Rachel's TV Dramas Blog

The fall season begins in less than a week and I can't wait to see how the new dramas fare with both the viewers and in the ratings war. The first shows to premiere this Monday are Prison Break, Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill.

The much-anticipated premiere of 90210 airs on Tuesday with a special two-hour episode. Will all of us die hard original 90210 fans finally get the scoop on Donna, David, Brandon, Dylan and Steve? Will Brenda and Kelly put the Dylan issue to rest and become friends again?

In the weeks ahead, all ten new fall dramas will head to a living room near you. Confused about what to watch? No worries, we've put together a photo tour and synopsis for all ten shows to help get you better acquainted with the characters. Stay tuned; a fabulous fall is headed your way!

• Photo Synopsis Tour
• The Best New Fall Dramas
• Fall Premiere Schedule
• New Sci-Fi Shows

^{Photo Credit: Joseph Viles/The CW © 2008 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.}

Each fall, a whole new crop of stars enters our living rooms. Some are completely new to acting, and in recent years, many new faces are major film stars looking to broaden their horizons.

From Christian Slater and Jon Voight to Janeane Garofalo and Laurence Fishburne, this season brings more talented movie stars to television than in any other season to date -- has television become the new big screen? Is this the shape of things to come? Perhaps one day Brad and Angelina will join the ranks of movie stars who have crossed over to the fun side!

Take a peak at some of the hottest faces coming to television this fall.... and stay tuned for another exciting season.

Fall Preview

• The Hottest Faces of Fall
• Photo Tour of All the New Fall Dramas
• What to Watch This Fall

^{NBC Photo: Byron Cohen Copyright © 2008 NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.}

They might hold a spot on Nielsen's top 20 list each week, but let's face it, not everyone watches American Idol, Desperate Housewives, Heroes or CSI. We all have our own opinions on what makes a television show worth our precious viewing time. However, no matter what series we've watched over the years, everyone has at least one television moment they'll never forget.

To celebrate 60 years of recognizing the best of the best on the small screen, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is asking viewers to vote for their favorite moments in both comedy and drama.

Voters can choose from twenty scenes in both categories. To help refresh your memory, video clips from each nominated scene are right at your fingertips. Some of the dramatic moments include scenes from Moonlighting, Little House on the Prairie, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy. Comedic moments include scenes from I Love Lucy, Mork and Mindy, Friends and Seinfeld.

The 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards airs September 21 on ABC.

• Vote for Your Favorite Television Moments
• Primetime Emmy Nominees

^{© Fox Broadcasting Co.}

Each fall, a whole new crop of television shows floods magazine ads, billboards, commercials, the web and eventually the primetime schedule. Although these brilliant ad campaigns make all of the new series seem like the best thing since Seinfeld and Friends, the truth is that only a handful will make it to their sophomore season.

From another thrilling J.J. Abrams production to the return of KITT, an exciting slate of new shows are headed our way in just a few weeks. Confused about what to watch this fall? We've compiled a list of the most promising new shows to help navigate the way through those enticing ad campaigns.

• What to Watch This Fall
• Fall Photo Gallery

Which new fall series are you most excited about? Vote in our poll and post your comments below.

Around this time each year, I get flooded with screeners containing the pilot episode for many of the new (and sometimes returning) television dramas. Imagine my surprise when the CW announced to members of the press that screeners would not be arriving before the 9.02.08 premiere of 90210.

I have to admit that while I am eagerly anticipating the launch of this new series, I'm almost relieved to have one less DVD to watch in the next few days. However, not all members of the press are feeling the same way, leaving many to wonder if the series isn't all it's cracked up to be.

The CW issued the following statement to the press:

"The CW and our studio partner CBS Paramount Network Television have made the strategic marketing decision not to screen 90210 for any media in advance of its premiere. We're not hiding anything . . . simply keeping a lid on 90210 until 9.02, riding the curiosity and anticipation into premiere night, and letting all our constituents see it at the same time."

The publicity surrounding this hot new series has been brilliant thus far and I think not issuing screeners only further deepens the excitement surrounding the show. I do hope it's worth all the effort! Do you think they're making a mistake? Could all the hype possibly lead to a major letdown? Post your comments below and be sure to let us know if you plan on tuning in to 90210 this fall.

^{Photo Credit: Art Streiber/ The CW ©2008 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.}

As the new fall season approaches, last minute changes are being made and new characters added to the various primetime rosters. Here are a few of the latest and greatest casting changes and additions....

• The role of Angie Spivey, Christian Slater's wife on My Own Worst Enemy, has been recast. Yara Martinez has been replaced with Madchen Amick, who is joining the cast of the thrilling NBC series fresh off the set of the CW's Gossip Girl.
  
  
• As reported last week, Laurence Fishburne was in talks to replace William Petersen on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and I'm happy to report that the multi-talented actor has officially signed on the dotted line. His character will be introduced in episode nine.
  
  The actor addressed the fans via a press release issued by CBS: "I am elated and delighted to be joining the cast of CSI," says Fishburne. "I look forward to a wonderful collaboration with the creative and talented team of such a successful and distinguished show," he added.
  
  
• As ER enters its 15th and final season, viewers should expect surprise appearances from some of the series most loved characters. We already know that Oscar and Emmy-nominated actress Angela Bassett has joined the cast as the new attending physician at County General, but NBC has also snagged her real-life husband, Courtney B. Vance, to play a recurring role -- as her on-screen husband.

^{Photo Credit: Giovanni Rufino/The CW ©2008 The CW Network, All Rights Reserved.}

In recent years, dramedies seem to be popping up all the time on four of the five big networks, but CBS has dodged that bullet -- until now. At long last, the eye network has found a fun and sassy dramedy in The Ex List.

What is The Ex List?
Premiere: October 3
The series follows the life of Bella Bloom (played by Elizabeth Reaser), a 30-something businesswoman looking for Mr. Right. While attending a bachelorette party for her sister, Daphne, a psychic reveals to Bella that she has already dated her future husband and has to find him in the next year or risk remaining alone forever. Once she witnesses proof of the psychic's predictions, Bella realizes she must revisit every relationship and evaluate each mistake in order to finally find that one right guy. Will she find him before it's too late?

• More About The Ex List
• The Ex List Photo Gallery
• Guide to the New Fall Dramas

^{Photo: Cliff Lipson/CBS ©2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.}

In his third CBS drama series, Simon Baker takes on yet another intriguing and entertaining character when he becomes The Mentalist on Tuesday nights this fall. Will the third time be the charm for this talented actor?

What is The Mentalist?
Premiere: September 23
An alternative version of Jack Bauer arrives in the form of Patrick Jane, a detective and independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Although Jane has the uncanny ability to get the toughest cases solved, he rarely plays by the rules, and constantly breaks protocol. He'll have his work cut out for him when assigned to Senior Agent Teresa Lisbon's unit though....

• More About The Mentalist
• The Mentalist Photo Gallery
• Guide to the New Fall Dramas

^{Photo: Randy Tepper/CBS ©2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.}

After a long and distinguished film career, Christian Slater tries his hand at the small screen this fall with a drama that is sure to keep us glued to the tube with My Own Worst Enemy on Monday nights this season. From Heathers to Pump Up the Volume, Slater has a history of choosing memorable (and often chilling) characters -- will Henry and/or Edward captivate viewers this fall?

What is My Own Worst Enemy?
Henry Spivey is your typical middle-class family man with 2.3 kids. Edward Albright is a highly trained operative who can speak 13 languages and has the skill to kill with only his teeth. Henry and Edward share the same body and when their wall begins to crumple, the two are forced into dangerous situations only the other man can handle. However, the biggest challenge of all is, who can you trust when you can't trust yourself?

• More About My Own Worst Enemy
• My Own Worst Enemy Photo Gallery

^{NBC Photo: Mitchell Haaseth Copyright © 2008 NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.}

It looks like Brenda and Kelly won't have Donna around to keep the peace after all -- Tori Spelling has decided to pass on reprising her role as Donna Martin-Silver for the new 90210.

Why would Spelling decline to be a part of the remake of a show that her late father originally created?

Money

According to Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood Daily, Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth will each earn $35,000-50,000 per episode, while Spelling would only earn $10,000-20,000 per episode.

Can't say I blame Spelling for bailing on 90210 over the money issue. With all of troubles that plagued the original 90210, it's probably best to nip any potential problems in the bud to keep the peace in the new zip.

^{Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images}