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This Wheel’s On Fire:”Absolutely Fabulous” Returns!
Posted by Melanie McFarland in Commentary, If You Only Watch One Thing..., Nostalgia, Tune In Info, Uncategorized on January 3rd, 2012
“Absolutely Fabulous” is back. Again. This time we can call its return glorious, which is good news for diehard fans.
After being out of production for nearly seven years, high praise for the comedy’s latest episodes was not necessarily guaranteed. In fact, when the latest batch of all-new episodes were first announced months ago — there will be three in total, with a feature version of “Ab Fab” said to be the works — the news likely was met with a combination of excitement and trepidation among a number of fans.
Surely the most dedicated Eddy and Patsy loyalists may consider any less-than-glowing opinion of every “Ab Fab” incarnation to be sacrilege. That’s understandable; what’s not to love about champagne-swilling trend slave Edina (Jennifer Saunders) and her drunken style-addict of a best friend Patsy (Joanna Lumley)? The average superfan (guilty as charged) owns DVDs of every episode and indulges in marathon viewings whenever the mood strikes. But only seasons one through three get a regular workout in my home, because that’s when “Absolutely Fabulous” was at its best — between 1992 and 1996.
Subsequent resurrections of “Ab Fab” proved to be a demonstration of diminishing returns. Series four returned in 2001 after a long hiatus – and an attempt at fitting the same cast into a different comedy that paled in comparison – and while it was still quite sharp at times (and included one of the funniest strings of slaps ever to be seen on television), it wasn’t quite the same.
Another largely forgettable bunch of episodes were produced in 2003. There was another special, “White Box,” in 2004, and a Comic Relief episode in 2005. Then the doors of the Monsoon residence closed, not to be heard from again until the latest episode popped up online last week.
If series creator Jennifer Saunders has taught us anything, however, it is that the perennially opinionated Edina Monsoon can never be permanently silenced.
In the 20th anniversary special, Edina takes aim at reality television, harpooning the Kardashians along the way. Bubble re-enacts the Royal Wedding in a sequence one might liken to psychedelic kabuki theater. Saffy (Julia Sawalha) is still long-suffering, only this time we find out that years of wrangling her mother prepared her to endure one of the harshest environments on the planet. And Patsy is still Patsy — glamorous, unapologetic in her dependence on Eddy, and clinging desperately to “39″.
Nothing much has changed, aside from what’s “hip and happenin’” in the world. Luckily for us, most of the things considered to be edgy and fashionable these days also happen to be so utterly ridiculous that Saunders and Lumley don’t have to work very hard to be inspired, resulting in material that’s familiar and fresh all at once. Completely relaxed and in their groove, it’s as if the two divas never really left us. Of course, they never really have.
U.S. viewers can watch the first of the three new specials January 8 at 10pm ET/PT on BBC America and Logo. In the meantime, check out photos from the new episode.
Nominations announced for 2011 TCA Awards
Posted by Melanie McFarland in Uncategorized on June 13th, 2011
Aside from Comic-Con, the 2011 Television Critics Association Press Tour, which runs from July 26 through August 8, is the most concentrated TV news-generating event of the summer. Within its two weeks’ worth of announcements about fall premieres lies one night during which critics honor what they consider to be the best stuff on television.
Since the TCA Awards ceremony takes place after the Emmy noms have been announced, it has been know to provide a bit of solace to snub-stung viewers. Sure, in the list the nominations posted below, you’ll find a few titles and performers upon which the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is likely to bestow some love, including HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” and AMC’s “Mad Men,” as well as their stars Steve Buscemi and Jon Hamm. But you’ll also find a nod for “Community“ star Danny Pudi and some appreciation for the late, undeniably great FX show “Terriers.”
Then again, first one’s favorite program has to have been nominated by the 200-plus journalists who make up the TCA. If you’re a reality television connoisseur, you may be disappointed by the body’s inaugural selections for the newly-minted Reality Programming category. This was the view of Andy Dehnart, a leading expert in the genre who runs NewsDesk partner RealityBlurred.com
“Mostly, I’m disappointed that smaller and sometimes better series didn’t at least get a nomination,” Dehnart says, citing “Whale Wars” and “Hoarders” as his nominations of choice. He went on to add, “Instead, we went the predictable route.”
The full list of nominees is available after the jump. Winners will be announced during an awards presentation hosted by “Parks and Recreation” star Nick Offerman, to be held on August 6 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Catch up on “Drop Dead Diva”
Posted by Melanie McFarland in Uncategorized on June 9th, 2011
TV marathons can be a love it or loathe it proposition. But when a channel schedules back-to-back-to-back hours of a favorite show that hasn’t aired new episodes in nearly a year, it’s a treat.
“Drop Dead Diva,” it’s your turn. The Lifetime hit kicks off its third season on Sunday, June 19. But a day before the season premiere, the cable channel is running a mini-marathon of six episodes from season two, starting with the second season premiere, “Would I Lie to You,” at 11am ET/PT .
That’s less than half a season’s worth, but judiciously selected to include hours containing enough key plot points to adequately set up the third season — the perfect way to introduce holdouts to “Diva’s” charms.
Frankly, it’s difficult to sell the uninitiated on this show. The premise sounds a bit fluffy: Deb, a superficial wannabe model, has her career options cut shot when her urge to apply lip gloss and talk on her phone while driving leads to a high-velocity meeting between her car and a truck.
But Deb doesn’t die, not really. Her stubborn soul gets slammed into the plus-size body of lawyer Jane Bingum, a woman of sizable intellect but no social life. Deb grants Jane an irrepressibly vivacious attitude and gives her a much needed makeover. At the same time, Deb continually learns how tough it is to be a big woman in a world that is competitive, cruel and often small-minded.
Thanks to star Brooke Elliott‘s heartwarming portrayal, Jane is never the punchline or a chump. Rather, Elliott has created a character that demands that the world allow her to sparkle and take up space, yet has a lot to learn about moving on and letting go of the past.
Elliott’s charms, as well as a charismatic supporting cast (including Margaret Cho), brilliantly cast guest stars (Judge Paula Abdul? you bet) and taut, witty writing are “Drop Dead Diva’s” secret weapons. Fans and newcomers have ample opportunity to discover (or rediscover) that for themselves between 11 am and 5pm ET/PT on Saturday June 18.
Six episodes not enough? IMDb has every season two episode available for viewing until June 17. You can also view photos from the third season premiere by clicking here.
69th Annual Peabody Awards Winners Announced
Posted by Melanie McFarland in Uncategorized on March 31st, 2010
“Glee.”
“The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.”
“In Treatment.”
Aside from being among the most entertaining shows on television, the above programs have something else in common: They’re all Peabody Award winners.
The list of 36 Peabody recipients represent the best in electronic media for 2009, including primetime series; made-for-TV scripted dramas; documentaries; news reports submitted from local television stations as well as from the major networks; radio dramas, news coverage and documentaries; and websites.
Joining the aforementioned TV shows are a number of documentaries, including HBO’s “Thrilla in Manila,” which looks at the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fights in the early 1970s from Frazier’s point of view, and an “American Masters” special on director choreographer Jerome Robbins titled, “Jerome Robbins – Something to Dance About. ”
“The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” also won a Peabody for its episode that featured a conversation with Desmond Tutu.
Two “60 Minutes” reports from Steve Kroft, “The Cost of Dying” and “Sabotaging the System,” and a special report from ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer on life in Appalachia that aired on “20/20.“ Sawyer also happens to be hosting this year’s ceremony, which will be held on May 17 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan.
Keep reading for full list of winners. For the list with accompanying citations, click here.
Will Starz Rise on the Strength of “Spartacus”?
Posted by Melanie McFarland in Commentary, TCA Summer Press Tour 2009, Tune In Info, Uncategorized on August 1st, 2009
Premium cable is in no way a necessity. That’s why the onus has been on channels such as HBO and Showtime to give us a reason to pony up those extra bucks for a subscription. HBO’s answer was “The Sopranos,” “Sex and the City” and “Six Feet Under.” Showtime got us to pry open our wallets for “Dexter” and “Weeds.”
Now, the late-to-the-original-programming-party Starz has promised that sometime on or after January 22, 2010, when “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” premieres, we will see Lucy Lawless get naked. You read right: Xena, in the buff.
Now that Starz has your attention, it’s worth mentioning that this detail is not the only reason you might want to check out “Blood and Sand.” It’s not even the main one, although on Wednesday producers gave critics an eyeful of the boobilicious , uncut promo trailer they weren’t allowed to show at Comic-Con to sweeten the deal. Keep reading for our list of reasons that this upcoming action drama could be worth a look.
Davies, Tennant on Vacating “Doctor Who”
Posted by Melanie McFarland in Commentary, TCA Summer Press Tour 2009, Tune In Info, TV News, Uncategorized on July 31st, 2009
The longest running science fiction series in television history, “Doctor Who,” is a beloved pop culture icon in its native U.K. Among U.S. viewers, however, coming out as a Whovian used to be a bit risky. Self-identified geeks once considered the classic series to be a little too geeky even for them.
BBC America, Russell T. Davies and David Tennant changed all that over the past few years — Tennant, especially. For three seasons the gregarious actor portrayed The Doctor with a combination of goofiness and gravitas, making him charismatic, sexy and at times even sinister. We believed it when centuries-old Doctor’s companions fell for him because, after all, we had too. Tennant and Davies’ recent Comic-Con appearance drove the fans into a frenzy.
That’s why the news that Tennant’s run on “Doctor Who” would be coming to an end made our hearts ache a little. The journey for his incarnation of The Doctor is already in the process of ending. “Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead” had its BBC America premiere last Sunday. The next special, “The Waters of Mars,” arrives in the fall and enlists a new companion named Adelaide (Lindsay Duncan, familiar to “Rome” fans as Servilia of the Junii). Tennant’s final special arrives at what would otherwise be the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas. Davies confirmed that it’s called “The End of Time,” and it will be at least an hour and a half, maybe more, with commercials.
The decision to leave wasn’t easy for Tennant but, as he explained to critics on Wednesday, “I like the fact that I stand a chance of leaving an audience and myself wanting more rather than people asking when I’ve leaving.”
For the record, Davies announced he’d be handing the reins off to Steven Moffat in May 2008, before Tennant decided it was time for him to go — he hit us with that news last October.
The actor described the feeling of abandoning the role that brought him such love and acclaim in both the U.K. and the states as both very exciting, and very sad. “It’s thrilling to be handing over the show in such good health, actually…we’ve all come on this journey together, and it feels like we’re coming to the end of something very special.”
As do we.
***Warning: Slight spoilers lie ahead.***
Nominations for 61st Annual Emmy Awards Are In…
Posted by Melanie McFarland in Uncategorized on July 16th, 2009
For the second year in a row, Emmy had few early morning surprises among its major category nominees. It was a huge year for cable, with “House” and “Lost” becoming the only broadcast nominees for best drama. It was an even bigger year for “30 Rock,” which snagged 22 nods in total, including a supporting actor nomination for Jack “Kenneth the Page” McBrayer. AMC’s “Mad Men” scored 16 noms.
Bigger shockers were in store in the Comedy Series category, as the offbeat HBO series “Flight of the Conchords” and, even more surprisingly, “Family Guy” (??!!) elbowed their way in to stand alongside conventional choices such as “The Office,” “30 Rock” and “How I Met Your Mother.”
On the other hand, the casts of “The Shield” and “Battlestar Galactica,” both of which aired their final seasons during the Emmy Award qualification period, felt no love on this summertime morning.
Between now and Sept. 20, when the awards are broadcast on CBS, there’s sure to be a great deal of debate as to the merit and wisdom of these nods. Here is the list of major categories:
Outstanding Drama Series
“Big Love,” “Breaking Bad,” “Damages,” “Dexter,” “House,” “Lost,” “Mad Men”
Outstanding Comedy Series
“Entourage,” “Family Guy,” “Flight of the Conchords,”"How I Met Your Mother,” “The Office,” “30 Rock,” “Weeds”
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama
Sally Field, “Brother and Sisters”
Kyra Sedgwick, “The Closer”
Glenn Close, “Damages”
Mariska Hargitay, “Law & Order: SVU”
Elizabeth Moss, “Mad Men”
Holly Hunter, “Saving Grace”
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama
Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad’
Michael C. Hall, “Dexter”
Hugh Laurie, “House”
Gabriel Byrne, “In Treatment”
Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”
Simon Baker, “The Mentalist”
Outstanding Made for TV Movie
“Coco Chanel,” Lifetime; “Grey Gardens,” HBO; “Into the Storm,” HBO; “Prayers for Bobby,” Lifetime; “Taking Chance,” HBO
Outstanding Miniseries
“Generation Kill,” HBO; “Little Dorrit,” PBS
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
“The Colbert Report,” “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Real Time with Bill Maher,” “Saturday Night Live”
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “New Adventures of Old Christine”
Christina Applegate, “Samantha Who”
Sarah Silverman, “The Sarah Silverman Program”
Toni Collette, “United States of Tara”
Mary-Louis Parker, “Weeds”
Tina Fey, “30 Rock”
Lead Actor in a comedy series
Jemaine Clement, “Flight of the Conchords”
Steve Carell, “The Office”
Charlie Sheen, “Two and a Half Men”
Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”
Tony Shalhoub, ”Monk”
Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock”
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Kevin Dillon, “Entourage”
Neil Patrick Harris, “How I Met Your Mother”
Rainn Wilson, “The Office”
Tracy Morgan, “3o Rock”
Jack McBrayer, “30 Rock”
Jon Cryer, “Two and a Half Men”
Supporting Actor in a Drama
William Shatner, “Boston Legal”
Christian Clemenson, “Boston Legal”
Aaron Paul, “Breaking Bad”
William Hurt, “Damages”
Michael Emerson, “Lost”
John Slattery, “Mad Men”
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Kristin Chenoweth, “Pushing Daisies”
Amy Poehler, “Saturday Night Live”
Kristin Wiig, “Saturday Night Live”
Jane Krakowski, “30 Rock”
Vanessa Williams, “Ugly Betty”
Elizabeth Perkins, “Weeds”
Supporting Actress in a Drama
Rose Byrne, “Damages”
Sandra Oh, “Grey’s Anatomy”
Chandra Wilson, “Grey’s Anatomy”
Dianne Wiest, “In Treatment”
Hope Davis, “In Treatment”
Cherry Jones, “24″
Emmy Nominations to be Revealed on Thursday!
Posted by Melanie McFarland in Uncategorized on July 15th, 2009
Neil Patrick Harris hosts the 61st annual Emmy Awards.
Perhaps we’re being a bit kind in ending that headline with an exclamation point, given Emmy’s longstanding reputation of confusing and disappointing us.
Then again, one never knows. Last year wasn’t too terrible, with many legitimately deserving series, actors and actresses getting their due. Think about it — only two or three seasons ago, a show like AMC’s “Mad Men” would have had about the same chance of being nominated for Outstanding Drama as Chris Kattan has of winning an Oscar.
Not only did it score a nod in that category last summer, after only one season on the air, but it won the top drama award in September. On that same night, Bryan Cranston took home some metal for his turn in “Breaking Bad.” This might not be evidence of a lasting change for the better among Emmy voters, but at the very least it’s two slivers of proof that they may have actually started watching television.
On the other hand, there were major missteps that have a chance (a slim one, but still) of being corrected on Thursday. If the final season of “The Shield” and castmember Walton Goggins come up empty again, it will be difficult to turn this writer’s frown upside down. One also hopes (beyond hope) that the final season of “Battlestar Galactica” will get a little love. Other shows on the wish list are likely to be lost causes — farewell “Pushing Daisies,” we barely got to know ya, and we doubt ever Emmy did either.
So, considering all of last year’s hits — and the years of misses that preceded it — do we dare to have high expectations for Thursday’s nominations announcement? Oh, go ahead. This is supposed to be the era of hope, after all.
We’ll be listing the major nods shortly after “Grey’s Anatomy’s” Chandra Wilson and “Big Bang Theory’s” Jim Parsons, along with Television Academy chair John Shaffner, reveal them on Thursday morning. Feel free to drop by and discuss what the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences got right and where it went wrong right here in our comments section.
And regardless of how things shake out this week, take solace in knowing you can count on one sure thing: with Neil Patrick Harris hosting and serving as a producer on the 61st Emmy Awards telecast, it’s bound to be an interesting evening. The show will be broadcast live on Sunday, Sept. 20 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on CBS.
NBC’s Fall Premiere Dates
Posted by Melanie McFarland in Uncategorized on July 1st, 2009
Jay Leno hosts "The Jay Leno Show."
Welcome to NBC’s fall lineup, or as some may come to call it, LenoLand.
Yes, with Jay Leno’s show occupying the 10 o’clock slot every weeknight, He of the Mighty Meaty Chin is now more of a mascot to NBC than that old peacock.
Beyond that, we’ve got “Heroes” returning on Sept. 21, “The Office” premiering on Sept. 17, and “30 Rock” back on Oct. 15. Keep reading for the full schedule.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
7-8:15 p.m. – “Football Night in America”
8:15-11 p.m. – “NBC Sunday Night Football”
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW” (Series Premiere)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
8-10 p.m. – “The Biggest Loser”
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
8-8:30 p.m. – “Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday”
8:30-9 p.m. – “Parks and Recreation”
9-9:30 p.m. – “The Office”
9:30-10 p.m. – “COMMUNITY” (series premiere – moves to Thursdays 8-8:30 p.m. on October 8; “30 Rock” returns October 15, 9:30-10 p.m.)
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
8-10 p.m. – “Heroes” (two hour premiere, then TRAUMA premieres 9-10 p.m. Monday, September 28)
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
8-9 p.m. – “PARENTHOOD” (Series Premiere)
9-10 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
8-9 p.m. – “Law & Order”
9-10 p.m. – “Southland”
10-11 p.m. – “THE JAY LENO SHOW”
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
8-9 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”
9-10 p.m. – “TRAUMA” (encore broadcast)
10-11 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (encore broadcast)
11:30 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. – “Saturday Night Live”
Third Time’s a Bomb: Ricky Gervais & The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards Telecast
Posted by Melanie McFarland in Commentary, Golden Globes, Live Coverage, Review, TV News, Uncategorized on January 15th, 2012
In his opening monologue as host of The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Ricky Gervais joked that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association had warned him that if he insults or offends anyone, “I’ll definitely be invited back next year!”
After tonight, we can’t say he won’t be asked to host again (he was back for his third go-round this year, wasn’t he?) but it became fairly obvious early on in the awards telecast that Gervais would rather be doing something else. Anything else.
Rather than shocking his way out of a return invitation, Gervais took the route of safety and boredom. Where he landed memorable stinging jabs across the egos of Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. in past Globes shows, Gervais threw slow haymakers wrapped in velveteen cliches at targets including Kim Kardashian (“The Globes are to the Oscars what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton: A bit louder, bit trashier, bit drunker, and more easily bought!”); Justin Bieber (“The only way he could have impregnated a woman was by borrowing one of Martha Stewart‘s old turkey basters!”) Eddie Murphy, Ashton and Demi. Everyone’s done jokes about those celebrities, and from what we could see, none of them were in the audience.
If Gervais wanted to show us what he would be like without fangs, then mission accomplished. We vastly prefer you to be rude and unflinching. (See you on HBO in a few weeks!)
The bright spot to a Globes telecast helmed by a harmless and largely absent Gervais, however, was that it inspired a few stars to take up the entertainment banner in his stead. Thus, Seth Rogen did his best to liven up the night by kicking off his Globes presenting gig with, “Hello, I am Seth Rogen and I am currently trying to conceal a massive erection” before referring to Globe-nominated “My Week with Marilyn” as “a hilarious comedy.”
Madonna smelled weakness and took a (self-serving) swipe at her lame introduction by Gervais, which tried to spin comedy out of her song “Like a Virgin,” her hit dating back to the Pleistocene epoch.
“If I’m still ‘Like a Virgin,’ Ricky,” Madge cooed, “then why don’t you come over here and do something about it? I haven’t kissed a girl in a few years. On TV.” The audience applauded, and the blonde braid of sinew and haute couture that gave us W.E. smiled proudly.
In case that didn’t do it for you, George Clooney gamely attempted to entertain the folks at home by calling attention to the size of Michael Fassbender’s member while accepting his Best Actor Golden Globe for his work in the Golden Globe winner for Best Drama, The Descendants. It was a swing, and a… well.
Despite all of that, there were a few magical moments during The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards that stood out from the boredom and weirdness.
– It was touching to watch Sidney Poitier present Morgan Freeman with the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award. Dame Helen Mirren co-presented, and flailed a bit as she attempted to sprinkle her dedication with a touch of comedy. No harm, though; she’s Dame Helen Mirren. But the most winning moment of that presentation was the “this-is-your-life-in-movies” clip reel that included a snippet of Freeman singing “I love to take a bath in a casket” from his stint on “The Electric Company.” It was a nice nostalgic touch, and Twitter went wild for it.
–”Downton Abbey“‘s Golden Globe proves HFPA voters actually do pay attention to quality miniseries and TV movies that aren’t being made by HBO. Even nicer was the acceptance speech by creator Julian Fellowes, who could be experiencing a massive explosion of ego right now but clearly is still grateful, humble and in awe at the culture’s fervent adoration for his work.
–Great to see “Homeland‘s” wins in the categories of Best TV Drama and Best Actress in a TV Drama, for Claire Danes‘s performance. Also nice to see Kelsey Grammer get a Globe for his work in “Boss.” We have nothing bad to say about Laura Dern and Matt LeBlanc‘s wins for “Enlightened” and “Episodes,” but only because it’s a waste of energy to complain about the insanity of the Globes’s notoriously odd choices in individual comedy winners. (Except to say that Amy Poehler was robbed. Again.)
–The same holds truly for the wacky practice of lumping comedy, TV miniseries and movie supporting actors and actresses together in the same categories. However, we commend Peter Dinklage‘s classy mention of assault victim Martin Henderson at the podium. “Google him,” Dinklage advised, subtly using his platform to remind a worldwide audience that as much as he’s achieved, most little people are still struggling for equal treatment.
–Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy singing a duet while presenting the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie? Adorable.
We invite you to share your thoughts on the Globes telecast in the comments section. As always, you can view the full list of winners, as well as see red carpet photos and read the blow-by-blow recap of the show by visiting our Road to the Oscars section.
Amy Poehler, claire danes, downton abbey, homeland, kelsey grammer, Madonna, Ricky Gervais, Seth Rogen, The 69th Annual Golden Globes
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