Whole New Round of TV: TNT, FX and USA
It looks like the basic cable networks have embraced their place and have completely shifted their original series seasons to the summer. This is great for those of us who like dramas and non-reality TV. OK dramas plus 30 Days, which last season put up one of the most effective half hours of TV showing what it was like to try to live on the bottom end of the payscale in America.
Anyway, new seasons of the following shows are all starting between now and the middle of July:
- The Closer - TNT
- Rescue Me - FX
- The 4400 - USA
- Monk - USA
- Nightmares and Dreamscapes - TNT (new series of Stephen King short stories)
- Saved - TNT (new drama)
- The Dead Zone - USA
- Psych - USA (new series)
- 30 Days - USA
I have to say that I have a much higher percentage of shows in that list than in the network fall lineup that I am looking for and putting into the Tivo schedule. This is all evolving to what I think we're all after, which is getting rid of everyone fighting over these synchronous timeslots and just put out good programming that can build a fanbase.
Oh, and major networks, if you're listening, take note. The vast majority of these shows have a new episode *every* week at their appointed time. It doesn't take a sweeps week or a "very special event" to get new episodes. It doesn't take 3, 4 or 5 weeks to get a conclusion to a cliffhanger episode. Instead, you get a steady stream of new content. Just like a junkie needs.


August 19th, 2006 at 2:10 pm
Now that Rescue Me has only one more episode, and The Shield doesn't begin again until 2007, what series will FX be featuring this fall?
Thanks!
August 28th, 2006 at 7:02 pm
I haven't seen what they're planning for fall yet. However, for these cable networks, the idea of a "season" is quickly breaking down and they're quickly becoming just 12-20 episodes aired in a row during any 3-4 months they choose.
January 27th, 2007 at 6:21 am
I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THE BEST PROGRAMMING, HOWEVER; I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE METHOD OF PROGRAMING. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING HOW LONG NOW SINCE YOU PREMIERED THE FIRST SEASON EPISODE OF "THE CLOSER" AND HAVE BEEN ON A CLIFF HANGER SINCE THEN. NOTHING HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT WHEN TO EXPECT IT AND I AM EXTREEMLY BOARD WITH ALL THE EPISODES OF LAW AND ORDER AND CHARMED. I WATCH TNT ALL THE TIME AND AT VARIOUS TIMES OF THE DAY AND AM SO BOARD WITH IT I AM READY TO START WATCHING REGULAR CABLE TV.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHATS GOING ON AND I DO ENJOY THE SHOWS I MENTIONED HOWEVER; THEY ARE JUST GETTING OLD. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO NYPD BLUE? YOU CAN REPLAY THAT ONE FOREVER WITHOUT HAVING TO PLAY REPEATS OVER AND OVER LIKE JUDGING AMY!