Archive for June, 2011
Cool Clip: Michelle Bachmann’s Story Of America
Jun 30th
We generally steer clear of politics here at Remote Patrolled – but this clip from last night’s Jimmy Kimmel show is definitely worthy of a watch!
Over the last few weeks Tea Party favorite Michelle Bachmann has been generating tonnes of press attention, scrutiny and a scathing Rolling Stone portrait. Personally I think Michelle is a complete fruitcake and it’s a scary day in politics that she would ever be considered a serious Presidential candidate…
But you know what – it could happen!
Of course Michelle’s also a prime target for the late night comedy crowd and you’re going to be seeing a LOT more segments like this in the months to come.
Here Kimmel takes aim at the mangled historical facts Bachmann loves to trot out. It’s funny because it’s true! Take a look… (more…)
Quick Take: America’s Got Talent – Minneapolis Makes Good!
Jun 30th
And then there were none!
Yes – we’re at that point again folks – the America’s Got Talent open audition are over for another year – and after a few highs, and a lot of lows, last night’s Minneapolis based installment at least gave us a few more legitimate contenders for that million dollar payout.
First up there was Fatally Unique, another in the endless procession of fast paced dance troupes who every year seem to mistake AGT for ABDC! To be fair though we’ve actually seen a lot less of these kind of acts this year and Unique were pretty good – and certainly deserving of a Vegas pass. Sure there was the usual against all odds back story (no space to rehearse) but on stage the guys and girls were full of energy, confidence, a tight routine and some inventive touches. The act didn’t wow me as some troupes have in seasons past but overall, Fatally Unique were definitely solid.
More jaw dropping for me was Ian Johnson, a 16-year-old yo-yo act whose skills were pretty darn incredible. Ian didn’t receive a huge amount of screen time but certainly made an impression and of course is off to Vegas. The big question More >
Quick Take: America’s Got Talent – New York No No’s!
Jun 29th
Well I guess it couldn’t last!
After last week’s talent filled New York installment, last night my favorite summer reality show returned to earth with a crashing thud, unleashing a padded and pointless hour that barely gave us any ‘wow’ moments.
Let’s be honest we all knew we were in trouble in the show’s opening moments when doctors Rak And Tak took to the stage with a tuneless, hideous version of the much over-played Heart song Alone. I honestly don’t know what’s more disturbing – that the pair actually seemed to think they could sing – or that both are practicing doctors!
Last night’s show gave us about 2½ passable acts by my count. There was Narcissister, a very strange – but also kind of compelling – dancer who used a variety of face masks in her act to slightly nightmarish effect. The act was impressive but my question now is where does she go next – by the end of 90 seconds I was already getting restless… Check Narcissister out here – do you agree?
Coming Soon: Love In The Wild
Jun 28th
When Does It Start: Wednesday 29th June at 10pm EST on NBC
In A Nutshell: It’s Survivor meets The Bachelor!
What’s It About: 10 single men and 10 single women head to the jungles of Costa Rica for a unique, once in a lifetime adventure. The 20 contestants will be paired up in potential love matches and then placed in challenging situations to check how compatible they are when the pressure’s on! Adventures include paddling down crocodile-ridden waters, navigating through bat-infested caves and hanging 200 feet above the rain forest floor.
Each week one winning couple will enjoy a luxury 5 star bungalow for the night, while the other contestants have to slum it. Each show culminates in an elimination ceremony in which players are allowed to switch partners – and two unlucky singletons are sent packing.
Quick Take: True Blood Bounces Back!
Jun 27th
Now that’s more like it!
After a shaky 3rd season which left many True Blood fans, myself included, confused and underwhelmed, last night’s Season 4 opener was a confident, sexy and surprising return to form. It’s early days and I’m always wary of making snap judgments so early – but has got its mojo back? Here’s hoping…
Okay, first of all let’s get the bad stuff out of the way. You know what I’m talking about – those opening few minutes. I’m sorry, but however you stage it, Sookie in Fairyland just doesn’t work for me! Watching Anna Paquin wander around a brightly lit soundstage while her co-stars consumed illuminated apples was silly enough. But when the action switched to a Star Trek like landscape with the transformed ‘goblin like’ fairies hurling balls of light at Sookie and her grandfather. Ouch – definitely not the best way to start the series…
Ratings Roundup: 25th June 2011
Jun 25th
Winners and Losers From The Last 7 Days
WINNERS
GAME OF THRONES: I guess America has a thing for dragons!
After weeks of growing buss and steadily building audiences, Game of Thrones ended its run with 3.04 million viewers and a 1.4 18-49 share, a season high for the show and a strong result for subscription network HBO.
Thrones wasn’t the top scripted cable show of the night – that honor went to Falling Skies (below) – but considering the number of homes HBO is available in these are still great numbers. And with True Blood back this weekend and a second season of Boardwalk Empire on the way, the future is looking rosy for the network once again. Look for Game of Thrones to jump even higher in its second season as people discover the show on DVD and the word continues to spread. Remember True Blood only became a breakout hit in Season 2 itself…
True Blood Trouble: Are You Excited For Season 4?
Jun 24th
It’s that time of the year again – when TV starved summer audiences finally find the fix they’ve been craving.
Yes, after a few weeks of banal network reality offerings (101 Ways To Leave A Game Show – really!), bad comedy (hello, Happily Divorced) and Bachelorettes, summer officially kicks off this weekend with the return of True Blood Season 4…
I’ve been a fan of HBO’s vampire saga from the start and over the last three years True Blood has given us some delicious moments, storylines and characters. Remember Michelle Forbes’ fabulous Maryann, Season 1’s terrific murder mystery and Jason’s V-addiction?
But let’s be honest – last season was not a vintage year for True Blood. I really wanted to love season 3 – and there were some great moments along the way – but as a whole the series was chaotic, contrived and at times, actually a bit boring.
Quick Take: America’s Got Talent – I Love New York!
Jun 23rd
Gosh, are we finally seeing some talent again on America’s Got Talent?
After a few weeks of jokey, over padded shows with decidedly dubious acts paraded before us, last night’s (too short) New York installment actually gave us a handful of acts to root for. Don’t get me wrong – AGT has been averaging a couple of solid and inspiring acts each week since its launch – but last night was the first show in a long while where I actually counted 5 acts who all solidly deserved a pass to Vegas and could all make the quarter finals. Who knows what the show might have turned up if NBC had stuck to their original plans for a 2-hour episode (last night’s show was cut to an hour because of Obama’s Presidential Address). So let’s get to the good stuff.
First Look: Life’s Too Short
Jun 22nd
And boy is the teaser trailer short too!
Check out the first, rather half-assed, trailer for Life’s Too Short, the new series from Ricky Gervais, creator of The Office, Extras and An Idiot Abroad.
Of course Ricky is best known in the US these days for his incendiary turn hosting the Golden Globes earlier in the year, during which he punctured several Hollywood egos and trounced movies like The Tourist (which I saw the other day. It really is THAT bad!)
Life’s Too Short stars Warwick Davis, the famously short actor who’s appeared in everything from Star Wars to Willow to Harry Potter and features Davis running a fictional ‘little people’ agency and interacting with Hollywood names like Johnny Depp, Sting and Steve Carrell. Hmm, sounds rather like Extras to me. Not a bad thing, mind you!
Speaking of Extras, fans will notice Ricky’s partner in crime Stephen Merchant in the trailer as well as Shaun Williamson (aka ‘Barry’). There’s also British D-list celebrities Keith Chegwin and Les Dennis (who made a memorable bum baring appearance on Extras in season 1)
Life’s Too Short airs in the UK on BBC2 later this year – and then on HBO in 2012….
So will you be watching? And do More >
Quick Take: America’s Got Talent – Does My DVR Know Something I Don’t?
Jun 22nd
Hmm, is my DVR trying to tell me something I wonder?
For some reason last night’s Atlanta episode of America’s Got Talent didn’t record at its set 8pm timeslot, so I had to jump in 15 minutes late. Who knows what amazing, wondrous talents I missed during those crucial opening moments?
Or maybe not. This is America’s Got Talent Season 6 and if the series so far – and the remaining 45 minutes of last night’s episode – were any indication I didn’t miss much. Plus we all know how padded the opening moments of each AGT are – there are the endless trails and recaps, judges introductions (normally focusing on Howie’s OCD) and Nick Cannon shouting to the camera from a tall landmark. As I always say, America’s Got Talent is a 20-minute show masquerading as an hour-long episode!
