Tonight's 'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' Blogging

Survivors ready?

I'll be posting major events in East Coast Update entries as they air here in the NYC area. If you think you're not seeing the most recent post, try hitting the December 2006 link in the Archives in the right sidebar.

A full review/recap will be posted late tonight.

TV Newsy Bits - Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Some blog readers will be pleased to know I watched Criminal Minds tonight and enjoyed it once again. To me, the only drawback is that I guessed the real killer and the character's secret much too soon.

What's the buzz?

Well, I poked around that big ol' Internet and found a few television-related Newsy Bits for y'all:

• The Reality TV Calendar website has some Survivor 13: Cook Islands spoilers... or not. In reading the article, it seems the writer's sources even have conflicting information. So, it's dueling spoilers, if it's spoilers at all. If you're anti-spoiler, don't go there. But, if you want food for thought, visit the page.
• In this article from The Windy City Times, Survivor contestant Brad Virata talks about his sexuality (which was never mentioned on the show) and gives some behind-the-scenes insight into the experience.
• In yet another Survivor-related article, Adam Gentry's hometown wonders if he'll make the cut.
• Actor Peter Boyle died today at the age of 71. While this AOL News story goes into detail, I have to admit that I was never a fan of Everybody Loves Raymond (some of us didn't). However, I was a fan of his due to his work on both Joe and Taxi Driver. He did a tremendous job with both movies. May he rest in peace.
• Reality News Online (RNO) has up the latest transcripts from the Amazing Race 10 Insider videos from the CBS website. Although the show is over, they're still interesting and add some tidbits we didn't get to see on television.
• TV News- Reality Show Pays Suspects to Air Faces - AOL News - Yikes. I don't know what to say about that one!

Today's "I Heard It On TV" Quote: "Homicide needs no metaphor. Homicide just is." - Frank Pembleton (Andre Braugher) on Homicide: Life on the Street

'Amazing Race 10' 'Bama Mom's Home Burglarized

On The Amazing Race 10, we found out that Lyn Turk is a strong-willed woman who really didn't let much get in her way. Not as outspoken as her team member Karlyn, Lyn was easier for fans to enjoy.

After all, both women had a lot of gumption to make it as the first all-female team ever to be in the Final Three on the show. And, I didn't see too much going really easy for them. Despite any qualms about their outspoken and blunt ways, they ran a good race and went much farther than I ever thought they would go.

One of the aspects which drove the team is that both women are single mothers, making it on their own.

Now the fame of being on the show may have made things a bit tougher for Lyn and her family. According to their local CBS affiliate in Alabama, Lyn's house was burglarized and it looks like the thieves took everything they could get.

An excerpt from the WIAT TV article I read:

Last week, just days before traveling to New York for the finale weekend, she came home to find her house in shambles.

"The house was wide open. Someone had forced their way through the front door, everything was in the floor, nothing was untouched, even food out of the cabinets, and taken the plumbing from under the house," said Turk.

The burglars had busted through two sets of doors to enter the home, and pillaged nearly everything inside.

"They literally pulled out everything. I mean its stuff out the closet, stuff out the drawers, it was stuff in this cabinet and you can see where they dusted for prints over there," said Turk.

Numerous items were stolen, including her son's play-station, and valuable copper pipes under the home.

Sigh, how horrible is that just before the holidays? She didn't win a heck of a lot of money on the show coming in third. Yet, the bit of fame cost her so much.

Sneak Peek: TNT's Original Holiday Movie 'A Perfect Day'

TNT's new original holiday movie A Perfect Day brings about one warning that's always nagged at the back of my mind - be careful what you wish for. Fame? Fortune? What changes might they bring about and what might be the ultimate cost?

The story is a bit reminiscent of both It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol wrapped up in modern day tidings with a twist or two along the way.

Rob Lowe plays Rob Harlan, recently fired from his job and suddenly a best-selling book author. His fame and fortune come at the cost of his family and friends. All through the story, he's "stalked" by Christopher Lloyd who plays a character named Michael. To me, Michael's both the Ghost of Christmas Past and what will be the Ghost of Christmas Future if Rob doesn't get his act together and realize what's important in life.

And, what's that? Well, of course, love. Not the love of money, but the love of family, the love of friends.

As a writer-type, I've always had those dreams of fantastic success with a huge book deal that would change my life. So, the character of Rob Harlan hit a particular chord with me. The whirlwind book tours, the movie deals, and the fame! What wouldn't be wonderful about all of those things? Well, they wouldn't be so wonderful if they changed who I am, such as they did to Rob Harlan.

It sounds a bit like the schmaltzy-holiday-family-love-returns films which proliferate during the holiday season and to an extent, it is one. However, I enjoyed watching this one. It's a bit of a different take on the theme, and presents a believable and touching story. There's nothing wrong with the genre during the holiday season, for sure. Perhaps when we view a film like this, we can think of our own lives and take inventory of what we think should be important.

A Perfect Day will premiere Monday, December 18, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on TNT. If you miss it, there are encores later that evening at 10 p.m. and midnight. It will also air on December 20, 22, and 24. Check your local listings and set that VCR, TIVO, or DVR. This is a rewarding and well-presented film which makes fine holiday fare.

Besides Rob Lowe and Christopher Lloyd, the cast includes Paget Brewster (Rob's wife, Allyson), Frances Conroy (his first agent), Rowena King (evil, evil Heather - watch and you'll see why I say that), and Meggie Geisland (daughter Carson). For more information about the movie, you can also check on TNT's website.

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.