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NBC unveils summer schedule of sci-fi, including Merlin and Listener
NBC unveiled its summer lineup on Thursday, including the premiere of the SF&F shows Merlin and The Listener and the sci-fi miniseries Meteor and The Storm.
The network also announced the season finale of Medium on June 1 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
The Listener debuts Thursday, June 4, at 10 p.m. Merlin premieres Sunday, June 21, at 8 p.m. The Meteor airs Sunday, June 7, at 9 p.m. and Sunday, June 14, at 9 p.m. The Storm airs Sunday, July 19, at 9 p.m. and Sunday, July 26, at 9 p.m.
Merlin is a new 13-part drama series that updates the story of the infamous sorcerer of Arthurian legend. In the mythical city of Camelot, in a time before history began, Merlin (Colin Morgan) is a young man with magical powers who arrives in the kingdom and quickly makes enemies, including the heir to Uther's crown, the headstrong Prince Arthur (Bradley James). Guided by Uther's wise physician, Gaius (Richard Wilson), Merlin is soon using his talents not just to survive but also to unlock Camelot's mystical secrets. Merlin was created and produced by Shine Television (executive-produced by Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps) for the BBC and FremantleMedia Enterprises.
The Listener centers on Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik), a 25-year-old paramedic who has a big secret: He's a telepath. Until now, Toby kept his ability hidden, exploring its possibilities only with his longtime mentor and confidant, Dr. Ray Mercer (Colm Feore). As he makes the rounds with his energetic paramedic partner—"Oz" Bey (Ennis Esmer)—Toby tries to help people in crisis and, in the process, unravel the truth about his past, with the help of detective Charlie Marks (Lisa Marcos) and his ER doctor/ex-girlfriend, Olivia Fawcett (Mylène Dinh-Robic). The Listener is executive-produced by Christina Jennings and Scott Garvie, Michael Amo, Tom Chehak and Clement Virgo.
In Meteor, two massive rocks older than the solar system collide in space, sending each on a collision course with Earth. Dr. Lehman (Christopher Lloyd) discovers that a meteor three times the size of Mount Everest is heading for Earth. His devoted young assistant Imogene O'Neill (Marla Sokoloff) feverishly types in the coordinates, only to find the previously identified meteor named Kassandra is also headed their way. This is only the beginning of their troubles, as showers of smaller meteorites begin to lay waste to major cities around the globe. The miniseries also stars Stacy Keach, Billy Campbell, Michael Rooker and Jason Alexander.
The Storm centers on billionaire Robert Terrell (Treat Williams), who has made history with "weather creation" technology though his Atmospheric Research Institute. But during a test run, a blast of energy is sent into the ionosphere, causing disastrous hurricanes, winds, torrential rains and explosive lightning storms. Dr. Jonathan Kirk (James Van Der Beek) takes on Terrell and his technology with the help of news reporter Danni Wilson (Teri Polo). The cast also includes John Larroquette, Luke Perry and Marisol Nichols.
By aerogator at 7:50 PM ON 03/12/09
None of these sound good.
By wpb30635 at 7:53 PM ON 03/12/09
I've seen the show Merlin thanks to some friends in the UK. NBC has made an awesome move by importing the show instead of remaking it. It is one of the best shows I have seen out of the UK, since Doctor Who of course.
By CJ at 7:54 PM ON 03/12/09
Yeah, these all sound like crap. What exactly are the requirements to become a Television Executive? A Full-Frontal Lobotomy? The Attention span of a Squirrel?
By deslok at 7:55 PM ON 03/12/09
I have watched the 1st & 2nd eps of Merlin and they were good if not a little too British for an American audience.
By Khrymson at 9:05 PM ON 03/12/09
Already watched all of season 1 for Merlin while it aired on the BBC in EU. Its very good and I'm looking forward to S2 which should be due to start later this year sometime I hope!
I watched the first ep of Listener and its gonna get canceled...nothing exciting about it at all...just another crappy crime drama of a guy who can hear everyone's thoughts but also see events they saw in the past "visually"
By IsoTek at 9:07 PM ON 03/12/09
Merlin bored me the first time. I doubt I will be any less bored through 13 episodes. Meteor sounds exactly like the 70's movie with Sean Connery and Natalie Wood, I might watch but really, isn't time to stop with the doomsday rocks from outer space. NBC also gave us the stinky poo "Asteroid" mini that seems to get rerun on SciFi alot.
By mrhis2ry at 11:59 PM ON 03/12/09
Why is it NBC gets sci-fi shows and SciFi Channel gets wrestling and thousands of snake movies ghost shows?
By Liam at 12:54 AM ON 03/13/09
No wonder NBC's ratings are so low.
By Skippy at 12:57 AM ON 03/13/09
Ugh!
Sounds like attack of the bad SciFi Channel movies. Who is PROUD that Stacy Keech is in one of your movies...
By Muldfeld at 5:26 AM ON 03/13/09
I was initially excited by the news, thinking this was the show the fantastical James Callis (Gaius Baltar of BSG) is starring in. However, it turns out that show is called "Merlin and the Book of Beasts":
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1320346/
By Steve at 7:53 AM ON 03/13/09
I'll probably TiVo all four of them. What else is there to watch in the summer.
By JavaEvil at 8:09 AM ON 03/13/09
Sounds awful. Another Merlin movie? No thanks, I'll stick with Excalibur. Another meteor movie? How many of these can they make?
These all sound like horrible SciFi Channel made for TV movies. No thanks.
By hrumph at 8:49 AM ON 03/13/09
Sweet Lord of TV, why dost thou cast a foul pestilence upon thy followers? We pray for originality and excitement but are fed only rehash and cliches.
I mean seriously Merlin, I live in the UK and saw the show. Tripe all the way. The Sam Neill version was far superior.
If they need new source material, there a a million and one novels out there that are worthy of an adaptation. It just takes a little vision from the channel suits to run with it.
I hate TV.
Heroes S.1 was awesome then it has just died in my eyes. Bringing back the dead, long lost relatives. Cliched as hell.
Rather than thinking of having 5 seasons of crap let's have a show that has 1 amazing season. It needs a beginning, middle and end.
I'm sick of ranting, just realised I could go on for hours. Now I feel depressed. Good time to get in to books I say!!
By Jurassic flop at 10:57 AM ON 03/13/09
If Sam Niel's not Merlin, I'm not interested and if he is, I'm even less interested.
By DrWho at 12:24 PM ON 03/13/09
Merlin is a great series, watched all of the first season already since it's aired in the UK, you shouldn't knock it till you've tried it.
By tgwaste at 4:04 PM ON 03/13/09
ya, merlin was surprisingly good. love the cast!. its a little more for kids but the kid in me LOVES it.
cant wait for s2
By Mandy at 10:26 PM ON 03/14/09
Merlin isn't that great (saw the UK cut). Out of all the BBC shows they should have brought over Being Human is better but it would be cut to shreds for our TV over here. I'm pretty sure BBC America's getting it though.
By ron adams at 2:07 PM ON 03/22/09
Is the series "Eureka" returning to sci-fi TV line-up ?
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