Like we didn’t count on this the entire time… People.com is reporting that Kristen Bell is 100% confirmed for multiple episodes in Heroes: Villians (Season 3). I need more Elle because when last we saw her, there was this amazing glimmer in her eye at the possibility of doing things for good and for herself and the way Bell played it was smashing! Love my Veronica Mars Kristen Bell!

Holy Horcrux Dumbledore! Finally, Warner Bros. is doing something that they needed to do for quite a few films… Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be split into 2 films! Sure it’s a little late *cough* Book 4 *cough* but I’ll take it. This is the best possible news for the Potter franchise.

According to The Hollywood Reporter:

Titled “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1″ and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” the movies are set to be released in November 2010 and May 2011.

David Yates — who is directing the adaptation of the sixth novel, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” and is slated to helm the seventh film — will direct both movies, which will be shot back-to-back. Steve Kloves, who has written all but one of the “Potter” movies, also is returning to write the two-parter.

Back in TV news, the announcement was recently made that a Class of Beverly Hills 90210 spin-off is in the works. Seriously, this is the end times y’all. I don’t care how you spin this, it’s hideous news.

People are all excited that Veronica Mars‘ helmer Rob Thomas is in talks to write the Pilot but I’m not getting behind this one no matter who they cast. If Kristen Bell herself was headlining, I don’t think I could watch. Well, it would pain me but damnit I would try not to watch!

The only way I see this thing taking off is if Emily Valentine is the star and the show is about a psycho girl that kills rich kids after befriending them… a black comedy/satirical take on the youths obsession with folks like Paris Hilton and their secret desire to watch bad things happen to them. Bad CW, bad…

Finally, in a couple hours I’m on a flight to Los Angeles to attend the Paley fest with GMMR for the week. It should be a blast, I just can’t wait to get there and be done with the tension/anticipation of getting out there. It’s been such a crazy week so it will be nice to have all of that behind me.

I’m hoping to watch LOST on the flight and fingers crossed there are no scenes from the Pilot episode recreated! Plus, I took advantage of my friend Amy’s BDay iTunes Gift Card and bought Season 1 of UGLY BETTY to watch while I’m away. I can’t wait! So excited to finally get into this show. I’ll keep you updated on Project Ugly Betty as Kath has Project Buffy!

We’ll be doing regular (almost nightly) podcasts from Paley so there will be plenty of reasons to check back while I’m gone. It’s a working vacation of sorts, as I’ll be online most days doing my day job as well. Pictures of me all over Kyle Chandler, Lee Pace and Zac Levi – don’t you worry I’ll post them!

Follow me on Twitter while I’m away for fun updates as well.

Until I’m a little more slightly Left of center….

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.

HEROES Chapter 2 “Generations” concludes tonight with “Powerless” which may or may not be the last new episode until next Fall. Only the WGA Strike will tell.

“Powerless” Clips
Featuring Sylar and Maya with Suresh, Elle opening up to HRG, and Adam with Peter.

“Powerless” Trailer

“Powerless” Description
IT’S HERO VS. HERO AS THE SERIES’ “VOLUME II: GENERATIONS” COMES TO AN EXPLOSIVE, BLOODY FINISH — Deep below Primatech Paper in Odessa, TX, Peter’s (Milo Ventimiglia) reunion with Nathan (Adrian Pasdar) turns violent when the brothers, Matt (Greg Grunberg) and Hiro (Masi Oka) all clash thanks to Adam (David Anders) and his pursuit of the deadly Shanti Virus. After watching his heroic cousin captured by a street gang, Micah (Noah Gray-Cabey) turns to the one person who can help him save Monica (Dana Davis) — his mom (Ali Larter). Meanwhile, Maya (Dania Ramirez) tragically learns how much of a monster Sylar (Zachary Quinto) really is during his kidnapping of Molly (Adair Tishler) and Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy). Meanwhile, Elle (Kristen Bell) decides to play hero to get back into her father’s (Stephen Tobolowsky) good graces.

“Powerless” Pictures

All I have to say is that if either of the 2 people that are supposed to die are Nathan or Adam I’m going to be pissed. Nathan has been screwed out of a story this season and we’re just now getting into Adam’s story. I think KBell is safe as well because she’s so not fulfilled her episode commitment yet.

HEROES airs tonight at 9 p.m. on NBC

We’re about to enter Week 5 of the WGA Strike so GMMR and I give you the rundown on how many original episodes are left for most shows. We then discuss this season’s plot points thus far as well as whether or not each show is living up to our expectations.

Sit back and relax, it’s our TV Podcast #17 and here are the shows we’ll cover in depth.

Chuck, Prison Break, Heroes, House, Bones, Pushing Daisies, Gossip Girl, Dirty Sexy Money, Private Practice, The Office, Grey’s Anatomy, Ugly Betty, Supernatural, Friday Night Lights, The Amazing Race, Brothers & Sisters, Project Runway and more.

Subscribe and Listen via iTunes

Listen Online: Podcast #17

Interested in catching up on our past podcasts? Head on over to the podcast page where you can listen to all of our previous episodes.

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:

iTunes Comments:
This is a great way to spread the word about our podcast and it really helps new listeners determine if they want to subscribe to us or not based on YOUR COMMENTS. Subscribing to the joint podcast between duckydoestv.com and givememyremote.com is the best way to listen to us.Please comment on Ducky Does TV and Give Me My Remote’s TV Podcast at iTunes.

The WGA Strike is about to take away television but before that happens, there’s plenty for GMMR and I to talk about!

Dan and Kath are back for TV Podcast #16, and it’s all about the shows! It’s not about the strike, it’s just us talking about what we’ve loved and hated about television over the past couple weeks. I’m going to warn you now, it’s an hour long podcast. We haven’t talked in a while so sit back, relax, and listen to us in 2 sittings if that makes it easier. Thanks for sticking with us!

We tackle each day’s best and worst starting with Monday and working our way all the way to the lazy nights of Sunday. Chuck, HIMYM, Big Bang Theory, Prison Break, Heroes, House, Bones, Reaper, Pushing Daisies, Gossip Girl, Dirty Sexy Money, Private Practice, The Office, Grey’s Anatomy, Ugly Betty, Supernatural, Moonlight, Friday Night Lights, Torchwood, The Amazing Race, Brothers & Sisters, Dexter, and more. Phew, who’s tired already?

Subscribe and Listen via iTunes

Listen Online: Podcast #16

Interested in catching up on our past podcasts? Head on over to the podcast page where you can listen to all of our previous episodes.

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:

iTunes Comments:
This is a great way to spread the word about our podcast and it really helps new listeners determine if they want to subscribe to us or not based on YOUR COMMENTS. Subscribing to the joint podcast between duckydoestv.com and givememyremote.com is the best way to listen to us.Please comment on Ducky Does TV and Give Me My Remote’s TV Podcast at iTunes.

Kristen Bell has yet another job on her resume. Aside from HEROES and GOSSIP GIRL, she’s now going the way of the video game.

Per TVGuide:

…She’s been signed to play one of the leads in the upcoming video game Assassin’s Creed. The game’s publisher won’t reveal her character but does admit that she’ll play a pivotal part in the bit that takes place during the Crusades in the 12th century. I’m thinking Joan of Arc? History buffs, back me up on this.

It’s Monday morning and I’m still sad to report that I’m so far behind on shows it’s ridiculous. I should give up writing a TV Blog considering I barely have enough to write about given I’ve not seen crap over the past week.

Still have not seen FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS from this week and I missed last night’s BROTHERS & SISTERS as well.

I did watch HEROES with Kristen Bell over the weekend and I thought the episode as a whole was much better than it has been all season. I’m just so over the Hiro/Takezo storyline, it bores me to tears and if the person trying to kill the elders is anyone other than Takezo Kensei, I will be disappointed. Also, can we kill that Molly chick already, over her pug face and bad acting. On a positive note, I’m loving Micah’s cousin and her ability is kick ass! Literally. KBell, I’m glad to see you and is there anyone that doesn’t think her Father is Bob and her Mom Joanna Cassidy who’s next to Bob in the photo? Love Joanna Cassidy! I hope they get to her soon. Oh yeah, white eyes Painter Peter is always a welcomed throwback to last season… a look back at better times for HEROES. Pull it together gang!

Thanks to my girl Kath from GiveMeMyRemote and Daniel from TheTVAddict for posting their interview/video with Tim Kring and Kristen Bell about her upcoming stint on HEROES!

Check out both sites but before you do, please check out a special sneak peek at Kristen Bell on Heroes.

Ducky and GMMR are neck deep in Fall TV but we finally had some time to do another TV Podcast.

In TV Podcast #15, we discuss the fall television season and all of its overwhelming glory. We go day by day and talk about the shows that are on, what we’re watching, what we’ve already dropped, and what we hope to catch in reruns (networks willing).

New Shows We Talk About:
Pushing Daisies, Chuck, Dirty Sexy Money, Gossip Girl, Journeyman, Big Bang Theory, Aliens In America, Reaper, Private Practice, Bionic Woman, Moonlight

Returning Faves We Talk About:
How I Met Your Mother, Heroes, Prison Break, House, Bones, Top Model, Grey’s Anatomy, The Office, Supernatural, Friday Night Lights, Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters

Subscribe and Listen via iTunes

Listen Online: Podcast #15

Interested in catching up on our past podcasts? Head on over to the podcast page where you can listen to all of our previous episodes.

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:

iTunes Comments:
This is a great way to spread the word about our podcast and it really helps new listeners determine if they want to subscribe to us or not based on YOUR COMMENTS. Subscribing to the joint podcast between duckyxdale.com and givememyremote.com is the best way to listen to us.Please comment on duckyxdale and givememyremote’s TV Podcast at iTunes.

KRISTEN BELL makes her HEROES debut on the October 22nd episode entitled “Fight or Flight”. Here is the only picture of her in character that has yet to surface.

Here is the HEROES Episode Description for “Fight or Flight”:
SEARCHING FOR A LOST HERO, ELLE (GUEST STAR KRISTEN BELL) MAKES A SHOCKING DEBUT IN IRELAND — In Ireland, a lost Hero attempts to move beyond the past, but discovers that a mysterious woman — Elle (guest star Kristen Bell) — is willing to kill to find him. Matt (Greg Grunberg) and an unexpected ally fly to Philadelphia to hunt down the “boogyman,” following his terrible attack on Molly (guest star Adair Tishler), but the pair finds themselves outmatched. Monica (Dana Davis) tries to come to terms with her new abilities and her role as a local hero. Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy) meets his new partner and gets a disturbing assignment. H.R.G. (Jack Coleman) takes a step to further protect his family. Meanwhile, as Hiro (Masi Oka) continues to fix the past in feudal Japan, Ando (James Kyson Lee) attempts to piece together historically what’s happened to his best friend.

A long time ago we used to be friends…

Ain’t that the truth! VERONICA MARS might be off our weekly viewing schedules but that doesn’t mean we love it any less. Sure we can catch Jason Dohring on MOONLIGHT and Kristen Bell on HEROES and her voice on GOSSIP GIRL but we need VM immortalized forever….

On October 23rd, Veronica Mars‘ final season hit DVD and I have 2 copies to give away!

That’s right, Ducky’s giving away 2 copies of the Veronica Mars Season 3 DVD’s and all you have to do is leave a comment. Not just any comment, I’m not rewarding those who can just type…

HOW TO WIN:
I’m rewarding those who tell me their favorite Veronica Mars moment! You’ve got 3 seasons, a thousand great one-liners, and a zillion stand-off’s to choose from. Just leave me a comment telling me and the blogosphere your fave and you could win!

VERONICA MARS Season 3 DVD Info:
Veronica Mars: The Complete Third Season
Release Date: October 23, 2007

Veronica Mars: The Complete Third Season Episode List:
- Welcome Wagon
- My Big Fat Greek Rush Week
- Wichita Linebacker
- Charlie Don’t Surf
- President Evil
- Hi, Infidelity
- Of Voice and Men
- Lord of the Ps
- Spit & Eggs
- Show Me The Monkey
- Poughkimpsee, Tramps and Thieves
- There’s Gotta Be A Morning After Pill
- Postgame Mortem
- Mars, Bars
- Papa’s Cabin
- Un-American Graffiti
- Debasement Tapes
- I Know What You’ll Do Next Summer
- Weevies Wobble
- The Bitch Is Back

DVD Features:
- Pitching Season 4 – An in-depth interview w/ Creator Rob Thomas discussing a new direction for the series presented to network executives that picks up years later, with Veronica as a rookie FBI agent.
- Going Undercover with Rob Thomas – Show Creator Rob Thomas walks us through some of the most memorable moments from Season 3
- Webisode Gallery with cast interviews and various set tours
- Unaired Scenes with introductions by Rob Thomas
- Gag Reel

**There are DVD extras! Season 4’s idea? Amazing!

Leave your comments to be entered to win! Contest ends October 19th!

While I’m working from home today I have not only the pleasure of watching them film Bachelor No. 2 in my apartment building (currently Kate Hudson and Jason Biggs are right below me and plenty of F-bombs are flying in the scene) but I was able to get my TVGuide early and see Ms. KRISTEN BELL on the cover in a HEROES coverstory!

Inside, we learn this about Bell’s character ELLE:

Elle is an operative for The Company – the shady group that bags and tags heroes – and will first pop up in the Oct. 22 episode in Ireland, where she’s willing to kill in order to locate Peter. “Elle is capable of heinous things and manipulates her power to no end – it brings her a lot of pleasure, ” Bell says. “Unlike the other heroes, she’s been living with special abilities her entire life and never had a childhood. She was exploited by her parents and trained like an animal – so she’s kind of a misfit and a bit of a lunatic.”

No worries Mars fans. Kring promises to take full advantage of Bell’s trademark humor and sass. “The character is quippy and flirty, and Kristen plays her in a very sympathetic way,” Kring says. “But make no mistake: Elle will be a cautionary tale to all our other heroes. This is what can happen if you live with these powers too long.”

Check out the hot pics of Kristen Bell and tons of pics of the newbies in the new edition of TVGuide.

GOSSIP GIRL premiere’s tonight on The CW so I thought I’d give you a little insider scoop on each of the characters. It’s freshmen orientation (if the freshmen look unbelievable flawless, drink like fishes, party like rockstars, and scheme their way through high school) Ducky style.

Serena van der Woodsen
Serena or “S” as Gossip Girl calls her returns to Manhattan unexpectedly after a year of boarding school. She’s hot, worldly, bitchy, yet charming and noone really knows why she left New York in the first place, or why she’s returned. She’s our queen bee and played by Blake Lively.

Blair Waldorf
Blair or “B” in some circles was once the BFF of Serena but a year can change a lot of things. Blair dates Nate, has a snobby evil Mother, and plenty of issues. Blair is the bitchiest backstabbing insecure girl of the bunch and she’s not so keen on her frienemy returning. Leighton Meester is the perfect mix of Rachel Bilson’s Summer (The OC) and Lyla Gerrity from Friday Night Lights.

Nate Archibald
Nate’s the kid who wants to do so well that his Father can dictate who he befriends, who he dates, and honesty is sometimes his biggest fault. He’s been dating Blair since they were in diapers and its the perfect societal match. Too bad he’s got the hots for Blair’s ex-BFF Serena and a guilty conscience. Chace Crawford plays Nate well, he embodies the do-gooder charm and naivity needed to get by as the son of an Archibald.

Dan Humphrey
Dan’s my favorite, he’s my new Duckie. He’s the boy from the wrong side of tracks who loves the girl from the right side. Dan has always been the outsider, he’s the son of a has-been rockstar and doesn’t quite fit in with the celebutant crowd but that doesn’t stop him from wanting their once leader Serena. Dan’s also the heart of the show. He’s a good kid, he’s darn good looking, and he’s the perfect older brother to Jenny. Penn Bagdley is officially my Fall TV Boyfriend. Sorry kids.

(more…)

Saturday night was the EMMY Pre-Party and once again my girl KRISTEN BELL was on the town with fellow HEROES castmates MASI OKA and ZACHARY QUINTO.

In the words of Maeby Funke: “Zachary, Marry Me!” God I love him in those glasses.