As promised last Wednesday, directly below this week VanRamblings publishes the fall 2004 television season première schedule, commencing later this month, and continuing through the end of September. For the full 2004 season première schedule, through mid-November, click here.
In most cases, clicking on the links below will take you to the show’s network website, where a preview video of the season première is available.
(Check back regularly, throughout the months of August and September, as this item will be updated regularly with new content, revised season première dates — the networks continue to switch première dates — and other salient programme information, as it becomes available.)
Monday, August 30th
Fear Factor … NBC, 8 p.m. Can you believe this series is on NBC, and not FOX? Highlights of the action-packed new season of Fear Factor, hosted by Joe Rogan, will feature family feuds in the form of episodes showcasing siblings, twins, entire families and a multi-part couples competition; all-female and all-Miss USA contestant episodes; a return to Las Vegas; a road trip to New York City; holiday episodes celebrating Hallowe’en and Christmas; and a two-hour season première with a $1 million prize.
Last Comic Standing … NBC, 9:30 p.m. Last Comic Standing 3 will offer more than just an NBC Universal Studios talent deal and Comedy Central special to its winner. Instead, Last Comic 3 will feature over $500,000 in prizes, to be awarded throughout the season.
The Complex: Malibu …FOX, 8 p.m. (2 hours). Move real-life couples into a cliffside apartment building in Southern California’s coastal enclave of the rich and famous, put their construction, interior design and, most importantly, their relationship skills to the test with the chance to win a large cash prize. Home renovation under normal circumstances can be stressful enough to tear a relationship apart, but when couples are forced to keep within a tight budget and faced with strict deadlines and competitive neighbours, the stakes are even higher. Following a special two-hour première tonight (8 p.m.), the series will air in its regular timeslot on Fridays at 8 p.m., commencing later this week.
Tuesday, August 31st
Father of the Pride … NBC, 9 p.m. The networks’ first all-CGI prime-time show looks cute, but given that Roy Horn of Siegried and Roy (animated stars in the series) almost died at in the paws and jaws of a tiger last Christmas, there’s a quease-inducing aspect to this new show.
Scrubs … NBC, 9:30 p.m. Zach Braff hits it big with his Sundance award-winning Garden State, and now he’s back for a fourth season of his hit TV series, this time starring opposite Heather Graham. Lucky guy.
SEPTEMBER
Wednesday, September 1st
Hawaii … NBC, 8 p.m. Sharif Atkins gave up his role on ER for this? The early reviews (and here) for the series offer faint praise, indeed.
Renovate My Family … FOX, 8 p.m. (2 hour preview). Hosted by author Jay McGraw, the son of Dr. Phil McGraw. In the première episode of Renovate My Family, the Biggins family from Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy will pursue their goal of enriching their livelihood by allowing Family Time’s makeover team into their lives. Will Al-Mela, Anthon, Chrishara, Zikea, and little Omar be ready for a lifestyle examination and reformation?
Monday, September 6th
North Shore … FOX, 8 p.m. (returns). A guilty pleasure to be sure.
The Complex: Malibu …FOX, 9 p.m. (2 hours). The regular time slot.
Tuesday, September 7th
Next Great Champ … FOX, 9 p.m. Yet another reality programme, this one a reality-competition boxing show more infamous for going head to head with producer Mark Burnett (Survivor) and Sylvester Stallone, who have their own NBC reality-competition boxing show, called The Contender, scheduled to début in November.
Wednesday, September 8th
That ’70s Show … FOX, 8 p.m. The website Pop Matters seems to really like, I mean really like That ’70s Show. Who are we to dispute their wisdom?
Quintuplets … FOX, 8:30 p.m. Andy Richter’s latest series, on track to be the first show of the new season to be cancelled according to Chris Ryall. Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter slags the series, writing that the series is “limited by material without sufficient punch or panache.”
The Bernie Mac Show … FOX, 9 p.m. Inspired by Bernie Mac’s life, the half-hour comedy will continue to explore Mac’s unique views on parenting. Winner of the prestigious Peabody and Humanitas Awards, an Emmy Award for outstanding writing for a comedy series, two NAACP Image Awards for outstanding comedy series, and honoured by the Television Critics Association for outstanding achievement in a comedy and for individual achievement in a comedy for Mac, all the series needs is more viewers.
Method & Red … FOX, 9:30 p.m. A fish out of water comedy à la The Hughleys, this one’s been a critical favourite from the start. One to watch.
Thursday, September 9th
Joey … NBC, 8 p.m. Only the most hotly anticipated show of the fall season find Joey in Hollywood. This one has can’t miss written all over it.
Apprentice 2 … NBC, 8:30 p.m. (90 min). The Donald’s break-out TV series will première after the highly anticipated kick-off of Joey, the network’s Matt LeBlanc-lead spinoff of Friends. More unwatchable TV.
Medical Investigation … NBC, 10 p.m. The Practice’s Kelly Williams will add heart to this otherwise confusing / confused series. Have a look at the preview and see what you think.
Saturday, September 11th
Cops … FOX, 8 p.m. As journalist, curmudgeon, muckraker, political gadfly, atheist, linguist and conservative dissident H. L. Mencken once wrote, there’s no underestimating the intelligence of the American public. Number one in its time slot each week for 17 years. Who’da thunk?
America’s Most Wanted … FOX, 9 p.m. At least this show helps capture the bad guys. Their evil-doer’s hotline: 1-800-CRIME-TV.
Sunday, September 12th
Steve Harvey’s Big Time … WB, 7 p.m. (double half-hour episode). Award-winning comedian Steve Harvey teams up with Emmy award-winning executive producer Madeleine Smithberg (late of The Daily Show and Late Night with David Letterman), as the show searches for people across the United States who possess unusual hobbies or off-beat talents, and stories that are (hopefully) humorous, heartwarming, engaging and watchable.
Charmed … WB, 8 p.m. Republican and staunch Bush supporter Nick Lachey will join the series this season as Alyssa Milano’s new love interest. The big question: will we hear the 98° boy croon? Only time will tell. Late addition: former Dawson’s Creek co-star Kerr Smith will join the series.
Jack and Bobby … WB, 9 p.m. Taking place mostly in the present day, when it follows brothers Jack and Bobby McCallister (Matt Long and Logan Lerman), one of whom is destined to be elected president in 2040, the much-anticipated series from Dawson’s Creek and Everwood creator Greg Berlanti also stars Christine Lahti (Chicago Hope) as the boys’ mother.
Monday, September 13th
Las Vegas … NBC, 9 p.m. The breakout hit show of the 2003-04 television season, this fast-paced, sexy drama follows the elite Las Vegas surveillance team charged with maintaining the security of one of “Sin City’s” largest resort casinos. Big Ed Deline (James Caan), former CIA, is the head of the surveillance team for the Montecito Resort & Casino. Along with Nikki Cox and Josh Duhamel (in particular) in central roles Las Vegas has proved to be one of television’s most watchable ensemble dramas.
LAX … NBC, 10 p.m. You’ve had a look at the glossy preview, you just love Heather Locklear and Blair Underwood, and the whole idea of security breaches, tearful reunions, illegal immigrants, missing children, runaway animals, drug busts and drunken pilots at the world’s 3rd largest airport … I mean, can you wait for the première til Monday, Sept. 13th at 10 p.m.?
The Benefactor … ABC, 8 p.m. Mark Cuban, the billionaire founder of Broadcast.com (purchased awhile back by Yahoo!) and owner of basketball’s Dallas Mavericks, will give away $1 million to one of 16 lucky contestants on the show, to be aired at 8 p.m. on the East Coast or after Monday Night Football on the West Coast. The supposed criteria for winning the big bucks? Character, intelligence, heart and, maybe, just a little bit of luck. There’s a 6 minute preview available here (you’ll have to give the preview 10 minutes to load, though, as it’s a large file).
Monday Night Football … ABC, various start times across the country. The question going into Season 35 is Will ABC Sack Monday Night Football? Analysts say that ABC is losing about $250 million a year, and $150 million of that is due to the exorbitant $550 million annual fee ABC pays to the National Football League to air the programme. ABC, which is in contract renewal negotiations with the NFL, might be hard-pressed to swallow another gargantuan NFL fee increase — even though the programme has been the network’s top-rated show for the last three seasons.
7th Heaven … WB, 8 p.m. 7th Heaven returns for a record 9th season with a year of transitions. Teenage son Simon (David Gallagher) comes home from college ready to reclaim his place in the family, and the heart of former flame Cecilia (Ashlee Simpson). As for parents Annie and Eric, nothing announces the passage of time like the word grandchildren! After daughter Mary has her baby, will things return to normal? Not likely — because daughter Lucy (Beverley Mitchell) and husband Kevin (George Stults) are about to announce they will be adding another new Camden to the brood.
Everwood … WB, 9 p.m. Lots of cast changes going into season three, with Anne Heche and Scott Wolf joining as series regulars. One of the better shows on TV, this will be one series to watch in the coming season.
Thursday, September 16th
Will and Grace … NBC
Survivor: Vanuatu … CBS
Drew Carey’s Green Screen Show … WB
Friday, September 17th
What I Like About You … WB
Commando Nanny … WB. Delayed indefinitely due to recent surgery for star Gerald McRaney. Will be replaced in the interim with Grounded for Life.
Reba … WB
Grounded for Life … WB
Third Watch … NBC, 9 p.m. Lots of cast changes on this John Wells produced series, with Cara Buono and Josh Stewart joining full-time, while Aidan Quinn and Charles Haid are set for appearances.
Saturday, September 18th
MAD TV … FOX
Monday, September 20th
Still Standing … CBS
Listen Up … CBS
Everybody Loves Raymond … CBS
Two and a Half Men … CBS
CSI: Miami … CBS
One on One … UPN
Half & Half … UPN
Girlfriends … UPN
Second Time Around … UPN
Tuesday, September 21st
My Wife and Kids … ABC
According to Jim … ABC
Rodney … ABC
NYPD Blue … ABC
Law and Order: SVU … NBC
Gilmore Girls … WB
One Tree Hill … WB
Eve … UPN
All of Us … UPN
Wednesday, September 22nd
Lost … ABC, 8 p.m. This television season’s new drama with the biggest buzz, Entertainment Weekly awarded Lost a much sought after “Best New Drama” designation. Zap2It.com’s TV Gal says Lost is her favourite
show of the new television season, while California’s Modesto Bee says the series can’t miss, calling Lost “the best new network drama by far.”
The Bachelor … ABC, 9 p.m. (2 hours). ABC’s sixth instalment of The Bachelor will open with a “Lady’s Choice Ceremony” in which the twenty-five bachelorettes appearing on the programme will get to choose between one of two 40-year-old men to star as the programme’s bachelor.
Veronica Mars … UPN (preview show)
America’s Next Top Model … UPN
Smallville … WB
The Mountain … WB
Law and Order … NBC
CSI: NY … CBS, 10 p.m.
Thursday, September 23rd
Extreme Makeover … ABC, 8 p.m. Going head-to-head with CBS’ number-one ranked CSI programme. Good luck.
Primetime Live … ABC
ER … NBC
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation … CBS
Without a Trace … CBS
Friday, September 24th
8 Simple Rules … ABC, 8 p.m.
Complete Savages … ABC, 8:30 p.m.
Hope and Faith … ABC, 9 p.m.
Less Than Perfect … ABC, 9:30 p.m.
Joan of Arcadia … CBS
JAG … CBS
Dr. Vegas … CBS
Saturday, September 25th
The Amazing Race 6 … CBS
48 Hours Mystery … CBS
Sunday, September 26th
America’s Funniest Home Videos … ABC, 7 p.m.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition … ABC, 8 p.m. Up against critical favourites Cold Case (CBS) and American Dreams (NBC) this reality-based programme which picks cash-strapped families for a seven-day makeover of their homes will struggle / is being sacrificed in this Sunday night time slot.
Clubhouse … CBS (preview)
Crossing Jordan … NBC
Law and Order: Criminal Intent … NBC
American Dreams … NBC
Tuesday, September 28th
NCIS … CBS
Clubhouse … CBS
Judging Amy … CBS
George Lopez … ABC, 8:30 p.m.
Veronica Mars … UPN
Wednesday, September 29th
Wife Swap … ABC, 10 p.m.
Kevin Hill … UPN
The King of Queens … CBS
Center of the Universe … CBS
60 Minutes … CBS

Continue reading Fall TV 2004 Season Première Schedule →

With the premiere of the new television season about to commence (NBC kicks of the fall television season with the debut of the Dreamworks CGI animated comedy, Father of the Pride (Windows Media Player required), on Tuesday, August 31st and Hawaii, the next night, Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 8 p.m.) look for the full premiere schedule on VanRamblings next week.
In the meantime, sate yourself with the following tidbits of TV trivia …
BAILEY RETURNS! Party of Five alum Scott Wolf — he was that liar-thief-drunk Bailey — has joined the cast of WB’s Everwood. He’ll play a California doctor who takes over Dr. Abbott’s old practice. “Dr. Abbott and Dr. Brown have gone into practice together, so Scott comes in as the new doctor across the street,” explains exec producer Mickey Liddell. “He starts stealing clients from Abbott and Brown [because] he’s the new, young doctor in town.” It’s those damn dimples, I tell ya.
LEGAL MANOEUVER: David E. Kelley has added Mark Valley (Keen Eddie) to the cast of his upcoming Practice spin-off Boston Legal. Valley will star opposite fellow legal eagles James Spader and William Shatner.
CHARMING FELLA: Mr. Jessica Simpson, Nick Lachey, joins Charmed: Lachey will guest-star in six episodes of The WB’s drama, which debuts Sunday, September 12. Lachey will play a man hired to ghost-write Phoebe’s (Alyssa Milano) newspaper column when she takes some time off. The two eventually begin a romance.

Come this fall, Global TV intends to play much the same game with their schedule that Fox, south of the border, announced a couple of months back. Which means that, from week-to-week throughout the fall and winter, you won’t be able to count on finding many of your favourite television shows in the same spots they were the week before.
As the Globe and Mail’s Guy Dixon wrote in his piece on Global’s upcoming fall 2004 television schedule …

The old idea of a network simply débuting a fall lineup of programmes, which then repeats in the summer, has been laid to rest. In its place is a complicated schedule of show premières stretching into January.

As is the case with the two other private Canadian broadcasters — CTV and CHUM — Global’s fall schedule is heavily laden with American imports.

As you’ve seen in the endless ads for Global’s upcoming season, Friends spinoff Joey (Windows Media Player required); the new Heather Locklear – Blair Underwood airport drama, LAX; The Practice spinoff, Boston Legal; the John Goodman comedy, Center of the Universe; the hour-long drama, The Mountain; House, an ensemble hospital drama about doctors at a Boston medical clinic; Jonny Zero, a drama from ER and The West Wing-producer John Wells about an ex-con with ambitions of becoming a private investigator (January to June); and summer try-outs North Shore and One Tree Hill are among the 40 new shows that have made Global’s fall schedule.

The Apprentice will anchor Global TV’s Thursday nights when the new television season begins this fall.
In addition to The Apprentice and the similarly themed The Billionaire, Global will unveil a pair of boxing-based reality series over the coming year: The Contender, from Apprentice and Survivor producer Mark Burnett and Sylvester Stallone, and The Next Great Champ, featuring champion boxer Oscar De La Hoya and a roster of unknown prize-fighting prospects.
An ever-shifting TV landscape means changes for both Global and CH’s (the latter, Global’s regional network designation) primetime schedules.
Will and Grace and Malcolm in the Middle will return but at new times and, in Will & Grace’s case, on a new day: Wednesdays at 8:30.
24 will return in January, when it will move to Mondays at 9.
Returning shows on familiar nights and times: The Apprentice, Crossing Jordan, Everybody Loves Raymond, Fear Factor, Gilmore Girls, JAG, Judging Amy, King of the Hill, Las Vegas, NYPD Blue, The Simpsons, Survivor, That ’70s Show, Two and a Half Men and Without A Trace.
Returning Canadian shows include Andromeda, Doc, Mutant X, Train 48, Zoe Busiek: Wild Card, and the Burnaby-based Stargate SG-1.
Global’s new Canadian reality series include The Block, a home renovation series based on a popular Australian original, featuring four couples competing to see who can best renovate a run-down apartment; Last Chance for Romance, a relationship dating programme set at a Caribbean resort hotel; and The Temps, a hidden-camera series about unsuspecting office temps compelled to cope with bizarre workplace situations.
And given the recent success of the documentary form, Global has announced that it will produce and air 30 new homegrown documentaries, including a profile of Canada’s women’s Olympic soccer team, a look at the Vivendi-Universal media merger between Jean-Marie Messier and Edgar Bronfman Jr., and a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of Vanity Fair, O, Playboy and Macleans magazines.
As for the remaining Canadian television network schedules: here’s a peek at CBC’s, CTV’s and CHUM’s fall television schedules.
For the major U.S. networks fall television schedules, click on the following direct VanRamblings’ links: ABC, NBC, the WB, Fox and UPN, and CBS.

Once again, CHUM Thinks We’re Chumps

CHUM Television has unveiled a prosaic (which is to say, a rather ho-hum) fall television schedule, heavy on reality programming (The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, both ABC shows) and returning U.S.-purchased family dramas, such as Everwood and 7th Heaven (both WB shows).
CHUM will continue to broadcast their usual amalgam of in-house programmes, covering a broad range of topics, from music, fashion, media, cinema and the arts, to sex and sexuality, new media, science fiction and beyond, as well as a glut of movies you’ve seen at the cinema or on video.
The most anticipated new in-house programme is the made-in-Vancouver The Collector, featuring Chris Kramer as a modern-day agent of the devil sent to collect lost souls; the programme has been playing this summer on CHUM’s specialty channel, Space: The Imagination Station. The programme will début on Citytv, and other CHUM stations, early this autumn.
Returning series include the widely-acclaimed Monk, the filmed in Vancouver Smallville, and Enterprise (new day and time, Fridays at 9). Talks shows returning range from The Ellen DeGeneres Show, to the The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Kimmel Live.
CHUM’s new programmes for Citytv include And Go!, a 13-week guerrilla-style improv series hosted by comedian Bruce Hunter, an alumnus of Second City, Puppets Who Kill and The Red Green Show.
Other new series, purchased from networks below the 49th parallel:

• Battlestar Galactica, made in Vancouver and starring Edward James Olmos.
• Jack and Bobby.
• Life As We Know It.

All and all, CHUM’s fall television schedule lacks anything approaching creative vision, and comes across more like a cynical grab for advertising dollars. Who’da thought we’d miss Moses Znaimer, missing since 2003?

As for the remaining Canadian television network schedules: here’s a peek at CBC’s fall television schedule, as well as a glimpse of CTV’s fall schedule.
For the major U.S. networks fall television schedules, click on the following direct VanRamblings’ links: ABC, NBC, the WB, Fox and UPN, and CBS.