TV Mad Man

Major changes at major case on tonight’s premiere of Law and Order: Criminal Intent, 10/9c on USA!

What USA Says:

LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT, USA Network’s hit original scripted series, will return with 16 all new episodes on its new night, Tuesday, March 30 at 10/9c.  LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT, produced by Wolf Films and Universal Cable Productions, created and executive produced by Emmy Award-winning producer Dick Wolf, was developed by René Balcer.  Shot entirely in and around New York City, the third installment of the “Law & Order” franchise takes viewers deep into the minds of its criminals while following the intense psychological approaches the Major Case Squad uses to solve its crimes.

After a triumphant eight-season run, Emmy nominee Vincent D’Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe and Eric Bogosian say goodbye to LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT.  The two-part season opener will showcase the brilliant partnership between Detectives Goren & Eames as they, along with Detectives Nichols and Stevens, unravel a case with devastating consequences for Captain Ross.

SAG Award nominee Saffron Burrows (“Boston Legal,” “Troy”) joins the cast as Detective Serena Stevens, a highly educated, worldly single parent with a broad range of life experiences to draw upon in solving even the toughest of cases.  Teamed with Detective Zach Nichols (Jeff Goldblum), the two of them create a partnership of challenging intellect and street-smart savvy.

Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio joins the cast as Captain Zoe Callas who comes to MCS from Internal Affairs, where she honed the pragmatic style and political skillfulness that make her a standout captain. She takes over the role of Captain of the Major Case Squad replacing Eric Bogosian’s character Danny Ross.  Mastrantonio was an Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee in the best supporting actress category for the role of Carmen, opposite Tom Cruise and Paul Newman in the film “The Color of Money” directed by Martin Scorsese.

Academy Award and Emmy nominee Jeff Goldblum (“Adam Resurrected,” “Jurassic Park”) returns for season nine as Detective Zach Nichols, insightful and powerfully motivated to uncover the darkest side of human nature.  Nichols uses his keen intelligence and off beat charm to reveal the criminal intent behind his homicide cases.

A ratings powerhouse, LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT was second only to fellow USA show IN PLAIN SIGHT Sundays in 2009 among total basic cable viewers. Guest stars for season nine include Tracy Pollan, Dan Lauria, Ralph Macchio, Dan Butler and William Mapother.

The two-parter season premiere (airing this week and next), says goodbye to the long time regulars Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe (Goren and Eames) and introduces us to Det. Nichols (Jeff Goldblum) new partner Stevens (the wonderful Saffron Burrows).

After 8 long years, it was time for Goren and Eames to call it quits along with Captain Ross (Eric Bogosian). In the premiere, one will be killed, one fired, and one retired in a huge fashion. The case is that of an international trade scandal that somehow wraps around to involve Major Case. While the case is best left handled on a more focuses show, it takes a back seat to the problems at the precinct that captivate the audience.

In the first hour, Nichols teams up with the group, and is soon introduced to Chicago transplant Stevens, who is not letting on all that she knows. Also new to the team is Zoe Callas as the new captain in hour 3 played by Elizabeth Mastrantonio.

It was said to see our old friends take off bu they did in a literal game-changing hour that provided excellent acting, emotion, and completion, and what more can you ask for from TV’s quintessential police saga.

The premiere airs tonight at 10/9c on USA.

In November, Tyler was meeting Anna, getting sucked in by her force, Jack got stabbed by an alien, Erica was teaming with Ryan and Georgie to form the resistance, and they started by blowing up a mystery substance in the flu vaccine. Now in March, all those things are picking up again, on ABC’s reimagaining of V.

V if you did not know centers around Erica Evans (the excellent Elizabeth Mitchell), a FBI agent, who is thrown into a major situation as alien ships hover over major cities. Those aliens are known as V’s and they as they say come in peace but are really reptilian creatures that have a secret agenda led by Anna (Morena Baccarin). Anna also has a whole armada of ships coming toward earth but her immediate problem lies in the 5th Column, a rogue group of V’s that have been planet for years.

If you need a more length refresher at the first four episodes check out the recap below but the same girl who does the awesome LOST recaps.

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I got a chance to see the return episode, the show’s 5th, and it comes back with vengeance. First thing, there is a kick ass fight scene between a visitor and Erica, in Liz’s signature Juliet fight style. Each of the shows regulars are given a start to their upcoming storylines in the hour, written by new showrunner Scott Rosenbaum. As Erica and Georgie, continue to get a resistance with Ryan, they try to incorporate a new member played by Charles Mesure, a mercenary that has much need experience. Ryan is also busy with Val, as she is having a hybrid baby and has no idea. She is having some unknown side-effects and fans of the original series will be very happy at what happens at the end of the episode.

Back at the mothership, Anna and her daughter, and Tyler’s boyfriend Lisa, continue to get Tyler to join their team and that includes an introduction to a very cool par of the ship known as the “memory chamber.” Anna also is dealing with the 5th column and she realizes this is going to be one long fight.

In the end, the episode is a great sci-fi accomplishment, it shows that even with new direction, on a new incarnation of an old show, the genre can still be relevant, emotional, and compelling in a very new sense. I am very excited to see where this journey will take as in the next 8 episodes of the first year and hopefully not last.

V is well worth the wait and debuts in its new time-slot after Lost on ABC at 10/9c Tuesday.

Some great TV on in this start of the late winter week….

Chuck – 8/7c on NBC So who was Sarah’s red test? Will Casey come back in the fold? When is Shaw going to leave? Those are some of my questions going into Chuck vs. the American Hero. Chuck for me is really getting in a grove during this middle half of the season. Tonight, Chuck gets to pick who he takes on this mission, and his friends want him back.

Kell on Earth – 10/9c on Bravo How will Bravo exist without Kelly Cutrone now? Kell on Earth has now quickly become a Bravo staple for me, and the whole People’s Revolution crew is awesome. Skinner, Grace, Andrew, Robyn, and more, who couldn’t love this dysfunctional crew. Tonight is the finale as Kelly gets some sad news. Good news though, look for a lot more Kelly with Whitney and Roxy on MTV’s The City, next month.

Castle – 10/9c on ABC “Boom!” time. The second part of the Dana Delany two-parter airs after DWTS tonight and we will get the answer to the awesome cliffhanger that was Beckett’s building blowing up. Of course, she survives I do believe, but how and what will happen next? I’m excited!

Damages – 10/9c on FX  Is anybody watching Damages? From the ratings, it does not look like it. Tonight’s episode however really tests the story as Patty almost loses the Tobin’s case unless she gets some information as Ellen gets in hot water at the DA’s office. The episode end however is absolutely fantastic, and also look for more information on Winstone’s back story.

I wanted to make sure everybody knows that tonight is the mid-season finale of Syfy’s Caprica. The next half of the season will begin later this year, and if its any indication the finale will rock.

I have been hesitant about the previous episodes due to what it seem liked a convulted story but last week’s episode blew me away. The emotion of the characters, and most of all the beautfil look that make it seem like it costs a fortune.

Caprica airs tonight at 9/8c on Syfy!

Need a pick me up? Counting down the days until Glee returns to FOX on April 13th? Well FOX knows we are impatient, and they just released this brand new Sue’s Corner with the cramazing Jane Lynch.

This one is entitled “Sneaky Gays,” and after this you will all know we need to “swish it up a bit!” Press play above.