TVSquad

I remember long ago in a cable land far away when a little show called Talk Soup started. It was clever, riffing on talk show shenanigans. We've come a long way since then, with clip shows blanketing the network. And then there's the Internet. On paper the idea of a web video iteration of The Soup, as it's now called, sounds solid enough, and G4 is a good place for it, but as Michael pointed out, Web Soup just isn't working.

Even though G4 is the place for techie stuff and they handle web videos already, Web Soup still manages to feel outdated and stodgy. And Chris Hardwick, while funny when he fills in on Attack of the Show, is almost mind-numbingly not funny hosting Web Soup. But Chris Hardwick and the gang were not alone in exploring web videos on our TVs. Comedy Central threw comedian Daniel Tosh into the mix with the webbily titled Tosh.0. But which one, if either, is better?

It's about damn time. The folks behind Hulu are making deals with broadcasters in the U.K. to offer their service to U.K. residents. Hopefully as a result of this, TV Squad won't have to apologize to Brits every time we post a clip from Hulu (at least most of the time... some current American shows like Heroes won't be available in the U.K. due to rights issues).

I'm secretly hoping this also means that some British content will be available to United States viewers. It would somewhat ease my frustration with my cable provider, who can't seem to justify carrying BBC America in their channel line-up no matter how many times I ask. It would be nice to satisfy my Brit TV craving without resorting to Netflix (or, even worse, The Pirate Bay).

Given how protective both countries are of their content, it wouldn't surprise me if this deal fell through. Regulation is a bitch, but Hulu is making some pretty big bucks right now for an Internet venture and I can't see how the media conglomerates behind this deal could be that resistant to profit.

With the success of the Star Trek movie, it's no surprise that someone is trying to make a movie out of one of Shatner's other major television roles. T.J. Hooker is being adapted for the big screen.

Who could they get to fill his massive shoes for this one? The movie is intended as an action comedy, so I don't see Chris Pine as the lead. Perhaps Jack Black?

I never really watched the show, but I do recall the funny sketch from SNL when Shatner was a guest host. Hooker jumped on a car hood and was stuck there while the car continued to drive for a few states.

It would be kind of typical to not have a cameo by Shatner in the remake. After all, he didn't appear in the Star Trek movie.

I'm sure Hollywood is not done mining Shatner's legacy for the movie adaptation game. Next up, Boston Legal the movie.

No, the next Food Network star isn't going to be Rachael Ray. She already has several shows on the network. "Rachael Ray" was the title of last night's episode, as the remaining contestants had to go on her show and do a team cooking presentation.

Does someone know if this episode is going to air or will it air when new episodes of the show start up again? It would be weird for the episode to air after the winner of NFNS is crowned.

I was a recent convert to watching BBC comedies on PBS. Although I love all the comedies that PBS offers, I was awed by the show Are You Being Served? The show went places with double entendres and physical comedy that you would never see in American television.

I found out that Mollie Sugden, who plays the infamous Mrs. Slocombe, died on the first of July at the age of 86.

• Bravo has a Law and Order: CI marathon all night.
• At 7:30, ABC has a new Just For Laughs.
• At 8, NBC has a new Merlin.
• FOX repeats the Michael Jackson episode of The Simpsons at 8.
• There's a new Hannah Montana on Disney at 8, then new episodes of Sonny with a Chance and Jonas.
• At 9, PBS has a new Masterpiece Mystery!
• History Channel has a new Ice Road Truckers at 9, followed by a new Expedition Africa.
• Food Network has a new Next Food Network Star at 9, then a new Iron Chef America.
• G4 has a new Web Soup at 9.
• At 10, Lifetime has a new Army Wives.
• At midnight, Cartoon Network has a new Squidbillies.
• At 1AM, Cartoon Network has a new Mighty Boosh.

Check your local TV listings for more.

After a brief break to watch season four of Weeds last week, Jane After Dark is back with The Wire. I'm half-way into season three, and while there are definitely parts of this show that put me to sleep (ducking and running for cover), it's still a brilliant drama. My teenage son popped in for part of an episode, decided it was too "real," and promptly lost interest.

To help me organize my thoughts, let's take a look at a few characters:

Stringer Bell. I'm really digging Idris Elba dressed up in his fancy suit, running the real estate company, working with government officials, and holding drug meetings using Robert's Rules of Order. It's fascinating that there's this whole hierarchy within the gangs that most of them respect and follow.