Friends like these

Celebrity gossip magazines are apparently no longer trying to maintain even a facade of subtlety or objectivity.

A first one bites the dust

"Smith," with Ray Liotta and Virginia Madsen, is done already. I don't know how many people saw that coming. It had such a catchy title!

Thursdays of Thunder

FASHION SHOW

FASHION SHOW

FASHION SHOW AT LUNCH

That was a great "Office," maybe it's the post-episode buzz but I'm willing to say one of the best. "Crentist." "I have a laundry machine." With all the play the supporting characters have gotten lately - and deservedly so - it's still nice to see Michael and Dwight front and center. I hope Jim and Rashida Jones "hook up" (which I'm told is hip slang for "have sex"). Entourrraggggee.

Between this week's "My Name Is Earl," "Freak Show" and "House of Carters," freaks are making a real comeback on TV. Judy Greer really likes making herself look ugly.

Did everyone catch the kid from "Little Miss Sunshine" on "Grey's Anatomy"? (oh wait, it was "Grey's Anatomy," I mean, did everyone without a Y chromosone catch it). She was good although I couldn't tell what was wrong with her amdist that stirring love triangle with that one chick and the dude and Robin. I think we have to worry about whoever created this site.

Frasier's dad as a drag queen on "ER" was maybe a little more exciting in concept than execution, but it was still a pretty good episode.

B-Boys Makin' with the Freak-Freak

I didn't catch "Freak Show" last night, but the commercials didn't look exactly promising. Especially given that it was co-created by these two guys:



"Arrested Development" and "Home Movies" are two of my favorite shows, and although David Cross and H. Jon Benjamin might not have been credited as being creatively responsible, it's certain that Dr. Tobias Funke and Coach John McGuirk wouldn't have been nearly as memorable if anyone else was doing it (plus they're both great stand-ups, and hello, "Mr. Show"). So that's why it was upsetting that the commercials for "Freak Show" make it look so very broad (I mean, freak shows? really? is there a big public demand for jokes about circus freaks right now?); much more "Drawn Together" than "South Park." But, I wasn't home, forgot to record it, so I didn't see it. It may have been awesome. Please let me know. But it seems like a talking fetus that has lethal projectile vomit is one of those things that are funny to joke about but not so funny to watch for 30 minutes. I'm probably a sellout for thinking that. Not to mention that the quality of animation isn't too encouraging either.

On that note, let's remember some of my favorite moments with those two:

Coach McGuirk: Now when I was in college I went through some weird times...
Brendon: I didn't know you went to college.
Coach McGuirk: A couple of days I did. Alright, and I ran with a gang. The gang was called the Feelgoods. It wasn't the toughtest gang in the world... it was more like running with the cast of a broadway musical. Very annoying. A lot of freaky interpretive dance stuff - beads, makeup - in other words *drugs*, Brendon.

And Uncle T-Bag:

Tobias: You know, first of all, we are doing this for her, okay, because neither one of us wants to get divorced. And second-of-ly, I know you’re the big marriage expert. Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot. Your wife is dead. I’m sorry. That was 100% inappropriate, and I do apologize profusely. I’m... Oh...

Voters: Fox trot yourself out of here

Another weird elimination this week. Not only is Jerry Springer still alive and kicking (albeit barely), the oddly lifeless Sara Evans is sticking around, too.

But the real surprise is Vivica A. Foxgetting the ol' heave. Though this is another elimination I'd like to chalk up to racism, but with Monique Coleman - who has had very similar scores - still on, it seems that Vivica A. Fox is just not as popular as she was in her "Independence Day" hey...day (was that her heyday? or was it "Set It Off" or "Soul Food"?). Sad news for her.

Land of the "Lost"

Sorry for the lack of posts, but the day of a "Lost" season premiere is like Halloween in the Buffyverse - everyone takes the night off.

So, what did you guys think?

Hot mail

Holy frak.* Just arrived in the mail: the first four episodes of the third season of "Battlestar Galactica," in the nicest media kit I've ever seen. I'll take pictures of it when I get home and post them!

*Very soon, it'll be really tired to use "frak" as a replacement for the f-word. I guess I'm helping that along.

Glaring with the stars

Mario Lopez was INTENSE while the judges were talking to him tonight. I've never seen him look so butch. Here's a dramatization:

ITALIAN GUY: Mareeeeeeo! You are the LATEEN LOVER OF THE DANCE FLOOR. WE SHOULD MAKE OUT RIGHT NOW.

SLATER: [stares]

BRITISH GUY: Jolly good performance, guv'nuh!

SLATER: [stares]

ASIAN CHICK: Wow, that was really good. My life has been changed because of that performance. It was something before that dance, and now it's different.

SLATER: [stares]

That's what happens when you mess with a former "Pacific Blue" cast member like they did last week. Speaking of Carrie Ann Inaba, did she gain 10 years since last episode or what? Sista looked tired.

Sara Evans is not long for this show.

I think I know the secret of the ooze

Right. (apparently I'm way behind the curve on this one, but come on).

Speaking of commercials, I just realized something pretty insidious: Subway is only using Jon Lovitz to sell the sandwiches that are too unhealthy for Jared to be around. That's real clever, guys.

Piz and hers

Honestly: How great is Piz? And as Justin pointed out to me, he's got balls of steel for trying that joke with Wallace upon the very first meeting of him. He's very different than all the other male characters that have been on the show, mainly since it seems like the worst thing to ever happen to him was the fake "Welcome Wagon" stealing his stuff for a couple days. Those cads. Anyway, I'm curious as to what his character arc will be since Rob Thomas has dismissed the idea of him being a love interest to Veronica (although she did describe Logan as a "friend" while loaning out his clothes...makes you think. EDIT: Unless it was Duncan's clothes.).

No Weevil until the third episode. Sad. Sheriff frickin' Lamb in the opening credits? Awesome.

It made lots of fangirls (and fanboys, I'm sure) happy, but post-coital LoVe is more than a little gross to see. It's weird seeing them as a couple since it really hasn't happened.

And finally, I think it's appropriate:

R.I.P.

KENDALL CASABLANCAS
197?-2006

You had sex with Logan a bunch of times. And his dad. And, one would guess, Richard Casablancas. You had your iPod shuffle switched with Veronica's at the gym. You made Keith Mars late for a plane. And other stuff, too.

To paraphrase the immortal words of Puff Daddy, we'll be missing you.


See you in the great big made for ABC Family TV movie in the sky.