tv

idol love

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Ok so I have sort of missed the past couple of weeks, and I admittedly didn’t feel like I was missing much, I mean Gokey was never my bag. Watching the Adam and Kris showdown in the finale part one didn’t offer up any big surprised but for me it was still fun.

It did raise a few questions for me:

  1. Does anyone who is going to vote really change their vote at this point?
  2. Does winning Idol help or hurt you?
  3. Is the winning song required to be lame?
  4. Why does the finale need to be two hours?

So like we know, Adam has chops but there is def a styliness to him that not everyone is down with, and Kris is a good entertainer as long as he stays in his wheelhouse. Who’s going to take it? I think Adam is clearly the better talent and I’m tempted to give him the edge just for that. But America doesn’t always work that way and Kris might pick up more of Danny’s votes to go along with his girly fandom.

I guess we’ll all just tune in tomorrow night for two plus hours to find out who will be the next American Idol.

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next week 5/18

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

Monday

  • 24 (Fox, 8pm) Season Finale – A couple more hours in the 7th long day Jack’s had.
  • Gossip Girl/One Tree Hill (CW, 8/9pm) Season Finales – What will graduation bring to the latest crop of high schoolers on GG, let’s hope they don’t follow the path of fellow soapsters in Tree Hill.
  • How I Met Your Mother/2 1/2 Men/Rules of Engagement/CSI: Miami (CBS, 8:30pm) Season Finales – Starting with a special Rules at 8 we rap up the funny and the not so funny.
  • Bachelorette (ABC, 9pm) Season Premiere – Jillion is turning Bachelor misfortune into another shot at true love.
  • 4th & Long (Spike, 10pm) Series Premiere – Football players compete for a spot on the Dallas Cowboys.

Tuesday

  • NCIS/The Mentalist/Without a Trace (CBS, 8/9/10pm) Season Finales – A trip to Israel, a meet up with Red  John, and yet another vanished person.
  • 90210 (CW, 9pm) Season Finale – Is this the episode where Donna Martin graduates?
  • Dancing With the Stars (ABC, 9pm) Season Finale – I wasn’t sure anyone was surviving the injuries this season but the gymnast, the former cheerleader, or the guy who was hot in a movie will be crowned.
  • Glee (Fox, 9pm) Series Premiere – The creator of Nip/Tuck brings a taste of high school glee club misfits.

Wednesday

  • American Idol (Fox, 8pm) Season Finale – Who will it be Adam or Kris, and don’t miss the performances on Tuesday.
  • New Adventures of Old Christine/Gary Unmarried (CBS, 8/8:30pm) Season Finales  – How will Christine and Gary embarrass themselves this week?
  • Criminal Minds (CBS, 9/10pm) Season Finale – I think the gang goes after another psycho killer.

Thursday

  • So You Think You Can Dance (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – Another crew in their boogie shoes.
  • Ugly Betty (ABC, 8pm) Season Finale – They put out another issue with more drama.
  • Crime 360 (A&E, 10pm) Season Premiere – Looking at crime from every angle.
  • Southern Belles (Soap, 10pm) Series Premiere – I think this is like Real Housewives in the Kentucky.
  • Southland (NBC, 10pm) Season Finale – Looks like rookie cop and the rest of the crew will be back for another season of crime solving.

Friday

  • Good Morning America (ABC, 7am) – The concert series kicks off with Green Day.
  • Head Case/Party Down (Starz, 10/10:30pm) Season Finales – We always knew Seinfeld was a little nuts, and then more catering laughs.

Saturday

  • NBA Playoffs (ABC, 5:30) – I don’t even think this is the final two teams but what else do you have to watch.

Sunday

  • French Open (ESPN2, 9am) – Things are kicked off, another year for Nadal?
  • Diamonds (ABC, 9pm) – Miniseries kicks off a a look at the diamond trade from the Congo to the US.
  • The Tudors/State of the Union (Show, 9/9:30pm) Season Finales – King Henry keep slutting around and Tracy keeps mocking.
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next week 5/11

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New and notable in the week ahead. Procrastinator picks underlined…

Monday

  • Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8pm) Season Finale – The gang is all getting ready to take 3 months off.
  • House (Fox, 8pm) Season Finale – I believe there will be a case and they will solve it at the end of the hour.
  • Charm School (VH1, 9pm) Season Premiere – This season they add contestants from other VH! shows as Ricki Lake steps in for Sharon Osborne in trying to class up the ladies.
  • Castle (ABC, 10pm) Season Finale – Castle solves a crime, and probably.

Tuesday

  • The Biggest Loser (NBC, 8pm) Season Finale – I wish I knew this finale was three hours long before I agreed to go watch it with a friend.
  • Fringe (Fox, 9pm) Season Finale – Leonard Nimoy adds to his recent Star Trek public appearances with a guest as founder of Massive Dynamics.
  • The Real Housewives of New Jersey (Brav, 11pm) Series Premiere – The latest look at ladies of leisure.

Wednesday

  • America’s Next Top Model (CW, 8pm) Season Finale – Commercials and catwalk decide the latest model winner to drop into oblivion.
  • Lie to Me (Fox, 8pm) Season Finale – There’s lying and lie detecting.
  • Lost (ABC, 8/9pm) Season Finale – Highlights at 8 are followed by the two hour finale, I’m still 12 episodes behind so more to add to the tivo.
  • Rules of Engagement/New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS, 8/8:30pm) – Bumped by Barack last week, these two shows try out a new night.

Thursday

  • Bones/Hell’s Kitchen (Fox, 8/9pm) Season Finale – Motley Crue joins the crew and then a chef wins.
  • Smallville/Supernatural (CW, 8/9pm) Season Finale – The guys fight the villains and demons.
  • My Name is Earl/Parks & Recreation/The Office/30 Rock (NBC, 8-10pm) Season Finale – The laughs ensue.
  • CSI/CSI: NY (CBS, 9/10pm) Season Finale – The crime scene gets investigated.
  • Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 9pm) Season Finale – Whose lives will change in the finale and will Izzie be back next season?

Friday

  • America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC, 8pm) Season Finale – Two hours of funny videos.
  • Don’t Tell the Bride (BBCA, 8pm) Series Premiere – The get money for a wedding but the groom has to plan it.
  • The Game (CW, 8pm) Season Finale – This show wraps up with a wedding or does it?
  • Ghost Whisperer/Flashpoint/Numb3rs (CBS, 8/9/10pm) Season Finale – Ghosts and crimes and crimes.
  • Prison Break (Fox, 8pm) Series Finale – Finally putting this show out of its misery.

Saturday

  • Primeval (BBCA, 9pm) Season Premiere – A monstrous crocodile is loose.
  • Beverly Hills Groomer (AnPl, 10pm) Series Premiere – We follow someone from Groomer Has It trying to make it.

Sunday

  • Extreme Makeover/Desperate Housewives (ABC, 7/9pm) Season Finale – Crazy enthusiasm and then just plain crazies.
  • Sit Down, Shut Up/The Simpsons/King of the Hill/Family Guy/American Dad (7, 8-10pm) Season Finales – The animation continues.
  • Survivor (CBS, 8/10pm) Season Finale – Two hour finale followed by the reunion show.
  • Saturday Night Live (NBC, 9pm) – This special shows the shorts.
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next week 5/4

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

Monday

  • Medium (NBC, 9/10pm) – A double dose of the Allison as she tries to move her psychic skills into the corporate world.
  • New York Goes to Work/Gotti’s Way (VH1, 10/10:30pm) Series/Season Premiere – More reality fare.

Tuesday

  • Better Off Ted (ABC, 8:30) Season Finale – Special night (following a special night for Scrubs) as they try to improve company morale.
  • Ice People (Sund, 10pm) – Shot over four months in Antarctica the team looks for signs of ancient life.

Wednesday

  • Scrubs (ABC, 8pm) Season Finale – Does this series have another life or is JD’s final episode the series finale as well?

Thursday

  • Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 9pm) – In the 100th episode we near Mer and Der’s wedding, who wants to guess what will go wrong.
  • The Fashion Show (Brav, 10pm) Series Premiere – What does Heidi say, one minute you’re in and the next you’re out, for those waiting patiently for that other design show, this might be worth a look.
  • Michael J Fox (ABC, 10pm) – In this special titled Adventures of an Incurable Optimist he visits optimists around the world and they also share a little science about the positive outlook.

Friday

  • Everybody Hates Chris (CW, 8pm) Season Finale – Will Chris have to repeat the 10th grade, is this show still on?
  • Dollhouse (Fox, 9pm) Season Finale – What is Alpha up to with Echo and what will Ballard do about it?

Saturday

  • NBA Countdown (ABC, 5pm/pst) – Leading into the playoffs followed by game 3 of the semis at 5:15.

Sunday

  • The Apprentice (NBC, 8pm) Season Finale – This finale is three hours long, yes three hours long, how much screen time does that equal for the Donald?
  • The Amazing Race/Cold Case/The Unit (CBS, 9/10pm) Season Finales – Races, and cases, and nuclear bombs, oh my.
  • Brothers & Sisters (ABC, 10pm) Season Finale – Something tells me the Walkers are still getting themselves into trouble.
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tv

next week 4/27

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

Monday

  • Chuck (NBC, 8pm) Season Finale – Ellie’s wedding is the scene where it all comes down, without his head filled with info can Chuck save the day, and will he be back next year?
  • Pros vs. Joes (Spike, 11pm) Season Premiere – In this all-star premiere former NBA star takes on the Joes, and I don’t know what that means.

Tuesday

  • Dallas DNA (ID, 10pm) Series Premiere – A look at DNA testing on inmates post conviction.
  • Addicted to Plastic (Sund, 10pm) – This special is a look at the impact of plastic on our society, not in the plastic surgery sense, but in the environmental sense.

Wednesday

  • Rules of Engagement/New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS, 8/8:30pm) – They’re trying to line up the laughs as a special night and time.
  • Smith (DirTV, 10pm) – In case you missed the unaired episodes of this fun heist series they’re kicking off tonight.

Thursday

  • My Name is Earl/Parks&Recreation/The Office/30 Rock/Southland (NBC, 8-11pm) – Nothing much new or notable tonight except NBC seems to have crafted a palatable new Thursday night lineup, though the jury is still out on Parks&Rec.

Friday

  • Numb3rs (CBS, 10pm) – There’s always slim pickings on a Friday night (besides Dollhouse of course) but Don and Charlie offer up a little more family crime solving with math on this 100th episode.

Saturday

  • Not even a lot of good movie of the week options for a Saturday night so it looks like either catch up on tivo or maybe netflix Caprica on dvd.

Sunday

  • Cycling (Vs, 2pm) – This week’s cyclism Sunday brings us the Tour de Romandie.

* See comments for some moves.

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tv

midseason fun

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Midseason has been rolling out for some time, and I thought it might be time to take a look at what we’ve taken a look at.

  • Better Off Ted (ABC) – Set in the corporate world where crazy people invent crazy things, it does a funny take on the soulless company and has some funny folks, but maybe Ted’s too much of a company man, I’m not fully into it yet, I’m still watching.
  • Castle (ABC) – The premise and cases aren’t groundbreaking but Nathan Fillion is engaging as the crime writing novelist paired with a by the book detective, plus his family is kind of funny, this got a season pass.
  • Cupid (ABC) – The psychologist and the maybe crazy guy/maybe cupid are at odds for the best way to help the lovelorn, I just wasn’t that into either of the leads or the romances, much preferred Rob Thomas’ first take, I tuned out.
  • Dollhouse (Fox) – This latest Joss Whedon has grown on me as we’ve come to learn more about the folks who are programmed to be anyone and the people who hire, program, and protect them, this got a season pass.
  • Harper’s Island (CBS) – So cheesy it was almost entertaining but couldn’t quite bring myself to check back on this mysterious island wedding where the secrets are plenty and one cast member gets killed off a week, I tuned out.
  • Kings (NBC) – I was intrigued by the premise of this alternate reality where the King of a country and his family cross paths with a young idealist, but at least in the pilot the characters and dialogue were too simplistic and heavy handed, I tuned out.
  • In The Motherhood (ABC) – I always want to enjoy a half hour comedy and this series taken from a web version had a good enough cast including Megan Mullally and Cheryl Hines, but the mom jokes just weren’t making me laugh, I tuned out.
  • Lie to Me (Fox) – These folks study the art of lies and use their expertise to consult on cases to find the lies and then the usually the truth, but the science and the characters didn’t quite pull me in, I tuned out.
  • Parks & Recreation (NBC) – From the creators of The Office, I feel like they’re still trying to get their footing with the documentary style now set in the government, with Amy Poehler doing the heavy lifting as misguided bright-eyed optimist, I’m still watching
  • Sit Down, Shut Up (Fox) – I have to admit I missed this last weekend, it has a good pedigree and cast, but the reviews I read weren’t good, might still catch an ep.
  • Southland (NBC) – From the creators of ER, this time they’re focusing on cops, with an interesting cast and a gritty style, I am not totally drawn in but will give it some time, I’m still watching.
  • Surviving Suburbia (ABC) – Bob Saget can actually be funny, it’s too bad I’ve never seen him be funny in a series, this is a relatively typically loser head of the household comedy, I tuned out.
  • The Unusuals (ABC) – This cop drama is set in a detective office where there’s some corruption, some secrets, and a whole lot of quirky in the cases and the characters, this got a season pass.

A few more titles keep coming up that might be on the horizon: The Goode Family, The Listener, The Philanthropist, Meet the Browns, Mental, Merlin… And I didn’t really mention the reality fare, for that you’re on your own. Next week’s will continue to note new shows.

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tv

next week 4/20

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

Monday

  • Belly of the Beast (Disc, 9pm) Series Premiere – Some dude checks out military helicopters in this latest look at stuff.

Tuesday

  • Eco Trip/Carbon Cops (Sund, 9/9:30pm) Series Premieres – How do everyday things like chocolate impact the environment and how can you make your life more green.
  • Life After People (Hist, 10pm) Series Premiere – Creepy or interesting to hypothesize what the earth would be like if people weren’t alive anymore.
  • The Phone (MTV, 10pm) Series Premiere – I think it’s like the Amazing Race but they get a call.
  • The Unusuals (ABC, 10pm) – Special night for these not quite usual detectives along with its regular Wed showing.

Wednesday

  • Lost (ABC, 9pm) – The latest Lost special tells the Story of the Oceanic 6, and again I am more than 6 episodes behind so tivo will keep running.

Thursday

  • Bones (Fox, 8pm) – They must have some extra eps as they blow through another two of bones, don’t miss Monday’s and its regular slot on tonight.

Friday

  • Wild Weddings (TLC, 9pm) Series Premiere – For those of you looking for a good wacky weddings show.

Saturday

  • I Want to Save Your Life (WE, 10/10:30pm) Series Premiere – It’s an intervention series.

Sunday

  • TV Land Awards (TVL, 8pm) – Doogie, I mean Barney, I mean Neil Patrick Harris hosts.
  • Daisy of Love (VH1, 9pm) Series Premiere – Brett may or may not have found his rock of love but his season two reject still hasn’t, so let the games begin.
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next week 4/13

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

Monday

  • Doing da Vinci (Disc, 10pm) Series Premiere – This reality show tries to create things from da Vinci sketches.
  • Confessions of a Superhero (Sund, 9pm) – If you’ve wondered what it’s like to dress up like a superhero on Hollywood Blvd, even if you haven’t, this documentary could be for you.
  • College Life (MTV, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – A self produced documentary of four freshmen starting in Wisconsin.

Tuesday

  • Deadliest Catch (Disc, 9pm) Season Premiere – Captains and catches.
  • The Alaska Experiment (Disc, 10pm) Season Premiere – This reality show strands nine folks in Alaska and makes them get back to civilization.

Wednesday

  • Bones (Fox, 8pm) – Catch Bones and Booth on their special night, in addition to the regular Thursday slot.
  • Kathy Griffin: She’ll Cut a Bitch/Bravo’s A-List Awards (Brav, 9pm) – She’s made herself famous for being on the D list and continues to talk celeb smack and then does some hosting.
  • The Cougar (TVLand, 10pm) Series Premiere – The latest dating show tries to match a hot 40 year old with one of 20 young dudes.
  • Pitchmen (Disc, 10pm) Series Premiere – Two guys known for their ‘as seen on tv’ commercials share their wisdom with wannabe inventors.

Thursday

  • Family Circle Cup (ESPN2, 1:30pm) – The ladies of tennis start their televised coverage with the round of 16 today and play though ’til Sunday’s final.

Friday

  • Prison Break (Fox, 9pm) Season Premiere – The boys are back for their final season of breaking in or breaking out or just breaking things.
  • Stranger Among Bears (AnPl, 10pm) Series Premiere – Living with the bears…

Saturday

  • Grey Gardens (HBO, 8pm) – The original 1975 documentary about Jackie O’s eccentric cousins is made into a movie with Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore.
  • Kings (NBC, 8pm) – Less than stellar ratings may be what shifted this show to this new timeslot.
  • Nanny 911/World’s Strictest Parents (CMT, 8/9pm) Season/Series Premieres – First they bring someone in to deal with unruly kids, then they send unruly kids off to someone else to deal with them.

Sunday

  • Miss USA Pageant (NBC, 7pm) – Another round of ladies in bikinis.
  • Sit Down, Shut Up (Fox, 8:30pm) Series Premiere – Produced by folks from Arrested Development/The Simpsons, Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Kristin Chenoweth and Will Forte do the voices for this animated high school faculty.
  • Law & Order: CI (USA, 9pm) Season Premiere – Jeff Goldblum joins the cast this season in major case.
  • Rock of Love (VH1, 9pm) – We’ll know who Bret has chosen and if you just didn’t quite get your fill you can catch all the ladies at the reunion ep.
  • In Plain Sight (USA, 10pm) Season Premiere – Mary’s back placing people in witness protection.
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idol… the final 7

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Well it’s been a while since we checked in on Idol, and the weeks and the performers have gone by… During this period I almost give up on tuning in week after week as it’s just a matter of time until we narrow it down to the top contenders. But somehow I still get upset when Alexis goes home before Anoop or Megan goes home before Scott.

But all is forgiven as long as Adam still keeps cranking out the winners. I actually missed last week’s performance show and it sounded like I missed Adam getting a standing O from Simon so I went back to the site to check out the performances.

And what do we think about the kids, and by we I obviously mean me:

  • Adam – clearly the favorite, his voice, his performances, his song choice, his ability to mix it up while still presenting (as Kara might say) his unique artistry, is impressive
  • Allison – the only other person who week after week sounds good and feels like she could actually be a recording artist
  • Danny – has a good voice and some character, but he’s just got this awkward white guy singing vibe to him that makes it hard to picture him recording anything you’d buy
  • Lil – also has a good voice but doesn’t seem capable of picking the right songs, showcasing her voice, or adding any personal style to her presentation
  • Matt – has some chops and some style but is inconsistent and not quite willing to put himself into the Justin Timberlake box folks want him to be in
  • Kris – a cutie patootie and though he’s not a powerhouse he seems to be picking songs that let him sing just enough, likable but not a ton of personality
  • Anoop – though he won our hearts with his early enthusiasm he just doesn’t have the voice or the stylings to be a threat

So stay tuned, or just wait a few weeks for a little more riffraff to go, and see if Adam will be your idol. Next week Quentin Tarantino joins us for ‘Idols at the Movies.’

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next week 4/6

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

Monday

  • NCAA Championships (CBS, 6pm) – The title game is coming to you from Detroit.
  • Surviving Suburbia (ABC, 9:30pm) Series Premiere – Bob Saget is back in a sitcom and he’s bringing down the neighborhood.
  • The Hills (MTV, 10/10:30pm) Season Premiere – My having no interest in any of these people makes me feel old, but good about it.

Tuesday

  • It’s the Easter Beagle Charlie Brown (ABC, 8pm) – It wouldn’t be a holiday without a Schultz special.
  • Rescue Me (FX, 10pm) Season Premiere – The guys are back with guest star Michael J. Fox.
  • Women Behind Bars (WE, 10pm) Season Premiere – Profiles of ladies that, you guessed it, are behind bars.
  • The Stagers (HGTV, 10:30pm) Season Premiere – A trainee helps stage a loft.
  • The Real Housewives of New Jersey (Bravo, 11pm) – Preview special of the latest crew of ladies.

Wednesday

  • Time Warp/MythBusters (Disc, 8/9pm) Season Premieres – First experiments with blades and volts and then a demolition derby special.
  • Night (AnPl, 10pm) Series Premiere – It’s animals, at night.
  • Real World/Road Rules Challenge (MTV, 10pm) Season Premiere – Can you believe there have been 17 seasons of this? this one heads to New Zealand.
  • The Unusuals (ABC, 10pm) Series Premiere – Amber Tamblyn transfers into homicide and meets the quirky detectives and cases.

Thursday

  • Parks & Recreation (NBC, 8:30pm) Series Premiere – We’ve been waiting to catch this new comedy from the creators of The Office with Amy Poehler dealing with bureaucracy, with special double eps of The Office before and after.
  • American Chopper (TLC, 9pm) Season Premiere – The season kicks off building a B-2 bomber bike.
  • Harper’s Island (CBS, 10pm) Series Premiere – This series set on an isolated island plans to kill off most of the cast before being pulled from the schedule.
  • Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire (Com, 10pm) Series Premiere – This is being dubbed a ‘sword-and-sorcerer farce.’
  • Southland (NBC, 10pm, repeats Sat) Series Premiere – That kid from the OC is now from the right side of the tracks as he kicks off his first night on the streets of LA as a cop, from the creator of ER.

Friday

  • Myles of Style (HGTV, 8:30pm) Season Premiere – A master bedroom gets a modern touch.
  • Patton 360 (Hist, 9pm) Series Premiere – The history of Patton’s battles.

Saturday

  • Groomer Has It (AnPl, 9pm) Season Premiere – I really thought I had no interest in a grooming competition show but reading about 12 folks grooming St Bernards makes me almost reconsider.
  • Most Outrageous (AnPl, 10pm) Series Premiere – Animals can be funny, this ep it’s funny looking.

Sunday

  • Cycling (Vs, 2pm) – The guys take on the Paris Roubaix.
  • State of the Union (Show, 10pm) Season Premiere – Tracy Ullman takes another stab a mockery.

*Times noted are PST, please always confirm your local listings.

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