Follow the yellow brick road, follow the yellow brick road, follow follow follow follow… you get the idea, right? Sci-Fi’s mini-series TIN MAN, the re-imagining of The Wizard of Oz, premieres this Sunday, December 2nd at 9/8c and continues Monday and Tuesday nights.
I have a great giveaway in honor of the premiere, the exclusive TIN MAN custom board game as well as a copy of the prequel comic. Okay, it’s no flying monkey but really who wants to deal with the whole monkey crap thing anyhow?
How to Win: Using my CONTACT FORM, email me two previous projects (TV/Film/Otherwise) that each of the main stars have been in. So that’s 2 for Zooey Deschanel, Neal McDonough, Alan Cumming, and Kathleen Robertson. Bonus points if you can pick my favorite for Kathleen and Alan.
TIN MAN Prize Pack includes: Tin Man original board game, Tin Man prequel comic book. 2 Winners will be selected.
Deadline: Sunday, December 2nd at 11:59 p.m.
To tide you over until Sunday’s premiere, here is a primer/behind the scenes video from Sci-Fi’s TIN MAN.
*And just to clear up any confusion, I am not offering the same giveaway as TVSquad so no iPod Nano’s for you all. No, I didn’t keep them for myself either.
December 1st is WORLD AIDS DAY and every year I try to post something to get you all thinking and active. I’ve urged you to watch TV specials which I’ll do again this year as this is a TV Blog after all, but this year I also have a special request for all of you on my behalf.
Since 2002 I’ve participated in various AIDS Rides and have raised over $14,000 for various HIV/AIDS related organizations. In 2008 I will once again hit the roads as part of BRAKING THE CYCLE (my 3rd year) but I’m not asking you for money yet… I’ll wait until we’re actually in 2008 for that!
$5,000 for Braking the Cycle: Nance, a fellow rider ran into a colleague of hers from the University of Victoria that needs 1,000 subjects for an online experiment. The study is about “the impressions people form and retain when they watch videotaped depictions of complex human behaviours and interactions”. The research is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and has a nice budget for participants. He has offered to donate $5 per participant to Braking The Cycle. In addition to the $5 donation to our cause, participants are entered into a lottery, with approximately 1/100 chance of winning $100.
Completing the study takes about 20 minutes, and involves watching a short video, performing some word-puzzle tasks, and answering questions about the video. It¹s fun! The study has been approved by University of Victoria’s Human Research Ethics Board.
Click here to participate and help Braking The Cycle. *One thing to know is that as you are downloading a video (which took about 3 minutes on my computer) there is no sign that anything is happening so just hang tight and it will start up. (Thanks to Blake for the tip)
Educate and Activate The Brain Through TV! Here are a number of television events in honor of World AIDS Day.
It’s so sad to me that MTV/VH1 aren’t representing more. They used to be huge on World AIDS Day, airing many specials and documentaries and this year basically nothing. I guess they pushed it all on LOGO which is not on basic cable, isn’t targeted toward teens, and sadly gives the impression that AIDS is more of a gay disease than a human pandemic. That’s really frustrating.
The tear jerkers are the movies, Longtime Companion and In The Gloaming. They’re my faves. Documentary wise they all look great; Ashley Judd has worked her ass off over the last few years to educate on AIDS and her films are always incredible. I’m really intersted in the “I Want to be a Pilot” one because it’s interviews with 50 orphaned African kids due to AIDS, you know that’s going to be moving. I liked “The Ride” mostly because it speaks to the rides I’ve done over the past 6 years but 7:30 a.m. is early.
Hope you spend some time this weekend thinking about HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education, and the fight for a cure. Enjoy the weekend gang.
Now that many of the shows are winding down and presenting the last of their original content due to the WGA Strike, we were wondering what you’d like us to talk about most?
Leave us some comments on this post or call us and let us know! We might use your question or comment on our podcast.
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This is Dan and Kathie’s favorite method of contact because it allows us to hear from you and we use these messages live on our podcast to answer your burning television questions. It’s FREE and you don’t have to do anything but click RECORD BY PHONE on the box below and it will walk you through how to contact us!
It’s super easy and free to leave us a message:
Step 1: Click on “Record by Phone”
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Friday, I’m not in love… So yesterday saw the glimmer of hope that the AMPTP had presented the WGA with a new proposal but sadly that ray of sunshine was squashed when the WGA realized that it was essentially a slap in the face.
The media ban has been lifted and United Hollywood has posted the letter to all guild members from WGA President’s Patrick Verrone and Michael Winship outlining the state of negotiations. This post will find the AMPTP’s statement after yesterday’s talks.
So is Tuesday the new day of reckoning? The Hollywood Reporter thinks it’s a very crucial day.
Ah, nothing says Thanksgiving like getting wasted, roadkill pie, gay dads, and upper east side debauchery. Just another holiday for GOSSIP GIRL.
So S and D met last Thanksgiving in a heroic drunken pie incident; The Humphrey’s are playing house but Dan’s a little iffy on the idea; Blair’s a little too giddy and bitchy for her own good and a Waldorf exile send the Van der Woodsen’s off to Dumbo where you know things aren’t going to turn out well between Lily and Alison.
So what did we learn? Blair used to have an eating disorder — has noone told her that bulemia is so ‘87? I’ll forgive her though because she’s got some damn good hair! Gay Dad stole Mama Waldorf’s male model which totes revealed Mama Waldorf can be a little Joan Crawford when she wants. Lily used to be a lot like S, seems those Van der Woodsen’s have a way with partying and reformation.
Elsewhere, the Archibald’s had a frigid holiday dinner but miraculously Nate’s hair was flawless. Nate’s Mom is oh so c*nty and Chace Crawford is a bad actor.
Overall not the best episode and Kristen Bell’s catty narration was sadly missed but I guess even Gossip Girl needs a break for the holidays. I’m so afraid to say this but I’m slowly getting over my crush on Dan Humphrey. They’re making him too normal now and he’s almost too comfortable being with S instead of being the guy that lucked into Serena Van der Woodsen. And no Chuck? I’d kill to see how sad his Thanksgiving would be.
Alas, we sit and wait for the return of the Gay Dad and his boy toy ex-model bottom.
It’s Thursday and sadly tonight’s SUPERNATURAL is not new. It’s a repeat of the premiere The Magnificent Seven which kicked ass but, it’s not new! So, I’m bringing you pictures and episode summary for “A Very Supernatural Christmas” which will air December 13th.
“A Very Supernatural Christmas”
SAM AND DEAN HUNT AN ANTI-SANTA — It’s Christmas time and Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) investigate a series of murders where the victims were pulled up through the chimney. Sam realizes they are dealing with a sort of Anti-Santa, a demon with roots in pagan lore. Dean wants to celebrate Christmas the old fashioned way as this is his last, but Sam refuses, not wanting to accept that Dean won’t be around next year. Sam flashes back to a certain Christmas when he waited for his father to come home to give him a special gift.
The Broadway Stagehands Strike Has Ended! One strike down, another big one to go. And let me tell you, just in time because I know I don’t have tickets for the 15th and someone would have been dying if I missed my Spring Awakening kids… y’all know I heart them.
NEW YORK — A crippling strike that had shut down most Broadway shows in the heart of the holiday season ended late Wednesday night as striking stagehands finally hammered out a new contract with theater owners and producers.
The strike, which had entered its 19th day and drained millions of dollars in revenue from the theater district, was settled after a 12-hour bargaining session that had begun Wednesday morning between the League of American Theaters and Producers and members of Local 1, representing about 3,000 stagehands.
“We are pleased to announce that we have a tentative agreement with Local 1 ending the Broadway strike,” said Charlotte St. Martin, the league’s executive director. “The agreement is a good compromise that serves our industry. The most important thing is that Broadway’s lights will once again be shining.”
It’s Thursday and still really no word on where the writer’s stand with their AMPTP talks. The no media policy surrounding the meetings is really leaving writers and fans in the dark. With every passing day, we come closer and closer to running dry our favorite prime-time shows and seriously, if you think TV’s been bad this week, wait for another week or two of this.
Hopefully you’ve sent some pencils to our media mogul friends via the widget on the left sidebar of my site. If you did, here’s what your efforts look like.
The ridonkulously muscular (and not attractive to Ducky) JACK MACKENROTH from PROJECT RUNWAY is Nude Nude Nude. Plums and Banana out there for the world to see. He used to be a model so this is really not that big of a deal but now that he’s Mr. Designer Man on PR4, it’s blog worthy.
Am I like the last one to know about THE JEANNIE TATE SHOW? I seriously am going to be fired because my friend Nancy sent me the link to Jeannie’s site and I’ve been sitting here screaming ever since.
Here is one of her newest episodes featuring hot ass Rashida Jones and it’s pretty brilliant.
The face Jeannie makes when Rashida continues to call THE OFFICE a sitcom is beyond hysterical — her imitating Jim’s faces… I can’t. I seriously cannot get enough of Jeannie Tate. I’m channeling Maeby Funke… Jeannie Tate, Marry Me!
BONES Recap by Mel
Episode 3.09 “Santa In The Slush”
Christmas is traditionally a time for giving and good cheer, and apparently this year is no different: BRENNAN KISSED BOOTH. WITH TONGUE. AND GUM-SWAPPING. It was a delightful sight to behold, which we will discuss and be overjoyed by in just a moment.
So, two elves found a body, and Angela’s sketch of the victim was one of a chubster face, rosy cheeks, and a red hat- you got it, it was Santa. The vic had legally changed his name to Kris Kringle and lived in a beautifully decorated apartment (way to go, prop department!) above a toy shop. Seriously, there was a train and toys and lights, and the glee on Booth’s and Bones’ faces when they entered was priceless, as were their arguments about Santa:
Brennan: Kris Kringle from the North Pole, lives above a toy store- this is further evidence that our victim is indeed the mythic figure known as Santa Claus.
Booth: Mythic! Coming from the latin ‘Myth’ meaning ‘doesn’t actually exist’!
Brennan: No, from the Greek ‘Mythos’ meaning ‘word’.
Booth: [exasperated] He does NOT—
They both break off for a second when they realize the guy they’re questioning is totally listening in on their ridiculous argument, but soon get right back into it:
Brennan: Where did he work?
Old Guy: Uh, an employment agency called Temp Times on 7th, by the Convention Center.
Booth: Ha! It couldn’t have been Santa!
Brennan: Why?
Booth: Because Santa wouldn’t have worked at a temp agency!
Brennan: Well, why not?! His work is seasonal!
Booth: It doesn’t… he wouldn’t–
And the old guy is still watching them bicker like twelve year olds- love it!
So, they found some money in Kris Kringle’s things and thought that he might’ve been a pick-pocket, but it turns out that he had seen a younger Santa volunteer pick some pockets, confronted him, they fought, rolled around in some bird soup goop (GAG), and Young Bad Santa ended up killing old Kris Kringle. Not the most breath-taking case ever, but it was plenty entertaining, and set up the background for the really juicy stuff.
Brennan is trying to book the conjugal (ha!) trailer at the jail so that she, Max, Russ, Amy and the kids can all spend some time together, but Caroline is putting up quite the battle:
Caroline: Did [Booth] say I’d ask you to kiss him?
Brennan: [laughing] No. [Stops laughing] Wait, are you?
Caroline: No cheeks, no noses- right on the lips.
Brennan: People kiss people on the nose?
Caroline: I want you to kiss him under some mistletoe.
Brennan: [laughs nervously] Kiss Booth?
Caroline: That’s right, cherie.
Brennan: Why?
Brennan: Because it will amuse me.
Caroline: Why?
Brennan: Because you’re all “Dr. Brennan” and “Special Agent Seeley Booth” and it’s Christmas and I have a puckish side that will not be denied.
Caroline: Puckish?
Brennan: What’s the matter? You don’t think I can be puckish?
Brennan: I… never thought about it.
Caroline: You want me to write that letter, you kiss booth on the lips for no less than… one steamboat, two steamboats… five steamboats.
Brennan: That’s blackmail.
Caroline: That’s correct.
Brennan: That’s unethical.
Caroline: That’s the deal, take it or leave it.
This news makes my little horror heart blacken even more than it already is. SyFyPortal is reporting that copyright issues coupled with the strike may have forced SUPERNATURAL to drop it’s planned episode 10 meeting with Jason Voorhees, the Friday the 13th baddie.
Fans of The CW’s “Supernatural” have already expressed concern over the show’s new look and the addition of two young female leads. Now, they have the rug pulled out from under them regarding Jason Voorhees’ appearance in the 10th episode of Season 3.
Plans were in place for Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester to go head to head with the unkillable killer with superhuman strength.
“We have Jason from ‘Friday the 13th,’ the character with the hockey mask,” creator Eric Kripke said. “He shows up in Episode 10. We have cleared the rights to actually use Jason. We have a twist on it so it is not really Jason out there but we have found an interesting way to bring him in so Sam and Dean fight Jason from ‘Friday the 13th.’ In our world, that is a pretty cool guest star.”
However, word on the Internet — and the writers picket line — is that there is in fact a copyright issue preventing Jason’s “Supernatural” premiere So now, no one really knows what will fill in the Voorhees gap in Episode 10, and “Friday the 13th” fans will have to wait until the new movie hits theaters on Feb. 13, 2009 to get their fix.
… that doesn’t mean we’ll have shows as soon as many people think. Here is a great article from the L.A. Times outlining the challenges of getting a show back into production and the possible timelines studios, showrunners, and writers face to get things back to “normal.”
If the writers strike ended today, Hollywood would not immediately return to its regularly scheduled programming.
The risk of irreparable damage to the current and upcoming television season increases with each day the walkout continues. Still, there were no tangible signs of progress Tuesday, when negotiators for writers and the studios returned to the bargaining table for their second full day of talks since the strike began more than three weeks ago.
Although major differences divide them, the parties agreed to meet again today. The seriousness of the sessions has raised hopes that a deal could be reached before Christmas.
Even if that happens, however, Hollywood would not be back at work until after the holidays.
Before writers can pick up their pens, they may have to wait a week or more between the time when the Writers Guild of America’s board approves a new three-year contract and when its members formally vote on the deal.
Then writers are up against their traditional two-week hiatus in December, when networks rely heavily on reruns. That could prompt many writers to work through the holidays to complete scripts so that shows can start shooting again in January.
Writer-producers and studio executives estimate that it could take three to five weeks to resume production of dozens of television shows that have shut down. Many shows have run through their scripts, and some have only outlines of future episodes.
Further, it’s unlikely that studios would start production again until they had several scripts in hand for a given series, as a way to avoid costly starts and stops.
Another factor that could slow down the process is that some crew members have found work elsewhere to make ends meet and may not be available to return to their old jobs.
“Resuming production isn’t something that can happen overnight,” said Pam Veasey, an executive producer of “CSI: New York,” which will stop shooting Tuesday, having completed 14 of 24 episodes. “You have to write scripts, you have to find locations, you have to do casting. It doesn’t just take one week to prepare 200 crew members to film a single episode of a drama.”
Some shows will resume filming sooner than others, depending on how many scripts they completed. Late-night talk shows, including those hosted by David Letterman and Jay Leno, would be the first to return to the air with fresh material.
Situation comedies filmed before an audience, such as “Back to You,” starring Kelsey Grammer, could be up and running within seven working days, according to show co-creator Steve Levitan. The show, which shut down when the strike began, has two scripts that just need polishing, Levitan said.
In contrast, other shows, such as the ABC series “Pushing Daisies,” would take five weeks to gear up, according to creator Bryan Fuller. Production on “Pushing Daisies” ended Monday upon completion of the series’ ninth episode.
Fuller pointed out that even when the strike ends, show runners still face the possibility of a shortened season and cancellation of their series. (more…)
Here at DDTV, I’m a little obsessed with Christmas and there is nothing better than a good Holiday Special to get you in the mood. From Charlie Brown to The Heat Miser to Bedford Falls and all the way to those sons a bitches Bumpuses, I’m all about the Holiday viewing. So I’m trying to compile everything Holiday special related for all of our enjoyment this season.
Tuesday, November 27 *A Charlie Brown Christmas, 8 p.m. – ABC
Decorating Cents, 9 p.m. – HGTV
24 Hour Design “Yuletide Style”, 9:30 p.m. – HGTV
Wednesday, November 28
Christmas in Rockefeller Center, 8 p.m. – NBC
Shrek the Halls, 8 p.m. – ABC *How The Grinch Stole Christmas, 8:30 p.m. – ABC
Friday, November 30
Frosty’s Winter Wonderland, 7 p.m. – ABC Family
Polar Express, 8 p.m. – ABC
Saturday, December 1
Radio City Christmas Spectacular, 8 p.m. – NBC
All I Want For Christmas, 8 p.m. – Hallmark
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