TVSquad

Okay, gang, this week I need a little help. I got a letter from a guy named Rick and here it is:

"I have been trying to remember a TV show from back in the '70s. From what I can remember, a scientist was working on a device to let people walk again. He was attacked and his back was broken. He then worked on making it work on him, witch (sic) in turn he built a suit which incorporated his invention. he then put it all in a delivery truck and used it to drive all over and fight crime. he would lay down in the bottom part of the suit and the top would come down and seal him in. it was all self supported and air tight."

Now before I get a hundred wrong answers, the show was not MANTIS. I have a vague memory of this show and it was similar to MANTIS but the star was white and it premiered in the late '70s. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Now on to this weeks question.

(S03E08) I remember back when I interviewed Carl Lumbly that he'd mentioned something quickly in passing about making an appearance on Battlestar Galactica, or maybe it was just something I read somewhere later. He'd actually also said that he wanted to take a rest for a while, once Alias was through, though I'd hardly call his appearance on Battlestar taking a rest.

In case you've missed it -- perhaps you were busy going through upfronts withdrawl -- here are some highlights from the last week at TV Squad:



American Idol coverage

• William Hung is still milking it.
• AI is kicking Lost's butt in the ratings.
• Elliot thinks he's just getting his career started.
• Paula's running mascara.
• Mexicans for Taylor.
• Does anyone still care about AI now that Chris is gone?
  

Season and Series Finales

• Numb3rs: "Hot Shot"
• ER: "Twenty-One Guns"
• Wonder Showzen: "Clarence Special Report"
• The O.C.: "The Graduates"
• Will & Grace: "The Finale"
• American Inventor: Finale results show
• That '70s Show: "That '70s Finale"
• CSI:NY: "Charge of This Post"
• Invasion: "The Last Wave Goodbye"
• The Amazing Race: Season 9 Finale
• Scrubs: "My Transition"
• L&O: SVU: "Influence"
• How I Met Your Mother: "Come On"
• Grey's Anatomy: "Losing My Religion"
• Prison Break: "Flight"
• Survivor: Exile Island: "The Final Showdown"
• King of the Hill: "Edu-macating Lucky"
• The West Wing: "Tomorrow"
  

Network Upfronts

• FOX, The CW, CBS, ABC, NBC
• How 7th Heaven came back from the dead.
• Grey's Anatomy spoofs itself.
• Will NBC move Studio 60 away from CSI and Grey's?
• Bob is flabbergasted that FOX renewed The Loop.
• Six-minute Studio 60 trailer is on YouTube.
• What happens to pilots that don't make it?
• Is CBS playing it too safe?
• Wil you watch a Commander-In-Chief movie?
• Is NBC's new Thursday lineup "Must See TV"?
• NBC will have a heavy web presence this fall.
• Keith and I go over the upfronts in APB podcast #12.
  

Breaking News

• Conan O'Brien to host Emmys.
• The final person to play Clarabell the Clown dies.
• The judges for America's Got Talent are announced.
• David Milch confirms that this is Deadwood's last season.
• Props from Arrested Development go up for auction.
• Aaron Brown takes a teaching job at Arizona State.
• Read Fred Goss' MySpace blog to see how he feels about the axing of Sons & Daughters.
• Prison Break to film in Dallas next season.
• Steve Carell hurt on movie set.
  

Discussions

• Anna talks to John C. McGinley about Scrubs and red staplers.
• What was the top-rated show the year you were born?
• Keith talks to Carl Lumbly of Alias.
• What are you going to watch over the summer?
• What shows are you giving up next season?
• The Daily Show or The Colbert Report: which is better?
  

The Five

• Favorite TV housekeepers.
• Lovely cartoon ladies.
• Favorite TV judges.
• Reasons why Keith's afraid to give Grey's a chance next year.
  

Opinions

• Hey, Adam! You forgot to list Alice on your list of housekeepers!
• Adam remembers Kissyfur.
• Anna reminds herself not to eat while watching CSI.
• She also thinks Keith Olbermann should stop listening to his producers.
• If you're pissed about the Grey's finale, don't read Shonda Rhimes' blog.
• Hey kids! Watch Siskel and Ebert swear and goof on each other!
• Here's what Bob would choose if he had a la carte cable.
  

Episode Reviews

• Lost: "Three Minutes"
• Alias: "No Hard Feelings"
• House: "Who's Your Daddy?"
• 24: "4:00 AM - 5:00 AM"
• The Simpsons: "The Monkey Suit"
• The Sopranos: "Moe N' Joe"

Some of you long time readers of TV Squad -- in particular those who are Alias fans -- know that I've had a love-hate relationship with the show. I've been an avid viewer since its first season, and although I will say it's had its ups and downs, there's no denying that the show has retained one simple yet important characteristic: it's fun.

Unfortunately for some, the show comes to an end next week, having completed a solid five season run. Though I feel some may not find it so unfortunate, as the show gets to wrap up the way it should, giving it the proper send off it throughly deserves.

Speaking of fortunate, I was just that for having the opportunity to talk to Carl Lumbly last week. Carl's been playing Marcus Dixon on Alias since day one, starting out as Sydney Bristow's partner in what they both thought was the CIA. He's also supplied the voice of Martian Manhunter from the Justice League cartoon series. We talked about his work on Alias, Justice League, his new 'do and a little bit of golf.

As part of the run-up to the series finale of Alias, seasons four and five of the show are now available on iTunes. You can buy one episode for the usual $1.99 or you can buy all of season four for $34.99. And, for the rest of the season, new episodes will be available the morning after they air.

Alias returns tonight for a two-hour episode from 8 pm to 10:01 pm (thus, no Lost).