Two Tivos To Paradise 10.24.08: The TV Week in Review; All Killer, No Filler

Posted by Al Norton on 10.24.2008

Mad Men's big weekend, Lindsay gets fired from Ugly Betty, Showtime picks up two more years of Dexter, Bill O'Reilly reups with Fox News, Curb Your Enthusiam's new season gets a timeline, Ghost Hunters goes to college, raves for Chocolate News, tons of news and notes, the TV Pick of the Week and more, all in this week's edition of Two Tivos To Paradise!

Hello Friends. Tuesday was "take your twins to work day", with Mrs. Tivo bringing Harry and Genevieve by the office to meet all the co-workers. They are now just a tad over 8 weeks old and I really can't remember what life was like before 8/26/08. Well, I do remember I was more rested but that's about it.

Before I forget, here is what I will be wearing on election day.

Caught a Lyle Lovett/John Hiatt show this week that ranks on my all time list of concerts. I saw them together last winter and while that was a good show, Hiatt was in incredible vocal form on Wednesday night, putting on a guitar clinic at the same ti me. To put this in the right context for you, imagine your two favorite singer/songwriters sitting on stage together, swapping stories and playing selections from their catalog both well known and obscure. Musicgasm.

Sorry to extend the cold open more than usual but I want to take a minute and thanks Mrs. Tivo for six amazing years of marriage. Sunday is our anniversary and part of the day will be spent at our church attending a pre-baptism meeting for the twins, a prefect example of how much road we have traveled since 2002. I can honestly say I wouldn't be here writing this column every week without her support and encouragement, not to mention her patience with me watching more TV in a week than the Surgeon General recommends for a lifetime.

Newsanizer, newsanizer, newsanizer, newsanizer.

He Refuses To Bend, He Refuses To Crawl, He's Always At Home With His Back To The Wall
Lots going on in the Mad Men universe this week, with series star Jon Hamm hosting Saturday Night Live on the eve of the Emmy wining series second season finale and word coming out that AMC was thisclose to picking up a third year of the show. While a series that won Best Drama less than two months ago would seemingly be a lock for renewal, the delay has been caused by show creator Matthew Weiner's contract with Lionsgate expiring with the end of the second season. Weiner has been in talks with Lionsgate but has also met with other production companies and networks about development deals, so it's not a sure thing that he reup's, which could put AMC in the position of deciding if they want to pick up a show whose architect has left the building.

There seems to be no doubt that AMC will renew Mad Men for a third season as it's the foundation for their original programming department, and there are options on all the cast members as well, but there is somewhat of a question about Weiner. Most seem to think he will shop around as a way to get Lionsgate to up their offer a bit but I can't help but think the guy owes it to himself to get the best deal possible. He's coming off of an Emmy win and a second season that most feel is even stronger, so when is his stock going to get any higher?

I am looking forward to seeing how SNL spoofs Mad Men, especially since the audience on Saturday will be significantly larger than the one that watches the drama series. I also am looking forward to seeing Hamm play comedy.

A few words about this week's episode, which was the third or fourth time in a row I thought the series set a new high in quality. Regular viewers like me were blown away by seeing Hamm's Don Draper/Dick Whitman happy, relaxed, and content. If Hamm's Emmy tape next summer is this episode along with clips from any episode that shows Don as he normally is, he could easily find himself with a new doorstop. Anna opening the door to welcome him was easily the most genuinely warm moment in the show's two seasons. I can't tell if this is all a dream just yet – is Don going to wake up in the hospital, or in a bed in the hotel room Pete says he never checked out of ?– but what makes the show so great is that it can be enjoyed on so many levels. Check this out for a more highbrow breakdown of the episode.

I know some have complained that show offers no likeable characters or that nothing seems to happen, but I would respond by saying both, "not true" and "so?!?!" What makes Mad Men so great is just those things, that the people on the show are all quite real, with moments that make you think you'd want them as your friends and moments where you realize you'd never set any of them up with your brother/sister. I also think the pacing is much like real life, a lot of little moments that seem inconsequential at the time but lead up to big events. Betty kicking Don out of their house was shocking in that she actually did it but not for the why – he has been cheating on her from the get go. Roger leaving his wife was a surprise, but then again how can it be a surprise when a married guy who not only sleeps around but has actual emotional relationships with these women finally decides to call it quits. Freddie's departure was sad but considering all the drinking these guys do, it's a wonder this didn't happen sooner. I could go on and on.

Mad Men is easily the most critically acclaimed show since The Sopranos was in it's heyday on HBO, a comparison that makes sense since Matthew Weiner is a constant in the two series. The other thing the shows have in common? Both achieve the rare feat of living up to the hype, and then some. I can't wait for this Sunday's season finale as it promises revelations great and small.

Whatever You're Looking For, Hey, Don't Come Around Here No More
Late Thursday afternoon word broke that Lindsay Lohan's guest stint on Ugly Betty had been cut from six to four episodes, with rumors flying that producers had made the call due to both creative and behavior issues. Sources told Eonline.com that Lohan had no interest in playing an actual character and wanted to play a version of herself, which didn't fit at all with the style of the series. Page Six of the New York Post reported Lindsay showed up every day with a large entourage of people, smoked so much her dressing room had to be repainted, and caused major embarrassment when she went panty-less during a scene where her character was pantsed by America Ferrera's Betty. Lohan's people denied the story, saying Ferrera was mean to the guest star and played a large role in her early termination.

The only thing that seems clear here is that Lohan was originally going to appear in six episodes but instead will only show up in four. This would have been a great opportunity for her to have some fun and show America (the country, not the actress) that she could have fun with a role and not take herself too seriously. By playing a part not in any way associated with her real life she might have made some headway in convincing the audience she is more than just her public persona. Working to Lohan's advantage is that other than on internet gossip sites, she is no way relevant in the pop culture world, so this won't stick to her for very long.

As a fan of Ugly Betty who thinks they have done a great job with guest stars during the show's 2+ year history I think this has to be considered a major missed opportunity for both sides as a strong performance by Lohan would have given the series a level of buzz not seen since it's debut and reminded folks why she became famous in the first place.

I Started As An Alter Boy Working At The Church, Learning All My Holy Moves, Doing Some Research
HBO announced that production on the 7th season of Curb Your Enthusiasm would begin in December, with the 10 episodes reaching the airwaves at some point during 2009.

Every season it seems like Larry David isn't sure he wants to come back for more but I think he goes off and does his own thing for a while and ends up with enough new material that he ends up agreeing to do another run. Curb is perhaps the best uncomfortable humor series of all time and one that seems to get better with age.

Can't Seem To Face Up To The Facts, I'm Tense And Nervous, Can't Relax
Showtime decided it wanted a lot more of Dexter in its future this week as it renewed the Emmy nominated series for not one but two additional 12 episode seasons. Currently airing season three on the pay cable network, the premiere last month set series and network highs.

While it's not in any way shocking that Showtime would renew Dexter, two seasons at once was not expected. It's a move that makes a lot of sense as it allows producers and writers to think longer term with their stories, and it also greatly increases the odds of the show getting a syndication deal as five seasons will mean a total of at least 60 episodes. A & E has had great success with edited reruns of The Sopranos so I see no reason why a cable network wouldn't be interested in a similar run. Can't you see Spike ponying up some cash for exclusive rerun rights?

Never Been Near A University, Never Took A Paper Or A Learned Degree
Fox News signed Bill O'Reilly to a multi-year contract extension this week, rumored to be paying him upwards of $10 million per year. The O'Reilly Factor has been the top ranked show on Fox News for some time now - it's been the top rated cable news show for an astounding 94 consecutive months - and there was never any real doubt that this deal would get done. The network has been signing much of their big talent to new contracts recently, with Sean Hannity and news anchor Shepard Smith agreeing to stay with the conservative news outlet.

Despite my abject hatred for O'Reilly, this was a no-brainer for Fox News as the guy draws ratings AND buzz, a combination that does not grow on trees. My feelings for O'Reilly are not about his politics but rather his presentation; his obnoxious, self appointment everyman watchdog persona gets old fast, especially when you realize that "everyman" doesn't earn $10 million a year and hardly ever considers themselves the smartest person in the room, a feeling I doubt O'Reilly has ever lived without. His interview with Congressman Barney Frank was an embarrassing low for journalistic integrity and professionalism, and that's coming from someone who thought Frank did himself a dis-service during their chat as well.

This new contract will take him through the first term of whoever wins the upcoming Presidential election, at which point he will have be in his early 60's, meaning retirement will be an option that is considered more seriously than it was during this round of negotiation and decision making.

Ghosts Appear And Fade Away, Come Back Another Day
Sci Fi has ordered a pilot for Ghost Hunters: College Edition, a second potential spinoff of their highly successful Ghost Hunters franchise. This new show, also from executive producer Craig Pilligan, finds a team of college students traveling the country to investigate ghost and other supernatural activity. Ghost Hunters is one of Sci Fi's highest rated series and has shown ratings growth each season since it's 2004 debut, including hitting a series high earlier this month, and the spinoff Ghost Hunters International did well enough in it's first batch of episodes to get a second season pick up.

I would have preferred Ghost Hunters U as a title so the comparisons to A & E's Paranormal State would be even more obvious. Actually, Ghost Hunters U should be a show about how people train to reach ghost hunter status (get Sci Fi on the phone), but you get my meaning. I gave Paranormal State the nickname Dawson's Ghosts based on its rather glossy production values and the inner (and outer) angst of its lead. Less glam and more grit is how I like my reality programming, especially a show that is potentially trying to convince me of some pretty outrageous claims, and the no-nonsense style the GH specializes in will make this new much more interesting to me.

But You Were Up To Your Old Tricks In Chapters Four Five And Six
All you need to know about the Nielsen's for the last week…John McCain's appearance gave The Late Show with David Letterman its best numbers in 3 years, topping The Tonight Show by 43%...Despite CSI dropping in a big way from it's previous new episode, lead out The 11th Hour pulled the exact same numbers, a very strong sign of this new show…ER won the Thursday at 10 demo battle for the second week in a row…Crusoe's two hour premiere was extremely disappointing for NBC, with below what was average for that time slot last year…Life saw an increase in numbers for the first time this year, a good sign for a show on the bubble…Speaking of shows on the bubble, The Ex List saw a slight jump as well…Ghost Whisperer (8.9 million) continues to be Friday's top performer…Living Proof was watched by 2.5 million on Lifetime on Saturday…Rita Rocks Monday premiere had an audience of 1 million, which did not have Lifetime jumping for joy, although the women 18-49 numbers were very solid…Saturday's Red Sox – Rays game 7 was the highest rated telecast in TBS history…Sarah Palin's appearance helped Saturday Night Live to it's best numbers in 14 years. If the show was measured against primetime it would have been # 3 overall for the week…Fox Sunday night animated comedy line up is having an excellent year; along with American Dad showing major improvement over last year, this week new episodes of King of the Hill and The Simpsons hit season highs…CBS' Monday night domination continued, with the night's top demo show in Two and A Half Men as well as the top comedy (Two and Half Men and drama (CSI: Miami)…Dancing with the Stars had a good Monday with 18.1 million, although that didn't help Samantha Who?, which dropped from it's premiere…Chuck surged up 8% while Heroes good news was a one week only event; the drop this week was 9% and produced a new series low, which played a roll in My Own Worst Enemy falling 21%…One Tree Hill hit a season high in both total audience and demos…House's 12.9 million was up a bit from it's last new episode, although lead-out Fringe show no change. Both won their timeslots for demos…NCIS continued its great run, with 17.1million pledging allegiance to the Harmon…The Mentalist stood strong at 9 pm, with its 15.3 million deep audience easily outdistancing any competition not named Dancing with the Stars…Game one of the World Series was the most watched program on Wednesday night and gave Fox its highest Wednesday numbers since American Idol signed off. On the down side, those ratings were down 17% from last year's game one…Christine and Gary hit season highs for CBS…Private Practice was up 15% from its last new outing…Lipstick Jungle hit a season low…

All The Young Dudes Carry The News
Industry News, Notes, and Hot Rumors…Shows getting full season pick up's this week were Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Knight Rider, and Private Practice...Privileged had several more scripts ordered by The CW, a sign that the DVR numbers released last week were noticed…Also getting an order for more scripts was Worst Week…Strong ratings the last few weeks has NBC talking to ER producers about extending the show's final season from the previously ordered 19 episodes by adding three new hours, bringing the total to a more standard 22…ABC pulled Opportunity Knocks from it's line up, replacing it with a Dancing with the Stars recap. The network may try airing it again in the summer…The Sopranos Jamie-Lynn Sigler will guest on How I Met Your Mother…Kristin Cavallari will appear on a CSI: NY episode early next year…Steve Zahn will play Monk's long lost brother on at least one episode of the show next season. Bradley Whitford will also guest…The great Brian Cox has been cast opposite Katee Sackhoff in the Dick Wolf NBC pilot Lost and Found and also nabbed a recurring role on the upcoming mid-season replacement Kings…Speaking of Kings, Macauley Caulkin has signed on for multiple episodes...Hope Davis and John Mahoney will be patients on the new season of HBO's In Treatment…Dominic Monaghan (Lost's Charlie) will guest on an episode of Chuck this February…TTTP favorite John Glover has been cast as a love interest for Saul on Brothers and Sisters…Britney Spears will perform on Good Morning America on December 2nd, the date her new album Circus is released as well as her 27th birthday…Bridget Moynahan has signed for a big part in the upcoming TNT pilot Bunker Hill that you read about here several weeks ago…Marisa Coughlan of the done-too-soon Side Order of Life will do an episode of Bones in early 2009…Jeff Probst is developing Live Like You Were Dying for CBS, a reality show that takes terminally ill people on "the last adventure of their life"…Jason Dohring (Veronica Mars, Twilight) and Kate Burton (Grey's Anatomy) have been added to the cast of HBO's Washingtonienne, executive produced by Sarah Jessica Parker…Look for Nathan Lane to guest on Till Death during November sweeps as Brad Garrett's brother…Heroes picked up two recurring cast members when recent Emmy winner Zeljko Ivanek and Aliens In America lead Henry Evens signed on for multiple episodes…

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… From the opening moments of David Allen Greer's blistering monologue about the death of Hip Hop, I knew I was going to be a fan of Chocolate News. Angry comedy is tough to pull off because you can't let the anger overwhelm the comedy (or vice-versa), and you want both the part of the audience who is angry and the part that the anger is aimed at to be equally as entertained. Comedy Central's new faux news program walks that line like Johnny and June.

Greer's wonderful Maya Angelou impression was all a set up for a punch line for tensions that may rise to the surface if John McCain stages a comeback and wins the election, and the tribute to their lone white news staffer derived it's humor as much from all of us having TV reporters who cover the crazy stories in our local markets as it did his skin color. The episodes high point was the coverage of a treaty signing between whites and blacks about the use of racial epithets and was a great example of making fun of all parties involved.

Greer is a tremendously funny comedian who has been looking for a vehicle that puts his talents to best use since his days on In Living Color. With Chocolate News he looks to have finally found it.

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…Sarah Palin showed a good sense of humor (and rhythm) on Saturday Night Live but was overshadowed by Amy Poehler, who once again proved that the show is going to have some issues when she leaves. Hey, I am the only one who finds Jean K Jean hysterical?…Another week, another very strong episode of Life. Easily my favorite police drama on network TV and neck and neck with The Closer if I include cable…I actually enjoyed the first two episodes of Crash, especially if I could remove the Dennis Hopper portions, but I can't imagine I will keep watching as there was no one character that really pulled me in. It's well made though and I hope it's a sign of good things to come from Starz. The more networks airing original programming, the better a place television is as it lessons the odds that a writer with a good story to tell will be overlooked…If TR Knight doesn't ever win an Emmy for his portrayal of George on Grey's Anatomy, it will simply be because of the incredible talent on TV right now and in no way an indication that his performance was in any way lacking. More so than Meredith, George is the heart and soul of the show. Hey, do you remember all those people who said he, and the show, would be finished when he came out? Good call on that one…Loved the end of last week's Sons of Anarchy, when a hug is misinterpreted and costs the boys quite a bit of money. The look on Clay's face as he realized what was happening was priceless…Can't say I ever thought I'd watch a show that featured a tribute to famous cinematic rape scenes, let alone be entertained my it, but the season premiere of South Park did just that. It's remarkable to think that the show still finds ways to shock after all these years; just as shocking is that it still finds ways to be funny. It wasn't as good as last year's Britney Spears' episode but it was close…I think Gossip Girl is doing a good job building the Chuck – Blair (Chair? Bluck?) pairing but it would be much easier to buy into if Chuck hadn't walked away from a relationship with her for no real reason in last season's finale…Caught David Cross' sizzling performance in an L & O Criminal Intent rerun that was based on Anna Nicole Smith. I'd love to see Cross as the lead to a drama series, maybe playing an ethically challenged lawyer or private eye. Put it on FX or TNT and I would watch…I love the new plot line on Entourage that hopefully will find Ari running a studio. It opens up so many possibilities that it seems stupid to not move forward, so I am hoping the producers don't have the reaction Vince did; how could he not be happy for a friend reaching that level of success?!?!? And why wouldn't he understand all that Ari could do for him in that new position? If Ari takes the studio job I may start a campaign for a spin off. Hey, David Cross could play a rival movie executive!...I know Life on Mars is odd at times but that's what I love about it so. Easily the best chase scenes of any cop drama on the air right now, and one where you never know what the emotional tone of the next scene will be…It says a lot about how much I care about the gang from How I Met Your Mother that I knew Ted and Stella were not going to end up together and yet I still really felt for him getting left at the alter…I know I mock Gary Unmarried every week but the truth is I watch it, too, so how bad could it be? Actually, pretty bad, but it still makes me laugh…I finally gave up on Heroes last week when I decided the show was a total downer that didn't hold my interest anymore. When you find yourself watching something out of habit instead of anticipation, it's time to move on. That being said, Mrs. Tivo still watches and the parts of last Monday's episode I watched over her shoulder, namely the ultra creepy guy with the puppet master powers, was a cut above anything else they had done so far this year…One Tree Hill has had two re-group episodes in a row and I am really ready for something Lucas to actually do something. He and Peyton's apartment battle was beyond stupid, as was the reappearance of Millicent; do girls like this actually exist, and if they do, are they throwing themselves at the Mouths of the world…Got a real kick out of last night's SNL Weekend Update Thursday episode, especially the opening sketch and the election map segment of the news...Another painfully mediocre outing for Private Practice this week, erasing any forward progress the last new episode made. At this point the Coop-Charlotte relationship is the only thing the show has going for it. Coop could give Don Draper a run for his money at the 2008 Alec Baldwin Chest Hair Open...I gave VH-1's new Scream Queens my best shot but less than 15 minutes in I was bored to death...

TV Pick Of The Week
While the top TV option of the week is Sunday's Mad Men finale, I am fully aware that it's not everyone's cup of tea, so I thought I'd choose another option. Much to my (pleasant) surprise, a show I was very interested in has been scheduled for that very time slot; National Geographic's Inside New Orleans High debuts Sunday at 10, an hour long look at what is considered one of the most dangerous public schools in the country. Filmmakers followed three students and one new teacher for six months to document the day-to-day obstacles that take place at a school that has a higher budget for security than books.

This is real life, not television, and the spotlight shown on what these kids deal with in order to succeed – and survive – is more than worth an hour of your time. Don't miss Inside New Orleans High this Sunday at 10 pm on NatGeo.

Other noteworthy programming of the next seven days…

*Best Week Ever becomes Best Week Ever with Paul F Thompkins starting Friday night at 11 pm. I love Paul F but am curious/nervous to see how having an official host effects the format of the show.

*America's Toughest Jobs wraps up its first (and final) season on NBC Saturday.

*NBC is reairing the four SNL Weekend Update Thursday episodes in a marathon that begins Saturday night at 9:30 pm

*Animal Planet airs The World's Ugliest Dog competition Saturday night at 10 pm.

* This Sunday's Desperate Housewives should fill us in on what went on during the last five years on Wisteria Lane.

*Betty White reprises her Kathryn Piper character on Boston Legal on Monday (10 pm)

*The best Halloween special ever, It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, makes it's annual trip to the airwaves on Tuesday at 8 pm on ABC.

*The World Champion Boston Celtics open the NBA regular season at home against Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night on TNT.

*Barack Obama's 30 minute campaign infomercial airs on CBS, NBC, and Fox this Wednesday at 8 pm, just in case some of you are somehow still undecided.

*30 Rock returns for a third season on Thursday at 9:30 pm. Hilarity ensues.

Two Tivos To Paradise, Weekly Update
30 Days, 30 Rock, The Academy, American Idol, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Antique Roadshow, The Apprentice, Battlestar Galactica, Best Day Ever, Best Week Ever, Big Love, Bones, Boston Legal, Breaking Bad, Brothers And Sisters, Burn Notice, Chuck, The Closer, Criss Angel Mindfreak, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Deadliest Catch, Desperate Housewives, Destination Truth, Dirty Sexy Money, The Dish, Entourage, Eureka, Everybody Hates Chris, Flipping Out, Gary Unmarried, Ghost Hunters, Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, The Hills, House, How I Met Your Mother, Last Comic Standing, Last Restaurant Standing, Law And Order, Law And Order: Criminal Intent, Law And Order: Special Victims Unit, Lost, Mad Men, Make Me A Supermodel, Medium, The Middleman, My Name Is Earl, The New Adventures Of Old Christine, Next Food Network Star, Nip/Tuck, The Office, One Tree Hill, Private Practice, Project Runway, Pushing Daisies, Psych, Real Time With Bill Maher, Reaper, Rescue Me, Rules Of Engagement, Run's House, Samantha Who?, The Sarah Jane Chronicles, Saturday Night Live, Scrubs, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Shear Genius, Skins, So You Think You Can Dance?, Sons of Anarchy, Sports Soup, The Soup, Step It Up and Dance, Supernatural, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Top Chef, Top Design, Torchwood, Ugly Betty

People Love You When They Know You're Leaving Soon
Here ends another edition of Two Tivos To Paradise. We'll be back next week with a rundown of all the Halloween themed programming available for the weekend as well as all the latest TV related headlines.

As always, don't forget to check out WillDailey.com for my weekly chat with the official singer/songwriter of TTTP.

I'd tell you how we'd be celebrating our anniversary but Mrs. Tivo reads this column on occasion and I don't want to spoil the surprise. I will say that I think it's very much us and leave it at that. See you next Friday!

Feedback is encouraged at [e-mail] as well via the comments section below.

Sources for this week's column include Daily Variety, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide, and Hollywood Reporter (plus the web sites for those publications) as well as Aintit.cool.com.