On The Box Tonight - Monday, November 13, 2006

It's raining here again tonight, so another perfect evening to stay indoors, read a bit and watch television. Yep, it's a snuggly robe and fuzzy slippers kind of night, perhaps a mug of hot chocolate... excellent!

Here are my personal picks for the night and honorable mentions which I may tape or, at the very least, know others will be watching:

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 8 PM ET/PT - Oh, my. It looks like Marshall and Lily are indeed back together. I'll be watching
• Prison Break (FOX) - 8 PM ET/PT - Not my cuppa, but it's a new episode for show fans.
• Deal or No Deal (NBC) - 8 PM ET/PT - New episode, but I still can't understand the popularity of this show. It's not like they're giving me briefcases of money.
• Wife Swap (ABC) - 8 PM/ET - New episode, okay. I've watched on occasion, but...!
• The Class (CBS) - 8:30 PM/ET - I'm not totally enamored with the show, but since I watch the half-hour before, it's on here. I'll most likely be reading with it on in the background.
• Heroes (NBC) - 9 PM ET/PT - My must watch show of the night. Must, must watch. A new episode, naturally. Save the cheerleader; save the world!
• On CBS Two and One Half Men and The New Adventures of Old Christine take the 9 PM ET/PT block. Both are new episodes.
• C.S.I.: Miami - 10 PM ET/PT - New episode, still David Caruso. I'll pass.
• Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC) - 10 PM ET/PT - New episode. I'm just not getting into the show, but know a lot of the blog readers enjoy it.
• What About Brian (ABC) - 10 PM ET/PT - Huh? A new episode? Has this show been in this slot all along? I seem to recall watching it once, then it vanished. Is it a shifted show?
• Murder by the Book - (CourtTV) - My choice for the 10 PM ET/PT hour. Tonight is the James Ellroy episode. It should be interesting.
• And, but of course, don't forget it's the exciting start of Impressionist Week on David Letterman (CBS) at 11:37 PM here. I'm so psyched. Er, actually I enjoy Rich Little and Robin Williams, tonight's guests.

What are you watching?

'The Amazing Race 10' - Ep. 9 -or- "Don't they wear wooden shoes in Finland?"

Five teams remain. Who will be eliminated next?

Yes, that is the question.

Teams had their mandatory rest period at the Madagascar Pit Stop where we last left them. As they arrived first, Dustin and Kandice (Evil Beauty Queens) were the first to leave at 2:56 AM. The Alabama Moms, Lyn and Karlyn, were the last team to leave at 3:55 AM, so we're talking an hour between first and last place. It's still a tight race at this point.

The clue they received directed them to fly to Helsinki, Finland. They had a total of $265 for this leg of the run. But flying to Helsinki isn't as easy as it sounds like it should be. Due to the lack of flights out of Madagascar, the show would arrange for flights to Paris and then the teams would be responsible for making the connecting flights to their destination.

Upon reading the destination, one of the Beauty Queens said, "Don't they wear wooden shoes?" I just looked at my cat and sadly shook my head.

At the airport, it didn't take the teams long to figure out there may be a quicker way to Helsinki. They found out that a flight to Johannesburg could connect them more quickly to Helsinki than the Paris connection, so all teams made a go at it. The 'Bama Moms barely squeaked aboard to the delight of the ChoBros (Erwin and Godwin), but to the chagrin of the Beauty Queens and the Rehabbed Model Boy Toys (Tyler and James).

Once in Helsinki, teams had to locate the Kapeli Restaurant where they'd face the inevitable AOL "You've Got Mail!" clue of the season. This year it wasn't so much of a clue as it was a taste of home -- video messages from family and friends. I know it's all touching and emotional, but didn't I just go through the same ordeal (or similar) on Survivor this week? Sheesh. After they saw the videos, the next clue was given to them by the restaurant manager.

They had to take a train to a school which I couldn't spell if my life depended on it. Shoot me now. Despite varying degrees of manners and lack thereof, all the teams ended up on the same train. Oh, the ChoBros were the polite ones, just in case you couldn't guess. Alabama just cut in front of the queue at the taxi stand and made me cringe once again. I know they're in a race. But they're also Americans in a foreign land. I must say it again. Sheesh.

Once at the school, they followed markers which led them to a Detour, a choice between two tasks the teams must perform to receive the next clue. Detours always have some connection with the local area, its people, or its customs. The choices this time were Swamp This or Swamp That. I guess it must be swampy there, eh? In Swamp This teams had to use cross-country skis to ski through a mile-long mud course. In Swamp That teams had to go through a muddy (sometimes up to their waists) obstacle course. It wasn't too cultural of a challenge, but it did get down and dirty!


Although Rob and Kimberly got lost on the way to the mudbath, they made good time of it and passed by both the ChoBros and 'Bama.

From there, teams had to take a train to Turku, then drive to a limestone mine in Lohra. It was there that the teams faced a Roadblock - a task only one member of the team must complete. This Roadblock, dubbed "A Miner Inconvenience," looked like fun going down, but work returning as they had to ride a motorbike down into the mines, find a limestone hunk, then bring it back uphill (which the bikes couldn't handle and had to be walked), then break open the limestone to reveal their next clue. Tyler/James and Dustin/Kandice were the only teams on the first train heading in, so they got in and out of the mine first. Rob and Kimberly got lost trying to find the mine and the ChoBros actually got a bit nasty in deliberately losing them. Good. Now lose 'Bama, ChoBros.

The Boy Toys and Beauty Queens were off to the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki where the boys found their clue after a bit of searching. Uh-oh. Bad news for those who have a fear of heights. That would include my favorite team, the Chos. Eep. Teams would have to rappel face-first down the tower at the stadium. The Beauty Queens arrived and started making their way up the tower as the Boys went down one at a time.

Back at the mine, Rob was a driven man... driven to get by 'Bama and the Chos, too. He made it by 'Bama and was tailgating the ChoBros. "Get off my ass, Rob. I will slam on my brakes." Go for it ChoBros, then leave 'em in your dust! They get to the stadium and then it happens. No, not a round of fisticuffs between the Chos and Rob, not at all.

"Keep racing. This leg isn't over."

Argh. I know they do this every season. I even figured that it would take place about halfway through tonight's episode as the timing wasn't going right for a Pit Stop. You know when no one has made the Pit Stop within fifteen minutes of the show ending time or was heading to one even before that, chances are there won't be one.

So, it's not until next week that we'll know who was eliminated next.

The Evil Beauty Queens weren't so evil this episode, but I still can't forgive them for not driving the car they smashed up last week and leaving it for another team. What if it had broken down due to the damage they caused and made another team lose the race? That move on their part was totally out of line and beyond just being competitive.

As the field narrows down, I'm still rooting for the Chos and am rather ambivalent about the rest of the teams. Both the Beauty Queens and the Boy Toys are strong teams, but I just don't care so much for them. I admire 'Bama and Rob/Kimberly for doing as well as they are, but neither team thrills me. But, the ChoBros? They rock my world. They just need to get a smidgen meaner. Just for the race, of course.

'The Amazing Race 10' East Coast Update - 11/12

"Keep on racing, this leg isn't over."

Yes, it's the "to be continued" leg. Model Boy Toys are currently leading the pack. A full recap/review of the show will be posted later tonight. Stop on back!

Better Than Big Pants, Coming This Week On Letterman

I must confess. I have to confess.

I love David Letterman.

Oh, no -- not like that woman who kept breaking into his house in the '80s or, more recently, the woman who thought he was sending love messages in code to her. Not like that at all. This is more of a sane sort of love. Or, is it?

I've been a Letterman fan since his early appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and can even boast to watching his rather short-lived morning show circa 1980 or so. Through his NBC Late Night with David Letterman days into the present, he's my late-night fodder. Campy, zany, though oddly intellectual, I've spent my adult life with his show(s) on my must-see list.

Last week's highlights for me were the Jack Hanna segment (always a favorite with me) and Jorge Garcia (Hurley on Lost) reading the Top Ten Signs You're Obsessed With Lost. In particular, I enjoyed Number 10: "After each episode, you do an all-kitty reenactment in your basement." I have to admit that my two cats balked at playing all the characters and wanted to hold out for more money per episode.

The week ahead boasts Mr. Letterman's second rather unusual week-long programming event for the season. Earlier, it was Ventriloquist Week. This time we'll see Impressionists Week. Yep, you've got it! I'm not sure if it will match the excitement of the ventriloquists, but it'll be neat to see Rich Little once again. I didn't know he was still around.

Here are the guests scheduled for this week on the Late Show with David Letterman:

• Monday, Nov. 13: Robin Williams, Impressionist Rich Little, George Jones
• Tuesday, Nov. 14: Jack Black (promoting the new movie Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny which I misheard a while back as the "Pig of Destiny." I like it that way, don't you?), Impressionist Fred Travalena, Tenacious D
• Wednesday, Nov. 15: Christopher Guest, Impressionist Gordie Brown, +44
• Thursday, Nov. 16: Ellen DeGeneres, Impressionist Frank Caliendo, The Game
• Friday, Nov. 17: Senator John Edwards, Impressionist Kevin Pollak, Will Arnett

Okay, ventriloquists and impressionists... what's next? Tap dancers? Magicians? I don't know, but I'm sure to be watching. As for Leno, I watch or tape him when he has the Blue Man Group on. Dave should do more Blue Man Group.

TV Newsy Bits - Sunday, November 12, 2006

Ah, Sunday. For me, it's "Race, Case, and Trace" night. You know I'll be posting an East Coast update on the Pit Stop arrival order and a full review/recap of tonight's Amazing Race episode. But, that's hours away and it's a rainy day here. So, what's that mean? Well, other than a leisurely bubble-bath and hot chocolate kind of day, it's a perfect day for writing and watching television.

I shouldn't have stayed up until 3 AM watching Clerks on Comedy Central, but I did. You only live once and all that, y'know. Somehow, I had missed that movie when it was out and about in the theaters and video stores. When I saw it was on, I had to watch it. I can see why it brought Kevin Smith to the attention of the world at large and, to be honest, I liked it more than some of his more recent works since he hit the big time.

Tomorrow night Court TV's new series Murder By the Book premieres. I've been a mystery novels buff for years (and have even failed at writing my own really bad mystery novels), so this series intrigues me. This is a five-week series featuring mystery novel writers investigating a real-life case which holds a special interest to them. In the first show, it's author James Ellroy looking into the murder of his own mother. If you're an Ellroy fan like I am, you're aware that his mother's 1958 murder remains unsolved and that the case has always been a part of his own life as he pens his books. Other authors in the series include Michael Connelly, Faye Kellerman, Jonathan Kellerman, and Lisa Scottoline. The only author out of that group I haven't read is the last one. The series airs on Court TV Mondays at 10 PM ET/PT. I'll be watching.

In other news, Studio 60 fans will be happy to hear that that I read an AOL Television article which announced that nine new episodes of the show have been ordered despite iffy ratings. I'm still not getting into the show, but know several blog readers who enjoy it, so crack open the champagne!