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June 14, 2004 - Strategy Media Archive
Fall TV Preview

The Shows - CTV

by Terry Poulton and Sion Wulffhart
page M 23

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, and that's mostly what

we'll be seeing next season. With only a handful of exceptions,

it's monkey see, monkey do.

Las Vegas is hot? Duplicate it and add a doctor. The C.S.I. spin-offs are hits? Let's have yet another, not to mention a shameless twin on another network. The O.C.'s going great guns? Clone it tit for tat, but set it on the opposite coast. Orphans dumped on unsuitable relatives à la Raising Helen? Let's order up two of those. Joan of Arcadia's doing well by talking to God? Why not a show starring one of God's presumptive neighbours: a dead person.

And just when it seemed that the reality genre was all tapped out for premises, along come umpteen more outlandish twists.

Isn't there anything new? Sure there is. Look closely at what follows and you'll find shows like Father of the Pride and Desperate Housewives, proof that smarts, savvy and audacity haven't entirely disappeared from La-la-land, appearances to the contrary.

CTV

Athens

CTV/Fox, Mondays 8-9 p.m.

60 min., midseason debut

the story: A virtual clone of The O.C. set in upper crust New England rather than ritzy California, with an 18-year-old outsider freshman bonding with a patrician professor while changing the dynamics of a fictional college community.

the cast: TBA

the backing: Warner Bros. Television in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, with Josh Schwartz (creator of The O.C.), Bob DeLaurentis, McG and Stephanie Savage as executive producers and Josh Schwartz as writer.

the verdict: If a powerhouse formula like The O.C. definitely ain't broke, don't fix it, just set it in a fresh locale. Has not just breakout potential, but could also launch a lucrative CSI-type franchise. TP

The Benefactor

CTV/ABC, Mondays 8-9 p.m.

60 min., debuts this fall

the story: Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who made his billion thanks to the Internet, offers up $1 million to 16 contestants in a reality TV competition.

the cast: Mark Cuban and money-hungry competitors.

the backing: Originally slated for the summer, this series has been bumped to the fall. Exec producers are David Young (The Eleventh Hour), Clay Newbill and Todd Wagner from 12 Yard Productions and 29 29 Productions.

the verdict: Cuban is just zany enough to make this series work - it all depends on the personalities of the hopefuls. (Is there an Omarosa?) SW

CSI: New York

CTV/CBS, Wednesdays 10-11 p.m.,

60 min., debuts this fall

the story: The latest entry in the blockbuster CSI franchise is set in the Big Apple and features a pair of dedicated, driven detectives. Aiding them in their high-technology scientific sleuthing is a quirky team of experts.

the cast: Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Gary Sinise (Forrest Gump, Truman), Melina Kanakaredes (Providence) with Carmine Giovinazzo, Hill Harper and Vanessa Ferlito

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