CBS’ Smith: Lacking the Ummph for High-Stakes Drama
Posted by Monica Edwards Categories: Action, Drama, Prime Time, CBS, 24, Editorial,
I was undecided about whether I wanted to tune into the new drama on CBS called Smith starring Ray Liotta and a noteworthy ensemble cast, but made the decision to give it a chance largely due to my female insensibility; basing my decision merely on the fact that the cast included one Simon Baker, the hunky Aussie that I had just “fell in love” with (if I were not already married to my wonderful husband), while watching a silly romantic comedy a few weeks back entitled Something New . Of course that is not what I told my husband. I just asked if he wanted to watch with me, in which case he did since he enjoyed Ray Liotta’s performance in Goodfellas.
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Is Studio 60 Must See TV?
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Drama, Prime Time, NBC, Desperate Housewives, West Wing, The,
Now that I’ve had time to digest the series premiere of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, it’s time for a little post-mortem analysis:
What Will Make Me Watch Again:
-Thanks to creator/writer Aaron Sorkin and director Thomas Schlamme, Studio 60 very much has the feel of a West Wing episode. The quick, witty banter is always refreshing after a week’s worth of reality shows
-Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford are tried and true likeable actors who know how to deliver
-we are reunited with characters from the West Wing that we had grown to love (Timothy Busfield, Perry, Whitford) and we were even treated with a cameo from Felicity Huffman (from Sorkin’s Sports Night)
-It gives us a perspective we haven’t really seen. Makes us wonder what’s really going on backstage at the real-SNL
What Will Make Me Think Twice:
-This is too much like the West Wing...even the title fonts are recycled!! And I swear the hotel room scene was filmed on the WW lot.
-I love that Sorkin is loyal to the actors he has worked with before… but it’s a new show. He needs new people.
-Perry and Whitford are delivering the exact same routine we’ve seen from them before
-Is there some reason Sorkin loves to do ‘behind-the-scenes’ based series? Sports Night, West Wing and now this. Me thinks he might need to start branching out soon.
-Last but not least, I am in no way buying Amanda Peet as the NBS President… and this has nothing to do with her being a young woman. She just doesn’t have the presence to pull that role off.
Final Analysis: It’s neither here nor there. If I’m free and without anything else to watch on my Tivo, I’ll probably watch the show again. But I’m not going to hurt myself trying to find the time.
Gallery: Is Studio 60 Must See TV?
The Week Ahead in TV
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Comedy, Daytime, Drama, Prime Time, Reality, ABC, CBS, NBC, The CW, America’s Next Top Model, Desperate Housewives, ER, Grey’s Anatomy, My Name Is Earl, Oprah Winfrey Show, Saturday Night Live, The Office,
After a few weeks of sporadic debuts, we can all now breathe a sigh of relief. You now have a reason to be sitting on your couch every night because the TV onslaught has officially arrived! Here are the highlights for this week:
MONDAY
Oprah, Rachel Ray and The Megan Mullally Show (various)
Wife Swap (8pm on ABC)
Deal or No Deal (8pm on NBC)
The Class (8pm on CBS)
How I Met Your Mother (8:30pm on CBS)
Two and a Half Men (9pm on CBS)
The New Adventures of Old Christine (9:30pm on CBS)
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (10pm on NBC)
CSI: Miami (10pm on CBS)
TUESDAY
NCIS (8pm on CBS):
The Unit (9pm on CBS)
Law and Order: Criminal Intent (9pm on NBC)
Law and Order: SVU (10pm on NBC)
Smith (10pm on CBS)
Boston Legal (10pm on ABC)
WEDNESDAY
America’s Next Top Model (8pm on CW)
Jericho (8pm on CBS)
Biggest Loser (8pm on NBC)
Criminal Minds (9pm on CBS)
Kidnapped (10pm on NBC)
CSI: NY (10pm on CBS)
THURSDAY
My Name is Earl (8pm on NBC)
The Office (8:30pm on NBC)
Grey’s Anatomy (9pm on ABC)
CSI (9pm on CBS)
ER (10pm on NBC)
Six Degrees (10pm on ABC)
Shark (10pm on CBS)
FRIDAY
Smackdown (8pm on CW)
Ghost Whisperer (8pm on CBS)
Close to Home (9pm on CBS)
Law and Order (10pm on NBC)
Numb3rs (10pm on CBS)
SUNDAY
Extreme Home Makeover (8pm on ABC)
Desperate Housewives (9pm on ABC)
Cold Case (9pm on CBS)
Brothers and Sisters (10pm on ABC)
Without a Trace (10pm on CBS)
Gallery: The Week Ahead in TV
NBC Plans to Stream New Fall Shows, Offer Blogs
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, Reality, NBC, ER, My Name Is Earl, Internet, Video,
In a press release from NBC today, they announced that NBC.com will stream episodes of their new fall shows for free—Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Kidnapped, 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights and Heroes—following the original airing of the episodes. NBC.com is also going to offer blogs written by a variety of shows’ creators, producers or cast members. The blogs will be online for every show on the air, with an additional live blog immediately after the premiere episode.
Jeff Gaspin, President, NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, Digital Content and Cross-Network Strategy said of the news, “When you launch a new season, it’s important that you get the shows in front of as many eyeballs as possible. We’ve created a variety of new, engaging digital offerings to generate excitement and drive viewership to the network.”
Upcoming premiere blogs include:
- Deal or No Deal (9/18), The Banker’s Blog
- Studio 60 (9/18), Aaron Sorkin, Creator and Executive Producer and Thomas Schlamme, Executive Producer and Director
- Kidnapped (9/20), Jason Smilovic, Creator and Executive Producer
- My Name Is Earl (9/21), Greg Garcia, Creator and Executive Producer
- The Office (9/21), Greg Daniels, Executive Producer
- 30 Rock (11/11), Tina Fey, Creator and Executive Producer
A number of other blogs will accompany the shows’ premieres, including Law & Order, ER, Heroes, Friday Night Lights and Twenty Good Years, among others.
Read More 
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Gallery: NBC Plans to Stream New Fall Shows, Offer Blogs
Eva Longoria Done with TV Series
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, ABC, Desperate Housewives,
Eva Longoria told The Associated Press that she will not return to television following the end of Desperate Housewives, citing it as her last series. “I would never leave Desperate Housewives. I love doing both (TV and film), but I would never do another TV show after Desperate Housewives. No.” Seems a bit final, doesn’t it? Or perhaps, “famous last words” comes to mind. Longoria, a mere 31 years old, apparently would rather sink her hooks into big screen ventures rather than settle for small screen roles. Her role as Gabrielle Solis on Housewives is certainly meaty, so maybe she’s thinking that no other TV role could ever compare. She has really given no further information about her decision, but she is set to appear in the film How I Met My Boyfriend’s Dead Fiancee due in 2007. Earlier this year, she was seen with Michael Douglas in The Sentinel. Given all of her exposure from Housewives, it’s unlikely that she will see a shortage of movie roles any time soon. Desperate Housewives premieres September 24th.
Read More | Yahoo! News
Gallery: Eva Longoria Done with TV Series
Which New Series Will be Canceled?
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, UPN, WB, Cancellations, HDTV,
Website Brilliant But Cancelled is offering visitors the chance to vote on which new series they think will get the axe. Their contest, Death Watch Fall ‘06 offers weekly iPOD prizes and a grand prize of a 37 inch Aquos flatscreen HDTV. Hey, not too shabby, considering you probably have your own ideas about which shows will succeed or fail. Just log in each week and make your selection—each correct bet puts you into a drawing for the prizes. Place your bets now, since the contest starts today, September 8th and runs for nine weeks. Visit http://www.brilliantbutcancelled.com/deathwatch/ for more details. The odds change often, with 2:1 most likely to get the axe.
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Gallery: Which New Series Will be Canceled?
Comedian Eddie Izzard Brings New Series to FX
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Drama, Cable, FX, Cable/Satellite,
Yahoo! Eddie Izzard is making his way to the small screen with the drama series The Riches. For anyone who has seen his stand-up (nothing short of brilliant), perhaps you’re scratching your head about why he would be taking on a drama of all things. I can only hope that the series—about a pair of con-artists (Izzard and Minnie Driver) and their three children who take on the identities of a deceased suburban family—will be infused with some of his humor. FX has ordered 13 episodes, with the show expected to air in Spring 2007. FX president John Landgraf commented about the new series, saying “We’re excited to pick up FX’s first ‘family show,’ albeit a show and a family unlike any television viewers have seen before. The pickup of The Riches reflects two of FX’s goals: first, our continued efforts to make innovative, high-quality television shows, and second, our commitment to expanding the boundaries of our successful original series brand.”
If you’re unfamiliar with Izzard, check him out in his Emmy winning stand-up performance, Dress to Kill. You cannot believe how incredibly funny this guy is. He has also been in a number of films, including Oceans Twelve and My Super Ex-Girlfriend. Driver, of course, is famous for film roles in Circle of Friends, Good Will Hunting and Grosse Pointe Blank, as well as a recurring role on Will & Grace.
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Gallery: Comedian Eddie Izzard Brings New Series to FX
ABC Miniseries Examines Events Leading to 9/11
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Drama, Mini Series, Prime Time, Specials, ABC,
ABC will be airing a five-hour miniseries, titled The Path to 9/11 on Sunday and Monday. This is certainly a story worth telling and is likely to be an eye-opening look at what went wrong. As if the tragedy of September 11th isn’t enough, The Path to 9/11 reveals ten years of events that lead to the terrorist attacks. The series also looks at the “report card” issued in December by the 9/11 Commission, which gave the government failing grades in many areas related to protecting the nation from further attacks. This film isn’t exactly an encouraging look at future protection, and will likely be criticized for its portrayal of the people involved.
The series will begin on Sunday at 8 p.m., with the final chapters to air on Monday (also at 8 p.m.)—both nights will air commercial-free. The series features 247 speaking roles and a $40 million budget, with over 300 sets. The Path to 9/11 stars Harvey Keitel as FBI counter-terrorism expert John O’Neill, Patricia Heaton as Barbara Bodine, Ambassador to Yemen, Donnie Wahlberg as an undercover CIA agent, and Penny Johnson Jerald as Condoleezza Rice. Stephen Root (from News Radio) plays Richard Clarke, national security advisor to four presidents.
In the face of controversy, ABC responded that the miniseries is “a dramatization, not a documentary, drawn from a variety of sources, including the 9/11 Commission report, other published materials and from personal interviews.” Certainly the finger-pointing is expected to draw much criticism.
Read More | Yahoo! News
Gallery: ABC Miniseries Examines Events Leading to 9/11
Desperate Housewives Sex Scene Makes Way to YouTube
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, ABC, Desperate Housewives, Internet,
An upcoming sex scene from the fall season of Desperate Housewives is now on YouTube for everyone’s viewing enjoyment. The rough cut of the scene, featuring Bree (Marcia Cross) and Orson (Kyle MacLachlan), was leaked on YouTube and ABC is not happy. The scene was not even supposed to air for another month. “We are looking into the unauthorized clips of Desperate Housewives on YouTube and will be having them taken down,” an ABC rep commented. Interestingly enough, two separate YouTube posters put the clip up last Sunday, with one of the posts being removed so far.
This sneak peek gave Housewives fans a pretty good idea of what’s coming up this season, with Bree moving on to her next baggage-ridden boyfriend. The scene has Bree protesting in bed: “I don’t do that. I’m a Republican.” Orson replies, “I’m a Libertarian. I believe in minimizing the role of the state and maximizing individual rights. Trust me, I know what I’m doing.” The clip runs just over a minute, with part of it having been featured in the promo for the third season of the series.
Rumors are buzzing that ABC leaked the footage to boost interest in the series again, following a disappointing second season for many fans. ABC insists that it was not an attempt to gain more interest, but it’s easy to dispute that whether they planted the clip or not, there has been noticeable interest. Desperate Housewives is set to begin its third season on September 24th.
Read More | Yahoo! News
Gallery: Desperate Housewives Sex Scene Makes Way to YouTube
The Week Ahead in TV
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, Reality, ABC, FX, FOX, House, My Name Is Earl, Nip/Tuck, Survivor, Talent,
Here’s a look at the highlights for the upcoming week. In addition to more Fox premieres, we have several new personalities to prepare for:
TUESDAY
CBS Evening News: The long awaited debut of Katie (or Katherine?) Couric. Will she be able to turn the perkiness off at night?
The View (ABC syndication): The premiere of of Rosie O’Donnell. My Tivo is ready…let the catfights begin!
House (8pm on Fox): Will House’s limp return? And will Hugh Laurie’s British accent come back with it?
Standoff (9pm on Fox): Romance between hostage negotiators? Now that we already know the plot, do we have to watch?
Nip/Tuck (10pm on FX): The Carver is gone but Kimber’s vanity was still attacked. I’m guessing she still won’t be fat anytime soon.
THURSDAY
‘til Death (8pm on Fox): Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher play an old married couple who have to contend with annoying newlyweds…and My Name is Earl, and Survivor and Ugly Betty...
Happy Hour (8:30pm on Fox): It’s has something to do with a newly single dude, his new roommate and the neighbors he meets. Kind of sounds like Joey and in a similar time slot. We can guess what will happen from here.
FRIDAY
Nanny 911 (8pm on Fox): Do parents home on a Friday night really want to be reminded about why they aren’t going out?
Gallery: The Week Ahead in TV
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