More Cable Jumps into Genre
We’ve covered the new genre offerings from the broadcast networks. Now, here’s a look at what the cable nets are dishing out:
ABC Family:
“The Nine Lives of Chloe King”
[youtube=http://youtu.be/UayscbEr10Q]
Official synopsis:
Chloe King is looking forward to celebrating her birthday with her friends and single mother, just like every other year…that is until she starts developing heightened abilities and discovers she’s being pursued by a mysterious figure. Chloe soon learns she’s part of an ancient race which has been hunted by human assassins for millennia —and that she may be their only hope for ultimate survival. The Nine Lives of Chloe King will be executive produced by Dan Berendsen (Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Hannah Montana: The Movie) and John Ziffren (Melissa & Joey, Make It or Break It) with Alloy Entertainment’s Leslie Morgenstein (Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries) and Gina Girolamo. The drama is based on the book series The Nine Lives of Chloe King by Liz Braswell.
Cartoon Network:
“Thundercats” goes anime in this new version, previewed at Wondercon.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/OjuCkRA1qtI]
And of course, “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” is back for season 4:
[youtube=http://youtu.be/r-09URHNBFg]
[youtube=http://youtu.be/g4lzU8Dq6kA]
Plus, CN has new seasons of “Generator Rex”, “Ben 10: _________”, “Young Justice” and the new “DC Nation”.
Plus plus: the new “Green Lantern” animated series debuts in November 2011.
Comedy Central:
The second half of “Futurama” season 6 premieres June 23. UGO has this preview.
HBO:
“True Blood” returns.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/3eGyQpOh144]
And of course, Mr. Smith continues his coverage of “Game of Thrones”. Read his latest entry here.
MTV:
“Teen Wolf”
[youtube=http://youtu.be/1aLPzfhmKlA]
Official synopsis:
Scott was just a regular guy until one bite changed his life forever.
Now he struggles to understand who he is and what he might become. Is he more wolf than human – or is it the other way around? Whichever it is, it’s not going to be easy. Scott will try to control his urges, but mostly he’s scared that it’s his urges that could end up controlling him.
TEEN WOLF is the story of Scott as he tries to walk the line between what he wants and what he can’t help from wanting. Will the bite end up being a gift? Or will it be a curse? And what will it all mean for his relationship with Allison – the girl he can’t get enough of? Only time will tell if he should embrace his newfound powers, or if he should fear them.
[NOTE: “Teen Wolf” is on the list of shows Dustin and Molly will be covering on “Reviews for Humans”]
Syfy:
Say what you want about Mr. Stern, the network continues to do well in the all-important Male 25-54 demographic. They’re upfront was all the way back in March, so we’ll just recap here.
In July, Syfy launches four scripted series in the same month — for the first time ever — when “Alphas” premieres along with returning powerhouses “Warehouse 13” “Eureka” and “Haven”. Also in development is the next installment of the BSG franchise “Blood and Chrome”.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/0zHxFaFAU1w]
From the press release:
“Alphas” follows a team of ordinary citizens whose brain anomalies imbue them with extraordinary mental and physical abilities. Taking the law into their own hands, the unlikely team, led by Dr. Leigh Rosen (Emmy Award-winner and Oscar nominee David Strathairn) investigates cases that suggest other Alpha activity to uncover what the CIA, FBI and Pentagon have not been able, or willing, to solve. These gifted individuals must balance their quirky personalities and disparate backgrounds with their not always visible powers as they work to solve crimes, stop the ticking time bomb and catch the enemy.
“Alphas” also stars Malik Yoba, Warren Christie, Laura Mennell, Ryan Cartwright and Azita Ghanizada, and is a production of Universal Cable Productions and BermanBraun Television. Executive Producers are Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun and Gene Stein for BermanBraun, Zak Penn and Ira Steven Behr.
“Battlestar: Blood & Chrome” — Luke Pasqualino (“Skins” UK) and Ben Cotton (“Hellcats”) star in “Battlestar: Blood & Chrome”, which takes place in the 10th year of the first Cylon war. As the battle between humans and their creation, a sentient robotic race, rages across the 12 colonial worlds, a brash rookie viper pilot enters the fray. Ensign William Adama (Pasqualino), barely in his 20’s and a recent Academy graduate, finds himself assigned to one of the most powerful ships in the Colonial fleet…the Galactica. The talented but hot-headed risk-taker soon finds himself leading a dangerous top secret mission that, if successful, will turn the tide of the decade-long war in favor of the desperate fleet. Executive producers: David Eick and Michael Taylor. Written by Michael Taylor from a story by David Eick, Taylor and Bradley Thompson and David Weddle. A production of Universal Cable Productions.
“Three Inches” — Professional daydreamer and underachiever Walter Spackman is struck by lightning and develops a unique “super” power — the ability to move any object using just his mind… but only a distance of three inches. He’s soon immersed in a world of extraordinarily ordinary people like himself and learns that “super” is just a state of mind. The pilot is written by Harley Peyton (Twin Peaks), who also serves as executive producer. Fox Television Studios is producing with executive producer Robert Cooper, through his company Landscape Entertainment.
“In the Dark” — follows a misfit group of third tier ghost hunters whose misguided efforts tend to highlight their incompetence rather than any paranormal activity. From Universal Cable Productions, “In the Dark” is executive produced by Dan Taberski through Idiot Box Productions, Michael Davidoff and Bill Rosenthal. Teleplay by Michael Davidoff & Bill Rosenthal.
“Me and Lee” is about a down on his luck 20-something who goes in for back surgery, but the procedure doesn’t go well. Enter Lee Majors, who claims he has the perfect solution. He entices the young man into his ultra high-tech lab and makes him bionic. Majors becomes the unlikeliest of mentors helping the young man get his life back together. Jenji Kohan, the executive producer and creator of “Weeds”, serves as the executive producer of “Me and Lee” along with the writer Matthew Salzberg, Allan Loeb and Steven Pearl. Produced by Lionsgate.
TNT:
The most notable new show is “Falling Skies”. Seen the first three episodes. This is everything “V” wasn’t. And we’ll have more coverage very soon, as we get closer to the premiere, including our recent tele-conference with stars Noah Wyle and Moon Bloodgood.
USA Network doesn’t have any genre shows, per se, but worth an honorable mention are these two action series with genre stars in the casts:
“Covert Affairs” (June 7) – a CIA piece starring Piper Perabo, Peter Gallagher (who was in “Brave New World” with Leonard Nimoy), Sendhil Ramamurthy from “Heroes” and Kari Matchett from “24”.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/AeCipjZiy90]
“Burn Notice” (June 23) – Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar, and the lovable Bruce Campbell return for season 5 of the breakout hit that helped put USA Network at the grown-ups’ table (or at least with the teens…). USA Network is behind this show enough to have already renewed it for this year and next.
Micheal Westen has finally made it back into the CIA after being burned at the beginning of the show, dumped in Miami as persona non grata. What happens next?
[youtube=http://youtu.be/mUmg9S3MgTg]
