Sopranos Fans: Please Stop
Posted by David L. Williams Categories: Drama, Prime Time, Cable, HBO, The Sopranos, Editorial, Features,
Man, am I ever readying myself for a barrage of anger.
Television viewers have en masse, according to many news outlets, anyway, decided what the greatest crime against humanity is. No, it’s not murder. Nope, not going to a house to sleep with a fifteen year old and finding Chris Hansen of Dateline. Evidently, the most egregious, damnation-worthy sin of them all is ambiguity.
HBO’s The Sopranos had its final episode the other day (in case you just woke up from a coma and happened to be serendipitiously staring at this webpage) and several papers, websites, and other TV shows have reported that the entire nation is up in arms because ... well, honestly, I’m not sure why. I thought the ending was perfect.
Tony Soprano is having dinner with his family, an image we’ve returned to time and time again on this series. The diner in which he sits is full of other families, a couple, what looked like a scout troop and scout leader, etc. If you knew nothing else, you’d see Tony, Carmela and A.J. (with Meadow soon approaching) as just another family. In a way, that’s been one of the points of the show.
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Lost Creator Comments on Series Ending
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Drama, Prime Time, ABC, Cable, HBO, Lost, The Sopranos, Cable/Satellite,
In the wake of the series finale of The Sopranos, Lost series creator Carlton Cuse is assuring fans that the Lost ending won’t go down the same way. No fade to black that leaves viewers wondering, “huh?” Cuse commented, “We will not be ending with a blackout,” at the annual Promax/BDA conference. He also said that there have been “minicamp” writers’ sessions to sketch out the last three seasons. The series is set to wrap after three 16 episode seasons, concluding in spring 2010. Co-creator Damon Lindelof said, “Obviously, we can’t wait to the 48th hour to say, ‘Here are all the mysteries of the show.” Lost fans are breathing a collective sigh, I’m sure, to know that over the course of the three years there will be some answers. Cuse said, “I’m not sure there is any ending that will satisfy everyone. Our hope is that the ending will be ... the logical conclusion of the story.” Ah, logical… sounds like a plan. To be sure, with all of the online speculation about the show, there are going to be some fans that aren’t thrilled with the ending, but at least it sounds promising, you know, with the logic and all. To hold fans over until the next season begins in 2008, they are planning on a series of “mobisodes”—90 second episodes featuring the cast that will keep the story fresh in everyone’s minds. More details to come about when the mobisodes will be made available.
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| Yahoo! News
Gallery: Lost Creator Comments on Series Ending
Weeds Comes Between Olsen Twins
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Drama, Cable, HBO, Cable/Satellite,
If you thought the Olsen twins were a package deal, think again. Mary-Kate (the skinny one—how funny is that?) will be joining the third season of Weeds, starring Mary-Louise Parker. This is the first time she has appeared without her sister and after a long hiatus from the television business. Remember, they spent their adolescence churning out direct-to-video features? And then there was their attempt at the film New York Minute... well, ‘nuff said there. She’ll be playing a Christian girl who is smitten with Nancy Botwin’s (Parker) son Silas (Hunter Parrish). Olsen will appear for 10 of the upcoming 15 episodes. Well at least she’s staying in the wholesome role, although the character is rumored to be a bit of wild child. “I’m thrilled to be a part of the show,” said Olsen. “It’s really an honor to be a part of such a talented group of actors and writers.” Executive producer Jenji Kohan said of Olsen, “She came in and read with Hunter and was absolutely charming and real and seemed like a great fit. Audiences have seen only one side of Mary-Kate, but here we’ll see her in a whole new light.” Will this new role have people seeing Olsen in a new way? Or at least as more of an individual rather than part of the “Olsen twins”? At the end of the day, I’m sure she doesn’t really care because she’s a millionaire! Weeds premieres August 13th.
Read More | E! Online
Gallery: Weeds Comes Between Olsen Twins
David’s Channel Surfing Thoughts
Posted by David L. Williams Categories: Drama, Late Night, Music, Prime Time, ABC, Cable, FOX, HBO, NBC, American Idol, Saturday Night Live, Talent, The Sopranos, Editorial, Features, News,
Yes, even more thoughts I’ve had about TV for the past few days, laid out for you in easy-to-read paragraph format.
MOLLY SHANNON ANNOYS & DELIGHTS – Saturday Night Live came back with a new episode recently starring Molly Shannon (she’s ostensibly there to promote her movie “Year of the Dog,” but I really think SNL looks for any excuse to have it’s former cast members return) and it was … pretty much what I thought it was going to be. I used to remark when Ms. Shannon was on the show that she didn’t have many characters, just the same character in different outfits and wigs. That character comes out, goes through her catch phrases and/or crazy falls, and then the sketch is over. That’s Mary Katharine Gallagher, that’s Sally O’Malley (the I’m 50! Lady), that’s Ann Miller (from “Leg Up”).
And she did those first two characters when she hosted and it was annoying and really not funny. The laughter always felt more like a reflex from the audience than an actual “this is funny” laugh.
But what Molly Shannon also can do (and I heard Mike White, the writer/director of “Year of the Dog,” mention this in an interview) is be really funny when she’s quiet and not so over-the-top. Like the Delicious Dish sketch (aka Schwetty Balls) and her typical 80’s mulleted stand-up comedienne.
She did the stand-up comedienne character on Weekend Update and that was great, and she played a quieter part in a very good presidential debate sketch. So, it was a mixed bag: nothing great, but nothing too awful.
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This Week’s Channel Surfing Thoughts
Posted by David L. Williams Categories: Comedy, Drama, Reality, ABC, Cable, HBO, NBC, Saturday Night Live, Survivor, The Office, The Sopranos, Editorial, Features,
Otherwise known as thoughts I’ve had about the last few days of TV that aren’t long enough individually to make an entire article…
WOO-HOO, THEY LOST! – I lamented the possibility of Charla and Mirna winning The Amazing Race: (not really) All Stars, and they didn’t. They came in last (or third, really) and it was all…kinda lackluster. I didn’t want C&M to win, and I wanted the Beauty Queens to win, but they didn’t either. Eric & Danielle (aka, Team Not Charla & Mirna) won and their fakey relationship and the love between them will, I’m sure, flourish like a sunflower and I’m feeling underwhelmed. Then again, I felt underwhelmed most of the season, so I guess this is a fitting finale. By the way, Race Producers (and I know that you read all of my work), let’s try to make sure in the future that you not design the race legs so that the decisions made by the racers in the first thirty-five minutes of the episode don’t matter at all. I know you want to keep things close, but that’s just annoying.
BEST OF? REALLY, SNL? REALLY?? – Saturday Night Live was not new this week, but instead had their best of the 2006/2007 season episode. There are a couple of things wrong with this. The first is that they still have a few more episodes left. I’m not sure why they felt the need to jump the gun on this one, but maybe they were just tired of rerunning the Peyton Manning episode. Just a tip, NBC: maybe you should wait until the season is over before you start doing a “Best Of” episode. And this leads me to the other thing that’s wrong with this episode: just because you’ve chosen the best example of a recurring sketch, that doesn’t necessarily mean that what you’ve chosen is any good. I know that a lot of people like to hate on SNL on the internet (I believe the phrase “Is this show still on?” is a common “joke” (ironic quotes firmly in place)), but I can’t fully hate the show yet because there are always funny moments every week, and that’s why God invented TiVo (that has to be invented by God, right? Humans are not that good). But, SNL, “Deep House Dish” and that Bronx talk show … they’re not funny. Really not ever. And I really like Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, and Keenan Thompson. Those sketches, though, are just … ugh. Oh, and finally, SNL went online to have people cast votes on what their favorite digital short of the year was (and maybe the whole episode should have just been digital shorts). Did anybody really think “Dick in a Box” wouldn’t win?
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Justin Timberlake Given HBO Special
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Music, Prime Time, Specials, Cable, HBO, Saturday Night Live,
Love his music or hate it, Justin Timberlake is huge. And he’s not going anywhere any time soon. Given his popularity, HBO has signed on with the “SexyBack” singer to do a special for his first solo concert this summer. Timberlake’s Madison Square Garden appearance on August 16 will be taped for the special. HBO’s Nancy Geller said, “Justin Timberlake is a dynamic performer, and we’re thrilled to welcome him back to HBO.” He was previously on the cable network for an ‘NSync special. She continued, “We’re especially excited that he’ll be creating unique new elements for the special that will make the show an even more memorable experience for our viewers.” Timberlake has been making the rounds, winning two Grammys, hosting the Kids’ Choice Awards, hosting over at Saturday Night Live and even taking on films like Alpha Dog and Black Snake Moan. He’ll next be heard in Shrek the Third.
Read More | Zap2it
Gallery: Justin Timberlake Given HBO Special
The Herve (Her-vay) Report: REGIS!!!
Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Reality, ABC, HBO, Commercials, The Sopranos, Editorial, Spoilers,
The Herve (Her-vay) Report will take a look at the television industry and anything Kimberly Stewart tookis juicy in that all-consuming world of entertainment. And just like its namesake, the underrated and undersized Herve Villechaize, the report will be short and sweet, tackling a couple of topics and hitting you harder than a headbutt from Mr. Villechaize to the, well, we’ll call them the “crazies.”
Your Calendars!
Regis Philbin, the constant professional, will be making his return to HIS show (get out of the way, pretty boy Consuelos), “Live With Regis and Kelly” on April 26th after having triple bypass surgery about a month ago. The 75-year-old Philbin is most definitely a badass for wanting to come back to the daily grind and match wits with co-host, Kelly Ripa. So, give your props to the O.G.
The Men of Miami Will Feel the Heat
Okay, read Wendy Michaels’ post on what I call, “Menudo’s Back (And I Don’t Mean ...Side).” Want to know what I think? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Can’t we just leave it alone? Do we really need to find the next Menudo? What boy band from back in the day will be revisited with a lame reality show? Please don’t let it be “Newer Edition.” Please! Okay, wait, if Bobby Brown could host it and he’s really messed up, and by this I mean “high,” then okay I can go for it - only hilarity can ensue.
Wait, is Brown even NOT incarcerated to do this?
Aw, Shhhhhhh… It’s The Sopranos
Last night’s episode kicked butt! Thank goodness the violence is back!!! Okay, the ubiquitous SPOILER ALERT… seriously turn back before it’s too late. The New York mob is just a straight up mess, especially now that Johnny Sack died of the cancer while doing his bid in the big house. I loved the cameo of Sydney Pollack, but I was half-expecting him to critique Vince Curatola’s way of acting ala Pollack’s Cingular commercial you see in movie theatres. Anyway, who DOESN’T think that Christopher is going to go for Tony’s seat of power? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Gallery: The Herve (Her-vay) Report: REGIS!!!
Desperate Housewives Ratings Dip
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, ABC, HBO, Desperate Housewives, The Sopranos, Ratings,
If you caught Sunday night’s episode of Desperate Housewives and felt disappointed, you’re not alone. The show is just screaming for a decent storyline and the latest episode failed to deliver the goods. Ratings for Sunday were at their lowest for the series, drawing just 15.9 million viewers. Overall, the show has seen about 5 million fewer viewers from last season. ABC claims that the dip may have been because of the Easter holiday, the fact that The Sopranos’ last season aired at the same time, or the first time back for DH in five weeks. Maybe another scenario is that the show has just become boring. I was irked about Felicity Huffman’s character’s beef over wearing orange t-shirts as part of the restaurant uniform. That’s the best they can come up with?! Also there really was a void without Marcia Cross on the episode. Here’s hoping for better stories in the weeks to come before the season finale.
Read More | E! News
Gallery: Desperate Housewives Ratings Dip
‘Extras’ Calls it Quits, Offers Special
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, BBC, HBO, The Office, Cable/Satellite,
You’ll have to excuse me while I sniffle about this news. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant will not continue with a third season of their show Extras. You may recall that they made the same decision about their first show, The Office—they did, however, wrap up The Office by giving fans a special episode. History is repeating itself here, with Gervais and Merchant ending Extras after just two seasons and offering up a special. If you never saw this little gem, it’s well worth catching a re-run on HBO. The show stars Gervais as actor Andy Millman, with Merchant playing his clueless agent. No word on when the special will air, but hopefully it will bring in more big name celebs (past episodes included Ben Stiller, Kate Winslet, Orlando Bloom, and Daniel Radcliffe, to name a few).
Read More | Zap2it
Gallery: ‘Extras’ Calls it Quits, Offers Special
Here’s one young actress who should never have a shortage of acting jobs. Anna Paquin, who started her career in the film The Piano, won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at just 11 years old. Her roles in other films, including X-Men, have allowed viewers to watch her grow up onscreen. Now, Paquin will be coming to the small screen, in an HBO drama called True Blood. The show comes from the creator of Six Feet Under, so you can anticipate a great series. True Blood is a story of vampires, based on the book series Southern Vampire. Paquin will play Sookie Stackhouse, a mind-reading waitress. The vampires integrate into a small Louisiana town, assisted by the availability of Japanese-made synthetic blood. Paquin will also appear in HBO’s upcoming film, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.
Read More | Reuters
Gallery: Anna Paquin Signs on for HBO Series
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