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Category: PopWatch Confessional (41-50 of 186)

Apr 20 2009 10:06 PM ET

DVR enhancements we'd like to see

Categories: PopWatch Confessional, Television

Dvrwish On my way to work today, I imagined coming home to my DVR/life partner this evening, clicking on my recorded shows list, and being greeted by a large smiley face on the top right of the screen. Why? Because I firmly believe that my DVR/life partner — who I named Peter and decided was just to the left of gay — would know that he was about to make me a very happy girl because he’d taped Dancing With the Stars, Castle, and a special Monday episode of Bones. I then thought about how sad I’d been Sunday night when I returned from a long weekend away, scrolled through my recorded shows list, and found no new episodes of Ghost Whisperer and Dollhouse to watch before the premiere of ABC Family’s My Fake Fiancé. Had Peter been able to flash me a frowny face emoticon, I would’ve been prepared for the heartbreak that followed. Therefore, I’d like to suggest to manufacturers of DVRs everywhere that they look into this emoticon feature. Perhaps there’s some kind of equation that can be built in. Like, if more than 65 percent of the shows you were hoping to tape that day aired new episodes: the you’re-gonna-be-psyched smiley face. If not: the break-it-to-me-gently frowny face.

Are there DVR enhancements you’d like to see? And have you anthropomorphized your DVR (or TV) to this degree?

Apr 10 2009 12:00 AM ET

Aaron Sorkin: Come back to TV!

by Lynette Rice

Categories: Inappropriate Crushes, PopWatch Confessional, Television, Waiting

In case you haven’t noticed, NBC is pulling out all the stops for Southland, John Wells’ latest contribution to the cops-and-robbers genre. And I’m certainly tuning in tonight — if only to see whether Wells still has the magic touch for creating shows that everyone wants to watch. Privately, though, I wish that NBC was throwing its cash at Wells’ old producing partner, whose long-awaited comeback to television is about a year behind schedule. I speak of Aaron Sorkin, the man behind last year’s fabulously written Charlie Wilson’s War, who’s best remembered by boob-tube-o-philes as the genius who, along with Wells, gave us The West Wing (and, well, the sexy Brad Whitford). I miss Sorkin’s marvelous repartee, even when it came in the form of a blustery, behind-the-scenes look at a late-night variety show called Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Since the 2006-07 drama only lasted a season, Sorkin can’t be wanting that show to represent his final contribution to the TV dramas. It’s only a matter of time before he brings us more of that intelligent, rat-a-tat banter — right?

Well, it just so happens that we may be seeing him soon — just not in the way we’d expect. A source close to Sorkin says the uber-writer is in talks with Entourage to guest star on the comedy once it returns to HBO in July. And there may be more good news on the horizon: Although his dance card is filled with must-finish screenplays (a Facebook movie! A courtroom drama for George Clooney called The Challenge!) word is that Sorkin is mulling over the idea of a new TV drama that takes a behind-the-scenes look at a cable news program (think: Keith Olbermann’s show on MSNBC). Though I’m not all that thrilled at the prospect of yet another behind-the-scenes show, I’ll take what I can get if it means Sorkin will (finally!) be back on TV.

What do you think, Sorkin fans? Should he come back to TV or keep his focus on the big screen?

Apr 9 2009 09:21 PM ET

Longer workdays = Less time for entertainment?

by Mandi Bierly

Categories: America's Next Top Model, American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, Inappropriate Crushes, PopWatch Confessional, Television

Idoldwts_l I begin with a blanket statement: Anyone with a job in this economy is grateful. This is not about complaining, it’s about acknowledging a situation and asking who else is experiencing it….

Recently, I developed an increased appreciation for an actor who shall not be named ~~because his mother gets his Google Alerts.~~ There’s something on his résumé that I’ve never seen, and I’m told that I’ll like him even more when I do. I’m refusing to watch it. Why? Because if I do, I’ll want to spend hours Googling and YouTubing every interview he’s ever done to decide whether or not he’s worth all the hours I’ve just spent Googling and YouTubing him — and I do not have that kind of spare time. This is a first for me: Denying myself the pleasure of a celebrity crush because I’ve got too much work to do???

I started thinking about the other ways I’ve cut back on entertainment — not because of money, but because of time. I realized I’ve changed the way I watch American Idol and Dancing With the Stars this season: I now only watch the performances, no judges’ critiques or scores. With America’s Next Top Model, I just watch the photo shoots and panel reveals, no teaches or house fights. (I even fast-forward through the deliberation and find out who was eliminated by seeing whose picture disappears from the group shot at the end of the episode.) And as for those three-a-day NCIS repeats I’ve been recording on USA to catch up, no more. I cannot keep fighting a daily space war with my DVR. (I know you’re 86 percent full — of NCIS episodes that I haven’t been able to watch for weeks).

Anyone else finding themselves cutting back on entertainment (or crushes) because they’re spending more hours at work? Or what creative measures have you taken to fit it all in?

addCredit(“Idol: Michael Becker/Fox; Stars: Kelsey McNeal/ABC”)

Mar 17 2009 11:30 AM ET

'Gossip Girl' and '90210': What am I missing?

by Alynda Wheat

Categories: 90210, Do My Job For Me!, Gossip Girl, PopWatch Confessional

Gossipgirl90210_l After six weeks of silence, Gossip Girl returned last night, and 90210 returns soon after a month of spring break. Oops, that sentence was supposed to end in an exclamation point, because around these parts, that’s a big deal. It seems few things get certain EW staffers more excited than the outlandish antics of rich teens. Me, I don’t care. And given that Cavemen got better ratings than GG and 90210 combined, I know I’m not alone.

What I need is someone to explain it to me. Yes, I am old (30s!), but I will watch teen shows. I love the British series Skins about a group of profane, raunchy, bright, insipid, inspired kids. But for some reason, American shows about rich adolescents don’t do it for me anymore. It’s probably The O.C.’s fault — something about that time Seth Cohen sailed away to Portland still doesn’t sit right. And it’s true, I haven’t given GG or 90210 much of a chance. So I’m asking for help.

Please tell me: What makes these shows so compulsively, compellingly watchable? Is it the writing? Camp factor? The clothes? (Seriously, are they awesome?) What about the irritation quotient? Seeing young, beautiful, rich kids whine for an hour is liable to make me take my shoe off and beat folks with it. And are there those of you who watch one but not the other? Why?

Help an old lady out, PopWatchers. Share what’s so awesome about Gossip Girl and 90210 that I’m clearly missing. Or tell us about another teen fave we should be into. I’m open.

Mar 10 2009 09:26 PM ET

'DWTS,' 'Idol': What's the most you've voted on a single elimination night?

by Mandi Bierly

Categories: About Last Night, American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, PopWatch Confessional, Reality TV, Television

Belindacarlisle_l At 3:59 p.m. ET Tuesday afternoon, the following IM exchange took place between my friend Robb (who really should’ve known better) and me:

Robb: guess who voted 52 times for belinda carlisle last night?
Me: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Robb: i had to
Robb: is that wrong? i had to call in 13 times then log on to their site with 3 different email addresses
Me: omg
Robb: like you wouldn’t.
Me: may i blog this?
Robb: um [censored]
Me: no last name
Me: just first name
Robb: whatever. you gotta do what you gotta do
Robb: here’s the reasoning:
Me: yes, please
Robb: Belinda looked fantastic, but was far too nervous and it showed in her dancing
Robb: and at 50 she’s by far the eldest woman on the show
Robb: i think denise richards is next oldest
Robb: because both jewel and nancy o’dell had to drop out, there’s no in between ages and all the other girls (apart from shawn johnson, who’s really muscular) are nearly anorexic
Robb: she’s a MILF in real life
Robb: i bet she’ll do better on a faster dance
Me: how many times have you seen the go-gos in concert?
Robb: 20-25?
Robb: Eek.

Translation: He voted for her because he loves her, period. (Is there any other explanation for voting for someone 50-plus times?) What’s your call-in record for a single night? And for whom?

More Dancing With the Stars and American Idol:
Annie Barrett recaps the DWTS premiere
Ratings: DWTS premiere hits all-time high
Michael Slezak picks the Michael Jackson songs he’d liked performed on tonight’s Idol
This week’s American Idol Power List by Michael Slezak

addCredit(“Kelsey McNeal/ABC”)

Mar 7 2009 02:00 PM ET

Siegfried & Roy: Did the 'Magic' return?

by Joshua Rich

Categories: PopWatch Confessional, Snap Judgment, Stage/Theater, Television

Siegfriedroy_l I’m just going to say it: I love Siegfried & Roy. There you go. The message board is now open for you to mock me, if the urge strikes. But I’m proud to admit that I saw the legendary, brazenly bizarre Las Vegas illusionists/wild-animal tamers perform live on two occasions way back when, and I had a ball.

So it was with some trepidation that I tuned in to last night’s 20/20 installment Siegfried & Roy: The Magic Returns, which chronicled the duo’s journey back from Roy’s 2003 tiger attack to their recent farewell performance for charity. After all, most of the story of their lives has already been detailed (met on an ocean liner, became famous showmen, had the Mirage resort built for them, got special Michael Jackson song recorded for them, ranked among the world’s highest-paid entertainers) or glossed over (that, um, unique bond of theirs) countless times in the past. And the tale of their tragedy, survival, and recovery has also been the subject of several TV specials and interviews.

How’d it turn out? The Elizabeth Vargas-hosted program on ABC did spend a lot of time rehashing (and glossing over) all of the old stuff, but it was warming to see Roy back in business (even though his insistence that Montecore, the tiger that mauled him, was actually trying to protect him is kinda confusing). Seeing Roy walk, feed the animals, and bicker once again with Siegfried was certainly worth it. As for the much-discussed final stage show that the guys put on for brain research, it was less amusing. Certainly, I’m glad S&R got to go out on their terms, but the anticlimactic program they put together was strange — dark strange, rather than the typical, bubbly S&R haha strange. The final moment, when they brought Montecore back on stage (via magic, of course!) was meant to be poignant, but it left me decidedly unsettled and wistful. Still, audience members like Teri Hatcher, Robin Leach, Rhea Perlman, and Danny DeVito all seemed to love what they saw.

Anyway, what did you think? Was the duo’s 10-minute farewell enough? Think they’ll be back again? And how about Siegfried & Roy themselves? Miss them? Always a bit too weirded out by them to give them a chance? It’s too bad: You missed out.

Feb 28 2009 12:00 PM ET

Elvis Costello: The time I blew him off

by Clark Collis

Categories: Music, PopWatch Confessional, Television

Spectacleelviscostelloeltonjohn_l Elvis Costello has a rep for sometimes being a tad prickly. But, the one occasion I interacted with the man, he couldn’t have been nicer.

This was back in the mid-’90s, when I was working in the U.K. for a music magazine and was enlisted to do an evening "phoner" with Costello about the rerelease of his mighty King of America album. I spent the afternoon interviewing British rockers the Charlatans –- or Charlatans UK, as you may know them here. Eventually, the interview turned into something of a drinking session and, in the interest of continuing my Charlatans "research," I opted to stay in the bar with the band rather than go back home to chat with Declan Patrick Aloysius McManus. When I eventually did return in the early hours of the morning, my female roommate informed me that Costello had called on no fewer than three occasions. The third time, she reluctantly informed the author of Oliver’s Army that it was likely I was out boozing with the Charlatans. Costello’s response? "If I had the choice between talking to me and drinking with the Charlatans, then I would definitely not choose to talk to me." (I actually did do the interview with him the next day, during which Costello mercilessly, but not nastily, mocked my hungover condition.)

Where’s all this going? Well, nowhere really. Except that this afternoon, between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., the Sundance Channel is showing a mini-marathon of Costello’s recent music-oriented chat show Spectacle, which reconfirmed my belief that the singer-songwriter is one affable guy. I highly recommend that you watch the shows (guests include Smokey Robinson and Jenny Lewis). Though, if you decide to go for a (responsible!) drink instead, then I’m guessing Elvis probably won’t mind too much.

Jan 14 2009 04:55 PM ET

Which TV show's fans do you secretly kinda hate? (Mine's 'Lost'...Ducking!)

by Mandi Bierly

Categories: Brothers & Sisters, Buffy, Lost, PopWatch Confessional, Television, Whining

Lostmystery_l Earlier this week, when I used the "I think this line’s mostly filler" lyric from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode in the headline for a recap of a boring Brothers & Sisters, a quarter of the comments on the post were from fellow Buffy fans appreciating the reference. That made one reader, named Shannon, issue a smackdown: "Good grief people…get over Buffy…she is gone…the actress hasapparently disappeared too….it was a good show…but good god!! getover it!! Brothers and Sisters is sooooo much better…that is if youare over the age of 18…mentally that is."

Reading that got me thinking about ~~how Shannon obviously didn’t get the show~~ how you can appreciate a show and yet, kinda hate its fans. So ‘fess up: Which TV show’s fans annoy you? I trust we’ll all be respectful (because on some level, you have to appreciate anyone who’s as passionate about TV as you are). If I had to choose a show, it would be Lost. Before you crucify me: It’s not that I dislike its fans as much as it is that I dislike the feeling that if I want to be a fan, I can’t just watch an hour of quality TV; I have to start decoding Sprite commercials and go see Cloverfield. I know that intricate, never-ending web of clues is precisely the reason why so many of you love the show, but I just don’t have it in me to care that much over multiple platforms.* (Also, I used to fact-check Doc Jensen’s Lost features for EW and lived in fear that I would let a mistake slip through: You know you would have sent a letter, which, again, is why I respect and fear you.)

Your turn. Play nicely.

* If you think that makes me inferior to you, instead of just different, then I do dislike you. But just a bit.

More blasphemy:
Which seminal band makes you seminauseated?
Your pop-culture relationship deal breakers?
Twilight: A hater’s guide

Jan 9 2009 03:21 PM ET

Your parents' Netflix queue is who you are and will become

by Mandi Bierly

Categories: DVD/Video, Inappropriate Crushes, Movies, PopWatch Confessional

Sliver_l Ever steal a peek at your parents’ Netflix queue? How did that turn out for you? Here’s why I’m asking: I got my parents (retired, in their 60s, and braving another Happy Valley winter) a subscription for Christmas. Last night, my mother told me that my father had submitted his first requests: Deliverance and Sliver.

How is Sliver (pictured), starring Sharon Stone and Billy Baldwin, No. 2 on anyone’s list, let alone my father’s? "I think he likes Sharon Stone," my mother* said, as if the news she’d just delivered hadn’t been as scarring as the time she’d let my father cut out and mail me a Sylvester Stallone interview that he’d read in Playboy. (We share a love of all things Sly.) I spent the rest of the night thinking about it: Has my dad been dying to see Sliver since 1993? Did he catch the second half of the movie on cable one night, years ago, and always wonder how it began? Is it weird that I myself have searched (ill-fatedly) for Sliver on YouTube? Should I add it to my Netflix queue?

While I process how alike my father and I have become, share insights in to your parents’ Netflix queue (or rental history) — and what it means for you.

* Her first request: Sex and the City: The Movie.

More on your parents:
Bonding with dad through entertainment
Bonding with mom through entertainment