TV Newsy Bits - Tuesday, May 29, 2007

So, who's watching On the Lot? This show is surprising me. I wasn't too keen on the concept, but I do believe I'm indeed hooked. Some of the one-minute comedies the wannabe-directors created were a hoot, others just left me saying, "huh?" I think the "Wack Alley Cab" guy and the JT "Nerd" film guys will be gone. I'm watching it to see.

Here are the TV Newsy Bits I found for you today:

• The Houston Chronicle reports that Survivor 13 winner Yul Kwon is likely to receive an Asian Excellence Award.
• We know that Charlie left Lost with honor. But, how is actor Dominic Monaghan taking the cut from the show? The Celebrity Spider reports that he's not too pleased.
• According to this AOL article, tonight's House season finale will shake things up and end with a cliffhanger. Ohhh... a cliffhanger, eh? Who shot JR?
• Speaking of shake-ups, NBC's slumping ratings have caused an executive shake-up at the network. Drama!

'Big Brother 8' (and BB7) News

<--- Obviously not a Zoetawny graphic. Y'see, this is what you get when I do 'em.

Yes!

There's Big Brother 8 news to be had today! According to CANOE -- JAM!, the starting date for the show is Thursday, July 5th.

According to RealityBBQ, Sarah and James from Big Brother 7 are now a couple of the past. All that's said is "she is dating someone new." Um, okay.

In previously released Big Brother 8 news, Arnold Shapiro is stepping away this season and Alison Grodner will be taking the producer reins of the show. They had worked together as executive producers on the show in past seasons.

On the official CBS website, they still have the application link live on the main page, but the deadline was in April. I'm anticipating this season to be at this link once it goes live (if they follow the format from past seasons). Usually the houseguests go into sequester for a period in the latter part of June. Once the show is sure they'll make it (see Brandon Showalter), the cast announcements and website go live. The feeds usually follow the show's premiere although the houseguests are in the house for approximately 4 days before the first show airs.

I'll be doing Live Feed Reports once again this year, most likely on the three times a day format (morning, early evening, late night ET) with the exception of some days which will have additional posts. I'm also thinking of live-blogging the shows as they air here in the NYC area. I previously didn't do show blog entries as most had already been discussed in live feed reports, but live-blogging might fit that in just fine. And, as always, I'll be posting East Coast Updates on eviction nights.

On July 5th, it'll be AWN. (Credit to Monica Bailey)

New(er) Summer Shows on This Week

A damselfly rests on a poison ivy leaf in New Jersey. Yeah, I know it's not television, but I took the photo yesterday and thought it cried SUMMER. You can click on the photo for the full-sized image if you wish. I promise you won't have a reaction to the poison ivy and damselflies (related to dragonflies) are good bugs. They eat mosquitos!

Although TV seems to be slim pickings, there are some new shows on this week.

Monday, May 28: At 8 PM ET/PT, NBC has a new The Real Wedding Crashers (blech, in my opinion). FOX has a new two-hour episode of On the Lot, a show I found more interesting than I thought it would be. ABC has a new Wife Swap followed by a new Ex-Wives Club and a new Supernanny. I'll be watching the last of The Corner on BET for the evening. I might record On the Lot as I might be following the show in the future.

Tuesday, May 29: FOX has new episodes of On the Lot and House. ABC has a new episode of Boston Legal on at 10 PM ET/PT. A&E has a new Dog Bounty Hunter at 9 PM ET/PT. Also at 9 PM ET/PT, Discovery has a new Deadliest Catch followed by a new After the Catch at 10 PM. I think my primetime will be FOX, then Discovery for the remainder of the block.

Wednesday, May 30: FOX has a two-hour So You Think You Can Dance. ABC has a new Next Best Thing in the 8 PM ET/PT hour, followed by a repeat Traveler, then a new Traveler. Like last season, I'm a bit addicted to the So You Think You Can Dance auditions. I'll probably watch that, then Traveler. I haven't caught the latter yet.

Thursday, May 31: At 8 PM ET/PT, it's the season premiere of Pirate Master on CBS. FOX has a new Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader followed by a new So You Think You Can Dance. ABC has the 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee running from 8 PM to 10 PM ET/PT. Well, let's see... I know I'm smarter than a 5th grader and I had the trauma decades back of being in the national spelling bee. Too many memories! I'll watch Pirate Master, but I'm not sure if the show will grab my interest or not. I'm not so into pirates, matey. Arrr-arrr.

Friday, June 1: Well, this is pretty pitiful. At 9 PM ET/PT, ABC has a new National Bingo Night. (There's a show I just can't watch!) At 10 PM ET/PT, A&E has a new Intervention. I may be checking out the Discovery Channel, Court TV, or Sci-Fi channel offerings for the night... or watching shows I've previously recorded.

TV Newsy Bits - Memorial Day - Monday, May 28, 2007

It's Memorial Day and graphic artist Zoetawny has made me a patriotic graphic fitting the occasion. (Have I mentioned that she rocks lately?)

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday weekend and taking some time to remember our folks in the military - past and present.

Too many lives have been lost.

My own father served in World War 2 - a salute to him, as well as a pause to remember him. He's been gone for over thirty years, but lives in my memories.

Here are the TV Newsy Bits I found out there today:

• Last night I was channel-surfing at the start of the 11 PM news when Channel 7, WABC (NYC), went dark. It remained blacked-out until well past midnight when I stopped checking on it - just dead air. Even when the WTC towers went down, we had snow, not dead air. The cause? A fire. Yipes.
• Celebrity Spider has the skinny on the new ABC fall series, Cavemen - the one based loosely on the Geico commercial cavemen. I'll say right now that I'll definitely have to peek at that show.
• I actually have Maury on right now. I never watch the show as it's all "who's my baby's daddy" kind of programming. But, today it's Jack Hanna! I love him and his animals!
• AOL Television has an update on The Bachelor: An Officer and a Gentleman and his fiancee.
• Will T.R. Knight return to Grey's Anatomy? It seems up in the air according to this AOL article.

Recycled Pants - This Week on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' - May 28-June 1, 2007

Well, May Sweeps have ended and we're (not unexpectedly) if for a week of repeats on Letterman this week.

As always, my complaint with the repeats is that they're much too recent. Yeah, I know they do that because movie promotions, news issues and more all have to be timely or current. Yes, that's the logic behind it all. But, as a regular viewer, I'd like just once to see a way old repeat. Heck, I'd watch that while I rarely want to watch a show I just saw two weeks ago over again so soon.

Here's what you can expect this week on the show and I guess I'll go to bed a bit earlier unless Leno has a guest I really want to see:

• Monday, May 28: Ray Romano promoting The Grand, Impressionist Reggie Reg, Dennis Haysbert from The Unit. Not worth a second watch from me.
• Tuesday, May 29: Senator Barack Obama, Halle Barry promoting Perfect Stranger, and Masters Champion Zach Johnson. This one was interesting for the Obama segment... he's a very personable kind of guy.
• Wednesday, May 30: Dr. Phil promoting his special Caged? and Jack Hanna. Hey, wasn't this shown only a week ago or so? Sheesh! I felt cheated by the Jack Hanna segment cut short for time.
• Thursday, May 31: Regis Philbin talking more than promoting Shrek the Third and Darlene Love (who's always tremendous). It was a good show, but again it aired just a week or maybe two ago.
• Friday, June 1: Tobey Maguire promoting Spider-Man 3, Modest Mouse, and Impressionist John Byner. Excellent show, but I won't watch it again so soon.

I foresee earlier bedtimes for me this week.