TVSquad

Have you seen all those feel-good commercials on CBS showing the actors returning to work after the WGA strike, the message promising us that good times -- and fresh new episodes -- would soon be on the air? Well, here comes the cold shower. The big story this morning out of L.A. is that Hollywood is shaking with fear that the actors will strike this summer if a new contract isn't hammered out before June 30.

Big names like George Clooney and Tom Hanks have been quietly urging Screen Actors Guild president Alan Rosenberg to commence negotiations now in hopes of averting another contentious battle. Even AFTRA (SAG's sister organization, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) reportedly wants to start formal talks.

There are those in the world that will try to convince you that Bosom Buddies, the early 80s sitcom starring Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari as two advertising guys who have to dress as women in order to afford the rent at an apartment building, is a terrible show. A show that was short-lived because it was so bad. A show that Tom Hanks is probably embarrassed to have on his resume.

None of those things are true. Hanks is proud of the show and has talked about it fondly for years. And the show is actually good. Sure, the premise is ridiculous and "sitcommy," but so what? If it's funny, it's funny. This show was funny, and the two leads and the supporting cast (including Telma Hopkins, the late Wendie Jo Sperber, and Holland Taylor from Two and a Half Men) are great together.

TVShowsOnDVD is reporting that the first season of the show is finally coming to DVD, after many years of speculation. No official word from the studio yet, but there is a pic of the box for the set, which will include 19 episodes. Hopefully there will be some commentaries too.

Jon Stewart was terrified by the image of two Dubyas on C-SPAN this Saturday (Myth: Bush has started reproducing asexually to build his Bush-Army. Fact: It was a Bush impersonator helping the president out on his speech), but calmed himself down once he saw his buddy Stephen Colbert take the stage. Stewart gave major props to Stephen Colbert for his performance at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner (an event at which the White House and the press "consummate their loveless marriage"). He called it "ballsalicious" and remarked, "We've never been prouder of him but... and... holy shit." His praise sounded like that of a proud father. I love the friendship between Jon and Stephen. As a viewer, one can really feel it. Group hug!

It seems that the big guns are being pulled out for the last few weeks of Saturday Night Live. First, it was announced that Tom Hanks, who will probably be promoting his movie The DaVinci Code, would be hosting the May 6th episode along with musical guest Red Hot Chili Peppers. Now we learn from the fan site drivingmrspacey that actor Kevin Spacey will be hosting the May 20th season finale.

Spacey, who will be starring as Lex Luthor in this summer's Superman Returns, hasn't hosted SNL since 1997 (at least according his IMdb entry). This will place him far down the leader board in a tie with, er, Lindsay Lohan.

If you have been reading Jonathan Toomey's SNL reviews this year (and I know you all have), you know that this season has been a bit of a hit-and-miss, with the highlights being the pre-recorded sketches and the TV Funhouse cartoons. Let's see if the combined power of Hanks and Spacey will get the writers pumped to produce some great comedy.

[Thanks to Anthony for the tip]

Which of these things is not like the other: Al Pacino, Don Cheadle, Robert Downey, Jr., Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks, and... Tim Allen? Bravo is touting all of these actors' upcoming appearances with James Lipton on Inside the Actors Studio (a title that is screaming for an apostrophe!). Hanks will be the first actor to make a second appearance in the Studio, while Dustin Hoffman will be the Studio's 200th celebrity guest. No air dates are set, but the network says they'll appear this spring.

While most of the names are impressive, they might also be a bit boring. My favorite guest was Mike Myers, who did all sorts of voices and had some fun at Lipton's expense.

Who would you like to see Inside the Actors Studio?