HDTV Listings for May 19, 2009
by Richard Lawler 
posted May 19th 2009 at 4:29PM
What we're watching tonight:- CBS (1080i) is all season finales with NCIS at 8 p.m. followed by The Mentalist at 9 p.m. and Without a Trace at 10 p.m.
- CW (1080i) has Reaper at 8 p.m. and the season finale of 90210 at 9 p.m.
- ABC (720p) brings the two hour season finale of Dancing with the Stars at 9 p.m.
- Fox (720p) has American Idol at 8 p.m. and the series premiere of Glee at 9:01 p.m.
- TBS (1080i) brings My Boys at 10:30 p.m.
- Sci Fi (1080i) slides in ECW at 10 p.m.
- NBC (1080i) has Law & Order: SVU at 10 p.m.
- Discovery (1080i) has Deadliest Catch at 9 p.m. and The Alaska Experiment at 10 p.m.
- History (720p) has Life After People at 10 p.m.
- FX (720p) has Rescue Me at 10 p.m.
- Versus (1080i) has NHL Conference finals action with Blackhawks/Red Wings at 7:30 p.m.
- ESPN (720p) has the 2009 NBA Draft Lottery at 8:30 p.m. and the Game 1 of the Western Conference finals with Nuggets/Lakers at 9 p.m.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ivan @ May 19th 2009 4:58PM
Jail on myNetwork at 9pm is also in HD, 720p to be specific.
Eric @ May 19th 2009 8:17PM
You accidentally underlined and hotlinked to an article on Glee when you meant to erase it from this page, your mind, and existence.
Ivan @ May 19th 2009 8:38PM
You accidentally came to a conclusion ahead of this show airing a single episode. It is not a good idea to do so.
ReaperDMV @ May 19th 2009 9:18PM
Reaper Fans! Write your CW affiliate and say there’s a fanbase in your area and it would be a ratings boost for them on Sunday nights! Look up your CW affiliate here: http://www.cwtv.com/stations. Also write to ABC Studios — http://abc.go.com/site/contactus.html?lid=ABCCOMGlobalFooter&lpos=CONTACT — encouraging them to keep promoting the syndication of Reaper! International viewers, write your affiliates/networks too. Draft emails and other ideas at http://community.livejournal.com/reaperdmv/44208.html. Come on, folks! This is our chance!
Eric @ May 19th 2009 11:08PM
Also write the creators of the show (Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters) as they are so confident the show will be canceled that they signed a deal for a new show with FOX that prohibits them from working on Reaper if it were to get renewed. Or just give up and be happy that at least Chuck got renewed.
cathy @ May 20th 2009 12:10AM
Jeez, Eric, why so bitter? Can't someone support a show they like? I like both Reaper and Chuck and want them both to stick around. And by the way, Tara Butters says that she and Michele are slated to continue to work with Reaper if it gets renewed even along with their Fox contract.
Eric @ May 20th 2009 1:44AM
Don't mean to be sound bitter cathy, but the only way those two are going to be involved anymore in Reaper is if the show both gets cancelled, and then gets picked up by fox. And fox decides to pay them the 7 figure deal they were getting to develop a new show, to keep working on it and air it on fox.
Not sure where you heard they plan to stay on reaper along their fox deal, but everything I've read says they are not allowed to do that:
"Fazekas and Butters' exclusive deal with 20th TV effectively seals the fate of their bubble CW series as it calls for them to leave "Reaper," produced by ABC Studios, where the two had been based."
That is from THR, and there are many other such papers reporting the same.
Blue Sunflower @ May 20th 2009 2:16AM
Sorry to burst your bubble, Eric, but the reports are assumptions only - much like the "Reaper is canceled because Tyler has a new show" when no, Tyler's contract puts Reaper first no matter what. And BTW - it was only *one* report - the Hollywood Reporter. Everyone else just copied that article over. Lack of work, y'know. Seems like you would identify.
Tara and Michele made sure to maintain their involvement with Reaper when they signed the Fox contract. They will remain consultants for the show. That's straight from the horse's mouth:
http://community.livejournal.com/reaperdmv/42680.html
Eric @ May 20th 2009 2:35AM
I didn't think Reaper was canceled because Tyler has a new show, I thought reaper was canceled because Entertainment Weekly said yesterday that Reaper was officially canceled. The press release should come out from CW on Thursday say reports.
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/04/fall-tv-cheat-s.html
Also Tyler's contract would allow him to stay on Reaper if it goes into syndication, but not if another network picks it up. I hate to be the bearer of bad news bringing light to this stuff, it does NOT mean the show is over. But according to reputable places, and contracts in place, the only way reaper might continue is either in syndication with tyler or on another network without, and I don't see the creators being allowed to stay attached in any official capacity.
ReaperDMV @ May 20th 2009 3:10AM
Eric: "I thought reaper was canceled because Entertainment Weekly said yesterday that Reaper was officially canceled."
That's incorrect because it's incomplete. Reaper is not being picked up by the CW. That does not mean it is canceled. EW is conveniently ignoring THR's report that EW has even reported:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3id56fc6d97f8a77c1255ababf3180069d
Blue Sunflower @ May 20th 2009 3:00AM
Whether you see it or not doesn't change the fact the creators *are* allowed to stay attached in an official capacity no matter who picks it up, since they made sure of it and then told us about it at ReaperDMV. But whatever. As head of one of the largest Reaper fansites and Reaper News blog, I'm pretty sure I've had more access to *all* the news than you have.
http://community.livejournal.com/reaperdmv
And Tyler himself has said his Reaper contract takes priority. Write or don't write, it's up to you. Certainly, hold on to your perceived grudge for as long as you want. But for those paying attention, the facts remain that ABC Studios is actively trying to keep Reaper going, whether in syndication or cable; the creators are still involved, although as consultants; there are plenty of people to take the creators place anyways; and the cast would be back no matter what. So there is still a chance Reaper can get another season next year.
And if there *is* anyone interested in trying to save Reaper, like ReaperDMV said, we are advocating writing the CW affiliates (ironically, ABC is negotiating to try and air Reaper on the Sunday nights the CW gave back to them), and thanking ABC Studios for not giving up on Reaper. All info here: http://community.livejournal.com/reaperdmv/44208.html
cathy @ May 20th 2009 3:12AM
Well I'm still believing in the syndication option since I think--and not b/c of Tyler or Tara/Michelle--that Reaper's going to get cancelled by The CW. So, syndication is our only hope. Might as well fight for that while we can. So, write to your CW affiliate, push for Syndication Sunday, and ABC Studios to make the deal(s).
Eric @ May 20th 2009 4:01AM
@ReaperDMV and Blue Sunflower, I actually checked out that ReaperDMV site before you guys posted it here, it's pretty nice.
As for the week old article you posted, all it says is that the show might live on in syndication, which I was the first person here to mention. I gave the possibilities of the show either being picked up by another channel or in syndication, all I was trying to get across was the fact the show is as of right now officially a canceled show. When Entertainment Weekly, Variety, the Chicago Tribune and such are all stating as of yesterday that the show has been dropped by CW, that is what I was meaning when I said the show was canceled.
Now can we all just step back, relax, and hope the show gets picked up by another network (most likely FOX at this point) or put in syndication for those who continue to like it.