Monday, August 11, 2008
TNT Fall 2008 Schedule; Remembering Isaac Hayes and Bernie Brillstein
The Closer, the #1 series basic in cable history concludes its riveting season on TNT on Sept. 15. The transfixing, critically acclaimed, original drama stars Golden Globe® winner Kyra Sedgwick as a complicated, unique, and confident LAPD interrogator, lacking a few social graces, whose unusual interrogation tactics solve high profile murder cases. The summer finale will air Monday, Sept. 15 at 9pm. There will also be a Labor Day marathon on Sept. 1 for The Closer from 9am-8pm leading into a new episode. That day will also feature a new series launch. Raising the Bar stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Jane Kaczmarek in a smart, highly charged drama that takes a revealing look inside the legal system through the eyes of young, passionate and idealistic attorneys. Attempting to maintain a balance between their personal and professional lives, while confronted by challenging, emotional and even morally questionable cases these eager attorneys pour their hearts into each case, stopping at nothing to see justice served. Representing both sides of the law, Raising the Bar, examines the harsh truth that the system is not always fair and a client's fate is often at the hands of those who work within the system, regardless of his guilt or innocence. Raising the Bar will air Mondays at 10pm until Sept. 15 then will move to Mondays at 9pm starting Sept. 22. The season finale will be on Monday, Oct. 27 and will be two-hours.
So what about the actual regular schedule? The new fall schedule for TNT will start Monday, September 29. There will not be many changes, though. Cold Case was supposed to join the lineup airing weekdays at 12 noon ET, but they will not do that now. So, Cold Case will remain in late night marathon blocks. Instead now TNT will add an extra episode of Las Vegas to its daytime line-up. As for Cold Case, it will air late nights as I said, with Without a Trace late night blocks. TNT will also do a few X-Files and Judging Amy late night blocks in October as well. The NBA season gets underway on Tuesday, Oct. 28, but TNT will of course air Thursday night doubleheaders starting Oct. 30. TNT will also showcase a few pre-season games.
Check out the full TNT Fall 2008 line-up and you may also discuss it.
We have lost two more celebrities this weekend. First we reported Bernie Mac now Isaac Hayes and Bernie Brillstein. Isaac Hayes, the baldheaded, baritone-voiced soul crooner who laid the groundwork for disco and whose "Theme From Shaft" won both Academy and Grammy awards, died Sunday afternoon in Memphis after he collapsed near a treadmill. Hayes was pronounced dead at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis an hour after he was found by a family member. The cause of death was not immediately known. Hayes was about to begin work on a new album for Stax, the soul record label he helped build to legendary status. And he had recently finished work on a movie called Soul Men in which he played himself, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac, who died on Saturday. While he was primarily a player in the music industry, Isaac had many TV roles. His career hit another high in 1997 when he became the voice of Chef, the sensible school cook and devoted ladies man on the animated TV show South Park. Isaac also did voice-over work for Nick at Nite's sitcom lineup in 2001 and 2002. Isaac guest starred on series such as The A-Team, The Rockford Files, Hunter, Miami Vice, Tales from the Crypt, Sliders, Stargate: SG-1, Fastlane, Education of Max Bickford, and sitcoms such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Hugleys, Veronica's Closet, Girlfriends, Bernie Mac, and That '70s Show.
He was in several movies, including It Could Happen to You with Nicolas Cage, Ninth Street with Martin Sheen, Reindeer Games starring Ben Affleck and the blaxploitation parody I'm Gonna Git You, Sucka. His voice will certainly be missed. Mr. Hayes was 65.
Now we remember Bernie Brillstein. Bernie Brillstein, pioneering manager and producer whose keen eye for talent led him to steer the careers of such stars as John Belushi and Jim Henson, died Thursday (Aug. 7). Brillstein had been suffering from complications stemming from double-bypass heart surgery in February.
In the 1980s, the Brillstein Co. was among the first contempo talent rep shingles to branch out into TV production in a significant way with shows packaged around clients, a list that included ALF, It's Garry Shandling's Show, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd and The Slap Maxwell Story.
In late 1991, when Brillstein partnered with Brad Grey, who had joined Brillstein Co. in the mid-1980s as a manager, the company further expanded the scope of its film and TV operations. Brillstein-Grey Television fielded such noteworthy skeins as The Sopranos, Just Shoot Me, NewsRadio, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher and The Larry Sanders Show. Brillstein-Grey Entertainment features included Adam Sandler's Happy Gilmore, Jim Carrey's The Cable Guy and The Replacement Killers.
Early in his career he produced popular movies such as The Blues Brothers, Ghost Busters, and Dragnet. He also produced the critically acclaimed series Buffalo Bill early in his career. Read more on Bernie Brillsteein. He will be deeply missed. He was 77.
Sitcoms Airing Tonight
Wednesday, June 7
Night Court - "Just Tuesday" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Abby makes a mistake in the courtroom, she decides to adopt an all-business approach to get things back on track, but her new style catches everyone off guard.
Night Court - "Dan v. Dating" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
With Abby's encouragement, Dan attempts to venture back into the dating world, but reigniting his love life proves more complicated than anticipated; Gurgs and Olivia search for a new office and find something they weren't expecting.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang Inflates" (FXX, 10:00PM ET/PT)
Dennis and Mac get into inflatable furniture to deal with the economy's inflation; Dee tries to find a place to crash after being evicted by her greedy landlord; Charlie wants to pitch Frank his investment idea.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "
Frank Shoots Every Member of the Gang" (FXX, 10:33PM ET/PT)
After Frank shoots Dennis and Dee, they resolve to take Frank's gun away; Mac and Charlie go on a road trip with their moms to get their inheritances.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 5)
Wednesday, June 7
- Chris Perfetti (Abbott Elementary) - Watch Chris on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary/Fam/Instant Mom/Moesha/George/It's a Living) - Sheryl Lee is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Laura Benanti (Younger/The Detour/Go On/Starved) - Laura appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Ike Barinholtz (History of the World, Part II/The Afterparty/Bless the Harts/The Mindy Project/Eastbound & Down) - Ike is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Ben Schwwartz (The Afterparty/Space Force/Parks and Recreation) - Ben appears on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Betty Gilpin (GLOW/Nurse Jackie) - Betty is a guest on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
- Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken/Community) - Ken will be on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS. He will also be on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Sarah Michelle Gellar (The Crazy Ones) - Sarah appears on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
- Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Luis) - Charlie appears on a repeat of The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
- Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) - Chris is a guest on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Brittany Snow (Ben and Kate) - Brittany and entrepreneur Jaspre Guest talk about their online platform September Letters on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever) - Maitreyi appears on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:45am.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (January-June)
01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten
02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series
03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/04 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Fifth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/18 - Blondie - The Complete 1957 Television Series (Blu-ray)
04/25 - Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
05/23 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Eleven / The Complete Season Twelve
05/23 - Go On - The Complete Series
05/23 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (Universal)
05/29 - Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/29 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/30 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
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