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Fall 2011 Shows After the Dust Settles – Who Has Come Out On Top?

CJ — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:09:14 +0000

Tim Allen (Image via RottenTomatoes.com)

Which new shows have come out on top after all?

Okay! The hype is over and picking the best new show is a real tough one! There are many new kids on the block for 2011 and more than a few of them are bullies attempting to take over top spots.

One that I was really not too sure of, until I saw the first episode, is ABC’s Once Upon a Time. It takes place in Storybrooke, Maine (go figure), in a town that happens to be frozen in fairy tale land. The residents think they are living a normal urban life, but what they not aware of, is that they are fairy tale characters. One little boy takes it upon himself to figure it all out and set them straight. Who would think of a storyline like this except for the writers of LOST?

So yes…I was intrigued. Actually, I was a little confused at first at the transition of today’s characters to the storybook characters, but the confusion was enough to keep me watching and I fell in love.

So in going from the fantasy to macabre, FOX’s American Horror Story sure hits the spot when it comes to edge of your seat drama. Imagine moving into a new home and finding out that the cozy warm feeling you thought you would have turns into the question…is that creature in the basement dead or alive?

You won’t want to miss this one! Who’s a hot-shot bigheaded surgeon who sees dead people? He’s CBS’s A Gifted Man. It seems that the television audience just loves thrillers and hauntings, and a show like this leaves them questioning the hereafter, doesn’t it? After all, isn’t it a cool thing to be taught lessons from the great beyond?

Then…on the light side, it’s time to feel bad for the guys in ABC’s Man Up! Just another program of male emasculation. The women are really giving it to you men out there, aren’t they? But you can’t stay a kid all your life so, I agree, it’s time to Man Up!

Same for ABC’s Last Man Standing. Wow! A father of three girls, Tim Allen returns as Max Baxter, a stay at home dad while his wife pulls on her pants and heads out to work. Is he feeling under attack? Too bad he doesn’t have his grunts to keep him sane.

Everyone loves a medical drama, but this somewhat light Hart of Dixie plays to all hearts. A big city doctor ends up in Bluebell, Alabama because she inherited a practice. There are the normal emergencies and then there is a secret. You have to watch to find out.

On the music side, X-factor is incredible. Lots of great talent. Different format completely and viewers seem to just love it. Simon seems a little nicer as well.

Two and a Half Men? I say there is still some getting used to. Ashton Kutcher is great in the part, but Charlie is Charlie. Let’s see what happens.

Are there more top shows? Absolutely! But maybe we should give these newbies a few weeks chance to really make up our minds. We need to get to know them, let them into our homes and then, our true opinion will come to the top. Just like the crème de la crème of shows will.

About the Author:

Vera is a blogger, writer, tweeter and avid television viewer. She’s obsessed with her 3D TV and can’t live without it!

Top Seinfeld Birthday Moments

CJ — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:31:58 +0000

Stand up comedian and legendary television producer, creator, writer and actor Jerry Seinfeld celebrates his 57th birthday on Friday April 29th. There is no word yet on exactly how Seinfeld will celebrate the auspicious occasion, but it will likely include his wife Jessica and their 3 young children. With all of his millions of dollars, he will no doubt do something extravagant like renting out the Statue of Liberty for a party or flying all of his friends and family to the Bahamas for a bash on the beach. That is just the kind of thing that you do when you have more money than you know what to do with. Right?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Inadvertent Funny – Episode 56, “The Visa”

All of this talk about Jerry’s upcoming birthday plans has got me thinking about Seinfeld and all of the show’s legendary moments. I am a huge Seinfeld fan and can probably quote most of the episodes by heart. Some of my favorite moments on the show have surrounded birthdays. Despite the show’s long run, there wasn’t a whole lot done on the subject of birthdays. This is likely due to the fact that the whole premise of the show is ‘nothingness’. But when Seinfeld did showcase something related to a birthday party, it was epic.

Here are my favorite Birthday Moments from Seinfeld:

#1-Jerry’s Birthday Comedy Sketch

The all-time best Seinfeld birthday moment did not actually occur in the plot of the show itself, but instead, it occurred during Jerry’s monologue in the opening credits of episode #84, The Fire. Jerry’s monologue was a comparison of an individual’s first birthday party and their last birthday party in which he said:

“The first birthday party you have and the last birthday party you have are actually quite similar. You know, you just kinda sit there. You’re the least excited person at the party. You don’t even really realize that there is a party. You don’t know what’s goin’ on. Both birthday parties’ people have to kinda help you blow out the candles–you can’t do it…you don’t even know why you’re doing it. What is this ritual? What is going on? It’s also the only two birthday parties where other people have to gather your friends together for you. Sometimes they’re not even your friends. They make the judgment. They bring ‘em in, they sit ‘em down, and they tell you, ‘these are your friends!’ Tell them, ‘thank you for coming to my birthday party.”

So funny because it is so true.

#2-Elaine Scolding Jerry for Giving Her Cash

The interactions between Jerry and Elaine are legendary. They like each other, then they are just friends. They might be yelling at each other one moment, then they are best friends again by the end of an episode. Who can really keep track? It’s safe to say that all of the up and down affection and squabbling between Jerry and Elaine led to the some of the most interesting moments that would serve to define their characters throughout the series.

One such defining moment occurred in the season 2 episode, The Deal. After hatching and implementing a seemingly simple plan to finally solve the age old problems that arise with being “friends with benefits,” Jerry is having a difficult time picking out the perfect birthday gift for Elaine. As is often the case in the world of Seinfeld, there are no simple solutions to life’s problems, and even picking out a birthday gift for Elaine is not immune. After much fretting over the meanings and connotations of different gifts, not wanting to give Elaine the impression that he’s too enamored with her Jerry finally decides on a pile of cash with a zippy card. Jerry was pleased with his gift idea, but Elaine clearly was not. Elaine exclaimed “Cash? You got me cash? Who are you my uncle?” It would seem that even with ground rules, being friends with benefits carries a complicated, heavy burden.

#3-Elaine Hates Cake

In the season 9 gem, The Frogger, another funny birthday moment occurs because Elaine is fed up with all of the frivolous birthday celebrations going on at J. Peterman. During one particular celebration, she insists that she doesn’t want cake and that she is sick of celebrating every little event that goes on at the office with cake. Then, when a coworker insists having cake is, “Nice,” Elaine blows up, and in one of her better tirades she exclaims, “What? What is nice? Trying to fill the void in your life with flour and sugar and egg and vanilla? I mean, we are all unhappy. Do we have to be fat, too? ”

Then, she glances at the severely overweight women in the corner who suddenly looks very sheepish and in an effort to smooth things over she says, “Not you Becky, I know you have a slow metabolism.”

Oh, you gotta love Elaine.

#4- -George’s Fire Freak-out

One can never expect too much from George Costanza. He is self-centered, slow-witted, stocky and unemployed most of the time, but he does have many good moments when it comes to being absolutely hysterical. Case in point: Season 5, episode 84, The Fire. George goes to his girlfriend Robin’s son’s birthday party. When the burgers cooking in the kitchen catch fire, George smells smoke, panics like a child and runs from the room screaming and pushing all of the women, children and elderly guests out of the way so that he can get to the door first.

Outside the apartment, he’s confronted by the mob of guests and an angry clown with a large shoe. In typical George fashion, he tries to spin his cowardice into the positive traits of a heroic leader:

“Seemingly. Seemingly, to the untrained eye, I can fully understand how you got that impression. What looked like pushing, what looked like knocking down, was a safety precaution! In a fire, you stay close to the ground; am I right? And when I ran out that door, I was not leaving anyone behind! Oh, quite the contrary! I risked my life making sure that exit was clear. Any other questions?”

Classic Costanza, classic!

#5 — Inadvertent Funny

In episode 56, The Visa, George is complaining about Jerry out-funny-ing him in front of his date. Jerry insists that he can turn the funny on and off and Elaine tells him he can’t. So when George’s date comes back and mentions that it is her aunt’s birthday Jerry tries his best and melancholy musing on the futility of birthdays and the false hope they bring leading to one of the funniest dead-pan birthday quotes of all time:

“Well, birthdays are merely symbolic of how another year has gone by and how little we’ve grown. No matter how desperate we are that someday a better self will emerge, with each flicker of the candles on the cake, we know it’s not to be, that for the rest of our sad, wretched pathetic lives, this is who we are to the bitter end. Inevitably, irrevocably; happy birthday? No such thing.”

The perfect delivery, underplayed and masterful!

Happy Birthday Jerry Seinfeld and thanks for all the laughs–intentional or otherwise!

Click here to view the embedded video.

About the Author:
When he’s not out skiing the Utah powder, Greg Buckskin is a writer and blogger for Comcast.USDirect.com – home to Comcast Cable Deals.

One and a Half Men?

CJ — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 14:45:53 +0000

After a string of alcohol and drug fuelled violence and health incidents, Charlie Sheen has again checked into rehab. But Sheen’s recent mishaps – which include his hospitalisation in October 2010 after yelling and furniture throwing were reported from his room at New York’s Plaza hotel – only add to a long list of domestic violence and substance abuse allegations that began in 1990.

The latest incident on January 27, 2011 saw Sheen again hospitalised after complaining of severe abdominal pain. His move to rehab suggests that rumours of his unruly behaviour being drug and alcohol fuelled are true.

Currently, according to TV Guide, Sheen is the highest paid sitcom star on TV for his role in hit show Two and a Half Men, earning US$825,000 per episode. But with continual health and substance abuse issues, can Sheen continue to maintain his role within the popular show and sustain the support of his viewers?

Two and a Half Men first aired in 2003, and has continually ranked in the top 20 TV shows. In the show, Sheen plays Charlie, a self-indulgent jingle writer. Charlie’s uptight brother Alan, and his son, Jake, move in with Charlie after a divorce. The show follows the relationship between the three, and is set to continue at least into the 2011-12 season.

While Sheen remains in rehab, filming of Two and a Half Men has been put on hold, with executive producer Chuck Lorre releasing a statement that said “We are profoundly concerned for his health and well-being, and support his decision”.

But with his unreliable track-record, could Two and Half Men be set to downsize? ‘One and a Half Men’ just might not cut it…

Timeline of Sheen’s incidents prior to 2010:

1990: Sheen accidently shoots his fiancé of the time Kelly Preston in the arm.

1995: Sheen is sued by a UCLA student who claimed he struck her in the head when she refused him sex.

1997: Sheen is given a year’s suspended sentence for battery charges to former girlfriend Brittany Ashland.

1998: Sheen is admitted into a lockdown rehab after he is hospitalised for a drug overdose.

2005: Wife Denise Richards files for divorce, calling Sheen’s behaviour “inappropriate”.

2009: Sheen is arrested when wife Brooke Mueller tells police he threatened her with a knife. He is released on bail.

Bio: Charlie Sheen continues to feature in news and gossip columns following his unruly behaviour and drug and alcohol induced health issues. Two and a Half Men DVDs are available online to see Sheen in the role that earns this falling star the highest sitcom salary in the world.

What’s In Store for the 2010 Fall TV Season?

CJ — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 04:30:00 +0000

Summer television is frivolous and fun and silly. It’s great. However, fall television is much more engaging. Even the comedy shows have dramatic twists and interesting plots during the fall season. And 2010 is shaping up to have some very fascinating shows for us.

Top New Network TV Shows to Watch For

The shows that many people are anticipating most are the new pilots that are about to air on the leading networks. Some of the ones to watch on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX are:

No Ordinary Family. This new ABC show features a superpower crime-fighting family that is also dealing with their own normal human problems. This sounds like a lot of funny drama in the making!
Better Together. ABC also has another family comedy that looks appealing. It’s the tale of two sisters who approach love very differently and reveal the silliness of humanity in the process.
Raising Hope. Another intriguing family comedy is Raising Hope, the story of a young family taking on a new baby unexpectedly and dealing with what life throws at them as a result.
Criminal Minds Spinoff. In the middle of the season CBS is going to be launching a spinoff show of the popular crime drama. Think CSI: Miami and CSI: New York but for Criminal Minds lovers.
Defenders. Another pilot for crime show lovers to watch is this CBS show about two Las Vegas defense attorneys.
Off the Map. Also mid-season we can look forward to a new medical drama from ABC. Its special twist is that it’s set in a small South American village.

Additional pilots that might be worth noting include Chase and Outsourced on NBC, Bob’s Burgers (animation) and Mixed Signals on FOX, Mike & Molly and Bluebloods on CBS and My Generation and The Whole Truth on ABC.

Interesting Plot Changes on Favorite Network TV Shows

Of course, people watch their favorite networks channels because of the old shows that they’ve grown to love. Some of them are looking forward to some truly interesting plot twists. Ones worth keeping an eye on in fall 2010:

Criminal Minds. It will certainly be interesting to see what happens in the sixth season of this popular psychological crime drama especially since it will have to vie for attention with its own spinoff show.
Bones. The new season of this comedic crime show will hopefully show Bones and Booth making a final decision one way or another about their ongoing romantic relationship.
House. The popular medical drama hasn’t failed to keep taking plot twists with its characters’ lives. The 7^th season should be no different.
Desperate Housewives. What will these crazy ladies do next? And who will be the mystery person to follow in the new season? We’re on the edge of our seats.

Other leading network TV shows that return in the fall and may surprise us with great plot twists include Law and Order: SVU, Brothers and Sisters, Lie to Me, Glee, Private Practice and The Office.

Leading Cable TV Shows to Watch

There are so many channels on cable that it’s tough to keep track of the best things to watch in any given season. However, there are some must-watch shows for people who are avid satellite or cable TV watchers. For HBO lovers, those shows include the new season of In Treatment. Unfortunately, viewers will have to wait until next Summer to see new episodes of Hung, Entourage, and True Blood. If you’re a Showtime fan then you’ll want to set your TV to record Weeds, Dexter and the new series The Big C with Laura Linney. On Lifetime, you don’t want to miss the new season of Project Runway as well as the new spinoff show Austin and Santino on the Road.

What Fall 2010 TV shows are you most looking forward to?

About the Author: Vera is a blogger, writer, tweeter, and avid television viewer. She’s obsessed with her direct sat TV programs, and can’t live without it them!

The Many Collectible Cars of Simon Cowell

CJ — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:56:28 +0000

Simon Cowell is as well known for his flashy cars as he is for American Idol, The X Factor and his gloriously high wasted trousers. Cowell likes his cars fast, and he knows how to hit the gas – evidenced by his storming performance on the racetrack of BBC Two’s Top Gear, coming third out of all the non-professional drivers in series eight, with a time of just 1 minute 47.1 seconds.

It’s thought that Cowell is worth a massive £120 million thanks to his music and TV industry success, and he has reportedly spent £3 million of that fortune on cars throughout his life[1]. Let’s take a look at some of the more spectacular cars.

The crowning jewel in Cowell’s collection is his Bugatti Veyron, which cost an eye watering £750,000[2]. As the fastest roadworthy car in the world and the most expensive, only a limited amount have been manufactured – making the Bugatti club a pretty exclusive one to join.

Some Photos/Video of Simon Cowell’s Collectible Cars

There aren’t many other British carmakers that are quite as prestigious as Rolls Royce, so it should be no surprise that Cowell owns one of these. Well he doesn’t: he owns three, three Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead’s that is. One for London, one for LA and a coupe version just for fun; all at a total cost over around £810,000. Speaking on Top Gear about it he said: “It’s the most beautiful, most comfortable, best-engineered car ever built. I can hardly bring myself to say it but it’s – oh, sod it! – perfect”[3].

What supercar collection would be complete without a Ferrari? The music mogul owns a Ferrari F430 Spider, capable of doing 193 mph and 0 – 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. To buy one of these beauties new you’d be looking at a price tag of around £130,000[4].

According to Auto Trader, Cowell has also owned quite a number of other cars in his time, including three Aston Martin DB7’s, a Jaguar XKR and the infinitely more modest Mini Cooper[5]. He is also rumoured to have purchased a £65,000 Jaguar XK convertible for fiancée Mezghan Hussainy recently[6] – what a lucky lady!

About the Author
Charlotte Walker writes for MediaVest (Manchester) on a range of motor related topics, including cheap car insurance.

[1] Auto Trader (October 6, 2009). Simon Cowell’s £3 million car history. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/news/britains_car_talent_simon_cowells_collection.html

[2] Daily Mail (October 13, 2007).What Simon Cowell did on his week off: Spend £1 MILLION on TWO cars. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-487430/What-Simon-Cowell-did-week-Spend-1-MILLION-TWO-cars.html

[3] Daily Mail (March 10, 2008).Now Simon Cowell shows off in his $1million Bugatti Veyron sports car. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-529272/Now-Simon-Cowell-shows-1million-Bugatti-Veyron-sports-car.html

[4] Yahoo! Cars (2009). Ferrari F430 Spider : ALONG CAME A SPIDER. http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews/car-and-driving/ferrari-f430-spider-1004658.html

[5] Auto Trader (October 6, 2009). Simon Cowell’s £3 million car history. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/news/britains_car_talent_simon_cowells_collection.html

[6] One India (March 31, 2010). Simon Cowell to gift fiancée a £65k car. http://entertainment.oneindia.in/music/international/2010/cowell-gift-car-fiancee-310310.html

Heidi Montag Has 10 Plastic Surgeries in 24 Hours – The Next Jenny Lee?

CJ — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 03:50:18 +0000

Many people have compared Heidi Montag, the 23 year old blond star of The Hills and reality shows like “I’m a Celebrity, Get Me out of Here!” with Jenny Lee, a plastic surgery addict with body dimorphic disorder!
Although this may appear shocking, the fact that Heidi is only 23 years old and has already had several plastic surgeries performed on her, out of which ten were conducted in the duration of 24 hours leaves her looking very much like Jenny Lee. Let’s consider the similarities.

Montag was recently interviewed by Ryan Seacrest and discussed her plastic surgeries with him. Although it may seem that Montag made lesser trips to the doctor than Jenny Lee, it can be argued that Lee did not have enough funds to have ten surgeries performed in one day. It also must be brought into focus that Montag believed she needed to have ten surgeries performed on her in 24 hours.

Montag on the other hand denies this claim saying: “I’m not addicted; if I were addicted I would have had ten plastic surgeries. Well, ten times. I really had two different plastic surgeries. I had one three years ago and then I had one where I had several procedures done weeks ago. If you’re addicted to something you have to do it all the time, not once every couple years.”

Heidi Montag Plastic Surgery – Pics & Video

While Jenny Lee made the news for having had 44 surgeries and although Montag is nowhere near that count, we cannot help but fear that in a few years she might be and hope that she will not. After all, if she can have ten surgeries on one day, she could easily score up to Jenny in a matter of months.

In terms of looks, the similarity ends there however, since we know that Jenny Lee has more or less ruined her face with the many changes that she has made to it, while Montag is still the darling star on TV.

Montag may also consider her TV shows contracts and may not resort to Lee’s drastic measures to have that many procedures done on her face. Also she is able to pay for better surgeons who may do with one surgery what Jenny needed four for.

So far, both Jenny and Heidi have had rhinoplasties, a breast enlargement procedure and liposuction. Jenny has had large amount of these procedures ands has repeated the surgeries time and time gain.

Another similarity for both Heidi and Jenny is that both of them have had plastic surgery change the way they live their lives. Jenny Lee still finds its difficult to breathe on account of the many rhinoplasties she has had done while Heidi cannot hug anyone anymore on account of the back scoop procedure that she had done which ahs made her very fragile.

The telling difference between Heidi and Jenny will have to be whether Heidi is satisfied with her body now or still believes she needs some surgery.

NBC’s “The Apprentice” Gets Back to Its Roots

CJ — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:21:51 +0000

Billionaire Donald Trump has had his fun with celebrities, but now he’s ready to get real again with a Joe (or Jane) Schmoe from the streets. That’s right, after several seasons of ‘The Celebrity Apprentice’, the show has decided to revert back to its original plan, where The Donald will be putting real people through the wringer in order to score a coveted spot working for the Trump Organization, which is the way the show worked when it first debuted.

NBC: The Apprentice starring Donald Trump

While the charitable aspect of ‘The Celebrity Apprentice’ is certainly warm and fuzzy, there’s just nothing like watching someone who could be your neighbor squirm in their big, plush conference chair as they square off with their team members and The Man himself. For some reason, “You’re Fired!” just doesn’t mean as much when the person on the receiving end is a celebrity who will most certainly go home and resume their schtick as though nothing had happened at all. No, it’s far more compelling to watch an Everydayer fight tooth and nail to stay in the game, since their entire future is riding on a split decision. Now that’s drama, people.

This year’s crop of ‘Apprentice’ hopefuls have had the chance to attend open casting calls (the last of which was held in Los Angeles on April 17) to get their face in front of the show’s key decision makers. No worries if you couldn’t make it to a casting call though. If you feel like you’ve got what it takes but you missed your chance to be seen in person, just email your details to apprenticecastingbc@gmail.com. Be sure to include your name, location, occupation history, and a recent photo (no larger than 1 MB). You’re also encouraged to answer the question: “How has the recession affected my life?”

In a time when great (or even good) jobs are hard to come by, Trump swoops in, offering people of all ages the opportunity of a lifetime. Laid off, long term unemployed, or recently graduated, everyone is a candidate. From the mega experienced to fresh-faced Freddies, all candidates have an equal shot to learn from one of the most successful real estate developers ever. Sure, you’ll have to work yourself silly while the show is filming, but the end result would certainly justify the means, right?

If you try out for the show, good luck! If you get accepted, you have better stop back here to give us the lowdown. That’s an order!

Be sure to check http://www.nbc.com/the-apprentice/ for the newest casting developments and show news.
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Liberty Kontranowski is a freelance writer and blogger with hundreds of articles published online and in print, covering everything from sexual health to parenting to beauty, fashion, entertainment and more. Liberty is the newest writer for eDrugstore.MD, a safe online pharmacy prescribing medications such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra online.

Jersey Shore Cast to Return for 2nd Season

CJ — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:47:51 +0000

The group will “escape the cold northeast and find themselves in a new destination,” MTV says – Jersey Shore Cast to Return for Second Season

Read the full story at USmagazine.com

David Letterman Affair – Extortion & Embarrassment Prompt Candid Discussion

CJ — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:57:50 +0000

The Late Show‘s own David Letterman candidly acknowledged and provided some damning details about affairs he had with employees of his own show. While specific names of the female employees at CBS and The Late Show were not disclosed for privacy purposes, Letterman did provide details that the extortion attempt was real & that the supposed individual (a ’48 hrs’ investigates employee – also at CBS) did provide proof of the sexual relationships.

David Letterman acknowledged on Thursday’s show that he had sexual relationships with female employees and that someone tried to extort him over the affairs.

During the taping of his CBS late-night show in New York, Letterman discussed receiving a threat to either pay million or risk the relationships being made public.

In a release from the show’s producer, Letterman said he referred the matter to the Manhattan district attorney’s office and that an investigation ended in an arrest Thursday. Letterman did not identify the person he said was arrested. Read the full story at AccessHollywood.com

I can’t say that Letterman’s actions were any different than a lot of men in a position of power, but that does not make them right either. I would have expected some response from CBS also that his actions, in some way, are not inline w/ the network’s corporate structure and/or rules, but so far (from what I’ve seen), they are simply taking Letterman’s side on the subject. No suspension, no slap on the wrist… nothing.

The moral here… when the cash cow gets in trouble – protect it.

Britney Spears Bikini Video – David Letterman Top 10 Appearance

CJ — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 01:36:01 +0000

In her first Late Show With David Letterman appearance in three years, Britney Spears donned a bikini as she delivered the “Top Ten Ways the Country Would Be Different If Britney Spears Were President.” Read the full story at USmagazine.com