'Grey's' Isn't Going Anywhere
'Red Widow' Gets The Axe
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Best TV Pilots: Series Premieres That Made Our Jaws Drop
by Gary Susman, posted Nov 6th 2009 5:30PM
This week's 'V' debut episode on ABC has some dazzling moments, including a few that may shock and surprise even viewers with vivid memories of the original 1983 miniseries. But does it belong on the list of all-time great TV series premiere episodes? Compare and contrast with the list below, featuring 10 of our favorite TV pilot episodes of all time.10. 'The O.C.'
"Welcome to the O.C., bitch," says snobby jock Luke (Chris Carmack) to poor newcomer Ryan (Benjamin McKenzie). "This is how it's done in Orange County." For that exchange alone, this episode belongs in the pilot Hall of Fame.
Gossip Girl's Josh Schwartz writing a multicamera comedy for CBS
by Jason Hughes, posted Aug 27th 2009 10:02AM
The ongoing revival of the multicamera comedy format continues. Josh Schwartz is best known as the creator of The O.C. and one of the masterminds behind The CW's Gossip Girl; a show so powerful that it reshaped an entire network around it. He's also an executive producer and writer over at Chuck. Now Schwartz is teaming with Matt Miller, a fellow producer on Chuck, to get into the comedy business.Schwartz and Miller are writing a multicamera comedy script for CBS. The premise doesn't break any new ground; it's about a newlywed couple in their 20s, picking up the story right after their honeymoon. But it's the pedigree behind it that gives it promise. Both Gossip Girl and Chuck have strong comedic elements.
If it comes off right, you can bet CBS will be interested. They've had tremendous success with multicamera comedies the past few years, almost single-handedly reviving the format with huge hits like How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory. It's the writing, not the format. And writing is something at which Schwartz has proven himself quite adept.
Gossip Girl casting news: Is this The O.C. East?
by Kona Gallagher, posted Sep 3rd 2008 2:24PM
I was really bitter towards CW for canceling Veronica Mars, so I was planning on not watching Gossip Girl out of spite. However, as a fan of (at least the first few seasons) of The O.C., the idea of another Josh Schwartz show intrigued me. Okay, that, and the fact that I loved Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (shut up), and the realization that my one-woman boycott wasn't going to bring VM back, all led me to the show.When I tuned in, I really thought it would be The O.C. East, but Schwartz and the rest of the writers did a good job of making it its own show, I'm sure in no small part due to the fact that they had a series of books to work with. In fact, last night's 90210 premiere reminded me more of The O.C. than Gossip Girl ever has. So when I read that an O.C. alum was making her way to the Upper East Side, I wasn't exactly thrilled.
Casting spoilers ahead.
90210: We're Not in Kansas Anymore; The Jet Set (series premiere)
by Kona Gallagher, posted Sep 2nd 2008 11:58PM
(S01E01 / S01E02) Wow. So, within the first five minutes it becomes abundantly clear that this is not your momma's 90210. First of all, there are actual non-whites at West Beverly High! Er, well, at least one. But he's a main character! Secondly, kids at West Beverly don't just hang out at the Peach Pit or whatever before class, they perform sexual acts in their big, shiny SUVs!Other things are the same, however, such as the fact that being a new kid still sucks: even if you're an impossibly skinny girl with perfect teeth and hair like a shiny, pretty labradoodle, like Annie Wilson. People still call you Farm Girl, and Kelly Taylor's sister posts mean blogs about you. Meanwhile, if you're her brother, even being a lacrosse star can end badly, when jealous kids get you kicked off the team.
90210's premiere is a little uneven, but also oddly entertaining. One thing that everyone can agree on though, is that Jessica Walter is still awesome.
Frasier: Star Mitzvah - VIDEO
by Allison Waldman, posted Jul 10th 2008 10:03AM
The bar mitzvah is a Jewish rite of passage, the time in a boy's life when he becomes a man -- symbolically -- by reading from the Torah. When a girl does the ritual, it's called a bat mitzvah. I mention all this because in TV, the bar/bat mitzvah has been the catalyst for some wonderful episodes, mostly on sitcoms. The Simpsons celebrated Krusty the Klown's bar mitzvah in the episode "Today I Am A Klown," which was a variation on one of the all-time great sitcom bar mitzvahs of all time: the episode "Buddy Sorrell, Man and Boy," on The Dick Van Dyke Show. Square Pegs shared "Muffy's Bat Mitzvah" with viewers, and this past season, Curb Your Enthusiasm's Larry David used his friend Jeff Greene's daughter Sammi's bat mitzvah to announce that he never put a gerbil up his butt.
The fashion of Gossip Girl
by Isabelle Carreau, posted Apr 18th 2008 2:10PM
Every TV season, there is at least one scripted show in which clothes characters wear almost become as important as the characters themselves. I remember when Sex and the City was still offering fresh episodes and I was writing spoilers about the series, some of my readers emailed me asking for information and set pictures of what the ladies would be wearing in upcoming episodes. I received the same type of emails when The O.C. was on the air: fans wanted to know what Marissa and Summer would be wearing so they could try to find the clothes in stores. That information was almost as critical to them as knowing if Marissa and Ryan would hook/break up!
This year, a few series tried to be fashionable such as Lipstick Jungle, which had a partnership with Maybelline and even offered fashion tips during commercial breaks and on the show's website. However, when I surf the web on general TV websites and boards, the fashion talks seem to be directed more towards one show: Gossip Girl.
Melinda Clarke: In the Limelight
by Isabelle Carreau, posted Dec 3rd 2007 12:03PM
Melinda Clarke is one of the best vixens on TV. Last Tuesday, she appeared on The CW's Reaper as the Devil's mistress. This guest starring role had a few of the TV Squad bloggers wonder what her age is (she's 38 in case you were wondering) since she looked so good and young that she could have passed for Sam's girlfriend on the show. TV Squadder Joel even said "She would have topped my 'hot over 40' list if she were just a skosh older." That got me thinking that maybe it was time to put Melinda Clarke in the limelight and let everyone know who she is and of the dominatrix roles she played!Giveaway Thursday: The OC - The Complete Series
by Keith McDuffee, posted Nov 29th 2007 9:04AM
As if we didn't already have some incredible things to giveaway here already, here's one that just passed over the TV Squad desk just the other night, and it couldn't possibly wait until next week. We've got two copies of The OC - The Complete Series on DVD, which is already available in stores today. All you've got to do is submit a comment below before 5PM Eastern, December 6, and mention why you'd like to own the series. We'll randomly choose two winners to receive the DVDs!Some other details:
- To enter, leave a confirmed comment below stating why you'd like to own the The OC complete series on DVD.
- The comment must be left before Thursday, December 6, 2007 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
- You may enter only once.
- Two winners will be selected in a random drawing.
- Two winners will receive a copy of The OC - The Complete Series DVDs (valued at $179.92).
Rachel Bilson to appear on Chuck
by Isabelle Carreau, posted Sep 13th 2007 7:02PM
One of my favorite characters on The O.C. was Summer Roberts. I liked her humor, naivety, and her spark. When FOX announced the cancellation of the show, I was sad to depart with characters like her, the Cohens and Taylor. So when NBC announced today that she would guest star on a few episodes of Chuck, I was delighted to see the actress return to the small screen!Bilson will appear in a multi-episode arc on NBC's new action-comedy airing Mondays before Heroes. She is set to play a love interest for the lead character of Chuck, played by Zachary Levi. Her character will be Chuck's first romantic interest since his girlfriend broke up with him a few years ago while in college.
Michael Cassidy joins Smallville
by Isabelle Carreau, posted Jul 7th 2007 9:00AM
Early June, I reported in TV Squad's Spoilers Anonymous feature that when Smallville would return in September the Daily Planet would have a new editor. The show was looking for an "extremely hot thirtysomething actor" to play this new character who would be featured in six of the first eight episodes and could become Lois Lane's new love interest. TV Guide's Michael Ausiello reports that Hidden Palms' Michael Cassidy landed the role.
Moonlight already looking for a new leading lady
by Bob Sassone, posted May 24th 2007 6:33PM
The new fall season isn't etched in stone yet. The networks could still make some changes, especially when it comes to time slots. But also to the casts that were in the pilots for the new shows.
Case in point, Moonlight. The new CBS vampire private eye show is already looking for a new leading lady to play opposite Alex O'Loughlin. Shannon Lucio was his romantic partner in the pilot, but they're getting rid of her and looking for someone else for the role. Lucio was formerly on The O.C.
Moonlight will air on Friday nights at 9 this fall, after the renewed Ghost Whisperer.
The 14 greatest TV eateries
by Keith McDuffee, posted Apr 11th 2007 11:52AM
Welcome to TV Squad Lists (formerly 'The Five'), a feature where each blogger has a chance to list his or her own rundown of things in television that stand out from the rest, both good and bad.Last week I gave you a pretty big list of popular "drinkeries" from TV, but I think where I went wrong was trying too hard to list every watering hole possible. Since I'm covering eateries this week, I'm certain I'll miss some of your favorites, but I'm going to list what I believe to be the most popular dining spots from television, both past and present. And since there are way too many real spots on TV to mention (Hell's Kitchen, Kitchen Stadium, etc.), I'll stick with fictional spots, even if they're based on real ones.
This time let's go with 14 of them.
1) Arnold's/Al's Drive-In (Happy Days) -- I struggled for a bit with what I would call the number one eatery on TV, but I kept coming back to this spot. Arnold's/Al's was in nearly every episode as far as I can recall, and of course housed The Fonz's office. After it burned down, the signage changed to Al's.
What to Watch Feb. 19 - 25
by Kelly Woo, posted Feb 19th 2007 9:32AM
Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier (Mon., 9PM ET, History)
Space ... it's still the final frontier. Watching this special celebrating 40 years of Star Trek, I'm struck by how forward-looking the show was. Sure, the uniforms were totally '60s and the plots were super cheesy, but the concepts were light years ahead of their time. Mr. Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy, narrates, with stars William Shatner, Patrick Stewart and Kate Mulgrew sharing insights into their various incarnations of Trek. Plus, see footage from last October's auction of Trek memorabilia.
American Idol (Tue., 8PM ET, Fox)
Is it just me or are this year's top 24 contestants almost completely unmemorable? Looking over their photos, I strained to recall each one. Actually, one did stand out -- the beatboxing guy, Blake. But can he sing? I think the judges were right in saying this season is more up for grabs than any since season one. This week, experience six hours of Idol overload, with the top 12 boys performing tonight, the girls taking their turn tomorrow and a two-hour results show Thursday. Phew!
Spoilers Anonymous
by Keith McDuffee, posted Feb 7th 2007 10:24PM
Hello. My name is Keith and I'm a spoiler junkie. This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we'll supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by emailing us at tvsquad at gmail dot com or call and leave a message at 917-421-9477 (NY) - your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.
This week we have: Crossing Jordan, Heroes, House, Jericho, Lost, The O.C., Rescue Me, The Sopranos, Ugly Betty and Veronica Mars. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)
What's on tonight: South Park, Lost, The Nine, Ghost Hunters, Top Chef
by Bob Sassone, posted Nov 8th 2006 5:05PM
At 8, ABC has a new Dancing with the Stars, followed by new episodes of Lost and The Nine. - CBS has a new Jericho at 8, then new episodes of Criminal Minds and CSI: NY.
- There's a new Biggest Loser on NBC at 8, followed by a new Dateline.
- FOX has new eps of Bones and The O.C.
- The CW has a new America's Next Top Model at 8, then a new One Tree Hill.
- Emeril cooks up some "Soul Food" on Food Network at 8.
- At 9, Discovery has a new Mythbusters.
- Bill Maher talks about the election and more on Larry King Live, at 9 on CNN.
- The Travel Channel has a new Professional Poker Tour at 9, the finale from the Bellagio.
- Sci-Fi has a new episode of Ghost Hunters at 9, followed by a new Sci-Fi Investigates.
- At 10, USA has the new movie Underfunded.
- VH-1 has a new ep of I Pity The Fool at 10.
- HBO has a new Inside the NFL at 10.
- There's a new Top Chef at 10 on Bravo.
- Food Network has a new Good Eats at 10, followed by a new Ham on the Street.
- Also at 10: Comedy Central has a new South Park, followed by a new Drawn Together.
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