On TV Envy: Contestants Announced for Dancing with the Stars 7

The Office Scores Super Bowl Slot

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, NBC, The Office, News

The OfficeOver the past few years, football lovers have been given something almost as exciting to watch after the as they have during the game. Remember when Francie was killed on Alias? When House diagnosed Mira Sorvino while she was at the South Pole? How about that explosion on Grey’s Anatomy?

Well, it’ll be ’s turn to air the game next February and the network has made its post-game choice: The Office. According to Entertainment Weekly, the producers are may even put together another hour-long episode for the coveted time slot. Of course, details about the plans are being kept secret. (I’m going to make an early guess and say that it will somehow involve a wedding or a baby. Or both.)

Super Bowl XLIII will be played on February 1, 2009. Until then, keep yourself busy with when it returns on September 25.

Read More | Entertainment Weekly

Advertisement

What Happened to Paula Abdul’s Today Show Concert?

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Music, ABC, NBC, American Idol, Gossip, News

Paula AbdulA while back it was announced that American Idol judge would be participating on the Today show’s Summer Concert Series.  Of course, given her inability to perform live for her Super Bowl pre-game performance, I was shocked to hear that she was ready to tackle a such a large task.

Well - surprise, surprise.  I apparently wasn’t the only one to miss the news that her April 25 gig had been cancelled.  (In fact, a current magazine I have sitting in front of me is still promoting the event.) A press release released a fews ago did not provide a reason for the change in plans:

“Paul Abdul is no longer part of Today‘s concert series at this time, however, she is always welcome at Today.”

I have to wonder—did the decision have anything to do with an actual performer’s engagement on a competing morning program?  ( is scheduled for Good Morning America this Friday.)

Interestingly enough, a quick check of NBC’s website shows that Miss Abdul is now slated for August 29.  Maybe she just needed the extra rehearsal time?

Read More | New York Post

TV on DVD: February 26, 2008

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Animation, Comedy, Daytime, Drama, Kids, Reality, Sci-Fi/Horror, Specials, Sports, ABC, BBC, Cable, CBS, HBO, NBC, On Demand/PPV, Extras, DVD

Here are some of the options available this Tuesday.

  • 1968 with Tom Brokaw
    Extras Extra Special Season Finale
  • 2008 Allstate BCS National Championship
  • 2008 Fedex Orange Bowl
  • 2008 Rose Bowl Game
  • B.L. Stryker (Season 1)
  • Dark Shadows: The Beginning No. 3 (Episodes 71-105)
  • Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
  • Family Affair (Season 5)
  • The Fugitive (Season 1, Vol. 2)
  • Ghost Hunters (Season 3, Part 2)
  • Hotel Babylon (Season 1)
  • Newhart (Season 1)
  • NFL Super Bowl XLII - New York Giants Championship DVD
  • Punky Brewster (Season 4)
  • The Smurfs (Season 1, Vol. 1)
  • WWE: Royal Rumble 2008

Sunday Ratings: ABC Wins, Oscars Tank

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Award Shows, Prime Time, Specials, ABC, Ratings

The are like the - it’s really pointless to mention other events when those telecasts are on.  But one major thing separates this year’s Academy Awards from the recent championship game: viewers.

Jon Stewart, OscarsLet’s break down the numbers:

  • Super Bowl XLII hit a record high this year; the 80th Annual Academy Awards hit a record low.
  • Having said that, Sunday’s broadcast drew the largest audience of the evening.
  • This year’s celebration of movies drew approximately 32 million viewers.  That’s a 20% drop from 2007 when won for Best Picture.
  • This ceremony received the lowest numbers for any Oscars telecast measured by Nielsen.  That’s going back to 1974.
  • Up until yesterday, the lowest-rated broadcast was in 2003 (when Chicago won).  At that time, our country had just recently gone into war with Iraq.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

Sunday Ratings: Brady Loses in Front of Largest Crowd Ever

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Drama, Prime Time, Specials, Sports, FOX, House, Ratings

Although there were other things on last night that didn’t involve football, it’s really pointless to mention them this time around.  So let’s just focus on the nuts and bolts of the / match-up:

Giants/Patriots

  • averaged 97.5 million viewers overall.  This put the the contest ahead of the 1996 game between the and the (94.1 million).

  • In addition to being the most-watched Super Bowl, the event came in 2nd for total television viewership ever.  The finale still holds the top honor even after 25 years.  (A whopping 105.9 million said goodbye to that series in 1983.)

  • At its peak, the game drew in nearly 107 million viewers.  (They were all tuning in to see if would cry.)

  • As a result of it’s humongous lead-in, a post-game episode of drew 29 million viewers.  That was easily its largest audience ever.

Read More | Variety

Petty’s Super Bowl Performance a Real Heartbreaker

Posted by K.C. Morgan
Categories: Music, Specials, Sports, FOX, Gossip

Tom PettyFOX won the honor of broadcasting the this year, an event they turned into eight marathon hours of football TV. Honestly, I barely watched a lick of it, but I did manage to catch the much-touted half time show.

It began as a spectacle, the stadium going dark as a heart lit up in the center of the field. A flying arrow came in to go through the heart, lighting up the stage as it did so. There stood as fans from the front line rushed forward, screaming and cheering. My heart thumped. Surely this was about to be an amazing show.

It was Tom Petty singing a few favorite tunes, so it was all right…but it was somewhat lackluster all the same. Petty was sadly incoherent through most of “American Girl,” though it’s doubtful the fans on the field noticed for all the screaming and shouting they were doing. By the time he got around to “Free Fallin’” he sounded a bit better, but the odd hiccup he started on took a lot of the sheen from the show. It definitely won’t be the thing everyone’s talking about, but that’s maybe that’s okay. 

Read More | LA Times

My Top Five Super Bowl Commercials

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Sports, FOX, Video

Sadly, there were very few moments from last night’s that I will remember in the weeks to come.  (That is, of course, not including the wild game itself.) But here are five that did give me a good chuckle:

Update: These (really) were not placed in any particular order.

1) The Doritos ‘Mouse Trap’ commercial

Click to continue reading My Top Five Super Bowl Commercials


Paula Abdul’s Super Bowl Appearance

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Music, Sports, FOX, Gossip, Video

For those who didn’t catch ’s Super Bowl pre-game appearance, here’s your chance:

Now I knew the performance was going to be pre-taped, but could the judge have at least bothered to sing?  Isn’t that why the large microphone was placed there to begin with? 

How can she continue preaching about something she doesn’t even practice?


This Week on TV (1/28-2/3)

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Comedy, Drama, Games, Music, Prime Time, Reality, Sci-Fi/Horror, Sports, ABC, Bravo, FOX, HBO, MTV, NBC, The CW, Apprentice, The - Donald, House, Lost

Lost

(You can view the whole Revamped TV Programming Schedule here.)

MONDAY (1/28)
**Live coverage of the State of the Union Address (9 PM Eastern) will alter many schedules.  Double-check your local listings for times.**

  • Dance War (ABC, 8pm):  “One contestant from the losing team is ousted after the first round of competition.” Those remaining will learn ‘I’m Still Standing’ routine.
  • Gossip Girl (CW, 8pm):  Pilot repeat.  Late-comers can finally learn why is this season’s guiltiest pleasure.  (And when I say ‘gossip’, I mean the show, of course.)
  • In Treatment (HBO, 9:30:  Series premiere.  New therapy drama airs 5x a week with a different patient every night.  Apparently can’t handle them all at once like the masterful Dr. Drew.
  • Making the Band 4 (MTV, 10pm):  brings back all the winners and throws them together in one house.  If they end up killing each other, he can finally start anew.

Click to continue reading This Week on TV (1/28-2/3)


No ‘Live’ Performance for Paula Abdul

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Music, Sports, FOX, American Idol

Paula Abdul, Randy JacksonAs host of the pre-game events, Ryan Seacrest - yes, Ryan Seacrest - gave reporters some insight on what they should be expecting come game day.  While confirming rumors of a Paula Abdul comeback performance, he tacked on news many may be disappointed to hear:  her performance with will be pre-taped.

C’mon, seriously?  Have we not learned anything from ‘comeback’ at the VMAs?  If you’re going to reestablish yourself in the music industry, you’re going to need to do it live.  We don’t want Memorex.

Be looking for the canned performance Feb. 3rd on .

Read More | TV Guide

Advertisement