TV Newsy Bits - Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Did you know that on December 12, a certain Frank Sinatra was born onto us? Yes, he was born 12/12/15. I had to Google the year, but I knew the month and day as it's also my brother's birthday. He was born a heck of a lot of years after 1915, though.

Just a sidenote: Today Google's image atop the search is of Edvard Munch's "The Scream." I don't know why, maybe too much pressure during the holiday season. Oh, wait. I just peeked again. Happy birthday Frank, Edvard and bro' Bryan. Munch was born in 1863. A century later, my brother was born.

Enough of that. What's the scoop on television stuff? Here are the TV Newsy Bits I found while roaming the web today:

• TV Tattler has posted an interview with James and Tyler, the latest Amazing Race millionaires. Or, I guess, half-millionaires as they split the winnings.
• According to Celebrity Spider, the season finale of The Amazing Race was a ratings winner.
• Is Zach (Claire's "save the cheerleader, save the world" friend) on Heroes gay? Is he no longer gay? Have the producers abandoned that part of the storyline? Maybe the Haitian wiped that part of his memory? It's all a brouhaha with the series creator chipping in over at the AfterElton website. Me? It doesn't really make a difference. Most teenagers are exploring who they are, after all.
• Speaking of Heroes, I notice that Milo Ventimiglia, the actor who plays Peter Petrelli, is co-starring as the son in Rocky Balboa, the new Stallone movie. His hair is shorter and greasier, but it's still a bit odd.
• Huh. The Netherlands is the first place to go completely digital and is retiring analog television (that which you receive with an antenna). I have basic cable here, but it's much more costly than $18.50 a month.
• TVGuide.com has Survivor 13: Cook Islands finale shockers. Wowsers. I'm eagerly anticipating Thursday's show and the finale/reunion on Sunday. For a season which was supposed to be so racially-charged, it fell away from that controversy. I wouldn't call it the best season ever. In my mind, that honor goes to the first season when all was fresh and new. But I liked the diversity of peoples this season. It's so much easier to remember who everyone is when they don't all look like pale model-types.
• I'm watching Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas right now as I write this. I haven't watched the show in a decade or so and tonight's ABC showing is an expanded hour for a special 40th anniversary. I also can't believe it's 40 years old. Eep. I recall a 7th grade English teacher giving bonus points if we correctly answered "Who carved the roast beast?" on our midterm. Most misread it and were thinking a Dickens tale. I knew it was the Grinch and that I had a slightly quirky English teacher.

Today's Personally Noted TV Quote of the Day: "Maybe it's French. Maybe it's Italian. Maybe it's Fritalian." - Dunkin Donuts commercial.

TV Newsy Bits - Monday, December 11, 2006

Sigh. TV viewing seemed so empty without Heroes tonight. Yes, I watched How I Met Your Mother (yet another good episode), The Class (a fair episode) and Two and 1/2 Men (a funny episode). But, but... I feel so, so bereft of Heroes. Yeah, that's it! Where have all the Heroes gone? Where have all the cowboys gone? Ah, well. I have 10 Items or Less on (TBS) and that show makes me smile.

Here are the TV Newsy Bits of the day:

• Some folks in comments have been asking about the teams selected for the upcomng Amazing Race 11: All Stars. I made a few posts mentioning some of the teams a while ago - here and even here. From what I've found online, it looks like Romber and the Guidos are in, but no BJ/Tyler or Frat Boys (season one).
• The CBS website has changed the guest listing for David Letterman this week. Despite what I previously posted (which I took from their site), now Bette Midler isn't mentioned and Clint Eastwood is in her place on the Friday show.
• I got home from work today to find a FedEx slip on my door. I'm guessing another press kit/screener - I'll let you know. Hmmm, maybe someone is sending me a plasma television or something. (Yeah, right.)
• Celebrity Spider is reporting that Sarah Ferguson (the ex-Duchess of York) has indeed signed up to be on the next Dancing With the Stars. I think she'll dance better than Jerry Springer did, don't you?
• Media Fiends has up a transcript of James and Tyler on The Early Show this morning. It's a bit hard to read and filled with ampersands, but it's the only one I see out there right now. I missed the show.
  

Holiday Television Programming - This Week Monday to Friday (Dec. 11-15)

Remember back to your childhood when it took absolutely forever for Christmas to arrive? Ah, but that's not the way of the adult world, is it? We blink and the holiday is right around the corner, blink again and it's here. Without further ado, here are some of the television specials, holiday movies, and more that I found through to Friday, December 15. Keep in mind that my list isn't everything that's out and about on the tube -- I don't include premium cable programming, nor local programming outside of the NYC area. You may want to check your local listings in addition to checking this list.

Monday, December 11:

• Although I won't be making specific entries for them, keep in mind that shopping networks such as QVC and HSN are full of gift ideas and marketing throughout the week.
• Weekday shows Rachael Ray, Ellen DeGeneres, and Martha (amongst others) will have holiday content throughout the week.
• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - Call Me Claus (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - A Different Kind of Christmas (movie)
• 7 & 10 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Mary Poppins (movie)
• 8 & 10:15 PM ET/PT - TNT - The Wizard of Oz (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - CBS - How I Met Your Mother - "How Lily Stole Christmas"
• 9 PM ET/PT - NBC - The Year Without a Santa Claus (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - A Christmas Wedding (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - TLC - Crazy Christmas Lights
• 10 PM ET/PT - TVLand - 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catchphrases - new episodes all this week.

Tuesday, December 12:

• 11 AM ET/PT - AMC - Miracle on 34th Street (movie)
• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - Holiday in Your Heart (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Home for the Holidays (movie)
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC - How the Grinch Stole Christmas: 40th Anniversary Special Edition (narrated by Boris Karloff)
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Santa Baby (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - USA - Elf (movie)
• 10 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Pinocchio's Christmas

Wednesday, December 13:

• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - Christmas in My Hometown (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Santa Who? (movie)
• 4 PM ET/PT - USA - Elf (movie)
• 7 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Rudolph's Shiny New Year
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (movie)
• 10 PM ET/PT - CBS - C.S.I. NY - "Silent Night"
• 10 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Jack Frost
• 10 & 11 PM ET/PT - TNT - Christmas in Washington 2006
• 10 & 11 PM ET/PT - Bravo - Top Chef - "Holiday Spirit"

Thursday, December 14:

• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - If You Believe (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Stolen Miracle (movie)
• 4 PM ET/PT - HGTV - Decorating Cents Home For the Holidays
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Little Drummer Boy
• 7:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Little Drummer Boy: Book II
• 8 PM ET/PT - NBC - The Office - "A Benihana Christmas"
• 8 & 10:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - The Polar Express (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - Bravo - Christmas in Rockefeller Center
• 9 PM ET/PT - TBS - Seinfeld - "The Strike" (Festivus episode)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Crazy for Christmas (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Food Network - Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade Holiday
• 9 PM ET/PT - Bravo - A Clay Aiken Christmas
• 10 PM ET/PT - TLC - Holiday Blunders
• 10 PM ET/PT - Food Network - Nigella Bites Christmas Special

Friday, December 15:

• 10 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Charlotte's Web (animated movie)
• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - Like Father, Like Santa (movie)
• Noon ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure (animated movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Christmas on Chestnut Street (movie)
• 7 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - The Year Without a Santa Claus
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
• 8:30 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Bill and Mandy Save Christmas
• 9 PM ET/PT - PAX - Christmas Eve (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Mr. St. Nick (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of the Misfit Toys
• 10:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

'The Amazing Race 10' Season Finale

And, so it's over. The next season will be the All Stars season and should air in the spring. It's currently filming.

Tonight's finale took a look back at all of the teams. While it seems not much time has gone by, some of the teams seemed to be such distant past. Duke and Lauren? Tom and Terry? Yikes! I forgot I had hoped they'd make it near the end! Now they're such history that they seem like they're from a previous season.

Three teams remain. In tonight's season finale, one team will win a million dollars and The Amazing Race.

After the brief memory jog through the teams and some of the countries, the show opened where we last left the remaining three teams - Barcelona, Spain. Rob and Kimberly, who had been the first to arrive, were the first to leave at 11:09 p.m. Lyn/Karlyn ('Bama Moms) had to wait until 11:44 while the BoyToys (Tyler and James) left last at 11:53.

The teams had to find a church in Barcelona that's been under construction for 124 years, the Sagrada Familia. It was actually a fairly easy place to find as it's quite famous. However, the kicker was they had to search a park behind the church for their next clue. The 'Bama Moms were still searching as the other teams hit the airport looking for flights to Paris.

In what looks like a purely typical touristy move, teams had to go to the third floor of the Eiffel Tower for their next clue. Why? I can only think it was so that the Eiffel Tower would be included in the show. When all three teams gathered at the airport, Rob and Kimberly snagged the only available seats on the quickest flight to Paris landing at the Charles de Gaulle International Airport. Tyler and James, much to the disgust of Rob/Kimberly, managed to get on the fight last minute. But the 'Bama's couldn't get aboard. However, they ended up with a flight which landed at Orly, which happens to be much closer to the Eiffel Tower than de Gaulle is.

All teams ended up on the same train to Caen where they hit a Roadblock - a task only one member of the team can complete. In this one, "Who's ready to storm the beach," both team members played a bit of a role. The main task was a tandem skydive with a guide which had to be completed by the one. But the other team member also went up in the plane which nosedived along with the skydiver for a while.

The Roadblock gave Rob something new to fuss at Kimberly about - he wanted to skydive and it was her task. Wah, wah, fuss, bicker. I can't help but wonder how the ChoBros would have done with this Roadblock as they had such a fear of heights.

Despite what seemed to be a jump on Rob and Kimberly by the BoyToys and 'Bama Moms, all three teams were once again on the same train back to Paris and a Detour. The Detour, a choice between two tasks to be completed by both team members, was Art or Fashion. In Art, teams had to pick up then walk a painting to get their next clue. In Fashion, teams had to create a jacket using a mannequin, then get approval from a designer.

All three teams chose Fashion for some reason. I personally would have thought that to be the harder task. The BoyToys did great. 'Bama Moms thought the fashion designer was the Fashion Gestapo and could only say "no." Rob was all frustrated as Kimberly took over the task and didn't let him do anything. So, he fussed more about not getting to skydive.

Whne the clue received instructed them to fly to New York City, 'Bama Moms made an error which cost them the race. They went back to the Orly Airport while the other teams went to the Charles de Gaulle. Orly has no flights to NYC, so they had to double back and ended up not making the same flight as Rob/Kimberly and the BoyToys. We never saw the 'Bama Moms again until the Finish Line.

The teams were instructed to get their next clue at the "News building with the big globe." Here's the part of the Race I loved because it's my territory. That's the The News Building on East 42nd Street - the model for the Daily Planet building of Superman fame and the original home of the New York Daily News. From there they had to walk (yikes) about two miles down to the East Village armed with a photo of a sculpture. Hey, I know that spinning sculpture! I never knew its name before tonight, but it's the Alamo. It's on Astor Place and Lafayette not far from where the Blue Man Group plays.

From there, it was a race between the BoyToys and Rob/Kimberly to taxicab on up to Garrison, a town in Putnam county about 40 miles north of NYC. I'm familiar with where the town is as I lived about 10 miles north of there a few decades ago. But I didn't know the Pit Stop location - St. Basil's Academy.

The BoyToys, James and Tyler, hit the Pit Stop first. Not long after came Rob and Kimberly. It's unknown how much later the 'Bama Moms arrived, but they made it.

Okay. I wasn't too thrilled with any of the final three teams. I guess the BoyToys were the most deserving of the three as they consistently raced the best race of the three. They didn't fight as much as Rob and Kimberly, and weren't as nasty as Karlyn from 'Bama Moms was at times.

The season brought about a first - the first all-female team to make the final three. I bet Lyn and Karlyn's children are beaming. It also brought about a second - the second year in a row that a guy named Tyler won. I liked the other Tyler better.

Overall? I was entertained. I'll be watching and writing about the next season, for sure.

Oh. And Phil Keoghan (the host) is still adorable with great eyes.

I'm allowed to be shallow, aren't I? After all, I write about television shows. I'm not trying for a Pulitzer.

'The Amazing Race 10' East Coast Finale Update - Winners

Tyler and James just won.

Rob and Kim, second.

Bama way not there. They arrived, no idea on time span.