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November 27, 2006: Rowland/Rivera

The word of tonight’s episode is: Freedom. The question is: How much do you give your kids? For Grace and Luis Rivera, the answer is none. For Doug and Robin Rowland, the answer is too much. The Rivera kids are locked up in their home like it’s a prison. They’re monitored by security cameras. Their calls are screened. They can’t go out with friends; they have to spend evenings at home with their family. The youngest daughter, Marisa Rivera, does what she can to make her parents happy, because that’s what they expect. Grace Rivera says: “I’m not in this world to make them happy. They’re in this world to make mom and dad happy.” I was kind of shocked to hear that. I thought part of parenting meant wanting to make your kids happy. There has to be a compromise somewhere. Grace and Luis are intent on controlling their kids. They don’t want to lose them. If Luis lets his daughters go out on dates or have friends over, he feels like he... read more

November 13, 2006: Minks/Oaks

Becca Oaks is an interesting woman. She’s a nursing assistant who refuses to get out of bed unless her husband brings her breakfast and serenades her. She makes her husband do all the cleaning ,and if he doesn’t complete everything on her “Honey Do List,” then she withholds quality time with her husband in the bedroom, basically punishing him like he’s been a bad child. I wonder how Warren and Becca met in the first place. How did they end up together? She’s a nursing assistant, and he’s a janitor. Maybe they went to high school together or met at the local bar. It’d be interesting to see that first moment when they met. Warren’s this guy who meets every demand his wife puts to him. He works as a night janitor and cleans all day. She doesn’t respect him, yet he stays with her. He likes his vacuum a lot, too. I think he likes his vacuum because it’s nice to him. He can push the vacuum and gets to feel in control because he’s... read more

October 30, 2006: Thompson/Askam

I found tonight’s episode refreshing. I liked that both families really opened up to the experience and allowed themselves to make significant changes. For the Thompsons, they realized that they had to appreciate Allison and not treat her like a maid. For the Askams, they learned that they had to focus more on family and less on practicing Wicca. It was nice to see two completely opposite families let their guards down and embrace differences. I mean, Allison broke down a few times and didn’t take to the different kind of lifestyle that Wiccans offer, but she didn’t outright disrespect it, either. She just showed the Askams that they could let something else in their lives beside magic. Bella also cried a few times, but she was pretty cool. She was a free spirit trying to make Kyle Thompson realize that his wife was doing everything for them and they weren’t doing anything for her. At first, I didn’t like Allison’s son Austin. His comment earlier in th... read more

October 23, 2006: Collins/Matlock

Even though this is an old episode from last year, I hadn’t seen it. And I’ve never seen a scarier kid than Carson Matlock. He’s the perfect example of what I don’t want my own kids to become when I start having them. And how did he get this way? Maybe dad Jeff constantly raising his voice and his love of anarchy, their punk rock décor, the fact that they take their kids to a punk rock festival for a family outing and think togetherness is going into a mosh pit….Any of these reasons could account for Carson’s wild behavior. Straight from Carson’s father, Jeff: “Like father like son. You can cut off our hair and cover up our tattoos. But we are who we are.” I think Jeff Matlock is a big reason why Carson is the way he is. I mean, Jeff talked to Shannon Collins without any respect. When Jeff takes Shannon to a punk rock concert and Shannon’s obviously not having a good time, he yells at her to go and catch a cab. Carson joins in: ... read more

October 16, 2006: Lovazzano/Clover

I wouldn’t have lasted a day in either the Lovazzano or the Clover household. At the Lovazzano household, I would’ve been mocked for my nondesigner clothes purchased within a budget. And Kaila Lovazzano was a snob and a spoiled brat. She was exactly the kind of girl in high school that intimidated me, but she was worse because she wore three hundred dollar jeans. As for the Clovers, I wouldn’t have been able to get up at four-fifteen in the morning to clean the pig pen and feed the chickens. I don’t know how those boys did all their chores by the time they left for school and then survived school. I would’ve been passed out by nine am. Not to mention that they probably have to smell like farm animals all of the time. Charles Clover scared me too. He was just so angry. Instead of coming home from work and blowing up at your sons, why not have a glass of wine, put your feet up, read a book? I think I would’ve driven around in a rented sports car like Tina... read more

October 9, 2006: Alcorn/Booker

I have to say that if Jennifer Alcorn came to my door trying to get me off the couch and away from the TV, I don’t know what I’d do. She was really intense. She had these big muscles and she wanted to “beat” the Bookers into good health. But she had a soft side. When Eric finally started working out, she started crying, saying that as a trainer she didn’t “show weakness” to her people. “But it hits me when I get someone that’s struggling and they work so damn hard.” Then the waterworks came and I almost wanted to reach out and hug her. Except if I did reach out and hug her, she could do an uppercut and knock me flat out with a tiny touch. I liked how the Alcorn kids liked to do chores. They were very good about it. The one daughter said she liked doing chores because it was like paying back her parents for giving her life. Who talks like that? The Alcorn kids were almost too good, but their nickname as a family was the “All-Amer... read more

I know it's still summer, but ...

Question: I know it's still summer, but have the networks announced tentative dates for their season premieres? Answer: As of now, the only network not to announce premiere dates is CBS, which will likely launch most of its new and returning shows the weeks of Sept. 17 and 24. Here's how the others shape up: The season kicks off early on Fox, with Prison Break and Vanished on Aug. 21; then the limited reality series Duets on Aug. 29; Justice and Bones on Aug. 30; House and Standoff on Sept. 5; the comedies 'Til Death and Happy Hour on Sept 7; Nanny 911 on Sept. 8; Cops and America's Most Wanted on Sept. 9; Fox's animated comedy lineup plus The War at Home on Sept. 10; and MADtv Sept. 16. (The O.C. won't return until after postseason baseball on Nov. 2.) On ABC, 20/20 officially kicks off Sept. 8; Dancing with the Stars returns Sept. 12 and 13; Wife Swap premieres Sept. 18; Grey's Anatomy and Six Degrees on Sept. 21; Ugly Betty and Men in Trees on Sept. 22; Extreme Makeover: Home read more

Grey's to Thursday! ABC's Official Fall Sked!

ABC's official fall schedule just crossed the wires and those crazy kids over at the Alphabet net are moving Grey's Anatomy to Thursdays at 9 pm. The complete press release is below.ABC UNVEILS 2006-07 PRIMETIME SCHEDULESix New Comedies, Six New Dramas and Three New Alternative SeriesWill Join a Slate of Returning ShowsNew Series Include “Betty the Ugly,” “Big Day,” “Brothers & Sisters,” “Day Break,” “Help Me Help You,” “In Case of Emergency,” “Greg Behrendt’s Wake-Up Call,” “Just for Laughs,” “Let’s Rob…,” “Men in Trees,” “The Nine,” “Notes from the Underbelly,” “Set for the Rest of Your Life,” “Six Degrees” and “Traveler” Returning Series Include “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Lost,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” “... read more

Any scoop on the third season ...

Question: Any scoop on the third season of Rescue Me?


Answer: The season's central conflict will mimic a certain ABC reality show — only Rescue Me's version will be a lot nastier.

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MONDAY BLAHS FOR APPRENTICE

In the Monday-night ratings, NBC's Deal or No Deal (with 13.5 million total viewers) bested ABC's Wife Swap (9.4 mil), CBS' King of Queens-How I Met Your Mother combo (which averaged 10.3 mil) and Part 1 of Fox's Skating with Celebrities finale (8.7 mil) in the 8 pm hour. Come 9 pm CBS' Two and a Half Men dominated with 17.3 million viewers, trumping the first half hours of Fox's 24 (13.4 mil), NBC's relocated The Apprentice (down from its typical take with just 9.9 mil) and ABC's The Bachelor finale (9.5 mil). Courting Alex dropped the Eye's lead at 9:30 to the back end of 24, which surged to 14.2 mil. At 10 pm, CBS' CSI: Miami ruled with 18 million, compared to 12.8 for the final stretch of Bachelor and 10.4 mil for NBC's Medium. read more

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Premise: Women swap husbands, kids and homes for 10 days to gauge the effect of changes on both families and the lessons learned. Confident that the Brit hit-inspired concept would be successful, ABC, months before the show's premiere, cooked up `companion' specials that exchanged husbands, bosses and even vacations. Equally sure of the success was Fox, which launched a quickie rip-off titled 'Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy.'

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