The Bachelor-related stories
Posted May 14th 2009 7:03PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Programming

Leave it to FOX to do something like this. Mike Fleiss, the guy behind ABC's
The Bachelor, will make another single guy dating show (this time starring a fat guy) called
The Fatchelor. It's slated to air this summer but might be pushed to the fall.
Something tells me that a show titled
The Fatchelorette would cause controversies and get various groups in an uproar, but having a fat guy in it is funny! Will he be the only fat one? Will the women all be hot and make this into sort of a reality show version of
According To Jim or
Still Standing? Wasn't there a prank reality show several years back that did something like this?
What other network show would you like to see get, um, bigger?
Continue reading Wait, FOX actually has a show called The Fatchelor this summer?
Posted May 6th 2009 11:03AM by Isabelle Carreau
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Other Reality Shows, Programming, American Idol, CSI, Law and Order, Survivor, Grey's Anatomy, Cancellations, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free, TV Squad Ten

Earlier this week, I let you know of
the ten shows I thought should be renewed. Now it's time to reverse the question and think about the shows that shouldn't be renewed. Yes, there are some shows that should end now, either because they have annoying characters (*cough* Meredith Grey *cough*), are not treated properly by their network (insert here pretty much all shows on FOX), have been on TV for too long and have a hard time being original (I'm talking about you
Survivor), etc.
ER would have been a prime candidate for this list, but NBC finally made the right decision and ended the show a few weeks ago. Note that my list includes some shows that have received early renewals. Still, I think they should be canceled asap. So what other shows, besides
ER, I think should bite the dust? Let's find out!
If you just want the list, click here.Continue reading TV Squad Ten: Series that should be canceled
Posted May 6th 2009 11:03AM by Isabelle Carreau

10 -
Survivor, CBS
9 -
Ghost Whisperer, CBS
8 -
The Bachelor, ABC
7 -
The Unit, CBS
6 - At least one
CSI, CBS
5 - At least one
Law & Order, NBC/USA Network
4 -
Brothers & Sisters, ABC
3 -
Private Practice, ABC
2 -
American Idol, FOX
1 -
Grey's Anatomy, ABC
Want to see the pictures or leave a comment? Click here.Posted Apr 23rd 2009 5:05PM by Isabelle Carreau
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Other Reality Shows, Programming, OpEd, Lost, Grey's Anatomy, Dancing With The Stars, Cancellations, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free

It's that time of year again when network executives are having meetings after meetings to decide which shows we should be watching next season.
The CW announced the renewal of six of its shows about two months ago but besides that announcement, news of renewals have been rare when compared to news of cancellations.
Today, ABC sent out a press release confirming the twelve of its series would return for the 2009-2010 season. As you'll see after the jump, it was pretty much a given that those series would get another year either due to their ratings or the low cost of production compared to the money the show brings in with sponsors and ads.
Continue reading ABC gives early renewals to 12 shows
Posted Mar 30th 2009 11:02AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, OpEd, Pickups and Renewals

Fox seems to think so. It has struck a deal with Mike Fleiss, the producer of
The Bachelor, to produce a new dating show in which
everyone will be more "average" looking. The show will be called
More To Love.
They claim it's an attempt to break the industry assumption that viewers only want to watch highly attractive people. It seems more like another attempt by reality television to use a certain type of people in exchange for some air time on a major network. But that's just me.
My big concern is that Fox is essentially taking advantage of the obesity problem in the United States. While I like the concept behind such shows as
The Biggest Loser, this has the potential of being a case of freaks on display. On the other hand, if the people behave normally, it could give a good message to the public that being overweight, while not healthy, does not automatically make a person unattractive.
Posted Mar 8th 2009 8:42PM by Michael Pascua
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Celebrities, Dancing With The Stars

Close sources have been throwing the rumor that
Melissa Rycroft will be replacing Nancy O'Dell on
Dancing with the Stars. Although there aren't any official statements from ABC about Rycroft (or about Holly Madison replacing Jewel), it seems very plausible. I'm under the assumption that Toni Dovolani will be her professional partner. If the name doesn't ring a bell, Melissa was a contestant on the most recent version of
The Bachelor.
The replacement news seemed quite obvious for ABC. Think about it: What's the best way for ABC to replace a contestant last minute? Pick someone in their own pool. I was hoping for a Disney Channel star, someone from
Pushing Daisies, yet another soap star, or at least someone that could be considered more of a "celebrity."
I'm not expecting much from Melissa, especially with Trista, the original
Bachelorette, being eliminated first in Season One. Granted, there were only six contestants that season. Melissa is already behind the eight ball since she has less time to practice than everyone else and she probably has a smaller fan base than the rest of the celebrities.
Posted Mar 5th 2009 3:05PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Programming, OpEd

It's either a response to the economy (you know we writers and "reporters" are contractually obligated to mention it at least twice in every 15 minutes of 200 words) or is it us? Laziness on the part of network executives (the nerve you say!) or laziness on us? Or maybe we can blame the Writers Guild of America strike from last year. Or maybe it would be easier to just blame the Bush Administration; another mandate. Or maybe we just miss our made-for-television movies. Whatever the reason, there are more and more longer and longer programs on television.
Just this season,
The Biggest Loser and
The Bachelor expanded their regular broadcasts to two-hour blocks. We've already been dealing with multiple hours a week of
American Idol and
Dancing With the Stars for years now. Just this past week, both
Brothers & Sisters and
24 offered up back-to-back installments, the former even billing it a two-hour movie event. Now
24 has been known to launch seasons in this way, so it's not such a big deal. But since when did a culture of short attention span Twittering, Facebooking Internet junkies suddenly get the patience for two-hour-long episodes of television shows?
Continue reading When did TV get so long?
Posted Mar 3rd 2009 4:06PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, ABC has a new Homeland Security, USA.
- FOX has a new, two-hour American Idol at 8.
- The CW has the season premiere of Reaper at 8.
- At 9, BBC America has a new Last Restaurant Standing.
- At 10, ABC has yet another installment of the never-ending Bachelor reunion thing.
- FX has the season finale of Nip/Tuck at 10.
- Bravo has a new Real Housewives of New York City at 10.
- There's a new Chopped on Food Network at 10.
- Travel Channel has a new Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.
- Also at 10: TNT has a new Trust Me.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: Reaper, Nip/Tuck, Real Housewives
Posted Mar 2nd 2009 4:02PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, ABC has the season finale of The Bachelor, followed by the reunion show.
- CBS has a new Big Bang Theory at 8, then new episodes of How I Met Your Mother and Two and a Half Men, the season premiere of Rules of Engagement, and then a new CSI: Miami.
- NBC has new episodes of Chuck, Heroes, and Medium.
- FOX has a new, two-hour 24 at 8.
- MyNetwork TV has Masters of Illusion at 8.
- ABC Family has a new Secret Life of the American Teenager at 8, followed by a new Kyle XY.
- TLC has two new episodes of Little People, Big World at 8.
- Also at 8: Food Network has a new Good Eats.
- At 9, USA has a new Monday Night RAW.
- At 9:30, Food Network has a new Will Work For Food.
- At 10, TNT has a new Saving Grace.
- History Channel has a new Ax Men at 10.
- A&E has a new Paranormal State at 10.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: The Bachelor, 24, Chuck, RAW, Saving Grace, Fallon
Posted Feb 23rd 2009 4:09PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
TV Land has an Andy Griffith Show marathon all night.
- Sci-Fi has a new Star Trek: TNG marathon all night.
- At 8, ABC has a new, two-hour episode of The Bachelor, followed by the season finale of True Beauty.
- NBC has a new Chuck at 8, then new episodes of Heroes and Medium.
- FOX has new episodes of House and 24.
- PBS has a new Antiques Roadshow at 8, followed by a new American Experience.
- ABC Family has a new Secret Life of the American Teenager at 8, then a new Kyle XY.
- TLC has two new episodes of Little People, Big World at 8.
- Lifetime has a new Rita Rocks at 8.
- At 9, USA has a new Monday Night RAW.
- TNT has the season finale of The Closer at 9, followed by a new Trust Me.
- Discovery has a new Man vs. Wild at 9.
- At 10, Travel Channel has a new Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: Heroes, 24, Little People, Big World, Trust Me
Posted Feb 16th 2009 4:00PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
TV Land has an Andy Griffith Show marathon all night.
- At 6:30, Nickelodeon has a new SpongeBob SquarePants, then new episodes of True Jackson, VIP and iCarly, and the movie Spectacular.
- At 7:30, Disney has a new Hannah Montana.
- At 8, ABC has a new, two-hour episode of The Bachelor, followed by a new True Beauty.
- NBC has a new Chuck at 8, then new episodes of Heroes and Medium.
- FOX has new episodes of House and 24.
- PBS has a new Antiques Roadshow at 8.
- ABC Family has a new Secret Life on the American Teenager at 8, followed by a new Kyle XY.
- BBC America has a new Top Gear at 8.
- Also at 8: Food Network has a new Good Eats.
- At 9, USA has a new Monday Night RAW.
- There's a new episode of The Closer on TNT at 9, then a new Trust Me.
- At 10, Food Network has a new Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
- Travel Channel has a new Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations at 10.
- TCM has Some Like It Hot at 10.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: The Bachelor, Kyle XY, Good Eats, The Closer
Posted Feb 9th 2009 4:00PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
TV Land has an Andy Griffith Show marathon all night.
- At 8, the major networks and the news channels have President Obama's speech to the nation.
- There's a new Antiques Roadshow on PBS at 8, followed by a new American Experience.
- ABC Family has a new Secret Life of the American Teenager at 8, then a new Kyle XY.
- Lifetime has a new Rita Rocks at 8.
- USA has the Westminster Kennel Dog Club Show at 8, then a new Monday Night RAW.
- BBC America has a new Top Gear at 8.
- At 9, ABC has a new, two-hour episode of The Bachelor.
- CBS has a new Two and a Half Men at 9, followed by new episodes of Big Bang Theory and CSI: Miami.
- NBC has a new Heroes at 9, then a new Medium.
- FOX has a new 24 at 9.
- TNT has new episodes of The Closer and Trust Me.
- Also at 9: Food Network has a new Unwrapped, then new episodes of Will Work For Food and Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
- At 10, Discovery has a new Man vs. Wild.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: Obama, Heroes, RAW, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
Posted Jan 26th 2009 4:06PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 8, ABC has a new, two-hour Bachelor, followed by a new True Beauty.
- NBC has a new Superstars of Dance at 8, then the miniseries The Last Templar.
- FOX has new episodes of House and 24.
- PBS has a new Antiques Roadshow at 8, followed by a new American Experience.
- There's a new Secret Life of the American Teenager on ABC Family at 8, then a new Kyle XY.
- Bravo has a new Inside The Actor's Studio at 8, with Conan O'Brien.
- Also at 8: Food Network has a new Good Eats at 8, followed by a new Will Work For Food.
- At 9, USA has a new Monday Night RAW.
- TNT has a new episode of The Closer at 9, then the series premiere of Trust Me.
- At 10, Food Network has a new Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
- A&E has two new episodes of Paranormal State at 10.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: Superstars Of Dance, Conan O'Brien, Trust Me
Posted Jan 22nd 2009 6:02PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Industry

Question: What do the following TV shows have in common?
Joe Millionaire,
The Bachelor,
Are You Hot?,
Trading Spouses,
The Will, and
My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance.
If you answered "they all destroy the human soul a little bit when you watch them," you're absolutely correct. But that's not what this post is about.
Actually, they're all shows whose workers filed a class-action suit in California three years ago.
A settlement has been reached and the workers will be sharing a $4 million settlement. The suit accused the shows of violating state wage and work rules. Workers on those shows worked 80 hours a week and were denied lunches and breaks. They were also asked to fake their time cards. Worst of all, the workers were asked to actually watch the shows they were working on, which violating human rights laws in the United States.
Of course, I kid. It violated human rights laws around the world.
Posted Jan 19th 2009 4:00PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free
At 7, Bravo has a new Inside The Actor's Studio, with Ricky Gervais.
- At 8, ABC has a new, two-hour Bachelor, then a new True Beauty.
- CBS has a new Big Bang Theory at 8, followed by new episodes of How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, Worst Week, and CSI: Miami.
- NBC has a new, two-hour Superstars of Dance at 8, then a new Momma's Boys.
- FOX has new episodes of House and 24.
- The CW has a new Gossip Girl at 8, followed by a new One Tree Hill.
- There's a new Secret Life of the American Teenager at 8, then a new Kyle XY.
- Food Network has a new Good Eats at 8, followed by the series premiere of Will Work For Food.
- Also at 8: Disney has Kid's Inaugral: We Are The Future.
- At 9, USA has a new Monday Night RAW.
- ESPN has more coverage of The Australian Open at 9.
- At 10, Food Network has a new Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
Check your
local TV listings for more.
After the jump, the late night talk shows.
Continue reading What's On Tonight: Gossip Girl, 24, Australian Open, Will Work For Food
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