Staying In

‘Being Erica’ Star Finds ‘Life UneXpected’ on the CW

Posted on November 6, 2009 by Vlada

"Being Erica's" Erin Karpluk

If you come around these blog parts occasionally, then you may already know that I’m a very big fan of the Canadian series Being Erica, which airs on SoapNet in the U.S.

You may also know that I am very much looking forward to the CW’s charming midseason show Life UneXpected (aka LUX), starring Shiri Appleby, Kerr Smith, Britt Robertson and Kristoffer Polaha. I’ve already seen the premiere (check out a preview here) and had the opportunity to hear creator Liz Tigelaar speak about the series. It’s one of my favorite new offerings this TV season.

Well, my two loves are combining. Mike’s Bloggity Blog recently had lunch with Being Erica star Erin Karpluk, who revealed that she’s filming a role for Life UneXpected, while awaiting word on a third season of Being Erica.

A CBS Television Studios spokesperson for LUX confirms that Karpluk will have a recurring role on the show. Her character, Alice, will be around for at least six episodes.

This is very good news for LUX because, as Being Erica fans know, Karpluk is a wonderful actress. Plus, with season two of Being Erica set to premiere on SoapNet Jan. 20 and LUX slated for midseason, it looks like we’ll be getting a double dose of Karpluk.

Are you happy about the casting news? Does this make you even more excited for Life UneXpected?

Filed under: being erica, life unexpected | Leave a Comment »

‘Supernatural’ Tops Itself With a Clever Episode Spoofing Popular Shows

Posted on November 4, 2009 by Vlada

"Seriously? Seriously?!" Sam and Dean get trapped in a medical soap with an uncanny resemblance to "Grey's Anatomy."

There’s often a certain negative stigma that comes with admitting that you watch a television show about two demon-hunting brothers called Supernatural on the CW network. You thought Buffy the Vampire Slayer had it hard? Please.

It’s a shame because Supernatural has accomplished a rare feat: It’s only gotten better and more ambitious with time. While many shows start to fizzle after their first couple of seasons or get lost in their own mythology, Supernatural has only gotten richer and more satisfying. With each season, the mythology has deepened in a way that seems completely pre-planned and non-convoluted. When last season’s major mythology backstory episode “In the Beginning” aired, I was floored. It tied in to events that happened all the way back in the pilot and, yet, it flowed like it was always meant to be.

But Supernatural is more than just mythology. It’s a show that likes to have fun and challenge itself. Like Medium, another one of my favorite shows, Supernatural likes to play with tone, format and its own existence in the pantheon of horror and television. If you need proof of its inventiveness, just check out last season’s “Monster Movie,” a black and white tribute to classic movie monsters.

This Thursday brings yet another ambitious hour with “Changing Channels” (check out pictures from the episode here), which instantly became one of my favorite episodes of the show. Written by Jeremy Carver and directed by Charles Beeson, the episode finds Sam and Dean trapped in a series of different television shows when the Trickster returns. Like last season’s super-meta “The Monster at the End of the Book,” “Changing Channels” is a hilarious hour that also has major mythology revelations.

Filed under: supernatural, what to watch | 3 Comments »

WB Wednesday: My Favorite ‘Dawson’s’ Creek’ Episodes

Posted on November 4, 2009 by Vlada

Dawson's Creek

Tonight, I will be attending the Dawson’s Creek panel at the Paley Center. It’s also a Wednesday, which means it’s time for another edition of WB Wednesday. I thought it be fitting then to do a list of my top 10 favorite Dawson’s Creek episodes.

Some are great episodes overall. Some have moments or storylines that make the episode special or memorable to me. The list is heavy on episodes from the first couple of seasons because my interest in the show started to wane around season 5. I should probably also mention that I was never a hardcore Joey/Pacey fan, even though I thought Joshua Jackson played the hell out of that storyline during seasons 3 and 4.

Note: The season 1 episodes have two titles because they were all originally titled after movies. The titles were later changed, most likely for legal reasons.

“Pilot”

This list would be remiss without the episode that started it all, including an unhealthy obsession that lasted through middle school and part of high school. When this episode aired, there was nothing like it on TV at the time. It was a new experience to see highly articulate teens frankly discussing their sex lives, but what made the pilot special was nothing new: teenage angst and the classic story of pining.

“The Breakfast Club” / “Detention” (Season 1, episode 7)

A riff on the famous Brat Pack movie, the episode trapped our favorite foursome and Abby Morgan in detention on a Saturday. Our first taste of Abby’s devious ways led to a game of truth or dare that forced everyone to reveal their hidden fears and desires. Say what you will about Dawson and Joey in the later seasons, but that kiss in detention made me clutch my pillow at the time. And let’s not forget Pacey’s hilariously meta reference to the Mighty Ducks series, which Joshua Jackson co-starred in.

Filed under: dawson's creek, wb wednesday | 2 Comments »

‘How I Met Your Mother’: The art of fighting

Posted on November 2, 2009 by Vlada

One of this season’s strongest episodes, “Bagpipes,” was all about different types of couples and how they deal with conflict.

Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) thinks he and Robin (Cobie Smulders) are the best couple. They’ve had sex in 83 and a half beds (the half was a 19th century ottoman in an antique shop). They never fight, except about who’s more awesome, which is understandable. I’m in a deadlock over that one too. As Ted (Josh Radnor) calls it, they have new-relationship smugness of the honeymoon state condition. Except Robin and Barney are in a fight that won’t get started because whenever they feel they’re about to have one, they find a way to avoid the conflict. Barney leaves the room. Robin starts undressing. As far as avoidance tactics go, Robin’s seems more fun.

Check out the rest of my episode recap at the Los Angeles Times Show Tracker blog.

I also wrote a post last week for Show Tracker about JoAnna Garcia (Privileged, Gossip Girl) guest starring on the show. You can read more about that appearance here.

Filed under: how i met your mother, l.a. times show tracker | Leave a Comment »

New Showrunner David Marshall Grant Talks About His ‘Brothers & Sisters’

Posted on November 1, 2009 by Vlada

Brothers & Sisters

The Walker clan on ABC’s Brothers & Sisters is getting an injection of man power.

On screen, Sarah’s new French lover, played by Gilles Marini, is wooing the entire family.

Behind the scenes, David Marshall Grant is taking over as showrunner, replacing Alison Schapker and Monica Breen. Grant has been with Brothers & Sisters since day one, working his way up from writer to co-executive producer. Schapker and Breen will stay on as executive producers/writers on the series while they focus on developing other projects.

Grant and Schapker recently took some time out to talk to me about the regime change, the seemingly perfect Luc, what Ryan’s up to and Nora’s new, younger man. Yes, Nora Walker is about to become a cougar.

Brothers & Sisters is in its fourth season. It’s gone through a couple of different showrunners. How do you think the show has evolved over the seasons and the showrunners?

Alison Schapker: Obviously, the show has taken its turn with who is actually implementing the vision as showrunner. I think we all agree on the basic ingredients of the show. It’s more about how we ice the cake differently. It’s an incredibly satisfying job to have, but it’s also incredibly demanding. Monica and I were beginning to feel like we needed to find a creative outlet in some other projects, as well as work on Brothers & Sisters. Meanwhile, David, who has informed the vision of the show from the beginning, was clearly ready to step up and take the reins. It’s a been a very smooth and happy transition behind the scenes. Monica and I certainly could not imagine parting with the Walkers and writing for the show at the moment. I think what’s exciting about a new showrunner is not that the show is going to turn into something else, but more that someone’s unique, specific voice gets to set some of the bigger agendas and put their own touches on it.

David, are there any elements or characters that you’d like to bring to the forefront as showrunner?

Grant: I think we’re always interested in keeping characters alive. We have a lot of characters on this show. Mixing and matching them in different ways is a fun way of trying to keep them growing as people. We’re really interested in keeping Scotty and Kevin alive. Luke Macfarlane has done so well as Scotty. We’re looking to tell more stories about Scotty this season. We’re looking to explore stories about Saul this season. And always everybody else. The center of our show is these amazing women – Nora, Kitty and Sarah. We’re continually looking for more and exciting things for them.

This season you introduced a new character that’s not a Walker, but has been a great addition, which is Luc. He’s really brought a great sense of levity and fun to the show. He seems like the perfect guy, but is really that perfect?

Grant: I think that nobody’s perfect, which is a good thing to remember. He certainly has brought enormous joy and levity to the Walkers and definitely Sarah. As we watch their relationship throughout this whole season, we’re going to learn a lot of things about him and a lot of things about Sarah. I think it’s going to be an incredible love story to watch.

Filed under: brothers & sisters | 1 Comment »

New ‘Friday Night Lights’ Opening Credits Get Injection of Red

Posted on October 30, 2009 by Vlada

Friday Night Lights kicked off its fourth season on DirecTV this past Wednesday.

It was wonderful.

Eric and Tami Taylor continue to be one of television’s most loving, sexy and engaging married couples. The season premiere finds Tami, played by the fantastic Connie Britton, overwhelmed, defiant and supportive. When she takes what little revenge she can against Joe McCoy — you’ll want to stab him and son J.D. with a spork this season — I wanted to stand up and cheer.

Yes, I want to be Tami Taylor. Who wouldn’t?

For those without DirecTV, season four will air on NBC in summer 2010. Until then, take a look at the slightly updated opening credits, which show off the new East Dillion Lions players and colors.

Minka Kelly, Adrianne Palicki and Zach Gilford are no longer in the credits. However, Gilford does appear in the premiere and is listed as a special guest star.

Filed under: friday night lights | 1 Comment »

Paley Center Looks at NBC’s ‘Parks and Recreation’

Posted on October 29, 2009 by Vlada

Parks and Recreation

On Wednesday, I picked NBC’s Parks and Recreation as one of this season’s most improved returning series. Now comes news of a panel for the deserving show at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills.

The Nov. 14 event will feature members of the cast, as well as creators Greg Daniels and Michael Schur. If you’re also a fan of The Office, the panel is like a double treat. Daniels and Schur executive produce that other NBC sitcom and Schur also plays Dwight’s cousin Mose. Random bonus trivia: Schur is married to Regis Philbin’s daughter J.J., a television writer/producer who’s worked on The O.C., Heroes, Dead Like Me and Kings.

Parks and Recreation was recently picked up for a full season by NBC.

Inside Parks and Recreation

Saturday, November 14, 2009
7:00 pm PT
Los Angeles
In Person

Amy Poehler, “Leslie Knope”
Greg Daniels, Cocreator/Executive Producer
Michael Schur, Cocreator/Executive Producer
Additional panelists to be announced.

Can’t beat City Hall? Come join them instead, as Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and the rest of the Pawnee, Indiana, Parks and Recreation department, now in their second season, and finally having filled in the abandoned construction pit, visit the Paley Center to talk about their half-hour weekly mockumentary on NBC.

Tickets are $10 for members and $15 for the general public. More info can be found here.

Filed under: around town, paley center, parks & recreation | Leave a Comment »

‘Bones’ Makes Holiday Plans With Zooey Deschanel

Posted on October 29, 2009 by Vlada

Bones and Booth find Santa's apartment in the season three episode "The Santa in the Slush."

Emily Deschanel’s sister Zooey is officially coming over to Bones.

Zooey will play Margaret Whitesell, a distant relative of Emily’s character Temperance Brennan, in the Dec. 10 holiday episode “The Goop on the Girl.”

Ryan O’Neal, who plays Brennan’s father, also returns in the episode. He invites Margaret to spend Christmas with him and his daughter.

Emily and Zooey both have an aloof charm (see: (500) Days of Summer), and I look forward to seeing how they play off each other.

In the episode, Brennan and Booth investigating the death of a Santa Claus-clad man who was blown up after a botched bank robbery. That sounds a wee bit too similar to season three’s holiday episode “The Santa in the Slush,” but I’ll forgive it because Bones‘ Christmas episodes are some of the series’ best. Season one’s “The Man in the Fallout Shelter” forced the team to celebrate the holiday under quarantine at the lab. The aforementioned “The Santa in the Slush” found Brennan finally feeling the holiday spirit and celebrating with her father and brother in jail rather than going on a job. And of course, there was that kiss under the mistletoe because someone was feeling puckish and Booth’s gift to Brennan.

In other Bones news, Entertainment Weekly reports that the show’s 100th episode will flash back to Brennan and Booth’s first assignment together, which did not go well.

“Events will conspire to make them come out of the case hating each other and vowing that they will never work together again,” executive producer Stephen Nathan tells the magazine.

The episode, which will be directed by David Boreanaz, will also feature the introduction of Angela and the beginning of her friendship with Brennan.

It will air in spring 2010.

Filed under: bones | 2 Comments »

The Winchesters Attend a ‘Supernatural’ Convention

Posted on October 28, 2009 by Vlada

Sam and Dean, meet your fans.

Supernatural hits the convention circuit on the Nov. 12 episode “The Real Ghostbusters” for what promises to be a hilariously meta hour. The official episode description follows:

IT’S A SUPERNATURAL CONVENTION! — Super fan Becky (guest star Emily Perkins) uses Chuck’s (guest star Chuck Benedict) phone to trick Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) into attending a Supernatural fan convention, complete with fans dressed up as Sam and Dean. One of the activities is a live action role playing game, but things quickly turn sour after a real ghost appears on the scene. Jim Conway directed the episode with teleplay by Eric Kripke and story by Nancy Weiner (#509).

Check out pictures from the episode behind the cut. I don’t know about this convention. There are too many empty seats. It must be really underground. And some of those boys need to be replaced by girls.

But props for that Fabio-esque book cover, which needs to be made into a real life, purchasable poster. Those babies would sell like gangbusters. While I’m at it, I’d like to add the Castiel action figure from “I Believe the Children Are Our Future” to my Supernatural merchandise wishlist.

Filed under: supernatural | 1 Comment »

Fall’s Most Improved Returning Shows

Posted on October 28, 2009 by Vlada

The fall TV season is only a couple of months old, but some returning series are already showing major signs of improvement. Shows that were once very close to losing DVR season passes or barely made it to a second season are now earning their keep. Here are four shows that are worth a second look if you’ve given up on them.

Bones (Fox, Thursdays at 8 p.m.)

The crime: Last season’s finale was, um, less than pleasing to fans of the show. Creator Hart Hanson’s promise that Bones and Booth would find themselves in bed turned out to be a bit misleading. In the episode, a comatose Booth dreamed of an alternate reality in which he and Bones are married nightclub owners, with the other squints taking on different roles in the club. It was fun getting a peek at Booth and Bones as a couple and recognizing references only longtime fans would know, but it all seemed a little too pointless for a season finale. What would have been a fun, escapist lark during the middle of the season just wasn’t satisfying as a season finale. And don’t even get me started on that misleading amnesia ending.

This season: Bones has managed to do the impossible by taking last season’s disappointing finale and turning into something really good. When Booth woke up from his coma convinced he was in love with Bones, the show raised the romantic stakes and gave a jolt to what could have been another tiring will-they-or-won’t-they relationship. Now forced to deal with Booth’s feelings — are they real or just a coma side effect? — Bones has leaped a monumental step forward in its central relationship and left me wondering if Bones was the “acutely aware” one (I thought it was Booth). Even the rotating platter of squint interns has grown on me, adding a freshness to each episode. You never know which flavor of intern you’re going to get. But if they decide to hire a permanent replacement down the road, it better be Wendell. Now, if only they could get Angela and Hodgins back together.

Filed under: 90210, bones, parks & recreation, the city | 1 Comment »

‘How I Met Your Mother’: Ghost of a One Night Stand

Posted on October 27, 2009 by Vlada

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have noticed that I’ve started recapping How I Met Your Mother for the Los Angeles Times Show Tracker blog. In addition to recapping episodes, I’ll also be posting HIMYM news and interviews.

Last night’s episode was a rerun of “The Stinsons,” so no new recap, but you can catch up on my past posts by checking out Show Tracker’s complete HIMYM coverage. In the future, I’ll post an excerpt here with a link to each recap.

HIMYM returns with new episodes in November. The Nov. 9 episode, “The Rough Patch,” features the return of two familiar characters. Not only does Alan Thicke reprise his role as himself, but Drop Dead Diva’s April Bowlby also returns as Meg. You can read more about what she’s doing in the episode at my Show Tracker post: ‘Drop Dead Diva’s’ Bowlby back on ‘How I Met Your Mother’

I fell in love with Bowlby’s hilarious portrayal of Jane’s ditzy friend/roommate on Lifetime’s Diva and look forward to her HIMYM return.

Filed under: drop dead diva, how i met your mother, l.a. times show tracker | Leave a Comment »

‘Glee’ Cast Hits Barnes & Noble for Soundtrack Release

Posted on October 26, 2009 by Vlada

Glee The Music Get ready to sing.

On Nov. 3, Columbia Records will release “Glee: The Music, Volume 1.” You can check out the tracklist, which includes songs from the show’s first 13 episodes, here.

To celebrate the release, the cast of Glee will be hitting Barnes & Noble at the Grove in Los Angeles. Just who will be part of the in-store appearance, which is slated for Nov. 7 at 4 p.m., is not yet known.

To secure your spot in the autograph line, you’ll have to visit Barnes & Noble on Nov. 3. The store will be distributing wristbands at 9 a.m. that day. Get more info here.

Glee + the Grove on a weekend? Expect crazy crowds.

Filed under: around town, glee | 2 Comments »

Awesome Fanvid Alert: ‘Vampire Diaries’ Meets ‘Glee’s’ ‘Sweet Caroline’

Posted on October 22, 2009 by Vlada

Update: Even Vampire Diaries exec producer Julie Plec loves it! Here’s what she replied to me on Twitter: “Ohh, that video just made me smile. Especially given my love for all things Glee.”

Well, this is weird. Who knew that vampires and Neil Diamond go together so well?

While scouring YouTube, I came across the little gem below. A Vampire Diaries fanvid by CatChester99 set to Glee’s version of the Neil Diamon song “Sweet Caroline,” sung by Mark Salling. It gets better. The video is for Damon and, you guessed it, Caroline, one of my favorite pairings on the CW show, although I’m digging Damon and Vicki now too.

The song is oddly fitting and manages to make Damon and Caroline’s twisted relationship look kind of sweet. I particularly like the timing of “Good times never seemed so good” over the scene in which Damon and Caroline drive up to cheerleading practice, showing off their new relationship. Yes, times are indeed good when memories are manipulated.

Caroline even looks a little like Glee’s Finn, so all you Finn/Puck shippers can pretend he’s singing to her, not Rachel.

Filed under: awesome fanvid alert, glee, the vampire diaries | 1 Comment »

‘Dollhouse’ Taps Into Its Full Potential With ‘Belonging’

Posted on October 22, 2009 by Vlada

Dollhouse

Tomorrow night, Dollhouse returns with a new episode, but don’t get too excited. Fox has announced that it will pull the show during November sweeps, replacing it with reruns of House and Bones. The series returns Dec. 4 with “The Public Eye,” an episode guest starring Summer Glau and Alexis Denisof. Yes, fans of the show will now have to wait an extra month for Glau’s Dollhouse debut. The twisty episode is quite good and features the return of a former Dollhouse active, but since it’s been rescheduled for December, I’m saving my thoughts for a later post.

Tomorrow’s episode, “Belonging,” is Dollhouse tapping into its full potential. It’s a dark, twisted hour with some honestly shocking moments. This is not an easily forgotten engagement of the week episode. This Dollhouse is emotionally and morally disturbed and even horrific. It’s the best episode of the season so far.

Written by Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, “Belonging” takes us into Sierra’s past and present emotional states. We find out who she was before the Dollhouse and how she became an active. As you might have already guessed, it’s not a pretty story, but one rawly written by Whedon and Tancharoen and directed by Jonathan Frakes. Dichen Lachman takes center stage as Sierra, delivering a fantastic performance that really makes you ache for Sierra.

The episode is also a great showcase for Topher, a character I never really liked until this season’s premiere. “Belonging” dives deep into the morals and standards of the Dollhouse and even manages to make the Dollhouse seem like the “good guy” by finding a new breed of scumbag, evil client.

“What does it make us?” one character asks.

“What are we already?” another replies.

Believe or not, at the center of the Dollhouse’s moral quandary is Topher. Fran Kranz really delivers in the episode, showing genuine affection and care for Sierra. The way Topher and Sierra’s stories intertwine in the episode gives new poignancy to Topher’s choice of birthday pal in “Haunted.”

Some other notes about the episode:

– There are some very touching scenes between Sierra and Victor, who displays a gesture of pure love for Sierra on more than one occasion. Darned it if these two kids aren’t meant to be together. The fantastic Enver Gjokaj also gets to show off another accent.

– An interesting motif with Sierra’s true identity as a bird trapped in a cage by the Bad Man.

– The events in “Needs” are recalled.

– Some choice quotes: “They’re in my shirt.” “What are you up to girl?” Lassie, much? “They need to wake up.”

Filed under: dollhouse, what to watch | 1 Comment »

‘White Collar’: Another Score on USA’s TV Bedpost

Posted on October 20, 2009 by Vlada

White Collar

USA Network is a on roll. There’s no denying it. Their last offering, White Collar, seems poised to continue the trend.

The series, premiering this Friday, Oct. 23, at 10 p.m. with limited commercials, is a fun, light buddy caper hour starring Tim DeKay (Carnivàle, Tell Me You Love Me, Everwood), Matt Bomer (Chuck, Traveler), Tiffani Thiessen (Beverly Hills, 90210) and Willie Garson (Sex and the City). As if that wasn’t enough, the pilot also features Diahann Carroll and the ubiquitous Mark Sheppard. Still not drooling over this cast? Well, The Middleman’s Natalie Morales was recently promoted to series regular after a two-episode guest spot.

The plot of White Collar is simple: Neal Caffrey (Bomer), a con artist specializing in forgeries and sitting in jail, makes a deal with Peter Stokes (DeKay), an FBI agent specializing in white collar crimes and putting Neal in jail. He’ll help Peter solve crimes in exchange for being released into Peter’s custody.

But Neal is out for more than just freedom or a good can. He’s searching for his wife, Kate, who’s disappeared from the home they used to share.

“What motivates Neal, certainly throughout the first season, is love and his search for the love of his life,” said Bomer during a conference call earlier this month.

Neal’s search for Kate will play out over the course of the first season. In the meantime, he’ll be helping Peter catch white collar criminals and will find himself bonding with the FBI agent. At the crux of the show is the relationship between Peter and Neal.

Filed under: what to watch, white collar | Leave a Comment »

High Stakes Gambling on the CW

Posted on October 19, 2009 by Vlada

"Do you know where the Gamblers Annoymous meeting is?"

"Do you know where the Gamblers Anonymous meeting is?"

What are the odds?

On tonight’s Gossip Girl, Nate takes Serena to a poker game so she can get rid of Carter’s debt.

Then on next Thursday’s Supernatural, Dean does a little gambling of his own when Bobby bets big for a chance to walk again. Unfortunately for Bobby, the currency in this game is years vs. money and Bobby loses 25 years, leading Dean to step in.

Love is gambling?

(Edited to fix Supernatural’s airdate.)

Filed under: gossip girl, supernatural | 2 Comments »

Joss Whedon on a ‘Dr. Horrible’ Sequel

Posted on October 19, 2009 by Vlada

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog “We have high hopes,” Joss Whedon said of a sequel to Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog during a recent screening. “And some songs. And three and a half jokes. And a title.”

Whedon, who was tight-lipped about the title, was participating in a Q&A following the American Cinematheque’s screening of Dr. Horrible, The Guild season two and its music video “Do You Wanna Date My Avatar” at the Egyptian Theatre last Friday. The Q&A also included Dr. Horrible writers Jed Whedon, Zack Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, as well as The Guild’s Felicia Day, who also stars in Dr. Horrible, Vincent Caso (Bladezz) and Sandeep Parikh (Zaboo). Dollhouse stars Enver Gjokaj and Dichen Lachman were in the audience.

Watching both web series and the music video on a big screen was a pleasure for me as a fan even though it was my third time seeing Dr. Horrible on a big screen. For Day, the experience was more mixed.

“I’m more comfortable seeing myself two inches high than twenty,” she said, noticing things she could have fixed. She also noted that Dr. Horrible leaves space for laughter, while The Guild’s dialogue moves at a much faster pace. Day said it’s her way of masking when a joke doesn’t hit.

But we are always our own worst critic, so how about a third party opinion?

“I thought it worked beautifully as a whole,” said Joss, who gave Day credit where credit’s due.

He described Dr. Horrible as being inspired “partially by ‘The Guild,’ partially by the writers’ strike and the inability of the larger corporations to move quickly on something fun and partially from the fact that we are wicked nerds,” he said of himself and his co-writers.

Working his “wicked nerd” brothers Jed and Zack was nothing new for Joss.

“Joss used to direct us when we were children in movies. He would write the movies and then we would act them out,” Zack recalled. Their first production together was called Stupid Man, with Zack playing the title role.

Filed under: around town, dr. horrible's sing-along blog, the guild | 1 Comment »

‘Glee’ Sings a Neil Diamond Classic

Posted on October 17, 2009 by Vlada

When I was a kid, I had a cassette tape of Neil Diamond songs. I played it so much, the song “America” especially, that I wore out the tape.

Luckily, I can’t wear out the following Glee preview of Puck singing Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.” The football player, who I’ve been hoping would get more screentime and depth, serenades Rachel with the song in the Oct. 21 episode “Mash-Up.” Looks like Glee’s love triangle is about to turn into a very complicated square.

Filed under: glee | 1 Comment »

‘Supernatural’ Goes Channel Surfing

Posted on October 15, 2009 by Vlada

Jared Padalecki as Sam, Jensen Ackles as Dean.

The CW has released promo pictures from Supernatural’s upcoming eighth episode, “Changing Channels,” which airs Nov. 5.

I can’t wait for this episode because:

The Trickster is back.
The episode ribs on several popular TV genres, including three of Supernatural’s time slot competitors.
Jared gets to put those goofy looks he’s always giving the camera in the Supernatural DVD gag reels to good use with his David Caruso impression.
It was written by Jeremy Carver, who was responsible for some of my favorite episodes (“In the Beginning,” “Mystery Spot”).

A summary of the episode follows.

When Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) find themselves living their lives on what appear to be TV shows, it makes for a whole new style of reality television and they wonder if the Trickster (guest star Richard Speight, Jr.) is to blame. From a sitcom to a soapy hospital drama to a Japanese game show to a crime procedural, each new experience they encounter is more bizarre than the next and they want out. But is the Trickster really the mastermind behind the madness? Also starring Misha Collins as ‘Castiel.’ “Changing Channels” was written by Jeremy Carver and directed by Charles Beeson.

In the promo pictures behind the cut, the Winchesters take on a Grey’s Anatomy-type hospital and Dr. Sexy.

Filed under: supernatural | 1 Comment »

Breaking Down the CW’s Drama Slate

Posted on October 15, 2009 by Vlada

Confessions of a Backup Dancer Mark Schwahn is one busy guy. The CW recently unveiled its drama slate, and it includes two new shows from the One Tree Hill creator, Variety reports.

Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars) is also back in business with the network, working on a space soap.

And one name you never expected to hear associated with the network is behind a new drama: Robert De Niro.

Below, I break down the new shows and offer my completely unfounded opinions about what each show reminds me of. Obviously, the final product could and probably will be vastly different. One or two sentences is hardly enough to accurately capture the feel and voice of a show. But it’s all I’ve got to go on at this time, so let the wacky comparisons begin.

Spy School for Girls

Who’s Behind It: One Tree Hill’s Mark Schwahn and former spy/author Larry Kolb. (CBS TV Studios)

What It’s About: Based on Kolb’s upcoming book, the series centers around female spy trainees at a CIA facility.

What It Sounds Like: The film D.E.B.S. meets USA’s upcoming Covert Affairs, which stars Piper Perabo as a multilingual CIA trainee.

Nashville

Who’s Behind It: Schwahn, musician Brad Paisley and writers Neal Dodson and Matt Bomer (yes, the one from Chuck and White Collar). All four will serve as executive producers. Paisley would also write songs for the series, in addition to appearing as himself. (CBS TV Studios)

What It’s About: The drama revolves around two musicians — a young female singer destined for stardom and a male songwriter whose career is more uncertain.

What It Sounds Like: Instant Star

Plymouth Rock

Who’s Behind It: Rob Thomas, Danielle Stokdyk, Jennifer Gwartz and Dan Etheridge, who brought us Veronica Mars, Party Down and Cupid. (Warner Bros. TV)

What It’s About: A soap about “young people on a ship traveling to a distant planet in order to colonize and save the human race.”

What It Sounds Like: Defying Gravity

Read more »

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	‘Being Erica… on An ‘Unexpected’ Su…
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