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| New Series Instant Star and Medium Lead CTV’s 2005 Mid-Season Schedule Additions |
| Posted
on Friday, December 31, 2004 - 01:46 AM |
Instant Star, CTV’s newest Canadian dramatic series, is one of two new series joining the network’s top-ranked, prime-time schedule in January, 2005. The other is U.S. import Medium, and together they are joined by four returning hit series: American Idol, Alias, W-FIVE and The Simple Life.
The addition of this six-pack of series adds even more strength across the schedule for CTV, which, heading into the New Year, boasts 16 of the Top 20 programs. Included in the mix are Canada’s No. 1 program (and drama, CSI), Canada’s No. 1 sitcom (Corner Gas) and Canada’s No. 1 national newscast (CTV News With Lloyd Robertson). Source: BBM (Sept. 15-Dec. 5/04).
Last September, more than a million viewers tuned in to a sneak preview of Instant Star on CTV. Now, with its full 13-episode run ready for broadcast, the fictionalized Canadian drama picks up where its real-life counterpart Canadian Idol, left off. Instant Star begins just as 15-year-old Jude Harrison (Alexz Johnson) wins a national singer-songwriter contest. The accompanying recording contract, not to mention her newfound fame, promises to transform her life forever. Will she resist the record company’s attempts to “change” her, or will she accept the help of her hot new producer and make music that blows away her fans? Starring newcomer Alexz Johnson (So Weird), Tim Rozon (The Great Gatsby) and Kristopher Turner (renegadepress.com), Instant Star follows Jude as she navigates through this extraordinary new world of overnight celebrity.
In Medium, Allison Dubois (Patricia Arquette) sees dead people. In fact, she hears them too. She's not crazy, though her rocket scientist husband Joe (Jake Weber) thought she was at first. So did Allison herself, until she realized that her "gift" could not only change fate, but provide justice for those who no longer had a voice. Don't think Allison is totally comfortable with all of this; in fact, she's as creeped out as everyone else. Plus, there are the jarring slices of disturbing crime scenes that pepper Allison's thoughts, adding to her ability to know exactly what those around her (dead or alive) are thinking. Luckily, Allison has a great sense of humour along with her sixth sense. The real challenge is convincing law enforcement agencies around the country that Allison is the “real deal."
With the January additions, CTV is also moving five series to new timeslots. Most notably is the Canadian tandem of Corner Gas and Degrassi, which moves to Monday’s at 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. ET (from Tuesday). Full scheduling information for Instant Star, Medium, the four returning series and the rest of the moves can be found below.
New & Returning Series Launching (all times ET).
Instant Star One-hour premiere (Episodes 1&2) debuting Sun., Jan. 23 at 7 p.m.
--Then moves to 7:30 p.m., Sundays, beginning January 30.
Medium Premieres Mon., Jan. 3 at 10 p.m.
--Then moves to Mondays at 9 p.m. beginning January 10.
W-FIVE Saturdays at 7 p.m., beginning January 8
Alias Sundays at 4 p.m., beginning January 9 (with a 2 hour premiere)
The Simple Life Sundays at 7 p.m., beginning January 30
American Idol Tuesdays at 8 p.m.; Wednesdays at 9 p.m. beginning January 18
Moving New Day/Time (all times ET).
According to Jim Moves to Sundays at 5 p.m., beginning Jan. 2
Sue Thomas F.B. Eye Moves to 8 p.m. Saturdays, beginning Jan. 8
Law and Order: CI Moves to 10 p.m. on Sundays, beginning Jan. 23
Corner Gas Moves to Mondays at 8 p.m. beginning Jan. 17
Degrassi: TNG Moves to Mondays at 8:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 17
Descriptions - Returning Series (All times ET)
W-FIVE (Saturdays at 7 p.m.)
North America‘s longest-running newsmagazine, W-FIVE launches its 39th season. Since its inception, W-FIVE has been examining the news, events and almost every aspect of Canadian life and is renowned for its investigations into complicated issues, breaking stories, bold reporting and delivering powerful, engaging pieces. Hosted this season by CTV News anchors Lloyd Robertson and Sandie Rinaldo, the first episode of W-FIVE looks at of one of the easiest and most lucrative forms of theft happening today - debit card fraud. Is your money as safe as the banks would have you believe? W-FIVE has obtained shocking surveillance videos of criminals caught in the act - installing equipment on ATM machines and double swiping debit cards in stores - showing just how easy it is to fall victim to this crime. In the second segment, W-FIVE explores the abuse of Oxycontin, a powerful prescription pain reliever that has become a hot new street drug that has resulted in a series of deaths across the country. Oxycontin gives abusers a “high” much like heroin and the consequences are devastating; it's addictive, expensive and when misused it can be lethal.
Alias (Sundays at 4 p.m.)
The electrifying Emmy Award-winning spy drama returns for an emotionally gripping fourth season. Jennifer Garner reprises her Golden Globe Award-winning role as CIA agent Sydney Bristow in this non-stop thrill ride through espionage, adventure and heart-wrenching drama. After shutting down the malevolent Arvin Sloane and SD-6, Sydney thought she had finally rid the world of evil and avenged the murder of her fiancé. But her life took a shocking turn last year when she mysteriously awoke in Hong Kong to the realization that she had no recollection of the past two years of her life. Even more gripping and emotional events are in store this year for Sydney. She’ll be utterly devastated when she learns who her new boss is at the CIA (reportedly Angela Bassett), but she’ll be thrilled when she finds out the identity of her new partner.
She’ll mourn the loss of someone close. She’ll discover the joys and heartbreaks of having -- and being -- a sister. She’ll struggle to define her relationship with the newly widowed and now soul-tortured Vaughn. And she’ll be sickened to hear the truth about her father’s betrayal -- all the while traveling incognito, outsmarting the bad guys and keeping the world safe.
The Simple Life 3: Interns (Sundays at 7 p.m.)
Society girls Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie get back to business when they take on corporate life as interns in the newest edition of The Simple Life. "Celebutantes" and best friends, Hilton and Richie pack up their Louis Vuitton briefcases for a trip around the Northeast United States via Greyhound Bus. The outrageous fish-out-of-bottled-water series chronicles the adventures of the pair, who are again stripped of their cell phones, cash and credit cards, as they go from hot tickets to bus tickets. Departing from New York, the girls must navigate their way through this wild bus ride through towns, host families and internships. American business will never be the same again.
American Idol (Tuesdays at 8 p.m.; Wednesdays at 9 p.m.)
American Idol returns for its fourth season and another quest to discover America's most talented singer. Last season, approximately 65 million votes were cast in the finale, naming Fantasia the third American Idol, joining previous winners Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard. This past summer, American Idol traveled to seven cities – Cleveland, St. Louis, Washington D.C., New Orleans, Orlando, Las Vegas and San Francisco - looking for the next singing superstar. Host Ryan Seacrest and America's favourite judges, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson, all return to lend their professional expertise, personal comments and often-unwanted criticism to this season's crop of aspiring singers. Some will get the judges' approval and others will learn the hard truth. Tune in to see who survives and who goes home.
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