May 2013 Paranormal TV New and Returning Air Dates

Image: Luke Newberry as Kieran Walker in In The Flesh
May is certainly a quieter month for new and returning shows as it's more of finale month as well as the time when the Big 5 US broadcasters announce their Fall Line Ups time.  Even so, we aren't starved for new content and certainly aren't as starved as the folks in our one new series, the zombies from In the Flesh which debuts on Space this month.

I wish I had more to share for new shows, but that's all I have for now.  I'll be sure to update this post if any additional series crop up.

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In the Flesh ~ Series Premiere
Saturday May 18, 2013 at 10 p.m. ET on Space.

Genre: Zombie!

I'm very excited to hear that we are getting this 3-Parter BBC Zombie series here in Canada, thanks to Space. Zombies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Series description: " Committed to educating both the living and the reanimated, the three-part supernatural drama series from the BBC tells the story of zombie teenager Kieren Walker (Luke Newberry, Anna Karenina) and his reintegration back into the local community. The series is set in the fictional village of Roarton, England after a zombie outbreak in which thousands of the dead have been reanimated after months of rehabilitation and medication. When the zombies – referred to as partially deceased syndrome (PDS) patients – are deemed ready to return to their homes and families, they’re haunted by the memories of the atrocities they committed while rabid, and also face extreme hostility from the living."

In the Flesh stars Luke Newberry, David Walmsley, Emily Bevan, Alex Arnold, Steve Cooper, Marie Critchley, Sandra Hugget, Harriet Cains and Kenneth Cranham. The 3-Part series begins Saturday, May 18 at 10 p.m. ET on Space and continues airing on Saturday nights until June 1, 2013.



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Paranormal TV News Roundup

We've not recorded a podcast for a bit, so I thought I would share a post of the bits and bobs of news that we'd normally pour over together from some returns dates for cancelled shows, new series in development, news on shows that we don't talk about religiously, and a fair amount on upcoming Amazon Studios and SyFy series that we have no idea if or when will be aired in Canada. It's a mixed bag or rag-tag miscellany, enjoy!

Paranormal News Roundup:

• Zero Hour to return to ABC June 15, 2013 at 8pm
• Do No Harm to return starting Saturday June 29, 2013 at 10pm
• Unconfirmed, Unofficial word on 666 Park Avenue remaining episodes may air in June on Saturdays (possibly June 22, 2013)
• Reaper Rights picked up by FearNet, Reunion Planned
• BBC America's Musketeers First Look
• Scream Pilot Greenlit, Series would air Summer 2014 on MTV
• Defiance doing great in the US ratings on SyFy
• J.J. Abrams looking to adapt Stephen King's 11/22/63 for cable TV
• Revolution renewed for Season 2, 22 episodes to air 2013-14
• 14 Amazon Pilots available for US viewers to watch and provide feedback; Suzie and I talked about back in our podcast on Paranormally-Inclined 2013-14 TV Pilots ~ Specialty Channels, and were excited about Supanatural (Animated), Dark Minion and Zombieland so we are sad we can't watch the pilots up here.
• SyFy adapting Larry Niven's Ringworld and Arthur C. Clarke's Childhood's End into Miniseries
• Absolutely oodles of series and projects in development announced by SyFy; I'm particularly interested in new scripted series High Moon (think High Noon, in space), No Place (gated-community-turned-survivalist), Orion (space opera series following a female relic hunter), Sojourn (first space detective/conspiracy series), Infinity (billionaire only person who has space travel needed to greet aliens), Silver Shields (did I hear 'magical creatures'? :). And for non-fiction shows The Jim Henson Creature Shop (a creature competition program from Jim Henson Studios) along with Cosworld and Fandemonium, following cosplay and fandom folk respectively. OH, did I mention Meat Loaf Rocks the Paranormal and Graveyard Shift with Josh Gates? No further description required on those, methinks.

Paranormal Pick of the Week: Deep South Paranormal Begins April 30, 2013

Deep South Paranormal premieres April 30, 2013 at 9pm on Space

A new paranormal reality series starts this week: Deep South Paranormal! I will admit that I don't know quite to make about the show from the previews (see trailer below) but I know I will check it out. It's a it quite on the non-fiction front these days so I'm happy to share that Deep South Paranormal is easily this weeks Paranormal Pick of the Week.

Deep South Paranormal - Series Premiere
Tuesday April 30, 2013 at 9pm ET on Space

Here is more about the show: "The quest for proof of the paranormal goes deeper than ever – Deep South that is. Deep South Paranormal follows a bayou-based team on a mission. Steeped in the rich history of their homeland, they want to unlock the mysteries that have baffled Southerners for years. They are a homegrown blend of self-proclaimed rednecks who share a passion for this part of the country and the paranormal events that take place there. They take on anything from swamp apparitions to haunted plantation houses and Southern voodoo legends.



Also Awesome

• Remember: Grimm changes to Tuesday Nights at 10pm this week. 
• Panic Button Series Premiere on Tuesday April 30, 2013 at 10pm ET on Space, the series is described as: "PANIC BUTTON is a high-impact, bone-chilling, reality series where a group of select participants become brave subjects in an elaborate and daunting maze. Each week, six people are confronted by the thing that terrifies them most, including: confinement, fear of the unknown, germs, snakes, spiders, or swarming. The Panic Button maze presents them with four ever-escalating and ever-changing levels of fear. Only the most courageous will get to the end without hitting their panic button."
Panic Button premieres April 30, 2013 at 10pm on Space
• The Following Season Finale Tuesday April 30, 2013 at 9pm EST on CTV; many of the winter start shows in 2013 did not have a great run but The Following soared in the ratings and secured a second season.
• Abraham Lincoln vs Zombies (not Vampires...that's a different movie) on Space Saturday May 4, 2013 at 10pm EST (repeats Sunday May 5, 2013 at 4pm EST).

Vikings Series Finale on Tonight on History

 Image Source

Sunday nights have continued to be powerhouse TV nights and that sure is the case with Vikings on the roster. Tonight we have the season 1 finale of the brutal (but beautifully designed!) show at 10pm on History.

If you are new Vikings, or missed any of the episodes, you have a chance to catch up before the finale as History.ca is airing the entire 9 episodes marathon style starting today at 2pm EST and then all the way straight through to the finale staring at 10pm. I'd be tempted to tune in on the hour every hour simply for the gorgeous music that accompanies the haunting opening.

I'll be curious to see how they bring Season 1 to a close, and I'll admit the show is a bit challenge to watch due to it's brutality but I find myself drawn back in time and time again for the layered storytelling, compelling characters and fantastic performances, particularly by Travis Fimmel, Katheryn Winnick, Clive Stranden, George Blagden and Gustaf Skarsgård. Plus the design, oh my... this show is gorgeous whether you are seeing braided hair or blood on the beach they always find a way to make it heartbreakingly beautiful.

Vikings has been renewed for a second season which will air 10 episodes in 2014.

See more about Vikings at History.ca and History.com

Beauty and the Beast Picked Up for Second Season

Images Source: Showcase.ca

It's party time for Beauty and the Beasters! The CW has announced that Beauty and the Beast has been renewed for a second season. I'm SO HAPPY! I've enjoyed watching Beauty and the Beast so much the season, it's nice to have an exciting and romantic series that has sweetness and heart. Plus, the chemistry between Kristin Kreuk and Jay Ryan is insane. I can't wait for more!

Here is more about the season 2 order of Beauty and the Beast from a media release: "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, starring Kristin Kreuk and Jay Ryan, was this year’s People’s Choice Award winner for Favorite New Drama, and HART OF DIXIE, starring Rachel Bilson, is one of The CW’s top performers on digital platforms, behind only THE VAMPIRE DIARIES.

All three of these series see big lifts in Live+7 Day delayed viewing versus Live + Same Day, with THE VAMPIRE DIARIES jumping 52% increase among adults 18-34 and a 56% gain among women 18-34 once all time-shifted viewing is included. HART OF DIXIE averages a 53% increase among adults 18-34 and a 61% gain among women 18-34, and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST seeing a 43% jump in adults 18-34 and a 45% bump in women 18-34 from the overnight Live+SD to Live+7."

I don't actually understand what those stats mean, but it sounds like an increase which is a good thing. I'll admit I'm surprized to hear that both The Originals (Vampire Diaries spin-off) is going ahead and Beauty and the Beast is renewed, but I'll take it! I think they will do some schedule shuffling come the fall, but wherever they land I'll be checking them out. I hope Showcase picks it up for Season 2, it's been great for us Canadians to be able to watch Beauty and the Beast on Showcase and online at the Showcase site.

Vampire Diaries Spin Off Series The Originals Confirmed for 2013-14 Season

Photo Credit (The CW): The Vampire Diaries -- "The Originals"

Pictured (L-R): Daniel Gillies as Elijah and Joseph Morgan as Klaus

Image Number: VD420d_0852b2.jpg -- Photo: Skip Bolen/The CW 

© 2013 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

Good news for Vampire Diaries fans who want MORE! The CW has announced that the spin off series The Originals is confirmed for series order.  I'll admit that I've been avoiding most of the details about the possible series after hearing that their would be a 'back door pilot' implanted in this season on The Vampire Diaries, but now that it's finally aired (April 25, 2013) it feels okay to dive in.  Turns out that it was a really good idea as the idea for the series looks very different that I expected; and it looks pretty cool.

Here is more about The Originals from a media release:  “As soon as we saw last night’s episode of ‘The Vampire Diaries,’ we knew we wanted more of ‘The Originals’ – Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson have done a fantastic job with ‘The Vampire Diaries,’ which is as fast-paced and well-written as ever, and Julie has created an equally compelling world for ‘The Originals,’” said Pedowitz. “We’re also very excited to bring back ‘Beauty And The Beast’ and ‘Hart of Dixie’ for next season – both series continue to be creatively strong and compelling, and their fans are incredibly passionate. I’m very happy to have all three series on the schedule for next season.”

Need a refresher on what The Originals will be like? Here are several series descriptions from our Paranormally Inclined Possible Pilots post from back in February: 

•  Description: "The series enters on the Original family of vampires, as Klaus returns to the supernatural melting pot that is the French Quarter of New Orleans — a town he helped build centuries ago — and is reunited with his diabolical former protégé Marcel."
  
• Kinda spoiler-y Description: "This planted pilot, airing as an April episode of The Vampire Diaries, Klaus returns to the French Quarter of New Orleans, a supernatural melting pot that he helped build centuries ago, and is reunited with his diabolical former protégé Marcel"
  
• A VERY SPOILERY Description: "A spinoff of the CW's The Vampire Diaries revolving around the Original family in New Orleans. In the episode, Klaus returns to the supernatural melting pot that is the French Quarter of New Orleans, a town he helped build centuries ago, and is reunited with his diabolical former protégé Marcel (Charles Michael Davis). Elijah, intent on helping his self-destructive brother find redemption, must side with Marcel's enemies in order to keep Klaus in line."

Grimm Picked Up for Season 3

Good news for Grimmsters! NBC has confirmed that Grimm is Picked up for third season with 22 Episodes to air during the 2013-14 Season. I find this very reassuring, especially after the recent time change from Fridays to Tuesdays. Along with Grimm, Revolution has also been renewed for an second season of 22 episodes.

Here is more about the renewals from a media release: "UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – April 26, 2013 – NBC has announced the renewal of five key drama series for the 2013-14 season: “Revolution,” “Chicago Fire,” “Parenthood,” “Grimm” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”

All have been given 22-episode orders.

The announcement was made by Jennifer Salke, president of NBC Entertainment.

“On the verge of our 2013 fall scheduling decisions, we’re pleased to renew five drama series that will be important to our new season line-up,” Salke said. “We’re proud and very appreciative of all of the actors, producers, writers and directors who work so hard to deliver such high-quality work week in and week out. These complex shows represent a broad range of genres and tones, and all of them stand out for us in a television landscape now filled with one-hour series. We’re especially pleased to be renewing “Revolution” and “Chicago Fire” — two first-season successes — and there will be more returning series announcements made in the next couple of weeks.”"

And specifically about Grimm: "“Grimm,” inspired by the classic Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales, is a Universal Television and Hazy Mills production. The series was created by Stephen Carpenter, David Greenwalt, Jim Kouf. Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner and Norberto Barba also serve as executive producers along with Greenwalt and Kouf.

“Grimm” is Friday’s #1 series in adults 18-49 and is up versus one year ago by 14 percent in 18-49 rating (with a 2.4 vs. the year-ago 2.1, “most current”) and is up 12 percent in total viewers (6.9 million vs. 5.2 million)."

And specifically about Revolution: "“Revolution,” the Monday night drama that centers on a family trying to reunite amidst a worldwide power failure, is executive produced by Eric Kripke, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk (“Lost,” “Star Trek”). The series is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Bad Robot Productions, Kripke Enterprises and Warner Bros. Television.

“Revolution” is the season’s top-rated drama on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox and top-rated new series among those networks in adults 18-49, scoring a 4.6 rating, 12 share and 11.8 million viewers overall in “most current” averages for the season to date. “Revolution” has teamed with “The Voice” to help improve NBC’s Mondays this season versus last by 24 percent in 18-49 (with a 3.6 rating vs. a 2.9)."

Grimm Timeslot Change to Tuesday at 10pm

The word came in that NBC has moved Grimm to Tuesdays nights, and after doing a little digging and the Canadian listings it looks like we'll also Grimm shift to Tuesdays nights at 10pm EST at of April 30, 2013.  It also has shifted the channel it airs on from CTV/CKVR to CTV2/CFTO for the Canadian broadcast, in addition to the NBC airing.
 
Grimm has had a rocky few weeks, and the April 19, 2013 episode was delayed a week in the US due to preempting but did air here on the original date.  If you happened to miss that episode (Season 2, Episode 18) you watch it here over at the CTV website.  I'm be regularly watching Grimm online now, as I've shifted my TV set up from cable to antenna and I get CTV but not CTV2. 

I'm always leery of schedule changes, and it's usually a bad sign for shows but I have a feeling Grimm with hold strong, just as it did with it's very early summer 2012 start.  The general vibe seems to be that Friday night is not a sought-after broadcast night, so it could be viewed as a positive.  Grimm has quite a strong following and I feel confident it will be okay with the shift for finish out the season, especially as it has been renewed for Season 3 for 22 episodes in 2013-14. 

Remember, scheduling can *always* change, and if there is additional news on Grimm I will do my best to share it.

Haunted Highway Renewed for Season 2 on SyFy

Jack Osbourne and Dana Workman; Image Source: SyFy

I was thrilled to hear that SyFy has renewed Haunted Highway for a second season with the whole cast/crew of Jack Osbourne & Dana Workman and Fact or Faked's Jael de Pardo & Devin Marble. The non-fiction paranormal show follows the two teams of two as they investigate paranormal activity with only each other to count on.

It took me a bit to get into this show last year, but I ended up really enjoying it as they really put themselves out there and investigate really interesting and remote paranormal reports. The second season will have 6 1-hour episode and airs on SyFy starting July 24, 2013 (and I *really* hope it will air up here in Canada too!).

Jael de Pardo and Devin Marble; Image Source: SyFy

Here are more details about the Season 2 renewal of Haunted Highway from a media release:

"NEW YORK – April 22, 2013 – Syfy has ordered a second season of its hit paranormal reality series, Haunted Highway. The new six episode season will premiere, on a new night, Wednesday, July 24 at 10PM (ET/PT). The hour-long series follows two teams, Jack Osbourne & Dana Workman, and Jael de Pardo & Devin Marble, as they conduct their own first-person investigations into some of the most frightening claims of paranormal activity in some of America’s most remote regions.

Fueled by eyewitness interviews and evidence collected with state-of-the-art equipment, the two teams will self-document their harrowing face-to-face encounters with the paranormal. The new season features examinations and investigations that will take the teams off the beaten path in places like the Arizona desert, the Sierra Nevada mountains and bayous of New Orleans as they seek werewolf-like creatures, the Black Angel of Death, the ghosts of the famous Donner party and other paranormal phenomena.

This season, in a first for the series, all four cast members will join together for a special investigation of Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas. One of America’s largest and most remote coastal bases, Fort Jefferson is located in the Gulf of Mexico, 68 miles from Key West. Built in 1846 to protect one of the most strategic deep water anchorages in the United States, Fort Jefferson quickly became a horrifying prison fortress. The most famous prisoner of Fort Jefferson was Dr. Samuel Mudd, the physician who set the broken leg of John Wilkes Booth and was allegedly an accomplice in the assassination of President Lincoln. Many report that Dr. Mudd’s angry spirit has never forgiven those who wrongly imprisoned and tortured him. Though the island on which Fort Jefferson sits looks beautiful and tranquil, it is still known as "Death Island" for the number of fatalities among both soldiers and prisoners."



Hat Tip to FactOrFakedFans, thanks for sharing the good news! Now I just hope that we Canadian will also get to see Season 2.  The first season aired up here on Space in Summer 2012 an I would be thrilled if Space picked it up again this summer.

BBC Zombie Series In the Flesh to air on Space starting May 18, 2013

Image: Luke Newberry as Kieran Walker in In The Flesh

I get so excited when I hear we will be getting new series, and this news is ever more awesome because it's the British zombie series In the Flesh! When I first heard about this series, I felt the chances were low that we would get it here in Canada, but Space comes to our undead rescue and it will air starting starting May 18, 2013. In the Flesh is a quickie series, being just three parts but that doesn't have me any less excited about it. Bring it on, I say! Bring it on!

In the Flesh stars Luke Newberry, David Walmsley, Emily Bevan, Alex Arnold, Steve Cooper, Marie Critchley, Sandra Hugget, Harriet Cains and Kenneth Cranham. The 3-Part series begins Saturday, May 18 at 10 p.m. ET on Space and continues airing on Saturday nights until June 1, 2013.

Here is more about In The Flesh from a media release: " TORONTO (April 25, 2013) – This spring, Space encourages viewers to keep calm and avoid the undead with the North American premiere of IN THE FLESH on Saturday, May 18 at 10 p.m. ET. Committed to educating both the living and the reanimated, the three-part supernatural drama series from the BBC tells the story of zombie teenager Kieren Walker (Luke Newberry, Anna Karenina) and his reintegration back into the local community. The series is set in the fictional village of Roarton, England after a zombie outbreak in which thousands of the dead have been reanimated after months of rehabilitation and medication. When the zombies – referred to as partially deceased syndrome (PDS) patients – are deemed ready to return to their homes and families, they’re haunted by the memories of the atrocities they committed while rabid, and also face extreme hostility from the living.

Some important information about IN THE FLESH and Partially Deceased Syndrome (PDS):

FACT: In Episode 1, Kieren returns home after being subjected to months of rehabilitation and medication by a government that has set an agenda of acceptance and tolerance. However, a cauldron of brutal anti-zombie sentiment exists and is gathering support.

FACT: Since the passing of the PDS Protection act, the government wants everyone to get along, but their viewpoint is at odds with the communities who were abandoned at the time of the rising, and the bloody battle between zombies and humans that ensued.

FACT: Anti-zombie sentiment which has led to the ‘rotter’ hating Human Volunteer Force (HVF) make it hard for Kieren to return home, where he’s forced to confront his family and the community that rejected him, while dealing with the flashbacks that continue to haunt him.

FACT: Part 1 of IN THE FLESH premieres Saturday, May 18 at 10 p.m. ET, with Part 2 airing Saturday, May 25, and Part 3 on Saturday, June 1, only on Space.

FACT: IN THE FLESH also stars David Walmsley (DOCTORS) as Rick Macey, Emily Bevan (THE THICK OF IT) as Amy Dyer, Alex Arnold (SKINS) as Alex, Steve Cooper (SHAMELESS) as Steve Walker, Marie Critchley (ACCUSED) as Sue Walker, Sandra Hugget (LEAVING) as Shirley Wilson, Harriet Cains (DOCTORS) as Jem Walker, and Kenneth Cranham (DEATH IN PARADISE) as Vicar Oddie, among others.

FACT: IN THE FLESH is directed by Jonny Campbell (DOCTOR WHO), produced by Ann Harrison Baxter (THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL), with Hilary Martin (THE SECRET OF CRICKLEY HALL) serving as executive producer."

In the Flesh begins on Saturday May 18, 2013 at 10 p.m. ET on Space.