So You Think You Can Dance - Final Performance

AHHHHHH... My biggest NIGHTMARE CAME TRUE LAST NIGHT. I FRICKEN PROGRAMMED the WRONG NIGHT (or actually, my sis), so I DIDN'T CATCH SYTYCD.

Stupid Carson Daly. At least the concert was awesome (more in another posting).

Anyways, here's the clips I could find. From what I'm reading on the message boards, these seem to be the best clips too (albeit, funny they all involve Travis? Apparently I'm not the only fan!) and that Travis killed it last night. But you all know this already don't you since you were smart enough to watch it.

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So You Think You Can Dance - Pre Final Performance

So Spoilers are out and I cannot WAIT to watch it. Unfortunately, stupid me buys concert tickets on the same night. Stupid Carson Daly.

Anyways, to those of you in the states, don't forget to dial 1 888 TEMPO 03 tonight! (not the 01 from last weeks T-shirt).

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Fall 2006 TV Preview – The Singles Table – Pilot

Currently scheduled to Premiere on NBC during Midseason

A show about a single Asian guy at weddings. Oh! Finally a show about my life! The Singles Table is another one-camera show about the singles table at a particular wedding. Now, I’m not sure they will keep attending more weddings, but seems like they will follow these 5 strangers and their impending friendship at various occasions.

What’s great about the show is that they don’t become friends within the first episode. In fact, some things are left kinda awkward, so I’m excited to finally see friendships develop over a series of episodes rather than 22 minutes.

Still, it’s nice to see an Asian lead a show, let alone BE in a show period. Really it should be called The John Cho Show since the pilot was basically all about his antics and his comedic hatred toward his ex-wife who happens to be the bridesmaid at the wedding party of a couple HE introduced together. So banished off to the singles table beside the port-o-potties he goes where he meets his four tablemates. The grooms boss Eli, Adam the Rabi, Georgia, the beautiful doctor in a re-used bridesmaids dress, and Stephanie the perpetual sarcastic single gal. There’s a joke in there somewhere. Can they mine a whole series of jokes out of it? The pilot, which has enough laughs, isn’t gut-busting like Scrubs or Arrested Development but is still funny and enjoyable enough and with just slightly off the beat plotting that it might have a better than expected future.

Still, I like John Cho (Harold of Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle), Conor Dubin (Eli) and Rhea Seehorn (as perpetual single gal Stephanie, Rhea is always the actress who seems gratingly annoying yet throws her lines with wit and sass) enough to keep watching these random single people show up at every Doug and Martina (the wedding couple) occasion. It could be interesting, or they could get repetitive quickly.

The pilot felt just different enough not to be a typical sitcom, though deals with all the regular wedding cliché jokes (though with Cho acting his usual angst, I still laugh). I enjoyed it more than CBS’ The Class but with so few comedy spots left in NBC’s schedule, I’m not sure where it will really fit in. Word is they are also re-shooting the pilot to replace the actress playing the doctor, so this pilot that I saw is probably not the final one that will eventually get shown.

At this point, it’s Tapeworthy (Tivoworthy if you’re that advanced. I however am a Mennonite) enough as some good filler material when in need of some light moments, but not a Must Stay at Home to watch THAT night show. (I’m still figuring out my system okay? Give me a weekend). Like a slightly lighter My Name is Earl, but above Freddie (hey, I know it's not saying much but I liked it in that Growing Pains mediocrity way, okay?), at least in terms of watching priority.

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So You Think You Can Dance - Results Show - Final Four

Did you people Call In?

So After the big Catfight, Here are our So You Think You Can Dance - Final Four!

Heidi Groskreutz

Travis Wall

Donyelle Jones

Benji Schwimmer

Okay, I'm pretty happy with the results. I wish Natalie were in, instead of Donyelle, only because in the past few weeks I thought Natalie was stronger, but at least Travis and Benji made it. Ivan is great and all but just not quite up to par as the other two boys.

And for your Long weekend (in Canada at least) entertainment, here are some more clips with this wicked Mia Michaels choreographed opening number:



And here are the boys solos:

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Guilty Pleasures - Big Brother 7: All Stars

Still United?

Was Janelle right? did Diane deserve to stay?

While Diane pleas that she was not a threat, girl knows how to play the game. Still, Will and Boogie CANNOT win but at least they are amusing to watch, while Erika, Marcellas, Diane, George and Danielle have cowarded quietly trying not to ruffle any feathers (boring). However, they are 5 strong and Sixers are 4, and Chill town are only 2. Janelle had a point but her big mistake was lying about her strategy to her fellow Sixers. Why didn't she just explain it? I know you thought they wouldn't get it, but call James on why HE didn't nominate Will and Boogie last week? or Kaysar the week before? Why they are all turning on Janelle for doing the same thing they all did, I don't understand, but James ALWAYS seems to jump sides at the slightest impending fear.

Of COURSE we had to leave the housemates as they get blown with foam on a net in the backyard. That's not a HOH challenge, thats the beginning of a gay orgy porn shoot. Anyways, if you wanna know the results, here it is.

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Fall 2006 TV Preview - The Class - Pilot

Here's another good compilation before I get started, and it comes just as I was about to make my own system of stars (though it's really copying the Amy TV Gal star system). Though from most other critics, I hear Ugly Betty is good.

Anyways, back to my reviews of pilots I can get my hands on. (PLEASE NOTE: This is based on the original pilot from pilot season and has been reworked for the fall season)

The Class
Premieres Monday Sept. 18th at 8pm on CBS


CBS decides to keep its schedule pretty much intact, only adding 4 new shows, and they add The Class? Another whitecentric comedy about 20/30-somethings that have little in common and forced to hang out together. Worked for Friends, didn’t work for every other show that landed the 8:30pm Thursday night slot on NBC.

Still, I was sort of excited by the simple concept, of a semi-class reunion only of folks who never hung out with each other after grade 3 it seems, and with David Crane (Friends) involved, there was hope (though does David Crane just not like black people? Or Asians for that matter?). Then the early critics reviews came out and this one seems to be this years lynchpin (even though it seems there are far worse shows (like ‘Til Death and Happy Hour)).

Now that I know this is one of the worst shows from this new Fall Season, what did I think? Eh. It was amusing but nowhere as good as How I Met Your Mother (it’s timeslot neighbour). It all feels contrived (then again, isn’t every show) but has enough likeable actors (Andrea Anders, you’re lucky you survived Joey but poor you, now you have to survive this?) that it makes for a good guilty pleasure in the same way Four Kings was (meaning you watch because you're too lazy to change channels and is mildly diverting enough that you don't realise the crap you've just watched until it's already over... then again. Two and a Half Men is like that and it's the number one comedy on TV). It's not quite as campy as Freddie, Out of Practice or Reba was as guilty pleasures go but it's not completely offensive (like The War At Home is).

I’ll probably keep watching The Class, if only because it’s paired with How I Met Your Mother and that there’s only Prison Break on at the same timeslot, leaving enough room on the VCR’s to tape it for those days when I want brainless entertainment and Big Brother is no longer on.

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So You Think You Can Dance – Top 6

Alright, where were we? Last week, people gasped as Allison was booted off the show. Surprising yes, but at that point, all 4 remaining girls were all amazing and though I felt Donyelle has weakened a bit in the past few weeks, I knew I would have been mad no matter what the outcome.

This week, let the race to the finale begin. Ivan and Natalie, Travis and Heidi and Benji and Donyelle pair up and Travis and Heidi are definitely the best of the night. Which brings me noticing this. Pretty much whoever Travis, but even more so, Benji and Heidi are paired up with, they usually have an excellent night.



At this point, Travis is still my favorite male, and as the judges point out, he has a charisma that cannot be taught. He shines with soul, and moves on stage with confidence, oozes grace and romances the stage with a naivety of a young man still ready to explore the world. We watch and we swoon.

As a counterpoint, Benji, is the all round good/funny guy that is everyone’s friend, and one cannot help but smile when watching Benji dance around the stage (even when he’s acting “tough” like his hip hop routine tonight). His moves are perfection, his bounce and energy are emphatic and endearing. We watch with complete joy.

Heidi, is still the biggest surprise. From the very beginning, she has consistently countered my initial judgement of her being an annoying competition kid. She’s bouncy and joyous to watch like her cousin Benji but has grown to become sensual and graceful like her partner (this week) Travis.

To be honest, all six at this point (and if you would have added Allison and Dimitri from the past two weeks), were all my faves and if any of them wins, it would be deserved.

At least until tonight:

Ivan has been great, like watching the little kid grow before our eyes. However, even his solo hip hop was not as impressive as before.

Donyelle, seems to have lost her spirit, as I’m sure injuries and pain are enough to overtake the joys of dancing, but it’s true that lately, she has not popped and been as tight as she should be at this point. Still love her but at this point, I think she is the worst between her and Natalie.

Natalie meanwhile is so fantastic, dancing through the pain of her knee, but my feeling is that more people will vote Heidi and Donyelle tonight just because Donyelle has always seemed to have a stronger fan base. Still, you gotta give it to all the girls to be able to dance like that in HEELS. Just thinking about it hurts.

Meanwhile, Mia AND Mary are jidging and may I say, can we keep Mia on the stand EVERY WEEK? Her comments are critical and captivating. There were less Crazy Mary screams this week but her boisterousness and Mia’s calm collective commentaries are a nice balance.

So I’ll be mad no matter what tomorrow, but let’s hope I’m less angry and that Travis, Heidi, Benji and Natalie make the final 4. PLEASE…

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Fall 2006 TV Preview – Friday Night Lights - Pilot

Currently scheduled to Premiere on NBC, Tuesdays Oct. 3rd at 8pm.

Friday Night Lights is based on the movie of the same name about a small time high schools’ football team and their new coach. Both the pilot and the film is directed by Peter Berg and the pilot has the exact same styling, same careful pacing (slow), same documentary feel as the film, but that’s a good thing! I am personally not a small town boy, nor do I care about football, but just as soon as I found myself slightly bored by all the intense football action on the field (which I will guess most people will find as the highlight of the show), the pilot emotionally pulls me right back in stronger than ever, and I find myself looking forward to the next episode.

Friday Night Lights follows more than a dozen characters, of the high school football players, their friends, their girlfriends, their parents and the supportive, if not demanding, townsfolk, who are all relying on this team to win them a championship, and in turn, give this town a focus for their energies amongst the dullness of daily life.

Whether the film quality and pacing of the pilot is sustainable throughout a season, I have no idea, but the pilot basically updates the movie to our current generation. I was a little surprised that the show was able to keep the indie-movie quality of the film, but I wonder if television audiences are ready for a slower paced, character driven show (as in its not a procedural, its not Lost, and it's not about rich people) more in the vein of films like All the Real Girls, Secrets and Lies or You Can Count On Me (read, slow “realistic” movies where nothing really happens, (but some of my favourite films of all time)). Then again, I thought Lost would tank since I loved it so much, so who knows? Still, this may be a case where the quality is too good for audiences to sit back and relax on a Tuesday evening, since there is no quick drama or comedic throw outs, but is a subtle look at the pressures by the townsfolk on the new coach, his family and his players.

Kyle Chandler, who so handsomely blew up (literally) in the post-Super Bowl episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, is one of a list of actors who I think should always headline a TV show at all times (also included are Tom Cavanaugh, Michael J. Fox, and Candace Bergin amongst a few others). Chandler takes over Billy Bob Thornton’s role in the movie, but if Chandlers nice guy appeal in Early Edition, Homefront, or his amusing turn as the cheesy actor opposite Naomi Watts in King Kong last year, cause for some concern to whether he could take this tough coach role, it is all completely dispelled in the pilot, giving the coach a strong centre without losing an emotional distance, or worse, caricaturizing the typical “coach” role.

I’m happy to see Connie Britton back on TV (in the role she created in the film) and she brings just the right amount of humour and realism to her wife role. The rest of the cast is big and incredible in their “regularness” and though it will take a few more viewings to figure out who is who, I found, at least so far, I would like to find out more about these people (even the lone caricature role of the towns blonde vixen, who sort of reminded me of Kristin Cavallari).

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Summer Reality : Fall approaches

It's AUGUST already? the Ex opens soon and then we REALLY know Summer is over already. Didn't we just get new reality shows starting too? (and end already? Poor George)

So Fall TV Season is already approaching with the first new Premiere on Aug. 21st with Fox running out of the gate with Prison Break.

I've witheld my excitement over casting news on our favorite shows like Lost and Veronica Mars, because I figure either you already read it on tvtattle or other sites, and if you didn't, you probably have no idea who those actors are anyways.

There has already been a lot of reviews of the new pilots, with televisionary (check the May and June 2006 archives) and futon critic (in the Rant June and July sections) beinging some good ones.

Of course, this is my blog so I will have to have my say as well, hehe... so my Fall 2006 TV Previews of the pilots will start showing up over the next few weeks and again, seems like we are in the midst of the golden age of television! Or at least I say we are again!

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Entourage and Summer Reality - Big Brother 7: All Stars, Canadian Idol, One Ocean Drive, The One and Mel bomb

I go away for a few days and I miss the Mel and The One debacle? okay. The One, not much of a surprise... who won the pool? Still, on this side of the border, it has begun a hilarious watch on all of CBC's latest doofus moves. First last summer's strike, then Tommy Douglas brouhaha, then bumping The National for the lowest rated (American) reality TV show EVER (or something like that). I mean, I really do want them to do well, yet, other than Venture and Street Cents, is there really anything worth watching?

Still, I wasn't around to make fun. Boo! Especially since I have NOT been a big fan of Mel's. Of course now it is just too easy...

Meanwhile, last night, I watched about 20 seconds of One Ocean Drive and was about to puke... so what happened ABC? Are they saving everything good for the fall? First The One, now this? Are they trying to ruin the luster Desperate Housewives, Lost and Grey's Anatomy finally brought?

I was almost about to puke after Canadian Idol. I love when the judges claim each year that "this year is the best year ever". You can usually somewhat debate that claim, until this year hit, since I think it is possibly the worst top 10 in any of the Idols I have seen. Think 10 of Kevin Covais only with less personality. Like I've said before, just hand it to Eva Avila at this point if only cause she looks pretty and is the only one that sings in tune. And what was with the lesbian? Seriously, I love my lesbians but that was simply creepy last night.

Still, how, why? who? what the hell is Cyndi Lauper doing on Canadian Idol this week?

Meanwhile in BB All Stars, apparently this is the week where the Sixers will implode after Janelle's nominations. (Again, James, if you are so mad that Janey is keeping Chill town, why didn't YOU nominate the two?). Still, I hope they survive only cause I still love them to death, despite some strategic mistakes.

Finally, Entourage. Ah yes, my little boys. Finally (mostly) caught up to the HBO show, now post "Aquaman" success, and yes, it was either going to fail or succeed but they brought it to a place that was quite interesting (minus the Dom character who just left a bad taste in my mouth for those two episodes). Ari and Lloyd are becoming one of the best comic duos around, and Kevin Connolly continues to prove that his days of Unhappilly Ever After was just his parents or agents doing. Not as good as the brilliant second season, but still better than first season (which is not bad to begin with).

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