Little Britain USA S1 E1

I have a confession to make. I let my 10 year old (11 in two weeks!) watch Little Britain USA with me. It's this highly inappropriate, enormously offensive sketch comedy series that HBO has adopted from an original British show. It still stars the same British leads, only they added new materials to fit their audience.

For all its inappropriateness, I did find myself occasionally bursting in laughter. The show's materials are without a doubt very, very funny. And I think I like this better than the British original. Which is why I let my 10 year old boy watch. I've always been proud of how sharp his humor is. And he loves the absurdity of Spongebob Squarepants, probably the closest show I can compare this with (except this isn't cartoons, obviously!)... so I figured, why not?

It's not real. It's a fat suit.

Well, my son didn't like it all that much. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest, my son rated this a four. The fact that David Schwimmer directed some of the scenes, did not impress him. (My son is very familiar with his work both as an actor and a director, since he's a big Friends fan.) Test done. He isn't watching this anymore. Maybe when he's older.

I, on the other hand, quite enjoyed it. It's not for the easily offended though because I'm sure if you're that kind of person, you'd really be wondering what's the point of this show.

Worst Week S1 E2 - The Bird

Okay I think I found my preferred new comedy series. I am hooked. I have blogged about it here and said I'd see where this goes. It didn't take too long, did it?

Yes, I am having so much fun with Worst Week. The second episode just got better.

After meeting the parents, it was time for Sam to meet the siblings and of course, it didn't turn well for the unluckiest man in the world.

It still feels a lot like Meet The Parents though...which is fine, I guess. I had no problem with that movie.

Favorite quote:

Sam: I had a (live) bird in my pocket...there was an erection misunderstanding, so I punched it in the face and killed it.

The bird was for Sam's girlfriend's dad. He secretly wanted to replace the one he killed (thus keeping it where no one will find it --- his pocket!

The "erection" happened when he walked by his girlfriend's sister breast-feeding and the bird was moving near his crotch!

Fun. Fun. Funny!!!

How I Met Your Mother S4 E2 - World's Greatest Burger

Haaack! If you're going to watch the second episode of How I Met Your Mother's fourth season, then please watch it on a full stomach. I made that mistake and called the nearest and fastest burger delivery as soon as I was done watching. There goes my diet!

What I'm watching on Manic Mondays

Monday, it seems, is going to be my busiest TV night. I started with the new seasons of Heroes, Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother and Worst Week last week.

I'm adding Chuck and Life today, as these two shows begin their new seasons this week.

The last of Monday's show premieres will be Samantha Who? and My Own Worst Enemy (which will both start in early to mid-October). I enjoyed SW last season, so there's no reason for me not to come back to it this season. And I'm not sure I will like MOWE, but I'm curious how the Christian Slater starrer will fare.

Gotta have some heavy rescheduling to do!

How long will it be before I go brain dead?

TV Ratings [09.28.08]

It's football season! Any other show comes second to a football season on American TV. I'm happy where TAR and Brothers and Sisters are. Their places are comfortable. The Simpsons, in its 20th Season, is still doing well. On the other hand, they've been on that long? I'm still on my fourth season DVD collection...I've got 16 more to purchase? :(

8.00 Block
Pregame/Sunday Night Football NBC 14.86 M
Extreme Makeover ABC 11.91 M
The Amazing Race CBS 10.29 M
The Simpsons Fox 9.30 M
Privileged (Repeat) The CW 1.22 M
King Of The Hill Fox 7.04 M

9.00 Block
Desperate Housewives ABC 18.44 M
Sunday Night Football NBC 16.44 M
Cold Case CBS 11.24 M
Family Guy Fox 9.20 M
American Dad Fox 6.86 M
America’s Next Top Model (Repeat) The CW 1.44 M

10.00 Block
Sunday Night Football NBC 15.02 M
Brothers & Sisters ABC 12.35 M
The Unit CBS 9.75 M

Brothers and Sisters S3 E1 Glass Houses

Welcome back my favorite TV Family!

Your love and fondness for each other ... it makes me wish I was a Walker ( the luxuries and perks to being one are a bonus, too!); but those family gatherings can drive me really crazy! And that's what happened this week. I think the Walker siblings had their biggest fight ever. I mean, calls ignored and all.

Sarah had a lot of things to deal with, aside from obsessing about the brother they have yet to meet (Ryan). Kitty is resentful of her for letting their mom do the adoption agency recommendation letter Sarah was supposed to personally write. And Sarah is also mad at Tommy since he's about to fire the family lawyer, Kevin.

Kevin just had good vibes from the boss, he's almost going to be made partner at the law firm and was given the keys to the company beach house. Except that he had to go and invite everyone for the weekend. Thus, it became the weekend that ruined everything. To top it all off, he learned his brother is letting him go as the company lawyer. The company account is what gave him a career boost at his law firm in the first place.

Justin and Rebecca had first kept their relationship a secret from everyone. But that day, that crazy weekend? Justin told them they were dating, much to Rebecca's disappointment who wasn't ready to tell them.

This is the part where I'd pack my bags and leave the Walker party. In fact, Tommy, Rebecca and Kitty did.

But they are siblings and they have Nora as the glue (and that's straight out of the cheesy recommendation letter for Kitty!); they will patch things up!

Speaking of Nora, well... well... well... she's getting her due vengeance. Nora marches down Holly's office to tell her William had been cheating on the both of them and bore a son from this union.

Booyah!

Survivor Philippines Week 2

What a player Emerson was. He stirred the pot early on. He claimed he doesn't know the game of Survivor and haven't seen one episode of it. But he was the first to ruffle the feathers of his tribe and pitted castaways to distrust each other. For someone who played deviously the first week, Emerson wasn't smart enough to cover his tracks. And so, his tribe mates saw through him. Karma made a huge payback and Emerson was voted off the island this week.

Meanwhile, during the Immunity Challenge, Jace of the Jarakay tribe probably gave Survivor one of its best TV moments...by duping Kiko of the Naak tribe. Playing with a "gentleman's agreement" where the two even shook hands, Jace made a run for the Thai pillow the two were wrestling over, and left Kiko on the ground. Kiko got pwned.

Jace didn't play fair and square. But is there such a thing in Survivor?

TV Ratings [09.25.08]

Because CSI hasn't premiered yet, Grey's Anatomy was Thursday's leader in the ratings. The Office gained a greater audience than last year's season premiere, although this wasn't their best night (they sometimes had 12M viewers). ER's final season premiere loses to a CSI repeat. Yeah, maybe it is really time to go.


8.00 Block
Survivor CBS 13.05 M
Ugly Betty ABC 9.78 M
My Name Is Earl NBC 6.40 M
Kitchen Nightmares Fox 4.18 M
Smallville The CW 4.10 M

9.00 Block
Grey’s Anatomy ABC 18.30 M
Survivor CBS 12.78 M
The Office NBC 9.20 M
Kitchen Nightmares Fox 4.49 M
Supernatural The CW 3.25 M

10.00 Block
Grey’s Anatomy ABC 18.32 M
CSI (Repeat) CBS 9.40 M
E.R. NBC 7.92 M

The Office S5 E1 Weight Loss

Click for photos and recaps here.

Grey's Anatomy S5 E1 and E2 Dream a Little Dream of Me

I am starting to get a lot confused. Why am I still watching this show? I always ask myself that. I don't know why it's hard for me to let go of Grey's Anatomy.

Last night's two hour season premiere felt really longer than two hours. I couldn't wait for it to finish. The episode had award-winning actresses like Bernadette Peters and Kathy Baker but... (channeling Meredith Grey) seriously? They bored me to death.

There were plenty of fake-outs and dream sequences, including this one:

...an old Christina and an old Meredith.

Much as this was a hoot, I couldn't get why it suddenly had to be part of Christina's dream sequence. Actually, no...scratch that. I get it. This episode's entitled Dream A Little Dream of Me, isn't it? So I get why it's there. Except that these dream sequences felt really out of place. Like it was put there, not for the story, but as an attempt to do something different. Like it just... popped... without rhyme nor reason.

And why do I get the feeling that this episode is what Shonda and her team of writers used to "speak" to their audience? Speak, as in, explain why the show lost track and is now trying to find its way back. Seattle Grace dropping to #12? They were really talking about the show, weren't they? And the Chief's speech? Maybe I'm reading into it too much, but it sounded like the Chief wasn't just talking about Seattle Grace. It sounded like Shonda talking about Grey's Anatomy.

Writing for this show has gone waaaaay downhill.

But it had one good thing last night. And his name is Owen McGIJoe. As always, Kevin McKidd has such commanding presence on screen. How can I phase this show off my system now when they've got him?

TV Ratings [09.25.2008]

I watched some bad TV last night. Knight Rider and Gary Unmarried? Meh. Knight Rider especially, since I enjoyed the two-hour preview last February. Last night though was terrible. I don't even know where to start enumerating how laughable it is. And yet, I watched it from beginning to end. Heh. Gary Unmarried, meanwhile, was bearable.

With the exception of CSI NY and Bones (a show I should be watching really...one of these days!!!), does this mean Pushing Daisies will dominate Wednesday's ratings when it comes back in October? Wheee!

8.00 Block
Dancing With The Stars ABC 15.57 M
Bones Fox 9.61 M
Knight Rider NBC 7.30 M
Gary Unmarried CBS 6.84 M
New Adventures Of Old Christine CBS 6.70 M
America’s Next Top Model The CW 4.07 M

9.00 Block
Criminal Minds CBS 15.12 M
America’s Got Talent NBC 10.24 M
David Blaine: Dive Of Death ABC 8.89 M
Til Death Fox 4.63 M
Do Not Disturb Fox 3.53 M
90210 (Repeat) The CW 2.34 M

10.00 Block
CSI: New-York CBS 15.55 M
David Blaine: Dive of Death ABC 6.63 M
Lipstick Jungle NBC 6.08 M

TV Round Up Friday: Orders and Cancellations, Karate Kid and the President of the Universe

Crazy week of TV. It appears I'm watching, like, four shows a night. I'm loving it! Anyway, this week?

Duchovny's sex addiction? When I said it felt too much like publicity for Californication, I think I was right.

Have you met Grey's Anatomy's Dr. McSwimmy?

90210 gets a full season order.

But ouch. Our first cancellation of the season: Do Not Disturb. And they didn't even air that episode I got to watch.

Eli Stone's Jonny Lee Miller is going to be a daddy.

Clooney isn't keen on coming back to ER for its final season. No siree. He's a big screen actor now. He's so busy making movies.

We suspected just as much. I think he's the last person to know he is gay.

Listen to David Cook's first single, post-Idol.

The President of the Universe (in Battlestar Galactica, that is) is joining Grey's Anatomy for a multi-episode arc.

The Karate Kid will be on Ugly Betty.

Why are they still talking about this? Who cares? It's really, really old news, TV Guide.

Next year's Emmy host? Oh, yeah.

Lipstick Jungle S2 E1 - Pandora's Box

Lipstick Jungle had been one of those shows I wasn't exactly sure I'd like but I kept watching it anyway, you know? With only seven episodes last season, I wasn't sure if I was watching it because there was nothing else to catch on TV; or if I was watching it because it had the right appeal for me.

Whatever it was, Lipstick Jungle stood out well enough to make me wanna look forward to it. The show returned this week for its second season run. And so far? I think I'm going with the second reason --- I am watching this because it had the right appeal for me!

I can't go over the details and recaps of what happened before this week's episode. It had been months since the first season aired. So, if you really want to, you can catch up with the short first season on DVD: Lipstick Jungle - Season One

What I can tell you however is my favorite scene for this week...

Nico (in photo, left) had collagen injections on her G spot. Why she got that is because she wants to make her marriage work and apparently, getting this done escalates the sensation when you're having sex. Anyway, the day she got her injections is the day Wendy (in photo, middle...yes Brooke Shields) had wanted her and Victory (in photo, right) to be present at a dinner she is hosting. Nico begged off because...she couldn't sit down for a two hour dinner. The injection made her super sensitive down there!

It was a funny scene, yet underneath it, there was also sadness. I mean, Nico had to endure all that to fix her marriage! If a woman goes at great lengths like that, something is seriously wrong with the union.

Brooke Shields and Kim Raver both had splendid delivery. One minute they were really funny, the next minute --- I felt really sorry for Nico but I was glad she had Wendy.

Wendy: What's going on with you? Sit down.
Nico: Oh, can't
Wendy: C'mon. You can't sit for a minute.
Nico: No, I can't...sit.
(She tries to sit but the sensation was probably just too much, she gets up. Wendy realizes what it is)
Wendy: Oh, no...you didn't.
Nico: What?
Wendy: Victory told me about...please tell me you did not go for that miracle shot!
Nico: So what if I did? You've done some outrageous things. I mean you greenlit a movie about a crime-solving chicken (Wendy is movie executive).

Wendy: Are you in pain?
Nico: I don't know what I'm in. All I know is that I can't sit through a two-hour dinner.
Wendy: Nico....why would you do this?
Nico: What?
....
Wendy: Why would you do this?
Nico: Because I can't be lying next to my husband and thinking about someone else anymore...I'm trying to get back to what Charles and I had when we first met. This may not be the whole answer, Wendy, but it's a start.
Wendy: Wouldn't it be easier to tell him the truth?

Australian Idol Top 11 - Brooke Addamo

It is a big mystery to me as to why Brooke Addamo was eliminated from Australian Idol this week. Of the 12, she's the one with the pitch perfect voice. You'll see her last performance in the video below... but let me get to what this week was about first.

This week was 80's night and so far, I think of it as this season's highlight. About half of them did decently better than expected. I loved most of the songs they sang. And Wes, dear Wes, with his 15 years of experience as a performer, sang Springsteen!!! Cyndi Lauper was guest judge/mentor. My respect for her as an artist tripled. She's a great teacher!

Here's Australian Idol's Top 11 --- Brooke Addamo with Bette Davis' Eyes. Now, you tell me how the hell she got voted out too soon:



And here's Wes Carr with Dancing in the Dark. I got up on my feet and danced to this! He was ah-ma-zing!

TV Ratings [09.23.08]

How things have changed real fast. House used to be a really top-rating series but, even as its numbers are still good, for the standards this show has set, it is slowly slumping. I have already warmed up to the new ducklings. But there are still a lot of you out there who'd like the Chase, Cam and Foreman Team back and you've been tuning out of this program.

Did the change in schedule have something to do with the slump, too?

The Mentalist's season premiere did really, really well. I think it's highest rated new TV show to premiere this season, so far, right?

8.00 Block
NCIS CBS 17.72 M
House Fox 12.13 M
The Biggest Loser NBC 6.64 M
Opportunity Knocks ABC 6.63 M
90210 The CW 2.96 M

9.00 Block
Dancing With The Stars ABC 17.87 M
The Mentalist CBS 15.55 M
Fringe Fox 9.65 M
The Biggest Loser NBC 7.73 M
Privileged The CW 1.86 M

10.00 Block
Dancing With The Stars ABC 18.52 M
Without A Trace CBS 11.39 M
Law & Order: SVU NBC 9.52 M

Cable TV Ratings [Sept 15-21 '08]

Whoohoo! Can you see where Burn Notice is at? It pulled enough viewers to land on 6th!

And I read Raising the Bar is losing viewers so I'm sticking with my initial assessment --- this is something I can pass up.



Source: Nielsen Blog

Only a matter of time: Melrose Place Spinoff!

I really wasn't into this show when it was on. I think I stuck with it for...two seasons? I don't remember much of it to care about this news.

But Lissa Rinna, who I likewise don't remember being there in the first two seasons I've watched, said this at the Emmy red carpet ---

"I've heard a rumor of them bringing back the show like they did 90210. I heard that it's somewhere at the CW. I would do it in a heartbeat, Let's bring it on. Melrose, 10 years later!"

Can they not come up with anything new anymore? Notice that they've already spun-off shows from the 70's (Bionic Woman) and the 80's (Knight Rider)...we're way into the 90's now (90210).
So what's next?

A Dawson's Creek spinoff?

TV Ratings [09.22.08]

This is it. This is where new episodes officially fill up the TV Grid. This is where we can finally make a good comparison of which show is rating better. I'm quite pleased with how HIMYM did. The numbers aren't good for Heroes but I don't question it. Three hours of it in one sitting may have been just too much.

See, with Heroes, it is like food and digestion --- when you've been starving yourself for sometime (when you've not seen a new episode for, like, 10 months), you can't wolf down the first full meal served to you (watching three hours of it straight?), your body is going to reject it (it can muddle your brain).

Monday's standing:

8.00 Block
Dancing With The Stars ABC 21.1 M
How I Met Your Mother CBS 9.7 M
The Big Bang Theory CBS 9.4 M
Heroes NBC 6.0 M
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Fox 5.8 M
Gossip Girl The CW 3.4 M

9.00 Block
Dancing With The Stars ABC 21.2 M
Two And A Half Men CBS 14.9 M
Worst Week CBS 11.0 M
Heroes NBC 10.2 M
Prison Break Fox 6.0 M
One Tree Hill The CW 3.1 M

10.00 Block
CSI: Miami CBS 16.9 M
Heroes NBC 9.6 M
Boston Legal ABC 9.4 M

Heroes S3 E1-E2 The Second Coming/Butterfly Effect

Who else can Tim Kring blame this disaster now? Last season, Heroes was criticized for its apparent lack of direction. The series was too slow. Because of the strike, Heroes was indeed in a slump.

To make up for this, the third season opened with everything. And I mean EVERYTHING.... that it was dizzying.

Characters were introduced really fast --- some of them have new powers or similar powers as another character; some of them we've seen before, but only different. Huh??

There were new stories to follow. Half of it seemed pointless (Nathan and religion, really? That's what they can come up with?) The creepiest of which was Mohinder turning into the Fly. Totally grossed out by this ----


Pacing seems to be a big problem with Heroes. If it's not too slow, it's waaaay to fast.

What else? Ah, Future Peter --- he makes everything so complicated. He has every kind of power imaginable, the most basic of which is that he can transport through time. So tell me this --- why did he have to go and shoot his brother to "stop" him from telling the world about them? Why did he not just transport to that time before the "speech" and convince his brother of what could happen should he out them all? Wasn't Peter taught violence doesn't solve anything? Because there isn't any limitation to what he can do, the things Future Peter does to advance the story seems stupid. There's the other problem.

And finally....I think we know where this chapter is heading --- to a bigger disaster, to a bigger destruction, probably with a lot of kick-ass effects, with every hero converging to save the world.

If that sounds familiar, it's because we've already seen it.

In Season 1.

How I Met Your Mother S4 E1 - Do I Know You?

With its return, How I Met Your Mother wasted no time revealing Stella's answer to Ted's marriage proposal. We know it's coming. In fact, there is a wedding set for October. What we don't know is --- Ted actually doesn't know his bride to be all that well.

When Marshall asked him what kind of present he and Lily should get them, Ted didn't have any idea what possible future Mother likes.

Marshall: Does she like to cook...
Ted: Actually, I don't know
Marshall: What's her favorite color?
Ted: Don't know that either
Marshall: Does she have any hobbies?
Ted: Yes. She's exactly that kind of person who would have hobbies...and interests too...
Marshall: You don't know anything about the woman you are marrying.
Ted: What?! You're crazy! I know plenty!
Marshall: What color are her eyes?
Ted: The color of the ocean after a storm...
Marshall: Which is?
Ted: ....Beautiful?

So Ted wastes no time "getting to know" Stella. And they ended up watching Star Wars one night, because Stella confessed she never saw this yet. Star Wars is Ted's all time favorite movie. Marshall thinks if Stella doesn't like this one, then their relationship is doomed.

Guess what Stella thought of the movie? (And I thought the same as Stella, if must know!)

Marshall to Stella ---

He watches it when he is home sick with the flu. He watches it on rainy Sunday afternoons in the fall. He watches it on Christmas Eve. Ted watches Star Wars in sicknes and in health, in good times and in bad...Do you really think you can pretend to actually like a movie you really hate?

Meanwhile....the legendary Barney is freaking out and is acting like that dork he was on Doogie Howser. He tells Lily he thinks he is in love with Robin.

"I wanna be with her all the time. I wanna hear about her day, I wanna tell her about mine. I wanna hold her hand, smell her hair. "

Unlike Ted's proposal, I get the feeling this one is something we'll have to wait awhile for. Robin doesn't even know why Barney is acting all funny around her. And by the end of the episode, it looks like we have the old Barney back. Maybe the writers are just dipping their foot in the water for this storyline... and find the water too cold just yet?

Big Bang Theory S2 E1 - The Bad Fish Paradigm

Somehow, the idea of Penny and Leonard becoming more than friends didn't seem right. Because by doing that, it would make Big Bang Theory as common as every other story about a Chick falling in love with the Geek.

But I found myself rooting for them.

I may be off the tracks here, but this really felt like a Ross and Rachel thing.

And rather than keeping focus on the geek's insecurities (as these kinds of stories usually do), the episode was cleverly built on the beautiful girl second-guessing herself!

Penny: Has Leonard ever dated a girl that wasn't a brainiac?
Sheldon: Let's see. There was a girl a few years ago who was a PhD in French Literature.
Penny: How is that not a brainiac?
Sheldon: Well, for one thing, she was French. For another, it was literature.
Penny: Sheldon, do you think if Leonard and I keep on dating, will he get bored with me?
Sheldon: That depends.
Penny: On what?
Sheldon: Do you have a working knowledge of quantum physics?
Penny: No.
Sheldon: Do you speak Klingon?
Penny: No.
Sheldon: Do you know any card tricks?
Penny: Okay.... I get it. Leonard has no business with being involved with a waitress slash actress who felt so insecure that she lied to him about finishing community college.

This show is growing on me!

Worst Week S1 E1 - Pilot

I have no familiarity with the two lead actors on Worst Week (except... the girl looks awfully familiar! Where have I seen her?). This sometimes works out for the better because I can set no expectations whatsover from actors I know little about.

However, I've seen the British version of this recently. The reason I checked that out was precisely because I wanted a comparison. But from the onset, the two sitcoms are very much different.

The closest I can describe this show so that you'd have an idea of what it is about? This is Meet the Parents, for Television.

Yes, the lead guy (Sam, played by Kyle Bornheimer) gets into trouble a whoooooole lot just to make the parents of his future bride love him. Which means --- you see everything that can potentially go wrong coming a mile away.

To its credit, Sam is a bit likeable and this pilot episode is tons funny, even as it resorted to slapstick comedy and toilet humor --- Sam pees on the goose his future mother-in-law prepared for dinner...future dad-in-law slips on his pee and gets a concussion --- those kinds of things.

I just wonder how long before this pattern gets repetitive and how will the show be able to maintain the premise.

I mean, Sam isn't the unluckiest person on earth, is he? He's not having the worst week, every week?

Watching or ditching?? I'm going to see how it goes in a few more episodes...

Emmy Aftermath: Best and Worst Emmy Moment

BEST

5. Kristin Chenoweth, presenter. What can I say? She is such a doll and a trooper. (She's Barbie's Skipper!) Kristin Chenoweth is love.

4. Glen Close winning Best Actress. I should say she was due an Emmy trophy some three years ago for her guest role on The Shield. She won it now, that's what matters. I didn't pick for her though, I went for Sally Field.

3. Speaking of Sally Field --- Tom Hanks and her briefly reuniting on stage? Awww...

2. Tina Fey, yay!

1. Ricky Gervais. What a brilliant comedian, isn't he?

WORST

5. Josh Groban. Like I lost respect for him as a singer. Who made him sing himself silly?

4. Mad Men. It had me doubting my taste in TV programs for awhile. But I found out I'm not the only one who doesn't get this show. Even if it won Best Drama.

3. The Laugh-in bit? Or whatever that was with Lily Tomlin. She was great... but I felt sorry for the rest of them. They didn't have timing, for one. They shouldn't be subjected to such ridiculous antics. They've got nothing to prove anymore. Can you imagine the cast of Friends or maybe even Seinfeld doing their bits 30 years from now? Would you want that to be your last memory of your TV favorites together?

2. The idea of putting five reality hosts together. It was lousy. Lamest Emmy evaaaar.

1. Howie Mendel. Shut the eff up!

I wasn't able to watch the opening so I missed that video about Catchphrases. Guess I'll have to find that online. Also, who the heck is Lauren Hill and why did she become a presenter?

Emmy Awards 2008

Well, it is here finally. We'll know the results of the Emmy's in less than 24 hours (Phil viewers: 8 AM Velvet Channel, 9/22). I had a poll that ran for two weeks on this site and the results are that you think it's a 30 Rock and a House victory.

The partial list of nominees. My bets are in italics, winners are in red:

COMEDY

Outstanding Comedy Series

• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Entourage
• The Office
• 30 Rock
• Two And A Half Men

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

• Monk: Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk
• The Office: Steve Carell as Michael Scott
• Pushing Daisies: Lee Pace as Ned
• 30 Rock: Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy
• Two And A Half Men: Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

• The New Adventures Of Old Christine: Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell
• Samantha Who?: Christina Applegate as Samantha Newly
• 30 Rock: Tina Fey as Liz Lemon
• Ugly Betty: America Ferrera as Betty Suarez
• Weeds: Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

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

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

• Pushing Daisies: Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook
• Samantha Who?: Jean Smart as Regina Newly
• Saturday Night Live: Amy Poehler as Performer
• Two And A Half Men: Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper
• Ugly Betty: Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater

DRAMA

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

• Boston Legal: James Spader as Alan Shore
• Breaking Bad: Bryan Cranston as Walt White
• Dexter: Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan
• House: Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House
• In Treatment: Gabriel Byrne as Paul
• Mad Men: Jon Hamm as Don Draper

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

• Brothers & Sisters: Sally Field as Nora Holden-Walker
• The Closer: Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson
• Damages: Glenn Close as Patty Hewes
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson
• Saving Grace: Holly Hunter as Grace Hanadarko

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

• Boston Legal: William Shatner as Denny Crane
• Damages: Ted Danson as Arthur Frobisher
• Damages: Zeljko Ivanek as Ray Fiske
• Lost: Michael Emerson as Ben
• Mad Men: John Slattery as Roger Sterling
  

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

• Boston Legal: Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt
• Brothers & Sisters: Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Walker-Whedon
• Grey’s Anatomy: Chandra Wilson as Dr. Miranda Bailey
• Grey’s Anatomy: Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang
• In Treatment: Dianne Wiest as Dr. Gina Toll

Outstanding Drama Series

• Boston Legal
• Damages
• Dexter
• House
• Lost
• Mad Men
  

Survivor Philippines Week 1

I have a bunch of "Who Knew's"

Who knew Emerson, who virtually didn't have any exposure the first three days, had such deceptive intentions? He's going to be interesting to watch.

Who knew Chev was going to be voted off? (Speaking of Chev, who is she planning to paddle in this photo?) I thought they were gunning for JC, who had to stop mid-game during the immunity challenge; or Kaye, who failed to solve the final puzzle.

And along this line, as I believed JC was more reponsible for the team losing, who knew he could avoid getting the boot by managing to convince a tribe member to vote for Chev?

So many surprises this week.

Including ---- who knew I'd be addicted to Survivor again? A local franchise at that? Who knows how long my newly-revived addiction for Survivor Philippines will last?

Burn Notice S2 E9 - Good Soldier

After a short 9 episode run, Burn Notice ends its explosive summer season aptly so...with a bang.

As in, Ka-BOOM.

Yeah, that kind of "bang".

The people who've burned ex-spy Michael Westen has rigged the door of his home, nearly killing him. And it won't be until few more months before we find out if Michael has escaped unscratched. On second thought, of course he will escape without a scratch. He's the star of the show, isn't he?

The thing I love about this season? Michael's cover IDs! Every week, he pretended to be a different guy, it was fun to watch. The funnest character he played would probably have to be the asthmatic geek who was the complete opposite of his James-Bond-spy persona. Playing different people showed actor Jeffrey Donovan's versatility, which, to be honest, I wasn't even sure was in him...but I really don't care. He could just stand there and pretend he's a log and I'd still say he's cool and sexy!

I am also liking the (sexual) tension between Michael and Fiona. Does he still love her? Does she want him to still love her? I want him to love ME! :D

The thing I hate about this season? The question as to whoever burned Michael is still not answered. It is this thing, this running story, which the writers will, no doubt, be dragging all the way till the end.

Is Carla, his "handler, as much a patsy as Michael was made to be this season? Did Carla and her people really intend to kill him at his house? Or is that something Carla doesn't know herself?

Could January be any earlier? Season 2 Part 2 begins until then.

Australian Idol Top 12 - Jonny Taylor

Jonny, with his cool aura, is the first person out of Australian Idol's Top 12.

He's the guy who sounds like the lead singers for Pearl Jam, Creed and Hootie. He actually performed a Pearl Jam song for this round (Idol's Idol). He sounded okay but wasn't able to connect to the song and appeared a bit nervous.

Watch and listen:

TV Round Up Friday: Fey, Fi, Fo...Fun!

And how was this week on TV?

Jared Padalecki (Supernatural) talks about his Friday the 13th movie

Weekend ratings: Phelps and Fey score golden 'SNL' ratings; 'Fringe' builds its base. Also, Tina Fey was awesome as Sarah Palin. She really was. I am growing to respect her more everyday! And Tina's my age, I feel like a 12 year old compared to her!

Watch this MadTV spoof of So You Think You Can Dance. They do better at spoofing than SNL, me thinks.

Free downloadable TV series on IMDb! Whoohoo!

A Duran Duran member guest stars on Samantha Who?

Jeffrey Donovan is someone I wanna bite coz he's sexy, like so yummy as a cookie sexy! Really! He's heading to a Chicago theater after Burn Notice.

Fox is bringing Snowhite and the Seven Dwarfs to TV. And it's not that cartoon. It's derived from it though --- Georgia and the Seven Associates . The little girl in me is HAPPY! It's described as "The Devil Wears Prada" meets "Taxi". Hey wait a minute! Is this going to bump Eli Stone off the spot as the kookiest lawyer TV show today?

What the... True Blood gets a Season 2 right away. It's only been running for two weeks.

Chinese Ugly Betty? Not ugly. If anyone's interested, this is the girl playing our version of Ugly Betty

Candice Bushnell is working on another Carrie Bradshaw story ---- As a TEENAGER. Whooooa. Riding on the Gossip Girl trend are we?

Dylan McKay is the dad of Kelly's baby. She and Brenda are still fighting over him?

I am shock to read Jennifer Garner isn't a nice person. I have been reading a lot of that lately. She seemed sweet. So, really, she isn't?

Here's the full list of Emmy Creative Awards Winners.

Forget the Emmy's, check out these awards.

TV Ratings [09.17.08]

It looks like one of the shows I was keen on last summer is getting axed soon. Do Not Disturb, on its second episode continues to churn out badly executed comedy. But look at Bones. It's Wednesday's 2nd most watched show, next to America's Got Talent.

8.00 Block
America’s Got Talent NBC 11.1 M
Bones Fox 9.7 M
New Adventures Of Old Christine (Repeat) CBS 4.6 M
America’s Next Top Model The CW 4.2 M
Wife Swap (R) ABC 3.9 M

9.00 Block
America’s Got Talent NBC 12.9 M
Criminal Minds (Repeat) CBS 8.6 M
Til Death Fox 5.1 M
20/20: The Royal Family ABC 4.4 M
Do Not Disturb Fox 4.1 M
90210 (Repeat) The CW 2.0 M

10.00 Block
CSI: New-York (Repeat) CBS 8.0 M
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (Repeat) NBC 7.1 M
20/20: The Royal Family ABC 4.4 M

TV Ratings [09.16.2008]

Darn it. Where did my time go? I couldn't keep up last night. I had five shows to watch and only saw 2. Whiner alert. Sorry. I was complaining about the lack of TV entertainment last summer and now that everything I love is slowly coming back and filling my schedule, I complain I don't have enough time. Heh.

Anyway, last night's rating... Expectedly Fringe benefited from House because it jumped and gained 4Million more viewers than last week. Yay!

8.00 Block
House Fox 14.4 M
NCIS (Repeat) CBS 9.6 M
Biggest Loser NBC 7.4 M
Wipeout ABC 6.2 M
90210 The CW 3.3 M

9.00 Block
Fringe Fox 13.4 M
Biggest Loser NBC 8.2 M
Big Brother CBS 7.6 M
Wipeout ABC 5.5 M
Privileged The CW 2.4 M
UFOs: Seeing Is Believing ABC 5.0 M

10.00 Block
Without A Trace (Repeat) CBS 6.3 M
UFOs: Seeing Is Believing ABC 6.0 M
Law & Order: SVU (Repeat) NBC 5.7 M

Source: Nielsen

House S5 EP1 - Dying Changes Everything

Oh dear lordy. Wilson broke up with House!!! What can I say? I am too sad for words. The bromance is over! Cuddy was nearly gonna pull her hair out trying to help these two patch up. Going into "counselling" was an amusing scene. And I chuckled every time someone said the word, "idiot".

For a season opener though? This whole episode was brilliant. House is still that bloody ass who is never going to change. Nearly everyone had screen time (yay!) and Thirteen had her side story....which means we'll get to see more of this a lot this season.

Anyway, the bromance? This was how tonight ended:

Wilson to House ---

We're not okay...Amber was never the reason I was leaving. I didn't wanna tell you because....because I was trying, like I always do, to protect you.

Which is the problem.

You spread misery cause you can't feel anything else. You manipulate people because you can't handle any real relationship and I've enabled it. For years, the games, the binges, the middle of the night phone calls. I should've been the one on the bus, not Amber...You should've been alone on the bus.

If I learned anything from Amber is that I have to take care of myself.

We're not friends anymore, House. I'm not sure we ever were.

Catch up on How I Met Your Mother

The Writers Strike made us forget a lot of stuff on TV. But thank god for Youtube and those video uploaders who painstakingly do these videos. These season recaps are just what I need!

Here's How I Met Your Mother, rewind:

TV Ratings [09.15.08]

Wow. Things are really picking up for CW. Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill's ratings are steady. Someone's gonna get a pay raise! Someone or some show is going to be renewed for a third season! And I can't believe how well an old Batman movie is doing, still! (Not a big fan) Even with DVDs of it are out! Terminator lost viewers in big numbers. Uh-oh.

8.00 Block
Deal Or No Deal NBC 8.8 M
The Big Bang Theory (Repeat) CBS 6.0 M
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Fox 5.5 M
How I Met Your Mother (Repeat) CBS 5.4 M
Batman Begins (Movie) ABC 4.9 M
Gossip Girl The CW 3.7 M

9.00 Block
Two And A Half Men (Repeat) CBS 9.9 M
New Adventures Of Old Christine (Repeat) CBS 7.3 M
Batman Begins (Movie) ABC 6.1 M
Prison Break Fox 5.9 M
America’s Toughest Jobs NBC 4.9 M
One Tree Hill The CW 3.4 M

10.00 Block
CSI: Miami (Repeat) CBS 7.6 M
Batman Begins ABC 6.1 M
Dateline NBC 4.4 M

Source: Nielsen

Cable TV Ratings [Sept 8-14 '08]

Raising The Bar on TNT is still doing well in the ratings that I'm having second thoughts about choosing to not watch it. Maybe I should start watching it again?

Burn Notice, on the other hand, is on Top 10, alright! Sadly though, it is ending its season run this week.



Source: Nielsen Blog

17-year old Filipina Wows Them on Australian Idol 2008

I did not know she was Filipina. Or half-Filipina. I thought she had Australian aborigines blood in her, plus a mix of Caucasian genes. I loved her the first time I saw her audition. I even gave her 5 out of 5. She was the first one in the Top 12.

Last night was the first time all 12 showed what they can do. The theme was Idol's Idol. Chrislyn chose to sing an Aretha Franklin song which suited her voice and performance perfectly. In the VTR, she introduced her mom who she loves so much and says Mommy comes from the Philippines. Mommy's a bit camera shy, but yup, she is unmistakably Pinay. She must be really proud of her young daughter.

Chrislyn's performance last night? She came out on fire and earned the elusive "touchdown", sealing her number as the best one this week.

Watch her:

Survivor Philippines finds a star in Patani

Yep, they found an unlikely TV star. They found someone many Filipino households will be taking about for the next few weeks. Her name is Patani, a name I'm guessing the network asked her to use since her real name is Jervy (Patani is her middle name). Right there people is what you call branding. That's one thing GMA did right for this franchise. [I won't start about what they did wrong because there were plenty of flaws. It wasn't as good as I was hoping it would knowing that there's too much hype about it being handled by a prestigious News and Public Affairs department, rather than an Entertainment department. I'll chalk it up to.... first day (week) jitters?]

Anyway, "Patani" has more character. She's a person named after a vegetable, after all.

Her VTR intro says she got on the show because she wants to be famous, that she wants to have fans. Amusingly honest. Not like when one of the castaways said they got to the show to prove what Filipinos can do. Note to future reality contestants --- Puh-leeaase, enough of that crap! If you're on a "reality TV program" to "prove something", get off TV and join a non-profit organization or get involved in your community and prove something there. Plant a tree, promote recycling, build a free school for street kids, do medical missions. Don't do TV, unless what you really intend is to whore your way to publicity and prestige.

Like Patani. Who makes no qualms about saying that's what she wants. That's why, of the 18 castaways introduced last night, she stood out to me. Well, she also stood out because she was in this silly get up (on the VTR, not as pictured). Heh. But you see, Patani already knows what works for Reality TV. This nanny is born to be in it. Think of all the sound bites she will provide to this otherwise boring, repetitive format.

Photo from SurvivorPhilippines TV

I envy her smooth brown skin, by the way. Were those photos airbrushed? :D

Survivor Philippines airs every night at 9 PM on GMA.

Sneak Peek: Kevin McKidd on Grey's Anatomy

Uh oh. Christina sees Owen Hunt for the first time and she is drawn to him. Tough girl is smitten! Highly charged attraction, at first sight.

Owen Hunt is of course the newest character the writers are adding to the series. He's the military doctor they thought of pairing Christina up with. The character is played by Kevin McKidd (Rome & Journeyman). Is he going to bring something different? Is he and Christina going to click? We'll know in two weeks.

But here's a short clip from when Owen Hunt first steps into Seattle Grace:

The whore is back!

And no, I'm not talking about a woman I'm having a spat with or something like that. I'm really talking about a whore --- Belle/Hannah from Secret Diary of a Call Girl.

Yep, she is back for a second season. Couldn't be more thrilled! I did notice that she's a bit pudgier, see:



My first thoughts were that she looked very pregnant.

And well, I didn't know that at the time this was filming, Billie Piper is actually pregnant here (She's due next month). In some scenes where her character is required to strip, they used a body double for her.

Anyway, the first two episodes back are still just as amusing as ever. I wasn't expecting this on my watch list, what with USA's fall season already starting to pile up my viewing list. But this is something I really can't pass up.

You can read my post about the first season here.

TV Round Up Fridays: Quite a mix bag of everything TV

Round-up time! What's been going on in TV world this week? Lotsa fighting! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!

Alec Baldwin is pissed at NBC for something 30 Rock related, and takes his anger out on Scrubs and My Name is Earl. Greg Garcia, My Name is Earl creator, answers back. Baldwin apologizes to both shows, but not before ending his statement with yet another biting comment. Garcia answers back again. This ping pong is dizzying. Grown men engaging in word war? Not amusing unless... it's a story in TV show.

Did you hear about how NBC stars are banned from appearing on Scrubs, which has now moved to ABC? Network Wars on American TV? Aww, shit! It's why I don't watch local TV.

OMG! Seal will be on Eli Stone! Wheee!

Every week is National Stay At Home Week in our household, ABC.

Tina Fey will do Sarah Palin on SNL? Oh, please...please...please let it happen!

Ellen and Portia's wedding videos. Awwww. Ellen, by the way, is the new Cover Girl! Cool!

Gossip Girls' Leighton Meister is recording an album.

What shows should you be watching this September? Reuters rounds it up.

True Blood's pilot episode earned 1.44M viewers. Told you it made me fall asleep.

Paley visits Joey! Cute that they can stay friends after all these years.

Which show is crazier? Lost or Fringe? And how are they similar?

Sex and The City Sequel, next summer?

JLo is Project Runway's finale judge.

Jason Priestly directed the episode of Secret Life of American Teenager this week. It went up against 90210 and did better.

Josh Groban is singing TV Theme Songs at the Emmy's on the 21st. --- "More than two dozen classic openings, including The Brady Bunch anthem, are in the four-minute-plus medley, with many choices being kept under wraps until Emmy night. The Simpsons' and Friends' themes made the cut, but many choices are from an earlier era, before business and ratings strategies shortened or eliminated themes."

TV Ratings [09.10.08]

I feel sorry for Do Not Disturb. I loved what I saw back in June. But they changed the episode for its season premiere and that one was lame. So now, it's getting panned by critics.

Here's last Wednesday's ratings. It's a weak night, isn't it? Can't wait for Pushing Daisies to return on this night!

8.00 Block
America’s Got Talent NBC 10.5 M
Bones Fox 8.9 M
Greatest American Dog CBS 5.5 M
Wife Swap (Repeat) ABC 4.0 M
America’s Next Top Model The CW 3.8 M

9.00 Block
America’s Got Talent NBC 12.5 M
Criminal Minds (Repeat) CBS 8.3 M
Til Death Fox 6.4 M
Do Not Disturb Fox 4.9 M
Supernanny (Repeat) ABC 3.3 M
90210 (Repeat) The CW 2.3 M

10.00 Block
CSI: New-York (Repeat) CBS 7.5 M
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (Repeat) NBC 7.2 M
20/20 ABC 6.0 M

Source: Nielsen

Not forgetting...

Survivor Philippines' 18 Castaways

• Kristina "Kaye" Alipio, lingerie model 
  
• Leona Rica "Nikki" Dacullo, call center agent 
  
• Jervy "Patani" Daño, 20, babysitter 
  
• Veronica "Vern" Domingo, 29, taekwondo coach 
  
• Vevherly Gador, 20, student 
  
• Chevyline "Chev" Macias, 26 years old, former GRO 
  
• Zita Ortiga, 46, laundrywoman 
  
• Maria Nona "Niña" Ortiz, designer/wellness coach 
  
• Anna Charisse Yacapin, 26, product officer 
  
• Marlon Carmen, 30, waiter 
• Crisanto "Cris" Cartagenas, company driver 
  
• Emerson Dino, 31, technician 
  
• John Anthony Lopez, 27, auto mechanic/model 
  
• Raymund Francis "Kiko" Rustia, model 
  
• Cesar "Gigit" Sulit, 48, web designer/mountaineer 
  
• Robert Vincent "Rob" Sy, sales officer 
• John Carlo "JC" Tiuseco, 23, basketball player 

Thanks to the guys and gals at Girltalk for this update. I may not get to follow the show when Survivor Philippines begins airing nightly come Sept 15. But the Girltalkers will keep me in the loop just fine.

Sam Who Thinks She Can Dance

Missing Samantha Who? She's going to be back in a couple of weeks. And she's going to come back dancing! The first episode for Season 2 features Sam and her mom in a dancing competition. There's a minor problem to this though... Old Sam had nimble feet, New Sam forgot she can groove.

But based on these photos, I think she eventually got into it just fine and was on her toes...ready to beat her mom's nemesis on the dancing floor, a character played by guest star Cybil Shepard.

TV Ratings [09.09.08]

How did Fringe and Privileged do last night? Did 90210 manage to keep its 5Million viewers last week?

Fringe managed to get a decent 9M, which really isn't great for a show that's much anticipated. It should have been in double digits. It was however, the highest rated show in its key demo, and that's good. Next week, when House premieres its new episode and stands as its lead-in, expect to see more positive changes to its ratings.

Privileged did alright with 2M+ viewers for the pilot...for a show on CW. And yep, 90210 was dropped by 2M viewers from last week.

Here's the rundown:

8.00 Block
America’s Got Talent NBC 11.6 M
Fringe Fox 9.0 M
Wipeout ABC 7.1 M
Big Brother CBS 7.0 M
90210 The CW 3.3 M

9.00 Block
America’s Got Talent NBC 11.6 M
Fringe Fox 9.0 M
Wipeout ABC 7.1 M
Hole In The Wall Fox 5.1 M
Fashion Rocks CBS 5.1 M
Privileged The CW 2.9 M

10.00 Block
Law & Order: SVU (Repeat) NBC 7.7 M
Primetime: Medical Mysteries ABC 6.8 M
Fashion Rocks CBS 5.1 M

Source: Nielsen

Privileged S1 E1 Pilot

I finally have something I can watch on CW!! 

I knew I'd enjoy Privileged.  I did say it was my Samantha Who? this year... and you know what? It did not disappoint. I loved every minute of the pilot!

Save for the fact that everything about this show isn't a fresh concept; or the fact that Privileged may be considered a poor imitation of yet another series about wealthy brats... over-all though, I know I'm sticking around for more.

The heart of the show is really JoAnna Garcia, who plays Megan Smith, a writer who dreams of meeting rich and famous people so she can have materials for a really good book she's planning to author. Instead, she ends up tutoring two rich Palm Beach teenage girls, who predictably aren't interested with school work. 

Megan is smart, perky, goofy and really, really cute. You cannot not love her. The girls, Rose and Sage, are known as the Evil Baker Twins. But they aren't that evil. Well, one is...but there's always a reason. You can't really hate them. 

Now this cuteness seems to be the prerequisite to this show, you know? We've got too many dramas of the rich and famous to go around, so I'm telling you now --- Privileged is the lite, stress-free version.

Also in the cast is Anne Archer, as the girl's very classy grandmother, who Megan initially thought she was working for.

The show's got the token gay guy, as well --- the family chef, Marco. I'm seeing that he will be Megan's confidante in the household and will walk her through the kids' fancy lifestyle. Let's just say that if this was a fairy tale, Marco would be the fairy godmother to Megan. 

Outside of work, Megan has her working class best friend, Charlie, who'll probably be her sounding board when she starts complaining about how unfocused and superficial the kids are.

Are you now getting a picture of what this show is like?

There are shades of Gilmore Girls in this one. Despite it's really unoriginal plot, Privileged has witty dialogues and is a smartly written, well-paced show. It's oddly formulaic and predictable. And yet I can't help but enjoy it.

Watching it or ditching it? My answer to this is crystal clear. I'm giddy about it.

So did you like FRINGE?

See review: Fringe