Watchlist: Thursday, January 11, 2007

WOW! Talk about a busy night for TV. I truly wish I could watch all the shows I have listed here. Not a dud among them. My first born goes to the person that develops the DVR/TiVo that can record 6 shows at one time. The 9 p.m. hour is the toughest for me. Sadly, I have to skip Scrubs and 30 Rock in favor of Grey’s Anatomy and The O.C.. No one should be forced to make those kind of decisions. It’s just not right.

My Name is Earl – Buried Treasure
Earl doesn’t know who to believe when Joy, Darnell and Randy give differing accounts as to what happened to his missing buried treasure.

The Office – Traveling Salesman
Michael pushes his desk jockeys to pair up and hit the road for sales-call duty. Meanwhile, Angela misses a crucial deadline, so her secret boyfriend, Dwight, tries to cover for her; and surprising news comes Karen’s way.

The O.C. – The French Connection
Ryan reads between the lines when Taylor’s ex-husband (Henri Lubatti) promotes his risqué novel in Newport; Summer gets a glimpse of married life from her socialite peers, while Seth flies to Seattle in search of Dr. Roberts’ blessing.

Grey’s Anatomy – Six Days
Part 1 of 2. After a successful heart operation, George’s father (George Dzundza) undergoes cancer surgery; Thatcher Grey (Jeff Perry) visits the hospital to see his new granddaughter; and Meredith discovers that Derek isn’t a sound sleeper.

Scrubs – My Friend with Money
Elliot splurges on items for the apartment that she shares with J.D.; Dr. Cox and the Janitor become roommates, taking up joint residence in one of Sacred Heart’s luxury suites; Turk encourages a depressed Carla to get help from a professional.

Ugly Betty – Sofia’s Choice
Betty finds a way to mess up Daniel’s future plans with Sofia when she makes a startling discovery. Meanwhile, the Ice Queen, er, Wilhelmina melts under Ted’s romantic stare.

30 Rock – The Rural Juror
Tracy joins the ranks of true celebrity when he sells his soul to get out debt. Speaking of lost souls, Jenna is excited about the opening of her independent movie, regardless of its ridiculous “The Rural Juror” title.

Smallville – Hydro
Go, Tori! 90120’s favorite virgin makes life miserable for Lana, Lex, Chloe and Clark. Really, would you expect anything less?

GMMR Forums…Keep or Go?

Last year we opened up the Give Me My Remote Forums as a place where GMMRers could meet up and discuss their favorite shows, actors, actresses etc. Over the past few months I’ve seen a decline in participation on the boards. I’m debating closing the forums all together but I wanted to ask you all about it first.

Do you visit the GMMR forums? Would you be bummed if they were shut down? Have you never joined but think you might? Drop me a line and let me know what you think. I’m not 100% convinced either way…it’s really going to depend on what you all think. To be honest, I would love to keep them going because I think unlike some forums/message boards I’ve seen, people are really cool and respectful of others opinion. But really, I’m only going to keep them going if we can get more peeps in there.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Living and Dying on “Lost” (SPOILER ALERT)

Is Matthew Fox getting ‘lost’ for good? Are they really killing off the good Doctor? That’s the rumor that has been running rampant for the past few months. And while Lost producer’s have been enjoying the buzz caused by the news, E! Online’s Kristin Veitch has just confirmed that Foxy isn’t going anywhere. In a column from earlier today, Veitch said that she “…just received definitive word that Matthew Fox is not being killed off of Lost…”. Knowing that the TV diva is on co-creator Damon Lindelof’s speed dial, I’m going to take her word on this one.

But if Jack is staying around, then who will be the next to bite the bullet? You know the Lost folks can’t keep people alive for long. I sometimes think the writers forget that there are other ways to shock the audience other than killing off characters for no apparent reason (sorry, but I’m still bitter about Mr. Eko). So who will be swimming with the fishes next? Charlie? Clare? Baby Aaron (why not, he contributes nothing)? Or will they be bold and do away with a major fan favorite like Sawyer? Anything is possible. However, the intrigue gets lost (no pun intended) when cast members spill the beans.

SPOILER ALERT after the jump!! SPOILER ALERT after the jump!!
Read more

“Extras” is Back this Sunday!!!

Comedy genius Ricky Gervais is back for the second season of Extras this Sunday (Jan 14th at 10/9c) on HBO. Extras is one of the funniest things you will EVER see on TV. It’s most definitely appointment TV in my house and I’ve been anxiously awaiting the start of Season 2 for some time now. I bow at the altar of Ricky Gervais.

For you newbies, Extras let’s us look in on the life of Andy Millman (Gervais), a man in mid-life who chucked his 9-5 job to pursue his life long dreams of becoming an actor. While waiting for leading man roles to pour in, Andy makes his living as a film extra “background artist”. Always looking for his moment in the sun, Andy usually succeeds on making an impression. Unfortunately, it’s not always a good thing.

But has Andy’s big break finally come? Season two catches up with Andy who just sold a comedy pilot to a British network. Are the days of being a background artist in Andy’s past? And will Andy’s success extend to fellow extra Maggie (Ashley Jensen, Ugly Betty) and clueless agent Darren Lamb (show co-creator Stephen Merchant)?

More importantly, what A-list celebs will Andy bump into on his way to fame and fortune? Kate Winslet, Ben Stiller, and Morgan Freeman made cameos as distorted versions of themselves during the first season. Season two promises stars such as Orlando Bloom, Daniel Radcliffe, and David Bowie, among others.

Sunday night is quickly becoming a busy night for TV, but I will always make extra room for Extras (yes, I typed it…live with the cheesiness people…live with it)

Check out a sneak peek at S2 of Extras on HBO.com

More about Extras and co-creator Ricky Gervais after the jump.

Read more

Watchlist: January 10, 2007

Friday Night Lights — What to Do While You’re Watching
During a bye week, the Panthers’ seasonal destiny rests on the outcome of a game between two rivals. Elsewhere, Matt’s father—far removed from the violence in Iraq—adapts to life at home; the Streets continue to push for a lawsuit against Taylor.

Knights of Prosperity — Operation: Seduce Simone
Mick Jagger’s security code is known by only one woman (Reiko Aylesworth), so the group turns to the naive Louis to charm it out of her.

Armed & Famous — I Never Thought I’d Get Handcuffed by a Jackson
Erik Estrada, La Toya Jackson, Jack Osbourne, Jason “Wee-Man” Acuna, and Trish Stratus — all true celebrities, mind you — become reserve officers in the Muncie, Indiana police force? This is a real show? Wow. In the opener, training begins.

Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency — Model Mutiny
As Season Two begins, Janice deals with griping from her models — imagine that — about Peter. Meanwhile, Janice makes her son Nathan a business proposition, as a search for new talent gets under way.

* There is a presidential address tonight at 9pm. Only NBC has the President Bush’s speech on their schedule.

2007 People’s Choice Awards in Pictures

I wanted to pass along a few of the photos I received from Tuesday’s People’s Choice Awards. Everyone looked adorable, and I’m sorry…but a little drunk. Especially the cast of Grey’s Anatomy. And speaking of Grey’s, I think it’s about time someone put Chandra Wilson (Dr. Bailey) in touch with a stylist. I mean no disrespect to the wonderful actress, but someone has GOT to tell her that shiny pant suits are never a good thing. Check out some pics of last night’s awards from some of the top winners including Grey’s and Heroes.

House Recap: “Words and Deeds”

Title: Words and Deeds
Original Airdate: 1/8/07

Oh House, you sly dog. Just when we think the brilliant doc has actually been beaten by evil Tritter with his magical, above-the-law powers… just when we think our favorite curmudgeon has actually reformed, gone to rehab in earnest, and become a respectful, humble person… House reveals his true super-power: Acting! Yes, it turns out the good doctor is not just brilliant at solving medical mysteries – he’s also brilliant at putting on an incredibly convincing show and completely pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes, including Tritter, with seemingly sincere apologies and a stint in rehab in order to get his charges dropped and avoid jail (and speaking of brilliant acting, if Hugh Laurie doesn’t win every award out there this year – Golden Globe, SAG, Emmy, etc. – then there will be Hell to pay from yours truly. Hugh Laurie fans of the world, Unite!!).

Ehem. Anyway, I found it very interesting that House’s oft repeated diagnosis/catchphrase, “Everybody Lies”, became such an integral part of this episode – to the point where it wasn’t just the patient this time who was lying (or rather, having false memories as a result of his bizarre illnesses), but almost everyone else was lying in a major way as well, especially Cuddy, who decided to perjure herself in court in order to clear House of the charges. Man… didn’t see that one coming. But I suppose it is fitting that she be the one to go ahead and draw up false pharmacy papers in order to prove House’s innocence, because if she hadn’t stupidly denied him his Vicodin in the first place, he never would have stolen the dead guy’s drugs. Ah well, Cuddy: You live and you learn, and you lie in court as a result.

Read more

2007 People’s Choice Award Winners

No I didn’t watch. Ducky and I instead had a nice dinner, did a little podcasting and then basked in the blogging knowledge we have ascertained over the past year (don’t ask). But for those of you who were interested, here are the winners from the 2007 People’s Choice Awards. If you didn’t believe me that this show was absolute garbage, please direct your attention to the winner of Best Comedy…need I say more?

TELEVISION
— Comedy: “Two and a Half Men”
— Animated comedy: “The Simpsons”
— Drama: “Grey’s Anatomy”
— Competition/Reality show: “American Idol”
— New Comedy: “The Class”
— New Drama: “Heroes”
— Female star: Eva Longoria
— Male star: Patrick Dempsey
— Talk show host: Ellen DeGeneres
Read more

Name that Show

My previous Jericho post got me thinking…what other shows are you all watching that I don’t know about?  I guess it’s something we don’t talk about often and probably because I’ve never asked.  So as we move forward in this new year I would really LOVE to know which shows are your favorites.

If you have a free minute, share with me (and your fellow GMMRers) what shows you are currently watching.  And PLEASE make sure to include those that I don’t currently cover here at GiveMeMyRemote.com.

Jericho. Are You Watching?

I need a show of hands to let me know if any of you are watching Jericho.  I caught the first few eps, and while I thought the show was good it wasn’t anything I could make the time for in my already crowded TV schedule.  Sometimes sacrifices have to be made in the name of sleep.

But just because I don’t watch it, doesn’t mean you all don’t.  CBS occasionally sends along Jericho scoop to share, so if you want me pass along the info, leave a comment and let me know you are watching.

People’s Choice Award Nominees

We’re kicking off awards season with the People’s Choice Awards (9/8c on CBS). I’ll probably watch, but only because there’s not a lot of new TV on tonight.

Let’s just take a quick looksy at some of the noms, shall we?Tom Hanks up for favorite movie actor?
Sandra Bullock is in the running for favorite movie actress?
Favorite Funny Female Star? Queen Latifah?

Nothing against these obviously talented actors, but really…this is who the “people” are saying were their faves in 2006? I just find it all a little suspect. And if you don’t agree, PLEASE explain to me how among every actress on TV today Jennifer Love Hewitt is in the running for favorite female TV star? Yeah…hmm.

TV
Favorite TV Comedy: The King of Queens, My Name is Earl, Two and a Half Men
Favorite TV Comedy: Animated: Family Guy, King of the Hill, The Simpsons
Favorite TV Drama: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Grey’s Anatomy, House
Favorite Competition/Reality Show: American Idol, Deal or No Deal, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Favorite Female TV Star: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Eva Longoria, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Favorite Male TV Star: Patrick Dempsey, Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland
Favorite Talk Show Host: Ellen DeGeneres, Jay Leno, Oprah Winfrey

(Movie, Music and Miscellaneous Nominations after the jump)

Read more

Joss Whedon Working at “The Office”

Buffy creator Joss Whedon has just been added to the esteemed list of guest directors that will be stopping by the offices of Dunder Mifflin this season. Esteemed director Harold Ramis directed last month’s Christmas episode of The Office, and JJ Abrams is scheduled to direct an episode that is scheduled to air in February.

The rumors of Joss’s “Office”-debut were circulating around the internet earlier today, but GMMR just got EXCLUSIVE confirmation from a source in Scranton that YES, Whedon was scheduled to direct. That being said, I was also informed that “nothing is ever final until it happens”. But this one sounds like it’s on. The episode will be a mini-reunion of sorts, as Whedon has previously worked with David Denman (Roy) who played Skip on another Whedon creation, Angel.

Watchlist: Monday, January 8, 2007

I’m back on the East Coast after a few days in sunny California. Of course, when I go away it’s warmer in Boston than San Francisco, just my luck. The trip was great and I was lucky to have really smooth flights both ways. Although it pains me NOT to travel Jet Blue. How I missed those glorious 36 channels of TV during the flight. I was subjected to one good movie (“The Queen”) and two snoozers (“The Guardian” and “Gridiron Gang”). However, we did get a little TV on the plane. I caught my first ever episode of New Adventures of Old Christine (which I thought was funny enough). And they also showed the pilot episode for Heroes (nice) and “The Initiation” episode of The Office which was great but they shut it down just as Jim and Pam were debating “28 Days” vs “28 Days Later”…Blasphemy!!!

It is nice to be home and back to my regularly scheduled TV viewing. My DVR is at the crucial 99% full mark, so there is a lot of TV to get through today and tomorrow. We aren’t 100% back into the Winter programming yet, so until then we have a night of truly BAD TV tonight. Well, most of it anyway.

How I Met Your Mother – First Time in New York
Robin wants to tell Ted she loves him, but she can’t make the leap. Meanwhile, her sister (Lucy Hale) visits and brings her boyfriend (Ryan Pinkston), and Robin doesn’t react well when her sister says she’s ready to lose her virginity.

Check out a clip from tonight’s episode of HIMYM…but remember NOBODY puts Baby in a corner!

Wife Swap – Allemon/Johnson
Kicking off a night of guilty pleasures for reality TV lovers, this new episode of Wife Swap features a professional bodybuilder with high expectations for her fam who swaps lives with the mother of an easygoing family of little people.

Gay, Straight or Taken? – Jenner, Mike, Luciano and Chris
Women do it every day on their lunch hour and now a new reality show is capitalizing on it. Is he gay, straight or taken? In this dating game, one single woman goes on dates with three men and has to decide which one is gay, straight or taken. And can I just add that if this was a real job, and I could make a living from this, I might just be a millionaire.
I Love New York – Debut
Can’t get enough of narcissistic New York? Neither can VH1. The twice-jilted Flavor of Love contestant looks for love among 20 hopefuls in what promises to be the guiltiest of dating game pleasures dating game.

ego trip’s The (White) Rapper Show – Debut
If Vanilla Ice could do it all over again, this is where he’d start. Would-be white rappers and wannabes compete for a $100,000 grand prize while living together in the South Bronx.

“House” Costars Engaged

Like any good relationship, it started out with a drug fueled night of crazy sex (at least for their characters) and now Jennifer Morrison and actor Jesse Spencer, who costar on FOX’s hit medical drama House M.D. are engaged. Spencer, who met hid future wife while on the set of House, popped the question over the holidays in Paris. All together now…AWWW.

A rep for the couple says no wedding date has been set.

Ugly Betty Recap: “Swag”

Ugly Betty – “Swag”
Original Air Date: 1/4/2007
We start 2007 by going back to 2006 in an odd sort of framed episode that doesn’t shed any light on Betty’s new situation at NYW. It’s kind of a “filler episode,” so I’ll just be doing a quick recap. If you didn’t watch it, you didn’t miss much.

Betty’s cleaning out her belongings at Mode late at night, hoping to avoid the crowds in case some tears start flowing. Her only companions are a bizarre janitor and Christina, who happens to spot her “Gucci” purse. Why is it a knockoff, rather than the real one Christina gave her? Weeeeelll….

Let us travel back to four months ago, when Betty and Daniel were still new and in the trial phase, Amanda and Marc were spiteful instead of hilarious, Walter and Betty were broken up, and HMO’s were Ignacio’s biggest problem. Good times!

Back then, Daniel was trying to impress yet another prima donna fashion heavyweight, Japanese minimalist Oshi and former friend of Fey Sommers. Oshi’s coming for a shoot and Daniel needs to impress him with a lavish dinner for him and his entourage.

Read more

« Previous Page — Next Page »