I'm Jackie and I watch TV. I'm not proud. Bookmark the blog now as your source for live feed reports from inside the 'Big Brother' house! Come, join in on the fun ...
TNT is stepping up its original programming with its first foray into the world of reality competition series. They're doing it in a rather big way, too. I mean ... we're talking Ron Howard involvement. We're talking the producers of The Amazing Race involvement.
As with Falling Skies, I was given promotional episodes to screen, write up or not, like or not, etc. While I must disclose they give me these screeners, I'm really under no obligation to them other than to not give out spoilers or do sneaky stuff with them. I have the first two episodes of this series and have already watched the one which will air tonight.
What I like about the show:
I like the idea of three different teams each week. No trying to memorize 11 couples or such. With fewer teams, you get to "know" them better.
The series premiere's setting is Alcatraz (not a spoiler). Very interesting indeed. I believe the escape sites are going to continue to be fascinating in their own way.
At the end of each episode, the winning team wins $100,000. That may not be the million from Survivor, but the teams each only do one escape, win or lose. Then it's on to a new set of three teams trying to escape from a different location.
You can get involved in the show. In the premiere episode, I cringed each time the various teams were caught by the guards and sent back to the beginning.
What I'm ambivalent about:
The host. He's in a role too much akin to Phil Keoghan yet doesn't seem to have the personality of Phil, nor is he the eye candy. Said host is Rich Eisen of NFL Network -- like I would know who that is. But I can deal with it unless he tries to raise an eyebrow.
An observation:
You can tell there's some involvement by producers of The Amazing Race. Not only are Rich's hosting tasks extremely similar to Phil Keoghan's, but the music throughout is similar, as well.
Would this show fly on network TV? I'm really not sure. It's not flashy or even sexy. The contestants in the first episode wore clothes which were reminiscent of the crew of the Enterprise on the original Star Trek series. We're not talking skin, for sure! However, with the lead in being Falling Skies on Sunday night, I can see me watching weekly. In a few weeks, my Sunday nights should be Big Brother, Falling Skies and The Great Escape. I can live with that!
Will you be watching? Or, if you're reading this after the fact ... what did you think?
Yes, the second season of Falling Skies is almost here! The new season kicks off with two hours of action on Sunday, June 17 starting at 9pm ET/PT. Thanks to the good folks at TNT, I received not just the first two episodes that will air for the season premiere, but the first four episodes. Now, I don't have to say anything good about the show just because they sent me the eps. I'm under no obligation to TNT at all.
That said, thank you TNT!
My one real obligation with the screeners is that I don't divulge spoilers. So, instead of giving you any kind of play-by-play, I'm just going to throw out lots of random thoughts on the show and this upcoming season. Make of it what you will, but I'd like you to join the Resistance with me.
While the premise of the series is certainly nothing that we haven't seen before -- the world as we know it is destroyed, mass lives are lost, small groups of folks try to survive -- it's a fairly tried and true kind of storyline. My favorite Stephen King novel is The Stand. Albeit by different means, society as we know it is tossed to the gutter.
A few of the aspects which truly make this show a fantastic TV series are the involvement of Steven Spielberg (executive producer) and the incredibly fine effects. I'm a person who grew up in the days of Star Trek: The Original Series and Lost in Space. Now 40-something years later, their special effects are laughable. Perhaps they were a bit laughable at the time, but I didn't care.
Well, I care these days. Between actual costumed skitters (the bug-like aliens) and CG skitters, it all comes across as so realistic that it's definitely movie quality action we're seeing. The stomping of the mechs echo in my mind long after they leave the area.
With Spielberg's work we've always had great characterization. He continues the trend here. When Noah Wyle's character Tom Mason stepped into that spaceship during last season's finale, my heart skipped a beat. Dang it, I've gone and gotten attached to the dude! (No, not like a harness attached to my spine ...!) All of the main characters in the show are fleshing out ... and I think we see a bit of them in folks we know.
So, onto the action. I thought the first hour started a bit slow, but as I continued watching the action picked up. By the time I finished the fourth episode I was wanting more. The only real shame of getting a sneak peek at the first four episodes is that now I've watched a good chunk of the season ahead. Drat it all!
If you haven't been watching this series and you like science fiction type of action, definitely check it out. It's not a show for the squeamish, for sure. And, I don't recommend it for the hobbits and wizards crowds, per se. But if you want to watch a well-done series which will keep you on the edge of your seat and perhaps dip into your nightmares, here ya go.
I just finished watching my screener copy of the season premiere of Southland thanks to the kind folks at TNT. The show is set to air on Tuesdays at 10 PM ET/PT starting on January 4. With the weather here on the East Coast, it can only be a bit amusing that the episode title is "Let It Snow," eh?
I like this show. The creative staff on Southland are the same folks behind the NYPD-based police drama Third Watch. It's a bit grittier and more graphic perhaps than that show, but many series are these days. However, while many police dramas are either "just the facts" or boast characters who have odd quirks which make them a bit implausible (yes, L&O: Criminal Intent and Detroit 1-8-7 -- shows I enjoy, but ...), Southland has police characters I myself have known over the years.
The Superman on the job isn't always the real Superman. Sometimes he's just a hot-dogger. Police might have that thin blue line, might at times seem to be a separate society, but in the final determination ... they're human. They have warts, personal demons, personality clashes with their co-workers just like anyone else. Often coming into the job with rose-colored glasses, cynicism might change them over the years. But they don't necessarily have to develop odd quirks. They just need to be human. That's what this show does very right.
So, we have believable characters, what else do we need?
Action.
And we get plenty of it in the Southland setting. The city has a million cop stories to be told. The storytellers on this show could easily go years. I only hope the ratings keep things going. Since NBC canceled the show after its first season and TNT picked it up, I've enjoyed it more. They seem to have a bit more leeway with content.
I realize I haven't talked much about the episode itself. But I don't really want to spoil it. If you like police dramas; if you like good characters combined with riveting action ... tune in next Tuesday. Oh. And there's snow, too. No, that's not unrealistic. I recall when I was a child in Southern California it actually snowed once. It didn't last long, but there it was.
Yep, the winter season of television is here! I feel old. Y'see, I remember the old days when television shows ran about forty episodes a year and just went from fall to summer. I've gathered some of the dates of the premieres for you -- a few already started this week, my apologies. At work, my computer system had its 2000 breakdown ten years later. All of the programs I use there went kerflooey when it changed to 2010. So my work days have been manually entering tons of data using adding machines, then re-entering it into the computer after days of manual stuff. Argh! A nightmare indeed and, that's my excuse for not getting this to you earlier.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Without further ado --
I liked Southland on NBC and felt they canceled it without letting it find its audience. It's kind of like Third Watch done Los Angeles. I'm a sucker for cop shows done well. TNT took the ball and ran with it, thus new Southland will make its premiere next Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Leverage with Timothy Hutton returns to TNT. Yay!
Here's a whole bunch of new and returning shows coming up this month and next:
Monday, Jan. 4 -- The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love (ABC) Monday, Jan. 4 -- Heroes (NBC) Tuesday, Jan. 5 -- True Beauty (ABC) Tuesday, Jan. 5 -- The Biggest Loser (NBC) Sunday, Jan. 10 -- Big Love (HBO) Sunday, Jan. 10 -- Chuck (NBC) Thursday, Jan. 14 -- Project Runway (Lifetime) Sunday, Jan. 17 -- 24 (Fox) Sunday, Jan. 17 -- Human Target (Fox) new Monday, Jan. 18 -- Life UneXpected (The CW) new Thursday, Jan. 21 -- Deep End (ABC) new Friday, Jan. 22 -- Caprica (Syfy) new Friday, Jan. 22 -- Spartacus: Blood and Sand (Starz) new Monday, Jan. 25 -- Damages (FX) Monday, Jan. 25 -- Secret Diary of a Call Girl (Showtime) Friday, Jan. 29 -- Kitchen Nightmares (Fox)
Monday, Feb. 1 -- Kell on Earth (Bravo) new Tuesday, Feb. 2 -- Lost (ABC) Thursday, Feb. 11 -- Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains (CBS) Sunday, Feb. 14 -- The Amazing Race (CBS)
And, of course, we cannot forget --
I won't be writing in-depth reviews on many of the shows. However, I'll probably be posting periodically on some. If you want me to create a blog entry for comments on a show that I might not watch (Bachelor, for example), let me know and I'll get one up for you to hang out in!
A rusted, neglected, and probably defunct Wall Street Journal honor box sitting at the Plainfield (NJ) Train Station poses a bleak outlook on the American dream. I'm basically a bit all-around bleak today, I'll admit. So the photo is fitting.
I want to thank everyone for their condolences on the loss of my cat Scherzo. I'm still reeling with the shock as she was perfectly fine just a few days ago. We sat on the couch with the curtains open watching nearby neighbors' (illegal) fireworks, we played, we cuddled, she purred, she groomed my hand (she was a real licker). And, wham. She's gone.
Since Teaser died in 2007, Scherzo had really blossomed personality-wise and seemed to love being an only cat. Her presence got me through the rough times of my knee replacement surgery last summer. I now have an empty apartment that I'll be coming home to each day.
It's likely that I'll eventually have another cat in my home. Not as a replacement, mind you. Each cat is special in his own way and no two I've ever known are alike. I'll probably go the next knee replacement in November alone. Even if I happen to have a cat at the time, it won't be like the 17 year bond I had with Scherzo.
I took today off from my day job as I look like a total wreck and I'm so emotionally shaky. I'll go in tomorrow. Today I'm throwing out the litter pan, cleaning and storing the food dishes, throwing away cat toys, the old cat condo, the cat bed, etc. I'll eventually transport all the cat food and treats I have on hand to the feral cat population (including Roofus) over by the train station.
Sigh.
Onto a bit more TV-related: If I feel energetic later, I'll be setting up my Comcast digital adapters on both of my TVs (one by the computer, one in the living room). Since Comcast is basically forcing folks like me with the basic cable service to go digital or lose everything except local stations, I have to get it done. I like my A&E, Animal Planet, TNT, and more. So, they sent me two adapters and I have to eventually get them set up. Today might be the day. No, I still won't have premium channels. They're just not in my budget.
Speaking of cable TV, with yesterday's unexpected events, I totally didn't post my sneak peek on Dark Blue, the new TNT series with Dylan McDermott. I hope you caught it. I have the screener for next week's episode and I highly recommend the show. And ... it doesn't interfere with Big Brother! 10 PM on Wednesdays, TNT.
Tonight I'll be resuming my Big Brother 11 coverage, starting with the live show post at 8:00 PM. The feeds will probably be quiet today leading into the live show and, to be honest, I only peeked at them a few random times yesterday. If you want to catch up on the latest since yesterday, I suggest hamsterwatch or jokersupdates. My own feeds reports will start up with a late night post tonight and an early morning one tomorrow.
When I met up with blog buddies RBennie and Becky recently, the timing was perfect. I know that Becky is a big fan of TNT's Leverage and I just received the screener copy of the season premiere. How could I not? I'm including a video bit about the show and Becky's review. Once the season starts, I'll create a blog discussion post for the show.
From Becky, Guest Reviewer and Leverage fan: The "Beantown Bailout Job": Thrills, cons and the pursuit of justice are back as TNT's fast-paced drama series LEVERAGE returns on July 15 with the Grifter, the Hitter, the Hacker, the Thief and the Brains returning for another season.
In case you missed last season, Timothy Hutton stars as Nate Ford, a former insurance investigator determined to bring down the kind of corrupt bigwigs whose neglect led to the death of his son. His highly skilled team includes Sophie Deveareaux (Gina Bellman), a grifter who uses her acting skills to corner her marks; Eliot Spencer (Christian Kane), a "retrieval specialist" with bone-crunching fighting skills; Alec Hardison (Aldis Hodge), a gadget and technology wizard who keeps the team connected and informed; and Parker (Beth Riesgraft), a slightly off center thief adept at rappelling off buildings or squeezing into tight places.
During the first season, the team members put their energy, quick minds and keen intellects toward securing justice for society's underdogs. The five loners learn how to work as a team and to rely on each person's unique skills. They also developed a strong emotional bond.
After the destruction of their headquarters and the decision to go their separate ways at the end of the first season, the team now finds itself together again when Nate witnesses and attempted murder of a bank whistle-blower. Nate's new digs soon become the operational headquarters from which the team will conduct their activities.
When the group meets at a Sound of Music play starring Sophie, the not-so-good singer, they all profess that they enjoyed their six months away from each other. They then confess that Nate has "ruined" them for a life of selfish crime by making them one of the good guys. He has to be convinced to do "this one last job" to find justice for the bank employee. Some of their plans to vindicate the employee do not go as they thought they would, but they still overcome the obstacles for a delightful season opener.
Is it just me or is television at its worst in a long, long time? One redeeming shiny gem could be the openings for The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
Since I watch Letterman almost religiously, I try to catch the Ferguson openings before hitting the sack. It's always a delight when they're "special." I hear the two dancers are staff members, but don't ask me the story about the gay leather bondage little dude. Of course, the puppets are part of the scene. Last week when this opening in the above video played, I couldn't get to sleep right away. I kept singing the tune in my head.
So... what have I been watching? Hmmm ... I stayed up really late one night (perhaps the "Istanbul" night) watching Craig, but then flipped to Jimmy Fallon during a commercial. Oh my. He had Paul Simon and Steve Martin TOGETHER on the show. They interacted with each other, did a skit, performed. The only drawback is that Fallon hasn't gotten the hang of interviewing people down yet. Great guests; I'm just glad they talked to each other most of the time while Fallon was basically limited to dorky comments now and then.
I watched Mental on FOX, the first episode. I didn't catch the second one. It wasn't bad, but not an instant hit with me.
The Bonnie Hunt Show is in reruns. It's been two weeks now. Does she get the entire summer off?
I watched The Tony Awards last night. I've actually seen one of the shows. Well, kind of, sort of. Hair was the first Broadway show I ever saw on my own. Alas, I saw it when I was 14 or so and it's not quite the same cast these days. Some of the men would have to be singing, "Hair, hair, comin' out of my ears" if it were the same bunch. I was very happy for the three boys who play Billy Elliot. Liza and Elton were their usual big shot selves. And, what was that suit that Neil Patrick Harris was wearing?
I also caught the season premiere of Gene Simmons Family Jewels on A&E last night. I think Nick and Sophie are the only two teenagers I like on TV these days.
It's going for 8 PM and I'm not sure if I'll watch I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here. It's almost embarrassing that I've actually seen three of the four shows so far. It's two hours of my life I'd never get back.
There's a new episode of The Closer on TNT at 9 PM ET/PT tonight. That sounds much better.
Yes, it's that time again. Tonight, on both TNT and TBS at 8 PM ET, we have the gala event of the Screen Actors Guild awards. I have to watch Cold Case so I can write up the review for CliqueClack TV, but I will hopefully be able watch some of the awards show or the rebroadcast at 11 PM ET. James Earl Jones will receive a SAG Lifetime Achievement Award, definitely deserved methinks. Here are the television-related nominees:
Primetime Television
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries RALPH FIENNES Bernard Lafferty BERNARD AND DORIS HBO PAUL GIAMATTI John Adams JOHN ADAMS HBO KEVIN SPACEY Ron Klain RECOUNT HBO KIEFER SUTHERLAND Jack Bauer 24: REDEMPTION FOX TOM WILKINSON Benjamin Franklin JOHN ADAMS HBO
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries LAURA DERN Katherine Harris RECOUNT HBO LAURA LINNEY Abigail Adams JOHN ADAMS HBO SHIRLEY MacLAINE Coco Chanel COCO CHANEL Lifetime PHYLICIA RASHAD Lena Younger A RAISIN IN THE SUN ABC SUSAN SARANDON Doris Duke BERNARD AND DORIS HBO
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series MICHAEL C. HALL Dexter Morgan DEXTER Showtime JON HAMM Don Draper MAD MEN AMC HUGH LAURIE Gregory House HOUSE FOX WILLIAM SHATNER Denny Crane BOSTON LEGAL ABC JAMES SPADER Alan Shore BOSTON LEGAL ABC
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series SALLY FIELD Nora Walker BROTHERS & SISTERS ABC MARISKA HARGITAY Det. Olivia Benson LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT NBC HOLLY HUNTER Grace Hanadarko SAVING GRACE TNT ELISABETH MOSS Peggy Olson MAD MEN AMC KYRA SEDGWICK Dep. Chief Brenda Johnson THE CLOSER TNT
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series ALEC BALDWIN Jack Donaghy 30 ROCK NBC STEVE CARELL Michael Scott THE OFFICE NBC DAVID DUCHOVNY Hank Moody CALIFORNICATION Showtime JEREMY PIVEN Ari Gold ENTOURAGE HBO TONY SHALHOUB Adrian Monk MONK USA
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series CHRISTINA APPLEGATE Samantha Newly SAMANTHA WHO? ABC AMERICA FERRERA Betty Suarez UGLY BETTY ABC TINA FEY Liz Lemon 30 ROCK NBC MARY-LOUISE PARKER Nancy Botwin WEEDS Showtime TRACEY ULLMAN Various Characters TRACEY ULLMAN’S STATE OF THE UNION Showtime
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series BOSTON LEGAL ABC CANDICE BERGEN Shirley Schmidt SAFFRON BURROWS Lorraine Weller CHRISTIAN CLEMENSON Jerry Espenson TARAJI P. HENSON Whitney Rome JOHN LARROQUETTE Carl Sack WILLIAM SHATNER Denny Crane JAMES SPADER Alan Shore TARA SUMMERS Katie Lloyd GARY ANTHONY WILLIAMS Clarence Bell THE CLOSER TNT G.W. BAILEY Lt. Provenza MICHAEL PAUL CHAN Lt. Mike Tao RAYMOND CRUZ Det. Julio Sanchez TONY DENISON Lt. Andy Flynn ROBERT GOSSETT Commander Taylor PHILLIP P. KEENE Buzz Watson GINA RAVERA Det. Irene Daniels COREY REYNOLDS Sgt. David Gabriel KYRA SEDGWICK Dep. Chief Brenda Johnson J.K. SIMMONS Asst. Police Chief Will Pope JON TENNEY FBI Agent Fritz Howard DEXTER Showtime PRESTON BAILEY Cody JULIE BENZ Rita Bennett JENNIFER CARPENTER Debra Morgan VALERIE CRUZ Syl Prado KRISTIN DATTILO Det. Barbara Gianna MICHAEL C. HALL Dexter Morgan DESMOND HARRINGTON Joey Quinn C.S. LEE Vince Masuka JASON MANUEL OLAZABAL Ramon Prado DAVID RAMSEY Anton JAMES REMAR Harry Morgan CHRISTINA ROBINSON Astor JIMMY SMITS Miguel Prado LAUREN VÉLEZ Lt. Maria Laguerta DAVID ZAYAS Angel Batista HOUSE FOX LISA EDELSTEIN Dr. Lisa Cuddy OMAR EPPS Dr. Eric Foreman PETER JACOBSON Dr. Chris Taub HUGH LAURIE Dr. Gregory House ROBERT SEAN LEONARD Dr. James Wilson JENNIFER MORRISON Dr. Allison Cameron KAL PENN Dr. Lawrence Kutner JESSE SPENCER Dr. Robert Chase OLIVIA WILDE Dr. Remy Hadley/Thirteen MAD MEN AMC BRYAN BATT Salvatore Romano ALISON BRIE Trudy Campbell MICHAEL GLADIS Paul Kinsey JON HAMM Don Draper CHRISTINA HENDRICKS Joan Holloway JANUARY JONES Betty Draper VINCENT KARTHEISER Pete Campbell MARK MOSES Herman “Duck” Phillips ELISABETH MOSS Peggy Olson JOHN SLATTERY Roger Sterling RICH SOMMER Harry Crane AARON STATON Ken Cosgrove
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 30 ROCK NBC SCOTT ADSIT Pete Hornberger ALEC BALDWIN Jack Donaghy KATRINA BOWDEN Cerie TINA FEY Liz Lemon JUDAH FRIEDLANDER Frank Rossitano JANE KRAKOWSKI Jenna Maroney JACK McBRAYER Kenneth Parcell TRACY MORGAN Tracy Jordan MAULIK PANCHOLY Jonathan KEITH POWELL Toofer DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES ABC KENDALL APPLEGATE Penny Scavo ANDREA BOWEN Julie Mayer CHARLIE CARVER Porter Scavo MAX CARVER Preston Scavo RICARDO ANTONIO CHAVIRA Carlos Solis MARCIA CROSS Bree Van De Kamp Hodge DANA DELANY Katherine Mayfair JAMES DENTON Mike Delfino LYNDSY FONSECA Dylan Mayfair RACHEL FOX Kayla Huntington TERI HATCHER Susan Mayer ZANE HUETT Parker Scavo FELICITY HUFFMAN Lynette Scavo BRENT KINSMAN Younger Porter Scavo SHANE KINSMAN Younger Preston Scavo JOY LAUREN Danielle Van De Kamp EVA LONGORIA-PARKER Gabrielle Solis KYLE MacLACHLAN Orson Hodge NEAL McDONOUGH Dave Williams JOSHUA MOORE Parker Scavo SHAWN PYFROM Andrew Van De Kamp DOUG SAVANT Tom Scavo NICOLLETTE SHERIDAN Edie Britt BRENDA STRONG Mary Alice Young ENTOURAGE HBO KEVIN CONNOLLY Eric Murphy KEVIN DILLON Johnny Drama JERRY FERRARA Turtle ADRIAN GRENIER Vincent Chase REX LEE Lloyd JEREMY PIVEN Ari Gold PERREY REEVES Mrs. Ari THE OFFICE NBC LESLIE DAVID BAKER Stanley Hudson BRIAN BAUMGARTNER Kevin Malone CREED BRATTON Creed Bratton STEVE CARELL Michael Scott JENNA FISCHER Pam Beesly KATE FLANNERY Meredith Palmer MELORA HARDIN Jan Levenson ED HELMS Andrew Bernard MINDY KALING Kelly Kapoor ANGELA KINSEY Angela Martin JOHN KRASINSKI Jim Halpert PAUL LIEBERSTEIN Toby Flenderson B.J. NOVAK Ryan Howard OSCAR NUÑEZ Oscar Martinez CRAIG ROBINSON Darryl Philbin PHYLLIS SMITH Phyllis Lapin RAINN WILSON Dwight Schrute WEEDS Showtime DEMIÁN BICHIR Esteban Reyes JULIE BOWEN Lisa ENRIQUE CASTILL Cesar GUILLERMO DIAZ Guillermo ALEXANDER GOULD Shane Botwin ALLIE GRANT Isabelle Hodes JUSTIN KIRK Andy Botwin HEMKY MADERA Ignacio ANDY MILDER Dean Hodes KEVIN NEALON Doug Wilson MARY-LOUISE PARKER Nancy Botwin HUNTER PARRISH Silas Botwin ELIZABETH PERKINS Celia Hodes JACK STEHLIN Roy Till
Me? I'd be tickled pink if Michael C. Hall won for Dexter! How about you?
Here's an update on the local ornamental kale. As you see, its edges are turning white. As the winter progresses, it will all turn an off-white and look a lot more like a cabbage sitting in the snow.
Yesterday was Saturday and, almost as if on schedule, I had a date with Roofus the Cat as I headed into work. You can click on any of these images to get a larger picture. Here he is at about halfway zoom on my camera from the station platform. My full zoom ones from yesterday turned out too fuzzy. He's grooming away.
This is what the scene looks like totally unzoomed. Ignore the icky green "Yellow" cabs! The building on the right is the condemned one. Its entire roof and back wall are caving in. The two in the center have businesses on the first floors, apartments on the upper floors. Right now, I think only one apartment facing the street has anyone living in it. Very transient area and many of the immigrants who take those places go away for the winter due to lack of work. The Chotola apartment building tends to get a bit more stable tenants and is usually fully occupied.
This is where I first spotted Roofus the Cat from the street level yesterday. Can you see him?
Onto television doings! Tonight is the big three-hour Survivor finale and reunion show! Can you believe it's gone by this fast? At 8 PM ET, I'll open up a post in which I'll give the big updates East Coast time and the comments will be your Survivor finale party place! Graphic arteest Zoetawny has made us all a new finale graphic and everyone is invited. Bring your own bottle and snacks, please!
In yesterday's mail I received a cool screener of TCM's (Turner Classic Movies) The Age of Believing: The Disney Live-Action Classics. I haven't watched it yet and the show itself is on tonight at 7 PM ET/PT on TCM. It's interviews with folks like Kurt Russell, Dick Van Dyke, Dean Jones, Tim Conway, Michelle Lee ... and many more. It delves into the move to live-action from strictly animated Disney films. Unfortunately it's 90 minutes, so it would buck up against the first half-hour of Survivor tonight. But it is being re-aired next Sunday at 11:45 PM if you wish to watch or record it. Angela Lansbury is the narrator. This one is dear to my heart as the Disney movies, both live-action and animated, played such a role in my younger days. I figured, due to the ages of many of the readers here, you might feel the same.
Actually, TCM has a great movie roster for today, too (all times ET/PT): Noon:The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1970) - Kurt Russell, Cesar Romero 1:45 PM:The Strongest Man in the World (1975) - Kurt Russell, Cesar Romero, Phil Silvers, Dick Van Patten 3:30 PM:The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) - Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk 5:15 PM:Son of Flubber (1963) - Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk, Ed Wynn 7:00 PM:The Age of Believing: The Disney Live-Action Classics 8:30 PM:The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975) - Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Bill Bixby, Susan Clark 10:15 PM:The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979) - Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Tim Matheson, Kenneth Mars, Jack Elam
I know I'll be watching The Absent-Minded Professor -- I haven't seen that one since I was a child!
Today's musical non sequitur: Caviar and cigarettes Well-versed in etiquette Extraordinarily nice She's a Killer ... Queen -- "Killer Queen" by Queen
Nah, this isn't a television image. It's a sign at the NJ Transit Train Station near my workplace. Perhaps it's decorated for the holidays? I just thought it was fitting for an entry about crime TV.
I haven't been watching The Mentalist, but I know that's on tonight. What I will be watching in the 9 PM hour is the new The First 48 on A&E. You have to remember, I'm the one whose guilty pleasure (other than reality television) has been Cops since its inception. The First 48 goes so much further with the investigation of actual homicides. I'm so there. But if I were ever a suspect, I'd surely lawyer up! Not that I will ever be a murder suspect, mind you. I hold the limit to killing insects. And, even then, only when they need to die. You know ... like mosquitoes on my arm, moths in my apartment, and houseflies. Sometimes they just need killing.
Then, at 10 PM, I have a minor dilemma. I want to watch Leverage on TNT, but I'll be recording Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force on A&E. I went from nothing in that time slot I want to watch to two shows this week.
How about you? What are you watching (or did you watch) tonight?
The holiday season is in full swing in the shopping district of Westfield, NJ. I always enjoy the decorations at the James Ward Mansion Building, but find the Ann Taylor store on its first floor a bit too pricey for my budget. (Clicking on the images will make them larger.)
Apparently Saturdays on my way to work are the scheduled nap times for Roofus the Cat by the Plainfield Train Station. Yesterday was cloudy and grey, but there he was napping away.
Then there's Friday's sunset full of contrails taken at the Bridgewater, NJ Train Station. One of these days, I'm going to knock down those power poles so it comes out unobscured! This is over the field of geese who mysteriously stay through the winters now. I'm still waiting for the deer to show up.
And then there's television. You know ... what brought us all together here!
Tonight is the season finale of The Amazing Race. I'll be opening a post for comments at 8 PM ET even if it doesn't start on time due to sports. Unfortunately, the season finale is only one action-packed hour, but I'm really looking forward to it! Bonnie Hunt has said that she will have Phil Keoghan and the winners on her show this week. I'm thinking probably Tuesday because that's the day she's been having the Philiminated on. I record her show every day anyway, so I'll catch it. She's rooting for Dandrew. And, to think I like her! Argh!
Tonight is also the premiere of Leverage on TNT (10 PM ET/PT). Since I missed the first two episodes of screeners, I MUST watch how it all starts.
On Tuesday night, up against Leverage, is a new real life cop series called Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force on A&E (10 PM ET/PT). It's a show following the Fugitive Task Force in the NJ/NYC area. I know they're in action around here, but my own lifestyle doesn't warrant them pounding on my door. That's a good thing, of course. I have enough stress with knee woes and working for a living -- I don't need arrest issues, too! Like their series Jacked (with the Auto Theft Task Force), this is going to be a show I'll be either recording or watching as they air it at other times. I love that about the cable stations -- you can usually catch the shows re-aired at other times and don't have to wait for reruns!
Today's musical non sequitur: Take me to another place Take me to another land Make me forget all that hurts me Let me understand your plan -- "Tennessee" Arrested Development
Ah, this is my Leverage beverage. Alas, I think it's a Red Bull in Leverage clothing. Unfortunately, I lost a game of FedEx tag a few weeks ago and a package was sent back. I think it was the first two episodes of Leverage. FedEx doesn't always work out when you work through their delivery hours. But, not to fear -- I got another package which contained the second two episodes (and my can of Leverage beverage which I'll keep but won't open).
I wasn't sure I'd enjoy the show due to its premise. I'm not all that keen on lawbreakers as hero protagonists. That's one reason I never got into Prison Break. However, I'm finding this a bit different. The team led by Nathan Ford (Timothy Hutton) works along the lines of Robin Hood, but their "victims" are the real bad guys. I watched the episodes scheduled for December 16 ("The Two-Horse Job") and December 23 ("The Miracle Job").
Not only is the casting excellent (I mean ... Timothy Hutton!), but I found the writing to be clever and even witty at times. It's the sort of ensemble casting I enjoy on Bones, but with way different characters. The humor in the writing is what keeps this show from being just another action show. For example, one of the women on the team has a fear of horses (Dec. 16 ep). Why? Because she saw a horse kill a clown once. Then we see the flashback scene which reminded me of Chuckles the Clown being killed by the elephant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. No parade, but equally bizarre.
I'm really excited about this one. Its debut is this Sunday, Dec. 7 at 10 PM ET/PT on TNT. Then it goes into its regular Tuesday 10 PM ET/PT time slot with another episode on December 9. Yay, I have a new show to watch Tuesday nights at 10!
If you're like me, not into The Mole, there's the season premiere of The Closer tonight at 9 PM ET/PT on TNT. I was lucky enough to receive the first episode in a promotional package from the network. No, I won't divulge the plot, but I was indeed entertained. And now I have something that I enjoy watching on Monday nights. Woohoo for that!
I haven't seen Roofus the Cat lately, but I'm sure he's street-savvy enough to be taking shelter from the weather. I told you about the defunct Budget Car Rental place and the elderly gentleman who feeds the feral cats adjacent to Roofus' rooftop territory. If you click on this photo, it will enlarge. That's a cat on the counter looking out the door and cat food in a dish on the sidewalk. From what I can see inside without going up and peeking in the windows (and having the man yell), he has industrial size bags of dry cat food and cases of canned food in there as well as cats who seem to come and go somehow. Since Roofus wouldn't even have to cross a street to get here, I'm sure he takes advantage.
In TV Newsy Bits:
The SAG Awards, unlike the Golden Globes, will actually take place tonight. From a press release I received -- As a build-up to the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards presentation, TNT and TBS will present a special live webcast of the red carpet at tnt.tv and tbs.com, as well as through the TBS and TNT domains within the Kaneva virtual world. The webcast, which will open with SAG president Alan Rosenberg and SAG Awards nominee Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma) announcing the recipients of this year’s new Stunt Ensemble honors, will be hosted by Entertainment Weekly’s Dave Karger and comedian Jamie Kaler, co-star of TBS’s acclaimed comedy series My Boys. Karger and Kaler will cover the red carpet arrivals of this year’s nominees, past winners and other attendees. Following the Red Carpet Pre-Show, the webcast will shift backstage to the press and photo rooms, where this year’s SAG Awards honorees will answer questions from reporters and pose for pictures with their Actor® statuettes.
I wrote a bit about a few of the reality shows on A&E for a TV Squad article.
This Reality Wanted interview with Erika Landin (BB4 and All-Stars) is a few days old, but gives a bit of insight to casting on the show.
Speaking of Big Brother casting, there have still been no announcements and I don't expect anything until the first week of February. What we do know is that there will be 14 in the house (rather large group, expect some double eviction weeks as this season may not run as long as the usual summer season) and the theme is "my dirty little secret." Okay, that could be ax murderers for all we know!
Today's musical non-sequitur: I don't give a damn about a greenback dollar Spend it as fast as I can For a wailin' song and a good guitar Are the only things I understand. -- "Greenback Dollar" by Hoyt Axton
Are you ready for the madness that is American Idol? Yep, it's that time of the year once again. The auditions run from 8 PM to 10 PM ET/PT on FOX tonight. I'll be posting about it all without a doubt later tonight. Please feel free to join me in comments as I live blog the season premiere! I'll get that post up and running about 8 PM ET.
There's a new Law and Order: SVU that I'll be watching after Idol ends.
And, then there's the season premiere of 10 Items or Less on TBS at 11 PM ET/PT. I've watched the first two episodes via a screener copy sent to me by TBS along with a nifty big tote bag. Cool.
If you haven't seen the show before, it's a comedy set in a supermarket (Greens and Grains). The episodes are based on a loose script and utilize improvisation to round everything out. There's a rival supermarket, rival supermarket workers, a clueless boss, and more quirky characters.
Can an armed robbery be seriously funny? Well, yeah, under certain circumstances.
John Lehr (pictured on left -- the one without the stocking mask), who plays clueless boss Leslie Pool, has a lot of comedic and improvisational work in his background. But what I find very interesting is that he's one of the GEICO cavemen in the insurance commercials. He's the caveman at the therapist's office. "He doesn't say anything because he's a doll." You know, that caveman.
If you're looking for something a tad less serious than the 11 PM news, check 10 Items or Less out -- it makes me smile.
Yes, that's snow. Well, icy snow. Yesterday we had our first snow adding up to more than a dusting -- about two inches here. But then it turned to ice coming down, then rain in the overnight hours. So, most of it is gone as I type this. What was left probably blew away with the wind gusts of up to 50 MPH here throughout the day.
Despite the snow, then ice, then rain ... I saw Roofus the cat this morning. He was jumping onto the roof of the abandoned building, his probable access to the roofs. Although the building certainly isn't safe for a human's weight on the upper floors (the entire back top story has crumbled), I'm sure there are plenty of hidey-holes for a small cat to get out of the weather.
On the home front, my remaining cat is still looking for Teaser -- crying if she's in a room alone, jumping at any noise and heading out towards it apparently thinking she's going to greet him. She's also grown very clinging even though she'll never like laps or being carried. It hasn't been easy.
In today's TV Newsy Bits:
Tonight is the season finale of Heroes. I'll be watching it and writing it up, but don't expect to get it online until 11:30 PM ET or so.
Tonight is also the big holiday-themed season finale of The Closer. It's a two-hour special event starting at 8 PM ET/PT on TNT. I have watched the screener of the episode and highly recommend it if you're a fan of the show ... even if you're not.
Also, after The Closer, there's a new episode of Saving Grace, kicking up the start of four new weekly episodes of this show. I have them on screeners, but have only watched the one which is airing tonight so far. So, that would start at 10 PM ET/PT in most areas.
The WGA turned down the most recent offer to settle the writers strike ... so it goes on. Leno (NBC) has terminated or is terminating employees after he promised them they'd be okay through the holidays. Letterman, in a different situation as his production company owns the show (Worldwide Pants), is paying the staff of both his show and The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson through the holidays at least. I always knew David Letterman had to be a good guy.
A few folks have mentioned the upcoming Big Brother. As it's in open casting now, it's highly unlikely it will be a celebrity version. From what I've previously reported, we shouldn't expect it before March or so.
Today's musical non-sequitur: Look around, the leaves are brown There's a patch of snow on the ground. -- "Hazy Shade of Winter" by Simon and Garfunkel
While it's probably one of the worst-composed photos of mine I'll ever post, it's the principle of the thing. There I was standing atop a boulder at the water's edge in Mindowaskin Park (Westfield, NJ) when a group of fish came to me as if I had called them there for a meeting. I told them my woes as they listened attentively but showed no emotion. They're probably more worried about being frozen in the upcoming winter than they are about my issues.
What kind of fish were they? I haven't a clue. They looked a bit like bullheads but are a lot smaller than the ones I remember from my childhood pond fishing days in upstate New York. These guys were about five to six inches long tops and would only be considered a meal if you're starving on Survivor.
In keeping with the thought of "fish gotta swim" -- AOL had more layoffs yesterday and more expected into December according to what I've read. I've had ties to AOL for about fifteen years as a member, AOL Community Leader, blogger, and more recently writing for Weblogs, Inc. My thoughts are with my friends in the company and those who left the building yesterday. AOL Journals Editor Joe Loong is amongst the dismissed. Joe was instrumental in supporting my blogging efforts at AOL Journals as he featured my Adventures of the 2-Faced Baseball and helped me with issues on my first Big Brother blog. Joe, you'll be missed on AOL, but a man with your mad skillz is going to be a great catch for someone. Fish gotta swim.
In today's TV Newsy Bits:
I have a sadistic side to me. Yesterday, I looked forward to Richard Simmons being on Letterman most of the day. Yes, Dave is mean to him, but he keeps coming back. The segment didn't disappoint me at all and it wasn't quite like watching Paris Hilton almost cry a few weeks ago.
I finished watching my season three DVD of The Wire after a marathon most of the night session last night. Oh, I know I'm so far behind the real world on the show, but I'm not going to spring for HBO just to watch it. Although I've been watching it on BET and I thought they were getting it okay, the DVDs are another world -- no blaring trashy chat line ads and seeing bits that were cut out in editing for BET make the show so much better. Rawls was in a gay bar? Oh, my! This show has moved into my top slot of favorite TV shows ever.
Are you following the Ellen Degeneres Doggie Drama? Although I usually miss the show because I'm working most weekdays, this story caught my eye. I'm on Ellen's side of the battle. She rescued the dog, spent a lot of money on the vet and training, but it didn't get along with her pets already residing with her. I think she did the right thing by finding a loving family for the dog and the rescue place now has a huge black mark, as well as a bad reputation, for taking the dog from that loving family. You idiots ... the dog had a family and a home. Now it's got a kennel and staff once again. What are you thinking?
AOL TV news has an interview with Floyd Mayweather, booted from last night's Dancing With the Stars. I actually briefly caught his performance the other night as I was channel surfing. I don't know if by not watching the show regularly it gives me a different perspective and I didn't see any of the other dancers (I was just passing through, y'see). But I thought he looked stiff at times and very much the amateur. Oh, I couldn't do any better, I know. But as I watched the bit I watched, I thought of my love for So You Think You Can Dance. I think I prefer to watch young'uns who aspire to be dancers than so-called celebrities on a dance show. Of course, your mileage may vary, but his performance didn't make me want to continue watching the show.
How cool is this? I was just interrupted by the FedEx Man. The good folks at TBS just sent me a neat and spiffy battery-operated Frank TV wall clock and a promo reel on DVD for the show. Frank is Frank Caliendo and I'll report back on the promo. Right now I want to figure out where I'm going to put the clock!
Today's music non-sequitur -- Histories of ages past Unenlightened shadows cast Down through all eternity The crying of humanity
'Tis then when the hurdy gurdy man Comes singing songs of love - Donovan "Hurdy Gurdy Man"
My friendly FedEx guy knocked on my door today and gave me a screener for the upcoming World's Funniest Commercials on TBS. Cool. The BB feeds are kind of blah and depressing today; I needed to smile!
Set to air Thursday, August 30, and once again hosted by Kevin Nealon, this show is always fun! Last year it came to us from Times Square in New York City, this year it's Paris. Oui, you heard me, Paris! Kevin's wife, Susan Yeagley co-hosts the show.
With TV commercials from all over the world, and the funniest ones to boot, this show is a keeper with me. One of the things I enjoy the most about it is the plethora of commercials I've never before seen -- both the foreign and regional US ones (outside of my region).
"Nothing beats a sunset and a ginger lime..." Oh, my!
For me, funny ad campaigns are good ad campaigns. If a commercial is boring, I don't pay attention. Make me laugh and I'll always remember your product.
Remember -- Thursday, 8/30 at 9 PM (after BB!), on TBS. Be there.
Saving Grace is a new original drama scheduled to make its debut on TNT next Monday night, July 23, following The Closer. I think that TNT is going to be building itself a pretty powerful 2-hour block running these two series back-to-back.
Holly Hunter stars as Grace, a rather wild-child fast-living Oklahoma City detective who has attracted a bizarre guardian angel named Earl (Leon Rippy from Deadwood).
I've never been keen on guardian angel shows. I mean, no offense to Della Reese, but I guess I just like my television on the more gritty side of life. But I liked my screener of the Saving Grace pilot. Oh, no! I must be going to heck in a handbasket, eh? I like an angel kind of show? Yipes!
Oh, but this one is different. It's definitely for a more adult audience and parents might not want their children to watch. But I find the concept, the acting, and the characters engaging. Grace's irrational behavior kind of stretches the acceptability level for cops, but angel Earl saves the day... in just as unconventional sort of way. One of Earl's other "clients" is a murderer on Death Row? I love the quirk!
Give it a shot next Monday night at 10 PM. After all, Holly Hunter has won both Emmys and an Academy Award (for The Piano). Do you think she would have taken just any ol' TV job? Nope! Then there's Earl, destined to be the most quirky angel ever on television.
