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TCA Tidbits: Living Dead, Emmy Controversy, and Skittles

BuzzSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 05:30:26 -0700

After announcing that Let's Make a Deal will be back, CBS kept things trucking at TCA with some controversy, a few digs at NBC, and a bizarre marketing ploy. Read on for highlights.

The day's most hotly contested panel was the session for the Emmys, at which executive producer Don Mischer attempted to explain the reasoning behind the decision to "time shift" eight awards (aka, give them out in a special ceremony before the regular Emmys). Among those annoyed: HBO (which cried foul since it typically dominates those categories) and TV writers. At the TCA session, Mischer said that the Emmys need to be more about "broadcasting" than "narrowcasting" and that viewers have reported feeling disconnected from the shows that win Emmys. He says these moves will allow more time for entertainment features, including clips of the year's best TV moments - whether Emmy-nominated or not. What do you think?
Meanwhile, Emmy host Neil Patrick Harris joined the session via satellite from Montreal, where he's filming a movie, and said he's approaching his hosting gig "like you're hosting a big giant dinner party, sort of Dean Martin style." He said he doesn't want to be one of those hosts working hard to entertain the audience: "I will probably lean toward serious and boring rather than wacky and crazy because it is a big night for all of these people," he said. "I think it is important to honor that. And not be drunk."
Speaking of wacky and crazy: Yesterday brought one of the oddest pieces of TCA swag I've ever received. Before the session for Accidentally On Purpose, we had two bowls brought to our tables: one full of Skittles (a reference to a line in the pilot where Jenna Elfman's character says her new, young lover smells like a Skittle) - and the other full of AOP-branded condoms.

To hear what the Medium folks really think of NBC and what Grant Show thinks about joining the new Melrose Place, just read more.

At the session for Medium - newly relocated to CBS - showrunner Glenn Gordon Caron made a few digs at NBC for not renewing the show after what he called "five fairly fruitful years" at the network. At one point, he riffed that had only someone told him he needed to get a Save Our Show campaign going, "We had a whole Quiznos thing set up" - a reference to Chuck's Subway campaign. And though he called Chuck a great show, he pointedly noted that NBC has tried to launch it twice with only middling ratings. "We didn't attract as much buzz as Chuck," he said, "but we did get more viewers."
That said, though, Medium is looking forward to having a full 22-episode season on CBS - including a Halloween episode in which Patricia Arquette's character will be edited digitally into old footage from Night of the Living Dead.
At the session for The Good Wife, about what happens when the wife of a cheating politician reclaims her own career, a reporter asked star Julianna Margulies why female politicians don't have dramatic, Mark Sanford-type affairs. "I think women are too busy," she said. "Women do not have the time, dear Lord!"
Margulies also noted that after dabbling in film after leaving ER, she's finding that she can do her best work on television. "Television is the medium for women," she said. "The richest characters I can find are on television."
Also recounting the moves that led her to her new show was Jenna Elfman, who said she landed on Accidentally On Purpose after years of development deals and looking for the right project. "I have been doing nothing but trying to find another show on television that inspires me, that makes me happy, that I feel like I'm in my comedy sandbox doing what I love to do," she said. Needless to say, she thinks this is the one.
And finally: Would Grant Show ever consider making an appearance on the CW's Melrose Place? Well, perhaps. "I'm not sure they really even need me this year," he said. "Maybe next year. We've been talking, but nothing solid yet. I'm not opposed to it, and anything could happen."

The CW and set visits to Castle and Private Practice are up today, so stay tuned!

CBS's Fall Plans: Four New Series and a Rescue of Medium

BuzzSugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 09:00:06 -0700

CBS swooped in after NBC canceled Medium and picked up the Patricia Arquette drama at its Upfront this morning. Medium joins four other new dramas on CBS's Fall schedule, which seems downright reasonable after, say, ABC's 11 new series.

CBS's newcomers are the NCIS spinoff with LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell; Three Rivers, a medical drama about organ transplants headed by Moonlight's Alex O'Loughlin; The Good Wife, starring Julianna Margulies as an attorney who goes back to work after her husband's public scandal; and Accidentally on Purpose, a comedy starring Jenna Elfman as a movie critic who gets pregnant from a one-night stand. Two more dramas - Miami Trauma and The Bridge - will join the network for midseason, along with two new reality shows.

On the scheduling front, The Mentalist shifts to Thursdays at 10 p.m., while The Big Bang Theory gets a promotion of sorts to the plum slot after Two and a Half Men on Monday nights. The NCIS spinoff (now officially called NCIS: Los Angeles) will air right after NCIS proper on Tuesdays. And Medium will air on Fridays - though I suppose fans should just be glad it's airing at all after its cancellation yesterday.

To check out the full schedule and see how CBS describes its new series, just read more.

MONDAY
8 p.m. How I Met Your Mother
8:30 p.m. Accidentally on Purpose
9 p.m. Two and a Half Men
9:30 p.m. The Big Bang Theory
10 p.m. CSI: Miami

TUESDAY
8 p.m. NCIS
9 p.m. NCIS: Los Angeles
10 p.m. The Good Wife

WEDNESDAY
8 p.m. The New Adventures of Old Christine
8:30 p.m. Gary Unmarried
9 p.m. Criminal Minds
10 p.m. CSI: NY

THURSDAY
8 p.m. Survivor
9 p.m. CSI
10 p.m. The Mentalist

FRIDAY
8 p.m. Ghost Whisperer
9 p.m. Medium
10 p.m. Numb3rs

SATURDAY
8 p.m. Crimetime Saturday
9 p.m. Crimetime Saturday
10 p.m. 48 Hours Mystery

SUNDAY
7 p.m. 60 Minutes
8 p.m. The Amazing Race
9 p.m. Three Rivers
10 p.m. Cold Case

** Midseason: Miami Trauma, The Bridge, Arranged Marriage, Undercover Boss

The New Shows
NCIS: Los Angeles is a drama about the high stakes world of undercover surveillance at the Office of Special Projects (OSP), a division of NCIS that is charged with apprehending dangerous and elusive criminals that pose a threat to the nation's security. By assuming false identities and utilizing the most advanced technology, this team of highly trained agents goes deep undercover, putting their lives on the line in the field to bring down their targets. Special Agent "G" Callen (Chris O'Donnell) is a chameleon who transforms himself into whomever he needs to be to infiltrate the criminal underworld. His partner is Special Agent Sam Hanna (LL Cool J), a former U.S. Navy SEAL who has seen action in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and a surveillance expert who uses state of the art monitoring equipment to look out for those in the field and feed them crucial information. Both Callen and Hanna report to Special Agent Lara Macy (Louise Lombard), the OSP team leader responsible for directing the operations and making life-or-death decisions. Assisting the team is Special Agent Kensi Lo (Daniela Ruah), the exceptionally bright daughter of a slain Marine who lives for the adrenalin rush that comes with undercover work, and Operational Psychologist Nate Getz (Peter Cambor), adept at getting into anybody's head, profiling the target and monitoring agents' states of mind before, during and after missions. Armed with the latest in high tech gear and sent regularly into life-threatening situations, this tight-knit team relies on each other to do what is necessary to protect national interests. Shane Brennan (NCIS) is the executive producer for CBS Television Studios.

The Good Wife is a drama starring Emmy Award winner Julianna Margulies as a wife and mother who must assume full responsibility for her family and re-enter the workforce after her husband's very public sex and political corruption scandal lands him in jail. Pushing aside the betrayal and crushing public humiliation caused by her husband Peter (Chris Noth), Alicia Florrick (Margulies) starts over by pursuing her original career as a defense attorney. As a junior associate at a prestigious Chicago law firm, she joins her longtime friend, former law school classmate and firm partner Will Gardner (Josh Charles), who is interested to see how Alicia will perform after 13 years out of the courtroom. Alicia is grateful the firm's top litigator, Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski), offers to mentor her but discovers the offer has conditions and realizes she's going to need to succeed on her own merit. Alicia's main competition among the firm's 20-something new recruits is Cary (Matt Czuchry), a recent Harvard grad who is affable on the surface, but will use any means to ensure that he, not Alicia, secures the one full-time associate position that's available. Fortunately, Alicia finds an ally in Kalinda (Archie Panjabi), the firm's tough in-house investigator. Gaining confidence every day, Alicia transforms herself from embarrassed politician's scorned wife to resilient career woman, especially for the sake of providing a stable home for her children, 14-year-old Zach (Graham Phillips) and 13-year-old Grace (Makenzie Vega). For the first time in years, Alicia trades in her identity as the "good wife" and takes charge of her own destiny. Tony Scott, Ridley Scott, Robert King, Michelle King, Dee Johnson and David Zucker are the executive producers for CBS Television Studios.

Three Rivers is a medical drama that goes inside the emotionally complex lives of organ donors, the recipients and the surgeons at the preeminent transplant hospital in the country where every moment counts. However, dealing with donor families in their darkest hour and managing the fears and concerns of apprehensive recipients takes much more than just a sharp scalpel. Leading the elite team is Dr. Andy Yablonski (Alex O'Loughlin), the highly-skilled workaholic lead organ transplant surgeon, whose good-natured personality and sarcastic wit makes him popular with his patients and colleagues. His colleagues include Dr. Miranda Foster (Katherine Moennig), a surgical fellow with a rebellious streak and fiery temper who strives to live up to her deceased father's excellent surgical reputation; Dr. David Lee (Daniel Henney), a womanizing surgical resident who's broken as many hearts as he's replaced; Ryan Abbott (Christopher J. Hanke), the inexperienced new transplant coordinator who arranges the intricately choreographed process of quickly and carefully transporting organs from donor to patient; Dr. Sophia Jordan (Julia Ormond), the head of surgery and a dedicated medical professional; and Pam Acosta (Justina Machado), Andy's no-nonsense operating assistant and best friend. In this high stakes arena, in which every case is a race against the clock, these tenacious surgeons and medical professionals are the last hope for their patients. Carol Barbee, Curtis Hanson and Carol Fenelon are the executive producers for CBS Television Studios.

Accidentally on Purpose is a comedy starring Golden Globe Award winner Jenna Elfman as Billie, a single woman who finds herself "accidentally" pregnant after a one-night stand with a much younger guy, and decides to keep the baby . . . and the guy. A newspaper film critic, Billie is barely surviving a humiliating breakup with her charming boss, James (Grant Show), who's still trying to resume their relationship. Suddenly expecting a child with her "boy toy," Zack (Jon Foster), Billie and Zack make an arrangement: to live together platonically. Billie's party girl best friend Olivia (Ashley Jensen), and Abby (Lennon Parham), her conventional, younger married sister, eagerly look forward to the new addition and offer their own brands of advice and encouragement. But when Zack and his freeloading friends, including Davis (Nicolas Wright), start to turn her place into a frat house, Billie isn't sure if she's living with a boyfriend, a roommate, or if she just has another child to raise. Lloyd Braun, Gail Berman, Gene Stein and Claudia Lonow are the executive producers for CBS Television Studios. Pamela Fryman directed the pilot.

The Bridge is a drama about a tough and dedicated police officer who is voted to become the police union's dynamic leader. To serve the public as well as his 8,000 fellow officers, charismatic Frank Leo (Aaron Douglas) battles criminals on the street, corruption in the ranks and his own bosses. On the force is his able partner and confidante Tommy Dunn (Paul Popowich), who rides with Frank across the bridge that spans the divide between the rich and the poor in the area they patrol; Staff Sergeant Bernie Kantor (Frank Cassini), a voice of reason and moral sounding board; Jill (Inga Cadranel), a detective with a lot of attitude who is moving up the ranks; Billy (Theresa Joy), a young female cop who is determined to prove herself to the guys; and Ed Wycoff (Michael Murphy), the shrewd Chief of Police. Abby St. James (Ona Grauer) is a sharp prosecutor who begins working with the police union, and shares a mutual attraction with Frank. In his new position, Frank Leo takes on the politically-motivated department brass... and makes many powerful enemies in the process. Craig Bromell, Adam J. Shully, Laszlo Barna, Alan Di Fiore and Robert Wertheimer are executive producers for E1 Entertainment, 990 Multi Media Entertainment Company and Jonsworth Productions in association with CTV and CBS Television Studios.

Miami Trauma is about a team of expert surgeons who work at one of the premiere trauma facilities in the country, where only patients with life threatening injuries are treated. Dr. Matthew Proctor (Jeremy Northam) is new to the trauma team, after a tour of duty in a MASH unit during the Gulf war. Dr. Eva Zambrano (Lana Parrilla) is a workaholic surgeon who is more comfortable in her scrubs than she is out in the real world. Dr. Christopher Deleo, "Dr. C.," is a playboy who thrives on the high-stakes of trauma medicine and is, by his own description, a genius redneck. Dr. Serena Warren (Elisabeth Harnois) is fresh out of medical school, and head nurse Tuck Brody (Omar Gooding) keeps the doctors on track and the patients' families updated in this chaotic corner of the medical profession. Together, this team of doctors excels in the "golden hour," the 60 minutes after being critically injured, when a patient's life hangs in the balance. Jerry Bruckheimer, Jeffrey Lieber and Jonathan Littman are executive producers for Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television Distribution.

Arranged Marriage is a series that brings the tradition of arranged marriages, which is still practiced successfully by many cultures throughout the world, to the U.S., where it is virtually an inconceivable option for most single Americans. Three adults who are anxious to get married, but who have been unsuccessful in their own search for a mate, choose a life-altering path. They rely on their closest family and friends, those who love and know them best, to choose someone for them to marry based on shared goals, values, experiences and the commitment to make it work. The series intimately documents these three arranged marriages, starting with the first meetings of the families and the wedding day; and then follows the couple through the day-to-day joys, challenges, and emotional tumult that results from their arranged union. Emmy Award nominees Jane Lipsitz and Dan Cutforth are executive producers for Magical Elves Inc.

Undercover Boss is a new reality series that follows high level corporate executives as they slip anonymously into the lowest level jobs within their companies. Once undercover, they'll get their hands dirty with the rank and file, find out what their employees really think of them and discover how smoothly their companies are really run. In the process, these senior executives learn about themselves, the perception of their company and the spirit of their work force. Stephen Lambert is the executive producer for Studio Lambert, Ltd.

Photos courtesy of CBS

Defend This Show: Medium

BuzzSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 07:30:00 -0800

NBC's Medium is one of those shows that just never grabbed me. It's an intriguing premise, and Patricia Arquette has gotten a fair amount of acclaim (and one Emmy) for her performance as psychic Allison DuBois. But I've never felt compelled to tune in.

But now the writers' strike is upon us, and Medium is returning tonight with all-new episodes. So, all you Medium fans, it's time for you to defend your show to disbelievers like me and tell us why it's time to tune in.

Check out this video for a refresher of what happened in last season's finale - and then it's on your mark, get set, defend!

Photo courtesy of NBC

Buzz News Roundup, 12/7

BuzzSugar — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:33:35 -0800

The James McAvoy-Angelina Jolie action flick Wanted has moved release dates from March to June 27, writes ComingSoon.
Johnny Depp will star in a Depression-era crime drama titled Public Enemies, Variety reports.
Some scheduling notes: Fox has renewed Don't Forget the Lyrics, writes Zap2it; Medium is headed to Monday nights, according to Variety; and The Futon Critic says ABC will start airing a tournament-style game show called The Duel.
A group of documentary directors will team up to make a documentary based on the bestselling book Freakonomics, writes Variety.
According to Hollywood Reporter, Zach Gilford will star opposite Alexis Bledel in the comedy The Post-Grad Survival Guide.
Reuters has the news that Michelle Williams will play the wife of Leonardo DiCaprio's character in Scorsese's film Shutter Island.
ComingSoon reports that five more actors have joined the cast of Judd Apatow's next comedy Year One, including David Cross and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.
Want Reba McEntire's Valentine's Day album? You'll have to buy it at Hallmark, Billboard reports.
Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson will star together in a wedding-themed comedy Bride Wars, according to Zap2It.

Source

TV Casting Roundup: "Desperate," "Medium" and "Today"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:31:34 -0700

"Desperate Housewives" has found its desperate house-husbands - and it's not David Beckham and Robbie Williams, as rumored (gee, who would have thought that was a lie?). The actual couple will be portrayed by Tuc Watkins and Kevin Rahm. Watkins, of "One Life to Live," will play Bob, a country boy seeking solace from the city; Rahm, of "Judging Amy," will play his partner, Lee.
Anjelica Huston will guest-star on "Medium" this season, appearing in six of the show's episodes. According to the Hollywood Reporter, she will play a character named Cynthia Keener, an investigator with an "unusual partnership" with Allison Dubois (Patricia Arquette).
"Heroes" is getting its second "Star Trek" guest star: Nichelle Nichols - aka Uhura - will play the grandmother of new hero Monica. George "Sulu" Takei played Hiro's father last season.
"The Today Show" has named its cohosts for when it expands to a fourth hour in September: Ann Curry, Natalie Morales and Hoda Kotb will host the show, while several guest hosts including Tiki Barber and Giada De Laurentiis will also chip in.

Source and Source

"Crashers" Crashes, while "Medium" has a Future

BuzzSugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 13:12:51 -0700

Apparently, Monday at 10 p.m. is NBC's Time Slot O' Death. NBC's latest attempt to get something going in the post-"Heroes" hour, "The Real Wedding Crashers," has crashed and burned, just like "The Black Donnellys" and "Studio 60" before it. Tonight's episode is still on the schedule, but NBC will air repeats of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" in its place for the rest of the season. USA Today is reporting that the three remaining "Crashers" episodes will air on Mondays at 8 sometime over the summer.

Frankly, I find it hard to believe that NBC hasn't been able to find a single show all season that can work after a hit as big as "Heroes." They already have a ton of viewers at that time of night; why can't they manage to keep them?

Meanwhile, another NBC show can foresee good things in its future: "Medium" has been renewed for next season. I hadn't expected the network to make any more announcements about returning shows until it reveals its full fall schedule next week, so this was a bit of a surprise. I can't help but wonder what it means for NBC's other dramas that haven't been renewed yet, including "Crossing Jordan" and, of course, "Friday Night Lights," which got an order for more scripts at the same time as "Medium."

Source

A Bright Spot for "Friday Night Lights"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 14:36:00 -0700

It's not a renewal (yet), but it's the next-best thing: NBC has ordered six additional scripts for "Friday Night Lights," which strengthens the show's chances of coming back in the fall. As TV Guide's Michael Ausiello put it, who's buying the drinks tonight? This makes me even more excited to see the first-season finale on Wednesday. Speaking of which, "FNL" stars Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton will be live-blogging during the episode, and you can submit your questions for them now.

NBC also ordered additional scripts for "Medium" this week. It's not one of my favorites, but as bpjedi pointed out today, it's always nice to see a network drama led by a (relatively) normal-looking woman, so cheers to that.

Source

Beauty Marked! A Medium Coverage Foundation

BellaSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:55:44 -0700

Do you remember last week when I asked you to help me find a brand new medium coverage foundation to replace my old Prescriptives one? Although I think this one is great, the time has come to replace it. You gals did a phenomenal job of finding many more options for me. To see all of the beauty marks for a new, medium coverage foundation click here.

I have chosen three very different liquid foundations to feature so let's see what you all came up with!

Beauty Mark #1 found by atoxicsparkle is called Benefit Cosmetics Nonfiction Foundation, $30. This liquid foundation provides medium coverage and a flawless looking finish. It feels silky upon application and is available in ten shades to suit the myriad of skin tones out there.

To see two more beauty marks, read more

Beauty Mark #2 found by girlinpink is called Clinque Super Balanced Makeup, $19.50. This foundation provides moisture to your face so that it doesn't look dry while also managing to absorb oils so that your face doesn't look too greasy either. It is oil-free and has a natural looking finish.

Beauty Mark #3 found by flutterpie is called Cover Girl Clean Fragrance Free Foundation, $5. It is a lightweight and natural looking medium coverage foundation that won't clog your pores or look cakey and fakey.

The Best Blusher For Your Skin Tone: Medium Skin

BellaSugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 16:00:55 -0700

Welcome back to part two of The Best Blusher For Your Skin Tone. Yesterday we looked at some fabulous colors for fair skin. Today, we'll warm things up just a little bit with more neutral, brownish pinks and golden tawny colors that highlight the lightness of medium toned skin. Enjoy!

Bobbi Brown Blush in Tawny ($20) is a medium pinky-brown blush that goes on silky and lasts all day. It looks fresh and natural and has been one of my all time faves for many years now. This is great color because it's so versatile. You can use it for contouring or for a pop of color right on the apples of your cheeks.

For two more blushers for medium skin, read more

Body and Soul Cream Rouge in Luxury ($28) is a cream blush that leaves a soft, dewy finish on your cheeks. This color isn't going to really pop and brighten your face a whole lot, it's just going to give you a natural-looking warmth and radiance. I know that toning down your blush can take some getting used to, but this is an ideal look for cheek color.

Laura Mercier Cheek Colour in Wild Bouquet ($22) is a silky, smooth powder blush that blends easily and looks natural and warm on medium skin tones. It's made with French cashmere talc, so it feels velvety soft and will never look blotchy. I've been wearing this color off and on again for years and it looks great all year round.

Hold It! Medium Hold Hairsprays

BellaSugar — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 08:11:22 -0700

With all of the gorgeous red carpet and complex hair dos I've been covering, I realized that a light hold hairspray isn't always enough. Sometimes you've got to kick things up a notch to ensure all that hard work doesn't fall apart. However, trying to find a hairspray that won't leave your hair (and fingers) feeling sticky and icky isn't always that easy. Alas...here are a few!

Dove Extra Hold Aerosol Hairspray, $5.19, is a medium hold spray - so don't let the name fool you. This spray is much more gentle than you think. It is formulated with their fabulous weightless moisturizer® that conditions as it styles so that you don't get that gross gooey feeling in your hair. You will still get natural movement with just a little more hold than in a light spray, plus, it smells great and dries really quickly!

For two more medium hold hairsprays, read more

Pantene Ice Shine Hairspray, $3.99, is a medium hold spray that lasts all day long and adds shine to your hair. This is great for updos with a deep part, or for loose curls with a center part if you want/need to control frizz or fly-a-ways.

Paul Mitchell Worked Up, $12.35, is a medium hold hairspray that works great for setting waves. It adds texture as well as hold. It also dries extremely quickly and is made from vegetable-derived conditioners to add intense shine and will help to reduce static.