Not interested in "Welcome to the Family"

Caught the premiere of Welcome to the Family on Hulu and... I'm just not interested. I like Carlos from Desperate Housewives... I love Mike O'Malley... but I just don't care about this comedy. It just feels so generic, so obvious. Even the (SPOILER ALERT) cliffhanger at the end of O'Malley's wife possibly being pregnant doesn't feel like a surprise.

Not recording.

"Mindy Project" BFFs were set to star on "Super Fun Night"

In writing my review for the first episode of Super Fun Night, I saw a promo picture featuring Kelen Coleman (Newsroom). I thought at first maybe she was the original role of villain Kendall - but not so.

Apparently she was set to play a coworker of Kimmie's, but more of a role model and mentor for the character. Not a villain like the 'new' Kendall does.

What's really weird is that Super Fun Night, which was originally being developed for CBS, had cast Anna Camp in the role.

Everyone's probably like "Anna Camp! Her and Rebel Wilson are probably like BFFs from Pitch Perfect!" And all I can think is that Anna and Kelen both played friends of Mindy on The Mindy Project last season.

Ah, casting.

"Lucky 7" first to get axed

Welp, it has happened. Lucky 7 is the first fall show to get cancelled, and just after two episodes.

I've got to say, I'm surprised. For starters, I thought it would be Super Fun Night. I just didn't think it would be a drama, especially one with this kind of limited, resolvable storyline. Heck, even 666 Park Avenue and Zero Hour got additional episodes and those shows were bad. I thought they'd get six or so episodes, to finish out this story.

Regardless - I thought the show was okay. I went back and forth on cancelling my series recording or not, and ultimately had decided I wanted to know more about these people (particularly the younger girl who seemed nervous about proving her identity...). Alas, I think I'll just delete the remaining episode.

Can we just give a moment of silence for poor Matt Long, though? Guy can't catch a break on TV.

Super Fun Night gets a spot on my DVR

Of course I was excited about Super Fun Night (Rebel Wilson, hello!) but I was also worried.... The title itself implies one night only, how can they keep that going? What's with the terrible fake American accent? And, most of all, isn't the majority of Wilson's fanbase (teens, twentysomethings) the exact age group not watching primetime network TV?

In fact, I voted Super Fun Night as most likely to get cancelled first (UPDATE: That title goes to Lucky 7).

But I watched the first episode this week - er, technically the second episode. ABC aired the second episode instead of the pilot, which I don't really mind because it looks to me that we already saw all the funny first ep moments in the trailer. Anyway, second first episode was actually pretty funny, in my opinion.

I like Kimmie and her friends. Though one-dimensional right now, I think they'll really expand and get more personality in later episodes - think Schmidt and Winston in New Girl.

I like Kimmie's male cowowrker/crush. I like that he's a nice, cute guy that seems to genuinely like Kimmie. He doesn't write her off because of her weight or awkwardness... in fact, the argument could be made that he doesn't see a romantic connection because they are such good friends. I like that. They could so easily have gone the other way.

And I like the villain, Kendall. She is so desperate for the attention, for the spotlight. And I loved watching her try to steal it from Kimmie. If anything, Kendall ends up being more of the awkward ham than Kimmie does.

I think it's got legs. I think it's got a good, unknown cast to work with. Despite the title, it proves it is about / can be about more than one super fun night. That doesn't change the fact that people my age aren't watching live TV... I'm not sure who else would like this show.

What's with all the spin-offs?

This year, we're losing Breaking Bad, Dexter and HIMYM.

Yet, we're talking spin-offs already for all three shows. And a spin-off for Walking Dead, too. Really?

The BB spin-off Better Call Saul is already in the works and the others are just rumors, but I hope they don't happen. I understand it is hard to let go of these characters, stories and places... I understand that some spin-offs are awesome (Frasier?) but I feel like it is just cheapening good - no, GREAT - television. These shows will go down in history as some of the best (or in Dexter's case, the first few seasons will...) and I don't want their legacies muddled because of some silly spin-offs.

Plus, for every Frasier, there's a Joey.

Why I didn't like 'Under the Dome'

Everyone is calling Under the Dome one of the TV 'winners' of the summer, but I disagree. I watched it sure, no denying it probably got great ratings because nothing else new was on.... but it was bad.

And just to get it out of the way – me not liking it has nothing to do with the book. I have never read the book, I don't know what happens, nor do I care. In fact, I read a great article in EW before the show started about King's relationship and thoughts on the show. He acknowledged that there were some changes made – characters who lived who were supposed to, new characters, mising characters, changed subplots. He sees TV as a diiferent animal than the book, and rightly so. I admired that outlook.

My problem with Under the Dome is:

• Escalated too quickly. Big Jim for example, I get now his obsession on keeping the done up, but it same out of left field. Te kids being convinced about the mini dome so quickly especially Angie and junior . The Maxine story line was gone as quick as it came. And what about all that gas? Oh, barely matters. 
• It turned into a kids adventure story. There's all this mature content around drugs and death and relationships... and then there are these kids who find a mini dome in the woods and think they are some sort of chosen vessels to communicate with the dome. What? I feel like they threw Julia into the mix just to have adult supervision. These are teenagers. And to be honest, I was much more interested in the 'real' implications of the dome coming down, how the community dealt with it, and less woried about they 'why'.
• I wanted more of that, more of Maxine's underground fight ring, more of the food and water shortage, more looting, more power struggle. All that can't be resolved singularly in 42 minutes. I don't need the supernatural to be intrigued, in fact, it reminded me of Terra Nova and the fact that I was more interested in their story of survival/community than I was with bad dinosaur special effects. 

Will I watch again next summer? I don't know. Probably. Because I can't help myself and am a TV whore. But I can't help but think my time would be better spent binge watching something on Hulu or Netflix... and that's sad for network TV. 

How did you like the 'Dexter' series finale?

I'm really torn on my feelings about the finale of Dexter. In the end, I thought it was fine – but getting there was rough. We had to sit through more Oliver Saxton stuff, which in the end, didn't really matter that much, except the role he played in (SPOILER ALERT!!) killing Deb. We had to believe no one watching that tape of Dex stabbing Saxton would be like, 'Hey man, that looked pretty premeditated to me. Are you sure it was self defense?' We had to put up with more Elroy. And oddly enough, we didn't see any of Masuka's long-lost-daughter, whom the producers wanted us to think was some sort of important character/plot development this season (thanks again for wasting our time, BTW). Worse, we had to sit through flashbacks of Deb and Dex at the hospital when Harrison was born and see Deb in that horrible wig.

We had to believe a hospital would not only just let some random guy walk in in the middle of an evacuation (they even addressed him!! Like evacuating that wing of the hospital was no big deal and that him walking around in the middle of said evacuation was no biggie either! ugh), but that they also wouldn't notice when a patient started coding or that, even worse, wouldn't notice when same random guy starts wheeling her out of the hospital, down the street and on to his boat. Seriously!? Remind me never to go to the hospital in Miami.

I understand that Dexter thought this was an appropriate farewell for his sister. And there is something poetic/justified about her being laid to rest alongside Dexter's other victims (Remember, Deb herself is a killer and his victim as he was the one who drove her down that path). But can we talk for a minute about the complete, utter chaos that is going to cause in Miami?

"Ah what? You lost a body? ... You lost the body of a Miami Metro detective?! How does this happen?!" 
- Said every person in Miami to the hospital when they find out about this. 

And poor Joey Quinn. I can only imagine the pain he evoked on whoever's seemingly responsible for this mishap. Also, when Hannah is reading the news about Dexter's 'death' on her iPad, why isn't there a sidebar about his sister who was dying in the hospital and is now missing too.... That seems like it would have made headlines.

Anyway, like I said, I understand Dexter's motivation.... But it was so selfish. As much as Dex loved Deb (and vice versa), don't you think your beloved sister deserved a traditional police funeral? Don't you think she worked her ass off her whole life to get to that point, that all she ever wanted was to be the best detective and to be respected and to catch bad guys? How could you think she deserved to be dropped in the ocean instead of getting accolades from the city she protected for so many years?

And here is why those actions really don't line up – Dexter's final act is supposed to be selfless. He understands the danger he is to himself and to Hannah and Harrison and wants to free them of that. He's doing them a favor, in his mind. (Although, I have to wonder how good Hannah will be for Harrison... This whole time we're lead to think her killing days are behind her, yet she's still carrying horse tranquilizers around with her? Hmmm.)

So Dexter's final act for Deb is one that comes from the most selfish place, in my opinion, and then his final act to Hannah and Harrison is supposed to be for the good of those around him? It just doesn't add up for me.

Or maybe it is all selfish. Maybe he isn't doing anything for the good of anyone accept himself. Maybe there is no heroism. Maybe he is a coward running away and hiding.

Which brings me to the final scene. Dex is alive and has a sexy beard (yey!). But seriously? Do you think he is still killing? Of course he is. What else is he going to do all day all alone? But how is he killing without the safety net of the police department? I worried all along that Dex would 'escape' somewhere and hide out (be it Argentina with Hannah or elsewhere) and knew that was impossible. His lifestly cannot continue wihtout the cover of Miami Metro. It's one of the reasons Harry trained him to be a splatter analyst to begin with. Let's get real - a quiet bearded guy who lives alone in a shitty house is suspect number one in most murder cases.

As much as I think Dexter had some missteps this season (heck, the past few seasons), there are really only two big things I'd change about the finale:

(a) I wish that Saxton had killed Deb on purpose and not just as he was trying to get away. I wish he had come for her, and not just had her get in his way. I wish Saxton had shot Deb to ruin Dexter's family as Saxton believes Dexter ruined his.

And (b) I wish in the final scene, Dexter had come home, sat down at his table and pulled out a box of blood slides. That would have been the ultimate antihero moment. The realization that all along, nothing – not his sister, not his son, not his love – matter more to him than his Dark Passenger.

'The Blacklist' - Why it's on my must-watch list for fall

Last week, I got the chance to see a sneak preview of The Blacklist on NBC. Aside from how odd it is watching a TV show in a movie theater – you really notice a difference in the speed of scenes, plot developments, etc – I thought The Blacklist was awesome and definitely on my must-watch list for this fall.

The premise is simple – James Spader's Raymond Reddington is on the FBI's most wanted list, turns himself in, and starts helping the FBI track down more of their most wanted (and, he teases, even some criminals that aren't even on their radar yet!).

In all the buzz I was hearing, it just sounded like a crime-of-the-week kind of show, which doesn't interest me at all, but the premiere hints at a bigger story. You learn a little more about Reddington – a former military man who up and abandons his family and resurfaces years later as a criminal – and start to wonder why he left his family for a life of crime, where his family is now, and why he turns himself in now.

The other big mystery is why he only chooses to work with new FBI profiler Elizabeth Keen (played by the Rose Bryne-ish Megan Boone). I'm not going to give anything away, but the premiere hints that Keen may have some mystery in her past as well.

There's a lot of action in the premiere (especially for a budget-stricken network show), you learn a little about these characters, and start to believe the reach that Reddington has in the crime world. And as if that's not enough, there's a plot twist at the end that I did not see coming. Nothing better than a cliffhanger to get you hooked.

Awkward Season 3 Trailer

Get More: Awkward., Full Episodes

Can't. Wait.

LOST copycats!

Looks a lot like this Mattson Creative print, no?

New cast, new format on DWTS

Let's be honest, this is the first time I have watched DWTS in years. I used to love the show. I posted my favorites here on this very blog almost every week. But I stopped watching because (a) I could not dedicated 3-4 hours a week to the show with the performances and the results show and because (b) the casts sucked.

DWTS solved one problem – they cut the results show. Now,  I only have to dedicate two hours of my life to this show! (And I can cut that down even more if I fastforward through the judges scores and Brooke Burke segments.)

And the casting this year – geez! I know I'm kind of a pop culture whore, but I knew every single name on that list except the football player. Mercedes from Glee, Leah Remini, Jack Osbourne, Elizabeth Berkley, Christina Milian, Bill Freaking Nye the Science Guy?! These people are legit 'stars' (in my opinion).

The season premiere (Monday) didn't disappoint either. Granted, you have to keep in mind that a lot of these competitors have past experience - Mercedes, Elizabeth Berkley, Corbin, Christina Milian - a lot of them have danced somewhat before. There were a lot of high scores given out in the very first episode.

image via ABC News

First glimpse of Carrie Underwood as Maria Von Trapp...

And I hate it! Loathe it! Since when is Maria a beer maid? And those dead eyes! Argh!

Read my initial reaction to Carrie's casting here. 

'Grey's Anatomy' Season 10 Promo

Please don't kill Richard.
 Season 10 premieres Sept 26 at 9pm on ABC.

'True Blood' to end in 2014

True Blood to end run in 2014.

Thank. God.

I like True Blood, really I do. If only for the man candy. But it stopped being good... oh I don't know, somewhere in between the were-leopards, possessed orgies and Lafayette's luche libre demon whispering. Oh yeah, and the fairies.

Why do I still watch this show again?

In the beginning, this show was about something. Vampires had just 'come out of the coffin' thanks to the manufacturing of a synthetic blood drink called Tru Blood. There was still prejudice against vamps, and against those who sided with vamps. There were vamp-owned businesses and human-owned businesses. Government either supported vampire rights or were against them.

I liked that show.

Through the last six seasons, every time a storyline like this creeps in - the Authority, Governor Burrell, the Tru Blood factory bombings, Fangtasia vs Merlotte's, Hoyt's mom, all the initial hate towards Sookie, the Fellowship of the Sun etc I like it. I like the human/vampire conflict.

All that other stuff.... eh.

And while I do think the finale gave some new life to the show – humans depending on vampires for protection while vampires depend on humans for uncontaminated blood – it was only a matter of time before the real world problems ODed on mythical creatures.

'The Goldbergs' is not 'Wonder Years', despite trying

Caught the pilot episode of The Goldbergs on Hulu this week and it was...okay. I feel like it is trying to be Wonder Years, but Wonder Years it is not. The youngest kid (the narrator) is cute, but he's no Kevin. It's hard to tell if he is an observer, the one watching and telling the story of his family, or if it's his story to tell, if he's the main character.

There were some good jokes - but they were mostly funny because of the 80s references, the nostalgia. I'm not sure how long that can last.

I haven't always been pleased with pilots of sitcoms (New Girl, for example) and they turned out to be better. If Goldbergs can figure out how to best work the storytelling with their ensemble cast, if the jokes can stand on their own without the 80s references, and if we can get less sappy, lesson-in-30-minutes happy endings, it just may work.

Why I prefer the original 'Hills' ending to the new one

I know I'm way behind commenting on this, but I finally caught the alternate ending of The Hills, and [SPOILER ALERT!] as happy as I am to see LC return, I kind of like the original ending better.

When they pulled away the curtain to reveal a TV set it was, at best, mind blowing (and at its worst, it confirmed what many of us had already believed that the show was completely fake). Was it just a stab at the haters? Or was the whole thing scripted? The original finale would keep the rumor mill running long after the final bow.

MTV has side-by-sides of the two versions of the finale.

The Essential 'Community' Watchlist

Good news, guys. Looks like we aren't in the darkest timeline after all! Dan Harmon is coming back to Community next season. No premiere date (or even a night) for Community has been announced by NBC, but the good news is that gives people plenty of time to catch up on the essential Community episodes.

Here are my favorites:

Social Psychology Season 1, Episode 4. I really like Shirley/Jeff scenes - and there generally aren't enough of them on the series in my opinion. Plus, this one includes making fun of Vaughn, Britta's boyfriend at the time and a recurring Glendale character.

Contemporary American Poultry Season 1, Episode 21. A plan to bring chicken fingers back to the cafeteria, in the style of a mobster movie.

Modern Warfare Season 1, Episode 23. The first paintball episode (yes, there have been multiple). Also, Jeff + Britta sexual tension.

Epidemiology Season 2, Episode 6. Contaminated meat from the Army at a Halloween party results in everyone becoming zombies except Troy ("the first black man to make it to the end"). Some unexpected plot developments...

Cooperative Calligraphy Season 2, Episode 8. The 'bottle' episode, referring to an episode of television with only the regular cast usually in one room for the duration. This one is over who stole Annie's pen.

Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas Season 2, Episode 11. Shot in the claymation style of classics like Rudolph. Need I say more?

Critical Film Studies Season 2, Episode 19. A tribute to Pulp Fiction, and more importantly, a Cougartown cameo. (Fact: Abed really  did appear on an episode of the show as a extra)

Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps Season 3, Episode 5. Britta has the group tell scary stories to figure out which one is a psycho. Hilarity ensues.

Regional Holiday Music Season 3, Episode 10. A holiday-themed spoof of Glee. I would buy this soundtrack.

Paradigms of Human Memory Season 2, Episode 21. The classic 'clip show' episode - but unlike the cop-out episodes it mimics, all the footage is completely brand new.

Remedial Chaos Theory Season 3, Episode 3. Widely regarded as one of the best episodes of Community (maybe even television), the episode takes place at a housewarming party for Troy and Abed, with the group (unknowingly) experiencing different 'timelines' with the roll of a dice. A little repetitive, a little confusing... and completely awesome.

Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism Season 3, Episode 9. Most importantly, Abed does his spot-on Christian Bale as Batman impression. And we get some great Shirley and Jeff bonding over a foosball game against Nick Kroll (Fact: the foosball storyline returns in Season 4, Episode 4, but alas, Kroll does not. It's a shame, really.)

  Pillows and Blankets Season 3, Episode 14. A spoof on a Ken Burns documentary, the episode features stunning photography by Britta during a pillow fort vs blanket fort disagreement between Troy and Abed.

  Basic Lupine Urology Season 3, Episode 17. This time Community spoofs Law & Order and it is seriously spot on. The music, the acting, the roles of the different characters; also brings back Omar Little Chalky White Michael K. Williams as their biology teacher. Wait for the twist at the end. Probably my favorite episode ever.

Intro to Felt Surrogacy Season 4, Episode 9. The one and only episode I'll include from the most recent season, and only because there are puppets involved.

And spend some time YouTubing post-credits scenes.

Honestly, in trying to put this list together I worried that there wasn't enough Leonard or Star Burns or John Oliver or the Dean or John Goodman as the dean of the AC Repair School or Magnum (POP POP!'). You might as well just watch the whole series.

'Lincoln' was almost an HBO movie

"The Star Wars creator also called cable TV “much more adventurous” than film today, adding that he believes “the Lincolns” will eventually disappear from theaters and appear only on TV — “as mine almost was,” Spielberg said, interrupting. “[It was] this close — ask HBO — this close.”"

Really interesting commentary on the state of film and television from George Lucas and Steven Speilberg. Read it on EW.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D

Sort of reminds me of Fringe and Heroes combined. Regardless, I'm intrigued by the idea of a franchise reaching across TV, movies, comics, toys, etc. A lot of movies try to make the jump to TV but it is usually a different cast, an different story or setting. It isn't the same.

Mind Games

Steve Zahn!

Christian Slater!

Uncle Saul!

Hijinks!

Resurrection

 Arcadia, Missouri?!

Mixology

The whole season in one night? Intrigued.

Could use another big name in the cast to get people to watch, a la New Girl. Also interested to see how ABC handles this since Happy Endings apparently wasn't 'on brand.'

Lucky 7

 Something about this reminds of Shameless. And Hurley.

Shiiiiiiiiit.

Back in the Game

 Cute. Kids can be funny. Or annoying. Those kids can't stay young and weird forever. We all hit an awkward phase.

Predicting this to be the Go On of the season - cast will mesh pretty well, get okay ratings, but ultimately get cancelled. 

Super Fun Night

When I first heard this concept, I had no idea how they'd take it beyond the first episode. The trailer offers no further insight. 

Trophy Wife

Quite a cast. Unfortunate title, a la Cougartown. 

The Goldbergs

I just hope they don't completely rely on the 80s setting for comedy. What's with all the throwbacks anyway? Surviving Jack on Fox is set in 91.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Samberg. Crews. Braugher. Most promising trailer of the fall season.

Sleepy Hollow

Sigh. It's like National Treasure meets your typical crime-fighting show. I have a feeling that preachy, British Icabod will get annoying. And could really go without the expected 'heads will roll' at the end of the trailer.

I wish for better for John Cho and the 7Up Guy. (Especially Cho. He can't catch a break - see Go On and Flash Forward.)

Almost Human

Wait... I've seen this before. But it was called I, Robot.

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland

Intrigued. When they first announced this, I thought it would be stupid (Considering I think Once Upon a Time is stupid, yet still watch....) but this trailer actually looks interesting. Hoping that Rose McGowan or Barbara Hershey reprise their roles as Cora, but it doesn't appear so based on this trailer. (That actress we get a glimpse of isn't either of them, is it?)

A lot of 'Return to Oz' undertones, no?

Rumors that Dan Harmon is returning for Season 5 of 'Community'

Rumors that Dan Harmon is returning for Season 5 of Community, please please please be true. This season had some a few bright lights, but it lacked a certain punch. The writing was slow, obvious. The characters were so flat. Too many Jeff speeches and Britta psych evals.

What should have been one of the best episodes in history - the puppet ep - just sort of happened. What should have been an epic comeback/takeover - Chang - was resolved in a few minutes over FroYo.

Bring back Dan Harmon. And while you're at it, also bring back -

• John Goodman and the AC repair school. 
• More Leonard. 
• More Magnum. 
• Professor Duncan. 
• Starburns via a dream or flashback ep. 
• Michael K Williams and references to The Wire. 
• Cougartown crossover. 

Surviving Jack

But why 1991?

Us & Them

Not a Ritter fan, but this is probably the most promising trailer (in comedy at least) I've seen so far this season.

Dads

Prediction: Cancelled. But I like Seth Green and Giovanni Ribisi.

Gang Related

John Locke!

Rake

Could either be annoying or awesome.

Enlisted

Private Benjamin meets Down Periscope... but most importantly Geoff Stults.

The Millers

This cast, this concept... it could be so much better. This feels stale. Predictable. Two and a Half Men - ish.

Hostages

Intrigued.

The Crazy Ones

I'm actually NOT a Robin Williams fan, or a fan of the 'zany' advertising cliche. But I am a fan of James Wolk, who seems to be making a career out of playing the ad man (see Mad Men).

Intelligence

Sawyer cut his hair!

PS Don't like the Red from Once Upon a Time cast in this. She annoys me.

Dracula

The Michael J. Fox Show

The Blacklist

Jimmy Fallon to replace Leno in late night... Good idea?

David Letterman Rips "Crazy" Tonight Show Succession Plan: "What Are They Thinking?"

My thoughts exactly.

Any one who thinks this is a great idea must be suffering from some serious short term memory loss. A quick browse through my 'late night' category and it's obvious that I wasn't a fan of NBC's treatment of Conan or Leno's primetime show. But the problem started long before that, in thinking that Conan could fill the shoes of Jay Leno to begin with.

I love Conan, really I do. But he just isn't as 'traditional' a performer as Leno is to keep that audience or to compete with Letterman. And while Jimmy Fallon follows in more or those traditional footsteps (and has the backing of Lorne Michaels), I still think it is going to be too much of a change to hold on to the audience Leno has re-acquired since being back at his Tonight Show gig.

I get it. Change must happen. We can't just replace one old, stand-up guy for another. But it seems like it would be easier if NBC was in a better place in the ratings... or if they hadn't just made a debacle of all this a couple years ago.

Charlie from 'Girls' leaves over creative differences

Christopher Abbott, who plays (super smokin hot) Charlie on Girls  is reportedly leaving the show due to creative differences with Lena Dunham. Read more from Rolling Stone. 

What will this mean for Season 3? Since [SPOILER ALERT] Marnie and Charlie reconciled in the Season 2 finale? Did he film any episodes of Season 3 that would explain his absence? Or will he just suddenly be gone?

One thing I know for sure... More Marnie on a downward spiral! I hope she drowns her sorrows at the neighborhood karaoke bar!

'Hannibal' Premieres Apr 4

WTF.

The trailer alone looks terrifying and violent! I guess what they all said about The Following was right - it is leading the way for more daring television, that's for sure.

Hannibal starts Thursday, April 4 on NBC.

What I'd like to see from 'Go On'

More Terrell Owens

Less Piper Perabo (and by less I mean none)

Someone to graduate.... for real this time. Let's make it Piper Perabo. And let's make it her idea. Break up with the group and break up with Ryan at the same time, to go travel the world or something.

A new group member. Maybe a guy similar to Ryan, who lost his wife, too. It would give Ryan a chance to see how far he's come, and help someone similar through it.

One more appearance by ghost Janie, just to tell Ryan she won't be visiting him anymore.

More John Cho and Carrie.

More Ryan and Anne interactions outside of group.

More back stories on the other group members. Some of my favorite episodes have been the ones where we've gotten to know Mr. K better. Danny. Owen. I want that to happen with every group member and expand upon the stories we've already learned.

More Sonia and Danny.

Game of Thrones Season 3 Trailer!

Cancellation Anxiety + What's coming on 'Justified'

Particularly good Ask Matt this week over at TV Guide. Some items of interest, including a couple of questions from yours truly:

Regarding the possible cancellation of Nashville: These days, the networks would almost kill for "lackluster," so while Nashville isn't what you'd call a runaway hit, it's doing OK, and because it's going the right way creatively (pulling out of its first-half slump), and like Glee and Smash it has a separate revenue stream with its music downloads and CD releases (which seem to get good reviews, though I'm not a music critic), I'm cautiously optimistic that ABC will renew it. As our in-house ratings guru puts it when we gather to discuss such things, they can't cancel everything.

Regarding seeing Limehouse again on Justified, and this season's 'big mystery' instead of 'big bad': I've heard that Mykelti Williamson may reprise his role sometime this season, but can't say when or how. (I'd like it to be a surprise, should it occur.) Regardless, I'm loving this season, as I have the past three, in part because it's so different from what's come before. Still the same blend of action, intrigue and wry humor that we can't get enough of, but once again the show is taking us into new areas of Harlan mythology, from the brutality of the hill people to the murderous machinations of the Clover Hill power-brokers, with whom Boyd and Ava have memorable dealings this week. This Tuesday's episode gives Elmore Leonard a story credit, and it introduces one of my favorite characters from his recent novel Raylan. I'll let you discover her for yourself, but I'm curious what avenues she'll eventually lead our besotted marshal down.

Regarding my concerns about the fate of Up All Night: The situation with Up All Night brings to mind the metaphor about rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. What is the point? Nothing happening on the show is as fascinating or laughable as what's taking place behind the scenes. If we ever see it again in any shape or form, I'll be amazed. And outside of professional morbid curiosity, completely uninterested as a viewer. Let it go.

Regarding my concern that Happy Endings moving to Fridays is a very bad thing:  Regarding Happy Endings' current misadventures in ABC limbo, I knew it was the odd ensemble out in the current schedule (not unlike Cougar Town before it), but until the news that the remainder of episodes would be burned off on Friday, I didn't view it as necessarily endangered. Now it's hard to see it as anything but. (Which of course will prompt questions about whether someone will swoop in to rescue it, like TBS did with Cougar Town. I usually don't encourage such speculation, but while I'm not especially fond of Happy Endings, it generates enough buzz and media attention to make it a good candidate.)

[Side note: I'm worried Matt and I have nothing in common, as I discovered he likes Big Bang Theory, and as stated above, isn't a fan of Up All Night or Happy Endings. Wha?!]

First Look at Pilot Season!

Sick of all the dead-end almost cancelled shows on TV right now? Never fear. Pretty soon there will be a whole new batch of shows for us to fall in love with and then see cancelled!

There are a lot of pilots that already have stars attached to them - Felicity Huffman as an assassin on Fox, Josh Holloway as a microchipped cop on CBS, and Jason Isaacs as the Surgeon General on CBS, for example. Below are a few shows from each network that I found particularly.... interesting. (You can take that as good, bad, whatever.) If you've got a minute (or 20) check out the full pilot reports from Fox, CBS, ABC, NBC and CW.

Blink (CW) 
A car accident leaves a family's patriarch in a coma-like state where he cannot speak or move, but can hear. His narration and various fantasy sequences provide a wry counterpoint to the stories and conflicts of his family ---> Are we sure this is a drama? Sounds like it could be a comedy to me.

The Hundred (CW) 
Nearly a century after a nuclear war has destroyed civilization, a spaceship sends 100 juvenile delinquents back to Earth to investigate the possibility of re-colonizing. ---> Need a cop? Jason Mara might be free if Vegas gets cancelled!

Reign (CW)
Watch as a 15-year-old Mary Queen of Scots (Adelaide Kane) arrives in France, betrothed to Prince Frances. She must survive fierce foes, dark forces and a world of sexual intrigue. ---> On a cable network... maybe. But on the CW this may as well be called 'The Mary Diaries'.

Betrayal (ABC) 
A beautiful, unhappily married female photographer begins a torrid affair with a lawyer for a powerful family. When he turns out to be defending a murder suspect who is being prosecuted by her husband, the relationship and the case begin a spiraling series of betrayals with cataclysmic results for everyone involved. ---> Because the titles Scandal and Deception and Revenge were already taken.

Big Thunder (ABC)*
A brilliant, late-19th-century New York doctor and his family are given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to relocate to a frontier mining town run by a powerful, but mysterious tycoon. They quickly realize that not everything in Big Thunder is as it seems. Based on the Disney ride?

Gothica (ABC) *
A sexy, modern gothic soap weaves together the mythologies of Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde, Frankenstein and Dorian Gray, among others.  If every episode of Once Upon a Time was a Dr. Whale episode.

Super Fun Night (ABC) 
Kimmie (Rebel Wilson) and her two best friends (Lauren Ash and Liza Lapira) worry that their Friday-night tradition (staying home in their pajamas) will be threatened when Kimmie gets a big promotion at her law firm and is invited to a party by the cute transfer from the London office (Kevin Bishop). It's time to take Super Fun Night on the road!  And this is a series? Not a movie? I'm confused.

NCIS: Red (CBS)*
An upcoming episode of NCIS: Los Angeles will act as this show's backdoor pilot, in which a small mobile team of agents — John Corbett, Kim Raver, Gillian Alexy, Scott Grimes and Edwin Hodge among them — are forced to live and work together as they crisscross the country solving crimes. ---> A spinoff of a spinoff of a spinoff, inspired by Road Rules. My parents will love this.

Reckless (CBS)
A sultry legal show set in Charleston, S.C., where a gorgeous Yankee litigator and a Southern city attorney struggle to hide their intense attraction while clashing amidst a police sex scandal. ---> Because the titles Scandal and Deception and Revenge and Betrayal were already taken.

Jacked Up (CBS)
Rules of Engagement's Patrick Warburton stars as a beloved, recently retired baseball player who finds that adjusting to not working isn't as easy as he thought it would be. ---> So Rules of Engagement finally got cancelled?

The McCarthys (CBS)
This family comedy is about a loud, sports-crazy Boston clan that includes Jake Lacy, Oscar nominee Jacki Weaver and Jack McGee. ---> Would be better if it starred cousins Jenny and Melissa. Super

Clyde (CBS)*
A meek, unassuming fast-food worker (Harry Potter's Rupert Grint) decides to become a superhero. ---> Ron!

Boomerang (Fox)
Felicity Huffman will star as Margie Hamilton, the matriarch of a family of assassins, who has to balance the demands of motherhood with her unusual job. ---> So... Desperate Housewives, Part II?

The List (Fox) 
A U.S. Marshal leads the hunt for the person who stole "The List," a file that reveals the identities of everyone in the Federal Witness Security Program, who begin showing up dead. ---> I find that shows built around one mystery cannot work. The Killing, Alcatraz, that one with Ashley Judd... Maybe The Following will renew my sense of confidence, but I just have little faith this can work (unless the emphasis is on a compelling U.S. Marshal and compelling villain as characters, and not just focused on the chase itself).

Sleepy Hollow (Fox) 
Ichabod Crane partners with Sleepy Hollow's sheriff to solve the mysteries of a town ravaged by the battle between good and evil. ---> Ugh, I sort of hate what the success of Grimm and Once Upon A Time have done to television pitches. Maybe this one will be more like Do No Harm?

Untitled Dan Goor/Mike Schur Project (Fox) 
A group of detectives — including Saturday Night Live alum Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, Terry Crews and Melissa Fumero — form an odd family in a police precinct in the outermost neighborhood of New York City. ---> Okay. You got me. I hope Terry Crews is playing a reformed Cheeseburger Eddie.

Hatfields & McCoys (NBC) 
Set in present-day Pittsburgh, a startling death reignites the feud between the legendary families. Unleashing decades of resentment, the blue-collar McCoys will put the Hatfields' wealth and power at risk as they battle for control of the city. ---> So, no pig stealing in this one?

Ironside (NBC)
In a remake of the 1960s drama, an acerbic police detective (Blair Underwood) who uses a wheelchair pushes and prods his hand-picked team to solve the most difficult cases in the city.---> My gripe here is with the choice of words - 'uses a wheel chair'? Is that to imply he may not need it? Why not call him paralyzed or wheelchair-bound?

Brenda Forever (NBC) 
We meet Brenda Miller through a double narrative of the protagonist at 13 and 31 (played by The Office's Ellie Kemper) ---> Because if she was 30, that would be too similar to 13 Going on 30.

Holding Patterns (NBC)
A group of friends' lives change after they survive a plane crash. ---> Experience has taught me that these friends will either want to 'go back', buy a hospital or eat eachother.

Untitled Owen Ellickson and Craig Robinson Project (NBC)
A talented musician (Craig Robinson, who will also produce) adjusts to a new life as a middle-school music teacher. Like Treme, but less characters and less depressing!

*UPDATE. Read '10 Shocking Pilot Rejections'

'Happy Endings' moves to Fridays

UGH!

Last week, TV Guide named Happy Endings as one of the shows on the bubble and I think a BIG part of that has to do with it constantly changing nights (that and the fact that people in the age range that watch the show use DVR, downloads, etc, not live viewing). Wednesdays, Tuesdays, Sundays.... and now Fridays! Seriously?!

I fear the end is near for one of the funniest, smartest comedies around.

What's maybe more sad is that its time slot on Tuesdays is being filled with sub-par reality shows - Celebrity Wife Swap and The Taste, and then former favorite Dancing With the Stars. Sad day for television.

Christina Applegate leaving. Is this the end for 'Up All Night'?

Son of a b!-%$#.

I really, really like Up All Night, but I fear the show is doomed. There have been so many changes - getting rid of the Ava Show at the beginning of this current season and the plan to move to a multi-camera/live audience format later this season - the show is going to be unrecognizable if/when it returns. And now, it looses it's star? EW reported that they are courting Lisa Kudrow, but for what role? The new Reagan? Just replacing her like on a soap opera? That seems ridiculous. Will they kill off Reagan or something? Also seems ridiculous for a show like this.

Honestly - Can Up All Night survive this? And even if it does - is it worth saving? The 'new' Up All Night would be a completely different show!

Are you watching 'The Following'?

I'm really love The Following on Fox.

I will say, if The Following were on cable, it wouldn't be that impressive. I think it is up to par (in terms of both story and violence) with shows like Justified, Dexter, and now possibly The Americans. But I applaud network TV to take this kind of step. To intrigue an audience in this way. Not treat us like we want reality TV or easily digestible drama or simple 'myths'. I haven't seen network TV do something like this since Lost. (And in fact, my sister, a fellow Lostie, said that this might be the first show she's watched since Lost that captivated her in the same way. I would slightly disagree, however - as my attention has been on Game of Thrones and Boardwalk and heck, sadly even Pretty Little Liars) - but I do think The Following has quickly moved on to my 'favorites' list.

And with this week's plethora of flashbacks, the show is reminding more and more of Lost - a show driven by characters, rather than plot. (Love it or hate it.) I was so worried that the show would become a 'crime of the week' series, much like many other promising shows have showed signs of (Fringe, Elementary, Dexter), but with the introduction of / emphasis on the other cult members, it's clear that we'll have enough back story to explore to at least last a season.

I do have to say, however, RIP and shame on you The Following for [SPOILER ALERT] killing off Agent Reilly! Same actor was killed off Dexter - for the sake of a strong plot line, I will add - after barely a season. Poor guy can't catch a break.

Read more about how The Following could impact television. 

Shows on the bubble

UH, WHAT?! Almost every show I watch is in trouble, according to TV Guide. Check out the shows on the bubble and my response:

Happy Endings : Finding a home for Happy Endings since it moved from Wednesday and away from its strong­­ lead-in Modern Family has been tough (it now airs on Tuesday, a night full of comedies). And its scheduling options are limited, since ABC still embraces the concept of family hour and avoids airing shows with racy content before 9pm. Happy Endings is popular with the network's ad-sales department, since the audience has a high concentration of viewers with incomes over $100,000. The question is, are there enough of them? With only 2.9 million people tuning in to the Jan. 29 episode, maybe not.

I think you solved the problem here, TV Guide. When is Happy Endings even on? We were used to Wednesdays, then it switched to Tuesdays (when we're already watching a TON of other comedies!) and then it pops up on Sundays recently? I don't think ABC has ever given Happy Endings a chance. They are too busy fawning over Modern Family (and now, for some reason, The Neighbors it seems).

Besides that, Happy Endings is most definitely geared towards a younger crowd (at least I think so). That is historically a great demo for advertisers, but nowadays we're DVRing, watching online, downloading episodes, waiting for the DVD, etc. Until we can figure out a new model that factors in those viewers better, I fear all 20/30 something-centric shows will fail.

Nashville : The Music City drama hasn't attracted the kind of audience it deserves based on the critical raves it has received. But it's making money, and ABC's other fall dramas (like Last Resort) fizzled fast. Marketing new shows gets harder and more expensive every season, so ABC is likely to stick with Nashville and hope its viewership can grow.

I don't doubt it will. Every person (girl) I know that has started watching Nashville is instantly obsessed.   We need a good soap - no more One Tree Hill, Desperate Housweives, Brothers & Sisters, etc. I think Nashville fills that role.

Parenthood : NBC often wins Parenthood's Tuesday-at-10pm time slot among broadcast networks in the 18-49 age group that advertisers covet. That should make it a sure thing for a fifth season, right? Not necessarily: The large and expensive cast could be an obstacle. If Parenthood returns, don't be surprised if there's a budget-related family tragedy that thins the herd. Another route the show can take is to keep the entire cast on board but not for every episode, as ABC did with Brothers and Sisters in its later seasons. 

As much as that solution saddens me, it actually makes sense with the storyline. Keep Haddie at college except for a couple episodes. Send Drew off the same way. Send Sarah to live with Hank in Minnesota or Michigan or wherever he moved. Cut Mark completely.

That being said, more people should be watching Parenthood. Seriously. It is so, so good. A bright spot in the week - despite me usually spending half the episode in tears. The Bravermans are such a joy to watch. It would be a shame not to spend time in their world every week.

 Vegas : Eleven million seems like a lucky number for any new show. Not CBS' Vegas. Despite the large average audience, it hasn't fared well with the 18-49 demographic. (Not even close: The median viewer age is 60.7.) Nor does it generate the kind of online buzz that serialized shows typically do (yes, network executives pay attention to that). With its high-priced cast, including Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis, and feature film-worthy production design, Vegas is too expensive to move to Friday, where there are plenty of ­older viewers but where programming costs need to be low. Don't bet on this one to come back. 

This kind of sucks. I'm 26, and I kind of like Vegas. I agree that it has done what Playboy Club couldn't 
for recreating that Mad Men  magic on network television. That being said, people my age are not going to get into this show. Ever. Great cast, sure. Interesting storyline, yes (I'm really rooting for Chiklis to go straight! And more Chiklis / Quaid interaction!). But it doesn't hold a candle to any other crime shows / dramas we watch. Justified. The Following. Boardwalk Empire. I'm sorry, but the gangsters on Vegas are goody goodies compared to what we're used to watching. Implied violence, a wink and a nudge, will only get you so far.

 The Mindy Project : The Mindy Kaling-led Fox comedy hasn't shown any sign of being popular enough to lead off a night next season. "They chopped Ben and Kate, and it wasn't doing that much worse than Mindy," says one rival network exec. "It depends how many comedies they need next fall." Mindy does have supporters at the network who like the show creatively; one insider gives it a 75 percent chance of returning. 

Excuse me while I go lay down in a fetal position in the corner and cry. First, you cancel Ben & Kate - my favorite new show of the season. And now you speak of cancelling my 2nd favorite? I wish I could make all my friends watch Mindy. Literally. Tie them down. Force them to watch 'In the Club'. Force them to witness Mindy and her BFF wrestling. Force them to watch Mindy date that total douche / prince charming and see them be like 'OMG this is my life. This show is hilarious.' Mindy is the more PG, less awkward, less naked, network TV version of Girls.

The Carrie Diaries : The CW's Carrie Diaries is an example of how online streaming is changing the TV business. The network's deals with Hulu and Netflix to carry its shows are based on the number of episodes produced. So even if The Carrie Diaries isn't a hit the night it airs, if viewership remains steady, it might just come back.

No comment here. Cool I guess, about that Hulu / Netflix deal.

The Hummels on Justified!

Anyone else catch Mr & Mrs Burt Hummel on Justified this week? He, as Theo Tonin's right hand man (that you do not want to mess with ) and she, as Arlo's lawyer?

Monday Mornings rips off Grey's Anatomy

Am I the ONLY one who is outraged at this Monday Mornings trailer? Why (why!) would a show that is already being compared to Grey's Anatomy (just becuase it's another medical drama) use one of the biggest, baddest, best Grey's references in its trailer?

If you're a Grey's fan - or even caught ANY of the first season - you know that George was nicknamed 007 by his fellow interns after 'killing' a patient. License to kill. Same reference made here in this godawful trailer for Monday Mornings.

That similarity alone would be bad enough - but the 007 moniker came up again when (spoiler alert?) George died in the fifth season finale and just before surgery, 'told' Meredith that it was him by writing '007' on her hand. That moment (in the clip below) still gives me goosebumps. It was (IMHO) one of the defining moments of the series. It had be ugly crying for the rest of the episode and depressed at the bar when I went out afterward (what? It was a Thursday and I was in college). See the clip below -


You're telling me that not a single writer, producer, editor, actor, craft services person on Monday Mornings knew this reference? I find that very hard to believe.

'Friends' reunion on 'Go On'!

Can we get a #cougartown #goon crossover to reunite Chandler and Monica? #friends
— Danielle Hohmeier (@daniellesmyname) February 3, 2013

My wish has been granted!!! Courtney Cox to guest star on Go On. Read more here.

I told you no one would watch Elementary after the Super Bowl!

''Elementary' Super Bowl ratings dim.' Fewer sports fans stuck around to watch Elementary compared to any post-Super Bowl entertainment show in the past nine years.

 via Ew

I told you Elementary was a bad choice! 

In EW's analysis, they claim that it was the blackout to blame for no one watching Elementary. The game was already running late, it was a Sunday night, bla bla bla. And while, sure, I think that's one of the reasons, I think more to blame is (a) not enough promotion of Elementary during the broadcast and (b) the choice of a scripted drama to begin with.

A.
Sure, there were a TON of CBS general commercials. I was like, 'man, my mom loves all these shows!'  And there were a couple Elementary-only commercials, featuring the stars giving their thoughts on the characters. But I don't think any of it compared to what we've seen with Glee and The Voice and The Office in recent years. You could not avoid those shows. Was it overkill, maybe? But their ratings were higher, so it must have worked.

I feel like CBS promoted 2 Broke Girls more during the Superbowl than Elementary. Maybe they should have showed that instead? Kat Denning definitely would attract the male football crowd...

B.
Which leads me to my 2nd point. I don't think a scripted drama does well after the Superbowl, especially one as 'smart' as Elementary. Read more here and see what show I would have picked.

Thoughts on 'The Kiss'

SPOILER ALERT! WATCH THE NEW GIRL! SPOILER ALERT!

Um. Best. TV. Kiss. Ever. ever.

Remember when The Wedding Singer came out and everyone was like "The kiss between Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler is one of the best movie kisses ever!"?

Well, last week's New Girl was that. But for TV. 

I even KNEW it was going to happen because I didn't watch the episode live and saw people posting about it on Facebook and Twitter (thanks for the spoiler alerts, people! rude.), but it didn't matter. The anticipation for this has been building since the show started, and even throughout the whole episode. I'm so glad that they didn't kiss during the game, because, as Nick said 'not like this'. It would've been forced and weird and waiting for the end was definitely unexpected. 

And oh man, did he kiss her. In this most recent episode, when Jess is telling CeCe about the kiss and she's like 'damn.' Yup, my thoughts exactly. 

From here on out - I only want to be kissed like Nick kissed Jess. 

Read more about the kiss and the direction of the show from EW. 

Golden Globes, SAG Awards Ratings Rise

After the Golden Globes, everyone was praising Tina Fey and Amy Poehler for a stellar hosting job (and rightly so) and giving them credit for pulling up the ratings.

I get it, awards shows have been notoriously low in the past (although, I thought in recent years, they've been going up with the rise of Twitter and 'social viewing'), but I don't think it is fair to give (all) credit to the host(s)/

The SAG Awards have no host, and yet, Monday morning rolled around and again, we were hearing that the ratings were up.

People, people. This has very little to do with who is hosting the show or even which stars are going to be there. I'll give you seven reasons why awards shows are seeing higher ratings this year.

Les Mis. Argo. Silver Linings Playbook. Lincoln. Django. Life of Pi. Zero Dark Thirty. 

The movies this year are ones that people actually heard of. That big stars actually played in. That people actually when to Ronnies 20 Cine to see (and not some small, indie theater).

People actually care who wins. That makes a HUGE difference.

I'm curious to see what the ratings are like for non-film award shows like the Grammys and the Emmys (especially the Emmys since network TV barely gets any nods at that show anymore).

Is it really plausible...

Is it really plausible that The Mindy Project‘s very private Danny would keep a spill-his-guts letter to his ex-wife in his desk drawer?

via

Firstly -
The whole time that was happening, I thought it was some trick way of Danny finding out the staff wasn't working (But Dr. C, on a Saturday?!). They'd find the letter, let it slip, and he yells at them for going through his desk. Done.

Secondly -
Totally plausible! This guy's got a heart of gold! Remember Thanksgiving when he was all alone? Sadface! He's keeping the note around because he (a) still harbors feelings for the girl or more likely, (b) to remind himself of how terrible love is and how it can make you in to a pathetic, weak little man. Mindy will obviously prove him wrong.

Could Rumplestiltskin and the Charmings been any less taken aback...

Could Rumplestiltskin and the Charmings been any less taken aback to learn that Hook and Cora had made it to Maine?

via 

I mean... why were they not shocked?!

Emma and Snow (and friends) are under the impression that they made it through the portal, screwing Hook and Cora at their chance of Revenge. So why are they not shocked - SHOCKED - to know they are there.

Belle is all like, 'Hey Rump, some dude with a Hook hand tried to kill me' and he's just like 'Man, not this guy again.'

Jiminy Cricket The Man tells Emma that Cora is there and Regina didn't kill him (obviously, because he is alive. That whole scene was a little less shocking than it should have been.... ) and Emma is just like 'Man, not this lady again.'

People, come on.

Spencer is totally going to hook up with the Academic Decathlon guy...

Pretty Little Liars‘ Spencer is totally going to hook up with the Academic Decathlon guy, right? (You can’t disguise a hottie with glasses.) 

via

For serious. They put glasses on that guy and suddenly he's a nerd? We're really supposed to think he's just some extra who doesn't matter? Whatever, PLL. If I've learned one thing watching your show, it's that everyone matters.

 The real question is, will they hook up before or after she finds out Toby is on the A Team?

For those still doubting NeNe Leakes’ acting chops...

For those still doubting NeNe Leakes’ acting chops, did The New Normal this week officially put your skepticism to rest?

via TVLine

Yes, yes, 100% yes. I thought the exact same thing watching last week's episode!

For those of you keeping up - Bryan and David are trying to hire a nanny and contemplating whether or not they can handle being stay-at-home dads. Rocky (NeNe) confides in Bryan that she has always wanted to be a producer and convinces him to let her produce an episode 'Sing' as a tryout for his paternity leave.

She is brilliant.

I hate to draw a parallel to Sue Sylvester - especially since Ms. Leakes often graces the Glee set as well - but Rocky is the new Sue.

But less mean. Sure, she's bitchy. But she isn't mean like Sue. She's got good intentions. Bryan is her family. And her 'friendship' with Nana is awesome.

Can't wait to see more Rocky. She steals the show.

GIRLS is 'outlandishly horrifying'

Read more about the review of Girls Season 2 premiere here. 

I understand that when the reviewer said Girls was 'outlandishly horrifying' she meant it as a bad thing.

But it's not.

Girls IS outlandishly horrifying. In fact, outlandishly horrifying is probably the best description there ever was for this show. It is awkward and uncomfortable and shocking. It makes me feel squeamish. It makes me feel embarrassed. And disgusted. And confused. And sometimes the normal happy and sad.

I love what Lena and the girls said on the Today Show.

They're holding a mirror up to the world. And no, sometimes we don't like what we see. Sure... sometimes it is exaggerated. But really? Most of it feels raw and honest to me.

As outlandishly horrifying as that is.

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