This Week's Holiday Television Programming - December 18 - 22

Oh, no! Time is running out! Chanuka has already begun; Christmas will be here soon. But you can still shop for Christmas gifts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And, there are plenty of specials and holiday shows for you to enjoy during quiet times. This list isn't totally inclusive -- premium cable and local programming are noticeably asbsent. But it gives the skinny on specials, holiday movies, and more during the week.

Graphic artist Zoetawny made me a rockin' reindeer for the holiday, so let's all dance!

Thump.

Or not. Thanks, Zoetawny! It's spiffy!


Monday, December 18:

• Daytime television shows such as Rachael Ray and Martha will be featuring holiday content throughout the week. Ellen DeGeneres is reruns this week.
• 7 PM ET/PT - HGTV - The White House Christmas 2006
• 7 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (movie)
• 8 & 10 PM ET/PT - TNT - A Perfect Day (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - All She Wants for Christmas (movie)

Tuesday, December 19:

• Midnight ET/PT - TNT - A Perfect Day (movie)
• 8 AM ET/PT - Comedy Central - The Hebrew Hammer (movie)
• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - Christmas on Chestnut Street (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Recipe for a Perfect Christmas (movie)
• 6 PM ET/PT - HGTV - Holiday Windows 2006
• 7 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Mr. Magoo's Christmas
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Frosty's Winter Wonderland
• 7:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC - I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown!
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - AMC - Prancer (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Christmas at Water's Edge (movie)

Wednesday, December 20:

• 8 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (movie)
• 10 AM ET/PT - TBS - Beethoven (movie)
• 11 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - A Lost Claus
• 11:30 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Tom and Jerry: Shiver Me Whiskers (animated movie)
• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - The Secret of Giving (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Borrowed Hearts (movie)
• 3:15 PM ET/PT - AMC - Prancer (movie)
• 6 PM ET/PT - HGTV - What's With That Christmas House?
• 7 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - The Legend of Frosty the Snowman
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - The Year Without a Santa Claus
• 8 PM ET - WNET (PBS - NYC) - Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Featuring Renée Fleming and Claire Bloom
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Christmas Do-Over (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - TNT - A Christmas Carol (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Home for the Holidays (movie)
• 10 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - The Year Without a Santa Claus
• 10 PM ET/PT - TNT - A Perfect Day (movie)

Thursday, December 21:

• Midnight ET/PT - TNT - A Perfect Day (movie)
• 8 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - The Night B4 Christmas
• 8:30 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• 9 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Casper's Haunted Christmas (animated movie)
• 10 AM ET/PT - TBS - Christmas Rush (movie)
• 11 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - The Angel Doll (movie)
• Noon ET/PT - History Channel - The Christmas Truce
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Christmas in My Hometown (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - The Legend of Frosty the Snowman
• 6 PM ET/PT - HGTV - Outta Control Christmas
• 7 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Bill and Mandy Save Christmas
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Cat in the Hat
• 7:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Seuss on the Loose
• 8 PM ET/PT - CBS - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
• 8 & 10:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - How the Grinch Stole Christmas (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - A Town Without Christmas (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - HGTV - Over the Top Holiday

Friday, December 22:

• 7 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - Once Upon a Christmas (movie)
• 8 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Olive, the Other Reindeer
• 9 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - Twice Upon a Christmas (movie)
• 9 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - The Legend of Frosty the Snowman
• 10 AM ET/PT - TBS - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (movie)
• 10 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Bah! Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas
• 11 AM ET/PT - F/X - Miracle on 34th Street (movie)
• Noon ET/PT - USA - A Christmas Carol: The Musical (movie)
• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - The Road to Christmas (movie)
• 12:30 PM ET/PT - NIK - I'll Be Home for Christmas
• 1 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Casper's Haunted Christmas (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - USA - Three Wise Guys (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - A Town Without Christmas (movie)
• 4 PM ET/PT - USA - The 12 Days of Christmas Eve (movie)
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Rudolph's Shiny New Year
• 8 PM ET/PT - CBS - The 8th Annual A Home for the Holidays with Rod Stewart
• 8 PM ET/PT - BET - Holiday Heart (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Mary Poppins (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - AMC - Prancer (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - PAX - It Happened One Christmas (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Christmas Child (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - A Lost Claus
• 9:30 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Bravo Christmas

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' - Season Finale -or- "They can't light a fire when given matches?"

I'm much more satisfied with the finale of Survivor compared to the most recent Amazing Race. I had not just one, but two contestants I really thought played the game well and, gosh, I liked them! I was ambivalent about the final group on The Amazing Race once the numbers got down. At least Survivor didn't fail me!

Five remain. Who will outlast the others to be the final Survivor?

After a fairly brief (compared to some) season recap, the show opened on Day 37 with Adam contemplating his fate. He knew that unless he wins Immunity, he's sure to be a goner at the next Tribal Council. No one would sleep with him; he's all alone - a dead man walking, so to speak. He tried to plant the seeds of betrayal in Ozzy, pointing out what a huge target Ozzy carries due to his performance in challenges. Yeah, it worried Ozzy some, but was it enough to sway him?

When treemail came, it indicated a spider web and the chance to slither, run, balance, and know directions. Okay, it sure did. Jeff Probst said it was one of the toughest puzzles ever in this often much too puzzling puzzler of a season. Okay, I said the last part - Jeff just said toughest puzzle ever. I just feel there have been way too many puzzle challenges this season.

This one had them going through a heck of an obstacle course to retrieve eight bags of puzzle parts, one at a time. Once all the bags were retrieved, they had to correctly make an eight-point compass rose. For a while I thought Yul would get it as he seems very intelligent and possibly a Puzzlemaster. But, no. Ozzy won Immunity once again. He's unbelievable!

Adam tried to kick his plan to get the hidden Immunity Idol out of Yul's hands into high gear. He pleaded his case with Ozzy. He pleaded with the girls, Sundra and Becky. In confession, he said that if he can't get Yul to use the idol, he knows he'll be voted off.

And, at Tribal Council, Aitu once again stuck together and voted Adam out. They had a dream of being the Final Four and it came to fruition despite Adam's calling Becky and Sundra out for riding coat-tails. He was a gentleman as he left, though. As some might have said on Big Brother 7: All Stars, a true class act as he left.

Aitu celebrated, then treemail arrived informing them that all four will participate in the final Immunity Challenge. They all embarked on the inevitable Rites of Passage tour, gathering markers of the previous castoffs, saying the obligatory nice things about them. Yawn. They then stood on a mountain top and cast the markers onto a fire. Double yawn. About the only interesting tidbit I heard was that Jonathan had lost 30 pounds in the time he was on the island. It seemed that the Survivors had more food than ever before this season, but perhaps the editing misled us a bit.

The final Immunity Challenge had the ex-Aitu folks standing on small platforms in water. In 15-minute intervals, parts of the platforms were removed. The platforms were made according to the foot size of each so that no one had an advantage. As the platforms dwindled, my own feet hurt just watching them. The final platform was a half the size of a postcard. Yipes!

Becky was the first to fall, followed much later by Yul. Then it was between Sundra and Ozzy on the teensiest platform. Sundra put up a good fight, but Ozzy outlasted her and won the final Immunity. Woohoo! (Yes, he's one of my two favorites I've been cheering on each week.)

Ozzy was pumped over his victory, but was also impressed that Sundra held out so long. But, back at camp, the tightly-knit group knew they were going to face a dilemma - they'd have to vote one of their own off. Ozzy thought it best that they deliberately vote a tie with Becky and Sundra heading to a tiebreaker. That would be the most fair thing to do.

Yul, as owner of the hidden Exile Island Immunity Idol, was as immune as Ozzy, so it had to be one of the women. As he came through the whole game close to Becky, Yul offered her the idol. She seemed to consider it, but did she really? Would she?

At Tribal Council the idol went unused and, sure enough, it went to a tiebreaker. Now, this was amazing. After trying to do the fire-making challenge with a flint, machete, and flammable kindling for 90 minutes, Jeff gave them matches. And they still couldn't light a fire! Really! As the jury napped, rolled their eyes, and giggled and Yul and Ozzy cringed, Sundra finally ran out of matches. Becky eventually got a fire going and won. Buh-bye, Sundra.

Back at camp, Yul and Ozzy were together when a boat arrived with a feast for them. Becky was nowhere around. Ozzy thought it symbolic - it should be Yul and himself as he felt Becky did nothing to be there. Prophet Ozzy also predicted Becky wouldn't get any votes from the jury.

At the final Tribal Council, the jury wasn't anywhere near as rough as in previous years. For the most part, the constestants this season basically liked and respected each other. Yul and Ozzy were both such superb players that no one begrudged them being there. Becky, on the other hand, seemed a bit of a nonentity to the jury.

The speeches the three gave were pretty much what I expected. Yul said he was loyal to those loyal to him, brought his whole team forward, and felt he had affected the game. Ozzy talked about being the underdog and working so hard to provide food and win challenges. Becky tried to defend her actions and claimed to be working with Yul all along, not following him. She was playing a social game strategy. Um, okay.

Although I'm contemplating breaking down the questions by the jury in a separate article, a few things need to be mentioned. First, Becky made a point of telling the jury that Yul had offered her the Immunity Idol and she turned him down. Second, Brad told Ozzy he didn't think he talked 15 seconds to him while on the island. He asked him to tell him something about himself. What Ozzy told was a tearjerker - the story of a boy abandoned by his father. Tears came to his eyes, the eyes of his fellow castaways, and to my own. Jonathan was the only one a bit rough on the three and he was no Sue Hawk. He was more like Alan Alda picking on Major Winchester III.

With no cheesy (and I do miss the cheese) jet-skis or anything, Jeff ended up in Hollywood for the tally of the votes. Hey, no NYC this year? In a close vote, with no votes for Becky, it ended up going to Yul five votes to four. Since my favorites all season have been Yul and Ozzy, I was satisfied. I personally would have voted for Ozzy, but at least he won the SUV voted on by the show's fans as well as his $100,000 for second place. And, that kept the Survivor Car Curse intact, too. Even though they didn't give a car away during the season, one was won. And, no one winning the Survivor car has ever won the million. Becky, if web rumors are correct as CBS doesn't tell, won $85,000 for third place.

Overall, even though this season started up hyped with the possibilities of racial tension, I think it had one of the best casts ever. I've always been a fan of diversity and it was great to see that race didn't play as much of a role as the hype wanted us to believe. Yes, Yul and Ozzy said they both wanted to fight stereotypes, so race played a bit of a part. But at the end of the season, it didn't really matter who started out on what tribe unless you were one of the four remaining Aitu after the merge.

Jeff gave a few hints about Survivor 14: Fiji. Nineteen castaways, one tribe will have it easy, one will not, there will be an Exile Island with two hidden Immunity Idols, and something about a shocking decision one person will make. Again, it looks like the cast is diverse. Cool, I say.

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' - East Coast Finale Update - Winner

Yul won the million by a vote of 5 to 4. Becky didn't get any votes.

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' - East Coast Finale Update - Second Boot

It was a tie between Becky and Sundra at the second Tribal Council. Yul did not use the Idol to save Becky. A tiebreaker proved neither Becky or Sundra can make fire.

Eventually, Becky won. Sundra is out and the Final Three are Ozzy, Yul, and Becky.

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' - East Coast Finale Update - Final Immunity Challenge

Ozzy wins AGAIN. He's guaranteed a place in the Final Three. And, as mentioned in the promos, the Final Three have a chance at the million this season, not just the Final Two.

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' - East Coast Finale Update - First Boot

Not surprisingly, Adam was voted out at the first TC of the evening.

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' - East Coast Finale Update - Immunity

Ozzy did it again. He won Immunity and is guaranteed a spot in the Final Four.

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' 12/17 Finale Blogging

The finale has started on time here on the East Coast. I'll post East Coast Updates for important events as they air. If you don't think you're seeing the most recent post, use the December 2006 Archive link located in the right sidebar of the main page.

Survivors ready?

Jingle Pants, This Week's 'Late Show with David Letterman' - Dec. 18 - 22

Well, I don't think Dave can beat last week's Clint Eastwood appearance on the show. Dang, that guy is holding up so well and he's on shows too infrequently to really get to "know" him. It was neat to see him as himself, not a movie character. He joked about a Dirty Harry sequel and fancied himself chasing criminals in his walker, although he looks like he's in great shape. The Late Show website has a clip of that bit if you wish to take a gander.

Set to guest this week on the Holiday Pants:

• Monday, Dec. 18: Frank Caliendo, Ben Stiller (promoting Night at the Museum), musical guest Rodrigo y Gabriela.
• Tuesday, Dec. 19: Beyonce (promoting Dreamgirls), Marv Albert and comedian Marc Maron. I've never heard of the comedian, but Marv Albert and Beyonce are a rather scary combination. I guess it's good they won't sit together. If we're talking Dreamgirls, I'd rather see the American Idol finalist Jennifer Hudson in an interview as she's also starring in the movie. Beyonce never really rocked my world. Um, neither did Marv Albert, but I do like his sports bloopers clips.
• Wednesday, Dec. 20: Holiday Toy Demo and Renee Zellweger (Miss Potter). That's it? Hey! Now the Toy Demo is always a fun bit, but there's got to be more to the show!
• Thursday, Dec. 21: Tom Brokaw (Tom Brokaw Reports: In the Shadow of the American Dream) and musical guests Cold War Kids (Robbers & Cowards). Speaking of yet another man who is aging well...
• Friday, Dec. 22: Cate Blanchett (Notes On a Scandal), Annual Christmas Tree Football Toss with Jay Thomas and Darlene Love in her Annual Christmas appearance. Oh, no! This is the holiday show and, unless my mind has gone a'fishing, the tree isn't even up yet! It's a show not to be missed, but have I gone batty? Did I miss the tree set-up somehow? Is it going to be put up this week? It seems it went up earlier in past seasons! Maybe the meatball and pizza go bad. I guess we'll see.

Oh, and just in case you're interested -- The Late Show is accepting applicants for both Stupid Pet and Stupid Human tricks. The information is up on the website. Me? Well, I could just go and say "my life" as a Stupid Human Trick, but I doubt they'd accept that. I have a cat who meows at each and every glance, but he wouldn't fare well with an audience, so that's out. I guess I'll just have to watch other stupid humans and stupid pets, eh?

TV Newsy Bits - Saturday, December 16, 2006

The Amazing Race wrapped up last week; Survivor's big finale is tomorrow. Heroes, Lost, and Jericho are all sitting dormant. Whatever will a TV fan do?

Well, there are a lot of holiday doings and holiday television out there for the watching. American Idol and our favorite shows will return soon. We can make it!

Here are the TV Newsy Bits I found out there this morning:

• Reality News Online has a transcript of Parvati's (recent Survivor boot) The Early Show appearance, as well as a separate interview with her. I think she comes across better in the interview than she did with me in the show. (But I'm still glad she got the boot. Go Ozzy or Yul!)
• Jack Osbourne as a cop? Say it ain't so! The rather bizarre concept for a new CBS reality show Armed & Famous is explained in this Celebrity Spider article.
• AOL Television News is reporting that Oprah and ABC will be producing two new reality television shows. Oprah, eh? Hmmm... the tentative titles are The Big Give and Your Money or Your Life. Um, what money, I ask? Oprah's or mine?

Today's Lyrical Non Sequitur of the Day:

"Could we have kippers for breakfast
Mummy dear, Mummy dear
They got to have 'em in Texas
'Cause everyone's a millionaire." -- "Breakfast in America" - Supertramp

Happy Chanukah!

Holiday Televison Programming - This Weekend - December 16 - 17

Are you done with your holiday shopping? Or, perhaps you just want to relax a few hours watching a holiday movie on television? Maybe you want to shop from home - shopping networks QVC and HSN (amongst others) are all holiday gifts all the time throughout the weekend.

This list isn't all of the holiday programs; I don't list premium cable or local shows. So you may wish to check your local listings.

Saturday, December 16:

• 7 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - Dear Santa
• 8 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - Chasing Christmas (movie)
• 10 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - Scrooged (movie)
• 10 AM ET/PT - History Channel - The Christmas Truce
• 12 Noon ET/PT - ABC Family - Mr. St. Nick (movie)
• 12 Noon ET/PT - Cartoon Network - The Legend of Frosty the Snowman
• 1 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - A Dad For Christmas (movie)
• 1 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - The Night Before Christmas: A Mouse Tale
• 2 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - A Lost Claus
• 2 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Santa Baby (movie)
• 2:30 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Bravo Christmas
• 3 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - I'll Be Home For Christmas (movie)
• 4 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Christmas in Boston (movie)
• 5 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Borrowed Hearts (movie)
• 5 PM ET/PT - HGTV - A White House Christmas 2006
• 5 PM ET/PT - Food Network - Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade Holiday
• 5:30 PM ET/PT - AMC - Jurassic Park (movie)
• 6 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Three Days (movie)
• 7 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - A Christmas Wedding (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - CBS - Elf (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - NBC - It's a Wonderful Life (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC - Finding Nemo (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Christmas Do-Over (movie)
• 8 & 10:30 PM ET/PT - AMC - Prancer (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - TNT - Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - The Christmas Wish (movie)

Sunday, December 17:

• Midnight ET/PT - Lifetime - The Man Who Saved Christmas (movie)
• 2 AM ET/PT - TBS - Richie Rich (movie)
• 8:15 AM ET/PT - AMC - Prancer (movie)
• 9:30 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - Richie Rich's Christmas Wish (movie)
• 10 AM ET/PT - Bravo - Madonna: The Confessions Tour, Live From London
• 10:30 AM ET/PT - TNT - The Wizard of Oz (movie)
• 11 AM ET/PT - Lifetime - Ebbie (movie)
• 11:30 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
• 11:30 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (movie)
• Noon ET/PT - CW - Christmas Parade
• Noon ET/PT - Bravo - A Clay Aiken Christmas
• 1 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Holiday Affair (movie)
• 1:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Once Upon a Christmas (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - CW - Mouse Hunt (movie)
• 3 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Comfort and Joy (movie)
• 3:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Twice Upon a Christmas (movie)
• 4 PM ET/PT - TBS - Home Alone (movie)
• 4 PM ET/PT - Food Network - Wintertime Treats Unwrapped
• 5 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Recipe for a Perfect Christmas (movie)
• 5 PM ET/PT - HGTV - What's With That Christmas House?
• 5 PM ET/PT - Food Network - The Secret Life of Christmas
• 5:30 & 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - How the Grinch Stole Christmas (movie)
• 6 PM ET/PT - Food Network - A Barefoot Contessa Holiday
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC - A Charlie Brown Christmas
• 7 PM ET/PT - PAX - The Santa Trap (movie)
• 7 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Under the Mistletoe (movie)
• 7 PM ET/PT - Food Network - Nigella Bites Christmas Special
• 8 PM ET/PT - CBS - Survivor 13: Cook Islands Season Finale
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC - The Santa Clause 2 (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - TBS - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - Food Network - Emeril's Happy Happy Holidays
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - The Road to Christmas (movie)
• 10:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of the Misfit Toys

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' - Ep. 13 -or- "Adam Can't Hold His Mud"

Don't forget... the big Survivor 13: Cook Islands finale starts Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET/PT in most viewing areas. It's a two-hour finale followed by an hour long reunion show.

But what about tonight? Can Ozzy be stopped? Is Yul really a puppetmaster? How about that Becky - is she really sneaky? Is Parvati really Shallow? (Yes, that's her last name, so she is.)

Six remain. Who will be voted out tonight?

Well, the show didn't dilly-dally too long and pretty much jumped right into action (after a brief recap, that is) with treemail. Yes, it was the Reward Challenge and from the verse within the treemail, the castaways guessed mud wrestling - a fun sport indeed.

They were sort of close. It was mud. They had to go into a mudpit, gather as much mud as they could on their bodies, then go through a wooden fence and dump it into their designated buckets. They couldn't use their hands to carry the mud. Ozzy got inventive and gathered a pile in his hair and on the back of his neck. He was driven. Adam really didn't look as muddy as the rest. For the longest time he was the only one not using his hair to gather mud. Yul was gathering the mud on the small of his back and walking hunched over.

Ozzy, in his typical Ozzy fashion, worked it. He easily won with 45 pounds of mud in his bucket after the ten minutes they were allowed. That's about twice as much as anyone else had. Second was Parvati with 24 pounds, third Yul with 22½ pounds. Adam gathered 22 pounds while Sundra and Becky only got 20 pounds each. The funniest part of the challenge was when they all stopped competing and actually looked at each other - Revenge of the Mud Thing!

The reward? The winner and the two highest mud-packers won an overnight trip to a luxury spa, a feast which included alcohol, and lots of festivities. As the winner, Ozzy also chose someone to go to Exhile Island. Since his likely choices would be non-ex-Aitu tribe members, it was a given he'd choose Adam as Parvati was going on Reward. And, so he did.

Becky and Sundra went back to camp, mud and all. While there Becky couldn't get over how much Ozzy beat them by with the mud. She went on another "better get him out sooner rather than later" diatribe. Sundra seemed to agree. They all like Ozzy, but he's unstoppable. He throws himself into each challenge like some kind of winning machine.

Adam thought he'd spend his time in Exile just resting up for the Immunity Challenge, but the weather had another plan. A storm rolled in and he spent most of the night awake, wet, and cold. But, before the storm, at least he ate something. "Who needs fire when you can eat food raw?" Blech, I think it was a crab he was eating.

At the luxury spa, they showered off the mud - Ozzy had "I "heart" it" carved in the drying mud on his chest. He "hearted" a shower a lot more, though. They feasted and partied, then the power went out in the storm. But did it stop the party? Nope! Native dancers danced by candlelight and the good times went on. Then Yul, Ozzy, and Parvati went skinnydipping in the hot tub. Parvati and Ozzy flirted a lot, much to Yul's dismay. He observed it and said in confessional that he was worried she was trying to use Ozzy.

Reunited back at camp, Yul and Becky discussed their concerns about Ozzy. Both are very wary, but Yul doesn't seem to want to take the leap to actively get him out. Yul said in a confessional that no one has a chance against Ozzy with the jury. I think he's right. I had some qualms about Ozzy's attitude in the beginning of the show - he had a chip on his shoulder. But, dang... he's giving it his all. If he wins it all, he deserves it.

Off to the Immunity Challenge! This one should have been easier for the women as it included a balance beam, but that wasn't the case. The castaways had to walk across multi-level balance beams, retrieve four bundles of puzzle parts one at a time, then build a table with their puzzle parts, and guide two cannonballs through a groove to the corner pockets. This been a very puzzling season. Too puzzling at times!

Of course, Ozzy just zipped through the retrievals and his only opposition was Yul. Yul wasn't as quick on the balance beams, but at least he was making his puzzle table at the same time as Ozzy. Parvati was in running for third while Becky took one really painful-looking fall, but kept at it. Sundra and Adam looked like comedy routines falling all over the place. Both were totally off the map as far as winning goes.

So Ozzy won Immunity once again. Can he be stopped? I don't know. Back at the camp, both Adam and Parvati tried to get in his good graces. They want to vote Sundra or Becky (preferably the former) out and tried to get Ozzy to vote with them. He wouldn't commit.

Adam then approached Yul, the Survivor Godfather Puppetmaster Dude. pleading his case. Yul assured him that he "thought" he'd be okay. When talking to Parvati, Yul told her that he personally thought Adam was a bigger threat while "the others" may consider her the biggest threat. He "thought" she'd be okay. I guess he's the Diplomatic Survivor Godfather Puppetmaster Dude.

When Sundra, Yul, and Becky noticed that Parvati and Adam were working on Ozzy, they put an end to that by casually joining them. They thought Ozzy was still with them, but were worried.

As it turned out, no need to worry. There was no rat or weasel calling at Tribal Council, although many (including Jeff) questioned Yul's motives for returning Jonathan's hat. But the vote went by Aitu clockwork. Adam and Parvati voted for Sundra while all of the ex-Aitu voted for Parvati. Buh-bye, Parvati.

Jeff mentioned that on the finale there would be three Tribal Councils and a surprise. Too bad the twists have hit the fan already, or something to that effect.

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' East Coast Update - 12/14 - Boot

Along old Aitu lines, Parvati was voted off. She and Adam voted for Sundra.

A full review/recap will be posted late tonight - c'mon back and chat about the show!

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' East Coast Update - 12/14 - Immunity

Ozzy won Immunity once again.

Don't tell me you're surprised.

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' East Coast Update - 12/14 - Reward/Exile

Ozzy won Reward, but 2nd and 3rd place winners, Parvati and Yul, go with him to an overnight luxury spa/feast/alcohol. Ozzy chose to send Adam to Exile Island.

It was muddy!

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.

TV Newsy Bits - Monday, December 11, 2006

Sigh. TV viewing seemed so empty without Heroes tonight. Yes, I watched How I Met Your Mother (yet another good episode), The Class (a fair episode) and Two and 1/2 Men (a funny episode). But, but... I feel so, so bereft of Heroes. Yeah, that's it! Where have all the Heroes gone? Where have all the cowboys gone? Ah, well. I have 10 Items or Less on (TBS) and that show makes me smile.

Here are the TV Newsy Bits of the day:

• Some folks in comments have been asking about the teams selected for the upcomng Amazing Race 11: All Stars. I made a few posts mentioning some of the teams a while ago - here and even here. From what I've found online, it looks like Romber and the Guidos are in, but no BJ/Tyler or Frat Boys (season one).
• The CBS website has changed the guest listing for David Letterman this week. Despite what I previously posted (which I took from their site), now Bette Midler isn't mentioned and Clint Eastwood is in her place on the Friday show.
• I got home from work today to find a FedEx slip on my door. I'm guessing another press kit/screener - I'll let you know. Hmmm, maybe someone is sending me a plasma television or something. (Yeah, right.)
• Celebrity Spider is reporting that Sarah Ferguson (the ex-Duchess of York) has indeed signed up to be on the next Dancing With the Stars. I think she'll dance better than Jerry Springer did, don't you?
• Media Fiends has up a transcript of James and Tyler on The Early Show this morning. It's a bit hard to read and filled with ampersands, but it's the only one I see out there right now. I missed the show.
  

Holiday Television Programming - This Week Monday to Friday (Dec. 11-15)

Remember back to your childhood when it took absolutely forever for Christmas to arrive? Ah, but that's not the way of the adult world, is it? We blink and the holiday is right around the corner, blink again and it's here. Without further ado, here are some of the television specials, holiday movies, and more that I found through to Friday, December 15. Keep in mind that my list isn't everything that's out and about on the tube -- I don't include premium cable programming, nor local programming outside of the NYC area. You may want to check your local listings in addition to checking this list.

Monday, December 11:

• Although I won't be making specific entries for them, keep in mind that shopping networks such as QVC and HSN are full of gift ideas and marketing throughout the week.
• Weekday shows Rachael Ray, Ellen DeGeneres, and Martha (amongst others) will have holiday content throughout the week.
• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - Call Me Claus (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - A Different Kind of Christmas (movie)
• 7 & 10 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Mary Poppins (movie)
• 8 & 10:15 PM ET/PT - TNT - The Wizard of Oz (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - CBS - How I Met Your Mother - "How Lily Stole Christmas"
• 9 PM ET/PT - NBC - The Year Without a Santa Claus (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - A Christmas Wedding (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - TLC - Crazy Christmas Lights
• 10 PM ET/PT - TVLand - 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catchphrases - new episodes all this week.

Tuesday, December 12:

• 11 AM ET/PT - AMC - Miracle on 34th Street (movie)
• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - Holiday in Your Heart (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Home for the Holidays (movie)
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC - How the Grinch Stole Christmas: 40th Anniversary Special Edition (narrated by Boris Karloff)
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Santa Baby (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - USA - Elf (movie)
• 10 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Pinocchio's Christmas

Wednesday, December 13:

• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - Christmas in My Hometown (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Santa Who? (movie)
• 4 PM ET/PT - USA - Elf (movie)
• 7 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Rudolph's Shiny New Year
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (movie)
• 10 PM ET/PT - CBS - C.S.I. NY - "Silent Night"
• 10 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Jack Frost
• 10 & 11 PM ET/PT - TNT - Christmas in Washington 2006
• 10 & 11 PM ET/PT - Bravo - Top Chef - "Holiday Spirit"

Thursday, December 14:

• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - If You Believe (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Stolen Miracle (movie)
• 4 PM ET/PT - HGTV - Decorating Cents Home For the Holidays
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Little Drummer Boy
• 7:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Little Drummer Boy: Book II
• 8 PM ET/PT - NBC - The Office - "A Benihana Christmas"
• 8 & 10:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - The Polar Express (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - Bravo - Christmas in Rockefeller Center
• 9 PM ET/PT - TBS - Seinfeld - "The Strike" (Festivus episode)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Crazy for Christmas (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Food Network - Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade Holiday
• 9 PM ET/PT - Bravo - A Clay Aiken Christmas
• 10 PM ET/PT - TLC - Holiday Blunders
• 10 PM ET/PT - Food Network - Nigella Bites Christmas Special

Friday, December 15:

• 10 AM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Charlotte's Web (animated movie)
• Noon ET/PT - Lifetime - Like Father, Like Santa (movie)
• Noon ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure (animated movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Christmas on Chestnut Street (movie)
• 7 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• 7 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - The Year Without a Santa Claus
• 8 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
• 8:30 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Bill and Mandy Save Christmas
• 9 PM ET/PT - PAX - Christmas Eve (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Mr. St. Nick (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of the Misfit Toys
• 10:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

'The Amazing Race 10' Season Finale

And, so it's over. The next season will be the All Stars season and should air in the spring. It's currently filming.

Tonight's finale took a look back at all of the teams. While it seems not much time has gone by, some of the teams seemed to be such distant past. Duke and Lauren? Tom and Terry? Yikes! I forgot I had hoped they'd make it near the end! Now they're such history that they seem like they're from a previous season.

Three teams remain. In tonight's season finale, one team will win a million dollars and The Amazing Race.

After the brief memory jog through the teams and some of the countries, the show opened where we last left the remaining three teams - Barcelona, Spain. Rob and Kimberly, who had been the first to arrive, were the first to leave at 11:09 p.m. Lyn/Karlyn ('Bama Moms) had to wait until 11:44 while the BoyToys (Tyler and James) left last at 11:53.

The teams had to find a church in Barcelona that's been under construction for 124 years, the Sagrada Familia. It was actually a fairly easy place to find as it's quite famous. However, the kicker was they had to search a park behind the church for their next clue. The 'Bama Moms were still searching as the other teams hit the airport looking for flights to Paris.

In what looks like a purely typical touristy move, teams had to go to the third floor of the Eiffel Tower for their next clue. Why? I can only think it was so that the Eiffel Tower would be included in the show. When all three teams gathered at the airport, Rob and Kimberly snagged the only available seats on the quickest flight to Paris landing at the Charles de Gaulle International Airport. Tyler and James, much to the disgust of Rob/Kimberly, managed to get on the fight last minute. But the 'Bama's couldn't get aboard. However, they ended up with a flight which landed at Orly, which happens to be much closer to the Eiffel Tower than de Gaulle is.

All teams ended up on the same train to Caen where they hit a Roadblock - a task only one member of the team can complete. In this one, "Who's ready to storm the beach," both team members played a bit of a role. The main task was a tandem skydive with a guide which had to be completed by the one. But the other team member also went up in the plane which nosedived along with the skydiver for a while.

The Roadblock gave Rob something new to fuss at Kimberly about - he wanted to skydive and it was her task. Wah, wah, fuss, bicker. I can't help but wonder how the ChoBros would have done with this Roadblock as they had such a fear of heights.

Despite what seemed to be a jump on Rob and Kimberly by the BoyToys and 'Bama Moms, all three teams were once again on the same train back to Paris and a Detour. The Detour, a choice between two tasks to be completed by both team members, was Art or Fashion. In Art, teams had to pick up then walk a painting to get their next clue. In Fashion, teams had to create a jacket using a mannequin, then get approval from a designer.

All three teams chose Fashion for some reason. I personally would have thought that to be the harder task. The BoyToys did great. 'Bama Moms thought the fashion designer was the Fashion Gestapo and could only say "no." Rob was all frustrated as Kimberly took over the task and didn't let him do anything. So, he fussed more about not getting to skydive.

Whne the clue received instructed them to fly to New York City, 'Bama Moms made an error which cost them the race. They went back to the Orly Airport while the other teams went to the Charles de Gaulle. Orly has no flights to NYC, so they had to double back and ended up not making the same flight as Rob/Kimberly and the BoyToys. We never saw the 'Bama Moms again until the Finish Line.

The teams were instructed to get their next clue at the "News building with the big globe." Here's the part of the Race I loved because it's my territory. That's the The News Building on East 42nd Street - the model for the Daily Planet building of Superman fame and the original home of the New York Daily News. From there they had to walk (yikes) about two miles down to the East Village armed with a photo of a sculpture. Hey, I know that spinning sculpture! I never knew its name before tonight, but it's the Alamo. It's on Astor Place and Lafayette not far from where the Blue Man Group plays.

From there, it was a race between the BoyToys and Rob/Kimberly to taxicab on up to Garrison, a town in Putnam county about 40 miles north of NYC. I'm familiar with where the town is as I lived about 10 miles north of there a few decades ago. But I didn't know the Pit Stop location - St. Basil's Academy.

The BoyToys, James and Tyler, hit the Pit Stop first. Not long after came Rob and Kimberly. It's unknown how much later the 'Bama Moms arrived, but they made it.

Okay. I wasn't too thrilled with any of the final three teams. I guess the BoyToys were the most deserving of the three as they consistently raced the best race of the three. They didn't fight as much as Rob and Kimberly, and weren't as nasty as Karlyn from 'Bama Moms was at times.

The season brought about a first - the first all-female team to make the final three. I bet Lyn and Karlyn's children are beaming. It also brought about a second - the second year in a row that a guy named Tyler won. I liked the other Tyler better.

Overall? I was entertained. I'll be watching and writing about the next season, for sure.

Oh. And Phil Keoghan (the host) is still adorable with great eyes.

I'm allowed to be shallow, aren't I? After all, I write about television shows. I'm not trying for a Pulitzer.

'The Amazing Race 10' East Coast Finale Update - Winners

Tyler and James just won.

Rob and Kim, second.

Bama way not there. They arrived, no idea on time span.

Tonight's 'The Amazing Race 10' Finale Blogging Schedule

Football coverage caused 60 Minutes to start approximately 10 minutes late here in the NYC area. As a result, East Coast updates including the winner, will be posted about ten minutes later than expected. So, look for the winner at approximately 9:10 PM ET right here. It may help to hit the December 2006 Archive link on the right sidebar if you think you're not seeing the most recent post.

A full review/recap will be posted late tonight.

TV Newsy Bits - Sunday, December 10, 2006

Don't forget... tonight is the big season finale for The Amazing Race 10, set to start after 60 Minutes on CBS in most viewing areas. I'm not sure if it will be delayed by football which happens more often than not here in the NYC viewing area. I'll make a quick post a bit later whether it's starting on time here or not, and then I'll post an East Coast Update as the winner is announced on the show. Keep in mind, TAR, unlike Survivor, is always an hour-long finale. Next week's Survivor finale and reunion show is set to take up the entire Sunday night primetime programming block on CBS.

In other TV Newsy Bits:

• Celebrity Spider has location spoilers for tonight's Amazing Race finale, no winner spoilers are in the article.
• How well do you know The Amazing Race? AOL has an Amazing Race Trivia Test up and running. You don't have to be an AOL member to give it a shot. How do you think I did?
• I received a few neat screeners this week. TBS sent me a box mostly filled with a promotional helium balloon (which is driving my cat crazy as it drifts around the apartment) and a DVD for The Funniest Commercials of the Year 2006, set to air December 27. TNT sent me a press kit with a screener for A Perfect Day (a TNT original holiday-themed movie) with Rob Lowe, which will air next Monday night, December 18. I'll be posting separate sneak peeks on both of those soon.

Since I dragged out the vinyl last week due to Sunday Morning and its Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam segment on CBS and this morning, they had Johnny Mathis on... I hit up my vinyl collection once again today.

My Vinyl Non Sequitur Soundless Byte for the day is:
"Time is on my side, yes it is. You'll come runnin' back, you'll come runnin' back to me..." - From "Time is on My Side" - the vinyl is Hot Rocks by The Rolling Stones. This song also brings back visions of the movie Fallen with Denzel Washington, John Goodman and Donald Sutherland. I can see the shackled killer dancing to the song now every time I hear it. Yipes. That's an excellent movie.

Pants in Every Pot, This Week's 'Late Show with David Letterman' Guests - Dec. 11 - 15

After a week of much too recently aired repeats, Late Show with David Letterman is brand-pants-spanking new this week! Will this week bring about the annual Late Show Christmas tree? I guess we'll just watch and see!

Here's a look at the guests we'll be seeing this week:

• Monday (Dec. 11): Matt Damon (The Good Shepherd) and Barbara Walters. I think Barbara Walters has a crush on Dave, don't you?
• Tuesday (Dec. 12): Howard Stern and Gwen Stefani. The latter will be promoting her new CD, The Sweet Escape. The former will probably be promoting himself, as is his usual practice. Oh, he'll probably promote Sirius, too.
• Wednesday (Dec. 13): Regis Philbin, Kid Scientists, and musical guest Robert Randolph (Colorblind). I'm notching this one. I love it when Regis is on the show and the Kid Scientists segments are always a lot of fun. It's a great time of year for the kids to come to NYC for the first time, too.
• Thursday (Dec. 14): Will Smith, promoting his new movie The Pursuit of Happyness. If you don't know the background of the film, it's very interesting and rewarding. Check it out! Musical guest is Evanescence, CD is The Open Door.
• Friday (Dec. 15): Bette Midler, CD is Cool Yule, and Matthew Fox from Lost. Could this be Tree Night? It seems late, but she did do the Rockefeller Tree special and she's top-billed over Matthew Fox. I guess we'll find out.

TV Newsy Bits - Saturday, December 9, 2006

It's hard to believe that yesterday marked the 26th anniversary of the shooting death of John Lennon. I somehow remembered the day before was the anniversary of Pearl Harbor (which I obviously wasn't around to experience), but didn't think of John Lennon until late last evening. It was too cold to go to the gathering in Central Park, but I lighted a candle here.

Yesterday was also an odd commute day for me. My morning was greeted with a notice on my train seat which said that Homeland Security would be conducting practice exercises from 4 to 8 p.m., but saying schedules wouldn't be affected. That's nice. I needed a reminder that the NJ Transit trains are likely targets of terrorism just before the holidays. It's a very different world from the one I once knew.

Ah, well... onto the TV Newsy Bits:

• Lots of Survivor news is out and about! Richard Hatch has appealed his conviction claiming conspiracy. In an interview by Reality News Online, Jonathan (the recent castoff) believes he was playing a "rational" game. RNO also transcribed his The Early Show appearance. Celebrity Spider reports that Survivor 14: Fiji is still filming despite a military coup. We can expect to see that season spring 2007.
• Reality News Online has also transcribed the latest The Amazing Race Insider videos from the CBS website. See what we didn't see behind the scenes before we see the finale show tomorrow night.
• AOL Television News reports that even though rumors abound, Rosie O'Donnell won't be leaving The View.

'Blue Man Group: Inside the Tube'

The other night, I briefly touched on the fact that I was watching The Blue Man Group: Inside the Tube on the local PBS affiliate - WNET, Channel 13, NYC. The show was a part of the station's annual fund drive.

In poking about the Web, I found that the show is being aired as part of the fund drive for many PBS stations throughout the country. So, if you're a fan of BMG, or even if you're not, check your local PBS listings. If they're in a fund drive period, you may be able to see the show.

Inside the Tube combines interviews with Blue Man Group creators Chris Wink, Matt Goldman and Phil Stanton, segments featuring actual shows in Las Vegas and New York City, and footage of The Complex rock show tour.

Watching the show reminded me of what it's like to see them live at the Astor Place Theatre and how I should really go again. While the seating and knee room at the theatre is woefully lacking, the excitement, energy, and thought-provoking entertaining sensory overload makes the show a worthwhile night out. If you're near the NYC, Chicago, Boston or Las Vegas areas, it's not a cheap ticket show, but it's money well spent to experience them live. They're amazing.

And, if you aren't near one of the cities where the Blue Men "reside," then this 90-minute show is the next best thing to seeing them live.

Are you paying attention? If you're paying attention, please yell. Can I get a one-handed fist pump, please? Oh, and I like Cap'n Crunch.

Holiday Television Programming - This Weekend, December 9 - 10

Oh, no! Did you realize it's Christmas just two weeks from Monday? Is all of your holiday shopping done? If it is, then you can relax and watch holiday television programming while sipping hot chocolate and not feel guilty about hiding from the maddening crowds. Even if you haven't finished your shopping, it may be good to shop online and stay home to watch television, right?

Here's the scoop on what's on this weekend... keep in mind that it's not all-inclusive and you might want to check for programs specific to your local areas:

Saturday, December 9:

• QVC and HSN holiday shopping is in full swing for the whole weekend.
• 9 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - Ruldoph and Frosty's Christmas in July (animated movie)
• 9 AM ET/PT - TVLand - That Girl all-weekend marathon begins
• 9 AM ET/PT - BRAVO - Six Feet Under mini-marathon begins (ends at 2 PM)
• 11 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
• 11 AM ET/PT - A&E - Karroll's Christmas (movie)
• Noon ET/PT - ABC Family - The Story of the First Christmas Snow
• 12:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Hester the Donkey
• 1 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Miracle on the 17th Green (movie)
• 1 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Pinocchio's Christmas
• 2 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Jack Frost
• 2 PM ET/PT - TNT - The Librarian: Quest for the Spear
• 3 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Christmas Child (movie)
• 3 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Frosty's Winter Wonderland
• 3 PM ET/PT - Food Network - Paula's Southern Christmas
• 3:30 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
• 4 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Rudolph's Shiny New Year
• 4 PM ET/PT - Food Network - All Star Holiday Gifts
• 4 PM ET/PT - TNT - The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines
• 5 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Christmas in My Hometown (movie)
• 5 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - The Year Without a Santa Claus
• 6 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
• 7 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Home for the Holidays (movie)
• 7 PM & 9:30 ET/PT - ABC Family - The Polar Express (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - TNT - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - ABC - Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Holiday Affair (movie)
• 10 PM ET/PT - TLC - Crazy Christmas Lights
• 10:15 PM ET/PT - AMC - Prancer (movie)

Sunday, December 10:

• Midnight ET/PT - Lifetime - A Very Cool Christmas (movie)
• Midnight ET/PT - ABC Family - Home Alone 4 (movie)
• Midnight ET/PT - Food Network - Nigella Bites Christmas Special
• 1 AM ET/PT - Food Network - A Barefoot Contessa Holiday
• 8 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - To Grandmother's House We Go (movie)
• 8 AM ET/PT - Food Network - All Star Holiday Cookies
• 10 AM ET/PT - ABC Family - A Mom for Christmas (movie)
• 11 AM ET/PT - WGN - It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
• 11 AM ET/PT - Lifetime - Secret of Giving (movie)
• Noon ET/PT - ABC Family - Santa Claus: The Movie
• 12:30 PM ET/PT - AMC - Cheaper by the Dozen (original with Myrna Loy)
• 1 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - His and Her Christmas (movie)
• 2 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Scrooged (movie)
• 3 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Noel (movie)
• 4 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Chasing Christmas (movie)
• 5 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - On the 2nd Day of Christmas (movie)
• 5 PM ET/PT - Food Network - Paula's Southern Christmas
• 6 PM ET/PT - Cartoon Network - Casper's Haunted Christmas (movie)
• 6 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Snow (movie)
• 6 PM ET/PT - AMC - Miracle on 34th Street (movie)
• 7 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Call Me Claus (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - MY9 (NYC) - Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights (movie)
• 8 & 10 PM ET/PT - ABC Family - Santa Baby (movie)
• 8 & 10:15 PM ET/PT - AMC - Prancer (movie)
• 8 PM ET/PT - HGTB - The White House Christmas 2006
• 8 PM ET/PT - TNT - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - Lifetime - Christmas on Chesnut Street (movie)
• 9 PM ET/PT - HGTV - What's With That Christmas House?

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' - Ep. 12 -or- "Something is afoot."

Remember, we have one more episode to go next Thursday night and then the big finale and reunion show is Sunday, December 17. And, look at the numbers. After tonight there are six left. Rumors are abounding. Will there be a double eviction? Will there be a Final Three vying for the win instead of a Final Two? And, what about the Jury? If there is an even number, there could be a tie. I guess we'll see a week from Sunday!

Seven are left. Who will be voted out tonight?

The show opened with Jonathan listing the names he was called at the recent Tribal Council. You know - rat, weasel, a cancer. He's not a happy rat.

But the focus soon switched to Parvati. She was chopping at a coconut with a machete and really sliced open her thumb, right through the nail. Despite the relative severity of the wound, she handled it well. But, then again, that's the kind of wound which is going to hurt a lot more a day or two later than right as it happens. Medics were called and she had a stitch or two and did (or will) lose the nail (or most of it). Remind me not to chop my coconuts with my handy kitchen machete, please.

The sore thumb didn't hold her back during the Reward Challenge, though. Jeff surprised the castaways with family members who ended up participating in the challenge. It was a water relay where the castaways, blindfolded, had to fill up a small bucket from the ocean. Their respective loved ones, not blindfolded, would guide them to throw the water into a bucket they each held. Then the loved ones would dump the contents into a larger bucket which, when filled, would raise a flag. It ended up looking more like a water fight that a bucket brigade. And, Parvati won it with her father as her partner.

She got to choose someone to go to Exile Island. Not a surprise at all, she chose Jonathan. Then Jeff turned the tables and had her father choose two other castaways and their guests to go to a huge fried chicken picnic held in a sacred cave with locals. Since he didn't know who his daughter liked or not, he was in a spot. I think he went for the guests he liked, not the castaways. He chose Adam and his father and Sundra and her Mom.

"I call him George because he's my best friend," said Adam of his father. Um, okay. If that makes you happy, Adam, go for it.

With Jonathan off at Exile Island, the group remaining at camp -- Yul, Becky, Ozzy -- found it was very peaceful. They decided that they should hide the food from Adam and Parvati. Since Ozzy is the main food provider from fish to coconuts, he resented those two winning anything when he's feeding them. So they threw all the fruit into the woods.

At the feast, Sundra did her best to fit in, make friends, and influence people even though she was eating with the enemy. Of course, Adam and Parvati were working on their own influencing pushing their anti-Jonathan agenda. It looked like Sundra was liking them more and more, but would her allies take them under their wing?

Sure enough, they did! It was the food. Adam and Parvati brought back a feast for those who remained at camp. Now, I found this a bit odd. In previous seasons, they had to smuggle smidgens from a Rewards feast back to those who remained at camp. Adam and Parvati brought full meals for everyone including themselves. And, it was all eaten without Jonathan. Becky, in a confessional, commented on how peaceful everything was without Jonathan, but with Parvati and Adam.

The seeds have been planted.

The Immunity Challenge was a Built For Ozzy water obstacle course that the castaways had to run through twice collecting bundles of sticks. Then they had to form a pole with the retrieved sticks and hook two rings way up high. First in with the rings won. Ozzy ran over the barrels which knocked others out; folks were slip-sliding all over the course. The only one who was anywhere near Ozzy was Yul and he took some good falls. But, in the end, Ozzy won Immunity, so he's safe from Tribal Council. And, since Yul has the Immunity Idol from Exile Island, we know he's safe, too.

Returning to camp, Jonathan knew something has changed. "Something is afoot. I know it. Something has shifted." He was right. In his absence, Adam and Parvati had worked their way in with the ex-Aitu members better than Jonathan fit in with them.

Jonathan worked the girls. "Are we still cool? Are we voting Adam out tonight?" They mumbled some sort of affirmative mumble. Then Jonathan went for Yul. "I saved you! I was loyal." Yul mumbled a bit, too. Adam also approached Yul and pleaded his case. Yul talked to Becky and they thought that Adam and Jonathan should go away as soon as possible and then they would need to think about Ozzy as he's way too strong a competitor. In a confessional spot, Yul likened his own position to a "Godfather ordering a hit."

At Tribal Council, there was more finger-pointing and weasel-calling of Jonathan, more smug replies from Jonathan, and not as much camera-mugging from Nathan. In the end, all voted out Jonathan except for Jonathan himself. He voted for Adam.

I think Jonathan's demeanor at Tribal Council didn't help his cause any. He acted like ex-Aitu owed him. I'm personal wary of the vote. Adam can win challenges; Jonathan couldn't (or hasn't). Adam has plenty of friends on the jury who would vote for him in a Final Two situation; Jonathan has no friends on the jury. The only reasoning in keeping Adam over Jonathan would be a peer pressure kind of thing -- "Look, we voted out Jonathan for peace." I don't know. I think it wasn't the best choice. Adam while they could get him gone would be better for Yul, Becky, Ozzy, and Sundra.

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' East Coast Update - 12/07 - Boot

Jonathan was voted out tonight. A full review/recap will be posted later.

I personally think a huge mistake was made - Adam should have been voted off. But I'll get into that in the review/recap. Stop on back!

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' East Coast Update - 12/07 - Immunity

Ozzy won Immunity.

'Survivor 13: Cook Islands' East Coast Update - 12/07 - Reward

Although Parvati sliced open her thumb, she won Reward. Family members participated. She chose to send Jonathan to Exile Island. Her Dad chose two castaways/family members to go with them to a picnic with locals at a native cave. He chose Sundra and her mother, Adam and his father.