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Fox and CW Shows On the Bubble

Allison Waldman — 2010-05-04T16:03:00+00:00

Filed under: OpEd, Cancellations, Pickups and Renewals, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free, Lie to Me, Features, TV News

When considering the future of some shows on Fox and the CW, in the case of the former, there are only a couple of programs on the fence. Fox, overall, has had a strong year highlighted by the success of 'Glee,' which trumps nearly any disappointment execs might have over already cancelled shows like 'Sons of Tucson' or 'Past Life.'

On the other hand, the CW has a few hours teetering on the brink amid some solid, if not spectacular, already renewed shows like 'Vampire Diaries' and 'Supernatural.' To check the threat assessment for the Fox and CW programs on the bubble, read on:

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Four Movie Franchises That Would Make Great TV Shows

Bob Sassone — 2010-05-04T13:04:00+00:00

Filed under: OpEd, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free, Features

A couple of weeks ago I proposed a TV series based on the James Bond character. That got me thinking about other movie franchises that might make for good TV shows. There have been a lot of TV shows and miniseries based on movie franchises, including 'Sherlock Holmes,' 'Planet of the Apes,' 'Terminator,' and even 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' if you want to include animated shows. Here are four movie franchises that haven't been TV shows yet but I think they really could be.

1. 'The Bourne Identity.' Of course, 'The Bourne Identity' was a TV miniseries before it was a hit film series, but that was a while ago. I can picture a series based on the Jason Bourne character, especially with the success of shows like '24.' It could work two ways: have Bourne have amnesia and have him trying to figure out who he is and who is trying to kill him (a la 'Coronet Blue,' a show I'm sure inspired Robert Ludlum), or maybe have him already know who he is and have him in hiding, having to fight the bad guys trying to kill him every week.

Possible lead: Ben McKenzie, Wentworth Miller, Jared Padalecki

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Seven Shows That Could Use a Time Jump

Rich Keller — 2010-05-03T14:03:00+00:00

Filed under: OpEd, The Simpsons, Stargate, The Office, Heroes, Dexter, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free, Features

Over the last few seasons a number of shows -- 'One Tree Hill,' 'Desperate Housewives,' 'Lost' -- have used the concept of time jumping to generate public interest and open up new storylines. Now, 'Brothers & Sisters' will be making a small time jump between this season and next. Money was on this show, 'Gossip Girl,' or 'Phineas and Ferb.' to make the jump.

This, as usual, got us to thinking of other currently running programs that could use a time shift to freshen them up. Subsequently, this led us to put our thoughts down on the hyperlinked paged for debate and comment. After the jump are but a few examples and how a time jump could benefit them.

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Seven CBS Shows on the Bubble

Allison Waldman — 2010-04-30T15:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Other Comedy Shows, Programming, OpEd, Cancellations, Pickups and Renewals, Ratings, TV Squad Lists, Features, TV Schedules, TV News

For the most part, CBS has had a very good year. New series like 'Undercover Boss' and 'NCIS: LA' lived up to expectations and emerged as hits, and even though it's fallen off a bit lately, 'The Good Wife' is also a success.

But as the May upfront approaches, when the network has to make difficult decisions about what new shows to order and which programs to axe, it's a good time to assess what might happen. Here's our look at what's Tiffany network shows are on the brink ... and how it might play out.

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Five TV Weddings That Didn't Happen

Jane Boursaw — 2010-04-30T10:03:00+00:00

Filed under: OpEd, Grey's Anatomy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, TV Squad Lists, Features

If you love bridal shows and haven't checked out 'Say Yes to the Dress' yet, now is a perfect opportunity. The reality series returns Friday, April 30, 9PM ET on TLC, and it's all about the inner workings of Kleinfeld Bridal, a premiere bridal salon whose goal is to make every bride completely happy with her wardrobe for the big day.

In honor of the show's return, I've compiled a few TV weddings that didn't happen for various reasons. Maybe if the brides had gone to Kleinfeld Bridal, things would have turned out differently ... or not.

For top TV weddings that actually did happen, check out Memorable TV Weddings. Jim and Pam, Niles and Daphne, and Luke and Laura made the list.

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Three More Shows You'll Never See On DVD

Bob Sassone — 2010-04-28T17:10:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, Video, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free, Features, TV Shows on DVD

Back in 2006 I did a post that highlighted the five shows you'll never, ever, ever see on DVD. It's a tricky post to do, because so many shows are being released on DVD now, even ones you thought you'd never see ('Brisco County,' 'Stingray'), but I'm proud to say my picks have held up these past four years. Though I'd still love to see those show on the shiny round discs.

Here are three more. Let's see how I do in another four years.

1. 'Spy Game.' A goofy but well-crafted action show that ran for about a dozen episodes on ABC in 1997. It starred Allison Smith ('Kate & Allie' and 'The West Wing') and Linden Ashby ('Melrose Place' and 'Mortal Kombat') as a spy team battling bad guys. It never took itself seriously and was often ridiculous, but always fun.

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TV's Freakiest Small Towns: Bon Temps, Sunnydale, Twin Peaks and More

Sharon Knolle — 2010-04-27T16:30:00+00:00

Filed under: OpEd, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free, Features

We've seen the promos for ABC's new series 'Happy Town' (premiering April 28, 10PM ET) and you don't have to convince us: Small towns can be pretty damn scary.

Sure, a lot of crazy things go down in the big city, but if you want the really, really weird stuff, you've got to get out to the boonies. You know, those wide spots in the road where the locals all know there's something strange going on but they're not about to tell you. Or save your hide when you stumble across their deep, dark secret. So bring your flashlight, a map and the sense your mama gave you, as we tour some of the strangest towns TV has ever seen.

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Six "Bad" Sitcoms That Are Actually Good

Bob Sassone — 2010-04-27T13:29:00+00:00

Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Video, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free, Features

Yesterday I did a post where I listed the six sitcoms that even a sitcom lover would hate. So today, how about we look at six sitcoms that are actually good?

The six shows that follow are considered "bad" by whatever television common wisdom a lot of fans use. At best, if you like one of these shows you're supposed to consider them "guilty pleasures," but I like them without categorizing them that way. These are good sitcoms. Not "so bad they're good" good or "oh well I guess they're not the worst sitcoms in history" good, I mean they're just good, and you don't have to feel guilty about liking them.

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Top 10 Musical Episodes: 'Buffy,' 'Scrubs,' 'The Simpsons' and More!

Jane Boursaw — 2010-04-26T19:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Programming, Video, Music and Variety, TV Squad Lists, Standout Episodes, Reality-Free, Features, TV Schedules

If 'Glee' has you yearning for more song-and-dance routines on TV, hold onto your (top) hats! From April 29 to May 5, Fox is turning several of its shows into musicals, including 'Bones,' 'House,' 'The Simpsons,' even 'Fringe.' On May 2, 'Family Guy' will celebrate its 150th episode with an extended episode featuring new and familiar musical numbers. Suffice to say the shows should be a blast, for both us and the actors.

Of course, TV aficionados know this is nothing new. Shows like 'Ally McBeal,' 'Eli Stone,' and 'SpongeBob SquarePants' have featured musical numbers regularly, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention 'Viva Laughlin' and 'Cop Rock' (even though the latter was declared by TV Guide to be one of the worst shows ever, ouch!). In fact, we can trace the trend back to classic episodes like Bugs Bunny's 'The Rabbit of Seville' and 'What's Opera, Doc?'

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Six Sitcoms Even a Sitcom Lover Would Hate

Bob Sassone — 2010-04-26T16:33:00+00:00

Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Video, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free, Features

I have a high tolerance level for sitcoms. Unless a sitcom is painfully bad, I can actually get some enjoyment out of it. So yes, that means that if I were to make a list of the worst sitcoms of all-time, even shows like 'According To Jim,' 'Yes, Dear,' and 'Joey' wouldn't make the list. They just wouldn't. They're not among the best sitcoms ever made, but they also aren't the awful, painful, boy-was-that-a-bad-idea sitcoms we could all name.

Like these six shows. They're not just unfunny, they're not pleasant or interesting or "cute" or any other word we try to use when trying to find something good about a sitcom either. They're just...bad. Not even someone who loves sitcoms could like these shows.

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The Eight Best Things About Late Night TV Right Now

Bob Sassone — 2010-04-23T17:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Late Night, Talk Show, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free, Features

I know that I should go to bed earlier than I do. As you get older, you become more of a morning person, I think. I shouldn't be staying up until 1AM when I have to get up at 6AM. Having said that, I find myself staying up late and watching the late night talk shows and surfing around to see what's on the cable channels.

Here are my picks for the eight best things about late night TV right now. The stuff to watch with a bag of Doritos in one hand and the remote in the other.

1. Letterman's desk chat. This is the ten or fifteen minutes that starts after the first commercial break. It's Dave being his most Dave-est, when he just talks to the audience and to the camera and banters with Paul, usually telling a story about something that happened to him (such as that recent scandal) or going on a riff about something that irritates him. It's also the part of 'The Late Show' where we see some of the best comedy bits: on-the-street shenanigans, interaction with the audience, Stupid Pet Tricks, Lyle the Intern, visits with Rupert, Jay Thomas and his Lone Ranger story. This is the best part of the show.

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Seven TV Stars I'd Love To See on Twitter

Bob Sassone — 2010-04-22T18:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Web, Celebrities, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free, Features, TV News

Ah, Twitter. That web site with the funny name that for many people has suddenly become as vital as e-mail and instant messaging. Even celebrities are into it, and while there are many TV stars who on it, there are even more who aren't but should be. After the jump, my list of the seven I'd follow forever.

You'll notice a trend with the list: they're all funny people. That seems to be the thing that works best on Twitter.

1. Tina Fey. Can you imagine Fey on Twitter? That would be the online equivalent of "Must-See TV." She actually got the @tinafey account that someone else had grabbed, but she hasn't done anything with it. And, alas, she's not going to. In a recent interview with Esquire, Fey said that doing Twitter would be a "busman's holiday," and just more writing she'd have to do. Oh well. We still have Judah Friedlander (@JudahWorldChamp) and the official '30 Rock' Twitter account (@nbc30rock).

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Five Creepy Game Show Hosts

Danny Gallagher — 2010-04-22T14:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Video, Celebrities, Game Show, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free, Features, TV News

Game show hosts by their very job description creep me down to the bone. It's just in their nature. They have to go out of their way to make ordinary people look comfortable, even though they have never been on television.

Some housewife from Minnesota who is one number away from owning a new Ford Focus is so nervous, she could fly into an eye-bleeding seizure at any moment. Enter the host. He has to step in and calm her down before that happens.

However, there is a fine line between comforting someone and invading their personal space with the force of a German infantry. These are the hosts who put that creepy feeling you get whenever you hear the phrase, "Come on down!"

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Four Cooking Channel Shows That Look Delicious

Bob Sassone — 2010-04-21T14:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Food/Home/DIY, OpEd, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free, Features

If you take your remote control and surf on over to Fine Living Network on May 31, well, it won't be there. Instead, you're going to see The Cooking Channel, Food Network's new channel devoted to food (of course), drinks, and travel. They've announced the lineup for the network's debut, and while some of the shows seem like something we could see on the parent network, there's enough quirky new stuff to grab your attention.

Some are using the word "edgy" to describe the new channel too, but unless they're breaking the necks of live chickens right on television, this is still just a food channel. Oh, wait, they actually are going to break chicken necks! Alrighty.

After the jump, my picks for the four shows that look the most interesting, as well as a quick rundown on what else we're going to see on the new channel.

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Five Possible Jeannies for the Big Screen 'I Dream of Jeannie'

Allison Waldman — 2010-04-21T13:03:00+00:00

Filed under: OpEd, Celebrities, Awards, TV Squad Lists, Casting, Reality-Free, Features, TV News

Another week, another story from Hollywood about a beloved TV show being turned into a feature film. Last week it was 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' and this week it's ... 'I Dream of Jeannie.' Yes, yes, they've talked about this one before. But that was then and this is now and the Los Angeles Times reports that 'I Dream of Jeannie' is back on with Sheila Callaghan, one of the scribes on 'United States of Tara,' has been handed the assignment. That means whatever the writers from 'National Treasure' and 'Mulan' and 'Bend It Like Beckham' who've taken a swing at it in the past few years weren't able to make it work.

There is an essential problem with 'Jeannie,' as anyone who knows the shows realizes. How do you make the story of a love-crazed, subservient slave-like genie who lives in a bottle and calls her astronaut boyfriend master relevant. That's a tough nut to crack, but maybe casting the role of Jeannie would be a start.

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Three Key Factors in the Success of 'Undercover Boss'

Allison Waldman — 2010-04-16T17:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Programming, OpEd, Pickups and Renewals, Ratings, TV Squad Lists, Features, TV Schedules, TV News

Since landing the cushy debut time slot after the Super Bowl to launch its run, CBS's 'Undercover Boss' has been an unqualified success for the network. In fact, in nearly every Sunday since its premiere -- with or without the lead in of a sporting event -- 'Undercover Boss' has showed well in the ratings.

The season finale on April 11 was the number one program in the 18-49 rating, the one that TV execs covet the most. Therefore, you can understand why 'Undercover Boss' easily earned a second season renewal. It won't be a mid-season drop in, either. You watch, it's going to be on the CBS upfront schedule for the fall.

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Oh, No: They're Making a Boston Version of 'Jersey Shore!'

Bob Sassone — 2010-04-16T15:08:00+00:00

Filed under: Other Reality Shows, OpEd, TV Squad Lists, Features

I have no interest in watching MTV's 'Jersey Shore,' for approximately 75 reasons. But I think it can be boiled down into one sentence: why in God's name would I want to watch 'Jersey Shore?'

But here's the deal: they're making a Boston version. I live in the Boston area, born and raised, so of course I have to at least check out the first episode, right? It scares me a bit though. What are they going to get wrong? What are they going to get too right? Will the show make me want to hide the fact that I'm a Bostonian from people and start talking about how much I like the Lakers, making sure I pronounce my "r" in Lakers with more emphasis?

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Five of the Creepiest Real Life Versions of Famous Cartoons

Danny Gallagher — 2010-04-15T18:03:00+00:00

Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Video, Animation, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free, Features

In TV, there are two distinct worlds: our world and the cartoon world. So far, we've gotten along pretty well because, for the most part, cartoons have kept their animated butts in their world.

We don't allow it to happen very often because when cartoons try to invade the real world on those rare occasions, the transference is nightmarish. Their distorted animated features and expressions can make 'Eraserhead' look like an Olson Twins movie.

Here are five of the creepiest looking and sounding real life cartoon crossovers that will have you bleaching your brain with the magic of Clorox 2.

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You'll Want to Hang Out With These Four TV Families

Allison Waldman — 2010-04-15T14:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free, Modern Family, Features

Family is really important, although these days on television, we're seeing more and more groups that are sort of like family, friends or office mates or co-workers that supply the support and love of a traditional clan, but don't have share any DNA with one another. But there's nothing quite as dysfunctional and compelling as a real family, the old-fashioned type with lots of siblings, some aunts and uncles, maybe even a set of grandparents.

Currently, there are four traditional families on TV that would be a lot of fun to hang out with. They're all different kinds of family, but they could all provide just the kind of craziness to create a really good time. Check it out:

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Five Ingredients That Make USA Network Shows Work

Rich Keller — 2010-04-14T15:11:00+00:00

Filed under: OpEd, Law and Order, Celebrities, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free, Burn Notice, Features, TV News

A while back, while announcing the season premieres for 'Burn Notice' and 'Royal Pains', I briefly mentioned the reason why these original USA network programs, as well as their other offerings, work so well. As I thought about it some more, I realized that it wasn't just the focus on characters and the mix of comedy and drama that made these shows click with audiences. There was more to it. In fact, three more 'its' to make a TV Squad list. How's that for ironic!

So, if you'll indulge me for a moment, here are the five things that make USA network shows resonate with viewers.

1. Actual character-driven shows -- When USA uses the tag line "Characters Welcome" they aren't kidding. Every original program since 'Monk' has been character driven. They haven't relied on special effects, or musicals, or unanswered questions that, when answered, produced more unanswered questions. It's characters that drive the shows and move them forward.

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