All Dogs Go To Ellen: An Opinion
Posted by David Onda Categories: Comedy, Daytime, Talk Shows, Syndication, Editorial, Features, News,
When I first started writing this, I had every intention of trashing Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show meltdown from earlier this week. My thoughts on the subject have, however, changed somewhat. Despite this, I do still feel that Ellen’s sob story during the opening moments of her daytime talk show were ridiculous. To tell your audience that you can’t be funny and do your show as usual because “things are going so terribly wrong right now” seems to be a little - er - melodramatic. This isn’t the week following September 11, 2001. There hasn’t been some horrible death in your family. You haven’t been stricken with an incurable illness - deal with it. More horrible things have happened.
With that said, I move on with my thoughts.
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Howie Mandel Strikes a Deal
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Daytime, Games, Prime Time, NBC, Syndication, Ratings,
And it didn’t even involve a call from the mysterious “banker.” Howie Mandel, who seemed to fade from the spotlight in recent years, has made his comeback. And then some. Don’t hate me, but I found his hyper comedy routine with the latex glove blown up on his head funny. Then again, I was 11 years old, so that kind of stuff is funny. So, he’s been doing Deal or No Deal since December 2005 and it’s been big business. Who would have thought that this former funnyman and sometimes dramatic actor (hey, he was good on St. Elsewhere) would rise from the ashes and recreate himself as a game show host? For anyone who watches Deal, you know how truly addictive this show can become. I try to steer clear of it because it immediately pulls me in and doesn’t let go. And I’m not alone. The show averages between 8 and 10 million viewers and airs Wednesdays and Fridays. And now, it’s been given the “deal” for syndication, with a special half-hour version that will air five days a week. Mandel, clearly no dummy, will also host the syndicated version (in addition to the regular primetime deal). No changes to the set or those briefcase models when it goes to a half hour, however, the big prize will be reduced from $1 million to $250,000. Still nothing to scoff at. Go Howie!
Read More | Zap2it
Gallery: Howie Mandel Strikes a Deal
Bonnie Hunt Talk Show in the Works?
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Daytime, Talk Shows, NBC, Syndication,
This is great news for Bonnie Hunt fans (which I count myself among)... she’s currently working on developing a talk show. Anyone who’s ever seen Hunt as a guest on talk shows knows she gives great interviews. Then again, I’m not sure how this will all turn out. Yes, Hunt has appeared in many films and been great (okay, I’ll forgive her for Cheaper by the Dozen 2), but she’s also tried time and again to get a variety of television series off the ground only to be canceled—remember Life with Bonnie or The Bonnie Hunt Show? Nope, didn’t think so. So, how will a talk show work for the actress? Will she flourish a la Ellen DeGeneres or wither away like Megan Mullaly? I think she’s got the chops to do it (after all, she’s filled in for David Letterman without incident), but I’m not sure she has the huge appeal of an Ellen. Not even sure she can compete with the powerhouse that is Rachael Ray—although I’d much rather see Hunt interviewing the stars than Ray with her super grin and cheesy questions. Bonnie Hunt’s show is expected to hit the air waves in 2008 on NBC. I know I’ll check it out and I hope others will give it a chance as well.
Read More | Yahoo! News
Gallery: Bonnie Hunt Talk Show in the Works?
Elisabeth Hasselbeck Forces Barry Manilow to Cancel
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Daytime, Talk Shows, ABC, Syndication,
I’m not sure whether to consider this silly or hilarious…but I’m going with the latter.
Crooner Barry Manilow has apparently canceled a scheduled appearance on tomorrow’s episode of The View. The reason? A disagreement in politics. The Copacabana singer told TMZ that he considers conservative Elisabeth Hasselbeck to be ‘dangerous and offensive’. Although he’s currently on a promotional tour, he is refusing to ‘share the same stage as her’ because of their differences in opinions. It’s not clear why the gig was ever scheduled to begin with.
Any guess how long it will take Rosie O’Donnell to write a haiku about this?
Read More | TMZ
Gallery: Elisabeth Hasselbeck Forces Barry Manilow to Cancel
Rachael Ray’s Search for a Top Chef
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Daytime, Food & Home, Prime Time, Talk Shows, Cable, Syndication,
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—Rachael Ray has “accessible” all sewn up. Really, can you think of any other television personality that is as all-around accepted as Rachael Ray? Even if you’re not a big fan of hers, there is no denying that she is on the fast track to fame. And it’s all because she just has that nice girl, easy-going vibe that so many people connect with. Heck, even my kids look forward to watching her cooking show on Food Network. I could do without her many abbreviations and terms (“EVOO” and “Yummo” come to mind), but I watch her shows and have one of her cookbooks. I’m not a big fan of her talk show because she just seems like she’s whacked out on caffeine or something. It’s too hyper for me. Anyway, she’s looking for the next great chef, er… well, cook in her search called “So You Think You Can Cook?” on her talk show. According to Ray, “We just want to give a person — a real person, not a chef or somebody specially trained to do this for a living — a shot at showing everybody their personality and how much fun you can have with food.” Seems that’s a recipe that Ray can relate to, as she’s never had any formal training and has built her empire largely on her personality. She and show producers will whittle the cooks down to five, then they go through the rigors of two weeks of competition before the winner is crowned in November. And, what does the winner take away from this? The lucky cook gets to co-host Rachael Ray’s show (just for a day) and will receive training at a U.S. culinary institute. Also, one of their recipes will be in her magazine, Every Day With Rachael Ray.
Read More | Yahoo! News
Gallery: Rachael Ray’s Search for a Top Chef
This Week on TV (9/10-9/16)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Award Shows, Comedy, Daytime, Drama, Food & Home, Games, Music, Prime Time, Reality, Specials, Sports, Talk Shows, ABC, Cable, ESPN-HD, FX, FOX, NBC, Syndication, TNT-HD, Oprah Winfrey Show, Cable/Satellite,
MONDAY (9/10)
- Today (NBC, 7-11am): The show expands to an unnecessary 4 hours.
- Oprah (syndicated): Season premiere includes a first appearance by David Letterman.
- Rachel Ray (syndicated): Ray’s Second Season premiere includes guests from High School Musical 2
- The View (ABC, check local listings): The official introduction of their final new host (a.k.a. Sherri Shepherd).
- Wheel of Fortune (syndicated): 25th season premiere.
- Monday Night Football (ESPN): A double-header special. Cincinnati Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens (7pm ET)/ San Francisco 49ers vs Arizona Cardinals (10:15 ET).
- The Closer (TNT, 9pm): Part-two of the season finale.
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Gallery: This Week on TV (9/10-9/16)
This Week on TV (9/3-9/9)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Award Shows, Comedy, Daytime, Games, Kids, Music, Prime Time, Reality, Sci-Fi/Horror, Specials, Sports, Talk Shows, ABC, Bravo, Cable, FOX, HBO, MTV, NBC, Syndication, Oprah Winfrey Show,
MONDAY (9/3)
- Justin Timberlake Concert Special (HBO, 9pm): JT brings sexy to Madison Square Garden
- Kyle XY (ABC Family, 8pm): mid-season finale
TUESDAY (9/4)
- The View (ABC, check local times): Whoopi Goldberg officially joins the looney bin today
- Oprah (syndicated, check local times): Special appearance by President Bill Clinton
- The Singing Bee (NBC, 8pm): fall premiere
THURSDAY (9/6)
- Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style (Bravo, 10pm): Project Runway‘s guru revamps fashion disasters with the help of model Veronica Webb
- Sunday Night Football (NBC, 8:30 EST): Special Thursday kickoff day (New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts)
- Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? (FOX, 8pm): fall premiere
- Don’t Forget The Lyrics (FOX, 9pm): fall premiere
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Gallery: This Week on TV (9/3-9/9)
For nearly 30 years, Roger Ebert has been sealing his movie reviews with a signature Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down. Unfortunately, potentially-heated contract negotiations between Ebert and his distribution company have forced (temporary?) changes to the Ebert & Roeper program. Now both sides are pointing fingers at those allegedly responsible for pulling the digits.
Viewers of the most recent episode may have noticed a slight change in the program. No thumbs! Richard Roeper and his guest co-host made their opinions on such movies as The Nanny Diaries and Resurrecting the Champ as clear as possible without a ‘pointed’ summary. (For the record—they disliked
bothfilms).
Disney-ABC Domestic Television claims the renowned critic put the copyrighted move on hold during negotiations (Ebert and the estate of the late Gene Siskel hold the rights to the critiquing method). But through a statement posted on his website, Roger denies making that request. In addition, he says that Disney (as of 8/24) had not gotten back to him after what he feels was an ‘offensively low’ offer.
As most you already know, health problems have kept Roger Ebert from fronting an episode of the show for over a year. But he has been contributing in other ways and still posts through his own site. I just pray that the distribution company isn’t trying to take advantage of his current status during their contract talks. But then again—they wouldn’t do something like that, would they??
Read More | RogerEbert.com
Gallery: A Thumbless Ebert & Roeper?
‘Earl’ and ‘The Office’ Reruns Coming to TBS
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Cable, Syndication, King of Queens, My Name Is Earl, The Office, Cable/Satellite,
Wow, did you catch last night’s marathon of The Office? I caught the last half of “Casino Night” and it really brought back all of those old Pam and Jim feelings. When Jim puts it out there that he loves Pam… then later kisses her. Sigh. Add to that the slightly teary-eyed Jim when she rejected him—wow, that’s a great episode. And now, The Office will live on in reruns on TBS. Ditto for My Name is Earl, another solid NBC comedy… both Earl and The Office are part of what made NBC “must see,” at least in my sad little existence. Anyway, TBS will begin airing the pair in the fall, for the low-low cost of $600,000-$700,000 per episode. No details on what timeslots these will hold—and with Friends, Sex and the City, Seinfeld, King of Queens, Everybody Loves Raymond and Family Guy, there will be plenty of funny on TBS (except for Raymond, which I have never found too funny).
Read More | Yahoo! News
Gallery: ‘Earl’ and ‘The Office’ Reruns Coming to TBS
Is this a history making TV event or what? Well, maybe not, but I’m pretty sure that conducting an interview from a hospital bed is a new one. Ellen DeGeneres, who hurt her back over the weekend when she tried to pick up her dog, was instructed to lay flat while she heals. Not one to quit, she carried on with her show—albeit from a hospital bed in her pajamas. Guests had their own hospital bed to lay in during the interview. DeGeneres told her Tuesday audience, “No, I’m not being lazy. I’m forced to bed rest right now. ... And, let me just start by saying I’m on pills.” One of Ellen’s guests was her doctor, Fred Lerner, who advised her to stay in bed for a week. He also added, “I’m hoping in a few weeks, we can see you dance here.” Here, here.
Read More | AOL Television
Gallery: Ellen Interviews From Bed
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