I Am A TV Junkie

Video -- Tonight on Louie a Chance to Go to Heaven (but no, not really)

"You gotta have faith." Right?

Click here for a preview clip. That's the great veteran NYC actor Tom Noonan in the image above and in the preview.

Leave it to Louis C.K. to begin his episode of religion with a conversation in and around a glory hole in a gas station bathroom.

Three episodes left and I can't imagine the two after this one getting any more provocative than this one, which I saw thanks to the fine people at FX, who I thank.

If you have ever had a crisis of faith, or if you aren't a person of faith, or even if you just tangentially have a connection to being told to believe in something that seems completely outrageous on its face, you gotta see this episode. 

And I'm not entirely sure, but I think there's a pretty good chance that William Donahue from the Catholic League will scream himself red in the face afterward. Or at least he would if he didn't have so many pals at another Newscorp unit, that collection of schemers and scammers who work at the Fox Noise Channel.

(I think some Donahue-based controversy would be great for the show, especially with the two-episode season finale running next Tuesday night September 7.)

And I'll just say this as I close ... this half hour of television is the most honest portrayal I've ever seen of a parent and child discussing religion, and that final scene between young Louie and his mom may be the best single scene in the series.

At least for this fallen Catholic it was.

Video -- Jewel, Sarah Palin, Todd, Crabs, Coffee, & Bob Marley

Watch this, click here. It's from FunnyOrDie.com.

Video -- What's Up With Emmy Winner Jim Parsons' Weight?

He looked elfin.

No, not effin', elfin. He's lost a bunch of weight, it seems.

Jim, stop it. Eat something. There are plenty of great restaurants near the Warner Bros. lot and even the commissary has some decent faire.

If this is about worrying that your show is entering the heated 8 pm Thursdays network competition it's just not worth the worry.

Recap season three of the show with a clip at this link.

Watch Jim accept his statue at this link.

Video -- Blah blah blah Emmy Awards blah blah blah

See, even Emmy herself had to take a nap. And honestly, can you blame her? She's holding the world up above her head all the time and she's bound to get tired.

Me too. 

I watched it, it was ... well it came in under three hours, that's something, right?

I dunno, kinda dull for me. None of the shows I really love got the call to come to the stage.

Truest words spoken on the Emmy stage? Edie Falco saying, "I'm not funny." Neither is her show. It's great TV but it's just not a comedy. How about separating the acting nominees into half hour and hour long show categories?

Edie talks to Jason Kennedy from E! about that issue and more, watch by clicking this link.

On top of that, let's think about asking the voters to watch more than one episode of the nominated shows and performances.

It's not like they don't have the time, they work in TV they don't dig ditches for a living.

Opening number was fine. Watch it by clicking this. Cory Monteith has lost a bunch of weight over the summer, I betcha we see him shirtless this season on Glee. Jon Hamm shimmying? I need that on a constant video loop. Hamm singing? I don't think that was him, though I DO think it was Joel McHale singing, which places another tool in his box. 

Hehehe, I said tool and box.

Fallon is at his best when he gets a group of people together, on his show or on this show. Which says a lot about Fallon.

One more thing, because I don't really care much about who won and lost (except, for some strange reason, John Noble from Fringe, who didn't get nominated AGAIN!) ... What's up with not wearing a tie, Emmy nominees? You got nominated for an Emmy and in some cases won one, Eric Stonestreet. Put on a damn tie! Have some respect.

That's all. You can tell me what you liked and didn't in the comment section.

Global TV Talent Show Auto-Tune Crisis -- What Happens Next?

The British tabloids couldn't be happier. They love a good controversy and this one's as big as they come for a TV show. The image above is how the UK Mirror broke the story.

(Because it IS just a TV show, right? No? What is that you're saying? It's a viable employment search strategy? Only if you have very very tall hair and lots of energy and then you might just get a couple hit singles and a reality show but if you invest the proceeds properly it might send you to college.)

The thing is there are rules about such things because all these shows from Idol to AGT/BGT to X-Factor are ostensibly game shows and there are rules and laws that apply.

Now today there's word that Susan Boyle's first performance on Britain's Got Talent was manipulated to make her sound better which bring up the issue of the drama created when her second appearance on the show didn't go as well as the first. Basically it seems the show created the drama by manipulation of the performance alone, doesn't it?

AND ... if that's the case what happened in the finale (she lost to a dance crew) and afterward when there were reports of a tailspin in the fragile Boyle's psyche is particularly distressing.

This all broke in the London tabs because of this performance from Gamu Nhengu (CLIP) on the show this past week. On first listen I have to say that without knowing ahead of time I wouldn't have recognized the telltale signs of the Auto-Tune technology, that slightly robotic-sounding thing, especially noticeable during what Cheryl Cole calls her "quirky woo-hoo-hoos."

From the Guardian UK:

After Saturday's show viewers flocked to Twitter and Facebook to complain about the heavy-handed use of digital pitch effects – particularly on Gamu Nhengu's version of Walking on Sunshine, which she belted out with a spooky, computer-like precision, a bit like Mariah Carey impersonating Robocop. It seemed clear that Nhengu had been lined up as a favourite and this had been scripted as the big star-making moment.

I can see why producers (Cowell included) were interested in making her a favorite, she has a very compelling backstory (watch the clip for details).

Like everything in this world, it wasn't a problem until they got caught. Now it's a big problem, ethically, legally and if the audiences for these shows dwindle because of the news, financially.

And with Cowell working to bring X-Factor here for the 2011 season, someone better fix this.

Now would be a good time.

Glee Season 2 Photo Album: Get Slushied!

Slushied? No. No, no no. Oh, no. You click that link at your own peril.

Anyhow, I've been told that no Slushies (the drinks that come out of machines at convenience stores) were harmed in the making of the above photographic collage.

More of Glee's season two photo gallery after the jumperoo. Photos by Miranda Penn Turin/FOX.

Includes Chord Overstreet, the guy that purportedly will play Kurt's boyfriend this season.

Forbes Blog on The Soup and McHale with Show Creator K.P. Anderson

Just a taste, click here for more of it (from Lacey Rose, follow her on Twitter at this link):

How does the audience break down, male vs. female?

I’m not sure as of this last year, post-Community. Because of all of the times they shoot a-hole [The Soup host turned prime-time star Joel McHale] with his shirt off in [NBC's] Community, it’s probably even more female now. We were at about a 65-35 split, female to male. But I go on tour with Joel and, oh man, every girl I ever dated in high school apparently lives in every town and is in love with the guy I write for. Really, it’s just lines around the corner for the last three or four years. When you’re down in the mines working you don’t realize what the fruits of your labor are doing up above. We shoot 50 weeks a year and prior to touring with Joel, we really hadn’t been out and about asking about the show. I remember doing a show in Phoenix at a round dome and after the show I came back out to say that Joel will be up at the top to sign t-shirts so line up if you’re interested. This whole theater stood up and nobody moved. When the lights came up it was just women. And I thought, ‘this has got to come off [yanking at his wedding band]… oh, wait, they’re not here for me.’ [laughs] It was insane.

As it is a rule here never to turn our backs on the word "shirtless" I present for only five more days that episode of Community, at this link.

Community returns on September 23 at 8 pm on Thursday on NBC, against the most crowded Thursday night network lineup I've seen in years.

The Soup never leaves. Thank you, TV Gods.

The Daily Beast Chats with Rachel Maddow on Mosques, Marriage & Myopia

Lloyd Grove talks with our Rachel:

"I have been talking for awhile about the Fox strategy of scaring white people in order to score political points and benefit conservative politicians,” Maddow says. “And one of the hallmarks is that their most potent ‘scare-white-people’ stories are not real news stories. They’re stories that they invent out of thin air. That’s true about ACORN. That’s true about the Shirley Sherrod case. That’s true about the fake New Black Panther Party thing. That’s true about Van Jones.”

Maddow singles out Fox News commentator and former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich—who recently equated erecting the Islamic center to Nazis “put[ting] up a sign next to the Holocaust Museum in Washington”—for special opprobrium.

"For a long time, he has really been selling this idea that Muslims don’t deserve religious freedom because Islam is some sort of qualitatively different thing than other religions,” Maddow says. “He’s got this idea that the so-called war on terrorism is actually some sort of religious crusade. That’s a whole trope on the right—that Muslims are secretly at war with us, only we’re not at war with them because we’re in denial that they’re winning. This ‘Sharia law is going to take over America’ stuff—Gingrich totally spouts all that crap.”

Watch that report from her about the mosque by clicking this link.

More, including wedding news (?!?) after the jumperoni.

Does Twice Make It a Trend? Coming to Cable: Who the &!*$/ Did I Marry

So here's my idea, first you turn on CBS for $#*! My Dad Says and then have an episode of Who the &!*$/ Did I Marry on the DVR afterward and there's your night of TV.

Or, after that you could have a copy of this movie on the shelf on a DVD and watch that as well. 

About this show, however, from Media Life:

Investigation Discovery’s new series “Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry?” shows that no matter how much TV has changed in recent years, the true-crime semi-documentary remains the same after more than two decades. The premiere episode, airing tonight at 10 p.m., features a decent victim and villain, but most viewers will feel a distinct sense of déjà vu.

If they would have spent a tenth of the time they did on the title making the show better ... right?

You can check their site for the show at this link. It's not my thing. 

Since it's a cable show on a tiny network (sorry I.D., but you are a tiny network) you won't hear any outcry from the so-called protectors of our culture, but they are gearing up for protesting Shatner's Shat show.

Video -- Tonight's The IT Crowd: Spaceology, Rock Bands, Strippers, Randy Masseurs

Douglas (Matt Berry, above) has joined a cult. Of course he can't just join, he has to produce and star in a promotional video for them, too. Check it out at this link.

Spaceology and space star ordering ... who knew?

Meanwhile Roy invites Moss and Jen out to hear a band, and Jen gets way into them (or is it the other way around?). Moss ends up at the wrong place ... again! 

Then Roy gets a massage but what happens at the end of it just makes him more tense. Way more tense. 

It's an International Emmy Award-winning comedy. Why aren't you watching it? It's Summertime, you have nothing else to watch, certainly not that damned Big Lake fiasco on Comedy Central.

Get with it, gang, the cool kids watch The IT Crowd Tuesday nights at 10:30 on IFC.

Video -- Preview Tonight's Louie, Read My Expletive-Filled Tirade on Previous Episode

That's Stephen Root (NewsRadio, all kinds of great films like Office Space, True Blood S1, King of the Hill, etc.) as Louie's surprisingly touchy-feely dentist. Watch the preview by clicking this.

Then click over the jump for my seriously expletive-filled rant at Louis C.K. over last week's episode. That's right, I let him have it.

Go ahead, you know you're curious.

Because You Demanded It, Carrie Keagan Back at Attack of the Show Today on G4

Carrie returns today at 7 eastern tonight on G4 for another go-round on Attack of the Show with host Kevin Pereira.

Maybe, like last time, she'll make bouncy-bouncy just for you! She's good like that.

More behind the scenes stills from her last appearance after the jumperoo.

Want some Carrie right now? Click over to her web home at No Good Television and watch this interview with Bruce Greenwood from Dinner For Schmucks (which I saw last night, very very funny movie) where he's promoting his new film Mao's Last Dancer and talking weed with our girl Carrie.

And more bouncy-bouncy from Carrie as well.

At this link. No embed codes, you'll click to a new window/tab.

Pics after the jump.

Breaking From CNN: Shirley Sherrod On Refusing USDA Job Offer After Breitbart-Related Firing

You no doubt remember that Sherrod was booted from her job after rogue blogger Andrew Breitbart cut up a CSPAN clip to make her comments sound anti-white. Then everyone wents bonkers and on instruction from the White House Agri Sec'y Tom Vilsack canned her.

Then the whole clip was revealed and made everyone look like a horse's ass.

Now she's been offered two jobs at USDA but not the position from which she was fired, at least that's my understanding. And I completely understand why she wouldn't want to.

It's at this link. It's 15 minutes, pretty comprehensive. Take a look. She talks to CNN's Tony Harris.

Video -- Dave Franco Gets Catblocked

It's a Funny Or Die clip that includes Dave Franco (Scrubs' final season, James' bro) in bed in briefs, of course I'm gonna post it.

Oh, Jamie-Lynn Sigler is in it, too, you know, for you straight guys.

I would have called this clip "The Case of the Jealous Pussy," but that's just me.

Watch it, at this link.

Video -- Happy Birthday Giada De Laurentiis!

Happy Birthday G, it's your 40th and you look amazing.

Make sure someone cooks for you today in NYC. Watch the Today Show crew help her celebrate by clicking this link.

If you'd like, there's a site on the web called Giada's Cleavage, which posits that the food plays second fiddle to the titular aspect of her body. Her cleavage is also 40 today, after all.

Or you could celebrate with her if you're in New York. She'll be at the Williams-Sonoma store in Columbus Circle for a book signing today. Call 212-823-9750 for more information. And finally, there's her official site, at this link.

Congrats!

Lautner -- Hot, Wet & With His Ass in the Air

Seriously. Photo by Michel Comte. Via OhNoTheyDidn't.

Hey, I didn't set up the shot, I'm just describing it. Don't hate the messenger.

I can actually hear his thoughts during this just by staring at the image intently. He's thinking ...

Should I be doing this? Who is this guy, anyway? Glad my publicist is here. Hey, why isn't my publicist saying anything about this pose? I'm never gonna live this down. I mean, I have a little bit of a lisp already, now I'll be soaking wet with my legs in the air in a picture.

Funny, this isn't very uncomfortable at all, probably because of all that core training I do. And ... I guess it's the core training that got me into this situation anyway. Why couldn't I just be a regular 18-year-old actor and not the youngest sex symbol in the history of film, and ironically for a role in a movie where I don't even get the girl?

Well I guess I should face it. I'm not the best actor. Who could be at 18, I haven't had enough life experience, how can I portray what I don't know? And who could turn down the money and the opportunity? I'd be crazy not to be doing everything I can to maximize by earning potential now.

After all, Brad Pitt made it big after showing off his abs in a movie. Then again, he got to bed down Geena Davis. Not that I know who that is, I mean it's not like she ever won an Oscar or anything.

No, I can't get my legs further apart. Maybe I should shut this thing down, and right now. Well, just this last shot.

As Craig Ferguson often says, "I look forward to your letters."

Where Am I?

I'm doing touristy things with friends from outta town.

Back tomorrow.

Watch ABC's No Ordinary Family Pilot Online Now Like I Did (Non-Spoilery Comments Here)

The business part of this first ... here's the link, your password is "extraordinary." No quotation marks needed. Do it quick, though, reports are that after 50,000 streams this event shuts down and then you have to wait til September.

So, quickly, and without giving too much away ... family goes with scientist mom to Mexico on business trip in rickety ol' plane that crashes in body of glowing water that changes them. Changes them forever? I dunno, neither do they. Give 'em a chance they just found out about all this.

Michael Chiklis and Julie Benz are fine together. Their kids (one of each) are disaffected teens with issues of their own. It seems these changes they experience dovetail with their life issues.

It does harken back to Heroes in some respects but with much more family dynamic here. 

Romany Malco (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, with Chiklis above right) is fine as Chiklis' attorney friend but every time I see him in one of these roles I just think about what a great multi-camera sitcom lead he would be and I get sad.

Autumn Reeser (The OC, Entourage) as Benz' office mate doesn't get a whole lot to do either, but the talent's there when the producers don't have as much exposition to get out of the way and they can expand the roles of both Reeser and Malco (hopefully).

This show has very rough competition in network primetime. Not only the juggernaut that is NCIS, but also Glee, The Biggest Loser and One Tree Hill. Tough crowd, huh?

The only upside for the show is that it precedes the DWTS results show, that may help. But those viewers are among some of the oldest of any show in primetime, so the demo may be lost to the Glee kids.

Check out the ABC site for the show by clicking here. It premieres on Sept. 28 at 8 eastern.

I watched, I lasted til the end. Having said that based on this pilot it's not a show I would anxiously anticipate each week. It IS something that a family can watch together without the parents having to shoot themselves during it so that's a positive, right?

Right?

John Barrowman's Garage Sale Makes the News, Meanwhile UK Friends Are at V Fest (Live Stream)

And why not, apparently people got great deals on stuff. And of course, there's the whole hanging out with John Barrowman haggling over the price of his Elaine Paige costume -- wait, that's not for sale!!!

See the slideshow at this BBC News link. I stole the image above from them, there are lots more, they won't miss this one. 

And even more from Wales Online at this link. 

Meanwhile, the only person I know who might have shown up, Ty Davies, is at the V Festival (live streaming video at that link) with his wife Donna in a blue tent that is bigger on the inside. Dammit Ty, that Paige costume was all that was standing in between me and the new season of Ru Paul's Drag Race.

BTW, also V Fest clips on YouTube, watch them all right here by clicking this link.

Note to readers: There's no Elaine Paige costume. I would look horrible in drag.

Ty and wife Donna? Actually at V Fest. Cheers you two!

Creative Arts Emmys -- Follow Them Via Twitter

Broadcasting and Cable's BC Beat Twitter account has it all for you. Click this and it all appears right before your eyes. Yeah, right here!

That guy pictured above won one. He's on a boat, he's on a bike, he's hold an Emmy!

I know, that's an awfully big Emmy. He's an awfully big guy!

Imagine My Surprise, MTV Blog Commenters Are Serious Re: Finding Heidi & Spencer New Dates

This is the truck that carries around Heidi Montag's spare parts.

Anyhoo, The MTV Remote Control blog is asking readers who Heidi and Spencer's next victims boyfriend and girlfriend should be. And ... they're taking it seriously.

Of course I have the perfect guy for Heidi, it's Steve Hirsch, co-founder and co-chairman of Vivid Video. Perfect match ... he gets arm candy and a contract girl and she gets someone to tell her what to do, which apparently she needs.

My favorite comment? This one from commenter Sarah: "Rob Kardashian ... He is a sweet guy and his family would be good for her."

Yeah, those Kardashians, the ones with the 14-year-old bikini model, the girl with the big ass and the sex tape, the dead-eyed amazon who married well, the "other one" with the scary Spencer-lite boyfriend, and mom-ager with the stripper pole in the house and, finally, America's most beloved Olympian/cosmetic surgery victim.

Hey, now that I think of it they ARE pretty compatible. Good for her? That's another story.

And there's the sticky issue of one of them being on E! and the other on MTV. Hey, there might be a Romeo & Juliet angle there.

Video -- On Jon Stewart's Index Card, Rupert Murdoch is a Terrorist

Watch it, click here for it.

If you don't get this, I can't help you, Jon can't help you, no one can help you.

Gleeks! Check Out This Twitpic From Britney and Brittany!

I'm now so much more excited about seeing Brit and Brit on Glee.

Man, Heather Morris is gonna blow up this season.

Video -- New Facebook Security Holes? Check Out This Fix (and Justin Timberlake, at the same time)

I used this Lifehacker post as a guide to fixing the lastest FB security hole created when they decided to get all Foursquare on your ass and add a locations function.

There's a clip, too, and it's at this link.

And, just for giggles ... let's post the trailer for The Social Network, the movie that Mark Suckerberg doesn't want you to see (at least I assume he doesn't). It's viewable by clicking this link.

My only question about this movie ... will the Justin Timberlake (pictured above with star Jesse Eisenberg) movie curse end with this film? Seriously, the guy's track record in film (IMDb link) is not good.

But he's awfully cute and he can kill an SNL sketch. Then again, so can Rachel Dratch and I don't see her getting a lot of movie roles lately.

Video -- Your Fave TV Stars Review Movies on Twitter: Glenn Howerton/The Expendables

Today's film critic is Glenn Howerton who plays "the devastatingly handsome" Dennis Reynolds on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which returns for it's sixth season on FX on September 16.

Compiled from his tweets, check all of them out at this link:

Expendables. Amazing body mass index. So much steroid use. So hard to watch those men try and walk much less run. Nips were hard as glass none the less. Stallone appears to be wearing a mask of his own face over his face.

And that was the Your Fave TV Stars Review Movies on Twitter post for today. There will be one tomorrow if I find one. Or maybe the next day. Or, send me tweets from your fave TV stars when they review movies on Twitter.

And to thank Glenn for playing our game (though he didn't even know he was), we have a few It's Always Sunny ... season six behind the scenes clips for you, and they're in a Hulu widget after the jumperoo.

I have to think this year the show is going to explode, especially after it's Summer vacay on Comedy Central. Note to producers ... this is a great way to expose your show to new fans, and we love getting four episodes in a row. It gives us a great chance to catch up and to get to know the characters.

Idol Winner Debut Album November 16

Fast, who was the American Idol winner? Yup, I thought you might have forgotten.

That person's album will drop on November 16th. Still can't remember their name, huh? Don't worry, you weren't gonna buy it anyway.

C'mon, sitting here waiting for you to remember that name of this last Idol champion is like watching paint dry.

That was a clue.

November 16th. Just show up at a retailer or click your iTunes icon that day and you'll figure it out.

Or just click here.

Video -- And Now Laura Linney is a TV Star, Too (Preview the Next Big C Episode)

Great premiere for The Big C. It set a record for a new series premiering on Showtime. I particularly liked this exchange (clip) between Linney's Cathy and her student played by Gabourey Sidibe. Not so much for its message (I don't like to be told that my body type demands I be jolly and I'm nowhere near the size of Andrea) but for what it says about Cathy's mindset.

One thing, though ... those final moments with Linney sitting on her wine-soaked couch (albeit the clean sides of the cushions) at the bottom of the hole dug for the pool talking to Marlene's dog? That epilogue felt out of place, totally contrary to the tone of the first 25 minutes.

It seemed to me as I thought about it later that it was put there because the pilot will more than likely be the episode that the producers present to Emmy voters for their consideration and they had to show Linney's range so they gave her a teary confessional moment.

And, also ... it felt a little like a upmarket episode of Big Brother. Sorry, it's how I feel.

Other than that, loved it! Oliver Platt turned in his usual greatness and John Benjamin Hickey as her brother? Genius, brilliant ... a supporting character so unlike what you find in other shows. Sidibe is solid and apparently not a one-hit wonder and that made me happy, too.

Reid Scott playing her doctor? Mmmm. He's obviously pictured above right. Do you have lunch with your oncologist? Is he that cute? I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing lots more of him.

See two previews of next week's show at this link and this one. Mondays at 10:30 (after Weeds, you 4:20 heads) on Showtime.

Oh, the Horror!

UPDATE: Just to be fair I went back and watched the whole second episode still on my DVR. Wish I could get those 24 minutes back.

Oh. My. God.

Sorry, I thought it had good bones, you know? Parnell and Sanz and a guy from UCB that everyone loves, Ferrell and McKay ... I just thought it should be, would be better than that.

I don't even remember being awake for more than the first minute of the second episode.

And you know if you read this blog I usually don't come back and apologize, figuring there's always someone out there who actually liked the show.

I don't think anyone liked Big Lake, though. Gary Sanchez should read the scripts before he hands over all that Paraguayan entrepreneurial cash.

Again, sorry about that.

Video -- Catching Up With BBC America's Being Human

I'm behind on True Blood (Sunday's episode) and The Gates (the same), but I did spend some time with vampires, werewolves and a couple of ghosts this past weekend while playing catch up with the BBC Three series from Toby Whithouse, its second series running currently on BBC America.

You know the deal ... a vampire (John Mitchell), a werewolf (George Sands) and a ghost (Annie Sawyer, you can see them all above) live in a crappy flat in Bristol and try not to let their fangs or their teeth or their sudden invisibility get in the way of getting on with it, it being their attempts at ... Being Human.

(I like that they live in a crappy flat, btw. In fact, it's one of the rare shows where the people -- people? -- live somewhere realistic..)

With varying degrees of success, of course. Mitchell and George have crappy NHS jobs to go with their crappy flat, mopping up at a local hospital while Annie, because she hadn't mastered certain parts of the human charade (ghosty problems like not being able to eat or drink or accidentally disappearing) stayed home making tea and coffee that she couldn't even drink and figuring out that her pre-death BF Owen was a sonovabitch.

Owen freaked out when confronted by the three and went to the police with his info, info that quickly gained him entry to a local mental institution. But his story also tipped off an enemy of the otherworld, a man named Kemp. We'll get to him after the jump.

This season started with George's girlfriend Nina, also a hospital worker, living with the trio after the big first series finale where George transformed and killed the local leader of the vampires, Herrick.

(I miss Herrick, he was nasty and fun and a great villian. Watch this interview clip with the producers of the show talking about losing Herrick at this link. And, you UK viewers, NO SPOILERS please.)

Something else happened during Herrick's demise, though. During his transformation, George scratched Nina while trying to push her out of harm's way and gave her "the curse."

Which is where we picked up the opening episode of the series, with Nina dealing with her new circumstance, George not yet knowing what he did, Mitchell trying to keep the local vamps in check (filling the power vacuum George created when he killed Herrick) and Annie gaining control of her "presence," so to speak.

More after the jumperoo.

Video -- Palladia Has Outdoor Festivals Lineup Set Starting August 30 (Glasto, BBC Radio Big Weekend, More!)

It's that time of year again when Palladia, the MTV Networks HD music channel that ACTUALLY PLAYS MUSIC sets out to remind aging American music fans that they are way too old to be going to live outdoor concerts with no actual seating.

Trust me, if you're someone who knows a quick and clean bathroom stop on your way home from the office you are too old for the outdoor festival circuit. Better that you (and I'm talkin' to you, Joe and Liz) stay home and watch on the tube.

The entire press release from Palladia reprinted here with dates and times for the scheduled events. It's all after the jump.

So that the post is a little less dry, a key moment from the Glastonbury Fest this year, my Twitter pal Perla Hudson's stud of a husband Slash (they are pictured to the left) showed up to slay the crowd with the Guns 'n' Roses classic Sweet Child O'Mine with vocals from Myles Kennedy, who tours with Slash's live show.

It's at this link.

Video -- Your The IT Crowd Prep for Tonight's Episode (10:30, IFC)

Yes, that's Moss on the set of the UK quiz show Countdown. Everything you need to know about that show at this link.

While Moss is busy Roy is ready to move on from the dismay of his recent break-up, but gets thrown when a college chum gets the impression that he's down on his luck. Watch the preview clip by clicking this link.

Finally, Jen is suspicious when she sees a parade of Reynholm Industries managers parading into Douglas' executive offices in white robes; she's disturbed yet intrigued enough to slip into a robe herself to slip into whatever's behind that office door.

Tonight at 10:30 on IFC.

Clip Bonanza -- Five Reasons to Watch Comedy Central's Big Lake Tonight at 10

1. The guy sitting on the couch in the center is a guy who went through high school with the name Chris Gethard. You gotta figure he developed a sense of humor. (BTW, it's pronounced "Geth-erd.")

2. Horatio Sanz has been starving himself in preparation for this. C'mon, you gotta give it up for the guy, he's like half the man he used to be and he's still frickin' funny.

3. You gotta love a guy like Chris who pulls off stunts like this (held a raffle at a live show for three people to have a sleepover with him at his parents' house, watch the clip by clicking this link ... AND ... held a live show in his apartment in New York with guests Seth Meyers from SNL and the band Kung Fu Monkeys).

4. Nobody says it or maybe they don't wanna admit it, but without the earlier rap performances by Chris Parnell on SNL (clip) there would have never been a Lazy Sunday which would have meant no Dick in a Box or Natalie Portman's nasty rap. The show owes Chris a lot. I'm a fan.

5. It's from Gary Sanchez Productions. Gary is the Paraguayan entrepreneur who funds the stuff Will Ferrell and Adam McKay do for TV and movies. Write to Gary and ask him for some money for your next project at Gary@GarySanchezProds.com. 

Preview clip at this link. Tonight at 10 (two episode premiere) on Comedy Central. More about Chris in a clip at this link.

Video -- And Tonight on FX's Louie ...

You know what would be really funny and very meta? If this week's episode of Louie was about a blogger who kept writing about a stand up comedian's new cable series even though he had already used every press image made available to him and had to resort to pulling screengrabs off a YouTube clip to satisfy his need to illustrate his posts appropriately.

Okay, not funny. Still meta, not funny.

First, some business, though (press release):

FX has ordered another season of its newest critically acclaimed comedy series Louie, starring actor/comedian Louis C.K., picking up a 13-episode second season, today announced John Landgraf, President and General Manager of FX Networks.  
 
Seven (five as this is posted - ed.) all new episodes of Louie remain in season one, airing Tuesdays at 11 PM ET/PT, with the two final episodes airing back-to-back on September 7 at 11:00 PM and 11:30 PM behind the season three premier of Sons of Anarchy at 10:00 PM.

“Louis has made a truly original series – a comedy unlike anything on television, but perfect for his unique voice,” said Landgraf.  “We are very happy with the show's performance and critical acclaim, and are delighted to move forward with a second season.  With the pick up of Louie, FX has renewed all three new original comedies that the channel debuted over the last year.”

And somehow, despite the good news, you can imagine Louis C.K. finds a reason to be disturbed by it. Right?

From the show site we find out that tonight's ep concerns itself with Louis remembering his sexual education. The clip has nothing to do with said story, but watch it by clicking here. Don't watch the clip if you're an adult still concerned with getting beat up by bullies, it'll push your buttons.

No, strike that. Watch the clip, especially if you fall into that category. I think Louie wants you to be disturbed by this. Or is it just me?

Episodes you've missed are at Hulu (US only, sorry my overseas friends).

Things People Think About While Watching TV, Michael McKean Edition

Follow him on Twitter by clicking this link.

On Idol, J.Lo or Shania? Or Does It Matter?

Seriously, does it? I don't think so. Both women were pop powerhouses. Both aren't very active musically lately. Both are very pretty.

I don't think either of them makes or breaks the show.

Is there anyone out there that fans of the show would like to see sitting at the judge's table?

Here's an idea ... how 'bout a former contestant? It's as good a choice as either Lopez or Twain, and less costly. Find someone the kids liked a lot and who knows, the weekly appearances might boost a music career that for some reason didn't hit.

Leave suggestions below in the comments if you have a former Idol wannabe you think would be right for the judge's dais.

Okay, before you rank on me for this consider that the show isn't gonna live past another two years anyway, not when you'll have X-Factor's premiere in 2011. No one's gonna keep watching a music competition show without Simon Cowell when there's a perfectly good music competition show WITH Simon Cowell to watch.

Not that I'm a big fan of his. I'm not. But apparently a lot of you are. Will you be after looking at the Bullseye page in this week's Entertainment Weekly (no link, you have to buy the issue, or at least sneak a peek at the store)? Can you be a fan of a man with such pendulous breasts? I still say they're implants. His legs are so tiny, so strangely out of size with the rest of him, I can't imagine he's ever been inside a gym. I could be horribly wrong, however.

All the latest Idol stuff for you at AINow.org and EW's Idol section.

Slightly Off-Topic: Comic Artist Chris Ware on PRI's This American Life

I'm not really a comics guy. My only experience in the realm is when my friend Craig Peters told me to buy any copy of Thor #337 (above) I could get my hands on. I did, I still have them, I think. Apparently they went to a second pressing and rendered my copies worthless. 

I also bought some copies of Thor #338, an indicator that I really didn't know what I was doing.

They're somewhere in this house, unless I gave them to Craig. Did I, Craig?

Anyhow, I was in the car for the beginning of Sunday's This American Life (which I now listen to on KPBS 89.5 fm, their donation link) and was just charmed by the prologue to this episode from 2001 featuring comic artist Chris Ware (Acme Novelty Library, image right) talking about his childhood experiences with comic book heroes.

And you can be charmed as well by clicking this link and listening. After Chris there are more stories about superheroes -- John Hodgman (The Daily Show) discusses the comparative oh-wowness of superpowers, the story of a real-life 6'5" wonder woman (lower case) and the story of Burmese separatists twins Luther and Johnny Htoo and the legend (or is it a myth?) of their powers.

Great radio for a Sunday afternoon. Or whenever you get around to clicking this link.

And find your NPR affiliate locally, listen and donate, okay? They need the money.

Roy Orbison in Cling Film Update -- New Stories and a GAME!

We've written previously about Ulli Haarbürste's website (this link) where he posts fiction and other forms of entertainment based on the idea that Ulli happens upon rock 'n' roll legend Roy Orbison in some context and ends up wrapping the Rock hall of fame member in cling film.

Cling film, like plastic wrap, you know.

I would know nothing about this if not for the actor Michael Sheen, who mentioned it in passing one night on while talking with Craig Ferguson. So when I saw there were new items at the site I immediately tweeted the Oscar and BAFTA nominee with the news and got an RT from him.

That was cool.

But then I forgot to update blog readers on the new items which include a lovely Christmas-themed Orbison in cling film story and ... get this ... a game.

Now before you get all crunk about the game (do people still get crunk? Is Li'l John out there to advise?) it's not a first-person shooter (of cling film), it's not even an animated game. It one of those games where you read the scenario and you decide which link to click at the end and then the story continues, kinda like the game Josh Baskin plays in the movie Big.

Still for those of us who delight in the Orbison/cling film universe it was fun.

So feel free to click over to that site and enjoy the new content there. Also, I'm thinking about writing my own Orbison in cling film story, just for the hell of it.

I might even include Michael Sheen. Or maybe Li'l John. Or both.

Video -- Li'l Opera Girl on America's Got Talent, Are You Lipsynching?

Because if I had to judge from this clip from the show, I would say that Jackie Evancho is not singing live.

Look for yourself, readers, click this link to watch it.

Of course, sometimes there's an audio sync problem with online video so I'll reserve some of my skepticism.

Still, something about this doesn't look right. And I'm not the only one to think so, check out the comments under the clip at NBC.com at this link.

The pianist from last night, though? He was outstanding. Check out Maestro Alexander Bui by clicking here.

Idol -- J.Lo Out! Five Completely Untrue Possible Reasons Why

1. Fox said no to the diva fan.

2. "No, Jennifer, Marc can't be a contestant on the show. No, that can't be part of your performance rider."

3. They didn't care about the rocks that she's got ...

4. Lythgoe was jealous of her hair.

5. Even with just three judges there's only so much room at that table.

Actual facts from Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly at this link.

Note to Fellow Bloggers on Strange Cease & Desist Email You Might Have Gotten

I got an email purportedly from an attorney named Porter this morning asking me to remove copyrighted material from this site.

Actually I got the same email twice.

They didn't tell me in the body of the email what that content was that I needed to remove, leaving me instead a attached .doc file (purportedly).

When I tried to open the attachment my virus program told me it was infected and I shouldn't open it.

You shouldn't open the attachment either.

I've emailed the law firm being spoofed by the email and made them aware of it.

(Four of) The Kids in the Hall on The Soup Promote Death Comes to Town

Plus, this almost counts as a new Kids sketch and they made a dream come true for one Joel McHale, once a young Washingtonian who watched them on HBO and wondered "Will I ever get to appear on TV in drag?"

Well, of course he would, in fact again just this past week.

Sorry about the quality of the image. No, I really mean sorry about how ugly a woman Joel is.

Death Comes to Town premiere on IFC on August 20. Click over to their site for more on the eight-part series. And chat live online with the cast Thursday August 12 at 8 pm eastern at this link.

I don't know where McKinney was.

Video -- Janelle Monae's Latest, Cold War (@JanelleMonae @Wondaland)

Watch it now, at this link.

She's so beautiful and doesn't seem to know it. Certainly doesn't trade on it.

Her voice? Stunning. It demands that you listen. I don't know how she does it.

Her lyrics? Challenging, thoughful prose. They're right after the jump so you can sing along, but don't. Listen to Janelle first, and watch her.

Watch her because how often does an artist convey this level of intimacy in a video? To my knowledge, not often. Certainly not often enough.

She breaks all the rules of everything, thankfully. She's an original in a sea of all the same.

By the album, The ArchAndroid. Amazon link right here. 

Check her out at Twitter at this link. Her tweets are inspirational. Great writer.

You gotta get into this artist, I just won't let you not. You owe this to yourself.

More about her at io9.com. That's right, the sci-fi blog from the Denton empire. Why? You should just click over and find out.

When someone breaks all the rules like Janelle Monae she's bound to surprise her audience.

Lyrics after the jump.

Janelle Monae is the best thing Diddy ever brought into our world.

Video -- The NBC Fall Preview Show is Live Online and Right Here

I just felt like going with the old skool logo, just to mix things up.

Also, it might be a good luck charm for the new season. Just disregard the RCA mention.

Watch the special, all 24 minutes and 31 seconds of it, by clicking this link.

Video -- The IT Crowd Returns Tomorrow Night at 10:30 Eastern on IFC

If you think you're a fan of great situation comedy and you've never seen The IT Crowd from UK's Channel 4, you just ... aren't.

It's as simple as that. Hands down, this is one of the laugh-out-loudest (new phrase, use it if you like) shows ever made for the tube. And the new series (it's British, therefore we call each season a series) is remarkably funny.

The good folks at IFC were nice enough to send me a screener this year and the six (I know, only six ... it kills me that there are only six) episodes are all just outstanding.

For the uninitiated, the three people pictured above are from left to right Moss (Richard Ayoade), Jen (Katherine Parkinson) and Roy (Chris O'Dowd), and they are the IT Dept. at Reynholm Industries, now run by Douglas Reynholm (Matt Berry, right) after his father, Denholm Reynholm (yup, that was his name) threw himself out his office window amid allegations of problems with the pension fund.

(Check this clip - link - for details on that. No embed codes because Channel 4 is notorious for withholding such, but you can click over and back.)

More for you after the jump. Gotta click over the jump, that's where the good stuff is.

Breaking: Jane Lynch Will Host SNL October 9th

Live from New York, it's Jane Lynch hosting SNL. Long overdue, but happy to see it happening now.

There was a Facebook page dedicated to making this happen. Why didn't anyone send me a link to it?

The date is October 9th, the network NBC, the time 11:30 eastern. Hat tips to Movieline and The Advocate.

I got nothing else. That's why the picture is enormous. It is, however, very big news for me.

I love this woman's work, I'll even watch a Two and a Half Men rerun if I know Charlie's going to his psychologist, played by Lynch.

Okay, one more Jane-esque piece of info. Party Down season one is available on DVD. And season two (pre-order) as well (Amazon.com links).

More on Torchwood: The New World -- Spoilers Abound (Esther, CIA Laughs & a Pedophile)

See? Even Jack and Gwen are looking at the headline. They're thinking, "Esther? Who's named Esther anymore? And WTF is a paedo (british spelling) doing in our world?"

Since this is a spoiler-filled post, I'm putting the rest of it behind the jump.

And, btw, there's a new Starz Twitter account for the show, check it out at this link.

Blame Andy Cohen!

I'm just sayin'.

And, btw, if they're housewives, why don't we ever see them doing housework?

Maybe she'll show up that that damned Reality Rocks convention next Summer in Los Angeles and my awesome plan will rid us of her and the rest of the so-called Housewives.

Whoopi Goldberg's response to the her dustup with the needless piece of pop culture crap pictured above at this link.

More from Salon.com at this link.

Video -- If a Commercial Really Could Convince Me to Change My Buying Habits ...

... it would be this one (LINK).

I want a miniature giraffe!!!

Starz Day for TCA: The First Poster for Torchwood: The New World

First of all, thank you to Eric Goldman at IGN.com who tweeted this image from the Starz panel at the Television Critics Association dealio. Click his name, see his tweets from the panel, which is happening right now (as I type this).

And the premiere date is narrowed down to Summer 2011, probably right after Comic-Con convenes, I would guess (if they're smart about it).

Also check Matt Roush from TV Guide, also at the panel, also a Torchwood viewer.

Extra thanks because it's Gwen and not that tool Jack Harkness (though he sent that one later on and it's here to the right). No I don't have a problem with Barrowman, far from it in fact. I do have a problem with Jack, though, documented at various spots on the blog.

Jack's not to be trusted. Sooner or later it'll be Torchwood or Jack's libido, and libido just might win. Or his fight or flight response will stick on flight and he'll disappear. Again.

He's a skeezer! Yeah, I know he's a man, but he's also a skeezer. That link, btw, is NSFW.

Oh, btw, Rhys (Kai Owen) is back for this series. Can't forget the relationship that grounds Gwen, after all. And one new character for the series will be Baby Boy or Girl Cooper-Williams. And, after that episode where Gwen was pregnant via alien in S2, who knows what might come out of her womb! In fact, I'll say it now: I predict complications for the Cooper-Williams kid. Certainly behavioral issues stemming from mom being an alien technology hunter but maybe ... more.

Writers announced for the upcoming 10 episode series (sticking with series, not season, as it's still a British show, at least to me) do not include Bryan Fuller (LINK) but do include Jane Espenson (everything that you love, too many to note here), Doris Egan (House), John Shiban (Breaking Bad) and the returning John Fay (episodes two and four of Children of Earth, don't hate him because he wrote Ianto's death scene, he was working under strict orders from above). Info per Mo Ryan at the Chicago Tribune.

I do realize, btw, that they're not new Gwen or Jack images, it was shot during the Children of Earth promo shoot. Still, I think I'm gonna make it my new Twitter background.

So thanks again, Eric Goldman from IGN.

David Arquette -- "Love is Love" (and if you don't agree you're a f**king moron)

Yeah, what he said!

Thanks, David. My best to Courteney and Coco and your family including Alexis, who I don't see anymore because I'm too damn old to be clubbing it in Los Angeles.

Source -- X17Online.com, hat tip to HuffPo.

BTW, don't watch this clip at work if you don't want to hear the word in the headline with the asterisks come out of your computer and into the workplace. Didn't think I really had to say it but someone took exception to not being warned.