Ever wonder how Norman Bates became a “Psycho”? Here’s your chance.
A&E will premiere its new scripted series, “Bates Motel,” at 9 p.m. Monday on Time Warner Cable channels 47, 204 and 1204.
A&E is best known for popular reality series “Storage Wars,” “Hoarders” and “Intervention,” but, in recent years, it’s become a home for original scripted fare, such as “The Glades” and “Longmire,” which was among my top 10 shows for 2012.
The pilot doesn’t quite measure up to Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 horror movie classic in terms of suspense. But it’s pretty darn close, featuring several tense moments, including one involving a butcher knife and another one with a bathtub.
Talk about paying homage.
From executive producers Carlton Cuse (“Lost”) and Kerry Ehrin (“Friday Night Lights”), “Bates Motel” is a contemporary telling of the backstory of "Psycho." Like the movie, it’s violent and graphic and not suitable for everyone.
People are also reading…
The series stars Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga — she was George Clooney’s love interest in “Up in the Air” — as Norma Bates. After the tragic — I say mysterious — death of her husband, she buys a house and motel on the edge of a coastal town and moves there with her son, the socially awkward Norman (Freddie Highmore).
The relationship between mother and son is, well, creepy. She manipulates him, lays guilt trips on him and prevents him from making friends. Meanwhile, Norman feels beholden to his mother. He occasionally rebels, often with dire consequences.
In the end, “Bates Motel” is a study in psychology, with multiple dark and scary turns. You know something’s about to happen. You just don’t what, when or how. Of course, we all know how the story ends, but, in this case, the fun is seeing how it comes together. Grade: B+
Across the remote
* Fox recently announced it will renew “The Following,” “New Girl,” “Raising Hope” and “The Mindy Project.” They will join “Bones,” which previously was picked up for a new season.
That leaves “Glee” and Kiefer Sutherland’s “Touch” in limbo.
The network already canceled “The Mob Doctor” and “Ben and Kate.” “Fringe” concluded its five-year run.
* “Vegas” fans take note: CBS is moving the drama to Fridays, beginning April 5. The drama has been on hiatus, while the network previewed the new police drama “Golden Boy” in the “Vegas” time slot on Tuesday nights.
The original plan was to move “Golden Boy” to Fridays and return “Vegas” to Tuesdays, but ratings for "Golden Boy" have been better with the coveted 18-to-49 age demographic, so “Golden Boy” will stay put.
“Vegas” will air 8 p.m. Fridays in the spot once occupied by “CSI: NY,” which had its — and probably series — finale Feb. 22.
* NBC’s not happy with the ratings for “Smash," which is why the network will move it to 8 p.m. Saturdays, beginning April 6. It’s tentatively scheduled to remain in its 9 p.m. Tuesday time slot for the next three weeks.
In its place, NBC will debut the new dating series “Ready for Love,” which will run for two hours from 8 to 10 p.m., following “The Voice.”
And, as a hint as to what’s to come next fall, NBC will move Matthew Perry’s “Go On” to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays for its final two episodes April 4 and 11. It remains in its Tuesday timeslot for the next two weeks.
With “30 Rock” and “The Office” leaving, and “1600 Penn” underwhelming, NBC will look to “Go On” to shore up Thursday nights.
* This bit of news doesn’t bode well for fans of “Southland,” TNT’s gritty police drama which ranked in my top 10 for 2012. Stars Ben McKenzie and Shawn Hatosy have been cast in two separate CBS drama pilots.
The pilots, should they be picked by the network, are in second position for both actors, meaning they are obligated to stay with first-position “Southland” should it be renewed for a sixth season. But it’s never a good sign when actors start covering their bases. “Southland” airs at 9 p.m. Wednesdays.
* It appears a “Veronica Mars” movie is a go after fans, in just more than 10 hours, donated $2 million last week to start production during a Kickstarter campaign. “Mars” was a cult hit. Created by Rob Thomas, it starred Kristin Bell (currently starring in Showtime’s “House of Lies”) as a teenage private investigator.
* Quick hits … ABC canceled “Zero Hour” after just three episodes … Lifetime renewed “Drop Dead Diva” for a fifth season, reversing an earlier decision to cancel it … TMZ reports Heidi Klum will be one of four judges this summer on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” … Jon Stewart will take 12 weeks off this summer from “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” to direct a film. John Oliver will fill in for eight of those weeks … “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” has been renewed through the 2016-17 season … “Merlin” will return to Syfy at 9 p.m. May 3.
Reach Jeff Korbelik at 402-473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com, or follow him on Twitter at @LJSjeffkorbelik.