By John J. Joex(Click on the Series Links to see the full preview entry for each show)
The second half of the 2008-09 season will kick off in January as shows start to thaw from their Winter hibernation and the new / returning shows make their current season debuts. Three new shows are on the schedule: Dollhouse, Kings, and Cupid (NBC’s joint venture with the BBC to air Merlin is currently in limbo). And five returning shows will bow during the second half of the season: Lost, Battlestar Galactica, Reaper, Kyle XY, and Medium.
Currently, I am looking forward to several of the returning shows more so than the new ones. Lost tops my list as it has maintained a consistently high level of quality through its first four seasons and shows no signs of slowing down. This series re-invents itself every season and manages to stay fresh and relevant. Oh sure, it has strayed a bit from time to time (I found last season’s finale a bit of a letdown), but for the most part it continues to deliver well-crafted, engaging stories.
Battlestar Galactica should also soar during its ten episode swansong. Over its final episodes, we will find out what happened to Earth and the identity of the last of the Final Five. And while BSG has had its share of erratic episodes, when it hits it has few equals. I expect this one to go out with a strong finish.
Reaper’s return should provide some good fun to offset the intensity of Lost and BSG. While this one quickly descended into formulaic episodes during its first season, it ended strong as it began to expand beyond its routine. I only hope that it can build its audience, especially considering the fact that it will have some tough competition in its timeslot on Tuesdays at 9 PM with CBS’s juggernaut The Mentalist and FOX’s Fringe.
Among the new shows, I want to get excited about Dollhouse because the premise sounds interesting and because it comes from the always reliable Joss Whedon. However, I’m hesitant to get attached to it because I have doubts about its chances of surviving. Word is that FOX has already shown concern about the direction and tone of the series prompting some behind the scenes scrambling. And Whedon fans have already geared up a Save Dollhouse campaign which can’t be a good sign for the show’s future.
NBC’s Kings, which provides a modern take on the biblical David and Goliath story, sounds interesting but also kind of far-fetched for Prime Time audiences. This is another one that I will be tentative about committing to because I wonder if it could pull enough viewers to survive (especially considering the fact that NBC is handing five hours a week of Prime Time real estate a week to Jay Leno in the 2009-10 season). But then again, this is one of those that could turn into a Lost-like unexpected hit.
As far as ABC’s Cupid, I could really care less. Why they would spend money to remake a failed decade-old series then shove it into an iffy mid-season timeslot completely evades me. Instead, they could have picked up another network’s cancelled show from last season with a built in audience like Jericho or Moonlight (or even go back further and bring back Firefly). Or they could have given more support Pushing Daisies. Don’t know but this one seems like a lost cause.
NBC has taken Merlin off its schedule, so I am unsure if it will make it to Prime Time. The series sounds somewhat intriguing, and those of us who would like to check it out need not fret too much. Should NBC back out of its joint venture with the BBC, I’m sure this one will air at some point on BBC America. And a second season is already in the works (the first season aired in Britain this Fall), so we will have plenty of episodes to come.
In addition to these, NBC's Da Vinci Code-like mini-series The Last Templar will air on January 25th and 26th and should be worth a look. On the other hand, FOX's pilot Virtuality from BSG co-creator Ronald Moore looks like it could experience further delays and may undergo some retooling before it makes it to the small screen (if it ever does).
As for the returning shows from Fall, I am really hoping that Heroes gets back on track, Fringe continues to improve, and Life on Mars holds its course. I have just about given up on The Sarah Connor Chronicles, though I will still tune in when it first returns in February. Supernatural has become appointment TV, but the rest I may watch from time to time with none particularly high on my must-see list.
I also expect the executioner to stay busy as the 2008-09 season wraps up. Following are the ones that I consider most likely to get the axe by season end:
Chuck – This one has some friends in high places at NBC, but I can’t believe that will last long if its numbers don’t improve. It has trended slightly upward in the latter half of Fall, so it has a chance.
Cupid – The Tuesday 10 PM deathslot did in Eli Stone (and Jericho on CBS during the 2007-08 season), so expect this one to follow.
Dollhouse – Too much negative press already. It’s on Friday night. It’s on FOX. Let’s hope I’m wrong.
The Eleventh Hour – Doesn’t seem to make sense based on the numbers its pulled so far, but CBS does not seem committed to this one.
Kings - From what I have heard about this one so far I just feel like it may have a hard time registering with Prime Time viewers.
Knight Rider – Good riddance.
Life on Mars – Its numbers went steadily downward after it premiered in Fall. Its Lost lead-in will help for a while, but I believe it will have to show some serious improvement to get a second season.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles – The quality of writing is down and the ratings are nothing short of abysmal. And a move to Friday night will most likely only bring them down further.
Reaper – Barely received a renewal for a second season and now it has some extremely tough competition in the Tuesday 9 PM slot.
Check back as we continue to monitor the progress of all these shows for the rest of the current season. And keep up to date with the schedule for the current season: www.axiomsedge-scifi.com/scifi_tv_2008_09.htm
See also my Mid-Season Wrap Up for the Fall 2008 shows.
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