TV News, Previews, Spoilers and Reviews
In anticipation of Sunday’s EMMY Awards, theTVaddict.com crew is proud [or not-so-proud depending on how things turn out] to present our 2007 GUARANTEED EMMY WINNERS [not really guaranteed!]. Check beck regularly throughout the week, as new categories are added. Agree with our picks? disagree completely? Think we take TV a little too seriously! Post your comments below. 
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In an effort to make your life a little easier, theTVaddict.com has compiled the Definitive Guide to Fall’s Season Premieres — complete with premiere dates, networks, times and the obligatory ‘witty’ commentary. Simply click the link below to check it out. Or just remember this — The TV Addict’s Fall 2007 Must Watch New Shows include PUSHING DAISIES, CHUCK, GOSSIP GIRL, REAPER, BIONIC WOMAN, ALIENS IN AMERICA and DEXTER [because it’s just that good!]
Television studios are leaking faster than the Titanic. Over the past few weeks, some of the fall’s hottest new show — including BIONIC WOMAN, CHUCK, PUSHING DAISIES, WEEDS and DEXTER have all “mysteriously” found their way online. And oddly enough, television executives don’t seem to mind.
In fact, when recently contacted by Rick Ellis of Allyourtv.com, an anonymous Warner Bros. executive came clean, admitting that he was the brains behind the PUSHING DAISIES leak, stating in an email, “I just thought it was a good idea. Even though… I don’t have any direct stake in the show, it’s a really great project. It’s tough to describe, though, and while it makes great sense once you’ve seen it, it’s one of those shows that will only work if people do tune in at least once.”
In other words, it’s all about generating buzz. [Read more…]
This just in — TV critics are smarter than they look!
Yesterday at the TCA Press tour, the Television Critics Association gave out their annual awards. And thankfully, in stark contrast to the recent Emmy nominations, TWO AND A HALF MEN was nowhere to be found.
NBC rookie FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS was awarded outstanding NEW program, while THE OFFICE took home the award for outstanding comedy. HEROES was named outstanding program of the year, while THE SOPRANOS was awarded most over-hyped finale outstanding achievement in a drama.
After being snubbed by Emmy voters, Michael C. Hall was recognized for his brilliant portrayal of Dexter Morgan by winning the individual achievement in a drama while Alec Baldwin was recognized for enduring Hollywood’s most talked about divorce individual achievement in a comedy.
All in all it’s nice to see that these so-called television critics may actually know a little something about television.
By Amrie Cunningham (My Take on TV)
There are a lot of shows on Thursday nights. Comedies, dramas, reality TV. My TiVo and downstairs DVR are in constant motion on Thursdays. But there is one show that I refuse to miss. That show? That show is The Office. The shenanigans of the Dunder Mifflin gang keep me coming back week after week, anticipating great new stories and comedy geniuses that keep me laughing. This past season, the writers and producers decided to add cast members to kind of change up our little gang. When it was first brought up in the media, a lot of people didn’t want it to happen. “It is perfect the way it is,” they were quoted as saying. Then, along came Rashida Jones as, gasp!, a truly likeable love interest for Pam’s Jim, and Ed Helms in a role that no one else but Ed Helms could play. And suddenly, life without Andy Bernard at Dunder Mifflin Scranton seems like lightyears away, and I can’t imagine the show without him. To my delight, I recently had the immense pleasure of speaking with Mr. Anger Management himself, Ed Helms, about the show (he’s a series regular folks, so he’s in it for the long haul), his fans, and his guilty obsession with a certain chrome-dome hosted NBC reality show.
We love you on the show. You fit in so wonderfully. I just love everything about you and your character!
That’s so nice. Thank you. I think the producers made a really wise decision to introduce Rashida [Jones, who will be back for a few episodes this season] and me in very small doses early on in the Stamford branch. It sort of gave us an opportunity to ease into the characters and it also gave the audience an opportunity to ease into us and not feel like we were intruding too much.
What’s your favorite thing about Andy? He’s definitely crazy, but we love him!
What’s my favorite thing? I think my favorite thing about Andy is his eagerness to break into song. Because that’s pretty close to me in real life. I’m really glad that that’s found its way into that character just because it’s fun and silly. But from an acting standpoint, I think the funnest part for me is Andy’s disconnect with how he’s really feeling. He seems like he’s always trying to give an outward appearance that’s not quite in sync with his real emotional status. That’s always fun.
SEINFELD RETURNS TO NBC
Since NBC can’t possibly build a time machine to travel back to the heyday of FRIENDS, SEINFELD and Must See TV — they’ve decided to do the next best thing — sign Jerry Seinfeld. Seinfeld has signed on to play himself in 30 ROCK’S season premiere. “I was thrilled to be asked to guest star on NBC’s hit comedy 30 ROCK,” Seinfeld says in a statement. “I think it’s going to be so refreshing for me to be playing myself in a show that has nothing to do with neurotic, dysfunctional New York characters.”
THE APPRENTICE
According to an NBC press release, “NBC has renewed THE APPRENTICE for mid-season with a creative twist.” Creative! More like desperate. Is it not clear to anyone but this TV Addict that the ultimate kiss of death for any reality show is the use of the words ‘celebrity version?’ Mark the date on your calendar folks, THE APPRENTICE has officially jumped the shark. Unless of course the celebrities include The Donald, Rosie, Isaiah and T.R. Knight. Then and only then will this TV Addict be tuning in.
MONDAY NIGHT: THE NEW MUST SEE TV
In a surprise announcement, NBC President Ben Silverman announced that Josh Schwartz’s action-dramedy-hybrid CHUCK would lead off Monday night followed by HEROES and JOURNEYMAN. Having seen the pilot, this TV Addict will attest to the fact that NBC’s confidence in CHUCK is not misplaced. Josh Schwartz’s follow up to THE OC looks to be a definite hit come fall 2007.
That said, Holy TIVO Batman! CHUCK, HEROES, JOURNEYMAN, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, NEW CHRISTINE, 24, PRISON BREAK, ALIENS IN AMERICA, EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS, WEEDS, DEXTER, CALIFORNICATION. When did Monday night become the new Thursday?
This week TVWeek.com released their ‘Best and Worst’ of the 2006/07 television season after polling thirty-five of the top TV critics throughout North America. Needless to say, this TV Addict has some serious issues with this poll, not the least of which is that nobody asked us for our opinion.
Let’s start with the good. Overall, the top twenty-two include a nice mix of perennial winners (THE SOPRANOS, LOST), freshman hits (BROTHERS & SISTERS, HEROES, UGLY BETTY, 30 ROCK) and under-appreciated gems (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS and THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE).
What was missing from the list? How about HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, SCRUBS and WEEDS — three of television’s most brilliant comedies. As well as DEXTER, the most compelling and addictive drama to reach the airwaves in years. All four picks could have quite easily replaced four dramas who continually manage to live off the hype of their past brilliance (GREY’S ANATOMY, BOSTON LEGAL, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES and VERONICA MARS).
Moving onto ‘the worst’, we’re surprised to find OCTOBER ROAD, 24 and THE BLACK DONNELLYS at the top of the list. Sure, it’s pretty trendy to rip on 24 (after its weakest season yet) and we’ll conceded that THE BLACK DONNELLYS was no SOPRANOS, but to name them the worst? Over all the reality TV garbage and insipid ABC sitcoms that clutter our airwaves? Talk about harsh. It goes without saying that if torture’s the goal — we’d rather be tied to a chair watching Jack Bauer for twenty-four hours than ACCORDING TO JIM, GEORGE LOPEZ, TWO AND A HALF MEN, well you get the idea.
You can check out the full results by clicking here. And please feel free to post away with your thoughts below.
One of the nerdiest things this TV Addict likes to do each and every Tuesday morning is check out what’s new and exciting in the world of iTunes television. This morning offers up a plethora of excitement, starting off with the best new show from last season.
Season one of DEXTER is now available on iTunes, as well as the underrated and under-watched first season of BROTHERHOOD. Also thanks to SHOWTIME, you can catch up with television’s hottest mom — Mary-Louise Parker — by checking out the second season of WEEDS prior the the third season premiere this coming August.
Too cheap to spend $1.99? How does FREE TV sound? ABC Family is offering up the first episode of their new drama GREEK Is college really a rush? Download and find out.
Finally, if you have the stomach for it, Paula Abdul’s reality show HEY PAULA is currently free on iTunes. Does anyone else think that ‘free’ isn’t good enough? How about Bravo pay us to watch.
Yesterday, The Television Critics Association unveiled its 2007 TCA Award nominations. Unlike that other organization that will remain nameless (rhymes with ‘semis’), the television critics do it right. Check out the nominees below (the TV Addict’s favourites are in bold).
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
“American Idol” (Fox)
“Friday Night Lights” (NBC)
“Heroes” (NBC)
“Planet Earth” (Discovery)
“The Wire” (HBO)
“When the Levees Broke” (HBO)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
“30 Rock” (NBC)
“The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)
“Entourage” (HBO)
“The Office” (NBC)
“Ugly Betty” (ABC)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
“Friday Night Lights” (NBC)
“Heroes” (NBC)
“Lost” (ABC)
“The Sopranos” (HBO)
“The Wire” (HBO)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT MOVIES, MINI-SERIES AND SPECIALS
“Broken Trail” (AMC)
“Planet Earth” (Discovery)
“Prime Suspect” (PBS)
“The State Within” (BBC America)
“When the Levees Broke” (HBO)
OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
“30 Rock” (NBC)
“Dexter” (Showtime)
“Friday Night Lights” (NBC)
“Heroes” (NBC)
“Ugly Betty” (ABC)
This afternoon TV Guide posted their Dream Emmy Ballot. Now we at theTVaddict.com aren’t one to criticize, but whose dream exactly was this? No DEXTER in the Best Drama category? No HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, SCRUBS?… forget dream, this is a nightmare.
So get your pencils ready fellow TV addicts and check back this evening for theTVaddict.com’s REAL Dream Emmy Ballot. In the meantime, post away with who you think deserves this prestigious imaginary award.
[WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE] Click the link below for a side-by-side comparison of TVGuide’s Dream Emmy Ballot and theTVaddict.com’s REAL Dream Emmy Ballot!
