Filed under: Celebrities, Dancing With The Stars, Episode Reviews, Episode Recaps

(S07E12) It's time to head back to the ballroom, and week 6 brought with it another change to the format. In addition to one regular performance from each couple, they all got together for a big group number as well. Shotyme stopped by to choreograph what was billed as the "Old School Hip Hop" performance. As you might expect, that went better for some than it did for others. We also had a special guest judge this week. Michael Flatley, best known for Lord of the Dance, filled in for Len Goodman. He got the full DWTS experience, witnessing some fantastic performances... and Cloris. A look at all of the performances, is after the jump.

Continue reading Dancing With The Stars: Week 6

 

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Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Gossip Girl

(S02E08) "I have an itch only Chuck can scratch." - Blair

Are we to assume the cat and mouse game between Blair and Chuck is finally over now that they both agreed it wasn't time to say the three words to one another? Somehow, I find it hard to believe that, after months and months of circling one another, Blair and Chuck will agree to be just that and stop their games. They'll need to find new preys to play with or they'll get bored soon enough and so will we.

This week's episode was not my favorite mainly because the writers wrecked my perfect Little Miss J. Every show needs a good girl that tries to make sense of life while making some mistakes and Jenny was it. Now Jenny is almost a bad seed who still has somewhat of a conscience hidden somewhere but mostly does stupid and stupider things. I get she's going through puberty but still... can we get our good girl back?

Continue reading Gossip Girl: Preet a Poor Jenny

 

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Filed under: TV on DVD, Reality-Free

Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.

Wow, if you bought all of the complete series sets being released this week you'd have a great start for your TV DVD collection: NewsRadio, The Flintstones, The 4400, Sanford and Son, and several others. The NewsRadio set doesn't have anything that wasn't in the individual sets, but it's a great buy if you don't have all of the seasons. The Mystery Science Theater 3000 set (the one with the collectible Crow and lobby cards) might already be sold out, so I'd check on that. I used to watch Zoom back in the 70s, though I can't imagine buying the DVD set.

I don't think I've ever seen The Doris Day Show, but it looks like something I might have to have.

• The 4400 - Complete Series
• Cathouse - Complete Series
• Dark Shadows - Vol. 6: Episodes 179-209
• The Donna Reed Show - Season 1
• The Doris Day Show - Christmas Memories
• Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman - Complete Series
• The Flintstones - Complete Series
• Girlfriends - Season 5
• Good Times - Complete Series
• The Little Rascals - Complete Collection
• The L Word - Season 5
• Millennium - Complete Series
• Mystery Science Theater 3000 - 20th Anniversary Set
• NewsRadio - Complete Series
• Sanford and Son - Complete Series
• Sister, Sister - Season 1
• War and Remembrance - Season 1
• Zoom - Back to the 70s

 

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Filed under: TV Squad Polls, Interviews, Celebrities, Heroes, Reality-Free

On Heroes, Peter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia) and Hiro (Masi Oka) have been both allies and enemies as they fight to save the world ... even though sometimes, they have a hard enough time saving themselves. Or making intelligent decisions. BUT, that's a post for another day.

For AOL TV's new video series Outside the Box, Milo and Masi will be interviewing each other on October 29 using fan questions. Got something you're dying to ask -- about future Peter, current Peter, time travel, the bromance that is Hiro and Ando, or anything other burning issues? (Heck, you can even ask about Gilmore Girls if you want to.)

Submit your own question in the comments section below, and Masi and Peter might use it on the air when we launch the interview on November 17. Be sure to include your first name and where you live.

Continue reading Ask Heroes stars Milo Ventimiglia and Masi Oka a question

 

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Filed under: Late Night, Industry, Programming, Talk Show, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

Chelsea Lately is the late night talk show that never gets any attention. That's probably because it's on E! and that's probably a network that TV viewers don't think about when they think of late night television, but let's be honest, it's a lot better than Last Call with Carson Daly (plus it's on a lot earlier). And Chelsea Handler is a genuinely funny person. Her book of comic essays Are You There, Vodka? It's Me Chelsea is quite good, though I haven't read her first book about all of the one night stands she has had. Sounds funny though. She was also on Girls Behaving Badly, but we can forgive her for that.

E! has been impressed with the ratings for Handler's show and they've given it a green light through 2009.

Continue reading Chelsea Lately renewed through 2009

 

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Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free

• Bravo has election-themed episodes of The West Wing all day until 10pm.
• At 8, ABC has a new Dancing with the Stars, then new episodes of Samantha Who? and Boston Legal.
• NBC has a new Chuck at 8, followed by new episodes of Heroes and My Own Worst Enemy.
• FOX has Game 5 of The World Series at 8.
• The CW has new episodes of Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill.
• Food Network has a new Good Eats at 8, followed by new episodes of How'd That Get On My Plate? and Unwrapped.
• TCM has An American In Paris at 8.
• At 9, USA has a new Monday Night RAW.
• Disney has a new episode of The Replacements at 9.
• Also at 9: Spike has two new episodes of Unsolved Mysteries.
• At 10, TNT has a new Raising the Bar.
• Food Network has the season premiere of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives at 10.

Check your local TV listings for more.

After the jump, the late night talk show listings.

Continue reading What's On Tonight: West Wing, Heroes, Unsolved Mysteries, Bill O'Reilly

 

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Filed under: Programming, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free

• At 8, FOX has Game 3 of The World Series.
• NBC has a new America's Toughest Jobs at 8.
• ESPN2 has College Football, Notre Dame vs. Washington
• TCM has Psycho at 8.
• Starting at 8, Nick has Halloween episodes of some of their shows, including iCarly, Drake & Josh, Zoey 101, and Ned's Declassified.
• Also at 8: Food Network has a new Paula's Party.
• At 9, CNBC has a new Suze Orman Show.
• There's a new Primeval at 9 on BBC America.
• At 9:30, HGTV has a new Divine Design.
• At 10, CBS has a new 48 Hours Mystery.
• CNN has the series premiere of D.L. Hughley Breaks The News at 10.
• TLC has a new Trading Spaces at 10.
• At 11:30, NBC has a new Saturday Night Live, with Jon Hamm and Coldplay.

Check your local TV listings for more.

 

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Filed under: Programming, Law and Order, Reality-Free

Does the return of Law and Order to the weekly NBC lineup strike a "welcome back" chord, or does it mean that the Peacock needs a boost in the ratings from a tried and true player? I think it's the latter, because just weeks into the new season, NBC is floundering in the Nielsens, prompting a change in the schedule.

First, Law and Order is returning this week. On Wednesday, October 29, NBC presents what could be called their crime-time line up -- Knight Rider at 8, Life at 9, and Law and Order at 10.

Clearly, with the pick up earlier this week for Knight Rider, NBC is committed to the show despite the weak ratings. Presenting this solid Wednesday block of cop shows will hopefully translate into better Nielsen numbers.

Continue reading Law and Order coming back...and other NBC news

 

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Filed under: Programming, Saturday Night Live, Reality-Free

You missed all of the Saturday Night Live Weekend Update specials that aired over the last three Thursdays, huh? And, you refuse to watch them online over your 128KB phone line connection. And, you didn't want to watch the clips on one of the many web-based video channels and blogs (including this one) because you are one of "those" people who need to see the show in its entirety. So, you're pissed and ready to take out the first person who asks 'Hey, did you watch the SNL special?'.

Fret not, psychotic one! You'll have one more chance to see all of the SNL specials at one time this very evening. Starting at 9:30, NBC will be airing all three episodes at once. This will give you the chance to see Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, Will Ferrell making an appearance as the current President Bush and Andy Samberg throwing up all over himself . If you can stay awake past your local news you'll get to see a brand-new episode of SNL at its normal time with host Jon Hamm (Mad Men) and musical guest Coldplay.

Now you have your second chance. If you miss the SNL specials now and you forget to record them on your DVR then you have no one to blame but yourself. No pressure.

 

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Filed under: News, Celebrities, Reality-Free

Don't tell Keith Olbermann -- he of the Countdown special commentaries -- but CNN's Anderson Cooper is the Edward R. Murrow of our era. That's according to Lisa DePaulo of Elle, but the popularity and proliferation of Cooper, from CNN to CBS's 60 Minutes to anchoring Times' Square on New Year's Eve and filling in for Regis Philbin on Live with Regis and Kelly, backs up her assertion.

"He is our generation's Edward R. Murrow; that is, if Murrow were this good-looking and had lived in a world with Gawker and TMZ," DePaulo writes. "This is not just because of Cooper's exacting standards of journalism-hard work, legwork, no-divaness. He's a purist, really-like Murrow."

Continue reading Anderson Cooper is today's Edward R. Murrow

 

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Filed under: Celebrities, Reality-Free

This has been a bad week to be a celebrity. Beyond the fame and money, of course.

Let's start with the most serious injury/sickness on the list and work our way down from there. Gale Harold, who plays Teri Hatcher's lover on Desperate Housewives, has been released from the intensive care unit at LA County USC Medical Center. He was injured in a motorcycle accident and not only had a fractured shoulder but also swelling of the brain. Looks like he's going to be okay so they won't have to set up another accident on the show to get rid of his character.

Continue reading Celebrity Injury Update: Momsen OK, Harold out of ICU, Levi has a boo-boo

 

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Filed under: Industry, Programming, Project Runway, Reality-Free

Kelly told you recently about NBC's legal attempt to block Project Runway from going to their Bravo channel over to Lifetime (Lifetime paid $150 million to air the show for the next five years). Now it looks like NBC is looking for contestants for a show that sounds very similar to Project Runway...and they're using Craigslist to find people to be on the show.

The new Bravo show is going to be called Fashion House. The ad says that the winner will win "a large cash prize" and that the winner can use the show to "serve as the launching pad to catapult your fashion career into high gear."

Catapult your fashion career into high gear? What a horrible sentence.

Continue reading Does NBC have a Project Runway replacement in the works?

 

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Filed under: Programming, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free

• Bravo has a Swingtown marathon all night.
• At 8, ABC has a new Wife Swap, followed by new episodes of Supernanny and 20/20.
• CBS has a new Ghost Whisperer at 8, then new episodes of The Ex-List and Numb3rs.
• NBC has new episodes of Deal Or No Deal, Crusoe, and Life.
• The CW has a new Everybody Hates Chris at 8, followed by a new episode of The Game.
• PBS has a new Washington Week at 8, then new episodes of NOW and Bill Moyers Journal.
• MyNetwork TV has a new Smackdown! at 8.
• There's a new Real Simple, Real Life on TLC at 8, then a new What Not To Wear.
• Also at 8: Cartoon Network has a new Secret Saturdays.
• At 8:30, Lifetime has a new Rita Rocks.
• Food Network has a new Rachael's Vacation at 8:30.
• At 9, Sci-Fi has a new Stargate Atlantis, followed by a new Sanctuary.
• Cartoon Network has a new Clone Wars at 9, then a new Ben 10: Alien Force.
• Hallmark has the movie Ladies of the Night at 9.
• At 10, USA has a new episode of The Starter Wife.
• At 11, HBO has a new Real Time with Bill Maher.

Check your local TV listings for more.

After the jump, the late night talk show listings.

Continue reading What's On Tonight: Swingtown, Rita Rocks, 20/20, Sanctuary

 

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Filed under: Site Announcements, Reality-Free

The folks at our sister site Cinematical are working hard to give you news and reviews of the best -- and worst -- the silver screen has to offer. Here are some of their latest musings on the latest blockbusters, indies, and everything in between:

• When I was younger, I went through weird movie phases. When I was about 10, I decided that I needed to see every single Friday the 13th movie; so I did. Suffice it to say, I'm psyched about An Obsessive-Compulsive's Guide to the Friday the 13th Movies.
• Am I the only one who feels like starring in a movie based on a video game is beneath Gerard Butler? Check out an early review of his upcoming movie, Game, and decide for yourself.
• The film, W., is obviously not a documentary, but while Oliver Stone took dramatic license with the material, he did do extensive research as well. Check out the fact guide for W.
• Do these Hollywood director attack ads make more fun of John McCain, or directors like John Woo and Wes Anderson? More importantly, are they funny?
• Cinematical wants to know what you're wearing. Enter their 4th annual Halloween costume contest, and win a crap-ton of DVDs!

 

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Filed under: Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, Programming, OpEd, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

Well, this was probably inevitable. With the success of A&E's Paranormal State hanging over the heads of the SciFi Channel, the network has given a thumbs-up to a new Ghost Hunters pilot that will join the original as well as Ghost Hunters International and Ghost Hunter Babies. All right, there is no such thing as Ghost Hunter Babies, but it would be a good idea. Think about it for a moment -- the babies would literally be peeing and pooping in their pants when they saw or felt something ghost-like rather than just saying that they did.

The new pilot is called Ghost Hunters: College Edition. In this edition the hunters would be, you guessed it, college students. Instead of teaming up and performing investigations on their own -- like they do on Paranormal State -- these students would team up with professional investigators to examine claims of paranormal events across the globe. In other words, look for some cross-overs between this show and its two older siblings.

I understand that Ghost Hunters is one of the SciFi Channel's hits, but isn't the network heading towards the point of saturation by adding a third series? With three series you begin to parse out smaller and smaller groups of viewers to each show, which brings down the popularity of the original. Something to think about, network executives, when you decide on giving a green light to Ghost Hunters: The Animated Series.

 

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Filed under: Programming, Doctor Who, Reality-Free

Straight from the BBC: the first two minutes of the Doctor Who Christmas special titled "The Next Doctor" will be shown on the BBC Children In Need special on November 14.

Obviously, this goes against the myriad of rumors about the Children In Need special, including the appearance of the seven surviving actors to play to role. Yeah, I didn't buy that one either.

Not much is known about the Christmas special at this point. It takes place in Victorian England and the Cybermen are the villains. Russell T. Davies has said in interviews that the Doctor meets a future incarnation of himself (played by David Morrissey). Frankly, I don't buy it. Why would the creative team want to pigeonhole themselves like that when they probably have no idea at this point who the next Doctor will be?

Sadly, I won't be able to watch the clip live as it will only be broadcast in England. If I'm willing to wait a day, there is always YouTube.

 

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Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Life on Mars

(S01E03) Sam Tyler and company have to investigate a murder at a park in Queens. At least, I'm pretty sure the park was in Queens. Sam said he grew up near there and the Vietnam Vet that died was from Queens, so it's a fair guess.

At this rate, "let's get this guy" is going to become a Harvey Keitel/Gene Hunt catchphrase. It's better than his "you're surrounded by armed bastards".

Continue reading Life on Mars: My Maharishi's Bigger Than Your Maharishi

 

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Filed under: OpEd, The Office, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free

(S05E04) (Warning: Spoiler's ahead!) Was it just me, or did tonight's Office feel like a sweeps episode? Look how much was crammed into it: Holly and Michael's first (and, er, second) trip to Funkytown, the return of Roy, a possible declaration of victory in the Dwight-Andy war for Angela's affections, an ominous David Wallace realization, and (hope of hopes) Jim's assertion that he's "not that guy."

All that and it's only October. Tonight's episode was (just about) worth missing the first half of the Phillies' game for, and that's saying something...

Continue reading The Office: Crime Aid

 

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Filed under: OpEd, Survivor, Episode Reviews

(S17E06) "Don't you mistake my tears for weakness!" - Crystal

This is a weird season of Survivor, isn't it? Sure, we've had lopsided tribes and constantly losing tribes in previous seasons. Yes, we've had tribes who don't work well as a team before or ones which were divided. We've definitely had alliances before. But if I were on the show and had that hidden idol, I wouldn't be telling anyone. I'd hide it for my own use if needed. This is just crazy. Just when I think things can't get much more bizarre and disjointed, they do. Read on!

Continue reading Survivor: He's a Snake, But He's My Snake

 

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Filed under: Smallville, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free

(S08E06) So we the audience get to learn a little more about Davis "Doomsday" Bloome. To begin, to no surprise to anyone, he's a killer.

It seems that this version of Doomsday (as opposed to the comics version) is more of a Jekyll and Hyde or the Hulk sort of scenario, where a man becomes an unstoppable monster. Frankly, it's been done and I'm hoping the end of the season leads to a better revelation than learning that Mr. Bloome is a monster, which we know already.

Continue reading Smallville: Prey

 

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Filed under: Industry, OpEd, Cancellations, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

Has anyone else noticed the lack of hair trigger cancellations thus far this season? We're a good month or more in now and only Opportunity Knocks and Do Not Disturb have had the plug pulled. And believe me those needed to happen. By now, though, your high quality shows that have underperformed like Pushing Daisies usually would be doing just that ... pushing up daisies. But, for some reason, not this year. At least not yet.

Hell, ratings-challenged shows like Knight Rider and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles are even getting full season pick-ups. And that's FOX giving Sarah Connor a chance to find an audience! FOX!! I think what we're seeing is the continuing fallout from the Writer's Strike last year. Remember when the execs were talking about how they were going to rethink their approach to television, ordering fewer pilots and possibly even altering the landscape of television in regards to seasons and sweeps? Well, the fall season started up pretty much like it always has, but I do believe there are far fewer shows waiting in the wings to replace this season's failures.

Continue reading Did TV execs get kinder and gentler this year?

 

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Filed under: Video, 30 Rock, Reality-Free

Last week we mentioned that a lot of people were wondering where the season premiere of 30 Rock was? Fans thought that NBC might want to take advantage of Tina Fey's Emmy wins/Sarah Palin work and air the first episode of the new season a littler earlier than October 30, but that's not going to happen. But the network has put it online a week early, and we have it after the jump!

I'll have a full review next Thursday night, but let's just say you won't be disappointed. The show is just like it has always been: funny, unpredictable, and really clever. We even find out how a few plot points from the past actually turned out. The guest star in the first episode is Will and Grace's Megan Mullally, who plays an adoption agency rep who has to check out Liz's workplace to see if she's a suitable candidate to raise a child. Will Arnett also appears, as Jack tries to get his job back.

Continue reading Here it is, the season premiere of 30 Rock (one week early!) - VIDEO

 

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Filed under: Casting, Reality-Free

Call it stunt casting gone bad...or a good idea on paper that failed to produce anything interesting on film. I'm speaking, of course, of La Diva Lohan's mini-arc on Ugly Betty as Kimmie, Betty's high school nemesis. Lindsay Lohan's guest stint on Ugly Betty has come to an end. If you read some of the stories across the media today, things got very ugly indeed on the New York set. Whether it's true or not that LiLo was a walking disaster area, that she feuded with America Ferrara and irritated the crew, is all conjecture and rumor. The bottom line is that it's over.

E's Kristin Dos Santos confirmed today that all of Lindsay's remaining appearances -- four upcoming episodes, including tonight's -- will be shown. However, that's all there is and there will be no more.

Continue reading Lindsay Lohan's Ugly Betty stint cut short

 

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Filed under: Video, Celebrities, Reality-Free

I recall a time when Ron Howard was diligently trying to distance himself from the two television icons that made him famous: Opie Taylor and Richie Cunningham (from The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days, respectively). Now, thanks to Funny Or Die and in an effort to get his candidate of choice (Barack Obama, if you didn't know) elected, he is prepared to step back into those two roles. And to do so, he takes Andy Griffith and Henry Winkler with him.

I didn't really grow up with Andy Griffith, but it was quite the nostalgia trip to see Ron Howard and Henry Winkler as Richie and the Fonz again. Winkler seemed to just slip back into the character despite all the years.

Continue reading Opie Cunningham is back - VIDEO

 

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Filed under: Programming, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free

• At 8, ABC has a new Ugly Betty, then new episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Life on Mars.
• CBS has a new Survivor at 8, followed by new episodes of CSI and Eleventh Hour.
• NBC has new episodes of My Name Is Earl, Kath & Kim, The Office, SNL Thursday, and ER.
• FOX has another World Series game at 8.
• The CW has a new Smallville at 8, then a new Supernatural.
• Also at 8: TCM has 2001: A Space Odyssey, followed by Touch of