Texas-related stories
Posted Nov 19th 2009 9:29AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Friday Night Lights, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S04E04) Life is what happens while you're busy making plans. Matt hasn't exactly been the architect of his future, but the Dillon former quarterback has been plugging along. This week found Saracen in the cross hairs emotionally. The Taylors, meanwhile, continue to struggle through the professional turmoil, and the younger set in Dillon has definite issues -- some good, some not-so-good.
Then there's Buddy Garrity. If he's not a Panther anymore, and he denounced his identity with the West Dillon team last week, what is he? As he told Eric, the beauty of boosterism is that it comes from the heart. Where's Buddy's heart now? More on that and the rest, after the jump.
Continue reading Review: Friday Night Lights - A Sort of a Homecoming
Posted Nov 12th 2009 1:10AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Friday Night Lights, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S04E03) There's so much that's right about
Friday Night Lights this new season that it probably sounds like I'm overdoing it with the positive notices. However, the way they've shaken up Eric and Tami's life together in Dillon has been terrific.
The gerrymandering for the town, sending Eric to coach a poor school with a tattered football squad is inspired storytelling. And Tami's not in a better place back at West Dillon because
she sent Luke Cafferty to East Dillon, the school he was supposed to be attending. The Boosters are not happy with Tami. Eric's not sleeping. What's going to happen now?
Continue reading Review: Friday Night Lights - In the Skin of a Lion
Posted Nov 5th 2009 12:42AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Friday Night Lights, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S04E02) In case you think the Coach Eric Taylor has all the answers, this episode shows that's not always the way it is. In last week's show, the East Dillon Lions were so awful, Coach couldn't take it. He threw in the towel, which is a boxing term, but by forfeiting the game at half-time, that's what he did in football terms.
Things were hardly better for Tami at Dillon, although by comparison, her school looks like paradise. Eric's on the other side of paradise. More about that and the rest of the players, on field and off, after the jump.
Continue reading Review: Friday Night Lights - After the Fall
Posted Oct 28th 2009 12:02PM by Jonathan Toomey
Filed under: OpEd, Friday Night Lights, Early Looks, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
Entering into its fourth season (and second since the NBC/DirecTV deal),
Friday Night Lights is a show in transition on numerous levels. The high school football drama returns tonight to DirecTV's 101 Network at 9 p.m. ET (NBC won't air this season until next summer) and for fans of the show, it's an episode they've long been waiting for.
Ever since the season three finale, as Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his wife Tami (Connie Britton) stepped on to the East Dillon Lions decrepit football field, Eric's new home, the tension has been at an all time high in Dillon, Texas. How can Coach Taylor, a man whom many consider to be a high school football wunderkind, start from scratch with a team that doesn't even exist yet?
Continue reading Friday Night Lights, season four -- An early look
Posted Sep 20th 2009 5:08PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Celebrities, Friday Night Lights, Reality-Free, The Big Bang Theory
If
Jim Parsons wins the
Emmy tonight for The Big Bang Theory, you better believe he'll be in a position to pick and choose the projects he does in the future. But here's one that I think would be fascinating, to quote Dr. Sheldon Cooper's favorite Vulcan scientist:
Jim Parsons would like to appear on Friday Night Lights.
In a recent interview, Jim was asked about his favorite current show -- other than his own -- and he said it was
Friday Night Lights. That's right, the NBC drama series about high school football deep in the heart of Texas! Somehow it's hard to imagine Sheldon in pads and a helmet. Maybe he could be the water boy? Or the genius offensive coordinator.
Continue reading Jim Parsons on Friday Night Lights? If he had his way...
Posted Nov 24th 2008 1:13PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Friday Night Lights, Reality-Free
The best NBC drama currently in production hasn't been doing much to help the Nielsen ratings. That's because the show,
Friday Night Lights, isn't being shown on NBC right now. Season three has been unspooling on DirecTV and after eight episodes, the award-winning series is in the midst of a top-notch season.
In fact, after somewhat coming off the rails last season with Landry and Tyra's murder plot, Riggins and Street in Mexico, and Matt's involvement with Grandma's nurse, this year's shows are focused, complex and definitely back on track.
That starts with Tami and Eric. Coach Taylor remains as coiled as ever, only now the pressure to succeed seems even more intense because of the emergence of J.D. McCoy, the phenom freshman quarterback. J.D.'s pushy father and personal quarterback coach tick Eric off, but he likes the kid and has demoted Matt in order to give the more talented player a chance.
Continue reading Friday Night Lights: The season so far, part 2
Posted Oct 2nd 2008 11:02AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Friday Night Lights, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S03E01) If you're fortunate enough to be a DirecTV subscriber, tonight you had the opportunity to see the premiere of
Friday Night Lights. The Dillon Panther football team was back, as were all the characters who deal with real world life issues that have nothing to do with the grid iron. The best thing about
Friday Night Lights, in fact, is that the show is only set in a sports environment. The drama is much more than who wins or loses a game, and that's what stays with you. There are no easy answers for Eric and Tami, Tyra and Landry, Tim and Lyla. Even Buddy has ambiguities.
That said, NBC will be back with these same
Friday Night Light episodes -- season three -- at mid-season. Therefore, for people like me with the DirecTV dish, we're getting the shows in advance. TV Squad has decided to review the season premiere -- including spoilers -- so please, if you want to wait and be surprised, be forewarned. On the other hand, if you want to know what's happened since the end of last season, follow me after the jump.
Continue reading Friday Night Lights: I Knew You When (season premiere)
Posted Aug 14th 2008 5:39PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Industry, Celebrities, Reality-Free
Are you available Saturday, November 8th? Will you be in Parker, Texas? If the answer to these questions is yes, then maybe you'll head out to
Southfork Ranch for a reunion with cast members of the classic CBS mega-hit
Dallas. In honor of the 30th anniversary of the primetime soap, several actors from the show -- those still around -- will gather for a huge celebration. J.R. -- Larry Hagman -- will be the unofficial host, with Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) and Bobby (Patrick Duffy) also confirmed. No, this is not a dream. It's a real anniversary get together!
And what's really terrific about this event, if you ask me, is that it's not a private party. You can buy a ticket and take part. Tickets go on sale August 22 and will cost between $100 and $1,000. And for that money there will be a chance to ask questions of the stars, enjoy a concert of country music, tour Southfork and watch a fireworks display. Presumably that will not be a re-enactment of "Who shot J.R.?"
Continue reading Dallas 30th anniversary reunion planned
Posted May 9th 2008 3:01PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Celebrities, Obituaries, Reality-Free
A roundup of TV people from in front of the camera and behind the scenes who have passed away.
- Eddy Arnold: The legendary country singer was best known for classic songs such as "Make The World Go Away." He also hosted his own TV show in the early 50s called The Eddy Arnold Show and guest starred on many shows, including The Milton Berle Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Jackie Gleason Show, The Tonight Show, and many others. His songs have been used on many TV shows and films, including How I Met Your Mother, Bad Santa, Nurse Betty, Private Parts, and Groundhog Day. He died in Nashville at age 89.
Continue reading TV Obits: Arnold, Iselin, Key
Posted May 8th 2008 11:06AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Daytime, Obituaries, Reality-Free
There are many, many good actors and actresses in daytime. Some shine brighter than others simply because they are so supremely talented that they raise the level of the drama they are creating. There are two women I'm writing about now. They are both daytime actresses of the highest order. One celebrated her birthday yesterday, May 7th. She's
One Life to Live's inimitable Dorian Cramer, actress Robin Strasser. The other, I'm sad to report, passed away last weekend. The incomparable
Beverlee McKinsey was famous for two characters: Iris Carrington on
Another World and Alexandra Spaulding on
Guiding Light. Ms. McKinsey, who'd retired from daytime -- and acting overall -- in 1992 (except for a brief cameo on
General Hospital) died on Friday evening from kidney failure after undergoing a transplant.
I remember vividly watching
Another World when Beverlee McKinsey was front and center. She was a dynamic actress, a real scene stealer. She commanded your attention as the spoiled, grown daughter of millionaire scion MacKenzie Cory, Iris, on
Another World. Her voice saying, "Daddy," is embedded in my memory.
Continue reading TV Squad Soap Report: Two of daytime's all-time best
Posted Apr 4th 2008 11:42AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: King of the Hill, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free
Propane rules! Fox has renewed
King of the Hill for a 13th season. The down home hilarity of Hank and Peggy Hill, their son Bobby and dog Lady Bird, will continue for another year, likely remaining in Fox's strong Sunday night animation lineup that includes
The Simpsons, Family Guy and
American Dad -- although that's only speculation on my part.
Creators Mike Judge (the voice of Hank and Boomhauer) and Greg Daniels (The Office) will continue at the helm, and all the usual characters remain. That means more of Kathy Najimy as Peggy, Brittany Murphy as Luanne, Pamela Adlon as Bobby, Johnny Hardwick as Dale, and Stephen Root as Bill.
Continue reading Fox renews King of the Hill
Posted Feb 29th 2008 3:41PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Sports, Friday Night Lights
Reality is not reality like in TV reality series. Reality, in fact, is usually too true and very often sad. With that in mind, David Edwards, the young
man who was the inspiration for the character Jason Street on NBC's Friday Night Lights, has died. Just 20 years old, David was injured by playing high school football for San Antonio Madison in November 2003. He was a defensive back, and while going after a pass, he collided with an Austin Westlake receiver. Edwards' neck was broken and the injury resulted in his becoming paralyzed.
Continue reading Inspiration for Friday Night Lights' character dies
Posted Aug 23rd 2007 7:04PM by Anna Johns
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Cancellations
After it premiered last night, Fox has
abruptly canceled Anchorwoman. The reality show only received a 1.0 rating in the adult 18-49 demo. Instead, the network will air reruns of
'Til Death in the 8 pm Wednesday time slot for the next three weeks.
Anchorwoman fans will be happy to know that the remaining episodes will be available through the
Fox On Demand website.
I am a little disappointed because I wasn't the only one who was
really rooting for the star, Lauren Jones. She's a former WWE diva and swimsuit model who gets hired to anchor for a small television station with measly ratings in Tyler, Texas. Yes, it is a reality show. While Lauren is not the smartest girl, she surprisingly comes off looking better than her catty coworkers who claim to be journalists.
Posted Aug 23rd 2007 1:29PM by Anna Johns
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, OpEd, Watercooler Talk
The news world is all abuzz (and generally horrified) by
Anchorwoman, a reality show that premiered on Fox last night. The premise of
Anchorwoman is that a station in Tyler, Texas brings in a former professional wrestler/swimsuit model to anchor in order to boost their pathetic ratings.
The true tragedy of
Anchorwoman is not Lauren Jones, a former WWE diva with no journalistic experience, but her coworkers who claim to be journalists. The News Director and the other anchor, Annalisa Petralia, are the ones who are making a mockery of local news which--let's face it--is really easy to do these days. Both people call themselves 'journalists' and talk a lot during the first two episodes about their journalistic integrity, yet they agreed to be on a reality show. There are a handful of people in that Tyler, TX newsroom who obviously did not want to be on a reality show because a whole bunch of faces are blurred out. They have what I like to call "self respect".
Continue reading Anchorwoman is atrocious, but not Lauren Jones
Posted Aug 3rd 2007 10:22AM by Adam Finley
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Other Reality Shows
Anchorwoman, the upcoming comedy/reality series from FOX that takes place at an actual news station in Tyler, Texas, will debut on Wednesday, August 22 rather than August 21 (as previously reported). It will still air at 8:00 p.m., though, kicking off with a one-hour premiere before settling into its normal half hour on Wednesday nights.
Continue reading Anchorwoman shifts to Wednesdays
Next Page >
The TV Squad Podcast: Vik Sahay of Chuck, Oprah talk, brutal timeslots, and more!
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
