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/Details of Poehler's Office "spin-off" finally revealedhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/01/15/details-of-poehlers-office-spin-off-finally-revealed/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/01/15/details-of-poehlers-office-spin-off-finally-revealed/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/01/15/details-of-poehlers-office-spin-off-finally-revealed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Amy PoehlerFor a variety of reasons, I decided to not go to the Winter edition of the TCA press tour. So far, my choice to stay in frigid Jersey has been justified; not much in the way of big news has come out of the tour, and it seems like the networks are very happy about that.

However, if I was there, I would have apparently received the pilot script to the new Amy Poehler-led sitcom that's being written and produced by the folks from The Office, as Rob Owen of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette did yesterday. He revealed some details about what the show's going to be about, and they're... interesting.

The show will be shot documentary-style like The Office. In it, Poehler plays Leslie Knope, who is, according to Owen, a "mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana." She works with a local nurse (Rashida Jones) to turn a construction site into a park, and has to battle the usual local-government nemeses at every turn, including those "traffic and noise" complainers and a town official (Aziz Ansari). All the while, she's followed by an intern (Aubrey Plaza) that she hopes to inspire.

Continue reading Details of Poehler's Office "spin-off" finally revealed

 

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]]>amy poehlerAmyPoehleraubrey plazaAubreyPlazaaziz ansariAzizAnsarigreg danielsGregDanielslocal governmentLocalGovernmentmichael schurMichaelSchurmike schurMikeSchurpremiserashida jonesRashidaJonesthe officeTheOfficeJoel KellerThu, 15 Jan 2009 11:33:00 ESTIn this corner: The Mentalist vs. Lie to Mehttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/01/14/in-this-corner-the-mentalist-vs-lie-to-me/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/01/14/in-this-corner-the-mentalist-vs-lie-to-me/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/01/14/in-this-corner-the-mentalist-vs-lie-to-me/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

TNTMore TCA news: an actor from Lie to Me calls The Mentalist "a scam."

Reporters asked the panel from the new FOX drama about the possible similarities between the two shows (which a lot of people have been talking about), and Brendan Hines said "the difference between the two shows is that our show is based on actual science, while Mentalist is, I think, more of a scam." I'm not sure what the hell that is supposed to mean. Is her referring to how Simon Baker's character was a phony psychic, or does he think that the creators of The Mentalist and CBS are pulling the wool over the eyes of viewers?

Continue reading In this corner: The Mentalist vs. Lie to Me

 

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]]>brendan hinescbslie to mesimon bakertcatim rothtntBob SassoneWed, 14 Jan 2009 17:33:00 ESTSure, I'll give Harper's Island a shot - VIDEOhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/01/14/sure-ill-give-harpers-island-a-shot-video/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/01/14/sure-ill-give-harpers-island-a-shot-video/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/01/14/sure-ill-give-harpers-island-a-shot-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Harper's IslandI'm a big fan of mysteries, but it's hard to watch them on television. I'm talking about the onslaught of serial TV shows that we've seen the past couple of years. For every Lost or Heroes we've had, we've had an infinite number of shows that didn't make it, such as Daybreak and Kidnapped. It's easy to get frustrated and disillusioned when you start to watch a continuing drama and the show doesn't even get past its first 13 episodes. ABC pulled Daybreak after a handful of episodes and then put the rest online. NBC did the same with Kidnapped (it was also on Saturday nights, which didn't work out either).

But I'm going to give Harper's Island a shot.

Continue reading Sure, I'll give Harper's Island a shot - VIDEO

 

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]]>cbschristopher gorhamdean cechvalaelaine cassidyharpers islandharry hamlinmidseason showsmysteryrichard burgiBob SassoneWed, 14 Jan 2009 15:03:00 ESTLeisha Hailey cast in The L Word spinoffhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2008/09/05/leisha-hailey-cast-in-the-l-word-spinoff/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/09/05/leisha-hailey-cast-in-the-l-word-spinoff/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/09/05/leisha-hailey-cast-in-the-l-word-spinoff/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Leisha Hailey - The L WordThe L Word will kick off its sixth, and final, season in January, with Elizabeth Berkley in tow. That's a pretty nice run for any show, cable or network. If you're experiencing preemptive disappointment over the thought of losing the show, rest easy. As we heard at the TCAs, Ilene Chaiken, creator and executive producer of the show, has been signed to write and produce a pilot for an L Word spinoff.

Even better, we now know that Leisha Hailey has been brought in to star. She plays Alice, and would have easily been my pick for the character to spin off. The Showtime press release doesn't contain any details about what Chaiken has planned for Alice in the new series. We do know that she will take a storyline from season six and continue it as internet-only content. If the pilot goes forward to series, the online component will segue into the new show. I would add, if there is any way to bring back Erica Cerra, I'd be all for that. You can never have too much Erica Cerra on your television. Showtime's press release is after the jump.

Continue reading Leisha Hailey cast in The L Word spinoff

 

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]]>elizabeth berkleyerica cerrailene chaikenleisha haileypress releaseshowtimespinofftcathe l wordBrett LoveFri, 05 Sep 2008 09:02:00 ESTAlex O'Loughlin inks deal with CBS...now if they could just create a show like Moonlight...http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/08/15/alex-oloughlin-inks-deal-with-cbs-now-if-they-could-just-crea/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/08/15/alex-oloughlin-inks-deal-with-cbs-now-if-they-could-just-crea/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/08/15/alex-oloughlin-inks-deal-with-cbs-now-if-they-could-just-crea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Alex O'Loughlin stays with CBSI can't decide if this is good news or bad news. Moonlight star Alex O'Loughlin is staying at CBS.

Unless you've been in another galaxy for the past year, you know that the Aussie actor cultivated an enormous fan base with his role as vampire P.I. Mick St. John on CBS' Moonlight. The uproar caused by the cancellation of the show in May can still be heard, well, in another galaxy.

At the Television Critics Association press tour in July, CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler said the popularity of Moonlight was due in large part to O'Loughlin's fan base. So I can appreciate the fact that CBS wants to keep him around. But it's what they'll do with him that has me worried.

Continue reading Alex O'Loughlin inks deal with CBS...now if they could just create a show like Moonlight...

 

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]]>abcalex oloughlinAlexOloughlinarmy wivesArmyWivescbscriminal mindsCriminalMindsgreys anatomyGreysAnatomylifetimemick st. johnMickSt.Johnmoonlightnina tasslerNinaTasslertcaJane BoursawFri, 15 Aug 2008 10:39:00 ESTLarry Wilmore: The TV Squad Interviewhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2008/08/05/larry-wilmore-the-tv-squad-interview/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/08/05/larry-wilmore-the-tv-squad-interview/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/08/05/larry-wilmore-the-tv-squad-interview/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Larry WilmoreAlmost as soon as I arrived in Beverly Hills for the press tour on July 13, I had an assignment: find a power brick for my laptop, which I had left behind in New Jersey. One frantic and sweaty trip to Radio Shack later, I was ready for my next assignment: a brief interview with The Daily Show's Senior Black Correspondent, Larry Wilmore.

Wilmore was on hand to promote Make 'Em Laugh, a wide-ranging PBS documentary series on the history of modern comedy that's set to air in 2009 (it was announced that day that Billy Crystal is hosting the series). Right after the interview, Wilmore was on a panel with two other documentary participants: original SNL writer Anne Beatts (whom I also interviewed) and comedian Richard Lewis.

I only had a few minutes with Wilmore, so I quickly moved on from the special to ask him about how he got the Daily Show gig after a career spent behind the scenes as a writer and producer (The PJs, The Bernie Mac Show). I also asked him what it's like to work on a show that's so influential on the political and news scene. The interview is after the jump.

Continue reading Larry Wilmore: The TV Squad Interview

 

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]]>billy crystalBillyCrystaldiversity dayDiversityDayfall tvFallTvfeaturedjohn oliverJohnOliverjon stewartJonStewartlarry wilmoreLarryWilmoremake em laughMakeEmLaughpbssenior black correspondentthe bernie mac showthe officethe pjsTheBernieMacShowTheOfficeThePjsJoel KellerTue, 05 Aug 2008 15:41:00 ESTMore from Keith Olbermann: Special comments, and reuniting with Dan Patrickhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2008/08/04/more-from-keith-olbermann-special-comments-and-reuniting-with/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/08/04/more-from-keith-olbermann-special-comments-and-reuniting-with/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/08/04/more-from-keith-olbermann-special-comments-and-reuniting-with/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ketih OlbermannWhen I spoke to Keith Olbermann at the press tour a few weeks back, I mainly wanted to get his thoughts about the comments that Fox News' Chris Wallace made earlier in the tour. Essentially, Wallace said that MSNBC isn't objective in its election coverage because they have commentators like Olbermann -- who are perceived to be "in the tank" for Barack Obama -- serve as anchors. Olbermann's remarks in response were pointed, to say the least.

But while I had Keith poised in front of my voice recorder, I wanted to ask him some questions about the origin of his Special Comments, how he thinks people determine their perception of each of the news networks, and what it will be like to sit down and do highlights with his old SportsCenter partner Dan Patrick on NBC's Football Night in America. The remainder of the interview is after the jump; we pick up with Olbermann talking about Wallace's "In the tank" line.

Continue reading More from Keith Olbermann: Special comments, and reuniting with Dan Patrick

 

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]]>barack obamaBarackObamachris wallacedan patrickDanPatrickfall tvFallTvfeaturedfootball night in americaFootballNightInAmericafox newshillary clintonHillaryClintoninterviewjohn mccainJohnMccainkeith olbermannKeithOlbermannketih olbermannKetihOlbermannmsnbcsportscenterJoel KellerMon, 04 Aug 2008 18:23:00 ESTKristin Chenoweth on Studio 60, Jeff Probst, and her Daisies song request - AUDIOhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2008/08/02/kristin-chenoweth-on-studio-60-jeff-probst-and-her-daisies-son/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/08/02/kristin-chenoweth-on-studio-60-jeff-probst-and-her-daisies-son/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/08/02/kristin-chenoweth-on-studio-60-jeff-probst-and-her-daisies-son/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Kristin ChenowethOne of my favorite parts of the summer press tour was the last day, mainly because a busload of critics got to go to the Warner Bros. lot and tour sets from ER, Chuck, and Pushing Daisies (we also saw the Dollhouse set on the Fox lot later that day).

On the Pie Hole set of Daisies, for instance, all the stars and producers were available for interviews. Kristin Chenoweth held court right outside the pie-shaped diner's entrance, sporting a splint on her right hand from a recent bat bite (I kid you not... wonder what scene they were shooting at the time). But I was there to ask her about how she felt about being the model for Harriet Hayes on Studio 60 two years ago. And she was very candid about the situation,especially in light of the fact that her former (and current?) boyfriend, S60 creator Aaron Sorkin, never was.

First, though, a question about Jeff Probst; Chenoweth dropped the tidbit that the two of them dated when she announced his Emmy nomination the week before. Audio is after the jump.

Continue reading Kristin Chenoweth on Studio 60, Jeff Probst, and her Daisies song request - AUDIO

 

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]]>aaron sorkinAaronSorkinbryan fullerBryanFullerfall tvFallTvharriet hayesHarrietHayesjeff probstJeffProbstkristin chenowethKristinChenowethstudio 60studio 60 on the sun...Studio60Studio60OnTheSun...the banglesTheBanglesJoel KellerSat, 02 Aug 2008 09:02:00 ESTWhy Tori Spelling thinks people want to be her friendhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2008/08/01/why-tori-spelling-thinks-people-want-to-be-her-friend/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/08/01/why-tori-spelling-thinks-people-want-to-be-her-friend/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/08/01/why-tori-spelling-thinks-people-want-to-be-her-friend/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Tori, Dean and CoolioThere was one and only one reason why I wanted to speak to Tori Spelling at NBC's TCA party: No, it wasn't because of 90210, though I was curious about it. It was because of my girlfriend.

I'm serious. She's a big fan of the Tori and Dean reality series on Oxygen, and she's told me on more than one occasion that she thinks that, if circumstances allowed, that she could be friends with the semi-estranged daughter of late TV magnate Aaron Spelling. When I told Tori (her husband, Dean McDermott, was there but must have been grabbing some mac and cheese or something) that I only know the show because of my girlfriend, she understood. "We hear that a lot. It's OK."

Continue reading Why Tori Spelling thinks people want to be her friend

 

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]]>aaron spellingcooliofall tvFallTvjennie garthJennieGarthshannen dohertyShannenDohertytori and deantori and dean home s...tori and dean inn lovetori spellingToriAndDeanToriAndDeanHomeS...ToriAndDeanInnLoveToriSpellingJoel KellerFri, 01 Aug 2008 10:02:00 ESTChuck Lorre's old career had a lot of Turtle Powerhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/30/chuck-lorres-old-career-had-a-lot-of-turtle-power/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/30/chuck-lorres-old-career-had-a-lot-of-turtle-power/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/30/chuck-lorres-old-career-had-a-lot-of-turtle-power/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Chuck LorreWhen I was talking to Carter Bays and Craig Thomas at CBS' TCA party, they told me about how another reporter mentioned that Chuck Lorre, creator of Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory, is also known for writing and performing the theme song for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. None of us could believe it, and we were intent on spreading this little rumor to whoever we could find. But, in my role as "tenacious entertainment reporter," I wanted to find out from the man himself. So when I spotted Lorre later on in the evening, I made a beeline for him and asked him. When he confirmed the rumor, I whipped out my voice recorder, dumbfounded at the news.

"I was a musician for 17 years before I got into television," said Lorre. "I was just a working musician, and I was trying to get a break as a songwriter. And back in the '80s I got a shot to write the music for this six episode trial run of this weird little animated thing, based on a garage comic. You know, a black-and-white little comic book. And we said 'Absolutely! We'd love to! We'll take any shot.' "

Continue reading Chuck Lorre's old career had a lot of Turtle Power

 

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]]>big bang theoryBigBangTheorychuck lorreChuckLorrefall tvFallTvflo and eddieFloAndEddieteenage mutant ninja...TeenageMutantNinja...the big bang theorythe turtlesTheBigBangTheoryTheTurtlestwo and a half menTwoAndAHalfMenJoel KellerWed, 30 Jul 2008 13:04:00 ESTThings I learned from the press tour - TCA Reporthttp://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/25/things-i-learned-from-the-press-tour-tca-report/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/25/things-i-learned-from-the-press-tour-tca-report/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/25/things-i-learned-from-the-press-tour-tca-report/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Rob McElhenny and Glenn Howerton trying to pukeSo I've been back from LA for a couple of days, watching Rich and Keith file frantic reports from Comic-Con. It just makes me shake my head in sympathy. Though CC is a different animal from the TCAs, in both structure and in sheer volume of people and activities, I still know exactly how they feel. It all starts to feel like a blur after awhile -- panels, reporter scrums, parties, meeting your favorite (and not-so-favorite) TV stars... When you get back to "normal life," it almost feels like it never happened.

Anyway, now that I have a day or two to reflect, I took a cue from our friends at AOL and came up with a list of things I learned on this press tour. But this list will involve both the network-related things I learned with what I learned about celebrities, my fellow critics, and myself.

Continue reading Things I learned from the press tour - TCA Report

 

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]]>chuckcooliodick smothersdirty sexy moneyDirtySexyMoneyfall tvFallTvhow i met your motherHowIMetYourMotherlorne michaelsLorneMichaelsmatt weinerMattWeinerpaul giamattiPaulGiamattipress tourprivate practicePrivatePracticepushing daisiessarah connor chroniclesSarahConnorChroniclesshonda rhimesShondaRhimesTCAthe smothers brothersTheSmothersBrotherstina feyTinaFeytom hankstom smothersTomHanksTomSmotherswhat i learnedJoel KellerFri, 25 Jul 2008 19:33:00 ESTNBC wrap-up: Slater's split personality, and Selma Blair's a wise-ass - TCA Reporthttp://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/22/nbc-wrap-up-slaters-split-personality-and-selma-blairs-a-wis/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/22/nbc-wrap-up-slaters-split-personality-and-selma-blairs-a-wis/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/22/nbc-wrap-up-slaters-split-personality-and-selma-blairs-a-wis/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Kath & Kim panel
Today was the very last day of the press tour here in Beverly Hills. It was "TCA Day," with members of the association (including me) going to the Warner Brothers lot to visit the sets of ER, Pushing Daisies, and Chuck, where we spoke to cast members and producers (Oh, we went to the set of America's Best Dance Crew, but let's just forget I mentioned that one). Then we bused it over to the Fox lot, where Joss Whedon showed us around the set of Dollhouse, and the entire cast of King of the Hill gave a table read of their 250th episode. All this fun will be in upcoming posts later this summer.

Despite some of the griping you may have seen from me, it's been lots of fun. It's just a very tiring experience. Case in point: On Monday, NBC decided to close out the press conference portion of the tour by having us sit through ten panels, five of them after lunch. Here's a wrap-up post that goes over some of what went on yesterday that I haven't already covered.

Continue reading NBC wrap-up: Slater's split personality, and Selma Blair's a wise-ass - TCA Report

 

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]]>bob costasBobCostasbrooke shieldsBrookeShieldschristian slaterChristianSlaterdamian lewisDamianLewisdick ebersolDickEbersolfall tvFallTvjason smilovicJasonSmilovicjohn maddenJohnMaddenjosh schwartzJoshSchwartzkath and kimKathAndKimmolly shannonMollyShannonmy own worst enemyMyOwnWorstEnemyoliver goldstickOliverGoldstickrand ravichRandRavichselma blairSelmaBlairzachary leviZacharyLeviJoel KellerTue, 22 Jul 2008 22:28:00 ESTNBC executive session: Leno, Office spin-off, and infronts - TCA Reporthttp://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/22/nbc-executive-session-leno-office-spin-off-and-infronts-tca/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/22/nbc-executive-session-leno-office-spin-off-and-infronts-tca/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/22/nbc-executive-session-leno-office-spin-off-and-infronts-tca/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ben Silverman and Marc GraboffJust to be complete, I wanted to go over a few more tidbits from the NBC executive session with entertainment co-chiefs Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff. We already know about Leno copying Kimmel, and the late night news that came out of it, and we already know about the non-spin-off and the actual spin-off for The Office. But what else did they talk about?

  • Life will get two Monday night showings, starting on September 29 at 10 PM ET, which will allow them to premiere Christian Slater's My Own Worst Enemy on October 13, and run it straight through December. Silverman called having that show after Chuck and Heroes a kind of a "male Heroes sandwich."

Continue reading NBC executive session: Leno, Office spin-off, and infronts - TCA Report

 

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]]>ben silvermanconan obrienConanObrienexecutivefall tvFallTvjay lenoJayLenoknight riderKnightRidermarc graboffMarcGraboffnbcJoel KellerTue, 22 Jul 2008 12:01:00 ESTForget the Knight Rider movie, say the series creators - TCA Reporthttp://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/22/forget-the-knight-rider-movie-say-the-series-creators-tca-rep/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/22/forget-the-knight-rider-movie-say-the-series-creators-tca-rep/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/22/forget-the-knight-rider-movie-say-the-series-creators-tca-rep/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Knight Rider panel
Imagine for a second that Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons was hired to run a television show. Now imagine that the television show was a remake of an old favorite. Sounds like it would make for a pretty impatient press tour panelist, right? Well, that's what we got with Gary Scott Thompson, the new show-runner for Knight Rider.

Thompson answered most of the questions on the panel, and his message to everyone was: remember that two-hour KR movie that aired last year? Forget all about it. The characters may be the same but the story is completely different. What went on before probably won't matter for much. Even KITT is a little different.

Continue reading Forget the Knight Rider movie, say the series creators - TCA Report

 

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]]>bruce davisonBruceDavisondave bartisDaveBartisdeanna russiDeannaRussidoug limanDougLimanfall tvFallTvfeaturedgary scott thompsonGaryScottThompsonjustin brueningJustinBrueningknight riderKnightRiderJoel KellerTue, 22 Jul 2008 11:26:00 ESTDon't tell Ian McShane you don't understand Kings - TCA Reporthttp://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/22/dont-tell-ian-mcshane-you-dont-understand-kings-tca-report/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/22/dont-tell-ian-mcshane-you-dont-understand-kings-tca-report/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/22/dont-tell-ian-mcshane-you-dont-understand-kings-tca-report/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ian McShaneTell you one thing about Ian McShane: he doesn't take any guff from anyone. Say something that he thinks is a load of crap and he'll tell you in no uncertain terms.

So, you can imagine what happens when you combine McShane's orneriness with a group of cranky critics who've been put through a long day by the folks at NBC on the last day of the press tour (there will be a day of set visits on Tueday, but no ballroom press conferences). The last panel is for McShane's new mid-season show, Kings, and the critics have been made extra cranky by the fact that, like all of NBC's new shows, they haven't seen the pilot for it yet. Mix in a somewhat hard-to-grasp premise. Stir liberally, and you get some momentary fireworks that woke up the collected critics at the very end of a long day.

Continue reading Don't tell Ian McShane you don't understand Kings - TCA Report

 

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]]>christopher eganChristopherEgandeadwooderwin stiffErwinStifffall tvFallTvfrancis lawrenceFrancisLawrenceian mcshanekingsmichael greenMichaelGreennbcJoel KellerTue, 22 Jul 2008 02:03:00 ESTPoehler will not be in an Office spin-off, but Rashida Jones may reprise Karen - TCA Reporthttp://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/21/poehler-will-not-be-in-an-office-spin-off-but-rashida-jones-may/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/21/poehler-will-not-be-in-an-office-spin-off-but-rashida-jones-may/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/21/poehler-will-not-be-in-an-office-spin-off-but-rashida-jones-may/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Poehler and JonesOne of the more interesting things to come out of the Silverman-Graboff executive session (which I promise will be up later today ... probably this evening) is that, though Amy Poehler has been signed to be in a show produced by The Office's Greg Daniels and Mike Schur, that show will not be an Office spin-off. It'll have the same comic sensibility and style as The Office, but the characters won't be part of the Office universe. However, a real Office spin-off is still in play, and there's potential for Rashida Jones to be a part of it.

Got that? Neither did the critics, who repeatedly asked mostly Silverman to clarify the situation during both the panel and the scrum that followed.

Continue reading Poehler will not be in an Office spin-off, but Rashida Jones may reprise Karen - TCA Report

 

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]]>amy poehlerAmyPoehlerben silvermanfall tvFallTvgreg danielsGregDanielsmarc graboffmichael schurMichaelSchurmike schurMikeSchurnbcoffice spin-offOfficeSpin-offrashida jonesspin offspin-offSpinOffJoel KellerMon, 21 Jul 2008 16:41:00 ESTLeno pulls a Kimmel at NBC exec panel; also late night timeframes revealed - TCA Reporthttp://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/21/leno-pulls-a-kimmel-at-nbc-exec-panel-also-late-night-timeframe/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/21/leno-pulls-a-kimmel-at-nbc-exec-panel-also-late-night-timeframe/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/21/leno-pulls-a-kimmel-at-nbc-exec-panel-also-late-night-timeframe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Jay Leno in disguiseTaking a cue from ABC, NBC had Jay Leno pose as a reporter and ask NBC's two-headed entertainment chief, Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff, about when Leno would be leaving and when Conan would be starting. Only, instead of just wearing a baseball cap like Kimmel did, Leno donned a bald cap and beard to make him seem extra stealthy.

Some of the "funny" lines are after the jump, but here's the gist of the news: Leno's last day on the Tonight show will be on May 29, with Conan O'Brien taking over the following Monday, June 1. Conan will do his last Late Night sometime during the first quarter, according to Graboff and Silverman, and Jimmy Fallon will take over the timeslot at an undetermined time during either March or April (that's after starting online, as Lorne Michaels announced yesterday). No word on what will play in Conan's 12:30 slot in the interim period.

Continue reading Leno pulls a Kimmel at NBC exec panel; also late night timeframes revealed - TCA Report

 

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]]>ben silvermanconan obrienConanObrienfall tvFallTvjay lenoJayLenojimmy fallonlorne michaelsLorneMichaelsmarc graboffJoel KellerMon, 21 Jul 2008 15:41:00 ESTSNL's election coverage, and Jimmy Fallon will start online - TCA Reporthttp://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/21/snls-election-coverage-and-jimmy-fallon-will-start-online-tc/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/21/snls-election-coverage-and-jimmy-fallon-will-start-online-tc/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/21/snls-election-coverage-and-jimmy-fallon-will-start-online-tc/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Lorne MichaelsJust wanted to post a quick report about yesterday's late-afternoon Saturday Night Live panel. On the panel was (new TCA Career Achievement award winner) Lorne Michaels, Weekend Update anchor and co-head-writer Seth Meyers, and cast members Fred Armisen, Andy Samberg, Jason Sudeikis, Kristin Wiig, Will Forte, and Casey Wilson.

Given the comedy star power on stage, the panel was strangely unfunny. That's probably because Michaels answered most of the questions. Anyway, two pieces of news came out of this panel:
  • SNL will run live 30-minute Thursday election specials in primetime starting October 9 and running until the election. The specials will feature Weekend Update but may also have sketches. There will also be a primetime "Presidential Bash" episode the night before the election.
  • Michaels mentioned that Jimmy Fallon will air his show online for "five or six months" before it airs in Conan O'Brien's old timeslot, in order to give it a headstart in finding its creative legs. "We learned with Conan how brutal it was to find a show when it was on the air," he said.

Continue reading SNL's election coverage, and Jimmy Fallon will start online - TCA Report

 

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]]>amy poehlerAmyPoehlerandy sambergAndySambergcasey wilsonCaseyWilsonfall tvFallTvfred armisenFredArmisenjason sudeikisjimmy fallonJimmyFallonkristin wiigKristinWiiglorne michaelsLorneMichaelsseth meyersSethMeyerssnlwill forteWillForteJoel KellerMon, 21 Jul 2008 12:42:00 ESTOlbermann snipes back at Chris Wallace and Fox News - TCA Reporthttp://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/21/olbermann-snipes-back-at-chris-wallace-and-fox-news-tca-report/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/21/olbermann-snipes-back-at-chris-wallace-and-fox-news-tca-report/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/21/olbermann-snipes-back-at-chris-wallace-and-fox-news-tca-report/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Keith OlbermannI caught up to Keith Olbermann at NBC's all star party last night, and talked to him a little bit about the election, the origin of his "Special Comments," and getting back to doing highlights with Dan Patrick. More on that in a few days. But the first thing on my mind was if he read the comments uttered by Fox News' Chris Wallace earlier in the tour, notably that MSNBC's election coverage was biased because commentators like Olbermann are used as anchors.

"Oh yeah, I thought they were disingenuous and ill-informed," he told me, "because during the primaries as I'm sitting there, and we have the other monitors on, and a couple of weeks at least I saw O'Reilly on in the middle of the primaries, one week Laura Ingrahm filling in for O'Reilly, and Hannity and Colmes at 9:00. It's the same thing, whether you officially say, 'Well, this is not our election coverage between 8 and 10, but between 6 and 7 was, and 10 to 12 was ... ' It's a game being played that's pretty silly."

Continue reading Olbermann snipes back at Chris Wallace and Fox News - TCA Report

 

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]]>barack obamaBarackObamachris wallaceChrisWallacecountdownfall tvFallTvfox newsFoxNewsin the tankInTheTankkeith olbermannKeithOlbermannmsnbcJoel KellerMon, 21 Jul 2008 12:23:00 ESTNina Tassler responds to Moonlight fans ... sort of - TCA Reporthttp://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/21/nina-tassler-responds-to-moonlight-fans-sort-of-tca-report/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/21/nina-tassler-responds-to-moonlight-fans-sort-of-tca-report/http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/21/nina-tassler-responds-to-moonlight-fans-sort-of-tca-report/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Nina TasslerAfter I posted about what CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler said about Moonlight the other day -- namely that the campaign to save it was "actor-driven" instead of show-driven -- angry comments came in from all the "loyal" fans of the show out there (I put the word "loyal" in quotes because Moonlight fans make the Jericho fans look cool and collected). Most of those fans said that Tassler was a liar. One even went so far to attach the b-word to his invective. You'd have thought that Tassler drained these people's 401(k)'s and skipped off to Central America.

Anyway, I caught up with Tassler at the CBS party that night, and I told her about the comments I was getting. When I speculated that I didn't even think the Jericho fans were that passionate, she retorted, "I think they were. The Jericho fans ... I spent a lot of time looking the blogs and the website. Look, I don't want to say Moonlight fans weren't fans of the show. They were. But in sort of sifting through all of it (the e-mails, etc.) it was very much about 'our vampire, Alex (O'Laughlin).'" When I mentioned that some of the comments were pretty ugly, she just looked at me and said, "It's not a pretty business."

 

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]]>alex olaughlinfall tvFallTvnina tasslerNinaTasslerJoel KellerMon, 21 Jul 2008 10:21:00 EST