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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tv

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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tv

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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tv

web tv

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I am a tv fan, some say fanatic, but I’m not always an early adopter when it comes to new technology. It turns out yet again I am dragged into the new by the established and I am now watching a couple of web series. I’m not talking about the funny little videos that folks send around via YouTube or Funny or Die, or watching network tv that’s posted online, I’m talking about an actual television show that’s shot and designed for web distribution.

The television man that I would follow anywhere, Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse) developed a web series during the writer’s strike last year. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog didn’t disappoint. And then this year when I heard another tv fave Josh Schwartz (The O.C, Gossip Girl, Chuck) came out with Rockville CA I took a look. While Dr Horrible is more of a standalone multi chapter full story, Rockville is brief snippets telling shorter moments and sharing a band (it’s set in a music venue) while building characters and story from one ep to the next.

And to close out my experience with web series, or to kick it off, I took a little tour of the winners of this year’s Streamy Awards. I couldn’t watch the dramatic award winner Battlestar Gallactica: The Face of the Enemy since I have only caught season one of the tv series and I have no idea how this relates and what this covers. I did catch up on some of The Guild which was cute. After more sampling so far overall the the format is shorter and since I’m playing catch up I can sort of power through, but I realized that just because I could didn’t mean I wanted to. As with all tv it’s often a matter of preference, so for now I’ll tune back into Rockville and hope they change that Van de Kamps commercial.

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tv

next week 3/30

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

Monday

  • Greek (ABCFam, 8pm) Season Premiere – They’re back from summer break in this fun college show.

Tuesday

  • Osbournes: Reloaded (Fox, 9:20pm) – When you think Osbournes, you think variety show, note the annoying start time following an annoying end time for American Idol.
  • Cupid (ABC, 10pm, repeats Sat) Series Premiere – I will try not to hold my love of the previous version against them but Bobby Cannavale is no Jeremy Piven, though I might be a sucker for good matchmaking.
  • My Boys (TBS, 10:30pm) Season Premiere – Another round of amusement, I understand the guys have a mustache growing contest.
  • Pretty Wicked (Oxy, 11pm) Series Premiere – In another take on the usual reality, some pretty on the outside girls compete to become pretty on the inside.

Wednesday

  • I Get That A Lot (CBS, 8pm) – An April Fools special where celebrities take everyday jobs to ‘trick’ folks.
  • Rate My Space (HGTV, 8:30pm) Season Premiere – Something about spaces, that are maybe rated…
  • The Ultimate Fighter (Spike, 10pm) Season Premiere – They’re scouting for the US vs UK teams.
  • Life on Mars (ABC, 10pm) Series Finale – Will Sam return to 2008 as this series goes off the air?
  • Reno 911 (Com, 10:30pm) Season Premiere – Looks like some new officers join the force.

Thursday

  • ER (NBC, 8/9pm) Series Finale – First a look back at the 15 seasons and then a two hour wrap up.
  • Free Radio (VH1, 11pm) Season Premiere – Dimwitted intern is apparently still running the morning radio show.

Friday

  • Escape to Chimp Eden (AnPl, 9pm) Season Premiere – Getting chimps integrated can be tricky.
  • Mistresses (BBCA, 9pm) Season Premiere – Things are still complicated.
  • Bang for Your Buck (HGTV, 10:30pm) Series Premiere – Renovations with a lot of bang for the buck.
  • Unsellables (HGTV, 11:30pm) Season Premiere – Things like bad color can make a house look bad.

Saturday

  • Sony Ericsson Open (CBS, 9:30 am, Sun, 10am) – The men’s and women’s tennis finals follows a week of earlier rounds on CSNBA.

Sunday

  • Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom (AnPl, 7pm) Season Premiere – Doggies protecting tigers!
  • The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards (CBS, 8pm) – Reba hosts and the country folks gather and sing.
  • Food Network Challenge (Food, 8pm) Season Premiere – This four part ‘Last Cake Standing’ challenge will award some cash and glory.
  • In Treatment (HBO, 9/9:30pm) Season Premiere – Therapist and patients are back in business.
  • The Tudors (Show, 9pm) Season Premiere – Henry VIII takes his third bride.
  • My First Place (HGTV, 10pm) Season Premiere – The latest couple is paying for a wedding and a house…
  • River Monsters (AnPl, 10pm) Series Premiere – Where does one go after piranhas?
  • Russell Simmons Presents Brave New Voices (HBO, 11pm) Series Premiere – Young poets compete.

* All times are PST, always check your local listings.

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next week 3/23

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

Monday

  • Roommates (ABCFam, 9pm) Series Premiere – A new roomie moves in to the NYC apartment to follow an old crush.
  • Sophie (ABCFam, 9:30pm) Series Premiere – Is a ‘sucky year’ for this single mom talent manager funny, or not?
  • Table for 12 (TLC, 10/10:30pm) Series Premiere – For those who are a fan of John & Kate plus 8, these folks have upped the game to 2 plus 10.

Tuesday

  • Presidential Address (Mult Networks, 8pm) – Obama is back for more.
  • College Hill (BET, 7/7:30pm) Season Premiere – We’re back with these real life eight college kids in South Beach.
  • NCIS/The Mentalist (CBS, 9/10pm) – Special times for our crime fighters.

Wednesday

  • American Idol (Fox, 8pm) – Idol is shifting to a Wed/Thurs presentation to give Obama some space on Tues, this week Motown, go Adam!
  • Survivor (CBS, 8pm) – A special night and time to recap the first fifteen days.

Thursday

  • In the Motherhood (ABC, 8pm) Series Premiere – Megan Mullally, Jessica St Clair, and Cheryl Hines are mothers making funny in this update of a web series followed by the return of Samantha Who? in a new time slot.

Friday

  • NCAA Basketball (CBS, 4pm) – In case you’ve missed it the NCAA playoffs are cooking, tonight you can catch some regional playoffs.

Saturday

  • Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards (Nick, 8pm) – Dwayne (no longer the Rock) Johnson hosts, and last I heard at least Chris Brown won’t be there.
  • World Figure Skating Championships (NBC, 9pm) – In case you’re getting geared up for next year’s Olympics or just like the spinning.

Sunday

  • The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (HBO, 8pm) Series Premiere – Jill Scotts plays the lead in this adaptation of the novel series set in Botswana, which I hear is delightful, the series that is.
  • Any Dream Will Do (BBCA, 8pm) Series Premiere – Who will win the lead in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
  • G4 Underground (G4, 9pm) Series Premiere – Getting the real dirt on amateur porn and real life costumed superheroes.
  • Little Dorrit (PBS, 9pm) – Kicking off the latest Masterpiece Miniseries in this Dickens presentation.

* Times noted are PST, always check your local listings.

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next week 3/16

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

Monday

  • Kyle XY (ABC Fam, 9pm) Series Finale – Things wrap up as Kyle tries to thwart a bad plan.
  • Dhani Tackles the Globe (Trav, 9pm) Series Premiere – NFL linebacker heads to Bangkok to do some Muay Thai.
  • Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi, 10pm) I’m only on about season two but this finale special salutes the series as it wraps.

Tuesday

  • Modern Toss (IFC, 11pm) Series Debut – A partially animated British comedy is apparently not for the easily offended.

Wednesday

  • Inside the FBI (Disc, 8pm) – Following the FBI…
  • Better Off Ted (ABC, 8:30pm) Series Premiere – Sitcom set in an ethically challenged R&D co with Jay Harrington and Portia de Rossi, follows Scrubs in its new time slot.

Thursday

  • Taking the Stage (MTV, 10pm) Series Debut – Real life Fame, students at the School for Creative Performing Arts.

Friday

  • Battlestar Galactica (SciFi, 9pm) Series Finale – The series may be done, but you can always stay tuned for Caprica.
  • Head Case (Starz, 10pm) Season Premiere – This improvised original comedy showcases a therapist to the stars.
  • Party Down (Starz, 10:30pm) Series Debut – Comedy with actors catering or catering actors… by VMars creator Rob Thomas.

Saturday

  • The Locator (WE, 9pm) Season Premiere – Real life looking for people all season long.
  • Nora Roberts (Life, 1pm) – Start the marathon of movies based on her books with Blue Smoke and work your way through Carolina Moon, Montana Sky, Angels Fall and the latest, Northern Lights at 9.

Sunday

  • BNP Paribas Open (CSNBA, 12pm) – The men’s and women’s tennis finals following earlier rounds throughout the week.

* Always check your local listings (times noted are PST).

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next week 3/9

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

Monday

  • Dancing with the Stars (ABC, 8pm) Season Premiere – Jewel and Nancy O’Dell are out, and I hear at least one is being replaced by Holly, one of the Girls Next Door.
  • Battles BC (Hist, 9pm) Series Premiere – Were you wondering what really happened in ancient clashes, I mean what tactics did they really use?
  • Castle (ABC, 10pm – repeats Sunday) Series Premiere – It’s a straight-laced cop paired with not so by the book writer, with Nathan Fillion (Firefly/Dr Horrible) playing the writer I will of course tune in.

Tuesday

  • WCG Ultimate Gamer (SciFi, 10pm) Series Premiere – Twelve gamers move in together and compete at Rock Band 2, partay!

Wednesday

  • The Chopping Block (NBC, 8pm) Series Premiere – The guy who trained Gordon Ramsay has his own restaurant competition.
  • Ghost Hunters (SciFi, 9pm) Season Premiere – Clean your guns, or whatever the guys on Ghostbusters used, Ghost hunting season has started.
  • South Park (Com, 10pm) Season Premiere – Can these kids really be thirteen years older?

Thursday

  • Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches (Trav, 8pm) Series Debut – I can only assume we see sexy beaches with former Girl Next Door Bridget, the girls are happening this week.
  • Warriors (Hist, 10pm) Series Debut – Looks like we get to take a walk down memory lane and learn how to hold a sword among other things.

Friday

  • Batman (Cart, 8pm) Season Premiere – This is the animated one, no Christian Bale…

Saturday

  • Will Ferrell: You’re Welcome America (HBO, 9pm) – A Final Night with George W. Bush Live From Broadway… need I say more?
  • The Graham Norton Show (BBCA, 10pm) Season Premiere – Sarah Ferguson greets Graham for the season opener.

Sunday

  • Kings (NBC, 8pm) Series Premiere – It’s the fake country of Gilboa (in an alternate fake world) and it’s got a king, and I’m going to say some drama.
  • Tough Love Boot Camp (VH1, 10pm) Series Premiere – A matchmaker gives eight single gals a wakeup call on what they’re doing wrong when trying to find love.

* Always check your local listings (times noted are PST).

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late night

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I have to admit that I’m really not qualified to critique the first episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon since I have watched but really don’t watch any of the late shows regularly (Letterman, Leno, O’Brien, Kimmel, Ferguson, Daly…) I tuned in to the first show nonetheless. Now I think this is the sort of format where it will take some time to really see what the vibe and humor will be but I would be remiss not to judge, right?

The opener with Conan was cute, giving a nod to the start of a new late night show and the long road ahead and the fact that, for Conan, Leno’s not really going anywhere. The format of the rest of the show was pretty solid late night. The opening monologue introduced Fallon as well as his announcer and band The Root, which was pretty rockin’ and added a nice touch to slow jammin’ the news. Fallon has a boy next door quality about him, kind of sweet, kind of awkward, and kind of funny.

Having de Niro on as the first guest wasn’t the easiest rhythm to get going and acknowledging that he was a tough and letting him do a couple bits probably wasn’t worth the way it fed Fallon’s awkward trying hard to entertain shtick. Fortunately Timberlake’s casual style and song imitations lightened things up and and Van Morrison gave a needed breather to Fallon having to support the show.

Fallon still feels at his best when he’s doing bits, otherwise his communication is all a little too eager, but hopefully he’ll learn to use his eager to please mode in a less pleading and more comfortable way. And hopefully we’ll see Fallon develop his interviewing sea legs as the days, and weeks, go by. Although nothing about the first show would make me want to tune in again, there’s nothing that made me want to turn it off, which for a first show is probably a pretty huge triumph. The green room sponsor Bud Light with Lime was probably pleased enough.

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