TV Insider

In memorium

2008-05-16T15:03:47Z

Let's take a moment to remember those who have left us, like those dead people montages they do during award shows.
Which shows will you miss the most? For me, it's "Aliens in America." That show was a thoughtful comedy that was actually funny. Get it on Netflix some time, and see what you missed.

ABC
"Big Shots," "Carpoolers," "Cashmere Mafia," "Cavemen," "Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann," "Here Come the Newlyweds," "Just for Laughs," "Men in Trees," "Miss/Guided," "Notes From the Underbelly," "October Road," "Oprah's Big Give," "Women's Murder Club."

CBS
"Cane," "Jericho," "Kid Nation," "Moonlight," "Power of 10," "Shark," "Secret Talents of the Stars," "Viva Laughlin," "Welcome to the Captain."

CW
"Aliens in America," "Beauty and the Geek," "Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants," "CW Now," "Girlfriends," "Life Is Wild," "Online Nation," "Pussycat Dolls Presents: Girlicious," "WWE Smackdown!"

FOX
"Anchorwoman," "Canterbury's Law," "K-Ville," "Nashville," "New Amsterdam," "The Next Great American Band," "The Return of Jezebel James," "Unhitched."

NBC
"1 vs. 100," "Amne$ia," "Bionic Woman," "Clash of the Choirs," "Journeyman," "Las Vegas," "My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad," "Phenomenon," "quarterlife," "Scrubs," (Since ABC owns this show, they promptly picked it up) "The Singing Bee."

More from the new TV season

2008-05-16T11:30:00Z

The complete fall season was in my column today (read it here), but it didn't tell the whole story. Here are some of the other things we can expect in the coming year.

ABC

New fall series: "Life on Mars" (based on the BBC series about a cop who somehow ends up back in 1973 after a car crash) and "Opportunity Knocks" (a reality show which shows how well people REALLY know they their family).
Midseason news! "Lost" will be back in 2009, and in the last two seasons it will make up the episodes that we didn't get this year because of the writers strike.
Other series to return in the midseason are "According to Jim" (how is this still on?), "The Bachelor," and "Primetime."
New series to come in the midseason are "The Goode Family" (a new Mike Judge animated comedy), "Scrubs" (from NBC, for a full 18-episode run), and "Untitled Ashton Kutcher/Tyra Banks Project" (which is apparently some kind of beauty pageant. Personally I wish they would keep that title).

CBS

New fall series: "Eleventh Hour" (a new Jerry Bruckheimer drama based on a British thriller), "The Ex List" (a romantic dramedy), "The Mentalist" (a drama starring Simon Baker), "Project Gary" (a comedy with Jay Mohr as a divorced man), and "Worst Week" (a relationship comedy).
The awful sitcom "Rules of Engagement" returns in the midseason, as if anyone cares.
Only one new series is to come in the midseason is "Harper's Island" (a horror comedy).

New fall series: "90210" (well, technically new), "Stylista" (a new fashion reality show), and "Surviving the Filthy Rich" (a drama about a live-in tutor to wealthy twin sisters).
One of 2007's bright spots, "Reaper," returns in midseason.
No new midseason series have been announced.

FOX

New fall series: "Do Not Disturb" (a comedy starring Jerry O'Connell) and "Fringe" (a thriller murder mystery by J.J. Abrams).
"24" returns in Jan. 2009. The previous post goes into depth about this.
Midseason brings the premiere of "Dollhouse" (a Joss Whedon drama about an underground mercenary group starring Eliza Dushku) and "The Cleveland Show" (a "Family Guy spinoff).

NBC

New fall series: "Crusoe" (as in Robinson), "Kath & Kim" (a BBC import comedy starring "SNL's" Molly Shannon), "Knight Rider" (returning as a series after the successful made-for-TV movie), and "My Own Worst Enemy" (drama starring Christian Slater).
Midseason welcomes "Kings" (a drama set in a modern warzone), "Merlin" (a modern fantasy based on the "Camelot" legend), "The Office" Spinoff (which premieres after the Super Bowl), and "The Philanthropist" (a drama about a vigilante philanthropist - snicker).
The new 52-week schedule includes a summer block, which includes "America's Toughest Jobs" (a competition from the producer of "Deadliest Catch"), "Chopping Block" (a new chef-based reality show), "The Listener" (a drama about a mind-reading paramedic - another snicker), and "Shark Taggers" (it's pretty much what it sounds like).

'24' is back ... in November

2008-05-15T14:31:27Z

One of the most unfortunate victims of the writers strike was Fox's "24," which had to cancel its entire season in order to stay true to its hour-by-hour format. It's true that season 6 was disappointing, but I greet every new season of "24" the way you Cubs fans greet each new baseball season - full of hope and optimism.
And season 7 looked promising, with Cherry Jones (a strong character actress, I first think of her as the sheriff in "Signs" who kept calling Mel Gibson "Father" even after he asked her not to) as the president of the United States (at least it can happen on TV!).
Well Fox has announced it will have a two-hour prequel episode on Sunday, Nov. 23, to bring us up to date on what Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) has been up to, and make all us diehard fans start speculating on how this could be the best year ever!
Will you watch, or has the strike left you realizing you don't need "24"?

]]> But wait, there's more!
Fox reports the series has resumed production on "Day 7" and will unfold without interruption Mondays beginning in Jan. 2009.
CTU is no more in Season 7, and Jack is on trial.
Some more exciting tidbits are fan fave Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard) is back, as are Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub) and Bill Buchanan (James Morrison). Also, Janeane Garofalo joins the cast as an FBI agent.
I'm in! This could be the best year yet!

This is my choice for American Idol

2008-05-14T14:55:55Z

It took me a while to warm to David Cook, but he has consistently shown himself to be the most original of this year's crop of contestants on "American Idol," and this wonderful version of -- of all things -- Roberta Flack's song "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," makes it obvious to me that he is the winner. I feel that he has the most promising pop music career ahead of him. Watch this, and let me know what you think. (My predictions for the careers of Syesha and David Archuleta follow.)

]]> David Archuleta is a great singer, and a sweet, adorable young man. But he is also quite limited, in my opinion. Randy didn't like him singing a romantic song last night, and he's right -- David is simply too childlike to come off as sexy, which is something I think American Idols should be able to do. He will have a career, and it should be singing Disney soundtracks and the like. It's where he fits.

Syesha is a vivacious, sexy performer, and in another year, she could get the whole thing. But this year, she will just not make it -- as the David vs. David scenario plays out. She can make records, and she can perform on Broadway. I think she will be like a Clay Aiken, with a devoted following no matter what she does. I would pay to see her in "Chicago," she's fun. It's just not her year.

'Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites' reunion

2008-05-13T00:17:52Z

I was coming back from a Mother's Day celebration last night so I had to DVR the show. This is our last chance to see the Fans vs. Favorites crew and see who won. It was Parvati, as anyone who cares knows by now.
First of all, what is going on with Cirie? When I last saw her she was pretty heavy, but now she is downright skinny.
Parvati is bragging about how she destroyed people.
My sister Denise, a big "Survivor" fan, said this was one of her favorite seasons. That means more to me than Jeff saying it over and over.
Amanda just says when she got back home, because she was on back-to-back seasons, she had a hard time coming back to normal life. She would find herself having trust issues with people in her everyday life, which is hilarious.
Ozzy says he now understands how someone can kill in the heat of passion.
Ami just announced a lot of "Survivors" are going to do charity work together now.
Erik (the ice-cream scooper) makes the dumbest "Survivor" move ever when he
gives up immunity to Natalie. He's such a doll, though. A dumb doll, but still a doll.
James is telling a story of working at a funeral and a woman saying "my mom loved your abs." Her DEAD mom, by the way. Then he took pictures with them, shirtless.
Kathy is next. She applied five times. She's talking about being ostracized, and the rats biting and so forth. She says she gave it her all, and Jeff says he could tell that she was really struggling.
Ozzy and Amanda are still together. Mary and Ryan from "Pearl Islands" are together too.
James wins $100,000 as the fan favorite.
Jeff says Joel and Chet are one of his favorite "Survivor" couples. Jeff gives Chet props for lasting longer than Joel.
Mikey D's mom passed away recently, so he was the last one talked to.
Lastly we find out where "Survivor" goes next - Gabon in Africa.

Fans, was this your favorite season?

Britney's back

2008-05-12T16:53:12Z

The last time she appeared on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother," Britney Spears gave the Monday comedy a ratings boost, so now she is back. Here is a clip of her next appearance, tonight at 7:30.
Other than them giving away "the shocking twist" in this clip, do you have any other reaction?

Now, that's a sweeps stunt

2008-05-08T20:58:10Z

This week, the writers of "Two and a Half Men" ad "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," two of CBS' top-rated shows, switched shows. Here is a clip from "CSI."
Did this stunt work? What did you think of the shows?

'Star Wars' or no 'Star Wars'

2008-04-28T20:24:50Z

I'm sorry, but just this once, I am going to have to say ... no "Star Wars."
It must be sweeps again, because "Deal or No Deal" is having a two-hour "Star Wars" episode tonight. Carrie Fisher is going to be there, along with Stormtroopers and all the models dressed in "slave Leia" bikinis.
I don't get it, and I am such a huge "Star Wars" fan that I first read about this on theforce.net -- a web site I check regularly, by the way.
If I don't get it, who exactly is this for? Will you watch?
Here's a clip.

(By the way, I really don't like it when I am forced to say something bad about "Star Wars." I am blaming the creepy Howie Mandel)

Andrew Lloyd Webber and "American Idol"?

2008-04-23T18:36:00Z

When the combination was announced, it just didn't sound good to me. I had a little stomach bug going yesterday, and I think it was karma's way of getting me out of watching it. My stomach was just too delicate when the show started, so I only saw David Cook singing "Music of the Night" from "Phantom of the Opera," which shares a place with all other Webber musicals except "Jesus Christ Superstar" (which was actually quite inspired) as the most overrated musical of all time. Andrew Lloyd (can I call him Andrew Lloyd?) asked David to look at him like he was a gorgeous 17-year-old as he rehearsed, and I didn't catch much after that, because my stomach was reeling. But the song just reminds me of this clip from "The David Letterman Show" of Will Ferrell singing it, and he was better than David Cook, so I put that clip on here instead.

Can it get worse than "Greatest American Dog"?

2008-04-17T17:54:06Z

It was when I pointed out that there is reality show this summer called "Greatest American Dog" that a colleague asked "In your professional opinion, is this officially rock bottom?"
I said no. "Greatest American Dog" sounds pretty dumb, but I watched a show last year that was basically "BINGO" stretched out with actual twists to make it last an hour. I think that's the dumbest thing I have ever watched. If the dogs are cute, this could be slightly watchable.
On "The Soup" they play clips from all the MTV shows and "Flavor of Loves" and those are even worse, because they are so depraved and aimed at young teens, to boot. When you throw in trying to corrupt the next generation, too, I think the shows like that, like "Tila Tequila" and "The Moment of Truth," are rock bottom.
It's funny because last week on "30 Rock" they were all watching this show called "MILF Island" (the clips were fantastic) and a bunch of columns came out the next day saying there will be a "MILF Island" on TV within five years.
What do you think?

]]> Here are some of the other lowlights of this summer's schedule. In the words of the great Dave Barry, I am not making this up.
ABC:
"Wipeout," premieres June 24: "Twenty four contenders compete on an extreme obstacle course designed to provide the most crashes, face plants, impacts and wipe outs ever seen on television," chirps the press release. You lost me at face plants, and "most ever" just made it even worse.
"I Survived a Japanese Game Show," premieres June 24: Ten people are sent to notoriously wacky game shows and the one who adapts to the culture and show the best wins. So, their budget is - plane tickets to Japan?
CBS
"Greatest American Dog," premieres July 10: All dogs are welcome from "pageant dogs" to those trained at home, I am told. They call them "pageants" for dogs?
FOX
Fox, of course, is the champion of these types of shows. They seem content with having unleashed "The Moment of Truth" on us in the winter, and have nothing new.
NBC
"Celebrity Circus," premieres June 11: Remember "Circus of the Stars?"
"The Baby Borrowers," premieres June 25: "Based on the hit British program that asks five diverse teenage couples -- ages 18-20 -- to fast-track to adulthood by setting up a home, getting a job and becoming caring parents first to babies, toddlers, pre-teens and their pets, teenagers and senior citizens -- all over the course of three weeks." Three weeks? This steroid thing has really gotten out of control.

You did it! You didn't watch!

2008-04-11T02:58:26Z

"Secret Talents of the Stars" was canceled after one airing.
Awesome.
That is all.

Check this out, dawg

2008-04-09T14:20:22Z

OK, I've put this guy up here before, and here he is again. Jason Castro's "Over the Rainbow" from last night's "American Idol." If you haven't seen it and you like to smile, here you go.

I find myself agreeing with Paula, if I understood what she said...

I Can't Wait Any Longer

2008-04-07T20:00:54Z

My DVD player is getting too much of a workout. I am sick of my husband asking, "What's on tonight?" and having to answer "(sigh) nothing."
The first of the NBC shows came back Thursday, "My Name is Earl." Paris Hilton was on. It was awful. The show, that used to be a charming little lesson about karma, has lost its way. I don't even know if I'll watch it this week.
But there is good news on the horizon. "The Office," "30 Rock" and "Scrubs" are back this week. NBC has announced its 2008-09 season, and it looks pretty good.
Below is a rundown of NBC's next season. New fall shows have a line explaining the premise. But first, a couple of notes:
There will be an "Office" spinoff, debuting after the Super Bowl. No one is talking about the premise, the cast or anything else yet.
"30 Rock" and "Friday Night Lights" have both been renewed, but everyone should be prepared for this to be the last of these shows' runs. They just haven't caught on with viewers.
"Scrubs" was booted off the NBC schedule and promptly picked up by ABC. Reportedly there will be some cast changes, but Zach Braff is back for sure.
"Merlin," (Robinson) "Crusoe" and "Knight Rider" are all on the schedule, so little kids who like fantasy should be happy.
Christian Slater is finally coming to network TV. Wha?
Are you looking forward to any of this?

]]> Sunday
6 p.m. Football Night in America ("Dateline NBC" and "Merlin" in the winter)
8 p.m. Sunday Night Football ("Medium" and the new "Kings" in the winter)

Monday
7 p.m. Chuck
8 p.m. Heroes
9 p.m. My Own Worst Enemy: Christian Slater stars as a man with two identities - efficiency expert and spy. ("The Philanthropist" in the winter)

Tuesday
7 p.m. The Biggest Loser
8:30 p.m. Kath and Kim: Australian import comedy about a mom (Molly Shannon) and daughter (Selma Blair) who move back in together.
9 p.m. Law & Order: SVU

Wednesday
7 p.m. Knight Rider: The TV movie was a modest hit when there was nothing else on, so now we get it every week. Makes perfect sense on the network that keeps canceling "Scrubs."
8 p.m. Deal or No Deal
9 p.m. Lipstick Jungle (another show that underperformed when it had no competition)

Thursday
7 p.m. My Name is Earl
7:30 p.m. 30 Rock
8 p.m. The Office
8:30 p.m. SNL Specials leading up to the election - guess they really took that Entertainment Weekly cover seriously. "The Office" and then "The Office" spinoff fills in after the election.
9 p.m. ER

Friday
7 p.m. Crusoe: As in Robinson Crusoe. ("Deal or No Deal" moves here in the winter)
8 p.m. Deal or No Deal ("Friday Night Lights" returns in the winter)
9 p.m. Life

Saturday
7 p.m. Dateline Saturday
8 p.m. Knight Rider (encores)
9 p.m. Law & Order: SVU (encores)

Please, I am begging you, do not watch this

2008-04-05T00:17:48Z

"This" is "Secret Talents of the Stars," a new show CBS is debuting Tuesday. The secret talents? George Takei of "Star Trek" sings! Danny Bonaduce rides a unicycle! One of Hugh Hefners 18 blond Barbie girlfriends is a trapeze artist (yeah, I bet she is!).

I thought "Dancing With the Stars" was cheesy and wouldn't last, especially since on any given season there is not an actual star in the mix. But that horror goes on and on, and hopefully, this will not.

Here's a clip.

'Survivor Micronesia' preview

2008-03-31T21:42:52Z

"Survivor's" back in its first full episode since Wheaton's Kathy Sleckman opted out of the game. Here's Jeff's weekly teaser for the episode.
Who do you think Jeff is talking about in this clip?