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Archive for October, 2007

Wednesday Notebook: "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice," "Heroes," "Back to You"

Thursday, October 25th, 2007

Pushing Daisies

Maybe it's the Broadway geek within, but to have Kristin Chenoweth and Ellen Greene singing together on "Pushing Daisies" was simply a kick.

By the way, Ann V. in the comments below noted that it was a They Might Be Giants song. (News to me. But if you want to talk about the new Robert Plant/Alison Krauss collaboration, I'm ready.) So here's a video of They Might Be Giants' version …

And, since I'm in a full video frenzy, here's the "Pushing Daisies" version:

Getting back to the actual TV show, it continues to improve, once again going into the emotional territory involving its core gimmick …

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Dumbledore Outing Affects Other Fictional Characters

Wednesday, October 24th, 2007

Richard Harris

Well, anything I might have (finally) said about "Deathly Hallows" has been superseded by J.K. Rowling's recent declaration that Albus Dumbledore was gay. The result has been a lot of jokes, and a bunch of stereotyping …

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"Amazing Race 12" Teams Announced

Wednesday, October 24th, 2007

Amazing Race 12

Details, including about a team of Kentucky Goths, after the jump …

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Tuesday Night Out

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007

Dan in Real Life
Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, "Dan in Real Life"

Went to a screening of "Dan in Real Life," the new film with Steve Carell, and let the DVR do the work on "Dancing With the Stars." Result after the jump …

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"HIMYM" Improvement

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007

Barney math

I took a few minutes this morning for last night's "How I Met Your Mother." (Hey, I had a dental appointment later. I needed a laugh.) This was a good one, and not only because it shows that horndogs should pay attention in math class, too. (By the way, you can find the episode — and the details of how to use a graph — at CBS.com.)

"Dancing With the Stars": Faint Praise

Monday, October 22nd, 2007

In progress notes after the jump …

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Back From The Road

Monday, October 22nd, 2007

The bride and I returned today from a short visit to New Jersey and our Target Demo, with day trips to NYC as part of the trip. Saw the revival of "A Chorus Line." Agonized over the Indians (whose defensive collapse went well beyond pitching). Wasn't even sure how much I was going to blog tonight. Had to post the "Amazing Race" news, above, and a little surprise at the beginning of "Dancing With the Stars" put me on track with that show. But I'm not expecting much after that; long car trips do wear one down. I hope to be back in fighting trim tomorrow.

"Laughlin" Out, "Amazing Race" Returns Nov. 4

Monday, October 22nd, 2007

Well, a quirky mystery with music did nothing for viewers (nor for critics). And those of you have waited patiently for "The Amazing Race" will get it back sooner because of "Laughlin's" collapse. Details after the jump …

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Your Audience Horror Stories

Sunday, October 21st, 2007

If you've read my rant about people talking and singing along at shows, then you know that this is the place to post your horror stories and suggestions for how to stop it. (If you haven't read the story, you can find it here.

I can tell you that it's a pretty widespread problem; we caught a performance of the revival of "A Chorus Line" on Broadway recently, and a woman behind us was singing along with some of the numbers. I think the performers onstage were doing fine without her assistance. Anyway, to post your own stories, use the comment section below.

Saturday Morning, Friday and Thursday Nights

Saturday, October 20th, 2007

Anyone care to comment on last night's "Friday Night Lights"? Are we in better territory than at the start of the season, or worse?

As for Thursday, was that the worst "Office" episode ever or what?

Also, in case you missed them, you can link here to my reviews of "Things We Lost in the Fire" and "Gone Baby Gone."
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"Mad Men" Season Finale Tonight

Thursday, October 18th, 2007

Notes with spoilers after the jump …

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"Grey's Anatomy": Back on Track?

Thursday, October 18th, 2007

For the first time in ages, tonight's "Grey's Anatomy" felt like the show at its best. …

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Thursday Night

Thursday, October 18th, 2007

Not sure how much I will actually watch the Indians tonight, and how much I will do my game-on-laptop, TV-on-something-else thing. I've already written some thoughts about tonight's "Mad Men," which if the timer works will be posted as soon as the show is over. I may have some other thoughts along the way. Like this one:

Isn't it convenient that on the day of a pivotal game in the American League Championship Series, one where the Indians are poised to clinch, the Yankees have their big Joe Torre moment? Couldn't be that they wanted to steal some headlines from the teams who are still actually playing? Couldn't be that selfish, could they?

We all know the answer, too, don't we?

Deborah Kerr, R.I.P.

Thursday, October 18th, 2007

Deborah Kerr
Kerr, Burt Lancaster, "From Here to Eternity": Movie iconography

She has also died, and an obit with the famous picture is here. Solid actress, good resume ("The King and I," "The Chalk Garden," "Tea and Sympathy," "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison"), six Oscar nominations.

But if I'm going to remember one Kerr movie, it's "From Here to Eternity." Love the movie anyway — Lancaster, Donna Reed, Montgomery Clift, Ernest Borgnine, Frank Sinatra. (It's not a good day for Sinatra's co-stars, is it?) But Kerr was really good as the lustful, lonely adulteress, and however much that beach scene is parodied, it works in part because you bought into Lancaster and Kerr's characters. If nothing else, I hope her passing generates some looks back at her movies, whether through a TCM festival or some fresh activity at NetFlix.

And TCM has stepped up some. This is on its Web site:

TCM will change the schedule on Sunday, 10/21 to honor the career of Deborah Kerr. Please note the new lineup:

8:00 PM From Here to Eternity
* replaces Here Comes Mr. Jordan

10:15 PM Separate Tables
* replaces Heaven Can Wait

Joey Bishop, R.I.P.

Thursday, October 18th, 2007

Joey Bishop

The comedian has died, with the Associated Press obit here. (Note that Bishop's solo standup work began in Cleveland.)

Bishop had a decent career, even if a lot of it involved being considered a second-stringer — behind Frank/Dean/Sammy in the Rat Pack, behind Johnny Carson in the late-night talk-show wars. In fact, one of my co-workers at first confused Bishop with Sid Caesar.

But the guy made me laugh when I was a kid. I don't remember his standup at all, but I do remember "The Joey Bishop Show" from the '60s, and the good work by Bishop, Abby Dalton and Corbett Monica. In fact, when I looked it up in The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, I was surprised to see that it ran just a few seasons. It has been a constant in my kid-TV memory.