Features

'Sons of Anarchy' season 3 debuts on Sept. 7 (10PM ET), and if you haven't delved into the FX drama yet, 1) you're missing out on one of the best series on TV, and 2) our handy dandy A to Z guide will get you up to speed in time to become one of the 'SOA' devoted for the motorcycle gang drama's season three.

And for those already tuned in to the Emmy-worthy drama, we've included a few hints on what to expect in the new season, too.

Between performances by chart-topping pop artists and obligatory reaction shots of famous people in the audience, MTV's Video Music Awards might not seem like it's taking any risks when it airs live on Sept. 12 (9PM ET).

The music won't be making a radical shift: Billboard staples like Kanye West, Eminem and Justin Bieber are all slated to rap, sweat and make teenage girls swoon. The location won't be exceptional, either: The show traditionally opts for venues in either New York or Los Angeles, with this year landing again back in the City of Angels. And the presenters, per the usual, will include a range of well-known stars, such as Ne-Yo and Ashley Greene, alongside some promo-savvy up-and-comers, like Ke$ia and Nicki Minaj.

Instead, the chance for something fresh in this year's awards rests on the shoulders of a blond woman named Chelsea Handler, whom MTV announced last week will host the proceedings.

By all accounts, including MTV's, Handler was an unusual choice to take the reins of the network's 27th annual ode to all things young and corporate-sanctioned music.

Robert Schimmel had a few chances at TV. The 60 year-old comic, who died this weekend from injuries he received in a car accident Thursday, wrote for 'In Living Color' early in his career. He appeared frequently on Conan and the Howard Stern Show, which made him a favorite among his fellow comics, who appreciated his honesty about everything from his sex life to his health. And there was a laundry list of maladies there that ranged from a heart attack to lymphoma.

That kind of honesty, and Schimmel's blunt approach to it, is hard to translate into sitcom success. Schimmel had sitcom pilots, but they never made it to television. He came closest in 2000, when Fox ordered a run of 'Schimmel,' which would have opened with Schimmel getting an anal exam at the proctologist's office.

Looking over the cast lists of TV shows airing this coming season, you'll find a lot of familiar names that have been lying low of late.

Some are returning just before becoming a "whatever happened to ..."; others seem to be virtually emerging from witness protection. And we're not talking 'I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here,' either. These comeback stories are lined up with some of the hottest projects headed our way.

Matt LeBlanc
The 'Friends' spinoff 'Joey' was primetime's highest profile flop of the '00s (OK, maybe it was 'The XFL'). Now we find LeBlanc thousands of miles away from Hollywood, but that might be a very good thing.

Fifteen years ago, the world was introduced to a television treasure: 'Xena: Warrior Princess.' Yes, 'Xena' is a treasure, because despite what some people may think, despite its over-the-top cheesecake factor and despite its blatant disregard for history, it was a gem of a TV show. Plus, it introduced us to Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor.

'Xena' was a trailblazer. 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' 'Alias' and even newer shows such as 'Covert Affairs' and the new 'Nikita' remake owe a certain something to the beloved Warrior Princess. The series helped reshape the leading lady on TV for good, and for that reason alone, we as an audience should be eternally grateful.

Maybe this happened to you: You're watching 'Mad Men,' and zipping past the commercials on your DVR. All the sudden, it looks like the show has started up again. Except, this isn't the offices of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, and these well-coiffed gentlemen are not ones that you have seen before. In fact, you're not watching 'Mad Men' at all -- you're watching a Dove ad.

Or maybe it's a Breyers ad. Or Suave, or one of half a dozen Unilever-owned products. Unilever, a multi-national corporation, owns over 400 brands. For this season of 'Mad Men,' they have chosen six to feature in minute-long retro vignettes. These vignettes take place in fictional ad agency, Smith Winter Mitchell, a slightly less-drunk version of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.

Recently, TV Squad spoke with Stacie Bright, the communications marketing manager for Unilever, about how these vignettes came about, and what we can expect to see during future episodes.

Based on the news story earlier this week that Kelsey Grammer is seeking advice about doing a 'Frasier' redux, a sequel to the hit NBC sitcom which earned the actor four Emmy awards as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy, it seems like there are some other -- perhaps better -- suggestions for what Kelsey should do next if he comes back to television.

Here, then, are five prime time ideas that could bring luster back to Grammer's career after the disappointing 'Back to You' and the truly dismal, 'Hank.'

1. Take a Tip from the 'Modern Family' Model

Instead of looking for a star sitcom, Kelsey needs to become part of an ensemble cast. We know he's a star, but he doesn't have to be the star of whatever he does next. If he can, he should learn from his co-horts on 'Modern Family,' the producers and writers who did 'Frasier' with him, that right now big casts are in.

I'm still watching 'True Blood,' and I'll grimly hang on until the Sept. 12 season finale of the HBO show, but what happened to this once-fun drama? What used to be a romp has turned into a forced march.

'True Blood' is supposed to be our slightly loony summer escape; if the show has a theme, it's this: "Crazy stuff happens in the woods around Bon Temps!" But this season, the show has often been short on the things that made it so addictive in the past.

There have been a few bright spots: Denis O'Hare as Vampire King Russell has been a delight, some of the werewolf moments were memorable, scenes involving Eric are usually good and Lafayette and Jesus' courtship has had its share of sweet moments. But much of the show has been as messy as the remains of a recently staked vamp, and nothing in season 3 has even begun to approach the pathos and impact of season 2's Godric arc.

Ah, Labor Day weekend. A time when most will celebrate the last days of summer by going outside and enjoying the fresh air. Some of us, most probably many reading this right now, will celebrate a long weekend and the opportunity to work on our TV tan.

There are marathons to suit just about everybody, whether you love Charlie Sheen, smart new dramas, evil-looking fish, or just want to kill your husband. Plenty of shows will frequent network schedules, like 'Law & Order' and 'SpongeBob SquarePants,' but here are some multi-hour blocks for which to plan.

(All times noted are Eastern Time.)

People haven't been overly kind to 'Top Chef' this season. Either they think the cheftestants are inept, the Washington, DC locale is uninspiring, the guest politicians are annoying or, like me, they think the show has just become stale and predictable.

But something else has come up recently that's been bugging me: the judging. Not so much what 'Top Chef' vets Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio are doing; they're taking the same reasoned approach they always do. And when Gail Simmons is there, her criticism has always been constructive and kind.

No, I'm mostly looking at new judge Eric Ripert when I think the judging has suffered this year. He may be one of the greatest chefs and restaurateurs on the planet, but as a 'Top Chef' judge, he makes me long for the days when the oh-so-quippy Toby Young was subbing for Gail. Why do I think he's been so bad this year? Read on for my list of grievances...

I can't say I enjoy watching 'Hoarders.' In fact, it is probably one of the most difficult shows on television to sit through. Still, like so many of you, I am addicted to the A&E series, which kicks off a third season of extreme clutter control with two new back-to-back episodes on Mon., Sept. 6 at 9PM ET.

"Season 3 is by far the most emotional season," said Dorothy Breininger, a professional organizer and consulting producer on the show who dares to enter the homes of hoarders all across America. "Before we were dealing with people who had stuff. Now we're dealing with people who have no other choice but to get rid of their stuff -- if they don't, they'll lose their homes and their families. This is it for them."

Recently, Breininger, who is also president and founder of the Delphi Center for Organization, spoke to TV Squad about the show and offered tips on how to let go of the stuff that is drowning not just hoarders but all of us living in a society in which we just can't get enough.

Carpe diem means seize the day. For the family that's the focus of TLC's new reality show, 'Sextuplets Take New York,' that phrase could be changed to Carpio diem.

The Carpio family consists of two loving parents, one 10-year-old, and six 23-month-old babies. Each day is a challenge that they seize with love, understanding and determination to succeed.

'Sextuplets Take New York' premieres Sept. 14 at 10PM on TLC, and if it seems like it might be similar to 'Jon & Kate Plus Eight,' that's no coincidence. Both shows have the same producers.

Today is 9/02/10, making it the perfect day to celebrate all things 'Beverly Hills, 90210' (we can throw in The CW's updated version, '90210,' too).

You can join the Facebook page (of course) for 90210 Day, which claims that President Barack Obama will officially recognize this date as "International Beverly Hills, 90210 Day" if it signs up 10,000 fans (so far, less than 200 -- sad!).

Regardless of whether 90210 Day get the presidential seal of approval, we can still honor one of the soapiest, cheesiest and addictive shows on television.

Unless you've been living isolation without benefit of television service or any outside media, you're very much aware that the most anticipated new drama series on CBS this fall is 'Hawaii Five-0.' Or should I say the reboot, revamped new 2010 edition of the original Jack Lord police show that ran from 1968 to 1980.

It's no surprise that CBS would be hyping the heck out of their new incarnation, but at some point the hype has gone overboard, if you'll pardon the pun. The rolling waves, the all-too-familiar music, the plethora of promotion has been incessant, prompting me to wonder if it's all become too much. Here's three reasons the CBS hype may have already turned off viewers ...

The last five acts have been chosen as the finalists in 'America's Got Talent.' They include the physics-defying Fighting Gravity, magician Michael Grasso, stunt bicyclist Jeremy Vanshoonhoven and judges' favorite Jackie Evancho, the pint-sized opera singer.

Studio One Young Beast Society was selected as the last finalist by the judges over singer Alice Tan Ridley. Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne voted for the young dance group first making judge Howie Mandel's selection a moot one.

"I am so thrilled," Mandel told TV Squad after taping. "I love not being part of that decision. I don't want to be responsible for sending anyone home. Tonight, I got to sit back and be like the audience. At this point in the competition, all the talent is worthy of going through." (Mandel says he'll save what his choice would have been for his memoir.)

"There was no shadow of doubt in my mind," Osbourne said as to why she picked the dance troupe. "Alice has a really good fan base. She's popular. Her life will change for the better."