Today's interesting TV stories to read from TV with Thinus - 25 September 2015

9 ways to tell if a new TV show is going to be worth watching.
Really the day's must read article you should take time to read with 9 really absolutely true points.

Show me that smile again!
It's exactly 30 years ago that sitcom Growing Pains started. The cast then and now, and sing along with the theme song.

You won't believe this ... but it's true.
Morena Baccarin of Gotham on M-Net (DStv 101) is with child. And the baby daddy is her co-star Benjamin McKenzie. And Morena is still getting divorced.
And fans of The O.C. are going insane that Seth and Ryan are becoming dads at the same time! "The only way this could be better would be if they were having babies with each other."


The new Tropika TV commercial on SABC3...
...makes viewers feel like cancelling their SABC TV licences. Tropika's "irritating" TV ad with Gloria "has got to be the worst advertisement" ever.

TV pilot error: TV critics about reviewing shows in the binge-watching era.
Does it matter if the first episode is bad if a season represents the chapters of an overall novel?

Remake of The A-Team is in the works.
80's drama series the latest heydey TV show getting a possible reboot.

MultiChoice in Africa adding channels to lower DStv bouquet...
...before the 1 October price hike kicks in. MTV (DStv 130), Comedy Central (DStv 122) and TCM (DStv 137) opened to lower-tiered package together with BBC's channels as subscription increase for a 2nd time this year.

A strong premiere doesn't mean that a new TV show will survive.
Broadcasting&Cable reports that a new show that starts out with low ratings will definitely not survive beyond a first season - but often shows that start strong also flames out.

Heroes Reborn feels "pointless" in the glut of superhero shows.
Heroes Reborn is starting on Vuzu AMP (DStv 114) close on the heels of America.

Premiere of 2nd season of Empire is strong.
The second season debut of Empire on FOX (DStv 125 / StarSat 131) has the show's second best viewership yet. The first episode of the new season outperformed everything else on TV in America.

Michelle Obama is going to appear on Doc McStuffins.
Will be animated for this hit pre-school show on Disney Junior (DStv 309).

Scandal's Olivia Pope "drinks way too much wine"
The character in The Fixer on M-Net (DStv 101) according to university study that analysed the addiction portrayal in the drama series.

BREAKING. M-Net adds new Batman origin story, Gotham; high-buzz drama will show in South Africa just hours after America.

It's the bat signal, people! M-Net which has the broadcasting rights to Gotham is adding the new Batman origin story to the schedule as an "express" title, with Gotham that will start on M-Net on Tuesday 23 September at 01:00.

Gotham will be shown after the early 01:00 showing, in its regular timeslot of Tuesdays at 20:30 (from 30 September).

Gotham will debut in America on 22 September on FOX and M-Net will show it in high definition literally only hours later on 23 September.

Gotham will be like Smallville, chronicling the teen years of Bruce Wayne in the years after his parents' death and before he becomes Batman - as well as all the to be "evil" - now just ambivalent - personalities who will become the Joker, the Riddler, Catwoman, Poison Ivy and the rest of the tormentors of Gotham City.

Ben MacKenzie is the very young and idealistic detective James Gordon who in later years will help Batman - and will now be helping Bruce Wayne to try and solve the murder of his parents and becomes a type of a surrogate dad.

David Mazouz is our new Tom Welling type - he will portray the young Batman, or Bruce Wayne.