Two Tivos To Paradise 06.22.07
Posted by Al Norton on 06.22.2007
It's The First Offical Two Tivos Of The Summer, So Grab A Towell And Some Sun Block. Or Just Click Here Now For All The Latest TV News. Your Choice.
Hello Friends. I am drawing a blank at the usually clever intro that you probably don't read anyway that warms you up to my rather odd sense of humor, so I will give a passing mention to my Red Sox having a 10 game lead again and get right down to the nitty gritty.
Don't you want news, baby? Don't you want news, oooooohhhh?
I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass
This Just In…Right as Two Tivos To Paradise was going to press, word leaked out that Drew Carey had somehow snuck in as new name in The Price Is Right hosting sweepstakes. This as Rosie discussed her planned interview for the job and Bob Barker said he thought she would do well with the job but did not mean that as an endorsement. Who would have thought the biggest entertainment story of the summer would be the decision of who's in charge of plinko?
Guess I Just Don't Feel Much Like Bad News Today, Goodbye's All We've Got Left To Say Stargate SG-1 signs off tonight after a ten year, two network, one spin-off run. Debuting in 2007 on Showtime, the series jumped to Sci-Fi halfway through the run, making it one of the few series ever to switch networks with successful results. While tonight's episode will be the last of it's kind for SG-1, two direct to DVD movies are planned for release in the next 12 months, and the show's producers are developing a new series, Stargate Universe, with the possibility of it hitting the airwaves next spring.
While I have never seen a single episode of either of the Stargate shows I know how hard it is when a show you love signs off, so my sympathies this week to all my Gate-Head readers. It's pretty amazing that the following is so strong that they already have the two movies in the pipeline (one due to hit stores this fall) as well as a potential new series in the works. What's also amazing is that the majority of TV viewers have no idea this show is still on; I don't mean that as a dig but rather one of my frequent raves about what is so great about television – there is something for everyone if you look for it.
Please Don't Talk About Love Tonight, Please Don't Talk About Sweet Love
A dinner between Jon Stewart and NBC Universal executives Jeff Zucker and Marc Graboff got the rumor mill churning big time this week, with reports that the network was interested in wooing the host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show to their late night line up when his contract expires in 2008. Currently Conan O'Brien's deal calls for him to take over the Tonight Show from Jay Leno in 2009, and one train of thought is that because Leno continues to pull big numbers, NBC would buy O'Brien out of the contract and install Stewart as host of Late Night. From there, according to the gossip, O'Brien would headline a new commitment to late night programming from Fox, including hiring Craig Kilborne to host a new show, too. Clouding things up even more was Jimmy Fallon, who told Howard Stern this week he had signed with NBC to take over Conan's time slot if/when it was vacated.
Nothing like the public breaking of bread to get tongues wagging, Whether any of this comes to fruition is anybody's guess, but it is seeming less and less likely that Leno will give up the Tonight Show, which puts O'Brien in a pretty major driver's seat; accept a HUGE payout from NBC to stay, or take a big buyout plus create your own legacy at a new network.
Life Used To Be So Hard, Now Everything Is Easy ‘Cause Of You
MTV and The Donald are developing Pageant Place, a new reality show where the current Miss USA, Miss Universe, and Miss Teen USA all live together in a New York City apartment. Former Miss USA Tara Connor will act as "den mother" to the three women. No word yet on when PP will go into production.
Best. Idea. Ever. I had to reread the press release to make sure it referred to Connor as "den mother" and not "ring leader". Not as sold on this as I am? What if I mention that Conner's recent notariety came as part oher public make out/dirty dancing session with Katie Blair, AKA the current Miss Teen USA? PP will get immediate season pass status and I predict it will go on to become another of MTV's long running reality hits. Seriously.
Gonna Get Back To The Basics, Guess I'll Start It Up Again
While the major four networks have gone with a mostly reality based line-up this summer, basic cable has rolled out fresh dramas with much Nielsen success. Monday's season three premiere of The Closer was the highest rated series episode in ad-supported cable history. The debut of Heartland that followed was also strong. Over at Lifetime Army Wives continues to set network records while the series became the first in five years where the third episode audience topped the first (Monk back in 2002 was the last time this occurred). This bodes well for the two new shows Lifetime is rolling out in July (Side Order Of Life and State of Mind).
Let's hear it for basic cable!!! For those of you sick of people getting yelled at for their lack of cooking abilities, there are other options out there! Rescue Me is back on FX, and USA has the upcoming Burn Notice (see below) as well as the returning Monk and Psych. Season two of the highly underrated Eureka hits Sci-Fi in July as well. Don't get sucked into fallacy that summer is a TV wasteland people – check out the weekly section below for tips on new shows that may be worth a gander.
Hey Little Girl Is Your Daddy Home? Did He Go Away And Leave You All Alone?
USA premieres its new series, Burn Notice, next Thursday night with a commercial free episode. Starring Jeffery Donovan, BN follows Michael Weston, a former CIA operative given his "burn notice" (walking papers) for reasons unknown, as he adapts to live outside the agency in Miami, taking security/private detective jobs to make ends meet while he tries to find out why he was fired. Co-starring are Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campbell, and Sharon Gless.
Have I mentioned how much I love my job? Perks like DVD screeners are way cool, especially when they turn out to be as much fun as Burn Notice. The pilot is highly stylized - very Out Of Sight – but as opposed to most of the time shows go for a cool feel, it actually works here. I have been a big fan of Donovan since his short lived USA series Touch Of Evil and he finally has a role worthy of his talents; Michael Weston isn't cool because the writers tell us so, it's because it oozes out of him at every turn, and I mean that in a good way. Campbell has fun with his supporting role, and Gless is a hoot as Donovan's hypochondriac Mother, but this is Donavan's show all the way and he is well on the way to making Burn Notice join Monk and Psych as a successful, personality driven mystery series. I want to say pilot rivals the quality of the debuts of Studio 60, Kidnapped, and The Black Donnellys, but since all of those three failed miserably in the ratings, I will simply say that Burn Notice is more than worth your time.
Summer Dreams Ripped At The Seams, But Oh, Those Summer Nights
May Sweeps and season finale season may be behind us but that doesn't mean television ends. Between now and the end of August the airwaves will be inundated with new programming, much of it of a reality nature. Each week Two Tivos will tell you about debuting shows and specials, with a * next to shows that are brand new.
Tonight Unplugged (MTV) I've Got Nothing To Wear* (TLC)
Saturday Suite Life Of Zack and Cody (Disney)
Sunday Fast Cars And Superstars (Finale) (ABC) Flavor Of Love Girls: Charm School (Finale) (VH-1) Crossroads with Reba McIntyre and Kelly Clarkson (CMT)
Monday Semper Fi: One Marine's Journey (Showtime) Wimbledon Tennis (ESPN2)
Tuesday Shaq's Big Challenge* (ABC) BET Awards 07 (BET)
Thursday
See Below.
I will tune into Unplugged to see if Ritchie is as drunk as they say – gossip had them doing five or six takes of some songs to get one where he didn't screw up, and he went straight from the taping into rehab. Showtime's Semper Fi is a documentary about a gay marine that is getting some raves. Shaq's Big Challenge has the potential to be a genuinely interesting show if it confronts teen obesity head on, but more than likely will be a train wreck; either way, I will be watching.
But You Were Up To Your Old Tricks In Chapters Four Five And Six
All you need to know about the Nielsen's…The first episode of John From Cincinnati that aired without The Sopranos as a lead-in drew 1.2 million viewers, a 65% drop from the premiere. The smaller lead-in meant Entourage pulled in 1.2 million less than it's last new episode, which was the same size audience the stayed to watch Flight Of the Conchords…The finale of VH-1's Celebrity Fit Club had a series high 2.7 million pairs of eyes…Big Love dropped off almost 700,000 from last week's season debut…The Dateline featuring Matt Lauer's interview with Princes William and Harry gave the show it's best ratings since January of 2005…The History Channel is celebrating the news that Sunday's debut of Ice Road Truckers was the highest rated series premiere in network history…America's Got Talent continues to power it's way to the top of the Nielsens, with Tuesday's increase of 600,000 meaning the 12.4 million audience was the third largest in series history…
All The Young Dudes Carry The News
Industry Notes, Pilot Updates, & Casting News…David Anders, best known as Sirk on Alias, is joining the cast of Heroes…Australian TV star Chris Vance (All Saints) has signed for season three of Prison Break…Last week I reported that Bradley Whitford was being eyed to take over as the new ADA on Law And Order but that his price tag might be too big; this week word on the street has producers talking to Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos), except he already has appeared on multiple episodes of L & O as a detective, so it would take some ‘splaining to work that out…Julian McMahon and Dylan Walsh each got seven figure bonuses from their Nip/Tuck bosses this week along with the standard 5% pay increase. Each will take home roughly $125,000 per episode for the series upcoming fifth season…Game Show Update – Wayne Brady will host Fox's new Don't Forget The Lyrics! where contestants win a million dollars if they get 10 songs in a row correct and the Drew Carey hosted Power Of 10 will hit the airwaves on August 7th via CBS…Shocker Toys is releasing action figures based on the finalists of last season's Who Wants To Be A Superhero. I predict Fat Mama will be the hot holiday item this year. Her damn theme song is still in my head!...The Today Show is paying $1 million to get the first post-Prison interview with Paris Hilton. Part of the deal was that it would be Meredith Viera, not Matt Lauer, asking the questions. I think I would pay $1 million for NBC to turn Ann Curry loose on Paris…
Turns Out Not Where But Who You're With That Really Matters
The top thing I watched since the last column went to press AKA The Best Of What's Around…While the overall quality of Last Comic Standing is not particularly high, the undisputed highlight of my TV week was Mel Silverback. Trust me – go to youtube and find clips of his routine. I don't want to give anything away, but I was in tears, and used the rewind button several times to appreciate the full genius of his comedy. Do yourselves a favor and get on the bandwagon now while there is still room!
People Say I'm Crazy Doing What I'm Doing. Well, They Give Me All Kinds Of Warnings To Save Me From Ruin
What's flashed before my eyes the last seven days…The season finale of One Tree Hill did not disappoint, equal parts cheese and quality melodrama. I must admit to getting a bit teary when Karen and Keith reunited, even if it was only for a dream sequence…The premiere of Rescue Me did a good job at easing into the biting, intense wit that drives the show. Denis Leary's multiple excellent scenes more than demonstrated the fine actor he has turned into. Franco and his girlfriend's brother's conversation had me in stitches, no matter how wrong I know it was…I know I sound like a broken record but why couldn't Studio 60 be this good all year long?!?!? Seriously. Seriously. Strong writing, great acting, Sorkin using flashbacks to tell multiple stories like The West Wing in it's prime. It all makes me rather sad…I am not sure how I feel about this week's Dead Zone – they seemed to just take the whole premise of the series and wrap it up in one episode, which does open the door to new things but at the same time it was hardly a fitting resolution for fans who have been watching over the years…The 4400 showed right away why having Billy Campbell as a full time cast member is a big deal. Is it mean for me to say that Maia's tweener years are not being kind to her?...While I have tuned out of Hex, Mrs. Tivo tells me she continues to enjoy the show greatly. I still miss Cassie…My beloved Tommy was sent home this week but that didn't stop me from thinking that Next Food Network Star is my favorite of the cooking shows that are all the rage these days…
TV Pick Of The Week
Next Thursday is shaping up to be one of the top TV days in recent memory, with a little something for everyone. ESPN's coverage of The NBA Draft begins at 7:30, followed later on in the evening by the debut of USA's new Burn Notice (see above), Bravo's latest reality show, Hey Paula, which tracks the day-to-day activities of professional whack job Paula Abdul, and the series finale of Studio 60 on NBC. With all these choices, Thursday Night is the TV Pick of The Week, and we, the viewers, are the big winners.
Two Tivos To Paradise, Weekly Update 30 Days, The 4400, After The Catch, Antique Roadshow, The Apprentice, Battlestar Galactica, Best Week Ever, Big Love, Bones, Boston Legal, Brothers And Sisters, Burn Notice, The Closer, Criss Angel Mindfreak, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Dead Zone, The Deadliest Catch, Desperate Housewives, Entourage, Extras, Eureka, Everybody Hates Chris, Fast Inc, Ghost Hunters, Grey's Anatomy, Heartland, Hex, Heroes, The Hills, House, How I Met Your Mother, Jericho, Justice, King Of Cars, Laguna Beach, Last Comic Standing, Law And Order, Law And Order: Criminal Intent, Law And Order: Special Victims Unit, Lost, Medium, My Name Is Earl, Monk, The New Adventures Of Old Christine, Next Food Network Star, The Office, On The Lot, One Tree Hill, Painkiller Jane, Project Runway, Psych, Real Time With Bill Maher, Rescue Me, The Riches, Rules Of Engagement, Saturday Night Live, Scrubs, Shark, Shear Genius, The Sopranos, The Soup, Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, Supernatural, Top Chef, Top Design, Ugly Betty,
Here ends another edition of Two Tivos To Paradise. I am heading to Cape Cod with Mrs. Tivo this weekend to take in a Lyle Lovett show and also finding time to check out the Cowboy Junkies playing with the Boston Pops. Don't fret, I'll still find time to gather all the news for you reading pleasure next Friday. I know I promised you a review of The Bill Engvall Show this week but then USA sent me Burn Notice, so I got distracted, so my views on TBS' new comedy will wait for another seven days. As always, your thoughts on all-things-television are welcome at twotivostoparadise@yahoo.com. Have a great week!
Sources for this week's column include Daily Variety, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide, and Hollywood Reporter as well as the web sites for those publications.
