The WB
New Dramas:
"Jack & Bobby" (9pm/8pm (c), Sundays)
From Greg Berlanti ("Everwood," "Dawson's Creek"), Thomas Schlamme ("The West Wing," "Ally McBeal") and Mickey Liddell ("Everwood," "Go") comes a powerful and poignant new drama. If "greatness is thrust upon us," as Winston Churchill once said, then it's equally true that those who are destined for greatness are rarely aware of it. Take Jack (Matthew Long) and Bobby McCallister (Logan Lerman) for example: two bright young brothers growing up under the watchful eye of their eccentric single-parent mother Grace McCallister (Christine Lahti, "Chicago Hope"). Grace's personality is a force of nature destined to shape both of these young men's lives and secure one a place in the history books-as President of the United States. Set in the present day, the series will detail the relationship between these brothers and the people that help shape their lives, including Jack's best friend Marcus French (Edwin Hodge, "The Alamo"), their beautiful neighbor Courtney Benedict (newcomer Jessica Paré) and her father Peter Benedict (John Slattery, "Mona Lisa Smile"). With flash-forward interviews of White House staffers and the First Lady, "Jack & Bobby" is a snapshot of a young man being molded to beat the odds and become this mid-century's greatest Presidential leader. "The Mountain" (8pm/9pm (c), Thursdays)
Boundary Mountain is an escapist playground for wealthy tourists and extreme sports enthusiasts, but to the Carver family, it's home. "The Mountain" chronicles the larger-than-life saga of the Carvers, whose colorful patriarch, David Carver, Sr. (Chad Everett), founded the town and its internationally famous ski resort after winning the land in a poker game. When this legendary man unexpectedly dies, his choice of an heir sends shockwaves throughout the community. Free-spirited David Carver, Jr. (Oliver Hudson) left home years ago to pursue his dream of becoming a world-class motocross racer, while his older brother Will (Anson Mount) diligently attended business school with every expectation of taking over the family empire. No one, least of all the brothers themselves, expected David to inherit the Mountain. Now, David finds himself saddled with a responsibility he never wanted and a brother who rightly feels betrayed. On top of this, he is torn between two women and suddenly immersed in a power struggle with a neighboring family. David just wants to run, until he realizes his grandfather may have had bigger things in mind. Through the episodes to come, David will begin to reconnect with his mother Gennie (Barbara Hershey) and teenage sister Shelley (Tara Thompson), and he will uncover long-buried secrets about his co-workers, his town and even his own family mythology. Also starring Alana De La Garza ("All My Children"), Johann Urb ("Zoolander"), Elizabeth Bogush ("Titans"), newcomer Tommy Dewey, Mitch Pileggi ("The X-Files") and Penn Badgley ("Do Over")."Global Frequency" (Mid-Season Debut)
Based on the suspenseful and action-packed graphic novel franchise, "Global Frequency" marks the dramatic television debut of successful producer Mark Burnett ("Survivor," "The Apprentice"). The Global Frequency is an independent, illegal, covert intelligence agency determined to prevent international politics from undermining the security of the global community. Led by the former NSA agent Miranda Zero, GF is everywhere and nowhere - and it's mankind's best defense against everything that occurs outside our peripheral vision. This marvel of brains and machinery is hacked into every satellite, mainframe, cell phone and database across the globe. With the help of her central command dispatcher, the feisty but brilliant Aleph, Zero is just a phone call away from tapping anyone anywhere to volunteer their skills to help save the world. GF's newest "recruit," suspended cop Sean Ronin, is paired with introverted Kate Finch, a mastermind of the scientific inner workings of the covert network. The most original conspiracy saga since "The X-Files," "Global Frequency" shows us that one person can make a difference in the battle against the dangers of the modern world.
"Rocky Point" (Mid-Season Debut)
Set against the beautiful backdrop of Hawaii's exotic North Shore, "Rocky Point" follows the coming-of-age story of 19-year-old Connecticut transplant, Cassie Flynn. Having deferred Princeton to return to the place of her birth, Cassie has created an idyllic new life with the help of her three best friends and her pro-surfer boyfriend. However, her blissful world is thrown into disarray when her long-estranged father, Owen (Billy Campbell, "Once and Again"), arrives at her doorstep. "Rocky Point" will follow Cassie and her surrogate family of friends as they struggle to grow up and find their way in a place that looks very much like paradise.
New Sitcoms/Reality:
"Blue Collar TV" (9pm/8pm (c), Wednesdays)
Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy are three of the stars of the "Blue Collar Comedy Tour," one of the most successful comedy tours of all time, grossing more than $15 million nationwide. It inspired "Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie," the highest-rated movie ever to air on Comedy Central, selling over one million DVDs to date. This summer, Jeff, Bill and Larry, along with an ensemble cast including Heath Hyche, Peter Oldring, Gary Williams, Ashley Drane and Brooke Dillman, will bring their outrageous humor to The WB. Each episode will begin with a themed standup routine from Foxworthy, which will outline the upcoming episode with subjects ranging from everyday family life to lingerie shopping. The theme will continue through pop culture parodies with a decidedly Blue Collar perspective."Drew Carey's Green Screen Show" (9:30pm/8:30pm (c), Wednesdays)
Drew Carey ("The Drew Carey Show," "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?") and his comic friends have a clever plan to shake up the concept of live improv comedy. The performers on this show will act out quirky ideas suggested by the audience ("You're getting married underwater and are attacked by a giant squid"), but that's just a jumping-off point. The real fun begins with the technique known as green screen, which Drew's behind-the-scenes team will use to animate the skits, creating an actual improvised movie that brings to life the details going on in their vivid imaginations. This series promises to be a fun and lively marriage of improv and animation ' a concept only Drew Carey could pull off. Also starring Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, Chip Esten, Brad Sherwood, Greg Proops, Jeff Davis, Kathy Kinney, Sean Masterson, Julie Larson, Katlin Olson and Jonathon Mangum."Commando Nanny" (8:30pm/7:30pm (c), Fridays)
When you're a 20-year-old ex-commando from the British Special Forces, how can you channel the thrill of combat into your next career? How about defending your life against three Beverly Hills rich kids? That's exactly what happened to mega-producer Mark Burnett ("Survivor," "The Apprentice") when he first ventured to the West Coast from the British Army Parachute Regiment. Burnett brings his unique experience to The WB in the new comedy, "Commando Nanny." Meet Miles Ross (Philip Winchester, "Thunderbirds"), the young commando whose new barracks are the guest room of a Beverly Hills mansion. Tycoon Ben Winter (Gerald McRaney, "Major Dad") has no intention of hiring the young soldier, but Ben's new, younger wife Lizzie (Kristin Bauer, "Anger Management") sees something in Miles and offers him a challenging new mission: monitoring Seth (Max Wolf Burkholder, "Daddy Daycare"), a 5-year-old in desperate need of attention. Accepting what he intends to be a short-term nanny position, Miles becomes an army of one as he and Ben battle in a daily test of wills. Complicating the agenda are Seth's older siblings. Katie (Beatrice Rosen, "Chasing Liberty") is a very mature teenager who flirts with Miles while plotting behind his back with her surly brother Steven (newcomer Ricky Mabe) to drive the new recruit AWOL. Miles' only R&R comes from his best friend, Nick (British stage actor Adam Campbell). From the bunkers to the bunk beds of Beverly Hills, Miles Ross is in for his toughest detail yet when he enlists as the resident commando nanny."Studio 7" (9pm/8pm (c), Thursdays)
Producer Michael Davies ("Who Wants To Be a Millionaire") is taking his acclaimed showmanship into new territory for The WB. His premise: what happens when you mix the reality and game show genres and produce a quiz show presented from the contestants' point of view? Introducing "Studio 7," a radical new series that pits seven bright young adults against each other in a series of intense elimination rounds that test their knowledge of pop culture, world events, science and literature. Only one can win a large cash prize. The catch is that the contestants will also be roommates for one week in one of Manhattan's most luxurious apartments. Blending the rivalry and romantic complications of reality programming with the high pressure stakes of "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire," "Studio 7" will not only allow viewers to play along, but will give them the intimate perspective of the competitors themselves. Alliances will be forged, passions will ignite and newfound friendships will be undermined as the contestants vie to be the grand champion of "Studio 7".
"Shacking Up" (Mid-Season Debut)
If things weren't so complicated, you could call Josh (newcomer Ben Feldman) and Riley (Ryan McPartlin, "Passions") roomies. They live in the same house, share everything and are both involved with the same woman: she's Riley's girlfriend...and Josh's MOTHER, Fran (Fran Drescher, "The Nanny"). When 25-year-old Josh gets kicked out of medical school and moves back in with his mom and teenage sister Allison (Misti Traya, "Joan of Arcadia"), he's shocked to find Mom sharing her life, not to mention her house, with Riley, a 24 1/2-year-old stud. Josh is so shocked, in fact, that he barely has time to notice a guy named Duane (Branden Williams, "Charlie's Angels," "The Sweetest Thing") is renting the closet in his old bedroom. "Shacking Up" is a fun, contemporary look at a non-traditional family
"Big Man on Campus" (Mid-Season Debut)
From the creator of "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" comes the ultimate "Greek God" competition. On a beautiful college campus, in a beautiful setting, with lots of beautiful people, things will get ugly. That's because we've got not one, but TWO cutthroat competitions. First, the school's sorority sisters are going to pick the Big Man on Campus - the cutest, hottest, sweetest frat boy around. But then the tables will turn as he methodically chooses his Campus Queen - from the very same co-eds who picked him. These girls will do anything to make the grade.
"Wannabes" (Mid-Season Debut)
Everyone's a wannabe... but who's it gonnabe? It's the oldest story in Hollywood... the beautiful girl from Nowheresville who heads to Hollywood, pays her dues, waits her turn, until one day she's discovered and overnight she's a STAR! But guess what? It doesn't really happen like that. The reality is much more brutal, and for most of these beautiful girls, the ugly truth is that they'll never make it. "Wannabes" takes you behind the famous Hollywood sign into the hard reality of showbiz hopefuls. Away from the glamorous lights, there are thousands of young women living in tiny apartments, working lousy jobs, going to auditions and praying for that one big break. The series will focus on a small group of gorgeous starlets who live together and try to become friends while competing for the same roles. A panel of judges will eliminate one aspiring star each week as they compete in series of tasks, some silly, some serious. Delivering a singing telegram, performing in a clown suit at a birthday party, casting sessions and very odd jobs will all be part of the audition process. Will they support each other or show no mercy? Who's got what it takes, and who's got a one-way ticket out of town? Share the rough road of near misses and close calls. Finally, share the joy of one lucky winner who makes it all the way to a starring role on The WB.
Older Shows:
On the existing show front, the main news is there's no real change to the schedule with all their dramas staying in the same timeslots whilst the sitcoms are swapping places rather than fully shifting times. "Charmed", "Gilmore Girls", "Smallville", "7th Heaven", "Everwood", "One Tree Hill", "High School Reunion", Steve Harvey's Big Time", "Reba", "Grounded for Life" all return.
Cancelled:
"All About the Andersons", "Angel", "The Help", "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment", "Like Family", "Run of the House", "Surreal Life", "Tarzan"
Personal Pick(s): Nothing reallly exciting is on the slate sadly as the network has cancelled some of its more ambitious plans for next season including new incarnations of "Lost in Space" and "Dark Shadows" in favour of standard wishy-washy fare. "Jack & Bobby" looks like a decent drama, and "Global Frequency" at least is something different but without "Angel" there's little compelling reason to tune in.
Thanks to 'Mark'
