This week’s TV: Scrubs and Nip/Tuck return and other shows to watch

It’s winter season premiere week and the TV goodies just keep coming. It seems most of them are scheduled for Tuesday night, so those of you without a DVR, you have my sympathy.

Tonight, one of television’s best comedies returns, but this time it’s airing on a network that actually seems to care about the show. At least it's getting plenty of promotion for the first time ever. Yes, I’m talking about Scrubs. (Oh, how I've missed you!) It moves to ABC and premieres at 9 p.m. ET, with Courteney Cox Arquette joining the cast. Please tune in and watch. Call me petty, but I'd like NBC to have serious ratings envy. (Yes, I'm still bitter about the shabby treatment Scrubs and Las Vegas received at the hands of NBC.)

For those of you anxiously awaiting the return of Nip/Tuck to see how Sean and Christian survived crazy teddy-bear lady’s attacks, the wait is over. The show premieres at 10 p.m. ET tonight on FX. I’ve seen the screener, but I don’t want to spoil you. So, tune in and check it out for yourself.

Also tonight, Privileged is back with a new episode on the CW at 9 p.m . (Yay!) I’ve seen the show and let’s just say that Megan has her hands full with her mother, sister, and a romantic plot from Rose, in which she tries to get Sage and Luis together.

If that isn’t enough for you TV junkies, then don’t despair. One of my favorite new shows, The Mentalist, is back at 9 p.m. ET on CBS with a new episode. Patrick tries to find the killer who murdered his family.

See what I mean about Tuesday? It’s crazy.

As for the rest of the week, it’s not any lighter. On Thursday, 30 Rock, My Name is Earl on NBC, while Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and Ugly Betty all debut new episodes on ABC. Then on Friday, Psych and Monk return on USA.

Finally, adrenaline junkies, your show, 24, is back on Sunday on FOX. Get ready for a change of scenery though, as the first hour takes place in Washington D.C.

And if you enjoy awards shows, don’t miss The Golden Globe Awards at 8 p.m. ET on NBC this Sunday. Here’s the list of nominees, for those of you who missed it the first time.

For a complete list of winter premiere dates, click here.

Subscribe by RSS

This week’s TV highlights

Photo: Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley are hosting the CMA Awards.

by Jennifer Squires Biller

If you caught my Tube Talk report on Magic 106.5 this morning then you already know this. But for the rest of you who don’t tune in to the Jack Logar Morning Show (and why not? Hmmp!) here are some notable TV shows you may want to watch this week.

Tonight (Tuesday):
Country music star and West Virginia native Brad Paisley appears on Dancing With the Stars. Relax, Tubers. He’s singing, not dancing. I don’t think we’ll ever see Paisley in Lycra and sequins. Watch the results show on ABC at 9 p.m. ET.

Wednesday
The CMA Awards are a must-see for country music fans. Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, George Straight, Taylor Swift and Brad Paisley all in the same room is a must-see for anyone really. An added bonus is that the notoriously funny Paisley is not only nominated in several categories, he’s hosting the gig with Underwood. Bring on the laugh laugh. Catch the CMAs on ABC at 8 p.m. ET.

Thursday
Can you say NBC and stunt casting? Thursday night is the lollapalooza of guest stars on NBC. Just start watching at 8 p.m. ET and keep on going to catch all of them. First, 90210 alum Jason Priestley stars on My Name is Earl, as Earl’s successful cousin. Then, Jennifer Aniston appears on 30 Rock as a love interest for Jack. Then, Anthony Edwards checks back into ER. Yes, he died on the show years ago, but this is television people, where a toe tag doesn’t mean we won’t see you again. I also can’t mention Thursday without urging you to watch Smallville at 8 p.m. on the CW this week. It looks to be a fantastic episode, especially for Chloe fans.

Friday
On Ghost Whisperer, Melinda deals with the aftermath of her husband’s death, and viewers will get to see that love transcend death, as they see the world through Jim’s eyes. I don’t watch this show, but I know many of you do, so tune in for the special episode at 8 p.m. on CBS. My new guilty pleasure this season, Lipstick Jungle, has been hitting it out of the park, so don’t miss it at 10 p.m. on NBC. (Soap fans, Vanessa Marcil joined the show last week, and she’s up to no good with Wendy’s husband. It’s a must see.)

Subscribe by RSS

My Name is Earl returns Thursday with a special movie

Earl and the gang are back this Thursday at 8 p.m. on NBC.

You missed them. Admit it.

Seth Green guest stars in the first episode this season, as a Make-A-Wish kid that Earl needs to cross off his list. The task results in the citizens of Camden County starring in their own action movie entitled "2 The Max."

Check it out.

Subscribe by RSS

Alyssa Milano on My Name is Earl tonight

My Name is Earl returns tonight with special guest star Alyssa Milano.

When last we saw Earl, he was eating pavement, face down on the road after being struck by a car. Apparently, Earl slips into a coma and into a bizarre sitcom world, according to the official episode description.

Meanwhile, the gang rallies to try and save the Karma man.

Catch the fun tonight at 8 p.m. on NBC.

Subscribe by RSS

NBC is going green this week; should it?

NBC is kicking off sweeps week with an environmental campaign. All this week, you’ll see eco-friendly messages throughout NBC programs.

For example, on Scrubs, after watching An Inconvenient Truth, the Janitor vows to savethe world by becoming the Environmental Officer at Sacred Heart. On My Name is Earl, the warden asks Earl to incorporate environmentally friendly “green” messages into a skit presentation. On Chuck, Chuck visits Stanford University for “Green Weekend.”

"By creatively weaving stories concerning environmental awareness into our series, we see this as an opportunity to engage the audience andprovide a positive social message," said Ben Silverman, co-chairman of NBC. "Our ultimate goal is to entertain people while creating a conversation about a universal issue."

While I’m all for going green, I don’t like my favorite programs creating dialogue touting what essentially is a commercial message. I hate it when product placement is so obvious that it detracts from the story. (See this week’s episode of Nip/Tuck for what can only be described as a 30-second commercial for Yoplait yogurt.)

I applaud NBC for using its power to get people talking about the environment, but I fear this is a dangerous precedent to set. What happens if the network decides that it must get out a message that Dell computers are superior? Will our favorite characters suddenly start declaring the excellence of Dell computers? I can just hear Scrubs’ JD to Turk, “Dude, you’re getting a Dell.”

Or what happens if the social message of the week is about the atrocities in Darfur? Will we see Earl raising money for the cause and ER sending doctors?

Perhaps I should have more faith in my favorite shows to weave in the green message subtlety. But, from the press release, it doesn’t seem that subtle is playing a part here. For example, on Las Vegas, the Montecito will host an environmental conference and Delinda takes up the cause to get the staff on board. On, Friday Night Lights, Tami’s sister hits the Taylor household to encourage the family to live a green lifestyle. On 30 Rock, the network pushes its green initiative by getting David Schwimmer to become the green mascot. (Al Gore and Meredith Vieira also guest star.)

Even Days of Our Lives and the late night talk shows are producing green messages. So, get set for a week full of TV preaching the greatness of green. I’m warning you now, do don’t kill the messenger.

For more information on the green initiative, visit this NBC Web site, Green is Universal, where you can find "The More You Know" eco-friendly messages from NBC stars, green blogs from the executive producers of shows such as Las Vegas, as well as videos which willfeature highlights from the shows, celebrity public serviceannouncements, and a behind-the-scenes look at Days of Our Lives star Peter Reckell's environmentally sound home.

Subscribe by RSS

TV Writers set to strike Monday

by Jennifer Squires Biller

Gulp. Yes, you read the headline correctly. I thought the last-minute meeting on Sunday between the Hollywood writers and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers would resolve the dispute and I’d never have to write this story, but it didn’t.

The talented TV writers who give us entertaining stories each week for the Desperate Housewives, the doctors at Grey’s Anatomy, the Heroes saving the world, and virtually every series on the tube, are going on strike.

The scribes want a bigger portion of profits from DVD sales, shows offered on the Internet and shows offered through new media, such as cell phones and iPods. Currently, writers get only 5 cents on a typical DVD sale, according to Variety.

Beginning Monday, the writers will start picketing every major studio in Los Angeles and Rockefeller Center in New York, according to the Writers Guild of America.

What does this mean for you and your favorite shows? I don’t have all the answers, but from my research, here’s what I can tell you:

Weekly scripted shows have enough episodes completed to air into January or February, according to E!Online. Once those run dry, if the strike hasn’t been resolved, reruns, reality shows or news programs will replace the scripted shows.

The effect will be more immediate on shows that air daily, such as late night television. New episodes of Leno, Letterman, and the late-night boys won’t last long. I’ve been unable to find information on how many weeks ahead those shows are actually written. As for daytime dramas, TV Guide is reporting that the soaps have enough episodes in the can to last through January.

In short, the strike is bad news for fans of scripted television. If this isn’t resolved, imagine a world where reality television and news programs are our only choices.

Even worse, I fear it may be the final nail in the coffin for daytime dramas, which are already struggling for ratings. General Hospital, The Young and the Restless and virtually every soap opera out there never regained the monumental ratings they had in the 1980s. The soaps never bounced back in the 1990s, after the O.J. Simpson trial hijacked daytime programming for weeks. If daytime dramas are once again taken off the air, I think the viewer erosion will be permanent.

Before you start firing off angry e-mails to me about how ridiculous this strike is and all you care about is seeing McDreamy on Thursday night, let me say this. The writers are the backbones of these shows. They create the island of Lost misfits, the Pam-and-Jim Office-style romances, and the adventures on Wisteria Lane. They craft magical stories that keep us mesmerized for 22 episodes. And they do it quicker than any one can imagine.

On average, working Hollywood writers make an average of $200,000 a year, before their cut of DVD sales, according to Variety. The DVD residual amounts date back to 1984, when Hollywood unions agreed to accept a “small percentage of home video sales because the studios said the technology was untested and that the costs were high,” the trade reported.

I support the writers in this endeavor to get their piece of the Hollywood pie. As a freelance writer myself, I can tell you that writing is not an easy way to make a living. Most of us aren’t in it for the cash but for the creative high it brings.

I think we all know that there is a lot of money being made in television, and the writers seem to be one of the least valued players in the process, when in fact they should be the most valued players. Think about it; what would the world of television be without the writer? There would be no stories, no funny character quirks, no comedies to make us laugh, and no tear-jerking moments to make us ponder our own circumstances. The writer is television. Without him, there would be no Seattle Grace, no Earl living his karmic life, no Clark Kent discovering his destiny as Superman. The alternative is a world of reality television, with no imagination or creativity. And frankly, that’s a world I can do without.

Subscribe by RSS

Tube news

The My Name is Earl cast has a funny new music video coming out this Thursday during the show, but you can get an early look here. The new video Respect the Meat showcases Darnell pleading for animal rights and asking the Camden County residents to rethink their dining choices. Joy, Catalina, Earl and Randy also star. The bonus: Darnell has an amazing voice. I’m talking Marvin Gaye style crooning here

Patrick Swayze has been cast in the upcoming A&E original series Beast, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He’ll play an “unorthodox but effective FBI veteran who trains a new partner (Travis Fimmel, Tarzan) in his hard-edged, psychologically clever style, while being pursued by a secret Internal Affairs team.” Insert your own, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner” joke here.

Three Friday Night Lights stars are auditioning for the big-screen Justice League movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Minka Kelly, Adrianne Palicki and Scott Porter are taking part in the two-day casting session. The O.C.’s Adam Brody is also among the group of 40 young Hollywood stars up for roles in the film about Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Batman and more.

Attention all WB, UPN and CW fans. A new book, Season Finale: The Unexpected Rise and Fall of The WB and UPN goes on sale this week and it looks juicy. Authors Susanne Daniels, a television executive with The WB for most of its life and current President of Entertainment for Lifetime Networks, and Cynthia Littleton, a veteran television reporter and current Deputy Editor of news development for Variety, take readers behind the scenes of the networks’ greatest shows. Insider stories and and never-before-published details from producers including JJ Abrams (Felicity), Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls), Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Kevin Williamson (Dawson’s Creek) provide a tell-all account of the dueling creative teams that ushered some of television’s most popular shows into the hearts, minds, and living rooms across the country. The book goes on sale October 16. Maybe we’ll finally get to the bottom of what really happened to the dancing frog.

The folks at Ghost Whisperer want your scary stories captured on video. If your story is chosen, you’ll get to appear in the Scariest Story Ever Told. Submission deadline is October 25.

CBS has tapped Regis Philbin to host its new primetime game show Million Dollar Password for midseason 2008. The new show is a modernized version of the classic Password, according to the press release from CBS. The show will feature two teams, comprised of one celebrity and one contestant, each competing to guess a password revealed only to the studio audience and viewers at home. Didn’t Regis already try the game show thing once already?

Subscribe by RSS

Big week for TV

Are you ready for some TV? Tubers, it’s the week we’ve waited for all year. Old favorites are returning and, perhaps, new favorites will emerge, as the new fall TV season gets underway this week.

Tonight, don’t forget Dancing With the Stars returns at 8 p.m. on ABC. Barney and the gang of How I Met Your Mother also return at 8 p.m. on CBS. If that’s not enough to get you excited, NBC is launching the new season of Heroes, at 9 p.m., and the new time travel show, Journeyman, at 10 p.m.

I’m most excited about Smallville, Ugly Betty, Grey’s Anatomy, Brothers and Sisters, and Las Vegas, all premiering this week.

For a complete list of when your favorite shows are coming back, click here for the schedule. Then, set your VCRs and DVRs for a busy workout.

If you haven’t ordered a DVR yet, you may want to get cracking. If not, you’re going to have to make some tough choices, most distressingly being Monday nights, trying to choose between Chuck, Dancing With the Stars and How I Met Your Mother. As usual, Thursdays are going to be downright stressful, too, having to pick between Ugly Betty, My Name is Earl, and Smallville.

So, arm yourselves with your remote, a bowl of buttery popcorn, and a sense of humor. It’s going to be a fun season.

Subscribe by RSS

Tube News

Sherri Shepherd is joining The View as the new cohost, after all, according to the Associated Press. Barbara Walters will make the official announcement on Monday. Several months ago, Shepherd was reported to have won one of the empty hosting chairs, but contract negotiations apparently hit a snag. The snag apparently was resolved. Congrats to Shepherd.


The Emmys will open with a musical number, according to The Hollywood Reporter. But, it’s not clear whether host Ryan Seacrest will be singing. I think we all know where Simon stands on this idea.

Former President Bill Clinton and wife Hillary apparently love the FX show Damages. Bill mentioned his affection for the show during an interview on Extra. Damages is a legal drama about a ruthless and ambition litigator. Insert your own jokes here.

A new interview with two of my favorite TV stars is up at The Frat Pack. Kristen Bell and Jason Segel are starring in the upcoming Judd Apatow film Forgetting Sarah Marshall. They have plenty say about the movie and each other. The film doesn’t open until May 2008, but it’s never too early for a shameless plug.

That Girl, Marlo Thomas, is set to guest star on Ugly Betty this season, according to E!Online. Also, Coach himself, Craig T. Nelson, is joining My Name is Earl, as the warden at the Camden County Jail, E! is reporting. Is it just me, or does Coach’s pal “Luther” seem a better fit for the wacky Earl gang?

If you cringe when the Emmy nominees are announced, then you’ll probably enjoy E!’s Tater Top Awards. The awards are chosen by TV fans, i.e. you, and seem to better reflect the TV stars/shows we love. For example, Kristen Bell, of Veronica Mars, was voted the Drama Queen and Lost’s Kate and Sawyer’s earned a prize for Best Show of Skin and Best Kiss. And no, I didn't rig the ballot box.

Subscribe by RSS

My Name is Earl: “Free Earl” music video

Remember the king of karma, Earl Hickey? In the season finale of My Name is Earl, he was headed to the hoosegow. Well, Joy and the rest of Earl’s pals aren’t having it. They’re on a mission to “Free Earl.”

To support their cause, they’ve created a music video, much like the “We Are the World” video from the 1980s. Yes, it’s as hilarious as it sounds. Watch Joy, Crabman, Randy and the rest of Earl’s gang get musical. But be warned: the song is catchy, so by the end you’ll be singing “Free Earl,” too.

Click this link to view the video or hit play below. The new season of My Name is Earl begins September 27 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Free Earl Music Video

Add to My Profile More Videos

Subscribe by RSS

Tube news

House scoop
Dr . House’s team of cohorts will be back this season, according to scoop out of the Television Critics Association press tour. After the finale, it appeared that House would be working with a new group of docs this season. However, Jesse Spencer, Omar Epps and Jennifer Morrison will all be back. I’m sure we have Cuddy to thank for this.

Laila Ali weds
Tough girl Laila Ali recently tied the knot, TV Guide is reporting. The Dancing with the Stars finalist married retired NFL star Curtis Conway on July 22. No word on whether her ex-partner Maks danced at the wedding.

Simpsons guest stars
A slew of celebrities have signed on to guest voice this year on The Simpsons. Jack Black, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Placido Domingo, Dan Rather, "Weird" Al Yankovic, Matt Dillon, Kurt Loder, Beverly D'Angelo, Maya Rudolph and Topher Grace will visit Springfield.

Ex-Creek star heads to CSI: NY
Kerr Smith of Dawson's Creek will be joining the cast of CSI: NY this season. As much as I love Jack McPhee, not even he could get me to watch that show.

Ex NYPD Blue star joins Jericho
Esai Morales, who NYPD Blue fans will recognize from his stint as the “boss,” will take a recurring role on CBS' resurrected midseason drama Jericho. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Morales is scheduled for six episodes.

Michael Rapaport to join My Name is Earl
Actor Michael Rapaport will play a fellow prisoner of Earl’s in the upcoming season of My Name is Earl. His character is recurring. Let’s hope that’s true. I don’t want to see Earl behind bars for the entirety of the season.

Subscribe by RSS

TCA press tour news: NBC

The Television Critics Association press tour is underway this week. First up, some juicy news came out of the NBC panel. Here are the highlights.

Karen will be back on The Office
Rashida Jones, who plays Karen, will be back this season for a handful of episodes, according to her costar John Krasinski. Office fans thought they’d seen the last of Karen, when Jim returned alone to Dunder Miflin in the season finale, but apparently Karen isn’t history yet. I’m worried that his could result in Pam walking barefoot over hot coals again.

Friday Night Lights schedule change
Friday Night Lights has been moved to Fridays at 9 p.m. ET., bumping Las Vegas to 10 p.m. ET. I think this is a good move for both shows, as Las Vegas was always a little risqué for the 9 p.m. timeslot. Plus, call me crazy, but a show with the word “Friday” in its title seems a better fit for Friday. Las Vegas returns Sept. 28.

Jerry Seinfeld to guest on 30 Rock
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld will guest star on the Oct. 4 season premiere of 30 Rock. Seinfeld will once again stretch his acting chops to play himself. Frankly, I’ve only watched one episode of 30 Rock, but if Seinfeld is visiting, I’m in.

Norman Lear producing new show for NBC
TV legend Norman Lear is producing an hour-long dramedy for the Peacock network. Kudos to NBC for snagging Lear. Perhaps there is hope for the reality TV-heavy network yet.

Earl and The Office return dates
Mark your calendar for September 27. That’s when we’ll find out how Earl is faring in jail and hopefully what happened on Jim and Pam’s date when My Name is Earl and The Office premiere.

The Apprentice goes celeb-reality
The Apprentice, which was somehow saved from the cancellation graveyard, is doing celebrity version of the show this season. Despite rumors, I think it’s safe to say that Rosie O’Donnell won’t be joining Donald and the gang in the boardroom.

Plenty of TV critics are cranking out amusing blogs and stories from the press tour. My favorites are TV Guide’s hilarious Michael Ausiello and the folks over at TV Squad.

Subscribe by RSS

My Name is Earl: Season finale laughs and shockers

Few shows make me laugh out loud anymore. And when they do, I let you know about it.

Don’t miss the season finale of My Name is Earl on Thursday, if you want a good old-fashioned belly laugh.

I watched the season finale already and counted the number of times I laughed out loud. For the record, it was 10, and that didn’t include the perma-grin planted on my face throughout the entire show.

I’m not sure who makes me giggle more: Joy, and her politically incorrect, brass, tell-it-like-it-is attitude, or Crabman, whose hair height acts as a mood meter for what’s going on in his life.

In the season ender, Joy is on trial for stealing a truck, and Earl is trying desperately to keep her out of prison. Oscar winner Marlee Matlin reprises her role as Joy’s deaf lawyer and brings along her hilarious translator.

Will Joy go to the big house and be karma’s bitch? Or will Earl concoct a plan to save her?

Sorry, I can’t tell you. NBC would dish out its own karma to me if I spoiled the surprise ending for you.

I can tell you this. Don’t miss Earl on Thursday at 8 p.m. on NBC.

Subscribe by RSS

Tonight is a TV lollapalooza

Photo: ABC, Kate Walsh and Tim Daly on Grey's Anatomy

Tonight very well may be the best night of television ever. Yes, ever.

Sure, I have a tendency for hyperbole, but this time, it’s true. Betty and Henry flirt, the Smallville gang goes Noir 1940s style, Earl gets a real job, The Office has a flasher, Felicity guest stars on Scrubs, and Addison heads to L.A. on Grey’s Anatomy.

Whew! It’s definitely May sweeps. If you don’t have a DVR, good luck! If you still use a VCR and are trying to juggle the manic Thursday night TV schedules, save your lunch money kids and splurge on the DVR, because no one should try and maneuver all these quality shows without one.

Here's what Tube Talk Girl recommends watching tonight:

Grey’s Anatomy: The highly anticipated two-hour episode that could become a spinoff airs tonight. Addison road trips to Los Angeles to visit some old medical school friends and meet new ones. (Hello Tim Daly!) Meanwhile, Cristina reluctantly plans her wedding, Derek performs emergency surgery on Jane Doe and George wants to transfer. 9 p.m. ET, ABC.

Scrubs: Keri Russell guest stars again tonight as Melody and rejects J.D.’s advances. Elliot plans her own “surprise” engagement party after the ring Keith gave her doesn’t fit, and the males of Sacred Heart realize that they’re unlucky in love. 9:15 p.m. ET, NBC

Ugly Betty: Papa Suarez faces deportation, Betty is still recovering from her hug with Henry and she’s also in charge of planning the magazine's Assistants Week party at a medieval-themed restaurant. 8 p.m. ET, ABC

The Office: A flasher hits the office, Dwight and Andy team up to ensnare the freak, and Michael takes the office ladies on a women's-appreciation excursion. 8:36 p.m. ET NBC

My Name is Earl: Earl gets a job at an appliance store and Joy faces her impending trial. Fans can play along with the Smell-A-Vision gimmick on tonight’s episode, scratching and sniffing a card from TV Guide when prompted during the program. 8 p.m. ET, NBC

Smallville: Lana is shot, Clark discovers why Lana married Lex, and Jimmy dreams of a 1940s Smallville. 8 p.m. ET, The CW.

Subscribe by RSS

My Name is Earl gets smelly

My Name is Earl is doing a special stunt Thursday night for May sweeps that, frankly, stinks.

Earl fans, welcome to Smell-A-Vision. It’s a scratch-n-sniff game viewers can play along with, as they watch the episode. Fans need a copy of this week’s TV Guide that contains a special “Laugh-n-Sniff” card or they can visit the NBC “laugh-n-sniff” Web site to play along online. Viewers will be prompted to “scratch and sniff” the card during the show to smell all the action.

When I first heard this, I had visions of redneck Earl prompting us to scratch and sniff his armpits, or Randy’s breath, or Crabman’s special “feel-good” brownies, but it turns out folks actually will be smelling the pleasant odors of popcorn, Oreo cookies, cinnamon buns, dryer sheets and more.

Catch all the smelly fun at 8 p.m. on NBC Thursday.

Subscribe by RSS

Tube News: Joss Whedon, Dawson returns to TV, Veronica Mars, Dancing with the Stars and more

Joss Whedon directing "The Office"
Perhaps everyone else in the free world already knows this, but I just found out that television-genius Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel) is directing an episode of The Office. This is an example of the things you learn from reading actors’ blogs. Jenna Fischer (Pam, The Office) talks about working with Whedon at her MySpace blog. The Whedon episode is scheduled to air in late February, according to Entertainment Weekly. If that’s not enough to entice you to read Fischer’s blog, she has some cute photos of John Krasinski posted there, too.

Veronica Mars not filming series final
The word out of the CW winter press tour is that Veronica Mars will not be filming a “series finale episode” this season. That means the writers won’t be wrapping up all the storylines in a nice, neat package, since they’re under the assumption that the show will continue on next season. That’s the good news. The bad news is that beginning March 6, the plucky detective goes on hiatus for eight weeks to make room for the CW’s new Pussycat Dolls reality show, where contestants compete to be the next Pussycat Doll. No, that wasn’t a joke. I wish.

Felicity is cover girl and pregnant, too
Felicity Porter, I knew you when. Imagine my surprise when I opened up the January issue of Cosmopolitan to find Felicity, or should I say the gorgeous Keri Russell, staring out at me in full-page color in a Cover Girl makeup ad. She looks incredible, peddling lip-gloss. Somewhere, Noel Crane is eating his heart out. In related news, TV Guide is reporting that Russell is expecting her first child with fiancée Shane Deary. Somewhere, Noel Crane is eating his heart out. That joke never gets old.

James Van Der Beek to guest star on "Criminal Minds"
Those of you wondering what happened to Dawson Leery, wonder no more. James Van Der Beek is guest starring on the CBS show Criminal Minds in the post Super Bowl episode. Van Der Beek is allegedly playing a seriously deranged sociopath. I don’t know about you, but I blame Joey Potter for this.

Brothers and Sisters casts "Everwood" alumnus
TV Guide is reporting that Emily VanCamp is joining Brothers & Sisters. VanCamp won the role of Rebecca, the illegitimate daughter of the show’s deceased patriarch. Everwood fans everywhere, rejoice.

The O.C. not picked up by the CW
I’ve received plenty of mail from you about your desire to keep The O.C. on the air and continue the adventures of Taylor and Ryan and the rest of the Cohens. I hear you, folks, but sadly this is a battle we can’t win. The CW did not pick up the show, as many of you had hoped. Yes, I agree it would have been an excellent fit for the network. But, apparently, the important people in charge of these decisions don’t agree. The O.C. series finale will air on Thursday, Feb. 22. Send tissues, Tubers.

"Dancing with the Stars" returns in March
Move over Emmitt Smith. Dancing with the Stars will return Monday, March 19, with a two-hour premiere. No word yet on which celebrities will be shaking and shimmying this spring.

Show pick ups for "Scrubs," "Earl," "The Office" and more
Scrubs will be back for a seventh and final season. Yay! Some of my other favorite NBC shows that are getting another season include The Office, My Name is Earl and Heroes. And over on The CW, everybody will go on hating Chris next year. Everybody Hates Chris was picked up for a third season.

Watch CW shows for free online
The CW network is offering viewers free TV at its Web site. Veronica Mars, One Tree Hill, Supernatural, Everybody Hates Chris, Beauty and the Geek, All of Us, Girlfriends, and The Game can be watched for up to four weeks after their initial on-air telecast. Unfortunately, Smallville isn’t among the shows included in the online viewing package at www.CWTV.com. I just know Lex Luthor had something to do with this.

Subscribe by RSS

Grey’s Anatomy, Earl and The Office return

Tonight is the night we’ve waited for all summer. We’ll finally find out —I hope— the fate of Meredith Grey’s teeny-weeny black bikinis. (I’m guessing Addison finds the panties somewhere on cheating McDreamy’s person, but I could be wrong.)

That’s just one of the mysteries waiting to be conquered in this season’s Grey’s Anatomy. The show starts at 9 p.m. EST on ABC.

For those of you who haven’t seen the spectacular promo for the new season, check it out here. (I so love The Fray!)



Other noteworthy shows returning tonight include My Name is Earl at 8 p.m. EST on NBC, followed by The Office at 8:30 p.m. To check out the hilarious sneak peek of My Name is Earl, click here. For an early look at The Office, click here.

Also, the new ABC show Six Degrees debuts at 10 p.m. EST.

Subscribe by RSS

Emmy recap 2006

by Jennifer Squires Biller

Bob Newhart was almost killed.

Christopher Meloni rode a Segway on stage.

And Conan O’Brien proved he’s funnier than anyone thought.

That, folks, was just a highlight of some of the wackiness at this year’s Emmys. Here’s a rundown of the highs and lows:

Best acceptance speech: Writer Greg Garcia, creator of My Name is Earl, proved why he’s worthy of an Emmy. His speech was the most entertaining of the night, as he mentioned people who he didn’t want to thank, including an 8th-grade teacher who told him he wasn’t funny and a boss who made him scrape gum off a producer’s shoe while working as a P.A. on Step by Step. The balding Garcia even put God on the list, “you took my hair, and that's not cool, man. Not cool!"

Best skit: Conan’s opening sequence. He took a page from Billy Crystal’s Oscar hosting book with this sequence and dropped in to some of our favorite TV shows: Lost, 24, House, The Office, Dateline NBC and South Park. On the Lost island, O’Brien asked Hurley to go with him down the Hatch to the Emmys. Hurley responded with the best joke of the night: “We weren’t exactly invited,” Hurley said stoically. “But you won last year. Nothing makes sense anymore,” O’Brien replied, voicing the argument of TV fans everywhere. (Despite winning last year’s Emmy for best drama, Lost and its cast didn’t earn one nomination this year, under the new Emmy voting process.)

Strangest skit: In an effort to curtail the customary long-winded acceptance speeches at the Emmys, O’Brien informed the audience that this year there would be consequences for going over the allotted three-hour show time. TV-legend Bob Newhart was enclosed in a glass chamber with only three hours of air. Cut to a panicked Newhart on stage, sealed in the tank, clock ticking, trying desperately to escape. Later, Jon Stewart proudly announced he’d decided to kill Newhart with his lengthy acceptance speech.

Biggest no-show: Where was Alan Alda? The TV legend was named best supporting actor in a drama for his work on The West Wing, but wasn’t there to claim the prize. Was he ill? Or still upset over last year’s loss? Alda did a fantastic job as Arnold Vinick on The West Wing, and his fans were sorry to see him absent from the ceremony.

Worst skit: In yet another attempt to emphasize the importance of keeping speeches short, O’Brien explained that in the future winners could use a quick, new method for accepting awards: the Segway. Cut to Christopher Meloni riding across the stage on the motor-propelled device, rattling off an acceptance speech. (Just a thought, perhaps if they canned a couple of these silly skits, then all that time-crunching wouldn’t be necessary. I’m just saying.)

Moment that had me holding my breath: It wasn’t any of the rambling acceptance speeches that threatened to deprive poor Newhart of precious air. It was the tribute to Aaron Spelling, when the original Charlie’s Angels reunited onstage, that had me sweating. Anyone who saw Farrah Fawcett at the William Shatner Comedy Central Roast knows that Farrah and public speaking are a lethal combination these days.

Biggest shockers: Grey’s Anatomy lost to 24 for best drama, and Barry Manilow bested David Letterman, Stephen Colbert, Craig Ferguson and Hugh Jackman (The Tony Awards) to win the Emmy for best performance in a variety or music program. I think I speak for all of us when I say, “huh?”

Best banter: Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart for presenting the award for best reality program. Their shtick started with Stewart going into his opening line about reality programs, when Colbert burst in with “Good Evening Godless Sodomites.” As Stewart tried to progress with the canned dialogue about the greatness of reality shows, Colbert interrupted with “it warps the minds of our children and weakens the resolve of our allies.” (Go, Stephen!) The shtick got funnier from there, as Colbert reminded the audience that they were worshipping the giant, golden statue of Babylon (pointing to the Emmy.) When Stewart asked Colbert why he was so bitter, Colbert broke from the script and replied, “I lost to Barry Manilow. Wolverine I could have lost to. He's got claws for hands." Priceless.

Worst banter: Martin Sheen and Charlie Sheen with some awkward jokes about Martin needing a job on Charlie’s show now that The West Wing was finished.

Biggest snub: Denis Leary went home without an Emmy for best actor in a drama. Shame on Emmy voters for this travesty. Leary’s scenes where his son died were Oscar worthy. Besides, Kiefer Sutherland, who did win this year, should have won years ago for 24. I swear, it’s like the voters are light years behind the rest of the TV-viewing world.

Conan the Music Man: Thumbs up to O’Brien’s opening song and dance number, in which he took aim at NBC’s ratings woes. Set to the tune of Trouble from The Music Man, O’Brien sang and danced out this great line: “To prove things are going to Hell, we’re relying on Howie Mandel.” What? Like you weren’t thinking it?

Conan the “Barb”-arian: No one was safe from O’Brien’s barbs throughout the night, as he took aim at Hollywood’s most controversial stars with these zingers: "Even movie stars have TV shows: Alec Baldwin has a new show on NBC, James Woods has a new show on CBS, and Mel Gibson has a new show on Al-Jazeera." And in disuccusing CBS’ Two and a Half Men’s high ratings, O’Brien quipped, "There's something about Charlie Sheen raising an impressionable young kid that just feels right." Ouch.

No Scrubs Love: Once again, Scrubs failed to score an Emmy for best comedy. It’s almost become a joke of Susan Lucci proportions. Oh well, I sort of feel like we’re our own little cool club of Scrubs fans, and the rest of the world just hasn’t caught on to the magic yet. Sorry bastards.

Best use of camera angle: During Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ acceptance speech, she awkwardly paused, saying she knew she was forgetting someone and that it would come back to haunt her later. The camera cut to a close-up of her husband smiling in the audience. Still not catching on, Debra Messing whispered to her to remind her, saving a potential Emmy-driven divorce scandal.

Biggest understatement of the night: “It’s not supposed to work this way,” uttered Blythe Danner when picking up her prize for best supporting actress in a drama for Huff, from a stiff field of contenders including Chandra Wilson and Sandra Oh of Grey’s Anatomy, Jean Smart of 24, and Candice Bergen of Boston Legal. No kidding, Blythe. But kudos to Danner for her parting line of “I guess I have to thank Showtime even though they cancelled us.” Nice.

I’d like to take the opportunity to congratulate all the winners. And all the losers. More importantly, the losers, since many deserving folks weren’t even nominated

For a complete list of Emmy winners/losers, visit http://www.emmys.org/.

What did you think of the show, Tubers? Share your comments in the comments section.

Subscribe by RSS

Tube News

Desperate Housewives
John, the hunky lawn boy who took care of more than Gaby’s lawn, is headed back to Wisteria Lane this season, according to E!Online. Someone hide Carlos’ weapons. Pronto. Also slated to join the cast is Josh Henderson, formerly of Over There.

My Name is Earl
Randy Hickey is about to become the envy of every man in America. Apparently, this season on My Name is Earl, he’ll be romancing the lovely Catalina, according to E!Online. Hmmm, maybe there is something to all of that karma stuff Earl continuously spouts.

Veronica Mars
Logan Echolls apparently has a half brother. Logan’s new sibling will be played by Matt Czuchry, of Gilmore Girls, according to Michael Ausiello. The newest member of the Echolls clan will arrive Oct. 24 and be named Charlie Stone.


Comic Con
My pal the TV Addict visited Comic Con in San Diego and cornered some of our favorite TV stars. Check out his coverage here.

Grey’s Anatomy video
As if I didn’t have enough reason already to love the song Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. Check out this video that highlights some of the best Grey’s Anatomy scenes ever. (R.I.P. hot bomb guy.) Thanks to Give Me My Remote for posting the video link and for making it impossible to get this song out of my head for the last two days.

Subscribe by RSS

The West Wing: Goodbye Leo and Mrs. Landingham’s other gigs

by Jennifer Squires Biller

I’d been dreading this episode of The West Wing. I knew saying goodbye to Leo, and by extension John Spencer, would be difficult. But, Leo’s funeral wasn’t as gut-wrenching as I expected. I thought there would be flashbacks or even a montage, as a tribute to Spencer. There wasn’t. Instead, the show offered a respectful funeral for one of its main characters and treated it as if the character died, not the actor.

I actually liked their version better than what I had envisioned (hysterical sobbing and music-filled montages.) The funeral wasn’t maudlin. It was simple and effective, much life Leo. And juxtaposing the staff moving on with business, seemed to fit the show’s spirit and the Bartlet administration’s trademark phrase of “What’s next?”

That said, the episode seemed to lack the emotional depth that marked Mrs. Landingham’s incredible service years ago, when President Bartlet railed against God in Latin. (One of my favorite episodes of television of all time.) I can only guess that the difference here was that writing a funeral for someone who had really died, a friend and co-worker, was a difficult task that the show runners didn’t want to play as disingenuous. So, they kept it simple. And that was sad enough. I’m sure the cast was shedding real tears for Spencer, as the camera panned their faces raw with pain. No acting was necessary. The shot of President Bartlet, President-Elect Santos, Charlie and Josh carrying the flag-draped casket was a powerful moment. Well done.

It was great to see some old faces again at the service. (Hello, Ainsley!) But where was Sam, Leo’s friend and former co-worker? Since Rob Lowe is returning anyway, I couldn’t believe that “Sam” wouldn’t have flown in from sunny California to pay his respects. And I was hoping to hear the president say a few words at the service about his dearest friend.

The other plot lines in this episode helped to lighten the mood. Watching Danny and C.J. fret about a booty call and Josh and Donna’s continued flirtation gave us some humor. And I couldn’t help but chuckle when Charlie threatened to slap Josh around a little for Donna. (I’ve threatened to do that myself a few times.) Go Charlie!

Next week’s episode looks even better. Sam, Josh and the whole gang are back together again. Well, most of them anyway. Rest in peace Leo McGarry.

Mrs. Landingham’s other gigs
I admit I’ve never quite recovered from Mrs. Landingham’s death on The West Wing. It was shocking and tragic. Lesson: Don’t buy a new car, ever! I never understood why the talented Kathryn Joosten left the White House. (She and Martin Sheen had wonderful chemistry, and I loved their playful banter.)

While Mrs. Landingham is now just a fond memory, Joosten continues to grace our screen in some unforgettable roles. Did you catch her on My Name is Earl and Grey’s Anatomy? She’s currently starring as Mrs. McClusky, the meddling neighbor/babysitter on Desperate Housewives. This weeek, she had one of the funniest lines of the show, when she explained to neighbor Lynette that her son Parker was bartering food for a glimpse of the female anatomy. Watching Joosten throw out the line that she’d spent the day “talking about my woo-woo” was priceless.

Tube Talk Girl can be reached by e-mail at jennifer@tube-talk.com.

Subscribe by RSS