Might as well call it So You Think You Can Antique or The Antique Factor.
Fox has ordered a new reality series called Buried Treasure, starring...
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Ty Pennington has found the most extreme home of them all: The high-end auction house.
The host of TV's long-running feel-good reality series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Pennington has now signed on to host The Great Big American Auction — which just landed a pilot order from ABC. (Pennington's not moving far: ABC is also the network behind Home Edition.)
Think of Great Big American Auction as a more contemporary Antiques Roadshow. In this case, Great Big American Auction will feature personal treasures with a historic, artist or pop culture bent, all being auctioned off to the higher bidder (and all with a personal story to boot). Among the examples: A near-mint copy of Amazing Spider-Man #1; a ring once owned by Elvis Presley; and an autographed Les Paul guitar being auctioned off to benefit Cystic Fibrosis research.
The show is also touting a fully intact
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This week's Modern Family found Claire and Mitchell teaming up to break judgmental news to one another's partners, Gloria and Jay hitting up a Quinceañera, and Haley schooling Alex in "Mean Girls 101."
The episode opens on Phil running a set of super cheesy (more than usual) jokes by the ever-dopey Luke, a perfect sounding board. We come to find that Phil is preparing for SCARB (Southern California Annual Realtors Banquet), which he has been tapped last minute to host. Claire reveals her fear that Phil is going to bomb at this dinner because he's fun, not funny. She blames herself for laughing at all of Phil's jokes, with her mouth, not her eyes. Moments later we see this in action as Claire uses her mouth to laugh while her eyes express something more along the lines of terror.
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Jeers to Mark L. Walberg for hitting a new low with Moment of Truth. Whatever credibility the ex-Temptation Island pimp — er, emcee — sought by hosting PBS' Antiques Roadshow got flushed down the old commode with his participation in Fox's ultra-sleazy lie-detector game show. I've got a few queries I'd like Walberg to answer honestly: Are you filled with self-loathing when you ask humiliating questions like whether former football player Ty ever sneaked a peek at a teammate's privates in the shower? Were you telling the truth when you told 46-year-old Hair Club for Men member George that he looks 35? And have you ever tried to pass yourself off as the other Mark Wahlberg to get a table at a restaurant? You know the other Mark, right? He's the one who won't do anything for money.For another take on Moment of Truth, read Matt Roush's newest Dispatch.• Read and react to Bruce's opinions on Larry King's flubbed Heath Ledger tribute, Breaking Bad's premiere and more!•...
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Question: I just finished reading your 6/30 column, and I agree with your answer about what was worth watching on broadcast TV. I did want to point out that there is another series on PBS that is definitely worth watching: History Detectives. Granted, I am somewhat of a history buff, but I find this show really interesting and a great way to spend Monday night. I really love how, for the most part, the histories they investigate are personal and brought to the detectives' attention by someone with a connection to that particular piece of history. I don't know if you have taken the time to watch it, but if not, I highly recommend it.
Answer: Thanks for the reminder/tip. It's a solid show, I agree, and when you mentioned Mondays on PBS, I also realized I'd forgotten to make note of Antiques Roadshow, which is a favorite of my family (as I'm always reminded this time of year, when I go back home for reunions and holidays). Really, you can't go wrong many nights by turning to PBS if yo ...
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