Quote of the Week: I like it; it makes you sound like a comic book villain. So what’s the deal, why don’t you trust me Evan Chambers? (Cappie, Greek)
Song of the Week: Hello – Lionel Richie (as sung by Olive Snook; Pushing Daisies)
Big News of the Week: I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Returns: A couple months ago I interviewed John Lehr about his show 10 Items or Less and made sure to ask him about his stint as the host of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! And John basically ripped the show to shreds (click here to see the interview) and low and behold, about a month later NBC decided to resurrected the show.
I spent most of the week trying to avoid the show, but sadly caught a few minutes and feel worse for it. This go around seems to be the Heidi and Spencer show as in a week span they have quit the show multiple times and tried to come back both times in a sequence that seems as spontaneous as the Eminem/Bruno incident. The first time they used the befuddling excuse that their cast mates weren’t famous enough for them to hang with. Seriously, they are third from the bottom in terms of Q ratings on the show after the VH1 hosts and Blagoavich’s wife. And for those who want to know who was first to get the boot, check out the video below (now if you excuse me, I need to take a shower):
Coalition Links of the Week: Buzz gathered up her favorite quotes from the TV season in a mega "Who Said That Line?" quiz. How many do you remember? (BuzzSugar)
This week, Sandie got a chance to interview Stephen Moyer who plays Bill on HBO's True Blood. (Daemon's TV)
Vance chats about the newly announced Season 5 Top 20 So You Think You Can Dance dancers with his new bsytycdff LowResJoe, TwoP Lauren S and ABChau. YAY! It's STARTING!!! (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace offered advance reviews for the first six episodes of Showtime's Nurse Jackie and the first three episodes of Weeds and reviewed the pilots for CW's Melrose Place and ABC's The Middle. (Televisionary)
Pushing Daisies: It is really weird watching this episode after such a long layoff. It almost too me the whole episode to get back into the world of Ned the Piemaker. Or at least it took until Olive broke out singing. You can stream current episodes over at ABC.com.
Greek: I could see why Cappie and Evan would fight over Casey, but the chick from their secret society? Not so much. You can stream current episodes over at ABCFamily.com. You can also download Greek on iTunes.
Rescue Me: I think I missed the boat on Conner, I guess it is a hallucination so anything goes, but I don’t get why he is so old and why and how he has a kid. And Tommy is back to shacking up with two woman again. Must be nice to star in a show you produce. You can stream current episodes over at Hulu.
Free Download of the Week: Sugarfoot – Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears (Amazon MP3) – If they handed out awards for most infectious songs, this song would definitely snag it for 2009. And not only can you grab Sugarfoot for free at Amazon MP3, you can also grab the video on iTunes, just click the banner at right (if the picture isn’t of Black Joe Lewis, you are too late).
Video of the Week: Last night was the second season premiere of Whale Wars on Animal Planet with The Sea Shepherd crew continuing their fight against Japanese whaling. If you missed it, here is a sneak peak at the new season:
Next Week Pick of the Week: Pushing Daisies, Saturday at 10:00 on ABC: The show just returned last week and just like that, the series finale is next week. Here’s hoping for a satisfying ending.
It seems like new holidays dedicated to the Earth pop up every month these days and today apparently is World Environmental Day. Who knew? But anyway. In honor of that holiday, filmmaker Yann Arthus-Bertrand is launching his latest film Home on every format: in theaters, on DVD/Blu-Ray and on television, for those of in the United States that will be on the National Geographic (for foreigners, check your local listings because it is premiering all over the globe today in its first of its kind global premiere).
The film is narrated by Glenn Close and is one of those movies with awe inspiring visuals (which are most likely even better in high definition) that’s to the scenes that were filmed in fifty-four different countries and 120 locations over 217 days, all shot from the air looking down on the Earth. There is even an accompanying book Home: A Hymn to the Planet and Humanity that puts those amazing visuals into a single frames surrounded by much of Close’s script put to page.
The film starts off with a half hour of those awe inspiring images set to an inspirational message delivered by Close. But where the movie goes bad is when we first get a look at fire and then for the next hour, the movie turns into Al Gore type tedium with facts we have all heard before. It isn’t until the final fifteen minutes does the film get back on track with a message of hope and words on how we should go from here and stops dwelling on all the bad things that we have done since the discovery of coal. Check out a clip below:
As everyone’s pocketbook shrinks, USA is banking on that most of America will sit in their air conditioned suburbs or apartments to see how the rich spend their summers in their new show Royal Pains airs tonight with a seventy-five minute limited commercial premiere at 10:00 (the premiere will be preceded by the season premiere of Burn Notice at 9:00 and Casino Royaleat 6:00). The show centers on a doctor (Mark Feuerstein, Good Morning Miami) who gets fired for caring as much for an average Joe as he does the benefactor of the hospital he works at when the latter dies in his care.
Naturally a slump ensues, and that is where his brother Paulo Costanzo (Road Trip) comes in and takes Feuerstein to the Hamptons to in order to crash some big wig parties. His doctor abilities come in handy when he saves the life a model which leads one of the bigger wigs to offer him up his guest house so he will be is very on concierge doctor. Of course considering he recently lost a job because he cared equally for the middle class as he did for the uber-rich, this working relationship could create some ethical grey areas.
The need for a personal doctor steams from the inadequacies of the lone hospital on the island (which begs the question why don’t all the rich people dig a million dollars each out of their cushions and build a better facility?) which just happens to be the employer of resident hottie Jill Flint (Gossip Girl). Also along for the ride is Reshma Shetty (30 Rock) who tries to get hired by Feuerstein after word gets out he is the new hot doctor.
The problem with Royal Pains is Feuerstein whose character makes it pretty hard to be likeable as he sulks for most of the premiere to the point where you will be prone to yell at your television for him to man up. Luckily the supporting cast saves the day. Costanzo steals most of his scenes as a likeable cad and there already seems to be a good back and forth between him and Shetty. And there is also the easy on the eyes Flint. At its best, the show could be something of a reverse Doc Hollywood with a doctor getting stuck with the rich instead of the boonies (and sadly without any “You can blink now” moments). If in future episodes Feuerstein stops his sulking, Royal Pains could turn into a watchable summer excursion.
Royal Pains airs Thursdays at 10:00 on USA and will be preceded by a new season of Burn Notice at 9:00.
World’s Toughest Fixes is one of those shows you know that there are going to succeed in whatever the task is at hands, but you can’t help but going “there is no what that is going to happen.” Like when the host, Sean Riley, says he is going to move a fully formed five lane highway bridge over a mile you cannot help but think to yourself, “no way.” The show, if anything, lives up to its acronym.
The new season premieres this Thursday at 9:00 on the National Geographic Channel with Sean trying to launch a $250 million communications satellite from the French Guiana jungle. Without a new satellite many of us could be without cell phone or internet service. Scary, I know. And as Sean puts it on the chances of success, “Either this rocket is going to launch … or it’s going to be one hell of a show.” Check out the bottom of the post for a clip of the episode.
Also this season Sean will be looking to fix an Alaskan Pipe Line that could cause a oil spill (6/11), a Giant Wind Turbine that will produce years of clean energy (6/18), a 50-Ton Rudder to move a 100,000-pound beast under 60 feet of water (6/25), move a 300-ton Mississippi River Barge that crashed a levee (7/2). And at a later date look for episodes where Sean tries to position a fully functioning commercial solar energy field; fix a broken dam holding back nearly 2 million pounds of water near Portland, Ore.; replace one of the most powerful magnets ever built in the “atomic racetrack,” a 17-mile-long nuclear research tunnel in Geneva, Switzerland; and the previously mentioned episode with the five lane bridge.
After four albums that didn’t stray very far from their signature sound all produced by Steve Lillywhite (for the sake of this argument, I am including The Lillywhite Session, which would later become Busted Stuff, in this group), this decade, the Dave Matthews Band has teamed up with a new producer for each new album leading to a deviation in their sound. In 2001 they brought in Glen Ballard for Everyday that was very pop oriented. For 2005’s Stand Up they teamed up with Dr. Dre collaborator Mark Batson for a funkier album. For their last studio album of the decade (presumably) Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, they signed up Rob Cavallo, best known for his work with Green Day, as producer leading to some of the heavier work that band has done since Halloween.
But the biggest change for the band since their last album was the death of founding member LeRoi Moore who died during pre-production. Moore opens the album that is named after him but it is unsure on which other tracks where he plays or if it is his stand in on the saxophone Jeff Coffin of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones. Also joining the band on the album for the first time Rashawn Ross on, who has been touring with the band in recent years, trumpet and for the first time since Before These Crowded longtime collaborator Tim Reynolds adds some electric guitar.
Aside from the extra rock vibe Cavallo brought, recording the album in New Orleans definitely brings out some Cajun flavor in which you can spot before you even press play just by looking at the cover of the album. But that still holds true as the opening with Moore’s sax highlighted with just some drums to accompany it on Grux. As the gut of the album starts with Shake Me Like a Monkey, Rosson’s brass extends that vibe, but it is Cavallo that gets Carter Beauford to bang on his drums maybe harder than he ever has and Matthews gruff voice that makes the track into a rock song.
In what seems to be a tradition for every album, there in another song where Matthews likes to get his freak on and this album Matthews gets over affectionate on Spaceman (certainly not to be confused by the recent The Killers song as DMB’s title character is just trying to get laid). Other highlights on the album and the epic Squirm, a song that just screams to be heard done by the band live. Then there is Alligator Pie that sounds like a leftover from Stand Up, but still is better than most songs on that set and is Matthews at his best incoherent. And it isn’t all rock, Baby Blue may be the sweetest song the band ever recorded.
Though we don’t know the extent of Moore’s involvement in the album, his presence is felt throughout the album. Matthews claims he is still dancing with the GrooGrux King and will see in heaven or hell when his time is up on Why I Am. And it could be deduce that the line from Funny the Way it Is, “Somebody’s heart is broken and it becomes your favorite song” is about Matthews and his fans when it comes to this album. While You & Me is a fitting end to the album that is in full that was a tribute to their fellow comrade.
Tomorrow sees the release of the first Dave Matthews Band album in four years and Hulu is celebrating by bringing you a streaming concert starting at 8:00 tonight. I am on the other hand is celebrating by induction another one of their albums into the Scooter Hall of Fame, their third time in. This time around the album at the height of their popularity, Crash, gets the honor.
Most of that popularity culls from the smash single Crash into Me which has disturbing been the soundtrack first dance at a few weddings I have attended of my peers. Of course most of the public mistook the ode to a stalker as some sort of love letter. That is not to say there isn’t any truly romantic songs on Crash as the twelve plus minutes where #41 bleeds into Say Goodbye should help anyone get into the mood and even provides you with a good suggestion starter in, “tomorrow, let’s go back to being friends.”
#41 not only is the romantic high on the album, it is the musical high where each five members are given equal moments to shine on the track. The bridge between the two songs even shows that not only is LeRoi Moore is proficient on all four types of saxophones, but he can even bring out a flute when needed.
Crash showed that they could appeal equally to the pop crowd as well as those drawn into the jam band quality. Aside from Crash into Me, So Much to Say and Too Much were quicker and more accessible to the masses than most on the major label debut. On the other hand, songs Two Step and Lie in Our Graves were sprawling epics that even become grander at their live shows usually going well over ten minutes. The disk also featured crowd favorite Tripping Billies that dated back to their independent releases.
If it is 9:00 or later on the east coast, you can watch the previously mentioned Dave Matthews Band concert below.
Looking at the track list on Troubadour you see your typically “featuring” guests like Chubb Rock, Damian Marley, Adam Levine, Mos Def and, wait, Kirk Hammett? Okay, so K’Naan may not be your typical rapper as seen by his biography: Somalia by way of Canada (insert your Snow jokes here). With those roots, K’naan has managed to make an African influenced rap album that actually works that is full with A Tribe Called Quest and The Pharcyde references to satisfy old school fans.
As for the Kirk Hammett appearance, it seems like every time a rapper tries mixing the genre with hard rock, they fail miserably or just come off cheesy (just ask Puff Daddy), but If Rap Gets Jealous actually can appeal to hip hop purists and metal heads the same. Oddly, he follows up that song with his most mellow song on the disk, Wavin’ Flag, a marching song that could do well as a nation anthem somewhere.
For those looking for a club banger, turn to the Adam Levine assisted Bang Bang where K’Naan takes a break from the political themes of the rest of the album, but still doesn’t sound tired like most rap songs on the radio. Other standout tracks are the album opener T.I.A., the shout and stomp along anthem and ABC’s that brings out Chubb Rock out of obscurity for a Jamaican themed jam.
Quote of the Week: I guess I’m never gonna go to Cleveland. (Mike, Rescue Me)
Big News of the Week: Showtime Does Some Casting: Following last week’s announcement that Alanis Morissette would guest star on the upcoming fifth season of Weeds (which will also feature Jennifer Jason Leigh) as Nancy’s obstetrician, Dr. Audra Kitson, comes news that John Lithgow will be appearing in all twelve episodes Dexter. He will be playing Miami’s latest serial killer, the Trinity Killer who likes to kill in threes, naturally. The fourth season of Dexter premieres Sunday, September 27 while Weeds returns Monday June 8. If your are too cheap to subscribe like me, their latest DVD’s are coming soon, Weeds 4.x is out this Tuesday but you will have to wait until August for Dexter 3.x. Both will also be available on Blu-Ray.
Coalition Links of the Week: Buzz counted down the top 10 reasons she's keeping her TV on this summer. (BuzzSugar)
This week, Sandie interviewed Amy Ryan who plays the adorable Holly on The Office. (Daemon's TV)
This week, Jace reviewed the full pilot episodes of such series as ABC's Eastwick, FOX's Human Target, and ABC's The Deep End. (Televisionary)
Dan came across this bizarre video of Heroes' Zachary Quinto getting doused with milk. He wants to know what could be done to make the erstwhile Mr. Sylar less sexy in this video. (TiFaux)
Matt isn't good at math, but Edie Falco + a drug-addicted, well-intentioned nurse = must-see viewing of Nurse Jackie. (TV Fanatic).
Greek: I never really understood the all nighter, I always valued a fresh mind from a good night’s sleep as apposed to cramming at the last minute. Granted, I have to admit I tried osmosis on more than one occasion. You can stream current episodes over at ABCFamily.com. You can also download Greek on iTunes.
Charm School with Ricki Lake: I really hate these eliminations where they don’t actually eliminate anyone that they pull on reality shows. And when people leave you can smell the non-eliminations miles away. That is why Survivor remains the best, when they have an unexpected exit, Probst just says no tribal council and that is that. Going through all the pomp and circumstance and not eliminate anyone is just cheap. You can also download I Love Money on iTunes.
Rescue Me: As bad as it sounds, much like Lou I prefer the drinking Tommy Gavin above the sober one. And that bar scene is pretty much the reason why as it is nice to see our dearly departed again. Although Conner got real old real quick. You can stream current episodes over at Hulu.
Free Download of the Week: Absolutely Still - Better Than Ezra (Amazon MP3) - Paper Empire may be the weakest Better Than Erza album to date as most songs are just mediocre pop, but at least the lead single is free.
Video of the Week: NBC launches three new shows this week, certainly everyone is aware of Conan O’Brien taking over The Tonight Show (click the link for an advanced look at his new set) and I will spare you the Spencer Pratt rap for the reboot of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! The other show is The Listener debuting this Thursday at 10:00. Below is a promo:
Next Week Pick of the Week: Royal Pains, Thursday at 10:00 on USA: A decent enough first episode airs this Thursday with a seventy-five minute limited commercial run. Look out for a full review sometime before then.
I will also like to point out Monday June 1st, Dave Matthews Band will be streaming a concert on Hulu. Look for a review of Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King later that week.
On her 2003 album Coverage, Mandy Moore covered plenty of songs from the seventies-singer songwriter era like Todd Rundgren, Cat Stevens, and Carly Simon which could explain why her latest album Amanda Leigh sounds like it was recorded during that era. And not to discredit her adult pop of her last album, the decent Wild Hope, but the music on Amanda Leigh is better for it.
Songs like Merrimack River and Song About Home float along and could be a great soundtrack if you are interested in a mellow summer lounging on a park bench. I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week is a clap along that is much more fun than anything on Wild Hope (although I wonder what her newly husband thinks about the song being released right after they got married). Nothing Everything follows that trend but is more adventurous with Moore unleashing for one of the few times on the album while everyone in the studio just seems to have fun the longer the song goes on.
Of all of the songs, the one that could have fit best in the seventies is Pocket Philosopher which bounces along with its piano intro, some well placed flutes, and cutesy delivery to the point it borders on a song from a musical. There are a few hiccups along the way; Fern Dell just doesn’t come together as well as other songs on the album. While Everblue borders on smaltzy. Also at thirty-seven minutes, the album seems a little short. But for that half hour, everything can just fade away while watch the summer go by slowly.
Mike Judge has a pretty impressive batting average when it comes to comedy: Beavis and Butt-Head, King of the Hill, Office Space and Idiocracy (and looking at the trailer, the upcoming Extract starring Jason Bateman will extend that streak). So there were high expectations for his latest animated show The Goode Family that follows a family that try to live the most politically correct way they can, living by the motto WWAGD (What Would Al Gore Do).
Maybe it is that pedigree that makes The Good Family a disappointment, where the rest of Judge’s work can be measured in gut wrenching laughter, The Goode Family can only be quantified by the number of chuckles. This could be because this is the first work Judge has done out of his comfort zone; Beavis was based on people he knew and Hill was in his wheelhouse being from Texas and his work in an office culminated in Office Space, but his attempt in liberal, blue state humor just doesn’t translate as well.
Plus some of the characters seem one note. The family raises their dog as a vegan but ends up eating neighbor’s pets which causes some of the biggest chuckles, but how can they keep that funny in future episodes? Same as their adopted white African-American son (he was white born in South Africa so technically African American). Funny, but where do they go in future episodes? And why, if he has been in America over a decade, does he speak broken English.
The one bright is the first episode is the Hummer driving, meat eating father-in-law (and seemingly right out of King of the Hill) who makes a too brief appearance. Hopefully there is more of him later in the season and Judge finds his comical footing sooner rather than later. If not, at least Extract will be arriving in September.
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?
Tomorrow is the unofficial start of summer where I hopefully am able to defend my McGavin family croquet title. Of course the official start of summer comes when I first hear Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. So adjust the bass and let the alpine blast.
Quote of the Week: For the last time, I am not Linda Knievel. I will never be Linda Knievel. (Lily – How I Met Your Mother)
Song of the Week: Captain Jack – Billy Joel (as sung by Will Ferrell; Saturday Night Live)
Big News of the Week: Upfronts: For thoughts on Upfronts and what I will be watching come fall, check out Scooter’s Fall Television Schedule.
Coalition Links of the Week: Season finales? What season finales? Buzz turned her attention to the months ahead and asked which summer TV show has you most excited. (BuzzSugar)
Vance had quite the reaction when Kris Allen won American Idol. (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace reported on all of the goings-on at the 2009 network upfronts and offered up extremely advance reviews on the full pilots of such new series as ABC's V, Happy Town, and Modern Family, and NBC's Community. (Televisionary)
Scrubs may be back next season, but Jennifer said her goodbyes now. (Tube Talk)
After reading a few Melrose Place spoilers, Matt cannot wait for the reincarnation of this classic series. (TV Fanatic)
Greek: All the searching for the secret society stuff was pretty funny, especially when they heard Rusty and Dale talking, but I’m and not sure about the sceret bonding between Cappie and Evan. And doesn’t the Dean hate them and tried to get the Greek system thrown off campus? If so why invite to Greek presidents to join you society? You can stream current episodes over at ABCFamily.com. You can also download Greek on iTunes.
How I Met Your Mother: So the mother will turn out to be one of Ted’s students? Eww. I really hope the writers come up with something creative that makes that not true because once we meet her, I will be creeped out for the rest of the series, even more than the thought of Future Ted telling his kids about all his sexscapades. You can stream current episodes over at Innertube. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.
Charm School with Ricki Lake: Wow, it is disturbing how the Real/Chance girls are so oblivious to how they are the epitome of the Mean Girls. Hopefully they get that when they rewatch the episode. You can also download I Love Money on iTunes.
Rescue Me: Proably the funniest episode of the season. All the stuff with Katie Katherine had me on the floor and the preceding road trip and dinner as well as Garrity’s, um, problems. Then there were the out of left field scenes with Tommy’s sister and uncle at the VA hospital. Although the ending was a little weird. Is Katie running away? You can stream current episodes over at Hulu.
Free Download of the Week: Delicious Vinyl Sampler (Amazon MP3): Delicious Vinyl was only second to Def Jam in terms of great hip-hop records from the eighties, and on this sampler you Young MC’s Bust a Move, a Tone Loc remix, songs from The Pharcyde and member Fatlip and more.
Video of the Week: Tuesday sees the season finale of My Boys featuring former Cubs player Mike Fontenot. Check out a clip below:
Next Week Pick of the Week: The Goode Family, Wednesday at 9:00 on ABC: Ironically just as Mike Judge’s redneck comedy King of the Hill ended its run just as George Bush left office, his show about tree hugging hippies debuts just as the age of Obama starts out.
All the news this week went to the major networks, but Tuner Entertainment Networks (TNT, TBS, TruTV) also held their upfronts earlier this week. Thier big news was that TBS was interested in picking up My Name Is Earl, a show they already syndicate. With their summer schedule set for a while (I will be talking more about those shows closer to their premieres), most of the shows in their pipeline won’t hit the air until 2010 at the earliest aside from the already announced Men of a Certain Age staring Ray Romano and Scott Bacula set to debut in December 2009 and Neighbors From Hell, an animated series coming in 2010. Here are the other programming and development plans in the works for the networks:
TNT
Scripted dramas
UNTITLED ALIEN INVASION PROJECT – Six months after a worldwide alien invasion, a group of everyday heroes must rise up to fight for their survival – all while maintaining their humanity in the process. This project has been ordered to pilot and comes to TNT from DreamWorks Television and filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who will serve as executive producer along with DreamWorks Television heads Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank and screenwriter Robert Rodat. Rodat, who earned an Oscar® nomination for his screenplay for Saving Private Ryan, is writing the script for the pilot from an idea he co-conceived with Spielberg.
CLASS ACTION (working title) – Steven Bochco, the mastermind behind many dramas, including TNT’s Raising the Bar, joins with Stephen Godchaux (Spin City) for this project, which follows a down-on-his-luck attorney as he fights for the disenfranchised.
ZAPATA, TEXAS (working title) – The husband-and-wife team of Kyra Sedgwick (TNT’s The Closer) and Kevin Bacon co-conceived and will executive-produce this project, which is the story of a small Texas border town and its newly elected sheriff, “favorite son” Zeke. ZAPATA, TEXAS will follow Zeke as he navigates the equally treacherous waters of small-town politics and the volatile world of the U.S./Mexico border. Bacon is attached to direct the pilot.
UNTITLED MATT WILLIAMS FAMILY DRAMA – Matt Williams, creator of Roseanne and co-creator of Home Improvement, takes a personal, passionate and ultimately heroic look at a loving, middle-American family that is keeping it together at a time when everything is trying to pull them apart.
UNTITLED DANIEL PYNE NOIR DRAMA – Daniel Pyne’s many credits as a writer include The Manchurian Candidate (2004), Any Given Sunday and Pacific Heights. This project from Warner Horizon Television is set in 1954 Los Angeles, where a private detective tries to do the right thing as the ever-changing world makes it more difficult.
PASTOR JAZZ – This drama focuses on a minister, his music and his passion for people’s hearts and souls, from the neediest to the wealthiest. Charles S. Dutton (The Express, Roc) is Pastor Jazz in this project, which is from Warner Horizon Television, Dutton, Mitchell Burgess (The Sopranos, Northern Exposure) and Robin Green (The Sopranos, Northern Exposure).
MACALISTER – Henry Shepard is a washed-up-novelist-turned-professor who tries to inspire the boys of The Macalister School. F.J. Pratt (Less Than Perfect) and Dan Cohen (Less Than Perfect) look into the minds and mischief of students at an all-boys school in upstate New York, showing how one man can have an impact on children of wealth and privilege.
PROOF – Dr. Geoffrey Pierce is an eccentric neuroscientist who uses his unique outlook to help the federal government solve complex cases. With an intimate knowledge of human behavior and a masterful understanding of the mind, this quirky, crime-solving doctor pulls lessons from an odd and imaginative view of the world. This project comes from ABC Studios, Kenneth Biller (Legend of the Seeker, Star Trek: Voyager) and Mike Sussman (Star Trek: Voyager)
unscripted dramas:
THE MAYO CLINIC – When someone is ill and has been told nothing more can be done, there is one place to go – the renowned Mayo Clinic, where hope springs eternal. This project will chronicle the lives of Mayo doctors and their patients. Bill Guttentag (Nanking) and David Kanter (Rendition) are executive producers.
TRIP OF A LIFETIME – Everyone has a dream or a wish unfulfilled. TRIP OF A LIFETIME will bring together extended, disconnected and deserving families. It could revolve around a lost family member, an unknown child, a missing brother or simply a returned keepsake. The project will be executive-produced by acclaimed author and travel expert Peter Greenberg and Rich Heller (Dallas: War of the Ewings)
TBS
THE GAME OF LIFE – This half-hour sitcom follows four Pittsburgh friends as they reunite in their early 30s, only to discover life didn’t turn out quite as planned. THE GAME OF LIFE comes to TBS from Sony Pictures Television, executive-produced by Kevin James (The King of Queens, Paul Blart: Mall Cop), Rock Reuben (The King of Queens) and Jeff Sussman (The King of Queens, Paul Blart: Mall Cop).
BIG TOW – This animated project from Sony Pictures Television, Tantamount and executive producer Clay Graham (The Drew Carey Show) will follow the life of J.D. Biggs, a small-town Tennessee single dad and local hero who runs a towing company.
WEE HOURS – From Second City TV and executive producer Lowell Mate, this slice-of-life sketch comedy employs the talents of the legendary Second City comedy troupe to tell stories of Chicagoans during the wee hours of midnight to 6 a.m.
TruTV
NFL FULL CONTACT (working title) – truTV and NFL Films will provide unprecedented, exclusive access to what really goes on behind the scenes in professional football, from draft day to the Super Bowl.
CONSPIRACY THEORY WITH JESSE VENTURA – He’s undertaken some of the most dangerous missions in the world as a Navy SEAL. He’s body-slammed giants in the wrestling ring as a WWE superstar. He’s even conquered politics as the governor of Minnesota. Now, Jesse Ventura is about to face his greatest challenge yet: uncovering the most compelling, modern-day conspiracy theories. CONSPIRACY THEORY is produced by A. Smith & Co. Productions (Hell’s Kitchen, I Survived a Japanese Game Show, Kitchen Nightmares).
U.S. SPECIAL OPS: DECLASSIFIED (working title) – From producer Tom DeSanto (X-Men, Transformers) and 44 Blue Productions comes a thrilling new series that unlocks the case files of America’s elite terrorist hunters. Through a mix of cutting-edge computer animation, action-packed recreations and hair-raising interviews with actual agents, this series will recount the shocking, formerly top-secret details of the people who keep us safe while we sleep.
FULL THROTTLE – This four-part series, produced by A. Smith & Co. Productions, will provide an inside look at the world’s largest biker bar. Mike Ballard, beautiful bartenders and a full cast of characters race against the clock to serve huge crowds at Ballard’s Full Throttle Saloon in Sturgis, S.D., during the town’s famed, nine-day motorcycle rally. More than 300,000 people visit the Full Throttle Saloon during the annual event, where Ballard and his team feel the pressure to make a year’s salary in a short time window, all while providing patrons an experience they will not forget. The series marks the first time cameras have been allowed to capture every minute.
There seemed to be less drama surrounding the Upfronts this year because it seemed like everything was leaked to be canceled or renewed sometime last week or before. But those last minute decisions have proved to be entertaining. CBS called NBC dumping Medium “inexplicable” which made NBC point out that Medium had smaller ratings than two shows (Without a Trace and The Unit) they canceled which CBS retorted that Medium had better ratings than five it renewed (Chuck, Law and Order, Southland, 30 Rock, and Parks and Recreations). Hilarious.
But line of the week goes to My Name Is Earl creator Greg Garcia who responded when asked about not making it on the NBC lineup; “It’s hard to be too upset about being thrown off the Titanic.” Classic. But it may be a soft landing for Earl as it may be picked up by Fox. Note to Fox: I have not watched anything on your channel since the series finale of Arrested Development; if you pick up My Name Is Earl, I will take you off the parental block on my television.
Garcia isn’t the only one to be burning bridges as Jimmy Kimmel brought his gas can to the Upfronts. The big difference is Kimmel is still standing on his bridge. To the ABC advertisers, Kimmel said, “You don’t need an upfront, you need therapy.” Did someone forget to tell Kimmel these are the people that pay his salary? He then went on to say of the new shows, “We’re going to cancel about 90% of them,” he said. “Everyone is full of (expletive deleted).” I am assuming Kimmel saw the V reboot preview clips that are laughably bad or Flash Forward which looks as good as V but without the unintentional comedy. And the current ABC line-up didn’t go unscaved when Kimmel offered, “Next year on Grey’s Anatomy, your product could kill Dr. Izzie. It just depends on how much you want to pay.”
In other network news, apparently The CW still exists (albeit down to nine hours of programming a week). Who knew? But anyways. Here is what I will be (tentatively) be watching this fall.
Mondays 8:00 – How I Met Your Mother (CBS) 8:30 – Accidentally on Purpose (CBS) 9:00 – Trauma (NBC) 9:30 – The Big Bang Theory (CBS) 10:00 Castle (ABC)
Oh, CBS, why do you smite me? The TBBT/HIMYM was a nice combination, I know you totally ruining that by putting a crappy new show and the unwatchable Two and a Half Men in-between. I sure TBBT will get an extra 3-4 million viewers at 9:30 than 8:00, but shouldn’t CBS care more that they are inconveniencing me? I guess I will give Accidentally on Purpose a chance to bridge HIMYM and Trauma but I have a feeling that I will end up just flipping to whatever crappy show on VH1 during that half hour instead. At least when Chuck returns after the Olympics, I can watch that at 8:00, HIMYM on tape delay at 9:00 then TBBT at 9:30. And much like last season, I will most likely be watching Castle via the internet. The first season was moderately enjoyable and the cliff hanger should make things interesting.
Tuesdays The day continues to the least interesting day on the TV schedule. I blame karaokers, has been’s and never were’s. And seriously, Jay Leno chews up five hours a week and NBC still devotes two hour blocks to The Biggest Loser and Donald Trump? Wouldn’t they get better rating if they were one hour and just a longer season?
Wednesdays 8:00 – Parenthood (NBC) 8:30 – Gary Unmarried (CBS) 9:00 – Modern Family (ABC)
Modern Family sounds like just a replacement for According to Jim except gayer. But it does star Al Bundy (who I assume isn’t part of the gay couple), Carol Vessey, and the token hot chick from Let’s Rob Mick Jagger (who I wouldn’t mind if were part of the gay couple), so hopefully it will be at least watchable.
Thursday 8:00 – Survivor (CBS)
Remember Thursdays were the biggest logjam of the week? Not so much for me anymore. I may turn into Weekend Update during the Survivor commercials, but how entertaining can that be in a non-election year?
Friday, Saturday, Sunday I got nothing. At least until NBC comes to its senses and gives an ax to Southland and puts Friday Night Lights in its place.
Midseason Chuck (NBC; Mondays at 8:00) Lost (ABC) I may also give Day One (NBC, Mondays at 9:00) and Mercy (Wednesdays at 8:00) a chance but will be on a short leash or reserved for Hulu.
– Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears (Amazon MP3) – If they handed out awards for most infectious songs, this song would definitely snag it for 2009. And not only can you grab Sugarfoot for free at Amazon MP3, you can also grab the video on iTunes, just click the banner at right (if the picture isn’t of Black Joe Lewis, you are too late).
(Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Arrested Development, Wonderfalls) 
at 6:00). The show centers on a doctor (Mark Feuerstein, Good Morning Miami) who gets fired for caring as much for an average Joe as he does the benefactor of the hospital he works at when the latter dies in his care.
) comes in and takes Feuerstein to the Hamptons to in order to crash some big wig parties. His doctor abilities come in handy when he saves the life a model which leads one of the bigger wigs to offer him up his guest house so he will be is very on concierge doctor. Of course considering he recently lost a job because he cared equally for the middle class as he did for the uber-rich, this working relationship could create some ethical grey areas.
). Also along for the ride is Reshma Shetty (
) who tries to get hired by Feuerstein after word gets out he is the new hot doctor.
with a doctor getting stuck with the rich instead of the boonies (and sadly without any “You can blink now” moments). If in future episodes Feuerstein stops his sulking, Royal Pains could turn into a watchable summer excursion.
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on my 
(Amazon MP3) - Paper Empire may be the weakest Better Than Erza album to date as most songs are just mediocre pop, but at least the lead single is free.
, 
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and 
(and looking at the trailer, the upcoming Extract starring Jason Bateman will extend that streak). So there were high expectations for his latest animated show The Goode Family that follows a family that try to live the most politically correct way they can, living by the motto WWAGD (What Would Al Gore Do).
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(Amazon MP3): Delicious Vinyl was only second to Def Jam in terms of great hip-hop records from the eighties, and on this sampler you Young MC’s Bust a Move, a Tone Loc remix, songs from The Pharcyde and member Fatlip and more.