Merlin

GLEE is back!

Glee returns to Ten on Thursday April 29, at 8pm, right after Masterchef, with episode 14 of season 1. Up and coming episodes of Glee include the much talked about Madonna special in which Madonna allowed the cast to use any song from her entire catalogue.

Glee – Thursday nights 8pm from April 29.

One of 2009’s surprise hits – Merlin – returns to its original time slot of 6.30pm Sunday from April 25. The first offering of season 2 is called the Curse of Cornelius.

Merlin – Sunday nights 6.30pm from April 25.

Wondering what will be on Ten on Wednesday nights after the finale of So You Think You Can Dance on April 21? Well, it’s movie night! On Wednesday April 28, the movie 27 Dresses will air from 8.30pm. Makes for a very different option against Hey Hey on Nine and the Pacific on Seven.

27 Dresses – Wednesday April 28, 8.30pm.

The Cleveland Show returns to Ten at Ten PM, Mondays after Good News Week. The animated spin off from Family Guy was first seen on our screens over summer, and returns with episode 11 of season 1.

The Cleveland Show – Mondays 10pm (-ish – after GNW) from April 26.

The Good Wife and House continue on Sunday April 25 with new episodes. NCIS and NCIS:LA are new episodes on Tuesday at 8.30 and 9.30pm respectively. Other shows include Law and Order SVU Thursday at 9pm, Medium Thursday at 10pm and Numb3rs 10pm Friday.

Ten over the weekend have started promoting season two of Merlin which they say is coming soon.

Last year, Merlin aired at 6.30pm Sunday nights prior to Masterchef and frequently won its timeslot against Sunday Night on Seven and Domestic Blitz on Nine.

With Masterchef season two returning on Monday April 19 and Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation and The Biggest Loser finishing on Sunday April 18, it seems logical that Ten will follow the same Sunday night evening formula as last year.

This means, that as of Sunday April 25, Merlin should be on at 6.30pm and Masterchef’s Sunday night offering at 7.30pm.

Updated – Masterchef will premiere Monday April 19, at 7.30pm.

The Biggest Loser finale is on Sunday April 18, at 6.30pm and 8.30pm.

Original Post:

Now that we know what Ten’s line up is for the first week back after Easter non ratings, we can provide some speculation on what may happen with Ten programming in subsequent weeks.

Everyone want to know when Masterchef season 2 will air. Masterchef will not be on until the Biggest Loser finishes. In the week April 11-17 (week 16), Biggest Loser ends the week with five contestants. There are the original three from the Easter week, plus the two winners of the 42k marathon re-entering the house, less whoever was eliminated on the Monday night, plus the biggest loser out of Phil and Joe back from Commando training.

Based on there being five contestants at the start of week 17 (April 18), one would be eliminated on Monday 19^th leaving four to go to weigh in on the next Sunday April 25. Assuming the same formula as 2009, that would leave four contestants for the finale show on Monday April 26 – which will actually be a public holiday in most states, so it should rate really well.

In 2009, Masterchef started on the Monday of the Biggest Loser finale. In 2010, that would mean Masterchef 2 would start Monday April 26, 2010 – and fill in the weekday timeslots vacated by Biggest Loser. This would effectively see Masterchef on weekdays at 7.30pm UNLESS Ten decides to rest the 7PM Project during Masterchef’s run – which means it would air at 7pm. Masterchef 2 will start out with 50 contestants who will be reduced to the top 24 for the main competition.

On Sunday nights, Masterchef could work at either 6.30 or 7.30. With Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation currently locked into the 7.30 timeslot – and not doing too badly there – it would appear likely that Masterchef’s Sunday night hour would again fill the spot left by Biggest Loser at 6.30pm. Although – if Ten wanted to swap the two shows’ timeslots around, that would be the perfect opportunity.

The new season of Glee – which will include the episode based on Madonna songs premieres in the US April 13. Glee could possibly return to Thursday nights or even Wednesday nights once So You Think You Can Dance is over. If it is Thursday, then we could see Glee on April 22, otherwise, a Wednesday timeslot would place the show with an April 28 return. Whether Glee airs at 7.30 or 8.00 ultimately depends on what happens with the 7PM Project when Masterchef returns.

Another show yet to air on Ten, which rated well in 2009, is the second season of Merlin. Last year, Merlin worked well on Sunday night at 6.30 – which leads to another variation of speculative Ten programming once Masterchef returns. This variation would see Merlin at 6.30 Sundays, like it was last year, Masterchef at 7.30 Sundays, also like it was in 2009, and Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation moved to another night.

It won’t be until around about April 9 when we will know what Ten programming will be for the week starting April 25 which should include the final to the Biggest Loser and the return of Masterchef.

Saturday, February 6 6.30pm

Merlin is stunned when his mother, turns up in Camelot, bruised and battered, following an attack on her village by bandits.

Merlin goes to King Uther to beg for help, but as the village is beyond the realms of his kingdom, there is nothing he can do without provoking a full scale war.

Resolute on protecting his mother, Merlin gathers weapons, joins forces with Arthur, Morgana and Gwen and together they head for the village.

Arriving at the village, they discover the bandits terrorising everyone, and Arthur convinces the villagers that they have to try and fight back for their freedom.

Frightened, Merlin realises that the villagers are no match for the army of bandits and he must step in using magic to save them.

By using his magic so publicly, does Merlin risk outing his powers to those he wants to protect the most?

Saturday, January 30 6.30pm

A mysterious Black Knight crashes into Camelot and throws down the gauntlet, challenging the Knights to a one man single combat.

Sir Owain, a young, eager knight, accepts his challenge, but during the bloody battle that ensues, he slain by the mysterious Knight.

Merlin notices that the Black Knight didn’t even flinch when struck by the blade of Owain’s sword and determines that while he is an awesome fighter, magic must be at work.

When Gaius shows Merlin an empty tomb in the crypt below Camelot things become clear. It is the tomb of Tristan De Bois, King Uther’s brother in law. Gaius tells Merlin that he thinks the Black Knight is Tristan, brought back from the dead to exact his revenge on the King.

Merlin discovers that there is only one way to kill a vengeance wraith – with a sword forged in a dragon’s breath. With Arthur in line to fight the Black Knight next, Merlin sets of on a desperate race against the clock.

Saturday, January 23 6.30pm

A Druid and a young boy, his apprentice, find themselves under chase from Camelot guards, and a concerned Merlin comes to their rescue.

He manages to hide the apprentice but the Druid is caught and brutally executed in the main square.

Unsure as to why he has been drawn to help this young boy, Merlin seeks advice from the Great Dragon and is warned that the boy is dangerous.

When the boy becomes sick, Merlin is torn about whether to help him, or whether to heed the dragon’s advice, disregard his own morals, and leave him to die.

Merlin’s sense of right reigns, and he bids Gaius to treat the child.

Saturday, January 9 6.30pm

A mysterious and scarred man enchants a bunch of flowers which are delivered anonymously to a delighted Morgana.

Later, as she sleeps, a beetle creeps from the bouquet and enters her ear, making Morgana seriously ill.

Gaius is summoned to help but, unaware that it is magical, cannot find the cause of the disease.

Edwin, the scarred man, arrives at the palace declaring that he is a physician capable of curing all ills. He secretly uses magic to cure Morgana, and an impressed Uther begs him to stay.

Suspicious, Gaius launches an investigation into this mysterious newcomer, and goes to the Great Dragon to try and find some answers.

Disturbed by what he hears, Gaius leaves Camelot. Devastated, Merlin must do everything he can to bring back his mentor.

TRIVIA:
Merlin has found himself embroiled in a political row this week after the Scottish tried to claim him as one of their own. Glasgow City Council added the confidant of King Arthur to a list of its greatest sons. But the attempt to claim Merlin as a Scot provoked a fiery response from Wales which has long proclaimed itself as home to the legendary sorcerer.

Saturday, December 26 7.30pm

Bayard and the knights of the Western Isles are welcomed to Camelot for a feast celebrating a union between the two kingdoms. Nimueh, however, has other plans. Posing as a serving girl, she infiltrates Bayard’s party and enters Camelot with a view to seeking revenge on Merlin.

Unaware of her true identity, Merlin befriends the young serving girl. Once she has gained his trust, Nimueh tricks him by saying Bayard is trying to poison Arthur.

In a bid to stop Arthur drinking from the poisoned goblet, Merlin is forced to drink it himself and falls into a deep coma.

Gaius discovers that Merlin can only be saved by an antidote from a rare plant. As Merlin’s health deteriorates fast, Arthur, humbled by his servant’s bravery, believes he must set off on a quest to retrieve the flower himself. But Uther forbids him to go because the danger is too great.

Morgana counsels Arthur and helps him realise that he is his own man and should do what he thinks is right, even if it means disobeying Uther.

Saturday December 19 7.30pm

Someone has poisoned Camelot’s water supply and as a terrible sickness spreads through his Kingdom, Uther demands to know the cause. Gauis is forced to admit that it is a magical plague and King Uther orders Prince Arthur to find the culprit.

Gwen discovers that her father has fallen ill with the disease. She goes to Gaius for help, but he can offer no hope of saving him with medicine. As Gwen breaks down, Merlin vows to help her and he secretly cures her father’s illness using magic.

When Uther hears of the cure, he immediately suspects Gwen of wrongdoing, and charges her with being a sorceress. With Gwen sentenced to death, can Merlin help to save Gwen without exposing his own magical powers, and frame the real witch, the beautiful Nimueh?

TRIVIA:
Actress Michelle Ryan joins the case of Merlin tonight as evil witch Nimueh. Best known for her roles in British soap EastEnders and as the lead in American series Bionic Woman, Michelle is relishing her role in Merlin.

Michelle says: “Nimueh was only supposed to be a cameo role in three episodes, but they were so pleased with her I stayed. It’s the first baddie I’ve ever played. I have dreadlocks and a red, slashed costume, which is very striking plus these hypnotic blue contact lenses. I’ve kept them for a couple of auditions I have coming up – I hope they’ll give me an edge.”

Even more programming changes at Ten as they try to keep their ratings head above water thoughout summer.

After the success of the premiere of Stargate Universe last Monday, the network has opted to swap around the planned time lots for Supernatural and Stargate Universe (incidentally – Stargate Universe has been renewed for a further 20 episodes by Sy Fy in the US). That means Stargate will be seen at 8.30pm Mondays while Supernatural will be seen at 9.30pm. Starting Mon Dec 21.

On Saturdays, Don’t Forget the Lyrics has been dumped but the show will remain on Sundays. Merlin repeats move to 6.30 with movies from 7.30pm. This happens from Saturday Dec 26^th.

Source: Tv Tonight.