Cable is pulling out some big guns this year to run head-to-head with the networks' traditional fall premieres. Established faves like Dexter and Sons of Anarchy return, joined by promising newcomers like Boardwalk Empire and Terriers. Cable even has a late-night talk show featuring some Irish comic named Conan. Here's a look at just a few of the cable arrivals announced for fall...

2010

Jul

FALL PREMIERES: MARK YOUR CALENDAR By Diane Werts

If you love TV and you've got plans to do something else the week of Sept. 20, change 'em. The broadcast networks are loading up a "fall premiere week" like they haven't done in ages. A whopping 68 shows will either debut or return for new seasons the week of Sept. 20-27. That Thursday night alone, there are 14 series/season premieres across the five major networks...

2010

Jul

NEWS: DANIEL SCHORR TRIBUTE By Diane Werts

In honor of longtime CBS newsman and recent NPR commentary stalwart Daniel Schorr, who died Friday morning at 93, National Public Radio will air an hourlong tribute hosted by Robert Siegel on Friday night...

2010

Jul

AMC'S "MAD MEN" RETURNS, STARTING WITH FOUR BRILLIANTLY WEIGHTED WORDS By David Bianculli

Sunday's season premiere of AMC's period drama series Mad Men begins with Jon Hamm's Don Draper being interviewed by a reporter for a trade journal, who asks Don an innocuous puffball question as preparation of a profile about the successful advertising-agency executive. But because of what we know about Don's past -- and what most people around him DON'T know -- that puffball turns into a potential hand grenade...

2010

Jul

BURT REYNOLDS SHOULD BE A RECURRING CHARACTER ON USA'S "BURN NOTICE" By David Bianculli

Thursday night at 9 ET on USA's Burn Notice, Burt Reynolds guest stars as a retired spy targeted by a Russian hit squad. Michael and his crew come to the rescue -- in a crisp TV "buddy movie" so delightful, it all but demands a string of sequels...

2010

Jul

FLICK PICKS: SILENT EPIC FROM INDIA By Diane Werts

As so many cable channels morph to new formats that abandon their original fans, it's nice to see Turner Classic Movies getting even deeper into "classic" mode. This weekend's Silent Sunday Nights presentation is a 1929 epic from India, A Throw of the Dice (late July 25 at 12:30 a.m. ET on TCM), adapted from the Sanskrit poem The Mahabharata and featuring everything from a tiger hunt to death by cobra-in-bed...

2010

Jul

GUEST BLOG #106: TOM BRINKMOELLER SALUTES THE LONG, IMPRESSIVE LINEAGE OF PBS'S "AMERICAN MASTERS" By Tom Brinkmoeller

[Bianculli here: Wednesday night at 9 ET, most PBS stations are presenting the latest "American Masters" documentary, a profile of veteran country artist Merle Haggard. He's survived for decades despite the fickle currents of pop culture -- but so has American Masters itself. Tom Brinkmoeller tracked down the show's persistent and perceptive executive producer, Susan Lacy, to learn how...]

2010

Jul

NEWS FLASH: 'DAMAGES' MOVES TO DIRECTV By Diane Werts

Channel worth watching? That's what DIrecTV seems to be creating in its original programming channel The 101. Not content with grabbing the first run of Friday Night Lights from NBC, they're now adding Damages, after FX balked at continuing Glenn Close's costly legal thriller when ratings lagged...

2010

Jul

COMEDY: 'SCRUBS' ON TV, 'DAILY SHOW' IN CENTRAL PARK By Diane Werts

Comedy Central provides summer laughs all over the place this week. The cable channel is airing mini-marathons of Scrubs... And they're sponsoring a live performance from The Daily Show in Manhattan's Central Park on Wednesday...

2010

Jul

LETTER FROM THE TVWW MAILBAG -- ONE CONTRIBUTOR WRITES A READER ABOUT... ME? By David Bianculli

Bianculli here: It's getting nuts around here. First Eric Gould writes a column about a Lady Gaga video. Then I write an open column, addressed to Eric, challenging him to review three more videos, and selecting them for him as a dare. Then one of our readers writes in, good-naturedly questioning my psychological stability...

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