TVSquad

So I guess this is official word that ABC Family is not going to pick up The Middleman for a second season? It's a damn shame because I thought the show was one of the sharpest and most entertaining shows on television. TNT picked up Leverage for a second season and it's also a "fun" show. Maybe the producers should shop the show to another network. In the meantime, things are coming back full circle as word has slipped that ABC Family will be bringing the series finale to comics this summer.

Ironically, the series will be published by Viper Comics, which is the company that published the original Middleman comics that inspired the television series. The graphic novel, titled "The Doomsday Armageddon Apocalypse" is being written by creator Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Hans Beimler. So in a way you could also call this just the next Middelman comic story. Sure there were some minor continuity variations, but we should get all that trademark snappy dialogue and wacky encounters the show was famous for. And maybe the TV variation of the story behind Wendy Watson's father.

(S01E03) "Slutty But Sweet," the business mantra of restaurant The Booty Chest

Even the previews for The Middle Man capture that cheese-tastic tone that made the '60s Batman an instant classic. Like Paul, I also enjoy the frenetic pace of the dialogue and the bright colors that sprinkle the show. I've selected the picture over there to explore the costume difference Paul mentioned, wherein Natalie Morales' Wendy Watson dresses pretty hot when off-duty, and then when working wears a suit that truly doesn't work on a woman, as mentioned last episode.

Why can't she put on that Avengers' Emma Peel catsuit she's wearing in the opening credits. She looks really damned hot there. The show itself seems to speak to a mix of that and Get Smart! though The Middle Man is more Agent 99 to Wendy's Maxwell Smart. Even the little goofy things like giving us the time from different time zones each scene change, and not necessarily a time zone that we're in. But in each case it's relevant to the plotline. We get Shanghai time when we're in a Chinese restaurant for example. It's these little touches of quirky humor that make the show such a unique success.

American Idol's loopiest and loveliest judge, Paula Abdul, will be hosting a star-studded benefit concert for the organization In Defense of Animals on Saturday, February 17. The event, which will raise money for animals affected by Hurricane Katrina, is scheduled to take place at Historic Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California.

Tickets for the event cost $275 per person. The $1000 "Dinner Package" includes two VIP concert tickets, seating, and VIP Sponsor Celebrity Reception. A list of participating artists can be found here.

If I wasn't 3000 miles away (and if had a butt-load of extra cash lying around), I'd probably check out this event, because A) I do love animals, and B) I really would like to see Paula Abdul live and in person. I'm just as curious as a cat to see how Paula behaves in public, away from the swirling confusion brought on by the taunts of her co-judges, and other "technical difficulties."

Finally, a non-celeb takes down the celebs on Celebrity Poker Showdown.

Ida Siconolfi, who won the Bravo online tournament to get a seat in last night's show, played a fantastic game to beat Fred Savage, Jennifer Tilly, Doug E. Doug, and Brett Butler, and will now go on to the championship match later this season.

When I heard that Bravo was going to pick a regular viewer to get a seat on Celebrity Poker Showdown, I thought it would be some online gaming geek or some really obnoxious person who would try to outdo the celebs when it came to over the top humor.  Not so. Ida proved to be classy, quiet, and one of the top players that has ever been on the show.

I might even have to root for her in the championship game.