I know it has been a very long time since I've done a Friday Fun edition of PTR (blame my new work schedule -- damn the real world for always getting in the way of the important things in life). Anyway, I'm taking Friday Fun out of hibernation because there are some excellent opportunities next week for fans of CBS' new comedy The Class as well as just television fans in general. Have you ever wondered how an episode of your favorite show goes from an idea to your television set? Well, it all starts with the table read, and Warner Bros. television and CBS are going to give you the opportunity this Monday to sit in on one of these tables reads live via the web! You'll also get to revisit the process on Wednesday with another live webcast. This time, you'll get to see an actual run-through of the episode with the cast and crew of The Class. Here's more info straight from Warner Bros. and CBS:
LIVE WEBCASTS FROM THE SET Are you ready to join the cast on the set of THE CLASS? Here’s your chance to watch the making of an episode, webcast LIVE from the set. On Monday, January 15, you’ll join the cast for a table read. You’ll return to the set on Wednesday, January 17, to watch the run-through. Can’t make the live webcasts? Never fear: we’ll archive both events for you to watch whenever you’d like to.
Table read: Monday, January 15, 11am pt/2pm et Run-through: Wednesday, January 17, 1pm pt/4pm et
You can watch both events live at cbs.com. The Class airs Monday nights at 8:30 (EST) on CBS.
Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!
Here's a look at today's biggest TV news, tonight's hottest programs and last night's biggest ratings winners.
~Primetime Pass~ (a look at what PTR is watching tonight)
Heroes (9 p.m. NBC) - "Nothing to Hide." Facing a crisis involving her son Micah, a distraught Niki (Ali Larter) reveals her recent personal struggles to a friend. Pushing aside his own issues at home, Matt (Greg Grunberg) assists Audrey's (guest star Clea Duvall) investigation into another bizarre murder, but their pursuit of mysterious serial killer Sylar takes an unexpected turn. Nathan (Adrian Pasdar) and his wife Heidi (guest star Rena Sofer) strategize how to win the congressional election. Claire (Hayden Panettiere) is shocked to learn where her missing tape wound up. Click over to nbc.com to get the 2-minute replay to find out what you have been missing.
About Last Night... BIGGEST RATINGS WINNERS: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the NFL, Desperate Housewives. Brothers & Sisters
For a complete breakdown of last night's ratings, visit Zap2it.
SUPER QUICK CUTS *Fox is trying a new slot for The O.C. The series will have two new episodes this week -- one on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. and a second one on Thursday during the show's usual slot. [Source]
*ABC Family is giving Wildfire a 4th season. The third season will kick off Jan. 1st. [Source]
*NBC's Heroes is the top new show of the season according to some television bloggers. Scooter from Scooter McGavin's 9th Green conducted a poll of his fellow bloggers (including yours truly) and the new superhero drama got the top pick. Other shows making the list include Studio 60, Friday Night Lights, The Nine and Ugly Betty. Click on over to Scooter McGavin's to get the full report. And be sure to watch an all-new episode of Heroes tonight on NBC to discover what all of the fuss is about!
*CBS' broadband channel INNERTUBE is launching a new series today. The Papdits, dubbed a docu-comedy, follows the story of a family from Kashmir who goes around the U.S. looking for a community to settle in. The series is a holdover from CBS' development season and it comes from writer/producer Ant Hines (Da Ali G Show). You can catch episodes beginning today on INNERTUBE and you can get exclusive clips through Verizon Wireless' "V-Cast" service.
*And finally, it's TV on DVD Monday! Look for the 7th season of The West Wing to hit shelves tomorrow along with Beverly Hills 90210 (season 1), JAG (season 2), Melrose Place (season 1), and The Sopranos (season 6). [Source]
To get more of today's biggest TV news and headlines, visit the TV News section at PassTheRemote.Net.
On Friday, I gave you guys this mystery TV star: And one of you guessed correctly! Congrats to Suekola44 for correctly identifying the mystery TV star as Emily Bergl (a.k.a. Annie on ABC's Men in Trees). Be sure to catch all new episodes of Men in Trees Friday nights on ABC. Here's Emily, minus the hideously bad photoshop job: That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for thoughts on tonight's episode of Heroes. Plus, new photos from tomorrow's night episode of Veronica Mars and all the latest television news!
Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!
Over the summer, I told you guys about the Travel Channel's fabulous documentary-style weekly series 5 Takes. The show consists of five travel journalists, or "TJs," who document their journeys and experiences with their own cameras, laptops and a camera crew while traveling a designated itinerary. But wait, there's more! Viewers, through the show's message board, help the participants choose what they see and do while they visit different locations. Last season, the 5 Americans visited the Pacific Rim and traveled through Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and other fascinating places. This season, they're traveling to... wait for it... the USA!!! And right now you're asking yourself, how can 5 people's perspectives on the USA be interesting? Well, the five TJs are all from other countries. So, you'll be able to see our country through non-American eyes. The group will hit Austin, TX; Washington, DC; Las Vegas; Miami; Anchorage, Alaska; Memphis, TN; and New York. Your 5 TJs for this edition are:
Bevis, 22, Taiwan
Jaime, 28, Singapore
Lena, 26, West Java
Tim, 24, Australia
Zach, Phillipines
5 Takes USA premieres this Saturday, October 28th, at 10 p.m. on the Travel Channel. For more on the series, visit travelchannel.com. All of the photos in this edition are courtesy of the Travel Channel/Discovery Communications.
Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!
Unless you live in a television black hole, you're fully aware that many of your favorite shows are now available on Apple's music download program iTunes. An episode will cost you $1.99, and it is well worth it when you miss one of your favorites. For today's edition of Friday Fun, PTR is going to get you updated on all of the shows you can now catch with the popular download service. But first, here's a list of some FREE episodes from iTunes (and who doesn't like free TV??!!):
Bones "The Titan on the Tracks" (2nd season premiere) Price: $1.99FREE!! Get it HERE now
Battlestar Galactica "The Story So Far" (Clip show that wraps up 1st 2 seasons) Price: $1.99FREE!! Get it HERE now
Many of your favorite shows are available for download at $1.99 an episode or you can purchase an entire season. If all of the episodes haven't aired yet (say, this current season of Grey's Anatomy), then iTunes will automatically download the episode after it airs on network television. So fans of Grey's who have purchased its 3rd season, are getting last night's episode automatically downloaded today! Here's a list of all of the current broadcast shows on iTunes (* denotes a PTR fave):
So far, The CW hasn't made available any episodes from its popular shows. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they decide to put Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars, America's Next Top Model and others on iTunes soon. If you haven't jumped on the iTunes bandwagon yet, you can click on over to Apple's site to download your free software. You can watch your favorite episodes on your computer or you can take it to go on your video iPod, making television viewing so convenient that you can load up your television plate with even more shows (I watch Jericho exclusively through downloads). It's every TV fan's dream come true!
Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!
It seems like just yesterday that I was writing a Cold CaseFinale Blowout edition of PTR. I remember writing the title "'Case' Closed on Another Season," and feeling a little bummed that the last of my two favorite shows wasn't going to be back for months. Well, fast-forward 4 months and here we are 2 days out from one of this show's most anticipated season premieres ever! But, before we get to what you can expect, we have to go back and look at where we left off. The photo above is courtesy of Kathryn Morris Online.
Previously on Cold Case... Lilly lost her mind! More specifically, she found herself completely enthralled with a supposed victim after viewing his photograph and hearing about his dedication to recovering teen drug addicts and his 2 cats. Lucky for Lilly (or rather, not so lucky), it turns out that he is still alive and the two hit it off right away. So much so that Lilly agrees to keep his status from her co-workers, and thus puts the murder case in serious jeopardy. Scotty finds out while confronting her at her home, she (surprisingly) admits the feelings that she's feeling for Joseph and he tells her that she has to come clean to the boss. She does so the next day, he flies off the handle because he's so disappointed in her and Lilly's career suddenly hinges on whether loverboy shows up at the precinct. Luckily, he does and the case is saved (Lil's career is another issue -- and as far as we know, it's still up in the air). The ending scenes found Lilly visiting Joseph at his farmhouse that evening. He let her in, the door shut, fade to black.
Now that you're all caught up on the happenings in last season's finale, here's a brief description of the premiere from CBS' press release (WARNING: Clicking the link brings you to the full release which contains spoilers):
"Rampage" -- The 1995 case involving two teenage boys who committed suicide after going on a murderous rampage at the local mall is re-opened when evidence shows there may have been a third shooter.
And just in case you're wondering, Joseph will make an appearance in the season opener. The crime drama has a brand-new showrunner (Veena Sud -- the series best writer in my opinion -- takes the reins this season) and racier timeslot (9 p.m. Sundays instead of 8 p.m.), so expect a few changes this year. Star Kathryn Morris told USC's Daily Trojan that this season will be "edgier." "We're getting a lot more action and cop-like pursuits," she said. "We're (also) going back to some of the classic Lilly Rush moments from the beginning of the series." And from the looks of the preview for Sunday night, the show is also going to heat up the bedroom. Sud told Entertainment Weekly that the premiere is "huge." "It flashes back to 1995 when these kids go into the mall and open fire. It's going to be a real shocker," she explains. Here is the preview in its entirety (promo and screencaps courtesy of irishkale at Look Again).
According to the bit in Entertainment Weekly, expect more one-artist episodes like the Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash and John Mellencamp outings of past seasons. We can also look forward to more personal storylines on all of the detectives, including a big one for Scotty Valens. TVGuide.com is reporting that Valen's child molester beat-down last season may have been more personal than we first thought. Sud tells the magazine's online site that the detective has a secret. "It's going to be about his childhood and his older brother [Nestor Carbonell] with whom he was really close," she says. Cold Case premieres this Sunday, September 24th at 9 p.m. (VCR/TiVo Alert: May be delayed due to football) on CBS.
Get even more of your TV fix at PassTheRemote.net! A comprehensive television site with news, reviews, photos and much more!
The Amazing Race kicks off its 10th season this Sunday on CBS with a special 90-minute premiere. But, don't expect this edition to be your parents' Race. Host Phil Keoghan tells the racers right off the top to expect the unexpected with plenty of surprises, and after viewing the premiere, I can safely tell you that he is correct. The premiere is packed with twists and turns, heart-pounding suspense, teary-eyed moments and all of the other Race staples plus, a few extras. But, what makes this edition of The Amazing Race an absolute "must see" is the teams. The teams are always the heart and soul of this show and watching how their pre-Race relationships hold up to the stress and rigor of the grueling 30-day event. After all, there's a reason this 4-time Emmy Award winning series is the only reality competition to take the trophy in the history if the category. But, there is an extra something special about this edition's crop of teams. There's a woman with an artificial leg training for the Iron Man Triathlon who just began dating her good friend and clinical prothetist, two beauty queens who became friends during The Miss America pageant, two friends and former drug addicts - turned - models, a father and daughter who have had a strained relationship in the past and are hoping to use the Race to grow closer, and a coalminer and his wife from Kentucky whose perseverance and friendly spirit sort of grow on you as the premiere progresses. One of Race's biggest charms is watching these teams conquer obstacles that seem insurmountable at the time, and the accomplishment of a lifetime after they do it. Pay special attention to an arduous challenge at The Great Wall of China. I was so enthralled, I'm pretty sure I forgot to breathe.
For the first time, The Amazing Race starts off with 12 teams. Here's a look at each of them in no particular order (all pictures courtesy cbs.com).
Vipul & Arti Husband and wife from Windermere, Florida
Erwin & Godwin Brothers from San Francisco
Tom & Terry Boyfriends from New York
Kellie & Jamie Cheerleaders from Columbia, SC
Lyn & Karlyn Single moms/friends from Birmingham and Helena, AL
David & Mary Coalminer and wife from Stone, KY
Bilal & Sa'eed Best Friends
Peter & Sarah Recenting dating couple from Laguna Beach and Trabuco Canyon, CA
Rob & Kimberly Dating couple from Los Angeles
Tyler & James Models from Los Angeles
Dustin & Kandice Beauty queens from Riverside, CA and New York
Duke & Lauren Father/daughter from Warwick, RI
The Amazing Race premieres on its new night at a special time this Sunday at 8:30 p.m. on CBS (may be delayed due to football). The series will move to its regular timeslot the following Sunday at 8 p.m.
FRIDAYFUN: Braff Shows us his 'Last Kiss' Scrubs' Zach Braff is heading to the big screen this weekend with his new film The Last Kiss. The relationship drama also stars Rachel Bilson, Jacinda Barrett, Blythe Danner and Casey Affleck. Braff plays Michael, a guy entering his thirties who is struggling with the idea of settling down. Braff says on his official site that the picture moved him when he first read it. "The Last Kiss is a very real, honest, gritty story about relationships, lust, love, betrayal, friendship and making choices," he writes. Check out the trailer and a series of clips from YouTube:
The Last Kiss is now playing in theaters nationwide. Click HERE to find out when it plays near you.
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*And finally, CBS' INNERTUBE wants to Hook you up. The broadband channel will debut a new dating reality series next month. The show, dubbed Hook Me Up, will follow 4 contestants (right - photo courtesy CBS) as they go on dates with four new people each week. After the four dates, the viewers will vote for which suitors they believe should be invited back for a second date. You can apply to date one of the contestants via CBS' web site. The 5-minute episodes will debut every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on INNERTUBE. The contestants are:
EMILY Hemet Age: 23 Graduate Student and Legal Secretary
STEPHANIE Columbus Age: 25 Fashion Sales and former TV Host
JEFF Los Angeles Age: 24 Restaurant Owner
MATT Philadelphia Age: 25 Private Investment Firm employee
Each of their suitors will reveal a secret at the end of the date. Hook Me Up premieres October 2nd exclusively on INNERTUBE.
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 Monday for the all-new Pass the Remote! PTR is changing its format, adding more writers (be sure to check out Writers Wanted), and best of all -- bringing you more coverage of your favorite shows. Be sure to be there for the launch on Monday that coincides with the official kick off of the new TV season. PTR will have reviews on The Class, Smith and Jericho along with previews of your favorite returning shows and much, much more! You don't want to miss a word of PTR next week. First up, a review of CBS' new comedy The Class. I've seen the first three episodes, and I'll let you know whether you should check it out as well. Also, look for complete thoughts on The Amazing Race premiere since we'll all be on the same page. And of course, all the latest TV 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.
Yes, it's true. This is the last Veronica Mars flashback edition of the summer, but this is good news because it means that new episodes are starting up very soon. In fact, Veronica Mars kicks off its 3rd season 3 weeks from tomorrow!! All new cases, all new adventures and college lie ahead for the upcoming season. But before we get to the new, it's time to look back on the old. Today's Flashback Edition takes us back to the end of the first season with the answer to the burning question -- who killed Lilly Kane? Of course this episode also left us with another burning question for the duration of the summer rerun season. It's only fitting that the last VM Flashback Edition focus on the first season finale, "Leave it to Beaver."
Since the episode centers around the season-long mystery of who killed Veronica's best friend, today's edition will do the same. When we last left Veronica she was busy discovering that the Echolls' guesthouse had a hidden camera above the bed, which left her a little less enamored with Logan. Veronica gets a piece of good news, though, in this episode. Keith tells her that she is definitely his daughter. This is one of my favorite VM scenes ever! The way Keith chokes up when he tells her and the way Veronica cries happy tears just gets me every time. Anyway, Veronica sneaks into the Kane estate posing as a cocktail waitress at their fancy shindig. She and Duncan team up to discover some hidden videotapes in Lilly's vent. They watch the tapes and find Aaron Echolls in bed with Lilly. Suddenly, Veronica knows who killed her best friend and why. She calls Keith and he instructs her to leave the party immediately since Aaron is in attendance as well. Veronica begins to drive down the road in a panic after her discovery. Suddenly, Aaron emerges from the back seat and the two struggle for the tapes until Veronica crashes into a tree. The scenes that follow are some of the most intense of any series, and they had me at the edge of my seat and holding my breath. Aaron manages to lock Veronica in a freezer as he begins to set the property on fire. And just when you thought that Keith couldn't do anything further to earn that Father of the Year Award, he shows up in the knick of time to save Veronica and make sure Sheriff Lamb and his bumbling deputies arrest Aaron for the Lilly Kane murder and attempted murder of Veronica. This scene cemented the fact that no matter how many guys come and go in Veronica's life, Keith will always be the hero. You have to admire a show that places such importance on a father/daughter relationship.
So, we know that Aaron killed Lilly because she found and took the tapes and he was worried about his career, we know that Veronica is really Keith's daughter, Duncan knows that Veronica wasn't his sister, and Logan is caught in a huge fight with the PCHers and someone doesn't come out alive, but the biggest question was left to be answered. As Veronica sits at home alone digesting the day's disturbing events while Keith recovers in an area hospital, she gets a knock on her door. She stands up, walks over to the door and opens it, but we don't get to see who is standing on the other side. We hear Veronica say, "I was hoping it would be you." Fade to black, end of scene and the first wonderful, excellent and every other superlative in the dictionary first season of Veronica Mars. If you would like to watch this episode for yourself, pick up your S1 DVD set today (also check out the S2 set on store shelves now!). Or rent one through Netflix, or check your local library for a free borrowed copy. Veronica's second season is currently airing in reruns on UPN every Tuesday night. Tomorrow night, you can catch 2 back-to-back episodes of this wonderful show. In the first hour, Veronica and Keith take the witness stand in Aaron Echolls' trial. Check out the opening scene HERE! In the second hour, Veronica discovers who crashed the bus and it leads to an intense rooftop scene in the second season finale. All of the screencaps in this edition are courtesy of vm-caps.com.
FRIDAYFUN: SUMMERSTYLE: Mystery TV Star Answer On Friday, PTR asked you to ID this Mystery TV Star:
And you guys responded with Prison Break's Wentworth Miller. Now, either I made this too easy or you guys have been studying this attractive actor's striking eyes as much as I have because everyone got it right! Congrats miyagimayday, suekola44 and adafairy! Here's the original photo:
QUICK CUTS
*Actor Zach Braff says that reports that he is leaving his hit NBC comedy Scrubs after this upcoming season are exaggerated. The actor tells TVGuide.com's Mike Ausiello that he's still unsure about whether he'll be back or not. "That was [taken] a little bit out of context. What I said was that this is the first year where it'll be up to me. I'm not necessarily leaving. It's all up in the air; nothing's decided," he explains. Braff also says that he's hoping to get actor David Cross to guest star on the hospital comedy as his Arrested Development character Tobias, but the logistics are still being worked out. For more with Braff, including his upcoming movie The Last Kiss, Scrubs' musical episode and whether he'll play Fletch in the upcoming big screen remake, click on over to Ausiello's column at TVGuide.com.
*And finally, it's TV on DVD Monday! Oh, and it's a big one! Look for the second season of Grey's Anatomy to hit store shelves tomorrow along with The Office (season 2), Smallville (season 5), Las Vegas (season 3), Diagnosis Murder (season 1), Moonlighting (season 4) and Roseanne (season 5). To see a list of all of tomorrow's releases, click on over to 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 all new episode of Vanished (which, due to a presidential speech, will start at 9:18 p.m. tonight). 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.
When I read the news that James Woods was jumping from film to television, the first thing that popped into my mind was, "This must be one hell of a show!" So, needless to say, expectations are high for CBS' new legal drama Shark. Thanks to the wonderful folks at the network, I was able to get an advanced copy of this new show (along with all of CBS' new shows, so stay tuned for reviews on those as well). Shark, I'm happy to report, does not disappoint. Woods stars as Sebastian Stark, a high powered defense attorney who switches sides after an unfortunate incident involving a client, and he's excellent in the role. He's obnoxious and cocky, but he makes you love the character despite all of his obvious flaws. The best scenes are the ones that he shares with his teenage daughter Julie (the wonderful Danielle Panabaker) as they reveal Stark's more vulnerable side. In the courtroom, he's the equivalent of a shark (hence the nickname) -- goes for the gut and never lets go -- but at home he's just a father trying to figure out how to relate to his daughter. He heads a group of young prosecutors who have neither the experience nor the enthusiasm to win their cases. Stark works to bring both by teaching them how the defense team gets its successful record. Call it "Lawyer Boot Camp" where no one gets through unscathed. Shark is the second legal drama of the new season, but don't expect it to be too much like Fox's entry. Where Justice is slick and fast-paced with a catchy hook at the end, Shark is more subdued and character-heavy with fatherhood and family serving as its only hook. Unless of course, you count Stark's impressive home mock courtroom, which you'll have to tune in to fully appreciate.
THE 411
PREMISE: A high-powered defense attorney switches sides and heads a group of young prosecutors STARRING: James Woods, Danielle Panabaker, Jeri Ryan EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Brian Grazer, David Nevins, Ian Biederman EXTRA BONUS: A complicated and touching father/daughter relationship BOTTOM LINE: As I've said before, I'm not one for legal dramas. But, this show has a little bit of everything for everyone. GRADE: A- PREMIERES: Thursday, September 21st at 10 p.m. (EST) on CBS (after CSI). For more information, visit CBS.com.
FRIDAYFUN: SUMMERSTYLE Who's that TV Star? Welcome to the newest addition to Friday Fun. PTR will show you a modified picture of one of your favorite TV stars, and you guys can guess his/her identity. Here's this week's TV star:
Do you know who that is? Leave me a comment with your guesses and I'll reveal the star's identity on Monday.
QUICK CUTS
*And finally, it seems that many of you are definitely ready for some football! NBC's NFL Kickoff Special, featuring defending Super Bowl champs the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the Miami Dolphins, garnered the highest ratings ever for an NFL kickoff game. More than 19 million people tuned in to watch the Steelers beat the Dolphins 28-17 last night. NBC will next air the NFL in primetime this Sunday when the Manning brothers go head-to-head with the Colts taking on the Giants.
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 Monday for the final Veronica Mars Flashback Edition of the summer! PTR has saved the most thrilling for last with season one's adrenaline-packed season finale! Plus, the answer to this week's mystery TV star and 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.
I know it has been a very long time since I've done a Friday Fun edition of PTR (blame my new work schedule -- damn the real world for always getting in the way of the important things in life). Anyway, I'm taking Friday Fun out of hibernation because there are some excellent opportunities next week for fans of CBS' new comedy The Class as well as just television fans in general. Have you ever wondered how an episode of your favorite show goes from an idea to your television set? Well, it all starts with the table read, and Warner Bros. television and CBS are going to give you the opportunity this Monday to sit in on one of these tables reads live via the web! You'll also get to revisit the process on Wednesday with another live webcast. This time, you'll get to see an actual run-through of the episode with the cast and crew of The Class. Here's more info straight from Warner Bros. and CBS:
