TVSquad

Like everyone else, I'm looking forward to the end of summer reruns, and for the new fall season to kick off over the next several weeks. In addition to returning shows and new offerings from the networks and studios, I'm also quite interested in Ken Burns' new documentary for PBS, The War, which debuts on September 23 at 8:00 p.m. and is scheduled to air in seven parts. Check your listings for airtimes in your area.

I've been drawn to the idea of a lengthy documentary about World War II partially for the historical aspect, but moreso because of the human aspect. Growing up, my exposure to that era was through films featuring rugged heroes and clean, bloodless battles. Combine this with the solipsism inherent in all young people, and the result is a skewed --if not completely false-- perspective on what it was really like to be alive during that era, not only for the soldiers on the battlefields overseas, but also for the people back home.

Not too long ago, Anna told you that former Spice Girl and wife of soccer star David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, would be starring in a reality series on NBC that would follow her and her husband as they make their move to the United States.

Well, the series is still happening, except it won't be a series, it'll be a primetime special. All of this is merely speculation at this point, and NBC hasn't made any comment one way or the other. However, like Anna, I haven't quite figured out what it is about this series/special that's supposed to attract people, especially Americans. I think whatever mainstream infatuation we had with Posh Spice has long since gone away, and while David Beckham is no doubt a superstar in his own right, soccer just isn't that popular here. That's not a slight against the sport itself, I'm merely pointing out that it's unclear exactly who this series/special is trying to attract.

Of course, surprises are always nice, so maybe after this hits TV screens I'll be coming back on this blog and telling everyone how great it is.

A new cartoon created to promote tolerance between the East and West is being screened today in New York City. The cartoon, created by a Jordanian media firm and titled Ben and Izzy, will focus on an American child (Ben) and his Arab friend Izzy, both grandsons of archaeologists, who, along with a genie named Yasmine (voice by Lucy Liu), have "Indiana Jones" style adventures while trying to thwart an evil antiques dealer named Clutchford Wells. The cartoon will focus on their cultural differences, but more importantly their ability to work together as a team and find common ground. There does not appear to be an information so far as to whether the show will be picked up by American television or not, though it does feature some voices familiar to American cartoons, such as Kath Soucie and Mark Hamill.