TV Newsy Bits - Sunday, November 11, 2007

I mentioned I wanted a black t-shirt with white letters "Writer" like the striking WGA writers and graphic artist Zoetawny got straight to work on getting me one. She included the blog and even the little TV Squad logo! How cool is that? Thanks, Zoetawny!

It's Veterans Day. Although I tend to think there must be other ways instead of wars, I salute those who have served risking their lives for our country.

Tonight is the second episode of The Amazing Race 12 and it looks like it will start on time here in the NYC viewing area. I'll be writing up the full review to be posted at TV Squad later tonight, but will start up an East Coast Update post to report big events on the show, including the eliminated team. I'll have that started around 8 PM ET -- please stop by and share your thoughts on the show!

Random thoughts going through my mind on an early Sunday evening:

1. Sometimes strangers on a train should remain strangers on a train for the good of those around them.
2. Just because I nod and say hello as I pass you on the sidewalk doesn't mean you can ask me for money or cigarettes.
3. Construction workers have cool radio-controlled earth-squashing machinery at their disposal these days. Wow! It looks like such fun! I chose the wrong career.
4. Why are newscasters standing so much these days? They never seem to know what to do with their hands. What's up with that?
5. Why does my cat think every time I go into the kitchen that I'm going to give him more food or treats?

Onto today's TV Newsy Bits:

• The WGA strike continues. I'm glad I tend to focus my writing around reality television for the most part.
• Conan O'Brien's priest stalker has been hospitalized. The police were told there were concerns about his mental stability. Now, I watched a few news clips of him. That is one odd priest -- he just kept smiling. If I were arrested, humiliated, and the object of disdain by the public, I'd crawl under a rock. I wouldn't just keep smiling a rather deranged smile.
• The stagehands on Broadway are still on strike. Fitting the situation, the first show affected was How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Also affected was Duran Duran and any shows staffed by that particular union.
  

Today's music non-sequitur:

They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway
They say there's always magic in the air
But when you're walkin' down that street
And you ain't had enough to eat
The glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere.

-- "Broadway" as sung by George Benson

TV Newsy Bits - Saturday, November 10, 2007

I took this photo in midtown Manhattan (NYC, not Kansas) in the evening as drizzle hit the streets. I didn't see any cats atop the buildings.

MY review of last night's The Next Great American Band is up and running over at TV Squad.

In other TV Newsy Bits:

• Not TV news per se, but sort of related in the entertainment arena -- Broadway shows will be going dark today as the stagehands go out on strike. It won't affect me as I didn't plan to go see any Broadway shows. What I'd like to see which is going on now at Madison Square Garden is Cirque du Soleil even though critics are panning Wintuk.
• Author Norman Mailer died, again not television, but certainly related to film!
• Ellen DeGeneres is getting a lot of heat for carrying on with her show despite the writers strike. I can understand some of her points, but I don't think it's a good move for her to make when most of Hollywood is in solidarity with the strikers.

Today's music non-sequitur:

Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear

And it shows them pearly white

Just a jackknife has old MacHeath, babe

And he keeps it … ah … out of sight.

-- "Mack the Knife" as sung by Bobby Darin

'Survivor 15: China' - East Coast Updates - 11/08

The show has started here on the East Coast. This post will be updated with major news as it airs. Everyone is welcome to comment!

Jean-Robert, James, Todd, and Amanda won Reward -- a dinner in a Chinese village. They also got something to read when they get there, but we're in commercial.

It was the last clue to the hidden idol which only Jean-Robert didn't know about and is meaningless at this point.

Courtney won Immunity!

Jean-Robert voted out.

My review will be posted on TV Squad later tonight.

UPDATE - That review is up and running!

TV Newsy Bits - Thursday, November 8, 2007

The Plainfield, NJ Train Station just before dawn. I saw Roofus today, but he went up on an adjacent roof (the condemned building) before I could get a chance to take a photo. He actually can roam four building tops -- the building with the fire escape is too high and on the other side, there's a building which is only two stories.

At around 8 PM ET, I'll be posting a Survivor China East Coast Update entry, updating it as the show airs here in the NYC area. As always, my review of the episode will be posted late tonight on TV Squad. Everyone is welcome to jump in with their thoughts in the comments section of the East Coast Update post, or join in over at TVS!

In other TV Newsy Bits:

• Buddy TV is certainly getting around -- they have interviews posted with Ryan Rodriguez from Biggest Loser, Tony Dovolani the recently eliminated dancer on Dancing With the Stars, and Natalie and John from Beauty and the Geek.
• The WGA writers strike has claimed another victim -- 24 will not be airing as originally scheduled because they don't want to break up Day 7.
• Rosie O'Donnell will not be going on MSNBC as their talks have ended.
• Ew Alert!! A priest has been stalking Conan O'Brien. Ew.
• Late last night I saw a TV commercial for contestants for The Amazing Race 13. They might be pushing that forward for the winter season, y'think?
• I also saw Ando from Heroes on a McDonalds commercial.
  

Today's music non-sequitur:
It's all because your mama don't dance
And your daddy don't rock and roll.
-- "Your Mama Don't Dance" by Loggins and Messina

TV Newsy Bits - Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Nah, it's not Roofus the Cat. This is a photo I took on a much warmer day than today as I watched a city cat watch the world go by. Today it's much chillier here with actual freeze warnings ahead and even the "s" word as a possible in the forecast for Friday night. Now, where did I put my gloves from last season?

In TV Newsy Bits:

• I wrote an article about ten ways I'll cope with the WGA writers strike for TV Squad. Readers here will know that I edited the union construction strike inflatable rat photo I posted last month. Hey, it worked. I realize the strike rats I've seen for the writers strike have been gray, but mine is cooler, right? I think it's the first ever feature article I've had at TVS.
• But no matter how much thought I put into it, no matter my attempts at wit, as well as my solidarity for my writing friends -- AOL welcome-screened my American Idol changes post on TV Squad from the other day and that one's getting all the attention (and fanatics).
• I've decided I want a black t-shirt with "writer" in white letters like the strikers.
• Buddy TV has an exclusive interview with Greg Grunberg who plays Matt Parkman on Heroes. He even goes into the latest news about the show and the writers strike.
• Marie Osmond won't quit Dancing With the Stars even though her father passed away.

I'll be watching Kid Nation and posting my review later tonight over on TV Squad.

Today's musical non-sequitur:
And I can change the world,
I will be the sunlight in your universe.
You would think my love was really something good,
Baby if I could change the world.
-- "If I Could Change the World" as sung by Eric Clapton