Archive for January, 2011
Is This Where TLC Is Headed?
Jan 31st
Oh gosh, this made me laugh!
Check out this brief, but very funny, parody promo of some of the highlights of TLC‘s upcoming schedule… great stuff!
Can’t you just see some of these shows alongside the likes of Toddlers and Tiaras, Extreme Couponing and My Strange Addiction!
Full disclosure – we’re actually working with TLC at the moment on a fabulous and very fun secret project – but I will say the network is probably in the best shape it’s been in for years.
I remember when I first came to the US in 2005 and TLC was full of earnest, ‘homework’ TV… but not anymore. Whether you love or loathe the likes of Sarah Palin’s Alaska, Kate Plus Eight or Sister Wives – you can’t deny they’re all noisy shows that have really put the network on the map…
So will we be seeing ‘Dwarf Hoarders‘ anytime soon….! Hilarious…
Zombies, Vampires And Cable Copycats
Jan 31st
Don’t you just love the broadcast networks – always so ahead of the programming curve!
Last week it was announced that The CW was developing a new zombie series called The Awakening, centering on two sisters who will face off against one another in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. This follows the news that NBC has its own zombie series in the works called Zombies Vs Vampires. But will either be able to capture the magic of AMC’s Walking Dead, the ratings smash that spurred the current zombie trend… I doubt it.
We don’t know many details about either show at the moment but personally I fear the worst. If you close your eyes you can already cast the two leads of The Awakening. They’ll come from the CW cute tough girl factory – all hard bodies, kick ass martial arts and cheerleader looks. And as for the show, it’ll be horror movie lite – just like Supernatural or The Vampire Diaries, PG rated thrills for teen girls who’d probably cry hysterically if they ever saw a real horror movie like the original Elm Street or a George A Romero bloodbath.
As for the NBC show, is it just me or does Zombies Vs More >
Saturday Night Live: Jessie Eisenberg Meets Mark Zuckerberg
Jan 30th
It’s the moment everyone’s going to be talking about today – here’s what happened when the fake Mark Zuckerberg met the real deal on last night’s Saturday Night Live...
Jessie was hosting the iconic sketch show for the first time and rumors had been flying around all week that Zuckerberg, the inspiration for Jessie’s Oscar nominated Social Network, might make an appearance. Of course Mark isn’t exactly painted in a great light by the movie – in the film he betrays his best friend, is arrogant, cocky and kind of misogynistic and has pretty limited social skills. So getting the two together was a real coup on the part of SNL.
What a shame they’d waste the moment though on such a lame opening. Jessie was a frenetic ball of energy in his monologue but generated few laughs (I found myself actually feeling bad for him). Then up popped Andy Samberg in a pointless, comedy free appearance as a fake ‘Mark’. Meanwhile backstage the real ‘Mark’ watches with producer Lorne Michaels – clearly nervous and very wooden. And finally Zuckerberg and Jessie are united on stage, the audience cheers, but it’s still not very funny…. such a shame…
Still it proved the Facebook creator More >
Big In Britain: My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding
Jan 29th
Hello all my American friends… here’s a little look at the hottest show currently airing on the OTHER side of the pond – Channel Four’s My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding…
Basically it’s Vh1′s My Big Friggin Wedding but with gypsies.
In the UK, gypsy culture is a favorite tabloid whipping boy with communities demonized as thieves, unhygienic and scroungers. Gypsy Wedding is the first show to really lift the lid on gypsy culture – by documenting their frequently over the top wedding ceremonies – a cacophony of color, spectacle and at times, seriously bad taste (take a look at the teaser below and you’ll see what I mean!)
And boy has the show taken off! The concept started as a one off documentary special in Feb 2010 which scored terrific ratings – 4.5 million – and was subsequently commissioned as a series. The regular show started a couple of weeks ago… and last week peaked at 8 million, achieving the networks highest ratings in 4 years and acres of tabloid stories… I have a feeling the series will also be great news for the gypsy community in the UK….
Full disclosure – I actually know the team behind the show. The series is produced by More >
The View: The Glee Versus Kings Of Leon Feud
Jan 27th
It’s one of the silliest arguments of the moment – but still it rumbles on…
By now you’ve probably heard about the argument between Glee creator Ryan Murphy and rock band Kings Of Leon.
To summarize – Ryan was pissed that Leon wouldn’t allow their music to be featured on his show and called them ‘self centered assholes’ in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Then the Kings of Leon drummer, Nathan Followill, Tweeted that the openly gay Murphy should ‘see a therapist, get a manicure and buy a bra’… to which Murphy responded by accusing the band of homophobia… Nathan apologized…. and the debate rumbles on…
At which point, in step the ladies of The View for their take. Which as usual involves Whoopi kind of excusing the band’s behavior (it’s Mel Gibson all over again!)
Here’s my take – I’ve taken a few potshots at Murphy in the past and think he could and should have been more tactful in his initial interview. I also did find the Kings of Leon statement kind of offensive, but more in an ignorant than a malicious way…
But overall I do agree with Murphy’s instinct regarding the band. Stop taking yourselves so seriously guys. Glee has a lot More >
Sneak Peek: Glee’s’ Thriller’
Jan 26th
It’s almost that time again… after almost 2 months off the air Glee is back with all new episodes, starting with a much hyped post Superbowl episode on Feb 8th which will undoubtedly post record figures for the show.
It needs to! The show is reportedly the most expensive Glee episode ever – coming in at a cool $3-5 million – though General Motors is footing a big chunk of the bill, helping to ensure limited commercial breaks (yay!)
By now you likely know the cast will be taking on the iconic Thriller… but the very special episode will also include versions of Destiny Child’s Bills, Bills, Bills, Lady Antebellum’s Need You Now and Katy Perry’s California Gurls (hence all the blue wigs!)
My hope – that the show is back on track after that dreadful Christmas episode – the show’s worst ever! But you know Glee for every Rocky Horror, Dream On and Madonna episode you get a Britney special or a dreary Afterschool Special style ep! You really never know what you’re gonna get!
Still I’ll definitely be checking the new episodes out… and posting my usual Quick Takes! So keep reading…
Are you excited for Glee’s return?
More >
Unreality TV: Joan And Melissa: Joan Knows Best
Jan 26th
Regular Remote Patrolled readers will know I’m a big fan of Joan Rivers and think she’s hugely underrated by the comedy snobs who rule TV.
But even I have to admit that Joan’s new We TV reality show probably isn’t her finest moment.
Last night I caught the first couple of acts of Joan and Melissa: Joan Knows Best in which Joan abandons her NYC lifestyle to move in with her daughter in LA. The show is glossy and slick but once again I found myself shaking my head in frustration. The problem – once again the show feels fake – with story lines straight out of a producer’s script-binder. Joan is funny and ferocious so why the need to stage such ridiculous scenarios? Didn’t anyone watch the acclaimed documentary ‘A Piece Of Work‘…? Uncensored Joan is a delight to watch…
Take a look at the clip below (from an E! news report) for a prime example… So Joe Francis, head honcho of the Girls Gone Wild franchise wants Melissa Rivers to pose naked for one of his videos. Really? Melissa Rivers? In what universe does that happen….?
Melissa refuses – so Joan ‘decides’ to intervene – taking candid snapshots while Melissa is in the shower. All while the More >
The View: Oprah’s Half Sister
Jan 25th
We haven’t featured those ladies from The View for a while now – but here they are discussing Oprah’s big bombshell from yesterday!
Yep, in case you missed it – or live under a rock – Oprah revealed on Monday’s show that she had a secret half sister that she had recently been reunited with. It was a powerful, episode in a Farewell Season that has already produced numerous OMG moments (the Season Opener, The Australia Trip, A Double Favorite Things Special, The Return To Williamson episode and many more)
What you may not know is that Oprah’s headline making special attracted her best ratings in 6 years…Wow! Now just imagine how the final Oprah episode EVER is going to rate! And what Oprah will have up her sleeve for her big send-off…
But that’s all come! In the meantime here’s The View ladies in action…
Cool Commercial: Lurpak Butter
Jan 24th
Okay – any of you out there feeling hungry – get ready to start drooling!
Check out this amazing advert for Lurpak butter, a Danish brand with a great creamy taste that I was a big fan of when I lived back in the UK (sadly I can no longer get it here in the US)
But even if you don’t know the brand you’ve got to love this advert. Imagine Martin Scorsese directing a butter commercial and you’ll get the idea. It reminds me a lot of the opening titles to Dexter (below). Talk about cinematic…
Check out the clip below… and tell me if it doesn’t get you licking your lips…
Guest Starring: Ben Foster’s Teen Star Past
Jan 24th
It’s time for another of our Guest Starring spots – and this time around it’s rising star Ben Foster.
I’ve been a fan of Ben’s ever since his sensational, and scary, turn in Alpha Dog – and have a feeling an Oscar lies not too far in his future. Over the years he’s popped up in X Men: The Last Stand, 3:10 To Yuma, the underrated 30 Days Of Night, critical favorite The Messenger and a long stint on Six Feet Under.
This weekend Ben will be hitting movie screens in The Mechanic, opposite Jason Statham – in my opinion exactly the kind of movie he SHOULDN’T be making! He’s too good for that kind of action movie trash…
But before he became an acclaimed character actor and indie fave, Ben was a teen star back in the mid-90s on the Disney Channel (which as we all know also launched Britney, Justin, Christina, Ryan Gosling and Shia LeBeouf)
Ben’s show was called Flash Forward – nope, not the recent ABC sci-fi disaster – but a teen drama about two friends making their way through eight grade. The show lasted just 26 episodes but was notable for being one of the first original series produced by the Disney Channel.
Check out More >
