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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