December 9th, 2008
Jay Leno is about to shake the television landscape merely by changing timeslots.
According The New York Times writer Bill Carter, who wrote an incredible book called “The Late Shift” about Leno’s original ascent to The Tonight Show after a protracted public battle for the slot with David Letterman), the longtime Tonight Show host is signing a new deal with NBC to host a show every weeknight, only 90 minutes earlier.
Read More - Why Leno Is Taking On Primetime
Tags: conan o'brien, david letterman, jay leno, nbc, the tonight show
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By Dana Franks -- 0 comments
November 25th, 2008
So what’s going to win the night – the “Dancing With The Stars” finale or the super-hyped episode of “House” where he and his team are hijacked and “someone dies”? I think most will stick with “House” for an hour and then skip over to ABC to see the final result. Or skip the dancing entirely for the series finale of “The Shield”, which I would personally do.
Read More - Tonight On TV: Nov. 25
Tags: a charlie brown thanksgiving preview, dancing with the stars preview, house preview, the biggest loser preview, the shield preview
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By Dana Franks -- 0 comments
November 24th, 2008
As people stay in more to watch TV because they aren’t going out as much as budget crunches hit the wallet, could Americans build a new, unconnected video network that replaces shows with podcasts or digital downloads and leaving traditional cable-based companies to maybe, possibly, lower rates?
A column in TVWeek.com seems to think so. Daisy Whitley said since she can now download shows on Netflix on her XBox 360, she can now live a cable-free life.
That would be a credit to NBC Entertainment’s unprecedented attempts to offer all their content for free on their own platform (try searching for SNL on YouTube and you’ll see how hard they protect their brand), including news shows. And if you’re willing to shill out for iTunes copies for almost every show aired in the U.S. (could you please add UK ones next, Apple? Some of us fans of ITV reality shows which will never re-air here would be so pleased.)
It’s a shame that there’s not a really great P2P site where you could pay license fees to networks you wanted to see. That might mean the end of waiting till the DVD’s are out to have movie content downloadable, but would people still go to movies instead of watching from laptops?
However, this Christmas season has shown that box office numbers are surprisingly normal for the hit movies (”Twilight” ended up using social networking and fan sites to draw buzz weeks before it came out.) And in England, there’s a huge movement for artists to get their own song copyrights back from the labels, so they can have more control over what they can do with it online. So possibly there will be changes…and a lot of traditional media outlets struggling to cope.
Tags: , broadband, dvd, iTunes, twilight
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By Dana Franks -- 0 comments
November 23rd, 2008
It’s hard to debate that Britney Spears has been pretty unforgettable this year. How many of us woke up on a couple of mornings in January to find out that she’d been the subject of another media circus, with paparazzi and mainstream press nudging each other aside as she was committed to some sort of involuntary treatment? She was the first story on CNN’s live morning coverage, for crying out loud.
Now Britney’s back and from all appearances will cement her “comeback” on Dec. 2, when her new album comes out on her 27th birthday. Shortly before that, she will be on MTV again, but not with another shambotic performance like last year’s VMA’s. This time she will be the subject of an MTV documentary about her life now. And instead of presenting a portrait of a perfect pop princess who rules the world, like it would’ve been just three years ago, it actually seems to show the truth of her struggle with a mental disorder.
According to an Los Angeles Times article about a pre-screening of “Britney Spears: For the Record”, which debuts Nov. 30, Spears is very candid about her mixed feelings concerning her current life. Previous tabloid reports describe her comparing her existance to a prisoner. But if nothing else, the LAT was left with the impression that Britney’s terribly bored most of the time, and not the least bit peppy.
From the LAT article:
She reveals to the filmmaker that her trust has been “battered” and that she’s “grown up big time.” Tears well up in her eyes when she talks about how feeling lonely led to poor decisions with major consequences. “I’m sad,” she says finally before bursting into tears.
They end up interviewing Larry Randolph, the manager who was largely responsible for Spears’ initial stardom and who ended up being dropped, then rehired after she spiraled into disarray. Rudolph, along with Britney’s dad and current conservator, Jamie Spears, helped her not only get her career back on track, but helped her regain joint custody of her kids and probably saved her life. Which is something that Britney does recognize on the show. And seemingly Randolph has somehow stayed Britney’s biggest fan.
When he was asked if he had any doubts about returning to Britney’s side after her breakdown, he said:
I’ve known this girl for over half her life, since she was 13. We have a very close friendship, but it’s sort of hard for me to explain my relationship with her. It’s a friendship, it’s a business relationship, there are some paternal aspects to it. We get along very well. I understand her better than everyone other than her immediate family. There’s a shorthand we use in terms of dealing with each other that just works. The bottom line is I think she’s amazing. I love her. She’s been a big part of my life, and I’ve been a big part of her life. Being a part of this new phase in her career is something I was very open to.
Tags: britney spears, circus, mtv, vmas
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By Dana Franks -- 1 comment
November 19th, 2008
In a country where each day seems to bring more “reality” with job losses and stocks plummeting, could TV watchers be looking for a little less reality television? This season’s ratings point toward “yes”.
According to the Los Angeles Times, several network mainstays are performing so badly that their futures are now in doubt. Fox’s “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?,” has lost nearly half its share of the 18-to-49-year-old demographic since last year, and viewership for NBC’s “Deal Or No Deal” has falled nearly 29 percent for its Wednesday show. Even ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars” has lost 9 percent of its audience for this year’s lineup, despite the Cloris Leachman controversy that attracted media attention.
On the other hand, some lower performing scripted shows have shown rebirth this year, with NBC’s “30 Rock” up 23 percent over last year, and the CW’s “Gossip Girl” up 20 percent.
So what’s behind the switcharoo? The LAT article blames the trend on aging shows and overexposure.
Read More - Ratings For Reality Shows Suffer, While Scripted Shows Thrive
Tags: 30 rock, deal or no deal, gossip girl, reality shows, survivor, who wants to be a millionaire
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By Dana Franks -- 1 comment
November 19th, 2008
Another season of "America’s Next Top Model" draws to a close, but incredibly it’s not the most dramatic show of the night.
With a bigamist baby daddy on "Private Practice" and a long-overdue catfight on "Dirty Sexy Money", all those eyeballs who have given up watching ABC on Wednesday nights should be making a return trip.
Read on for the full listings for all the new stuff to watch tonight…
Hot Picks for November 19, 2008
|
| Pushing Daisies (ABC) at 8pm |
Ned reluctantly agrees to help a magician whose animal assistants are being murdered. With Pushing Daisies on the chopping block, tune in to help save it! |
| America’s Next Top Model (The CW) at 8pm *Season Finale* |
Analeigh, McKey, and Samantha put their Top Model experience to the test in a CoverGirl commercial & print ad and catwalk competition. Tune in to see who wins the top prize. |
| Life (NBC) at 9pm |
When a drug dealer and an elementary school teacher are found dead in a bad part of town, it looks like the typical drug deal gone bad, but the killer could be one of their own. |
| Private Practice (ABC) at 9pm |
Addison treats two pregnant women who unknowingly share the same husband, while Dell reveals a very special woman in his life to his surprised co-workers. |
| Top Chef (Fox) at 10 pm |
The chefs must show their stuff while preparing actual meals for paying customers at judge Tom Colicchio’s restaurant. |
| Dirty Sexy Money (ABC) at 10pm |
Lisa and Karen end up in a catfight over Nick, FINALLY. Letitia’s bad luck continues when she hits a bicyclist, who ends up staying with the Darlings. Madness ensues. |
New at 8 p.m.
- Knight Rider (ABC)
- Bones (Fox)
- The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS)
New at 8:30 p.m.
- Gary, Unmarried (CBS)
- Time Warp (Discovery)
New at 9 p.m.
- Criminal Minds (CBS)
- Stylista (The WB)
- Friday Night Lights (DirecTV)
- Inside the NFL (Showtime)
New at 10 p.m.
- Law & Order (NBC)
- CSI: NY (CBS)
- Sons of Anarchy (FX)
- Parking Wars (A&E)
- Prototype This (Discovery)
- UFO Hunters (History)
- South Park (Comedy Central)
New at 10:30 p.m.
- Chocolate News (Comedy Central)
- Ski Patrol (TruTV)
(Photo by Newscom)
Tags: america's next top model preview, dirty sexy money preview, life preview, private practice preview
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By Dana Franks -- 0 comments
November 18th, 2008
It’s a night full of guest stars, as Shannen Doherty returns to “90210″ and both members of Outkast end up on different shows. Plus we find out who will be going to the “Dancing With The Stars” finals and we once again deal with the clash of the egos on “House”. Will House win or will Foreman? Well, I think that House is leading 3-0 from previous battles, but Foreman is bound to win one eventually.
| Hot Picks for November 18, 2008 |
| 90210 (The CW) at 8pm |
Shannen Doherty is back, and the divide between her and Kelly widens as Kelly attempts to counsel Annie and Naomi not to let a guy come between them. But Naomi starts hanging out with a new group of girls, leading to a lunchroom showdown with Annie (this sounds a lot like Grease.) Also, Annie, Naomi and their family deal with the shock of Annie’s half-brother Sean coming back to town. |
| House (Fox) at 8pm |
The team takes on the case of a 16-year-old factory manager who claims that she is an emancipated minor living on her own and supporting herself since her parents passed away, but the team find out the hard way that the girl may not be telling them the truth. Also, Foreman attempts to prove he can work without House by taking on a pediatric patient, but things don’t turn out like he hopes. And there will probably be at least 2-3 almost-kisses between House and Cuddy, just because the writers treat them like teens sending each other “Do you like me?” notes. |
| The Mentalist (CBS) at 9pm |
Intent on proving a so-called psychic is a fraud - as well as a killer - Patrick arranges a seance to expose the murderer. I hope there’s a Ouija Board somewhere in there. |
Dancing With
the Stars (ABC) at 9pm |
This is the last results show before the finals next week. I actually watched last night and feel completely qualified to say that Cody Linley will be the one going home tonight, mostly because his and Julianne Hough’s outfits last night were bloody awful. If you’re totally into this show, you should track down the British version, “Strictly Come Dancing” (check YouTube) which I saw last weekend and is much better. |
| Fringe (Fox) at 9pm |
When a child music prodigy is abducted by a serial kidnapper, it’s discovered that a sequence of flashing lights appeared at the abduction, which Walter links back to his bunkmate at St. Claire’s Hospital. Much to Peter’s dismay, Olivia encourages a return visitation for Walter, and Walter’s determination to help ends up having chilling ramifications. This show becomes more like the X-Files every week, and not in a good way. |
| The Shield (FX) at 10pm |
This show is in its final season and deserves more love than it’s getting. Also, Andre Benjamin from Outkast is guest-starring tonight, and in one of life’s funny coincidences his bandmate Big Boi will be on “Law & Order: SVU” at the exact same time. On this show, Olivia joins the Strike Team to track down a Mexican drug dealer while Claudette investigates the death of a woman linked to the team. |
New at 8 p.m.
- Dancing With The Stars Performance Recap Show (ABC):
- The Biggest Loser (NBC):
- NCIS (CBS)
New at 8:30 p.m.
- Gavin & Stacey (BBC America)
- Rita Rocks (Lifetime)
New at 9 p.m.
- Dancing With The Stars Results Show (ABC):
- Privileged (The WB)
- Dirty Jobs (Discovery)
New at 10 p.m.
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC)
- Without A Trace (CBS)
- Eli Stone (ABC)
- Real Housewives of Atlanta (Bravo)
- Paris Hilton’s My New BFF (MTV)
- Coolio’s Rules (Oxygen)
- Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is (BET)
New at 10:30 p.m.
- Living With The Wolfman (Animal Planet)
- The Rookies (A&E)
11 p.m.
- Frank TV (TBS)
- Manswers (Spike)
- Sex Change Hospital (WE)
Tags: 90210 preview, dancing with the stars preview, fringe preview, house preview, the mentalist preview
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By Dana Franks -- 0 comments
November 17th, 2008
There’s a whole lot more cooking on “Gossip Girl” tonight than turkey and dressing, while on “Chuck” and “Samantha Who” there’s plenty of ex drama to go around. Finally, will Kate on “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ actually be able to relax and enjoy the day when she and Jon renew their vows? Signs point to “no”.
| Hot Picks for November 16, 2008 |
| Gossip Girl (The CW) at 8pm |
I guess it’s officially the holiday season when Thanksgiving-themed eps start airing. There’s lots of family drama, with Blair upset with her mom’s boyfriend and Jenny angry with her father. In the meantime, Serena’s still keeping secrets from Aaron, but Dan ends up revealing more than she wanted. |
| Chuck (NBC) at 8pm |
Chuck and Jill are reveling in their new relationship, but the happiness is cut short when Chuck has to pose as a couple with Sarah for an undercover investigation and Jill becomes jealous. Also, a corporate efficiency expert is hostile to Chuck and tries to gather dirt from Morgan. |
| One Tree Hill (The WB) at 9pm |
Chad Michael Murray wrote this episode in homage to 1940’s films with his character, Lucas, running a nightclub. I guess this means that maybe he’ll be known for more down the road than being insane enough to cheat on Sophia Bush. |
| Jon & Kate Plus 8 (TLC) at 9pm |
After weeks of episodes previewing and preparing, the Gosselins finally get remarried in an “intimate ceremony” in Hawaii. Well, as long as “intimate” includes their eight kids, camera crews from the network that’s paying for everything, and a million or so viewers. |
| Samantha Who (ABC) at 9:30 pm |
After finally telling current boyfriend Owen that she lives with ex-boyfriend Todd, Sam discovers that Owen’s best friend is also his ex-girlfriend, Willow. But when a romantic spark ignites between Todd and Willow, things get confusing and Sam becomes jealous. |
| Boston Legal (ABC) at 10pm |
Denny and Carl travel to Virginia to defend a corrections officer who shot a death-row inmate after his lethal injection went awry. In the meantime, Alan and Shirley take on the case of a woman (guest star Shari Oteri) who claims she was fired after she voted for John McCain. Since this ep had to have been shot before the election, I wonder if they were really this certain Obama would win or if they filmed things both ways. |
New at 8 p.m.
- The Big Bang Theory (CBS): More about this show here.
- Dancing With The Stars (ABC): More about this show here.
- Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: More about this show here.
- Little People, Big World (TLC):
New at 8:30 p.m.
- How I Met Your Mother (CBS): More about this show here.
- Monday Night Football (ESPN):
New at 9 p.m.
- Two and A Half Men (CBS): More about this show here.
- Prison Break (Fox): More about this show here.
- Real Chance of Love (VH1): More about this show here.
New at 9:30 p.m.
- Worst Week (CBS): More about this show here.
New at 10 p.m.
- My Own Worst Enemy
- CSI: Miami (CBS): More about this show here.
- Twins, Twins and Septuplets (TLC)
- The Hills (MTV)
- Scream Queens (VH1)
(NBC Photo: Mitch Haddad)
Tags: boston legal preview, chuck preview, gossip girl preview, one tree hill preview, samantha who preview
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By Dana Franks -- 0 comments
November 13th, 2008
It’s sweeps, so it’s time for the networks to pull out the ridiculous star power they have been holding for months to help otherwise sluggish shows. NBC’s having a lot of issues drawing eyeballs, so execs have brought back their stars from yesteryear (well, it seems that long) with guest appearances by Jennifer Aniston and Anthony Edwards. But if gimmick casting isn’t your thing, there are a ton of drama-filled reality shows to pick from, as well as some neat plot twists on “The Office” and “Ugly Betty”.
| Hot Picks for November 13, 2008 |
Kitchen Nightmares (Fox)
at 8pm |
Sammy, the owner of Sabatiello’s in Stamford, CT, is in debt over $1 million when he calls upon Chef Ramsay to help get customers back in his restaurant and money in his pocket. Noted in local newspaper reviews is Sammy’s hot-temper and lack of customer service, which does not bode well for a family eatery. When Gordon starts criticizing the food, especially his mother’s lasagna recipe, and the kitchen staff starts turning against Sammy, his temper flares out of control and he shuts the restaurant down himself! Will Sammy be able to reconcile with Gordon and his staff or will his doors stay closed forever? |
| Ugly Betty (NBC) at 8pm |
Betty needs Daniel’s help to prevent an issue of Mode from shipping that could result in a PR nightmare for the magazine. The problem is, he’s unreachable at a company retreat. Meanwhile, Hilda starts a clandestine beauty salon when the city turns down her permit for a legal business, and Connor’s fiance (guest star Sarah LeFleur) meets the Modies. |
| Supernatural (The CW) at 9pm |
Ruby (guest star Genevieve Cortese) tells Sam and Dean that a powerful demon named Alastair (guest star Mark Rolston) is searching for a girl named Anna (guest star Julie McNiven) who can hear the angels’ conversations. The three set out to find Anna but once they do, Alastair attacks them and Ruby escapes with the girl. Believing they were set up, Dean lashes out at Sam for trusting Ruby, so Sam tells him what happened during those months Dean was in Hell and how Ruby saved his life. And then they make up with a beautifully slashy kiss (okay, I made that part up.) |
| The Office (NBC) at 9pm |
Michael is ecstatic when David Wallace (Andy Buckley) decides to send him on a business trip to Canada. Andy and Oscar become unlikely friends when Michael decides to bring them along on the trip. Meanwhile, Jim is counting down the days until Pam gets back from art school, and that really can’t end well, can it? |
| 30 Rock (ABC) at 9:30 pm |
This could be called “The Show With Jennifer Aniston, Finally.” She plays Claire, a free-spirited, “Fatal Attraction”-like stalker who randomly shows up in New York to visit Liz and Jenna. Claire zeroes in on Jack upon first sight and claims him for her own. Kenneth, distressed and let down over the new page uniforms, turns to Tracy for some cheering up. To make Kenneth smile again, Tracy has a surprise involving the cast of “Night Court.” |
| ER (NBC) at 10 pm |
This must be a theme for NBC tonight, because this one could be “The One Where Anthony Edwards Comes Back, Finally”. Dr. Banfield takes a run to clear her head but finds herself trying to rescue a three-year-old girl from drowning in a nearby lake. Gates tries to pull some strings in the ER to help his homeless war hero. Banfield is reminded of her own experience at County with Dr. Greene caring for her son as she tries to save the young three-year-old girl from certain death. |
Read More - Tonight On TV: Nov. 13
Tags: 30 rock preview, kitchen nightmares preview, supernatural preview, the office preview, ugly betty preview
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By Dana Franks -- 0 comments
November 12th, 2008
Tonight’s lineup features plenty of guitars and cowboy hats, but also offers the season premiere of “Top Chef” and a full lineup of crime dramas on CBS.
8 p.m.
- The 42nd Annual CMA Awards (ABC): If you like country music or just like to snark about the outfits that folks wear to country music award shows, this is the one for you. Brad Paisley (known for his funny songs, including one that talks about looking for ticks) and Carrie Underwood of “American Idol” fame are hosting. If you’re on Twitter, I’ll be doing live coverage tonight.
- America’s Next Top Model (The WB): Paulina offers the girls advice on how to successfully model with a variety of items, including fish and toilet paper. Back at the house the girls decide to unwind by inviting some local guys over for an evening full of games. And I’m sure that will lead to no drama at all, because none of the games would ever involve alcohol.
- Knight Rider (NBC): Knight Industries is hot on the trail of a Bonnie & Clyde-esque criminal couple, only to discover their true identities have a serious impact on a national congressional race. I swear this show sounds like “Miami Vice” with a newer car.
- Bones (Fox): Booth and Brennan investigate the scene where a body was uncovered during a botched practice police raid. The team identifies the body as a struggling inventor’s father who had recently reunited with his son. But when a second body surfaces, the team is led on a trail of deception to find out who was the actual con-man in the inventor’s life. Meanwhile, Booth’s younger brother Jared (guest star Brendan Fehr) moves to D.C. to take a job at the Pentagon, and Brennan, smitten with Jared, agrees to go on a date with him to a White House function. This leads her to learn information about Booth’s past and give her a far greater understanding into her partner’s motives
- The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS): Christine is thrilled when a talent scout recruits Ritchie to audition for a television commercial after his shockingly great performance in a school play, but Richard refuses to let him go.
- Monarchy: The Royal Family At Work (PBS): This documentary series is kinda groundbreaking because of the huge access the Royal Family gave to the photographers for filming. Tonight’s segment covers Queen Elizabeth II’s trip to America last year to commemerate the founding of the first English colony of Jamestown, and it also includes a state dinner at the White House.
Read More - Tonight On TV: Nov. 12
Tags: cma awards, criminal minds preview, csi ny preview, life preview, sons of anarchy preview, top chef preview
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