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TV Squad http://www.tvsquad.com TV Squad http://www.tvsquad.com/media/feedlogo.gif TV Squad http://www.tvsquad.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Charlie's Angels returning to TV?http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/13/charlies-angels-returning-to-tv/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/13/charlies-angels-returning-to-tv/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/13/charlies-angels-returning-to-tv/#commentsFiled under: Programming, OpEd, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

Charlie's Angels

Josh Friedman, the creator behind Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, is now getting behind another movie franchise to bring to ABC. This time it's Charlie's Angels. Okay, this one started as a television franchise then moved to the movies and now is moving back to TV. Well, you get the idea.

Also involved would be Leonard Goldberg, who worked with Aaron Spelling to produce the original series, and Drew Barrymore, who produced and starred in the movie versions. My guess is that this new version would something like Charlie's Angels: The Next Generation. Will John Forsythe return as the voice of Charlie? I hope so.

Revival-mania continues strong on network television. Success has been a mixed bag. For every Battlestar Galactica there are several Bionic Womans. A new version of Charlie's Angels certainly has a shot in today's market and the movies did well. Aaron Spelling tried to revive the franchise in '88 and that didn't work. Now could be a better time. What do you think?

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]]>ABCCharlies AngelsCharliesAngelsJosh FriedmanJoshFriedmanTerminatorThe Sarah Connor ChroniclesTheSarahConnorChroniclesBrad TrechakFri, 13 Nov 2009 12:02:00 ESTWhat are the odds your favorite (or least favorite) show will be canceled?http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/10/what-are-the-odds-your-favorite-or-least-favorite-show-will-be/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/10/what-are-the-odds-your-favorite-or-least-favorite-show-will-be/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/10/what-are-the-odds-your-favorite-or-least-favorite-show-will-be/#commentsFiled under: Industry, Programming, Cancellations, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

Hank

A couple of weeks ago, I did a post about the shows that were "on the bubble," the ones in danger of being canceled. Now AOL TV has given the odds on what shows might not be coming back.

A lot of shows on the list won't surprise us: Hank, The Forgotten, Numb3rs, Gary Unmarried, and 'Til Death (each either gets low ratings or has been on for a while), but there are several that I think will actually make it to a another season, including The Good Wife and Parks and Recreation.

Continue reading What are the odds your favorite (or least favorite) show will be canceled?

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]]>abccanceled showscbscold casedollhouseeastwickfoxfringehankheroeslaw and ordermelrose placemercynbcnetwork showsold christineon the bubblethe cwthe forgottenthe good wifeugly bettyBob SassoneTue, 10 Nov 2009 14:30:00 ESTCBS picking up Shit My Dad Says from Twitter accounthttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/10/cbs-picking-up-shit-my-dad-says-from-twitter-account/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/10/cbs-picking-up-shit-my-dad-says-from-twitter-account/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/10/cbs-picking-up-shit-my-dad-says-from-twitter-account/#commentsFiled under: Programming, OpEd, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

CBS has picked up a new comedy based on the ramblings of someone's father from a Twitter account called Shit My Dad Says. The title will likely change when it gets to the small screen. Will & Grace creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick are behind it so it has some legs.

The creator of the Twitter account, Justin Halpern, has become an Internet star. Actually, this is the second Twitter account to get a sitcom, the first being TextsFromLastNight (which is being produced by Sony TV and Adam Sandler's people).

Based on the sample tweets, I can see this actually working as a sitcom where a twenty-something or early thirty-something is forced to live back with his parents. His father would be a pessimistic Larry David or Ricky Gervais character, saying awkward things all the time to humorous effect. I think the only trick would be to tone down the profanity, or perhaps just use bleeping.

This is why I have to start a Twitter account.

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]]>David KohanDavidKohanMax MutchnickMaxMutchnickShit My Dad SaysShitMyDadSaysTwitterWill GraceWillGraceBrad TrechakTue, 10 Nov 2009 10:41:00 ESTIronically-named Cartoon Network picks up live action showshttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/09/ironically-named-cartoon-network-picks-up-live-action-shows/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/09/ironically-named-cartoon-network-picks-up-live-action-shows/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/09/ironically-named-cartoon-network-picks-up-live-action-shows/#commentsFiled under: Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, Programming, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

Unnatural History is one of the new live action shows picked up my Cartoon Network.

Cartoon Network is getting deeper into the live action series game.

Yes, I know that's like Fox Sports getting into the daytime soap opera business, but you can't get too upset about the network inappropriate name game. Remember when Bravo was the fine arts network? I rest my case.

As for Cartoon Network's new non-animated shows, a release from the network says Tower Prep and Unnatural History are headed our way in January, 2010.

According to the network, Tower Prep is "an action thriller telling the story of rebellious teen, Ian (Drew Van Acker), who wakes up one morning to find himself trapped at a mysterious prep school." In other words, it's a teenage remake of The Prisoner -- the original 1960s version -- or "Jim Henson's The Prisoner Babies."

Continue reading Ironically-named Cartoon Network picks up live action shows

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]]>cartoon networkCartoonNetworklive actionLiveActionThe PrisonerThePrisonerTower PrepTowerPrepUnnatural HistoryUnnaturalHistoryJohn Scott LewinskiMon, 09 Nov 2009 11:02:00 ESTCurb Your Enthusiasm will be on TV Guide and TV Landhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/09/curb-your-enthusiasm-will-be-on-tv-guide-and-tv-land/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/09/curb-your-enthusiasm-will-be-on-tv-guide-and-tv-land/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/09/curb-your-enthusiasm-will-be-on-tv-guide-and-tv-land/#commentsFiled under: Programming, OpEd, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

Curb Your Enthusiasm reruns are coming to basic cable. First they will be shown on the TV Guide Channel next year (doesn't everybody get that channel? I thought it was just a guide to what's on television. They have shows?) and then TV Land in 2013. Any event that brings Larry David's sense of humor to the masses can only be a good thing (Who had the idea for the humor in awkward situations first, Larry or Ricky Gervais?).

Mind you, the show's language is somewhat racy for basic cable. There will be some bleeping here and there. At least there's no prevalent nudity in any episode that I recall. There is some adult subject matter, but nothing basic cable hasn't seen before. Hey, if The Sopranos can make it to basic cable then Larry David should have no problem.

Given Susie Essman's vocabulary on the series, she may have every third word bleeped. That could possibly make her lines even funnier.

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]]>basic cableBasicCableCurb Your EnthusiasmCurbYourEnthusiasmLarry DavidLarryDavidrerunsTV Guide ChannelTV LandTvGuideChannelTvLandBrad TrechakMon, 09 Nov 2009 09:33:00 ESTComedy Central wants a bite of The Onionhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/06/comedy-central-wants-a-bite-of-the-onion/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/06/comedy-central-wants-a-bite-of-the-onion/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/06/comedy-central-wants-a-bite-of-the-onion/#commentsFiled under: Other Comedy Shows, Sports, News, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

Part of me is surprised that this deal took this long to happen. But when you watch the recent crop of new shows on the Chortle Network (with the exception of Tosh.0), it really shouldn't surprise anyone.

Comedy Central has ordered a half-hour scripted pilot based on the Onion's Sports Network. The OSN is part of the popular satirical magazine's online TV news network that launched a little under a year ago.

This isn't the first time the network has tried to do a satirical sports show. Comedy Central also shot a pilot for a Daily Show-esque sports show called Sports Central that died in the pilot stage. This incarnation sounds much more promising since it will spoof not only sports figures and stories, but also the tone and style of sports media. Sweet sassy molassey, this is gonna rock!

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]]>comedy centralComedyCentralonion sports networkOnionSportsNetworksports centralSportsCentralthe onionthe onion news networkthe onion sports networkTheOnionTheOnionNewsNetworkTheOnionSportsNetworkDanny GallagherFri, 06 Nov 2009 20:04:00 ESTFX is bringing back the Western with Reconstructionhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/05/fx-is-bringing-back-the-western-with-reconstruction/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/05/fx-is-bringing-back-the-western-with-reconstruction/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/05/fx-is-bringing-back-the-western-with-reconstruction/#commentsFiled under: Other Drama Shows, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

Peter Horton

I'm all for more Westerns on television. It's a genre that lends itself well to the ongoing storytelling format that a regular TV series allows. So when I saw an article that FX was gearing up Reconstruction, a series set in the post-Civil War era of American history, I was pretty excited.

Creators Joshua Brand and Peter Horton thought it would make a good allegory for today's world, dealing with the economic crisis and even the ongoing war. "How does one heal after (a war)? How do you find your humanity again?" asked Horton. These are things the show hopes to deal with.

It centers around Jason, an East Coaster who comes back from the war changed. He finds refuge in a small town in Missour, where the saga will unfold. All of this was great, until I got to one line in the Reuters story: "Brand, the co-creator of St. Elsewhere, is writing the script for the project, which will include magical elements, with thirtysomething actor-turned-director Horton attached to take the helm." Magical elements? What?! Why?

Continue reading FX is bringing back the Western with Reconstruction

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]]>fxjoshua brandJoshuaBrandmagical elementsMagicalElementspeter hortonPeterHortonreconstructionst elsewhereStElsewherethirtysomethingwesternJason HughesThu, 05 Nov 2009 17:03:00 ESTBullied boys strike back with Cartoon Network's Commandohttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/05/bullied-boys-strike-back-with-cartoon-networks-commando/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/05/bullied-boys-strike-back-with-cartoon-networks-commando/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/05/bullied-boys-strike-back-with-cartoon-networks-commando/#commentsFiled under: Programming, OpEd, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

Cartoon Network

The Cartoon Network is stepping away from cartoons yet again. This time they're creating a new reality show in which scrawny teenaged boys ages 13 to 16 will be put through high-tech training an effort to stop them from being bullied or to get back property that has been borrowed and not returned. The series will be called Going Commando. Insert joke here.

I'm somewhat ambivalent on this show. On one hand, teaching kids problem-solving skills is a great idea. On the other hand, the show should also teach the kids the discipline needed to use their knowledge for good rather than evil (perhaps the show could be sponsored by Google?).

I'm sure many of us nerdy types were bullied in our youth and would have enjoyed the use of "night vision, hydro reconnaissance or rappelling" in an effort to fix the problem or at least make it go away. So what do you think? Is this program a good idea or a disaster waiting to happen?

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]]>basic trainingBasicTrainingbullyCartoon NetworkCartoonNetworkCommandokidsBrad TrechakThu, 05 Nov 2009 11:10:00 ESTCBS orders a bit more Accidentally on Purposehttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/04/cbs-orders-a-bit-more-accidentally-on-purpose/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/04/cbs-orders-a-bit-more-accidentally-on-purpose/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/04/cbs-orders-a-bit-more-accidentally-on-purpose/#commentsFiled under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

jenna_elfman_accidentally_cbs

CBS Monday night comedies have been doing pretty well so far this season, as far as the ratings are concerned. The Big Bang Theory is challenging Two and a Half Men for top Nielsens for a sitcom; How I Met Your Mother is doing as well or better than last year, and the new kid on the block, Jenna Elfman in Accidentally on Purpose, has benefited by being smackdab in the middle of all that established comic success.

CBS has ordered five additional episodes of Accidentally on Purpose. It's not a ringing endorsement, but it does give the show a chance to improve on what it's done thus far.

Continue reading CBS orders a bit more Accidentally on Purpose

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]]>Accidentally On PurposeAccidentallyOnPurposeCBSepisodesJenna ElfmanJennaElfmanmini-pickuppregnancysitcomtimeslotAllison WaldmanWed, 04 Nov 2009 09:02:00 ESTKirstie Alley getting a weight loss reality showhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/03/kirstie-alley-getting-a-weight-loss-reality-show/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/03/kirstie-alley-getting-a-weight-loss-reality-show/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/03/kirstie-alley-getting-a-weight-loss-reality-show/#commentsFiled under: Other Reality Shows, Celebrities, Pickups and Renewals

A&E, the cable network that is slowly becoming no arts nor entertainment, has signed on another tabloid favorite celebrity to bare her life for the camera.

Kirstie Alley will join the network's neverending list of celebrity reality shows. This one will focus on her neverending battle with weight loss as she raises her kids. The network has ordered 10 episodes of the new series.

In other words, it's every other family-related reality show you've ever seen except this one will star Kirstie Alley.

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]]>AEcelebrity reality showsCelebrityRealityShowsKirstie AlleyKirstieAlleyreality seriesreality showreality showsRealitySeriesRealityShowRealityShowsweight lossWeightLossDanny GallagherTue, 03 Nov 2009 20:32:00 ESTHas Flight of the Conchords flown the coop?http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/03/has-flight-of-the-conchords-flown-the-coop/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/03/has-flight-of-the-conchords-flown-the-coop/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/03/has-flight-of-the-conchords-flown-the-coop/#commentsFiled under: Other Comedy Shows, Cancellations, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

Flight of the Conchords

Some more sad TV news that thankfully doesn't involve Kirstie Alley: Flight of the Conchords might not be returning to television.

Jermaine Clement, one of the show's stars, told the Reuters News Service that their hilarious show might not return to television for a third season because the amount of work that it requires.

This isn't his or anyone else's final decision on the matter. Clement and his costar Bret McKenzie will discuss the possibility of a third season with directors and producers and should come to a decision by the end of the month. So all of you fans with Flight of the Conchords prayer alert hidden in your closet might want to a light an extra candle before you go to bed tonight.

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]]>bret mckenzieBretMckenzieflight of the concho...Flight of the Conchordsflight of the concordsFlightOfTheConcho...FlightOfTheConchordsFlightOfTheConcordshbohbosJermaine ClementJermaineClementDanny GallagherTue, 03 Nov 2009 20:05:00 ESTKathy Griffin dances her way into new ABC serieshttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/03/kathy-griffin-dances-her-way-into-new-abc-series/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/03/kathy-griffin-dances-her-way-into-new-abc-series/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/03/kathy-griffin-dances-her-way-into-new-abc-series/#commentsFiled under: OpEd, Video, Celebrities, Pickups and Renewals, Casting

bravo_kathy_griffin_mike

Attention, attention! This is not a joke. It's not a spoof or a gag. Kathy Griffin will host a dance show for ABC. That's right, the funny lady of Bravo's My Life on the D-List, has said yes to hosting Let's Dance, a new celebrity reality show in which stars compete with one another by re-creating classic routines from pop culture. That means someone is going to try and do Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" dance from Motown's 25th Anniversary Special, don't you think?

I am not a Dancing With the Stars fan, but this show sounds like something I'd be interested in watching for a couple of reason. Number one is Kathy Griffin. I think she's hilarious. She also loves celebrities, so I could see her really getting into this show and being the perfect built-in zingmeister. She'll say whatever comes to her mind, and -- fortunately -- that's usually pretty funny.

Continue reading Kathy Griffin dances her way into new ABC series

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]]>ABCBravocelebritycompetitionDancing with the StarsDancingWithTheStarsGene KellyGeneKellyKathy GriffinKathyGriffinLets DanceLetsDanceMichael JacksonMichaelJacksonrealityAllison WaldmanTue, 03 Nov 2009 18:01:00 ESTJim Belushi goes dramatichttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/03/jim-belushi-goes-dramatic/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/03/jim-belushi-goes-dramatic/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/03/jim-belushi-goes-dramatic/#commentsFiled under: Programming, OpEd, Celebrities, Pickups and Renewals, Casting, Reality-Free

According to Jim

Former According to Jim star Jim Belushi is moving to a drama series. He's been tapped to star in a legal drama created by Murphy Brown mastermind Diane English and Homicide and Oz exec-producer Barry Levinson. The show is loosely based on the memoir "How Can You Defend These People?" by TV commentator and lawyer Mickey Sherman.

This is an excellent way for Belushi to wash the stench of According to Jim from his person. If presented as a dramedy (much like many of the popular dramas today), this could be a winner.

Continue reading Jim Belushi goes dramatic

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]]>According to JimAccordingToJimBarry LevinsonBarryLevinsonDiane EnglishDianeEnglishJim BelushiJimBelushiMurphy BrownMurphyBrownBrad TrechakTue, 03 Nov 2009 15:04:00 ESTTNT picks up Southland (officially)http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/02/tnt-picks-up-southland-officially/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/02/tnt-picks-up-southland-officially/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/02/tnt-picks-up-southland-officially/#commentsFiled under: Other Drama Shows, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

Southland

It took a few weeks to get it done, but at least all of the produced episodes of Southland have a home now. The show developed a little bit of buzz with its first seven episodes last season. Then it developed a lot of buzz this year when NBC pulled the plug on it before its second season had even begun, leaving six episodes created and in limbo.

Apparently, its darker tone didn't fit in with the network's plans anymore. After all, the 10 p.m. slot, where most of your more sophisticated shows used to live on NBC, is the home of Leno now. Immediately word came out that various cable networks were looking to pick up the series, but no one knew exactly what that meant. There were theories, of course, and TNT emerged as the front-runner.

Now we know, and it looks like everyone was right. TNT has secured the rights to Southland; primarily the right to broadcast the 13 episodes produced so far.

Continue reading TNT picks up Southland (officially)

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]]>nbcnew episodesNewEpisodesseries canceledseries pick-upSeriesCanceledSeriesPick-upsouthlandtntJason HughesMon, 02 Nov 2009 10:30:00 ESTAmerican Dad renewed for next seasonhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/30/american-dad-renewed-for-next-season/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/30/american-dad-renewed-for-next-season/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/30/american-dad-renewed-for-next-season/#commentsFiled under: Programming, OpEd, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

American Dad

The Fox network cannot risk pissing off Seth MacFarlane. If they do, they run a good chance of suddenly finding most of their entire Sunday night line-up sucking eggs. At least, that's one possible reason for the renewal of American Dad for a sixth season. That pickup gives MacFarlane the renewal trifecta for Sunday nights.

Actually, of MacFarlane's three series, American Dad is the best one (although I'm finding The Cleveland Show inching closer to first place). As opposed to Family Guy, the storytelling is more linear than the other two and the jokes actually have some relevance to the plot or characters (I'm on Team South Park regarding that "feud").

The Cleveland Show is also better at linear storytelling and jokes than its predecessor, but it's still not up to the standards of American Dad. Sadly, American Dad will likely live in the shadow of Family Guy and The Cleveland Show for years to come. At least MacFarlane has three chances with Fox to keep on working.

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]]>American DadAmericanDadFamily GuyFamilyGuyFoxrenewalSeth MacFarlaneSethMacfarlaneThe Cleveland ShowTheClevelandShowBrad TrechakFri, 30 Oct 2009 09:33:00 ESTSwardson scores sketch serieshttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/29/swardson-scores-sketch-series/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/29/swardson-scores-sketch-series/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/29/swardson-scores-sketch-series/#commentsFiled under: Other Comedy Shows, Video, Animation, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

The man might have terrible taste in comedy special titles, but it's helped him score on his own little corner of the TV dial.

Comedian Nick Swardson has scored his own sketch comedy series on Comedy Central. The show will hit the air next year and feature a lot of digital shorts and animation, some of which will be based on almost Python-esque "Gay Robot" character. Swardson and Adam Sandler actually shot a pilot for his "Gay Robot" character years ago and thanks to the magic of YouTube, you can also enjoy it. Warning: if you're easily offended by jokes of a sexual nature, please get over yourself and grow a sense of humor before watching it.

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]]>animationanimationscomedy centralComedyCentralgay robotGayRobotnick swardsonNickSwardsonseriously who fartedSeriouslyWhoFartedsketch comedySketchComedyDanny GallagherThu, 29 Oct 2009 18:30:00 ESTSyFy orders an Americanized Being Humanhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/29/syfy-orders-an-americanized-being-human/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/29/syfy-orders-an-americanized-being-human/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/29/syfy-orders-an-americanized-being-human/#commentsFiled under: Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, Programming, OpEd, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

Being Human

SyFy has picked up the rights to broadcast an American version of the BBC show Being Human. For those who are unaware, Being Human is about a twenty-something ghost, a werewolf and a vampire that live together, each with their own set of melodramatic problems. It's a bit like a supernatural Melrose Place.

Actually, given the context of the program, it would go much better on The CW. But that's not likely at this point. They already have The Vampire Diaries anyway.

While relaunching Americanized versions of Brit shows has been successfully done on television before (such as The Office), it's the first time that I'm aware that SyFy has tried it. Usually they have new versions of old television shows with hit-or-miss results (there was Battlestar Galactica, and then there was Flash Gordon).

The BBC series was okay but not great. If the British makers of the show are lucky, SyFy won't butcher it beyond recognition.

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]]>BBCBeing HumanBeingHumanghostsupernaturalSyFyvampirewerewolfBrad TrechakThu, 29 Oct 2009 14:03:00 ESTComedy Central is 'Goode' to Mike Judge with new dealhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/29/comedy-central-is-goode-to-mike-judge-with-new-deal/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/29/comedy-central-is-goode-to-mike-judge-with-new-deal/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/29/comedy-central-is-goode-to-mike-judge-with-new-deal/#commentsFiled under: Other Comedy Shows, Cancellations, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

The Goode Family -- the Mike Judge show ABC did everything it could to kill -- has a new home at Comedy Central.

According to Daily Variety, the cable network will air all 13 episodes of the animated comedy that ABC canceled last summer. That's good news for fans of a show ABC buried in its line-up -- moving it around like a pea under a nutshell until it finally put the Goodes out of their misery.

At the time, the show was embraced by fans of Beavis & Butthead and King of the Hill as a worthy sardonic successor to Judge's animated quiver. But, critics often attacked its mockery of political correctness and progressive politics. Some pundits went so far as claiming such a show was inappropriate in the era of Obama.

In other words, it's only censorship when your side is the one being silenced.

Continue reading Comedy Central is 'Goode' to Mike Judge with new deal

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]]>abccomedy centralComedyCentralgoode familyGoodeFamilymike judgeMikeJudgethe goode familyTheGoodeFamilyJohn Scott LewinskiThu, 29 Oct 2009 08:02:00 ESTGeorge Clooney, Elvis, the cops and TNThttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/27/george-clooney-elvis-the-cops-and-tnt/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/27/george-clooney-elvis-the-cops-and-tnt/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/27/george-clooney-elvis-the-cops-and-tnt/#commentsFiled under: OpEd, Celebrities, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

George_Clooney_head

George Clooney learned a lot about television toiling away on The Facts of Life and E/R. The latter wasn't NBC medical drama that made him a star. I'm talking about the 1984 Elliott Gould sitcom on CBS that lasted a year, just 22 episodes.

But the point is this: he may be a major movie star today, but George knows and appreciates television. That could be why George Clooney's behind Delta Blues, a cop drama that TNT has just picked up.

I use the term drama loosely, because it's something goofier than a straight drama. The lead character is an Elvis Presley impersonator when he's not working for the Memphis Police Department. One more thing: Like Elvis, he honors his mother... and lives with her. Does that make him a mama's boy? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Continue reading George Clooney, Elvis, the cops and TNT

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]]>Angie HarmonAngieHarmonCold CaseColdCasecopDelta BluesDeltaBluesElvisElvis PresleyElvisPresleyERGeorge ClooneyGeorgeClooneyMemphisRizzoliThe Facts of LifeTheFactsOfLifeTNTAllison WaldmanTue, 27 Oct 2009 13:06:00 ESTJennifer Aniston looking to co-host a talk show with Oprahhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/26/jennifer-aniston-looking-to-co-host-a-talk-show-with-oprah/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/26/jennifer-aniston-looking-to-co-host-a-talk-show-with-oprah/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/26/jennifer-aniston-looking-to-co-host-a-talk-show-with-oprah/#commentsFiled under: Celebrities, Talk Show, Pickups and Renewals, Casting, Reality-Free

Jennifer Aniston & Oprah Winfrey

Apparently, Jennifer Aniston has been hanging out with Chelsea Handler a lot. She's so impressed with Chelsea Lately and the format of her show, that she's found a reason to come back to the small screen. Aniston mentioned it to Oprah Winfrey, who took the idea and ran with it.

See, Oprah is launching The Oprah Winfrey Network in 2010. Now, suddenly, she could have a very high-profile project to help promote the new channel: a weekly talk show fronted by both Winfrey and Aniston. I've always found Aniston to be very friendly, funny and personable, so this could work out very well.

It's an interesting pairing, Oprah and Jen. I'm curious to see if the new venture will be formatted like a traditional late-night talk show, or more like the daytime staple Winfrey has mastered. I have a feeling Oprah will want to differentiate the two a bit more. Perhaps with Aniston's influence, there'll be a much more playful and comedic atmosphere. What do you think? Nothing's been signed yet, but would you watch Oprah and Jen helm a talk show?

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]]>co-hostjennifer anistonJenniferAnistonoprah winfreyoprah winfrey networkOprahWinfreyOprahWinfreyNetworktalk showTalkShowweeklyJason HughesMon, 26 Oct 2009 14:30:00 EST