Leonardo DiCaprio leads the cast of Scorsese's GANGS OF NEW YORK, seen here with Daniel Day Lewis and Henry Thomas.
© 2001 Miramax
Big name directors want the big cubicle by the window
By: STEPHEN LACKEYDate: Sunday, January 14, 2007
There aren’t many comedies I keep track of these days, as you can probably tell by this article but The Office is deserving of the attention it gets. The series bucks formula and delivers a unique experience for a half hour comedy. It’s a relief to see a live action comedy that has enough faith in the writing to do the series without a laugh track. The Office, if you haven’t seen it, is shot and cut in a documentary style. The only mark the series has against it is that it’s a remake of a British series of the same name. Can we really not come up with anything new here in the States? Anyway, the reason I bring the series up is that a couple of our favorite genre writer/directors have signed on to direct episodes of the series. Both JJ Abrams and Joss Whedon are confirmed to direct episodes that will air in late February during sweeps. While having them behind the camera won’t mean we’ll suddenly get vampires or international spies it does tell us what they’re doing instead of finishing up the scripts for the next Star Trek film and Wonder Woman. To be fair, Abrams has reported that the script for the next Trek film is finished and filming will begin later this year with a 2008 release date in mind.
One other note of interest I caught this week is that a feature length Battlestar Galactica movie to be released direct to DVD is in the planning stage. The story would take place between the events of season 3 and 4 but it would still be a stand alone story. Show runners say that the deal hinges on whether the series is picked up for a fourth season. First we hear that a new Babylon 5 movie is coming to DVD and now BSG. Looks like direct to DVD is finally worth keeping an eye on.
There’s a myriad of good TV this week with the final two hours of the 24 season opener being at the top of my list but otherwise there’s something new to see almost every night this week! This week promises the first appearance of the Justice League on Smallville, so good or bad, I’m there. Other than 24, I’m looking forward to the premiere of the Dresdin Files and the return of Battlestar Galactica.
Monday
STAR TREK ENTERPRISE (SCIFI, 7:00pm PST) Mini-marathon
For better or for worse SCIFI continues running the now dead last Trek series with a four hour marathon starting at 7 pm.
24 (FOX, 8:00pm PST) “Day 6 9AM to 10 AM”
Jack’s back in part two of the four hour season premiere! Jack is hot on the trail of a terrorist and ass kicking will be delivered.
FUTURE WEAPONS (DSC, 9:00pm PST) “Search and Destroy”
Weapons covered in this episode include a shoulder mounted rocket launcher, a semiautomatic sniper rifle, and an unmanned aerial vehicle.
Tuesday
NCIS (CBS, 8:00pm PST) “Suspicion”
The team attempts to investigate the death of a marine in a small town but is hampered by local authorities who have already disrupted the crime scene and done an autopsy.
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JOHN STEWART (COMEDY, 8:00pm PST)
John is back with his news crew ready to bring their own hilarious spin to current events and other news items.
THE UNIT (CBS, 9:00pm PST) “The Broom Cupboard”
Jonas is ordered to protect a female Senator on a humanitarian mission. While there he is secretly ordered to meet with the son of an Asian country’s overthrown King who is planning to topple the regime that ousted his father. William H. Macy plays the President.
Wednesday
CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS, 9:00pm PST) “No Way Out”
Gideon tries to convince a serial killer to reveal the location of a kidnapped woman.
CSI: NY (CBS, 10:00pm PST) “Obsession”
A man is found dead in an apartment with evidence that he may have been killed by someone he had kidnapped. In another case a man is found dead stuffed in a shopping cart in Central Park.
MEDIUM (NBC, 10:00pm PST) “The Whole Truth”
Allison has visions of a youngster who is trapped in a well while Devalos investigates the death of a distinguished Congressman.
Thursday
CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (CBS, 9:00pm PST) “Sweet Jane”
Catherine investigates the death of a young runaway whose body was found naked in a desert lot behind a hotel. Live Schreiber guest stars as a new hire from Baltimore on the day shift who helps out while Grissom is on sabbatical.
SMALLVILLE (CW, 8:00pm PST) “Justice”
The Green Arrow, Impulse, and Aquaman try to destroy a secret LuthorCorp lab but Impulse is captured and tortured by Lex. The others team up with Clark to save Impulse. So, this is the first appearance of the JLA? Sounds a little disappointing. Where are all the really great heroes from that group?
SUPERNATURAL (CW, 9:00pm PST) “Playthings”
Dark secrets about the history of an old Inn come back to haunt the establishment causing mysterious deaths.
Friday
GANGS OF NEW YORK (BRAVO, 7:00pm PST)
Epic and bloody story of gang wars in New York in the 1960’s featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis. Directed by Martin Scorsese.
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JOHN STEWART (COMEDY, 8:00pm PST)
John is back with his news crew ready to bring their own hilarious spin to current events and other news items.
GHOST WHISPERER (CBS, 8:00pm PST) ”Love Never Dies”
Old spiritual enemies return when Melinda tries to help a woman whose earthly spirit is being attacked. She seeks help from a paranormal professor to try and discover the origin of the dark spirit.
Saturday
MYTH BUSTERS (DSC, 8:00pm PST) “Pirate Special”
In this two hour special the Myth Busters investigate all things pirate including what would happen to a pirate ship if it did fire a broadside barrage.
DODGEBALL: A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY (FX, 8:00pm PST)
Hit comedy starring Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller as nerds versus jocks in a dodge ball game.
MAY (IFC, 7:20pm PST)
Lucky McKee’s indie horror hit about an awkward girl who learns to make friends literally, out of body parts from people she knows.
Sunday
DRESDIN FILES (SCIFI, 9:00pm PST) “Birds of a Feather”
Wizard detective Harry Dresdin uses his abilities to help a kid that fears that monsters are after he and his mother. At the same time Harry recalls his back-story through dreams.
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (SCIFI, 10:00pm PST) “Rapture”
The standoff between the humans and Cylons continues while a supernova threatens the planet. Lee also considers a rescue mission to save Starbuck.
And people keep getting this mixed up. If the movie is made it will NOT take place between season 3 and 4. It that was the case they would have to deal with the season three finale and Moore said that they won't. It seems to me that it will be a "lost episode" because they even talked about a favorite charater coming back. That lost likely means it will take place in the past but will searve as a backstory to a major season 4 story.