Another one bites the dust...
FOX pulled Vanished, finally, and will air the rest of the episodes on its website (and maybe myspace.com's as well).
I gave this show a lot of chances. I tried really hard to like it, but it was a mess. Even killing off the main character (a radical move that allowed the show a chance to change direction) didn't do it for me.
Add it to the graveyard and bring on another...
Saturday, November 18, 2006
NBC Opens Doors to Immigration
NBC is hoping the success they found with The Office can allow lightning to strike twice.
It's developing a BBC Three show called I'm With Stupid with the Farrelly Brothers, which should be interesting. It's also looking to snatch a Channel 4 show called The IT Crowd and an Australian show called Kath & Kim.
I don't know what I'm With Stupid is about, but I'm sure it'll be over-the-top with the Farrellys on board. The IT Crowd is about three IT-support workers who are exiled to the basement of their company's otherwise posh office building and is being adapted by Just Shoot Me veterans. I've actually seen Kath & Kim since The Sundance Channel airs it, and it'll be interesting to see how they translate it since I found the original slow (it's faux-documentary/reality show where cameras follow around a woman and her adult daughter).
Now, NBC scored with The Office, but let's not forget the disasters that were Coupling and Men Behaving Badly; two other BBC shows it tried to adapt. BTW: I watched the original, BBC version of Coupling over the summer and found it absolutely hilarious; truly one of the best comedies I've ever seen. Check it out if you have a chance. It's not currently on the BBC America rotation, but I'm sure they'll air it again soon.
I got on a BBC America search today, looking for other shows to record, and I see it's airing the first three eps of Rocketman again this week . I have all six eps in my DVR as I haven't gotten to them yet-- but I did see the first episode, and it was very good. It brought tears to my eyes a couple times (it's a very rare show that can get that reaction from me). It's about a man's quest to send his wife's ashes into space-- just as they always wished-- but he doesn't have the funds or the proper equipment to make it happen. But that doesn't stop him from trying, again and again. But it is taking a toll on him emotionally, as well as on his children, who he has practically abandoned while he pursued his quixotic quest.
December 1 has the premieres of two promising-looking BBC America shows.
First is Hardware starring The (original) Office's Martin Freeman (who played the "Jim" inspiration "Tim"), which airs at 10pm on December 1. It's about four hardware store employees who help their customers and annoy each other.
Second is the second season of Worst Week of My Life. I didn't see the first season (the first three eps of which re-air Monday morning from 2-4 am). Each seven episode "season" follows a week in a new couple's life (the couple are played by Ben Miller and Sarah Alexander; Alexander is all over the BBC, having starred in Coupling and Green Wing as well as NBC's Teachers from last year-- but don't blame her for that NBC garbage). Week (Season) One was about their wedding, and this new season follows the week leading up to the birth of their baby. The second season begins at 8:40m on December 1, and runs the next seven weeks.
I'm trying both shows out, for sure.
I highly recommend trying out various shows on BBC America. It's not the Monty Python or Benny Hill- only network it once was. I've seen tremendous shows on it the past year and a half. Not every show is for everybody, but there are very "American-feeling" shows on it that aren't as foreign as past shows were (even The Office took me a while to "get", but "get it" I did after I understood the language differences).
Just a short list of shows I'd recommend: The Office (the first, and the harshest), Conviction (a morality tale about a guy who had a terrible secret-- has NOTHING to do with the piece-of-crap show of the same name NBC aired last spring), Coupling (seriously, one of the best comedies I've ever seen), Bodies (an extremely dark show about cover-ups, lying, and how far can one person let it go before taking action-- one of my Top Ten shows of the past year), Green Wing (Think Scrubs mixed with the attitude of M.A.S.H. and take away the FCC-- and make some of the characters bat-sh** insane), Ed vs. Spencer (two guys compete to see who is better-- or worse in various contests; a real life "Goofus and Gallant" strip), and Bromwell High (England's answer to South Park and The Simpsons; off-the-wall animation; bad-ass Keisha is one of my favorite characters of the year).
It's developing a BBC Three show called I'm With Stupid with the Farrelly Brothers, which should be interesting. It's also looking to snatch a Channel 4 show called The IT Crowd and an Australian show called Kath & Kim.
I don't know what I'm With Stupid is about, but I'm sure it'll be over-the-top with the Farrellys on board. The IT Crowd is about three IT-support workers who are exiled to the basement of their company's otherwise posh office building and is being adapted by Just Shoot Me veterans. I've actually seen Kath & Kim since The Sundance Channel airs it, and it'll be interesting to see how they translate it since I found the original slow (it's faux-documentary/reality show where cameras follow around a woman and her adult daughter).
Now, NBC scored with The Office, but let's not forget the disasters that were Coupling and Men Behaving Badly; two other BBC shows it tried to adapt. BTW: I watched the original, BBC version of Coupling over the summer and found it absolutely hilarious; truly one of the best comedies I've ever seen. Check it out if you have a chance. It's not currently on the BBC America rotation, but I'm sure they'll air it again soon.
I got on a BBC America search today, looking for other shows to record, and I see it's airing the first three eps of Rocketman again this week . I have all six eps in my DVR as I haven't gotten to them yet-- but I did see the first episode, and it was very good. It brought tears to my eyes a couple times (it's a very rare show that can get that reaction from me). It's about a man's quest to send his wife's ashes into space-- just as they always wished-- but he doesn't have the funds or the proper equipment to make it happen. But that doesn't stop him from trying, again and again. But it is taking a toll on him emotionally, as well as on his children, who he has practically abandoned while he pursued his quixotic quest.
December 1 has the premieres of two promising-looking BBC America shows.
First is Hardware starring The (original) Office's Martin Freeman (who played the "Jim" inspiration "Tim"), which airs at 10pm on December 1. It's about four hardware store employees who help their customers and annoy each other.
Second is the second season of Worst Week of My Life. I didn't see the first season (the first three eps of which re-air Monday morning from 2-4 am). Each seven episode "season" follows a week in a new couple's life (the couple are played by Ben Miller and Sarah Alexander; Alexander is all over the BBC, having starred in Coupling and Green Wing as well as NBC's Teachers from last year-- but don't blame her for that NBC garbage). Week (Season) One was about their wedding, and this new season follows the week leading up to the birth of their baby. The second season begins at 8:40m on December 1, and runs the next seven weeks.
I'm trying both shows out, for sure.
I highly recommend trying out various shows on BBC America. It's not the Monty Python or Benny Hill- only network it once was. I've seen tremendous shows on it the past year and a half. Not every show is for everybody, but there are very "American-feeling" shows on it that aren't as foreign as past shows were (even The Office took me a while to "get", but "get it" I did after I understood the language differences).
Just a short list of shows I'd recommend: The Office (the first, and the harshest), Conviction (a morality tale about a guy who had a terrible secret-- has NOTHING to do with the piece-of-crap show of the same name NBC aired last spring), Coupling (seriously, one of the best comedies I've ever seen), Bodies (an extremely dark show about cover-ups, lying, and how far can one person let it go before taking action-- one of my Top Ten shows of the past year), Green Wing (Think Scrubs mixed with the attitude of M.A.S.H. and take away the FCC-- and make some of the characters bat-sh** insane), Ed vs. Spencer (two guys compete to see who is better-- or worse in various contests; a real life "Goofus and Gallant" strip), and Bromwell High (England's answer to South Park and The Simpsons; off-the-wall animation; bad-ass Keisha is one of my favorite characters of the year).
Friday, November 17, 2006
Welcome PRISON BREAK news
Sounds like FOX doesn't have much in the pipeline for mid-season-- which isn't helped by the failures of their new shows thus far, so they may have to bring back an All-Star early.
Prison Break was supposed to disappear until March after it's Nov. 27 episode, but now there's talk of bringing it back in late-January.
Good news to not have such a huge gap in the middle of the season, but it could mean the show will wrap early (in March; with a killer cliff-hanger, for sure) or air repeats in between new episodes.
Another tricky thing about it: apparently the show is running really tight now, with very little time between wrapping and airing an episode. The moved-up second half of the season could wreak havok on the filming schedule.
Oh well, I'll take my Break wherever I can get it.
Prison Break was supposed to disappear until March after it's Nov. 27 episode, but now there's talk of bringing it back in late-January.
Good news to not have such a huge gap in the middle of the season, but it could mean the show will wrap early (in March; with a killer cliff-hanger, for sure) or air repeats in between new episodes.
Another tricky thing about it: apparently the show is running really tight now, with very little time between wrapping and airing an episode. The moved-up second half of the season could wreak havok on the filming schedule.
Oh well, I'll take my Break wherever I can get it.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Some pick ups-- and drops
It's the mid-season point of the new TV season, and we have four cancelled shows: Smith, Runaway, Kidnapped, and Happy Hour and three that are "on hiatus": Twenty Good Years, Six Degrees, and the latest, Justice, which was pulled from tonight's lineup at the last second.
These shows were given full-season pickups: Men In Trees, Studio 60, Ugly Betty, Friday Night Lights (picked up just today), The Game, Brothers and Sisters, Shark, and Jericho (which, it was just announced, will go the Lost and Prison Break route and air in two repeat-free blocks).
To follow up with Jericho: the last episode this year will be on Nov 29 and then the aging King of Queens will air in its timeslot until Jericho returns in late-February.
These shows were given full-season pickups: Men In Trees, Studio 60, Ugly Betty, Friday Night Lights (picked up just today), The Game, Brothers and Sisters, Shark, and Jericho (which, it was just announced, will go the Lost and Prison Break route and air in two repeat-free blocks).
To follow up with Jericho: the last episode this year will be on Nov 29 and then the aging King of Queens will air in its timeslot until Jericho returns in late-February.
A Good TV Night
Well, the kids went to bed (and stayed there), and the wife is working late, so what's a boy to do? Watch the tube. And tonight had some good stuff.
First off is Prison Break (no spoilers beyond what you'd see in the previews). Man, what a jam-packed episode ("Bolshoi Booze"). Michael makes the final arrangements to get across the border, Lincoln has to make a tough choice, Sara and Kellerman square off, more and more is learned about Mahone, T-Bag tries to escape in a stomach-turning scene, Bellick threatens Geary, Geary livin' large. A horror movie-level scary visitor...
Twists, turns, revelations, foreshadowing. Only two more episodes this fall and then a too long wait for the rest of the season.
I also checked out a bunch of [adult swim] episodes from last night. Fantastic stuff.
First off was Moral Orel; my goodness, if I actually believed in Hell, I'd be afraid I was headed there after watching this. Take a kid who loooooves church, and mix in an astounding amount of naivete and the ability to COMPLETELY misinterpret the teachings he hears in church, and you get Orel.
This week, he heard that God made people in his own image, and his pastor said some are more in his image than others, so when the local Italian family 's skin doesn't match the color of his "God approved" bandaids, he decides that they are different enough to be separated from the rest of the town.
A wonderful commentary on the devisiveness of people, whether it be skin color, class, religion, or whatever.
Metalocalypse had a religious theme as well in the "Religionklok" episode from last night. William Murderface had a near-death experience and decided that he needed something more from life; something spiritual. So he decides to try out religion.
He (and the others in his band Dethklok) goes to a Christian rock gathering-- and chaos ensues. Then they visit an atheist church where they pray to "no one" and a group of protesting agnostics (with signs that say "maybe God") riot at the atheist service. But the last, and funniest, is when they visit a Church of Satan, and the service is led by a pansy and is even more boring than any other service he attended. Murderface stands up in the middle of the service and asks where the nearest bar is-- because he's so bored.
No real commentary to this one (other than worship services are boring, maybe), but it's still funny.
And my new favorite [adult swim] show now that The Venture Brothers' season is done: Frisky Dingo. Last night's episode ("Kidnapped") was the usual crazy antics of the villianous (but lazy/incompetent) Killface as he attempts to get the $12 billion he needs to finish his giant "Annihilatrix" rocket to send the planet into the sun. Since he crossed paths with billionaire playboy Xander Crews (aka super-hero Awesome X) last episode, Killface figures he should kidnap Crews to get the money. Meanwhile, the ants in the computer keyboard form the invention contest last week became super-intelligent ("because they were working with computers") and Watley, whom Xander grafted giant lobster claws onto, is charged with getting the ants-- and the nuclear waste he's got in his office-- to the dump. And hot news reporter (and Xander's girlfriend) Grace Ryan gets an interview with Killface.
All the major players converge at the end, and everything that can go wrong, does.
Check it out. It's a great show with killer lines (usually from Xander) and very realistic animation (at least the characters who are human). But as is most [adult swim] shows, it's bizarre.
First off is Prison Break (no spoilers beyond what you'd see in the previews). Man, what a jam-packed episode ("Bolshoi Booze"). Michael makes the final arrangements to get across the border, Lincoln has to make a tough choice, Sara and Kellerman square off, more and more is learned about Mahone, T-Bag tries to escape in a stomach-turning scene, Bellick threatens Geary, Geary livin' large. A horror movie-level scary visitor...
Twists, turns, revelations, foreshadowing. Only two more episodes this fall and then a too long wait for the rest of the season.
I also checked out a bunch of [adult swim] episodes from last night. Fantastic stuff.
First off was Moral Orel; my goodness, if I actually believed in Hell, I'd be afraid I was headed there after watching this. Take a kid who loooooves church, and mix in an astounding amount of naivete and the ability to COMPLETELY misinterpret the teachings he hears in church, and you get Orel.
This week, he heard that God made people in his own image, and his pastor said some are more in his image than others, so when the local Italian family 's skin doesn't match the color of his "God approved" bandaids, he decides that they are different enough to be separated from the rest of the town.
A wonderful commentary on the devisiveness of people, whether it be skin color, class, religion, or whatever.
Metalocalypse had a religious theme as well in the "Religionklok" episode from last night. William Murderface had a near-death experience and decided that he needed something more from life; something spiritual. So he decides to try out religion.
He (and the others in his band Dethklok) goes to a Christian rock gathering-- and chaos ensues. Then they visit an atheist church where they pray to "no one" and a group of protesting agnostics (with signs that say "maybe God") riot at the atheist service. But the last, and funniest, is when they visit a Church of Satan, and the service is led by a pansy and is even more boring than any other service he attended. Murderface stands up in the middle of the service and asks where the nearest bar is-- because he's so bored.
No real commentary to this one (other than worship services are boring, maybe), but it's still funny.
And my new favorite [adult swim] show now that The Venture Brothers' season is done: Frisky Dingo. Last night's episode ("Kidnapped") was the usual crazy antics of the villianous (but lazy/incompetent) Killface as he attempts to get the $12 billion he needs to finish his giant "Annihilatrix" rocket to send the planet into the sun. Since he crossed paths with billionaire playboy Xander Crews (aka super-hero Awesome X) last episode, Killface figures he should kidnap Crews to get the money. Meanwhile, the ants in the computer keyboard form the invention contest last week became super-intelligent ("because they were working with computers") and Watley, whom Xander grafted giant lobster claws onto, is charged with getting the ants-- and the nuclear waste he's got in his office-- to the dump. And hot news reporter (and Xander's girlfriend) Grace Ryan gets an interview with Killface.
All the major players converge at the end, and everything that can go wrong, does.
Check it out. It's a great show with killer lines (usually from Xander) and very realistic animation (at least the characters who are human). But as is most [adult swim] shows, it's bizarre.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Premieres and Notables for 11/13-11/19
Tuesday, 11-14
City of Men; Sundance. 8 pm, Season Premiere.
Third Season Premiere.
Show Me The Money; ABC. 8:31pm, Series Premiere.
A quiz-style game show hosted by William Shatner (could... there... be... a more perfect... game show host?).
3 Lbs; CBS. 9 pm, Series Premiere.
Smith's demise led to CBS fast-tracking this House-ian show about a neurosurgeon starring the great Stanley Tucci.
Everest: Beyond the Limit; Discovery. 9 pm, Series Premiere.
Six-part series about a 2006 ascent to the world's tallest peak.
Wednesday, 11/15
Dancing With the Stars (ABC, 7 pm), Laguna Beach (MTV, 9 pm), and I Pity The Fool (TV Land, 9 pm) all have their season finales.
Medium; NBC. 8 pm, Season Premiere.
The "little show that could" comes soon after Kidnapped's demise in a 2-hour premiere.
Day Break; ABC. 8 pm, Series Premiere.
Taye Diggs stars in this new series about an LAPD cop who gets framed for murder-- and keeps reliving the day over and over. Sounds cool, and the promos for it have rocked, but the only "review" I read of it said it was "silly". I'm still trying it.
Thursday, 11/16
My Name is Earl sees Randy munching on the wrong thing-- and then start seeing the others as "Claymation-esque" characters. Christian Slater guest stars.
And all of NBC's sitcoms are "supersized", so watch out for weird start and end times (Earl: 7pm- 7:36; Office: 7:36-8:20; 30 Rock: 8:20-9:01).
Friday, 11/17
Foxworthy's Big Night Out, Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders: Making the Team, Ice-T's Rap School, Air: America's Investigative Reports, and Real Time With Bill Maher all have their season finales tonight. The only one I'll be sad about is Real Time.
Saturday, 11/18
After a few years of not having one, Comic Relief returns, this time in aid of Hurricane Katrina survivors. HBO and TBS are simultaneously airing the benefit (I'll be watching HBO-- just in case someone "goes blue"). 8 pm.
Sunday, 11/19
Reba, CW. 6 pm and 6:30 pm, Season Premiere.
Reba comes back because of a huge deal The WB made before combining with UPN to make the CW. See, it would cost a lot more for CW to dump the show, so they brought it back. In a sh**ty timeslot. This is a classic example of "burning off" episodes. Two in a row this week, and then paired up with Reba repeats in subsequent weeks.
And, finally, just because I had to mention it. I read in this week's TV Guide that Flava Flav is expecting his seventh child in January. The unidentified woman is not a winner-- or one of the contestants-- of his show Flavor of Love.
Just wanted to mention what a classy guy Flav is, supposedly looking for love on a national (albiet cable) TV show, while hittin' it on the side. Maybe he should hollow out the clock on his neck and fill it with condoms.
Just a thought.
Or maybe a checkbook. I'd imagine child support, even for a washed up rapper, would be costly. Especially when he's got six others running around...
City of Men; Sundance. 8 pm, Season Premiere.
Third Season Premiere.
Show Me The Money; ABC. 8:31pm, Series Premiere.
A quiz-style game show hosted by William Shatner (could... there... be... a more perfect... game show host?).
3 Lbs; CBS. 9 pm, Series Premiere.
Smith's demise led to CBS fast-tracking this House-ian show about a neurosurgeon starring the great Stanley Tucci.
Everest: Beyond the Limit; Discovery. 9 pm, Series Premiere.
Six-part series about a 2006 ascent to the world's tallest peak.
Wednesday, 11/15
Dancing With the Stars (ABC, 7 pm), Laguna Beach (MTV, 9 pm), and I Pity The Fool (TV Land, 9 pm) all have their season finales.
Medium; NBC. 8 pm, Season Premiere.
The "little show that could" comes soon after Kidnapped's demise in a 2-hour premiere.
Day Break; ABC. 8 pm, Series Premiere.
Taye Diggs stars in this new series about an LAPD cop who gets framed for murder-- and keeps reliving the day over and over. Sounds cool, and the promos for it have rocked, but the only "review" I read of it said it was "silly". I'm still trying it.
Thursday, 11/16
My Name is Earl sees Randy munching on the wrong thing-- and then start seeing the others as "Claymation-esque" characters. Christian Slater guest stars.
And all of NBC's sitcoms are "supersized", so watch out for weird start and end times (Earl: 7pm- 7:36; Office: 7:36-8:20; 30 Rock: 8:20-9:01).
Friday, 11/17
Foxworthy's Big Night Out, Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders: Making the Team, Ice-T's Rap School, Air: America's Investigative Reports, and Real Time With Bill Maher all have their season finales tonight. The only one I'll be sad about is Real Time.
Saturday, 11/18
After a few years of not having one, Comic Relief returns, this time in aid of Hurricane Katrina survivors. HBO and TBS are simultaneously airing the benefit (I'll be watching HBO-- just in case someone "goes blue"). 8 pm.
Sunday, 11/19
Reba, CW. 6 pm and 6:30 pm, Season Premiere.
Reba comes back because of a huge deal The WB made before combining with UPN to make the CW. See, it would cost a lot more for CW to dump the show, so they brought it back. In a sh**ty timeslot. This is a classic example of "burning off" episodes. Two in a row this week, and then paired up with Reba repeats in subsequent weeks.
And, finally, just because I had to mention it. I read in this week's TV Guide that Flava Flav is expecting his seventh child in January. The unidentified woman is not a winner-- or one of the contestants-- of his show Flavor of Love.
Just wanted to mention what a classy guy Flav is, supposedly looking for love on a national (albiet cable) TV show, while hittin' it on the side. Maybe he should hollow out the clock on his neck and fill it with condoms.
Just a thought.
Or maybe a checkbook. I'd imagine child support, even for a washed up rapper, would be costly. Especially when he's got six others running around...
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