TV Newsy Bits - Monday, January 1, 2007

A new year is here and new shows are finally on the horizon!

The Apprentice: L.A. will premiere next Sunday night, January 7. It'll be a 90-minute show at 9:30 PM ET/PT. For me, it's going to be a bit weird to not have it coming out of New York City. And, even though Trump has disgusted me with his behavior in the stupid Rosie O'Donnell feud, I'll be watching the show. The new location and new twist with the "haves" and "have nots" sounds intriguing.

American Idol starts up again on January 16 and 17. I'll be there. Or, actually here. No, I refuse to sing in public and you can't make me!

I watched the preview of Living with Ed today on HGTV. That will be airing Sunday evenings at 10 PM ET/PT through February 4. I found the show a fun peek into the eco-friendly ways that I'm certain to not abide by in my own life. (I live in an apartment building in Jersey. My landlord would freak if I stuck solar panels up!) I like the relationship between Ed Begley Jr. and his wife, Rachelle. This show is one I think you should definitely give a look-see.

On Wednesday night, January 3, this Letterman fan (me!) will be watching or taping The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to see a sneak preview of upcoming Heroes. My favorite hero, Hiro, played by Masi Oka, will be on the show. Sorry, Dave, I promise not to like his show on a regular basis. On January 22nd, Heroes returns. Are you on the list? (Although I found "Save the cheerleader; save the world" so much catchier a phrase!)

Yesterday and today I found myself tuning into the SciFi Channel at all sorts of odd hours. Why? Well, it was The Twilight Zone marathon. I know I've seen all of the episodes at some time or another over the years, but there are still some I haven't seen since childhood. Although I didn't catch "The Living Doll" episode, which I really wanted to see again, at least I caught the one with Anthony (Billy Mumy) wishing people to the cornfield and making three-headed gophers. That's a good thing he done, ain't it?

Now I have the Heroes mini-marathon on NBC... just a taste for what's to come! Hey, maybe the future me has a sword. You never know.

2006 - The (TV) Year That Was - My Favorite Shows

What a year it was in television, eh? Hits, misses, a lot of somewhere in betweens...

I've been pondering my favorites and, if I had to list them in some sort of order, the Number 1 television show experience for me would be Heroes. I've become addicted to the show from the character of Hiro to the tagline "Save the cheerleader; save the world." I've been a lifelong comics fan of sorts (falling in and out of the medium at times) and I find this show exciting and mesmerizing. Like a graphic novel unfolding before us, I can't wait to see the latest chapter. Kudos to Heroes! I'm not sure where the story is going, but I'll be joining it for the ride.

My Number 2 choice is more for the entertainment value than the storyline... American Idol. Call me shallow, I don't care. I never miss an episode of the show from auditions through the finals. I'll admit I've never bought a record by any of the chosen Idols, but that's beside the point. I have my secret crush on Simon Cowell (shhh!) and love to watch his reactions throughout the show. 2006's finalists were a great mix of talents and not-so-talented, perhaps more talented than myself, but does Covais ring a bell? Crooners, rockers, country and western - AI has it all. I'll be watching the new season to see if they can top last season's entertainment value rating with me.

The Amazing Race 9 (spring 2006) rolls in at the Number 3 slot in my rankings. With the exception of the Family Edition (8), this show has long been a favorite of mine. In 9, the winners were the ones I loved to watch all season long, unlike the latest season. In the latest season (10), I was ambivalent about who won in the end, so that keeps the season from ranking high on my favorites. I still liked the show, mind you. But I like it better when the winners are ones I cheered on throughout the season. BJ and Tyler of season 9 absolutely rock!

Those would be my Top Three shows, but many more made the ranks of my Top Ten. (Okay, seven more.) I'm not sure how I'd rank them. The latest season of Survivor has been one of my all-time favorites - I hope they keep such a diverse cast on the shows without separating the tribes by race. I'm still hooked on C.S.I. and the Law and Order shows. I'm still hooked on Lost although I'm leery of their actual plots and whether they're going to tie up loose ends and plot holes.

Although "all stars" versions of reality shows aren't tops with me, I thoroughly enjoyed Big Brother 7: All Stars except for Mike Boogie winning it all. I didn't like him in his season and he wouldn't have even made the show if not for Will Kirby. However, if that was the price to pay for watching another season of the Evil Dr. Will on the feeds and on the show, it was a price well justified. After all, I was entertained.

I'm iffy on Jericho, so my personal jury is still out with that one. I've recently discovered the joys of Ugly Betty and Criminal Minds, but so recently that I can't place them on a list of favorites.

If I had to name a favorite sitcom of the year, I'd say How I Met Your Mother is... wait for it... legendary! I definitely like it best when Marshall and Lily are a couple, but I fear this show would lose its bite without Neil Patrick Harris as Barney. He makes the show or, more accurately, the character of Barney makes the show. Suit up and sit down to watch it if you're not already a fan!

My favorite animal show (yeah, I have those) is Meerkat Manor on Animal Planet. The ongoing intro by Sean Astin is a bit much show after show, but the meerkats are intriguing and addicting to watch. The show is realistic in that the life and death of the meerkats is only documented and they don't interfere with the course of nature. Nature, of course, can be cruel at times. I find it sad when they actually give the various meerkats names and then they're carried off by hawks or killed by rival meerkat gangs, but that's life. This show is still a hit with me.

What were your favorites in 2006?

Happy New Year!

I want to take a moment to thank everyone for a fantastic year with this blog. I started it up just about a year ago - the first week of January 2006. In that time, the sitemeter has recorded well over a million pageviews and that's a lot for a mere blog.

Of course, a good portion of those visits came during the Big Brother Live Feeds Reports days, but that's not unexpected. However, many folks stayed around after the feeds ended and I appreciate you all!

Graphic artist Zoetawny has loaded the New Year for us and I've got a few articles in the making for the day.

May 2007 bring you all happiness, love, prosperity and, of course, good television! And, thank you once again for your loyal readership and comments!

Party Pants - This Week on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' - Jan. 1 - 5

Like David Letterman, I've been laying a bit low this holiday week. I hope everyone has had a good holiday season!

Dave is a repeat Monday night - New Year's Day. But then he's back in full swing for the rest of the week with new shows, new pants for the new year!

Here are the scheduled guests for this week:

• Monday, Jan. 1: Originally aired 11/21/06, guests are Chris Elliott, Hugh Jackman and Jimmie Johnson. While I usually get a kick out of Chris Elliott appearances on the show, this wasn't a favorite of mine. Why, oh why, can't they show a repeat from a few years ago? Yes, the monologue would be untimely, but I'd enjoy it so much more than I do recent repeats. And, this is one show I wouldn't have picked for re-airing. Ah, well, Dave never asks me about these things!
• Tuesday, Jan. 2: Martin Short promoting Broadway's Fame Becomes Me and Donal Logue (Knights of Prosperity). Um, okay. I'm not a huge Martin Short fan although the Broadway show seems perfect for him. ('Nuff said.)
• Wednesday, Jan. 3: Matt Lauer from The Today Show, Artie Lange (Beer League DVD) and musical guest Augustana (CD is All the Stars and Boulevards). I like Matt Lauer, have no idea about the Beer League (although I've known some folks over the years who would love to be members), and I'm not familiar with Augustana. This could be interesting.
• Thursday, Jan. 4: Cedric the Entertainer promoting The Cleaner and musical guest Switchfoot (CD is Oh! Gravity.) Cedric is okay and the band sounds interesting. They're ringing a bell with me, but I just can't place them.
• Friday, Jan. 5: Now, this is the really big shoe... Donald Trump (probably promoting The Apprentice which premieres soon, but surely will touch on his latest embarrassing public feud with Rosie O'Donnell) and Mary Lynn Rajskub from 24. No musical guest is listed at this time.

There are the pants for this week. Keep in mind, if you are a stupid human or if your pet does a silly pet trick, they're always looking for new acts. I contend cats are under-represented but my own two cats refuse to go, something about shunning the spotlight. Go figure.

Sneak Peek: 'The Funniest Commercials of the Year: 2006' on TBS

Tonight, tonight, you're gonna giggle tonight.

Mark it down - tonight, Wednesday, December 27 at 9 PM ET/PT, TBS. Be there. You won't regret it. Kevin Nealon will host the event from Times Square, NYC and it is the Funniest Commercials of the Year: 2006.

I've always been a fan of entertaining television, even when it comes to television commercials - the funnier the better. I miss some of the great ones mainly because I'm not a football fan and can't endure the Superbowl just to watch the commercials. I miss others because I live in the U.S.A. and don't get to see some of the ads from abroad. I've talked about TV commercials before, from GEICO's Gecko to its Cavemen, and I've even touched on how much I love the offbeat AmeriQuest ads.

Thanks to the good folks at TBS, I have the inside scoop on tonight's show ahead of time. It won't keep me from watching it as it airs. I have screener copies from them with no commercials, after all. I have to see what commercials they have during the show!

Now, I know the Top Ten Funniest Commercials of the Year and, just to tease you... I even know the order. But I'm forbidden to tell. They're "embargoed" or something like that! If I tell, then TBS may tie me to a chair and make me watch the Duddiest Commercials of the Year over and over again until I plea for mercy. I'm not sure what they'd do if I were to tell, but I dare not. You'll have to watch the show tonight to find out for yourself.

What I will say is that some of these commercials, even ones not in the top ten, got me laughing. Although I'm very familiar with some, others are new to me. I don't believe they ever played the white-culture-club-rap "Tea Par-tay" (an ad for Smirnoff) here in the NYC area. If they did, it was during football or something and I missed it.

The foreign commercials often get a bit racier than our own and some of them probably couldn't air on our stations. But, they're in the show, possibly a bit censored, definitely somewhat blurred. To me, some of the racy commercials aren't necessarily my favorites. I like the ones which make me laugh out loud as they air and this show has many of those.

TBS has a webpage going for the show and I encourage you to drop by there and check it out.

No, you can't get the order of the Top Ten and the winning Number One out of me! I won't tell! It's embargoed information, I tell ya! TBS trusted me with it and I just can't let them down.

But I will say, I think they nailed it.

TV Newsy Bits - Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Well, well, well... TV, with the exception of holiday programming, has been a bit quiet as of late. Not to fear, though! Sometime later tonight or tomorrow morning I'll be sharing a sneak peek at a TBS show which airs tomorrow night - The Funniest Commercials of the Year: 2006. It's hosted by Kevin Nealon (ex-SNL) and I'll let you know all about it in just a wee bit.

Another new series on the horizon, this one coming to us from HGTV, sounds interesting. Television and movie actor Ed Begley, Jr. is in his own new reality show about himself... and his wife... and his obsession with eco-friendly green ways while his wife is decidedly not such a fanatic. The premise reminds me of either Green Acres or Donny and Marie (she was a little country, he was a bit rock and roll) on a modern basis with a real-life couple. Living with Ed premieres on New Year's Day (Monday) at 1 PM ET/PT on cable station HGTV. After the premiere, its regular slot will be Sunday nights at 10 PM ET/PT through February 4. The website for the show has more information. I'll be checking it out.

Just a reminder - if you're in the Boston area or have plans travel there, Grey's Anatomy fans have the chance to see GA's Kate Burton in the play "The Cherry Orchard" at the Huntington Theatre. The play will run from January 5 through February 4. Adam from the theatre was kind enough to send this photo taken at the first rehearsal meet and greet.

Y'know, Boston is lovely in the winter! If I were closer, I'd certainly go.

In other TV Newsy Bits:

• Start the New Year With a Triple Episode Night of "Heroes" on NBC - Yes! Three episodes, although repeats.
• Don't forget - TBS will be showing new My Boys episodes tonight through Thursday night at 10 PM ET/PT. If you haven't caught the show yet, it's a lot of fun and a step away from the dramas we usually see at that hour (as well as this week's repeats).
• Following a pattern of big name stars in episodes thus far this season, Law and Order: SVU kicks off the non-repeats next week with "name" guest stars according to Celebrity Spider.
• The ex-Prison Break actor recently involved in a car accident which killed a teenaged boy, Lane Garrison, has been fired from his role in a movie.
• The Mountain Press has an article about Survivor: The Australian Outback winner Tina Wesson's new book. Will you be buying it?

Pants With a Purpose - This Week on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' - Dec. 25 - 29

Last week we saw Dave knock the meatball off the top of the Late Show Christmas tree for the second time, leaving a crushed Jay Thomas in his dust.

This week we're in store for repeats, not unexpectedly I might add. Since I've seen them before, maybe I'll hit the sack early for a week! I wonder what it's like to get nearly seven hours of sleep.

Here's the line-up:

• Monday, Dec. 25: Originally aired 12/04/06 - Danny DeVito, duct tape expert William Beacom and Silversun Pickups (musical guest). The kid with the duct tape is fun - all you ever wanted to know about duct tape, but were afraid to ask. Er, okay, he has some facts, but basically makes things out of the duct tape. I want a pair of the duct tape Converse knock-offs.
• Tuesday, Dec. 26: Originally aired 11/22/06 - Matthew Broderick, Stupid Pet Tricks, Lupe Fiasco & Jill Scott. A decent show, but cats are so under-represented in the Stupid Pet Tricks segments!
• Wednesday, Dec. 27: Originally aired 11/06/06 - Will Ferrell, Britney Spears Walk-On, Jack Hanna. Now, this one I'll watch again. I'm not a big Will Ferrell fan although his latest movie sounds interesting - I like the thought of being a character in a novel, I guess. And, I can never get enough of the Jack Hanna segments on the show.
• Thursday, Dec. 28: Originally aired 11/28/06 - George Clooney and musical guests The Decemberists. The Clooney segment is fun as he taunts Brad Pitt with embarrassing photos, but that's the height of the excitement for this one.
• Friday, Dec. 29: Originally aired 12/13/06 - Regis Philbin, Kid Scientists segment and music guest Robert Randolph and the Family Band. An excellent show, for sure. But this is way too soon to see it again. If you're a steel guitar fan, check out the band. Robert Randolph is amazing.

So, there you go... your repeat pants for the holiday week. Hopefully Dave is enjoying the holiday time with little Harry who's really at a cute age for the season this year!

Happy Holidays!

I want to take a moment to wish all of you a Merry Christmas (if that's your holiday) or plain ol' Season's Greetings if you don't celebrate Christmas.

Thank you for being such a huge part of this blog - you've made it all worthwhile!

I hope you enjoy the day with family, friends, love and (of course) great food.

Graphic by Zoetawny. She rocks, y'know!

Holiday Television Programming This Weekend - Dec. 23 - 24

'Twas the weekend before Christmas and all through the house... there were holiday television movies, specials, and cartoons! Of course, you're through with your shopping, wrapping, and baking. It's time for some family time, or even some me time relaxing in front of the TV set, right?

These listings aren't all-inclusive - premium cable stations and local programming aren't included. But, they're representative of the major happenings on broadcast and cable television.

Late Friday night, December 22:

• 11:00 PM ET/PT - TNT - A Perfect Day (movie)
• 11:35 PM ET/PT - CBS - Late Night with David Letterman, Christmas show
• 11:30 PM ET/PT - TBS - The Nightmare Before Christmas (movie)

Saturday, December 23:

• 2 AM ET/PT - F/X - Miracle on 34th Street (movie)
• 4 AM ET/PT - USA - 12 Days of Christmas Eve (movie)
• 7 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - Blizzard (movie)
• 9 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - Snow (movie)
• 11 AM ET/PT - Lifetime - Mr.St. Nick (movie)
• 11 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - Christmas Do-Over (movie)
• 11:15 AM ET/PT - TNT - Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (movie)
• Noon ET/PT - CW - All I Want for Christmas (movie)
• 1 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Call Me Claus (movie)
• 1 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - A Mom for Christmas (movie)
• 3 PM ET/PT - TBS - Hook (movie)
• 3 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Under the Mistletoe (movie)
• 3 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - A Christmas Romance (movie)
• 4 PM Et/PT - Food Network - All Star Holiday Party
• 5 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Crazy for Christmas (movie)
• 5 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Mary Poppins (movie)
• 5 PM ET/PT - Food Network - Christmas in America
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC - The Sound of Music (movie)
• 7 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - His and Her Christmas (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Eloise at Christmastime (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - Food Network - Italian Christmas
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Eve's Christmas (movie)
• 10 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Home Alone 3 (movie)
• 10:30 PM ET/PT - TBS - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (movie)

Sunday, December 24:

• Midnight ET/PT - Lifetime - Stolen Miracle (movie)
• 12:30 AM ET/PT - TBS - The Nightmare Before Christmas (movie)
• 1 AM ET/PT - Comedy Central - Bad Santa (movie)
• 2 AM ET/PT - TBS - Snow Day (movie)
• 3 AM ET/PT - USA - Three Wise Guys (movie)
• 3:30 AM ET/PT - AMC - Prancer (movie)
• 5 AM ET/PT - TNT - A Christmas Carol (movie)
• 6 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - 12 Tiny Christmas Tales
• 6:30 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Mr. Magoo's Christmas
• 7 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - The Stingiest Man in Town
• 7:30 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Nine Dog Christmas
• 8 AM ET/PT - TBS - Hook (movie)
• 9 AM ET/PT - TNT - A Perfect Day (movie)
• 9:30 ET/PT - Cartoon Network - A Johnny Bravo Christmas
• 10 AM ET/PT - WNET (PBS) - Arthur's Perfect Christmas
• 10 AM ET/PT - A&E - Karroll's Christmas (movie)
• 10 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - Eloise at Christmastime (movie)
• 10:55 AM ET/PT - TBS - The Nightmare Before Christmas (movie)
• 10:30 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - The Night B4 Christmas
• 11 AM ET/PT - Lifetime - Santa Who? (movie)
• 11 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Bah-Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas
• Noon ET/PT - CW - A Christmas Wish (movie)
• Noon ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• Noon ET/PT - ABC Family - Little Drummer Boy
• Noon & 2 PM ET/PT - AMC - Miracle on 34th Street (movie)
• 12:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - The Leprauchauns' Christmas Gold
• 12:30 PM ET/PT - TBS - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (movie)
• 1 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Bill and Mandy Save Christmas
• 1 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Casper's Haunted Christmas (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - F/X - Miracle on 34th Street (movie)
• 3 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Christmas at Water's Edge (movie)
• 3 PM ET/PT - TLC - Crazy Christmas Lights
• 3 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
• 4 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - The Story of the First Christmas Snow
• 4:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
• 5 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - A Christmas Wedding (movie)
• 5 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - The Legend of Frosty the Snowman
• 5 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Pinocchio's Christmas
• 6 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Jack Frost
• 6 PM ET/PT - History Channel - The Real King Herod
• 6 & 8 PM ET/PT - AMC - Miracle on 34th Street (movie)
• 6 PM ET/PT - Food Network - Al Roker's Christmas in New York
• 7 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - All She Wants for Christmas (movie)
• 7 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Frosty's Winter Wonderland
• 7 PM ET/PT - History Channel - The Spear of Christ
• 7 PM ET/PT - Food Network - All Star Holiday Party
• 7:30 PM ET/PT - TBS - Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• 7:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
• 8 PM ET/PT - NBC - It's a Wonderful Life (movie)
• 8 & 10 PM ET/PT - TBS - A Christmas Story (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - A Lost Claus
• 8 PM ET/PT - Food Network - Emeril Live: Hilda's Holiday Classics
• 9 PM ET/PT - CBS - A Very Married Christmas (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - WNET (PBS) - The Nutcracker With Mikhail Baryshnikov
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Holiday Wishes (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - A Year Without Santa Claus
• 9 PM ET/PT - Comedy Central - Bad Santa (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - HGTV - White House Christmas 2006
• 10 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Rudolph's Shiny New Year
• 10 PM ET/PT - AMC - Miracle on 34th Street (movie)
• 10 PM ET/PT - HGTV - Holiday Windows
• 10:30 PM ET/PT - WNET (PBS) - Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Renée Fleming and Claire Bloom
• 11 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Little Drummer Boy
• 11 PM ET/PT - HGTV - What's With That Christmas House?
• 11:30 PM ET/PT - ABC - A Dream for Christmas (movie)

TV Newsy Bits - Thursday, December 21, 2006

Well, this may be a bit more "schtuff" than actual Newsy Bits tonight. You've been warned!

Okay, who's following the Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump brouhaha? (You know how I love to use the word "brouhaha" in a sentence, right? A perfect excuse to do it!) I simply can't believe these two wealthy celebrity adults, can you? And, what's getting me is that I think Donald sunk lower than Rosie. I would have thought it would be the other way around. I'm a huge The Apprentice fan, but he's disappointed me with his behavior in this matter. To sink to calling someone "ugly" and "fat" is schoolyard stuff. Not that I'm defending Rosie, mind you. But...!

Did anyone see the brief Lost promo during Ugly Betty tonight? Jack and Kate have the walkie-talkies and Jack's trying to get Kate a way off the island. Yes, more proof there are indeed two islands. Heck, if giant polar bears run amok, they can go around an island and never see another right nearby. Kate and Sawyer are attacked by the others and someone gets shot.

It seems tonight is the meatball-and-pizza-on-the-tree night for the Late Show with David Letterman judging by the promos. And, tomorrow night is the Christmas show with the Annual Christmas Tree Football Toss.

Ho ho...

TV Newsy Bits - Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Uh-oh, winter starts tomorrow. Do you have your hats and gloves? Oh, sure... I'm certain some folks live in warm winter states, but I'm not one of them. However, the forecast for this area is not including a white Christmas this year. I'm sure we'll have a white Groundhog's Day and be ready for spring anyway.

Here at the TV Newsy Bits I found while poking about the Internet today:

• The TV Tattler has an interview with Yul Kwon, recent Survivor winner (as if you'd forget).
• Taylor Hicks First Album Enters Chart at #2 in First Week - I saw Taylor Hicks singing "White Christmas" this morning on The Early Show. It was a rather unusual version, but enjoyable. I can't help but wonder what new talents we'll see next month when American Idol returns.
• Speaking of American Idol, previous winner Ruben Studdard has shed 100 pounds and has his sights set on helping others in Alabama lose weight.
• Evangeline Lilly, Kate on Lost, lost her Hawaii rental home to a fire early today. Thankfully, she and her roommate(s) weren't home at the time, so they're fine.

I'm currently watching Criminal Minds. I know it's a repeat, but remember... this is a show I haven't been watching, so it's new to me. Y'know, I may end up getting hooked on this show.

Are you all out catching up on shopping or did you get some TV watching done today?

Today's Lyrical Non Sequitur:

Seasons change with the scenery,
weaving time in a tapestry,
won't you stop and remember me at any convenient time?
Funny how my memory skips while looking over manuscripts of unpublished rhyme,
drinking my vodka and lime,
I look around, leaves are brown and the sky is a hazy shade of winter.
Look around, leaves are brown there's a patch of snow on the ground.
-- "Hazy Shade of Winter" by Paul Simon, recorded by Simon and Garfunkel

TV Newsy Bits - Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Get yer bits here. Fresh TV Newsy Bits hot off the press... er, keyboard.

Now, bear with me a moment here. Last week, the CBS website for The Late Show with David Letterman had Bette Midler listed as the Friday night headline guest. Instead, it was Clint Eastwood. They never updated the page to reflect the change. I made a correction to my weekly Late Show guest listings article when I saw the promos.

Being the huge Letterman fan that I am, I know it's always Jay Thomas who does the Annual Christmas Tree Football Toss. He's listed on the website to do it this Friday. But I swear my ears are hearing Dave Price (from The Early Show). Say what? Am I going strangely hearing deficient? Has anyone else heard Dave Price? I'll listen more closely tonight, I guess.

Right now I have the new NBC show Identity on in the background as I write this. I like the premise of the show, but I'm not sure it will hold my interest. So far my impression is that the old What's My Line? married the stage (and music) of The Weakest Link and the wedding was ordained by Penn of Penn and Teller.

The good folks at TBS sent me some more screeners for new My Boys episodes which I'll be watching over the next few days and report back on. They also sent me the news that they've ordered nine new episodes in addition to the five new ones which will air December 26th - 28th starting at 10 p.m. ET/PT. If you liked Friends and Sex and the City, My Boys attracts the same sort of audience while not really being much like either. Have I confused you yet? Check out the show!

In other TV Newsy Bits:

• Reality News Online (RNO rocks) has a transcript of the Yul and Ozzy (Survivor) interviews from The Early Show. The RNO interview with Ozzy sheds makes me like the guy even more. Yul explained his strategy in his interview with them.
• RNO rocked on with a Sundra interview, an Adam interview and a Becky interview.
• Have you had enough Survivor yet? If not, more details about next season have been reported by Reality TV World. Celebrity Spider has news about the ratings (very good) and about show memorabilia up for auction.
• What? More Survivor? AOL has a peachy-keen "Where Are They Now?" feature (not limited to just AOL members). Well, we probably all know where Richard Hatch is...!
• In non-Survivor news, Former 'N Sync Star Joey Fatone Set for Dancing With the Stars

This Week's Holiday Television Programming - December 18 - 22

Oh, no! Time is running out! Chanuka has already begun; Christmas will be here soon. But you can still shop for Christmas gifts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And, there are plenty of specials and holiday shows for you to enjoy during quiet times. This list isn't totally inclusive -- premium cable and local programming are noticeably asbsent. But it gives the skinny on specials, holiday movies, and more during the week.

Graphic artist Zoetawny made me a rockin' reindeer for the holiday, so let's all dance!

Thump.

Or not. Thanks, Zoetawny! It's spiffy!


Monday, December 18:

• Daytime television shows such as Rachael Ray and Martha will be featuring holiday content throughout the week. Ellen DeGeneres is reruns this week.
• 7 PM ET/PT - HGTV - The White House Christmas 2006
• 7 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (movie)
• 8 & 10 PM ET/PT - TNT - A Perfect Day (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - All She Wants for Christmas (movie)

Tuesday, December 19:

• Midnight ET/PT - TNT - A Perfect Day (movie)
• 8 AM ET/PT - Comedy Central - The Hebrew Hammer (movie)
• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - Christmas on Chestnut Street (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Recipe for a Perfect Christmas (movie)
• 6 PM ET/PT - HGTV - Holiday Windows 2006
• 7 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Mr. Magoo's Christmas
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Frosty's Winter Wonderland
• 7:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC - I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown!
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - AMC - Prancer (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Christmas at Water's Edge (movie)

Wednesday, December 20:

• 8 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (movie)
• 10 AM ET/PT - TBS - Beethoven (movie)
• 11 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - A Lost Claus
• 11:30 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Tom and Jerry: Shiver Me Whiskers (animated movie)
• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - The Secret of Giving (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Borrowed Hearts (movie)
• 3:15 PM ET/PT - AMC - Prancer (movie)
• 6 PM ET/PT - HGTV - What's With That Christmas House?
• 7 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - The Legend of Frosty the Snowman
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - The Year Without a Santa Claus
• 8 PM ET - WNET (PBS - NYC) - Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Renée Fleming and Claire Bloom
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Christmas Do-Over (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - TNT - A Christmas Carol (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Home for the Holidays (movie)
• 10 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - The Year Without a Santa Claus
• 10 PM ET/PT - TNT - A Perfect Day (movie)

Thursday, December 21:

• Midnight ET/PT - TNT - A Perfect Day (movie)
• 8 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - The Night B4 Christmas
• 8:30 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• 9 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Casper's Haunted Christmas (animated movie)
• 10 AM ET/PT - TBS - Christmas Rush (movie)
• 11 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - The Angel Doll (movie)
• Noon ET/PT - History Channel - The Christmas Truce
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Christmas in My Hometown (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - The Legend of Frosty the Snowman
• 6 PM ET/PT - HGTV - Outta Control Christmas
• 7 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Bill and Mandy Save Christmas
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Cat in the Hat
• 7:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Seuss on the Loose
• 8 PM ET/PT - CBS - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
• 8 & 10:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - How the Grinch Stole Christmas (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - A Town Without Christmas (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - HGTV - Over the Top Holiday

Friday, December 22:

• 7 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - Once Upon a Christmas (movie)
• 8 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Olive, the Other Reindeer
• 9 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - Twice Upon a Christmas (movie)
• 9 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - The Legend of Frosty the Snowman
• 10 AM ET/PT - TBS - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (movie)
• 10 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Bah! Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas
• 11 AM ET/PT - F/X - Miracle on 34th Street (movie)
• Noon ET/PT - USA - A Christmas Carol: The Musical (movie)
• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - The Road to Christmas (movie)
• 12:30 PM ET/PT - NIK - I'll Be Home for Christmas
• 1 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Casper's Haunted Christmas (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - USA - Three Wise Guys (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - A Town Without Christmas (movie)
• 4 PM ET/PT - USA - The 12 Days of Christmas Eve (movie)
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Rudolph's Shiny New Year
• 8 PM ET/PT - CBS - The 8th Annual A Home for the Holidays with Rod Stewart
• 8 PM ET/PT - BET - Holiday Heart (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Mary Poppins (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - AMC - Prancer (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - PAX - It Happened One Christmas (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Christmas Child (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - A Lost Claus
• 9:30 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Bravo Christmas

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' - Season Finale -or- "They can't light a fire when given matches?"

I'm much more satisfied with the finale of Survivor compared to the most recent Amazing Race. I had not just one, but two contestants I really thought played the game well and, gosh, I liked them! I was ambivalent about the final group on The Amazing Race once the numbers got down. At least Survivor didn't fail me!

Five remain. Who will outlast the others to be the final Survivor?

After a fairly brief (compared to some) season recap, the show opened on Day 37 with Adam contemplating his fate. He knew that unless he wins Immunity, he's sure to be a goner at the next Tribal Council. No one would sleep with him; he's all alone - a dead man walking, so to speak. He tried to plant the seeds of betrayal in Ozzy, pointing out what a huge target Ozzy carries due to his performance in challenges. Yeah, it worried Ozzy some, but was it enough to sway him?

When treemail came, it indicated a spider web and the chance to slither, run, balance, and know directions. Okay, it sure did. Jeff Probst said it was one of the toughest puzzles ever in this often much too puzzling puzzler of a season. Okay, I said the last part - Jeff just said toughest puzzle ever. I just feel there have been way too many puzzle challenges this season.

This one had them going through a heck of an obstacle course to retrieve eight bags of puzzle parts, one at a time. Once all the bags were retrieved, they had to correctly make an eight-point compass rose. For a while I thought Yul would get it as he seems very intelligent and possibly a Puzzlemaster. But, no. Ozzy won Immunity once again. He's unbelievable!

Adam tried to kick his plan to get the hidden Immunity Idol out of Yul's hands into high gear. He pleaded his case with Ozzy. He pleaded with the girls, Sundra and Becky. In confession, he said that if he can't get Yul to use the idol, he knows he'll be voted off.

And, at Tribal Council, Aitu once again stuck together and voted Adam out. They had a dream of being the Final Four and it came to fruition despite Adam's calling Becky and Sundra out for riding coat-tails. He was a gentleman as he left, though. As some might have said on Big Brother 7: All Stars, a true class act as he left.

Aitu celebrated, then treemail arrived informing them that all four will participate in the final Immunity Challenge. They all embarked on the inevitable Rites of Passage tour, gathering markers of the previous castoffs, saying the obligatory nice things about them. Yawn. They then stood on a mountain top and cast the markers onto a fire. Double yawn. About the only interesting tidbit I heard was that Jonathan had lost 30 pounds in the time he was on the island. It seemed that the Survivors had more food than ever before this season, but perhaps the editing misled us a bit.

The final Immunity Challenge had the ex-Aitu folks standing on small platforms in water. In 15-minute intervals, parts of the platforms were removed. The platforms were made according to the foot size of each so that no one had an advantage. As the platforms dwindled, my own feet hurt just watching them. The final platform was a half the size of a postcard. Yipes!

Becky was the first to fall, followed much later by Yul. Then it was between Sundra and Ozzy on the teensiest platform. Sundra put up a good fight, but Ozzy outlasted her and won the final Immunity. Woohoo! (Yes, he's one of my two favorites I've been cheering on each week.)

Ozzy was pumped over his victory, but was also impressed that Sundra held out so long. But, back at camp, the tightly-knit group knew they were going to face a dilemma - they'd have to vote one of their own off. Ozzy thought it best that they deliberately vote a tie with Becky and Sundra heading to a tiebreaker. That would be the most fair thing to do.

Yul, as owner of the hidden Exile Island Immunity Idol, was as immune as Ozzy, so it had to be one of the women. As he came through the whole game close to Becky, Yul offered her the idol. She seemed to consider it, but did she really? Would she?

At Tribal Council the idol went unused and, sure enough, it went to a tiebreaker. Now, this was amazing. After trying to do the fire-making challenge with a flint, machete, and flammable kindling for 90 minutes, Jeff gave them matches. And they still couldn't light a fire! Really! As the jury napped, rolled their eyes, and giggled and Yul and Ozzy cringed, Sundra finally ran out of matches. Becky eventually got a fire going and won. Buh-bye, Sundra.

Back at camp, Yul and Ozzy were together when a boat arrived with a feast for them. Becky was nowhere around. Ozzy thought it symbolic - it should be Yul and himself as he felt Becky did nothing to be there. Prophet Ozzy also predicted Becky wouldn't get any votes from the jury.

At the final Tribal Council, the jury wasn't anywhere near as rough as in previous years. For the most part, the constestants this season basically liked and respected each other. Yul and Ozzy were both such superb players that no one begrudged them being there. Becky, on the other hand, seemed a bit of a nonentity to the jury.

The speeches the three gave were pretty much what I expected. Yul said he was loyal to those loyal to him, brought his whole team forward, and felt he had affected the game. Ozzy talked about being the underdog and working so hard to provide food and win challenges. Becky tried to defend her actions and claimed to be working with Yul all along, not following him. She was playing a social game strategy. Um, okay.

Although I'm contemplating breaking down the questions by the jury in a separate article, a few things need to be mentioned. First, Becky made a point of telling the jury that Yul had offered her the Immunity Idol and she turned him down. Second, Brad told Ozzy he didn't think he talked 15 seconds to him while on the island. He asked him to tell him something about himself. What Ozzy told was a tearjerker - the story of a boy abandoned by his father. Tears came to his eyes, the eyes of his fellow castaways, and to my own. Jonathan was the only one a bit rough on the three and he was no Sue Hawk. He was more like Alan Alda picking on Major Winchester III.

With no cheesy (and I do miss the cheese) jet-skis or anything, Jeff ended up in Hollywood for the tally of the votes. Hey, no NYC this year? In a close vote, with no votes for Becky, it ended up going to Yul five votes to four. Since my favorites all season have been Yul and Ozzy, I was satisfied. I personally would have voted for Ozzy, but at least he won the SUV voted on by the show's fans as well as his $100,000 for second place. And, that kept the Survivor Car Curse intact, too. Even though they didn't give a car away during the season, one was won. And, no one winning the Survivor car has ever won the million. Becky, if web rumors are correct as CBS doesn't tell, won $85,000 for third place.

Overall, even though this season started up hyped with the possibilities of racial tension, I think it had one of the best casts ever. I've always been a fan of diversity and it was great to see that race didn't play as much of a role as the hype wanted us to believe. Yes, Yul and Ozzy said they both wanted to fight stereotypes, so race played a bit of a part. But at the end of the season, it didn't really matter who started out on what tribe unless you were one of the four remaining Aitu after the merge.

Jeff gave a few hints about Survivor 14: Fiji. Nineteen castaways, one tribe will have it easy, one will not, there will be an Exile Island with two hidden Immunity Idols, and something about a shocking decision one person will make. Again, it looks like the cast is diverse. Cool, I say.

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' - East Coast Finale Update - Winner

Yul won the million by a vote of 5 to 4. Becky didn't get any votes.

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' - East Coast Finale Update - Second Boot

It was a tie between Becky and Sundra at the second Tribal Council. Yul did not use the Idol to save Becky. A tiebreaker proved neither Becky or Sundra can make fire.

Eventually, Becky won. Sundra is out and the Final Three are Ozzy, Yul, and Becky.

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' - East Coast Finale Update - Final Immunity Challenge

Ozzy wins AGAIN. He's guaranteed a place in the Final Three. And, as mentioned in the promos, the Final Three have a chance at the million this season, not just the Final Two.

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' - East Coast Finale Update - First Boot

Not surprisingly, Adam was voted out at the first TC of the evening.

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' - East Coast Finale Update - Immunity

Ozzy did it again. He won Immunity and is guaranteed a spot in the Final Four.

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' 12/17 Finale Blogging

The finale has started on time here on the East Coast. I'll post East Coast Updates for important events as they air. If you don't think you're seeing the most recent post, use the December 2006 Archive link located in the right sidebar of the main page.

Survivors ready?