TV Chatting

The new drama Crash premieres on Starz on October 17, but if you’re anxious to see it, you can watch now! Starz has made the premiere episode available online at http://www.starz.com/originals/crash/screeningroom.

The series, like the Academy Award winning movie, looks at the way different lives intersect and collide in the melting pot of L.A. It stars Dennis Hopper as Ben Cendars, the maverick record producer. Hopper leads the ensemble cast which also includes impulsive cop Kenny Battaglia (Ross McCall); his actress-turned-police officer partner Bebe Arcel (Arlene Tur); frustrated Brentwood mom Christine Emory (Clare Carey); her pre-bust real-estate developer husband Peter Emory (D.B. Sweeney); former gang member-turned-EMT Eddie Choi (Brian Tee); Ben’s street-smart driver Anthony Adams (Jocko Sims); illegal Guatemalan immigrant Cesar Uman (Luis Chaves); and cocky, hot-tempered detective Axel Finet (Nick Tarabay).

You can find out more about the show and its stars at the Crash website: http://www.starz.com/crash.

On the upcoming episode of TNT’s  Raising the Bar, entitled "Hang Time," Jerry’s (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) latest case involves a man arrested for following a hit-and-run driver and then stealing money from him. And in a situation with personal implications, Bobbi (Natalia Cigliuti) handles a complicated case in which the wife in a domestic-violence dispute refuses to press charges against her husband.

Gloria Reuben, Currie Graham, Melissa Sagemiller, J. August Richards, Jonathan Scarfe, Teddy Sears and Jane Kaczmarek also star.  Homicide: Life on the Street’s Jon Polito guest stars.

Take a look at this sneak peek of "Hang Time."

Find out how it plays out when Raising the Bar airs this Monday at 10 pm on TNT.

Big thanks to our friends at TNT for the clip!

The new NBC comedy Kath and Kim premieres this coming Thursday at 8:30 pm ET, right between favorites My Name is Earl and The Office.

Kath & Kim, an adaptation of Australia’s hit comedy, focuses on Kath (Molly Shannon), a cheerful, foxy, forty-something and her self-absorbed daughter, Kim (Selma Blair), who have the love/hate, push/pull dysfunctional relationship that only a mother and daughter could share.

Kath has finally found love in the form of a sandwich shop owner named Phil Knight (John Michael Higgins). Kim is a self-absorbed princess newly separated from her husband of six weeks, Craig (Mikey Day). Kim decides to move back home, putting a damper on Kath’s new romance.

For more from the stars of the show, check out this video from NBC.com:

(I am having trouble with the embed but you can find the video at http://www.nbc.com/Kath_and_Kim/video/clips/the-stars-talk-kath-and-kim/717922/ )

Here are the 10 biggest broadcast gainers, along with the 10 biggest droppers among returning shows.  The numbers compare last season’s premiere ratings among adults 18-49 premiere to this season’s.

Gainers

1. CW SUPERNATURAL 1.2 to 1.7 = 42%
2. CBS CRIMINAL MINDS 3.5 to 4.7 = 34%
3. CBS HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER 3.3 to 4.0 = 21%
4. CBS CSI: MIAMI 4.6 to 5.2 = 13%
5. CBS NCIS 3.2 to 3.6 = 13%
6. CBS TWO AND A HALF MEN 4.8 to 5.3 = 10%
7. CBS CSI: NY 3.7 to 4.0 = 8%
8. CW GOSSIP GIRL 1.6 to 1.7 = 6%
9. CW ONE TREE HILL 1.6 to 1.7 = 6%
10. FOX AMERICAN DAD 3.1 to 3.2 = 3%

Droppers

1. ABC PUSHING DAISIES 4.4 to 2.0 = -55%
2. FOX TERMINATOR 4.2 to 2.4 = -43%
3. FOX DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS 2.9 to 1.7 = -41%
4. CBS WITHOUT A TRACE 4.7 to 2.8 = -40%
5. ABC PRIVATE PRACTICE 5.2 to 3.3 = -37%
6. CBS OLD CHRISTINE 3.2 to 2.1 = -34%
7. ABC DIRTY SEXY MONEY 3.6 to 2.4 = -33%
8. CW AMERICA’S TOP MODEL 2.5 to 1.7 = -32%
9. FOX SMARTER THAN 5TH GRADER 2.5 to 1.7 = -32%
10. NBC HEROES 7.3 to 5.0 = -32%

How are the new shows doing?  Well here are the average ratings for the shows that have premiered to date:

Fox Fringe 10.3 million / 4.0
CBS Mentalist 15.6 million / 3.6   
CBS Worst Week 9.9 million / 3.4
NBC Knight Rider 5.3 million / 2.5
Fox Hole in the Wall 5.8 million / 2.4
CBS Gary Unmarried 6.9 million / 2.3
CW 90210 3.7 million / 2.0
ABC Opportunity Knocks 6.3 million / 1.8
CW Privileged 2.2 million / 1.0

Source

I am not a fan of competition shows so I don’t know how my son managed to get me to watch this one, but he did.  I really don’t care for opera at all either, but from the moment I saw Neal E. Boyd audition I proclaimed him the winner.  Not only is he an amazing vocalist, Neal has got a beautiful heart and such an honest personality.  He is so humble and really proud to be up there singing for America and his mom (who he obviously loves very dearly).

Along the way I thought there might be a few acts who could knock him out of the running (Nuttin’ But Stringz and Queen Emily for sure), but in the end, America agreed with me and Neal took home the million dollar prize and the Vegas show.

Congratulations Neal!  You deserve it!

J.J. Abrams latest drama, Fringe, has scored a full season pickup, Variety reports. Fox ordered an additional 9 episodes (known in TV land as the “back nine”) today.

Fringe has been ranked number 1 so far among all new shows in the 18-49 demographic.  The show has averaged a 4.2 rating and 11 share, and 10.7 million viewers.

Fringe revolves around FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) who, through a series of strange events, is partnered with an eccentric scientist, Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble), and his intelligent, but somewhat shady son, Peter (Joshua Jackson).  Together they investigate the unusual and disturbing events happening all around the world which have been dubbed “The Pattern.” 

You can catch Fringe Tuesday nights at 9 pm ET on Fox.

The folks at NBC have partnered with MSN to host an online scavenger hunt promoting the upcoming premiere of the new series My Own Worst Enemy.

All you have to do to enter is answer the trivia questions that will throw you into the dueling world of family man, Henry,  vs. special agent, Edward.  By playing, you’ll be entered to win a huge HOME ENTERTAINMENT GRAND PRIZE package that includes a 52″ LG Flat-Panel LCD HDTV, a Bose Speaker System and a LG Super Blu High-Definition Multiplayer!

There are 16 days left to join in on the fun!  You can find out more at http://www.myownworstenemy.msn.com/

My Own Worst Enemy (starring Christian Slater) premieres Monday, October 13th at 10 pm ET on NBC, right after Heroes.

Take a look at a preview of the upcoming episode of Steven Bochco’s new TNT series, Raising the Bar. This episode is titled “Bagels & Locks.”

Jerry (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) takes on a tough, emotional case in which a young boy was molested and murdered in an abandoned building.  As press coverage raises the heat on the case, Balco (Currie Graham) decides to take over as the primary prosecutor.  Bobbi, (Natalia Cigliuti) meanwhile, is defending a family man charged with possession of heroin, but the physical evidence against him seems non-existent.  Jerry finally gets to meet Bobbi’s husband, Gavin (Heath Freeman), but Jerry and Bobbi’s playful flirting turns the meeting uncomfortable.

You can catch the episode on Monday, September 29 at 10 p.m. ET on TNT.

Fox has canceled the new comedy Do Not Disturb after airing only 3 episodes, making it the first casualty of the 2008 fall season.  It will be replaced next week with an additional episode of Til Death to fill the 9 p.m. hour.

The cancellation comes days after the production team sent a letter to TV critics apologizing "for being the perpetrators of such bad television." They blamed the show’s bad reception, in part, on Fox’s decision to air a different first episode than initially planned.

Do Not Disturb starred Jerry O’Connell and Niecy Nash. It focused on a chic Manhattan hotel and what goes on behind the scenes.  The show, which averaged only 4 million viewers and a 1.6 rating, has another 4 episodes ready but it’s unclear if those will ever be aired.

Source: TV Guide, The Hollywood Reporter

Buffy fans rejoice!  Sarah Michelle Gellar is set to star in and executive produce the new HBO series The Wonderful Maladys. The show, about three dysfunctional adult siblings living in New York and struggling to deal with the loss of their parents years ago, will begin shooting early next year.

Creator Charles Randolph says he wrote the part with Gellar in mind.

Gellar starred as Buffy Summers for six seasons on the Joss Whedon favorite, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She has also starred in the thrillers I Know What You Did Last Summer and Scream, and played Daphne in the Scooby-Doo movies.  She also gave a fantastic performance in 1999’s Cruel Intentions opposite Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon.

You can catch Gellar on the big screen in two upcoming films, the romance thriller Possession and the drama Veronika Decides to Die.

• Drama Series: "Mad Men," AMC.

• Comedy Series: "30 Rock," NBC.

• Actor, Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad," AMC.

• Actress, Drama Series: Glenn Close, "Damages," FX.

• Actor, Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock," NBC.

• Actress, Comedy Series: Tina Fey, "30 Rock," NBC.

• Reality-Competition Program: "The Amazing Race."

• Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program: Jeff Probst - "Survivor."

• Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Zeljko Ivanek, "Damages," FX.

• Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Dianne Wiest, "In Treatment," HBO.

• Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Jeremy Piven, "Entourage," HBO.

Read the rest of this entry »

With just a little over one week until the much anticipated Season 3 premiere of Heroes and to celebrate the re-launch of the show, I am hosting a week long celebration and giveaway over at Watching Heroes .

There are lots of prizes including:

• Comic-Con exclusive Heroes comic books courtesy of Sprint and M80
• Saving Charlie hardcover book from Del Ray Books
• Five (Count ‘em FIVE) Season 2 DVD sets courtesy of Deep Discount
• P.J. Otaku’s latest CD featuring the song “We Could Be Heroes” from Gelatinous Productions and P.J. Otaku
• I “heart” Heroes buttons courtesy of me!

(For more details about the prizes - Click HERE!)

All you have to do is stop in each day and give some feedback on the post designated as "Contest Post of the Day."  Just leave your comment with a valid email address (which is kept confidential).

Here’s a link to today’s contest post: http://www.watchingheroes.com/mondays-contest-post-of-the-day-favorite-hero/

Good Luck!

Former Moonlighting star and four-time Emmy nominee Cybill Shepherd will guest on the season premiere of  Samantha Who? on Monday, Oct. 13. Also on the episode will be Dancing with the Stars pro Mark Ballas. Sam ( Christina Applegate) enters a dance competition with her mom, Regina (Jean Smart), in hopes of beating Regina’s rival Paula, played by Shepherd. Paula, however, has hired a ringer (Ballas) to help her win.

Grey’s Anatomy is adding several new recurring players. L Word alum Janina Gavankar will join the cast as a new intern and Journeyman star Kevin McKidd will play a former Iraq doctor and love interest for Cristina. Also cast is Brandon Scott who will play a "junior McDreamy," according to EW’s Ausiello.

Former LOST actress Tania Raymonde, who played Ben’s dearly departed daughter, Alex, is joining the cast of Cold Case as a lab tech and potential love interest for Danny Pino.

Another Olympian is trying her hand at acting. Gymnast Nastia Lukin will guest on an episode of Gossip Girl. She is set to begin filming in mid-October. 

Gary Cole (Desperate Housewives) has been cast as the Sarah’s con-man father on Chuck. His guest spot will air during November sweeps.

Breckin Meyer will guest star on House later this season as a struggling artist whose disease causes him to get wildly aggressive. Of course, House and his crew set out to solve his medical mystery. Meyer and his buddy Seth Green will also guest star on Heroes as a couple of comic book geeks. They started filming this week.

If you love the new TNT legal drama Raising the Bar but can’t bear to watch because of Mark-Paul Gosselar’s hair-don’t, then this is the perfect game for you.  Head on over to http://www.tnt.tv/games/raisingthebar/ and choose a new hairstyle for Jerry. I don’t know if he’ll take your advice, but you can have a little fun anyway.

Zack Morris, is that you?

Master impressionist Frank Caliendo (MADtv, Fox NFL Sunday) is coming back with new episodes of TBS’s late-night comedy series Frank TV beginning October 21.

Caliendo will be back channeling all of your favorite pop culture, entertainment, sports and political icons such as John Madden, Jack Nicholson, Sean Connery, Charles Barkley, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and, of course, President George W. Bush. 

Caliendo will add to his repertoire this year with impressions of John McCain, Al Gore, Jim Rome and James Gandolfini.  He will be joined by two other talented impressionists, Mike MacRae and Freddy Lockhart.

Frank TV will feature a special election-night episode of political sketches hosted by Caliendo as President George W. Bush. Here’s a sampling of what you can expect this season with the election looming: