Category: TV (Page 567 of 595)

“I see red people”

February 16, 2006 / Deb Medsker

Jeff Goldblum is in talks to star in the pilot for a new NBC drama called “Seeing Red.” To be directed by Oscar nominee Frank Darabont, the program centers around an “eccentric, brilliant cop with the ability to talk to dead victims, who help him solve his cases.”

One can’t help wondering why none of those same dead people have yet informed Goldblum or the creators of “Seeing Red” that we have already seen this show at least four times…when it was called “Medium,” “Tru Calling,” “The Ghost Whisperer,” and, in theaters, “The Sixth Sense.”

Can’t we leave the dead people dead for once? They must be tired of all that crime-solving by now, wouldn’t you think? When it’s my turn to be dead, I’m not going to waste valuable time fighting crime. I’ll be sitting on the couch with a quart of Baskin-Robbins Pralines ‘n’ Cream, watching TLC home makeover shows non-stop, only getting up long enough to spook the neighbors’ high-strung lapdog every once in a while.

But that’s just me.

Actors, TV

American Idol: The Finalists Revealed

February 16, 2006 / Mike Farley

After a grueling period where the remaining 44 “American Idol” contestants had to fly solo in front of the judges, they all had to wait a few days before sitting in a room and being called in one by one to learn their fate. Only 24 spots would be open to the finalists, the ones who are going to let America’s voters determine their fate.

There were definitely some surprises, such as the lispy 16 year old kid, Kevin, from Long Island. I mean, this kid is not that great of a singer–how does he keep on advancing? Rebecca and Heather both look better than they sing, but that always seems to count for something, especially with Mr. Cowell. Mrs. Vandalay said they both look like strippers and I would agree but I have never been to a strip club (yeah, I don’t believe me either).

Early on, they showed a lot of the contestants that were learning bad news, but the first one that they showed who advanced was Katharine McPhee, a spunky chick with a really good voice who definitely deserved it. But the funniest part of the show was when she expressed her appreciation by kissing each judge, ON THE LIPS. Ewwww. Okay, maybe her kissing only Paula would be pretty hot.

Some of the other finalists included Ace, the dude who looks like Scott Stapp but sure doesn’t sing like him or act like him in public; Lisa Tucker, who is only 16 but has a monster voice and was an early Vanadalay choice to make it far; David, the crooner, and I have no idea how he made it; Paris Bennett, another favorite of mine who should easily go far; Mandisa, who forgave Simon for saying she’d need a bigger stage, then got the good news that she would get a chance to sing in front of America….well deserved I might add, she is awesome; and Brenna, the annoying girl who Simon somehow liked despite saying she had a horrible attitude…..I have one word for you: Ratings; there was also Taylor Hicks, the harmonica-toting gray-haired southern boy who Simon doesn’t get, but trust me, America will and he deserves to be here.

There were also quite a few that advanced that we didn’t see auditions of at all before this. That’s proof that there is just way too much Ryan Seacrest on this show and not enough meat and potatoes.

Finally, I’m sure most of you noticed for the first 50 minutes of the show that Darrell and Terrell, the Jackass Twins, were absent. We all read in the papers that they had been arrested on forgery and theft charges, but we didn’t know at what point during the taping of “American Idol” it was until they mentioned it . As it turns out, these self-described “model citizens” were nothing but jackasses, and criminals at that.

So we’re down to 12 guys and 12 girls……the real “American Idol” starts here. Are you guys ready to start voting?

American Idol, TV

Kermit the Frog wouldn’t approve

February 15, 2006 / Jason Zingale

Is it just me or are the Sayid flashback episodes always some of the best of the season? Tonight’s episode wasn’t even that great, and yet I was still compelled to soak in every minute of the character’s back story. This time around, we finally get to see Sayid during the war (the Gulf War, I suppose), as he’s captured by the Americans and then trained to become a Master of Torture. And while Sayid thinks back on his first torture victim ever – his commanding officer – Crazy French Chick tracks him down on the island and takes him to a man she has captured and believes to be an Other. Sayid is most obliging in aiding the investigation, and though we never discover who the man really is (I didn’t, anyways, because my TiVo cut off the episode after it ran over the hour mark), we’re to believe that he was telling Sayid the truth.

Meanwhile, as Sayid beats up the stranger after locking him away in the armory, Jack and Locke have a brawl over the decision to give Sayid full reign. As Jack tries to convince Locke to open the door, the countdown clock goes into alarm mode. Locke, who’d rather not find out what happens if the clock counts down to zero, gives Jack the combination and rushes to the computer before it’s too late. Well, it’s too late, and the five white panels switch over to black and red ones that revealed four symbols. Note: this is the best I could decipher with the help of my Pause button – a bird, an arrow, a mallet-shaped object and a screwdriver-shaped object. One panel was still switching over before Locke hit “Enter,” and so it seems that everything is back to normal. Overall, it was a bit upsetting. I was really hoping to see what happened, but it doesn’t look like the creators are ready to show us everything just yet.

By the way, shame on you Sawyer for crushing that poor little tree frog to death. I mean, you’re already on everybody’s shit list, so there’s really no point in playing the bad guy role all over again.

Lost, TV

My Bloody Valentine

February 15, 2006 / Jason Zingale

I don’t think I’ve ever seen “The Shield” acknowledge a holiday (for the record, I’m still waiting for the Halloween-themed episode), but this had to have been the worst Valentine’s Day ever for our boys and girls at the Barn. First off, I doubt that Kavanaugh’s decision to set up shop in the station was a welcome one by any member of the police force – including Captain Billings, who although has command over the IAD Lieutenant cannot stop him from taking over his office. Bummer. And so the first round of interrogations begins, with Vic playing his lawyer card and Shane treating the investigation as a mockery. We already knew that all of the guys on the Strike Team wouldn’t talk, but Vic’s fugly ex-wife Corrine just had to open her big fat mouth and tell Kavanaugh about the mysterious $65,000 that he gave her at the beginning of last season. Was her nose not taking up enough of her ugly face? Did she have to open her fat mouth and start crying too? Ye gods, and on VALENTINE’S DAY!

That wasn’t all folks. Even poor Danny Sofer got the shake down for having a past relationship with Vic. Not like she’ll get punished for it, but it was a nice zinger to use against Corrine during her investigation. Kavanaugh is good at manipulating the weak, and the cards are in his favor for the time being, but what happens when the bulk of the case comes down to getting one of the four guys to turn? We’ve seen how brutal he can be in the interrogation room, but will Kavanaugh really have the balls to drag Shane’s wife Mara into the mix? If he does, God help us. If Corrine cracked under pressure, Mara will surely be more problematic down the road.

Meanwhile, Dutch and Claudette revisit an old murder case from last season involving the cool and composed killer, Kleevon, when his sister goes “missing” and they think that he killed her. We know she’s okay, of course, because we caught a quick glimpse of her in the previews for next week’s episode, but another black woman was found raped and murdered mere hours after he was released from question, and she bears an uncanny resemblance to Claudettte. Looks like she may have pissed him off just a bit, but the reckless death job may be his final curtain call. And in a short subplot of ouch-that’s-gotta-hurt hilarity, Julien and Tina walk in on a guy who’s suspended at a glory hole because his dick is stuck in a… what for it… mousetrap! Yowzers! That’ll teach you, if nothing else, to NOT stick important body parts into foreign holes.

The Shield, TV

American Idol: From 99 To 44

February 15, 2006 / Mike Farley

Wow, how fast things are moving now that “American Idol” has shifted to Hollywood. Last week, 175 contestants began the second round of auditions and 76 were sent home. The 99 that remained had to do the thing that always separates the real talent from the wannabes: group competition. What this also tends to do is expose the jackasses, and this time around it was no different.

Jackass 1 and Jackass 2, otherwise known as twins Darrell and Terrell, were all over this show. Look, these guys can definitely sing, but the next American Idol is not going to be one that carries emotional baggage. These two have enough of said baggage to weigh down a 747. Terrell was all over his teammates, complaining to the camera that two of them were sleeping while he and one teammate rehearsed. Looked to me like they spent more time complaining than anything. Then, the two guys that were sleeping wound up going to the next round, and so did Terrell. Bear with me, it does get better.

So then later, his brother Darrell competes with his team and he is chosen to move on to the next round as well. Then, he decides to open up his mouth. “My spirit has been broken,” he said. “After how you treated my brother, I choose to leave the competition and go home to record with my brother.” Simon immediately said “Fine, go home.” Little did Darrell know that his brother had not been eliminated, so later on he had to go in front of the judges and eat crow. They eventually accepted his apology and let the jackass twins back in. But not before Simon let him know that he was “sick of the hissy attitude.” Simon and all of America, I can guarantee you that.

All night there seemed to be huge egos colliding. A girl named Tyra switched teams twice and seemed to cause trouble everywhere she went. But in the end, she made the right decision because the team she didn’t end up with kept forgetting their lyrics and were all eliminated.

Another hilarious bit was when cowboy Garrett and two of his cowboy friends were portrayed by the show’s producers as the cast of “Brokenote Mountain” and after they all were eliminated showed Garrett hugging his teammates and crying. Awwwww…..

Still shining through all the crap were three contestants I think everyone should keep an eye on. One is Paris Bennett….I think she’s only 17 but she has quite the pipes and a professional attitude to boot.
I’m predicting her as top 5 material right now. Mandisa (I don’t know if she even has a last name) can also belt it out, and I fully expect her to land in the top 12. Then my dark horse is that gray haired dude…..he’s got this Joe Cocker thing going on that just can’t be ignored.

The judges broke the remaining contestants into four groups, one of which was eliminated. So that left 44 contestants in all to compete for the final 24 spots–12 guys and 12 girls. And those will be determined tonight after solo acapella performances in front of the judges. Please please please judges, do us all a favor and send the jackass twins home.

We’re getting there folks…..it’s been a long ride already but it’s only just beginning to heat up. See you tomorrow….