Grrl TV

Today brings good news for TV viewers who loved CBS’ canceled 1970s-era drama Swingtown and only wish the best for the show’s cast now that the series is kaput. Star Molly Parker, also known as sweet Susan Miller to us incurable TV swingers, has been added to the cast of HBO’s forthcoming pilot The Wonderful Maladys.
The potential series is attracting lots of attention in large part because it stars Buffy the Vampire Slayer alumna Sarah Michelle Gellar. A comedy, the New York-based show follows the (mis)adventures of three parentless siblings who have one of those always interesting dysfunctional …read more

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Back in January, I wrote about Fox’s Fringe and HBO’s True Blood scoring coveted spots in the lineup of television series making an appearance at the Paley Center for Media’s popular annual Paley Festival.
Now comes news that the female-led shows will be joined by their fellow Grrl TV programs 90210, Desperate Housewives, Dollhouse, and Swingtown during PaleyFest 09. And, yes — I just wrote Swingtown, so how about a big “Woot!”
Additional shows scheduled to participate include the canceled ABC dramedy Pushing Daisies, the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory and hit rookie crime procedural The Mentalist, the FX sitcom …read more

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Former Melrose Place and Swingtown star Grant Show returns as Addison’s brother Archer on tonight’s new episode of Private Practice called “Acceptance,” and he’s not going to have an easy time of it.
When Archer suffers a severe seizure, Addison and his girlfriend Naomi aggressively search for the cause and cure, even calling Addison’s ex-husband Derek for counsel. Meanwhile, Violet tells Sheldon and Pete that she is pregnant, and a seven year-old patient is abandoned, left for Cooper to care for.
Follow the jump to preview the episode.

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There’s no new Ugly Betty or Grey’s Anatomy tonight (the repeats “Betty Suarez Land” and “Rise Up,” respectively, are scheduled instead), but fans will get a fresh episode of Private Practice at 10:01pm EST called “Second Chances.”
It’s all about sibling rivalry, literally, during this installment when Addison’s brother Archer arrives in Los Angeles to start working at Oceanside Wellness’ rival clinic Pacific Wellcare. This creates a whole bunch of problems, of course, while pregnant Violet deals with the discovery that neither Pete nor Sheldon wants kids.
Follow the jump for a “Second Chances” promo and sneak peek, the last featuring …read more

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As if anyone really needed actual confirmation, the unambiguous and definitive bad news for Swingtown fans dropped earlier today. At CBS’ presentation during the Television Critics Association press tour, network president Nina Tassler stated, “We’re not going back to Swingtown… right now.”
Tassler then went on to acknowledge that CBS is “proud” it took the risk on a show that was “well executed” and “well received” and that had “great” performances and writing. Sounds like exactly the kind of show a network should cancel, right?
And, ignore the last two words of Tassler’s comment because they’re empty; if CBS had …read more

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If you loved CBS’ hedonistic ’70s drama Swingtown from earlier this fall, good news: the show’s thirteen-episode first season comes out on DVD today.
Even better — if you’re still holding on to a sliver of hope that the series might return for a sophomore run — is the fact that the network hasn’t officially canceled it … yet. Word is that execs have a special love for the show, probably because the many baby boomers among them were coming into their own somewhere around that decade.
The DVD set looks good, too, despite studio Paramount’s ridiculous list price of $40.99 …read more

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No, it’s not the same as Bravo renewing the CBS summer series Swingtown; but at least the basic-cable network has given the show a longer lease on life by acquiring the exclusive cable rights to its thirteen-episode single season to date.
Earlier today, Bravo announced its plans to add the 1970s drama to its stable of syndicated series that already includes the long-running staples Law & Order: Criminal Intent and The West Wing. As a result, fans of the show can look forward to reliving the tumultuous swinger experience some time in the near future, probably this fall.
And, who knows? …read more

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Well, this may be the complete and utter end, my fellow Swingtown watchers. When the final episode of the season, “Take It to the Limit,” airs tonight, it could double as the series finale, unless CBS comes up with an alternative plan for the poorly rated series soon.
In the meantime, on the currently so-called season finale, the Deckers throw a clambake and key party at the end of the summer, and, of course, all of the adult attendees from the neighborhood get very, very naughty and, I’m guessing, raunchy.
As usual, there’s no preview clip from CBS. So take …read more

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Original Air Date: August 29, 2008
Don’t let the title of this episode of Swingtown, “Surprise,” fool you because there are actually precious few surprises in it. In fact, the only incident that caught me off guard was a revelation concerning the Millers’ neighbor Sam. But I’m jumping ahead of myself, so let’s review events in a more orderly fashion.
The title is meant to refer to several surprises, and the central one is the traditional surprise dinner Susan arranges to celebrate Janet’s birthday each year. This time around, however, things are more than a bit hinky. Not …read more

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Actually, the title of this post is kind of inaccurate since there’s really not much to spoil. Swingtown returns tonight after an almost two-week absence with the next-to-last episode of the season — or is that series? — “Surprise.” Here’s what CBS says it’s all about:
“A surprise party for Janet sparks shocking revelations between the neighbors.”
Really. That’s it. And since that’s not much at all, how about a little totally non-erotic, kiddie strip poker after the jump?

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