Independence Day-related stories
Posted Jul 4th 2008 10:04AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Video, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free

So, did you hear that they did a
poll they did to determine which presidential candidate people would like to hang out with at a barbecue? Obama won 52 to 45 percent over McCain, which may not mean very much in the long run, but the day before July 4th it made news.
The thought of barbecues and July 4th parties got me thinking about which TV characters with whom I'd like to spend Independence Day. I wouldn't want them here at my place, though, I want to go to their places. I have high expectations, too, and a vivid imagination.
Here's the six TV characters who could expect me to join them to watch the rockets red glare -- if only they were real live folks and not just my fictional faves.
Continue reading Six TV characters with whom I'd like to share July 4th - VIDEO
Posted Jul 3rd 2008 9:43AM by Kristin Sample
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Programming, OpEd

MTV continues its commitment to inspire young people to get out there and vote. As part of the
Choose or Lose campaign, on July 4th MTV2 will honor the millions of young men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The day-long programming event will include exclusive messages from both Senator McCain and Senator Obama. The programming block will not only pay tribute to the sacrifice of these young soldiers, but also elevate their issues in light of the 2008 Presidential campaigns.
Continue reading MTV puts the spotlight on young veterans
Posted May 5th 2007 2:06PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Programming
HBO has just announced that they are going to take Richard Ford's acclaimed trilogy of books, The Sportswriter, Independence Day, and Lay of the Land, and turn them into a six hour miniseries titled The Sportswriter.
The books focus on sportswriter Frank Bascombe and the problems he has in his life. The books cover everything from Vietnam to 9/11 and so will the miniseries. It will be directed by James Mangold (Men In Trees, Identity, Walk The Line) and written by Mark Bomback, who also wrote the upcoming third Die Hard movie with Bruce Willis and Justin Long.
This should be an interesting miniseries, especially if they get someone good to play Bascombe and stick close to the books. I've only read The Sportswriter. It's quite good.
[via TV Tattle]
Posted Aug 20th 2006 8:01PM by Joel Keller
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, TV on DVD, OpEd, Animation, Retro Squad, Futurama
(S01E12) Very few writers can somehow lampoon both
Independence Day and
Ally McBeal in the same episode and somehow make it look like it makes sense. I mean, take a look at
Family Guy; it rockets from one pop-culture reference to the next without much of a thought to context or its relatability to the actual plot of the episode. The writers of
Futurama, however, seem to take such a juxtaposition and smoothly incorporate it into the plot of the show. It could be the fact that the show takes place in the future, where you can create something like Monument Beach and make it sound plausible. But it might just be damn good writing (or at least, writing that's not
done by manatees).
Continue reading Futurama: When Aliens Attack