I Love CBS Comedies…When Did That Happen?

Before we get into my thoughts on last night’s episode of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, I wanted to take a minute to let you all know that THE BIG BANG THEORY is now back on my list of appointment TV for Monday night (like I needed another show). I didn’t love the pilot, but based on a few recs I started watching a few here and there and found them funny, but I just couldn’t commit to another show. But what I didn’t realize was that my second DVR had been recording the show every week. So after a mini-marathon this weekend, capped off by last night’s hilarious episode (a repeat I hadn’t seen), I just want to say that Sheldon, Louis, Penny and the boys have now made it to the (not so) exclusive GMMR watchlist. If you haven’t checked it out, give it a shot…it’s pretty damn funny. Bring on Sheldon!!

Here are two scenes that had me laughing from last night’s episode:

How I Met Your Mother

After last week’s Slapsgiving Day episode I knew the episode we got this week was going to be a bit of a let down. And I was right. Usually I’m all for Barney being the focus of the episode but last night was so much about Barney that the rest of the cast just felt like filler. The gym storyline seemed to be an afterthought, and an unfunny one at that. I was happy to see pre-suit, hippy Barney and the return Wayne Brady as his pre-gay (but not so much) brother James so. It kills me to criticize this show because it’s one of my favorites, but I thought Barney getting the ‘yips’ at the Victoria’s Secret party was a bit overdone. It was funny, don’t get me wrong, but that scenario had so much potential and I think with better writing Neil Patrick Harris could have done a lot more with it. Overall, an enjoyable episode but I didn’t laugh out loud as I normally do (or as much as I did during The Big Bang Theory).

CHUCK & LIFE Get Full Season from NBC

According to reports from E!, NBC has granted both CHUCK and LIFE the back nine, meaning both shows have received a full season pickup. Congrats to both shows!! Now we just need some good news on the end of the strike and I’ll really be happy.

As we discussed earlier, the other NBC freshman shows JOURNEYMAN and BIONIC WOMAN have yet to receive full season orders…which in light of this announcement is really telling.

Rainn Wilson on ‘Wired Science’

Rainn Wilson is keeping himself busy during the WGA strike buy guesting stinting on PBS’s ‘Wired Science’. Rainn, along with host Chris Hardwick (remember him from MTV’s “Singled Out”) play “What’s Inside Your Medicine Cabinet”, a game in which various ingredients are presented that are all present in something found in common medicine cabinets. Yes, it’s as boring as it sounds, but it’s Rainn Wilson so I thought you’d like it.

Thanks to Becks for passing this on. And thanks to JustJared.com for first bringing it to the attention of Becks.

Adam Baldwin Has the Scoop on CHUCK

It seems that we have a lot of CHUCK fans around here, which thrills me to no end as it’s one of my TV faves this season. But I also know that CHUCK star Adam Baldwin, who plays NSA agent John Casey on the show, has been a long time favorite of some of you because of his role as Jayne in the Firefly/Serenity series. TV Guide recently talked to Adam about his role as Casey, what Zach Levi is really like offset, and just what Yvonne Strahovski is wearing under that Swiss Miss costume.

TVGuide.com: It’s nice to see Chuck ticking back up in the ratings.
Adam Baldwin: Yeah, yeah, I mean we have really tough competition on Monday nights. The sports guys [watching Monday Night Football], hopefully they’ll be finding us [when the NFL season is over]. So we’re all full of high hopes. And then… there’s the writers strike.

TVGuide.com: And then there’s the writers strike. How many episodes did you get done?
Baldwin: We will complete the initial order of 13. They banged out Episode 112 just before the midnight deadline, and we’re now three or four days into [production on] Episode 111.

TVGuide.com: Will Chuck happen to leave us with any kind of a cliffhanger?
Baldwin: Er, that’s above my pay grade to comment on. [Laughs] But yeah, I think so. There’s something. (Continue reading at TVGuide.com)

Don’t Get Your Hopes Up, But…

DeadlineHollywood.com is reporting that a very reliable source has told them that a deal between the WGA and the AMPTP might already be done.  I’m just going to pass along the information so you can read it for yourself.

From Nikki Finke’s Deadline Hollywood:

As the WGA strike begins its 4th week, I’ve been told positive news about today’s resumption of contract talks between the writers and the producers. So positive, in fact, that I’m almost fearful to post it. But here goes: a very reliable source tells me that there appears to be a deal seemingly in place between both sides.

“It’s already done, basically,” the insider describes. That’s because of the weeks worth of groundwork by the Hollywood agents working the writers guild leadership on one side, and the studio and network moguls on the other. I was told not to expect an agreement this week.  But my source thought it was possible that the strike could be settled before Christmas.

Look, I don’t want to raise false hope here. But this source has been very accurate in the past. The negotiations starting today will have a news blackout, so don’t expect any significant leaks. But consider the real possibility there’s been a breakthrough. Still, I must caution that this is Hollywood — where defeat is snatched from the jaws of victory nearly every time.

I’m not going to try to get too excited until I hear an official announcement.

Calling All JOURNEYMAN Fans – URGENT!!

If you are a fan of the NBC show JOURNEYMAN than it is muy importante that you watch the show LIVE tonight.  Like many of you, I usually record JOURNEYMAN on my DVR and watch it the next morning, but tonight we can’t do that.  According to this report from Zap2It, there are rumblings that NBC might pull the plug on the Freshman drama and not air the remaining episodes if the ratings aren’t their tonight.  And they aren’t looking at the DVR ratings.  This rumor hasn’t been confirmed by NBC but let’s not risk it.I don’t know about you, but I seem to see a lot more advertising for the NBC bomb BIONIC WOMAN than I do Journeyman. As a friend pointed out to me, most of the Journeyman ads encourage viewers to watch the show on NBC.com (and give NBC the advertising dollars that they won’t share with the writers? Yeah, no.). If you’re going to give up on show then drop Bionic and give Journeyman a fair shot.

Watch Journeyman tonight at 10pm on NBC.

THE AMAZING RACE: No Chicken, No Check-In

Ok fans of THE AMAZING RACE, I have a question for you. Do you actually like any of the teams this season? Here we are in the fourth leg into the race and I have yet to find a team to pull for. In general the teams seem a bit more whiny this season. I thought I was liking Azaria and Hendekea for awhile, but he really annoyed me tonight. Kynt & Vyxsn are ok but I don’t always think they put in enough effort. And Donald & Nick don’t annoy me all that much but I don’t find them particularly interesting. The rest of them…eh, I couldn’t be bothered.There are a ton of reason that I could never run the race (including my inability to read a map and my ability to get lost in my own town), but I could seriously not deal with someone screaming in my face to ‘ go faster’ or ‘hurry up’ under already stressful circumstances. I’d probably lose it and try to kill someone on a Detour.

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What to Watch…Monday, November 26, 2007

Last Monday was a pretty spectacular night of television all around. The hot Chuck & Sarah kiss, the Slap Bet, HRG taking it in the eye, and Dan’s past actions coming to haunt his future self! I can’t wait to settle in and watch TV tonight.

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

Chuck | 8pm on NBC
“Chuck Versus the Nemesis”
It’s Thanksgiving, and Chuck’s day is stuffed with a big surprise: Bryce Larkin (Matthew Bomer), the agent who originally downloaded government secrets into Chuck’s brain, returns in need of Chuck’s help to prove he’s not a rogue agent.
How I Met Your Mother | 8pm on CBS
“The Yips”
Barney’s timing couldn’t be worse—he loses his mojo just as he gets an invite to a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show party. Model cameos include Heidi Klum, Marisa Miller, Miranda Kerr, Adriana Lima, Selita Ebanks and Alessandra Ambrosio.
Heroes | 9pm on NBC
“Truth & Consequences”
Peter goes to Texas with a plan to destroy the virus; Niki has bad news for Micah; Hiro targets his father’s killer; Nathan finds out Peter survived; and Maya must choose between her brother and Sylar. Watch a scene from tonight’s episode:
Journeyman | 10pm on NBC
“Blowback”
Part 2 of 2. The kidnapper (Raphael Sbarge) returns seeking revenge and targets Katie. Meanwhile, Dan travels to 1983, where he finds the origins of a criminal; and Livia learns more about her life’s purpose.

Also playing…

• The Big Bang Theory | 8:30pm on CBS (repeat)
• Dancing with the Stars | 8pm on ABC
• Two and a Half Men | 9pm on CBS
• Samantha Who | 9:00pm on ABC
• Notes from the Underbelly | 9:30pm on ABC | Season Premiere
• Rules of Engagement | 9:30pm on CBS
• October Road | 10pm on ABC
• CSI: Miami| 10pm on CBS

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. If you have TiVo you can record your shows directly from the MeeVee interactive guide. Just click on the show name and hit “Record to TiVo” to get started. Never miss your favorite show agai.

Today’s the Day: Good Luck WGA

The WGA and AMPTP are scheduled to meet today to discuss the labor issues that have kept the WGA on strike since November 5th. Let’s hope the AMPTP comes to the table with a fair deal and the two sides can work it out and people can get back to work before the holidays.

Check out this incredible video produced by the Screen Actors Guild in support of the WGA. You might see a few familiar faces.

What to Watch…Sunday, November 25, 2007

Having off in the middle of the work week really though me off. Is it really Sunday? I’m all kinds of confused. At least we have some good Sunday night TV on. I’ll most likely not get to it until late tonight or early tomorrow morning because there’s a football game on tonight, but that’s what God invented DVRs for (and yes, I’m convinced it is a gift from God).

Sunday Night Football | 8pm on NBC
Patriots vs. Eagles
The Eagles (5-5) head to Foxboro Stadium to go up against the undefeated New England Patriots. Will the Eagles be the team to ruin the perfect season of Tom Brady and his boys. Let’s hope not. GO PATS!!!

The Amazing Race | 8pm on
“Let’s Name Our Chicken Phil”
The eight teams dance in Burkina Faso for celebrity judges who can impose a 10-minute penalty for lack of originality; and a new wrinkle in the race causes one team to make an unpopular decision they fear will place a target on their backs.

Desperate Housewives | 9pm on ABC
“Distant Past”
A mysterious stalker from Adam’s past shows up on Wisteria Lane; Danielle’s baby puts stress on Bree and Orson’s marriage; Lynette has a reunion with her long-lost stepfather. Glen: Richard Chamberlain.

Brothers & Sister | 10pm on ABC
“Something News”
A mysterious stalker from Adam’s past shows up on Wisteria Lane; Danielle’s baby puts stress on Bree and Orson’s marriage; Lynette has a reunion with her long-lost stepfather. Glen: Richard Chamberlain.

Battlestar Galactica RAZOR Premieres Tonight

Are you ready BATTLESTAR GALACTICA fans? The long awaited, two hour movie event, “Razor”premieres tonight at 9/8c on the SciFi Channel. And I can tell you first hand that it’s frakkin’ incredible!! Ducky and I went to an advanced screening of “Razor” here in Boston a few weeks ago and it was amazing.

I’m sorry that I don’t have much time to write about it today, but I just had to remind you all that it was on. And yes, even those of you who have never seen Battlestar Galactica should consider checking out “Razor” of for no other reason than to see what the rest of us have been praising!!

Here’s the scoop of “Razor”

The special two-hour episode “Razor”, which will serve as a backdrop for the events of season four of Battlestar Galactica, tells the story of Lee Adama’s first mission as the commander of the battlestar Pegasus — and the harrowing tale of that ship’s desperate fight for survival in the immediate aftermath of the Cylon’s genocidal siege of the Twelve Colonies.

Lee Adama’s new XO, Major Kendra Shaw, is plagued by memories of her service and sacrifices under Admiral Helena Cain, who was able to save her ship during the Cylon attack — but only by making Shaw and her fellow officers rationalize suicidal battle tactics and brutal war crimes against their own people.

In the crucible of war, Shaw must let her hesitation and doubts burn away, until all that remains of her is the honed edge of a living human weapon — what Colonial veterans call “a razor.” But an edge so fine cuts in more than one direction. It can cleave an enemy to pieces … or it can carve away a person’s soul.

The acting and the writing are BSG at its best.  The moral questions it raises and the shocking reveal that will prove so important to the upcoming final season of Battlestar Galactica should not be missed.

I loved it in the theater, I plan on recording it tonight, and I will be buying the extended DVD version when it’s released on December 4th…THAT is how good I thought it was.  I hope you’ll all check it out tonight.

PROJECT RUNWAY Recap: S4, Ep 2

Wow! It just feels like I was finishing up the recap of last week’s premiere of PROJECT RUNWAY and here we are at the second episode. That whole thing about time flying…I think there’s something to that.

If you saw any of the promos for this week’s episode of Project Runway, then you knew that a huge style icon was going to be involved in this week’s challenge. I really had no idea who it was. I thought it was perhaps a big time designer like Ralph Lauren or Dolce & Gabbana or someone amazing like Madonna. But then I got thinking about the “style icons” of the past that have visited the show (um, Nikki Hilton) and I got nervous that the icon was going to be a big let down. So when the icon was revealed to be Carrie Bradshaw herself, Sarah Jessica Parker, I was pleasantly surprised. I like Sarah Jessica (enough to wear her perfume everyday…don’t laugh until you smelled ‘Lovely’, I get more compliments on it, but then blush when people ask who makes it and I answer ‘SJP’ because I’m not fully comfortable with announcing the world that I wear a celebrity scent. It’s like saying, ‘oh what am I wearing? It’s Electric Youth by Debbie Gibson’. But if they still don’t know who SJP is, I tell them because I believe the world would be a more harmonious place to live if everyone smelled better and I wouldn’t want to deny the planet peace just because I was a little too embarrassed to admit I wear a perfume by Sarah Jessica Parker). So yeah, I like her.

Tim and Sarah Jessica inform the designers that for this week’s challenge, they need to produce two articles of clothing for SJP’s new clothing line, Bitten. Bitten is all about accessible fashion for women of all shapes and (purse) sizes. The design must be able to retail for $40 (gasp) and therefore must be produced for $15 (double gasp). The designers damn near faint at the thought of creating an affordable piece of clothing, but decide to give it a go in the same of Sarah Jessica Parker.

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PROJECT RUNWAY Recap: S4, Ep 1

Why hello all my little fashionistas. Are we ready for another season of PROJECT RUNWAY? Of course I must start off with many apologies for this being my first recap, and it being after the second episode. Major DVR failures (also known as my stupidity) prevented me from catching the premiere episodes last week. I actually wasn’t able to see it until just a few days ago and it was killing me to not jump online and read all about it. But since fashion is such a subjective thing, I thought it only best to see if and judge for myself. So here’s my take on the premiere episode, and stay tuned for two cents (or more like $1.87) on episode number two in just a little bit.

But let’s not be silly, I’m not really judging the fashion as much as I am the designers. And this year, I think we have enough crazies to keep it interesting. I mean come on, I’m all for creativity and individuality but I don’t get where some of these people were hatched. The tears, the drama, the bitching, the egos – and that was only in the first five minutes of episode 1.

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Braving Black Friday

Smart enough to stay away from the malls today? Yeah, I’m not. I’ll be joining the circus that is called Black Friday in just a little bit. If I come across any really great TV-related deals, I’ll be sure to post them to Twitter (along with my random thoughts throughout the day).

If you come across any deals, feel free to leave them in the comments.

GREY’S ANATOMY Redux: Crash Into Me

So I have only 10 minutes to writer up my thoughts on last night’s GREY’S ANATOMY.  See I have to do that day after Thanksgiving shopping thing today and I have less than an hour to write this up, take a shower and get to my parents house to meet up with my sister and my dad.  Do you care?  No. You just want to read about GREY’S ANATOMY.  I get it.  Here’s my incoherent blabber on last night’s episode.  Enjoy.

Let me be the first to say ‘Welcome Back Grey’s Anatomy’. Please tell me you all caught last night’s episode? I thought it fanfabutastic!!! It reminded me of Grey’s Anatomy of yore. It focused on some fantastic patients, the doctors actually got to practice medicine (rather than just having sex), and the personal drama was grounded in something real rather than just the soap opera-esque plots we are so often given.

Unlike last season’s ferry crash “event”, last night’s ambulance crash evoked real emotion as the two EMTs fought for their lives. I mean, Stan asking his best friend Ray to talk to him to keep him alive until his wife got there – ugh, just ugh. I was bawling like a baby. Meredith climbing in over Stan’s dead body to try to help Ray was a little much (why couldn’t she just go in the other window), but I bought it because I was so caught up in the emotion of the situation. And wasn’t it nice to see Meredith focus on the patients for once and not make it all about herself? Well yeah, that’s what I was thinking too until of course she found a way to make it all about her by telling the Chief the prominent role SHE would play in the retelling of this story. Oh Meredith. I try to love you but you make it so difficult.

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