MSN TV Blog: Daytime

Hi Def TV: Crisp, Bright, But Sometimes Scary

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:55:49 GMT

Now, I love high def TV. It's great for sci fi shows, or episodes of "Nature" and "Nova." That said, not every show needs to be in high def, where every bulge and wrinkle stands out in sharp focus. If I was making a list of shows that shouldn't go high def, I think I'd put "Dr. Phil" at the top. Well, guess what? "Dr Phil" is going high def this fall:

"'My goal has always been to give our viewers the very best in show content, and now we are able to offer the very best broadcast quality,' said Dr. Phil McGraw, host and Executive Producer. 'This puts us on the cutting edge of technology.'"

Well, if this move finally inspires him to shave off that stupid mustache then I'm all for it.

- Posted by Kate

Tom Cruise Is Returning to 'Oprah'

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:29:57 GMT

Remember when Tom Cruise jumped on Oprah's couch? Of course you do! Well, Oprah has finally invited him back onto her show:

"Winfrey will interview Cruise from his home in Telluride, Colo., for the first show on May 2, which will cover his 'family, his life and the future,' Harpo said. Then on May 5, Cruise will appear in Winfrey's Chicago studio."

Supposedly Cruise is looking to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Risky Business with his dear, dear friend Oprah...but I have to wonder if his appearance on the show has more to do with silencing the rumors that he and Katie Holmes are dunzo.

- Posted by Kate

Dr. Phil Bails Out Florida Teen

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:28:08 GMT

Dr. Phil is "helping" yet another troubled young lady by trying to secure exclusive rights to her story. Mercades Nichols was one of eight teenagers arrested for beating up a classmate and videotaping the whole thing for YouTube. Yikes. The Tampa Tribune reports that staff members from "The Dr. Phil Show" paid Nichols' $33,000 bond on Friday night.

Oh, Dr. Phil, didn't you learn your lesson after you tried to counsel poor Britney Spears when no one was looking? I really think he's gone too far this time.

- Posted by Kate

Want To See A Guy Win $1 Million On 'The Price Is Right'?

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:34:26 GMT

Of course you do! The video is here. I loved the look of utter shock on his face. It was more like "I just shot somebody" than "I just won big."

- Posted by Kate

'Cashmere Mafia' vs. 'Lipstick Jungle'

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:24:06 GMT

Buzz Sugar has made a handy little chart on all the, um, differences between duelling "Sex and the City" ripoffs "Cashmere Mafia" and "Lipstick Jungle." I've been really up and down about "Cashmere Mafia" - sometimes it's fun, sometimes it's not. It's not quite the guilty pleasure I hoped for, though, so I'm glad it's got a little competition coming its way.

"Lipstick Jungle" premieres next Thursday after "Lost."

- Posted by Kate

How Well Do You Remember Season 3 of 'Lost'?

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:33:12 GMT

I guess today is quiz day: Buzz Sugar has posted an awesome (and hard!) quiz all about season three of "Lost." I got 9 out of 10.

ABC is reairing last season's finale tomorrow night, and Thursday is the big day. Are we excited? We're excited. Have we been dying for something smart on TV? Yup.

If you don't do well on the quiz keep in mind that ABC is streaming every single episode of "Lost" ever - for free. If you did well then check out this magical, hilarious site: Lost Body Count. They have fake obituaries for everyone who dies on the show!

"Nick a vessel in his back, Jack. / Beat 'em with a Jesus stick, Dick. / Rig the tents with decoys, Roy. / Just listen to me. / Hit 'em with a Dharma bus, Gus. / Don't need to discuss, Russ! / Turn the failsafe key, Lee. / And set Smokey free. Why, there must be 50 ways to kill the Others!"

- Posted by Kate

Tyra Feels Hillary's Pain

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:17:06 GMT

Hillary Clinton taped an appearance on "The Tyra Banks Show" yesterday. The show will air Friday, and it sounds like it gets awfully personal. She talked about Bill's affair and how it made her feel. People has the story:

"I really had to dig down deep and think hard about what was right for me, what was right for my family...I never doubted Bill’s love for me ever, and I never doubted my faith and my commitment to our daughter and our extended family...The momentary feelings — you know, you are mad, you are really upset, you are disappointed — all of that goes through your mind. I have found you really shouldn’t make decisions in the heat of those moments."

Well, at least we can move on from tears in New Hampshire once this airs.

- Posted by Kate

Ellen Over Oprah?

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:02:23 GMT

According to a recent poll, Ellen Degeneres has beat out Oprah Winfrey as America's favorite television personality. Hollywood Reporter has the story:

"The popular entertainer catapulted from the No. 8 spot last year to push Winfrey into second place. Winfrey had reigned the Harris Poll's favorite television stars list for five consecutive years. DeGeneres stirred an outpouring of public support last year when she sobbed on TV over a puppy she adopted that was taken back by an animal rescue group after she gave it to her hairstylist's family without the agency's permission."

They're giving all the credit to the puppy. What do you guys think?

- Posted by Kate

Dr. Phil Decides to Leave Britney Alone

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:02:16 GMT

Dr. Phil has decided to hold his tongue for once. McGraw was set to air a special episode of his show devoted to Britney Spears's recent meltdown. Dr. Phil claims that Britney's family asked him to visit her at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, but he was still being criticized in the press for what can obviously be seen as ambulance chasing. Dr. Phil has now pulled the Britney special...but replaced it with a segment on cyber-bullying centered around the death of Megan Meier. That's hardly an improvement. Hey, Dr. Phil, what are you thinking?

- Posted by Kate

There's No Such Thing as a Free Donut

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:34:02 GMT

I really got a kick out of this funny account of a disappointing visit to a live taping of "The Rachael Ray Show" posted on Best Week Ever.

"She never warmed up to the crowd, and barely made eye contact. I couldn’t help feel disappointed. Almost like that time when I was 7 and I accidentally walked into the dressing room at Chuck E. Cheese’s and saw Mr. Munch (my favorite character) with his head off scratching his balls."

Hee. I think I'm one of the few cooking show devotees out there who has no strong feelings one way or the other about Rachael Ray. I guess that's because I've saved up all of my bitterness for Sandra Lee.

- Posted by Kate

Drew Carey Makes His Debut

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:23:08 GMT

In about half an hour we'll see Drew Carey host "The Price Is Right" for the first time. There will be new sets, some new models, and some new...new cars!

There's been a lot of skepticism in the blogosphere about Drew Carey's ability to fill Bob Barker's shoes. Carey himself had his doubts, and turned down the job at first:

'If you think I’m going to sit at ‘The Price Is Right’ so everybody can take potshots at me, forget it,' he remembers thinking."

Apparently his friends talked him into it. What do you guys think? Will you watch "The Price Is Right" with Drew as host?

- Posted by Kate

More Daytime TV

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 01:02:30 GMT

So I've now caught up with a couple new (relatively speaking) pieces of daytime fare.

Today was the premiere of the syndicated show "Jury Duty," which mystifies me a little. I mean, when you think of "Jury Duty" is the first thing that comes to mind, "a show I want to watch"? Or is it "a burdensome experience that anybody in their right mind hopes to get out of"?

The concept is "Hollywood Squares" meets "People's Court": D-list celebrities sit as juries and decide cases. So really, the show should be called "Celebrity Jury" or something.

As it turns out, "Jury Duty" is about as unpleasant as it sounds, if its first episode is any indication. The jurors were Phyllis Diller, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Alonzo Boden, former winner of "Last Comic Standing." You'd think there'd be more humor to it with that kind of lineup. But it was just painful.

I also finally got to watch an episode of "The Steve Wilkos Show." It was definitely different from what I expected. I'm not necessarily sure that's a good thing or not.

Steve rose to fame as the bullet-headed bodyguard on "Jerry Springer," and I imagined that his show would be a campy, skanky spinoff of it.

But while "Jerry" seems all too fake, "Steve" has guests who seem to be who they say they are. Where Springer runs his show with mild-mannered sarcasm, Wilkos gets in his guests' face and seems just a wrong word from giving them the butt-whuppin' they richly deserve. And while "Jerry" guests routinely fight over the same issues of one of them stealing someone else's baby daddy, "Steve" guests have more serious things going on.

In the episode I sampled, one guest claimed she was being stalked by her ex and another repoed her mom's ring from her stepfather who she alleged (and lie-detectors indicated) had molested her. It's much harder to take that sort of stuff lightly.

As his film said, Jerry sees himself as a ringmaster. Steve seems to see himself as both judge and prosecutor. "That's what this show is about, baby," he told one guest. "[Standing] up to the bad guy and I'm right in your face."

But does that make entertaining TV? Not so much, in my book.

- posted by Raoul

Daytime Gets a Bunch of Newbies

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 02:26:48 GMT

This week, a whole bunch of new syndicated shows are getting added to daytime TV.

Here's a rundown, with my quick takes on the ones I've gotten to watch. Basically, none of them seem to be things to go out of my way to watch, but none of them are things I would turn the channel from automatically if they were on either.

"Judge David Young": When I first saw the press release for the show touting that David Young is the first ever openly gay judge, I was like, "What does that matter?" I mean, is he going to wear a rainbow colored robe instead of the standard black one? Or say things like, "My judgment is...you look FAB-U-LOUS!"? Well, he did decide to accessorize his robe with a silver penguin pin, of all things. And in clips, he does say stuff like, "Denial isn't just a river in Egypt" and do the two-snaps thing. Does he stand out from the half-dozen or so court show judges who are out there beyond that? A little. In the episode in Monday he talked about checking out people's butts. Try that, Judge Judy! On the plus side, after the case was over, he took a few minutes to explain to his audience why he reached the decision he did.

"TMZ": The TV version of the celebrity gossip website is a guilty pleasure, with more of the emphasis on the "guilty" part. I have to admit I laughed a bunch of times. In the first installment, the powers that be packed in a whole bunch of segments in 30 minutes about such subjects as the Britney appearance at the VMAs (where they pronounced her career dead; the Kid Rock-Tommy Lee fight; Joe Jackson, father of Michael and the rest of the crew, not getting to be the old guy in some club; a bunch of random drunk girls flashing the camera, flaunting or fighting; a bunch of celebrity fashion faux-pas and more. But my boss may want to get his hate on for the show: they dared call Henry Winkler "the Fonzasaurus" and make fun of him for signing autographs. The question also remains: Why spend a half-hour or so watching on TV what you can get from four minutes of scrolling through the website, which seems to have most of those stories and some that weren't included?

"Temptation": I like the idea of this game show better than the execution, I think. Three contestants answer a number of pretty easy trivia questions to earn Temptation dollars. Periodically, the host will offer the person in the lead special offers to get them to give up or at least reduce their lead. The person who has the most Temptation dollars at the end wins the chance to win fabulous prizes. I can't really point to anything in particular that was a problem. It was just kind of blah.

"Merv Griffin's Crosswords": I actually think this was better than your typical game show because a) you had to actually know something and b) it has the potential to be fast-changing. It starts off with two main contestants solving crossword clues like "Screened correspondence?" (answer: email). There's an equivalent of "Double Jeopardy." But then three more players enter the game. If both the main players can't get an answer right, these "spoilers" have a chance to answer correctly and reduce one of the main players to a spoiler. The person with the most points by the end of the game, obviously, wins.

"The Steve Wilkos Show": The bouncer from "The Jerry Springer Show" gets to step out on his own. I didn't get to catch this yet.

- posted by Raoul

Whoopi Clarifies Her Vick Stance

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 02:35:26 GMT

In fairness, I should point out that Whoopi Goldberg has now updated her view about Michael Vick and dogfighting. She says when she described it as a Southern thing she wasn't trying to excuse it. She was merely trying to explain it.

I'll take her at her word. But as Eric Deggans from the St. Pete Times says, there's the factor of someone black appearing to defend someone black.

Would Whoopi have described dogfighting as a Southern thing if it was, say, Brett Favre who was guilty of it? Maybe.

- posted by Raoul

Whoopi Debuts on 'The View'

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:10:42 GMT

Today marks the start of Whoopi Goldberg's era on "The View," and if it's going to be any less tumultuous than the reign of Rosie, her first show wasn't a very good indication of that.

Whoopi took it upon herself to use her platform to defend Michael Vick for his little dogfighting habit.

She basically said it's a Southern thang, and we wouldn't understand.

You know what? I bet a lot of Southerners feel pretty offended to be associated with someone who drowns and electrocutes dogs for fun.

But hey, saying something controversial's probably a good way to get some publicity.

Any of you check out Whoopi's first show? If so, what'd you think?

- posted by Raoul

The Price Is Not Quite Right

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 02:19:43 GMT

Drew Carey's already had a brush with injury on "The Price Is Right."

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.

But I have to say I'm surprised the Grocery Game could cause someone to have to file for workman's comp.

Maybe Bob Barker should have passed on some safety tips before passing on the torch.

- posted by Raoul

Bob Barker Comes on Down for the Last Time

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:12:59 GMT

Set your TiVos for June 15. That's the day the final episode of "The Price Is Right" with Bob Barker as host will air, twice.

It filmed yesterday, and I wish the guy all the best.

"TPIR" is one of the shows I grew up watching when I was at my grandmother's house, so I remember fondly guessing what needed to be done to win a new car, wondering at why people were jerks who bid one dollar over the next-highest bidder and so on. For a while, I even told people while in kindergarten or so that I'd gone on the show and won a bunch of money.

Bob Barker made the show what it is.

Whoever gets chosen to replace him will have his work cut out for him.

Till next time, get your pets spayed or neutered.

- posted by Raoul

VOTE: Who Should Replace Rosie on 'The View'?

Tue, 01 May 2007 15:58:41 GMT

As Rosie O'Donnell begins dropping hints that she may end up at CBS, speculation about who will, and who should, replace her on "The View" is heating up.

From this list of celebs rumored to be contenders to take over Rosie's "View" gig, who do you think should get the job? (Vote in the comments section).

- Roseanne Barr

- Whoopi Goldberg

- Megan Mullally

- Connie Chung

- Sherri Shepherd

- Ann Coulter

- Joan Rivers

- Kathie Lee Gifford

I would love to see Sherri Shepherd join the show, as she's the most down to earth guest host the show's ever had, she's personable, funny and always seems interested and able to contribute to the Hot Topics sessions, which many of the guest hosts have not been able or willing to do.

But, as it's undeniable that the show has benefited, ratings-wise and entertainment-wise, from having hosts with dissenting viewpoints, I'd also love to see Roseanne sit in with the other women, even if just on a part-time basis.

As for the rest, Joan Rivers is too jokey (and that's Joy Behar's purpose on the show), Connie Chung is too staid (that wacky video of her signing off her MSNBC show last year aside), Megan Mullally is too bland (as her own, quickly-canceled talk show proved), Whoopi Goldberg is too hippy-dippy, Ann Coulter is too vile, and Kathie Lee is, well, too Kathie Lee. Plus, dear God, didn't we hear enough Cody stories when she was with Reeg?

- posted by Kim

Another Departure on 'The View'?

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:51:51 GMT

Just when you think Rosie O'Donnell has wrung every bit of drama possible out of "The View," Fox News is reporting that co-star Elizabeth Hasselbeck, Rosie's frequent sparring partner as the show's conservative voice, will announce this morning on the show that she's pregnant and due in the fall. That would mean yet another seat would be vacated, at least temporarily, while Hasselbeck is out on maternity leave.

Without Rosie and Elizabeth, really, is there ANY reason to watch the show?

- posted by Kim

Rosie: The Day After

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 16:11:33 GMT

Lots happening in the aftermath of Rosie O'Donnell's announcement yesterday that she's leaving "The View" at the end of the season:

- The New York Post reports that Rosie wanted ABC to fire Barbara Walters and let her take over the show. That's a pretty bold, backstabbing move if it's true, though it should be taken with a grain of salt seeing as how the story is coming from the Rupert Murdoch-owned Post, and Murdoch has been on O'Donnell's hit list.

- Fox News reports that Rosie wanted $10 million--for one season!--to stick around. That's a lot of dough, though considering how much she keeps the show in the news, maybe it would have been a wise investment for the network.

- Of course, The Donald has been getting his slice of the publicity run-off, claiming Rosie was fired, and that it was because of something she said about him. In other news, The Donald has become a cartoon, officially now.

- Meanwhile, in news that probably won't come as a big surprise, buzz is that Rosie will begin shopping her own show, thought to be more discussion show than celebrity gabfest, for fall 2008.

I'm sure she'll be able to make a deal for a new show, but I think the powers that be--and maybe Rosie herself--may be overestimating her solo appeal. Like her or not, the reason "The View's" ratings jumped the season wasn't just because of what she was saying, but also because of the way she interacted with the other hosts. If she's given a show where she can basically sit around and rant, unchecked, I think even the people who like her are going to find her uber-annoying.

- posted by Kim

Rosie's Leaving 'The View'; Alec Baldwin's Visiting

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:32:50 GMT

So, Rosie's pending departure wasn't the only big news at "The View" this morning. The gang announced that Alec Baldwin will appear on the show Friday morning, to discuss the recent voicemail scandal with his daughter, and his long-running custody battle with ex-wife Kim Basinger.

So, two questions: First, some of you have already left comments about Rosie, and most of those people say they're happy she's leaving. Anyone feel differently? Even if you dislike her, anyone appreciate that, at least, she was the spark for some good conversation about various political and social topics?

Second, who's interested in hearing what Baldwin has to say? His rant, and the names he called his daughter, are inexcusable, but I've heard so many parents defend him. Are they just identifying because of bad behavior on their own part? Is Baldwin just a bad guy with an out of control temper? Or can you empathize with his situation? Let's hear what you parents think …

- posted by Kim

'Ellen,' 'Guiding Light' Lead Daytime Emmys Noms

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:47:02 GMT

Go Ellen. A fine job hosting the Oscars, and now a dozen Daytime Emmy nominations for her daytime talk show. She's not having a bad year at all.

Other leading contenders for the June 15 awards: The CBS soap "Guiding Light," which leads all nominees with 17 nods, followed by CBS's "As the World Turns" with 16; retiring "The Price Is Right" host Bob Barker for best game show host; newbie "View" star Rosie O'Donnell for best talk show host; and "Sesame Street" and "The Young and the Restless," which tied with "Ellen" with 12 nods each.

- posted by Kim

Sweet Caroline

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 22:50:25 GMT

After last night's "Prison Break," I'll never be able to hear that song again without thinking icky thoughts.

We finally have the president herself show up and find out what was on the incriminating recording.

Michael's so-called brilliant plan is to hand her a note letting her know about the recording they have with Steadman. He gets captured and worked over by Kim. Then the president wants to talk to Michael. He makes a deal: immediate pardons for him and Linc, or they'll release the tape. (Nice job not getting pardons for Sara, Sucre or C-Note, BTW.) And the tape has Terence and Caroline not just having a conversation after his supposed death, but them yearning for some hot incest action.

OMG...why did they have to go there? It puts an extra little spin on Terrence's attitude towards Kellerman's "schoolboy crush," though.

Now that I'm finished gagging, I can tell you that at first she's going to go forward with this plan. But then Kim says that the conspiracy knows some of her secrets too. And so she invents a cancer that prevents her from continuing her campaign.

Lincoln hooks up with an old friend who's arranged passage on a ship to South America, along with $50 spending money and a six-pack of beer.

Mahone figures out the hotel everyone's holed up in, but for some reason takes 10 flights of stairs instead of the elevator. That enables the boys to get away. He seems to be tweaking, and Sara bonds over being a fellow addict. Then when his guard is down, she grabs his gun and bolts. But really, he was playing so that his co-worker could tail Sara to the boys.

T-Bag is about to pick up his suitcase of cash when he spots Bellick getting his own suitcase. Instead of playing it cool and getting the suitcase later or having someone pick up his bag for him, T-Bag freaks out. He goes into an employees-only area to pick it up and gets in a fight with a baggage handler. He's forced to flee before picking it up. Sucre is chilling with Maricruz when he sees a news story about T-Bag and figures that he's looking for the money. But Bellick shows up and has Sucre trapped...until Sucre dangles the prospect of going after the $5 mil in exchange for his freedom.

C-Note, as it turns out, doesn't die after all. One of the guards sees him and cuts him down. That freaks C-Note out, because he thinks his family will have to pay the price. But one of Mahone's co-workers catches the scent of impropriety and wants to cut C-Note a new deal if he rats on Mahone.

- posted by Raoul

Rosie to Spread Her Wings and Fly Solo?

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 07:19:07 GMT

Will Rosie leave "The View" to do another talk show of her own? Signs point to yes, says this article.

I think she might as well.

If Steve from "Jerry Springer" can be given his own talk show, who doesn't deserve one?

And exactly why be one of four voices when she could be running things? Why have to listen to what Barbara Walters says or put up with the token conservative Christian Elisabeth Hasselbeck says when she could be the undisputed heavyweight?

The real question is what happens to "The View" if she does end up taking off. Since her arrival, she's helped ratings and publicity a great deal.

I wonder if they would try to bring Star back.

If she does get her own show, I hope she has Donald Trump as her first guest.

- posted by Raoul

Sally Spectra Dies

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:02:26 GMT

R.I.P. daytime soap star Darlene Conley, a.k.a. "The Bold and the Beautiful's" Flamboyant Sally Spectra, who died on Sunday after a short battle with stomach cancer. Conley spent more than five decades (!) as an actress, including stints on "Days of Our Lives," "General Hospital" and "The Young and the Restless."

- posted by Kim

Springer, The Sequel

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 16:02:56 GMT

Didn't Megan Mullally's failed talk show teach TV execs anything? Like the fact that, just become someone has endeared themselves to viewers in one arena, doesn't mean viewers will flock to them in just any old role?

Apparently, this is a lesson still lost on them, because NBC Universal honchos are in talks to give "Jerry Springer Show" security dude Steve Wilkos his own talk show.

Let's be honest: As the frequent fights on "Springer" prove, Steve-o can't even do the job he has now.

- posted by Kim

Rosie Quitting 'The View'?!

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 22:40:16 GMT

Whoa, say it isn't so, Rosie O'Donnell. Now that "The View," for the first time in its 10-year history, has become must-see-TV, O'Donnell reportedly told the audience at today's taping that she's been offered a full-time gig on "Nip/Tuck."

The star, who almost singlehandedly has made the show appointment viewing this season after joining the show following Star Jones' very public firing, has been offered a role that would make her the new female lead on the FX drama, reprising her role as newbie lottery winner Dawn Budge. If she signs on, Budge would make life interesting for Sean and Christian as the owner of their plastic surgery business.

O'Donnell told the audience that joining the cast (FX earlier appoached her about doing a spin-off series centered around the Budge character) would require a 15-week shoot in Los Angeles, and though she didn't say whether or not she would definitely do it, Access Hollywood.com reports that she "sounded very much like she's leaning towards it."

So ... what does this mean for her duties on "The View"? With four children and a four-month-plus L.A. shoot, it would seem pretty difficult to also star on a live show in NY, no?

- posted by Kim

Oprah Takes a Road Trip

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 16:09:00 GMT

I just checked out the premiere of Rachel Ray's new daytime talk show, and let's just say that when you subtract cooking from the equation, she's as self involved as Kelly Ripa and nearly as grating as, well, again, Kelly Ripa.

Ray's show does feature a nifty little take on her Food Network "30 Minute Meals" concept with a segment in which she cooks a meal in seven minutes. It's the most bearable seven minutes of the show …

Elsewhere in daytime TV today, "The Megan Mullally Show" premieres (check your local listings for time and channel) and proves once and for all whether or not viewers will be creeped out by hearing her speak in her own voice, and not the squeaky pitch of Karen Walker, and Oprah kicks off her 21st season (again, check your local listings for time and channel) with an episode in which she and best pal Gayle road trip from Los Angeles to New York. The hubby and I have a similar road trip planned (though flipped, starting in N.Y. and ending in L.A.), so I'm kinda anxious to see what cool stuff those two will find along the way. Just a hunch, but I'm guessing they won't be staying at Motel 6.

- posted by Kim

I'm Just Not That Into 'Greg'

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 17:18:39 GMT

Today marks the debut of "The Greg Behrendt Show," hosted by a former stand-up comedian who wrote for "Sex and the City" and then became a relationship expert.

It started off fairly slow, with the audience seeming a little blank. Greg told a story about an ex of his who got a couple of goldfish. Her goldfish got eaten by Greg's goldfish, which maddened the ex to the point where she told Greg's fish that he would "rue the day" and locked it in a closet as punishment. Yeah, I didn't laugh either.

So for the first show, we got to see Greg help a bunch of people through relationship issues.

For instance, we get to meet Zach and Krystal. Zach had trust issues and got angry whenCrystal visited an ex to get closure. She didn't care about he felt about that. He says he would do anything for her and wants to protect her from the world. Greg scrawls what each of them wants from the other on a blackboard. (BTW, they really need to eliminate the blackboard part, because his handwriting is so bad it just isn't helping.) In the end, Greg tells Zach that he needs to work on Zach and go to therapy. They decide to stay together and get an extra night in L.A. and a romantic dinner as a reward.

Ashley broke up with her cheating boyfriend of three years, but gained 15 pounds mooning over the breakup and still thinks that she made a mistake. This gave Greg a chance to pimp some of the terminology from his books: that she needs to go on a 60-day He-Tox, where she doesn't call him, tries not to think about him, and talks to a designated Breakup Buddy to help keep her on the straight and narrow. He tries to reinforce that she doesn't deserve to be cheated on.

You get the drill.

He also had "Greg's Five Spot," sort of half a Top 10 list. In this case, the subject was ways to tell you've broken up, and the number one was "Your birthday present is a restraining order." And there were a few bad breakup stories, including a woman who had a friend pretend she got killed in an accident after a breakup and a man who sicced the INS on his ex-girlfriend's new man.

I'm sure I'm not the target audience here. But after one episode, it grated when Greg said "Dude" a half-dozen times or threw out one of his proverbs from or plugged one of his books. I'd be hard-pressed to imagine watching a season of him doing that.

- posted by Raoul

Oprah to visit 'The View'

Thu, 04 May 2006 03:53:12 GMT

A week from Friday, the big O will be on "The View" to promote her upcoming special, "Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball." I have to say that I actually think that will be a cool show. The Ball, I mean. Too bad it's on the same night as the finale for "24."

But are you Oprah fans going to tune in? It seems doubtful to me that you would see another side to Oprah than the one that she displays on her own show regularly, so what's the point?

- posted by Raoul

Star Jones to See Co-workers in her Rear-View Mirror?

Wed, 03 May 2006 02:38:02 GMT

Those gossips over at the New York Post have speculation a-brewing that Star Jones Reynolds is planning to head out from "The View."

She's allegedly miffed that Rosie O'Donnell is being brought on board and that nobody wanted her to have the Meredith Veira role.

Now I've never watched more than a few minutes of "The View." But who doesn't like a good catfight in the making?

- posted by Raoul

THE Must-See-Video Clip of the Week

Sat, 18 Feb 2006 01:41:50 GMT

VH-1's brilliant "Best Week Ever" folks do a mash-up on "Oprah's" infamous Tom Cruise episode with "Oprah's" infamous flogging of lyin' author James Frey to get "Tom Cruise on Oprah: The Way It Should've Been." That's some damn fine editing right there, people.

- posted by Kim

Harrison Ford on 'Martha': A Good Thing?

Wed, 15 Feb 2006 21:18:09 GMT

It's definitely a weird thing. I guess we know now what happens to the world's leading box office champ when he not only can't open a movie at #1 any longer, but in fact opens a movie in fourth place, behind a teen horror movie sequel's sequel and a cartoon monkey. Albeit a cute cartoon monkey, but still …

So, set your TiVos and DVRs for tomorrow's "Martha," featuring guest and "Firewall" star Ford, where, the promo clip shows, he'll play along with an audience Q&A that will feature such highlights as a teen girl asking the 63-year-old how he stays "so fit and hot."

By the way, it turns out Ford actually isn't the leading box office earner among Hollywood stars any longer. Can you guess who is? Post your guesses in the comments section, then check here to see if you were correct.

- posted by Kim

Her Nose! Her Nose! Her Nose!

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 01:27:17 GMT

O.K., I'm not saying violence is funny and I'm not saying that Star Jones is rather difficult to like, but even her producer on "The View" admits that he can't get enough of seeing her hit in the puss with a football, Marcia Brady-style. Enjoy, people!

- posted by Kim

Daytime Talkers March Forward

Mon, 12 Dec 2005 08:48:32 GMT

Martha's "Apprentice" may be a one-shot deal, but her daytime show "Martha" has officially gotten a second season.

Variety adds that Tyra Banks' talk show is expected to also be renewed, and a talk show is in the works by that guy who wrote for "Sex in the City" and who is behind "He's Just Not That Into You."

Are you going to be tuning in to any of these?

- posted by Raoul

Tyra Takes a Walk on the Fat Side

Thu, 03 Nov 2005 04:01:14 GMT

For her new talk show, model Tyra Banks donned a fat suit to see how she might get treated if she didn't have that fabulous body. The not-so-surprising answer: pretty badly.

The show's going to air Monday. It should be worth a look.

Hey, I wonder if Tyra's new consciousness about how overweight people get treated means that a token plus-size contestant will eventually have a chance to win "America's Next Top Model."

- posted by Raoul

Martha's Gettin' Up Close and Personal

Sat, 29 Oct 2005 02:24:20 GMT

Don't know about all of you, but after reading this EW.com post about what Martha Stewart's been up to on her daytime show, I'm thinkin' I've been missing out! Tales of gingerbread houses that sparked divorce, trying to sneak men into her bedroom, prison fights…yep, I'm tuning in from now on.

- posted by Kim

Megan Mullally Heading to Daytime

Mon, 24 Oct 2005 21:21:14 GMT

Megan Mullally is, of course, best known for being Karen on "Will & Grace." But she's already lined up a plan for when that show ends it run at the end of this season: hosting her own daytime show.

The question is whether she can make her own way in a field that includes Martha Stewart, Tyra Banks and Oprah. I'm pretty skeptical.

- posted by Raoul

Oprah's Most Wanted

Fri, 07 Oct 2005 19:38:36 GMT

A big "You go, girl!" to Oprah. Once again her show has helped police nab a suspect in a sexual assault. And if you click on the link, you'll see he's a particularly skeezy looking character.

Maybe she needs to team up with John Walsh and take an even bigger bite out of crime.

- posted by Raoul

'Martha' Makes Its Debut

Mon, 12 Sep 2005 20:06:08 GMT

Did you all catch the first "Martha" this morning? I tuned in mostly out of curiosity. Keeping in mind that I'm not exactly the target audience, I thought it went reasonably well. Not as funny as I think they think they were being, but what can you do?

Her first guest was Marcia Cross from "Desperate Housewives," and she started off by joking with a producer about how Bree was modeled after her. They showed the scene where Bree shows up to Rex's motel and disrobes to reveal her hot red bra and panties. "That's totally me," Martha said.

One mediocre theme song later, Martha told her studio audience, "I'm unfettered, I'm free, no ankle bracelet." Then they did a joke, in the loosest possible sense of the word, where a lot of the show's staff was wearing ankle bracelets.

They had a shout-out to the victims of Katrina, including some previously taped segments from previous Martha trips to New Orleans where they showed some of the great traditional N'awlins cuisine like beignets, po' boys and oysters. And Martha showed deference to 9/11. "It's still kind of raw."

Then they brought on Marcia Cross, who Martha called "Bree" about four times. Martha showed her some strange anal-retentive way to fold a t-shirt and gave her a "Martha" t-shirt with the instructions on how to fold a t-shirt printed on it. They talked about "DH" for a little bit, but didn't reveal anything you probably don't know. Although Martha seemed to be operating under the misapprehension that Bree killed Rex.

Then Martha showed Marcia how to make scrambled eggs. Marcia had to be faking a little helplessness, because pretty much anybody can cook scrambled eggs. But when Martha told her to cut off some butter (obviously to grease the pan), Marcia put it in the eggs itself. They then proceeded to cook the eggs (with a little heavy cream, in case you're wondering) and for reasons unbeknownst to me they squeezed it back into a boiled egg shell.

After that, they had Martha surprise two sisters who cook at a dinner. I was trying to figure out how it could be a surprise when there was at least one camera there before Martha's arrival. The sisters later came to the studio and showed Martha how to make their type of meatballs.

I guess this all bodes well for "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart." Any of the rest of you interested in checking it out?

- posted by Raoul

Martha and Marcia, Together at Last

Wed, 07 Sep 2005 16:55:44 GMT

Marcia Cross, who plays a Stepfordized version of Martha Stewart on "Desperate Housewives," will help launch Martha Stewart's daytime talker Sept. 12.

Other guests the first week include David Spade and Diddy. Diddy, according to Zap2it, will be teaching Martha to rap. Which is just what we need: "All of y'all put your hands together! MC Martha in the hizzouse!!!"

Back to Marcia Cross, I wonder if Martha will return the favor and appear on "DH." Bree and Martha mixing it up ... now that's entertainment.

Meanwhile, have you all caught the 7Up Plus ad featuring Marcia and fellow "DHer" Nicollette Sheridan? What's your verdict: funny or lame?

- posted by Raoul

Ashlee Simpson to Appear on 'Oprah'

Fri, 26 Aug 2005 18:00:39 GMT

You may remember word a little while back that Ashlee Simpson was hoping to return to the scene of her lip-synching debacle, "Saturday Night Live."

Now comes word from her manager/father that she's postponing a "SNL" re-appearance (most likely translation: "SNL" said "Hell no!") and has set up an appearance for "Oprah" to promote her new album, "I Am Me."

I guess in addition to wider exposure, Ashlee gets one other benefit from doing "Oprah." If she has another spectacular singing breakdown, Big O will be a lot more sympathetic about it than the cast of "SNL" would be.

- posted by Raoul

Five More Years of 'Dr. Phil'

Thu, 04 Aug 2005 23:04:34 GMT

Dr. Phil McGraw will be slapping sense into dysfunctional guests through 2013-2014 as a result of this new contract. Glad to hear it? Or do you think the act will have run itself ragged by then?

- posted by Raoul

Will Too Many Marthas Spoil the Broth?

Tue, 02 Aug 2005 23:43:01 GMT

How's this for some Martha Stewart mania? The domestic diva is recruiting a small army of less-famous Martha Stewarts (and Martha Stuarts) for a special episode of her new show "Martha."

Is it wrong for me to hope that a "Highlander"-style battle to break out with various kitchen implements, ending with a bloody and bruised Martha proclaiming, "There can only be one"?

- posted by Raoul