'Big Brother 8' - Still in Anticipation

There isn't much new news to share about the upcoming season. Someone put in a Wikipedia entry that Rob Mariano (Boston Rob) was going to be on the show, but that's what happens when anyone can update an entry on Wikipedia. I strongly doubt that he'll be on the show.

Over at the Hamster Watch site run by my favorite That Dingo, it's mentioned that something is actually coming across on the live feeds link. So, I checked it out as my SuperPass is active. Yep... a sign of things to come! "I'm sorry. The Big Brother 8 live stream you're trying to access isn't available at this time. Please try later." Ohhh... white words on a black background! But, hey... it's a step in the right direction!

Puffin' Pants - This Week on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' - June 18-22, 2007

Oh, no! It's another week of repeats for Pants Man Dave!

What am I going to do? Well, I'll probably rewatch them but I'll warn you now... I'll be reading books with the show playing in the background. So there, Dave.

• Monday, June 18: Mike Myers (Shrek The Third) and America Ferrara (Ugly Betty).
• Tuesday, June 19: Jack Hanna (YAY), Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy), and Patti Griffin whose latest CD is Children Running Through.
• Wednesday, June 20: Matt Damon (Ocean's Thirteen), Indy 500 Winner Dario Franchitti, musical guest Bright Eyes (CD is Cassadaga)
• Thursday, June 21: Johnny Depp and the Spinners. (No, Johnny Depp isn't the lead Spinner although that would be interesting.)
• Friday, June 22: Charles Barkley, Seth Rogan (Knocked Up), Michael Martin Murphey (best remembered for "Wildfire" but his latest CD is Heartland Cowboy: Cowboy Songs, Vol. 5)

Ah, we just have to wait until next Monday (June 25) on The Late Show with David Letterman. What's happening then? It's a new show! Bruce Willis is on! Diving dogs (always amusing) are on out on 53rd Street! But... most important to the Big Brother fans... it's the annual pre-season Julie Chen appearance on Letterman! Woohoo! We're getting near!

TV Newsy Bits - Saturday, June 16, 2007

Wasn't last night one of the more lackluster evenings in television history? Yes, there was the Daytime Emmy Award Show, or you could "attend" National Bingo Night. But neither of those rocked my socks. I ended up watching some odd show about the hippie era on the History Channel while reading a book.

Well, there was also the Subway Series game between the Yankees and the Mets. I had to share my train ride home from work with raucous fans. But the Mets won and broke the Yankees winning streak! Eek! I'm glad I didn't watch that!

Here's what I found out there on the web for this edition of TV Newsy Bits:

• Although I'm posting this a bit after the fact, the prison escapee who had plotted to kidnap David Letterman's son Harry is once again back behind bars. Good.
• Marcellas Reynolds from Big Brother has announced that he won't be co-hosting the Internet show Housecalls this year. In his forum, he cites his ever-busy career as one of the reasons. Um. Okay. He also mentions budget cuts and a format change. I previously posted on the blog that I saw Gretchen Massey's name, but no Marcellas. There is no Marcellas. It's a bit of a shame because he asked the questions fans wanted to ask and really understands the whole thing better than Gretchen.
• A commenter asked in a previous about the ad mentioning that The Black Donnellys were returning. From my understanding, it will be the rest of the season that had already been filmed. NBC yanked the show after showing a handful of episodes. It's some HD channel which is airing it. I don't get the channel, so I've lost my Donnellys.
• American Idol season one winner Kelly Clarkson has canceled her scheduled concert tour. She recently fired her manager and poor ticket sales were listed amongst other reasons for the decision.
• Director Wes Craven will be the guest judge on On the Lot next week (June 19). Ohhh... I wonder if they'll have to make scary movies!
• MSNBC has an intriguing article about reality television mogul Mark Burnett's hits and misses. In the article Burnett mentions that the 10 PM Sunday night time slot played a role in the demise of The Apprentice. I beg to differ. I think the change to L.A., the rich/poor gimmick, and the change away from George and Caroline to the TrumpKids had more to do with it. The time slot change was perhaps the final nail in the coffin to put the show out of its misery.
• The Fans of Reality TV forum has an interview with ousted from Hell's Kitchen little dude Eddie Langley. Eddie says that if he hadn't gone home he would have won. Okaaay...

That's it for now. When does Big Brother 8 start again? Where are we on our countdown? I need my live feeds for the down times of summer television!

'So You Think You Can Dance' - 6/14/07 Results Show - East Coast Updates

Tonight the three couples voted in the bottom, er... well, three... will have to "dance for their lives" solo. One male and one female will go home.

This entry will be updated with important results as the show airs here, so check back for the couple voted off! Remember, it's not a couple, per se. If one member of a couple dances well enough in the solo, he or she will go on.

Dominic and Sabra are bottom three. Ashlee and Ricky are also bottom three. The final three is rounded out with Faina and Cedric.

Going home are: Ashlee and... Ricky.

Whatever Will I Watch Tonight? - Thursday, June 14, 2007

Today is June 14. Do you know where your flag is?

Tonight's television is a mixed bag. In the 8 PM ET/PT hour on CBS, there's a new Pirate Master. Now, I've tried with the show, but pirates were never my thing and the show isn't doing anything to change my opinions, me mateys.

Oh, but ABC has the entire primetime block filled with basketball special shows and then a game. Hmmm.... NBA or pirates? FOX has a new Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader. Yes, I am. And I won't watch that. NBC has repeats of My Name is Earl and 30 Rock. CW has a repeat Smallville.

Court TV has two new back-to-back episodes of Speeders in the 8 PM ET/PT hour. Laugh if you must, but I may watch that. The network sent me a sampler of the show and, if nothing else, it's fast-paced. You also must remember that Cops is a guilty pleasure show of mine. This is along the same lines with speeders and their excuses trying to get out of tickets.

At 9 PM ET/PT, my definite choice is the So You Think You Can Dance results show. I'll be posting an East Coast Spoiler entry about the boot for those who wish to peek in from another time zone or those who just want to talk about the show.

Also on in that hour -- C.S.I. is a repeat on CBS, The Office and Scrubs are repeats on NBC. The CW is airing a Supernatural repeat. USA has a new Starter Wife episode and TLC has a new American Chopper.

At 10 PM ET/PT, while ABC is still playing the NBA, NBC has a new Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. CBS has a Shark rerun scheduled. TLC has a new Wrecks to Riches. Animal Planet is airing a new Animal Precinct (about time!). But I know I won't watch any of those. I'm catching The Wire on BET. Since I don't have HBO, I've become addicted to BET's airing of the series. I know I'll eventually catch the Animal Precinct episode as they air them for years in between new episodes!

What's your television schedule look like this evening?

(And remember to stop back for the So You Think You Can Dance East Coast Update which I should be posting shortly before 10 PM ET!

TV Newsy Bits - Wednesday, June 13, 2007

It's June 13... do you know where your children are?

Tonight's a night which will be mostly filled with So You Think You Can Dance for me. Right now I'm not sure if I'll be writing an entry about the show or not. But keep in mind that there's a blog discussion post for the show right here. The season premiere of Last Comic Standing goes for two hours starting at 9 PM tonight, but I'm going to pass on that this year. I haven't enjoyed it so much since my local dude Rich Vos got booted. Um, yeah. We're talking the first season, I think.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• Oh, I know we have some Blake Lewis (American Idol) fans in attendance here. People.com has a nice video highlighting his "sensitive side."
• According to this AOL Television News article, Sopranos series creator David Chase says that a movie isn't a sure thing. Well, he didn't say "fuggedaboudit."
• The Futon Critic is posting that America's Got Talent won its Tuesday night slot. I recorded the first hour as I watched On the Lot, but watched the second. It is indeed entertaining!
• The Celebrity Spider has an article about the return of Jericho on CBS -- these are rebroadcasts of the first season and are scheduled to start the day after Big Brother 8 begins. (Does everyone know that date?)
• Speaking of BB8... if memory serves, the initial cast announcements are usually made around the 20th of June. Hey, we're talking next Wednesday!

Yipes... Hok is going to dance! I must watch!

Ah, The Memories of 'Big Brother'

What's in store for us this season? Three weeks (and a day) to go! Meanwhile, let's remember Will's Internet Love. ;-)

Live Blogging - 'On the Lot' - June 12, 2007

Tonight's guest judge is David Frankel who's accompanying Garry Marshall and Carrie Fisher. This entry will be updated throughout the airing of the show here on the East Coast. Comments welcome!

One of the five whose films aired last week will be sent packing. Adam is safe, Shaline is safe. Sam is safe. It's down to Trever and Hilary. (I didn't like Hilary's film.) The announcement will be made at the end of the show.

Andrew's film is up. He was the barfing aliens guy. His film is "Polished." Looks like we have a proud janitor. Uh-oh... a spill! Aw, poor janitor dude. He may as well be invisible to the office staff. The messy office staff, that is. Super wax! Buff, butt. Uh-oh. He seems delirious with power. He hangs a free burgers at noon sign up and everyone runs... and they're sliders! No, not White Castle... the staff is all sliding right on by. He's now a happy guy.

Carrie - Vengeance is for the people without patience for karma. Good. David doesn't think it's the best film he's ever done... a bit slow. Garry thinks revenge works. "Polished" was quite polished according to Garry.

The next film is coming from David. "Love at First Shot" is his film. It's about a guy who's uncomfortable with girls. Okay, a geeky guy talking about space and wormholes on a date. He's kind of cute, though! A cell phone call from a guy who claims love is war and thinks he's needed. Oh, it's Cupid! The arrow keeps missing. Taking a waiter's clothes, he tries to get close to the table. Cupid is getting frustrated - "Let her talk for a minute." "What do you love?" It works! Cupid is no longer needed. A very cute film.

Carrie thinks it's derivative. David thinks it didn't come out right... mixed genres, ambiguity is the enemy of comedy. Garry thinks it wasn't paced right. He thought it was beautiful to look at. Huh. I liked it better than they did!

The third film of the night is from Shira-Lee. Her son is in her cast. What a cutie! The film, "Beeline," is about a single mom getting back into the dating world. It seems she's been just a bit busy as she arranges cover stories with her beaus to shield her son from knowing about her sexual escapades. Heh... the kid seemed to have it all planned so he'd get a PlayStation 3.

Carrie thinks it can be called "Slut Mom." Good, not great. David said it made him laugh. He liked it. Best so far. Garry thought the kid shouldn't smile while acting. Good one for the girls! Excellent job.

Marty is up next - he's the one who made a trailer instead of a film before. His film is "Dance With the Devil." Marty exudes confidence and thinks he's heads above the rest. I'm not understanding it so far. Green tint, woman and man. Then she's ill. Then she's not. She trusts him. I'm very confused. And, did I mention it's all in a green tint? The guy gets money hidden in a cabinet while men hold his girl hostage. They shoot her. "Was it worth it? You don't dance with the devil if you can't stand the heat."

Carrie thinks it's a victory of style over substance. Very distracting. Marty's defensive. OHH... "You're a big fan of yourself so maybe you don't need me," from Carrie. David said the film played more like his trailer and he liked the previous trailer more. Garry said it worked for him. Go deeper into the characters. I tend to agree with Carrie.

Kenny of "Whack Alley Cab" fame is up next. He seemed reluctant when they earlier asked who wanted to go up against the filmakers already on tonight. His film is "Edge on the End" - a film about a kid whose father died of alcoholism. Okay, Dad is definitely dead. Suspense music to rock. The kid is stumbling, climbing in snow. Narrated oddly. Various effects. The kid drinks, then drives, This is reminding me of an acid trip back in the sixties or something. Lesson learned? He throws out the bottle, two roses and flashes betwixt Dad and Son.

Carrie thinks it was stylistically distracting. She thinks he's cute. David admired the ambition and powerful imagery. Both Carrie and David think it's more of a music video. Garry says he "has new eyes." Stay unique and stay crazy. Carrie thinks the host has a crush on Kenny. I think the host's dress couldn't be cut any lower.

Final vote on last week... right after the break.

Yikes... Hilary is safe and Trever is going home. I honestly thought Hiary would be the one to go.

The voting is on. I liked "Polished" and "Beeline" the best. Your favorite? Who do you think will go home next week? My thoughts would be either Marty or Kenny will go.

'Hell's Kitchen' - A Quick Take on Episode 2

What a difference a week makes, eh?

Last week it seemed that the women, the Red Team, were doomed. This week it was the men (Blue Team) who couldn't get their act together.

And, those men so not got their act together in such a fashion that Gordon Ramsay kicked them out of the kitchen and had the women finish their serving. Of course, the promos had us expecting something Ramsay had never done before and showed an ambulance. The promos indicated that someone would stand up to him.

Bah, never happened. On the Blue Team, Aaron the older out-of-condition Asian cowboy, was feeling ill, dizzy, and generally hindering the progress of his own team. Vinnie from Joisey talks a good game in his camera time with us, but doesn't speak up to Ramsay. Eddie is woefully out of his league and talks about talking up. Josh is just self-righteous. Rock seems to be the most professional on the team.

The Red Team, after bickering like my brother and me when we were young'uns, actually worked together. I think it was Jen giving the lead and doing it very well. Hmmm... maybe it was Melissa. It wasn't Bonnie, the one Ramsay referred to as a dumb blonde and a ****** Barbie. Even Joanna, the Evil Queen from last week, showed some emotion, worked better with others, and just worked.

The women won the challenge tonight in addition to winning the service. The teams had to prep Dover sole which included skinning and removing the roe. Although Josh shined at the task, that's the only good thing he did all night. While the women went off deep sea fishing with Gordon Ramsay, the men had to skin and de-roe all of the fish for the service.

The men couldn't seem to do anything, not one single bit, of the service right. As I mentioned above, Ramsay kicked them out of the kitchen. Aaron, odd man out, was de-boning the fish into filets at the tables and did that wrong. The one who did the least wrong, Rock, was chosen by Ramsay to choose two to leave.

Eddie, the Little Dude, approached him and said his choices were himself (Eddie), Josh, and Aaron. Since Aaron is definitely losing it, he approached Rock and gave him the choices of "me and me." But he said he'd like to remain. Josh thinks he did okay, would do better.

In the end, Rock chose Eddie and Josh. Now, I wonder what Ramsay would have done with a choice of Aaron and Eddie. With the choices as presented, he kicked Eddie out. But I think that if Aaron had been up on the plate (so to speak) with Eddie, it may have been Aaron gone. Either way, they were both doomed. It's just a matter of when. Neither of the two could ever handle the high stress and pressure work that would come with a win.

A few miscellaneous notes: This show always has more smokers than I've ever seen on any reality show. I've never worked in the restaurant business, but is there a higher percentage of smokers in that line? And, where do they find so many places not delegated to the outdoors to smoke anyway? It's slim indoor pickings for smokers in California. My other note: why do so many guys on television and the movies named Vinny or Vinnie hail from Jersey? I've lived here about 13 years and have met two guys named Vinnie (or Vinny) in all that time.

Your thoughts on the latest episode?

The Latest 'Big Brother 8' News and Rumors (More Rumors)

Lots of news, although there are a lot of rumors, too!

Our friends over at Buddy TV have an interesting article posted today. I urge you to check out the whole thing (and tell them I sent you), but here's the rough skinny...

While I'll have the live feeds and be feeding you with reports at least three times a day, some of you might be able to watch the uncensored action yourselves! Well, except when they sing. Or talk about someone who hasn't signed a release. Or stuff like that. Oh, and it's only for three hours each night. Oh, and it will be only one feed, not multiple cameras. Oh... and it's going to be on the premium cable station ShoToo, the sister station of Showtime. Heck, unless you already have the station, it may be cheaper just getting the feeds and having them season-through, 24/7. The three-hour live show dubbed Big Brother: After Dark premieres on July 5. It will air starting at 9 PM ET/12 AM PT.

The Jokers site has an article about this new news, too. They also mention (although I knew it and you probably guessed it) that RealNetworks will be offering the live feeds once again. They have the two week trial listed this year, but don't go for it until the season starts. I have my SuperPass and have been checking for news on that front. They have a teaser, but no news, per se. The CBS Internet talk show Housecalls will be returning with Gretchen Massey, but no mention of Marcellas Reynolds.

Rumors are still coming through several grapevines that there will be a "high school bully" theme this season. Various folks claiming to have been turned down by casting are posting throughout the web that they were asked many, many questions about their high school days. Plus, the quote on a recent TV promo for the season from Janelle could be linked to such a theme. But there's nothing concrete. So, for right now, that's all rumors, perhaps foilers.

TV Newsy Bits - Monday, June 11, 2007

Greetings! Happy Monday to y'all. Well, if there is such a thing as a "happy" Monday. I suppose it could be an oxymoron like "jumbo shrimp."

Do you realize that by this time next month we'll have already picked our favorites on Big Brother 8?

Here are today's TV Newsy Bits...

• Remember... The Closer third season premiere is next Monday, June 18 at 9 PM ET/PT on TNT. Did you miss some episodes of the second season? Not to worry! TNT is holding a fifteen-hour The Closer marathon starting at 6 AM leading into the season premiere. All of the second season will be shown. And, thanks to TBS, I was given a screener copy of the premiere episode -- it's a mind-boggler indeed.
• Yikes! There was a bit of controversy over the Sopranos finale, eh?
• Hide Harry! The man who was jailed in a kidnap plot to abduct David Letterman's son has escaped from prison. Don't go to Montana, Dave. Stay here on the East Coast and give us fresh pants.
• Speaking of late-night television hosts, it's dawning on me who Lonnie Quinn -- ex-soap opera actor, transplant from a Florida station, dubiously credentialed meteorologist (certifcate, no degree) new WCBS2 (NYC) evening "meteorologist" -- reminds me of... Conan O'Brien with blondish hair. Ack.
• Are you a fan of body art? Tomorrow night at 10 PM ET/PT, TLC will air the season premiere of Miami Ink. The show seems to be more about the art behind the tattoos than folks getting them. Check out the website for lots of cool show-related doings!
• Oh... those poor Law and Order: Criminal Intent stars! According to this AOL TV News article, the show's major actors including Vincent D'Onofrio, will be returning next season without a raise. For some odd reason, I think they're still in a higher salary tier than most folks.

Pants To Make Your Butt Look Big - This Week on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' - June 11-15, 2007

It's a new week and it's a new list o' guests!

Fresh pants!

Here's who's scheduled to be on the show this week:

• Monday, June 11: Denis Leary promoting the new season of Rescue Me, Flight of the Conchords (HBO's Flight of the Conchords).
• Tuesday, June 12: Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer), Sir Richard Branson, Maroon 5 (latest CD is It Won't Be Soon Before Long).
• Wednesday, June 13: Bear Grylls (Man vs. Wild), Jeremy Piven (Entourage), Elvis Perkins (CD is Ash Wednesday).
• Thursday, June 14: John Cusack promoting 1408, musical guest Pink Martini (CD is Hey, Eugene).
• Friday, June 15: Michael Moore promoting Sicko and comedian Bill Burr.

'Big Brother 8' Programming Schedule Announced

According to The Futon Critic, Big Brother 8 will return to the same scheduled evenings as last season -- the season premiere will be Thursday, July 5 at 8 PM ET/PT. On Sunday evenings, the show will air at 8 PM ET/PT while the Tuesday night show will start at 9 PM ET/PT, an hour later than last year.

Pirate Master will follow BB8 on the premiere night, then settle into the 10 PM ET/PT slot on Tuesday evenings. It seems that it's been cast adrift, mateys.

There's still no casting news, nor news on the live feeds.

TV Newsy Bits - Thursday, June 7, 2007

Whoa... lots of news out there today!

Unfortunately, no new news on the upcoming Big Brother 8 cast, twists, or air times...!

There's good news, bad news, and odd news.

Here we go:

• Jericho fans can rejoice! Due to pressure from the fan community, CBS has ordered seven more episodes of the show after making the announcement that the show was cancelled. The New Jersey Star Ledger is just one of the sources for this story. So, it's true -- fan reaction actually mattered for once!
  


• It appears that someone has broken the non-disclosure clause of their contract over in Hell's Kitchen. Online betting venues have stopped action on the show due to "suspicious patterns." This Reality TV World article has more, but be warned -- the spoiler for the possible/probable winner is within the article. If you don't want the show spoiled for you, don't read the article.
  


• Nicole Ritchie was on The Late Show with David Letterman last night. He gave her a bit of the third degree (justifiably) about getting arrested, possible jail time down the road and more. What world does this girl live in, I ask? She thinks "everyone goes to jail." Say what? I have never been in jail and I'm twice her age. I even did some stupid things in my more youthful years and managed to not get arrested and not go to jail. AOL TV's Top Five has a clip of her appearance on the show. I'm still scratching my head over the girl.


• While you're at the AOL Top Five clips page, check out the one for So You Think You Can Dance. Twitch was amazing!
  
  
• In more So You Think You Can Dance news, here's Hok's MySpace page.
  

'Big Brother 8' News (And Lack Thereof) and Rumors

Thanks to graphic artist Zoetawny, I have a new fancy Big Brother 8 graphic! So, I'm ready for the season. Now, where's the news? What's the skinny on the show?

Alas, more of the news out there right at the moment is rumor and/or speculation rather than anything concrete.

If we go by the history of the show, it's likely that the houseguests themselves don't know if they made the cut or not. It's usually not until mid-June, a bit later even, when the houseguests are whisked away to sequester pre-show, pre-entering the Big Brother house.

So, cast announcements probably won't be made before the third week of June or thereabouts. But usually there's more news at this time, at least about the schedule of the show. For some reason this year, CBS is being mum about things. We know that Julie Chen (the Chenbot) will be hosting again. We know that Arnold Shapiro stepped out and Alison Grodner will be the sole executive producer. We know the premiere date -- Thursday, July 5.

But... but... what about Pirate Master? Our friends at Buddy TV asked the very same question in this article. After all, that airs in the same Thursday night slot where BB usually resides. Perhaps C.S.I reruns will be bumped for the summer? I doubt that as even the reruns are a cash cow for CBS.

The TV Grapevine website has the rumor that this season's twist is going to revolve around high school bullies. I hope that's just a rumor -- that wouldn't be my idea of good television. The MSNBC site has a blurb mentioning the show (with a pic of Mike Boogie), but tells us nothing new besides the fact that Rock Star doesn't seem to be returning.

So, that's where we stand. Rumors, speculation, but all we really know for sure is that July 5 we'll be watching the show. As news about the feeds is released, as well as news about the cast or showtimes or twists, I'll let you know!

Whatever Will I Watch Tonight? - Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Once again, I know this isn't my usual graphic. It's a ladybug on clover in bright sunshine -- you can click on it to see it in its full bug-glory. I'm still playing with the new camera and new computer. Of course, these will be my only major expense playtoys for the year, but the digital camera I had was over four years old and had been dropped a lot. With the new computer, I don't even have to hook (either) camera up to the computer to download the photos -- it has card-reading slots for almost every media there is and treats them like a separate drive.

One thing I have to do is go out and get amplified/powered speakers for the new computer, though. I have two sets of computer speakers which have always worked fine. I never really depended on my computer for fine stereo sound. But the speakers are operating at such low volumes that I can barely hear them now.

And the computer was overdue, too. I still have working computers in Windows 95 (yikes), Windows 98, and Windows XP... but the first two can only do dial-up without major work. And the most recent, the XP OS, is almost seven years old and was starting to flake out a bit.

The new computer, after rebates, is only costing me around $500 compared to the really wimpy Windows 95 machine which cost me over $2,500 about 13 years ago. The XP 'puter was a good deal -- an open box buy at $500 which should have gone for $1200. So, I have a TriGem (heh), Compaq, and two HP Pavillions spread out over the years. I'm not mentioning the strictly DOS ATT 'puter from the 80s. That one never did online other than local BBS stuff and used 5.25" floppies. Yes, I'm a geekette, I guess.

But with Big Brother 8 on the horizon, I had to get myself up to snuff. I can't be breaking down amidst the live feeds, can I?

Enough about computer doings... what will I be watching tonight?

The 8 PM hour (ET/PT) is a bit slim pickings for me. I don't want to watch hockey on NBC. So You Think You Can Dance is a repeat in that hour on FOX, but it's a maybe with me. Doubled-up repeats of The King of Queens on CBS just don't make the grade with me. ABC has a new The Next Best Thing. That'll be a maybe. I have no interest in CW's new Hidden Palms, but it is indeed something new. I guess I'll decide what I'm watching at 7:59 PM.

In the 9 PM ET/PT hour, I have a definite will-watch show - So You Think You Can Dance in a new episode on FOX. There's a new American Inventor on ABC, but the show lost me last season. I doubt I'll watch it at all this season unless there's nothing else on I remotely want to see. CW has a new One Tree Hill episode, but I've never watched the show... don't believe I'll start now. TBS has new back-to-back episodes of House of Payne. If you're a Tyler Perry fan, check 'em out! Since I've already seen the episodes in screener versions, they're a maybe for me for recording. It's always interesting to see the differences between the screeners and the aired versions.

In the 10 PM ET/PT hour, there's a new Traveler on ABC. I know the show should be something I like, but I couldn't get into it when I tried to watch it last week. Instead, I'm going to watch two back-to-back new episodes of Cash Cab on the Discovery Channel. I may record Traveler to give it another shot, but new Cash Cabs I just can't not watch! There's a new Top Chef on Bravo, too. With that network and show, they re-air the shows often enough to keep up with them. I'll just have to check future listings or record that instead of the Traveler. Decisions, decisions.

What will you be watching tonight?

Live-Blogging 'On The Lot' - June 5, 2007

I didn't think I was going to enjoy this show, but I've gotten myself hooked.

It's starting here on the East Coast as I type this. I'll be updating the entry as the show goes along. The guest judge this week is Michael Bay, the director of Transformers.

Only five directors will be showing their movies this week. No more than three minutes in length, five days to make it.

Sam is the first contestant up. He talks about Internet success. His film tonight is Broken Pipe Dreams. Oops... a diamond ring in the toilet! Some other guy dumped his fish in the toilet, no explanation, back to the ring in the toilet. Broom falls, it flushes. I'm not feeling this one. Now he's tangled in thread from a towel as the toilet flushes. Following the pipe, breaking it with a shovel. The water flows the ring into his hand, his fish in the other. Audience goes wild.

Carrie likes it, very cute, very surreal. Michael told him he could have tightened it up -made a two-minute film into three minutes. Garry Marshall wants another topic other than toilets, but said he did well.

Trever James is up next with a blind date comedy. He's the small-town guy from Montana. His film is named Teri, about a man named Ben. Okay. He's confident that he's not going home. Ben reads a note from his blind date and makes a practice run on what to say. A woman appears. (The guy actor is cute.) Now Lala wants to dance. These girls keep changing. Now a scary Goth Gal - "we're all going to die here." Now a neurotic. Heh, now a guy named Terry. The doorbell rings and it's a perfectly normal gal named Teri. Okay, it was cute. I liked it better than the toilet one.

Carrie likes it, acting over the top since they were acting his fears, good overall, cute. Michael - good comic pacing with editing, did good work, more on photography and style. Garry Marshall liked his golf film more. He thinks he can do better.

Hilary Green, the one who did the "pee on the bus" film I so didn't like last week will be next up. The First Time I Met the Finklesteins is her film. A couple is preparing to meet the man's parent. "Good in bed like his old man," the dad says. Oh, this is roughly as bad as her film last week. Te parents are being stereotypical Jewish parents to the max. Bad taste. The mother keeps wanting Kelly to talk with her in the kitchen. Blech. Not entertaining and mostly in bad taste. Send Hilary home this week... please.

Carrie says the direction is claustrophobic. She likes the writing. Michael says it's a groaner, uncomfortable dialogue and not funny. Garry says she was too tight with the shot. He also thinks her writing is good, but she needs to do better.

Adam, the one who left Harvard Law School for his film career is up next. He feels the competition is his big break. He set his romantic comedy, Dough the Musical,in his girlfriend's parents' bakery. Quality-wise, it's good, a young man in a bakery and a woman in her apartment dreaming of love... in a musical. She wants a job, he's in love with his baking. She doesn't eat carbs. Turns out they know each other from childhood in Tennessee. Very well done! This was the most professional of the lot so far.

Carrie - incredibly original. Really good job. Michael - very good for five days, lyrics great, work a bit more on photography. Garry - loves the story, so theatrical, work out the chemistry with the actors more, very good.

Next up is the woman who did the speed-dating film last week. Laughing Out Loud is her film. Shalini is her name. The film is about a gay comedian from India. She's not sure how folks will relate. He's trying on outfits. He's in a comedy club in NYC. It's a bit of a narrative from the comedian about his fears and the need to believe in himself. Hmmm... it's interesting, but I wouldn't call the film a comedy. I believe their objective tonight was to make a funny film, not a serious film about a funny guy.

Carrie - well-made like a bio pic. You could do better than the advice "be yourself." Michael - Most visual style of all so far, you gave me a chill. Garry - Doesn't have to be linear, must engage you.

Huh... I thought the premise was comedy, maybe I was wrong.

Carrie liked the toilet film, Michael liked the gay Indian comic film, Garry liked the bakery. The contestants liked Shalini's movie best, least favorite was Hilary's movie. I agree on the one they don't like -- of the films, it was Hilary's I liked the least. I thought Dough The Musical might be the best.

Your thoughts?

'Hell's Kitchen' - Season Premiere

He's back! In all his fury, it's Chef Gordon Ramsay!

Tonight's season premiere seems to indicate it's going to be another hellish season in Hell's Kitchen. The new crop of top chef wannabes seem to be even more inept than last season's contestants. And, I thought their qualities were more lacking than not.

No one shined tonight. Not a one contestant seemed professional, knowledgeable, skilled, and able to work with others.

The Blue Team, the guys, had many weakest links, and no real leaders... at least none who emerged in tonight's show. Aaron, a 48-year-old overweight emotional Asian man prone to wearing cowboy hats, would probably have been cut had the team not won. Oh, mind you... not one patron was really served a whole dinner and even the appetizers didn't make the rounds. The team won more by default as the Red Team was even worse.

The cooking on the Red Team wasn't worse than the Blue (both teams were horrible), but it was the fighting amongst the team which did them in. In my opinion, the instigator of it all was Joanna. But when they lost, the one who had to name names decided that Joanna and Tiffany would be chosen to stand before Ramsay. A girl named Julia (?) was the more obvious choice for going home -- she works in a waffle house, has no real "big time" restaurant experience, and broke down in tears.

Gordon Ramsay made the wrong choice. He sent Tiffany home. Joanna's behavior was obnoxious and will probably only grow worse the longer she stays.

It's going to take me a few weeks to get a handle on the names, but I think the show is off to a good start. Your thoughts?

TV Newsy Bits - Monday, June 4, 2007

Tonight's biggest newsy bit isn't really a TV Newsy Bit. I broke down and bought a new computer. My other one was starting to flake out a bit (freezing up, starting up really s-l-o-w-l-y). With Big Brother just around the corner, I didn't want it to go kaput on me.

The new one has tons of storage space, is much faster, runs Windows Vista (not necessarily my choice - XP has been fine with me), and has lots of bells and whistles, so to speak. Right now, I have my KVM switch hooking up both computers to the same monitor (new one came without monitor) and keyboard. I have a flash drive to transfer needed files. I've brought the new one online, but need to install my Google stuff, my Firefox browser, gmail, and stuff. So, for the moment, I'm on the old one again.

In TV Newsy Bits:

• I have Creature Comforts (CBS 8 PM ET/PT) on in the background as I write this. It's cute.
• At 9 PM ET/PT, it's the season three premiere of Hell's Kitchen on FOX. Oh, I'll be watching! And, posting about it later, too.
• AOL Television has an interview with Cat Deeley, the host of So You Think You Can Dance.
• Paris Hilton entered jail today, so I don't think she's going to be on Letterman as scheduled this week.

Persnickety Pants - This Week on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' - June 4-8, 2007

Last week's repeats are a thing of the past. Wait, they were a thing of the past before they re-aired them!

Oh, well. It's onto fresh new pants this week on The Late Show with David Letterman. Woohoo! The website has skimpy information as I post this, but here you go:

• Monday, June 4: Matt Damon promoting Ocean's 13, Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, and musical guest Bright Eyes.
• Tuesday, June 5: Chevy Chase, Amanda Beard, and musical guest Satellite Party. Huh? Chevy Chase is still around? Don't tell me there's another Fletch movie on the horizon!
• Wednesday, June 6: Paris Hilton and Nichole Ritchie (um, isn't one of them in jail?), Artie Lange, and Chrisette Michele. Well, I'm not a big Paris Hilton fan for sure, but the segment should be interesting. Dave's not one to mince words.
• Thursday, June 7: Amy Sedaris, Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell, and Jordan Zevon. Yes, Amy is finally on! She was bumped for Toby Maguire a few weeks back. I enjoy her appearances on the show. She's a kook -- but that's a good thing! And, Jordan is the son of Warren Zevon.
• Friday, June 8: Ellen Barkin and comedian Brian Regan. There's got to be more to the show than just that, I would think. But that's all the web site has listed right now.