tv|jots

'Greek' Returns Tonight with 'Brothers and Sisters'

2008-08-26T18:05:00.004-04:00

Spring Break Is Definitely Over

Reminder: ABC Family's fun college dramedy Greek opens its second season tonight at 9pm EST, and longtime fans are in for a great premiere.

Not only will viewers get to see the young men and women who make up fictional Cyprus-Rhodes University's active Greek system compete in the gender-bending 63rd Annual Greek Week Olympiad, but Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel veteran Charisma Carpenter returns, as well, to reprise her role as Zeta Beta Zeta alumna Tegan Walker. It truly is a good time.

Before tuning in, also check out my recent interview with Greek star Dilshad Vadsaria, who plays important girl-about-campus Rebecca Logan. And you can win cool series-related prizes, too, in the 'Greek' Season Two: Back on Campus Giveaway and the Plain White T's: 'Natural Disaster' Giveaway.

Greek currently airs Tuesdays on ABC Family at 9pm EST

Greek photo courtesy of ABC Family

Tags: ABC Family, Greek, television, tv

Notable TV Thru August 31, 2008

2008-08-25T20:26:00.000-04:00

Catch Up on Mad Men

Monday | August 25

America's Toughest Jobs: And you thought your job was hard since it's so boring or annoying or low-paying or whatever. This new series aims to show some employees have it even worse. [9pm EST/NBC]

Democratic National Convention: Politics gets four nights of primetime screen time, starting tonight. [10pm EST/ABC, CBS, NBC]

Saving Grace: Grace & Company go on a midseason hiatus following this installment. [10pm EST/TNT]

Tuesday | August 26

Greek: Season Two begins with the college kids returning from Spring Break at a new time on a new day. [9pm EST/ABC Family]

Rescue Me: It was good while it lasted, but even a minisode series must come to an end. [10pm EST/FX]

Wednesday | August 27

Shear Genius: The top hairstylist is chosen in the second-season finale. [10pm EST/Bravo]

Thursday | August 28

Supernatural: Catch an encore of the excellent episode “Time Is on My Side,” guest starring always spooky Billy Drago. [9pm EST/The CW]

Friday | August 29

Real Time with Bill Maher: The late-night show returns just in time for the final stages of the 2008 U.S. presidential election. [11pm EST/HBO]

Saturday | August 30

Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Catch two episodes of the second L&O spinoff, now a USA Network series. If you're lucky, one will be August 24th's superb seventh-season finale “Frame.” [9pm EST/NBC]

Sunday | August 31

Mad Men: Missed one or more episodes of this AMC fan favorite? No worries. A Season Two marathon presents all five earlier episodes again and ends with the regularly scheduled premiere of a new episode at 10pm EST, the last of which is repeated at 11pm, too. [5pm EST/AMC]

NOTE: All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Mad Men photo courtesy of Frank Ockenfels/AMC

Tags: television, tv

Plain White T's: 'Natural Disaster' Giveaway

2008-08-25T01:35:00.001-04:00

Win a Signed CD Single

If there are any Plain White T's fans out there, I've got a great new giveaway just for you.

The Grammy-nominated band and frequent Greek music contributor currently has an ABC Family webisode series called Plain White T's: Meet Me in California. Every Wednesday until October, a new five-minute installment will become available, featuring the group's five members in Malibu, California, as they record their album Big Bad World and prepare for its upcoming release.

To help celebrate the online series, TV Jots is giving away one signed copy of the band's CD single "Natural Disaster" to a very lucky fan. All you have to do for a chance to win it is leave a comment on this post and share which Plain White T's member is your favorite. Simple, right?

Also make sure to use a valid email address. The entry deadline is 11:59pm EST on Monday, September 8th, after which I'll select one winner at random who must have a mailing address in the United States to receive the prize.

Good Luck!

Plain White T's photo courtesy of Plain White T's

Tags: ABC Family, giveaways, Meet Me in California, Natural Disaster, Plain White T's, television, tv

'Criminal Intent' Season Finale Tonight

2008-08-24T17:04:00.003-04:00

Who's That in the Body Bag?

Tonight, at 9pm EST, the seventh season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent will close with a finale called “Frame.” Since the TV spots are heavy on the Bobby Goren and light on the Alex Eames, we can pretty much guess which detective the frame business applies to … Goren, of course.

The brief trailer in the video below also hints a big blast from the past awaits Goren in the form of the ever-elusive cunning temptress and lethal criminal Nicole Wallace, always played chillingly by Olivia d'Abo. Doesn't that look just like her in the lightning-quick snippet where a blonde woman turns to face the camera but never quite shows her face?

My assumption is supported by the episode description, which says Goren will take a dangerous journey back into his earlier life after a photo is left at his mother's grave. Let's just hope that's not him in the body bag. I'd bet money it isn't, too, unless it's a trick to fool someone.

The teaser promo for “Frame” follows.

Frame - Teaser Trailer

Law & Order: Criminal Intent currently airs Sundays on USA Network at 9pm EST

Kathryn Erbe and Vincent D'Onofrio/Law & Order: Criminal Intent photo courtesy of Eric Ogden/USA Network

Tags: Criminal Intent, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, television, tv, USA, USA Network

'Sons of Anarchy' Giveaway Results

2008-08-24T17:01:00.001-04:00

And We Have a Winner…

…who goes by the name Vu Vu. She has no doubt whatsoever that she's looking forward to seeing Charlie Hunnam most when FX's latest original series kicks off on Wednesday, September 3, at 10pm EST.

Congratulations to Vu Vu! Thanks also goes to the giveaway sponsors FX and Chrissy at New Media Strategies, as well as the people who took the time to enter.

Sons of Anarchy: Poster Giveaway

Sons of Anarchy photo courtesy of FX Network

Tags: Charlie Hunnam, FX, Sons of Anarchy, television, tv

'The Gong Show with Dave Attell' Strives for Wild

2008-08-21T20:49:00.002-04:00

But Does It Get Close?

Has everyone been checking out Comedy Central's revival of The Gong Show? The updated version, called The Gong Show with Dave Attell, features a more or less identical setup and array of mind-boggling acts as the original. But with no Chuck Barris in the house, can it achieve the same level of lunacy as its predecessor?

Well, I'm actually not the right person to ask since I haven't watched the new series yet. But judging from the following clips, it seems Comedy Central's take on the so-bad-it's-still-not-good talent competition should be doing a fairly good job of making viewers regularly think “WTF?!”

The show has the 10pm EST time slot in Comedy Central's Thursday-night lineup, and tonight's judges are Dave Navarro, Greg Giraldo, and Andy Dick. If you're not tuning in already and need some motivation, take a look at the following clips. They're what The Gong Show is all about.

The Gong Show with Dave Attell - Balloon

The Gong Show with Dave Attell - Beat Box

The Gong Show with Dave Attell - Target

The Gong Show with Dave Attell image courtesy of Comedy Central

Tags: Chuck Barris, Comedy Central, Dave Attell, television, The Gong Show, The Gong Show with Dave Attell, tv

My Hate-Love Affair with 'Flashpoint'

2008-08-21T14:03:00.000-04:00

Who Knew Canadian TV Is So Good?

Talk about a change of heart. I remember the pilot episode of CBS' new police procedural Flashpoint very well, not because it Wow!-ed me, but because I fell asleep twice in the first twenty minutes before finally giving up on it. The boredom was overpowering.

Thankfully, I was recording the episode while watching. Yet, it still took three more attempts over the weekend to finally make it all the way through the hour. And I would have left the show behind after that if I didn't know first episodes often are not the best way to judge the merit of an entire series.

So, after sticking with Flashpoint since the beginning, I'm now glad to report it really has been doing an increasingly better job of keeping me entertained. Each week, more familiar guest stars appear, and they've all contributed to the show's development a great deal.

It's the plots, however, that have been winning me over the most as they grow more accomplished from episode to episode. Last week's “Attention Shoppers,” which focused on a poor teenage girl attacked in a mall by a group of female ganbangers from her neighborhood, was among the best hours of scripted television I watched all week, right up there with my summer staples Burn Notice, The Closer, Eureka, Monk, Psych, and Stargate Atlantis.

Thanks, CBS, for this Canadian import. I hope the series gets a second season to continue recruiting fans. And if you're not watching or ditched the show early because of its initial sluggishness, give it a try (again); you might be surprised how much Flashpoint has improved.

Flashpoint currently airs Thursdays on CBS at 10pm EST

Flashpoint photo courtesy of Steve Wilkie/CBS

Tags: CBS, Flashpoint, television, tv

Eureka: Was That Really Goodbye?!

2008-08-20T16:31:00.001-04:00

Nathan Stark Pulls a Disappearing Act

Wow! That's the sound that was heard throughout the Eureka-verse at the end of last night's fantastic and completely shocking Groundhog Day-inspired episode “I Do Over.”

The question today is did Nathan Stark, Allison's would-be husband for a second time, really disintegrate into nothing in that booth while trying to get time back on track? And just hours before their wedding? Harsh.

Nathan definitely isn't my favorite character on the show, but I enjoyed having him in town to verbally spar with Sheriff Jack. Their scenes together were often the funniest of all, even when they were short.

As much as it hurts to admit, I'm really going to miss Nathan now that he's not around. So, I'm hoping the series has something up its sleeve and will bring the stuck-up scientist back before season's end.

Watch Nathan pull his disappearing act again in the clip below. It's weird, isn't it, seeing him supposedly dead and gone? There has to be more to this…

Disappearing Act

Eureka currently airs Tuesdays on the Sci Fi Channel at 9pm EST

Ed Quinn and Salli Richardson/Eureka photo courtesy of Matthias Clamer/Sci Fi Channel

Tags: Colin Ferguson, Ed Quinn, Eureka, Salli Richardson, Sci Fi Channel, television, tv

No '90210' for Critics

2008-08-19T16:17:00.001-04:00

Premiere Screeners, That Is

If you haven't heard already from the other gazillion entertainment and TV websites that have posted about it, The CW issued a press release yesterday stating the network won't be sending screeners — DVDs of an episode before it debuts on television — of the 90210 premiere to critics and many bloggers. This after taking requests for advance copies for days before the announcement.

What could possibly be the reason for this decision? Well, networks and studios typically withhold screeners for projects that (1) have experienced production problems or (2) will probably be perceived as suck-y. My vote for 90210 is the second.

If I and my fellow like-thinkers are correct, what a waste all of this overhyping of the show has been. As many have noted, it borders on weird how so much focus has been placed on old stars like Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth, and Tori Spelling from Fox's Beverly Hills, 90210, the show 90210 is a spinoff of, rather than the newcomers on the upcoming version.

You be the judge. Here's what The CW and production studio CBS Paramount Network Television said in their press release. Note how the statement makes a point of claiming, “We're not hiding anything.” If they say it, it must be true, right?

The CW and our studio partner CBS Paramount Network Television have made the strategic marketing decision not to screen "90210" for any media in advance of its premiere. We're not hiding anything . . . simply keeping a lid on 90210 until 9.02, riding the curiosity and anticipation into premiere night, and letting all our constituents see it at the same time.

90210 premieres Tuesday, September 2, on The CW at 8pm EST

90210 photo courtesy of The CW

Tags: 90210, television, The CW, tv

Notable TV Thru August 24, 2008

2008-08-18T20:29:00.000-04:00

Margaret Cho Has a New Show!

Monday | August 18

The Hills: The fourth season premieres. I have just one word in reaction: Ugh! [10pm EST/MTV]

Tuesday | August 19

Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood: The third season ends. I have just one word in reaction: Ugh! [10pm EST/Oxygen]

Wednesday | August 20

Ghost Hunters International: The successful first season concludes with a visit to every horror geek's ultimate dream destination: Dracula's (aka Vlad the Impaler) castle. I'm actually jealous. [9pm EST/Sci Fi Channel]

Thursday | August 21

Glam God with Vivica A. Fox: No, I'm not going to watch. But this is Vivica's new show — I've got to at least announce it. [10pm EST/VH1]

The Cho Show: No, I'm not going to watch this one either. But if there were nothing else on, I would so be checking in to find out what star Margaret Cho has been up to these days. [11pm EST/VH1]

Friday | August 22

Discovery Project Earth: It's another series on the Discovery Channel; therefore, it must be good. [9pm EST/Discovery]

Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation: Say goodbye to all of the cool 'kats … for now. [9:30pm EST/Animal Planet]

Saturday | August 23

Dear Prudence: It stars Jane Seymour. What more could you want? [9pm EST/Hallmark]

Flu Bird Horror: Aw, c'mon! You've got to at least give whoever creates these low-budget flicks credit for taking advantage of (scary) current events. [9pm EST/Sci Fi Channel]

Sunday | August 24

Generation Kill: The seven-part miniseries ends. [9pm EST/HBO]

Law & Order: Criminal Intent: The seventh season ends. Next season, Jeff Goldblum takes over one quarter of the detective duties following Chris Noth's departure. I'll miss Chris, but I'm also looking forward to Jeff. [9pm EST/USA]

S.I.S.: Spike TV's latest original telefilm doubles as a backdoor crime-drama pilot starring Keith David (Requiem for a Dream). I like Keith, so I'm gonna check it out. [10pm EST/Spike TV]

NOTE: All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Margaret Cho photo courtesy of Charlie Nguyen

Tags: television, tv

Introducing the Cast of 'Samurai Girl'

2008-08-15T02:08:00.003-04:00

ABC Family Has a New Miniseries

Remember Fallen, that little ABC Family miniseries about an adopted teenager who was half human and half angel? The fantasy drama was so successful during its premiere run it spawned a second “season” soon afterward. Well, the network is going to try to work that magic yet again this fall with a second potential franchise called Samurai Girl.

The latest six-episode project focuses on another adopted teenager, this one a young Japanese woman named Heaven (Jamie Chung). When she learns her adoptive father is not only a sadistic criminal but also likely responsible for her brother's death, Heaven does what any smart girl would: she learns how to fight with a really big sword and heads out to seek justice.

That's the simple version, of course. And even if Samurai Girl doesn't get much deeper or more complex, I'm just as excited to see it as I was to see Fallen. The miniseries will air in six one-hour installments over the course of three consecutive nights, beginning on Friday, September 5. In the meantime, take a moment to meet the cast below.

Samurai Girl - Meet the Cast

Samurai Girl photos courtesy of ABC Family

Tags: ABC Family, Jamie Chung, Samurai Girl, television, tv

'Criss Angel Mindfreak' Giveaway Results

2008-08-15T01:58:00.000-04:00

The Winner Is…

…commenter Audrey.

She thinks Criss Angel rocks because his illusions leave her breathless. Congratulations, and thanks to the many other Criss fans who participated in the giveaway. It was all made possible by A&E Network and Electric Artists.

Criss Angel Mindfreak: Season Four Giveaway

Criss Angel photo courtesy of A&E

Tags: A&E, Criss Angel, Criss Angel Mindfreak, Mindfreak, television, tv

A Trailer for Season Two of 'Life'

2008-08-12T18:10:00.010-04:00

One of Last Fall's Best Is Almost Back

Yes, one of the Fall 2007 season's best new shows was NBC's most excellent crime dramedy Life. Another would be Journeyman, but we all know what happened there (so long!).

Starting at the end of September, catch the four first episodes of Life's second season in a special lineup. Installments will premiere on Mondays at 10pm EST, after the hit Heroes, as well as on Fridays at 10pm, the show's regular time slot.

Here's how the schedule looks:

Monday, 9/29, 10pm (Season Premiere)
Friday, 10/3, 10pm
Monday, 10/6, 10pm
Friday, 10,10, 10pm
Friday, 10/17, 10pm (no more Mondays)

And now take a look at the Season Two trailer. I get excited just watching it!

Life - Season Two Trailer

Life photo courtesy of NBC

Tags: Damian Lewis, Life, NBC, television, tv

Notable TV Thru August 17, 2008

2008-08-11T17:53:00.001-04:00

We're Back

Monday | August 11

The Mole: Say goodbye to the fifth season. There's no news yet regarding a renewal for Season Six. [10pm EST/ABC]

Tuesday | August 12

Wide Angle: “China Prep” explores the American equivalent of senior year at an elite high school in Sichuan Province. Check local listings to confirm time slot. [9pm EST/PBS]

Wednesday | August 13

Scare Tactics: The third season closes with “Limo in Area 51.” Hopefully, new host Tracy Morgan will return for season number four. [10:30pm EST/Sci Fi Channel]

Thursday | August 14

Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List: On the fourth-season finale “Red, White and Don't Be Blue,” Kathy G. visits the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C., just like cast members from Army Wives did back in July. [10pm EST/Bravo]

Friday | August 15

Stargate Atlantis: Friday night's best original series returns after a week off with “The Ghost in the Machine.” An encore of the last new episode, “The Daedalus Variations,” airs right before at 9pm. [10pm EST/Sci Fi Channel]

Saturday | August 16

Eli Stone: Nothing else special is on, so why not catch an encore of “Waiting for That Day,” the penultimate episode from this engaging series' freshman season? If you try it, you might like it. Plus, Maried with Children and 8 Simple Rules' Katey Sagal guests as the big bad boss lady. [10pm EST/ABC]

Sunday | August 17

Skins: About a Boy's main boy Nicholas Hoult is almost all grown up in this new young-adult dramedy from across the pond. [9pm EST/BBC America]

Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget: Full House, America's Funniest Home Videos, and How I Met Your Mother star Bob Saget is honored by other very funny people. Check out photos and videos of the August 3rd event in advance of the television premiere. [10pm EST/Comedy Central]

In Plain Sight: USA Network's newest hit dramedy ends its rookie run with an even longer sophomore season already in place. Nice work, Mary and Marshall! [10pm EST/USA]

NOTE: All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Stargate Atlantis photo courtesy of Eike Schroter/Sci Fi Channel

Tags: television, tv

Sons of Anarchy: Poster Giveaway

2008-08-08T16:45:00.004-04:00

The Bad Boys Are Coming…

…and to help FX celebrate the premiere of its intriguing new drama Sons of Anarchy, TV Jots is giving away one super cool poster signed by lead cast member Charlie Hunnam. How sweet is that? Very.

Sons of Anarchy stars English actor Hunnam (Undeclared, Queer as Folk) as Jackson “Jax” Teller, a thirty-something new father and motorcycle club member based in California.

His accomplished costars include Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Katey Sagal (Married with Children), Drea de Matteo (The Sopranos), Mark Boone Junior (3 Days of Night), Kevin Chapman (Brotherhood), Johnny Lewis (The O.C.), Taylor Sheridan (Veronica Mars), and Maggie Siff (Mad Men).

Entering the giveaway is easy. Simply comment on this post, using a valid email address, and share which Sons of Anarchy cast member you're most looking forward to watching when FX's new series begins on Wednesday, September 3, at 10pm EST. Only one entry per person, please.

The comments section will close at 11:59pm EST on Friday, August 22nd, and I'll randomly select one winner shortly afterwards. Until then, take a look at the series teaser trailer below and Good Luck!

Sons of Anarchy - Bike

Sons of Anarchy photo courtesy of FX Network

Tags: Charlie Hunnam, FX, giveaways, Sons of Anarchy, television, tv

My 'So You Think You Can Dance' Pick Is...

2008-08-07T17:14:00.004-04:00

— Drumroll, Please —

…Joshua Allen!

Even if he doesn't receive the big prize tonight during the fourth-season finale, the 19-year-old hip-hop specialist will forever remain a SYTYCD standout in my mind.

Mr. Broken Record, better known as series co-creator and head judge Nigel Lythgoe, likes to go on and on about how Joshua has no training. That isn't true since Joshua himself said in his interview last night that he used to do odd jobs around dance studios in lieu of paying cash for the classes he took.

Joshua does have less formal training than most of the other non-hip-hop finalists, however, which makes his skill performing on the dance floor that much more remarkable. Plus, he's just a sweet, charming, respectful, dedicated, hardworking, and super talented doll. What more could America want?

Go, Joshua!

Getting Down to the Wire on 'So You Think You Can Dance'

The two-hour So You Think You Can Dance fourth-season finale — which is about 119 minutes too long — airs at 8pm EST tonight.

So You Think You Can Dance image courtesy of Fox; Joshua Allen photo courtesy of Joe Viles/FOX

Tags: Fox, Joshua Allen, So You Think You Can Dance, television, tv

'Burn Notice' Giveaway Results

2008-08-07T16:28:00.001-04:00

And the Winner Is…

…Megan B.

Megan's favorite Burn Notice regular is Bruce Campbell because he and his character are so witty and clever. It's hard to argue with that opinion, right?

As always, a big thank you to everyone who took the time to swing by and enter this giveaway. Another round of appreciation goes to the sponsors USA Network and Electric Artists, as well.

Burn Notice: Season Two Summer Giveaway

Sharon Gless, Bruce Campbell, Jeffrey Donovan, and Gabrielle Anwar/Burn Notice photo courtesy of Justin Stephens/NBC

Tags: Burn Notice, giveaways, television, tv, USA Network

'The Cleaner' Giveaway Results

2008-08-07T15:21:00.004-04:00

And We Have a Winner…

…who goes by the name Susan G.

Susan's favorite Benjamin Bratt TV show is the ever popular Law & Order, and I'm sure she'll enjoy catching up on the actor's film work while watching all of the movies she's going to receive in her prize package.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this giveaway and especially to the sponsors A&E Network and Electric Artists.

Benjamin Bratt/The Cleaner photo courtesy of CBS Paramount Network Television

Tags: A&E, Benjamin Bratt, giveaways, television, The Cleaner, tv

Notable TV Thru August 10, 2008

2008-08-04T16:30:00.000-04:00

Take Me Away

Monday | August 4

American Gladiators: The second season ends with a two-hour send-off. [8pm EST/NBC]

Teen Choice 2008: Teenagers decide for themselves who deserves an award or, in this case, a big ol' surfboard. [8pm EST/Fox]

Nashville Star: And the winner is…? Watch the sixth-season finale to find out. [10pm EST/NBC]

Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Showtime's U.K. import closes the book on its first season stateside. [10:30pm EST/Showtime]

Tuesday | August 5

I Survived a Japanese Game Show: I survived because I never watched. Honestly — I have no clue what this is about, but fans should know the first season ends here. [9:01pm EST/ABC]

Wednesday | August 6

So You Think You Can Dance: The final four of the fourth season perform. Don't miss it. [8pm EST/Fox]

Tyler Perry's House of Payne: The 100-episode (!!!) second season of this popular sitcom concludes. Three new episodes precede the finale, which should give non-watchers an idea of how one season clocked in at over four times the length of a typical season for a half-hour comedy series. [10:30pm EST/TBS]

Thursday | August 7

So You Think You Can Dance: And the winner is…? Watch the fourth-season finale to find out (C'mon, Joshua!) [8pm EST/Fox]

The Bill Engvall Show: Season Two ends at a special time. [9:30pm EST/TBS]

My Boys: Ditto. [10pm EST/TBS]

Friday | August 8

Olympic Summer Games 2008: And let the (good-natured) competition officially begin! [7:30pm EST/NBC]

Saturday | August 9

Primeval: A new British weird-creature series? Cool! [9pm EST/BBC America]

Sunday | August 10

In Plain Sight: Oh, crap! U.S. Marshal Mary gets abducted (and there's only one more episode left in the first season)! [10pm EST/USA]

NOTE: All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Colin Ferguson/Eureka photo courtesy of Matthias Clamer/SciFi Channel

Tags: television, tv

Criss Angel Mindfreak: Season Four Giveaway

2008-08-01T16:11:00.001-04:00

Angel-ic Prize Pack Up for Grabs

The fourth season of A&E's hit reality series Criss Angel Mindfreak began on July 23, and we're still celebrating here. As a result, TV Jots is hosting a brand-new giveaway featuring a great prize pack based on the show.

The mysterious and mystical illusionist Criss Angel (aka Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos) has captivated audiences around the world. On Season Four of his A&E reality series, Criss is conjuring up his alluring power over the eye and mind to shock fans once again. With all new illusions and tricks, his feats will seem more impossible than ever before.

To celebrate season four of Criss Angel Mindfreak, you can enter to win a Criss Angel Prize Pack. One lucky winner will receive a DVD box set of Season Three of Criss Angel Mindfreak, as well as a copy of the book Criss Angel Mindfreak: Secret Revelations.

For a chance to receive the goodies, simply comment on this post, using a valid email address, and share why you think Criss Angel rocks. Only one entry per person, please, and comments that don't provide the requested information will not be eligible to win.

The comments section will close at 11:59pm EST on Friday, August 8th, after which I'll select one winner at random. Good Luck to everyone, and don't forget to check out the clip below of Criss Angel performing one of his puzzling illusions for a crowd of amazed onlookers. You can also be a part of a Criss Angel demonstration and step into the act yourself by grabbing your very own Criss Angel widget.

Criss Angel Mindfreak - Bodyguard Illusion

Criss Angel Mindfreak currently airs Wednesdays on A&E at 10pm and 10:30pm EST

Criss Angel photo courtesy of A&E

Tags: A&E, Criss Angel, Criss Angel Mindfreak, Mindfreak, television, tv

Getting Down to the Wire on 'So You Think You Can Dance'

2008-07-31T15:54:00.001-04:00

Does Another Shocker Await Fans?

It's almost time for the ultimate battle to begin. The final six competitors on the fourth season of Fox's So You Think You Can Dance will be whittled down to just four on tonight's elimination episode. Unbelievably, I can't even begin to imagine which two dancers are going to get the big heave-ho.

The six remaining performers are the women Chelsie Hightower, Courtney Galiano, and Katee Shean, and the men Joshua Allen, Mark Kanemura, and Stephen “Twitch” Boss.

If I had to chose which male and female must leave the show right now, I would pick Twitch, simply because I believe Mark is a better overall performer at this point, and (calm my sobs!) Courtney, because I think Chelsie has the slightest edge over her after delivering more consistently good performances throughout the entire Top Twenty run.

My predictions aside, I can't wait to see how America votes. Will viewers stun the world again like they did last week by eliminating Top Four favorite William Wingfield? The only way that could happen is if Joshua and/or Katee get the boot, and I'm just not jaded enough to see that happening.

Tune in to the “2 of 6 Voted Off” elimination episode tonight at 9pm EST on Fox. I know my eyes are going to be glued to the screen.

So You Think You Can Dance image courtesy of Fox

Tags: Fox, So You Think You Can Dance, television, tv

'Next Food Network Star' Winner Aaron McCargo, Jr. Talks Food

2008-07-30T19:12:00.001-04:00

Big Daddy on His Big Victory

The fourth season of the reality culinary competition The Next Food Network Star ended on Sunday, July 27, with the announcement of the lucky participant chosen to receive their own cable cooking show. His name is Aaron McCargo, Jr., of course, and I was fortunate to have the chance to participate in a group interview with the aspiring celebrity chef just this past Monday.

Read on to learn all about McCargo's foodie experiences on and off the show, including his aspirations for his brand-new Food Network series Big Daddy's House, which premieres at 1:30pm EST this Sunday, August 3.

What was your original impetus to send in an audition tape for Next Food Network Star?
Aaron: I actually never sent anything in. My wife had my hands tied; she sent in my audition tape.

What was the best part of your experience on the show?
Aaron: Meeting the nine other finalists, building relationships, and getting good ideas from all of them.

When during the competition did you start to think that you could actually win?
Aaron: I walked in thinking I had a chance to win. Week to week, they took me on a roller-coaster ride, but I never gave up believing in my chance of winning.

Now that you have won, how do you plan to prepare for your new show?
Aaron: My plan is to just get people to tune into my show. With my show Big Daddy's House there will be no competition. I can be myself, having fun and cooking.

Will your show be based on one theme or style of cooking? Or will you open the door to other options, say, different regions?
Aaron: My food presented on the show is going to be wide open in style and presentation. My main goal is teaching people to use what they have at home in preparing their meals.

How has your family's food habits influenced what you want to present in your new show?
Aaron: We're all about big portions. My mother always was into flavoring food a lot and that is what I plan to present to the audience in Big Daddy's House.

How would you describe the style of your food?
Aaron: The history is very important. I call my food Soul Food, but I keep it with an ethnic twist. It's about food that is flavorful and fun.

When did you first realize you were a serious eater? What do your family and friends think of your food obsessions?
Aaron: I became a serious eater at the age of four. I was served one piece of fried chicken and thought to myself, “When I get older, I'll cook my own whole chicken so I can eat it.” My friends and family think I'm a food junkie. I go to work and cook, I come home and cook, I spend weekends cooking with my family. I just am obsessed with cooking, and I want to show the world what I can do, and I think Big Daddy's House will be the place to do it.

Can you tell us about your favorite family food tradition?
Aaron: My favorite family food tradition had to be fish on Fridays. And because of my Italian background with a Roman Catholic upbringing, I would always prepare pasta on Wednesdays. So, on Fridays, I started to combine the two into a unique dish to serve to my family.

Guilty pleasures? Describe your perfect meal.
Aaron: I love Coors Light cold, but if I could eat anything, my perfect meal would be a 16- to 18-ounce New York steak, cooked medium, with asparagus and fried mushrooms. To start off, I would have one of my salad's with a special dressing and one of my homemade soups.

What food won't you eat?
Aaron: There's not any foods I would not eat. I'm pretty open to eating anything. I love food.

Aaron McCargo, Jr. photo courtesy of the Food Network

Tags: Aaron McCargo, Food Network, television, The Next Food Network Star, tv

Eureka: 'Bad to the Drone' Review

2008-07-29T18:50:00.002-04:00

TV's Brazen (Bumbling) Brainiacs Return

Tonight at 9pm EST, the third season of Sci Fi Channel's most fun series to date, Eureka, opens with the typically clever episode “Bad to the Drone.” What's in store for viewers?

Well, if you're a longtime fan of the show, as I am, all of your favorite regular characters are back, along with a new one who might have a lengthy slog ahead of her before she comes anywhere near earning the title of Miss Popularity.

That newbie is crisp corporate clean-up woman Eva Thorne, played by Frances Fisher (Titanic), who arrives in town to take over the Top Dog position at Global Dynamics and set things right at Eureka's epicenter of scientific advancement, hence her quickly assigned nickname The Fixer.

Whether or not a bit of corporate housekeeping is her only agenda remains to be seen, and the details of Thorne's ulterior motives, if she has any, will probably unfold slowly throughout all or most of the season, à la the infamous bed-and-breakfast owner and shrink Beverly Barlowe (Debrah Farentino).

The main disaster of the episode — there always is one, right? — takes up much of the plot as Sheriff Jack Carter (Colin Ferguson) searches for a rogue attack drone named Martha. The runaway weapon just happens to have something akin to a personality, and it's not a happy one either.

At the same time, the frustrated sheriff has to cope with the parallel personality change in his maturing teenage daughter Zoe (Jordan Hinson), who's now starting a waitress gig at the local eatery Café Diem to complement all of the developments that freaked him out last season.

Then there's Carter's jailed best friend Henry Deacon (Joe Morton), whom the sheriff dutifully visits as the prisoner waits for his trial to begin regarding that little biohazard alert he caused at the end of the second season.

Eureka is always a bunch of fun to watch, and this episode continues that trend. However, if you've never sampled the show but are curious, don't let the fact that this is the third season scare you away.

Sure, it helps to know what's what and who's who in advance, but if newcomers pay attention to the opening “Last Time On Eureka” montage, everything that happens afterwards is fairly easy to follow, right down to Allison Blake's (Salli Richardson) response to Nathan Stark's (Ed Quinn) marriage proposal that stunned her and viewers on the second-season finale.

The Verdict: A-

Eureka currently airs Tuesdays on the Sci Fi Channel at 9pm EST

Salli Richardson/Eureka photo courtesy of Matthias Clamer/Sci Fi Channel

Tags: Colin Ferguson, Ed Quinn, Eureka, Frances Fisher, Joe Morton, Jordan Hinson, Salli Richardson, Sci Fi Channel, television, tv

The Cleaner: 'Rag Dolls' Review

2008-07-29T12:19:00.002-04:00

Surfer Girls and Their Drugs

On July 15, A&E premiered its new Benjamin Bratt drama The Cleaner, which stars the Law & Order alum as William Banks, a character based on real-life addiction counselor Warren Boyd. Banks promises God he will help other addicts recover if he's granted a second chance to live “clean.”

The pilot episode of the series introduced viewers to Banks' core team members who assist him on handpicked cases: Akani Cuesta (Grace Park), a trash-talking and overly playful rich girl; Arnie Swenton (Esteban Powell), the group's constantly whining go-to man; and following the death of Banks' close friend Mickey Efros (Gil Bellows), a used-car dealer named Darnell McDowell (Kevin Michael Richardson), whose brother was saved by Banks.

A promising high school athlete who became a wasted meth addict soon after his father's death provided the Addict of the Week plot during the pilot episode to demonstrate how Banks and his team resolve the cases they decide to pursue. The storyline was disappointing since it failed to create any sense of urgency or tension, which should be a routine matter on a series that describes its main character as an “extreme” interventionist.

The July 22 second episode “Rag Dolls” fares a little better … at first. Once again, the show focuses on a younger addict, an 18-year-old surfer girl. Her mother approaches Banks for help because intuition tells her something is wrong, although her daughter has passed two drug tests and maintains great grades at school.

Sure enough, after a few contrived scenes where Banks' associates, working undercover, conveniently find very obvious clues at just the right moment (how can you miss the implications of someone drinking glycerin out of a water bottle?), we learn the teenager and her clearly messed-up best friend are drug mules for a dangerous thug-dealer, played generically by Kevin Alejandro of Ugly Betty, Shark, and the July 17 episode of Burn Notice called “Turn and Burn” (he's really getting around these days — good for him).

A side storyline has Banks and his wife Melissa (Amy Price-Francis) getting called to their daughter's Catholic school, where the nun in charge reveals the problem is the little girl's perfection. The ultimate moral of that plot diversion is that perfection isn't good since mistakes help human beings mature and develop. You don't say!

For an episode that starts off on such an intriguing note — with surfer girl in a dark, nondescript bathroom desperately attempting to help another clearly dying girl hang onto life as her messed-up best friend repeatedly warns her to hurry up and leave the girl and the place — “Rag Dolls” ends up being a big disappointment.

If you believe the final scenes, all you have to do to make your life better after a balloon of heroin bursts inside you, nearly causing you to die, is grab a long board — that somebody gave to you as a gift, no less, to acknowledge your surviving the balloon incident — and head to the beach to find a big wave.

Yeah, right. How about a year or two of intensive therapy and a few lectures about being a law-abiding adult instead? This episode is much too cut-and-dry and simplistic to be either entertaining or realistic.

The Verdict: C

The Cleaner currently airs Tuesdays on A&E at 10pm EST

Benjamin Bratt/The Cleaner photo courtesy of CBS Paramount Network Television

Tags: A&E, Amy Price-Francis, Benjamin Bratt, Esteban Powell, Grace Park, Kevin Michael Richardson, Rag Dolls, television, The Cleaner, tv, Warren Boyd

Notable TV Thru August 3, 2008

2008-07-28T18:03:00.001-04:00

Get Your Science On

Monday | July 28

Surviving Sharks: The ridiculously popular annual Shark Week began last night, and it continues on Monday with this new nature documentary, followed by Day of the Shark at 10pm. [9pm EST/Discovery Channel]

Paranormal State: The second season opens with two episodes in a row. [10pm EST/A&E]

Tuesday | July 29

Celebrity Family Feud: Season One ends. [8pm EST/NBC]

Eureka: Fans can finally return to the whimsical town of Eureka for a third season of fresh and fun(ny) high-tech adventures. An all-day marathon of the entire thirteen-episode second season (in proper order) precedes, starting at 8am. [9pm EST/Sci Fi Channel]

Wednesday | July 30

The Baby Borrowers: I watched the premiere episode and then forgot all about this reality show. For those who stuck around, the first season ends right here. [9pm EST/NBC]

Lewis Black's Root of All Evil: The second season begins exactly three months after the first season ended, which is what happens on basic cable when you score in the ratings. [10:30pm EST/Comedy Central]

Thursday | July 31

Fear Itself: This episode, “Skin and Bones,” features Hellboy's Doug Jones, who plays intriguing merman-ish Abe Sapien in the feature flicks. The installment is also the last episode of the anthology series until it returns whenever/if NBC decides to bring it back. [10pm EST/NBC]

Friday | August 1

Doctor Who: Season Four ends with a 90-minute episode (with commercials included, 65 minutes without) that marks the last appearance of Catherine Tate as the good doctor's regular companion Donna Noble. [8:30pm EST/Sci Fi Channel]

Saturday | August 2

Cops: Season Twenty — yes, twenty! — ends. [8pm EST/Fox]

Robin Hood: Season Two ends. [9pm EST/BBC America]

Sunday | August 3

Sunday Night Football: The Washington Redskins and the Indianapolis Colts play the Hall of Fame Game. [8pm EST/NBC]

Design Star: Season Three picks a winner and then ends. [9pm EST/HGTV]

NOTE: All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Colin Ferguson/Eureka photo courtesy of Matthias Clamer/SciFi Channel

Tags: television, tv

tv|jots

'Greek' Returns Tonight with 'Brothers and Sisters'

Spring Break Is Definitely Over

Notable TV Thru August 31, 2008

Catch Up on Mad Men

Monday | August 25

Tuesday | August 26

Wednesday | August 27

Thursday | August 28

Friday | August 29

Saturday | August 30

Sunday | August 31

Plain White T's: 'Natural Disaster' Giveaway

Win a Signed CD Single

'Criminal Intent' Season Finale Tonight

Who's That in the Body Bag?

'Sons of Anarchy' Giveaway Results

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Notable TV Thru August 24, 2008

Margaret Cho Has a New Show!

Monday | August 18

Tuesday | August 19

Wednesday | August 20

Thursday | August 21

Friday | August 22

Saturday | August 23

Sunday | August 24

Introducing the Cast of 'Samurai Girl'

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Notable TV Thru August 17, 2008

We're Back

Monday | August 11

Tuesday | August 12

Wednesday | August 13

Thursday | August 14

Friday | August 15

Saturday | August 16

Sunday | August 17

Sons of Anarchy: Poster Giveaway

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— Drumroll, Please —

…Joshua Allen!

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Notable TV Thru August 10, 2008

Take Me Away

Monday | August 4

Tuesday | August 5

Wednesday | August 6

Thursday | August 7

Friday | August 8

Saturday | August 9

Sunday | August 10

Criss Angel Mindfreak: Season Four Giveaway

Angel-ic Prize Pack Up for Grabs

Getting Down to the Wire on 'So You Think You Can Dance'

Does Another Shocker Await Fans?

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