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 Remember last fall when I fell for the The Nine, and then ABC pulled it from the air without telling viewers what happened in that bank?
Well, the network is burning off the final six unaired episodes, beginning Aug. 1 at 10 p.m. ET, according to TV Guide.
But be warned: fans won’t find out exactly what happened in the bank, as the final episode does not explain everything “100 percent.” Hmmm, perhaps The Nine writers started taking tips from the Lost folks.
Is it wrong that at this point in the summer TV drought that I don’t care if I don’t get answers? Frankly, I’m just happy to have a good scripted show back on the tube, instead of the awful summer shows the networks crank out.
The fact that The Nine stars Tim Daly and Scott Wolf is just gravy.
 ABC is on a casting roll, of late. The network can do no wrong when it comes to hiring talent (and achingly handsome men) as evidenced by the latest additions to its upcoming crop of new shows. Here’s a peek at who’s headed to the alphabet network.
James Van Der Beek - The Beek is back! Van Der Beek has been cast in the new ABC show Football Wives. TV fans everywhere have been waiting for Van Der Beek to return to their screens, permanently, since Dawson’s Creek ended its run. The Beek will play a football player in the new ABC show. The gridiron is not completely foreign to him, as he portrayed a football player in the feature film Varsity Blues. The show is based on the cult BBC show Footballers’ Wives that chronicles the wives of superstar football stars. The show also stars Gabrielle Union, Lucy Lawless, Holly Robinson Peete and Kiele Sanchez. No word yet on which lady will portray Joey Potter, er, Van Der Beek’s love interest.
Eddie Cibrian – Joining Van Der Beek in Football Wives, is Eddie Cibrian, dubbed by Tube Talk Girl as the “The Best Dimples on Television.” TV viewers will recognize Cibrian from his roles on Invasion, Third Watch, and Vanished. Football Wives will also star Ving Rhames. The show is scheduled to debut June 7, just in time to heat up your summer.
Scott Wolf - Wolf has just been cast in a new, yet unamed, ABC comedy about attorneys competing for partnership at a law firm. TV lovers will remember Wolf as Bailey Salinger from Party of Five and also as the cheating doctor on The Nine. Although ABC has not officially cancelled The Nine, the fact that Wolf and Tim Daly have already scored other gigs, doesn’t bode well for the show returning. I guess we’ll never find out what really happened in that darned bank.
Marsha Thompson – Thompson is the latest cast addition to the Lost island of misfits. TV viewers will recognize Thompson from her role as Nessa on the NBC show Las Vegas. No word yet on whether she’s an Other, a Tailie, or if she’s been on the beach all along stealing Sawyer’s stuff.
Chris Lowell and Paul Adelstein – These two are the latest additions to the Grey’s Anatomy two-hour episode/spinoff centering on Addison Montgomery. Some online have jokingly nicknamed the spinoff "Montgomery’s Ward." Lowell is currently starring on Veronica Mars, as Piz, a potential love interest for Veronica. Adelstein can be seen on Prison Break as Agent Kellerman.
Nikki Cox joins CBS show
It didn’t take long for Nikki Cox to score a new gig, after leaving Las Vegas. TV Guide is reporting that Cox is joining a new CBS show, The Stumps of Hollywood. Cox will play a “homely girl whose siblings buy her an extreme makeover,” according to TV Guide. Um, has CBS seen Nikki Cox? She’s the “after” in any conceivable makeover scenario, not the “before.” Michael Rapaport is in talks to join the show, too, according to the online magazine site.
Nip/Tuck casting Nicole Kidman and Madonna?
This year’s Nip/Tuck will be fully stacked with guest stars, said series creator Ryan Murphy. At least 10 guest stars, including Rosie O’Donnell, have been lined up for this year’s show, Murphy told fans at The Museum of Television & Radio’s Paley Festival. Nicole Kidman is on board to guest star, Murphy told Access Hollywood. And Murphy is writing a part for Madonna, who is a fan of the show, according to Extra. Someone should warn Christian Troy.
 Hey Tubers, I’m back from a Thanksgiving holiday vacation to the Big Apple, and what I’m most thankful for this year is, my life, after some high-speed crazy cab rides that quickly made me understand the appeal of the New York City subway system. While I was away, plenty of TV scoop broke, so let’s get to it.
Fans of The Nine, brace yourselves. We won’t find out what happened inside that bank anytime soon. ABC has pulled The Nine from its schedule, saying it will return “sometime later this season.” However, the network offered no specifics on when that might be. I’m guessing sometime close to never. (Pausing for your collective screams of disgust here.)
The Nine averaged 8.6 million viewers last week, losing more than half of the 17.7 million viewers, who watched the show’s lead-in Lost. This week, 20/20 will take its Wednesday timeslot, and Primetime will air in its spot the following week. ABC made the announcement Saturday, during the holiday weekend, when most TV critics were on holiday, (or risking their lives in a cab to make it from the Waldorf Astoria to The Guggenheim.)
For those of you who warned me about falling for another serial drama that could suffer the same fate as my beloved Invasion and Reunion, I guess I should have listened. But, it was Tim Daly, people. I’d pretty much watch him read the phone book. Oh, and Scott Wolf and Kim Raver added extra incentive to watch. Plus, the show was actually good.
Here’s my advice/plea to ABC: Every show can’t be a ratings homerun, with 20 million viewers watching. So, why not keep high-quality shows with meager ratings, and be the network that chooses high standards over high ratings? I know the answer already: money. Ratings equal bank. But wouldn’t it be nice if ratings didn't trump quality? It’s the theory they're using over at Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Wait. Bad example.
ABC has done no wrong in my book this year, until now. They had the best fall schedule of any network, filling it with quirky shows like Ugly Betty and Men in Trees and dramas like The Nine. Maybe they’ll surprise us and bring back The Nine, but I wouldn’t count on it. Apparently, 8.6 million people aren't enough to ABC to quantify caring about what happened in the bank.
Apparently, the networks saved the best shows for last. The latest shows to debut this fall are by far the best of the batch. Here’s a look at Heroes, The Nine, Ugly Betty and Friday Night Lights. It’s a good year for TV, Tubers!
 Heroes — If you watch one new show this fall, make it this one. Heroes is so compelling it will keep you glued to the tube for the entire hour. Heroes is the story of people who possess superpowers and are living among us: One can see the future. One can travel through time. One is invincible, and so on. The result is a strong, well-written character drama with moments of humor. In short, Tubers, it’s this year’s Lost. The breakout star of the show is the delightful Masi Oka, as Hiro Nakamura, the hero with the ability to time travel. However, the entire cast is strong, not a weak link among them. Sendhil Ramamurthy is engrossing, as the son trying to solve his father’s murder and make sense of his mysterious research on the heroes. Greg Grunberg, of Felicity fame, stars as Matt Parkman, who has the ability to read people’s thoughts. (Yes, it’s as spectacular as you’re imagining.) And I’m not sure exactly what power Ali Larter’s character, Niki Sanders, possesses, but let’s just say it gives a whole new meaning to the term “split personality.” I’m a little nervous if these folks are the ones destined to save the world, but hey, Clark Kent can’t be everywhere, people. Heroes is the only show this season to receive a perfect four-star rating from Tube Talk. (NBC, Mondays at 9 p.m. EST.)
 The Nine  — I loved this show, and you will, too. The Nine is the story of nine people taken hostage during a bank robbery. Don’t worry; it’s not what you think. This drama is packed full of rich characters, who we get to know through flashbacks and their actions during the 52-hour hostage crisis. The robbery forces each of them to make choices and, later, live with the consequences of those choices. Tim Daly is perfect, as always, as charming police detective Nick Cavanaugh. (Thank you ABC for getting Daly back on our screens.) Kim Raver, Scott Wolf and the rest of the cast also shine. The Nine has great potential and should be money in the bank for ABC, if viewers will commit. Miss The Nine, and you’re robbing yourself of one of the season’s best new shows. (ABC, Wednesdays at 10 p.m. EST.)
 Ugly Betty  — Betty Suarez is my new hero. This plain Jane from Queens, with disturbingly bad fashion taste, landed a job in the snobbish, cruel, cutthroat world of high fashion. Ridiculed on a daily basis for her braces, hair, wardrobe and figure, Betty doesn’t crumble. With intelligence and humility, Betty proves to her new boss Daniel (Eric Mabius) that she’s an asset he can’t afford to lose. America Ferrera is endearing and loveable as awkward Betty. Mabius is well cast, too. Despite Daniel’s player tendencies, he seems to have some redeeming qualities. He understands that Betty’s beauty may not be in her physical appearance, but in her ability to be honest, hard working and a true friend. Ugly Betty is filled with plenty of laughs, too, as you would expect. Vanessa Williams channels Cruella De Vil when portraying Wilhelmina Slater, Daniel’s nemesis. Ugly Betty is the most beautiful new comedy this season. Don’t miss it. (ABC, Thursdays at 8 p.m. EST.)
 Friday Night Lights —  With Kyle Chandler headlining a show, you can’t go wrong. However, if you’re not a sports fan, you may be disappointed with this new drama. Friday Night Lights chronicles the story of a small town in Texas where football is the main attraction. From little old ladies to pushy businessmen, everyone has an opinion about the team. The good townsfolk start talking on Monday morning about Friday’s game, and of course, are eager to share their advice with the new coach (Chandler.) The executive producer has said the show will be about more than football, and I hope it turns out that way. Honestly, I could have used a little less of the game in the premiere and a little more character backstory. But, I’m not giving up yet, especially after the tragic accident to the team’s quarterback that will surely cause tension in the town and with the players. I’m not sure if Friday Night Lights will be a touchdown for NBC, as it’s up against some stiff competition from Dancing with the Stars, NCIS, House, and Gilmore Girls. But if you like football, Chandler, and sports dramas, it may score with you. (NBC, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST.)
 Our friends at ABC are offering sneak peeks at their new fall line-up. Check out the links below for clips and other cool information.
I’ve come to expect great things from the Alphabet Network, considering it gave us McDreamy, Sawyer, Jack and Kate, Alan Shore and Denny Crane, Bree, Susan, and the girls, and my dearly departed Invasion. From what I’ve seen of ABC's new fall line-up, it looks consistent with the quality programming they’ve cranked out the past few seasons.
I’m most excited about Ugly Betty and The Nine. I’ve seen a few minutes of The Nine, starring Tim Daly and Scott Wolf, and I have to tell you, Tubers... Oh. My. (Insert expletive here.) It looks amazing.
Brothers and Sisters and Men in Trees also look promising.
In honor of some of your favorite ABC characters and shows, Tube Talk is giving you the chance to win a fun-filled prize pack that includes an ABC hat and t-shirt. Free swag, folks. Does it get any better?
To enter, simply fire off an e-mail to tubetalkgirl@gmail.com with the words ABC Contest in the subject line. Be sure to include your name and physical mailing address in the e-mail along with the name of your favorite ABC TV character and show. Two winners will be chosen randomly, and I’ll forward the results of your favorites to ABC. The contest deadline is October 14. Good luck!
Check out the complete preview of ABC’s fall schedule here.
THE NINE
Premiere Date: Wednesday, October 4, 2006 at 10/9 C
Official Site: http://www.onlytheyknow.com
YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ABCPrimeTime
Cast: Tim Daly (Wings), Chi McBride (Boston Public), and Scott Wolf (Party of Five)
 Synopsis: So much in life is beyond your control. One day you wake up and go to work like a regular day. Suddenly a random moment, an accident, a blessing, even a stranger, comes from out of the blue and redirects your life forever. But it's up to you to decide if that moment will stop you in your tracks or lift you up to new heights. Today nine people face just such an unexpected twist when they are caught in a bank robbery gone wrong and endure a 52-hour hostage standoff that will leave two persons dead. When all is said and done, these nine people will never be the same. They will always share the common bond of what happens inside the bank…which only they'll know. And they will be forever affected and intertwined because of it. From the creator of Without a Trace and an executive producer of The West Wing comes a dramatic character study that will keep audiences hooked from the beginning of the bank robbery to the end of the hostage standoff. Taking a twist from Lost, each episode will begin with a flashback to reveal another 10 minutes of the hostage crisis, uncovering why and how these nine strangers are still linked today.
SIX DEGREES
Premiere Date: Thursday, September 21, 2006 at 10/9
Official Site: http://www.u-r-connected.com/
YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ABCPrimeTime
Cast: Jay Hernandez (Friday Night Lights), Erika Christensen (Flightplan), Bridget Moynahan (Sex and the City), and Hope Davis (About Schmidt)
 Synopsis: It's said that six people separate any one person from another. Considering the millions of people in the United States alone, it's an amazing thought that we're connected to anyone and everyone by a chain of six. Laura, a grieving single mother, begins the chain. Then to Whitney, the self-made success story who thinks her boyfriend is cheating. Move on to Steven, the artist/photographer who believes he's lost his 'eye.' Follow with Damian, who can't escape his criminal brother's shadow. Then to Mae, the girl with a dangerous past she's hiding from. And finally to Carlos, the good guy with a crush who doesn't know what he's in for. These six strangers are going about their normal lives but not realizing the impact they're having on each other – yet. It's a mysterious web of seeming coincidence and happenstance that draws these people closer to those who will change their lives forever. Even decisions made freely will seem part of a larger design begging the question if there is a greater force at work in our world, guiding us along and connecting our lives. The producers of Lost and Alias create an intriguing tale of intertwined strangers. It's a story that will prove just how small the world really is and how someone just five people away could be shaping your future right now.
UGLY BETTY
Premiere Date: Thursday, September 28, 2006 at 8/7C
Official site: http://www.bettysuarez.com/
Watch clip here: http://abc.go.com/primetime/schedule/2006-07/?clip=108945
Cast: Mark Indelicato, Tony Plana, Ana Ortiz, Ashley Jensen, America Ferrera, William Abadie, Alan Dale, Eric Mabius, Vanessa Williams, Michael Urie, Becki Newton
 Synopsis: In the superficial world of high fashion, image is everything. Styles come and go and the only constants are wafer-thin beauties who wear it. Where could a girl who is less than pretty and a little bit pudgy possibly fit in? If you knew Betty Suarez, you'd see how sweet, intelligent and hard-working she is. Few people ever get to know her because in the world of fashion, Betty is the oversized square peg, in the petite round hole. But finally, her looks and lack of fashion sense are going to be an asset. When publishing mogul Bradford Meade hands the reigns of his fashion magazine, Mode, over to his son Daniel, he specifically hires Betty as his son's new assistant - mostly because she's the only woman in NYC who Daniel won't sleep with. Repulsed at first, Betty will win him over with her efficiency. Neither of them really knows the ins and outs of the fashion world, but the two of them are a formidable team against the label-wearing sharks who will do anything to see them fail. That includes many couture co-workers with botoxed smiles on their faces and knives behind their Galliano backs. Executive Producer Salma Hayek and the creator of Urban Legend brings the Latino television phenomenon to an English-speaking audience. America Ferrera (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) and Eric Mabius (The L Word) are the Working Girl couple who tackle the colorful, cutthroat world of fashion head on.
MEN IN TREES
Premiere Date: September 12, 2006
Watch clip: http://abc.go.com/primetime/menintrees/index.html
Cast: Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack and John Amos as Buzz.
 Synopsis: From one of the headwriters and executive producers of "Sex and the City" and the director of the Academy Award(r)-winning film, "Walk the Line," comes a fun and sexy ensemble drama about finding love in the most unexpected places. "Finding a good man in today's world isn't as difficult as some women think. You just have to watch out for the signs. You wouldn't drive with a blindfold on, but for some reason, women continue to date with one..." So native New Yorker Marin advises a crowd of her devoted fans. Marin thinks she has found her good man, fiancé? Graham, but discovers, bound for a speaking engagement in Elmo, Alaska, that he's been cheating on her. Plans for the wedding come to a screeching halt. Concluding that she really doesn't know anything about men, Marin resolves to temporarily stay in Elmo, where the ratio of men to women is ten to one, and get started on her new book - about men. Marin's subjects are quite a lively bunch. Adorably affable Patrick, an avid fan of Marin's books, runs the town's only inn and radio station. Man's man Buzz owns and flies the only plane in and out of Elmo. Sophisticated Ben runs the town's only bar and has an unusual past. Last but definitely not least, strong and silent Jack protects the environment and comes to protect Marin from a possibly rabid raccoon and, occasionally, herself. There are women in Elmo too. Both Theresa, Ben's estranged wife and former rock musician, and Sara, the town's "working girl," introduce Marin to a whole new way of thinking about men. And of course there's Annie, Marin's biggest fan, who moves to Elmo after hearing about Marin's break-up to reassure her -- mostly by quoting the relationship advice she has learned from Marin's books. Back in NYC, Marin's tough-girl editor, Jane, lends her long distance support, and even braves the ice and bad cell phone reception for the occasional visit. Marin learns that she has been living with her eyes closed for too long. Now that they're finally open, she sees the amazingly beautiful world around her, and for the first time she'll have the chance to stop and breathe. Now if she could just get the raccoon out of her hotel room, this place might be perfect.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS
Premiere Date: Sunday, September 24 at 10/9C
No sneak peek is available, but the cast alone should make you tune in.
Cast: Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths, Sally Field, Ron Rifkin, Patricia Wettig, Balthazar Getty, Dave Annable, Matthew Rhys, John Pyper-Ferguson and Sarah Jane Morris.
 Synopsis: Brothers and Sisters is a compelling, new one-hour primetime drama from executive producers Ken Olin and playwright Jon Robin Baitz about the California-based Walker family. In the series, we meet a collection of incredibly intertwined and somewhat damaged adult siblings who embrace one another unconditionally while striving to reflect the perceived perfection of their role model parents. In the days ahead, they will navigate waves of temptation, deception and grief. Brothers and Sisters follows the Walkers through the maze of American life today -- the pressures, limitless options and the struggle to grow beyond our backgrounds into ourselves. Through these fascinating siblings -- Sarah (Rachel Griffiths), the corporate VP who returns to the family business so she can give to her marriage as much as she does to her career; Tommy (Balthazar Getty), the loyal son yet charming womanizer; Kevin (Matthew Rhys), the gay lawyer cautiously learning about love; Justin (Dave Annable), the baby of the family, grappling with war trauma and addiction; and Kitty (Calista Flockhart), right-wing radio host turned TV pundit who has always been Daddy's little girl -- the show explores what it means to be a family in the 21st century, and how these brothers and sisters balance their own lives as they strive to accept their parents as people -- flawed, contradictory and forgivable -- rather than just as a father and mother. The parents are Tom Skerritt as William Walker, the larger-than-life patriarch and president of the family business, and Sally Field as Nora Holden, the opinionated wife and mother to the five Walker siblings. Then there's Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Nora's dandyish brother; John Pyper-Ferguson as Sarah's husband, Joe; Sarah Jane Morris as Tommy's wife, Julia; and Patricia Wettig as the mystery woman who could bring the Walkers and their company down. Brothers and Sisters stars Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal) as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under) as Sarah, Sally Field (Norman Rae) as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin (Alias) as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig (thirtysomething) as Holly, Balthazar Getty (Alias) as Thomas, Dave Annable (Reunion) as Justin, Matthew Rhys (Titus, Love and other Disasters) as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson (Unforgiven, Nightstalker) as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris (Felicity) as Julia. Ken Olin (Alias, thirtysomething), Jon Robin Baitz (The Substance of Fire, The West Wing) and Greg Berlanti (Everwood) are executive producers. The series is produced by Touchstone Television.
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Remember last fall when I fell for the The Nine, and then ABC pulled it from the air without telling viewers what happened in that bank?
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