It will never run out...

Ever wonder what TV will be like 10 years from now? In the advent of streaming, torrents, Youtube and millions like it sprouting everywhere, would conventional TV viewing still exist in the next decade? Would established productions keep developing new shows, year after year?

From the way things look, and from this recent list of upcoming TV shows, we may never run out of something interesting to watch. And of course, for someone like me, that should be a good thing!

Here below are some more TV shows we can look forward to in the next twelve months. . .

DASH 4CASH
The CW
It is a comedy; a behind the scenes look at a racing Reality TV Series.
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Brianna Brown (Noelle), Johann Urb (Rick), Jonathan Chase (Michael), Jud Tylor (Dottie), Kevin Christy (Ronnie), Kyle Bornheimer (Nick), Rick Hall (Calvin)

I guess this show is inspired The Amazing Race?

Speaking of The Amazing Race, Oprah teams up with its creators to mount her own Reality TV show:

OPRAH's THE BIG GIVE
ABC
"10 people are handed money and resources and then challenged to find dramatic and emotional ways to use them to help others."
Commitment: Ordered to series, with 8 episodes

It's Amazing Race meets Pay It Forward.


1321 CLOVER
CBS
"A documentary-style comedy about a typical suburban family"
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Amanda Detmer (Sharon), Logan Grove (Tyler), Paul F. Thompkins (Rob)

Hmmm. . . sounds like I've already seen something like this before.


I'M IN HELL
CBS
"A comedy about a high-flying Wall Street guy (Jason Biggs) who dies in a Blackberry-related car crash only to be sent back stripped of his career, his fancy apartment and the fabulous trappings of his former existence."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Jason Biggs (Nick)

American Pie guy does TV now?


THE HILL
ABC
"A comedy about an aide (Eric Christian Olsen) to a Democratic senator who falls for the daughter (Michelle Trachtenberg) of his boss' arch enemy (Moses)."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Eric Christian Olsen (Matt O'Brien), Mark Moses, Michelle Trachtenberg (Maggie Rogers), Smith Cho, Wendie Malick (Bryce Lowell)


Shows that have been ordered to pilot does not guarantee we see many of these survive the season. 4 out of 10 new TV shows fail to make their full season run. And by the second year, half of those who've survived their first year, are dropped from the grid altogether.

For more news on TV Shows in Development, check my earlier posts here, here and here.

In other news...they're slated to come back for one more year!

Fox Broadcasting confirms these shows will return next season:

House MD, Season 4

HOUSE is the No. 1 drama on FOX as well as the No. 3 scripted series on all networks in Adults 18-49, and the No. 2 scripted series on all networks in Adults 18-34 and Teens. The series Jan. 30 episode was the highest-rated scripted telecast of the 06/07 season on any network among Adults 18-49 and the highest-rated scripted telecast on any network in nearly a year.

Prison Break, Season 3

FOX has picked up a third season of the hit drama PRISON BREAK. The action-packed series stars Dominic Purcell and Wentworth Miller as on-the-lam brothers Lincoln Burrows and Michael Scofield, who plotted and executed an elaborate escape from a maximum-security prison after Lincoln was framed for a sensational murder. PRISON BREAK ranks No. 1 in its time period among key demos, including Adults 18-34, Teens, Women 18-34 and Men 18-49/18-34, and ranks No. 2 among Adults 18-49.

No word yet on a 24 Season 7.

News on other returning shows may be found here.

And last but not least, watch for these shows premiering in the next couple of weeks:

The Tudors, Season 1 (April 1)
The Shield, Season 6 (April 3)
The Sopranos, Season 6 (April 8)
Thank God You're Here, Season 1 (April 9)
Notes From the Underbelly, Season 1 (April 12)
Drive, Season 1 (April 15)

TV Round-Up

I'd like to start of by saying --- How I hate 2007! >:( I knew at the beginning of this year that it won't be a very good year for me. And the first quarter, which ends tomorrow, is proof of that. Without getting into too many details, coz 1) it's boring, 2) I'm starting to get other readers other than you two :) that I'm now wary of "sharing too much" (and yet I keep a blog! Ha! The irony!) :P

Anyway, moving on... I don't know whether its fate or because I expected this year to be bad (and so I'm attracting all these negativity), the fact of the matter is, I have not been getting really good breaks. For the last ten years, I've lived by this principle of allowing "things to fall where they may" and it worked for awhile. But look where I am now, where it got me.

In limbo.

Unsecured, vulnerable, verging on desperate.

I have to turn my luck around. I have to learn to think positive and attract positive energy. I have to do away with worries and instead hope for the best. I have to put in my head that my troubles are the least bit problematic compared to the rest of the world.

I'll start doing that the day after tomorrow. Haha! Why until then? Coz it makes sense to start something new on April 1st ---- it's a new week, a new month, a new quarter, new opportunities, yes? So, I have until tomorrow to sulk and feel bad. Sunday will hopefully bring the new me. (I hope!)

Anyway, talking about TV this time. What have I been watching the last few weeks since my last entry? Not too many actually. Much of my time has been on Pinoy Big Brother. Yes, that show again! :D I never miss it. Don't ask me to explain (in defense hehe) why I am so into this one. It's something I'm not even ashamed to admit, despite my own family's obvious dislike of the show. Between the hours of 10PM-11PM not one member in my family will be able to get a decent conversation from me because I'm glued to it. They would often catch me crying when I watch an emotional moment unfold inside the house. And I would often hear them saying: "Mommy, ang baduy mo!" like it's the worst thing in the world. Queber. I have, however, foregone subscribing to the live feeds. Big Brother puts the HMs to task, I am also putting myself in one --- to see how much I can resist it. So far, so good. Hooray for me. :) Photo courtesy of this site

I think part of the reason why I like this show very much is because I get to practice being a quack psychologist. Because back in the day, I would've been one had my parents not told me there is no money in psychology especially in this country (that was in 1990). Now 17 years later, with my father going into therapy (he has what Tony Soprano experiences --- panic attacks) and with these stressful times we live in, I can't help but think that.... damn I should have just went with my first choice and persisted with this in college. Anyway, I can't turn back time now, can't I? Today, I just put to practice behavior principles on my son. And also a few other people who have no idea what I'm doing to them. Sssshhhh.

A couple of months back, there was this big buzz about Jennifer Aniston guest appearing in Courtney Cox's TV Show Dirt. The news went on to say that these two friends were supposedly sharing an intimate kiss in the show and naturally, that created quite a stir. Monica and Rachel were going to kiss! I have not been watching Dirt dutifully because to be honest, I just don't get it and I just don't buy CC's acting power here. But I did wait for this episode and see the kiss for myself.

Frankly... it was just... much ado about nothing. That was it?? Color me disappointed. But, on the brighter side, I'm glad to see JA back on TV, even for just this show. Clearly between the two friends, she is the better actress.

After 10 episodes Rome Season 2 has ended last Sunday, with my favorite character leaving a mark with me for delivering the most touching scene. In this photo, we have Atia, mother of Rome's ruler Gaius Octavius Caesar, trying to hide how much she is mourning the death of her lover Mark Anthony (Octavius' enemy). There were no words said, just eyes speaking. It was very moving.

It's just too bad this is Rome's final season, when a show like this should have served as an equalizer to all those other trashy shows I watch :D. HBO has deemed to cancel the series after 2 seasons. But then, in place of it, is another series I should look forward to --- A Song of Fire & Ice. I'm optimistic it will be another good HBO offering.

And in American Idol....

What in Flock of Seagulls name was this look?



And have you seen this?


Video uploaded by kimmelscorner

He might actually win this thing though. And what a waste it would be for the likes of Melinda, Blake, Jordin and Lakisha, if Sanjaya ends up being the 7th American Idol. Although, I pity the kid. He's got so many detractors. And all he wants is just to sing. It must take a lot of courage to be in that stage week after week, wondering what people are gonna say next.

You joined the show to early, kid. You should have been riped five years from now. Anyway, Chris "Hurley" Sligh was voted off. And I'm losing interest with this season.

Finally, I will end this entry with a scene from this week's House...Guess who got caught without his shirt on? Whoohooo!



Okay, we've got doctors with relationship angles in the story lines now. But based on this week's episode and the many times I've laughed, this show is far from getting all Grey's Anatomy like. House still got it.

Ch ch ch changes...

Incidentally, ch ch ch changes was the title of Friday Night Light's previous episode. But that's not what this entry is about, although I would recommend you watch FNL already. Please. It's really a good, good, good TV show.

Anyway, I'm embarking on something new in the next few weeks. This would mean I might not able to do what I planned to do come Holy Week (watch my backlogs of 24, Lost and Prison Break). It would also mean I won't get to surf a lot and find TV scoops, or actually get to watch a lot of TV.

Well, we'll see... when things normalize, and I will be able to manage a routine, I might just get things back in order.

Good luck to me! :)

They'll be back...

ABC Network has just confirmed that these shows are coming back for the 2007-2008 Season, in a press release given to all TV News agencies:

ABC Television Network today announced fourteen early pick-ups for the 2007-08 season for new breakout series "Brothers & Sisters," "Ugly Betty" and "MEN IN TREES," as well as returning hits "The Bachelor," "Boston Legal," "Dancing with the Stars," "Desperate Housewives," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," "Grey's Anatomy," "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and "Lost." The announcement was made by ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson at the March Development Meeting in Los Angeles. These series join previously announced "America's Funniest Home Videos," "Supernanny" and "Wife Swap," which have also been renewed for the 2007-08 season.

"We have had a strong year, with two of the season's breakout hits, Ugly Betty' and Brothers & Sisters,' and the solid performance of MEN IN TREES,'" said McPherson. "We are pleased that viewers have invested in these new favorites along with our other returning series. These shows provide us with a substantial foundation to make 07-08 our best schedule yet."

Brothers and Sisters, Season 2

In this compelling drama about the Walker family, we meet a collection of intertwined and somewhat damaged adult siblings who embrace one another unconditionally while striving to reflect the perceived perfection of their role model parents. In the days ahead, they will navigate waves of temptation, deception and grief.

"Brothers & Sisters" leads its CBS drama competition ("Without a Trace"/"Cold Case") in Sunday's 10 o'clock hour this season among adults (18-34/18-49), and dominates its time period with each of the key women demos. The freshman drama stands as the No. 2 new series on any network in its hour this season with Adults 18-49, behind only ABC's high-rated debut of "October Road".

Lost, Season 4

The band of friends, enemies and strangers continue to work together to stay alive. But as they have discovered during their 70-plus days on the island, danger and mystery loom behind every corner, and those they thought could be trusted may turn against them. Even heroes have secrets.

For the third consecutive season, "Lost" ranks No. 1 in its time period in Adults 18-49. It is Wednesday's highest-rated scripted TV program in Adults 18-49, and since entering the hour also qualifies as the No. 1 10:00 p.m. series on any network.

Ugly Betty, Season 2

The award winning drama from ABC Television Studio, based on the Columbian telenovela "Yo Soy Betty La Fea," has become an international phenomenon. If you took a moment to get to know Betty Suarez, you'd see how sweet, intelligent and hard-working she is. But few people do, because in the world of high fashion, Betty is the oversized peg in the petite round hole.

The freshman "Ugly Betty" has established itself a competitive second to CBS' time period veteran, "Survivor," in Total Viewers, while ranking No. 1 with its core audience of Women 18-34. It has substantially improved the time period, representing ABC's top scripted series in the hour in 12 years.

Grey's Anatomy, Season 4

The award-winning drama follows the interconnecting relationships of Seattle's hottest doctors who live life to its fullest amid the daily life-and-death stakes of their jobs. It's the drama and intensity of medical training mixed with the funny, sexy, painful lives of interns who are discovering that neither medicine nor relationships can be defined in black and white. Real life only comes in shades of grey.

"Grey's Anatomy" has established a strong presence on Thursday night, winning its 9 o'clock time period and qualifying as Thursday's No. 1 TV show across each of the adult demographics. It's the highest-rated scripted show on all of television this season with key adults.

I'm happiest with Bros & Sis being picked up! Yey!

And is this entry colorful, or what? :D

Some things aren't fine

- I have very little to be happy about these days. But my woes are also too insignificant if I compare it to others. So, will not dwell on it except to say that --- at the start of the year, I have been dreading 2007 because I felt it wasn't gonna be a good year. And the 3rd month is almost over, my bad luck has not changed. Haaay. Things come to pass, I know. My new mantra should be: it will soon be over, it will soon be over, it will soon be over.

- Watched The Wedding Bell's second episode. I'm sticking around for Teri Polo, who I think deserves to stay on TV longer. She had a really promising TV Show in 2003 called I'm With Her, a premise ala-Notting Hill but was inspired by Brooke Shield's life. It was canceled abruptly, leaving loose ends. And I'm thinking The Wedding Bells will end the same way. The 2nd episode was all David Kelly. It was about a couple convincing people around them, the bride's dad especially, that they were indeed a real couple in love and would like to get married each other. Why people wonder about them is because the guy acts gay (wears something feathery around his neck, loves purple, is surrounded by drag queen friends) but claims he isn't. It reminded me a lot of an Ally McBeal episode, even down to the dancing bit.

- Watched Babel, Brad Pitt's movie. I think it's the only movie of Alejandro González Iñárritu's that I've appreciated. For all its complex story telling, the message is actually just really simple: understanding each other, despite communication and cultural barriers. Great movie.

Okay... am off to immense myself in work, the real kind, the kind that pays the bills.

Ohh, men. LOL!

Can I just sing it?

What a man, what a man, what a man
What a mighty good man

Was inspired to make a short video, dammit, LOL! This movie draws me in. Now I'm dreaming of Spartans.



Wheee!

Raines

Conventional

• Crime procedural drama, what else?
• The main character is scornful and sarcastic, sounds familiar?
  

Unconventional

• The main character solves crimes with the help of his hallucinations, which usually involve the victims. Yes, he can see dead people. And no, he's not a medium nor a psychic, not even a fake psychic. He is just eccentric.
  

The mood to this show is dreary, perhaps to match the eccentricities of its character. The series is more plot centered, rather than character-centered (ala House), for now at least.

I am not sure I would like to stick around for this one, I have not made my decision. Watching too many crime-dramas as much as I can, I was expecting Raines to be a notch different. But somehow with its first offering, it appeared just like a blur among all those crime shows I keep tabs on. Was not too blown away to care.

Raines
Season 1
Original airing: March 15, 2007 (regular episodes will run on Fridays after the premiere)
Network: NBC

Andy Barker, PI

In a nutshell Andy Barker, PI is the story of...

an accountantwho reluctantly becomes a private investigator after he occupies an office formerly used by a P.I.
--- Wikipedia

Upside:

• Reminds me of Arrested Development & The Office
• Producer/Writer Conan O'Brien therefore, has more of Conan's comic orientation
• Andy Richter fits the character of an accountant/accidental private investigator
• Tony Hale!
  

Downside:

• Not many people will get the comedy, therefore --- no mass appeal

The first episode, which premiered this week, focused on the development of the story rather than the comedy. It could have left viewers bored since there was little to laugh about. However, the succeeding episodes promise to get better and funnier, based on press releases.

Yeah, I'm sticking around for that.


Andy Barker, P.I.
Season 1
Original Airing: March 15, 2007
Network: NBC

What's up ahead...

... a look at upcoming TV shows next season.

'06-'07 Season is almost over. And as I write this, new TV shows are currently taping, seeking cast members, retooling their stories, etc. etc. for the '07-'08 TV Season (which begins in Sept '07).

Here are some of those we can all look forward to come third quarter this year:

THE BIONIC WOMAN
NBC
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Mae Whitman (Becca Sommers), Michelle Ryan (Jaime Sommers), Molly Price (Ruth Treadwell), Will Yun Lee (Jae Kim)

I distinctly remember its 1970's version.

CHUCK
NBC
It is about "about a computer geek who becomes an unlikely agent after a database of government secrets is downloaded into his brain."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Adam Baldwin (John), Joshua Gomez (Morgan), Natalie Martinez (Kayla), Sarah Lancaster (Ellie), Yvonne Strzechowski (Sarah), Zachary Levi (Chuck)
Director: McG

McG? Action-packed!

NICE GIRLS DON'T GET THE CORNER OFFICE
ABC
It is about "nice girl trying to make it in the corporate world."
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Caroline Chikezie (Rachel), Flex Alexander (Eric), Gregory Itzin (Gary Stone), Jayma Mays (Angela), Kathryn Hahn (Price), Matthew Morrison (Brody)

The synopsis seems unexciting. But hey, they have Gregory Itzin!

THE RICH INNER LIFE OF PENELOPE CLOUD
CBS
It is about a brilliant, opinionated writer
Commitment: Ordered to pilot
Cast: Cynthia Watros (Eva), Erick Avari (Dr. Hakim), Marisa Tomei (Penelope Cloud), Nick D'Agosto (Ivy)

So, this is what's keeping Marisa Tomei busy.

For more news on TV Shows in Development, check my earlier posts here and here.

The Riches

The Riches is a show I happen to only read up on earlier this week and was quite intrigued about it. I'm no Eddie Izzard fan, but something tells me I will be very soon. :) I'm too exhausted to write anything extensive about the show, so I'll cheat and keep this entry centered on what others think about it. Coz they mirror what I think, too. :)

TV Blend writes:

When a new show premieres on FX, chances are it's going to be pretty damned good. Even the less-than-stellar shows are more daring, creative, and entertaining than most of what you might see on a broadcast or basic cable network. And The Riches is no exception; in fact, it is one of the most well-done new shows of the year. The pilot, which aired earlier tonight, was nearly as riveting as that of The Nine, wich was almost universally lauded before the fall season started. But unlike The Nine, The Riches knows where it's going. And it looks like it's going to be a pretty fun ride.

The New York Times writes:

But The Riches has a voice and peculiar style all its own, the comedy always offset by a lurking sense of sadness and menace. The Malloys are Travelers, Gypsy-like nomads who in the United States, most often in the South, live in tight, hierarchical communities. Many survive on thievery and petty scams. After a dispute with the would-be head of their clan, the Malloys steal the community bank and run away. More through bad luck than serendipity, they assume the identity of a dead couple, Doug and Cherien Rich, and masquerade as a lawyer and a homemaker with three children in private school. The Riches is that rare thing, a dark, sophisticated series that speaks to our most childlike natures. Just as little boys and girls dress up as the Little Mermaid or pretend they are enrolled at Hogwarts, the Malloys tempt even stand-up adults to assume a new identity and live it to the fullest — on someone else’s MasterCard.

CNN article:

Reveling in that uneasy feeling has become the signature of the FX brand, where audiences have found themselves rooting for the unsavory leads in shows like "The Shield," "Rescue Me" and "Nip/Tuck." "Our network is about rebellion, it's about risk taking, it's about the notion of refusing to be constrained," says president and general manager John Landgraf. "And I have to say you won't find characters, you won't find stories, you won't find a tone that's like THIS show."

The Riches
Season 1
Original Airing: March 12, 2007
Network: FX

Summer TV

A good news came in the mail yesterday morning from SkyCable ---- we're finally going to have a new channel by April 1: ETC 2nd Ave! Whoohooo! Other subscribers have been enjoying this one since last year. But since we live in what is technically a province outside Metro Manila, our cable provider, the biggest one in the metro, operates differently.

So that's one thing I shall look forward to. :)

Catch these shows on cable too, some have actually premiered this week:

How I Met Your Mother
ETC - Mondays 830 PM

Jericho
Crime/Suspense - Mondays 10 PM

Heroes
RPN 9 - Sundays 8 PM

30 Rock
Star World - Thurs 9 PM

Prison Break
Star World - (Season 1) Tues 9 PM
Crime/Suspense - (Season 2) Thurs 10 PM

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
ETC 2nd Ave - Tues 9 PM

Unanimous
ETC 2nd Ave - Tues 8 PM

The L Word
ETC 2nd Ave - Thurs 9 PM

Le Femme Nikita
Crime/Suspense - M-F 5 PM

Vanished
Studio 23 - Mon 9 PM

Justice
Studio 23 - Thurs 8 PM

It's summer! We're reading the Bible

Today is my son's last day of school. Tomorrow officially marks summer for us in this household. Tomorrow, I shall wake up rather late than my usual 430am, hooray! But starting tomorrow, I'll have my boy on my back the whole day...the whole summer. Nyikes. There are no official summer activities lined up. No basketball clinics, no swimming or things like that. This year, my son vows to play video games all summer long. :D And I expect him to be bugging me every hour. There is a possibility of a short out of town trip. Dad, my husband, will be out of the house/town most of the time but if we don't tag along, it's pretty much just the boy and myself in the house.

But there's one thing I intend to do with my son on this long vacation. This may be out of the ordinary and if my friends find out about it, I'm sure they're going to have this astonished look on their faces: My son and I are going study the bible together. I am not being blasphemous, it's not joke. We started last night, 5 stories. And I made a pact with him, we'll read 5 stories each night.

We were watching The Nativity Story on DVD earlier this week and I realized my son knows very little about stories from the Good Book compared to what I know when I was his age (Thanks to Superbook & Flying House! I kinda miss these shows...). It does not help that he attends a non-sectarian school while I, in my younger years, attended one run by nuns. (In fact, the running joke in those days was that we had been praying too much, surely our souls would be going beyond heaven! Lampas na kami sa langit!)

Anyways...yep, Bible study. This isn't probably fun for a 9 year old. But I really think we have to. Problem is, I can't tell a really good story, so God help me (no, really, God help me please!). The stories from the Bible are beautiful but I'm sure my son's mind will be wandering off after story #3 therefore, I have to do my best to hold his interest. It sure would help if there were copies of Superbook and Flying House on DVD. Know where I can get them? :)

Eeeeep!

I interrupt the program for some stupid musings on social networking.

What if you've discovered the social networking account of an old friend, an ex-friend (alright, ex-boyfriend!) and saw that, short of adding your own profile to his friends list (because he can't, you have not approved his request), he has about four people who has the same name as yours in his list (and it's not a very common name, I would think!)? Like, if your real name is Proclepia (bantot, sorry...I was going for "uncommon" haha) and he has about four Proclepias on his; yours is just the one that's missing.

The likes of Friendster, Multiply, Myspace --- social networking websites --- are cyber tools intended for people to connect; find new friends, old friends. But you've probably heard of countless stories of ex-relationships, ties that should've been over aeons ago, “rekindled” in some way on cyberspace. Old, buried memories, emotional wounds you have tried your best to get over, creep into your consciousness just because you see a photo, a profile, a text… or worse, a private message from that person trying to contact you.

I would’ve thought I was careful to keep my profile really private. I am not a fan of keeping in touch with people I’ve evicted out of my life (who is?). But who am I fooling? This is the internet, no one stays anonymous for very long. You always get “discovered”.

And so, it was bound to happen, fool. That was the idea of social networking; this whole concept of Kevin Bacon’s Six Degrees.

I am pretty sure the Proclepias aren't his real friends. I mean, c'mon, what are the chances you know four Proclepias in your lifetime?

And I don’t know if that bothers me. Alright, maybe it does… or else I wouldn’t be writing about it. The real question I should be asking is: should I bother to bother? I should note though that flattery was not the first word that came to mind when I saw it. Far from it, “Eeeep!” was more like the first thing I thought.

You know, you try your very best to get closure. But after 11 years, I’ve come to realize that this will never be possible.

Whether people admit it or not, you will always wonder what is up with that other person, even if it’s just a passing thought you’re bound to disregard seconds later. And in this case, I am left to wonder what he must be thinking at that moment, gathering all those who carry the same name as mine in his list (and it is not my common name!).

You will always wonder.

Why are ex-relationships so hard to flush? Why must there always be memory baggage?

The Wedding Bells

David E. Kelly has lost his touch. That's not breaking news, it should be a very well known fact by now. But this latest drama (or comedy, I don't know what exactly) just confirms it even more.

The Wedding Bells is about three sister named Jane Bell, Annie Bell and Sarah Bell (yes, you can laugh now!) and they run The Wedding Palace, which is like a one-stop shop for anything related to weddings. (Cool business idea!)

Jane is the OC sister, the organizer who even plans the exact time she should have sex with her husband.

Annie is sister ice-queen, who doesn't show an ounce of emotion, especially not when her ex, the wedding photographer, is around.

Sammy is the youngest, the carefree one, who, for fun, has one night stands with best men at The Wedding Palace's staff room.

Sounds cliche? You betcha!

The pilot episode tells how the sisters and their band of wedding people deal with Bridezilla (played by Missy Pyle). It left me unamused or unsympathetic. There's no heart to this episode, I'm afraid. It wasn't easy watching the show. And that's too bad because I like Teri Polo (Jane Bell) lots.

Nicholle Tom
(girl on right, in this photo) appears as another bride-to-be gate crashing Bridezilla's wedding/wedding preparations. You might remember her as the eldest daughter in The Nanny. Or the eldest daughter in the movie, Beethoven. I look at her in this photo with astonishment and disbelief.

Which is the astonishment and disbelief I feel for this show in general.



The Wedding Bells
Season 1 Episode 1 - For Whom The Bells Toll
Original Airing: March 7, 2006
Network: Fox

The Winner

Incidentally, I also bothered to check Fox's newest comedy, The Winner and immediately wished I didn't bother. This was really bad. Everything from the laugh tracks to the "narration" (how many shows have this now?) to the comedy and the acting was appalling. How they chose to call this show The Winner is misleading. From the way the pilot episode went, it is not gonna win lots of viewers.


The Winner
Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
Original Airing: March 4, 2006
Network: Fox

Kwento kwento

- Want so badly to watch Frank Miller's 300 in the movie house this time. This is the type of movie better appreciated on the big screen and I've been waiting for this since last year.

- Trying my best to resist subscribing to Pinoy Big Brother's live feeds. Now that there are plenty of them in the house, personalities are coming out and are clashing. This seems to be the perfect time to get feeds. But watching it takes a chunk of my time, I'm afraid I might not really be able to do anything. I am quite disappointed though that there's no housemate older than 26. Why is that? They don't find 30somethings interesting anymore?

- What about tonight's American Idol, huh? Ladies night = best night, as always. Paula Abdul sounded sober. Even her hair is tame.

- I couldn't get through Black Donnellys second episode this week. I've tried watching three times, I fell asleep every time. The pilot was very promising, sadly the follow-up wasn't. Or this could be the result of this burnout I'm feeling. (see post earlier)

- I changed my Who's Viewed Profile at Friendster to non-anonymous. And instantly... hah! I caught someone looking at my profile! Someone who shouldn't be looking in the first place. :P

- Got another childhood photo from a friend of mine there (Friendster). She's been diligently digging up old photos. Dumarami tuloy ang pang blackmail sa akin. :D Look it:



That's me, encircled in blue. I think I'm the smallest 4 year old at that party. Ako naman ang laging pinaka-maliit eh! :P But look, see that face? That aura? Mukhang mabait na bata no? Hehehe.

Threshold (not the TV Show)

...because I've yet to really sit down and watch that.

I think I've reached a threshold for watching too much TV this past weeks. Like bad food, everything seems highly synthetic or lacking in flavor that it feels nothing is good enough for me now. Lately, to borrow Randy Jackson's dafty line on American Idol --- I'm not WOWed enough anymore.

It could be because of so many things:

TV related --- 1) the 10 days I wasn't able to go online seems to have broken my momentum; 2) TV shows are going on hiatus here and there; 3) I could be giving priority to the wrong series, having decided I'll delay watching 24, Prison Break and Lost to maybe Holy Week. Of course, this results to a less adrenalin-pumping TV viewing, which means my nerves are calmer, but may also mean I get very little excitement since there's little to cheer or veer about.

Non TV-related --- which I won't mention, it's not interesting.

Maybe I'm having a TV burnout. Yes, maybe that's what it is. Now is perhaps the time to get back to my seasonal reading (coz I only read books like one particular time every four months or so hee!). After all, my brain has had enough junkfood, eh?

Or I could be one of those viewers Tim Kring (creator of Heroes) was describing in an interview the other week; the kind of "very fickle audience that can get swayed by anything shiny and new," he says. And in my case, the season's not even done yet and already, I'm looking for new shows to watch. (Ohh, I read Raines is pretty different!)

Whatever it is, there's a part of me that does not like to watch the shows I'm watching right now.

That's a first.

Shorts

Heroes: I'm almost getting confused about this show. I mean, it's hard to keep track with lots of characters. It feels like Lost all over again.

Long hiatus. *sigh*

American Idol: Last night was booooooooooooooooring! That was a waste of one hour. Only saving grace --- Sanjaya's 30 second hula dance. Wowee, babeeey! That was funny!

Rome: everyone's having sex. That is all.

Forgetting my routine

HIMYM (How I Met Your Mother) premiered on ETC last Monday at 8:30. I missed it, which isn't so bad, I was able to watch the show last year; but have forgotten parts of it.... which is why I appreciate torrents!

I missed a lot of shows the previous week. Had relatives over and couldn't really get into my routine of cable TV watching.

Let's see now...

Mondays
Battlestar Galactica 8 PM channel surf to
HIMYM 830 PM
The Amazing Race at 9 PM if I miss the morning broadcast
PBB at 10ish
Leno and Conan

Tuesdays
Standoff 9PM
PBB at 10ish
Leno and Conan

Wednesdays
American Idol at 6 PM if I miss that I tune to it at 8
Project Runway at 10 PM channel surf to
PBB at 10ish
Leno and Conan

Thursdays
American Idol at 6 PM if I miss that I tune to it at 8
Psych at 8 PM
PBB at 10ish
Leno and Conan

Fridays
American Idol skip results show, just check on the net
Arrested Development at 9 PM channel surf to
Without A Trace at 9 PM
PBB at 10ish
Leno and Conan

Saturdays
Watch replays of shows I've missed on cable

Sundays
Watch replays of shows I've missed on cable
Criminal Minds at 9 PM

Ugh. I tell you what, this list keeping used to be verrrrrrrrrrrrrry easy when I was 7 years old and I only had to keep tabs on 2 channels. :D

Exhibit A

Bwaha! This is a photo shared to me by a childhood friend via friendster.

That's me on the right. I was four years old at that time. My friend, who's the cute little girl on the left, said we were two years old. The old guy in the middle is her older brother, my godfather, my father's best friend.

This was taken between 1975-76.

My friend grew up to become a tall and famous local beauty queen, who bore two beautiful and intelligent boys and went on to become a bank executive; but is now enjoying the quiet life in a little province in the south.

I grew up to become a couch potato. :D

Thought I'd maybe send this out to the world, as an after thought. I have been told on quite a few occasions that people are curious to see how I look. I do not have any photos online. Except for this.

Just work with your imagination. Hehehe!

My new favorite actress...

...would be Connie Britton.

I know this is a bit late, but I just saw one of Friday Night Light's recent episodes and was so impressed by the actors' calibre. Here's what I'm talking about:



As a mother, I would say this is exactly how I would react if I find out my child is thinking of having sex at 15.

My other favorite Connie Britton moment was in a scene with Tyra, her daughter's best friend:

Tyra: Thanks for helping me bring my mom home
Mrs. Taylor (Connie): You're welcome
Tyra: You can go home now, you don't have to have them cleaned
Mrs. Taylor: Well, I think someone's gonna have to help you here, honey
Tyra: Well, it's not gonna be you
Mrs. Taylor: Well, actually I think right now it's gonna be me
Tyra: You know, why don't you quit pretending that you actually give a damn about what happens to me and my family?
Mrs. Taylor: I do give a damn
Tyra: Oh please, you know I found out tonight you won't even let Julie hang-out with me, like I'm some kind of virus? So it's a little annoying when you come into my house and act superior, start cleaning up like you're some kind of friend of the family, coz you are not. So, you know what, you go take your precious little daughter and lock her away so bad people like me? We can't hurt her. Just go home!
Mrs. Taylor: Tyra...it's just that Julie's my girl. And she has never behaved like this before and I might have been blaming you for that, I mean you know, it could be that she's just growing up. And I thought that I would be prepared for all of that coz I'm her mother and I thought I could be prepared for whatever came down our way. Well, I tell you what, it feels like a big old freight train is heading right in my direction and I can't do a thing to stop it but I'm just trying. I'm just trying my hardest to stop it. So, I'm sorry Tyra.


Kudos too, to the writers of these episodes (Liz Heldens & Kerry Ehrin) for having materials that would bring out the best in these actors. Those lines and their stories realistically encapsulate what every parent feels about their growing kids.

FNL is, without question, one of the best new dramas of the season. ;)

Friday Night Ligths
Season 1 Episode 17 - I Think We Should Have Sex
Season 1 Episode 18 - Extended Families
Original Airing: February 21 & 28, 2007
Network: NBC

The Black Donnellys

Mediocre...most reviews have said this of NBC's newest show, the mafia crime drama entitled The Black Donnellys. It is about how four Irish brothers became the crime lords of their neighborhood. Reading reviews would probably put off a lot of viewers, especially those who are expecting this show to be just as good as The Sopranos. (Tip: Do not expect anything!)

Well, I loved it. I loved the pilot episode. And I don't even enjoy Paul Haggis' movies but this, his latest work, is something else.

The mood will kind of remind you of many famous productions that came before it like The Godfather or maybe even Scorsese's recent hit, The Departed. And I guess to me, that became the plus point. Never mind the cliches, never mind that a few of them probably needs to improve on acting. I enjoyed how the story panned out. For a first offering, it's really not so bad.

The ending made my hair stand-up and it's not an exaggeration. It is very familiar (like I said, it will remind you of The Departed), but it gave me goosebumps nevertheless.



The Black Donnellys
Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
Original Airing: February 26, 2007
Network: NBC

Finally...

- Finally saw the last of the three-arc episode of Grey's Anatomy. With all the hype surrounding this show, I've now come to terms with the fact that what I thought was most promising series, since the departure from Friends on TV in 2003, is slowly losing its promise. The Addison spin-off doesn't seem to be a bad idea after all.

- Finally saw Music & Lyrics, which I've been wanting to watch since I saw the trailer last January. I did not expect anything from this movie, so there wasn't any reason to be disappointed. It was a fun movie, despite it's very, very simple plot. But I was pleasantly surprised to see Scott Porter (Jason of Friday Night Lights) here. He only had about 5 minutes of screen time, he played one of the has-been band mates.

Catching Up & Some Idol Thoughts

Even if I want to watch the TV episodes I've missed because I myself had an episode (haha!) recently, I couldn't.

I have a lot of catching up to do in areas where it should mean and matter most --- you know, the ones that bring in the money or the ones where I have to really work for because I am responsible for it (task, chores, work shit). I have to catch up on these. I even missed the shows I was supposed to be keeping tabs on via cable (missed Psych tonight and Standoff last Tues! Ugh!) because the other things I am responsible for have to take precedence over the bumming around and TV watching thing. Thank god for replays. :)

Anyway, I'm now resting in bed, watching the replay of American Idol (missed the first airing earlier. See? Tasks and work --- ruining my TV schedule!).

Some AI thoughts:

Gina Alone - I love the song (even if it reminds me of days when at around 9 or 10 years old, my dad would bring me to Shakey's and at that time, they had cheesy bands who had bad diction and were singing songs like Alone. Anyway...) Gina's performance was so-so. If she does make it to Top 12, all roads point to her not getting very far. I just can't see her shining.

Alaina Not Ready To Make Nice -I'm gonna do a Paula and say, " She's very pretty :)" because I can't say anything nice about her singing.

Lakisha Midnight Train to Georgia - Not as great as last week, but she has a sure spot in that Top 12. Might even land on Top 2, eh?

Melinda My Funny Valentine - Incredible, yes. Out of this world, not so sure.

Antonella Because You Love Me - Murderer! LOL! Ang sakit sa tenga!!!

Jordin Reflections - Nice, the song choice suited her. She's also sure to make it to Top 12.

Stephanie (I don't know the title of what she sang) - She belongs to the second tier, behind Melinda and Lakisha...and even Jordin, me thinks.

Leslie Feelin' Good - Attempted a Nina Simone song, I'd give her plus points for it. But I didn't like her performance, sorry.

Hayley Queen of The Night - Haha, karaoke-ish! I think I could sing like that.... in the confines of our living room :D

Sabrina All The Man I Need (is it?) - More Whitney. But I actually like this song :) She started okay, ended bad.

Ha. I think I wasn't easily pleased with tonight's show, save for one or two performances. The guys stepped up yesterday and tonight, the girls didn't. But they weren't half as bad as the guys last week. Hmmm...

Nighty nite.