tv

obamanos!

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first family

Well I not only hauled myself out of bed for the inauguration but I actually made it to another location for a brunch (I’m west coast of course). And though we may not have had the numbers that they did on the mall, we had no waiting for the bathrooms. I couldn’t bring myself to watch all the coverage from 7am to 2pm, or any of the additional specials, but we made sure to catch the arrivals and the swearing in and speech. Do many people watch the whole day?

I thought Obama’s speech overall was good. Not a lot of sugar coating on the state of things, but highlighting the qualities that make the country and people great, and being confident that we could ‘choose our better history,’ among other things. Though I couldn’t help but be a little dismayed that he wasn’t placing a ton of value in ‘those who prefer leisure over work’ and that he wanted the people to take responsibility. I thought we elected him to just fix everything. I hope he doesn’t expect me to get off my sofa… I did feel bad for the poet that had to go after him (not my favorite to start with).

And more importantly all of the hats and scarves were fun (it did look cold) though none could top Aretha Franklin’s awesome big bow hat. The Obama daughters are also pretty darned cute, apparently dressed in J. Crew. And Michelle’s golden yellow dress and slightly open coat by Isabel Toledo with green accessories was lovely. We’re thrilled to have some fashion forward options in office. Can’t wait to see the dress selected for the ball.

It is an incredible day, but I couldn’t help but be in wonderment about some of the logistics. So many people and surprisingly smooth movement in and out of the area with all the security, the sheer number of cameras to cover in DC and apparently around the world, intrigued by the new presidency taking effect at noon regardless of oath status, the chief justice mistaking the oath and nearly stumping Obama for a moment, the change of air force one to executive one, the way they finish moving old (Bush) out and new (Obama) in to the white house once they leave together… 

But seriously does no business happen today? I suppose tomorrow they’ll get to work.

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sports, tv

next week 1/19

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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.

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tv

idol again

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ai_judges.jpg

I had given up American Idol for years but with the strike happening last year I figured it was a good way to kill some tv hours. And overall I guess it was. I’m least enamored with the early rounds of bad musical talent and start to get more engaged once they head to Hollywood for the narrowing down. Once we get to the final rounds there are weeks that I wish we could skip (you all know who most of the early eliminations will or should be) but it all adds to the moment where I find myself actually caring who is going to win. Yeah David Cook!

They discussed adjusting the format this year and focusing less on the early bad cattle call and more on the Hollywood days. And I did tune in to the first rounds for the one clear new thing, the fourth judge. Kara DioGuardi joins the gang and so we tuned in to see how drastic a difference this would make, and so far, not so drastic. She’s apparently qualified, written for and worked with tons of talent. ai_hifive1.jpgShe seems sane, knowledgeable, gets along with Paula (they’re apparently old friends), and is willing to stand up to Simon. But so far she just doesn’t add anything for me.

I’m out ’til Hollywood so we’ll see how things evolve. Though I was happy to catch the highlight of Ryan trying to high-five a blind contestant and then the moment he realized what he was doing.

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sports, tv

next week 1/12

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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!
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best, tv

my top tv of 2008

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soa_wall2.jpgAs noted I’m a little torn about coming up with a top ten tv list whilst waiting for midseason to hit, but here goes. In alphabetical order:

  • Bones (Fox) – My favorite of the procedurals, Bones the forensic anthropologist and Booth the FBI guy are great characters with great chemistry and I like all the supporters and flavor added to each body-of-the-week mystery.
  • Breaking Bad (AMC) – Who knew the dad from Malcolm in the Middle could turn out like this, as he gets himself in terrible situations when he starts to manufacture meth with an unpredictable partner in crime, all to support his family when he’s diagnosed with cancer.
  • Chuck (NBC) – Action and camp combined and I’m not sure whether I like the geeks put into the spy world or the spies put into the geek world better, with an amusing and compelling supporting cast.
  • Dexter (Show) – The first season was still the best to date but I can’t turn away from Dexter and his murders and his code and the scary and comical and idiotic people around him, though I do sometimes yell at the tv.
  • Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog – Not exactly television but this web based villain musical story (now available on dvd and through itunes) is a great piece by Joss Whedon (of Buffy, Angel, Firefly fame), all the main characters are fantastic but if I didn’t love Neil Patrick Harris before I do now.
  • Flight of the Conchords (HBO) – Hilarious songs tie together the silly stories of these two offbeat New Zealand musicians trying to make it in New York.
  • Gossip Girl (CW) – Campy soaps done right are just plain fun, and this one has over the top characters and situations going through plot twists faster than their spectacular outfits, Chuck’s ridiculous bowties and ascots alone would keep me tuned in.
  • Pushing Daisies (ABC) – This was good while it lasted with its fanciful production matching story and concept and design and cast to the wonderful mysteries solved by bringing folks back to life for just a minute, when it’s more than a minute let’s just say complications arose.
  • Saving Grace (TNT) – That Grace sure is crazy and it’s fun to watch her wrestle with doing the right thing by her police cases and doing the wrong thing in her personal life all while being pushed by her guardian angel, Touched by an Angel this show is not.
  • Sons of Anarchy (Fx) – I wince at least once an episode at some act of unbelievable violence as this motorcycle gang survives more trouble than seems possible, but the charismatic protagonist gives the show a little heart to go along with the drama.

A little shout out to some of the comedies that didn’t make the list this year but made me laugh enough just the same, 30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother, The Office, and The New Adventures of Old Christine.

And of course you can see what the critics are saying.

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tv

new year, new gossip

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ggirl_chuck.jpgWhen last we left, the eldest Bass (husband of Lily van der Woodsen, father of Chuck) was taken out in a car wreck. Chuck went into a tailspin and though Blair admitted that she loved Chuck he pushed her away. His new-to-the-show uncle dragged him home from wherever. After Chuck got tossed out of school for smoking hash (since it has a smoother buzz), he made it to the roof of his repurchased burlesque club. On the edge, Blair talked him down and there may just be hope for the young lovers. ‘Til we hear Blair say to the uncle “He can’t know about new year’s”… Oh Blair, whatever happened on new year’s?

Our other big drama when last we left, was that the Mrs. finally free of the Mr. (as in Bass) was free to pursue her love of Rufus. Until the Humphrey clan patriarch found out about their long lost child given up for adoption, he could forgive the giving up of child, but not telling him… Well Dan found out about this through spy skills, and from Chuck, but is sworn to secrecy, no sharing with his reunited beloved Serena, waiting for mom to tell her secrets herself. Will this rock the kid’s new found togetherness, they keep being apart because… because they’re from different worlds, or their parents are together, or… who knows, but the young love is apparently an easily derailed one.

And the rest of our players? Little J is still in the dark about the drama being back at school on cream coat day and picking a fight with the girls on the steps on behalf of the latest tormentee Little J replacement. Eric van der Woodsen is so far just little J’s new sidekick. And Nate, who chose Vanessa over the littlest Humphrey, might just be hunkered down with Vanessa, no sign of them yet. Always something to stay tuned for.

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tv

next week 1/5

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New and notable in the week ahead…

Monday

  • The Bachelor (ABC, 8pm) Season Premiere – For those of you who missed the really nice guy with the kid from the Bachelorette… he gets to pick now.
  • The Secret Life of the American Teenager (ABC Fam, 8pm) Season Premiere – I really tried to like this cheesy show but I just couldn’t groove with the bad characters and clunky dialogue.
  • Masters of Illusion (MNT, 10pm) Series Premiere – Illusions will happen.
  • Diettribe (Life, 10pm) Series Premiere – The ladies put it on together, and the ladies will take it off together.
  • True Beauty (ABC, 10pm) Series Premiere -Vanessa Minnillo hosts this latest elimination series where it looks like shallow pretty folks are judged on inner beauty.
  • Daddy’s Girls (MTV, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – This is apparently a spin off of Run’s House, and I don’t know what that is either.

Tuesday

  • The Biggest Loser (NBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – And the losing continues, this round is couples.
  • Homeland Security USA (ABC, 8pm) Series Premiere – I think this is kind of like an infomercial for homeland security.
  • Scrubs (ABC, 9/9:30pm) Season Premiere – A new network and Courtney Cox takes over where Kelso left off, at least for now.
  • Vice Squad (MNT, 9/9:30pm) Series Premiere – Like Cops but for Vice.
  • Nip/Tuck (FX, 11pm) Season Premiere – And the guys keep doing what they do.
  • Primetime: What Would You Do? (ABC, 10pm) Season Premiere – I think they cruelly make people witness awkward or illegal situations to see what they would do.
  • Wreckreation Nation (Disc, 10pm) Series Premiere – Lawnmower racing and alligator wrestling are just a sample of things to come.
  • 10 Items or Less (TBS, 11pm) Season Premiere – Scripted and improved grocery store humor.

Wednesday

  • 13: Fear is Real (CW, 8pm) Series Premiere – Folks have now volunteered to be scared in this elimination show.
  • People’s Choice Awards (CBS, 9pm) – The people have chosen.
  • Barbara Walters Special (ABC, 10pm) – Patrick Swayze has a new cable series coming out and talks about that and his cancer.
  • Damages (FX, 10pm) Season Premiere – Folks dig this Glen Close legal thriller but I never got on board.
  • The Real World (MTV, 10pm) Season Premiere – It’s the 21st season and they’re heading to Brooklyn.
  • Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns (TBS, 10pm) Series Premiere – He started with House of Payne but here’s the latest.

Thursday

  • Dragon’s Den (BBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – Folks pitch ideas to multimillionaires.
  • Critic’s Choice Awards (VH1, 8:30/9pm) – Red carpet followed by the awards themselves as the critics pick.
  • Greg Behrendt’s Wake-Up Call (Soap, 10pm) Series Premiere – Couples get help from Greg on their relationships.
  • Snapped (Oxy, 10pm) Season Premiere – I think they look at photos of crimes.

Friday

  • Howie Do It (NBC, 8pm) Series Premiere – I didn’t get Mandel’s Deal or No Deal and I don’t get these pull a prank on people shows.
  • Flashpoint (CBS, 9pm) Season Premiere – This Strategic Response Unit ‘cop show’ is a decent procedural that’s back for another round.
  • Lipstick Jungle (NBC, 9pm) Series Finale – The ladies wrap thier run with a little more drama and lipstick.
  • Monk/Psych (USA, 9/10pm) Season Premiere(s) – The oddball crimefighters are back.
  • Stargate Atlantis (Scifi, 9pm) Series Finale – Will they stop the threat to earth, is there a threat to earth?

Saturday

  • Winter Dew Tour (NBC/USA, Sat/Sun, 2/12am, 1:30/1pm) – The winter action sports series is kickin’ it in Mount Snow Vt.
  • My Big Redneck Wedding (CMT, 9pm) Season Premiere – Tom Arnold lends a sarcastic line or two to these trashy weddings.
  • CMT Cribs (CMT, 9:30pm) Season Premiere – MTV cribs is doing it country-style.

Sunday

  • Golden Globe Awards (NBC, 7/8pm) – The Hollywood Foreign Press Association hands out tv and movie honors.
  • 24 (Fox, 8pm) Season Premiere – Jack’s back in some sort of fix, for hours.
  • Toolacademy (VH1, 10pm) Series Premiere – Ladies send their boyfriends to get some coaching to be less of a tool.
  • Battlestar Galactica (SciFi, 11pm) – Top ten things you need to know… I am still only up to season 2.
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best, tv

top tv of 2008

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I always think that doing a top ten tv is a tough at the end of the year because the tv season is still rolling into midseason shows, but here’s what critics and folks have got so far for 2008. 

  • Architecture School – JP
  • Battlestar Gallactica – JP, TG
  • Big Bang Theory – MR
  • Boston Legal – DB, PGA
  • Breaking Bad – AFI, JP, TG
  • Brotherhood – SA
  • Californication – GG
  • The Colbert Report – SA
  • Chuck – JP
  • Cranford – PE, SA*
  • Curb Your Enthusiasm – PGA
  • Daily Show with Jon Stewart – DB
  • Damages – PGA
  • Dancing With the Stars – NYT
  • Dexter – GG, DB, MR, PGA, SA*, TG
  • Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog – DB, JP, PE
  • Entourage – GG, PGA
  • Friday Night Lights – DB, MR
  • Fringe – NYT, PE
  • Generation Kill – MR, TG
  • Gossip Girl – NYT
  • House – GG
  • In Treatment – AFI, GG, NYT, PE, SA
  • It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – SA
  • John Adams – AFI, MR, SA
  • The Last Enemy – SA
  • Life – AFI
  • Life on Mars – SA
  • Lost – AFI, JP, MR, PE, PGA, TG
  • Mad Men – AFI, DB, GG, JP, MR*, NYT, PGA, SA, TG*
  • Masterpiece – MR
  • Morning Joe – NYT
  • NCIS – NYT
  • The Office – AFI, GG, PGA
  • Olympics – MR
  • Primeval – SA
  • Pushing Daisies – DB, SA
  • Real Housewives of NYC – PE
  • Recount – AFI, NYT
  • Saturday Night Live – MR, PE
  • The Shield – AFI, DB, JP*, MR, PE, TG
  • 60 Minutes – DB
  • Skins – SA
  • Sons of Anarchy – TG
  • State of the Union – SA*
  • Swingtown – PE
  • 30 Rock – DB, GG, MR, NYT, PGA, SA, TG
  • True Blood – GG
  • Weeds – GG, PE, PGA
  • The Wire – AFI, JP, MR, NYT, TG

AFI – American Film Institute, DB – David Bianculli/NPR, GG – Golden Globes, JP – James Poniewozik/Time, MR – Matt Roush/TVGuide, PE – People Magazine, PGA – Producer’s Guild of America, SA – Satellite Awards, NYT – New York Times, TG – Tim Goodman at SF Chron

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tv

next week 12/29

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New and notable in the week ahead…

Monday

  • Greatest Holiday Moments (NBC, 8pm) – Think funniest home videos holiday style. 
  • Bromance/The City (MTV, 9/10pm) Series Premiere(s)– A couple kids from The Hills spin off their own gigs, first Brody Jenner looks for a new beaux Paris Hilton style and then Whitney Port leaves the west coast to make it in the big apple.

Tuesday

  • Burn Notice (USA, 6am-4pm) – This fun campy no-longer-a-spy spy show set in Miami gives a little marathon to catch you up.
  • Kennedy Center Honors (CBS, 9pm) – Caroline Kennedy host the honoring of Morgan Freeman, George Jones, Barbra Streisand, Twyla Tharp, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltry.

Wednesday

  • Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest (ABC, 10pm) Ryan and Dick bring along Fergie and Kellie Pickler to help correspond with all the activity.
  • New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly (NBC, 10pm) – Will this be more or less rockin’ than Dick and Ryan’s?
  • New Year’s Eve Live (Fox, 11pm) – Spike Feresten and Mark Thompson don’t even get their names in the title.

Thursday

  • Tournament of Roses Parade – Check your local listings for the various showings of this flower filled parade.

Friday

  • If you’re desperate Lipstick Jungle is new, I’m not that desperate…

Saturday

  • Game Show in My Head (CBS, 8/8:30pm) Series Premiere – Folks are foolish in public by following instructions via earpiece.

Sunday

  • Rock of Love Charm School (VH1, 7pm) – It’s the reunion show which might be good for some hair pulling.
  • Confessions of a Teen Idol (VH1, 8pm) Series Premiere – 80s and 90s teen idols give us a little insight, or something.
  • Rock of Love (VH1, 9pm) Season Premiere – Still no love for Bret, so this season the ladies are going on tour with him… will he find ‘the one’, or are we just casting for another Charm School?
  • Superstars of Dance (NBC, 9pm) Series Premiere – Folks from all over the world compete.
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tv

next week 12/22

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New and notable in the week ahead…

Monday

  • Today Looks Back (NBC, 8pm) – The Today Show stays up to prime time to give us a look back.

Tuesday

  • A Home for the Holidays (CBS, 8pm) – Faith Hill and the gang raise adoption awareness.
  • Rediscovered (ABC, 9pm) – Donny and Marie give some folks who put their hats in the ring as child stars another shot.
  • The List (ABC, 10pm) – Entertainment lists galore.

Wednesday

  • It’s a Wonderful Life (NBC, 8pm) – Jimmy Stewart does it again.
  • The Flight Before Christmas/Story of Santa Clause (CW, 8/9pm) – A reindeer does some test flights with flying squirrels before we learn how Nick got his start.

Thursday

  • Yule Log – Check your local listings.

Friday/Saturday/Sunday

  • Not a lot new or holiday related going on after the 25th so get some dvds ready.
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