24 – Day 8: 6:00-8:00pm

Two episodes in and I’m already questions my feelings for the season. I go from being completely frustrated with the show to having moments where I’m reminded why I love it in the first place. Right now I’m just trying to keep up with what seems like a scattered first four hours. Let’s get started with the recap, since a lot went down this week.

Debrief

• Jack gets to the cop’s house to see that the cop and his wife are dead. While in the house, two other cops show up and assume that Jack is the killer. They take him hostage and beat him until he proves that he is who he says he is and leaves.

• Kevin Wade, Dana Walsh’s former beau, shows up at CTU. She lets her into her apartment to get him out of there. He gets angry later when she can’t return home when he asked her to.

• Files are found on Meredith Reed’s computer that add to the suspicion surrounding her, all while Chloe thinks she’s been framed. After finding the plans, the UN is evacuated.

• Jack figures out that the Russian assassin is working as a policeman and tells Cole that Hassan’s car is going to be targeted along the route. Cole intercepts everyone and lets the bomb blow him up instead, foiling the assassination attempt. Cole tracks down the assassin and Jack kills him. The man had tattoos that indicate he is a member of a Russian crime syndicate. CTU calls Renee in to brief them, since she spent years undercover with them.

• Farad calls a man who tells him that the deal is still on. It turns out that Farad is attempting to buy Uranium-235, enriched, from the Russians to continue the nuclear proliferation program, the one thing that Hassan is trying to end.

• Hastings wants Renee to go back undercover and stop the deal. Jack doesn’t think she’s ready to go back in, so he volunteers to go with her. Renee tracks down one of her old contacts and cuts his hand off.

Agent Philboy’s Assessment

Wow. A lot happened tonight. These two episodes definitely did a lot to remedy the ill will I was feeling last night, but I still have a couple of major concerns. First of all, Hastings has to either trust Jack…and Renee…and Chole…and Cole, or get out of the way, because his obstinance is just annoying at this point. In all of the urgency, for Hastings to continue to stick to his guns and assume he’s right and everyone else is wrong is just a waste of time. I hope that the glimmers of hope that we saw tonight continue.

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Tonight’s TV Spotlight…Wednesday, January 20, 2010

I hope you enjoyed your respite of TV on Tuesday night, because it’s Wednesday and the onslaught is back. Don’t take that as a complaint, I can’t wait!

In addition to the list of new episodes that I’ve highlighted below, there are few other shows that you might want to check out tonight.  If you were a late comer to MODERN FAMILY then be sure to check out the show’s pilot episode airing at 8pm tonight on ABC. It’s the single funniest half hour of comedy I’ve seen all year. And if you’re kicking yourself that you didn’t check out The CW’s new show LIFE UNEXPECTED, tonight is your chance to watch the show everyone is talking about. The pilot episode is being re-aired tonight at 8pm.

Check out some of the highlights of tonight’s TV schedule below and leave a comment to let me know what YOU are watching. Are you on Twitter? Let me know by messaging me @gmmrtv

The New Adventures of Old Christine | 8pm on CBS
“Truth or Dare”
Christine’s ex-boyfriend Mr. Harris (Blair Underwood) returns, causing friction with her new love, Max (Eric McCormack)

American Idol | 8pm on FOX
“Orlando Auditions”
In case you weren’t sick of IDOL auditions yet, there’s more singers living the dream tonight.  Guest judge Kristin Chenoweth joins Randy, Simon and Kara.

Mercy | 8pm on NBC
“Wake Up, Bill”
A newlywed cancer patient undergoes a risky course of treatment, and Chloe struggles to help her doting husband cope; a man wakes up after 10 years in a coma and decides to confront the woman he loves; Sonia gets a taste of how the other half lives.

Gary Unmarried | 8:30pm on CBS
“Gary Has to Choose”
Gary must decide whether it is worth putting his career on the line to date his boss; Allison tries to teach Tom a lesson in responsibility.

Modern Family | 9pm on ABC
“Fifteen Percent”
Jay summarily dismisses Mitchell’s suggestion that one of Jay’s oldest friends (Chazz Palminteri) might be gay; Claire gets fed up with Phil’s universal remote; Manny’s date gets a makeover from Gloria. Kristen Schaal also guest stars.

Human Target | 9pm on FOX
“Rewind”
As the first season begins, Winston takes on an unlikely role to help Chance protect an unknown client—a pseudonymous computer hacker with potentially devastating information—from an unidentified assassin aboard a very unusual flight to Seattle.

Criminal Minds | 9pm on CBS
“Risky Business”
The team travels to a small Wyoming town to investigate a series of teen suicides.

(More of tonight’s lineup after the jump)

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AMERICAN IDOL: Chicago Auditions

It’s not every day you’re going to stumble upon a gem like “Pants on the Ground” but it’s enough to remind me that although I loathe the American Idol audition rounds, there is a certain pop culture value in checking out the early “competition”. The way I like to look at it is it’s more about getting an early peek at the real talent and less about watching others be humiliated on national TV…no matter how much they ask for it.

But the IDOL auditions can’t be ignored.  So while we’ll save the in-depth discussion for Hollywood Week and beyond, I thought it might be worthwhile to talk about just a few of the memorable auditions from Chicago (it really is my kind of town.)

Warning: I have very little patience for these episodes, so please excuse my cynical snarkiness. It can’t be helped this morning.

Joining Randy, Simon and Kara at the judge’s table was Shania Twain. Zzzzzz. Can someone wake me up when Cheno and Neil Patrick Harris are judging. What was that? Kristin Chenoweth is guest judging tonight? Well thank goodness. Perhaps that 4’11 bundle of perkiness won’t be the only one hitting the high notes tonight.

I’m not hatin’ on Shania. I like her. I do. It’s just that we already have two pointless judges on the panel – Kara and Randy.  Hard as I try, I just can’t get on board the Kara train. I’m sure she means well, but she tries way too hard to be relevant, but if we’re being honest, she really delivers criticism that’s worthwhile to the contestants.  I don’t think I’ve ever heard the judges give advice to these amateurs about how to better control their vibrato or how to get better control by using their diaphragm more.  Why not offer up something useful that isn’t related about how they are going to package themselves after the competition (i.e. “you’ve got a good look”, “the girls will like you”, “you’re unique” – they can’t do a damn thing with that.)

Ok, my rant is over…for now.

Here are a few contestants that made an impression on me last night.

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The TV Talk Podcast: Golden Globes, SYTYCD, IDOL, PROJECT RUNWAY, Team Coco & More

We survived another snow storm and another podcast! This week, the TV Talk Podcast gives you our thoughts on the winners and losers at this years GOLDEN GLOBES AWARDS.

DAMAGES Season 3 is hot on our heels and we briefly discuss the first two hours. Patty, Ellen and Tom are back for a killer season of manipluation and a sharp game of cat and mouse.

The most satisfying news from the winter TCA press tour revolves around the timeline for the next two seasons of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE.

PROJECT RUNWAY returns to New York City and the reunion feels so good! Heidi, Michael, Nina and Tim Gunn try to make it work with a new back of 16 designers. We’re already in love!

AMERICAN IDOL kicked off another season and Ducky may or may not be back on the bandwagon.

It wouldn’t be a TV podcast unless we talked about the Leno/Conan Late Night Debacle. What a shit-show…

Oh and did I mention we talk about AVATAR? Why not!

We end this week’s podcast with some fun and games! Get ready for a few rounds of “Would You Rather”: TV Edition.

*Recorded: 1/18/10

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Was LIFE UNEXPECTED What You Expected?

As a reader of GiveMeMyRemote.com and (hopefully) a listener to The TV Talk Podcast, you’ve inevitably heard my gushing for The CW’s new show LIFE UNEXPECTED. Between blogging, podcasting, Facebooking and Tweeting I did all I could to convince you to tune in. So the question is, did you? And if so, did you love it as much as I did?

Is LIFE UNEXPECTED a show that we should be adding to the GMMR repertoire for weekly discussion?  Tell me what you loved or didn’t about last night’s series premiere.

Tonight’s TV Spotlight…Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Oh Tuesdays. Ye of manageable TV line ups. I love you so. Given the monstrosity on Monday night TV, it’s nice to have a Tuesday schedule which isn’t overwhelming. It’s all about the laughter, singing and hot undercover for me tonight. By undercover work I meant the winter premiere of WHITE COLLAR. Just wanted to clarify that.

BTW, if you are a Nielsen family, know a Nielsen family, or maybe even know someone with the last name of Nielsen, can you PLEASE have them turn on BETTER OFF TED tonight.  The show is in desperate need of rankings. It’s too good to let it go. Please give it a shot tonight.

Check out some highlights of tonight’s TV schedule and tell us what YOU are most excited to watch tonight.

American Idol | 8pm on Fox
“Chicago Auditions”
Auditions continue as hopefuls perform for the judges in Chicago; Shania Twain serves as a guest judge.[GMMR: We typically start talking about IDOL when we get to Hollywood week. Would you be interested in talking about the highlights/lowlights from the audition shows? Let me know.]

Scrubs | 9pm on ABC
“Our True Lies”
One of the med students cheats on a test, so Dr. Cox punishes the entire class. Elsewhere, Denise makes a surprising admission.

Better Off Ted | 9:30pm on ABC
“Lust in Translation”
Ted woos a German executive (Stefanie von Pfetten) with the help of a translation device, but the romance gets derailed because the device uses Phil’s voice. Rick: Rizwan Manji. Brett: Stefan Marks.

The Biggest Loser | 8pm on NBC
“Student or Teacher”
The contestants assume the role of either teacher or student; a challenge grants immunity to the winning team; a contestant threatens to quit the competition.

White Collar | 10pm on USA | Winter Premiere
“Hard Sell”
Neal and Peter go undercover to take down a corrupt group of Wall Street brokers. If the mission fails, Neal’s deal with the FBI could be negated.

On the late night couch…

• The Late Show with David Letterman: Dwayne Johnson, the Swell Season
• The Jay Leno Show: Chelsea Handler, Michael Jordan
• The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien: Tom Hanks, Paul Bettany, Spoon
• The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: Alan Alda, Anna Kendrick
• Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: Randy Jackson, Paul Teutul Sr., the Mountain Goats
• Jimmy Kimmel Live: Dennis Quaid, Ty Burrell, Orianthi
• Chelsea Lately: Arden Myrin, Eric Price, Chris Hardwick
• Last Call with Carson Daly: Adam Scott, Leticia Bufoni, the XX (R 12/10/09)
• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Colin Firth
• The Colbert Report: Amb. Stephen Bosworth
• Lopez Tonight: Brendan Fraser, Khloe Kardashian, Lamar Odom

What will YOU be watching? Leave a comment or send me an update on Twitter.

Have you listened to the latest TV Talk Podcast with GMMR & Ducky? It’s brand new as of January 18th. Check it out today!

Better Off Ted | 9:30 on ABC

Ted woos a German executive (Stefanie von Pfetten) with the help of a translation device, but the romance gets derailed because the device uses Phil’s voice. Rick: Rizwan Manji. Brett: Stefan Marks.

Neil Patrick Harris to Guest Star on GLEE

Happy tears. Tears of joy. Oh things all holy and good please make this happen.

Just the other day I was talking with someone about how desperately I wanted Neil Patrick Harris to guest on an episode of GLEE. I even suggested that maybe it would be great if he could guest on the episode that Joss Whedon is directing (you know, the Dr. Horrible connection and all). And just this morning I twittered a pic of NPH and GLEE creator Ryan Murphy from last night’s Golden Globes and begged the powers that be to make it happen.  And it has.

According to a report from Michael Ausiello, Neil Patrick Harris is thisclose to signing on to appearing in the Joss Whedon episode of GLEE. CBS just needs to give him the ok.  Oh happy day!

Talk about an episode that never gets deleted from the DVR!

Let the speculation begin! Who would you like to see Neil play?

I’m going to go with one a plot line that my sister read online somewhere (all credit to whomever came up with this brilliance). I think it goes a little something like this:  NPH could play Mr. Schue’s uber-competitive brother. Perhaps NPH comes to town to visit his brother and snags the eye of Ms. Emma Pillsbury.  The two sing and dance off to win her heart.  Things get heated, but when Sue Sylvester causes a ruckus, the two Schuester men stand together in unity. And look damn fine doing it. (Alas, this story opens the door for repeat guest visits by Neil.)

Please don’t tell me I’m the only one completely dorking out over this!

CHUCK vs. Operation Awesome

Previously on CHUCK.

It’s all fun and games until someone’s brother-in-law is mistaken as a CIA agent and kidnapped by the Ring.

When we last saw Devon he had been held hostage by a Ring operative that he met when he got a little too close for comfort in Chuck’s spy world.  Tonight we find out that the ring wasn’t looking for a new Cardiologist or a new Mr. July, no they were looking for a spy to betray his country and join their operation. That spy? Devon Woodcomb.

Oops.

Better you not get too caught up in the plot details, or lack thereof, in tonight’s ‘Devon as a mistaken spy ‘ story. The how, why and what of it is a little thin, but that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t worth the outcome.

In what was a thrilling episode that fulfilled on all we hoped for since Devon discovered Chuck’s secret life, writer Zev Borow delivered a script that was full of humor, action, heart and decapitated bears. There was some heavy duty stuff that had to be introduced in this episode – new characters, a new dimension for our hero (and his) and lots of information about this season’s enemy – The Ring.  But bravo to Borow for producing a script which heavily featured Captain Awesome but never required him to be shirtless. That was…hey wait, I’m not ok with that, Zev. Wasted opportunity my friend. Try not to make that mistake twice.

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Project FIREFLY: “Serenity”

It’s true what they say. It’s Joss Whedon’s world and we’re just living in it.

Welcome to the first discussion of Project Firefly (sorry we’re a little late getting started). Whether you’ve never seen the show before, or it’s one of your all time favorites, I hope you’ll be watching along with us as we discover the world of Firefly.

Before popping in the first disc of Firefly I knew very little about the show. Sure I knew of some of the key players – Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres, Adam Baldwin and Summer Glau were all recognizable names, but I knew them more from their other projects than I did their roles on Firefly. Hell, I thought fans called themselves the Browncoats because Nathan Fillion’s character always wore a brown coat. That quickly changed in the first two hours of the series as Whedon crafted a full realized world full of diverse and intriguing characters. Simplifying Firefly to the most basic and unoriginal premise – it’s renegade cowboys in space.

While watching the pilot episode, I couldn’t help but think that the world of Firefly might be akin to Han Solo’s world had he never met Luke Skywalker.

The crew of Serenity is a mish-mash of misfits. We learn early on the Captain Malcom Reynolds and Zoe Washburne served together in a war years earlier. But how they come to commandeering Serenity after being stranded and essentially left for dead during the world has yet to be explained.

While Mal captains the vessel, it’s the Serenity team that ensures its well being.

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DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES: How About a Friendly Shrink

Hey, guys! I hope you’ve enjoyed your day off (if you did have the day off) and enjoyed the Globes last night. Over on ABC Desperate Housewives was new last night as well. Did you watch? If not, here’s a quick catch up on what you missed.

Now that Juanita has started private school, Gabby has a lot of free time. When she finds out that Juanita is in the leopard group she pressures Susan to tell her if that is the advanced group or not. Susan doesn’t even know for sure so Gabby tracks down the kids’ homework to find out who is more advanced. I thought this was typical Gabby. I find it hard to believe that she was the first person to try to crack the code however.

Orson is still behaving like a jerk towards Bree. I understand that he is upset and facing a hard new life but he should at least show a little respect towards Bree. His attitude is getting very annoying very fast.

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24 – Day 8: 4:00 – 6:00pm

And so it begins. Another day of Jack Bauer’s life. Another day of intrigue, action, and everything else that comes with the territory. I hope that you all enjoy these reviews over the course of the season as much as I enjoy writing them every week. Let’s get started!

Debrief

• Jack Bauer has healed from the events from last season and is ready to go back to LA with Kim, her husband and daughter.

• Victor, a former informant for Jack, shows up and has been shot. He tells Jack that he knows about a plot to assassinate President Hassan, who is brokering a peace treaty with President Taylor. Jack will transport him to CTU NY, then go to California.

• At CTU, Chloe is struggling to fit in to the new way things work. Director Hastings isn’t giving her much slack. Analyst Dana Walsh is a little more forgiving and her fiancée, Cole Ortiz, is heading up the team to pick up Jack and Victor.

• President Hassan’s brother, Farad, is less hospitable to the Americans than he. Also, he is concerned about the President’s relationship with a reporter, Meredith Reed.

• CTU’s helicopter is bombed and Victor dies after he tells Jack that the assassin has someone close to Hassan on the inside. This leads CTU to arresting Meredith Reed. Chloe, in her formidable way, disagrees with this decision. The person working with the assassin is Hassan’s brother, however.

• The assassin was working undercover with the NYPD who police the UN and has taken a fellow officer and his wife hostage so that he can be on duty at the UN today.

• Dana Walsh apparently has a past life as Jenny whatever and her old husband (?) is looking for her. I tried to care, but just didn’t.

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Jay Leno Wanted To Give Conan THE TONIGHT SHOW…in 2004

It’s like rain on your wedding day. It’s the free ride when you’ve already paid. It’s the good advice that you just didn’t take.

Check out Jay Leno back in 2004 talking about handing over the show to Conan. Talked about not wanting to do this into his 60s as he’s “no Johnny Carson.” He also said, “I don’t want to see all the fighting.” Really, Jay? Really.

Jay’s 2004 Announcement – watch more funny videos

LIFE UNEXPECTED is an Unexpected Treat for TV Fans (Watch First Ten Minutes)

One of the best new shows of the Winter TV season is The CW’s Life Unexpected. This show is classic WB in the best possible way. At the core are strong characters who are finding their way through life through their relationships with others. With strong writing, fantastic acting, and good stories to be told, Life Unexpected fills a void I’ve felt since the days of Everwood, Felicity and Dawson’s Creek.

The show brings us into the world of Lux (Brittany Roberston, “Swingtown”), a girl who was given up for adoption at birth and has floated around from one miserable foster home to another her whole life. At 15 she’s ready to become an emancipated minor – a move that requires proof that she can survive on her own. Hoping to get the next stage of her life started, Lux sets out to track down the parents that gave her away so many years ago.

Lux’s journey brings her to the doorstep of Nathan “Baze” Bazile (Kristofer Polaha, “Mad Men”), a  former high school quarterback who now lives a life of leisure above the bar he owns (or rather his father owns). Not what one might deem Father of the Year material. Needless to say he is a bit taken back when the daughter he never knew arrives on his doorstep. But Lux is the one in for the real surprise when she discovers that her birth mother is Cate Cassidy, (Shiri Appelby, “Roswell”, “ER”) a morning radio host who Lux has listened to her whole life.

Cate and her co-host (on air and off) Ryan Thomas (Kerr Smith, “Dawson’s Creek”) are local celebrities whose personal and professional lives are in upheaval when Lux enters their lives.

When a judge refuses to emancipate Lux and awards temporary custody to Baze and Cate, the three plus Ryan, need to learn how to become a family. Not an easy task for any of them, but especially Lux who has never really had one before.

Life Unexpected shows us a world in which past mistakes don’t always come back to haunt you. Sometimes they come back to teach you things about yourself that you never knew. It’s the best new show of the winter season. A real win for The CW…and for fans of great storytelling.

The show premieres on The CW on Monday, January 18 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET) and on March 8, Life Unexpected will move to the 8:00-9:00 p.m. timeslot.

If you listen to The TV Talk Podcast then you’ve heard great things about this show. Both Dan and I have seen the first three episodes and we are absolutely smitten. Now, courtesy of The CW, you can watch the first ten minutes of Life Unexpected right here, right now. Just enough to whet your appetite a bit.

Take a look and let me know what you think. Do you think Life Unexpected will be on your winter TV calendar next week? It will most definitely be on mine.

Tonight’s TV Spotlight…Monday, January 18, 2010

Tonight is the busiest night of TV for me, and not all of the Monday night shows have come back. DVR don’t fail me now.

Speaking of DVRs, it’s time to set a season pass on yours for LIFE UNEXPECTED, the new series premiering tonight on The CW. It’s my favorite new show of the mid-season, and I hope you all like this heartwarming and funny show as much as I did.

Tonight also brings us the second night of the two night 24 premiere. Philboy will be filing his thoughts on last night’s S8 premiere, so check back soon.

And don’t forget about Chuck. Really, don’t forget. The show needs the ratings!

What are YOU watching this Monday evening? Leave a comment here or tell me about it on Twitter (@gmmrTV)

How I Met Your Mother | 8pm on CBS
“Jenkins”
Marshall tries to prove that his attractive female colleague (Amanda Peet) kissed him; Robin discovers that a drinking game has been made up about her. 

Chuck | 8pm on NBC
“Chuck vs. Operation Awesome”
Chuck becomes Awesome’s handler and shows him how to be a real spy; Morgan has to deal with Jeff and Lester’s latest hijinks after getting promoted to assistant manager.

The Bachelor | 8pm on ABC
“Three Roses Short”
Jake takes one bachelorette to the San Gabriel Mountains to go bungee-jumping; eight of the women go to a comedy club; one woman pushes Jake too far; Jake plans a surprise for one bachelorette at a San Diego theme park; three women are sent home.

24 | 8pm on Fox
“Day 8: 6pm-8pm”
Jack becomes more involved in preventing the assassination of visiting President Omar Hassan; unexpected circumstances create complications for the crew at CTU; Jack and Renee Walker are reunited.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager | 8pm on ABC Family
“‘Loved & Lost”
Financial issues have Ricky and Adrian at odds. Meanwhile, Amy and Ben try to work out the problems in their relationship.

One Tree Hill | 8pm on The CW
“Weeks Go By Like Days”
Julian and Brook reconnect; Quinn and Clay try to figure out how to move forward; Alex tries to make peace with herself and the people she’s let down.

(the rest of tonight’s TV spotlight is after the jump)

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