TV Newsy Bits - Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Nah, not an exciting photo, I'll admit. It's raindrops on a berry-bearing tree. We certainly won't see raindrops here tonight as the temperatures dip down into the teens. But we've been lucky so far this season here in the NYC area. I know folks in the Midwest, further up the Northeast coast and even just a few hundred miles north of here have had tremendous snowstorms. Since my knee won't allow me to ski, I'd just as soon as little snow as necessary here, thank you.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• In NYC News news, I was thrilled to see meteorologist Jeff Berardelli on and off the past few weeks on WCBS2. I got all excited thinking he was back for good, but he isn't. He was just helping them out as he visited his family for the holidays. Soon (if not already), he'll be back in Miami and we'll have to deal with Conan O'Brien's doppelganger Lonnie Quinn doing the weather. Blech. John Bolaris is off of CBS2 and into Philly. I'd like to put in a request for a real meteorologist and not a soaps actor, please.
• Law and Order returns tonight for a special two-hour season premiere beginning at 9 PM. I'm so there. I didn't care so much for Dennis Farina the last season or two. It looks like the cop cast has been revamped and I've always liked the stories.
• I'll also be watching David Letterman's return (with writers) tonight. His guest is Robin Williams. I'm not as keen on Williams as I was a few decades back, but I wouldn't miss the show's return tonight for anything! Leno won't be able to do a monologue and has one of the Presidential candidates on for his return tonight.
• Ohhh ... gossip! Claire and Peter from Heroes are a true-life couple these days? Yikes! He's 30, she's 18. She denied they were dating all through that odd haircut he used to sport.
• Tonight also brings us season premieres of Wife Swap and SuperNanny. A new Deal or No Deal is on as well. Power of Ten, too. Oh, my. Television has returned. I'm not so much into any of them, but I might watch Wife Swap before Law and Order. That can be amusing at times.

Today's musical non-sequitur:
But then they sent me away to teach me how to be sensible,
Logical, responsible, practical.
And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable,
Clinical, intellectual, cynical.
-- "The Logical Song" by Supertramp

Blue, Blue (Man Group) Christmas and Bloggy Bits, Too

Hey, all! I've still been working unbelievable hours at the day job -- up before five every morning, blech. However, it's dwindling down a bit, just one more real early rising day and then a few days off. (Yes!)

I haven't seen Roofus the cat because it's dark when I go to work and dark when I come home.

Television has been slim pickings for me as of late, but that's okay with the increased workload for year end. I don't feel bad about missing Letterman as it's still repeats due to the WGA strike. It sounds like the deal he was trying to work out with the union for the writers to return to his Worldwide Pants production company have fallen through. Leno will return without writers on January 2nd. I don't care much for him when he has them, so I probably won't watch unless I like a particular guest.

I watched the remake movie of Godzilla the other night on FX. I had been stuck in Manhattan traffic as they filmed it, but had never seen it before. Corny, but I was entertained.

This morning I followed my routine of CBS Sunday Morning with coffee. Huh. Charles Osgood wore an actual tie instead of a bowtie. There was a nice segment on James Taylor and it brought back memories of seeing him on the ski slopes of Mohawk Mountain back in the 80s.

Today I've had the VH1 100 Best Songs of the 90s on in the background as I did chores around the house. I'll have to turn it off for The Amazing Race, but it's reminding me I liked more 90s music than I thought I did. Yeah, I can get jiggy wit' it.

Speaking of The Amazing Race, I'll get the east coast update post up when it starts here on the east coast. It should be starting on time, I believe.

Until then, I made a nifty Blue Man Group holiday greeting for you. I get their newsletter and it provided the link to create it. Fun, fun, fun. I also noticed they're looking for writers. Now, that would be a dream job for me, but since I don't have any background in comedy and physical sketch kind of writing, it will just remain a dream. Plus, what would I do with my 401K and retirement pension where I am, huh? But, I can dream.

Create Your Own Video

TV Newsy Bits - Thursday, December 6, 2007

Just a New Jersey house framed by barren trees and highlighted by the sunrise on a cold December day.

I'll be posting an east coast update post for tonight's Survivor around 8 PM ET. My review will be posted late tonight over on TV Squad, but the important show events will be in the update post here.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• Buddy TV has an exclusive interview with James Pickens from Grey's Anatomy.
• Reality TV World has a very interesting interview with Jeff Probst as he handicaps the remaining six castaways on the show.
  

Today's musical non-sequitur:
He said, "I dance now at every chance
in honky tonks for drinks and tips.
But most the time I stand behind
these county bars 'cause I drinks a bit."
--"Mr. Bojangles" by Jerry Jeff Walker

TV Newsy Bits - Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Well, well, well ... perhaps this is one reason Roofus has been not in sight lately (in addition to the weather). He seems to have a new friend. This is not the cat I used to see him with late last winter -- that one was white and black, mostly white. This one seems all black from what I could see. I suppose we need to come up with a name for the new addition to the roof?

Tonight is the first night of Chanukah -- Light, love, and joy to all!

In TV Newsy Bits:

• I received my fourth season DVD set of The Wire today. So far I've watched one episode. I'll probably watch another before bed as Letterman is striked out.
• Buddy TV has an exclusive interview with Philiminated Jennifer and Shana from The Amazing Race 12. I find it interesting that Shana was approached to audition for the show. Is she the one who was "seeing" Ryan Seacrest? They also said that they thought Lorena and Jason were the only team behind them when they used the U-Turn. Jennifer thinks they used it too early in the game.
• Whether there will be a second season of Kid Nation is still out to the jury, but official investigations into the child labor, etc., issues prior to the season have been dropped. A quote from the article -- "It has been determined that absent any formal complaints to this office or request for investigation by any state agency, the Attorney General's Office will not pursue any further inquiry into the 'Kid Nation' production in New Mexico," according to a statement.
• I know someone in comments within the last week asked about a discussion post for another show. If you'll refresh my memory, I'll get one up for you.
  

Today's musical non-sequitur:
I said to Hank Williams
How lonely does it get
Hank Williams hasn't answered me yet
But I hear him coughing all night long
Oh, a hundred floors above me
In the Tower of Song.
-- "Tower of Song" by Leonard Cohen

TV Newsy Bits - Monday, December 3, 2007

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

Today's TV Newsy Bits - Wednesday, November 28, 2007

This is my cat Scherzo (pronounced Skairt-so). It's an Italian word which translates to Jester. (Which went well with a Teaser.) It's also the light and bouncy part in classical music. She's not as good with cameras as Teaser was -- she tends to close her eyes and move her head as if sensing the shutter. I want to thank everyone for their comments.

On another cat note, I saw Roofus the roof cat yesterday morning but he wasn't at a good angle for a photo.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• I'll be writing my weekly review of Kid Nation for TV Squad and it should be posted there later tonight.
• I found an interesting website set up by the striking writers for The Late Show with David Letterman. I'm still on the side of the writers in this action even though I'm generally anti-union. Maybe it strikes more close to home than some of the other causes, I don't know.
• I'm not on strike, just a bit quiet.
• Erik Estrada has decided to really become a Muncie cop even though Armed and Famous was canceled. Odd.

Today's musical non-sequitur:
Long ago it must be, I have a photograph
Preserve your memories, they're all that's left you
-- "Bookends" by Simon and Garfunkel

TV Newsy Bits - Friday, November 23, 2007

The moon is almost full over New Jersey. Ah-oooo! I hope everyone had a great holiday and, for those who went Xtreme Shopping today on Black Friday, I hope you survived. I had to work, but made the mistake of walking into a Target store thinking I might want to buy a computer monitor which they have on sale. No computer monitor, even given away, would be worth fighting that crowd. I immediately left before I made it to the department.

I haven't seen Roofus the cat, but it's been raining, very cold, or dark as I've been by there. Unless he can get sun, he seems to vanish, perhaps to the inside of the condemned building. Also, his free rein can lead him all over the roofs of four buildings and I can only see the front edges from my vantage point. I think he's probably okay.

In TV Newsy Bits:

• Although it was a clip episode, I wrote a review of last night's Survivor 15: China over on TV Squad. I also think I forget to mention my Kid Nation review there this week.
• Later tonight I'll be reviewing The Next Great American Band over on TVS.
• NBC has announced that Leno will be airing some vintage episodes as the WGA strike continues ... I want Letterman to do the same!
• The Frank TV debut on TBS attracted 2.9 million viewers -- a great showing! If you missed the show, it will air on Tuesday nights at 11 PM ET/PT in most viewing areas.
• Reality TV World has an interview with voted off from Dancing With the Stars Jennie Garth.

Today's musical non-sequitur:
I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain
He was looking for a place called Lee Ho Fook's
Going to get himself a big dish of beef chow mein
-- "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon

TV Newsy Bits - Tuesday, November 20, 2007

The weather here has been cold, wet, gloomy, rainy and even a bit snowy. I haven't seen Roofus the cat since Saturday, but the roof isn't a good place during this kind of weather. I'm sure he's taken refuge, most likely in that condemned building. This photo is the side of an old warehouse or factory. I guess it's Lugo's parking spot, but I call it the Lugo building.

Here are today's TV Newsy Bits:

• Frank TV, the new late night show on TBS makes its debut tonight at 11 PM ET/PT in most viewing areas. Frank is impressionist Frank Caliendo and he's definitely got the "skillz." I watched my screener and was pleasantly surprised at how many impressions he can actually do. His George W. Bush is just about perfect. With the late night shows in repeats due to the writers strike, it's the perfect time to give this show a shot -- every Tuesday at 11, be there or be square.
• I want to thank commenter Joy for her excellent recap of The Bachelor for other blog readers (in the discussion post for the show). And, yes ... that's how I do it. I sit and take notes.
• Donald Trump's new Celebrity Apprentice will premiere on January 3rd. The last season was so unpopular, I guess he had to turn to a list of Z list celebs. I don't know many of these people -- Omarosa (made famous for being on The Apprentice, say what?), Marilu Henner (okay, I remember her from Taxi with Tony Danza a few decades ago), Carol Alt, softball player Jennie Finch, Piers Morgan (judge from America's Got Talent), Gene Simmons from Kiss, Vincent Pastore (Sopranos), Stephen Baldwin, Nely Galan (ex-president of Telemundo television network), Trace Adkins (country music star), Nadia Comaneci (Olympics star), Tiffany Fallon (Playboy's Playmate of the Year), boxer Lennox Louis, and ultimate fighting champion Tito Ortiz. Um. Okay.
• I wrote a TV Squad feature on my seven favorite cop shows. If you click on my name from there, it brings up all the entries I've made. I've been doing some real exciting ones such as CBS news staffers authorize a strike in addition to reviews and features.

Today's music non-sequitur:
Well, did he ever return?
No, he never returned and his fate is still unlearned.
He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston.
He's the man who never returned.
-- M.T.A. - as sung by The Kingston Trio

TV Newsy Bits - Saturday, November 17, 2007

Some tree fungi in the autumn afternoon sun. No, it wasn't me who took that bite out. It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is coming up on us later this week. They're talking a wintry mix of wet snow and rain for tonight. As long as my home is warm, I'm okay with it. My knee isn't thrilled, but what can you do?

Here are today's TV Newsy Bits:

• This first one isn't really a TV newsy bit, although the restaurant has been featured on TV news shows for its $25,000 (yes, you read that right) dessert sprinkled with gold dust -- Serendipity 3 in Manhattan has been closed down by the health department for one live mouse, a dead mouse, mouse droppings, and over 100 live cockroaches. No, I have never been there. I love chocolate and desserts, but don't want to take out a mortgage to have them.
• Tyler Perry's House of Payne returns with new episodes on TBS December 5.
• RealityWanted.net has an interview with Frosti, the latest castaway booted on Survivor 15: China. While he mentions getting by the age restriction, he doesn't mention how he did it. I still wonder why a 20-year-old got on when the rules are 21. I guess we'll never know.
• In that article, there's a link to Frosti's MySpace page. Hmmm... he saves the world? From that page, you can pages of find other Survivor castaways including Jean-Robert. Well, you might not want Jean-Robert's page, I guess.
• Oh, no! Save the dolphins, arrest a cheerleader! Actress Hayden Panettiere, Claire on Heroes, has an arrest warrant out for her issued by police in Japan. Why? Her efforts to save the dolphins.
• American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee is now engaged. Maybe that's why she hasn't been so noticeable on the airwaves as of late.

Today's music non-sequitur:
Goodnight moonlight ladies,
Rockabye sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues are
The colors I choose
Won't you let me go down
In my dreams
And rockabye sweet baby James.
-- "Sweet Baby James" by James Taylor

TV Newsy Bits - Thursday, November 15, 2007

Can you spot Roofus the cat? It was rainy and overcast here today, turning into windy, cold, and rainy as the day progressed. My own cat who's ill is quite ill. I have two fifteen year-old cats and one of them has developed kidney disease to go with a few other ailments. The prognosis isn't good. He's at home now, but has to have medication and is getting really fussy about everything. The other cat is fine. Fat, but no signs of any problems.

I'll be putting up a Survivor East Coast Update post around 8 PM ET. I'll keep it updated and reading your comments as the show airs, then will later be posting a review of the show over on TV Squad.

In other TV News:

• Buddy TV has an interview with Jack Coleman of Heroes.
• TV Land will have a special TV's 50 Greatest Icons tomorrow night (Friday, November 16) at 8 PM ET/PT. You can sneak a peek at the list here.

I have some more news about The Closer, Frank TV and more which will have to wait until over the weekend. I have to watch what they sent me!

TV Newsy Bits - Wednesday, November 14, 2007

I see the train a'comin', it's rolling 'round the bend. I haven't seen the sunshine since I don't know when. (My apologies to Johnny Cash for appropriating "Folsom Prison Blues.") But, you know how it is. After all, I shot a man in Reno just to see him die.

Or not.

I took the photo of the NJ Transit train arriving at the Plainfield Train Station.

I apologize for being a bit away yesterday and today (although I'm here now). Here are today's TV Newsy Bits and I'll be catching up on emails and comments when I can get to them:

• TV Squad has several of my articles online including my Kid Nation review, a list of how different shows are affected by the writers strike, reality shows planned, and some other stuff.
• People magazine's sexiest man list is out. Hmmm... Matt Damon? Not bad, but sexiest? Hmmm...
• Ellen DeGeneres won't be coming to New York City after all.
• And, for Grey's Anatomy fans -- Ellen Pompeo got married.
  

I'm sorry (apologizing a lot tonight, aren't I?) to leave this a bit short, but unfortunately I have an ill cat here who needs my attention. Sigh.

TV Newsy Bits - Sunday, November 11, 2007

I mentioned I wanted a black t-shirt with white letters "Writer" like the striking WGA writers and graphic artist Zoetawny got straight to work on getting me one. She included the blog and even the little TV Squad logo! How cool is that? Thanks, Zoetawny!

It's Veterans Day. Although I tend to think there must be other ways instead of wars, I salute those who have served risking their lives for our country.

Tonight is the second episode of The Amazing Race 12 and it looks like it will start on time here in the NYC viewing area. I'll be writing up the full review to be posted at TV Squad later tonight, but will start up an East Coast Update post to report big events on the show, including the eliminated team. I'll have that started around 8 PM ET -- please stop by and share your thoughts on the show!

Random thoughts going through my mind on an early Sunday evening:

1. Sometimes strangers on a train should remain strangers on a train for the good of those around them.
2. Just because I nod and say hello as I pass you on the sidewalk doesn't mean you can ask me for money or cigarettes.
3. Construction workers have cool radio-controlled earth-squashing machinery at their disposal these days. Wow! It looks like such fun! I chose the wrong career.
4. Why are newscasters standing so much these days? They never seem to know what to do with their hands. What's up with that?
5. Why does my cat think every time I go into the kitchen that I'm going to give him more food or treats?

Onto today's TV Newsy Bits:

• The WGA strike continues. I'm glad I tend to focus my writing around reality television for the most part.
• Conan O'Brien's priest stalker has been hospitalized. The police were told there were concerns about his mental stability. Now, I watched a few news clips of him. That is one odd priest -- he just kept smiling. If I were arrested, humiliated, and the object of disdain by the public, I'd crawl under a rock. I wouldn't just keep smiling a rather deranged smile.
• The stagehands on Broadway are still on strike. Fitting the situation, the first show affected was How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Also affected was Duran Duran and any shows staffed by that particular union.
  

Today's music non-sequitur:

They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway
They say there's always magic in the air
But when you're walkin' down that street
And you ain't had enough to eat
The glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere.

-- "Broadway" as sung by George Benson

TV Newsy Bits - Saturday, November 10, 2007

I took this photo in midtown Manhattan (NYC, not Kansas) in the evening as drizzle hit the streets. I didn't see any cats atop the buildings.

MY review of last night's The Next Great American Band is up and running over at TV Squad.

In other TV Newsy Bits:

• Not TV news per se, but sort of related in the entertainment arena -- Broadway shows will be going dark today as the stagehands go out on strike. It won't affect me as I didn't plan to go see any Broadway shows. What I'd like to see which is going on now at Madison Square Garden is Cirque du Soleil even though critics are panning Wintuk.
• Author Norman Mailer died, again not television, but certainly related to film!
• Ellen DeGeneres is getting a lot of heat for carrying on with her show despite the writers strike. I can understand some of her points, but I don't think it's a good move for her to make when most of Hollywood is in solidarity with the strikers.

Today's music non-sequitur:

Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear

And it shows them pearly white

Just a jackknife has old MacHeath, babe

And he keeps it … ah … out of sight.

-- "Mack the Knife" as sung by Bobby Darin

TV Newsy Bits - Thursday, November 8, 2007

The Plainfield, NJ Train Station just before dawn. I saw Roofus today, but he went up on an adjacent roof (the condemned building) before I could get a chance to take a photo. He actually can roam four building tops -- the building with the fire escape is too high and on the other side, there's a building which is only two stories.

At around 8 PM ET, I'll be posting a Survivor China East Coast Update entry, updating it as the show airs here in the NYC area. As always, my review of the episode will be posted late tonight on TV Squad. Everyone is welcome to jump in with their thoughts in the comments section of the East Coast Update post, or join in over at TVS!

In other TV Newsy Bits:

• Buddy TV is certainly getting around -- they have interviews posted with Ryan Rodriguez from Biggest Loser, Tony Dovolani the recently eliminated dancer on Dancing With the Stars, and Natalie and John from Beauty and the Geek.
• The WGA writers strike has claimed another victim -- 24 will not be airing as originally scheduled because they don't want to break up Day 7.
• Rosie O'Donnell will not be going on MSNBC as their talks have ended.
• Ew Alert!! A priest has been stalking Conan O'Brien. Ew.
• Late last night I saw a TV commercial for contestants for The Amazing Race 13. They might be pushing that forward for the winter season, y'think?
• I also saw Ando from Heroes on a McDonalds commercial.
  

Today's music non-sequitur:
It's all because your mama don't dance
And your daddy don't rock and roll.
-- "Your Mama Don't Dance" by Loggins and Messina

TV Newsy Bits - Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Nah, it's not Roofus the Cat. This is a photo I took on a much warmer day than today as I watched a city cat watch the world go by. Today it's much chillier here with actual freeze warnings ahead and even the "s" word as a possible in the forecast for Friday night. Now, where did I put my gloves from last season?

In TV Newsy Bits:

• I wrote an article about ten ways I'll cope with the WGA writers strike for TV Squad. Readers here will know that I edited the union construction strike inflatable rat photo I posted last month. Hey, it worked. I realize the strike rats I've seen for the writers strike have been gray, but mine is cooler, right? I think it's the first ever feature article I've had at TVS.
• But no matter how much thought I put into it, no matter my attempts at wit, as well as my solidarity for my writing friends -- AOL welcome-screened my American Idol changes post on TV Squad from the other day and that one's getting all the attention (and fanatics).
• I've decided I want a black t-shirt with "writer" in white letters like the strikers.
• Buddy TV has an exclusive interview with Greg Grunberg who plays Matt Parkman on Heroes. He even goes into the latest news about the show and the writers strike.
• Marie Osmond won't quit Dancing With the Stars even though her father passed away.

I'll be watching Kid Nation and posting my review later tonight over on TV Squad.

Today's musical non-sequitur:
And I can change the world,
I will be the sunlight in your universe.
You would think my love was really something good,
Baby if I could change the world.
-- "If I Could Change the World" as sung by Eric Clapton

TV Newsy Bits - Tuesday, November 6, 2007

We all need a cozy place in the sun, but I'm not sure about the roof of a balcony window. But that's where I first spotted Roofus months ago. Shortly after I snapped this photo, he leaped atop the fire escape on the right and actually caught a bird. Yipes. I just saw feathers flying and a flurry of activity. Since I saw his feet go right through the fire escape "floor," I wish the fire escapes on his building were more like mine with more narrow openings. I don't think there ever are any cats on my own fire escape or roof. Squirrels, birds, perhaps a burglar ... but not a cat burglar! For a larger image, click on it.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• Will the writers strike give us Big Brother 9 in January? Check out my latest on TV Squad!
• I also wrote a TVS article about changes coming for the next American Idol season.
• I'm sure you've heard the news, especially if you're a Dancing With the Stars fan -- Marie Osmond's father died. I don't know how that will affect the show, but my condolences go out the the family, friends, and fans of the Osmonds.
• Realitywanted.net has an interview with Ari and Staella, the first team eliminated from The Amazing Race 12. In it they mention they were big fans of the show with favorite teams of Rob and Amber and Mirna and Charla. Hmmm. I actually liked Rob more on TAR than on Survivor and can take or leave Amber. With Charla and Mirna, I have mixed feelings. I'd like to see Charla with someone other than Mirna. Neither team was my favorite on the show.

Today's music non-sequitur:
Through the woodland, through the valley
Comes a horseman wild and free
Tilting at the windmills passing
Who can the brave young horseman be
--"Don Quixote" by Gordon Lightfoot

TV Newsy Bits - Sunday, November 4, 2007

This is a photo I took during a previous holiday season, but with the nip in the air mornings now, it seems right for today. Again, I used layers to make the background black and white while leaving the inflated turkey (run, turkey, run!) in color. The location is John's Meat Market in Scotch Plains, New Jersey -- a place I love to go to for old-fashioned butcher attention and really fine meats. If you click on the photo, you'll see a larger version.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• Don't forget -- The Amazing Race 12 premiere is tonight after 60 Minutes, with a possible football delay on the east coast. Thanks to the screener I received for the TV Squad gig, I've already seen it. Although I won't spoil anything for you -- I like most of the teams at first glance with two teams who annoy me. One of those two went! (Yay!) So you have no clue what team was eliminated, but it's already off to a good start with me because an annoying team is gone. Now if the other would go away next week!
• The New York Marathon is today. I won't be there. Even when I could run, I didn't run. I think the most I've ever run at one time was two miles, not 26. I will raise a cup of hot chocolate to them from the comfort of my living room.
• It's still uncertain but probable that the WGA's television and film writers will go on strike tomorrow. Although scripted television shows wouldn't be immediately impacted, my late night Letterman fix will probably head into reruns. I guess it would be good for me to go bed earlier, eh?
• Although my own writing isn't covered by the WGA, I can sympathize with its members. Outside of this blog, I write on a freelance contract which necessitates me keeping a day job. I found this Huffington Post article very informative about the writing industry for film and television. In an industry which pays its actors ridiculously high salaries, it offers the writers virtual peanuts in comparison. With my freelance work, I earn more than many of the WGA members and I'm not writing fiction which I know from personal experience is a lot tougher than blogging. And, when you think of it ... if not for writers, there would be no films and scripted television shows in the first place. Stephen King money isn't expected, but a living wage is and they should get their royalties on DVD and Internet sales increased. Is four cents too much to ask? I think not!
  
• Thinking of Stephen King -- I see The Mist is going to be released in theaters soon. That's one of my all-time Stephen King short story favorites. Although I probably won't go see it in a theater, I will definitely get it once it comes out on DVD. (The writer will get paid, I'm sure!) It stars Andre Braugher, one of my favorite actors from Homicide: Life on the Street.

Today's music non-sequitur:
She put de lime in de coconut, she drank 'em both up
She put de lime in de coconut, she called the doctor, woke him up,
And said, "Doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take,
I say, Doctor, to relieve this belly ache?
-- "Coconut" by Nilsson

TV Newsy Bits - Thursday, November 1, 2007

Oh, look what I got! Look what I got! Thanks to my TV Squad gig, I received a screener copy of The Amazing Race 12 season premiere today! And, but of course, I dropped what I was doing to watch it immediately after the FedEx man left. My lips are sealed; I can't be bribed. I'll be posting a review of the season premiere Sunday evening on TV Squad. But I'll say one thing -- the magic is back! Set the Sunday 8 PM ET/PT hour aside for an amazing good time.

In other TV Newsy Bits:

• Around 8 PM ET tonight I'll be setting up a Survivor 15: China East Coast Updates post which I'll update throughout the show with the major happenings. My full show review will be posted on TV Squad late this evening.
• I have a few posts up over on TV Squad you might wish to peek at -- my Kid Nation review from last night and spoilers for the upcoming Survivor 16. With the latter, if you don't want to know, don't go. It's filming now, so no boot spoilers just location and all stars or not kind of stuff.
• At this time it's still uncertain whether the WGA (Writers Guild of America) will call for its members to strike. If it does, the most immediate shows impacted will be shows such as Letterman, Leno, SNL, and such. They don't have shows filmed ahead and rely on a staff of writers. The first show postponed due to a possible strike is Heroes: Origins according to news sources.
  
• This blog will not be affected by any strike. I'd hold out for more pay here, but ... um ... well, I do have my day job because writing can't support me in the jetsetting way of life I love so much. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it.)
• I'm postponing my final installment on the TAR12 teams until tomorrow evening due to time issues today. But, who knows? Maybe I saved the best for last!
  

Today's music non-sequitur:
We can dance if we want to
We can leave your friends behind
'Cause your friends don't dance
And if your friends don't dance
They're no friends of mine.
-- "The Safety Dance" - Men Without Hats

TV Newsy Bits - Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Happy Halloween! A scarecrow amidst the cobwebs in Plainfield, NJ. I used layers to make the background black and white while keeping the scarecrow's colors. It's not my best work, but the sentiment is there! Happy birthday wishes go out to my brother Russ!

Normally I don't work Wednesdays, but I've been working odd hours this week. So, instead of the ongoing Bon Jovi concert crowds in the new Newark arena (I believe there are ten concert dates) messing up my NJ Transit train commute -- today I got NJ Devils fans and the Halloween party people in costume heading to the big parade in Greenwich Village. I just wanted to get home. You know it's bad when I saw two different train conductors I know and the first thing we did was roll our eyes and sigh. But I'm home and they're still working. My sympathies go out to the late shift conductors tonight.

In TV Newsy Bits:

• I'll be watching and reviewing tonight's Kid Nation episode for TV Squad -- I'll post the link once it's done.
• Buddy TV has an interview with Goth couple Vyxsin and Kynt who will be on The Amazing Race (coming this Sunday!).
• I should be receiving an overnighted copy of the season premiere of TAR12 for my TV Squad duties tomorrow. I'll tell you if I enjoyed it or not, but I won't spill any beans until my review on TV Squad Sunday night. Heh.
• I should be finishing the look at the teams here tomorrow. I've had a bit of a rough week and I'm running behind.
• Now, this isn't necessarily my cuppa, but I received this promo: "Would you like to see Big Brother 8's Jessica and Eric compete on The Amazing Race? Join the fan campaign to get them cast on the show! Fans are flooding CBS with letters and woobies to show our support for Team Jeric. To get involved, please visit the fan campaign website for information, updates, funny promo videos, and exclusive pictures of Team Jeric with Woobie in New York and Kansas. Also, here is the campaign video to inspire you." -- if you're interested, go for it!
• FearNet.com has a new online series called Buried Alive. I won't have time to check it out until way late tonight, but since it's Halloween and seems fitting, I thought I'd share.
  

Today's music non-sequitur:
And still the raven remains in my room
No matter how much I implore
No words can soothe him
No prayer remove him
And I must hear for evermore
--"The Raven" by Edgar Alan Poe as sung by Alan Parsons Project

TV Newsy Bits - Monday, October 29, 2007

It's time to play find Roofus the Cat! If you don't see him, click on the image and it will enlarge. I'd say he's coming from one of the apartments in the building, but all of the windows are closed. He must have been sleeping on the bay window roof or one of the fire escapes. I can't help but wonder what happened to the cat who used to curl up with him late last winter on the bay window roof. Alas, the life of a feral cat, especially one between roof and a busy city street, isn't long.

I know an elderly man who runs a car lot nearby puts out food for the strays, but unless they're spayed and neutered, the cycle will go on. That said, I don't think Roofus is "catchable" as he's several stories off the ground and doesn't seem to interact with humans at all.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• I apologize for not posting yesterday. I was having Blogger and gmail issues. I'm still not getting any notifications when comments are made, but at least I seem to be able to post an entry.
  
• I'll be watching Heroes tonight and posting a review later on -- stop back and comment if you watch the show!
• I told you how Court TV is changing its name to truTV (gak). Now they have a new tagline for the brand name change -- "Not reality. Actuality." I like the tagline better than the new name for the channel.
• A possible TV writers strike may come this Thursday. Since the shows I review for TV Squad are reality shows, my paid blogging efforts won't be affected. According to this AOL TV News article, some shows pushed their production schedules ahead to get more episodes finished, but some didn't. I guess we'll know more as time goes on. Although I'm not too keen on unions on the whole, I agree with the actions in this case. Often the writer is the poor stepchild in a television show. And, as a writer myself, I know that freelancers and contractors need some sort of organization to protect them as we're all individuals out here.
• In poking around AOL Television, I also noticed their Halloween page. Cool. I think the television show whose Halloween episodes I always enjoyed the most was Rosanne. I caught one late last night and wouldn't mind a marathon solely of the Halloween eps for Halloween itself.

Today's music non-sequitur:
St. Peter, don't you call me
Because I can't go ...
I owe my soul to the company store.
-- "16 Tons" written by Merle Travis, popularized by Tennessee Ernie Ford