Tube Talk on hiatus

Photo: Parker Donovan Biller

by Jennifer Squires Biller

Hello, Tubers. Long time, no talk.

To say it’s been slow here for the past year is like saying Grey’s Anatomy has no behind-the-scenes drama. (Have you heard the latest about Eric Dane’s naughty video? Tsk. Tsk.)

I’m sorry I haven’t blogged much during the past year, but as some of you know my personal life has taken a dramatic turn that has left me with little time to watch television, let alone write about it.

My days are now spent changing diapers, singing songs, dancing silly, reading stories, building forts, chasing bubbles, exploring the outdoors and, well, smooching the most adorable blue-eyed blonde since Brad Pitt. (See the above photo for evidence.)

I’ve tried to keep Tube Talk up and running, thinking that tomorrow I’ll have time to write a witty column or review one of the new fall shows. But sadly, when tomorrow comes, that time never becomes a reality. So, I’ve decided to put Tube Talk on hiatus until my little one gets a bit older, and I will actually have time to watch and discuss television again.

During Tube Talk’s most fruitful years, I spent 8-10 hours per day reviewing shows, doing interviews and research, and writing. I simply don’t have that kind of time anymore, or frankly, passion for the genre, considering how disappointing television has become. I pray this fall we’ll see a new Freaks and Geeks, Felicity, The West Wing, Friends, or Seinfeld, but I’m not holding my breath.

I’d like to thank all of my loyal readers who have supported me since the days this column was in print at The Exponent Telegram newspaper for 20,000 readers. Tube Talk was born out of my love for television and grew to be one of the Web’s most popular TV sites, with readers in more than 50 countries all over the world. I just checked my Sitemeter this morning, and people were reading Tube Talk in Austria, France, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Colombia, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Turkey, Portugal and more. It still amazes me after all these years. The power of the Internet is incredible. Tube Talk was named one of the Web’s best TV blogs, next to TV Guide, E!Online and Zap2It, and is a proud member of the TV Blog Coalition, a pretty cool accomplishment, considering at the time I had a staff of one - me. (Don’t cue the orchestra yet, please, I have a few more folks to thank.)

First, a big thank you to my dedicated columnist Ashley Gouveia, who has loyally written Commentary with a Co-Ed every Friday for the past couple years, and literally kept the site alive when I was deathly ill during my pregnancy. Next, but certainly not second in any field, is my good friend radio host Jack Logar, at WWLW 106.5. Jack, thank you for making me laugh each Tuesday, when we do our morning-show segment about the latest news in the world of television. You’ll never know how much I appreciate you for being a fellow “geek,“ for your encouragement through the years, and for your impressive SAT vocabulary skills. (Although, you’re still the whitest man I’ve ever met, literally. but you’ve got great hair to go with that albino complexion, so don‘t sweat it.) Also, I’d like to thank Becky and Bethany, who provided some great American Idol commentary through the years here at Tube Talk, and believe it or not, actually got me to watch reality TV for a few hours one year.

Finally, thank you to all the networks that have worked with me through the years by sending screeners, arranging interviews with the stars, and running contests for me here at Tube Talk. FOX, NBC, USA, FX, CW and TNT were especially kind to me when I first started out and did not discriminate because I was a blogger. And thank you to the celebrities who have given me a few minutes of their time to chat. My favorite interviews have been with the Scrubs crew Zach Braff and Bill Lawrence and the Psych boys James Roday and Dule Hill, as well as John Schneider and Kelly Carlson. Thank you all.

As for this fall’s TV crop, I’m excited to see Glee, the new V, Cougartown, and Vampire Diaries, and I may check out Melrose Place just for curiosity’s sake. If I find something I can’t live without on my DVR, don’t worry, I’ll pop on here and tell you all about it. Thanks again, Tubers. Hopefully, we’ll talk again soon.

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Commentary with a Co-Ed: New fall shows

Photo: The Vampire Diaries, CW

by Ashley Gouveia

The new television season is just weeks away and there are so many new shows that are going to be creeping into our primetime lineup. But which ones are worth our Tivo space? I think I have chosen a few picks that have the possibility and potential to be my new favorites.

Flashforward (ABC): When I saw the promo for this new ABC drama, I thought it had some slight undertones of Lost. The premise is that the entire population blacks out for two minutes and 17 seconds. During that blackout they have visions of their lives six months in the future. The show centers on a group of people who share these visions and try to discover why this happened. This show has the potential to drive me nuts with all the questions that are sure to pop up on the characters’ quest to discover the truth. But it also could be an intriguing hour of television that keeps you guessing, in a fun way.



Eastwick (ABC): Something totally different than my first choice but still on my list of shows that I’m willing to give a try. It’s about three women who discover that they have magical powers. No, it’s not a Charmed reboot. This series actually looks more light and whimsical and has some Sex and the City similarities. It stars Rebecca Romijn as one of the magical women. I think this will be a fun series that you can enjoy, without having to think too much about it. I’m curious to see if the viewing audience will get enchanted by this newbie.



Three Rivers (CBS): I am not a fan of medical dramas at all. But Alex O’Loughlin is the reason why I’m going to check this one out. The new drama centers around these doctors that perform organ transplants. I’m all for watching a new show with Alex in it. After Moonlight’s untimely demise, his reappearance on my TV is a long time coming. Bring the tissues, folks. It looks like every week is going to be a tearjerker.



Vampire Diaries (the CW): There are two main reasons why I’m going to give this show a shot: one, I love vampire stories, two, Ian Somerhalder. He could make me watch anything. I think the premise and look of the overall series reminds me of my old favorite Roswell. If this show is half as good as that, then it’s in good shape. It’s all going to rely upon the chemistry of the actors themselves. If it’s not there, then I fear many will tune out. But I think it has a good chance to be a CW hit.



What new show are you excited for? Let me know in the comments.



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

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Commentary with a Co-Ed: Big Brother thoughts

by Ashley Gouveia

Ding dong! The rat is gone!

Yes, I am talking about Big Brother. It is still my summer guilty pleasure, as all you long time Tubers might remember. Each summer I get hooked on this show for no other reason other than it’s just mindless entertainment, as is much of reality television.

All the BB fans out there know that Thursday nights are eviction nights. One houseguest gets the boot out the door but not without some drama. Ronnie, the video-game geek, was up for nomination, along with Lydia, the tattooed, offbeat makeup artist. I was so glad that Ronnie was finally put up on the chopping block. Out of all the seasons I have watched of Big Brother, (which are a lot, don’t judge), he is one of the most annoying contestants ever.

His final plea speech last night just proved everything that I thought about him. He called out Michelle for being a “horrible human being,” but then frequently repeated that it’s just a game. Huh? First, I don’t think that Michelle is the best player that has ever walked through that door, but she doesn’t deserve to be attacked like that. I haven’t seen any evidence to back up Ronnie’s cruel claim. If I were Ronnie I would be ashamed at how he handled himself last night.
A lot of what he said last night made no sense. He was upset with Michelle because she was out for herself and had no loyalties to anyone. Um, hello! That is what it all boils down to in the end. Nobody in that house has any loyalties to anyone. When it comes down to it, they are all in it for themselves. If Ronnie thought that Jessie and Natalie were actually going to stick by him until the end then I think he was fooling himself.

He’s finally out the door and we don’t have to worry about him being on the jury either. So I am extremely happy with the eviction results. Goodbye Ronnie!

I’m thrilled that America gave Jeff the power of coup d’etat, although I laughed when he couldn’t pronounce the word correctly. Jeff and Jordan are my favorites this season, so I’m hoping that their showmance goes on and they stick together as long as possible.

Chima was crowned the new Head of Household. The only person that could have been worse would have been Natalie. Since Chima and Russell, the former HoH, had a massive blowout a few nights back, I’m thinking he’s going up. But you never know, he just might be able to save himself.

Who do you think Chima will nominate? Are you happy that Ronnie is out of the game. Sound off in the comments.

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

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Emmys nominations 2009: Well done!

Photo: Emmy nominee Simon Baker of the CBS drama "The Mentalist"



by Jennifer Squires Biller


If you haven’t heard, the Emmy nominations were announced on Thursday.

We have to wait until September 20 to see who takes home the naked statues known as Emmys and who shows up with their mother as their date, but meanwhile, here’s a look at the nominees.

Overall, I’m quite pleased with this year’s list. (No, I haven’t been drinking.) It seems Emmy voters may finally be getting that there is more to television than HBO.

I’m absolutely over-the-moon that Pushing Daisies’ Kristin Chenoweth, How I Met Your Mother’s Neil Patrick Harris, and The Mentalist’s Simon Baker scored nominations. Also, a great big high five for Boston Legal - which delivered some Emmy-worthy television in its final episodes - and for Vanessa Williams, who is always downright delicious playing a devilish diva on Ugly Betty. And I’m hoping that this is the year Chandra Wilson gets her well-deserved Emmy for her work on Grey’s Anatomy.

Oh sure, there were several snubs, but not like we usually see. Most notably, where was Josh Holloway of Lost? He has done excellent work and should be recognized. Also, there is no excuse for the complete shut out of Friday Night Lights. It’s one of the best dramas on TV! Just as disappointing, was the lack of love for Psych and its stars. Dule Hill and James Roday make me laugh out loud every week.

That’s my opinion. What do you think of this year’s nominees?

Best Series, Drama
'Big Love'
'Breaking Bad'
'Damages'
'Dexter'
'House'
'Lost'
'Mad Men'

Best Series, Comedy
'30 Rock'
'Entourage'
'Family Guy'
'Flight Of The Conchords'
'How I Met Your Mother'
'The Office'
'Weeds'

Best Actor, Drama
Bryan Cranston 'Breaking Bad'
Michael C. Hall 'Dexter'
Hugh Laurie 'House'
Gabriel Byrne 'In Treatment'
Jon Hamm 'Mad Men'
Simon Baker 'The Mentalist'

Best Actor, Comedy
Alec Baldwin '30 Rock'
Tony Shalhoub 'Monk'
Jim Parsons 'The Big Bang Theory'
Steve Carell 'The Office'
Charlie Sheen 'Two And A Half Men'
Jemaine Clement 'Flight Of The Conchords'

Best Actress, Drama
Sally Field 'Brothers & Sisters'
Glenn Close 'Damages'
Mariska Hargitay 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'
Holly Hunter 'Saving Grace'
Kyra Sedgwick 'The Closer'
Elisabeth Moss 'Mad Men'

Best Actress, Comedy
Tina Fey '30 Rock'
Christina Applegate 'Samantha Who?'
Julia Louis-Dreyfus 'The New Adventures Of Old Christine'
Sarah Silverman 'The Sarah Silverman Program'
Mary-Louise Parker 'Weeds'
Toni Collette 'United States Of Tara'

Best Supporting Actor, Drama Series
William Shatner 'Boston Legal'
Christian Clemenson 'Boston Legal'
Aaron Paul 'Breaking Bad'
Michael Emerson 'Lost'
John Slattery 'Mad Men'
William Hurt 'Damages'

Best Supporting Actress, Drama Series
Rose Byrne 'Damages'
Hope Davis 'In Treatment'
Chandra Wilson 'Grey's Anatomy'
Sandra Oh 'Grey's Anatomy'
Dianne Wiest 'In Treatment'
Cherry Jones '24'

Best Supporting Actor, Comedy Series
Kevin Dillon 'Entourage'
Tracy Morgan '30 Rock'
Neil Patrick Harris 'How I Met Your Mother'
Rainn Wilson 'The Office'
Jon Cryer 'Two And A Half Men'
Jack McBrayer '30 Rock'

Best Supporting Actress, Comedy Series
Kristin Chenoweth 'Pushing Daisies'
Kristen Wiig 'Saturday Night Live'
Amy Poehler 'Saturday Night Live'
Jane Krakowski '30 Rock'
Vanessa Williams 'Ugly Betty'
Elizabeth Perkins 'Weeds'

Best Reality-Competition Program'American Idol'
'Dancing With The Stars'
'Project Runway'
'The Amazing Race'
'Top Chef'

Best Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program
Ryan Seacrest 'American Idol'
Tom Bergeron 'Dancing With the Stars'
Phil Keoghan 'The Amazing Race'
Heidi Klum 'Project Runway'
Jeff Probst 'Survivor'
Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio 'Top Chef'

Best Variety, Music or Comedy Series
'Late Show With David Letterman'
'Real Time With Bill Maher'
'Saturday Night Live'
'The Colbert Report'
'The Daily Show With Jon Stewart'

Best Guest Actor In A Drama Series
Edward Asner 'CSI: NY'
Ted Danson 'Damages'
Jimmy Smits 'Dexter'
Ernest Borgnine 'ER'
Michael J. Fox 'Rescue Me'

Best Guest Actress In A Drama Series
Sharon Lawrence 'Grey's Anatomy'
Ellen Burstyn 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'
Brenda Blethyn 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'
Carol Burnett 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'
CCH Pounder 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency'

Best Guest Actor In A Comedy Series
Beau Bridges 'Desperate Housewives'
Justin Timberlake 'Saturday Night Live'
Steve Martin '30 Rock'
Jon Hamm '30 Rock'
Alan Alda '30 Rock'

Best Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
Christine Baranski 'The Big Bang Theory'
Gena Rowlands 'Monk'
Betty White 'My Name Is Earl'
Tina Fey 'Saturday Night Live'
Jennifer Aniston '30 Rock'
Elaine Stritch '30 Rock'

Best Miniseries
'Generation Kill'
'Little Dorritt'

Best Lead Actor, Miniseries or Movie
Kevin Kline 'Cyrano de Bergerac'
Brendan Gleeson 'Into The Storm'
Sir Ian McKellen 'King Lear'
Kevin Bacon 'Taking Chance'
Kiefer Sutherland '24: Redemption'
Kenneth Branagh 'Wallander: One Step Behind'

Best Lead Actress, Miniseries or Movie
Chandra Wilson 'Accidental Friendship'
Shirley MacLaine 'Coco Chanel'
Drew Barrymore 'Grey Gardens'Jessica Lange 'Grey Gardens'
Sigourney Weaver 'Prayers For Bobby'

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Commentary with a Co-Ed: Legend of the Seeker review

by Ashley Gouveia

This week I had to let every Tube Talk reader know about a show that I’m currently obsessed with. It has already finished airing its first season but I am just now getting into it. It’s called Legend of the Seeker, and it’s awesome!

The very cute Craig Horner, who looks like a younger version of Nathan Fillion, plays Richard Cypher. He discovers that he is the Seeker, the man destined to kill the evil Darken Rahl and save the world. No pressure, right?

On his journey he is accompanied by a wizard named Zed and a woman named Kahlan. She is what they call a Confessor; she knows when people are lying and has the ability to make any person do what she wants. That’s certainly a nifty power, but not so great if you’re in love with the Seeker.

The love story between Richard and Kahlan is what makes the show for me. Craig Horner and Bridget Regan have off-the-charts chemistry that could be compared to the likes of Buffy and Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That’s something you can’t fake, and they have it. The whole “star-crossed lovers” thing is definitely present in their relationship. As a viewer you just get wrapped up in their story and just want to see if they’ll ever end up together.
The series is made by the same man who created the Hercules and Xena shows. I was also a big fan of those two series, so I was excited to watch this one. If you’re also a fan of those two throughout Legend of the Seeker you will see some familiar faces from both shows, which is really cool.

Seriously, if you haven’t watched this show yet you must. You can watch the entire first season on Hulu or check your local listings. I am halfway through the season and I can’t wait to see the rest.

Are you crazy about this show? Let me know in the comments.

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

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Neil Patrick Harris to host Emmys

by Jennifer Squires Biller

Call it the hosting trifecta.

First, Neil Patrick Harris made me laugh out loud hosting the TV Land Awards with his brilliant musical number and jokes. Then, he moved on to make with the funny as host of the Tony Awards, garnering acclaim and the highest ratings for the show in three years.

Now, he’s scored the job of host of this year’s Emmys. Congrats, Neil!

I’m sure that the network was impressed with his Tony performance, but I have to say that I’m partial to his job at the TV Land Awards. He killed in the musical number and his ongoing computer gag was hilarious.

I’m sure the Emmy folks already have this in mind, but I’m begging here, please let him do a musical number. Harris can actually sing, and it would be a treat for all TV fans to see him poke fun at our favorite shows.

Nominations for the Emmys will be announced Thursday, and it’s likely (if I have my way) that Harris will be up for an award for supporting actor in a comedy for his role as Barney on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother.

The 61st Primetime Emmys airs live at 8 pm/ET on Sept. 20. Tune in, please. I think it will be, as Barney says, “legendary.”

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Oscar Nuñez shines in The Proposal

by Jennifer Squires Biller

Michael Scott would be proud.

The Office’s Oscar Nuñez ,who plays “Oscar” on the NBC comedy, is stealing the spotlight in the new Sandra Bullock film The Proposal. Nuñez scores the biggest laughs in the movie, a tough job considering one of his co-stars is Betty White.

Nuñez’ character on the big screen, Ramone, is the antithesis of Oscar on The Office. Trust me, if you’re a fan of The Office, you have to watch this movie. His antics are hilarious.

Yes, the movie is a typical romantic comedy, but Nuñez, White, and a gorgeous Ryan Reynolds make it worth the ticket price. Also, for all you guys out there, Sandra Bullock has a funny semi-nude scene. You’re welcome.

You know I get excited when one of our weekly TV stars steals the spotlight on the big screen, so I had to share. Another familiar TV face is also in the film: Craig T. Nelson, or “Coach,” as you may know him.


So, go check out “Oscar” on the big screen. You can thank me later.

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Commentary with a Co-Ed reviews "10 Things I Hate About You"

by Ashley Gouveia

When I first heard the ABC Family network was going to be airing a television adaptation of the movie “10 Things I Hate About You,” I was understandably weary. My thoughts on it were probably the same as many fans of the film, which was how could it ever measure up to the movie?

For those of you who haven’t seen the movie…why? I have seen it more than a dozen times. It’s one of those movies that you grab off your DVD shelf whenever you want to watch a good old-fashioned chick flick. I like to think of it as my generation’s “Pretty in Pink.” What’s not to love? There’s cheesy teenage angst, laugh-out-loud moments and Heath Ledger in one of his first major roles. So on Tuesday night, I decided to give the TV version a shot and see how it would compare to the movie. Was I instantly hooked? Or did it become more of a wait and see game?

I knew it was going to be near impossible to sit through this show without noticing the changes that the show runners made. For one, the two sisters, Kat and Bianca, are new in town and are just starting Padua High School. Their mother didn’t walk out on them but died in some way that has yet to be revealed. Kat, originally played by Julia Stiles, still has the brooding misunderstood vibe to her. Glad to see that hasn’t changed. Her younger sister Bianca is still a naive social climber, but I found this version to be a little too perky. However, it was great to see the same actor from the film play their father.

We got to see a glimpse of the character Patrick Verona, originally played by Heath Ledger, in the first five minutes. This version’s Patrick, played by Ethan Peck, certainly has the mysterious thing down. All the staring could be considered creepy, like what Kat thinks at first, but we all know that he isn’t the scary guy everybody at Padua thinks he is. I do think that Ethan Peck is a little too Abercrombie and Fitch to ever be considered terrifying. Heath Ledger had a certain look that made you believe that he could have been one of the offbeat kids in high school.

The most important element of this show is how good the chemistry between Kat and Patrick plays onscreen. It’s a bit early to tell, but I think all the actors need time to adjust to these roles. The character of Cameron is way too nerdy for my taste. I don’t remember him being that much of a pushover. Plus, Joey Donner is supposed to the epitome of a self absorbed womanizer, but he just seems to be a dim surfer dude who lets his bossy girlfriend Chastity push him around. I was surprised to see how they made the role of Chastity more of a lead, where as in the film she has a minor role. I guess they need a “villain” of sorts for the girls to be at odds with.

All in all, it was a mediocre pilot. I’ll continue to watch and see where these characters go. I’m eager to see more Patrick and Kat scenes, and maybe Cameron will grow a backbone in the meantime. The show will almost win me over if Ethan Peck’s Patrick breaks out into his version of “Can’t Take my Eyes off of You.”

Did you watch? What was your take on this remake? Sound off in the comments.

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

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Pushing Daisies returned with a bang in its final episodes

by Jennifer Squires Biller

ABC, you wound me.

Just when I’d made peace with the fact that some of my favorite shows from last season won’t return (Eli Stone, Pushing Daisies, etc.) you do the unthinkable. You air the first of the last few episodes of Pushing Daisies, and the entire episode is about Olive and Ned as a couple, a pairing I’d been rooting for since the show’s debut. Sure, the engagement was only pretend for the sake of Olive’s old pals, but I’ll take it. We even got a kiss, and at the very end Ned admitted he was jealous of Olive and her new guy. (Gulp.) Talk about a cliffhanger.

Were the Pushing Daisies people really going to pursue a potential Olive/Ned relationship this season? Oh, ABC, to be so cruel that you give and then take away. I’ve been preaching the Olive/Ned connection for months, and it seems that ABC may have realized that Kristin Chenowith and Lee Pace have undeniable chemistry.

The sad part is there are only a couple episodes left of the show, ever, as ABC put a fork in it. Perhaps if they’d jumped on the Olive bandwagon a little earlier, then the show would have scored a little better ratings. Or perhaps it wouldn’t have made a difference. But one thing is for sure: Olive and Ned, you will be missed.

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Commentary with a Co-Ed: Friday night timeslot woes

by Ashley Gouveia

The television season is over and we are beginning to head into the land of seemingly never-ending reruns, but not before the networks announced their fall lineups. This begs the question, “Just where exactly our favorite shows are headed?”

It probably shocked a lot of you fellow tube watchers to find out that Ugly Betty and Smallville are both being moved to Friday nights. What were the networks thinking, and is this the kiss of death for these shows?

I think we have all had one of our favorite shows move to another night. That usually means that the network is trying to find a better spot for the show. It could also mean that the networks believe the show is on its last season and want to finish it off on whatever night is available. But a move to Friday nights is a sign of worry, more than any other night. Why is Friday a bad move? Well, the majority of the demographic that primarily watches these two shows is not home on Friday nights. The other bad thing about it is that even if the fans decide to record it, there is no way to show those numbers in the overall ratings. Do the networks even look at the TiVo numbers?

It’s a known fact that many shows that move to Fridays or premiere on that night don’t last too long. Remember the amazing Moonlight? Or more recently, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I was holding out hope that Terminator would not be cancelled but I knew that moving it to Fridays would not be a positive thing for the show. I know that Ghost Whisperer thrives on Friday nights, but that may be because it’s targeted for an older audience.

Even though I thoroughly enjoyed this past season of Ugly Betty, many thought that it lost some of its original charm. The ratings and the critical acclaim did suffer so is that why ABC decided to move it to its new time slot? Do they believe that Ugly Betty only has one more season left in them? I don’t think that’s true. I saw a lot of this show’s magic return in the season finale. If they fix some minor things, then Betty and Co. could live to see another season.

Smallville on the other hand is an entirely different story. This show has been on for eight seasons and many feel that it has worn out its welcome. It would seem that The CW would agree since they moved Smallville to Friday nights before an encore, (yep, encore), of America’s Next Top Model. Ouch! That move really doesn’t display much confidence from the network.

Do you agree that moving to Fridays is a bad sign for any show? Will you still watch Ugly Betty and Smallville at their new times?

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Dancing with the Stars: Gilles Marini was robbed

No offense to adorable and talented Shawn Johnson, but Gilles Marini should have gone home with the mirror ball trophy this week on Dancing with the Stars. Marini was, hands down, the best dancer of the entire crop of celebrities each week. His performances were entertaining, sexy and passionate.

I guess I have to remember that this competition isn’t about the best dancer though. It’s about popularity. Otherwise, one of my favorite celebrities of the batch, Ty Murray, would have gone home weeks ago.

Johnson did an excellent job each week, especially considering her youth and the maturity that some of the dances required. Kudos to Johnson for her fighting spirit and technique, but I still preferred Marini’s routines each time, and so did the judges. So, I’m perplexed at how Johnson upset the leading scorer, Marini, to take home the trophy. It must have been the fans. She had a fan base from her Olympic gymnastics career that apparently gave her the popularity vote.

This isn’t the first time the best dancer hasn’t won the competition. Remember Mario Lopez? He didn’t win, despite being the best dancing celebrity we’d ever seen at that time. Instead, Mr. Personality Emmitt Smith took home the trophy.

Congratulations to Johnson and her partner Mark Ballas and to Marini and his partner Cheryl Burke for making it to the final. But, I want to give a special thanks to Ty Murray for giving us such an entertaining season. Since it’s a popularity contest, I almost wish he could have won, simply so we could have heard his final speech. If the bull-riding thing doesn’t work out, I think he has a career as a stand-up comic.

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Earl, Privileged, Samantha Who? cancelled; Medium jumps networks

The networks are unveiling their fall lineups this week and several shows have been cancelled. First and most distressing to me is the delightful Privileged on the CW. It won’t get a second season I’m sorry to say.

Instead, the CW is opting for several new shows, including a Melrose Place reboot starring Ashley Simpson-Wentz. Yeah, I’ll be watching that. That was sarcasm in case you missed it. The CW is also jumping on the Twilight popularity surge and adding a show called Vampire Diaries about blood-sucking brothers and a show called Beautiful Life about young models living together. I ask you, do any of those shows seem better than the always consistently entertaining Privileged? Time will tell I suppose.

Over at NBC, My Name is Earl will end this season. I’m happy to see it go, frankly. It was a good show for a short period, but it seems the gross factor has increased exponentially each season. NBC also cancelled Medium, but CBS has picked up the show to air after Ghost Whisperer. Chuck and Law & Order have both been renewed. Also, because of the new Jay Leno show eating up so many hours of the primetime schedule, Friday Night Lights won’t air until the summer of 2010. Don’t get me started on how crazy that is. By 2010, we probably won’t remember that Coach Taylor was fired and had to take a job with the Panthers’ new rivals. Southland and Parks and Recreation have also been renewed.

CBS has canceled The Unit, Without a Trace, The Ex List, Eleventh Hour, Harper’s Island, Swingtown, and Worst Week. It has several new shows lined up for fall and midseason: Accidentally on Purpose, The Good Wife, NCIS: Los Angeles, Three Rivers, The Bridge and Undercover Boss.

ABC announced the cancelation of Samantha Who?, The Unusuals, In the Motherhood, Surviving Suburbia, Homeland Security USA, Opportunity Knocks, and Life on Mars, in addition to Eli Stone, Pushing Daisies, According to Jim, Boston Legal, Dirty Sexy Money and Homeland Security USA. The network will add 11 new shows for fall: Cougar Town, The Deep End, Eastwick, Flash Forward, The Forgotten, Hank, Happy Town, The Middle, Modern Family, V and Shark Tank.

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Goodbye Scrubs – not quite!

by Jennifer Squires Biller

After last week’s spectacular Scrubs season finale that took us on a walk down memory lane, I was sure we’d seen the last of the Sacred Heart gang. It appears I was wrong.

ABC has renewed the show for another season, despite that series star Zach Braff will only be on board for six episodes. Scrubs’ favorites Donald Faison, John C. McGinley and Neil Flynn will all be back, but not Judy Reyes, who reportedly will only be a guest star. Sarah Chalke is also in discussions, but has not committed to another season. Several interns from season eight will be back, too.

I’ll probably get plenty of hate mail for saying this, but I wish the show had ended with the finale we just saw. It was such a perfect bookend to the eight seasons of John Dorian’s trials and tribulations that I hate to see the show limp on in mediocrity without the chemistry of the cast that made it so special.

The finale was every thing a series finale should be, complete with a heart-tugging musical montage. It even answered questions we’d asked for years: Will J.D. and Elliot get together? (Yes!) What is Janitor’s real name? (Glenn Matthews or perhaps Tony or Tommy, if he was just playing with J.D.) Does Dr. Cox really like J.D.? (Yes, well, more than he does Hugh Jackman that’s for sure.) We saw a hallway of faces from the past eight years who had touched J.D. in someway, starting with the beloved Laverne. And we learned in J.D.’s fantasy for the future that Turk’s daughter marries J.D.’s son, and that they all spend holidays together along with the Cox family. OK, so maybe that was just a fantasy, but it satisfied most of the diehard Scrubbies. It was fantastic finale, and I especially enjoyed the cameo of series creator Bill Lawrence tearing down the “Goodbye J.D.” sheet. Bravo!

I’m a big fan of Bill Lawrence, so perhaps I should trust that whatever he produces next year will be equally as entertaining as the Scrubs I’ve loved for eight years. But it’s hard to imagine the show without all the players that made it sparkle. If Lawrence goes in another direction from the original – the way Frasier departed from Cheers - then perhaps the show could work. Then again, it could also be another Joey. What I do know is that after seeing the current crop of sitcoms that rolled out this past season, Scrubs is still better than anything networks are producing. So, I understand why ABC is hesitant to let it go.

Despite that the show was renewed, I’ll say goodbye now to the sitcom I’ve loved. Thank you Scrubs’ cast, writers, and Bill Lawrence for giving me a place to go to laugh every week and for the excellent music featured on the show. (A good portion of the songs in my iTunes account came from Scrubs, and I’m off to get the Peter Gabriel song that played in the final episode.) Goodbye Scrubs. You will be missed.

If you missed the finale or just want to see the beautiful ending, grab some tissues and hit play below.

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Matthew Fox and Jimmy Kimmel duet

It’s no secret I have a little crush on Lost’s Matthew Fox. Because of that, I feel compelled to share this hilarious clip from his appearance recently on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

If you enjoyed Kimmel’s videos with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, then you’ll enjoy this. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check them out on You Tube.) This one is set to a great song. By the way, Fox is shirtless at around the three-minute mark. You’re welcome.

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Commentary with a Co-Ed: Smallville finale disappoints

by Ashley Gouveia

If I had to use one word to describe last night’s season finale of Smallville it would be letdown.

What was that? When it comes to this show I have never sugar coated my feelings. I have been an extremely agitated, yet loyal viewer of this series. Through all the ups and downs, I felt hopeful that the writers would pull it together and pay off what the viewers have been waiting for. But this episode had so many plot holes I just can’t turn a blind eye. I guess I should start from the beginning.

Rokk, from the Legion, comes back from the future to tell Clark that tomorrow will be the day he dies. Okay, no shock there. Only the entire season has been building towards this epic battle between Clark and Doomsday. Everyone was waiting for it, and I guess we have to keep on waiting. I think I missed the battle because it was over within two minutes. We didn’t get to see Clark use any of his abilities while fighting Doomsday. He got smacked around a couple of times and then Clark “super leaps” Doomie into a building where it then explodes.

Fail.

I’m sure all of you Smallville watchers had heard the rumblings of a major character dying in this episode. Well, it was Jimmy Olsen. Who, by the way, is not really Jimmy Olsen. If anyone was not really his or her “character” he was definitely not the one I was thinking. I knew that he was not long for this world, once he found out Clark’s secret. Way to go, Smallville. It was like a blaring alarm was going off shouting, “He’s going to die!” Not a very stealth move. Apparently, Jimmy, or Henry James Olsen, has a little brother who we never heard about who likes to wear bow ties, too. At his brother’s funeral, Chloe gave him faux Jimmy’s camera. She said that maybe he would follow in his footsteps someday.

I have never been a fan of Jimmy on this show. I often found him annoying and whiney and his relationship with Chloe just sucked the entire life out of this show. However, Aaron Ashmore has been doing really well with his performances post breakup. Now that he is gone, I’m left wondering what the purpose was for killing him. Also, why did they completely forget about Davis’ human side and make him a Fatal Attraction wannabe?

Even when Davis was physically separated from the beast he was still a psychopath? It doesn’t really follow what we’ve been seeing this whole season. We saw someone who was fighting desperately against something he didn’t have control over. That was what made Davis Bloome so interesting. They threw away his entire appeal within a few lines of dialogue. What a waste.

Not only did Jimmy die, but Clark decided, after he resurfaced surprisingly unscathed post “the epic battle that never was,” that Clark Kent is also dead. He tells Chloe that his human side is his most dangerous, not his alien side. His connection to humanity is holding him back from the hero he is destined to become. He says goodbye to Chloe and walks away from her. Poor Chloe not only lost her ex but her best friend all in the same day. Not to mention that no one seems to want to continue the search for Lois any longer. Thanks to the Legion ring, she was sent to the future somewhere within the first fifteen minutes of the episode.

We all know the show has been renewed for season nine. Will you watch because of the return of Zod? What did you think of the Jimmy “twist?” Did anyone enjoy it? Sound off in the comments.

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

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Glee sneak peak

There hasn’t been much lately to get excited about in the world of television. But FOX has come to our rescue, my fellow weary TV viewers.

Check out this clip of its new show Glee, set to debut May 19 after American Idol.

It’s a musical comedy that’s a little Freaks and Geeks and whole lot of funny. And this extended trailer is scored with a Journey song, so it’s a win-win. Take a peak and set your DVR. You don’t want to miss this one.

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Watch Scrubs and win money

Is there anything better than watching TV and possibly getting paid for it? Nope. I don’t think so.

Scrubs fans, Comedy Central is currently giving away $1,000 every week night for the rest of May and all you have to do is watch Scrubs and enter for a chance to win.

Scrubs airs on Comedy Central at 7 p.m. ET and then again at 7:30 p.m. ET every weeknight. Here are the instructions on how you can enter to get the cash.

1. Just watch the 7pm/6c Scrubs episode any weeknight. During the episode you'll get a keyword(example: "achy") -- write it down!

2. Right after that, watch the following Scrubs episode at 7:30pm/6:30c and look for that episode's keyword (example: "groin").

3. Combine the two keywords to get the winning two-word diagnosis (example: "achy groin"). Each diagnosis is active for 24 hours until it expires.

Watch Scrubs every weeknight and enter all month long, but you can only enter once per day.
Enter here: http://www.comedycentral.com/sweepstakes/scrub_in_and_win/index.jhtml

OK, so get ready to have your funny bone tickled and perhaps your wallet a little thicker. Good luck, Tubers!

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Commentary with a Co-Ed: Lost season ender

by Ashley Gouveia

The season finale of Lost is coming up next week and it promises to be an episode full of twists and turns. Sure, pretty much every episode of Lost could fall under that category. Nonetheless, this week’s episode was a great set up for the finale. Locke went on a power trip, Sawyer and Jack got the stuffing beat out of them, and Ben is actually funny. Weird, right?

The one element that I can always count on this show to have is an awesome, jaw-dropping, scratch-your-head-pre-credits moment. Before the title comes up and the eerie sound starts playing, I’m always left bewildered by what I just saw. This week, for instance, Richard told Sun that he recognizes Jack and Co. because he watched them all die. Huh? My thoughts exactly. Could Richard mean that Jack succeeded in getting the plane to never crash and they all disappeared Back to the Future style? Or did they all just get killed? I’m hoping for the first theory.

I thought it was quite amusing watching Locke go on his little power trip as new leader of the Others. He was sticking it to Ben whenever he had the chance, whether it be about his new power as leader or how Ben never saw Jacob. I couldn’t help but laugh at some of Ben’s lines during the scene when Locke asked Ben if he was going into the jungle with him. Who knew that Benjamin Linus could be funny? He mostly just creeps me out. The tone in his voice just had so much loathing towards Locke that it came off as hilarious.

Sawyer got beat up by the Dharma Initiative because their cover was blown. I felt bad for him and Juliet. They had some kind of resemblance of lives and then it was all taken away. Love them or hate them, but Sawyer and Juliet have some great onscreen chemistry. I was taken aback by Sawyer deciding to just leave the island on the submarine. His response when he took one final glance at the island was “good riddance.” Really? I didn’t think that he would leave Kate and the others behind. Poor Juliet’s fantasy of a life alone with Sawyer had blown up in her face when Kate showed up on the sub, and she knew it too. It looks like the big elephant in the room is going to finally be discussed next week.

Do you think that Jack’s idea of preventing the plane from crashing a good one? Or should he not mess with fate? I’m hoping next week we finally get an answer to whom or what is Jacob. Will Locke actually be able to kill him? Sound off in the comments.

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

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Smallville preview: Injustice

Check out this clip from Thursday’s episode of Smallville. It looks like it’s going to be another great episode. I’d like to commend the folks at the show and the network because whatever changes they’ve made this year, well, the show is rocking.

I feared after last year that the show wouldn’t rebound, so thanks Smallville producers for proving me wrong.

The clip is Clark being all hero-y and saving our girl Chloe. Any clip that ends with a Chloe-Clark embrace is worth a shout out. Enjoy!

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Don’t miss the TV Land Awards

by Jennifer Squires Biller

What could be better than a room full of celebrities celebrating classic television that includes Tom Selleck, Matthew McConaughey, Neil Patrick Harris and the casts of Knots Landing, Home Improvement, M*A*S*H, Murphy Brown, Married With Children and many more classic TV shows?

Not much, if you ask me.

Each year the TV Land Awards make me smile, and this year is no exception. If you missed Sunday’s show, check out the replay Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on TV Land. It’s a treat, I promise.

Neil Patrick Harris proved he’s a Hugh Jackman in waiting, with his hosting style and hilarious musical number. Doogie Howser can sing! And I couldn’t help but get a little giddy when I saw the cast of Magnum P.I. all together again along with Tim the “toolman” Taylor, Sam from Cheers, Ted Bundy, Hot Lips from M*A*S*H, and Murphy Brown.

I grew up watching many of these shows, and I’m so thrilled that TV Land produces this show every year to pay tribute to these classics. You know TV shows are good when 25 years later you can still watch them and be entertained. That’s the case for so many of the shows honored at this year’s TV Land Awards.

I’m sure many of you will probably tune in just to see how the celebrities have aged — (Selleck looks good!) — and that’s fine. But please take a moment to consider that shows like All in the Family, Happy Days, Magnum P.I. and Seinfeld don’t come along every day. If you don’t believe me, take a spin through the channels and see how few sitcoms and truly wonderful shows exist today. It will probably send you rushing to TV Land to catch an old episode of The Andy Griffith Show.

Here’s a look at Harris’ hysterical opening number. For other behind-the-scenes videos, visit the TV Land Web site where there are plenty of videos from the TV Land Awards.

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Remembering Bea Arthur

by Jennifer Squires Biller

TV funny lady Bea Arthur passed away Saturday at age 86, after battling cancer. Our thoughts are with her family, colleagues and fans.

Arthur was famous for several roles, including the ‘70s groundbreaking show, Maude, a spin-off of All in the Family. Arthur played the strong title character, and the show addressed many political and women’s issues, including abortion. She later went on to play one of the beloved Golden Girls, Dorothy.

Arthur was also an acclaimed stage and film actress. She won a Tony for her role in Mame, with Angela Lansbury.

Maude and Golden Girl costar Rue McClanahan told TV Guide that Arthur was a trailblazer for women’s comedy. "She showed me how to be very brave in playing comedy," McClanahan said. "I'll miss that courage. And I'll miss that voice."

I wasn’t very old when Maude was popular. I have faint memories of it being on in the background in my family room as a kid, but I truly didn’t connect with Arthur until her sarcastic run as Dorothy on the Golden Girls. My college roommate and I would watch the episodes during weekdays, in between classes, and despite the fact that the four ladies were senior citizens and we weren’t even 20, we could always find some parallel to our current lives.

The Golden Girls made me laugh, especially Dorothy’s quick tongue and dry wit. “Thank you for being a friend,” Bea Arthur, during those college years. There is no question you were a golden girl.

To honor Arthur, the Hallmark Channel is running a Golden Girls Memorial Day marathon, featuring Dorothy-centered episodes on Monday, May 25, starting at 6:30 a.m. until 2:30 a.m. ET.

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Commentary with a Co-Ed: Supernatural recap

Photo: courtesy of the CW

by Ashley Gouveia

When I first heard rumblings about a possible third Winchester brother on Supernatural, I immediately thought that it couldn’t be true. There was no way that the writers would introduce another brother on an already established show. It had Cousin Oliver potential written all over it. However, this show has never let me down, so I just waited to see how this was all going to unfold. I have to say, I am a little confused.

I really enjoyed the episode. I loved that it brought up a lot of stuff from the past seasons, like John and his relationship with Sam. But I guess it’s just a hard pill to swallow that John Winchester had another kid out there. Not only that, but that he was able to spend quality time with him and actually be a normal father. There are a lot of fans who dislike John Winchester because of the way he raised and treated his boys. I was always part of the group who believed that he did the best he could. Plus, who couldn’t love Jeffrey Dean Morgan? This episode changed how I see John Winchester.

In the beginning of the episode, a random kid called John’s phone and told Dean that he was John’s son. Much like Dean, I was already thinking that this was some sort of trap. Maybe it was a trickster or some kind of angel test that they wanted to put the brothers through. When it was revealed that Adam, the new Winchester brother, didn’t have a negative reaction to silver or holy water, it wasn’t looking good for any of my theories. It seemed as if the boy was legit.

What was the most interesting was how Dean and Sam reacted to this news. Dean was completely against letting Adam into the fold of hunting, while Sam was rolling out the welcome mat. Sam’s reasoning was that he believed Adam would be better off if they taught him how to defend himself. I felt like Sam was really dark in this episode. His motivations and his reasoning are a little off. I guess that’s all the demon blood that he’s been slurping on.

Why didn’t Dean push the issue further about how easily swayed Adam was to the whole “demons are real” story? That moment had me thinking again that there was something weird about this kid. As it turns out, I was right. It was revealed that Adam was a ghoul, playing them the whole time. The ghoul killed the real Adam and his mother. The twist was that Adam really was John’s son. I think that was when my jaw dropped to the floor.

What does this say about Papa Winchester? Has this episode forever tainted the way you look at his character? Did it reaffirm your hatred?

Sound off in the comments.

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

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Susan Boyle: I Dreamed a Dream

by Jennifer Squires Biller

Confession: I rarely watch reality TV.

OK, so that’s not exactly news to loyal followers of Tube Talk. But when I see clips like the one below, I think I may be missing some incredible entertainment by avoiding the dream-crushing reality shows, where normal folks go to find stardom.

Meet Susan Boyle, a sassy Brit with a singing voice so sweet it could make a grown man cry. She doesn’t look like a “star,” and when she took the stage on Britain's Got Talent for her audition, it was clear the cynical audience and judges were ready to spew their venom in Susan’s direction. Then, she opened her mouth and hit her first note.

I’ll let you watch to see what happens. Be warned, it may give you chills.

The entire world is cheering for Susan to make it, not despite her frumpy appearance, but because of it. I think the masses may finally have had enough of the ubiquitous Barbie-doll-looking singers that keep emerging year after year, with their size two waists, perfect hair, makeup, spray tans, and arched eyebrows. The world is rebelling and embracing Susan Boyle.

I’m pretty sure Boyle doesn’t wax her brows, have hair extensions, or wear Spanx. She’s refreshingly un-Hollywood, and the world is happy to see it. Go Susan, go! I hope she doesn’t cave to the pressures of Hollywood and straighten that curly hair, join Nutrisystem and shrink to half her size, and alter her face with plastic surgery. Here’s hoping that Susan stays just as she is and proves that talent is what makes people love her, not her appearance.

Hit play below or click here to check out Susan's audition.

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The Office’s Andy and Dwight sing Country Roads

by Jennifer Squires Biller

As a West Virginian, the song Country Roads always makes me smile. It’s an anthem, of sorts, for natives, that no matter where we are in the world when we hear those first few notes of the song, we’re suddenly transported home again.

Whether you’re standing in a packed West Virginia University football stadium after a game, amid a sea of blue and gold, singing along to Country Roads with the players and coaches as the song blasts through the loud speakers, or driving on a winding two-lane road listening to it on the radio, it’s futile to resist the lure of that simple but uplifting and contagious ditty.

I’ve seen Country Roads transform quiet hotel bars into spirited crowds who can’t resist the urge to sing along. I’ve seen country music acts Brad Paisley and Alabama do the song in concert and bring down the house. I’ve even seen the song performed Calypso style in the Caribbean with a strange Jamaican accent, all the while holding its charm. I guess you could say Country Roads unites us. It has the ability to bring us together, even when our common differences divide us.

Such was the case with “frenemies” (friends and enemies) Dwight and Andy on a recent episode of The Office. It’s a clip I had to share here. Trust me, you’ll be tapping your foot along with Andy’s superb banjo stylings and Dwight’s passionate guitar strumming.

Thank you Office show runners for showcasing this song so humorously. Dwight singing a verse in German is priceless. Hit play below or click here and enjoy!

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ABC to air final episodes of canceled shows

Photo: ABC, Eli Stone

ABC is still on my list – yes, I have one – for killing my beloved Eli Stone. From its musical numbers to its charming cast, it was a highlight in a dreary television week.

The good news is that this summer the network will air the final four episodes of the show, along with the final episodes of two other ABC canceled shows: Dirty, Sexy, Money and Pushing Daisies.

All three ABC shows were canned back in November, leaving fans clamoring for some finality to wrap up storylines. I guess I should be thanking ABC for at least giving fans some closure. But, for me, it is bittersweet. Having four more episodes of Eli and a singing Olive on Pushing Daisies may leave me longing for more, when I had just started to forget about them.

The shows will air this summer on Saturdays at 10 p.m., a time when the network assumes no one is watching television anyway. Here is the schedule.

Pushing Daisies – May 30-June 13 (final three episodes Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET)
Eli Stone – June 20-July 11 (final four episodes Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET)
Dirty Sexy Money – July 18-Aug. 8 (final four episodes Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET)

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How I Met Your Mother: Robin and Barney BRo Love video

by Jennifer Squires Biller

EEEEEEE!!!!

That high-pitched squeal you just heard (OK read) was the sound I made after watching the How I Met Your Mother Robin and Barney-centric video from CBS. It’s titled BRo Love, “B” for Barney and “Ro” for Robin. Get it?

The video has many of Barney and Robin’s best scenes and heavily implies that a romance is brewing. Sure, some of the scenes are taken out of context and set to romantic music, but hey, isn’t that what a great “shipper” video - as their known on the ‘net - is all about?

I’m not sure which makes me happier: that it looks like the show listened to me — and a zillion other fans — and is pursuing a Barney/Robin coupling or that CBS took time to make a “shipper” video.

Fans of TV couples have been making these videos for years and promoting the networks’ shows for free. (For proof, check out this and more at You Tube.) It’s about time the networks tapped in to this popular form of fandom. Honestly, I’m shocked that it’s CBS who took the plunge first. I would have thought the CW would have been the first to do a shipper video. But kudos to CBS for this piece of brilliance, rewarding longtime fans. This is one of the best I’ve seen. And I’m betting it may even pull in a few folks who’ve never watched the show.

Hit play below and enjoy!

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Commentary with a Co-Ed: Save the Sarah Connor Chronicles

by Ashley Gouveia

It’s around that time of year when all of us TV fanatics worry about our favorite shows getting the ax and being prematurely cancelled. Of course, the television shows that have 10 or 20 million viewers each week don’t have to panic. Instead, it’s the shows that have a strong following, but the numbers don’t display that loyalty.

My favorite “on the bubble” television show is Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles. I thought this week would be a good time to beg, I mean, give my well-thought-out reasons, as to why this show has to have a third season. These all came to me while watching the season, now possibly, series finale. Are you listening Fox?

Reason #1: Who’s John Connor?
How could the show possibly end without us seeing what happens after John is transported to the future, post Judgment Day? Apparently, nobody has heard of him, and he is completely alone. Sarah decided to stay behind and let her son go without her to chase after John Henry. This plot could easily give the show runners material for a third season. What does John do now? Is he going to get back? Will he repeat the decisions that he knows his future self made?

Reason #2: OMG! BAG is back!
We had to watch Brian Austin Green’s Derek get blown away by a single shot to the head from a terminator and then his ashes being lowered into a grave. I thought the character I had grown to love was gone for good. But then in the last five minutes of the finale, Derek showed up alive and well in the future. Okay, we just got Derek back and they’re thinking of canceling the show. It can’t happen. We, the fans, need to see why Derek doesn’t know John. We also need to see how John is going to handle being around his dead uncle and father. That’s right! Kyle Reese is alive too. This is all just too good to pass up.

Reason #3: Is that Allison from Palmdale?
Not only were Derek and Kyle there to meet John in the future, but a girl who John assumed to be Cameron was there. I think we can confirm that the smiling girl who was pet friendly was not Cameron but Allison, the human who Cameron was created after. Oh, the possibilities. The fans need to see John’s interaction with Allison. This could be an amazing storyline that many John and Cameron fans have waited to see for some time now. Thomas Dekker and Summer Glau have amazing chemistry; it would just be a complete waste to miss the opportunity to explore this relationship.

Reason #4: Where is John Henry?
The last time we saw the oddly lovable and yet creepy terminator he was in a room alone with a knife-wielding Cameron. She gave him her chip and he teleported into the future. Why did Cameron give her chip? Will John Henry now have Cameron’s personality when John finds him? Is John Henry part of the resistance?

Reason #5: It’s one of the best written and acted shows on television.
If not because of all the amazing cliffhangers that need to be answered this show is one of the best out there. The whole cast always brings their A game and the writing is top notch. If any show deserves a second chance it’s this one. Plus, from a marketing standpoint the network would be foolish not to work the new Terminator movie angle. I’m sure the film will bring in new viewers. I think moving the show back to Monday night or another slot would bring up the ratings.

Those are only a few reasons why this show deserves a third season. Please FOX, don’t let another great show slip into the proverbial abyss of television shows that ended way before their time.

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

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TV Link Time

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

As ER said its goodbye, Buzz thought back over her favorite memories of the show and asked you to share your own. (BuzzSugar)

This week, Sandie took a look at American Idol's Adam Lambert back when he was in the Los Angeles production of "Wicked." (Daemon's TV)

Are you ready to laugh even more on Thursday nights? Check out my review of the new NBC comedy Parks and Recreation starring Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones. (Give Me My Remote)

In the latest round of Playing the Percentages, Scooter puts a number on the chances of Chuck ever hooking up with Sarah, if Cupid will be any good. And just hours after he accessed the chances of another season of Friday Night Lights, it was announced we’d get two. (Scooter McGavin's 9th Green)

Rae's sad to say goodbye to ER but she didn't think the finale was quite as perfect as others did. (RTVW)

Vance thinks the producers and judges are trying way too hard to fix the competition on American Idol, especially when it's so obvious that Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta are far better than Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey and Lil Rounds. (Tapeworthy)

This week, Jace took an early look at next week's episode of Chuck ("Chuck Versus the Dream Job"), which features guest stars Scott Bakula and Chevy Chase. (Televisionary)

Marisa participated in a chat with SNL's Will Forte and Arrested Development's Mitch Hurwitz on their new animated project Sit Down Shut Up. (TiFaux)

Jennifer pondered whether a Saved by the Bell 20-year cast reunion is a good idea or if Jimmy Fallon was simply drunk when he began his campaign for the event. (Tube Talk)

Matt is glad ER has ended. Because he's seen Southland, and it's great. (TV Fanatic)

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Commentary with a Co-Ed: Smallville recap

by Ashley Gouveia

See how good an episode of Smallville can be when it deals with things that actually matter? Last night’s episode was so awesome. Every actor was at the top of their game. This storyline about Davis has really amped up these last couple of episodes. Sam Witwer has really done a phenomenal job with this character. He has given a human side to one of the comic’s most dangerous villains.

The first five minutes I thought I was watching the pilot episode. The meteor shower, the Kents, Lionel and little Lex were all part of a flashback to how Davis came to Earth. It was so great to see Martha and Jonathan again. I didn’t realize how much I had missed them. Even the sight of Lionel got me all nostalgic. It broke my heart to see a young Davis abandoned in the field, while the Kents walked off with Clark.

Another person who certainly deserves recognition is Cassidy Freeman who plays Tess. That girl can pull off being evil one minute and sympathetic in another. Those scenes with her and Davis in the mansion were chilling. It could have been really boring with all that exposition that she had to get through about Davis’ past, but it wasn’t. I still don’t know what her game is. She knows about Clark and how Davis is meant to destroy him. Clark is aware of that too. So is Clark still going to work for her? Those are going to be some awkward days in the office.

Speaking of awkward, how awkward was that when Clark walked in on Davis and Chloe having dinner? Chloe didn’t let her slight frustration with Clark subside. She told him how she felt like he wasn’t really being there for her as a friend. I say it is about time. Plus, Jimmy is being a complete jerk. I could understand him being angry with her for not trusting him, but those mean emails he apparently sent her were uncalled for.

Allison Mack and Sam Witwer have such amazing chemistry. I always find their scenes to be so intense. When he came to Isis and tried to get her to listen to him was phenomenal. Then when he said he loved her I couldn’t help but feel bad for him. I knew Chloe wouldn’t be able to just kill Davis with the kryptonite. But it just goes to show that when it came to protecting Clark she would have. Having Clark watch as Chloe put her hand up to Davis on the glass was heartbreaking. Well acted from everyone in that scene.

Of course we knew that Davis/Doomsday wasn’t going to get killed off just like that. It would have been ant-climatic since this whole season has been building to a Davis and Clark battle. Can Chloe help Davis control Doomsday? I think she believes she can and if it’s the only way to save Clark, she is surely going to try her hardest. I can’t wait to see how this story arc turns out. So far I’m enjoying it so much I think I’ll have to rewatch the episode again.

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

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Should Saved by the Bell have a 20-year-reunion?

If Jimmy Fallon has his way, the teens of Saved by the Bell will be reuniting for their 20-year-reunion?

Friday night on Fallon’s show, he brought out “Mr. Belding” (Dennis Haskins) and the two pleaded with the former cast to do the reunion on Fallon’s show. Frankly, I’m betting “Screech” could use the work.

Fallon created an online petition at his website to champion his cause, which he labeled “the impossible dream.” Already, hundreds of fans have signed the petition.

Fallon begged the cast “to put their petty differences aside” and reunite to bring fans a little glimmer of happiness. (Apparently, Fallon watched the Saved by the Bell E! True Hollywood Story that detailed the romantic off-screen entanglements between the cast members.

So what do you think? Would you like to see the cast all together again and find out what they’re doing these days? Or would you rather leave the show a fond memory and not find out if Zach is balding and Kelly has wrinkles?

Check out Fallon’s tribute to Saved by the Bell and his petition to reunite the cast.

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Friday Night Lights renewed

Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray!

NBC has renewed Friday Night Lights for two more seasons, according to TV Guide.

The show will continue in the same format it has this season, with episodes airing first on DirecTV early in the year, before being broadcast later on NBC.

There is no word yet on which cast members will stick around next season, but it’s safe to say that at least some of the high school characters are probably headed off to college. (Don’t leave us Tyra!)

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Link time

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.

Some of the show descriptions in this quiz are real pilots, some I've made up. Take the quiz and see if you can spot the fake pilots! (BuzzSugar)

GMMR asked if you were a network exec and could program TV for only one hour out of each day, what would the TV schedule look like? (Give Me My Remote)

You know a show is going to be good when it manages to equally upset the liberal communists (who think the show pushes a Christian agenda) and the religious nutjobs (who think the show pushes a gay agenda). Scooter endorses Kings if only because they cast Mr. Boston in the lead role. (Scooter McGavin's 9th Green)

Vance is enjoying the shows no one is watching. Like newbies Kings and Better Off Ted or old faves Ugly Betty and Lost amongst many others. (Tapeworthy)

This week, Jace talked to Joss Whedon about his "Man on the Street" episode of FOX's Dollhouse, why Dollhouse seems to lack the funny, and whether he would be leaving television for good. (Televisionary)

Sara celebrated the fact that Chuck was back to wearing ascots on the latest episode of Gossip Girl. (TiFaux)

Jennifer contemplated why Ugly Betty Suarez is such a man magnet. (Tube Talk)

Steve got his hands on a copy of next week's Gossip Girl and recapped it for your spoilerly pleasure (TVFanatic)

Ben celebrated the enws that BBC3 had bought the UK rights to the new murder mystery Harper's Island and took a look at it spin-off web series Harper's Globe. (TV Spy)

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