‘Home Improvement’ Moves UP, the Final ‘Lucifer,’ Royal Wedding Watch on PBS
A selective critical checklist of notable Monday TV:
Home Improvement (1 pm/noon CT): Tim Allen is having a good week. Fox will make official at its Monday Upfront presentation that his sitcom Last Man Standing, canceled a year ago by ABC, will return for a seventh season on Fox. And cable’s family-oriented UP TV has resurrected Allen’s breakthrough hit, Home Improvement, for a daily run from 1-3 pm/ET. (For those keeping track, Last Man Standing recently joined WGN America’s lineup, airing on Wednesday nights.)
Lucifer (8/7c, Fox): Less happy Fox network news for fans of the supernatural procedural, which has been canceled after three seasons. The season—now series—finale ends on an apparent cliffhanger, according to a tweet from the show’s co-creator Joe Henderson, who somehow assumed that leaving the story unresolved would ensure renewal. (In these cases, I pin the blame on the producer, not the network.) In the last episode, Lucifer (Tom Ellis) has an epiphany—and seemingly so does Chloe (Lauren German) who “finally sees the truth.” About her devilish partner?
The Resident (9/8c, Fox): At least fans of the first-year medical drama don’t have to worry about being left hanging. Fox has renewed the show for a second season, which will be a relief, giving all the intrigue in the season finale. Conrad (Matt Czuchry) calls in a favor to save Nic (Emily VanCamp) from Lane’s (Melina Kanakaredes) scheming, and Dr. Bell (Bruce Greenwood) rethinks his alliance with Lane when one of her patients is readmitted to the hospital. Seems to me all of these characters would benefit from a tour of duty with Grey’s Anatomy’s Dr. Bailey. Now there’s a great TV doctor.
Inside Monday TV: PBS is getting into the upcoming royal wedding in a big way. Each night this week, stations will air a Royal Wedding Watch (10/9c), courtesy of BBC Studios, co-hosted by Meredith Vieira and British presenter Matt Baker, highlighting various aspects of the much-anticipated ceremony. … In the world of reality competitions, ABC’s rushed mini-season of Dancing With the Stars (8/7c) is already at the semi-finals, with the six remaining couples performing a solo dance and then a dance-off in which viewers in the East and Central time periods can vote live via an online “Passion Meter.” … NBC’s The Voice (8/7c) is also in semi-final mode, with the Top 8 teaming in a “Special Duets” round. … An armed robbery in the (now series) finale of CBS’s Superior Donuts (9/8c) leads to some soul-searching from Arthur (Judd Hirsch), Franco (Jermaine Fowler) and Sofia (Diane Guerrero).
Conversation12 Comments
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G
Why is it the shows that show some imagination always get canceled? Deception, Lucifer, Kevin probably saves the world, The crossing. Wisdom of the crowd, just to mention a few. Every time I get interested in a show they cancel it. I think i am going to stop watching anything new and just binge watch older shows that have a few seasons to them.
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C
Because shows that show some imagination are considered niche shows that don't appeal to the masses. Look at the ratings. None of the shows you mentioned drew much of an audience.
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R
Well...Terena...I think your conclusion may be a little philosophically impure...
You seem to be saying that if you enjoyed a season of episodes of a new show...then at the end of the first season it's canceled...you've wasted your time watching it...
I believe...to paraphrase an old axiom..."It's better to have ENJOYED a season of a new show and have it canceled...than to have NEVER ENJOYED it at all."
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G
Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D was renewed for a 13 episode 6th season earlier this afternoon.
Now waiting for news about Timeless.
I'm in such a good mood!!
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R
Supergirl at 8 and Elementary at 10.
Since when do daily reruns of an almost 20-year-old show rate a mention in this column? This isn't the first time Home Improvement has been shown in syndication.
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G
Last Man Standing reruns also air on CMT. Just adding to all of the Tim Allen news lately.
The Crossing for sure. Despite it being canceled, I still would like to watch all of the episodes anyway. More sci-fi/thriller fans should have given this show a chance.
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G
Home Improvement is almost 30 years old. It started in 1991 ended in 1999.
It took more than a decade later (2011) for Allen to find another hit in Last Man Standing. He must be so relieved now.
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R
Well, it's not like he was desperate for work. He did the Santa Clause and Toy Story movies, don't forget. I used to like him--and I really liked Home Improvement--but not so much nowadays. I thought his newer show was pretty much a rehash of Home Improvement: clueless man trying to keep up, dealing with his family, etc.
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G
Yes, I recall watching those family movies in the theatre back in then. I also enjoyed many of his less popular movies as well such as For Richer For Poorer (hilarious) and Jungle Jim ( another winner). I meant it took a while for him to find a TV hit.
He is one of the few that exceled in both mediums .
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R
Do you mean Jungle 2 Jungle? I haven't seen that in years. And I forgot another movie he was in--Galaxy Quest. That was funny.
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G
Yes, that's it Jungle 2 Jungle. Mixed it up with something else. Funny movie. And yes Galaxy Quest was funny also. He had many successes between Home Improvement and Last Man Standing.
Talented guy.
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C
Lucifer (one last time and even knowing there's an unresolved cliffhanger), iZombie, and The Crossing (while it lasts) for me.
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