Coming This Fall...

I would imagine with us, this won't be the last post about fall TV...

I'm excited to see the new fall lineup on many stations. One of the shows I'm excited about is The New Girl on FOX. But I'm sad that the dude from Happy Endings is in it. Does that mean no more Happy Endings? (That's what Avril said.)

I am concerned that they put all of the funny parts of The New Girl into the teaser for the show.

That's always the worst when they do that. Like that movie with the little girl that just won an award for saying, "I wanna get chocolate wasted!" I'm pretty sure that was the best part of that movie, and you just showed it to us for free. Note: I have never seen that movie.

<3,
UB

Why is it...

That Cee Lo Green dressed like this on The Voice:

Was he trying to look like a Red Bowser from Super Mario Brothers? Cause that's all I can think about.

The Nanny 2.0

Since someone commented on this blog about the Nanny today, I figured I'd post an update about how she's doing. According to Perez Hilton, Fran Drescher (from TV's The Nanny), returned to television with big ratings for her new show Happily Divorced.

They said she had 4.4 million viewers. Now, I don't pretend to understand this whole ratings business, but I tend to believe the famous people when they say something received good ratings. However, having just read Bossypants, that same amount of viewers was apparently considered not-so-good ratings for 30 Rock by Ms. Tina Fey. I guess that maybe Tina, being on network TV, had different standards than Fran being on TV Land.

I had completely forgotten about Happily Divorced coming out. I'll have to check my TV listings and set my DVR to record her show.

Did anyone happen to catch it? Thoughts?

(Side note: I was watching The Nanny the other night as I drifted off to sleep and realized that her character--depending on which episode you watched--was near my age on that show. Just weird. Kind of like when I watch reruns of Beverly Hills, 90210 and realize I am severely older than them. I have the same weird feeling when I realize college football players are just kids and are dealing with all that pressure. Makes me feel old and lame. When I catch up with Frasier, then I'll shoot myself.)

<3,
UB

The Killing on AMC

AMC has a great track record on tv shows - enjoyable and critically acclaimed ones: Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead. Their newest show, The Killing, the newest series, was based on a Danish tv series and recreated for AMC. It follows three stories within the investigation of the Rosie Larson murder: the family's coping, the police investigation and the campaign of a politico tied to the murder. I started dvr-ing it based on AMC's track record. It is really good - a little slow (I recommend a marathon of the 13 episodes - you'll get answers fasted and probably care a little more) but has great acting. The most amazing transformation for me is from actor Joel Kinnaman. I had no idea who this guy was before the show. Here's a clip:


He plays this kinda scuzzy guy. In reality he's super hot and Swedish:

Keep reading if you want my thoughts on the finale.  And really, don't read if you are ever gonna watch (or expect coherency)!

Adorable

My love for the adorable Jake Gyllenhaal is well known amongst my friends. First off, he does things like this:



Then manages to be even more adorable by following his Sesame Street visit with a visit to Shalom Street (yes, it is a real thing):



I <3 him.

Khloe No Seatbelt

I got sucked into the Kardashian family at some point. I thought it was gross that they basically got famous because of a sex tape and large behinds (I do know that their father was a famous lawyer), but then one lazy Sunday there was a marathon of their show and I sat and watched all of it. If I put aside their talentless success, I can really enjoy their shows and subsequent spin offs.

Tonight, Khloe's spin off started, so I recorded it. So far its cute but I had one giant complaint: Khloe doesn't wear a seat belt! Now, I get really annoyed when I see people on tv not wearing a seatbelt while in a car (except on Mad Men). Yes, I know that aren't really driving anywhere and that it is all fake - but this is reality tv. Her husband was wearing his seatbelt. Why wasn't she? First I thought that maybe I just didn't see it but then they showed the preview for the rest of the season and again, no seatbelt! Arg! Seat belts save lives, Khloe - wear yours!

Tiny Hats

The internet is a wondrous place. It used to be (you know, in the good ol' days) that you could only experience/laugh at/be ashamed of [the human race] the stupidity of those who you interacted with on a daily basis. It is a terrible thing for cynics, but a wonderful thing for everything else.

Now, I can laugh at and, in this case, be delighted by strangers. For example I came across this on Best Week Ever:


It immediately reminded me of this:


Tiny hats are taking over. Just don't super glue one to your head.

Thoughts That Make Me a Bad Person

I'm pretty sure this could be a recurring post: Thoughts that go through my head and are immediately followed by a wave of guilt for thinking such a thing. 

This morning, I read on CNN that the President will be giving an address regarding our strategy in Libya at 7:30 pm and my immediate thought was:
Oh no! What TV show is this going to preempt?

My Love Letter to Tina Fey

Dear Tina,

As everyone around me knows, I love you. Your skits on SNL (particularly this one and this one) always made me laugh; 30 Rock filled a void in my heart that Fox created when they cancelled Arrested Development and today, I pre-ordered your upcoming book Bossypants.

First of all, what other actress would be ballsy enough to use this picture on her book? Second, this is the first time I have ever pre-ordered a book outside of one that had the words Harry and Potter in the title.  When ordering the book I noticed these reviews (submitted by you I'm sure) on the site:

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR BOSSYPANTS:

"I hope that's not really the cover. That's really going to hurt sales." (Don Fey, Father of Tina Fey )

"Absolutely delicious!" (A Guy Who Eats Books )

"Totally worth it." (Trees )

Pure genius. On top of being intelligent and hilarious, you seem to have a happy home life while at the same time are able to hire guest actors to play your tv boyfriends (which, by the way, you have impeccable taste - Michael Sheen, Matt Damon and Jon Hamm.) You are my idol.

I really look forward to your book, Tina. Thanks for telling it like it is and getting Brian Williams on 30 Rock so often. He is hilarious.

Love,
LL

Tv Show Mad Libs

I love reading the recaps from Gossip Girl on various websites the Tuesday after a new episode airs. Websites tend to have smart, snarky and hilarious people write them up to the point where I sometimes feel I’m watching the episode just to supplement the recaps and not the other way around.

Last night (and every Monday until April 18^th) there was no new episode. As I sat here thinking about how sad I was to have to wait and see what’s gonna happen between Dan and Blair (I dare to Dair). I realized something: Gossip Girl is basically an episode of Law and Order: SVU just in a different context.  And really, the framework of any serialized television show is the same.

Plot Point	Law and Order: SVU	Gossip Girl	Template for other shows
Event of the Week	Crime	Party/Gala/Charity Fundraiser	Something exciting! Ex. spy mission, law case, family dinner
Sexual Tension of the week	Olivia and Elliot	Nate and Dan	Attractive person and another attractive person
Crazy Supporting Characters	Ice-T (I don’t even know his name on the show)	Eric, Vanessa’s outfits	Someone with giant hair or someone who is socially awkward
Guest Stars	d-list comediennes, ex Lost cast members, John Stamos	David Cassidy’s daughter, one of the Winklevoss twins, One Life to Live Alumni	Real Housewives of some town, old 80’s/early 90’s tv show stars, Scott Baio

Add some snappy dialogue + identifying details (ex. Gossip Girl uses headbands and low cut or high slitted dresses for Serena to wear) and you have a hit tv show! This framework fits with so many tv shows!  I only wish I could get a PhD in television.

Where'd you go TV?

Dear Television Schedule Planners,

Why are tv schedules created so that it seems EVERY show I watch is in reruns during the same week(s)? I get the sweeps stuff but still: You. Are. Lame. What am I supposed to do tonight now that Chuck, 90210, Gossip Girl, Castle, How I Met Your Mother and Two and a Half Men (kidding! duh, #winner) are all episodes I've seen before? Read? Exercise? Be social? You are crazy.

Please fix this. Or I will have my friend Blair write a very stern email to you. She's real good at those.

Thanks,
Liz L.

Brothers & Sisters = Whiners & Losers

You know what show really bugs the crap out of me? Brothers & Sisters.

My roommate and I usually wind down the weekend together while watching Desperate Housewives. (Side note: Tonight I said, "I don't even know why we watch this show." Desperate Housewives jumped the shark a long time ago, but I keep hanging on like I'm in a bad relationship -- But he loves me!)

After Desperate Housewives my roommate usually watches the most horrible show in the world (Brothers & Sisters, for those of you struggling to keep up). Not wanting the weekend to end, I have stuck around to watch a couple of shows while playing on facebook and whatnot.

This show is full of whiners and losers. There is a massive amount of neurosis and hysteria that should never be allowed within one TV show. Ugh. If I was a part of this family, I would have gone to college out of state and NEVER COME BACK.