291399887.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Year in Television, 2008 ALSO BY VINCENT TERRACE AND FROM MCFARLAND Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2007 (2009) Encyclopedia of Television Subjects, Themes and Settings (2007) Television Characters: 1,485 Profiles, 1947–2004 (2006) Radio Program Openings and Closings, 193¡–1972 (2003) The Television Crime Fighters Factbook: Over 9,800 Details from 301 Programs, 1937–2003 (2003) Crime Fighting Heroes of Television: Over 10,000 Facts from 151 Shows, 1949–2001 (2002) Sitcom Factfinder, 1948–1984: Over 9,700 Details from 168 Television Shows (2002) Television Sitcom Factbook: Over 8,700 Details from 130 Shows, 1985–2000 (2000) Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of Over 1800 Shows (¡999; softcover 2009) Experimental Television, Test Films, Pilots and Trial Series, 1925 through 1995: Seven Decades of Small Screen Almosts (¡997; softcover 2009) Television Specials: 3,201 Entertainment Spectaculars, 1939 through 1993 (¡995; softcover 2008) Television Character and Story Facts: Over 110,000 Details from 1,008 Shows, 1945–1992 (¡993) The Year in Television, 2008 A Catalog of New and Continuing Series, Miniseries, Specials and TV Movies VINCENT TERRACE McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers Jefferson, North Carolina, and London LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGUING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Terrace, Vincent, 1948– The year in television, 2008 : a catalog of new and continuing series, miniseries, specials and TV movies / Vincent Terrace. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 978-0-7864-4391-8 softcover : 50# alkaline paper 1. Television series—United States—Catalogs. 2. Television specials—United States—Catalogs. 3. Television mini-series— United States—Catalogs. 4. Made-for-TV movies—United States—Catalogs. I. Title. PN1992.8.S4T485 2009 016.79145'750973090051—dc22 2009006686 British Library cataloguing data are available ©2009 Vincent Terrace. All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Cover image ©2009 Shutterstock Manufactured in the United States of America McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640 www.mcfarlandpub.com TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface 1 Part I. New Shows— Debuted in 2008 3 Part II. Returning Series— Debuted Prior to 2008 153 Index of Personnel 277 v This page intentionally left blank PREFACE The Year in Television, 2008 is the only source that chron- icles all the first run entertainment programs broadcast from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008. Included are series, specials, TV movies, pilots, miniseries and internet series. All the broadcast networks are represented (including syndication) as are cable networks (including specialized outlets like the gay and lesbian channels Here! and Logo). Each of the alphabetically arranged entries contains a story- line, performer/character casts, credits, month/day/year broad- cast dates, and genre. A full index concludes the book. Where possible, reviews are included with programs that premiered in 2008. From the obscure to the well known to the one episode wonders, everything, entertainment wise, is presented in a con- cise, easy to use guide that presents a look at what happened in 2008—for convenience now or in the future. 1 This page intentionally left blank PART I New Shows— Debuted in 2008 1 /A 4 1 The A List Awards. (Special; the category “Dishing the Stars” [celebri- Awards; Bravo; June 12, 2008) ties who provide their own dirt] the “win- A celebration of the creative process ners” were Valerie Bertinelli, number 5, covering the fields of beauty, design, fash- for her book Losing It; Lance Bass, num- ion, food and pop culture. ber 4, for his book Out of Sync.; Maureen Host: Kathy Griffin. Presenter: Mar- McCormick, number 3, for her book, garet Cho, Tamara Barney, Tyson Beck- Here’s the Story; Tori Spelling, number two ford, Lu Ann de Lesseps, Simon Doonan, for her book, Story Telling; and, in the Vicki Gunvalson, Bethenny Frankel, number one position, Tony Curtis, who, at Rachel Dratch, Billy Eichner, Molly 83 years of age, penned his memories in Simms, Alex McCord, Ramona Singer, the book American Prince. Other cate- Jerry Springer, Jeana Tomasina, Lauri gories include: “Naughty and Nice,” Waring, Jill Zarin. “Odd Baby Names” and “Rejected Roles.” Credits: Producer: Todd Chambers, Host: Rove McManus. Jason Uhrmacher, Eric Cook. Credits: Executive Producer: Lee Hoff- man. Supervising Producer: Jennifer Joseph. 2 Abby in Wonderland. (Pilot; Chil- Producer: Gail Deutsch, Donna Hunte, Ira dren; PBS; November 27, 2008) Robinson, Myrna Toledo. Director: Jeff The pilot presentation for a proposed Winer. Writer: Scott Jacobson, Lee Hoff- series featuring Jim Henson’s Muppet man. characters in fanciful adaptations of clas- sic fairy tales. Abby in Wonderland, 4 The Academy Awards. (Special; adapted from Alice in Wonderland, tells the Variety; ABC; February 24, 2008) story of a young girl (Abby) who loves The 80th annual presentation that hon- fairy tales and hopes to grow up and have ors the best in the movie industry. her own fairy tale. One day, as Abby’s Host: Jon Stewart. Guests: Colin Far- friend Elmo reads the classic Alice in Won- rell, Josh Brolin, Renee Zellweger, Nicole derland, Abby falls asleep and dreams she Kidman, Denzel Washington, Helen Mir- is Alice and experiences the adventures ren, Owen Wilson, Patrick Dempsey, John Alice found in Wonderland. Travolta, Forest Whitaker, Keri Russell, Voices: Carroll Spinney, Kevin Clash, Jack Nicholson, Tom Hanks, Martin Chris Knowings, Nitya Vidyasagar, Pam Scorsese, Cameron Diaz, Jessica Alba, Alciero, Rickey Boyd, Fran Brill, Tyler George Clooney, Harrison Ford, Hilary Bunch, Jerry Nelson, Carmen Osbahr, Swank, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Garner, Lara MacLean, John Kennedy, David Katherine Heigl, Penelope Cruz. Music Rudman. Performers: Kristin Chenoweth, Amy Credits: Executive Producer: Carol- Adams, Glen Hansard, Jamia Simone Lynne Parente. Co-Executive Producer: Nash. Kevin Clash. Coordinating Producer: April Credits: Executive Producer: Gilbert Chadderdon. Senior Producer: Melissa Cates. Producer: Don Scotti, Seth Kien- Dino. Producer: Tim Carter, Benjamin berg, Dennis Doty, Adam Lowitt. Associ- Lehmann. Director: Kevin Clash. Writer: ate Producer: Michael B. Seligman, Susan Christine Ferraro. M. Baker. Director: Louis J. Horvitz. Writer: Buz Kohan. 3 ABC’s the List. (Special; Variety; ABC; December 23, 2008) 5 An Accidental Friendship. (TV A look back at 2008 with lists covering Movie; Drama; Hallmark; November 15, the top five items in pop culture, enter- 2008) tainment and celebrities (for example, in Fact-based story about a police officer 5 AFI’s / 9 (Tami) and a homeless woman (Yvonne), in movies, gadgets and related adult en- each of whom share similar emotional tertainment items. The industry’s most pasts, who form an unlikely friendship— gorgeous female stars, clothed in skimpy and how they help each other out in try- bikinis and sexy but slinky gowns, show- ing times. case the various venders’ goods. Cast: Kathleen Munroe (Tami Bau- Host: Olivia Munn, Kevin Pereira. mann), Chandra Wilson (Yvonne), Ben Guests: Stormy Daniels, Ashlynn Brooke, Vereen (Wes), Gabriel Hogan (Kevin Naomi Cruz, Anna David, Jessica Drake, Brawner), Taylor Trowbridge (Gloria), Carmen Hart, Logan James, Sunny Lane, Jean Yoon (Lila Jones). Regina Lynn, Michelle McLarren, Mc- Credits: Executive Producer: Rich Ros- Kenzie Miles, Marlie Moore, Tera Pa- enberg, Bob Christiansen, Lorraine Tou- trtick, Megahan Perry, Mia Presley, Kris- ssaint, Irene Litinsky. Producer: Michael ten Price, Faye Reagan, Sunset Thomas, Prupas, Steve Solomos. Director: Don Sofia Valentine, Erika Vultion, Tera Wray. McBrearty. Writer: Anna Sandor. Porno Fire Place Segment Cast: Ron Je- Reviews: “Accidental Friendship almost remy, Zach Selwyn, Meghan Perry, Erik serves a near-political metaphor while Palladino, Liam Kyle Sullivan. Sexual Ha- working as pick-yourself-up by the boot- rassment Training Sketch Cast: Summer straps inspiration” (Variety). Herrick, Brad Stevens, Matthew Taylor. “Friendship should hit home with Credits: Executive Producer: Michael women viewers. There is hardly anything Danahy. Supervising Producer: Mark Tye in it to offend, doubt or to refute; on the Turner. Producer: Yaniv Fituci, Bobbi other hand, there is hardly anything to set Conway. Director: Jesse Selwyn. Writer: a spark” (The Hollywood Reporter). Zach Selwyn, Brad Stevens, Boyd Vico. 6 Aces ’n Eights. (TV Movie; West- 8 The AFI Achievement Award— ern; Ion; March 15, 2008) A Tribute to Warren Beatty. (Special; Somewhat violent tale of ranchers bat- Tribute; USA; June 25, 2008) tling the railroads for control of land and A tribute to actor Warren Beatty from the efforts of government agent Luke his friends and colleagues. Rivers to settle the dispute. Guest of Honor: Warren Beatty. Cast: Casper Van Dien (Luke Rivers), Guests: Halle Berry, Molly Ringwald, Bruce Boxleitner (D.C. Cracker), Ernest Barbra Streisand, Faye Dunaway, Dyan Borgnine (Thurmond Prescott), Jeff Kober Cannon, Julie Christie, Elaine May, (Tate), Deirdre Quinn ( Jo Tanner), Rod- Robert Downey, Jr., Diane Keaton, Har- ney Scott (Monty), Jack Noseworthy vey Kitel, Robert Towne, Jack Nicholson, (Riley). Mike Nichols, Goldie Hawn, Gene Hack- Credits: Executive Producer: Larry man, Jane Fonda, Don Cheadle, Quentin Levinson. Producer: Matt Fitzsimons, Tarantino. Michael