BuzzSugar

RIP Men in Trees

BuzzSugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:38:29 -0700

Granted, this news has probably been a long time in coming, but it's still a bummer: Men in Trees has been officially canceled after two years of life in Elmo, AK.

Of course, that's two years of airing on three different nights in numerous different time slots, with two long breaks - one when its first season came to an early end, another when ABC decided to save episodes of the show rather than air them during the writers' strike - in between. Not the easiest way to get a following, that's for sure.

It was bad news when Lifetime decided not to pick up the show when ABC offered it, but the show still had its promoters at the network - not to mention a dedicated (if relatively small) fan base that had organized a campaign to buy trees for developing countries. And coupled with the news that ABC didn't plan on premiering as many new series as normal in the Fall, it seemed like the show had a chance.

The one bright spot is that Trees did prepare an ending that could serve as a series finale; that last episode will air sometime this Summer, after the show returns May 28. In the meantime, what do you think about the decision? Did Trees deserve to be saved? Would you have wanted it to return for a third season even if it meant it would be shuffled all around ABC's schedule again?

Not Even Lifetime Can Save October Road, Men in Trees

BuzzSugar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:30:34 -0700

These days, it seems like the first move for a network series that's in danger of being canceled is to find a cable network or other partner that's willing to take it on. See: Law & Order: Criminal Intent moving to USA from NBC last year, or Friday Night Lights trying to get a deal with DirecTV to bring it back.

So I guess it's no surprise that ABC wanted to shop its low-rated Men in Trees and October Road to another network. It's not even surprising that they chose Lifetime, which is also owned by Disney. But what's a little shocking is that Lifetime said no.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, network executives reviewed the tapes of both shows but decided to pass on picking them up, leaving the shows in limbo. The paper reported that Men in Trees still has support at ABC proper (not that it's obvious from the way the show's been treated there) and could return for a third season on the network - but it sounds like this was the final nail in the coffin for October Road.

Both shows have been ratings duds this year: October Road's most recent episodes got just 4.7 million viewers, and Wednesday night's Men in Trees pulled in 5.8 million people. But they both have fervent fans, and there must be something to like about them for ABC to want to save them at all. So, fans, this is your chance: Why do Road and Trees deserve to come back? Sound off below.

TV Tonight: Men in Trees

BuzzSugar — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:38:48 -0800

Remember when ABC had a show called Men in Trees? You can be forgiven if you don't recall. The show has been shuffled around and treated more strangely than most, moving from Fridays to Thursdays and back again, being pulled before the end of its first season, and then finally resurfacing in October - only to leave again in December, despite having plenty of episodes to get through the writers' strike.

The show finally returns tonight at 10 p.m., and ABC has promised it 11 episodes back-to-back in the same slot. That's par for the course for any other show, but for Men in Trees, it's extraordinary. The show's audience is small (about comparable to Friday Night Lights), but they're devoted: They've organized a campaign to buy trees for developing countries in honor of the show, with hopes that the efforts will be recognized by ABC and help get the show a third season.

If you're not a regular viewer - or if you are but this latest break has taken you out of the rhythm of the show - here's a great guide to where all of the Elmo couples stand right now. Meanwhile, to check out a preview for tonight's episode, just read more.

Buzz News Roundup, 10/24

BuzzSugar — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:31:09 -0700

USA Today has the first photo from Mike Meyers' next comedy The Love Guru.
David Chase talks - sort of - to the Associated Press about the finale of The Sopranos.
Juno writer Diablo Cody has yet another project in the works: a supernatural comedy titled Jennifer's Body that will star Megan Fox, writes Hollywood Reporter.
In a super-slow week for album sales, Bruce Springsteen topped the charts again, Billboard reports.
The Futon Critic has a slew of ABC scheduling updates: Men in Trees is moving to 8 p.m., October Road is coming back in November, and Dance War starts in January.
The Zac Efron movie 17 just got a lot cooler with the addition of Leslie Mann (Knocked Up) to the cast, as ComingSoon reports.
Champion tennis player Maria Sharapova is pitching a drama about female tennis players to the CW, Variety reports. Hey, anyone else remember Phenom?
According to ComingSoon, Billy Bob Thornton will join Shia LaBeouf in the thriller Eagle Eye.
Zap2it has introductions for the new cast of The Amazing Race.
Billy Ray Cyrus has landed himself a movie role in the family drama Flying By, writes Hollywood Reporter.

TV Tonight: "Women's Murder Club" and "Men in Trees"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 05:30:00 -0700

ABC kicks off its new Friday night lineup tonight with the premiere of a new show, "Women's Murder Club," and the return of an old favorite, "Men in Trees."

It pains me to recommend a show that airs at the same time as my beloved "Friday Night Lights," but "Women's Murder Club" is a pretty solid show. It's based on a series of books by James Patterson, and it centers on a sassy crew of women in various law enforcement roles solving crimes in San Francisco. It's not something I'd watch on a weekly basis, but the cast is appealing, the mystery in the pilot episode was reasonably compelling, and it has a built-in stable of stories to draw from. I'd still pick "FNL," but if that's not your speed (and you haven't been sucked - har har - into vampire show "Moonlight"), this one might be worth a look.

"Men in Trees" got some very strange treatment from ABC last year: It started on Friday nights and struggled, moved to the plum post-"Grey's Anatomy" time slot, grew an audience, got early renewal for a second season - and then disappeared from the air completely in favor of "October Road." The show had actually completed several episodes beyond the ones that aired, so fans will be treated to an extra-long season this year. The season premiere won't be one of those extra episodes, though; it will be an all-new one designed to get viewers back into the flow of life in Elmo, Alaska.

Will you be watching any of this Friday night fare? To check out a preview for "Women's Murder Club" and the official "Men in Trees" music video, just read more

"Men in Trees" Resurfaces - Sort Of

BuzzSugar — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 08:30:00 -0700

Here's a piece of news that will make all the "Men in Trees" fans in North America wish you lived somewhere else: According to showrunner Jenny Bicks, the five episodes of the show's first season that ABC decided not to air until fall will be broadcast in some international markets as early as this week. The rest of us will have to wait until late September or early October to see what the folks in Elmo, Alaska, are up to.

But before you North American fans get too upset, here's some other news from Bicks to tide you over:

Reruns of the show will start airing June 28. ABC plans to show virtually all of the first season, minus an episode here or there.
The show has hired David Rosenthal, the writer who ran this year's final season of "Gilmore Girls." I suppose your opinion on that will vary depending on how you felt about this season of "Gilmore Girls."

I didn't watch "Men in Trees" in its first season, though I admit you all gave me some convincing reasons to check it out. Maybe I'll give it a shot once the reruns start.

More "Ugly Betty," "Prison Break" Next Year

BuzzSugar — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 15:13:25 -0700

The networks have yet to reveal which of this season's TV shows will be canned, but they're starting to announce the ones that are coming back for sure next year.

Fox said today that "Prison Break," which wraps up its second season April 2, will get a third. Not to be outdone, ABC released its own list of shows that will be back, including newcomers "Ugly Betty," "Men in Trees," and "Brothers & Sisters" along with no-brainers "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost," "Desperate Housewives," and "Dancing with the Stars." Also sure to return: "Boston Legal," "The Bachelor," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," and "Jimmy Kimmel Live."

Those shows join Fox's "House and "Bones," ABC's other reality shows, and NBC's "Heroes," "My Name is Earl," "The Office," and "Law & Order: SVU" on next year's schedule. Of course, the fates of lot of shows - "Six Degrees," "What about Brian," "Friday Night Lights,", "Studio 60" - are still up in the air. The networks will announce their full lineups of new and returning shows in May.

Photos copyright Fox and ABC

Link Time! 1/25

BuzzSugar — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 14:50:09 -0800

Pop Candy tells you where to find the "Lost" producers talking about upcoming episodes.
"Gilmore Girls" takes its indie-rock references very seriously, notes Stereogum.
Hecklerspray is delighted that no one wants to buy the Dakota Fanning rape movie.
Idolator unlocks the secret to making the MTV web site much less annoying.
Popwatch finds Pierce Brosnan gearing up for another Thomas Crown Affair.
I Guess I'm Floating makes my day by posting a soaring new Andrew Bird track.
Now that Anne Heche is ditching her husband for co-star James Tupper, TV with MeeVee digs up a hilariously revealing interview with Tupper.
Give Me My Remote has the details on Emily VanCamp from "Everwood" joining "Brothers and Sisters."
Fear not, "SVU" fans: TV Squad reports the stars will be back.
You can thank Best Week Ever for this hilarious clip of the Golden Girls starring in Clueless.

Defend This Show: "Men in Trees"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 05:39:27 -0800

We all love things that others love to hate, whether it's a Counting Crows CD you can't get rid of or your "Degrassi Junior High" boxed set. Now I'm giving you a chance to explain yourselves in a new feature called Defend This. (Thanks to YumSugar for the idea.) First up, ABC's Thursday night show "Men in Trees."

OK, I admit that my main reason for not watching "Men in Trees" is that I think the title is lame. ("Thanks for watching 'Chimps at Sunrise' on the Discovery Channel. Next up, 'Men in Trees.'") And my second reason is that I still think of star Anne Heche as that girl who dated Ellen and then went nuts. I haven't actually seen an episode, and yet all season I've been rolling my eyes at the show, calling it a low-rent "Northern Exposure" or a "Sex and the City" clone deported to Alaska.

But now I'm actually hearing some good things about it. "Men in Tress" has moved into the time slot after "Grey's Anatomy." It's getting decent ratings. It even has a character named Buzz, for pete's sake. And yet I still can't get over the hump and tune in. So, "Men in Trees" fans: What's the deal with this show? On your marks, get set, defend!

What to TiVo: Monday

BuzzSugar — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:50:00 -0800

ABC is new with Dancing With the Stars and Castle
CBS is new with How I Met Your Mother, Accidentally on Purpose, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, and CSI: Miami
FOX is new with House and Lie to Me
NBC is new with Heroes and Trauma
The CW is new with One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl
E! has E! Investigates: Last Days of Michael Jackson, and is new with The Soup Presents: Ladies, Ladies, Ladies and 10 Vampires We Love
MTV is new with True Life, Twilight: Love Bites, and Twilight New Moon: An MTV Movie News Special
TLC is new with Jon & Kate Plus 8
Bravo is new with Million Dollar Listing and Chef Academy
VH1 has repeats of Tough Love 2, For the Love of Ray Jay 2, and I Want to Work for Diddy 2
Late-night highlights include Taylor Lautner and Heather Locklear on The Jay Leno Show on NBC; Sharon Stone, Seth Meyers, Wyclef Jean, and Cyndi Lauper on The Late Show With David Letterman on CBS; Kristen Stewart, Judd Apatow, and Carrie Underwood on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien on NBC; Ted Danson, Khloe Kardashian, and Lamar Odom on Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC; LL Cool J and Mindy Kaling on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson on CBS; and Tim McGraw and Anna Torv on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on NBC