Wednesday, May 31, 2006

CBS Searches for the Fountain of Youth! Plus a 'L&O' Exit and 'Scrubs' on Cable

The cast of the new CBS comedy The Class (photo from cbs.com)

We're a youth obsessed culture. From beauty products to clothing to that coveted 18-49 year old age group that advertisers salivate over and networks fight to win, our society holds the concept of youthfulness up on a proverbial pedestal, and the networks are no exception. CBS finished the year as the most watched network, bringing in an average 12.6 million viewers a night and finishing almost 2 million viewers ahead of second place ABC's average of 10.8 million a night. The network is adding only three new shows this fall because its current crop is so successful, and it even managed to make major strides against ABC's mega-hit Lost with its freshman crime drama Criminal Minds. The midseason replacement, The Unit, was an instant success, leading many to believe that whatever CBS touches turns to gold. Of course there were the failures like the sci-fi drama Threshold and the heavily promoted Jenna Elfman comedy Courting Alex, but both might have made the cut at one of the other networks where being a hit doesn't require the same ratings. Despite all of the network's success this season and in recent seasons, it hasn't been able to make a splash in the 18-49 year old demographics. The coveted group is said to have the most buying power, and thus, advertisers try to reach them more than any other group. Fox finished the year on top with the group, and ABC landed in second. CBS came in third and was down from a 4.0 rating last season to a 3.8 this season. A recent article in Nashville's The City Paper talks about CBS' finale plans. In it, the quest for youth is listed as one of the main objectives of the network's more buzz worthy finale season. The article states, "All these plot turns and potential blockbuster events are designed to help CBS inch out Fox in the 18-49 demographic." I found the statement puzzling since I know that a buzzed about finale isn't going to get me to devote more of my dwindling primetime hours to another show that I didn't watch previously.


At 26, I'm on the lower end of this coveted 18-49 year old age group and I consider myself to be a fairly well-rounded television viewer. I watch 4 crime dramas, 5 character/serialized dramas, 3 reality shows and 3 comedies spread out over all 6 current networks. If you work it out, that amounts to 1 on Fox, 1 on The WB, 2 on ABC, 3 on UPN, 4 on NBC and 4 on CBS, so I guess I am unusual for my age group in that I watch most of my shows on CBS and NBC and not Fox or ABC, the two networks that scored the best ratings in my age group this season. I choose the shows I watch based on what interests me and what fits into my schedule. I stated above that I didn't think that CBS' finale push was the best marketing ploy to attract a younger audience, so that begs the question, what is? Well, at the end of this most recent season, the network ran a slick marketing campaign for its most watched show, CSI. For weeks leading up to the big finale, the promos told us that we could log onto cbs.com to view a picture that held the clues for the finale. That picture was talked about in blogs, TV web sites and many other television stomping grounds on the net. It tied CBS' programming into its online site, a place where "younger" viewers are more likely to visit. There are other marketing strategies that the network could employ to attract a younger audience. CBS is the only network of the "Big Four" that doesn't make their programming available on iTunes -- a young people breeding ground that now offers more than 90 shows for download in its extensive catalog. In fact, the network is far behind the curve in the downloading revolution. Besides iTunes, ABC makes episodes available for download for free (albeit with commercials) on its web site and Fox recently announced that it will put some of its library on the youth-friendly myspace.com. I know that making episodes available for download is a bit more problematic for CBS because many of its shows are produced by outside studios (for example, Cold Case and Without a Trace are both produced by Warner Bros.), so sorting out who gets which slice of the downloading revenue pie is a mess, but NBC was able to bring Scrubs to iTunes despite the fact that it comes from Disney's Touchstone Television production house.


Downloading episodes isn't the only trick that CBS could try. The network airs one of television's most music- intensive shows -- Cold Case. Each episode relies on about 5 songs to help tell its stories that, so far, spanned from 1929 to 2005. Why not cut a deal with iTunes and allow each outlet to promote the other? Of course, this is the same network that just this year began posting the songs and their artists in a list on its site, despite the fact that the show has been on the air for three seasons. The network's site could link viewers to iTunes where they could download the songs, and the music service could feature promos for the show and its episodes in its store. The network missed a rare cross-promotion opportunity recently with Cold Case. In the April 9th episode, the team dealt with a case from 1929, but instead of ending the hour with a song from the period per usual, the show composed its own 1929-esque song. It was an original piece called "300 Flowers" composed by Michael A. Levine with lyrics by the episode's writer Liz Garcia. After the episode aired, many viewers were wondering about the haunting song and where they could get a copy. It would have made for a nice tie-in for the network to have had the song available on iTunes the next day. There was also a missed iTunes tie-in opportunity with the May 11th episode of Without a Trace. The poignant episode ended with the song "Cry" by the very popular James Blunt. Other than downloading episodes and songs from the network's hit shows, CBS could also (as self-serving as it may sound) embrace blogging. Younger people are more likely to read blogs as any Veronica Mars staffer can tell you, so it would make sense for the network to reach out more to the blogging community with press releases, photos and exclusives. I know CBS doesn't need the extra audience, but from what we've seen in articles and ratings, it sure could use the extra 18-49 year olds. I guess the network is placing all of its eggs in the young cast of its new comedy The Class' basket for now.

QUICK CUTS

*Actor Dennis Farina is leaving NBC's Law & Order after two seasons. The actor, who played Detective Joe Fontana on the long-running series, wants to pursue other projects being developed by his production company according to his spokeswoman. Law & Order executive producer Dick Wolfe said in a statement that he respects Farina's decision. Farina is the second cast member to leave the crime show this season. In the season finale, A.D.A. Alexandra Borgia, played by Annie Parisse, was killed while investigating a murder case.

*Scrubs reruns are heading to Comedy Central this fall. The cable outlet will air previous seasons of the NBC hospital comedy 5 nights a week beginning September 19th at 7 p.m. on Comedy Central. The run marks the first time the series has aired outside of NBC. Scrubs will return with all new episodes for its sixth season as a part of NBC's midseason schedule.

*And finally, look for the return of several banished-from-the-regular-schedule shows tonight. Commander In Chief returns (ABC 10 p.m.) along with Freddie (ABC 8:30 p.m.) and Blue Collar TV (The WB 8 p.m.). Also, look for the season/series premieres of Gameshow Marathon (CBS 8 p.m.), The Hills (MTV 10 p.m.), Celebrity Poker Showdown (Bravo 9 p.m.) and Inked (A&E 9 p.m.). You can see more listings at PassTheRemote.net.

To get more of today's biggest TV news and headlines, visit the TV News section at PassTheRemote.Net.


That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for my TV confessions. Plus, all the latest television news!

To get more television coverage, including the network's new fall schedules and a complete archive of the best of Pass the Remote with a photo gallery featuring pictures from the set of Veronica Mars, click on over to PassTheRemote.net.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Help 'Veronica' Get a FULL Season 3!

(Banner courtesy of Cloud Watchers)


Official release from Cloud Watchers:

Help Guarantee Veronica Mars Gets A FULL 3rd Season

Greetings,

Over at cloud_watchers there's a new campaign brewing. The idea is THINK BIG, this time with DVDs rather than airplanes.

Latest Idea:

Get Veronica Mars Season 1 DVDs into libraries in all 50 states and the top 100 Nielsen markets. This new idea can't happen without the entire fandom's help though. Please join in, and make this slightly wacky campaign happen!

Why:

The fact that our show got renewed at all was pretty amazing -- VM was one of the lowest rated shows to ever get renewed by a major network. As a result, Veronica's ratings will probably be closely watched by TPTB as it starts its 3rd season. If the ratings aren't substantially improved, they might cut back the number of episodes. Or worse, cancel the show altogether! Let's try to keep either of those things from happening.

How:

By getting as many VM S1 DVD sets into as many libraries as possible. Thanks to earlier group efforts we've already donated more than 150 DVD sets to libraries in 25 of the 50 states (plus DC!) and 28 of the top 100 Nielsen markets. Help make it all 50 states, all 100 Nielsen markets, and hopefully at least double the number of total sets. More new viewers mean better ratings, which mean more new episodes guaranteed, which means good news for all fans. Plus, we'll be supporting local libraries, (good for everyone), and individually donated DVD sets are tax deductable, (good for you)!

Also, if we can get a large number of sets donated -- a BIG, splashy number -- we could do an official press release. Media outlets that wrote about the airplane stunt might also write about our DVD campaign. And we all know, press for VM is always a good thing, especially as the show debuts on The CW.

If You Think This Is An Idea You Can Support, Spring Into Action:

- Join Cloud Watchers and check the DVD Phase III: Think Big! thread. It has details about which states and Nielsen markets still need DVD sets.

- Call a library that's still in need of a donation and find out if they'll accept a donated set into circulation.

- If yes, go out and buy a set, give it to the library you contacted, then come back to Cloud Watchers and let everyone know where you donated. The total sets donated # will be updated!

OR

- If that sounds like too much work, donate to the group fund and other VM fans will happily do the calling and leg work for you.

OR

- buy some VM themed swag from the Cloud Watcher's Café Press store.

(100% of donations and profits from the store will go back into the DVD campaign and related efforts.)

AND Finally

- Please pimp this campaign in your journal, community, website... basically everywhere fellow VM fans hangout. The more VM fans working on it the better! There's even a fan made banner in the comm to help you do that.

Now, some clarifications:

The Wall Street Journal first reported some incorrect information about our airplane campaign -- we did not spend $4000 on the plane. While Cloud Watchers did manage to raise over $5000, only $1,800 was spent on the plane. The rest of the funds were used for several different projects -- all aimed at helping VM get renewed-- such as an earlier DVD drive and care packages for TPTB/VM-friendly press. For a complete breakdown on the facts and figures of the campaign, please visit the budget thread at Cloud Watchers.

If all of VM's fandom bands together, who knows what we might be able to accomplish? Help guarantee all VM fans get a FULL 3rd season.




So VM fans, let's unite and get more viewers for season 3! The more new viewers, the better chance that the show will get a full 3rd season and beyond. And be sure to tune in later today for the regular edition with thoughts on CBS' quest for a more youthful audience. Plus, all the latest television news!

To get more television coverage, including the network's new fall schedules and a complete archive of the best of Pass the Remote with a photo gallery featuring pictures from the set of Veronica Mars, click on over to PassTheRemote.net.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

'Everwood' Says Goodbye to Irv! Plus Summer Premieres Tonight and DVD Releases

I'm still relishing in the fact that we're getting new episodes of Everwood when almost every other regular season show is in reruns. Of course, it's only a temporary high as we all know the inevitable low is only a week and one short 2-hour finale away. I started to tear up last night just watching the preview for it, so you guys know I'm going to be a mess next week at this time. That's OK, though, because we can all commiserate together over the untimely demise of a beloved show. Interestingly enough, this was the theme of last night's stellar hour, except instead of a show's demise, it was Irv's that we were mourning along with the residents of Everwood. From Dr. Abbott's beautiful eulogy to the flashbacks to Edna's declaration that she and Irv "deserved more time," the entire episode could have been a not-so-subtle veiled attempt at giving the CW a little bit of a wake-up call. Too bad this episode was produced before the network revealed the fate of the show, so the veiled attempts were merely coincidences. The entire episode seemed to symbolize the CW's decision to not include Everwood on its schedule in favor of the worn out 7th Heaven, which made me appreciate this episode even more. Executive Producer Rina Mimoun had said that the death would be "sad, but not tragic" and that's exactly how I felt about Irv's passing. He was such a good person and led such a wonderful life, that I enjoyed the episode's attempt to celebrate the man through several of the character's memories. Perhaps the most poignant was Bright's remembrance of how Irv forced him to take responsibility and do something with his life which led him on the path to college and Hannah. Speaking of Hannah, it looked like she and Bright may be able to salvage their friendship after all. I would love to see these two back together as friends before the show goes off the air. The saddest moment in the episode came when Edna finally broke down after everyone had left and she "saw" Irv standing in her kitchen. Debra Mooney turned in a marvelous performance throughout the episode, but she was at her best in this emotionally charged ending scene.


Irv's passing also brought us some developments on the Amy/Ephram front. Amy remembered the time that Irv told her to fix the broken mug instead of just throwing it out. This was back during her rebellious stage in season 2, so she got angry with Irv because she was tired of everyone trying to teach her important lessons. Ephram showed up, and the two went for a walk. It was one of their deep conversations while Ephram was dating Madison and Amy was dating the horrible Tommy. At the end of their walk, Ephram told her that whomever she married would be lucky because he got her. Sure, it was a little heavy-handed, but it was also sweet and it was a moment that Amy needed to remember. Meanwhile, Ephram told Nina that Andy bought an engagement ring in case she chooses to stay in Everwood with him over going to California with Jake. Nina loves to play it safe, so this new information must have rocked her emotional world. We all know that she's running off to California so she can dodge her feelings for Andy and live happily ever after with Jake, but we also all know that those feelings will follow her. I loved that Ephram told her because he wanted his father to be happy. I also love that he and his father seem to be in the same position, except Amy isn't seeing anyone. The humor dose for the episode came in the form of observing the difference between guys and girls and how each deals with heartache. Ephram (still pining over Amy) and Bright (still upset about Hannah) decided to watch a movie that blows up a lot of stuff, while Amy (secretly pining over Ephram) and Hannah (still upset about Bright) talked over brushing their teeth and then decided to raid the frig for chocolate, proving that men are from the planet where things blow up and women are from any planet that has a lot of chocolate rather than Mars and Venus. Oh Everwood, I'm going to miss you more than you'll know. In the eternal words of the great Edna Harper, "We didn't get enough time, you and I. We deserved more time." That we did, indeed Everwood, that we did.


7 Million Strong!!!

If we can get 7 million viewers for next week's 2-hour finale, then new CW entertainment president Dawn Ostroff won't be able to ignore Everwood! Remember, Everwood was originally on the fall schedule until 7th Heaven's "series" finale brought in 7 million viewers. This is what Ostroff told TVGuide.com's Mike Ausiello about those numbers:
Ausiello: I hear the decision to renew Heaven was made after the ratings for the finale came in. True?
Ostroff: It [drew] over seven million people. It's hard to ignore that.
So, tell everyone you know to tune in Monday night at 8/7 p.m. and watch the 2-hour finale!! If enough people tune in, maybe we can get Everwood on the CW's midseason schedule. Don't give up yet. For more on this newest campaign, visit Save Everwood Now. In other Everwood news, executive producer Rina Mimoun did a 2-part interview with TVGuide.com. It's a little spoilerish, but an excellent interview. Part 1 and Part 2

QUICK CUTS

*TV TONIGHT: Rodney returns from hiatus tonight (ABC 8:30 p.m.), Last Comic Standing launches its 4th season (NBC 8 p.m.), Less Than Perfect returns from hiatus to finish its run (ABC 9:30 p.m.) and Rescue Me returns with its 3rd season (FX 10 p.m.). See more listings at PassTheRemote.net.

*Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan's character may not have survived the Grey's Anatomy season finale, but that doesn't mean the actor is done with the show's creator, Shonda Rhimes. According to The Hollywood Reporter (via Zap2it), Rhimes just cast the actor as a regular in a series that she is developing for ABC. The network ordered a pilot on the show, which centers on a group of female journalists, that Rhimes will work on over the summer during her hiatus from Grey's Anatomy.

*And finally, it's TV on DVD Monday Tuesday! Look for the first season of NBC's now cancelled Joey to hit shelves today along with The Dukes of Hazard (season 6), ALF (season 3), Night Stalker (complete series) and Numb3rs (season 1). For a complete list of tomorrow's releases, visit tvshowsondvd.com.

To get more of today's biggest TV news and headlines, visit the TV News section at PassTheRemote.Net.


That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for a look at CBS' quest for younger viewers. Plus, all the latest television news!

To get more television coverage, including the network's new fall schedules and a complete archive of the best of Pass the Remote with a photo gallery featuring pictures from the set of Veronica Mars, click on over to PassTheRemote.net.

Friday, May 26, 2006

FINALE BLOWOUT: 'Alias' Finds its Happily Ever After! Plus CBS Keeps its Title


It has been an engaging, fun and interesting run on Alias, and I'm only talking about the last two seasons (I still need to rent the earler seasons on DVDs)! This week's finale gave us plenty of closure for each of the characters that we have grown to love, but it didn't provide an answer to the series-long burning question: What exactly is all of this Rambaldi mythology and how does it bring about the end of nature? I guess that's for Sloane to fantasize about for all of eternity while the rest of us still wonder. Let's face it; Sloane has nothing better to do while he's trapped in his underground tomb, cursed with eternal life. I loved the irony that Sloane's quest to live forever through the teachings of Rambaldi gave him the eternal life he wanted, but he will spend it alone, trapped in a collapsed tomb courtesy of Jack. It seems he got the better of Sloane after all. Some random musings on the series finale:

*Tom, we barely knew thee. I knew things weren't going to end well for Tom as soon as he found the bomb on the empty subway car. With so many people to evacuate and only 3 minutes to do so (with a few spurts of 20 seconds thrown in thanks to the liquid nitrogen trick), Tom wasn't going to make it out. I thought that the way he said goodbye to Rachel and sat there on the train alone was very poignant. I didn't tear up, but I found myself thinking, "That is really sad." I do think he would have made a more galant effort to get out if he hadn't just learned the truth about his wife's murder. Hopefully, the two are happy together in TV character heaven.

*Kelly Peyton has to be the most badass character I have ever seen on a TV series. The girl was ruthless and loyal to no one but herself. She marched into that Prophet 5 meeting and blew all 12 members away in a matter of seconds. She then turned and walked out without giving it a second thought. I honestly thought that she was playing Sloane, but she wasn't. If she's the female Lex Luther to Syd's female Superman, then her kryptonite is snakes! Who knew that the all-powerful Peyton could be brought down by something as mundane as the common snake? We all have out weaknesses, and it's Syd job to figure them out.

*I may not have cried at Tom's death, but the tears were certainly flowing when Sydney said goodbye to her dying father. I loved Jack, so saying goodbye wasn't easy. His revenge on Sloane certainly made it a lot easier, though! Gotta love jack, stronger all the way until the end. Back to the goodbye scene. The fact that Jennifer Garner was absolutely sobbing had me all upset. The girl can turn on the waterworks!

*Well, it had to come down to Sydney versus her mother, right? I mean, Irina was Syd's toughest foe because Syd wanted to trust her (and often did), but in the end she knew she couldn't. I liked the way they had Irina die at her own power-hungry hand. Had she just taken her daughter's hand instead of reaching for the Rambaldi artifact, she would be alive. Of course, she wouldn't be happy because she still wouldn't have the power she so desired. I guess her death was win/win.

*Marshall's wife = AWESOME! How great was it that she stepped in for her husband when Sloane and co. took him?? She rocks! It's too bad the show ended because it would have been fun to explore her involvement now that she knows the truth about Marshall's job.

*The ending scenes were great! Yes, they were schmultzy, but I wouldn't have wanted the show to end any other way. Vaughn and Syd were happily married with two kids, living on the beach and somewhat out of the spy business, although, ready to step back in with enough convincing, and Dixon was finally in a deserving position with the CIA. And there was the best part of all, little Isabel seems to take after her mother! That's going to spell trouble in the future! I smell future spin-off ;-).

So overall, it was a very satisfying final episode for a show that has taken us through many journeys. It was nice to see that the last one showed us Sydney's happily ever after. What did you think about the finale? Were you satisfied or did it leave you wanting more? Drop me a note with your thoughts. If you missed the Alias season finale, you can click over to abc.com to watch it for free. To read other Finale Blowout editions, click on over to the Best of Pass the Remote at PassTheRemote.net.


THIS SUMMER...
PASS THE REMOTE HAS YOUR TV FIX!

Your favorite regular season primetime shows may be on hiatus for the next 4 months or so, but Pass the Remote isn't!! I have a full slate planned for this summer with a regular edition 5-days a week. There will be new weekily installments featuring some of your favorites, an all-summer long countdown of this season's best episodes from across the television spectrum, coverage of the new season of USA's The 4400, a modified Friday Fun section featuring trivia, quotes and other fun TV bits, extensive Emmy coverage from the nominations in July to the awards in August and much, much more! So, stay tuned to Pass the Remote all summer long for your complete fix for the summer TV blues!!


~Primetime Pass~
Yesterday, I told you that About Last Night was going on hiatus for the summer and today, the same is true for Primetime Pass. I will continue to let you know when summer shows premiere and when Pass the Remote summer favorites air, but the full edition of this feature will return with your favorite shows this fall. And now, the last installment of Primetime Pass for the season...

@8 p.m. - Dan Brown talks about his controversial and hugely popular book The Da Vinci Code on NBC's Dateline.

@10 p.m. - A serial rapist who lived a double life as a happy family man is profiled on ABC's 20/20.

To see what else you can catch on television tonight with customized listings for your area (via Zap2it), visit the TV Listings area of PassTheRemote.net.


QUICK CUTS

*CBS is once again this season's overall "Most Watched Network." The final numbers show that the Eye network snagged an average of 12.6 million viewers a night for the season, down a bit from last season's 12.9 million average. Both ABC and Fox are gaining on the top rated network, finishing 2nd and 3rd, respectively. ABC went from an average of 10.05 million viewers a night last season to 10.8 million, the largest gain of any network this season. The increase was mainly fueled by the network's airing of the Super Bowl and a heavily watched Rose Bowl this season, but it also credits a full season of Grey's Anatomy (which overtook lead-in Desperate Housewives in total viewers) and the popularity of Dancing with the Stars. Fox was also up thanks to a 10% increase for American Idol and a 29% increase for House. NBC was the only Big 4 network to lose viewers, going from an average of 9.78 million a night last season down to 9.72 million this season.

To get more of today's biggest TV news and headlines, visit the TV News section at PassTheRemote.Net.


That's all for today. I'm off on Monday for the holiday, but be sure to tune in Tuesday for thoughts on the second-to-last episode of Everwood!!! And more importantly, be sure to catch Everwood on Monday night at 9 p.m. on The WB. This week, the whole town gathers at the funeral of one of Everwoods most beloved citizens to celebrate a life well-lived. After the funeral, Amy begins to rethink her relationship with Ephram. I'll bring you all the details on Tuesday along with all the latest television news!!

To get more television coverage, including the network's new fall schedules and a complete archive of the best of Pass the Remote with a photo gallery featuring pictures from the set of Veronica Mars, click on over to PassTheRemote.net.

Thursday, May 25, 2006

'Idol' Taylors itself Another Winner! Plus a Schedule Shake-up at NBC

As I said yesterday, I would have been happy whether Katharine or Taylor won American Idol. They were both talented and deserving of the title, but I knew it was going to be Taylor. The most interesting question is how will Taylor craft his album, and will it sell well with all the teeny-boppers who lobbied tirelessly for his win? As I have said before, my only hope is that he doesn't compromise his soul sound for a pseudo version of himself in order to fit the Idol mold as last year's runner up seems to have done with his southern rock sound. Of course, there's always my favorite Idol Carrie Underwood and her extremely successful country career, so maybe things will work out for Taylor. I also think that Kat has a very bright future ahead of her. I know this question comes up every year, but does this final results show have to be 2-hours?? Seriously, it's 20 minutes of fluff, 37 minutes of commercials and 3 minutes of announcing the winner, watching his/her reaction and then listening to said winner warble out the adult contemporary AI song of the season. Sure, there were a few highlights of the extended coverage, but overall, I could have done without (and did the second hour as I watched Lost and then fast forwarded through most of the second half after). Some of the group numbers were cute in a totally cheesy way and the contestants singing with their idols was alright, but the first hour (the only one that I watched completely) dragged! Some highlights (or in some cases, lowlights):

-WTH was up with Clay Aiken??? It was like he was trying to rock the Chris Gaines look that Garth Brooks failed so miserably with several years ago. Was he trying to look like a fictional singer? I don't get it. And why do I always get a cocky-Barry Manilow vibe from him? His little twin was so overwhelmed with singing with him that he couldn't even speak and Seacrest had to bring him a chair! I think I'm missing something because I don't get the Clay Aiken obsession.

-Carrie Underwood once again rocked the house. I'm sure she was relieved that she didn't have to sing "Jesus Take the Wheel" again.

-Katharine was once again rockin' the boob dresses. She must have an endless supply. She looked great, but I was worried for her all night that one of those dresses was going to stop holding her in.

-Meatloaf cut his hair.

-Chris Daughtry sounded awesome with the band Live. Loved that song too!

-HATED the Golden Idols or whatever those Seacrest awards were called.

-LOVED the judge video clips set to music in the beginning of the show. Having Paula's set to Whitney Houston's "So Emotional" was sheer brilliance! Loved Simon's too!

-"Puck & Pickler" was pretty funny. Wolfgang Puck seemed to pick the least Kellie-like entrees on the menu just to see how she'd react.

Overall, I'm not a HUGE Idol fan, but I do enjoy it in a sort of mindless drivel kind of way. It was nice to see the former contestants back on the show again. I had forgotten about some of them. What did you think about the finale? Were you happy with the outcome? Leave me a comment with your thoughts.

About Last Night...Fox won the first hour of the night with the first half of its American Idol finale, followed by ABC's Lost clip show and NBC's Dateline. At 9, Fox stayed in front and improved its numbers with the rest of the Idol finale, followed by the first hour of the Lost finale and CBS' Criminal Minds (r). The last hour of the night went to ABC's Lost, followed by CBS' CSI: NY (r) and NBC's Law & Order (r). For more on last night's ratings, visit Zap2it. Since last night was the conclusion of sweeps (and the 2005-2006 TV season), About Last Night is going on hiatus until the fall. Look for it to return when your favorite shows do this September! You can always check Zap2it for up-to-date overnight ratings all summer long.

~Primetime Pass~
@8 p.m. -Fox kicks off another season of So You Think You Can Dance with a 2-hour premiere.

To see what else you can catch on television tonight with customized listings for your area (via Zap2it), visit the TV Listings area of PassTheRemote.net.

QUICK CUTS

*NBC is rearranging its newly announced fall schedule. Medium will not return until "later in the season" along with Scrubs (So. Mad. Right. Now!!). The new Aaron Sorkin dramedy will move to Monday nights in Medium's old slot instead of its announced Thursday night slot against CSI and Grey's Anatomy. Crossing Jordan will return in the fall instead of later in the season and will air Friday nights before Las Vegas. Here's a breakdown of the network's newest schedule:

MONDAY
8-9 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
9-10 p.m. "HEROES"
10-11 p.m. "STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP" (new day and time)

TUESDAY
8-9 p.m. "FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS"
9-10 p.m. "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (new day and time)
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

WEDNESDAY
8-8:30 p.m. "20 GOOD YEARS" (new time)
8:30-9 p.m. "30 ROCK" (new time)
9-10 p.m. "The Biggest Loser" (new time);
10-11 p.m. "KIDNAPPED" (new day and time)

THURSDAY
8-8:30 p.m. "My Name Is Earl"
8:30-9 p.m. "The Office"
9-10 p.m. "Deal or No Deal" (new day and time)
10-11 p.m. "ER"/("THE BLACK DONNELLYS" in January 2007)

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. "Crossing Jordan" (new day and time)
9-10 p.m. "Las Vegas"
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order" (new day)

SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. "Dateline Saturday"
9-11 p.m. Drama Series Encores

SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. "FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA"
8-11 p.m. "SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL"


*And finally, NBC is adding to its iTunes collection. The network is now offering news stories, documentaries and original programs produced specifically for the popular music download service. The content is the standard $1.99 a download.

To get more of today's biggest TV news and headlines, visit the TV News section at PassTheRemote.Net.


That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for the Alias Finale Blowout! Plus, all the latest television news!

To get more television coverage, including the network's new fall schedules and a complete archive of the best of Pass the Remote with a photo gallery featuring pictures from the set of Veronica Mars, click on over to PassTheRemote.net.

FINALE BLOWOUT: 'Lost' Sheds Some Light on Things and Keeps us Captivated


With all due respect to my other favorite shows, last night's Lost finale was hands down, the best finale of the season (I realize that Everwood hasn't signed off yet, so this could change). It reminded me why this show is on my "Must See" and "Best Shows on Television" lists, and it also made me realize how much this show has been underachieving for a good part of the season. See, Lost can cement its place in history as one of the best shows ever when it wants to, so I can't figure out why it insists on falling short as much as it does. All of that is a moot point for this season because the show went out on a tremendous high note last night. I should say that I'm not one of those who thought that last season's finale didn't reveal enough information, so I definitely didn't feel that way about this year's either. With Lost, I just go along for the ride and allow the writers and producers to reveal things as it fits the show. And last night's finale was one hell of a ride!

What We Learned:
More on the island - The island has some sort of electric magnetism problem that, when not under control, causes "incidents" that nobody really wants to discuss.

The button is real - In order to quell the magnetism build-ups, the button in the hatch MUST be pushed every 108 minutes. If it isn't, the world will end or some other terrible thing will take place. Different people are employed to live in the hatch and push the button. They switch out, and when they do, apparently the code question is "What did one snowman say to the other snowman?" The replacement knows the answer, but Desmond didn't when he washed up on shore. That didn't seem to matter to the hatch's occupant (Kelvin, the man who captured and recruited Sayid to interrogate suspects for the U.S.), who hatched a plan to use Desmond's sailboat to escape and leave him with the button. It was the same trick that Desmond then tried to use on the survivors.

Kelvin's partner Radzinksy drew the map - The weird map of the island with all the hatches and the question mark that Locke saw when the lockdown occurred was the product of Kelvin's partner, who killed himself before he finished it. Kelvin ended up finishing it. Both men forced the hatch to do a fake lockdown so the door would come down and they could paint the map on it. They used laundry detergent to paint it. And as anyone who has ever been in a black light situation knows, laundry detergent glows under black light. Very clever! The question is, if Desmond and Radzinksy knew how to force a lockdown, did someone force one the day Locke got trapped under the door with Not-Henry?

What happens of you don't push the button - Everything metal starts flying toward the center of the hatch and the computer continuously prints out "System Failure." The island's magnetic pull sucks everything in, but Desmond was able to stop it by frantically typing in the numbers and hitting execute. Perhaps this wasn't a full scale "System Failure."

Why the plane crashed - After two seasons of speculation, we finally know why Oceanic flight 815 crashed into the mysterious island that the survivors have called home for the last 60 days. After Desmond followed Kelvin and learned that he was plotting to use the sailboat to leave him to push the button, he confronted him on the rocks. The two fought, and Kelvin wound up dead. Desmond raced back to the hatch, but it was too late. The 108 minutes had run out and the island's magnetic pull had begun. This is when he frantically began entering the numbers to stop it. He seemed successful, but while hanging out with Locke in the hatch, he realized something. Looking over the print out of numbers that Locke found in the Pearl Station, Desmond realized that it was data collected every time the numbers were entered. He flipped to the date when he didn't enter the numbers in time (September 22, 2004) and asked Locke what day the plane crashed. Locke and Desmond figured out that it was September 22, 2004 (we now know the date and thus, the time period for the show as well). The revelation caused Desmond to conclude that the magnetic force on the island pulled the plane in and crashed it there. Holy numbers Batman!

The bank tubes go nowhere - Remember those bank-like tubes that Locke and Eko found in the Pearl Station? Remember how the video said that the tube went to an office? Well, it turns out that they go nowhere other than a stock pile in the middle of the island. Jack and co. stumbled upon the tubes on their way to meet the Others with Michael, and they even found Locke's map!

Desmond knew Libby - In fact, she's the one who lent him her deceased husband's boat so he could sail around the world and win the money from the father of the woman he loved (Penelope). I find the entire thing a bit suspicious, though. Can we believe Libby? She lied about knowing Hurley. She was a patient at the same mental hospital as he was - the same hospital where Hurley encountered the numbers that he won the lottery with and then had a serious run of bad luck. These are also the same numbers that are required for the hatch button system. Plus, Desmond was in Libby's boat when he landed on the island. Is there more to Libby and her role with the island than we know yet?

Not-Henry is the leader - I had suspected for some time now that Not-Henry was the leader of the Others, and that seemed to be confirmed last night. Interesting that he seemed to keep his word to Michael and even let him and Walt ride off to be rescued. Whether or not the rescue actually happens, remains to be seen.

The hatch light from last season - Remember when Locke saw the light, literally, at the hatch after Boone died? Remember how it restored his faith? Well, it turns out that it was just Desmond shining a bright flashlight up the hatch tunnel after hearing someone bang on it. Interestingly enough, both men wound up restoring each other's faith that night.


What We're Still Wondering About:
The giant foot - What was up with that giant foot statue with only four toes? Sayid, Jin and Sun saw it on the other side of the island when they went to find the beach where the Others lived so they could help Jack and co. And does the foot have a body and head to go along with it? If so, where is it?

The Others: good or bad - It still isn't clear whether the Others are good or bad or even who they are exactly. I thought they were part of the Dharma Initiative, but that's looking less and less likely. Are they on the island to fight the Dharma Initiative? And if so, why? Not-Henry told the survivors that he and the rest of the Others are the "good guys." When Ana Lucia killed one of them, she found a U.S. Special Forces knife on the body. Are the Others former/current Special Forces, or did that particular Other happen upon Kelvin's body on the rocks and take the knife off of him since Kelvin worked Special Forces?

Were the people on the plane meant to crash on the island and why - All signs point to yes, but we still don't know why. The Others know all of the survivors' real names as if they were expecting them. And why did the Others want Jack, Kate and Sawyer specifically? I thought they were looking for the strongest members, but they didn't take Sayid, so I'm not sure.

What will happen to each of the characters whose lives were left hanging in the balance - Locke, Eko, Desmond, Jack, Kate and Sawyer were all in trouble when the finale ended. Locke was in the hatch along with Desmond and Eko and the other three were kidnapped by the Others. Who will survive and who won't? And how did Charlie walk away from the hatch when he had to be in close proximity when the bomb-like thing went off? When Claire asked him what happened, he said he didn't know. Was he lying or telling the truth?

What was the light and noise thing from the hatch - And what exactly happened in the hatch? Locke let the minutes tick down without pressing the button and the island's magnetic pull began forcing everything to fly into the center. Desmond found the key to the "System Termination" box located under the hatch that he had hidden in his copy of Charles Dickens' Our Mutual Friend, whose title could be a reference to Libby or even his lost love Penelope since she seems to play a greater part in all of this as well, and went under the hatch to employ the worst case scenario. We saw Desmond turn the key and tell Penelope that he'll see her in another life, and then the rest of the island saw a very bright light covering the sky and heard a deafening sound. Did the hatch implode, killing all those inside? If so, how would the "implosion" throw off the island's magnetism?

Is the island hazardous or not - Kelvin seemed to believe it was when he found Desmond, but as we saw later, he learned somehow that it wasn't. Did he notice the rip in his suit and put two and two together? Or did he find out a different way?

Who were the two men in the blizzard conditions at the end - They were monitoring the magnetic activity in a certain area and saw the Locke-caused spike. They also apparently caught the one from when the plane crashed, but not in time to pin down a location. They picked up the phone and called Penelope and told her that they "might have found him." Was "him" Desmond? If so, how did Penelope know where to look? Did Desmond's boat drop its signal and she hired people to search the area to find him? And how did they know to look for the magnetic activity? We know that Penelope has the money and the resources to find Desmond since she did it once when she found him at the stadium in Los Angeles. Finally and most obviously, why are the two men in blizzard conditions if they are in close proximity to this tropical island?


Last Night's Best Quotes:
"I think I crashed your plane." Desmond to Locke

"I was wrong." Locke to Eko after he didn't press the button and everything began going wrong



Michael finally got Walt back, but was the cost worth the reward? For Michael the answer was easy, but for the viewers, we're not so sure. Walt seemed to be fine when Michael found him on the boat. Were the Others a real threat to him? Or just a perceived one? Obviously, he was less valuable to the Others than Jack, Kate and Sawyer since they lived up to their half of the deal. Personally, I'm hoping this is the end of Michael and he is rescued because I can't stand him after what he did to Libby and Ana Lucia and then Jack and co. He sacrificed too many lives to save his son, and yes I know that I will understand someday when I'm a parent, but that doesn't make me dislike Michael any less right now. I thought this year's finale gave us a perfect balance between revealing information and leaving a lot of questions while also adding more for us to ponder as we go into the third season. Overall, it was a riveting hour that kept me glued to my television set and on the edge of my seat. I think that was the most intense 2 hours of television that I have ever seen! If you missed last night's finale, you can watch it in its entirety for free at abc.com.


That's all for this special Finale Blowout edition of Pass the Remote. To read more finale blowout editions, click on over to The Best of Pass the Remote at PassTheRemote.net. Next up, Alias. Also, this isn't the last of my Lost discussions for the season. I have some surprises in store for this summer, so stay tuned to Pass the Remote for plenty of summer coverage! And be sure to tune in later today for the regular edition with thoughts on the Idol results!

To get more television coverage, including a complete archive of the best of Pass the Remote and a photo gallery featuring pictures from the set of Veronica Mars, click on over to PassTheRemote.net.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Danielle Gets Ready for Her Close Up! Plus 'Idol,' 'Gilmore' Gets a Familiar Consultant and Bell Checks her 'Pulse'

Sometimes pursuing your dreams can be a lot harder than you expect. For Danielle Evans (right - photos courtesy UPN), who dreamed of being a "Supermodel" since she was 12 years old, the pursuit to become the newest America's Next Top Model was marred with dental surgery, a sprained toe, constant criticism about her southern accent and a stay in the hospital for dehydration and exhaustion (brought on by the long flight to Thailand). And all of that was just during the competition on America's Next Top Model. The 20-year old from Little Rock, Arkansas told bloggers last night during a teleconference that the last obstacle was definitely her hardest. "It was my first time ever in my life being in a hospital and I was in Thailand," she remembers. The next day, she was still feeling a little quesy as she posed on top of an elephant in one of her most highly praised photo shoots of the competition. "I have a really high tolerance for pain," she explains. And when she wasn't focusing on the pain, she was thinking about her mother who suffers from rheumatiod arthritis. "My mom goes to work everyday without complaining," she says. If the elephant shoot was her least favorite, then the shoot on the beach in Thailand was definitely her favorite. Danielle says that she would like to be a Sports Illustrated model in the future, so the shoot really appealed to her. Interestingly enough, what didn't appeal to Danielle was the idea of going on America's Next Top Model. She had seen the show before, but it took her brother convincing her to give it try in order for her to audition. "I was always that girl who was like, 'I want to model, but not reality show model'," she explains. And in the end, she feels that the way this reality show portrayed her was accurate. "They portrayed me in the light that I am," she concedes. Although, she says that she is extremely quiet, but not shy and she's also a "tremendous fighter" when the topic is something that she feels passionate about.


If a dehydration and exhaustion-induced hospital stay weren't enough, Danielle also underwent an elective dental procedure to close the gap between her two front teeth after the judges pressed her. She fought the procedure because she liked the space, but she now believes that it helped her. "I can't say it made my chances of winning any better, but it kept me in the competition longer," she explains. The judges also wanted Danielle to work on her southern accent because they believed that with it, she wouldn't be able to do her CoverGirl commercials. Danielle says that it was "hard to work on" because there was no dialect coach in the house. Even though she seemed to have a few obstacles in her way, the 20-year old says that she had a lot of fun on the show. She became close with most of the girls in the house, and she continues to keep in contact with a lot of them. "No one stepped on my toes," she explains. She and fellow contestant Mollie Sue even made up nicknames for each other. "Mollie named me 'Kitty' and I named her 'Petey'," she says with a laugh. The girls invented the names after their makeovers. Danielle got "Kitty" because she looked "soft like a cat" after hers, and Mollie Sue got "Petey" because her haircut resembled Peter Pan's. Danielle says that she got along with Jade as well. In the finale after Jade was eliminated, Danielle says that a moment transpired between them that viewers didn't get to see. "I hugged her goodbye and she whispered, 'Go win it'," she says. And win it is exactly what Danielle did after wowing the judges in her first runway show, but she says that her favorite moment of the entire competition came when the girls visited the tsunami ravaged area of Phuket. "We had a moment to distance ourselves from the competition. It was peaceful." Since the competition ended six months ago, Danielle has been home preparing for her soon-to-be hectic schedule by sleeping a lot. "I've been laying low, trying to act as normal as possible," she explains. That means spending time with her mother, with whom she's very close. "She's not interested in the whole celebrity thing. She's more happy that I'm able to live my dreams." Danielle's CoverGirl print ad is in magazines now. America's Next Top Model will return this fall on the new CW network.


The final performances are in the history book, so it all comes down to your votes. I thought that last night's performances from both Taylor and Katharine were pretty even. Unlike the judges, I thought that Katharine's repeat performance of K.T. Tunstall's "Black Horse and a Cherry Tree" was just as strong as the first time. For me, Katharine and Taylor tied the first round and split the second and third rounds. Katharine absolutely blew me away with her rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," even more so than last week, so she was the clear winner of round 2. The final round went to Taylor for, if nothing else, having a better song. Katharine's song had to be the most difficult thing ever! It was so low and so high and just all over the place. Taylor managed to infuse some of his winning personality into his song, but not until the last 1/4 of it, but he gets the edge for doing that much. I still think that Taylor will win tonight, but I'll be happy either way. And speaking of American Idol, my girl/last year's winner Carrie Underwood brought the house down last night at the Academy of Country Music Awards. She won two awards and delivered this amazing performance:


And since we're on the topic of the ACM awards last night, I snagged these pictures of presenter Kathryn Morris from Getty Images:

You can see more pictures of Kathryn at the event at Kathryn Morris Online HERE and HERE, and you can see tons of pictures from the event over at Yahoo! News.

About Last Night...Fox won the first hour of the night with American Idol, followed by CBS' broadcast of The Academy of Country Music Awards and ABC's movie Desperation. At 9, Fox stayed in front with House, followed by hour 2 of the ACM awards on CBS and ABC's movie. The final hour of the night went to the last hour of the ACM awards on CBS, followed by ABC's movie and the conclusion of 10.5 Apocalypse on NBC. For more on last night's ratings, visit Zap2it.

~Primetime Pass~ (NOTE: Tonight marks the end of May sweeps)
@8 p.m. - CBS airs another Dr. Phil special.

FEATURED FINALES!!
American Idol (8 p.m. Fox) - We'll learn whether it's Taylor or Katharine in tonight's 2-hour 5th season finale. Carrie Underwood will perform her newest single.

Lost (9 p.m. ABC) - After discovering something odd just offshore, Jack and Sayid come up with a plan to confront The Others and hopefully get Walt back. Meanwhile, Eko and Locke come to blows as Locke makes a potentially cataclysmic decision regarding the button and the hatch on the 2-hour 2nd season finale.

To see what else you can catch on television tonight with customized listings for your area (via Zap2it), visit the TV Listings area of PassTheRemote.net.


QUICK CUTS

*The WB's Gilmore Girls is getting a new creative force, but she should be familiar to fans of the now cancelled Everwood. Rina Mimoun, who served as an executive producer on the family drama, is jumping onboard as a consultant with the mother/daughter dramedy according to TVGuide.com's Mike Ausiello. The news should come as a relief to Gilmore fans who are still reeling over the news that wife/husband creator/executive producer team Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino will not be a part of the show's upcoming 7th season after contract negotiations broke down. As Ausiello says, Mimoun "has an unparalleled aptitude for nuanced characterizations and — more importantly — satisfying story arcs." Maybe all hope is not lost in Stars Hollow after all.

*Yahoo! Movies has pictures and a trailer for Kristen Bell's upcoming thriller flick Pulse. The movie, about a girl (Veronica Mars' Bell) who starts receiving emails from her dead boyfriend and enlists the help of a hacker to discover that the dead may be using our electronic devices to enter our world, also stars Ian Somerhalder and Christina Milian. It hits theaters July 14th. Click over to Yahoo! Movies to see the trailer and more production stills from the movie.

*And finally, it's Nielsen Wednesday! CBS once again won the week in total viewers and Fox won it with the 18-49 year old crowd. The Eye was led by CSI (#3), Without a Trace (#7) and CSI: Miami (#9). American Idol (#1, #2), Desperate Housewives (#4), the Monday finale of Grey's Anatomy (#5), House (#6), Will & Grace (#8) and ER (#10) rounded out the top 10. To see a list of the top 20 shows from last week, click on over to USA Today.

To get more of today's biggest TV news and headlines, visit the TV News section at PassTheRemote.Net.


That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for a special Finale Blowout edition on Lost and the regular edition with thoughts on tonight's Idol results. Plus, all the latest television news!

To get more television coverage, including the network's new fall schedules and a complete archive of the best of Pass the Remote with a photo gallery featuring pictures from the set of Veronica Mars, click on over to PassTheRemote.net.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

'Everwood' Continues to Shine! Plus 'Medium,' Sexy Vegetarians and 'Lost' Action Figures

As annoying as it was to go four months without a new Everwood right in the middle of the television season, aren't you loving the fact that we're still getting new episodes and will continue to for another two weeks? I'm savoring every moment since I know that these last few episodes will not only be the last of the season, but sadly, also of the series. It's a bitter pill to swallow, and even more so when I watch the amazing episodes each week. I feel like The CW stabbed all of us Everwood fans in the back last week with the announcement that it wouldn't be picking up the critically acclaimed drama. The network started twisting that knife when it kept the Everwood site up on its new web site, and it continues to do so each time we watch a new episode. I sat there last night fuming with the knowledge that quality programming with one of television's best writing staffs gets passed over for teenage drivel like One Tree Hill. I figure by the time the finale airs June 4th, I'll be so bitter and angry that the next day's entry will be a diatribe about the evils of The CW (save for Veronica Mars). Just thought I'd go ahead and warn you guys now.


But, let's not dwell on the terrible injustice that is The CW's decision not to renew Everwood because last night's episode produced another quality hour of television as it does consistently week after week (unlike some other shows that got another season. OK, moving on). This was the big "Bright Goes Through the Window" episode that we have seen advertise for some time now, and that led to a lot of fans thinking that Bright is the character that dies before the series ends (executive producer Rina Mimoun has said on many occasions that a character will die). I really didn't think it was going to be Bright, but I was a little worried when things looked a little touch and go at the hospital. Hannah seemed to show up for Bright as much as she did to support Amy. I never doubted that she still loved him, but it was nice to see her smile after he woke up. I really like Nick and perhaps if we were given another season, more could have been done with him and Hannah, but alas, we all know the hard truth. Ultimately, I want Hannah with Bright, but I think it's too soon. The problem is that the show is wrapping up against its will, so if I want Hannah and Bright to live happily ever after then it's now or never. Curse you CW! It's the same with Amy and Ephram for me. I just feel like both of these "couples" have so much story to tell before they ride off into the sunset, but the damn CW isn't allowing for that, so we're going to have to settle for a rush job in both cases. Luckily, the writers are brilliant enough to make the absolute best out of a horrible situation, but I'm still bitter about all of the stories we're going to miss out on. And there I go again getting off track about the ridiculous CW oversight (seriously, the day after the finale is going to be bad people, BAD!). Anyway, when we weren't busy worrying that Bright was the ill-fated character, we were getting nervous about Rose's cancer scare. It seemed that her cancer had returned, but luckily her scan showed that she was officially in remission. The person we all needed to be worried about was Irv. He seemed to suffer a heart attack as he was bringing Edna breakfast in bed. I assumed that she was still sleeping since we saw him collapse to the floor unconscious and no one running to his rescue. Is Irv the character that Everwood loses? My money was totally on Jake, but it seems that I was sorely wrong.


In other Everwood happenings, Andy's estranged father arrived in town to finally apologize for all the years of emotional neglect. The most interesting part of this story was the way that Andy and his father related to each other because it was like watching an older version of Andy and Ephram. I had no idea that Andy and his father had gone through the same relationship upheaval as he did with his son. Even more interesting was the fact that Andy didn't speak to his father because he was never there for him, especially after his mother died. Ephram and Andy never got along because Andy was never there for his family until after Julia died. This, of course, was the core difference between the two relationship dynamics, and the point that caused Andy's father to realize how badly he failed his son. Elsewhere, Nina and Jake were making plans for their big move to California. For the record, I still don't think it's happening, especially after Nina's talk with Andy. The real reason she's going with Jake is so she can run away from her feelings for Andy. We all know the attempt would be fruitless, so my money is on Nina realizing this fact and staying in Everwood while Jake pursues his new career path in LA. We'll have to see how it plays out in the finale two episodes (sniff, sniff). If you are as upset about the CW injustice as I am, there is a petition to get Everwood on the upstart network's midseason schedule. Right now, there is only one show planned for the mid point and having Everwood for half a season is better than no season. Sign the petition HERE.


How would your life be different if you had chosen another path? This was the fundamental question last night on Medium as we got to see just what would have happened if Allison's had been different. She would have been working for a high- powered defense attorney, married to her college sweetheart and childless. Yes, it was a very different Allison than we're used to seeing every week, and certainly a less compelling one as the episode seemed to drag from time to time. All of this was just a ploy to help Allison understand what was going to happen in court and how to prevent it. D.A. Devalos had a particularly difficult murder case to prosecute because there was no body. This opened the door for the possibility that the "victim" was still alive, and the defense lawyer was going to exploit that possibility with the murdered girl's twin sister. Allison's trip to the land of What Could Have Been allowed her to see how the other side was going to get his client off. The best part of the hypothetical life was the fact that Allison and Joe still found each other and ended up together. I told you guys yesterday that I'm a romantic sap, and now you see what I mean. The only omission from the episode was my TV boyfriend Det. Scanlon. I was bummed that this was the season finale and no Scanlon wit. Other than that, the episode was good, not the best of the season, but still good.


The 41st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards air tonight on CBS live from Las Vegas. And while I wouldn't consider myself a country music fan, there are a few songs that if I happen to hear them, I enjoy. I don't listen to country radio or music channels on TV, so I'm pretty much out of the country loop, but my girl Kathryn Morris is a presenter tonight. She will be joined by fellow presenters Dr. Phil, Emily Proctor, Craig Ferguson, Tony Stewart, performers Sugarland, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts and host Reba McEntire. Check out her promos pictures for tonight's event:



You can see more of Kathryn's ACM photo shoot (HQ photos) at KathrynMorrisOnline.

About Last Night...NBC won the first hour of the night with Deal or No Deal, followed by ABC's special Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball and the first hour of Fox's 24 finale (which had more total viewers). At 9, CBS landed in first with comedies Two and a Half Men and Old Christine, followed by the second hour of Fox's 24 and NBC's The Apprentice. The first hour of ABC's series finale of Alias came in fourth and Everwood landed in fifth. The final hour of the night went to CBS' CSI: Miami, followed by NBC's Medium and the conclusion of ABC's Alias. For more on last night's ratings, visit Zap2it.

~Primetime Pass~
@8 p.m. - It's down to Taylor and Katharine on Fox's American Idol. Listen to each of them perform and then cast your vote. Over on CBS, it's the aforementioned 41st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. ABC presents Stephen King's Desperation starring Tom Skerritt, Steven Weber, Annabeth Gish, Ron Perlman, Henry Thomas, Matt Frewer and Charles Durning. The 3-hour movie centers on an unlikely band of people who find themselves forced to be reluctant heroes as they battle an unspeakable horror in a small, Nevada desert town.

FINALES TONIGHT!!!
House (9 p.m. Fox) - 2nd season finale

To see what else you can catch on television tonight with customized listings for your area (via Zap2it), visit the TV Listings area of PassTheRemote.net.


QUICK CUTS

*Actress Kristen Bell is PETA's newest "world's sexiest vegetarian" along with recording artist Prince. The animal rights group holds the online poll annually, and received 40,000 votes this year. Bell said in a statement about her decision to become a vegetarian: "I had a hard time disassociating the animals I cuddled with - dogs and cats, for example - from the animals on my plate, and I never really cared for the taste of meat. I always loved my brussels sprouts!" Natalie Portman, Nicollette Sheridan and Joaquin Phoenix were runners-up in the poll. Last year's recipients were American Idol winner Carrie Underwood and Coldplay's Chris Martin.

*And finally, you love the TV show, but how about Lost action figures? Touchstone Television is developing a line along with MacFarlane Toys of 6-inch action figures based on the characters of the hit show complete with props. Look for the figures to hit stores around the time of the show's 3rd season premiere this fall.

To get more of today's biggest TV news and headlines, visit the TV News section at PassTheRemote.Net.


That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for thoughts from the newest America's Next Top Model Danielle! Plus, Idol and all the lastest television news!

To get more television coverage, including the network's new fall schedules and a complete archive of the best of Pass the Remote with a photo gallery featuring pictures from the set of Veronica Mars, click on over to PassTheRemote.net.

Monday, May 22, 2006

'Housewives' Grow More 'Desperate' as the Season Ends! Plus a Possible Schedule Shuffle at NBC and TV on DVD Monday

It's not that I wasn't expecting thrills, chills and surprises from the 2-hour season finale of Desperate Housewives last night, but that didn't guarantee that I wouldn't end the hour feeling a little dissatisfied. The episode was strong overall, but I was annoyed at the way they ended it without giving us any clue about Mike's condition. Is he dead? Seriously injured? And then there was the fact that the dentist (Kyle MacLachlan) was the one behind the wheel. I suspect that it had something to do with Mike recognizing him, but I wonder what he's trying to keep secret. Is he a real dentist? Did he spend time in jail and then escape ala Prison Break? I know this is meant to carry over into next season, and I'm totally cool with that - just tell us how Mike's doing! I figured that the Applewhite story line would run its course at the end of the season, so no surprises there. Overall, it was a satisfying finale that was better than most of the episodes this season. Here's a breakdown of everyone's story lines last night.

Lynette - I'm still jumping up and down Scavo style over the joyous news that Tom wasn't cheating on Lynette. I was going to be so mad if things turned out that way, but they didn't. The former one-night stand/mother of his daughter character was pretty funny. I can see her creating all sorts of trouble next season. Lynette is so difficult when it comes to other women and her husband. The potential is endless.

Susan - I was mad when she accepted that house from Karl, and so glad when she changed her mind. In the end, Karl was a good guy about the whole thing, and he was willing to let Susan go so she could be happy. He may be a total slime ball when it comes to women, but he did the right thing and I have to give him props. Susan was left thinking that Mike stood her up, but she'll learn soon enough that he was a bit incapacitated. I do think that she and Mike should ultimately end up together.

Bree - So admitting herself to the hospital was simply a ploy to get medicated and take some time off from her crazy life? Too bad things didn't work out like she planned, especially when things took a serious turn with Danielle. As soon as we learned for sure that Matthew was responsible for Melanie's death, I figured Danielle was in serious trouble as well. I thought Bree's display in front of Danielle with a gun to her face was impressive, and I can only hope that it becomes the glue she needs to keep her relationship with Danielle together.

The Applewhites - I've assumed all season that Caleb was innocent and that Matthew was the real monster, so the confirmation was not a shock. I was surprised to see how far he took the whole running away thing. Overall though, I am just glad that this story line has finally wrapped.

Gaby - I really didn't think that Carlos was cheating with Xiao Mei because it just seemed too obvious, but I was very wrong. I'm not a fan of this story line, but I did enjoy the irony of Gaby the cheater getting a dose of her own medicine. I just wish they had left Gaby and Carlos alone because I was really enjoying their relationship this season. I still maintain that their story was the strongest all season, but I'm not thrilled that it ended on such a sour note.

Zach - Is he not his grandfather's grandson or what? He's diabolical enough to pull the plug on his newly found grandfather and then use his inherited fortune for himself instead of helping out the only father he has ever known. E-VIL!

This show was so hot and cold this season, and that was reflected in last night's finale. Overall, I thought it rocked, but there were some of those stories that just didn't sit well with me. The first few episodes of next season will be critical. If I don't enjoy the stories, then I might be eliminating this show from my TiVo Season Passes, especially since my Cold Case will be on up against it starting in the fall. If you missed last night's finale, you can click over to abc.com to view it for free.

To read thoughts on last night's Cold Case finale, including screen caps and videos, click HERE.

About Last Night...CBS won the first hour of the night with the season finale of Cold Case, followed by the second hour of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (which had more total viewers) and NBC's Dateline. At 9, ABC took over with the first hour of the Desperate Housewives finale, followed by a CSI: Miami rerun on CBS and the first hour of NBC's movie 10.5 Apocalypse. The final hour of the night went to the last hour of ABC's Desperate Housewives, followed by CBS' CSI: NY rerun and NBC's movie. For more on last night's ratings, visit Zap2it.

~Primetime Pass~
@8 p.m. - Oprah Winfrey brings to television her personal archival footage from the three-day, once-in-a-lifetime celebration honoring 25 legendary women in the fields of art, entertainment and civil rights on ABC's special Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball. NBC airs another edition of Deal or No Deal.

@9 p.m. - Andy, Ephram and Delia are all shocked by a visit from Andy's estranged father (guest star Charles Durning) on the WB's Everwood.

FEATURED FINALES TONIGHT!!!
Alias (9 p.m. ABC) - The spy thriller wraps up its five season run with a 2-hour episode. In the first hour, Sloane takes Marshall and Rachel hostage in order to discover a crucial clue to Rambaldis ultimate endgame. In the second, Sydney and Jack must find a way to keep Sloane and Irina from putting their deadly plan into action on the series finale.

24 (8 p.m. Fox) - Agent Jack Bauer seeks to avenge the painful loss of innocent lives on the 2-hour 5th season finale.

Medium (10 p.m. NBC) - Allison has visions of her life had she become the high-powered attorney she originally set out to be on the 2nd season finale.

OTHER FINALES TONIGHT!!!
King of Queens (8 p.m. CBS) - 8th season finale
The New Adventures of Old Christine (9:30 p.m. CBS) - 1st season finale
Two and a Half Men (9 p.m. CBS) - 3rd season finale
CSI: Miami (10 p.m. CBS) - 4th season finale

To see what else you can catch on television tonight with customized listings for your area (via Zap2it), visit the TV Listings area of PassTheRemote.net.


QUICK CUTS

*NBC might be reshuffling its new schedule a week after it announced it. According to TVGuide.com, the network is considering moving the new Aaron Sorkin dramedy Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip from its announced Thursday night slot to Mondays after learning that ABC is moving megahit Grey's Anatomy to the highly contested 9 p.m. Thursday slot against CBS' CSI. The move might also bring back Scrubs sooner than expected.

*And finally, it's TV on DVD Monday! Look for the first season of Boston Legal to hit shelves tomorrow along with The Closer (season 1), The 4400 (season 2), Deadwood (season 2), M*A*S*H (season 10) and Wings (seasons 1 & 2). To see a complete list of tomorrow's releases, visit tvshowsondvd.com.

To get more of today's biggest TV news and headlines, visit the TV News section at PassTheRemote.Net.


That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for thoughts on tonight's Everwood episode and Medium finale (NOTE: I will be doing a Finale Blowout edition on Alias later this week, so stay tuned for that!). Plus, all the latest television news! And I just wanted to end this edition today with a special shout-out to Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. After breaking his leg in three places, undergoing 6 hours of surgery and receiving 23 screws and a plate in his leg, he's beginning his long road to recovery with a 50-50 chance of surviving according to his doctors. Despite the horrific injury, he tried to keep racing and he was practically jogging after surgery yesterday, proving that it's all about attitude. Pass the Remote sends along our best wishes for a speedy and successful recovery Barbaro!

To get more television coverage, including the network's new fall schedules and a complete archive of the best of Pass the Remote with a photo gallery featuring pictures from the set of Veronica Mars, click on over to PassTheRemote.net.