On TV Envy: Infomercial Pitchman Billy Mays Found Dead

Remembering Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: ABC, Oprah Winfrey Show, Video

While most may may know Randy Pausch for his extremely popular YouTube lecture, the Carnegie Mellon professor was a household name to many television viewers as well. Since delivering his September 2007 speech (‘Achieving Your Childhood Dreams’), Pausch, who had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, had also shared his uplifting messages on and an ABC special.

Today, the father of three died at his Virginia home. He was 47.

Those who haven’t haven’t already heard his ‘Last Lecture’ (or read his book), can listen to hilarious tales below:


Interestingly enough, Pausch, who expressed his love of , was given a speaking cameo in J.J. Abrams’ upcoming movie. (The film will be released on May 8, 2009.) Until then, Randy will also be the focus of another ABC special airing next Tuesday @ 10:00.

Read More | ABC News

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Feist Performs 1234 on Sesame Street

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Daytime, Kids, Music, PBS, Video

Okay - this was just too cute not pass on.

If you don’t have a reason to watch on a regular basis, you can have your brief moment of childish fun here. For the show’s upcoming premiere, Feist has put together a special version of its song ‘1234.’

Warning: If you’ve worked hard to get that iPod commercial out of your head, this may not be the best clip for you to watch.


Sesame Street‘s 39th season begins on August 11.


Reality contestant aren’t here to make friends…

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Reality

Wanna know the secret to winning any reality television show? As the video compilation above shows, it’s all about not making friends. You hear it all the time on these shows, but do you really pay attention to how often those words are spoken? Check out the video for a reminder of what these reality shows are all about - you gotta be in it to win it. Don’t hate on these contestant for keeping their eye on the prize. After all, the name of the game isn’t “America’s Top Best Friend.”


Fox Hypes Up Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse

Posted by Kathleen Kane Categories: Action, Drama, Prime Time, Sci-Fi/Horror, FOX, 24, Announcements, Internet, News, Video

Cast of Joss Whedon's Dollhouse

Feeling quite guilty that I haven’t come across the Dollhouse trailer until now, I felt like I should make up for it by doing Fox a favor and spreading the love!

The trailer for this fall’s sci-fi drama (which you can check out after the jump) has been out and about on YouTube and select TV spots, getting many pretty excited about its premiere. After all, it is  Joss Whedon’s first series since Firefly, which went off the air back in 2003 (surprisingly with the same network his new show is on).

Dollhouse, starring former Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BTVS) favorite Eliza Dushku, focuses on a clandestine, illegal operation carried out by agents who have their memories and personalities completely erased after each mission. Dushku plays Echo, one operative who slowly starts to learn more and more about where she works over time—she becomes a known flaw in the system, if you will.

The series premieres in January on Fox, right before 24 in the Monday 8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT spot.

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Jimmy Kimmel Gets Contract Extension

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, ABC, Ratings, Renewals

Jimmy KimmelBack in February, Sarah Silverman helped boyfriend Jimmy Kimmel celebrate his show’s 5-year anniversary with a special video. Now it looks like she may have reason to give him another gift.

While NBC is prepping to give an early boot, ABC is working to keep its late-night host around a little longer. The network has just announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will remain on the air through at least 2010.

This news comes as Kimmel’s popularity has seen some growth. In addition to his popular YouTube videos, the comedian has hosted a number of pre- and post-event specials (NBA, Oscars). He even traveled cross-country for a whole week when he co-hosted Live with Regis and Kelly in New York while continuing with his regular job in LA.

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Read More | Variety

If Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough Were Still On DWTS

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Prime Time, Reality, ABC, Dancing With The Stars, Gossip, Video

Dancing with the Stars' Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough

Hoping to drag out their romance fifteen minutes of fame as long as possible, ’ Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough decided to take their partnership to YouTube. Although the real-life couple was booted off the ABC series in Week 7, the two have not yet stopped dancing. In fact, the lovebirds apparently still think about what could have been.

In a 6.5-minute clip (which can be seen after the jump), the former dance partners deliver a dream-like version of the Foxtrot they never had a chance to perform. They also attempt to poke fun at themselves while spending a nauseating amount of time in each other’s arms.

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Read More | People

Preview Daytime Emmy Nominees Via YouTube

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Award Shows, Daytime, ABC, CBS, Video

General Hospital cast

Have you ever watched an awards show and wondered who all the nominees were? Have you ever tuned into the and realized your soaps were all on one network?

Well - if you’re in need of a little more enlightenment, YouTube just might be able to help. The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has partnered with the website to offer clips of the nominees for this year’s Daytime Emmy Awards. Videos for 13 different categories (57 nominees) can be found on one page.

At the 35th annual event event, CBS will be leading the pack with a total of 56 nominations. (PBS follows with 44; ABC has 39.) The Young and the Restless tops the contenders with 17 mentions while Guiding Light, and Sesame Street are all tied at 13.

The Daytime Emmys air June 20th on .

Read More | Variety

South Park Episodes Available On Own Site

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Animation, Comedy, Cable, Internet

South ParkTired of piecing together videos of from YouTube?  Well, the creators of the show are too.

To alleviate all the wasted time spent searching, and are offering fans of the show an easier way to keep up with the series.  They are now making every single episode of the program available on one site.  And for free!  In a joint statement, the duo said: “We got really sick of having to download our own show illegally all the time, so we gave ourselves a legal alternative.”

Although the shows are currently running ad free, expect that to change sometime in the near future.  Current episodes can also be found on the site though they will experience a short blackout period.

The site (which can be found here) has already had seen several million visitors since debuting last week.

Read More | Variety

Spaced Remake Snubs Creators

Posted by Shannon Bennett Categories: Comedy, Editorial

SpacedFor fans of the original series - some of us still finding it hard to accept that there will never be a third season - the announcement that an American remake of Spaced was on the way probably didn’t raise cheers of joy. 

In fact, it’s always been assumed that Granada (as it will be called) would be Americanized and Hollywoodized beyond recognition from the original genius upon which it’s based, which makes this latest piece of news all the more infuriating.

Wonderland and Warner Brothers, more specifically McG, have apparently cut , Jessica (Stevenson) Hynes, and show’s director Edgar Wright out of any participation with the show, crossing lines from avoidance to clear expression that their creative input is undesired.  A foolish gesture considering Pegg and Wright’s phenomenal American success with Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, and morally just all sorts of wrong.

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Read More | The Guardian

Oscars up for Makeover?

Posted by Shannon Bennett Categories: Award Shows, Editorial, Gossip, Ratings

DescriptionThe television audience this year hit an all-time low, and the Academy speculates that this is because the ceremony itself is beginning to feel outdated.  A makeover didn’t work for the Miss America Pageant, and there was a lot more to update on that wallflower.

Variety has served up the cringe-worthy suggestion of taking a cue from the Reality Phemonenon, but that (mercifully) doesn’t seem like a likelihood.  While it could be entertaining to see Streep and Dench race across a snow dune, tied to one another, carrying boiled produce in their mouths to win four points toward Best Actress, chances are it’s not going to catch on, even if statistics show that dignity is one of the damning things that makes poor Oscar seem so elderly.  And the truth may be that the program can’t catch up to the “YouTube generation,” because it’s a victim of it.

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Read More | Variety

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