Tick tock: NBC's 'The Million Second Quiz' tests more than trivia
Ryan Seacrest hosts "The Million Second Quiz"
It's been said that there's no such thing as an original idea. Looking at the vast array of television series out there, it appears that may be true.
Sure, dramas throw in twists and turns, comedies take quirky new approaches and the reality TV genre is relatively new, but for the most part, viewers can expect the same old, same old.
Q: I know "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" wasn't much of a hit, but is there any talk of a fifth "Indiana Jones" movie?
There's talk of a fifth "Indiana Jones," but not all of it is saying yes.
Harrison Ford is, though. He told Hitfix.com in July that, "if we came up with a good script, I'd be happy to do it."
Producer Frank Marshall has said that there's no script at all, though. He told "Collider" magazine that 2008's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" was "the last hurrah. I know that yes, we talk about it, but there's no idea, there's no MacGuffin."
20/20, on ABC
Correspondents bring viewers the story of a chiropractor accused of his wife's murder in the season premiere. Investigators discover that his first wife died under suspicious circumstances, and his third wife also claims he tried to harm her.
Burn Notice, on USA
The adventure continues for renegade Michael Weston (Jeffrey Donovan) and his colleagues in this new episode. Now in its seventh season, the drama follows Weston as he engages in a dangerous mission involving the CIA and deadly operatives.
Ghost Mine, on Syfy
The paranormal investigators return along with the rag-tag crew of gold miners in this season premiere. While the miners hope to strike it rich at Eastern Oregon's Crescent Mine, the investigators look for evidence of that the mine is haunted.
Q: I read a complaint that TLC's "Who Do You Think You Are" is always about famous people who can afford to do their own searches. The complainer talked about another show that actually has regular people searching for information about their ancestors. D
Surprisingly, given the relative success of "Who Do You Think You Are" (which was recently revived by TLC after being canceled by NBC), and of genealogy in general, there haven't been many shows on the subject of ancestry.
The show you're looking for is most likely the Canadian series "Ancestors in the Attic," produced in part by the Canadian edition of "Reader's Digest" magazine.
Extreme Weight Loss, on ABC
Chris Powell tries to help a 41-year-old detective named Bob, who's been on desk duty because of his weight of 448 pounds. Bob worries about losing his job and how he'll feed his family.
Summer Camp, on USA
As the summer comes to a close, so does the competition, and the campers find out who will walk away the winner in this season finale. Matt Rogers serves as host of the series, which challenged adults with classic camp games.
Q: I was extremely disappointed by the Jack Reacher movie. Who was responsible for casting the five-foot-seven Tom Cruise in the part of a hero described as being six-foot-five and 250 pounds? I know the filmmakers wanted a star for the film version, but
Well, you can take comfort in the fact you're not alone.
News of the casting of Tom Cruise in the role of Jack Reacher, the tough-as-nails main character in a series of novels by Lee Childs, was greeted with outrage from many fans of the books.
The Chew Presents ABC's Primetime Fall Preview Special, on ABC
The co-hosts of "The Chew" bring viewers a sneak peek at what ABC has lined up for fall. Check out upcoming comedies, dramas and reality TV, including a look at the highly anticipated "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
