On The Bleeding Edge: E3 2008: Street Fighter IV first look

90210 Premiere: A Second Opinion

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Drama, Reality, The CW, Editorial, Gossip

90210

Okay - it’s been 12+ hours now since , and I think I’ve had a proper amount of time to digest that premiere. And while my impressions of the show haven’t changed since last night night, it’s taken me a while to quickly summarize why I was left disappointed:

90210 wants to be what Gossip Girl already is.

After reading a list of reviews today - including the one written by my TV Envy colleague - I felt there was still room to offer an opposing opinion.

In general, most of the critics agreed that the show was much better than feared. I mean - should we have expected more from a show that didn’t offer any previews? No. But should we have expected more from a network that already offers quality catty fare? Yes.

Click to continue reading 90210 Premiere: A Second Opinion


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90210 review: Old Zip, New Drama

Posted by K.C. Morgan
Categories: Drama, Prime Time, The CW, Editorial, Ratings

90210 Cast

That’s right, the wait is finally over. After keeping their new spin-off tightly under wraps, the CW premiered last night for two solid hours. The network refused to send out media copies, sparking rumors that the show is so terrible it was necessary to keep everything a secret.

Or was it just so fabulous that the CW wanted to surprise us all? Slick, polished production, beautiful sets and great costumes immediately impressed, but I was careful to hold my opinion until I learned a little something about the script.

Oh, who am I kidding? I was hooked right away, the very first second, and frothing at the mouth to see ’s entrance. I waited for that little moment, like everyone else, for exactly one hour and twenty-right minutes. 

Click to continue reading 90210 review: Old Zip, New Drama


More Reasons Why Regis Philbin Should Retire

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Daytime, Talk Shows, ABC, Syndication, Editorial, Video

A few months ago, I listed 8 reasons why I thought Regis Philbin should start making his retirement plans. Now I would like to add a #9 and #10.

#9. Back in May, the talk show host was talking about the recent American Idol finale when he said, “What happened to the past winners? Where are they today?” When told by co-host that they come on their show “all the time,” Regis responded, “Really? I haven’t noticed.”

#10. Philbin, who actually went to the premiere of yesterday evening, sadly referenced Heath Ledger as ’Keith Ledger’. (You can see that clip from today’s show below.)


Big Brother 10: Grandpa Got Game

Posted by Jacci Lewis
Categories: Prime Time, Reality, CBS, Editorial, News

BB10 Jerry

Maybe there is hope for presumed Republican presidential nominee John McCain yet? Right now the hottest guy on right now is a muscle-shirt wearin’, gravelly voice talkin’ ex-Marine who just happens to be a 75-year-old great-grandfather.

The new season of ’ perennial fish-bowl reality show is proving that old doesn’t mean obsolete. In the premiere episode of Big Brother 10 Jerry, the oldest person to every compete on the show, not only became Head of Household but also copped a feel of one of the hottest girls in this season’s cast. (Before his wife of 54 years has a heart attack that girl, April, sort of forced Jerry to do it.) Still, it was a good strategic move for the Magnolia,Texas retiree. In that instant you could see his fellow house guests quickly shift their concept of Jerry from Depends and defibrillators to babes and booze.

Click to continue reading Big Brother 10: Grandpa Got Game


The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Review

Posted by K.C. Morgan
Categories: Drama, Kids, Prime Time, ABC, Cable, Editorial

Amy

The compelling promos, tons of press and Seventh Heaven association might have been enough to rope me into watching the premiere of ABC Family’s , but it was the mere presence of Molly Ringwald in the cast which sealed the deal. And so it was that last night during prime time, I found myself watching cable instead of network TV. I don’t think it was a mistake.

Rollicking pop music kicked off the top of the episode, which immediately plunged its viewers headlong into teen pregnancy. Seriously, the main character Amy (played by Shailene Woodley) was barely introduced (as a marching band member) before she was in the restroom staring at the positive results from a home pregnancy kit. No time wasted here on introductions.

Actually, it felt more than a little forced. The audience was given no time to connect with this character in any way before BAM! she’s knocked up. And then, the beginning credits rolled.

Click to continue reading The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Review

Read More | ABC Family

Bravo Steals Another Reality Idea

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Food & Home, Prime Time, Reality, Bravo, Cable, FOX, Hell's Kitchen, So You Think You Can Dance, Top Chef, Editorial

Tabatha Coffey on Shear GeniusAs much as I love , am I the only one getting tired of their FOX reality rip-offs?

Today, the cable channel announced that it is producing a spinoff for one of Shear Genius‘s competitors from last season. Later this summer, the cameras will be following Tabatha Coffey as she “visits struggling salons in the Los Angeles and New York areas and literally takes over the establishments to whip them into shape.” While some may say a show about hair stylists has nothing to do with FOX, I say this production smells exactly like .

In fact, Tabatha’s Salon Takeover would be the second time Bravo has adopted a concept already seen on that other network. Hell’s Kitchen debuted in May 2005 while Top Chef coincidentally appeared in March 2006. And how about ? That reality hit program played a part in Step It Up & Dance‘s debut this year.

Click to continue reading Bravo Steals Another Reality Idea

Read More | Futon Critic

TBS Makes a Hit…or Mistake?

Posted by K.C. Morgan
Categories: Games, Reality, ABC, Cable, CBS, NBC, Editorial

TBS

Get Smart. Indiana Jones. Re-making old classics is the latest trend on movies…so why can’t the same technique be applied to TV? I’ll admit - I’m a huge fan. Any game, any time, I play along and I usually do quite well. True TV game-players know where the best action can be found: GSN. But in this age of old-is-new, where past ideas are suddenly no longer passé, the classics come alive. In this case, it’s Match Game.

A show with a long history that just got a little bit longer. Match Game originally hit the air in 1962 on NBC, running for seven seasons before cancellation. This is not the most famous version of the show. Match Game didn’t hit its real stride until it found a home on CBS in 1973. The episodes have resulted in some of the most popular programming GSN has ever ran, and for good reason.

I can summon this up for you in just two words: Richard Dawson. 

Click to continue reading TBS Makes a Hit…or Mistake?

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

Top Chef Appeals to Youth

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Food & Home, Kids, Prime Time, Reality, Bravo, Cable, Editorial, News

Top Chef logo

So how has Bravo chosen to fill their upcoming Project Runway void? By strangely choosing to expand into the kids’ market.

The cable network has just announced plans to develop a spinoff of its popular cooking show, . Sometime in the future, followers of the channel will be assaulted with a fresh-faced version of the reality hit. With Top Chef Junior, Bravo aims to “teach and test the skills of younger aspiring chefs and appeal to the whole family.”

Click to continue reading Top Chef Appeals to Youth

Read More | E! Online

Signs It Might Be Time for Regis Philbin to Retire

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Daytime, Talk Shows, ABC, Editorial

Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa and David Letterman

After endless hours of daytime television viewing, I have come to an unfortunate conclusion: needs to start planning his retirement. (At least from non-scripted fare.)

Although I do still regularly watch , Philbin’s frequent errors simply make me cringe. While he has the charm to pull some of them off, I sometimes wonder if he has any idea what he’s talking about at all.  If it wasn’t for Ripa’s amazing ability to overlook senior moments, her co-host would often come off looking quite sad.

Click to continue reading Signs It Might Be Time for Regis Philbin to Retire


Paradise Hotel 2: Zach Wins And Shares The Ultimate Prize

Posted by Jacci Lewis
Categories: Late Night, Prime Time, Reality, Cable, FOX, Editorial, News

Zach wins Paradise Hotel 2

I’m pretty sure the Earth just reversed it’s magnetic poles or something because somehow the trashiest reality show on television has morphed into a tarty version of .

On the season finale of , we learned which of the hotel guests won the so-called “ultimate prize”. Sit down for this one. The first shocker: it was the biggest tool from Season 1, 28-year-old personal trainer Zach. Shocker two: Zach entered this season as the least offensive and idiotic of this batch of hotel guests. (I dare say Zach actually seems smart and nearly likeable compared to the cocky, confused and verbally-challenged kid he was on Paradise Hotel 1. What a difference four years can make!) Shocker three: Zach shared his “ultimate prize” of $200,000 with Tidisha and Stephanie!

Click to continue reading Paradise Hotel 2: Zach Wins And Shares The Ultimate Prize


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