tv

new and noteworthy tv: 5/30-6/5

No Comments

It looks like summer is here, if not in weather then in the start of summer series…

Monday

  • Basketball Wives/Single Ladies (VH1, 8pm) Season/Series Premieres – Real life wives and then a fictional take with a Sex & the City-esque hang with some gal pals.
  • Cake Boss (TLC, 9pm) Season Premiere – Will the NASA cake fly?
  • Platinum Hit (Brav, 10pm) Series Premiere – Kara DioGuardi and Jewel bring us the latest singing slant on folks who write their own.
  • Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition (ABC 10pm) Series Premiere – Spending a year with one person instead of a couple weeks with a couple dozen contestants.

Tuesday

  • NBA Finals (ABC, 6pm) – Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks kick it off.
  • America’s Got Talent (NBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – Another season of random talent.
  • Deception with Keith Barry (Disc, 10pm) Series Premiere – A ‘mentalist’ looks at the world of deception.
  • The Little Couple (TLC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Fertility issues continue.
  • Love Handles (Life, 10pm) Series Premiere – How could a mix of reality, couples, and weight issues be wrong?
  • Million Dollar Decorators (Brav, 10pm) Series Premiere – Hmm, how far does a million dollars go?

Wednesday

  • Franklin & Bash/Men of a Certain Age (TNT, 9/10pm) Series/Season Premiere – Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer offer up another take on unconventional lawyering then more conventional guys.
  • Haunted Collector/Hollywood Treasure (Syfy, 9/10pm) Series/Season Premieres – Not just places but things can be haunted and this guy takes a look, then a look at items more cinematic.
  • Man v. Food Nation/Sand Masters (Trav, 9/10pm) Series Premieres – Food challenges hit the road and then sand castles get serious.
  • Sweat Equity (DIY, 9pm) Season Premiere – More home repair.
  • Love in the Wild (NBC, 10pm) Series Premiere – Think Survivor as a dating show.
  • The World According to Paris (Oxy, 10pm) Series Premiere – I am not even interested in Hilton in a trashy sort of way.

Thursday

  • The First 48: Missing Persons (A&E, 10pm) Series Premiere – Spinoff of The First 48 follows missing persons.
  • Love Bites (NBC, 10pm) Series Premiere – I believe this is a summer burn off of a romance anthology that never quite made it into the schedule.
  • NY Ink (TLC, 10) Series Premiere – A Miami Ink guys starts up in NY.
  • Children’s Hospital (AdSw, 11:59pm) Season Premiere – This is one of those comedies that is so random I kept wanting to like it.

Friday

  • French Open (NBC, 11am) – The week on ESPN2 leads up to the men’s semis, with women’s final Saturday at 6am/pst and men’s final Sunday 6am finals.
  • Whale Wars (AnPl, 9pm) Season Premiere – More anti-whaling action.

Saturday

  • NHL Stanley Cup Finals (NBC, 5pm) – Go hockey, Game 1 is Wed at 5pm/pst, games 3 & 4 head to Vs. and returns to NBC for 5 and on if needed.

Sunday

  • Food Network Challenge/The Next Food Network Star (Food, 8/9pm) Season Premieres – 80s cakes and then 15 new chef’s arrive to compete.
  • MTV Movie Awards (MTV, 9pm) – Jason Sudeikis hosts the one where they vote for things like ‘The Best Kiss.’
  • Ice Road Truckers (Hist, 9pm) Season Premiere – More ice, more trucking, more truckers.
  • Locked Up Abroad (NGC, 9pm) Season Premiere – Crimes in foreign countries strikes me as a bad idea.
  • Finding Bigfoot (AnPl, 10pm) Series Premiere – Do you think they find him?
  • Freaky Eaters (TLC, 10pm) Season Premiere – I’m glad these people are getting help even if it is through exploitation tv.
  • The Glades (A&E, 10pm) Season Premiere – I found this fluffy detective out of his element in Florida series not necessarily great but enjoyable.
  • Mancations (Trav, 10pm) Series Premiere – Man friendly getaways.
  • The Real L Word (Show, 10pm) Season Premiere – Reality show lesbian-style.
  • Teen Wolf (MTV, 11pm) Series Premiere – I can’t stop picturing Michael J Fox and Justin Bateman but this is a much more modern take on a high school werewolf.

new and noteworthy tv: 6/6 – 6/12

June 5th, 2011

Monday

  • Masterchef (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – A few kitchen dudes look for the next amateur ready to make it big time.
  • My Yard Goes to Disney/House Hunters on Vacation/HGTV’d (HGTV, 8/8:30/9pm) Series Premieres – Outdoor spaces Disneyfied, travelers visit homes before selecting one as a vacation stay, and surprise makeovers.
  • Switched at Birth (ABCFam, 9pm) Series Premiere – It reads like a Lifetime movie but this latest fictional look at the rare familial entanglements will keep going week after week, this family channel is often too trite but sometimes worth a look.
  • Unfaithful/The Dr Laura Berman Show (OWN, 9/10pm) Series Premieres – A look at infidelities and then a camera joins the dr’s radio show.
  • Behind Mansion Walls (ID, 10pm) Series Premiere – Why just look at murders when you can look at murders involving rich people.

Tuesday

  • White Collar/Covert Affairs (USA, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – Campy spy business back to back, I’m more enamored with the likable hustler than the newest addition to the CIA.
  • 19 Kids & Counting (TLC, 9pm) Season Premiere – Please tell me these people aren’t still counting on more kids.
  • Love/Lust (Sund, 10pm) Season Premiere – The season starts out with a look at street foods.

Wednesday

  • CMT Music Awards (CMT, 8pm) – Country goodness.
  • Operation Repo (Tru, 9pm) Season Premiere – More repossessions.

Thursday

  • Nightmare Next Door (ID, 10pm) Season Premiere – Crimes in your own neighborhood, depending on where you live.

Friday

  • My Babysitter’s a Vampire (Dis, 7pm) Series Premiere – Disney’s take on vampires in our midst.
  • FBI: Criminal Pursuit (ID, 10pm) Season Premiere – Cops FBI-style.

Saturday

  • Color Splash (HGTV, 9pm) Season Premiere – A tranquil bedroom update.

Sunday

  • The Tony Awards (CBS, 8pm) – Host Neil Patrick Harris has been teasing me with glorious reviews of broadway’s best, via twitter of course.
  • Bridezillas/Amsale Girls (WE, 9/10pm) Season Premiere – Difficult brides from bride and bridal store perspective.
  • Finding Sarah (OWN, 9pm) Series Premiere – Folks like Dr Phil and Suzy Ormand help out Sarah Ferguson.
  • The Glee Project (Oxy, 9pm) Series Premiere – Real life Gleeks compete for a role on Glee, I’m mildly intrigued though don’t think I get this channel.
  • Swamp Wars (AnPl, 9pm) Series Premiere – Beheaded pythons and gator killings.
  • Keeping Up With the Kardashians/Ice Loves Coco (E!, 10/10:30pm) Season Premieres – Blah, blah, reality, blah, blah.
  • The Protector (Life, 10pm) Series Premiere – This series introduces us to a divorced homicide detective’s work and home.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

Continue Reading

tv

looking beyond summer…

No Comments

The fall upfronts are done. ‘The what?’ Some of you may be asking… This is when the networks start pimping their fall shows to advertisers.

Personally I try not to get too invested in anything new. Most of the pilots aren’t finalized and certainly aren’t reviewed so things can change dramatically between now and then (and even go away). Though I am admittedly not immune the hope of a high concept show (Charlie’s Angels), the return of a favorite talent (Sarah Michelle Gellar in Ringer), or creators with a somewhat proven track record (Once Upon a Time from the creators of Lost and Spielberg’s Terra Nova).

What I tend to pay a little more attention to at this point are shows that have been canceled (see notations below) and shows in a schedule shootout. Every fall there is at least one time slot where something gets kicked to the curb that would normally make the cut. I do like to watch new shows at least once so thank goodness for a couple of replays and online viewing to ensure the right picks are getting the season pass. Here’s what it’s looking like for me for now:

Monday

  • 8pm – How I Met Your Mother/Two Broke Girls (CBS) vs. Terra Nova (Fox) vs. The Sing-Off (NBC)
  • 9pm – House (Fox) vs. Hart of Dixie (CW) vs. Two and a Half Men (CBS) – willing to give Ashton a try
  • 10pm – Castle (ABC) vs. Hawaii Five-O (CBS) vs. The Playboy Club (NBC)

Tuesday

  • 8pm – Last Man Standing/Man Up (ABC) & Glee (Fox)
  • 9pm – Ringer (CW) & New Girl (Fox)
  • 10pm – Unforgettable (CBS) & Parenthood (NBC)

Wednesday

  • 8pm – The Middle/Suburgatory (ABC) vs. The X Factor (Fox) vs. Up All Night/Free Agents (NBC)
  • 9pm – Modern Family (ABC) vs. ANTM (CW) vs. Harry’s Law (NBC) vs. The X Factor/I Hate My Teenage Daughter (Fox) – I admittedly can’t endorse 2 out of those 4 but I do watch
  • 10pm – Revenge (ABC) & L&O: SVU (NBC) – say goodbye to Stabler

Thursday

  • 8pm – Charlie’s Angels (ABC) vs. Big Bang Theory/How to Be a Gentleman (CBS) vs. X Factor Results (Fox) vs. Community/Parks & Rec (NBC)
  • 9pm – Grey’s (ABC) vs. Person of Interest (CBS) vs. The Secret Circle (CW) vs. Bones (Fox) vs. The Office/Whitney (NBC)
  • 10pm – The Mentalist (CBS) & Prime Suspect (NBC)

Friday

  • 8pm – Chuck (NBC)
  • 9pm – Grimm (NBC)

Saturday – Nothing

Sunday

  • 8pm – Once Upon a Time (ABC)
  • 9pm – The Good Wife (CBS)
  • 10pm – Pan Am (ABC)

And for a look at your own schedule check out TV Guide’s fall grid and for what’s been canceled (and sticking around) check out The Futon Critic’s scorecard. New shows are in italics.

Continue Reading

tv

new and noteworthy tv: 5/23-5/29

No Comments

Just a few more things wrapping…

Monday

  • Bachelorette (ABC, 9pm) Season Premiere – Ashley (some girl who has done this before) returns to find her own dude.
  • Clash of the Commercials (CBS, 10pm) – Favorite international commercials.

Tuesday

  • American Idol (Fox, 8pm) – The two night finale kicks off on a special night with our two least offensive contestants.

Wednesday

  • The Oprah Winfrey Show (ABC, 4pm*) Series Finale – The queen of daytime television officially hangs up her hat, too bad I don’t get her new network.

Thursday

  • So You Think You Can Dance (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – More dancers and Mary Murphy is amongst the judges (she’s the loud one).
  • Secret Diary of a Call Girl (Show, 10:30pm) Series Finale – I guess one can’t be a call girl forever.

Friday

  • River Monsters (AnPl, 9/10pm) – This special installation of the monsters of the deep could be combined with the killer carp show scheduled on National Geographic tonight, happy summer swimming.

Saturday

  • Revolver Golden Gods Awards (VH1 Cl, 10pm) – Metal!

Sunday

  • My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding (TLC, 9pm) Series Premiere – This UK series follows the secretive community of gypsies.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

Continue Reading

tv

new and noteworthy tv: 5/16-5/22

1 Comment

The season is wrapping up enough that I might be able to catch up on some movies…

Monday

  • Off Limits (Trav, 9pm) Series Premiere – A look at another side of Los Angeles.
  • The Real Housewives of New Jersey (Brav, 9pm) Season Premiere – More of the women who are potentially wives with houses.
  • The Best Thing I Ever Ate (Food, 10:30pm) Season Premiere – Favorite food pairings.

Tuesday

  • Tosh.0 (Com, 10pm) Season Premiere – Daniel Tosh returns to his internet shenanigans.

Wednesday

  • ANTM (CW, 9pm) Season Finale – Who will be America’s Next… woman who gets some prizes?

Thursday

  • The Mentalist (CBS, 9pm) Season Finale – The two hour finale gets to the bottom of the Red John case, ok at least who the red John mole is.

Friday

  • VH1 Storytellers (VH1, 11pm) – How sad is it that I am remotely interested in Cee Lo Green now that he’s a coach on a reality show?

Saturday

  • Saturday Night Live (NBC, 11:30pm) Season Finale – With Justin Timberlake hosting we’re sure to get a new music video.

Sunday

  • Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost (CBS, 9pm) – The next in the series of Parker books come to TV, Tom Selleck is so good at being a bummer of a dude, while crime solving and all that.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

Continue Reading

tv

i heart tivo

No Comments

If you haven’t been following my television equipment journey, I purchased a new TiVo a couple months ago. I had been struggling with this decision for a while and took a circuitous route to get there. Some time ago I was lamenting that my then current TiVo could only record one channel at a time. And we all know that just doesn’t suffice. I had a recordable dvd player that had replaced my final vhs recorder but it was time to take the next step.

I loved my TiVo and I loved the lifetime service that I had gotten with it, unfortunately it’s not transferable from one box to another. I weighed the costs of a new box and new monthly service against the monthly rental of a Comcast box, the phrase penny wise, pound foolish comes to mind when I reflect back on my decision. I should note that I was also at that time finally going to pay for cable and figured if they were already coming out it was worth a risk free month to month trial.

The problems started immediately but I can sum them up by touting my favorite feature about my new TiVo. It does not malfunction when I set it to record a show. Pretty fancy stuff, right? The Comcast dvr was so problematic that it wasn’t the interface issues that caused me to revolt, it was my desire to see the shows that I wanted to record.

So now that I’m back what else do I heart about my TiVo:

  • Ffwd/Rwd – Hit the buttons and it lands where you meant it to land without a weird jump, I missed that.
  • Incredible storage – You get what you pay for, but knowing that I can record all of the stuff I generally watch in a week, plus piling up a couple series that I can get behind on, and seeing it still at 15% makes me happy… come vacation, tennis tournaments, or Olympics I feel like I’ll be in good shape.
  • Other services – This is available on other stuff besides TiVo but I’m now streaming my Netflix with no effort, plus I have access to Amazon, Blockbuster, and Pandora among others.
  • Advanced guide – I use my guide, the search capabilities, and the episode displays as a constant research tool and the advanced features on the guide are great, did I miss an episode, let me just check the episode guide.
  • Episodes to go – So I don’t quite have this working yet but you can download shows from your TV to your computer and watch wherever you want.

I’m still playing with it so there could be more fun to be had. Though to be fair there were a couple things that I liked a little better on Comcast:

  • On Demand – I could probably still get a box but the additional shows were a nice option in addition to stuff I recorded.
  • Picture in Picture – The transition from small to full screen was just smoother on my old Comcast, for whatever reason.
  • Recording shows in guide – The old guide showed right in it that it was something being recorded (now I seem to have to select the show to tell).
  • Not recording shows in to do list – The old guide also clearly showed what items weren’t being recorded due to conflicts, but the TiVo shows each episode not being recorded including those that are duplicates or repeats (if my setting is to not record them) which makes it difficult to weed through what I’m really going to be missing.

And here’s what I want next:

  • All online video – I can watch shows for free on network and cable sites and on sites like Hulu, it would be great to have that all centralized instead of returning to my computer, all in good time I assume.
  • Ability to delete part of a recording – This goes back to the recording long shows, shouldn’t you be able to delete part of it, though I suppose now that I have so much storage it doesn’t matter.
  • Record more shows – And of course I’d like to record more than two shows, darn it if I don’t still have conflicts that make me sacrifice a recording.

So the TiVo will soon be out of date with the latest technology, and tech will always leave me wanting more… But for now I am delighted to return to see TiVo’s little smiling face.

Continue Reading

tv

new and noteworthy tv: 5/9-5/15

No Comments

Another week, another batch of new and returning shows…

Monday

  • Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives (Food, 9pm) Season Premiere – Guy Fieri visits more spots.
  • Stargate Universe (Syfy, 9pm) Series Finale – I think there may be a gate still running somewhere.
  • Quints by Surprise (TLC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Can one parent deal with all five kids on their own?
  • Vanished with Beth Holloway (Life, 10pm) Series Premiere – Beth had a daughter disappear so she’s searching and will search with others for their loved ones.

Tuesday

  • Swamp Brothers (Disc, 10pm) Series Premiere – Follow the brothers as they run their reptile sanctuary and exotic reptile dealership.

Wednesday

  • Nothing new is happening but I’m still triple booked on Idol, Modern Family, and ANTM.

Thursday

  • Naked Science (NGC, 8pm) Season Premiere – Following a single oxygen molecule.
  • Swords (Disc, 10pm) Season Premiere – Reality following a boat on the hunt for swordfish, not actual swords.

Friday

  • Smallville (CW, 8pm) Series Finale – Clark becomes superman, or however they’re wrapping this up.

Saturday

  • Running Wilde (FX, 11pm) – They’re apparently running the rest of these.

Sunday

  • Jerseylicious (Style, 8pm) Season Premiere – Some people do some stuff.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

Continue Reading

tv

new and noteworthy tv: 5/2-5/8

No Comments

TiVo is still only at 15% but I’ve got enough ongoing shows to keep me entertained…

Monday

  • Taboo (NGC, 9pm) Season Premiere – Obsessed with fantasy lives is weird, ok weird is relative but a grown man dressing as a baby?
  • James May’s Road Trip (BBCA, 10:20pm) Season Premiere – California Wineries make a great road trip.

Tuesday

  • Rescue Renovation (DIY, 8:30pm) Season Premiere – Those silly load bearing walls.
  • Chopped (Food, 10pm) Season Premiere – It’s a cooking show.
  • How the States Got Their Shapes (Hist, 10pm) Series Premiere – I guess if you are already on this channel and can’t find your remote…

Wednesday

  • Spouse vs House (TLC, 10pm) Series Premiere – Would you take a $25k renovation if your dude got to make all the decisions?
  • The Electric Barbarellas (MTV, 11pm) Series Premiere – This time we’re following an all girl group.

Thursday

  • DIY Dominator (DIY, 8pm) Season Premiere – Who can build the best fireplace?
  • Known Universe (NGC, 9pm) Season Premiere – Surviving outer space.
  • Pawn Queens (TLC, 10pm) Series Premiere – So does this make four pawn shows, or five?

Friday

  • Flashpoint (CBS, 8pm) Season Premiere – It’s sad when this decent procedural Canadian import actually looks like the best thing coming up.

Saturday

  • Sarah’s Summer House (HGTV, 8pm) Series Premiere – Why does this bitch have more than one house that she gets to decorate?
  • My Cat from Hell (AnPl, 9pm) Series Premiere – I think this is like that me or the dog show, but I wasn’t under the impression cats could be trained.
  • The Graham Norton Show (BBCA, 10pm) Season Premiere – He does more talk show type stuff.

Sunday

  • Wild Animal Repo (Disc, 8pm) Series Premiere – I think these animals are more repossessed due to bad care than unpaid payments.
  • Best in Smoke (Food, 10pm) Series Premiere – Who is the best barbecuer (that spelling can’t be right).
  • Why Not? With Shania Twain (OWN, 11pm) Series Premiere – I think this is a feel good follow this lady kind of show.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

Continue Reading

tv

new and noteworthy tv: 4/25-5/1

No Comments

Looks like we’re gearing up for the royal wedding, and if you’re particularly interested there are many a special on cable to keep you informed…

Monday

  • American Chopper (Disc, 9pm) Season Premiere – Senior and junior return.

Tuesday

  • The Voice (NBC, 9pm and Wed) Series Premiere – Kicking off the first of two nights of blind auditions, not sure what happens after the gimmick of just listening is over, I’ll probably check out one.
  • Repo Games (Spike, 8pm) Series Premiere – Repossession or answering trivia?

Wednesday

  • Inside the Royal Wedding (NBC, 8pm) – Matt Lauer and Meredith Viera go there.
  • South Park (Com, 10pm) Season Premiere – More cartoon goodness.

Thursday

  • 20/20 (ABC, 8pm) – The Royal Wedding.
  • The Office/Parks & Recreation (NBC, 9/9:52pm) – Michael Scott’s departure takes more than a half hour but less than an hour, so make sure your dvrs are set.
  • Break it Down (NGC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Taking apart Yankee stadium.
  • Son of a Gun (MTV, 11pm) Series Premiere – More reality, this time following a young rapper.

Friday

  • The Royal Wedding (CBS, 8pm) – The wedding coverage continues.
  • 20/20 (ABC, 9pm) – Apparently it is A Modern Fairy Tale.
  • Say Yes to the Dress (TLC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Will the wedding dress fit?

Saturday

  • Fight Camp 360 (CBS, 8pm) – Pacquiao vs. Mosley.

Sunday

  • L&O: Criminal Intent/In Plain Sight (USA, 9/10pm) Season Premieres – I have to admit I will miss Jeff Goldblum, never a fan of D’Onofrio in this role, I’ll still tune in for the evening to see his return and the return of Mary and more importantly Marshall Marshall.

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

Continue Reading

tv

happy peepster

1 Comment

Easter means a lot of different things to people, but to me it always means Peeps! And not just because clearly my dad isn’t the only one who likes to eat them, more than 700 million are eaten around Easter. Ever since someone staged a Peeps massacre in my office (does anyone have pictures of that?) I have realized that they are so much more than a disgusting marshmallow treat.

So this year I thought I’d point out a couple of the favorite sites:

Peeps official site gives you information from products to recipes (like the Peeps pool shown here) and a world of Peeps. Sometimes it’s best to go to the source, though you may need to mute the music that they play.

For some reason the Peeps diorama contests have taken on a life of their own, who wouldn’t smile at topical Peeps reenactments like the Chilean miners or Inception.

And for the scientist in you the Peep Research site can show you how indestructible they really are. They offer a tongue in cheek look at Peeps in extreme conditions like mixing smoking and alcohol and tolerance to nitrogen shown here.

There’s plenty more out there, just be careful about running into some peep shows instead of Peeps shows!

Continue Reading

tv

new and noteworthy tv: 4/18-4/24

No Comments

Is it summer yet?

Monday

  • Cougar Town (ABC, 9:30pm) – This has been off for a few so maybe they’re making up for that with a Mon/Wed double dose.
  • Love Games (Oxy, 10pm) Season Premiere – A couple of bad girls try to find good guys.

Tuesday

  • 16 & Pregnant (MTV, 10pm) Season Premiere – More pregnant teens.
  • Explorer (NGC, 10pm) Season Premiere – Forensic explorers look at bones and stuff.
  • Dresscue Me (PlGr, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – It’s on Planet Green so this fashion show is all about recycling vintage-style.

Wednesday

  • ANTM (CW, 9pm) – Kicking off a new time with the clips episode, I’m about four episodes behind and thinking about packing it in for the season.

Thursday

  • Call Me Fitz (Dir, 9pm) Series Premiere – Jason Priestly returns in front of the camera to play a car salesman with some craziness on the side.
  • 24 Hour Restaurant Battle (Food, 10pm) Season Premiere – Two former couples kick this off with their differing food stuffs.

Friday

  • Girls Night Out (CBS, 9pm) – Superstar women of country perform.
  • Dual Survival (Disc, 9pm) Season Premiere – Survivor shows just make me think about all the ways I could die.
  • Ice Pilots (NGC, 10pm) Series Premiere – Another show that makes me think about the ways I could die.

Saturday

  • Doctor Who (BBCA, 9pm) Season Premiere – Doctor time traveler returns…

Sunday

  • Treme (HBO, 10pm) Season Premiere – Things might not be recovered from Hurricane Katrina quite yet.
  • Have Cake Will Travel (Food, 10pm) Series Premiere – Cake and travel!

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

Continue Reading