TV dances with ballet shows, from 'Bunheads' to 'Breaking Pointe'

As an aspiring ballerina, Amy Sherman-Palladino spent the first 20 years of her life with her hair tucked into a tidy bun. She has joked that if television writing hadn’t come along, she might have ended up playing Rumpelteazer in a bus and truck tour of “Cats.”

As creator of the beloved drama “Gilmore Girls,” Sherman-Palladino modeled a town gathering spot, Miss Patty’s Dance Studio, on the place she spent countless hours as a kid working on pirouettes and plies.

Now she’s leaping fully into the dance world with “Bunheads,” an ABC Family series starring Tony-winner Sutton Foster in which tutus and toe shoes are as much in the spotlight as her signature strong female characters and quip-filled dialogue.

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But the dramedy, launching June 11, won’t be going solo this summer. It’s one of a number of upcoming TV shows that center on classical dance, so there are plenty more bunheads (and their male counterparts) on the horizon.

The CW, looking for a reality hit, is tonight premiering “Breaking Pointe,” a peek behind the scenes of Salt Lake City’s celebrated Ballet West. Arts cable channel Ovation plans “A Chance to Dance” in August from dance impresario Nigel Lythgoe and his son, Simon. The docuseries follows a couple of former Royal Ballet dancers, dubbed the BalletBoyz, as they build an American dance company.

The shows join Australian import “Dance Academy,” a ballet drama airing since February on Nickelodeon, and several projects in development, including Oxygen’s “All the Right Moves,” which will center on “So You Think You Can Dance” choreographer Travis Wall’s attempt to start a new dance troupe.

The sudden interest in classical dance doesn’t surprise many industry watchers, since the dial is already loaded with celebrity dancing shows, urban-flavored competitions and talent searches.

Upfronts 2012: Watch previews of CW's 'Emily Owens, M.D.' and 'Arrow'

You never truly get away from high school. That's the conceit behind the CW's new fall drama "Emily Owens, M.D."

Mamie Gummer, daughter of Meryl Streep, stars as Owens, a first-year medical intern at Denver Memorial Hospital. But just like high school, there's her med school crush, played by Justin Hartley, as well as her high school nemesis, played by Aja Naomi King. And now both girls are competing for the hunk's heart.

Furthering the medical world as high school analogy, the series posits that the old school cliques never quite go away: The jocks become orthopedic surgeons, the mean girls go into plastic surgery and the rebels are in the ER. Of course, there's more than just popularity at stake now, there's people's lives.

VIDEO: Watch 2012 TV previews

The series was created by former "90210" co-executive producer Jennie Snyder and is to air Tuesdays at 9 p.m.

"Arrow" fills the CW's superhero gap now that "Smallville" has ended its lengthy run. Greg Berlanti (whose "Golden Boy" is a midseason series for CBS) co-created the series with Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg. It recounts the adventures of a billionaire playboy, Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), who becomes the secret vigilante Arrow at night.

The series is based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow, who also had an appearance on "Smallville." And yes, he sounds quite a bit like Batman. Right down to the chauffeur/bodyguard, reminiscent of Alfred the Butler. The "Arrow" version is named John Diggle and is played by David Ramsey.

Colin Donnell, Katie Cassidy, Willa Holland and Susanna Thompson also star in the series, which is to air Wednesdays at 8 p.m.

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Upfronts 2012: CW's 2012-13 schedule; 'Supernatural,' '90210' move

-- Patrick Kevin Day

Photo: The cast of "Emily Owens, M.D." Credit: The CW

Upfronts 2012: Watch a preview of 'Beauty and the Beast'

Fairy tales are hot right now, with "Once Upon a Time" and "Grimm" getting second seasons from ABC and NBC, respectively. Now it's the CW's turn with its updating of "Beauty and the Beast."

The new version stars Kristin Kreuk as a police detective who comes in contact with an enigmatic doctor, played by Jay Ryan, who has a Hulk-like tendency to turn into a beast when he's enraged. This beast doctor was the detective's secret savior from would-be killers years before, but now they're teaming up to solve crimes. (And do a little smoochie-smoochie -- this is the CW, after all).

The series, created by "Brothers & Sisters" co-executive producers Sherri Cooper and Jennifer Levin, also stars Max Brown, Nina Lisandrello, Nicole Gale Anderson, Austin Basis and Brian White. It airs Thursdays at 9 p.m.

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Upfronts 2012: The CW hopes its changes are for the better

-- Patrick Kevin Day

Photo: Kristin Kreuk and Jay Ryan in "Beauty and the Beast." Credit: The CW

Upfronts 2012: The CW hopes its changes are for the better

NEW YORK --The CW will undergo major alterations come fall.

In a bid to turn around a year of disappointing ratings, the network’s schedule is getting heavily revised with changes coming to every slot except one:  Thursdays at 8 p.m., where its hit series “The Vampire Diaries” brings in impressive numbers for the young network. In its presentation to advertisers Thursday at the New York City Center, which included appearances by actors from series such as "Supernatural" and "90210," the CW also announced that it will be sitting out the traditional fall season launch period and delaying its series premieres until October — helping to avoid the big four networks’ September premieres and the conflicts bound to arise with the presidential debates. Two of its five new dramas will get a midseason premiere.

“We thought the [schedule] signified change,” CW President Mark Pedowitz told reporters after the presentation. “And change here is very important …. We think it will be beneficial in the long run.”

Upfronts 2012: CW's 2012-13 schedule; 'Supernatural,' '90210' move

 

The CW will usher in five new dramas next season -- and the additions have caused some major rejiggering of the network's schedule, with many series -- including "America's Next Top Model," "90210," and "Hart of Dixie" -- moving to new nights or times.

The final (and reduced) season of "Gossip Girl" will air an hour later, on Mondays at 9 p.m., with "90210" as its lead-in. Tuesdays will be the one place you're sure to find a doctor, with "Hart of Dixie" prepping the viewers for the Mamie Gummer-led series "Emily Owens, M.D."

Wednesdays are full of action and boys with new superhero drama "Arrow" paired with "Supernatural," which moves nights. Meanwhile, "The Vampire Diaries" keeps its Thursday slot to be paired with the "Beauty and the Beast" reimagining. Long-in-the-tooth reality series "America's Next Top Model" moves to Fridays.

VIDEO: Watch 2012 TV previews

For the gals hoping to meet a teenage Carrie Bradshaw next fall, it looks like you'll have to wait until midseason, when the "Sex and the City" prequel series "The Carrie Diaries" makes its debut, along with fellow new series "Cult" (date and time to be determined).

Here's a full look at the CW's 2012-2013 schedule, as provided by the network:

CW renews 'Gossip Girl,' 'Hart of Dixie,' 'Nikita'

The CW has renewed "Gossip Girl,"  "Nikita"  and "Hart of Dixie."

It looks like the "Gossip Girl" may be getting an "xoxo" salutation, with executive producer Josh Schwartz hinting that the sixth season would be the final one for the sudser. "Saying it now -- final season of Gossip Girl is going to deliver for all of you who have watched for 5 yrs. Nothing like final seasons," he posted. The network would not confirm the series will be coming to an end.

Friday night resident "Nikita" will return for a third season. Freshman drama "Hart of Dixie," which features Rachel Bilson as a doctor who relocates from New York City to a small town in Alabama, will be back for a second season.

Things aren't as joyful for Sarah Michelle Gellar's "Ringer," which has been canceled. Joining it in the unwanted bin is the witch drama "Secret Circle."

Earlier Friday, the network announced series orders for five new shows, including the "Sex and the City" prequel "Carrie Diaries" and a revamped "Beauty and the Beast."

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--Yvonne Villarreal

twitter.com/villarrealy

Photo: Ed Westwick, left, and Leighton Meester in a scene from "Gossip Girl." Credit: The CW

CW picks up 5 series, including 'Carrie Diaries,' 'Arrow'

It's time to get Carried away and green with envy: The CW is picking up the "Sex and the City" prequel series "The Carrie Diaries" and is getting back in the superhero business with "Arrow." Additionally, the network has given series orders to "Beauty and the Beast," "FIrst Cut" and "The Cult." 

Based on the novels “The Carrie Diaries” and “Summer and the City” by Candace Bushnell, "The Carrie Diaries" introduces us to a 16-year-old Carrie Bradshaw--pre-Mr. Big, pre-closet full of designer clothes, and pre-sex column. Bushnell will serve as an executive producer, along with teen drama vets Amy B. Harris (“Sex and the City,” “Gossip Girl”), Josh Schwartz (“Hart of Dixie,” “Gossip Girl”), Stephanie Savage (“Hart of Dixie,” “Gossip Girl”), and Len Goldstein (“Hart of Dixie”).

Offering a more streamlined fashion outlook is "Arrow," which will give DC comics superhero Green Arrow a new look. Stephen Amell ("Hung," "Private Practice") stars as Oliver Queen, a billionaire playboy who now fights crime as a vigilante.

Meanwhile, "Beauty and the Beast" is getting reincarnated once more for the TV world (still no word on whether ABC picked up their version). Loosely based on the 1980s CBS version, the CW version gets a procedural twist and even features a familiar face on the network:
 "Smallville's" Kristin Kreuk.

"First Cut" sees Meryl Streep's daughter Mamie Gummer ("The Good Wife") learning that the professional world isn't all that different from high school. And "Cult" centers on a female production assistant at a popular television show and a blogger who team up to investigate the show's rabid fans, who may be re-creating crime scenes from the show in their real lives.

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--Yvonne Villarreal

Photo: Sarah Jessica Parker, left, and AnnaSophia Robb as two versions of Carrie Bradshaw. Credit: Craig Blankenhorn / HBO Cinema; Eric Liebowitz / Warner Bros. Entertainment.

twitter.com/villarrealy

'The Secret Circle,' 'Hart of Dixie' get full season orders

It continues to be a happy day for newbies at the CW: Just hours after word had spread that "Ringer" would get picked up, rookies "Hart of Dixie" and "The Secret Circle" also got full season orders by the network.

News of "The Secret Circle's" pickup is hardly surprising considering the supernatural teen drama about a circle of witches is the most watched of the network's new shows. "The Secret Circle" has averaged about 2.7 million viewers since its debut last month.

"Hart of Dixie," meanwhile, which features Rachel Bilson ("The OC") as a big-city doctor forced to move to a small town in Alabama, has averaged about 1.8 million viewers, bringing in slightly better numbers than its "Gossip Girl" lead-in.

Both "The Secret Circle" and "Hart of Dixie" will get 22 episodes.

Mark Pedowitz, the network's president, said in a statement: “We believe in the creative strength of these dramas, and by giving them back nine orders we can give our audience the chance to enjoy complete seasons of all three of them. With compelling storylines, engaging characters and tremendous buzz, we firmly believe that 'Hart of Dixie,' 'Ringer' and 'The Secret Circle' can become signature series for The CW, the kind of top-notch shows that are synonymous with our brand.”

Apparently Mario Lopez and his dimpled cheeks weren't that synonymous with that brand -- the network canceled his celeb-reality show last week.

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Photo: Rachel Bilson as Dr. Zoe Hart in "Hart of Dixie." Credit: The CW 
 

CW picks up 'Ringer' for full season

Not slaying vampires has actually worked in Sarah Michelle Gellar's favor. The CW has picked up "Ringer," the thriller drama starring Gellar, for a full season.

The series, which has Gellar playing identical twins with mysterious agendas, premiered on Sept. 13 to 2.7 million viewers (it helped that it launched a week prior to most of the fall TV fare and that there was buzz surrounding Gellar's return to TV post-"Buffy the Vampire Slayer"). The premiere outperformed "Life Unexpected," which launched in the time slot the previous year. But numbers have dipped slightly since then with the show up against Fox's freshman darling "New Girl" and reality heavyweight "Dancing With the Stars."

Still, the network is investing in the series. In an effort to increase viewership, the network has slotted repeats of its Tuesday episodes in the Wednesday 8 p.m. slot previously held by "H8R," which the CW recently canceled.

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Photo: Sarah Michelle Gellar, on the set of her new CW series "Ringer," in which she plays twin sisters, on Aug. 23, 2011 at Culver Studios in Culver City. Gellar also produces the show. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

CW cancels Mario Lopez's 'H8R'

 
In what some might call the ultimate sign of being a hater, the CW has axed the Mario Lopez-hosted series "H8R."

The reality series featured celebrities (think reality starlet Kim Kardashian and Eva Longoria) as they confronted their biggest critics to try to change their opinions of them. The series premiered to a tepid 1.3 million viewers and failed to boost that by much in the three weeks since its premiere.

Repeats of Tuesday drama "Ringer," starring "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" queen Sarah Michelle Gellar, will air in its place at 8 p.m. Wednesdays beginning next week.

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Photo: Mario Lopez, Kim Kardashian and one of her critics. Credit: The CW.

Devon Sawa discusses 'Nikita' and ... Jonathan Taylor Thomas

Devon Sawa makes his return to "Nikita," reprising his role as former Division guardian Owen, in this season's second episode, which airs Sept. 30. The episode finds Nikita and Michael investigating a former Division program named P9 when they come across Owen. The trio find themselves after the same man.

Show Tracker caught up with the former teen heartthrob. In addition to sharing more on what viewers can expect from the episode, the actor did a little walk down memory lane and answered a pressing question: Does he keep in touch with fellow former teen sensation Jonathan Taylor Thomas?

ST: What brings you back to "Nikita"?

DS: I’m running out of the Regimen again and I've got to find a way to get off of it — not just keep getting the pills, but to get off of it. it just happens that the place I’m looking for it, Michael and Nikita show up as well. Now we’re all kind of doing some stuff together.

ST: Some pictures from the set show you and Shane West (who plays Michael) in some pretty spiffy suits in one scene.

DS: Yeah, we got to put on some tuxes. And let me tell you, it’s hard to look good next to Shane West.  It was fun. Usually Shane is wearing the nice, cool stuff and I have action gear on. But we got to dress up that day and there’s a big ballroom scene. Nikita, Michael, Alex and Owen are all there in different sections of the ballroom.

ST: Wait. So does it take a lot of persuading to get Michael on board to team up with you?

DS: The wall is starting to come down. Michael is starting to come around. In the end of the last episode I was in, I told Nikita to thank him. Owen’s got nothing against him. There might have been something in the past.

ST: There must have been. Has Craig given you any indications on what their back story is?

DS: I’m assuming they’ve had some experiences at Division. I know for a fact that [Michael] did hire [Owen] for one particular mission. But I think there’s a lot of past there. As far as Nikita and Michael goes, Owen is not getting in the way of that. So I don’t think that’s where the issues might stem from. From the very beginning, it’s always been that Owen and Nikita were more like brother and sister. I think the writers thought it would be too predictable to put them together. Nikita and Owen have just gone through a lot of the same things. We get each other. We’re hard-trained assassins with heart.

ST: Will there be a lot of action scenes in the upcoming episode?

DS: Yes, but it’s more Michael-heavy action. I get a little action there too. This episode does not slow down.

ST: And you’ll be coming back for more episodes?

Sarah Michelle Gellar talks 'Ringer': Bye-bye Buffy, hello Shivette

“Sarah used to say, 'Who would want to be called Buffy for her whole life?'” says Joss Whedon. "'What kind of a name is that?'”

Nowadays, Sarah Michelle Gellar’s chair on the set of her new CW series, “Ringer,” says “Shivette.” That name is shorthand for the characters Gellar plays in the thriller, which premieres next Tuesday: Bridget, an ex-stripper on the run, and Siobahn, Bridget's socialite twin sister, who’s in so much trouble she's prepared to let Siobahn step into her own shoes.

"The joke is that I'm playing five characters," Gellar explains. "I play Siobahn and Bridget present day, both women in flashback, and then 'Shivette,' which is when Bridget is pretending to be Siobahn."

Taking on two (or five?) starring roles and executive-producing a prime-time show doesn’t exactly square with the new mom's professed desire to make her work life more manageable than it was back in those all-consuming “Buffy the Vampire Slayer" days. “It’s a lot when you’re 18 years old, and the hours were so brutal on that show.”

Producing “Ringer” was crucial to her returning to series TV.  "The good thing about this show is ... we're not shooting at night. No graveyards. I'm telling you, you learn these things. Playing rich characters? Better clothing! ... Although Buffy had some great costumes and Cynthia Bergstrom from ‘Buffy’ is doing my costumes here, and David and Todd who did my makeup on ‘Buffy’ are doing it here,” she says. “It’s an extended support system.”

Whedon, speaking by phone while shooting the "Avengers" movie, said that even as a teenager, Gellar was “enormously ambitious and focused. She always had her circle of people around her and the rest was the work.”