Justified
Cheers to Justified for tracking down the perfect theme song. FX's modern-day shoot-'em-up opens with the country-rap hybrid "Long Hard Times to Come," by the aptly named Gangstagrass. That's Brooklyn mashup artist Rench along with hip-hopper T.O.N.E.-z and a high-caliber bluegrass band. (Fun fact: The show's instrumental score is composed by Steve Porcaro of the '80s pop-rock band Toto.) The title song's blend of twang and grit neatly fits the story of itchy-trigger-fingered U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) dealing with his lowlife homeboys in Kentucky. To put it in terms Raylan would surely appreciate, it hits the bull's-eye.
Are you blown away by Gangstagrass?
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True Blood
Blame it on being nearly killed by whackjob Maryann or having Bill's vamp blood in his system. Why else would True Blood bartender Sam Merlotte set out in search of his dangerous, shape-shifting relatives, the Mickens, in the HBO drama's June 13 premiere? I got to spend an evening with Sam Trammell (Sam), Marshall Allman (who plays his kid bro Tommy) and J. Smith-Cameron (Sam's trashy mama Melinda) in the Mickens' trailer.
Here's Sam's never-before-revealed backstory..
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Jillian Michaels
Viewers have grown accustomed to watching Jillian Michaels whip contestants into shape at the Biggest Loser ranch. Now, the tough-as-nails trainer is upping the ante and actually moving in with her victims—gulp!—as she tries to teach five average families better life-coping skills in under a week in Losing It With Jillian (Tuesdays, 9/8c on NBC). (She returns two months later to see how they've fared.)
"It makes The Biggest Loser look like a freaking day at Disneyland," says Michaels...
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Heroes
Heroes ended its season last February with the indestructible Claire (Hayden Panettiere) throwing herself from the top of a Ferris wheel in front of the media, revealing her superpower to the world. Should the axed series return with a wrap-up miniseries—that's creator Tim Kring's hope, and he says he's meeting with NBC this month to discuss it — the plot will skip ahead a year or so to see the effect of Claire's revelation...
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Modern Family
It seems like yesterday that The Jay Leno Show was going to revolutionize the TV business. That didn't happen. But the 2009—10 television season did have its share of triumphs—and a few tribulations...
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Lost
Please send all questions to askmatt@tvguidemagazine.com and follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/roushTVGuideMag
Question: This isn't really a question, just a thank you. I've been a faithful reader for years now, and cannot tell you how grateful I am that you recommended the Lost pilot so fervently almost seven years ago now. Because I often like what you recommend, I persuaded my husband that the pilot was something we should try, and by the "Walkabout" episode where we learned Locke had been in a wheelchair, we were completely addicted...
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Ali Fedotowsky
Jeers to Ali Fedotowsky for keeping weatherman Jonathan in the picture on The Bachelorette. Sure, Canadian dental salesman (seriously, is there a better job description...
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