On TV Envy: Microsoft Pulls Out of Family Guy Special

Casting Corner: Caprica, Supernatural and More

James MarstersJenna Dewan

Here’s a quick look at some of the casting announcements made recently:

Caprica: With all this talk about vampires, it’s nice to see James Marsters back in the fold. The Buffy vet will later be seen in a few episodes of the new Syfy series. Marsters has been cast as Barnabus Greeley, a “dangerous terrorist leader.” The program will unfold on January 22.

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TV on DVD: December 9, 2008

Still looking for a few Christmas ideas? Here are some of the options available this Tuesday.

Lost Season 4 DVD

  • Deadwood (Complete Series)
  • Dragon Ball GT (Season 1)
  • Gunsmoke (Season 3, Vol. 1)
  • Happy Days (Season 4)
  • Lost (Season 4)
  • McLeod’s Daughters (Season 7)
  • Not On Your Nellie (Season 1)
  • Rawhide (Season 3, Vol. 2)
  • Swingtown (Season 1)
  • The Wire (Complete Series)

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The 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Coverage

Emmy AwardsThe 59th Annual Emmy Awards has not even started, yet I’m already sensing sensing a weird vibe about tonight’s telecast.  Will the show be a celebration of those young and new (e.g. Heroes)?  Will it be a tribute to those bowing out (James Gandolfini and crew)?  Or will performer Kanye West somehow manage to cast a controversial shadow over the rest of the ceremony?

What a difference a year makes.  Twelve months ago, we were still handing out trophies to stars from Will & Grace and The West Wing (those shows feel so five-years ago now).  Today, we welcome a new crop of nominees including Ugly Betty and 30 Rock for Best ComedyLast year, we were entertained by an always-hilarious Conan O’Brien.  This year, we are threatened by a song and dance number from this year’s host, Ryan Seacrest.  Last August, 24 snagged the award for Best Drama.  This September, it’s not even nominated (yet somehow Boston Legal is).

I think it would be safe to assume the voters would predictably (and respectfully) shower The Sopranos with honors, but I’ll still be crossing my fingers for an upset sometime tonight.  We’ll need something to talk about tomorrow…

Here’s the play-by-play of tonight’s events coming to you from the neglected West Coast!

Click to continue reading The 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Coverage


SYTYCD and John from Cincinnati: Should I Watch or Should I Go?

So You Think You Can Dance Jessi Pasha

I’m typically not a fence sitter when it comes to television.  Nearly every show can be put into one of two categories: “Shows I Love and Therefore Watch,” and “Shows I Hate or Ignore and Therefore Don’t Watch.”  I don’t labor under the impression that I’ve invented these categories; I imagine that this is the way a lot of people watch television.  I think, though, many people have shows that they’ll classify as “I’m Watching This Not Because I Love It but Because It Happens to Be On.”  This, by the way, is a really lengthy title for a category and I would recommend something zippier, like, “Law & Order reruns.”  Because of TiVo, I haven’t been someone who just watches whatever is on for a while.

Now my categories of viewership have subcategories like, “Awful Reality Shows I Can’t Stop Watching,” (that’d be pretty much any reality show on MTV, except for “Made”) “Brilliant Shows I Can’t Discuss With Anyone Because of Low Ratings,” (that’d be “The Wire,” and “The Thick of It,”), and “Hated Shows I Only Have Watched In Hospital Waiting Rooms,” (that’d be “According to Jim,”), but all shows will fit into one of the two major categories.  That is, until now.

Click to continue reading SYTYCD and John from Cincinnati: Should I Watch or Should I Go?


Paul Giamatti to Play John Adams in HBO Miniseries

Paul GiamattiYesterday, Variety reported that Paul Giamatti will play John Adams in a seven episode HBO miniseries based on the David McCullogh bestseller John Adams.  Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman are executive producing the project, which begins filming in Virgina in January, and is slated to air in seven hour-long parts starting in March 2008.

The miniseries will focus on Adams’ time as a Massachusetts lawyer working behind the scenes to facilitate the American Revolution rather than on his time as the second President. I have not read McCullogh’s book, but apparently it is partly based on the famous correspondence between Adams and his wife Abigail during the period (these letters are also immortalized in the musical 1776).

I’m very excited by the idea of this project, and I think Giamatti is a great choice to play Adams.  I was just rewatching Cinderella Man, a highly underrated movie, last night, and he’s great in it. I’m glad he’s moving on to bigger and better things after the fiasco of Lady in the Water. I also can’t wait to see who else will be cast. This almost makes up for the cancellation of Deadwood, HBO—but only almost. Actually, no, it doesn’t, but it’s a good start at getting back in my good graces.

Read More | Coming Soon

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