(S02E04) A high school reunion episode? Didn't I see this before? Well, yes, the idea of a plot centered around a high school reunion has been a popular staple on episodic TV, but the way Chuck used the concept was really something special.
It gave us new insights into Sarah's character and deepened her connection to Chuck. There was still plenty of action, but oh how I love that back story.
Guest star Nicole Richie -- looking pretty, but in need of a milkshake or two to put some meat on her bones -- is not much of an actress. Still, she can play a jealous skank with aplomb, and that was her role here.
As Heather Chandler, Sarah's former classmate at San Diego's James Buchanan High, Chuck discovered things about Sarah heretofore unknown. Good for us viewers, too. If you haven't watched the show yet, beware plot revelations after the jump.
It looks like guest-starring on Chuckisn't the biggest thing going on in Nicole Richie's TV career. The former Simple Life star has just announced that a TV show based on her 2005 novel is in the works. Richie's roman à clef, titled The Truth About Diamonds, follows Chloe Parker, the adopted daughter of a rock star who runs around with a bad crowd in Hollywood. Throughout the novel, Parker faces struggles with the law, drugs and her friends. Sound familiar?
Not only is Richie planning on producing the show, but she'll be appearing in it as well. Even though she based Chloe Parker on herself, Richie says that she won't necessarily be playing the lead, "I would definitely produce and definitely be in the show, [but] I don't know if I need to be the star of this show." Since production is still in the early stages, the details surrounding the series remain unclear, such as what network it will be on, and whether or not it will be a drama or a comedy.
Anyone who's followed the NFL over the last fifteen years knew what Michael Strahan's plans were going to be after retirement: TV, TV and more TV. It was a given; during most of his career with the Giants, Strahan loved to be in front of the camera, and often did commentary and studio gigs on his off-weeks or during the playoffs.
Now, with a Super Bowl ring in-hand, the newly-retired defensive end is making his move. Not only has he joined the FOX NFL pregame show, but he also just completed filming a cameo on the NBC geek adventure comedy Chuck. He plays Mitt, the manager of the sporting goods store that's in the same shopping center as Buy More, the store where Chuck works. He and his crew take over the home theater portion of the store during lunchtimes, playing Madden '09 and making a mess. My guess is that we'll set up a geeks vs. jocks scenario with retail being the venue, instead of the locker room.
Executive producer Josh Schwartz says Nicole Richie is actually quite funny: "Nicole auditioned for the part and was very funny. This role is a great opportunity for her to show off her comedic skills and be diabolically evil and kick some butt."
I just got back from doing my weekly grocery shopping. It took me almost an hour and a half because of the people at the grocery store and the traffic. That's about the amount of time that Nicole Richie stayed in jail today.
The official time was 82 minutes. Seems that's all the time she had to do, apparently. Although she was sentenced to 96 hours in jail but got out rather, um, quickly, "based on her sentence and federal guidelines." Richie was sent to jail for DUI and...well, it's hard to remember what she did and what Paris did and what Lindsay did and what Britney has done.
So what did they do, just give her a tour of the jail and then release her? Did they just strip search her and do her paperwork and then it was time to leave? Did she get a meal or at least a snack in that 82 minutes?
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:
Nicole Richie is doing a big interview with Diane Sawyer next week. Does this mean that the pregnancy rumors are true? And if so, what should we call it?
Muppets! Hundreds of them! Retired muppets are getting a new home.
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:
When shows like The Sopranos and The Wireare syndicated onto basic cable, the content standards get more strict. Can these shows sell without their usual language, violence, and nudity?
Jared Leto has come a long way since My So-Called Life. Now he gained 65 pounds for his new movie role and won't need to worry about being called a "pretty boy" for a while.
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:
Nicole Richie is likely to serve jail time after being arrested for DUI earlier this week. What will she do in jail? More importantly, what won't she be able to do?
To use a line from the brother on The New Adventures of Old Christine, when Richard brought the new Christine to his son's Parent Night at school, "you know, I think there actually might be something wrong with you."
Paris Hilton hit another car with her SUV after shopping on Thursday night. This isn't the first time she's done it, and TMZ.com has this video too. She didn't stick around to talk to the owner, but she did leave her name and number with an employee.
It's a coincidence that I happened to see this online, as I logged on to tell you my thoughts about the new season of The Simple Life on E! Have you seen this show. What a piece of garbage. Not because it's a reality show, but because it's a bad reality show. It's not even entertaining in that "so bad it's good" way, and you know why? They're lying to viewers. A lot of this stuff is just staged to make for a funny show (though they miss the mark big time). For example, the episode I just watched, they are babyproofing a couple's home. While Nicole leaves the vacuum running and then leaves to go out ot lunch with her assistant and drink a lot of shots and PARTY for the cameras (woo-hoo), Paris takes giant roles of bubble wrap and wraps up everything in the apartment, to the wacky shock of the owner.
You know, no one is that stupid, even her. It's like something written for a bad sitcom. And that's all this is. It's not "reality" in any way.
(S02E04) A high school reunion episode? Didn't I see this before? Well, yes, the idea of a plot centered around a high school reunion has been a popular staple on episodic TV, but the way Chuck used the concept was really something special. 
It looks like 
Anyone who's followed the NFL over the last fifteen years knew what Michael Strahan's plans were going to be after retirement: TV, TV and more TV. It was a given; during most of his career with the Giants, Strahan loved to be in front of the camera, and often did commentary and studio gigs on his off-weeks or during the playoffs.
This fall Special Agent Sarah Walker will get a blast from the past as she attends her ten-year high school reunion and comes face-to-face with her old nemesis. 
I just got back from doing my weekly grocery shopping. It took me almost an hour and a half because of the people at the grocery store and the traffic. That's about the amount of time that Nicole Richie stayed in jail today.
Charlie Rose: Governor Haley Barbour, and a discussion of Picasso and Cubism 
To use a line from the brother on The New Adventures of Old Christine, when Richard brought the new Christine to his son's Parent Night at school, "you know, I think there actually might be something wrong with you."
The TV Squad Podcast: Linda Purl talks about The Office, we talk spoilers, and more
Ask TV Squad: Ghost Whisperer and more!
The TV Squad Podcast: Bill Scheft of The Late Show, Cake Boss, Mad Men and more
