First Thoughts: TOUCH with Keifer Sutherland

Six billion, nine-hundred and nineteen million, three-hundred and seventy-seven thousand of us live on this tiny planet, and only a few of us can see the connections. The patterns, like a magical design, are hidden in plain sight…you just have to know where to look. After my life of 10 years, 5 months, 17 days and 14 hours…in all that time…I’ve never said a single word.   

Having read the name Tim Kring attached to the project Kiefer Sutherland was doing for his big TV return after 24 left me unimpressed the first time I found out about it.

See, I haven't really forgiven the guy for botching up Heroes. That show's premise became too big, even for the one who created it. I think I read that one time when he was trying to say where he had gone wrong with it.

But watching Touch's pilot today, I think I'm ready to give Tim Kring a chance and reconsider putting him back to my list of best-loved TV writers and creators. Or would that be too quick?

The pilot starts off with different people who obviously aren't connected. But by the end of it, something fascinating and interesting happens. I was completely impressed by the unraveling and said this on Twitter:

The heart of this show is Kiefer Sutherland's character Martin and his 11-year old son Jake, who has a behavorial disorder and who is extremely fascinated by numbers.

I don't doubt Keifer's brilliance as an actor. I followed eight seasons of 24 with most of its storylines almost unbelievably tortuos, because as Jack Bauer, he convinced me he can truly save the world. He was the ultimate TV hero.

In Touch, he plays a more sensitive character, as the father of a child who has not spoken since birth and who has no social skills whatsover. And Keifer does this thing with his eyes...if you've noticed. He squints and blinks and uses this to convey what his character is feeling.

I also don't have any misgivings about the lead female actresss, Gugu Mbtha-Raw, who plays Jake's social worker. This is what I had to say about her:

Immediately, I connected with her Clea.

Danny Glover is also part of this series and although his scene in the pilot was short, his character is clearly vital to the secrets Jake holds.

It goes without saying that this show picked the right people for their parts. They are not the weak links, as far as I can tell.

And the story isn't weak either, because like I said, the pilot was impressive and delivered almost seamlessly. So, if Tim Kring will be able to sustain this kind of writing --- and it is pretty tight and orderly --- he may slide back into my list real soon.

Touch ran a special preview tonight on Fox but the show won't actually start running until March, for 13 episodes. The series is also going to be carried over on many cable.tv channels worldwide.

Here's the teaser:

Heroes as a Comedy Series? This I will watch!

After five episodes, I am officially jumping off ship.

I have quit watching Heroes...not watching it any longer.

Someone save the heroes, save that stupid show.

Now, in place of that...can someone tell me where I can watch this please?

No Heroics is a British comedy television series, which began on 18 September 2008. The series concerns the love lives and day-to-day trials of a group of friends who just happen to be off-duty superheroes.

More info here. Read it, it's funny!

Monday Marvels

Not feeling quite chatty today. I went through Monday night's line-up quietly. I wanted to write losta things about how fantastic Monday's comedy is but I hesitated (read: I'm too lazy to do it). I know what's wrong with me. But I'll spare you the personal details. Coz, you know... it's ick-y.

Anyway. Marvelous Monday nights ---

• Penny becomes addicted to online gaming in the Big Bang Theory. How I thought this show was too corny the very first time is beyond me. BBT is probably one of the smartest comedies. And you know what? There aren't a lot of 'em on TV now!
• Ted lists the reasons why he loves New York over New Jersey in How I Met Your Mother. And I think I know one of the reasons why Stella isn't Mother. Oh, and Robin is moving to Japan. What is going on?
  
• Sam's still having his worst luck on the Worst Week. They've introduced a third or fourth sibling. My god, how many brothers and sisters does Sam's girlfriend have? I crack up a lot when I'm watching this show but the jokes are mostly stupid. Between BBT and WW, my IQ points fluctuate.
• Bryce is back on Chuck!!!!!!!!!! Yum. Also, it is official --- Chuck is James Bond now.
• I have yet to break-up with (breakaway from) Grey's Anatomy and it seems I'm also going to do the same for Heroes. Can they do a Sylar spinoff instead? Mohinder = eeeeeeewwww!

Heroes S3 E1-E2 The Second Coming/Butterfly Effect

Who else can Tim Kring blame this disaster now? Last season, Heroes was criticized for its apparent lack of direction. The series was too slow. Because of the strike, Heroes was indeed in a slump.

To make up for this, the third season opened with everything. And I mean EVERYTHING.... that it was dizzying.

Characters were introduced really fast --- some of them have new powers or similar powers as another character; some of them we've seen before, but only different. Huh??

There were new stories to follow. Half of it seemed pointless (Nathan and religion, really? That's what they can come up with?) The creepiest of which was Mohinder turning into the Fly. Totally grossed out by this ----


Pacing seems to be a big problem with Heroes. If it's not too slow, it's waaaay to fast.

What else? Ah, Future Peter --- he makes everything so complicated. He has every kind of power imaginable, the most basic of which is that he can transport through time. So tell me this --- why did he have to go and shoot his brother to "stop" him from telling the world about them? Why did he not just transport to that time before the "speech" and convince his brother of what could happen should he out them all? Wasn't Peter taught violence doesn't solve anything? Because there isn't any limitation to what he can do, the things Future Peter does to advance the story seems stupid. There's the other problem.

And finally....I think we know where this chapter is heading --- to a bigger disaster, to a bigger destruction, probably with a lot of kick-ass effects, with every hero converging to save the world.

If that sounds familiar, it's because we've already seen it.

In Season 1.

What's going to happen to our Heroes in Season 3?

The answer to that question will contain huge SPOILERS ahead...

And we start with...

Claire

She discovers a new ability, as well as new secrets. Claire's world will be very different from here on. In the season premiere, she and Sylar will go head to head.

Peter Petrelli

He won't be himself...and nope, that's not a season 2 flashback when Peter didn't quite know who he is. This time, he really isn't quite himself.

Nathan Petrelli

Seems he's either a walking dead or sees dead people, the first one being Mr. Linderman who died in Season 1. The Petrelli brothers will discover not one, but two Heroes are related to them. Mama Petrelli is going to be a very significant figure this season.

Niki/Jessica

We last saw her in that bomb blast. Did she die? Or did she resurrect with a third personality? Tracy, Nathan Petrelli's political adviser? Does Tracy have super powers? The answers are in the season premiere.Tracy supposedly had a twin.

Hiro

He'll go after his nemesis, Speedster/Daphne, who takes something that belongs to Hiro's family.

Parkman

What is up with Parkman? He's lost somewhere...and that is all we know.

Mohinder

He will acquire super powers by injecting himself with the serum he created to cure Maya. Unfortunately for Dr. Suresh, he doesn't know how to control his powers. His character will be ala Jekyll/Hyde. Also Jekyll/Hyde? This new show from NBC.

Sylar

He and Claire Bear's daddy are going to be buddies. Whether that's a strategic move by Mr. Bennet, is what we're going to find out in the season premiere. In the future, Sylar is living in a suburban house with his son Noah, who is also gifted. Noah's mother is "silver-tongued". Oh, in the season opener Sylar slices off someone's head, big time. If you wanna know who, follow this.

Sources: E!, TV Guide, Spoilerfix

More details to Create Your Hero Contest

In addition to this detail on the the Create Your Hero contest, here's a video about it, as well. This contest, by the way, is possible via Sprint.

Heroes Season 3 Promo Photo

Heroes Fan? Vote for your next Hero!

In November 2007, Sprint & the NBC television show Heroes partnered on the “Create Your Hero” contest, putting viewers in control of creating the next Hero from scratch. Over 4 weeks, viewers were able to choose the specific attributes that make up a “Hero” (with a unique question each week exclusive for Sprint users only).

As the third season of “Heroes” approaches, Sprint & the creators of the show compiled all the attributes based on America’s answers, creating two new potential “Heroes.” Now it is time to vote! Will it be Audrey, or will it be Santiago? The winning character will appear as the subject of a brand new Live Action web series written by the creators of Heroes, debuting around the November sweeps week.

To vote online, click here.

• To vote for Santiago: Text A to 6789 (exclusively for Sprint users)
• To vote for Audrey: Text B to 6789 (exclusively for Sprint users)

Who will be the next great hero?



*Press Release courtesy of NBC's Heroes and Sprint via M80.

Rewatch your Heroes episodes now...

When Heroes returns in September, I doubt we'll be able to follow the story so quickly.

Some spoilers from E!, which I stopped reading after the first two sentences, couldn't digest the info properly. My brain went, "Say, what now?!" and blacked out.

I thought Linderman was dead on Heroes, but then I heard Malcolm McDowell say he's returning. WTF?

Let's just say our beloved Nathan Petrelli has a brush with death (you saw that last season) and when he comes back...Wait, what was I saying again? For some reason I just started thinking about that movie with Bruce Willis where the kid sees dead people. What was that called again? That was an awesome movie. Hmmm, I wonder why my mind just went there. Old age is a bitch.

Anyway, in other news, Ali Larter is coming back as a totally different person (i.e. doppelgänger), meaning someone who is not Niki or Jessica or Gina (my head is hurting), and with a whole new power.

And Claire's bio-madre Jessalyn Gilsig is also returning.

Here's a collection of trailers for Heroes: Chapter 3 Villains ---

In this trailer we see- * HRG explains to Claire about him capturing Villains before she was born and that a "Dozen" have escaped. That they will hunt, terrorize and kill, that they will cause unimaginable destruction to the world. As he explains this to Claire you see quick flashes of the following:
* Cell Block 5 (Most likely under Primatech)
* See new villain Knox in restraints in cell
* Peter holding Nathan shortly after he was shot
* Mohinder washing his face and confused * Claire gets spooked by a rumble
* Quick flash of a woman's eye opening
* Matt looks lost in the middle of the desert

In this trailer we will see -

* Level 5 painted on a wall.
* Sylar is strapped on something with a tube up his nose.
* Someone pounding on the glass window of a Primatech holding cell.
* Knox is seen in a strait jacket.
* A new villain shooting blue flames.
* Peter asks,"Where did they go?"
# Sylar saying hello to Claire
* Angela says, "Escaped!"

And the 2 and a half minute teaser:

Who's adopted on Heroes?

...other than Claire, that is?

From E!

Claire is not the only character on the show who is adopted. And the next adoption twist is perhaps my favorite twist ever on this show. You know how sometimes those silly promo guys say things like "It will change everything?" Well this one actually will.

Peter Petrelli?

So that they can pull a Brothers and Sisters on this one and have Claire Bear and Peter fall in love? Like in real life? Isn't that bad writing or what?

I can't make sense of this Heroes Season 3 spoiler!

It's bad enough I have to pick my brains out watching Lost. Now, I've got to do the same for Heroes!

Season 3 scoop:

...in the first three minutes one of the lead heroes is going to bust a cap off at one of the other lead heroes. And oh yeah, the guy she pulls the trigger on just might be the guy she's playing tonsil hockey with in real life.

She also tells him (on cam), "I always loved you." Whaaa?! Figured it out?

Oh, and even more shocking? We're gonna see Claire-bear with dark hair and this also involves a shift in time.

Unoriginal...but it had me at "going to bust a cap off, in the first three minutes". I do wanna watch some superhero action. Lots of it!

Via E!

Guess who is getting her own music album? (And which Idol is dropping by NBA?)

Heroes Cheerleader ---- Hayden Panettiere!

Did you know she can sing? I didn't. So, I quickly Youtube-d her to find out if she's any good.

I found three clips of her singing their National Anthem on three different occasions, that I thought this is all she can sing!

Listen to her: Song 1 | Song 2 | Song 3

She sounds.......young.

Here's the accompanying article about her album's release. The company producing her record is going with an all-out campaign, the works --- "multimillion-dollar ad buy on cable and network TV, a print campaign and a music video." Wow. Her songs better be damn great.

Speaking of the Star-Spangled Banner --- DAVID COOK. SINGING IT. TUES NIGHT (Weds morning in the Phils). NBA. .... Yes, legions of women crying out his name --- I hear your screams!

Although, I've been watching the finals the last two games now, they don't show this part on TV. But one can always find it on you know where...

Heroes Season 3 Teaser Promo

Watch:



You know what, I already forgot how it ended. I'll have to watch Season 2's last episode again.

Anyway, casting news:

- Bruce Boxleitner --- who I last saw as a TV series regular in Scarecrow and Mrs. King in the 80's. No, really. I know he's had other TV appearances after that. But as a regular cast member? That's where I remember him from.

Bruce Boxleitner has snagged a top-secret recurring role that was originally going to be modeled after Sen. John McCain. The character has since been reconceived, and now all I know for sure is that he'll be sharing scenes with a female series regular | SPoilerFix

- Brea Grant --- who I last saw on Friday Night Lights last year

She's not just fast. She's very fast. Meet Daphne, the speedy new character on NBC's Heroes, who plans to give the show's superhumans - especially time traveler Hiro and his sidekick, Ando - a run for their money when she debuts on the popular NBC series' upcoming third season, which went back into production last week. "I'm stealing a secret that's been kept in Hiro's family for a long time that he's just now found," Brea Grant told The Associated Press during a break in filming on location in a high-rise building in downtown Los Angeles. "He stops time right as I grab it, but in that second it took him to grab it, I almost make it out of the office." Grant doesn't know much about her mysterious new character. Daphne's superpower allows her to operate at three speeds and leave a supersonic wake in her path when Hiro stops time. Grant's not sure where Daphne is from, but she does know the Speedster - that's what she calls herself - has been on her own for a long time. "Her character is supposed to be Hiro's Joker," said Masi Oka, who plays Hiro. "Batman has The Joker. Hiro has Daphne. This is the season where Hiro finally finds his arch nemesis, and it happens to be this Speedster. | SpoilerFix

Expect more cast announcements in the months to come. September is still a long wait and the cast list may still get longer.

Heroes Season 3 Spoilers and Why, Survivor Philippines?

Hey, you...

If you've been checking this blog everyday and have found nothing new, I've been actually keeping a daily update on this other TV blog I was tasked to build traffic for. So, if you don't see me here, there's a good chance I've been hauling my big couch potato ass on ClickTV.

This doesn't mean I'm abandoning this blog. I just have to give the other one extra attention, since it's fairly new. Mom bloggers will understand when I say that a new blog is like a baby --- we've got to wean them for awhile.

When I've found my balance, and as new episodes stock up... then I can continue to bore you with TV stuff over here, too.

So, in the meantime, head over there as I've just posted some Heroes Spoilers: someone we already know is getting new special powers. And also, I talked about the upcoming program, Survivor Philippines.

Speaking of the Survivor Franchise --- I just checked Survivor South Africa this afternoon because I got curious, I've never watch any other version except the US. And I WAS BORED TO DEATH. The castaways they had? Boring personalities...everyone was nicey-nice. I don't think they understood the game. The host didn't help either. He spoke in one tone. The challenges? Eh. I don't think I'm gonna go and check the German version I was able to get hold of. I'm quite sure I'd end up more or less bored, too. Besides, I wouldn't understand it.

I hope to the immunity idol, the Philippine franchise knows what it's doing!

NBC Unveils 2008-2009 TV Schedule

There's a very long new list for NBC for next season but I am very excited about a lot of what they have to offer:

THE NEW

• MY OWN WORST ENEMY - starring Christian Slater. Not a fan of his. This one's a rehashed plot, but we'll see... - Edward Albright is an operative who speaks 13 languages, runs a four-minute mile, and is trained to kill with his teeth. Henry and Edward are polar opposites who share only one thing in common -- the same body. When the carefully constructed wall between them breaks down, Henry and Edward are thrust into unfamiliar territory where each man is dangerously out of his element. "My Own Worst Enemy" explores the duality of a man who is literally pitted against himself. And it raises the question: who can you trust when you can't trust yourself?
• KNIGHT RIDER - They are now trying to make changes to it and they are sprucing up. Which is great since I enjoyed the backdoor pilot. Anything to make it better? Sounds better!
• CRUSOE - no cast announcements yet but it's described as --- equal parts "MacGyver," "Castaway" and "Pirates of the Caribbean"
• KINGS with Ian McShane, a David and Goliath saga. Wow. With Ian McShane leading the cast...I'm expecting a lot of intensity.
• MERLIN. It will be told 21st century style. Interesting...
• THE PHILANTROPIST - I'm not so eager for this one, because, based just on the premise, I think it's been done before. But I do wanna know how they approach this story and make it fresh and original - Teddy Rist loves women, money and power. After the tragic death of his only child, Teddy has an awakening and becomes the world's first vigilante philanthropist -- a renegade billionaire who uses his wealth, connections and power to help people in need. He'll do anything to achieve his goals -- bargain with the self-righteous, trade with the nefarious and even tell the truth. Instead of spending $25,000 a plate at a fundraiser, he's dodging bullets in third-world countries to hand-deliver vaccine.
• THE LISTENER - I was thinking they make this one into a comedy series instead, and not take the serious route, no? - In this one-hour drama, Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik, "The Runaway") is a 24-year-old paramedic living with a secret: he can read people's minds. This telepathic procedural takes viewers into the heart of a tortured hero who struggles to solve crimes with his unique gift
• KATH & KIM starring Molly Shannon. Molly Shannon! I'm so watching this.

THE GOOD

• Chuck S2 and Heroes S3 are scheduled back to back on Mondays.
• Lipstick Jungle S2 is up on Wednesday evenings.
• Friday Night Lights S3 is still alive.
  

THE BAD

• No more SCRUBS! I'm hurt. But not so hurt since it's moving to another channel (ABC).
• Life S2 is moved to the Friday slot, which could kill the show.

These schedules are subject to change. We're going to find out what the other networks have for us TV junkies in six weeks time.

The complete press release and 2008-2009 season schedule is here.