The Best New Features Coming Out In Summer 2009
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009If you love TV then your going to love what you have to look forward to this summer as far as television shows, movies and mini series goes. For the last few months (if you have watched TV) I’m sure you have seen all the new commercials about all the new shows coming in the summer. Frankly I cant wait and I wish they would just come on already. Some of them look like stuff I wouldn’t be interested in (Harper’s Island) while others do (Southland). But that’s the great thing about TV. While I might not like something, you might love it and vise versa. There is a show or a movie that could reach out to anyone with any taste. Like criminal shows? How about comedy movies? Maybe your really into scientific type mini-series because you don’t have the time for a full on show schedule? Well, the TV channels available to you have all these and much more. So lets check out some of the options you have!
“Great American Road Trip” from BBC Worldwide, is a hilarious and relatable new series where seven families from divergent backgrounds are selected take the journey of a lifetime. Over eight episodes, the families will travel through cities large and small all while competing in a medley of humorous challenges that will ultimately lead one family to victory. These comical, clever challenges are set against iconic American backdrops like the majestic Grand Canyon and the regal Washington Monument. Along the way, our families and our viewers will also discover quirky American landmarks ranging from the World’s Largest Chair to a sneaker the size of a car. Although family fun is the centerpiece of the show, the competition is real and one family will be eliminated each week based on their performance in the challenges. Ultimately, only one family will return home with a dream prize that perfectly compliments their extraordinary and memorable summer vacation.
“The Philanthropist” chronicles the heroic adventures of a billionaire playboy turned vigilante philanthropist. James Purefoy (”Rome”) stars as Teddy Rist, a successful tycoon whose life is forever changed after rescuing a young boy during a hurricane in the Nigerian town he was visiting. Rist is spontaneous and impulsive and quickly decides to channel his passion, power and money into helping those in need. Rist’s actions are not just about helping others - he is purging his soul to help exorcise the inner demons which have been festering ever since his young son died and he lost everything he truly loved. Since the death of his son, the danger and risk to his life is the only way he can feel genuinely alive and he’ll do anything in order to achieve his goals. A man who has everything but can feel nothing, Rist keeps his adrenaline pumping by putting his business head and money-making skills to good use through bargaining with the self-righteous, making deals with drug barons and trading with the nefarious.
“Merlin” is a new 13-part drama series that updates the story of the infamous sorcerer of Arthurian legend for a new audience in the mythical city of Camelot, in a time before history began. In this fantastical realm, Merlin is a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers who arrives in the kingdom and quickly makes enemies, including the heir to Uther’s crown, the headstrong Prince Arthur. But guided by Uther’s wise physician, Gaius, Merlin is soon using his talents not just to survive but also to unlock Camelot’s mystical secrets. Starring Colin Morgan as Merlin, Bradley James as Prince Arthur, Anthony Head as King Uther, Richard Wilson as Gaius, Katie McGrath as Morgana and Angel Coulby as Gwen, “Merlin” is an imaginative new twist on a legend that is as old as time.
“The Listener” centers on Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik, “The Timekeeper”), a 25-year-old paramedic who has a big secret — he’s a telepath. Until now, Toby kept his ability hidden, exploring its possibilities only with his long time mentor and confidant, Dr. Ray Mercer (Colm Feore, “24: Redemption”). As he makes the rounds with his energetic paramedic partner — “Oz” Bey (Ennis Esmer, “Young People F*#king”), “The Listener” follows Toby as he tries to help people in crisis, and in the process, unravel the truth about his past. While his professional life is in check, Toby’s personal life could use its own rescue. And with the help of Detective Charlie Marks (Lisa Marcos, “Diary of a Mad Black Woman”) and his E.R. doctor/ex-girlfriend Olivia Fawcett (Mylne Dinh-Robic, “Da Vinci’s City Hall”), Toby realizes his gift can help others.
One of the greatest artists of all time, the legacy of Leonardo daVinci (1452-1519) includes some of the most well-known paintings ever made. But daVinci’s talent exceeded far beyond painting - he was also a successful architect and engineer, and his drawings of military weapons have been highly regarded and studied for nearly 500 years. These drawings capture exceptionally engineered weapons unlike anything that had been developed at the time they were created, yet there is no record that these designs were ever constructed … until now. Discovery Channel’s six-part world premiere original series, DOING DAVINCI, puts a team of 21st century builders, engineers and historians together to take on one of history’s greatest minds as they attempt to build daVinci’s weapons once and for all. The series premieres Mondays at 10PM ET/PT beginning April 13.
In “Meteor,” two massive rocks, tumbling debris older than the solar system itself, collide in space. The course has been altered. The target is Earth. In a remote observatory, Dr. Lehman (Emmy winner Christopher Lloyd, “Back to the Future”), discovers a meteor approximately three times the size of Mount Everest barreling its way towards Earth. His devoted young assistant Imogene O’Neill (Marla Sokoloff, “The Practice”) feverishly types in the coordinates only to find the previously identified meteor named Kassandra is headed their way. It’s only the beginning of their troubles as showers of smaller meteorites begin to lay waste to major cities around the globe. The impending disaster brings out the best and the worst sides in people as they cope by either lending a helping hand or taking advantage of the situation.
Tags: ABC, BBC, Best New Features, CBS, Entertainment, NBC, Summer 2009, Television, TV, TV Shows
