I wasn't sure how to take it when my editor sent me the link to a Variety story with the headline "Studies: TV pushes away loneliness," the subhead "Viewers have illusion their social needs are being met," and the note, "Can you do something with this?" But he assures me it wasn't a comment on my personal life (or lack thereof) but on my "uncanny knack for making those kinds of stories into relatable PopWatch items." Right.
So according to four new studies reported in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, and distilled by Variety's James Hibberd, viewers can experience a profound sense of belonging, a "social surrogacy," when watching their favorite programs. Subjects reported feeling "less lonely" when viewing the shows. They "verbally expressed fewer feelings of loneliness" after writing about the shows. Even just thinking about the shows "buffered subjects against drops in self-esteem, increases in negative mood and feelings of rejection."
All that is normal, right? TV is supposed to be an escape. If you're not thinking about yourself for an hour, it would make sense that your self-esteem isn't going to drop. It's also supposed to engage you. What's the point of watching a show every week if you're not going to get to know the characters well enough that you can call out the writers when they have them do something that they never would have done? I suppose the finding that "subjects whose 'belongingness needs were aroused' wrote longer essays about their favored TV programs" is a little worrisome. Maybe I want to belong at the Jeffersonian and that's why my Bones recaps are always twice as long as they need to be for a PopWatch recap. That could also explain why I used the "we" in my lengthy Brothers & Sisters recap yesterday -- as in, Kitty and I were both having an emotional affair on Robert -- and talked about going to Happy Hour with Kitty, Kevin, and Sarah. Now that I'm thinking about it, I also recall imagining myself in bed with Richard Castle and his daughter, Alexis, watching TV, and eating ice cream for breakfast in an item about Nathan Fillion's new show. And didn't I once do a Valentine's Day-themed post about which TV character I'd date? (I was going to end with the question 'When does your TV officially become a surrogate?' but then I remembered how I recently named my DVR "Peter" and spent, like, 15 minutes during a morning commute pondering whether or not he was gay, and I got my answer.)
Let's all pretend that our relationship with "our shows" is healthy for a moment, and that we've never missed out on a real-life experience to stay in and watch one of them (The PopWatch Confessional that started it all!). Which show is your social surrogate and what needs do its characters fulfill?
2009年4月28日星期二
16 TV shows we'd like to see next season
Shows we'd like to see
A handful of pilots -- spinoffs of "NCIS" and " "Gossip Girl"," The CW's "Melrose Place" update and ABC's "Flash Forward" -- are all but certain to wind up on their respective networks' schedules for 2009-10. That's not what we want to talk about now, though. We wanted to highlight a few of the other 70-plus pilots that, based on interesting premises, strong casts or some combination … Read More
A handful of pilots -- spinoffs of "NCIS" and " "Gossip Girl"," The CW's "Melrose Place" update and ABC's "Flash Forward" -- are all but certain to wind up on their respective networks' schedules for 2009-10. That's not what we want to talk about now, though. We wanted to highlight a few of the other 70-plus pilots that, based on interesting premises, strong casts or some combination … Read More
Two-parter lets fans meet new NCIS team
As an NCIS fan, LL Cool J knows what needs to be retained for a spinoff to succeed.
"The chemistry between the characters is incredible: the banter, the way they've developed over the years," says the rapper/actor. "That is probably the best thing about the show."
MORE: 'NCIS' spinoff could ride on original series' coattails
Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool J and the rest of the NCIS Office of Special Projects (OSP) team will get their chance to impress viewers in two episodes (CBS, tonight and May 5, 8 p.m. ET/PT) that could result in a new series.
LL Cool J says it was great to work with Harmon, and he appreciates this opportunity. "I let him know I respect the franchise and want to do it justice. I don't want to be the one to wreck it."
The spinoff, whose title will be revealed if and when CBS announces a fall pickup next month, also features a tight-knit NCIS team, but it spends more time undercover on national security, including terrorism.
The episodes highlight the units' differences: The murder of a Marine, the kind of case the original investigates, evolves into an attempt to thwart a security threat, the specialty of the OSP.
NCIS's Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and McGee (Sean Murray) head to Los Angeles to team with OSP's G. Callen (O'Donnell) and Sam Hanna (LL Cool J) to investigate.
Callen, a loose cannon with a mysterious past, was fired by other agencies before finding a home at NCIS, while Hanna, a former Navy SEAL, is a family man with four kids, executive producer Shane Brennan says.
Callen "moved around to a lot of foster homes as a kid, had a lot of different influences," O'Donnell says. "That's part of what makes him unique; (he can) slip into so many different roles."
The two report to special agent Lara Macy (Louise Lombard), with another agent (Daniela Ruah) and a psychologist (Peter Cambor) rounding out the team. "Gibbs isn't particularly happy to be working with Macy. They have some history," Brennan says. "People will find out something new about Gibbs."
The two hours, besides introducing the new team, figure significantly in the season's conclusion, Brennan says.
Fans will see the return of Michael Rivkin (Merik Tadros), a mysterious Mossad agent with ties to Ziva (Cote de Pablo), and they need to watch the episodes "if they want to see what happens to Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva." Their relationship, which has been heating up this season, is at the core of the final episodes, Brennan says. Rivkin's return "causes friction between Tony and Ziva. He has an integral part in the last four episodes
"The chemistry between the characters is incredible: the banter, the way they've developed over the years," says the rapper/actor. "That is probably the best thing about the show."
MORE: 'NCIS' spinoff could ride on original series' coattails
Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool J and the rest of the NCIS Office of Special Projects (OSP) team will get their chance to impress viewers in two episodes (CBS, tonight and May 5, 8 p.m. ET/PT) that could result in a new series.
LL Cool J says it was great to work with Harmon, and he appreciates this opportunity. "I let him know I respect the franchise and want to do it justice. I don't want to be the one to wreck it."
The spinoff, whose title will be revealed if and when CBS announces a fall pickup next month, also features a tight-knit NCIS team, but it spends more time undercover on national security, including terrorism.
The episodes highlight the units' differences: The murder of a Marine, the kind of case the original investigates, evolves into an attempt to thwart a security threat, the specialty of the OSP.
NCIS's Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and McGee (Sean Murray) head to Los Angeles to team with OSP's G. Callen (O'Donnell) and Sam Hanna (LL Cool J) to investigate.
Callen, a loose cannon with a mysterious past, was fired by other agencies before finding a home at NCIS, while Hanna, a former Navy SEAL, is a family man with four kids, executive producer Shane Brennan says.
Callen "moved around to a lot of foster homes as a kid, had a lot of different influences," O'Donnell says. "That's part of what makes him unique; (he can) slip into so many different roles."
The two report to special agent Lara Macy (Louise Lombard), with another agent (Daniela Ruah) and a psychologist (Peter Cambor) rounding out the team. "Gibbs isn't particularly happy to be working with Macy. They have some history," Brennan says. "People will find out something new about Gibbs."
The two hours, besides introducing the new team, figure significantly in the season's conclusion, Brennan says.
Fans will see the return of Michael Rivkin (Merik Tadros), a mysterious Mossad agent with ties to Ziva (Cote de Pablo), and they need to watch the episodes "if they want to see what happens to Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva." Their relationship, which has been heating up this season, is at the core of the final episodes, Brennan says. Rivkin's return "causes friction between Tony and Ziva. He has an integral part in the last four episodes
NCIS' Final Four: Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool & More
The much-talked about final four episodes are finally upon us, and for fans of CBS' kooky clan of Naval criminal investigators on NCIS, that means we get to see the backdoor episode to the planned spinoff featuring Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J.
Chris and LL show up in tonight's episode, "Legend Part 1," and in next Tuesday's "Legend Part 2." But contrary to published reports, the spinoff—which has yet to be picked up (wait for after the May 20 CBS Upfronts in New York for that)—is not titled NCIS: Legend, according to show runner Shane Brennan.
We caught up with Shane to give us the lowdown on what's in store for these explosive last episodes of the season and what the spinoff is all about...
Ziva's Wild Ride: "It's an emotional rollercoaster for Ziva [Officer Ziva David, played by Cote de Pablo], but it's also physical. It's the most physical she's been, and Cote does all her own stunts. It gets very intense, and Ziva's character is taken right to the edge emotionally in these last four episodes. She is in extreme jeopardy, and no one can help her. It's the nature of the work she does. Basically, Ziva's loyalties are tested, and she is forced to make some life-changing choices, both professionally and emotionally."
Tony's Tragic Tale: "[Michael Weatherly's Special Agent Tony DiNozzo] has his own set of problems in these last four episodes. Tragic things happen to Tony and Ziva together, and to them separately as well. It definitely does not end up OK for either Tony or Ziva."
Michael Rifkin's Return: "Michael Rifkin [Merik Tadros] was set up in the first episode this season in the Moroccan bar. He didn't utter a word. Then we revisited him twice with photos and phone calls. On [tonight's] episode, he arrives on the scene, and he definitely speaks. He's handsome, charming and dangerous. And he's also clearly someone Ziva really cares for."
Jaime Murray's Role: "She comes in the second-to-last episode of the year. She's a strikingly attractive woman, and she causes some jealousy, but not between the people you think. Let me say that Abby [Pauley Perrette] gets jealous in that episode."
Legend's Meaning: "Legend is a word coined by the East German secret police, the Stasi, and it means deep background. If you're going undercover, you need to have a legend, a backstory that holds up under scrutiny. The new show, which takes place in Los Angeles, takes a look at what it's like to be an undercover agent. That is, how it differs from NCIS. No one from NCIS is moving over to this new show. We'll announce the spinoff title when the show gets picked up."
Chris O'Donnell's Character: "Chris plays Special Agent Callen, who has worked undercover for CIA, FBI and DEA, and he's been fired by all of the agencies. He's very good at what he does, but he doesn't like to be told how to do his job. And he's found a home here because Louise Lombard [who plays Special Agent Lara Macy] understands his value and his worth, and she knows he can be a loose cannon, but is willing to work with him." (Fun fact: Callen speaks Russian.)
LL Cool J's Character: "LL plays Special Agent Sam Hanna, the only married member of the team. Sam is married with four kids and is a former Navy SEAL. He's very close with Callen; he's like his big brother, and he looks out for him and protects him. He's a wiser guy—an older guy with a different perspective on the world."
Louise Lombard's Character: "We set up straight away that there is tension between Louise's character, Lara Macy, and Special Agent Jethro Gibbs [Mark Harmon]. You will go, 'Oh my God' and you'll get goose bumps. There is an emotional connection between the two of them that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. We learn more about Gibbs through Macy. They go back 18 years. I'm not going to eliminate romance and not going to confirm romance. They could've worked together."
NCIS' May 19 Finale: "These four episodes are really four finales in a row. Everything is designed for the fifth episode in this arc, which is the first episode of next season. Over the summer, people are going to wring their hands and wonder what's going to happen. The first episode next season will be unexpected. People's expectations of what they see in the first 30 seconds will be stood on their head."
What do you think is going to happen to Tony and Ziva? How does the spinoff sound to you? Chat about it below and sneak a peek at the season finale in our Snapped on the Set: TV gallery
Chris and LL show up in tonight's episode, "Legend Part 1," and in next Tuesday's "Legend Part 2." But contrary to published reports, the spinoff—which has yet to be picked up (wait for after the May 20 CBS Upfronts in New York for that)—is not titled NCIS: Legend, according to show runner Shane Brennan.
We caught up with Shane to give us the lowdown on what's in store for these explosive last episodes of the season and what the spinoff is all about...
Ziva's Wild Ride: "It's an emotional rollercoaster for Ziva [Officer Ziva David, played by Cote de Pablo], but it's also physical. It's the most physical she's been, and Cote does all her own stunts. It gets very intense, and Ziva's character is taken right to the edge emotionally in these last four episodes. She is in extreme jeopardy, and no one can help her. It's the nature of the work she does. Basically, Ziva's loyalties are tested, and she is forced to make some life-changing choices, both professionally and emotionally."
Tony's Tragic Tale: "[Michael Weatherly's Special Agent Tony DiNozzo] has his own set of problems in these last four episodes. Tragic things happen to Tony and Ziva together, and to them separately as well. It definitely does not end up OK for either Tony or Ziva."
Michael Rifkin's Return: "Michael Rifkin [Merik Tadros] was set up in the first episode this season in the Moroccan bar. He didn't utter a word. Then we revisited him twice with photos and phone calls. On [tonight's] episode, he arrives on the scene, and he definitely speaks. He's handsome, charming and dangerous. And he's also clearly someone Ziva really cares for."
Jaime Murray's Role: "She comes in the second-to-last episode of the year. She's a strikingly attractive woman, and she causes some jealousy, but not between the people you think. Let me say that Abby [Pauley Perrette] gets jealous in that episode."
Legend's Meaning: "Legend is a word coined by the East German secret police, the Stasi, and it means deep background. If you're going undercover, you need to have a legend, a backstory that holds up under scrutiny. The new show, which takes place in Los Angeles, takes a look at what it's like to be an undercover agent. That is, how it differs from NCIS. No one from NCIS is moving over to this new show. We'll announce the spinoff title when the show gets picked up."
Chris O'Donnell's Character: "Chris plays Special Agent Callen, who has worked undercover for CIA, FBI and DEA, and he's been fired by all of the agencies. He's very good at what he does, but he doesn't like to be told how to do his job. And he's found a home here because Louise Lombard [who plays Special Agent Lara Macy] understands his value and his worth, and she knows he can be a loose cannon, but is willing to work with him." (Fun fact: Callen speaks Russian.)
LL Cool J's Character: "LL plays Special Agent Sam Hanna, the only married member of the team. Sam is married with four kids and is a former Navy SEAL. He's very close with Callen; he's like his big brother, and he looks out for him and protects him. He's a wiser guy—an older guy with a different perspective on the world."
Louise Lombard's Character: "We set up straight away that there is tension between Louise's character, Lara Macy, and Special Agent Jethro Gibbs [Mark Harmon]. You will go, 'Oh my God' and you'll get goose bumps. There is an emotional connection between the two of them that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. We learn more about Gibbs through Macy. They go back 18 years. I'm not going to eliminate romance and not going to confirm romance. They could've worked together."
NCIS' May 19 Finale: "These four episodes are really four finales in a row. Everything is designed for the fifth episode in this arc, which is the first episode of next season. Over the summer, people are going to wring their hands and wonder what's going to happen. The first episode next season will be unexpected. People's expectations of what they see in the first 30 seconds will be stood on their head."
What do you think is going to happen to Tony and Ziva? How does the spinoff sound to you? Chat about it below and sneak a peek at the season finale in our Snapped on the Set: TV gallery
NCIS Spin-Off Preview: Inside the Making of a "Legend"
Just as JAG begot NCIS, CBS' NCIS is poised to produce its own progeny. In a two-part arc airing April 28 and May 5 and titled "Legend," Gibbs and the gang will interact with the Official of Special Projects, a Los Angeles-based agency populated by Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool J, Louise Lombard and other familiar faces. If all goes well, CBS will order this "backdoor pilot" to series for the 2009-10 TV season.
Here in Part 1 of our Q&A with Shane Brennan, the NCIS executive producer shared a look at what fans of the original series can expect from its offshoot, and in what way it will be like nothing ever seen before on TV.
TVGuide.com: Before we get started here, I wanted to tell you that Rocky Carroll is one helluva celebrity blogger for TVGuide.com.
Shane Brennan: Yeah, he's a great guy. One of the great things that happened to the show this season was bringing Rocky on [as a series regular], and I think he has delivered in spades. He's a great actor.
TVGuide.com: He's secretly hoping that Vance occasionally pops up in the NCIS spin-off.
Brennan: Well, you never know. Let me say something — no one will leave the current show. Everyone is staying. So everyone can relax on the NCIS front! You never know, someone like the director of NCIS might end up having to work with the other agency at some point. That could very well happen.
TVGuide.com: So let's talk about the spin-off's backdoor pilot. How good are you feeling about it?
Brennan: We put together a two-parter that really does everything that I hoped it would do, and then some. It was very important to me that these were episodes of NCIS first, and I made that clear to everyone. I didn't want fans of the show feeling alienated by having to sit down and watch these new characters they knew nothing about. That's why I made it a two-hour episode, so that we could integrate the new characters into the story and still give people their dose of NCIS. I am very, very happy with it. The cast and crew did an amazing job, working extremely hard under a tight deadline. When you make a pilot episode you [typically] don't have an airdate, there's no ticking clock. Well, we've had a very loud ticking clock, but it's come together beautifully.
TVGuide.com: Will the spin-off be tonally the same as NCIS?
Brennan: The audience, when they hold these two shows up, will see that nothing has changed from the original. The new show reflects some of the tone of the original show in that, you've got a group of people working closely together in sometimes quite extreme conditions, in terms of jeopardy and the intensity of the operations.
TVGuide.com: But this is not a simple case of, "If you like Gibbs, you'll love Chris O'Donnell's Agent Callen!"
Brennan: I'm a little careful about holding up comparisons. We could have mixed up any bunch of characters and made them as different as we can, but they're still going to be held up to the original team, and that's fine. I understand that. What people will find is that this ensemble is different because the cases they handle are different, and the way they approach their stories are different. And yet at the same time they are a group of people working together having fun together and being in danger together. It is still very much a family; it's just another part of the family. It's the neighbors down the street, and the audience will fall in love with them.
TVGuide.com: Do we have a title yet? Will it invariably be NCIS-colon-something?
Brennan: We haven't officially come out with a title. We will do that if the show is picked up.
TVGuide.com: I hear that you show off some nifty technology at the OSP.
Brennan: In "Legend" Part 1 and Part 2, we get insight into some technology that to the best of our knowledge hasn't been seen on television before. Back during the election, there was a touch screen where they dragged images around using their hands; we actually have that technology, and this is the first time it's been used in a scripted drama. But we also have some technology that's never been seen where we actually shoot through the screen, so you can see the image on the screen and the person standing looking at that image.
TVGuide.com: Kind of like, say, Minority Report.
Brennan: But it's real technology. Ninety percent what people are going to see on this show is realistic, and it's the actors doing it. It's not a special effect. It's hand-on and it's all happening in front your eyes. Everyone who has stepped onto that set has been blown away by it. In fact, when McGee learns that he is going to the OSP, Ziva says, "OSP — what's that?" And McGee's face just beams: "Cool toys." He's a kid in a candy store and has a lot of fun in both episodes. But the audience also is going to be pretty blown away by what they see.
Next week, in Part 2 of our Q&A: Shane Brennan finally broaches the topic of "Tiva" and hints at why he'll probably take some heat — as he did a year ago — for NCIS' season finale.
Here in Part 1 of our Q&A with Shane Brennan, the NCIS executive producer shared a look at what fans of the original series can expect from its offshoot, and in what way it will be like nothing ever seen before on TV.
TVGuide.com: Before we get started here, I wanted to tell you that Rocky Carroll is one helluva celebrity blogger for TVGuide.com.
Shane Brennan: Yeah, he's a great guy. One of the great things that happened to the show this season was bringing Rocky on [as a series regular], and I think he has delivered in spades. He's a great actor.
TVGuide.com: He's secretly hoping that Vance occasionally pops up in the NCIS spin-off.
Brennan: Well, you never know. Let me say something — no one will leave the current show. Everyone is staying. So everyone can relax on the NCIS front! You never know, someone like the director of NCIS might end up having to work with the other agency at some point. That could very well happen.
TVGuide.com: So let's talk about the spin-off's backdoor pilot. How good are you feeling about it?
Brennan: We put together a two-parter that really does everything that I hoped it would do, and then some. It was very important to me that these were episodes of NCIS first, and I made that clear to everyone. I didn't want fans of the show feeling alienated by having to sit down and watch these new characters they knew nothing about. That's why I made it a two-hour episode, so that we could integrate the new characters into the story and still give people their dose of NCIS. I am very, very happy with it. The cast and crew did an amazing job, working extremely hard under a tight deadline. When you make a pilot episode you [typically] don't have an airdate, there's no ticking clock. Well, we've had a very loud ticking clock, but it's come together beautifully.
TVGuide.com: Will the spin-off be tonally the same as NCIS?
Brennan: The audience, when they hold these two shows up, will see that nothing has changed from the original. The new show reflects some of the tone of the original show in that, you've got a group of people working closely together in sometimes quite extreme conditions, in terms of jeopardy and the intensity of the operations.
TVGuide.com: But this is not a simple case of, "If you like Gibbs, you'll love Chris O'Donnell's Agent Callen!"
Brennan: I'm a little careful about holding up comparisons. We could have mixed up any bunch of characters and made them as different as we can, but they're still going to be held up to the original team, and that's fine. I understand that. What people will find is that this ensemble is different because the cases they handle are different, and the way they approach their stories are different. And yet at the same time they are a group of people working together having fun together and being in danger together. It is still very much a family; it's just another part of the family. It's the neighbors down the street, and the audience will fall in love with them.
TVGuide.com: Do we have a title yet? Will it invariably be NCIS-colon-something?
Brennan: We haven't officially come out with a title. We will do that if the show is picked up.
TVGuide.com: I hear that you show off some nifty technology at the OSP.
Brennan: In "Legend" Part 1 and Part 2, we get insight into some technology that to the best of our knowledge hasn't been seen on television before. Back during the election, there was a touch screen where they dragged images around using their hands; we actually have that technology, and this is the first time it's been used in a scripted drama. But we also have some technology that's never been seen where we actually shoot through the screen, so you can see the image on the screen and the person standing looking at that image.
TVGuide.com: Kind of like, say, Minority Report.
Brennan: But it's real technology. Ninety percent what people are going to see on this show is realistic, and it's the actors doing it. It's not a special effect. It's hand-on and it's all happening in front your eyes. Everyone who has stepped onto that set has been blown away by it. In fact, when McGee learns that he is going to the OSP, Ziva says, "OSP — what's that?" And McGee's face just beams: "Cool toys." He's a kid in a candy store and has a lot of fun in both episodes. But the audience also is going to be pretty blown away by what they see.
Next week, in Part 2 of our Q&A: Shane Brennan finally broaches the topic of "Tiva" and hints at why he'll probably take some heat — as he did a year ago — for NCIS' season finale.
2009年4月26日星期日
Who Will Die in Smallville's Season Finale?The StoryEmail This Submit Scoops Discuss It Lists
Souders and Peterson also provided the following hints that in the following season we will continue to see the trend of introducing more heroes and villains from DC continuity into Smallville. "We started what will hopefully be a new focus of the show that we'll be bringing in allies for Clark next year," Peterson said. "We had a lot of DC villains this year and a lot of DC heroes, and we're hoping to continue that into next year. We teased a little piece of Chloe and her arc and how she might play a role in that next year." For fans of Chloe and Allison Mack, this is a good time to point out that if she has a role in the events of next season, we likely won't be seeing her depart the screen in this year's finale.
For the final word on what Season nine of Smallville might hold, Peterson says "Clark may have some significant obstacles in his destiny next year. It may be the darkness before the rise of Superman. He's going to face probably his darkest hour I would say. He really was on a trajectory this year, but he's made some decisions that put him down a different path." Souders finished up by ominously hinting "He's going to be paying the price for some rather large mistakes from the finale."
Smallville airs Thursday nights on the CW. The drama about the early days of Clark Kent stars Tom Welling, Erica Durance, Allison Mack, Aaron Ashmore, Justin Hartley, Cassidy Freeman and Sam Witwer.
For the final word on what Season nine of Smallville might hold, Peterson says "Clark may have some significant obstacles in his destiny next year. It may be the darkness before the rise of Superman. He's going to face probably his darkest hour I would say. He really was on a trajectory this year, but he's made some decisions that put him down a different path." Souders finished up by ominously hinting "He's going to be paying the price for some rather large mistakes from the finale."
Smallville airs Thursday nights on the CW. The drama about the early days of Clark Kent stars Tom Welling, Erica Durance, Allison Mack, Aaron Ashmore, Justin Hartley, Cassidy Freeman and Sam Witwer.
Erica Durance: The "Smallville" Death Will Break Your Heart
With only four episodes left this season on "Smallville" every moment counts -- especially since it's been revealed that at least two characters aren't making it to year nine alive!
And to any fans who think the characters that were transplanted from the comics -- Jimmy, Lois, Lex -- live in an immunity bubble, think again! To hear Erica Durance tell it, every single actor has been left hanging over the season ending cliffhanger that's so big, it makes The Fortress of Solitude look like a melted icicle.
But before we get ahead of ourselves, let's focus on tonight's Lois-centric installment which sees the scrappy reporter slip back into another one of her miraculously materialized costumes. I got the scoop on Lois' sewing skills, Erica's future on "Smallville" and her habit of almost killing Tom Welling.
PopWrap: When we talked at the start of the season you said year eight would blow our minds, and you have not been wrong!
Erica Durance: Oh good, I'm so glad to hear you say that because I am biased. I have been so excited by what they've given Lois to explore this season. And I had no idea about some of the little surprises that they've thrown in along the way. Like "Stiletto!" When I read that script, I had a good laugh.
PW: Yes, that's tonight's episode -- and you play a superhero?
Erica: Yes, basically Lois gets in a fight to protect Chloe and she beats up this mugger while wearing spiked heels. And he gives her an idea by asking, "What are you a superhero?"
PW: And that gets her gears turning?
Erica: Well, Lois has hit a bit of a cold patch professionally, she's not succeeding in the way she wants, so she hears this and thinks, "Great! I can get more stories this way!" But then it all starts to unravel and she gets caught in a tailspin trying to undo the damage she's caused.
PW: And naturally we get a wacky Lois costume, right?
Erica: Of course! And Lois apparently has a side hobby because she's quite adept at sewing together this pleather outfit!
PW: Well, if The Daily Planet doesn't work out, there's always "Project Runway."
Erica: You never know! She seems to have all these hidden talents that come out of nowhere when she needs them the most. She's got all these great accents and sewing skills, it's hilarious.
And to any fans who think the characters that were transplanted from the comics -- Jimmy, Lois, Lex -- live in an immunity bubble, think again! To hear Erica Durance tell it, every single actor has been left hanging over the season ending cliffhanger that's so big, it makes The Fortress of Solitude look like a melted icicle.
But before we get ahead of ourselves, let's focus on tonight's Lois-centric installment which sees the scrappy reporter slip back into another one of her miraculously materialized costumes. I got the scoop on Lois' sewing skills, Erica's future on "Smallville" and her habit of almost killing Tom Welling.
PopWrap: When we talked at the start of the season you said year eight would blow our minds, and you have not been wrong!
Erica Durance: Oh good, I'm so glad to hear you say that because I am biased. I have been so excited by what they've given Lois to explore this season. And I had no idea about some of the little surprises that they've thrown in along the way. Like "Stiletto!" When I read that script, I had a good laugh.
PW: Yes, that's tonight's episode -- and you play a superhero?
Erica: Yes, basically Lois gets in a fight to protect Chloe and she beats up this mugger while wearing spiked heels. And he gives her an idea by asking, "What are you a superhero?"
PW: And that gets her gears turning?
Erica: Well, Lois has hit a bit of a cold patch professionally, she's not succeeding in the way she wants, so she hears this and thinks, "Great! I can get more stories this way!" But then it all starts to unravel and she gets caught in a tailspin trying to undo the damage she's caused.
PW: And naturally we get a wacky Lois costume, right?
Erica: Of course! And Lois apparently has a side hobby because she's quite adept at sewing together this pleather outfit!
PW: Well, if The Daily Planet doesn't work out, there's always "Project Runway."
Erica: You never know! She seems to have all these hidden talents that come out of nowhere when she needs them the most. She's got all these great accents and sewing skills, it's hilarious.
Post Game: Smallville 8.19 - 'Stiletto'
posted 04/25/2009 09:52:48 AMsphinx69 wrote:
This episode was garbage. However, I will admit I am intrigued by the Intergang/Mannheim set up.
I will also say it is about time for the Smallville producers to get off the air (I do realize they are renewed for season nine.) or break their cardinal rule and put Tom Welling in the Superman suit.
If Clark becomes Superman and they decide the explore the Intergang/Mannheim thread next season I will turn in, but I think I will be done watching Smallville after this season
This episode was garbage. However, I will admit I am intrigued by the Intergang/Mannheim set up.
I will also say it is about time for the Smallville producers to get off the air (I do realize they are renewed for season nine.) or break their cardinal rule and put Tom Welling in the Superman suit.
If Clark becomes Superman and they decide the explore the Intergang/Mannheim thread next season I will turn in, but I think I will be done watching Smallville after this season
THE CW
Data dive: Looking at the network’s core programming block of Monday-Thursday, The CW is up 8% in adults 18-34 (1/3/4) and ahead by 6% in women 18-34 (1.7/5), its target demographic. Among all adults 18-34, on every night it programs, The CW is averaging a 1.0/3, down 9%. The decision to dump wrestling has hurt the network’s overall numbers.
Freshman series: The network poured all its energies into launching the new “90210,” and the effort paid off with a huge debut. Since then the show has faded a bit, but it has improved the network’s Tuesday ratings by 47% in adults 18-34 and has already been renewed. Fellow fall newcomer “Privileged” didn’t fare as well, but it has fans at the network. Reality show “13: Fear Is Real” was dead on arrival, as was a Sunday night lineup leased by Media Rights Capital.
Long-term assets: “Gossip Girl” exploded in season two, gaining 32% in women 18-34. “One Tree Hill,” in its sixth season, managed a 15% uptick in the same demographic, while Thursday player “Supernatural” gained 8%. “Smallville” and “America’s Next Top Model” are hanging in there, but “Reaper” and “Everybody Hates Chris” were down notably in women 18-34.
Internal affairs: Dawn Ostroff still oversees the entertainment division, with input from co-owners CBS Corp. and Warner Bros.
Self-evaluation: “The real goal of the year for CW was launching franchises, and we did that with ‘90210,’” Mr. Kahl said. “We knew by getting rid of wrestling, it was going to be tough to see plus signs. But it didn’t fit the brand.”
Overall grade: B-. The CW is surviving, which, given the odds against it, is impressive.
Freshman series: The network poured all its energies into launching the new “90210,” and the effort paid off with a huge debut. Since then the show has faded a bit, but it has improved the network’s Tuesday ratings by 47% in adults 18-34 and has already been renewed. Fellow fall newcomer “Privileged” didn’t fare as well, but it has fans at the network. Reality show “13: Fear Is Real” was dead on arrival, as was a Sunday night lineup leased by Media Rights Capital.
Long-term assets: “Gossip Girl” exploded in season two, gaining 32% in women 18-34. “One Tree Hill,” in its sixth season, managed a 15% uptick in the same demographic, while Thursday player “Supernatural” gained 8%. “Smallville” and “America’s Next Top Model” are hanging in there, but “Reaper” and “Everybody Hates Chris” were down notably in women 18-34.
Internal affairs: Dawn Ostroff still oversees the entertainment division, with input from co-owners CBS Corp. and Warner Bros.
Self-evaluation: “The real goal of the year for CW was launching franchises, and we did that with ‘90210,’” Mr. Kahl said. “We knew by getting rid of wrestling, it was going to be tough to see plus signs. But it didn’t fit the brand.”
Overall grade: B-. The CW is surviving, which, given the odds against it, is impressive.
Supernatural: Jump the Shark
This week’s episode just gives the brothers Winchester more to cry about. It’s a long running joke that female fans love to see these two guys cry. So now if they weren't carrying enough emotional baggage, they have a brother to deal with, another reason for an emo breakdown. It is however always interesting when the creators of the show are able to work in themes and characters relating to Sam and Dean’s father. Their father is at the center of who both of these buys have become and his influence is on every decision they make. For a long time, it seemed that Dean was more like his father in the way he acted and in the decisions he made but now the tables have turned. The reality is that Dean has always tried to hard to be like his father but now after a little trip to hell, he’s not so keen on completely following his father’s path. Sam is different now too. He’s apparently embraced who his father was and now more than ever, he understands his father.
One of the better scenes in the episode comes when Dean confronts Sam over Sam’s desire to make their younger brother a hunter. Dean explains that he accepts the life they have but he believes that the kid still has a chance, a chance to go to college and have a life. It’s a shame Sam didn’t think that way back in season one. If he had, Sam would be leading a much different life himself. The scene ends with both of the brothers contemplating their jealousy over the kid. They are jealous of him for very different reasons. Easily the best scene comes when Dean is investigating the grave robberies and he’s asked if he’s ever thought about how he would like to spend eternity. His response is classic Dean, it’s meant to be a joke but it’s also probably true.
They discover their brother when their father’s cell phone rings and he’s on the other end of the line looking for help after his mother disappears. This episode deals with a couple of thematic elements; family and revenge. These elements are portrayed on both the side of Sam and Dean and on the side of the monsters of the week. Even ghouls can have families after all. In the small town of the week, not only has Sam and Dean’s newly discovered brother’s mom disappeared, but a local bar owner has also went missing. At the same time, bodies are disappearing from graves. Sam’s father came to this town twenty years ago to stop a grave robbing monster and now it appears the cycle has started again when Sam and Dean arrive in town.
The episode features a minimum of action and no classic rock blasting from the car. It does however feature some nice twists and turns and dramatic moments. The episode is a single story that doesn’t really play into the overall story arc but the discovery of a brother and the realization by Sam and Dean of who they’ve become will most likely be factors in some way over the next few episodes. It’s time to get serious about the bigger story though. Often this season’s episodes have felt like false starters. An episode appears to be the beginning of something important only to be followed by a few episodes that don’t really matter. I’m not talking about single story episodes I’m talking about episodes tied in some way to the bigger story but what happened in them doesn’t carry over in the story arc. By the end of this season, there’ll be many things that seemed important at the time they happened that won’t matter when it’s all said and done. This week’s episode isn’t as epic as most of this season’s installments have been but it was a nice way to ease back into the world of Supernatural after being away for a few weeks
One of the better scenes in the episode comes when Dean confronts Sam over Sam’s desire to make their younger brother a hunter. Dean explains that he accepts the life they have but he believes that the kid still has a chance, a chance to go to college and have a life. It’s a shame Sam didn’t think that way back in season one. If he had, Sam would be leading a much different life himself. The scene ends with both of the brothers contemplating their jealousy over the kid. They are jealous of him for very different reasons. Easily the best scene comes when Dean is investigating the grave robberies and he’s asked if he’s ever thought about how he would like to spend eternity. His response is classic Dean, it’s meant to be a joke but it’s also probably true.
They discover their brother when their father’s cell phone rings and he’s on the other end of the line looking for help after his mother disappears. This episode deals with a couple of thematic elements; family and revenge. These elements are portrayed on both the side of Sam and Dean and on the side of the monsters of the week. Even ghouls can have families after all. In the small town of the week, not only has Sam and Dean’s newly discovered brother’s mom disappeared, but a local bar owner has also went missing. At the same time, bodies are disappearing from graves. Sam’s father came to this town twenty years ago to stop a grave robbing monster and now it appears the cycle has started again when Sam and Dean arrive in town.
The episode features a minimum of action and no classic rock blasting from the car. It does however feature some nice twists and turns and dramatic moments. The episode is a single story that doesn’t really play into the overall story arc but the discovery of a brother and the realization by Sam and Dean of who they’ve become will most likely be factors in some way over the next few episodes. It’s time to get serious about the bigger story though. Often this season’s episodes have felt like false starters. An episode appears to be the beginning of something important only to be followed by a few episodes that don’t really matter. I’m not talking about single story episodes I’m talking about episodes tied in some way to the bigger story but what happened in them doesn’t carry over in the story arc. By the end of this season, there’ll be many things that seemed important at the time they happened that won’t matter when it’s all said and done. This week’s episode isn’t as epic as most of this season’s installments have been but it was a nice way to ease back into the world of Supernatural after being away for a few weeks
2009年4月22日星期三
Making the case for 'Reaper'
There are still many reasons for The CW to want to stay in the "Reaper" business. The first is still Harrison, who I continue to maintain will eventually find the vehicle that will make him a TV star. There's no reason why "Reaper" shouldn't be that vehicle and maybe The CW should just keep him around in case the right project moves into the development pipeline and they want to have him handy. The other main reason would be Wise, whose Devil is one of TV's singular creations, dapper, charismatic and vicious when he needs to be. I argued that Wise deserved an Emmy nomination last year and while I don't know if he's had the perfect showcase episode, he's every bit as deserving.
That's part of the problem. The two reasons to watch the show are a 27-year-old leading man and its 61-year-old villain. If I were to expand my list, I'd go to Gonzalez and then Labine. The CW, with its love of young female viewers, isn't going to go to the mattresses for this sort of supernatural sausage-fest unless the "Supernatural" men have the last name "Winchester."
When asked, a CW source stuck to what would logically be the party line: The fate of "Reaper" has not yet be determined and nothing will be made official until the upfronts. Of course not.
The signs of pending demise are myriad. "Reaper" went unmentioned when The CW renewed "Gossip Girl," "One Tree Hill," "90210," "Smallville," "Supernatural" and "America's Next Top Model" in a single pen-stroke. The perception has been that despite low ratings, "Privileged" is where "Reaper" is last year -- a ratings-starved first-year series with a passionate fanbase and an up-and-coming lead (Joanna Garcia) -- with the logic saying that the chances of such a show breaking out in its second season is better than in its third go-round.
That's part of the problem. The two reasons to watch the show are a 27-year-old leading man and its 61-year-old villain. If I were to expand my list, I'd go to Gonzalez and then Labine. The CW, with its love of young female viewers, isn't going to go to the mattresses for this sort of supernatural sausage-fest unless the "Supernatural" men have the last name "Winchester."
When asked, a CW source stuck to what would logically be the party line: The fate of "Reaper" has not yet be determined and nothing will be made official until the upfronts. Of course not.
The signs of pending demise are myriad. "Reaper" went unmentioned when The CW renewed "Gossip Girl," "One Tree Hill," "90210," "Smallville," "Supernatural" and "America's Next Top Model" in a single pen-stroke. The perception has been that despite low ratings, "Privileged" is where "Reaper" is last year -- a ratings-starved first-year series with a passionate fanbase and an up-and-coming lead (Joanna Garcia) -- with the logic saying that the chances of such a show breaking out in its second season is better than in its third go-round.
TELEVISION: 12 Shows That Are Not In Danger of Cancellation
t’s the time of the year where the networks and fans gather together in an annual dance of Save our Show-itist. Everyone is stressed and upset at the unsettled nature of everything – is Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles gone? What’s going on with Chuck, Reaper, etc. Instead of wasting energy being worried about things we have little control over, let’s appreciate the programs that survived. I thought it’s time to take stock and see what “genre” shows are in no danger of being cancelled. I’ll start by saying for some reason Navy NCIS is still going. Who watches this show?
I’ll start with a show that I could be proven wrong on, but come on Cold Case gets over 10 million viewers a week, this despite the fact that it’s an amazingly hard show to watch. It’s never airs on time due to CBS Football and other sports coverage so it’s almost impossible to DVR. And it will most likely “never” be on DVD due to the incredibly high cost of music licensing so there’s no DVD business. But really, CBS is already invested in the show, what else do they have to put in that horrible “floating” timeslot?
I’ll start with a show that I could be proven wrong on, but come on Cold Case gets over 10 million viewers a week, this despite the fact that it’s an amazingly hard show to watch. It’s never airs on time due to CBS Football and other sports coverage so it’s almost impossible to DVR. And it will most likely “never” be on DVD due to the incredibly high cost of music licensing so there’s no DVD business. But really, CBS is already invested in the show, what else do they have to put in that horrible “floating” timeslot?
Critic's Corner Thursday
n preparation for the upcoming sweeps, ABC is sweeping out In the Motherhood (tonight, 8 ET/PT) and Samantha Who? (8:30 ET/PT) a week earlier than planned. Motherhood won't be much missed, but it is a shame that the much-better Samantha is getting the bum's rush — after already suffering from a bad time slot and an unsuitable slot mate. At any rate, tonight's exit features a guest turn by Billy Zane, stepping in for Timothy Olyphant as Sam's billionaire boss.
REVIEW: 'Grey's Anatomy' finally snaps back
•Unhappy with the course of her career, Lois invents a new Smallville (CW, 8 ET/PT) superhero and pretends to be getting super-exclusives. Clark is worried she'll get hurt, when clearly he should be worried she'll get fired. Reporters do not make up sources, at least not if they want to work for Perry White.
•Look what they've found on Supernatural (CW, 9 ET/PT): a third Winchester brother, Adam, who comes out of the woodwork, much to his newfound siblings' surprise. Don't panic: The writers clearly know just how cheesy that sounds. The episode is titled "Jump the Shark."
FIND MORE STORIES IN: AmerisourceBergen Corp. | Adam | Winchester | Beast | Smallville | Shark | Patrick Swayze | Supernatural | Samantha Who | Barker | Lois | Motherhood | Timothy Olyphant | Billy Zane | Perry White | Unhappy
•The Beast (A&E, 10 ET/PT) ends its first season with Barker hunting for the people who are hunting him. For fans, star Patrick Swayze may be incentive enough to watch.
REVIEW: 'Grey's Anatomy' finally snaps back
•Unhappy with the course of her career, Lois invents a new Smallville (CW, 8 ET/PT) superhero and pretends to be getting super-exclusives. Clark is worried she'll get hurt, when clearly he should be worried she'll get fired. Reporters do not make up sources, at least not if they want to work for Perry White.
•Look what they've found on Supernatural (CW, 9 ET/PT): a third Winchester brother, Adam, who comes out of the woodwork, much to his newfound siblings' surprise. Don't panic: The writers clearly know just how cheesy that sounds. The episode is titled "Jump the Shark."
FIND MORE STORIES IN: AmerisourceBergen Corp. | Adam | Winchester | Beast | Smallville | Shark | Patrick Swayze | Supernatural | Samantha Who | Barker | Lois | Motherhood | Timothy Olyphant | Billy Zane | Perry White | Unhappy
•The Beast (A&E, 10 ET/PT) ends its first season with Barker hunting for the people who are hunting him. For fans, star Patrick Swayze may be incentive enough to watch.
Idol’s’ run of changes make disjointed season
Is there something wrong with "American Idol"?
Lately, something seems off, like the show is fidgeting and can't quite find its groove. Since the start of the current season, "Idol" has been peppered with a steady diet of small changes that subtly suggest a newfound crisis of confidence.
How else to explain the events of movie-song night, when it was decided that each contestant would face the wrath of only two judges? The official explanation was that it was to prevent the show from running long yet again. For that to make sense, though, you'd have to assume that nobody who works for "Idol" has ever heard of such concepts as "editing" and "cutting down on the filler." (It's "Idol," so they may not have.)
Lately, something seems off, like the show is fidgeting and can't quite find its groove. Since the start of the current season, "Idol" has been peppered with a steady diet of small changes that subtly suggest a newfound crisis of confidence.
How else to explain the events of movie-song night, when it was decided that each contestant would face the wrath of only two judges? The official explanation was that it was to prevent the show from running long yet again. For that to make sense, though, you'd have to assume that nobody who works for "Idol" has ever heard of such concepts as "editing" and "cutting down on the filler." (It's "Idol," so they may not have.)
Love is in the air on TV
It’s springtime and love is in the air.
But, much like life, we don’t always agree on who should be together. I really like P.J. and Bobby together on "My Boys" but I’ve learned many of you don’t. So I thought we would take a look at the new couples who have popped up this season and discuss . . .
Juliet and Sawyer on "Lost:" One of the smartest decisions "Lost" made this season was the role reversal between Jack and Sawyer. Sawyer is in charge and Jack is surprisingly okay with that. While this quadrangle (Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Juliet) was brewing last season, it was with Jack being torn between the two women and Kate being torn between two men. But when the timeline advanced three years and showed Juliet and James (as she and Locke call him) in domestic bliss it somehow made perfect sense. And their union was a nice departure for the show in that it was free of angst. I’m rooting for them to stay together, how about you?
Charlie and Chelsea on "Two and a Half Men:" Even in comedies, characters need to evolve so they aren’t perpetually stuck in a revolving story line. We had seasons of Charlie’s womanizing, it’s been great and very funny to see him commit to one woman.
Owen and Cristina on "Grey’s Anatomy:" I really like this relationship because it made sense to me that Cristina would wait to date again after her break-up with Burke and it made sense to me that she would be drawn to someone as complex as Owen. Sometimes it really does seem like this is the only adult relationship on the show. I fear their relationship has the potential to become melodramatic but so far it's been the season's bright spot.
Barney and Robin on "How I Met Your Mother:" I’ve been a fan of this pairing since it was first hinted at and this season Barney’s silently pining for Robin has added depth to his character (Barney has feelings!) while placing him in an unfamiliar situation (he doesn’t have confidence to declare his love). Plus it’s allowed the show runners to write more scenes between Barney and Lilly, who became Barney's exclusive confidant. Now I’ve heard the concerns that if Barney starts dating Robin, he won’t be Barney anymore. But I have faith that the show runners won’t let us down.
Penny and Leonard on "The Big Bang Theory:" The comedy has successfully avoided letting the series wallow in a "will they or won’t they" dynamic. I kind of think they should let Penny and Leonard date for more than five seconds and see what happens. I don't think it will take away from the show at all.
So that’s how I’m feeling about some of the new couples who have gotten together (or almost gotten together) this season? How about you? Also want new couples have you liked this season? Talk about it below.
But, much like life, we don’t always agree on who should be together. I really like P.J. and Bobby together on "My Boys" but I’ve learned many of you don’t. So I thought we would take a look at the new couples who have popped up this season and discuss . . .
Juliet and Sawyer on "Lost:" One of the smartest decisions "Lost" made this season was the role reversal between Jack and Sawyer. Sawyer is in charge and Jack is surprisingly okay with that. While this quadrangle (Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Juliet) was brewing last season, it was with Jack being torn between the two women and Kate being torn between two men. But when the timeline advanced three years and showed Juliet and James (as she and Locke call him) in domestic bliss it somehow made perfect sense. And their union was a nice departure for the show in that it was free of angst. I’m rooting for them to stay together, how about you?
Charlie and Chelsea on "Two and a Half Men:" Even in comedies, characters need to evolve so they aren’t perpetually stuck in a revolving story line. We had seasons of Charlie’s womanizing, it’s been great and very funny to see him commit to one woman.
Owen and Cristina on "Grey’s Anatomy:" I really like this relationship because it made sense to me that Cristina would wait to date again after her break-up with Burke and it made sense to me that she would be drawn to someone as complex as Owen. Sometimes it really does seem like this is the only adult relationship on the show. I fear their relationship has the potential to become melodramatic but so far it's been the season's bright spot.
Barney and Robin on "How I Met Your Mother:" I’ve been a fan of this pairing since it was first hinted at and this season Barney’s silently pining for Robin has added depth to his character (Barney has feelings!) while placing him in an unfamiliar situation (he doesn’t have confidence to declare his love). Plus it’s allowed the show runners to write more scenes between Barney and Lilly, who became Barney's exclusive confidant. Now I’ve heard the concerns that if Barney starts dating Robin, he won’t be Barney anymore. But I have faith that the show runners won’t let us down.
Penny and Leonard on "The Big Bang Theory:" The comedy has successfully avoided letting the series wallow in a "will they or won’t they" dynamic. I kind of think they should let Penny and Leonard date for more than five seconds and see what happens. I don't think it will take away from the show at all.
So that’s how I’m feeling about some of the new couples who have gotten together (or almost gotten together) this season? How about you? Also want new couples have you liked this season? Talk about it below.
2009年4月20日星期一
Spoiler alert: Is House going to the l***y **n?
Stop reading if you don't want to know what may possibly happen in the May 11 season finale of House. Everyone else, onward and downward...
For the asterisk quiz-challenged, the above headline poses the provocative question, "Is House going to the loony bin?"
And the answer is... I honestly don't know, but it sure looks like it. Let's review the evidence:
• House is currently seeing dead people (in this case, Wilson's cutthroat bitch of an ex, Amber).
• The logline for the May 4 episode says, "House is willing to do the unthinkable to make his visions stop."
• Last week, the show set up shop at New Jersey's abandoned Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital to shoot scenes for next season.
• I'm told something happens in the finale that is so shocking cast and crew were forced to sign confidentiality agreements.
The verdict: Duh. The only question is, will the Huddy sex happen before or after Dr. Crabby Crazy gets fitted for a straitjacket? Post your theories below! And if you can think of some other plot twist that would have prompted the show to travel 3000 miles to shoot scenes at a funny farm, I'm all ears!
For the asterisk quiz-challenged, the above headline poses the provocative question, "Is House going to the loony bin?"
And the answer is... I honestly don't know, but it sure looks like it. Let's review the evidence:
• House is currently seeing dead people (in this case, Wilson's cutthroat bitch of an ex, Amber).
• The logline for the May 4 episode says, "House is willing to do the unthinkable to make his visions stop."
• Last week, the show set up shop at New Jersey's abandoned Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital to shoot scenes for next season.
• I'm told something happens in the finale that is so shocking cast and crew were forced to sign confidentiality agreements.
The verdict: Duh. The only question is, will the Huddy sex happen before or after Dr. Crabby Crazy gets fitted for a straitjacket? Post your theories below! And if you can think of some other plot twist that would have prompted the show to travel 3000 miles to shoot scenes at a funny farm, I'm all ears!
House, M.D. Builds Toward the Season Five Finale
After the shock of Lawrence Kutner’s (Kal Penn) suicide in the last episode of House, M.D., it’s hard to think of what might happen next. The shock of Kutner’s abrupt departure is the sort of thing usually reserved for season finales. However, there are still four more episodes to go! I can’t even imagine what the House brain trust has in store for us in the weeks to come. But I can tell you a one or two things I do know for certain. First, expect to see more of Cameron and Chase in the coming weeks, and look for House to react to Kutner’s death in unexpected ways. And--a television icon makes an appearance in the season finale.
In the aftermath of Kutner’s suicide, House (the brilliant Hugh Laurie) suffers from apparent insomnia. Or could it be something more serious? House, M.D. builds up to its May 11 season finale over the next several weeks, as the folks at Princeton Plainsboro continue to deal with tragedy of Kutner’s death.
The entire staff reacts to the suicide, but none more so than House, himself. In “House Divided” (April 27), Ryan Lane guest stars as Seth, a deaf teenager who “hears” explosions, while House’s insomnia play tricks on his mind.
In “Under My Skin” airing May 4, House and his team treat a ballerina (Jamie Tisdale), whose lungs collapse during a performance. House, still unable to sleep, tries desperate measures to find rest. And in the season five finale, written by Doris Egan “Both Sides Now,” comedy legend Carl Reiner appears as a clinic patient.
House airs Mondays at 8:00 p.m. (ET).
In the aftermath of Kutner’s suicide, House (the brilliant Hugh Laurie) suffers from apparent insomnia. Or could it be something more serious? House, M.D. builds up to its May 11 season finale over the next several weeks, as the folks at Princeton Plainsboro continue to deal with tragedy of Kutner’s death.
The entire staff reacts to the suicide, but none more so than House, himself. In “House Divided” (April 27), Ryan Lane guest stars as Seth, a deaf teenager who “hears” explosions, while House’s insomnia play tricks on his mind.
In “Under My Skin” airing May 4, House and his team treat a ballerina (Jamie Tisdale), whose lungs collapse during a performance. House, still unable to sleep, tries desperate measures to find rest. And in the season five finale, written by Doris Egan “Both Sides Now,” comedy legend Carl Reiner appears as a clinic patient.
House airs Mondays at 8:00 p.m. (ET).
In Plain Sight: Gilted Lily (season premiere
(S02E01) After the harrowing conclusion from last season, Mary Shannon was back and after 30 hours of sleep, she actually seemed ready to return to work. However, as Marshall soon found out, looks can be deceiving. Mary and Jinx and Brandi were still together and coping, but the effects of one of them nearly being raped, killing a man, concealing drugs, having their home turned inside out and suffering the indignity of the FBI invading every corner of your life took a toll. They thought they had come out the other side unscathed, but as the episode unfolded, damage was evident.csi ncis
For Mary, getting back on a case, even as Marshall's sidekick, was a welcomed relief from administrative leave. Her denial of post-traumatic stress disorder was typical for her. In fact, she was suffering, but it manifested itself as a happy, chipper and congenial Mary. Stan, Marshall and Bobby D. were baffled by this alternate universe Agent Shannon, but for viewers wise to the ways of TV, it was clear that something was amiss.
Mary's breakdown was triggered by the kind of thing that she would normally let roll off her back, but it was the straw that broke the camel's back. Her hyperventilating, unending walking it off, crying jag was like a dam breaking. Marshall, in his Zen like mode, tried to make her visualize the experience as a river flowing. Mary didn't heed Marshall's advice; she only heard the word peach which is nothing like river, but then that explains a lot between the two partners. Mary McCormack and Frederick Weller were excellent in this sequence.
What ultimately proved therapeutic for Mary was working the case. It was a good one, involving a family that had been in Witness Protection for 17 years, a mother's suicide that turned out to lead to a weird case of gold coins that were stolen by a biker gang. As the one surviving -- and reformed -- member of the gang put it, there was some serious bad ju-ju to those gold pieces, even if a single one was worth $45,000. It turned out that it wasn't voodoo that made the coins evil, but poison. When two of the three grown kids were nearly killed by the poison, Mary and Marshall sprinted to save the innocent children who were playing hide and seek, oblivious to the danger.
Getting back to work was the therapy Mary needed, but Brandi had to confront the corpse of her dead boyfriend to get some resolution. It wasn't a tearful goodbye for Brandi; she wanted to let the SOB know that she would have killed him herself if she had had the chance. And Jinx was obsessed with finding Mary and Brandi's dad for the same reason, or so she claimed.
For Mary, getting back on a case, even as Marshall's sidekick, was a welcomed relief from administrative leave. Her denial of post-traumatic stress disorder was typical for her. In fact, she was suffering, but it manifested itself as a happy, chipper and congenial Mary. Stan, Marshall and Bobby D. were baffled by this alternate universe Agent Shannon, but for viewers wise to the ways of TV, it was clear that something was amiss.
Mary's breakdown was triggered by the kind of thing that she would normally let roll off her back, but it was the straw that broke the camel's back. Her hyperventilating, unending walking it off, crying jag was like a dam breaking. Marshall, in his Zen like mode, tried to make her visualize the experience as a river flowing. Mary didn't heed Marshall's advice; she only heard the word peach which is nothing like river, but then that explains a lot between the two partners. Mary McCormack and Frederick Weller were excellent in this sequence.
What ultimately proved therapeutic for Mary was working the case. It was a good one, involving a family that had been in Witness Protection for 17 years, a mother's suicide that turned out to lead to a weird case of gold coins that were stolen by a biker gang. As the one surviving -- and reformed -- member of the gang put it, there was some serious bad ju-ju to those gold pieces, even if a single one was worth $45,000. It turned out that it wasn't voodoo that made the coins evil, but poison. When two of the three grown kids were nearly killed by the poison, Mary and Marshall sprinted to save the innocent children who were playing hide and seek, oblivious to the danger.
Getting back to work was the therapy Mary needed, but Brandi had to confront the corpse of her dead boyfriend to get some resolution. It wasn't a tearful goodbye for Brandi; she wanted to let the SOB know that she would have killed him herself if she had had the chance. And Jinx was obsessed with finding Mary and Brandi's dad for the same reason, or so she claimed.
U.K.'s Sky 1 grabs keys to 'House'
LONDON -- The U.K.'s Five channel is done making "House" calls.
Sky 1 has snatched up rights for the fifth season of the Hugh Laurie medical drama from Five, after the terrestrial net said it had pulled out of the bidding for "commercial and scheduling reasons."
The decision reflects the growing difficultly that broadcasters here face when bidding for top-flight U.S. fare as a result in the collapse in the advertising market.
Sky 1, which is driven by subscription revenue, said it has signed a deal with NBC Universal International Television Distribution for first-run rights to "House" in the U.K. Second-run rights will be retained by Hallmark Channel.
Five, which has held rights to the show since 2005, said the "difficult decision" to not renew the show will free up cash for incoming director of programs Richard Woolfe to commission Five's own programs.
"We have been proud to be associated with the drama, but have taken this difficult decision for commercial and scheduling reasons," Five said in a statement.
The channel said that long-running acquired series including the "CSI" franchise and "NCIS" as well as recent addition "The Mentalist" made it "very difficult" to find a suitable slot to schedule "House."
U.K.'s Sky 1 grabs keys to 'House'
Five drops bid to Hugh Laurie medical drama
By Mimi Turner
April 20, 2009, 07:53 AM ET
LONDON -- The U.K.'s Five channel is done making "House" calls.
Sky 1 has snatched up rights for the fifth season of the Hugh Laurie medical drama from Five, after the terrestrial net said it had pulled out of the bidding for "commercial and scheduling reasons."
The decision reflects the growing difficultly that broadcasters here face when bidding for top-flight U.S. fare as a result in the collapse in the advertising market.
Sky 1, which is driven by subscription revenue, said it has signed a deal with NBC Universal International Television Distribution for first-run rights to "House" in the U.K. Second-run rights will be retained by Hallmark Channel.
Five, which has held rights to the show since 2005, said the "difficult decision" to not renew the show will free up cash for incoming director of programs Richard Woolfe to commission Five's own programs.
"We have been proud to be associated with the drama, but have taken this difficult decision for commercial and scheduling reasons," Five said in a statement.
The channel said that long-running acquired series including the "CSI" franchise and "NCIS" as well as recent addition "The Mentalist" made it "very difficult" to find a suitable slot to schedule "House."
Sky 1 has snatched up rights for the fifth season of the Hugh Laurie medical drama from Five, after the terrestrial net said it had pulled out of the bidding for "commercial and scheduling reasons."
The decision reflects the growing difficultly that broadcasters here face when bidding for top-flight U.S. fare as a result in the collapse in the advertising market.
Sky 1, which is driven by subscription revenue, said it has signed a deal with NBC Universal International Television Distribution for first-run rights to "House" in the U.K. Second-run rights will be retained by Hallmark Channel.
Five, which has held rights to the show since 2005, said the "difficult decision" to not renew the show will free up cash for incoming director of programs Richard Woolfe to commission Five's own programs.
"We have been proud to be associated with the drama, but have taken this difficult decision for commercial and scheduling reasons," Five said in a statement.
The channel said that long-running acquired series including the "CSI" franchise and "NCIS" as well as recent addition "The Mentalist" made it "very difficult" to find a suitable slot to schedule "House."
U.K.'s Sky 1 grabs keys to 'House'
Five drops bid to Hugh Laurie medical drama
By Mimi Turner
April 20, 2009, 07:53 AM ET
LONDON -- The U.K.'s Five channel is done making "House" calls.
Sky 1 has snatched up rights for the fifth season of the Hugh Laurie medical drama from Five, after the terrestrial net said it had pulled out of the bidding for "commercial and scheduling reasons."
The decision reflects the growing difficultly that broadcasters here face when bidding for top-flight U.S. fare as a result in the collapse in the advertising market.
Sky 1, which is driven by subscription revenue, said it has signed a deal with NBC Universal International Television Distribution for first-run rights to "House" in the U.K. Second-run rights will be retained by Hallmark Channel.
Five, which has held rights to the show since 2005, said the "difficult decision" to not renew the show will free up cash for incoming director of programs Richard Woolfe to commission Five's own programs.
"We have been proud to be associated with the drama, but have taken this difficult decision for commercial and scheduling reasons," Five said in a statement.
The channel said that long-running acquired series including the "CSI" franchise and "NCIS" as well as recent addition "The Mentalist" made it "very difficult" to find a suitable slot to schedule "House."
Supernatural: Sam and Dean Meet Their 'Brother' in a New Video
On this week's episode of Supernatural the question isn't whether or not Sam and Dean could have a brother - not if you ask their supposed kin Adam. He wants to know whether it's possible that he himself has brothers, whether John Winchester could have had sons other than him.
Earlier in the week The CW released two new clips from "Jump the Shark", Supernatural's none-too-soon return to the air after another tedious break. At least it's the last break of this season. One of those clips revealed that Sam's research on Adam validates his story, with college records and other official documents on file. In the other, Dean seethed with jealousy when he found out that John took Adam to a Minnesota Twins game, a day that would have meant the world to him.
Today we have another clip from "Jump The Shark," portraying the further developments in the relationship between the ghost fighting duo and their supposedly-long-lost brother, another piece in the puzzle of whether or not this goofy kid could really be who he says he is, and whether or not Supernatural has jumped the shark.
Earlier in the week The CW released two new clips from "Jump the Shark", Supernatural's none-too-soon return to the air after another tedious break. At least it's the last break of this season. One of those clips revealed that Sam's research on Adam validates his story, with college records and other official documents on file. In the other, Dean seethed with jealousy when he found out that John took Adam to a Minnesota Twins game, a day that would have meant the world to him.
Today we have another clip from "Jump The Shark," portraying the further developments in the relationship between the ghost fighting duo and their supposedly-long-lost brother, another piece in the puzzle of whether or not this goofy kid could really be who he says he is, and whether or not Supernatural has jumped the shark.
2009年4月19日星期日
MOVIE NEWS: Brand New Fugly Star Trek Ship Models
Buzz up!
Ok, I’m not sure what this is, the folks who run the Paramount Webmaster program sent over four brand new photos of Star Trek ship models. But what is this? Is it for eventual toys, is it part of some contest? Are these amateur models? I don’t know but they look pretty fugly to me. Someone please tell me what this is all about…. I do like the brown and the white one though. Not sure what’s going on with the Garden or Pink one.
Ok, I’m not sure what this is, the folks who run the Paramount Webmaster program sent over four brand new photos of Star Trek ship models. But what is this? Is it for eventual toys, is it part of some contest? Are these amateur models? I don’t know but they look pretty fugly to me. Someone please tell me what this is all about…. I do like the brown and the white one though. Not sure what’s going on with the Garden or Pink one.
A franchise is reborn, at warp speed.
n Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry’s inspired universe, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise set out to “boldly go where no one has gone before.” If only the same could be said of director J.J. Abrams and writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman.
Considering the franchise began on TV in 1966, spawned the first theatrical release in 1979 and nearly expired with the last edition, Star Trek: Nemesis, a worldwide flop in 2002, the creative team behind the 11th movie faced two major challenges.
In sum, Star Trek is a big, loud, fast-paced, spectacular and intermittently exciting sci-fi adventure. What it isn’t, in my view, is emotionally involving. Early US buzz indicates some Trek fans are hailing the latest incarnation for packing more thrills, energy and humour than anything the franchise has yielded since the 1980s. Paramount has already commissioned a follow-up.
Considering the franchise began on TV in 1966, spawned the first theatrical release in 1979 and nearly expired with the last edition, Star Trek: Nemesis, a worldwide flop in 2002, the creative team behind the 11th movie faced two major challenges.
In sum, Star Trek is a big, loud, fast-paced, spectacular and intermittently exciting sci-fi adventure. What it isn’t, in my view, is emotionally involving. Early US buzz indicates some Trek fans are hailing the latest incarnation for packing more thrills, energy and humour than anything the franchise has yielded since the 1980s. Paramount has already commissioned a follow-up.
'One Tree Hill' looks for a 7th Season
Many people thought that "One Tree Hill" was going to jump the shark last year when it jumped four years for its fifth season.
Season four highlighted the senior year of high school for the main characters and it ended with all the characters on the river court where the first episode of the series mainly took place.
The finale showcased songs of the '90s era like "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls, and hit at the idea of splitting ways with best friends when it comes time for college.
The show worked parallel with the high school graduating class of 2007.
Nostalgically, the Season four finale would have been the perfect series finale, but creator Mark Schwan wasn't ready for the show to end yet, and neither were cast members Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Hilarie Burton, Sophia Bush or Bethany Joy Gaelotti. And so with that the show went on to a fifth season, placed in time, four years later.
And the jump worked. Ratings remained high, the forums on the Web site OTH Fans was filled with hundreds of thankful posts for a fifth season.
Of course, there were still negative Nancies, but for the most part it worked. New storylines opened up, fans got to see their favorite television actors and actresses portray roles closer to their own age--even though it was nice to dream that Murray was a high schooler at the same time as a lot of the fans, even if he wasn't--and Kate Voegele's singing career got jumpstarted. Overall, it was an awesome season leading to sixth season.
As the sixth season began, fans were pumped and began to assume that this would be the last season of "One Tree Hill."
All of the actors' contracts were for six seasons. This meant that unless the actors were offered new contracts, there was a slim chance for a seventh season.
Some people expressed disinterest in a seventh season, alleging storylines would get old, and that the show should go out before it got to be too repetitive.
Season four highlighted the senior year of high school for the main characters and it ended with all the characters on the river court where the first episode of the series mainly took place.
The finale showcased songs of the '90s era like "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls, and hit at the idea of splitting ways with best friends when it comes time for college.
The show worked parallel with the high school graduating class of 2007.
Nostalgically, the Season four finale would have been the perfect series finale, but creator Mark Schwan wasn't ready for the show to end yet, and neither were cast members Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Hilarie Burton, Sophia Bush or Bethany Joy Gaelotti. And so with that the show went on to a fifth season, placed in time, four years later.
And the jump worked. Ratings remained high, the forums on the Web site OTH Fans was filled with hundreds of thankful posts for a fifth season.
Of course, there were still negative Nancies, but for the most part it worked. New storylines opened up, fans got to see their favorite television actors and actresses portray roles closer to their own age--even though it was nice to dream that Murray was a high schooler at the same time as a lot of the fans, even if he wasn't--and Kate Voegele's singing career got jumpstarted. Overall, it was an awesome season leading to sixth season.
As the sixth season began, fans were pumped and began to assume that this would be the last season of "One Tree Hill."
All of the actors' contracts were for six seasons. This meant that unless the actors were offered new contracts, there was a slim chance for a seventh season.
Some people expressed disinterest in a seventh season, alleging storylines would get old, and that the show should go out before it got to be too repetitive.
One Tree Hill's Skills Pleads Innocent in Fake ID Scam
t looks like some mad skillz have landed Skills in big trouble.
Antwon Tanner, One Tree Hill's Antwon "Skills" Taylor, has pleaded not guilty in a New York federal court to participating in a Social Security scam, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office confirms.
The 34-year-old actor, whose credits include Coach Carter with Samuel L. Jackson and that catchy "Da Da Da" Volkswagen commercial, was busted in a sting operation and charged with selling 16 Social Security numbers and three counterfeit cards to a middleman between December 2005 and last July.
Antwon Tanner, One Tree Hill's Antwon "Skills" Taylor, has pleaded not guilty in a New York federal court to participating in a Social Security scam, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office confirms.
The 34-year-old actor, whose credits include Coach Carter with Samuel L. Jackson and that catchy "Da Da Da" Volkswagen commercial, was busted in a sting operation and charged with selling 16 Social Security numbers and three counterfeit cards to a middleman between December 2005 and last July.
Television: Supernatural Behind the Scenes - Catching Up With Traci Dinwiddie
Traci Dinwiddie has been keeping busy since we last saw her on Supernatural in the season 4 episode ‘Death Takes a Holiday’ where, unfortunately, death did not take that holiday for her character of psychic Pamela Barnes.
The vivacious and beautiful Dinwiddie has been involved in a number of projects both personal and professional including writing quite a bit and looking into the Women’s Directing program at AFI and she has an upcoming guest starring role as Madame Flanagan in the CW series 90210 in an episode titled ‘Between a Sign and a Hard Place’ which will be airing this Tuesday, April 21st and repeat Wednesday, April 22 on the CW at 9pm.
“Please do tune in, if you’re able! She’s a fun character! A British fortune teller/counselor for the Stars,” Dinwiddie says of her character on the upcoming 90210 episode.
Aside from acting, Traci Dinwiddie has been keeping quite busy as a drummer for yoga classes and is often a guest musician for the world fusion band, ‘Yeh Dede’.
“I’m also a part of a very special community theater outreach group called ‘Turning the Wheel Productions’ (TTW). We are in the midst of a major residential project right here in LA.”
Traci describes TTW as a sweetly inclusive form of artistic expression on all levels including music, theater, dance, poetry and visual art within the community and it’s power transcends age, gender, race, economic status…all of it. “Basically, it rocks one’s socks off! Which is the way I like to roll, yo! Fierce artsy fartsyness!” Dinwiddie says with undisguised enthusiasm for this project.
The vivacious and beautiful Dinwiddie has been involved in a number of projects both personal and professional including writing quite a bit and looking into the Women’s Directing program at AFI and she has an upcoming guest starring role as Madame Flanagan in the CW series 90210 in an episode titled ‘Between a Sign and a Hard Place’ which will be airing this Tuesday, April 21st and repeat Wednesday, April 22 on the CW at 9pm.
“Please do tune in, if you’re able! She’s a fun character! A British fortune teller/counselor for the Stars,” Dinwiddie says of her character on the upcoming 90210 episode.
Aside from acting, Traci Dinwiddie has been keeping quite busy as a drummer for yoga classes and is often a guest musician for the world fusion band, ‘Yeh Dede’.
“I’m also a part of a very special community theater outreach group called ‘Turning the Wheel Productions’ (TTW). We are in the midst of a major residential project right here in LA.”
Traci describes TTW as a sweetly inclusive form of artistic expression on all levels including music, theater, dance, poetry and visual art within the community and it’s power transcends age, gender, race, economic status…all of it. “Basically, it rocks one’s socks off! Which is the way I like to roll, yo! Fierce artsy fartsyness!” Dinwiddie says with undisguised enthusiasm for this project.
2009年4月16日星期四
Weekly TV Wrap Up - April 16th, 2009
As if this is a surprise to Stargate fans, but Stargate Universe will be having a few notable guest stars in the form of a few veterans reprising their Stargate SG-1 roles.
Yep, you read that right.
We’ll be seeing Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks and Gary Jones reprising their roles we’ve come to love over the years. Additonally, we’re going to see Christopher McDonald (U.S. senator Alan Armstrong), Janelle Monáe (plays herself. She and her band will perform) and Carlo Rota (Carl Strom, head of the International Oversight Advisory) will also make an appearance.
If this is anything like the way Stargate Atlantis started, we’ll see them in one quick scene, making it an official Stargate send off. I can’t imagine anything else, unless there’s a holodeck on the Ancient’s ship.
Stargate Universe stars Robert Carlyle, Lou Diamond Phillips and Ming-Na and is set to premiere on SCI FI in October with a special two-hour episode.
Source: SciFi Wire
Southland
Yep, you read that right.
We’ll be seeing Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks and Gary Jones reprising their roles we’ve come to love over the years. Additonally, we’re going to see Christopher McDonald (U.S. senator Alan Armstrong), Janelle Monáe (plays herself. She and her band will perform) and Carlo Rota (Carl Strom, head of the International Oversight Advisory) will also make an appearance.
If this is anything like the way Stargate Atlantis started, we’ll see them in one quick scene, making it an official Stargate send off. I can’t imagine anything else, unless there’s a holodeck on the Ancient’s ship.
Stargate Universe stars Robert Carlyle, Lou Diamond Phillips and Ming-Na and is set to premiere on SCI FI in October with a special two-hour episode.
Source: SciFi Wire
Southland
TONIGHT ON TV — THURSDAY, APRIL 16
ABC is for the ladies tonight with In the Motherhood, Samantha Who?, then reruns of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.
CBS goes for thrills with a new Survivor and a very sci-fi CSI, while someone else bites the big one on Harper's Island.
The CW has repeats of Smallville and Supernatural.
FOX has another new Bones, this one about a death in a heavy metal band. That's followed by Hell's Kitchen.
NBC is all new with My Name is Earl, Parks and Recreation, The Office and 30 Rock, wrapping it all up with a dramatic hour of Southland.
CBS goes for thrills with a new Survivor and a very sci-fi CSI, while someone else bites the big one on Harper's Island.
The CW has repeats of Smallville and Supernatural.
FOX has another new Bones, this one about a death in a heavy metal band. That's followed by Hell's Kitchen.
NBC is all new with My Name is Earl, Parks and Recreation, The Office and 30 Rock, wrapping it all up with a dramatic hour of Southland.
Which shows are renewed, canceled, or on the bubble?
Over at ABC, it's a no-brainer that shows like Lost, Desperate Housewives, and Grey's Anatomy will be renewed, but Samantha Who? is on the bubble. NBC's 30 Rock, The Office, and Heroes are coming back (and I would bet that Parks and Recreation will be back too), but Chuck (noooooo!) and My Name Is Earl are both in the bubble category. As for CBS, you can guarantee that The Mentalist, Two and a Half Men, and all of the various CSI shows will be back, but it looks like longtime favorites Cold Case, Without A Trace, and The Unit aren't a sure thing to come back at all. It looks like FOX is going to cancel Dollhouse and The Sarah Connor Chronicles, but most of their other shows will be back.
As for The CW, the only show there's a question about is Privileged. Gossip Girl, 90210, Smallville, Supernatural, and One Tree Hill will all be back next season.
As for The CW, the only show there's a question about is Privileged. Gossip Girl, 90210, Smallville, Supernatural, and One Tree Hill will all be back next season.
GLAAD Nominates 'Supernatural,' 'True Blood' for Awards
oday the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation released its nominees for the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. Aside from the usual television nominees like The L Word and Ugly Betty, there was one atypical nominee: Supernatural.
The GLAAD Media Awards have a special category for an individual episode of a show that doesn't feature a regular gay character. Supernatural was nominated for “Ghostfacers,” the faux reality TV series episode that featured intern Corbett (current 90210 jock Dustin Milligan) who had a gay infatuation with Ed, resulting in the classic line, “Ed, you have to go be gay for that poor dead intern.” n this category, Supernatural will compete against:
“My Maharishi is Bigger Than Your Maharishi,” Life on Mars - In this episode, Sam investigates the murder of a Vietnam
The GLAAD Media Awards have a special category for an individual episode of a show that doesn't feature a regular gay character. Supernatural was nominated for “Ghostfacers,” the faux reality TV series episode that featured intern Corbett (current 90210 jock Dustin Milligan) who had a gay infatuation with Ed, resulting in the classic line, “Ed, you have to go be gay for that poor dead intern.” n this category, Supernatural will compete against:
“My Maharishi is Bigger Than Your Maharishi,” Life on Mars - In this episode, Sam investigates the murder of a Vietnam
'Twilight': Full 'New Moon' Volturi cast revealed!
Christopher Heyerdahl is a great choice! He played Alistair in a few episodes of "Supernatural" this season and he is fricken awesome and creepy!
I am thrilled with The cast! Amazing job!
I am thrilled with The cast! Amazing job!
New Yankee Stadium means new beginning
The notion of the Yankee ghosts grew to insane proportions over the past decade, eventually reaching the point that whenever something special happened in the Bronx the credit always went to those darned supernatural forces. It's shocking there hasn't been a Yankeeography on the stadium ghosts yet.
Maybe there was something supernatural behind Aaron Boone's ALCS winning home run in 2003 or those thrilling game-tying home runs by Scott Brosius and Tino Martinez in the 2001 World Series.
But, if you look at Yankees history in that vein, then you have to question where Mystique and Aura disappeared to in 2004 when the Boston Red Sox became the first team to come back from a three-games-to-none deficit in a playoff series - and completed the task in the Bronx.
Or what happened to the ghosts in the playoffs in 2005, 2006 and 2007 when the Yankees looked as if they lost their superpowers once the calendar hit October? And how could these ghosts have possibly allowed the Yankees to miss the postseason in the final season of the stadium's illustrious history?
Maybe there was something supernatural behind Aaron Boone's ALCS winning home run in 2003 or those thrilling game-tying home runs by Scott Brosius and Tino Martinez in the 2001 World Series.
But, if you look at Yankees history in that vein, then you have to question where Mystique and Aura disappeared to in 2004 when the Boston Red Sox became the first team to come back from a three-games-to-none deficit in a playoff series - and completed the task in the Bronx.
Or what happened to the ghosts in the playoffs in 2005, 2006 and 2007 when the Yankees looked as if they lost their superpowers once the calendar hit October? And how could these ghosts have possibly allowed the Yankees to miss the postseason in the final season of the stadium's illustrious history?
2009年4月14日星期二
Was That Terminator's Last Shot?
Did Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles make a Nielsen case for coming back next season? What about Life? What was last week's biggest series premiere—and why should you think twice before answering?
The answers—and more questions—in the latest TV ratings pop quiz:
1. How do Terminator's chances look, post-season finale? Not better than they did pre-season finale. Its season-two closer finished in 95th place with 3.6 million viewers, per the latest Nielsen broadcast TV standings. The episode neither matched the show's season average (4.6 million), nor Fox's season average (9.7 million), nor Fox's pre-American Idol season average (7.9 million). Good luck with that.
2. Well, how about Life? The NBC drama's season-two finale placed 74th, with 4.6 million viewers. Like Terminator, the show ran well below its own season average (5.4 million) and its network's (8.1 million).
3. Is it fair that Friday Night Lights gets renewed just because dumb ol' DirecTV likes it? Ignoring for a moment that there is no fair, and ignoring for another moment that satellite TV is a gift to viewer-kind, FNL, unlike Terminator and Life, actually closed out its third season in epic fashion for a, well, really low-rated show. Airing opposite fellow bubble show Dollhouse (3.5 million), the finale scored 4.1 million viewers versus the 4 million the show averaged over its spring run.
4. What's so tricky about figuring out which new show got off to the biggest start? Parks and Recreation and Southland got more attention, but Surviving Suburbia got more viewers (11.2 million)—as you would, too, if you aired after Dancing With the Stars. Without a DWTS lead-in, Southland ruled the newbies among adults 18-49, placing 21st; even with a DWTS lead-in, Suburbia ended up tied for 25th in the demo with Parks and Rec.
5. What were the week's top five shows? Last week's top four—Wednesday's Idol (23 million), Tuesday's Idol (22.8 million), Monday's DWTS (19.9 million), NCIS (17.8 million)—plus one, the men's college basketball championship (17.6 million).
6. Why was Hannah Montana: The Movie a good thing for iCarly? Apparently wanting to keep Miley Cyrus' fans focused on the multiplex, Disney Channel didn't air a new episode of her TV series. So Nick's iCarly got to be the top-rated prime-time cable series (5.1 million), per those Nielsen rankings. The show was sandwiched between USA's pro wrestling (5.9 million for back-to-back episodes) and Bill O'Reilly (4 million for Wednesday's show). Other standouts: South Park (3.1 million) and House of Payne (3 million).
7. Is true that totally fake love conquers The Hills? Yes! Rubberneckers Romantics helped make the penultimate Rock of Love 3 cable's most watched reality show (3.2 million) and For the Love of Ray J the second most watched reality show (3.16 million). The premiering Hills (2.9 million for back-to-back episodes) settled for third.
The answers—and more questions—in the latest TV ratings pop quiz:
1. How do Terminator's chances look, post-season finale? Not better than they did pre-season finale. Its season-two closer finished in 95th place with 3.6 million viewers, per the latest Nielsen broadcast TV standings. The episode neither matched the show's season average (4.6 million), nor Fox's season average (9.7 million), nor Fox's pre-American Idol season average (7.9 million). Good luck with that.
2. Well, how about Life? The NBC drama's season-two finale placed 74th, with 4.6 million viewers. Like Terminator, the show ran well below its own season average (5.4 million) and its network's (8.1 million).
3. Is it fair that Friday Night Lights gets renewed just because dumb ol' DirecTV likes it? Ignoring for a moment that there is no fair, and ignoring for another moment that satellite TV is a gift to viewer-kind, FNL, unlike Terminator and Life, actually closed out its third season in epic fashion for a, well, really low-rated show. Airing opposite fellow bubble show Dollhouse (3.5 million), the finale scored 4.1 million viewers versus the 4 million the show averaged over its spring run.
4. What's so tricky about figuring out which new show got off to the biggest start? Parks and Recreation and Southland got more attention, but Surviving Suburbia got more viewers (11.2 million)—as you would, too, if you aired after Dancing With the Stars. Without a DWTS lead-in, Southland ruled the newbies among adults 18-49, placing 21st; even with a DWTS lead-in, Suburbia ended up tied for 25th in the demo with Parks and Rec.
5. What were the week's top five shows? Last week's top four—Wednesday's Idol (23 million), Tuesday's Idol (22.8 million), Monday's DWTS (19.9 million), NCIS (17.8 million)—plus one, the men's college basketball championship (17.6 million).
6. Why was Hannah Montana: The Movie a good thing for iCarly? Apparently wanting to keep Miley Cyrus' fans focused on the multiplex, Disney Channel didn't air a new episode of her TV series. So Nick's iCarly got to be the top-rated prime-time cable series (5.1 million), per those Nielsen rankings. The show was sandwiched between USA's pro wrestling (5.9 million for back-to-back episodes) and Bill O'Reilly (4 million for Wednesday's show). Other standouts: South Park (3.1 million) and House of Payne (3 million).
7. Is true that totally fake love conquers The Hills? Yes! Rubberneckers Romantics helped make the penultimate Rock of Love 3 cable's most watched reality show (3.2 million) and For the Love of Ray J the second most watched reality show (3.16 million). The premiering Hills (2.9 million for back-to-back episodes) settled for third.
Hungry Sharks circle elusive Stanley Cup as playoffs loom
SAN JOSE — As the NHL playoffs begin today, it's not the usual hockey hotbeds of Detroit, Philadelphia or Boston that enter as the top seed.
It's the Silicon Valley skaters from San Jose — a team in its 17th season and seeking its first Stanley Cup — who not long ago were hitting milestones that were laughable more than laudable.
In 1992-93, the team set the NHL loss record (71). Despite 12 trips to the playoffs, the Sharks haven't made the Finals.
"We didn't have the talent to win," says Sharks general manager Doug Wilson, who played defense for the team's first two seasons. "Guys like Mario Lemiuex averaged six points a night against us. Even if Mario hadn't played in a while, he always seemed to get healthy when we played him."
But fans embraced the team that features an unusual signature color (teal), and now those times seem about as far away as the antiquated Cow Palace, which opened in 1941 about 40 miles north of here and was the team's home during its first two seasons.
San Jose enters the playoffs vs. the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday with first-year coach Todd McLellan, veteran experience from past Cup winners and loftier expectations thanks in part to a team-record 32-5-4 mark at home.
Despite losing their last two games, the Sharks (53-18-11) earned their first Western Conference title and Presidents' Trophy, the award given to the team with the best record during the regular season.
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"You walk down the street, and people know what's going on," defenseman Dan Boyle says. "They really want this thing. Three-quarters of the questions I get asked is about whether we're going to win the Stanley Cup. It's been, 'Great job this year. Bring home the Cup.' "
Early on, the Sharks pulled off huge first-round playoff upsets — against the Detroit Red Wings (1994), Calgary Flames (1995) and St. Louis Blues (2000). But in those dozen playoff appearances, they advanced to the conference finals once (2004), losing to the Flames in six games.
Of the five expansion teams that entered the league from 1991-93, the Sharks are the only one that hasn't made the Finals. Two of those teams (the Tampa Bay Lightning and Anaheim) have won Cups.
"They better this year," ESPN analyst Barry Melrose says. "That's a great team they have, and they had great teams before. But they were missing guys who knew how to win. Now they have those guys."
The Cup-winning additions include:
•Boyle and Brad Lukowich (Tampa Bay, 2004 Cup): The defensemen were acquired via a trade with Tampa Bay last summer. They often are grouped together. Boyle is the more offensive-minded of the two and was tops in the Pacific Division and sixth overall among defenseman with 57 points. Lukowich was injured much of the season.
•Rob Blake (Colorado Avalanche, 2001): The 39-year-old decided against retirement and has given San Jose punch on the power play with his blistering slap shot. His 44 points rank him second to Boyle among Sharks defensemen.
•Claude Lemieux (Montreal Canadiens, 1986; New Jersey Devils, 1995, 2000; Colorado, 1996): Five years after retiring, the gritty forward, 43, returned to the NHL in January. He has a reputation for stepping up in the playoffs.
•Travis Moen and Kent Huskins (Anaheim, 2007): Moen, a forward, and Huskins, a defenseman, give San Jose more depth. Both were added at the March trade deadline.
"On paper, they're better than Detroit," Melrose says. "But Detroit has won (a Cup), while the Sharks have been disappointing."
Championship or bust
McLellan can be counted in that group of Cup winners. He was an assistant with the Red Wings, a veteran club that won the title last season, marking Detroit's fourth Cup since 1997. The Sharks, meanwhile, have seen second-round exits the past three years: to the Dallas Stars (2008), the Red Wings (2007) and the Edmonton Oilers (2006).
Those short playoff appearances cost coach Ron Wilson his job.
"The Sharks' approach appears to be much different," says former NHL defenseman Larry Murphy, a TV analyst for the Red Wings and the NHL Network. "It seems like the last few years they were hoping to succeed. Now they're determined to succeed."
McLellan looked to simplify the team's philosophy. He's not one to give wordy instructions or complicated plays but instead preaches throwing pucks at the net and capitalizing on chances.
The mastermind behind the Red Wings' potent power play helped the Sharks elevate their man advantage from 10th in the league last season to third, thanks to a 24.2% scoring rate.
"We had a plan coming in on how we thought this team should play and how we could put the players in the position to succeed," McLellan says. "We implemented it in training camp, and at that point it could go either way."
One thing he didn't alter was who wears the captain's C. That remained on the jersey of forward Patrick Marleau, who owns every major offensive franchise mark after 11 seasons in teal. He shares top billing on the Sharks' No. 1 line with All-Star center Joe Thornton.
Both have been tagged as underachievers in the playoffs. While Marleau has been consistent in the postseason, averaging 0.7 points a game — about the same as his regular-season output — he was ridiculed last year for jumping out of the way of a shot against the Stars that resulted in a goal. NBC analyst Mike Milbury coined the move "the double flamingo" because Marleau curled both of his legs to avoid the puck.
Thornton has been unable to shake the perception since his days with the Boston Bruins, when he went to the playoffs five times and never got past the second round. His points-a-game output is 31.6% lower in the playoffs.
"I watched the team a lot in the past, and those guys were responsible with carrying the whole load along with (forward Jonathan) Cheechoo and a few others," Lemieux says. "It's too easy to shut two or three guys down in the playoffs. It's got to be coming from a lot of different angles, and I feel we have that."
'This is the year'
The Sharks lost twice in October and in November, compiling the best start in league history through 30 games (52 points). San Jose also began the season 20-0-2 at home and remained atop the Western Conference from start to finish.
The Sharks sold out all but one game at HP Pavilion, also known as the "Shark Tank," which seats 17,496, and have been below 96.2% capacity once in their 15 seasons there.
Sheldon Perry, owner of a San Jose mortgage company, says he has seen fans at the Tank get more anxious.
"Everybody who sits around me thinks this is the year," says Perry, a season-ticketholder for more than a decade. "If they don't make it past at least the first couple rounds, there will be a revolt."
McLellan concedes that the road toward the best record in hockey hasn't been without its detours.
"We had our share of adversity," he says. "In the second half, we had to fight back from a rash of injuries. We played more on the road than at home and had some mini-slumps. I think that's going to help us in the long run."
Goalie Evgeni Nabokov missed 13 games to lower-body injuries and flu. Speedster Torrey Mitchell missed the regular season after breaking his leg in training camp, and veterans Jeremy Roenick (39 games), center Marcel Goc (27), Lukowich (21), right wing Mike Grier (20), Lemieux (18) and Cheechoo (16) also missed time.
The team is as healthy as it has been since the season's opening weeks.
"You have to like our chances," says Thornton, who won the Hart Trophy, the NHL's version of the MVP, in 2006. "We're first in the NHL for a reason."
It's the Silicon Valley skaters from San Jose — a team in its 17th season and seeking its first Stanley Cup — who not long ago were hitting milestones that were laughable more than laudable.
In 1992-93, the team set the NHL loss record (71). Despite 12 trips to the playoffs, the Sharks haven't made the Finals.
"We didn't have the talent to win," says Sharks general manager Doug Wilson, who played defense for the team's first two seasons. "Guys like Mario Lemiuex averaged six points a night against us. Even if Mario hadn't played in a while, he always seemed to get healthy when we played him."
But fans embraced the team that features an unusual signature color (teal), and now those times seem about as far away as the antiquated Cow Palace, which opened in 1941 about 40 miles north of here and was the team's home during its first two seasons.
San Jose enters the playoffs vs. the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday with first-year coach Todd McLellan, veteran experience from past Cup winners and loftier expectations thanks in part to a team-record 32-5-4 mark at home.
Despite losing their last two games, the Sharks (53-18-11) earned their first Western Conference title and Presidents' Trophy, the award given to the team with the best record during the regular season.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Philadelphia | Boston | Colorado | Stanley Cup | San Jose | Detroit Red Wings | New Jersey Devils | Silicon Valley | Anaheim Ducks | Tampa Bay Lightning | Dallas Stars | Edmonton Oilers | Calgary Flames | St. Louis Blues | Sharks | Joe Thornton | Pacific Division | Ron Wilson | Patrick Marleau | Presidents | Dan Boyle | Todd McLellan | Trophy | Doug Wilson | Cups | Barry Melrose | Brad Lukowich | Kent Huskins | Larry Murphy | Moen | NHL Network | Cow Palace | Cup. | All-Star. | C. That
"You walk down the street, and people know what's going on," defenseman Dan Boyle says. "They really want this thing. Three-quarters of the questions I get asked is about whether we're going to win the Stanley Cup. It's been, 'Great job this year. Bring home the Cup.' "
Early on, the Sharks pulled off huge first-round playoff upsets — against the Detroit Red Wings (1994), Calgary Flames (1995) and St. Louis Blues (2000). But in those dozen playoff appearances, they advanced to the conference finals once (2004), losing to the Flames in six games.
Of the five expansion teams that entered the league from 1991-93, the Sharks are the only one that hasn't made the Finals. Two of those teams (the Tampa Bay Lightning and Anaheim) have won Cups.
"They better this year," ESPN analyst Barry Melrose says. "That's a great team they have, and they had great teams before. But they were missing guys who knew how to win. Now they have those guys."
The Cup-winning additions include:
•Boyle and Brad Lukowich (Tampa Bay, 2004 Cup): The defensemen were acquired via a trade with Tampa Bay last summer. They often are grouped together. Boyle is the more offensive-minded of the two and was tops in the Pacific Division and sixth overall among defenseman with 57 points. Lukowich was injured much of the season.
•Rob Blake (Colorado Avalanche, 2001): The 39-year-old decided against retirement and has given San Jose punch on the power play with his blistering slap shot. His 44 points rank him second to Boyle among Sharks defensemen.
•Claude Lemieux (Montreal Canadiens, 1986; New Jersey Devils, 1995, 2000; Colorado, 1996): Five years after retiring, the gritty forward, 43, returned to the NHL in January. He has a reputation for stepping up in the playoffs.
•Travis Moen and Kent Huskins (Anaheim, 2007): Moen, a forward, and Huskins, a defenseman, give San Jose more depth. Both were added at the March trade deadline.
"On paper, they're better than Detroit," Melrose says. "But Detroit has won (a Cup), while the Sharks have been disappointing."
Championship or bust
McLellan can be counted in that group of Cup winners. He was an assistant with the Red Wings, a veteran club that won the title last season, marking Detroit's fourth Cup since 1997. The Sharks, meanwhile, have seen second-round exits the past three years: to the Dallas Stars (2008), the Red Wings (2007) and the Edmonton Oilers (2006).
Those short playoff appearances cost coach Ron Wilson his job.
"The Sharks' approach appears to be much different," says former NHL defenseman Larry Murphy, a TV analyst for the Red Wings and the NHL Network. "It seems like the last few years they were hoping to succeed. Now they're determined to succeed."
McLellan looked to simplify the team's philosophy. He's not one to give wordy instructions or complicated plays but instead preaches throwing pucks at the net and capitalizing on chances.
The mastermind behind the Red Wings' potent power play helped the Sharks elevate their man advantage from 10th in the league last season to third, thanks to a 24.2% scoring rate.
"We had a plan coming in on how we thought this team should play and how we could put the players in the position to succeed," McLellan says. "We implemented it in training camp, and at that point it could go either way."
One thing he didn't alter was who wears the captain's C. That remained on the jersey of forward Patrick Marleau, who owns every major offensive franchise mark after 11 seasons in teal. He shares top billing on the Sharks' No. 1 line with All-Star center Joe Thornton.
Both have been tagged as underachievers in the playoffs. While Marleau has been consistent in the postseason, averaging 0.7 points a game — about the same as his regular-season output — he was ridiculed last year for jumping out of the way of a shot against the Stars that resulted in a goal. NBC analyst Mike Milbury coined the move "the double flamingo" because Marleau curled both of his legs to avoid the puck.
Thornton has been unable to shake the perception since his days with the Boston Bruins, when he went to the playoffs five times and never got past the second round. His points-a-game output is 31.6% lower in the playoffs.
"I watched the team a lot in the past, and those guys were responsible with carrying the whole load along with (forward Jonathan) Cheechoo and a few others," Lemieux says. "It's too easy to shut two or three guys down in the playoffs. It's got to be coming from a lot of different angles, and I feel we have that."
'This is the year'
The Sharks lost twice in October and in November, compiling the best start in league history through 30 games (52 points). San Jose also began the season 20-0-2 at home and remained atop the Western Conference from start to finish.
The Sharks sold out all but one game at HP Pavilion, also known as the "Shark Tank," which seats 17,496, and have been below 96.2% capacity once in their 15 seasons there.
Sheldon Perry, owner of a San Jose mortgage company, says he has seen fans at the Tank get more anxious.
"Everybody who sits around me thinks this is the year," says Perry, a season-ticketholder for more than a decade. "If they don't make it past at least the first couple rounds, there will be a revolt."
McLellan concedes that the road toward the best record in hockey hasn't been without its detours.
"We had our share of adversity," he says. "In the second half, we had to fight back from a rash of injuries. We played more on the road than at home and had some mini-slumps. I think that's going to help us in the long run."
Goalie Evgeni Nabokov missed 13 games to lower-body injuries and flu. Speedster Torrey Mitchell missed the regular season after breaking his leg in training camp, and veterans Jeremy Roenick (39 games), center Marcel Goc (27), Lukowich (21), right wing Mike Grier (20), Lemieux (18) and Cheechoo (16) also missed time.
The team is as healthy as it has been since the season's opening weeks.
"You have to like our chances," says Thornton, who won the Hart Trophy, the NHL's version of the MVP, in 2006. "We're first in the NHL for a reason."
Lost season finally over for Avalanche
DENVER, Colorado — This recently completed Avalanche season was brought to you by Oceanic Air Flight 815.
Thanks in large part to injuries to top-line centers Joe Sakic and Paul Stastny, substandard goaltending and a consistent lack of consistency, the Avs were a crew that might as well have been stranded on a remote island.
For much of 2008-09, they were simply lost.
“Very lost season,” forward Milan Hejduk said. “Lost everything.”
Six months of pain and misery came to an end Sunday with a 1-0 loss to the playoff-bound St. Louis Blues. The Avs missed the postseason for the second time in three years, raising plenty of questions about how the franchise moves forward this offseason.
Will general manager Francois Giguere and/or coach Tony Granato take the fall for the worst season since the team moved to Denver in 1995? Will Sakic be optimistic enough about Colorado’s talent to return for a 21st NHL season? Will the Avs be able to find a top-line goalie after investing three seasons in Peter Budaj?
When analyzing a season-gone-wrong, it’s best to start at the top.
As the team’s executive vice president, general manager and alternate governor (whatever that means), Giguere now has presided over the only two nonplayoff seasons in Avalanche history. He opted to let goalie Jose Theodore and power forward Andrew Brunette leave as free agents last summer, putting his faith in Budaj and signing forward Darcy Tucker to a two-year, $4.5 million contract after the veteran was kicked to the curb by Toronto.
Budaj struggled to provide consistent play in net, finishing with a 20-29-5 record and a 2.86 goals-against average, while Tucker managed just eight goals and eight assists in 63 games. To his credit, Giguere did sign 23-year-old center Paul Stastny to a five-year contract extension that will kick in next season.
It remains to be seen whether Granato will be around to aid in Stastny’s development. The team lost 19 of its final 22 games and finished with the third-fewest points (69) in the NHL, leaving the coach on the proverbial hot seat as offseason evaluations begin.
“Whatever happens, happens,” Granato said. “I’ll be ready to go next year.”
In fairness to Granato, it would have been difficult for any coach to succeed in Colorado this season. Sakic played only 15 games before a back injury derailed his season, while Stastny missed 37 games with a broken forearm and a broken foot. In all, the Avs lost more than 360 man-games to injury, prompting 11 players to make their NHL debuts this season.
“They had a tremendous amount of injuries to their key players,” said former NHL coach and current ESPN hockey analyst Barry Melrose.
“No team is able to overcome something like that. I remember watching them this year and they had eight or nine guys out.”
More telling for Melrose was the effort Colorado put forth while notching road wins against top-tier teams such as Detroit, Washington and Vancouver in the final weeks of the season.
“They never quit on Tony,” Melrose said. “If you’re looking for a reason to get rid of a coach, you’d say they quit on Tony down the stretch. … I know Tony Granato and I know he’s a great leader and a great person. When you have young players, you want a guy like Tony Granato working with them.”
Should Granato return, he would love to have Sakic back in the dressing room and — more importantly — on the ice. Sakic, who turns 40 on July 7, is nearly recovered from surgery to repair a herniated disk and said last week that he plans to make a decision on his future soon.
If Sakic comes back, he and Stastny will anchor the top two lines along with proven scorers Hejduk and Ryan Smyth. Second-year left wing Cody McLeod (15 goals, 5 assists and rookie Chris Stewart (11 goals, eight assists) also showed promise this season, giving Colorado a nice young nucleus going forward.
Even if the Avs can implement the up-tempo offense that Granato and Giguere envision, they still need someone who can stop the puck. Given the chance to prove himself as a No. 1 goalie, Budaj was inconsistent for much of the season. He tried to make a good final impression by stopping 119 of 123 shots in his last four starts.
“I tried to show, not just the fans, but the coaching staff and the staff upstairs that I can play here,” Budaj said. “I did everything that I possibly can and I was able to play well for the last stretch of games.
“I was trying to do everything I can to take this opportunity that they gave me. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to fulfill my expectations. I know this season wasn’t the one that I hoped for. I had a chance to prove that I can be a No. 1 goalie in this league. Just got to learn from it and work for another chance.”
Among the goaltenders who will be free agents this season are Detroit veteran Ty Conklin and New Jersey Devils backup Scott Clemmensen. Conklin, 33, went 25-11-2 with a 2.52 GAA, while Clemmensen performed admirably after the Devils lost Martin Brodeur to a biceps injury for much of the season. Clemmensen, 30, went 25-13-1 with a 2.39 GAA in his first real opportunity to be the top guy and he could come at an affordable price in free agency.
“Clemmensen played very, very well,” Melrose said. “A lot of people have changed their thinking on whether he can be a No. 1 goaltender.”
Among other housekeeping items for the Avalanche will be decisions on veteran right win Ian Laperriere and enigmatic center Tyler Arnason.
Laperriere, 35, will be an unrestricted free agent and negotiations between his agent and the Avalanche have not progressed in the past two months.
“There’s no talking right now,” Laperriere said. “I want to stay here. They know that. I’ll do what’s best for my family, too.”
Next to Sakic, Laperriere is Colorado’s most popular player, and his leadership in the dressing room is unquestioned. He had seven goals and 12 assists in his 15th NHL season, and it will be interesting to see if the Avalanche is willing to give him a multiyear contract based on the intangibles he brings to a franchise.
“I know my value,” he said. “I know what I bring to the team. It’s not like I’m a 22-year-old who tries to hit a home run. I know I still can play. I proved this year that I’m not done.”
Arnason, however, likely has played his final game in Colorado. He was a healthy scratch for the last five games of the season.
“I think overall, this season hasn’t gone very well, but I can’t complain about how I was treated the first two years here,” he said. “I have no bad feelings about the Avalanche at all.”
There was a tone of indifference as Arnason left the Pepsi Center. The rest of the Colorado organization can ill afford to take a similar stance as it tries to avoid drifting further into obscurity.
Thanks in large part to injuries to top-line centers Joe Sakic and Paul Stastny, substandard goaltending and a consistent lack of consistency, the Avs were a crew that might as well have been stranded on a remote island.
For much of 2008-09, they were simply lost.
“Very lost season,” forward Milan Hejduk said. “Lost everything.”
Six months of pain and misery came to an end Sunday with a 1-0 loss to the playoff-bound St. Louis Blues. The Avs missed the postseason for the second time in three years, raising plenty of questions about how the franchise moves forward this offseason.
Will general manager Francois Giguere and/or coach Tony Granato take the fall for the worst season since the team moved to Denver in 1995? Will Sakic be optimistic enough about Colorado’s talent to return for a 21st NHL season? Will the Avs be able to find a top-line goalie after investing three seasons in Peter Budaj?
When analyzing a season-gone-wrong, it’s best to start at the top.
As the team’s executive vice president, general manager and alternate governor (whatever that means), Giguere now has presided over the only two nonplayoff seasons in Avalanche history. He opted to let goalie Jose Theodore and power forward Andrew Brunette leave as free agents last summer, putting his faith in Budaj and signing forward Darcy Tucker to a two-year, $4.5 million contract after the veteran was kicked to the curb by Toronto.
Budaj struggled to provide consistent play in net, finishing with a 20-29-5 record and a 2.86 goals-against average, while Tucker managed just eight goals and eight assists in 63 games. To his credit, Giguere did sign 23-year-old center Paul Stastny to a five-year contract extension that will kick in next season.
It remains to be seen whether Granato will be around to aid in Stastny’s development. The team lost 19 of its final 22 games and finished with the third-fewest points (69) in the NHL, leaving the coach on the proverbial hot seat as offseason evaluations begin.
“Whatever happens, happens,” Granato said. “I’ll be ready to go next year.”
In fairness to Granato, it would have been difficult for any coach to succeed in Colorado this season. Sakic played only 15 games before a back injury derailed his season, while Stastny missed 37 games with a broken forearm and a broken foot. In all, the Avs lost more than 360 man-games to injury, prompting 11 players to make their NHL debuts this season.
“They had a tremendous amount of injuries to their key players,” said former NHL coach and current ESPN hockey analyst Barry Melrose.
“No team is able to overcome something like that. I remember watching them this year and they had eight or nine guys out.”
More telling for Melrose was the effort Colorado put forth while notching road wins against top-tier teams such as Detroit, Washington and Vancouver in the final weeks of the season.
“They never quit on Tony,” Melrose said. “If you’re looking for a reason to get rid of a coach, you’d say they quit on Tony down the stretch. … I know Tony Granato and I know he’s a great leader and a great person. When you have young players, you want a guy like Tony Granato working with them.”
Should Granato return, he would love to have Sakic back in the dressing room and — more importantly — on the ice. Sakic, who turns 40 on July 7, is nearly recovered from surgery to repair a herniated disk and said last week that he plans to make a decision on his future soon.
If Sakic comes back, he and Stastny will anchor the top two lines along with proven scorers Hejduk and Ryan Smyth. Second-year left wing Cody McLeod (15 goals, 5 assists and rookie Chris Stewart (11 goals, eight assists) also showed promise this season, giving Colorado a nice young nucleus going forward.
Even if the Avs can implement the up-tempo offense that Granato and Giguere envision, they still need someone who can stop the puck. Given the chance to prove himself as a No. 1 goalie, Budaj was inconsistent for much of the season. He tried to make a good final impression by stopping 119 of 123 shots in his last four starts.
“I tried to show, not just the fans, but the coaching staff and the staff upstairs that I can play here,” Budaj said. “I did everything that I possibly can and I was able to play well for the last stretch of games.
“I was trying to do everything I can to take this opportunity that they gave me. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to fulfill my expectations. I know this season wasn’t the one that I hoped for. I had a chance to prove that I can be a No. 1 goalie in this league. Just got to learn from it and work for another chance.”
Among the goaltenders who will be free agents this season are Detroit veteran Ty Conklin and New Jersey Devils backup Scott Clemmensen. Conklin, 33, went 25-11-2 with a 2.52 GAA, while Clemmensen performed admirably after the Devils lost Martin Brodeur to a biceps injury for much of the season. Clemmensen, 30, went 25-13-1 with a 2.39 GAA in his first real opportunity to be the top guy and he could come at an affordable price in free agency.
“Clemmensen played very, very well,” Melrose said. “A lot of people have changed their thinking on whether he can be a No. 1 goaltender.”
Among other housekeeping items for the Avalanche will be decisions on veteran right win Ian Laperriere and enigmatic center Tyler Arnason.
Laperriere, 35, will be an unrestricted free agent and negotiations between his agent and the Avalanche have not progressed in the past two months.
“There’s no talking right now,” Laperriere said. “I want to stay here. They know that. I’ll do what’s best for my family, too.”
Next to Sakic, Laperriere is Colorado’s most popular player, and his leadership in the dressing room is unquestioned. He had seven goals and 12 assists in his 15th NHL season, and it will be interesting to see if the Avalanche is willing to give him a multiyear contract based on the intangibles he brings to a franchise.
“I know my value,” he said. “I know what I bring to the team. It’s not like I’m a 22-year-old who tries to hit a home run. I know I still can play. I proved this year that I’m not done.”
Arnason, however, likely has played his final game in Colorado. He was a healthy scratch for the last five games of the season.
“I think overall, this season hasn’t gone very well, but I can’t complain about how I was treated the first two years here,” he said. “I have no bad feelings about the Avalanche at all.”
There was a tone of indifference as Arnason left the Pepsi Center. The rest of the Colorado organization can ill afford to take a similar stance as it tries to avoid drifting further into obscurity.
So I have to say Hex is one of this year’s highlights in season 8. I’ll give you a brief rundown of events.
The show starts with Chloe’s birthday party and Lois has to cut out early. Cue Zatanna! And how beautiful she is! Zatanna decides to grant Chloe a birthday wish and in that moment it just so happens her biggest desire is to be like Lois. So when she wakes up the next morning she IS Lois. And comedy ensues. Chloe finds out what it’s like for Clark to work with Lois and she can tell that he is in love with her. So eventually Chloe figures out how she got this way and tells Clark what is going on. So they go to find Zatanna and when they do she tells Chloe she will go back to normal when she no longer wants what she wished for. Then she grants a wish to Clark, who in that moment just happens to be thinking about what life would be like if he didn’t have those pesky powers. UGH another powerless Clark episode. But this time it is actually done pretty well. I love the part where he whips out his phone and calls 911. Then of course when Chloe tries to tell him he has powers and attempts to hit him with a big metal bar. Classic
Meanwhile Zatanna is looking for her father’s spell book which she has learned that Lex acquired before his untimely demise. So she goes looking for Oliver who has recently merged Queen Industries with LuthorCorp. She tells Oliver that if he can get her that book in the next 24 hours she will grant him a wish. (Because that has worked so well for everyone else.) Anyway so Green Arrow manages to finagle his way into Lex’s personal collection and steal the spell book and decides that he is gonna burn the book because of all its dark power. Well Zatanna has other plans so she ties his ass to a pole with chains by saying a little chant backwards. NICE! She then attempts to use the book to bring back her dead father. So there she is on the top of the Daily Planet Building resurrecting her dead pappy when Chloe is still trying to convince Clark he has superpowers when she gets so frustrated that she must have wished she was herself again so she could show Clark what is really going on, because then BOOM she was Chloe again. So then Clark snaps out of it and realizes he has his powers. He then proceeds to either Superjump or Fly to the top of the Building. It was never said which he actually did. The reason I suspect he flew is because the last time he crouched down and the ground around him cracked was in season 4 when he flew. So I guess we will never know. Anyway I did enjoy the Up, Up, and Away line Chloe threw in there. So then Clark gets up there and manages to stop Zatanna from bringing her father back from the dead and killing Chloe in the process. Dammit!
Then we get to see Zatanna talking to Oliver at the end. She tells him she is going around the world to learn more about the book and her skills. She gives him a card and says you can use this to call me if you need me. And Oliver is like is this a magic word or something and Zatanna says no it’s my phone number. HAHAHAHA and we all have a good laugh!
All in all I really enjoyed this episode. I love when they bring in characters from the comic books especially well known ones who can add a lot to the show such as Zatanna and Black Canary. It’s just a shame we don’t see them too often besides Oliver. As for Serinda Swan, I thought she did a great job. I do believe this is one of her first if not the first acting role she has had and I thought she was wonderful and would absolutely love to see her more Smallville episodes or even her own spin off series. Anyway Stay tuned for my review of “Eternal” and let me know what you thought of “Hex”
The show starts with Chloe’s birthday party and Lois has to cut out early. Cue Zatanna! And how beautiful she is! Zatanna decides to grant Chloe a birthday wish and in that moment it just so happens her biggest desire is to be like Lois. So when she wakes up the next morning she IS Lois. And comedy ensues. Chloe finds out what it’s like for Clark to work with Lois and she can tell that he is in love with her. So eventually Chloe figures out how she got this way and tells Clark what is going on. So they go to find Zatanna and when they do she tells Chloe she will go back to normal when she no longer wants what she wished for. Then she grants a wish to Clark, who in that moment just happens to be thinking about what life would be like if he didn’t have those pesky powers. UGH another powerless Clark episode. But this time it is actually done pretty well. I love the part where he whips out his phone and calls 911. Then of course when Chloe tries to tell him he has powers and attempts to hit him with a big metal bar. Classic
Meanwhile Zatanna is looking for her father’s spell book which she has learned that Lex acquired before his untimely demise. So she goes looking for Oliver who has recently merged Queen Industries with LuthorCorp. She tells Oliver that if he can get her that book in the next 24 hours she will grant him a wish. (Because that has worked so well for everyone else.) Anyway so Green Arrow manages to finagle his way into Lex’s personal collection and steal the spell book and decides that he is gonna burn the book because of all its dark power. Well Zatanna has other plans so she ties his ass to a pole with chains by saying a little chant backwards. NICE! She then attempts to use the book to bring back her dead father. So there she is on the top of the Daily Planet Building resurrecting her dead pappy when Chloe is still trying to convince Clark he has superpowers when she gets so frustrated that she must have wished she was herself again so she could show Clark what is really going on, because then BOOM she was Chloe again. So then Clark snaps out of it and realizes he has his powers. He then proceeds to either Superjump or Fly to the top of the Building. It was never said which he actually did. The reason I suspect he flew is because the last time he crouched down and the ground around him cracked was in season 4 when he flew. So I guess we will never know. Anyway I did enjoy the Up, Up, and Away line Chloe threw in there. So then Clark gets up there and manages to stop Zatanna from bringing her father back from the dead and killing Chloe in the process. Dammit!
Then we get to see Zatanna talking to Oliver at the end. She tells him she is going around the world to learn more about the book and her skills. She gives him a card and says you can use this to call me if you need me. And Oliver is like is this a magic word or something and Zatanna says no it’s my phone number. HAHAHAHA and we all have a good laugh!
All in all I really enjoyed this episode. I love when they bring in characters from the comic books especially well known ones who can add a lot to the show such as Zatanna and Black Canary. It’s just a shame we don’t see them too often besides Oliver. As for Serinda Swan, I thought she did a great job. I do believe this is one of her first if not the first acting role she has had and I thought she was wonderful and would absolutely love to see her more Smallville episodes or even her own spin off series. Anyway Stay tuned for my review of “Eternal” and let me know what you thought of “Hex”
True Blood Lust: Who's Fanging Who in Season 2?
Will Sookie dump Bill for Eric?
Despite the fact that True Blood stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer are a rock-solid twosome in real life, the show's Bill-Sookie-Eric triangle was the question of the hour as the cast and producers of HBO's vampire drama hit the Paley Center for Media's 25th Annual TV Festival Monday night.
Happily, Blood boss Alan Ball and his stars, including Paquin and Alexander Skarsgård, dished to us exclusively on the red carpet about the Viking vampire getting a hot spotlight, who's getting a serious beatdown and who's playing with the new supernatural creatures.
Moyer even told us his real feelings about the other man leering at his lady...Get our exclusive interview goodies and a sneaky peek of season two of HBO's True Blood.
Alan Ball, executive producer
Anna won a Golden Globe for playing Sookie over the hiatus—what are you doing to up the ante and keep her challenged?
Anna loves it when she's getting beaten up or kicked or smacked around, and lucky for her, Charlaine Harris put a lot of that stuff in the second book.
Does Sookie interact with the new supernatural creatures much this season?
She spends the first half of the season focusing on vampires and vampire politics in Dallas, as a sort of favor to Eric, and she spends the last half of the season cleaning up the mess that some new supernatural creatures have created in her town—and she is pissed. She is not going to take it anymore.
And what changes about Eric this time around?
Eric has more of a presence in season two—you get a little of his backstory, you find out a bit of what's important to him, what is meaningful to him, what makes him cry.
Alexander Skarsgård (Eric Northman)
How are you playing Eric differently this year?
Everything becomes more private and personal in season two. In season one, the situation started out being business-related, and Eric's attraction to Sookie was "All right, I might use this." But the stuff between them now is much more personal. He's very much emotionally involved now. And I'm not just talking about his relationship between Eric and Sookie and Bill, but other things as well. A lot of the fans who have read book two, they know that the reason they go to Dallas is because Eric's maker has gone missing. That's a very, very personal quest for him.
What about reports that you'll play Thor in the major motion picture version of Thor?
No, I don't think so. I haven't gotten the call, so...
Anna Paquin (Sookie Stackhouse)
What does the mission to Dallas mean for Sookie's situation in Bon Temps?
I haven't seen any further in the scripts than from when we come back from Dallas, so I don't know what we're doing in Bon Temps.
And does Jason get into trouble again this season?
He gets into different kinds of trouble this season, because he's off with his church.
How are you feeling about the Bill-Sookie-Eric triangle right now?
It's really only just sort of slightly hinted at, as of yet—we're shooting seven right now. But Eric's definitely leering down from his heights.
Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton)
How does Bill feel about Eric moving in on his lady?
That's a good question. I'm not going to lie, when I see those little things in the script, those little moments when Eric's pouting at her from across the room, I'm like, I'm going to have a word with that scamp later. It does make me step back a little bit and be upset, which is exactly how Bill reacts as well..."F--ker."
And now for a very special sneaky peek at True Blood season two. Check out the video below to see what badness happens when Sookie helps Jessica at Bill's expense.
Despite the fact that True Blood stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer are a rock-solid twosome in real life, the show's Bill-Sookie-Eric triangle was the question of the hour as the cast and producers of HBO's vampire drama hit the Paley Center for Media's 25th Annual TV Festival Monday night.
Happily, Blood boss Alan Ball and his stars, including Paquin and Alexander Skarsgård, dished to us exclusively on the red carpet about the Viking vampire getting a hot spotlight, who's getting a serious beatdown and who's playing with the new supernatural creatures.
Moyer even told us his real feelings about the other man leering at his lady...Get our exclusive interview goodies and a sneaky peek of season two of HBO's True Blood.
Alan Ball, executive producer
Anna won a Golden Globe for playing Sookie over the hiatus—what are you doing to up the ante and keep her challenged?
Anna loves it when she's getting beaten up or kicked or smacked around, and lucky for her, Charlaine Harris put a lot of that stuff in the second book.
Does Sookie interact with the new supernatural creatures much this season?
She spends the first half of the season focusing on vampires and vampire politics in Dallas, as a sort of favor to Eric, and she spends the last half of the season cleaning up the mess that some new supernatural creatures have created in her town—and she is pissed. She is not going to take it anymore.
And what changes about Eric this time around?
Eric has more of a presence in season two—you get a little of his backstory, you find out a bit of what's important to him, what is meaningful to him, what makes him cry.
Alexander Skarsgård (Eric Northman)
How are you playing Eric differently this year?
Everything becomes more private and personal in season two. In season one, the situation started out being business-related, and Eric's attraction to Sookie was "All right, I might use this." But the stuff between them now is much more personal. He's very much emotionally involved now. And I'm not just talking about his relationship between Eric and Sookie and Bill, but other things as well. A lot of the fans who have read book two, they know that the reason they go to Dallas is because Eric's maker has gone missing. That's a very, very personal quest for him.
What about reports that you'll play Thor in the major motion picture version of Thor?
No, I don't think so. I haven't gotten the call, so...
Anna Paquin (Sookie Stackhouse)
What does the mission to Dallas mean for Sookie's situation in Bon Temps?
I haven't seen any further in the scripts than from when we come back from Dallas, so I don't know what we're doing in Bon Temps.
And does Jason get into trouble again this season?
He gets into different kinds of trouble this season, because he's off with his church.
How are you feeling about the Bill-Sookie-Eric triangle right now?
It's really only just sort of slightly hinted at, as of yet—we're shooting seven right now. But Eric's definitely leering down from his heights.
Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton)
How does Bill feel about Eric moving in on his lady?
That's a good question. I'm not going to lie, when I see those little things in the script, those little moments when Eric's pouting at her from across the room, I'm like, I'm going to have a word with that scamp later. It does make me step back a little bit and be upset, which is exactly how Bill reacts as well..."F--ker."
And now for a very special sneaky peek at True Blood season two. Check out the video below to see what badness happens when Sookie helps Jessica at Bill's expense.
Mega Buzz on Grey's, CSI, Mad Men, Lost, Dexter & More!
Every week, senior editors Matt Webb Mitovich, Mickey O'Connor and Tim Molloy satisfy your need for TV scoop. Please send all questions to mega_scoop@tvguide.com.
Could you give me any scoop you have on Grey's Anatomy, ideally something about Mark and Lexie? I need my fix! — Frances
MATT: Does McSteamy "do" parents? That's the big question in the April 30 episode, when a now-sober Thatcher Grey invites his daughter and her new beau out to dinner. Now, just supposing that Mark is down for some dining, can the reformed cad put on a good show? And this just in: A source tells me that on Mer and Der's wedding day, airing May 7, the groom gifts his bride with (incurable romantic alert!) her first solo surgery. How that fits into a little blue Tiffany box, I do not know.
The past two seasons of CSI have ended with a cliff-hanger. Season 7 ended with Sara left in the Vegas desert by the Miniature Killer, and Season 8 ended with Warrick being accused of murder (and eventually murdered himself). Will Season 9 follow that same pattern? — Jocelyn
TIM: Wow, nice rundown! Wallace Langham tells us the self-contained season-ender features Laurence Fishburne's Langston in the line of fire: "You see him put into some situations that are new for him, as far as being out in the field and having to deal with perpetrators." Langham's Hodges, meanwhile, gets to stay in the lab, where he's happiest. (Coming Thursday: Read our full Q&A with Langham about this week's sci-fi-themed episode.)
Is there a premiere date for Season 3 of Mad Men yet? — Misti
MICKEY: Tell you what, I can officially narrow down the "summer" return date to early August. As with last season, don't expect tidy resolutions to the finale's cliff-hangers — e.g., Peggy's revelation to Pete, Betty's pregnancy, Joan's rape — since the show will most surely jump ahead in time again. Can you think of any 1960s historical events that might serve as a juicy metaphorical backdrop (as the Cuban Missile Crisis did in Season 2)? I can.
I love Lost! But I am still wondering why Miles was blackmailing Ben for $3.2 million, and why/how Ben had that much money on the island? — Sara
MATT: You will get the answer to at least the first half of your question in this week's Miles-centric episode, "Some Like It Hoth" — when a dollar amount other than $3.2 mil is brought up. I'm hearing that in the subsequent episode, airing April 29, the long-MIA Daniel Faraday will demonstrate just how well he knows the Island. (Hint: They are much more than Facebook friends.)
What ever happened to Dexter? Is there going to be a fourth season? — Rachel
TIM: Of course, he's a serial killer. Season 4 goes into production in late May/early June and will probably premiere toward the end of September. If you couldn't guess from last season's wedding finale, the next cycle focuses on Dexter as a family man: How does he balance his role as a husband and father of three with his grisly nocturnal endeavors? Most parents can't find time to catch a movie, much less mete out bloody vengeance.
Who do we have to bribe, beg or threaten over at Fringe to get Joshua Jackson more screen time? I am getting very frustrated at how little he is used in each episode. What gives? — Cheri
MICKEY: First of all, you have to bribe me. I like Hendrick's gin, dark chocolate, bibimbap and shiny things. Once I receive your hypothetical generous "donations," I will probably be able to tell you about a big Peter Bishop reveal in the season finale (my mole breathlessly called it "major major major" — and it is). Before then, though, we're going to get a bit more information about Olivia's twisted childhood brush with scientific testing, the unmasking of Dr. William Bell and the mysterious, robot-armed Nina Sharp. And as with most things on Fringe, these are all related developments.
I know that Fox starts airing the final six episodes of Prison Break this Friday. But why aren't Episodes 23 and 24, which presumably wrap everything up, on the schedule? I'm baffled. — Al
MATT: You're not baffled, just understandably confused. Episodes 21 and 22, airing May 15, will offer "a completely satisfying ending" to the Break — including a where-are-they-now, flash-forward coda, series creator Matt Olmstead tells the Buzz. That which you call "Episodes 23 and 24" is actually a two-hour standalone movie produced on the studio's own dime, but neither ordered nor scheduled by Fox. Explaining the origin of Prison Break: The Final Break — which tells the story of another imprisonment/breakout — Olmstead says, "This is a cool story we want to tell ... so we went ahead with it, not knowing for sure where it would air." At the very least, you can pre-order it on DVD.
Any word on when the new season of Sons of Anarchy will start? I've heard as late as October and as early as May! — Sherri
TIM: We'd bank on closer to October: The first episode of the new season's 13 episodes wraps in mid-May. And while no exact return date is set in stone, look for Henry Rollins to join the cast as a member of a rival gang (who, we hope, vents his hostility through extremely hardcore spoken-word).
When does In Plain Sight come back? Please tell me that Jinx and Brandi will be gone. — Mario
MICKEY: I'm sorry; I cannot tell you that, Mario. But it's a good thing that the ruesome twosome is sticking around because Mary is going to need them. She might be tough as nails, but her recent trauma will have repercussions — of the PTSD variety. But how is her erratic behavior related to those mysterious letters that she's been getting from her dad? Check out the season premiere on Sunday night (10 pm/ET, USA) to find out.
Mega Buzz got me hooked on Harper's Island! Now give me scoop on my new guilty pleasure. — Maria
MATT: Before you pin Uncle Marty's gory gutting on the father of the bride (Richard Burgi), consider this: A moment left on the cutting room floor positioned comely Chloe's British beau, Cal, as just as big a suspect. In the snipped scene, Harry Hamlin told me, "Marty happens by as Chloe is naked and wet, coming out of the water. I hand her my handkerchief and say, 'I wish this was a little bigger, but... ..' And then her boyfriend shows up." During the gents' never-to-be-seen scrape, Marty's gun falls out, prompting him to claim he's FBI. But was he?
Any Gossip Girl scoop? Nate and Serena aren't hooking up for season finale, right? — Daniel
MICKEY: No! That would never happen! I mean, Nate and Serena would totally be the least likely couple in all of Gossip-dom, especially considering their sleazy history. It would be totally unexpected, right? Plus, when I mentioned that the producers should fix Gossip Girl by dirtying up fuzzy bunnies Serena and Nate, it's not like the powers that be were listening. Right? Right?
I remember the Supernatural producers saying last summer that we'd be seeing Steven Williams' Rufus this season — yet so far, nothing. Is that still happening? — Alexandra
MATT: In a word, sorta. The boys will hear from Rufus in Episode 21, which is titled "When the Levee Breaks" and airs May 7.
Mickey's Mega Rave: My love for Tina Fey is deeper than my bedroom voice, but lately it's hard to overlook her gifted cohorts over at 30 Rock, in particular the unlikely comedy duo of Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski. You can point to the show's always pitch-perfect writing, but without the actors' very different comic chops, a storyline about avicide doesn't exactly spell comedy gold. "Birds are like little dinosaurs!" Indeed.
Matt's Mini Rant: Yes, I love CBS' How I Hid Your Pregnancy. But no, I cannot swallow the plot twist that found Ted quitting his job with a prestigious architecture firm in order to open his own shop. Really — in this economy?
Tim's Micro Riff: Rejoice, Trekkies: a CSI episode, a new movie, and this.
Reader Quote of the Week: "[Mel Gibson has a] 'gold-digging wife'? I'm trying to picture this. Yes, I've figured out her master plan: 'I'll marry this unknown guy, have a bunch of kids, and just shy of 30 years of marriage I'll dump him and get his money!' Give me a break." (ems823, addressing a fellow reader's comment on Mel Gibson's divorce)
Crave scoop on your favorite TV shows? E-mail Matt, Mickey and Tim at mega_scoop@tvguide.com. Remember, the question you don't ask is a question we can't answer!
Could you give me any scoop you have on Grey's Anatomy, ideally something about Mark and Lexie? I need my fix! — Frances
MATT: Does McSteamy "do" parents? That's the big question in the April 30 episode, when a now-sober Thatcher Grey invites his daughter and her new beau out to dinner. Now, just supposing that Mark is down for some dining, can the reformed cad put on a good show? And this just in: A source tells me that on Mer and Der's wedding day, airing May 7, the groom gifts his bride with (incurable romantic alert!) her first solo surgery. How that fits into a little blue Tiffany box, I do not know.
The past two seasons of CSI have ended with a cliff-hanger. Season 7 ended with Sara left in the Vegas desert by the Miniature Killer, and Season 8 ended with Warrick being accused of murder (and eventually murdered himself). Will Season 9 follow that same pattern? — Jocelyn
TIM: Wow, nice rundown! Wallace Langham tells us the self-contained season-ender features Laurence Fishburne's Langston in the line of fire: "You see him put into some situations that are new for him, as far as being out in the field and having to deal with perpetrators." Langham's Hodges, meanwhile, gets to stay in the lab, where he's happiest. (Coming Thursday: Read our full Q&A with Langham about this week's sci-fi-themed episode.)
Is there a premiere date for Season 3 of Mad Men yet? — Misti
MICKEY: Tell you what, I can officially narrow down the "summer" return date to early August. As with last season, don't expect tidy resolutions to the finale's cliff-hangers — e.g., Peggy's revelation to Pete, Betty's pregnancy, Joan's rape — since the show will most surely jump ahead in time again. Can you think of any 1960s historical events that might serve as a juicy metaphorical backdrop (as the Cuban Missile Crisis did in Season 2)? I can.
I love Lost! But I am still wondering why Miles was blackmailing Ben for $3.2 million, and why/how Ben had that much money on the island? — Sara
MATT: You will get the answer to at least the first half of your question in this week's Miles-centric episode, "Some Like It Hoth" — when a dollar amount other than $3.2 mil is brought up. I'm hearing that in the subsequent episode, airing April 29, the long-MIA Daniel Faraday will demonstrate just how well he knows the Island. (Hint: They are much more than Facebook friends.)
What ever happened to Dexter? Is there going to be a fourth season? — Rachel
TIM: Of course, he's a serial killer. Season 4 goes into production in late May/early June and will probably premiere toward the end of September. If you couldn't guess from last season's wedding finale, the next cycle focuses on Dexter as a family man: How does he balance his role as a husband and father of three with his grisly nocturnal endeavors? Most parents can't find time to catch a movie, much less mete out bloody vengeance.
Who do we have to bribe, beg or threaten over at Fringe to get Joshua Jackson more screen time? I am getting very frustrated at how little he is used in each episode. What gives? — Cheri
MICKEY: First of all, you have to bribe me. I like Hendrick's gin, dark chocolate, bibimbap and shiny things. Once I receive your hypothetical generous "donations," I will probably be able to tell you about a big Peter Bishop reveal in the season finale (my mole breathlessly called it "major major major" — and it is). Before then, though, we're going to get a bit more information about Olivia's twisted childhood brush with scientific testing, the unmasking of Dr. William Bell and the mysterious, robot-armed Nina Sharp. And as with most things on Fringe, these are all related developments.
I know that Fox starts airing the final six episodes of Prison Break this Friday. But why aren't Episodes 23 and 24, which presumably wrap everything up, on the schedule? I'm baffled. — Al
MATT: You're not baffled, just understandably confused. Episodes 21 and 22, airing May 15, will offer "a completely satisfying ending" to the Break — including a where-are-they-now, flash-forward coda, series creator Matt Olmstead tells the Buzz. That which you call "Episodes 23 and 24" is actually a two-hour standalone movie produced on the studio's own dime, but neither ordered nor scheduled by Fox. Explaining the origin of Prison Break: The Final Break — which tells the story of another imprisonment/breakout — Olmstead says, "This is a cool story we want to tell ... so we went ahead with it, not knowing for sure where it would air." At the very least, you can pre-order it on DVD.
Any word on when the new season of Sons of Anarchy will start? I've heard as late as October and as early as May! — Sherri
TIM: We'd bank on closer to October: The first episode of the new season's 13 episodes wraps in mid-May. And while no exact return date is set in stone, look for Henry Rollins to join the cast as a member of a rival gang (who, we hope, vents his hostility through extremely hardcore spoken-word).
When does In Plain Sight come back? Please tell me that Jinx and Brandi will be gone. — Mario
MICKEY: I'm sorry; I cannot tell you that, Mario. But it's a good thing that the ruesome twosome is sticking around because Mary is going to need them. She might be tough as nails, but her recent trauma will have repercussions — of the PTSD variety. But how is her erratic behavior related to those mysterious letters that she's been getting from her dad? Check out the season premiere on Sunday night (10 pm/ET, USA) to find out.
Mega Buzz got me hooked on Harper's Island! Now give me scoop on my new guilty pleasure. — Maria
MATT: Before you pin Uncle Marty's gory gutting on the father of the bride (Richard Burgi), consider this: A moment left on the cutting room floor positioned comely Chloe's British beau, Cal, as just as big a suspect. In the snipped scene, Harry Hamlin told me, "Marty happens by as Chloe is naked and wet, coming out of the water. I hand her my handkerchief and say, 'I wish this was a little bigger, but... ..' And then her boyfriend shows up." During the gents' never-to-be-seen scrape, Marty's gun falls out, prompting him to claim he's FBI. But was he?
Any Gossip Girl scoop? Nate and Serena aren't hooking up for season finale, right? — Daniel
MICKEY: No! That would never happen! I mean, Nate and Serena would totally be the least likely couple in all of Gossip-dom, especially considering their sleazy history. It would be totally unexpected, right? Plus, when I mentioned that the producers should fix Gossip Girl by dirtying up fuzzy bunnies Serena and Nate, it's not like the powers that be were listening. Right? Right?
I remember the Supernatural producers saying last summer that we'd be seeing Steven Williams' Rufus this season — yet so far, nothing. Is that still happening? — Alexandra
MATT: In a word, sorta. The boys will hear from Rufus in Episode 21, which is titled "When the Levee Breaks" and airs May 7.
Mickey's Mega Rave: My love for Tina Fey is deeper than my bedroom voice, but lately it's hard to overlook her gifted cohorts over at 30 Rock, in particular the unlikely comedy duo of Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski. You can point to the show's always pitch-perfect writing, but without the actors' very different comic chops, a storyline about avicide doesn't exactly spell comedy gold. "Birds are like little dinosaurs!" Indeed.
Matt's Mini Rant: Yes, I love CBS' How I Hid Your Pregnancy. But no, I cannot swallow the plot twist that found Ted quitting his job with a prestigious architecture firm in order to open his own shop. Really — in this economy?
Tim's Micro Riff: Rejoice, Trekkies: a CSI episode, a new movie, and this.
Reader Quote of the Week: "[Mel Gibson has a] 'gold-digging wife'? I'm trying to picture this. Yes, I've figured out her master plan: 'I'll marry this unknown guy, have a bunch of kids, and just shy of 30 years of marriage I'll dump him and get his money!' Give me a break." (ems823, addressing a fellow reader's comment on Mel Gibson's divorce)
Crave scoop on your favorite TV shows? E-mail Matt, Mickey and Tim at mega_scoop@tvguide.com. Remember, the question you don't ask is a question we can't answer!
Bye, George! Is 'Grey's' killing off T.R. Knight?
Whatever cliff-hanger Grey's Anatomy has in store in its May 14 season finale, it'll probably pale in comparison to the one T.R. Knight is experiencing in real life.
Last fall, the actor -- frustrated by his lack of airtime -- asked to be released from his multiyear Grey's contract. Now, as I first reported in Ask Ausiello, his wish may be granted by an upcoming story line that finds (MAJOR SPOILER ALERT) George marching off to war as an Army medic. Just as the season wraps up, George gets injured in the line of duty, leaving his fate up in the air for viewers -- and even Knight himself. "T.R. doesn’t know whether George lives or dies," explains a source close to the show. "And, as a result, he doesn't know whether or not he has to come back next season."
Legally speaking, Grey's creator Shonda Rhimes has until mid-June to decide whether to drop Knight -- and all indications are she will use every last second of that time. Some are suggesting she may be forcing Knight to sweat it out as payback for wanting to jump ship. (The two have had a strained relationship since the Isaiah Washington blowup in 2006.) While Knight's rep and Rhimes both declined to comment, a Grey's insider scoffs at such a notion. "At the end of the day, Shonda is going to do what's best for the show," maintains the source. "Everything else is just idle gossip."
What do you think is best for the show at this point: Cutting Knight loose via a season-ending tragedy, or forcing him to return next season for an indeterminate period of time (thus dragging out this off screen soap opera even longer)? Sound off below!
Last fall, the actor -- frustrated by his lack of airtime -- asked to be released from his multiyear Grey's contract. Now, as I first reported in Ask Ausiello, his wish may be granted by an upcoming story line that finds (MAJOR SPOILER ALERT) George marching off to war as an Army medic. Just as the season wraps up, George gets injured in the line of duty, leaving his fate up in the air for viewers -- and even Knight himself. "T.R. doesn’t know whether George lives or dies," explains a source close to the show. "And, as a result, he doesn't know whether or not he has to come back next season."
Legally speaking, Grey's creator Shonda Rhimes has until mid-June to decide whether to drop Knight -- and all indications are she will use every last second of that time. Some are suggesting she may be forcing Knight to sweat it out as payback for wanting to jump ship. (The two have had a strained relationship since the Isaiah Washington blowup in 2006.) While Knight's rep and Rhimes both declined to comment, a Grey's insider scoffs at such a notion. "At the end of the day, Shonda is going to do what's best for the show," maintains the source. "Everything else is just idle gossip."
What do you think is best for the show at this point: Cutting Knight loose via a season-ending tragedy, or forcing him to return next season for an indeterminate period of time (thus dragging out this off screen soap opera even longer)? Sound off below!
2009年4月13日星期一
FREE FOR ALL Weekend
Eggcitement for all the family ...
W5 has the 'eggs' factor next week with loads of Easter fun for all the family. Join The Great Eggscape -- Intergalactegg Invasion (until Sunday, April 19) when alien eggheads touch down at W5. Meanwhile Titanic: Designed and Built in Belfast continues until April 19. The exhibition featuring the famous ship is a dynamic celebration of Belfast's rich and illustrious maritime past. We have five family passes up for grabs so you can catch up with the action at W5.
Q: Where was the famous ship Titanic built?
* It's all about the money ...
Chill out in front of the TV with the latest DVD releases. We have three copies of two very different movies to give away. The first is comedy Mad Money (released on April 13), starring Diane Keaton, Katie Holmes and Queen Latifah, which tells the tale of three women from very different worlds who plan the world's most unlikely heist. Meanwhile, Dean Spanley (out on April 27), is described as an adult fairytale with an all-star cast of Peter O'Toole, Sam Neill and Jeremy Northam.
Q: Who is Mad Money star Katie Holmes married to?
* Tantastic shoes to be won...
What better way to perk yourself up for Spring than a fabulous pair of shoes and a gorgeous sun-kissed glow? Local sassy shoe brand Minette (minetteshoes.com) is once again strutting into the season with a sexy new palette of fresh designs. Complement your shoes with great tanned legs and you're ready to go. To achieve your perfect tan, try new company Tan2U. The service sees an expert arrive at your home, hotel room, office with a fold-up tanning tent and an airbrush system which takes you from the skin colour of Nicole Kidman to that of Eva Longoria in 20 seconds.
Q: In which TV series does Eva Longoria currently star?
* Supernatural movie is just the ticket ...
If you like a car-chase movie with some supernatural mystery thrown in for good measure, then Race To Witch Mountain could be right up your street. Showing at the Odeon in Belfast, the story revolves around a mysterious location in the Nevada desert known for unexplained phenomena. Las Vegas cab driver Jack Bruno (Dwayne Johnson) gets caught up in the action when he encounters two teens with supernatural powers in his cab. Working together, Jack and his young passengers end up attempting to save the world.
We have four Race To Witch Mountain goody bags up for grabs along with movie merchandise and a family ticket to see the film.
Q: Who plays the taxi driver in Race To Witch Mountain?Send answers on a postcard marked with the competition name and your details, including a telephone number, to: Helen Carson, Features Department, Belfast Telegraph, 124-144 Royal Avenue, Belfast, BT1 1EB. Closing date for all entries is Saturday, April 18. Usual Independent News & Media rules apply. Winners: Divine Chocolate: P Hewitt, Markethill. McGuigans: H Barr, Richhill. Shearer Candles: J Tinsley, Portadown; G Ashfields, Ballymoney; M McMurray, Belfast; A McMullan, Saintfield and U Gilmore, Carrickfergus. Bacofoil: S Hagan and C Steele, both from Belfast; R Gallagher, Ballygowan; J McClintock, Londonderry; E Reynolds, Newtownards and A McMullan, Saintfield.
(c) 2009 Belfast Telegraph. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
W5 has the 'eggs' factor next week with loads of Easter fun for all the family. Join The Great Eggscape -- Intergalactegg Invasion (until Sunday, April 19) when alien eggheads touch down at W5. Meanwhile Titanic: Designed and Built in Belfast continues until April 19. The exhibition featuring the famous ship is a dynamic celebration of Belfast's rich and illustrious maritime past. We have five family passes up for grabs so you can catch up with the action at W5.
Q: Where was the famous ship Titanic built?
* It's all about the money ...
Chill out in front of the TV with the latest DVD releases. We have three copies of two very different movies to give away. The first is comedy Mad Money (released on April 13), starring Diane Keaton, Katie Holmes and Queen Latifah, which tells the tale of three women from very different worlds who plan the world's most unlikely heist. Meanwhile, Dean Spanley (out on April 27), is described as an adult fairytale with an all-star cast of Peter O'Toole, Sam Neill and Jeremy Northam.
Q: Who is Mad Money star Katie Holmes married to?
* Tantastic shoes to be won...
What better way to perk yourself up for Spring than a fabulous pair of shoes and a gorgeous sun-kissed glow? Local sassy shoe brand Minette (minetteshoes.com) is once again strutting into the season with a sexy new palette of fresh designs. Complement your shoes with great tanned legs and you're ready to go. To achieve your perfect tan, try new company Tan2U. The service sees an expert arrive at your home, hotel room, office with a fold-up tanning tent and an airbrush system which takes you from the skin colour of Nicole Kidman to that of Eva Longoria in 20 seconds.
Q: In which TV series does Eva Longoria currently star?
* Supernatural movie is just the ticket ...
If you like a car-chase movie with some supernatural mystery thrown in for good measure, then Race To Witch Mountain could be right up your street. Showing at the Odeon in Belfast, the story revolves around a mysterious location in the Nevada desert known for unexplained phenomena. Las Vegas cab driver Jack Bruno (Dwayne Johnson) gets caught up in the action when he encounters two teens with supernatural powers in his cab. Working together, Jack and his young passengers end up attempting to save the world.
We have four Race To Witch Mountain goody bags up for grabs along with movie merchandise and a family ticket to see the film.
Q: Who plays the taxi driver in Race To Witch Mountain?Send answers on a postcard marked with the competition name and your details, including a telephone number, to: Helen Carson, Features Department, Belfast Telegraph, 124-144 Royal Avenue, Belfast, BT1 1EB. Closing date for all entries is Saturday, April 18. Usual Independent News & Media rules apply. Winners: Divine Chocolate: P Hewitt, Markethill. McGuigans: H Barr, Richhill. Shearer Candles: J Tinsley, Portadown; G Ashfields, Ballymoney; M McMurray, Belfast; A McMullan, Saintfield and U Gilmore, Carrickfergus. Bacofoil: S Hagan and C Steele, both from Belfast; R Gallagher, Ballygowan; J McClintock, Londonderry; E Reynolds, Newtownards and A McMullan, Saintfield.
(c) 2009 Belfast Telegraph. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
Easter
BEGINNING WITH the sunrise services attended by many in our community, today, Easter Sunday, is the most holy day in the Christian faith. It is the day, Christians believe, when a crucified Savior arose from the dead, assuring the faithful of forgiveness from sin and of eternal life. Why, then, is the cross the pre-eminent symbol of Christianity? Why not an open tomb or a sundered sepulcher?
Perhaps the answer is that the cross--a place of suffering and humiliation--is a token more resonant with the human condition. We, all of us, know or will know hurt. The scourging and the thorns and the painful lonely spectacle are not alien to us; they are much the stuff of mortal life, the trappings of calvaries custom-made. Just as Christmas is accessible to our imaginations because everyone is born, the Crucifixion is an event understandable because each of us sometimes agonizes. But resurrection--that is something outside our experience. That is--dare we utter the word?--supernatural.
So that's why there is a kind of hush in believers' souls on Easter. It is the sound of a searching silence, a muted attempt to grasp the ungraspable--that a man, both like and unlike us, died, descended into hell, conquered death on behalf of billions yet unborn, then took off his burial shroud to walk once more in the land of the living. Not that the Easter story pioneered metaphysics. The entire drama unfolded during Passover, which celebrates the time that the Death Angel spared Jewish households that marked their door frames with the blood of a spotless lamb. But even angels are easier to apprehend than the act of undying.
Spring helps. From nature come intimations of the supernatural. Empty dawns fill with robin song. Fields and trees, bare and brown-scorched by winter's cold fires, erupt into flowers and green leaves. Pond ice sunders, fish leap like lovers' hearts. The season is a parable for the senses, a facilitator of faith.
But not a substitute for it. Today, in little country chapels and mighty cathedrals, millions of Christians will exercise irrational, wonderful faith. They will resist what writer Rod Serling called "the strange and perverse disinclination to believe in miracles." They will imagine tombs ajar. And in so doing, they may see that a cross, viewed from a certain angle, looks much like a key.
--Paul E. Akers, 1997, with permission of E.W. Scripps
Perhaps the answer is that the cross--a place of suffering and humiliation--is a token more resonant with the human condition. We, all of us, know or will know hurt. The scourging and the thorns and the painful lonely spectacle are not alien to us; they are much the stuff of mortal life, the trappings of calvaries custom-made. Just as Christmas is accessible to our imaginations because everyone is born, the Crucifixion is an event understandable because each of us sometimes agonizes. But resurrection--that is something outside our experience. That is--dare we utter the word?--supernatural.
So that's why there is a kind of hush in believers' souls on Easter. It is the sound of a searching silence, a muted attempt to grasp the ungraspable--that a man, both like and unlike us, died, descended into hell, conquered death on behalf of billions yet unborn, then took off his burial shroud to walk once more in the land of the living. Not that the Easter story pioneered metaphysics. The entire drama unfolded during Passover, which celebrates the time that the Death Angel spared Jewish households that marked their door frames with the blood of a spotless lamb. But even angels are easier to apprehend than the act of undying.
Spring helps. From nature come intimations of the supernatural. Empty dawns fill with robin song. Fields and trees, bare and brown-scorched by winter's cold fires, erupt into flowers and green leaves. Pond ice sunders, fish leap like lovers' hearts. The season is a parable for the senses, a facilitator of faith.
But not a substitute for it. Today, in little country chapels and mighty cathedrals, millions of Christians will exercise irrational, wonderful faith. They will resist what writer Rod Serling called "the strange and perverse disinclination to believe in miracles." They will imagine tombs ajar. And in so doing, they may see that a cross, viewed from a certain angle, looks much like a key.
--Paul E. Akers, 1997, with permission of E.W. Scripps
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