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.
Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose… So started the FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS Paley Panel last night and if ever a show had the heart, the quality and the drive to make it, it’s FNL. TV Guide’s Pooper Scooper Michael Ausiello moderated the night honoring those down to earth, frighteningly realistic, and always lovable Dillon Panters.
In attendance were Exec. Producer Jason Katims, Jeff Reiner (Co-Exec. Producer/Director), Ms. Tami Taylor herself the flawless Connie Britton, Scott Porter (#6 Jason Street), Minka Kelly (Lyla Garrity), Aimee Teegarden (Julie Taylor), Zach Gilford (Saracen), Adrianne Palicki (Tyra Collette).
That’s right folks, no Coach Taylor. Kyle Chandler was scheduled to be there but the film he’s shooting in Vancouver ran long and he couldn’t get in. And gals, Taylor Kitsch, Mr. Tim Riggins was MIA as well (probably off having a beer). You’ll all have to swoon later.
Kath and I did a podcast so I’m not going to write up much but I would like to comment on how incredibly sweet and honest this crew was. They seem beyond appreciative of the support the fans have given them, NBC’s determination, and the ability to be on a once in a lifetime show like Friday Night Lights. From the writing process to the shooting style all the way down to the casting of bit parts, FNL goes for authenticity and almost always succeeds.
Jason Katims was quick to own up to the fact that there was no pressure by the network to create the Landry/Tyra/Rapist Murder plot. It was all his own. While he understands folks frustrations (and is honored by the level of commitment and love for the show it brought out) he and the rest of the cast agree that the outcome was well worth it. Adrianne and Jesse Plemons worked their asses off this season and have given us fans one of the coolest TV Couples in recent history.
Everyone on stage was great. Connie Britton is beyond stunning and had cleavage for miles! Minka Kelly was gorgeous (as you can imagine). Adrianne Palicki looked classy and was very fun. She talked at one point about how when she read the script about the rapist, she loved Tyra so much that her first instinct was to kill the bastard (rapist). How’s the for honesty? Zach Gilford was quiet and seemed really nervous about the panel but was more open and entertaining in person during the signing. Aimee Teegarden is so young but adorable (that dress though?). Scott Porter’s shirt put Will Truman’s skin tight shirts to shame and fans of that hideous movie with Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant will be pleased to know he performed some dance moves for the crowd.
Overall such a different panel than the nights before but no less interesting, insightful and fulfilling.
gang, as you know I’m in LA for the week and I’ll be attending the Paley Festival with my girl GMMR and I’ll also be having a couple other things in the works (fingers crossed) that you’ll want to know about. Aside from Pushing Daisies, Chuck, Friday Night Lights and Buffy, I’ll be visiting my favorite people in Los Angeles whom I haven’t seen since I left here in 2000 and roaming around town. Visiting with my favorite Casting Agent Jenny and meeting up with someone that will hopefully be giving me (& you) some inside scoop on the return of Supernatural. Not to mention we’ll be podcasting our asses off.
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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.
The WGA Strike continues well into the Day 90s so the television landscape is like no winter we’ve seen before. Kath and I are back to talk about Lost’s return as well as the return of American Idol.
Also on the agenda are Friday Night Lights, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Prison Break, American Gladiators, Paradise Hotel, Project Runway, Torchwood, Pushing Daisies, Comic-Con 2008 and much more.
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
You’d be surprised to hear that I’m attending a sporting event this weekend; my very first live hockey game. No I’m not playing, I’m just going there hoping to see copious amounts of blood spilled! My mantra leading up to the game has been “There Will Be Blood” and I better not be made a liar.
Aside from my butching it up at the rink, there’s a ton of great television to watch this weekend. Starting tonight I’ve got Friday Night Lights and Psych!
Friday Night Lights “Humble Pie”
Brian “Smash” Williams (Gaius Charles) confrontation at the movie theater has turned from bad into worse as charges are being pressed against him. Smash must now decide whether he must swallow his pride and apologize or stand up for what he believes is right. Elsewhere, Jason Street (Scott Porter) finds a new career. Tami Taylor (Connie Britton) is hired by Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) as the girl’s volleyball coach and turns to Tyra (Adrianne Palicki) for help. Meanwhile, Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) faces tough times as he tries to express what he is feeling to Lyla (Minka Kelly).
Psych “LIGHTS, CAMERA…HOMICIDIO”
The set of a Spanish soap opera filmed nearby is rocked when someone is murdered, and Shawn and Gus are determined to uncover the killer; the pair investigate the set, following every possible lead, while wreaking havoc for the actors. Just wait until you see Shawn’s hair… hideous way mucho!
Saturday night is a little more gay as the Second Season of TORCHWOOD kicks off with special guest star James Marsters (Spike aka Blondie Bear from Buffy) as Capt. Jack’s one time “partner”! Hello… cannot wait.
Watch a bonus clip from Torchwood “Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang”
Then over on TLC its the long awaited (at least by me) return of Paige Davis to TRADING SPACES! I’ve missed the little pixie host and with her comeback is a new twist to the show that will hopefully bring some much needed spunk back into this dying design staple.
God how much did I obsess over Trading Spaces back in those early years? Too much. So much so that I was featured in a Boston Globe article about my obsession with the show. Yeah, I’m a freak.
Sunday night the Screen Actors Guild Awards are on and people congratulate themselves on being wonderful.
While some fans will say that FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS has jumped the shark (and I agree on some counts), last night’s episode “Jumping the Gun” was pretty much dead on for what I want FNL to be. There was a ton of focus on character, family, football and how those three intertwine to give us the characters we’ve grown to love over the last season and a half.
Coach Taylor started the episode in a bad mood and it got much worse before it got any better. He finds Riggins sleeping in the equipment room at the school after kicking him on his ass for supposedly macking on young Julie; He fights with Tami’s over-stayed-her-welcome Sister and sends her packing to a hotel and after repeated attempts at making Laribee’s Coach feel welcomed he gives up on the guy. But in the end, Coach Taylor does what he always does and helps everyone because he’s that kind of guy. He’s a good man through and through; one you can count on and that’s one of the reasons why I love him.
All of the family drama was incredibly believable and really heartfelt. When Julie confesses that Riggins was only trying to protect her and that she didn’t say anything because she was drunk and didn’t want to get in trouble all Coach said (three time though) was “Damn.”
That one word expressed so much disappointment and pain and both actors played the scene aces. Moment’s like this or his conversation with Tami after Shelly left are what center Friday Night Lights and no matter how stunty the show gets at times, will always set it on the highest pedestal in my book. Kyle Chandler can bring the pain like no one and while his character can sometimes frustrate the hell out of you it’s only because you know deep down he’s going to come around and be your best friend at any cost. Look at how he turned the stern conversation with Julie into the most affirming proclamation of love a child could hope for when they’re expecting to be grounded until they’re 40. Look at how he manned up and apologized to Riggins for “jumping the gun” or how he gave some Fatherly advice to Smash about holding out for the right school for the right reasons.
And Connie Britton’s Tami is right there with Coach Taylor. She’s complex and wonderful and sexy and just darn sweet… a character you can really count on and trust. Watching how she dealt with Mama Smash and the pesky recruiter or how honest she was behind closed doors about the intrusions of her sister mesmerize me in their freshness. No moment rings false. No moment seems scripted. She’s a living, breathing, flawed woman you can root for.
Same with Smash Williams. I want good things for the kid no matter how pompous or selfish he can be. And his Mother? Forget about it. She’s brilliant! Deep down he is a sap, his Mother’s Son through and through. That pesky Naomi or whatever her name is freaks me out a little though. What’s her deal? I know her Brother used to play for Dillon and is now some bigshot College player so she has some experience in the field but didn’t you get the idea that maybe she was a plant? Like the college her Brother attends sent her in to persuade Smash into signing with them? Is she really that good of a person that she’s helping him out of the goodness of her heart? Nah.
Overall this was one of the most Season 1 feeling episodes so far this shortened season. My only issue is the Riggins storyline. I enjoyed watching him go home at any cost. I’m glad he was able to talk to his neighbor and patch things up before she and that hideous kid moved. I’m glad that he was worried about his future and that he was looking to better himself. That’s why I have an issue with Riggins and his worthless Brother stealing $3,000 from his fat underwear rompin’ ferret owning ex-roomie. We don’t need theivery and gun play to make Friday Night Lights flashy, that’s what the football’s for. We need honesty and good dialogue with supreme acting. Save the stunts for Las Vegas or something crappy like that. Keep my FNL simple stupids!
I’m going to stop now because I’m not really saying much other than I love my friends in Dillon and do not want it to all end in the next couple weeks. Long live Friday Night Lights.
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
Last night we finally saw the return of a show I love in the New Year! FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS is back with the first of 6 new episodes. It brought a smile to my face, a tear to my eye, and gave me butterflies in my stomach… I’m a regular Rally Girl when it comes to FNL.
From the opening you know something bad is coming with Tim Riggins, little did we know it would come in the form of a mini Desperate Housewives style natural disaster. I love how they played it off like even though Riggins is the dumbest kid in all of Dillon yet he’s got a knack for predicting twisters. Like he’s a frakkin’ storm chaser by night, imbecile drunk misfit high school student by day, he’s the new Angel (please tell me someone remembers this movie from the 80’s — I loved it as a kid).
Okay that was harsh but not nearly as harsh as its going to be when fine piece of ass Coach Taylor catches Riggins with any one of the women in his house. Loved the girls fawning over his ab workout that led Tammy to plea with Eric to remove Tim asap. Best line out of Tammy’s mouth in the first 10 minutes? “I am made of Christian charity…” it reminded me of Mandy Moore’s Hilary Faye character from SAVED… “I am full of Christ love!” (then she chucks a bible at Jenna Malone) — good stuff.
There’s a little Degrassi vs. Lakehurst as a post Tornado stricken rival high school has to come to Dillon for a while. How badly can this end? Probably pretty bad right? Like Jets vs. Sharks bad…
How much do I love that Landry knows West Side Story (made me squee a little)? How much do I want to throw up that Tyra pilled her hand away when Landry reached out and grabbed it in the lunchroom? Why Tyra why… do you make me love you when I want to hate you?
When Chip from Laribee comes over and licks his fingers then makes a heart on her shoulder before spitting out the most pathetic pickup line ever “What do you say we go somewhere and get you out of those wet clothes?” I almost passed out.
Tyra: “Yeah, if you ever touch me again I’ll kick you so hard your balls will be non-existent alright?”
Moments later when Jules askes who that was she once again pulls a Ducky tailored zinger…
Julie: “Who’s that?” Tyra: “Some douchebag named Chip. I mean who names their kid Chip?”
Right? Tyra’s a genius! Now don’t go breaking my Landry’s heart.
As the episode progressed, the Dillon/Laribee rivalry continues to build. Do these high school kids not watch Degrassi? All I could think about when the Panthers come into the locker room to find their stuff all messed, or when Landry goes all witty and amazing leading to a lunchroom brawl, or when Tim finds that Laribee’s football team is into watersports is how this could lead to James Tiberias Yorke getting stabbed outside of Liberty’s party. Okay so I just lost everyone but maybe Vance from Tapeworthy and some 12 year old girls in Des Moines…
Raise your hand if you teared up more than once during the second half of FNL last night. Hands? Anyone other than me? It’s ridiculous how incredibly emotional this show can be sometimes. I was a mess when Julie had to witness Saracen make out with his way too old Carlotta. How about Buddy making his last ditch attempt at winning back his wife? Landry trying to convince Tyra that she’s better than she thinks she is? I was bawling like a little bitch.
Poor Tim Riggins. For once, he really was trying to be a nice guy and help sloppy drunk Julie out when Coach walked in and saw him lying on his daughter in what looked like a pre-kiss embrace. You can’t blame Eric for throwing Tim out but I still felt for Riggs.
Before I wrap this up can I just mention how hot Coach Taylor is when he’s mad? Between throwing the Laribee Coach against the wall and kicking Riggins out of his house I’ve never seen Eric Taylor look so scary sexy. I know some of you are thinking I’m crazy but to put it into context, I’m the guy that swoons over Patrick Bateman chasing someone with a chainsaw or swinging an axe while listening to Huey Lewis and the News.
Serial killers can be hot, don’t judge me.
Next week it looks like some bad times are in store for Riggins and Laribee’s Coach finally loses his mind. I’m there.
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&#
