Welcome TV fans! This is the new home for Tube Talk, the place for TV show reviews, celebrity interviews, news & scoop. E-mail Tube Talk Girl at jenbiller@frontier.com or reach her by mail at RR 3 Box 155, Bridgeport, WV 26330.
We made it through the first big week of new-show premieres, and the good news is I haven’t seen a Head Cases yet. The bad news is, I haven’t found a new Lost or Veronica Mars either. But, this week, several more new shows debut, so I’m not giving up hope.
As always, here is the Tube Talk ratings guide. The ratings are based on having viewed only one episode of each show. So in some cases, you may want to try out the shows for a few weeks before calling it quits, as they sometimes take a few episodes to find their footing. If a show debuted this week (Sept. 17-24) but isn’t here for review, well, take that as a sign.
Ratings Guide: Four stars — Do NOT miss this show. Use extreme measures if necessary, including hiding if visitors ring the doorbell, screening phone calls, and bribing a neighbor to record it for you if you haven’t mastered your DVR/VCR. Or just become completely irrational and don’t leave home when it’s on. (Previously rated four-star shows include Lost, Jack and Bobby, and Freaks and Geeks.)
Three stars — It’s good. Catch it if you can. (Previously rated three-star shows include Bones and Joey.)
Two stars — If you’re home with nothing to do, turn it on, but don’t waste your precious TiVo hours on it. (Previously rated two-star shows include Father of the Pride and Clubhouse.)
One star — It’s so bad you’ll want to shut off the TV and write an angry letter to the network that aired it. (Previously rated one-star shows include The Help and Head Cases.)
Smith — Thieves, killers, and eye candy all play a part in this engrossing, action-packed drama. It’s Ocean’s 11 for television, except the storylines and characters are much darker. And these bandits don’t seem to have the same knack for pulling off perfect crimes the way George Clooney and company do on the big screen. So far, the Smith gang is down one member due to a shootout— ending in a chest full of bullets for one sorry lad— and they managed to leave behind a witness who can identify the only female member of the team (Amy Smart, Felicity.) Another member of the group just got out of prison for a job that went wrong. So, they aren’t exactly smooth criminals. Simon Baker and Virginia Madsen steal the show, and I hope they’ll get more screen time. (And a special thanks to the smart exec who gave us Baker surfing in his opening scene.) The entire cast is brilliant, from Ray Liotta to Smart. However, Smith is a risky concept for television, as this is a group of thieves and murderers. That seriously hinders the likeability factor for the characters, which is usually key for a TV show to succeed. I applaud CBS for taking a chance with this daring drama. It was the best new show of the week. (CBS, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. EST)
Six Degrees — It’s hard to believe this dud of a drama is from TV-genius J.J.Abrams, who gave us two of TV’s greatest series ever: Lost and Felicity. Six Degrees and Abrams’ last dramatic effort, (What About Brian), have left me wondering what happened to the Abrams’ magic. Six Degrees isn’t horrible; it just isn’t memorable either. The premise of the show is that a group of strangers in New York City are somehow, by fate, all connected. In the premiere, we met the characters and watched as they tried to maneuver the rocky world of romance and life. Yawn. I was bored before the 20-minute mark. (Sorry, J.J. Don’t hate me.) You should know that not everyone feels the way I do about this show. In fact, E!Online’s Kristin Veitch loved it. (ABC, Thursdays at 10 p.m. EST)
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip — Maybe it was the hype that had me expecting this to be the best new drama of the season. Sadly, it isn’t. I liked the show. I didn’t love it, which is unusual considering that TV-writer-extraordinaire Aaron Sorkin is behind it. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is a behind-the-scenes look at a fictional sketch comedy TV series. (Think Saturday Night Live.) Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford are as charming as ever in their roles as a TV writer and producer, and Amanda Peet sparkles. However, the show, overall, seemed a little slow-paced and a bit flat. It lacks the charm of Sorkin’s signature show The West Wing. Considering Studio 60 is set in the world of television, I’m sure there are plenty of juicy stories to tell. I’m hoping we get to see a few of them here. My fellow critics who have seen the second episode tell me it gets better. I hope they’re right. (NBC, Mondays at 10 p.m. EST.)
---Editor's note, after viewing episode 2:My fellow critics were right. If you gave up on this show after the first week, try it again. The second and third episodes were much better, and Sorkin's signature cadence and pacing are back.
Brothers and Sisters — Calista Flockhart and Sally Field star in this family drama, heavy on the drama. It seems their mother/daughter relationship is strained at best. Make no mistake: This isn’t the Walton family. The Walkers have problems that can’t be solved within the span of an hour. The acting is top-notch in this series, but I’m not sure I care enough yet about the characters to make a weekly date with this one. I was excited that Tom Skerritt was part of the cast, but they killed him off in the premiere. Is it possible he’ll be back as a ghost, because that could get me to keep watching? I was most intrigued by Flockhart’s character, Kitty, a conservative political pundit, and her brother, Justin (Dave Annable,) a war veteran and drug addict. If you like family drama and have siblings, this one may be to your liking. (ABC, Sundays at 10 p.m. EST.)
Jericho — If you’re fascinated with disaster shows — or Skeet Ulrich — you’ll definitely want to check out Jericho. It’s the story of a small, Kansas town that survives a nuclear attack. The drama unfolds as residents see a mushroom cloud and realize that other cities across the nation have been hit. Panic, fear and unrest hit residents, as the mayor (Gerald McRaney) tries to keep order. Ulrich is solid as the mayor’s estranged son and the reluctant hero. Jericho held my attention, but isn’t nearly as gripping as last year’s brilliant drama Invasion. ( I know, I have to let it go.) (CBS, Wednesday's at 8 p.m. EST.)
**Check back soon for TubeTalk Girl’s take on Heroes, Ugly Betty, The Nine and Friday Night Lights.
What did you think of this week's new shows? What are your favorites? Share your thoughts in our comments section.
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.
“I’m in love with you. It’s probably not good timing. I know that. I just… I needed you to hear it.”
Sincerely, Tube Talk Girl
The above words, spoken by Jim Halpert, left me kicking myself this week and asking, “Why didn’t someone tell me about the power of Pam and Jim?” (OK, so Give Me My Remote, you did tell me.) The point is, I should have made time for the Dunder Mifflin gang in my busy schedule during the last two TV seasons, but there were the Lost folks, and the Neptune high kids, and the Smallville gang, and the lawyers at Crane, Poole and Schmidt, and Earl and his karmic lottery ticket and, well, you get the picture.
When The Office debuted, I watched the pilot episode, gave it a favorable review in my weekly newspaper column , and then apparently forgot it existed. Fast forward to this summer. Having heard all the buzz about the show, I decided to set my DVR to try and get all of last season’s episodes. After a two-week marathon of Office episodes, I’m hooked. I just finished watching the casino episode, the booze cruise episode, and the bring-your-daughter-to-work day episode. Brilliant, each and every one of them. And John Krasinski just may be the most underrated actor on television.
So yes, just like Jim, my timing is bad. I’m late in promoting this little show, and I already have too many hours of programming on my DVR for Thursday nights, but there it is. Please watch The Office tonight at 8:30 EST. Finally, on the very day of the brand new season, I can proudly say, “I support Office romances.”
For those of you still in the dark about why this show — and specifically Pam and Jim — have everyone from Tube Talk Girl to Joss Whedon swooning, check out this clip. (You have to wait a second for the ad to play, before the Pam/Jim goodness starts.)
Our friends at ABC are offering sneak peeks at their new fall line-up. Check out the links below for clips and other cool information.
I’ve come to expect great things from the Alphabet Network, considering it gave us McDreamy, Sawyer, Jack and Kate, Alan Shore and Denny Crane, Bree, Susan, and the girls, and my dearly departed Invasion. From what I’ve seen of ABC's new fall line-up, it looks consistent with the quality programming they’ve cranked out the past few seasons.
I’m most excited about Ugly Betty and The Nine. I’ve seen a few minutes of The Nine, starring Tim Daly and Scott Wolf, and I have to tell you, Tubers... Oh. My. (Insert expletive here.) It looks amazing.
Brothers and Sisters and Men in Trees also look promising.
In honor of some of your favorite ABC characters and shows, Tube Talk is giving you the chance to win a fun-filled prize pack that includes an ABC hat and t-shirt. Free swag, folks. Does it get any better?
To enter, simply fire off an e-mail to tubetalkgirl@gmail.com with the words ABC Contest in the subject line. Be sure to include your name and physical mailing address in the e-mail along with the name of your favorite ABC TV character and show. Two winners will be chosen randomly, and I’ll forward the results of your favorites to ABC. The contest deadline is October 14. Good luck! Check out the complete preview of ABC’s fall schedule here.
Cast: Tim Daly (Wings), Chi McBride (Boston Public), and Scott Wolf (Party of Five)
Synopsis: So much in life is beyond your control. One day you wake up and go to work like a regular day. Suddenly a random moment, an accident, a blessing, even a stranger, comes from out of the blue and redirects your life forever. But it's up to you to decide if that moment will stop you in your tracks or lift you up to new heights. Today nine people face just such an unexpected twist when they are caught in a bank robbery gone wrong and endure a 52-hour hostage standoff that will leave two persons dead. When all is said and done, these nine people will never be the same. They will always share the common bond of what happens inside the bank…which only they'll know. And they will be forever affected and intertwined because of it. From the creator of Without a Trace and an executive producer of The West Wing comes a dramatic character study that will keep audiences hooked from the beginning of the bank robbery to the end of the hostage standoff. Taking a twist from Lost, each episode will begin with a flashback to reveal another 10 minutes of the hostage crisis, uncovering why and how these nine strangers are still linked today.
Cast: Jay Hernandez (Friday Night Lights), Erika Christensen (Flightplan), Bridget Moynahan (Sex and the City), and Hope Davis (About Schmidt)
Synopsis: It's said that six people separate any one person from another. Considering the millions of people in the United States alone, it's an amazing thought that we're connected to anyone and everyone by a chain of six. Laura, a grieving single mother, begins the chain. Then to Whitney, the self-made success story who thinks her boyfriend is cheating. Move on to Steven, the artist/photographer who believes he's lost his 'eye.' Follow with Damian, who can't escape his criminal brother's shadow. Then to Mae, the girl with a dangerous past she's hiding from. And finally to Carlos, the good guy with a crush who doesn't know what he's in for. These six strangers are going about their normal lives but not realizing the impact they're having on each other – yet. It's a mysterious web of seeming coincidence and happenstance that draws these people closer to those who will change their lives forever. Even decisions made freely will seem part of a larger design begging the question if there is a greater force at work in our world, guiding us along and connecting our lives. The producers of Lost and Alias create an intriguing tale of intertwined strangers. It's a story that will prove just how small the world really is and how someone just five people away could be shaping your future right now.
Cast: Mark Indelicato, Tony Plana, Ana Ortiz, Ashley Jensen, America Ferrera, William Abadie, Alan Dale, Eric Mabius, Vanessa Williams, Michael Urie, Becki Newton
Synopsis: In the superficial world of high fashion, image is everything. Styles come and go and the only constants are wafer-thin beauties who wear it. Where could a girl who is less than pretty and a little bit pudgy possibly fit in? If you knew Betty Suarez, you'd see how sweet, intelligent and hard-working she is. Few people ever get to know her because in the world of fashion, Betty is the oversized square peg, in the petite round hole. But finally, her looks and lack of fashion sense are going to be an asset. When publishing mogul Bradford Meade hands the reigns of his fashion magazine, Mode, over to his son Daniel, he specifically hires Betty as his son's new assistant - mostly because she's the only woman in NYC who Daniel won't sleep with. Repulsed at first, Betty will win him over with her efficiency. Neither of them really knows the ins and outs of the fashion world, but the two of them are a formidable team against the label-wearing sharks who will do anything to see them fail. That includes many couture co-workers with botoxed smiles on their faces and knives behind their Galliano backs. Executive Producer Salma Hayek and the creator of Urban Legend brings the Latino television phenomenon to an English-speaking audience. America Ferrera (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) and Eric Mabius (The L Word) are the Working Girl couple who tackle the colorful, cutthroat world of fashion head on.
Cast: Anne Heche as Marin Frist, Abraham Benrubi as Ben, Emily Bergl as Annie, Seana Kofoed as Jane, Suleka Mathew as Sara, Derek Richardson as Patrick, Sarah Strange as Theresa, James Tupper as Jack and John Amos as Buzz.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS Premiere Date: Sunday, September 24 at 10/9C No sneak peek is available, but the cast alone should make you tune in.
Cast: Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths, Sally Field, Ron Rifkin, Patricia Wettig, Balthazar Getty, Dave Annable, Matthew Rhys, John Pyper-Ferguson and Sarah Jane Morris.
Synopsis: Brothers and Sisters is a compelling, new one-hour primetime drama from executive producers Ken Olin and playwright Jon Robin Baitz about the California-based Walker family. In the series, we meet a collection of incredibly intertwined and somewhat damaged adult siblings who embrace one another unconditionally while striving to reflect the perceived perfection of their role model parents. In the days ahead, they will navigate waves of temptation, deception and grief. Brothers and Sisters follows the Walkers through the maze of American life today -- the pressures, limitless options and the struggle to grow beyond our backgrounds into ourselves. Through these fascinating siblings -- Sarah (Rachel Griffiths), the corporate VP who returns to the family business so she can give to her marriage as much as she does to her career; Tommy (Balthazar Getty), the loyal son yet charming womanizer; Kevin (Matthew Rhys), the gay lawyer cautiously learning about love; Justin (Dave Annable), the baby of the family, grappling with war trauma and addiction; and Kitty (Calista Flockhart), right-wing radio host turned TV pundit who has always been Daddy's little girl -- the show explores what it means to be a family in the 21st century, and how these brothers and sisters balance their own lives as they strive to accept their parents as people -- flawed, contradictory and forgivable -- rather than just as a father and mother. The parents are Tom Skerritt as William Walker, the larger-than-life patriarch and president of the family business, and Sally Field as Nora Holden, the opinionated wife and mother to the five Walker siblings. Then there's Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Nora's dandyish brother; John Pyper-Ferguson as Sarah's husband, Joe; Sarah Jane Morris as Tommy's wife, Julia; and Patricia Wettig as the mystery woman who could bring the Walkers and their company down. Brothers and Sisters stars Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal) as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under) as Sarah, Sally Field (Norman Rae) as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin (Alias) as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig (thirtysomething) as Holly, Balthazar Getty (Alias) as Thomas, Dave Annable (Reunion) as Justin, Matthew Rhys (Titus, Love and other Disasters) as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson (Unforgiven, Nightstalker) as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris (Felicity) as Julia. Ken Olin (Alias, thirtysomething), Jon Robin Baitz (The Substance of Fire, The West Wing) and Greg Berlanti (Everwood) are executive producers. The series is produced by Touchstone Television.
The new CW network hit the airwaves this week and kicked things off with an all-star launch party and behind-the-scenes interviews with Tom Welling (Smallville), Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill), Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill) Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars) and others.
In case you haven’t heard, the WB and UPN are no more. However, most of your favorite shows from those networks have been picked up by the new CW. (Well, except for Everwood.) Sorry, Tubers.
The biggest surprise of the launch-party show may have been the reveal of how One Tree Hill’sDan Scott spent his summer: apparently at the gym. Did you see the guns on actor Paul Johansson, during his interview with Hilarie Burton? Whoa! Lucas, you have been warned.
“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.)
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?
The trailer for We Are Marshall hit theaters last weekend. Those of you who watched Zach Braff’s new movie Last Kiss may have seen the trailer, if you made it in time for the previews.
We Are Marshall is the story of the Marshall University football team that was killed in a plane crash and the subsequent effort to rebuild the school’s football program and the community’s spirit. The film stars Matthew Fox and Matthew McConaughey.
For those of you who want to see what the movie is about, you can check it out here. Please note, for those of you here in West Virginia or across the country, who had friends or family members on the plane, the trailer does show the team in the air a few seconds before the crash and a shot of the aftermath.
The film is scheduled to open nationwide December 22, with the premiere here in West Virginia.
Part two of Matt Webb Mitovich’s entertaining interview with Allison Mack (Chloe, Smallville)is up at TV Guide. Thank you Matt! Allison discusses the infamous kiss that left fans screaming, whether she and Clark can still be “just friends” and what she thinks of all those Chlark fans hoping for a Chloe/Clark romance.
In other Smallville news, if you haven’t yet seen this season’s new promo, then check it out here. You’ll get a glimpse of the Green Arrow and Jimmy Olsen. I know it’s just cruel to torture you with this, considering we have to wait until Sept. 28 for an “all new Smallville.” But, my theory is that any new video of Clark Kent must be shared. You're welcome.
"Nip/Tuck" and "House" season premieres tonight Don’t forget that the new seasons of Nip/Tuck and House begin tonight. Nip/Tuck returns on F/X at 10 p.m. and House returns on FOX at 9 p.m. For those of you who just can’t wait for a sneak peak at Nip/Tuck, Breath of Fresh Ink has the first photos of the much-talked-about shower scene with Julian McMahon and Mario Lopez. Be warned: these photos are for mature eyes only and may suddenly give you the urge to take a shower. After looking at those pictures, I think it’s safe to say who I’ll be rooting for in this season’s Dancing with the Stars. (Lopez all the way!) Who knew A.C. Slater had all those (cough, cough) assets.
Steve Irwin deat at 44 Television’s Crocodile HunterSteve Irwin was killed Monday, while swimming with a stingray on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Irwin was videotaped pulling a poisonous stingray barb from his chest in his last moments of life, according to the Associated Press. For more on his tragic death, check out the story at MSN.
Smallville photos from new season Those of you who can’t wait until Sept. 28 for a new episode of Smallville, you can get a sneak peak of the season premiere production stills at Devoted to Smallville. Spoiler-phobes, you have been warned. Chlark fans, there is some eye candy there for you, too.
My Network TV debuts new shows tonight Fashion House and Desire, two new shows from the new channel My Network TV, debut tonight at 9 p.m. EST and 8 p.m. EST, respectively. Fashion House stars Bo Derek and Morgan Fairchild and is set in the cut-throat world of the fashion industry. Desire stars Sofia Milos and Nate Haden. The shows will air five nights a week, with a Saturday recap for their 13-week story arcs. For trailers and prequels of Fashion House and Desire, check out www.mynetworktv.com.
As you know, I’ve been plugging a little movie called We Are Marshall, despite that this is a TV blog. The movie stars Matthew Fox (Lost) and mega-movie-star Matthew McConaughey. (And I might be one of the nameless, faceless extras playing a reporter in the press conference scenes, if Warner Brothers got my bribe, and I don’t end up on the cutting-room floor.) Warner Brothers has released the first official movie photos featuring Fox and McConaughey.
In other We Are Marshall news, my fellow writer and former co-worker Danny Forinash, now with The State Journal, has a fantastic interview with former Marshall University head football coach Jack Lengyel and former quarterback Reggie Oliver, who helped rebuild the 1971 team, after the devastating plane crash in 1970 that killed the majority of players and coaches. In the interview, McConaughey is quoted telling Lengyel that, “Jack, I've done 30 movies. About 5 percent of your movies are what you'd call real good movies. About half of the others, they'll find a date and release them. And the other half, they'll cut up and end up throwing away. This may be one of the best movies I've ever made." From what I saw on set the day I filmed, he isn’t exaggerating. I still get chills thinking about it. The movie premieres Dec. 12 in Huntington, W.Va., home of Marshall University, before opening nationwide.
"Jennifer, you're such a sweetheart. Thanks. This email was passed on to me, and I passed it on to my publicist. She liked the article. Thanks again. I can't believe I start shooting season 3 next week. This summer has flown by! Hopefully, you’ll enjoy season 3 and hopefully our ratings are great!” xoxoxoxo michael muhney
Hugs and kisses from Michael Muhney. (**Blushing.**) Yep, I can die happy now.
But the best part is, Michael has agreed to answer some of our most burning questions, during an upcoming interview here at Tube Talk. So, dig deep, Tubers, and send me ideas for anything you’ve ever wanted to know about Sheriff Lamb, Neptune or Michael. I promise to interrogate him in true Tube Talk fashion. (Handcuffs not required.)
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 BlytheDanner 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
OK, so I haven’t exactly embraced Emmy coverage at Tube Talk this year. Don’t blame me. Blame the so-called TV fans, masquerading as Emmy voters, who churned out a list of nominees that includes Kevin James and Alfre Woodard, but not Hugh Laurie or Kristen Bell.
But with the Emmys less than a day away, it’s time to take a look at the nominees who deserve to win (and there are several good choices.) I’ve put aside my bitterness long enough to dish the Emmys with all of you who’ve e-mailed me asking my opinions in several categories. You’re welcome.
Let me start by saying that if Denis Leary (Rescue Me) does not score the win for Lead Actor in a Drama Series, no amount of Prozac will be able to pull me out of the hole of depression that will surely ensue. Leary’s performance is so off-the-charts fantastic, that I actually feel sorry for those of you who don’t watch this mesmerizing show. Leary makes viewers laugh, cry, empathize, sympathize and shake their heads in disgust and agreement all at the same time.
For Outstanding Drama Series, Grey’s Anatomy needs to claim the prize to reestablish any trust I had in Emmy voters. And that won’t be easy, considering Lost and Veronica Mars should be competing in this category, too, but sadly didn’t make the nominee list. OK, I’m not going there. Moving on…
For Outstanding Comedy Series, the brilliant medical satire Scrubs deserves the win. Last season was the best yet. The fact that Donald Faison wasn’t nominated is beyond inexplicable. But, it gives me hope that this under appreciated show may finally get the recognition it deserves to make up for the snub.
For Outstanding Supporting Actressin a Drama, Chandra Wilson of Grey’s Anatomy deserves to take home the gold. Period.
For Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Jaime Pressly, of My Name is Earl, is my pick. Her Joy is Emmy-worthy in any scene.
For Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, I think you all know my choice. Yep, Grey’s Anatomy hot bomb guy, also known as the fantastic Kyle Chandler is the standout. He owned those scenes in the haunting two-parter. Although, sadly, Emmy voters will more than likely vote for Michael J. Fox for his stint on Boston Legal.
Those are the categories for which I’m truly excited to see the winners announced. The rest of the race, well, not so much.
I promise to put my acrimony aside and return to my perky self, in order to bring you an objective review of the Emmys on Sunday. So, check back for my thoughts on the show and the winners. (They're all winners just being nominated.) See, I'm feeling bubblier already.
Chloe fans, you don’t want to miss this fantastic interview with Smallville’sAllison Mack at TV Guide. It’s good stuff, Tubers. She discusses the wildly popular theory that she’ll turn out to be the real Lois Lane, and she gives us the 411 on why the new CW promos don’t include Chloe. Stupidity is my guess. (No, I’m not bitter.) Apparently, the network/show execs don’t venture online much, or they’d know Chloe is the most popular female character in Smallville and the subject of endless message boards and fan fictions. (Mack just snagged a Teen Choice Award for Best Sidekick, and several Kryptonsite awards, including Best Actress.) But I digress…
The TV Guide Web site touts an upcoming “Part II” to the interview that includes Mack’s thoughts on “the fallout from Chloe and Clark's season-finale kiss, what Clark did during his ‘summer vacation’ in the Phantom Zone, and who she thinks is cool."
They haven’t posted part II yet — those teases — but be sure to check back at the TV Guide site for the Chloe scoop. The CW may have left her out, but TV Guide obviously gets it.
Vote for Kristen Bell We all know Kristen Bell should have been an Emmy nominee and winner this year, but sadly she wasn’t. So to make up for the ridiculous snub by Emmy voters, go vote for her in the first-ever Media Village awards. We can all show Kristen some love and, hopefully, help her take home the award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series that she so richly deserves. If you don’t think Bell should score this honor, I defy you to watch this outstanding clip and not give this gal your vote.
Season 2 DVDs now available Season 2 of Veronica Mars is now available, so get your copy now. You can see a list of the DVD extras here.
To see a cool satellite map of all the libraries where Veronica Mars DVDs have been donated, click here.
Casting scoop Enrico Colantoni (Keith Mars) is reuniting with his former Just Shoot Me love interest Laura San Giacomo this season on Veronica Mars, according to TV Guide. San Giacomo will guest star in several episodes as “a woman who comes into Mars Investigation and asks Keith to prove that her husband is cheating on her, and the two of them kind of hit it off," Mars’ creator Rob Thomas told TV Guide. "So Keith is really hoping he finds evidence that he's cheating." Those of you who never watched Just Shoot Me, you’ll probably remember San Giacomo as Julia Roberts’ hooker sidekick, in Pretty Woman, who invented a new, and memorable, way to say Cinderella. In other casting news, Patty Hearst — yes, that Patty Hearst — is set to guest star as the granddaughter of Hearst College's [founder], who goes missing the night before an important vote about the future of the school. I’m not sure what to make of this casting move. It’s strange and a little eerie, yes?
Ed Begley Jr. to star – Spoiler alert Ed Begley Jr. has been cast as Cyrus O’Dell, the dean of Hearst University, according to TV Guide. He apparently is not well liked in the world of academia, as he is “the college dean most often burned in effigy in the entire nation.” Students, faculty and board members don’t like his methods he often uses to “fix” the universities. He seldom stays more than two or three years at one school, according to TV Guide.
You heard it here first. Dean Cain will not be reprising his role as Montecito owner Casey Manning this season on Las Vegas.
In a recent chat, Cain said he won’t be back this fall. However, he did not rule out a return entirely. “Things change…I’ll keep you posted,” Cain told fans, during the chat. To read the entire chat transcript with Cain, click here.
OK, it’s up to you to help “things change,” Tubers. Please fire off an email to NBC and let them know you’d like Casey to stick around, and better yet, for Casey to get a decent storyline that makes sense with the show’s history. (Novel idea, I know.)
I know plenty of you love him on the show, as I get tons of traffic here from Google searches about his role on Las Vegas. My consistent pet peeve with Las Vegas is that major plot points/characters are dropped abruptly, and new story arcs are written with no regard for the past. (Hello, Sam and Casey. Hello, Nessa. Hello, Sam and the silver.) And it appears it may be happening again.
Cain was a perfect fit with the cast. He had chemistry with Ed, Danny, Delinda, Sam and even (gulp) Mary. He was absolutely the most entertaining hotel owner the show has ever had. The paintball episode where Casey forced the employees to attend and “work as a team” was one of the funniest of the series. There was plenty of story to be played out for Casey Manning, if the writers would have tapped into the Sam/Casey history. I have no idea how the show will handle his exit, or if it will just be ignored, and he’ll never be mentioned again. I guess we should just be grateful he won’t be blown off the roof.
I’m still hoping the Las Vegas show execs change their minds and keep Cain. Don’t they know that Superman is always a sure bet?
"Scrubs" musical Turk and the air band was just the beginning. An entire musical episode of Scrubs is headed our way this season, according to series creator Bill Lawrence. Can I get a Woo Hoo? Apparently, a patient with an aneurysm sees everything as a musical, thus setting the stage for the singing doctors and my complete bliss. TV Guide’sMichael Ausiello has all the details about the musical episode, from his chat with Lawrence. Enjoy.
Congrats to "Smallville’s" Allison Mack Regular readers know I’m a huge fan of Smallville’sChloe. Her portrayer, the talented Allison Mack, won a Teen Choice Award for Best Sidekick. It’s about time someone gave her props for her endless devotion and expositions. (cough, cough, Clark Kent.) She also was voted Best Actress in the Kryptonsite Awards, and she and Clark won best couple. The awards at Kryptonsite include fun categories such as grossest scene, best line and best scene involving nudity. (Yes, Lois and that patriotic pole-dancing scene took that category.)
Casting tidbits Oliver Hudson, who you’ll remember from Dawson’s Creek as the guy Joey foolishly hooked up with after Pacey, has been tapped to play the male in the CBS mid-season comedy Rules of Engagement. In other news, Ally McBeal alum Jane Krakowski is joining NBC's 30 Rock, and Everwood’sChris Pratt is joining The O.C., on Nov. 2, as an environmentalist who befriends Summer. I can already hear Seth and the tree-hugger jokes.(Source: TV Guide)
Joss Whedon was a "West Wing" Josh/Donna shipper Longtime Tube Talk readers know my love for all things Joss Whedon, brilliant writer and creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. He recently wrote a list of his favorite TV characters of all time. It’s a fun read, and I was shocked to learn that he shared my affection for Josh and Donna on The West Wing. Yep, it’s official. Whedon is now on my list of top 25 favorite TV people. (Thanks to GMMR for sharing the list.)
"Invasion" on DVD My favorite new drama of last season, Invasion, is now available on DVD. Extras include a gag reel, deleted scenes and featurette with Shaun Cassidy. Too bad there isn’t a special feature from ABC explaining why it renewed What About Brian instead of the brilliant Invasion. Nope, I'm not bitter.
"House" casting news David Morse is joining House for several episodes this season as a cop who apparently has a bigger ego than House. Morse’s character is named Michael Tritter, according to TV Guide. TV viewers will recognize Morse from his show Hack. Well, maybe not.
"Lois and Clark" DVD release Season 4 of the Dean Cain/Terri Hatcher show will be released on November 14, according to TV Shows on DVD. To see the details, click here.
FOX offers "Bones" on the Web FOX is apparently offering free TV on the web now. If you haven’t seen Bones, the excellent show starring David Boreanaz, I recommend you check it out here: http://streaming.myfoxal.com/index.html. The new season starts August 30 at 8 p.m. on FOX.
"My Name is Earl" – spoiler alert Burt Reynolds is guest starring in My Name is Earl this season as the owner of Earl and Randy's favorite strip club, according to TV Guide. In other spoilery scoop, Joy finally gets hers and is headed to the slammer. Earl, can you say prison break?
"The O.C." - spoiler alert Ryan apparently gets all fight club in an episode this year, and we get to finally meet Summer’s “step monster” according to spoilers from E!Online.
If Magazine landed a brief interview with one of Smallville’s newest cast members, Aaron Ashmore. He’s signed on to play Jimmy Olsen this season. Check out his comments about his new role, as well as his comments about playing Veronica Mars’ boyfriend Troy Vandergraff.
Kryptonsite has a great interview with Smallville’s other new cast member, Justin Hartley. He’s signed on to play the Green Arrow and a love interest for Lois. Lois must have a thing for superheroes. First Aquaman, now the Green Arrow and eventually Superman. Well, at least she has good taste.
Last season it was the Tailies and The Others. This season, it appears we’ll be seeing even more new faces on the Lost island. Hunky Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro will join the cast, according to TV Guide. (See photo.)
Related'sKiele Sanchez is also joining the cast (see photo below,) and it appears Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) will be a series regular this season, according to Kristin Veitch at E!. In other Lost news, the Lost Season 2 DVD will include a Sawyer feature that edits together “every single insult that Sawyer has ever made,” Lost exec Damon Lindelof told folks at Comic Con. “It's astonishing when you hear them all together really. It's hilarious,” said fellow exec Carlton Cuse. “You can sit at home and play with your friends and try to figure out who he's talking about,” Lindelof said.
Sounds like a good way to spend a Saturday night. You all know my love for Sawyer, and it seems like that little featurette will be worth the price of the DVD.
FOX apparently liked Invasion too. At least it seems that way, considering the network has scooped up the show’s two main stars: Eddie Cibrian and William Fichter.
Cibrian, and his heavenly dimples, has joined the cast of Vanished as an F.B.I. agent, according to Zap2It.
I hadn’t planned on watching Vanished, due to my already hectic TV schedule, but with Josh Hopkins on board and now Cibrian, a girl can’t resist.
Fichter, as previously reported, will be chasing Wentworth Miller and his band of merry convicts on Prison Break this season.
Kudos to CBS for its decision to run several of its programs for free on its new ad-supported broadband channel innertube.
The network is offering CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, CSI: MIAMI, CSI: NY, JERICHO, NCIS, NUMB3RS And SURVIVOR the morning after their initial network broadcast, according to a CBS press release. The programs will be presented with limited commercial interruption.
The channel inntertube can be accessed through CBS.com.
Each episode of the three CSI series, NCIS and NUMB3RS will be available for free viewing on innertube for four weeks following the initial network broadcast. Episodes of JERICHO and SURVIVOR will be available on innertube all season long.
“When we launched innertube in May, CBS staked its claim as a leader in the digital evolution by being one of the first media companies to aggressively provide free, original programming online,” said Larry Kramer, President, CBS Digital Media. “Making our new and returning prime-time series available to our viewers is the next step in innertube’s programming evolution. It further helps us extend the reach of the CBS brand, provides a new avenue for advertisers to engage with our programming, which in turn creates a new source of revenue for our company.”
Innertube features a line-up of original series produced expressly for the Internet, as well as new shows that are companions to popular CBS brands. Current innertube offerings include the web-exclusive series InTurn, Animate This! and the five-day-a-week talk show House Calls, as well as entire episodes of CBS's popular prime-time series Big Brother: All-Stars.
If you’re still upset that ABC cancelled Invasion, the best drama of the year, you’re not alone. I’m not sure this well help, but cast member Tyler Labine, better known as Dave, recently talked to TV Guide’sMichael Ausiello and imparted some juicy scoop.
Labine spoke with series creator Shaun Cassidy about what would have happened during Season 2 of Invasion and shared the details with Ausiello:
"Shaun told me Larkin was going to [be presumed dead]. I was going to get all militant and shave my head, and Russell and I were going to join forces against Tom. Tom was going to find out that his first wife was actually alive, and she was running this whole military operation, and she was Szura's boss," Labine said.
Got chills? Yeah. Me, too. Dave and Russell taking on Tom, with the good doctor caught in the middle. Now that would have been appointment TV.
The good news is that Labine is invading one of my other favorite ABC shows this season, Boston Legal. I can’t wait to see him face off against Denny Crane and Alan Shore.
The new cast of Dancing With the Stars was announced Monday. Don’t get too excited yet. The list includes — (pausing to regain my composure) — Jerry Springer. No joke, Tubers.
Here’s the complete list of participants joining the talk-show host in some toe-tapping fun:
TUCKER CARLSON – ( MSNBC news anchor and political TV pundit/columnist) MONIQUE COLEMAN – (Actress, High School Musical) SARA EVANS – (Country music singer) WILLA FORD – (Pop singer) VIVICA A. FOX – (Actress, Kill Bill and Independence Day) HARRY HAMLIN – (Actor, L.A. Law and husband of Dancing With the Stars alumna Lisa Rinna) JOE LAWRENCE – (Actor, Blossom) MARIO LOPEZ – (Actor, Saved by the Bell) SHANNA MOAKLER – (Actress and reality television star) EMMITT SMITH – (NFL player)
I’m not sure what to make of this cast. With hotheaded Carlson and Springer on board, I’m concerned this year’s DWTS may turn into a shout-fest. I’m hoping that doesn’t happen. The fact that this show is civil is the reason I love it. Berating/fighting with contestants isn’t the norm, and if it evolves into that I’ll be tuning out.
The male contestants seem to be in for the toughest competition. We all know that Lopez can shake his booty, as he did regularly as AC Slater on Saved by the Bell. And Lawrence ain’t too shabby either, if you recall. (Remember that he did some dancing during his musical career.) And Rinna has said more than once that her hubby grew up dancing.
Dancing With the Stars premieres Wednesday, September 13 at 8 p.m. EST.
Pepper Dennis fans, don’t despair. If you’re missing your weekly dose of the adorable Josh Hopkins, you won’t have long to wait. He’s been cast in the new FOX show Vanished, as well as the new ABC show Brothers & Sisters, starring Calista Flockhart and Sally Field. He’ll pull double duty this fall, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
In related news, Greg Berlanti, (of Everwood and Dawson’s Creek) just signed on as a show runner for Brothers & Sisters.
The clip features interviews with stars Matthew Fox (Lost,) Matthew McConaughey (Failure to Launch) and others, as well as scenes from the film.
To all of you who have e-mailed asking about the release date, it has been pushed back until December 22, according to the film’s publicist. Insiders say that’s a good thing, as that date will put We Are Marshall in the Oscar-friendly season.
This week, the new CW Network is bringing your favorite prime-time stars to a mall near you. (If not near you, well than at least somewhere within driving distance.)
As part of its new advertising campaign, the CW stars from Veronica Mars, One Tree Hill and other shows will be visiting malls in cities across the U.S. to introduce the new network and help generate buzz, according to a press release from the CW.
Fans attending the event can meet the stars in the CW lounge, get autographs, and make their own customized t-shirts with the network slogan “Free to Be,” filling in the blank to express exactly what they’re “Free to Be.”
Each CW Lounge will be outfitted with laptops, where visitors can check out the cool Web site www.cwtv.com and join the CW Lab Online Community to connect with other fans. Also in the CW Lounge, plasma TVs will air footage from up-coming CW series.
Sounds like fun to me! I don’t see any Pittsburgh appearances yet, so I expect a full report from those of you who can attend. Here are the dates and locations and which stars will appear:
New York: Westfield Sunrise/ Massapequa, NY (August 12-13): James Lafferty (“One Tree Hill”) and Bethany Joy Galeotti (“One Tree Hill”) to appear on August 13.
San Diego: Westfield UTC: (August 12-13): Jason Dohring (“Veronica Mars”), Percy Daggs III (“Veronica Mars”) and Tia Mowry (“The Game”) to appear on August 13.
New Jersey: Westfield Garden State Plaza/ Paramus, NJ (August 18-19): Lee Norris (“One Tree Hill”) and Danneel Harris (“One Tree Hill”) to appear on August 19.
Los Angeles: Westfield Century City/ Los Angeles, CA (August 19-20): Hilarie Burton (“One Tree Hill”), Jason Dohring (“Veronica Mars”) and Matt Czuchry (“Gilmore Girls”) scheduled to appear on August 19.
Washington DC: Westfield Wheaton/ Wheaton, MD (August 26-27)*
Santa Ana, CA: Westfield Main Place, Santa Ana, CA (August 26-27)*
Los Angeles: The Grove (August 30)* – in conjunction with “The CW Presents: Summer at the Grove,” the five-week concert series, which concludes on this night with a free performance by multi-platinum recording artist Jewel.
St. Louis: Westfield Chesterfield, Chesterfield, MO (September 2-3)*
San Jose: Westfield Valley Fair (September 2-3)*
Chicago: Westfield Old Orchard/ Skokie, IL (September 9-10)*
Seattle: Westfield South Center (September 9-10)*
*CW talent attending these locations to be announced.
Additionally, The CW will have a massive, on-going advertising presence in 35 Westfield Malls, including the eleven malls that will feature The CW Lounge, beginning in August and running through The CW’s launch this September.
The CW will make its debut on Wednesday, Sept. 20, with the seventh cycle premiere of “America’s Next Top Model.”
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.
On Wednesday, CBS announced plans to launch 20 of its 22 prime-time series during the week of Sept. 18. The Network will jump start the season with early premieres of its Emmy Award-winning reality series SURVIVOR: COOK ISLANDS, which will debut Thursday, Sept. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), and THE AMAZING RACE 10, which will open with a special 90-minute broadcast on Sunday, Sept. 17 (8:30-10:00 PM, ET/PT).
CBS's scripted programs begin on Monday, Sept. 18, the first official day of the 2006-2007 season.
Sunday, Sept. 17 8:30-10:00 PM THE AMAZING RACE 10 (Premiere)
Monday, Sept. 18 8:00-8:30 PM THE CLASS (Series Premiere) 8:30-9:00 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (2nd Season Premiere) 9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN (4th Season Premiere) 9:30-10:00 PM THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE (2nd Season Premiere) 10:00-11:00 PM CSI: MIAMI (5th Season Premiere)
Tuesday, Sept. 19 8:00-9:00 PM NCIS (4th Season Premiere) 9:00-10:00 PM THE UNIT (2nd Season Premiere) 10:00-11:00 PM SMITH (Series Premiere)
Wednesday, Sept. 20 8:00-9:00 PM JERICHO (Series Premiere) 9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS (2nd Season Premiere) 10:00-11:00 PM CSI: NY (3rd Season Premiere)
Thursday, Sept. 21 9:00-10:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (7th Season Premiere) 10:00-11:00 PM SHARK (Series Premiere)
Friday, Sept. 22 8:00-9:00 PM GHOST WHISPERER (2nd Season Premiere) 9:00-10:00 PM CLOSE TO HOME (2nd Season Premiere) 10:00-11:00 PM NUMB3RS (3rd Season Premiere)
Sunday, Sept. 24 7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES (39th Season Premiere) 8:00-9:00 PM THE AMAZING RACE 10 (Time Period Premiere) 9:00-10:00 PM COLD CASE (4th Season Premiere) 10:00-11:00 PM WITHOUT A TRACE (5th Season Premiere)
Here’s the information you’ve all been waiting for. Well, most of you anyway, based on the flood of e-mails I’ve received. Lost doesn’t return until October 4, Tubers, so be patient. The Grey’s Anatomy drought ends on September 21. And my last summer’s guilty pleasure, Dancing with the Stars, hits the airwaves on September 12. Here’s the complete list of return dates. Take note of the new show Ugly Betty that looks hilarious.
20/20 on Sept. 8 Dancing with the Stars returns Sept. 12 and 13 Wife Swap premieres Sept. 18 Grey's Anatomy and the new show Six Degrees on Sept. 21 New shows Ugly Betty and Men in Trees on Sept. 22 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives and the new show Brothers & Sisters on Sept. 24 Boston Legal and the new show Help Me Help You on Sept. 26 The Bachelor: Rome on Oct. 2 Lost and the new show The Nine on Oct. 4 New shows Big Day and Notes from the Underbelly on Oct. 5 What About Brian on Oct. 9 The new show The Knights of Prosperity on Oct. 17. New show Day Break is expected to take over for Lost on Nov. 15 for 13 weeks.
FOX released the premiere dates for its fall schedule. The most important news here is that we won’t get to see Seth, Summer, Ryan and the rest of The O.C. gang, sans Marissa, until November 2.
To comfort us, FOX is bringing back my beloved David Boreanaz and the Bones crew on August 30 and the Prison Break guys on August 21.
I feel better already. Here’s the full premiere schedule.
Prison Break and the new show Vanished on Aug. 21 The new reality series Duets on Aug. 29 Bones and the new show Justice on Aug. 30 House and the new show Standoff on Sept. 5 New comedies 'Til Death and Happy Hour on Sept 7 Nanny 911 on Sept. 8 Cops and America's Most Wanted on Sept. 9 The War at Home on Sept. 10 MADtv on Sept. 16. The O.C. on Nov. 2
NBC released the premiere dates for its fall schedule. Take note of the new shows Studio Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip on September 18,Heroes on September 25 and Friday Night Lights, starring the yummy Kyle Chandler, on October 3. Here’s the complete list of premiere dates:
Deal or No Deal and the new shows Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip on Sept. 18 Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on Sept. 19 The Biggest Loser and Kidnapped on Sept. 20 My Name Is Earl, The Office and ER on Sept. 21 Law & Order on Sept. 22 Heroes on Sept. 25 Friday Night Lights on Oct. 3 Twenty Good Years on Oct. 4 30 Rock on Oct. 11 Las Vegas and Crossing Jordan on Oct. 20.
The Television Critics Association recently named the winners of its 2006 awards. Here are the lucky recipients:
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR: “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM: “My Name Is Earl” (NBC)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA: “Lost” (ABC)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY: “The Office” (NBC)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS & INFORMATION: “Frontline” (PBS)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING: “High School Musical” (Disney Channel)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES, MINI-SERIES & SPECIALS: “American Masters: Bob Dylan -- No Direction Home” (PBS)
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY: Steve Carell, “The Office” (NBC)
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA: Hugh Laurie, “House” (Fox)
HERITAGE AWARD: “The West Wing” (NBC)
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT: Carol Burnett
The 22nd annual TCA Awards were held at The Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, Calif. Founded in 1978, the Television Critics Association is composed of more than 200 reporters and columnists in print media from the United States and Canada.
We made it through the first big week of new-show premieres, and the good news is I haven’t seen a Head Cases yet. The bad news is, I haven’t found a new Lost or Veronica Mars either. But, this week, several more new shows debut, so I’m not giving up hope.
Four stars — Do NOT miss this show. Use extreme measures if necessary, including hiding if visitors ring the doorbell, screening phone calls, and bribing a neighbor to record it for you if you haven’t mastered your DVR/VCR. Or just become completely irrational and don’t leave home when it’s on. (Previously rated four-star shows include Lost, Jack and Bobby, and Freaks and Geeks.)
Three stars — It’s good. Catch it if you can. (Previously rated three-star shows include Bones and Joey.)
Two stars — If you’re home with nothing to do, turn it on, but don’t waste your precious TiVo hours on it. (Previously rated two-star shows include Father of the Pride and Clubhouse.)
One star — It’s so bad you’ll want to shut off the TV and write an angry letter to the network that aired it. (Previously rated one-star shows include The Help and Head Cases.)
Smith
— Thieves, killers, and eye candy all play a part in this engrossing, action-packed drama. It’s Ocean’s 11 for television, except the storylines and characters are much darker. And these bandits don’t seem to have the same knack for pulling off perfect crimes the way George Clooney and company do on the big screen. So far, the Smith gang is down one member due to a shootout— ending in a chest full of bullets for one sorry lad— and they managed to leave behind a witness who can identify the only female member of the team (Amy Smart, Felicity.) Another member of the group just got out of prison for a job that went wrong. So, they aren’t exactly smooth criminals. Simon Baker and Virginia Madsen steal the show, and I hope they’ll get more screen time. (And a special thanks to the smart exec who gave us Baker surfing in his opening scene.) The entire cast is brilliant, from Ray Liotta to Smart. However, Smith is a risky concept for television, as this is a group of thieves and murderers. That seriously hinders the likeability factor for the characters, which is usually key for a TV show to succeed. I applaud CBS for taking a chance with this daring drama. It was the best new show of the week. (CBS, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. EST)
Six Degrees — 
It’s hard to believe this dud of a drama is from TV-genius J.J. Abrams, who gave us two of TV’s greatest series ever: Lost and Felicity. Six Degrees and Abrams’ last dramatic effort, (What About Brian), have left me wondering what happened to the Abrams’ magic. Six Degrees isn’t horrible; it just isn’t memorable either. The premise of the show is that a group of strangers in New York City are somehow, by fate, all connected. In the premiere, we met the characters and watched as they tried to maneuver the rocky world of romance and life. Yawn. I was bored before the 20-minute mark. (Sorry, J.J. Don’t hate me.) You should know that not everyone feels the way I do about this show. In fact, E!Online’s Kristin Veitch loved it. (ABC, Thursdays at 10 p.m. EST)
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip —
Maybe it was the hype that had me expecting this to be the best new drama of the season. Sadly, it isn’t. I liked the show. I didn’t love it, which is unusual considering that TV-writer-extraordinaire Aaron Sorkin is behind it. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is a behind-the-scenes look at a fictional sketch comedy TV series. (Think Saturday Night Live.) Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford are as charming as ever in their roles as a TV writer and producer, and Amanda Peet sparkles. However, the show, overall, seemed a little slow-paced and a bit flat. It lacks the charm of Sorkin’s signature show The West Wing. Considering Studio 60 is set in the world of television, I’m sure there are plenty of juicy stories to tell. I’m hoping we get to see a few of them here. My fellow critics who have seen the second episode tell me it gets better. I hope they’re right. (NBC, Mondays at 10 p.m. EST.) 
Brothers and Sisters — 
Calista Flockhart and Sally Field star in this family drama, heavy on the drama. It seems their mother/daughter relationship is strained at best. Make no mistake: This isn’t the Walton family. The Walkers have problems that can’t be solved within the span of an hour. The acting is top-notch in this series, but I’m not sure I care enough yet about the characters to make a weekly date with this one. I was excited that Tom Skerritt was part of the cast, but they killed him off in the premiere. Is it possible he’ll be back as a ghost, because that could get me to keep watching? I was most intrigued by Flockhart’s character, Kitty, a conservative political pundit, and her brother, Justin (Dave Annable,) a war veteran and drug addict. If you like family drama and have siblings, this one may be to your liking. (ABC, Sundays at 10 p.m. EST.)
Men in Trees — 
Big city girl, reeling from a break-up, moves to an isolated town in Alaska where the men outnumber women 10 to 1. OK, so the concept isn’t fresh. (We’ve seen similar versions in Ed and Northern Exposure.) But, I still enjoyed this show immensely. It’s quirky, fun and a good way to spend your Friday nights. Anne Heche plays famous writer Marin Frisk, who realizes she’s spent her whole life in relationships with men and that she needs a break. The always-perfect John Amos portrays the town’s only pilot, Buzz, and had the best line of the show. “She’s no Selleck,” he deadpanned, after hearing “celebrity” Marin speak at a public meeting. (Any show that pays tribute to Tom Selleck gets points in my book.) Viewers will recognize ER’s “Jerry” (actor Abraham Benrubi) as the town’s bartender. Men in Trees is unsteady in places. The B story of the supermodel-looking gal who happens to be a prostitute is just bizarre. But overall, the show works. Even the title is clever. The name refers to the construction sign Marin spied when she hit town that warned of “men in trees” cutting branches. However, the Darwinian metaphor isn’t lost on the audience. She’s comparing men to monkeys, one of the smartest animals in the kingdom, but still, an animal. Granted, she has just cause, considering her fiancée followed his primal urges and hooked up with another woman. Heche is enjoyable and wacky enough to sell the part. “She’s a crackpot, but I dig her,” said the town’s deejay Patrick. Yeah. Me, too. (ABC, Fridays at 9 p.m. EST.)
Jericho — If you’re fascinated with disaster shows — or Skeet Ulrich — 
you’ll definitely want to check out Jericho. It’s the story of a small, Kansas town that survives a nuclear attack. The drama unfolds as residents see a mushroom cloud and realize that other cities across the nation have been hit. Panic, fear and unrest hit residents, as the mayor (Gerald McRaney) tries to keep order. Ulrich is solid as the mayor’s estranged son and the reluctant hero. Jericho held my attention, but isn’t nearly as gripping as last year’s brilliant drama Invasion. ( I know, I have to let it go.) (CBS, Wednesday's at 8 p.m. EST.)
Subscribe by RSS
From what I saw on set the day I filmed, he isn’t exaggerating. I still get chills thinking about it. The movie premieres Dec. 12 in Huntington, W.Va., home of Marshall University, before opening nationwide. 
Cain was a perfect fit with the cast. He had chemistry with Ed, Danny, Delinda, Sam and even (gulp) Mary. He was absolutely the most entertaining hotel owner the show has ever had. The paintball episode where Casey forced the employees to attend and “work as a team” was one of the funniest of the series. There was plenty of story to be played out for Casey Manning, if the writers would have tapped into the Sam/Casey history. 
I have no idea how the show will handle his exit, or if it will just be ignored, and he’ll never be mentioned again. I guess we should just be grateful he won’t be blown off the roof.
