Whatever Will I Watch Tonight? - Saturday, February 24, 2007

While Saturday evenings are often a bit lacking in the television programming arena, I actually think that the showing of extremely recent repeats by some networks is a good idea. Some folks still can't go online to watch shows they missed and since the night isn't a huge ratings night, it's perfect to allow them the chance.

That said, I think they sometimes show the wrong show. For example, CBS has the repeat of the "winter premiere" of Jericho at 8 PM ET/PT. That's good. I may even watch it myself as I missed it this week. But then at 9 PM, they have the recent repeat of C.S.I. - a good show, yes. But what I would have done is put last week's season premiere of The Amazing Race 11: All Stars in that slot to build up for tomorrow night's second episode. They never ask me my thoughts before they make these programming decisions, though. So, their line-up for the primetime block is: repeat Jericho, repeat C.S.I. and repeat 48 Hours Mystery (in its own regular time slot).

Also in the 8 PM ET/PT hour, NBC has a new Dateline NBC, COPS is new for the first half-hour and a repeat at 8:30, and ABC's entire evening is spent up with Forrest Gump. USA is airing its Law and Order: SVU block all evening. TLC has a new Moving Up at 8 PM. At 9 PM on FOX, there's a new America's Most Wanted.

Now, this bugs me. Any regular reader of this blog knows I'm hooked on The Wire which is being aired by BET. I don't have HBO, so it's all new to me. The "main airing" of the new episode is Thursday nights, but it's been scheduled for 9 PM on Saturdays, too. I've scheduled it into my Saturday night as my Thursday TV watching is so full. Now, for the second time in three weeks, they have something else in its place! Argh. The first time was a repeat of the movie 48 Hours, now it's the Dreamgirls-wannabe show, One Night Only, repeats. I want my Wire! They have the second airing at 1 AM, so I'll have to tape it then unless I plan on being awake until 2:30 in the morning. BET doesn't listen to me anymore than CBS does.

What are you watching tonight?

TV Newsy Bits - Friday, February 23, 2007

It's Friday, it's cold. It's a good time to see what TV-related news stories are out and about on that good ol' Internet, right?

You do notice that for the most part, I'm avoiding both the Anna Nicole Smith and Britney Spears brouhahas, don't you? I actually only included mention now so that I could use the word "brouhaha." Gosh, I love that word. Fun to say and cool in context.

Now that's out of my system, here are today's TV Newsy Bits:

• In The Apprentice news -- TV Guide has an interview with the most recently fired candidate, Aimee Trottier. First season winner Bill Rancic and E! News anchor Giuliana DePandi will wed in September according to the Reality TV World website. There will be no show this Sunday evening (Feb. 25) and when it returns on March 4, it will air at 10 PM.
• In Heroes news -- Celebrity Spider has some mild episode spoilers for the next show. The New York Daily News has a great interview with Jack Coleman, the man who plays Mr. Bennet or, as we initially called him, HRG (horn-rimmed glasses). It's a very interesting read.
• Celebrity Spider has mild spoilers for the next episode of Lost.
• In American Idol news -- There's an newsy tidbit about voted off American Idol Paul Kim here. Buddy TV has transcribed a press conference held with the four contestants voted off of the show last night. Frenchie Davis got the boot a few years back for less than what Antonella Barba has done.
• This AOL Television News article says that the much talked about Stephen Spielberg and Mark Burnett reality show is scheduled for a May 16 premiere. In the show, aspiring filmmakers will compete for a million-dollar studio contract. This one sounds like it could be intriguing. Indie films can be cool.

'Survivor 14: Fiji' - Ep. 3 -or- "The Rich Get Richer..."

I'm not sure how much I'm liking the tribes being so divided by comforts vs. absolutely nothing. As Rocky/James/Boston (whatever) said tonight, "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer." I think it was he who said it. That's spot on.

By being dehydrated and having little food, it's setting a cycle of losing for Ravu. The more they lose, the deeper the hole they dig for themselves. I so want them to win something... anything!

17 are left. Who will be voted out tonight?

The show opened on the Ravu camp on the sixth night. They're in rough shape and know it all too well. They decided that they must pull together as a team, put egos aside, and concentrate on winning. Now, it's easier to vow that than actually win.

In the morning shot over at the Moto camp, they have it very rough themselves. Why, they have to paint the wooden floor of their well-built shelter because it may keep the ants out. They eat, they laugh. Boo said the game should be called "thrival, not Survival."

Meanwhile, Earl returned from his trip to Exile Island, evading questions about the hidden Immunity Idol and unable to provide water for his begging tribemates. I wonder if they seriously thought he'd tell them if he found the hidden Idol. Michelle finally got a fire going using eyeglasses because the sun showed up long enough to do it. So, now they can boil water and have something to drink. James/Rocky is as beside himself as his many names might indicate. He thinks they're invincible.

Yeah, right.

This week's Reward and Immunity challenges were split up (as they should be). There was no puzzle in either this week. I might just faint. For Reward, the tribe members were paired with someone from the other tribe. They had to maneuver a slippery wet course which looked like a giant wet tarp, grab a numbered ball, then make a basket at the end of the course. Sounds easy, right?

The winning team had a choice of three different rewards. They could choose the luxury items they brought to the show (we haven't seen those for a few seasons, a duplicate of the fishing gear Moto won last week, or a bowl of fruit. The winner would also select a member of the losing tribe to go to Exile Island. Unlike previous weeks, the exiled isn't immune at Tribal Council and will return before the next challenge.

I don't know which part of the Reward Challenge folks had more problems doing. They were slip-sliding away on the course and the toss into the basket wasn't an easy shot at all. Gary fell down hard, extremely hard, at one point. Ravu started out good, then petered out. Sylvia, who wanted to excel to get in the good graces with her tribe, stumbled on the task. In the end, even though the Smurf (Gary) fell hard, it was yet another Moto win. They chose more fishing gear and sent Sylvia off to Exile Island. While there, Sylvia's next clue indicated the hidden Idol was buried under the threshold of the cave-shelter.

While the Moto tribe was celebrating their victory back in their luxury digs, Gary started having problems breathing. He thought it was due to his fall and said the feeling reminded him of a time when he broke his ribs. The medics were called in and saw nothing life-threatening. They advised rest. His tribemates seemed as worried that he'd hold them back in the Immunity Challenge as they were for his health. Don't get me wrong, they were concerned about his health. The thought that he should quit rather than risk health issues seemed at least partially based on their own will to win.

The tree mail said the next challenge would be more based on will than brawn. And, so it was time for the icky food competition! Jeff Probst claimed the foods involved were things Fijians actually eat. Each tribe member was matched up with a member of the opposing tribe and had to eat a set amount of each... um... delicacy. Raw giant clams, octopus tentacles, peanut worms, sea cucumbers, fish eyes, and pig snouts (with hair!). Blech. Ravu started well but then were running snout-to-snout with Moto towards the end. Then Anthony totally completely blew it. He was at the pig snouts against wounded Gary. He took one little piece and couldn't swallow it while Gary ate all the snouts on his plate. Moto wins again.

At the Ravu camp, Sylvia was determined to try to find the hidden Idol to save her own butt. Others were speculating on whether she had it or not as that might affect their voting strategy. Half the camp (or more) was mad at Anthony thinking he didn't even try to swallow the "food." I personally can't say much as I know I wouldn't have been able to do it, either.

At Tribal Council, Jeff seemed to rub salt in the hungry wounds of the Ravu tribe. "What does it take to turn this tribe around? What's the state of this tribe?" Of course he got answers like tired, hungry, exhausted, sick, sick of losing, and on and on. Mookie voiced his anger at Anthony's performance in the food challenge. Angry words were tossed back and forth for a bit, then it was time to vote. Sylvia didn't have the Idol when Jeff asked prior to reading the vote. The vote was evenly split between her and Anthony (with a single vote for Earl), then the last vote was read.

Sylvia was voted off.

And, that's that. Something has to change. To me, it's not fair to those on the Ravu tribe. It's liked they're doomed to keep doing worse each week as they grow weaker. At this rate, there will be none to last for a merge.

'American Idol 6' - Voted Out - East Coast Update - 2/22/07 - The End

The final results in the order they went --

Paul Kim
Amy Krebs
Nicole Tranquillo
Rudy Cardenas

'Survivor 14: Fiji' - East Coast Update - 2/22/07 - Cast Off

Sylvia was voted off. A full report will be posted later tonight!