven Weber is headed to Brothers & Sisters as a love interest for Sarah, according to TV Guide. I guess that means Joe had better step it up. In other Brothers & Sisters news, Chevy Chase is scheduled to star as a love interest for Sally Field’s character.
ABC is resurrecting the short-lived 1998-99 series Cupid. Cupid’s creator, Rob Thomas, is developing the new version of the show. The new pilot will move its setting from Chicago to Los Angeles. The original Cupid starred Jeremy Piven, but this one won’t.
There are a few days left to register to win the hot new Nip/Tuck posters we’re giving away here at Tube Talk. The contest ends Monday. Good luck.
Reaper
Premiere date: September 25, 2007
Airs: Tuesdays @ 9 p.m. ET on the CW  One of my favorite new comedies of the season is Reaper. It’s about a young man who finds out on his 21st birthday that his parents sold his soul to the devil, prior to his birth. Satan, of course, has come to collect, and quite literally, there is Hell to pay. Sam must work for the Devil, as Hell’s bounty hunter. With the aid of his goofball friends, he must track down evildoers and send them back to the fiery pits of Hell. Bret Harrison and Tyler Labine are outstanding. (Labine’s character is just as funny as his Dave was on Invasion.) And Ray Wise is delicious as wise-cracking Satan. The jokes are witty, and the acting is superb. I dare you to watch and not laugh. Kevin Smith fans, you should know that Smith directed the pilot. But no worries, the four-letter words are nowhere to be heard. Reaper is devilishly delightful. Don’t miss it.
Dirty Sexy Money
Premiere date: September 26, 2007
Airs: Wednesdays @ 10 p.m. ET on ABC
After watching the first two episodes of this new soapy drama, it gives me a new appreciation for my humble, middle-class existence. The story follows the uber-wealthy Darling family of New York City and their posh lifestyle. Among the family members are an actress, a socialite, a boozing slacker, an attorney general and a minister. In the premiere episode, their family attorney is killed in a plane crash, leaving his son to take his place and start cleaning up the messes the spoiled Darlings can’t seem to avoid. There are plenty of dirty dealings, and Nick is conflicted about his new job and his history with the family. Secrets, lies, and one transvestite hooker later, you’ll understand why Dirty Sexy Money is getting plenty of positive buzz. The show has potential. The cast is excellent, with Donald Sutherland as the patriarch and Jill Clayburgh as the matriarch. Peter Krause and William Baldwin help round out the cast. Fans of The O.C. will recognize “Anna,” actress Samaire Armstrong. Yes, she plays the actress. Dirty Sexy Money is a little bit Dallas, Dynasty, and Falcon Crest combined and could put the nighttime soap back on the map. K-Ville
Premiere date: September 17, 2007
Airs: Mondays @ 9 p.m. ET on FOX
 If you like cop dramas, then K-Ville may be to your liking. The show is set in modern-day New Orleans and follows the plight of the police department, still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The show is actually shot in New Orleans, so you’ll see plenty of shots of the city and the remaining devastation. Anthony Anderson leads the cast and is excellent as the veteran cop. His partner, played by Cole Hauser, is a former soldier and criminal. The two have good chemistry. The show gets its name “K-Ville” from a graffiti sign “Welcome to K-Ville” that was painted after Hurricane Katrina. The show is intense at times, and does an admirable job of showing folks trying to rebuild their city. This one is heavy on the drama, but has the actors and stories to actually have substance.
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Photo: ABC, Eli Stone
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