It’s nice to see Medium, a show usually under the radar as opposed to craze-inducing shows like Lost or Heroes, getting some love from the press.  There were a rush of articles announcing the renewal, often pairing it with fan favorite Chuck (the fate of which is still undecided).  Maybe the news was more that the original source of the news, the Hollywood Reporter, announced the renewal before NBC did.  But, I’ll be happy with whatever press Medium can get.

Of course, it has only been renewed for a 15-18 episode midyear season.  Now that it’s definitely coming back, can we fans ask NBC to maybe bring it back during the fall next year, or *gasp* maybe even a full season?  

A fan can dream.

Medium Finale: The Dubois Family Gets Massacred?

Dudes, way to be subtle.

Anyway, I hope this all means that Medium is finally kicking it up a notch in the downward slide toward the season (hopeuflly not series) finale.  I for one am really looking forward to next week’s episode because it looks like not only a good premise, but the chance for some comic gold between Allison and Manuel.  What do I mean?  Apparently, Allison has to convince Manuel of her abilities all over again when she’s shot and wakes up in the past before she meets the DA.  The mere task of her convincing him has to provide at least some comic relief.  

Although it wouldn’t be the first time the writers dropped the ball in the humor department lately.  I mean, I know it’s a serious crime drama, but…come on!  Joe’s sister comes into town, there’s some chance for some real gold between her and Allison since the sister only learned of Allison’s abilities through the press.  And the two have about one scene together!!  I mean, what the hell was that?  They did the same thing last week with the lie detector in Allison’s head!  There could have been some hilarious exchanges between her, the kids, Joe, even Manuel and Lee…and all we get is Bridget lying about milk! 

Is it too much to ask for a little levity around here?

From eonline.com, Nicollette & Desperate Housewives: It’s a Wrap!

It’s not clear how Edie Britt takes her final bow, but from the article I would guess her exit  is a “very special episode”  full of emotional flashback fanfare. 

Of course these days you can’t mention a DH article without asking  about the expected girl-on-girl action this weekend, and interviewee Dana Delaney gave her opinion on the subject.  Will Katharine and Bree (Marcia Cross) be gettin’ it on?  We’ll have to see how determined Delaney is to get her way.

After Sheridan departs from Wisteria Lane, maybe she can reprise her Edie character and get some help from Allison Dubois.  After all, apparently she wouldn’t be the first ABC Sunday night lineup star to float over to NBC:

From people.com: Balthazar Getty, Rumer Willis to Star on Medium

Well, at least we know how Getty will be spending his time while Tommy…well, does time.  As previously mentioned, the Brothers & Sisters star will be gone for a while, so it makese sense that Getty has his own Medium story arc. 

Actually, I’m more excited that Anjelica Huston – whose character, Cynthia Keener, is coincidentally also serving time - will be coming back.  Her episodes last season were fantastic, and I loved her antagonistic-yet-likeable character.  Can’t wait to see how that goes.  I also can’t wait to see how all of Allison’s apparent extra curriculars will conflict with her now-steady job at the DA’s office.

Producers seem to be preoccupied with changing shows up this season.   For viewers’ sake, I hope change is good.

Desperate Housewives, from dailymail.co.uk:

Eva Longoria and Teri Hatcher Share Steamy Kiss

For those immune to the DH craze, Eva Longoria plays Gabrielle, and Teri Hatcher plays Susan.

Move over Kevin and Scotty, ABC’s got a new same-sex pair up.

Okay, okay I’m joking.  I’m sure ABC is screwing with us, and this is just a stupid fight about who’s the better kisser.  If it is, then Gabrielle must’ve been determined to get her way – Eva was instructed to do all the work while Teri stood there.

Speaking of ABC screwing with us, who else was pissed at the Sunday two hour special Troubled Waters on Brothers & Sisters?  Tragic death my butt.  As usual ABC didn’t have the balls to do anything that dramatic.  Well then, what else do you expect from a channel owned by Disney?

Here’s a Youtube video of Rob Lowe, who plays Calista Flockhart’s character’s husband Robert McCallister on Brothers & Sisters, talking to the ladies of the View.  He seemed to get through it in one piece:

Two for one bonus: the ladies ask him about his American Idol viewing habits.  He’s actually a fan, but he admits that he doesn’t vote for surprising personal reasons.

Side note: I like Elisabeth, but man, does she watch a lot of reality TV.  In another episode she shows she’s a die-hard Bachelor fan as well as a Dancing with the Stars fan.

Anyway, while Medium probably gets about one millionth of the viewers Idol gets each week, the sci-fi crime drama that could is gaining popularity:

Little-heralded “Medium” gives NBC a boost in the ratings

I’m sure I’m in the minority here, but Medium is the only reason I ever watch NBC.  Arquette mentions how fans are always asking when it will come back on its off-season, since it is only a mid-season show that runs until May.

While that’s great for reality shows – which can barely keep interest for the length they do run – it’s an annoying quality for an hour-long drama.

Cheap reality shows are always brought back.  But the little-advertised Medium gives fans a collective panic attack every year- since NBC seems to ignore this show, will they bother renewing it?  Then there’s the question of which late-night timeslot Medium will have to squeeze into, and if the next batch of competitors (competition with Desperate Housewives was a big concern of one point) will finally give NBC the excuse to chop it.

That’s all I’ve got for now.  Until next time.

Since it’s the middle of the season for most (except for Medium and American Idol, which just premiered in January), there’s definitely been some behind the scenes drama this season:

Brothers &  Sisters, from Actressarchives.com: 

 Balthazar Getty Only Getting Booted from “Brothers & Sisters” For a Little While

It’s not half as dramatic as it sounds.  Getty’s only getting the temporary boot because of the drama the white collar crimes his character, Tommy, is committing to take back family company Ojai – I’m guessing this means that Tommy is going to be the first Walker sib with a rap sheet (as far as I know). Now, I personally cheered his moves for ousting the show’s resident biotch Holly, but I guess it’s true what they say – no good deed goes unpunished.

American Idol, from mtv.com:

Joanna Pacitti Disqualified From ‘American Idol’; Felicia Barton In

By far the most drama for Season 8 of American Idol has been the controversy caused by Joanna Pacitti (no, not Bikini Girl – she was more an amusement).  The singer has had a major contract in the past that only produced a CD that tanked, and she turned to American Idol for her last resort.   But her connections with Idol execs caused the most uproar, so she was finally booted to  ”avoid the appearance of impropriety” even after she made the top 36. 

My take on this?  Well, it could’ve gone down either one of two ways.  1) This whole thing was staged to create more drama – and therefore higher ratings – for the season after last season’s borefest. 2) Idol bigwigs wanted to see how far they could string her along before public opinion turned too nasty. 

Medium, from TvGuide.com:

Medium‘s Patricia Arquette and Jake Weber Finish Each Other’s Sentences

Since Allison and Joe are my favorite current TV couple (they don’t compare to my fave tv couple of all time, Monica and Chandler from Friends, though), I couldn’t resist posting this fluffy little interview about the upcoming season.  The best, best part is when Jake makes a comment about there being “directorial problems” in the episode that Patricia directed, and Patricia retorts, “You rat bastard.”

Desperate Housewives, from E! Online.com:

Desperate Confession: Who Killed Edie Britt?

Alright, I’m not the hugest fan of this show, but even my eyes widened when I saw this short news blurb.  Edie has always been a source of aggravation for the past five seasons, so it’ll be interesting to see how she finally goes.  The article speculates about her mentally unstable husband, which could be very interesting.