Predator 2: Still Predatorin'

After "30 Rock" and "Studio 60" (along with everyone else ever) have both made jokes about Dateline NBC's "To Catch a Predator" series, I'm proud to announce that "To Catch a Predator" jokes are...officially no longer funny. In fact, I'm pleased to announce that "To Catch a Predator" jokes are the inaugural recipients of the brand new Channel Surfing Dane Cook No Longer Funny Award!


Don't worry, maybe they'll make a comeback in a few years, like OJ jokes.

Almost almost famous

Oh boy - as an alleged journalist, this reality show has some degree of interest to me - even though I don't really have any ambitions to write for Rolling Stone (or any ambitions at all, really, but that's my own deal). I briefly considered entering the contestant pool, but seeing that picture and the blonde chick's legs on display makes me think I might not have had what they were looking for (my legs are much nicer).

Upon checking out the individual bios, it's fun to see what books these people are pretending to have read, and I especially enjoy Colin Stutz, who says that in high school he was, "the dick of all dicks." They even have their own Taylor Hicks in Russell Morse, a purported 26-year-old that looks around 40.

Double 'fficed

Not as good as last year's Christmas episode, but still really funny - all the stuff with the waitresses was weird, as it stretches the loseriffic credibility of Michael Scott that he'd be delusional enough to think they were into him, and it was a little more dark than this show's tone usually is (hitting on possibly underaged women, subtle racism, stealing bikes), but it didn't detract too much.

I love Michael and Andy's fist explosion.

It seems that they're already telegraphing the Jim/Karen break-up, which is annoying, since we haven't even really gotten a chance at all to see them as a couple (other than seeing them exchange "Bridget Jones and the Edge of Reason." that really IS a bad movie, I saw it in the theater for some reason). There's star-crossed lovers and then there's a point where you can't really root for characters who clearly could have acted a little more adult with their feelings for each other and now can't move past it when they have compelling reasons to do so. The apparent determination of turning Jim/Pam into the Rosschel of the 21st century is getting old. I just don't want to see Karen go the way of the purse girl, darn it.

Dwangela continues to be the real sweetest couple on TV; who her "Little Drummer Boy" rivaled Kevin's "You Oughta Know." It helps that she was on "Conan" about a week ago and seemed really charming in her real life persona (also named Angela, which is somewhat confusing). Angela...double fudge.

"Too soon."

I really liked the water balloon bit on "Scrubs." "30 Rock" really does seem to get better each episode, and I hope this isn't it for Dean Winters, since he's always a treat, and he got shot to death on his other show.

Toby really wanted that robe.

What's golden?

Golden Globe nominations. Yawn. I hope Borat, either the movie or the fictional character, win. Go Hugh Laurie, although I am dubious as to Alec Baldwin's status as a lead on "30 Rock" (not, though, on his status as being award-worthy).

Game face

Notes for future editions of the Spike TV Video Game Awards:

LESS musical performances from girly man-fronted pop-punk band AFI and presentations from Joe Rogan-level celebs (including, but not limited to, Joe Rogan).

MORE nerdy video game designers accepting awards in "hip" clothes.

Sarah Silverman's bit was expectedly hilarious. "You guys should kill yourselves."

It's cool that Samuel L. Jackson is hosting this since he's like 60.

Boyle over

Now I feel bad for hating "Everybody Loves Raymond."

R.I.P.

DAD FROM RAYMOND
1935-2006

Blog it out

Rosie O'Donnell has finally apologized for making fun of Asians. Kind of. It was on her famously incomprehensible blog:

Ben writes:

You say how you dont understand what the fuss is about, but its hard 2 understand w/o having grown up Asian. Imagine a derogatory gay joke. If YOU got bent outta shape about it, I WOULD understand…

ben
i am sorry it hurt u
i didnt think of it the way it was taken
i will b more sensitive
promise

Allow me to offer up Channel Surfing's official retort:

rosie
u said my last name a lot during that bit
it wasnt very funny
but i liked u in league of their own
that was a while ago

The whole thing has made me think about how us "model minority" Asians aren't actually the only minority group left that it's OK to make fun. That's still handicapped people.

In case you missed it somehow:

Thinly spread

Good news, nerds! "Battlestar Galactica" vixen Tricia Helfer will appear in next month's Playboy, which is apparently still being published despite the ease of finding naked pictures of anyone that appears in it through many Internet souces. Here's their oh-so clever text about the pix:

"Tricia Helfer -- On Battlestar Galactica she's known as Number Six, but we can't think of her as anything less than a 10. The leggy former top fashion model makes love to our camera in quite the spread."

Prepare your Google image searches!

I've recently heard people saying that Helfer looks like David Bowie. If you're a female that's going to be compared to any male, I guess Bowie is a good one, but come on - she looks a man...if he were a woman.

Tuck Everlasting

I've heard some mixed things about last night's season finale of "Nip/Tuck" - actually, pretty much all negative things. Mainly that "not enough happened." That's natural, because a lot of things actually got wrapped up last week when creepy Jacqueline Bisset offed herself - the Escobar stuff was kind of tacked-on at the last minute, and by that nature it had to be resolved fairly quickly and tidily.

In a larger sense, it's sort of perturbing that "stuff has to happen" for a show to be good - big, sweeping events instead of just important character moments - and also, how was this not a lot of "stuff" happening? Liz finally confronting Escobar and getting some sort of closure with being shot and having her kidney stolen, Escobar gone, the Michelle situation dealt with (albeit off-camera), a nice Sean/Matt scene and biggest of all, a new status quo in LA (I'm not sure, though, what happened with Wilbur). Seems pretty packed to me. It's not a spooky guy in a mask chopping off fingers, but that's probably best.

It did seem, though, that this would be a nifty series finale - all the ongoing storylines wrapped-up and a new beginning and happy ending for Christian and Sean - but that apparently isn't the case.

The big question in my mind is will "Brighter Disconnect" by the Submarines (the tune lip-synced in the over-extended musical sequence) be the next "Breathe Me" by Sia?

List off

Looks like you better stick to watching movies, American Film Institute. The AFI, not to be confused with girly man-fronted pop-punk band AFI, released their top 10 TV shows of the year, effectively sticking their snooty, elitists noses in our heretofore-unpretentious tube watching. Let's take a look at the pics, in alphabetical order (notice how they're too cowardly to do proper rankings):

Battlestar Galactica
Dexter
Elizabeth I
Friday Night Lights
Heroes
The Office
South Park
24
The West Wing
The Wire

Alright, movie boys, let's see where you went wrong. "Elizabeth I," huh? Oh man, I just couldn't wait each week to see the next crazy, wacky, unpredictable turn or how that wily Elizabeth I would get out of her next jam, and who doesn't remember that action-packed season finale - oh wait, that's a lie. Because "Elizabeth I" wasn't a series, it was a two-part mini-series! And not only that, it's not even American! You might as well have put one of PBS's airings of 15-year-old Britcom "Keeping Up Appearances." Plus, look at the picture - any production that makes up Helen Mirren into something from Boner Stopper Magazine is hardly the "best" anything.

Including "Dexter" when clearly the Showtime series catching buzz this year is "Weeds" is also weird. It's no "Dexter's Laboratory," that's for sure. "South Park" has indeed been on point this season, but where's "The Colbert Report," the most culturally-influential show on TV this year by a good mile?

"24," "BSG," "The Wire" and "The Office" are fine and sort of required picks if you want to sound smart like a smart guy. Putting "The West Wing" on there seems like wanting to suck up to Aaron Sorkin but not quite being to muster the courage required in saying that "Studio 60" is any good. "Friday Night Lights" and "Heroes" are two shows that seem to be good just because everyone has universally agreed on saying that they're good - even though I do enjoy the latter (although it kind of is "Lost" for dumb people at this point).

To help you get the taste of this so-called "list" out of your mouth, I'll be presenting the Channel Surfing "Surfies" for the past year or so in the near future - be glued to your desktop, laptop, PDA, phone or PSP folks. Or for my homeless fans, check it out at your local library.

Extra, Extra, Extra

This is fairly exciting - although weird that he would seemingly change his mind so quickly on the matter (Gervais has been pretty consistently adamant about no more than two series...es of "Extras").

I'm actually pretty chuffed about the idea; sure it's admirable that Ricky G. wants to preserve artistry and all that, but I'm pretty sure there's more than six hours (even "The Office" got the Christmas special) of funniness that can be squeezed out of movie stars playing really dumb versions of themselves. It just doesn't make sense that we get fifteen or so seasons of "Arli$$" and only two "Extras."

And oh yeah, for those of you who haven't obtained it through legally questionable means, series 2 begins on HBO on January 14.

I can't stand it

I know you've been wondering, feverishly, where I've been - here I am. There's just not much to say these days. "House" and the "Nip/Tuck" season finale tonight should be good. Last night's "How I Met Your Mother" (now officially abbreviated "HIMYM," which I pronounce "him-yim") was alright but (and believe it) not nearly as funny as the Wayne Brady episode.

If you haven't seen this yet, here it is. It's pretty nifty - I'm having trouble deciding if it's just a lot more dirty than normal "Scrubs" humor of if it just seems more dirty since it's coming out of the mouths of "Peanuts" characters.

I don't want no Scrubs (but actually I do)

If you're going to accidentally impregnate someone, Elizabeth Banks is certainly as good of a choice as any. Really. I've always liked her since she seems to turn up only in cool things ("Scrubs," "The 40-Year Old Virgin," "Slither," as Betty Brant in the Spider-Man movies, "The Baxter"). The fact that I certainly wouldn't kick her out of bed for eating crackers is (mostly) secondary.

All in all, great to see "Scrubs" back, even if Dr. Cox's hair for most of the episode looked like sort of like the clown from "It." The promos about Carla being pregnant for 17 months are funny. And true.

"30 Rock" was its usually quasi-amusing self. More Tracy Morgan, less Jane Krakowski, please. That's actually a funny thing to want because it's what Alex Baldwin's character wanted in the beginning of the series. It's fairly ironic to see Tracy as the crazy, unbalanced star in a comedy given what's happening in real life.

I watched my usual 12 minutes or so of "Earl." Seemed fine enough.

The real main event was "The Office" written by my main men Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant - great stuff. Jesus. Apollo Creed. Another Stamford guy quits, makes sense given that it'd be a little overcrowded after a while with all those folks. Andy's 'horny" conversation with Jim was worth the price of admission (which is, to say, free. but still great).

Doubting Thomas

Much like everyone else, I thought the wrap-up to the "campus rapist" storyline on "Veronica Mars" was pretty nifty - especially seeing CW-ized Logan finally do something not wimpy and lame. Yet that doesn't stop me having some serious reservations about this season, and articles like this, an interview conducted by a fawning Kristin Veitch (is there any other kind?) with series creator Rob Thomas (not the Matchbox 20 guy), don't make me feel a lot better:

What’s the plan for the rest of the season?
Well, you’ll be the first person to hear this. There has been talk—more than talk—about dropping the whole big mystery idea after this middle mystery and to do all stand-alone episodes and sort of a combination of a few things. The network is behind it, and I am interested in heading in that direction.

So basically they're dumbing it down - further than the "three mini-mysteries," even. There are a lot of people who dug the first two seasons in large part because of the big mysteries - you knew there was going to be a payoff at the end (as opposed to "X-Files" or "Lost" or "The Nine," etc.) but you still had that many months of being tortured, trying to figure it out each week. We'll see what happens. As much as I liked this week's episode, it felt about 1/3 as dramatic as the season one and two finales.

But still:

R.I.P.

DEAN CYRUS O'DELL
194? or 195? - 2006

You didn't like Veronica very much at at first. Then you did. You had to deal with those militant feminists and keep the Greeks in line. You had a young hot wife that was secretly banging the young hot professor from "Saved by the Bell: The College Years." I saw the actor that plays you in "For Your Consideration" last week. He also narrated a couple educational videos I had to watch in high school. You probably drove a Hybrid car.


See you in the next TV show you guest star in.

Lbsed in the ratings

The Mark Feuerstein streak continues - after just three weeks, "3 Lbs." is done. All eyes are on you, fellow ratings poison Josh Cooke and "Big Day," which got miserable ratings after its debut Tuesday.

Let's count the brain surgery/medical puns in the Variety article linked above:

1) "Brain drain: '3 Lbs.' goes to early grave"
2) "It's not brain surgery, but it's canceled."
3) "New CBS medical drama "3 Lbs." has been declared brain dead after just three weeks"
4) "the Eye has yet to pull the plug officially."
5) "After weighing the latest Nielsen numbers,"
6) "Killing "3 Lbs." was a no-brainer"

That's six puns in a 268 word article - which is a stunning 44 words-to-pun ratio. Clear space on your mantle for that Pulitzer, Adam Dawtrey, Josef Adalian and your collegue also named Josef Adalian.

Pull the plug

More product placement talk - except this week it's on "Studio 60," so naturally it's just product placement with the best of intentions, and the resolution for it is the most intelligent, poignant and meaningful product placement in product placement history. So is "Peripheral Vision Man" a show within a show within a show?

Masi Oka was on "Conan." Good to see an Asian homeboy representin'. "Heroes" tonight at least had...something more going on than usual. A friend recently watched the entire season thus far back to back, and she dug it, and I think that it probably is better viewed in big chunks like that, but I'm still enjoying it so far. Thank goodness the cheerleader, and thus, the world, were both able to be saved.

Mall wonder

Now, here is something on a much happier note. I don't know where the quasi-porn intro is, though. Speaking of CBS sitcoms, was "The Class"...actually funny today? Was I...laughing at it? Do I...like that show? Waa waa wii waa.

Lunatic cringe

Yikes. That was the most awkward TV I've seen since Bill O'Reilly shouted down the son of a 9/11 victim and cut his mic off. Why did he insist on saying "Afro-Americans" twice? Did he really think that was a good idea? What a creepy dude. Jerry Seinfeld chastising the audience ("Stop laughing. It's not funny") was pretty something, too.

Albert was right

You heard it here first, folks: I boldly predicted that the O.J. Simpson special wouldn't ever actually air, and here's a surprise, I was right. Actually, it shouldn't be too much of a surprise for loyal "Channel Surfing" devotees, not only did I fearlessly proclaim Emmitt Smith winner of "Dancing with the Stars" more than 24 hours before he officially won that title, I also declared "Smith" the first cancellation of the fall season back in July or something, when such a claim would have made me look off my nut. Stick with me, Surfers, together we'll make a difference in this crazy world.

The Racist Adventures of Old Cosmo

We've all seen this by now, right? "Hipster doofus," indeed. Apparently racism has replaced Kabbalah as the hot new thing in Hollywood. They're exchanging red bracelets for white hoods! Why can't they do normal things like adopt African babies? I like how it says "WARNING: WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE IS PROFANE AND RACIAL." Racial? Did David Brent write that copy? Stupid TMZ. I know "Seinfeld" always did poorly ratings-wise with black audiences so I guess this was him lashing out after all these years. It's weird that people were still laughing at the beginning of all the racismness. Maybe they thought it was Sacha Baron Cohen's latest character, TV's Michael Richards. Honestly, though, this is probably the most interesting thing you could ever expect to happen at a Michael Richards comedy show. Will future crowds be disappointed when he DOESN'T yell racist epithets? I guess there's a chance this is just a weird way to promote "Seinfeld" season 7 on DVD. "Look to the cookie," Kramer. STOLEN JOKE: "Now we know why he didn't take his lawyer's advice in the coffee suit." - Andre Olivie

Welcome to Miami (Bienvenidos a Miami)

This is probably my favorite "viral video" ever (I still hate that term, though). It makes "CSI: Miami" look at least as silly (just not as over-the-top) as Conan made "Walker, Texas Ranger" look when he played all those clips a while back when NBC and Universal merged. I hope David Caruso never sees this because then he might stop doing it. I caught the beginning of a repeat this weekend just to see if he would do it, and - you guessed it - he did. So great. I love him dramatically putting the shades on, and of course, how he delivers every line the exact same way. Sometimes it's not even a pun or something, and there's still the dramatic smash to the credits. He's going to be the next Chuck Norris-type Internet legend. CARUSO 4 LIFE.

Fit but you know it

New "Celebrity Fit Club" line-up. I liked the last round (a little bit), but this leaves me cold. They're really running out of celebrities, aren't they? Another Brady? Da Brat? Hasn't she been on like a million reality shows already? Cledus T. Judd? Kimberly Locke? I legitimately don't know who some of these people are.

I guess we're supposed to be interested in Screech since he's like, having sex on tape these days, but he's really just sort of a pathetic figure, especially given the super-stud his buddy Slater turned out to be.

Supersize glee

I've had a day to think about it, and if that wasn't the best "Office" of all time, it was very near that mark (at least on par with the last "supersized" episode, "Casino Night"). It's sort of weird for an already-hilarious show in its third season, with an already large cast, to add a character that is as funny if not funnier than anyone else around, but I do believe they've done that in the form of Andy Bernard. He's not the showstopper, he's the whole f'n show.

But what made it really great is that despite the influx of new blood, the original, beloved, Scranton branch wasn't just pushed to the side. Everyone had great moments, especially Ryan, Kelly, and of course, season 3 MVP Creed ("Right place, right time).

"My Name Is Earl" was basically a PSA.

"30 Rock" was funny, but it's getting to the point where it's sort of depressing to like it since it's so obviously going to be gone soon, so like, why set yourself up for that kind of disappointment again? I don't think it's a stretch, though, to say that Tracy Morgan and Tina Fey are the second and third funniest people to come out of "SNL" in the last five years. Alec Baldwin is probably fourth.

But man, the NBC incest/product placement is getting crazy. Not only did we get "Friends" references in both "Earl" and "Rock" (not to mention "Office," hilariously, playing off "Lazy Sunday"), there was also the weird shredder from Staples thing. Also, playing up product placement as a gag (like Snapple on "30 Rock") was funny 14 years ago in the "Wayne's World" movie, but it's a little stale now, and seems sort of toothless when followed up by a commercial for the product you are "ironically" plugging.

On another note, how great is the new, longer lasting Axe effect? It's so new! And longer lasting!

Find me guilty

How about that OJ? What a jerk, right? He's really resting on his laurels - milking a crime that's over a decade old? That's pretty lazy for a murderer. Everytime a big scandal sweeps the media, be it Lacey Patterson or Terri Schiavo or a Yankee pitcher flying his plane into a building, I hope that OJ is somehow masterminding the whole thing. What's the point of the special anyway? To give people tips on how to be better murderers? To let his kids know, in hindsight, how he really should have killed their mother? Although it's nice to see Fox returning to their slimy roots after flirting with credibility in recent years. We all miss the days of "When Animals Attack," "Celebrity Boxing" and "Let's give Michael Jackson time to tell us he's not a weirdo." I think by air date the bad buzz will be such that it'll likely never air, a la "Who's Your Daddy" or my even more controverisal reality show pilot, "Hiding in Kristen Bell's Bathroom." It's still unimaginable that any network (or book pubilsher) would even associate with the guy, especially this project ("Frogmen 2K6" would have been slightly more acceptable). Really, though, programming like this OJ special is exactly the kind of thing that makes me wish Jordan McDeere was a real television executive. Bad crack in the school yard, indeed.

Lopez dispensed

Congratulations to the least embarrassing former NFL player in the news today!

Emmitt Smith "ran" away with the title, "touching down" with the trophy. Right? Mario Lopez was probably more solid throughout the season, but I think Emmitt passed him up as far as charisma and people were probably tiring of Mario's obvious headstart in terms of dance training. And when it comes to a duel between a Super Bowl champion and someone on "Saved By the Bell," it's fairly obvious who America is going to choose. Of course, a Latino going down to defeat through popular vote is probably just a reflection of growing anti-immigration sentiment.

It's nice to see Jesse Spano (and Kelly Kapowski!) showing up to cheer A.C. Slater. Besides this and all of Zach Morris' adventurous dramatic roles on short-lived/about to end TV series, it's obvious that they've all turned out to be pretty decent people. Except that one guy.

Take a chance on him

ABC has been rolling out the promos for "Big Day," starting November 28 (not to be confused with "Day Break," which starts tomorrow). It looks well, uh - the important thing is that it stars Josh Cooke, which means this is his third midseason replacement in as many years. In 2005 he had "Committed," which starred Jennifer Finnigan (who inexplicably went on to star in an actually successful CBS legal drama) and Eddie Winslow. 2006 was "Four Kings," and I never watched that show and I've never met anyone who did.

He's quickly becoming the new Mark Feuerstein - the king of failed shows, including "Fired Up," "Conrad Bloom" and - of course - the beloved "Good Morning, Miami." To Bring It All Back Home, Mark Feuerstein has a new show ("3 Lbs.") which started tonight.

Word of warning to Mr. Cooke - don't make a video as lame as this one.

Future shock

Who would guess that future Christian Troy would end up looking like Tony Clifton?

Well, that episode could have been a real disaster, but it was alright. It's always a red flag when shows put their leads in old person makeup - see the "Will & Grace" series finale - but I think this worked. And in exchange for this being her last episode, Joely Richardson must have lucked out in getting the future-self that aged the best.

This actually sort of felt like a nice season finale for the show, and made the "on the next" scenes (more Brooke Shields! more organ stealing hooker married to Burt Reynolds lady!) look pretty pedestrian.

Cowboy up

Justin: who won DWTS
Albert: We won't know until tomoz
Justin: oh that's right
Justin: do you have an expert prediction
Albert: Emmitt
Albert: he's making a "run" for the championship
Justin: hee hee
Albert: I expect that trophy to "touch" "down" in his hands
Justin: Lopez: (Pacific) Blue Because He Lost

The greatest love story on TV this season is between Mario Lopez and Bruno Tonioli.

Of course they end up tied. Truly, it really is in our hands! Doesn't really seem right to me, since I think Emmitt's freestyle smoked Mario's, but whatev.

Ziering pain

They recently had a shindig of sorts to celebrate "Melrose Place" and "Beverly Hills 90210" finally being released on DVD.

No doubt, I think, that Ian Ziering has aged the best of the lot - he looked 40 when he was supposed to be in high school, and he looks 40 now (even though he's 42!).

(Annoyed grunt)n't see this movie

"The Simpsons" movie trailer. This really couldn't look worse. I guess it's hard to advertise a movie based on something we've all seen hours of - what can they show us that we haven't seen? - but maybe if there was some idea or indication as to why this movie even exists, and what they're going to be doing on a big screen they can't do on TV, it would be easier to show something. But instead this seems just like some sort of cheap cash-in for people like me who remember oh-so long ago when the show was actually funny.

I hate everything about this trailer. I hate the way the logo has a donut for the "O," which is a throwback to the first couple seasons of the show when they were known for things like Homer eating donuts and Bart being disrespectful to his parents. I hate the "A Hard Place" gag. I hate the Moe gag. I hate the fact that the 3D animal bit, which is ripe for parody, doesn't go anywhere and takes up 1/2 of the trailer.

There are conditions where a movie based on a TV show seem like a good idea - when a show was cancelled before its time and people want more ("Serenity"), when it's clear that the show could do more without the limits of TV ("Reno 911") or when there's strong nostalgia (any of dozens of crappy movies based on '60s or '70s sitcoms). But I'm not sure who a movie based on a TV show that most people are sick of that's way past its prime and on TV four times a day in every city in America is supposed to appeal to.

What I'm saying is that July 2007 can't come fast enough!

Brentmeister general

This is brilliant. And less than three weeks away! And on the same day "Scrubs" returns! There are some pretty big spoilers in that link - awesome sounding ones. Of course, what would really be cool is David Brent for some reason in Scranton hanging out with Michael Scott, but that makes about as much sense as Chris Martin appearing on "When the Whistle Blows" in "Extras" series 2. So no, it actually wouldn't be cool.

In other news, Ricky Gervias apparently also has a funny face.

Pillow talk

For some reason (well, because I knew Borat was going to be on) I actually watched Jay Leno last night, despite my best intentions to not watch that show. The best part of this is how desperately cool Martha Stewart tried to come across about everything. It's sort of getting to the Kermit the Frog level, though, of people annoyingly pretending that Borat is a real person in such situations. In case you missed it, here it is, but be warned there's one of those lame graphics that dudes who post things onto YouTube put on YouTube videos:



More great Martha bits, with her facing off against the beloved Amy Sedaris, here and here.

Dear studio audience, I've an announcement to make

Oh thank goodness.

Cosbys say the darndest things

A huge day for the Cos. Not only did he settle a lawsuit with a woman who said he drugged and sexually assaulted her, he's also coming to Phoenix! January 13, and tickets are reasonably priced between $45 and $55 bones. I wonder if he's going to tell jokes or act upset about things. Or drug and sexually assault people. Or make jokes about drugging and sexually assaulting people.

Branch out

Holy poop. It's going to be an "Office" for the ages (spoilers in the link, natch).

Tuck and run

Further evidence that this is going to be, I think, the last season of "Nip/Tuck." Or, as a friend suggested, "the midget will kill her off." I like the fact that she dated "in real life" the actor that plays Matt (her character's son) - that's probably one of the only relationships that hasn't happened in the show. Yet!

Another Sunny Day

Catching up on things I missed out on during my sojourn: FX has renewed "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," this time for a whopping 15 eps (they had 10 last season and seven for their first). Not quite as heartening news: Danny DeVito will be back as well, and is committed to the show through season six, if they make it that far. I thought Danny DeVito was usually pretty funny on the show, but some episodes became a little too much about him than the main four characters, and while that wasn't bad, it wasn't what I originally liked so much about the show in the first place. I understood that his being there gave "IASIP" a lot more media attention than it would have had otherwise (and it really did), but I thought maybe it was just for a one-season arc now that they've landed on their feet. Guess not.

Still, one of my favorite shows, and I'm glad that it'll be back.

Ratings schmatings

Our good friend Kristin Veitch is saying that the "back nine" of "Studio 60" is being "picked up" for a "full season" (TV Guide is reporting it, too). Not that surprising that NBC doesn't want to give up the goat after putting so much hype into it - this is, after all, the network that renewed "Joey."

But will they fulfill the fondest wishes of the forlorn "Friday Night Lights" fans?

On a side note, am I the only one who is wondering if we'll ever get to see the unaired episodes of "Joey"? Who knows what crazy turns Joey's relationship with Alex would have taken! And not to mention the wild antics of his nephew, and his sister, and that other dude. Good times.

Audit trail

Spider-Man 3 trailer debuts tonight, on like every one of Viacom's channels. Hopefully they'll show more of Venom - I still think that's brilliant casting, Topher Grace as an arch-enemy for Tobey Maguire. There's something very post-modernly sensitive emo guy brilliant about that.

AICN had some images up a few days ago, but they've since been taken down. Bummer.

Ed Bradley of '60 Minutes' dead at 65

I just heard this on CNN. Sad stuff, the guy was great - who even knew he had leukemia? Or that he was even sick? It's sort of uncomfortable to watch the anchors try and fill time with talking about how great a guy was when they just find out he dies, but they're doing their best, I suppose.

He hiatus me

Three months without "Lost." What are we going to do until then? Read? Spend time with loved ones? Watch "Day Break"? All those choices seem ridiculous. At least we got some hot Sawyer/Kate action before the break (Sate? Kateyer?). Not to mention Nathan Fillion!

Taye Diggs should consult Bill Murray for help with his quandry, though.

Mac not tonight

Can someone put V-Mars on the case as to where Mac has disappeared to? (I know they've technically explained her absence most episodes, but come on). It must be sort of a kick in the pants to be made a regular character on a show and then be on considerably less than you were before. The whole revolving cast thing is understandable due to budget concerns, but at least last season it was dealt with in a way that...made sense (Duncan fleeing to Australia, Wallace going off with his real dad). The way it's played out so far in season 3 is like if there were some "Friends" episodes with only Joey, Chandler and Monica, and some with Joey, Chandler, Monica and Ross, and some with Joey, Chandler and Ross, a few with Joey, Chandler and Phoebe, and maybe one even with Joey, Phoebe and Rachel, but never one with, you know. All six of those annoying people.

Ad nauseam

The single greatest t-shirt and billboard in New York City, respectively:

Separated at birth?

You think you know a gay II

It's days old now, but I was out of town and it really feels like this is something I should be addressing. I'm not sure how surprising it is or isn't that ol' Swarley is gay, but I'm happy that he's happy. It's also neat that there are at least two gay actors playing straight guys on TV, especially a noted poon hound like NPH's "HIMYM" character. It's possible that they could annoyingly milk the irony of the latter, but the mere thought of that is giving me douche chills so let's not go there.

As a preventative measure, I'd like to out the following television personalities, just so I can say I was the first one to do so:

1) Anderson Cooper
2) Dane Cook
3) Jason Alexander
4) The Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten
5) Collectively, The Backyardigans
6) Major Lee Adama
7) Ellen DeGeneres - between you and me, I think she's hiding something
8) Pro wrestlers Christopher Daniels and A.J. Styles
9) Christopher Meloni
10) Billy Bush

Voters: Whoa is Joey

Not a surprise - Mario Lopez and Emmitt Smith are way more charismatic, lovable, and you know, better dancers. Joey was good, and seemingly a very nice kid, but Mario and Emmitt has been the obvious choice for the finals for the long time. It's also a second-to-last elimination that makes sense, unlike last year when the adorable Stacy Keibler got booted before not one but TWO less talented "hoofers." Plus, seeing a white person cut in favor of a black man and a Latino makes me feel like we were transported to that "White Man's Burden" universe. And it feels good.

Oh, how awkward, I see I've missed a couple of eliminations. Eek. How about "Voters: Spring Jerry" and "Voters: Give her lump of Coleman"? Maybe it's good I missed them.

Somebody save me

It was only a matter of time:

http://www.savestudio60.com/

Calling it "FireFly" doesn't help their credibility in my eyes. This is my favorite part, their marching orders for the F.O.O.S. (Friends of ol' Sorkin):

1. Tell your friends about Studio 60.
2. Watch the show tonight
3. Tell your friends tomorrow how good Studio 60 was!

Yeah, because "Save Angel" worked so well.

You must see these television programs

Here is some refreshingly refreshing news! We don't have to wait until January for new "Scrubs," it's coming back November 30 - and it's back in its original (and most natural) home of Thursday nights. Also encouraging: "30 Rock" being moved to Thursdays, effectively bringing back "Must See TV" (which they kind of did with "Will & Grace," "Four Kings," "My Name is Earl" and "The Office" last year, but come on). Perhaps the best news is that this seem to leave "Twenty Good Years" in the ditch.

Possible headlines: "Network doesn't want to live 'Twenty Good Years,'" "'Twenty Good Years' doesn't last four good episodes," "NBC cuts short 'Twenty Good Years,'" "'Twenty Good Years' is cancelled."

It ain't fiction, just a natural fact

Amazingly, the NewsRadio FanFic Archive (which was inexplicably updated just *two* months ago) is no longer the weirdest fan fiction site on the Internet. That distinction now belongs to the Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Fanfiction Community, where seemingly the only trope is Matt and Danny getting it on. Of course, straight characters going gay is sort of the reason fanfic was invented anyway.

Although it'll be very hard for "Studio 60" fan fiction to top the creepiness of this.

Conan the Adventurer

This sounds fun. It's sort of a bummer that it has to be a repeat, it would be nice if technology had progressed to a point where live images of humans with skin, organs and that kind of stuff can be projected as skeletons (the fact that "Late Night" is never live doesn't stop me from wanting this).

Channel Surfing for Friday, October 20

No longer satisfied from ripping from headlines, "Law & Order" is now ripping from shows that air on the same network. What's next, ripping stories from Jay Leno's "Headlines"?

Law & Order
9 p.m., NBC
It’s not just “ripped from the headlines” — it’s shades of “Dateline NBC” series “To Catch a Predator” when Green (Jesse L. Martin) and Cassady (Milena Govich) investigate the death of a man who was identified by a TV newsmagazine as a pedophile who trolled the Internet for victims.

I really enjoy that picture of Jesse L. Martin because it looks like he just smelled something gross.

There's some other stuff tonight - the return of "Extreme Makeover" (I think) and also "Battlestar Galactica." The people who haven't dug the New Caprica story will like this episode, I think. Or not. Whiners. Read here.

Situation Normal: All Fragged Up

Words to live by:

Dance your cares away,
Worry's for another day.
Let the music play,
Down at Fraggle Rock.



Yep..."Fraggle Rock" movie in development.

You think you know a gay

So T.R. Knight, George from "Grey's Anatomy," is gay. Thanks a lot, People, first Lance Bass, now this. Who's the next paragon of manliness that's going to threaten our family values with their "lifestyle"? Nathan Lane? Tim Gunn? J. Alexander?

On a serious note, here's an interesting article about the whole thing.

Channel Surfing for Thursday, October 19

It's Thursday, so always a lot going on, including the strangely resurgent "ER" - I've actually thought the show was solid for the last couple of years, if not "must see TV." People, you know, laughed at me. Don't discount the drawing power of the always-appealing John Stamos, a key to not only ratings success (look at how "Jake In Progress" burned up the sets!) but also big-time hits, thus his inclusion here.

ER
9 p.m., NBC
This year has been a ratings renaissance for “ER,” with the long-running medical show winning its time slot for the first time in years and the plan to replace it midseason with a new drama scrapped. Tonight Forest Whitaker, currently drawing rave reviews for “The King of Scotland,” guest stars as a stroke patient.

We've also got "Grey's Anatomy," "The Office," "My Name Is Earl," "Ugly Betty" and so on and so forth, read about it here.

Nothing's shocking

From the ABC DwtS WS (Web site):

In a shocking new twist, no one is sent home. Instead, bottom finishers Jerry Springer and Joey Lawrence get to dance another day! Who will make it to the final four?

That is actually the most unshocking thing they could have done. Let's hope they don't spread this style of marketing to the rest of their programming.

"In a shocking 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,' the home being extremely made over is for the family of some sick kid!"