Random TV Blurbs

There are a million of things I'm supposed to be watching yesterday. But I instead spent my time playing this on the computer with my 9year old and the hubby.

CivCity: Rome

We're a family of OCs (obsessive-compulsive) -- my husband, my son and myself. Can you imagine what our household is like? Power struggle. Yeah.

A game like this is something the three of us enjoy best. We're currently trying to build one civilization together. I don't have to bore you with the details of the game, but there's bloodbath and rebellion. And that's not even in game, it was among us three. Hah!

****

I happen to channel surf to Studio 23 while Gilmore Girls was on a couple of days ago. Don't have any idea what season was airing and I forgot how long it's been since I last watched an episode of the show.

The scene I caught was that of Rory returning home from London for the holidays. Lorelei meets her the front of the house and they engage in this exchange, this conversation.

Those girls talk a mile a minute (!!!) and here I was, a non-regular viewer caught in between --- annoyed yet amused. Have they always talked like that? Like two chatting crickets? (Do crickets "chat"? LOL!) I failed to notice it before. I found myself unable to switch channels because something was beckoning me to just watch them.

It was like watching a marathon. I wanted to see who gets to talk last and then breathe.

Also on Studio 23 later tonight, 9:30 PM --- Brothers & Sisters (the second episode). I'm gonna watch it again. This show is like therapy for me.

****

Experiencing Sopranos withdrawal. Found my fix in this series:

Brotherhood - The Complete First Season

Started with a couple of episodes earlier. Loving it. It's a lot more complex than Sopranos.

The Sopranos tried hard at keeping their family together and covering up each others' mess. In Brotherhood, it's quite the opposite and it's harder for one of the brothers since he is a government official, while his older brother is in the Irish Mafia.

*****

For viewing later today....if I don't get pulled into playing CivCity Rome!

• preview of Cane
• preview of Saving Grace
• The Job - The Complete Series on DVD. Finally!

*****

Still waiting for the Battlestar Galactica - Season One DVD to arrive. Watching clips on Youtube instead. Takam na ako!

[CivCity Rome], [Brotherhood], [Gilmore Girls], [Brothers & Sisters], [Battlestar Galactica]

Pushing Daisies Frenzy

I'm going all out with this one. I'd hate to think viewers will not be able to appreciate this show because it's "just too quirky". They should be able to appreciate it "inspite" being exactly that. C'mon people, go on edge, have a little variety with your TV viewing choices. Embrace the quirky! :)

The 411:
Pushing Daisies

• Airing on ABC - October 3, 2007 8 PM, Wednesday
• It will air before Private Practice which is at 9 PM.
• It's toughest rating competition is Deal or No Deal on NBC, a show that rates well with viewers.
  
• It is up against new TV shows --- Kid Nation on CBS and Back To You on Fox (which I'm looking forward to as well)
  
• The time slot used to carry Lost, which will not premiere until Feb. 2008.
  

Cast:

• Anna Friel as Charlotte "Chuck" Charles (British Actress)
  
• Chi McBride as Emerson Cod (House viewers will recognize him as Vogler; also a Boston Public cast member)
  
• Jim Dale as Narrator (who is the narrator for Harry Potter audio books)
• Kristin Chenoweth as Olive (theater actress)
  
• Lee Pace as Ned (from Wonderfalls)

Now, imagine for a minute that what I'm about to share next is as scrumptious looking as Ned's pies (as seen in photo), in the hopes of whetting your viewing appetite.

• Newsday picks Pushing Daises as one of the ten most buzzed about new shows of 2007 ---
  

5. "Pushing Daisies," ABC, Wednesdays at 8 p.m. One of the great over-the-top pilots of the new season, "Daisies" is so visually distinct, so curiously bizarre, so intermittently morbid that this could be the most talked-about show of the new season. Ned (Lee Pace) touches dead things and brings them back to life, and - one can imagine - the practical applications for this talent are enormous. Big stars also abound (Chi McBride, Swoosie Kurtz, Anna Friel).

• TV Critic Matt Roush pushes for Pushing Daisies ---
  

Now to Pushing Daisies and its entirely different, thoroughly unique look and vibe. Diving into this enchanting show is like gorging on a delicious dessert with each bite giving off a new and unexpected pleasure. It’s charmingly written by Bryan Fuller (Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls, Heroes) and stylishly directed by Barry Sonnenfeld (Men in Black), who promises to stay involved with this show longer than he did in his earlier forays into distinctive TV (Karen Sisco, Maximum Bob, The Tick). They achieve a tone that is part storybook fantasy (narrated by Jim Dale, every bit as engaging as he is on the Harry Potter audiobooks), part unrequited love story, part wacky comedy, part whodunit procedural.

• Daisies Lovefest at TV Week ---
  

Naturally some will question whether the premise can sustain itself, and others will wonder if viewers will embrace the series in sufficient numbers. Don’t care. It’s great TV and takes a risk.

• IGN: Life and Death with Pushing Daisies ---
  

Because the two leads have such a great chemistry, and yet cannot touch, the inevitable question came up of when will the audience actually see them kiss? Will we have to wait all the way to the end of the series? Fuller explained: "We're going to have a lot of fun with prophylactics, Saran wrap kisses. We're going to see them dancing in beekeeper suits. We're going to go a long way in doing everything we can to get them to touch each other that's not flesh to flesh. And I think if the show will end—hopefully, it will never end—but if it does end, it will probably end with a kiss."

Have I pimped this show enough? :D

My preview thoughts here.

[Pushing Daisies]

Things to expect from Lost Season 4

... as discussed at the ComicCon this week:

• The return of Michael.
• Jack learning Claire is his half-sister.
• The reappearance of Libby.
• More of who Ben/Henry really is and what his role is on the Island.
• More of Dharma.
  
• A flashback involving Danielle Rousseau (which could also be for Season 5).
  
• The final scene of Season 3 is not the end of the whole series. Lost is not about getting off the island.
• There is a Station 6 somewhere in the Island
  

Here's what was partly shown at the conference:


[Lost]

Cute and Crappy

2nd Viewing - Pushing Daisies: My pie-loving son, who is 9 years, 39 weeks, 79 days, x hours old (I stopped counting...) LOVED IT. If you watch the show ---airing in October in the USA, Canada & the UK --- you will understand the significance of what I just wrote. :) My son says the sunflower field was a tad too corny, but everything else about the series is cute. I asked him to rate it from 1-5, with 5 the highest and of course he gives it 5. This show will be a big hit, I dare say.

Speaking of cute...my niece (12-days old) and her parents left for the province already (to my sis-in-law's family). Kinda sad to see them gone, but what have I got to fret about....they will be back very, very soon for check-ups. I'm pretty sure that after three weeks, my niece will be bigger. In fact, in just 12 days she already gained weight and grew longer.

Speaking of sad...saw two more pilot episodes early today. One is dispensable and the other, forgettable:

• The Big Bang Theory - about 2 geeks who become friends with a female hottie. The laugh track bothered me. One of the geeks isn't as convincing. Bearable but nothing to be excited about.
  

• Cavemen - about 3 buddies who look like prehistoric cavemen but are living in the present times (genetic problem?). I do not get the appeal of this show, if there's any.
  

[Pushing Daisies], [Cavemen], [The Big Bang Theory]

Preview: Lipstick Jungle

Alright, this confirms it. I've outgrown Candace Bushnell.

This new TV series, Lipstick Jungle, which is based from Bushnell's book (written after SATC) is so far the worst I've seen from the previews of upcoming TV shows this fall season.

Lipstick Jungle follows three women, all with very demanding jobs and social status:

Victory (Lindsay Price)
- a fashion designer
- who is developing this relationship with a billionaire (Andrew McCarthy)

Wendy (Brooke Shields)
- a movie production executive
- with 3 kids and a husband who wants to divorce her

Nico (Kim Reaver)
- a fashion magazine editor
- with a husband who hardly notices her, so she sets out to have an affair with a man younger than her

They are three of the 50 most powerful women in New York, or so says the magazine that featured them at the beginning of the episode.

Bleh. I don't even know where to start pointing out what is wrong with the series. It felt pretentious and was unfunny. I cannot relate to any of these women, supposedly representing my contemporaries. This recycled Sex and The City is that horrible for me.

Lipstick Jungle will air on NBC midseason....which gives them enough time to retool the show and do something better --- change cast, change script, change production, change whatever...what they have right now is not going to work.

Lipstick Jungle is expected to be pitted against Cashmere Mafia (ABC), another new series about four powerful women.

[Lipstick Jungle], [Brooke Shields], [Kim Reaver], [Lindsay Price], [Candace Bushnell]

Fracking Fantastic - Battlestar Galactica

Earlier, I had all intentions to begin watching Battlestar Gallactica or at least try to follow it when it was airing locally on cable TV (Crime/Suspense Channel). But as I've been very distracted, living up to the phrase --- watching too much TV, I only caught some parts of it and completely forgot its schedule the following weeks.

Last night, while finding something else to watch, I had not realized we had this on our DVD shelf:

Battlestar Galactica (2003 Miniseries)
So for the next three hours or so, the husband and I were treated to what I call was a fireworks frenzy with soundtracks playing in the background.

I can't believe I ignored the DVD that was sitting on our shelf for so long.

Battlestar Galactica is a spectacular and beautiful series. As the hubby puts it --- it's set in a fictional dimension but the plot lines are very believable. And for a Star Wars fan (the hubby, not me) to say that it was actually better than watching Star Wars, that should account for something.

So now, we're on a quest ourselves --- to seriously watch and catch up on the 50+ episodes of this fantastic series.

[Battestar Galactica]

Preview: Bionic Woman

Oh, I was disappointed.

When Bionic Woman jumped from one building to the next, it didn't carry that background sound I remember from the old series, the 70's version (ngiyaw yaw yaw yaw yaw yaw). That's the way we kids used to play Bionic Woman then, with that matching sound effect. Mwahaha.

Seriously, I was disappointed. It was as if most of the actors in this series are bionic themselves. Their eyes, their expressions, their dialogue delivery were robotic.

In the updated version, Bionic Woman Jamie Sommers (played by British actress Michelle Ryan) wakes up in secluded facility to discover that her fiance, a surgeon-teacher-government scientist, has replaced her arms, legs, right eyes and ears with bionic implants after a horrific car accident, without her knowledge or consent.

Jamie escapes the facility and goes back to her regular life as a bartender. Meanwhile the people that operated on her keeps a watchful guard. Still getting used to her "powers" (kinda like Terminator at one point), she comes face to face with a woman just like her, the first bionic model (Sarah), and she is determined to destroy the bionic project. Sarah is a more enhanced version of Jamie. She's got bionic boobs for chrissake. LOL! Alright, bionic chest.

Realizing that the bionic life ain't so bad after all, Jamie decides to accept how she is and agrees to work with the people that made her, to try and track Sarah with bionic boobs.

The current version, to begin airing on NBC on September 26, is said to carry a different story than the the 70's version. A lot of it was altered, and in fact, more changes are still taking place (e.g. cast replacements and character rewrites). The version I watched will not be final one that will pilot in September.

This series hopes to capture viewers the same way Heroes did. But something just ain't right with it yet. So, perhaps it's best to lower expectations for Bionic Woman. If they do it right, what with all the rewrites and changes taking place, Jamie Sommers could be the next Sydney Bristow.

Ngiyaw yaw yaw yaw yaw yaw...

[Bionic Woman], [Jamie Sommers]

Preview: Aliens in America

Aliens in America pokes fun at being un-PC. And I guess they are doing something right because the show is downright funny (to me at least....wait a minute, I must be un-PC!). Might be tad offensive to some though. Many TV critics apparently didn't like the theme.

Read: PinoyTVJunkie's review of Aliens in America

Watch: Preview clip ---



Will this show try to break down barriers or make things worse?

My piece of advice when you sit and watch this? Don't take it seriously. Lighten up.

The show will air on the CW this fall.

[Aliens in America]

Damages

Glenn Close ought to be on TV often. Because there aren't enough women antagonists (read: bitches) that I can root for the way I did with Sherry Palmer (24).

Glenn Close stars in this new FX summer series, Damages. The show is described as something akin to The Firm, a legal thriller that interestingly enough, will hardly take place inside the courtroom or deal with how cases are tried, if at all. From the looks of it, Damages seems to be more character-centric than anything else.

And FX Network delivers yet another TV show with an ambiguous theme --- strong characters with questionable morals.

The pilot episode opens with a pretty, young woman, Ellen, emerging from a posh apartment, half naked, covered in some blood and in a daze. We see her next at the police station and then we get a flashback to how she lived six months earlier.

Ellen (played by Rose Byrne) is a lawyer with tons of potential, who has just landed a job at a prestigious firm --- a job she declined because she was waiting to hear from another job interview with Patty Hewes (played by Glenn Close). Hewes, by the way, is portrayed as the Miranda Priestly of Litigation. Hewes is a top litigator whose firm currently handles the biggest class action lawsuit of the year. As the story unfolds, we learn that the lawsuit by Hewes' firm is against a billionaire (played Ted Danson). And viewers are soon treated to a web of stories, with Ellen as the key to the whole thing; and her boss, her job at Hewes' firm isn't all she hoped it would be.

The initial episode has already earmarked Glenn Close as the bad guy (gal) among other bad guys (them lawyers heh!). That is pretty clear and simple enough.

But nothing in this 13-episode series will actually appear to be very simple.

If anything, one should expect more lies, manipulation and deception.

And of course, more of Glenn Close on TV.

Damages airs Tuesdays at 10 on FX.

[Damages], [Glenn Close]

Preview: Californication

Californication lives up to its title. In the pilot episode alone, the lead character, Hank, fornicates with more than three (or four? I lost count) times, separate women all.

The series stars David Duchovny (Xfiles) as a writer who is going through a crisis of self-identity. Once successful (his book was turned into a movie), we find Hank sex-obsessed, separated from his wife and daughter and in need of a career direction or make-over.

I think I have little respect for Duchovny's character, a classic douchebag. But after viewing Californication's pilot epsiode... as an actor, I have to say that I have new found respect for David Duchovny. His take on his role is hilarious, it's harder to hate that bitter douchebag.

The surprise for me though is this girl:

Madeline Zima

You'll probably remember her as the youngest one in this photo:


Yes, she is that little girl in The Nanny.

In Californication, she's all grown up now....all grown up and does this with Duchovny:


It took me awhile to recognize her, so imagine my astonishment. But I quickly got over that because there are finer things to be astonished about in this TV series. Californication is unusual. The dialogues are in-your-face. Like for instance:

Ex-wife to Hank: You smell like pussy
Daughter to Hank: Father, why does her vagina have no hair?

I had little clue to what this series is all about before I started watching it. I expected something dark and gloomy (ala The Riches or Meadowlands). But instead found myself laughing at the uproariousness of it.

Californication airs August 13th on Showtime.

Details of the show here.

[Californication], [David Duchovny], [Madeline Zima]

Preview: Pushing Daisies

I knew it. I am going to love this series.

If there's one thing to describe Pushing Daisies, it is that it's overflowing with cuteness. But mind you, the writing is not at all cutesy. On the contrary, it's sharp and very funny.

Pushing Daisies will perhaps remind you of the movie Amelie. It carries a very sad theme --- death and intimacy, or in Ned's case, the lack of it. But it is told in this really whimsical way, with a colorful fairytale setting to boot.

The pilot episode is nothing but brilliant. The delivery awoke the child in me...because it felt as if someone was telling me a bedtime story.

Such a magical feeling.

Lee Pace (Ned) and Anna Friel (Chuck) are both adorable, separately or together. They make quite a good pair on TV. (I thought that the girl was Zooey Deschanel! I was mistaken.)

Pushing Daisies will be my favorite, that I can say with certainty now. It's refreshing to have something like this on TV. I cannot wait for this to air.

Pushing Daisies premieres on ABC, with a (tentative?) pilot date of Sept. 26. October 3 is its confirmed pilot airing.

Early reviews:

• Test Pilot: Pushing Daisies
• ABC's ‘Pushing Daisies’: Bringing the Dead Back to Life

Watch the TV preview here.

[Pushing Daisies]

Preview: Chuck

Move over John Dorian...someone else might be snatching that "uncool" tag from you. His name is Chuck (played by Zachary Levi). And his story unveils on September 24 at NBC.

Chuck is a tech geek who doesn't have a social life. His sister tries to match him up with other women, but Chuck is -- Not. An. Interesting. Dude. Until one day, he receives this encoded email from his old college buddy, who Chuck thought was an accountant, but turns out to be a government spy. The email contains government secrets. Lots of it. And then things start to happen. And then it gets exciting for Chuck...and also for the story.

This series is not an intensified conspiracy drama, I should say that. On the contrary, it's a comedy; one that delivers the funnies quite well. I enjoyed the quips and the silliness of it. Except, I find the female supporting character (Yvonne Strzechowski) less credible and it isn't her fault. It's just me. For some reason I see her as someone who does not command a secret agent 'tude but instead brings this Elle Woods vibe for me.

Also in the cast is Adam Baldwin, a cult-fan favorite thanks to Firefly. In Chuck, he plays John Casey, also a secret agent (mercenary?) who provides the balance to this ensemble.

We have the beauty, the geek and the Adam Baldwin.

Could this be the surprise hit of the coming season?

Additional read: Televisionary: Pilot Inspektor: NBC's "Chuck"



[Chuck], [Zachary Levi], [Adam Baldwin]

Preview: Terminator - The Sarah Connor Chronicles

The first five minutes of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles pilot episode (based from the movie franchise) is already pumped with action. A school gets blown up, Sarah and her son, John, are both running for their lives and I could not take my eyes off the TV screen. Before I can even try and jog my memory of what little I know of its movie version (not a fan of Terminator really), the story has already began rolling and I had to really sit there, watch and follow it.

My first impression --- this is quite a big-budgetted TV series....very ambitious for TV.

My second impression --- I still can't imagine anyone else playing Sarah Connor but Linda Hamilton, but I am liking the series' actors and their take on the characters, so far. Sarah for the TV version is played by Lena Headey (300) and John is played by Thomas Drekker (Heroes).

Midway through, Summer Glau's (Serenity, Firefly) character, Cameron is introduced. She looks like a harmless 16-17 year old but she is in fact one of the cyborgs of this series, a teenager protecting a teenager (John).

The twist to this TV version? It's starts off in 1999 but by the end of the episode, Sarah, John and Cameron are transported to 2007. And this is where their saga will start.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles won't be premiering on the small screen until mid-season. Why the long wait? I wonder about this myself.

It will be aired on Fox.

TV Promo posted in this previous entry




[Terminator], [Sarah Connor Chronicles], [Lena Headley], [Summer Glau]

More House Season 4 Spoilers

This is from the TCA Report c/o Ausiello of TV Guide:

The new season of House starts with this ---

House is alone. And House is trying to solve cases by himself. Cuddy insists that he hire a new time. Over the first bunch of episodes, he's going to call in [40 or so candidates] and see who survives. It will be like Survivor.

Chase is working in Arizona when the season starts. And Cameron's there visiting him. Foreman, meanwhile, is heading up his own diagnostic team at another hospital.

- Expect a "huge makeout scene" for Cuddy. Did not say with whom.
- Typical of House, he will call his new doctors by number and not by their names. Earlier, it was reported that there will be four new doctors...there are actually five.

[House]

Movie Time, Music Time, Changing Times

MOVIE TIME: Watched these movies with my 9-year old over the last two weekends. It was he who asked that we should watch it. Lately, he's been exhibiting this fondness for movies. And now looks forward to weekends at the movie house or watching some at home.




Watched when the little one has gone to bed...



MUSIC TIME: Found my 9year old listening to my husband's iPod, which had songs from these artists:



He says he digs it. I am bewildered. But we ended up listening to it together.

CHANGING TIMES: My 9 year old stayed late at school because there was a school affair. He brought his cellphone with him (which he rarely ever uses, really... just for days like this) but then he tells me --- "Mom, don't call me at school, ha? I'll call you." And of course, he only called just once to tell me he has boarded the school service and is going home for dinner.

Waaaaah.

My baby is growing up.

Kidnapped

Kidnapped is a series that reminds me a lot of the movie, Ransom. It is very similar in that it follows the movie even down to the ending --- when it was finally revealed who the real bad guy was.

To compensate, Kidnapped did have a very strong cast led by:

• Timothy Hutton (I used to confuse him with Tom Hanks back in the 80's!)
• Dana Delany (love her in this series!)
• Jeremy Sisto (who is more familiar to me as that deranged junkie-brother from Six Feet Under).

In Kidnapped, Sisto is a bad ass who works as a freelance kidnap victim "recoverer" ...or whatever his job description should be. He has the right nose and the best intuition for the job. And for conflict, his character did not like playing by the rules... which makes his scenes very interesting and exciting. Also in the cast is Delroy Lindo, who is (trivia! trivia!) originally part of the movie Ransom and played almost the same role in this series! (Hello, stereotype?) He is the FBI agent Sisto's character has to work hand in hand with for this case.

The kidnapped victim is the son of one of New York's premiere business men (played by Hutton); a business man who got to where he is by virtue of marriage --- Hutton's character is married to a socialite, old money (Delaney).

All in all, I found Kidnapped not to be an entirely compelling series. It's worth watching, alright. But it doesn't have the same intensity as 24, which is somewhat how this show was played out.

Somewhere in the middle, the story felt like an extended episode of Without a Trace or Law and Order. But still, it is a shame a series like this was not given the chance to develop into what it should be. Because after about five episodes (out of 13) the show was already canceled. Perhaps if the show had enough exposure, it could have become, potentially, one of the best series of 2006.

Kidnapped, the full series, is already out on DVD: Kidnapped - The Complete Series

It is currently airing on local cable AXN.

The series originally aired on NBC in September 2006.

[Kidnapped], [Timothy Hutton], [Dana Delaney], [Without A Trace], [Jeremy Sisto]

Preview: Reaper

Making its small screen debut on Sept. 25 via CW, comedy series Reaper didn't get me all too excited. Even if it was directed by Kevin Smith. But plenty of people who have already seen it are raving about it.

The appeal comes from the fact that it's an eccentric comedy.

The story is about a young man (Sam), whose soul was sold to the devil by his parents, even when Sam wasn't born yet. On his 21st birthday, Sam learns he is to be Satan's bounty hunter. He is instructed to bring lost souls back to hell (coz apparently they can escape from there). And the Devil (who I find to be very sympathetic and "nice" ...which is probably what ruined it for me) gifts him with this ultra-high powered vacuum cleaner (just like the ones from GhostBusters) to be able to do his job.

Sam (Brett Harrison) is stereotypically depicted as having no ambition in life, but destined for extra-ordinary things. In contrast, his sidekick and best friend - Sock, is boxed as a character who brings the silly factor to the show.

But I wasn't amused at all.

Maybe I don't get this show yet. Huh.

Early reviews:

• Tuned In's Test Pilot: Reaper

• New York Magazine's Reaper: Don't Fear It

For more info about the show, check this out.
Show schedule: September 25, Tuesday 9/8C CW

[Reaper]

24 Season 7: The Lady President

Please welcome the President of the United States: President Allison Taylor...

So, they picked Cherry Jones to play Season 7's Lady President. I can't remember where I've seen her. But I am familiar with her face, and it had to be in something terrifying, that is what I recall.

Day 7 of 24 premieres January 2008.

[Cherry Jones], [24 Season 7]

The TCA 2007 Awards Winners

At least they didn't forget Friday Night Lights!

• PROGRAM OF THE YEAR: "Heroes" (NBC)

• OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM: "Friday Night Lights" (NBC)

• OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA: "The Sopranos" (HBO)

• OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY: "The Office" (NBC)

• OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS & INFORMATION: "Planet Earth" (Discovery)

• OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING: "Kyle XY" (ABC Family)

• OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES, MINI-SERIES & SPECIALS: "Planet Earth" (Discovery)

• INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" (NBC)

• INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA: Michael C. Hall, "Dexter" (Showtime)

• HERITAGE AWARD: "The Sopranos" (HBO)

• CAREER ACHIEVEMENT: Mary Tyler Moore

Nominee list may be found here.

[TCA Awards 2007]

Mad Men: Men Behaving Badly

Mad Men, short for Madison Ave. Men, is a drama set in the 1960's about advertising executives working in, where else but Madison Ave. (which is the premiere location for the best advertising people in the world.)

As this series aims to show --- working in advertising, in corporate New York much less, is as brutal as politics. Men here are depicted as chauvinistic pigs (it's amusing because today gay people rule advertising!) and women are treated as second-class citizens. And elsewhere, everybody smoked cigarettes and tobacco companies are making lots of money.

The series portrays everything that is wrong in this world, issues that people of the new millennium are trying to make right.

The story line is too deep for me to invest into at the moment. But don't get me wrong, it looks like it will be a very captivating series, the story is indeed intriguing. The cinematography and costumes are actually very appealing. But I'm just not looking for something heavy to watch at this time. Although plenty people are liking this series:

• TV REVIEW: The cynical, captivating world of 'Mad Men'
• Review: MAD MEN - SEASON 1 - 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes'
• Glib 'Mad Men' sell an image
• “Mad Men” on AMC
• MAD MEN and the last stereotype left standing

The series airs on AMC.

Rosemarie Dewitt is the only familiar face to me in this series' cast, having seen her work in Standoff.

[Mad Men], [Rosemarie Dewitt], [Standoff]

Prison Break 3: Casting Sara Tancredi

News about Sarah Wayne Callies not returning to Prison Break 3 has been finally cleared. She is not leaving the show but has yet to begin shooting her scenes after her maternity leave. Prison Break has began filming early this month.

The "Sara" being cast is only being cast as a temporary lookalike to [Sarah Wayne Callies] for the purposes of the episodes leading up through Ep.03x03. The actress will have shadows blocking her face or her features will be turned away from the camera during filming in order to camouflage her as the real "Sara." Sarah Wayne Callies is NOT leaving the show and will be back filming for Ep. 03x04<. Although SWC will be on maternity leave, she has already taped voiceovers in order to keep Sara's voice the same as the director and producers want to keep the stand-in as secret as a stunt double is in the show...ultimately hoping the audience doesn't notice a thing different about the two Sara's. --- SpoilerFix

The season premiere of Prison Break will open with Bellick and Sapo (new character) in Sona Penitentiary. T-bag is also at the Sona and is part of a different gang (Lechero). Michael will long for the sanity of Fox River over Sona. He teams up with Mahone and meets Lechero, who teaches them how things are done over at Sona.

[Prison Break], [Sarah Wayne Callies]

How I Met Your Mother Season 3 Spoilers

Disclaimer: I am not an official source; just passing what I read from all over.

This was reported on TV Guide's Ausiello's blog and I am already laughing just reading it:

Marshall will give Barney a rather large clue about when his highly anticipated third slap will be delivered. (Hint: It involves a website called slapcountdown.com. Don't bother checking the site, though, there's nothing there. Yet.)

Slap bet, ha-ha!

Season 3 will also have:

• Lily and Marshall's apartment-hunting saga.
• Marshall rethinking his job direction: the job he wants vs. the money he needs.
• The woman who took away Barney's virginity. The are casting someone "frightening", a woman who is about 45 years old. ROTFL.
• The return of Barney's gay black brother, brother.
• Some hints about "Mother"
  

The show premieres in September 24.

[How I Met Your Mother]

Big Brother 8 - JENius Tumultuous Week

Earlier, I wrote about Jen, this ultra self-centered house guest in Big Brother USA. As much as I like her the least (so far), having her in the house makes the show very, very interesting. Especially with what has happened this week --- when Jen became the Head of Household.

In Big Brother USA, every week, house guests compete to become the "leader" of the house. Becoming the leader means he or she gets to nominate two people for eviction. Jen nominates the father and daughter team of Dick and Danielle. Jen says that she nominated them both because they bring too much negativity in the house, what with their strained relationship and all. But what everybody knows is this obvious truth:

• That Jen nominated Dick because they just cannot get along, and Dick tells it to her face.

Dick to Jen: Nobody likes you here. Why don't you just leave? I fucking hate you.

Yup that's what that pixelation in the photo is for. He said the F word, addressed to Jen. Haha. Don't let these two people out, just yet. Me want to see more fighting.

• That Jen nominated Danielle because she is jealous of her. See, Jen likes Nick and made up a story about Nick trying to kiss her earlier. Nick didn't try to kiss her and has in fact confronted Jen about it. Nick is actually falling for Danielle.
  

Danielle has a boyfriend outside.

So, then now comes the Veto competition.

In Big Brother USA, a Veto competition is held in the middle of the week for the nominees (2), the Head of Household (1) and three other house guests. They will compete for the veto medal, which is a chance for one of the six to change the nominations the Head of Household has made. Those who have been nominated get a chance to put themselves off the chopping block.

Before the competition, Jen approaches one player, Amber... and told her not to try and change her nomination. Because if she did, Jen will take out Amber, or someone close to her (Dustin).

What Jen didn't know (because Jen only thinks of Jen) is that Amber's one sensitive chick, who since Day 1, has already been crying about the littlest things!!! And being in this veto competition is adding pressure for Amber because she is also close to both Dick and Danielle. Who will she save if she wins the veto?

Amber's dilemma and the fact that Jen tells her what to do, causes a big drama inside the house, leading Danielle to confront Jen, and then Dick to confront Jen....which also led Joe to confront Jen and someone else; which domino-ed and led Jameka to confront Zack.

Watch:



Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! LOL!

Anyway, eventually Danielle wins the veto, much to Jen's dismay. Danielle takes herself out of the nomination block. So Jen has to nominate another person --- Joe, who is clearly the one going home this week since Dick has more people on his side than Joe.

This is perhaps the most exciting week for Big Brother, since 2005. The best part of it has to be this bonding time with the dad and the daughter, where Dick gives Danielle some fatherly advise, now that she is developing this relationship with Nick inside the house:



Other house mates everywhere ought to listen to what Dick said about falling in love inside the house.

[Big Brother USA 8]

Here's the baby girl....

I interrupt the program to proudly show to all of you my one and only niece...


This was taken day 2. Her face has been changing since. Some days she looks like someone else in our family, other days she looks like her parents.

Such a well-behaved baby, she doesn't make a fuss or cry!

See previous entry: The Princess has arrived..

Oh, incidentally today is my grandmother's (of which we were both named after) 18th death anniversary. I know she would love this baby girl a million times more than she has loved and cared for my brother (her prince, actually, the favorite).

Maybe Lola is watching over her.

The 59th Annual Emmy Awards Nominees

Ugh. They snubbed LOST. And FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

• Ricky Gervais as Andy Millman - Extras
• Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk - Monk
• Steve Carell as Michael Scott - The Office
• Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy - 30 Rock
• Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper - Two and A Half Men

Forecast: Three-way between Gervais, Carell & Baldwin. Don't especially care for Sheen. Shalhoub - past winner. Meh.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

• James Spader as Alan Shore -Boston Legal
• Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House - House
• Denis Leary as Tommy Gavin - Rescue Me
• James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano - The Sopranos
• Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer - 24

Forecast: Hugh Laurie! Hugh Laurie!

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

• Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo - Desperate Housewives
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell - The New Adventures Of Old Christine
• Tina Fey as Liz Lemon - 30 Rock
• America Ferrera as Betty Suarez - Ugly Betty
• Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin - Weeds

Forecast: Parker or Huffman. Maybe Ferrera. Or Fey. Or Louis-Dreyfuss. Hah! Hard to predict this category.

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

• Sally Field as Nora Walker - Brothers & Sisters
• Kyra Sedgwick as Dep. Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson - The Closer
• Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson - Law & Order SVU
• Patricia Arquette as Allison Dubois - Medium
• Minnie Driver as Dahlia Malloy - The Riches
• Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano - The Sopranos

Forecast: Sally Field!

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

• Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama - Entourage
• Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold - Entourage
• Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson - How I Met Your Mother
• Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute - The Office
• Jon Cryer as Alan Harper - Two and A Half Men

Forecast: Harris or Piven. Wilson will be a refreshing choice.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

• William Shatner as Denny Crane - Boston Legal
• T.R. Knight as George - Grey's Anatomy
• Masi Oka as Hiro Nakamura - Heroes
• Michael Emerson as Ben - Lost
• Terry O’Quinn as John Locke - Lost
• Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti - The Sopranos

Forecast: Michael Emerson. I just love him. Maybe Moltisanti.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

• Jaime Pressly as Joy Turner - My Name is Earl
• Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly - The Office
• Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper - Two and A Half Men
• Conchata Ferrell as Berta - Two and A Half Men
• Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater - Ugly Betty
• Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hodes - Weeds

Forecast: Williams or Perkins

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

• Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Whedon - Brothers & Sisters
• Katherine Heigl as Isobel “Izzie” Stevens - Grey's Anatomy
• Chandra Wilson as Dr. Bailey - Grey's Anatomy
• Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang - Grey's Anatomy
• Aida Turturro as Janice Soprano - The Sopranos
• Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi - The Sopranos

Forecast: Griffiths. Turturro.

Outstanding Comedy Series

• Entourage
• The Office
• 30 Rock
• Two And A Half Men
• Ugly Betty

Forecast: The Office or 30 Rock

Outstanding Drama Series

• Boston Legal
• Grey’s Anatomy
• Heroes
• House
• The Sopranos

Forecast: Ridiculous list because they overlooked a lot of really good shows for Grey's Anatomy, Boston Legal and maybe even Heroes. Sopranos for the win.


Full list may be found here.

[Emmy Awards]

Scoop Galore

So what's in store for two of Drama's Best?

Brothers & Sisters

Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon) joins the cast in Season 2. He will play Sen. McAllister's campaign manager and will hook up with Sally Field's character, Nora Walker. Nora Walker, meantime, will keep herself busy running a blog dedicated to American soldiers, seeing that her youngest son, Justin, is still in Iraq fighting for his country.

Friday Night Lights

Season 2 will open eight months after, with Tami already in labor.

The Taylors immediately go into a five-ep arc about whether or not they made a mistake entering into this long-distance relationship. Tami’s dealing with an infant and a teenage daughter who’s "acting out more than she ever has," while Eric is dealing with "what college football is like and coaching there and not being the head guy in charge. A lot of interesting dynamics come out of that." According to Katims, "Eric and Tami are gonna be intensely connected from the beginning" of the season, rather than being separated into discrete stories or having an over-the-phone relationship. --- E!Online

Jason's health improves. His relationship with Lyla and Tim also improves. His relationship with the Dillon Panther's new coach thought? Not good. Casting for who this new coach will be is on-going and we'll hear about it in the next couple of days.

Landry and Tyra? Super close, like two brackets together --- []. Hehehe. Can't believe the guy snags one hot girl. Yey for him!

More spoilerooooos ---

Grey's Anatomy

Mer, Izzie and Christina become mentors to the new interns, including George (who as we know, failed his internship).

They are casting a male doctor, someone in his 50's, preferably hot. Hey, what about George Clooney?! He once played a doctor. Is he in his 50's??... I'm kidding. :D

Prison Break

I am quite unsure of how reliable this is but, what else could go wrong for Prison Break? Apparently this:

*extra juicy* I couldn't confirm it with official sources but it looks like they are recasting Sara Tancredi. Could it be that the actress, after giving birth, decided to take care of her baby and not come back to the show? Sara is set to make her first season appearance in episode 3, where we will see her next to a young male character we have seen many times before. --- Isabella of BuddyTV

[Brothers&Sisters], [Friday Night Lights], [Grey's Anatomy], [Prison Break]

House Season 4 - Four New Faces

Korbi from E!Online reports these are the four new faces, the new doctor-students under our favorite cranky doc, House.

Olivia Wilde
Previous Credit: The Black Donelly's



Anne Dudek
Previous Credits: Psych



Kal Penn
Previous Credit: 24



Peter Jacobson

[House], [Olivia Wilde], [Anne Dudek], [Kal Penn], [Peter Jacobson]

Dark and Twisty

Riveting is not even the right word I could use to begin describing what The Shield Season 6 was about.

• Underground Online The Shield Season 6 Review

• BlogCritics The Shield Season 6 Review

• Entertainment Weekly The Shield Season 6 Review

This was great TV.

[The Shield]

The Princess has arrived

Previously....

My sister-in-law just gave birth to the first baby girl in our family.

I found her awake yesterday morning a little before 5 AM complaining of the ache in her stomach and how she's got blood all over. I clapped. Hee! My brother was getting ready for the hospital while she sat down and calmed herself and I told her of how it was when I first had signs of labor. Almost 12 hours after that, her daughter was born.

I've got pictures! But I can't post it here since I have yet to tell my brother and sister that I plan to.

The baby, who happens to be named after my grandmother and myself, will be staying with us for a couple of weeks (with her parents of course) and I've been baby-proofing the house for bacteria, mosquitoes and stuff. The place is cleaner than an Intel Lab. LOL!

It's been so long since there was a baby in this house. Needless to say, I'm very excited.

Can I keep her?

I wish she'd permanently stay with us.

My brother and his wife --- they live in the South because work is nearer. We're in the East. They only come by once or twice a month.

I'm already gonna miss the baby.

Greek

A dash of Freaks & Geeks and Undeclared, a sprinkle of Legally Blonde or Mean Girls...and what do you get? This new TV Series from ABC-Family called GREEK.

I was expecting something bad about Greek but instead, I quite enjoyed the first episode. There isn't anything new about this show, really. It's like the updated 2007 version of every college movie or tv series you've ever watched, combined. And it is full of stereotypes.

Being slightly evasive of TV series set in school (see past blog entries), what was I doing watching this show? I wanted to see this so I can watch Kelsey Grammer's daughter (Spencer Grammer), who plays the female lead, Casey. That was my main reason. And fortunately for me, Greek had a few surprises in store...and so I spent an hour's worth enjoying my TV vieiwing.

Spencer Grammer isn't bad at acting, actually. She's not quite the thespian like her Dad, but I did not find myself twitching or shaking my head in disgust at her performance (see Kristin Kreuk hah!). She was, in fact, believable to me.

What Greek has made me do, though, is to also go and finish watching Undeclared.

Here is Greek's promo video:



[Greek], [Freaks & Geeks], [Undeclared], [Spencer Grammer]

Dead Like Me The Movie

So canceled TV series, Dead Like Me is being made into a movie? Hmmmm...

I was introduced to this show some years back but never got to finish the 2nd Season. The concept of the show is pretty extraordinary. The cast is made up of grim reapers. Yes, that's it - Death themselves. Except they don't wear cloaks and aren't into Skeletar costumes. They look like regular people. But with extra-ordinary jobs.

a reaper's job is to remove the souls of people, preferably right before they die, and escort them until they move on into their afterlife --- Wikipedia.

In this video below, we learn that backlogs can also happen with a reaper's job. And I thought that one's only very specific to phone companies (hah!):



The show has a cult following, perhaps the ones most looking forward to the movie. The movie though will be released directly on DVD and some of the actors are not going to be part of the cast, including Mandy Patinkin who was, incidentally, just the other day, released from Criminal Minds.

[Dead Like Me], [Criminal Minds], [Mandy Patinkin]