Pushing Daisies by Ron Tom/ABC
A few weeks ago we asked you to name your favorite cute and cuddly kids on TV. In that spirit, we're looking for more cute and cuddly — but this time we want to hear about the animals on the boob tube. Sure dogs like Digby from Pushing Daisies (pictured) and Eddie from Fraiser are man's best friends, but don't forget the other members of the animal kingdom, like Marcel the monkey from Friends. There are so many choices, and we want to hear them all!So, which of our furry friends is your favorite? Tell us who and why in the comments, and check back to see if your choice makes our list!
read more
Teri Hatcher, Nicollette Sheridan and Felicity Huffman in Desperate Housewives by Craig Sjodin/ABC
Cheers to Desperate Housewives for hitting a high note with its first post-twister (and last pre-strike!) episode. From the welcome return of M*A*S*H veteran Mike Farrell as Victor's cold-blooded father (who knew B.J. could be such an SOB?) to the Frasier-level farces involving Bree's gay roofer and Ida's ashes, it was a delight. Yet it had moments of genuine pathos as well, like when Lynette saw her family emerge from the rubble (though I wouldn't have minded if bratty Kayla hadn't made it). And how about Carlos going blind? I just hope it lasts longer than SVU's "Blinded" debacle — and the strike doesn't last much longer for Desperate fans.• Read and react to Bruce's opinions on Celebrity Apprentice, the "new" Law & Order and more!• 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
The Simpsons courtesy Fox
The past few weeks have been trying ones for anyone who cares about TV and the potentially devastating impact the ongoing writers’ strike could have on the current season and beyond. Which is why, being a cockeyed optimist and all, I’ve been cautiously thanking the fates ever since hearing that the Writers’ Guild and the producers’ alliance are going back to the negotiating table on Monday. No guarantee, of course, that this will mean a quick end to the standoff that has shut so much production down already. But hey, it’s Thanksgiving week, so let’s stay in a thankful and hopeful mode, OK?In that light, here are 10 more reasons to be thankful about the current week in TV as we head into the Thanksgiving break.1. We’re still in a sweeps month, which has allowed us most nights to live blissfully in denial that a strike is even happening, since new episodes continue to abound (including over most of this long holiday weekend). Depending on what happen...
read more
Question: In a recent Dispatch, you noted how there was a glut of pretty good comedies on Mondays, and I agree. Why do the networks put all similar programs up against each other on the same night? Not everyone has a DVR, and if we do, not all of us have the capacity to tape and watch other shows simultaneously. Meanwhile, there are certain days (like Tuesdays), when I can find nothing to watch except for stupid newsmagazines or reality programming. Wouldn't it make sense for the networks to counterprogram against what others are offering? Wouldn't it be great to have some of the comedies from Monday or Thursday or some of the serialized dramas from Wednesday taking advantage of the fact that there's nothing similar to watch on Tuesday? Instead of worrying about lead-in programming (which I don't understand in a remote-control world), shouldn't they focus on finding spots where the audience is underserved?
Answer: A fair complaint, but you've sort of answered your own question. Think
...
read more
Question: What did you think of the hour-long Star Wars-themed episode of Family Guy? I thought it was absolutely hilarious, and one of the best parodies I have seen in a long time. I know everyone is waiting for all the live-action comedy premeries this week, but don't you think that the best comedy period is Fox's Sunday-night animated shows? You may think that Family Guy can get crude and nonsensical from time to time, but you must admit that it's hysterical. Especially since I know you get all the old TV references they often do.
Answer: I got a kick out of parts of it, but as usual when it comes to TV comedies, I think supersizing it wasn't the best idea. Too much of a hit-or-miss thing. In fact, sitting through the first Sunday night of Fox's animated comedies, I wondered if I'd lost my ability to laugh out loud. I was amused here and there, but it didn't blow me away. The ratings were strong, though, and the idea was solid, so it was without doubt a good opening week for Family
read more
Back to You by Sam Jones/Fox
A time-period-winning 9.5 million viewers watched Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton return to prime time Wednesday in their new Fox sitcom, Back to You. Most of them surely tuned in to see two stars from two of their favorite shows, Frasier and Everybody Loves Raymond. But the industry insiders are watching carefully for another reason: They’re curious as to whether the series about two over-the-hill local TV news anchors with a past can prove that the multi-camera comedy has a future. Steve Levitan, executive producer, writer and creator of the show with partner Christopher Lloyd, offered his thoughts to The Biz about meeting the challenge. TVGuide.com: Do you feel the future of the multi-camera sitcom is riding on this show?Steve Levitan: I hate the thought of that. We have enough pressure trying to do a funny show. But some people are saying it, and it does start to weigh on you. I’m not sure that’s fair. The No. 1 comedy on TV is a multi-camera show in Two and a ...
read more
Stephen Colbert courtesy of Comedy Central
Some of the guest voices on tap for the 19th season of Fox's The Simpsons, premiering Sept. 23:• In the season-opener, Lionel Richie as himself and Stephen Colbert as Homer's life coach.• Steve Buscemi as a bank robber who forms a "connection" with hostage Marge (Sept. 30).• Jack Black as the owner of Coolsville, a new rival comic-books emporium in town (Oct. 7).• Later in the season, it's a Frasier reunion as Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce and John Mahoney voice Sideshow Bob, brother Cecil and their dad.Other voices en route to Springfield include Jon Stewart, Matt Dillon, Maya Rudolph, Dan Rather, Placido Domingo, Kurt Loder, Weird Al Yankovic, Beverly D’Angelo and Topher Grace.
read more
Well, they said the final scene would be a shocker, and they were right. I am speechless. You know how much I love my Edie. Would it be too much to ask to have Carlos heroically and miraculously walk in during the very first scene this fall and save her? I do not want this show to go on without Nicollette Sheridan. Yes, Edie is not one of the four main housewives, but the show would not be the same without her. Soap operas have had people hang themselves and be saved at the last minute. Until I get a confirmation, I'm going to spend this entire summer believing Edie is not dead. Just call me DID — "Dave In Denial."Except for that ending, I was very happy with this season's finale episode. I thought it had the perfect Desperate Housewives blend of drama and comedy. I expected to be satisfied after seeing that departing coexecutive producer Joe Keenan was one of the writers (along with talented fellow coexec producer Kevin Murphy). Besides having the same job title for all those ...
read more
Past experience has shown that it's wise to write down the new Fox schedule in pencil. There's always a change or two (or three) by the time the fall rolls around. But stability was the message for the 2007-08 season: Prison Break, 24, House, Bones, American Idol, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? and the Sunday animation block will all return in their same time periods next season. Sure, Fox always falters when the season begins, but the network is about to finish No. 1 in viewers aged 18-49 for the third season in a row.As far as new shows, Fox is trying to regain the edge it seemed to abandon in this past season's development (which was dismal). The most promising attempt is on Monday at 9 pm with K-Ville, starring Anthony Anderson and Cole Hauser as two cops in post-Katrina New Orleans. We were puzzled when a reporter asked entertainment president Peter Liguori if doing such a show was exploiting a disaster. What should a contemporary show filmed in New Orleans be about? Mardi ...
read more
American Dad! - Volume 2 courtesy 20th Century Fox
Wow, March 15 is loaded with Warner releases! They have ER Season 7, The War at Home Season 1, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Volume 6, Tom and Jerry Tales Volume 2, and Tex Avery's Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection, which aired as part of Tom and Jerry. That's five releases on one day!All right, time to get right to it: American Dad Volume 2 is my pick of the week for May 15. I'll admit that I'm not a big fan of this show, but the DVDs are pretty good. I prefer Family Guy over American Dad; I just feel that AD is too similar to FG, and I prefer Peter over Stan. The set includes commentary on every episode, plus three featurettes and "Multi-angle Scene Studies" on selected episodes.Other noteworthy releases coming next week: Banacek Season 1 from Hart Sharp and TV Guide, Frasier Season 9, Home Improvement Season 6, Martin Season 2, The Rockford Files Season 4, and Wings Season 4.
read more
