TVSquad

ABC's newest stunt game show Crash Course looks exactly like the kind of show that bloggers and critics watch just so they could put their "Suck Extinguishers" to good use.

And yet 45 minutes of TV viewing later, I'm not even feeling the need to break the protective glass. On the surface, it appears to be just another reality/game show with typical contestants having their ids scared for life for cash and/or prizes and most of it is just that.

And even though it met those stereotypical expectations, I still didn't hate it. Part of me actually kind of (gulp) enjoyed it. Did I just swallow my brains along with my pride?

"Our insurance bill is crazy," said executive producer Arthur Smith. This has to be one of the craziest ideas for a game show I've ever heard. I don't even think the Japanese do things like this, though ironically Smith and EP partner Kent Weed are also the men behind I Survived a Japanese Game Show. Now, they're bringing auto-competition to ABC with Crash Course. Man, I just can't see this ending well.

Think of the average reality show competitor. Then think of pairing them up with someone they know, putting them behind the wheel of a car and having them do things like drive on two wheels, or busting through walls. Or giving one of them control of the brake and the other the steering and gas. My god, there's a reason they have stunt people do these kinds of things on television and in the movies. The potential for horrifying flaming death is way higher than on any other reality shows. But at least we'll have the soothing voices of Dan Cortese and Orlando Jones to make us feel better about it. "Stop, drop and roll isn't going to put out that fire, Dan."

(S02E10) "Chuck's father is alive?" - Olive

I'm sad. Even if, contrary to what I reported a few weeks back, Pushing Daisies' final episode ever - episode 2.13 - will offer some closure to most characters thanks to last minute editing and retooling, I'm sad as "The Norwegians" could very well have been the last episode we will see of the series on a TV screen. ABC claims it plans to air the final three hours as a block sometime in the near future but fans know networks can change their mind rather quickly, especially when money talks. Will ABC live up to its promise? Will they put the episodes online? Or, worse, will we have to wait months and months to watch them on DVD?

No matter the answers to these questions, we should cherish "The Norwegians" as we don't know when we will see our favorite pie maker and his crew next. One thing is for sure, the episode gave us a lot of action and left us saying "WTF?" and "OMG!"

As you may have already read, I went to the set of Ghost Whisperer on Thursday, October 18th at Universal Studios. There I got an interview with the producers, a visit to the Ghost Whisperer stages, and a sneak peak at the Halloween episode. What I neglected to mention (because the producers asked those in attendance not to write about this until they released the information on October 22) was that Orlando Jones would be joining the cast of Ghost Whisperer this season.

(S02E12) In this review I mentioned that the character of Ms. Morello seemed to be switching from a dimwitted woman misinformed about black culture to your basic run-of-the-mill racist, and in this episode she wasn't much better, returning to a trip from Africa with a tiny bone for Chris he could put in his nose.

Now, if that's merely a choice on the part of the writers to have Ms. Morello completely oblivious to her own actions as a means of comic relief, that's their prerogative, but what I loved about her character from the early episodes is how she demonstrated that not all racism is blatant: sometimes you can have what seems like the best of intentions and still be completely wrong in your approach. Now, she's just another idiot.

Things are going to get a bit more complicated up in Elmo, Alaska when a new character joins the show. According to TV Guide, actor Orlando Jones is joining the cast of Men in Trees (my fave new show of the fall). Jones will play 'George', the gay son of Buzz. I believe we learned a few episodes ago that Buzz ditched his son and fled to Alaska. Now George and Patrick will be brothers. Weird.

As far as Orlando's television experience, he's all over the map. He has the distinction of being an original cast member of MAD TV, was the 7UP spokesman, played a lead role in the short-lived show Evidence, and hosted the short-lived The Orlando Jones Show on FX in 2003. Bottom line: the guy is hilarious and will make a terrific addition to the cast. Look for him in Elmo early next year.

[Via TV Tattle]

I caught this episode when it aired a couple of weeks ago, and I hadn't planned on writing anything up about it. In fact, even after seeing the episode, I wasn't so sure I wanted to write about it. But since we've gotten a few requests, I figured it was time to post some of my thoughts on the pilot episode of this new series.

I actually talked about this show a bit on the last APB podcast with Ryan, siting some of my issues with it. I agreed with Ryan's assessment of Orlando Jones -- he deserves a show. He's come a long way from 7-UP commercials, and I really think he should have what it takes to lead or co-lead a series, though I think drama's not his forte, no matter how many quirky lines he's handed.