World’s Best Boss: Jon Stewart

UPDATE: I’m not taking back what I said about Jon Stewart being the world’s best boss, but there is an update on this story.  Despite earlier reports from “a well placed source” , Portfolio.com is now reporting that Jon is in fact NOT paying his staffs’ salaries while they are on strike.  Here’s the official statement from Jon’s publicist:

“While I hesitate to knock down every rumor that comes up, the assertion that Jon and/or Busboy Productions will be paying for the staff is false and we have no further comment beyond this at this time.”

I think there is something to this rumor, but I’ll go with the update.  Sorry…I had hoped this one was real and went with it.

Earlier post: I suppose being a writer for THE DAILY SHOW is a pretty good gig to begin with, but it’s even better this week. According to Portfolio.com, in light of the writers strike, Jon Stewart will be paying his writers on THE DAILY SHOW and those on THE COLBERT REPORT their salaries for the next two weeks…out of his own pocket. Jon wants to do what little (or in this case not so little) he can to help out with the financial hardship during the WGA strike. Not many bosses that would do that.

Just another reason to hero worship Jon Stewart.

Thanks to Mark for the update.

EXCLUSIVE!! CHUCK & GOSSIP GIRL Creator on the Writers Strike

If you’ve read any article about the impact of the WGA strike on television you have undoubtedly heard that the shows most likely to suffer are the freshman shows. Those shows which just premiered this season and are fighting to find and keep an audience.

So what’s it like for someone who has not one but two freshman shows on the air? This weekend Josh Schwartz, the creator of NBC’s CHUCK and The CW’s GOSSIP GIRL (two of my personal favorites of the new season) talked to me about the impact of the strike on his shows and what viewers can expect.

“It’s been a very weird, surreal sad time. Both shows are going great and everyone loves working on them, so to have to step away from the shows is very painful”, said Schwartz. “That said we stand in solidarity with our guild during this important time and while none of us want a strike, there is a sense that it is now or never for our guild over issues that will be important to generations of writers.”

As for how many new episode of CHUCK and GOSSIP GIRL we can expect to see, well that really depends on how long the writers strike continues. A week long strike will have little impact, but if the strike were to continue for months like it did back in the 80’s, well that’s a whole different story. Both CHUCK and GOSSIP girl currently have 12 completed scripts.

But Schwartz reminds us that it’s more crucial than ever to tune into all your favorite shows, especially the newbies.

As for what’s coming up on both of this shows, Schwartz said that “the next three episodes for CHUCK are the best we’ve
ever done and a larger overarching story will begin to appear, and answers to series questions will be answered, as well as Rachel Bilson’s appearance which will heat up and complicate the relationships between Chuck and Sarah. Don’t miss them.”

And what about those Upper East Siders? Schwartz says that “Gossip Girl has its most scandalous episode yet on Wednesday”.

As for what Josh Schwartz would like GMMR readers to know, “please keep watching both so that when the strike is over we can keep making the shows”

For more scoop on CHUCK and GOSSIP GIRL from Josh Schwartz check out E!’s The Vine as Kristin Dos Santos talked to the mad man himself. (Click here to watch)

Writers Strike News: Hyphenates Face Tough Choices

The writers are on strike.  Many of you are increasingly interested in how this will affect your favorite shows.  I’ll try to keep gathering and passing along interesting articles that I hope you will find of interest.

This article from Variety uses a favorite show of GMMRers, THE OFFICE, to examine just how the incresing number of hyphenates (those who have multiple titles on a show) are affected.  B.J. Novak, Mindy Kaling and Paul Lieberstein are all hyphenates.  As writers they are on strike and should be on the picket line, but as they are also actors they are required to be at work.  But while at work, by conditions of the strike they are not to assist in any form of show writing including rewrites which are a normal part of shooting.

But where’s the line? Do the actors on THE OFFICE have to follow the script verbatim?  What it Steve Carell wants to rework a few lines…is that crossing the picket line?  Having written “The 40 Year-Old Virgin” as well as a few episodes of The Office (last year’s ‘Casino Night’ and this week’s ‘Survivor Man’) isn’t Steve essentially on strike too?  What about Jenna Fischer who wrote ‘Lollilove’ and John Krasinski who wrote ‘Brief Interviews with Hideous Men’.  I can’t say for sure if they are part of the WGA but the might be.

While sad and disappointing, I find the strike and the ramifications of it quite fascinating. Read this article from Variety for more on the subject.

Variety
Office’ co-stars caught in strike zone
Writers, other hyphenates face tough choices
By JOSEF ADALIAN, MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
Once a WGA walkout begins, B.J. Novak — a writer and a star of NBC’s hit comedy “The Office” — will face a very tough choice.

As a card-carrying member of the Writers Guild, he’ll clearly be on strike. But he’s also a thesp and a member of the Screen Actors Guild. NBC’s studio arm has made it clear that it expects Novak the actor to show up to work today, strike or no strike.

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FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS Recap: “Let’s Get it On”

I’ve received your hate mail about not covering FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, so here it is – an overindulgent recap of this past week’s episode. I am expecting to see multiple comments from all of you watching FNL!!

I often wonder if there will come a time when I turn off the latest episode of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS and say ‘that show just wasn’t that great’. I’m not sure if that’s even possible, because with the writers and the actors they have on board, it’s almost like they can do no wrong (I did say ‘almost’).

Picking up where we left off last week, Coach Taylor is finally home with his wife and his two lovely daughters (well, Gracie is lovely and Julie is a little selfish brat that needs a kick in the head). Having been gone for quite some time now, Eric is all about reuniting with Tami, and yes I mean “reuniting”. It seem the Coach went to the store and picked up “Seduction for Dummies” because he had the candles going and Barry White on the stereo. Oh Eric. Tami, being the most kick ass woman on television, saw right through it and not only denied her hot hubby but also ordered him to the couch to be on full baby duty. Love it!!

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What to Watch…Monday, November 5, 2007

Monday nights are difficult enough for me without having to deal with a 2-hour PRISON BREAK. What to watch live, what to TiVo? I haven’t yet decided but I think I’m going to watch my comedies first (Chuck then HIMYM and then watch Prison Break and keep Heroes for the morning, yeah that’s how bored I am with Heroes this season). And no, there is no reason you needed to know my exact DVR schedule for the night but…oh well.

Check out what I’ll be watching tonight…what will YOU be checking out?

Chuck | 8pm on NBC
“Chuck Versus the Alma Mater”
Despite being expelled from Stanford, Chuck returns to the school for homecoming to help a professor—who just happens to be a government operative. In the process, Chuck unearths deep secrets about his erstwhile pal Bryce Larkin. (note: from what I’ve heard, the next three episodes of CHUCK are the best yet…make sure you check it out tonight so we can chat tomorrow)

How I Met Your Mother | 8pm on CBS
“Dowisetrepla”
Marshall and Lily search for an apartment to buy, but it’s not the enjoyable newlywed experience they thought it would be, especially when Marshall learns about a financial secret Lily’s kept from him.

Prison Break | 8pm on Fox | Special 2 hour episode
“Photo Finish/Vamanos”
When an inmate is found murdered, Whistler becomes the prime suspect and Michael must prove his innocence in order to save his life. Michael also demands evidence from Susan that Sara is alive, or he won’t help Whistler escape.

Heroes | 9pm on NBC
“Out of Time”
Peter regains a forgotten power, learning about the virus attacking those with abilities in the process; Suresh, Matt, Nathan, Niki and Bob team up against the “nightmare man”; West discovers the man who kidnapped him as a child is Claire’s father.

Samantha Who? | 9:45pm on ABC
“The Virgin”
Samantha has no memory of sex, and wonders how to approach her second “first time.

Journeyman | 10pm on NBC
“Double Down”
Katie contemplates returning to work as a television journalist, much to Dan’s chagrin. In the past, Dan must save a witness’s life. Meanwhile, Jack continues probing his brother’s odd behavior.

Also playing…

• The Big Bang Theory | 8:30pm on CBS
• Dancing with the Stars | 8pm on ABC (ends at 9:45pm)
• Two and a Half Men | 9pm on CBS
• Rules of Engagement | 9:30pm on CBS
• CSI: Miami| 10pm on CBS
• The Bachelor | 10:15pm on ABC

Mondays…they aren’t for TV amateurs! What will you be watching tonight?

GMMR’s daily “What to Watch” is powered by MeeVee’s interactive TV listings.

THE AMAZING RACE Season 12

Guys so sorry that I forgot to remind you that tonight was the premiere of the 12th season of THE AMAZING RACE. Hopefully you all were better than me about remembering it was on. I didn’t have the TiVo set and got home a bit late but luckily my TV was already on CBS so I caught the whole show. Whew!!

So tonight was our first glimpse at the new teams in action. I can already see that many of the teams are going to have some communication issues this season. There was lots of screaming, yelling, bitching and tears and this is only the first leg people…you’ve (hopefully) got a long race ahead of you.

The teams started off in L.A. and found out that their first stop was Ireland, a country that The Amazing Race had never visited before (which I found odd and interesting). The teams tried not to get lost and raced to the airport. Not all of the teams made the first flight, and those who didn’t had to scramble to find an alternative airline. In an odd twist for the first episode, the main flight was delayed so those in the back of pack who had to find a different flight actually landed in Ireland first. Gotta love when that happens.

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TV Blog Weekly Roundup…

Yeah, there might be a writers strike looming but that doesn’t mean there’s not a ton of TV news to talk about. Every Sunday GiveMeMyRemote.com will be teaming up with some of the best TV bloggers to bring you a wrap of all the latest TV news and gossip.

Give Me My Remote
The TV Writer’s Strike is on everyone’s minds, but there’s still a lot of TV to talk about in TV land. GMMR is shocked to discover that she misses Karen Filipelli on The Office, but not shocked that she isn’t missing Cameron, House and Foreman on House. Should she be? And her readers are wondering if her love for all things Pushing Daisies is healthy or something they should be worried about. GMMR ended her week as she always does by catching up on all the latest TV news with a cocktail.
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BuzzSugar
We reminisced about My So-Called Life and wondered how well everyone remembers it. We mulled over the current state of Heroes. We thought HBO’s In Treatment sounded more intense than a college course. And we actually liked Blake Lewis’ first single post-American Idol. Yeah, we know.
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Daemon’s TV
Sandie finds weird couples on TV and shares her new TV addictions (Supernatural, Malcolm in the Middle, and Torchwood). In addition, she gets a first look at Rachel Bilson (Summer in The O.C.) in NBC’s Chuck.
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Glowy Box
Liz answered questions posed by the Googling masses about Desperate Housewives, The Bachelor, and Grey’s Anatomy. She also marveled at the extreme improvement in Desperate Housewives’ writing this season, and shook her head and sighed at Brad’s poor decision-making skills on The Bachelor.
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Mikey Likes TV
Mikey listed the many ways in which he’s disappointed by Heroes: Generations, was surprised by how much he likes the new season of Nip/Tuck and forgot about it all after news of Joss Whedon’s blissful TV partnership with Eliza Dushku.
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Ramblings of a TV Whore
We recalled about our favorite Halloween episodes from classic Roseanne to Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Ugly Betty. Plus, Rae found out about Joss Whedon’s new show, Dollhouse, which proves she’d follow him anywhere… even to Fox.
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Writers Strike Update

In a last-ditch attempt to avert a strike, the Writers Guild of America will return to the negotiating table Sunday morning to meet with studios and networks. Fingers crossed!

THE OFFICE Convention 2008

“If I go I’m wearing Spock ears. And I want Jenna to go as Princess Leia. And I want Rainn to go as Darth Vader…and maybe John would be Xena Warrior Princess. I just want to confuse people as to what kind of convention is actually is.” – Steve Carell on attending future Office convention [The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, 11.2.07]

Cocktail Party Primer (Episode #12): Girls and Nerds, and Other Stuff I’ve Got Theories About

Has a busy week at work/school/jail left you with little time to catch up on the latest TV news?  Fear not, the GMMR Cocktail Party Primer is back to fill you in all of that’s happening in the world of TV.

Over to you, Martha… 

I spent the week watching “documentaries” about vampires on the History Channel and pretending that, unlike the previous three years I’ve lived in my apartment, this year I might have trick or treaters as an excuse to buy candy. That left me with a lot of time to think, so this is what I pondered while bombed on chocolate this week. If you aren’t too busy having sugar detox or cleaning off the last traces of your zombie Al Gore makeup to party this weekend, you’ll probably hear other former goulies and ghosties babbling about these little tidbits too.

• I have this theory that a sure-fire route to television or movie success is to come up with an idea that appeals to both girls and nerds. Examples that bear this out include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica, and Supernatural. The synthesis of cute guys, kick ass ladies, and something from either space or Hell is a sure fire combination. The genesis of this theory lies with The X-Files, the first show to really milk the potential of girls, nerds, and nerdy girls. And this particular nerdy girl couldn’t be more pleased to learn that the new X-Files movie will begin filming December 10 and be released in July. It figures that as soon as I managed to bury my Mulder crush down so deep that no one would ever guess I once listened to David Duchovny, Why Won’t You Love Me on repeat for like six straight months, something like this would happen to pull me right back out of the closet.

• After dominating the gossip for most of the summer, Heroes: Origins was shelved without airing so much as a single frame. Some people say it’s the fault of the impending writers’ strike, while others blame Heroes’ lower rating this season, but I think I know what’s going on. NBC liked the concept of showing how extraordinary characters got started, but was hoping to do it on the cheap. Instead, in an effort to spend less money and capture a slightly younger audience, they’ve bought the syndication rights to the Muppet Babies and renamed it Muppets: Origins.

• It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown aired this week, replacing Carpoolers and Cavemen, and it garnered ratings that bested them by 50%. The fact that shows like Carpoolers and Cavemen even exist was enough to make me seriously doubt the future of humanity. Then something like this happens to warm my bitter, frozen heart. It’s like somebody took the rock out of my treat bag and replaced it with a king-size Snickers. It’s like I was expecting to have the football pulled away before I could kick it, and instead my toe made contact. It’s like dancing in a jerky, repetitive manner to a jazzy piano solo. You get the picture. It feels nice.

• Hugh Laurie abruptly left the set of House this week and flew back to England to be with his family. Reports state that Laurie is battling depression, and that makes me sad. So as a devoted fan of the erstwhile Jeeves and Wooster, I’ve come up with an alternate perkier explanation. If you’ve ever seen the show, and if you haven’t, you simply must, you know that poor Hugh Laurie (loveable but idiotic fop Bertie Wooster) is simply a wreck unless he has Stephen Fry (his unflappable valet Jeeves) around to make him tea, iron his shirts, and extricate him from improbable romantic entanglements. In my mind they’re speeding away from the loathsome Honoria Glossop in a motorcar. Laurie is disguised as an Arabian sheik and Fry smirks knowingly in a smart bowler hat. Ah, the wonderful world of make-believe.

• When I heard that Fox ordered seven episodes of Joss Whedon’s new show Dollhouse, I was utterly atwitter. When I heard he’d approached Tim Minear to work on it, I thought I might wet myself. Then I whacked myself forcefully on the forehead for being naïve enough to get excited. Didn’t I just say that Fox was going to give Whedon a new show just to break our hearts by canceling it?  And don’t we all know that Tim Minear must have once offended Zeus who then condemned him to spend eternity making excellent shows that hardly last more than 13 episodes?  With a combo this brilliant but cursed, I’ll be surprised if Dollhouse even makes it to air without somebody ending up smited by a bold of lightening from the heavens.

Martha Smith is a San Francisco-based freelance writer and editor. She writes mostly about food, TV, and other things that can be enjoyed while sitting down.

So Say We All: Ugly Betty, Scrubs & Grey’s Anatomy

There’s just too much good TV on Thursday night.  I haven’t been to sleep on a Thursday before 2am in about two years.  I’m a little groggy this morning but not too tired to chat about last night’s TV.

Here’s my random thoughts on last night’s shows, but I’m more interested in what YOU have to say.  Bring it people….

Ugly Betty

For a 20-something girl with braces, bad hair, bushy eyebrows, hideous glasses, and a horrific sense of style, Betty Suarez sure seems to always be fighting off men with a stick. Way to work it, Betty.  There is just something so sweet about Betty’s relationship with the adorkably hot Henry. I’m so pulling for them and hope that maybe in the end Charlie isn’t having Henry’s baby and it was just all a mix up.  I’m not sure how the average ‘Betty’ viewer liked last night’s episode, but I’m all about the musical ‘Wicked’ so I was more than fine with seeing performances from the show in the second half.  Especially the heartbreaking scene set to “I’m Not That Girl.” Aw.  After momentarily breaking it off with Henry, Betty shows up at his doorstep and the two go inside to finally get it on (try not to visualize it).  But with the reemergence of Gio the sandwich guy, I’m wondering if Henry is going to work extra hard to keep Betty by his side.

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What to Watch…Friday, November 2, 2007

Most mornings I try to write up a little something on the shows I watched the night before. But on Saturday mornings I’m usually out and about before I even think about writing about the shows. Because of this I really haven’t spent much time talking about my Friday shows FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS and MOONLIGHT. Sorry. I’ll try to be better about it this week. Both shows are worth chatting about with all of you.

Night Cap – TV Stars on the Late Night Talk Shows…
Enjoy your late night TV tonight because it’s probably the last time you are going to see new shows for quite some time.

• Steve Carell (The Office) and Manny Ramirez (Red Sox) on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
• Seth Green (The Family Guy) and Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck) on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
• Jerry Seinfeld and David Ortiz (Red Sox) on Late Night with Conan O’Brien
• Christina Applegate (Samantha Who) and Zachary Quinto (Heroes) on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Friday Night Lights | 9pm on NBC
“Let’s Get It On”
Coach Taylor comes home to a team in chaos, fueled by Matt and Smash’s feud. Elsewhere, Riggins seeks Lyla’s help in dissuading Street from surgery, and Landry takes comfort in football as he struggles for control in his life.

Moonlight | 9pm on CBS
“B.C.”
Mick searches for a powerful vampire from Josef’s past who is linked to a drug-overdose case that Beth is investigating.

Also on…

• Ghost Whisperer | 8pm on CBS
• Men in Trees | 8pm on ABC
• Women’s Murder Club | 9pm on NBC
• Numb3rs | 10pm on ABC
• Las Vegas | 10pm on NBC
• Next Great American Band | 8pm on Fox

GMMR’s daily “What to Watch” is powered by MeeVee’s interactive TV listings.

BREAKING: Writers Going on Strike

The Writers Guild of America is going on strike as early as Monday. Game on people. Over the next few days we will learn more about how the writers strike will affect TV. It’s certainly a disappointment to the viewers, but we must support the writers!! Without the writers we don’t have THE OFFICE, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, 30 ROCK, CHUCK, GREY’S ANATOMY, GOSSIP GIRL, PUSHING DAISIES, or any of other favorite shows.

We’ll be ok…I promise. TV is not going dark. We’ll feel the changes – some immediate, some not so immediate but I promise we’ll be ok. New episodes will air for the next few weeks and I suppose that we will be subject to some re-runs in the near future no matter how long or short this strike it. Things will be fine and this might all be over before we know it. I mean no disrespect to the writers, but let’s keep this in perspective – these are not doctors, fireman or policemen going on strike – lives are not at stake. Things will work out. Meanwhile, let’s support the writers.

WGA leaders call for strike
Writers would walk on Monday
By Dave McNary

In a lively meeting of 3,000 guild members Thursday night, the WGA’s negotiating committee announced its unanimous strike recommendation, a pronouncement that generated an enthusiastic response from the SRO crowd at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The decision also is sure to cause ripple effects within the Directors Guild and the Screen Actors Guild as they negotiate their contracts within coming months.

A final decision on striking could come as early as today via meetings of the WGA West board and the WGA East Council. Leaders stressed throughout Thursday’s meeting that they could not specify how soon a strike will start. Attendees were instructed that they should go to work today and wait for a call or email from strike captains.

But it’s a foregone conclusion that the WGA panels will OK a strike and the consensus is that they’ll probably select Monday as the starting day. (For more on the latest developments as well as more details on the disputed contract issues continue reading at Variety)

THE OFFICE Recap: “Branch Wars”

I have the case of the giggles tonight. Overall I can’t say that tonight’s episode of The Office was my favorite, but I can’t stop giggling thinking back on some of the funnier moments. I don’t know what’s come over me but it’s been over an hour a since the show ended and I’m still laughing.

Before we get on to the recap and my favorite moments, I want to take a minute and say something that I never thought I would ever say – not here on this blog, not to my friends, not even in the quiet of my own home. Ladies and Gentleman – I miss Karen Filippelli. I’m not sure if perhaps someone slipped something in my drink or what, but the episode ended with me wanting more of Rashida and Karen. Give me a few precious JAM scenes and I’m sure I’ll be over it soon. But yeah, I’m just being honest.

Ok, now that I got that off my chest, let’s talk about what went down tonight.

As was mention, tonight was the return of Karen. After getting her ass dumped by a fountain in New York, Karen left Scranton and is now the Regional Manager of the Utica branch. Way to step it up, Filipelli. In her new management role, Karen is trying to lure Stanley away from Scranton with a promise of a big old raise. Michael is devastated to lose the ‘hilarious black guy’ and decides to enlist Dwight and an unknowing Jim to prank the Utica branch to get back at Karen. As you can imagine things don’t go well and the prank ends up with broken office equipment and Jim getting his ass handed to him by Karen in the most awkward of encounters. Good times.

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More John Krasinski for Gap (Updated)

Anyone happen to have the number of the art director and stylist for John Krasinski’s Gap ad campaign? I’d like to have a few words. I just think it takes a lot of effort to make the boy look not cute, and somehow they have succeeded.I mean he doesn’t look horrible, but I’ve seen hundreds of pictures of him looking a million times more adorable. This is a national campaign! John Krasinski will be plastered all over Gaps nationwide over the next 2 weeks, and for those who don’t watch The Office this is their first exposure to JKras. I could take a better picture with my polaroid. You know how it pains me to be negative about anything having to do with the boyfriend, but back me up here…these aren’t the best shots of him, right?

Click the image above to enlarge. Click here if you missed the first John Krasinski Gap Ad.

Update: Just to show you how easy it is to make this boy look good.  I just took about 3 minutes and created my own John Krasinski Gap Ad.  Much better…right?

Thanks to ‘gap’ (although not The Gap) for sharing. ‘gap’ works for The Gap and says the ads will be up in stores over the next two weeks.

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