ghostwhisperer

The term "adult video games" sounds admittedly dirty, so we'll steer clear of that and call CBS Consumer Products' upcoming line of TV series-based titles "grown up."

CBS announced in a press release that they're breaking out a line of games related to hit shows that aren't exactly on the kids' radars -- what with their rock n' roll and their Hula-Hoops and their "Beavis and Buttheads." You'd expect to see console or computer games based on The Clone Wars or Battlestar Galatica, but Diagnosis: Murder and Hollywood Squares? What would Paul Lynde say?

But, those latter two shows are on the list, with a PC & Mac game heading our way in 2010 for Diagnosis and an iPod Touch and iPhone game of Squares coming next year.

(S05E07) "The answers are there, but you have to know when to look." - Carl the Watcher

Starting this week, TV Squad now offers regular reviews of CBS' Ghost Whisperer. What an episode to start reviews with! The first episode of November Sweeps offered us more backstory and mythology about the shadows, some of their powers, the book ... and Jennifer Love Hewitt in lingerie doing some pole dancing!

We were also treated to a case of the week that kept us guessing as to who was to blame for the death of now-ghost Tina and what secret Dr. Morgan and President Bedford were hiding.

There will come a time, no doubt, when every show on TV will be turned into a video game to delight and distract us from all the other important stuff we're supposed to be doing in our lives.

CBS is stepping up to help contribute to our delinquency with a new slate of TV-based video games. They've already got two 'CSI' games on shelves, and six more are in the works for a number of systems, including the Wii, Nintendo DS, iPhone and iPod Touch.

We thought we'd help out by supplying a few possible scenarios for these upcoming games.

The "Ask TV Squad" column, published every Wednesday, answers your questions about current and past TV shows, as well as about the celebrities appearing on TV. Every week, I will pick a question (or more) sent to us and provide answers in the column. If your question is not picked for a column, it may be answered in a subsequent column or in TV Squad's APB Podcast.

To submit questions to the "Ask TV Squad" column, you can post them below in comments or email them to asktvsquad@gmail.com.

This week, I answer questions about Ghost Whisperer, How to Make It in America and Better Off Ted.

Jennifer Love Hewitt is dead serious about her new gig as a comic book creator, and her first title is set for release in November.

Jennifer Love Hewitt's The Music Box from IDW Publishing is a 10-issue anthology series involving a mysterious music box that causes strange occurrences for the people who possess it. It's not necessarily the most novel concept, as cursed objects passing from one person to another is as old as The Monkey's Paw. It's all in the execution.

And, Hewitt will have a role to play in that, too, as the issues will be co-written by Hewitt and veteran comic scribe Scott Lobdell. The first issue will showcase painted art by Michael Gaydos. Other issues will feature artists such as Casey Maloney (G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra), Adam Archer (Friday the 13th), and Joe Rubenstein.

When I looked at the panel schedule for Comic-Con International, I asked myself, "What's Ghost Whisperer doing on there? Really? Ghost Whisperer?"

I have nothing against the show, and I guess it has supernatural elements that put it in enough of a genre category to qualify for Comic-Con treatment. But I thought it was just an uber-sensitive, feminine product.

Then again, when you consider how Twilight dominated this convention, "chick stuff" ruled the day. There's no reason why Ghost Whisperer can't have its moment, too.

So, creators took the chance to announce two product tie-ins coming for Whisperer fans.

Mid-June, fellow Squadder Danny wrote a list of ten TV shows that deserve to have their own video games. CBS's Ghost Whisperer didn't make Danny's cut. However, the show's premise would provide a good setting for a game. Imagine yourself in Melinda Gordon's shoes trying to help ghosts cross over by finding out who they are, why they won't cross over, and how to make them walk through the light.

CBS and Legacy Interactive thought that it was about time to offer GW fans the chance to step into Melinda's shoes.

The 19th season of 'Survivor' will lead off CBS' 2009 fall premiere schedule.

The 'Samoa' edition premieres Thu., Sept. 17, followed by the network's Monday night comedy block, which includes the debut of Jenna Elfman's 'Accidentally on Purpose,' on Sept. 21.

Meanwhile, dates were also added for hit shows like 'Criminal Minds' (Wed., Sept. 23), 'The Mentalist' (Thu., Sept. 24) and the NBC import 'Medium,' premiering Fri. , Sept. 25.

Check out the full list of premiere dates after the jump.

It's worked for other shows; Desperate Housewives revitalized itself after a timely time jump. Now comes word that producers are considering a five year jump for Ghost Whisperer for this upcoming season. Said word comes from Ausiello over at EW, so it may just be a rumor that doesn't pan out, but I agree with Mandi over at PopWatch that it could be just the boost the show needs. Primarily because the idea of Melinda's extra-curricular activities jibing with juggling a newborn were looking awkward at best.

She'd either look like a negligent parent by leaving the baby constantly to help one spirit or another, or she'd be carting said baby around, or they'd pull an Everybody Loves Raymond and just kind of ignore that the kids are around. Plus, as Mandi indicated, that gives us a chance of Melinda's baby being old enough to start doing some of those amazing things that he's supposed to be able to do. Plus, we can get flashbacks (Hi, Lost) of that gap to fill us in and we can delve knee-deep into the good vs. evil battle. Maybe they could even have the Winchester boys show up in a cameo.

The producers of The Listener, a new NBC semi-supernatural drama created in Canada, seemingly spent too much time "listening" to moody, do-gooder predecessors such as Medium or Ghost Whisperer. The end result is just a little too familiar to generate much excitement.

The Listener is a rare animal -- a Canadian production from Shaftesbury Films and CTV picked up by an American network for prime time TV. You're left wondering if NBC might have bought a show directly inspired by programs already on the air in the U.S.

It's not uncommon for networks to remake shows popular in other countries. The Office is an obvious direct example in the U.S., and reality shows just change titles as they jump back and forth over the Atlantic.

The Listener looks like CTV wanted to clone the success of the American mini-genre of the average human struggling with a supernatural gift that calls him or her to an extraordinary life. We've seen that plenty in the U.S., but NBC thought we might like to see it again.

10 - Survivor, CBS

9 - Ghost Whisperer, CBS

8 - The Bachelor, ABC

7 - The Unit, CBS

6 - At least one CSI, CBS

5 - At least one Law & Order, NBC/USA Network

4 - Brothers & Sisters, ABC

3 - Private Practice, ABC

2 - American Idol, FOX

1 - Grey's Anatomy, ABC

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