Media Life Magazine - 'Greek's' back, and nights turn steamy

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'Greek's' back,
and nights turn steamy

Or rather steamier, paired with 'The Secret Life'

By Diego Vasquez
Aug 26, 2008

What the WB once was to broadcast, the place where young beautiful people appeared in overly dramatic shows about high school and college, ABC Family is quickly becoming for cable. The success of the summer hit “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” comes one year after “Greek” became a breakout in its first season.

Tonight at 9 p.m., “Greek’s” second season debuts, airing right after “Teenager” for what should be one of the stronger cable blocks of the week among teens and adults 18-34, until "Teenager" ends its run next month.

“Greek” follows a sorority and fraternity on the fictional campus of Cyprus-Rhodes University. The show focuses on Rusty and Casey, a brother and sister who are decidedly different. Rusty is a little geeky and attempting to change his high school reputation by rushing, while older sister Casey is already queen of her sorority.

Like the shows of the WB in its day, "Greek" isn’t afraid of a little campiness.

In tonight’s premiere, Charisma Carpenter, who played spoiled popular girl Cordelia on seminal teen show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” appears as a national sorority executive charged with cleaning up Casey's chapter after a messy spring break. Later this season, Carol Potter, the mom on Fox’s original “Beverly Hills, 90210,” will appear.

“Greek” earned strong ratings in season one, becoming ABC Family’s No. 1 original series ever, though it’s since been surpassed by “Teenager.” Like most cable shows, it airs two mini seasons that together make up a full season. For the second half of its first season, “Greek” averaged 485,000 viewers 18-34 and 610,000 women 12-34, winning its cable timeslot in the latter.

Paired with “Teenager,” which is now outdrawing “Gossip Girl” among teens, ABC Family will have a very strong duo for at least one week, though it will face a much bigger challenge when the CW's “90210” and “Privileged” premiere over the following two weeks.

A look at this week’s top TV draws
TUESDAY, AUGUST 26
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Michael Moore and Carmen Electra both guest.
8 p.m.	ABC	“Wipeout” (G)	New episode should again pull solid ratings.
8 p.m.	NBC	“America’s Got Talent” (R)	Ten of the season’s top 40 perform.
9 p.m.	CBS	“Big Brother” (R)	Audience could rise even more now that the Olympics are over.
9 p.m.	MTV	“Making the Band” (R)	Diddy rips into the acts big time.
10 p.m.	ABC, CBS, NBC, cable news networks	“Democratic National Convention” (N)	Hillary Clinton speaks tonight.
10 p.m.	A&E	“The Cleaner” (D)	William tries to help a missing federal agent with a drug problem.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	ABC	“Good Morning America” (N)	Among other things, Diane Sawyer reports from the Democratic National Convention.
7 p.m.	ESPN	“Major League Baseball” (S)	The Red Sox take on the Yankees in New York.
8 p.m.	NBC	“America’s Got Talent” (R)	More top 40 performances.
9 p.m.	Bravo	“Project Runway” (R)	Stylist Rachel Zoe leads this week’s challenge.
10 p.m.	ABC, CBS, NBC, cable news networks	“Democratic National Convention” (N)	Day three coverage from the DNC in Denver.
10 p.m.	MTV	“Run’s House” (R)	JoJo and Team Blackout play a CD release party.
10 p.m.	truTV	“Stringers: LA” (R)	A photographer helps a man in a burning car.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 p.m.	NBC	“NFL Football” (S)	The Jags versus the Redskins in Washington.
8 p.m.	CBS	“Big Brother” (R)	Another houseguest is evicted.
8 p.m.	ESPN	“College Football” (S)	North Carolina State kicks off the season against South Carolina.
9 p.m.	Discovery	“Destroyed in Seconds” (N)	A stealth bomber crashes near a picnic site.
10 p.m.	ABC, CBS, NBC, cable news networks	“Democratic National Convention” (N)	Sen. Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination for president.
10 p.m.	Comedy Central	“Gong Show with Dave Attell” (G)	A human helicopter and a one-man horn band perform.
10 p.m.	Food Network	“Ace of Cakes” (R)	The chefs make a cake that looks like the NHL’s Stanley Cup.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Katy Perry, Jesse McCartney and The Pussycat Dolls all perform.
8 p.m.	E!	“15 Most Shocking Political Sex Scandals” (N)	How many times will Bill Clinton make the list?
9 p.m.	HBO	“Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” (S)	A look at pro baseball player Josh Hamilton.
10 p.m.	CBS	“Swingtown” (D)	Susan and Roger throw a surprise party for Janet.
11:35 p.m.	NBC	“Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (T)	Arsenio Hall and Chuck Berry guest.
12:05 p.m.	ABC	“Jimmy Kimmel Live” (T)	Slashie nominee (award for best model/actor) Tyrese guests.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
Time	Network	Program	Description
11 a.m.	CBS	“Tennis” (S)	Early-round play from the U.S. Open in New York.
3:30 p.m.	Fox	“Major League Baseball” (S)	It’s Phillies-Cubs, Rockies-Padres or Mariners-Indians.
5 p.m.	ESPN	“College Football” (S)	Last year’s FCS (Div. I-AA) champ Appalachian State takes on BCS champ LSU.
8 p.m.	ABC	“College Football” (S)	Top-25 teams Alabama and Clemson battle in Atlanta.
8:30 p.m.	ESPN	“College Football” (S)	Should be another good one between Illinois and Missouri.
11:30 p.m.	NBC	“Saturday Night Live” (C)	Replay of the episode hosted by Brian Williams.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24
Time	Network	Program	Description
11 a.m.	CBS	“Tennis” (S)	More early-round U.S. Open play.
3 p.m.	NBC	“PGA Golf” (S)	Third round of the Deutsche Bank Championship.
8 p.m.	CBS	“Big Brother” (R)	Nominations for next week’s eviction are announced.
8 p.m.	ESPN	“NASCAR Racing” (S)	The Pepsi 500 from Fontana, Calif.
9 p.m.	VH1	“I Love Money” (R)	An endurance challenge involving stripper poles.
10 p.m.	AMC	“Mad Men” (D)	Don and Duck bury the hatchet.
10 p.m.	Travel Channel	“Super Swank” (N)	Series premiere. Profiles of cool places you can’t afford.
A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.