Listen to the Joystiq Podcast (because your ears can't read)
AOL Television

Posts with tag HBO

Six shows that I am watching pretty regularly this season

Chuck is just one of the shows I'm watching on a regular basisLike anything, watching television can be a habit. There are certain shows that you tune into on a regular basis because they make you feel safe, comfortable and give you that feeling of stability that may or may not surround the rest of your life. Because of that it can be difficult to latch on to a new show to watch. There's that uncertainty, that fear that you won't get used to the plot or the characters or the general feel for the show.

This is particularly true in my case since I watch a certain set of shows each week for review. However, this season I have decided to expand my television horizons a bit and search for some new programs to get involved with. By new programs I don't mean shows premiering this season, but programs that have been on the air for a while that I have never sen before of have glanced at from time to time. So, without further pontification, here are five shows that I'm now tuning into.

Continue reading Six shows that I am watching pretty regularly this season

HBO renews Entourage for sixth season

(L-R): Jerry Ferrara, Kevin Dillon, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, and Jeremy Piven.Just five episodes into Entourage's long-awaited fifth season, and HBO has already pulled the trigger on a sixth. This morning the pay cable network announced that a sixth season of the popular comedy is in the works with a summer 2009 premiere planned.

So far, season five has seen Vince and the gang head into a downward spiral as he tries to rejuvenate his career in the wake of his last poorly received film, Medellin.

Even though I've seen plenty of positive reviews of the new season (I even gave it one), I still have a bit of an issue with HBO renewing the show. It's not that I disagree with a renewal, but I'm not so sure the timing is right.

Continue reading HBO renews Entourage for sixth season

Pro wrestling as produced by Norman Lear

Norman LearYou have to admire Norman Lear. In his heyday of the 70's, he produced a lot of counterculture television that allowed the medium to mature. And now, his production company is producing a show about pro-wrestling in the 1970's on a network known for mature content.

I have to say that this is as how that I would watch. Wrestling was very different in the 1970's than from today, made up of regional promotions rather than the single national promotion you see today (thanks to Vince McMahon for ending that). This show is a character-driven drama about a pro-wrestling family running a promotion in New York City. I wonder if they'll get any classic wrestlers making an appearance?

Having worked behind-the-scenes in a pro-wrestling promotion once upon a time, I think this premise has a lot of potential. It certainly has the correct name behind it who understands the culture of the time. With that and the fact that HBO is its home, I think we may have a winner on our hands.

Sarah Michelle Gellar returns to TV

Sarah Michelle Gellar The erstwhile Buffy the Vampire Slayer star is eying a return to the small screen with a half-hour dramedy pilot at HBO, entitled Wonderful Maladys.

According to Variety, the New York-set show will revolve around three adult siblings who lost their parents at a very early age.

Screenwriter Charles Randolph, who wrote the script with Gellar in mind, describes her character as having "a kind of zealous immaturity -- like a drug addict with a to-do list." Sounds just peachy.

The project, which is aiming to shoot its pilot early next year, marks Gellar's first regular TV gig since Buffy ended in 2003 -- though she's appeared on episodes of The Simpsons and Robot Chicken since. Think she'll slay it? Sound off below.

Continue reading Sarah Michelle Gellar returns to TV

Quick Chat with the Little Britain USA guys

Little BritainIf you love British comedy, people who make jabs at America or men dressed in drag for that matter (we won't judge), then Little Britain USA (premiering Sunday, Sept. 28 at 10:30 PM EST on HBO) should be right up your alley.

David Walliams and Matt Lucas, who created and starred in the hit BBC series Little Britain, are bringing their irreverent humor and a bunch of their best characters -- like Phyllis, who believes her dog talks to her; Carol Beer, the meanest hospital receptionist you'll ever meet; and Bubbles Devere, a wildly inappropriate and totally uninhibited British socialite -- to America.

We talked to David and Matt about their dream of dressing George Clooney up as a lady, why following in Sacha Baron Cohen and Ricky Gervias' footsteps is just fine with them and how Brits and Americans really differ. (Hint: Men don't shave their bikini lines over there.)

Continue reading Quick Chat with the Little Britain USA guys

TV Squad Live Blogging: The Emmys

Emmy award11:00: OK, that's it for me tonight. Things have turned bold for some reason and I'm hungry. I haven't eaten since...well, I had a handful of almonds around 5:30, along with a Diet Coke, but that's it. Check out more Emmys on AOL, with a full list of winners, behind the scenes info, interviews, and a ton of pictures.

10:57: Outstanding Drama, Mad Men. Yes!!!!!

10:56:
Tom Selleck delivering the Drama award? Random, but welcome.

10:55:
Two years in a row for 30 Rock. Does this mean great ratings? (Probably not.)

10:54:
Outstanding Comedy Series: 30 Rock.

10:53:
Mary Tyler Moore: attractive woman, really bad dress.

10:50:
...and the Emmy goes to Jeff Probst (Survivor).

10:45:
Outstanding Host, Reality Show is...after this commercial. Kimmel is becoming the MVP of award shows and specials.

10:41:
Outstanding Lead Actress, Comedy: Tina Fey (30 Rock).

10:38:
Outstanding Lead Actor, Drama: Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)!

10:36:
The Fey/Scorcese American Express ad is great...but not when you see it 30 times in one night.

10:34:
In case you're wondering, I still haven't eaten anything yet.

10:32:
Impressed they're including some producers and other behind the scenes folks.

10:30:
Ah, the annual "In Memoriam." The time of the show we try to figure out who they'll leave out.

10:28: Outstanding Lead Actress, Drama: Glenn Close (Damages).

Continue reading TV Squad Live Blogging: The Emmys

HBO plans Lincoln assassination mini-series

logo HBOA week from now, HBO will probably be one of the big stories from the Primetime Emmys thanks to the success of the John Adams mini-series. But it's not sitting on that success, the premium cable net is banking on it. HBO announced today a mini series based on the assassination of Abraham Lincoln called Manhunt. That news would be interesting enough because the series will deal with the 12 days after Lincoln was shot when the assassin, John Wilkes Booth, was on the run. However, the guys that HBO have tapped to work on Manhunt are two of the best in television -- David Simon and Tom Fontana.

HBO knows Simon and Fontana's work really well. Simon was the creator of The Wire and Fontana's brainchild was Oz. This is also not a new collaboration. Fontana turned Simon's book, Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, into the Homicide: Life on the Streets TV series for NBC.

Continue reading HBO plans Lincoln assassination mini-series

Entourage: Unlike a Virgin

Adrian Grenier and Jeremy Piven
(S05E02) "No indies E! Think of it like the Holocaust - never again!" - Ari

Ever since the beginning of Entourage, I've been waiting for this episode. As much as I love Vince, it's been a long time coming for his "I'll do whatever the hell I want" mentality to finally come full circle and bite him in the ass. His career is in the toilet, Ari even admitted that his worth as an actor "remains to be seen," and E is officially taking his own career more seriously. If Vince wants a comeback, then it's going to be up to him and I love that it's been set up that way. Up until now, his failures have been a direct result partly because of his reliance on Eric and partly because of his own laissez-faire, "what will be will be" attitude. If he screws it all up now, it's his own fault.

Continue reading Entourage: Unlike a Virgin

The new fall season: the ratings so far

Sarah Connor ChroniclesWe've only been into the new season for a few days, but some ratings numbers are already in. Looks like people love robots and prisons but might be getting sick of vampires.

On Monday, NBC won the night, with its lineup of Deal Or No Deal (9.6 million viewers), America's Toughest Jobs (6.5), and Dateline (6.2), but FOX won in the all-important 18 to 49 demographic with its lineup of the Sarah Connor Chronicles season premiere and a new episode of Prison Break. The Sarah Connor Chronicles grabbed 6.3 million viewers, while Prison Break did even better, with 6.5 million. CBS beat NBC in the 18-49 demo with their lineup of comedy repeats. ABC was fourth and The CW was fifth.

Continue reading The new fall season: the ratings so far

Entourage's Viking Quest - the game!

Kevin Dillon as Johnny Chase as Tarvold The VikingBored at work? Looking for something to do? Ever wish you could be as cool as Johnny Drama's iconic sci-fi role, Tarvold the viking? Now you can! In promotion for the new season of Entourage (it premiered last night), HBO has launched an online game following the exploits of Tarvold and his quest to save his wife Anora from his arch-enemy Thorfinn Skull-Splitter.

Throughout Entourage's run, Drama has made numerous references to Viking Quest, his cult hit sci-fi series that ran for only one season. The show went on to become huge in France, and while attending Cannes, Drama met his current girlfriend Jacqueline.

This is actually a pretty cool promotion. The website boasts the availability of a DVD box set of the series (it's bogus) and there's all sorts of info about the show. As for the game, it's worth wasting a few minutes playing (there's only two levels), but don't expect anything mind-blowing. Think Golden Axe with only one player. Overall though, this certainly deserves a resounding "Victory!"

True Blood: Strange Love (series premiere)

Stepehen Moyer(S01E01) True Blood is definitely a show after my own heart. I love any high concept drama that lays out the entire idea in the first five minutes.

In case you didn't get it, here's the short version. Synthetic blood is now available for vampires to buy, therefore they no longer need to kill to survive. So, as a society, they decide to live out in the open and are met with the kind of fear and skepticism that you'd expect.

Continue reading True Blood: Strange Love (series premiere)

Entourage: Fantasy Island (season premiere)

Jerry Ferrara, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon, and Adrian Grenier
(S05E01) "Our next film is Medellin - the ultra-violent story of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar starring Vincent Chase in a fat-suit in bad make-up that makes him look like the love child of Jiminy Glick and a case of Twinkies." - Richard Roeper

Ouch. It's been six months since Cannes, Medellin is getting a straight-to-DVD release, and people are still talking about it. One of the worst films of the year. I can't say that I'm surprised. Considering how last season ended and what we've come to expect from Entourage, this felt less like a season premiere and more like just another episode. Vincent Chase can only stay down and out hidden in Mexico for so long before the allure of his almost dead career came calling.

Continue reading Entourage: Fantasy Island (season premiere)

Letterman speaks up for Leno

Letterman deskWhile NBC is carefully plotting Jay Leno's exit from The Tonight Show, David Letterman is talking about staying on the CBS Late Show beyond 2010. And since the subject of Leno came up, Dave thinks the guys at NBC are nuts to treat Jay the way they are, especially since he's done such a great job in the 11:30 slot. Letterman even said he wants Jay on his show the day after his Tonight Show tenure ends.

Letterman, who was once the heir apparent to Johnny Carson's desk but was passed over in favor of Leno, has thrived on CBS even though he was crushed to lose The Tonight Show. The supposed feud between Letterman and Leno, and their competition for The Tonight Show, was depicted in the HBO film (and Bill Carter book) The Late Shift. (If you've never seen it, buy or rent it; it's one of the best films ever about how TV works behind the scenes.)

Continue reading Letterman speaks up for Leno

Ted Danson in for HBO pilot

Ted Danson in for HBO pilotTed Danson is one of those actors who just keeps chugging along through the years. He could have easily disappeared after Cheers, but he's been working steadily in both movies and TV.

Becker sort of flew under the radar, but aired from 1998 to 2004. There was the short-lived Help Me Help You in 2006. Danson even voiced a part on King of the Hill (Tom Hammond in "The Accidental Tourist" episode).

But it's his stint as the sinister Arthur Frobisher in Damages that's brought him into the forefront again. It also helped to catapult him into his next gig -- a lead role in HBO's comedy pilot Bored to Death.

Continue reading Ted Danson in for HBO pilot

Flight of the Conchords to end after second season

Bret and McKenzieBad news, Flight of the Conchords fans. It looks like the upcoming season of their HBO show will be the end. The boys, Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, have confirmed that they've been having trouble making the second season, struggling with making new music and sitting around with a lot of half-songs, "an album's worth of beginnings of songs." Sure, sure, they deserve to take it easy, especially after bringing us twelve episodes of goodness, but can fans really help but feel brokenhearted? Commence full body-shaking sobbing.

Continue reading Flight of the Conchords to end after second season

Next Page >

Featured Stories

fall tv schedule
meet the tv squad

Categories

RSS Feeds

Powered by Blogsmith

AOL TV's Top 5


More Features


watch full episodes online

TV Squad Newsletter

Get TV Squad's daily posts emailed to you daily. Sign up now!

Sponsored Links

Most Commented On (7 days)

Blog Roll

Other Weblogs Inc. Network blogs you might be interested in: