Last year’s television season felt weird because the writer’s strike took a big chunk out of that season and the ripples were still felt this year as there were no new great shows and the shows that had been gone since December 2007 returned to a resounding thud in terms of ratings. And this year is when Saturday is becoming the new Friday with networks running off episodes there after canceling them. But anyways. Here are the best television shows of the past twelve months.
A nice even split among the networks this year with cable getting a larger share of the pie this year. Below is a breakdown as well as a running tally of the shows that led in numbers of Quotes and Songs of the Week from my weekly 57 Channels and Best of the Week rundowns:
Quotes of the Week
Chuck (6) The Big Bang Theory (5) Lost (5) The Middleman (5) Pushing Daisies (3) How I Met Your Mother (3) Eli Stone (3) Pardon the Interruption (3) Friday Night Lights (2) Greek (2) I Love Money (2) Gary Unmarried (2) My Name Is Earl (1) Leverage (1) Survivor (1) Ten Items or Less (1) Cupid (1)
Songs of the Week Chuck (12) My Name Is Earl (6) How I Met Your Mother (3) The Big Bang Theory (2) Eli Stone (2) Tool Academy (2) Lost (1) Pushing Daisies (1) Cupid (1) Saturday Night Live (1) Trust Me (1) 30 Rock (1)
Welcome to the 5th Annual Scooter Television Awards honoring show that aired new episodes between June 2008 and May 2009. Without further ado, here are the winners of the 2007 STA's:
Most Annoying Reality “Star”: Coach (Survivor: Tocantins)
Best Quote: Well, then allow me to put this to you delicately. You see, men are dogs. They come, you know, sniffing around, barking up your tree. But if they don’t see a kitty cat up in that tree, pretty soon they stop barking. Dwight’s not missing. He's barking up somebody else’s tree. (Emerson Cod, Pushing Daisies)
Show That Should Be Brought Back: Pushing Daisies
Biggest Question for 2009-2010: Will Lost have a satisfying ending?
Quote of the Week: The reporting of the past few days have proven tackier than a costume change at a Madonna concert. (Mike Huckabee, RNC)
Song of the Week: Just Stand Up! - Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus, Melissa Etheridge, Ashanti, Natasha Bedingfield, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, Leona Lewis, LeAnn Rimes, and Carrie Underwood
Big New of the Week: Let the Fall Season Begin: A couple weeks ago Hey Nielson invited me and some television bloggers to help them with their fall preview. They had us rank each show on a one to five scale. Also be on the lookout for which of my quotes they used in their preview. Click the banner below for details and clips of over twenty new shows and a chance to win a HDTV.
Coalition Links of the Week: Buzz launched a printable night-by-night TV calendar so you can know when your favorites are on. Pretty! (BuzzSugar)
With everyone complaining about how terrible the new 90210 is, Marcia made the point that the old one was pretty damn awful when it started, too. (Pop Vultures)
WWE Diva Mickie James makes a guest appearance as a derby girl on this week's Psych and we spent some time chatting with her about the experience. (RTVW)
Vance finally has time to start posting about the Fall TV Preview. (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace found that he was less than thrilled with the CW's relaunch of 90210, complete with overplayed songs, one-dimensional characterization, and found it to be much less fun overall than Gossip Girl, The O.C., or Skins. (Televisionary)
TiFaux never got around to watching TNT's premiere of Raising the Bar, but Dan had some very important things to say about Mark-Paul Gosselaar's new shaggy mane. (TiFaux)
Never miss your favorite show this fall! Download and print theTVaddict.com's Ultimate Fall 2008 Season Premiere Calendar. (The TV Addict)
We gave you our take on summer's TV landscape -- and it wasn't pretty. (TV Filter)
I Love Money: Megan continues to amaze me week after week. Again escapes an elimination getting the Entertainer to get rid of hid only ally and keep her. How does this keep happening? You can download episodes of I Love Money on iTunes.
The Middleman: When Manservant Neville showed up I predicted that he would turn out to be the opposite of the Middleman, an archnemesis as you will, but I guess since they are an evil empire in the other dimension I am wrong with that prediction. I have to nick pick with that other dimension, specifically when Noser was quoting Shaft, should be have done something like Barry Manilow? But anyways. I saw next Monday ABC Family is running a Secret Life of the American Teenager marathon so we may have seen last of The Middleman. You can download episodes of The Middleman on iTunes.
Greek: I would like to thank the show for the greatest pick-up line ever. Ever. For dudes out there that missed it, if you are sitting around waiting somewhere and see a cute girl and say to her how about you save me from reading whatever is in you hands (in this case the pregnant man) and tell me your life story. Brilliant. You can download episodes of Greek on iTunes.
Stand Up 2 Cancer: I would like to thank NBC, ABC, CBS, and E! (as Brad Garrett said while receiving a prostate exam live on camera, I can’t believe Fox is counter programming this) for dedicating an hour of prime time programing to focus on raising funds for cancer. If you missed it, of course you can head over to SU2C.com to donate or to see Dana Delany get a breast exam and Charles Barkley get a colon cleaned out. Also check out the Song of the Week to download the charity single.
Free Downloads of the Week: Rain of Madness (iTunes): For those that could not get enough of Tropic Thunder here is a behind the scenes look at the movie.
Mr. Rock and Roll (Borders): Another week another free song by Amy MacDonald, at this week you may have the album free by Christmas.
Also if you missed any of the speeches from the DNC or RNC, you can download them all over at iTunes for free:
Promo of the Week: Aside from the Hey Nielson I have also be enlisted in Oprah digital network (no seriously) which may include giveaways (no word if you get a car and you get a car just yet). Monday sees the 23rd season premiere where Oprah will be welcoming home over 175 Olympic medalist (sorry women’s field hockey team, no car for you). Some technical difficulties are keeping me from posting the promo but if you check back later I hope to have it up soon.
Pick for Next Week: 102 Minutes that Changed the World, Thursday at 9:00 on History: The seventh anniversary honored by History (the channel) in this commercial-free retrospective on the time between when the first tower was hit and the second tower fell.
Quote of the Week: It was a bold choice, interesting background and a potential Hot for Teacher situation, don’t ya think? (Tony Kornheiser, Pardon the Interuption)
Big New of the Week: John McCain Picks for His Vice President, Wait, Who?: Just an addendum to yesterday’s post, the more I think about the more brilliant the pick of Sarah Palin is for John McCain. After a day of seeing talking heads blast her inexperience you can almost see the democratic strategist realize right after doing so that their candidate is not that much more experience. And having your inexperience at the bottom of the ticket is better than having it at the top. Granted Palin has more executive experience than Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and McCain combined.
And it didn’t take long for the liberal communist of the left to start their smear campaign hitting the internet to make people believe that Palin has had multiple affairs and that Palin faked her last pregnancy and that her eldest daughter is the real mother of her youngest (I even had a couple hits to yesterday searching for Bristol Palen pregnancy) like a bad plot line out of Desperate Housewives. Just because she lives in Juno doesn’t mean all the teenagers are pregnant. This rumor is as truthful as Obama being a Muslim, McCain fathering a black baby, and Biden, well Biden isn’t interesting enough to spread falsehoods about.
(Scooter's Update: More proof that Brisol is not the mother of Trig: she is five months pregnant accorfing to a press release from the Palen clan. Read more about it over at MSNBC.com. This makes my Juno crack a little less funny. Well, it still is pretty funny.)
Coalition Links of the Week: Buzz chatted with 90210's Shenae Grimes about the responsibilities of being "The new Brenda." (BuzzSugar)
Marcia returned from the Edinburgh TV Festival with tales of Heroes and Doctor Who, straight from the showrunners' mouths. Also, new site design! (Pop Vultures)
Rae's spent the summer with her nose buried in a book and it's finally paying off for us with her review of the Burn Notice novel The Fix. (RTVW Online)
Vance loves Gavin & Stacey and insists that you all watch it too so that you too can fall in love. (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace took an early look at the first three episodes of the new season of Gossip Girl and offered up which new and returning series he'll be watching this fall. (Televisionary)
Before the conventions started and we got all partisan, Sara got all "thinky" and discussed the optimistic nationalism of the Olympics. Never fear, we'll soon return to our guttural reactions on Project Runway. (TiFaux)
The TV Addict had the time of his life at Fox's Fantastic Fringe series premiere party in New York City. (The TV Addict)
Raoul got excited about the possibility of a (re)animated Buffy Summers. (TV Filter)
I Love Money: How can no one see that Megan is playing everyone. It doesn’t get more transparent than”backstabbing” people she is supposed to be aligned with right in front of them. Yet even with that blatant going aganst her alliance’s wishes, she was able to talk her alliance out of voting off White Boy even though they had just seen her align herself with him against their wishes hours before. I am begining to wonder if Megan is the smartest dumb person ever. You can download episodes of I Love Money on iTunes.
The Middleman: It seems like every week I throughly enjoy The Middleman, but for some reason when I sit down to write 57 Channels I rarely have anything interesting to say about the episode and that pretty much sums up the most recent one. And if I am not mistaken, next week s the season (series?) Finale. Hopefully it goes out with a bang. Literally and figuratively. You can download episodes of The Middleman on iTunes.
Busted: I typically do not flip through channels, but flipping through all the NBC networks during the Olympics had me do it a little lately, that is how I found this gem on MTV. For those that haven’t seen it, Busted is basically Cops for the college age set. So you get a lot of under age drunks and stoned morons. Man, I miss college. My personal favorite segment has to be the two girl who get pulled out of a club and when the cops say they were accused of solicitation, one of the girl, who had the most possible amount of clevage possible without being techincally naked, yells at the cop, “Do we look like prostitutes?” Sadly the cop didn’t say when everyone had to be thinking, yes. Nonetheless, highest of high comedy.
Promo of the Week: Last year was a bit of a down year for My Name Is Earl. This could have been due to the writer’s strike, but Earl spent way too much time in jail or a coma and really didn’t cross much off his list. As the new season suggests, Earl is back to the list, but first, here is a recap for last year.
Pick for Next Week: Stand Up to Cancer, Friday at 8:00 on NBC, ABC, and CBS: It is cliched to say that we all know someone with Cancer, but sadly it is unavoidable with one presidential candidate a Cancer survivor with the other who lost his mother to the disease, granted one would rather give a speech to a bunch a Germans than to show up to Lance Armstrong’s LiveStrong Cancer forum. With that in mind it looks like Cancer may be overlooked in whoever is elected’s budget (not so fun fact, our government has spent more in a month on Iraq than all the years combinded since Nixon declared war on Cancer) on so it is again up to the individual to fund a cure. So the big three are banding together (Fox would rather air Guess the Lyrics) for a telethon which includes performance by Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus, Melissa Etheridge, Ashant, Natasha Bedingfield, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, Leona Lewis, LeAnn Rimes, and Carrie Underwood. And those are just the people who will be preforming together. Head over to StandUp2Cancer.com for more information and to donate or buy the charity single below.
Quote of the Week: You're a total medal (expletive deleted). (Tiki Barber, Olympics Recap)
Big New of the Week: The Return of The Banana Splits: I may be showing my age, but my favorite show as a kid is returning to television courtesy of The Cartoon Network. For those too young to remember the show, that is what YouTube is for.
Coalition Links of the Week:
Buzz got a great interview out of the young actor Tristan Wilds on moving from The Wire's Baltimore to 90210's, well, 90210. (BuzzSugar)
My favorite comedy, The Office will be returning in just a few short long weeks. I'm passing the time by watching season 4 on DVD. You can too. GMMR is giving away a copy of Season 4 of The Office on DVD. (Give Me My Remote)
Vance checks out the new contestants on The Amazing Race (Season 13) and makes gloriously uneducated preconceptions about all the teams. (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace reviewed Season One of the adorable, charming, and wickedly funny British comedy Gavin & Stacey, which launches on Tuesday evening on BBC America. (Televisionary)
Is Dan overreacting? He was a bit put-off by the teaser for CBS's The Mentalist which employs some gay stereotypes. (TiFaux)
Raoul gave you his honest take on America's Greatest Dog...and so did Beth Joy. (TV Filter)
I Love Money: Megan's power is so great now, that she can just make everyone beg to her dog in order to stay and use that as her way to choose on who she would send packing. I am not sure if this is genius or the dumbest thing ever in reality history. You can download episodes of I Love Money on iTunes.
The Middleman: If this wasn't the best episode since the pilot, than it was easily the funniest thanks in no small part to evil puppets. Evil puppets rule. And the episode begs the question, who is The Middleman's other true love? My money is on the succubus. You can download episodes of The Middleman on iTunes.
Pick for Next Week: Greek, Tuesday at 9:00 on ABC Family: Let the fall season begin. Greek starts right after Spring Break and I should have a preview in the next couple days. And for those that fear going through Olympics withdrawal, try switching over another wall to wall coverage this time of the Democratic National Convention which goes from Monday until Thursday on all the cable news networks as well as an hour a day on the major networks at 10:00.
Quote of the Week: A song even Michael Bolton can’t ruin. Don’t tell anyone I said that. (Tyler, The Middleman)
Big New of the Week: It’s the End of the World as We Know It: And I am starting to get a little queasy. It was bad enough that John McCain included Paris Hilton in one of his political ads, but then the Paris respond ad just inched us even closer to the impending apocalypse. And when you thought, or at least hoped, that was it, John McCain responded to the Paris Hilton ad saying her energy plan was better than the one of Barack Obama. Let me repeat, the presumptive republican nominee responded to an attack ad from Paris Hilton.
Coalition Links of the Week: Buzz tested your knowledge of how much money TV stars make. (BuzzSugar)
This week, Sandie took a first look at Katie Holmes' guest appearance on Eli Stone. (Daemon's TV)
As part of a week-long series on TV vs. film with TiFaux, Marcia takes a look at some of the ways TV creates more varied characters than film. (Pop Vultures)
Rae steps into the RTVW Confessional and spills about liking good stunt casting, citing such examples as LiLo on Ugly Betty and Katie Holmes on Eli Stone. (RTVW Online)
Vance giddily recaps the finale of So You Think You Can Dance Season 4. (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace waxed poetic about the latest Peggy-and-Pete-centric installment of Mad Men, easily the one of the most complex, vibrant, and vivid series on television right now. (Televisionary)
In an exciting first for TiFaux, Dan teamed up with Marcia from Pop Vultures to discuss the merits of TV versus film. In his first entry, Dan talked about how couch potatoes are given a bad reputation as anti-social shut-ins. Which, for the record, he only is when Project Runway is on. (TiFaux)
Jack Bauer would me proud as this week, the TV Addict did the impossible and infiltrated the set of 24. (The TV Addict)
Kate was saddened to realize that pretty much any great woman's life can be turned into a Lifetime Original Movie. (TV Filter)
The Middleman: For anyone that didn’t catch all those Ghostbusters references, I do not think we can be friends. You can download episodes of The Middleman on iTunes.
My Boys: Predictable ending, but I have no clue if the wedding will end up going off next season or not. Catch up on recent episodes over at TBS.com. You can also download My Boys on iTunes.
Last week I introduced the cast of Raising the Bar and no one was able to catch the one decree of separation of two of the cast mates, here is a hint:
Free Download of the Week: Man vs. Wild: I was late to hyping the new season, but it just so happens that you can download some bonus material for free on iTunes.
Pick for Next Week: Beijing Olympics, all the time on NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, USA, and Oxygen: Pretty much all I watched this weekend, and all I did, and that looks to continue all week.
Quote of the Week: See, nobody understood where my brother was coming from when he said I’m not kissing Mr. Boston. I mean (expletive deleted) dude, they got strippers and pornstars on their team. They used to kissing on men, woman, and having orgies, and threesomes, and ménage a trios, the whole (expletive deleted) nine, having sex with goats. You know what I mean, man? They’re immoral. (Real, I Love Money)
Big New of the Week: Comic-Con: All the nerd have descended on San Diego this weekend and unfortunately I couldn’t get my Storm Trooper suit in time to go. Well that and I am what the US government likes to classify as poor. But for those like me that did not have the money to make the pilgrimage or are just scared of Trekkies, NBC.com is sharing all video footage (panels, interviews, reveals, etc) from Comic-Con on their website so head over there to check up on Chuck, Heroes, new show Kings, and, um, The Office? So head over there as they are updating all weekend.
Coalition Links of the Week: Buzz's adventures at the TCA press tour included interviewing Brian Baumgartner, hanging out on the ER set, getting some scoop on Chuck's second season, and much more! (BuzzSugar)
Plattie celebrated the opening of The X-Files movie with a look back at the pilot that started it all. (Pop Vultures)
Vance thinks So You Think You Can Dance is totally "A"ces! (Tapeworthy)
Following some of Jay Leno's unfortunate antics at a press event, Dan decided to tell a story to illustrate the importance of bowing out with class. (TiFaux)
Raoul tried - and failed - to get into Generation Kill. (TV Filter)
I Love Money: I think I would have had the same reaction as Chance and Real to the thought of kissing Mr. Boston. And it was this episode that I realize that Chance is basically a long lost Chappelle’s Show character. You can download episodes of I Love Money on iTunes.
The Middleman: Wait, Varsity Fanclub is a real boy band? Alrighty. But I have to say there is nothing funnier than a tween with a mouth, literally, like a sailor. You can download episodes of The Middleman on iTunes.
My Boys: Holy Martin Mull sighting! Catch up on recent episodes over at TBS.com. You can also download My Boys on iTunes.
Free Stuff of the Week: While mentioning how you could download She and Him’s new song for free after showing the video (see I Want My Music Television vol. XXXI), I realized there is a lot of cool free stuff out there if you know where to look. So each week I will be highlighting the best of the free stuff out there. If you find anything cool for free in the future feel free to drop me a line and maybe I will feature it here. Just keep in mind everything I will be featured if legally free, so do not send me torrent links and the like. Also some things I post may be time sensitive so it would be better to get the stuff sooner than later.
With Comic-Con this week it is apropos that the first Free Stuff of the Week is Watchmen Motion Comics: Chapter One on iTunes based on what some consider to be the best graphic novel ever which will also be a motion picture next March.
As a bonus for this first week, you can also download Murder in the City by The Avett Brothers at Amazon MP3. You may remember their song, If it’s the Beaches used on Friday Night Lights when Landry dumped the creepy chick and hooked back up with Tyra.
Promo of the Week: If you have watched any news channels in the last week you have undoubtedly seen famous oil man T Bone Pickens talk about the advantage of wind. If you haven’t made it over to pickensplan.com, here is his complete plan:
Pick for Next Week: Shark Week, July 27-August 2 at 9:00 on Discovery Channel: For information on Shark Week head over to sharkyourself.com.
Quote of the Week: I’m ironic, not cynical. (Wendy Watson - The Middleman)
Big New of the Week: Emmy Nominations Are Announced: Yawn.
Coalition Links of the Week: With the Emmy nominations out, Buzz (not surprisingly) had a few rants and raves. (BuzzSugar)
GMMR's summer obsession, So You Think You Can Dance, just went from the Top 10 dancers to the Top 8, but not without a little scandal and drama. Listen to what GMMR & Ducky have to say about it in the latest TV Talk Podcast: SYTYCD Edition. (Give Me My Remote)
Marcia celebrated the return of Project Runway with a thorough look at the first episode -- adult diapers, Oompa Loompas and all. (Pop Vultures)
Infatuation is the only word to describe Rae's feelings about Joss Whedon's Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog and is trying to decide whether she likes Act I or II better while eagerly awaiting the third. (RTVW)
With the Emmy nominations finally out, Vance got his butt in gear and put out his Best of TV for the 2007-2008 TV Season. (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace reviewed the laughably bad BBC drama series Bonekickers, from the typically brilliant creators of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, and was shocked and horrified by just how truly awful it was. (Televisionary)
Watch Design Star? Well, Dan wrote a little letter to his favorite contestant -- the bald, bearded Colorado native Matt Locke. (TiFaux)
It's TCA Madness on theTVaddict.com, featuring interviews with Wentworth Miller, Joss Whedon, Sarah Wayne Callies and more! (The TV Addict)
I Love Money: It has only been two episodes, but this show may go down as the guiltiest guilty pleasure ever. The best part of last week was Pumpkin and Toastee thinking that they had some Machiavellian plot to look the weakest when they were easily the weakest. But it was Mr. Boston who is quickly filling the Midget Mac void with his stupidity. And him beating Nibblz may be the biggest upset in reality competition history. You can download episodes of I Love Money on iTunes.
The Middleman: Noser by far is my favorite character on the show, but Stump the Band was the dumbest thing ever. And yes I also knew every song that was suggested. You can download episodes of The Middleman on iTunes.
My Boys: PJ totally missed the best reason why bachelor parties are better the bridal showers, we don’t have to buy gift aside a beer, shot, or lapdance. It’s good being a guy. Catch up on recent episodes over at TBS.com. You can also download My Boys on iTunes.
Promo of the Week: Apparently a new Heroes promo hit the intertubes this week, but that isn’t the video involving the show that is getting all the buzz. Nope, it is the new video from Hayden Panettiere called Wake Up Call (not a Maroon 5 cover) which disturbingly sound like Paris Hilton’s Stars Are Blind with slightly better singing (which doesn’t say much). But at least the video is watchable if not only for the highest of high comedy during Hayden’s dance interlude in the black hoodie.
Wake Up Call - Hayden Panettiere
Pick for Next Week: Mad Men, Sunday (7/27) at 10:00 on AMC: My sources tell me the show is decent but for the life of me I couldn’t find AMC on my television until Breaking Bad premiered (which wasn’t very good). Time Warner (whom I am still having issues with) is offering up the first season On Demand and I may give it a try before the second season premiere. Granted I looked for the In Demand channel yesterday and couldn’t find it.
Quote of the Week: There's acing it, and there's what you did. Kind of like shooting a cow with a Howitzer. (The Middleman, The Middleman)
Big New of the Week: A Melancholy Happy Trails to Tony Snow: Former Bush spokesmen died early this morning after losing a second bout with cancer at age 53. He lasted only seventeen months as the press secretary before stepping down to have chemotherapy. I remember hearing a fact recently (I know I am messing up the exact number, but you will get an idea) that we since President Nixon declared war on cancer, we have spent less on cancer research that what we do in one week in Iraq. That is just an embarrassing. Tony Snow and the millions of other that have died or are suffering through the disease, including Eric Shanteau who learned just a week before qualifing to the Olympics that he has testicular cancer, deserve better than that. For more on the life of Tony Snow check out the article at MSNBC.
Coalition Links of the Week:
Buzz was pretty delighted by her first glimpse of NBC's Kath and Kim. (BuzzSugar)
This week, Sandie shared her visit on the set of The Closer. (Daemon's TV)
Getting ready for Burn Notice's second season, Rae shares her talk with Props Master Charlie Guanci, Jr. (RTVW)
Vance is looking forward to getting burnt all summer with a new season of Burn Notice! (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace gave a rare second chance to HBO's upcoming vampire drama True Blood (from Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball), taking a look at the pilot installment's revised version and the series' second episode, kicking off this September. But did he change his tune about the series this time around? (Televisionary)
In his quest to find something -- anything -- to watch on TV, he uncovered an internet music series based out of France. And, believe you me, the clip he found by Menomena is probably the cutest thing he has seen all year. Honest. (TiFaux)
The TV Addict has the scoop on Grace Park's first post - Battlestar Galactica project. (the TV Addict)
Petrozza from Hell's Kitchen badmouthed Matt and Jen and we kinda loved him for it. (TV Filter)
The Middleman: Here is a case of the promo monkeys ruining a show. Knowing that Dr. Phil did it before the show even started just made the reveal less interesting. At least the witty dialogue saved it a little. You can download episodes of The Middleman on iTunes.
The Bill Engvall Show: Great juxtaposition of how cheesy and lame Bill is and really that is what is endearing about the show. Just a half an hour each week to turn off my brain and enjoy. Catch up on recent episodes over at TBS.com
Pick for Next Week: ESPY Awards, Sunday (7/20) at 9:00 on ESPN: Yeah Justin Timberlake hosts, but hopefully the show can overcome that because the awards has been pretty solid in recent years. Expect Lance Armstrong, David Beckham, Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell to show up. Speaking of the former Ms. Veronica Mars, Amazon is having a sale on Crime Shows up to 50% off including all three seasons of Veronica Mars for under $20.
Quote of the Week: The ring of fire, when a man comes around, that your daddy called you Sue, the fact that God’s gonna cut you down, that your in the jail house now, the Folsom Prison Blues, that road that goes on forever. (Wendy Watson, The Middleman)
Big New of the Week: A Melancholy Happy Trails to Jesse Helms: Yeah he was straight up raciest, simple and plain, but much like Mac McGill, I find old racist dudes somewhat entertainment, in a dude is senile sort of way.
Coalition Links of the Week: With the Emmy nomination shortlists out for the comedy and drama series categories, Buzz wondered which five shows would make your ballot. (BuzzSugar)
This week, Sandie shared her interview with Kyra Sedgwick from TNT's The Closer. (Daemon's TV)
In this week's TV Talk podcast we talk about our recent turnaround on Swingtown, what BSG's Tricia Helferis up to, a preview of our upcoming trip to Comic Con and our first impressions of the upcoming Fringe. (Give Me My Remote)
Plattie reviewed the BBC's search for the nation's top disabled model. No, really. Britain's Missing Top Model is an actual show. We're not making this up. (Pop Vultures)
While meeting Dulé Hill last week, Rae learned a little of what to expect for the upcoming third season of Psych and which of Gus' nicknames is actually the given name of one of Dulé's aunts. (RTVW)
Vance celebrated Canada Day with a shout out to all our favourite Canadians on our favourite TV shows. (Tapeworthy)
While he's always happy to host giveaways on TiFaux, Dan had an ugly flashback to his history as an awkward teen as he introduced a new contest for an X-Files compilation DVD. Click the link to enter! (TiFaux)
M*A*S*H’s Alan Alda (Hawykeye) and Wayne Rogers (Trapper) reunited for an interview, and Jennifer was excited to share the video of the event. Among some of the topics covered, was the fact that M*A*S*H and The West Wing, were both recently chosen as two of the top ten smartest TV shows of all time by the chair of MENSA. (Tube Talk)
The Middleman: Same pacing issues as the last issues, but it is hard not to be down with any show that does multiple Johnny Cash references. Maybe that is a sign that The Middleman needs more Noser. You can download episodes of The Middleman on iTunes.
The Bill Engvall Show: If you are going to have characters go to a The Killers concert, either pony up for the licensing fee or just create some faux band name to go with the random background music at the concert. Catch up on recent episodes over at TBS.com
My Boys: I’m sure I would have laughed at Dr. Brando had I don’t do the exact same thing even when I have health insurance as I just really hate doctors and hospitals in general. Plus Dr. McGavin thinks NyQuil is a cure all for pretty much anything. Catch up on recent episodes over at TBS.com. You can also download My Boys on iTunes.
Promo of the Week: Found this over at AICN. Finally some synergy that doesn’t completely suck.
Pick for Next Week: Generation Kill, Saturday at 9:00 on HBO: Since I am too cheap to buy pay channels, I’ll have to wait for the DVD’s, but for those that do, this seven part miniseries, from the creators of The Wire, is a based on a book written by an embedded journalist from the early days in Iraq.
Quote of the Week: You know the lyric “I once got busy in a Burger King bathroom”: that’s me. (Tony Kornheiser, Pardon the Interruption)
Song of the Week: The Humpty Dance - Digital Underground (as mention by Tony Kornheiser, Pardon the Interruption)
Big New of the Week: Famous People Say the Dumbest Things: Well at least the pundits would have you believe. First off there was John McCain adviser Charlie Black who said that the McCain campaign would benefit from a terrorist attack which had all those pundits up in arms except they have been saying the exact same throughout the primary season as well as Hilary Clinton. Then there was Shaquille O’Neil who asked former teammate Kobe Bryant what the flavoring of his posterior was. This then got a full Sportscenter dedicated to his rap, but c’mon, who hasn’t asked everyone they met this past week to tell them how their (expletive deleted) tasted? Or was that just me? Finally there was Don Imus who asked what color Pacman Jones when it was brought up he had been arrested eight times. When one of his goons said African-American Imus relied, “Well there you go.” Alright, that dude is a moron.
Coalition Links of the Week: If thinking The Secret Life of the American Teenager could be cheesily addictive is wrong, Buzz doesn't want to be right. (BuzzSugar)
GMMR has been podcast crazy this past week. Two, count 'em, two podcasts! In addition to the usual GMMR/Ducky So You Think You Can Dance podcast, we devoted a separate TV Talk Podcast to what shows are taking over our TV this summer. (Give Me My Remote)
Marcia decided to spend the summer hiatus watching old episodes of Buffy and wondered if the show improves with repeat viewings. (Pop Vultures)
From Miami to Vancouver, this week Rae was on the set of Psych and she's only to happy to share what happened. (RTVW)
School's out and Vance celebrates the end of an era now that Emma, daughter of Spike (from the original Degrassi) has now graduated from Degrassi High on Degrassi: The Next Generation. (Though The N will show those episodes this summer.) (Tapeworthy)
Remember that episode about the helpless dude who delivered the baby in the elevator? Oh yeah, that was every series ever. By that token, Dan decided to coin the term "elevator baby" and cement his role in pop culture history. (TiFaux)
Tube Talk shared some scoop on the new season of Psych, after an interview with show stars James Roday and Dulé Hill, fondly remembered shows that were canceled too early, and asked for help in naming Tube Talk Girl’s future baby boy. (Tube Talk)
This week we finally spotted someone who has a Nerdier license plate than the TV Addicts and released what critics, and by critics I mean listeners are saying was our funniest to date! (The TV Addict)
Kate is disappointed enough with this season of My Boys that she drafted an open letter to the show's writers. (TV Filter)
The Middleman: A bit of a fall off from last week, but I did like the gag of Hell being an office building. But there were some pacing issues keeping it from being as good as the pilot. And again, please stop spending your entire budget on bad CGI. Signs are not good for the future of the show as next week it is hastily being pushed to 10:00, so enjoy it while you can. You can dowload episodes of The Middleman on iTunes.
The Bill Engvall Show: I don’t remember this show being this funny from the first two episodes, but I laughed quite heavily a few times this episode if only because I have been on the receiving end of many of bad gifts in my lifetime. Catch up on recent episodes over at TBS.com
My Boys: Really nothing to say but both the A and B plots fell flat this week. Catch up on recent episodes over at TBS.com. You can also download My Boys on iTunes.
I Love the New Millennium: Back when I Love the 90’s premiered in 2004 I said it was too soon for reminiscing on the decade, so naturally I Love the New Millennium is way too soon. And what worked well with the I Love the 80’s was hearing dudes in their thirties talking about things they grew up about; hearing dudes in their forty taking about MySpace is a little creepy. And do we really need to hear Hal Spark and Michael Ian Black’s thoughts on every subject? It is obvious Black stopped trying around I Love the 80’s Part Deux and Sparks in only funny in small bursts.
Promo of the Week: All the nerds were in a tizzy this week. No, not because Bill Gates retired Friday, but for a promo for Joss Whedon’s internet series Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-Long Blog featuring Neil Patrick Harris as the title character and Nathan Fillion as his arch nemesis. Here’s the teaser:
Pick for Next Week: I Love Money, Sunday (July 6th) at 9:00 on VH1: I know I shouldn’t be this excited for a show that is going to suck massively, but I have to support my boy Midget Mac.
Quote of the Week: Profanity cheapens the soul and weakens the mind. (The Middleman, The Middleman)
Big News of the Week: Grey’s Anatomy Writing Sucks: Katherine Heigl confirmed what I have suspected for the past three years, that the Grey’s Anatomy writing staff isn’t very good. This stems from Heigl pulling herself from Emmy consideration as she says, “I did not feel that I was given the material this season to warrant an Emmy nomination” and followed that up with, “In addition, I did not want to potentially take away an opportunity from an actress who was given such materials.” Anyone want to play a game of Over/Under on how many episodes before those writers come up with a way to kill off her character? Of course this is not the first time Heigl has bitten the hand that feeds her calling Knocked Up, “a little sexist.” Heigl as of when I am posting this has no comment on the quality of 27 Dresses yet. (Scooter’s Note: I actually wrote this last week before bigger new broke late last week so I am posting it this week because nothing really that interesting happened.)
Coalition Links of the Week: It may be the Summer hiatus, but Buzz still has a few questions for Grey's Anatomy. (BuzzSugar)
If you know the significance of the 'bench dance', understand the genius of Mia Michaels, and secretly want to be on the Hot Tamale Train then you should check out GMMR & Ducky's So You Think You Can Dance podcast. (Give Me My Remote)
Marcia found herself thoroughly underwhelmed by The Middleman. (Pop Vultures)
On the set of Burn Notice, Rae discovers that Jeffrey Donovan's just as cool as his alter-ego Michael Westen. (RTVW)
Vance video recaps The Tony Awards since apparently, no one watched it on TV. By the way, go see In the Heights, Passing Strange and Xanadu (for real!)! All fantastic! Take a look at the clips for proof! (Tapeworthy)
Dan didn't see the mid-season finale of Battlestar Galactica coming -- that's for dang sure. This week, he mulled the twist ending as well as the concept of merging our world with Battlestar's. (TiFaux)
Jennifer thinks the Oscars and Emmys should take a cue from the TV Land Awards. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen Horshack from Welcome Back Kotter, Nellie Oleson from Little House on the Prairie, and Doc from The Love Boat dressed in their trademark costumes flying through the air, or the paparazzi catching a panty-free crotch shot of Mama from Mama’s Family. Add in the cast of The Office, Wilhelmina Slater, Justin Timberlake and a Lionel Richie concert, and the TV Land Awards were just about perfect. (Tube Talk)
This week, the TV Addict posted his theory on the highly anticipated spin-off of The Office and visited the set of Burn Notice. (the TV Addict)
Raoul talked to loudmouth Jen from Hell's Kitchen. (TV Filter)
Pick for Next Week: Rescue Me, Tuesday at 10:00 on FX: Sadly the season hasn’t been pushed up and we won’t get full episodes of Rescue Me until next year, but this is the first of ten five minute minisodes. For those that don’t see the reason to stay around the television for just five minutes, FX will run all ten together later this summer in one episode.
From the promo, it is hard to tell if The Middleman would end up thoroughly enjoyable or just head scratchingly bad. The acting is not in contention for ant awards and the production value looks like, well, the production value for an ABC Family show. But the lead character seems watchable. And it certainly helps that she looks like Rosario Dawson and Brittany Murphy were somehow able to create a child together and was raised a nerd.
The premise is simple, unbeknown to anyone; comic book supervillains are real and are maniacally trying to take over the world with harebrain plots. That is where The Middleman comes in; he foils the plots all the while keeping the mindless public from realizing the true danger that is out there. Yeah it sounds like Men in Black but no one has had their mind erased (yet). Keeping with the Men in Black theme, The Middleman recruits and new partner to help him in his dogoodary.
That is where are snarky heroine comes in, and really aren’t all the female protagonists since Buffy Summers snarky, who joins up because she has become so jaded with life she isn’t even fazed when she gets attacked by a science experiment gone (the CGI of which looked to take up about 95% of the episode’s budget). And in true comic book fashion, she even comes with alliteration, Wendy Watson. And she has good reason to be jaded, she stuck temping while dreaming of being an artist, her boyfriend is an ambiguously gay douche, her roommate is a activist looking for a cause, and of course her mother is nagging her about it all.
The highlight though is the afro-ed, guitar playing hippie who hangs in the hall of Wendy’s apartment spouting inane comments and obscure pop references. Seriously, it is hard not to down with a character whose first words onscreen are quoting Shaft. Rounding out the cast is The Middleman’s cranky secretary who really is not that fond of Wendy.
The first episode deals with a bunch of mobsters being killed off by, well, I don’t want to spoil it for you because, one, it is a hilarious concept (a good sign for the rest of the series), and two, I’m not sure you would believe me without seeing it for yourself. But I will say, the case involves the chick from 24. The show is chalk full with great one-liners and absurd monologues (it is a real life comic book). Aside from the low production value, being a comic book brought to life, it could have been more stylized, there really isn’t much downside. The sub par acting just builds into the campy feel to the show. Granted being from a writer of Lost there are some holes in the back-story like who sends The Middleman his weapons and dispenses him on his jobs. Hopefully we get these answers quicker than his last writing job.
The Middleman premieres tonight at 8:00 on ABC Family and repeats at 9:00 and midnight. For those that do not want to wait for tonight or want to watch it on the go (or just missed it), you can download the first episode of The Middleman for free on iTunes.
Quote of the Week: Of course you don’t. It is a literary reference anyone with a high school diploma would understand unless of course you are a dumb jock who eats his way through a public education system with an eighth grade reading comprehension. And you, what are you like forty-five now? The war is over honey. No more hiding at college to dodge the draft and miserable future of a minimum wage paying job. (Frannie, Greek)
Big News of the Week: A Melancholy Happy Trails to Tim Russert: For my political news, I always turn to NBC and Tim Russert was a big reason for that. I treat election night like a big game, picking up a six pack on the way home, and enjoy the back and forth as the results trickle in. And there are few lasting imagers from the quadruple overtime of the 2000 elections with Tim and his dry erase board which it looked like he just ripped off the door of a local college student. Sadly, I know just heartbreaking it is to know such a political junkie as Russert was that he won’t be around to see the outcome of this historical election. But it says a lot about him, in this time when most newsmen are as fair and balanced as an NBA ref that it wasn’t until watching the coverage of his death that I knew his political leanings. You could also tell that he was one of the few newsmen who, when you heard him talk that he truly enjoyed talking politics and it wasn’t just a job for him. If only news had more newsmen, or people like him. Election Day this year will not be the same without him. For more information on the life of Tim Russert, check out the coverage on MSNBC.com.
Coalition Links of the Week: Katherine Heigl made waves with her statement about Grey's Anatomy while pulling out of the Emmy race this week, but Buzz wondered if perhaps she had a point. (BuzzSugar)
We finally found out just who PJ's mystery date was on the premiere of My Boys. Did she bring along the right guy? If you're a fan of My Boys and in the Boston area, join GMMR & Jamie Kaler (Mike) next week for a My Boys party here in Beantown and watch the second episode with fellow fans. (Give Me My Remote)
Still reeling from her great day on the set of Burn Notice, Rae's got a recap of what happened as well as some visual aids. (RTVW)
Woohoo! It's the Top 20 Dance-Off on So You Think You Can Dance! Vance is super excited and the high level of endorphins from the excitement is probably causing him to love all the dancers so far! (Tapeworthy)
TiFaux was a regular Bloggers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes this week as we gave away all sorts of stuff. But you can still enter to win things like Jackie from Work Out's DVD by e-mailing us. Click the link and enter! (TiFaux)
The casting department at Brothers and Sisters can stop looking for Ryan Walker. Jennifer has found the perfect guy. She also mourned the loss of Men in Trees and celebrated that the Smurfs are coming to the big screen! (Tube Talk)
The TV Addict answers all your TV related questions in his new weekly column Ask the Addict. (The TV Addict)
Raoul talked to Bobby from Hell's Kitchen about Gordon Ramsay, Tourette's Syndrome, and what's next for him. (TV Filter)
Greek: As you can tell by the Quote of the Week I got catch up somewhat with the show thanks to the marathon. Unfortunately thanks to the marathon cutting out two episodes, the Greek website still having weird streaming rules, and my Time Warner Cable rearing its ugly head again, I only got five and a half of the eleven episodes I missed. Hopefully now that I have gotten to the point where Frannie has been reinstated she can go back to her Republican spouting ways and drop at least some of the niceties. Because not only is Nice Frannie not as interesting as a character, as seen from the flashback, Mean Frannie is actually more attractive too. Not sure if that says anything about me. You can stream select episodes on ABCFamily.com or download the whole first season of Greek on iTunes.
Pick for Next Week: The Middleman, Monday at 8:00 on ABC Family: This looks to be one of those shows that will either be the greatest things ever or the worst thing ever put to film (actually do they even put things to film anymore and should I start saying worst thing put on a hard drive?). When watching part of the Greek marathon, I stopped on one commercial in a fake PSA that had me on the floor laughing (see promo above). I should have a preview of the show up on Monday, but who cares what I think when you can preview the show yourself and download the first episode of The Middleman free on iTunes.
Also be sure to check out the Big DVD sale at Amazon.com where you can find all seasons of Scooter Hall of Fame inductee Dukes of Hazzard for under $20 and future SHoF'er Veronica Mars for under $25 and other movies, including Blu-Ray and television shows at up to 60% off.
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by The Avett Brothers at Amazon MP3. You may remember their song, If it’s the Beaches used on Friday Night Lights when Landry dumped the creepy chick and hooked back up with Tyra.
including all three seasons of Veronica Mars for under $20.
but no one has had their mind erased (yet). Keeping with the Men in Black theme, The Middleman recruits and new partner to help him in his dogoodary.
