I Am A TV Junkie, A Blog For The Clicker Jockey

Donna Noble, Not Just a Temp From Chiswick

On an almost related note, did you notice how many ads BBC Video bought for the Doctor Who series 1, 2 and 3 box sets? Nice move, BBC Video marketing department!

And by the way, to all those people who were the target of my wrath re RTD and all the online dissing, once again ... Yeah, get over yourselves. This is a great, great ep.

The only thing wrong with this episode is that you look back on that montage sequence at the end of series three (Last of the Time Lords) when Martha walked across all the continents building support for the Doctor and realize that could have been a whole episode and a good one.

From Wikipedia:

For a whole year, Martha had crossed the globe, telling the human race about the Doctor, and instructing everyone to think of the Doctor at the same time the Master plans to launch his fleet. Crucially combined with the Master's own Archangel satellite network — which the Doctor has had an entire year to get in tune with — this has the effect of charging the Doctor with the combined psychic energy of the people of Earth. Now renewed with powerful psychokinetic abilities, the Doctor restores his youthful physiognomy and ends the Master's control. As the Master cowers, the Doctor says the words the Master was afraid to hear: "I forgive you".

You remember now, it all happen in a blink of an eye (no, not THAT blink of an eye).

[Speaking of which, did you see that part of the Doctor Who sweep of the big awards at Canada's Constellation Awards was, surprisingly, Carey Mulligan, above, the highly regarded Sally Sparrow. How cool is that? Steve Moffat should bring her back in series five. Is there a Facebook group for that? There is a Sally Sparrow Appreciation Society, but it's rather quiet on the page, not much activity.]

More after the jump.

Jonas Bros. Play the VMAs? WTF?

The Jonas Brothers are not rock-n-roll. No one who signs a "purity pledge" or wears some sort of ring to remind them not to have sex outside of marriage is not rock-n-roll.

They're playing the MTV Video Music Awards this year, come September 7. What a frickin' joke.

Oh, wait, am I allowed to use the word "come" while writing about the Jonas Brothers?

Note to all you young stars making public purity oaths, including you Miley, stop it. You are setting yourself up for failure. You will no more wait until marriage than I will leave the last Hostess Cupcake in the wrapper and save it for later. Because it's not natural.

Ask Britney.

MTV is about rock-n-roll. As in sex, drugs, and ...

And you kids with your oppressive religious constructs foisted upon you by your parents when you have neither the sophistication nor the intelligence to make your own decisions are being led down a road to ruin.

Report -- BBC Offering David Tennant 1.5 million (In Pounds, Not Dollars) to Keep Doctor Title

DailyMail.co.uk:

David Tennant is close to signing a £1.5million deal to remain as Doctor Who.

The actor's future as the Doctor has been the subject of speculation for months as it was feared he would quit after four years in the role.

But it is hoped the 37-year-old star will remain for his fourth series after filming four specials to be broadcast over the next year.

BBC bosses are set to offer Tennant, a massive deal to encourage him to stay on when the sci-fi show returns for a full series in 2010.

I have no idea how much money people in British TV make, so I don't know exactly how "massive" this deal is.

If you figure a pound is worth about 2 bucks, that gives Tennant about $231,000 per episode, which certainly isn't chump change, but consider that Zach Braff made 350,000 per ep last season on Scrubs, and you'll see that being a TV star in the UK doesn't pay as well as it does here.

In other Tennant news, the day I'm in San Diego chatting up the Doctor Who panel, he'll be debuting at the Globe Theatre in Hamlet with the Royal Shakespeare Company (Wales Online):

Tennant, who played Romeo at the RSC in 2000, has said of appearing in Shakespeare’s great tragedy: “Hamlet is often regarded as the acme of acting to test yourself against, which isn’t a particularly helpful thought, to be honest.

“Of course, it is very flattering to be asked to do that role because of everything that is attached to it.

“But once you get into rehearsal you have to relinquish thoughts like that and just try and tell the story.”

Spears End The Fight For Her Kids (and I feel sick inside)

Why? Because some of us would have given our left nuts (well, at least some of us guys) to have a child, and she's gonna stop fighting to keep her two.

ABC News:

According to Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, Spears agreed today to give Federline sole legal and physical custody of sons Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, a month before the case was due to go to trial. Friday morning, Spears' lawyer reached an agreement granting her more visitation time with the boys.

And you know, visitation is all well and good, but imagine being about 15 years old and clicking around the Internet to an article about your egg donor giving up the fight for her kids. That's not gonna be a good day for Sean Preston or Jaden James.

And to lose your kids to Mr. Wifebeater and Constant Stubble is just ... oh, I don't have to tell you.

I just feel sick.

"Killabelle" Lives!!! Megalyn Echikunwoke Joins CSI: Miami

Ah, the days of The 4400 are long gone, sadly. Especially sad considering what a bust its doppelganger, Heroes, was last year.

But the cream rises, and part of that cream is the extra creamy goodness that is Megalyn Echikunwoke, who played the destined for weird and bizarre things Isabelle Tyler, who was an infant and then grew into womanhood (and she did it very very beautifully) during a commercial break.

Okay, they didn't really break to commercial, it was an episode-ending cliffhanger, if my memory serves.

Hollywood Reporter:

Echikunwoke is expected to at least partially fill the void left by the departure of Khandi Alexander, who played Miami-Dade medical examiner Dr. Alexx Woods since the launch of the show in 2002.

Alexander still may return for guest appearances.

Did you know that Megalyn grew up on a native American reservation in Arizona?  Just some random trivia for a Friday.

The Dark Knight Takes In Over $18 Million Last Night

THR.com:

Warner Bros. reported Friday that the early morning screenings of "The Dark Knight" grabbed a record $18.5 million. Of that total, $640,000 came from the large-format screens presented the movie in Imax.

And that $18.5 million haul is just counting the cash from the 3,040 theaters that screened the movie at midnight -- it doesn't include the grosses from the 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. showings that some theaters booked.

To put it in perspective, "Dark Knight" set a new high mark, displacing the previous record-holder, 2005's "Star Wars -- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith," which collected $16.9 million in 2,915 theaters when it made its midnight debut.

And speaking of those 3 am and 6 am shows, my local CW affil, KTLA, had a reporter from what I think are the theatres at Universal City.

And that clip is after the jump.

News From EW: Is Kath & Kim In Trouble?

After reading all the flowery language from Ben Silverman's quote at Entertainment Weekly, I would say yes. He's just too overly efflusive.

What he told EW:

"We want to open it up visually," Silverman says of the reshoot. "We didn't want the style to define it; we wanted to let the characters and comedy define it. When you're feeling good about something you want to double down. The cast chemistry is unbelievable. It's the funniest comedy I've seen this early in development."

Reshoot? Yes. Why? Because Paul Feig left (more from EW):

Rumors persist that NBC's Kath & Kim — an adaptation of the Aussie smash that stars Molly Shannon (pictured) and Selma Blair as a dysfunctional mom and daughter — will scrap most  of its pilot and reshoot under a new director, now that helmer Paul Feig (The Office) has left the comedy.

And of course, there's no word from Feig, who just yesterday got an Emmy nod for directing on The Office.

I can only say this to the creators of Kath & Kim, wherever you are in Australia or anywhere in the world, including here in So Cal, get in touch with Steve Moffat. Don't let what happened to Coupling happen to you nice people.

Bad News for Comic-Con Attendees, Kansas City BBQ Burns, Closes

As a public service to you fanboy/girl types who love the BBQ by the Convention Center:

A fire that started in an open cooking pit Thursday at Kansas City Barbeque gutted the landmark Marina area eatery, known for being in the 1986 Tom Cruise movie “Top Gun.”

The fire broke out about 2:15 p.m. in the restaurant on West Market Street, located across the street from the Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel towers and near Seaport Village. It initially created so much smoke that clouds of it could be seen billowing behind Petco Park, where the Padres were playing an afternoon baseball game.

It happened on June 26. Sad, huh. I had heard many good things, but never managed to get there.

The other decent BBQ in SD, per your host, is in Ocean Beach, should you have transport.

It's a BBC America Weekend Week Summer Year

So much going on at BBC America, I had to keep revising the headline. So, we'll go in order ...

Spaced

Simon Pegg, Jessica Hynes and director Edgar Wright are coming to Southern California for Comic-Con, and just before that, this weekend, actually, six episodes of their comedy Spaced (see pic, right) will run Sunday between 3 and 6 eastern (do the math for your time zone).

I have my DVR set to record already, I'm good like that.

Pegg is just so funny in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz (which I just watched again the other day) and although I didn't catch this during it's initial BBC America run, I did note that the DVD set was coming out in the States next week (thus, all the promo and the trip here and such).

Here's a link to pre-order the DVD set.

I have a taste for you in a clip after the jump.

Gavin & Stacey

A huge hit for BBC Three, this is from their website:

This is the story of how a nice boy from Essex and a sweet girl from Barry fell in love and got married. Only their life isn't quite so simple - family and friends make sure of that.

Gavin spoke to Stacey everyday on the phone for months before he met her, and when he finally did, there were fireworks. There were noisy disturbances of a different nature when their mutual sidekicks Nessa and Smithy had their first encounter, but that's another story.

Gavin is Rob Brydon, who you might remember from The Catherine Tate Show, Joanna Page is Stacy, and you'll recognize Ruth Jones from Little Britain (she also is one of the creators of the series with James Corden, while both of them play the best mates of the leads).

[Okay, that's not right. Well, some of it is. Hey, it's late and I'm tired so I'm just gonna ask you all to click to the comments 'cause my pal Toby from Inner Toob has corrections and I'm just that damned lazy.]

There are 13 episodes that comprise two series, and we will see them in the US all at once, which is refreshing.

I have a promo clip after the jump, as the other clips would have spoiled the plot for you. No spoilers here.

Finally ...

Primeval

An ITV hit, some say their answer to Torchwood, BBC America will let you see for yourself which you like more when this show premieres on the network on August 9, Saturday, in the Torchwood time slot of 9 eastern.

Here's comments from writer Paul Cornell, who you know from the Whoniverse, from his blog. He writes for the show:

For those who don't know, the series is about a group of scientists who deal with anomalies that have started appearing, connecting different time periods. Their major problems concern the animals that wander through the anomalies, from pre-dinosaur reptiles to giant centipedes. I love the emphasis on genuine natural history, that the animals behave like animals, rather than 'monsters', and that our heroes have a duty of care towards them, and are fascinated by them. I like the SF emphasis on logic, and the family teatime emphasis on high adventure. I especially like the production team, how easy it is to work with them, and how they have a long term plan with some lovely twists (and a genuinely SFnal sense of dread and alienation creeping in around the halfway point next season). The showrunner is Adrian Hodges, who also wrote one of my favourite episodes of Rome.

No clip after the jump for Primeval, but go there for clips from the comedies and just know that the Summer is not barren, there's BBC America here to entertain.

Heigl, Izzie and Brain Tumors -- Shonda Rhimes Talks to the Critics

I kinda feel guilty, not too guilty to go to the "Katherine Heigl has a big mouth" well for another post, but guilty because I don't even watch this show. Medical dramas where bad stuff happens to people isn't my idea of a good time, and if I was gonna watch one, it would be a well-made one like ER.

Now, I certainly hadn't heard the brain tumor for Izzie rumors before I wrote that post yesterday about Denny coming back, but now that I have heard those rumors it certainly seems like I was somewhat prescient, doesn't it?

Yesterday at the Television Critics' Association panel with ABC showrunners, Shonda said:

“I found it surprising,” Rhimes said, adding that Heigl asked her to give her character a light load in the second half of the season so that she could do a movie.

“I actually have a really wonderful working relationship with [Heigl] and Izzie is one of my favorite characters,” Rhimes added. “But [Heigl] is really outspoken.”

For me, it's not the outspokenness, it's that she thinks it's appropriate to do her business in a series of public dialogues where this stuff should be done behind closed doors. I mean, imagine if you called your local paper and told them that your company isn't treating you well.

Okay, they wouldn't care. I get that. That's why I think this actually works against Heigl with her fans. She's attempting to solve an employment issue by using the juice she has because she's employed in said position, and most of us don't have that at our disposal.

She comes off somewhat elitist because of that, and that's not good for her future in this business. People, women especially, want to identify with the women they see on screen. Heigl is making that much more difficult to do by placing herself on a higher level than her audience.

"First Rule of Terror Watch List? Don't Talk About Terror Watch List"

Drew Griffin works at CNN, he's an investigative reporter. In May, he ended up on the terror watch list. Why? Well, you know you're not allowed to know that. Hell, Drew can't even find out, and he's an investigative reporter.

You know what else happen a little while before the day Drew joined the many many many many many people on that terror watch list? He did an investigative report on the terror watch list and how many ridiculous names are on it.

Like Ted Kennedy, for example. Yeah, Ted's a terrorist. You would think with the whole brain cancer thing the gov't would do him a solid and take him off the list. Hey, what if the constant scanning and wanding at the airport actually gave Ted Kennedy brain cancer, has anyone thought about that?

Also, if you're a guy named Dave Nelson, any Dave Nelson, even my friend Michelle's husband, you're on the list, too. So are the Roberts last name Johnson, like the founder of BET, Robert Johnson.

So, if you're standing on an airport line behind a guy who looks like this guy pictured above, and he gets pulled out of the line, just know that you were standing behind a TV reporter who performed the high crime of doing his job.

I have clips (2) after the jump, one being Griffin talking about being placed on the list, and Keith's Worst Persons segment, which discusses it (though Bill-O the Clown wins the horserace).

I completely expect that I'll be on the list, too. If you don't see me in NYC in August, check the watch list ... but don't talk about it or you'll be on it, too.

Today's Wonderflonium Google Web Hit Count?

We stand somewhat stagnant today at ... well, it's actualy down to 576 from 579 just yesterday afternoon.

I wouldn't blame Wonderflonium itself, though I'm sure there's no EPA tests being done.

Tomorrow, the mush-anticipated conclusion on Dr. Horrible. And then after that our lives turn back to the shit they are again.

Kidding. Really kidding.

UPDATE: We're up to 643 mentions of Wonderflonium, and I have some right here next to me. It makes noises, strange noises. Hmmmm.

Is Denny Duquette Alive? Or Is Izzy Gonna Die (and have Denny meet her at the pearly gates)?

This is compelling info for you Grey's fans from THR.com:

Good news for "Grey's Anatomy" viewers: Fan favorite Denny Duquette, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, is returning to ABC's medical drama.

A rep for the show confirmed Morgan's guest appearance but declined to divulge further details.

So, I figure it's just like that scene at the end of Julianna Margulies' run on ER where she meets Clooney's Dr. Ross at the plane (it was a plane wasn't it?) and they embrace.

Only in heaven.

Because Izzy dies some horrible death that has to do with her opening her mouth one too many times. That would be somewhat fitting.

New York Magazine is Gay for Rachel Maddow, Too!

Okay, I have to admit it, I was gay before Rachel Maddow. In fact, I can assure you all of that, I'm much, much older than young Maddow. And of course, my being gay for her kinda just doesn't work now, does it.

Aw, what the hell, I'm gay for you, too, Rachel.

NY Mag's Daily Intel:

Air America host Rachel Maddow, who's subbed for Keith Olbermann on Countdown a few times lately, is probably going to get a show on MSNBC soon. Phil Griffin (who you may or may not remember as being an awesome hippie) who just became the president of the network, loves her, and after reading today's Times story about her, we kind of love her too.

So, I gotta think this is a great day for Maddow fans (and btw, for MaddowFans.com, our fave Rachel fansite, too).

Not a great day for Matthews, though. And I have learned one thing about Matthews just by monitoring activity at MSNBC and watching his show, you don't wanna be around Tweety on a day like this. He gets really, really, cranky.

Gong Show Premieres Tonight at 10, Queefing Included

If you wanna know what that is, click here, but please, please don't click there if you're prudish or gross out easily or ... oh, it's at your own risk. Have at it, I guess.

Rockville Centre's own Dave Attell, (South Side HS, class of 1983) hosts, and tonight's celebrity judges include Andy Dick, recent arrestee!

Yeah, Andy Dick is not sober, AGAIN! Not surprised? Me neither:

Police said Dick, who was heavily intoxicated, grabbed and fondled the breast of a 17-year-old girl before pulling her top down in the parking lot of the Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar about 1:15 in the morning.

"The victim was traumatized by this," said Lt. Dennis Vrooman, spokesman for the Murrieta Police Department.

Yeah, Andy, weed and Xanax and liquor are a bitch of a combo, huh?

Clip's after the jump. It is something to see.

Sneak Preview Performance Video -- NGTV's Carrie Keegan Hosts VH1 Rock Honors Tonight

Yes, I am your "Where in the World in Carrie Keegan" source. She's hosting, The Who is playing and being feted, and it should be a good time for those of us of a certain age and curious younger fans.

Clip? Here's The Who with their 1971 release Baba O'Riley.

LINK

• VH1 TV Shows
• Music Videos
• Celebrity Photos
• News & Gossip

HUGE!!! Rachel Maddow Profiled in the NY Times

And of course, the big quote from the first few graphs of the article, from Phil Griffin, who just got promoted to President of MSNBC:

“At some point, I don’t know when, she should have a show,” said Phil Griffin, hours before he was promoted on Wednesday to president of MSNBC. “She’s on the short list. It’s a very short list. She’s at the top.”

At the moment every slot at night on MSNBC is taken, with David Gregory at 6 handing off to Chris Matthews at 7, and with Dan Abrams at 9 following Mr. Olbermann at 8. But some shuffling could be in the offing; Mr. Matthews’s contract, for example, is up next year.

Yeah, I don't think Tweety is giving up Hardball all that fast. Let's look at Chris' numbers (TVByTheNumbers.com):

7PM - P2+ (25-54)
Fox Report w/ Shepard Smith – 1,518,000 viewers (377,000)
Lou Dobbs – 908,000 viewers (258,000)
Hardball w. Chris Matthews – 487,000 viewers (126,000)
Kudlow & Company- 335,000 viewers (106,000)
Glenn Beck – 278,000 viewers (125,000)

Well, honestly Matthews is not doing that well in the demo. He should have more 25-54s in his portfolio to be competitive. Damn, Beck (that ass) is almost outscoring him there.

Maybe Tweety DOES have something to worry about. Maybe he could do more prep for the show and less gladhanding on the cocktail circuit.

Rachel's just the best. Just sent her a short note yesterday in fact, congratulating her on the great fill in for Keith over the last few days.

After the jump, Rachel in action.

New Daily Feature -- Wonderflonium Google Web Hit Count

Today, there are approximately 454 mentions of Wonderflonium on the web.

Wanna make it 455? Well, I probably just did. How about 456?

Go watch this and watch for the briefcase.

And go buy your Dr. Horrible on iTunes, it runs beautifully, with none of the high viewer volume stutters that come from Adobe Flash Player.

UPDATE: We're up to 579.

A Sweet Sixteen Noms for AMC's Mad Men

Great news for the guy or gal at AMC that's charged with putting together the next round of show promos.

The nominations are in:

Art Direction (obviously, 2 noms for the pilot and episode Shoot), Casting (definitely), Cinematography (certainly), Costumes (natch) Directing, Drama Series, Guest Actor (Robert Morse), Hairstyling (Fabulous), Lead Actor (Jon Hamm), Title Design (Almost a lock to win), Makeup, Prosthetic Makeup, Supporting Actor (John Slattery), Writing (2 nominations for Matthew Weiner for the pilot and episode, The Wheel).

Surprisingly, no nominations for the female performers, though I would bet that Elisabeth Moss is thinking about why she decided to enter the lead actress category. I mean it's fine and all, but she didn't really think she had a chance against Glenn Close, did she?

I mean, the role was written for Glenn, basically. How do you do battle against that?

Still, Christine Hendricks should have gotten a nod in the supporting category, and she didn't either.

These nominations should be the stuff that brings more eyes to the most underwatched show of the 2007-8 TV season.

Six Noms, Including Writing, For BSG, McDonnell Snubbed

The writing nomination came for Michael Angeli's script for Six of One, which isn't the ep I would have put up, so maybe I'm wrong? Me, wrong?

I still think Sine Qua Non or Faith are stronger, but my opinion means nothing.

I just don't get how they pass over Mary McDonnell. Especially in this the final season of the show, where she's done such beautifully disciplined work. Also, an actress of a certain age playing a cancer patient, even in a genre show, is brave.

So is not getting your face stretched out over your cheekbones till you look like a cat, like a lot of her contemporaries.

That's just very disappointing. I think a lot of it has to do with genre snobs snubbing what they think is just a scifi show that geeks watch. How wrong can an Emmy voter be?

Well, very wrong, actually.

Six nominations total for BSG.