I Am A TV Junkie

The Daily Beast on TV Showrunners, Fans & "The Twitter"

Go read this story from Jace Lacob (Televisionary) at The Daily Beast where he talks to showrunners Dan Harmon and Hart Hanson (and Shonda Rhimes, but I don't watch those shows) about interaction with fans on, as Craig Ferguson calls it, the Tweety Box (which is not, I repeat not a euphemism for something you'd use to masturbate).

Caught my eye because I follow both of them on Twitter and they spend so much time tweeting each other I was surprised they had time to read other people's tweets.

However, I was kind of surprised to find out that these very pleasant men (or so it seems from their output and what I read) get harrassed by people who think they have much better ideas for the characters these men created than they do.

People, it's just TV. I love it, too, but you must chill. I little reality check might be in order. I provide that for you later in this post.

Check this from the article (I left the links so that you could follow along):

Ask Hanson about Twitter-based personal attacks and he’ll tell you about the follower who told him that she hoped Hanson’s dog would die or others who comment on Hanson’s family, whom he’s careful to shield from the public eye.

“I realized these rude people were encroaching upon my personal life—my own fault, mind you—for opening the door,” he said. “Which lead me to ask: why leave that door open?”

In the past, Hanson has been known to hit back, responding with sarcasm, which he regrets, such as in this exchange:

@Rosie_not_Rose: Brutal honesty - your writing of Brennan lately pisses a lot of us off. Have you forgotten what she was like in seasons 2/3?

@HartHanson: Brutal honesty: I don't give a rat's ass what you say.

“That made me a bully,” said Hanson, of such responses.

More of this, and bonus clips ('cuz yous loves the clips) after the jump.

Why Hodgman is The Man -- This Li'l Piece at His Site & Bonus Daily Show Video

From his site, Areas of My Expertise:

Today ... in the past

1993, HOLLYWOOD: David Hyde Pierce undergoes secret plastic surgery to make himself resemble Kelsey Grammer in order to better play the role of Grammer’s brother on the TV show Frasier. The patented process, called “Grammerizing,” becomes a brief fad in the Philippines.

So there's that.

The most recent "You're Welcome" about violence in video games from Hodgman and The Daily Show (with special guest Ira Glass from This American Life and an assist from Hodgmania Light & Magic) can be viewed if you click over the jump.

It's waiting, don't leave the clip hangin'.

Video -- Preview Primeval Series 4: Connor, Abby, Becker & New Characters

We're actually within striking distance of the fourth series of Primeval. Finally. It's been a while.

As you know, the last time we saw these people who battle a secret war against the creatures that show up in London and environs through glisten-y wormholes, young lovers Connor and Abby were up a tree.

No, seriously, they were actually up a tree. With nasty creatures nipping at their heels.

What to expect for the new series (and possibly series five, I believe both were shot concurrently)? New characters, including one played by Alexander Siddig (Deep Space Nine, 24), a role for Irish actor Ciarán McMenamin (TV and film roles that US audiences just don't have access to), and Ruth Kearney as a new administrator named Jess Parker that has a crush on Captain Becker.

In addition to the newbies, Becker and Lester return (the Bens; Miller and Mansfield) and maybe, finally, a geek gets the girl moment for Connor (Andrew Lee Potts) and Abby (Hannah Spearrit, now with more bleached blonde hair -- extensions? -- check the image to the left).

Though it's been slow in coming there's more information about the new series coming in. Outlets to check for said news? Simply Television has interviews with cast members, Facebook has a group called Primeval ARCadians where I found the second image in this post, and of course there's the Primeval wiki at Wikia.com.

I have no US airdates currently, I'm assuming that the show wil air here on BBC America (as BBC Worldwide was a major player in the late renewal for the series) but I have no additional info.

Preview clip introduced by Potts is posted after the jump. Have at it.

Video -- More on DecorMyEyes.com from Today Show

Yesterday there was this story in the New York Times and today Clarabelle Rodriguez was at the Today Show to talk about her experience with this allegedly awful man at DecorMyEyes.com, which I'm NOT linking to on purpose.

Always a good idea to check and double-check any website where you will eventually share credit card information.

Caveat emptor.

Fox X Factor News -- "Hmm. Cheryl Cole. And You Are ..."

The very attractive woman in the photo above (from her L'Oreal photo shoot) is Cheryl Cole. No, you aren't expected to know who she is.

Yet.

She's allegedly a pop star in Britain. I only know of her because ...

a) She's a judge on X Factor in the UK on ITV

b) She's been through a messy divorce with an athlete that it seems to me all parties are milking for all the PR value they can

And now it seems we'll all know her because Cowell is bringing her over to judge the US version of the show coming in 2011 to Fox.

One question for you to ponder this morning. If Cole actually knew what this alleged "x factor" was, wouldn't she have found a way to get it and have broken the US pop music market already?

Aren't there plenty of Americans that have tenuous pop music careers that could do this job? Leann Rimes comes to mind, so does Vanessa Carlton. And when was the last time you heard Avril Lavigne on the radio?

Watch the first trailer for the series (all 10 seconds of it) in a clip that I've posted past the jump. Or don't. If it motivates you, there's no Cowell in the promo and some fun CGI work on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Why is the BBC Making Something Called History of the Word ...

... when part one has already been made by the film legend pictured above?

Watch some critical scenes from that film in clips after the jump and have a lovely Sunday.

If you're really interested in this project, btw, click to this link at TheWrap.com for details, it's the first announced project since the Beeb renewed their partnership with Discovery Communications.

Video -- Did You Miss Taylor Swift Last Night? Watch All of it Now Right Here

Here it is. I'll be back after the weekend. Have at it, gang.

Video -- HBO True Blood's Jessica Tuck Promoted to Regular

Apparently the American Vampire League will be taking a larger role in the goings-on in Bon Temps this season. Jessica Tuck has been promoted to series regular by HBO and series creator Alan Ball.

At Deadline.com, Ausiello (squatting at Nikki Finke's site until his web project with Matt Mitovich goes live) has casting scoops for the show that include Janina Gavankar from The Gates (hopping from one vamp show to another) and Family Guy voice actress Alexandra Breckenridge (who I watched on Courteney Cox's FX series Dirt, a guilty pleasure of mine from back then that I still miss), but I seem to care more about Tuck, who I remember from my days glued to One Life to Live.

Check this link at Soap Central to review Jessica's OLTL days and make particular note of the bottom of the webpage where her character Megan Gordon's relationships to the Llanview glitterati is detailed. That's what I used to love about the show; one minute a character was thought to be from one family and then all of a sudden that character finds out they are a Lord or a Buchanan and their entire world changes. It made for some great holiday episodes.

Since her breakthrough on that show Tuck has appeared in films and TV guest roles and some series regular appearances (Murder One, Judging Amy, the online offering from John Schneider on Hulu called Twentysixmiles) and now after a season where her True Blood character Nan Flanagan (seen top of post with Alexander Skarsgard's Eric) took a much larger role she now gets an official promotion.

Tuck was also cast in the pilot for the David Tennant/NBC project Rex is Not Your Lawyer. Would love to see that, someday, eventually.

(I keep putting that our into the universe but nothing happens. I'll keep trying.)

Some clips to entertain you? Here's Jessica on Good Morning America discussing her OLTL character (this link) and Nan confronting Eric on True Blood, which is back this June (I'm guessing, probably right) at this link.

Video -- Daniel Radcliffe's Revealing Sit-down with Judd Apatow?

I know. I was surprised, too, and that was just about Judd and the star of the Harry Potter movies being in the same room at the same time.

But there's more (as they say on TV commercials) ... someone's not figured out what's real and what's just a movie. No, not Apatow.

Click it, watch it.

Video -- Craig Ferguson, Matt Smith, a Dalek and Chris Hardwick Walk into a Tardis ...

... and I don't have the end of that joke, but if you do leave it in the comments.

My favorite moment? Hardwick's bigger on the inside joke.

Previously ... I complain about UK stars never doing press in the US (link). Now what will I complain about? Oh don't you worry, I'll find something.

One note: What's with male guests on the show doing a pelvic thrust action during the Secretariat dance? It's not about sexytime it's about the joy of Secretariat, no thrusting required.

Selleck got it right.

Wisconsin Man Shoots TV in Bristol Palin/DWTS-Fueled 15-Hr Standoff Against Police

Yet another reason to proclaim the Palins are bad for America? Or, did a guy under a lot of pressure just have one too many and get worked up over nothing?

Read the account from the Wisconsin State Journal at this link and you tell me. I think the guy (below left) just went off as people will and his TV with Bristol on the screen was just a convenient target.

Still, this has to sting for producers and the network.

ABC and BBC Worldwide (producers) cast someone on the show they call Dancing With the Stars who was not even a star but is now  winning the thing because her mom has a scarily ardent fanbase that will do anything asked of them including pounding away at their cell phones to vote each week.

What I think interested parties failed to recognize is that casting her might tarnish the brand. A lot of people are sick of anything that has to do with politics and ABC put politics front and center in their highest rated show.

You play with fire and stuff can burn.

Speaking of tarnishing the brand, did you catch the activity on the Palin kids' Facebook accounts Sunday night after the premiere of mom's TLC series?

TMZ has the .pdf file for you to peruse. Lovely language from these kids. I always love it when the 16-year-old girl uses faggot as a pejorative.

Lovely kids ... havin' babies outta wedlock, using inappropriate language in social media ... lovely.

More from The Smoking Gun at this link.

Hat tip to Eric Hegedus.

Video -- Did Craig Ferguson Give a Reach Around to a Dalek on National TV?

I dunno, you be the judge. Craig and Matt Smith (Doctor 11) on the show with Chris Hardwick and of course the dalek will be back for ... third base? What is third base when you're a dalek? After Letterman on CBS.

Video -- What Else Tina Fey Said at the Kennedy Center: Whaddaya Mean What Else?

What I mean is that there was stuff cut, and PBS says it was not a content issue but a time issue.

But, when this is what is edited (.pdf file) ... you gotta wonder (boldface is mine):

I would be a liar and an idiot if I didn’t thank Sarah Palin for helping get me here tonight. My partial resemblance and her crazy voice are the two luckiest things that have ever happened to me. And, you know, politics aside, the success of Sarah Palin and women like her is good for all women – except, of course –– those who will end up, you know, like, paying for their own rape kit ‘n’ stuff.

But for everybody else, it’s a win-win. Unless you’re a gay woman who wants to marry your partner of 20 years – whatever. But for most women, the success of conservative women is good for all of us. Unless you believe in evolution. You know – actually, I take it back. The whole thing’s a disaster.

Watch the whole speech in a clip I've placed after the jump. Hat tip to Towleroad. Also there, Tina answering questions asked of viewers on the PBS site, Twitter and Facebook.

The Twain prize telecast is a favorite of mine. It's like a very upmarket Comedy Central roast only with better people who actually deserve to be feted by their comedy friends (I'm talkin' to you Flavor Flav).

Clips past the jump. Click over, enjoy.

Tweet From Jedward -- "What WOULD MAKE you laugh ALOT"

I just couldn't resist posting this pic. I don't know if these t-shirts are photoshopped versions of something or not, but it cracks me up.

Now, to the tweet ... first off, why are three words captialized and three aren't? And where's the question mark?

But to answer them, which I think they want, here's what would make me laugh a lot (a lot being two words, Jedward) ...

John and Edward Grimes are not Irish twins who surprisingly took the UK by storm on a talent show. Instead they are gay Chinese refugees that made big money in the commodities market around the turn of the century, escaped Communist rule to come to Britain, found an expert plastic surgeon to make them look like they do above and decided on a whim to try out for X Factor when they saw a bunch of cute boys including Joe McElderry walk into the audition space.

That would make me laugh a lot. Or alot. Whichever Jedward prefers.

Oh, in my Jedward searching this AM I found this image of these packages of instant beef noodles. Oh Jedward, will you know when to stop with this product endorsement stuff or will you be selling Jedward wigs for Halloween?

Uh-oh.

Video -- And One for the Ladies and Gay Men: Undergear.com Pillow Fight

Hat tip to Gaycast.com for this piece of video. Gotta provide equal time, you know. Visit Undergear.com at this link.

UPDATE: I revoke that hat tip to Gaycast based on the fact that the clip seems to be obscured by an ad every time I try to watch it here. Instead, watch it by clicking here.

Previously ... (link)

 

Video -- Women Behind Bars Down Under: Ooh, They've Been Naughty!

But what's their crime? I think they've caused global warming ... you know, by wearing all this very very hot lingerie.

Ooh, the heat from that hot, hot prison is gonna make all that silky, lacy material stick to their bodies and show off every curve and maybe their nipples will peek out and ... ooh, ooh ooh ooh, it's ... so ...

Eh, what do I know, I'm gay. They look friendly, I guess. Their hair is a little big for my taste but I'm sure they're pleasant Sheilas who just got in trouble for picking the wrong stylist.

This is from a company called Smitten Kitten, directed by Nicholas Carlton (where the image above was borrowed). I think they missed out by not having the male cops strip down also, but I'm a bit biased in this regard. And, btw, when they do something where the male cops strip down could those cops be members of the Australian National Rugby League team?

They played well against that very strong New Zealand squad but lost the Four Nations tournament. They deserve to be around sexy women behind bars, and if they get a little sexy too, that's okay by me.

Watch the ad, it's after the jump. Hat tip to Adrants.

Video -- ScarJo on SNL, the Tradition Continues: Ceramic Busts

Watch it by clicking the filmstrip logo here. Will show up as if by magic (thank you, Apture).

Previously ... (link)

Also enjoyed the 16 and Pregnant Spinoffs sketch (link). Still waiting for the original Super Sweet 16 sketch from Scarlett Jo 's first SNL hosting gig to show up on the web, it killed when it aired in 2006. I think music clearance issues have kept official versions off line.

Video -- Will the Average CBS Viewer Live to Dance with Paul Abdul?

Actually, a better question, considering the average age of the CBS viewer is "Will the average CBS viewer live?"

I just thought you'd wanna know that she's on her way. Coming this January, in fact.

It seems like the wrong show for CBS though, doesn't it? Unless they can get some polka dancers from The Lawrence Welk Show cast I can't imagine how this show works for CBS' older viewers.

I know they'd like to have a new unscripted franchise, something in the competition category, but I just can't believe this is that show.

Oh, the Horror! Poor Poor Raccoon-Eyed Titty Flashing 17-Year-Old

The compiled quote of the day (complied from quotes in this NY Daily News story):

Everyone's like, 'Wow, why is she upset and why is she so miserable about things?' My parents signed me up with Ford (modeling agency) at the age of two. No two-year-old wants to be working, but I had no choice. My whole life, I was in and out of school. I didn't have friends. I was working constantly and I didn't have a real life. I didn't get into this to be a role model for 7-year-olds. If parents don't like some of the stuff I do, then they shouldn't let their kids watch me.

If it's true, shouldn't she just call child services and get them arrested? I'm just not buying this. Where ARE her parents, anyway?

When I was 17, my parents were in front of me at the dinner table every night. Couldn't get anything past them.

Video -- Venture Bros. One-Hour Season 4 Finale Sunday on Adult Swim

It's the smartest cartoon on television that you're not watching. It's a geekfest and yet it's undeniably cool. And, it's the only TV show that would even attempt to reference Gaetan Dugas in a joke and it worked!

For the record, Gaetan Dugas is the Air Canada flight attendant and alleged HIV/AIDS Patient Zero from Randy Shilts' And The Band Played On. It is said about one of the boys (I think Dean) " ... he's been around the world more times than Gaetan Dugas." Absolute genius. So obscure, so on the nose.

It would take me forever to explain the show's universe so I'm sending you over to VentureBrosBlog.com to get up to speed, no reason to reinvent the wheel here.

It's all heroes and villians and arch-nemeses (plural of arch-nemesis) and secret crime fighting organizations and men in butterfly costumes and a massive juicehead of a gay guy named Shore Leave (image left, he's the one with the "jazz hands") who wears a Village People-inspired sailor's uniform with the appropriate amount of bare midriff.

It is, in fact, the most gay-inclusive cartoon on television. And even when the jokes get campy they don't insult your intelligence or your sexual orientation.

From the Adult Swim site, details on Sunday's season ender:

What's more frightening than a doll that wants to kill you with a broken bottle? What's more perilous than a car that has no brakes and is aimed at your torso? What brings more sleepless nights than the threat of chlamydia? The PROM! The Venture boys embrace societies most feared school dance in this hour long danger-pile. Will they live to look back at their rented suits with horror?

I don't really get how they're going to the prom since they've been home schooled all their lives. Well, home schooled isn't specific enough, they've been schooled in their sleep via one of grandpa's inventions actually. However nothing in the Venture universe is ever what it seems or even what it should seem. You never know what might happen given the involvement of S.P.H.I.N.X. ("Sphinx!"), the boys' former guard Brock Sampson, current handler Sgt. Hatred or Dean Venture's crush, the lovely Triana Orpheus, whose father is the friendly next door necromancer.

Watch the clips linked above (look for the li'l filmstrip) and then watch this interview with creators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer by clicking this link.

Then, of course, watch the show. 11:30 pm Sunday on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. If you watched Jonny Quest or really any of the Hannah Barbera action 'toons when you were younger you will love this take on the genre.

I have all the episodes available on DVD up on the shelf, they're so good they're worth having.

First Look Video -- Primeval Series Four Set to Premiere in 2011

Props to my Twitter buddy @PottsFanatic for the heads up on this.

After much delay and budgetary and financing woes (thanks, ITV) Primeval comes back to TV screens in 2011. On what channel and when? I have no frakkin' idea, thank you. Though I'm pretty sure that the financial participation of BBC Worldwide guarantees an initial BBC America run, I could be horribly wrong.

Andrew Lee Potts introduces this clip (just click this link to see it) and thanks you for still being interested after all this time.

Personally I would have liked to see them find a way to bring back Nick Cutter (Douglas Henshall) but apparently that didn't happen.

More as we get closer or when I get more info.

Video/Pics -- First Look: Gwyneth Paltrow Next Week on Glee

I give you next week's preview even before I get to watch this week's show? I'm such a mensch.

Pics are past the jump. Click over for them.

Video -- "We Will Never Be Never Be Anything But Loud and Nitty Gritty Dirty Little Freaks"

It's your girl P!nk everyone, and she's back with a monster.

Your end-of-year song, especially if you are, like me, a nitty gritty dirty little freak. Celebrate with your tribe this season, remember your family and your Family this holiday season.

So raise your glass and crank up the volume. Watch it, it's after the jump.

(And ... don't you love the Rosie the Riveter inspired pic?)

The Great DVR Surrender of November 2010

So I had to turn in my old DVR the other day and get a new one. It started to rebel.

Seriously, it did. Wouldn't record things I asked it to including a How I Met Your Mother two weeks ago, wouldn't delete an episode of Are You Being Served? as if it were a member of the Mollie Sugden Fan Club, and then finally the other day it screwed up recording Craig Ferguson's show. That was the last straw. No one and nothing screws with my Late Late Show.

Problem was, it had some stuff on it I would have really enjoyed seeing. Like, for example, the second episode of Sherlock, three episodes of Bones (from TNT and WGN, I'm trying to watch all five previous seasons in one calendar year) and a bunch of rugby including the start of the Four Nations matches which I recorded to scout for new Aussie-based gladiators for Starz' Spartacus series.

You know that USB connection on the front of your cable company provided DVR? You can see it above under the Motorola logo. It seems to me that the USB port could be used to port the shows on your old DVR to a new one.

Whenever I ask the customer service reps about the USB ports and what they are for I get a blank face and a shrug.

Does anyone out there have some knowledge in this area? I'd love to pick your brain.

Her Life, Made Possible By Pop Culture

I swear to you and to Kathy Griffin that I did not post this image of her and entertainment writer Danielle Turchiano to show you that Kathy needs some additional "dental work."

(If you watch Kathy's stand up specials, you know that dental work does not mean dental work.)

I posted this so you could meet Danielle, who I met on Twitter, and who has written a book (her second, and she's 25) called My Life, Made Possible by Pop Culture.

Haven't read it, but I read her blog of the same name and although she has different TV tastes than I do (for example she's a big Life Unexpected fan, and I'm sure she will be up until the very last second of the show's run upcoming on The CW) I enjoy her take on things televised and she gets some great interviews.

And she has a very cute dog.

Press release for the book is after the jump. You can pick it up via Amazon if you like, at this link.

Video -- Conan Visits George Lopez: Beard? Whaddaya Think, Does it Survive After Monday?

Pictures are one thing, how it reads on video is another. So, based on clippage above, does the beard live past premiere day November 8 at 11 pm on TBS?

Well, does it?

How about a web show starring Conan's beard? Would you watch that? I might.

And, a side question for the women out there ... Did George Lopez separating from the wife that gave him a kidney harsh your fandom of America's favorite Latino (not my label, his)?

I have to tell you, I still can't believe that. I figure if you take an organ from your wife you're in it for life.

More Conan upcoming here in advance of Monday's premiere.

Like The Simpsons? Like Doctor Who? Then You'll Like This

See this? It's cool, right? Wanna see more? Click this! Or this!

All 11 doctors above are from Andy Davies at Deviantart (this link). Let's thank Rob Buckley for posting about this today by visiting his blog and while you're there get involved in the Sitting Tennants contest. I played this week, see my entry by clicking here.

The rest of the Simpsonized Doctors and cast are hand drawn by Dean Fraser, and many of your fave villians and companions are represented, though I don't immediately see a Rose Tyler.

Dean, I'm formally requesting a Rose Tyler and a Martha Jones. And a Sarah Jane, you know, for the kids.

You are a talented guy.

3 Clips -- Worlds Collide for Joel McHale With KLG and Hoda on Today

I'm pretty sure that's a bottle of Jameson's that Joel's opening, and anyone in his position would do the same. I'd need plenty of alcohol if I had to be on TV with these two.

Since I had to watch this online (our fourth hour of Today is pre-empted today in San Diego for a police officer funeral) I figured why not post it?

And, it's after the jump, along with a Community promo for this week (Hilary Duff as a bad girl) and, if I can find it, a relevant clip from Joel's other job at E!

Preview Video -- Live Chat Tomorrow With Filmmakers Behind PBS' Circus

It's finally time for Circus to premiere on PBS. I've been waiting on this for a while, since I caught the preview special while channel surfing a couple months ago.

Clips? I have 'em, they're after the jump. First ...

From the show site:

Join us right here for a special event live chat: Thursday, November 4, 2010, at 2:00pm (Eastern time) featuring CIRCUS co-producers Maro Chermayeff and Jeff Dupre.

Come find out what it was like to go behind the scenes with the Big Apple Circus and explore a distinctive world with its own rules, lingo and no fixed address. Talk about your favorite cast members, ask questions and see what Maro and Jeff have to say about the film.

Can't participate but want to be included? Find Circus on Facebook and Twitter and post your questions now. Then, after the chat, return to this page to read the complete transcript.

Click the link above and bookmark it for tomorrow's chat starting at 2pm eastern.

Who are they? Check out this link and this one for Maro and Jeff's bios respectively.

If you're on my homepage, click over the jump to see a couple clips.

Video -- TV Academy Presents TV Crimefighters (Including Matt Bomer!)

I know I haven't been particularly good about posting lately (I'm having some turning 50 blues) but this I'm finding the wherewithal to post because I thought you'd really enjoy this which happened yesterday in Los Angeles.

Matt Passmore, Angie Harmon, Matt Bomer (toldja), Kelli Williams, Boris Kodjoe, Thomas Gibson, and Marg Helgenberger are the panelists. The panel is moderated by Jim Longworth, author of the book TV Creators (Amazon link) who is - bonus - a pretty funny guy.

Of course it would have been a better panel with Emily Deschanel included. Everything's better with Emily Deschanel.

I haven't watched the whole thing yet, but I think there's a possibility that Mike Connors (Mannix) is involved at some point in this event. If you watch the whole thing, clue me in, okay?

You can watch this TV Academy event by clicking over the jump.