Stockard Channing

Reader's Cheer of the Week: To the Manor Born

• Jun 27, 2008 03:03 AM ET
• by Bruce Fretts

Stockard Channing by Amy Graves/WireImage.com

Posted by synergy21...Cheers to Animal Planet for landing Stockard Channing as the new narrator of Meerkat Manor! She brings a certain je ne sais quoi to the show, giving the writers a larger degree of creative license. As much as we enjoyed Sean Astin, we can't imagine him pulling off lines like, "What light through yonder bush breaks?" like Channing did in episode 2. Great job as always, AP!• Share your own raves and rants about other shows on the Reader Cheers & Jeers discussion board.• We may feature your Cheer or Jeer on TVGuide.com or in TV Guide magazine! read more

June 4, 2007: Endgame

• Jun 6, 2007 08:15 PM ET
• by mhsimkin

Before the second season of Kyle XY premieres next Monday, June 11, here's a refresher of where we left off. I spent last weekend watching Season 1 on DVD (available at Amazon), and the special extended-cut version of the DVD has some differences, but I think it works better.At the start of the last episode, Kyle's in the hospital recovering from his seizure on the merry-go-round, which befell him while straining to hear Declan and Charlie’s conversation. While he is in the hospital, we find out that Kyle supposedly disappeared five years earlier on his way to school. He was living in Hong Kong at that time. We also find out that the supposed reason that Kyle has no belly button is because as a child he had several operations to reposition his organs, and as a result, he was left without a belly button.Does anyone else find this hard to believe? First, if they really did that type of surgery, there would be visible scars on his skin that a trained eye, like a doctor, would be a... read more

What's with the diss of ...

• Jul 14, 2006 04:00 AM ET
• by Matt Roush

Stockard Channing, Out of Practice

Question: What's with the diss of Stockard Channing? She was brilliant on Out of Practice. I'd rank her comic timing right up there with the comedy legends. Can you seriously see Lauren Graham playing the role so well? I can't. Comedy requires a particular ability and talent that dramatic and "light" comedic actresses can't do. Face it. Graham belongs in drama, not comedy. Channing is right where she belongs. Answer: I've got no beef with Stockard Channing, generally. She's a class act and is especially adept at the highly theatrical and sardonic sort of clowning she was called upon to do on the short-lived Practice. Even so, in my opinion (and clearly fans of this show will disagree), she has done much better work elsewhere — as is the case with everyone on that show, from her costars to the writers. I may have missed an episode or two that showcased her best work on this so-so series, but my impression was that she was pushing it a bit, forcing the sometimes cringe-inducing material. ... read more

Seriously, who does Stockard ...

• Jul 12, 2006 04:00 AM ET
• by Michael Ausiello

Question: Seriously, who does Stockard Channing have embarrassing photos of? She gets nominated for the Emmys every year — even if she wasn't actually on television.

Answer: Amen, sister. This is probably a good time for me to point out that the majority of my beef is not with the Academy. I applaud them for revamping the voting system in an effort to try to spread the Emmy wealth. I think the changes made perfect sense, and I had every reason to believe it would fix what continually ailed the whole process. No, my problem is with this special blue-ribbon panel. The folks who sat in that screening room on June 24 and 25 and watched Hugh Laurie work his magic on House and still deemed him unworthy of a nomination. Geena Davis is a fabulous actress, but even her best episode of Commander in Chief does read more

After the Emmy nominations ...

• Jul 10, 2006 04:00 AM ET
• by Matt Roush

Question: After the Emmy nominations were announced, I was angrier than I've been any other year. The new voting system and the greatness of some shows gave me hope to see some new faces on this year's list. I can overlook the mistake of no Kristen Bell. I can see why Lauren Graham and Kelly Bishop didn't make the cut. And I could have predicted that no Lost stars were going to be nominated. But what I can't stand is the fact that Marcia Cross wasn't on the comedy-actress list. In a year when Housewives was terrible, Cross' Bree was the only thing that kept me watching. She delivered the most amazing performance on the show, carrying the torch of a once-hilarious dramedy. The fact that Stockard Channing, Lisa Kudrow or even Debra Messing earned a spot over Cross is the biggest insult the Emmys made this year. And Hugh Laurie was overlooked in place of Christopher Meloni. I am sorry, but this makes no sense to me. For the first time in several years, I won't be watching this awards ... read more

Six of one, half dozen of the ...

• Jul 10, 2006 04:00 AM ET
• by Matt Roush

Hugh Laurie, House

Question: Six of one, half dozen of the other, huh? So much for the "improved" Emmy nomination process. It seems that just as many glaring omissions were made this time around as before, just different ones. Now, rather than the overlooked performers from small shows getting shafted, the respected stars from equally respected shows got the pie in the face. How any panel of humans viewing televised programming could find five more deserving fellow Homo sapiens than Hugh Laurie in the best-lead-actor category boggles the mind. Yes, Denis Leary, Gregory Itzin and Jean Smart got welcome nods, but the rest? Sheesh! No James Gandolfini or Edie Falco, but Martin Sheen and Geena Davis? No Jason Bateman or Lauren Graham, but Kevin James and Sto read more

The West Wing is — to quote ...

• Mar 22, 2006 04:00 AM ET
• by Michael Ausiello

Question: The West Wing is — to quote the youngest first daughter — "death on a Triscuit" without Stockard Channing. When, oh when, is she coming back?!

Answer: She'll resurface in both the April 16 episode and the May 14 finale. 

FIRST LADY SENTENCED

• Oct 12, 2005 04:00 AM ET
• by TV Guide News

First Lady Stockard Channing was sentenced to 36 months of probation after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor DUI charge. She was also ordered to pay a $390 fine and take part in an alcohol education program. Channing was arrested on Dec. 14 after allegedly trying to drive around a roadblock on the Hollywood Freeway. Hey, at least she didn't drive right through it. read more

Since I am a huge fan of Two ...

• Oct 3, 2005 04:00 AM ET
• by Matt Roush

Question: Since I am a huge fan of Two and a Half Men, I keep watching CBS after it ends every week. I have been watching Out of Practice these first weeks, and although it isn't the best comedy ever (not even close), it gets me through the hour. Practice's first episode was watched by 13 million viewers, and its second broadcast was enjoyed by 11 million viewers. On the other hand, How I Met Your Mother (which is better) reached only 10 million viewers in the first two weeks of the season. However, a lot of experts are calling Mother a keeper and Practice a possible casualty of the season. I don't get it. How can Practice be in more danger than Mother if it has better ratings? Also Out of Practice is not that bad. I'd rather watch Stockard Channing than Still Standing's pathetic cast and stories any day of the week. Answer: I'd rather watch a clip reel of Elisabeth Rohm's scenes from Law & Order than Still Standing, so that's a pretty low bar, don't you think? But here's the deal with ... read more

I read that Jennifer Tilly ...

• Aug 8, 2005 04:00 AM ET
• by Matt Roush

Question: I read that Jennifer Tilly has joined the cast of CBS' Out of Practice in the role of Henry Winkler's girlfriend, a part I think is already portrayed in the pilot by another actress. Does this mean the pilot will now be reshot because of the addition? It might not be a bad thing, considering I have yet to read one positive review about it. Answer: I think the advance word on this show, wherever you're getting it from, is a little too harsh, though I'd agree there's plenty of room for improvement. This isn't pretending to be a groundbreaking comedy, and it's definitely outshone by CBS' other new Monday-night comedy, How I Met Your Mother, but Practice has a terrific cast and a workable premise (a family of squabbling, high-maintenance doctors) that I'm hoping will gel quickly. Anyone who's knocking it should think back to a year ago when CBS inflicted Center of the Universe and Listen Up on us. And remember, you can always go to Yes, Dear and Still Standing on Wednesdays for a ... read more