Megan's Minute

From HBO to PBS: What's Coming Up On TV This Spring

2012-01-10T23:55:08-05:00

The holidays are over and that means so are the doldrums of television. Finally, we TV addicts will get new episodes of favorite shows and premieres of a whole crop of new shows. And as your intrepid TV watcher, I'm here to tell you about the shows I'll be excited to see debut on my flat screen.

New Shows

Smash is NBC attempt at reproducing the success of Glee, and they've recruited American Idol alum, Katherine McPhee to star. It's about producers mounting a new Broadway show. It's from the producer's of the film Chicago and also stars Debra Messing and Anjelica Houston. This has the potential to be a fabulous show, and if the writing lives up to the premise, NBC may finally have a hit on its hands.

Keifer Sutherland returns to Fox with a role that's very different from 24's Jack Bauer. That of a father whose 11-year-old son is emotionally challenged and communicates with the world in a very unusual way in Touch. The whole premise of the show and how the kid communicates through numbers and shows how people are interconnected all over the world is a little hard to describe, but I'm willing to give it a chance. It co-stars Danny Glover.

Also on Fox is Alcatraz, the latest show from J.J. Abrams about a police detective who tracks a grisly modern day murder to an Alcatraz prisoner that died 30 years ago. I said it was J.J. Abrams, didn't I? And where J.J. goes, I follow. The show stars Sarah Jones (pictured below), Sam Neill and Jorge Garcia.

The march of film stars turning to television in search of edgy drama and quality writing continues as the versatile Don Cheadle stars in Showtime's House of Lies, about less than ethical corporate consultants and their clients. Showtime is still basking in the glow of its masterful thriller, Homeland, which just concluded, and if House of Lies, which premiered this week, comes even close to that kind of quality, it'll be a grand show indeed.

On ABC, Ashley Judd stars in Missing about a woman searching for her son who's disappeared in Europe. This one is supposed to be kind of like the film Taken, except with a female lead. And a special note for you Game of Throne fans, ex-Ned Stark, Sean Bean co-stars.

Meanwhile, on HBO Dustin Hoffman navigates the seedy world of horse racing in Luck. This one's from director Michael Mann and Deadwood creator David Milch so expect there to be a lot of cursing.

Returning Shows

I'm breathless awaiting the return of four shows this spring. First there's HBO's Game of Thrones. As I wrote right before last season's spectacular finale, this is show that plays for keeps. It's hard to believe the first season of HBO's adaption of George R.R. Martin's novels, only had ten episodes, because it covered so much exciting ground in those episodes.

Season two will once again pit the Starks, the Lannisters, the Baratheons, and the Targaryens against each other, all vying for the iron throne. Oh, and then there's the threat of the White Walkers and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clake, pictured above) and her baby dragons! Game of Thrones will be back on HBO in April.

Then, remember a little show called Mad Men? I could see how you might have forgotten about it since it's been forever since the last season aired. Contract negotiations kept the show from coming back sooner, but all that's behind us like so much Ivory Soap, and the folks at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce will be back in March. And just as a reminder,the last time we saw Don Draper, he was about to marry his secretary Megan.

Just premiering this week is the second season of the Emmy award winning, deliciously wonderful Downton Abbey. It's a classic family drama set in the high brow and low brow worlds of the British aristocracy. With this show, PBS has served notice to premium channels like Showtime and HBO that they're back in the game when it comes to quality entertainment.

Season two takes place during WWI and here's a snippet of Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary, talking about women and war.

Watch Downton Abbey: Women, War and Season 2 on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

Also on PBS, the very entertaining Sherlock, which gives us Sherlock Holmes, played by the perfectly cast, Benedict Cumberbatch, plunked down in the middle of modern day London. The plotting and acting are first class but what really gives the show it's distinctive style are the visual cues used to show how Sherlock's razor sharp, deductive mind works.

There were only three 90 minute shows in the first series and I've watched them each several times. They were that good. And even though the second season just premiered in England to great fanfare, we Yanks will have to wait for it to return to PBS in May. Sherlock co-stars Martin Freeman as Dr. Watson.

For a full calendar of what shows start when, check out TV Guide's 2012 Winter Schedule Calendar.

Cross Posted from BlogHer

A Pre-Thanksgiving Day Treat: Macy's Parade Balloons Up Close

2011-11-24T03:00:00-05:00

Kermit the Frog

Last night I did something I’ve always wanted to do. That’s head over to Central Park West around 79th street, the night before Thanksgiving and watch as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons are inflated. I’d never done it before so when I got the opportunity to go behind the scenes with a group of fellow bloggers, courtesy of Macy’s, I jumped at the chance.

B. Boy in Progress

Our small group met on Columbus Avenue and 75th street around 4 o’clock and were greeted with a steady drizzle but excited tourists and New Yorkers, eager to get a preview of the big parade. As with any big event in New York, there are glitches and even though we had bona fide press passes firmly around out necks, the NYPD didn’t want to let us into the restricted area where all the balloon goodies waiting. But our contact Lauren Roseman did some fast talking and got us through.

Safely behind the police barricades, we were able to get a closeup look at some of the hard work that goes into getting the 15 giant balloons and 44 mid-size balloons ready for their Thanksgiving Day close-ups. There were spotlights along the street so workers and spectators could see the balloons more clearly and large speakers piped out jaunty Christmas music.

Julius the Monkey

First we hit 79th street where the balloons at the head of the parade are located. They’re lined up on the street in the order they will appear in the parade. Earlier this week, they were transported through the Lincoln Tunnel from their new studio home in Moonachie, New Jersey, to the streets of Central Park West.

Gotta Have Those Instructions

I felt like a kid seeing all my favorites: Snoopy, Kermit the Frog, Sponge Bob and Kung Fu Panda. Many were already inflated and tied down with netting, sandbags and tie lines to keep them in place. What I found most surprising was that there were actual posted instructions next to every balloon showing how they should be inflated and how they should be positioned.

Here's a slide show of some of the balloon goodness:

There are several new balloons this year and we got a chance to see those as well. There’s Julius the sock monkey, based on the Paul Frank sock puppet. He has such a sweet face he could become a new favorite of mine.

“He’s about 65 feet long. About 45 feet tall. He’s got a jet pack on his back and he’s set to go,” said Holly Thomas, a Macy’s parade spokesperson.

He also needs 85-90 handlers to keep airborne.

As part of Macy’s "Blue Sky Gallery Series," the newcomer this year is a specially designed balloon, “B. Boy,” by filmmaker Tim Burton. It’s a midsize balloon that came about when employees from Macy’s checked out the Tim Burton exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art last year.

"Tim actually created B. for us,” said Orlando Veras, a spokesperson for Macy’s. “We talked to him and he understood what we wanted and what the series was about. We showed him a lot of different renderings and pictures of balloons throughout the years and here we have B. as a result."

Also new is something called a tricaloon. It’s a bike-powered balloon and there are two.
"We wanted to do something very fanciful like from the 20s and 30s so one is a big tough guy with a Mom tattoo and one is a bulldog,” said Veras.

Finally, there’s a new elf balloon designed by Queens graphic artist, Keith Lapinig, who won a nationwide contest to design an elf to be made into a balloon for this year’s parade.

By the time night had fallen, the rain had stopped, there was a seasonal nip in the air and scores of kids and their parents lined the barricades taking pictures and anticipating what all those balloons will look like as they follow the parade route through Manhattan on Thanksgiving morning.

If you can't get to the parade in person, you can watch it live on NBC on Thanksgiving Day at 9/8c.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Cross Posted from BlogHer

Note: Macy's provided the press tour only; no other compensation was received by BlogHer or me personally. All images were taken by me, Megan Smith.

Billy Crystal will Host the 2012 Oscars

2011-11-11T10:46:00-05:00

No sooner did I tell you guys that Eddie Murphy was out as Oscar host, than Billy Crystal announced via Twitter that he will indeed be back to host the Oscars in 2012.

That sound you hear is the Academy breathing a huge sigh of relief.

It'll be Billy's 9th go 'round as host and what do you want to bet there'll be an Eddie Murphy cameo as well?

The 2012 Academy Awards will air on February 26th on ABC.

Eddie Murphy Drops Oscar Hosting Gig

2011-11-10T14:32:00-05:00

Eddie Murphy (l.) stars in director Brett Ratner's new film, 'Tower Heist.'

Image courtesy: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Like many movie fans, I was pretty jazzed when the Academy announced that Eddie Murphy was going to host the 84th annual Oscar telecast in 2012. Let's face it Eddie deserved the gig 'cause:

He's made Hollywood a fortune with movies like, "Beverly Hills Cop," "48 Hours," and "Shrek."
He was robbed, cheated, and rooked with a capital "R" out of that Best Supporting Actor statue for his first class turn in the film "Dreamgirls."
He can be incredibly funny.

But what happened next reads better than most scripts Hollywood is producing these days, and gave the people who run the Academy all kinds of headaches.

First Brett Ratner who was hired to co-produce the Oscars, and who brought Eddie on board as host, shot off his mouth last weekend about "rehearsals being for **insert gay slur here**." But that wasn't bad enough. He followed that up with a stint on Howard Stern's radio show talking in great detail about his sexual exploits.

Well the suits over at the Academy were understandably perturbed, and before you could say, "...And the Oscar goes to..." good ol' Brett had resigned amidst the critical heat. Though he did apologize first.

Academy president Tom Sherak accepted the resignation saying in part:

He did the right thing for the Academy and for himself. Words have meaning, and they have consequences. Brett is a good person, but his comments were unacceptable.

Brett and Eddie are evidently kinda tight, especially since Brett directed Murphy's current movie, Tower Heist. So it wasn't too big a surprise that after Brett resigned, Eddie withdrew as Oscar host. His well worded statement said in part:

First and foremost I want to say that I completely understand and support each party’s decision with regard to a change of producers for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony. I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I’m sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job.

Producer Brian Grazer

So no sooner is Grazer announced that there's speculation one of his first jobs as producer is to...wait for it...get Eddie back as Oscar host! 'Cause the Academy still wants him.

We'll see if Grazer succeeds, but if he doesn't, there's rampant speculation about who might take Eddie's place. Some ideas:

Billy Crystal signaled recently that he was ready to take another turn hosting the Oscars and he'd be a fab choice.
If the Academy wanted to stick with a comedian but still step outside the box, they might pick this year’s go to gal for comedy, Gilmore Girl alum, recent Emmy winner and breakout star of Bridesmaids, Melissa McCarthy. That could be a brilliant choice especially after her hilarious turn hosting Saturday Night Live last month.
If they want to go way outside the box, there's a Facebook page promoting The Muppets as Oscar hosts. Look, they couldn't be worse than James Franco.

But remember, the Oscar folks like to keep us on our toes so we'll just have to follow the drama as it unfolds. Pass the popcorn.

Cross Posted from BlogHer

Tarra and Bella: An Animal Love Story (Video)

2011-11-04T20:21:29-04:00

Image Courtesy CBS News

You may have heard the story about the bond between an elephant, Tarra and a stray dog, Bella who lived together as friends in a Tennessee animal sanctuary.

The original story was reported by Steve Hartman on CBS's Sunday Morning:

They were so close, in fact, that when Bella got injured a few years ago and had to spend three weeks recuperating in the sanctuary office, guess who held vigil the entire time? Twenty-two hundred acres to roam free, and Tarra just stood in the corner waiting. Home video of their reunion shows how inseparable they'd become and remained, right to the end.

Unfortunately the end of the relationship came last week. Fair warning, keep the tissues handy.

Here's the original story about the pair.

Y'all know I'm a sucker for doggies, but now I think I'm a sucker for elephants too.

Matthew Morrison's Halloween Party

2011-10-31T14:23:58-04:00

Colton Haynes, Matthew Morrison, Bryan Fisher and a party guest

"Glee" may be off my TV radar this season but that doesn't mean that Matthew Morrison isn't still cute as a button, Or rather, bunny. Here he is celebrating Halloween at his 2nd annual Halloween party presented by Bing.

Happy Halloween!

"Revenge" and "Ringer:" Similar Shows, Solid Entertainment

2011-10-25T10:19:00-04:00

Two new fall TV dramas, Revenge and Ringer, have become regular fixtures in my TV viewing calendar. And since both have been landing solid ratings each week, I was glad to hear they've each been picked up for full seasons.

Sarah Michelle Gellar in "Ringer," Image Courtesy: CW

Here's the lowdown on both shows:

They both have one world titles that start with the letter "R."
They both star talented, blond actresses
They're both set in and around New York, including the ritzy Hamptons
They both have good guys, bad guys, blackmail, murder, betrayal and payback that rhymes with witch.

Emily VanCamp in "Revenge," Image Courtesy ABC

Ringer marks the return of Buffy Summers, er Sarah Michelle Gellar, to the CW. The show takes the classic soap convention of the good twin and the evil twin, updates it, adds lots of money, and runs with it.

The twins are Siobhan Martin, a socialite with an evil streak who's not above playing around with her best friend's husband, shipping her troubled step daughter off to boarding school and scheming secret schemes from a fancy hotel in Paris.

Meanwhile Bridget Kelly is a recovering drug addict/stripper who witnessed a murder and was just about to testify against the baddest of baddies when she got cold feet and skipped off to see Siobhan in New York. As an odd way to celebrate their reunion, they take a boat ride off the Hamptons where it appears that Siobhan commits suicide. Intstead of calling the police, Bridget does what any normal identical twin would do, she takes her sister's place.

Bridget's baddie gets off and immediately starts hunting for her. Meanwhile Siobhan also has a killer on her trail, so Bridget isn't as safe as she thought. Oh and Siobhan is pregnant with her best friend's husband's baby.

Soap opera of the best kind.

And the male eye candy ain't bad either. There's Siobhan's mysterious, British husband played by Ioan Gruffudd, Nestor Carbonell and his eyeliner, fresh off his stint on Lost, who plays the detective hunting for Bridget, Kristoffer Polaha as Siobhan's lover and Mike Colter as Bridget's former sponsor.

Emily Van Camp in "Revenge," Image Courtesy: ABC

While Ringer is good, though a bit over the top, Revenge is a well paced, first class drama.The show stars Emily VanCamp as Amanda Clarke/Emily Thorne, a woman's whose father was convicted of supporting terrorists when she was a child. Years later, after her father has died in prison, she discovers his papers and they tell how he was framed by his lover, her husband and an assortment of other not so good friends.

Amanda changes her name to Emily Thorne and sets out with her newly inherited millions to get some--wait for it...revenge! She's especially after her father's former lover, and self-appointed queen bee of the society set, Victoria Grayson.

Madeleine Stowe is delicious as the conniving Victoria, a woman who's not afraid to play dirty to get what she wants or to make her enemies pay. Gabriel Mann is funny and almost touching as Nolan Ross, an internet whiz kid who guesses Emily's true identity and decides to help her.

Madeleine Stowe in "Revenge," Image Courtesy ABC

What's great about Revenge is that the characters are so well written, you can never quite put a halo on Emily and you can never quite give Victoria a pitchfork. And though I'd never suggest you watch a show just for the clothes, every week is like a fabulous fashion show. Someone's always throwing a fundraiser, tea party, barbecue or polo match and the designer duds they trot out are to die for.

Finally Revenge has a magic dog. Or at least that's what some who watch the show are calling it. Emily's Dad gave her a golden lab puppy before he got tossed in jail and little Emily got sent to an institution. The dog ended up with the local barkeep's family but the trouble is he recognizes Amanda and keeps coming for visits. It's kind of a running gag because based on the show's chronology, the dog would have to be at least 18 years old and he looks very good for his age.

So if you want some good, soapy, down home TV drama, check out Revenge and Ringer.

Ringer airs Tuesdays 9/8c on CW

Revenge airs Wednesdays 10/9c on ABC

Cross Posted from BlogHer

A Dead Qaddafi and the Media: Some Modest Thoughts

2011-10-23T18:29:06-04:00

If you've been anywhere near a TV, newspaper or magazine this week, odds are you got a glimpse or more than that of Muammar Qaddafi's dead body, face or bloody wounds up close. Personally, I'm happy for the Libyan people and won't lose any sleep because Qaddafi is dead, but I do question the broad dissemination of the images of Qaddafi's bloody face all over network and local news.

First there was the shaky camera phone footage of Qaddafi when he was captured, alive but bloody. Then there was the footage of his body being dragged through the streets after he was dead. Then finally, the shots of his dead body in a meat locker where some Libyans understandably lined up to get a glimpse to prove that indeed Qaddafi was dead.

I'm surprised there wasn't more debate in American media circles about whether or not so much gruesome footage of Qaddafi should have been used. During the first couple of days of coverage, there were warnings from news anchors before showing the footage, but by the end of the week, the shots just showed up out of nowhere.

Is it okay because he was universally considered a bad guy and deserving of whatever punishment the Libyans decided he should have? Is it because once the footage was out there on the internet the networks and local stations didn't want to feel left behind?

Call me old fashioned and maybe the least bit squeamish, but I wish more restraint had been shown, because the almost casual broadcasting of the images has only added to our already high desensitization to that kind of violence.

RIP Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T01:37:28-04:00

I'm not a Mac fanatic, never have been, but I have iTunes, an iPod, and a Droid X, none of which would exist without the visionary genius of the late Steve Jobs. His impact in the technological and entertainment world will live for years to come.

Melissa McCarthy on SNL: Laughs A Plenty (Video)

2011-10-02T16:57:37-04:00

There's almost no one hotter in entertainment right now than Melissa McCarthy.

She stole the show in the hit movie, "Bridesmaids," she won an Emmy last month as Best Lead Actress in a Comedy for her sitcom "Mike and Molly," and last night she hosted "Saturday Night Live."

Just about every sketch she did was a hit, but my favorite was the following. Enjoy!

And as a special bonus, here's a sketch about NetFlix and their recent cochamamie changes in service. McCarthy's not in it, but I just think it's a hoot.

Life in ABC's "Suburgatory"

2011-09-27T10:00:00-04:00

"Suburgatory" is about a teen, Tessa Altman (Jane Levy) and her single Dad, George (Jeremy Sisto) who move to the suburbs from Manhattan because Dad thinks there's too much trouble for Tessa to get into in the big city.

Next thing you know, as Tessa narrates, Dad has "bubble wrapped my life" and moved them to the land of overly friendly neighbors and oversized SUVs.

This doesn't sit well with Tessa, and the show revolves around her trying to adjust to her unfamiliar new home and her hostile new classmates.

"Suburgatory" has the mild sensibility of something you'd find on the Disney Channel and it may actually do well with the teen and tween set, but when it comes to viewing for adults, more laughs may be required.

Jane Levy is adorably likeable as Tessa and Jeremy Sisto is surprisingly sweet as her Dad. I say surprising 'cause the last time I saw him, he was the off the chain, nut job, Billy Chenowith on "Six Feet Under."

"Suburgatory" premieres Wednesday, September 8:30/7:30c on ABC but if you'd like a preview visit www.abc.com/suburgatoryscreening and enter code: DAGcrc5K6 to try out the show for yourself.

Image Courtesy: ABC/Karen Neal

NBC's "The Playboy Club:" Save Your Outrage

2011-09-23T11:23:00-04:00

Image Courtesy NBC

Before it even premiered, the buzz about NBC's The Playboy Club was deafening. Gloria Steinem called for a boycott, the Parents Television Council urged affiliates to drop it, while at the upfronts, executives from the show claimed it would be all about female empowerment.

Well, the show premiered Monday night, and here's the scoop. The Playboy Club is a belated attempt to capitalize on AMC's excellent Mad Men. It's set at Chicago's Playboy Club in the early 60s and revolves around new Playboy bunny, Maureen (Amber Heard).

Within the first ten minutes of the episode, Maureen is nearly raped by a lecherous mobster in the backroom. Coming to her rescue is Nick Dalton (Eddie Cibrian), a crusading lawyer with a shady past. But before Nick can do his hero thing Maureen gets the mobster in the neck with one of her killer stilettos.

Now because the mobster is a pretty dangerous character, Melanie and Nick get rid of the body and pretend nothing happened except that they went back to his apartment for a little pre-sexual revolution sex.

The rest of the episode involves a search for the mobster by his dangerous pals, Maureen fantasizing about being a singer, and Nick practicing his Don Draper voice every chance he gets.

In the meantime there are plenty of women running around in skimpy Bunny costumes and Playtex Cross Your Heart bras and girdles.

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, there are several problems with the show. The first is that it's boring.

Contrary to its buildup, it's not provocative, it's not daring and it's not sexy. The characters are stock versions of every bad character you've ever seen on a TV drama and the 1960s sets, lighting and styling are mediocre.

"Mad Men" has set a high bar, and just because you give every character a cigarette, a drink, and a bouffant hairstyle, doesn't mean viewers will believe it's the 60s. On top of that, the dialogue between the men and women, especially the ones in relationships, is, for want of a better word, too equal.

The most entertaining part of the show was watching Karen LeBlanc play Tina Turner. She was terrific.

The Playboy Club also proves why one of the criticisms of Mad Men is unfair. People often say that Mad Men doesn't show enough of say the black experience or the gay experience in the 60s.

Well, as I've said before, that's not what the show is about. The Playboy Club tries to blunt that criticism by not only having a black Bunny, Brenda (Naturi Naughton), but a whole secret society of gay people trying to raise money for the cause.

Now I like Brenda, and if they had built a show around her, set in the 60s at a Playboy Club, without the mobsters of course, that would have been unique, and I'd watch.

But honestly, with this Playboy Club, all Ms. Steinem had to do was watch the premiere to understand she could have saved her indignation. The show premiered to soft ratings and if that trend changes, I'd be surprised.

For a truly unique insight about the show, Vanity Fair has an exclusive recap featuring a former Playboy Bunny, Marilyn Miller. Here's an excerpt:

The first thing that was incorrect was the dancing together—we never danced! The Bunnies danced together, but never with a customer. It was a rule. You couldn’t dance with the keyholders.

Another thing the show got wrong was that there weren’t any mobsters or politicians at the club. I didn’t like the whole show.

Maureen at Glued to the Tube had a different take:

I actually really liked this show! It already had going for it that they named their main character after me, it’s in Chicago, and my friend is an extra on it (I didn’t see you, Matt!). I like that there is a purpose beyond just being sexy and trying not to get fondled. . .will she get caught? She sucks at hiding things, so it’s possible!

Did you see the show? What did you think?

Cross Posted from BlogHer.com

"Big Bang Theory Returns:" Penny and Raj Sittin' in a Tree (Video)

2011-09-22T11:34:00-04:00

If you were as rivted by the "Big Bang Theory" cliffhanger as I was--Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Raj Kunal Nayyar) waking up in bed together--you'll be itching for tonight's season premiere. Here's a clip.

Dun, dun, dunnnnnnn!!!

I've Been On A Blogging Walkabout

2011-09-20T21:22:49-04:00

Y'all may have noticed I've been a on blogging walkabout lately.

I didn't even realize I was going until I was gone: loving the freedom of not posting, not writing, not thinking too hard.

It's been a tough year 'cause I'm still in school, still trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life and still trying to earn a living while doing it.

But I'm back from my walkabout and ready to once again see where my words take me.

September 11, 2011: I Wear Pink Now, I Wore Pink Then

2011-09-11T14:09:56-04:00

Ten years ago today, the world changed. As a New Yorker, I remember feeling like someone had broken into my house and destroyed everything I loved.

I didn't lose anyone close to me, thank God, but two acquaintances died that day along with the nearly three thousand others.

So I wear pink now because I wore pink then and I remember along with the rest of New York and the rest of the nation.