Posted Nov 22nd 2009 4:03PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Programming, OpEd, The Closer, Friday Night Lights, Breaking Bad, Reality-Free, Mad Men, Burn Notice, Glee
Thanksgiving is coming and for many of us it's time to eat, drink and watch football. It's also a time to reflect on the things you're grateful for and since TV Squad is all about television, here's what I'm grateful for this holiday season, with regard to the tube.
Mad Men season finale
There was really nothing as satisfying in the entire year for me. Matt Weiner promised a game-changing episode and he delivered it with a whopper of a wrap up. Actually, nothing was really wrapped; it was more like the cards have been dealt and we're still waiting to see how the hands are played.
Continue reading What Allison is thankful for
Posted Nov 22nd 2009 2:02PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: OpEd, Early Looks, Reality-Free
Jesse Ventura has been a professional wrestler, an actor and a politician. None of these things have been as fake as the reality television show he will be hosting on truTV titled
Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura (premiering December 2 at 10 PM ET).
For the record, I have never met or spoken to Jesse Ventura. He would corroborate this if anybody asked. As a result, I have no idea if he actually believes the crap he says or the conspiracies he investigates on this show. From what I've read, it wouldn't surprise me.
In the series premiere, Jesse and his crew of unknowns, consisting of two young white guys and the token black British female, are investigating a U.S. government installation built in Alaska that's possibly intended to control the weather. Who makes this stuff up? Now we know where the monies saved from stopping the "bridge to nowhere" went.
Continue reading Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura -- An early look
Posted Nov 22nd 2009 1:03PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Sports, OpEd, Celebrities, Reality-Free
What does it say about the state of television broadcasting when the voice of television football is a guy who's voice is indiscernible? Is there really nobody that's filled the void since
John Madden stopped acting out in the booth with the booms and the pows and the turducken and horse trailer references? Afraid so. According to
Sporting News' list of the Top 25 Football Broadcasters in America, CBS football broadcaster
Gary Danielson is number one.
Sporting News used a measuring system based on fan reaction and the input of its reporters and editors (including
SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily), and despite the fact that Danielson's voice is pretty much just like
Bob Griese's (I always confuse the two), he's considered the best because "he explains it before most of us have seen it." That's on target. He is pretty smart, just unmemorable.
Continue reading Who's the top football broadcaster on TV today?
Posted Nov 22nd 2009 12:12PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Programming, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
- At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes, then new episodes of The Amazing Race, Cold Case, and Three Rivers.
- NBC has a new Football Night in America at 7, followed by the Eagles vs. the Bears.
- FOX has a new Brothers at 7.
- Lifetime has the movie Unstable at 7.
- Syfy has the movie Lightning Strikes at 7, followed by the movie Fire From Below.
- At 8, ABC has the American Music Awards.
- FOX has a new episode of The Simpsons at 8, then new episodes of The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, and American Dad.
- At 9, PBS has a new Masterpiece Contemporary.
- HBO has the season finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm at 9.
- Showtime has a new Dexter at 9, followed by a new Californication.
- Food Network has the season finale of Next Iron Chef at 9.
- History Channel has two new episodes of Cowboys & Outlaws at 9.
- At 11:30, Cartoon Network has a new Titan Maximum.
- At midnight, Cartoon Network has a new episode of The Venture Brothers, then a new Metalocalypse.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
Posted Nov 22nd 2009 11:29AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Programming, OpEd, Celebrities, Reality-Free
One of the stranger quirks of the holidays on television is the way networks and channels program. Movie marathons have become very common, especially TBS's tradition of 24-hours of
A Christmas Story. Now, another network is following in TBS's tradition by scheduling a movie marathon of its own.
The TV Guide Network will present a 12-hour marathon of Dirty Dancing. That's right, the Patrick Swayze-Jennifer Grey drama musical.
Look at this beautiful image from the movie. That's Johnny and Baby in the lake, practicing jumps for their big dance number. Doesn't it just scream "CHRISTMAS" to you?
Continue reading The perfect Christmas movie marathon? Dirty Dancing
Posted Nov 22nd 2009 10:32AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Friday Night Lights, Casting, Reality-Free
One of the most integral and interesting characters on
Friday Night Lights may be out of the lineup for much of the rest of the season. And he may not be back for next season, either.
Taylor Kitsch could be out of Friday Night Lights after the next few episodes. Michael Ausiello is reporting that executive producer Jason Katims confirmed that Taylor's conflicting schedule with a big screen project has mucked up the works.
Taylor's playing the title character in
John Carter of Mars, a big screen adaptation of the famous Edgar Rice Burroughs' books, which isn't slated to be released until 2012, but will require extensive filming. It doesn't look like he'll be able to fit more of
Friday Night Lights into the mix. And a lot of the predicament could be on the Disney side; will they free up his shooting schedule for John Carter to let him play Tim Riggins.
Continue reading Taylor Kitsch may be done with Friday Night Lights
Posted Nov 22nd 2009 9:37AM by Kona Gallagher
Filed under: Site Announcements, Bones, Reality-Free
The folks at our sister site
Cinematical are working hard to give you news and reviews of the best -- and worst -- the silver screen has to offer. Here are some of their musings on the latest blockbusters, indies, and everything in between:
Posted Nov 21st 2009 3:02PM by Nick Zaino
Filed under: Animation, Celebrities, Reality-Free
A year ago, before there was a
Cleveland Show, when the
Family Guy spinoff was still just a possibility, the show's first guest stars, Daryl Hall and John Oates, were brought aboard. They'll finally make their debut, playing an angel and a devil, respectively, on Cleveland Brown's shoulder on the Thanksgiving episode which airs Sunday at 8:30PM on Fox.
According to show co-creator, producer, and voice of Cleveland Mike Henry, the appearance came out of a trip to Las Vegas where a casting director arranged for Henry to meet the guys backstage after a show. When they showed interest, that was that. "We wrote the part and sent it on over," says Henry, speaking at a conference call with media.
"You planted the seed a year ago saying, hey, would you like to be on the show that's not on TV yet?" says Hall.
Whatever big decision Cleveland is making in the episode, Henry is a bit cagey. "Maybe Auntie Mamma has got a penis," says Henry. "Let's just say that. There. I've given it away."
Continue reading Mike Henry and Daryl Hall on a Cleveland Show Thanksgiving
Posted Nov 21st 2009 2:09PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Video, Commercials, Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free
You know how sometimes you see an actor or actress and they look so familiar, but you can't remember where you saw him or her, or what the TV show was? That's how I've been with the little boy who plays Brick on
The Middle. His name is
Atticus Shaffer, and since the ABC sitcom began this fall, I've been scratching my head over him. Where did I see him before?
Turns out that it was on a commercial for AIG. Yes, AIG, that huge insurance company that was a big part of the economic collapse. The company that was too big for America to let fail.
Continue reading That's why I recognize Brick from The Middle!
Posted Nov 21st 2009 1:07PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Programming, OpEd, Celebrities, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free
Steven and Stephen are getting together. That is to say that Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks TV are working with Stephen King to make a television
movie based on King's latest novel Under The Dome.
The novel is about one of those small New England towns that King enjoys writing about suddenly finding itself trapped in a force field. Unlike
The Simpsons Movie, the concept is not played for humorous effect.
The idea is reminiscent of those stories where people are trapped in a confined space and lawlessness sets in. There have been many similar concepts done in TV and film, although I can't think of any particular ones off the top of my head.
As he gets older, King's television presence becomes less. For a few years it seemed like a different TV show based on his work was being produced every year. He may be starting that again. So much for retirement.
Posted Nov 21st 2009 12:24PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Programming, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 7, Cartoon Network has a new Bakugan, followed by a new episode of The Super Hero Squad Show.- At 8, ABC has College Football, Kansas vs. Texas.
- FOX has a new Cops at 8.
- HGTV has a new Divine Design at 8.
- Food Network has All-Star Thanksgiving at 8.
- At 9, FOX has a new America's Most Wanted.
- CNBC has a new Suze Orman Show at 9.
- Lifetime has the movie Personal Effects at 9.
- BBC America has a new Robin Hood at 9, then a new Graham Norton Show.
- Also at 9: Cartoon Network has a new episode of The Secret Saturdays.
- At 10, CBS has a new 48 Hours Mystery.
- At 11, FOX has a new Wanda Sykes Show, followed by a new Sit Down, Shut Up.
- At 11:30, NBC has a new Saturday Night Live, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and The Dave Matthews Band.
- At 1AM, Cartoon Network has a new Bleach.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
Posted Nov 21st 2009 12:01PM by Mike Moody
Filed under: Stargate, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S01E09) There was a lot going on in this episode, as the folks aboard
Destiny started to adjust to their new lives away from Earth. The adjustment, of course, is easier for some than it is for others.
Chloe has made new friends like Eli and has found a partner in Scott, who comforts her and makes her feel less lonely. So she's content to pass the time doing yoga on the observation deck. People like Young, Rush and Eli are busy exploring the ship and trying to unlock its hidden wonders. That at least keeps them occupied and somewhat hopeful.
But things aren't nearly as happy-go-lucky for people like Spencer (aka "Baldy"). He's running out of his medication (my guess is that he's taking anti-psychotics, or is that too obvious?) and it seems like only a matter of time before he kills someone, or kills himself.
Continue reading Review: Stargate Universe - Life
Posted Nov 21st 2009 10:02AM by Danny Gallagher
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Sports, TV on the Bigscreen, Reality-Free
If you are counting the seconds until the new big screen remake of
American Gladiators hits a theater near you, please seek immediate medical attention or the nearest clergyman for guidance.
Screenwriter Peter Iliff has developed a script for the project. The TV tough guys and gals will be turned into "superheroes" in the new movie.
That's it? Isn't that obvious? What the hell else were they going to be?
- A bunch of muscleheaded meatwads pretending to be British nannies in order to see their estranged children.
- Sinewy wimp-eaters who must constantly pull a bus with their teeth at a speed of at least 30 mph or it will explode.
Or perhaps the storyline could go something like this: A ruthless mob boss looking to bump off a key witness traveling overseas plants twelve Gladiators injected with anger inducing pheromones on his plane and unleashes them over the ocean.
Feel free to share your own ideas for this movie in the comments below.
Posted Nov 21st 2009 9:02AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Daytime, Celebrities, Reality-Free
Within a few weeks,
All My Children will be turning over a new leaf, officially making the move west to new studios in Los Angeles. Most actors are making the move. Some are not. And today
ABC informed the head writer, Charles Pratt Jr., that he's been let go. If he had his suitcases packed, well, sorry about that.
Chuck Pratt was hired with some fanfare in June 2008. He was a big hire because his resume is filled with flashy successes, including
Desperate Housewives, Melrose Place, Beverly Hills 90210, Ugly Betty, Santa Barbara and
General Hospital, among others. Pratt was supposed to revive
All My Children to its former luster, but -- alas -- it hasn't happened.
Continue reading ABC fires All My Children head writer Chuck Pratt
Posted Nov 21st 2009 2:52AM by Isabelle Carreau
Filed under: Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S05E09) "I have a bad feeling about this one. A very bad feeling." - Melinda about the ghost in the closet
Melinda's bad feeling was, pardon the pun, dead on. Very bad things happened in this November Sweeps episode: Aiden was put in danger, the dead girl from the closet was front and center, the Shadows came back full force and in a way we hadn't see yet, Bedford gave more warnings to Eli, as a hurting Carl the Watcher gave warnings to Melinda.
Continue reading Review: Ghost Whisperer - Lost In The Shadows
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