Commentary with a Co-Ed: Christmas gifts for the TV fan

by Ashley Gouveia

If you’re like me and wait to the very last minute to complete your holiday shopping, then don’t fret fellow Tube Talk readers. I have a list of great gift ideas that is sure to satisfy the TV-obsessed member in your family. Some of these items are even on my own personal list, so Santa if you’re reading this, I would take some notes.

The first item that any TV fan would be extremely grateful for would be their very own TiVo. This year I was lucky enough to purchase my own, and I can’t express to you how much I love this inanimate object. I was one of those people who could never keep up with all the shows that they watched. I couldn’t record two shows at the same time even if I wanted to. VCR’s were not my friend. Then I got TiVo and all my tube troubles were a distant memory. I guarantee that if you get this for your TV fan they will be forever grateful.

For the family members that love TV and board games I would suggest Scene It, the Friends, Seinfeld and TV editions. I own multiple editions of this DVD game because I love it so much. If the person you’re buying for is a die-hard fan of Friends or Seinfeld, then I definitely recommend these games. Let me tell you from experience that you could play these games for hours. All the clips and trivia questions are awesome, and they sell extra packs of trivia questions and a new DVD, once you start repeating questions.

A person can’t go wrong with buying a DVD set for the holidays. My suggestions for the best DVD sets are probably not going to surprise many of you, since they consist of two of my favorite television shows. Even if they are not fans of these shows, do them a service and introduce them to Ugly Betty and Supernatural on DVD. For the person who loves comedy and a dash of drama, get Ugly Betty seasons one and two. While you’re at it, get Supernatural, seasons one through three for the person who loves to be spooked, and appreciates great stories and fantastic acting. At this time you can probably find these sets for a reasonable price. I hope to be getting some of these sets to add to my own collection.

Those are my suggestions for all you TV fans this holiday season. I hope everyone has a safe and happy one. Let me know in the comments what all of you are asking for? Happy Holidays!

Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.

Subscribe by RSS

Pushing Daisies’ Kristin Chenowith sings Eternal Flame and other news

Is there anything more beautiful than Kristin Chenowith’s singing voice?

Perhaps the unrequited love story she’s currently starring in on Pushing Daisies, where her character (Olive Snook) carries a torch for her boss Ned (Lee Pace.) I know the show is selling Ned and Chuck as the fated couple, but in my opinion the show honchos went in the wrong direction. Ned and Olive should have been the love story to watch. (Oh well, it doesn’t matter at this point, since the series is on its final leg.)

In this fabulous clip below, Chenowith treats us to one of my favorite ‘80s song and a glimpse of her anguish on the TV show Pushing Daisies. It’s excellent.

Regular readers know my love for Chenowith knows no bounds. So, bear with me while I share this news. You can catch Chenowith on Dec. 17 at 8 p.m. on TNT, as she sings at the Christmas in Washington celebration. Also, for movie buffs, check out Chenowith in the hilarious movie Four Christmases. (She looks AMAZING in a gorgeous blue wrap dress that I wish I could find or at least a cheap knock-off of.)

If you want to hear more of Chenowith’s Tony-winning voice, you can find her new album in stores now called A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas. Meanwhile here’s a lovely way to spend a few minutes by hitting play below!

Subscribe by RSS

The Golden Globe Nominations 2008 for TV

The Golden Globe nominations are following in Emmy’s footsteps with all the love for cable dramas and actors. However, there were a few non-cable shows and actors among the bunch.
I’m most excited for Neil Patrick Harris of How I Met Your Mother, Steve Carell of The Office, Sally Field of Brothers and Sisters, and America Ferrera of Ugly Betty, all shows and actors that I love.

Sadly, Friday Night Lights and everyone associated with it were once again dissed.
In a humorous twist of irony, James Franco, formerly of my beloved TV obsession Freaks and Geeks, finally got nominated. The fact that it’s for playing a pothead in the movie Pineapple Express made me chuckle.

Here are the Globe nominees for television. For the complete list that includes films and actors such as Brad Pitt click here.

Catch the show on January 11 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Best Television Drama
Dexter
House
In Treatment
Mad Men
True Blood

Best Actor - Television Drama
Gabriel Byrne, ‘In Treatment’
Michael C. Hall, ‘Dexter’
Jon Hamm, ‘Mad Men’
Hugh Laurie, ‘House’
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, ‘The Tudors’

Best Actress - Television Drama
Sally Field, ‘Brothers & Sisters’
Mariska Hargitay, ‘Law and Order: Special Victims Unit’
January Jones, ‘Mad Men’
Anna Paquin, ‘True Blood’
Kyra Sedgwick, ‘The Closer’

Best Television Musical/Comedy
‘30 Rock’
‘Californication’
‘Entourage’
‘The Office’
‘Weeds’

Best Actor - Television Musical/Comedy
Alec Baldwin, ‘30 Rock’
Steve Carell, ‘The Office’
Kevin Connolly, ‘Entourage’
David Duchovny, ‘Californication’
Tony Shalhoub, ‘Monk’

Best Actress - Television Musical/Comedy
Christina Applegate, ‘Samantha Who?’
America Ferrera, ‘Ugly Betty’
Tina Fey, ‘30 Rock’
Debra Messing, ‘The Starter Wife’
Mary-Louise Parker, ‘Weeds’

Best Mini-Series - Television
‘A Raisin in the Sun’
‘Bernard and Doris’
‘Cranford’
‘John Adams’
‘Recount’

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture - Television
Ralph Fiennes, ‘Bernard and Doris’
Paul Giamatti, ‘John Adams’
Kevin Spacey, ‘Recount’
Kiefer Sutherland, ‘24: Redemption’
Tom Wilkinson, ‘Recount’

Best Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture - Television
Judi Dench, ‘Cranford’
Catherine Keener, ‘An American Crime’
Laura Linney, ‘John Adams’
Shirley MacLaine, ‘Coco Chanel’
Susan Sarandon, ‘Bernard and Doris’

Best Supporting Actor - Television
Neil Patrick Harris, ‘How I Met Your Mother’
Denis Leary, ‘Recount’
Jeremy Piven, ‘Entourage’
Blair Underwood, ‘In Treatment’
Tom Wilkinson, ‘John Adams’

Best Supporting Actress - Television
Eileen Atkins, ‘Cranford’
Laura Dern, ‘Recount’
Melissa George, ‘In Treatment’
Rachel Griffiths, ‘Brothers and Sisters’
Dianne Wiest, ‘In Treatment’

Subscribe by RSS

Here's a look at what the Web's best TV bloggers are talking about this week in the TV Blog Coalition, of which Tube Talk Girl is a proud member.


Buzz suggested a few possible scenarios for the Gossip Girl spinoff. (BuzzSugar)

Sandie shared an interview with Samuel Baum, creator and executive producer of Fox's upcoming new series, Lie to Me (Daemon's TV)

GMMR shared some news and pics from her recent visit to the set of Privileged. (Give Me My Remote)

The holiday season has arrived and with it a brand new TV Advent Calendar including our favorite advent "treat" this week... How to make a holiday work wheel à la The OC and Seth Cohen's Chrismakkuh Work Wheel. (RTVW Online)

Scooter unveils his upcoming holiday schedule of Best of the Year list and how you can participate in crafting one and win iTunes/Amazon gift cards in the process. (Scooter McGavin's 9th Green)

Vance fell behind in TV blogging November sweeps so did a little blogging cleaning up on over a dozen shows. (Tapeworthy)

This week, Jace took a look back at those five suggestions to improve Fringe that he made in October to see if the writers had addressed any of them since then. (Televisionary)

Our national nightmare came and went. Dan evaluated Rosie's debacle of a variety show. (TiFaux)


Jennifer begged Shonda Rhimes to stop the Izzie madness on Grey's Anatomy. (Tube Talk)

TV Spy got a bit bogged down making the huge Christmas double issue of TV & Satellite Week. But somehow, amid all the madness and mince pies, Ben and Gareth found time to ponder Heroes: The Eclipse Pt2, and reckoned they spotted some definite signs of improvement. Phew! (TV Spy)

This week, the TV Addict got an exclusive update on the status of the VERONICA MARS Movie from Papa Mars himself, Enrico Colantoni. (The TV Addict)

Kate was a little sad to see Stylista's surgically enhanced little fashion urchin get the boot. (TV Filter)

Subscribe by RSS

Commentary with a Co-Ed: Ugly Betty and Amanda, a dynamic duo

by Ashley Gouveia

Now that the holiday season has officially begun, all of us TV fans know what that means: winter hiatus. All of our favorite shows go bye-bye until we ring in the new year. Luckily, Ugly Betty hasn’t gone away yet. We were treated to a brand spankin’ new episode last night that had Amanda and Betty teaming up on a Mode assignment.

I wasn’t sure how much I was going to enjoy Amanda being Betty’s new roommate. Sure, I thought it would deliver some laughs, but I didn’t know what else it would bring to the show. It appears that since Amanda has moved in to casa de Betty she has grown more of a conscience. She was still eating Betty’s food and stiffing her on her half of the rent. Of course, she blamed it on Bad Ronald, the old dude who comes out at night and eats Betty’s leftovers.

It was hysterical to hear Hilda’s upfront way to get the rent money from Amanda. But Betty is way too nice to do it that way. My question is; why doesn’t Daniel pay Betty enough money to at least pay her rent? The lengths she goes to for her job is more than enough to get her a raise. Oh well, he got her a chance to write for Mode’s website, which means a little more money.

Please tell me I wasn’t the only one who guessed that those two guys were going to run off and leave Amanda and Betty with the check? I had guessed that right away. But I was impressed that Betty used the Mode name to get out of it. I didn’t think that the guys were going to steal Amanda’s wallet, which, of course, had all of Betty’s rent money. Oops, Amanda’s bad.

It ended up working out in the end with Betty getting the online article and Amanda getting a second job. This leaded to them both having a nice dinner at their apartment. It was weird, but nice. I’m just not use to this pleasant friendship that these two have struck up. What do you all think of it?

Mrs. Meade made about a five minute appearance. We need more Claire Meade in an episode. But the time that she was in was fantastic. I thought that she was going to encourage Daniel to go after Molly. Instead, she was there to slap some sense into him, literally. I loved that! Someone needed to tell Daniel that it would be a huge mistake to think about making a move on Molly.

Even with Daniel seemingly moving on, I don’t think this storyline is over. Now that Wilhelmina has caught wind that he is interested in her, I’m sure she will use that to get Connor for herself.

All in all, I liked this episode. It wasn’t as good as the one from two weeks ago but I still enjoyed it. But we need to see more of Queens and the Suarez family, I miss them.

What did you think of last night’s episode? What storyline are you loving/hating? Let me know in the comments.

Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.

Subscribe by RSS

Winter 2009 TV premiere dates

The winter television season will soon be upon us. And with it comes the return of several of my favorite shows: Scrubs, Friday Night Lights, Lost and Nip/Tuck.

Check below to find out when your favorite shows are returning. I’ve also included a brief synopsis of some new shows you may be interested in checking out. I’ve got two words: Nathan Fillion.

Mon, Jan. 5
The Bachelor (ABC)
True Beauty (ABC)

Tues., Jan. 6
Nip/Tuck (FX)
Scrubs (ABC)
According to Jim (ABC)

Wed., Jan. 7
Damages (FX)

Sun., Jan. 11
24 (FOX)

Mon, Jan. 12
Samantha Who? (ABC)

Tues., Jan. 13
American Idol (FOX)

Wed., Jan. 14
Lie to Me (FOX)
Lost (ABC)

Fri., Jan. 16
Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi)
Friday Night Lights (NBC)

Sun., Jan. 18
Big Love (HBO)The L Word (Showtime)
Secret Diary of a Call Girl (Showtime)
United States of Tara (Showtime)

Wed., Jan. 21
Lost (ABC)

Thur., Feb. 12
Survivor (CBS)

Fri., Feb. 13
Dollhouse (FOX)

Sun., Feb. 15
The Amazing Race (CBS)

Mon., Mar. 9
Castle (ABC)
Dancing With the Stars Season 8 (ABC)

Tues., Mar. 17
Reaper (CW)

Tues., Mar. 24
Cupid (ABC)

Wed., Apr. 8
The Unusuals (ABC)

Thur., Apr. 9
Harper's Island (CBS)

New Show Information:

Castle, stars Nathan Fillion as a mystery novelist who assists a female NYPD detective (Stana Katic.) The show airs Mondays at 10 p.m.

Cupid, stars Bobby Cannavale and Sarah Paulson, in this remake of the original Rob Thomas series that gave us Jeremy Piven. The show airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m.

Dollhouse stars Elisha Dushku and Amy Acker of Buffy fame in this Joss Whedon drama about a group of “dolls” who work at a futuristic lab and have their memories wiped clean after performing tasks. The show airs Fridays at 9 p.m.

The Unusuals, stars Amber Tamblyn, Harold Perrineau, and Adam Goldberg as NYPD detectives. The show airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m.

Lie to Me stars Tim Roth as a specialist who helps solve crimes by reading people’s body language and voices. The show airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m.

Harper’s Island is a serialized mystery set on a secluded island off the coast of Seattle. A group gathers on the island for a wedding, only to be killed off one by one by a mysterious killer. The show airs Thursdays at 10 p.m.

True Beauty is a reality show from Tyra Banks where contestants are judged on their inner beauty, not their exterior, but don’t know it. The show airs Mondays at 9 p.m.

Subscribe by RSS

A Colbert Christmas contest winners announced

Thanks to all of you who took time to enter the contest for A Colbert Christmas DVD.

I was surprised at the overwhelming number of entries, especially from places like Scotland, the UK and Canada. Tube Talk loves you, too!

I have two copies of the DVD to give away, thanks to the cool folks at Comedy Central.

After a random drawing, the lucky winners are (drumroll please) …

Monica B. of Flat Rock, NC, and Lee Harper of Austin, TX. Congratulations! Your DVDs will be en route soon.

And to all of you who entered, thanks so much for reading Tube Talk. Hopefully, we'll have more giveaways soon.

Subscribe by RSS