In an hour I’ll be heading to the airport and leaving Los Angeles. It was a crazy amazing week for this TV fan/blogger with Pushing Daisies (and after party, holla), Chuck, Friday Night Lights, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
I’ve posted tons of pictures and podcasts from the week but sadly I don’t think that my Buffy recap will be up before my flight. I promise to get it written on the plane and posted late tonight so please check back. Kath and I were so dead tired that we didn’t have time to podcast but hopefully my way too long recap of the night will shed some light on the event.
Last night The Paley Center presented the creative team and cast of NBC’s CHUCK as part of their Paley Fest 2008. Kath and I were front and center for the action and it was one hell of a panel. Yesterday was the first day back for the Chuck writing team so they didn’t have a ton of information to spill for the fans but really who cares because it’s all about watching these guys in action (both on the show and in person).
The WGA Strike imposed hiatus has left these kids nutty! Zac Levi (Chuck) and Josh Gomez (Morgan) are seriously in the biggest bromance this side of Make Me a Supermodel’s Ronnie and Prison Ben. They’re frik-n-frak and I’m happy they’ve found each other. God bless the women that dare come between these two. It could get ugly.
Production must be a bear to keep on schedule because its non-stop one-upping between not only Zac and Josh but the majority of the cast. They seem to have created an incredible family and it was fun getting to watch their reunion of sorts.
Production on Chuck Season 2 will begin toward the end of May and they are confirmed for Comic-Con this July where they hope to show a bunch of new clips instead of an entire episode.
Some Quick Highlights:
*UPDATED: Thanks to reader/pal Vlada for finding the Futon Critics transcipt of the Alan Sepinwall dare question to Josh Schwartz about the Weinerlicious outfit.
“To me it’s obvious, Chuck like Seth Cohen before him is the central character in a Jewish assimilation fable, grappling with his place in the secular Gentile post-Holocaust world. The CIA or NSA, I can never remember who works for whom, has obviously done deep psychological profiling on him, having read the works of Saul Bellow and Phillip Roth…” Head on over to the Futon Critic for the full question.
You know how on the show Capt. Awesome and Morgan are essentially each other’s nemesis? In real life I’m pretty sure smokin hot Ryan McPartlin (Captain Awesome) is the nemesis of Josh Gomez, in a very brotherly way though. They were slaying the crowd last night with their Odd Couplesque relationship. Ryan is very much the deadpan straight man and Josh is every bit the ham you see on television. Good times.
The Great Beard Debate was entertaining. Currently Levi looks like he’s about to take on the remake of Serpico and he’s determined to convince not only a protesting Josh Schwartz but the network to let him keep the beard for the first episode and then go all Jack Bauer on us and shave it off as he gets back into duty.
The show will jump in time to address the time its been off air. Hence, the Levi/24 Beard issue. I have to say, the audience was with the network, Schwartz and Awesome on this one… Lose the chin pubes.
Kayla Hart. What? Who’s Kayla you ask? Well she was Chuck’s next door neighbor who he was kinda-sorta into but not totally because he was still hung up on Jill from college and now he was into his handler Sarah. It all was too much and they made the decision way late in the pilot shooting/editing process to remove her from the equation. Smart move.
Lindelof asking Levi how he would approach a script called “Chuck Versus Chuck”. A Season 4 episode that is destined to be produced. Well, only if Schwartz dies before Season 3
Lindelof’s Inside The Actors Studio
- What is your favorite word? “Douche Bag” (Chris Fedak, Co-Creator)
- What is your least favorite word? “Intolerance (Adam Baldwin, ‘Casey’)
- What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? “Football” (Ryan McPartlin, ‘Devon aka Captain Awesome’)
- What sound or noise do you love? “The waves of the ocean” (Vic Sahay, ‘Lester’)
- What sounds do you hate? “Squishy, wet boots” (Julia Ling, ‘Anna’)
- What is your favorite curse word? “Fuck” (McG, Executive Producer)
*Click here to read them all over at GMMR
Chris Fedak’s story about how during the NBC pitch for Chuck he thought they for sure blew it because he pulled a classic Airplane moment… think drinking problem.
Josh Schwartz:“There is no love more pure than the love between one man and another.” Amen brother!
McG and Gomez comparing Adam Baldwin to Ted Nugent. Saying he basically a homo-hating, gun-toting, meat eating intolerant in real life. Fingers crossed they were just “teasing.” I mean, how many gays didn’t want Adam Baldwin’s Linderman as their Bodyguard growing up?
The Nerd Herd in general. Vic Sahay (Lester), Scott Krinsky (Jeff), Julia Ling (Anna) and Mark Christopher Lawrence (Big Mike) were “fantastick” and I love that they all want in on the spy action.
I wanted more Yvonne Strahovski but then again, probably not as much as the straight men in the audience did. She’s fierce (but not a hot tranny mess… that I know of).
Oh and don’t forget Captain Awesome who was… well, Awesome.
Hey gang, as a bunch of our favorite TV Shows are only a week or two (or 5 months) away from returning after their WGA Strike imposed hiatus, a handful of TV Bloggers got together to share their favorite characters currently on television.
Below is a list of the Top 25 Characters of Television! Did your favorite make the cut? Share your Top 10 in the comments section below if you like!
1. Kara “Starbuck” Thrace (Battlestar Galactica)
2. Tami Taylor (Friday Night Lights)
3. Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother)
4. Benjamin Linus (Lost)
5. Dexter Morgan (Dexter)
6. Coach Eric Taylor (Friday Night Lights)
7. Landry Clarke (Friday Night Lights)
8. Dwight Schrute (The Office)
9. Lily Rush (Cold Case)
10. Omar Little (The Wire)
11. Gaius Baltar (Battlestar Galactica)
12. Olive Snook (Pushing Daisies)
13. Shawn Spencer (Psych)
14. Sheldon Cooper PhD (The Big Bang Theory)
15. Dr. Juliet Burke (Lost)
16. Michael Weston (Burn Notice)
17. Captain Jack Harkness (Torchwood)
18. Dr. Miranda Bailey (Grey’s Anatomy)
19. Chuck Bartowski (Chuck)
20. Brenda Leigh Johnson (The Closer)
21. Emerson Cod (Pushing Daisies)
22. Ned “The Piemaker” (Pushing Daisies)
23. Liz Lemon (30 Rock)
24. Stephanie Lane (My Boys)
25. Stewie Griffin (Family Guy)
While everyone’s known that Kathie would be attending Paley next week, I’m happy to report that I will now be joining her… officially! We’ll be hanging with our friends from PUSHING DAISIES, geeking out with CHUCK, molesting Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton and the rest of the Panthers from FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS and vamping out with my girl BUFFY and her gang of Scoobies!
We’ll be doing nightly podcasts from Paley so now’s the time to subscribe to our TV Podcast so you don’t miss a single minute of our trip.
It’s Tuesday morning and I just realized that I missed two shows I normally watch. One being a long time fave and the other an okay while the strike is on acceptable newbie. The funny thing is, I so don’t care.
I just now realized that Sunday night there was a new Brothers & Sisters, to make it worse funnier, I apparently missed the episode before that one as well (and possibly the one before that)… who knew?! I kinda don’t care. I lost so much respect for so many of the characters on the show during this season that I really could care less if it comes back. Plus, when I think about all the stuff Jon Robin Baitz said about his ouster from the show, I can’t help but think how much better it would have been had he remained a creative force in the Walker storyline.
This is like how I lost all of my love for Grey’s… maybe it’s a good thing that I can sometimes give up on a show so easily. I used to die for Grey’s Anatomyweek to week. I bought the DVD’s, I read the writer’s blog, I would watch youtube fanvids, I’d cry my eyes out and then one day I fucking hated the show and I was done. I’ve not seen a second of the show since and I have to say, I don’t miss it at all.
The newbie I’ve missed for a couple weeks now and don’t plan on getting back into is Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I was all about the show leading up to its premiere and even the 2nd episode but then I got worried about the continunity and the acting and it was over for me. I’m not giving up on it completely though. I will say that if the show survives to see a second season I will watch the episodes somehow over the summer if I hear amazing things about them and that they warrant my attention. If not though, I’m not wasting my time.
Sadly, I did something similar with CHUCK. I love (yeah… I think I still love) the show and the actors and the action and the comedy and everything anti-hero that Chuck brings to the table but somehow when it went away for the holidays and then burned off it’s 2 remaining episodes last month… I didn’t watch them and it doesn’t bother me at all. Is that bad?
CHUCK will air it’s final two hours of pre-strike episodes tonight at 8/7c (”Chuck Versus The Undercover Lover“) and 10/9c (”Chuck Versus The Marlin“).
I’m almost ashamed to admit this but I’m not even excited to see them. This strike has really put a lot of shows into my out of sight, out of mind category and Chuck’s apparently high atop that list because I’m not even going to watch them tonight.
I’ll record them but I’m not watching them until the weekend probably. That’s what the strike has done to me y’all… Chuck Bartowski isn’t even a priority in my life anymore. Ho-hum.
Watch a Preview Clip of “Chuck Versus The Undercover Lover” (8/7c)
Watch a Preview Clip of “Chuck Versus The Marlin” (10/9c)
Thanks to Rae for letting me steal her code for these clips. I’m lazy.
This years PALEY FEST will not only play host to Pushing Daisies, Gossip Girl, Chuck and Mad Men it apparently will be cozeying up to the scoobies in a BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER REUNION! Whedonesque just released this information! I need a minute to clean up my shorts…
Sadly the schedule of dates for events at the Paley Fest (March 14-27) will not be announced until February 4th. Tickets go on sale February 7th!
NBC is airing the two remaining new episodes of Chuck on Thursday, January 24. The first episode, “Chuck vs. the Undercover Lover”, will air at 8/7c while “Chuck vs. the Marlin” will air at 10/9c. The episodes will be sandwiched around an original episode of “The Celebrity Apprentice” at 9/8c.
I’m so excited! This will not make me choose between Chuck, the Winchesters or LOST! Great news.
Happy New Year and welcome to TV in 2008 — something the likes you’ve never seen before. The WGA Strike has completely changed the landscape of television for the upcoming winter/spring season and we’re here to dish about it.
Dan and Kath are back for TV Podcast #18 and while shows are still new we’re covering the latest from Friday Night Lights, Gossip Girl, The Amazing Race, and Project Runway.
We also give you the latest counts for original episodes remaining for our favorite shows as well as returning faves like LOST, PSYCH, TORCHWOOD and KYLE XY. What about newbies like TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES and NEW AMSTERDAM? What about AMERICAN GLADIATORS? Yup, we chat about those too.
*Just a warning there are major spoilers for the finale of GOSSIP GIRL which has yet to air.
Have a question for Ducky and GMMR? There are a couple ways to contact us:
Free Voice Mail (Comments/Questions):
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”
Step 2: Dial the number shown and enter the four digit code when prompted
Step 3: Leave a message
Step 4: Listen to our next podcast to see if we answered your question
Everyone’s sick of end of year lists but how can I not do one on my favorite TV shows of 2007? I always find these lists hard to do because 12 months is a really long time and we watch a LOT of TV. I wish I could prepare enough ahead of time to write up some great “moments” that stand out but let’s be honest… I don’t get paid to do this so that’s not gonna happen.
Regardless, the end of the 2006-2007 season provided lots of thrills and even a few tears. The 2007-2008 season started off so promising but as we all know, many shows just didn’t live up to the hype and the WGA Strike has kind of killed any hope of making this a banner year for television. So what did I choose? Did I pick a previous favorite that ended last May? Did I give a sophmore series about superheroes another nod? Did those Housewives make a showing after being off the list for so many years? Here goes.
Ducky’s Favorite TV of 2007:
30 ROCK I was late jumping on the 30 Rock train but once I gave it a chance late last winter, I instantly fell in love. 30 Rock is the successor to Arrested Development and I actually may love it even more. Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin together are impossibly brilliant and the supporting cast only add to the mayhem and madness. Highlights: Season 1’s “I love NY in springtime” moment, Season 2’s return of Will Arnett, “Me Want Food” and “Gay for Jamie“.
CHUCK Chuck Bartowski, how I love you! The funniest thing about Chuck is that GMMR and I had seen the pilot probably 10 times before we hit Comic-Con where Zac Levi and crew got a superheroes reception from the geek gala. I don’t know that the show has lived up to my expectations but I can’t say that I don’t love watching it every week. There’s an inherent sweetness to this action-comedy that makes me squee. Zachary Levi and Yvonne Strahovski are magnificent together and anytime Adam Baldwin gets to be a smartass, I’m on board. So sad that the WGA Strike put an end to our enjoyment of the Nerd Herd! Highlights: The Pilot, Chuck and Lou, Captain Awesome’s many skin shots, and the return of Bryce Larkin.
DAMAGES Week after week this intense drama built to a shockingly graphic climax and it kept me guessing every step of the way. Glenn Close, Rose Byrne and Ted Danson delivered crazy intense performances for 13 weeks, proving that summer is not for the lazy brainless reality shows any longer. It was great interviewing most of the cast this summer, it really made me realize how brilliant the writing of the show really is. Kudos to FX for sticking with Damages and granting us 2 more seasons. Highlights: The endless time shifting and the seemless togetheness of it all, Glenn Close’s reaction to Ray Fiske blowing his brains out, the closing moments on the dock.
DOCTOR WHO/TORCHWOOD The one-two punch of Doctor Who and Torchwood coupled with my going to Comic-Con made 2007 my geekiest year to date. Season 3 of Doctor Who was probably the best of the new series. While I loved and miss Rose, Martha was a great companion. Capt. Jack may have ended up on Who at the end of Season 3 but more importantly he kicked some demon ass all season on his own show, Torchwood. Harkness, Gwen, Ianto, Owen, and Tosh made their show so much more than a spin-off. Torchwood delivered thrills, chills, and tears and I cannot wait for it’s return early in 2008. Highlights:Who’s Donna the Runaway Bride, “Human Nature” and the scary intense weeping angels of “Blink”. Torchwood’s gayness, “Random Shoes” with Eugene, Billis the scariest wrinkled creepy since the Preacher Kane from Poltergeist.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS The Dillon Panthers won State, the audience won another season and all seemed great down there in Texas. Then poor Tyra and Landry had to dump a body in a river leading to the most interesting coupling the show could ever have concocted. Some balked at the stunt plotline but I welcomed it once I saw how unbelievable both Adrianne Palicki and Jessie Plemons would make their roles. The Taylors continued to bring one of the most realistic and beautiful families to television not to mention Connie Britton’s acting her ass off. Highlights: Winning State, Plemons acting, Santiago’s first moment in the game during “The Confession”… breathtaking.
LOST Say what you will about Season 3 of LOST but the addition of Juliet and the jump forward solidified the show as greatness in my book. While it took a bit to flesh out Ben’s backstory, Juliet’s arrival on the island, Mr. Friendly’s allegiance, and the involvement of the Whidmore’s it was all worth the wait. We got some great answers this season, some scary twists and turns, some great revelations, some wonderful death’s, and HELLO, the chaos surrounding who’s coming to the island in Season 4? Matthew Fox continued to bring anxiety and sadness to the role of Jack and it’s a damn shame he wasn’t nominated for something this year. I’m psyched for it’s return on January 31st! Highlights: The story of how Juliet came to the island, the death of Charlie, the flash-forward, and Patch!
MAD MEN Seriously, do I even need to explain why Mad Men is on the list? The acting, the writing, the art direction, the costuming, the genius? Another summer sleeper that rocked my socks! Highlights: Jon Hamm as Don Draper, any scene with Joan, the sadness of the era, Don Draper’s carousel pitch.
PUSHING DAISIES The facts are these: Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Kristin Chenoweth and Chi McBride are my favorite finds of 2007. Bryan Fuller created a vivid, magical world I didn’t realize was missing from making my life complete until it slapped me in the face. My favorite pilot of 2007 led to stalking Fuller and Co. at Comic-Con, creating a fansite called ThePieMaker.com, and landed me on the Red Carpet interviewing these great talents. What a summer and fall leading up to the premiere of Pushing Daisies. This show makes me beyond happy and I cannot wait for its return in 2008. Highlights: The pilot, Ellen Greene, the musical numbers, Ned & Chuck, Bryan Fuller and Lee Pace recognizing me on the red carpet with hugs all around. Swoon…
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE I have to include SYTYCD because seriously could there have been a bigger obsession all summer long? Sure I loved Damages and Mad Men but sweet lord did it not compare to my lunacy over Neil Haskell and the rest of the dancers on SYTYCD. Highlights: Neil and Sabra’s boardroom brawl, Cat Deeley’s flawless hosting, Mary Murphy’s continued screaming, Wade Robson’s increased involvement, Debbi Allen and Shankman, backstage on tour.
SUPERNATURAL Love those Winchester’s. In a year that saw Sammy go real dark, the demise of YED, and a soul searching Dean, how can I not love Supernatural? The end of Season 2 was a wild wild ride but the beginning of Season 3 proved that this show is not and will not be stereotyped. Broadening the horizons of the demon world has suited the show nicely. Sure the addition of Ruby and Bela has been problematic for some but I can overlook that because the suspense and the gore has increased! Highlights:Visiting the set last May, blood and more blood, Supernatural:Origins comics, the return of Gordon.
The rest of the best:Battlestar Galactica, Big Bang Theory, Brothers & Sisters, Gossip Girl, How I Met Your Mother, Project Runway, Psych, The Closer, The Office, Top Chef and the end of Veronica Mars.
Should be on the list but isn’t for one reason or another: Dexter (never finished Season 2 because we got rid of Showtime but I’m dying to see the rest), Bones (just got addicted so I felt it couldn’t be added just yet - though let it be known that I’m obsessed), Dirty Sexy Money (something just isn’t right just yet, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love it).
Have a safe and Happy New Year! Looking forward to a wonderful and hopefully television filled 2008.
January 8, 2008 the People’s Choice Awards will be held and for the first time in like, forever (possibly) the “people” are getting things right. Favorite New Comedy nominees are Samantha Who, Chuck, Pushing Daisies. Favorite New Drama’s are Private Practice, Moonlight, Gossip Girl.
This one’s tough but I think I have to vote for Pushing Daisies and Gossip Girl! Who will you vote for?
Tonight is the last new CHUCK episode of 2007. Don’t worry though, in 2008 we already have 2 new episodes to air that were filmed before the WGA Strike blackout.
“Chuck Versus The Crown Vic” Promo
“Chuck Versus The Crown Vic” Description
A COUNTERFEIT CHRISTMAS–Still licking his wounds after realizing Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) continues to have feelings for Bryce, Chuck (Zachary Levi) must assume the cover of being Sarah’s husband on a mission to foil a politically connected counterfeiter and yachtsman. Emotions and sea legs are tested when Chuck, Sarah and Casey (Adam Baldwin) have to head to the marina to scuttle a plot that also puts an unwitting Morgan (Joshua Gomez) and Anna (Julia Ling) squarely in the crosshairs. Meanwhile, It’s time for the annual Buy More holiday party, but the party comes with lots of rules from Big Mike (Mark Christopher Lawrence).
“Chuck Versus The Crown Vic” Pictures
How are there no pictures of Sarah in some slutty Santa outfit? I guess Big Mike will have to do!
