TV Bits: ‘Breaking Bad’, ‘American Dad’, ‘Game Of Thrones’, ‘Boardwalk Empire’
It’s a weirdly good time for ’90s kids, as Uncle Jesse and Carmen Sandiego plot their returns. After the jump:
In other ’90s kid news,Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?may be coming back to PBS. The network hinted as much onTumblrwith a recent post of the criminal mastermind’s iconic hat and gloves.
Details on her return remain scarce, but we know for sure that “this is not about new episodes.” (At least for now.) The best guess is that PBS plans to re-air old episodes.
[viaTheWrap]
Stan Smith and his family are headed to TBS. The cable network has picked up Fox’sAmerican Dadto air in late 2014. TheSeth MacFarlane-created comedy will finish out its tenth season, which beginsSeptember 29, on Fox before making the leap to TBS for Season 11. [THR]
James Francoisn’t just a guy with an eclectic career history, he also plays one on TV. Or he will, in the upcoming second season ofThe Mindy Project. Franco has booked a two-episode arc as fashion model-turned-OB-GYN Paul Leotard, who fills in for Mindy (Mindy Kaling) while she’s in Haiti on a volunteer mission. Season 2 kicks offSeptember 17. [TheWrap]
Back in 2011,Damon Wayans Jr.shot the pilot episode of Fox’sNew Girlbefore ABC’sHappy Endingsgot a last-minute renewal. Wayans' character Coach was replaced in episode 2 with Winston (Lamorne Morris), and so far hasn’t been seen again.
But the recent cancellation ofHappy Endings(sadface) leaves Wayans with some free time on his hands, and he’s using it to revisit theNew Girlset, as starJake Johnsonhinted earlier this summer. Wayans will appear in at least four episodes of Season 3, which premieresSeptember 17. [TV Line]
Showtime threw a lot of weight behind the freshman dramaRay Donovanthis summer, even giving it the plum slot afterDexter. Happily, it looks like those efforts have paid off. The fixer drama has been renewed for a second season, just three episodes into the first. Season 1 endsSeptember 22. [EW]
True Bloodisn’t as buzzy as it once was, but it still attracts plenty of fans. Enough that HBO’s eager to keep that party going. The premium cable network has renewed the vampire drama for a seventh season, which will air in summer 2014. Executive producerBrian Bucknerwill return as showrunner. He replaced series creatorAlan Ballin the position before the current sixth season, which ends August 18. [E!]Game of Thrones' fourth season promises to add still more new faces to the already massive cast, but behind the scenes the show is sticking with some old favorites.
The director list for Season 4 has just been revealed, and includes familiar names likeNeil Marshall(Season 2’s “Blackwater”) andMichelle MacLaren(“The Bear and the Maiden Fair”). The only “newcomer,” if you can call him that, is showrunnerD.B. Weiss, who hasn’t had a director credit on the show yet.
Episode 1: David Benioff & D.B. Weiss
Episodes 2, 3, 8, 10: Alex Graves
Episodes 4, 5: Michelle MacLaren
Episodes 6, 7: Alik Sakharov
Episodes 9: Neil Marshall
As with previous seasons, Weiss and Benioff will write most of the episodes.George R.R. Martinwill contribute one, andBryan Cogmanwill pen two. Season 4, which covers the second half ofA Storm of Swords, will air next year. [EW]
Season 4 ofBoardwalk Empirepromises to be a toe-tapping good time, judging by this trailer.
That’sJeffrey Wrightas Dr. Valentin Narcisse, who promises to be the thorn in Nucky’s side this season.Boardwalk Empirereturns to HBOSeptember 8. [HBOviaTheWrap]
No doubt the second half ofBreaking Bad’s fifth and last season will be crammed with crazy twists and turns. But in the newest batch of promotional stills, the characters aren’t doing much other than frowning at one another.
There’s slightly more action in these character-centric teasers. Here’s “Jesse Hits the Floor”:
“Hank Takes the Wheel”:
And Walt looking terrified:
What happened to being the one who knocks, dude?
Breaking Badreturns for its final eight-episode stretch onAugust 11. [HitFix]
