Posted Nov 21st 2009 2:09PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Video, Commercials, Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free
You know how sometimes you see an actor or actress and they look so familiar, but you can't remember where you saw him or her, or what the TV show was? That's how I've been with the little boy who plays Brick on
The Middle. His name is
Atticus Shaffer, and since the ABC sitcom began this fall, I've been scratching my head over him. Where did I see him before?
Turns out that it was on a commercial for AIG. Yes, AIG, that huge insurance company that was a big part of the economic collapse. The company that was too big for America to let fail.
Continue reading That's why I recognize Brick from The Middle!
Posted Nov 21st 2009 1:07PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Programming, OpEd, Celebrities, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free
Steven and Stephen are getting together. That is to say that Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks TV are working with Stephen King to make a television
movie based on King's latest novel Under The Dome.
The novel is about one of those small New England towns that King enjoys writing about suddenly finding itself trapped in a force field. Unlike
The Simpsons Movie, the concept is not played for humorous effect.
The idea is reminiscent of those stories where people are trapped in a confined space and lawlessness sets in. There have been many similar concepts done in TV and film, although I can't think of any particular ones off the top of my head.
As he gets older, King's television presence becomes less. For a few years it seemed like a different TV show based on his work was being produced every year. He may be starting that again. So much for retirement.
Posted Nov 21st 2009 11:02AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Programming, OpEd, Celebrities, Talk Show
After watching
The Oprah Winfrey Show today and hearing her teary announcement about her decision to end her syndicated talk show, I had one thought in my head.
Oprah Winfrey is doing a
Johnny Carson. She's writing her own script (no pun intended). Oprah is leaving while she's still wanted, while she's still strong, and by setting the date 18 months down the road, she's giving herself a victory tour.
This is very much like Johnny Carson's decision to leave
The Tonight Show. The difference, of course, is that Oprah's show is not an established landmark entity like
The Tonight Show, which had Steve Allen and Jack Paar as hosts before Carson. No, Oprah was/is
The Oprah Winfrey Show. She will not leave it behind for someone else to inherit the throne. She's taking the throne with her.
Continue reading Oprah's exit is like Johnny Carson leaving The Tonight Show
Posted Nov 21st 2009 9:02AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Daytime, Celebrities, Reality-Free
Within a few weeks,
All My Children will be turning over a new leaf, officially making the move west to new studios in Los Angeles. Most actors are making the move. Some are not. And today
ABC informed the head writer, Charles Pratt Jr., that he's been let go. If he had his suitcases packed, well, sorry about that.
Chuck Pratt was hired with some fanfare in June 2008. He was a big hire because his resume is filled with flashy successes, including
Desperate Housewives, Melrose Place, Beverly Hills 90210, Ugly Betty, Santa Barbara and
General Hospital, among others. Pratt was supposed to revive
All My Children to its former luster, but -- alas -- it hasn't happened.
Continue reading ABC fires All My Children head writer Chuck Pratt
Posted Nov 21st 2009 2:52AM by Isabelle Carreau
Filed under: Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S05E09) "I have a bad feeling about this one. A very bad feeling." - Melinda about the ghost in the closet
Melinda's bad feeling was, pardon the pun, dead on. Very bad things happened in this November Sweeps episode: Aiden was put in danger, the dead girl from the closet was front and center, the Shadows came back full force and in a way we hadn't see yet, Bedford gave more warnings to Eli, as a hurting Carl the Watcher gave warnings to Melinda.
Continue reading Review: Ghost Whisperer - Lost In The Shadows
Posted Nov 21st 2009 12:55AM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S01E05) I don't think I've sighed as hard as I sighed during the opening scene of this episode of
White Collar in a long time. Caffrey and Moz find a note hidden by Kate ... in Grand Central Station? And not even in the station, but in the corner of the building outside. Did I miss some massive clue that Caffrey was following to find the exact location of the note shoved into a crack? Or are we just supposed to assume he's so smart and perceptive that he can find an old note within three minutes of showing up in front of the building? If I missed something, it was silly. If that's exactly how it went down, then it was kinda stupid.
Fun episode, though!
Continue reading Review: White Collar - The Portrait
Posted Nov 21st 2009 12:35AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S08E14) File this one under be careful what you wish for ... I feel like Rod Serling writing that, but there was a bit of a
Twilight Zone feel to this episode of
Monk. It was Monk in an alternate universe, only it looked like the same place we'd been to before. Same with Natalie. More on how things were the same, but different, after the jump.
Continue reading Review: Monk - Mr. Monk and the Badge
Posted Nov 20th 2009 1:04PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Sports, OpEd, Celebrities, Documentary
Lately, Detroit Tiger all-star outfielder Curtis Granderson has been in the news because he might be joining the New York Yankees. However, if
Major League Baseball free agency doesn't make him a household name, television might. Granderson has an idea for a reality series that's being shopped around now and it's not like anything else other athletes have pitched.
Granderson's series is called Stadium Secrets and it will be like History Channel's
Cities of the Underworld. In fact, it might be suited to the History Channel. Granderson would host the show and lead viewers into the inner recesses and hidden passages of famous stadia around the world -- although it'll probably start with American locations.
Continue reading Granderson has Stadium Secrets to share
Posted Nov 20th 2009 11:49AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, FlashForward
(S01E09) I've thought since the beginning that Bryce was more one of the more intriguing characters on the series. The fact that he was on the verge of suicide when he had his flashforward was indicative of some deeper hurts that we hadn't explored yet, but this week he finally got his due. We also got to meet the mystery woman from his vision, and now his sketches.
I've also realized that a lot of you are right about one thing. The character of Mark Benford isn't working for me anymore. He's a dick through and through, and he absolutely proved that this week in how he handled trying to track down some information.
In fact, even though Olivia's a little better than Mark, I'd say the "first family" of
FlashForward are the two least likable or interesting characters on the show. I think the drama may have been better served by having Mark die in Al's place a couple of weeks ago.
Continue reading Review: FlashForward - Believe
Posted Nov 20th 2009 11:31AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Programming, OpEd, Heroes, Chuck, Reality-Free
Chuck will be
returning to the airwaves on NBC on Sunday January 10th at 8 PM. The third season will start with a two-hour premiere and then the show will be on again the following night in its regular timeslot right after
Heroes. This is three hours of
Chuck over two days.
The pity is that
Chuck is actually a good show and
Heroes hasn't been as such since the first season. Perhaps
Heroes should be the lead-in for
Chuck? With the
boost in the number of episodes and the guest-stars galore slated for the coming season, it's a very exciting time to be a Chuckaholic like me. This could also be a sign that NBC is giving more support for
Chuck and less for the dying
Heroes.
Zachary Levi is great in his role and Yvonne Strahovski is much fun to look at, but what really makes the show is Adam Baldwin. Perhaps John Casey should get his own show? Nah. He's better as a foil for Chuck Bartowski.
Posted Nov 20th 2009 11:16AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Community
(S01E10) Hey, Jeff was kind of a selfish douche and then at the end he became a good person and did the right thing. Quick game: which episode am I describing?
I know I've complained about the predictability of this plot procedure in every episode, but for some reason it worked this week. Probably because even in the execution of it, you could see that Jeff had at least gained a sense of loyalty to his study group. In other words, he felt bad about what he was doing from the beginning. He still did it, but somehow that made all the difference.
I think the more shocking development was that Pierce offered to help Shirley with an upcoming speech she had to give, and she actually accepted. He also learned the "secret" to Jeff's power over the group, though I still think it's just confidence.
Continue reading Review: Community - Environmental Science
Posted Nov 20th 2009 11:02AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Daytime, Casting, Reality-Free
It's taken a while, but
The Young and the Restless has finally filled a role that's been vacant for too long. No, David Hasselhoff is not coming back as Snapper Foster. The role of
Malcolm Winters is returning and Darius McCrary's got the Y&R role. Malcolm, the dynamic younger brother of Neil Winters, has been missing in action for a while because the previous actor in the part, Shemar Moore, has become a star in primetime.
The Winters family is an important element in the
Y&R canvas and they've missed Malcolm. Shemar was asked to come back, but with his success on
Criminal Minds, there simply wasn't time in his schedule for both shows. Truth be told, there probably wasn't enough money to compel him to work that hard. So,while the fans might have liked Shemar back, they'll have to get used to a new face instead.
Continue reading Family Matters meets The Young and the Restless ... casting wise
Posted Nov 20th 2009 9:46AM by Annie Wu
Filed under: OpEd, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S05E10) A weird thing has been happening this season, where I find myself really
appreciating what the writers have been doing with the gang but I'm not laughing nearly as much as I should. This episode was a prime example of that. Dennis is notorious for his way with women, so hearing a full breakdown of the DENNIS System should have been a complete riot (a riot with cringing, sure). I smiled at certain parts and quietly enjoyed the scary-elaborate ways of Dennis and the rest of the gang, though ultimately, the laughs fell short. Perhaps things are feeling a little forced this season?
Trust in the douchiness of your characters and the chemistry of your actors, writers! The lines will come.
Continue reading Review: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - The DENNIS System
Posted Nov 20th 2009 5:40AM by Jane Boursaw
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Fringe
(S02E08) "Who are these people?" -- Peter
Awww ... we have met The Observer, and he is shy and caring. Or a cold-hearted killer, take your pick.
At long last, it was good to learn a little more about these mysterious creatures, although there are still lots of questions about them. We know there are many of them, that they observe people throughout the course of their life, and that they're not supposed to interfere. Oh, and they like hot sauce, but we already knew that.
So even with all of the scary stuff she sees in her line of work, Olivia is scared of roller coasters. I guess it's one thing to peer down a dark corridor with a gun in your hand, and yet another to be at the mercy of the roller coaster builders. At least she and Ella got their day at the theme park. If only we knew what that Observer meant when he said ...
Continue reading Review: Fringe - August
Posted Nov 20th 2009 4:42AM by Michael Pascua
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, OpEd, Project Runway, Standout Episodes, Episode Reviews
(
S06E14) It's finally the end of
Project Runway season six, and Carol Hannah, Althea, and Irina get to show off their looks. The three were evenly matched with a solid concept, good models, and similar makeup consultations. I've been disappointed with the way this season turned out after its long hiatus, and I'm hoping that next season's return to New York will be better.
In the end, I got the reunion show I was wondering about, in the form of
Models of the Runway. It was the weirdest use of
Project Runway's footage because the models didn't have any involvement in many of the videos.
Continue reading Review: Project Runway - Finale Part 2 (Season Finale)
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