Midnight, Texas...my thoughts on episode one (spoiler-free)

Midnight, Texas

Mondays at 10/9cNetwork: NBC
Executive producers: Monica Owusu-Breen, David Janollari, Niels Arden Oplev, Mark Hentemann
Genres: Drama, Supernatural

Based on Charlaine Harris' book series by the same name, "Midnight, Texas" follows the lives of the inhabitants of a small town where the concept of normal is relative. A haven for vampires, witches, psychics, hit men and others with extraordinary backgrounds, Midnight gives outsiders a place to belong. The town members form a strong and unlikely family as they work together to fend off the pressures of unruly biker gangs, questioning police officers and shades of their own dangerous pasts.

Series cast summary:

François Arnaud ... Manfred Bernardo

Dylan Bruce ... Bobo Winthrop 

Parisa Fitz-Henley ... Fiji Cavanaugh

Arielle Kebbel ... Olivia

Jason Lewis ... Joe Strong

Peter Mensah ... Lemuel Bridger

Sarah Ramos ... Creek

Yul Vazquez ... Rev. Emilio Sheehan

Bernardo Saracino ... Chuy Strong

Joanne Camp ... Xylda

Joe Smith ... Mr. Snuggly

I'm gonna have to give this one some more episodes before I can decide how I feel about it. Having read the books works against the TV show. I need time to let go of my preconceived ideas and embrace this new version. My biggest problem is, with the exception of a few, that the characters look nothing like they do in the books. I have nothing against the TV show versions, I just can't reconcile the changes yet. Especially with the lead character Manfred. In the book, he's a skinny, young, bleached haired guy with lots of piercings. Readers met him in Charlaine Harris' Harper Connelly Mystery Series. The one change I do like is the new look of Lem...he's one sexy vampire now!

Another problem is the information dump. It took two books for the reader, and Manfred, to discover the supernatural side of the residents of Midnight. They are a very private and protective bunch. But in the TV version, it is all revealed in episode one. Book one opens with Aubrey's death, and that holds true for the show. Of course, I know who did it, but I am curious to see how this version of the story will progress.

I was surprised the writers brought up the big bad evil under the town. In the books, the characters didn't know why they'd been drawn to Midnight until book three when they started putting things together.

I'm gonna have to give the show a few more episodes before I decide if I will continue watching. I'm torn between wanting the writers to stay as true to the story as possible and wanting them to change things up enough that fans of the books will have some surprises.

So, what did you guys think? I'm curious what people who haven't read the books think of Midnight, Texas.

Fall 2016 TV Show Premiers - What will you watch?

There are a lot of returning and new show coming to TV this fall. Here is a list of shows I think a lot of our readers are interested in. The ones I plan on watching/trying are in red...it is going to be a very busy fall...and don't forget to check out the mid season premiers...ERMERGERD! Midnight, Texas!

Sunday, Aug. 28

The Strain 10 p.m., FX

Wednesday, Sept. 14

American Horror Story 10 p.m., FX

Blindspot 10 p.m., NBC

Friday, Sept 16
Z-Nation 8 p.m., SyFy

Monday, Sept. 19

The Big Bang Theory 8 p.m., CBS

Gotham 8 p.m., FOX

Lucifer 9 p.m., FOX

Tuesday, Sept. 20

Brooklyn Nine-Nine 8 p.m., FOX

Agents of SHIELD 10 p.m., ABC

Wednesday, Sept. 21

Blindspot 8 p.m. (time slot premiere), NBC

Lethal Weapon 8 p.m., FOX (new)

Thursday, Sept. 22

Rosewood 8 p.m., FOX

Friday, Sept. 23

MacGyver 8 p.m., CBS (new)

The Exorcist 9 p.m., FOX (new)
Van Helsing 10 p.m., SyFy (new)

Sunday, Sept. 25

Once Upon a Time 8 p.m., ABC

Son of Zorn 8:30 p.m., FOX (new)

Wednesday, Sept 27
Channel Zero 9 p.m., SyFy
Aftermath 10 p.m., SyFy

 

Friday, Sept. 30

Luke Cage Netflix (new)

Sunday, Oct 2
Westworld 9 p.m. HBO

Monday, Oct. 3

Scorpion 9 p.m., CBS

Timeless 10 p.m., NBC (new)

Tuesday, Oct. 4

The Flash 8 p.m., The CW

Wednesday, Oct. 5

Arrow 8 p.m., The CW

Frequency 9 p.m., CW

Monday, Oct. 10

Supergirl 8 p.m., The CW (new network)

Why?...Superman...Tyler Hoechlin

Thursday, Oct. 13

Legends of Tomorrow 8 p.m., The CW

Supernatural 9 p.m., The CW

Thursday, Oct. 20

The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do The Time Warp Again 8:00 p.m., FOXFriday, Oct. 21The Vampire Diaries 8 p.m., The CW

Sunday, Oct 23
The Walking Dead 9 p.m. AMC

Thursday, Oct. 27

The Big Bang Theory 8 p.m. (time slot premiere), CBS

Sunday, Nov 20
The Librarians 8 p.m., TNT

Friday, November 25 

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, Netflix

~~~Here are some mid season shows~~~

ABC : Downward Dog, Still Star-Crossed, Time After Time 

 

CBS: Training Day

FOX:  Sleepy Hollow

NBC: Emerald City, Midnight Texas, Powerless,

CW: The Originals, iZombie, The 100, Riverdale

Sheep Talk: 2016 New TV Shows Reviews

Everyone weighed in on what they thought of the new TV shows that aired in the beginning of 2016. Leave your thoughts in the comments! From the looks of it, Lucifer is the big winner this season.

Galavant season 2 to premiere on January 03, 2016

http://goo.gl/CmXknH

Pamela: Pass-Like the first season last year, I enjoyed the poking fun at medieval fantasy heroes and heroines, plus villains, all done in song and dance Broadway style.

“The Shannara Chronicles” premieres Jan. 5 at 10 p.m. on MTV.

http://goo.gl/kzZS97

Sharon: Fail- I had high hopes for this after the first episode. The heroine Amberle was tough and driven. Then she became a whiny princess who was so thin it was painful running around in a strapless corset. The druid Allanon sounds like Sean Connery and I just can't picture John Rhys-Davies as the Elvin King.

Denise: Fail: At first I really enjoyed the show but after a couple of episodes I kind of lost interest. The story lines weren’t holding my attention through the whole episode. It has lots of potential and maybe if the show had some writing/director/producer changes it would be great. 

Angel From Hell Thursdays on CBS Premieres January 7

http://goo.gl/kzZS97
already cancelled

Sharon: Was cancelled before I got a chance to watch!

Denise: Did watch the show but knew it would be cancelled. I only watched it when I was killing time and that was mainly because I liked the cast. 

Shadowhunters premieres Jan. 12 at 9 p.m. on Freeform.
http://goo.gl/GgRMRy

Sharon: Fail- There just aren't words for how bad this was...

Denise: Pass – I really enjoy this show but there is A LOT of room for improvement. Sometimes it just seems to fake for my tastes. 

Second Chance Wed 9/8c Jan 13 Fox

(orginally called The Frankenstein Code)

http://goo.gl/mdStLV

Denise: Pass – I love this show! It has a great cast and the story line is new and full of imagination. Love the technology on this one!

Legends of Tomorrow Thursdays on The CW Premieres January 21
http://goo.gl/nJX1zx

Sharon: Meh- I'm not as happy with this as I wanted to be. The main problem is I hate half the cast and love the other half. You can never get enough of Captain Cold and Heat Wave, Firestorm and Dr. Stein, and Ray. The rest of the cast makes my eye twitch...

Denise: Pass – I am a fan of all of these shows so I was excited to see another one come along. The part I hate though is that I miss some of the characters on the original shows they came from. I’d also like to see them actually succeed once in awhile. 

X-Files returns Jan. 24 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on FOX.
http://goo.gl/uqyw5C

Sharon: Fail- watch the first two episodes one and just can't find the desire to watch more.

Katie: Pass- I loved seeing the ever truth seeking pair reunited and could care less about anything else. Some really funny episodes kept me entertained each week. I would watch more seasons for sure!

Denise: So/so – Loved the original X-Files but this didn’t hold my attention the way the originals ones did. 

The Magicians premieres Jan. 25 at 9 p.m. on Syfy.
http://goo.gl/FjB6GQ

Sharon: Pass- My husband and  I really like this one. I like the dark edge to it and the characters. I read the book when it came out and hated it, but the TV series is much better.

Denise: Pass- Absolutely love this one! This is a story line that hasn’t been overdone and is filled with more than just romance and happy stuff. It has a darker side and not everyone wins.

Pamela: Fail-I watched a couple of episodes and it just failed to catch my interest.

Lucifer Mondays on FOX Premieres January 25
http://goo.gl/iy07RH

Sharon: Pass- Everyone is loving this one! Including me. I adore the character.

Jeanie G Pass- Just watched the first episode of the new tv series "Lucifer" and am 80% sure I will be tuning in for future episodes.  Who wouldn't be curious about how the Prince of Darkness spends his vacation time on earth!

I thoroughly enjoyed actor Tom Ellis (Lucifer) and his ability to pull off this unusual interpretation of Lucifer.  Handsome, quirky and arrogant with a touch of darkness, he draws you in to the character.  I put this in a category similar to the the series "the Mentalist" with a paranormal twist.

The leading man is tall, dark and handsome with a charming smile and "irresistible personality.  The female lead is a little unbelievable as a detective but perhaps her character will develop in future episodes.  I haven't quite bought into her performance but I am really taken with the storyline and want to see what the writers have in store for Lucifer.  He (Tom) is definitely worth watching!

 One of the character creaters is Neil Gaiman, an Urban fantasy author (and much more) of which I have enjoyed following.  This gives me high hopes for this series.

If you are looking for something somewhat light, refreshing with a new spin on the "dark side", tune in and give it a try.  This could be a winner.

Bianca: Pass- Despite being more than a little predictable, Lucifer is great fun with a male lead who's hotter than hell.
Tammy: Fail – Even though funny in areas I expected the main character to me more Alpha not Feminine.  This one does not cut if for me.
Denise: Pass – Great humor and I love how full of himself Lucifer is! A must watch. 

You, Me and the End of the World(NBC) Premieres Thursday, Jan 28 at 8/7c

http://goo.gl/288Ri2

Denise: Ok – I never intended to watch it but had nothing to watch one day so I gave it a whirl. Not a great show but yet I kept watching so there must be something there.

Fuller House Friday on Netflix Premieres February 26
http://goo.gl/1ySEMs

Tammy: Pass – They did a great fantastic job weaving in the characters with the old and new show. It was almost like the show never stopped.

28 New TV Shows for Summer 2015

The Whispers

Mondays at 10 p.m. on ABC
When children across Washington, D.C., all start talking with the same imaginary friend named Drill, who persuades them to play dangerous games, the FBI calls in child specialist Claire Bennigan -- whose deaf son has been speaking to Drill, unbeknownst to her -- to investigate. Meanwhile, the defense department sends Wes Lawrence to the Sahara Desert, where he encounters a strange geological phenomenon. As puzzle pieces come together, creating a frightening picture, humanity must wage a battle against unseen forces if it hopes to survive.

Tuesday, June 2

9:00 p.m. - Stitchers - ABC Family

Kirsten Clark, who has been recruited to join a covert government agency, has a special ability. Kirsten is able to be "stitched" into the minds of people who have recently died to use their memories to investigate murders. Taking advantage of Kirsten's ability is Maggie Baptiste, who leads the secret program in which Kirsten works alongside neuroscientist Cameron Goodkin, who is passionate about the work the group does. Other members of the team include socially awkward communications technician Linus Ahluwalia and Kirsten's roommate, computer science grad student Camille Engelson. When things go well, the team is able to use the "stitching" to solve mysteries that otherwise would have gone to the grave with the victims.

Thursday, June 4

10:00 p.m. - Hannibal - NBC

Friday, June 5

12:01 a.m. - Sense8 - Netflix

One gunshot, one death, one moment out of time that irrevocably links eight minds in disparate parts of the world, putting them in each other's lives, each other's secrets, and in terrible danger. Ordinary people suddenly reborn as "Sensates."
Starring:Tuppence Middleton, Brian J. Smith, Doona Bae
Creators:Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, J. Michael Straczynski
Genres: Gay & Lesbian TV Shows, TV Sci-Fi & Fantasy, TV Shows

Thursday, June 11

8 p.m. - Beauty and the Beast - The CW

Friday, June 12

12:01 a.m. - Orange Is The New Black - Netflix

8:00 p.m. - Defiance - Syfy

10:00 p.m. - Dark Matter - Syfy
The six-person crew of a derelict spaceship awakens from stasis in the farthest reaches of space. Their memories wiped clean, they have no recollection of who they are or how they got on board. The only clue to their identities is a cargo bay full of weaponry and a destination: a remote mining colony that is about to become a war zone. With no idea whose side they are on, they face a deadly decision. Will these amnesiacs turn their backs on history, or will their pasts catch up with them?

Saturday, June 13

10:00 p.m. - Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - BBC America
With magic long since lost to England, two men are destined to bring it back; the reclusive Mr. Norrell and daring novice Jonathan Strange. So begins a dangerous battle between two great minds.

Friday, June 19

9:00 p.m. - Killjoys - Syfy

In the Quad, a galaxy on the brink of a bloody interplanetary class war, a fun loving trio of bounty hunters attempt to remain impartial as they chase deadly warrants.

Sunday, June 21

9:00 p.m. - BattleBots - ABC
BattleBots promises to wow viewers with next generation robots—bigger, faster and stronger than ever before. The show will focus on the design and build of each robot, the bot builder backstories, their intense pursuit of the championship and the spectacle of the event.

9:00 p.m. - The Last Ship 2-Hour Premiere - TNT

9:00 p.m. - Under The Dome - CBS

9:00 p.m. - Humans - AMC

HUMANS, a bold new eight-part drama series from AMC, Channel 4 and Kudos, is set in a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a 'Synth' - a highly-developed robotic servant eerily similar to its live counterpart. Written by British writing partnership Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley (Spooks, Spooks: The Greater Good), HUMANS is based on the award-winning Swedish sci-fi drama Real Humans. HUMANS, which stars William Hurt, Katherine Parkinson, Tom Goodman-Hill, Colin Morgan, Rebecca Front, Neil Maskell, and Gemma Chan.
10:00 p.m. - Falling Skies - TNT
10:00 p.m. - Ballers - HBO

When it premieres: Sunday, June 21, at 10 p.m. on HBO
Dwayne Johnson is pretty busy these days, but he's managed to squeeze in filming an entire HBO series. He plays a retired athlete who now serves as a financial adviser to professional football players. With all the beautiful people, cars, and scenery, it's basically the new Entourage.

10:30 p.m.  The Brink - HBO
Jack Black and Tim Robbins star in this oddball comedy about the government struggling to prevent a new world war.

Monday, June 29

10:00 p.m. - Teen Wolf - MTV

Tuesday, June 30

9:00 p.m. - Zoo - CBS

Zoo is a global thriller about a wave of violent animal attacks against humans across the planet. As the assaults become more cunning, coordinated and ferocious, a young renegade biologist is thrust into the race to unlock the pandemic's mystery before there's no place left for people to hide.

? p.m. - Scream - MTV

When it premieres: Tuesday, June 30, at 10 p.m. on MTV
If you love the 1996 horror hit, you're either going to savor every minute of this TV reboot or avoid it like the plague.What starts as a YouTube video going viral, soon leads to problems for the teenagers of Lakewood and serves as the catalyst for a murder that opens up a window to the town's troubled past.

10:00 p.m. - Extant - CBS

Thursday, July 9

10:00 p.m. - Dominion - Syfy

Sunday, July 12

10:00 p.m. - The Strain - FX

Friday, July 17

12:01 a.m. - BoJack Horseman - Netflix

A humanoid horse, BoJack Horseman -- lost in a sea of self-loathing and booze -- decides it's time for a comeback. Once the star of a '90s sitcom, in which he was the adoptive father of three orphaned kids (two girls and a boy). The show was the hottest thing around, then suddenly, was canceled. Now 18 years later, BoJack wants to regain his dignity. With the aid of a human sidekick and a feline ex-girlfriend who is his agent, he sets out to make it happen. But Hollywood is vastly different from those days, and getting used to stuff like Twitter may take some time. This first animated series from Netflix -- with plenty of references to sex, drugs and alcohol -- is not for the little ones.

Wednesday, July 22

9:00 p.m. - Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! - Syfy
The third movie, in the what is now a television movie franchise looks to outdo itself again! This time the "sharknado" is hitting Washington D.C. and Orlando, Florida, and bringing a bit of mayhem with it!

July 26, 2015

Continuum-SyFy

Continuum’s upcoming fourth season will be its last. And it will be rather brief.
The main heroine of Continuum is a cop from the future named Kira Cameron. During the terrorists execution in 2077, the criminals use a time portal to escape in year 2012. Kira followed them to the past, and now she must track the terrorists and get them back to their own time for the sake of justice..

Still TBA 

Fear The Walking Dead 

It's been confirmed that Fear the Walking Dead will take place during the early stages of the zombie apocalypse - that period its parent series missed, with Rick in his coma - and is set in Los Angeles, over 2,000 miles from Atlanta where The Walking Dead is set.

But while Fear will initially serve as a prequel - dealing with the "anxiety and anticipation" of an outbreak, rather than going "full-zombie" - The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman has confirmed that the two series' timelines will align at some point.

Wipeout-ABC
Wipeout looks to be returning for eighth season this coming summer. After the Summer 2014 run of lower rated episodes, producers appear to be overhauling the format for 2015. ABC is now casting for an updated version, called Wipeout Extreme.