Earlier this week, I told you about the real reason Without A Trace was cancelled. Now, executive producer Shawn Ryan reveals the real reason The Unit was cancelled. "Listen, if the show had been owned by Paramount and Medium had been owned by 20th Century Fox, we'd be making the fifth season of The Unit now." You see, TV fans, it's comes down to money. CBS owns Paramount so it would earn more in the long run if The Unit made more episodes, went into syndication and reaped revenues for years to come. However, Fox owns The Unit. Get it?
Dennis Haysbert recently claimed that his role as President Palmer on 24 may have helped pave the way for a viable African American presidential candidate. He went on to claim that his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in the movie Goodbye Bafana ended apartheid and that his role as Jonas Blane in The Unit cured polio. Haysbert was then wrestled to the ground by his handlers and is now "recuperating" at the Clay Aiken Home for Delusional Celebrities.
My first thought upon hearing this news was that Dennis Haysbert is obviously insane. Since I've been criticized in this space for not having an open mind about insane things, I decided to take Mr. Haysbert at his word. I then went even further and went to work putting together a list of other politicians who exist mainly due to the hard work done for them by TV actors. After researching Wikipedia for almost a full fifteen minutes, this is the list I've managed to put together...
Would America be ready for an African-American president, which is now a 50-50 proposition with Senator Barack Obama the presumptive Democratic candidate, if actor Dennis Haysbert hadn't done it first on 24?
A lot of people have wondered if Haysbert's brave, commanding President David Palmer influenced the way people are thinking about Obama. Dennis Haysbert has now weighed in, and he believes that his role on 24 made a difference.
"My portrayal of David Palmer may have helped open the eyes of the American people," he told the AP.
"I mean the American people across the board - from the poorest to the richest, every color and creed, every religious base - to prove the possibility there could be an African-American president, a female president, any type of president that puts the people first," he goes on to say.
I am not one for the traditional holiday fare constantly repeated on television at this time of year (although, I am a sucker for It's A Wonderful Life, and regularly tear up at the very end. Damn you, Frank Capra!) That's why I am very grateful for sites like YouTube, which provide me with an alternative to my holiday viewing. Because of that monster video web site I am able to watch, over and over and over again, perhaps one of my most favorite holiday videos: Twas the Night Before Christmas recited by numerous voice actors.
Yes, I may enjoy this because I am a voiceover wonk, but I just think it's the coolest thing. Not only do you get to hear the story told by great voice actors like Jim Cummings, Gary Owens, Billy West, and Don LaFontaine, but you also get to match the voices you have heard on your television during a normal day with actual faces. In addition, you get to see some television actors -- Nate Corddry and Dennis Haysbert, to name just two -- doing their thing behind the microphone.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. You can view the video after the clip.
Last time we saw the men of The Unit, things were going quite wrong. Some of them were taken prisoner, others went on the run, and one was recruited by the CIA while another had to face a possible court-martial. It wasn't much better for their wives since they had to cope with their personal problems while worrying for their men and children and protecting secrets and lies. Even though we all knew The Unit couldn't be a TV show with such a title without, well, a unit, we still pondered how the group would get back together, if they would all return, and if things would ever be the same.
Over the weekend, I had the chance to watch the first two episodes of the season: "Pandemonium, Parts One and Two." The first part will air tomorrow, while the other will air on October 2.
Dennis Haysbert told the Philadelphia Daily News that not only did he regret filming the assassination scene in last season's 24, but he's also not keen on this season's installment of the counter-terrorism thriller.
Haysbert -- who played President David Palmer on 24 but now stars in CBS' The Unit -- came back to 24 to film Palmer's assassination, something he says he now wishes he hadn't done. "It was a device that I didn't think was necessary," he said.
Haysbert also criticized his former show, saying he thinks that the program may have lost its way. "I started to watch it this season, and, you know, I'm just a little disappointed in its direction," he told the Daily News, adding that, although he's still a fan, "the politics has been skewed in a very, very right-wing way."
And all through the house, a heck of a lot of voice talent was stirring ... even the ones who have a voice like a mouse. When was the last time you saw Eddie Deezen? It's probably been awhile, however he's been heard a lot -- most recently in Kim Possible. As far as all of the other voice over actors in this piece? Legendary. You've got everyone from The Unit's Dennis Haysbert to SpongeBob's Tom Kenny to Don LaFontaine, trailer announcer extraordinaire reading you this classic tale.
Gather around your computer, and warm everyone with this holiday classic. I can't imagine all of this VO talent assembling again, so enjoy it while you can.
CBS has committed to an entire second season of The Unit, a military drama starring Dennis Haysbert and Scott Foley. Last spring, CBS renewed The Unit for only 13 episodes but has decided to go for an entire 22-episode season. Despite that we here at TV Squad really didn't like the show, 13.2 million viewers do like it and that was enough for CBS to keep it around.
Is anybody watching The Unit? Has it improved over last season?
Yet another interview: Prison Break'sStacey Keach.
Matt Roush really likesPsych and Hustle, but finds that the new season of Chappelle's Show leaves a sour aftertaste.
In the print edition: a tribute to Aaron Spelling; a look at the new season of Rock Star; photos of some of the acts from America's Got Talent; and a Q & A with Rescue Me's Tatum O'Neal.
Unit: (N) [ynt] -- An
individual, group, structure, or other entity regarded as an elementary structural or functional constituent of a
whole.
It also happens to be one of the few English nouns, that when used in the proper context, has the ability
to make small children and immature adults giggle. Now I stopped covering the show a few weeks ago. I wasn't a
fan. First off though, let me preface this by saying that Keith and his twisted mind came up with this as a post idea.
Although, I suppose it's partly my fault since two or three of the following misused Units came from my mouth.
Oh God, I did it again. I'm going to shut up now.
"I'll grab The
Unit!"
"I dropped The Unit." (To which Bob replied, "I bet that hurt." Would have hurt more
had I dropped something onThe Unit.)
"I'm watching The
Unit tonight!"
"I'll cover The Unit" is in a three way
tie with, "I'm all over The Unit," and "I love The Unit."
Kiefer Sutherland and 20th Century FOX reached a
deal for three more seasons of 24. According to The Hollywood
Reporter, Sutherland will make at least $40 million for playing Jack Bauer for three more seasons, making him the
highest-paid actor in a drama series. Sutherland's title improves from co-executive producer to executive producer,
which will undoubtedly rake in some more cash for him. And, the deal also includes a development fund for Sutherland to
develop and produce projects for television and the internet (what? FOX has heard about the internet?).
Now as most of you have gathered by now, I'm not a huge fan of this show. My plan was to
give it three episodes, and if it didn't sway me, then I'd walk away. Last night's episode was the third installment,
so that means I'm walkin'.
Now I went in to this planning on writing a less harsh review because, believe it or
not, I do read all the comments people write and I realize that many folks love this show. However, I won't have to try
too hard at doing so because this episode wasn't that bad. It's easily the best of the first three.
I really want to like this show, but Dennis Haysbert and Co. are making that as hard as
possibly can be. I honestly can't decide which episode I liked less: last week's series premiere or this
one.
I think I'm going to lean in last week's favor because I had trouble keeping my eyes open for last night's episode.
I kept catching myself as I started to nod off. I'm fine with that because I'm certain that the four of five minutes
that I missed due to my temporary narcolepsy had nothing of importance in them.
Actually, I'm re-evaluating that last sentence. I'm not fine with it. If I'm going to doze off for a few minutes
during a show, I don't want to wake up and feel all right about it. I want to wake up and feel worried that I've just
missed the best two minutes in television history. This show doesn't give me that sensation.
I tried. I really did. I wanted to be one
of the cool kids and watch 24, but I can't handle it. Over the summer, my husband and I rented season one of
24 and we suffered through every episode. The show is chock full of obvious stall tactics. Does anybody else
notice these? They come in the form of long, drawn-out, repetitive conversations and of unimportant sub-plots. For
example, the current season began with various versions of the same conversation between President Logan and his wife
about her apparent craziness and her insistence that she's not nutso. Do people in the real world actually have the
same conversation over and over again within one hour? I don't think so. And, during season one, the whole storyline
about President Palmer's son's involvement in a crime was a total time suck (and, of course, the infamous Kim vs. the
cougar incident in season two). While most shows also use sub-plots as fillers (i.e., Lost uses flashbacks),
it is most obvious to me on 24 because, quite frankly, who cares about any of the other crap that doesn't
involve Jack Bauer?
CBS is trying to build on the great ratings it had for the
premiere of The Unit on Tuesday night, by offering an 'encore' episode of the pilot this Saturday. The
Unit premiered up against new ABC comedy Sons & Daughters and against ratings juggernauts
American Idol and House. So, while it didn't beat AI or the unfriendly doc, it did kick
ABC's sorry butt by more than 10
million viewers. The Unit, about a covert, special ops miltiary unit, stars former 24 president
Dennis Haysbert and is executive produced by genius playwright David Mamet.
The sad thing about this is the
general consensus (and Jonathan's
review) that The Unit really sucks, while Sons & Daughters is terrific (just ask Joel).
Dennis Haysbert 
Would America be ready for an African-American president, which is now a 50-50 proposition with Senator Barack Obama the presumptive Democratic candidate, if actor 
I am not one for the traditional holiday fare constantly repeated on television at this time of year (although, I am a sucker for It's A Wonderful Life, and regularly tear up at the very end. Damn you, Frank Capra!) That's why I am very grateful for sites like YouTube, which provide me with an alternative to my holiday viewing. Because of that monster video web site I am able to watch, over and over and over again, perhaps one of my most favorite holiday videos: Twas the Night Before Christmas recited by numerous voice actors.
CBS has committed to an entire second season of The Unit, a military drama starring Dennis Haysbert and Scott Foley. Last spring, CBS renewed The Unit for only 13 episodes but has decided to go for an entire 22-episode season. Despite that 
On the cover: 
Unit: (N) [y
n
t] -- An
individual, group, structure, or other entity regarded as an elementary structural or functional constituent of a
whole.
Kiefer Sutherland and 20th Century FOX reached a
deal for three more seasons of 24. According to 
Now as most of you have gathered by now, I'm not a huge fan of this show. My plan was to
give it three episodes, and if it didn't sway me, then I'd walk away. Last night's episode was the third installment,
so that means I'm walkin'. 
I tried. I really did. I wanted to be one
of the cool kids and watch 24, but I can't handle it. Over the summer, my husband and I rented season one of
24 and we suffered through every episode. The show is chock full of obvious stall tactics. Does anybody else
notice these? They come in the form of long, drawn-out, repetitive conversations and of unimportant sub-plots. For
example, the current season began with various versions of the same conversation between President Logan and his wife
about her apparent craziness and her insistence that she's not nutso. Do people in the real world actually have the
same conversation over and over again within one hour? I don't think so. And, during season one, the whole storyline
about President Palmer's son's involvement in a crime was a total time suck (and, of course, the infamous Kim vs. the
cougar incident in season two). While most shows also use sub-plots as fillers (i.e., Lost uses flashbacks),
it is most obvious to me on 24 because, quite frankly, who cares about any of the other crap that doesn't
involve Jack Bauer?
CBS is trying to build on the great ratings it had for the
premiere of The Unit on Tuesday night, by offering an 'encore' episode of the pilot this Saturday. The
Unit premiered up against new ABC comedy Sons & Daughters and against ratings juggernauts
American Idol and House. So, while it didn't beat AI or the unfriendly doc, it did kick
ABC's sorry butt by more than 
The TV Squad Podcast: Linda Purl talks about The Office, we talk spoilers, and more
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