The Remote Island : Fox

American "Ab Fab" Is Not Happening

Jake Kalish — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:36:00 GMT

Fox has passed on the American Ab Fab after viewing the pilot episode. Why can't we Americans seem to get this right? Alison Waldman of TV Squad has a theory:

The fact is that even with Jennifer Saunders on board to work on the American version, Absolutely Fabulous was an essentially British show. It was also a show of its time, the '90s. Eddy and Patsy's antics were outrageously topical, including all the arcane British references to pop culture, drugs, booze, fashion, PR and cosmetic surgery.

Have to respectfully disagree. British references can easily become American references - think British Office/American Office - and '90's references can easily be updated. Plus, "pop culture, drugs, booze, fashion, PR and cosmetic surgery" - that's all still around, last time we checked. It's probably more prevalent, too. No, it seems the biggest problem to solve, besides the need to get really good writers, is that Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley were so damn good.

Still, we can think of 3 American comediennes who'd be great in an American Ab Fab...

1. Amy Poehler - much better fit than Parks and Recreation.

2. Margaret Cho - at long last, turned loose on TV.

3. Chelsea Handler - She's already practically doing it an American version of Ab Fab on her show, and with books like Are You there, vodka? It's me, Chelsea.

And there are others, like Jane Krakowski, maybe Elizabeth Perkins, even Julia Louis-Dreyfus if we could get over the Seinfeld thing. So maybe this shouldn't be such a Rubix Cube for us over here in the States. We should be able to figure this out. Still, perhaps a great show is best left alone.

PREVIOUSLY:

American "Ab Fab": Is This Going To Work?

Kristen Johnson May Join The New, American "Absolutely Fabulous"

Margaret Cho: "Bisexual Doesn't Cover It" [VIDEO]

Chelsea Handler vs. Tori Spelling Is A Real Mismatch [VIDEO]

We Could Get Into "Human Target"

Jake Kalish — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:22:00 GMT

Fox has picked up Human Target, based on the DC Comic.The pilot got great buzz, and the show just sounds like a very good setup for crazy, tense, completely unrealistic action:

Based on the DC Comics title, the show centers on Christopher Chance (Mark Valley), a mysterious freelancer who offers a unique form of security for hire: He assumes the identities of people in danger, becoming the "human target" on behalf of his clients.

Fresh! Plus, it's got one of our favorite character actors in the universe:

Jackie Earle Haley and Chi McBride co-star in the project written by Jon Steinberg and directed by Simon West. The two exec produced the pilot with McG.

Jackie Earle Haley! From this and this! The new Freddy Kreuger! Love Jackie Haley! He was in the most uncomfortable, upsetting scene in film history! You better not tell...

PREVIOUSLY:

ABC Commits To "Fables"

"Pushing Daisies" May Be Back - As A Marvel Comic Book

Kate Mara Had A Big Week

The "Dollhouse" DVD Set, Coming Soon

Jake Kalish — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:35:00 GMT

All the details on the DVDs for a show folks didn't seem to want to watch at its regularly-scheduled time: the Dollhouse DVD will include the unaired pilot and unaired season finale. Here's the whole rundown on what you'll be able to get starting July 28:

·       Disc One
o       Ghost
·        Commentary by Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku
o       The Target
o       Stage Fright
o       Gray Hour
o       True Believer
·        Disc Two
o       Man on the Street
·        Commentary by Joss Whedon
o       Echoes
o       Needs
o       A Spy in the House…
o       Haunted
·        Disc Three
o       Briar Rose
o       Omega
o       Never-before-seen episode Epitaph One
·        Commentary by writers Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen
o       Original Unaired Pilot – Echo
o       Deleted Scenes
o       “Making Dollhouse” featurette
o       “Coming Back Home” featurette
o       “Finding Echo” featurette
o       “Designing the Perfect Dollhouse” featurette
o       “A Private Engagement” featurette

Oh, plus this sort-of news from Live Feed:

UPDATE: Sources say fans shouldn't lose hope; that despite the show's recent ratings, Dollhouse is still alive. Whedon pitched the network on his vision for season two late last week. Discussions have commenced between Fox and the studio about how to make the show work financially. Not trying to spread false hope here, merely saying the finale rating has apparently not scared off the network and negotiations are ongoing.

Dunno. With these ratings, we just don't see it happening.

PREVIOUSLY:

Nobody Watched The Sort-Of Season Finale Of "Dollhouse"

"Dollhouse" Season Finale: Too Joss Whedon-y For Fox

Eliza Dushku Goes To Uganda With Surprising New Boyfriend [PHOTO]

"Lie To Me" Is Coming Back Next Season

Jake Kalish — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:04:00 GMT

Yay! After a somewhat shaky beginning, this show has found its groove. Plus, those tips on how to tell when someone's lying have enabled us to end three relationships and win two multi-million dollar lawsuits. Seriously, you gotta take notes on this show, and then ask people where they've really been.

Of course, Fox could be lying about this news.

Goddammit. That's, like, the eighth time we've made that same Lie To Me joke. It's like a compulsion at this point. Unless we're lying about always making that joke. Aaaagh! Stop! Just stop!

PREVIOUSLY:

Is Fox Right To Preempt Obama?

Mekhi Phifer Jumps From "ER" To "Lie To Me"

"Lie To Me", Jennifer Beals

"Lie To Me", Alex Rodriguez

"Prison Break" Uses Prison Rape For Its Marketing Campaign

Jake Kalish — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:33:00 GMT

A bar of soap? That we're presumably not supposed to drop? You serious, Fox? For a show that's not coming back anyway? And weirdly, a similar thing just happened - is prison rape is suddenly a great marketing tool?

Also, what PR genius sent the prison rape soap to The Advocate?

The bar of soap sent to The Advocate just features the run dates of the series, and the accompanying press release reads, "We hope the enclosed bar of PRISON BREAK soap helps lather up excitement for the two-hour series finale airing Friday, May 15."

Predictably, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation was none too pleased:

It’s unfortunate that Fox thinks a veiled reference to prison rape is an appropriate part of their marketing campaign for this show," Rashad Robinson, senior director of media programs for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, said in an exclusive statement to The Advocate.

And it's not the first time Fox has done this:

The marketing team at Fox used this gimmick once before while promoting the third season's premiere in New Zealand in 2008. Those bars of soap featured the imprint of a key -- an attempt to show how keys are sometimes duplicated in prison. The soap was then strategically placed in bars and clubs.

Nice! Well, if it went over in New Zealand...

Although it is interesting that over 90% of the comments responding to the post about this on The Advocate's website thought GLAAD was being way too sensitive, and that the bar of soap was kind of funny.

What do you think? Offensive, funny, or both?

PREVIOUSLY:

Which Show Is Being Turned Into A Video Game? And Using Prison Rape To Promote That Video Game?

"Prison Break": Is Fox Finally Ready To Consider It "Prison Broken"?

Death Sentence For "Prison Break"

"The Cleveland Show", Renewed Before It Debuts

Jake Kalish — Tue, 05 May 2009 17:11:00 GMT

All you early "Family Guy"superfans who are still recovering from the show being cancelled twice before coming back from the dead, becoming a hit and maybe even a movie soon, you can breathe easy now. The Family Guy spinoff, The Cleveland Show, has already been renewed for its second season. And in case you think you've somehow missed a year of your life or launched forward in time, breathe easy again. No, the first season ofThe Cleveland Show has never even aired.

Still, judging by the theme song, all this faith might be justified...

PREVIOUSLY:

"Family Guy" Wins Court Battle [VIDEO]

"Family Guy" Episode Pisses Off Parents [VIDEO]

"Family Guy" Fans To Lose Their Minds Waiting For "The Cleveland Show"

Kanye West On "The Cleveland Show"

Is Fox Right To Preempt Obama?

Jake Kalish — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:30:00 GMT

We don't think so. But a new editorial makes a compelling argument...

This from Richard Huff of the New York Daily News:

Fox is going to get skinned in some parts, no doubt, for not carrying President Obama's 100-day press conference Wednesday night.

That's just wrong.

The network should be praised for not giving up a third night of lucrative prime-time television for yet another presidential press conference.

Enough already.

Yes, he's the President and he's talking about issues that directly affect all of our lives. And yes, we want to know about those issues and are happy he keeps us updated.

But in the absence of some striking new development, or something he hasn't addressed before, every network doesn't have to drop everything because he's clearing his throat.

Oof. Rough. But fair? We think Fox is making the wrong call here - the Obama Presidency is historic, and the 100-day mark is historically an important date in incipient Presidencies. It is a day of note, and these press conferences serve the administration's laudable goal of more transparency and dialogue. Also, we suspect Fox's decision has a lot to do with Rupert Murdoch's politics. But...

It's not like Obama's 100th day wasn't going to be covered like hell all over the news networks anyway. CNN is planning a giant election-type special. So even sans press conference, Barack Obama's Presidential accomplishments are today's topic. Recounting these accomplishments himself is a move that could make President Obama seem way too much like Rickey Henderson. But there is a press conference, and over 80% of the country has cable. In addition, 3 of the 4 networks are carrying the press conference. So anyone who wants Obama can get Obama. That's not really the point - the point, still, is priorities. But it is the truth. Back to Richard Huff:

So Wednesday night, Fox will stick with "Lie to Me" and "American Idol," while others go with Obama.

The risk in having a TV-friendly President is that by being on so often, viewers will ultimately become desensitized to seeing him, and perhaps miss the importance of what he might say.

The last thing anyone needs is someone to say, "Oh, honey, it's Wednesday at 8, the President's new series is on again - everywhere. Tonight, let's see what's on ESPN."

On the bright side, we're beginning to see how comedians will be able to make fun of Barack Obama.

What do you think? Did Fox make the right call?

PREVIOUSLY:

"American Idol" Beats Barack Obama

Okay, Now President Obama Is Just Messing With Television Executives

Obama On TV: Bad Strategy? [VIDEO]

"Sit Down, Shut Up": Already in Trouble?

Lindy Parker — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Uh-oh. Is Fox ready to yank Sit Down, Shut Up from their Sunday lineup after only two episodes? Apparently so...

After two episodes, Fox is pulling Mitch Hurwitz's animated comedy Sit Down, Shut Up from its post-Simpsons slot on Sunday nights. Starting next week, Sit Down will air at 7 p.m. instead, a low-rated hour that's only considered "primetime" on Sundays. Repeats of American Dad will fill 7:30 p.m. (The Live Feed)

Two episodes seems a little premature to be messing with a brand new show's timeslot, and we feel a little nervous that doing so will only further inhibit Sit Down, Shut Up's ability to find a consistent audience, but we suppose Fox has their reasons. We wanted to like Sit Down, Shut Up because, like everyone, we have an Arrested Development hole in our hearts that has yet to be filled, but we found the initial SDSU episodes to be largely lame. We suspect SDSU is suffering from an over-hyped association to Arrested Development instead of focusing on its own funny.

What do you think? Take a look at the episode below and let us know...

Previously:

Fox is Sorry They Cancelled Arrested Development

"Sit Down, Shut Up" is "Arrested Development" Meets "Boston Public" Meets "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"

The Arrested Development Movie, Soonish

The "AD" Movie Is On, With Michael Cera, According To Jeffrey Tambor

"American Idol" Beats Barack Obama

Jake Kalish — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:35:00 GMT

Wow. We joked about the networks being pissed at Obama for scheduling his 100-day press conference during May Sweeps, but we didn't expect this...

Fox will not air Wednesday's press conference. Here's the explanation:

Fox has decided not to broadcast President Obama's 100th-day press conference Wednesday night, opting instead to let sister cable networks Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network air the address in its entirety.

The address, scheduled for 8 p.m. (ET), could have possibly affected the "American Idol" results show, which begins at 9 p.m., and the network did not want to risk that during the critical sweeps period for ratings, according to sources. Fox has historically not registered high ratings for presidential addresses and decided, given the nature of this particular press conference, not to show it, sources said. Fox aired Obama's two previous primetime addresses.

Key words: "the nature of this particular press conference." As in: Barack Obama making note of his Presidential accomplishments. Think this could maybe have a little something to do with Rupert Murdoch's politics? Wouldn't want the President's press conference to preempt a new Lie To Me, or even possibly a single second of the Idol results show. Priorities, people.

PREVIOUSLY:

Okay, Now President Obama Is Just Messing With Television Executives

Details On Kal Penn's White House Gig

Today In WTF: Turkish TV News Anchor Dons Blackface To Report On President Obama [VIDEO]

Get Your Adam Lambert "Ring Of Fire" Ken Doll [PHOTO]

"American Idol": See Adam Lambert Way Before He Crushed All Competitors Under The Weight Of His Immense Talent [VIDEO]

Aw, KC And Freda Payne Weren't That Bad On "American Idol"

Okay, Now We're Spasming With Excitement Over "Glee" [VIDEO]

Jake Kalish — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:35:00 GMT

We spasm sometimes when we're really psyched about an upcoming new show. It's not a grand mal seizure or anything - just little spasms, like Otis Redding doing "The Shake."

Above is the trailer for Fox's much-hyped Glee, coming May 19th, that started the tremors. Yesterday Fox released an awesome four minute extended trailer, and now we're straight-up spastic...

PREVIOUSLY:

"Glee" Might Be Really Good

Fox Clearly Thinks "Glee" Is Great

Yeah, Now We're Pretty Sure "Glee" Will Be Great, Too

Is Simon Leaving "American Idol"? Our Top Three Choices For His Replacement

Lindy Parker — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:00:00 GMT

With one year left on his American Idol contract, Simon Cowell's reign as the judge everyone loves to hate may be coming to an end...

"I don't want to come over as whiney because I am very grateful that I have got these jobs," says Cowell, who also hosts U.K.'s The X-Factor and Britain's Got Talent. "But there is a point where I am not sure we can keep this schedule up. It takes longer and longer to make these shows because you have to put more into them, and I am not sure we can sustain me doing three shows a year, with the record label and the TV production company," he goes on. (Us Magazine)

Fair enough, but the question remains: who will replace the exquisitely acerbic Brit? Listen up, Fox. We've got some ideas...

1. Quentin Tarantino

Our all time favorite guest judge on American Idol. We don't know anything about QT's music knowledge, and we don't care. He clearly loves the show, and we've got Randy and Kara for industry cred. We just want someone who can make us laugh and who won't bicker with Paula.

2. David Foster

This one's a no brainer, right? If you can't get Quentin Tarantino, songwriting legend slash music production genius is the next logical step. Also, he's guest mentored before, and he's uncle to Clay Aiken's baby so there's already an Idol connection. The only downside is that David Foster's got one or two other things going on, and probably couldn't swing the show's grueling production schedule.

3. Whitney Houston

Come on, tell us this wouldn't be awesome! She'd totally vascilate between shockingly insightful critiques and bat shit crazy that could send Paula's head spinning. Not to mention, the soul-shatteringly awkward moments when an ill-advised contestant inevitably covers one of her Bodyguard songs with her in the room -- our minds are blown just thinking about it. Plus, we think this one is actually plausible: Whitney needs to get back in the limelight, and we're not sure it would take Clive Davis that much cajoling to make it happen.

Previously:

Simon Cowell Tells Michael Jackson What To Do
American Idol: I Can't Make You Love Me If You Don't
American Idol: It Was a Very Good Year
Tonight On "American Idol": Birth Year Songs
"American Idol": Play That Funky Music

Yeah, Now We're Pretty Sure "Glee" Will Be Great, Too [VIDEO]

Jake Kalish — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:25:00 GMT

Don't know if you've heard, but Glee, Fox's upcoming musical dramedy (Yes, musical dramedy, we doubted the format too) is getting unbelievably great buzz. And not from Fox's hype machine, either: from execs at other, opposing studios. When the pilot was screened in January, nobody who saw it could stop talking about the show, and one rival exec called Glee "amazing."

Still, the first promos for the May 19th premiere were just kinda funny - didn't really make the show seem like anything so special. The new, extended promo, however, had us dancing in our chairs and reaching for the stars...

PREVIOUSLY:

Fox Clearly Thinks "Glee" Is Great

Yay, Jane Lynch; Boo-Hoo, Doomed Television Show

"Glee" Might Be Really Good

Wanda Sykes Is Coming To Fox Late-Night [VIDEO]

Jake Kalish — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:35:00 GMT

Black. Gay. Woman. Can you say ratings bonanza?

Wanda Sykes also is very funny, so the announcement she'll have a late-night Saturday show on Fox is a welcome one indeed. She definitely deserves this type of gig, and we have little doubt she'll deliver the goods. Wanda's show will premiere in the fall, and it's not clear yet what this means for Spike Ferensten's not half-bad show, which currently occupies that spot. But Wanda Sykes is funnier than Spike Ferensten. Wanda Sykes is, at times, spit up your food and have trouble breathing funny.Check her out in her Sick And Tired stand-up special, asking the question "wouldn't it be great if our pussies were detachable?"

PREVIOUSLY:

Wanda Sykes Picked To Make Fun Of Barack Obama

Wanda Sykes: Out And Proud!

The Osbournes Reload Tonight, We Wonder If Anyone Knows What The Hell This Show Is [VIDEO]

Jake Kalish — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:35:00 GMT

The hype for this show, airing tonight at 9:25 on Fox after American Idol, is that "it's like nothing you've ever seen on television." And exec producer James Sunderland wants to make very clear what this isn't: a traditional, Rosie Live-style variety show:

The only reason variety should be mentioned with regard to Osbournes: Reloaded is because it's got a variety of different things in it. It's got music, surprises, reality pieces, studio elements; but that's where the comparison ends. You're not going to see Sharon and Ozzy dancing on the stage with jazz hands or celebrities doing cameos.

Okay, it isn't a regular variety show. So what the hell is it? One gets the sense from reading the interview with the executive producer that not even he knows: he throws out words like "edgy" and "controversial", but then makes sure to point out that it's a "family show" that one should watch with "their grandma." Their edgy, controversial grandma? (Sunderland then points out "the swearing is bleeped." Oh, Grandma will love that.)

The promo gives us no clue what this show is, either - only that it takes a lot of things we've seen before in different types of shows and puts them all in one place:

All right, let's go through this: fast-food? saw that on The Simple Life. The kissing prank? Could be from any one of a hundred shows over the past forty years, could be on Howie Do It. Musical performance? Yeah, that's good. Ozzy can sing. But it's hardly original. Searching for people with your name? Done before, brilliantly, by the British comic Dave Gorman, in Are You Dave Gorman? And little British kids impersonating British celebrities and cursing? Check this out:

So what they mean by "You've never seen anything like this before" is "You've never seen all these things you've seen before on one show!"

Unfocused is not a synonym for original. We're worried.

PREVIOUSLY:

Oh, No, You Did Not Just Say That To Sharon Osbourne

"Rock Of Love" Contestant Suing Sharon Osbourne For Assault

Kelly Osbourne Is Back In Rehab

"America's Got Talent": Fake Ozzy Drives Sharon To Demand "Pants Off Dance Off"

Sharon Osbourne Makes British Tabloid Apologize, Pay Her

"The Office", Now And Forever

Jake Kalish — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:35:00 GMT

Starting in the fall, The Office will be syndicated. Everywhere and all the time...

Syndicated rights to The Office have been sold to stations covering 93% of the country, including all of the 50 top markets. Fox has rights in NY, LA, and Chicago. Yes, the show's already running repeats on TBS, but now Michael Scott and the rest of Dunder Mifflin will be ubiquitous. Our prediction: The Office will be the new Seinfeld - all over the telly, regurgitating awkwardness, selfishness, and cries of "that's what she said!" for perpituity.

PREVIOUSLY:

"The Office" Musical Rocks

Rainn Wilson Vs. Religious Persecution

The Mindy Kaling/Kelly Kapoor Fashion And Beauty Book: We Want A Cut

So, Jessica Alba And Jack Black On The Super Bowl "Office": Not Enough Or Just Right?

Are The Writers Of "The Office" Obsessed With "The Wire"?

Football Players Turned TV Stars: Dhani Jones Will Probably Be Great, Michael Strahan Not So Much

Jake Kalish — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:22:00 GMT

We watched the premiere episode of Dhani Tackles The Globe on the Travel Channel last night, and it's a def thumbs-up, with the potential for a fist of victory if they make a couple of improvements, as per our suggestions. We're significantly less psyched about the news that Jones' former teammate on the Giants, perpetual ham Michael Strahan, will star in a new sitcom.

Incidentally, Dhani Jones, Michael Strahan, and Today Show correspondent Tiki Barber were all on the New York Giants from 2000-2003. Did those teams have acting coaches?

All right, observations on Dhani Tackles The Globe. First, the good:

1. For a professional athlete, Dhani Jones has a refreshing willingness to get himself in the middle of a foreign culture and look dumb. Him trying frantically to place bets with crazed fans in a language he doesn't speak, on a sport (Muay Thai) he barely knows, was great. As was him watching small fish fight, supposedly for an hour. He's a very likable fellow.

2. He's funny, and a natural in front of the camera. While waiting for a cab by the side of the road, he said "they don't pick up black men here, either." and when the sex workers of Bangkok's red-light district competed for his American dollars, he replied "You love me? You don't even know me!" The whole red-light district thing was good; watching a huge African-American man get tugged on and harrassed by tiny Thai hookers makes for compelling TV. Jones handled it all well, turning to one particularly aggressive prostitute, smiling, and saying "I'm really not comfortable with this." Then, after the pro walked off, turning to the camera, a little freaked out, and saying "I think that was a ladyboy."

3. He busts ass and learns fast. He immersed himself in Muay Thai culture, endured rigorous workouts, and became a passable fighter in a week. That's seriously impressive - his work ethic and aptitude make the show much better. Also, the workouts give producers an excuse to have Dhani shirtless nearly all the damned time.

Now, the not so good:

1. Dhani Jones' voice-over narration (and there was a lot of it) sounded totally overexcited, scripted, and unnatural. Which makes sense, since narrating is unnatural. There's no reason to think someone who's never done that before would take to it easily. Producers need to go to Dhani and say "Calm down. Just talk." If that doesn't work (or even if it does) they can cut down the voice-overs, and have Jones speak directly to the camera, which he does naturally. Or they can use graphics to move viewers from scene to scene. If they recognize the problem, this seems like an easy fix.

2. There needs to be more cultural context and analysis. What does Muay Thai mean to Thailand, aside from it just being popular? How does it fit in to the culture as a whole? What is that culture, and how is it reflected in these sports? This is the kind of stuff Anthony Bourdain does so well with food on No Reservations - explaining, and not in stuffy academic terms, what say, the food in Vietnam means about the Vietnamese. Of course, Anthony Bourdain is a writer, and Dhani Jones is a football player, so having him stick mostly with the physical stuff is a good idea. But Dhani Jones is also a smart dude; maybe they can have him interview an expert type every show, so we can get a better feel for what we're seeing.

Overall, a really encouraging premiere of a show with the potential to be excellent. Still have no idea how the Cincinatti Bengals let Jones get kicked and punched. Also not sure how they feel about him gambling (even for very low stakes) and talking to hookers. But we dug it.

Now, Dhani Jones' former teammate Michael Strahan, and his new sitcom pilot Brothers, described thusly:

"Brothers" will star Strahan as a retired NFL player who returns to his hometown and starts working to reconnect with his family -- especially his brother (Mitchell), who is confined to a wheelchair following a car accident.

Bleccch. There's a real stretch for Strahan, huh? It's like giving him carte blanche to do his wacky Michael Strahan thing, which is annoying enough on Fox NFL Sunday, when at least there are lots of other guys who can interrupt him. Unlike Dhani Jones, Strahan was an all-time great football player, but probably not as good as he thought he was. And definitely not as funny. Michael Strahan obviously has an enormous ego, and is the type of dude who, if you put a camera on him, will invariably make a funny face or do a goofy dance. Real center-of attention stuff, which will of course be fueled by the constant mentions of the pilot on Fox's football coverage, and endless promos if the show gets picked up. Which we're sure had something to do with signing Strahan up in the first place - there's a hype machine already in place to publicize Brothers. But just because Strahan was great with a helmet on doesn't mean sports fans will tune in for his Very Special Episodes.

Maybe we're wrong. Maybe Michael Strahan's show will turn out to be great. But right now, if we had to pick between former Giants, we'd definitely go with the guy who's worse on the gridiron, but way better on TV. Get your Tivo acquainted with Dhani Tackles The Globe. It's a fun show.

PREVIOUSLY:

"Dhani Tackles The Globe" Tonight At 9 On the Travel Channel

Anthony Bourdain Picks And Pans

Imaginary TV Fights: Tiki Barber Of "The Today Show" Vs. Tiki Barber Of "Football Night In America"

Fox Clearly Thinks "Glee" Is Great

Jake Kalish — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:25:00 GMT

They're rolling out their much-buzzed about musical comedy about a high school glee club in an unprecedented way.

Glee will have its series premiere May 19th, after the season finale of American Idol. Which should get the show a couple viewers. And then, rather than continuing the show's run in the summer, when fewer people are watching, the network will hold back on airing the other twelve episodes until the fall. So they're banking three months between the first and second eps won't stop the show's momentum, but rather build it - this is designed to create maximum buzz. Which makes sense, since the pilot was ridiculously well received when it was screened in January - with one executive from a rival studio calling it "amazing."

We'll be watching May 19th. And then, if this show is really as good as people are saying, we'll all start fiending for more, and go into Glee withdrawal all summer.

PREVIOUSLY:

"Glee" Might Be Really Good

Jake Kalish — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:29:00 GMT

Kristen Chenowith and Victor Garber have joined the cast of Fox's Glee, Fox's upcoming musical comedy about a high school glee club full of misfits. Huh. Chenowith and Barber are both great. And they join Jane Lynch, who's also great. Plus, Glee is getting excellent buzz. Maybe that means this weird-ass show, which is rumored to debut in May, isn't doomed after all. Or maybe that means it is. Andy Richter Controls The Universe and Pushing Daisies, anyone?

PREVIOUSLY:

Yay, Jane Lynch, Boo-Hoo, Doomed Television Show

Fox & Friends Can't Say D'Oh

Jake Kalish — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:33:00 GMT

After twenty years of the Simpsons, how can anyone not know how to say Homer's catchphrase? Gretchen Carlson of Fox & Friends did a miserable job attempting "D'Oh" - so terrible it couldn't be ignored. So her co-hosts tried to bail her out with their own "D'oh'"s, which were nearly as bad. And Gretchen defended herself by saying she doesn't watch the show. (And we suppose, has also been in the caves of Afghanistan the past two decades.) After the jump, watch the F&F crew lay waste to a pop-culture phenomenon. Which, incidentally, has been on their network since the Eighties. It's enough to make you say "D'oh"...

Fox and Friends Can't Say "D'oh" - watch more funny videos

PREVIOUSLY:

Our Simpsons Archive

Today in Reality Show Romance: Kristy Swanson Marries Lloyd Eisler

Lindy Parker — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:45:00 GMT

Let it never be said that Skating With Celebrities doesn't bring people together. Who could've predicted back when they were toe-looping their way to victory in Fox's ill-fated Dancing with the Stars rip-off that three years and a couple of assault charges later they'd be walking down the aisle. Love is a many splendid thing...

The newlyweds started dating in 2005 after they were paired together on the FOX series. Eisler, an Olympic bronze medalist, was married at the time. In June 2007, Swanson was arrested for reportedly assaulting Eisler's ex-wife. Charges were later dropped. (TV Guide)

Is it terrible that even though she looks beautiful in her wedding dress...

...we still can't stop picturing a COPS segment in our minds in which a face-blurred Kristy Swanson goes all Tonya Harding on Lloyd Eisler's first wife?

Photo: People.com

Gordon Ramsay Shows His Softer Side

Lindy Parker — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:15:00 GMT

We're not sure what to make of British chef Gordon Ramsay these days. We've never made it through a full episode of either Hell's Kitchen or Kitchen Nightmares mostly because angry cursing makes us feel anxious -- we prefer Tom Colicchio's approach to mentoring reality show chefs: maintain a stoic, slightly mysterious calm, with a bemused smile thrown in every once in a while. But, now it appears Gordon Ramsay is showing US audiences the softer side of Sears with a new, live cooking special on Fox...

Ramsay's doing a special cooking show for Fox in the Julia Child tradition, teaching how to do what he does. The idea is for Gordon to create a three-course dinner while giving home viewers instructions about how to do it with him. Across the pond, as they say, Ramsay did a show like this called Gordon Ramsay: Cookalong Live, which is what this might be. (TV Squad)

We have to say, we like the idea of this special -- maybe without all the obnoxious bleeping we could actually get psyched about Ramsay's expertise.

Here's a look at the British version as a preview:

Previously:

Hell's Kitchen Season Premiere Tonight at 9 on Fox

Mario Batali Vs. Gordon Ramsay

The NFL Network Is In Talks With Fox To Expand Its Distribution

Jake Kalish — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:29:00 GMT

Yes, please. Seriously, this whole 5-year NFL Network/Cable distributors fight makes the Project Runway mishigas look positively smalltime. Great in-depth article in the Sports Business Journal on this dispute, which has kept football games way from football fans. Seems that finally the NFL is starting to get truly nervous about the limited distribution of the NFL Network, which the SBJ calls "a rare and high-profile black eye for the biggest and most powerful sports property in the United States."

PREVIOUSLY:

The NFL Network Babyfit Continues

Kristen Johnson May Join The New, American "Absolutely Fabulous"

Jake Kalish — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:29:00 GMT

This would be a good choice for the Jennifer Saunders role, so long as Kristen gains some weight. Johnston reportedly read for the Saunders role, and may be nearing a deal with Fox. Good. But first she has to eat something - as of June '08, she looked like a stick. Check it out:

Scary, right? Eat something, Kristen. If not for yourself, do it for us. Fatter is funnier.

PREVIOUSLY:

"Absolutely Fabulous", The New American Version, Is Now A Fox Pilot

Fox’s New Series “Bitches” is “Sex and The City” meets Teen Wolf

Olivia Purnell — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:30:00 GMT

Picture this: Four chic New York City women perched on stylish rooftop barstools sipping cosmos or flirtinis or something else irritatingly pink. They’re wearing high fashion and chatting about their latest conquests, or deciding ‘he’s just not that into you’ when suddenly, the clouds pull back revealing a full moon . . .

And everything turns to shit. Instantaneously, manicures are replaced by claws. Brazilian wax-jobs are replaced by . . . something less Brazilian. And the girls go on a rampage.

This is what we’re imagining from the new dramedy Bitches in development at Fox. But, maybe we should reel in our cynicism and have a little more faith.

Fox is calling she-wolf story a “quirky urban fairy tale” and if the pilot gets the green light, it will be executive produced by Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts of Pushing Daisies. And you know how we loved Pushing Daisies.

Can the Daisies alum turn Bitches into magic as well? The premise is certainly . . . original. And the two have the experience to make something touching and inventive and mythic. Also, we loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And werewolves came to Sunnydale all the time (remember Oz?).

So maybe lady wolves in the city has a shot? We don’t know. What do you think?

(tvguide.com)

“Dollhouse:” This Show Might Just Be Amazing!

Olivia Purnell — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Initially, we fell hard for Dollhouse. We have always adored the abstract idea of Joss Whedon’s new baby. A sci-fi vehicle for brainwashing/mind-control and an all-girl can of whoop-ass opened at will? It had us at hello. But, then, reports surfaced, reports of dissention in the ranks, troubs behind the scenes, scrapping the gosh-darn pilot, and the dreaded Friday time-slot. Our faith in the Eliza Dushku/Joss Whedon team has since been tested. Our love for them has been put through the fire. And although our love is strong as ever, our faith was shaken.

Now though, we’ve got reason to hope anew . . .

Jane Espenson, a consulting producer on Dollhouse and alumna of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Battlestar Galactica says we shouldn’t worry:

“I think people are very confident now that everyone is on the same page with what the show is, how amazing it can be, and I think that a lot of this has been overblown . . . I think that people were concerned that the Firefly scenario would play out again. But, you know, I think that we're very confident of what the show is, and yeah, it's moving along so smoothly now.

I think it could very well appeal to not just Whedonites, but a much broader audience. I think it's extremely good, and the concept just blows me away” (io9.com)

Really? No lie? Jane we could kiss you right now! . . . Oh, no girl, that’s just a figure of speech. These lips belong to Joss and Eliza.

Previously:

A Little Eliza Dushku Nudity to Start The Day Off Right
“Dollhouse” Gets the Friday Kiss of Death
“Dollhouse” Stop Playing With Our Emotions

"The Shield" Creator To Do A Desperation Comedy For Fox

Jake Kalish — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:27:00 GMT

Well, now that The Shield is over, what's next for the show's creator, Shawn Ryan? (Who, incidentally, looks a lot like the show's star, Michael Chiklis, just so you don't think we're confused.)

Apparently, Ryan will do what he terms a "desperation comedy" for Fox. It'll be a single camera sitcom called The Millionaire's Club, set in Pittsburgh, about five people who are unhappy with their lives and therefore come up with a get-rich scheme. Ryan isn't as weird a source for a sitcom as it seems; he started as a comedy writer, and was hired by Fox to write a sitcom before he turned to the ultra-violence of The Shield. So he's not sweating the seeming switcheroo in tone.

Maybe this will be a colossal failure and I'll have to go running back to cop dramas.

Maybe. But Ryan's deal is for what's called a "put pilot," meaning even if Fox doesn't decide to run the series, he'll get a big-ass check. Which we're pretty sure makes this a win-win.

PREVIOUSLY:
“The Shield”: We Missed It?

Visanthe Shiancoe: Television's First Naked Football Player?

Jake Kalish — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:27:00 GMT

So after the Vikings-Lions game Sunday, Fox cuts to the Vikes locker room, where Vikings owner Zygi Wilf is giving an inspirational speech. Standard rah-rah sports stuff, except for one thing -- starting tight end Visanthe Shiancoe is buck-ass naked on your TV. You don't see much, no offense to Shiancoe -- our main man Visanthe covers up with a towel real quick. It's basically the male equivalent of a nip slip -- see for yourself.

Fox will probably not be fined, as this is also the male version of the Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction." Still, quite embarassing for Fox, although apparently not so much for Shiancoe, whose first question was reportedly "how'd it look?" Hey, if we were built like that dude, we'd do all our interviews naked.

The Economy Is So Bad That Fox Is Swapping Saturday Morning Cartoons For Informercials

Bryan Christian — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:32:00 GMT

div#main{overflow:visible;}

Hey, everyone, if you thought that there was some wild injustice in kids being barraged by what are basically half-hour long commercials every Saturday morning, well, Fox agrees with you. "Get rid of the kids," they say, "and also make the commercials more commercially." Indeed! So they're gutting their Saturday lineup, and replacing it with infomercials. And frankly, we wonder if they'll be the only network to do it.

If the world of Saturday morning is meant to be overrun by infomercials, will they be as amusing as Steve Brule's wondrous and strange attempt to sell the Griddleman? We can only hope so.

"Dollhouse" Gets the Friday Kiss of Death

Olivia Purnell — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:20:00 GMT

At first, we were hopeful about our relationship with Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse. We’d look deeply into Eliza Dushku's eyes and think . . .

This could be good. We could be happy together. But now, we’re truly worried. Beginning in February, Fox will be plugging Dollhouse into it’s Friday night line up at 9pm, following the already flagging Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (we dig T:TSCC, but lets face it, the Connor gang’s viewership is not high). We are feeling a little upset about this new development. We are not alone; The Hollywood Reporter says:

The "Dollhouse" shift to Friday is certain to provoke a despondent cry from Whedon fans, especially after having watched "Firefly" wither away on the same night. Fox could have given the series a premiere behind "Idol" before shifting it to Fridays -- something the network has done a few times to boost sampling of new shows. And if that weren't unlucky enough, "Dollhouse" premieres on Friday the 13th?

Is there still hope despite the dreaded Friday time slot? Will we still tune in? Eliza, What do you think?

Dollhouse. February. Fridays. It’s a date.

Previously:

Fox Crams Extra "House" Into New "Dollhouse" Promo

"Dollhouse": Stop Playing With Our Emotions

Uh-Oh . . . "Dollhouse" May Be in Trouble

Today in Mulligans: Trouble in the "Dollhouse"

Fox Crams Extra "House" Into New "Dollhouse" Promo

Bryan Christian — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:29:00 GMT

The rumors may still be true -- Fox may be needling Joss Whedon into creating another crash-and-burn fanboy fantasy, a la Firefly -- and yet, what concerns us most about the new trailer for Dollhouse isn't its weirdly stilted rhythms and staging, or the vague, unnsettling, and deeply disappointing sense that Eliza Dushku might not yet have the gravity to hold the center of show like this. No, no, what weirds us out is: it sounds like they pinched the opening theme from House and just shoved it right on in there!

Don't believe us? Have a look -- and a listen -- for yourself.

PREVIOUSLY:
“Dollhouse”: Stop Playing With Our Emotions
Uh-Oh... "Dollhouse" May Be in Trouble