This article logs the schedule and summaries for new drama series that will be broadcast on the main United States networks (ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, and NBC) during the 2008-2009 year.
Schedule
ABC
At its upfronts on May 13, 2008, ABC announced a tentative schedule for its new dramas. Times are below in EST:
No other new dramas were picked up for Fall 2008. Spring 2009 schedule remains unconfirmed.
CBS
At its upfronts on May 14, 2008, CBS announced a tentative schedule for its new dramas. Times are below in EST:
CW
At its upfronts on May 13, 2008, CW announced a tentative schedule for its new dramas. Times are below in EST:
| 1. 90210
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-- Tuesdays at 8PM, premiering Fall 2008
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| 2. PRIVILEGED
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-- Tuesdays at 9PM, premiering Fall 2008
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Sunday nights, the CW will air two other new dramas produced by Media Rights Corp (MRC):
Spring 2009 schedule remains unconfirmed.
FOX
At its upfronts on May 15, 2008, FOX announced a tentative schedule for its new dramas. Times are below in EST:
| 1. FRINGE
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-- Tuesdays at 9PM, premiering Fall 2008
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| 2. DOLLHOUSE
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-- Mondays at 8PM, premiering Spring 2009
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NBC
At its upfronts on May 12, 2008, NBC announced a tentative schedule for its new dramas. Times are below in EST:
| 1. MY OWN WORST ENEMY
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-- Mondays at 10PM, premiering Fall 2008
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| 2. KNIGHT RIDER
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-- Wednesdays at 8PM, premiering Fall 2008
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| 3. CRUSOE
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-- Fridays at 8PM, premiering Fall 2008
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| 4. THE PHILANTHROPIST
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-- Mondays at 10PM, premiering Winter 2008
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| 5. MERLIN
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-- Sundays at 8PM, premiering Winter 2008
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| 6. KINGS
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-- Sundays at 10PM, premiering Winter 2008
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| 7. THE LISTENER
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-- Thursdays at 10PM, premiering Summer 2009
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Summary
ABC's New Dramas 2008-2009
ABC's Fall 2008 schedule was announced on May 13, 2008, and the following drama is confirmed to premiere this Fall:
| 1. LIFE ON MARS:
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| David E. Kelly's American adaption of the BBC hit. It stars Jason O'Mara as Sam Tyler, Rachelle LeFevre as Annie Cartwright, Colm Meaney (Star Trek:Deep Space 9) as Gene Hunt, Stephanie Jacobsen as Maya, Lenny Clarke as George Randall, Patrick Wenk-Wolff as Colin Raimes and Richard Benjamin as Milton Kornboll. Meaney will play Detective Hunt, the homicide-unit boss who clashes with O'Mara in this '70s PI drama. Based on the BBC show, the main storyline revolves around a police detective (Sam Tyler) who after being struck in a car accident appears to travel back to 1973 from present time, and while serving with the older version of his police force tries to determine whether he really went back in time, is going insane, or is in a coma and dreaming.
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| Airs Thursdays at 10PM EST. This show was previously scheduled to air mid-season (January 2009).
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ABC's Spring 2009 schedule has yet to be formally announced, but the following new dramas are among those in-production for the network:
| 1. SECTION 8:
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| Zak Penn ("X-Men: The Last Stand") has been issued a six-episode order for a new drama about a team of everyday people with advanced neurological abnormalities who work for a secret government agency. Said moniker comes from the clause used for discharge from the U.S. Army because of mental issues. Penn co-created the hour with Michael Karnow and will executive produce alongside BermanBraun's Lloyd Braun and Gail Berman. Karnow then will serve as a producer with the project itself based at ABC Studios. It's understood Penn secured the order following a well received presentation which included special effects-enhanced video of what one of the characters on the show would look like: a guy with perfect balance who throws a roll of 10 quarters that land in 10 cups of water.
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| 2. ATLAS:
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| The full name of Tom Wheeler's fantasy pilot is "Captain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas." The drama project, from Warner Bros. TV, is described as "Harry Potter" meets "Pan's Labyrinth." It centers on a young girl who finds a magical atlas that reveals a secret world underneath our world. The pick-up of this pilot just occurred March 28.
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| 3. CASTLE:
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| "Castle," from ABC Studios and Beacon, is a drama penned by feature writer Andrew Marlowe ("Hollow Man") that centers on a horror novelist who is consulting for the NYPD Homicide department. Marlowe is exec producing with Beacon's Armyan Bernstein and Laurie Zaks.
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| 4. THE UNUSUALS:
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| "The Unusuals," from Sony Pictures TV, is a dramedy set at a New York police precinct. Noah Hawley ("Bones") penned the script and is exec producing with Peter Tolan.
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| 5. FINNEGAN:
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| "Finnegan," from ABC Studios and writer Trent Jones ("Threat Matrix"), focuses on the organized crime/vice unit in Los Angeles, which is led by a tough female detective. Jones is exec producing with Francie Calfo.
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CBS's New Dramas 2008-2009
On Wednesday, May 14th, 2008, CBS announced its new 2008-2009 lineup including the following four new drama series:
| 1. THE MENTALIST:
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| Simon Baker is set as the lead in the network's "The Mentalist," from writer Bruno Heller and director David Nutter. The Warner Bros. TV-produced "Mentalist" centers on Patrick Jane (Simon Baker, "Smith", "The Guardian"), a mentalist who uses his skills of observation to solve crimes as an independent detective working with the California Bureau of Investigation. Also cast in the pilot are Robin Tunney ("Prison Break"), Owain Yeoman, Shaun Toub, Amanda Righetti and Tim Kang.
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| Airs Tuesdays at 9PM EST, premiering Fall 2008.
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| 2. ELEVENTH HOUR:
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| From Jerry Bruckheimer Television, Warner Brothers and Granada Studios, "Eleventh Hour" is an American adaption from the British TV Series of the same name, which stars Patrick Stewart as Professor Ian Hood, Special Advisor to the government's Joint Sciences Committee, who troubleshoots threats stemming from or targeting "scientific endeavour." In this American adaption, Rufus Sewell will play Professor Ian Hood. Cast also includes Marley Shelton. The showrunners are Cyrus Voris and Ethan Reiff, formerly of Sleeper Cell.
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| Airs Thursdays at 10PM EST, premiering Fall 2008.
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| 3. THE EX-LIST:
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| The 20th Century Fox TV-produced series, formerly known as "Mythological Ex", is based on the Israeli series about a woman named Annabelle (Elizabeth Reaser, Grey's Anatomy) who gets a tarot card reading at a party and learns that she needs to marry very soon and she's already dated the man she's supposed to marry. She then revisits all her past relationships. Rachel Boston ("Hackett") will play her sassy younger sister, a professional dancer.
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| Airs Fridays at 9PM EST, premiering Fall 2008.
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| 4. HARPER'S ISLAND:
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| From CBS Paramount and director Jon Turteltaub (Jericho), "Harper's Island" is a horror story that unfolds over the course of a season as a group of friends meet on an island off the Seattle coast for a destination wedding. Ryan Merriman (CBS's "Comanche Moon") and Australian-born Samantha Noble will play the groom and the bride, while the Irish-born Elaine Cassidy will play the groom's childhood friend with a tragic past.
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| Unknown timeslot, premiering Spring 2009.
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CW's New Dramas 2008-2009
CW's Fall 2008 schedule was announced on May 13, 2008, and the following dramas are confirmed to premiere this Fall:
| 1. 90210
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| "An edgy, contemporary spin-off of the iconic drama Beverly Hills, 90210, the new 90210 looks at life through the eyes of Annie Mills (Shenae Grimes, Degrassi: The Next Generation) and her brother Dixon (Tristan Wilds, The Wire), whose first day at West Beverly Hills High School leaves no doubt they're not in Kansas anymore." The first episode guest starts Jennie Garth as Kelly Taylor from the original series.
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| Airs Tuesdays at 8PM EST.
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| 2. PRIVILEGED:
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| Based on the novel "How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls" written by author Zoey Dean and published by Alloy Entertainment, "Privileged" is about a Yale-educated young woman, Megan Smith (Joanna Garcia ("Reba")), who is fired from her job as the assistant at a glossy tabloid magazine. She's then hired to serve as a live-in tutor and life coach for the teen granddaughters of a cosmetics magnate in Palm Beach. She must win over the girls while navigating Palm Beach's high society and dealing with her own personal issues. The granddaughters, Rose and Sage Baker, will be played by Lucy Hale ("Bionic Woman") and Ashley Newbrough ("Radio Free Roscoe"), respectively. The grandmother, Laurel Limoges, will be played by Anne Archer ("Ghost Whisperer"). Megan's next-door love interest, Will Phillips, will be played by Brian Hallisay ("Bionic Woman"). Also cast are Debi Mazar ("Entourage") as magazine manager Debra Wurtzel, Allan Louis ("Stomp the Yard") as the live-in chef Marco, Kristina Apgar ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles") as Megan's sister Lily (Langley) Smith, and Michael Cassidy ("Smallville") as Megan's best friend, Charlie. Rina Mimoun ("Pushing Daisies") is writer and executive producer for the pilot. Alloy's Leslie Morgenstein and Bob Levy will also executive produce.
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| Airs Tuesdays at 9PM EST.
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Beginning Fall 2008, the CW will air new dramas from MRC on Sunday nights:
| 1. VALENTINE, INC.
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| "Valentine, Inc." is a hour-long dramedy that revolves around the romantic and sometimes amusing stories that comes out of an agency that mends broken hearts and finds lost loves and true loves. The unique premise here is that the Greek gods live among us, and that Aphrodite and son Eros are running the matchmaking business the show is centered on. The show is being developed by Kevin Murphy, (formerly producer and writer for "Reaper" and "Desperate Housewives").
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| Airs Sundays at 8PM EST.
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| 2. EASY MONEY
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| "Easy Money" will focus on a family that runs a high-interest loan business. The show centers on the matriarch who runs the business and her middle son, who's great at it but ambivalent about this predatory line of work. It will be shot in New Mexico, and is based loosely on a concept that U.K. production company Hat Trick is also developing for British audiences.
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| Airs Sundays at 9PM EST.
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CW's Spring 2009 schedule has yet to be formally announced, but the following new dramas are among those in pilot production for the network:
| 1. AUSTIN GOLDEN HOUR:
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| Justin Hartley ("Smallville") is set to star in CW's drama pilot "Austin Golden Hour." From CBS Paramount and 19 Entertainment, the show is a real-time medical drama about a team of young emergency room surgeons and emergency medical technicians.
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| 2. WRECKING BALL:
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| From Fox TV Studios, "Wrecking Ball," is about a young politician from a well-known family dynasty. When his electoral ambitions are derailed by a scandal, a campaign aide -- with whom he has a feisty relationship -- convinces him to use his connections to help a cancer patient fighting the medical establishment. He and the aide are then inspired to open a law firm devoted to helping out seemingly lost causes. The series is co-executive produced by Richard Hatem ("Miracles") and Ross Fineman.
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FOX's New Dramas 2008-2009
On Thursday, May 15th, 2008, CBS announced its new 2008-2009 lineup including the following new drama series:
| 1. FRINGE:
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| From Warner Brothers TV and Bad Robot Studios, "Fringe" is a revamp of the X-Files, about a young, tough FBI agent is forced to confront the spread of unexplained phenomena and work with a XX scientist and his son. The cast is to include Anna Torv, John Noble, and Joshua Jackson; created by J.J.Abrams and writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman.
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| Airs Tuesdays at 9PM EST, premiering Fall 2008.
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| 2. DOLLHOUSE:
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| Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse," from 20th Century Fox TV, revolves around a group of young men and women, aka "Dolls," who are imprinted with different personalities. Olivia Williams ("X-Men: The Last Stand") will play the ruthless and protective Adelle, who runs the Dollhouse. Also in the cast are Eliza Dushku, Tahmoh Penikett, Fran Kranz, Dichen Lachman, and Enver Gjokaj.
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| Airs Mondays at 8PM EST, premiering Spring 2009.
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NBC's New Dramas 2008-2009
On Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008, NBC announced its new 2008-2009 lineup including the following seven new drama series:
| 1. MY OWN WORST ENEMY:
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| Henry Spivey (Christian Slater, “Bobby”) is a middle-class efficiency expert living a humdrum life in the suburbs with a wife, two kids, a dog, and a minivan. 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? The series is produced by Universal Media Studios. Jason Smilovic (“Kidnapped”) is the executive producer; David Semel (director of the “American Dreams,” “Heroes” and “Life” pilots) is the director and executive producer.
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| Airs Mondays at 10PM EST, premiering Fall 2008. New content features will include an alter ego game, dossiers on supporting characters, an archive of Edward and Henry video messages to each other and a split site (suburbs v. international intrigue).
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| 2. KNIGHT RIDER:
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| On the heels of NBC's hit movie, the iconic 1980s television classic comes roaring back to life as an updated drama series showcasing the new customized KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) Ford Mustang. As the sequel resumes, KITT is absolutely the coolest car ever created: its supercomputer capable of hacking almost any system; its weapons systems efficient; and its body -- thanks to its creator's work and nanotechnology -- is capable of actually shifting shape and color. It is the ultimate car -- and someone will be willing to do anything to obtain it. "Knight Rider" stars Justin Bruening ("Cold Case"), Deanna Russo ("NCIS"), Sydney Tamiia Poitier ("Veronica Mars") and Bruce Davison ("Breach"). David Bartis ("Heist," "The O.C."), Doug Liman ("Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "The Bourne Identity") and Gary Scott Thompson (“Las Vegas,” “The Fast and The Furious”) are executive producers and David Andron serves as supervising producer and writer. Based on characters created by Glen Larson, “Knight Rider” is from Universal Media Studios and Dutch Oven Productions.
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| Airs Wednesdays at 8PM EST, premiering Fall 2008. Fans of the show will find a "KITT" My Ride feature, weekly KITT voicemails to mobile subscribers, talking KITT e-cards and streaming full episodes.
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| 3. CRUSOE:
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| Based on the legendary novel by Daniel Defoe, this is the tale of Robinson Crusoe. A young man leaves his true love to embark on an adventure -- only to end up shipwrecked on a remote tropical island for 28 years, completely detached from the life he once knew. His desire to return to his wife and his strong and unlikely friendship with Friday are the only things that keep him sane. While stranded, Crusoe encounters enemies and braves the elements. Equal parts “MacGyver,” “Castaway” and “Pirates of the Caribbean,” this series is an inspirational tale of survival rife with action and comedy. Cast is to include Philip Winchester ("Thunderbirds) as "Crusoe" on the island, Sean Bean ("Lord of the Rings") as Robinson Crusoe's father, Anna Walton ("Hellboy II") as Crusoe's wife and Sam Neill ("Jurassic Park") as a friend of the family. "Crusoe" is produced by Power. Juston Bodle is the executive producer.
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| Airs Fridays at 8PM EST, premiering Fall 2008. Digital features will include extended flashback scenes, an interactive adventure game, Crusoe's diary and full episode streaming.
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| 4. THE PHILANTHROPIST:
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| This one-hour drama is about a rebel with a cause. 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. It's a global adventure that will take viewers to the ends of the Earth and will inspire them as well. "The Philanthropist" is produced by Universal Media Studios, Original Media and the Levinson/Fontana Company. Tom Fontana ("Homicide: Life on the Street"), Barry Levinson (“Homicide: Life on the Street”) and Charlie Corwin ("L.A. Ink") are the executive producers; Jim Juvonen is a co-executive producer. David Eick ("Bionic Woman") will be the showrunner.
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| Airs Mondays at 10PM EST, premiering Winter 2008. In addition to full streaming episodes, users will find Giving Back tips, Teddy's Lifestyle game and money tracker files.
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| 5. MERLIN:
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| “Merlin” brings to life a new legend for a modern audience. “Merlin” is an exciting, hour-long fantasy series set in the mythic city of Camelot -- but inspired by 21st Century storytelling. Before Merlin and Arthur became legends, they were ambitious young men looking for adventure, hoping to live up to their family’s expectations, discovering love and finding their own true destiny, making mistakes along the way. The innovative, action-packed drama has cross-generational appeal and paints a picture of Merlin and Arthur’s early life that audiences have never witnessed before. Merlin will be played by twin brothers Colin Morgan (“The Catherine Tate Show”) and Daniel Morgan (“The Bill”). Arthur will be played by Bradley James (“Lewis”). The cast will also include Anthony Head (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) as Uther, Arthur's father; Richard Wilson (“A Passage to India”) as Gaius, the court physician who becomes mentor to the young Merlin; Angel Coulby (“Magicians”) as Guinevere; and Katie McGrath (“The Tudors”) as the sorceress Morgana. A FremantleMedia Enterprises distribution of a Shine production for BBC.
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| Airs Sundays at 8PM EST, premiering Winter 2008. Digital features will include Merlin's diary and Spells for Everyday Life.
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| 6. KINGS:
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| “Kings” is an inspiring exploration of the timeless David vs. Goliath struggle. The show is set in a modern metropolis under siege where the fighting has gone on for too long and cost far too many lives. When David Shepherd (Christopher Egan, “Resident Evil: Extinction”), a brave young soldier, rescues the king’s (Golden Globe winner Ian McShane, “Deadwood”) son from enemy territory, he sets events in motion that will finally bring peace. Suddenly, David is thrust into the limelight, earning the affections of women -- including the king’s daughter. When he’s promoted to captain, he becomes the reluctant poster boy for hope. But for David, the line between his allies and enemies will blur as the power players in the kingdom go to great lengths to see him fall. From the director (Francis Lawrence) of the blockbuster movie “I Am Legend” comes the ultimate story of David vs. Goliath, and there’s no telling who will win. Sebastian Stan (“Gossip Girl”) also stars. “Kings” is a production of Universal Media Studios; Michael Green (NBC’s “Heroes”) is the executive producer. Francis Lawrence (“I Am Legend”) is the director and executive producer and Erwin Stoff (“I Am Legend”) also is executive producer.
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| Airs Sundays at 10PM EST, premiering Winter 2008. Digital features will include city sites for Shiloh, Gilboah and Gath, creating a deeper experience for the user. Additionally, viewers will find videos about the King's ascension to power, a family history expose and full streaming episodes.
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| 7. THE LISTENER:
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| 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. Week-to-week, “The Listener” balances high-stakes drama with irreverent humor and sends Toby on an intellectual and emotional adventure. Ennis Esmer (“The Path to 9/11”) also stars. “The Listener” is a production of Program Partners and Shaftesbury Films. The executive producers are Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Michael Amo, Russ Cochrane, Glen Davis and Bill Laurin.
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| Airs Thursdays at 10PM EST, premiering Summer 2009.
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Notes
- The pilot info. is sourced from Hollywood Reporter and Variety articles; unnamed dramas are not included.
- The schedule is sourced from TV Squad articles. Winter 2008 could end up being January 2009 or later depending on how production progresses (TV Squad just labels it as "Winter").
- The NBC information comprises information from two NBC Universal Media Village articles: one that lists the new series and their summaries; and another that lists the online content for each new and returning show.
- The CW has recently sold its Sunday night programming time to Media Rights Corporation (MRC). Two other new dramas are expected from MRC besides the ones listed above.
- This article is not intended for the main namespace.
- If included on another page, only the confirmed for broadcast series are meant to appear.