Catching up on TV Blog Banter

It’s your weekly round-up of the best in TV blogs. What were bloggers bantering about last week? Check it out for yourselves and weigh in.

• Buzz went looking for opinions about the best underappreciated TV gem of ’08. (BuzzSugar)

• Sandie shared a special Holiday preview of Supernatural‘s upcoming January episodes. (Daemon’s TV)

• In the latest installment of Take 5, GMMR looked back at the top 5 episodes of Veronica Mars. (Give Me My Remote)

• Rae takes a look at one of the shows she’s been anticipating for months, TNT’s new series Leverage. (RTVW Online)

• In a year when some of the most inept executives in America got the ax, one man looks to carry the mantel into 2009, and he is scheduling what you watch on your television, well, by his track record you are avoiding them. (Scooter McGavin’s 9th Green)

• Vance checks out Toronto’s cast for the play Dog Sees God which happens to look a lot like Degrassi: The Next Generation (Marco! Craig! Jay! Jane!). (Tapeworthy)

• This week, Jace was all about looking forward, with advance reviews of Season Two of FX’s Damages and the pilot script for ABC’s Flash Forward, which could just be the next Lost. (Televisionary)

• Holy affluent teen drama! This week Gossip Girl featured a funeral, a wedding and a Blair/Chuck meltdown. (TiFaux)

• With the shocking announcement by NBC that Jay Leno will be sticking with the network, theTVaddict.com put together a list of Winners & Losers (The TV Addict)

• Raoul talked to the winners of The Amazing Race. (TV Filter)

• Suffering with an almighty pre-Christmas hangover, TV Spy was, to its shame, a blog of few words, as it looked forward to the new series of Flight of the Conchords and Battlestar Galactica. (TV Spy)

Ready to Ho Ho Ho it Up with CHUCK Tonight?

And THIS is why I am glad Ducky is back to blogging.

As I mentioned, I didn’t make the cut to get the screener of tonight’s CHUCK vs. Santa Claus, but my boy Dan did.  Can’t wait until 8pm tonight…read on for his take on tonight’s all new CHUCK.

In full disclosure, I could only read the opening as I don’t want to be spoiled.  It’s killing me not to read on though.

I’m sitting at home Friday morning when I heard such a clatter, I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter. Away to the door I flew like a flash to see my trusty man in brown with the nice calves.

It wasn’t a major award labeled “Fraile” but it was a shiny little present from Warner Bros..

I open the puppy up and what to my wondrous eyes does appear but a letter from Josh Schwartz and tonight’s episode of CHUCK (vs Santa Claus)!

[Continue reading: Quick Thoughts: Chuck vs. Santa Claus at duckydoestv.com]

What to Watch…Monday, December 15, 2008

Monday, Monday….oh how I love you Mondays!!  Wait, scratch that – I love Monday night TV, not really Mondays all that much.  Even with a repeat of GOSSIP GIRL, we’ve got some lovely television in our future tonight.

Chuck | 8pm on NBC
On Christmas Eve, an amateur criminal holds Chuck, Awesome, Ellie and the Buy More staff hostage. [GMMR: An early screener went out for this episode.  Thanks for nothing, WB.  Some of my blogger peeps did see it and I’m hearing awesome things about tonight’s episode.  Keep checking RamblingsofaTVWhore.com today to read Rae’s thoughts.]

The Big Bang Theory | 8pm on CBS
Penny starts dating Leonard’s handsome colleague; Leonard and his friends are tortured by Sheldon’s obsession with gift-giving etiquette. [GMMR: Hey BSG fans – keep an eye out for Michael Trucco (Anders) as that handsome friend of Leonard’s. ]

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles | 8pm on Fox
During the Fall Finale of the show, Sarah’s three dots obsession intensifies when she finds a blogger with an intimate knowledge of the symbol.[GMMR: Maybe, just maybe I will find the time to catch up for the show comes back.  Probably not, but I haven’t given up all hope.]

How I Met Your Mother | 8:30pm on CBS
Ted goes out of his way to keep his sister out of trouble when she comes to visit; Marshall introduces Robin to a Minnesota-themed bar. [GMMR: If you haven’t seen it yet, check out a clip from tonight’s HIMYM featuring Neil Patrick Harris singing some naughty holiday tunes.  Hilarious!  Barney Stinson’s Naughty Jingles]

Prison Break | 9pm on Fox
Michael gets medical attention from an unlikely place; Sucre and Lincoln try to stop Gretchen before Scylla is lost forever. [GMMR: Wentworth, I’m sorry I abandoned you this year.  It’s not you, it’s me. Blame Chuck, Chuck, Barney, and Sheldon.]

Heroes | 9pm on NBC
Nathan makes a move that has global repercussions; Sylar holds Claire, H.R.G., Meredith and Angela hostage at Primatech; Matt, Daphne and Ando try to rescue Hiro. [GMMR: Not sad that I gave up on you.]

What are YOU watching tonight?

DEXTER Season Finale: “Do You Take Dexter Morgan?”

Nothing caps off the week from heck like a “Dexter” season finale. It looks like my fears were assuaged and this episode not only got everything answered, but maybe had the best scene of the season, in my opinion. Let’s go!

I loved the opening scene of this episode, mainly because it was so darned simple. There was no overacting and no scenery-chewing by anyone in the wake of Prado’s death. The overhead shot just allowed us to see how things transpired and gave a perfect start to the episode.

We knew, from Miguel’s words, that the situation wouldn’t end with his death. Plus, there was still one episode to go. 😉 Hector Prado showed up to finish the troubled Prado brother trifecta. We all knew, though, that he wouldn’t be that big of a concern, didn’t we?

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THE OFFICE’s ‘Moroccan Christmas’ – Better Late Than Never…Or Maybe Not

I didn’t share my thoughts on last week’s ‘Moroccan Christmas’. It was half due to the fact that I didn’t have much time on Friday to blog, but also because I didn’t particularly enjoy this episode of THE OFFICE, and I really hate being down on my favorite show. Actually I was going to skip writing about it all together, but there were enough emails over the weekend that I thought I might as well take a quick minute to share my thoughts. It’s probably a little too late, but here we are all the same.

The Christmas episode of THE OFFICE is something I really look forward to. Last year we were cheated out of our holiday ep due to the WGA strike, so I was all geared up and ready to go this past Thursday. Ask my co-workers…I was giddy all day at the thought of settling in for a very Dunder Mifflin Christmas. But the show started and ended and I was left feeling underwhelmed. Did I put too much pressure on the episode to deliver or did it really just fall that flat?

Things started out strong. Jim wrapping Dwight’s desk – classic. Dwight buying up the Princess Unicorn dolls to resell them to desperate parents – awesome. If the whole episode were just the cold open I would be applauding. But the credits came and went and pretty much everything fell off from there…at least for me.

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Amy Poehler Bids Farewell to SNL

An emotional Amy Poehler says goodbye to SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE from her spot on the Weekend Update Desk. Her heartfelt goodbye was hiliariously interrupted by New York’s Governor Paterson.

Amy is off to California to start filming her new half hour NBC comedy from the creators of THE OFFICE.

We wish her well. And thanks, Amy.

Barney Stinson’s Naughty Jingles

Forget about that annoying partridge in a pear tree, for my 12 days of Christmas I just want Barney Stinson – all day, every day.  And to keep us in the holiday spirits, Barney can sing these naughty little Christmas jingles.

Joss Whedon, Ron Moore & Seth McFarlane on ROBOT CHICKEN

Seth Green and Matt Senreich, as their stop motion animated selves, kick off the 4th season of ROBOT CHICKEN by offering their writing services to some of the top showrunners in the biz including Joss Whedon, Ron Moore and Seth McFarlane – all who appear in animated form as well.

Watch as Joss confronts Seth on leaving BUFFY. Find out just how Ron Moore chooses a Cylon. And what in does Seth McFarlane have with C3PO?

Watch Robot Chicken Episode #61 here.

This is really funny stuff. I need to be watching ROBOT CHICKEN more.

Oh and P.S. – check out the behind-the-scenes video commentary that go along with it. (Although it’s a little annoying the way Seth keeps interrupting everytime Matt wants to talk.  It was like I was at the BUFFY reunion all over again.)

Thanks to Whedonesque.com for the tip.

Rainn Wilson & Selma Blair for GAP

THE OFFICE’s Rainn Wilson and KATH & KIM’s Selma Blair duet for the Gap this holiday season. This is adorable.

Do You Twitter?

My name is Kath and I am a Twitter addict.  It’s true. I feel the constant need to tell people what I’m thinking/feeling/watching/doing 24/7 (like you really care – believe me, I know you don’t).  I’m constantly trying to boil down my life into 140 characters or less.  It’s a problem.

I’m not saying it’s healthy, but I absolutely am addicted to keeping up with what my Twitter friends are up to. What time of day is @duckydoestv going to see his trainer? What new movie quote is @raelee going to serve up to me today?  Is @mytakeontv running or running away?  Who will @greggrunberg try to cast on ‘Heroes’ via Twitter today? What news is @moryan retweeting? @justjody is gives me the goods on Canada, while @jamesgunn serves as the personal publicist for @terranaomi. Every once in a while @tinafey chimes in to make me happy.  @jimmyfallon is now on board.  And I’m constantly reminding myself that no, I am no friends with @wilw despite how much I know what’s going on in his life.

Again, this is not normal.  But I can’t help it.

If you are a GMMR reader and a Twitter user and want to share your “@” with us, please do so in the comments.

If you want to follow my often mundane and often nonsensical tweets, follow me at: www.twitter.com/GMMR.

If you are new to Twitter and join in as a result of this post…don’t say I didn’t warn you.

P.S.  The new GMMR (yeah I know, I know, I’ve been talking about it forever), will have a page dedicated to the Twitters of GMMR readers.  I just set up a Twitter account featuring GMMR readers.  Start following other TV fans today: www.twitter.com/givememyremote I think it will be fun!!

30 ROCK: Christmas Special

Merry almost Christmas, everybody! And what a fraught one it is, at least for Jack, who’s forced to take in his mother (recurring guest star Elaine Stritch) after he runs her over with his car on his way to Rio for some nude sunbathing and monkey wrestling. I’ll try to overlook the awkward machinations this storyline required—and the fact that, during Liz’s visit, Colleen was looking pretty flexible for a hip replacement victim—because I am all about the giving. And trying.

Jack’s desperate attempt to turn a spur-of-the-moment TGS Christmas special into the kind of holiday he never had reveals that his off-color childhood memories of Colleen are actually concealing the good ones: namely, that by entertaining Mr. Frederick August Otto Schwarz III via “some boozy burlesque travesty” every year, this penniless Mrs. Claus was able to provide presents for her children. I do love that they keep bringing Stritch back, because her scenes with Alec Baldwin are always a delight, even if they hit the same notes every time. But that’s what family is, right? Infuriating, intractable, and consistent. And the Christmas special not only gave Jenna a chance to over-contribute, musically, but also led into a sweet dream duet between Jack and his mother at the piano.

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Dirty Sexy Money – The Plan

Is a Darling Down?
Days before Patrick’s inauguration, Chase Alexander starts running his mouth about his theories surrounding Ellen’s death. Tripp asks Nick to take care of it but Nick is at first reluctant, still feeling some guilt about interfering with the man’s life in the first place. However, as he usually does, Nick gives in to Tripp and agrees to meet with Chase.

Nick finds Chase moving boxes out of his house. He learns that Chase’s wife has taken his kids and left him. He blames the Darlings and the deal that he made with them for the loss of his self-respect and, subsequently, of his family. Although Nick is largely just the messenger, Chase seems to be holding Nick responsible for convincing him to deal with the Darlings.

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Golden Globe Nominations – TV

The Golden Globe nominations were announced today and there were a few surprises in the TV categories.

Do you think the Hollywood Foreign Press got it right?  Who were the big surprises and who got snubbed?

Best Television Drama
‘Dexter’
‘House’
‘In Treatment’
‘Mad Men’
‘True Blood’

Best Actor – Television Drama
Gabriel Byrne, ‘In Treatment’
Michael C. Hall, ‘Dexter’
Jon Hamm, ‘Mad Men’
Hugh Laurie, ‘House’
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, ‘The Tudors’

Best Actress – Television Drama
Sally Field, ‘Brothers & Sisters’
Mariska Hargitay, ‘Law and Order: Special Victims Unit’
January Jones, ‘Mad Men’
Anna Paquin, ‘True Blood’
Kyra Sedgwick, ‘The Closer’

Best Television Musical/Comedy
’30 Rock’
‘Californication’
‘Entourage’
‘The Office’
‘Weeds’

Read more

Pushing Daisies: “Candle on the Water”

Another mini-musical moment from PUSHING DAISIES. In last night’s “Pete’s Dragon” inspired episode, Olive Snook (Kristin Chenoweth) joins a few friends for a few bars of one my personal faves, “Candle on the Water”.

I can’t fathom that Pushing Daisies is going to go away. It hurts my heart.

GOSSIP GIRL Spin-off Starring Rufus & Lily

Update: I just heard from Josh Schwartz who said that this is a rumor based on the webisodes. The webisodes won’t star Lily and Rufus either. They will be about Dorota. To which I say YAY!!!

According to Star Magazine (and let’s stop right there and give pause to the source), the recently announced GOSSIP GIRL spin-off will center around Lily van der Woodsen and Rufus Humphrey. No, the ‘rents aren’t leaving their ilk behind, the rumors are that the show will feature a young Lil’ ad Rufus – during their courting days.

According an a network insider, “The show will focus on the early romance between Lily and Rufus. It begins when they first meet, during a time when Rufus and his band are at the height of their career. The show will follow the high society and rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle in New York.”

The source also supposedly said that two new actors will be cast as Lily & Rufus: the early years. A flashback coming later this season will be the catalyst to the new show.

This all seems to make sense given the storyline of Lily and Rufus this season. And now that it’s been revealed that [SPOILER ALERT] they had a baby together in their teen years, I can see the foundation being laid.

I’m going to see what I can dig up.

A Lily & Rufus spin-off? Your thoughts? Will it work? Will you watch? Hey, if it’s got the same tone as GOSSIP GIRLS I’m definitely going to give it a shot.

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