Desperate Housewives

I got a call from a viewer the other day that asked why Sunday’s episode of “Desperate Housewives” did not feature previews of the next episode.

Unfortunately, I had to deliver the bad news…”Desperate Housewives” will not be back with a new episode until next year!

Don’t worry, it sounds worse than it actually is.

“Housewives,” like most other TV series will return with new episodes - in January.

It’s the TV series winter hiberation period. You’ll notice when a show produces and airs a “Christmas” or holiday episode, that’s a sure sign the show is going into re-runs, or the less offensive “encore episode” mode.  (In “Housewives” case, a big disaster/cliffhanger usually proceeds a break.)

Because of the staggeringly high cost of producing TV shows (millions of dollars for a single episode!) the TV networks generally only produce about 22 episodes, sometimes only 18 eps of some shows, per year. These episodes are then spread out to air from late September through late May.

New episodes will run in the four weeks of Nielsen “Sweep” periods when Nielsen monitors who’s watching what shows. Those “sweeps” air in November, February and May.

So when you do the math you can figure out pretty quickly that you need to schedule the shows with repeats built in. 

And since TV viewing is affected by holiday schedules and vacations, it seems pretty logical to schedule blocks of repeats throughout the month of December.

So if you have a bunch of shows saved on your Tivo, the holiday season will be a great time to catch up!

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The cast of "V"

I also heard some groans when ABC aired teasers for “V” and ”FlashForward” announcing the final episodes of the year. Same deal. Except these two terrific shows will not return in January but in March. 

By waiting until March to bring back new episodes of “FlashForward” and “V,” it will allow for both shows to air uninterrupted through the end of the season. ”FlashForward” will return on Thursday, March 4, 2010 (8:00-9:00 p.m), and “V” on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 (10:00-11:00 p.m., moving to its new timeslot following “Lost” (which debuts in early February!!!) 

That’s good news. I was wondering if ABC was going to subject “V” to the American Idol juggernaut at 8pm on Tuesdays. That’s good. Replacement programming for the current time periods will be announced shortly.

BTW, “Glee” on FOX will be taking an extended break. I understand that it will not return until APRIL!

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A new job for Cuomo?

Following up on the ABC News post I did earlier this week, apparently ABC NEWS will make JuJu Chang the newsreader on Good Morning, America.

It’s reported that Chris Cuomo is moving up to co-anchor “20/20″ with Elizabeth Vargus on Friday nights.

That’s a good gig for Cuomo as “20/20″ has grown into the #1 show in the Friday at 10pm time period.

Part of the reason for the news magazine’s success? Jay Leno’s failure.

Jay Leno is driving viewers away from NBC.

Ouch!

The end is near...

I think ABC’s “Lost” is one of the very best TV series ever made.

It’s an epic story with memorable characters. For five years “Lost” has taken viewers on a terrific ride. The sixth season coming up is the last season of the show.

Last week, ABC announced the beginning of the end. 

ABC ANNOUNCES THE PREMIERE OF THE SIXTH AND FINAL SEASON OF “LOST,” WITH A SPECIAL ALL-NIGHT EVENT ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2

ABC announces the premiere of the sixth and final season of “Lost,” with a special all-night event on Tuesday, February 2. A recap special will kick off the night from 8:00-9:00 p.m., ET, followed by the much anticipated two-hour premiere from 9:00-11:00 p.m.

The series will then air in its regular time period – Tuesday nights from 9:00-10:00 p.m., ET – beginning the following week, on February 9.

“Lost” stars Naveen Andrews as Sayid, Nestor Carbonell as Richard Alpert, Emilie de Ravin as Claire, Michael Emerson as Ben, Jeff Fahey as Frank Lapidus, Matthew Fox as Jack, Jorge Garcia as Hurley, Josh Holloway as Sawyer, Daniel Dae Kim as Jin, Yunjin Kim as Sun, Ken Leung as Miles, Evangeline Lilly as Kate, Terry O’Quinn as Locke and Zuleikha Robinson as Ilana.

“Lost” was created by Jeffrey Lieber and J.J. Abrams & Damon Lindelof. Abrams, Lindelof, Bryan Burk, Jack Bender, Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz, Jean Higgins and Carlton Cuse serve as executive producers. “Lost,” which is filmed entirely on location in Hawaii and premiered on September 22, 2004, is from ABC Studios.

A clue...Locke turned away?

The poster art for the new season offers some tantalizing clues to what we can expect from the new season.

Almost all the characters, living and dead, from the previous seasons are featured on the poster.

That most all the actors are back in some form or another is about the ONLY information that the ”Lost” producers are confirming at this point.

But what it ultimately means in terms of the actual direction of the show is anyone’s guess. Because there is a blackout on the direction of the final 18 hours of the series.  

Another fascinating clue…the character of John Locke (played so well by Terry O’Quinn) is the only character with his back to the viewer. (Shades of the Abbey Road – Beatles cover!) You know that has got to mean something.

February 2 can’t come soon enough!

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We were warned...now so are you!

I got together with some of my old friends for a great guy’s night out on Saturday night. Burgers and fries at Five Guys. Then a movie at the Hamilton Town Center movie theatre.

Only problem? We saw “2012.” 

I usually like fun disaster flicks.

The trailers for “2012″ offered some serious looking effects that looked like this movie was going to be a fun night at the theatre. When the mayhem was going on, the movie rocked. Problem though was they decided to make a two and a half hour movie. 

Even though they destroyed the world (honestly, the whole Earth is toast in this one) it still wasn’t enough to make this bloated disaster flick worth sitting through.

The digital visuals are impressive. But when the special effects aren’t on the screen, the movie just drrraaaagggggggs.

A surprise? We do NOT see New York City destroyed in this one. LA, Washington, even Vatican City is destroyed. But no scenes in the Big Apple.

Love John Cusack. But seeing him suffer through this mirthless movie  (Why the heck is the man that is Lloyd Dobler in “Say Anything” slumming around in this kind of movie?)

The movie sucks. Way too long.

And adding insult to injury? The digital projection at the usually reliable Hamilton Town Center Theatre was TERRIBLE! There were red and green artifacts throughout the entire movie from the projector. I was ready to demand a refund.

It was a good night with the guys. But a bad night at the movies. 

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Want a little extra “Grey’s Anatomy?”

“Seattle Grace: On Call” is now on ABC.com (available on TheIndyChannel.com.)  They are offering on-line 5 minute short films featuring some of the secondary characters from the hospital. The idea is that a documentary crew follows some of the hospital’s residents.

It’s another in a line of specially produced on-line “extras” from some of the more creative shows on TV. “Lost,”" The Office,” and  ”Desperate Housewives” are just a few of the shows that have offered special on-line episodes for fans.

A RAVE…Nick’s Kids” Choice Awards -

The Jonas Brothers at the Kids’ Choice Awards

I like watching these annual Awards with my kids. This year’s live awards ceremony was hosted by Dwayne Johnson and had a great roster of stars. Jack Black, Leonardo DiCaprio, Hugh Jackman, Miley Cyrus, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Jonas Brothers and tons more. How can you go wrong with a burping contest? Fun…with lots of slime.

A RANT…to Network Promos in Sports. listen, I understand how TV works, particularly when networks pay big bucks for sporting events like NCAA and NASCAR. But its tough to watch with your kids when promos for the nets decidedly adult programming, particularly violent shows like “CSI” and “24″ air in these shows where a lot of kids are watching. Yeesh!

A RAVE…to the ABC class of 2003. What a season of starts: “Desperate Housewives”"LOST” and “Grey’s Anatomy” are debuted that year. Two of those shows, “Housewives” and “LOST” are as good as ever, if not even better! (You know I love LOST. But “Housewives,” particularly the outstanding Eva Longoria-Parker is especially great.) “Grey’s” has been off this season (anything to do with the new, brainless interns they introduced this season has been awful!!!) But this past week, when Izzie had her surgery, I was reminded how great this show can and should be. Fingers crossed they can finish strong.

A RANT…okay, this isn’t specifically entertainment related, but what the hell has happened to our airlines? The new Indianapolis Airport is lovely, but I sure hate sitting in it for six hours waiting for a flight to New Jersey. (Guess how I spent my Sunday afternoon…and evening!) I’ve flown more in the past few months and have yet to have a trip go even close to schedule. The RAVE part…I’ve gotten to watch a lot of movies on PC, read books and listen to music. So I guess this is somewhat entertainment related.

A RAVE…for Stephen Colbert stuffing the NASA ballot box. The space agency held an online contest to name a room on the new Space Station. Big mistake? Allowing write in suggestions. Colbert asked his “Colbert Nation” to vote for his name. He won in a landslide. Funny stuff…the space geeks are out-geeked by a comedy show.

A RANT…about CNBC. The fact CNBC is still airing “In Kramer We Trust” promos even after Daily Show’s Jon Stewart raked the financial personality over the coals. Man, the research department at Comedy Central is incredible. If there is video of someone screwing up (and there were plenty of smoking guns when it came to Kramer) the guys at the Daily Show will use it like a knife. I always thought Kramer a silly, harmless sideshow attraction…now I see him as an irresponsible goof.  

Watch "Ted"...please?

A RAVE…to “Better Off Ted” 

This show is wicked, cynical and a very, very funny show. If you’ve ever had a job, you’ll be able to relate to something in this comedy. Like ”The Office” …only loonier. Check it out on Wednesday nights at 8:30pm after “Scrubs” on ABC and RTV 6.   

A RANT AND A HALF-HEARTED RAVE…to ABC for pulling the plug on a couple of my favorite shows, “Eli Stone” and “Pushing Daisies.” Unfortunately, the shows just didn’t pull big enough numbers to sustain into third seasons. But at least they will show all the remaining unaired episodes this summer…on Saturday nights. Ugh.

A RANT…A local casino using a striking vocal and visual likeness of President Barack Obama to shill their gambling.

Valerie Bertinelli in a bikini! Excellent!

 Tacky no matter your politics. Even worse? The same casino promoted that Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel were coming to the opening. Wrongo.

Please lawmakers, willya just pull the state funded subsidies on these gambling operations.

A RAVE…to Valerie Bertinelli in a bikini!

A RANT…Little Winnie Cooper has grown up! But Winnie Cooper got married! Actress Danica McKellar who played Kevin’s girlfriend on the wonderful “The Wonder Years” got married last week.

Ah, I’m feeling all of those forty-something years again.

After the remarkable inauguration on Tuesday, it seemed only appropriate to share this video that a friend told me about on YouTube. Someone took the time to recreate the opening of “The West Wing” with the new, real life characters in the White House.

Very cool!

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Did you see “Desperate Housewives” this past Sunday?

It was the 100th episode. And it was terrific. It showed us, the audience, how the housewives got to be the wonderful characters we’ve grown to love.

It was a great, bittersweet episode featuring a great guest turn by Beau Bridges.

If you missed the episode, make it a point to watch it on-line at the ABC video link at TheIndyChannel.com.

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You gotta love this.

ABC had a very cool ad for the season premiere of LOST on the front page of YouTube on Wednesday. It allowed you to sneak a peek at the fantastic season premiere. I watched it and could not believe how fast it flew by! Whew!

I think LOST is one of the best shows on television right now. In the online ad, there was a link available to a very funny Sawyer nick-name generator. On the show, Sawyer gives everyone a nickname, most of them not terribly flattering. (But they are hilarious!) So ABC created a generator that allows you to enter info about you that will generate a nickname for you.

So what would Sawyer call you? Click here to check it out for yourself.