Quote of the Week: Now, let me be your mother. That is my job. (Mama Smash - Friday Night Lights)
Song of the Week: Freedom ’90 - George Michael (Trust Me)
Big News of the Week: Networks Party Like it’s 1989: Since Bionic Woman, Knight Rider, 90210 remakes bombed miserably (I have a feeling we will be able to add Cupid to that list soon enough), all the networks are going to try it again this time by recreating the short lived movie to television show Parenthood (NBC), The Witches of Eastwick (ABC), DC Comic turned failed ABC show Human Target (FOX), and Americanized version of Absolutely Fabulous (FOX), and the two times mini-series turned failed series V (ABC) which gave us the first lizard/human baby ever. And for those that cannot get enough of the 80’s there is Lost in the 80’s from ABC set in the time period. CBS, I assume, will just recycle CSI with another different name. Wake me up when they get around to remaking Sledge Hammer!
Coalition Links of the Week: With tons of pilots in the works for next Fall, Buzz wondered if you could tell the real ones from the fakes. (BuzzSugar)
Vance discusses Degrassi:TNG, Lie To Me, Bones, Scrubs and Lost this week. (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace took an early look at next week's episode of NBC's Chuck, presented in box-busting 3D. (Televisionary)
Who's the next to die on Battlestar Galactica? Dan made a graph to help try to figure it out. (TiFaux)
This week, the TV Addicted posted our exclusive interview with Buffy, Angel, and Dollhouse mastermind Joss Whedon. (The TV Addict)
Tool Academy: Note to self: if you ever run in to Cameron, never, under any circumstance piss her off. And is it too soon to cast the (hopefully) inevitable Celebrity Edition of Tool Academy? If not, here are my suggestions: Ashton Kutcher, Terrell Owens, Sean Hannity, Pete Wentz, Spencer Pratt, Al Gore, Sean Avery, Donald Trump, and the dude you’re getting a Dell guy. I would have also suggested Ryan Seacrest but the show involves having a girlfriend, so he may have to wait until Beard Academy. You can also download Tool Academy on iTunes.
Leverage: An interesting Whedon-verse reunion Lindsay and the father/son tandem of Jonathan and Holland even without any wink-wink connection to their pasts. But when did Nathan become a raging alcoholic to the point random cops knew this? You can also download Leverage on iTunes.
Lost: Let me be the last person to predict that Faraday’s mother is the old chick last seen talking to Not-Henry and only other time seen in Desmond’s dream/flashback/mind trip. There in lies one of many problems with the show is they build up these big reveals that everyone sees coming, and then pays I off a couple episodes too late. Hopefully I am wrong and it turns out that it is really Jack mom.
As for the twist I don’t think anyone saw coming, we got a double dose of Charles Whitmore. And in true Lost fashion, that is all we got, a glance, no explanation of how he become an Other, why he had a falling out with them or how he got off the island. I have a bad feeling that Whitmore is going to turn out to be Biff Tannen who became rich thanks to knowing what happens in the future. But does that make Not-Henry Marty McFly? You can stream current episodes over at ABC.com.
Friday Night Lights: Poor Matt Saresen, if only they had instant replay, they could see he clearly had possession when the ball crossed the plane, and that is all you need no matter if it gets loose (assuming that Texas football has they same rule as the pros, college, and intramural flag football). And nice swerve by the promo monkeys that made it looked like the Riggins Boys get caught. And if Mama Smash is looking for some extra income, I wonder if the Taylor’s could use a nanny for baby Grace. You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com.
Deal of the Week: Take 10% off all Battlestar Galactica: Visit SCIFI.com and click on the shop tab. Then use Coupon code: "BSGFAN". Excludes QMx items and Cylons.
Video of the Week: The second episode of Trust Me is a little stronger than the first even though it gets into Studio 60 skit territory where you wonder why they are so behind their tagline. But anyways. Here is a clip for the upcoming episode (and be sure to check out my Preview of Trust Me):
Next Week Pick of the Week: I Love Money 2, Monday at 9:00 on VH1: This should go to Chuck and its special 3-D episode on the same day but an hour earlier, but I am bitter because of all the trouble I am having locating the special 3-D glasses. This is mostly because they don’t have them at my local grocery story and haven’t looked for them anywhere else yet.
I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on The Office, Jimmy Fallon, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, and The Exterminators.
- There doesn’t seem like there is much hoopla around the Super Bowl, maybe it’s the teams or the economy which keeps companies from buying, or hyping, their million dollar ad buys. As for the coveted post-Super Bowl spot, NBC decided against going with the most logical synergy by putting the football themed Friday Night Lights on, instead opting for The Office which will feature Jack Black and Jessica Alba (for a quick laugh google Alba and Sweden). Below is a preview of what you might see Sunday:
- Also getting ready for the Super Bowl is Jimmy Fallon who isn’t sure who to root for (the answer is the Cardinals by the way) as seen in this video:
- If you are like me, a nerd who wanted to see Star Wars: The Clone Wars, but not big enough nerd to sit home on Fridays to watch it or even remember to tape it most times, we are in luck. The show is coming to TNT, naturally, because they know drama. Back to back episodes beginning Saturday February 14, after the NBA All Star Saturday Night at 11:00. It will then move to its regular timeslot on Wednesdays at 10:00 starting the 18th. The show will be available in HD for those of you cool enough to have that.
- Also coming to TNT February 8 is the movie Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story staring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Kimberly Elise. It is based on the true story of Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, whose lifelong journey led him to become director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, a best-selling author and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I may or may not have more on this later.
- Switching over to A&E, they have a new program called The Exterminators, a docusoap about a pest removal company. The show premieres Wednesday February 4 at 10:30. Check out a clip from the show below:
It is time for another rousing round of Playing the Percentages, again along for the ride is the good people from TV on the Brain. If you want to play the home game, just drop your thoughts in the comments or leave a comment on a question you would like to be answered at a later date. Now let us play the game where I will play the role of the Joe Torre with Jo playing the role of Alex Rodriguez.
What chance do you give to the Arizona Cardinals upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Scooter: As a Browns fan I want it to be 100% but from a practical standpoint, I always take great defenses over great offences. What the Cards have going for them is that no one has stopped Larry Fitzgerald in the playoffs and the Steelers CB are their Achilles heel, and one of Ben Rothlisburger’s worst game of his career came in his last Super Bowl appearances (that they should have lost because he in no way crossed the plain of the goal line on that QB Draw). So I will give the Cards a punter’s chance at 40%. Jo: In the Super Bowl, anything is possible. But before the divisional playoffs, I emailed Scooter and told him that it'd be the Steelers over the Cardinals by two touchdowns in the Super Bowl...so I'll have to stick with that. I'll give the magic touch to the Cards at 25% likely. Scooter: She did and I am now glad that I did not respond by mocking her for doing so.
What are the chances that viewers will be satisfied with the Lost series finale?
Scooter: I lost faith in the show (cheesy pun intended) around they killed off the Token Hot Chick, so on a personal level I really do not have high hopes that I will be satisfied come June 2010. But the writers will have has two and a half seasons top conclude everything they want to get down, so barring the show fading to the blank during a random scenes, all the principles end the series in jail, or the whole story turns out to have taken place in the snow globe of an autistic kid, I’ll say 60% of watchers will be satisfied, I doubt I’ll be one of them. Jo: As a newly converted Lost watcher, I feel like the writers let the show's plots get away from the in the second season. As a result, it'll be near impossible for them to tie everything up by the end. I feel like this will a great Sopranos debate all over again, with 50% of the Lost fanatics satisfied and 50% irate by what will probably be a vague ending.
What chance does Dollhouse have of getting a second season?
Scooter: If I were a Vegas line maker, I would put the Over/Under at 5 episodes; so I would put the odds of the show getting to finish it’s first very low being that it is in the Friday death slot where every sci-fi shows has been one and done on FOX (and anyone who is at home should be watching Friday Night Lights at 9:00). But since Eliza Dusku somehow managed to get a second season out of Tru Calling I’ll go as high as 18%. Jo: Wait, is this Whedon and Fox? 0%.
Seems like everyone I know owns The Ultimate Experience yet no one owns a Jimi Hendrix studio album. I understand how daunting getting into an artist that died before you were even born and I have a large collection of Greatest Hits myself as the lone album I own by that artist. But the thing with Hendrix is that he only released three studio albums all of which are must owns. But if you want to start small, my favorite non-ultimate Experience track is Bold of Love. Unfortunately when I searched for the song on YouTube all I found were hacks butchering the song in their basements or live versions with crappy audio. So I have to go with a John Mayer version, but defiantly hunt down the Hendrix version.
Just when you thought Obama inspired music couldn’t stoop any lower than Ashford and Simpson reworking their classic to go Solid as Barack, Bruce Springsteen, voice of a the working class writes the worst song of his career, the overtly sappy Working on a Dream in honor of the man who would be president. Here is a guy that once sang, “Wherever somebody's strugglin’ to be free, look in their eyes Mom you'll see me,” and now he palling around with the machine instead of raging against it.
At least I thought Working on a Dream was the worst song Springsteen ever record, and then I listen to the whole album of the same name and found Queen of the Supermarket which is as cheesy as the title of the song would suggest and sounds like The Boss was trying to make a more serious verion of Lunchlady Land. And the explicitly cheery tone of the title track overspills into My Lucky Day (which is almost saved by a Clarence Clemmons sax solo) This Life, Tomorrow Never Knows, and Surprise, Surprise.
Thankfully it isn’t all happy, happy, joy, joy on Working on a Dream. The eight minute opener Outlaw Pete manages to merge the folk of The Ghost of Tom Joad with the arena rock of Born to Run effortlessly. The result is an opus about a baby already with a rap sheet whose life intertwines among mustangs (of the horse variety), Irish bounty hunters and young Navajo girls. Many artists have written this type of song before, even Bruce, but it still sounds fresh here in 2009. Good Eye, with its harmonica and scratchy vocals also has that down home feel to it and these songs may have made for a better template for a full album.
Springsteen has noted of 2007 album Magic that this was the first time he wanted to continue writing which was what spawned Working on a Dream. The result was his most scattershot album of his sixteen studio records. Even though it resulted in one of his best work in Outlaw Pete, the rest of the album just playes like and B-side or outtake compilation rather than a proper Springsteen disk. Hopefully for the next album, Bruce tears everything down and starts anew because it worked well on the previous fourteen times.
If I were to create the best television shows of the 00’s, Ed would be in the discussion for the top ten. So I have an affinity for Tom Cavanagh and other former Stuckyville residents that get me to watch Big Love, Love Monkey, and not complain about Lost whenever Jack’s wife shows up. Granted I still have yet brought myself to buy a Mac. With that said, if I were to make that list, Will & Grace wouldn’t make it unless I were to extend it to triple digits.
There in lies the selling point to the new TNT series Trust Me which relies on how well the two leads, Cavanagh and Eric McCormack plays off of each other as the show is a buddy tale of two ad men, not of the mad variety, and how the react when one (McCormack) gets promoted but his partner (Cavanagh) now has to work under him. It is hard to tell how they jell from their first couple scenes, but if there are anyone whom you want to play your best bud, these two would be near the top of anyone’s list.
Also along for the ride is Monica Potter who just have the worst agent or worst luck in Hollywood because after breaking through in Patch Adams she has yet to land a quality role since. She had to slum it as a love interest for Freddy Prinze Jr. for goodness sake. But she can rest in the solace that she had a great song written about her in the eight minute long Mrs. Potter’s Lullaby.
That luck could change with Trust Me as she stars as someone who has a pretty bad first day on the job, not that she doesn’t deserve some of the crap coming to her. To put her character in perspective, she pretentious enough to go with the hyphen when getting married but too self conscious not to drop his name when she gets divorced. And this isn’t the first time she has met McCormack that doesn’t get explored much except maybe a throw away line about an alley.
Also showing up is everyone’s boss Griffin Dunn (40 Days and 40 Nights), although his boss only gets screen time with her hand. McCormack’s wife gets about as much screen time as we only get a fleeting glimpse of Sarah Clarke (24). Providing the comic relief are the two copy boys at the bottom of the totem pole, Geoffrey Arend (Greek’s Egyptian Joe) and Mike Damus (Teen Angel).
Trust Me airs Mondays at 10:00 on TNT. You can also download Trust Me on iTunes or on Amazon Video on Demand (see below):
By law I am not allowed to tell you Detective Sanchez’s fate or Brenda’s response to Fritz’s ultimatum on The Closer, but I am allowed to say (I think) that it won’t take long to find out the answer to either. Without the ability to talk about the personal aspect (aside from that someone besides Sanchez may also be making their way to the emergency room), the case of the week is really all I can speak of.
The fourth season closes with five straight episodes starting tomorrow (followed by the series of Trust Me, also check back tomorrow for more on that) with a whimper. Or at least that is what the crew thinks as they investigate a suicide that turns out to be more than they originally thought. And the fact that the case takes them to a church located in a roller rink which is incidentally considering Fritz’s ultimatum.
Other cases Brenda and the boys tackle over the next couple weeks include a death of an obese man who is left in the trunk of a car, a possible homicide that may have been revealed though text messages, and a murder at an escort agency. And on February 9th Lucky/Tim Foyle pops up as the subject in a murder case but it is his sleazy lawyer played by Billy Burke (Bobby’s brother on My Boys) that is causing all the problems for Brenda.
Also showing up sometime is Amy Sedaris (Strangers with Candy) as Fritz’s sister and resident physic who thinks she can help Brenda with one of her cases. The Closer airs Mondays at 9:00 on TNT. You can also download The Closer on iTunes or through Amazon Video on Demand (see below):
Quote of the Week: I’m merely exercising my 1st Amendment right. And the 1st Amendment states very clearly you can rip anything off as long as you change it slightly. (Leslie Poole - 10 Items or Less)
Big News of the Week: Veronica Mars: The Movie: Apparently Rob Thomas took my advise to finish off the Veronica Mars movie script right after the amount of Cupid episodes got slashed and now has Joel Silver and Kristen Bell attached as producer and star. One thing that wasn’t announced this week was the most important thing needed when making a movie: a studio. So color me cautiously optimistic until someone puts up some money to get the movie made.
Coalition Links of the Week: Buzz wrapped up her stay at TCA by offering up some awards for the best, worst, and most awkward moments from her time in LA. (BuzzSugar)
Sandie thinks Legend of the Seeker is the Best Show You're Not Watching. (Daemon's TV)
Vance shows some love for Privileged and Lost. (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace took an early look at the third episode of Season Five of Lost (Jughead) and hinted at some surprising twists to come! (Televisionary)
In this week's Gossip Girl recap, Sara draws some comparisons to Saved By The Bell and 90210. (TiFaux)
This week, the TV Addict revealed why we digg Jimmy Fallon. (The TV Addict)
Tool Academy: Yeah, this show is totally staged. I’m supposed to believe that the couple that has never been intimate just so happen to win the conjugal visit reward. And I am beginning to think this is a Joe Schmo (remember the show starring Kristen Wiig) situation where the cast are paid actors but us, the audience, are the Schmos. The only thing from me thinking it is completely scripted is these stupid women; all saying the show is their last chance, choose to stay with their Tools after being voted out. I may have to put the Over/Under at 1 of chicks that actually dump their Tool on the show. You can also download Tool Academy on iTunes.
The Big Bang Theory: It may not be a good sign that I was mentally editing Sheldon’s flow chart before Howard did. I may have to stop watching this show, not for quality reasons, but to keep me from getting any more ideas. You can stream current episodes over at Innertube. You can also download The Big Bang Theory on iTunes.
How I Met Your Mother: This show is at its worst when they think they are clever and this is the worst case to date with their time shifting. With that said, I must admit the word, “We should buy a bar” have crossed my lips before. You can stream current episodes over at Innertube. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.
Gary Unmarried: How can you have a discussion about not legally mentioning the attractiveness of a fifteen year old and not make a Chris Hanson reference? I was sitting there all episodes waiting for one and it never came. You can stream current episodes over at Innertube.
Friday Night Lights: Nothing made me laugh harder this week is when Riggins stood up when Lyla arrived without his pants on. I laugh because I am the same way about getting out of good clothes as fast as possible, sometimes starting when I am in my car. And for any fan of the show, you really need to check out The B.S. Report with Bill Simmons who recently interviewed show creator Peter Berg for about an hour where you learn such gems like who Berg wanted to be the coach over Kyle Chandler and which Survivor he once dated. You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com.
Video of the Week: For your entertainment (or at the very least mine) the greatest Jeopardy question answer ever in the history of the world:
Next Week Pick of the Week: Super Bowl XLIII, Sunday (2/1)at 7:00 on NBC: For the second straight year, one of my least favorite teams is a heavy favorite. Hopefully for the second straight year the underdog comes out on top. And if it turns out to be a blow out, there’s always a new episode of Tool Academy at 10:00 and even a commercial in 3-D this year. Hold onto those glasses because the next day, Chuck is back with an episode in 3-D. Now I just need to hunt down some glasses because the Token Hot Chick in an extra dimension is something that should not be missed.
I never liked the name Cleaning Out My Inbox so I have tweaked its name. What remains the same is that a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Dangerous Encounters, Air Force One, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Battlestar Galactica, Scream, Late Show and Saving Grace.
- A big weekend over at the National Geographic Channel starting tomorrow, Saturday, with the final episode of Dangerous Encounters in this recent batch. And it goes out with a bang as Brady Barr goes back to cave where he was bitten last year. Will he be able to accomplish what be set out to do before getting bit in finding a twenty foot snake? Hint, look at the picture below and also check out a promo for the show:
- Then on Sunday at 8:00, you can get to know Air Force One just as President Obama gets his first peak of the presidential aircraft himself. That is directly followed by a special on Marine One, the presidential helicopter fleet. Head over to the official site for photos, videos, an interactive feature and even download a paper model of Air Force One.
- Also this weekend, on TNT and TBS, is the Screen Actors Guild (which has one of the worst acronyms ever). This year Forrest Whitaker will present the 45th Life Achievement Award to James Earl Jones. For more information on the show and the complete rundown of the nominations, head over to sagawards.org.
- Here’s a treat to all you Battlestar Galactica fans, here is a code to the Sci-Fi Channel Store (click on the link, then click on the store tab once you are there) where you can get 10% off any BSG items in the store (excluding QMx and Cylon items). Just enter BSGFAN in the coupon entry code place at checkout. The code expires April 15.
- Yesterday Whoopi Goldberg laughed a new video on demand series Scream launching on FEARnet’s website. The series will span six episodes and you can head over there now to watch the first episode or watch the trailer below to see if it’s for you:
- As you may have heard, in the run up to him taking over Late Night, Jimmy Fallon has to taken to the internet to get his feet wet. His latest interview is with Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht of Diggnation to discuss the interwebs. Check it out on his website.
- Saving Grace returns to TNT March 2nd with guest star Christina Ricci. Be sure to mark your calendars.
It is apropos that Lost would launch a new season the day after Barack Obama was sworn in because fans of both are very similar in they rely a lot on hope. Hope that the most inexperience president ever to take the oath of office doesn’t get overwhelmed. While fans of Lost hope not to be underwhelmed when the show wraps it up after six seasons next year. Being a man of science, as opposed to faith, I am cautious of both actually happening while hoping they don’t.
The new season started like every season before it, with an ambiguous person starting their day listening to old music. This turns out to be the informational dude before he loses a limb which we don’t find out why that happened. But luckily Faraday makes it back in time so maybe we will learn more about the Dharma Intuitive. I really have disliked the whole time travel aspect, but if it is a devise to tie up some lose ends surrounding some back-story like Rousseau, the Black Rock, the four-toed statue, I will get over that (although I’m sure they will sooner reveal who Adam and Eve from the caves are then everything else).
Unless of course the time travel somehow brings Locke back to life despite Faraday insisting that nothing can be changed by going back in time, breaking from the main time travel rules that I learned from Back to the Future. I fear this might happen because Faraday implied that Desmond is the one person, for whatever reason, that can change history. And if the old chick turns out to be the anti-Desmond I will be equally upset.
As interesting as the first half of the premiere was, the second half was equally as boring as it turned out just to be a devise to put up major obstacles in Ben’s way to get everyone back to the island, most time consuming being Hurley’s path to jail (holy Ana Lucia sighting! Breaking my prediction of the writers forgetting that Shannon, Boone, Nicki, Paulo and the Tailies ever existed). The only redeemable parts of the second half were Hurley’s coming clean to his mom and the red shirt getting shot with a flaming arrow.
I really hope that it doesn’t take the whole fifth season to finally get everyone back to the island and they drag out the seventy minutes the old chick mention over the course of the twenty episodes (or whatever this season number is). That is what drug down season four from me, sitting and waiting for the Oceanic 6 to get off the island, not know when it was going to happen, just know that it was at some point. And if there is something Lost excels at is waiting to the point no one cares about the reveal, then waiting another season to finally reveal it. So at this point I have lost hope. But I do hope I’m wrong.
You can stream current episodes of Lost over at ABC.com. You can also download Lost on iTunes or head over to Amazon's Lost Store to pick up the previous season DVD's.
This is a somber music preview, no not because of a lack of music (well fairly abundant compared to previous first quarters) but this will be the first music preview with out the obligatory “maybe this is the season when we actually get Chinese Democracy” on account that it came out last November to surprisingly little fanfare. At least we still have Detox to wait for. But here are the albums that you may expect to be released while you are waiting for the weather to turn warm, many of which will be reviewed on the 9th Green. You can pre-order the album through Amazon (where available) or download currently available music by clicking on the artist name. (Release dates subject to change)
You may also expect albums something new by Beastie Boys, Green Day, Eminem, Jay-Z, Gorillaz, Big Boi, and at least one of the three albums Prince promises in 2009 by Spring. If there is anything I left off, feel free to let me know in the comments.
and its special 3-D episode on the same day but an hour earlier, but I am bitter because of all the trouble I am having locating the special 3-D glasses. This is mostly because they don’t have them at my local grocery story and haven’t looked for them anywhere else yet. 
I’ll go as high as 18%.
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on my 
she has yet to land a quality role since. She had to slum it as a love interest for 
for goodness sake. But she can rest in the solace that she had a great song written about her in the eight minute long 
), although his boss only gets screen time with her hand. McCormack’s wife gets about as much screen time as we only get a fleeting glimpse of Sarah Clarke (
) that is causing all the problems for Brenda.
) as Fritz’s sister and resident physic who thinks she can help Brenda with one of her cases. The Closer airs Mondays at 9:00 on TNT. You can also download 
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