The Show Must Go On: What Happens When a Series Loses Its Lead?

It’s the nature of the television business: Popular shows can’t just call it quits if a lead actor opts not to renew his or her contract. Even though their ratings tend to decline over the years as costs only increase, these hits are simply too valuable for the networks to let them go. Success stories are hard to come by, and thus the networks have to milk the ones they have for all they’re worth, even if it means replacing a beloved lead character.

This TV season, the doctrine of longevity over creativity is rearing its head on several different series, most notably THE OFFICE and LAW & ORDER: SVU on NBC, and TWO AND A HALF MEN and the original CSI on CBS. (HOUSE, on Fox, is also losing a major player in Lisa Edelstein, but since the medical drama is more the Hugh Laurie Show than anything else, and Huddy broke up last season anyway, the writers should be able to handle that one no problem.)

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Joshua Jackson Co-Writes a New FRINGE Digital Comic Book

What has Peter Bishop been up to? Well, we can’t tell you that, but the man behind Peter has been hard at work co-writing a new FRINGE comic book!

Yes, you read that right: Joshua Jackson (Peter) has contributed to “Beyond the Fringe” a new online comic series based on his Fox series that debuts today.

Keep reading for a description of what the comics are about…

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LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT: Stephanie March and Linus Roache Tease Their Characters’ Tension

While the bulk of the LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT cast is returning for tonight’s season premiere, there is no doubt the feel of the first hour is different.

Visually, the show looks a bit different, which if you’re a long-time fan — which I have no shame admitting I am — could potentially take you out of the moment briefly. But these are still many of the characters we have known and loved for well over a decade, and despite the loss of Elliot, they are still working as a cohesive unit…for the most part.

However, to help fans be more comfortable with some of the well-reported casting changes, the series is bringing back a few familiar faces: Stephanie March (Alex Cabot) and Linus Roache (who is reprising his role of LAW & ORDER’s Michael Cutter). The duo appear in tonight’s season premiere and to say things don’t go so smoothly between them is an understatement.

March and Roache recently participated in a conference call with reporters, and I asked them to tease the tension between their characters…

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THE X FACTOR: Steve Jones Explains Why He’s Not Nervous Pre-Premiere, Meeting Ryan Seacrest and More

America, prepare to be charmed.

When THE X FACTOR debuts tonight on Fox, many viewers will get their first glimpse of the show’s host, Steve Jones. And when you watch the video below, you’ll understand why I’d be shocked if this guy doesn’t become an instant hit.

I sat down to talk with Jones about why he’s not nervous about the show’s big premiere, his run-in with Ryan Seacrest, and more…

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REVENGE: Emily VanCamp on Her New Series, Seeing All Those Billboards and More

Emily VanCamp returns to television tonight in ABC’s REVENGE!

So what’s REVENGE about? According to the official ABC description of the pilot, “In the premiere episode, Emily returns to Southampton and rents the seaside home she shared with her father, David Clarke, 17 years ago. With the help of her only friend, Ashley, she sets her sites on her first target, and puts her carefully organized plan in motion. Her focus unexpectedly wavers when she comes across Jack, a friendly face from the past, makes a new romantic connection with the son of her sworn enemy, and is pushed into an uneasy alliance with the only person who knows her secret.”

At Paley’s Fall TV Preview party, I talked with the lovely VanCamp about her new series, seeing her face on billboards everywhere, plus the unfortunate looking people she has to work with… (I mean, you see them in the picture above. Clearly, she has a rough job.)

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CRIMINAL MINDS: AJ Cook and Paget Brewster Tease Their Returns

Things looked a bit different last season on CRIMINAL MINDS, but thankfully when season 7 kicks off, A.J. Cook (JJ) and Paget Brewster (Pretniss) are back where they belong.

I talked with both ladies at the recent Paley Center Fall TV Preview party, and they teased their returns and why it may be causing tension with certain members of the team…

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TV Tweeps: You Sound Off on Tuesday’s New Series

With NEW GIRL and UNFORGETTABLE airing their series premieres Monday night, we wanted to know what you, our Give Me My Remote readers, thought.

So which shows did you enjoy? Which were you not so fond of? Take a look…

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Simon Cowell Talks THE X FACTOR

Ever since Simon Cowell publicly signed his contract for the US version of THE X FACTOR in January of 2010 (on a TCA stage!), everything about this new Fox series has been fairly public.

With that additional pressure — and the series premiering tonight — I sat down with THE X FACTOR judge/executive producer Simon Cowell to talk about he can keep the levels of intensity up, why he thinks the show is coming at the right time and more…

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RINGER Recap: ‘She’s Ruining Everything’

The second episode of RINGER has arrived, and I have to be honest GMMRers (Should I call you RINGERs? This just sounds odd), my enthusiasm for the show dipped this week.

I still like the plot, but I can’t get over some major plot holes that are developing. For instance, riddle me this: How can a woman so tiny (remember they could not stop emphasizing this last week) move a dead body?

Yeah, I don’t think so.

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Wednesday’s SNAP JUDGMENT – THE MIDDLE

The past is meeting the present in today’s edition of SNAP JUDGMENT.

What is SNAP JUDGMENT, you ask?

Every day we’ll pick our favorite promotional picture from that night’s new televisionepisodes and we’ll showcase it here. Then you guys can speculate what goes down in the scene/what you’d like to see happen/caption the pic however you want in the comments section.

And today, there was a reunion I just couldn’t resist highlighting: Ray Romano is stopping by his former TV wife’s current show, THE MIDDLE, and it seems possible not everyone loves Raymond. (I apologize for that terrible joke.)

Take a look!

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Tonight’s TV Spotlight…Wednesday, September 21, 2011

And the shows keep coming!

Yes, tonight has many options, whether you want comedy (THE MIDDLE, MODERN FAMILY, UP ALL NIGHT), drama (REVENGE, CRIMINAL MINDS, CSI), reality (THE X FACTOR, SURVIVOR) – and there’s much more where that came from! Keep reading for the rest of the lineup!

The X Factor | 8pm on Fox | Series Premiere
“Auditions #1”
THE X FACTOR is the new competition series that gives viewers the opportunity to help choose the next global superstar or breakout music group. Judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid and Nicole Scherzinger traveled the nation searching for undiscovered talent 12 years old or over – both solo artists and vocal groups – who are worthy of the largest prize in television history: a $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music. Hosted by Steve Jones, the series premiere of THE X FACTOR will showcase the live auditions from Los Angeles and Seattle which took place in front of audiences of thousands. Don’t miss the auditions that will have everyone talking the next day. [Will you be tuning in to the highly anticipated new reality show? And don’t forget to check out Simon, Paula, L.A., Nicole, and Steve’s reactions to the world premiere!]

The Middle | 8pm on ABC | Special One-Hour Season Premiere
“Forced Family Fun, Parts 1 and 2”
With school about to start in a few days, Frankie realizes that she and Mike have barely spent time together with the kids over the summer, so she insists that they take a short family vacation. But when Mike decides that the perfect family getaway is a camping trip, memories of their campsite honeymoon 19 years earlier — which was ruined by Nicky, a sad-sack former high school acquaintance of Mike’s — come flashing back.

Up All Night | 8pm on NBC | Timeslot Premiere
“Cool Neighbors”
When a “cool” new couple moves in across the street, Reagan and become obsessed with finding out every detail about them. Elsewhere, Ava struggles with the fact that baby Amy does not like her, especially when she takes a liking to Calvin.

H8R | 8pm on The CW
“Episode 2”
Mario Lopez hosts this new reality series in which celebrities will go head-to-head with real people who don’t like them and try to win them over.

Free Agents | 8:30pm on NBC | Timeslot Premiere
“What I Did For Work”
When a big client shows signs of leaving Hale Dayton, Alex is charged with taking him out for an evening of entertainment. But when Alex realizes he’s still a bit rusty with women, he calls in Dan and Gregg for assistance and things don’t go exactly as planned. Meanwhile, Emma has set her sights on Andrew, who works upstairs in the building. With the help of Helen and Walter, she tries to turn on the charm.

SO MUCH MORE…

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Totally GLEEking Out Over the GLEE Season Premiere

We’re kicking things off with two disclaimers tonight.  First the usual – if you haven’t yet seen the season premiere of GLEE, then you probably should stop reading and come back after you watch the ep. The second disclaimer goes a little something like this – I’m completely GLEEking out right now.  As in it kills me to sit here and have to write this post when I would much rather be watching the episode over from the very beginning so just I can sing and dance along.

You see why the second disclaimer is necessary? I’m experiencing a GLEE rush and I think it’s only fair that you are all warned in advance as it’s about to get all up and gleeful in here.

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FRINGE: Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman on ‘Neither Here Nor There,’ Fan Support, Alt-Nina, and More

After having arguably the biggest cliffhanger of the season — no, seriously, where the heck did Peter Bishop go?! — FRINGE is finally back this week with new episodes! (I won’t judge you if you do a happy dance. Swear.)

And while it would be way too spoilery to do a traditional “You Ask, I Answer” for the first two hours of the season, I think I found a solution you guys will be a little happier with: teases straight from FRINGE executive producers Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman!

I talked with Pinkner and Wyman earlier today, and they spoke about about their very big premiere, the fan support, alt-Nina, season 4, and more…

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Vodcast! The One Where Danielle and Marisa Talk About the Emmy Comedy Winners

While there were some amazing Emmy winners this year, there’s no denying a few of the winners were, um, unexpected, and for me, I felt at least one win was incredibly bittersweet.

So what’s a girl to do when she has even more to say about the Emmys? I sat down with my friend Danielle Turchiano (from Made Possible By Pop Culture), and we shared our thoughts about who took home gold for comedy on TV’s biggest night of the year.

Take a look!

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HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER: Ted Mosby Wedding Toast Remix

Ted Mosby just wanna be loved, people.

In case you missed last night’s season premiere of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, or perhaps you already saw it and feel inclined to relive a bit of the fun, we’ve got the full length remix of Ted’s wedding toast right here…

Yikes.

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