After 3 seasons, CBS pulled the plug on Under The Dome, their summer series based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. Initially planned as a limited series, the ratings for the show were good enough to leave the first season open ended and to bring the show back for a longer run. Unfortunately, the plots became more ridiculous as the show needed to find ways to keep everyone inside the dome while adding new characters who seemingly could get inside with little to no effort. Ratings dropped for each subsequent season and, prior to the 3rd season wrapping up, it was announced that the show would not be returning for a 4th.
Tag / Under The Dome
CBS Upfronts
For the first time this century, CBS announced a new fall schedule this week without a version of CSI in the mix. Instead, the Tiffany network looked to other familiar properties, and stars, to fill the holes in their lineup. With the network again airing football on Thursday nights for the first 2 months of the season, there will be much juggling going on, starting on Monday, where The Big Bang Theory returns until football ends. It will be followed by Kevin Can Wait, a new show featuring former CBS star Kevin James. Once football ends, James moves up a half hour and will be followed by Man With A Plan, starring former Friend Matt LeBlanc. 2 Broke Girls, The Odd Couple, and Scorpion round out the night.
Tuesday wraps two versions of NCIS around Bull, a new drama starring former NCIS star Michael Weatherly as, and you can’t make this up, a young version of Dr. Phil. No changes on Wednesday night, where Criminal Minds returns for its 12th season. Thursday, starting in November, starts with The Big Bang Theory, followed by the new Joel McHale-helmed The Great Indoors. The night finishes with Pure Genius, a new drama from the creator of Parenthood.
Friday sees a new version of MacGuyver, followed by the returning Hawaii Five-O and Blue Bloods. Sunday adds another version of NCIS to fill the hole left by The Good Wife.
Gone and never to be seen again are The Good Wife and summer staple Under The Dome. Gone and destined to be seen again is Supergirl, which is moving to the CW. Gone and maybe seen again is Limitless, which didn’t make the schedule but is not officially cancelled and is looking for a new home.
Book 19 (of 52) – Under The Dome
Under The Dome – Stephen King
When a mysterious dome cuts a small town off from the rest of the world, its residents must find a way to survive while a power hungry local politician sees this as his opportunity to become the ultimate authority. Such is the plot of this tome from Stephen King, the third longest book I’ve ever read and the longest since I tackled The Stand back in 1992.
Prior to reading 11/22/63 2 years ago, I had stayed away from King’s work since finishing Dolores Claiborne back in 1993. But based on my enjoyment of that book, and a sale at the Kindle store, I picked up this one on the cheap. After watching the first two seasons of the television adaptation, which CBS has aired over the past 2 summers, I finally found myself in the mood for this thousand page monster.
The show deviates pretty quickly from the book, sharing little more than character names and a dome at this point, so reading the book was an entirely new experience, although I did picture the show’s actors as the characters in my mind. Overall, I enjoyed the book, though the ending, and the force behind the dome, left a little to be desired. I do have a couple more King works waiting to be read, though none of this magnitude.