In our third consecutive podcast in a row, hosts Daniel (theTVaddict) and partner-in-crime Ariel continue to poke holes in our credibility by offering up our take on the season premieres of MELROSE PLACE and 90210, nielsen’s faulty ratings system and of course our usual plethora of random inappropriate tangents. As per usual, please don’t hesitate, and by ‘don’t hesitate,’ we of course mean… let us know what you think by leaving us a comment, reviewing us on iTunes and/or sending us an email at info@thetvaddict.com or ariel@thetvaddict.com.
[audio:http://cdn.libsyn.com/thetvaddict/tvaddictpodcast_S03E03.mp3]Archives for September 2009
Ellen DeGeneres Joins AMERICAN IDOL as Fourth Judge
Good Great News: Ellen Degeneres will join AMERICAN IDOL as the show’s fourth judge for the upcoming ninth season. Bad News: For Paula whatsername, whose fifteen minutes just came to a screeching halt! Full press release after the jump.
Wednesday’s This Fall: Watch, PVR, Pass!
Today’s TV Addict Top 5: Fall’s Most Anticipated New Comedies
COMMUNITY
For his first regular series television project, THE SOUP’s Joel McHale proves he’s no dummy… by enrolling in Community College. No, really. Rather than go down the sitcom route that has plagued so many big names prior (see: Geena Davis, Jason Alexander, Michael Richards and Bette Midler to name a few) McHale cleverly decided to surround himself with perhaps the most talented group of quirky newcomers since Dunder Mifflin opened up a branch in Scranton. Yup, thanks to Chevy Chase, Allison Brea and our prediction for this Fall’s break-out star Danny Pudi (Sorry Jack McBrayer, you’re so 2007), we finally have a reason to be excited for school. COMMUNITY premieres on Thursday September 17 at 9:30PM on NBC, CityTV in Canada
COUGAR TOWN
Heading into the fall season, there was little doubt that the Courteney Cox starring, Bill Lawrence produced comedy was going to make this list. Unfortunately, rather than offer up big laughs, COUGAR TOWN is little more than a big disappointment, relying far too much on hackneyed stereotypes (older woman + younger hottie = funny!) and an unbelievable premise (Seriously, who is divorcing Courteney Cox?). That said, when your showrunner is one of the funniest men in the business, heck on the planet (Free advice: If NBC were smart, they’d give Bill Lawrence the 10PM slot) and your show continues to employ the under appreciated gem that is ALIENS IN AMERICA survivor Dan Byrd, you get a second, third, well, as many chances as you need to make it work. COUGAR TOWN premieres on Wednesday September 23 at 9:30PM on ABC, CityTV in Canada
You Be the Critic: 90210 and MELROSE PLACE
Thanks to last nights much-anticipated return of 90210 and MELROSE PLACE the TV Addict finally gets to scratch that itch by typing those four magical words that we’ve been jonsin’ for all summer long, “You Be The Critic.” Which if you’re new to theTVaddict.com (and by the way, thanks for stopping by) is YOUR opportunity to post away with your take on last night’s television. But before you do, a few random musing if we may.
As advertised, 90210 did in fact offer up a “New Beginning,” cleverly repositioning the series around the trifecta of talent that is Naomi (AnnaLynne McCord), Silver (Jessica Stroup) and Adrianne (Jessica Lowndes, sporting some much needed lush new locks!). Leaving sullen Shenae Grimes’ Annie Mills flying solo towards a dangerous downward path of booze, sex and public humiliation (Which gets much worse next week, just wait!) Just how much fun was last night’s 90210? Put it this way, between the much-improved dialogue (That “woosh” you just heard was the Viki Kristina Barcelona reference flying completely over our head), and the hilariously-wicked-yet-still-likeable Naomi Clark, we barely cared that the new theme song is a massive dud, Navid (Michael Steger) and Dixon (Tristan Wilds) are so boring that we’re praying that their next to join Ethan in Montana, and, try as they may, newcomer tennis hottie Teddy (Trevor Donovan) still looks 35.
Review: GLEE
By: Aleks Chan
My original trepidation with GLEE was that while the pilot was marvellously executed – showcasing its wry sense of humor (reminiscent of Alexander Payne’s Election), game covers of modern pop songs, and a stellar cast – the characters were broadly drawn and somewhat stereotypical.
If the show is going to work as a serious portrayal of a high school show choir group and satirize it at the same time, it’s going to need – hell, demand – characters more sophisticated than worn high school archetypes (the jocks, the cheerleaders, the closeted gay kids and loud, diva-like black girls).
After screening two more episodes, there are definite signs that creator Ryan Murphy (NIP/TUCK) will be fleshing out the cast of ‘New Directions’ and its supporting characters, slowly but surely. Episode 3, for instance, focuses primarily on Kurt (Chris Colfer), who helps the football team’s losing streak by teaching them the choreography to Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies.”
First Look: FNL’s Adrianne Palicki Returns to SUPERNATURAL
As any FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS SUPERNATURAL fan can attest to, star Jesse Plemons Jared Padalecki is a pretty hard guy to resist. Which is why, it probably should come as no surprise that this fall, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS star Adrianne Palicki will press pause on her burgeoning movie career to drop by FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS SUPERNATURAL for a mysterious late night rendezvous, reprising her role as Landry’s Sam’s girlfriend Jessica. Oh, and some guy named Lucifer also drops by, but that’s probably nothing to worry about! More photos of which can be found after the jump.
Awesome Alert: Neil Patrick Harris Edition
Fanning the flames of what some might call an unhealthy obsession with Neil Patrick Harris comes this new promo for his latest hosting gig: THE 64st ANNUAL PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS (airing September 20th on CBS at 8PM). Oh — and while we’re on the subject — there is absolutely no truth to the rumour that the TV Addict is not attending this year’s Emmy Ceremony as a result of some totally unsubstantiated court-ordered restraining order that doesn’t allow us within fifty feet of the actor. We’re just sayin’ Charges may-or-may-not still be pending.
Thanks to Stay In for the Tip!
Tuesday’s This Fall: Watch, PVR, Pass!
Review: MELROSE PLACE
By: Aleks Chan
Aaron Spelling series are like the Velveeta of cheese: Mostly processed, it’s just cheesy enough to harbor an addiction if you eat enough of it. The MELROSE PLACE update, as long as we’re still going with the cheese analogy, would put the lactose intolerant into a diabetic coma. But for the cheese able (I’m done now), tonight’s premiere is a spread: Blackmail, prostitution, adultery, larceny, and murder, all delivered with heavy-handedness and contrivance, some even before the five minute mark. They say efficiency is an important asset during a recession.
And it all circles around Laura Leighton’s scheming Sydney Andrews, raised from the dead and now landlord of the eponymous apartment complex, she sits perched, cougar-like, as her new tenants run around looking pretty and sharing problems, like when one is murdered and left floating bloody in the pool. Who died and who did it is beside the point, and not because none of the actors can effectively feign bereavement.