Random clicking of news and tidbits on current and past television programming in the U.S., as well as what's happening in the TV-on-DVD market. Pop culture on the tube. Reliving our childhood one disc at a time.
Showing posts with label Entertainment Weekly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Entertainment Weekly. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
FALL 2013: 'BREAKING BAD' STAR HEADING TO 'COMMUNITY' COLLEGE
Mike Ehrmantraut keeled over after being fatally wounded by Walter White on AMC's frenzied Breaking Bad, but his portrayer isn't take a break from acting. Jonathan Banks will be crossing networks, and genres, when he pops into NBC's Community this season as a community college professor. But don't expect a totally humorous role for Banks on the underdog comedy. According to Entertainment Weekly, his character Pat Nichols is described as "an intense Criminology professor with a mysterious background in military and police work"...hmmm, sounds familiar. We're betting his intensity will bring the laughs.
Community returns sometime during the midseason, most likely early 2014.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
GO LUCY! IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!
Lucille Ball was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She had an impressive resume of film, radio, and television work, and worked with some big-named talent in Hollywood. Some of her films were not so great and she received the title "Queen of the B's" because of her list of B-movies. It was her television work, however, that made her a legend, consider her the "Queen of Comedy" and when I Love Lucy premiered in 1951 no one fathomed that a half-hour black and white comedy would become one of the most popular and beloved programs in television history. Entertainment Weekly recently placed the show in 11th place on its list of 100 All-Time Greatest Television Shows.
I Love Lucy lasted for six seasons and later was restructured to The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. What are the best episodes of the show? Well that's debatable, depending on the viewer. Lucy setting her fake nose on fire in Hollywood? Sure. Stuffing chocolates wherever she could as they rolled down the assembly line? Of course. Catfighting with an Italian woman over stomped grapes? You betcha. Getting tipsy on Vitameatavegamin with hilarious results? Heck yeah. The list could go on and on.
As part of our tribute to her birthday (she would have been 102 today!), we want to share the colorized version of the "I Love Lucy Christmas Show" episode from the sixth season. The Christmas episode was considered a special and never re-aired in syndication. Fortunately for viewers, the special is included in The Complete Series DVD set.
Enjoy, and Happy Birthday Lucy!
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
WACKY WEDNESDAY: SYFY PREPARES ANOTHER SHARK THRILLER!
If you thought Sharknado was horrifically
"If you're wet, you're dead"...that's the tagline for Syfy's newest movie. So what the hell is exactly a ghost shark? Well the premise of the new shark thriller is that a great white shark (we'll call him Jabberjaw just for kicks) is hunted, tortured, and killed by a fisherman. Unfortunately for him, and the entire human race, Jabberjaw returns from the dead and gets revenge on all humans. Yeah basically the shark becomes the Freddy Krueger of the waterworld. The dead shark can appear in basically anything that has water, and from the looks of the trailer, that includes the ocean, pool, bathtub, car wash, and slip-n-slides. Hell, we're pretty sure the ghost shark can pop up in your toilet and gobble you up while handling your business.
Ghost Shark stars Mackenzie Rosman (remember little Ruthie Camden from 7th Heaven?...we won't even start on her Maxim spread that came out) and Richard Moll (Bull from Night Court). Ghost Shark is scheduled to premiere on August 22 as part of Syfy's month of original movies. We think the network is aiming to break its recent Twitter record when Sharknado originally aired.
Keep it locked to Stay Tuned for future updates on anything and everything television!
Monday, July 15, 2013
THE 100 ALL-TIME GREATEST TV SHOWS CONT'D...
Stay Tuned continues to review Entertainment Weekly's list of the 100 All-Time Greatest Television. Today we will highlight the shows ranked #80-71.
So let's hit that 'Rewind' button and flash back to some good ol' days...
#80 - The Office (U.S. version)
#79 - Everybody Loves Raymond
#78 - Dawson's Creek
Okay, you just started singing the Paula Cole theme song after reading the title? We won't hold it against you.
#77 - Ally McBeal
#76 - Game of Thrones
#75 - Beverly Hills, 90210
#74 - Homeland
#73 - Six Feet Under
#72 - Battlestar Galactica
#73 - Beavis and Butt-head
Well that concludes our review of the #70s on EW's all-time greatest list and while the magazine has chosen some memorable shows of the past, it is refreshing to see the inclusion of current shows (Homeland, Game of Thrones) in the mix. It is important to note that some television shows might not be the best in terms of content or characterization, but its influence on a genre or a certain storytelling merits their placement on this list.
What are some of your memories of these shows? Would you agree with the current selection or placement of shows? Comment below and share with us.
Remember to Stay Tuned for the next review of Entertainment Weekly's list of the 100 All-Time Greatest TV Shows!
Labels:
Ally McBeal,
Battlestar Galactica,
Beavis and Butthead,
Beverly Hills 90210,
Dawson's Creek,
Entertainment Weekly,
Everybody Loves Raymond,
EW,
Game of Thrones,
Homeland,
Six Feet Under,
Television,
The Office
Monday, July 8, 2013
THE 100 ALL-TIME GREATEST TV SHOWS CONT'D...
Stay Tuned continues to review Entertainment Weekly's list of the 100 All-Time Greatest Television Shows. Today we will highlight the shows occupying the #90-81 spots.
So without further ado, shall we begin the reminiscing?
#90 - Felicity
#89 - Mystery Science Theater 3000
#88 - Perry Mason
#87 - South Park
#86 - 24
#85 - Little House on the Prairie
#84 - Family Ties
#83 - Oz
#82 - Good Times
#81 - In Living Color
Well that pretty much sums up the second tier of EW's all-time greatest TV shows list. While we may have different opinions for the actual placement of these shows on the list, we can't help but agree that each one of these shows deserves a place on this list. They were all fundamental stepping stones for future series in their genres and they have made a lasting impact not only in our society but also in our hearts and memories.
What do you remember most about these shows? Do you have a particular favorite one? Which one can you watch non-stop in rerun heaven? Share with us your thoughts in the Comments box below.
Remember to keep an out for the next chapter in this review, #80-71. Stay Tuned for further posts from our TV guru, Max Headblog!
Labels:
24,
Entertainment Weekly,
EW,
Family Ties,
Felicity,
Good Times,
In Living Color,
Little House on the Prairie,
MST3K,
Oz,
Perry Mason,
South Park,
Television
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
THE 100 ALL-TIME GREATEST TV SHOWS...
Entertainment Weekly has released a special double issue for the first week of July with a countdown of The 100 All-Time Greatest Movies, Albums, Novels, and of course, TV Shows.
EW's list of the 100 greatest TV shows of all-time already has generated a lot of buzz with the typical complaints of "Where's this show?" and "Why is this show included?" and even the "This show should have been ranked higher/lower!"...nobody is ever happy, right?
Well STAY TUNED just wants to give some exposure to this wonderful issue (including an excellent tribute to the late James Gandolfini) and hopefully generate some talk in the TV Den. So grab your bean bag chair and glance at the countdown.
Today we'll highlight the bottom ten shows, #91 - 100, on EW's all-time list.
#100 - The Brady Bunch
Who could forget that addicting theme song? The Bradys showed us that families can blend together through the bonds of a second marriage.
#99 - Alias
Sydney and Vaughn. Spy Daddy and Spy Mommy. Francie and Doppelganger Francie. Huge, gaping 2-year flash-forward. Alias brought the spy game to television viewers and probably was the first show to implement the flash-forward technique halfway through its run. Part of us wanted to be part of the Bristow family. The other part thanked reality for not having a zany family.
#98 - Bewitched
Samantha Stephens was one foxy witch. It was the twitch of the nose that set things off. Bewitched introduced the world to witchcraft in a comedic setting and it hit the ball right out of the park. The effects were top notch for its time and made the show believable. It also spawned the eternal debate that remains to this very date, Darrin #1 vs. Darrin #2. Each actor brought a uniqueness to the role but it's ultimately Darrin #1 (Dick York) that was the better Darrin. And let's not forget Endora, Samantha's mortal-hating mother. Endora stole the show every single time she appeared on screen.
#97 - The Comeback
Lisa Kudrow's show was on the air for a short amount of time. I mean if you blinked you would have never known that Kudrow had returned to television with this witty show on HBO. Probably the strongest vehicle for Kudrow post-Friends, it received praise and positive reviews but failed to capture the fickle audience. HBO made a mistake in not renewing the show for a second season.
#96 - Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle was a refreshing comedy that brought the family back to the core. The show featured a typical American family with the internal dysfunction and problems most of our families have experienced. Malcolm had the ability to showcase family strife without vulgarity, as was the case of similar shows during the 2000s. Sympathizers and sufferers of middle-child syndrome related to Malcolm and the pains of growing up in that family environment. It's also great to see Bryan Cranston pre-Breaking Bad.
#95 - Grey's Anatomy
It's drama. It's soapy. It's a dramedy...of sorts. However you want to define it, Grey's Anatomy has been one roller coaster of a show. Hospital dramas can sometimes get boring and bogged down in the depths of dull if there is more medical jargon than storyline. This show has managed to overcome that hurdle and provide outstanding, eye-opening, mouth dropping stories for the last nine years. Just when it seems that Grey's can't top itself, it always finds a way to go over the top. Shootings, plane crashes, deaths, deaths, and more deaths. Most of the audience has been torn between McDreamy and McSteamy, while others root for McBreathy (as in "I hope my favorite character makes it to next week's episode"). Whatever your feelings are about the show, you have got to give it up to homegirl Grey for getting through all the ish she's been through in almost a decade on the air.
#94 - Project Runway
I really have nothing to add to Project Runway. I'm not going to say anything too horrible because my friend Chanelle watches this program religiously when she's working out at her gym. The show has provided an outlet for talented designers to demonstrate their ideas and gain entry into a difficult industry. If anything, the cattiness of the contestants and harsh, honest creative criticism of the judges make this show worth watching.
#93 - The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour was a variety show that pushed the buttons and limits with its frequent political humor. Airing during a time when variety shows were hot commodities, audience grabbers, and ratings winners, the Smothers Brothers mixed comedic skits with musical acts, most times by the actual Smothers Brothers themselves but other times bringing in hot (what we would consider indie these days) artists of the late '60s. After reviewing some clips of the show, it makes one wish variety shows would make a comeback.
#92 - Sanford and Son
Sanford and Son was a groundbreaking comedy on many levels. It became a popular show featuring an entire cast of African-Americans, including the lead characters of Fred Sanford and his son Lamont. The setting of the show was the Sanford junkyard, the family business which was another rarity at the time. The show centered around an African-American-owned business, a huge leap from the supporting television roles of house cleaners, maids, butlers, and menial employees in the late '60s through the '70s. Fred Sanford (played brilliantly by the late Redd Foxx) Controversial material was almost the norm as the show consistently tested the boundaries in its half-hour format. In fact, Sanford and Son helped pave the road for future African-American television.
And who could forget the Sanford and Son theme?!?
#91 - Star Trek
Space...the final frontier. Star Trek wasn't exactly a ratings winner but it gained a loyal following and has increased its cult status thanks to syndication, spin-offs, movies, and books. In retrospect, Star Trek was following the trend of space-centered television shows in the mid to late '60s. The premise was fascinating: space in the future, advanced technology, and traveling to different worlds and encountering strange beings and alien life forms. And let's be honest, that space ship was neat-o. As the show continued on during its three year run, it became a habit to wonder how exactly the extra in the red shirt would meet his or her demise. Because let's face it, if you wore a red shirt on the shirt then you pretty much were going to die. Star Trek also made television history by being the first American show to feature an interracial kiss (Cap. Kirk and Uhura). That jungle fever kiss, Spock's pointer ears and hand sign, alien green women, and furry little balls called Tribbles were just some highlights associated with this cult classic.
Well there you go. EW's list has opened the floodgate of memories. There were some surprises so far. I wouldn't consider The Comeback and Grey's Anatomy as part of the 100 greatest shows of all-time. They're good shows, but deserve an honorary mention status.
What do you think of the EW's list so far? Chime in if you loved, hated, watched any of these shows mentioned. Stay Tuned will be back with the next set #90-81!
EW's list of the 100 greatest TV shows of all-time already has generated a lot of buzz with the typical complaints of "Where's this show?" and "Why is this show included?" and even the "This show should have been ranked higher/lower!"...nobody is ever happy, right?
Well STAY TUNED just wants to give some exposure to this wonderful issue (including an excellent tribute to the late James Gandolfini) and hopefully generate some talk in the TV Den. So grab your bean bag chair and glance at the countdown.
#100 - The Brady Bunch
#99 - Alias
#98 - Bewitched
#97 - The Comeback
#96 - Malcolm in the Middle
#95 - Grey's Anatomy
#94 - Project Runway
#93 - The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
#92 - Sanford and Son
#91 - Star Trek
Well there you go. EW's list has opened the floodgate of memories. There were some surprises so far. I wouldn't consider The Comeback and Grey's Anatomy as part of the 100 greatest shows of all-time. They're good shows, but deserve an honorary mention status.
What do you think of the EW's list so far? Chime in if you loved, hated, watched any of these shows mentioned. Stay Tuned will be back with the next set #90-81!
Labels:
Alias,
Bewitched,
Entertainment Weekly,
EW,
Grey's Anatomy,
Malcolm in the Middle,
Project Runway,
Sanford and Son,
Star Trek,
Television,
The Brady Bunch,
The Comeback,
The Smothers Brothers,
TV on DVD
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