Posted May 14th 2008 10:22AM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: Programming, Children, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free
This must be my week for nostalgia. First, I learned all about what the cast of
Saved by the Bell has been up to for the last 20 years. Now, the news that
The Electric Company is coming back to TV has pushed my nostalgia button once again.
As a kid, I was such a fan of
The Electric Company that when my husband and three year old started singing the Spider-Man theme song, I thought they were wrong. I didn't understand where the lyrics, "Where are you coming from, Spider-Man? Nobody knows who you are," were in their version of the theme. I was set straight! I guess I can accept that Spider-Man theme situation, but to me, Morgan Freeman will always be Easy Reader.
Continue reading Electric Company is coming back to PBS Kids
Posted May 13th 2008 11:36AM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Industry
As you know, we get press kits here at the TV Squad offices all the time. Sometimes they are useful items, but most of the time they are useless and emblazoned with promotion brew-ha-ha wherever there is a blank space.
This week brought us the
So You Think You Can Dance press kit, complete with Bjorn Borg terry headband, long thin sweat-mopping towel (or perfect for
rat-tailing), and plastic water bottle, most likely loaded with
phthalates and
Bisphenol-A.
As you can see, my son was very excited to dress up and pose for this picture. He found the branded products enchanting, irresistible, even super-cool. So there may be something to this whole promotional press kit deal. Heck, they caught the attention of a three-year-old.
When we explained to Owen what break dancing is, he was jumping out of his skin excited to see
So You Think You Can Dance. It premieres on Thursday, May 22 at 8 PM ET on Fox, and you know we'll be DVR-ing that for our little
Nick Lazzarini-to-be.
Posted May 13th 2008 10:01AM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Celebrities, Reality-Free
Hi, I'm Debbie and I'm a closet
Saved by the Bell fan. Whew, it felt good to finally admit that. C'mon, who's going to be big and brave and confess to watching
Saved by the Bell every Saturday morning when they were in high school (OK, maybe college too)? Stand tall!
So here we are, some 15-20 years later (and as I look at the dates I shamefully admit I was in college, not high school!) and AOL TV has decided to ingratiate us thirty-somethings and let us know
what the original cast members have been up to all of these years, and currently.
I knew Zack, er, I mean
Mark-Paul Gosselaar, had a stint on NYPD Blue, but it is nice to know that he'll be starring in a new legal drama on TNT this year.
Continue reading Confessions of a Saved by the Bell fanatic
Posted May 9th 2008 10:03AM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: OpEd, American Idol, Contestants, Alumni, TV Squad Lists
Watching
American Idol this season, I've come to the not-so-astute realization that we can't all like everyone who makes it to the top ten each season. There are different musical styles, personalities and, let's face it, some pretty crappy singers who make it through.
So I've begun to fantasize about an all-star
AI top ten. Imagine if everyone that you really liked from the top ten of all the past seasons of
AI were in the top ten together. I know the top ten can't be all the handsome rocker men I so adore, but it can be a good mix of good music, memorable personalities, and lasting talent.
If memory serves me correctly (and we all know it probably doesn't), these are the contestants that I'd pick, in no particular order:
1. Brooke White, season seven, fifth placeNo, I'm not a sucker for a crier. I simply love her singer/songwriter style, something we really haven't ever seen in
Idol and something I hope we see more of. When
AI started, it was the boy-band voice, then it moved to the rockers; hopefully Brooke has started a new force of no-nonsense talent coming through.
Continue reading American Idol: My fantasy top ten
Posted May 7th 2008 11:05AM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: OpEd, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free
Yes, I still mourn
Veronica Mars. We all know season three wasn't up to par, but that is all the more reason to mourn what once was.
Jane's recent post,
listing six reasons why we need a Las Vegas movie, inspired me to think about, and now write about, why we really need a
Veronica Mars movie.
In some ways, the finale was a shout out to the
Veronica Mars of old -- Logan was a downright jerk again, left only to his aggression and baser instincts; Veronica was stable and a goody-goody girlfriend (remember the Duncan days?) and Weevil got some balls and was up to his old tricks again. We liked all of that.
Continue reading Why we need a Veronica Mars movie
Posted Apr 23rd 2008 10:34AM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: Celebrities, Casting, Dirty Sexy Money, Reality-Free
Dirty Sexy Money just got a whole lot sexier. That is, if
Cashmere Mafia isn't renewed, and its being on the bubble is the buzz.
ABC is wooing Lucy Liu to stay, this time as a cast member of Dirty Sexy Money. Although her role would be a secret, you can bet she'd be there to look great and shake things up.
Will she be a replacement for Samaire Armstrong (who plays Juliet Darling), who will not be a regular next season? If so, she'll need to be flighty. I picture Liu as a more devious business woman, using her feminine wiles and cunning to get what she wants, from everyone she comes across, but hopefully not in a two-dimensional way. It will be fun to see how her role pans out.
And the really good news is that if
Dirty Sexy Money does phenomenally well as a series, they can always
unfreeze Liu to star in its revival, a century later.
Posted Apr 22nd 2008 2:22PM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: Programming, OpEd, Video, TV Squad Lists, Reaper, Reality-Free
Reaper's back and I'm excited. If you are too, don't go looking for your fave show in its old time slot, Thursdays at 8:00 EST. It's got an all-new night and time, Tuesdays (tonight!) at 9:00 EST on The CW.
Now, why am I so excited about
Reaper's return?
1.
The DevilHe's suave, slick, sarcastic, and nasty -- I love him! Ray Wise couldn't have been a more perfect casting choice for this modern-day incarnation of Satan himself. From popping up at inopportune times to manipulating Sam's love life, The Devil wreaks havoc in such a subtle, funny way that you can't help but appreciate the underlying evil with the debonair facade.
Continue reading Why I'm excited Reaper is back tonight - VIDEO
Posted Apr 18th 2008 8:04AM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: Programming, Casting, Reality-Free
I am a true whore for any Whedon universe. I thank the Powers That Be for DVD releases, so I don't have to mourn over the loss of
Buffy,
Angel and
Firefly. Heck, I even watch
Toy Story and salivate just a little.
So you can imagine how excited I am that Joss will have a new series,
Dollhouse, and that glorious new details have been revealed about the series this week.
Earlier today Bob mentioned that Amy Acker (Fred / Ilyria on
Angel) will join Eliza Dushku (
Buffy's Faith) and Harry Lennix (
24 and
The Matrix). So far, an amazing lineup. The fact that I get to see some of my old Whedon universe friends back with Joss' work is very cool.
Continue reading Dollhouse plot details revealed
Posted Apr 16th 2008 11:40AM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: Celebrities, Dexter, Reality-Free
In this news item of paramount importance, we as readers, viewers and fans learn that
Dexter Morgan is dating his sister, Deborah. It seems they have been seen romantically dining together, even celebrating.
What confusion will this lead to? When
Dexter looks at Deborah longingly on camera, will he be wishing they were on a date? Or does he have the lust for a kill? Will they write the dating into the show? Will Dexter and Deborah become the first brother-sister couple on the air?
Get some perspective, people. Michael C. Hall and his co-star, Jennifer Carpenter are dating. Real life. Fictionally, they can still be siblings without a conflict of interest. Let's just be happy for them that they may have found true love, shall we?
Posted Apr 13th 2008 11:03AM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: OpEd, American Idol, Watercooler Talk, Contestants
Yes America, I share in your shock and outrage. Not only did I enjoy Michael Johns' singing, but let's face it; he is very easy to look at.
AOL TV has an interview up with the prematurely ousted soul rocker, and it is typical Michael Johns. Polite, honest, humble and grateful. But what if Johns did an interview and, oh, I don't know, channeled his millions of fans? What would he say then?
"Yeah, I was surprised to be voted off. Did you hear me hit that falsetto at the end of 'Dream On'? Stephen Tyler would have been proud."
Or maybe ...
"Yeah, I was surprised to be voted off. My best three performances were in the last three weeks, and honestly, I look so good that I really don't even have to sing to stay in this competition."
Even still ...
"Yeah America, you are right. I am delicious eye candy with a voice like butter and you'll miss my unique (if not slightly strange) Jim Morrison / Wilson Pickett cross."
The AOL interview doesn't go quite like that, but fans of Johns, you know what I am talking about. Shame on all of us who got lazy and didn't vote -- don't we learn this hard lesson every year when a favorite gets prematurely voted off?
Idol won't be the same next week, and KLC's performance will be like a knife through the heart.
Posted Apr 9th 2008 4:27PM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: OpEd, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free
What did I do during the writers' strike, you ask? I got caught up on the first season of
Burn Notice, which I regrettably missed the first time around.
This show has got it all -- great characters, action-packed plots and layers of intrigue. Without simply saying that I love everything about
Burn Notice, here is my list:
1.
Jeffrey DonovanThe lead of Michael Westen could not be better cast. He is believable, but he layers on the quality of the performance with the best facial expressions on an actor's face that I can remember. I know when he is being a smart-ass, I know when he feels overwhelming love for his mom and I know when he knows he is in it deep.
Continue reading What I love about Burn Notice
Posted Apr 5th 2008 1:00PM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: OpEd, Dexter, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free
This is going to be fun.
When I first saw Paul's post about the
Ten toughest Bald guys on TV, I immediately brainstormed who I thought they'd be before I read the post. Boy, was I surprised, not only at some of Paul's choices, but more importantly, his omissions. I was inspired enough to write my own list.
For some of my list, I agree with Paul.
1.
Hawk (Spenser for Hire)I was so glad to see Hawk on Paul's list, as he was one of the first ones to come to mind. However, I would not agree that he is a stereotype. He was deep and sensitive, loyal and protective, none of which fit the stereotype of bad ass for me. Although am I biased because I read the books, which perhaps have Hawk as a far more developed character than the series did?
2.
Jean-Luc Picard (Star Trek :TNG) Total agreement here. Again, not a stereotype. His great leadership skills helped to make him the tough guy that he is.
Continue reading Top Ten toughest bald guys on TV -- another view
Posted Apr 1st 2008 3:00PM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Watercooler Talk, TV Squad Lists
I wanted to like it. I really, really wanted to like it. I graduated high school with the co-creators, Mike Bernier and Chris Pappas, and this week's guest star was a high school buddy of mine (Hi Jeff!).
But what has gone from a show with promise has developed some traits that could send it right to the dumpster. Read on for my lists of reasons why
Unhitched could sizzle, and why it may fizzle.
Reasons Unhitched could sizzle1. The episodes that the creators wrote were funny. No, I am not biased because we went to high school together. The first two episodes really were the funniest ones. You know you loved Kate's dates -- the Celtics mascot and the air guitar champion -- and I know I need say no more than "shrimp." Although the subsequent episodes each had some funny situations, overall, they just fell flat. So Mike and Chris, keep writing and your show has a better chance of succeeding.
Continue reading Unhitched -- sizzle or fizzle?
Posted Mar 25th 2008 6:01PM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: OpEd, TV Squad Lists, Eli Stone
I wasn't sure I was going to like it. In fact, I didn't even watch the first episode. But
Eli Stone hooks me more each week. What started off as a somewhat goofy knockoff of
Ally McBeal has evolved into a show with depth and promise. How?
1. The story arc that resolved in the last episode,
"Praying for Time" -- The cases were always quality and edgy, like the controversial
pesticide poisoning and
vaccines' link to autism. A new dimension was explored through the story arc of the Jayson Turk trial. Not only did we get to know supporting characters better, but we had a quality trial with a great guest star and a big reveal at the end. I think there is the promise that the earthquake storyline may arc as well, which I look forward to.
Continue reading Nine reasons Eli Stone keeps getting better
Posted Mar 23rd 2008 2:03PM by Debra McDuffee
Filed under: OpEd, Bones, Watercooler Talk
Oh, the disparity with the television control in my house ... I suffer through
Prison Break,
Lost (I am probably the only non-fan in America, who cringes at the self-indulgence of the show with the plot that goes nowhere),
The Shield and Breaking Bad.
But when I want to watch
Bones? The moans, the groans, the laptop and the disinterest begin. Why is
Bones not allowed in Mantown?
Tell me men, why are you opposed to a show with a strong male lead character, who is well rounded, funny, good-looking, sensitive, somewhat damaged but complex and good at what he does? You surely can't be threatened by a TV character. My husband loved
Angel, so why is
Boreanaz not getting the love on
Bones?
Continue reading Why am I not allowed to watch Bones?
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