Doux News: December 2, 2012

This week: New at Doux, with a question for our readers -- New shows, premieres and cancellations (Justified, Under the Dome, Neverwhere, Sherlock, Grimm, Do No Harm, Merlin) -- This week in casts (S.H.I.E.L.D. and Arrow)

New at Doux

The fall finales and the holidays are approaching, and that usually means it gets a bit quiet around here. Not this time. Along with our annual "Best of" posts, we're planning a group post on holiday specials as well as many December movie reviews, including some of classic holiday movies. We hope you'll stop by.

And there's more: we're adding another great show to our line-up. ChrisB will be reviewing Downton Abbey for us! Catch-up reviews will start going up soon.

Speaking of adding shows to the site, I need your help.

"Episode reviews and articles on science fiction, fantasy and cult television" has always been the way I've described BillieDoux.com -- it's been on the front page since I started the site in 2004, and back when it was just me, or even when it was only four of us (me, Jess Lynde, Paul Kelly and Josie Kafka), it was still an apt description. These days, we still cover the sci-fi and vampire-loving demographic, but we're also reviewing many cool mainstream shows. "Science fiction, fantasy and cult television" just doesn't describe us any more.

My site partner Josie Kafka suggested "TV that doesn't suck", but she said she was kidding. I actually think that covers it pretty well; it has a ring to it. But we'd like to open this up to our readers and, of course, our wonderful writers. How do you think we should describe the site? Post a comment! The winner will be honored with a cute graphic on the front page for the month of January lauding their accomplishment, as well as my eternal thanks.

New shows, premieres and cancellations

Justified, a big favorite here on the Doux, is returning for its fourth season on FX January 8. I'll be reviewing it.

Stephen King's novel Under the Dome is going directly to series on CBS. Lost writer Brian K. Vaughan adapted the script and will be one of the executive producers; it's scheduled to debut in the summer of 2013. I am imagining that it would work best as a miniseries, but that's unclear. We shall see.

The BBC is going to adapt Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. Unfortunately, it's going to be for the radio, not television, but, to quote Mark Greig,"...that doesn't matter because this six-part adaptation of Gaiman's brilliant book wins the award for the BEST CAST EVER!!! We got James McAvoy (X-Men: First Class), Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock), Natalie Dormer (The Tudors and Game of Thrones), David Harewood (Homeland) Sophie Okonedo (Doctor Who), Romola Garai (The Hour) Bernard Cribbins (Wilf!), Anthony Head (Giles!) and the legend that is Sir Christopher Lee. According to Gaiman himself it will be broadcast sometime early next year. In the meantime here is a adorable picture of some of that awesome cast saying hi to the author."

Sherlock ... will be late. They're not even sure when we're going to get more Sherlock. Maybe 2014? Seriously? We Are Not Amused. Is Moriarty running the BBC?

Grimm won't be returning until... March 8??? What is going on with all of these really late return dates? Okay, the delay in the return of Grimm is because of the premiere of Do No Harm, the new Jekyll/Hyde medical drama that premieres on NBC on January 31. And yes, that sounds like it might be cool, but it doesn't seem fair to Grimm fans, does it?

The fifth, currently running season of Merlin will be its last. Let's hope they learned in time to wind up the series in a satisfying manner.

This week in casts

Yet more S.H.I.E.L.D. casting news -- this time, Brett Dalton as agent Grant Ward. Please tell me that they're soon going to be announcing the casting of Angel's J. August Richards as Nick Fury? (That's just my fervent desire, not an actual possibility, but wouldn't he be perfect?)

The new CW show Arrow has been busily casting a bunch of cool genre actors (very clever of them) and David Anders was just recruited. But only as a guest star. Could someone give David Anders a permanent gig on a really cool show that I watch? Please?

That's it for this week, because I couldn't come up with cat-related bit. Comments and questions? Suggestions to replace "Episode reviews and articles on science fiction, fantasy and cult television"? We'd love to hear them.