winter olympics

Winter Olympics

Not quite as much buzz around this. It’s a triple hit because a) I don’t think people are ever as into the winter version b) we’re in a diplomatic boycott because China (human rights abuses, ethnic cleansing, etc.) c) we’re in a pandemic and China isn’t messing around (serious isolation and testing for both athletes and various staff).

So do we let it slide? I mean no. We’re still the most obnoxious country about our team spirit and athletic dominance. So we will continue to give it an eye.

How to watch: All the NBC channels will have pretty serious coverage. NBC, Peacock, MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Olympics channel, nbcolympics.com. Sounds like nbcolympics.com will give you the schedule and coverage and you can drill down to any favorites. For most people tuning into primetime and seeing what they want us to see meets the mark.

When to watch: It’s happening! We’ve started competition and the Opening Ceremonies were Friday morning and being telecast tonight at 8pm. Closing will hit Sunday, February 20 at 8pm.

What to watch: I feel like figure skating is the gymnastics of winter. Apparently this year we’ve got a serious contender on the men’s side (though women could reportedly be shutout by all Russians). I still have a soft spot for both the Snowboarding Halfpipe and ‘old guy’ Shaun White trying to keep up with the kids. Who doesn’t want to gander some curling? And do you consider the various bobsleds or speed skating the swimming of the winter?

New competitions: Each Olympics gets to mix it up a bit and this year. Bobsled – Women’s Monobob, Freestyle Skiing – Men’s and Women’s Big Air + Mixed Team Aerials, Short Track – Mixed Team Relay, Ski Jumping – Mixed Team, Snowboarding – Mixed Team Snowboard Cross.

I mean honestly I don’t have time for this so I will admittedly dabble and then catch up on a couple best tv of 2021 candidates before I get that list together.

Are you in?

Continue Reading

next week 2/16

New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • Tour of California (Vs) – Check the week for stages 3-9, usually showing about three times a day, and get a look at some of the top cycling teams.
  • Little People, Big World (TLC, 8pm) Season Premiere – They’re heading to Iraq with a surgeon to help some kids.

Tuesday

  • American Idol (Fox, 8pm) – Time to get the speed dial ready, and remember it’s a singing competition, let’s get this down to a good top 12.
  • Dogg After Dark (MTV, 9pm) Series Premiere – Snoop Dogg gets a variety show.
  • Real Housewives of NYC (Brav, 11pm) Season Premiere – New housewife, old tension.

Wednesday

  • Little Miss Perfect (WEtv, 10pm) Series Premiere – Junior beauty pageants and their parents compete.
  • High School Reunion (TVL, 10pm) Season Premiere – After my high school was in consideration for a season of this I have almost been tempted to tune in, almost.

Thursday

  • Being Erica (Soap, 10pm) Series Premiere – Can you relive old moments in your life, this new series shows a gal do just that?

Friday

  • Mistresses (BBCA, 8pm) Series Debut – Four ladies have some drama on this new drama.
  • Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, 10pm) Season Premiere -Bill has a real time.
  • Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC, 12:35am) – Say goodbye to Late Night with Conan O’Brien and hello to The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, but not until June 1.

Saturday

  • Taking Chance (HBO, 8pm) – Do people still do the six degrees of Kevin Bacon, check out this flick if you want fodder.
  • 2009 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards (IFC, 9pm) – These awards go indie style.
  • Aisha Tyler Is Lit: Live at the Fillmore (Com, 11pm) – I worked with Aisha forever ago at a regular office job and don’t know whether her success inspires or depresses me.

Sunday

  • Barbara Walters Special (ABC, 8:30pm) – Anne Hathaway, Mickey Rourke, Hugh Jackman, and the Jonas Brothers.
  • The 100 Most Outrageous Moments 2 (NBC, 9pm) – Outrageous home videos, that must be much better than the funniest home videos.
  • The 81st Annual Academy Awards (ABC, 3:30/5/5:30pm) – Silly preshow interviews, awkward host moments with Jackman, boring speeches, and noteworthy fashions, oh and a chance to win my Oscar pool.

* Please note all times are PST.

Continue Reading

next week 2/9

New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • Presidential News Conference (various, 5pm*) – Obama talks the talk.
  • Top Gear (BBCA, 8pm) Season Premiere – Looks like there is some truck and porsche driving.
  • Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (USA & others mon & tues, check your local listings) – Doggies!
  • BET Honors (BET, 6pm) – Gabrielle Union hosts the latest honors.
  • The Girls of Hedsor Hall (MTV, 9pm) Series Premiere – Another chance for crass girls to turn sophisticated, but this time they ship them to England.

Tuesday

  • TI’s Road to Redemption (MTV, 9pm) Series Premiere – Awaiting his own sentencing on weapons charges TI is clearly the model citizen to try to help some at-risk teens.
  • From G’s to Gents (MTV, 10pm) Season Premiere – I think they keep these bad boys away from the Girls of Hedsor Hall as they try to make them more gentlemanly.

Wednesday

  • Important Things with Demetri Martin (Com, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – Sketch comedy and more.

Thursday

  • NAACP Image Awards (Fox, 8pm) – Halle Berry and Tyler Perry host this one.
  • Survivor (CBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – The eliminations start early when they hit the Brazilian highlands.
  • Millionaire Matchmaker (Brav, 10pm) Season Premiere – I only caught one ep of this last season but it looked like an annoying owner of an ill equipped dating service helping socially inept men meat their trophy wives.

Friday

  • Dollhouse (Fox, 9pm) Series Premiere – I do love Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Dr Horrible) and I’m willing to give any new series of his more than a few eps of devotion, this latest brings us Buffy’s Faith/Eliza Dushku as one of a set of operatives who get new identities implanted and then wiped clean for weekly missions.

Saturday

  • Tour of California (Vs, 2pm, various times through next week) – They start out in Sacramento…
  • My Valentine Charlie Brown/A Charlie Brown Valentine (ABC, 8pm, also on previous Tues) – Romantic problems start in your youth…

Sunday

  • The Amazing Race (CBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – This year we’re going to see among others… the show’s first hearing-impaired contestant, along with some oldsters, some youngsters…
  • Eastbound & Down (HBO, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – Washed up big league baseball guy returns to his hometown to do the PE thing.

* Times noted are PST, check your local listings.

Continue Reading

australian open

Well my vow not to watch the first week of this tennis tournament was thwarted by a cold, so here I am in week two totally engrossed. Three important things to note: 1) it’s all on ESPN2 so if you’re looking for network coverage you’re out of luck 2) it is in Australia so live tv is totally out of time zone whack 3) it’s been 100-120 degrees and they’ve only shut the roof (and turn the AC on to get it down to a balmy mid 70s) for a couple of the day matches, the night matches might still be in the 100s, let’s just say there’ve been some fried folks.

So what are we looking at:

  • Men’s Semifinals – Thurs 1/29, 12:30am, Roddick vs. Federer (replays at noon); Fri 1/30, 12:30am, Nadal vs. Verdasco (replays at noon)
  • Women’s Final – Saturday 1/31, 12:30am, S. Williams vs. Safina (replays at 6am and 5pm)
  • Men’s Final – Sunday 2/1, 12:30am, tbd (replays at noon)

* All times are PST, check your local listings

Continue Reading

next week 1/19

New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • Australian Open (ESPN2, 12:30am, through next week*) – The open continues!
  • Electric Company (PBS, 3:30pm*) – A new generation of whatever it was this show did.
  • House (Fox, 8pm) – If you’re not a season pass sort of person you should note the new time and rumor has it we will eventually see more of the original casties Cameron and Chase.
  • Will Work for Food (Food, 8:30pm) Series Premiere – Next Food Network star competitor Adam Gertler checks out food related jobs.
  • Momma’s Boys (NBC, 10pm) Season Finale – Will the mommas and the boys agree on their romantic choices?

Tuesday

  • Inauguration (Check Your Local Listings*) – This looks like it goes on all day and night but as I understand it the actual oath taking and inaugural address happen around noon DC time.
  • Tour Down Under (Vs, 1pm*) – Lance is back and you can check him out in this tour that runs through Sunday.

Wednesday

  • Lost (ABC, 8/9pm, repeats Saturday) Season Premiere – Recapping the previous seasons at 8 then the two hour premiere at 9, I’m kind of curious as to when we’ll be and whether we’ll be doing flash backs or forwards.
  • Lie to Me (Fox, 9pm) Series Premiere – If you’re down with The Mentalist, Monk, and/or Psych, this latest guy with great observational skills put Tim Roth in the lie detector seat.

Thursday

  • Winter X Games (ESPN, 6pm, ESPN2, ABC*) – The stars of snow compete in Aspen through Sunday.
  • Bones (Fox, 8/9pm) – New time slot for our crime solving duo and the squints.
  • Burn Notice (USA, 10pm) Season Premiere – Our ousted spy is still trying to get answers while helping people in this mostly cheesy but fun caper show.

Friday

  • Wolverine and the X-Men (Nicktoons, 8/8:30pm) Series Premiere – Nothing much going on a friday night so I have stooped to noting cartoons.

Saturday

  • Gone Country (CMT, 8pm) Season Premiere – Non country folks like Justin Guarini and Micky Dolenz try out their country chops.
  • Miss America Live (TLC, 8pm) – Being on The Learning Channel I might think Miss America would teach me something.
  • US Figure Skating Championship (NBC, 9pm) – If you’re down with the tiny girls spinning around…

Sunday

  • SAG Awards (TNT, 8pm) – Film and TV actors honor each other.
  • The Last Templar (NBC, 9pm) – The miniseries continues on Monday as Mira Sorvino and Scott Foley do the sort of find the secret museumy, archaeological kind of thing.

* Check your local times.

Continue Reading

next week 1/12

New and notable in the week ahead… procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • Kyle XY (ABCFam, 9pm) Season Premiere – Kyle might be in love, trouble must follow as his lady friend gets kidnapped.

Tuesday

  • American Idol (Fox, 8pm – also Wed at 8pm) Season Premiere – This season we’ve added a judge as we start with the cattle call of terrible songsters.

Wednesday

  • Lost (ABC, 8pm) – Last season’s finale reminds us how confused we were last season.
  • Friday Night Lights (DirTV, 9pm) Season Finale – The kids create drama on and off the field.

Thursday

  • CSI (CBS, 9pm) – Say goodbye to Grissom.
  • Saw for Hire (TLC, 9pm) Series Premiere – A tree removal service is the latest reality focus, yes you read that right, tree removal.
  • The Beast (A&E, 10pm) Series Premiere – Patrick Swayze is veteran undercover cop taking his new partner through the paces.
  • Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew (MTV, 10pm) Season Premiere – The crews, they are a dancing.
  • Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House (VH1, 10pm) Series Debut – If you were addicted to Celebrity Rehab this might be the next step in your addiction.
  • Treasure Quest (Disc, 10pm) Series Premiere – Ready to explore ship wrecks?

Friday

  • Friday Night Lights (NBC, 9pm) Season Premiere – For those of you who missed the direct tv version, season 3 is kicking off network style.
  • Battlestar Galactica (SciFi, 9pm) Season Premiere – The final season continues the cylon battle.

Saturday

  • Solitary (Fox Real, 9pm) Season Premiere – They volunteer for torture on television, in solitary.

Sunday

  • Australian Open (ESPN2, 4pm) – Day one of the first tennis slam of the season, because today is tomorrow in Australia.
  • The Mentalist (CBS, 9pm) – Don’t miss a new episode of Simon Baker on a special night.
  • Big Love (HBO, 9pm) Season Premiere – The polygamists are back for another season.
  • United States of Tara (Show, 10pm) Series Premiere – Toni Collette stars as a housewife with personality disorder, written by Juno’s Diablo Cody.
  • Secret Diary of a Call Girl (Show, 10:30pm) Season Premiere – What happens when you mistake a regular guy for a client?
  • Flight of the Conchords (10pm) Season Premiere – The boys are back with songs and general hilarity!
Continue Reading

olympics are over

phelps.jpgSo Michael Phelps as the host of SNL’s premiere episode? This is just one of his many appearances cashing in on his Olympic buzz. Where will he turn up next? Too bad the teen shows Secret Life of the American Teenager and Gossip Girl have snatched up gymnastic stars Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin in cameos. In addition to the talk show circuit, presenting at the VMAs, and this hosting opportunity Phelps will follow the cameo route on Entourage.

I have to admit I was totally into his path to his eight gold medals, the moment they came back in the freestyle relay was maybe the best of the whole games. Plus I always thought he was sweet enough but even in his endorsement commercials where he has to speak he’s stiff. I was pleased to say that he didn’t totally embarrass himself on the show, but he was never once funny. I should blame that more on the unfunny skits than the cue card reading Phelps.

snl_palin_clinton.jpgFortunately the evening at least had a fun opening sketch with Tina Fey returning to play Sarah Palin alongside Amy Poehler picking back up Clinton. Though Obama canceled his expected appearance due to the Texas Hurricane, politics expects to be their bread and butter throughout the season. They’re even added some Thursday specials leading up to the elections (though maybe that means less politics on Saturday). Until then let’s keep our athletes where they belong, on Dancing with the Stars.

Continue Reading

next week 9/8

New and notable in the week ahead, procrastinator picks are underlined.

Monday

  • Terminator: SCC (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – Sarah and her son John moving in time to try to stop things before they go awry, and stay alive, though the leads are both a little stiff, as the supporting cast and stories were developed so was the interest (though I might have to lose it in this time slot against GGirl and Chuck).
  • CMA Music Festival (ABC, 9pm) – Fans and country stars are shown from this four day music festival.
  • Dr 90210 (E, 10pm) Season Premiere – This reality follows a doctor in Beverly Hills I assume.

Tuesday

  • Fringe (Fox, 8pm-replays Sun) Series Premiere – 95 minute start of the JJ Abrams series (Lost, Alias, Felicity) brings us what’s being most closely compared to the X-files, as an FBI agent investigates “phenomena” with the help of old science guy and son (Dawson Creek’s Joshua Jackson).
  • Privileged (CW, 9pm-replays Sun) Series Premiere – Cute Joanna Garcia (Reba) is introduced to the world of the spoiled as a live in tutor.
  • Fashion Rocks (CBS, 9pm) – Denis Leary hosts this mix of fashionable rockers and rocking fashions.
  • The Rachel Zoe Project (Bravo, 11pm-repeats) Series Premiere – Follow real life celebrity fashion stylist and her posse as they style the celebrities.

Wednesday

  • Greatest American Dog (CBS, 8pm) Season Finale – The final three dogs compete, and I admit that I’ve dropped off this show but the difference in dog’s (and owners) performance on the different kinds of challenges was fun to see.
  • ‘Til Death (Fox, 9pm) Season Premiere – This Brad Garrett and others show about two couples, one jaded, one not, has never made it to my watched list.
  • Do Not Disturb (Fox, 9:30pm) Series Premiere -Jerry O’Connell plays the general manager of this hip hotel with apparent staff shenanigans.
  • Real World/Road Rules Challenge (MTV, 10pm-repeats) Season Premiere – I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen this show which starts its 16th season of competition.

Thursday

  • MTV’s Top Pop Group (MTV, 10pm-repeats) Series Premiere – Music acts compete as Mario Lopez hosts.
  • Comics Without Borders (Show, 10pm-repeats) Series Premiere – This looks like a standup comedy showcase.

Friday

  • 2008 Alma Awards (ABC, 8pm) – Eva Longoria Parker hosts the Latino Awards with recipients like America Ferrera
  • Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Fox, 9pm) Season Premiere – And the lyric singing continues.

Saturday

  • Action Sports (Sat/Sun NBC, USA) – The Toyota Challenge takes us to Salt Lake City as the guys get closer to winning the Dew Cup my favorite is still the vert skate and though Bucky’s in the lead it’s anyone’s game.
  • Coco Chanel (Life, 8pm) – Shirley MacLaine plays fashion icon Chanel in this tv movie of her life.
  • MADtv (Fox, 11pm) Season Premiere – Jerry O’Connell guests as this skit series returns.
  • SNL (NBC, 11:30) Season Premiere – Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps hosts and hopefully doesn’t embarrass himself with Lil Wayne performing.

Sunday

  • Catch up on tivo or replays of premieres of Fringe and Privileged, I love when they replay starters to give you some time to catch before you settle into a season.
Continue Reading

next week 8/25

New and notable in the week ahead…

Monday

  • Deal or No Deal (NBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – Don’t ask me how they can make people randomly picking briefcases filled with money last an hour.
  • America’s Toughest Jobs (NBC, 9pm) Series Premiere – From the creator of Deadliest Catch and Iceroad Truckers real folks get a dose of overly tough reality in this multi job competition.
  • Saving Grace (TNT, 10pm) Summer Finale – What will we do until Grace comes back?
  • Exiled (MTV, 10:30) Series Premiere – So apparently the over indulged previously shown celebraters from My Sweet 16 are now being sent to see how the other half lives.

Tuesday

  • Gavin & Stacey (BBCA, 8:40pm) Series Premiere – A comedy following a couple from England and Wales who try to mix their lives.
  • Greek (ABC Fam, 9pm) Season Premiere -I’m excited for this fluffy college show to return, though Casey should get over Evan and Kappie.
  • Janice Dickenson Modeling Agency (Oxy, 10pm) Season Premiere – This season models new and old, the oldest being Janice, move in together.

Wednesday

  • Shear Genius (Bravo, 10pm) Season Finale – The final cuts are in.

Thursday

  • Democratic National Convention – Starting Monday through Thursday the convention can be seen on many a channel at many a time… check your local listings.

Friday

  • Grizzly Man Diaries (Anim Pl, 6pm) Series Premiere – An eight part series documenting the life of Timothy Treadwell (from the creepy Grizzly Man movie) in the decade before his death.

Saturday

  • Starter Wife (USA, 9am) – A little marathon of the start of Debra Messing’s freshly single series.

Sunday

  • US Open Tennis (USA starting Mon, CBS Sa/Su) – So what are the chances the final will be Nadal (1) vs Federer (2) and Ivanovic (1) vs Jankovic (2)… let’s see how this goes.
Continue Reading

next week 8/11

New and notable in the week ahead…

Monday

  • Sesame Street (PBS, 7am) Season Premiere – Feist and Jack Black hang out on the street, I’ve always wanted to visit the street.
  • Greek (ABC Fam, 6pm) – For those of you who may have missed out on this fun light show about some folks in the fraternities and sororities you can catch a first season ep every night this week at 6 starting with the pilot.
  • The Mole (ABC, 10pm) Season Finale – I’m sure I noted when this show started up again but I didn’t realize this show was still on.
  • Olympic Roundup – NBC evening coverage has medals for swimming, men’s team gymnastics, and men’s synchro 10m diving, as well as some prelim beach volleyball.

Tuesday

  • Samantha Who? (ABC, 9/9:30pm) – For another funny show that you may have missed, catch Christina Applegate waking up with amnesia from the start.
  • Olympic Roundup – NBC evening coverage has medals for swimming, women’s team gymnastics, and women’s synchro 10m diving, as well as some prelim beach volleyball.

Wednesday

  • Olympic Roundup – NBC evening coverage has medals for swimming, men’s individual all around gymnastics, and men’s 3m synchro diving as well as some prelim beach volleyball and women’s road cycling.

Thursday

  • Olympic Roundup – NBC evening coverage has medals for swimming and women’s individual all around gymnastics as well as beach and indoor volleyball.

Friday

  • Star Stories (BBC, 9:20pm) Series Premiere – Comedians reenact the stories behind the stars stories.
  • Olympic Roundup – NBC evening coverage has medals for swimming, men’s shotput, as well as track and field, beach and indoor volleyball.

Saturday

  • Instant Beauty Pageant (Style, 9pm) Season Premiere – This is where The View’s first young one Debbie is… regular gals do a pageant in the mall.
  • Olympic Roundup – NBC coverage of basketball, cycling, rowing, badminton, water polo, beach volleyball, trampoline, track and field, diving, and of course swimming.

Sunday

  • Skins (BBC, 9/10pm) Series Premiere – It’s a coming of age story…
  • Bob Saget Roast (Com, 10pm) – Get ready for lots of inappropriate Mk and A Olsen jokes.
  • Kung Fu Killer (Spike, 10pm) Miniseries – Did someone say David Carradine and Kung Fu? this two part series wraps tomorrow night.
  • Olympic Roundup – NBC coverage of cycling, rowing, badminton, table tennis, equestrian, indoor and beach volleyball, track and field, diving, and individual gymnastics events.
Continue Reading