On vacation
Diane Holloway is off this week. Her TV blog will return Tuesday, Oct. 14.
Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2008 > May
May 2008
This week’s TV highlights
Hundreds of channels, hours and hours of programming. So much to watch, so little time. Here are some highlights to get you started on your week of viewing.
Sunday
“In Plain Sight,” 9 p.m. on USA — It’s a new season for this smart crime drama starring Mary McCormack as a federal marshal working the federal witness protection beat. Assorted baddies make for big fun.
“2008 MTV Movie Awards,” 7 p.m. on MTV — Mike Myers hosts the tricked-out award show featuring offbeat categories such as “best kiss” and “best fight.”
“The Tudors,” 8 p.m. on Showtime — The second season finale shouldn’t hold out too many surprises, since most of us know the fate of Anne Boleyn. But we should be royally entertained anyway.
Monday
“The Mole,” 9 p.m. on ABC — After a four-year absence, the needlessly complicated reality competition returns. Think of “Amazing Race” with a traitor … and without the fabulous cinematography.
“Verminators,” 9 p.m. on Discovery — Hungry for a little gross-out fare? Check out the hunters of rats, roaches, bedbugs and all manner of nasty critters. Huge eeeew factor.
Tuesday
“30 Days,” 9 p.m. on FX — The third season opens for documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock’s innovative series. This time, the “Supersize Me” dude goes to work for a month as a coal miner in his native West Virginia.
“Independent Lens: Writ Writer,” 9 p.m. on PBS — Austin filmmaker Susanne Mason’s exploration of the life of jailhouse lawyer Fred Cruz and his battle to secure rights for Texas prisoners.
Wednesday
“MonsterQuest,” 8 p.m. on History — It’s summer … even the History Channel lightens up. This series checks out legendary monster sightings, from Bigfoot to Swamp Beast, using high-tech equipment and “eyewitness” accounts.
Thursday
“Swingtown,” 9 p.m. on CBS — A racy melodrama about couples in 1976 suburban Chicago who dabble in wife-swapping and group sex, the series gets the ‘70s look right, but the characters sort of defy explanation. An intriguing experiment nonetheless.
“Fear Itself,” 9 p.m. on NBC — If this horror anthology lives up to its first episode, it could be the must-see network show of summer. Jesse Plemons, our beloved Landry on “Friday Night Lights,” takes center stage for the opening episode as a creepy bad guy trapped in an old fort where all manner of nightmares await.
“NBA Finals,” 8 p.m. on ABC — It’s the first game of the final showdown of very tall men in very long shorts trying to toss a round ball into a round hoop.
Friday
“Live at Gotham,” 9 p.m. on Comedy Central — The third season of the comics’ showcase from New York’s famed Gotham Comedy Club arrives. Jeff Dunham hosts a slew of young (and not-so-young) standups competing for viewers’ guffaws.
Saturday
“Finding Nemo,” 7 p.m. on ABC — The fabulous animated fish story from 2003, featuring voices such as Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks, makes for perfect family viewing on a hot summer night.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: TV tips
‘Lost’ finale pops! And ‘Mad Men’ sets premiere
“Lost” wrapped up its fourth season last night with a fast-paced cliffhanger that even those of us who have grown weary of the never-ending, oddly unraveling saga enjoyed.
The mystical melodrama actually answered some questions (or at least appeared to answer some) and set up Season 5 with tantalizing teases.
Spoiler alert: Read no further if you haven’t yet seen the two-hour episode.
Remember the scene at the end of last season that showed a dead man in a Los Angeles funeral home? He was said to be Jeremy Bentham, but last night the camera zoomed in on the dead guy’s face and revealed the corpse to be John Locke. Dead as a mackerel … . maybe. You never know with this show.
And remember multiple references over the past few months to “moving the island?” Well, it moves, but not from place to place. It moves in time, although we don’t know if that’s forward or backward.
Last night Ben made this time-hopping thing happen as Jack and Kate witnessed the miracle from high in a helicopter. Poof! One minute it’s there, next minute it’s not.
Time has been an amorphous concept on “Lost” from the get-go, with trips into the past and future happening with reckless abandon. Exactly when “present day” is has been a mystery, too, the folks from Oceanic Airlines #815 made their way through the continuum.
And as we prepare for the fifth season in early ‘09, we know that the island and its dangers are never far away from those who fled and made it into the future.
As blog readers know, I stopped being an active participant in “Lost” a couple of seasons ago, but I must confess, this episode whet my appetite.
‘Mad Men’ gets a premiere date
AMC has finally announced a premiere date for the second season of the Golden Globe-winning “Mad Men.”
Mark your calendars for 9 p.m. Sunday, July 27. Leading up to the season opener, AMC has scheduled a “Mad Men Marathon” for July 20. That’s 13 back-to-back episodes. And if you miss that, you can buy the first season on DVD when it comes out July 1.
AMC’s first original drama series, about Madison Avenue advertising men in the 1960s, generated near-deafening buzz last summer. Not a single period detail, from billowing cigarette smoke to pointy bras, was missed.
And leading man Jon Hamm became an instant heartthrob among women from teens to sixtysomethings. A truly cool guy for the hot summer months! Can’t wait …
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Entertainment
‘Lost’ finale spins theories in tonight’s season finale
Don’t expect hard, cold answers in tonight’s fourth-season finale of “Lost” (8 p.m. on ABC).
If you’re a diehard fan of the show (and really, the only fans left of this bizarre sci-fi saga are truly diehard … or obsessive), you will know not expect to learn everything there is to learn about the island, the survivors or the Dharma Initiative.
You will know that your task is to sit back and let the questions and possibilities wash over you.
Undoubtedly the writers, who have promised to wrap this wacky sudser up after its sixth season in 2010, plan to serve up more passionate confusion by dangling meaningful new details in every single scene.
For “Lost” fans, the twists and turns are pure rapture. For those of us who have fallen off the wagon due to the weight of such triple-meaning details, it’s maddening but amusing.
“Lost” spawns theories like Texas lawns spawn crab grass. The quest for answers has become a religion, and there is no patience for casual conversation among the true believers.
So, tonight we might or might not learn anything concrete about the fate of the Oceanic Six — Jack, Kate, Sayid, Hurley, Aaron and Sun. We’ve learned previously, through many time-shifting incidents, that they do, at some point, get off the island.
But Ben and Charles are engaged in devious activities, and John Locke gets stranger by the episode. Locke appears to be some sort of mystical King of the Island.
Are we heading for Nirvana or Doomsday?
For a trip down the rabbit-hole of “Lost,” take a look at theories posited on following Web sites: lost-theories.com, abc.com and lostpedia.com. They’ll make your head hurt.
Expect a dizzying ride tonight, but expect no ultimate solutions.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment Categories: Entertainment
Katie returns to ‘Today’ … for what?
Tuesday morning, when Matt Lauer said Katie Couric would make a “major announcement” Wednesday morning on “Today,” the Internet exploded with speculation.
Is Katie, after suffering ratings slump and humiliation as anchor of “The CBS Evening News,” returning to her long-running triumph as co-anchor of NBC’s “Today?”
Speculation has been rampant about when (not if) Katie would step down. Before the political conventions? After the conventions but before the November election? Before or after the inauguration in January?
But this morning we saw the truth about Katie’s big reveal on “Today.” She was one of three network news anchors, including NBC’s Brian Williams and ABC’s Charlie Gibson, to appear on all three network morning shows to announce a major fundraising initiative called “Stand Up to Cancer.”
On Friday, Sept. 5,the Big Three will devote a simultaneous hour of prime time to a cancer research fundraiser that will feature celebrities and musical performances.
(Fox declined to participate, citing its own charity iniative “Idol Gives Back.”)
Did Lauer intentionally set off the buzz about Couric? You bet. And it must have made everyone at CBS News cringe. And current “Today” co-host Meredith Vieira must have been a bit miffed, too.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: News coverage
‘48 Hours’ takes on polygamy
“48 Hours” takes on a full-court investigation of polygamy tonight (at 9 p.m. on CBS), pegged to the controversial revelations provided by the raid on the Eldorado compound of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints.
The raid and the 450 children taken from their parents after a call alleging abuse has been front page news since April 3. Just last week a Texas appellate court ruled that officials did not have sufficient grounds to seize the children, but the whole mess is likely to be tied up in court for months.
CBS News has fanned out, sending Susan Spencer to investigate the sect’s practices and check on self-proclaimed prophet Warren Jeffs, who continues to lead the sect from prison. (He was convicted of rape of a minor in connection with one of his teenage wives.) She interviews Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff (who refers to the sect as “the American taliban”) and 21-year-old Elissa Wall, who was forced to marry at the age of 14.
Reporter Peter Van Sant engages in a hand-to-hand combat interview with Willie Jessop, who insists the sect does not break any laws and charges that Texas officials’ demand for birth certificates and DNA samples from church members is “un-American.”
“48 Hours” has been tracking two women who escaped from an sect community in Salt Lake City in 1999, when they were teenagers. Reporter Erin Moriarty reports on the status of one of the girls, now a young woman permanently separated from her family.
Finally, reporter Troy Roberts explores the face of modern polygamy. And yes, HBO’s “Big Love” pretty much has it right. A family consisting of one husband and three wives (two of them twins) lives in a “normal” suburb of Salt Lake City with their 22 children. They have regular jobs and wear modern clothes, but they face a daily challenge of fitting in and staying under the radar.
If you’ve been wondering about polygamy, this hour will answer lots of questions.
Bye bye, Jim
The season finale for “According to Jim” airs tonight at 7, which immediately brings to mind:
If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?
The ABC sitcom, an old-fashioned nuclear family model, is wrapping up its seventh (yes seventh) season and is not on the network’s recently announced fall schedule. So the back-to-back episodes serve as the show’s finale, the end of the run, the swan song of a show that debuted in 2001.
Will anybody care?
“Jim” has been a mediocre utility player throughout its run. ABC has dropped it from the schedule, picked it up and moved around more times than anyone can count. Unless you’re a devoted fan (and, seriously, who can that possibly be?), you might not even know it was still on the air.
Jim Belushi and Courtney Thorne-Smith star as a married couple with children. She’s the smart one; he’s the doofus. The stereotypes are long-running and rampant. And incredibly tiresome …
If you feel the need to bid farewell to an ancient genre, tonight’s your chance.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: News coverage
This week’s TV highlights
Hundreds of channels, hours and hours of programming. So much to watch, so little time. Here are some highlights to get you started on your week of viewing.
Sunday
“Recount,” 8 p.m. on HBO — With the 2008 presidential election shaping up to be as close as the 2000 showdown, might this be a cautionary tale? The exceedingly well-done docudrama takes us back to that nerve-wracking time when the U.S. presidency was hanging by a chad in Florida. The film tracks the frantic legal maneuvers in the two camps, with Kevin Spacey as Al Gore’s point man Ronald Klain and Tom Wilkinson as Bush advocate James Baker. A chilling time cleverly recreated.
“The National Memorial Day Concert,” 7 p.m. on PBS — Always stirring, this year’s annual tribute to American soldiers features Gladys Knight, Sarah Brightman, Denis Leary, Rodney Atkins, John Schneider, Charles Durning and former Secretary of State (and general) Colin Powell.
Monday
“The Andromeda Strain,” 8 p.m. on A&E — A four-hour remake of the 1971 feature film, this special-effects laden re-telling has Eric McCormack as a reporter tracking a mysterious plague that spreads after a satellite crashes in a small town in Utah. The cast also includes Benjamin Bratt, Andre Braugher, Viola Davis, Daniel Dae Kim, Christa Miller and Rick Schroder. (Concludes at 8 p.m. Tuesday.)
“So You Think You Can Dance,” 7 p.m. on Fox — A poor substitute for the much classier “Dancing with the Stars,” but for those having dance withdrawal, it’s better than nothing. (More on Wednesday and Thursday.)
Tuesday
“Frontline,” 8 p.m. on PBS — The superb documentary series investigates human smuggling from Mexico to the United States.
“48 Hours,” 9 p.m. on CBS — The Big Eye news team takes an oh-so-timely look at polygamy.
Wednesday
“NHL Stanley Cup Finals,” 7 p.m. on NBC — For those who care, the puck stops here.
“NBA Eastern Conference,” 7:30 p.m. on ESPN — The Celtics and the Pistons trade hoops.
“Men in Trees,” 9 p.m. on ABC — Recently canceled, the sweet little Alaska drama airs a new episode.
Thursday
“Lost,” 8 p.m. on ABC — After agonizing delays, partly due to the writers’ strike but also due to production delays, the two-hour fourth season finale airs tonight. The Oceanic Six allegedly find themselves closer to rescue as the confrontation between survivors and freighter people continues.
Friday
“2008 National Spelling Bee,” 7 p.m. on ABC — The final round, hosted by “Dancing with the Stars” emcee Tom Bergeron, showcases a bunch of very bright kids. Try to keep up. We dare you.
Saturday
“Scooby-Doo,” 7 p.m. on ABC Family — Freddie Prinze, Jr., and Sarah Michelle Gellar star in this 2002 comedy based on the old TV series. Kids will enjoy. Grownups? Not so much.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment Categories: TV tips
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ ends season with alot of love and minimal whining!
Most of you know my complaints about “Grey’s Anatomy,” a show that I love but often hate to love.
It’s the whining. Meredith, Izzie, Cristina, George, whoever. Too much whining, especially from blinky-eyed Meredith.
But last night’s season finale was superb. I can’t remember enjoying a season-ender this much in a very long time.
SPOILER ALERT!! Read no more if you haven’t seen the episode yet.
The return to the spotlight of Dr. Bailey was more than welcome. She’s the most grounded, realistic character on the show, and she’s been in the shadows way too much this season.
Last night, Bailey was back with a vengeance, with two of prime-time TV’s most sterling speeches: in the operating room, when the man in concrete was being surgically removed, and when she was handing over the keys to the clinic to Izzie.
Anyone who wasn’t moved by those two scenes should check their pulse. And go back and watch them again online.
Cristina is back and out of her self-pitying coma! When the toughest of the young residents was felled by jealousy and renewed mourning for Dr. Burke, the silent moping became ridiculous. Last night, Cristina was up and at ‘em! At last!
Izzie and Alex: It was about time Rebecca got out of the way. And the conclusion, with Alex in tears and Izzie back in charge of her emotions, was terrific.
George finally stood up to the chief and stopped letting everyone treat him like the hired help. He’s re-taking the exam he failed, so maybe by next season he’ll be back on equal par with his resident pals.
And the revival of Meredith-heart-Derek, though too long in coming, was more than satisfying. Of course they’ll probably break up again next season, but it’s nice to have the summer to imagine them in love.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Entertainment
‘Idol’ runner-up Archuleta looked relieved … seriously!
Did teddy-bear-cute David Archuleta look relieved to lose last night, or am I projecting?
The oft-trembling, weeping 17-year-old kid lost the “American Idol” title to 25-year-old rocker David Cook in last night’s mega-results show on Fox.
Instead of sagging to his knees and sobbing, as he has done when positive comments and thunderous applause were heaped upon him after a sterling performance, Archuleta grinned ear-to-ear and practically skipped off the stage when Cook’s name was called.
Despite Archuleta’s superior vocal skills, Cook was the worthier winner — in style, looks and temperament. It’s easy to see him commanding a major concert venue and keeping his cool amidst throngs of adoring fans.
Archuleta needs a couple of years to digest his new fame; then he’ll be ready. There’s no doubt he’ll land a recording contract and move on to fame and fortune. He’s just not ready.
Last night’s two-hour “Idol” finale moved pretty briskly, considering the occasional moments of excruciating “entertainment,” such as Donna Summer’s oddly unsure performance and a steady stream of so-so rockers — like George Michael.
My favorite moment? The vintage tape of Gladys Knight singing “Midnight Train to Georgia” with new background scenes doctored in featuring Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr., as her wannabe Pips. That was truly inspired.
As always, I worried a bit about Paula’s dangerous dress, which tended to shift in awkward places as she boogied to each song. When she moves and her dress top doesn’t, it’s scary. But all’s well that ends well. Nothing escaped.
Was the “Idol” result a shocking upset, as some pundits have suggested? Nah.
The tweeny-boppers who squealed so loud for Archuleta could never have out-voted the throngs who lifted Cook to victory. It’s easy to picture Cook on tour; it’s hard to imagine Archuleta out in the real world with only his overbearing stage dad to protect him.
Whew! Another “Idol” season over. Feels like school is out now, doesn’t it? Those of us who had become slaves to two nights of “Idol” AND two nights of “Dancing with the Stars” each week are finally free!
Now what?
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment Categories: Reality TV
‘Idol’ crowns a David tonight, Kristi crowned on ‘Dancing’ last night
The Dueling Davids certainly gave viewers a contrast to ponder on “American Idol” last night, didn’t they?
Cute Kid (Archuleta) vs. Raspy Rocker (Cook). Nervous-to-the-point of trembling and weeping (Archuleta) vs. Laid-back-to-the-point of falling over and sleeping (Cook).
Judge Simon already has given the win to Archuleta, referring to the kid’s three-song performance as a “knockout” in an awkwardly themed boxing theme show. But tonight we’ll see if an upset is coming in the voting results show, starting at 7 p.m. and groaning on for two hours on Fox.
Doesn’t it seem like this season has lasted forever? I can barely remember the original contestants now. Does anybody even remember Chikezie now? How about scary biker chick Amanda Overmyer? So long ago, so far away.
After tonight, one David will be the Big Winner, while the other one could be an Even Bigger Winner. Some music industry folks believe the “Idol” contract is too restraining, and also-rans, after receiving tons of exposure and acquiring millions of fans through the show, actually make out better than the winner.
I mean, who do you remember most, Taylor Hicks or Chris Daughtry? Ruben Studdard or Clay Aiken? Tonight’s loser could very well be the real winner.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment Categories: Reality TV
‘Dancing’ winner crowned tonight, ‘Idol’ smackdown of the Davids tonight too!
Last night dancers danced; tonight the big mirror ball will be awarded on the “Dancing with the Stars” finale, a two-hour extravaganza, starting at 8 on ABC.
And (this is a BIG night for reality TV, folks) tonight at 7 the two Davids take to the stage for their final singing showdown on Fox’s “American Idol.” Wednesday night at 7, in a splashy finale sure to be filled with dozens of commercials and a few surprises, the 2008 winner will be crowned.
So much to watch, so much to say … where to start?
OK, since “Dancing” ends tonight, I’ll rush out onto a limb and predict that Kristi Yamaguchi and her partner Mark will win. And if they don’t, they should have won.
It’s swell that Latino heart-throb Cristian de la Fuente soldiered through the competition with a torn bicep tendon, but truth be told, he’s all hip-swiveling and blinding white teeth but little else. His partner Cheryl gets kudos for choreographing complicated dances for a one-armed man.
Surprisingly graceful (because he’s about 9-feet tall) football player Jason Taylor has been a thrill to watch, but, again, the super-skills just aren’t there. His partner Edyta does most of the moves and lets Jason swoop around and look elegant and gorgeous. Feet? Not so fabulous. And the Latin dances have been stiff.
That leaves Kristi. The knock on her from the beginning has been that, as an Olympic figure skater (not to mention Gold medal winner), she has a tiny, perfectly athletic leg up on the competition. She’s used to moving to music, she’s remarkably limber and she’s had some classic dance training. But, as Kristi pointed out in the beginning, she was not accustomed to even walking in high heels, let alone dancing in them.
So give her the mirror ball. It’s time for a woman to win anyway, after four seasons of guy winners. Oh, and Usher sings on the finale tonight.
Now, back to “Idol” where we know for certain that David will win after tonight’s showdown — we just don’t know which David.
If the tweeny-boppers have their way (and all those sequined cell phones start pumping up the votes tonight), 17-year-old David Archuleta will be crowned Wednesday.
But if more mature “Idol” fans come through, the recording contract will go to 25-year-old rocker David Cook, who has been spectacular and unique all season long.
Archuleta is cute as a teddy bear, but the next “Idol” needs to be edgier and more mature. Cute is fine for a TV show, but it’s probably not going to fill concert venues or sell CDs. That means the winner is/should be Cook.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Reality TV
This week’s TV highlights
Hundreds of channels, hours and hours of programming. So much to watch, so little time. Here are some highlights to get you started on your week of viewing.
Sunday
“Desperate Housewives,” 8 p.m. on ABC — In the two-hour season finale, Lynette is accused of child abuse (last week she slapped that devil’s spawn she inherited from her hubby), Susan and Mike coo over their new baby, Gaby bonds with her drug-dealing housemate and Katherine’s secrets finally spill. Is Edie really gone? We doubt it.
“Academy of Country Music Awards,” 7 p.m. on CBS — Live from Las Vegas, Reba McEntire hosts the ceremony. Kenny Chesney leads the nominations with 12, and he’s scheduled to perform.
Monday
“Gossip Girl,” 7 p.m. on CW — Secrets revealed, cliffhangers posed on this first-season finale. A guilty pleasure? You bet!
“House,” 8 p.m. on Fox — Grumpy Dr. House continues to battle murky memories of the bus crash in the series’ fourth season finale.
“The Bachelorette,” 8 p.m. on ABC — Austin’s “Bachelor” Brad Womack dumped her, but now DeAnna gets to choose from 25 hunky contenders in her new summer series.
Tuesday
“Dancing with the Stars,” 8 p.m. on ABC — A new champ is crowned, the ugly mirror ball is bestowed.
“NCIS,” 7 p.m. on CBS — The fifth season of Mark Harmon’s crime drama comes to a two-hour conclusion.
Wednesday
“American Idol,” 7 p.m. on Fox — Hearts have been broken, careers have been made. Tonight the Battle of the Davids concludes with the crowning of either Archuleta or Cook as the new Idol. Be patient. It’s going to take two hours for the confetti to fall.
“Boston Legal,” 9 p.m. on ABC — The fourth season finale, praise be to ABC, will not be the series finale, which was the sad speculation before the last-minute renewal. Denny and Alan bid goodbye (for the summer) with one more cigar and Scotch on the balcony. Oh, and they allegedly get accepted into the Coast Guard.
Thursday
“Ugly Betty,” , 7 p.m. on ABC — The parade of gorgeous, fabulous guest stars continues with Supermodel Naomi Campbell on the show’s second season finale.
“Grey’s Anatomy,” 8 p.m. — In the fourth season finale, Meredith and Derek ponder their status.
Friday
“Meerkat Manor,” 7, 8 and 9 p.m. on Animal Planet — If you missed some of the domestic dramas of these real-life rodents, back-to-back episodes will help you catch up. And if you’ve never seen them, well, these mini-mongoose critters are totally adorable.
Saturday
“Austin City Limits,” 7 p.m. on PBS — Superstars R.E.M. take to the stage in an episode filmed during South by Southwest in March.
“Titanic,” 7 p.m. on TBS — This 1997 blockbuster holds up well, from the gorgeous theme song to the amazing, ship-sinking special effects to the enduring love story. Sigh.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: TV tips
What happened to Wednesday p.m. TV?
We’ve had a number of calls from people wondering about last night’s TV shows that were bumped by weather reports. Here’s what we know: “CSI” on CBS will not be repeated; “Law & Order” on NBC was repeated at 1 a.m. last night and will not air again; “Boston Legal” on ABC will be repleated tonight at 11:05 p.m. after “Nightline.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Entertainment
Fox fall schedule: ‘Back to You’ won’t be back, ‘24’ prequel coming in November
Last and certainly not least — thanks to mega-hit “American Idol” — powerhouse Fox unveiled its fall prime-time schedule today to advertisers and glitterati in New York.
Only two new series will join the lineup: “Fringe,” a sci-fi thriller from “Lost” creator J.J. Abrams that sounds disturbingly like that ABC series (including a mysterious airplane); and “Do Not Disturb,” a comedy set in a hip New York boutique hotel starring Jerry O’Connell as the hipster general manager and veteran Robert Wagner in a recurring role as the owner.
Missing from Fox? “Back to You,” the crackling TV newsroom sitcom starring Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton, which was just beginning to hit its stride, and the previously mentioned “K-Ville” and “Canterbury’s Law.” All three casualties were super-good shows, so it will be interesting to see if the newcomers perform any better.
As usual, Fox plans to hop out in front of the competition in late August with the Aug. 25 season opener of “Prison Break.”
The new season of “24,” which we’ve been waiting for since last season, when the writers’ strike nixed its January ‘08 return, now is scheduled for January ‘09. But to appease the addicted masses, Fox plans to air a two-hour “prequel” to the Jack Bauer adventure on Sunday, Nov. 23. Guess that will have to hold us.
And “Idol” takes its usual break before returning in January, too.
SUNDAY
6 p.m. “NFL Post-Game Show”
7 p.m. “The Simpsons”
7:30 p.m. “King of the Hill”
8 p.m. “Family Guy”
8:30 p.m. “American Dad”
MONDAY
7 p.m. “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”
8 p.m. “Prison Break”
TUESDAY
7 p.m. “House”
8 p.m. “Fringe” (NEW)
WEDNESDAY
7 p.m. “Bones”
8 p.m. “Til Death”
8:30 p.m. “Do Not Disturb” (NEW)
THURSDAY
7 p.m. “The Moment of Truth”
8 p.m. “Kitchen Nightmares”
FRIDAY
7 p.m. “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?”
8 p.m. “Don’t Forget the Lyrics”
SATURDAY
7 p.m. “Cops”
8 p.m. “America’s Most Wanted”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Entertainment
CBS fall schedule: ‘Unit’ and ‘Christine’ back, ‘Cane’ and ‘Moonlight’ gone
And the upfront beat goes on …
CBS unveiled its new fall schedule this morning in New York, sparing two shows believed to be on the bubble: “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and “The Unit.”
But don’t bother to scan the schedule for “Jericho,” “Rules of Engagement,” “Viva Laughlin,” “Cane” or “Moonlight.” They’re gone.
The CBS fall lineup includes five new series:
“Worst Week,” a sitcom about a magazine editor (“Jericho’s” Kyle Bornheimer) trying to please his pregnant girlfriend’s parents.
“Project Gary,” a comedy starring Jay Mohr as a recently divorced contractor battling his dominating ex-wife (doesn’t that sound hilarious?).
“The Mentalist,” a drama starring Simon Baker as a psychic detective.
“Eleventh Hour,” yet another drama from “CSI” franchise spinner Jerry Bruckheimer, about a biophysicist who investigates scientific crises for the government.
“The Ex List,” a comedy-drama about a thirtysomething businesswoman, played by “Grey’s Anatomy” guest star Elizabeth Reaser, who learns from a psychic that her future husband is a guy she’s already dated, and she must find him within a year or wind up forever lonely. (Doesn’t the premise acknowledge the series won’t last beyond one season?)
Here’s CBS’s fall schedule, at least for now:
SUNDAY
6 p.m. “60 Minutes”
7 p.m. “The Amazing Race”
8 p.m. “Cold Case”
9 p.m. “The Unit”
MONDAY
7 p.m. “The Big Bang Theory”
7:30 p.m. “How I Met Your Mother”
8 p.m. “Two and a Half Men”
8:30 p.m. “Worst Week” (NEW)
9 p.m. “CSI: Miami”
TUESDAY
7 p.m. “NCIS”)
8 p.m. “The Mentalist” (NEW)
9 p.m. “Without a Trace”
WEDNESDAY
7 p.m. “The New Adventures of Old Christine”
7:30 p.m. “Project Gary” (NEW)
8 p.m. “Criminal Minds”
9 p.m. “CSI: NY”
THURSDAY
7 p.m. “Survivor”
8 p.m. “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”
9 p.m. “Eleventh Hour” (NEW)
FRIDAY
7 p.m. “Ghost Whisperer”
8 p.m. “The Ex List” (NEW)
9 p.m. “Numb3rs”
SATURDAY
7 p.m. Crimetime Saturday (drama reruns)
9 p.m. “48 Hours Mystery”
CW announced early
And late Tuesday afternoon, the CW sneaked its fall schedule out early.
The big news? “Reaper” is coming back, but not until midseason.
The sad news? The sweet and funny “Aliens in America” has been canceled. Bummer.
New CW series include “90210,” based on the old Fox series “Beverly Hills 90210”; “Follow the Filthy Rich,” about a live-in tutor and her super-wealthy charges, spoiled twins in Palm Beach, Fla.; and a new reality series, “Stylista,” which pits competitors against each other for a job with Elle magazine.
For the complete CW fall lineup, check out our earlier Web posting.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment Categories: Entertainment
Upfront ABC: ‘Boston Legal’ back, Mike Judge has new comedy
ABC toots its horn to advertisers in New York today, and the big news is that the alphabet network is keeping its schedule more or less intact.
Only two new shows will be added in the fall: the drama “Life on Mars,” adapted by David E. Kelley from a BBC drama about a cop who is transported to 1973, and the reality show “Opportunity Knocks,” in which contestants will be surprised in their homes by a crew that will test how well family members know each other.
Austinite Mike Judge, of “King of the Hill” fame, will have a new animated comedy, “The Goode Family,” on ABC but not until midseason.
“Boston Legal,” considered an iffy renewal, will return in the fall, as will the midseason fantasy drama “Eli Stone.” And, as expected, NBC’s “Scrubs” will join the ABC lineup at midseason.
CBS’s “The New Adventures of Old Christine” is NOT in the mix, which possibly means that CBS (which announces its schedule Wednesday) renewed the Julia Louis-Dreyfus sitcom. We’ll see.
Not on the fall schedule for ABC but returning at midseason will be “Lost” and “According to Jim.” Why “Jim” keeps dragging itself back to the lineup is a total mystery to me.
Gone and probably already forgotten: “Cavemen,” “Carpoolers” and “Big Shots.” Good riddance.
Here’s ABC’s new fall schedule (at least for now):
SUNDAY
6 p.m. “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
7 p.m. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
8 p.m. “Desperate Housewives”
9 p.m. “Brothers & Sisters”
MONDAY
7 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars”
8:30 p.m. “Samantha Who?”
9 p.m. “Boston Legal”
TUESDAY
7 p.m. “Opportunity Knocks” (NEW)
8 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars”
9 p.m. “Eli Stone”
WEDNESDAY
7 p.m. “Pushing Daisies”
8 p.m. “Private Practice”
9 p.m. “Dirty Sexy Money”
THURSDAY
7 p.m. “Ugly Betty”
8 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy”
9 p.m. “Life on Mars” (NEW)
FRIDAY
7 p.m. “Wife Swap”
8 p.m. “Supernanny”
9 p.m. “20/20”
SATURDAY
7 p.m. College Football
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Entertainment
Upfronts: NBC’s new fall schedule
This is television’s Big Week — the Upfronts, when broadcast networks trumpet their fall schedules to advertisers.
First up is NBC, but because the Peacock Network jumped out early with an April 2 announcement, today’s press conference in New York will mostly serve as confirmation that Jimmy Fallon will take over “Late Night” when Conan O’Brien moves to Jay Leno’s desk on “Tonight Show” next year.
With Leno still beating David Letterman’s “Late Show” on CBS, NBC’s decision to remove Leno in 2009 seems like a foot-shooting venture, but we’ll see.
In case you forgot (and, really, who hasn’t?), NBC’s April announcement included renewals of “Chuck,” “Heroes,” “Lipstick Jungle,” “Life” and “Friday Night Lights” (but not arriving on the network until January, months after its prenegotiated debut on DirectTV).
NBC’s new fall series include:
“Kath & Kim,” a sitcom starring Molly Shannon as a dysfunctional suburban divorced woman and Selma Blair as her self-absorbed daughter.
“My Own Worst Enemy,” a drama starring Christian Slater as a man living two lives: one as a normal family guy, the other as a secret agent.
“Knight Rider,” an update of the old TV series about a talking car named KITT and its hunky driver (Justin Bruening.)
“Crusoe,” a drama about a shipwrecked guy trying to survive and somehow return to his wife and kids. Sounds like “Lost,” doesn’t it? No star announced, which seems odd.
Here’s NBC’s fall schedule (for now, anyway):
SUNDAY
6-10 p.m. “NFL Football”
MONDAY
7 p.m. “Chuck”
8 p.m. “Heroes”
9 p.m. “My Own Worst Enemy” (NEW)
TUESDAY
7 p.m. “The Biggest Loser”
8:30 p.m. “Kath & Kim” (NEW)
9 p.m. “Law & Order: SVU”
WEDNESDAY
7 p.m. “Knight Rider” (NEW)
8 p.m. “Deal or No Deal”
9 p.m. “Lipstick Jungle”
THURSDAY
7 p.m. “My Name Is Earl”
7:30 p.m. “30 Rock”
8 p.m. “The Office” (hour-longs in early fall)
9 p.m. “ER”
FRIDAY
7 p.m. “Crusoe” (NEW)
8 p.m. “Deal or No Deal”
9 p.m. “Life”
SATURDAY
7 p.m. “Dateline NBC”
8 p.m. “Knight Rider” reruns
9 p.m. “Law & Order: SVU” reruns
COMING TUESDAY: ABC’s fall schedule
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Entertainment
This week’s TV highlights
Hundreds of channels, hours and hours of programming. So much to watch, so little time. Here are some highlights to get you started on your week of viewing.
Sunday
“The Simpsons,” 7 p.m. on Fox — Talk about irreverent! This long-running comedy kills off Homer’s mom on Mother’s Day. I’m not making this up. Mona Simpson (voiced by Glenn Close) drops dead, setting off feelings of guilt (d’oh!) in Homer for not being a better son.
“Survivor: Micronesia,” 7 p.m. on CBS — The 16th incarnation (can you believe it?) of the bug-eating, back-stabbing reality show concludes with a two-hour finale. Lose weight and win $1 million dollars. Not a bad gig.
Monday
“American Gladiators,” 7 p.m. on NBC — I’m not likin’ … I’m just sayin.’ A new season of the rowdy, cult-fave game show hosted by Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali begins.
“House,” 8 p.m. on Fox — The first part of a two-part season finale finds the grumpy Dr. House involved in a nasty bus accident that leaves him with (what else?) amnesia.
“Dirty Jobs,” 8 p.m. on Discovery — The gross-out favorite of young (especially) and old alike, the episode checks out employment on a stinky turkey farm.
Tuesday
“Reaper,” 8 p.m. on CW — When Sam can’t keep an evil soul he caught from returning to earth, the Devil sends him to fix the “leak in hell.” So that’s the problem!
“Work Out,” 9 p.m. on Bravo — Ab straining, lung busting workouts accompanied by hysterical therapy sessions equal the strange world of uber-trainer Jackie’s fitness program. We prefer stretching and strolling, but it’s fun to watch others suffer.
Wednesday
“America’s Top Model,” 7 p.m. on CW — The three final contestants wreak havoc on a Cover Girl photo shoot. Tyra Banks will, after stirring up much hissing and weeping, crown the winner.
“Boston Legal,” 9 p.m. on ABC — Big-time Republican politicians ask wacky gun-toting Denny Crane to run for President. Doesn’t sound all that far-fetched to me.
Thursday
“My Name Is Earl,” 7 p.m. on NBC — In the hour-long season finale, Earl experiences turbulence in his marriage to Billie. (Did you know Earl was married? I didn’t. I lost track.)
“The Office,” 8 p.m. on NBC — Another hour-long season finale finds an upheaval in Dunder Mifflin’s human resources department. To wit: Toby’s outta there.
“Texas Monthly Talks,” 7 p.m. on PBS — Texas Monthly editor Evan Smith chats up music legend Lyle Lovett.
Friday
“Moonlight,” 8 p.m. on CBS — The season (and likely the series) finale finds the Los Angeles vampires hiding from investigators after one of their own kills a human.
“Numb3rs,” 9 p.m. on CBS — Yet another season finale. Doesn’t it seem like this thread-bare TV season is crashing early? We used to have fresh episodes until Memorial Day. No more.
Saturday
“Million Dollar Baby,” 7 p.m. on AMC — The Oscar-winning film boasts top performances by Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman. Depressing but fabulous.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: TV tips
Happy Mother’s Day to TV’s troubled moms
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, our thoughts turn to TV moms, right?
OK, maybe not. Maybe our thoughts turn to the flowers we forgot to send or the dinner we meant to plan but didn’t.
So maybe it’s only my mind that turns to TV moms of today — none of whom remotely resembles June Cleaver on “Leave It To Beaver” or Marion Cunningham on “Happy Days.”
No, today we have the polygamist moms on “Big Love” and the mom on “Reaper” who sold her son’s soul to the Devil the day he was born.
Marge Simpson might be the closest mom we have to the old-fashioned traditional matriarchs. She bakes cookies, takes care of her kids and lump-headed husband Homer and she wears those eternal pop-bead necklaces.
Peg Hill, with her secret size 12 shoes, is a fairly traditional homemaker, too, on “King of the Hill.”
So maybe the only traditional moms on TV these days are cartoon characters. What does that say about motherhood on the tube? That the only route to a good mom on TV is fantasy and animation?
Felicity Huffman’s Lynette Scavo on “Desperate Housewives” certainly does her best with her gazillion kids, including the always troublesome twins. She’s fought cancer and the wacky business dealings of her husband while keeping her family together. We’ll give her an honorable mention.
Probably one of the more realistic moms on TV today is Dr. Bailey on “Grey’s Anatomy.” This hard-working mom recently became a single mom when her husband left her. The good doc clearly loves her little boy, but she’s juggling all manner of complications vying for her time at Seattle Grace Hospital.
Allison Dubois on “Medium” sees creepy dead people (especially murder victims) all the time, so she’s a bit distracted from domestic duties as mom to three daughters.
And then there’s Nora Walker on “Brothers & Sisters,” a semi-neurotic character with five grown children, none of whom apparently has been able to cut the umbilical cord. One twentysomething son still lives at home, and the rest of the adult kids drift in and out of the house as if they’re all still in high school.
Isn’t the mark of successful parenting to have kids who become independent?
It’s a pretty sad lot, but we wish them Happy Mother’s Day anyway.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Entertainment
‘Scrubs’ ends NBC run tonight, heads for ABC
“Scrubs” wraps up seven seasons on NBC tonight at 7:30, but this finale probably isn’t a real finale.
The worst kept secret in Hollywood is that “Scrubs” is heading for ABC in the fall. The official announcement will come Tuesday, when ABC unveils its “upfront” presentations to potential advertisers.
In the NBC swan song tonight, Dr. Cox recalls his first day at the hospital in a highly whimsical fair tale told to his young son. Fantasy seems an appropriate end to the rather tortured life “Scrubs” has had on NBC.
Moved around the schedule so often that TV Guide seemed to give up trying to list it, “Scrubs” nevertheless has a devoted audience of folks who love slapstick, whimsy and sophomoric/sophisticated humor. Shakespeare and flatulence shared the stage.
Is it the best sitcom ever? No, but it’s one of those shows — like the late “Will & Grace” — that always prompts hearty chuckles. If you could remember when, where or even if it was on, you knew you could bank a bit of silly fun.
Fast-paced and dripping with double entendres and pop culture references, “Scrubs” is a simple pleasure that’s easy to digest. If ABC puts it on the fall schedule and leaves it there for a while, it should have a season or two of life left.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Entertainment
ABC News opening ‘digital bureau’ at UT
University of Texas journalism students could wind up on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” “World News” and “Nightline” in the fall when ABC News opens a “digital bureau” here as part of an new initiative called ABC News on Campus.
Only five universities around the country have been invited to participate. Besides UT-Austin, the program includes Arizona State University, Syracuse University, the University of Florida and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The UT bureau will open in September under the supervision of broadcast journalism lecturer Kate Dawson, a 14-year TV news veteran who spent her career at Fox News Channel, WCBS in New York and ABC News Radio. She joined the UT faculty in 2006.
“ABC was really impressed with UT’s credentials and considered this a great journalism school,” Dawson said.
The ABC News-campus partnership will create a multimedia bureau at UT that will include new video and computer equipment, paid internships for student staffers and a paid position for Dawson as the faculty adviser. The first student bureau chief is Sara Loeffelholz, a senior from Aledo. The other bureau staff members have not yet been chosen.
“These college bureaus will extend the newsgathering reach of ABC News throughout the country,” said ABC News president David Westin in a statement. “In addition, they will enable us to nurture bright young journalism students, giving them hands-on training from some of the most seasoned news professionals in the business and the opportunity to see their work appear on ABC News platforms.”
No doubt ABC also sees the campus initiative as a way to lure some of the country’s 33 million 18- to 25-year-old viewers into watching TV news. Younger viewers have abandoned nightly newscasts since the arrival of online and cable news.
The UT bureau will receive training and on-site mentoring for the student bureau chief and faculty liaison at ABC News headquarters in New York twice a year.
Every day, year-round, students will pitch stories to the ABC news producers. If one is accepted, the bureau will engage its multimedia operation. A print journalism student might write the script, a broadcast journalism student might do the standup and several students would be in charge of shooting and editing, with online additions available, too.
“This is an amazing opportunity,” Dawson said. “We’ll learn from each other and have access to resources at the other college campuses… . ABC News is interested in a variety of issues, from campus security to features on college trends. They want the college student’s points of view, which is something you don’t see very often on network news.”
In the fall, the UT group also will help out with ABC affiliate KVUE’s general election coverage.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Local news
‘Sex’ ends on Mother’s Day, Jason (please) off ‘Idol’ tonight
“Talk Sex” ends on Mother’s Day! Is there deeper meaning in the timing? We hope not.
Oxygen’s “Talk Sex” (11 p.m. Sundays), the sometimes shockingly frank call-in show hosted by 77-year-old Sue Johanson, bids farewell on Mother’s Day.
After six seasons on American cable TV (and 32 years altogether on the air), Johanson, a spritely Canadian nurse with a penchant for doling out sex advice, has decided to call it quits.
Oxygen insists it did not cancel the show, which is the network’s most popular late-night series.
“I’m going to miss playing with sex toys,” Johanson told the Associated Press.
Sunday night’s finale, appropriately, will feature the hostess-with-the-mostess counting down the year’s Top 10 Sex Toys.
Slacker Castro out tonight? Please?
Have “American Idol” voters finally come to their senses?
Let’s hope so, because if Jason Castro doesn’t get axed tonight, I’m gonna throw stuff at my TV.
We know the blue-eyed, dreadlocked Texan (and Aggie!!) has a following. No doubt. We just don’t know why.
Some might call his demeanor dreamy; I call it stoned. He drifts around the stage, batting his eyelashes, looking shy and totally out to lunch. A few weeks ago the cameras caught him yawning and practically nodding off as he waited to perform.
Last night, as if the slacker persona weren’t bad enough, Jason forgot the lyrics to his second song, Bob Dylan’s iconic “Mr. Tambourine Man.” If you’re going to mess up a Dylan song, mess up the tune, not the words. Dylan songs are all about the words.
At this point, I don’t really care who wins out of the remaining trio.
David Cook seems the most likely, but Syesha Mercado was brilliant last night. OK, I admit it. I actually cried during her performance of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come.” Huggable boy-toy David Archuleta, a long-time favorite of the judges and screaming tweens, is a 17-year-old wunderkind with terrific talent — but missing some heat due to his boyish adorableness.
Just PLEASE get rid of Jason Castro. He didn’t belong in the Top 10, and he certainly doesn’t belong in the final.
Results are tonight at 8 on Fox.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment Categories: Reality TV
Pop divas seek rehab on TV
Prime-time TV is becoming Rehab Central for Hollywood’s bad girls. Check it out:
First Britney Spears graced us with a guest starring role on the CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother.” Now Lindsay Lohan is heading for the May 22 season finale of ABC’s hit “Ugly Betty.”
Of course there’s a big difference between the two young women, both of whom have done stints in rehab and made multiple court appearances for various offenses.
Lindsay is an actor who can actually act, whereas Britney is a singer who (a) can barely sing and (b) has absolutely no acting chops. Go figure.
Still, both tabloid celebutantes draw viewers … perhaps folks longing to see yet another trainwreck. Whatever.
TV series apparently are fertile ground for reviving a scandal-plagued career. Britney will return for another spot on “Mother” before season’s end, and Lindsay will return to “Betty” in the fall for five more episodes.
NBC axes “Monk” and “Psych”
NBC programming wizards clearly don’t have a clue.
Apparently the Peacock poobahs thought viewers would crowd around USA hits “Monk” and “Psych” — even though the episodes on NBC were repeats of episodes originally seen on cable.
Note to NBC: We’ve seen these shows, years ago. We watch cable. All the time. We don’t want to see repeats of them on NBC.
Effective Sunday, NBC will replace the USA shows with four reruns of “The Office.” Talk about creative bankruptcy …
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment Categories: Entertainment
Jesse Plemons guest stars in summer horror series
Jesse Plemons, the real Texan who plays the decidedly real Landry on “Friday Night Lights,” hasn’t just been sitting around waiting for the Dillon Panthers to call him to practice.
Nope, Plemons has been filming an episode of NBC’s horror anthology series “Fear Itself,” which is scheduled to premiere Thursday, June 5.
Plemons will appear in an episode called “The Sacrifice,” in which four fugitive criminals hide out in an abandoned fort that turns out to be a tad haunted.
I’m sure Plemons is terrific in the role, but wouldn’t you love to see this guy in a comedy? He’s had enough horror and sorrow on “FNL.” Plus, Plemons has a sly way with funny dialogue … maybe someday.
What are you thinking, Baba?
I’m still scratching my head over Barbara Walters’ revelation that she had an affair with a married politician in the 1970s.
In case you missed it, Walters confessed in her new memoir “Audition,” and tomorrow she spills even more beans in an interview with Oprah Winfrey (4 p.m. Tuesday on KVUE) about her fling with U.S. Sen. Edward Brooke of Massachusetts when she was co-hosting NBC’s “Today.”
Why would Walters, an icon in TV news and a hero to gazillions of working women, write about this? It’s a puzzler. Walter, 78 and pulling in millions of dollars as an ABC contributor and host of the daytime talker “The View,” doesn’t need the hype.
And Former Senator Brooke, now 88, probably doesn’t need the humiliation. The Republican (and first African-American elected to the U.S. Senate) was married at the time of the alleged affair, and he steadfastly refuse to comment on Walters’ claims.
In a transcript of Walters’ appearance on “Oprah” tomorrow, Walters says she was “infatuated” with Brooke but does not say she was in love with him. The devil’s in the details, no?
Can’t we all just keep our dirty laundry hidden? This revelation can only dim Walters’ shining career and cause embarrassment to a retired (and re-married) politician.
If Walters is this desperate for attention, she could have re-hired Rosie O’Donnell on “The View.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Entertainment
This week’s TV highlights
Hundreds of channels, hours and hours of programming. So much to watch, so little time. Here are some highlights to get you started on your week of viewing.
Sunday
“Cranford,” 8 p.m. on PBS — The latest entry from “Masterpiece Theater” springs from the writings of Elizabeth Gaskell. Set in 1842, the three-part film (continues May 11 and May 18) chronicles life in a rural English town that’s teetering on the brink of major change. Oscar winner Judi Dench stars, along with Eileen Atkins and Imelda Staunton.
“Cold Case,” 7 p.m. on CBS — This superbly filmed but often overlooked crime drama airs its season finale tonight. Ending early without an early renewal commitment doesn’t bode well for the show’s future.
Monday
“Dancing with the Stars,” 7 p.m. on ABC — Will Latino hunk Cristian de la Fuente survive two dances? Or even one? Last week, you may recall, he popped a tendon in his bulging bicep. Fans voted him back anyway. We’ll see if he can do it.
“Independent Lens,” 10 p.m. on PBS — In honor of Cinco de Mayo, the series profiles the Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, the first all-female mariachi band. Bravo!
Tuesday
Democratic Primary Results, 6 p.m. on CNN, Fox News and MSNBC — Once again the broadcast networks are ceding election coverage to cable news. And once again tonight’s primaries in North Carolina and Indiana could be decisive.
Wednesday
“American Masters,” 8 p.m. on PBS — A splendid bio-pic of legendary singer Marvin Gaye. Shot to death by his own father in 1984, Gaye’s music contributions may be well-known, but his battles with family violence, depression and drug addiction may not be. This is the full picture of a genius.
“Audition: Barbara Walters’ Journey,” 9 p.m. on ABC — The hour gallops through Walters’ long-running career, with side trips into her mostly private personal life. ABC anchor Charles Gibson hosts.
Thursday
“Beijing Olympic Stadium,” 8 p.m. on National Geographic Channel — Nicknamed the “Birds Nest,” this incredibly ambitious design comes from 42,000 pounds of steel and hundreds of tons of concrete. It’s the main venue for the Summer Olympics, which begin Aug. 8.
Friday
“True Hollywood Story Investigates: Cheerleading,” 7 p.m. on E! — Into every couch potato’s life a little cheese must fall. A two-hour doc on cheerleading culture, replete with back-stabbing and nail-biting, should fill the bill.
Saturday
“Braveheart,” 8:30 p.m. on HBO — If you can’t remember why Mel Gibson was once a major movie star, check out this spectacular historical saga about the crusading Scottish rebel William Wallace. Not only does Gibson star, he won the directing and best picture Oscars.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: TV tips
Derby thunders onto NBC on Saturday
For no particular reason, I’m feeling sporty today, so this blog will trot in sync with my mood.
The Kentucky Derby promises to gobble up most of NBC’s afternoon schedule on Saturday. It’s not quite as excessive as the Super Bowl, but the 134th running of the million-dollar horses will start early and go late.
Post time (when the race is expected to begin) is 5:04 p.m. Central Time, but NBC is starting at 3 p.m. with a red-carpet segment, “Access at the Kentucky Derby,” hosted by Billy Bush of “Access Hollywood.” Look for a lot of rich people in big hats, as opposed to stars in skimpy clothes.
After the faux celebrity march, NBC will have its pre-race show at 4 p.m., highlighting the competing horses, their jockeys, their trainers and their owners.
For those of us who are not hard-core horsey types, this provides mandatory background so you can choose a thoroughbred to cheer for.
FYI: Among the unusually crowded field this year, Big Brown is favored, with Colonel John also considered worthy. With two-days’ worth of rain expected at Churchill Downs, look for a muddy, sloppy race.
Even if you’re not hosting or attending a Derby party, don’t forget to whip up some mint juleps. Basic recipe provided here. (Put enough mint and sugar in and you can barely taste the bourbon.)
Moving on to the Beijing Summer Olympics, NBC today announced it will have live Web coverage of 25 sports that otherwise wouldn’t be seen in TV coverage.
And the network will archive 2,200 hours of video from every day and every competition during the games, which begin Aug. 8.
Since August is by far the steamiest, scorching-ist month of the year in Austin, I’m guessing the Beijing Games will be a big draw here.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Sports on TV
Another strike?
Producers and actors are NOT getting along … and that’s a nasty foreboding for all of us.
You might recall that the Screen Actors Guild initiated early contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers two weeks ago. Yesterday, the big-wigs representing the major studios and networks turned down the actors’ demands for what was dubbed “huge increases in compensation and benefits”sought by SAG.
In a statement posted on its Web site, the producers’ group said after 13 days of talks, the two sides remained miles apart. The producers said the actors’ guild’s demand for doubling fees for DVD sales, along with other increases for new media distribution, was unacceptable.
At least the warring groups have not given up — yet. They are scheduled to reconvene today for another attempt before breaking for the weekend.
SAG is shooting for a bigger piece of the pie than the Writers Guild of America received after its three-month strike. Even though the actors’ contract doesn’t expire until June 30, the iffy situation already has caused delays because studios are concerned that a strike could paralyze the industry — again.
SAG’s smaller sister union, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, is scheduled to begin separate talks with the producers on Monday.
Can’t these folks please settle this mess before they permanently injure the business? Pretty please?
Guests we welcome with open arms
Christian Siriano, the dramatic and wildly talented little sprite who won this season’s “Project Runway,” prances onto “Ugly Betty” tonight (at 7 p.m. on ABC). Unlike most nonactor guest stars, he’s perfect for “Betty.” Very funny and totally over the top. Love him.
Also, Kate Walsh returns to “Grey’s Anatomy” tonight (9 p.m. on ABC), resurrecting her sexy Dr. Addison Montgomery character. Fans of her spinoff, “Private Practice,” need not worry — ABC has renewed the spinoff for a new season, beginning in the fall.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Entertainment