Expedition: Africa – The Ultimate Game of Survivor

Talk about summer reality TV. Tonight begins the eight-part series EXPEDITION: AFRICA on The History Channel.  Real-life explorers treak almost 1,000 miles through the most dangerour terrain in Africa on a quest to retrace the steps of another famous expedition.

This series looks absolutely intriguing. And it’s from Mark Burnett, a man that knows a little something about capturing one’s quest to survive.

About Expedition: Africa
Twenty miles off the cost of Africa, four modern-day explorers are sailing toward the unknown, the deep interior of Tanzania. They’ll travel 970 miles through African terrain that is as as stunning as it is fraught with danger. Using only a compass and basic maps, they will attempt to recapture the spirit of one of the world’s most remarkable adventures – journalist Henry Morton Stanley’s perilous 1871 journey to find Dr. David Livingstone.

This is not a competition or a game. It’s a real-life adventure.

These four explorers – navigator Pasquale Scaturro, wildlife expert Dr. Mireya Mayor, survivalist Benedict Allen and journalist Kevin Sites – will trek across a vast, unforgiving landscape of dense swamps, rugged mountains and barren deserts. They will face severe dehydration, deadly diseases, wild animals and more than 29 kinds of venomous snakes, only to learn that the greatest danger may actually to one another.

Will you be watching? I know I will.

Expedition: Africa | 10pm on Discovery

An eight-part series follows four explorers in Tanzania as they trace the steps of Henry Morton Stanley in his 19th-century quest to find David Livingstone.

MTV Movie Awards | 9pm on MTV

Andy Samberg hosts the 18th annual party, telecast from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, Cal. New award categories this year include Best WTF Moment and Best Song From a Movie.

Million Dollar Password | 8pm on CBS

Two celebrity-contestant teams compete in a word-association game, with the winning pair given the opportunity to play for a $1 million grand prize. Tonight celebrities Jamie Kennedy and Norm MacDonald try to help contestants win money.

PUSHING DAISIES Final Episodes: “Window Dressed to Kill”

ThePieMaker.com (also known as me and Ducky) was invited to the L.A. screening of the final three episodes of PUSHING DAISIES back in January. Ducky wasn’t able to join me, but I ventured out to L.A. for a fabulous weekend with the DAISIES crew. Here’s the review I wrote after first seeing “Window Dressed to Kill” all those months ago.

Be sure to tune in to watch the episode tonight at 10pm on ABC.

This post contains spoilers although I tried not spoil the whole episode. Read at your own risk.

If you’re a fan of PUSHING DAISIES rapid, racing repartee and delicious, delightful dialogue then you’re in for a tasty terrific treat with “Window Dressed to Kill”. Not a single moment of screen time is wasted in this episode written by scribe Abby Gewanter. You’re going to need an extra cup of Joe to make sure you’re fully alert while watching as it’s jam packed with snappy dialogue, stunning visuals and more than a few recognizable guest stars, including Willy Garson, Constance Zimmer, George Segal, Sam Pancake, Wayne Wilderson and more.

Appearances can be deceiving. This episode is all about looking past the curtains of deception to find the true intent behind someone’s actions. Sometimes the reasons are good and sometimes not so much, but no matter what the reason deception can only lead to someone getting hurt…or killed.

Young Olive Snook was kidnapped during a family cocktail party by petty thieves Jerry Holmes and Roy “Buster” Bustamante. The two men were sent to prison for 25 years as a result of their deed. But before their time in the slammer was up, they pulled a Shawshank, and rather than heading to Zihuatanejo, Buster and Jerry set out to find Olive Snook – the little girl responsible for putting them in jail.

But, as we said, appearances can be deceiving. Pull back the curtain and we find that the young Olive Snook was a stowaway in the car that Jerry and Buster stole. They tried to bring Olive home but when she refused to give them any information about her life, they were stuck. A few days later they tracked down Olive’s parents and upon returning her to home they found out that her parents didn’t even know she was gone. Outraged at the behavior of Olive’s parents, Buster & Jerry shared a piece of their mind on better parenting. Not one to take that kind of criticism lightly, the snooty Snooks called the police and had Buster & Jerry carted off to jail for kidnapping, despite the Olive’s plea.

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PUSHING DAISIES Finally Returns Tonight

Time to cancel plans, or at the very least set those DVRs.  Tonight night at 10pm the first of the final three episodes of PUSHING DAISIES airs on ABC. If you haven’t already seen “Window Dressed to Kill” you’re in for such a treat.  There’s so much to love.

I think by all you all know my love and passion for PUSHING DAISIES (if not just check out ThePieMaker.com and you’ll see).  This show was so very special to me. Its originality burst through every inch of the television. It was beautiful, funny, dark and so smart. It was truly one of kind.

I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know the people behind the scenes of PUSHING DAISIES and they are all wonderfully talented and passionate people. I know how much the cast and crew loved this show, and they are so excited for the final three episodes to finally air.

This isn’t the end of the road for PUSHING DAISIES though. A comic book deal is already in place and creator Bryan Fuller is already working hard. For more on the PUSHING DAISIES comic book, S2 DVDs and more, check out the quick video I snagged while I was in L.A. for the screening of the final three episodes. (Sorry for the audio – it was really loud that night)

I know fans of PUSHING DAISIES will be checking out the episode tonight, but I hope some new friends will check out the show tonight.  New fans are always welcome.

I’ll be posting my review of “Window Dressed to Kill” here soon, so keep checking back to GMMR.

Jay Leno Bids Farwell to THE TONIGHT SHOW…Tonight

I may not be particular thrilled that Jay Leno will be taking over the 10pm time slot 5 nights a week come this Fall, but I do recognize that he will be moving on from the most popular talk show that ever was. I’d be remiss if I didn’t wish Jay well. So good luck. But here’s to hoping tonight isn’t all weepy. I mean he’ll be back in the Fall. We’re not going to have time to miss him.

As I said today, unless there’s a guest I’m really interested in checking out, I’ll be watching scripted TV on the other networks at 10pm next Fall. I prefer my last night talk shows actually in late night.

If you’re a fan of Jay and The Tonight Show, then you might get a kick back as some of these highlights from over the years. I particularly love the Ross the Intern highlights. Great stuff.

Best of Ross “The Intern” Mathews
Watch how Ross grew from an intern to a household name.

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Early Screening – Watch the NURSE JACKIE Premiere Right Here

I know it’s a bit early in the summer to make this kind of declaration, but I think I’ve found the best new show you’re going to watch all summer. NURSE JACKIE doesn’t premiere on Showtime until June 8th but you can get an early look at the first episode in its entirety right here on GiveMeMyRemote.com – just hit play on the video below.

Edie Falco stars as Jackie Peyton, an ER nurse who lets nothing stand in her way of caring for her patients. She doesn’t care what rules she has to break or what red tape she needs to bust through to make sure the people in her care are getting exactly what they deserve. Most of the time Jackie’s patients are better off under her care, but it’s better to be one of the good guys…trust me. You don’t want to cross Jackie Peyton.

Jackie is both the angel and the devil on her own shoulders. Her heart guides her to do good, but her demons ofter take her off the path of what is right. This juxtaposition of intent makes for some truly dark comedic moments. But no matter how bizarre the scenario, Jackie just takes what’s coming at her. She’s seen it all. She’s not surprised by much. Ok, maybe sexual tourettes might throw her a bit, but she’s only human. And if things get too bad, there’s always her prescription drug addiction to help.

Falco gets completely lost in the role of Jackie Peyton. I was worried that I’d only see Carmela Soprano on the screen, but that was never an issue. Falco is so good that we all might be talking about Nurse Jackie as her premiere role at the end of all this. I think we’ll certainly be talking about her come awards season. I don’t know if the script was written with her in mind but it might as well have been. She’s tremendous

The rest of the cast which includes Peter Facinelli, Eve Best, Merrit Wever, Haaz Sleiman, and Paul Schulze help to bring out the shades of gray in Jackie Peyton. As her colleagues, her friends, and her lover, each only see a small glimpse into the true Jackie. She’s seemingly concealed enough of herself to keep anyone from ever getting too close and knowing the demons she fights.

People are going to be talking about this show, so don’t miss NURSE JACKIE. Mondays at 10:30pm on Showtime starting June 8th.

Check out the premiere episode above and then share your thoughts in the comments below.

Stay in touch. Follow me on Twitter

Adam Shankman is Going to Vegas!

You have to love The Shankman. Done and done.

Great Performances | 10pm on PBS

“In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams” – The story of the 2008 Tony Award-winning musical “In the Heights,” from early in its production to its Broadway success, featuring performance sequences and profiles of composer-lyricist and star Lin-Manuel Miranda and the rest of the cast

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | 11:35pm on NBC

In his final episode as host, Jay’s guests included his late night successor Conan O’Brien, and a visit from his very first guest – Billy Crystal. One of Jay’s favorites, James Taylor, will be performing.

Un-Broke: What You Need to Know About Money | 9pm on ABC

Financial adviser Mellody Hobson talks to Will Smith, Samuel L. Jackson, Seth Green, the Jonas Brothers and others to explain credit cards, mortgages, the stock market indexes, investing, 401(k) plans and more.

Tonight’s TV Spotlight…Friday, May 29, 2009

Hmmm. What to possibly choose for tonight’s TV spotlight. It ain’t easy my friends. There’s not a lot to get excited about on TV tonight. Tomorrow night is a whole different ballgame (PUSHING DAISIES is back!!), but for today…well I’ll try my best.

Sorry for my lack of enthusiasm, but it’s the third straight day of miserable weather here in Boston. I just want a little Spring. Is that too much to ask for? It’s cold and rainy, just perfect for the Dave Matthews concert at Fenway tonight. What to wear? Oh TV – sorry, right. Back at it.

The big TV news of the night is the final episode of THE TONIGHT SHOW with Jay Leno. Jay bids farewell as he turns the reigns of the show over the Conan O’Brien. NBC seems to be making a big deal out of this move, but it’s hard to get nostalgic or treat this as some kind of major event when we know that Jay will be back on TV in pretty much the same role five days a week in the Fall. Although I’ve enjoyed Leno in the past, I have zero desire to watch his new show. Reserving the right to watch if he has a special guest I’m interested in seeing, I really don’t plan to tune into Jay at all come the Fall. Personally, I’d rather have NBC air scripted shows during that time.

But we wish Jay well all the same. We’ll share some highlights from The Tonight Show later today.

If you have something that you think should be in the spotlight, leave a comment and let me know.

Grease 2 | 8:30pm on VH1
A square British exchange student turns hip motorcyclist to woo a cool girl in his 1961 high school.Maxwell Caulfield, Michelle Pfeiffer, Pamela Segall, Didi Conn, Eve Arden [GMMR: This movie may have been universally panned but I j’adore it! I know every word to every song…and I bet you all do to.  Feel free to start a GREASE 2 sing along. I won’t hate you. I’ll start:

“Let’s bowl, let’s bowl let’s rock and roll…hey come on let’s get the show on the road.”

Un-Broke: What You Need to Know About Money | 9pm on ABC
Financial adviser Mellody Hobson talks to Will Smith, Samuel L. Jackson, Seth Green, the Jonas Brothers and others to explain credit cards, mortgages, the stock market indexes, investing, 401(k) plans and more. [GMMR: Really? I need some overpaid, minimally talented teenagers telling me how to manage my money? Really? Are you telling me that Will Smith, Sam Jackson, the dude from BUFFY and the brothers Jonai worry about things like credit card bills. Come on now. Oh and by the way, I am horrible with money and should probably tune in.]

What Not to Wear | 9pm on TLC
“Mayim”
Stacy and Clinton try to help former child actress Mayim Bialik (“Blossom”), who is a mother now and in need of a makeover. [GMMR:Dude, Blossom is getting a makeover. WHOA! But the real question remains…will Six be there for her big reveal. And if so, what hat will she be wearing. The suspense is killing me.]

Great Performances | 10pm on PBS
“In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams”
The story of the 2008 Tony Award-winning musical “In the Heights,” from early in its production to its Broadway success, featuring performance sequences and profiles of composer-lyricist and star Lin-Manuel Miranda and the rest of the cast, including Karen Olivo, Mandy Gonzalez, Seth Stewart, Priscilla Lopez and Chris Jackson. [GMMR: I’ve heard amazing things about this Broadway show, so I’ll definitely be tuning in.]

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | 11:35pm on NBC
“The Final Episode”
In his final episode as host, Jay’s guests included his late night successor Conan O’Brien, and a visit from his very first guest – Billy Crystal. One of Jay’s favorites, James Taylor, will be performing. But you can expect a few special surprise guests or moments as Jay says goodbye.

Having an Adam Lambert Kind of Day

I’m having a Glambert kind of day. He might not have won the IDOL crown but Adam Lambert is winning my heart. What I’ve learned over the past week is that despite how dynamic Adam Lambert was on the IDOL stage, his real personality didn’t even begin to shine through. This guy is impressive.

We’ve all been bombarded with Kris and Adam interviews this week. From the TODAY show to REGIS & KELLY, and ELLEN to every website and news show out there. IDOL has been anything but idle. But as much as I love my Kris Allen, Adam has been slaying me this week. Not only is the guy so personable, but he’s well spoken, so level headed and pretty damn funny.

If you’re a fan of The Glambert, check out some of these links below and enjoy!

US Weekly did a little Q&A with Kris. But when Adam reveals he likes to be on top, the guys flat out lose it. Kris Allen’s reaction is priceless! (1:15 minute mark)

I’m not the only one loving Lambert. Michelle over at Best Week Ever has a cramazing interview that will have you in stitches…especially if you’ve ever been guilty of being a fanboy or fangirl (and admit it…you have). Oh, and Adam does make mention that he wasn’t best buds with everyone in the IDOL house…let the (Gokey) speculation begin (Gokey).

Just a little excerpt from “The Adam Lambert Interview That Will Change Your Life”

Michelle: I’m not even just saying this: you are magical, from Mars, I don’t even think you’re of this Earth. Now let’s talk about something the internet needs to know more about: Your Bromance with Kris. Which has taken on a life of its own: There’s fan fiction involving you two…

Adam: Oh really?

Michelle: Did you not know about that?

Adam: (laughing) No I didn’t.

Michelle: Oh my god. Adam.

Adam: I kind of want to read it.

Michelle: It’s kind of… hot. I’m really serious, Adam, it’s so good.

Adam: We should show it to his wife. That’s who we should have read it.

Idolatry and The Glambert…
And finally, one of the best things about my IDOL experience this year was EW’s weekly “Idolatry” sessions. Michael Slezak and his cohorts at EW (most notably Kristen Baldwin) break down each week of IDOL as only they can. And when each of the Top 10 went home, they made sure to stop by the Idolatry offices for a little one on one chat.

Sch was the case when Michael and Adam got chatting in an incredible 5 part video series. Take a look inside IDOL and find out a little more about Adam’s motivations and what really brought him to the finals. As you’ll see, Adam is a wonderful talent and already poised to take over the world.

Watch Adam Lambert on Idolatry here.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Live Chat Tonight

UPDATE: We usually live blog every SYTYCD results show.  Check out GiveMeMyRemote.com to join in on the results show fun!

Join us tonight at 8pm for a live SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE chat. Watch along with other fans as we see some of the best and the worst that the dance world has to offer. Tonight’s auditions bring us to Los Angeles and Seattle.  And guest judging tonight is Mia Michaels…yay!

Update: Thanks to everyone for chatting tonight. As always, it was fun!

<a href=”http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&#038;task=viewaltcast&#038;altcast_code=87c4ff6437″ mce_href=”http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;altcast_code=87c4ff6437″ >SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE</a>

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