If you are like me, you stayed up late Friday night just to catch Act 3 of Doctor Horrible, even though you needed to be up at 5AM to watch F1 in Germany. Chances are that there are more of you that stayed up late and couldn't give two shakes about a car race at Hockenheim, but either way, we've come to the end of Joss Whedon's great experiment. It seemed like a good idea to get a post up and see what everybody thought. A lot of it was what I expected based simply on the players involved. It stood to reason that there would be some good yucks, a bit of a twist, and since this is Joss Whedon, even...
Doctor Horrible, the aftermath
Continue reading Doctor Horrible, the aftermath
Yes, Shannen Doherty is coming back to 90210 - TCA Report
Gabe Sachs, executive producer of the new 90210, just announced to the gathered critics here in Beverly Hills that Shannen Doherty reprise her role as Brenda Walsh on an episode this season. Brenda will be recruited as a guest director of a musical being mounted by the students at Beverly Hills High. This was a deal that was in the works for a few weeks.This is the third former 90210-er that will reprise their roles; Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth will also come back this season. Sachs and his fellow executive producer, Jeff Judah, told the critics that other previous characters will come back if A) they can get them to come back and B) if they can be written into the show organically.
I'm pretty sure Ian Ziering is available. Can't they have Steve Sanders be the woodshop teacher or something?
Showtime wrap-up: executive session and four shows talk at once - TCA Report
When I posted the news items that came out of Showtime's portion of the CBS tour, the one question I got was "When will Dexter be back?" Well, network president Robert Greenblatt mentioned that the third season would debut in September. No word beyond that. Didn't seem like news to me. But there you are, Dexter fans; that's all I've got on that.
The executive session was introduced by a semi-funny clip from one of the network's stars, Tracey Ullman. Really, it wasn't that good, so I won't talk much about it here. Greenblatt also showed clips of The United States of Tara and Nurse Jackie during his opening remarks. Other than that? Well, isn't that enough?
Continue reading Showtime wrap-up: executive session and four shows talk at once - TCA Report
CBS wrap-up: Diane Ruggiero livens up a dull day - TCA Report
The four CBS show panels on Friday involved four of the five new programs the network is rolling out in the fall (there was no panel for Gary Unmarried, or whatever they're calling it today, because Jay Mohr and his wife Nikki Cox are renewing their vows overseas). While the panels for The Mentalist, The Ex List, Eleventh Hour, and Worst Week had their moments, none of them were particularly newsworthy or interesting.At least Diane Ruggiero, the creator of The Ex List, was entertaining enough to keep me from jabbing a pen in my arm to keep me awake. In fact, she might have actually convinced me to watch The Lake House, as long as I have a drink in my hand.
Continue reading CBS wrap-up: Diane Ruggiero livens up a dull day - TCA Report
Ugly Betty gets a Queens welcome
While Ugly Betty's move to New York City might not have been good news for the show's crew, Queens residents couldn't be happier to have the Suarez family in town. Fans welcomed the comedy series with a block party-style celebration in Jackson Heights, Betty's home base.Actors America Ferrera and Tony Plana attended the event and thanked fans in both English and Spanish. The Ugly Betty cast and crew have already been seen filming in their new, more authentic surroundings. As Allison mentioned, America Ferrera was recently spotted riding a motorcycle in Brooklyn (dressed as Betty Suarez, of course).
Continue reading Ugly Betty gets a Queens welcome
Monk: Mr. Monk Buys A House (season premiere)
(S07E01) It seems like only yesterday when Monk, the ultimate obsessive compulsive Sherlock Holmes, began on USA Network, and now here it is the start of its seventh season. In all that time, for a man who doesn't like change at all, Adrian Monk has had to endure quite a bit of upheaval. The untimely death last April of actor Stanley Kamel, who played Monk's security blanket/therapist Dr. Kroger, was written into this premiere episode, in -- what I believe -- was a very subtle, graceful way.Monk's sudden displeasure with his home is rooted in his discomfort in his life now that Dr. Kroger is gone. The ultimate egotist, in that Monk cares most for himself, Adrian is desperate to throw himself into work to avoid the irritating piano-playing coming from the little girl across the street and disturbing the sanctuary of his home. Kudos to the new therapist, Dr. Bell, for connecting the dots and quickly sizing up why Monk finds the music so displeasing.
Continue reading Monk: Mr. Monk Buys A House (season premiere)
Stargate Atlantis: The Seed
(S05E02) And with that, season five has begun. I've really been looking forward to this episode for the simple fact that it would give us our first look at just what kind of leader Woolsey is going to be. There are certainly a lot of things coming in season five, but that one, more than any other, has the ability to really affect how the season is ultimately received. We got that first look, and it was an interesting one. Along the way, we also caught up with our old friend Dr. Beckett. And Dr. Keller got to step out of the background (and climb into bed) for a pretty big story of her own. We'll get to all that, after the jump.
Continue reading Stargate Atlantis: The Seed
Psych: The Ghost In You (season premiere)
(S03E01) Ahhh! The Boys of Summer are back! No, not The Beach Boys, or the song by Don Henley, or the lineup for the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers. I'm talking about Shawn Spencer and Burton "Gus" Guster. For the last two summers this fake psychic and his over-excited friend have joined us on the crime comedy Psych. Now, they are back to tackle a third season that, according to stars James Roday and Dule Hill, should be a good one.
We have already provided an early look for the season premiere, so this review is more to flesh out the events of the episode. Plus, it is also a chance to continue last year's tradition of pointing out all of the pop references spouted by the characters. And, starting this season, to let you know where the pineapple is located in each episode. Please get your mind out of the gutter!
Continue reading Psych: The Ghost In You (season premiere)
Doctor Who: Turn Left
(S04E11) With this episode, Donna has become my favorite Doctor Who companion of all time. Yes, better than Sarah Jane. Yes, better than Rose (who finally reappears as a person and not in a cameo or on a video screen). I love her quick temper yet human personality (it's reminiscent of Rose's mother from the first two seasons), which makes sense since this episode is about the Doctor's adventures from the human perspective.
Continue reading Doctor Who: Turn Left
Fear Itself: New Year's Day - VIDEO
(S01E06) Steve Niles has become the modern day horror maven of the comic book world. He brought us 30 Days of Night, which is far better in the comic world than on the big screen. Here, he's paired with Darren Bousman, director of the Saw sequels to bring zombies to broadcast television. Right away, then, this had a better chance of me liking it because I've always had a soft spot for zombies and Niles has offered us a pretty different take on the genre.
Continue reading Fear Itself: New Year's Day - VIDEO
Big Brother 10: Live feeds report - July 18
It's been one busy little Big Brother 10 house since Wednesday night's live eviction show. Following the same schedule as last season, the nominations were made yesterday and the Power of Veto competition was today. Oh, yeah...and there was a food comp in there, too.Now, you could wait until Sunday and Tuesday respectively to find out who was nominated for eviction and who won the Power of Veto. Or you could just read on past the jump for extreme show spoilers from the 24/7 live feeds.
Continue reading Big Brother 10: Live feeds report - July 18
Showtime news: possible L Word spinoff, new seasons for Weeds, new shows - TCA Report
Some quickie news from Showtime, presented by entertainment president Bob Greenblatt:- Ilene Chaiken is developing a spin-off for The L Word, which will feature a yet unspecified character from the original show, whose upcoming season will be its last. There will be an open-ended plot in the season finale that Chaiken will continue online, then pick up if the spin-off comes to pass.
- Two more 13-episode seasons of Weeds have been ordered.
- A seventh season of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! has been ordered, making it Showtime's longest-running show.
- A reality/documentary show called Lock 'N Load has been ordered; it's filmed in a gun shop, and it shows the various people who purchase guns and "exploit their right to bear arms," according to the press release.
- Two new pilots have been ordered and filmed. The United States of Tara, produced by Steven Spielberg and written by Diablo Cody, stars Toni Collette as a suburban mother with multiple-personality disorder. John Corbett stars as her husband (yes... it's a comedy). The other pilot is tentatively-titled Nurse Jackie. It stars Edie Falco as a New York City nurse with a painkiller addiction who sometimes crosses moral lines to help her patients (no... it's not a comedy). Tara will begin airing in winter 2009, and Jackie will begin airing in late spring or early summer.
As far as Katie Couric knows, she's staying - TCA Report
After the executive session, it was CBS News' turn to face the critics and talk about their election coverage. Via satellite from their New York studios was CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, Face the Nation moderator Bob Schieffer, senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield, and CBS News and Sports president Sean McManus.
Right away, a reporter brought up Katie Couric's job status. "I'm glad you got right to it," Couric joked. "I thought [the speculation] had died down considerably." She said she "can't control what media writers write. We live in an echo chamber," with media reporters more fascinated by her status than the general public is. "The attention befuddles me," she continued. She's concentrating on doing "the best job I can."
Continue reading As far as Katie Couric knows, she's staying - TCA Report
Talk Talk: Senator John McCain, David Sedaris, Mary Steenburgen
Here's who's on the late night talk shows tonight.
- Charlie Rose: a discussion of Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday
- The Late Show with David Letterman: Rosie Perez and David Sedaris
- Jay Leno: Tim Allen, Demi Lovato, and OneRepublic
- Jimmy Kimmel Live: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ant and Dec, and Minus the Bear
- Tavis Smiley: Famke Janssen, John Dean, and Barry Goldwater, Jr. (repeat)
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Senator John McCain and The Steeldrivers
- The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson: Mary Steenburgen and Criss Angel
- Last Call with Carson Daly: Daryl Hannah and Josh Kelley (repeat)
Some new teaser posters for the Star Trek movie
Since it's Star Trek Week here at TV Squad (the original series, that is), I thought I'd post the first official teaser poster ads for the movie that show what Chris Pine and Zachery Quinto look like as James. T. Kirk and Spock.
Now, it's wrong to judge a book by its cover, or in this case a movie from a teaser poster. But if we can judge the movie on the casting of one of the major parts and/or the makeup used on that actor, then this movie looks awesome. Quinto (Sylar on Heroes) is a terrific choice to play a younger Spock. I say "younger" and not "young" because Quinto is only a few years younger than Leonard Nimoy was when he debuted as Spock on NBC in the 60s. There's not a lot of info about the plot of the movie, only that it takes place before the original show and involves Starfleet, so I'm not sure exactly how young Kirk and Spock are supposed to be (plus we're talking about a half Vulcan here so getting into those details are probably pointless).
But what about the guy playing Kirk?
Continue reading Some new teaser posters for the Star Trek movie
Comic-Con Countdown: You ask Sci Fi the questions, we deliver
Giveaway Monday: ER - Season Nine DVD
Giveaways reminder: Stargate: Atlantis, X-Files, Fastlane
