by Ashley Gouveia
Evil, cunning, manipulative, and powerful. These are all traits that I expect to see in my TV villains. Which ones do I consider simply the best? Better than all the rest? (Ok, you knew that was coming!) Here are my choices for the best villains of TV shows past and present. Agree or disagree, these people scare the daylights out of me.
Benjamin “Benry” Linus, Lost : The eyes alone would scare anyone. Ben has the ability to look at someone and see right through them. He uses the person’s weakness against them to his own advantage. He has been manipulating our Losties since he came on our screens. He has gotten Michael to become a murderer, and I think he may have set up the Alex, Carl and Rousseau ambush. I know he’s evil, but I can never tell if he’s telling the truth. That’s how good he is.
Lex Luthor, Smallville : He didn’t start off as the criminal mastermind we all know and love, but Lex is certainly reaching that dark destination. This season the character has really made his leap into becoming Superman’s arch nemesis. He has already reached the point where he has killed innocent people (Dr. Swann’s daughter, Patricia) just to get what he want, only one of the final steps until he makes his descent into being the ultimate villain. I love some evil Lex and no one has played it better than Michael Rosenbaum. He is by far my favorite Lex Luthor out of all the other incarnations.
Angelus, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Angel lost his soul and became psychotic Angelus in season two of Buffy. I don’t think I was the only one who was hiding my eyes when he chased 
poor Jenny Calendar through the hallways of Sunnydale High. What he did after that was even more disturbing. He was the epitome of pure evil, the king of the lurking in the bushes and watching his victims fall apart. Creepy!
Sylar, Heroes: He cuts open peoples’ heads…’nuff said.
Wilhelmina Slater, Ugly Betty: She hasn’t killed anyone, yet. But she has stolen a dead man’s sperm to produce an heir. She’s intimidating, threatening and could make a grown man cry. She’s a completely different kind of villain, but that doesn’t make her any less enjoyable to watch.
Those are my picks for favorite baddies of the tube. Let me know if you think I missed one that should have made my list. ‘Till next week!
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Commentary with a Co-ed: TV's best villains
Subscribe by RSSThursday, November 22, 2007
Commentary with a Co-ed: Favorite Thanksgiving episodes
by Ashley Gouveia
If you’re like me and can’t bear to sit through The Annual Dog Show this Thanksgiving then I have something for you.
I have put together a list of my top favorite Thanksgiving episodes of TV shows, past and present. So before, during or after you all have eaten some turkey with cranberry, check out these episodes.
Friends, Season Eight. “The One with the Rumor”: Or as I like to call it, “The One with Brad Pitt.” I have lost count on how many times I’ve watched this episode. It never gets old to me. It’s still as funny as the first time I watched it. Ah, before Brangelina. It seems like a lifetime ago. Between Rachel’s “teeny-weenie” and Joey’s Thanksgiving pants, there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments to burn off that extra piece of cheesecake.
The O.C, Season One. “The Homecoming”: Season one, The Golden Age of the series. This was the episode that showcased the hilarity of Seth Cohen at its best. His constant prevention of having his mother cook to his secret rendezvous sessions with both Summer and Anna are just some of the highlights. Then when the girls caught on to what was really going on…holy awkward! The Cohen house was definitely eventful that Thanksgiving. This one is not to be missed.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season Four. “Pangs”: Angel returned, Xander had syphilis, Spike was tied to a chair, and did I mention Angel returned? This was part of the greatly missed Buffy/Angel crossover events that The WB always liked to do. Oh, the good ol’ days. All Buffy wanted was a nice Thanksgiving dinner and she ended up having to battle a Chumash tribe all before their first slice of turkey. How hysterical was it when Xander, Anya and Willow had to come peddling to her rescue on bicycles? Season four wasn’t my favorite but this episode stood out among the pack.
Ugly Betty, Season One. “Four Thanksgivings and a Funeral”: How can anyone forget Marc and Amanda dressing up in designer duds and putting on a musical number in Wilhelmina’s office? Hysterical! Plus, we got to see how much Betty would do for Daniel. Let’s not forgot she crossed the parade route and almost got run over by the Queer Eye guys riding a giant turkey. That girl needs to ask for a raise. We got to see more of Santos in the Casa de Suarez, which was always a good thing. This was an episode that I couldn’t leave off the list.
I hope you all check out these Thanksgiving-themed episodes of some of my favorite shows. I’ve got my DVD sets ready! Also, do you have a favorite moment from the episodes above? If you have some other favorite Thanksgiving episodes let me know. Have some extra stuffing and enjoy! Happy Turkey Day!
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Thursday.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Let’s talk TV! The Week in Review
Best line of the week
Barney from How I Met Your Mother wins this week for this gem:
(Robin explained that she hadn’t shaved her legs in days so she wouldn’t go too far on the first date.)
Barney: “FYI baby, guys just want to get on the green. They don’t mind going through the rough.”
Journeyman
Why does the Journeyman only have one sweater? It’s a nice one, sure, very GQ-esque, but still. He needs to change it up a bit.
Pushing Daisies
The facts were these. Kristin Chenowith stole my heart in Pushing Daisies when she portrayed her heartbreak via song. She channeled Olivia Newton John in her rendition of Hopelessly Devoted to You, complete with Digby the dog’s masterful accompaniment. I know we’re supposed to root for Ned and Chuck, but Olive deserves some love, too. This could be primetime’s best love triangle since Sawyer, Kate and Jack. Not often does a television show with a perfect pilot live up to it in the next episode, but Pushing Daisies did. I hope we get to see more of Olive singing, more of Emerson knitting, and more of Ned being, well, Ned.
Las Vegas
I can’t believe it, but it seems we’re getting deeper character development on Las Vegas. Sam didn’t miraculously recover from her kidnapping ordeal in one episode. In fact, she’s been struggling the last three episodes. Yay! My only complaint with Las Vegas in the past is that the fun-filled romp fest is infamous for introducing great storylines and dropping them too quickly. (Danny’s war trauma, Sam and Casey’s love story, Nessa’s relocation.) The show has a different feel this year, and it seems to be leaning toward longer story arcs. It still has the outrageous plots, the humor, the slick set and stellar cast, and now it seems a little more conversation to go along with all that action.
Grey’s Anatomy
I want to hug Lexie Grey. When she begged Bailey to not make her work with Meredith because she hates Lexie for something that isn’t her fault, she won me over. As for this George/Izzie/Callie relationship, not so much. Callie needs to kick that cheater to the curb and regain her mojo. Let deer-resuscitating Izzie have him. Callie can do better. I hear MsSteamy’s single again.
Private Practice
I’ve never tried so hard in my life to love a show. (Well, OK, Gossip Girl is an effort, too.) But week after week, Private Practice disappoints me. Yet, I keep hanging on because I know the greatness that is Shonda Rhimes, and my love for Kate Walsh, Tim Daly, Audra McDonald and Taye Diggs knows no bounds. I think I’ve pinpointed my problem. The show setting is silly. (Ducking for cover.) A wellness clinic may work for massage, therapy and alternative medicine, but if your children were turning blue, what parent wouldn’t rush them to an emergency room? If these doctors worked in a hospital, perhaps they’d be more believable and credible. The fact that they sit around all day eating cake, playing pranks and eyeing one another undermines their professionalism. On Grey’s Anatomy, at least they always redeem their childish antics by performing some miraculous medical miracle. Maybe next week will be better.
Chuck
Here’s just one of the reasons I’m enjoying Chuck. The writers are obviously fans of Lost. What else could explain one of Chuck’s government-downloaded secrets including the fact that Oceanic Flight 815 was shot down? (That’s a nod to the plane that crashed on Lost.) Brilliant!
Losing steam
I loved the pilot episodes of Reaper and Moonlight, but I’m quickly losing interest. Moonlight hasn’t grabbed me the way Buffy and Angel did, and Reaper seems to be lacking that Kevin Smith polish that made the pilot shine. Heroes is also waning for me. I’ll just say it. There are too many heroes. Watching this show is like having ADD. We get a two-minute clip of one story, and then it’s on to the next.
Monday, October 08, 2007
Buffy alumni back on the tube
Charisma Carpenter landed a recurring role on the new ABC show Big Shots, beginning Nov. 1. She’ll also make a guest appearance on the new FOX show Back to You.
James Marsters is returning to Smallville soon on the CW, according to E!Online. He also did a role on Without a Trace and a guest spot on Saving Grace this summer.
Alyson Hannigan can be seen every Monday night on the CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother.
And Buffy’s former love interest, Angel, actor David Boreanaz, is busy solving crimes on the FOX drama Bones. Now, if we could just get Sarah Michelle Gellar to guest on Bones as Booth’s former love interest, I’d be happier than Spike at a Red Cross blood drive.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Reviews: Private Practice, Moonlight, and Chuck
Private Practice
Premiere date: Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Airs: Wednesday s @ 9 p.m. ET on ABC
Confession: I’ve loved Addison Montgomery since she marched her stiletto-clad legs up to Meredith Grey and informed her she was sleeping with her husband. Apparently, I’m not the only one who was rooting for Team Addison; ABC gave the woman her own spinoff. The good news is that Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes is behind this new show. The bad news is that the pilot is mediocre, at best. Sure, expectations are high, and they should be, with Rhimes on board and the superstar cast. The majority of the actors - Tim Daly, Taye Diggs, Amy Brenneman - have headlined their own shows. But for some reason, I didn’t get that warm, fuzzy feeling that glues me to the TV screen when a show is working on all levels, and I’m not sure why. Kate Walsh and Daly have enough chemistry to power their own hospital, and Diggs is fun, flawed and charming. But Addison seems to have been dumbed-down in this new role, acting like a silly schoolgirl, at times, instead of the take-charge surgeon we’ve come to know. Most of the characters are interesting, with the exception of Brenneman’s. Her storyline had me reaching for the fast forward button. I’ve learned never to write off a show because the first episode doesn’t wow you. (Hello, Friday Night Lights!) And I’m not writing off Private Practice, as some critics have done already. I think it has potential. The problem Grey’s fans may have is the gaping hole Addison is leaving at Seattle Grace. On Thursday, ABC aired an “Addison” special that recapped her time on Grey’s. I’m sure the idea was to get fans to follow her to the new show. The problem is that the recap made me realize how much I’m going to miss her interaction with Miranda, Derek, and the gang. My apologies to Meredith fans, but the Addison/Derek/Mark triangle was one of the best ever on primetime. Period. Addison had mega chemistry with both McDreamy and McSteamy. If you’re questioning whether to invest in Private Practice, after all the mixed reviews you’ve read, I say give it a try. It may find its groove yet. If not, I hope Addison will come home to Seattle Grace and bring Daly’s Dr. Pete Wilder with her.
Moonlight
Premiere date: Friday, September 28, 2007
Airs: Fridays @ 9 p.m. ET on CBS
Chuck
Premiere date: Monday, September 24, 2007
Airs: Mondays @ 8 p.m. ET on NBC
I love geeks, and Chuck Bartowski is this year’s Seth Cohen. He’s a computer genius who works at Nerd Herd (NBC’s hilarious version of Geek Squad.) He’s witty, as evidenced by his explanation of his career goals: ““Working on a five-year plan. I just need to choose a font.” Chuck is hard to categorize into one specific TV genre. If I had to label it, I’d call it an action-adventure dramedy. Other critics have called it a comedy, but I save that label for true sitcoms. Chuck’s problems begin when he receives an e-mail from his old college roommate, who is a spy. The e-mail has subliminal government secrets in it that are downloaded to Chuck’s already super-powered brain. He soon becomes a target and must work with the government to stop the world’s evildoers. Zachary Levi is so good in this role he may become this season’s breakout star. Even Summer Roberts can’t resist him. (That’s actress Rachel Bilson, formerly of The O.C., for you non O.C. watchers.) Seth Cohen’s old flame is scheduled to guest star on Chuck this season. The supporting cast is excellent, too, including fanboy fave Adam Baldwin. The show runner behind Chuck is TV genius Josh Schwartz, who gave us The O.C. So, I think you know what that means. Set your DVR season pass.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Jason Dohring to play a vampire on CBS
It’s not a stretch to picture Jason Dohring playing a brooding vampire. His stint as Veronica Mars’s troubled boyfriend has given him plenty of emo experience.
Dohring has just been cast in the new CBS drama Moonlight.
Honestly, I hadn’t planned on watching Moonlight, until I heard that Dohring was joining the show. Sealing the deal is the news that former Angel co-creator David Greenwalt is one of the Moonlight show runners. OK, I’m in!
Longtime readers know my affection or the too-soon cancelled Angel. I often wondered if it would have garnered more ratings and respect had it aired on one of the big four networks, instead of The WB. I guess we’ll see how CBS viewers take to a show about vampires, assuming that the show is good.
Kudos to CBS for trying something new this season, instead of their typical procedural crime dramas. And kudos to casting for landing Dohring.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Celebrate Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s 10th anniversary with a live sing-along
Calling all Buffy fans.
It’s been 10 years since the world fell in love with Buffy, Angel, Zander and the vampire slayer’s gang. To celebrate, the folks at Whedonopolis, along with RememberAngel.com, are hosing a screening and sing-along of the Buffy musical episode Once More With Feeling. The Angel episode Smile Time will be shown at the screening, too.
The sing-along event is scheduled for April 20, in Pasadena, and will benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatrics AIDS Foundation. Tickets are $15.
So, grab your plastic vampire teeth and fake bunny ears. It’s time to show your love for Buffy and Angel. Don’t be embarrassed. It’s OK if you still play the CD, when no one is is within earshot. I can belt out I’ll Never Tell with the best of them.
For ticket information and more details on this fun-filled evening, visit Whedonopolis.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Goodbye WB
by Jennifer Squires Biller
“Faces I remember.” That is the soulful line from the song Crawl that played Sunday night in the final farewell commercial for The WB network. The promos using that song had always been my favorites, and as The WB signed off the air permanently, it was a fitting choice to say goodbye. The network went out on a nostalgic high note by airing the pilots of Felicity, Dawson’s Creek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel back-to-back…Ah, the good ol’ days... (Sorry…where was I?) If you missed The WB’s goodbye, you missed the pilot episodes of some of the best series television ever made.
I admit I got a little misty-eyed watching the vintage promo clips of Noel and Dawson driving cross-country and Clark and Lex stopping short to “watch the frog.” And the final commercial was almost my undoing. There, staring out from the dark were Dawson, Pacey, Joey, Felicity, Noel, Ben, Buffy, Angel, Clark, Lex and the other faces from network that “defined a generation.” The fact that we know them all by only a first name is a testament to the greatness that was The WB. Capping off the touching ending, was the shadowy mascot we all loved, Michigan J. Frog, tipping his hat. (Gulp.)
My emotional reaction isn’t due to PMS or a chemical imbalance. It’s simply the realization that The WB, in its heyday, was a piece of TV perfection that probably never will be duplicated. It gave us J.J. Abrams, Joss Whedon, Keri Russell, David Boreanaz, and Jamie Foxx. And it gave us television in a way I’d never imagined, much less viewed: creative, original, edgy, witty, snarky and fun, without all the clichés of typical dramas. It feels like I’m mourning an old friend, and in a way, I am. I spent many hours hanging out with the kids of Capeside, Sunnydale and NYU.
If you missed the final tribute, check it out here at You Tube. Those of you curious about the song, it’s Crawl from the band Thisway and is available at iTunes. But be warned, listening to it can bring up gut-wrenching memories of “hey,” “Smoothaise,” “Chia head,” “the breakup kit,” “the Creek,” “walking the dog,” “celluloid propaganda,” “there’s an us here now,” “the Slayer,” “close your eyes,” "vanquishing demons,” “Happy Meals on legs,” “the evil hand,” and a “vampire with a soul." (sniff, sniff) Does anyone have a tissue?
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Meet the stars from Smallville,Veronica Mars, Angel, Buffy and more
by Jennifer Squires Biller
Can you imagine sharing a drink with Smallville’s Lex Luthor? (We’ve all had that daydream at some point, haven’t we?) Or how about getting your photo taken with Neptune’s favorite bad boys: luscious Logan, evil Weevil and Sheriff Lamb?
No, I haven’t been hitting the juice. It’s true, tubers. If you have a wad of cash to blow and a free weekend Aug. 18-20, then this may be the event for you. Booster Events is sponsoring a Blowout, where fans can meet some of the cast of Veronica Mars, Smallville, Angel and Buffy.
Some of the actors will be participating in question-and-answer sessions, autograph sessions, special receptions and photo ops. Oh, and did I mention the alien fashion show and karaoke? If that doesn’t sway you, then nothing will.
For more information and to purchase tickets, check out the Booster Events web site here.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
The WB re-airing its best pilots as a goodbye homage
by Jennifer Squires Biller
Remember the days of Buffy, the spunky, vampire-slaying blonde and her tortured-soul boyfriend Angel? Remember Dawson and his Creek pals endlessly analyzing their teenage angst? Remember Felicity and her gang of co-eds firing off a “hey” as a conversation starter? Ahh, I remember it well, the golden days of television. These shows are why I will always love The WB. (Well, that and the fond memories of a smiling, tap-dancing Michigan J. Frog.) As a tribute to the greatness that was The WB, the network is going out in style, by re-airing the pilots of these great shows.
On September 17, the final night of broadcast for The WB, the network will show the first episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson's Creek, Felicity and Angel, according to Variety. The following night, the new network The CW, which combined The WB and UPN networks under one umbrella, will debut.
The walk down TV-memory lane begins at 5 p.m. EST and continues until 10 p.m. Set your TiVos, Tubers. Felicity kicks off the homage starting at 5 p.m., followed by Angel, Buffy and finally Dawson’s Creek.
Somewhere, Michigan J. Frog is tipping his top hat and dancing happily on his grave.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
David James Elliot on "Close to Home"
by Jennifer Squires Biller
JAG fans, you can stop wondering what happened to David James Elliot. He’s headed to the CBS drama Close to Home this fall as a series regular, according to TV Guide.
And in what could be labeled as typecasting, he’ll play a charming lawyer/district attorney. This news is bittersweet for me. I loved JAG and am a huge fan of Elliot’s, but I was hoping he’d land a gig on one of the many shows I already watch i.e. Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Boston Legal. Unfortunately, this news means I’ll have to put Close to Home on my DVR, despite the fact that I hate case-of-the-week plot-driven shows. I’ve never been a fan of Close to Home, but I watched sporadically last season hoping Christian Kane would get more than two minutes of screen time and perhaps get to bust out his guitar. As it turned out, a drunk driver killed his character in the finale. And no, he didn’t have an “evil hand.” (If you didn’t get that joke, you missed Kane’s awesome performance on Angel and we can no longer be friends.)
Monday, May 22, 2006
Save Invasion campaign
by Jennifer Squires Biller
I have one thing to say to all of you Invasion fans working tirelessly to get the show back on the fall schedule. In the famous words of Cristina Yang of Grey’s Anatomy, “Good for you. Fight the power!”
When I signed the online petition, earlier this week, it had more than 16,400 signatures. That’s impressive for only one week up and running. Fans have flooded TV show-message boards, recruiting any Invasion fans to join the campaign. It may seem like David-Goliath odds to get ABC to reverse its cancellation decision, but these fans aren’t going down without a fight. Neither am I.
In my job as a television critic the past few years, I’ve watched a lot of horrible television, and I’ve watched some inspirational, groundbreaking television. When those rare programs come along, it seems more often than not, they rarely make it long enough to become a footnote in popular-culture history. I’m so tired of year-after-year unique, quality television shows being dumped, in favor of silly reality shows, unoriginal procedural-crime shows and mindless sitcoms with annoying laugh tracks. The death of Invasion is the last straw.
I ranted when they canned Jack and Bobby. I asked why when they cancelled Freaks and Geeks. I angrily accepted the inevitable when they prematurely ended Ed, Felicity, and Angel. And I barely had time to get attached to Love Monkey and LAX before they got the ax. But I refuse to let Invasion join this list of shows that died before their time, without inciting you, the viewers, to do something about this trend. It comes down to ratings, folks. So, please, when these kinds of shows make it on to the television schedule, watch them.
The bottom line is that networks renew shows that get ratings. So, why didn’t enough folks watch Invasion? I call it bad timing. First, in late summer when previews and ads are pivotal for creating buzz about new shows, Invasion took an early hit. The pilot episode and plot setup was rooted in a hurricane, not exactly something anyone wanted to promote or advertise, after the still-raw devastation of Katrina. Second, the show was incorrectly tagged as a Lost clone. The two shows couldn’t be farther apart in genre, in my opinion. Third, Invasion was unfairly labeled as just another sci-fi drama, and some critics unfairly grouped it in a class with the two other debuting sci-fi dramas of the fall, the yawn-worthy Surface and Threshold. So, chalk the low ratings up to timing and the fact that I still haven’t figured out what possesses the viewing public to tune in week after week to watch the King of Queens, but not thought-provoking, suspenseful shows such as Invasion.
I’m not giving up hope yet, especially after reading in TV Guide that the plan for next season was to turn up the romantic tension between Russell and Mariel. Curses. I’d been waiting all season for that. I did “see the lights,” ABC, and I want to see them again. So, here’s hoping that ABC will “see the light” and give Invasion a reprieve. Hmm…I’m sensing a campaign slogan here, people. 
If you’re an Invasion fan, or even if you’re not and want a second chance to see an original suspenseful drama, please visit these links and let your voice be heard.
The online petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/33030/petition.html
Fans are organizing a campaign here:
http://www.saveinvasion.net/ and also here http://www.invasion-forum.com/
Contact info for ABC:
SNAIL MAIL:
Mr. Steve McPherson President of Entertainment ABC, Inc. 500 S. Buena Vista Street Burbank, CA 91521-4551
ABC's ONLINE FORM:
http://abc.go.com/site/contactus.html
ABC'S PHONE NUMBER:
818-460-7477, follow automated response to Invasion messages
See what else Tube Talk Girl has been saying about Invasion by clicking here.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Another "Buffy/Angel" cast member to guest on "How I Met Your Mother"
by Jennifer Squires Biller
Another Angel alumnus is guest starring on How I Met Your Mother on May 15. Amy Acker (ex-Fred) joins Alexis Denisof (ex-Wesley) and Alyson Hannigan (ex-Willow) on the hit sitcom, according to Soap Opera Weekly. Denisof currently is guest starring as Sandy, Robin’s obnoxious co-anchor.
Acker is set to play Penelope, a graduate student who once had a fling with Barney. I can just hear those “legendary” lines now. I’m just waiting for Wesley, Willow, Fred and Spike to show up on Bones. Now that would be legendary.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Angel star Christian Kane in concert
Lindsey alert! Those of you in the Nashville area can catch Angel and Close to Home star Christian Kane in concert tonight. Lucky folks!
Kane’s self-titled band, Kane, will perform in a country showcase for some major record labels tonight at 6 p.m. at 12th & Porter (114 12th Ave. N.), according to the press release. There is no cover charge. The band has invited all Kane fans to attend and show their support.
If you live even remotely close to this area, do whatever you have to do to get there. (And when I say whatever, I’m talking make-a-deal-with Lilah, of Wolfram and Hart, kind-of whatever.) You won’t regret it. I saw Kane in concert in Chicago a couple years ago and it was unforgettable. (Click here for the recap of that event that featured David Boreanaz: http://tubetalk.blogspot.com/2006/02/saying-goodbye-to-angel-in-person.html)
Those of you who remember Kane from Angel certainly remember Lindsey and his evil hand singing at Lorne’s club. His style is country. Yes, country. Now, before you make some joke about country music and me in a pickup truck picking up momma from prison, hear me out. Kane country is a little Garth Brooks, a little Chris LeDoux and a whole lot of rockin’. It’s good stuff, people.
Don’t believe me? Judge for yourself. Check out a sample of their music at their official site: http://www.kanemusic.com/news/index.html or at their My Space page http://www.myspace.com/kanecountry.
As for me, I’m looking for one of Lorne’s portals to jump through that can beam me to Nashville in mere minutes. See ya there!
Tube Talk Girl can be reached by e-mail at jennifer@tube-talk.com.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Fretting over network decisions
May 25, 2005
The world has gone mad.
Think I’m exaggerating? Then explain to me how silly shows such as The Bachelor, Blue Collar TV, and Pamela Anderson’s Stacked can be renewed for another season, but quality dramas like Joan of Arcadia, Judging Amy, and American Dreams are canned.
It’s madness, people. There is no other explanation.
Last week, the network honchos announced their fall schedules. This week, I’m on the verge of firing off nasty letters to network executives. 
The cancellation that hurts most is the compelling Jack & Bobby. Why the WB cancelled this critically acclaimed new drama, but renewed the tired Charmed for an eighth season, is puzzling. I’m convinced those Charmed Halliwell ladies really are witches with magical powers. It would explain how their show remains on the network year after year, while other fresh shows such as Angel and the aforementioned piece of perfection are shown the door.
Other cancellations include the unique Tim Daly drama Eyes and Taye Diggs’ much-hyped Kevin Hill. I guess we’ll never see Kevin regain custody of poor little Sarah.
Even more troubling than the cancellations, was the news that television’s best sitcom, and my personal favorite, Scrubs wasn’t even on NBC’s fall lineup. Supposedly, is being saved for midseason, executives claim. If these wacky doctors don’t see the light of day again, you will find me in a fetal position crying for my mama.
Arrested Development fans, breathe easy. The Bluths will live to see another season. Although ratings aren’t what the network had hoped for, the show will go on this fall. It moves to 8 p.m. on Mondays. 
If you’re planning on taking a class this fall or working late on Thursday’s, think again, unless you have TiVo. The coveted 8 p.m. Thursday timeslot will once again be the year’s most competitive hour of television. Alias, Survivor, The O.C., Smallville, and Joey all go head to head.
Here are some other noteworthy time changes: Boston Legal moves to Tuesday at 10 p.m. on ABC. Grey’s Anatomy will keep the 10 p.m. Sunday slot, post Desperate Housewives. Lost moves to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays. And The West Wing changes nights this fall, moving to Sundays at 8 p.m. on NBC.
Although UPN renewed my favorite spunky detective Veronica Mars, the new timeslot may seal her fate. Veronica will be going up against ratings juggernaut Lost at 9 p.m. on Wednesdays.
There is some good news, believe it or not. Angel star David Boreanaz is returning to television. He’s been cast in the new FOX crime drama Bones. Boreanaz plays a former Army special-ops soldier who teams up with a female forensic anthropologist and novelist to solve crimes. The show is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Just so you don’t think I’m being too harsh on the networks for their programming choices, I offer this evidence. NBC is debuting a new reality show this summer to keep us entertained: I Want To Be A Hilton, as in “that’s hot” socialite Paris Hilton. Her mother is taking 14 young men and women and teaching them how to be socialites in New York City.
I know. It’s enough to make you fire off a letter, too.
Originally published 5/25/05 in The Exponent Telegram newspaper.
Monday, February 20, 2006
The best and worst of TV in 2004
December 29, 2004
While you’ve been busy stuffing your Christmas goose and threatening Santa with lawsuits for bringing you fruitcake yet again, I’ve been reflecting on the past year in television. From embarrassing to outrageous, one thing is for sure: 2004 was no bore.
Best guilty pleasure: Pimp My Ride on MTV. If only this show had existed in 1989, my red Chevy Chevette with fog lights could have been sweet.
Best evidence that there is intelligent life form on Earth: Ken Jennings’ winning streak on Jeopardy.
Best proof aliens exist: Anna Nicole Smith at The American Music Awards. What was that?
Worst TV moment: Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction at the Superbowl.
Best TV moment: The return of scripted programs scoring with viewers, instead of reality shows.
Best scary, make-your-hair-stand-up moment: The masked carver stalking Sean in the shower on Nip/Tuck.
Tackiest commercial: Spoofing the feed-the-children commercials to peddle pick-up trucks.
Most ridiculous cancellation: Angel. Enough said.
Funniest presidential campaign moment: The yawning boy at the George W. Bush rally. His boredom made him a star.
Most embarrassing moment: Ashlee Simpson busted for lip-synching on Saturday Night Live. And to finish off the Milli Vanilli moment, that jig she called a dance looked like she was stepping on hot coals.
Best show you’re not getting: Scrubs. Dr. Cox rules, people.
Best reason to love David Letterman and Jay Leno: The Tony Danza Show. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Tony because of his Who’s the Boss? years, but his newest gig is evidence that not every nice guy can pull off an entertaining talk show.
Best good-bye: Tom Brokaw signing off after 23 years as the evening news anchor on NBC.
Worst moment of violence: The NBA Pistons-Pacers brawl. With all the fighting currently in the world, grown adults acting like imbeciles is inexcusable.
Best excuse to stay home on Friday nights: Harmon Rabb, Jr. in uniform on JAG.
Best commercial attempt that doesn’t work: Ovaltine. No matter how many cute kids with mittens come running in from the snow begging for this “rich, creamy” hot-cocoa-like drink, I’m not buying it. No matter how you dress it up, it’s still Ovaltine.
Best reason to learn to set your VCR: Wednesday nights are packed full of good TV. It’s home to Lost, Smallville, Kevin Hill, Jack and Bobby and The West Wing.
Most overly dramatic show promos: ER. The network has overused the dramatic promo device so much that it’s no longer effective. Every week can’t possibly be the biggest ER ever.
Worst new show: Father of the Pride. I’m usually a sucker for animation, but The Simpsons this isn’t. It started strong, but took a nosedive.
Most welcome recurring guest star: Ed may have been canceled, but Thomas Cavanaugh didn’t get stuck in Stuckeyville. He’s played a big brother on Jack and Bobby and Scrubs.
Most unnecessary replay: The networks relentless airing of Howard Dean’s exuberant speech.
Best series finale: Friends. Despite all the buzz, it was a fitting end for a fan favorite.
Best series debut: Lost. Show me anyone who sat through the first heart-stopping 20 minutes and isn’t hooked.
Worst cancellation: LAX. I’m still scratching my head why this fun hour of TV didn’t score with viewers. It was Heather Locklear, folks.
Best fast talker: Seth Cohen of The O.C. If you don’t have closed captioning on your TV, you’re probably missing most of Seth’s hilarious rants.
Best frivolous hour of TV: Las Vegas. With all the guest stars, it’s starting to rival The Love Boat.
Worst wasted moment: Donna’s accident on The West Wing. If ever there was a moment for Josh to ‘fess up his feeling for his lovely assistant, you’d think almost getting killed in a car explosion would be it.
Most over-hyped event: Trista and Ryan’s wedding. It was everywhere. It also set the trend for the year: Pink was the new black.
Best philanthropic moment: Any episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
Best surprise: Oprah giving away cars to her studio audience.
Best tribute: Coverage of former President Ronald Reagan’s funeral.
Best reason to watch TV during the summer: The Olympics.
Happy New Year, Tubers!
Originally published 12/29/04 in The Exponent Telegram newspaper.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Saying goodbye to Angel - in person
May 26, 2004
You’ll have to forgive me. I’m a little giddy. It’s not every day a girl meets her favorite TV star.
During a trip to Chicago last weekend, I got to meet Angel star David Boreanaz and spend a couple days with some of the show’s cast. Regular readers know my affection for the vampire with a soul. And after meeting the man in person, I can tell you this: he’s no Angel.
Boreanaz is funny, not at all like the brooding character he plays on TV. He laughed and joked with fans, teased cast mates, and even did the Angel happy dance at one point.
Now for those of you who think I’ve gone totally into stalker mode, rest assured. The Angel weekend was an organized event at the Holiday Inn O’Hare. More than 1,000 fans gathered to say goodbye to the show that was unjustifiably cancelled this season.
In addition to Boreanaz, actors Christian Kane and Stephanie Romanov were also on hand. Viewers know them as Angel’s nemeses Lindsey and Lilah. Viewers also may recognize Kane from his movie roles in Secondhand Lions, Life or Something Like It, and Just Married.
Other guests included scary-monster-guy Gnarl, or as he’s known out of makeup, actor Camden Toy. Elizabeth Anne Allen from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and upcoming country music star Branden Hart, Kane’s cousin, were there, too.
Now with all those celebrities under one roof, it was nearly impossible not to bump into them in the elevator, the hallway and of course, the hotel bar. To my surprise, the celebs were always gracious. They didn’t seem to mind the endless onslaught of fans fawning over them and clamoring for a photo and an autograph. Shamelessly, I was one of them. Pitiful? Absolutely. But that didn’t stop me.
I confess my memory is a little fuzzy when it comes to recalling my face-to-face time with the big guy. There may have been some minor hyperventilation and a brief moment of passing out - me, not him. And for those of you wondering, no, it was not possible to get any closer to him in that photo. When Kane jumped in with us for a snapshot, too, I thought it was probably the highlight of the weekend. I was wrong.
The question and answer sessions were outstanding. As your TV gal, I fully intended on getting the dirt for my loyal readers. But I was so star struck I could think of nothing to ask other than, “How difficult is it to fight demons in those leather pants?”
Thankfully, I said nothing.
When I did regain my thoughts, other fans were already asking some insightful questions. I did get to fire one off to Kane later. Here’s a sampling of some of the answers.
- Boreanaz won’t do the much-talked-about Angel TV movies. However, he is open to Angel as a feature film. I got the impression he’s done with the WB.
- His favorite episodes are the first one and the 1950s hotel episode. He loved working with Darla, actress Julie Benz.
- He’s pleased with the way the series ended but had hoped to have more screen time next year with Spike.
- He took Angel’s chair as a memento on the last day of filming.
- He learned how to grill beer-can chicken from pal Kane.
- Kane’s favorite movie role so far is playing a young Robert Duvall in Secondhand Lions. He later used the sword fight training from the film to battle Boreanaz on Angel.
- Kane hated the evil hand. It was hot, stinky, and uncomfortable to wear. He also joked with writers he would reprise his role only if they stopped letting Lindsey get beaten up by girls.
- Kane and company said they weren’t bitter about the cancellation, although he joked that Lindsey, Angel, and Spike could take down all the Smallville and One Tree Hill casts, if given the chance.
- He doesn’t think he’ll be back in his guest role on Las Vegas. The cast is already full, he said.
The best part of the weekend was a concert by Hart, Kane and his band. They played some fabulous country music and tore up Waylon Jennings’ Luckenbach, Texas. I’m fairly certain most of the kids in the audience thought it was a brilliant, new country song that they hadn’t yet heard on the radio.
The most memorable event was the close of the concert which turned into a jam session. Watching mortal enemies Lindsey, Lilah, and Angel onstage singing Sweet Home Alabama was surreal. Boreanaz even sang a verse by himself, proving that his tone-deaf portrayal of the karaoke-challenged Angel is just a façade.
Some of the fans were just as entertaining as the guests. One guy dressed the entire weekend as Spike, complete with long, leather trench coat and bleached hair. From kids to grandmothers, I met folks from all parts of the country and Great Britain.
The event turned out to be a fantastic way to say goodbye to one of the most unique, well-written shows to ever hit the tube. Angel was solid until the very end, proving it still hadn’t lost its bite after five seasons. And the series finale was the most shocking of any show, ever.
Rest in peace, Wes, Gunn and Lindsey.
We’ll miss you, at least until you’re resurrected with Angel and the rest of the fang gang for the big screen.
Originally published 5/26/04 in The Exponent Telegram newspaper.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Fallen Angel
February 18, 2004
Put a stake through my heart.
My favorite vampire with a soul just got dusted.
Inexplicably, the WB network canceled Angel this week, despite strong ratings. The decision left fans, and the show’s creator, baffled.
Angel is the frog network’s second highest rated program among viewers aged 18-34. And it posted ratings gains this year, despite tough Wednesday-night competition. The week of Jan. 26, Angel outperformed The West Wing, King of Queens and Becker in the 9 p.m. timeslot to rank third among viewers aged 12-34 and men 12-34. The series defeated both CBS and NBC programs, among women12-34 and female teens.Those are impressive numbers, considering a good portion of the nation’s TV audience doesn’t have access to the WB.
So, frankly, I’m stunned. I don’t get it.
Apparently, series creator Joss Whedon doesn’t either. “I thought that if a show was really good and doing really well (in the ratings), it was renewed,” Whedon told Variety. “I was apparently misinformed.”
Network executives said that the show doesn’t lend itself well to reruns, due to its propensity for long story arcs. Execs also noted that the show doesn’t have a large number of new viewers, a demographic they are desperately seeking. The frog also plans to add more reality shows to its lineup next year, according to Variety.
Shame on the WB.
Sadly, Angel is being buried alive. There is too much story left to tell to wrap up in only a few episodes. This show still has plenty of life left in it. (Well, not literally of course, because many of the characters are supposedly the walking dead. But I digress.)
The point is, Angel is good. At times, too good for the small screen. Pick any given episode, and I’ll promise you an hour of entertainment better than most movies you’ll pick off the shelf at the video store.
Rarely do spin-off shows match the glory of the original series, but Angel does. Watching this brooding hero fight against evil is appointment TV. And while the year didn’t start off with its trademark greatness, the last few episodes have been nothing short of brilliant.
Hopefully, Whedon will follow the same strategy he used when the WB canned Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He’ll offer Angel to other networks. The UPN picked up Buffy, and maybe it will breathe life back into Angel, too.
Hey, a girl can dream right?
Fans aren’t taking the news well. They’ve flooded Internet message boards ranting against the decision. They’ve started online petitions to save the show. And they’re sending tubes of hair gel to the network in honor of thespiked-haired vampire, to protest the cancellation.
Maybe it will work. Maybe the WB will have a change of heart. Or maybe Angel will see the light of day on another network.
Meanwhile, I’m off to stock up on hair gel - I have a lot of flyaways - and contemplate the news.
If anyone can tell me why a network would cancel a popular, refreshingly original program, please do. Because the way I see it, this decision bites.
Originally published 2/18/04 in The Exponent Telegram newspaper.
