justice

The new FOX hostage negotiation drama Standoff has stopped production for a week, but not because the show is being shelved. It's actually a "writer's break," so they can get caught up (since they start the new season before the other networks) and new consulting producer Tim Minear comes on board to help out.

So, those of you who had Standoff in our contest can stop jumping up and down now and go back to watching television.

As predicted, CBS won the first Wednesday of the new season, with strong numbers for both Criminal Minds at 9 and CSI: NY at 10.

ABC won the 8pm time slot with Dancing With The Stars (side note: does it amaze anyone else that this show and all reality shows are still doing so well? Kinda makes me ill). At 10, CSI: NY beat out a Grey's Anatomy repeat and the debut of Kidnapped, which got a 5.1 rating/8 share (translation: NBC can't be happy about those numbers). Too bad. I think Kidnapped is a cool show.

For you Jericho fans: it came in second in the 8pm slot, while the CW's America's Next Top Model somehow got more viewers and a better demographic than FOX's Justice (though Justice had a higher rating - however that works).

• At 8, ABC has a new Dancing With The Stars.
• CBS has the series premiere of Jericho at 8, followed by the season premieres of Criminal Minds and CSI: NY.
• FOX has a new Bones at 8, followed by a new Justice.
• NBC has the two hour season premiere of The Biggest Loser at 8, followed by the series premiere of Kidnapped.
• The CW Network makes it's bow with the two hour season premiere of America's Next Top Model at 8.
• MyTV has a new Desire at 8, followed by a new Fashion House.
• At 10, Food Network has a new Good Eats.
• Discovery has a new Stunt Junkies at 10.
• There's a new Criss Angel Mindfreak at 10 on A&E.
• Also at 10: HBO has a new Inside the NFL.

Okay, maybe it's just me. Perhaps I wouldn't have noticed it if I weren't reporting on the television industry. However, I have, and I'm a bit disturbed about it because it could mean the beginning of the downfall of Western civilization as we know it. Yes, it's been said that everything from microwave ovens to Britney Spears would be the downfall, but I really think this is.

What am I talking about? The amount of television shows this season with one word titles, of course. What the heck do you think I was talking about? The Middle East? North Korea? Britney having another baby? Hell, no! I write about television; I don't care about any of those issues!

Seriously, maybe it began with shows like Lost, but it seems like a majority of shows this season are saving a lot on graphics with a one-word title. You doubt me? Well, you always doubt me, but I have proof to back up my theory. Jump ahead and you'll see what I mean.

Matthew Gilbert has an interesting article in The Boston Globe, about the new season of shows and how TV shows are now more complicated than ever (but that's a good thing). Not just returning shows like 24 and Lost, but new complex series like DayBreak, Kidnapped, and Vanished.

One page that the print edition of the Globe has that the web site doesn't (at least I couldn't find it) is Gilbert's grades for all the new shows. Quick summary: he thinks the best new shows are The Nine, Studio 60, Heroes, Six Degrees, Smith, The Knights of Prosperity, and Justice. The worst are Happy Hour, Twenty Good Years, and Help Me Help You.

As per the norm of FOX over the last few years, the fourth network (which has been around for almost, gasp, 20 years), will jump out of the starting gate earlier than the other networks with fall season premieres. This is done to give new and returning shows time to build up steam before Major League Baseball takes the stage in early October with playoffs and the World Series.

The new season will begin on Monday, August 21st with the second season premiere of Prison Break and the introduction of the new drama Vanished. On Wednesday, August 30th, Bones will enter its second season, along with new lawyer-drama Justice. Duets, the series that pairs singing stars with celebrities outside the music world, will have its 2-hour premiere a day later. House will step into its third season on Tuesday, September 5th.

The complete listing of premieres can be viewed at Zap2it.com. Save a copy of it, folks, because I'm sure the schedule will change during the first week of premieres, then again after the World Series, then again during the NFL post-season, and then once more when the juggernaut we know as American Idol premieres in January. By the time 2007 rolls around you may just see some of the shows now listed as entries in our 'Short-Lived Shows' category.