With all the excellent hour-long dramas on television this past season, there were bound to be too many worthy actors and actresses and not enough nomination slots. That's great for us fans because it means the quality of talent and program was high, but bad for all the talented, snubbed stars of your favorite dramas. Here's a look at who made the cut, who I think will win, who I think should win, and a special salute to those who missed the cut. Be sure to leave a comment with your predictions and thoughts.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
James Spader - Boston Legal
Ian McShane - Deadwood
Hugh Laurie - House
Hank Azaria - Huff
Kiefer Sutherland - 24
WHO WILL WIN: This is one of the (if not the) toughest categories to predict this year. First time nominee Hugh Laurie is absolutely perfect as Dr. House, but the Academy will probably view his nomination as enough recognition this year. After all, House just began its second season and it is packing an even larger punch in the ratings than last season. In other words, the show is most likely around for the long haul and Laurie will have plenty of time to win. Fellow first time nominee (in this category) Hank Azaria will probably be overlooked as well, most likely because of the weight and depth of this category. Kiefer Sutherland has been nominated three times without a win. Will the fourth be a charm? Hard to say for sure, but more than likely not. That leaves Ian McShane and James Spader. McShane was snubbed last year and won the Golden Globe, but Spader won this category last year for his same role on The Practice. I think this is going to be one of the categories that doesn't branch out, and we'll see Spader walk away with a repeat win.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Hugh Laurie impressed me the most last year, so I think this award belongs to him. He plays the curmudgeon doctor with heart, and he does it all with a pretty much flawless American accent. Laurie makes House likeable, and we seem to find ourselves rooting for him, despite his difficult nature. I'd love to see Laurie take the statue, but I just don't think it's his year.
WHO GOT SNUBBED: Dennis Leary from Rescue Me, most obviously. Leary turns in excellent performances on a daring, and sometimes, controversial show. Also snubbed, Everwood's Treat Williams, The Shield's Michael Chiklis, and Dylan Walsh and Julian McMahon from Nip/Tuck.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Jennifer Garner - Alias
Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order: SVU
Patricia Arquette - Medium
Glenn Close - The Shield
Frances Conroy - Six Feet Under
WHO WILL WIN: I don't think this category is going to be much of a competition because Glenn Close will more than likely take this one easily. This is Jennifer Garner's fourth nomination and Mariska Hargitay's second (and she won the Golden Globe), but Close is just too much of an Emmy favorite to walk away empty handed. Plus, she announced earlier this summer that she won't be returning to her nominated role on The Shield, which sets up a "now or never" scenario for voters. Patricia Arquette is wonderful as medium Allison DuBois, but she is a first-time nominee, and likely to be overlooked. Frances Conroy might sneak in and steal this category, but I think Close is the most likely winner.
WHO SHOULD WIN: This is difficult for me because I just adore Mariska Hargitay and Jennifer Garner and their incredible performances. Garner stars in a more character-heavy show, but Hargitay was handed some difficult material this year, and she pulled it off beautifully. This is such a toss-up for me, so I would be happy with a win for either actress. They are both equally deserving of the statue.
WHO GOT SNUBBED: So many, I'll probably forget some of them. This category, more than any other this year, had a huge pool to choose from with all the talented actresses on television dramas. Included in my list of snubs, Cold Case's Kathryn Morris for her beautiful and moving performance in the season finale as well as her flawless navigation through Lilly's ups and downs last season, Amber Tamblyn (a nominee last year) for her unmistakably real and raw performance as Joan Girardi on the cancelled Joan of Arcadia, and Kristen Bell for her amazingly multi-layered portrayal of Veronica Mars (although, I think her time is coming). All amazing actresses who would have been welcomed additions to the category in my book.
Emmy News
Patricia Arquette, Bobby Cannavale, Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Hugh Jackman, Kathryn Joosten, Phil Keoghan, Ray Liotta, and Jeff Probst are all set to presentt Sunday night at The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.
QUICK CUTS
*Premiering Tonight!!! CBS kicks off Survivor: Guatemala tonight at 8 p.m. EDT. The new batch of 16 castaways will be joined by two surprise former contestants. Tune in tonight on CBS to find out who they are and who gets eliminated.
*Programming Alert Reminder!!! Due to President Bush's address to the nation regarding Hurricane Katrina, some of your favorite programs are shifting around. The speech is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. EDT and last 30-45 minutes. Fox will air the second episode of Reunion next Thursday (September 22nd) instead of tonight. Over at CBS, the Quentin Tarentino-directed two-hour rerun of last season's finale will move to next Wednesday (September 21st) instead. That move pushes CSI:NY's second season premiere back to the following Wednesday (September 28th). Meanwhile, ABC is planning an entire evening dedicated to Hurricane Katrina coverage.
*And finally, it looks like Gilmore Girls is off to a hot start this season. More than 6.2 million viewers tuned in to see Luke's answer. Over at Fox, the new forensics drama Bones finished very well with 10.7 million viewers and sophomore drama House closed out Fox's evening with 15.9 million viewers, proving that the show has staying power. Tuesday was the first night with multi-network premieres.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow as Emmy Week winds down. I'll have my predictions for the best drama and comedy, a full up-to-date list of presenters, and general information on the telecast this Sunday. And of course, all the latest television news!
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
EMMY WEEK EDITION: It's Time for the Funny Leading Ladies and Men!
Four more days until we find out who gets to take home the Emmy in all our favorite categories. With the somewhat surprising nominations thrown in with the usual predictions, it should be an interesting night with some surprising winners. Today, we're going to look at the actors and actresses nominated in the comedy category as well as my predictions and snubs. After you read them, be sure to leave a comment with yours.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Jason Bateman - Arrested Development
Ray Romano - Everybody Loves Raymond
Tony Shaloub - Monk
Zach Braff - Scrubs
Eric McCormack - Will & Grace
WHO WILL WIN: This is going to be a tight race between two nominees. Jason Bateman won the Golden Globe this year for his role as Michael Bluth, but I don't see this being his year for an Emmy win. Zach Braff is a first time nominee, so I think the Academy will overlook him this year since Scrubs received its first major nominations as well. Eric McCormack won in 2001, but his show is past its glory days. That leaves Ray Romano and Tony Shaloub. Shaloub is very funny as Monk, but the show had a down year. He won this category back in 2003, but I don't see him taking home a second statue this year. Ray Romano won in 2002, and his show said goodbye this season. I think the Academy will reward Romano for a final year well done.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Zach Braff should take home the award, but his competition is just too fierce. Braff has been plugging away at Scrubs for four seasons with little recognition mainly because NBC failed to place the show in a consistent timeslot. Braff can mold his face into a variety of expressions, and each one is just as hysterical. He pulls off the physical and verbal comedy perfectly.
WHO GOT SNUBBED: Not so much a snub, but more of a surprise that neither Charlie Sheen nor Jon Cryer received nominations. Two and a Half Men is CBS's second most popular comedy, and it's getting the prime Raymond slot this season. I wouldn't be surprised if we see one or both of these actors in this category next year.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Marcia Cross - Desperate Housewives
Teri Hatcher - Desperate Housewives
Felicity Huffman - Desperate Housewives
Patricia Heaton - Everybody Loves Raymond
Jane Kaczmarek - Malcolm in the Middle
WHO WILL WIN: I know, it's a Desperate Housewives invasion, and I'm not even going to get into the whole "it's a comedy, no it's a drama" debate. The show entered itself in the comedy category, so here we are with three nominees from the same show. Normally, I would assume that they would all cancel each other out, but not with this category. Housewives has received oodles of critical praise and viewers, and it's too much of a behemoth to not win these big categories. Patricia Heaton has an edge because her show finished its run this season, and Jane Kaczmarek has been nominated so many times, and never won, that she's heading into Susan Lucci territory, but this award belongs to a housewife. The only question is, which one? Everybody wants to defer to Teri Hatcher since she won the Golden Globe, but a Globe win does not an Emmy win make (as they say). I think the Academy will choose between Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross, with Cross coming out victorious for her mesmerizing portrayal of Bree.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Definitely Felicity Huffman. She's the most layered member of the cast, and she has the uncanny ability to make Lynette relatable and totally outrageous at the same time. One minute you're laughing at her hysterical antics (walking into Mary Alice's pool with high heels and a dress to fetch her unruly boys at Mary Alice's memorial service), and the next you're shocked at how low she would stoop (using Parker's shaved head misunderstanding as an opportunity to get her boys in the gym's daycare). Huffman has a wide range to her talent, and she deserves to finally get some recognition.
WHO GOT SNUBBED: Most notably, Gilmore Girls' Lauren Graham. Graham has done a fantastic job for five seasons. She suffers from the same problem as supporting actor in a drama snubbed actor Tom Amandes because both their shows are on the Academy ignored WB. Like Amandes, it's a shame to not see Graham's name on this list. Hopefully, the Academy will wise up and take notice of the amazing talent on the WB and UPN. Another snub, although slight, goes to Eva Longoria. The only reason I mention her is because her role on Desperate Housewives is pure comedy. Since the show is in the comedy category, it makes more sense to have her included as well.
EMMY NEWS
Lauren Graham, Alan Alda, Portia de Rossi, Jesse L. Martin, Conan O'Brien, and The Blue Man Group are the latest additions to the list of presenters for Sunday's live 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on CBS.
QUICK CUTS
*Premiering Tonight!!! Just one show making its debut tonight, and it's Fox's new legal show Head Cases starring Chris O'Donnell and Adam Goldberg. O'Donnell's character leaves his high-brow law firm after suffering a nervous breakdown and joins a low-rent one that focuses on underdog cases. There, he meets Goldberg's character, who suffers from manic outbursts. Head Cases airs tonight at 9 p.m. EDT on Fox.
*Programming Alert! President Bush's address to the nation regarding Hurricane Katrina is causing the networks to preempt some of their Thursday night shows per TV Guide. The speech is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. EDT and last 30-45 minutes. Fox will air the second episode of Reunion next Thursday (September 22nd) instead of tomorrow night. Over at CBS, there's a CSI shake-up. The network will not air the two-hour Quentin Tarantino-directed episode tomorrow night, opting for next Wednesday (September 21st) instead. That move pushes CSI:NY's second season premiere back to the following Wednesday (September 28th). Meanwhile, ABC is planning an entire evening dedicated to Hurricane Katrina coverage instead of its usual programming starting off with a special edition of Primetime Live.
*The total is in on the amount of money raised at last week's Hurricane Katrina telethon Shelter From the Storm. The multi-network and star-studded concert raised more than $30 million for the victims of last month's devastating storm.
*And finally, it's Nielsen Wednesday! ABC finally broke CBS's 14-week winning streak with a first place finish in total viewers last week. The alphabet network was led by its NFL coverage with the Raiders versus Patriots game (#1) and its 2005 NFL Showcase (#2). CBS landed in second place with six of the top ten shows led by perennial chart topper CSI (#3). For the full top 20 programs, visit USA Today.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for a peek at the dramatic actors categories. Plus, all the latest television news.
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Jason Bateman - Arrested Development
Ray Romano - Everybody Loves Raymond
Tony Shaloub - Monk
Zach Braff - Scrubs
Eric McCormack - Will & Grace
WHO WILL WIN: This is going to be a tight race between two nominees. Jason Bateman won the Golden Globe this year for his role as Michael Bluth, but I don't see this being his year for an Emmy win. Zach Braff is a first time nominee, so I think the Academy will overlook him this year since Scrubs received its first major nominations as well. Eric McCormack won in 2001, but his show is past its glory days. That leaves Ray Romano and Tony Shaloub. Shaloub is very funny as Monk, but the show had a down year. He won this category back in 2003, but I don't see him taking home a second statue this year. Ray Romano won in 2002, and his show said goodbye this season. I think the Academy will reward Romano for a final year well done.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Zach Braff should take home the award, but his competition is just too fierce. Braff has been plugging away at Scrubs for four seasons with little recognition mainly because NBC failed to place the show in a consistent timeslot. Braff can mold his face into a variety of expressions, and each one is just as hysterical. He pulls off the physical and verbal comedy perfectly.
WHO GOT SNUBBED: Not so much a snub, but more of a surprise that neither Charlie Sheen nor Jon Cryer received nominations. Two and a Half Men is CBS's second most popular comedy, and it's getting the prime Raymond slot this season. I wouldn't be surprised if we see one or both of these actors in this category next year.
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Marcia Cross - Desperate Housewives
Teri Hatcher - Desperate Housewives
Felicity Huffman - Desperate Housewives
Patricia Heaton - Everybody Loves Raymond
Jane Kaczmarek - Malcolm in the Middle
WHO WILL WIN: I know, it's a Desperate Housewives invasion, and I'm not even going to get into the whole "it's a comedy, no it's a drama" debate. The show entered itself in the comedy category, so here we are with three nominees from the same show. Normally, I would assume that they would all cancel each other out, but not with this category. Housewives has received oodles of critical praise and viewers, and it's too much of a behemoth to not win these big categories. Patricia Heaton has an edge because her show finished its run this season, and Jane Kaczmarek has been nominated so many times, and never won, that she's heading into Susan Lucci territory, but this award belongs to a housewife. The only question is, which one? Everybody wants to defer to Teri Hatcher since she won the Golden Globe, but a Globe win does not an Emmy win make (as they say). I think the Academy will choose between Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross, with Cross coming out victorious for her mesmerizing portrayal of Bree.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Definitely Felicity Huffman. She's the most layered member of the cast, and she has the uncanny ability to make Lynette relatable and totally outrageous at the same time. One minute you're laughing at her hysterical antics (walking into Mary Alice's pool with high heels and a dress to fetch her unruly boys at Mary Alice's memorial service), and the next you're shocked at how low she would stoop (using Parker's shaved head misunderstanding as an opportunity to get her boys in the gym's daycare). Huffman has a wide range to her talent, and she deserves to finally get some recognition.
WHO GOT SNUBBED: Most notably, Gilmore Girls' Lauren Graham. Graham has done a fantastic job for five seasons. She suffers from the same problem as supporting actor in a drama snubbed actor Tom Amandes because both their shows are on the Academy ignored WB. Like Amandes, it's a shame to not see Graham's name on this list. Hopefully, the Academy will wise up and take notice of the amazing talent on the WB and UPN. Another snub, although slight, goes to Eva Longoria. The only reason I mention her is because her role on Desperate Housewives is pure comedy. Since the show is in the comedy category, it makes more sense to have her included as well.
EMMY NEWS
Lauren Graham, Alan Alda, Portia de Rossi, Jesse L. Martin, Conan O'Brien, and The Blue Man Group are the latest additions to the list of presenters for Sunday's live 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on CBS.
QUICK CUTS
*Premiering Tonight!!! Just one show making its debut tonight, and it's Fox's new legal show Head Cases starring Chris O'Donnell and Adam Goldberg. O'Donnell's character leaves his high-brow law firm after suffering a nervous breakdown and joins a low-rent one that focuses on underdog cases. There, he meets Goldberg's character, who suffers from manic outbursts. Head Cases airs tonight at 9 p.m. EDT on Fox.
*Programming Alert! President Bush's address to the nation regarding Hurricane Katrina is causing the networks to preempt some of their Thursday night shows per TV Guide. The speech is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. EDT and last 30-45 minutes. Fox will air the second episode of Reunion next Thursday (September 22nd) instead of tomorrow night. Over at CBS, there's a CSI shake-up. The network will not air the two-hour Quentin Tarantino-directed episode tomorrow night, opting for next Wednesday (September 21st) instead. That move pushes CSI:NY's second season premiere back to the following Wednesday (September 28th). Meanwhile, ABC is planning an entire evening dedicated to Hurricane Katrina coverage instead of its usual programming starting off with a special edition of Primetime Live.
*The total is in on the amount of money raised at last week's Hurricane Katrina telethon Shelter From the Storm. The multi-network and star-studded concert raised more than $30 million for the victims of last month's devastating storm.
*And finally, it's Nielsen Wednesday! ABC finally broke CBS's 14-week winning streak with a first place finish in total viewers last week. The alphabet network was led by its NFL coverage with the Raiders versus Patriots game (#1) and its 2005 NFL Showcase (#2). CBS landed in second place with six of the top ten shows led by perennial chart topper CSI (#3). For the full top 20 programs, visit USA Today.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for a peek at the dramatic actors categories. Plus, all the latest television news.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
EMMY WEEK EDITION: Three Cheers for the Supporting Drama Queens & Kings
Onward with day two of our Emmy Week coverage, and it's time to focus on the supporting actors and actresses of our favorite dramas. These guys (and girls) bring us plenty of intense, powerful, and interesting moments each week. Here's a look at the nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actor and Actress for this year's Emmy Awards as well as my predictions and snubs. Be sure to leave a comment with your thoughts and picks as well.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
William Shatner - Boston Legal
Oliver Platt - Huff
Naveen Andrews - Lost
Terry O'Quinn - Lost
Alan Alda - The West Wing
WHO WILL WIN: This is a very difficult category to predict because it contains a lot of possible scenarios. Emmy favorites Alan Alda (4 time winner) and William Shatner (winner last year for guest actor for the same role, but on The Practice) have a good shot of taking home the statue. But, this could be a very Lost-heavy awards show, which would tilt the scales in Naveen Andrews' or Terry O'Quinn's favor (both are first time nominees). Then there's Oliver Platt who has a role on a Showtime program, and the Academy has a history of adoring the premium cable channels like HBO and Showtime. Most likely, Andrews and O'Quinn will cancel each other out because they're so difficult to choose from, Platt will get lost in the shuffle, and it will come down to Shatner and Alda. With The West Wing's strong Emmy history and Alda's past Emmy wins, I think he gets the edge and the win.
WHO SHOULD WIN: I'd have a tough time choosing between the equally talented Naveen Andrews and Terry O'Quinn. Both actors have added a tremendous amount to Lost this season. Who can forget Locke's (O'Quinn) back story and how he used to be in a wheelchair? And how about Sayid's (Andrews) struggle between following orders and following his heart? This is a toss up for me, which is the reason why I think both actors will end up empty handed Sunday night, so I would be happy with a win for either of them.
WHO GOT SNUBBED: Most obviously, Tom Amandes from Everwood. How is it that arguably one of the best actors currently on television gets snubbed? Because, unfortunately, the Academy tends to ignore the WB and UPN. It's a tough pill to swallow for those of us who know how much talent can be found on these two networks. Amandes turns in amazing performances week after week, and it's an absolute shame to see his name omitted.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Sandra Oh - Grey's Anatomy
Blythe Danner - Huff
Tyne Daly - Judging Amy
CCH Pounder - The Shield
Stockard Channing - The West Wing
WHO WILL WIN: This category is chock full of acting legends and a relative newcomer who has generated a lot of buzz for her performances on Grey's Anatomy and the Oscar nominated Sideways. Sandra Oh is talented, but she's a new nominee and her buzz-heavy show was only on the air for three months before the summer hiatus. Blythe Danner is up for a whopping three awards in three different categories, so I don't see her winning this category (she's more likely to win the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie). Stockard Channing had a more diminished role this season on The West Wing, and the show has aged some over the years. She won this category back in 2002. That leaves Tyne Daly and CCH Pounder, two very gifted actresses. Daly's show was abruptly cancelled this season and she's an Emmy darling, so I'm giving the edge to her.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Probably Daly. She gave consistent, well-done performances over Amy's five season run. She always managed to make a huge impact on the episodes while playing the supporting role. I think the Academy will reward Daly for her work on Amy.
WHO GOT SNUBBED: Yoonjin Kim from Lost. Kim and co-star Daniel Dae Kim both have the added difficulty of reciting most of their lines in Korean, but still conveying the emotion through their facial expressions and body language. Yoonjin Kim is just amazing. She manages to convey everything that Sun is feeling without overstating it. It would have been nice to see Kim get recognized for her consistently beautiful performance.
Emmy News
The casts of Everybody Loves Raymond and Desperate Housewives will present at the telecast. There will also be a special appearance by the animated cast of The Family Guy. The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards air live September 18th with host Ellen DeGeneres.
Tomorrow we'll look at the lead actor/actress in a comedy categories. Be sure to leave a comment with your picks on today's categories!
QUICK CUTS
*Premiering Tonight!!! Gilmore Girls begins its sixth season tonight on the WB with a much anticipated answer to a season ending question. After that, you can catch the television premiere (it has been playing on Yahoo!) of the new paranormal thriller Supernatural. Over on Fox, it's the much anticipated second season premiere of the medical drama House. Before House gets started, it's the premiere of the new forensics show Bones. And, NBC is offering up its latest season of reality competition The Biggest Loser at 8 p.m. EDT.
*Information is out on Lost's second episode. One of the castaways goes down the mysterious hatch while others have to deal with a life or death situation out at sea. The episode entitled "Adrift" airs September 28th on ABC. For more information, including spoilers, visit The Futon Critic.
*And finally, a new survey says that viewers are tired of reality shows and talk shows, and interest is waning on crime shows. The poll, conducted by the AP and TV Guide, also found that most of the people polled (82%) feel that "reality" shows don't contain a lot of reality. So what do viewers want more of? According to the poll - news programming. For the full results, click on over to Yahoo! TV News.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow as we examine the lead actor/actress in a comedy categories. And as always, all the latest television news!
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
William Shatner - Boston Legal
Oliver Platt - Huff
Naveen Andrews - Lost
Terry O'Quinn - Lost
Alan Alda - The West Wing
WHO WILL WIN: This is a very difficult category to predict because it contains a lot of possible scenarios. Emmy favorites Alan Alda (4 time winner) and William Shatner (winner last year for guest actor for the same role, but on The Practice) have a good shot of taking home the statue. But, this could be a very Lost-heavy awards show, which would tilt the scales in Naveen Andrews' or Terry O'Quinn's favor (both are first time nominees). Then there's Oliver Platt who has a role on a Showtime program, and the Academy has a history of adoring the premium cable channels like HBO and Showtime. Most likely, Andrews and O'Quinn will cancel each other out because they're so difficult to choose from, Platt will get lost in the shuffle, and it will come down to Shatner and Alda. With The West Wing's strong Emmy history and Alda's past Emmy wins, I think he gets the edge and the win.
WHO SHOULD WIN: I'd have a tough time choosing between the equally talented Naveen Andrews and Terry O'Quinn. Both actors have added a tremendous amount to Lost this season. Who can forget Locke's (O'Quinn) back story and how he used to be in a wheelchair? And how about Sayid's (Andrews) struggle between following orders and following his heart? This is a toss up for me, which is the reason why I think both actors will end up empty handed Sunday night, so I would be happy with a win for either of them.
WHO GOT SNUBBED: Most obviously, Tom Amandes from Everwood. How is it that arguably one of the best actors currently on television gets snubbed? Because, unfortunately, the Academy tends to ignore the WB and UPN. It's a tough pill to swallow for those of us who know how much talent can be found on these two networks. Amandes turns in amazing performances week after week, and it's an absolute shame to see his name omitted.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Sandra Oh - Grey's Anatomy
Blythe Danner - Huff
Tyne Daly - Judging Amy
CCH Pounder - The Shield
Stockard Channing - The West Wing
WHO WILL WIN: This category is chock full of acting legends and a relative newcomer who has generated a lot of buzz for her performances on Grey's Anatomy and the Oscar nominated Sideways. Sandra Oh is talented, but she's a new nominee and her buzz-heavy show was only on the air for three months before the summer hiatus. Blythe Danner is up for a whopping three awards in three different categories, so I don't see her winning this category (she's more likely to win the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie). Stockard Channing had a more diminished role this season on The West Wing, and the show has aged some over the years. She won this category back in 2002. That leaves Tyne Daly and CCH Pounder, two very gifted actresses. Daly's show was abruptly cancelled this season and she's an Emmy darling, so I'm giving the edge to her.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Probably Daly. She gave consistent, well-done performances over Amy's five season run. She always managed to make a huge impact on the episodes while playing the supporting role. I think the Academy will reward Daly for her work on Amy.
WHO GOT SNUBBED: Yoonjin Kim from Lost. Kim and co-star Daniel Dae Kim both have the added difficulty of reciting most of their lines in Korean, but still conveying the emotion through their facial expressions and body language. Yoonjin Kim is just amazing. She manages to convey everything that Sun is feeling without overstating it. It would have been nice to see Kim get recognized for her consistently beautiful performance.
Emmy News
The casts of Everybody Loves Raymond and Desperate Housewives will present at the telecast. There will also be a special appearance by the animated cast of The Family Guy. The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards air live September 18th with host Ellen DeGeneres.
Tomorrow we'll look at the lead actor/actress in a comedy categories. Be sure to leave a comment with your picks on today's categories!
QUICK CUTS
*Premiering Tonight!!! Gilmore Girls begins its sixth season tonight on the WB with a much anticipated answer to a season ending question. After that, you can catch the television premiere (it has been playing on Yahoo!) of the new paranormal thriller Supernatural. Over on Fox, it's the much anticipated second season premiere of the medical drama House. Before House gets started, it's the premiere of the new forensics show Bones. And, NBC is offering up its latest season of reality competition The Biggest Loser at 8 p.m. EDT.
*Information is out on Lost's second episode. One of the castaways goes down the mysterious hatch while others have to deal with a life or death situation out at sea. The episode entitled "Adrift" airs September 28th on ABC. For more information, including spoilers, visit The Futon Critic.
*And finally, a new survey says that viewers are tired of reality shows and talk shows, and interest is waning on crime shows. The poll, conducted by the AP and TV Guide, also found that most of the people polled (82%) feel that "reality" shows don't contain a lot of reality. So what do viewers want more of? According to the poll - news programming. For the full results, click on over to Yahoo! TV News.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow as we examine the lead actor/actress in a comedy categories. And as always, all the latest television news!
Monday, September 12, 2005
EMMY WEEK EDITION: Give it Up for the Funny Supporting Players
It's the official kick-off of Emmy Week, and we're starting off with a look at the actors who bring us tons of laughs as the sidekicks or supporting cast on your favorite comedies. They make a funny show even funnier. Sometimes, it's something as simple as a great entrance (like Kramer on Seinfeld) or it's the delivery of a seemingly mundane line that brings us to fits of laughter. So, here's a look at the actors (male and female) nominated for the Outstanding Supporting Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series award, as well as a few obvious snubs in each category. And of course, my fearless (and probably wrong) predictions.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Jeffrey Tambor - Arrested Development
Jeremy Piven - Entourage
Peter Boyle - Everybody Loves Raymond
Brad Garrett - Everybody Loves Raymond
Sean Hayes - Will & Grace
WHO WILL WIN: This is a tough category this year because it contains a lot of talent. Jeffrey Tambor is hysterical as the head of the Bluth family, but the Academy does love to honor shows that took their final bow the past season. This gives both Peter Boyle and Brad Garrett an edge. Jeremy Piven is a newcomer, and the Academy is usually hesitant to give out the statue to the first-timer. Sean Hayes won back in 2000 and has been nominated every year since then without winning, but he's on an aging show that received too many nominations this year. Will & Grace, although an Emmy darling, is past its prime and offers up few laughs these days. I think this is going to come down to Brad Garrett and Peter Boyle because of Raymond's excellent send-off this season. Garrett has won twice before for his portrayal of Robert Barone, so look for Peter Boyle to finally get a win after seven straight years of nominations and no wins.
WHO SHOULD WIN: I'm going to go with Peter Boyle in this category as well. He has been consistently funny as Frank Barone and never received his due recognition. Boyle is a terrific actor, and he turned every line into a funny one on Raymond. Hopefully, the Academy will get it right and give him his overdue win.
WHO GOT SNUBBED: Most obviously, John C. McGinley from Scrubs. It was nice to see the show get some serious overdue nominations this year, but the Academy missed the best part of the show. As I said above, this category is chock-full of talent, so it was only obvious that some very talented actors would get left out, but McGinley's snub is just too much. Although I adore Sean Hayes, his show suffered from its aging status this past season and it just wasn't up to par with other comedies. I would have liked to have seen McGinley nominated in Hayes' place.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Jessica Walter - Arrested Development
Doris Roberts - Everybody Loves Raymond
Holland Taylor - Two and a Half Men
Conchata Ferrell - Two and a Half Men
Megan Mullally - Will & Grace
WHO WILL WIN: Another tough category with legends like Jessica Walter, Doris Roberts, and Holland Taylor. Plus perennial favorite Megan Mullally and first-time comedy nominee Conchata Ferrell. Mullally won back in 2000 and has been nominated every year since, but I think she suffers from the same problem as Sean Hayes - Will & Grace just wasn't as funny as it used to be. Walter is a first-time nominee for Arrested Development, but she has been nominated (and won one) for other projects in the past. Roberts has one three times (2001, 2002, 2003) for Raymond, but she also benefits from the show's final season. This is Taylor's first nomination for Men, but she has one for other projects in the past. Finally, there's Ferrell whom will most likely get lost in the shuffle this year, plus she is featured on the same show as Taylor. The two will most likely cancel each other out. It will most likely come down to Walter and Roberts, with Roberts getting the edge for Raymond's final season.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Probably Doris Roberts. Like Peter Boyle, she has been consistently funny over the show's nine year run. A mere motherly smile from Doris, and viewers were laughing hysterically. She has a knack for giving us just enough motherly care to not completely despise her constantly butting-in character. I think she deserves the statue again for a season well-done.
WHO GOT SNUBBED: Portia de Rossi for Arrested Development and Judy Reyes for Scrubs. Both actresses consistently make their respective shows funnier, and they both bring their "A" game each week. Two very talented actresses, and it's a shame not to see either of them in this category. Both shows are ensemble casts without a weak link, so it's nice to see some members nominated, but some of the strongest links were left empty-handed.
Emmy News
Over the weekend, the Academy handed out their Creative Arts Emmys to all the fantastic behind-the-scenes folks who make our favorite shows happen. Among the winners was Lost and Desperate Housewives with four each, 24 with three wins, and Will & Grace with two wins. Actress Amanda Plummer won the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama award for her appearance on Law & Order: SVU, and Ray Liotta won Outstanding Guest Actor for his role on ER. Bobby Cannavale won Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy for his turn on Will & Grace and Kathryn Joosten won Outstanding Guest Actress for her role on Desperate Housewives . Jerry Lewis won the Governor's Award. HBO walked away with the most wins with a whopping 20. For the full list of winners, click on over to the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
In other Emmy news, this Sunday's telecast will honor former ABC anchor the late Peter Jennings, retired NBC anchor Tom Brokaw, and retired CBS anchor Dan Rather for their many years at the desk. A special clips package will showcase their respective work at the desk and in the field covering some of history's most momentous stories. The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards air September 18th on CBS.
QUICK CUTS
*Premiering Tonight!!! ABC is rolling out reality hit Wife Swap tonight at 8 p.m. EDT as a lead-in for its final season of Monday Night Football (the coverage will shift to ESPN next season). The better family-switching show is back for a new season of fights and, ultimately, a lot of learning. Then, the Atlanta Falcons take on the Philadelphia Eagles in a rematch of last season's NFC title game.
*ABC plans to go ahead with the premiere of Invasion later this month per zap2it. The network recently pulled the hurricane-heavy promos in light of the real-life tragedy in the Gulf states last month. The network says, although the premiere shows a lot of rain, wind, and damage of a strong hurricane, the rest of the series deals with the aftermath and the strange things that begin happening. Invasion premieres September 21st on ABC.
*Bruce Willis is set to guest star on Fox's That 70s Show. He'll play a fast-talker who's head of security at the Playboy Club in Chicago. Willis is donating his fee to the relief effort for Hurricane Katrina. Look for his episode to air some time this November on Fox.
*And finally, it's TV on DVD Monday! Tomorrow is going to be a busy day on the DVD shelves as Everybody Loves Raymond (season 4), Frasier (season 6), Las Vegas (season 2), One Tree Hill (season 2), and Smallville (season 4) all make their way to a DVD store near you. Also look for classics like Cheers (season 6), The Brady Bunch (season 3), and Taxi (season 3). For a complete list of new releases tomorrow, visit tvshowsondvd.com.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow and all week for Emmy week!! Tomorrow I'll be going over the supporting drama players. Plus, all the latest television news.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Jeffrey Tambor - Arrested Development
Jeremy Piven - Entourage
Peter Boyle - Everybody Loves Raymond
Brad Garrett - Everybody Loves Raymond
Sean Hayes - Will & Grace
WHO WILL WIN: This is a tough category this year because it contains a lot of talent. Jeffrey Tambor is hysterical as the head of the Bluth family, but the Academy does love to honor shows that took their final bow the past season. This gives both Peter Boyle and Brad Garrett an edge. Jeremy Piven is a newcomer, and the Academy is usually hesitant to give out the statue to the first-timer. Sean Hayes won back in 2000 and has been nominated every year since then without winning, but he's on an aging show that received too many nominations this year. Will & Grace, although an Emmy darling, is past its prime and offers up few laughs these days. I think this is going to come down to Brad Garrett and Peter Boyle because of Raymond's excellent send-off this season. Garrett has won twice before for his portrayal of Robert Barone, so look for Peter Boyle to finally get a win after seven straight years of nominations and no wins.
WHO SHOULD WIN: I'm going to go with Peter Boyle in this category as well. He has been consistently funny as Frank Barone and never received his due recognition. Boyle is a terrific actor, and he turned every line into a funny one on Raymond. Hopefully, the Academy will get it right and give him his overdue win.
WHO GOT SNUBBED: Most obviously, John C. McGinley from Scrubs. It was nice to see the show get some serious overdue nominations this year, but the Academy missed the best part of the show. As I said above, this category is chock-full of talent, so it was only obvious that some very talented actors would get left out, but McGinley's snub is just too much. Although I adore Sean Hayes, his show suffered from its aging status this past season and it just wasn't up to par with other comedies. I would have liked to have seen McGinley nominated in Hayes' place.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Jessica Walter - Arrested Development
Doris Roberts - Everybody Loves Raymond
Holland Taylor - Two and a Half Men
Conchata Ferrell - Two and a Half Men
Megan Mullally - Will & Grace
WHO WILL WIN: Another tough category with legends like Jessica Walter, Doris Roberts, and Holland Taylor. Plus perennial favorite Megan Mullally and first-time comedy nominee Conchata Ferrell. Mullally won back in 2000 and has been nominated every year since, but I think she suffers from the same problem as Sean Hayes - Will & Grace just wasn't as funny as it used to be. Walter is a first-time nominee for Arrested Development, but she has been nominated (and won one) for other projects in the past. Roberts has one three times (2001, 2002, 2003) for Raymond, but she also benefits from the show's final season. This is Taylor's first nomination for Men, but she has one for other projects in the past. Finally, there's Ferrell whom will most likely get lost in the shuffle this year, plus she is featured on the same show as Taylor. The two will most likely cancel each other out. It will most likely come down to Walter and Roberts, with Roberts getting the edge for Raymond's final season.
WHO SHOULD WIN: Probably Doris Roberts. Like Peter Boyle, she has been consistently funny over the show's nine year run. A mere motherly smile from Doris, and viewers were laughing hysterically. She has a knack for giving us just enough motherly care to not completely despise her constantly butting-in character. I think she deserves the statue again for a season well-done.
WHO GOT SNUBBED: Portia de Rossi for Arrested Development and Judy Reyes for Scrubs. Both actresses consistently make their respective shows funnier, and they both bring their "A" game each week. Two very talented actresses, and it's a shame not to see either of them in this category. Both shows are ensemble casts without a weak link, so it's nice to see some members nominated, but some of the strongest links were left empty-handed.
Emmy News
Over the weekend, the Academy handed out their Creative Arts Emmys to all the fantastic behind-the-scenes folks who make our favorite shows happen. Among the winners was Lost and Desperate Housewives with four each, 24 with three wins, and Will & Grace with two wins. Actress Amanda Plummer won the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama award for her appearance on Law & Order: SVU, and Ray Liotta won Outstanding Guest Actor for his role on ER. Bobby Cannavale won Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy for his turn on Will & Grace and Kathryn Joosten won Outstanding Guest Actress for her role on Desperate Housewives . Jerry Lewis won the Governor's Award. HBO walked away with the most wins with a whopping 20. For the full list of winners, click on over to the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
In other Emmy news, this Sunday's telecast will honor former ABC anchor the late Peter Jennings, retired NBC anchor Tom Brokaw, and retired CBS anchor Dan Rather for their many years at the desk. A special clips package will showcase their respective work at the desk and in the field covering some of history's most momentous stories. The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards air September 18th on CBS.
QUICK CUTS
*Premiering Tonight!!! ABC is rolling out reality hit Wife Swap tonight at 8 p.m. EDT as a lead-in for its final season of Monday Night Football (the coverage will shift to ESPN next season). The better family-switching show is back for a new season of fights and, ultimately, a lot of learning. Then, the Atlanta Falcons take on the Philadelphia Eagles in a rematch of last season's NFC title game.
*ABC plans to go ahead with the premiere of Invasion later this month per zap2it. The network recently pulled the hurricane-heavy promos in light of the real-life tragedy in the Gulf states last month. The network says, although the premiere shows a lot of rain, wind, and damage of a strong hurricane, the rest of the series deals with the aftermath and the strange things that begin happening. Invasion premieres September 21st on ABC.
*Bruce Willis is set to guest star on Fox's That 70s Show. He'll play a fast-talker who's head of security at the Playboy Club in Chicago. Willis is donating his fee to the relief effort for Hurricane Katrina. Look for his episode to air some time this November on Fox.
*And finally, it's TV on DVD Monday! Tomorrow is going to be a busy day on the DVD shelves as Everybody Loves Raymond (season 4), Frasier (season 6), Las Vegas (season 2), One Tree Hill (season 2), and Smallville (season 4) all make their way to a DVD store near you. Also look for classics like Cheers (season 6), The Brady Bunch (season 3), and Taxi (season 3). For a complete list of new releases tomorrow, visit tvshowsondvd.com.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow and all week for Emmy week!! Tomorrow I'll be going over the supporting drama players. Plus, all the latest television news.
Friday, September 09, 2005
When We Last Left Off...'Alias' and 'Cold Case'
Well, it's the last day of recaps, but that means that we're even closer to the start of the new season! Just two more shows left to recap before their upcoming premieres. Today, we're going to look at shows that are quite different from each other (one is more personal and the other more procedural), but they both have butt-kicking female leads who know how to catch the bad guy every time! Here's a refresher on Alias and Cold Case.
When we last left off on Alias, we were all collectively catching our breath from one of the most shocking moments on television that most of us had ever seen! First they hit us with "my name's not Michael Vaughn," and then we had the car accident that caused me to jump so high my ceiling still needs to be replaced! And then there was that huge red ball of Rambaldi floating around. Jack, Irena (back from the assumed dead), Sydney, Nadia, and Vaughn headed to Sovogda to stop the Rambaldi red ball because it was turning people into zombies, including Nadia. It came down to a one-on-one fight between Syd and Nadia, but Syd didn't want to kill her sister. Sloane stepped in and shot his daughter in order to save Sydney and the rest of the world. Irena's sister Elena was going to release a toxin from the Rambaldi ball, and Sydney was working to disarm it when Nadia started battling her on the rooftop. Irena took off after they completed their mission, leaving Jack alone again. Vaughn proposed to Syd, and they decided to elope in Santa Barbara. In the car, Vaughn told Sydney that his real name isn't Michael Vaughn, it wasn't an accident that he was the first person she turned to, and he might have been a bad guy in the past. A few seconds later, the pair was broadsided by an oncoming car. Will Syd and Vaughn both survive? Will they end up together? Will Sydney find out the truth about Vaughn? Can Nadia fully recover and return to A.P.O.? Tune in September 29th on ABC to find out!
When we last left off on Cold Case, Lilly took on a dangerous serial killer and won, but she paid a high price. After letting serial killer George Marks slip through their fingers last fall, the cold case team was eager to get a lead on him before he killed again. But, it seemed that our favorite detectives weren't working fast enough, so George resurfaced on his own. He pretended to buy a house owned by his mother, which led Lilly and Co. to the nine buried skulls in the backyard - the skulls that he put there after each kill. George's constant eluding to "the woods," left Lilly puzzled, so she ventured off to his childhood home alone at night, even though Stillman told her to stay at headquarters. At the house, she found a painted forest on the walls of the attic hidden under paper. She knew she was in "the woods." George showed up and held her at gunpoint while he forced her to recount a terrible childhood memory. Lilly was ten years old when her mother made her go to the store late at night to buy her some alcohol. On the way to the store, a man badly beat her. So, we finally learned the contents of her 49 Report. George then gave Lilly her weapon back and the two stood, guns pointed, facing each other. George insisted that they were no different, and he cocked his gun. Lilly shot and killed him. It was the first time she had killed anyone, and she seemed to be in shock. Also, Scotty apologized to Lilly for lying about Christina. Lil's troublesome little sis left town after the NYPD picked up her scent. How will Lilly deal with the realization that she killed someone? Will she and Scotty be friends again? How will the new cast addition this season affect the rest of the team? Will we hear from Christina again? Tune in September 25th on CBS to find out!
Well, that wraps up the week of recaps. Be sure to tune into all of your favorite shows this season to find out all (or in most cases probably some) of the answers to the questions that you've wondered about all summer. And don't forget that next week is Emmy week here at Pass The Remote. We'll discuss all your favorites!
QUICK CUTS
*Premiering Sunday!!! Fox continues its early roll-outs with the premieres of The Simpsons, The War at Home, Family Guy, and American Dad. The four comedies begin at 8 p.m. EDT Sunday on Fox.
*Want an early look at the new WB paranormal drama Supernatural? Then head on over to Yahoo! for an exclusive viewing of the hour long pilot in its entirety. The show follows two brothers in search of their father who turns up missing after investigating the mysterious death of his wife. To view the first episode, click on over to Yahoo! TV. The show makes its network premiere on September 13th on the WB.
*ABC will offer its entire primetime line-up in Spanish through a mix of closed-captioning and dubbing this Fall. The initiative starts Monday, September 19th with the beginning of the new season and will include all their broadcast specials as well. ABC is the first English-language broadcast network to provide all primetime entertainment programming in Spanish.
*If you're looking for good music, lots of stars, and the chance to donate to the victims and survivors of Hurricane Katrina, then tune in to any of the broadcast networks (or a host of cable ones as well) for Shelter From the Storm tonight starting at 8 p.m. EDT. For a full list of performers and special guests, visit The Futon Critic. You can also click on over to BET starting at 7:30 p.m. EDT tonight for S.O.S (Saving Ourselves) with hosts Queen Latifah and Steve Harvey. The two and a half hour telethon will feature Alicia Keys, Chris Rock, and Morgan Freeman among others. For a complete list of guest appearances, click over to zap2it. All proceeds raised from both specials will benefit those devastated by the hurricane.
*And finally, it looks like TNT's The Closer is a huge summer hit. The show ended its season as the top new show on ad-supported cable television (as opposed to premiums like HBO and Showtime). Monday night's season finale raked in more than 6 million viewers, the most since the premiere. Look for The Closer to return in 2006.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in next week for Emmy week. All the nominations, all the stars, and all the snubs! That's next week on Emmy week!! Plus all the latest TV news and information!
When we last left off on Alias, we were all collectively catching our breath from one of the most shocking moments on television that most of us had ever seen! First they hit us with "my name's not Michael Vaughn," and then we had the car accident that caused me to jump so high my ceiling still needs to be replaced! And then there was that huge red ball of Rambaldi floating around. Jack, Irena (back from the assumed dead), Sydney, Nadia, and Vaughn headed to Sovogda to stop the Rambaldi red ball because it was turning people into zombies, including Nadia. It came down to a one-on-one fight between Syd and Nadia, but Syd didn't want to kill her sister. Sloane stepped in and shot his daughter in order to save Sydney and the rest of the world. Irena's sister Elena was going to release a toxin from the Rambaldi ball, and Sydney was working to disarm it when Nadia started battling her on the rooftop. Irena took off after they completed their mission, leaving Jack alone again. Vaughn proposed to Syd, and they decided to elope in Santa Barbara. In the car, Vaughn told Sydney that his real name isn't Michael Vaughn, it wasn't an accident that he was the first person she turned to, and he might have been a bad guy in the past. A few seconds later, the pair was broadsided by an oncoming car. Will Syd and Vaughn both survive? Will they end up together? Will Sydney find out the truth about Vaughn? Can Nadia fully recover and return to A.P.O.? Tune in September 29th on ABC to find out!
When we last left off on Cold Case, Lilly took on a dangerous serial killer and won, but she paid a high price. After letting serial killer George Marks slip through their fingers last fall, the cold case team was eager to get a lead on him before he killed again. But, it seemed that our favorite detectives weren't working fast enough, so George resurfaced on his own. He pretended to buy a house owned by his mother, which led Lilly and Co. to the nine buried skulls in the backyard - the skulls that he put there after each kill. George's constant eluding to "the woods," left Lilly puzzled, so she ventured off to his childhood home alone at night, even though Stillman told her to stay at headquarters. At the house, she found a painted forest on the walls of the attic hidden under paper. She knew she was in "the woods." George showed up and held her at gunpoint while he forced her to recount a terrible childhood memory. Lilly was ten years old when her mother made her go to the store late at night to buy her some alcohol. On the way to the store, a man badly beat her. So, we finally learned the contents of her 49 Report. George then gave Lilly her weapon back and the two stood, guns pointed, facing each other. George insisted that they were no different, and he cocked his gun. Lilly shot and killed him. It was the first time she had killed anyone, and she seemed to be in shock. Also, Scotty apologized to Lilly for lying about Christina. Lil's troublesome little sis left town after the NYPD picked up her scent. How will Lilly deal with the realization that she killed someone? Will she and Scotty be friends again? How will the new cast addition this season affect the rest of the team? Will we hear from Christina again? Tune in September 25th on CBS to find out!
Well, that wraps up the week of recaps. Be sure to tune into all of your favorite shows this season to find out all (or in most cases probably some) of the answers to the questions that you've wondered about all summer. And don't forget that next week is Emmy week here at Pass The Remote. We'll discuss all your favorites!
QUICK CUTS
*Premiering Sunday!!! Fox continues its early roll-outs with the premieres of The Simpsons, The War at Home, Family Guy, and American Dad. The four comedies begin at 8 p.m. EDT Sunday on Fox.
*Want an early look at the new WB paranormal drama Supernatural? Then head on over to Yahoo! for an exclusive viewing of the hour long pilot in its entirety. The show follows two brothers in search of their father who turns up missing after investigating the mysterious death of his wife. To view the first episode, click on over to Yahoo! TV. The show makes its network premiere on September 13th on the WB.
*ABC will offer its entire primetime line-up in Spanish through a mix of closed-captioning and dubbing this Fall. The initiative starts Monday, September 19th with the beginning of the new season and will include all their broadcast specials as well. ABC is the first English-language broadcast network to provide all primetime entertainment programming in Spanish.
*If you're looking for good music, lots of stars, and the chance to donate to the victims and survivors of Hurricane Katrina, then tune in to any of the broadcast networks (or a host of cable ones as well) for Shelter From the Storm tonight starting at 8 p.m. EDT. For a full list of performers and special guests, visit The Futon Critic. You can also click on over to BET starting at 7:30 p.m. EDT tonight for S.O.S (Saving Ourselves) with hosts Queen Latifah and Steve Harvey. The two and a half hour telethon will feature Alicia Keys, Chris Rock, and Morgan Freeman among others. For a complete list of guest appearances, click over to zap2it. All proceeds raised from both specials will benefit those devastated by the hurricane.
*And finally, it looks like TNT's The Closer is a huge summer hit. The show ended its season as the top new show on ad-supported cable television (as opposed to premiums like HBO and Showtime). Monday night's season finale raked in more than 6 million viewers, the most since the premiere. Look for The Closer to return in 2006.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in next week for Emmy week. All the nominations, all the stars, and all the snubs! That's next week on Emmy week!! Plus all the latest TV news and information!
Thursday, September 08, 2005
When We Last Left Off...'Everwood' and 'Desperate Housewives'
We're up to day 3 on our week-long refresher course. As we chip away at each recap, the new season gets closer and closer. Yes, we're in the home stretch now. In fact, two shows start their new episodes tonight! More on that later, but first, here's your quick look at Everwood and Desperate Housewives.
When we last left off on Everwood, Ephram had left for Europe, Amy decided to defer admission to Princeton, and Dr. Andy Brown was contemplating leaving the quaint town and heading for the big city of Chicago. Yes, times were a-changing for the little town that doesn't deal well with change. Ephram's sudden fight or flight instinct kicked in on a trip back to New York City to audition for Julliard. In an unfortunate twist of events, he ran into ex-girlfriend Madison. They decided to catch up on old times, and Ephram learned that Madison had delivered his child and given him up for adoption. Even worse, Ephram learned that his father had been in on the plan, and even told Madison to do what she did and never tell Ephram. So, Ephram skipped out on his audition with Julliard and he and Dr. Brown headed back to Everwood. He didn't go to his high school graduation, he broke up with Amy (who had learned about Madison and the baby before Ephram), and he packed his bags and left for Europe. Meanwhile, Amy had bigger concerns as she dealt with her mother's cancer and decided to defer admission to Princeton in order to help her family. Newcomer Hannah left to visit her dying father, but not before her wildest dream came true and Bright kissed her - on the mouth! And, Dr. Brown started contemplating a move to Chicago for a prestigious position at a hospital since there wasn't a lot left in Everwood with Ephram gone. But, Rose Abbott's plea and Harold's party seemed to keep Andy in Everwood, or was it the realization that he loved neighbor Nina? Nina is now faced with a tough choice - stay with now live-in boyfriend Jake (who may or may not be addicted to pain killers) or choose Andy, whom she has always loved? And will Ephram return to Everwood? Will Amy regret her decision? Find out when Everwood's fourth season premiere airs September 29th on the WB.
When we last left off on Desperate Housewives, we were mid-scene with Mike walking into a gun-toting Zach and scared Susan. But, much more happened on the season finale. We learned that Mary Alice killed Diedre (Zach's real mother) when she came looking for Zach after getting her life cleaned up. It was Diedre's body that was hidden in the toy chest. Meanwhile, Mike took Paul Young out to the desert because he believed that Paul killed Diedre, but Mike soon learned about Diedre's son, prompting an interesting reaction. Rex learned that his illness might be the result of some tampering with his prescription, which led him to forgive Bree in a note he left her before he died in the hospital. Tom told Lynette that it's her turn to go to work while he stays home with the kids because he accidentally quit under false pretenses due to Lynette's manipulation. Carlos learned about (a pregnant) Gabrielle and John and vowed revenge. Zach beat Felicia with a shovel, and headed over to Mike's house because he misunderstood Felicia's statement that Mike took his father away to kill him. Zach intends to kill Mike when he gets home. At the end of the episode, we saw Mike enter his home and shut the door. Will Zach shoot Mike and Susan? Who's the father of Gabrielle's baby? Will Lynette go back to work? Will Felicia live? Can Bree move on without Rex, and will she learn the truth? Tune in September 25th on ABC to find out!
Tomorrow in our last day of recaps, we'll take a look at the finales of Cold Case and Alias. And coming next week - it's Emmy week!!! I'll be discussing all the big categories, the nominations, the telecast, and everything else Emmy. I'll make my predictions for whom I believe will win as well as for whom I believe should win. That's all next week on Pass The Remote!! Don't miss it!!
QUICK CUTS
*Premiering Tonight!!! Fox is kicking off the third season of The O.C. and the debut of their 20-year spanning Reunion tonight starting at 8 p.m. eastern. For more on both shows, visit Fox.com.
*Scott Baio is guest starring on Fox's Arrested Development per zap2it.com. He'll play a lawyer hired by the Bluth family to replace the departing Henry Winkler. So far, he's scheduled for one episode, but no word yet on when his character will debut. Arrested Development premieres September 19th.
*More stars are signing on to present at next weekend's 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. Zach Braff, Geena Davis, Adrian Grenier, Alyson Hannigan, Hugh Laurie, and Chris O'Donnell are all set to present at the live ceremony. The Emmys air September 18th on CBS.
*And finally, Nielsen ratings are out (after a one day delay due to the holiday weekend), and surprise, surprise CBS landed on top for the 14th consecutive week. Led by CSI: Miami (#2), CBS had 5 of the top 10 shows. NBC landed in second for the week, but the big news was Fox's debut of Prison Break landing in 6th for the week with 10.5 million viewers. For the full top 20 shows, visit USAToday.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for the refresher on Cold Case and Alias. Plus, all the latest TV news! And don't forget to check back next week as well, for Emmy week. All next week!
When we last left off on Everwood, Ephram had left for Europe, Amy decided to defer admission to Princeton, and Dr. Andy Brown was contemplating leaving the quaint town and heading for the big city of Chicago. Yes, times were a-changing for the little town that doesn't deal well with change. Ephram's sudden fight or flight instinct kicked in on a trip back to New York City to audition for Julliard. In an unfortunate twist of events, he ran into ex-girlfriend Madison. They decided to catch up on old times, and Ephram learned that Madison had delivered his child and given him up for adoption. Even worse, Ephram learned that his father had been in on the plan, and even told Madison to do what she did and never tell Ephram. So, Ephram skipped out on his audition with Julliard and he and Dr. Brown headed back to Everwood. He didn't go to his high school graduation, he broke up with Amy (who had learned about Madison and the baby before Ephram), and he packed his bags and left for Europe. Meanwhile, Amy had bigger concerns as she dealt with her mother's cancer and decided to defer admission to Princeton in order to help her family. Newcomer Hannah left to visit her dying father, but not before her wildest dream came true and Bright kissed her - on the mouth! And, Dr. Brown started contemplating a move to Chicago for a prestigious position at a hospital since there wasn't a lot left in Everwood with Ephram gone. But, Rose Abbott's plea and Harold's party seemed to keep Andy in Everwood, or was it the realization that he loved neighbor Nina? Nina is now faced with a tough choice - stay with now live-in boyfriend Jake (who may or may not be addicted to pain killers) or choose Andy, whom she has always loved? And will Ephram return to Everwood? Will Amy regret her decision? Find out when Everwood's fourth season premiere airs September 29th on the WB.
When we last left off on Desperate Housewives, we were mid-scene with Mike walking into a gun-toting Zach and scared Susan. But, much more happened on the season finale. We learned that Mary Alice killed Diedre (Zach's real mother) when she came looking for Zach after getting her life cleaned up. It was Diedre's body that was hidden in the toy chest. Meanwhile, Mike took Paul Young out to the desert because he believed that Paul killed Diedre, but Mike soon learned about Diedre's son, prompting an interesting reaction. Rex learned that his illness might be the result of some tampering with his prescription, which led him to forgive Bree in a note he left her before he died in the hospital. Tom told Lynette that it's her turn to go to work while he stays home with the kids because he accidentally quit under false pretenses due to Lynette's manipulation. Carlos learned about (a pregnant) Gabrielle and John and vowed revenge. Zach beat Felicia with a shovel, and headed over to Mike's house because he misunderstood Felicia's statement that Mike took his father away to kill him. Zach intends to kill Mike when he gets home. At the end of the episode, we saw Mike enter his home and shut the door. Will Zach shoot Mike and Susan? Who's the father of Gabrielle's baby? Will Lynette go back to work? Will Felicia live? Can Bree move on without Rex, and will she learn the truth? Tune in September 25th on ABC to find out!
Tomorrow in our last day of recaps, we'll take a look at the finales of Cold Case and Alias. And coming next week - it's Emmy week!!! I'll be discussing all the big categories, the nominations, the telecast, and everything else Emmy. I'll make my predictions for whom I believe will win as well as for whom I believe should win. That's all next week on Pass The Remote!! Don't miss it!!
QUICK CUTS
*Premiering Tonight!!! Fox is kicking off the third season of The O.C. and the debut of their 20-year spanning Reunion tonight starting at 8 p.m. eastern. For more on both shows, visit Fox.com.
*Scott Baio is guest starring on Fox's Arrested Development per zap2it.com. He'll play a lawyer hired by the Bluth family to replace the departing Henry Winkler. So far, he's scheduled for one episode, but no word yet on when his character will debut. Arrested Development premieres September 19th.
*More stars are signing on to present at next weekend's 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. Zach Braff, Geena Davis, Adrian Grenier, Alyson Hannigan, Hugh Laurie, and Chris O'Donnell are all set to present at the live ceremony. The Emmys air September 18th on CBS.
*And finally, Nielsen ratings are out (after a one day delay due to the holiday weekend), and surprise, surprise CBS landed on top for the 14th consecutive week. Led by CSI: Miami (#2), CBS had 5 of the top 10 shows. NBC landed in second for the week, but the big news was Fox's debut of Prison Break landing in 6th for the week with 10.5 million viewers. For the full top 20 shows, visit USAToday.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for the refresher on Cold Case and Alias. Plus, all the latest TV news! And don't forget to check back next week as well, for Emmy week. All next week!
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
When We Last Left Off...'Medium' and 'Lost'
Continuing today with our week-long refresher course for the new season we have the season ending cliff hangers on Medium and Lost. Both shows ended abruptly, and left us dreading the next four months of wondering what would happen. But, never fear, for the new season is almost here! Here's the recap on each show to prepare you for their upcoming premieres.
When we last left off on Medium, Capt. Push from the Texas Rangers (Arliss Howard) was lying in the hospital and disconnecting the machines that were more than likely keeping him alive. But first, let's back up and discuss how we got to this cliff hanging moment. Allison (Patricia Arquette) was working on a case involving a serial killer. The case was going nowhere, and Allison was fresh out of her clue-ridden dreams. One night, Capt. Push came to her in a dream and started to give her the name of the next victim and provide her with important information. The only problem - Push came to Allison because he suffered a heart attack and died for a few minutes. Once he was brought back to life by paramedics, Allison lost him and she didn't get all of the information she needed. After Allison tells Capt. Push about her dream, he decides that it's best for him to die completely in order to catch the ruthless serial killer, so the ending moments of the episode show Push disconnecting himself from the machines in hopes that he will die and return to Allison in her dreams with the information she needs to catch the killer and save the next victim. Will Capt. Push end his life? And if he does, will he come to Allison and give her the information she needs? Will the serial killer be caught? Tune in September 19th on NBC to find out!
When we last left off on Lost, everything was amiss. Jin (Daniel Dae Kim), Sawyer (Josh Holloway), Michael (Harold Perrineau Jr.), and Walt (Malcolm David Kelley) had all built a makeshift raft and sailed off into the sunset hoping to find help for the other survivors. The only problem was that they weren't the only people setting sail. A group only known to viewers as "the others" followed the group in their own boat, unbeknownst to our favorite castaways. When "the others" caught up with the castaways, they pretended to help. They had Walt board their boat, and then they quickly pulled away from the raft taking Walt off into the dark night. When the survivors fought back, "the others" fought and knocked Sawyer into the ocean, left to fend for himself. It seems that the French woman Rousseau was correct in thinking that "the others" wanted a child, but she had the incorrect child. She thought they wanted Claire's (Emilie de Raven) baby, so she stole him only to find that "the others" weren't at their supposed camp. Meanwhile, Jack (Matthew Fox), Locke (Terry O'Quinn), Hurley (Jorge Garcia), and Kate (Evangeline Lilly) went into the jungle to find an abandoned ship with dynamite inside. Rousseau led them there, but she left shortly after, and science teacher Arzt blew himself up by accident with the very volatile dynamite. Once the group had secured the dynamite, they headed over to the hatch. They carefully blew it open, and viewers we left staring at their blank faces as the camera traveled down the seemingly long tunnel under the hatch. What's in the secret hatch? What do "the others" want with Walt and will he be rescued? What about the castaways who went out on the raft? Will Sawyer survive? Find out September 21st on ABC!
Tomorrow, we'll recap Everwood and Desperate Housewives. Be sure to tune in then!
QUICK CUTS
*NBC is considering the pilot Grand Union for midseason per zap2it. The halfhour comedy is set to star Alias' Greg Grunberg, who is leaving his post at the ABC spy thriller. The show centers around a Long Island Grocer (Grunberg) and his crazy family. Union marks the first show in a long time where Grunberg hasn't worked with Alias creator and long-time friend J.J. Abrams.
*CBS is releasing details about Without A Trace's fourth season premiere. According to their press release, the show picks up right where last season's cliff hanger left off. "As Martin clings to life following a shoot out, Jack, Samantha, and Danny search for the mercenary responsible for opening fire on Martin, Danny, and the terrorist in their custody." For more information on the opener, including spoilers, visit The Futon Critic at the link above. Trace premieres September 29th on CBS.
*NASCAR star Greg Biffle is set to guest star on CBS's Yes, Dear. He'll play a closet lawn mower racer on a upcoming episode. Biffle will play himself. No word yet on an air date.
*And finally, the six network special to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims in adding more networks and some star power. PAX, PBS, FX, USA, TBS, E!, Bravo, Trio, ABC Family, TV Guide Channel, and various regional Fox Sports networks have all signed on to air the special. Scheduled performers include Sheryl Crow, Dixie Chicks, Alicia Keys, Paul Simon, and Neil Young. In addition to the live performances, Jennifer Aniston, Cameron Diaz, Ellen Degeneres, and Chris Rock are among the stars signed on to appear. The special comes on the heels of last Friday's NBC relief special, which raised more than $50 million according to some estimates. This week's Shelter From the Storm airs Friday, September 9th.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow as we refresh our memories on what happened during the Everwood and Desperate Housewives finales. Plus, all the latest TV news!
When we last left off on Medium, Capt. Push from the Texas Rangers (Arliss Howard) was lying in the hospital and disconnecting the machines that were more than likely keeping him alive. But first, let's back up and discuss how we got to this cliff hanging moment. Allison (Patricia Arquette) was working on a case involving a serial killer. The case was going nowhere, and Allison was fresh out of her clue-ridden dreams. One night, Capt. Push came to her in a dream and started to give her the name of the next victim and provide her with important information. The only problem - Push came to Allison because he suffered a heart attack and died for a few minutes. Once he was brought back to life by paramedics, Allison lost him and she didn't get all of the information she needed. After Allison tells Capt. Push about her dream, he decides that it's best for him to die completely in order to catch the ruthless serial killer, so the ending moments of the episode show Push disconnecting himself from the machines in hopes that he will die and return to Allison in her dreams with the information she needs to catch the killer and save the next victim. Will Capt. Push end his life? And if he does, will he come to Allison and give her the information she needs? Will the serial killer be caught? Tune in September 19th on NBC to find out!
When we last left off on Lost, everything was amiss. Jin (Daniel Dae Kim), Sawyer (Josh Holloway), Michael (Harold Perrineau Jr.), and Walt (Malcolm David Kelley) had all built a makeshift raft and sailed off into the sunset hoping to find help for the other survivors. The only problem was that they weren't the only people setting sail. A group only known to viewers as "the others" followed the group in their own boat, unbeknownst to our favorite castaways. When "the others" caught up with the castaways, they pretended to help. They had Walt board their boat, and then they quickly pulled away from the raft taking Walt off into the dark night. When the survivors fought back, "the others" fought and knocked Sawyer into the ocean, left to fend for himself. It seems that the French woman Rousseau was correct in thinking that "the others" wanted a child, but she had the incorrect child. She thought they wanted Claire's (Emilie de Raven) baby, so she stole him only to find that "the others" weren't at their supposed camp. Meanwhile, Jack (Matthew Fox), Locke (Terry O'Quinn), Hurley (Jorge Garcia), and Kate (Evangeline Lilly) went into the jungle to find an abandoned ship with dynamite inside. Rousseau led them there, but she left shortly after, and science teacher Arzt blew himself up by accident with the very volatile dynamite. Once the group had secured the dynamite, they headed over to the hatch. They carefully blew it open, and viewers we left staring at their blank faces as the camera traveled down the seemingly long tunnel under the hatch. What's in the secret hatch? What do "the others" want with Walt and will he be rescued? What about the castaways who went out on the raft? Will Sawyer survive? Find out September 21st on ABC!
Tomorrow, we'll recap Everwood and Desperate Housewives. Be sure to tune in then!
QUICK CUTS
*NBC is considering the pilot Grand Union for midseason per zap2it. The halfhour comedy is set to star Alias' Greg Grunberg, who is leaving his post at the ABC spy thriller. The show centers around a Long Island Grocer (Grunberg) and his crazy family. Union marks the first show in a long time where Grunberg hasn't worked with Alias creator and long-time friend J.J. Abrams.
*CBS is releasing details about Without A Trace's fourth season premiere. According to their press release, the show picks up right where last season's cliff hanger left off. "As Martin clings to life following a shoot out, Jack, Samantha, and Danny search for the mercenary responsible for opening fire on Martin, Danny, and the terrorist in their custody." For more information on the opener, including spoilers, visit The Futon Critic at the link above. Trace premieres September 29th on CBS.
*NASCAR star Greg Biffle is set to guest star on CBS's Yes, Dear. He'll play a closet lawn mower racer on a upcoming episode. Biffle will play himself. No word yet on an air date.
*And finally, the six network special to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims in adding more networks and some star power. PAX, PBS, FX, USA, TBS, E!, Bravo, Trio, ABC Family, TV Guide Channel, and various regional Fox Sports networks have all signed on to air the special. Scheduled performers include Sheryl Crow, Dixie Chicks, Alicia Keys, Paul Simon, and Neil Young. In addition to the live performances, Jennifer Aniston, Cameron Diaz, Ellen Degeneres, and Chris Rock are among the stars signed on to appear. The special comes on the heels of last Friday's NBC relief special, which raised more than $50 million according to some estimates. This week's Shelter From the Storm airs Friday, September 9th.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow as we refresh our memories on what happened during the Everwood and Desperate Housewives finales. Plus, all the latest TV news!
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
When We Last Left Off...'CSI' and 'Without A Trace'
The official start of the TV season is less than two weeks away, so it seems appropriate to recap the final moments of some of our favorite shows. Think of it as a refresher course before the premiere. If you've been watching the reruns all summer, then you won't need the quick brush up, but for those who do, I'll be going over the big plot points of some of your favorites including CSI, Without A Trace, Medium, Lost, Everwood, Desperate Housewives, Cold Case, and Alias this week. First up, CSI and Without A Trace.
When we last left off on CSI, the team rescued a buried alive Nick Stokes (George Eads) from certain death. The air in his dark coffin was getting thinner and thinner. Every time the team logged on to check on Nick, they ran the light, which ate up more of the quickly dwindling air supply. Luckily, Grissom and the gang made it to Nick's underground prison in time, but the issue was a bit more complicated than they had hoped. Nick was covered in stinging ants and his air supply was running out, but the team had to somehow remove the Plexiglas coffin without detonating the explosives underneath it. If there had been a change in weight, the explosives would have gone off, so the team brought in a backhoe and dumped dirt on the coffin as they released Nick. It worked, and an ambulance took Nick to a nearby hospital to be examined. Grissom told Ecklie that he wanted the teams back together. Will Ecklie listen? Will Nick suffer any residual effects from his dark experience? Tune in September 22nd on CBS to find out!
When we last left off on Without A Trace, we were filled with the good news that Viv's surgery went well, and she was expected to make a full recovery. The shocking part came during the very last scene. Danny and Martin were escorting a suspect when they stopped for a red light. The light turned green, but the dark colored van in front of them did not move. Danny honked the horn, and suddenly, armed men jump out of the back of the van shooting at our favorite FBI Agents. They had been working on a complicated case involving an identity theft ring linked to terrorists. The group had already killed a young girl that the missing person had been helping. Are Danny and/or Martin next? Is the terrorist ring responsible? Will Viv's condition continue to improve now that she's through the surgery? Tune in September 29th on CBS to find out!
Tomorrow, we'll recap Medium and Lost. Be sure to tune in then!
QUICK CUTS
*There's going to be more than just awards and fancy dresses at this year's Primetime Emmy Awards, look for musical numbers performed by your favorite stars as well. Kristen Bell, William Shatner, Megan Mullally, Macy Gray, and others will sing TV theme songs throughout the September 18th broadcast per zap2it. Viewers will vote via text messaging or through CBS.com for their favorite performance. Look for the segment, "Emmy Idol," when the awards air on CBS later this month.
*NBC is releasing details on its upcoming premieres. For information on Medium's second season premiere and Law & Order: SVU's seventh season premiere visit The Futon Critic. Medium premieres September 19th and SVU premieres September 20th on NBC.
*ABC is releasing information on Lost's second season premiere. The press release says, "a castaway is chosen to descend into the mysterious hatch, and Shannon stumbles upon a shockingly familiar face in the jungle." For the full press release with spoilers, visit The Futon Critic.
*And finally, here's a look at the TV shows coming to DVD today. The big release is Lost's popular first season, but you'll also find the second season of Charmed, the third season of MacGyver, and the second season of Doogie Howser, M.D. For more releases this week, visit tvshowsondvd.com.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow as we visit where we left off on Medium and Lost. Plus, all the important TV news.
When we last left off on CSI, the team rescued a buried alive Nick Stokes (George Eads) from certain death. The air in his dark coffin was getting thinner and thinner. Every time the team logged on to check on Nick, they ran the light, which ate up more of the quickly dwindling air supply. Luckily, Grissom and the gang made it to Nick's underground prison in time, but the issue was a bit more complicated than they had hoped. Nick was covered in stinging ants and his air supply was running out, but the team had to somehow remove the Plexiglas coffin without detonating the explosives underneath it. If there had been a change in weight, the explosives would have gone off, so the team brought in a backhoe and dumped dirt on the coffin as they released Nick. It worked, and an ambulance took Nick to a nearby hospital to be examined. Grissom told Ecklie that he wanted the teams back together. Will Ecklie listen? Will Nick suffer any residual effects from his dark experience? Tune in September 22nd on CBS to find out!
When we last left off on Without A Trace, we were filled with the good news that Viv's surgery went well, and she was expected to make a full recovery. The shocking part came during the very last scene. Danny and Martin were escorting a suspect when they stopped for a red light. The light turned green, but the dark colored van in front of them did not move. Danny honked the horn, and suddenly, armed men jump out of the back of the van shooting at our favorite FBI Agents. They had been working on a complicated case involving an identity theft ring linked to terrorists. The group had already killed a young girl that the missing person had been helping. Are Danny and/or Martin next? Is the terrorist ring responsible? Will Viv's condition continue to improve now that she's through the surgery? Tune in September 29th on CBS to find out!
Tomorrow, we'll recap Medium and Lost. Be sure to tune in then!
QUICK CUTS
*There's going to be more than just awards and fancy dresses at this year's Primetime Emmy Awards, look for musical numbers performed by your favorite stars as well. Kristen Bell, William Shatner, Megan Mullally, Macy Gray, and others will sing TV theme songs throughout the September 18th broadcast per zap2it. Viewers will vote via text messaging or through CBS.com for their favorite performance. Look for the segment, "Emmy Idol," when the awards air on CBS later this month.
*NBC is releasing details on its upcoming premieres. For information on Medium's second season premiere and Law & Order: SVU's seventh season premiere visit The Futon Critic. Medium premieres September 19th and SVU premieres September 20th on NBC.
*ABC is releasing information on Lost's second season premiere. The press release says, "a castaway is chosen to descend into the mysterious hatch, and Shannon stumbles upon a shockingly familiar face in the jungle." For the full press release with spoilers, visit The Futon Critic.
*And finally, here's a look at the TV shows coming to DVD today. The big release is Lost's popular first season, but you'll also find the second season of Charmed, the third season of MacGyver, and the second season of Doogie Howser, M.D. For more releases this week, visit tvshowsondvd.com.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow as we visit where we left off on Medium and Lost. Plus, all the important TV news.
Friday, September 02, 2005
A Salute to the Shows that Networks Cut. Plus Premiere Dates!
For TV fans like myself, this is "the most wonderful time of the year" as the famous song says (albeit about Christmas), but there's also the air of sadness as the cold, hard reality sets in that some of our favorites aren't returning. Now, we'll never know what happens to Meg from American Dreams, or whether Joan and Ryan Hunter were set to battle over good versus evil on Joan of Arcadia. And, did Tru ever triumph over Jack on Tru Calling? Was he really in the wrong or just making sure the universe worked as it should? All these questions, and yet, no answers because these shows and others were abruptly cut off before their time by their respective networks. With all the excitement of the new season premiering this month, let's take a moment and reflect on the shows we lost this past season.
Let's start with ABC, the network that's coming off of one of its most successful years in recent years. Their most high profile cancellation is the Tim Daly private eye caper Eyes, which came late to the party debuting last March. The show came in with a lot of publicity and a flood of critical praise, but it just couldn't attract an audience. Once Grey's Anatomy (a show that premiered around the same time and on the same network) became a huge hit, it stole most of the thunder and Eyes was left with little buzz. Unfortunately for the show's fans, ABC closed these Eyes after only one (short) season.
Next we have CBS, a network that finished number one last season. Unfortunately a number one finish means that the shows that aren't performing as well are cut. Enter Joan of Arcadia and Judging Amy, two shows that most likely would still be on the air if they had been on any other network. Both shows had strong fan followings, but it wasn't enough to convince Les and Co. to keep them on the air and leaving Joan fans with the explanation, "we think talking to ghosts skews younger than talking to God." So Ghost Whisperer starring Jennifer Love Hewitt will take over Joan's Friday slot and Close to Home will try to conquer Amy's old Tuesday slot, and fans are left wondering what happened to their favorite characters.
NBC cancelled fan favorite American Dreams this season after only a three-year run. The 60s era show was wholesome and chock full of American values, but according to NBC Universal Television Group President Jeff Zucker, audiences aren't responding to this type of programming because they weren't tuning in to American Dreams. Executive producer Jonathan Prince had wanted to do a wrap-up episode for fans, but it appears that NBC has now squashed that idea. Hopefully, the show's third season will be released on DVD with the some sort of resolution.
Fox, UPN, and the WB had their own round of cancellations, but most were not as high profile as the other three networks. Fox renewed, then cancelled, then aired, then cancelled just the last episode of Tru Calling, leaving fans wondering what happened between Tru and Jack. UPN neglected to renew the critically acclaimed drama Kevin Hill, opting instead for buzz show Veronica Mars. A smart choice, but it would have been nice to have both shows return. Finally, the WB cancelled fan and critic favorite Jack & Bobby after the show struggled to find a decent audience in its Sunday or Wednesday night slots. All these cancellations leave fans bummed and wondering why our favorite didn't make the cut. Unfortunately, the television industry is a business and the shows that fail to produce, get left behind. It would be nice, though, if these fallen shows were allowed to air one last episode to tie up all the loose ends and give some closure to the fans who invested so much into the characters and their stories.
Okay, now that we're done honoring the shows we'll miss, it's time to remember that all our other favorites will be back with new episodes this month. Next week, I'll be doing a brief refresher course on where we left off with some of our favorites. That's all next week on Pass The Remote!!!
QUICK CUTS
*It looks like Michael Vartan is leaving the cast of Alias. TVGuide.com is reporting that SPOILER ALERT - DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED - his character will be killed off this season. END OF WARNING. A rep from the show spoke about Vartan in The New York Post (in response to fan rumors about troubles on the set) in the past tense. No confirmation from ABC yet. Stay tuned.
*UPN is releasing details on Veronica Mars' season premiere. The episode, titled "Normal is the Watchword," marks Charisma Carpenter's first appearance on the show. UPN gives the summary as "Veronica's return to 'normal' life gets interrupted by a series of surprises." For full episode information, including spoilers, visit The Futon Critic. The episode airs September 28th.
*The big six networks are confirming the special for the victims of Hurricane Katrina that I mentioned yesterday. Shelter From the Storm: A Concert For the Gulf Coast will be a live one-hour special simulcast on CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, UPN, and WB. No guests or hosts have been announced yet for the September 9th special. All funds raised go to help those affected by Katrina.
*CBS is releasing details on Cold Case's third season premiere. The episode marks Sarah Brown's first appearance as Det. Josie Sutton. The network's summary says , "Rush and the team open the 1988 case involving a teenager who was killed on the same night his daughter was born." The premiere airs September 25th.
*And finally, want to know when your favorite show premieres? Visit TVGuide.com's Fall Preview 2005 section. There's information on all the new shows, plus a link to a printable page with all the premiere dates you need.
That's all for today. I'm off on Monday for the holiday, but I'll be back with all new television news on Tuesday. And don't forget coming next week, it's recaps of all your favorite shows. It's like a quick study session before the big exam. Don't miss it!
Let's start with ABC, the network that's coming off of one of its most successful years in recent years. Their most high profile cancellation is the Tim Daly private eye caper Eyes, which came late to the party debuting last March. The show came in with a lot of publicity and a flood of critical praise, but it just couldn't attract an audience. Once Grey's Anatomy (a show that premiered around the same time and on the same network) became a huge hit, it stole most of the thunder and Eyes was left with little buzz. Unfortunately for the show's fans, ABC closed these Eyes after only one (short) season.
Next we have CBS, a network that finished number one last season. Unfortunately a number one finish means that the shows that aren't performing as well are cut. Enter Joan of Arcadia and Judging Amy, two shows that most likely would still be on the air if they had been on any other network. Both shows had strong fan followings, but it wasn't enough to convince Les and Co. to keep them on the air and leaving Joan fans with the explanation, "we think talking to ghosts skews younger than talking to God." So Ghost Whisperer starring Jennifer Love Hewitt will take over Joan's Friday slot and Close to Home will try to conquer Amy's old Tuesday slot, and fans are left wondering what happened to their favorite characters.
NBC cancelled fan favorite American Dreams this season after only a three-year run. The 60s era show was wholesome and chock full of American values, but according to NBC Universal Television Group President Jeff Zucker, audiences aren't responding to this type of programming because they weren't tuning in to American Dreams. Executive producer Jonathan Prince had wanted to do a wrap-up episode for fans, but it appears that NBC has now squashed that idea. Hopefully, the show's third season will be released on DVD with the some sort of resolution.
Fox, UPN, and the WB had their own round of cancellations, but most were not as high profile as the other three networks. Fox renewed, then cancelled, then aired, then cancelled just the last episode of Tru Calling, leaving fans wondering what happened between Tru and Jack. UPN neglected to renew the critically acclaimed drama Kevin Hill, opting instead for buzz show Veronica Mars. A smart choice, but it would have been nice to have both shows return. Finally, the WB cancelled fan and critic favorite Jack & Bobby after the show struggled to find a decent audience in its Sunday or Wednesday night slots. All these cancellations leave fans bummed and wondering why our favorite didn't make the cut. Unfortunately, the television industry is a business and the shows that fail to produce, get left behind. It would be nice, though, if these fallen shows were allowed to air one last episode to tie up all the loose ends and give some closure to the fans who invested so much into the characters and their stories.
Okay, now that we're done honoring the shows we'll miss, it's time to remember that all our other favorites will be back with new episodes this month. Next week, I'll be doing a brief refresher course on where we left off with some of our favorites. That's all next week on Pass The Remote!!!
QUICK CUTS
*It looks like Michael Vartan is leaving the cast of Alias. TVGuide.com is reporting that SPOILER ALERT - DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED - his character will be killed off this season. END OF WARNING. A rep from the show spoke about Vartan in The New York Post (in response to fan rumors about troubles on the set) in the past tense. No confirmation from ABC yet. Stay tuned.
*UPN is releasing details on Veronica Mars' season premiere. The episode, titled "Normal is the Watchword," marks Charisma Carpenter's first appearance on the show. UPN gives the summary as "Veronica's return to 'normal' life gets interrupted by a series of surprises." For full episode information, including spoilers, visit The Futon Critic. The episode airs September 28th.
*The big six networks are confirming the special for the victims of Hurricane Katrina that I mentioned yesterday. Shelter From the Storm: A Concert For the Gulf Coast will be a live one-hour special simulcast on CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, UPN, and WB. No guests or hosts have been announced yet for the September 9th special. All funds raised go to help those affected by Katrina.
*CBS is releasing details on Cold Case's third season premiere. The episode marks Sarah Brown's first appearance as Det. Josie Sutton. The network's summary says , "Rush and the team open the 1988 case involving a teenager who was killed on the same night his daughter was born." The premiere airs September 25th.
*And finally, want to know when your favorite show premieres? Visit TVGuide.com's Fall Preview 2005 section. There's information on all the new shows, plus a link to a printable page with all the premiere dates you need.
That's all for today. I'm off on Monday for the holiday, but I'll be back with all new television news on Tuesday. And don't forget coming next week, it's recaps of all your favorite shows. It's like a quick study session before the big exam. Don't miss it!
SPECIAL EDITION: ABC Halts Promotion on 'Invasion'
In yesterday's edition, I discussed the new ABC drama Invasion and its somewhat disturbing previews in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Today, Reuters News is reporting that ABC has decided to halt promotion. A network spokesman tells Reuters that "the promos were pulled for sensitively reasons. The plan is to put them back on when it's appropriate to do so." He also says that delaying the premiere of the show is possible as well, but nothing has been decided at this time. For now, the show is still set to premiere September 21st. Invasion opens with a fierce hurricane hitting a Florida Everglades town, and the promos for the show are extremely hurricane heavy. Stay tuned to Pass the Remote for the latest on this story. And be sure to tune in later today for the regular edition.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Are You Ready for the 'Invasion'? And Television Helps Hurricane Victims
Ok, so I was totally psyched about the new ABC show Invasion, and apparently ABC is too because they gave it the prime slot after Lost. But, I was watching the special extended preview of this show on my DirecTV TiVo and a big huge "uh oh" entered my mind. If you have seen the preview recently, say since Monday, then you probably know what I'm talking about. The premise of the show is that a hurricane hits Eden Florida (a small town near the Everglades). During the storm, mysterious lights appear on the water. After the storm passes, the town is cut off and a dubious sheriff (William Fichtner) takes control over the town in the wake of the emergency. The problem is that our country is currently experiencing one of its worst natural disasters - Hurricane Katrina. The promo for Invasion is very hurricane heavy, and a bit disturbing to watch in light of the tragedy in the Gulf states. I've scoured the internet, but I haven't found any indication that ABC is reworking the promos or delaying the premiere. When the show premieres on September 21st, almost a month will have passed since Katrina. But, the question is will viewers be able to stomach watching something so fresh on their minds? To be fair to Invasion, the rest of the show does not seem to deal with the hurricane, it's just the catalyst that gets the real premise going. A similar situation has occurred with another new ABC show. Commander In Chief, starring Geena Davis as the first female President, is scheduled to begin shooting an episode in which the President is dealing with the aftermath of a massive hurricane including evacuees and an environmental nightmare according to Beck/Smith Hollywood Exclusive. No word on whether ABC plans to scrap the episode before it even begins shooting or not.
As I said above, Invasion is not entirely about the hurricane. The show is another entry into the supernatural drama class this season. In this case, a destructive hurricane might not be just a hurricane. In fact, the show raises the possibility that hurricanes are part of an elaborate plan for aliens to take over Earth, at least according to one of the characters (Tyler Labine). His hypothesis is that there are aliens already living among us, and the lights from the "hurricane" triggered their call to action. It sounds somewhat familiar to anyone who saw the Steven Spielberg blockbuster War of the Worlds this summer, but in that case it was horrendous thunderstorms. The show has an interesting premise, and it raises some interesting questions, but it has some fierce competition, despite its plumb position after Lost. Not only does it face competition from timeslot rivals CSI: NY and Law & Order, but there's also the fact that every major network has their own supernatural drama headed to a TV near you this fall. Let the Invasion begin, indeed.
QUICK CUTS
*The major broadcast networks are planning specials to help those affected by this week's tragic Hurricane Katrina that struck the Gulf States. First up, NBC will air the hour-long A Concert for Hurricane Relief hosted by Matt Lauer. Scheduled guests include Tim McGraw and New Orleans natives Wynton Marsalis and Harry Connick Jr. Funds will go to the American Red Cross. The special airs tomorrow night on NBC and sister networks MSNBC and CNBC. BET and fellow music channels MTV and VHI will air specials on September 9th and 10th, respectively. No guests have been confirmed for BET, but MTV is reporting Green Day, Gretchen Wilson, Ludacris, Rob Thomas, and Alicia Keys will all make appearances. And TVGuide.com is reporting that all six broadcast networks are planning a huge telethon to possibly air as soon as next week. New Orleans native Ellen DeGeneres is rumored to be hosting. Funds from all the telethons will benefit the victims of Katrina.
*Looks like there's going to be another Law & Order crossover per TVGuide.com. This time, between the original and SVU. Lynda Carter and Estella Warren will play mother and daughter on SVU and their storyline will carry over to the original Law & Order the following night. Look for the two- show story arc to air September 27th and 28th on NBC.
*The WB is releasing information on Everwood's fourth season premiere. The network's press release promises that Nina will make the decision between Jake (Scott Wolf) and Andy (Treat Williams). For more spoiler information on the premiere, visit The Futon Critic. The episode, called "A Kiss to Build a Dream On," airs September 29th in its new Thursday night timeslot on the WB.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow as we discuss the casualties of the past season. Are you starting to get weepy because some of your favorites are not coming back with the others this month? We'll discuss tomorrow. Plus, all the latest television news.
As I said above, Invasion is not entirely about the hurricane. The show is another entry into the supernatural drama class this season. In this case, a destructive hurricane might not be just a hurricane. In fact, the show raises the possibility that hurricanes are part of an elaborate plan for aliens to take over Earth, at least according to one of the characters (Tyler Labine). His hypothesis is that there are aliens already living among us, and the lights from the "hurricane" triggered their call to action. It sounds somewhat familiar to anyone who saw the Steven Spielberg blockbuster War of the Worlds this summer, but in that case it was horrendous thunderstorms. The show has an interesting premise, and it raises some interesting questions, but it has some fierce competition, despite its plumb position after Lost. Not only does it face competition from timeslot rivals CSI: NY and Law & Order, but there's also the fact that every major network has their own supernatural drama headed to a TV near you this fall. Let the Invasion begin, indeed.
QUICK CUTS
*The major broadcast networks are planning specials to help those affected by this week's tragic Hurricane Katrina that struck the Gulf States. First up, NBC will air the hour-long A Concert for Hurricane Relief hosted by Matt Lauer. Scheduled guests include Tim McGraw and New Orleans natives Wynton Marsalis and Harry Connick Jr. Funds will go to the American Red Cross. The special airs tomorrow night on NBC and sister networks MSNBC and CNBC. BET and fellow music channels MTV and VHI will air specials on September 9th and 10th, respectively. No guests have been confirmed for BET, but MTV is reporting Green Day, Gretchen Wilson, Ludacris, Rob Thomas, and Alicia Keys will all make appearances. And TVGuide.com is reporting that all six broadcast networks are planning a huge telethon to possibly air as soon as next week. New Orleans native Ellen DeGeneres is rumored to be hosting. Funds from all the telethons will benefit the victims of Katrina.
*Looks like there's going to be another Law & Order crossover per TVGuide.com. This time, between the original and SVU. Lynda Carter and Estella Warren will play mother and daughter on SVU and their storyline will carry over to the original Law & Order the following night. Look for the two- show story arc to air September 27th and 28th on NBC.
*The WB is releasing information on Everwood's fourth season premiere. The network's press release promises that Nina will make the decision between Jake (Scott Wolf) and Andy (Treat Williams). For more spoiler information on the premiere, visit The Futon Critic. The episode, called "A Kiss to Build a Dream On," airs September 29th in its new Thursday night timeslot on the WB.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow as we discuss the casualties of the past season. Are you starting to get weepy because some of your favorites are not coming back with the others this month? We'll discuss tomorrow. Plus, all the latest television news.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Let's Do the Time Warp! It's the Throwback Edition!
Even though most of us focus on the fabulous television shows of today, there are plenty of classic shows that took their final bow long ago. We've said goodbye to numerous TV friends, and we've sworn off networks when they cancel our favorites before their time. Television has provided us with so many moments over its more than fifty year history. We've laughed until we made our selves sick, we've cried until we were literally out of tears, and we've stared at the television with our mouths agape at the scene that just transpired. At its core, television is there to entertain us, and there have been many shows that have filled us with hours of entertainment through the years. Here are some of my favorite long gone shows.
NOTE: I'm going to list the shows by the decade they are most associated with.
1960s
Mister Ed - When I was a kid, I loved to watch this show on Nick At Night on Nickelodeon. It just doesn't get much better than a talking horse who out smarts the humans around him. Mister Ed made me laugh with all his silly tricks and dialog with Wilbur (Alan Young). Plus, you've got to give it up to a show that had a talking horse before the era of special effects. They actually had to make the horse move his lips without any digital enhancement!
1970s
The Brady Bunch - Yes, it was as wholesome as wheat bread, but there was something about watching a show that presented a family that really loved each other, despite their spats. Even in its cheesiness, was the realistic side including sisterly jealousy, the effects of blending families, and the everyday struggles that families face. As sugary-sweet as the show was, it had heart and some great characters.
Charlie's Angels - This show was a summer staple for me when I was younger. It aired in reruns every day on one of the cable channels. Talk about girl power! I wasn't a Farrah/Jill fan, so her departure didn't phase me. My favorite angels were Sabrina (Kate Jackson), Kris (Cheryl Ladd), and Kelly (Jaclyn Smith), but Kelly was my top angel. I loved how these women were out there fighting the bad guys and looking fabulous while doing it. It was a fun show, and somewhat of an earlier version of Alias.
1980s
Dallas - The mother of the night time soap opera is the still the best! This show had it all - murder, backstabbing, money, the once thought dead coming back to life, love triangles and everything else that makes a great night time soap. The show mirrored the opulence of the 80s with the Ewing family and their massive oil fortune. Characters came and went over the show's thirteen seasons, but one remained: J.R. Ewing. What more can you say about a show that basically invented the summer cliffhanger, and caused a national furry with its "Who shot J.R.?" season ender? Classic, indeed.
Remington Steele - What's a female private detective to do when she can't get any clients? Invent a male private detective boss and watch the business role in. Such was the case for Laura Holt (Stephanie Zimbalist), so she invented the name Remington Steele. But, it wasn't long before she needed to produce the elusive Mr. Steele, so she enlists the help of a stranger (Pierce Brosnan) to play the part. This was another girl power show, but it also had the will-they-or-won't-they element between Holt and Steele. The showed teased us for five seasons, until the two finally got together in the end. It was a fun show with plenty of great undercover scenes.
Full House - Like most seven year olds, I was totally into this show when it premiered. I could completely relate to the sisters because I am one of three girls as well. This is another one of those sugar-sweet shows, but it had some decent messages and lots of family values. I loved the comic relief of Joey (Dave Coulier) and Uncle Jesse (John Stamos). The ending scenes where everyone hugged were a bit much, but overall, the show was pretty good.
1990s
Picket Fences - Arguably David E. Kelley's finest show, Picket Fences was a quirky little program that followed the citizens of Rome Wisconsin. It had sex-change doctors, spontaneous human combustion, cows giving birth to humans, and an entire host of other oddities that gave the show its original flare. The show's crazy characters added the charm. Tom Skerrit was great as the town's sheriff, and Lauren Holly and Costas Mandylor had great chemistry. The show had a little bit of everything, and I do mean everything, and just the right amount of great characters and well written episodes.
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman - I was such a Dr. Quinn fan! I've always been a sucker for westerns and love stories, so this show was basically written for me. It featured a great lead character (Jane Seymour) who constantly proved that women were just as capable as men. I LOVED the episode where Michaela and the kids went to Boston to see her ailing mother. It was so great when Sully (Joe Lando) showed up and had her all torn between her old shiny life and her new frontier life. The running kiss scene was awesome at the end. The show started to show its age in its later years, but the early years were pure gold.
Seinfeld - One of the funniest shows to ever grace the television airwaves. What makes this show so unique (other than the fact that it was "the show about nothing") is the fact that every single character was funny. Even the smaller roles like Newman were hysterical. The show blended physical humor, smart dialog, and exaggerated every day situations into a perfect storm of comic gold. From Kramer's (Michael Richards) crazy entrances to George's hang-ups, this show was funny from top to bottom. I still laugh about Kramer adopting a highway!
So those are just some of my favs from yesterday. What are some of yours? What old shows cause you to stop channel surfing when you think there's nothing on? Leave me a note with your favorites.
QUICK CUTS
*Brian Cox is joining the cast of HBO's Deadwood for its third season per zap2it.. He'll play a theater owner and producer who tries to impart a little culture on the town. He's signed on for at least seven episodes starting next year.
*The John Grisham best seller The Street Lawyer is coming to TNT. The cable network ordered the project as a pilot/miniseries. The story follows a lawyer who quits his big time firm to work in a legal aid clinic. Grisham is signed on to executive produce the pilot.
*And finally, it's Nielsen Wednesday. CBS finished out another stellar week atop the ratings heap. Led by CSI (#1), CBS had all five of the top shows with 60 Minutes (#2), Two and a Half Men (#3), Cold Case (#4), and CSI:Miami (#5). NBC and Fox split second place. For the full top 20, visit usatoday.com.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow as we prepare for an Invasion. Plus all the latest television news.
NOTE: I'm going to list the shows by the decade they are most associated with.
1960s
Mister Ed - When I was a kid, I loved to watch this show on Nick At Night on Nickelodeon. It just doesn't get much better than a talking horse who out smarts the humans around him. Mister Ed made me laugh with all his silly tricks and dialog with Wilbur (Alan Young). Plus, you've got to give it up to a show that had a talking horse before the era of special effects. They actually had to make the horse move his lips without any digital enhancement!
1970s
The Brady Bunch - Yes, it was as wholesome as wheat bread, but there was something about watching a show that presented a family that really loved each other, despite their spats. Even in its cheesiness, was the realistic side including sisterly jealousy, the effects of blending families, and the everyday struggles that families face. As sugary-sweet as the show was, it had heart and some great characters.
Charlie's Angels - This show was a summer staple for me when I was younger. It aired in reruns every day on one of the cable channels. Talk about girl power! I wasn't a Farrah/Jill fan, so her departure didn't phase me. My favorite angels were Sabrina (Kate Jackson), Kris (Cheryl Ladd), and Kelly (Jaclyn Smith), but Kelly was my top angel. I loved how these women were out there fighting the bad guys and looking fabulous while doing it. It was a fun show, and somewhat of an earlier version of Alias.
1980s
Dallas - The mother of the night time soap opera is the still the best! This show had it all - murder, backstabbing, money, the once thought dead coming back to life, love triangles and everything else that makes a great night time soap. The show mirrored the opulence of the 80s with the Ewing family and their massive oil fortune. Characters came and went over the show's thirteen seasons, but one remained: J.R. Ewing. What more can you say about a show that basically invented the summer cliffhanger, and caused a national furry with its "Who shot J.R.?" season ender? Classic, indeed.
Remington Steele - What's a female private detective to do when she can't get any clients? Invent a male private detective boss and watch the business role in. Such was the case for Laura Holt (Stephanie Zimbalist), so she invented the name Remington Steele. But, it wasn't long before she needed to produce the elusive Mr. Steele, so she enlists the help of a stranger (Pierce Brosnan) to play the part. This was another girl power show, but it also had the will-they-or-won't-they element between Holt and Steele. The showed teased us for five seasons, until the two finally got together in the end. It was a fun show with plenty of great undercover scenes.
Full House - Like most seven year olds, I was totally into this show when it premiered. I could completely relate to the sisters because I am one of three girls as well. This is another one of those sugar-sweet shows, but it had some decent messages and lots of family values. I loved the comic relief of Joey (Dave Coulier) and Uncle Jesse (John Stamos). The ending scenes where everyone hugged were a bit much, but overall, the show was pretty good.
1990s
Picket Fences - Arguably David E. Kelley's finest show, Picket Fences was a quirky little program that followed the citizens of Rome Wisconsin. It had sex-change doctors, spontaneous human combustion, cows giving birth to humans, and an entire host of other oddities that gave the show its original flare. The show's crazy characters added the charm. Tom Skerrit was great as the town's sheriff, and Lauren Holly and Costas Mandylor had great chemistry. The show had a little bit of everything, and I do mean everything, and just the right amount of great characters and well written episodes.
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman - I was such a Dr. Quinn fan! I've always been a sucker for westerns and love stories, so this show was basically written for me. It featured a great lead character (Jane Seymour) who constantly proved that women were just as capable as men. I LOVED the episode where Michaela and the kids went to Boston to see her ailing mother. It was so great when Sully (Joe Lando) showed up and had her all torn between her old shiny life and her new frontier life. The running kiss scene was awesome at the end. The show started to show its age in its later years, but the early years were pure gold.
Seinfeld - One of the funniest shows to ever grace the television airwaves. What makes this show so unique (other than the fact that it was "the show about nothing") is the fact that every single character was funny. Even the smaller roles like Newman were hysterical. The show blended physical humor, smart dialog, and exaggerated every day situations into a perfect storm of comic gold. From Kramer's (Michael Richards) crazy entrances to George's hang-ups, this show was funny from top to bottom. I still laugh about Kramer adopting a highway!
So those are just some of my favs from yesterday. What are some of yours? What old shows cause you to stop channel surfing when you think there's nothing on? Leave me a note with your favorites.
QUICK CUTS
*Brian Cox is joining the cast of HBO's Deadwood for its third season per zap2it.. He'll play a theater owner and producer who tries to impart a little culture on the town. He's signed on for at least seven episodes starting next year.
*The John Grisham best seller The Street Lawyer is coming to TNT. The cable network ordered the project as a pilot/miniseries. The story follows a lawyer who quits his big time firm to work in a legal aid clinic. Grisham is signed on to executive produce the pilot.
*And finally, it's Nielsen Wednesday. CBS finished out another stellar week atop the ratings heap. Led by CSI (#1), CBS had all five of the top shows with 60 Minutes (#2), Two and a Half Men (#3), Cold Case (#4), and CSI:Miami (#5). NBC and Fox split second place. For the full top 20, visit usatoday.com.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow as we prepare for an Invasion. Plus all the latest television news.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
What Lies Under the 'Surface'? Plus 'Prison Break'
When Desperate Housewives stormed out of the gate last season and helped ABC finish tied for second for the season, a lot of people thought that there would be a bunch of copycat shows on the fall schedule. Imagine everyone's surprise when the show's premise barely made a blip on the new shows' radar. So, why aren't there more copycats of a show that almost toppled CSI's number one ranking? Because everyone was too busy writing shows about the supernatural. It seems that Lost's mysterious ripples reached much further than Desperate Housewives' satiric soapy ones. Lost is a huge hit, especially for a network that, just one year ago, was circling the bottom of the barrel, but it's not as big of a hit as Desperate Housewives. So, why are show runners choosing to develop their own supernatural dramas and not satirical soaps? Most likely because there is a lot more room to be creative with the supernatural theme than the satirical soap theme. Housewives has been done, and done quite well, so followers would be held up to the standard it set. Creatively, there isn't a lot more that can be done to make a new show distinguishable from the original. But with the supernatural theme, there is a lot of room for creativity, and a lot of different premises that are completely different from Lost, but can still attract the show's large audience. In other words, there's a better chance of getting a good audience with the supernatural dramas. Like everything else, there is the fear of saturation, so show runners will have to be careful, but supernatural shows as mainstream hits is still a new concept.
One of the shows hoping to achieve Lost's success is the NBC drama Surface. Besides the supernatural themes, the two shows have very little in common. Instead of an island, Surface revolves around people from all over, including the South Antartic Sea, San Diego, Monterey, and the Gulf of Mexico. There isn't an unseen monster lurking in the jungle, but mysterious sea creatures. Series co-creator Jonas Pate tells TVGuide.com that he understands the comparison to Lost, but he promises his show won't leave viewers hanging as much, despite the impression the pilot gives us. "Believe it or not, we're not going to be as coy with revealing things as you might expect, because there are many layers to the mystery [of the sea creatures]." He adds that "what you see in the pilot is only the opening salvo." But if the show comes off more in the style of an action/adventure show and less supernatural, that's because co-creators (and brothers) Jonas and Josh Pate designed the show more in the James Cameron's Abyss fashion and less in the Lost one.
The show has undergone some changes over the summer, most notable a name change from Fathom to Surface because of some legal tie-ups. But the premise has remained, and so do the over arching questions: What exactly are these new creatures? Are they good, bad, or a little bit of both? And how will the lives change for the people who come in contact with these creatures? The show stars Lake Bell (Boston Legal) and Leighton Meester (Tarzan). You can start finding the answers to the show's questions when it premieres September 19th on NBC.
Anyone catch Prison Break last night? The show seems to be off to a decent start. One thing I found difficult about the show is the leap of faith it requires the viewer to take in order to buy the premise. First, we have to overlook the fact that Michael (Wentworth Miller) would be placed into the same prison as his brother, and no one would realize this mistake. Second, we have to buy the whole Michael doesn't have Type I diabetes, but he's able to convince the prison doctor that he does. Wouldn't they do a medical history check? And then there's the over arching leap of faith that Michael studied the prison's blueprints well enough to know exactly what he needs to know (or check his body covering tattoo to find what he forgets), and the prison is exactly the same as the blueprints originally had it - right down to the screw used to bolt together the bleachers in the prison yard. But, I'm willing to take the leap because the show caught my attention. Is there some sort of Government conspiracy to make sure Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) is executed on May 11th? Or, is the Secret Service just making sure justice is served for the assassination of the Vice President's brother? And who shot the Bishop? Plus, Robin Tunney is fabulous as Lincoln's ex-girlfriend and Michael's help on the outside.
QUICK CUTS
*Charlize Theron will guest star on Fox's Arrested Development. She'll play a British woman who dates Michael (Jason Batemen). She's signed on for five episodes, with the first episode airing on September 26th.
*It looks like Fox has another big hit on its hands. Prison Break opened to huge numbers last night and propelled Fox to the top finish in total viewers. The show also did well in the advertiser coveted 18-49 year old group.
*And finally, Rachel Bilson, Patrick Dempsey, Craig Ferguson, Jason Lee, Kyra Sedgwick, and James Spader have been added to the list of presenters for The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. The awards air live from Los Angeles on September 18th on CBS.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for a special "throwback" edition. Plus, all of today's latest television news.
One of the shows hoping to achieve Lost's success is the NBC drama Surface. Besides the supernatural themes, the two shows have very little in common. Instead of an island, Surface revolves around people from all over, including the South Antartic Sea, San Diego, Monterey, and the Gulf of Mexico. There isn't an unseen monster lurking in the jungle, but mysterious sea creatures. Series co-creator Jonas Pate tells TVGuide.com that he understands the comparison to Lost, but he promises his show won't leave viewers hanging as much, despite the impression the pilot gives us. "Believe it or not, we're not going to be as coy with revealing things as you might expect, because there are many layers to the mystery [of the sea creatures]." He adds that "what you see in the pilot is only the opening salvo." But if the show comes off more in the style of an action/adventure show and less supernatural, that's because co-creators (and brothers) Jonas and Josh Pate designed the show more in the James Cameron's Abyss fashion and less in the Lost one.
The show has undergone some changes over the summer, most notable a name change from Fathom to Surface because of some legal tie-ups. But the premise has remained, and so do the over arching questions: What exactly are these new creatures? Are they good, bad, or a little bit of both? And how will the lives change for the people who come in contact with these creatures? The show stars Lake Bell (Boston Legal) and Leighton Meester (Tarzan). You can start finding the answers to the show's questions when it premieres September 19th on NBC.
Anyone catch Prison Break last night? The show seems to be off to a decent start. One thing I found difficult about the show is the leap of faith it requires the viewer to take in order to buy the premise. First, we have to overlook the fact that Michael (Wentworth Miller) would be placed into the same prison as his brother, and no one would realize this mistake. Second, we have to buy the whole Michael doesn't have Type I diabetes, but he's able to convince the prison doctor that he does. Wouldn't they do a medical history check? And then there's the over arching leap of faith that Michael studied the prison's blueprints well enough to know exactly what he needs to know (or check his body covering tattoo to find what he forgets), and the prison is exactly the same as the blueprints originally had it - right down to the screw used to bolt together the bleachers in the prison yard. But, I'm willing to take the leap because the show caught my attention. Is there some sort of Government conspiracy to make sure Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) is executed on May 11th? Or, is the Secret Service just making sure justice is served for the assassination of the Vice President's brother? And who shot the Bishop? Plus, Robin Tunney is fabulous as Lincoln's ex-girlfriend and Michael's help on the outside.
QUICK CUTS
*Charlize Theron will guest star on Fox's Arrested Development. She'll play a British woman who dates Michael (Jason Batemen). She's signed on for five episodes, with the first episode airing on September 26th.
*It looks like Fox has another big hit on its hands. Prison Break opened to huge numbers last night and propelled Fox to the top finish in total viewers. The show also did well in the advertiser coveted 18-49 year old group.
*And finally, Rachel Bilson, Patrick Dempsey, Craig Ferguson, Jason Lee, Kyra Sedgwick, and James Spader have been added to the list of presenters for The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. The awards air live from Los Angeles on September 18th on CBS.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for a special "throwback" edition. Plus, all of today's latest television news.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Fox Makes a 'Break' for it! Plus TV on DVD Monday!
No one ever accuses Fox of not taking risks. It's certainly the most risk-taking network of the big four. Some of those risks fail (Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire? or Skin), and others pay off for the network (American Idol). If you can believe what critics are saying, it sounds like Fox's latest risk Prison Break will fall into the latter category. Risky because of its seemingly short ended premise, Prison Break follows the story of Michael Scofield and his desperate attempt at getting his brother, Lincoln Burrows, out of prison. Lincoln is sitting on death row and scheduled to be executed in a few months for an assassination that Michael is convinced he did not commit. In order to save his brother, Michael robs a bank and lands himself in the same prison as his brother (and it just so happens Michael had access to the prison's blueprints). The risk lies in whether viewers will tune in each week to watch the escape plans progress. And, if the brothers do escape, what happens then? With Lincoln facing execution in just a few months, it seems that the show either executes him or they escape. I suppose a possible Stay of Execution could slow things down a bit, but the premise leaves the writers with very few options.
Last year, the same questions hung over a little show called Lost, so much so, that critics raved about it, but concluded that it wouldn't last the season. Lost is set to start its second season, and it helped save a starving-for-a-hit ABC. One of the questions surrounding Lost is the same that surrounds Prison Break: Will audiences keep watching the same people trying to escape an island (or in this case a prison)? It worked for Lost, so why not Prison Break? Star and soon-to-be "it" boy Wentworth Miller stars as Michael Scofield. He tells TVGuide.com that the show (like Lost) isn't entirely focused on the escape. "[Michael] is at the mercy of the other inmates in this deadly environment, and I think a lot of the tension of the show deals with him being in jeopardy and having to use his wits to elude the predators and antagonists." He also tells TVGuide.com that the show touches on something else, "this is not just an action thriller, it's really a story about family: How far would one go to save a loved one? In Michael's case, it's all the way to the wall." Series Creator Peter Scheuring promises that the show isn't as violent as that other prison show from a few years back, HBO's OZ. He tells zap2it.com that "everyone asks about that, because OZ is kind of the last serial TV prison show." He adds, "this story is about hope. It's about the caper. It's about the mystery. It's all that stuff. So, this is not about the depravities of mankind."
The show's seemingly human element could make for some interesting characters that keep us tuning in each week (much in the same way as Lost), and then add in the whole thriller/suspense element of the two brothers and their escape plus the appeal of star Wentworth Miller, and it should make this show a must see addition to our TV viewing schedule. You can check it out for yourself tonight on Fox for the special two hour premiere.
QUICK CUTS
*50s TV icon This Is Your Life is headed back to network television per zap2it.com. ABC decided to resurrect the unscripted drama and give it a 21st century makeover. The 50s version found host Ralph Edwards surprising people with retrospectives on their lives including special guests. The network isn't releasing any details yet, but original host Edwards' son will serve as an executive producer.
*John Leguizamo is joining ER for a twelve episode run. Sources tell TVGuide.com that he'll play a new doctor at County General. Producers had been looking for a well known actor to join the cast since Noah Wylie left and John Stamos had to back out after ABC renewed his show Jake In Progress. Leguizamo's episodes start airing in late October.
*Fox is extending the premiere of The Bernie Mac Show to one hour. The opener will feature guest star Anthony Anderson (The Shield), and the night's second episode will feature wrestler Steve Austin. The move pushes Malcolm In the Middle's premiere back to September 30th. The one-hour Bernie Mac block airs September 23rd.
*And finally, it's TV on DVD Monday. Look for House season 1, Curb Your Enthusiasm season 4, and Nip/Tuck season 2 all on shelves tomorrow. For a complete list of tomorrow's releases, visit tvshowsondvd.com.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for my impression of Prison Break. Plus, we go under the Surface with NBC. And as always, all the latest television news!
Last year, the same questions hung over a little show called Lost, so much so, that critics raved about it, but concluded that it wouldn't last the season. Lost is set to start its second season, and it helped save a starving-for-a-hit ABC. One of the questions surrounding Lost is the same that surrounds Prison Break: Will audiences keep watching the same people trying to escape an island (or in this case a prison)? It worked for Lost, so why not Prison Break? Star and soon-to-be "it" boy Wentworth Miller stars as Michael Scofield. He tells TVGuide.com that the show (like Lost) isn't entirely focused on the escape. "[Michael] is at the mercy of the other inmates in this deadly environment, and I think a lot of the tension of the show deals with him being in jeopardy and having to use his wits to elude the predators and antagonists." He also tells TVGuide.com that the show touches on something else, "this is not just an action thriller, it's really a story about family: How far would one go to save a loved one? In Michael's case, it's all the way to the wall." Series Creator Peter Scheuring promises that the show isn't as violent as that other prison show from a few years back, HBO's OZ. He tells zap2it.com that "everyone asks about that, because OZ is kind of the last serial TV prison show." He adds, "this story is about hope. It's about the caper. It's about the mystery. It's all that stuff. So, this is not about the depravities of mankind."
The show's seemingly human element could make for some interesting characters that keep us tuning in each week (much in the same way as Lost), and then add in the whole thriller/suspense element of the two brothers and their escape plus the appeal of star Wentworth Miller, and it should make this show a must see addition to our TV viewing schedule. You can check it out for yourself tonight on Fox for the special two hour premiere.
QUICK CUTS
*50s TV icon This Is Your Life is headed back to network television per zap2it.com. ABC decided to resurrect the unscripted drama and give it a 21st century makeover. The 50s version found host Ralph Edwards surprising people with retrospectives on their lives including special guests. The network isn't releasing any details yet, but original host Edwards' son will serve as an executive producer.
*John Leguizamo is joining ER for a twelve episode run. Sources tell TVGuide.com that he'll play a new doctor at County General. Producers had been looking for a well known actor to join the cast since Noah Wylie left and John Stamos had to back out after ABC renewed his show Jake In Progress. Leguizamo's episodes start airing in late October.
*Fox is extending the premiere of The Bernie Mac Show to one hour. The opener will feature guest star Anthony Anderson (The Shield), and the night's second episode will feature wrestler Steve Austin. The move pushes Malcolm In the Middle's premiere back to September 30th. The one-hour Bernie Mac block airs September 23rd.
*And finally, it's TV on DVD Monday. Look for House season 1, Curb Your Enthusiasm season 4, and Nip/Tuck season 2 all on shelves tomorrow. For a complete list of tomorrow's releases, visit tvshowsondvd.com.
That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for my impression of Prison Break. Plus, we go under the Surface with NBC. And as always, all the latest television news!
Friday, August 26, 2005
Women on Top! But Who Lands the Prime Position?
The ladies are certainly giving the men a run for their money. It used to be rare to find well-rounded, balanced roles for women in television, so the ladies didn't always get to show off their incredible talent. Now, women are commanding one hour dramas, and writers are writing more dimensional and dynamic roles for women. So, it is the time of the woman in television, and these incredible ladies prove it every week. As was the case with the men, there are far too many deserving females on primetime television, so we once again have a tie. Here are my favorite female television actresses.
5. Emily Vancamp (Amy Abbott, Everwood) - Amy Abbott hasn't had the easiest three years, and Emily has navigated through all of the ups and downs like a pro. She makes Amy real and very relatable. With just an expression or a look on her face, you know what Amy is thinking. With Rose's cancer this season, Emily showed us how strong Amy has become these last three seasons. Perhaps in was the death of her boyfriend and the depression that followed from it, or just the normal teenage perils, but Amy has become a strong, able woman and Emily has shown us the transformation. She manages to make us feel bad for Amy even when we don't agree with her actions. And when it came time for Amy to be there for Ephram after he had been there for her for so long, Amy stepped up. Emily showed us the complexity of the issue, though, because it involved a child Ephram had with someone else. Emily makes Amy the most realistic and relatable teen on TV while also taking us through Amy's difficult times earning her a spot on the list.
5. Yunjin Kim (Sun Kwon, Lost) - Yunjin blew me away this season on Lost! Like most of the cast, she was a relative unknown before the show premiered, but she made a huge impression right off. Part of the credit definitely goes to the incredible writing staff on Lost because they have given their actors so much brilliant material. But, a lot of the credit also goes to the magnificent cast, and Yunjin stands out against the other talents. She gives Sun heart, and we literally see the conflict between her and husband Jin (the excellent Daniel Dae Kim) with each delivery of her lines and every expression on her face. The season finale left me with tears in my eyes as I watched the poignant scene between the two of them as Jin leaves on the raft. Yunjin played that scene so well because we could see just how hurt Sun was and how much she was longing to reconcile with Jin. Just one of many well played scenes from Yunjin, and the reason she landed on my list.
4. Mariska Hargitay (Det. Olivia Benson, Law & Order: SVU) - Like her partner in crime Christopher Meloni, Mariska has the difficulty of showing us her acting chops on a show that allows for very little character development. But, for anyone who saw the episode "Charisma" from last season, you know that Mariska certainly has them. That episode alone should earn her the Emmy win this year. When Olivia hears the gun shots from outside the home, Mariska has a look that tells us all we need to know - the children in the cult were inside. The sad scene that follows in the house is overwhelming (and presumably why the producers left the scene silent with no underscore or dialog), and these are only the opening scenes. Mariska continues to take us through the gripping story of the charismatic cult leader and his control over a young girl. Mariska brings such compassion to Olivia and yet, such toughness, especially when Olivia is interrogating her suspects. It's a nice dichotomy and the reason Mariska ranks on the list.
3. Jennifer Garner (Sydney Bristow, Alias) - Jennifer is another deserving actress of an Emmy win this year. She always manages to bring her "A game" to Alias, which is a very physically demanding show. She gives Sydney a tough edge, but she's always sure to show us Syd's softer side as well. The role of Sydney Bristow is made even more difficult by the constant transformation the super spy has to make in order to fool her enemies. Sometimes Jennifer has to put on believable accents and other times she's seducing men for information, while never going too far. Jennifer easily moves between chasing down suspects and sharing a quiet, tender moment with Vaughn (Michael Vartan). Her impeccable range as an actress is amazing, and thus, why she lands on the list.
And finally, we have a tie for first place.......drum role......
1. Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars, Veronica Mars) - As I have stated many times before, I've only seen the four episodes that aired on CBS this summer, but I was instantly impressed with Kristen. So impressed, that I couldn't decide between her and fellow top spot holder Kathryn Morris. They are both talented actresses, and they both really showed their stuff this season. Kristen gives Veronica an edge, but still makes us want to have Veronica as our friend. Kristen could have easily played the character as the cute, popular type given the actress's cuteness, but she took the script and gave Veronica the tougher side that makes the character so appealing. She has great delivery, especially when she's giving us Veronica's more sarcastic replies. Kristen doesn't let the audience forget that Veronica has some issues from her past that she carries with her, but she also doesn't hit us over the head with it. Veronica is an extremely complex character, and Kristen's ability to play to all the complexities earns her the (shared) top spot on the list.
1. Kathryn Morris (Det. Lilly Rush, Cold Case) - Kathryn is coming off a very difficult season for Lilly Rush. She took Lilly through the sudden arrival of her troubled sister and the conflict that ensued, the realization that the team isn't going to get every murderer - some will slip through including a serial killer, the discovery that her partner and sister were sleeping together, learning that her sister is wanted in New York, and the final showdown between Lilly and serial killer George Marks. The last difficulty is what earned Kathryn the (shared) top spot on the list. In an emotional and demanding fifteen minute scene, Lilly tells George about what happened to her as a child. Kathryn handled the scene beautifully. She never let the audience feel that Lilly had lost control. Even during her sobbing scenes where she had to detail the attack that happened to Lilly when she was ten, you could tell she wasn't going to tell George everything he wanted to hear. And when push came to shove and George forced Lilly to shoot him, Kathryn told us all we needed to know about how Lilly felt with the expression on her face. It was just one of many of her amazing moments this season, and what earns her the (shared) number one spot.
So, those are my picks for my favorite television actresses. Do you agree? Disagree? What did you think about the week of favorites? Leave me a note with your thoughts and picks.
QUICK CUTS
*Sean Astin is joining the cast of the Fox drama 24 this season. He's one of several new cast members including Jean Smart and Connie Britton to join the hit show's fifth season. Fox isn't saying much about Astin's role, other then that he'll be a part of the Counter Terrorism Unit per zap2it. For more information on the cast additions including spoilers, visit The Futon Critic. 24 premieres January 8th on Fox.
*TNT will air an extra ten minutes of their hit show The Closer for its first season finale. The special 70 minute episode will find Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) charged with "conduct unbecoming" an officer per zap2it. The show has already been picked up for a second season. The season finale airs September 5th on TNT.
*The people of Miami need to board up their homes and stay inside this weekend, and it's not just for hurricane Katrina. MTV's fashion challenged Video Music Awards air live from Miami Sunday night. Scheduled performers include Kanye West, Mariah Carey, Coldplay, and Kelly Clarkson. Sean "Diddy" Combs will host the show.
*Details about House's second premiere are leaking out. Fox released the episode description for the September 13th premiere. Visit The Futon Critic for all the details and spoilers.
*And finally, HBO's epic new series Rome begins its 12-episode run this Sunday. The show follows the lives of the citizens of ancient Rome back when it was the most wealthy city in the world. For a review on the show, visit usatoday.com.
That's all for today. I hope you enjoyed the week of favorites! Be sure to tune in next week for a special "throwback" column about past great shows. And coming up Monday, the Fox show Prison Break escapes early! Also, all the latest television news all week long.
5. Emily Vancamp (Amy Abbott, Everwood) - Amy Abbott hasn't had the easiest three years, and Emily has navigated through all of the ups and downs like a pro. She makes Amy real and very relatable. With just an expression or a look on her face, you know what Amy is thinking. With Rose's cancer this season, Emily showed us how strong Amy has become these last three seasons. Perhaps in was the death of her boyfriend and the depression that followed from it, or just the normal teenage perils, but Amy has become a strong, able woman and Emily has shown us the transformation. She manages to make us feel bad for Amy even when we don't agree with her actions. And when it came time for Amy to be there for Ephram after he had been there for her for so long, Amy stepped up. Emily showed us the complexity of the issue, though, because it involved a child Ephram had with someone else. Emily makes Amy the most realistic and relatable teen on TV while also taking us through Amy's difficult times earning her a spot on the list.
5. Yunjin Kim (Sun Kwon, Lost) - Yunjin blew me away this season on Lost! Like most of the cast, she was a relative unknown before the show premiered, but she made a huge impression right off. Part of the credit definitely goes to the incredible writing staff on Lost because they have given their actors so much brilliant material. But, a lot of the credit also goes to the magnificent cast, and Yunjin stands out against the other talents. She gives Sun heart, and we literally see the conflict between her and husband Jin (the excellent Daniel Dae Kim) with each delivery of her lines and every expression on her face. The season finale left me with tears in my eyes as I watched the poignant scene between the two of them as Jin leaves on the raft. Yunjin played that scene so well because we could see just how hurt Sun was and how much she was longing to reconcile with Jin. Just one of many well played scenes from Yunjin, and the reason she landed on my list.
4. Mariska Hargitay (Det. Olivia Benson, Law & Order: SVU) - Like her partner in crime Christopher Meloni, Mariska has the difficulty of showing us her acting chops on a show that allows for very little character development. But, for anyone who saw the episode "Charisma" from last season, you know that Mariska certainly has them. That episode alone should earn her the Emmy win this year. When Olivia hears the gun shots from outside the home, Mariska has a look that tells us all we need to know - the children in the cult were inside. The sad scene that follows in the house is overwhelming (and presumably why the producers left the scene silent with no underscore or dialog), and these are only the opening scenes. Mariska continues to take us through the gripping story of the charismatic cult leader and his control over a young girl. Mariska brings such compassion to Olivia and yet, such toughness, especially when Olivia is interrogating her suspects. It's a nice dichotomy and the reason Mariska ranks on the list.
3. Jennifer Garner (Sydney Bristow, Alias) - Jennifer is another deserving actress of an Emmy win this year. She always manages to bring her "A game" to Alias, which is a very physically demanding show. She gives Sydney a tough edge, but she's always sure to show us Syd's softer side as well. The role of Sydney Bristow is made even more difficult by the constant transformation the super spy has to make in order to fool her enemies. Sometimes Jennifer has to put on believable accents and other times she's seducing men for information, while never going too far. Jennifer easily moves between chasing down suspects and sharing a quiet, tender moment with Vaughn (Michael Vartan). Her impeccable range as an actress is amazing, and thus, why she lands on the list.
And finally, we have a tie for first place.......drum role......
1. Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars, Veronica Mars) - As I have stated many times before, I've only seen the four episodes that aired on CBS this summer, but I was instantly impressed with Kristen. So impressed, that I couldn't decide between her and fellow top spot holder Kathryn Morris. They are both talented actresses, and they both really showed their stuff this season. Kristen gives Veronica an edge, but still makes us want to have Veronica as our friend. Kristen could have easily played the character as the cute, popular type given the actress's cuteness, but she took the script and gave Veronica the tougher side that makes the character so appealing. She has great delivery, especially when she's giving us Veronica's more sarcastic replies. Kristen doesn't let the audience forget that Veronica has some issues from her past that she carries with her, but she also doesn't hit us over the head with it. Veronica is an extremely complex character, and Kristen's ability to play to all the complexities earns her the (shared) top spot on the list.
1. Kathryn Morris (Det. Lilly Rush, Cold Case) - Kathryn is coming off a very difficult season for Lilly Rush. She took Lilly through the sudden arrival of her troubled sister and the conflict that ensued, the realization that the team isn't going to get every murderer - some will slip through including a serial killer, the discovery that her partner and sister were sleeping together, learning that her sister is wanted in New York, and the final showdown between Lilly and serial killer George Marks. The last difficulty is what earned Kathryn the (shared) top spot on the list. In an emotional and demanding fifteen minute scene, Lilly tells George about what happened to her as a child. Kathryn handled the scene beautifully. She never let the audience feel that Lilly had lost control. Even during her sobbing scenes where she had to detail the attack that happened to Lilly when she was ten, you could tell she wasn't going to tell George everything he wanted to hear. And when push came to shove and George forced Lilly to shoot him, Kathryn told us all we needed to know about how Lilly felt with the expression on her face. It was just one of many of her amazing moments this season, and what earns her the (shared) number one spot.
So, those are my picks for my favorite television actresses. Do you agree? Disagree? What did you think about the week of favorites? Leave me a note with your thoughts and picks.
QUICK CUTS
*Sean Astin is joining the cast of the Fox drama 24 this season. He's one of several new cast members including Jean Smart and Connie Britton to join the hit show's fifth season. Fox isn't saying much about Astin's role, other then that he'll be a part of the Counter Terrorism Unit per zap2it. For more information on the cast additions including spoilers, visit The Futon Critic. 24 premieres January 8th on Fox.
*TNT will air an extra ten minutes of their hit show The Closer for its first season finale. The special 70 minute episode will find Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) charged with "conduct unbecoming" an officer per zap2it. The show has already been picked up for a second season. The season finale airs September 5th on TNT.
*The people of Miami need to board up their homes and stay inside this weekend, and it's not just for hurricane Katrina. MTV's fashion challenged Video Music Awards air live from Miami Sunday night. Scheduled performers include Kanye West, Mariah Carey, Coldplay, and Kelly Clarkson. Sean "Diddy" Combs will host the show.
*Details about House's second premiere are leaking out. Fox released the episode description for the September 13th premiere. Visit The Futon Critic for all the details and spoilers.
*And finally, HBO's epic new series Rome begins its 12-episode run this Sunday. The show follows the lives of the citizens of ancient Rome back when it was the most wealthy city in the world. For a review on the show, visit usatoday.com.
That's all for today. I hope you enjoyed the week of favorites! Be sure to tune in next week for a special "throwback" column about past great shows. And coming up Monday, the Fox show Prison Break escapes early! Also, all the latest television news all week long.
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