Best Television Shows

Archive for November, 2009

The other night, USA Network broadcast part one of the Monk finale. In that next to last episode, many storylines were presented for the possible big finish this upcoming week. And it could be a potentially whopper of an ending. In my review, I speculated a little about what may be coming, and the comments have been flying in to TV Squad with viewers sharing their thoughts. That’s got me thinking… what else might be at play?

Tony Shalhoub was interviewed about the end of Monk and it was interesting that as an actor, he waited till he filmed the end before learning Monk’s fate. He said, “I think it’s a good send-off. At the beginning of the season, the writers asked me if I wanted to know how everything [ended] and I said, if it was okay with them, I’d rather wait.”

Continue reading How do you think Monk will end?

Filed under: OpEd, Casting, Reality-Free

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The ratings are in from Friday night — that was the Friday after Thanksgiving, a night when the major networks were showing movies and reruns — and, not surprising, the numbers are pretty low.

Oh, wait, one network had new shows, ABC. But the ratings for a new Ugly Betty at 9 p.m. were dismal. Ugly Betty came in dead last with just a 0.9/3, only 3.39 million viewers for that timeslot.

A few weeks ago, I thought — hoped — things were looking up for Ugly Betty. It looked like the show was going to get a timeslot switch to Eastwick‘s Wednesday at 10 p.m. Alas, ABC has done nothing. Eastwick is not picked up for the season and it’s still losing in that spot — it had a 1.2/4 and just 3.89 million viewers this past week. That said, why isn’t ABC giving Betty some love with a time change?

Continue reading Why is ABC treating Ugly Betty so badly?

Filed under: Other Drama Shows, OpEd, Ratings, Reality-Free

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• USA has a Monk marathon all night.
• At 7, ABC has a new America’s Funniest Home Videos, followed by new episodes of Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7, then a new Amazing Race and the movie A Dog Named Christmas.
• NBC has a new Football Night in America at 7, followed by the Ravens vs. the Steelers.
• At 8, FOX has a new Simpsons, then new episodes of The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, and American Dad.
• Food Network has a new Challenge at 8, followed by a new Iron Chef America.
• HGTV has Behind The Magic: Disney Holidays at 8.
• Also at 8: HBO has the 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert.
• At 9, Showtime has a new Dexter, followed by a new Californication.
• At 10, Nickelodeon has a new Glenn Martin, DDS.
• At 12:30AM, Cartoon Network has a new Metalocalypse.

Check your local TV listings for more.

Filed under: Programming, What To Watch Tonight, Reality-Free

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I’ve been trying to decide whether House and Cuddy will — or should — eventually end up together on House, M.D. In last week’s episode, Cuddy invited House to Thanksgiving dinner and he showed up at the address only to find an empty house. Cuddy was enjoying Thanksgiving dinner elsewhere. It seemed like a cruel trick to play on someone, even House.

So, being House, he broke into her place and had a little one on one with Lucas, in which the cranky doc revealed that he loved Cuddy. Things ended with Lucas telling Cuddy that perhaps House really had changed, and Cuddy pondering that idea as if to say, hmmm, if he’s changed, maybe I DO want to be with him.

In one way, I can’t imagine that the producers would ever have a happily-ever-after with these two. There’s a lot of water under the bridge, a lot of hurt feelings, and neither one of them is a particularly happy person. On the other hand, why not? He seems to want to be with her, and it’s clear she’s pondering the idea (even if she says she’s done with him). There are definitely plenty of sparks there.

Do you want House and Cuddy to end up together? Do you think they could have a happy ending?

Filed under: OpEd, House, Reality-Free

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I finished watching The Prisoner this week, and while I had to watch the final episodes a few times, I think I sort of get it. As I mentioned in my post a couple of weeks ago, I haven’t seen the original 1960s series, so I’m just basing my thoughts on the current version that just aired on AMC. I’m guessing they’ll air the series again sometime soon.

First of all, I was riveted to the series from start to finish. Not only are the characters and storyline intriguing and mysterious, but the musical score by Rupert Gregso-Williams is phenomenal. So hypnotic and evocative. More of my thoughts on The Prisoner — including possible spoilers — after the jump.

Continue reading Jane After Dark: Pondering The Prisoner

Filed under: Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, OpEd, Video, Reality-Free, Jane After Dark

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I’m the perfect Criss Angel Mindfreak viewer, because I have no idea how he does all those stunts and tricks. I’d like to, though!

And while Criss seems just plain freaky, he’s always the perfect gentleman when dealing with people. Except for times when he does something completely freaky and you’d think the people involved would have a heart attack.

In one episode, I watched a guy who seemed like he was actually having his head cut off by a guillotine. It seemed so real, because Criss was running around telling people to call 911 and whatnot, and the guy’s wife was nearly having a stroke. Unless they were in on it, that was way too cruel a trick to play on anyone.

In this clip from our sister site SlashControl, Criss trains with champion aerialist and world record jump holder Trigger Gunn to jump a 60-foot long, 20-foot high ramp at 50 mph. Apparently, Criss is a longtime fan of motorcycle jump legend Evel Knieval.

Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Programming, OpEd, Video

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Welcome to the holidays, y’all! I think the last couple of weeks of November are my favorite time of the year for TV. Sweeps are almost over, and the Super Dramatic Action Episodes give way to the lets-just-have-fun-cuz-no-ones-watching episodes. It’s like dessert after the big meal. If the preview is any indication, this week’s episode may bring us some action turkey and some pumpkin pie fun to chase it down. Grab your forks and let’s dig in!

I’m ready for something Very Special.

Samuel’s watching Pa Suresh’s film projected on the ugly wallpaper inside his trailer. Robert Knepper is doing his best Evil Genius impersonation. I bet Michael Emerson calls him up all the time to gloat about winning the Best Bad Guy Emmy last year. Wannaben Linus is interrupted by Hiro banging on the trailer door bugging him about Charlie for the 14th time. T-Sam turns off the crazy like a light switch and tells Hiro to take a hike. Hiro puts a hand on T-Sam’s shoulder, which is probably as close to throwing a punch as a guy like Hiro can get. T-Sam calls Hiro’s bluff and sends him off to set the table with the womenfolk.

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I think I’m going to coin a new term. I’m a movie grazer. I like watching TV and grazing in and out of movies that I’ve seen before, know well, and enjoy watching again in bits and pieces. I know this sounds crazy to some who have to watch a movie from the opening studio logo to the end credits (even as they’re being smushed on commercial TV broadcasts).

I’m not like that, though. On Friday, amid the post-Thanksgiving haze and without much interest in the college football games or reruns of CBS soaps or syndicated fare, I was channel surfing. Every time I saw something I liked, I stopped for a while. It was mostly movies. I watch Cary Grant and Sophia Loren in Houseboat, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle, there was a whole bunch of Goodfellas, because Bravo showed it back to back. So I watched the ending first, then stuck around to watch the beginning. What an incredible movie — still!

Continue reading My channel surfing turned into movie grazing

Filed under: OpEd, Video, Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free

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Here’s something for the Star Trek geek on your Christmas list: cookies in the form of various Enterprise uniforms! You have the orange shirt (Kirk), the blue shirt (Spock), and the red shirts (away team extra and other crew). You can also get Starfleet badges.

Geeky Cookies also has other, well, geeky cookies, including Pac-Man, Super Mario Brothers, power buttons, and Pokemon.

Filed under: Web, Reality-Free, Star Trek: Original Series

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Michael Ausiello has posted on EW.com some first pictures of the Justice Society appearance in Smallville. A photo of Hawkman had already been released which admittedly I thought was a gag. Now we have another photo of Hawkman laying the smack down on Green Arrow and a picture of Doctor Fate and Stargirl to boot.

Once again Geoff Johns shows his subject matter expertise. In the comics, Hawkman had conservative tendencies while Green Arrow had liberal ones, so they tended to not get along unless a supervillain showed up when they would team up to stop him or her.

These sort of costumes are a step away from the “no tights no flights” rule that was there since the beginning of Smallville. Perhaps their appearance is marking a policy change for the show. Of course, once Clark puts on the cape and takes flight, the show is pretty much done.

Filed under: OpEd, Smallville, Reality-Free

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