national spelling bee-related stories
Posted May 29th 2009 1:07PM by Joel Keller
Filed under: OpEd, Watercooler Talk
Flipping around last night, I caught the last half-dozen or so rounds of the National Spelling Bee on ABC. It was all there in primetime glitz and glory: bright lights, flashy ESPN graphics that show the participants' best finish in previous bees, the lovely
Erin Andrews prowling the backstage area, and Tom Bergeron making lame quips during the "play by play."
It was quite a slick production. Then I remembered something: They're
kids.
I mean, they're under enough pressure as it is, and it's not always from the competition itself (ever see
Spellbound, the movie that spurred the bee's popularity? Some of those parents were pretty harsh). Why add to the pressure by having them try to spell these difficult words on live primetime television?
Continue reading The spelling bee kids don't need the pressure of prime time
Posted Jun 1st 2007 11:04AM by Joel Keller
Filed under: Grey's Anatomy, Celebrities
If you've ever read
Grey Matter, the blog written by Shonda Rhimes and her
Grey's Anatomy writing staff, you know that Rhimes likes to reveal quite a bit of her inner geek. When she talks about her characters, she does so with the zeal of a teenager, albeit a teenager who works in the A/V club and wishes she were one of the cheerleaders who was dating the football captain.
So it's refreshing to see Rhimes gushing over something other than Meredith Grey's romantic choices or Derek Shepherd's McDreaminess. Over on the funny pop culture blog A List of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago, she
live-blogs the National Spelling Bee, which aired its final round last night.
Continue reading Shonda Rhimes blogs the National Spelling Bee
Posted May 31st 2007 5:02PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Programming, What To Watch Tonight
At 8, ABC has the Scripps National Spelling Bee. - CBS has the premiere of Pirate Master at 8.
- FOX has a new Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? and a new So You Think You Can Dance.
- Four more great Friends episodes at 8 on TBS.
- TCM has two hostage dramas starting at 8: The Desperate Hours, with Humphery Bogart, and The Night Holds Terror, with Jack Kelly.
- At 9, USA has the premiere of the mini-series The Starter Wife.
- TLC has a new American Chopper at 9.
- HBO Zone has the high school noir drama Brick at 9.
- At 10, NBC has a new Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
- Food Network has a new Throwdown with Bobby Flay at 10.
- Also at 10: Spike has a new Ultimate Fighter.
- At 10:30, Comedy Central has a new Showbiz Show with David Spade.
Check your local TV listings for more.
Posted May 3rd 2006 8:11AM by Anna Johns
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, ABC, Programming
The
National Spelling Bee is going to become
primetime entertainment next month when it airs on ABC. For the last 12 years, the final rounds of the contest have
aired on ESPN. But, with recent national interest in the spelling bee, thanks to several movies and a Broadway play,
it's going primetime. Gee, those poor kids are already nervous enough. Imagine trying to spell 'appoggiatura' (last
year's winning word) knowing you're live on ABC!
The final round of the National Spelling Bee airs live on
ABC on June 1 from 8-10 pm. I may actually make a night of it by watching
Spellbound on DVD and then watching
the final round. Nerd night for me!
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Have any questions for Vik Sahay of Chuck? Ask them here!
Mike Henry and Daryl Hall on a Cleveland Show Thanksgiving
