TV Fall Schedules: One Big Fat Update

ABC, NBC and CBS’s fall schedules overall seem disappointing to me, some more than others (I’m looking at you, ABC!) There are a few that look promising. Nevertheless, here they are… the good, the bad, and the honky-tonk. (SupaScoot here. I’ll give you my thoughts along the way with the pictures cause I like to step all over other people’s articles. Sorry Michelle... I’m not sorry) 

ABC

Last Resort:

This is a thriller that takes place in a submarine 500 feet beneath the ocean’s surface, and then an exotic island. This, I will not be watching. The ocean terrifies me.

[Doc – It’s a Shawn Ryan show starring Andre Braugher and T-1000. I will be watching.]

Nashville:

This show looks absolutely terrible. Nashville is about a washed-up country singer who pairs up with a young country star. Not only does the plot sound terrible like a Lifetime movie… but it stars Hayden Panettiere. Pass.

Nothing about this looks good. Except Connie Britton. You look good, Connie.

How to Live with Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life:

I know that I sound cynical, but this show doesn’t look like a winner. I love Sarah Chalke, but I am already bored with the plot. A single mom moves in with her parents. It’s all been done. [Doc: Drink 7-Up] 

Holy shit. Jon Dore? Orlando Jones? Becky 2? This should be like electric dynamite… but won’t be.

666 Park Avenue:

This one looks like it might be interesting. 666 Park Avenue is one of those “Be careful what you wish for” shows. I know that’s been done, but this seems slightly more exciting than that. An apartment building, which is run by evil and supernatural forces, exchanges all of your hopes and wildest dreams in exchange for your soul. I will probably watch this.

Mistresses:

It seems this show has been pushed to next summer. There’s not much to say about it, just that it has a scantily clad Alyssa Milano and lesbians. Oh hey, look! It won you over.

No. Bad ABC. Bad ABC. Although… I do like girls. Okay, I’ll watch.

Zero Hour:

This is a conspiracy show, which means I will most likely check it out. Zero Hour is about a man who is the editor for a magazine for skeptics for 20 years, and then is pulled into a bizarre conspiracy.

Hey, it’s that guy. With conspiracies.

Family Tools:

A guy takes over a small business. Is there more to this? I hope so.

Oh come on. Reba was good in ‘Tremors’. That was it. Let it go.[/caption]

The Neighbors:

This show is about a family who, after moving into the suburbs, realizing all of their neighbors are aliens. This might be funny.

I want to watch ‘Twister’

Here is the full schedule:

Monday
8/7c: Dancing with the Stars
10/9c: Castle

(In January)
8/7c: The Bachelor

Tuesday
8/7c: Dancing with the Stars Results Show
9/8c: Happy Endings
9:30/8:30c: Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23
10/9c: Private Practice

(In January)
8/7c: How to Live With Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life) (New)
8:30/7:30c: The Family Tools (New)

Wednesday
8/7c: The Middle
8:30/7:30c: Suburgatory
9/8c: Modern Family
9:30/8:30c: The Neighbors (New)
10/9c: Nashville (New)

Thursday
8/7c: Last Resort (New)
9/8c: Grey’s Anatomy
10/9c: Scandal

Friday
8/7c: Shark Tank
9/8c: Primetime: What Would You Do?
10/9c: 20/20

(In November)
8/7c: Last Man Standing
8:30/7:30c: Malibu Country (New)
9/8c: Shark Tank
10/9c: Primetime: What Would You Do?

Saturday
8/7c: Saturday Night College Football

Sunday
7/6c: America’s Funniest Home Videos
8:00/7:00c: Once Upon a Time
9/8c: Revenge
10/9c: 666 Park Avenue (New)

(Warmingglow.com)

CBS

Vegas:

This is based on a true story of a Las Vegas sheriff bringing order to the sin city. Vegas takes place in the 1960s, and stars Dennis Quaid. You can count on me watching this.

This is me not watching.[/caption]

Elementary: (As Explained Here)

This is a TV movie about Sherlock Holmes cases in New York City. It looks completely uninteresting to me, but then again, it has neither singing nor Mariska Hargitay.

Watch ‘Sherlock’ instead. Trust me. Benedict Cumberbatch

[Doc – I’m with Scoot here, eff this show. Go watch SHERLOCK.]

Made in Jersey:

While yawning, let me tell you about the plot of Made in Jersey. This show is about a young, hard-working female lawyer who competes with her colleagues by using her sass and resourcefulness. It sounds oddly similar to the plot of “Single Female Lawyer” from Futurama.

Here is the full schedule:

MONDAY

8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
8:30-9:00 PM PARTNERS
9:00-9:30 PM 2 BROKE GIRLS
9:30-10:00 PM MIKE & MOLLY
10:00-11:00 PM HAWAII FIVE-0

TUESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM NCIS
9:00-10:00 PM NCIS: LOS ANGELES
10:00-11:00 PM VEGAS

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

THURSDAY

8:00-8:30 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY
8:30-9:00 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN
9:00-10:00 PM PERSON OF INTEREST
10:00-11:00 PM ELEMENTARY

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM CSI: NY
9:00-10:00 PM MADE IN JERSEY
10:00-11:00 PM BLUE BLOODS

SATURDAY

8:00-9:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS MYSTERY

SUNDAY

7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES
8:00-9:00 PM THE AMAZING RACE
9:00-10:00 PM THE GOOD WIFE
10:00-11:00 PM THE MENTALIST

(Warmingglow.com)

NBC

Revolution:

An unlikely group sets out to save the world after a fifteen year blackout. It sounds like it could be good, but it is unlikely.

Go On:

This show stars Matthew Perry as a cocky sportscaster. I actually am intrigued by this. I may give it a shot.

Good luck, Chandler. Eighth time’s a charm or something like that. Anyone else tired of feeling sorry for him?

Chicago Fire:

A thrilling drama about firefighters and their lives and troubles in Chicago. Since Dick Wolf will be producing this one, I will be watching it.

Nope.

Animal Practice:

A veterinary Scrubs? This show seems like it could be funny. There is a monkey, which is enough to make me see at least two episodes.

Me too.[/caption]

Guys With Kids:

Ah, the age-old funny story… giving a man a baby. How will they remain cool? How will they continue their love life? How will they juggle video games and feeding their children? I am bored.

Nope. I dislike children and their playthings.

Here is the full schedule:

MONDAY

8 p.m. — “The Voice”
10 p.m. — “Revolution”

TUESDAY

8 p.m. — “The Voice”
9 p.m. — “Go On”
9:30 p.m. — “The New Normal”
10 p.m. — “Parenthood”

WEDNESDAY

8 p.m. — “Animal Practice”
8:30 p.m.— “Guys With Kids”
9 p.m. — “Law & Order: SVU”
10 p.m. — “Chicago Fire”

THURSDAY

8 p.m. — “30 Rock”
8:30 p.m. — “Up All Night”
9 p.m. — “The Office”
9:30 p.m. — “Parks and Recreation”
10 p.m. — “Rock Center with Brian Williams”

FRIDAY

8 p.m. — “Whitney”
8:30 p.m. — “Community”
9 p.m. — “Grimm”
10 p.m. — “Dateline NBC”

SATURDAY

— Reruns

SUNDAY

7 p.m. — “Football Night in America”
8:15 p.m. — “NBC Sunday Night Football”

SUNDAY (after football season)

8 p.m. — “Dateline NBC”
8:30 p.m. — “Fashion Star”
9 p.m. — “Celebrity Apprentice”
10 p.m. — “Do No Harm”

(Warmingglow.com)

Double Dose of Will Ferrell with Trailers for “The Campaign” and “Anchorman 2”

Some people say that all comedians become irrelevant at one point. It seems like this isn’t true for Will Ferrell, nor will it ever be true. In the trailer for his new film, The Campaign, he plays Cam Brady, an extremely popular Congressman from North Carolina. After making a major goof in public, Brady’s supporters are forced to retract their endorsement and bring in an opponent. His name is Marty Huggins. Played by Zach Galifianakis, Huggins is the director of the local Tourism Center and is also a stark conservative.

The two begin campaigning shamelessly for their valued title. Needless to say, things get out of control. This hilarious preview puts Ferrell and Galifianakis back at doing what they do best; goofy comedy. Co-starring the likes of Jason Sudeikis and John Lithgow, The Campaign looks to be a surefire hit for both of its extremely talented stars.

In other Will Ferrell news, it seems like a teaser trailer for Anchorman 2 will be played before The Dictator which is set to release Wednesday, May 16th. My mind is racing with possibilities for the preview, and I don’t really want to hear any spoilers until I see it for myself. But I think all of us Will Ferrell fans are extremely excited by this double dose of movie news.

Check out the preview for The Campaign right here:

Review AMC’s Mad Men: Episode 509 “Dark Shadows”

Before we get to this weeks episode, that despite it’s name has no goofy vampires played by Johnny Depp, we must quickly go over the happenings in Episode 508 “Lady Lazarus” which missed it’s review last week. (sorry)

We start the week with Peggy playing her increasingly frequent new role of being a jealous bitch. She is upset that Megan has had such an easy time being a copywriter and doesn’t seem to be enjoying her success. After taking a verbal scalding Megan decides it’s not only that her father doesn’t believe in her capitalistic ventures, but also that Peggy is right that her heart isn’t in it which leads her to quit SCDP to return to what she believes she is destined for; acting. Don is not pleased but he hides it well, from Megan anyways. At this point if Megan curled up to him and said “Don, I think I’m going to drive across country in the nude murdering and pillaging as I roam because that’s the best thing for me!” you almost feel he would grudgingly agree with her.

The other big development of the week comes in the form of Pete Campbell’s continued emulation of the Don Draper of old. When he finally meets the wife of his train companion, a sexy turn by Gilmore Girls’ Alexis Bledel, Pete eventually caves to her advances and has a one-night fling. We quickly learn the difference between Don behaving badly and Pete behaving badly however. Campbell becomes a puppy and quickly becomes absolutely obsessed with Beth Dawes, following her around and even entering her home on the pretenses of buying life insurance from her husband. She insists it was a one time thing, but ends the episode by giving Pete a glimmer of hope in his schoolboy heart by drawing a heart in the fog of her windshield as he sheepishly looks on.

As the episode closed, we are given a brief moment where, in an attempt to get Don up to speed, Megan buys him the newest Beatles album – Revolver. This scene is present to help display just how out of touch Don is, and it wasn’t a cheap example either. According to the New York Time, the show’s producers had to drop $250,000 to play the track. Which is probably why it picks back up during the credits. Waste not…

In “Dark Shadows” we see a little bit more of what is becoming an increasingly disturbing fact; Don is getting old and losing his touch. As we’ve come to learn, Don has lost touch with modern music and “what kid’s like these days” and has been so head over heels with Megan that he hasn’t been putting in the office time either. At the beginning of the episode he look over the copy work and realizes for the first time what everyone else knows. His hand isn’t in any of it. Thus when it’s time for Don to make the pitch to the Sno Cone execs and the choice is between Ginsberg’s series, which people seemed to prefer over Don’s Sno Cone eating devil. Guess which ad piece got left in the cab. Don’s ad piece isn’t bad, in fact it’s good enough to make the sale but that’s not the point. It’s the first time we see Don’s cracks when it comes to advertising. He sounds lame as he tries to sell the devil’s creepy voice and has clearly become out of touch with not just the youth of the day, but the youth of his own office. This also opens up a new Mad Men rivalry between the young and the old where we find an ignoble and emboldened Michael Ginsberg flying in the face of the man he once so admired. It will be interesting to see how Don handles this new metamorphosis into the figurehead role that has already claimed Sterling and Cooper. As Don regresses it will also be interesting to see if the absence of Megan from his everyday office life will sully the sheen of new love and open the door for the Don of old’s philandering ways.

Speaking of old dogs learning new tricks, Roger has become a little fed up with being strictly a schmoozer and wants to take his rivalry with Campbell to a new level by actually bringing in client of his own, namely Manishewitz wine. As Roger is technically still married to a honest to goodness Jew he enlists Jane’s help to impress his client at his upcoming dinner meeting. He also enlists the other reigning Jew on the SCDP staff, wonderboy Ginsberg, to make him look smart with a winning advertising proposal. The meeting goes well but Roger still manages to make a mess of things when he rekindles the romance with Jane ruining her attempt to start a new life in the blackmail induced new apartment that she was hoping to keep free of memories of their marriage. Roger also manages to piss off an increasingly perturbed Peggy Olsen by using Ginsberg instead of returning to her for his back alley advertising needs.

We also see a little bit from Megan and one of her acting class friends reading scenes for an audition for the show…Dark Shadows. Which they railed. Kind of funny. This whole scene was simply to show Megan finally realizing how people see her, fair or not.

The other major storyline of the week ,or “Dark Shadow” if you will, involves the nest of jealously between Don, Megan, chubby Betty and Sally. Betty has joined the relatively new Weight Watchers in an attempt to regain her control over her appetite, and while the lessons from her meetings seem to help her attitude at home, she can’t help but be blinded by jealously when she sees Don’s immaculate New York apartment inhabited by his svelte and sexy new wife.

Her weapon of choice, as always, is the young Sally Draper who is more than willing to become catty and petulant when she feels shes been lied to by Megan. Betty’s scheming ultimately backfires however when Megan recognizes her meddling and keeps Don from flying off the hook which allows a more aware Sally to turn the whole ordeal into a hurtful jab towards her mother. If Mad Men lasts long enough for Sally Draper to televise her teen years then watch out! She’s only 10 or 11 on the show, but already has all the attitude and maliciousness of a teenager with the “bad boy” boyfriend to boot.

Mad Men seems to really be hitting it’s stride season and it seems there will be no end to frustrations and controversy in the SCDP office. Jared Harris will finally make his return next week as he has been noticeably absent from the series since his dust-up with Campbell. We should also expect a lot more of Pete and Beth in more that the fantastical version that aired this week as it seems that Pete’s obsession is coming to a head. With only four episodes left in the season you can feel the tension ramping up in the Mad Men world and we should be in for a great last few weeks.


Quote of the Week – Betty Draper:

“I’m thankful I have everything I want, and that no one else has anything better.”

2012 NHL Playoff Preview: Conference Championship

Phoenix Coyotes (#3) vs. LA Kings (#8)

I guess it’s time that I give the Los Angeles Kings their due. They have now handily dispatched the best two teams in the Western Conference in a mere 9 games. Goaltender Jonathan Quick has been ridiculously good with a 1.55 GAA and 94.9% save percentage. Against the Canucks they were winning close games, against St. Louis they were just plain winning averaging an extra goal per game. Apart from Dustin Brown no one has been dominating the Kings games but they have had a nice balanced attack spreading the goal scoring wealth among all 4 lines. It’s a good time to be a sports fan in LA as they have two basketball teams in the playoffs, a hot start from the Dodgers and the Kings looking like the favorite to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. The Kings certainly are following the formula of recent success in the NHL Playoffs. A low seed who guts their way through “superior” competition riding the hot hand of it’s goalie. On the other side of the ice we find a kind of Cinderella story of it’s own right in the Phoenix Coyotes. Phoenix was a three seed going into the playoffs but their historical lack of playoff success and perceived over achievement kept them fr4om getting the respect that position normally garners. Being on the better side of three out of five overtime games against the Blackhawks hardened them to then take it to the next level against the Predators.

The Preds/Yotes series was extremely close but the suffocating defense of the Coyotes coupled with the stellar play of goaltender Mike Smith was enough to carry them forward to the Conference Finals for the first time since they were the Winnipeg Jets and fodder for Gretzky’s Oilers in the 80’s. Mike Smith would perhaps be giving perhaps the best performance by a goaltender in the playoff this year if it wasn’t for the absolute dominance of Jonathan Quick so it will be interesting to see which of these two steals this series. As good as Smith has been he has also been greatly aided by the incredible amount of shot blocking Phoenix has been employing throughout the playoffs. The Coyotes has been impressive in their willingness to sacrifice the body and have shown an overall toughness that the team has been lacking in previous playoff performances. It would be a great story for lifetime Coyote Shane Doan to finally make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Any way you cut it this should be an incredibly intense and exciting series and we should expect a lot of close games. Despite Quick’s dominance I’m going to give Phoenix the edge in this series as they have been battle tested in close games winning six games by one goals and four of those in overtime.

Prediction: Coyotes in 6

NY Rangers (#1) vs. New Jersey Devils (#6)

The New York Rangers have not made it easy on themselves this postseason taking both of their series to 7 games and just haven’t had that dominating presence that they had in the regular season. You can’t blames Lundqvist who has been playing really well but finding the back of the net has not been easy and eleven of their fourteen games so far have been decided one way or the other by one goal. This probably shouldn’t come as a huge surprise as this was kind of their MO all season long however it always seemed like they could take it to the next level when they needed to which has been harder to accomplish this post season. The onus is on Marian Gaborik, who netted 41 goals in the regular season, to elevate his game against the Devils. He hasn’t been bad but he definitely hasn’t been putting the fear of God in opponents goaltenders either.

The New Jersey Devils have been one of the more feel good stories of the post season. After taking it to the limit against the plucky Panthers in seven games the Devils grounded the Flyers handily in five games. The Devils stars Kovalchuk, Parise and Zajac have started finding the back of the net and while 40-year-old Martin Broduer has not been his old dominant self he has been solid between the pipes. This Devils teams has been kind of an enigma over the last couple of seasons alternating between utter dominance and utter futility. So far this post season they have been pretty darned good but yo never know when the bottom if going to fall out with this team. It will be interesting to see how New Jersey fares against an elite goaltender like Henrik Lundqvist because so far they have faced pretty mediocre netminders in whomever plays for Florida and the headcase that is Ilya Bryzgalov. Overall I think the Rangers still have the edge in this series talent wise and unless year 2000 Martin Broduer walks through the door the Rangers should be able to gut it out against their across river rivals.

Prediction: Rangers in 6

Best case scenario for Gary Bettman and the NHL national interest speaking is that the Rangers and Kings advance adding a chapter to the East-Coast West-Coast rivalry so you know the more likely scenario is that we get the series that almost no one will care about Phoenix vs New Jersey….

Edgar Wright’s ‘Ant-Man’ Close to Ready, but ‘The World’s End’ with Pegg/Frost Beckons First…

The Avengers has decided to earn a decent amount of change over the last week (probably the GDP of most small countries but minor details) so what’s next? Obviously we have Iron Man 3, followed by Thor 2, then Captain America 2, and another Avengers, but could there possibly be something more added to the mix? Edgar Wright shared a pic on his twitter detailing that since Disney and Marvel are all going Scrooge McDuck and diving and swimming in their profits, they decided to give Wright some confidence in his Ant-Man project. Yes, that one that has been in the works seemingly forever. But it would make sense to get him to the next Avengers movie. Also money talks. That too.

But first, and possibly more importantly, it looks like Edgar Wright is reuniting with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost to finish what they started. They are coming together again to write and shoot The World’s End by the end of the year for a Spring 2013 release. Yes, you may geek out. Details you ask? Look below my friends via EW and Deadline:

20 years after attempting an epic pub crawl, five childhood friends reunite when one of them becomes hell bent on trying the drinking marathon again. They are convinced to stage an encore by mate Gary King, a 40-year old man trapped at the cigarette end of his teens, who drags his reluctant pals to their home town and once again attempts to reach the fabled pub, The World’s End. As they attempt to reconcile the past and present, they realize the real struggle is for the future, not just theirs but humankind’s. Reaching The World’s End is the least of their worries.

Yep. it’ll be cool. I’m glad Edgar Wright has a few jobs because we need him out there. Just because Scott Pilgrim solidified him as one of my favorite directors out there. He’s out there for the greater good. The greater good.