tv news | Through the Shattered Lens

ABC has signed on to Oscar award winning (12 Years a Slave) John Ridley’s drama “Presence” which will focus on an Army counter insurgency operative who finds herself navigating Los Angeles as an unlicensed private investigator.

“Presence” should premier sometime in the 2016-2017 season. No casting news is available at this time. Ridley is also in talks with ABC about an unnamed Marvel project. (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/john-ridley-sells-detective-drama-802451)

“Emerald City” is back alive at NBC and has its new star. According to The Hollywood Reporter (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/nbcs-emerald-city-casts-true-802634), Adria Arjona (Person of Interest) will play a 20-something-year-old named Dorothy. She and her K9 dog will be transported to a magical land to fight for supremacy.

The once, twice, thrice dead show is back alive and set to premier mid-season. David Schulner (The Event, Dracula) will write, executive produce and be show runner for the 10 episode series. “Emerald City” is based on L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz books.

Starz has picked up Neil Gaiman’s adaptation of “American Gods” HBO passed on the series earlier. Bryan Fuller (Hannibal, Pushing Daisies) and Michael Green (Heroes, Everwood) will serve as showrunners and executive producers

Casting news:

Winona Ryder is coming to TV, according to TVLine (http://tvline.com/2015/06/15/winona-ryder-montauk-cast-netflix-series/ ) She will be the lead in the Netflix yet-to-be-named super natural thriller. Ryder will play the mother of a missing two year old who uses her unknown powers to find him.

The series was originally titled “Montauk“. David Harbour (State of Affairs) will co-star with Ross and Matt Duffner (Wayward Pines, Hidden) writing and directing eight episodes.

Giancarlo Esposito is coming back to TV! According to The Hollywood Reporter (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/giancarlo-esposito-joins-baz-luhrmanns-803463) , Esposito (Breaking Bad, Once Upon a Time and Revolution) has joined on to Netflix’s ‘The Get Down”

Esposito will play the the fiery Pastor Ramon Cruz. “The Get Down” also stars Jimmy Smits.

Renewals and cancellations:

A&E has canceled Carelton Cuse’s drama “The Returned“. However, his “Bates Motel” has been renewed for season four, according to Zap2It (http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/2014-15_canceled_tv_shows_list-2014-11 )

Speculation news:

Jessica Lange might be returning to “American Horror Story” According to The Wrap (http://www.thewrap.com/jessica-lange-says-shes-open-to-american-horror-story-return/), she does not object to the idea, if her and Ryan Murphy can work something out. Please Jessica! (sorry, just said that to my TV.)

And in Holy Frakking news!

AMC has released the trailer for “Fear The Dead“, the spin off of “The Walking Dead“, You can watch it here! http://www.amc.com/shows/fear-the-walking-dead/video-extras/trailer-nicks-escape-fear-the-walking-dead-series-premiere

That will be my TV news round up for this week. Hope to see you all back next week!

Just my thoughts for PTV you can use.

You all remember what happened in early May, right? All the broadcast networks presented their shiney new shows for advertisers, in something called the ‘upfronts’. They gave us their schedules, what will be airing when….*record scratch* Wait, What? Only four weeks later every thing has changed!

Let’s start with ABC.

At the up fronts, ABC had “Of Kings and Prophets” airing in their 10 pm East/ 9 Central Sunday time-slot-of-death. (Remember 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, The Gates, American Crime, Revenge? Yeah, me neither) But according to TVline, ABC has pulled “Of Kings and Prophets” for a re-cast, which, in my opinion, will mean a never air. (http://tvline.com/2015/06/02/abc-fall-schedule-quantico-sunday-replaces-kings-and-prophets//) Now “Quantico” which has had its own problems will move into the Sunday time-slot-of-death was originally scheduled to be Tuesday at 10 East/ 9 Central

And NBC:

Well, we were all looking forward to Melissa Georges’ heart wrenching “Heartbreakers” (sorry for the pun!) But NBC has decided to move up another Dick Wolf show in “Chicago Med.” (Okay, seriously! I am moving to Chicago and getting me a job in the PD, FD or Med field!) I digress, NBC has replaced “Heartbreakers” with “Chicago Med” on Tuesday nights, either show will get a significance bump from “The Voice” lead in. (http://deadline.com/2015/06/heartbreaker-pushed-melissa-george-pregnant-chicago-med-fall-launch-nbc-1201438347/)

For FOX and CBS, let’s give them credit! So far they have stuck with their schedules. For now…all schedules are subject to change!

In get your streaming news together:

Orange Is The New Black got released a bit early; not like the orange jump suit prisoners in New York! According to Variety and other sources, you can get out of jail early, or at least watch #OITNB early!

Arrested Development! According to HitFlix, (http://netflixlife.com/2015/06/02/report-arrested-development-season-5-to-hit-netflix-in-2016/) new episodes will be released in 2016…I only have one thing to say, Arrested Development!

In casting news:

Heroes: Reborn

Okay, I might be a lot excited about this show! But in fairness to me, I loved Heroes! But in the news, according to TVLine (http://tvline.com/2015/06/10/heroes-reborn-cast-cristine-rose-returning-angela-petrelli/) Cristine Rose will be reprising her role as Angela Petrelli. and I could not be happier.

Now, Daredevil

Yes, yes, YES! Not only will Vincent D’ be back, but according to CNN and other reports, (http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/09/entertainment/punisher-daredevil-walking-dead-jon-bernthal-feat/) Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead
) will join the cast! Ok, I might be a little excited about Shane and his killing prowess!

In Memoriam this week.

I hope I do not have to do this often!

Lisa paid an amazing tribute to one of the all time greats, Christopher Lee this week! So saddened by his passing! (https://unobtainium13.com/2015/06/12/christopher-lee-r-i-p/)

But let’s not forget Ron Moody, can Fagin ever be played again the way Ron did? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWlHquk8si4) His interpretation of Fagin always leaves me breathless! Not what Charles Dickens did, but what Ron did with Fagin! How he transformed a character!

And Ornette Coleman
The only thing I can say about this amazing man is what he said about himself…”I don’t want to get paid, I just want to get heard, that is why I am broke”!

And I will be back next week with another news round up!