OP-EDTV

Wow, January Jones Sucked

2009-11-15T22:11:00.002-06:00

I love me some Betty Draper, what a great character and so well acted. And guess what, January Jones should get an Emmy this year. What she shouldn't get, is another chance to ever appear on live TV trying to be funny. She can't do it. And you no what? Some actors just cannot work in that format, and she is one of them.
Even worse, SNL is still a god-damn fucking disaster. Did you count the fart/shit/potty jokes last night? Major double digits...come on guys....
Also this, does anyone else fast forward anytime Seth Meyers turns over the Update desk to a 'performer'? I do. And Jon Bovi is the biggest offender. Argh. Other than Jean K. Jean which is only funny because its so bad, I get so mad when we lose valuable headline time for that crap.

Long story short, here is the final math:

Awful host + Terrible overall writing + mediocre female cast / easy fart jokes = Wanda Sykes show. Yep, that's where I am taking my eyeballs next Saturday night.

SLOW THE F**K DOWN 'V'

2009-11-05T10:26:00.003-06:00

Holy crap...in only one hour, the V's showed up, announced themselves, were given the name 'V' or 'Visitors', organized a meeting with the UN, came down to meet the UN, started some street clubs with brochures, integrated into our marketing culture, organized spaceship tours, and did TV interviews. Oh, and they already have a resistance movement that knows about them, and many key players already know they are lizards. HOLY SHIT, that was one hour? Watch 'The O.C.' season one much?

You don't HAVE to give us everything in one hour -- that could have easily been played out with huge reveals and suspense over 3-4 shows and no one would have minded. There were no ooh-ahh moments, they just gave it to you. NO FUN AT ALL. We're only into the pilot and it might as well be episode 6. The mini-series didn't get this far after six hours. SLOW DOWN, give us some information to digest perhaps.

On a different note, 'Modern Family' is so damn good it should be criminal. Sometimes a new show comes along and reminds you how good TV comedy can be. 'The Office' and '30 Rock' showed us how workplace comedy could be funny again, and now this show takes dysfunctional family to a whole new level with a nod to 'Arrested Development' for setting the blueprint.

And remember, Always Be Closing. Don't Ever Forget Great Home Ideas Just Keep Lurking...

New Hires...

2009-11-02T22:02:00.002-06:00

Let's just move forward to the press release where we announce our formal new hires for 2009-2010

1. Modern Family
2. FlashForward
3. Community (contract-to-hire)
4. V (hired w/o interview...strong letter of recommendation

That's it. This is all we added this fall -- lots of retention at DVR, Inc...

Quick Notes:
You can give dual Emmys right now to Don and Betty Draper (Hamm and Jones) for the 'Don's confessional) episode. Reminded of the time I watch Tony and Carmella fight in the bedroom in the last season the Sopranos -- you knew you were watching television genius unfold before your eyes. It was beyond awesome.

FOX needs to figure out how to make the baseball playoffs go faster. I know, how about playing almost every day like in REAL baseball all season long. Just do it, we will still watch.

I am enjoying 'Castle' and 'The Mentalist' this season a lot. 'Bones' hasn't been appointment TV though by any means.

Both 'Law and Orders' are having very solid seasons. I did delete an episode of SVU where they were going to make some abused kid have dinner with his abusive step dad as some sort of sting. Life it too short to have to sit through that.

I love love love 'Fringe' this year. And the same goes for 'Dollhouse', but I assume its on its way to the cancellation bin after the holidays, so I just hope they can wrap it up in style.

Still have all the episodes of 'Melrose Place' on DVR - may get to them, may not...same goes for 'The Good Wife' -- great reviews, etc...just not compelling right now.

I am also about to start 'The League' on FX.

It's Fun to be Right

2009-10-19T16:59:00.001-05:00

Remember when I told you in September that even though Leno's numbers were high, the only thing that matters is whether or not he keeps eyeballs on NBC to increase ratings of local TV news....Do you remember?

Well he isn't. Read it here: The LA Times is considered a quality newspaper too...

Glee = Glum

2009-10-15T16:10:00.002-05:00

They need to drop both pregnancy story lines immediately -- this show is not as fun as it should be -- its 'Glee' for f**k sake. Go back to the Pilot episode and make it more like that, only with more Sue Sylvester, like from last night - now that was awesome.

So, in summary: More Sue Sylvester, better songs, more fun, less downer bull-shit.

Where the Hell Have I Been?

2009-10-13T14:30:00.002-05:00

Admittedly my blogging has been infrequent. This is no way to build an audience and then sustain it. For that, I apologize. I used to write almost everyday, and now it seems its about once per week (ok, month)....I think its a combination of blog fatigue, TV fatigue, and maybe my job which continues to demand my time...what up with that? I also find myself much, much busier with the kids now that they are, you know, like real people with activities and mouths and legs and wants and needs...when did this happen?

Anywho, no analogies this time about interviews, just some quick and dirty thoughts about the Fall season - unedited and unabridged.

SNL - someone commented on one of my old posts ripping me calling Seth Meyers by Seth Rogen. This cracked me up a bit...you see, my blog is found 100x per month from people typing 'SNL sucks' into Google -- turns out you find me pretty quickly. Well this person was directed to an old post from last year about Seth Rogen and instead thought I was a total jackass who didn't know what I was talking about...well guess what? Who is the jackass now? I digress...this year on SNL is beyond horrible, beyond. Megan Fox (who I love with all my heart) was given crappy material, Ryan Reynolds was barely involved, and Drew Barrymore's episode was unwatchable. The sketches themselves are herrendous this year. Its just subjective opinion, I am not going to cite examples, I am just telling you I tape it every week, watch it every week, and FF'd through it every week while shaking my head. So sad.

Brothers and Sisters - I quit this show two weeks ago. I don't miss it.

Desperate Housewives - I am going to quit this show soon. I am not sure what I am looking for in a dramedy these days, but I know it isn't this crap -- which by the way is recycled plot points year after year after year...oh the new neighbor has a secret past and may have done something bad? You don't say. The son may have killed someone in the neighborhood? You don't say. I saw this season already -- THREE FUCKING TIMES.

HIMYM - I usually write pages and pages about this show. All I will say is that it continues to crack me up every week -- so entertaining, so smart, so well casted. I enjoyed the sexless innkeeper/couples date from last night.

Big Bang - Never has a sitcom I despised so much turned so quickly to be one of the best. It did, it is, and it's awesome. I love you Howard Wolowitz and your mom's Thanksgiving Turbriskfilte...or however you pronounce a turkey stuffed with brisket and gefilte fish.

Mad Men - Continues to kill it, every week. This is the best character study/drama on TV and best since Sopranos and maybe the best ever? Who knows. We're lucky to be living through it.

Curb Your Enthusiasm - Great season so far...the Christian Slater bit last night wasn't all that funny, but the whole bit with getting ahold of the doctor and the hot towel was entertaining enough. I love Jeff and Susie and the whole Seinfeld plot is only going to get better - the first one was a great start. And let me say this -- you should always coordinate the tip when splitting the bill.

Greek - OK season so far, not the best. Still watching.

Gossip Girl - OK season so far, not the best. Still watching. After last night, the plots will have to reset again. About twice per year they resolve all open-ended story lines and begin anew. Last night had a satisfying conclusion that could have doubled as a series finale I suppose in a pinch. Lets move on now.

Law and Order/SVU: All DVR'd up for rerun weeks

The Mentalist and Castle - I really like this show. Everyone should watch. It should just be one show, save me some time.

FlashForward - so far, so good. No jinxing it. Everyone should watch.

Fringe - Getting better by the week, love it.

Dollhouse -- Getting better by the week, love it. Except last week's serial killer ep, that was just stupid. So I guess it took a step back...this show has about a shelf life of 10-12 more episodes. Let's wrap it up in style Joss, because I really like the cast and concept...but its not going to last forever like Buffy did.

Man I watch a lot of shows somehow...

The Office - a very solid season, its comedy gold - so I just enjoy it for the art it is. I think its even better in reruns I am told. No time for those yet :)

I think we're caught up here for now...sorry for the dump...going forward I am just going to opine on a single topic when one needs discussing and save the recap posts for midseason and end of season. OUT.

NCIS Is God

2009-09-30T16:49:00.000-05:00

Wow. 22 million viewers last night. And only two of them could have been my parents...if only Jay Leno could follow this show, his numbers might come back up. I don't think a show like this has ever gone from average viewers to no viewers to all the viewers over 8 years -- but this show somehow did. Is Mark Harmon that appealing? It's not fair for me to make fun of a show I don't watch...so I won't mock its content or following, I will only share in my public surprise that it is so successful this late in its run.

Couple Quick Thoughts

2009-09-30T16:29:00.003-05:00

I really really really liked the season opener of 'Dollhouse' and 'FlashForward'. Lauren and I are officially quitting 'Brothers and Sisters' because its just too much of a soap opera...I know I know...it is what is has always been. But I believe it started out as a drama, and now its just about medical issues, divorces, and more medical issues. DONE.

I thought the 'Housewives' opener was pretty good actually, it has earned a stay of execution. I think after two more episodes I will decide if its stays or goes, but Sunday night and Monday are so packed right now, this show could go and I wouldn't miss it. Right now its just habit.

Here is my major FLASHFORWARD gripe - and trust me, this is making me angry (and I don't know why)....about half way through the show they went to commericial and the voice-over guy for ABC reminded the viewers of something they just saw and told us it might be an important clue...go to ABC.com for more information. At the next break, same thing..."WHAT YOU JUST SAW IS A CLUE, go to ABC.com AND FIND OUT MORE. DONT FORGET WHAT YOU JUST SAW". I threw-up in my mouth a little bit and shed a little tear. What they were basically saying is: "Hello Viewer, you are dumb. We think you quit watching Lost because it was too confusing to watch TV with your brain. Instead, we will just force-create an online community instead of letting one foster itself, and we will tell you what is important so your tiny brain won't have to hurt. Don't worry...sit back, watch the show, and we won't make it very hard for you.." PUKE. Thanks ABC, but that was a turn-off.

Finally, how are the new shows doing? Here you go:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2009-09-29-strong-season-start_N.htm

The Interview Process

2009-09-24T10:10:00.003-05:00

Someone at work told me this morning that they are interviewing both new medical dramas - 'Three Rivers' and whatever the new nurse show is. I liked that take on watching new shows, it really is an interview process. That being said, here are the candidates whose resumes I have seen thus far:

-Melrose Place: Got the callback for a second interview, but mostly because it was pretty to look at, wasn't too offensive, and reminded me of someone I hired in the past. (Get it? Hired in the past? This analogy is really taking off....). Although I called for a second and third interview, they may be clogging the DVR for quite awhile until I decide how else to hire.

-Modern Family: Hired. One episode, pure comedy genius. Racially, ethnically, and sexually uncomfortable and possibly offensive. Perfect. Great cast. Good to see Ed O'Neil again back as the patriarch with flaws, and I love the gay couple.

-Glee: Hired. I am not interviewing any 1 hour dramas this year, that department is not only full, but its overstaffed at this point. But there is always room for light-hearted simple dramedy. And set in high school with cast members whose average age is clearly 26? Sign me up.

CONTRACT EXTENSIONS:

-The season premiere of 'Old Christine' was laugh out loud funny again. As I have said for years on this blog, I don't want to like this show, I don't why I laugh so hard, but this show is so well written and so well acted, I can't let it go. If I was still working this analogy, I would say that Christine is the employee who you can't believe got hired, you don't know what the appeal is, you don't want them around, but damn...they sure do a good job.

-'Castle' and 'The Mentalist' are back as the zany crime solvers with a quirk...there are so many of them now - writers, psychics, mind readers, mediums, rich people, manics...it is hard to keep them straight. What I do know is that the two I am keeping on board kept me entertained in 2008-2009, and they get one year extensions. Lets hope against the sophomore slump, because the DVR is already filling up.

-'Fringe' second season premiere was awesome. Tonight should help set the tone for the season. It's not too late to join, and if you need to me fill in the backstory, just let me know.

-'Dollhouse' comes back tomorrow night. I am so excited but afraid I won't enjoy it as much as Season 1 because I was able to watch it all in 2 weeks...As I have said before, once a show is watched consecutively and quickly, its hard to go back to watching a season over 40 weeks...but hopefully this show will sustain the momentum I think it has.

I have an interview tonight with 'FlashForward' - based on the all the kudos coming out from critics, I think this one will be hired on site.

In Case You are Wondering if Jay Leno Sucks...

2009-09-22T16:50:00.002-05:00

Monday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
ABC: “Dancing with the Stars” season premiere (17.4 million viewers, 11.0/17 households)
FOX: “House” season premiere (15.8 million, 9.2/14)
CBS: “How I Met Your Mother” season premiere (9.2 million, 5.7/9)/”Accidentally on Purpose” series premiere (9 million, 5.7/8)
NBC: “Heroes” season premiere (6.3 million, 3.9/6)

9 p.m.
ABC: “Dancing with the Stars” (17.6 million, 11.3/17)
FOX: “House” (17.2 million (9.8/14)
CBS: “Two and a Half Men” season premiere (13.6 million, 8.5/12)/”The Big Bang Theory” season premiere (12.8 million, 7.8/11)
NBC: “Heroes” (5.8 million, 3.4/5)

10 p.m.
CBS: “CSI: Miami” season premiere (13.8 million, 8.7/14)
ABC: “Castle” season premiere (9.4 million, 6.2/10)
NBC: “The Jay Leno Show” (5.7 million, 3.8/6)

He does -- and America knows it. The problem is that his show is so cheap to make, they could sell local ads for sex hotlines or cheap auto insurance or Montgomery Flea Market (YouTube it) and still make a bunch of money. They real verdict comes during November sweeps. If Leno can get eyeballs to the 10 PM local news, he stays. If the NBC local news stations across the country get killed in Sweeps (which btw is the only reason we still have sweeps, to measure local news), then he goes.

NEW SHOWS THIS FALL

2009-09-21T15:57:00.003-05:00

Here are new shows I am going to try this year...
**I think Melrose Place is terrible so far.
**I enjoyed Community, I look forward to the second week
**Glee is great

Monday, September 21:
Castle, 10 p.m. (ABC) - I watched some re-runs this summer, as far as one hour crime shows go, this one is easy to watch and clever. Its like good background.

Tuesday, September 22:
The Good Wife, 10 p.m. (CBS) - Lauren wants a new show that I wouldn't mind watching -- we will try this one, it's Julianna Margalues as a lawyer whose husband is a cheating politician in jail

Wednesday, September 23:
Cougar Town, 9:30 p.m. (ABC) - new Courtney Cox comedy, I will try it once
Modern Family, 9 p.m. (ABC) - this is the NEW COMEDY SHOW OF THE YEAR according to critics. Ed O'Neil and a bunch of people, supposed to be great.

Thursday, September 24:
Flash Forward, 8 p.m. (ABC)

Friday, September 25:
Brothers, 8 p.m. (Fox) - new Michael Strahan comedy
Dollhouse, 9 p.m. (Fox) -- I love this show in case anyone is looking to jump in. Watched it this summer and loved it.

Sunday, September 27:
The Cleveland Show, 8:30 p.m. (Fox)

Monday, September 28:
Lie to Me, 9 p.m. (Fox) - I like this show too, its another easy hour of one hour murder solving...Tim Roth, good cast. Easy to watch.

Tuesday, November 3:
V, 8 p.m. (ABC) -- this is going to be great (I hope)

Saturday, November 7:
The Wanda Sykes Show, 11 p.m. (Fox) -- she has a new Saturday night variety/talk show.

Is the Blog Back?

2009-09-17T10:14:00.002-05:00

To be honest, I'm not really sure...after three seasons, I might have to hang this up for awhile. It's not like I'm done watching TV - that will never happen. It's not like I have nothing to say - that will never happen. I just don't have the motivation yet to sit down and write a post...I think it might be the long summer hiatus.

What I need is a reason. A compelling moment of television that deserves to be written about...and to be honest, I am not sure where this season is headed yet -- so much promise, most promise in a long time. So before I go...for now...here are a few random thoughts:

-I love 'Glee'. It's working out its kinks, but its great.
-I love 'Shark Tank'. Love watching these people try to sell business plans.
-I can't wait for 'Flash Forward' next week
-'Gossip Girl' was not so good so far
-'Greek' is not so good so far
-I hope 'Community' doesn't suck. Premieres tonight.
-'Fringe' is back tonight, yeah!
-'Dollhouse' is great, watched it this summer -- very very good.
-'Curb' starts next week, yeah!
-'The Office' starts tonight, yeah!
-'Mad Men' as usual is frickin fricktastic

SUMMER UPDATE: Solving 'Entourage'

2009-06-24T16:08:00.002-05:00

I am breaking from my summer hiatus to post some great news. I finally figured out how 'Entourage' works as a show. I used to get so annoyed at how nothing ever happens and before you know it, 22 minutes is over, and you got nowhere. Well....DUH! Watch a whole season at once, and then its just like watching 3 episodes of a real show.

Lauren and I started all of season 5 the other night since we now have HBO back ($5/month for the next six months, hell yes).

So we got through about 4 episodes and I realized I was enjoying it -- because I didn't have to wait seven days for the next set of nothing to happen. But it turns out if you put a whole lot of nothing together, you get a little something.

So there you go. I am recommending 'Entourage' in large doses -- in the end, you will get a little something.

Back to Hiatus.

SUMMER VACATION

2009-06-17T13:56:00.002-05:00

See you all for the Fall TV preview around Labor Day. Until then, be well...be safe..and enjoy your summer.

Sumertime? Feels like April.

2009-06-10T15:22:00.002-05:00

The weather has been chilly since Saturday so the only think I know how to do when its cold is watch TV. So I tried to catch up some episodes of 'Earl', but the novelty has worn off that show.

I tried to watch some 'Dollhouse' -- but that seems like July television.
I have been knocking out old 'Rules of Engagement' episodes, and if you've been reading this blog, then you know how much I love Patrick Warburton. He could read the dictionary and I would crack up. Strangely I recently suggested that Megan Fox could read the dictionary too -- but that would elicit a totally different response.

We're also finishing up this season of 'My Boys'. I like the show and I like Jordana Sprio, but something about this show makes it feel like it was made for like $12 in a high-school theater. Maybe its the massive TBS budget, or the writing, but its a quick 22 minutes to fall asleep to.

I still think this summer will be the one where I rent season 1 and 2 of 'Friday Night Lights' -- we'll see what happens.

Summertime...

2009-06-05T23:09:00.002-05:00

I think I will keep on posting for a few weeks until the summer really kicks in, and then as always, I will rejoin you all in the Fall ahead of the new season.

I watched the finale of 'SVU' the other night and it sucked. They teased a major death and of course it was a bit character. And admittedly the plot was a little predictable -- but that might be because I watch a lot of TV, originality is hard to find. That's why I love 'Lost' and 'Fringe' so much. You can only do so much on the 'Gossip Girls' of the world that hasn't been done before. Same for the B+S and the Housewives and pretty much everything else.

God Bless good and creative and clever TV writers. The JJ's and the Joss's and the BJ + Mindy's...and the Damon's and Carlton's and Tina's and Eddie and Adam....

I am going to try out 'Royal Pains' on USA and provide you a list of anything else that might be interesting this summer...then I am checking out. TTYL.

Conan Night 2: Didn't See It

2009-06-03T14:31:00.002-05:00

Nope. Stuck in the ER until 12:15 AM, and not for pleasure. Cousin.TwinsGameBuddy decided to reach up for a T-shirt coming out of a canon launcher. He lost the T-shirt and his pinky knuckle in a larger man's hands.

3 hours later and the knuckle was casted and I got back to my car. Twins Win!

I will watch the third night tonight and catch up on what I guess was a great Conan bit about Twitter. More to come, but let me say this -- no one is more happy that Conan and Andy Richter are back together than I am. They play off each other so well, and its a great comedy team. The real winner here is us, the late-night viewer.

More to Come....

Get it?

The Debut of Conan

2009-06-02T09:09:00.002-05:00

The critics are unanimous, Conan's new Tonight Show is a 'work-in-progress'. Wow, they really stepped out on a limb with this one. I was surprised they didn't call it polished and television perfection. I assume most of them turned in their column before the show aired.

I know, I know, there really is no other review -- but its just funny because they have to do it, and the obligatory default thesis is 'work-in-progress' -- what else could it be?

I liked it. It's a work-in-progress.

The first full week+ of no new TV has been an interesting one filled with reading, parenting, baseball and more baseball. And now that 'Baseball Tonight' on ESPN pretty much runs live all night, every night on the MLB Network in the form of three different shows with three different names that are all on the same set with the same talking heads -- my plate is full.

This summer I will look forward to the burn-off episodes of 'Dirty/Sexy/Money' and one or two new shows on TNT. We still have a full season of L+O: Criminal Intent, the season finale of the other to Law and Orders, the remaining episodes of 'Greek' and I believe Lauren and I are going to try the first two seasons of 'Friday Night Lights'.

B+S, Finally...

2009-05-26T14:27:00.002-05:00

It only took four weeks, but the Mrs. and I finished the last three episodes of 'Brothers and Sisters'. Honestly? Eh. Not good, not bad. We were able to move them very quickly because we fast forwarded any conversations between Kitty and Robert since its very clear their marriage is over. And we both agree that in this case, Kitty is to blame -- so chalk one up for the men. Calista Flockhart is tiring. So is this show. No one else left to kill, murder, jail, make sick, or give a drug problem too -- so now we'll get a year of boring romances and a wedding between the hated Harper's and our beloved Walkers. Yeah. Blah.

Some other finale thoughts:
-So did Caleigh accidentally kill Eric her boyfriend on CSI: Miami? Who cares.
-Booth has amnesia on 'Bones'. Really? Please don't do this storyline. Please.
-Is Red Jane, the serial killer responsible for taking Patrick Jane's family from him, really going to be Alicia Witt? Why not. She's hot. Or at least she was during her two episode stint on the Sopranos in season 3.
-Peter Griffen made a great point on a recent 'Family Guy' episode. Why is the voice of adult Ted on 'HIMYM' Bob Saget? Ted is going to sound like Ted in 15 years, not Bob Saget.
-'Fringe' is awesome, I think I mentioned that.

Were also still enjoying 'Greek', have three episodes to catch up on and I think about four more to go this season. And the next season premieres on August 31...how great is that.

I think I am going to watch this show on TNT about the Hamptons doctor who makes house calls. That seems semi-entertaining.

FINAL THOUGHT ON 'BONES' FINALE:
Why do TV shows do episodes that are in the dreams of characters where we get to see our favorite characters act out as other characters like were watching a bad play? Booth and Bones finally get busy but its in a dream sequence where they own a night club? Way to ruin the build-up. Dumb, the whole creative concept is dumb. If I wanted to watch these people play other characters on a show that doesn't advance the plot one iota I would write my own fan fiction, thank you very much. Also this, fan fiction is ridiculous. If someone wanted you to write a episode of 'Lost', they would have asked.

Busy Week for the First Daughter

2009-05-20T15:43:00.002-05:00

Olivia Taylor started the week in a fight with her mother the President of the United States. 14 hours later she became the chief-of-staff and 8 hours after that her mother was having her arrested and turned over to the justice department for ordering a hit on a criminal while in FBI custody. What a day.

The crazy part is, the next day she showed up in New York City as a victim of rape and stalking. She told Detective's Stabler and Benson all about it and they got the guy. What a busy week.

I love it when all my shows seem to blend together thanks to the rise-and-fall in popularity of secondary character actors in Hollywood. I'll probably never see her again.

24 Finale was interesting and Introspective

2009-05-19T15:10:00.002-05:00

Here is my review. Pretend my name is Robert Bianco and I work for USAToday.

Desperate Housewives Finale was Stupid

2009-05-18T14:59:00.002-05:00

Yes it was.
We knew Dave was the bad guy for months now, so all we needed was a climactic ending. Well we got one, Dave decides at the last second to recreate the accident that killed his wife and daughter, only this time, Dave is going to have Mike kill Dave and Mike's son! Genius!

At an even laster second, Dave gets hit by Mike but he grew a conscience and let the kid out of the car. Sweet. Dave doesn't die, goes to a mental institution, and Mike kisses Susan. Now Mike is getting married, but is it Susan (again) or his fiancee Katherine. Ooooh, how will I make it all summer?

Meanwhile, since we already knew Dave was the bad guy AND you paid Lily Tomlin to show up, why not use her and Katherine Joosten more and have them actually solve the crime with the cops? You had this interplay going all season - why just downplay it in the finale? Dumb.

Bree's divorce proceedings? Boring.
Tom going back to college / Lynette pregnant again? Awful. Just kill them all.
Carlos and Gabby taking in a teen-gabby? Funny.
Rest of the show? Awful.

Is Your Show Coming Back in the Fall?

2009-05-18T14:54:00.002-05:00

Glad you asked. And glad I didn't have to do the leg work -- leave it to my good friend over at EW.com Michael Ausiello. Check back often this week as he is constantly updating the renewal/cancellation page.

Here are some highlights I bet you didn't know:

'Scrubs' is back. Yep. Wha? I already said goodbye and now she returns. A full season on ABC with only Zach Braff appearing in 6 of them.

'Dollhouse' was renewed. Now I better start watching - they are all DVR'd.

'Castle' is back, I enjoyed that show.

Click here for the full list

Lost Finale Breakdown...AK Style...

2009-05-14T10:17:00.002-05:00

Here you go. I will follow up with my own comments later. A lot to digest and I have 9 months to do so.

From AK:
What an awesome show. My first reactions are that I can't believe we have to wait 9 more months, followed soon thereafter by I cannot believe there is only one more season left.

I love being wrong about what is going on. I have to give credit to Annie though for at the very beginning of the two hours saying that "dead Locke" was in the box.

New thoughts on what is going on:

The guy at the beginning of the episode (who was awesome in Deadwood) on the beach with Jacob. Is it Esau? Going in a different direction from the Egyptian mythology angle... And going biblical; Jews in Egypt, maybe? For the simplicity of referring to him, I will just call him Esau.

Who is the biblical Esau:

Firstborn son of Isaac and Rebekah, and ancestor of the Edomites (Gen chap. 36). Popular etymologies (see Gen 25:25, 30) relate the name Esau to se'ar (hairy) "he was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau" (cf Seir, another name for the land of Edom) and to admoni (ruddy) and adom (red) "the first came forth red" (cf Edom).

Before Esau's birth, it was prophesied that Rebekah's elder son would serve the younger (Gen 25:23). In addition, Esau was born with his twin brother holding his heel, which was interpreted as a sign that Jacob would supplant him. This he did on two occasions: Jacob sold a bowl of lentils to Esau in exchange for the latter's birthright (Gen 25:29-34); and later, with Rebekah's help, he tricked Isaac into giving him the blessing intended for Esau, the firstborn son. Instead of receiving a blessing, Esau's fate was to dwell in the wilderness, live by the sword, and for a time serve his brother Jacob. Some have suggested that this destiny was realized when the Edomites "became David's servants" (II Sam 8:14) in the 10th century, but rebelled successfully against Judean rule (II Kgs 8:20) in the 9th.

In contrast to Jacob the shepherd, Esau was a "skilful hunter, a man of the field" (Gen 25:27), whose venison his father Isaac loved to eat. Esau vowed to kill Jacob (Gen 27:41ff), but when the two met some 20 years later, Esau, at the head of a 400-man army, forgave his brother.

This seems to fit the mold that Jacob on lost is in charge, but that Esau resents his role as leader.

The last sentence of the description above seems to resonate for not only Esau killing Jacob, but also potentially referencing the war of the coming season. Except, of course, in this case Esau (or Ben anyway) kills Jacob.

Esau presumably has the ability to take on the appearance of dead islanders... And I think we can assume that Esau has also been previously appearing as Christian Shepherd. I think it is safe to say that Christian Shepherd is still dead.

Ilyana made the comment, I cannot remember precisely, but more or less that someone else was pretending to be Jacob - right before they burned the cabin down. This seems to be a role reversal. Jacob steals Esau's birthright, and now Esau is taking it back under false pretenses.

Based on the dialog at the beginning, there was sort of an implied love, or at least comradarie between Esau and Jacob prior to Esau saying he wanted to kill Jacob if there were a loophole. Did God forbid one from killing the other?

Ben's line about Locke walking right in "like Moses" jumped out at me, and steered hard into the biblical interpretation of events.

I also am wondering if the boat that Jacob and Esau saw at the beginning of the episode was the Black Rock. Was Richard on it? Esau said that Jacob called for it. Does Jacob need Richard to be the caretaker for the island while he is gone?

Things I still wonder about:

Where is Claire?

Where has Jacob been? Has he been off the island for many years? I get the impression that Richard perhaps hadn't even seen him in years, and that he was stalling Locke because he didn't know if he would be there or not. Is it his absence that has allowed Esau the opportunity to pose as him.

Was the Rose and Bernard thing a simple farewell homage to them? Or was there something more going on there? It seemed like something was going on. Was Juliet holding her stomach as she walked away? Is she pregnant? Is she really dead?

Richard had told Sun that he watched all of her friends die "before his eyes" 30 years ago. I thought we were going to see Richard watching on at the gunfight. They didn't show that to us. He may have been there. If he wasn't, was the flash that ended the episode not realy the bomb going off? If the bomb did go off, I move up my prediction for the series finale to the series premiere next season... If the bomb did go off, we are going to see the remaining survivors boarding flight 815 to start the season. And then presumably the plane will crash again to get the season going? I don't know. I love not knowing.

And last but perhaps definitely most importantly - what was Richard's response to Ilyana's "What lies in the shadow of the statue?" What did he say? And perhaps more importantly, what language was it in?

The response to "What lies in the shadow of the statue?"
It was Latin and Richard answered "Our leader who will save us all!".........translated from "Ille qui nos omnes servabit"

The weaving that Jacob was working on:
Greek reading "may the gods grant thee all that thy heart desires"

'Fringe' Shocker -- big time

2009-05-13T13:49:00.003-05:00

Three things about the 'Fringe' finale that had my jaw drop.

1. They are going to go down the path of the existence of a similar but alternate reality as a major plot device. Wow. I am already dealing with time-travel and those consequences on 'Lost' (JJ Abrams) and now here comes 'Fringe' (JJ Abrams). Someone also told me it plays heavily into the new Star Trek movie (JJ Abrams). I wonder if someday Felicity will make a comeback so Carrie Russel can go back in time and not cut her hair off.

2. Peter is from the other reality. WOW. WOW, WOW, WOW. I figured it out about one second before the reveal. That's always the best way. No spoilers, no early guesses, and then BAM -- you know what they're about to tell you and there its right in your face. Wow. Peter died as a kid so Walter went over and 'took' Peter back. This means in the alternate world, which I assume we will one day spend some time in, Walter has a son who went missing as a child and was never found.

3. The final shot. Wow. Balsy but interesting. So in the alternate world, William Bell works in the World Trade Center. What a reveal as the camera pans out. Also revealed thanks to a newspaper in Bell's office - The White House had to be rebuilt for some reason for the Obamas, JFK is still alive, and so is Len Bias and the Celtics 'swept a series'.

This show is only getting better.