What to Watch…Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Next week can’t come soon enough! I’m not one of those snobs that is above reality TV. Some of my favorite shows are actually in that genre. But there’s something depressing about looking at the TV schedule and seemingly only having reality TV to choose from. But next week there’s going to be some new summer scripted shows coming back, and frankly I can’t wait.

Until then, here’s a little taste of what’s on tonight.

So You Think You Can Dance | 8pm on Fox
The fourth season’s first round of auditions ends. Yes people, after tonight we are heading to Vegas. If things work out I’ll be watching tonight’s show with Ducky and we’ll probably have a few things to say about in a little podcast.

• Supernanny | 9pm on ABC: Jo responds to a call for help from two teenagers, who have become the primary caregivers for their three younger brothers, including 4-year-old twins, while their parents are working.

• On the Road in America | 9pm on The Sundance Channel | Series Premiere: In the opener of this series following four young Arabs as they travel across the U.S., the quartet meet in Washington while war rages between Israel and Hezbollah.

• Men in Trees | 10pm on ABC: Patrick returns to Elmo with his memory intact and finds that Annie has moved on—with Ivan. Marin celebrates the completion of her book with a trip to Anchorage, where she finds Julia’s husband (Josh Stamberg) with another woman.

• She’s Got the Look | 10pm on TV Land | Series Premiere: A group of women 35 and older move to New York City to take part in a competition to land a modeling contract. Kim Alexis is the host.
• On the

Late Night TV…

• The Late Show with David Letterman | 11:35pm on CBS: Jack Black, Esperanza Spalding
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | 11:35pm on NBC: Jeff Foxworthy, Arianna Huffington, N.E.R.D.
• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart | 11:00pm on Comedy Central: Barbara Walters
• The Colbert Report | 11:30pm on Comedy Central: Rep. Bob Barr, Salman Rushdie
• Chelsea Lately | 11:30pm on E!: Gabrielle Reece, Aries Spears, Ken Baker, Sharon Houston
• Jimmy Kimmel Live | 12:05am on ABC: Cynthia Nixon, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Coldplay
• The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson | 12:35am on CBS: Jane Kaczmarek, Greg Proops
• Late Night with Conan O’Brien | 12:35am on NBC: Adam Sandler, Jewel
• Last Call with Carson Daly | 1:35am on NBC: John Cho, Dean Edwards, Your Vegas (Repeat)

Anderson Cooper to Donna Brazile: “I Wanna Be Your Boo” (Video)

It’s not often that I can say that the funniest moment on TV last night happened on CNN…but it did. While I was watching CNN’s political coverage, moderator Anderson Cooper was asking political strategist Donna Brazile about a conversation she had last night with Senator Barack Obama. When Cooper pressed her from some inside scoop, we had this great exchange. So funny!

(Informal transcript after the jump) Read more

The Hollywood Reporter: Showrunners Roundtable

Thank you to James Hibbard of The Hollywood Reporter for gathering some of the greatest showrunners of current TV into one room. You could have talked about the weather for all I care. Just getting Damon Lindelof (Lost), Matthew Weiner (Mad Men), David Shore (House), Craig Thomas (How I Met Your Mother) and Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies) to sit at the same table was good enough for me.

But these wonderfully creative men didn’t talk about the weather, but rather the impact the strike had on television and whether or not the affects will be long lasting. These guys even dipped a bit into the upcoming Emmy race (which ended a bit awkwardly…or not, but read it for yourself.)

Here’s a short video excerpt of the roundtable followed by the full interview courtesy of TheHollywood Reporter.

Emmy Watch: Showrunner roundtable
by James Hibberd
It hasn’t been an easy year for showrunners. From the WGA strike to steepening FCC fines to the rise of reality television, scripted comedy and drama have been taking it on the nose.

In the lead-up to one of the most atypical Emmy seasons in recent memory, The Hollywood Reporter’s James Hibberd brought together five of television’s most stalwart showrunners: Bryan Fuller (ABC’s “Pushing Daisies”), David Shore (Fox’s “House”), Damon Lindelof (ABC’s “Lost”), Matthew Weiner (AMC’s “Mad Men”) and Craig Thomas (CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother”).

The Hollywood Reporter: How has your business changed since the writers strike?

Bryan Fuller: I think the studios are feeling that some of the money that they hemorrhaged during the strike has to come out of their shows a little bit. So budgets are definitely tighter.

David Shore: Didn’t, during the strike, they take the position they weren’t losing any money?

Damon Lindelof: Not only that, I think that it was actually a boon for them.

Matthew Weiner: Yeah, they had a cash windfall in the fourth quarter that turned into poison in January.

Lindelof: We spent 100 days basically carrying signs and saying that these people were exploiting us and taking advantage of us. And then you go back to work on Valentine’s Day, and you’re trying to act like none of it ever happened. So there was a period where it was like, “I used to be in love with you, we had a huge fight, we broke up, and now we’ve gotten back together.”

Craig Thomas: I never stopped sleeping with the executives. (Laughter.)

Read more

Janet Jackson Surprises Sherri Shepherd on THE VIEW

There’s nothing I like better than a good surprise (well nothing legal anyway), so it was a lot of fun to see THE VIEW co-host Sherri Shepherd bring out her inner fan girl when one of of her personal faves, Janet Jackson, surprised her on the show. Sherri had talked about sleeping out on the street for tickets to a Janet concert, but it seems like she won’t need to since Janet (Ms. Jackson if you’re nasty) gifted her with some good seats. Awww.

2008 TCA Award Nominations Announced

The critics have spoken and some of the best that TV has to offer have been given their due. The Television Critics Association (TCA) has announced their nominations for their 2008 awards and favorites like PUSHING DAISIES, THE OFFICE, MAD MEN and FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS have been included.

Check out of your favorites made the TCA list.

PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
John Adams
Mad Men
Friday Night Lights
Lost
The War
The Wire

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
30 Rock
The Office
The Daily Show
The Colbert Report
Flight of the Conchords

Read more

When I Grow Up I Want to Be Jenna Fischer

Yeah, in general I’m pretty jealous of Jenna Fischer from THE OFFICE. She’s a wonderfully talented comedic actress, she’s gorgeous, she gets paid to make out with John Krasinski. There’s a lot to be jealous of. Let’s face it, as far as celebs go she’s pretty damn fantastic.

And now there is this picture. I wanted to post it, not only for the boys of GMMR, but for Ms. Fischer herself. Because honestly, when you take a picture like this it should be celebrated. Hot damn!

Jenna Fischer can next be seen in THE PROMOTION starring John C. Reilly, Seann William Scott, Lily Taylor and Fred Armisen when it opens in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles on June 6th. Look for the movie to open nationwide on June 12th.

For more on THE PROMOTION and to read Jenna’s responses to questions from her fans on THE OFFICE, her career, and her life off screen click here: Part I , Part II. It’s refreshing to have a celebrity so open to her fans. What a treat.

According to OfficeTally.com, Jenna can be heard today on NPR’s “Fresh Air with Terry Gross and will be stopping by MTV’s TRL with co-star Seann William Scott this afternoon. The picture above was from Jenna’s appearance on THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN which was taped last night but will air on Friday, June 6th.

Thanks to Becky for the tip.

Tony Hale “Busting” Out on CHUCK and SAMANTHA WHO?

“Hey, Brother…”

In perhaps the best news I’ll read all day, The Hollywood Reporter tells us that Tony Hale will be joining the cast of CHUCK in a recurring role next season. Hale, best knows for his genius role as Byron “Buster” Bluth of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT will be playing Emmett, the new assistant manager of the Buy More Store where Chuck (Zachary Levi) works. An efficiency expert, he is sent in by Buy More corporate and decides to stay on when he realizes how poorly run the store is.

This won’t be the first time Tony Hale and CHUCK star Zachary Levi have worked together. Last year they did a short film called “Ctrl-Z” as part of a Delta Airlines competition.

Hale will also have a new gig on SAMANTHA WHO? playing Andy Adams, Samantha’s (Christine Applegate) new doctor.

Schwartz…let’s take care of this ‘Samantha’ issue right away by signing on Hale as a series regular. The guy is brilliant.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Recap: Sine Qua Non

Title: Sine Qua Non
GMMR Recapper: Jo

39,674. This recap is not going as thorough as usual. I confess, I had the computer on while I was watching, which in my world means, I only heard half of the dialogue. But I do remember the big points and they did not resolve the major JUMP! Cliffhanger, so I think all three of us will do.

Athena shot a Six because of the Opera house visions. Adama was royally ticked off, so he threw her in the brig. But he can’t stay mad at anyone, so she had Hera sent to her. Saul’s been, um busy, with interrogating Caprica Six, because I think I heard the word pregnant in there. He and Bill get in some fisticuffs over the whole thing. Adama calls himself “blinded” by the loss of Roslin!!!! SQUEEE. Finally more than just looks and undertone, but bona fide verbalizations of love. Now, we’ve gotta go find her in the universe. Adama turns the Fleet over to a horrified Tigh (horrified because he’s a Cylon hater which now makes him a self-hater…as opposed to the self destructor he was before.) and “Husker” Adama volunteers to solo mission to find her. But then he pulls out a book to read and chills in the deep black sea. So, this is where I wasn’t paying attention. Did he tell Lee he was going to look for her? Or did Lee know he was just gonna chill by himself? Whatever, he loves Roslin.

Read more

The New GMMR…Any Suggestions?

I’ve been slowly working on a re-launch of GiveMeMyRemote.com for quite some time now.  It’s not that it’s going to be too elaborate or anything, but I thought the site needed a little kick in the ass as I haven’t done much with it since 2006.  And since I’m doing most of the coding by myself (and I’m clueless), it’s taking me a little longer than I anticipated.

So here’s the deal.  I’m working on a section for new GMMR features and I would love to hear from GMMR readers on what YOU would most like to see on the new site?   What are your favorite features of GMMR that you would like carried over to the new site?  What NEW features do you think should be included when I re-launch GMMR?  I really would love to hear all your suggestions.  Think about the other blogs/sites you visit…and not just for TV…what of those sites should I think about incorporating on GMMR?

I know I’m kind of opening up the floodgates to a world of criticism, but I guess if it means a better GMMR for all us in the long run it will be well worth it.

To share your thoughts on what you’d like to see on the new GMMR, please visit the GMMR contact page and select ‘Feedback and Suggestions’ in the drop down. 

LOST’s Harold Perrineau is One of “The Unusuals”

Sorry LOSTies, but by way of sharing this news I’m kind of spoiling those of you who were questioning whether or not Harold Perrineau (Michael) would be returning to LOST next season. It’s not looking likely that Michael survived the explosion on the boat as he’s gone ahead and landed himself a new TV gig.

Harold Perrineau has just been cast in the new ABC pilot, THE UNUSUALS, a cop dramedy set in a police precinct. Perrineau will play Leo Banks, a detective who is always agitated and never takes off his safety vest as he worries that he might die.

Based on a recent interview he gave to TV Guide, it seems that Perrineau was once again ready to move on from LOST after his second stint on the show. When asked if he knew Michael was going to be killed off so quickly after his return, Perrineau was quoted as saying, “I had no idea. It’s like, what the hell? I came back for that?”

But the hatch may no be completely sealed for a return of Michael. When asked if he would ever consider returning (again), Harold said, “I‘d love to go back and work with people I really like working with, but I would have to know what was happening [story-wise] before I showed up again. Because this [last] storyline, I full-on feel, “No, that’s not cool.”

Kim Cattrall Has ‘Sensitive Skin’ in New HBO Series

The ultimate cougar, Kim Cattrall, will be heading back to HBO for another sexy series. This time she’s leaving her trendy girlfriends and cosmos behind as she takes on the role of a middle-aged wife and mother in New York ‘who rediscovers her sexuality and begins to question her place in the world and the choices she has made in life’ in SENSITIVE SKIN.

‘Sensitive Skin’ is a remake of a British show which starred the incredibly talented Joanne Lumley (Patsy from ‘Absolutely Fabulous’).

Being a smart cookie that she is, Cattrall insisted on an HBO development deal as part of her overall compensation package for agreeing to star in the ‘Sex and the City’ movie.

No word yet on when the series will premiere.

THE MOLE is Back…Are you The Mole? (Updated)

You and me…we have a new show to start watching together tonight. Are you ready? Because THE MOLE is back (ABC at 10/9c)

THE MOLE is the kind of reality show that people who hate reality shows usually like. It’s smart and full of crazy adventures. It was well received when it was on a few years back, and I couldn’t be more excited for it’s return tonight.

For those of you new to THE MOLE here’s a little background. THE MOLE is a game in which players must complete various physical and mental challenges to build up a significant cash prize for the winner. One of them, however, is “the Mole,” a double agent hired by the producers to sabotage the efforts of the group. The Mole must be careful to avoid drawing suspicion. Using journals, players must track vast amounts of minutiae about the person(s) they suspect of being the Mole, such as seating positions, clothing colors, minor discussion topics, and so on. The quiz at the end of each episode tests players’ knowledge of the Mole, and determines by lowest score who is eliminated from the game.

I’m going to be watching the show and talking about it throughout the summer here on GMMR so jump on the train while you can. Should be a fun ride.

I have the first two episodes here so I’m going to go off and check those out now. But drop me a comment if you think you might be up for watching with me this summer. I think you’ll like it.

UPDATE: After watching the first episode earlier today I can say that I am definitely 100% hooked.  I think this would be a great game for everyone to play along with here at GMMR.  If you have suggestions on how we could get a weekly game going on what it should look like, leave a comment and let me know.  

Meanwhile, if you are planning on watching tonight, feel free to use this post as your ‘MOLE Journal’ during the first episode.  Share you thoughts, theories and take notes to share with other GMMR readers.  Who is the saboteur? 

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