TVSquad

AMC has done pretty well for itself of late with the critically acclaimed series Broken Trail, Mad Men and Breaking Bad. I'm also hopefully optimistic that they will do a good job with their mini-series remake of The Prisoner. Because of this established pedigree, I am incredibly excited to hear that AMC is developing a series based on Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars novel. With Terry Goodkind's The Sword of Truth series already coming to television, it looks like someone in TV land has been raiding my library. Oh there are so many more good sci-fi and fantasy series to develop. Feel free to stop by any time!

The article indicates the series is based on Robinson's 1992 novel of the same name, but I hope they take it a step further and look to his expanded Mars trilogy. That way they can have several seasons of stories to tell. I guess, though, with the bigger story covering a couple of centuries there could be some casting problems. Hell, overhaul the entire cast every few seasons. ER does it and it's been on the air for almost fifteen years.

Is AMC determined to shed its image as the second-best old movie channel -- number one id TCM -- to become a serious rival in series TV? It seems that the great success of Mad Men and the nearly as great success of Breaking Bad has emboldened AMC and they are itching for more. AMC has ordered a political thriller pilot from executive producer Jason Horwitch.

The plot involves two potential fascinating elements: a secret society that has political power around the world and uses it to manipulate countries, and also an analyst working in a think tank who discovers that the people with whom he works are not who they seem to be. That last part sounds like a very Hitchcockian idea, especially if he's wrongly accused of something that happens on the job and has to go on the run or go undercover to suss out the bad guys. We'll see...

"This is a world you have not seen on television before -- it's not your typical spy thriller." That's what AMC is saying about the show, and if they can catch an All The President's Men or Parallax View paranoia vibe, they might be right.

Interesting yet - OK, I'll say it - odd piece over at the Los Angeles Times: Are the Emmys out of touch with what most TV viewers watch?

I would I think in some ways, yes, and thank God for that.

The main point of the article (titled "The TV Hit No One Watches") is that a show like Mad Men can garner 16 nominiations (a lot for any show but it's especially impressive for a new show, and a new show that's on cable) but still only average about one million viewers a week. And to this I say "so what?" If the Emmys just nominated/gave awards to American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, CSI: Miami, Two and a Half Men, and Grey's Anatomy, wouldn't we be a little ticked off? The fact that shows such as Mad Men, Damages, and Breaking Bad got so many awards is a very, very good thing, for the Emmy voters and viewers alike, because they also happen to be fantastic shows.

Another day, another list of 10 semifinalists from the Emmys. This time, it's the Best Actor in a Drama.

There are a lot of the usual suspects on the list (which will be knocked down to five nominees in the next round), including actors from Dexter, Mad Men, Grey's Anatomy, Friday Night Lights, Breaking Bad, and House. One show that's not represented is Lost. I thought Matthew Fox did some great work this season, especially his drunk/screwed-up scenes.

After the jump, the list of the ten semifinalists (also check out those in contention for Best Actress - Comedy, Best Supporting Actor - Drama, Best Comedy, and Best Drama).

I don't know how they keep doing it; AMC that is. Not only have they brought us stellar series (Mad Men) after stellar series (Breaking Bad), but now they've managed to snag two big-time Hollywood names to join the cast of their remake of one of the smartest shows in television history. What started as rumor, that even we at TV Squad had a hard time believing, is now fact. Both Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellan have been cast in AMC's remake of The Prisoner. Caviezel is set to fill Patrick McGoohan's shoes as the titular "Number Six," while McKellan will step into the role of "Number Two."

AMC's The Prisoner is scheduled to be a six-part mini-series. It hasn't been made clear if those six parts are one hour, two or a combination of both, but either way the original wrapped up in 17 so there's no reason to think we can't get a satisfying tale in six installments. With casting of the two principals announced, it's actually safe to say now that this thing might really get made. AMC is cruising right along with their original programming, and after forty years, I think we're due a re-imagining of this classic series. And unlike the disastrous The Andromeda Strain at A&E, I have faith that AMC won't let me down ... don't let me down, AMC!

American Movie Classics is really getting into original scripted programming, eh?

First the network brought us Mad Men and Breaking Bad, two of the most critically-acclaimed shows from last year, and now it has been announced that AMC has two more dramas in the works. The first one is Carter Beats The Devil, about a mysterious magician in the 1920s, and the other show is Ice, which is about the inside goings-on at a family owned diamond company in New York City.

I have no idea what Ice could be like (though with AMC's track record I'll definitely be watching), but I am familiar with Carter Beats The Devil. The show is based on a really intriguing novel from Glen David Gold, and Gold is going to work on the show as a consultant, so hopefully the series will have the same color and intelligence and mystery that the book had.

Hey, they're not the TV Squad Awards, but the TCAs are pretty cool too, and the nominees have been announced.

There are a lot of the usual suspects on the list, of course (though that doesn't mean they're not worthy - they are), including 30 Rock, The Office, Friday Night Lights, and The Wire. It's also great to see Mad Men get so many nominations, including Program of the Year, Best Drama, Best New Show, and a Best Individual Achievement nom for star Jon Hamm. It's interesting to see that Mad Men will go up against another AMC show, Breaking Bad, in the Best New Show category.

Lost is well represented, as are John Adams, Flight of the Conchords, and PBS' The War miniseries. As for The Wire, it's not only up for drama and acting awards, it has also been nominated for the Heritage Award, along with M*A*S*H, Saturday Night Live, Sesame Street, and Roots. Interesting to see such a recent show up for a lifetime award next to classics. The awards will be presented on July 19.

Anything missing from these nominations?

All I can say after word came out today that they AMC renewed Breaking Bad is FINALLY! What the hell took so long? Every bit as critically acclaimed and amazing as the already renewed Mad Men, this meth and cancer dramedy defies description and blows away expectations. After the strike-shortened seven episode first season, AMC has committed to a full thirteen-episode run for its sophomore effort; no word yet on when the new season will film or air.

Bryan Cranston is a veritable tour de force in the role of Walter White, the high school chemistry teacher who begins producing meth to procure the funds necessary for his family to get by after he dies. Aaron Paul is equally strong as his half-witted cohort in crime, and the two of them are the grimmest comedy duo since ... well, maybe ever. Each week the series surpassed expectations by getting better and better, and that was only seven weeks. I can't imagine nearly twice that!

[via Ain't It Cool News]

I remember when I was a kid and I saw a bald man I always thought, "He must be old." As I've become an adult, I have been lucky enough to keep my thick head of hair but it's clear that baldness is no longer something to be embarrassed about. In fact, there are a number of bald men on television who are quite adept at getting things done. Here are my top ten toughest bald guys on television.

10. Chris Turk (Scrubs)
While Turk wouldn't be considered a tough guy by most standards, I think he deserved to be on this list for a couple of reasons. First, Turk chooses to be bald. Sure, his hair is thin but at some point he decided to shave his head and I applaud his choice. More importantly, Turk is a surgeon, a father and the husband of a very hot lady. If that isn't an example of how to get it done, I don't know what is.

Welcome to Subtle Subtitles. For those of you who are uninitiated to the purpose of this feature, we're asking you to come up with your funniest quote or description for what's going on in the screen grab we choose for the week. Winners are announced in the following Friday's contest.

Last contest's winner: kirker187

This week, a scene from last night's Reaper ...

Welcome to Subtle Subtitles. For those of you who are uninitiated to the purpose of this feature, we're asking you to come up with your funniest quote or description for what's going on in the screen grab we choose for the week. Winners are announced in the following Friday's contest.

Last contest's winner: Robyn

This week, a scene from the latest episode of Breaking Bad ...

• At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes, then a new Big Brother.
• ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos at 7, then a new Extreme Makeover, the series premiere of Oprah's Big Give, and a new Here Come The Newlyweds.
• NBC has a new, two hour Dateline at 7, followed by a new Deal Or No Deal.
• At 8, FOX has a new Simpsons, then new episodes of King of the Hill and Family Guy, and then the series premiere of Unhitched.
• The CW has a new Everybody Hates Chris at 8, followed by a new Aliens in America.
• There's a new Challenge on Food Network at 8, then new episodes of Ultimate Recipe Showdown and Iron Chef America.
• At 9, Lifetime has the new movie The Perfect Assistant.
• HBO has a new episode of The Wire at 9, then a new Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam.
• Showtime has a new L Word at 9.
• Sundance has a new Shameless at 9.
• At 10, CBS has an episode of Dexter.
• AMC has a new Breaking Bad at 10.
• Also at 10: FX has the season premiere of Dirt.
• At 11:45, Cartoon Network has a new Aqua Teen Hunger Force, followed by new episodes of Squidbillies and Frisky Dingo.

Check your local TV listings for more.

This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we'll supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by emailing us at tvsquad at gmail dot com or call and leave a message at (775) 640-8479 - your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.

This week we have: Boston Legal, Breaking Bad, CSI: New York, Desperate Housewives, Greek, Kyle XY, Lost and Smallville. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)

(S01E04) This episode was about calming down and reassessing one's life and family. We got to see Walter open up and share his cancer with his extended family, albeit reluctantly and only done really because Skyler couldn't handle it alone. Walter, in fact, remained incredibly stoic, silent and passive about his impending fate. He also stayed true to his original vision, which was not to leave his family with a mountain of debt.

As for Jesse, we finally got to meet the rest of the Pinkman clan and they're nothing like you'd expect - or they're exactly like you'd expect - and yet somehow they appeared to have a profound influence on where Jesse's life is heading and what he wants to do about it.

• At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes, then a new Big Brother, a new Cold Case, and an episode of Dexter.
• ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos, then a new, two hour Extreme Makeover and a new Brothers & Sisters.
• NBC has a new, two hour American Gladiators at 7, then the new Knight Rider movie.
• The CW has a new CW Now at 7.
• At 8, FOX has a new Simpsons, then new episodes of King of the Hill, Family Guy, and American Dad.
• PBS has a new Nature at 8, followed by a new Masterpiece.
• At 8:30, TNT has the NBA All-Star Game.
• At 9, HBO has a new episode of The Wire, then a new Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam.
• There's a new episode of The L Word on Showtime at 9.
• At 10, AMC has a new Breaking Bad.
• At 11:45, Cartoon Network has a new Aqua Teen Hunger Force, then a new Squidbillies.

Check your local TV listings for more.