crusoe

'Crash'
(10PM, Starz) series premiere
'Crash' opens with Dennis Hopper berating his penis, and from there gets a little less weird, though more intense.

The drama, based on the surprise Best Picture Oscar winner, doesn't rely on the racial themes that drove the 2004 movie, but, like the flick, does show how a disparate group of Los Angeles residents meet and mingle.

Hopper's aging record producer Ben, who seems to be based on Phil Spector, is the most over-the-top character in the bunch, which also includes corrupt cops, a gang member-turned-paramedic, marrieds warring over the wife's father and a musician who gets more than he bargained for when he becomes Ben's driver.

If you've been watching NBC's Olympic coverage, you must have seen all of the promotion they have been doing for their fall season. New shows My Own Worst Enemy, Crusoe, Knight Rider, Kath & Kim, and America's Toughest Jobs have all had plenty of play. As have the returning Chuck and Life. Given that the latest Olympiad is closing in on becoming the most watched television event of all time, you might think those promo spots were pretty valuable.

Apparently, not so much. The Hollywood Reporter runs down the record for the network promoting new shows during past games. In 2004, the Athens games led to one show, Joey, making it beyond its first season. Likewise for the Sydney games in 2000, which brought us Ed, and nothing else. Things were a little better in 1996 from Atlanta. Profiler, The Pretender, and Suddenly Susan all lasted another four years. Not a stellar track record and it leaves you thinking that those precious spots might have served the network better pitching more beer. It has the makings of a good poll though. After the jump, place your vote for the one new show that will make it out of season one.

NBC has issued a press release with the premiere dates for all their fall shows. This way, you know when to set your DVR.

The full press release includes descriptions for each of the shows. New shows are in all caps.

Heroes will be the first scripted show to return with a two-hour premiere on September 22nd. The first new scripted show will be Knight Rider on September 24th (although I don't know if you could count it as new since they already broadcast the two-hour pilot).

Complete schedule after the jump.

Today, NBC released more casting news for its new fall drama / adventure series Crusoe, and it looks like some more big screen actors are finding a home on the small screen. Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), Sean Bean (The Lord of the Rings) and Joss Ackland (Lethal Weapon 2) will join the cast.

Crusoe, based on Daniel Defoe's novel, is due to film in the UK, South Africa, and the Seychelles. The show will follow the title character (played by Philip Winchester) on his island adventures while flashing back to his life before he was a castaway. Sean Bean will play Crusoe's widower father and appear in scenes that depict his tragic childhood. Sam Neill will play Jeremiah Blackthorn, a family friend who keeps a close watch on Robinson Crusoe's business ventures.

I will definitely be tuning in and checking this show out. I like that it's based on a classic novel. Sam Neill, no stranger to television work, was great in The Tudors, and I've had the biggest crush on Sean Bean since his Boromir days in LOTR.

Does Crusoe look interesting to you?