TV: In Memorium - 08-09 - ABC

What I think ABC is guilty of, is trying to go out on a limb with a quirky show and then it just doesn't get the ratings they need to appease the advertisiers. So ultimately a potentially great show dies before it's time. Just look at previous years, shows like The Nine and Invasion, both pretty ambitious, but both needed avid watchers to follow the twists and turns. And now they are set to try again to appease the LOST fanbase with Flash Forward, a show about the whole planet blacking out for 2 minutes and having visions of their futures.

Keep it up ABC, eventually one will stick, like LOST.

Anyway on what we did lose this year...

PUSHING DAISES: I guess we should count ourselves lucky that due to a writer's strike we even got a second season of this brilliant show. By far the most creative and original hour on television, consistantly greta every week. Lee Pace and Anna Friel both had great chemistry and played their parts stongly but at the end of the day they were always outshined by the dour Chi McBride and upbeat Kristen Chenoweth.

This is definately the show I will miss the most out of all that got cancelled this year, due to the fact it was a pure joy to watch every week.

ELI STONE: Like Pushing Daises, this benefited from the writer's strike. The lack of any pilots to use this, despite its low ratings, was brought back. Again this was a show that wasn't afraid to go out on a limb and try something different every week. Featuring cameos from George Michael and Seal, and a myriad of muscial numbers concealed as Eli's visions. This show was blessed with a feel good charm that you just couldn't escape.

It is to be noted that the final 3 episodes of this and Pushing Daises will be broadcast on Saturdays during the Summer. Thank you ABC.

LIFE ON MARS: Based off a UK show of the same name, but retold in a slightly different and longer way. I'm glad they managed to finish out the whole season for this, and for the most part it was enjoyable, especially the whole 70s cop show aspect. Except the ending left a bad taste in my mouth, as it sullied the UK version. Like Prison Break though this is a show that would have had trouble lengthen itself out for 2 or 3 seasons, before the idea became tired.

THE UNUSUALS: A late season arrival, jumping in after LOST. It's oddball enough to be enjoyable, but there are better procedurals out there. It's only a shame because that means Amber Tamblyn is off our screens again.


NEXT: NBC & CBS - I don't think there is much on those two networks.. we'll see.

TV: In Memorium - Shows 08-09 - FOX

Taking a lock back at this past season of TV, I deceided to start with the shows that I watched that have been cancelled.

PRISON BREAK (FOX): Of all the shows I watch that got cancelled this was the longest running, I have yet to watch the Series Finale, but after a long mid-season hiatus and a move from the prime slot Monday nights to being a lead-in to Dollhouse on Fridays, rating plummeted. As did the quality.

When the show started four years ago, it all hinged on a gimmick which would make a great mini-series or movie, but was protracted out for this long. For the most part it worked well, great twists and cliffhangers each week. But once they broke out of prison a second time in the third season, suspension of disbelief became a little harder. The fourth season has begun to feel like an after thought with the writes trying to tie up any loose ends they have presented to us in the big Company conspiracy.

Hopefully members of the cast like Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell will get picked up for other shows, as it is them that have made the show all the more enjoyable. And come on who doesn't love to hate Bagwell, one hand and all.


TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES (FOX): After a strong second season, that would give cause for this show to be nominated as the best sci-fi on TV, it was announced today that it wouldn't be returning.

Lena Headey gave us a look past the harden surface of the Sarah Connor previously portrayed by Linda Hamilton, we were give a psycholoical scarred and troubled woman at times. Driven to protect her son in the hope of saving the whole of mankind. Thomas Dekker's John Connor started out not far from what we saw with Edward Furlong, but over the course of it's 2 seasons he matured and began to look like the leader he was expected to be.

The bigger shocks of the second season was the great acting turns given to us by Brian Austin Green and Shirley Manson. Green had some great moments as Derek Reese (brother of John's father, Kyle), including an "I'm not John Connor" line that will be forever remembered in fandom. Shirley Manson, famous for being the lead singer of rock group Garbage, gave a surprisingly great and chilling turn as the seemingly emotion-less Catherine Weaver/T-1000.


NEXT: ABC - guilty of ending too many good shows - Pushing Daises, Eli Stone, Life on Mars & The Unusuals