One man bands have always creeped me out. They never brought joy or happiness to my life. Even as a very, very small (in height, not width) child, they always looked like steampunk jukeboxes trapped inside some kind of twisted mechanical music machine that mocked their every step with annoying oompah-pah tunes.
One man, or rather two of him, have changed my perception on that phobia forever. Musician Fredrik Larsson has put together a beautiful rendition of TVs greatest tunes using nothing but a keyboard, an acoustic guitar and a DNA perfect clone of himself.
Trust me when I tell you this: the 'Charles in Charge' theme never sounded this, well, listenable.
[via Buzzfeed]
One Man Does a Duet of TV's Greatest Themes
The Most Epic 'Press Your Luck' Moment You'll See Today
The cult hit CBS game show 'Press Your Luck' has long been a hotbed of television legends from the pre-celebrity appearances by the likes of talk shot hostess Jenny Jones and Myke Horton aka 'American Gladiator's' Gemini to the unstoppable force that was ice cream truck driver Michael Larson.
One that seems to have fallen under the radar is this epic "spin battle" between two contestants in the final throes of the episode. Both of these mighty Whammy warriors bring their scores to an astronomical amount that could rival the majesty of Mount Olympus, only to come crashing down to game show doom.
Check out this bit of "Game Show Thunderdome" where two women enter, but only one leaves ... and then, technically, the other but without any money or sense of personal dignity.
One that seems to have fallen under the radar is this epic "spin battle" between two contestants in the final throes of the episode. Both of these mighty Whammy warriors bring their scores to an astronomical amount that could rival the majesty of Mount Olympus, only to come crashing down to game show doom.
Check out this bit of "Game Show Thunderdome" where two women enter, but only one leaves ... and then, technically, the other but without any money or sense of personal dignity.
'Wonder Year's' Danica McKellar Is Having A Baby
Wow. Winnie Cooper is going to be a mom. That's right, the kid we watched – some of us in original broadcast episodes and not reruns – is having a baby. 'The Wonder Years'' actress Danica McKellar is pregnant. It's the first child for her and husband Mike Verta. Danica told People magazine, "I'm nearing the end of my first trimester and I'm so excited – I've been bursting to tell people." The 35-year-old veteran of 'The Wonder Years' -- and brainiac mathematician -- has been working on a new book, her third, called 'Hot X: Algebra Exposed.' It comes out in August if you're ready to pre-order it!
Continue reading 'Wonder Year's' Danica McKellar Is Having A Baby
Ed O'Neill on Being the 'Modern Family' Patriarch
'Modern Family' is a repeat tonight, so I figured it would be a good opportunity to give fans a little taste by posting the quick talk I had with Ed O'Neill in January. It was the last day of the press tour, and the critics were in the middle of an epic day of set visits; one of the most fun aspects of the day was that were able to wander through the sound stages at 'Family' and talk informally to the show's stars. I found O'Neill in the kitchen of the house where his character, Jay Pritchett, lives with his trophy wife Gloria (Sofia Vergara) and old soul stepson Manny (Rico Rodriguez). As my fellow critics were beckoning me to get on the bus to go to the next set, I asked Ed a few questions about how Jay has changed this season, and what he thinks the legacy of 'Married... With Children' might be.
Continue reading Ed O'Neill on Being the 'Modern Family' Patriarch
Tom Selleck to Star in New Show For CBS (But it's Not Jesse Stone)
When I first saw the headline that Tom Selleck was going to star in a new drama for CBS, my mind instantly went to 'Jesse Stone,' the fine series of TV movies based on the books by Robert B. Parker. I think it would make for a great TV series, but alas, this is a completely different show.Selleck is in talks to play the lead in a new drama for the network that would center on a family of cops in New York. Selleck would play the police chief and other members of his family would include Donnie Wahlberg (playing his son) and Len Cariou (playing his father). The show used to be called 'Reagan's Law' but now they're changing the name.
I'd rather see some Jesse Stone movies (or how about a 'Magnum, P.I.' reunion?), but if it keeps Selleck at CBS that means they'll be more Jesse Stone movies, so that's a good thing.
'Seinfeld' Writer and Producer Making a New Show About Steve Jobs
I'm not sure if Apple Computer head Steve Jobs is going to be thrilled about this, but it could be fun. 'Seinfeld,' 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' and 'Borat' writer/director Larry Charles is doing a new TV show for Epix based on the blog that writer Dan Lyons did called The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs (which was later a novel, 'Options: The Secret Life of Steve Jobs'). The new show will be called 'iCon,' which was also the name of a Jobs biography by Jeffrey Young and William Simon.As a Mac guy, I will definitely watch this. Charles himself says that he is "attempting to do nothing less than a modern 'Citizen Kane.'" (Spoiler: his laptop's name is Rosebud!)
I'm sure this will be a hit with Mac fans and they're probably excited to see a weekly TV show based on their hero (though the character in the show will be "fictional"). I bet a lot of viewers are just surprised that there's a cable channel called "Epix."
TV 101: Goofus And Gallant, TV-Style
I was recently surprised to learn that not only is 'Highlights Magazine' still being published, it actually owns the domain name highlights.com (which you would think would have gone to something far more profitable than a magazine - a hair care products link farm, perhaps).'Highlights' was one of the few pleasures of my childhood trips to the dentist's office, the others being the toy at the end of the visit and a dentist who had a very liberal nitrous policy. Every six months, I spent an hour split between enjoying the games and puzzles in 'Highlights' and burning a hole through my stomach-lining with dentist-inspired fear.
One feature of 'Highlights' that always stood out to me was "Goofus and Gallant": a teaching aid using two brothers, one of whom always did everything wrong - Goofus - and one who always did everything right - Gallant.
Since most TV executives are like children anyway, I figured the "Goofus and Gallant" model would be ideal to teach them a few things about how to improve their product.
Continue reading TV 101: Goofus And Gallant, TV-Style
Here's the Trailer for David Simon's 'Treme'
All some TV viewers have to see in this trailer for the new HBO drama 'Treme' are the words "From the creators of 'The Wire'." But even if you didn't watch that show you might be impressed by this cast: Khandi Alexander, Steve Zahn, John Goodman, Clarke Peters, Rob Brown, Kim Dickens, Wendell Pierce. It's about New Orleans and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and premieres April 11.
No Surprise: PETA Objects to Tyson's Bird Show
The other day when Animal Planet announced 'Taking on Tyson,' a new reality program about former heavyweight boxing champion -- and ex-convict -- Mike Tyson's love for pigeons, you had to be a little skeptical. It's hard to imagine the bruiser having a soft spot in his heart for fowl, but he does.
Well, apparently, the good folks at PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals, are not happy about the show. They aren't doubt Tyson's affection for the birds, but they deem pigeon racing -- and the breeding and caring for the birds -- as cruelty. It's as bad as dog fighting, they say.
Continue reading No Surprise: PETA Objects to Tyson's Bird Show
Fox and Conan Getting Closer to a Deal
The late night wars have just gotten more interesting. Fox and recent short-term host of 'The Tonight Show' Conan O'Brien are closer to hammering out a deal that will bring a brand-new late night talk show starring Coco to Rupert Murdoch's network.Haven't we seen this situation before sometime in the early '90s? Hopefully we'll read more about this situation in the upcoming sequel book.
It would certainly change the whole late night landscape, but it depends on several factors that haven't yet been determined. For example, what would be Conan's start time? 11 P.M.? 11:30 P.M.? Also, it appears his Fox show would start with smaller budget from his 'Tonight Show' run, but that would likely increase in the future if the show gets good ratings.
So, assuming this deal goes through, when you watch late night you will have a choice of Letterman, Leno, O'Brien, Kimmel, Fallon, Stewart, Colbert, or Ferguson. If you're a total insomniac, you also can watch Carson Daly. Who will you be watching? Who should bow out at this stage?
[via TVWeek]
What's On Tonight: 'American Idol,' 'Law and Order: SVU,' 'Ugly Americans'
Here's tonight's TV lineup (all times Eastern).- At 8, ABC has a new 'Scrubs.'
- NBC has a new 'Mercy' at 8.
- FOX has new episodes of 'Human Target' and 'American Idol.'
- The CW has a new 'America's Next Top Model' at 8, followed by a new 'High Society.'
- Cartoon Network has a new 'Dude, What What Would Happen' at 8, then a new 'Destroy Build Destroy.'
- G4 has a new 'Web Soup' at 8.
- At 9, Syfy has a new 'Ghost Hunters,' then a new 'Destination Truth.'
- Food Network has a new 'Throwdown with Bobby Flay' at 9.
- History Channel has a new 'MonsterQuest' at 9.
- Travel Channel has a new 'Man vs. Food Presents Carnivore.'
- At 10, ABC has a new 'Ugly Betty.'
- There's a new 'Law and Order: SVU' on NBC at 10.
- TBS has two new episodes of 'Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns' at 10.
- Comedy Central has the season premiere of 'South Park' at 10, followed by the series premiere of 'Ugly Americans.'
- A&E has a new 'Dog The Bounty Hunter' at 10.
- MTV has a new episode of 'The Real World' at 10.
- Also at 10: Bravo has a new 'Shear Genius.'
Check your local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: 'American Idol,' 'Law and Order: SVU,' 'Ugly Americans'
What You Missed Last Night: Kimmel on Letterman Talking About Leno
'Jimmy Kimmel Live' is in reruns this week and that means that Kimmel is free to go on some East Coast talk shows. Last night he was on 'The Late Show' and talked about the whole Leno/Conan/NBC fiasco and his part in all of it. It seems to me that Letterman just enjoyed the whole thing, not in a mean spirited way but just the way that he says here, because it reminded him of old times at comedy clubs.
Vince Gilligan on 'Breaking Bad' Season Three
'Breaking Bad' comes back for its third season this Sunday on AMC (10PM ET / 9PM CT), and after watching the last few episodes of season two, the new season can't come soon enough. The dramatic ante was upped for meth-making science teacher Walter White (a role for which Bryan Cranston won another Emmy) and his partner Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), and the season ended with the fallout of Walter's actions spreading from his family to the greater Albuquerque area.
Creator and executive producer Vince Gilligan is the man behind the dark but wryly amusing world of 'Breaking Bad.' After watching the first two season three episodes while I was at the TCA tour in January, I got a chance to sit with Gilligan poolside at the Langham Huntington for a few minutes.
We talked about the "holy crap" moment of season two, on how he and Cranston see Walter differently, how many seasons he envisions the show running, how Walter might transform over the season's run, and what it's like to be on the same network as 'Mad Men.'
Stay tuned for interviews with the cast later in the week.
(SPOILERS AHEAD! Stop here if you haven't seen season two yet...)
Continue reading Vince Gilligan on 'Breaking Bad' Season Three
True Blood Sets Season Three Premiere Date
Everybody sharpen your fangs. The best vampire series on television today, 'True Blood,' returns to HBO for a new season on June 13th.When last we left Sookie and Bill, he was ready to propose before suddenly vanishing while Sookie was in the little girl's room. Of course, those that follow 'The Southern Vampire Mysteries' by Charlaine Harris know what's going to happen next. Or do they? Perhaps Alan Ball will decide to take the franchise in a different direction.
Seriously, 'Twilight' fans can keep their sparkly Robert Pattinson and their Team Edward or Team Jacob. 'The Vampire Diaries' is barely palatable. 'True Blood' is the best vampire series on the air since 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and for those that don't agree I will roshambo you for it.
What aspect of the new season are you most looking forward to? Which characters do you want to see more? Are you on Team Bill or Team Eric?
'Justified' - 'Fire in the Hole' Recap (Series Premiere)
(S01E01) "Would you shoot me if you got the chance?" - Boyd Crowder
"You make me pull, I'm gonna put you down." - Raylen Givins
Here at TV Squad HQ, no one really jumped at the chance to review the premiere of 'Justified,' and that's not meant to belittle or embarrass any of the writers (except for one, you know who you are and my mother still hasn't forgiven you). We're a busy bunch.
That's why I feel so very fortunate that I got to watch it because it's one damn fine hour of kick-ass television and it's well on it's way to be one of the best hours of the year so far.
Continue reading 'Justified' - 'Fire in the Hole' Recap (Series Premiere)
Ed O'Neill on Being the 'Modern Family' Patriarch
TV 101: Goofus And Gallant, TV-Style
Vince Gilligan on 'Breaking Bad' Season Three
