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Entertainment
December 3, 2008
Something for most in tonight's holiday specials
For the traditional and not-so-traditional, tonight’s cluster of holiday specials runs the gamut.
For the 76th year, the gigantic tree in New York City explodes with light on NBC’s “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” at 7 p.m. Beyoncé, the Jonas Brothers and other musical guests are scheduled to perform as the countdown to the lighting unfolds.
Some folks just can’t live without watching this spectacle.
For women dreaming of the perfect gifts and men dreaming of seeing women wearing perfect gifts. there’s “The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show,” at 9 p.m. on CBS. Yes, yes, this is not exactly the babe in a manger, but Heidi Klum and other Victoria’s Secret models/babes prancing around in wings and skimpy lingerie certainly strikes some as celebratory.
“Three Tenors Christmas,” at 7 p.m. on PBS, is here to give culture vultures a thrill. Repeated many times since its 1999 debut, the holiday special features opera greats Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavaarotti and Jose Carreras infusing vocal power in yuletide songs and carol.
And for those who aren’t in the mood for models or music, TNT has “A Christmas Story” tonight at 7. The 1983 movie, set in the 1940s, features little Ralphie trying to convince his parents to get him a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon star.
Cheers … now aren’t we all just a little hungry for a creepy horror film or a really gruesome crime drama?
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December 2, 2008
Old dog, old tricks: "According to Jim" returns ... but why?
Boy, talk about a show with nine lives … OK, it has eight lives, but seriously, how many times do you suppose ABC can cancel “According to Jim” and then bring it back?
The old-fashioned, deeply annoying family sitcom starring Jim Belushi and Courtney Thorne-Smith returns tonight at 8 for its eighth season — after being axed at least three times during the course of that surprisingly long run.
“Scrubs” has had a similarly up-and-down run on NBC and come January, it will try its luck on ABC. But at least “Scrubs” is actually funny and deserves to live.
At a time when sitcoms range from lackluster to lame, “According to Jim” feels more like a place holder for something better. It’s not funny, but presumably it will fill 30 minutes on the schedule, until ABC comes up with something better.
I just wish Hollywood could get over the marital misery theme for a while.
New host for “Meet the Press?”
The Huffington Post claimed to break the news late Monday night that NBC White House reporter David Gregory will become the new host of “Meet the Press.” But NBC quickly countered that it was “not ready to make an announcement.”
Gregory, who anchored MSNBC’s presidential campaign coverage in the fall, has been a contributor to “Meet the Press” for years and was one of the names rumored to be in the running to replace the late Tim Russert.
Whether NBC just wants to make the announcement on its own terms or whether Huffington is just plain wrong is a mystery.
But we do know the new host will have to be named soon, because substitute Tom Brokaw is scheduled to end his duties after this Sunday’s broadcast.
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November 28, 2008
Britney doc on MTV, "Meet the Press" close to naming host
Can an empathetic 90-minute documentary provide a springboard for Britney Spears to attempt yet another comeback?
You be the judge.
MTV spent three months filming “Britney: For the Record,” which airs Sunday night at 9. MTV publicity proudly crows that the film allowed the pop-wreck “to tell her side of the story in her own words.” Presumably that means she’s going to spew all about her alleged breakdown, substance abuse, weight gain and parenting and marital woes.
The behind-the-scenes look at Britney Past and Present also is an attempt to promote “Circus,” her new CD, which already has been surprisingly successful. The first single, “Womanizer,” topped the Billboard pop chart and is holding steady.
Clearly Spears hopes to be taken seriously as a singer, but she needs to polish her tarnished tabloid image first. Maybe a splashy MTV special and a hit CD will do the trick — assuming Brit can stay out of the negative limelight for a while.
Who will take over “Meet the Press?”
NBC executives are believed to be close to naming a successor to the late Tim Russert. That announcement could come within a week, which means that Tom Brokaw, who has been subbing since Russert died of a heart attack in June, could stepped down Dec. 7.
Likely contenders for the prime hosting job include NBC White House reporter David Gregory, NBC chief foreign affairs reporter Andrea Mitchell and NBC political director Bruce Todd. The only non-NBC name floating around is Gwen Ifill, moderator of PBS’s “Washington Week” and a frequent guest on “Meet the Press” during Russert’s tenure.
The Sunday morning political show, which has been a powerful force for 61 years, is the dominant program in its genre, far ahead of ABC’s “This Week” and CBS’s “Face the Nation” in the Nielsen ratings. Russert was popular throughout his 17 years on the program, and Brokaw managed to increase the show’s lead over the competition.
Of course NBC could always pull a surprise and pick someone nobody’s ever heard of (unlikely) or go with multiple anchors (said to be a distinct possibility, like “Nightline” after Ted Koppel left). Stay tuned.
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November 26, 2008
"Dancing" and "Shield" -- two finales, two shocks
Last night was a Really Big TV Night!
If you recorded either the “Dancing with the Stars” finale or the last episode of “The Shield,” consider this your official SPOILER ALERT!!
Both shows had shocking conclusions:
Brooke Burke, who was always the best dancer in the group but never generated passionate squeals from the audience, won the prized mirror ball on “Dancing.” She and professional partner Derek Hough looked genuinely stunned that they beat out lovable-huggable football champ Warren Sapp and flashy former pop star Lance Bass.
“Unbelievable,” Burke whispered as confetti fell and the studio audience shrieked.
But when Burke, a 37-year-old married mother of four, turned in a final Viennese waltz that earned perfect 10s from the panel of judges, the upset seemed possible.
Upset? Yes, women rarely win “Dancing.” Kelly Monaco and Kristi Yamaguchi are the only females to win in the show’s previous six seasons.
The gender slant may be partly due to the number of male athletes who have competed and done well — and to the young female viewers who are smitten with guys who shouldn’t be able to dance so gracefully but do.
The two-hour telecast was overstuffed with filler and trips down memory lane, but the final result was worth the wait. There’s no question Burke, a little-known TV host (“Wild On” and “Rock Star”), was the superior hoofer.
Meanwhile, “The Shield” ended its violent seven-season run on FX with a stroke of irony and a whiff of ambiguity. Anyone who thought corrupt cop Vic Mackey would either commit suicide, die in a shoot-out with cops or gangsters or get locked up for life, well, they thought wrong.
Shane blew himself away and took his pregnant wife and young son with him. That was a deeply chilling scene and pretty much of a shock. It wasn’t surprising that Shane, who reached the end of his rope months ago, killed himself. But taking his family out? That was a stunner.
After squeezing an immunity deal out of the feds, Mackey couldn’t wind up in jail — at least not as long as he held up his end of the deal.
But his punishment, which was almost comical, was to be assigned a desk job that required him to wear a tie, punch a clock and file tons of paperwork. No more chasing bad guys, no more fun on the streets.
In the final scene, we saw Mackey stare dolefully at photos of the family that betrayed him, then stuff a gun into the waistband of his suit pants and march out of his dark, empty office.
Is he going after he ex-wife Corinne, who told his secrets to police? Was he going after the cops and feds he blamed for his predicament? Or was he just going …
We’ll never know. It’s hard to imagine actor Michael Chiklis ever wanting to resurrect this tortured character, but the door stays open with this ending.
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November 25, 2008
"Lights" returns to NBC Jan. 16
Mark your calendars: “Friday Night Lights” will return to “regular TV” on Friday, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m.
The critically acclaimed drama about small-town Texas life (and filmed right here in the Austin area) has been airing exclusively on DirecTV since October. Now the non-satellite subscribers among us can finally catch up on the action.
The third season will find Tami Taylor promoted to principal of Dillon High, which technically makes her Coach Taylor’s boss. Heh heh.
Matt Saracen faces a challenge for his starring role as QB of the Dillon Panthers, Smash is heading off to college and paralyzed Jason Street will leave town for a new life. Comings and goings …
Can’t wait!
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'The Shield' finale ... Will Vic live or die?
“The Shield,” easily the most violent and hard-edged show on basic cable, ends its seventh and final season tonight at 9 on FX. It’s a 90-minute send-off, so set your DVR accordingly if you can’t watch it live.
Vic Mackey, the rogue cop-turned-vigilante, has twisted himself into such an evil knot that death or incarceration seem to be the only way out of this moral quagmire.
Brilliantly played by Michael Chiklis, whose journey from lightweight roles in “Daddy-O” and “The Commish” has been astonishing, Vic is the definition of raw brutality. In the first episode of the series, Vic shot one of his cop pals in the face, covered it up and walked away without so much as a second of regret.
“I’m a different kinda cop,” he would say while beating the stuffing out of some gang-banger or drug dealer.
Vic didn’t just cross the line; he erased it. Ostensibly perpetrating evil on bad guys for the greater good, Vic increasingly became indistinguishable from the thugs he sought to wipe off the seedy streets of Los Angeles.
If he had a conscience, Vic didn’t show it. But the show’s creator, Shawn Ryan, threw one redeeming trait into this nasty brew when he made Vic devoted to his ex-wife and three children. Vic didn’t always handle things right, but it was clear that he loved his family.
“The Shield” broke new ground on basic cable, spewing out language and violence previously only seen on HBO and Showtime. Only the f-word was off limits for “The Shield.” Everything else — and lots of it — was fair game.
“The Shield” served up a mix of good cops, bad cops, creepy villains and sometimes even creepier politicians. Captain-turned-councilman David Aceveda was by far the creepiest. Cases lurched from Armenian gangs to Mexican cartels to city hall corruption.
Vic and his “strike team” — Ronnie, Lem and Shane — broke rules together and eventually turned against each other.
The level to which this once tight quartet had fallen was shockingly evident when Shane tossed a bomb into Lem’s car and killed him.
Heading into tonight’s finale, Shane is on a fast-moving downward spiral, running from the law and snorting cocaine with abandon.
But the big question is what will happen to Vic? Will there finally be consequences for his sins? Will he meet a gruesomely violent end or flee to a foreign land? Or will he slither through the cracks yet again and stroll into the sunset in an ambiguous conclusion?
The resolution is near … it’s going to be juicy.
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November 24, 2008
A trio of ABC series nearing cancellation
As the November sweeps come to an end (Wednesday) and the viewership-challenged holiday season arrives, the networks will begin quietly doing away with shows that have failed to perform.
Three of ABC’s most imaginative and elaborately produced series are on the chopping block: the sweet fantasy tale “Pushing Daisies,” the rich-family sudser “Dirty Sexy Money” and the hallucination-filled semi-legal drama “Eli Stone.”
All three are second-year series, and all are struggling in the ratings. “Pushing Daisies” has sunk from an already low 7 million its first season to 6.5 million so far this season. The story of a pie maker who can bring people back to life (briefly) to solve their murders (including his girlfriend) is wildly expensive to produce and hasn’t quite caught on with the mainstream audience.
“Dirty Sexy Money” — with a star-studded cast that includes Peter Krause, Donald Sutherland, Jill Clayburgh, William Baldwin, Blair Underwood and Lucy Liu — has an even smaller prime-time audience. The night soap focuses on a super-wealthy New York family that has more problems than money, which seems impossible but is true.
“Eli Stone” has been doing considerably better than its dying siblings, averaging more than 8 million viewers a week. But the bone-heads at ABC apparently believe that “Dancing with the Stars,” which precedes the drama on Tuesdays, is giving the show an inflated boost. So what? It’s such a fun, clever show … why not keep it on and see what happens?
Final hoofing tonight on “Dancing”
The remaining three couples compete on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” (7 tonight), with the winner crowned tomorrow night on the season finale.
What do you think? Will yet another jock twirl away with the mirror ball? Athletes have had an advantage in the past four seasons: football great Emmitt Smith (Season 3), Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno (Season 4), race car driver Helio Castroneves (Season 5) and Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi (Season 6).
And women have been at a disadvantage in the show’s seven seasons. Soap star Kelly Monaco won the first title, but until Yamaguchi, it was all guys.
So what does that mean for tonight’s trio? Football champ Warren Sapp has the jock advantage. But pop warbler Lance Bass has a devoted fan base right now. TV host Brooke Burke is by far the most talented non-pro dancer and probably should win on points. And yet … Burke hasn’t stirred as much enthusiasm thus far. People seem to appreciate how good she is, but voters also are looking for personality and charm.
I could be wrong, but I’m feeling a surge for Bass right now. We’ll see. He might collapse on his final two dances. Then it would be a total toss-up between lovable Sapp and the dazzling Burke.
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November 21, 2008
"Jericho" joins The CW
“Jericho” fans, who saved the apocalyptic drama once by sending tons of peanuts to CBS’s home office, were unable to keep the production going.
But starting Sunday, Nov. 30, at least these ardent fans can ease their mourning with reruns on the CW.
That’s because the weblet (seen in Austin on KNVA Channel 54) has dumped the entire Sunday night of programming that was added in September in an outsourcing deal with Media Rights Capital.
Those new scripted programs — “Valentine,” “Easy Money,” “4 Real” and “In Harm’s Way” — never attracted a small gathering, let alone a crowd of viewers. It was unclear from the beginning why the CW wanted to add a night of programming that came from a non-network source.
Joining “Jericho” next Sunday night will be “Everybody Hates Chris,” “The Game” and reruns of “The Drew Carey Show.”
According to the industry publication “Broadcasting & Cable,” the CW is currently in the process of “trying to regroup.” No kidding …
Austin model Chantal guests on CBS soap
Austin area semi-celeb Chantal Jones, who was a runner-up on “America’s Next Top Model,” will pop into an episode of the soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful” next week.
On the Tuesday installment, Chantal (billed as Heather Chantal Jones) will play (surprise, surprise!) a model.
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November 18, 2008
"Monk" to end on high note
Unlike some TV series, that grind away long after creativity and ratings have disappeared, USA’s “Monk” has decided to leave on a high note after its eighth season.
The final 16 episodes, about the defective detective with obsessive-compulsive disorder, will air in the summer of 2009.
Tony Shalhoub has endeared himself to millions of viewers over the years. Both he and the show have won numerous awards, including an Emmy and Golden Globe.
“Monk” remains one of USA’s top-performing programs and a consistent finisher in the top shows among all cable networks.
Shalhoub likely will continue his movie and stage career … and definitely will have no trouble finding a new series if he wants one. He was a shining supporter in NBC’s old comedy “Wings” and no doubt will have network producers knocking on his door by spring.
“Dancing” semi-finalists stumbled
It’s going to be interesting tonight to see who gets bumped off ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”
Huggable favorite Warren Sapp had a less-than-fabulous outing, and even the stunning Brooke Burke had a bad night last night. Burke got her hair and hair ornament tied up on her partner Derek Hough in the middle of her first dance and never regained her footing.
But I bet those two crowd favorites are safe … My money’s on “Hannah Montana” guy Cody Linley to get the boot.
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November 17, 2008
"Prison Break" racing toward the end?
In tonight’s episode of “Prison Break” (8 p.m. on Fox), Michael and his gang of heroes/convicts make their final preparations for the plot to steal Scylla, a mysterious high-tech device that has serious but unknown implications for the peace of the world.
Also tonight, according to press material, the deliciously evil T-bag “reaches the point of no return.”
The murderer/rapist/child abuser known as T-bag surely has passed that point numerous times, including gnawing off his own hand and becoming a sex slave to various Latino criminals in the clinker.
So it will be interesting, to say the least, to see what constitutes this actual point of no return.
I’ve been a fan of this gritty, fast-paced thriller since its debut four seasons ago. I especially liked the season they shot in Dallas.
But I’m in the shrinking minority. Every season the show has lost viewers, beginning with an already rather meager 9 million the first season and winding up with only 6.5 million so far this season. It’s a hard show to keep up with.
The Hollywood Reporter recently speculated that the drama, now in its fourth season, will bow out with a two-hour finale sometime during midseason. The original schedule had “Prison Break” taking a break after the Dec. 22nd sixteenth episode and then returning “in the future” for the remaining six installments.
But now it looks like that won’t happen.
It’s probably time to end the saga, which has been losing reasons for Michael and Lincoln to be either breaking out of prison or on the run from various law enforcement and corrupt officials for quite some time.
I just hope it goes out with an appropriate bang … and that T-bag has an especially spectacular exit.
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November 13, 2008
NBC axes two: "Lipstick Jungle" and "My Own Worst Enemy"
It’s November, the month when ratings rule and we give thanks for stuff.
But if you’re NBC, you’re probably not so much thankful as fretful.
The network has lowered the boom on two series, “My Own Worst Enemy” and “Lipstick Jungle.” Neither cancellation is exactly a shock, but “My Own Worst Enemy,” starring Christian Slater in a scenery-chewing role as two characters, was supposed to be a big hit for the Old Peacock.
But it was a dud. “Worst Enemy” plunged to a pitiful 1.8 rating earlier this month — which means more people watched Wolf Blitzer in the afternoon on CNN than Slater in a big-budget spy thriller in prime time. Ouch.
And the glam-girl drama “Lipstick Jungle,” which debuted last season, went from bad to worse when NBC bumped it from Wednesday nights to Friday nights this season. The Brooke Shield fluffer had even lower ratings than “Worst Enemy,” racking up a miserable 1.2 rating in its most recent outing.
Needless to say, this has been a bad fall for network programmers. They blame lackluster ratings on the country’s obsession with watching cable news coverage of the election instead of network entertainment.
NBC’s cancellations weren’t the first of the fall season. Also gone are ABC’s Ashton Kutcher-produced game show “Opportunity Knocks,” Fox’s horrendously unfunny sitcom “Do Not Disturb” and CBS’s promising but ultimately sad-sack romantic comedy “The Ex List.”
And the slumping ratings aren’t just for prime time.
Today Fox announced that it’s late-night sketch show “MADtv” will depart in May, at the end of its 14th lackluster season. The network blamed rising production costs, but nearly invisible ratings had something to do with it, too.
In October 1995, “MADtv” debuted as an allegedly edgier alternative to NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” “MAD” never lived up to that goal, so it’s a miracle it stayed on as long as it did.
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November 12, 2008
"CMA Awards" ... so yesterday?
“The 42nd Annual CMA Awards,” hosted by “American Idol” winner Carrie Underwood and hunky Brad Paisley, roll out tonight at 7 on ABC.
Do you care? I don’t, and I’m trying to figure out why.
Country music has never been my favorite genre, but I’m usually a sucker for awards shows and tend to enjoy listening to singers who are new to me.
I watch the Grammys every year so I can take a peek at folks I’ve heard on the radio but wouldn’t recognize on a stage.
This year? Not caring for country.
I’m curious to see how the ratings hold up for the “CMA Awards” tonight. Is the rest of the country in a similarly non-country mood? Has the influence of Barack Obama and urban cool already begun to spread?
We don’t know whether President-Elect Obama likes country music or not, but at some point during the campaign one of the entertainment magazines printed a list of songs on his iPod. There was jazz and rock and funk and classical … but no country.
Is the shift in the zeitgeist already happening? Or am I just not feeling the need for Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney and Kellie Pickler?
Speaking of Obama and pop culture
According to the tabloid TV show “Access Hollywood,” Obama daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, have been invited by the Disney Channel to appear on their favorite show, “Hannah Montana.”
Star Miley’s father Billy Ray Cyrus has hinted that an appearance sometime in the spring is a possibility, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Seems like that would open up a gigantic wave of possibilities — and distractions — as the First Daughters settle into their new life in Washington.
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November 11, 2008
McCain on "Tonight," dozens of People's Choice Awards nominees
Sen. John McCain took a week off to recover from losing last Tuesday’s presidential election, but he resurfaces tonight in a venue where he’s likely to shine — “The Tonight Show” (10:30 p.m. on NBC).
Although he may be stiff in speeches and debates, McCain loves the late-night limelight and usually does well poking fun at himself with an assortment of hosts.
Before the election, you may recall, the self-proclaimed maverick Republican returned to David Letterman’s “Late Show” in an attempt to patch things up with the host after stiffing him a month earlier.
“I screwed up,” McCain grinned at Letterman by way of explanation. Letterman didn’t seem all that appeased, and the tension continued. But it was funny anyway.
An appearance on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” the weekend before the eleciton went better, as McCain performed opposite Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin in one sketch, made fun of his combustible temper in another and wound up as “sad grandpa” in still another.
Tonight McCain will trade jokes and barbs with Jay Leno, with whom he has a less edgy relationship than Letterman. Maybe the old “straight talk express” finally will return for tonight’s appearance.
Nominees for People’s Choice Awards
The nominees for “The 35th Annual People’s Choice Awards” were announced Monday, with the usual array of odd categories and endless lists of shows and actors.
These awards, based on public opinion polls, are mostly an excuse to trot stars onto a stage so viewers can ogle them. Big ugly crystal things are awarded for music, movies and TV.
We’ll stick to the TV nominees here. And, by the way, this year’s ceremony will air Jan. 7 on CBS.
Among the strange new categories are Favorite TV Drama Diva and Favorite Scene-Stealing Guest Star. And note that just about every single new series is nominated in the favorite new show categories. (That’s the only way to get all these folks to show up for the ceremony.)
FAVORITE TV DRAMA: “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “House”
FAVORITE TV COMEDY: “Samantha Who?” “Two and a Half Men,” “Ugly Betty”
FAVORITE ANIMATED COMEDY: “Family Guy,” “The Simpsons,” “South Park”
FAVORITE SCI-FI / FANTASY SHOW: “Heroes,” “ Supernatural,” “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”
FAVORITE COMPETITION / REALITY SHOW: “American Idol,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
FAVORITE GAME SHOW: “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” “Deal Or No Deal,” “Jeopardy!”
FAVORITE MALE TV STAR: Patrick Dempsey (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Hugh Laurie (“House”), Charlie Sheen (“Two and a Half Men”)
FAVORITE FEMALE TV STAR: Christina Applegate (“Samantha Who?”), Sally Field (“Brothers & Sisters”), Mariska Hargitay (“Law & Order: SVU”)
FAVORITE TALK SHOW HOST: Ellen DeGeneres, David Letterman, Regis Philbin & Kelly Ripa
FAVORITE SCENE-STEALING GUEST STAR: Luke Perry on “ Law & Order: SVU,” Britney Spears on “How I Met Your Mother,” Robin Williams on “Law & Order: SVU”
FAVORITE TV DRAMA DIVA: Holly Hunter on “ Saving Grace,” Mary-Louise Parker on “Weeds,” Kyra Sedgwick on “The Closer”
FAVORITE NEW TV DRAMA: “90210,” “ Crusoe,” “ Easy Money,” “ Eleventh Hour,” “ Fringe,” “Knight Rider,” “Life on Mars,” “ The Mentalist,” “ My Own Worst Enemy,” “ Privileged”
FAVORITE NEW TV COMEDY: “Gary Unmarried,” “Kath & Kim,” “ Valentine,” “Worst Week”
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November 6, 2008
Hank Hill heading for ABC? And election ratings break records
Is Hank Hill about to be resurrected?
ABC is rumored to be ready to pick up “King of the Hill” when its 13th season ends on Fox this spring. Fox announced late last week that it would end production at that time.
Mike Judge, “King” creator and Austin resident, has a midseason comedy coming to ABC, “The Goode Family,” so maybe the two animated shows can be paired.
Election night ratings break TV audience records
According to Nielsen Media Research data, between 7 and 10 p.m. Tuesday, more than 40 percent of U.S. TV households watched election returns. That amounts to a record-breaking 71.5 million viewers for all the broadcast and cable networks combined.
Although the outcome was all but academic once the networks started calling individual states for Democrat Barack Obama around 9 p.m. Central Time, the non-suspense nevertheless outdrew the 2000 race (the drawn out George W. Bush vs. Al Gore contest) by more than 10 million viewers.
Among the broadcast networks, ABC, anchored by Charles Gibson and Diane Sawyer, attracted the biggest audience, averaging 13 million viewers through prime time. CNN was tops among cable news networks and second to ABC, with 12.3 million viewers. CNN says that’s the largest audience the network has had in its entire 28-year history.
Third place went to NBC, which delivered some 12 million viewers. Fox News, with 9 million viewers, raked in 9 million viewers — its second-largest audience of all time. CBS, with Katie Couric at the helm, finished fifth on the night, with 7.8 million viewers. Bringing up the rear were MSNBC (5.9 million) and Fox broadcast TV (5.2 million).
If the late-night ratings are rolled into the mix, CNN won the entire night, with 13.3 million viewers. It’s not the first time, nor will it be the last time, when the cable news network beat out broadcasters for political coverage. CNN led the way during the Democratic convention and several primary nights.
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November 3, 2008
"King of the Hill" -- canceled but maybe not gone
As reported over the weekend, Fox has decided not to renew “King of the Hill,” the animated comedy created by Austin resident Mike Judge and Greg Daniels.
But the way these things work, we’ll likely be seeing Hank and Family well into 2009 — because the 13th season isn’t scheduled to kick off until spring.
And it’s worth noting that Fox has canceled (or failed to renew) “King of the Hill” and other animated comedies (notably “Family Guy” and “Futurama”) in the past — only to bring them back when the replacement shows failed.
Emmy-winning “King of the Hill” premiered in January 1997. It was a critical hit with modest ratings for a very long time, but Fox seemed to be undecided on its renewal status several seasons. It was never as popular as “The Simpsons,” but it certainly has had a loyal following and does well in reruns.
Hank and Family are currently entertaining us with episodes from the show’s 12th production order. If Fox’s decision holds, the show will take its final bow in late spring or early summer.
But if either of Fox’s two new animated shows (“ The Cleveland Show” and “Sit Down, Shut Up”), scheduled for midseason, fails, maybe “King of the Hill” will be revived once again.
Regardless, Judge won’t exactly be idle. He has a new animated comedy, “The Goode Family,” coming to ABC at midseason, and Daniels is busy with NBC’s “The Office.”
Start your engines: Election night is coming!
Are you planning to hunker down for Tuesday night’s conclusion to one of the most exciting political dramas in decades? If so, here are the start times for the night’s coverage of the presidential election returns.
ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox TV — 6 p.m.
PBS — 8 p.m.
CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC — 5 p.m.
C-SPAN, Univision — 6 p.m.
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October 27, 2008
'SNL' soars toward the election
While the country might be sick to death of the current presidential campaign, “Saturday Night Live” is thrilled. And probably dreading the end that’s coming soon.
Ratings have doubled and even tripled (for Sarah Palin’s appearance Oct. 18), and the political humor has sharpened to a fine point. Even without the Sarah Palin/Tina Fey freakish look-alike factor, it’s been a banner campaign season for “SNL.”
The sketch comedy recently brought back Will Ferrell as President George W. Bush. Although Ferrell never looked a bit like W., he had by far the best spoof of the prez. The dimwitted twinkle was his trademark.
And pairing him with Darrell Hammond as Veep Dick Cheney brought back lots of hilarious memories — which turned out to be political nightmares in the real world — but they sure were funny at the time.
Many have tried and failed to capture W since Ferrell left. Chris Parnell, Will Forte and Jason Sudeikis tried — but with groaning results.
Hammond always has been the genius impersonator in the “SNL” cast. He can turn himself into just about anyone, but in a live show, you’ve got to choose. At the moment, Hammond is splitting his time between Cheney and Republican nominee John McCain.
What will happened to “SNL” after the Nov. 4 election? That depends on the outcome.
By almost everyone’s assessment, there’s not a whole lot of funny in Democrat Barack Obama. He’s serious and deeply buttoned-up, and his running mate, Joe Biden, isn’t exactly a barrel of laughs either.
McCain, on the other hand, would give “SNL” a lot to work with — including more Palin. Does that mean the whole cast and creative team will be casting Republican ballots? Maybe.
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October 24, 2008
Lohan bounced from 'Ugly Betty'
Did you see Lindsay Lohan’s guest-starring debut on “Ugly Betty” last night?
The first of what was planned to be a six-episode story arc began with Lohan arriving at Mode magazine, begging for a job from her former high school nemesis Betty. Seems the formerly popular girl had fallen on hard times and needed assistance from the unpopular girl she relentlessly tormented.
The ABC show starring America Ferrera has had lots of guest stars, but Lohan’s participation had been heavily promoted before the season began. Good girl (Ferrera) meets bad girl (Lohan) in an over-the-top rivalry.
Well, according to various tabloids and gossip columns, the filming did not go well, and Lohan’s six episodes have been whittled to four.
Lohan was either a vixen or a villain, depending on which account you believe.
The troubled young star (multiple trips to rehab and the like) has a reputation for acting like a diva, so maybe the sources that claim Lohan arrived on set with an entourage, trashed her dressing room and demanded only to be on the set when Ferrera was there were true.
Or, maybe Ferrera felt threatened by the high-profile guest star and was mean to her. Given Ferrera’s rep for being possibly the nicest young woman in Hollywood, that account seems a tad far-fetched.
Whatever the reason, Lohan is toast and will be gone after three more episodes.
‘The Ex List’ started strong but slumped quickly
Last Friday I recommended CBS’s new romantic comedy-drama “The Ex List” (8 p.m.) to a young friend. The pilot, which I reviewed last month, had some truly inspired and funny moments, and Elizabeth Reaser, who stars as the lovelorn Bella, was terrific.
Yikes. Last week’s episode was a major groaner — not funny or cute. Too bad. Reaser, best known for her recurring role on “Grey’s Anatomy” as the mysterious Ava, is still endearing, but the writing was plain awful.
But to make a gimmicky premise like this one work, the scripts have to be sharp.
The “Ex List” gimmick, by the way, is that Bella is searching for a husband. She is told by a fortune-teller that she has already dated her future hubby and must go through all the losers she’s dated and reconnect with him — or she’ll be forever single.
Will tonight’s episode rebound? Doubt it. But wouldn’t it be nice to have something to watch on Friday nights? Yes, it would.
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October 22, 2008
How's the fall TV season going? Checking the pulse ...
Before we head into the November sweeps, let’s check the vital signs of the fall season.
Briefly, let’s just say the pulse is weak for newcomers.
Only two new series rank in the Nielsen Top 20 — CBS’s “The Mentalist” (No. 5) and CBS’s “Eleventh Hour” (No. 13). The other broadcast networks have yet to break through with anything remotely resembling a new hit.
The usual veterans are at the top of the chart: “CSI,” “NCIS,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Two and a Half Men,” “60 Minutes” and “House.”
Sluggish ratings notwithstanding, NBC has ordered more episodes of its revival of “Knight Rider.” Not sure why.
Two newcomers already have bit the dust: Ashton Kutcher’s really stupid reality show “Opportunity Knocks” and Fox’s groan-worthy sitcom “Do Not Disturb.” Both are gone and hopefully soon forgotten.
The second season of “Mad Men” wraps up this Sunday, and although the Emmy-winning AMC drama has tiny ratings by broadcast standards (about 1.2 million per episode), it definitely will return for a third season.
A different measurement for success is the key to a successful run on cable.
And speaking of cable series, the battle over ‘Project Runway’continues.
Lifetime’s bold grab of the popular fashionista show is likely to be heading to federal court soon. You might recall that Bravo, which is owned by NBC Universal, aired the first five seasons. The Weinstein Co., which produces the show, decided to grab for bigger bucks by moving the hit series to Lifetime.
But NBC Universal claims the producing company breached its contract by failing to give Bravo the right of first refusal for future seasons. A New York judge agreed with that claim and issued the injunction against Lifetime.
Now Lifetime insists it has the exclusive right to air “Runway” and that it’s a matter of federal copyright law, which should shift the case to federal court.
Much ado about nothing? Not on cable. “Project Runway” averaged 3.6 million viewers per week in its fifth season, the biggest audience ever for the show.
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October 21, 2008
Here comes Katie!
It’s not like Katie Holmes needs to raise her profile, but tonight’s guest starring stint on “Eli Stone” is certain to do just that.
A few seconds into the episode (at 9 p.m. on ABC), the long-legged Holmes bursts on screen in a sexy song-and-dance number.
Obviously Eli’s visions, which were supposed to have been eliminated surgically, have returned. The wild dreams of this San Francisco attorney, it would seem, are not caused by a brain aneurysm.
When he’s not envisioning Holmes’ character in a super-sultry jazz number, Eli (Jonny Lee Miller) is infatuated with her as a klutzy attorney.
The role and stunt casting are the work of “Eli” creator Greg Berlanti, who worked with Holmes on her breakout teen drama “Dawson’s Creek.”
Mrs. Tom Cruise has gone from that modest beginning to a mildly successful movie career, most recently starring in “Mad Money,” “Thank You for Smoking” and “Batman Begins.”
And just last week, Holmes made her Broadway debut in a revival of Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons.” It’s a small supporting role, but Holmes has been a big draw and helped make the show the highest-grossing play on Broadway.
Can she bring a crowd to the low-rated “Eli Stone?” Maybe.
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October 2, 2008
Veep debate .... KXAN update
A couple of big reminders, as if you need them, for tonight:
The one and only vice presidential debate is tonight at 8. PBS’s Gwen Ifill, who broke her ankle Monday while carrying all of her research material, will moderate.
Some conservative radio hosts started tossing rocks at Ifill yesterday over a book she’s been working on for about a year tracing the evolution of black politicians in America.
As you might imagine (given the timing), this is nothing but noise. Republicans knew about the book when the Presidential Debate Commission proposed Ifill as the moderator several months ago, and they signed off on her. Yesterday John McCain said he was certain she would do a fine job because “she’s an objective professional.”
This smackdown promises to be a bigger ratings grabber than the presidential debates.
Gov. Sarah Palin, who remains something of a mystery, will stand toe to toe with Sen. Joe Biden. Will Palin hold up under 90 minutes of national scrutiny? Will Biden stick his foot in his mouth? Will they look at each other? Will the two of them shake hands or hug when it’s all over?
We’ll soon find out. The veep debate can be seen on ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, Fox Broadcasting, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, CNN and C-SPAN.
KXAN likely to drop off Time Warner Cable tonight
Remember, if you’re watching NBC programming tonight at midnight and the picture suddenly goes dark, it’s not your television. Don’t leap up and start beating your brand new HDTV.
NBC affiliate KXAN, which is owned by LIN TV, has been negotiating a retransmission agreement with Time Warner Cable for several weeks. It hasn’t gone well, and apparently the two sides are at an impasse.
KXAN and LIN want the cable company to pay (less than a penny a day per subscriber) for retransmission; Time Warner argues that KXAN’s signal is free, over-the-air to customers and therefore should be free to subscribers.
The existing contract expires tonight at midnight, and it is likely that KXAN will be dropped from Time Warner until an agreement is reached.
Remember, you can watch NBC shows online (nbc.com), on a TV that’s off cable (with an antenna), on any of the satellite services (Dish, DirecTV), AT&T’s U-verse or on some of the smaller cable companies that might be available in your area (Grande to the south, Suddenlink to the north).
By the way, KNVA, which operates under a licensing agreement with KXAN, is NOT affected. KNVA’s programming of CW and MyNetwork shows will continue. Those are separate agreements with the cable company, so KNVA (Cable Channel 12) stays on Time Warner.
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September 29, 2008
Meet 'Chuck' ... again!
“Chuck” is back. Did you miss him? Did you ever meet him?
That’s the conundrum facing NBC’s first-rate romantic-comedy-espionage-action drama. The show, starring Zachary Levi as a computer nerd drafted into a dangerous and complicated secret life of spying, debuted last fall to good reviews and pretty good ratings.
But then the writers strike knocked it off the air, and NBC couldn’t get it back up and running in time to complete its first season. So it’s been off the air for almost a year, which makes the second season opener more like a second debut.
In the new season (at 7 tonight on NBC), Chuck will be a little less terrified of his new situation and a little less intimidated by his beautiful handler Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski). He still pals around with his Buy More tech colleague Morgan (Joshua Gomez), which is the core for much of the show’s goofy humor.
If you missed out on “Chuck” the first time around, check him out this time.
This particular spy’s double life is twice as much fun as the procedural crime dramas that are all over TV these days. And this season the show will feature guest performances, such as tonight’s bad guy, played by Michael Clarke Duncan, and future appearances by John Larroquette, Melinda Clarke, Nicole Richie and Michael Strahan.
“Runway” — Will it or won’t it?
Is “Project Runway,” now in its fifth season on Bravo, move to Lifetime in ‘09 or not? That’s the question that bubbled up over the weekend.
NBC Universal, which owns Bravo, never wanted to lose “Runway,” and when Lifetime announced it was poaching the fashionista show, NBCU filed an injunction to stop it. Apparently a judge has now put the move on hold.
Hollywood Reporter has the whole mysterious story.
Tina Fey morphs into Palin again
Tina Fey reprised her role as Sarah Palin on “Saturday Night Live,” again appearing as the Republican vice presidential candidate in the opening sketch. The resemblance and the voice are so striking that I keep thinking the Alaska governor has decided to spoof herself.
Fey is going to have to find a way to work this new gig into her already full (“30 Rock) schedule, at least until the election on Nov. 4.
Saturday night’s show again paired Fey with Amy Poehler, who played Hillary Clinton in the first Fey-Palin appearance. This time Poehler was Katie Couric, whose interview with Palin had been ridiculed for several days last week.
Is there any doubt that Fey-Palin will return this coming Saturday, after Thursday’s scheduled veep debate with Joe Biden? This one should be choice.
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September 25, 2008
Superb doc on Los Lonely Boys tonight on PBS
Talk about perfect timing. For those of you who are staying home tonight to rest up and prep for the three-day Austin City Limits Festival, “Los Lonely Boys: Cottonfields and Crossroads” (9 p.m. on KLRU) will fill you with music, history and a deeply personal take on the San Angelo rockers.
Noted Austin filmmaker Hector Galán, who was born and raised in San Angelo, takes viewers back to the boys’ childhood years when they played honky-tonks and cantinas with their father, Ringo Garza Sr. The elder Ringo dreamed of making it big in music, specifically in country music, and groomed his sons for that particular road to stardom.
The film paints an evocative portrait of life in small-town Texas in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, as Ringo Sr. struggled with his own career and transferred his own ambition to his sons. Intimate personal stories are woven with live performances by Los Lonely Boys — including gigs at Stubbs, Zilker Park’s Blues on the Green and Antone’s.
“For a filmmaker, the timing couldn’t have been better,” Galán says. “I was able to capture what became their rise in the American music scene, a time when the stars aligned in their favor after so many years of struggle.
Poverty, racism and the music business’ inherently tough road might have stopped a lesser band, but as Galán makes clear, the Garza brothers — Ringo Jr., Henry and JoJo — combined superb talent with strong ambition and sibling support to rock their way to the top of the charts in 2003.
The music is fabulous, the interviews are moving and the finished portrait of this remarkable band is both compelling and inspiring.
DVR ‘til the cows come home tonight!
Tonight is the biggest night of the new fall season, so set every VCR and DVR you’ve got in the house.
Here’s my personal lineup:
“Ugly Betty,” 7 p.m. on ABC
“My Name Is Earl,” 7 p.m. on NBC
“Grey’s Anatomy,” 8 to 10 p.m. on ABC
“The Office,” 8 p.m. on NBC
“CSI,” 9 p.m. on CBS
“ER,” 9 p.m. on NBC
(The new season of “Survivor” starts tonight, too, but I don’t care. If you do, it’s 7 to 9 p.m. on CBS.)
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September 24, 2008
Dems and Repubs: More alike than not in TV faves
Polls and Top 10 lists might be be superficial fluff, but they sure are fun to peruse, aren’t they?
The latest such flotsam comes from FastTrack Television, and it ranks the Top 10 most-watched shows among supporters of Democrat Barack Obama, Republican John McCain and viewers who call themselves “undecided.”
The final analysis? By deductive reasoning, we can see that we are more alike than not alike when it comes to our TV viewing!
MOST LIKELY TO VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA
- “House”
- “C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation”
- “Grey’s Anatomy”
- “Heroes”
- “Sunday Night Football”
- “The Office”
- “Family Guy”
- “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
- “Two and a Half Men”
- “Bones”
[Bold indicates shows NOT in Top 10 among McCain supporters]
MOST LIKELY TO VOTE FOR JOHN MCCAIN
- “House”
- “Sunday Night Football”
- “Heroes”
- “C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation”
- “NCIS”
- “The Office”
- “C.S.I.: Miami”
- “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
- “Survivor”
- “Grey’s Anatomy”
[Bold indicates shows NOT in Top 10 among Obama supporters]
UNDECIDED
- “C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation”
- “House”
- “Sunday Night Football”
- “Heroes”
- “Grey’s Anatomy”
- “C.S.I.: Miami”
- “ER”
- “Two and a Half Men”
- “The Office”
- “Without a Trace”
Need more politics? Check out Fox online
This week Fox’s Shepard Smith launched “Strategy Room,” an online program described in the cable news channel’s press release as “a freewheeling, irreverent look at politics and breaking news.”
The show streams live Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the conclusion of election day on Nov. 4. It is hosted by Fox anchors and correspondents, with various journalists and analysts popping in as guests throughout each day.
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September 23, 2008
La Lohan a 'Runway' fashionista? And 'The Mentalist' debuts
Lindsay Lohan is famous for many things, from troubled relationships with her parental units to rehab stints for various conditions to heavily photographed lip-locking with her girlfriend.
But she’s not particularly known for fashion, which makes her selection as a guest judge on the next season of “Project Runway” a bit of a head-scratcher.
La Lohan, 22, has a multiple-episode guest stint coming up on the new season of “Ugly Betty” (Thursday on ABC), which is set in a New York fashion magazine, so maybe that’s what is supposed to give her fashion credentials.
More likely Lifetime, which snatched “Runway” away from Bravo, cast Lohan to prove that the old “women’s network” isn’t as stodgy as its reputation.
‘The Mentalist’ debuts on CBS tonight
Simon Baker makes another stab at becoming a TV star with the debut tonight (at 8) of “The Mentalist.”
CBS has been convinced of Baker’s star value for years, starting with “The Guardian” and moving on to “Smith.” Neither show became a spectacular hit. But the network remains high on the prospects of the handsome Australian import who looks like a combination of James Bond and some surfer dude.
In “The Mentalist,” Baker plays Patrick Jane, a former fake psychic who has turned his keen powers of observation to fighting crime for the California Bureau of Investigation. It’s a fairly standard procedural crime drama with occasional doses of humor.
Unlike some of the super-complicated new dramas (“Fringe,” “My Own Worst Enemy,” etc.), “The Mentalist” is straightforward and self-contained. That’s a good thing. But it also feels vaguely old-fashioned and tired.
Baker, who has a knack for comedy (“The Devil Wears Prada”) told TV critics in Los Angeles last summer that he loves the character’s humor and the guy’s inherently fraudulent nature. Maybe if they give him more comedy and less squinting.
Oh, Baker also said he prepared for the role by watching psychics on YouTube. That’s funny all by itself, isn’t it?
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September 22, 2008
The Emmy show: Worst ever?
Lame to the point of needing crutches, last night’s Emmy Awards telecast was arguably the worst televised ceremony ever.
Whoever decided that having the five nominated reality-show hosts emcee the program made an error of epic proportions.
Sure, reality shows have become more and more popular as scripted shows on network TV have waned (partly due to the writers’ strike). But the Emmys are supposed to celebrate high-quality TV, not pander to viewers who scarf down reality TV in the absence of something better.
The show was doomed from the outset when Heidi Klum (“Project Runway”), Tom Bergeron (“Dancing With the Stars”), Howie Mandel (“Deal or No Deal”), Jeff Probst (“Survivor”) and Ryan Seacrest (“American Idol”) came out on stage with nothing prepared.
“This is not a bit,” said Mandel. “We’ve got nothing. We are on Sarah Palin’s bridge to nowhere.”
Truer words were not to be spoken all night.
After affording nearly 10 minutes at the top of the show to the hosts with nothing, there was an interminable bit with Ricky Gervais trying to pry his last-year’s Emmy away from Steve Carell, a groaningly overdone acceptance speech from Tommy Smothers who received a special Emmy, Josh Grobin forcing himself through a whiplash medley of TV theme songs (so awful I had to leave the room), a clunky “Laugh-In” segment and an endless love affair with a rambling Don Rickles.
Realizing how much time was being wasted with such stupid stuff, the director set the show on a trot pace, tossing out awards so fast it was hard to digest the list of nominees. Best comedy actor? Here you go, Alec Baldwin. Best drama actress? Go long, Glenn Close, and catch this one!
But when, in the show’s final moments, it came time to bestow the Emmy for best reality show host, suddenly there was time for another interminable bit.
Jimmy Kimmel offered a summary of each host’s pluses and minuses, and then quipped, “We’ll find out, after the break!” Groans could be heard, in my house and at the Emmys. The award went to a totally underwhelmed Probst, who interpreted “formal dress” to mean no tie.
Kimmel finally euthanized the bit by turning to the audience, hoping to elicit a positive response for the doofus hosting quintet: “Haven’t they been sufficient, everybody?” Tepid applause followed.
I’ve got no problem with the winners. Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin were slam dunks for “30 Rock,” as was “30 Rock” itself for best comedy. And it was wonderful to see “Mad Men” cop the big one and “John Adams” rake in multiple prizes. I have a feeling Bryan Cranston, who was fine in “Breaking Bad,” nabbed the best drama actor award as a result of a split vote between Jon Hamm of “Mad Men” and Michael C. Hall of “Dexter.”
Maybe next year the Emmys will produce a show that echoes the quality of the programs to be honored. If that can’t be done, the Television Academy should do us all a favor and just read the names out in a parade of glamorous nominees and winners.
An hour would take care of that — and would produce a lot less groaning.
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September 12, 2008
Will Phelps win gold or bomb on 'SNL?'
Not everybody who’s famous turns out to be the perfect guest host for “Saturday Night Live.”
NFL quarterback Peyton Manning was fabulous last season. Actor Shia LaBeouf? Not so much.
So we hold our breath as we ready ourselves for Olympic gold medalist extraordinaire Michael Phelps, who hosts tomorrow night’s season opener of “Saturday Night Live” (10:30 p.m. on NBC).
We’re used to seeing Phelps gliding through the water, pumping his fist in victory. We’ve also seen him mutter through a post-swim interview with his loving mom at his side, but we’ve mostly seen him wet and wild.
Can Phelps deliver some funny stuff on “SNL?” Can he do an opening monologue without causing us to groan? And can he deliver a sketch without squinting at a cue card and stumbling over timing?
We’ll see. There’s always a lot riding on the season opening host of “SNL,” but NBC can at least take comfort in knowing that Phelps knows how to handle pressure. Can he handle comedy? We’ll see.
Musical guest this weekend is Lil Wayne, so maybe that will help.
Oh, and if the rumors on People.com are accurate, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama just might pop in for a surprise appearance. Maybe …
Busy Friday on TV … for a change
Normally Friday nights are dead nights for prime-time TV, but tonight a few things are worth noting.
“The 2008 ALMA Awards,” celebrating Latino achievements in American film, TV and music, airs at 7 p.m. on ABC. Eva Longoria Parker is the glamorous host.
“Psych” has its season finale tonight at 9 on USA Network. Life-threatening events are involved.
And, for those living in caves during the past week, Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin gets more air-time on tonight’s special edition of ABC’s “20/20” at 9 p.m. Charles Gibson’s multipart interview with the Alaska governor re-caps and wraps up after two days of dribbling onto ABC’s various news programs.
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September 3, 2008
Secret pilot for '90210' finally debuted!
Today’s guest blog about last night’s premiere of “90210” comes from our design writer Melanie Spencer. She was drafted for this entry because of her status as a former fan of the original. Agree? Disagree? We want to know!
The homeroom bell hasn’t even sounded at West Beverly Hills High School before Pollyannaish Annie Wilson (Shenae Grimes) accidentally spots Ethan Ward (Dustin Milligan), her summer sweetheart from two years ago, receiving — um, to put it delicately — oral pleasure in his SUV in the school parking lot. And thus begins the unceasing drama of “90210.”
During the next two hours of the reprised series, we learn that not only is this new generation of privileged California teens more sexually advanced than their 1990s-era predecessors, but they also are wealthier (luxury cars, plus private jets), partying harder (Keith Richards has nothing on their cache of drugs and alcohol) and more tech savvy (blogs, Webisodes and texting abound).
As a “90210” fan from way back, I have to admit the best part was seeing “frienemies,” Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth), now a student counselor, and Brenda Walsh (Shannen Doherty) reunite over coffee served up by Nat at the Peach Pit.
And now I’m left trying to figure out if Kelly’s 4-year-old son belongs to Dylan or Brandon. A cryptic phone call alludes to Brandon, but I think the writers are toying with us.
As a current “Gossip Girl” enthusiast though, I found myself longing for the lighthearted humor and constant scheming found within the New York prep school crowd. Sigh.
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September 2, 2008
'The Shield' begins final season tonight on FX
While the broadcast networks are trolling for news from the Republican National Convention in St. Paul tonight, FX launches the final season of its ground-breaking cop drama “The Shield” at 9.
It’s been nine months since last we saw Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) and his merry band of corrupt, foul-mouthed cops, so it’s going to take more than the 60-second “catch-up” scenes provided at the beginning of tonight’s episode.
Complications abound, from the various gang contingencies to the twisted relationship between Vic and Shane (Walton Goggins) to the ongoing diabolical dealings at The Barn.
Vic is still struggling to get his job back (he’s working now but scheduled to hit forced retirement any minute), and he’s getting more desperate about the situation all the time.
The show’s creator, Shawn Ryan, hinted at the Television Critics Association meetings in July that the final episode, coming in November, will see Vic “pay for his sins.” You might recall that those sins started with a bang in the pilot when he shot a fellow officer in cold blood.
“The Shield” has always been about the thin line between good and evil, and nobody has exemplified that better than Vic — except maybe Shane, who blew up and then shot partner Lem in a particularly stunning encounter last year.
It’s been a breathtaking ride, and tonight’s season opener is appropriately chilling. I’ve seen it. I can’t wait for more.
‘90210’ … A new guilty pleasure?
“90210” debuts tonight, minus reviews because the CW refused to send out screeners. Fine.
Clips indicate this 21st-century version of the ‘90s teen saga just might live up to expectations. The two-hour premiere tonight (7 to 9 p.m.) introduces the very pretty cast and sets up the new family’s dynamics.
For more details on the spinoff, check out today’s TV column on the front of Life & Arts.
We’re big time now … sort of!
Austin has finally broken into the Top 50 TV markets.
In the recently announced new market rankings from the Nielsen Co., Austin moved up from No. 51 to No. 49.
New York is still top dog, followed by Los Angeles and Chicago. The biggest TV market in Texas is Dallas-Fort Worth, at No. 5. Houston is 10th and San Antonio is 37th.
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August 22, 2008
Olympic ad: Nationwide and the grumpy granny
OK, raise your hand if you’re sick of the Nationwide insurance ad that runs about every 30 minutes during NBC’s prime-time Olympics coverage.
Now, raise your hand if you’re a parent and your child suddenly thinks it’s alright to hit people.
Is anybody worried that their kids kid will be terrified of a purse-carrying grandma next time they run into one?
I’m referring to that desperately overplayed commercial featuring a youngish man who drives his car into the side of an elderly couple’s car in a parking lot. The man hops out of his car, effusively apologizing to the old folks.
“Please forgive me,” he says earnestly.
The elderly woman replies, leaping out of her damaged car, “I’ll show you forgiveness!” and proceeds to beat him mercilessly with her purse.
Apparently this ad is quite the talk of outraged parents. And it even prompted a local minister to deliver a scathing review of it in a sermon last week. The man asks for forgiveness; the woman attacks him. Not good Christian behavior.
I confess I chuckled the first time I saw the ad. The old woman reminds me of my own late-great granny. Not the purse-wielding but the general aggressive spunkiness.
But now I’m sick of it and can see how it might not be such a good thing for children to see (repeatedly) during the Olympics.
Thoughts?
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August 21, 2008
Hot summer cable kept us cool couch potatoes
As we pole-vault away from summer TV (I know, too many Olympics references), let’s take a moment to salute our summer lover — cable.
Basic cable networks such as USA and TNT attracted a massive total audience that averaged 51 million prime-time viewers from May 26 through Aug. 17.
A small portion of the growth came from cable news networks, thanks to the excitement over the presidential campaign season.
Compared to the summer of 2004, the previous presidential season, this summer saw a 13 percent increase in basic cable ratings, according to Turner Research and Nielsen Media.
TNT’s “The Closer” maintained its top ranking among cable series. That’s no surprise.
But AMC’s “Mad Men,” which launched its second season with mammoth publicity and a slew of Emmy nominations, has seen its ratings tumble 45 percent since its July debut. That’s a surprise, and not a good one.
USA network, home to “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Burn Notice,” “Monk” and “Psych,” was the No. 1 basic cable network this summer. The highest-rated new series on cable was USA’s “In Plain Sight.”
Other hits this summer: Disney’s original movie “Camp Rock,” ABC Family’s “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” A&E’s miniseries “The Andromeda Strain,” Lifetime’s “Army Wives,” Oxygen’s “Tori & Dean” and MTV’s “The Hills.”
Bravo’s “Project Runway” slipped from previous seasons, but the fashionista competition is one of the most-recorded shows on cable, typically boosting its ratings by nearly 75 percent with DVR use.
Gentle but still in your face: Margaret Cho returns
Korean-born comedian Margaret Cho, one of the funniest ethnic standups working today, launches her new VH1 show tonight at 10.
“The Cho Show” arrives 13 years after “All American Girl,” her ABC sitcom that failed, according to some ABC execs, because Cho was “too Asian.” Which, of course, was the point.
After some personal challenges, Cho got back on the standup circuit, honed her craft and nursed her wounded self-esteem back to health.
The new show is partly scripted and partly not and chronicles her struggle with Korean American identity. In tonight’s opener, she takes a hilarious turn with a gay stylist who tries to convince her to dress in body paint (rather than actual clothing) to accept a Korean of the Year Award.
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August 19, 2008
The old/new WB returns next week
The WB is back, starting Aug. 27, when the Warner Bros. Television Group officially launches TheWB.com, an ad-supported, video-on-demand and interactive program site. Actually it’s switching from a private beta site to a public site.
The online network will feature full episodes of fan-favorites “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Everwood,” “Friends,” “Gilmore Girls,” “The O.C.,” “One Tree Hill,” “Roswell,” “Smallville,” “Veronica Mars,” “Angel,” “Babylon 5,” “Firefly,” “In Living Color,” “The LoopR