Just how confident is Showtime in HOUSE OF LIES, their newest series starring Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell? So confident that they’ve decided to take a page from the Pringles “Once you pop, you can’t stop” playbook by offering up the series premiere for free via Sho.com, iTunes, YouTube and select television providers’ free On Demand channels and websites. Oh, and on the off chance you’re asking yourself just how you can possibly thank us for this incredibly awesome tip, by all means feel free to return to theTVaddict.com after watching the premiere and share with us what you thought. Enjoy.

Has WEEDS worn out its welcome? Not according to David Nevins, President of Entertainment at Showtime.

“I think that show’s got life, real life in it and I feel like Jenji [Creator Jenji Kohan] has done a really great job of evolving her show, making it move in different places and reinventing it in really interesting ways every year.” said Nevins during his executive panel during last week’s Showtime portion of the 2011 Television Critics Association Press Tour in Los Angeles. “I haven’t picked it up yet, but I’m optimistic. It’s been an interesting year and I’m excited for people to sort of see where it goes by the end of the season as all the stories sort of coalesce.”

Unfortunately in this business we like to affectionally refer to as show, there is a big difference between “optimism” and “reality,” particularly for this WEEDS addict who has spent the better part of seven seasons revelling in the show’s trademark twists and outrageous turns. Which is why, not satisfied with Nevins wait-and-see attitude, this TV Addict took it upon ourselves to seek get a more definitive answer during the recent CBS/CW/Showtime Party in Los Angeles.

What we found, wasn’t so much Ms. Kohan (who according to Nevins was putting the finishing touches on the finale as we speak), but rather the net best thing, WEEDS executive producer Mark Burley.

“We’re hopeful that it will get picked up for season 8 but we don’t know yet,” admitted Burley. “We’re waiting to hear, but I’m going to say hopefully the signs are good.”

Not so good, is the fact that since Nevins won’t have made a decision on the show’s fate in time for Kohan to craft a proper series finale, there is a distinct possibility that loyal WEEDS fans might not get the ending they deserve… should the unthinkable happen and a deal not be reached for an eighth season of the show. Said Burley, “Because we’re hoping that there will be another season there will not sort of be a period at the end of season 7.”

In other words WEEDS fans, keep your fingers crossed.

New episodes of WEEDS airs Mondays at 10PM on Showtime (Wednesdays on Showcase in Canada) Catch up on past episodes you may have missed for free online at clicktowatch.tv

Best Feud: One almost feels bad for Fox News as one man — Jon Stewart’s THE DAILY SHOW — repeatedly makes mince meat of their entire network. Almost.
 
The “Don’t Let The Door Hit Ya Where The Good Lord Split Ya” Award Goes To… : Vinny, The Situation and any other JERSEY SHORE cast member who walks away — or threatens to — from the show. Dudes, if you think there aren’t about 5.3 million folks with equally low IQ’s willing to act like complete asshats in order to make millions of dollars, you know nothing about the tragic state of today’s society.
 
Campaign With The Most Bite: Discovery Channel brilliantly released ads using Lady Gaga’s “Show Me Your Teeth” to promote Shark Week.
 
Person You Never Want On A Jury Judging You: CNN’s Nancy Grace proved that she is a believer not in justice and points of law but mob rule by calling Casey Anthony’s jury “kooky” and other derogatory terms. Better still, she proved herself a hypocrite by then taking John King to task for showing clips in which she was criticized by an actual juror. Note to Ms. Grace: If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Most Ridiculous Controversy: A DirecTV ad featuring a fake boxer named Truth sparked accusations of racism and elder abuse from people who clearly have never MONDAY NIGHT RAW, which features walking stereotype R. Truth. Oh, and who also clearly have no sense of humor whatsoever.
 
Most Obvious Outcome: According to LA Weekly, the reason the winner of AMERICA’S NEXT GREAT RESTAURANT saw his franchise fail was… bad food. Huh. You’d think someone would have taken that into consideration.
 
Go Ahead, Laugh: The folks at Deadline Hollywood reported that Russell T. Davies — creator of TORCHWOOD and QUEER AS FOLK — would be doing a new series for Showtime. The only known details? The show will revolve around gay men and is named CUCUMBER. The jokes right themselves, kids.
 
Most Likely To Be Banging Their Heads: NBC execs who will pay a fortune for the 2018 Winter Olympics… which will be broadcast from Korea, a country with a 14-hour time difference, thus assuring most events won’t air live during primetime.
 
Train Wreck Of The Week: As always, BIG BROTHER promised to be both the most addictive and, thanks to the presence of wildly-annoying former-contestant Rachel, annoying guilty pleasure of the summer.
 
Most Unexpected News: ABC announced that they’d sold the licensing for doomed soaps ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE to Prospect Park production company and that the shows would continue on-line via an as-yet-unlaunched Hulu-like service. Fans were cautiously optimistic yet skeptical, especially given ABC’s having treated them like red-headed stepchildren in the past.
 
Luckiest Chick Ever: Showtime’s HOUSE OF LIES cast conventional hunk Michael Rady (MELROSE PLACE) and unconventional hunk Nick Stahl (CARNIVAL) to woo Kristen Bell.
 
Oddest Debate Among Pop Culture Aficionados: The hottest topic among TV columnists? Are there too many breasts (tits, boobies, dirty pillows, etc) on networks like HBO and Showtime. Guess if you never get to touch ‘em in real life, you’ll look for any excuse to write about ‘em, right nerds?

THE BORGIAS
Despite the fact that on the surface, Showtime’s THE BORGIAS — complete with copious amounts of sex and gratuitous levels of violence — is equal to timeslot rival GAME OF THRONES in almost every respect. There is one unmistakeable thing that separates HBO’s big budget fantasy from Jeremy Irons Showtime starrer: Have you seen those adorable Dire Wolf Cubs?

SUNDAY NIGHT ON ABC
As much as we hate to be that guy — you know, the Hollywood cliché who swaps his steady squeeze for a hot young newcomer — we recently decided that it was time to trade ol’ reliable Sunday stalwarts DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES and BROTHERS & SISTERS for the flashier newbies GAME OF THRONES and THE KILLING. Don’t shoot the messenger.

TREME
As much as we’d like to applaud HBO for continuing to shine a much needed spotlight on a post-Katrina New Orleans — particularly in lieu of America’s 24/7 Cable News Outlets who seem to be far more interested in covering Lindsay Lohan’s legal snafu — nothing screams “bummer of a way to end a weekend” like a TREME viewing party. Worse still, we’re not the only ones who feel that way.

NURSE JACKIE
With apologies in advance to Showtime, no amount of Emmy love for star Edie Falco can make up for the fact that following WEEDS, DAMAGES and THE UNITED STATES OF TARA we’re thisclose to O.D.’ing on cable shows starring incredibly brilliant albeit somewhat damaged woman.

TELEVISION NEWS
You know, those programs media conglomerates spend hundreds of millions of dollars per year on so that they can alert you to news your Twitter feed “spoiled” 7 hours ago! (See: Japanese Earthquake)

The fight for your disposable income between pay-cablers HBO and Showtime just got that much more interesting thanks to today’s news that has newly-minted Showtime President of Entertainment David Nevins giving the greenlight to two new series.

HOUSE OF LIES, based on the tell-all book of the same name is a new half-hour comedy created by Matthew Carnahan that takes a scathing look inside the world of management consulting and stars Don Cheadle as Marty, a highly-successful and cutthroat consultant who is never above using any means (or anyone) necessary to get his way with and for his clients. More exciting still is that his co-workers include Kristen Bell (HEROES… just kidding, VERONICA MARS) who plays Jeannie Van Der Hooven, a razor-sharp, Ivy-League graduate as well as Ben Schwartz (UNDERCOVERS) and Josh Lawson (ROMANTICALLY CHALLENGED).

HOMELAND is a psychological thriller based on the Israeli television series PRISONERS OF WAR, that tells the story of Carrie Anderson (Claire Danes), a CIA officer battling her own demons, who becomes convinced that the intelligence that led to the rescue of Scott Brody (Damian Lewis) a U.S. soldier who had been missing and presumed deal for nine years, was a setup and may be connected to an Al Qaeda plot to be carried out on American soil. Mandy Patinkin will portray Saul, a veteran CIA Division Chief who is Carrie’s (Danes) boss and mentor. 

Both series are set to start production this summer.

Biggest Surprise: Despite the fact that the first half of SHAMELESS’ season had us wishing those poor Gallagher kids were more of a “Party of 6,” not-quite-father-of-the-year-candidate Frank deserves some serious credit for owning up to sleeping with son Lip’s not-quite-girlfriend Karen by taking his “golden shower” like a man.

Best Blowoff: After Ina Garten — aka the Barefoot Contessa — got herself in hot water by denying a 6-year-old’s Make-A-Wish request, the kid’s dad turned the tables on her by saying “thanks, but no thanks” when she realized the error of her ways. Personally, we think cancer patient Enzo made a great choice in trading the Contessa for a swim with dolphins!
  
Creepiest Practical Joke Ever: While his housemate was away, a Reddit user — Deluxe810 — transformed his roomie’s sleep space into a kill room like those used by DEXTER Morgan.

Creepiest Guest Appearance of the Week: Elizabeth Mitchell’s terrifying turn as a piano teacher accused of raping and killing a young girl on Wednesday’s LAW & ORDER: SVU may have solidified the talented actress’s chances at an outshining guest actor Emmy, but it gave us the willies.

Worst Export: Will anyone really be able to blame Canada when they declare war upon the United States after THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF TORONTO hits the airwaves?
 
Oddest Guest Gig: Wayne Brady looked both uncomfortable and confused while judging the final five contestants on RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE.
 
When Stunt Casting Goes Awry: Kourtney Kardashian’s appearance on ONE LIFE TO LIVE proved why acting should be left to professionals.
 
Quote Of The Week: “Snooki is an old Italian word for talentless slut,” said Steven Schirripa on CONAN.
 
Proof We’re All Doomed: MTV got its highest ratings in five years thanks to the season finale of JERSEY SHORE.

Reason #4234 We Love Twitter: Comes LOST executive producer @damonlindelof’s honest reaction to this week’s MAD MEN negations between AMC, Lionsgate and creator Matthew Weiner, “Not that I’m sour grapes, but TEN MILLION DOLLARS a year for 13 episodes of a single show seems pretty fair, no? #SOURGRAPES”

Reason #4235: Comes @sutterink’s follow up, “You can’t ask a network for 10 million, then bitch when they want to expand their ad revenue source. Whore or saint, pick one.”
 
Most Best Reason To Throw Your Cowboy Hat In The Air And Shout Yeehaw: FX renewed modern western JUSTIFIED for a third season.
 
The Lame Attempt To Get Publicity For A Failed Show Award Goes To…: Bravo, who this week announced that THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF MIAMI’s reunion show would be a live broadcast.
 
Most Disturbing Political Development: Does anybody really think that Donald Trump is going to run for president? No. So why is the coif-challenged blowhard being treated as a serious contender by news outlets and allowed to continue beating the birther drum, much to the not-so- secret delight of the GOP?
 
Bravo Series We’re Most Looking Forward To: PROJECT RUNWAY alum Chris March — known for his outrageous designs and over-the-top style — will headline MAD FASHION, in which his team develops flamboyant outfits for big-name clients.

Conspiracy of the Week: Is it just us, or did anyone else scream “product placement” following AMERICAN DAD’s completely bizarre and out of place riff on Major League Baseball that was perfectly timed to coincided with the start of the MLB season?

As one of the proud, the ardent, the remaining TV Addicts to have stuck by WEEDS throughout all five of its somewhat uneven seasons, it pains us to say that tonight’s sixth season premiere — which has the Botwin clan hastily making a run for it after youngest son Shane channels his inner Dexter Morgan — is not its finest hour.

That said, there is a silver-lining to tonight’s ridiculousness that offers up a resolution to Andy’s almost wife Audra (Alanis Morissette) being held hostage by an anti-abortionist stalker, while Silas, Andy and Nancy attempt to come to grips with Shane knocking off Pilar in the swimming pool with a Croquet mallet.

That silver-lining: The fact that by the time the credits roll on tonight’s episode — which plays very much more like an end to last season, versus a start of a new one — executive producer Jenji Kohan will have successfully written herself out of a corner and essentially given her writing staff a clean slate to work with heading into season six.

Of course, whether or not Nancy and Co. can make the most of said fresh start remains to be seen. But considering we’re already hooked on the product and by no means ready to kick the habit, it certainly has us intrigued.

From the network that brought you WEEDS, NURSE JACKIE and the UNITED STATES OF TARA comes THE BIG C, a tale about 42-year old Cathy Jamison (Laura Linney) who after receiving life changing news, decides to make drastic and long overdue adjustments to the way she is living her life.

Now, before you let out the Big “G” (that’s groan in case you were wondering) and rightfully wonder why Showtime, the pay-cabler that once eschewed the formulaic tendencies of its broadcast brethren (yes we’re talking to you CBS) by producing groundbreaking series’ such as DEXTER and WEEDS is now offering up yet another half-hour dark comedy revolving around a super-talented actress [see: NURSE JACKIE's Edie Falco, UNITED STATES OF TARA's Toni Collette and WEEDS' Mary-Louise Parker's] dealing with big problems (like addiction to painkillers, multi-personality disorder and/or drugs), consider this: Laura Linney, for lack of a better word, rocks.

Indeed, there is a very good reason Linney’s mantle is close to collapse under the weight of her numerous Emmys and plethora of other hardware. As a reserved Minneapolis school teacher grappling with a very unfortunate Cancer diagnosis, she manages to elevate THE BIG C’s shortcomings (including a slightly-less than believable homeless brother, crazed elderly neighbor and an almost sitcom-y ex-husband) with the perfect mix of emotional and light-hearted beats. Whether she’s taking a special interest in one of her more truant summer-school students played by Precious’ Gabourey Sidibe (Telling her, “You can’t be fat and mean Andrea. You can either be fat and jolly or a skinny bitch, it’s up to you!”) or alerting her teenage son as to why his father isn’t living with them anymore (“I only wanted to raise one kid and I choose you and from now on I’m going to raise you so hard your head is going to spin.”) Linney’s Jamison truly makes the most out of what in almost any other actresses hands could have been a downright downer of a comedy. Which is reason enough for us to give THE BIG C, a big “A.”

THE BIG C premieres Monday August 16 at 10:30PM on Showtime (September 1 on the Super Channel in Canada)