TVSquad

We've talked a lot about great short-lived shows here at TV Squad. We even have a whole category for them. But it's always good to revisit the topic to see what you readers think.

Over at Entertainment Weekly, they've chosen the 25 great TV shows that got a quick hook, the shows that got canceled (way) before their time (we're talking really short runs, so Arrested Development and Sports Night aren't on the list). There are several shows on the list that you would expect to see (Freaks and Geeks, My So-Called Life, Firefly), some surprise entries that made me happy to see on there (The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr, Frank's Place, Karen Sisco, Now & Again), and a few head-scratchers (Malibu Road? Really?). It's slightly heavy on the current side, with Journeyman and Life on Mars on the list. I mean, Life on Mars is still running new episodes.

Sometimes you come across a line in a column, an opinion, an observation, that is so mindblowingly wrong-headed that it leaves your mouth hanging open for a full 30 seconds. That's what happened to me when I read this list of the Shows That Died Too Young (great one season shows that shouldn't have been canceled) over at The New York Post. Talking about HBO's John From Cincinnati, the writer says this:

John [From Cincinnati] was not only the most creative program in the medium's sixty year history, but also some of the most mysterious.

Now, the second half of that quote is grammatically baffling, but we get the idea: JFC was the most creative show that has been on television in its 60 year history. Well, what do you think of that?

With The Shield getting set to call it a day, Jay Karnes (Detective Wagenbach) could use a new gig. As is so often the case when looking for work, it's good to have friends. Karnes has landed a new role on FX's Sons of Anarchy, which just happens to be created by Kurt Sutter, writer/executive producer of The Shield. He's signed up for six episodes as an ATF agent named Scott Kohn.

There should be less gunplay involved for Meghan Markle (Deal Or No Deal) and Kellan Lutz (The Comeback). The pair have joined the CW's new version of 90210. Markle will take on the role of Wendy, one of the West Beverly High vixens who takes advantage of her looks. Lutz is on board to play star lacrosse player George Evans. Lutz is 23 and Markle is 26, so it would appear that they've kept that same age appropriate casting the original was famous for. Personally, I just really like the idea of a Deal Or No Deal model being cast on 90210.

I had a very interesting week last week. The high point was an interview I did with Laura Silverman for my podcast. Most of you will know Laura from her role as Sarah's sister on The Sarah Silverman Program. However, she also had major roles on HBO's The Comeback and the comedy classic Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.

She had some funny things to say about working for HBO and Comedy Central but the best part of the interview was a story she told about Sarah's pooch, Duck, who plays Doug on the Comedy Central show.