Hi Amber, I feel like September is coming and soon summer will be over. What are some new shows worth checking out in the fall? —Kelly

Amber: I know — where has summer gone? TVGuide.ca’s annual fall preview launches at the end of the month, where you can check out my comments — as well as the rest of our writers — on all the new and returning shows if you want really detailed opinions (I seem to have so many), but there are a couple at the top of my list this fall. On the cable side both Boardwalk Empire (HBO) and The Big C (Super Channel) are absolutely worth watching. My top network comedies this fall are Outsourced (NBC/Global), which sounds a little racist but I think it encourages conversation, and Mike and Molly (CBS/CTV) — Chuck Lorre’s latest offering. Most of the new dramas this season are either cop or lawyer procedurals, but The Whole Truth (ABC/Citytv), Hawaii Five-0 (CBS/Global), The Event (NBC/Citytv) and No Ordinary Family (ABC/CTV) are some that I will definitely watch for a few episodes, at least.

Will any Canadian stations be airing Chelsea Lately soon? —Stacey

Amber: Sorry, Stacey, but Chelsea Handler has been MIA in Canada ever since E! Canada went dark, and none of the stations have picked it up for fall, either. For now you’ll have to rely on YouTube to catch up on the funny highlights. I wish the show aired somewhere here, ‘cause the lady is damned funny — I miss her, too. But, if you need a fix, you can catch her on Sept. 12 when she hosts the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.

Hi Amber, thanks for all the great information about my favourite shows. I was wondering what information you have about Hot in Cleveland. I just love it and I have been watching it Monday nights, but the past couple of weeks it hasn’t been on. Can you let me know if Hot in Cleveland is over already? —Helen

Amber: Not at all. CTV opted not to air it for a week now that SYTYCD Canada is infiltrating its schedule every night of the week for two weeks, but Betty White and co. return tomorrow, Aug. 24, with new episodes. I’m not entirely convinced it’s a smart move, suddenly moving one of the Top 10 summer shows in Canada from Mondays to Tuesdays with zero notice, but we’ll see what happens.

Do you have any idea if Cra$h & Burn has been cancelled? I really loved the first season, and I’m dying to find out if we’ll ever see a second season. —Jackson

Amber: Showcase and Canwest opted not to order a second season of the series. Sad, but in the end it wasn’t doing anything magical for them, and there are tons of Canadian projects in the wings that need scheduling.

Hi Amber, I live in Canada and I really like watching Heartland. Do you know if it’s been cancelled or will it be returning in the fall? Thanks for all the work you do at keeping us informed about the television shows we love. —Mary

Amber: You can rest assured because yes, Heartland is returning for a fourth season. It’s scheduled to air Sundays beginning Sept. 26. And thanks for the shout-out; I do my best.

Hi Amber, do you know if Showcase plans to air Season 3 of Damages again anytime soon? —Graham

Amber: Not that I’m aware of — have you seen Showcase’s schedule? It’s absolutely packed. I’d suggest you catch up when you can, though; the station has confirmed it will continue to air the series even though it’s been cancelled on FX and picked up on DirecTV in the U.S.

I just received an email from Citytv, claiming it won’t air Season 2 of Royal Pains. Why would they say they were going to air it and then back out? Does this mean we will not get to see it at all? —Jennifer

Amber: To be honest, Citytv has been a little weird about this series for a while now — ever since they pulled the show in the first season with only two episodes to go and then secretly aired them with no notice to anyone. There could be any number of reasons why the network opted not to air the series in the end, including ad revenues, viewers and licensing fees. The bottom line is that we probably won’t see on air, but the second season should certainly be available on DVD.

Hello, Amber, we recently read your article about John Lennon in New York, which will air on PBS’s American Masters. Do you know if Masters (or any other broadcaster) will air something similar about either Brian Wilson or Roger McGuinn sometime in the near future? —Kathy & Brian

Amber: Masters has a Beach Boys retrospective in the works for 2011 that is supposed to feature Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks and Bruce Johnston. But, so far, the only project involving McGuinn was last year’s Joan Baez doc.

Hey Amber, with the vampire craze I was hoping Forever Knight would repeat on a Canadian station. I haven’t seen it in ages and don’t want to buy it. Do you happen to know anything? —Angela

Amber: Sorry, as of right now there are no plans for the series to air anywhere, but it would be pretty cool to see Toronto featured in an older bloodsucking show. Maybe it could pair with Blood Ties, which I still think had a lot of life left in it when it was cancelled.

Dear Amber, I love Flashpoint and every Friday the commercials and the Internet advertise a “new” episode, but when I tune in, it’s always a repeat for me.  I believe that I have already watched all of Season 3 and was waiting for Season 4, but only Season 3 seems to be playing. —Sunnie

Amber: I’ve never seen so much confusion surrounding a show — what we consider Season 3 is Season 2.5 or something ridiculous in the U.S. It’s really starting to grind my gears the way Americans treat our TV — but that’s a whole other topic. Anyhow, because we were ahead of the CBS broadcast, the “new” episodes weren’t so new, but they caught up to us on Aug. 6 (although a special “preview” episode aired July 16. From hereon in all episodes advertised as new certainly should be. The bigger question is how long will CBS run this current season, and what will CTV do if it’s yanked for something else in the fall?

Hi Amber, just wondering about White Collar. The second season started on the USA network, but I want to know if it will be back on Bravo!. I love this show, as do my other friends. If it is coming back, do you know the start date? —Rosemary

Amber: It’s not returning to Bravo! — the station opted not to pick up rights to the second season, which means Canadians everywhere who were hooked on the show can no longer see it here. You’ll have to wait until someone else decides to add it to their schedule, or else wait for the eventual DVD release. Frustrating, I know.

I have heard that The Big C is a great show. Can you tell me when it might air in Canada? Also, when will Drop Dead Diva start its second season in Canada? —Lois

Amber: The Big C is a fantastic show. It’s original, funny, smart and features great actors — I definitely recommend. It debuts here in Canada Sept. 1 on Super Channel. But be warned, you need a subscription. Drop Dead Diva's second season airs on Showcase beginning Oct. 25.

That’s all for this week!

What's your question? amber@tvguide.ca

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Make sure to check back Mondays at www.tvguide.ca to see if your questions have been answered!

 

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A TV junkie, Amber will watch just about anything – once. One of her biggest pet peeves is when networks bounce shows around their schedule, leading to an eventual cancellation. While current gems include The Big Bang Theory, The Office, Dexter, True Blood, House and The Mentalist, she’s still crying over the cancellations of Kitchen Confidential and Pushing Daisies.

Now Amber devotes her time to analyzing the current state of TV and helping readers dissect complicated schedules. She’ll answer a variety of questions about past and present shows, spoilers and casting: anything is — and should be, up for discussion.

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