Two OFFICE Stars Get New NBC TV Shows

Did you know that two of the main stars of THE OFFICE have new TV deals with NBC for new shows?  Yup.  What if I told you the two stars were Jenna Fischer and Rainn Wilson.  Panicked yet?

Alright, clearly Jenna and Rainn aren’t leaving THE OFFICE, but they do each have deals to Executive Produce new shows for NBC.

According to Variety, Rainn Wilson has partnered with Adam Braff (brother of Zach Braff) to create “Hump Tulips,” a single-camera comedy about a lawyer who winds up in a small Washington town in pursuit of the woman he loves. Braff and Wilson will write and exec produce.

Also putting on the Executive Producer hat will be Jenna Fischer who will serve as a non-writing EP for a new hour long comedy about a lumber salesman who solves a crime and becomes a private eye, along with a ragtag group of pals.

Variety reports that Jenna’a show is based on the life of San Antonio P.I. Charlie Parker, who played a part in the August New Yorker profile “The Chameleon.”

Looks like both Jenna and Rainn will have new projects to occupy those endless hours that they sit at their Dunder Mifflin desks.

17 18 Kids and Counting – The Duggar Family Adds Another

The Duggar family welcomed their 18th child on Thursday.  Yes, I said 18th.  If you’ve ever seen TLC’s show “17 Kids and Counting” then you are probably all too familiar with The Duggar Family. I know I am.

I’ve seen more eps than I’d care to admit.  It’s like a slightly creepy train wreck that I can’t seem to turn off.  The Duggars freak me out for many, many, many reasons (athough I find the oldest son strangely hot). Maybe it’ just that I’m a ‘Jon & Kate Plus 8’ kinda gal.  I just can’t get enough of those Gosselin kids (especially my little Aaden).

Despite my allegiance to another family of multiples, I wish nothing but the best for The Duggars.  Good luck Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar and your (now) 18 children: Joshua, Jana, John-David, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jeremiah, Jedidiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer and the newest baby, Jordyn, have been followed around by cameras for some time now

Yes, Jedidiah!!!

Neil Patrick Harris Hosting SNL

I’m the first to admit…I’ve been a little Neil Patrick Harris focused lately.  I’d apologize, but the guy is so talented and adorable it’s really hard not to show him the love.

UPDATE: To watch Neil Patrick Harris hosting SNL click here: The Best of Neil Patrick Harris on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

To that end I’m thrilled to report that Neil will be hosting Saturday Night Live when it returns on January 10th.

I’m officially on the hunt to try to get SNL tickets for the 10th.  Wish me luck.

Thanks to Jen via PopCandy for the tip

Show Your GMMR Gravatar

We are getting closer and closer the brand new GMMR.  (And with that comes the fear that you all are going to hate it. )

The new look and feel will allow GMMR readers to include small pics known as gravatars with every comment. I know this isn’t groundbreaking but it’s new for GMMR.  So in anticipation of the new site, sign up today and upload your new gravatar.

What is a gravatar?
A gravatar, or globally recognized avatar, is quite simply an avatar image that follows you from blog to blog appearing beside your name when you comment on gravatar enabled sites. Avatars help identify your posts on web forums, so why not on blogs?

Signing up for a gravatar.com account is FREE, and all that’s required is your email address. Once you’ve signed up you can upload your avatar image and soon after you’ll start seeing it on gravatar enabled blogs!

Once the new GMMR launches you will see your gravatar next to your comments.  Stay tuned.

Sign up now!

Poll: GMMR’s Winter Weather What to Watch

Now I don’t always have the utmost faith in Boston meteorologists, but it seems that we are in for a doozy of a storm over the next few days.  Some predict upwards of 2 ft of snow.  I’ve lived in New England my entire life, but I’ve never embraced winter.  I hate it.

There are only a few ways to make being stuck inside during a winter storm better and all of them rely on an appearance by John Krasinski, Neil Patrick Harris, Zac Levi, Lee Pace or Joshua Jackson…and since I don’t expect any of those boys to drop by over the next few days (unless of course you are home in Newton, JKras – in that case, mi casa es su casa), I’m going to assume the worse – this is going to suck.

This is where you come in.  Assuming I’m going to be putting the ‘ol TV work over the next few days, I thought you could help me pick the DVDs I should be watching.

The following DVDs are brand new and sitting in my apartment right now.  Which of the following shows should I be watching while snowed in? 

1. Damages – Season One just arrived today.
2. The West Wing – Just got the complete series and I’m kind of a fiend
3. Supernatural – I have the first three seasons on DVD but I’ve yet to watch more than 4 episodes
4. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – The first two seasons just arrived last week
5. Flight of the Conchords – HBO sent me Season One but I’ve yet to watch it

Vote below, and plead your case in the comments.

Screen Actor Guild Nominations – TV

The nominations for the 15th Annual Screen Actor Guild Awards were announced today.  Were your favorites nominated?  Who was shunned?

My faves are in blue.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

• RALPH FIENNES / Bernard Lafferty – “BERNARD AND DORIS” (HBO)
• PAUL GIAMATTI / John Adams – “JOHN ADAMS” (HBO)
• KEVIN SPACEY / Ron Klain – “RECOUNT” (HBO)
• KIEFER SUTHERLAND / Jack Bauer – “24: REDEMPTION” (FOX)
• TOM WILKINSON / Benjamin Franklin – “JOHN ADAMS” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

• LAURA DERN / Katherine Harris – “RECOUNT” (HBO)
• LAURA LINNEY / Abigail Adams – “JOHN ADAMS” (HBO)
• SHIRLEY MacLAINE / Coco Chanel – “COCO CHANEL” (Lifetime)
• PHYLICIA RASHAD / Lena Younger – “A RAISIN IN THE SUN” (Lifetime)
• SUSAN SARANDON / Doris Duke – “BERNARD AND DORIS” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

• MICHAEL C. HALL / Dexter Morgan – “DEXTER” (Showtime)
• JON HAMM / Don Draper – “MAD MEN” (AMC)
• HUGH LAURIE / Gregory House – “HOUSE” (FOX)
• WILLIAM SHATNER / Denny Crane – “BOSTON LEGAL” (ABC)
• JAMES SPADER / Alan Shore – “BOSTON LEGAL” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

• SALLY FIELD / Nora Walker – “BROTHERS & SISTERS” (ABC)
• MARISKA HARGITAY / Det. Olivia Benson – “LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT” (NBC)
• HOLLY HUNTER / Grace Hanadarko – “SAVING GRACE” (TNT)
• ELISABETH MOSS / Peggy Olson – “MAD MEN” (AMC)
• KYRA SEDGWICK / Dep. Chief Brenda Johnson – “THE CLOSER” (TNT)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

• ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy – “30 ROCK” (NBC)
• STEVE CARELL / Michael Scott – “THE OFFICE” (NBC)
• DAVID DUCHOVNY / Hank Moody – “CALIFORNICATION” (Showtime)
• JEREMY PIVEN / Ari Gold – “ENTOURAGE” (HBO)
• TONY SHALHOUB / Adrian Monk – “MONK” (USA)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

• CHRISTINA APPLEGATE / Samantha Newly – “SAMANTHA WHO?” (ABC)
• AMERICA FERRERA / Betty Suarez – “UGLY BETTY” (ABC)
• TINA FEY / Liz Lemon – “30 ROCK” (NBC)
• MARY-LOUISE PARKER / Nancy Botwin – “WEEDS” (Showtime)
• TRACEY ULLMAN / Various Characters – “TRACEY ULLMAN’S STATE OF THE UNION” (Showtime)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

• BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
• DEXTER (Showtime)
• HOUSE (Fox)
• MAD MEN (AMC)
• THE CLOSER (TNT)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

• 30 ROCK (NBC)
• DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
• ENTOURAGE (HBO)
• THE OFFICE (NBC)
• WEEDS (Showtime)

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER – 2008 in Pictures

As we near the end of 2008 it’s time to look back at the year it was. The Olympics, the election – there was so much to talk about. EW.com captured the biggest moment of the year in pictures. Kind of. Check out memorable moments of 2008 featuring the cast of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER.  (See the full gallery here).

Neil Patrick Harris as an Olympic swimmer and as Indiana Jones?! Merry Christmas to me!

FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS Season 2 Premiere (Watch Here)

Alright FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS fans, settle in because HBO has a special treat for you – the season 2 premiere!!  I’m talking right now, right here.  I’m not kidding, you can watch it immediately (well immediately if you are in the U.S. Don’t blame me Canadians – you have free healthcare, we have embedded videos. I think you win…maybe.)

Seriously go ahead…I’ll wait.

Season 2 Online Premiere – Flight of the Conchords (US Only) – watch more funny videos

This is the part where you convince me that it’s worth my time to go back and watch FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS from the beginning. I have Season One on DVD (thank you HBO) but I haven’t yet watched it. Do you think I’ll like it? Why?

Thanks to Philiana for the heads up.

Adios to GOSSIP GIRL’S Aaron Rose

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye…

The L.A. Times has confirmed that the December 8th episode of GOSSIP GIRL was the final episode for Serena’s artsy beau, Aaron Rose played by John Patrick Amedori.

Can I get a woot woot!!

It’s actually one month to the day that I requested this very move be made:

GMMR post on November 17th:

Dear Gossip Girl Writers/Producers,

Please get rid of Aaron. All due respect to John Patrick Amedori, but Aaron is a dud. He makes Serena even more boring. I didn’t know that was possible.

That is all.

XOXO,
GMMR

While I of course had nothing to do with this move on the part of the show, I think I did echo the sentiment of a lot of GOSSIP GIRL fans who thought that the character of Aaron really brought nothing to the series. While the character had potential, he didn’t serve his duty of making the fans believe that he was the guy that would pull Serena’s attention and affection from Dan. And let’s face it, Dan & Serena aren’t the most exciting couple on TV so it really wouldn’t take much for the fans to root for a new boy to come along…but Aaron Rose just wasn’t him. Or maybe the actor wasn’t right for Aaron Rose. I guess we’ll never know.  I’m fine with that, how about you?

Cecily von Ziegesar, the author of the GOSSIP GIRL book series, recently chimed in on the dislike for Aaron.

“I do not believe that Serena would go for icky Aaron as he is portrayed on the show,” she says. “He’s so slimy! He’s just … ick.” In the books, she insists, Aaron Rose isn’t so bad. “He smokes herbal cigarettes and eats vegan and has cute mini-dreadlocks,” she says. “He is not an artist. He’s more like a happy suburban hippie. He gets in early to Harvard, infuriating Blair. He and Serena fall in love, but it only lasts for about one book.”

Well, forget about it lasting a book, it didn’t even last a season. Buh bye Aaron. Hope we don’t see you on the Upper East Side anytime soon.

What to Watch…Wednesday, December 17, 2008

It’s going to be one of those days. Ugh. How do I know? Well, for starters I was awoken at 5:05am (a full 25 minutes before my normal waking hour) by the plows clearing out the snow. We didn’t have too much snow here in Boston – certainly no need for really loud plows – but it’s still snow…and I hate snow. As far as weather conditions go, there’s only one thing I hate worse than snow and that’s slush (ok that and black ice, but I didn’t know if either qualified as a weather condition so I went with slush)…and that’s what it’s looking like outside this morning.

So there was the snow, and then there was the issue of me writing a whole “What to Watch…Thursday, December 18, 2008” before I realized that it was in fact Wednesday, December 17, 2008. So yeah, my week just got a little bit longer.

It’s going to be a rough one. At least I have PUSHING DAISIES to look forward to tonight.

Here are a few shows with new eps tonight (as in Wednesday…not Thursday).

Pushing Daisies | 8pm on ABC
After Emerson turns down Vivian’s request to look into Dwight Dixon’s sudden disappearance, she turns to another P.I. team led by Magnus Olsdatter (Orlando Jones), Emerson’s bitter rival.

The New Adventures of Old Christine | 8pm on CBS
When Christine and Barb cannot get a loan to keep their gym franchise, they decide to transform their building into a spa. [GMMR: This is one of those shows that is funny but I never really watch.  Maybe when it’s not up against Pushing Daisies I will tune in.]

Private Practice | 9pm on ABC
Meg returns to Los Angeles and notices that Violet and Pete have grown closer; Kevin questions where he and Addison are headed as a couple; Cooper treats a young boy with a mysterious past.

Criminal Minds | 9pm on CBS
The team investigates a serial killer who shoots luxury car owners on Southern California’s freeways. [GMMR: Is the guy in the pic to the left…the one from ‘Dharma & Greg’…is he still on the show?]

Dirty Sexy Money | 10pm on ABC
The Darlings deal with the aftermath of the shooting at Patrick’s inauguration; Lisa and Nick discuss custody arrangements for Kiki. [GMMR: I’m two weeks behind on DSM so I don’t know if I should just read the recaps and watch tonight or try to catch up on past episodes.  Decisions, decisions.]

Life | 10pm on NBC
Crews and Reese investigate the deaths of three Russians; Crews shoots an intruder who turns out to be someone he knows; Reese falls into old habits.

Also playing…

• A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa | 8pm on NBC
• Secret Millionaire | 8pm on Fox
• Gary Unmarried | 8:30pm on CBS
• Stylista | 9pm on The CW
• Biography: Kate Winslet | 9pm on Biography Channel (Had to throw this one in there as Kate Winslet is my favorite actress)
• CSI: NY | 10pm on CBS
• Top Chef | 10pm on Bravo

What TV are you looking forward to? Sound off in the comments below.

CHUCK vs. Santa Claus

Before I turn this one over to SB, I must first say that with last night’s episode Chuck Bartowski might have taken over first place on my ‘perfect men on TV’ list.  Chuck, then Ned the Pie Maker, and a close third would be Jim Halpert.  Yes, I have a list.  Shut up!  But seriously, how sweet and considerate and just good hearted is that man?!

And a special shout out to SB who has been sick all day and still insisted on getting us her take on last night’s episode.  That’s a trooper.  That deserves a round of awesomes!!

———————-

Hey everybody! Sorry for keeping you waiting on the Chuck recap–I’ve been under the weather and more than a little slow today. Something that was NOT slow? Last night’s Chuck. Hello! I thought we were going to have some little frufru Christmas episode, but it was really intense, was it not?

Since I know people are anxious to talk about last night’s episode, I’m going to try to keep this one a little bit short and sweet and just focus on the major developments, but please feel free to talk about any and every little detail in the comments!

Read more

Team GMMR’s TV on DVD Wishlist

With the holidays just around the corner most of the presents have been bought and wrapped. But if you are looking for the perfect gift for the TV lover in your life, then perhaps giving the gift of TV would bring just the right amount of holiday cheer.

To help you find the perfect gift this holiday season, Team GMMR is sharing with you their TV on DVD wish lists. Because nothing says Christmas like hours and hours (and hours and hours) on fantastic television.

What’s on YOUR TV on DVD wish list this year?

1. Friday Night Lights (Season One)
   I went with FNL for number one because to me it was a perfect season of television – probably the most perfect season ever. The acting, writing, directing, casting – it was all top notch. I have also lent my copy of season one to many people who have subsequently become die hard fans of the show. If you haven’t watched, you are seriously depriving yourself!
2. Dawson’s Creek (Season Four)
3. Arrested Development (Season Two)
4. Freaks and Geeks (The Complete Series)
5. Veronica Mars (Season One)

1. Chuck
   I recap this show and it’s just sad that I don’t own it (yet!), and besides, you know it has some mean extras on it.
2. The Office (Season Two)
3. Flight of the Conchords (Season One)
4. Freaks and Geeks (Complete Series)
5. My So-Called Life (Complete Series)

Read more

Sing Along with HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (Update)

Hey everyone, it’s Jen. I’m determined to talk about last night’s HIMYM no matter how exhausted I am. I’m working on less than 2hrs of sleep and if you worked where I do, you’d understand why even when you finally escape the company holiday party, it’s really only the beginning of the festivities.

Someone finally heard my faint cries for some Marshall and Robin bonding. I’ve been waiting for this coupling long before Robin wanted a piece of that during last week’s episode. There has been a lot of her interacting with Ted, Barney and Lily separately, but not so much with Marshall. We’ve seen in past episodes that there is a friendship but we’ve never really seen how strong it is. Marshall and Robin having their own home (and world) away from home was a great way for them to bond. It also felt like a slight tip of the hat that as we all get older, separate from our families and build our own families and traditions, we still appreciate where we come from and hold it dear. Just because you can’t be at your childhood home for the holidays, doesn’t mean your childhood home is far from your heart. Aahh, am I getting sentimental due to all the holiday-themed episodes at this time of year?

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THE BIG BANG THEORY: Penny’s Gift to Sheldon

Rolling off my chair – yup, pretty much my reaction when Sheldon accepted Penny’s Christmas gift on last night’s THE BIG BANG THEORY. Jim Parson’s has been woefully overlooked time and time again by the award show czars and I really can’t figure out why. His subtle but present physical comedy in this scene is just fantastic.

…and they hug!!!

SURVIVOR Gabon Season Finale: The Big Winner & Lessons to Learn

This season of Survivor produced a satisfying finale, with 57 year old physics teacher Bob Crowley taking the million dollar first prize back to Portland, Maine. While the events leading to Bob’s victory were full of the predictable twists and turns that have accompanied this reality juggernaut for 17 seasons, I want to dig into the final two episodes with an eye on the future. With so many TV powerhouses fading into our memories each season, I believe that Mark Burnett can conjure up fresh ideas by looking at the ups and downs of the Gabon experience. By doing so, the Survivor team may be able to reinvent itself for the next 17 years.

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