By Juliann Guiffre
Co-News Editor
Ah, it’s that time of the year again…well at least for TV junkies like me it is.
New seasons of old favorites and premieres of new shows are crowding TIVOs across the country. It’s once again time for giggly teenage girls to salivate over Dr. McDreamy and Tyra-wannabees to watch emotional/psychotic models start cat-fights with one another in their battle to the finish.
America’s Next Top Model, which premiered September 3 at 8 p.m., will be making more headlines than usual this year; among the new group of girls is a transgender named Isis, a 19 year old Alaskan who grew up without electricity or running water, and Kimora Lee Simmons look-alike with attitude.
In other competition news, fan favorites Grey’s Anatomy and The Office, both which premiere on Sept. 25, will battle it out for the most viewers at the Thursday 9 p.m. slot. The infamous Hahn-Callie smooch will be examined in the upcoming Grey’s season, and Sandra Oh’s Cristina will be getting a new love interest in the form of Rome’s Kevin McKidd. One rumor squashed: Katherine Heigl will not be leaving the show any time soon for her controversial Emmy comments.
Over at Dundler Mifflin, about a week will have passed since the camera caught Dwight and Angela in?uh?lets just say compromising position. Guest star Amy Ryan will continue on as the new Human Resources employee, and the office throws a baby shower for the anticipated spawn of Michael and Jan!
After watching Misty May-Treanor win Olympic gold in beach volleyball, Dancing with the Stars fans will see if she excels in another type of physical activity when this reality competition returns on Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. Other contestants on the show include boy-bander Lance Bass, Susan Lucci, newly minted reality star Kim Kardashian, and Oscar winner Cloris Leachman (who it must be said is 82 years old?.and quite competitive, according to show’s producer).
This season, CSI vet William Peterson has decided to make the tenth episode his last as a series regular. Laurence Fishburne will take his place, playing a research pathologist turned college professor, who joins the crew as an entry level crime scene investigator. CSI premieres on October 9 at 9 p.m.
For the 17th edition of Survivor, returning Sept. 25 at 8 p.m., 18 suckers?I mean contestants will give themselves over to the struggles of living in Gabon, Africa, and being continually, yet hilariously, taunted by host Jeff Probst. This time, the pack includes a pinup model/actress, a pro video gamer, and an Olympic gold medalist.
With all the excitement over the return of new shows, one question continues to loom over the television universe.
More shows than ever now are available online, usually one day after they can be viewed live, not to mention DVRs and TIVO?so what does this mean for the television ratings that are so important to money-thirsty producers and networks? For junkies like me, there’s still nothing as thrilling as watching it live at the same moment thousands of others are.
With how fast news travels in this day and age, no one wants to learn something before they’ve watched it. Considering all this, the big question is will watching shows live ever be completely obsolete? I, for one, think not, but just in case?watch and enjoy while it’s still here TV fans!