Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2008 > June
June 2008
Join me for a chat about reality TV
Don’t forget to read my column on summer reality TV in Tuesday’s Life & Arts section … and stop back here for a live chat Tuesday at 1 p.m. about your likes and dislikes in the dog-days of reality TV.
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Strike or no strike tonight? That’s the question.
At midnight tonight the actors’ contracts with producers expire.
Strike or no strike? That’s the question.
This article offers a very good look at the squabbles and sad possibilities looming as the Screen Actors Guild not only argues with producers — but threatens a smackdown with its fellow acting union AFTRA (American Federation of Television & Radio Artists).
In a nutshell: AFTRA has recommended a deal to its membership (similar to the new-media revenue gains acquired by writers and directors not too long ago). A vote will be taken July 8. SAG, a bigger union that also includes many of the AFTRA membership, thinks that deal doesn’t go far enough.
Alan Rosenberg, the SAG chief, tried to calm the waters on Sunday by insisting that there are no plans for a strike, that negotiations will continue past the contract deadline if necessary, and everybody should take a deep breath.
In the meantime, alliances are being formed behind certain actors: Tom Hanks is urging SAG to sign the darn deal and move on. Jack Nicholson is urging members to use their clout and hold out for more.
It’s ugly and getting uglier. The fall TV season already has been hit hard by the writers’ strike last winter. Development projects never got off the ground, and the number of new fall series reflect that. ABC, for example, only has two newcomers on its fall schedule.
We’ll keep tabs on this … and hope a deal is made soon.
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This week’s TV highlights
Hundreds of channels, hours and hours of programming. So much to watch, so little time. Here are some highlights to get you started on your week of viewing.
Sunday
“U.S. Olympic Trials,” 7 p.m. on NBC — Swimmers compete for spots on the team for Beijing. There’s no way multiple gold-medal-winner Michael Phelps, whose arm span appears to be half the length of a football field, won’t make a big splash.
“The Factory,” 9 p.m. on Spike TV — A semi-scripted sitcom about four working stiffs at a small-town factory. They see their jobs as a welcome break from the horrors of home. Much of it is sexist and politically incorrect, but you can’t help but laugh at some of it.
Monday
“Third World’s War,” 9 p.m. on PBS — Historian Niall Ferguson hosts the three-part series exploring the premise that wars are perpetual and perhaps unavoidable and makes the case for another massive conflict enveloping the world again in the 21st century. Depressing but provocative.
“All About Dung,” 8 p.m. on History — Come on, it’s intriguing, don’t you think? The network publicity department describes this as “a safari to investigate the historical, medical, scientific and evolutionary importance of excrement and what it reveals to researchers.” Oprah has done this topic, too, so how gross can it be?
Tuesday
“Nova,” 7 p.m. on PBS — In anticipation of Friday’s July Fourth celebrations, the science series takes an up-close look at how fireworks are made and set off. Mmmm … sparkles.
Wednesday
“Shear Genius,” 9 p.m. on Bravo — A short haircut challenge (not everybody has manes!) has the stylists creating sexy short styles on the gals from “Real Housewives of Orange County.’’ By the way, does host (and former “Charlie’s Angels” star) Jaclyn Smith ever have a bad hair day?
“Primetime Crime,” 9 p.m. on ABC — Like all the other network magazines, this one has adopted a “whodunit” genre. But compared to NBC’s “Dateline” and CBS’ “48 Hours,” it’s pretty classy.
Thursday
“Fear Itself,” 9 p.m. on NBC — The summer anthology series continues with a scary story about a rookie cop (Elisabeth Moss) who finds herself dealing with a deranged serial killer known as “The Eater.” Gulp.
Friday
“A Capitol Fourth,” 7 p.m. on PBS — No patience for heat and bugs on July 4? Check out the 90-minute gala from Washington, hosted by Jimmy Smits and featuring the National Symphony Orchestra, Huey Lewis, Taylor Hicks and Jerry Lee Lewis. You’ll be glad you have HD when the fiery kabooms erupt.
Other patriotic galas: “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular” (8 p.m. on NBC) from New York, and “Freedom Over Texas” (8 p.m. on KEYE) from Houston.
Saturday
“Wimbledon Ladies Final,” 8 a.m. on NBC — American women to root for? Maybe, but the tennis should be terrific anyway. Champagne and strawberries, anyone?
“Fantastic Four,” 8 p.m. on FX — If you’re sick of spending big bucks on all the comic-book movies out now, this 2005 flick is free … and fun.
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Carlin hosts “SNL,” Scott McClellan on access TV, etc.
George Carlin, who died June 22 from heart failure, will host this weekend’s edition of “Saturday Night Live” (10:30 p.m. on NBC).
The 1975 repeat is historic: It was “SNL’s” premiere episode. As host, Carlin introduced the Not Ready for Prime Time Players — which included Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris and Larraine Newman.
Carlin also performed three monologues and a couple of sketches. The late Andy Kaufman did a quick and appropriately bizarre routine. Music guests were Janis Ian and Billy Preston.
If you’re in the mood for a Carlin tribute AND a trip down memory lane, check it out Saturday night.
But wait, there’s more Scott McClellan!
Former White House spokesman Scott McClellan, whose tell-all book “What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception” exploded onto the best-seller list, has been chatting up his book and slamming the Bushies for weeks now.
When he returned to his hometown last Saturday (June 21) for a book-signing and discussion at Austin’s BookPeople, local TV producer David Kobierowski was on hand to tape the Q&A session for his cable access program “TruthAustin.”
The McClellan episodes will air in three parts, beginning Monday at 9 p.m. on Time Warner’s Cable 10, and continue July 7 and 14 at the same time.
####Another Austinite rolls into reality TV
Bravo’s new series “Date My Ex: Jo & Slade” is an offbeat dating competition featuring former “Real Housewives of Orange County” ex-couple Jo De La Rosa and Slade Smiley. In the original reality series, Jo and Slade broke up, and now Jo has moved to Los Angeles to pursue new love and a singing career.
The “twist” is that Slade still has feelings for Jo and insists on going on dates with her and her new men. According to a Bravo publicist, one of her suitors is former Austinite and University of Texas Law School grad Martin Szumanski, who is now a flashy real estate agent with Sotheby’s International Realty in Southern California.
The episode (and show premiere) is July 21, and we’ll see thirty-something Martin wining, dining and dancing with Jo. Maybe he’ll sell her a mansion, too.
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Check out “Hopkins 24/7” — stat!
It may be filed under “reality TV” in various listing services, but ABC’s “Hopkins 24/7” is pure documentary. If you have to pick one network series to get hooked on this summer, this one, arriving tonight at 9, is it.
If the title sounds familiar, that’s because the series, set in Baltimore’s prestigious Johns Hopkins Hospital, had a summer run in 2000. One of the standout “characters” tracked in those episodes was a young woman from Houston who was battling a brain tumor. Unlike most TV shows, “Hopkins” revealed, after weeks of pulling for her recovery, that she didn’t make it.
Such is the way of real-world medicine, as opposed to “Grey’s Anatomy.” In the six episodes that begin tonight, we’re probably destined to get our hearts broken yet again — either by the patients or one of the over-worked doctors in the spotlight.
My memory may not be razor-sharp on the 2000 episodes, but the new batch seems to focus a bit more on the hospital folks who put their personal lives on hold for years of sleepless nights and grueling training.
One of the stand-outs in the first few episodes is Dr. Brian Bethea, a heart and lung surgeon whose dedication and brilliance at Hopkins is offset by his crumbling marriage at home. It’s a fairly typical scenario: wife puts career aside to put husband through medical school, kids arrive (perhaps too soon) and doctor has no time for family. Pain ensues.
One of the wrenching patient scenarios in the opener involves a young girl who survives a near-drowning but is diagnosed as brain dead. Her family agonizes over whether to keep her on life support.
These intimate portraits are not easy to watch, but the programs are gripping and deeply moving. A bit more fulfilling than, say, the screaming on “Wife Swap.”
Actors’ strike?
Knuckles are turning white all over Hollywood. On the heels of the crippling writers’ strike comes the threat of a strike by the Screen Actors Guild. The walkout could come as early as Monday, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), which represents mostly TV actors, already has a deal in place (but not officially finalized by members); but SAG, which is bigger (70,000 members) and also represents many AFTRA members (40,000 actors are members of both), has not.
Contracts between actors and producers expire June 30. An extension could be put in place if negotiations appear to be productive, but the mood is said to be tense and somewhat dark right now.
Production on TV shows, usually on break in June and most of July, has revved up in case a strike shuts them down. If a few new episodes can be produced, the hope is that a strike would not fatally disrupt the fall season.
At issue, as usual, is the percentage of new media profits that producers are willing to share with actors. SAG claims producers have offered them less than the deal AFTRA appears poised to sign.
The good news in all this bad news? Bargaining continues. Stay tuned.
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Farewell to UT grad on MTV’s ‘Real World’
On tonight’s episode of “Real World,” the housemates learn the sad fate of a University of Texas grad who mentored some of them in their quest for careers in TV news and TV.
Brandon Schantz, a San Francisco, Calif. native who graduated from UT in 2002 with a degree in broadcast journalism, worked with the “RW” kids in this season’s Hollywood edition which began filming in early 2007. In the spring of that year, Schantz was diagnosed with lymphoma but continued working with the kids, even after undergoing surgery in October.
As the series was wrapping up, Schantz, then 27, died on Dec. 6. Tonight on “Real World” (at 9 p.m.), his death is revealed to the housemates, and Nick, in particular, takes it hard.
“He worked for me from 2000 to 2002, when I was at KEYE, and he was just a really special kid,” said meteorologist Troy Kimmel, the chief weather guy for KVET/KASE and a UT lecturer.
Besides the production internship at KEYE, Schantz also interned in the sports department at KXAN while he was at UT. After graduating, he became the sports director for a CBS station in Cheyenne, Wyo. — one of the youngest sports directors in the country at age 22.
The next step in Schantz’s career took him back to California, where he set up a successful production company in Los Angeles. He worked as a videographer with several music groups, including the quintet Rooney.
Friends and family are setting up an endowment in Schantz’s honor at UT’s College of Communication to fund summer internships for students hoping to go into broadcast journalism. Information on Schantz and the fund can be found here: http://brandonschantz.squarespace.com.
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‘Wipeout’ and ‘Japanese Game Show’ debut on ABC
Scratch tonight off your viewing calendar if you’re not a fan of reality TV. Or watch reruns on CBS, which is the only major broadcast network without reality shows tonight.
Two newcomers debut on ABC: “Wipeout” (7 p.m.) and “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” (8 p.m.). The former puts a series of ill-equipped participants through silly physical challenges, like leaping from one huge pink ball to another without falling into the mud pond below.
The latter sends 10 Americans to Japan to compete in one of that country’s legendary (and highly bizarre) game shows. Hilarity and humiliation ensue.
NBC, which loosely defines celebrity and talent, has “Celebrity Family Feud” (at 7 p.m.) and “America’s Got Talent” (8 p.m.).
The former features Wayne Newton, Vincent Pastore, Adrianne Curry, Christopher Knight, Corben Bernsen, Ice T and Margaret Cho battling with their families in a revival of the old show. The latter is the return of last season’s hit talent show that features everything from wannabe opera singers to sword swallowers.
Fox has “Hell’s Kitchen” all night, and even the CW has “Beauty and the Geek.”
If you punch the remote fast enough, you might be able to swirl all of these realities together for a truly surreal experience.
“Camp Rock” rocked
Friday night’s premiere of “Camp Rock” on the Disney Channel pulled innearly 9 million viewers between the ages of 9 and 14. That’s called a big-time kid/tween hit.
It’s not bigger than “High School Musical” or “High School Musical 2,” but it’s definitely one of the most-watched program among young viewers and all viewers of the calendar year.
“Camp Rock,” which surely will be repeated a gazillion times during the summer, features the wildly popular Jonas Brothers.
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Austinites battle on ‘Gladiator,’ Brokaw to temp for Russert
Geez, you take off one lousy week, and it takes forever to catch up. Piles of mail, hundreds of e-mails … but very few phone calls. Apparently people don’t reach out and touch any more. OK by me.
Leaping right in (enough whining), “American Gladiators” tonight features an Austin couple who spent their honeymoon on that rough-and-tumble reality show.
My colleague and editor Michael Barnes wrote about Ally and Jeff Davidson in his blog last week.
Who would actually choose to spend quality romantic time with Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali? Well, apparently these two. Ally even auditioned on her wedding day, which seems pretty extreme.
Ally, 25, was a teen jock at Westwood High before playing college basketball for Ole Miss and Texas State. Jeff, 29, also is a jock-type who attended the University of Texas.
NBC describes tonight’s episode (at 7 p.m. on KXAN) thusly: “Tension builds as two sets of married couples compete in the arena, but only one man and one woman can move on to the semifinals.”
Jeff and Ally together? One of the Davidsons with one of the other folks? Jeff and Ally out altogether? A viewing party is being held at Pluckers at Lakeline. Cluck and cheer.
HBO signs up more appointments for “In Treatment”
It wasn’t readily apparent whether HBO’s drama “In Treatment” would survive to fight another season, but Hollywood trade papers indicate Dr. Paul Weston (Gabriel Byrne) will return — but not until 2009.
And, of course, Paul couldn’t possibly return without help from his own shrink, played by Dianne Wiest.
The roster of patients will be different, with occasional visits from previous troubled souls played by Melissa George, Blair Underwood, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Charles and Embeth Davidtz. And the production will move from Los Angeles to New York.
No word on whether the show will be stripped (airing five nights a week) or run once a week.
Irreplaceable Tim Russert
No surprise that Tim Russert’s best pal Tom Brokaw will be filling in for the late newsman on the NBC analysis program “Meet the Press.”
But Brokaw has made it clear that he will not stay past the November general election. When he retired as anchor of “NBC Nightly News,” he gave up the weekly grind for good.
Brokaw will do fine, but NBC will have a tough time finding a permanent replacement. Russert’s sudden death June 13 left the network and the long-running program with a big hole during this historic election season.
The of role of “Meet the Press” moderator calls for someone with gravitas, lots of experience and a deep knowledge of American politics.
Who’s in the running? NBC has some fine political reporters — David Gregory, Andrea Mitchell and Kelly O’Donnell. But none of them fits the role.
I can’t come up with a likely name from the NBC roster, but I can tell you who should NOT get the job:
Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann or anyone else from MSNBC. They’re all too loud and too opinionated. “Meet the Press” needs a host capable of balance and insight. And manners.
Brian Williams. No, he’s too calm, doesn’t push hard enough for answers and hasn’t yet acquired the gravitas needed.
So who’s left? Maybe someone from another networks should be brought in — maybe Gwen Ifill from PBS ot Ted Koppel from wherever the heck he is these days (Discovery Channel?).
NBC has time to consider, so let’s hope the network considers carefully.
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This week’s TV highlights
Hundreds of channels, hours and hours of programming. So much to watch, so little time. Here are some highlights to get you started on your week of viewing.
Sunday
“Million Dollar Password,” 7 p.m. on CBS — Yep, the old game show returns with Regis Philbin now in the hosting seat and a bigger winning purse.
“Masterpiece/Mystery Theater,” 8 p.m. on PBS — Inspector Lewis sets forth on another magical, murderous mystery tour in “Whom the Gods Would Destroy.
Monday
“Modern Marvels,” 8 p.m. on History — The history of ice cream from gelato to frozen yogurt with trips to factories and a peek inside Ben & Jerry’s flavor innovations. Mmmmmmm.
Tuesday
“I Survived A Japanese Game Show,” 8 p.m. on ABC — Ten Americans compete in a Japanese game show, hoping to win $250,000 and not succumb to humiliation.
“30 Days,” 9 p.m. on FX — A mother who opposes same-sex parents spends a month with domestic partners and their four adopted sons. This should be good.
Wednesday
“AFI Life Achievement Award,” 8 p.m. on USA — Tribute is paid to Warren Beatty, hunky movie star, Oscar-winning director and late-blooming husband (to Annette Bening) and father.
Thursday
“Hopkins,” 9 p.m. on ABC — Behind the scenes at Baltimore’s prestigious Johns Hopkins Hospital. If you thought the fictional docs on “Grey’s Anatomy,” “House” and “ER” had a lot to contend with, wait until you check out these real lifers. Superb.
“Passport to Great Weekends,” 9:30 p.m. on Travel — A music-filled weekend in our very own Austin! Host Samantha Brown takes viewers on her personal tour; it might be interesting to see what an outsider designates as the best venues.
“Reno 911,” 9:30 p.m. on Comedy Central — New season, still funny. The wacky cops of Reno, Nev., continue their romp. Love the uniform short-shorts, don’t you?
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This week’s TV highlights
Hundreds of channels, hours and hours of programming. So much to watch, so little time. Here are some highlights to get you started on your week of viewing.
Sunday
“The 62nd Annual Tony Awards,” 7 p.m. on CBS — Whoopi Goldberg takes her Oscar-hosting experience and spins it onto a celebration of theater. Among the familiar faces up for awards on Broadway this year are S. Epatha Merkerson (“Law & Order”) for “Come Back, Little Sheba” and Patrick Stewart (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”) for “Macbeth.”
“TV Land Awards,” 8 p.m. on TV Land — These smaller, newer awards celebrate the golden offerings of the small screen, with tributes this time to “Roseanne” and “The Golden Girls.” Vanessa Williams hosts.
Monday
“Weeds,” 9 p.m. on Showtime — The fourth season for America’s favorite pot-selling soccer mom opens tonight in the aftermath of Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) setting fire to her home. Pulling up stakes, the family moves in with her late husband’s father (Albert Brooks) … near the Mexican border.
Tuesday “AFI’s 10 Top 10,” 7 p.m. on CBS — A list of lists that might prove amusing: the American Film Institute counts down the Top 10 films in 10 different genres. Mindless but fun.
“America’s Got Talent,” 8 p.m. on NBC — Do we? Have talent, that is? We’ll see when the new season arrives for this acts-in-a-blender competition gets underway. Judges returning are David Hasselhoff, Sharon Osbourne and the requisite Brit, Piers Morgan.
Wednesday
“Black Gold,” 9 p.m. on TruTV — From the creator of the wildly popular “Deadliest Catch,” this newcomer follows a tough group of guys working the oil fields of West Texas.
“I Love the ’70s, Volume 2,” 7 p.m. on VH1 — If you love the ’70s but can’t take the fake mustaches on “Swingtown,” this one’s for you. At least the 1970s had some good music.
Thursday
“Texas Monthly Talks,” 7 p.m. on PBS — In honor of Juneteenth, host Evan Smith interviews Wallace Jefferson, the first African American on the Texas Supreme Court.
“Juneteenth Jamboree,” 8 p.m. on PBS — A celebration of the 143rd anniversary of slavery’s end. The program explains the history of blacks in Texas and profiles the namesake of the annual Alvin Patterson Battle of the Bands.
Friday
“Camp Rock,” 7 p.m. on Disney — Scorching-hot teen band the Jonas Brothers stars in this musical movie about a girl who attends a music camp and finds her true voice. (Repeats 7 p.m. Saturday on ABC, for those without cable.)
“The 35th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards,” 7 p.m. on ABC — “All My Children’s” Cameron Mathison and “The View’s” Sherri Shepherd serve as hosts of the soap-and-talk glamour-fest.
Saturday
“U.S. Olympics: Women’s Gymnastics Trials,” 7 p,m. on NBC — Take an early look at the muscular little pixies who will represent us in Beijing.
“The Parent Trap,” 7 p.m. on ABC Family — Before she got so wild and controversial, Lindsay Lohan did a nice job playing twins in this 1998 revival of the 1961 Disney movie.
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NBC’s Tim Russert dies
Longtime NBC News anchor Tim Russert collapsed and died Friday afternoon. The 58-year-old Buffalo, N.Y., native had been host of “Meet the Press” since December 1991.
The sudden death leaves NBC without a Washington bureau chief, “Meet the Press” editor and anchor and full-time NBC News analyst. Russert also anchored a weekly interview program on MSNBC.
Frequently dubbed the most influential Washington journalist, Russert, a former Democratic operative, was criticized by some conservatives and loved by many liberals. Russert insisted he left his personal politics at home and firmly resisted any notions of bias.
Known for his flushed face and energetic style, Russert was a fixture in political coverage since 1984, when he joined NBC News. He is credited with coining the phrases “red state” and “blue state” to designate states that vote mostly Republican or Democratic.
No word yet on how NBC plans to fill all the vacancies Russert leaves behind in the news division.
Photos: Tim Russert through the years
Guest book: Leave a note for Russert’s family
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Huckabee will shine on Fox News, Heigl should stop whining about Emmys
Good news for Fox News fans: The cable news network has hired former Arkansas governor and former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee as a commentator.
Why is this good news? Because Huckabee, a former preacher and decade-long governor, knows how to communicate with people. He has a wry sense of humor and bubbles beautifully on the air.
Huckabee may not be a pointy-headed intellectual, and we may not agree with everything he says. But at least he can be entertaining and insightful.
The comparison I’m making here is with another fairly recent Fox addition, former George W. Bush insider Karl Rove, who sounds like a robot and is dull as they come.
As a White House insider, Rove didn’t have to deal with people very often, so his communication on Fox has been less than illuminating. Locked in an office all those years, how could he be a people person? Plus, if Rove has a smile, we’ve never seen it on TV.
Huckabee, on the other hand, is a happy warrior, and he’s going to be a nice addition to Fox’s lineup heading into the general election.
Of course his career on Fox News could be short-lived if Republican presidential nominee John McCain taps him as his running mate.
Izzie out of Emmy running
Katherine Heigl has not come off well in her recent criticism of the writers on “Grey’s Anatomy.”
In case you missed it, Heigl, who won the best supporting actress Emmy last year, decided not to place her name in nomination this time around. She claimed the writers did not provide her with material that would have made her competitive.
Huh? So it would have been the writers’ fault if she were nominated and didn’t win. That’s a pathetic excuse if every I heard one.
Plus, can we please remind Mizz Heigl that she is making millions and launching a wildly successful movie career as a member of an ENSEMBLE drama on TV. That means focus shifts among members of the ensemble, and thus not every single character gets to star in every single scene every season.
Sheesh. You’d think Heigl would be more gracious and more grateful.
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“Project Runway” set to return July 16
Finally, at long last, Bravo has announced the fifth-season debut date for “Project Runway” — July 16 at 8 p.m.
Mark you calendars and plan accordingly. I’m thinking cocktails and an assortment of olives on premiere night. At the very least.
Returning to the runway, host/supermodel Heidi Klum heads a panel of industry luminaries, including fashion’s “big gun” Tim Gunn, designer Michael Kors and fashion expert Nina Garcia.
Gunn will once again act as mentor to the young designers as they take on weekly fashion challenges.
The 16 contestants will be whittled down week-by-week to the finalists who will get to show their own lines at New York’s famed Fashion Week.
This will be the final season for “Project Runway” on Bravo. You may recall that Lifetime, in a move that stunned fans and industry insiders alike, snatched the fashionista show for the sixth season in 2009.
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Your A-List: Best TV Reporter
KVUE consistently tops the Nielsen ratings for local news, but in our A-List poll for best TV reporter, a journalist from KXAN — Shannon Wolfson — took top honors.
After a week of voting, Wolfson received 32 percent of the online clicks with KVUE’s Clara Tuma coming in second with 22 percent.
Wolfson has been reporting for Austin’s NBC affiliate since November 2006. A University of Texas graduate from the Houston suburb of Sugar Land, Wolfson started her TV career in Sherman. Along the way she’s covered everything from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans to crime and flooding right here in Central Texas.
Tuma also is a native Texan and UT grad, but she started out as a print reporter for the Houston Post and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. After a decade reporting for Court TV, Tuma joined KVUE in 2001.
Here’s the full ballot and tally:
Shannon Wolfson, KXAN — 32 percent
Clara Tuma, KVUE — 22 percent
Bob Robuck, News 8 Austin — 11 percent
Amy Hadley, News 8 Austin — 11 percent
Nanci Wilson, KEYE — 5 percent
Reagan Hackleman, News 8 Austin — 4 percent
Quita Culpepper, KVUE — 3 percent
Kate Weidaw, KXAN — 3 percent
Arezow Doost, KTBC — 3 percent
Jim Swift, KXAN — 2 percent
Keith Elkins, KEYE — 2 percent
Jenni Lee, KTBC — 1 percent
Jason Wheeler, KEYE — 1 percent
Jim Bergamo, KVUE — 1 percent
James Irby, KTBC — < 1 percent
Write-ins: Stephanie Bradford, KAKW; Luis Gomez, KAKW; Christine Haas, KVUE; Loriana Hernandez, KTBC; David Herrera, KAKW; Elise Hu, KVUE; Ellen McNamara, KXAN; Matt Mitchell, KVUE; Diego Munoz, KAKW; Juan Jose Rodas, KAKW; Regina Rodriguez, KAKW; Nancy Zambrano, KTBC
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Bye bye to ‘Men in Trees’ tonight
“Men in Trees,” the sweet little drama starring Anne Heche as a transplanted New York author who finds love and adventure in Elmo, Alaska, ends its run tonight at 9 on ABC.
Here’s what we know: Marin gets big bucks for her latest book; Sam’s penny-pinching ticks off Jane; and Patrick goes to extremes to rekindle his romance with Annie. Bare bones plot info courtesy of weak publicity.
After being bounced around ABC’s schedule for two years, the series was axed by the network last month when the fall lineup was announced. Apparently room must be made for such stalwart projects as “Wipeout” and “I Survived a Japanese Game Show.” Fine.
When “Men in Trees” premiered in the fall of 2006, it earned good ratings and pretty good reviews. It was refreshingly crime-free, romantic and quirky — compared by many to the late-great “Northern Exposure.”
So what did ABC do when both buzz and audience began to grow for “Men in Trees?” It bumped the show in favor of a trial run for the dim-witted but younger-demo “October Road.” The order was shortened from 22 episodes to 17, and even after the writers’ strike ended in February, ABC couldn’t figure out what to do with the show.
Poor “Men” was put on hiatus and brought back after the May sweeps. Now it’s singing its swan song, a victim of stupid scheduling (moved six times and put on hiatus twice) and dull-minded programmers.
Say goodnight, Marin.
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‘The Shield’ sets return, KXAN signs DirecTV deal for HD
We’ve been waiting, and waiting and WAITING for the seventh and final season of “The Shield”.
Now comes news from FX that “The Shield” really is on its way — arriving Sept. 2, to be exact.
It’s been a very long time. When last we saw Vic Mackey and chums it was June 2007. How much catching up will we need to prepare for the final run? A lot.
Last summer Vic and Aceveda were forming a very uneasy alliance, and Shane, after killing Lemon, was on a slow boat to disaster.
Always on the verge of an explosion, “The Shield” surprised everybody — including FX — when it became an award-winning hit six seasons ago. In 2003, it won two Golden Globes, and star Michael Chiklis picked up a Television Critics Association award and the best actor Emmy. He was the first star in a basic cable series to win both an Emmy and a Golden Globe.
And “The Shield” helped launch FX as a cable network of quality, in particular a destination for viewers seeking edgy dramas. Among the network’s trademark series are “Rescue Me,” “Damages,” “Nip/Tuck” and “The Riches.”
Satellite subs to get KXAN in HD
LIN TV, the corporate owner of KXAN and KNVA in Austin, signed an agreement late Monday with DirecTV to broadcast stations in high-definition.
The retransmission is scheduled to begin Wednesday, June 11.
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Actors strike: AFTRA close to contract, SAG not so much
One down and one to go …
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) has made the first big step toward avoiding a strike against producers and studios.
AFTRA honchos have approved a new contract that will give those actors more money for distributing their work on the Web. The board will send its recommendation for ratification to the 70,000 members in a couple of weeks — presumably before the current contract expires June 30.
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) has yet to reach a settlement that leaders can recommend to its 120,000 members. SAG covers most of the actors on prime-time TV, and the union is considered more hard-line than the AFTRA folks.
Which means the chance for an actors strike is still looming as long as SAG holds out.
The AFTRA actors largely agreed to the same terms that writers and directors signed on to in their contracts — except for the larger percentage of Internet profits.
SAG wants more concessions, and it wants AFTRA to delay ratification of its agreement with producers until SAG reaches one. AFTRA hastily turned down that request — thus causing the rift between the two actors’ unions to heat up once again.
Once again, we wait and hope. A TV season without actors means more so-called real people, and haven’t we all pretty much had enough of them?
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This week’s TV highlights
Hundreds of channels, hours and hours of programming. So much to watch, so little time. Here are some highlights to get you started on your week of viewing.
Sunday
‘When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions,’ 8 p.m. on Discovery — This three-part documentary series, narrated by Gary Sinise, celebrates NASA’s 50th anniversary. Astronauts such as John Glenn and Neil Armstrong recall their historic space explorations, illustrated with archival footage transferred into stunning high-definition.
‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent,’ 8 p.m. on USA — The lone “Law & Order” dumped by NBC begins its new season on cable with Vince D’Onofrio reprising his offbeat cop role in the premiere. (Christopher Noth alternates the lead with D’Onofrio.)
‘Army Wives,’ 9 p.m. on Lifetime — Last season’s cliffhanger (a man walks into a bar and threatens to blow himself up) is resolved as this drama about soldiers’ spouses begins its second season.
Monday
‘Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired,’ 8 p.m. on HBO — The documentary takes a look at the turbulent life of the Polish-born, award-winning director of “Rosemary’s Baby” and “Chinatown,” including the murder of his pregnant wife Sharon Tate by Charles Manson’s minions and his conviction for having sex with a 13-year-old girl. It’s a fascinating and bizarre journey.
‘Nashville Star,’ 8 p.m. on NBC — After five seasons on USA cable network, the country-crooning competition begins its sixth season on broadcast TV with Billy Ray Cyrus hosting.
Tuesday
‘Frontline,’ 8 p.m. on PBS — In an episode titled “On Our Watch,” the documentary series profiles activists traveling through refugee camps in Darfur.
‘30 Days,’ 9 p.m. on FX — National Football League player Ray Crockett spends a month in a wheelchair to experience life like his former teammate Mike Utley, who was paralyzed in a 1991 game.
Wednesday
‘Celebrity Circus,’ 8:30 p.m. on NBC — The reality series presents C-listers like Christopher Knight and Rachel Hunter performing stunts under the Big Top.
Thursday
‘The A-List Awards,’ 9 p.m. on Bravo — D-lister Kathy Griffin hosts a celebration of the stars of fashion, design, food and pop culture.
‘Texas Monthly Talks,’ 7 p.m. on PBS — Editor/host Evan Smith chats up novelist Sarah Bird.
Friday
‘High School Musical 2,’ 7 p.m. on Disney — The phenom from last summer gets a replay.
Saturday
‘Dana Carvey: Squatting Monkeys Tell No Lies,’ 9 p.m. on HBO — Who knows if the former “Saturday Night Live” regular is still funny … I just like the title.
‘The Princess Diaries,’ 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on ABC Family — The 2001 movie, starring Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews, is the perfect girly-girl sleep-over fare for summer.
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‘Nashville Star’ loaded with Texans but none from Austin
“Nashville Star” returns Monday and will ditch the now worn-out custom of showing all the truly awful wannabes who tried out for the show.
The Top 12 finalists will be revealed in the two-hour season opener Monday at 8 p.m. on NBC.
This is the sixth season for the country crooning competition but the first on NBC. The previous seasons took place on USA cable network.
The finalists this time around range in age from 16 to 37 and include a U.S. Navy sailor who used leave time to audition for the show. (Didn’t we just see that on “American Idol?”)
The Top 12 “Nashville Star” group has four with Texas connections — but none from Austin. The Texas warblers hail from San Antonio (two of them), Bangs (near Brownwood) and Arlington.
Fox announces new fall debut dates
Fox originally said that its fall schedule would commence in August, but now the network has shifted the season opener to Sept. 1 — with a two-hour episode of “Prison Break.”
During premiere week, “Bones,” “The Moment of Truth” and “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader” also will return, with the remaining Fox schedule set to roll out over the next few weeks.
“24” and “American Idol,” you may recall, are not scheduled to return until January ‘09. Bummer … at least when it comes to “24.” We could all use a break from “Idol,” no?
The other broadcast networks likely will start the week of Sept. 21 — following the Emmy Awards on that Sunday.
That’s assuming we avoid an actors strike this summer. Gulp.
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‘Fear Itself’ not scary, ‘Swingtown’ not sexy. But NBA Finals start tonight!
This is what happens when broadcast networks try to copy cable networks: a horror show that’s not scary enough and a show about swingers without the sex and nudity.
NBC’s “Fear Itself” starts off tonight at 9 with a so-so episode featuring Jesse Plemons, best-known in these parts as Landry from “Friday Night Lights.” He plays a vaguely criminal character who winds up being tortured by some weird women and then attacked by a vampire. It’s not a good time for him, especially since he spends a sizable chunk of the hour in a barn, hanging upside down by his feet.
Next week’s episode of “Fear” is better, with Eric Roberts (yep, Julia’s brother) as a down-and-out detective haunted by his past. There’s suspense and intrigue but, as is also the case with the first episode, no actual white-knuckle chills.
A horror anthology is a good concept, especially for summer and especially with the impressive list of directors who will be involved in the 13 episodes (including John Landis). But to be successful, you need a jolt or two and a ban on cliches.
Meanwhile over on CBS tonight (at 9), “Swingtown” arrives, a saga set in the 1970s about married couples swapping spouses (it’s called “sharing”) and hosting Fourth of July orgies. Bad hair and truly scary fake mustaches join with shag carpet and ‘70s music to create the appropriate period ambience.
The main problem with “Swingtown” is that it’s all about sex, but nobody seems to really have it. And when they do, they’re fully clothed — as CBS censors insist. Originally developed for HBO, the show is an odd fit for CBS.
If you’re not in the mood for watered-down network series, the NBA Finals begin on ABC (8 p.m.) with the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers renewing their long-standing rivalry.
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TCA Award nominations: Critics heart “The Wire” and “Damages”
The Television Critics Association, of which I am among the 250 American and Canadian voting members, sent out its ballot for the annual TCA Awards this week.
As has been the case often, critics “heart” cable way more than broadcast networks. The only categories dominated by broadcast networks were individual achievement in comedy and drama and the Heritage Award, which recognizes programs and people who had a lasting impact on the medium.
This time around, mostly we lauded “The Wire,” which just ended its stories run on HBO in March, and “Damages,” which will begin its second season on FX sometime in the fall or winter. Among network series, “Lost” got the most attention.
The awards will be handed out July 19, during the summer press tour in Los Angeles. Here’s a complete list of the nominees:
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
“John Adams” (HBO)
“Lost” (ABC)
“Mad Men” (AMC)
“The War” (PBS)
“The Wire” (HBO)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
“30 Rock” (NBC)
“The Colbert Report” (Comedy Central)
“The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)
“Flight of the Conchords” (HBO)
“The Office” (NBC)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
“Damages” (FX)
“Friday Night Lights” (NBC)
“Lost” (ABC)
“Mad Men” (AMC)
“The Wire” (HBO)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT MOVIES, MINI-SERIES AND SPECIALS
“John Adams” (HBO)
“Masterpiece: Cranford” (PBS)
“Masterpiece: Jane Austen Collection” (PBS)
“The War” (PBS)
“A Raisin in the Sun” (ABC)
OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
“Breaking Bad” (AMC)
“Damages” (FX)
“Flight of the Conchords” (HBO)
“Mad Men” (AMC)
“Pushing Daisies” (ABC)
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
Christina Applegate (“Samantha, Who?” ABC)
Alec Baldwin (“30 Rock,” NBC)
Stephen Colbert (“The Colbert Report,” Comedy Central)
Tina Fey (“30 Rock,” NBC)
Ray Wise (“Reaper,” CW)
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
Connie Britton (“Friday Night Lights,” NBC)
Glenn Close (“Damages,” FX)
Paul Giamatti (“John Adams,” HBO)
Jon Hamm (“Mad Men,” AMC)
David Simon (“The Wire,” HBO)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING
“Curious George” (PBS)
“High School Musical 2” (The Disney Channel)
“Hannah Montana” (Disney Channel)
“Word Girl” (PBS)
“Yo Gabba Gabba” (Nickelodeon)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS & INFORMATION
“Alive Day Memories” (HBO)
“This American Life” (Showtime)
“Frontline” (PBS)
“Nimrod Nation” (Sundance Channel)
“The War” (PBS)
HERITAGE AWARD
“MAS*H” (CBS)
“Roots” (ABC)
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
“Sesame Street” (PBS)
“The Wire” (HBO)
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT
James Garner
Bill Moyers
Mike Wallace
Lorne Michaels
William Shatner
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Strike update: wheels grind slowly, fall season hangs
Strike? No strike? Fall season? No fall season?
It’s been off the mainstream news lately, but the threat of an actors’ strike continues to loom, with contracts with producers and studios set to expire at the end of this month (June 30).
You might recall that the two actors’ unions — the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists — split their mutual negotiations in the spring and decided to haggle separately for a bigger piece of the digital pie.
About a week ago, AFTRA came to a tentative agreement with producers, but SAG is holding out for more. Specifics of the negotiations are tedious at best, but Variety has a pretty good summation today.
Bottom line for us? If the larger of the two actors’ unions, SAG, goes on strike July 1, AFTRA surely will do the same out of sympathy. And that means production on fall season programs will come to a screeching halt.
Trust me, we do not want that to happen. Haven’t we all seen enough of “Big Brother” and “Hell’s Kitchen?” I know I have. I want fresh installments of “Friday Night Lights” and “The Office.” I NEED MY NEW SEASON OF “24!!”
I’m definitely going to need new episodes of real TV series come September. I need them personally and professionally. How many times can we write about the Austin-connected contestants on “The Bachelor” and “Survivor?” How many times can we stomach any of those shows?
Plus, another strike, on the heels of the crippling writers’ strike, could drive a stake into the heart of broadcast TV as we know it. Audiences have sagged precipitously in the just-ended season, and another stoppage would only drive more viewers away.
So cross those digits as SAG continues negotiations this week. Let’s hope prime time doesn’t turn into a TOTAL wasteland in the fall.
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HD News: KEYE launches new channel, KVUE News goes HD
If you live in the HD world (and more of you do every week), you may have noticed that KEYE has a second channel now featuring classic TV series such as “Leave It To Beaver,” “Happy Days,” “The Fugitive,” “Perry Mason” and “Mission Impossible.”
The channel, called RTN (Retro Television Network), launched today over the air on Digital Channel 42-2 and Time Warner’s Digital Cable Channel 1532.
KEYE tested the equipment late last week, so some viewers may have gotten a peek at the channel early. But today’s the day for the full schedule, which runs 24 hours a day.
In addition to the old reruns, RTN is replaying KEYE’s early morning news, anchored by Fred Cantu and Elizabeth Dannheim, from 7 to 9 a.m. — a much more civilized time than the normal 5 to 7 a.m. (In my world, that’s still night.)
Also Sunday evening, KVUE jumped out early with a successful “soft launch” of its HD newscasts at 5:30 and 10 p.m. Today is the official HD debut, featuring a new set and all the bells and whistles that HD brings.
Check tomorrow’s Life & Arts section of the American-Statesman and Austin360.com for more info on KVUE’s HD transition. It is the second Austin station to go HD with local news. KEYE made the switch last November.
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