Brill and Eric Watch TV 250: Summer ’08 Press Tour 2

Charlie Hunnam from the new FX series Sons of AnarchyTour continues with presentations from FOX and FX.

It’s a jam-packed pair of days with news of new and returning shows on the FOX and FX networks. First up is the highly-anticipated new series from “Lost” producer J.J. Abrams, “Fringe,” reality show “Secret Millionaire” and the returning “Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles.”

FX presents the new motorcycle club drama, “Sons of Anarchy,” starring Charlie Hunnam (photo, right). There’s also news for the next season of Damages and the final season of “The Shield.

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Brill and Eric Watch TV 250: Summer ’08 Press Tour 1

Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer in HBO series True BloodTCA Press Tour is back with a week’s worth press for new cable shows this summer and fall.

We discuss the scene and hit some of the highlights, including Style Network’s “Ruby,” TNT’s “Raising the Bar” and “Leverage,” the return of AMC’s “Mad Men,” Fox Reality’s “Long Way Down” (featuring Ewan McGregor) and the long-awaited HBO vampire drama “True Blood” starring Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer (photo, left).

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Press Tour 2008 Begins Today

Brill & Eric return this week with coverage of the ’08 TCA Summer Press Tour, a three week long media orgy where we get the inside info an all the new and returning shows. You’ll be able to find more reports from tour on our Twitter feeds, on Zap2it.com and Eric’s series of reports for Metromix.com.

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Brill and Eric Watch TV 249: FOX Upfronts ’08

J.J. Abrams' new FOX series Fringe starring Anna Torv and Joshua JacksonFOX presented one of the most promising lineups of new shows slated for the next year.

In our final installment of ’08 Upfronts coverage, we have the low down on six new shows scheduled for next fall and midseason on FOX, as well as three new shows which could join the schedule. The rather comprehensive and sensible lineup includes the buzzworthy new J.J. Abrams (“Lost”) series, “Fringe” (photo, right) and Joss Whedon’s overdue return to TV, “Dollhouse,” starring Eliza Dushku. There are also two animated series, an interesting reality offering and a some comedies that actually may turn out to be funny. And nearly every one of them somehow has ties to the still-missed FOX comedy “Arrested Development.”

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Brill and Eric Watch TV 248: CBS Upfronts ’08

Simon Baker and Robin Tunney in the forthcoming CBS series The MentalistCBS presents a comprehensive—if not exciting—slate of new shows for next season in their 2008 upfronts presentation.

Despite the setback of the writers strike, CBS presented several scheduling changes and six new shows: comedies “Worst Week” and “Project Gary,” dramas “The Mentalist” (photo, left), “Eleventh Hour,” “The Ex List,” and midseason suspense/horror series “Harper’s Island.” [Click links to view video clips.]

Meanwhile, a couple B & E faves get another chance, while one fan fave gets staked.

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Brill and Eric Watch TV 247: ABC and The CW Upfronts ’08

A new 90210 is coming to the CW this fallThe effects of the writers strike seems to resonate as these two nets have fewer offerings than usual this fall.

We do double duty tonight with coverage of two networks’ worth of upfront announcements. ABC announced only five new shows for next year, but those include some interesting offerings such as an adaptation of the BBC’s “Life on Mars,” “The Goode Family,” a new Mike Judge animated series, and two reality shows sprung from the daring mind of Ashton Kutcher.

The CW, meanwhile, resurrects the “90210″ franchise (see the new leads in the photo, right) and turns over an entire night of programming to the mysterious Media Rights Capital financing company.

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Brill and Eric Watch TV 246: NBC Upfronts ’08

Justin Bruening in the revamped Knight Rider coming to NBCNBC was the first of the major networks to announce its schedule for next year and we have the scoop on the new and returning shows.

Yes, dear listeners, we’re finally back for the first in a week’s worth of podcasts covering the networks’ announcements of their schedules for the next year. NBC kicked things off, announcing several new shows including the dramas “Merlin,” “My Own Worst Enemy,” and “Crusoe” and the comedy “Kath & Kim”. Also in the lineup: the new “Knight Rider” series (photo, left), based on the TV movie which was based on the ’80s series.

We’ll be back tomorrow with announcements from ABC and the CW.

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An Unexpected Hiatus

This is a test!See, here’s the deal: Eric’s real job has had him working for the past 28 days straight. No lie. OK, he did have one day off two or three weeks ago, but he slept through most of it.

That’s why you haven’t seen or heard from us recently. Our copious amount of TV-viewing has been severely curtailed since when he does have a couple of free hours we want something fun (”Torchwood”) or stupid (”American Idol”). Plus, since we’ve barely seen each other over the past month, we’re getting along famously so our patented bickering isn’t up to snuff.

This, of course, can’t go on forever and servicing you guys is high on our priority list of what we need to get accomplished (that and our taxes). Basically, what I’m saying here is that you have not been forsaken.

Oh, and I will be Twittering throughout the Oscars tonight if anyone wants to keep me company.

Brill and Eric Watch TV 245: “Lost” Preview

Evangeline Lily stars on Lost season 4 on ABC“Lost” is back on ABC this week and thanks to the magic of streaming video, we’ve seen the first two new episodes.

While many fans became disillusioned with “Lost” over the past two seasons, the show’s producers had high hopes that a plan for three more seasons of 16 episodes shown without interruption or repeats would help set the pace for the journey to the end.

Despite being limited by a network request not to discuss certain topics, we give our impressions of the season premiere and second episode. Whether those who gave up on the show will return remains to be seen, but we provide a taste of what they can expect if they do.

Bonus: We also have clips of several cast members giving their takes on what lies ahead in season 4.

Check out Zap2it’s “Lost” photo gallery.
The Zap2it Guide to “Lost”

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Brill and Eric Watch TV 244

Eve Myles stars inTorchwood on BBC America“Torchwood” season two starts Saturday and we have a review.The “Doctor Who” spinoff (starring Eve Myles, photo, right) returns to BBC America and the show’s saucier than ever. We discuss the series’ expansive approach to sexuality, the highly-anticipated Martha Jones crossover and where things are headed for the UK’s top alienbusters.

We also touch on some of the changes made at B&E Watch TV recently and the move to combine blogging and podcasting. You can now find more reviews, news and commentary on brillandericwatchtv.com.

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