NBCUniversal Television
Once again, only two decades that end in nine provided new programming for the third week of July, and aside from two of the eight shows, none of them had any real success. But those two shows are still on the air today. Let’s take a look and see if you remember any of the others.
1959
- No new series premiered this week in 1959.
1969
- No new series premiered this week in 1969.
1979
- No new series premiered this week in 1979.
1989
- No new series premiered this week in 1999.
1999
- July 18 — Supernatural dramedy G vs E premieres on the USA Network. The series starred Clayton Rohner and Richard Brooks as agents assigned to ‘The Corps’, a secret agency under the command of Heaven that fights against the Morlocks, evildoers from Hell. Rohner’s Chadler Smythe had been murdered on his 35th birthday, and his partner Henry McNeil (Brooks) was killed in the 1970s and still dresses like Shaft. When they find a lost soul, someone who has made a bargain with the Devil, they attempt to rehabilitate them of eliminate them from existence. The show had a Tarantino-esque, Pulp Fiction style that harkened back to 1970s ‘blaxploitation’ films, and also mixed in elements of ‘spy-fi’ with the end of the 1990s millennium Zeitgeist. The series also starred Marshall Bell and Googy Gress. The show ran for one season on USA and moved to the Sci-Fi Channel for its second and final season with the retitling of Good vs. Evil. In all, 22 episodes were produced with the finale airing on May 12, 2000.
2009
- July 14 — Reality series Miami Social premieres on Bravo. The show followed seven friends as they live, work and socialize in South Beach, meeting up weekly for cocktails at the Ganesvoort Hotel to catch up. The series lasted for one season of seven episodes, ending on August 18, 2009.
- July 15 — Reality docuseries That’s Impossible debuts on the History Channel. The series examined seemingly impossible technologies based upon stories and inventions in history and detailed what was needed to bring them into reality. Subjects of the series’ six episodes, which were narrated by Jonathan Frakes, were Invisibility Cloaks, Real Terminators, Weather Warfare, Eternal Life, Death Rays and Energy Weapons, and Mind Control.
- July 7 — Action/crime drama Dark Blue premieres on TNT. The series starred Dylan McDermott as Carter Shaw, the leader of an undercover unit that is so secret many of his team members own colleagues don’t know they are involved. Through Shaw’s time in the LAPD, he’s able to use criminal contacts to further leads and add substance to the team’s covers during investigations. The team is often shocked by how casual Shaw is with these known criminals. His team includes a collection of tropes, including a married cop who struggles with personal relationships, a loose cannon cop whose team often thinks he’s flipped to the other side, and a patrolwoman brought in for her lying skills and shady past. The cast included Omari Hardwick, Logan Marshall-Green, and Nicki Aycox. Tricia Helfer joined the show’s second season as an FBI special agent. The series ran for just two seasons with 20 episodes total, ending on September 15, 2010.
- July 15 — Comedy series Michael & Michael Have Issues debuts on Comedy Central, starring Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter playing fictionalized versions of themselves. Their characters are bickering stars of a sketch comedy program who never miss an opportunity to undermine each other. Other main cast members included Josh Pais, Kumail Nanjiani, Jessi Klein and Susa Heyward. The guest cast included Christopher Meloni (as himself), Grace Helbig, Zac Orth and Arden Myrin. The show received a mix of good and bad reviews, but lasted just seven episodes, the last airing on August 26, 2009.
- July 16 — Late night talk show Watch What Happens L!ve with Andy Cohen debuts on Bravo. Hosted by Bravo’s former Vice President of Original Programming, Cohen was the man responsible for bringing the Real Housewives franchise to fruition. Cohen stepped down from that position to host the new show which, in the early days, functioned more as an after show for Bravo’s original programming, bringing the reality stars to the WHHL Clubhouse. As the show’s popularity grew, the show began to attract more A-List stars who enjoy the casual, anything goes atmosphere … and the cocktails (each episode includes a Guest Bartender). On March 2, 2016 the show celebrated its 100th episode, and celebrated its ten year anniversary in June 2019 with guests Chrissy Teigen, John Mayer and Luann de Lesseps.
- July 19 — Reality series Pawn Stars premieres on History Channel. The series chronicles the daily activities at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, a 24-hour family business in Las Vegas. The shop was originally operated by Richard ‘Old Man’ Harrison, his son Rick, Rick’s son Corey ‘Big Hoss’ Harrison, and Corey’s childhood friend Austin ‘Chumlee’ Russell. The series became the network’s highest rated program and was the Number 2 reality show in 2009 after Jersey Shore. The show feature’s staff interactions with customers and their own interpersonal conflicts. Richard Harrison died in June 2018. As the show’s popularity grew, the main cast members no longer work the counter due to confidentiality laws. With fans coming in and taking photos of the cast, the customers’ identities could not be protected. The shop is now closed during shoots with only a handful of customers allowed into the showroom. The series returned for its 16th season on January 21, 2019 in a new hour-long format.
- July 20 — Reality series Dating in the Dark premieres on ABC. The show’s format is based on a Dutch dating show called Daten in het Donker. The series featured three men and three women sequestered in separate wings of a house, unable to have any contact unless in a dark room. They do initially have a group date to get to know each other’s voices and personalities, but after that they are only permitted to invite another contestant for a one-on-one date in the dark room. Throughout the show, the contestants are provided with additional insight to determine who their best match is. During the reveal process, the contestants choose their match and are revealed to each other one at a time, remaining silent, standing on each side of a two-way mirror so they cannot see the other person’s reaction. The show culminates with each contestant choosing whether to meet another on the balcony. If they are joined by the other, that signifies they are interested in pursuing a relationship. If they exit through the front door, they go their separate ways. The show was hosted by Rossi Morreale and ran for two seasons.
- July 20 — Reality series The T.O. Show debuts on VH1. The series followed NFL star Terrell Owens, his friend Monique Jackson and publicist Kita Williams as the re-evaluate Ownes’ personal life, battling two sides of his personality while trying to find romance for him. The show featured guest appearances by Andy Roddick, Chad Ochocinco and Tatyana Ali, and ran for three seasons and 27 episodes. The finale aired October 31, 2011.
Did you watch any of these show? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
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