A day hasn't gone by where we haven't received some sort of tip or email asking us, the TV Squad, how to get on [insert reality show here]. Unfortunately no, Simon Cowell does not work for us, and Donald Trump isn't my BFF, so we really can't help all that much.
The folks at RealityWanted.com often send us a list of new and existing reality shows that are looking for new, er, talent, and they've given us permission to make mention of them here. We'll try to make this a regular feature as often as we get a new list.
This time we have Rock of Love, Family Court and a lot of new shows.
TV syndication upfront ad sales are brisk, with syndicators expected to sell higher levels of ad inventory, similar to the broadcast networks.
Sales are more than 50% complete, with one syndicator, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, more than 70% sold out of its 2008-09 ad inventory, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
What's it all mean? It means that syndication upfront totals are expected to be around $2.4 billion, up 4.5% from last year.
Maybe one reason is that syndicators are incorporating more product integration into their packages, especially with talk and entertainment shows. Strong categories include packaged goods, pharmaceuticals, movies, and fast food.
Hmmm ... I wonder what they're saying. That TV viewers sit around eating Big Macs, doing drugs, and woofing down Cheetos? Yeah, that can't be right.
According to insiders, the Harpo team had meetings with distributor in Chicago last month. A medical talker with Doc Oz, which I bet will be called Ask Dr. Oz -- the name of his successful segments on Oprah's show -- would follow in the footsteps of Dr. Phil. Remember, Dr. Phil McGraw began his life as a talker by appearing on Oprah in infrequent hours that were a de facto pilot for his own talk show. Dr. Phil then launched in 2002, as a Harpo production, and has been a big time hit. He's even challenged Oprah in some markets.
Kirstie Alley is coming back to the small screen and Oprah's got her. Harpo Productions has signed Alley for future TV projects. It could be a sitcom like Fat Actress, it could be a talk show, like the one she shopped around last year, but in whatever format, Harpo will be behind it. One definite possibility would be for Kirstie to appear in a show on OWN, the new Oprah Winfrey Network, which used to be Discovery Health Channel.
Hey, Brigitte here with TV Squad Daily. I'll be covering the TV stories I find interesting each day, Monday through Friday, in this video blog.
Today, on TV Squad Daily:
Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel will guest on each other's shows this week, and the WGA is threatening disciplinary action against Leno for writing his own jokes and performing a monologue.
Dr. Phil McGraw has lost all credibility in my eyes. Not that he had a lot of credibility in my eyes to begin with, mind you -- I have never been a fan of his down-home, pop psychology. However, his latest statements really put the capper on the fact that he doesn't seem to know what he's talking about.
During a holiday party in Beverly Hills this past weekend, Dr. Phil told People magazine that Lynne Spears, mother to Britney and recently pregnant, 16-year-old Jamie Lynn, is a "great and dedicated mother". He admits that things aren't looking up for her right now (ya think?), but McGraw adds that the Spears matriarch has her feet firmly on the ground and that she is turning to her faith for strength in this situation. In fact, Lynne told her friend Dr. Phil that they are turning to prayer to get past this all. No offense, but she must be praying nearly 24 hours a day.
Hey, Brigitte here with TV Squad Daily. I'll be covering the TV stories I find interesting each day, Monday through Friday, in this video blog: I apologize for the bad sound quality; I'm live from a golf cart. Have a great weekend!
Interesting piece in Slate today, on all of the TV shows on ABC that writer Troy Patterson calls a "nauseating lineup of yuppie dramas."
Which shows is he talking about? You can probably guess: Men In Trees, Brothers & Sisters, What About Brian, and Six Degrees. I think that Patterson's whole viewpoint can be summed up with this paragraph:
These shows share a view of the human mind modeled on Dr. Phil's and an aesthetic sense shamelessly cribbed from a Pottery Barn catalog. When you watch them, you're mostly watching people feel bad over beverages. Despite it's pseudo-literary ambitions, the genre's got a certain soap-operatic streak, and the soap's an orange-lavender bath wash.
No, no, no, no, no, no! This isn't my list, it's another list from Ryan Stewart (along with Bill Jensen this time) at The Boston Phoenix.
Among the 100: Gilbert Gottfried, Roger Ebert, Randy Johnson, Dr. Phil, Alan Colmes, Michael Jackson, Jerry Seinfeld, Carrot Top, Edward James Olmos, Andy Dick, and Larry David.
Oh, and for good measure, they also throw in ... Brad Pitt.
Well, "rock" is a relative term here. Dr. Phil McGraw, noted "expert" on every aspect of people's lives, will appear at a benefit concert with Christina Aguilera, Andrea Bocelli, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, and Martina McBride (see? Not a rock star in the bunch) to raise money for after-school programs. The concert, nerdily dubbed JCPenney Jam, will air on CBS on August 22.
Sounds like it's gonna suck. Oh, well. At least it's for a good cause.
I'm transitioning from an IT career to one of a full-time freelance writer. Because of this, I'm spending more time at home during the day. And, despite my better judgement, I leave the TV on in the background while I work. I've been getting in the habit of putting on Dr. Phil at 3:00, and, while I think Phil's a blowhard who often states the obvious, I do like seeing him yell at the idiots that come on his show.
Case in point: today, a couple comes on to talk about the major strife in their marriage. It's so troubling, that the woman, a mature, pretty and intelligent blonde, breaks down and cries. What's the problem? Infidelity? Health problems? Money issues?
Last night's Idol was one of the liveliest
shows in the past few weeks. Not because of the performances, but because of everybody else. First off , Whoopi and
Chris Rock? When I first spotted them in the crowd, I rewinded my DVR five times to verify that it was them. On
the fourth rewind, I had them pegged as impersonators...and darn good ones. But nope, it was them. How funny is it that
Chris Rock & Whoopi show up on country night? They're both huge Kenny Rodgers fans, I'm sure.
And it
appears that Ryan (like so many men recently) has gone the way of the beard.
Maybe I'm just lazy or I lack initiative, but if I were going to commit a crime,
I don't think it would be bigamy. Trying to juggle that many secret lives just takes way too much effort, you know? I'm
just saying.
Anyway, a man who appeared on an episode of Dr. Phil was arrested recently for bigamy. Charles Edward
Hicks had been married seven times in forty years. The show focused on two women who had learned recently they had
both been married to Hicks. What Hicks didn't count on was that the sister of his girlfriend was watching the show and
called authorities. He'll be sentenced on May 8 and could face as much as ten years in prison.
A day hasn't gone by where we haven't received some sort of tip or email asking us, the TV Squad, how to get on [insert reality show here]. Unfortunately no, Simon Cowell does not work for us, and Donald Trump isn't my BFF, so we really can't help all that much. 
TV syndication upfront ad sales are brisk, with syndicators expected to sell higher levels of ad inventory, similar to the broadcast networks. 
Please file this item under the "Duh" file: Dr. Mehmet Oz, Oprah's favorite medical expert, is getting a spin-off talk show. Harpo Productions, Oprah's company, 
Kirstie Alley is coming back to the small screen and Oprah's got her. 
Dr. Phil McGraw has lost all credibility in my eyes. Not that he had a lot of credibility in my eyes to begin with, mind you -- I have never been a fan of his down-home, pop psychology. However, his latest statements really put the capper on the fact that he doesn't seem to know what he's talking about.
Interesting 
No, no, no, no, no, no! This isn't my list, it's 
I'm transitioning from an IT career to one of a full-time freelance writer. Because of this, I'm spending more time at home during the day. And, despite my better judgement, I leave the TV on in the background while I work. I've been getting in the habit of putting on Dr. Phil at 3:00, and, while I think Phil's a blowhard who often states the obvious, I do like seeing him yell at the idiots that come on his show.
Last night's Idol was one of the liveliest
shows in the past few weeks. Not because of the performances, but because of everybody else. First off , Whoopi and
Chris Rock? When I first spotted them in the crowd, I rewinded my DVR five times to verify that it was them. On
the fourth rewind, I had them pegged as impersonators...and darn good ones. But nope, it was them. How funny is it that
Chris Rock & Whoopi show up on country night? They're both huge Kenny Rodgers fans, I'm sure.
Maybe I'm just lazy or I lack initiative, but if I were going to commit a crime,
I don't think it would be bigamy. Trying to juggle that many secret lives just takes way too much effort, you know? I'm
just saying.
The Dharma Initiative wants you - VIDEO - Comic-Con Report
Forget the Knight Rider movie, say the series creators - TCA Report
Giveaway Monday: TV Funhouse
