TV That I am Looking Forward to in 2012
Posted by Erica.S on January 13, 2012
With the first few weeks of January behind us, I thought that this would be a good time to talk about the TV that I am looking forward to watching in 2012. Obviously, this list is subject to change as new projects are announced throughout the year. For right now though, these are some of the television programs that I cannot wait to see in 2012.
Ron Carlivati and Frank Valentini Join GH as the Head Writer and Executive Producer
I am among the millions of fans of One Life to Live who are absolutely devastated by the fact that the best of the currently airing daytime soap operas will not continue as an online series. With OLTL gone, General Hospital will be the only remaining ABC daytime drama. Because OLTL is not continuing online, head writer Ron Carlivati and executive producer Frank Valentini are now working in their respective roles on resuscitating a near death General Hospital. It should also be noted that they are bringing a few One Life To Live cast members with them. Roger Howarth, Kassie DePaiva, Kristen Alderson, and Michael Easton will all be playing their OLTL characters starting in February. Also, GH fan favorites Emma Samms, Tristan Rodgers, Finola Hughes, and Kirsten Storms are all going to be back in Port Charles. It may be too little too late. It would not be surprising to anyone if ABC announces the cancellation of GH in April. Putting Carlivati and Valentini in charge of GH is the best behind the scenes decision that the show has made in years, and I cannot wait to see their work on screen (less of Sonny eating the show, having Anthony Geary’s annual “summer vacation” exit explained without destroying all of the progress that the character of Luke Spencer has made over the past few months, and please bring back Lynn Herring). Give the fans what they want (a good soap opera).
Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Veep and Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin
Veep is a new HBO series that will make i’s debut in April. It stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as a senator-turned-vice president. It is a comedy, and Louis-Dreyfus insists that her character is not based on Sarah Palin. The idea of someone who is completely clueless being only a heartbeat away from the becoming the president was something that was talked about a lot once Palin was announced as Senator John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 election. Then again, the topic of an incompetent VP also came up a lot during the first George Bush’s time in office. VP Dan Quayle clearly demonstrated that he was incapable of being the president of anything. Here is the preview trailer for Veep (which I first saw during the season finale of Boardwalk Empire):
Also coming to HBO in March 2012 is Julianne Moore actually playing Sarah Palin. Game Change, which is based on the 2010 book by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, tells the story of Palin’s rise to national prominance during the 2008 presidential election. Ed Harris will be playing Senator John McCain. While I think that either Ryan Cutrona (Gene Hofstadt, Mad Men) or Michael Hogan (Colonel Saul Tigh, Battlestar Galactica) would have been better casting choices for McCain, I am sure that Harris will do a fine job. Let’s face it though, no one is going to outshine Moore’s Palin in Game Change.
Mad Men Returns in March
After a hiatus that felt like a lifetime, (but in actuality was only 17 months), Mad Men will return for its fifth season on March 25th. Mad Men is one of those shows that is and will continue to be dissected by every television critic and blogger extensively. So rather than going on and on about the obvious greatness of Mad Men, I will simply say that it is my favorite current show, and I desperately missed it this past fall.
Howard Stern Joins America’s Got Talent
When it was first announced that Howard Stern was replacing Piers Morgan on NBC’ s America’s Got Talent, I had mixed feeling about it. Part of my initial problem with Stern taking this gig was that his uniquely honest approach would be hindered by the confines of primetime network television. However, I quickly changed my viewpoint and realized that this is going to be wonderful for a number of reasons. For those who did not follow Stern when he made his historic move from terrestrial to satellite radio in January of 2006, America’s Got Talent will remind them of how much they miss him. Also, for those who have never listened to Stern because of the preconceived notion that he is nothing but a “foul mouthed shock jock,” they will be pleasantly surprised by the fact that the man is highly intelligent and genuinely compassionate.
Dallas Reboot on TNT
The TNT reboot of the most infamous of the 1980′s primetime soap operas could go one of two ways. It could prove that the show’s time has passed and that viewers are better off watching the original Dallas on DVD. More than likely though, it will introduce a new audience to the Ewings of South Fork and the chaos that is their lives. Especially during its first five seasons, Dallas was serialized television drama at its best. With this wonderful history to work with and some of the original cast members who made the original Dallas “must see TV” on Friday nights throughout the 1980′s, it looks to be moving in the right direction.
