next week 5/5

New and notable for the week to come:

Monday

  • Two and a Half Men (CBS, 9pm) – Thursday’s CSI writer’s swap with these guys whilst George Eads makes a pop by to see the men this evening.

Tuesday

  • Dancing with the Stars (ABC, 8/9pm) – It’s the 100th episode at 9 after we see the judges all-time top 10 at 8.

Wednesday

  • Audition: Barbara Walter’s Journey (ABC, 10pm) – She’s got an autobiography out where she talks about sleeping with some senator forever ago, if that’s the most interesting who knows what else she’ll talk about.

Thursday

  • Scrubs (NBC, 8:30) Season Finale – Hard to tell the difference between fantasy and the regular show, but this one takes it down the fairy-tale road.

Friday

  • TV’s All-Time Funniest (ABC, 8pm) – I don’t know that recounting what’s funny is all that funny, but for nostalgia’s sake…

Saturday

  • I can’t talk about movies of the week again, so perhaps go to an actual theater.

Sunday

  • Survivor (CBS, 8/10pm) Season Finale – I don’t watch this show anymore but I think they still have a good balance of playing the game and keeping it interesting, the two-hour finale is followed by the reunion show.
  • Brothers and Sisters (ABC, 10pm) Season Finale – This family drives me crazy but I’m still watching them get into mischief and in each other’s way.
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antm down to 4

We’re narrowing down the ladies, just a few more and we’ll have another top model. And what does that mean, not much… So what’s happened? So while Lauren was being raced off for cutting into her thumb, Fatima lost her travel documents and as a non us citizen was trying to lock those down before she’s dropped from the competition for not being able to travel…

antm-stacyann.jpgPaulina gave the gals a test interview and set them loose on a red carpet and cocktail party. Whitney and Stacy Ann both came across as fake, Dominique couldn’t come up with the dress designer’s name and Lauren inappropriately swore. But who surprised me most? Crazy accented Albino Anya impressed with being personable and being herself. She won her second individual shoot, this one for 7-up and in addition to her lemons and limes she actually got paid a little 10k check.

And the shoot was a little airport action where the gals did a group shoot taking turns being the key gal. Everyone except Fatima of course who was off getting her papers in case she was chosen to travel internationally. Though getting those papers was almost was got her eliminated. Fortunately for her they thought that overall she was stronger than Stacy Ann who was too darned perky to seem real and didn’t seem to be pushing it on the shoots.

antm-lauren.jpgGood thing Fatima got those papers because the ladies were off to Roma! So the gals did a little Italian meet and greet with a designer who gave a little mini challenge, of I don’t know, who he liked most… and picked Anya. That weird girl has got something.

And then on to the Italian speaking Cover Girl commercial. No one was good, but Whitney continued her fake presentation by being over the top, and Lauren was so awkward and lifeless it was almost too painful to laugh, but I couldn’t help myself. It was like someone was trying to be the opposite of everything they were supposed to be doing. So although they dragged the final two moment out with Whitney, no photos could cancel out Lauren’s terrible in person walking and talking.

antm-kat.jpgThen we learned a little local skills, gladiator style fighting. The skills were of course were put it to the test in a shoot. Whitney won the challenge and took Anya on a shopping spree for her win. Then Tyra shot the renaissance castle shoot. And Fatima who says she is going to get called first… did. And for those called last… Whitney seems a bit stuck, lovely but still a little too sexy… and Katarzyna was nice, but just seems to fade back not popping in person and in her photos.

So I have to say of the girls left I like Whitney best, and I love it that a plus size girl is finally staying in the game, but based on past performances she’s not the favorite. Dominique who is noted as ‘not fresh’ in person (i.e. old) and is super annoying, seems to have been able to pull off some good shots. And albino Anya who has the oddest in person presence just seems to step up again and again. Fatima looks great in person and on film but her holier than though attitude might be translating to her shots whilst she rests on her laurels. So who will win? Who cares. But I’ll still stay tuned for the next two episodes…

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next week 4/28

Monday

  • House (Fox, 9pm) – Back after the strike hiatus and our favorite curmudgeon is back diagnosing and annoying those around him.

Tuesday

  • Shark (CBS, 9pm) – Back from strike I sometimes catch this abrasive celebrity attorney as he continues trying to convict and keep his personal life together.
  • The Riches (Fx, 10pm) – Last ep due to the strike, I dig this show but so far have this season all backlogged on tivo.
  • Women’s Murder Club (ABC, 10pm) – Returning from strike is this light yet enjoyable procedural show with each of the gals bringing cop, coroner, da and journalist pov.

Wednesday

  • Secrets of the Dead (PBS, 8pm) – Documentary that shows the story of two men who escaped Auschwitz to try to warn the world.
  • The Farmer Wants a Wife (CW, 9pm) Series Premiere – This is what it sounds like, a version of The Bachelor on a farm, personally I pass.
  • Boston Legal (ABC, 10pm) – This show gets a new time slot though I’m not sure what the old time slot was as I could never quite get into this crazy legal show.

Thursday

  • My Name is Earl/Scrubs/The Office/30 Rock (NBC, 8-10pm) – The second week of the new order of the lineup.

Friday

  • Man vs. Wild (Disc, 9pm) Season Premiere – Bear Grylls returns to the wild to show how he can keep getting out.

Saturday

  • Nascar (Fox, 7pm) – They go round and round I think.
  • The Shell Seekers/A Teacher’s Crime (Hallmark/Lifetime, 9pm) – How could a person decide which movie of the week to watch?

Sunday

  • Cold Case (CBS, 8pm) Season Finale – This procedural, that I usually miss, solves old cases as it wraps up another season.
  • Family Guy (Fox, 9pm) Season Finale – This family gets a pet or something, and Amanda Bynes guests.
  • This American Life (Show, 10pm) Season Premiere – This NPR show starts its second series of televised stories.
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six down… six to go…

top6.jpgOk so it’s really five to go since there are six left but that didn’t sound as good. So we’ve gotten rid of some of the riff raff, and Michael Johns. So who might win? Let’s do a little ranking.

  1. David Cook has really stepped it up consistently, or at least the most consistently, doing an interesting take on the song of the week and actually seeming like rock star, or at least a pop star, instead of a karaoke/cruise ship singer (to steal a phrase or two from Simon). But do I want him to win? I’m not sure… there is something negative about the perception of being most loved by America as well as being tied down with the winning contract instead of taking your notoriety and running.
  2. David Archuleta is the young kid with the good, but slightly raspy voice, who sings a lovely inspirational ballad, and who I couldn’t be more bored by. There is something a little too young about him and he has failed to shine in a good upbeat song and his romance appeal so far seems limited even for a teeny bopper audience.
  3. Carly Smithson has a great voice but to date has dipped into the bottom three because folks haven’t been won over by her song choice, lack of connection, and angry singing. But when she called Simon out on being hard on her it sounded like he actually appreciated her more than initially thought, he just expected even more.
  4. Brooke White has dipped into the bottom three a couple of times but she’s got that folk singer thing down and when she’s not trembling with fear, or whatever, she’s actually quite likable. She’s been slipping but I’m thinking she has another good one or two in her.
  5. Jason Castro doesn’t have the strongest voice but he has started doing some good song picking to make the most of what he’s got and his laid back thing is just making him so darned not hateable. I should put him above Carly and Brooke but I feel like he’s due for a weak one.
  6. Syesha Mercado also has a lovely voice and has had some good performances but she has been picking songs of great singers or at least singers who make the song their own and she’s been unable to do that. She started out not at the top of people’s lists and has consistently hit the bottom three.

But leave it to America and a bunch of inconsistent singers to prove me wrong, that’s one of the things we like about reality, right? So stay tuned tonight as the gang performs song from Andrew Lloyd Weber, really? And of course see who will be the latest castoff — it may surprise us all — on Thursday!

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next week 4/21

Monday

  • Gossip Girl (CW, 8pm) – We’re back from the strike and get to find out how Blair adjusts to being dethroned as queen bee and how Serena adjusts to getting ready to being Chuck’s new step sis.

Tuesday

  • Most Outrageous Moments (NBC, 8pm) Season Premiere – A shows will clips of moments that are outrageous.
  • Reaper (CW, 9pm) – Post strike premiere as Sam decides if turning against the devil is a good idea.

Wednesday

  • Pussycat Dolls: Girlicious (CW, 9pm) Season Finale – The latest girl group that I will never listen to will be chosen.
  • Men in Trees (ABC, 10pm) – Last episode before a hiatus as that annoying Anne Heche is girly or something.
  • Law & Order (NBC, 10pm) – The cops and lawyers return from strike but Jesse Martin is bowing out as Anthony Anderson takes his place in the latest cast change.

Thursday

  • Ugly Betty/Grey’s Anatomy/Lost (ABC, 8/9/10pm) – Post strike returns to Mode Magazine and two shows that I have been greatly anticipating!
  • Supernatural (CW, 9pm) – And the brothers fight or find or whatever they do to the supernatural.

Friday

  • Moonlight (CBS, 9pm) – The vampire show I don’t watch returns from strike.

Saturday

  • The Mighty B! (Nick, 10:30am) Series Premiere – Amy Poehler is the voice of this animated overzealous girl scout equivalent.

Sunday

  • Big Brother (CBS, 8pm) Season Finale – And they… elect a king?
  • Aliens in America (CW, 8:30pm) – This is new and I don’t remember if this is the first back from strike… but Raj gets a girl, or tries to get rid of a girl.

* ‘next week’s are posts of new or noteworthy shows for the week to come and do not imply endorsement by the procrastinator

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live… it’s saturday night…

snl_hil_obama.jpgSo I’ve actually added Saturday Night Live to tivo, though historically I’ve tended to scan through and maybe watch the Weekend Update news piece and seek out that maybe one funny bit. My biggest problem is the obvious, the skits aren’t funny, what’s mildly funny is dragged into a long ongoing series of no longer funny skits, most of the guest hosts are painful to watch as they read from their cue cards, and I don’t even listen to most of the bands they have on.

There was a decent amount of buzz around its return after the strike and its ability to excel in a pre-election climate. They can poke fun at politics by playing the politicians in a way that Stewart or Colbert for example can’t. They are in fact planning some special weekly Thursday updates just prior to the election. I will have to say that although I found the first pass amusing, I just don’t know that its keeping my regular attention.

Amy Poehler does a fantastic Clinton. Fred Armisen is alright as Obama, though he captures the stiff, he misses that x-factor that’s what Obama seems all about. And McCain, well McCain hasn’t had a lot going on yet so he’s about as boring on the show as in real life.

There has been some talk about whether SNL has a bias, it’s seemingly pro Hillary skits paired with Tina Fey’s quite funny Bitch is the new Black opinion piece in the news were pretty good. They’ve certainly taken stabs at others and had Tracy Morgan do a little Obama opinion rebuttal piece that unfortunately just wasn’t as spot on.

My problem is more the problem that I have overall, the repetitive nature of the jokes. For example the whole ‘folks take it easy on Obama’… Funny at first, and then they need to bring something fresh to it. Will they keep being able to fill Saturday night’s as well as four Thursday night episodes? We’ll see. Maybe in tonight’s debate Obama will call people bitter again and Hillary will talk more about sniper fire.

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next week 4/14

Monday

  • Bones (Fox, 8pm) – Post strike return for our favorite squints and fbi agents, this week Bones and Booth go on a double date with Dr Sweets!
  • The Paper (MTV, 10:30) Series Premiere – I almost always ignore MTV reality but this show about a high school paper got at least one good review.
  • New Amsterdam (Fox, 9pm) Season Finale – If there’s only one more left maybe I’ll watch this guy and his past.
  • One Tree Hill (CW, 9pm) – Post strike return as the gang deals with some drama undoubtedly.
  • Rules of Engagement (CBS, 9:30pm) – Post strike premiere as the gang vacations at a time share.

Tuesday

  • According to Jim (ABC, 8/8:30pm) – Post strike return as Jim probably does something dumb.
  • Biggest Loser (NBC, 8pm) Season Finale – The losers have lost, and one has lost the most.
  • L&O: SVU (NBC, 10pm) – Post strike return as Olivia goes under cover.

Wednesday

  • Democratic Debate (ABC, 8pm/pst) – Gearing up for the Penn primary on the 22nd.
  • Til Death/Back to You (Fox, 8/8:30pm) – Post strike premiere for these ‘laughers’.
  • The Real World: Hollywood (MTV, 10pm) – If you can believe it this is the 20th season, I think I only caught NY and then what LA?

Thursday

  • Smallville (CW, 8pm) – Post strike premiere as Lex and Clark are at odds.
  • Eli Stone (ABC, 10pm) Season Finale – Will Eli live? I would assume they didn’t kill him off, but then again I don’t know for sure.

Friday

  • Doctor Who (Sci Fi, 8:30pm) Season Premiere – I wanna say there’s time travel involved.
  • Canterbury’s Law (Fox, 9pm) Season Finale – Does she defend the right people?

Saturday

  • Torchwood (BBC, 9pm) Season Finale – Crime fighters and aliens and whatnot.

Sunday

  • John Adams (HBO, 9pm) Series Finale – And Paul Giamatti moves on…
  • Brothers and Sisters (ABC, 10pm) – Post strike return as the Walkers keep up with making a mess of perfectly good messy relationships.
  • Sweet Nothing in My Ear (CBS, 9pm) – It’s a Hallmark Hall of Fame with Marly and Jeff Daniels dealing with their child’s ability to hear.
  • Rock of Love (VH1, 9pm) – It’s the reunion show!
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potpourri

Not much to report on tv shows themselves this week so I thought I’d just check in on a few things of note.

NBC released its year round upfront to the upfronts. Although I actually try not to pay much attention to these since everything changes or disappears before it goes live but, worth noting are a ‘The Office’ spin-off, the surprising return of not great ‘Knightrider‘ and ‘Lipstick Jungle‘ but also another shot for ‘Life‘ which I just told someone wasn’t coming back.

As for the other networks we’re not official yet but I might be a tiny bit excited about Joss Whedon’s (Buffy!) expected ‘Dollhouse‘ show starring Eliza Dushku (Faith!) and trepidatious about Rob Thomas’s (VMars) ‘90210‘ the next generation (Donna has expressed interesting in playing a milf though it sounds like they’re courting Kelly to round out the older generation on the show).

Project Runway‘ is slated to move from Bravo to Lifetime, not this next season but the one after, though NBC has something to say about that. People with Tivos will follow but will this impact the show or the networks? Wait do I get Lifetime? And if I hear correctly ‘Scrubs‘ is moving to ABC. So what one more season?

ANTM‘ is getting busted for showing some full frontal – albino Anya’s nudie shoot with Nigel was deemed by some to be inappropriate for evening eyes. I actually watched this and thought she was wearing little coveries but I guess they just blurred her out, really it was all fine, but conservative parental organizations are still arguing about Dennis Franz’ butt on ‘NYPD Blue‘ so perspective is not something these organizations have.

Oh and Kathie Lee Gifford took up residence in the last hour of ‘The Today Show‘, I haven’t watched this in ages but maybe she can put some life in what I recall was nearly dead air.

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next week 4/7

Monday

  • NCAA Men’s Championship (CBS, 9pm) – Didn’t we already talk about this, I think this is really it, if not I won’t talk about it again anyhow.
  • Samantha Who? (ABC, 9:30pm) – Post strike premiere as Samantha has to move back in with her ex, and his new gal, to keep her apartment.

Tuesday

  • NCIS (CBS, 8pm) – Post season strike premiere as they show, secrets, and stakeouts, and murder.
  • Just for Laugh (ABC, 8/8:30pm) Season Finale – I don’t think I’ve ever watched this real world prank/gag show.
  • The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo (HBO, 10pm) – Rape survivor makes a documentary on victims and rapists.
  • Secret Talents of the Stars (CBS, 10pm) – Sixteen ‘celebrities’ compete with secret talents.
  • Boston Legal (ABC, 10pm) – Post strike premiere as they continue to mix crazies and the law.

Wednesday

  • Idol Gives Back (Fox, 7:30pm) – The celebrities and the idol gang gives back by making you want to give money.

Thursday

  • American Idol (Fox, 8pm) – Special Night as another one of the gang gets the boot, Kristy Lee Cook anyone?
  • 30 Rock/The Office/Scrubs/ER (NBC, 8:30-11pm) Post strike premieres, what are you looking forward to most, I’d say 30 Rock.

Friday

  • The Sarah Jane Adventures (SciFi, 7:30pm) – This is a Dr Who spin-off reportedly for kids as our title character is a social worker for aliens.
  • Miss USA (NBC, 9pm) – Donny and Marie host so it’s gotta be good.

Saturday

  • The Memory Keeper’s Daughter (Life, 9pm) – This adaptation of the bestseller is fleshed out with Dermot Mulroney, Gretchen Mol, and Emily Watson.

Sunday

  • Desperate Housewives (ABC, 9pm) – Post strike premiere as the women of Wisteria Lane continue being desperate.
  • Rock of Love (VH1, 9pm) Season Finale – Brett chooses his lady from the latest stripperesque bunch.
  • Dirt (FX, 10pm) Season Finale – Courtney continues to deal with tabloids and personal drama.
  • Eli Stone (ABC, 10pm) – Special night as Eli continues with visions of the earthquake.
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down to 7

The ANTM ladies are getting less, which means we actually have an opportunity to tell who’s who. Oh and seriously please tell me when they come back next season they won’t keep up the everyone reads the ticker Tyra Mail, it’s painful, but maybe less painful as the girls are fewer, I hope. So what’s been going on?

antm-amis.jpgFirst Miss Jay took the girls on a firehouse quick change runway tutorial. This was of course just a warm up for the real challenge a Tulah fashion show. Not only did the gals have to walk but they had to change to perfection in three minutes or the show would go on, without them. Lauren continued to be our least modely walking candidate this year, while Whitney flashed a boob, and Fatima misbuttoned her top. Katarzyna won the runway challenge and invited Marvita and Amis to join her on her Seventeen advertorial with Jaslene.

Then the girls hit the meat packing district for a meat shoot. Literally wearing pieces of meat, along with other items. And some girls were able to redeem themselves a bit, a little too perky pretty Stacy Ann was judged as having the best shot. Fatima was only able to come up with a single expression. Pretty isn’t always model pretty. But it was our random gal Amis who was so distracted and unengaged that she was let go.

antm-aimee.jpgThen our next challenge was with Tyra, she taught the ladies to focus on a little walk and then the three second pose at the end of the runway. Then after passing along a secret trick, pose as if you are in pain, they did a pose off. Albino Anya won, and won a one-on-one shoot with Nigel. This week’s shoot the girls were to embody a genre of music and some of the girls nailed it, Whitney had the best shot. Claire was unable to break the couture poses to match her country persona, but Aimee, the slightly prudish former Mormon, couldn’t bring forth the R&B vibe and was sent home.

The next challenge was a round of go-sees, which I always love because it’s so real. This time they did this early so they broke the group into two teams. And none of the gals were 100%, Lauren’s walk is still laughable and poor Whitney had issues with the fact that not everyone would book a plus size model (she’s a 10 and runway is mostly 2s, Fatima was too small for one gal as a 0). The team with Dominique, Whitney, Claire and Stacy Ann won with Stacy Ann booking the most.

antm-claire.jpgThen on to a crazy no makeup, no hair product shoot where the girls were basically shot from underneath dropping onto a clear mylar sheet swishing with water. Katarzyna had an additional hair cut and after a few tears she said she embraced it. Fatima was called first for photos and Lauren and Claire were left in the bottom two. Though Lauren is still frankenstein-like in person it was Claire’s one note poses that sent her packing.

And who’s annoying me the most: Fatima is so holier than though, and I still can’t get past the Hawaiian albino girl’s weird accent. And yeah Whitney’s got attitude, but seriously Dominique calling a white girl racist because she doesn’t like you… I have to say that these people who think that people argue with them because they’re strong in the contest and not because they’re annoying, yes I mean you Dominique. So far I think she’s fought with everyone but she was happy to see Claire booted from the Claire, Lauren, Whitney hate club.

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