A few thoughts on "Community," "Parks and Recreation," "The Office," "30 Rock." But if women are on a scale from Cleopatra to Eleanor Roosevelt, what's the comparable men-dex?
Also, I have recently been getting some additional info about the readership for this blog. So, besides my friends in the US and Canada, hello to all of you in Australia, Italy, Norway, the UK, Ireland, Germany and Spain!
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"Coal Country," the documentary from local producer Mari-Lynn Evans, will air on Nov. 14. From the announcement:
COAL COUNTRY, a documentary by filmmaker Phylis Geller, will have its world television debut on November 14th, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. ET as part of the Planet Green’s “Reel Impact” weekly documentary strand.
While politicians debate over wind power versus solar power and the country’s dependence on foreign oil, coal has remained an enduring energy source that still runs at least half of the electricity in the United States.
COAL COUNTRY helps viewers understand the meaning behind promises of “cheap energy” and “clean coal.” Are they achievable? And at what cost? The film explores these questions by following coal as it is mined, processed and burned for power.
From "The People's Court":
Yusuf Evans, an Akron man, brings his case to "The People's Court" on
Monday, November 9 on WBNX at 11 am. Evans claims he was smacked in the
nose at a gentleman's club by a stripper's boot. He insists he never saw
the boot coming and it broke his nose. Evans insists he has breathing
trouble and needs surgery. He wants Judge Marilyn Milian to decide the
verdict.
Mr. Evans brings his case to the original courtroom series "The People's
Court" looking for justice. The defendant counters that the incident never
happened in their establishment.
Judge Milian is amused when the litigants reenact the incident in the middle
of her courtroom.Joseph Wapner returns to "The People's Court" is described in this release:
On Friday, November 13, Judge Marilyn Milian welcomes Judge Joseph A. Wapner back to the bench of “The People’s Court” to litigate a special case in honor of his 90th birthday. Judge Wapner bangs the gavel on the Emmy-nominated court show that launched the entire court show genre and paved the way for a multitude of reality television shows. “The People’s Court was the original reality series featuring real litigants, real cases and real justice.
In recognition of Judge Wapner’s contributions, he will be inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame with a star on November 12.
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After the jump, spoiler-laden notes on Wednesday's "Friday Night Lights" telecast (only on DirecTV) and, briefly, "Modern Family."
Today's mailbag column is here. Topics include the banjo-playing kid in "Deliverance."
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I have been doing this long enough to have previewed the original "V" miniseries back in 1983. Even though that preview tape was missing the special effects — leading to lots of shots of awestruck people pointing toward an empty sky — it was still a moderately amusing piece of cheese. In a sequel and then a weekly series, Nazi symbolism combined with heavily made-up, wicked vixens like Jane Badler, left, who were common in prime-time soaps of that period.
I bring all this up because the new "V," premiering tonight and pictured to the right, wants to be taken much more seriously than its predecessor — to be use the "V" mythology the way "Battlestar Galactica" used its old-TV origins as the basis for something considerably more ambitious and impressive. As for whether it succeeds, let's continue after the jump.
UPDATE: The series has hired a new showrunner.
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(You could pronounce that as "suffocation," if you'd like.)
Readers here have heard me complain before about at least one of the changes in the Weather Channel: the addition of the jokey, jarring "Wake Up With Al" in the early morning. Since that's the time when I am awake and checking the weather — and since I like to do it while getting dressed, instead of going to the computer — I have found "Wake Up" unavoidable, to my continuing irritation.
If that was the only thing bothering me, I could live with that. Even if that and the removal or moving of some of the anchors were the only things, I might get by. But it's not. As even a commentator on NPR observed, the Weather Channel turned over some prime-time hours to an airing of "The Perfect Storm," the nine-year-old movie starring George Clooney. And here we get to the larger trend from NBC Universal, which now owns The Weather Channel. It's turning the network into Syfy.
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When one team is playing very badly, I am usually ready to write them off — always underestimating other players' ability to mess up. …
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Notes on the next to last episode of the third season of "Mad Men," after the jump.
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When I was still paying attention to "24," one of the pleasures was watching Gregory Itzin as the evil VP and later President Charles Logan. And he will be back in the new season, per Fox:
The anticipation for Season Eight of 24 continues to surge with Gregory Itzin reprising his acclaimed role as CHARLES LOGAN. The Emmy Award-winning drama starring Kiefer Sutherland returns for its next astonishing day with a two-night, four-hour premiere event Sunday, Jan. 17 (9:00-11:00 PM ET/PT) and Monday, Jan. 18 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
The disgraced former President Logan was last seen after being shockingly stabbed by First Lady MARTHA LOGAN (Jean Smart) in Season Six. Itzin’s return to 24 will bring together the series’ two Emmy-nominated “presidents” for the first time when sitting President ALLISON TAYLOR (Emmy Award winner Cherry Jones) reluctantly enlists Logan to assist with an escalating international diplomatic crisis.
When asked about this on-screen pairing, 24 executive producer Howard Gordon said, “The opportunity for these two remarkable actors to share the stage was simply too compelling to pass up.”
Season Eight resets in New York City where a retired JACK BAUER (Sutherland) is unwillingly drawn back into the intense action after learning of a plot to assassinate Middle Eastern peace-keeping leader OMAR HASSAN (Anil Kapoor). Meanwhile, RENEE WALKER (Annie Wersching) and CHLOE O’BRIAN (Mary Lynn Rajskub) return alongside CTU newcomers DANA WALSH (Katee Sackhoff), BRIAN HASTINGS (Mykelti Williamson) and COLE ORTIZ (Freddie Prinze Jr.).
TNT has completed an expected deal to televise "Southland," both the episodes that aired on NBC and those made for a second season but left on the shelf when NBC decided to drop the show. The official word:
TNT has picked up the critically acclaimed series SOUTHLAND, closing a deal with Warner Bros. Television that will bring the drama from Emmy®-winning producer John Wells (ER, The West Wing) to the network in January. TNT has obtained exclusive rights to air all six episodes that have been shot for the second season, as well as the seven episodes from the series’ first season. SOUTHLAND will air on TNT Tuesdays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), beginning with the first episode of the series on Jan. 12.
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Above, the "Male Prima Donna" video. Three minutes of "Office" merriment. After the jump, notes on "The Office," "30 Rock," "Grey's Anatomy," "Survivor: Samoa" and "CSI." And, before we get there, you can find my latest chat with Lynne Sherwin about "Dancing With the Stars" here.
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More notes from the mail, including the announcement of a "Chuck" set with the 3-D telecast:
The government’s most vital secret agent is back, and this time he’s got a pocket protector full of new tricks when Warner Home Video releases Chuck: The Complete Second Season on DVD and Blu-ray on January 5, 2010. Executive producers Josh Schwartz (The O.C., Gossip Girl), McG (Supernatural, Charlie’s Angels), Chris Fedak and Scott Rosenbaum (The Shield) bring you more action and espionage than ever before. This six-disc set contains all 22 episodes including the never-to-be aired again 3-D episode and hours of amazing extras, with brand-new featurettes, a gag reel, and “declassified” scenes. …
Priced to own on DVD at $59.98 SRP and on Blu-ray for $69.97 SRP
DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
· Truth, Spies and Regular Guys: Exploring the Mythology of Chuck
· Dude in Distress: Explore Some of This Season’s Best Action Sequences
· Chuck Versus the Webisodes: Web-Originated Minifeaturettes
· Chuck: A Real-Life Captain Awesome’s Tips for Being Awesome
· John Casey Presents: So You Want to Be a Deadly Spy?
· Declassified Scenes
· Gag Reel
For a limited time, the DVD and Blu-ray releases of Chuck: The Complete Second Season will also include the never-to-be-aired-again 3-D version of the episode “Chuck Versus the Third Dimension,” plus two pairs of 3-D glasses.
And here's the "True" word:
Nickelodeon’s hit comedy series True Jackson, VP kicks-off its second season on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT) with lots of laughs and special celebrity appearances by 15-year-old pop sensation Justin Bieber and rock trio Care Bears on Fire. Bieber, in his acting debut, performs his hit song “One Time” and saves the day when True (Keke Palmer) books him as the musical act for her school’s fundraiser. The guest-star cameos continue with the premiere of “Flirting with Fame,” the one-hour primetime True Jackson, VP movie, on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT), featuring music superstar Natasha Bedingfield and Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris) as True’s new love interest. The new season will follow True as she juggles the growing demands of high school with her job responsibilities at Mad Style. True Jackson, VP airs regularly on Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.
In the season premiere, titled “True Concert,” True is determined to save her school’s design department from budget cuts and decides to hold a fundraising concert. As she searches for a big performer to headline the concert, her best friend Lulu (Ashley Argota) offers little help as she is more focused on trying to find alone time with her crush Mikey J (Trevor Brown). Just when it looks as though her friend Ryan’s (Matthew Shively) mediocre magic act is her only option for a headliner, pop sensation Justin Bieber agrees to perform. All seems fine until last minute problems have the students scrambling to save the show and their school's design department. Brooklyn tween punk rock band Care Bears on Fire also make an appearance in the episode and perform their hit song “Everybody Else.”
In the one-hour primetime movie “Flirting with Fame,” True’s crushing on a new boy at school named Justin (Tyler James Williams), but when she finally gets the courage to ask him out, he turns her down. True and Lulu suspect he’s dating someone until True discovers his big secret. In an attempt to show True his romantic side, Justin enlists the help of superstar Natasha Bedingfield to perform “These Words” for the duo. Back at the office, Mr. Madigan (Greg Proops) takes casual dress day too far and Amanda can't handle it. Meanwhile, a statistics class has uncovered a special connection between Mikey J and Kelsey (Jordan Monaghan) that has Lulu and Ryan seething with jealousy.
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The Deschanel sisters team up for "Bones," "Glee" goes gold, more love from me for "Modern Family," a link to the mailbag and a video for the folks at the Beacon Journal, all after the jump. And, what did you think of the new "Friday Night Lights"?
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I have previously mentioned my admiration for Warner Bros.' offering many titles on a made-to-order basis. Now Universal, with TCM, is jumping a little ways into the game. Details after the jump.
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Black Keys, above; Moore, below
91.3 The Summit is proud to support "The Wild World of Alfred McMoore: a Multimedia Retrospective to Benefit Community Support Services featuring the Black Keys" on Friday, November 27th at Musica, in downtown Akron, at 6:00 p.m. Guests will have an opportunity to view outsider artist Alfred McMoore's unusual drawings and see Akron's own Black Keys in an intimate club setting, all while benefiting Community Support Services.
Alfred McMoore was a longtime friend of the band who often used the term "black key," the inspiration for their name. He passed away in September, but he will be remembered on the 27th, when his sprawling pencil and crayon drawings will be on display in the upstairs galleries at Musica.
Although he had mental health issues throughout his life, McMoore was able to live independently with the help of Community Support Services. Proceeds from the Musica show will benefit more than 2,000 people currently being treated by Community Support Services in Northeast Ohio.
Tickets for this exclusive show will be available starting at $50 this Saturday, October 31st at ticketweb.com.
A limited number of tickets will be available at different price tiers that include signed CDs, t-shirts, and a post-show meet and greet with the Black Keys. Go to akronmusica.com for details.
I have linked to Jim Carney's story about McMoore on his name, above. You may know that Jim is also the father of the Black Keys' Patrick Carney.
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This week's video: memories of Soupy Sales, a few thoughts about "Friday Night Lights," some new DVD, a couple of books and a Wanda Sykes bobblehead!
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… because there might have been so much more. After the jump, notes about a film which marvelously promotes a concert and tour that will never happen.
NOTE: The material after the jump was written soon after I watched the movie on Tuesday night. A revised and expanded version, done for the Beacon Journal print editions, has been posted on Ohio.com and can be found here.
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After the jump, in case you missed it, is my Beacon Journal column tied to the fourth-season premiere, on DirecTV on Wednesday…
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If you are thinking about being on "The Amazing Race," please take a close look at this picture. Commit it to memory. The show likes to challenge contestants. If you are afraid of heights, there's a pretty good chance you will face a situation where you have to deal with heights. If you hate the water, there's a chance you will find yourself on or in the water. If you're a picky eater … well, you know where this is going. See me after the jump.
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Items from new and backlogged e-mail,after the jump, including DVD news about "Glee" and "Julie & Julia," and some grim kids-TV news from Nielsen.
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