spike

Yes, your grandfather's network just got considerably cooler. Unfortunately, whether or not this is going to put Jackson on our small screens with any regularity remains to be seen. The deal isn't to join a specific series. Rather, Jackson has signed a first-look deal that will have him develop and produce projects for the studio over the next two years.

We'll have to wait to see what, if anything, comes of the new partnership, but there is an encouraging bit in the announcement. Jackson says he's open to the idea of limited appearances on something he produces, referencing Salma Hayek's run on Ugly Betty. I'm of the mind that the more Samuel L. Jackson on the TV the better, but I'll take what we can get. His only previous credit producing television is Spike's Afro Samurai, which is set to return this fall.

Hey, check it out! A show got renewed for another season. The Hollywood Reporter says Spike TV gave the go-ahead for another ten episode batch of its fun MANswers late-night series. The show answers those questions that men think about but that may not be socially acceptable to actually ask around real live people. Then through re-enactments, one-on-one interviews and other methods they find the answers. It's slickly produced and actually does answer some interesting questions, but I'm a guy. Maybe women think all the questions are stupid. They probably are. They're GUY questions!

Just as happened with parent series Doctor Who, those of us stateside won't have to wait as long after the British airing of Torchwood's second season to see it here, though ironically it has yet to be announced when it will premiere on BBC Two in the UK. TVGuide.com tells us the second season of BBC America's biggest hit comes to us beginning January 26. And with James Marsters (Buffy/Angel) dropping in for a guest shot, and Doctor Who's Freema Agyeman (companion Martha) checking in for an extended stay mid-season, this second go round with Captain Jack Harkness, Gwen and the gang is shaping up to be more exciting than the first.

Marsters will play a time-agent criminal who "goes around in different times killing people with no remorse at all." His character Spike, remains one of the most popular in the Buffy-verse, so I expect Torchwood's ratings to see another "spike." (Boo! Boo! Hiss! Get off the stage!).

This Sunday, Spike TV will honor martial arts legend Bruce Lee by broadcasting a few of his movies, not to mention a bit of cross-promotion with GameTrailers.com. Here's the schedule:

• 1:00 p.m.: Game of Death
• 3:00 p.m.: Fist of Fury
• 8:00 p.m.: Enter the Dragon
• 10:30 p.m.: Dragon: the Bruce Lee Story

Enter the Dragon will be presented by Lee's daughter, Shannon Lee, who will share anecdotes about her father and some behind-the-scenes footage. Also, both the GameTrailers and Spike TV sites will feature digital content to coincide with "Bruce Lee Day."

You might not recognize the name Mitch Rouse, but if you're a fan of Reno 911! and Strangers with Candy, you'd probably recognize his face. He's appeared on Reno 911! as the handsome lead firefighter in a few episodes, and has also shown up on Strangers with Candy playing a cop (he's also a co-creator fo the show along with Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello and Stephen Colbert). In fact, his character has the first speaking role in the very first Strangers episode. Also, he's written a couple episodes for the series.

Strangers with Candy is one of my top three favorite shows of all time, and Reno 911! ain't too shabby, either, so I'm intrigued about The Factory, a new comedy Rouse is developing for Spike. The series has not been picked up yet, but Variety reports that it's close.

If you haven't seen Talkshow with Spike Feresten, you're not the only one. The Saturday night talk show that airs on FOX after MAD TV hasn't exactly received stellar ratings, but apparently it's attracted enough of that younger demographic the advertisers love, so it's getting a second season.

I've been watching it this season, and while it didn't exactly come out with guns blazing, Feresten is a funny and amicable host, and the half-hour running time is perfect. Can you imagine Conan or Letterman cut down to half an hour? No more filler and long interviews, just funny funny funny and then end the show. Well, maybe that wouldn't work for those guys, but it works in my little fantasy world.

Variety also reports that talks are still underway concerning a new season of MAD TV. There's no word on whether it will or won't be renewed, but it is possible that Talkshow could take over MAD TV's slot if MAD TV show doesn't return.

MANswers, a new game show for Spike centering on the kind of questions men want to ask but don't find "socially acceptable" will be given a nine-episode run and will debut sometime this fall. The show will pit contestants against one another and include re-enactments and interviews with experts.

Variety reports that some of these so-called "socially unacceptable" questions include "how long can a man survive on just beer?" and "what's the best organ to eat if you're a cannibal?"