Today's TV Newsy Bits - Feb. 8, 2006

Bits! Bits! I got yer fresh bits here! Er, well... your fresh television/entertainment related newsy bits links I found cruisin' on the web. What kind of bits did you think I was talking about? Sheesh!

• American Idol Caught Up in Another Crime Rap Scandal See the latest!
• ABC News: Nominees for Major Daytime Emmys
• HOLLOWAY STOLE TO SURVIVE_08_02_2006 Hmmm... sounds like his 'LOST' character
• Nola.com: NewsFlash - Blog: Woody Allen is back in the game
• "THE UNIT," A NEW ACTION DRAMA, PREMIERES TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 9:00-10:00 PM ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK <-- knocks TAR to 10 PM ET/PT on Mar. 7
• AOL News - Why Not 'CSI: Kink'? Heh. I've mentioned the kink aspect a bit before.
• All Headline News - Child Services Investigates Spears But No Police Charges - February 8, 2006 - Rats.
• Ocean's Eleven, the TV Series?
• Actor Stephen Baldwin Fights Sex Shop in Nyack

New 'Amazing Race 9' Cast: A Closer Look at Fran & Barry Lazarus

Well, these two are a bit older than the ones I've written about in my previous entries in this series. Barry, age 63, is a retired physician. His wife, Fran, is a retired accountant and 61 years old. They hail from Silverthorne, Colorado and CBS has dubbed them the MARRIED 40 YEARS couple.

It's onto their official TAR bio for more skinny on 'em!

They've known each other for 45 years and have two children. I'm thinking adult children, but you never know. They're both very well-traveled and both seem to share a sense of adventure. They've traveled to over 45 countries and feel that will give them an advantage in the race. Both are physically active and seem quite determined to show that an older couple can be great competition and may even be winners on The Amazing Race. Will they make their mark? I'm thinking it's a possibility if both are very competitive and physically fit. I know the odds are a bit against them, but I'd love to see them kick butt on the show!

I think I'll not think about the fact that Barry's specialty was urology. I'm trying to think how that might help him in the show. It's not pretty, folks. ;-)

Miss an 'Amazing Race' entry on this blog? All entries are linked here at 'Amazing Race 9' Blog Entries just for you!

The Latest on 'Survivor: Panama - Exile Island' - Spoiler links and more

I barely whetted my 'Survivor' appetite with last week's one hour premiere show. I'm so looking forward to tomorrow's show. I want to know more about these people! I want to pick my own Sole Survivor! I want to see Shane implode! I want to see a catfight! Well, perhaps not... but I always thought the Alicia/Kimmie finger waving chicken fight was fun.

I poked around the web and found these Links O' Interest:

• Survivor Fever - News Article - Survivor: Panama - A New York Times interview and observation of Jeff Probst as series host. Interesting read.
• Survivor Insider Transcripts - These are transcripts from the videos on the CBS website, stuff not seen on the show itself.
• Jeff Probst Media Teleconference - Huh. A media conference and I wasn't invited?
• TDT.com Survivor 12: Panama - Exile Island Spoilers - True Dork Times is always an excellent resource.
• APP.COM v4.0 - Former SJV star tries to survive Exile Island Asbury Park Press Online - An Asbury Park Press article about Terry Dietz

Miss one of my 'Survivor' blog entries? All are conveniently linked here - Jackie's Survivor Blog/Web Links Reference

Anticipating Tonight's New 'LOST'

The blurb from the ABC Official 'Lost' site is: "Next Episode: Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 9/8c"The Long Con" -- Survivors fear that "The Others" may have returned when Sun is injured during a failed kidnapping attempt."

I've always been one to take a peek at the ending of a book when I want to move ahead. I know some folks really hate spoilers, but not me! Knowing the ending of a book, movie, television episode, whatever -- sometimes even gets my interest growing stronger. So, but of course, I like to look for 'LOST' spoilers.

[SpoilerFix.com] Lost Spoilers is the best resource I've found. Have you any 'LOST' spoiler sites to share?

'Love Monkey' Works For Me

I want to talk 'Love Monkey' today.

Each episode I see of this show has me liking it more and more. In last night's episode, Tom Farrell set out to create a music video for Wayne. Now, of course, his "Wayneness" is as much a part of him as his songs. In trying to do the right thing, Tom foolishly invested tons of funds into a "professional" video producer who, in the end, was just making it as a step to Hollywood. He didn't care about Wayne or Wayne's er... Wayneness. Tom blew up, fired him and made the video himself.

I'm still getting to know the characters in the show. I loved Mike (Jason Priestly's character) with the dog. His wife was testing herself as a mom by taking on dogsitting duties, but Mike thought she was testing him as a possible father. Of course, his friends put that idea in his head. It was a funny little subplot.

I think what I enjoy the most about this show is that it's cleverly written, the characters come across as real people and that it's so much lighter in tone than most hour long shows I tend to watch. I'm a crime buff fan, so this is refreshingly different from my normal drama watching. I like the way the characters interact with each other on the show. I like the city bits actually filmed in the city -- I'm seeing places I can say "I know that place!" I like the basketball comraderie betwixt the four men. The show isn't trying to be way out there or controversial like a 'Desperate Housewives' kind of thing. It's entertaining, witty and has enough small quirky stuff aboard to keep my interest. I don't know much about the music business at all, but I'm enjoying the music on the whole.

I still think that Wayne, played by Teddy Geiger, sounds like John Mayer and looks like Robby Benson (when he was that age). Apparently, he's quite the talent -- CBS has a bio on him here. Huh. He was discovered in that "Search for the Next Partridge Family" show. I suppose he was Keith, not Danny. He's only 17 years old.

What do I not like about the show? Well, the narration I can take or leave. I personally don't think it's needed so much. I'm also wondering a bit about Tom's neverending talents. It seems the only area where he doesn't save the day is in the romance department. So far, he's lost his job at a big record label, snagged an indie label job and snagged the "star" he was courting at the big company (Wayne). He's also produced a better music video than the pro for his client. What can't Tom do? Apparently, he just can't find the right love for the love monkey on his back. Nothing to do with the show itself, but the time slot is a tad off for me. I end up taping 'Law & Order: SVU' to watch 'LM' in real time. I'd prefer the networks confer with me on scheduling. Thank you. :::grin:::

Are you watching 'Love Monkey'? Like it? Didn't catch your interest? Got a crush on Tom Cavanagh (like me)? Think it's 'Ed' done NYC? Let me know!