TV Newsy Bits - Thursday, January 11, 2006

It's Thursday and that means that a new episode of Ugly Betty is on tonight up against Armed and Famous (the second episode, also new). Not too hard a decision, eh? Ah, but then add NBC's My Name is Earl and The Office (both new episodes) to the mix and you just might have a dilemma!

At 9 PM ET/PT on ABC there's a new Grey's Anatomy and I'd like to remind everyone that we have a blog GA discussion post ongoing right here. I don't review or recap that one, but by popular request folks are welcome there to gather and discuss the latest or anything Grey's. Also in the 9 PM slot, a rerun of C.S.I. and new episodes of Scrubs and 30 Rock on NBC, as well as a new episode of The O.C. on FOX.

At 10 PM ET/PT CBS has a rerun of Shark while new episodes of Men in Trees and E.R. are airing on ABC and NBC.

In actual TV Newsy Bits today:

• Our friends at BuddyTV have an exclusive interview with the recent Survivor 13: Cook Islands winner, Yul Kwon.
• My HGTV contact told me that Jay Leno will be on Living with Ed this Sunday evening (10 PM ET/PT in most areas). The "Ed" in question, of course, is Ed Begley, Jr. He also shared a bit of Jay Leno/Ed Begley, Jr. trivia with me: "Jay Leno used to do stand-up with Ed back in the 1970s. When Jay heard Ed was doing a green show, he wanted Ed to see his new strides to become green. Jay is going to put a solar system in his shop in the next year. Jay also has several electric cars and a steam power engine, all technologies from the early 1900’s that are today being used again." It isn't easy being green (credit: Kermit), but the environment likes it!
• For those who missed the news, actress Yvonne De Carlo, perhaps best remembered for her role as Lily Munster in The Munsters, died at the age of 84. She was a well-known (and beautiful) movie star prior to the series playing such roles as the wife of Moses in The Ten Commandments.
• Celebrity Spider has linked some of the preview clips for the 24 premiere.
• Armed and Famous Gives Muncie Police Department Surprise Thank You Gift

'Survivor 14: Fiji' - Inside Scoop

One of the great things about blogging is you develop an extended network. You gather sources. Feeling much like Deep Throat with not as much at stake, I'd like to share with you some information which has been given to me from someone who knows one of the castaways who will be on the upcoming Survivor 14: Fiji.

The Unknown Castaway has not revealed anything vital such as the order of elimination or winners, but has told some interesting tidbits. Keep in mind, I can't verify this. So you may wish to file under rumors or foilers instead of spoilers.

• The new season will be introduced on Friday's The Early Show with the website going up around the same time.
• The Unknown Castaway was asked about the possibility of doing an All Stars version in the future.
• Two tribes start out the season and many of the castaways were not all that familiar with the show from past seasons.
• The Unknown Castaway spent at least one night on Exile Island.
• The snakes there are very poisonous and if bitten, they have to get to a hospital within 12 hours. That treatment was a four-hour flight away from where they were stranded.
• The Unknown Castaway has a tendency to swear and there were retakes (probably of confessionals). I bet we see bleeping, too.
• The season was filmed entirely in HD. The cameras weighed 65 pounds each and had to be carried everywhere. The cameramen would do things like walk backwards up rocky terrain to film them.
• They were never left alone. The film crew was always there, but wouldn't talk to them.
• Those who are voted off stay at nice accomodations -- sort of like a paid vacation, snorkeling and all.
• Those on the jury don't have it as nice as the ones voted off before the jury. They basically just get to clean up, but have no neat side trips.
• The challenges were age-friendly to older castaways.
• For the finale, each castaway is paid $3,000 and can bring up to three family members. This is done so that most (if not all) will show up.

Shhh... don't tell anyone.

Tonight's Television - Wednesday, January 10, 2007

As I write this, I have The Sopranos on A&E playing next to me on my library TV set. Since I don't have HBO, this is the first time I've seen the show. Interesting show -- I can see why it's so popular. I'm getting a kick out of the local references although my own Jersey neighborhood is a bit removed from any Italian roots. But there is a nearby Jersey Pork Store. I took the shot here before they repainted the sign and touched up the pig.

Having not seen this show before, it's reminding me of a movie I've seen in the past. Since this is the beginning of the series, it's in the analyst phase. I doubt that continues throughout the series, does it? Anyway, it's reminding me of the movie Analyze This with Robert DiNiro and Billy Crystal. I'm not sure which came first, the movie or this series.

Right now it's a bit overkill as they're running two back-to-back episodes, but I'll probably be taping or watching future episodes.

Earlier tonight I broke down and watched Armed and Famous. That's an odd concept for a rather odd result. The "celebrity" choices were a bit strange. I found it amusing that Jack Osbourne may be the most "normal" and well-adapted one. Maybe Muncie is a bit different, but I fear Wee Man would get tossed around like a ball here in my town and most of the criminals never watched C.H.I.P.S. I'll admit that I'll probably watch the show again if it's not up against something I really want to see. It gave me a few laughs and was like scarfing junk food for the mind for an hour. Not quite Godiva chocolate, but maybe Reese's Pieces or Jujubes.

CBS is running behind schedule due to the President's speech. So, I'll probably be taping at least the latter part of Letterman tonight as well as Craig Ferguson after him -- Masi Oka from Heroes is scheduled for the Late, Late Show. No way can I stay up that late to watch and make it to work in the morning. Argh.

If Money (and Time) Were No Object - TV on DVD

Oh, if money and time weren't so restrictive! It's a horrible quandary, isn't it? There are so many great television shows on DVD these days, but some are cost prohibitive and all would be very time-consuming. After all, some of the series I'd love to own on DVD took me several years to watch in the first place! Yes, they're consolidated into one nifty handy-dandy package, but still...!

I can dream, though. And, in my dreams, I have a huge wishlist. Now, I'm not even mentioning the movies I'd like to own. I'm just talking television on DVD here.

Number One on that wishlist is the entire series of Homicide: Life on the Street. I currently own the DVD set of the first two seasons, but that's not enough. I want the Complete Series Megaset! I wonder what the difference is between the Complete Series Megaset and the Complete Series Seasons 1-7 is other than over $150. The latter is nearly $400. Yikes. Dream big, I say, since neither is logical in my budget. Hey, it's only money and a couple of solid days worth of time without accounting for sleep to watch it all, but I just can't justify it. To this day, I think that show was one of the best-written and acted crime dramas ever on television. I have my two seasons and I watch the show on WGN (cable) whenever I'm home on a weekday, but that's not cutting it. I want it all!

Another police-related show I really enjoyed has its first season available on DVD and, at a much more reasonable price. Barney Miller. Yep, that one could be a go. I'm not seeing it so much these days on television after the reruns over-saturated the market some years back.

What I'd like to know is why they have DVDs of shows like Hart to Hart (eh) and Gidget, but no original The Fugitive? I'm talking the one from the 60s with David Janssen. There's a series I'd be lusting after just as much as my Homicidal lust. I remember sneaking to the stairway to watch through the railings late Tuesday nights when I should have been in bed. It was an odd show for a small child to enjoy, but I was addicted.

TJ Hooker is on DVD and no The Fugitive? What kind of TV world is this? At least I can understand why The Time Tunnel is available (and, yeah... I'd like that one).

I would like to own the DVD of the first season of Saturday Night Live. Where I was living at the time refused to air the first show as it was too controversial, but viewers spoke up and it became a part of my life. Today it's not the same. But those first few years were so new and fresh that I'd like to relive the magic. This time, sober and adult and all. Hmmm... maybe the same magic won't be there! Oh, well, still I'd like to buy it.

I'd like to collect Lost on DVD if for no other reason than to go back and clue-check stuff. Owning it would be like having my own personal Lost encyclopedia -- something which can be sort of necessary to watch the show and pick up on everything.

I'd like to own some shows I haven't seen as I have only basic cable; The Sopranos, The L Word and The Wire come to mind. Heck, I've seen them shooting some of the street scenes for The Sopranos, but I've never seen the show itself.

I'd like the entire Mary Tyler Moore Show just because. From her move to Minnesota to Tipperary, I want it all.

One thing I'd love to see packaged on DVD is Letterman's years on the old NBC show Late Night with David Letterman. They've packaged Johnny Carson's funniest bits from his long run - I want Letterman's from that era. He was zany and whacky and I just loved it.

What shows would you like to own (if not for money and time)? Or, what shows on DVD don't exist, but you think they should?

Important TV Dates - Mark Your Calendars

I'm not listing these in any particular order, not chronological, not even alphabetical. I'm just in a random kind of mood, I guess.

Heroes will return at 9 PM ET/PT on Monday, January 22. Are you on the list? The show certainly makes my list. If you want to check out some preview sneak peek videos, head over to the NBC Heroes website. If you missed an episode, they are also streaming all previous episodes there if your connection can handle it. You can even read the online graphic novel adaptation at the site. What are you waiting for? The cheerleader was saved, but what about the world?

American Idol has a two-night four-hour premiere -- Tuesday, January 16 and Wednesday, January 17. Two hours each night starting at 8 PM ET/PT. Right now on the official AI website, they have videos of some of the auditions held this past summer. No, you won't see me on there. I refuse to be on the list.

No date has been announced for Survivor 14: Fiji, but CBS has indicated it will premiere in February. In past seasons, it's usually around the time of the SuperBowl. Likewise, no date has been announced for The Amazing Race 11: All Stars, but that usually starts two or three weeks after Survivor.

24 (which I don't watch but many of you do) will air at 8 PM ET/PT on Sunday and Monday, January 14 and 15 in a two-night four-hour premiere much like fellow FOX show American Idol. The official FOX 24 site has some neat links to cool stuff like Stephen King's take on the new season. Huh. I guess he was on the list and got to see it ahead of time!

Lost will find its way back to our television sets at the new hour of 10 PM ET/PT on Wednesday, February 7th. They promise 16 new episodes in a row. Should we faint now? The ABC Lost site has lots of newsy bits and some sneak peeks available.

The O.C. will air its last episode on February 22.

Dancing With the Stars will have a March debut, no date announced at this time. Spring 2007 is as close as I can get with the new season of The Bachelor, but it's slated to appear.

Jericho (CBS) returns on February 21 at 8 PM ET/PT. Their website has ongoing tidbits for those who are missing the show. Right now the focus seems to be on who's spying on the spies.