Channel Surfing

We're moving against our will

2010-03-11T15:53:00.005-06:00

Due to hosting issues related to Blogger, we've been forced to abandon this platform.

Either way, you can find the same great Channel Surfing content at at our new address.

We're working on having www.greenbaypressgazette.com/tvblog redirect everyone to our new blog, so we ask for and appreciate your patience while our online staff handles the request. In the meantime, follow the new link above and bookmark it.

Thanks, everyone!

-- Channel Surfing staff

Commercial interruption: Feeling 'Lost' and lethargic

2010-03-11T15:34:00.004-06:00

Sometimes there's just too much television for one Channel Surfing blogger to handle. That's when we need a break to sit back, relax and indulge in some friendly back-and-forth (via email of course, we don't actually like to speak to one another in person). Beware of the rising black smoke. Thomas Rozwadowski and Adam Reinhard are about to tackle their disatisfaction with the final season of "Lost." Perhaps they aren't candidates after all.

Thomas: When we last left our “Lost” discussion, both of us were a bit squeamish about the wisdom of the flash-sideways device – which as some TV critics are now theorizing, may in fact be the show’s epilogue.

My brain always hurts after watching “Lost” … but usually that’s a good thing. This season, I haven’t been able to muster up much thought or inspiration about “what it all means.” In fact, I struggled to write a simple opening paragraph about Tuesday’s “Dr. Linus” because I didn’t seem to particularly care about any of the off-island developments (even though Michael Emerson was predictably brilliant) and the greater lesson that continues to extend to the post-Jacob island.

Honestly, I’m stunned there are only nine episodes left, because I don’t feel as though I’ve had anything affirmed about the past five years I’ve poured into this show. In fact, I feel as though I could’ve started watching last season and that might have been good enough considering how dominant Jacob and the Man in Black have been in shaping these final conclusions we’re supposed to reach.

Even a new character like Dogen – who I enjoyed watching – makes me question the wisdom of this final season. Why should I care about his purpose when I don’t even know Richard Alpert’s? Why should I care about Ilana when she’s been introduced so late in the game? Why am I so utterly unsatisfied by Claire (Emilie de Ravin is so not a bad-ass) and Sayid’s transformations? Why did Jack need to be convinced of anything from Jacob when he already decided to return to the same craphole island he had been trying to leave since day one of the Oceanic crash?

Oh, and if you’re not questioning time travel, why are you questioning whether some omnipotent being has been watching your childhood home? C’mon, man!

Am I asking too many questions, Adam? Do you have any sense of direction here? As cabin bound Jacob would once said … “Helllllpppppp meeeeeeeee.”

Adam: You'll find no bigger "Lost" apologist than me. I've never had trouble defending every half-cooked mystical curveball and metaphysical gobsmacker that the show decided to lob my way. As such I've gotten very good at coming up with excuses for any and all plot inconsistencies and logical conundrums, and trying to convince my more skeptical friends and family to stick with the show, answering every question with a hopeful, "Stick with it! They know what they're doing!"

But now even I find myself asking, well, do they know what they're doing? Have my five years of blind devotion to Team Darlton really led to this -- an aimless, wandering final season that continues to pile more questions on top of questions, willing to make up new rules willy nilly? (Where's Claire been all this time? Oh, she's just got "the darkness." Why has Richard lived so long? Oh, Jacob just "touched him," that's all. And Smoke Locke can apparently do magic and break chains off people with the flick of his wrist. They're called rules, people!)

Honestly, I feel like I've become Walter Cronkite, Team Darlton is Lyndon Johnson, and "Lost" is the war in Vietnam, and soon they're going to be sitting in their trailer in Hawaii, shaking theirs heads, saying, "If we've lost Reinhard, we've lost middle America."

I don't think I'm there yet, though. Because as unfulfilling and maddening as these recent episodes have been, I've seen definite glimmers of hope pointing to a possible satisfying resolution. Like how in this week's episode, "Dr. Linus," we've finally gotten a sense of who will end up of whose side: Team Smoke Monster, and Team Jacob (oh come on, really? How unfortunate.) We're seeing characters bump into each other in Bizarro L.A., and they're starting to seem less random (Rose interviewing Locke) and more like part of some master plan (Ben sacrificing his power play to become principal in order to secure a college recommendation for Alex.)

It's not much, but I'm sticking with it. Because, really, I've come this far.

What can Team Darlton and "Lost" do next week to help you keep the faith, Tom?

Thomas: That's the hardest question of all. What do I want from "Lost"

Look, I don't need the four-toed statue to make sense. I don't even need Richard Alpert's backstory on the Black Rock to be all that satisfactory. But I do need some time consuming plot points from the past to be resolved: for instance, the importance of children, particularly Walt. The inability to have a baby on the island. Something, anything being pinned to Desmond as more than just coincidence

But you're right: if everything is explained away in mystical terms -- it's Jacob's “touch,” the Man in Black can blink and free you from chains, it's "the sickness" -- frankly, that blows. I never thought "Lost" would be distilled to a war between two supernatural beings, no matter what greater thematic significance they represent in the end. I thought what separated this show from others of the sci-fi ilk was that it didn't deal with metaphysical properties and hocus-pocus. I continue to want to be wrong about that.

Yet even the human elements off-island -- Ben as mild-mannered history teacher, Jack as attentive father, Alex as Yale bound nerd, Keamy as egg-eating debt collector -- just aren't doing it for me. I don't care enough about new realities that stray from the old ones I'd come to already know. I understand that the timelines will likely be resolved in the end, but I want it all to matter on first viewing, not a second one once I have the answers in some big bang finale.

I suppose starting this week with Charles Widmore's arrival, we'll see some old plot threads get renewed life. That's a good start. Seeing the formula so far, I'm not confident anything off island can get me to care about the alterna-existence. So Ben as a history teacher chooses Alex's future at Yale just as he should have chosen her life as his daughter on the island? Yawn. Way too on-the-nose for me. At this point, I just want some consistency with the old characters and less focus on the newer ones. Like Miles. He only seems to be around so he can make wisecracks and advance any and all plots involving communication with dead people. Has he just been "blessed" with a power, perhaps because Jacob touched him? See ... that doesn't satisfy me. Or why Hurley can see Jacob and communicate with him. Is there an actual purpose to that, or is it simply because someone has to and Hurley asks the fewest serious questions.

I'm still in it, too. I still look forward to each new episode. But upon being unable to reconcile how Ben can summon the smoke monster in one season and it suddenly becomes the Man in Black in the next, I find my faith waning. Perhaps I need to be touched by Jacob.

What would you like to see starting next week?

Adam: ABC keeps promo-ing each episode in very dire terms: "Only 9 episodes left before the series finale!" -- which is all well and good and hysterical, so then why not actually give us some sense that the end really is near? A little taste of the endgame, perhaps? A glimpse of some giant ribbon towering over the horizon, on its way to tie this whole glorious package together?

What that will entail, I have no idea. But I know what it shouldn't: No more character development (and no more blasted new characters! Submarine navigator, I'm talking to you!) for people we already have a pretty good grasp on. No more mysteries like Richard's inability to kill himself (side note: Is this why Michael was unable to off himself in Season 4?). No more dialogue along the lines of "I can't tell you that right now," (tell us right now!), "You wouldn't believe me," (try me!), or "Jacob said so" (did he say why he's such a enigmatic poopyhead?)

Nine episodes? Not a lot of time when you think about it. Get it together, "Lost." Jacob may love you, but you're really trying my patience.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com and Adam Reinhard, areinhard@greenbaypressgazette.com

If you have HBO, watch Tom Hanks' new WWII miniseries "The Pacific" (and invite me over, please)

2010-03-11T08:29:00.002-06:00

If HBO's new World War II miniseries "The Pacific" is half as entertaining, powerful or enthralling as 2001's "Band of Brothers" was and is, it'll be an instant hit.

"Band of Brothers," a 10-episode miniseries co-produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, is the premium cable channel's biggest DVD success to date. Based on the Stephen Ambrose book of the same name, it followed one company of soldiers (Easy Company of the 101st Airborne Division) through the European theater of World War II. Thanks to countless reruns on the History Channel -- reruns I almost always watch despite having seen the series through several times -- the miniseries has become the definitive visual centerpiece of World War II history. (Besides, it proved that New Kids on the Block alum Donnie Wahlberg actually had some acting chops).

"The Pacific" is a companion piece to "Band of Brothers" that focuses on the other major battlefront in World War II. Starting this Sunday on HBO, the 10-episode miniseries will track the stories of three Marines from the time they land on Guadalcanal to when they return to the States after V-J Day. Although the series does have the benefit of its predecessor's popularity, it also has the advantage of a $250 million budget and the advance of special effects in the last decade. But anyone who watched "Band of Brothers" can tell you -- it isn't the action that made it gripping television, it's the characters and the moments between firefights that solidified its status as the leader of the the World War II-movie/miniseries pantheon.

Reviews so far from critics give the miniseries high praise. Hal Boedeker of the Orlando Sentinel calls it a "stupendous miniseries that re-creates World War II with gut-wrenching power" and the San Francisco Chronicle's Tim Goodman says it "it offers a resounding yes to a nagging question: Do we really need another movie about World War II?" One of our favorite critics here at Channel Surfing, Alan Sepinwall, says although it isn't quite "the ripping adventure yarn "Band of Brothers" became at times," it's "more visceral and relentless, but as rewarding in its own way."

Even if war movies aren't your thing, any fan of serious drama who can afford HBO shouldn't pass up the opportunity to catch this epic miniseries (and, if you do have HBO, please invite me over). Here's the trailer for "The Pacific":

Trailer #5

"The Pacific" premieres on HBO this Sunday at 8 p.m.

--Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com

De Niro to play Lombardi in ESPN movie

2010-03-09T14:46:00.005-06:00

You talkin' to me, Tom Landry? You talkin' to me?

He's no Dan Lauria. But hey, Robert De Niro is a pretty good get as Vince Lombardi.

ESPN announced this afternoon that the legendary actor of "Raging Bull" and "Taxi Driver" fame is set to play coach Lombardi in a motion picture to be released on the weekend before Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. The film, titled "Lombardi," is to be produced by ESPN Films, Andell Entertainment and the NFL.

"There are few actors who could accurately portray the fire, passion and grit of Lombardi and we're thrilled to have Robert De Niro on our team," said Charles Coplin, the NFL's vice president of programming.

ESPN also said that screenwriter Eric Roth has joined the project, "which will chronicle Lombardi during the years he transformed the Green Bay Packers from the worst team in the National Football League into five-time NFL champions."

For more on the film, check out our previous post about the initial announcement from July.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

"Idol" watch: Girls shine, but talentless contestants keep hanging on

2010-03-05T15:08:00.003-06:00

Because no one else wants to do it -- or in Punishment Pool fashion, has been forced to like some Guantanamo-style form of Channel Surfing torture, Press-Gazette graphics editor Eric Ebert is stepping in with a weekly "American Idol" recap. We don't know whether to applaud or mock him for this extra shot of CS content. On second thought, we choose to mock.

A week after a series of forgettable performances from both the men and women of “American Idol,” the males continued their march into obscurity, while the women showed some glimmers of … do I dare say … talent.

Four women dominated the week in both performances and headlines. Lilly Scott continued to impress with a fresh take on Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come,” while Katelyn Epperly made a splash with a self-accompanied piano version of “The Scientist” by Coldplay.

The biggest showstopper came from the mouse-y Siobhan Magnus, who belted out an unforgettable rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “Think.” The petite Magnus displayed pipes that would make most gospel singers gush, dominating the classic soul song with ease.

But judge-favorite Crystal Bowersox was the talk of the nation. After her last-minute hospitalization forced the men to go a day early, Bowersox returned Wednesday with a flawless version of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “As Long as I Can See The Light.”

Meanwhile, the men turned in sub par performances for the second week in a row. And the judges’ terrible picks for semifinalists continue to pay dividends.

Talent-less musical hack Tim Urban continued his streak of sucking this week by turning in an unbelievably karaoke version of Matt Nathanson’s “Come on Get Higher.”

But a week after using his airy falsetto to murder OneRepublic’s “Apologize,” Urban had nowhere to go but up. His boyish good looks and an endless supply of tween voters again saved him from elimination Thursday night.

Not so lucky were John Park, Jermaine Sellers, Michelle Delamore and Haeley Vaughn.

Again, good riddance.

ERIC'S POWER RANKINGS:

Men:

1. Michael Lynche: I don’t know if he’s the best, but he’s been the most consistent of the men, and he blew up the stage Tuesday with James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World.”

2. Casey James: Not so hot vocally this week, but another good performance and excellent guitar skills make him a frontrunner.

3. Lee Dewyze: After two mediocre performances, this is the judges’ frontrunner? He’s somewhat talented, but he’s nowhere near the best, even this season.

4. Andrew Garcia: The early favorite is quickly sinking off the radar. Can he recapture his Hollywood week genius, or will he fall by the wayside?

5. Alex Lambert: I know what you’re saying, “another Lambert?” Well, this Lambert is nowhere near as good as season eight’s Adam Lambert, but he is far and away the best male voice — mullet and all.

Women:

1. Crystal Bowersox: Although extremely talented, she is not my favorite, but a performance that had the judges gushing moves her into the top spot this week.

2. Lilly Scott: Still the most formidable opponent. Her flawless consistency is her ticket to success with or without "Idol" status.

3. Siobhan Magnus: Probably the most vocally talented female on the show, this awkward, tiny thing is quickly making her presence known.

4. Katelyn Epperly: Off the radar last week, she stunned me with her soft performance and raw talent this week.

5. Katie Stevens: This 17-year-old may not be polished, but she has some pipes.

Agree? Disagree? Add your own "Idol" comments below. Or just mock Eric for actually caring. It's what we're going to do.

— Eric Ebert, eebert@greenbaypressgazette.com

Fallon brings the cast of "California Dreams" back together

2010-03-05T09:34:00.006-06:00

Regular Channel Surfing readers will recall how I breathlessly wrote about the theme song to T-NBC's "California Dreams" back in December of 2008.

I was actually making a point about the show being a total "Saved by the Bell" rip-off, but nonetheless, conceded that its transcendent theme song reached into my soul like no other Saturday morning sitcom ever could.

"Surf dudes with attitude" ... yeah, you're swaying along right there with me.

Anyway, having failed in his efforts to reunite the cast of "SBTB," Jimmy Fallon got the REAL band (not those bloated Zack Attack lip-synchers) back together by unexpectedly inviting the cast of "California Dreams" to play its memorable theme song on last night's show.

While laughing at something insanely cheesy and nostalgia-based is an easy joke to pull, Fallon has worked some serious magic with it in the lone year he's been on late night. There's a certain charm about Fallon sharing the same pop culture touchstones with a 20-to-30-something audience that had Conan O'Brien's creativity ripped from them and may not relate to David Letterman. Jay Leno? I won't even go there.

So while I may not have been a huge Fallon fan when he was hired to replace Conan, I love the ridiculously random energy he brings to his late night experiment. You have to pick your spots with little viral bits that'll get losers like me talking about your show the next morning. Reuniting the cast of "California Dreams" is certainly one of those moments.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the following clip as much as I did last night. Fallon is downright giddy about the appearance. Kelly Packard (Tiffani Smith) looks ridiculously hot. A nervous Jennie Kwan (Samantha Woo) can barely get her words out. And Michael Cade (Sly Winkle) steals the bit by overselling his latest projects, mentioning a porn company and of course, unbuttoning his shirt to reveal the same six-pack abs he had in 1994.

Ba-BOOM.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

TV Potpourri: Favre on "Tonight," "Breaking Bad" marathon and "The Office" baby no one cares about

2010-03-04T14:07:00.005-06:00

AMC's "Breaking Bad" still doesn't get as much love as the network's other award-winning drama, "Mad Men" ... but no worries. Its fans are a devoted bunch, as evidenced by recent voting for a six-hour viewers choice marathon to air March 19 at 7 p.m.

The winning lineup includes two episodes from a strike-shortened Season 1 -- "Pilot" and "Crazy Handful of Nothin'" -- along with four from Season 2 -- "Grilled," "Peekaboo," "Better Call Saul" and the "ABQ" finale. The marathon will also feature interviews with creator Vince Gilligan, Bryan Cranston (Walter White) and the rest of the cast. It'll then be repeated (minus interviews) on March 20 starting at 10 a.m.

Of course, while I'm firmly convinced first-timers would be hooked watching six of the series' best episodes in easy-to-digest marathon form, you really should indulge in the full experience. Season 1 -- again, a scant seven hours of viewing because of the writers' strike that year! -- is already out on DVD. Season 2 will be released March 16, just in time for Season 3 to debut March 21 at 9 p.m.

Whew. That's a lot of dates to digest. Get further up to speed at the official Breaking Bad Web site -- one of the more comprehensive I've seen for a TV show. You can enjoy tons of extras and Season 3 trailers, along with this hilarious Web site from Walt's sleazy lawyer Saul Goodman, played by the amazing Bob Odenkirk of "Mr. Show" fame.

And baby makes three: Hour-long "Office" episodes aren't anything new. Unfortunately, they also aren't very good, either.

Following an Olympics-related hiatus, "The Office" returns tonight ... except with a new face showing up. That's right: Jim and Pam are bringing Baby Halpert into the world.

This probably should be a bigger deal -- alas, until I saw Mindy Kaling's Tweet this morning, I forgot that it was even happening -- but frankly, "The Office" has lost so much of its mojo in recent years, I just can't work up a fresh doody in the ol' diaper.

However, noted TV critic Alan Sepinwall has already seen the episode, and while acknowledging the show's recent slump, says, "A baby isn’t going to kill 'The Office,' either. As the title suggests, this isn’t a domestic comedy. We spend a lot of this hour on Pam getting ready to have the baby and then on the couple’s awkward first few nights as parents in the hospital.

"But going forward, the baby won’t have any more physical presence on the show than Phyllis’ husband, Bob Vance (Vance Refrigeration). The characters will likely be complaining of fatigue and the other headaches that come with a newborn, but the baby’s not going to be working at Dunder-Mifflin.

"So, no, the baby isn’t the problem, no more than Jim and Pam’s relationship was. Rather, what’s hurting 'The Office' this year is a clear lack of direction."

Preach on, brother.

That Favre guy: And finally, if you aren't sick of Brett Favre or Jay Leno (and really, shame on you for being so tolerant), the two will talk about the secret to undermining others on NBC's "Tonight Show". Also, we really hope they wear matching denim shirts.

According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Favre agreed to be on tonight's episode since he was already going to be in Los Angeles after his daughter was invited to attend the season-finale taping of the Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana Show."

Favre is scheduled to appear as the second guest following Matthew McConaughey. According to an NBC employee who spoke to the Pioneer Press on condition of anonymity, Favre will be asked about "his future, as well as how he liked playing in Minnesota, if he's ever missed a game and what he does in the off-season."

Seriously. How can you even think of going to bed before 10:35 p.m. tonight?

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Russian-American version of "Jersey Shore" is the greatest idea ever

2010-03-03T20:30:00.003-06:00

Do svidanya, "Jersey Shore." Privet, "Brighton Beach!"

As a closet fan of the MTV reality-trash show "Jersey Shore" -- go ahead, roll your eyes -- and a lover of all things Russian, the news that producers of a copycat version of the "show" featuring Russian-Americans are auditioning for participants just made me about as excited as Vladimir Putin curtailing freedom. According to that venerable news institution, The New York Post, the show "aims to be a cross between 'Jersey Shore' and 'Anna Karenina.'" (Ummm, unless the Russian Snooki throws herself under a train, I'm not sure how the "Anna Karenina" comparison works, but I'll allow it).

However, the rest of the description of "Brighton Beach" from co-creator Elina Miller seems to take direct inspiration from "Jersey Shore": "There will be plenty of vodka, techno music and guys wearing Adidas pants, leather jackets and gold chains, and driving souped-up cars. There will also be a lot of hot, decked-out Russian girls." Though the producers of "Brighton Beach" are still shopping around for a cable network, the show will mirror its MTV counterpart and feature a group of young partiers living in a house in Brighton Beach, a part of Brooklyn that has long been home to Russian and Ukrainian immigrants and is often dubbed "Little Odessa."

It's been 20 years since the end of the Cold War, so what better way to show our love for our Russki comrades than by perpetuating stereotypes, right? On the show's Web site (yes, I did look it up), sample questions for interested participants include "What percentage of your friends are Russian?" and a caveat that the producers would, quote, "love to meet your grandma." Awe-some. Side note: I really hope they cast a babushka on the show -- nothing speaks more about the Russian culture like an old, nosy woman who tells young people to wear hats so they don't catch a cold. Bet you won't see THAT on "Jersey Shore."

-- Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com

Enter our Oscars contest, join our chat, read our Tweets and more ...

2010-03-03T16:46:00.008-06:00

Forget Ryan Seacrest. The Green Bay Hub has all the bases covered for the 82nd annual Academy Awards on Sunday.

Sure, it's not the Kodak Theatre in California. But we can still give you a taste of the red carpet in our luxurious Wisconsin winterland.

You pick ’em: There’s a reason you ate all that artery-clogging popcorn in the theater, right?

Do you have what it takes to outpick Adam Reinhard in the major Oscar categories? Beat him and admission passes from Marcus Theatres (we've got 12 to give away!) could be yours.

To read the rules and see Adam's picks, head to his Down in Front blog.

To acquaint yourself with the nominees, scroll through our Oscar photo gallery.

Red carpet Tweets: Who are we kidding? The real fun of Oscar Night is watching what goes down on the red carpet before the awards ceremony starts -- the dresses, the couples, the awkward Seacrest questions, the bad updos. Follow the Tweets of our Oscar junkies, Amy Bailey, Malavika Jagannathan and Kendra Meinert, beginning around 5:30 p.m. Sunday on the Hub. If you want to follow us on Twitter now, click here.

Monday morning chat: Join Malavika Jagannathan, Kendra Meinert and Adam Reinhard for a live online chat at 11 a.m. Monday on the Hub to hash over all of the night’s big winners and losers, best speeches and memorable moments that only Oscar Night can deliver.

Oscar snubs: We know hindsight is 20/20, but with such a big deal being made of the Best Picture race, we started thinking about favorites that should have taken home the top prize from Academy voters. You might be surprised to see what landmark films got robbed. Check out our photo gallery of “10 Nominated Movies That Should Have Won Best Picture at the Academy Awards."

More coverage throughout the week: If going to see “Avatar’’ for a third time or trying to get your hands on a copy of The Hurt Locker’’ this weekend aren’t an option, allow us to get you fired up for all things Oscars with our full coverage of this year’s nominees and broadcast at the Hub and in Saturday’s TimeOut! section of the Press-Gazette.

The 82nd annual Academy Awards with hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin airs at 7 p.m. Sunday on ABC. Presenters include Sean Penn, Kate Winslet, Penelope Cruz, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Lautner, Tina Fey, Sacha Baron Cohen and Ben Stiller.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

To Watch Or Not to Watch: NBC's "Parenthood"

2010-03-02T09:16:00.005-06:00

With a sudden revival of family-centric shows like "Modern Family" and "The Middle," it might be the right time and place for NBC's "Parenthood" to make its debut. But the question remains: should you watch?

More than two decades after Ron Howard's film premiered (followed by a not-so-successful attempt to remake it for television starring Ed Begley, Jr. and Leonardo DiCaprio), Howard, co-producer Brian Grazer and "Friday Night Lights" producer Jason Katims take a second shot at turning the movie into a dramedy about modern parenting.

Better late than never, right?

Even so, the show has already faced its share of challenges with Maura Tierney dropping out of the main role after being diagnosed with cancer, pushing the fall premiere back as producers searched for an adequate replacement.

As luck would have it, though, that meant producers could tap Lauren Graham, aka the-world's-greatest-TV-mom, to fill Tierney's big shoes (as a side note, can I just say I'm soooo glad they didn't go the Helen Hunt route, no offense to Ms. Hunt). Now, though, comes the biggest challenge of all -- to convince a fickle television audience already bogged with choices that a one-hour dramedy about parenting and family is worth watching.

Reviews in general have been good with LA Times critic Mary McNamara calling the show nuanced and Alan Sepinwall calling it "smart and warm and knowing" even if it's not an instant classic. With this in mind -- and given a talented cast that includes Graham, Peter Krause ("Six Feet Under"), Craig T. Nelson, Monica Potter and Erika Christensen -- I think it's worth giving this show a shot.

I've been surprised this year by shows I didn't really expect to like. Shows like "The Good Wife" and "The Middle" seemed like they weren't necessarily reinventing the wheel (and let's be honest, they didn't), but good acting and interesting stories more than made up for the lack of originality in the premise. I am hoping "Parenthood" falls into that category of unexpected must-see TV.

"Parenthood" premieres tonight on NBC at 9 p.m. CST.

Are you planning to watch? Let us know with a comment below.

-- Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com

How could anyone not like "The Marriage Ref"? Um, easy ...

2010-03-01T10:11:00.007-06:00

Even after all his "Bee Movie" overexposure a few years back, Jerry Seinfeld is the rare comedian who remains immune to any major criticism. After all, you don't help create one of the most legendary TV shows of all time and not get a free ride afterwards ... yada, yada, yada.

As anyone who has seen his recent stand-up act can attest, an aging Seinfeld has also become a much wiser Seinfeld. He's married, has kids, so naturally, he riffs on the new things he gets to observe -- for instance, the size of kids' heads -- through his role as husband and father. So it's no surprise that a fight with his wife, and the subsequent need to bring in an unbiased friend to settle the dispute, launched NBC's new primetime show, "The Marriage Ref."

Making its high profile debut last night following Olympics coverage, "The Marriage Ref" can be broken down a few ways. First, its debut comes on the heels of the failed "Jay Leno Show" experiment at 9 p.m. The fallout means that NBC is scrambling to populate its schedule with meaningful programming again, and a name like Seinfeld is expected to deliver not just laughs, but ratings.

Second, critics have naturally jumped on the "Can Seinfeld Save NBC" bandwagon -- which is just as unfair to Seinfeld as it was to Leno. Third, this is Jerry freakin' Seinfeld. There's no way his newfangled spin on non-scripted programming with high profile guest stars like Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Madonna, Ricky Gervais and Larry David won't succeed, right?

Um, have I told you lately how much I love "Seinfeld" reruns?

"The Marriage Ref" could work -- and might work -- given the right material. Granted, the TV audience probably isn't looking for Divorce Court meets Jerry Springer here. But last night's two "arguments" -- a dispute over a stuffed family dog and a husband's wish to put a stripper pole in the bedroom -- felt way too canned, way too Jay Leno-y.

Even worse, Seinfeld, who was a panelist with a super-energized Baldwin (not laugh out loud funny, but amusing) and Kelly Ripa, seemed like more of a distraction than the star attraction. That's unfortunate, because as funny as "Marriage Ref" Tom Papa might be to Seinfeld, he's not the guy viewers are tuning in to watch. If this in his vehicle, and Seinfeld is merely a passenger as executive producer, "The Marriage Ref" has already failed.

It would have made more sense to have Seinfeld open with some standup about marriage difficulties -- and do so each week -- before introducing each couple and their supposedly funny dispute. Clearly, NBC and Seinfeld are looking to keep things family friendly, so you're not going to get an all-out battle over a husband's porn obsession or anything that would cross over into John Wayne Bobbitt territory. Even so, if the joke is solely on the "quirky" couple's cheesy argument, then we're entering "America's Funniest Home Videos" territory here.

Then again, I can't imagine Larry David or Ricky Gervais not being hilarious, even in the face of a minor couple's quarrel over not replacing the toilet paper roll. In fact, watching David and Gervais try to be funny on a very bad show might be even more exciting ... so there's that to look forward to.

That said, while my expectations weren't super high, given Seinfeld's track record, I expected something a little bit richer here. Seinfeld has never been an edgy or mean-spirited comedian, so this isn't like comparing Chris Rock's standup to Chris Rock in "I Think I Love My Wife." And while Seinfeld has already said that "The Marriage Ref" isn't supposed to be serious business, since marriage is, it might be wise to dig beneath the surface a little bit so that you don't come off looking like a really lame "Saturday Night Live" skit.

"The Marriage Ref" airs at 9 p.m. Thursday on NBC. Panelists are Tina Fey, Eva Longoria Parker and Jerry Seinfeld.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

"Idol" watch: It's official. This is a flop fest.

2010-02-25T15:21:00.007-06:00

Because no one else wants to do it -- or in Punishment Pool fashion, has been forced to like some Guantanamo-style form of Channel Surfing torture, Press-Gazette graphics editor Eric Ebert is stepping in with a weekly "American Idol" recap. We don't know whether to applaud or mock him for this extra shot of CS content. On second thought, we choose to mock.

Blame it on the lack of a standout contestant like Adam Lambert.

Blame it on nine seasons of culling the American public for “idols.”

For all I care, you can blame it on the absence of cracked-out judge Paula Abdul, but Season 9 of “American Idol” has had everything but a star performance.

Earlier this week, the first live acts pitted the 12 male finalists against the 12 female finalists. And tonight — based on America’s voting — two men and two women will be sent home.

I say good riddance.

I watched with anticipation two nights of live performances, waiting to hear some quality vocal talent. Instead, I was treated to karaoke imitations that probably wouldn’t win local singing competitions.

Aside from several performances — namely, Lilly Scott’s rendition of the Beatles’ “Fixing a Hole” and Casey James’ surprising vocals on Bryan Adams’ “Heaven” — the "Idol" contestants fell flat.

In fact, Tim Urban’s version of “Apologize” by OneRepublic was downright painful to listen to. And Haley Vaughn’s overexcited smiling took “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles to a creepy — if not tone deaf — level.

Maybe it would be better stated that the contestants face-planted.

Monday and Tuesday’s performances leave a lot of room to question what judges Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi, Randy Jackson and Ellen DeGeneres were thinking during the Hollywood week auditions.

It’s sad to see a process that has cultivated chart-topping talent like Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson and Chris Daughtry relegated to a sideshow of mullet-sporting, judge-flirting contestants lacking star qualities.

Then again, maybe this was just a bad week. But I won’t be shedding any tears for the four contestants headed home.

ERIC'S POWER RANKINGS

Men:

1. Andrew Garcia: Although the judges didn’t love his take on Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar We’re Going Down,” he is by far the most musically talented performer in this season.

2. Casey James: His heartfelt rendition of Bryan Adams’ “Heaven” had more than just Kara DioGuardi licking their chops.

3. Michael Lynche: The big man had a satisfactory performance with Maroon 5’s “This Love,” but his booming attitude and story should keep him in the running.

4. Lee Dewyze: His pitchy singing and lackluster performance on Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” was bottom-of-the-barrel in my book, but with Simon Cowell’s backing, he will probably succeed in the end.

5. Joe Munoz: My dark horse candidate at the moment, Munoz displayed better vocal talent than many of his competitors on Jason Mraz’s “You and I Both.” But can he dig deep and find some star power?

Women:

1. Lilly Scott: Clearly the best female contestant after the first week, her rendition of the Beatles’ “Fixing a Hole” was spot on.

2. Crystal Bowersox: The dreadlocked Bowersox eased through Alanis Morissette’s “Hand in My Pocket” with guitar and harmonica in tow.

The rest: I’d clarify the rest of my top 5, but honestly, they were so forgettable I don’t remember them two days later.

Agree? Disagree? Add your own "Idol" comments below. Or just mock Eric for actually caring. It's what we're going to do.

— Eric Ebert, eebert@greenbaypressgazette.com

Favre to join Leno during "Tonight Show's" first week

2010-02-25T11:23:00.005-06:00

Now, if only John Mayer were added as a musical guest, the trifecta of hate would be complete.

Yes, folks, how fitting is it that the NFL's flip flop king Brett Favre will be joining Jay "please don't let me go into that cold, dark world without an NBC show" Leno when "The Tonight Show" returns next week? Let the job stealing jokes commence!

OK, maybe that's a tad bit harsh -- but Favre and Leno can certainly discuss what it feels like to be beloved, only to lose a large chunk of respect from alienated audiences following perceived power plays soaked in massive amount of ego (still too harsh?).

If Favre is no longer sore from the beatdown he received from the New Orleans Saints last month, perhaps the pair will share a hug and console each other in "Good Will Hunting"-ish fashion by repeatedly saying, "It's not your fault."

The ex-Packers quarterback will join Leno on the new/old/hopefully diseased "Tonight Show" couch March 4. Other guests next week include Jamie Foxx, Sarah Palin, Simon Cowell, Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White and Adam Lambert. And "Jaywalking" is back with the "Jersey Shore" cast! Oh, joy! Late night comedy has been saved!

Bitter Coco fans, on the bright side, Conan O'Brien is now on Twitter . And he interviewed a squirrel in his backyard.

Take THAT, Leno!

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Weekly 10: Our favorite offensive TV comedies

2010-02-23T16:27:00.004-06:00

In honor of “Family Guy” fans defending the show’s Sarah Palin-inspired Down syndrome joke last week, our inaugural Weekly 10 list on the Green Bay Hub looks at the true masters of take-no-prisoners comedy.

Enjoy our picks for “10 Shows That Do Offensive Comedy Better Than ‘Family Guy.’”

Who did we forget? Leave a comment below.

-- Channel Surfing staff

Commercial Interruption: Is sideways "Lost" actually going backwards?

2010-02-17T16:42:00.010-06:00

Sometimes there's just too much television for one Channel Surfing blogger to handle. That's when we need a break to sit back, relax and indulge in some friendly back-and-forth (via email of course, we don't actually like to speak to one another in person). Gather up your ashy remains and hang onto those rickety rope ladders — Thomas Rozwadowski and Adam Reinhard are about to tackle the flash sideways plot device on "Lost."

Thomas: We could continue to ask new questions until we’re passed out like Sayid at the temple – well, you know, before he was resurrected – but three episodes in, I think it’s fair to ask whether the flash-sideways effect is working.

Honestly, the last two episodes have been a bit of a drag for me. Yeah, there’s always cool new stuff to take in on the island – whether Jacob or Aaron is the young whippersnapper taunting Faker Locke or why Kate’s name wasn’t referenced in the cave as one of the “chosen” – but I’m more interested in the storytelling aspect of the now-established parallel universe.

Obviously, I don’t know the end game here. And it may ultimately be satisfying to see our parallel universes collide or intermingled in some way that’ll lead to meaningful conclusions for our characters. (“Lost” has mastered the swerve, so I wouldn’t be surprised if what we’re watching isn’t what we actually think … if that makes sense.) But right now, I see the off-island device being used as a heavy-handed “Lost”-ian game of “I Spy.”

Are we supposed to just be enraptured with the random connections from a pure shock and awe standpoint? “Oh, cool, Ethan is a real doctor and he used his last name of Goodspeed!” “Awesome, Ben is a mild-mannered teacher who loves coffee!”

Are these connections intentional, or just meant to get viewers to sit up in their chair and laugh at the absurdity of knowing who these people really are, or at least who they've been presented as through the build-up of five previous seasons. I’m not saying it’s an unnecessary fake-out that doesn’t (or won’t) serve a greater purpose. I’m just bored with the concept of all this inter-connectedness in a world away from the island.

I really just want to stop the guessing games like, “Oh, Locke’s dad was mentioned as a wedding guest! Does that mean he didn’t push Locke out the window?” Those new questions don’t advance the old storyline. Or maybe they will and I’m totally jumping the gun.

What do you think so far, Adam? I know you’re really high on happy-go-lucky millionaires buying up temp agencies like they’re going out of style.

Adam: I'm just trying to wrap my head around whether the sideways universe makes sense within the parameters the show has set for itself. If this alternate timeline is the result of the island being blown to the bottom of the ocean in the late 70s, and Jacob never scratching his list into the cave ceiling (seriously, dude, you've never heard of a Sharpie?) in the first place, then are all these changes the result of his never interacting with the main characters?

But that doesn't make sense, because he only first met Locke after Locke's dad pushed him out the window; so why suddenly is the man from Tallahassee getting an RSVP to Locke's nuptials (nice to see you again, Katey Sagal!)? And Jacob interacted with Kate when she was just a twinkle in her dad's eye before she blew him up, so why is she still on the run as if nothing's changed? The fact that some characters have completely different lives (Mr. Happy-Go-Hurley, temp agency CEO extraordinaire, for example) while others are on their original paths seems to rule out Jacob's influence.

Maybe it's possible that the two characters who had the biggest connection with the island (Locke, with his healed legs, and Hurley with the numbers) had the most to gain from its destruction? Because handicapped or not, Locke's life is a fair shade better than the one he led pre-island (er, pre-island, other dimension, I guess.) And the same goes without saying for Moneybags Reyes.

I agree with you, though, that maybe we're jumping the gun with all this grousing. "Lost" has never let me down before, and I can't believe they haven't thoroughly plotted out their endgame. Which leads to my big question, Tom: Is there any way the explanation for all this isn't going to somehow disappoint us? With five seasons of buildup and rampant speculation by diehard fans, surely when the final puzzle piece goes into place there's going to be a disheartening feeling of, "Is that it?"

Thomas: It seems as though Lindelof and Cuse have already begun to temper that anticipated lack of enthusiasm by saying that, "Yes, things aren't going to be as magnificently complete as they exist in your head." And I totally understand that.

I'm sure whatever answers they come up with for their many, many questions will never match the brilliance of positing those mind-bending queries in the first place. For instance, what if the now mythical numbers are nothing more Jacob's personal Dewey Decimal System for cave scrawlings? Kinda disappointing, eh? Anyway, I think we're right in raising some concerns if it appears the greater sideways storytelling device is going to be nothing more than smoke and mirrors. I hope it's isn't, because the idea of an alternate reality appeared to be pretty cool on paper. But I'm just not feeling an emotional connection to these alterna-"Losties" -- and the rampant inter-connectedness -- as I thought I would.

Adam: Agreed, and until they establish some real stakes in this bizarro world -- give us something, anything that points to this mattering -- I'm afraid I'll be emotionally distant as well. I'd even take Young Jacob/Teen Aaron popping up in the sideways-verse, perhaps as a student in Mr. Locke's gym class, telling him he needs to gather all these people he's been "randomly" bumping into, and going to a mystery island thousands of miles away...

... OK, so that would suck. But you get my point. Something like that.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com and Adam Reinhard, areinhard@greenbaypressgazette.com

Sarah Palin vs. "Family Guy": Which side are you on?

2010-02-17T10:08:00.007-06:00

Or maybe -- like me -- you're not a fan of either.

Yet regardless of how you might feel about Sarah Palin's politics, the topic of Down syndrome doesn't really get me in a "har, har" mood. When you consider that we're also talking about a child with Down syndrome, well, I become even more disturbed.

Here's the background in case you've missed the headline grabbing spat.

In a Facebook posting headlined “Fox Hollywood — What a Disappointment,” Palin, whose youngest son, Trig, has Down syndrome, said Sunday night’s "Family Guy" episode felt like “another kick in the gut.” The episode features the character Chris falling for a girl with Down syndrome. On a date, he asks what her parents do.

She replies: “My dad’s an accountant, and my mom is the former governor of Alaska.”

"Those in the special needs community truly are some of the most loving and compassionate people in the world," Palin later said on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor." "So why pile it onto them and make their lives even that much more challenging?"

Look, I'm not an easily offended individual, and based on Sarah Silverman's recent flap about use of the word "retard," apparently there's a PC vs. un-PC debate playing out that's meant to somehow keep a subversive level of comedy alive.

But when it comes to Seth MacFarlane's "Family Guy" using a Down syndrome character to make a dig at the Palin family, well, is that even funny? Perhaps if "Family Guy" had addressed Palin's hypocritical sidestep of Rush Limbaugh's "retard" fixation, there'd be an actual point to make. Or maybe if the "Family Guy" character in question was actually supposed to be Trig, it might have made sense.

So while I don't find the actual joke or premise offensive, I do find the idea of jabbing at the Palin family when it serves no greater purpose other than to say -- "Hey, they have a kid with Down syndrome" -- rather ridiculous. Or to make a "Seinfeld"-ian analogy, it's like when Tim Whatley converts to Judaism just so he can tell jokes about Jewish people -- except his punchlines offend Jerry, not as a Jewish person, but as a comedian.

"South Park" makes intelligent points all the time with controversial or seemingly off-limits topics. And even more important, they're usually hilarious. Now, in fairness to "Family Guy," I didn't watch the whole episode -- so maybe they shed a positive light on Down syndrome in some capacity, as well.

But that's not really the issue here. Was this particular use of the Palin name either a) funny or b) constructive? I'd say no on both counts.

If you find this dig at the Palin family comical, I'd honestly be interested to know why. If you're highly offended that any of this is even up for discussion, also feel free to leave a comment. (Yes, I know that "Family Guy" is in the business of courting controversy, but again, do it with some purpose ...)

Here's the clip in question:

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Two great tastes that taste great together

2010-02-16T12:41:00.004-06:00

Do you like cake? Banjos? Banjo-shaped cakes?

Anything and everything could be in store for Food Network's "Ace of Cakes" when The Avett Brothers arrive for a Thursday episode. The progressive folkies, who've upped their profile with the Rick Rubin-produced "I and Love and You," will be visiting Charm City Cakes in Baltimore for "a lot of baking and a bit of playing."

Food and folk music. Two of our very favorite things.

Enjoy these clips.

"I and Love and You" from Austin City Limits

"Slight Figure of Speech" from Spinner.com

"Laundry Room" from "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson"

"Ace of Cakes" airs at 9 p.m. Thursday on Food Network

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

"Gilmore Girls": Or how I learned to stop worrying and love Stars Hollow

2010-02-15T16:21:00.008-06:00

Lorelai Gilmore was the mom everybody secretly wished they had. Or at least her wardrobe. But what made the hip single mom-good girl daughter WB dramedy so endearing and charming without ever getting sappy was the witty, pop culture-peppered, rapid-fire banter between Lauren Graham’s Lorelai and Alexis Bledel’s Rory – usually over obscene amounts of caffeine, junk food and bad movies. Sometimes snarky, sometimes sweet, but always sincere.

-- Kendra Meinert

This family-friendly WB drama gave birth to one of television’s coolest mom’s — the hip, young Lorelai Gilmore — but the pop-culture references, mile-a-minute dialogue and an endless group of bizarre but lovable characters made it a classic. Lorelai and daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel), a smart studious teenager, gave us seven seasons of laughter and tears, not to mention at least a thousand cups of coffee.

-- Malavika Jagannathan

As far as shows geared toward the entire family go, the 2000s never topped the superior wit and whimsy of those darned “Gilmore Girls.” With more words per minute than a Mamet play, each episode of the WB dramedy sounded like a classic screwball comedy, with an extended cast of crazies that only gave the story of a young mom and her bookworm teen daughter an amazing emotional heft.

-- Adam Reinhard

Ever since the end of Channel Surfing's Best TV Show of the Decade contest in early January, I'd been looking to fill some gaps in my viewing. More specifically, I noticed that when our staff filled out final ballots, three of our esteemed voters had a certain show called "Gilmore Girls" ranked highly on their lists.

Me? I'd really never heard or read anything about it. And despite trusting (yet simultaneously mocking) Adam Reinhard's opinion on the matter, I thought "Gilmore Girls" would turn out to be nothing more than a slightly smarter version of "Dawson's Creek" -- which, I know isn't saying much since anyone with an ounce of intellectual integrity should have wanted to punch that Pacey dude in his smug nose.

Sorry, but I've been conditioned to naturally loathe anything that even resembles cliche-ridden rom-com fare, so just having the word "Girls" in the title made this show reek of "One Tree Hill" for-chicks-only residue. But it was hard to deny the above endorsements, so I started watching toward the end of Season 2 as my wife ripped through the first two DVD sets with unabashed glee.

It started off innocently enough -- an episode here and there filled with questions to my wife about why Lorelai didn't get along with her parents, or random musings on why boring ol' heart-throbby Dean should get dumped by Rory in favor of bad-boy literature buff Jess. Then I started to remember names, cracking up every time Kirk would appear with a different job uniform or hatch a scheme about phrase of the day T-shirts with slogans like "Babette ate oatmeal." I started to really like the surly diner owner who rejected Stars Hollow's charming community events, empathize with the suppressed indie rock Korean chick, and geek out every time Grant Lee Phillips -- "Mockingbirds" is one of my all-time favorite songs -- made his recurring cameo as the town troubadour ala Jonathan Richman in "There's Something About Mary."

But things really turned when I began to care about Rory's relationship tug-of-war with Dean and Jess. Just paying attention to quirky characters on the fringe was one thing. But now I had unexpectedly been sucked into the show's dramatic entanglements. First, I wanted dry-as-toast Dean to get the heave-ho so Rory could be with a more challenging boyfriend, even if he kinda resembled a young Rocky Balboa. Then, as Jess became a relationship drag, I saw Dean more sympathetically and thought, "Hey, at least he treats his girlfriend right."

That I cared about any of this reveals the true power of "Gilmore Girls." You see, I'm not the kind of guy who normally wants to watch TV shows that explore teenage love triangles. And admittedly, "Gilmore Girls" is a pretty girly show. But it's girly in the sense that "About a Boy" is girly, or listening to Death Cab For Cutie is girly. "Gilmore Girls" created such a hip little corner of the world -- one filled with idiosyncratic characters, pop culture obscurities and kick-ass music references (Joe Pernice, Sonic Youth and The Shins all appear on the show) -- that I was able to dial into the show's more dramatic emotional depths without feeling as though I'd just been doused with a Nicholas Sparks-sized bucket of sap.

It's pretty deceptive that way. Every dark turn the show could have potentially taken has turned out to be delightfully harmless in the end. Sure, there are serious moments, particularly as it applies to Lorelai's relationships with both Christopher and Luke. And for all the show's sugar-coated whimsy and wonder, there are all-too real family issues that deliver an emotional wallop. A heavy-handed shift in plot development occurs in Season 6, and the topsy-turvy nature of the strained roller-coaster ride made for some nauseating viewing. Yet as much as Season 7 (the first without show creator Amy Sherman Palladino) was supposed to drive a final nail in the "Gilmore Girls" coffin, I actually think it's recovered quite nicely.

With only three episodes to go before the show's series ender, my wife has been feeling particularly wistful that our two month race through seven years of "Gilmore Girls" is coming to a close. That familiar theme song, Luke's coffee, Emily's insults, Lorelai's rambling, Kirk's nudity, Taylor's town meetings, Paul Anka, Sebastian Bach, Hep Alien ... "Gilmore" marathons have become part of our routine like Friday night dinners.

Then again, last night I reminded her that I still need to watch Season 1. So I guess we won't be leaving Stars Hollow that abruptly after all.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

"Top Chef Masters" reveals Season 2 field

2010-02-09T21:47:00.005-06:00

Ever since Bravo concocted that totally transparent Voltaggio smackdown last season, we've been going through some serious "Top Chef" withdrawal at Channel Surfing.

So it was nice to finally see the list of esteemed names who'll be competing in Season 2 of the all-star laden "Top Chef Masters" spin-off.

Unless you've been avoiding our glorious Channel Surfing odes (tsk, tsk), you should already know that Chicago's own Rick Bayless took the "Masters" crown in Season 1. Well, six competitors from that same culinary-rich season are back, including fellow Windy City restaurateur Graham Elliot Bowles, Mark Peel, Jonathan Waxman and three names that "Masters" viewers should immediately remember, Wylie Dufresne, Rick Moonen, and of course, snooty Frenchman Ludo Lefebvre.

The show also welcomes back Kelly Choi as host, along with judges Gael Greene, James Oseland, Jay Rayner and another familiar face, "Top Chef" regular Gail Simmons (who apparently is also the host of "Top Chef: Just Desserts" and quite possibly, "CSI: Top Chef.")

Wait, it gets better! The list of Season 2 special guests includes "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening and voice guru Hank Azaria, Mekhi Phifer and the casts of "Modern Family" and "Real Housewives of Orange County."

Moe the Bartender and Manny Delgado? You've outdone yourself, Bravo network.

The new season of "Top Chef Masters" premieres April 7. Here are all 22 competitors:

Jody Adams — Rialto Restaurant, Cambridge, Mass.
Govind Armstrong — 8 oz Burger Bar, Los Angeles
Graham Elliot Bowles — Graham Elliot Restaurant, Chicago
Jimmy Bradley — The Red Cat, New York
David Burke — David Burke Townhouse, New York
Wylie Dufresne — wd~50, New York
Susan Feniger — Street, Los Angeles
Debbie Gold — The American Restaurant, Kansas City
Carmen Gonzalez — Chef Consultant, New York
Maria Hines — Tilth, Seattle
Susur Lee — Madeline's, Toronto
Ludo Lefebvre — Ludo Bites, Los Angeles
Tony Mantuano — Spiaggia, Chicago
Rick Moonen — Rick Moonen's RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas
Mark Peel — Campanile, Los Angeles
Monica Pope — t'afla, Houston
Thierry Rautureau — Rover's, Seattle
Marcus Samuelsson — The Red Rooster, New York
Ana Sortun — Oleana, Cambridge, Mass.
Rick Tramonto — TRU, Chicago
Jerry Traunfeld — Poppy, Seattle
Jonathan Waxman — Barbuto, New York

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Hey! What happened to 'Arthur' on Wisconsin Public Television?

2010-02-09T12:00:00.001-06:00

I don't have any kids, but if you were to survey the list of recorded shows on my home DVR, you wouldn't believe it. That's because I have at least 10 episodes of "Arthur" saved on my recorder, each lovingly set to "Until I Erase." It is the only show bestowed with that honor.

That should give you some idea of the intractable hold this PBS Kids show has over me ... and yes, possibly the level of my immaturity. Yet every night when I get home, "Arthur" is the first show I want to watch. I don't care if I still have last week's "The Office" sitting there — Jim and Pam are nowhere near as cute as Arthur the aardvark and his adorably annoying little sister DW; and whatever bonehead stunt Michael pulls, it won't be nearly as funny as Buster the bunny's latest exploit. "Arthur" may be aimed at tykes, but it's must-see TV for this grown-up.

Which is why I'm basically having a child-like hissy fit over Wisconsin Public Television's decision to pull "Arthur" from its schedule until June. Previously on every day at 3:30 in the afternoon — part of an animation block that included "Super WHY!" and "Dragon Tales" ... both unwatched by me, in case you were wondering — "Arthur" is now nowhere to be found.

I emailed the station to complain — because I have nothing else in my life, obviously — and this was their explanation for the absence: "After looking at our schedule and seeing how our viewers watch, and looking at other programming information the decision was made to adjust our afternoon schedule. Arthur will return to the schedule in June."

Fair enough. I can't be too upset if they want to hold off airing a show geared toward perhaps more grade school-aged children until a time when those kids will actually be home to watch it. (Airing in "Arthur's" place now is a show called "Dinosaur Train," which features a preschool-aged T-rex who hops aboard a train and meets other dinosaurs. Apologies to our preschool-aged readers, but — la-a-a-ame!)

Moreover, I just can't get upset at PBS, period. That would be like kicking a puppy ... a viewer-supported, commercial-free puppy. It would be one thing if I actually donated to them once in a while — which, regrettably, I don't. But to complain that I'm no longer getting something awesome when I got it for free in the first place is kind of a jerky thing to do. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if there's an "Arthur" episode that deals with that very life lesson.

That's the brilliant thing about "Arthur": It can weave subtle moral and education lessons so seamlessly into a witty, sharply written 12-minute story, that it's almost subliminal. Even the hilarious episode where Buster becomes addicted to a 376-DVD set of a "Lord of the Rings"-style movie also teaches kids (and, let's face it, some adults) to not ditch more important things, like friends and schoolwork.

And that's every episode. After 13 seasons, creator Marc Brown and crew seem to have an endless well of story ideas and teachable moments. I, of course, don't need a anthropomorphic aardvark to inform me how important it is to get my homework done on time. And although it's definitely got a laugh-per-minute ratio to rival anything on even network TV, I still laugh more during an average episode of, say, "Community."

No, the main reason I look forward to every episode of "Arthur," and I think what makes it such a favorite among adult viewers, is how perfectly it captures the experience of childhood. Think of it as "The Wonder Years" with small mammals, or "The Adventures of Pete & Pete," if the Petes had fur. The characters act like real kids, and they experience things the way I remember experiencing them at that age. When any show can bring back long-forgotten memories of what it was like to be 8 years old, it's a small miracle.

Any other closet "Arthur" fans out there? Are you looking forward to June even more now?

-- Adam Reinhard, areinhard@greenbaypressgazette.com

What was your favorite Super Bowl commercial?

2010-02-08T09:02:00.005-06:00

If you watched the Saints march past the Colts last night, you were also treated to a bumper crop of some of the most creative, witty Super Bowl ads in recent memory. The usual suspects were all accounted for (Coke, Budweiser, GoDaddy), but some of the best commercials came from companies not normally associated with the biggest advertising event of the year.

Denny's, for example, scored a slam dunk (or is that a Grand Slam dunk?) with this ad about some fairly terrified chickens.

Bridgestone had a couple ads, but their best was about three buddies trying to get a killer whale back to the ocean.

For this ad, Snickers must have figured out that you can never go wrong with Betty White. (And adding Abe Vigoda? Double never wrong.)

This ad by Coke isn't hilarious, but it's great to see just how many "Simpsons" supporting players they're able to cram into this minute-long spot about Mr. Burns losing his fortune. It's great to see ol' Gil finally making a sale!

When you think of the Super Bowl, you immediately think of Dove moisturizer, right? But this spot for the company's new line of men's products struck a nice balance between humor and sentimentality.

The most buzzed-about ad of the night was actually a CBS promo for "The Late Show with David Letterman," a callback to a similar spot from a couple years ago with Dave and Oprah at a Super Bowl party.

According to TiVo Inc., however, the most-watched ad (that is, the one the most viewers with DVRs watched, rewound, and rewatched) was this ad for Doritos, featuring an over-protective little boy.

What was your favorite commercial of the night? Drop us a line in our comments section.

-- Adam Reinhard, areinhard@greenbaypressgazette.com

Apu from "The Simpsons" no longer the only Indian character on TV

2010-02-04T12:25:00.001-06:00

I don't mean to create a racial to-do out in the blogosphere, but, man, Indian people are all over television these days.

For the longest time, Kwik-E-mart owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on "The Simpsons" was the only Indian-American character on TV. And, while his "thank you, come again" line is spot on -- seriously, if you've been to a convenience store owned by an Indian or Pakistani, you know it's not far off -- it was a bit, how shall I put it, unrepresentative of the population as a whole.

(Just so we're clear, I'm talking about Indians as in people who either come from or have ancestors from India, not Native Americans. Also, as another side note, we're not all good at fixing computers, solving math problems or being doctors, but we tend to enjoy spicy food).

In fact, these days Indian-American actors and characters are a-plently on network shows like "The Office," "Parks and Recreation," "Community," "Big Bang Theory, "The Good Wife" and "24." Sweet, we've finally hit the big leagues! Whether it's part of the "Slumdog Millionaire" bandwagon or perhaps a recognition of the range of talent from Indian-American actors and actresses, this Asian Invasion (am I allowed to say that?) is about to get bigger.

NBC announced it would pick up a television version of the movie "Outsourced" -- a 2006 indie flick about an American manager who goes to India to train his company's call center employees -- as a half-hour comedy with longtime "The Office" director Ken Kwapis at the helm. The movie, by the way, was actually hilarious and would make a great sitcom. Fox is also picking up "Nevermind Nirvana," a sitcom about a family of Indian-Americans. At the same time, the producers of the British comedy "The Kumars at No. 42" are looking to translate the show across the Atlantic.

Diversity on television is always a good thing, not to mention realistic ("Grey's Anatomy" is often heralded for its diverse cast, but I find it hard to believe there's a hospital in the world, let alone Seattle, without an Indian doctor). In the same year that Barack Obama was elected President, "The Cleveland Show" was the only new show anchored by a minority character in 2008. That's right: ONLY. Even then, the main character is voiced by a white guy.

While this sudden influx of Indian-Americans on television might be a fluke, I hope it's a sign of things to come -- a television landscape as diverse as the country around us.

-- Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com

Spin This: Jon Stewart on "The O'Reilly Factor"

2010-02-04T09:34:00.005-06:00

Somewhere between our love of "Lost" (ahem Roz and Adam ahem) and our laziness, the news that Jon Stewart was set to appear on Papa Bear Bill O'Reilly's show on Fox News sort of fell off our radar.

In fact, I didn't know it happened until I saw it online today.

In the first part of the interview, which aired last night on "The O'Reilly Factor" and can be found in the clip below, Stewart is on his best behavior. This is not quite as potent as the infamous "Crossfire" interview on CNN where he ripped Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala proverbial new ones when they badgered him to be "funny" and criticized his objectivity. Instead, Stewart smartly uses a few well-timed self-deprecating blocks to O'Reilly's slightly nastier jabs to avoid sounding holier-than-thou or overly critical.

When O'Reilly -- mockingly or not -- suggests he's surprised "The Daily Show" host is actually smart, Stewart does that wry, "aw, shucks" thing that works well for him, fending off the underhanded compliment (dig?) by saying he's got his writers in his pocket.

Stewart's criticism of Fox News -- of which he has many as expressed almost nightly on his Comedy Central show -- was more nuanced as were his answers about what he believes are President Obama's strengths and weaknesses. Said Stewart about Obama: "I can't tell if he's a Jedi Master... or if this is kicking his ass."

Although he's not as ridiculous as he is often is on his own show (understandably), Stewart does what he does best in this interview: a combination of smarts and sarcasm with a hint of populist outrage without taking it out directly on his host. O'Reilly is, well, mostly his usual blustering self with an obvious chip on his shoulder when it comes to Stewart's popularity and intelligence, but his efforts to goad Stewart fall flat. Watch the clip and see for yourself:

The second part of the interview airs tonight on "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News at 7 p.m.

-- Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com

"Lost" Quick Thoughts: "Nothing is irreversible."

2010-02-03T11:15:00.006-06:00

Of all the nights to work a late shift ...

While fellow "Lostie" Adam Reinhard stays away from all forms of communication today for fear of having last night's two-hour "Lost" premiere, "LA X," spoiled, I'll attempt to connect some dots in rudimentary "Quick Thoughts" form. We're officially back, folks, and it feels even more refreshing than a dip in the ol' Temple pool of rejuvenation.

* Just a quick note about the hour-long refresher, "Lost: The Final Chapter." A nice, succinct character-by-character breakdown that re-established some important puzzle pieces as the final season winds down. Then again, you can certainly skip it if you need to get crackin' on that DVR.

* Looks like an alternative timeline/parallel universe is a reality, though it's hard to wrap your head around that mind-bending concept when the show flips from the new/not-so-original Oceanic flight to island time near the blown hatch. One thing "Lost" has always been able to master is guiding viewers through complex multiple storylines, in multiple times, in multiple locations on the island and beyond. Last night was a classic example of making all three main threads coalesce with ease -- Jack and crew landing on the island in 2007, Jack and crew on an alternative Oceanic flight (one that safely lands at LAX), and finally, the Man in Black's smoky business near the foot statue following Jacob's stabbing.

* What if the Oceanic flight landing at LAX is a actually a flashback and everything -- and I mean everything -- will eventually lead to course correction, therefore placing everyone on the island again in the exact same predicament? That'd be a bummer.

* Annnnnnnnnnnnd ... the island is underwater in one reality.

* Very cool reveal once Richard sees the flare shot off by the temple dwellers following Hurley's news that Jacob is dead and told him so as a ghostly jungle apparition.

* Man, what becomes of Ben now that he's been used up? Redemption, thy name is Linus!

* The temple waters turn brown following Jacob's death and can no longer heal Sayid. However, our favorite Iraqi torturer awakens at the end for a patented cliffhanger. Jacob inhabiting his body? Just a really good napper? Any theories?

* If Jacob could take over Sayid's body, wouldn't that be a good thing? Yet the new guy -- Lennon -- said everyone in the temple would be in trouble if Sayid passed away. Plus, when the Man in Black took over Locke's body, the old one remained. Where's Sayid's real body then? I'm confused.

* Why is Hurley the Ghost Whisperer? Will this special Jennifer Love Hewitt quality be explained at some point during the season, or is it something we should simply accept like Miles' ghost-busting prowess?

* One big mystery, one minor mystery solved: Man in Black is not Johnny Cash, but in fact, the smoke monster. Why he takes the form of a smoke monster remains to be seen, but his interaction with Ben -- "Let's not resort to name-calling." "I'm sorry you had to see me like that" -- was incredibly funny. His destruction of Jacob's "bodyguards" is probably a new Top 10 Holy Crap entry when all is said and done. Second mystery: an ankh with a list of special names was inside Hurley's guitar case from Jacob. Gotta have those names.

* One can never have too much black powder. Buh-bye, Bram.

* Nice goodbye turn with Saywer and Juliet, though probably unnecessary given the gravity of last season's tearful farewell down the noisy hole. But it allowed Miles to speak to Juliet's grave and hear the words, "It worked." The bomb going off? Yeah ... but how does Juliet know? Then again, revelations like that are usually swerves in the Lost-verse.

* Gotta love that Terry O'Quinn gets to play a complete bad-ass now.

* Boone! Charlie! Arzt! Frogurt!

* Great conversation with Boone and Locke. "If the plane crashes, I'm sticking with you."

* Another nice touch: Charlie was "supposed" to die. Jack gets no thanks for saving Charlie's life on the plane and gets all the blame for killing Juliet. Tough being Savior Shephard, that's for sure.

* Still missing: Christian Shephard's body. Still in a wheelchair: John Locke.

* Desmond is on the new plane, but no Shannon, Walt or Michael. Subtle differences added an almost "Where's Waldo?" element to that scene as I looked desperately for faces and clues. And why did Des disappear? Is he a "constant" for both timelines?

* Richard was once in chains and not only knows, but greatly fears, the Man in Black. Slave on the Black Rock? Can't wait for his past to finally be revealed.

* Did I mention the return of Arzt?

* "Nothing is irreversible." Powerful parting words from Jack. How this parallel universe business plays out should be interesting -- can't say I'm an expert on this particular topic -- but can worlds eventually collide? Will everything come together cohesively, or are we, in essence, watching two shows simultaneously -- with the kicker being that we know what could have happened? Can Kate 1 be with Jack and Kate 2 with Sawyer so that everyone is happy in the end?

I'll add more if anything revelatory comes to me this afternoon or upon second viewing in the coming days. What did all you guys think? Please leave your thoughts below.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

"Lost": You have questions, we have ... more questions

2010-02-02T10:39:00.006-06:00

"Lost" co-creators Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have already cautioned that while several big questions will eventually be answered, not all the little ones will -- which appears to go against the grandiose mythology built by ABC's beloved drama leading to tonight's premiere of the sixth and final season.

But episodic writing needs to be stretched for the sake of survival, so not every island mystery from Season 1 can be wrapped up with a neat and tidy bow. And as a "Lost" fan who is more than ready for the show to reach its conclusion, I can accept that.

Before tonight's premiere event at 7 p.m., here's a look back at some burning questions Adam Reinhard and I have raised during our time covering "Lost" for Channel Surfing.

Will they finally be answered in Season 6? Are they still relevant in the grand scheme? And for every question answered, does that mean the five new ones created are just as important?

As always, these are just the tip of the iceberg -- for instance, the numbers, Hurley's guitar case, the four-toed statue, Pierre Chang's aliases, the donkey wheel, the lists, the Black Rock, the importance of children like Walt, Jacob's confinement ... blah, blah, blah.

A list of 100 wouldn't have sufficed, but from past posts, these are the ones that may actually get answered and play an important role in the show's eventual conclusion.

Please, leave your own in our comments section.

What became of Claire? Aaron's mum didn't make an appearance in Season 5, but she's poised to return. But will it be as her sweet Aussie self or Christian Shephard's ghostly sidekick?

Is Ben good or evil? Some view Ben as pure evil. Others may not yet understand his devotion to the island and the good involved in his protective stance. So while shades of gray certainly have come to define the man formerly known as Henry Gale, once the fate of the island is determined, there should be some greater clarity here. Either way, his stabbing of Jacob at the end of Season 5 certainly threw another dagger in the ongoing dilemma.

Where will Desmond/Penny fit in? Reunited ... and it feels so good. But this storybook romance has to meet a dark end, doesn't it?

How big of a role does Jack's dad play? A big one, no doubt, seeing as how Christian keeps popping up, most notably to Locke as he turned the donkey wheel. Still, there's been hardly any headway in determining why it's Jack's dad who holds a lot of the cards in this ongoing island enigma.

Who do you have in the island death pool? Juliet said goodbye in heroic fashion at the end of Season 5, and several cast members -- Charlie, Boone, Libby and Michael -- are expected to be brought back (even though they're technically still dead) now that the Oceanic crash may have never occurred. A whitewash courtesy of the hydrogen bomb can certainly re-write some rules, but a final season also gives creative license to the show's writers since they no longer have to worry about furthering storylines. So, who of those technically still alive on the island will actually make it to the Season 6 finale? Some big names could get capped for pure shock and awe. We'll save our theories for a later post.

Why doesn't Richard Alpert age? Alpert's age seems directly tied to the island's origins and secrets, whether it's Black Rock based or otherwise. We can't wait to see what he's always known about its mystical properties.

What Ilana's relationship to Jacob? She knew to ask for Ricardus. Knew about the statue's riddle. Who are these island newbies who brought Locke's real body to Alpert?

Where do Widmore and Ben fit into the grand scheme? Now that Jacob and the Man in Black have been introduced, Widmore and Ben's face-off seems like a mere childhood spat. But so much was built up regarding Ben protecting the island from Widmore's exploitative ways -- and Ben being manipulated to stab Jacob because Locke had surpassed him on the island's scale of importance -- there's no way the two aren't tied together.

Why did some on the Ajira plane end up in 1977? We'd like to get away from any time travel queries (they still make our head hurt), but why did the plane split, sending some to 1977 and others like Sun and Ben to 2007? How does that concept even work?

Did Jacob plan to die, and what is the significance of his touch? Again, two threads that seem directly related. It would appear that Jacob had always planned to fall at the hands of the Man in Black's "loophole" -- hence the flashbacks showing his all-important touch to several of our main characters. Did Jacob find some loopholes of his own? Now that he's been cast into the fire -- quite literally thanks to Ben and Faker Locke -- it should be interested to find out who's "coming" and why.

What IS the island? Will this ever be adequately answered, or are we just supposed to go along with the premise that the show had to happen SOMEWHERE, and an exotic island (that allowed the cast and crew to film and live in Hawaii, ahem) was the best option? Recent interviews with Cuse and Lindelof seem to indicate that fans will just have to accept certain realities.

What, or who, is the smoke monster? Probably one of the biggest ongoing puzzle pieces (besides the numbers) since it goes back to the pilot. Man in Black = Smokey? Even so, what is the monster's primary function as island protector/scanner of fates/mechanical sounding kill machine?

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

"Conchords" co-creator in talks to direct Muppet movie

2010-01-29T14:28:00.006-06:00

UPDATE: Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Bobin has signed on. This freaky dream is now reality.

New York Magazine's Culture Vulture is reporting that "Flight of the Conchords" co-creator James Bobin is being offered the chance to direct the upcoming Muppets feature. Since he's not officially attached yet, is it too soon for me to hope for the addition of a new Muppet, say a politically incorrect dragon named Albi?

As we reported back in June of '08, the movie is being written by "How I Met Your Mother" star and Judd Apatow alum Jason Segel, and is being hyped as a relaunch of the Muppets franchise. "Involved sources" say the Disney-produced movie is looking to start shooting in late summer.

With "Conchords" officially over, this could be a chance for Bobin to break out with a hit for his first full-length directorial effort. Let's hope he's got a better manager than Murray advising him.

-- Adam Reinhard, areinhard@greenbaypressgazette.com

The end is near: Let the "Lost" countdown begin!

2010-01-29T12:15:00.005-06:00

When we last saw the "Lost" gang in May, Jack had been hit in the head with a flying toolbox, weaselly Phil impaled by a magnetically-drawn pole, and oh yeah, Juliet fell down a large hole in dramatic -- and rather noisy -- fashion.

Ben and Faker Locke (who would have been so much cooler with blue skin like the old He-Man character) traveled to Jacob's lair ... and the visit quickly turned a bit, shall we say, stabby? At the bottom of her hole, bloody and battered Juliet desperately slammed a rock against the hydrogen bomb, turning the screen white and presumably, erasing the entire Oceanic crash and the "Lost" world we've known for five previous seasons.

And now we're FINALLY four days away from finding out the destiny-filled fates of our fabled island-dwellers. A five-year investment in a show -- that let's face it, has swallowed up way more time than say, four years of studying for a bachelor's degree ever did -- is finally coming to a close.

We can't wait to enjoy the ride -- and honestly, there's no reason why you can't join us. Just watch this hilarious (yet seriously informative) video and get caught up in 8 minutes like every other slacker.

Back with us? Good.

If ABC can air a clip show before the Season 6 premiere at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Channel Surfing figured it could do a little archive digging, as well. In honor of five brilliant seasons on the island, here's an updated version of our 10 favorite "Holy Crap" moments from "Lost."

Got your own favorites? Leave us a comment. And let's get talking before Tuesday!

10. Not in Portland: Edmund Burke is killed by a bus.

It might seem minor. After all, who is Edmund Burke? But that it was set up by Juliet's wishful thinking in front of the enigmatic Richard Alpert, well, it's the rare non-cliffhanger that made the hair stand up on the back of your neck. Man, those creepy "Others" are gooooood.

9. Live Together, Die Alone: Desmond discovers what happened when he didn't push the button.

"I think I crashed your plane." Classic. And then the sky turned purple.

8. The Man Behind the Curtain: Jacob to Locke, "Hellllpppp meeeeeee."

Locke turns into a doubting Thomas as Ben puts on a "show" in front of an empty chair. And then the fireworks really begin.

7. The Man From Tallahassee: Anthony Cooper is shown tied up in a closet via Ben's "magic box."

Locke getting shoved out an eight-story window by his old man may have helped solve one of the show's longstanding mysteries. But that was only the opening act. How did Ben conjure up the real Sawyer/Locke's father via the "magic box?" No one saw it coming.

6. The Incident: Jacob revealed, along with the mysterious Man in Black.

Just an amazing, awe-inspiring opening since viewers had no idea who or what they were looking at when the Season 5 finale began on a secluded beach. It's rare to see a scene this pivotal, or be introduced to characters this grandiose, five full seasons into a series. But "Lost" can pull that kind of maneuver off, and the accompanying conversation between the two longstanding rivals -- with its end line, "Do you know how badly I want to kill you?" -- makes the Widmore-Linus chess match seem like tiddly winks.

5. The Man Behind the Curtain: Richard Alpert appears to Ben having never aged.

Ben’s arrival on the island is pretty nondescript — at least until he starts to see his dead mother roaming in the woods. In his child-like haste, he tries to track her down — only to bump into another familiar face — one that’s too familiar when you consider Ben’s age at the time. Alpert as Ponce de Leon? Believe it.

4. The Incident: Ben finally meets Jacob, stabs him in a fit of rage.

Ben had previously used the mysterious Jacob as a prop for power in his interactions with Locke. But when Locke (or at least Ben believing it was Locke) brought the subservient leader of the Others to Jacob’s lair for the first time, it was the soul-crushing rejection from one simple line — “What about you?”— that drove Ben to an act of pure anguish.

3. Through the Looking Glass: Charlie drowns, but not before warning Desmond of the freighter.

Perhaps the most poignant death in the show’s history. A heart-wrenching slo-mo scene for Driveshaft fans everywhere — Charlie accepting his fate and making one last sign of the cross. Lighters in the air, please.

2. The Constant: “I know about Eloise.”

Desmond episodes have always been fascinating, but “The Constant” bent the parameters of time beyond recognition. Daniel Faraday’s Eloise experiment added dramatic depth to the island's warped properties, but allowing viewers to flash in and out with Mr. Hume, well, it was (nose) bloody brilliant.

1. Through the Looking Glass: “We have to go back, Kate!”

THE ending that Season 6’s finale may never be able to top. That completely twisted, out-of-left-field, you’ve gotta be kidding me, “we have to go back to the island” game changer. Past, present, future — it completely flipped the script for our favorite fatally-flawed island inhabitants.

— Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

10. The Variable: Eloise shoots Faraday.

In search of the buried hydrogen bomb, which he intends to detonate to reset the past, Daniel Faraday infiltrates the Others' camp and confronts Richard Alpert, gun drawn. Unbeknownst to Faraday, however, his mother, Eloise (a younger version of Eloise, as this is all happening in the ‘70s), sneaks up behind him and shoots the belligerent stranger in the back, killing the son she didn't know she had.

9. The Man Behind the Curtain: Jacob's cabin freak-out.

Not only one of the scariest moments in "Lost" history, but it actually increased our interest in Jacob, the enigmatic island honcho whose "lists" determine the actions of the Others. Our brief glimpse of his profile, his wide, wild eye, and his plaintive cry of "Help me" were only the start of a long, fascinating relationship with his ghostly presence.

8. Deus Ex Machina: A light comes on in the hatch.

When Locke and Boone discovered a mysterious door in the ground, that was crazy enough. But it was this episode where, after Boone's accident, Locke pounds on the hatch in a fit of despair and doubt, only to be answered by a glowing, humming light, coming from inside.

7. Exodus: Arzt gets careless with the dynamite.

This moment has no bearing on island mysteries, offered no development of major characters, nor added to show canon in any way. But the sudden, explosive death of Dr. Arzt served as a reminder that anything can happen on "Lost" at any time.

6. Raised By Another: Ethan wasn't on the manifest.

This episode marked the first appearance of an Other -- even though we had already been introduced to him as a castaway. Hurley's discovery that Ethan wasn't on the plane, followed by the immediate kidnapping of Claire and Charlie, began our ongoing adventure with the mysterious island originals.

5. Two For the Road: Michael shoots Ana Lucia.

We knew Michael, distraught over the loss of his son, would do anything to get Walt back from the Others. But his shooting of Ana Lucia was still shocking and brutal. Add blanket-seeking Libby to the body count and a desperate, cold-blooded hero-turned-villain suddenly emerged.

4. Catch-22: “They found the plane ... there were no survivors.”

There were always Internet rumors swirling around that the castaways never survived the plane crash and that the island was purgatory. But when parachuter Naomi revealed to Hurley that Flight 815 was found and that everyone on board was dead ... well, holy crap.

3. Walkabout: Locke was in the wheelchair.

Established knife-enthusiast and man of action John Locke is revealed to have been a bit of a loser pre-island. But it was all a distraction from the real surprise, that Locke couldn't even walk before Flight 815 crashed. A brilliant revelation that established the series as one deserving of total fan obsession.

2. There’s No Place Like Home: The island disappears.

The Oceanic Six head back to the island after Charles Widmore’s ship – and their hopes of rescue — are blown sky high. Just as they're about to land, Ben is in a secret chamber, pushing a mysterious wheel, and — POOF! — the island disappears, leaving only ripples in the water below.

1. Through the Looking Glass: “We have to go back, Kate!”

Until this, the third season finale, we only saw glimpses of the castaways’ pasts, and the struggles that led them to the island. But when Kate stepped out of the shadows and into what we had presumed was another Jack flashback, not only was it clear that they made it off the island, but in Jack’s case — “We have to go back, Kate! We have to go back!’’ – that wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

— Adam Reinhard, areinhard@greenbaypressgazette.com

Pernell Roberts: An appreciation

2010-01-27T11:45:00.005-06:00

Pernell Roberts died this past weekend. A relatively minor celebrity death after the year we just had, but it hit me especially hard. I guess that's what happens when your namesake dies.

Yes, I was named after Adam Cartwright, the character Roberts played on the still-popular 60s TV Western "Bonanza." My mother, it is safe to say, was and is the world's biggest "Bonanza" fan. Adam was her favorite character, and Pernell Roberts her earliest celebrity crush.

I grew up watching "Bonanza" reruns with her, and it was easy to see why she favored Adam over the show's more obvious teen idol, Michael "Little Joe" Landon. Adam was the oldest of the three Cartwright boys, meaning he was the responsible, mature one. He was well-read, musically inclined; a sensitive artsy type, basically. Little Joe, by comparison, was just a punk. (My favorite character, of course, was Hoss, because he was the funny fat guy. No kid's gonna like Adam more than Hoss, namesake be damned.)

As I grew up, I began to appreciate how talented Roberts really was. Besides being a good-looking dude (I wish he could have been my jawline-sake, too -- holy crap), Roberts was a pretty fine actor, to boot. (Get it? Boot? Western.) One of my all-time favorite "Bonanza" episodes featured Roberts and Lee Freaking Marvin in an epic battle of wills and scene-chewing. SPOILER ALERT: This clip is from the end of the episode, but it's a good example of Roberts' formiddable chops.

Roberts famously left "Bonanza" after six seasons, at the peak of its popularity. He got some bit roles here and there on shows like "Mission: Impossible," and eventually headlined another series, "Trapper John M.D.," in the 70s. But he never quite acheived the level of success both I, and especially my mom, thought he deserved.

Here then, in tribute, is another clip from "Bonanza": Adam and guest-star Hoyt Axton singing a fittingly appropriate song called "Endless Road."

-- Adam Reinhard, areinhard@greenbaypressgazette.com

Catch Anthony Bourdain's live tour at the Weidner in June

2010-01-27T10:09:00.007-06:00

When I told people I was seeing Anthony Bourdain -- host of the Travel Channel's "No Reservations" and bestselling author of multiple culinary-themed books -- in Milwaukee last week on his live tour, the obvious question arose: what exactly was he going to do?

Truthfully, I had no idea. Bourdain, the author of "Kitchen Confidential" and "A Cook's Tour" who has made a living in the past decade from traveling the world in search of the best local cuisine on the Food Network and now the Travel Channel, is a wealth of talent. If you've watched his show, you know he's articulate, literate, thoughtful and profane with a genuine curiosity about the world and a passion for food. But, heck, he could have done jumping jacks for half-an-hour on stage, and I still would have gotten my money's worth.

On Friday, Bourdain got a full house at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee to listen enraptured to a routine that would make both stand-up comics and Harvard professors proud and jealous. He eviscerated some of his favorite Food Network targets (Sandra Lee, Guy Fieri), waxed prosaic about some of his favorite foods (he would cook Italian food for the rest of his life if he could) and blasted the meat industry for their practice of putting ammonia in ground meat as per this NY Times article. "Top Chef" fans will be glad to know that Bourdain gave high praise to the Bravo show (and Channel Surfing favorite), saying he would probably not last past the sixth or seventh episode himself.

Aside from the Q&A portion -- which was dominated by people in love with their own voice and lame invites to get him out to the bars that night -- Bourdain made the audience laugh, cringe and occasionally groan at his series of off-the-cuff remarks and stories. He's every bit the personality he is on his show, and his tour isn't as much a rehash of things we've already read or seen as it is a private conversation with the man.

Lucky for Wisconsin, we get to invite Tony back to our state in June -- and get this -- he'll actually be IN Green Bay. Presale tickets go on sale today for his show at the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts on June 11.

--Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com

"Psych"-ed for the return of this ridiculous comedy-mystery show

2010-01-27T09:16:00.006-06:00

While some of my fellow bloggers were eagerly counting down the days until "Lost" or "24," I've been awaiting the return of a slightly less... er... serious show for months now. That wait is finally over. Tonight "Psych" returns with its first new episodes since a hiatus in October, and, well, pardon the pun, but I'm psyched!

I've previously extolled the virtues of funny crime shows that are popular with viewers, but this USA Network show has a special spot on my list of favorites because of its utter ridiculousness. Sure, fake psychic detective Shawn (James Roday) and reluctant sidekick Gus (Dule Hill) solve mysteries, but they do it with style -- and lots of 80s references and a rapid-fire dialogue between the two that rivals "Gilmore Girls."

In no way should this be mistaken for a crime or cop show, although the mysteries are often interesting in their own quirky, bizarre way (but usually predictable). It's first and foremost a comedy. Shawn and Gus are a great team in an era of television that has sadly lost the "buddy mystery solving duo" archetype, and their love-hate-love relationship and brightly-colored shirts are reason enough to watch. Plus, they drive a tiny blue car, and everyone knows tiny cars = hilarity!

"Psych" is testing out new waters on Wednesday nights. It premieres at 9 p.m. on USA tonight (after the State of the Union, you'll need a little levity). Don't believe me? Check out Entertainment Weekly's list of 10 reasons to love the show.

--Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com

'Breaking Bad' pushes boundaries in billboard form

2010-01-26T10:37:00.005-06:00

"Breaking Bad" has taken its dark humor to Times Square in a big way.

In a brilliant promotional move as Season 3 of the AMC drama premieres March 21, the network mounted a billboard next to one of President Barack Obama that had generated some minor controversy these past few weeks.

Long story short, Weatherproof outerwear purchased the rights to an Associated Press photo of Obama wearing its jacket in front of the Great Wall of China. They put up the billboard with a campaign tag line of "A Leader in Style" -- prompting a White House lawyer to contact the company and demand they take the billboard down (which has yet to happen.)

AMC struck fast with its own billboard, this one with Bryan Cranston as unlikely meth kingpin Walter White sporting a gas mask on his head. The word "Weatherproof" is replaced with "You Got No Proof" and instead of "A Leader in Style," the "Bad" billboard boldly declares: "A Dealer in Style."

"We saw that first billboard, and we thought, wouldn't it be great if we were the ones to replace it?" AMC president Charlie Collier told the Associated Press.

Having the audacity to place one of TV's most notorious drug dealers next to the Prez? Now you know why "Breaking Bad" is one of the brassiest shows ever aired.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Conan's 'Freebird' farewell scores big

2010-01-25T11:35:00.005-06:00

Unlike that Brett Favre guy (sorry, Vikings fans), Conan O'Brien really is going out on top.

Preliminary Nielsen ratings suggest that O’Brien won a hefty audience for his final hour hosting “The Tonight Show.” Coco scored a 7.0 rating for Friday night's farewell appearance on NBC, compared to a 2.5 rating for CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman."

Slight vindication perhaps, but it'll be interesting to see whether Conan's audience remains loyal in whatever new venture he chooses to pursue later this year. And not just for the first couple of episodes, mind you.

Despite NBC bungling the entire late night situation, perhaps this is a lesson to Conan's devoted followers that you can't take anything for granted. Better ratings might have led to Leno's ouster, instead.

As for Conan's final show, the hour zipped by with a few nice touches -- Steve Carell conducting an exit interview, Tom Hanks being his typical wacky self and a quick montage of best "Tonight Show" moments. But Conan saved his best for last, particularly during a heartfelt, classy closing monologue where he asked the audience to not be cynical about his predicament -- or anything else for that matter.

"I hate cynicism -- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen. I'm telling you, amazing things will happen."

That segued into a jammin' "Freebird"-for-all alongside Will Ferrell, Beck, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and Ben Harper. Unexpected, awesome and with more cowbell than you could ever want.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Late night scorecard: Conan reaches exit deal

2010-01-21T08:30:00.003-06:00

With NBC finally announcing it has reached a $45 million deal with Conan O’Brien to exit "The Tonight Show," we can't help but feel a little upset that all this drama is going to end soon.

After all, we haven't been this excited about late night television since "Thicke of the Night," but hey, there's always Conan's next career move to look forward to.

If that day on a rival network comes, late night TV will be cutthroat as ever, but for now, we're going to enjoy these last two episodes of inspired "Tonight Show" revelry as Conan uses everything in his arsenal to mercilessly mock and further bankrupt his soon-to-be ex-employer.

Under the just announced deal, Conan will get more than $33 million, while the rest will go to his staff in severance. Conan's final show will be Friday, and Leno will return to “Tonight” on March 1. Conan is free to return to TV as soon as September.

What should you, dear viewer, make of the fallout? Well, we have a convenient (and admittedly biased) scorecard in case you've been watching "George Lopez" reruns on Nick at Nite instead.

Jay Leno

Why he wins: Leno not only gets his old show back -- the one he successfully helmed for 17 years -- but he also gets to retire on his terms. Despite his "gracious" words for Conan, there's nothing like being the last man standing in a bitter showbiz mess, and twice, Leno has proved the victor. Leno also can work with a chip on his shoulder since chief rival, David Letterman, reclaimed the late night ratings throne in his absence. Plus, "The Jay Leno Show" is such a black mark, and having been told by NBC that he couldn't maintain his grip on the top spot, the workaholic Leno has a lot to prove now.

Why he loses: Blue-collar, car-rustlin', jean-shirt wearin' Jay won the late night ratings battle in large part because he comes across as a humble everyman -- a persona Letterman repeatedly has tried to poke holes in this week by insinuating Leno's phoniness. It's hard to deny that Jay has a Brett Favre-ian charm that way. But just like Favre, the public relations battle hasn't been so easy to manipulate this time around. Leno has taken several hits throughout the course of this all-too public NBC debacle, with the comedy community and Hollywood rallying wholeheartedly behind Conan. That's not to say anyone has outwardly called Leno a "bad guy" -- Jerry Seinfeld and Paul Reiser certainly love him -- but if one were inclined to pick sides, sympathy would overwhelmingly be in Conan's court. Leno's stab at tilting the scales this week by noting that NBC has fired him twice and that he's not responsible for the overall mess may have curried some favor, or could even have grains of truth to it. But for the most part, it was seen in critical circles as a largely transparent attempt at damage control. Much like Letterman has pointed out on his show, Channel Surfing believes Leno is being viewed as a manipulator who had his chance in the spotlight and should have gone away to another network instead of hovering in the background to the detriment of Conan.

Where does he go from here: NBC executive Dick Ebersol all but confirmed in his "chicken-hearted" screed against Conan that late night hosts are expected to play ball. And no one plays ball better than Leno, who has long been accused of sacrificing comedy for broader mass appeal -- which of course, helps catapult you in the ratings. Here's a bet that "Tonight" will get a huge bump from its returning audience of "Jaywalking" fanatics and eventually topple Letterman's show again. When he does retire -- with Jimmy Fallon perhaps waiting in the wings this time -- Leno will be No. 1, but he won't ever be as respected as Johnny Carson or Letterman. So basically, we're back to where we were last year before Conan took over. Ho-hum.

Conan O'Brien

Why he wins: Conan refused to buckle under pressure twice -- the first time when Ebersol all but let it leak that he didn't tailor his show to be more like Leno's version of "Tonight," and best of all, when he issued his fantastic statement about not contributing to the destruction of a hallowed institution. This past week of brilliant, bittersweet comedy has also confirmed that Conan could have been a major player given more time and support. The ratings rise alone is a huge moral victory. Also, Conan's online army via Twitter and Facebook further affirms that his audience skews young, which will be advantageous in the long term if someone like Fox chooses to snatch him up. In the end, Conan comes out the martyr and can eventually get back to doing a show on his terms (more "Late Night"-style musical guests, please) without the pressure of both the "Tonight" banner and Leno's heavy ratings shadow hanging overhead. Oh, and it might be nice to be appreciated by one's bosses.

Why he loses: Though NBC is trying to spin this latest blow by saying that Conan is the one walking away from his contract, he's literally and figuratively the red-headed stepchild in all of this. Leno won the popularity contest with NBC brass -- first by getting heavy promo time and A-listers in the 9 p.m. slot, and again with a renewed half-hour presentation in the old "Tonight" spot. Bottom line: Leno's the proven commodity. So regardless of Conan's settlement and the respect he's gained for his handling of the unfair treatment, Leno gets the prize inside the cereal box and Conan looks like the kid in the corner with a dunce cap. If Leno does as expected and bests Letterman again, that'll only continue to reflect poorly on Conan's short-lived "Tonight" reign. Still, seven months on the job and a very public ouster doesn't do a whole lot for the ol' self-confidence. Though he earned the "Tonight" reins, Conan's legacy is tainted simply because he couldn't outlast Leno's bionic chin.

Where does he go from here: Hey, if Magic Johnson can have a failed late night talk show, so can Conan, right? In the end, it's probably best for Conan to get rid of the burden that comes with Leno-like expectations on a fading network. Though NBC rightfully wanted him in the fold as their "future star," they clearly didn't realize that he brought a completely different, un-Leno-like comedy approach to the 10:35 p.m. slot. The honeymoon lasted seven months. That lapse in judgment and the subsequent pressure to deliver stellar ratings left a sour impression with NBC suits. Ultimately, Conan controls his own destiny. And though Fox appears to make the most sense from a competitive standpoint, with $33 million in walk-away dollars, I wouldn't be surprised if Conan chooses a different comedy path and stays away from the Leno-Letterman ratings fray. Whatever he does, he'll have a loyal following. And with youth on his side, he'll come out the long term winner when Leno and Letterman are both retired. You know, unless NBC decides Leno's propped-up corpse is still viable property at 10:35 p.m. It's not like dead, rotting Jay could be any less funny, right?

David Letterman

Why he wins: Dave gets to lob spitballs from the back of class and rag on Leno -- obviously a favorite pastime of his. Also, instead of coming across as increasingly bitter because he lost the "Tonight" battle all those years ago, Letterman is finally playing off public disdain for Leno. It puts Letterman in the position to be both funny, and in his estimation, honest about how he's long assessed his late night rival's phony, backstabbing behavior. Ever since Leno snatched the crown from Carson, Letterman has probably longed for this moment. The running commentary on his show this week shows why. He's savoring every last drop.

Why he loses: Letterman can't beat Leno. Maybe public opinion will shift following the Conan treatment, but if viewers didn't drop Leno for Letterman because of pure comedy in the past, why would it happen upon Jay's return? Trumping his rival again will only validate Leno's choice to stick around, and consequently make NBC feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Sure, it'd be nice if Letterman went out on top, but "Tonight" is still the late night franchise with the most cachet. And Leno is still probably going to be as likeable as ever, despite these few bumps he's endured the past few weeks. The Leno formula works just like the "American Idol" formula works, just like the Larry the Cable Guy formula works, so on and so forth. No reason to think anything changes now.

Where does he go from here: We'd love to see Letterman bring Conan on his show when all is said and done -- even if Conan signs some sort of agreement that prohibits him from ripping on NBC in public. You know Letterman won't abide by that gag order. And wow, what a ratings coup that would be. If Letterman could somehow swing that for Leno's first night back, it could be all the momentum he needs.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Stuck in "The Middle" with the Hecks

2010-01-20T16:49:00.004-06:00

ABC's "Modern Family" may have dibs on the critical and awards buzz, but there's another family on the network that's equally deserving of praise. True, the concept of "The Middle" isn't revolutionary: Patricia Heaton ("Everybody Loves Raymond") and Neil Flynn (the janitor from "Scrubs") head up the middle-class family of slightly unhinged children and attempt to survive the trials of Midwestern life.

Channel Surfing bloggers Malavika Jagannathan and Adam Reinhard were surprised that this sort of, well, middling show could be so heartfelt, hilarious, and the season's most underappreciated new sitcom.

Malavika: To be honest, family-centric sitcoms always made me a bit uncomfortable. As much as I loved "The Cosby Show" and, yes, even "Growing Pains," I grew out of that phase pretty quickly. If I wanted to laugh at someone's family, well, I'd laugh at my own. So, I was pretty surprised at how much I liked "The Middle." Patricia Heaton has always been good at playing the harried mom type and Neil Flynn pretty much shines in anything he does. But, truly, it's their kooky kids -- teenage son Axl, almost always wandering the house in nothing but boxers; the eager but perennial failure at whatever she does Susan; and the totally weird youngest child Brick -- that pushes this past "Malcolm in the Middle" territory.

Families are weird, and the Hecks are no exception. But they don't treat the weirdness as something to be ashamed of. If there's a message you want to pass on to your kids, it's that being different is OK (unless, of course, you're in junior high), so it's nice to see a show doing that without getting all preachy about it.

The Hecks are also a middle-class family in a normal, suburban neighborhood like the ones most of us grew up in (no offense to "Modern Family" but the palatial houses the characters live in are a tad ridiculous, especially when it seems like none of them ever actually go to work). Instead, they live in a house that's often messy, where everyone has to fight over the bathroom and no one has any privacy. With dad Mike (Flynn) working at a quarry -- and recently losing the job -- and mom Frankie (Heaton) eeking out a living as a car saleswoman with almost no sales, the Hecks aren't rolling in dough. Undoubtedly many families can relate to that given the state of the economy. One could argue that television ought to be an escape from real life, but in a television landscape where the lives of the rich and wealthy are often extolled, it's nice to see an average, middle-of-the-road family given the same respect.

Adam: I totally agree. The Hecks are the most realistic, relatable family on TV right now; in fact, I'm having trouble thinking of any family in all of TV history that could give them a run for their money.

"The Middle" has obvious forebearers, like "Malcolm in the Middle," as you mentioned (although it is thankfully far less wacky), but especially the mother of all blue-collar comedies, "Roseanne." Whereas that undoubtedly classic sitcom served as a showcase for Roseanne Barr's standup routines, with her children little more than window dressing, "The Middle" is much more of an ensemble effort. Heaton is obviously the main character, but unlike Roseanne, she doesn't get the lion's share of laughs. In other words, she doesn't sit around the kitchen all day spitting wisecracks; on the contrary, Frankie Heck is almost constantly in motion, running from one family emergency to the next, and that's where the humor is derived from. That's what we can all relate to.

It's a near-miracle that "The Middle" is as funny as it is. Shouldn't all the jokes about family life be exhausted by now? Yet these are some deftly written characters. There have been shows with geeky teenagers before, but not one quite like Sue Heck (Eden Sher). With her boundless optimism that always -- and I mean always -- comes crashing head-on with her stunning social ineptitude, she's unique for a TV teenage girl. Take the episode where she stands up to some neighborhood bullies, challenging them to a fight after school. Unfortunately, her concept of "fighting" obviously comes from "You Got Served," and merely includes choreographed dance moves to "Kung Fu Fighting," which results in the bullies pushing her and her friend over and stealing their boombox. "They didn't even let us finish!" she cries to her parents later. "And we worked really hard on those moves!"

Each character is given similar moments to shine. Youngest child Brick (Atticus Shaffer) at first seems like a clone of "Malcolm in the Middle's" Dewey -- he even looks like Erik Per Sullivan. Both boys are highly intelligent for their ages, and a bit withdrawn, Brick never seeks to be the center of attention. He favors sleeping under the table for a month unnoticed rather than telling his parents he doesn't want to share a room with his brother. Yes, his penchant for repeating some words as a whisper while staring at the ground seemed like it would get old after the first few episodes, it is used infrequently, and only as punctuation on other jokes.

"The Middle" will never be confused with edgier fare like "30 Rock" or "Community," but it's a show you can watch with the entire family.

"The Middle" airs at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC.

-- Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com; Adam Reinhard, areinhard@greenbaypressgazette.com

Clip of the week: A Stern warning about Leno

2010-01-18T16:55:00.003-06:00

Spied this on a Conan Facebook fan page this weekend and thought it was worth sharing. From Dec. 14, 2006, here's Howard Stern with an interesting perspective on Jay Leno given recent (ahem) headlines.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Golden Globes: Cable continues to dominate

2010-01-18T14:28:00.004-06:00

The good thing about DVR's? You can whip past all the commercials and awards fluff to see exactly what you need from a given telecast.

The bad thing? Day-after commentaries tend to lose quite a bit of luster when you've skipped past three-fourths of the ceremony.

And with that, here are your TV winners from last night's Golden Globes.

In the short amount of time we saw host Ricky Gervais, he appeared comfortable and quite funny. Also, thumbs up to "Mad Men" for another sterling win in the Best Drama category. And since we're currently playing catch-up with Showtime's "Dexter" on DVD, we were happy to see Michael C. Hall (right) rewarded -- especially since he's being treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Coupled with John Lithgow's victory, we have high hopes for Season 4 when it's eventually released on DVD.

Series, drama: “Mad Men,” AMC.

Actor, drama: Michael C. Hall, “Dexter.”

Actress, drama: Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife.”

Series, musical or comedy: “Glee,” Fox.

Actor, musical or comedy: Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock.”

Actress, musical or comedy: Toni Collette, “United States of Tara.”

Miniseries or movie: “Grey Gardens,” HBO.

Actor, miniseries or movie: Kevin Bacon, “Taking Chance.”

Actress, miniseries or movie: Drew Barrymore, “Grey Gardens.”

Supporting actor, series, miniseries or movie: John Lithgow, “Dexter.”

Supporting actress, series, miniseries or movie: Chloe Sevigny, “Big Love.”

-- Channel Surfing staff

Our picks: Best TV Show of the Decade

2010-01-16T06:01:00.007-06:00

Asking TV junkies to not only pick but rank their favorite shows from the past decade feels a lot like asking Mike and Carol Brady to line up the Brady kids and choose the grooviest dresser.

Yet as unfair as it might seem to celebrate only 10 shows from the past 10 years, our Channel Surfing bloggers were up to the challenge.

Here are our Best TV Shows of the Decade. Feel free to respectfully disagree in our comments section ... or even better, go shopping for some new DVD sets today!

10. “Rome”: “Rome” was an overheated, uberviolent, supersexed potboiler of a historical melodrama, but great Caesar’s ghost was it pretty to look at. HBO basically rebuilt the entire ancient city out in the Italian countryside, down to the last aqueduct, to film this epic series that retold the lives of Julius, Brutus and the gang, along with some assorted fictional underlings. In terms of scale, TV has yet to see its equal.

9. “The Venture Bros.”: No other animated series of the 2000s — and almost no other series period — is as densely plotted and intricately layered as this Cartoon Network spoof on superheroes, spies and classic Saturday morning cartoons. Multiple viewings are required to take in every gag, reference, one-liner, and character turn, which fly by at a ridiculous rate. Now in its fourth season, it’s still going strong.

8. “Veronica Mars”: “Veronica Mars” gave modern television audiences its most endearing misanthrope in ages: the sassy, pint-sized teen detective for which the show is named. Shows just don’t come much more smartly written than this regrettably short-lived drama, and the roundly superb cast — who at every turn made the show as grounded and believable as anything else on TV — helped make this a cult sensation.

7. “Firefly”: A quirky sci-fi western that Fox canned after airing only 11 episodes, rabid fans nonetheless bought the DVD box set in droves. This happens often to cult TV shows, but rarely do they then get a movie made. But “Firefly” was no ordinary cult show: Visually inventive, each episode already looked like a feature film. It was exciting, funny, scary, romantic, and dangerous in ways many shows can only dream of.

6. “Gilmore Girls”: As far as shows geared toward the entire family go, the 2000s never topped the superior wit and whimsy of those darned “Gilmore Girls.” With more words per minute than a Mamet play, each episode of the WB dramedy sounded like a classic screwball comedy, with an extended cast of crazies that only gave the story of a young mom and her bookworm teen daughter an amazing emotional heft.

5. “The Colbert Report”: What started out as a joke, a one-off fake promo for a fake show during “The Daily Show,” “The Colbert Report” quickly ballooned into not only it sister show’s perfect companion, but every bit its equal. Host Stephen Colbert’s exaggerated outrage at current events provides a perfect foible for the overtrumped sensationalism of today’s “real” cable news shows. “The Colbert Report” provides some of the most relevant social commentary that you’ll find in popular culture today.

4. “Arrested Development”: Every decade has a defining sitcom family; the Naughts, for all its dysfunction and mishaps, are a perfect fit for the Bluths. Not only were they a disjointed and bickering bunch, but their ongoing legal troubles regarding their real estate business predated our current predicament. Oh, and it was also the funniest, most eminently quotable sitcom of the decade, which helps.

3. “The Office UK”: The original — and still superior — sitcom about a documentary crew following the mundane doings of a struggling paper supply company, headed by a childish, dimwitted boss. The British “Office” was remarkable for its subtle study of everyday desperation and boredom, and its humor came from recognizing ourselves in the tedious existences of the show’s core characters. A pure television work of art.

2. “Lost”: Often imitated, never duplicated, “Lost” has a way of ensnaring its audience the way only great TV dramas can. What other show operates on so many levels, encompasses such a wide spectrum of genres, and juggles an ungodly number of plot threads, mythologies, red herrings and characters, without completely collapsing? Not only that, but “Lost” has been embraced by popular culture more than almost any other scripted drama this decade.

1. “The Wire”: This won’t be the only place you read this, but “The Wire” is the greatest television show ever made. The harshly realistic crime drama transcended every cliché, broke every boundary, supplanted every assumption, and never played out like a traditional television narrative. Watching it was like reading a great work of fiction; and like a literary classic, should be required viewing for all students of great TV.

-- Adam Reinhard, areinhard@greenbaypressgazette.com

10. “Desperate Housewives”: This ABC dramedy brought back the prime-time soap in style for the oughts. With a lead cast of women — some of them, gasp, past their Hollywood prime of 35 — “Desperate Housewives” immediately seduced its audience into its brand of wacky combination of romance and mystery. Even with a leap forward in time five years, a gimmick that rarely if ever works, never has life in the suburbs looked so good as it does on Wisteria Lane.

9. “Friday Night Lights”: Rarely does a show about sports transcend the x’s and o’s, but “Friday Night Lights” gave us a whole new perspective on football, family and the hopes of a small town. Based on a book and a movie of the same name, the NBC drama followed the high school football team of Dillon, Texas to the state championships and beyond. Still, it’s characters that play the biggest role, not the games, and the show’s portrayal of middle-class small-town America that’s at the heart of this winning drama.

8. “Coupling UK”: This BBC show was a raunchy, hilarious comedy about the dating adventures of six friends in London. All comparisons to “Friends” end there because “Coupling” was far more realistic and frank in its examination of relationships, sex and the battle of the sexes. With madcap characters and sidesplitting plots, “Coupling” was really a comedy of manners, not a traditional sitcom, and that’s probably why it failed to translate across the Atlantic in a hideous 2003 remake.

7. “Gilmore Girls”: This family-friendly WB drama gave birth to one of television’s coolest mom’s — the hip, young Lorelai Gilmore — but the pop-culture references, mile-a-minute dialogue and an endless group of bizarre but lovable characters made it a classic. Lorelai and daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel), a smart studious teenager, gave us seven seasons of laughter and tears, not to mention at least a thousand cups of coffee.

6. “Veronica Mars”: Sassy, intelligent Veronica Mars was an updated Nancy Drew for the new millennium. She endures the social demotion among her well-off peers after the murder of her best friend, but channels her cynicism into helping her ex-Sheriff-turned-private-investigator father solve crimes small and large. Well-written and filled with wonderful characters, the short-lived show succeeded thanks to its loyal fans and gave us one of televisions greatest female characters.

5. “Mad Men”: This retro love letter to the 1960s woos and wows with thoughtful pacing, brilliant characters and engrossing plots. Pencil skirts and skinny ties aside, the AMC drama plunges deep into marriage, relationships, gender, race and political turmoil with an artistic touch and deliberate narrative pace. The complexity of the characters — especially the three lead women — and the show’s use of silence to punctuate dramatic moments are but two of the myriad reasons why it dazzles.

4. “Freaks and Geeks”: Never has a show been so accurate in its reflection of the angst, joy or humiliation associated with being a teenager in high school. Instead of focusing on perky cheerleaders with unblemished skin, “Freaks and Geeks” chose to examine the awkward existence of two misfit cliques at suburban McKinley High School. The characters were real and the stories resonated because we all knew people like that or were people like that in high school.

3. “The West Wing”: This award-winning NBC drama came close to showing us how it should be done in Washington D.C. Whatever your personal politics, Martin Sheen’s President Josiah Bartlett was someone Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike could all respect, if not vote for. Though “The West Wing” suffered creatively from creator Aaron Sorkin’s departure after the fourth season, the show thrived on superior acting, realistic storylines and an idealistic hope that government could do good.

2. “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”: Jon Stewart and his cadre of fake reporters became the definitive voice of satire in the last decade. Stewart skewers hypocrisy in media and politics with an enviable balance of gravitas and irreverence that real newsmen like NBC’s Brian Williams appreciate. But his genuine passion is evident, which sets him apart from his comic companions, and he continues to redefine newsworthiness with his half-hour late night show.

1. “The Wire”: David Simon’s epic HBO series is a literary masterpiece dressed up to look like a cop show. In five seasons, the show unpeeled the layers of institutional neglect and failures in Baltimore through the eyes of cops, drug dealers, working class laborers, children, politicians, and, yes, even junkies. “The Wire” was unflinching, unapologetic and absolutely riveting. Forget best of the decade, it’s the best television show ever.

-- Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com

10. “Flight of the Conchords”: As original as the folk-digi-pop hybrid that would score the short-lived HBO show, “Conchords” isn’t terribly deep or even fully connected. Instead, it relied on catchy, quick-witted song parodies like “Business Time” and “Hurt Feelings” to get from plot point A to Z in absurd fashion (dogs with epilepsy, anyone?). Plus it had the world’s most incompetent underdog in Murray Hewitt, one of the truly great TV characters of the past 10 years. Non-stop hilarity? Definitely present.

9. “Curb Your Enthusiasm”: Before Larry David ventured on his own for a faux-day-in-the-life-of-series based on his post-“Seinfeld” travails, Jason Alexander received all the credit for his memorable turn as short, stocky rage-aholic George Costanza. But it turned out that Alexander was merely playing Larry David, a point that would become all-too clear as the “Seinfeld” co-creator used his HBO platform to develop an even more selfish, crass, oblivious version of Costanza as mad genius. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course.

8. “Mad Men”: Slick and savvy, patient and pensive, “Mad Men” is the road TV should continue to head down in a new decade. While most shows are quick to boast of an immediate hook or ostentatious plot grab, this Emmy-award winning AMC drama about Madison Avenue ad executives refuses to be pigeonholed by the tumultuous ‘60s it dares to reflect. And how do they keep Don Draper so amazingly likeable despite all that philandering?

7. “Arrested Development”: It never got old hearing the familiar voice of Ron Howard introduce each episode of “Arrested Development,” even if the idea of the Bluths as a bottomed-out family with normal flaws and foibles grew increasingly absurd with each passing manipulation. Critically revered but ratings challenged in its three seasons, “AD” is so cerebral, so rapid fire with its inside joke telling, it really deserves its own comedy category.

6. “Breaking Bad”: As mild-mannered chemistry teacher turned unlikely meth kingpin Walter White, Bryan Cranston has developed a character who is both protagonist and antagonist thanks to a half-cocked/fully-cooked scheme that started with the best intentions. Though Cranston’s demented conversion as a slowly sinking cancer patient created an indelible mark after two seasons, “Bad’s” impeccable writing and stellar cast (most notably Aaron Paul as wayward junkie, Jesse) gives the gritty drama an emotional resonance that is all too fitting in these desperate, delusional economic times.

5. “Freaks and Geeks”: While most high school dramedies preferred to shine a light on beautiful cheerleaders and edgy James Dean-types played by 35-year-olds, “Freaks and Geeks” chose to mine humor from the grotesque popularity contest known as the high school clique system. Some scars never heal, but Paul Feig and Judd Apatow’s brilliant reflection on adolescence at least made the acne-riddled torture tolerable.

4. “Lost”: A mystery wrapped inside a riddle wrapped inside an enigma wrapped inside a smoke monster, “Lost” has had so many "no F'n way" moments during its five season run (the sixth and final season begins next month), the show feels like it’s been on for fifty years. Though the intricate island mythology has dominated day-after discussion to the point where college courses could be taught on the Dharma Initiative's dealings, “Lost” will always be remembered as a character-driven drama first, philosophy-fueled sci-fi adventure second.

3. “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”: Even to this day, Stewart and his team of Comedy Central crack-ups come off as the kids in the back of class shooting spitballs at the hypocritical dullards in the front. But just how smart and scathing they can be – while remaining so intensely rational and respected despite the brutality of partisan politics – remains “The Daily Show’s” most stunning achievement as it continues to make “real news” watching obsolete.

2. “The Sopranos”: While it’s hardly a surprise that a show centered on a New Jersey mob boss would deal with difficult moral quandaries and brutal retribution befitting the Mafia code of conduct, “The Sopranos” became more that a gritty guy drama thanks to its intricate portrayal of family. More than anything though, its landmark production and storytelling helped transform TV into a medium where important art could be created … and eventually ceased with a controversial cut to black.

1. “The Wire”: One of those shows that critics and discerning TV viewers obsessively talk about, you join a special club when all five seasons of “The Wire” are under your belt. In its most simplistic terms, “The Wire” is a cop drama about the Baltimore drug trade. But that’s kind of like saying the Grand Canyon is a rock formation with some big holes. That the show used the city of Baltimore as a central character helped it to make poignant observations about those left behind in drug-addled, dilapidated neighborhoods. Quite simply, “The Wire” will reach into your soul like no other show before it.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

10. “Lost’’: It seemed so simple in the beginning: a show about plane crash survivors who get stranded on an island. Then came the flashbacks, flashforwards, the DHARMA initiative, the Others and more cryptic, time-bending storylines than a mind can handle. Whether you watch it to dissect every background song and book cover or just for the Kate-Sawyer-Jack love triangle, it’s like nothing else network TV has ever seen.

9. “Ugly Betty’’: The last decade would’ve been a little less colorful – and a lot less catty – without the world of Mode magazine, where everything/everybody is high fashion, bright neon and rather plastic. As nasty good fun as it is to watch Willy, Amanda and Marc spew snotty insults, it’s ultimately America Ferrara’s adorably dorky, stubbornly sunny Betty who gives a show about inner beauty its heart.

8. “Late Show with David Letterman’’: It was a decade full of great Dave moments. He had heart surgery, became a father, got married and admitted to affairs. He egged on a whacked-out Joaquin Phoenix, interviewed his first sitting president and did a heartbreaking hour with his close friend, terminally ill musician Warren Zevon. But no moment was more meaningful or powerful than his eloquent and surprisingly comforting monologue on his first night back after 9/11.

7. “Survivor’’: A pioneer of the reality TV movement, it proved that not only was television’s newest genre here to stay but that it didn’t have to be embarrassingly bad (remember “Joe Millionaire’’?). The formula is relatively unchanged after 19 seasons: Take a bunch of strangers who look good shirtless and in bikinis, dump them in a remote, exotic locale and watch them outwit, outplay and outlast for $1 million. As host Jeff Probst might ask, “Worth tuning in for?’’ Yep.

6. “Everwood’’: A widowed surgeon leaves his practice in The Big Apple and takes his two kids and heads for the snow-covered hills of a small Colorado town where Main Street is quaint, the townsfolk are endearing and the adjustment isn’t always easy. In the realm of “nice’’ family shows, not as sugary as “7th Heaven’’ and not as emotional as “Party of Five,’’ but warmly nestled somewhere in between.

5. “Breaking Bad’’: The premise – a high school chemistry teacher with cancer hooks up with a former student to start making crystal meth to provide for his family – is only the beginning. It’s shocking, disturbing, violent, darkly funny, occasionally deeply touching and always incredibly well acted. No wonder Stephen King loves it.

4. “Once and Again’’: A family drama with the creative team of Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zick attached is like a chocolate bar with Hershey’s on the wrapper: You can’t wrong. Two divorced single parents find love – and all the real and messy heartaches and headaches that go with it. The forever-fabulous Sela Ward lit up the cast, and Patrick Dempsey turned in a gut-wrenching performance as her schizophrenic brother long before he got McDreamy-ized.

3. “Damages’’: Thought Glenn Close was scary in “Fatal Attraction’’? You wouldn’t want to get on her bad side in “Damages,’’ either. As ruthlessly driven corporate lawyer Patty Hewes on the tense, dense and complex F/X legal thriller, she can send a shiver up your spine -- and she doesn’t need to resort to boiling the family rabbit to do it. That Australian actress Rose Byrne as her protégé Ellen Parsons can hold her own against Close is a testament to not just the strong female leads but a cast that’s stellar top to bottom.

2. “Gilmore Girls’’: Lorelai Gilmore was the mom everybody secretly wished they had. Or at least her wardrobe. But what made the hip single mom-good girl daughter WB dramedy so endearing and charming without ever getting sappy was the witty, pop culture-peppered, rapid-fire banter between Lauren Graham’s Lorelai and Alexis Bledel’s Rory – usually over obscene amounts of caffeine, junk food and bad movies. Sometimes snarky, sometimes sweet, but always sincere.

1. “24’’: It not only broke the mold for the typical serialized drama, but as it would do with countless warehouses, helicopters and bad guys in the seasons to come, “24’’ blew it to smithereens. The real-time format and multiple screens were groundbreaking, leaving fans breathless as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer raced to save the day in an America that reflected current headlines. In its early seasons – and as recently as the last -- an hour of “24’’ can still be better than every action-thriller in theaters, thanks to an amazing army of writers and the weight Kiefer Sutherland brings to our hero.

-- Kendra Meinert, kmeinert@greenbaypressgazette.com

And the winner is ...

2010-01-16T06:00:00.005-06:00

In a face-off between two of TV’s most caustic, cantankerous critics, it’s Dr. Gregory House over Simon Cowell by a slim margin.

Channel Surfing’s month-long journey to uncover the Best TV Show of the Decade from Green Bay Press-Gazette readers led to more than 1,000 votes in print and online.

Your top vote getter: “House.”

Created by David Shore in 2004, the Fox show straddles the line between medical drama and dark comedy thanks to Huge Laurie’s portrayal of acerbic, pill-popping Dr. Gregory House. Now in its sixth season, “House” has received several awards, including Emmys for writing and directing and two Golden Globes for Laurie as Best Dramatic Actor (2006-2007). It also consistently ranks among the Top 20 TV shows in the Nielsen ratings.

Here's the Top 20 in all its glory:

1. “House”
2. “American Idol”
3. “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”
4. “24”
5. “The Office" (US and UK)
6. “Lost”
7. “Survivor”
8. “The Amazing Race”
9. “The Sopranos”
10. “Desperate Housewives”
11. "How I Met Your Mother"
12. "The West Wing"
13. "Sex and the City"
14. "Scrubs"
15. "SpongeBob SquarePants"
16. "30 Rock"
17. "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"
18. "Friday Night Lights"
19. "Dexter"
20. "Curb Your Enthusiasm"

Eligible shows that received the most write-in votes were “Two and a Half Men,” “NCIS,” “Family Guy,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Big Bang Theory, “Criminal Minds” and “Battlestar Galactica.” Also, a lot of people out there apparently still watch "America's Funniest Home Videos." I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Congratulations to “House” and all winners in our contest, including Ann Henrigillis of De Pere who won the grand prize La-Z-Boy. Also, thanks to everyone who voted and left comments.

Many of you provided great reasons as to why you love your favorite shows -- or scathing e-mails saying we were morons for leaving "Rescue Me" off the master ballot -- all but affirming that we knew what we were doing when pitching this contest in December.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Coming tomorrow: The winner revealed!

2010-01-15T14:07:00.006-06:00

Will it be surly Simon Cowell? That curmudgeonly Dr. House? How about Locke and the "Lost" gang or Tony's crew at the Bada Bing? Do the paper pushers at Dunder Mifflin or Jack Bauer's counter terrorism unit stand a chance?

More than 1,000 votes in print and online were tallied for Channel Surfing's Best TV Show of the Decade contest. Tomorrow, we'll reveal the winner right here.

As they say in the TV business, stay tuned ...

-- The Channel Surfing staff

Ebersol takes up for Leno, calls Conan "an astounding failure"

2010-01-15T10:36:00.004-06:00

Just to show that not everyone is in Conan's corner, Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports and a major player in the network's late night development, took up for Jay Leno in a revealing interview with the New York Times.

While it's been rumored that NBC's embattled CEO Jeff Zucker is trying to play hardball with Conan by keeping him off the air for the duration of his contract (a little over three years), the rest of the crusty executives club has been pretty silent at the network. Until now.

Ebersol did his best Jack Donaghy impression by protecting the peacock brand as he promptly rolled Conan under a giant bus with a "Biggest Loser" logo emblazoned on it.

Referring to Conan's on-air jabs at Leno, Ebersol called the lame-duck "Tonight Show" host “chicken-hearted and gutless to blame a guy you couldn’t beat in the ratings." He added that “what this is really all about is an astounding failure by Conan" and that while he likes Conan personally, "he was just stubborn about not being willing to broaden the appeal of his show.”

So basically, because Conan isn't dumbing down his comedy for a "broader" audience, he's a complete and utter failure after seven months on the air. Either that, or he had the audacity to turn down comedy advice from a guy who probably kills with his Dick Cheney impression at country club dinners.

I mean, how awesome is it to have the super-hilarious Dick Ebersol note you to death when you've just started a job? How could you not turn into a yes man like Jay Leno, Conan? How?

Nicely played, NBC execs. You all just admitted that you never watched "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." May Triumph poop all over your network from here to the end of time.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Kimmel destroys Leno in front of Leno

2010-01-15T09:45:00.005-06:00

Days after adopting a fake chin and prancing around as Jay Leno throughout his entire show, Jimmy Kimmel took it up a notch last night.

In what Leno's people must have thought would be a savvy booking (and it appears to have worked since this is the first time we've chosen to embed a clip from the now-cancelled "Jay Leno Show" on Channel Surfing), the ABC host gleefully answered questions during Leno's "10 at 10" segment.

While we're not huge fans of Kimmel, he earned our respect last night by staying firmly in Conan O'Brien's corner as Mr. Big Jaw lobbed lame questions his way via satellite. After all, it's easy to do a scathing impression of Leno in front of your audience, but to go after Leno on his home turf took a certain amount of stones. Also, while Leno has justifiably been vilified for pulling a Favre on our beloved Coco, to his credit, he was a good sport on air.

But really, what could he do as Kimmel eviscerated him about the NBC situation? Be funny in return?

Yeah, that's what we thought.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

"Project Runway" returns tonight, but will it return to its former glory?

2010-01-14T14:30:00.006-06:00

I don't mean to sound like a doubter, but "Project Runway" better make it work this season or I may have to say Auf Wiedersehen to the hit fashion reality show.

Last season -- which featured a move from Bravo to Lifetime, a transcontinental location change to L.A. and an overload of celebrity guest judges -- just didn't cut it. To paraphrase Papa Gunn, it greatly worried me.

But Season 7 returns to familiar grounds in New York and promises regular appearances from judges extraordinaire Michael Kors and Nee-nah Gah-cia, who were MIA for much of last season to the show's detriment. In fact, Garcia told TV Guide that the show is "back to normal" and has the best crop of aspiring designers in the show's history. Even Bluefly.com returns as a sponsor (YAY!).

I'm not ready to call it quits, but if tonight's premiere hints at being a repeat of last season's hot mess, then I'm out!

But ease your "Runway" fears with this clip of Tim Gunn's recent appearance on the 100th episode of "How I Met Your Mother" as Barney's (Neil Patrick Harris) personal tailor:

Season 7 of "Project Runway" premieres tonight at 9 p.m. on Lifetime.

-- Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com

The gloves are coming off between Leno and Conan

2010-01-14T09:32:00.004-06:00

ABC's Jimmy Kimmel threw the first roundhouse rights on Tuesday, but you knew it was only a matter of time before the very public airing of grievances ("I gotta lot of problems with you people!") began to get more personal between Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien.

Having directed most of their anger at NBC executives since the network announced it wanted to move Leno back into the 10:35 p.m. slot, both Conan and "Big Jaw" Jay mixed it up with some body blows during their Wednesday night monologues.

Leno noted Conan's complaint that his NBC bosses gave him only seven months to establish an audience at the “Tonight” show.

“Seven months!” Leno said. “How did he get that deal? We only got four.”

O’Brien swiftly returned Leno's volley, saying that the “Tonight” show had been the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

“And I just want to say to the kids out there watching: You can do anything you want in life,” he said. “Unless Jay Leno wants to do it, too.”

Now, as one of the 85,000 strong showing support on the "I'm with Coco" Facebook page, Leno suggesting that he didn't get "enough time" -- even in jest during a monologue -- is about as empty and shallow as another recycled "Jaywalking" bit. I hate to keep harping on the Brett Favre analogy (hey, this type of inner turmoil is old hat to us in Green Bay!), but the whole, "Aw shucks, I just wanna play ball" scenario is garbage when promises are made -- and as Conan said last night by noting how his entire staff moved to California -- other people's livelihoods are involved.

Sorry, but just like Favre couldn't walk off a plane and interrupt the Packers team scrimmage only to assume his old throne, the Leno move isn't small potatoes like Jerry Seinfeld would have you believe. NBC screwed up big time by going back on its word and attempting to placate Leno, who clearly is the bigger name at the network. How is Conan supposed to react when Leno not only won't go away, but openly pines for his old position even though network bosses sealed his fate years ago?

Yeah, that Jay Leno: he's a real team player.

Unable to resist, David Letterman also chimed in during CBS’ “Late Show," saying, "Isn't it lousy cold outside today? You know, they say, from the weather bureau, it’s caused by an Arctic chill between Jay and Conan.”

NBC still hasn’t commented on O’Brien’s refusal to move "The Tonight Show," and a negotiated exit seems likely, according to the Associated Press. Meanwhile, that same report cited a study illustrating just how damaging Leno’s prime-time show was to NBC’s local stations.

The research firm Harmelin Media said local NBC stations saw their late news audience drop by an average of 25 percent in November compared with the previous year among 25- to 54-year-old viewers. The decline was particularly steep in some of the largest markets: 48 percent in New York, 43 percent in Los Angeles and 47 percent in Philadelphia.

Harmelin used data on the number of ads run in late local news programs and their cost to calculate that over a three-month period, the Leno experiment would cost these stations collectively $22 million.

Anyway, say what you want about the drama at NBC, but the ongoing tug-of-war is making "The Tonight Show" must see TV as Conan continues to throw sharp barbs at his bosses and use it as fodder for his own shattered legacy as an NBC also-ran. Last night's "Classic Tonight Show" bit was priceless, but since I can't find that online, here are two clips of Coco in top form.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Late night turns into Leno bash-a-thon

2010-01-13T11:22:00.009-06:00

Normally we're in bed by 10:30 p.m., but a curious mind got the better of us as we stayed up Tuesday to see how NBC's late night gore fest would shape up.

After all, while NBC knew it wouldn't be able to stop competitors from piling on the smoldering wreckage, it probably figured the airing of grievances wouldn't become so public among its own network talent. But of course, these are comedians -- and nothing is off limits, especially not their own plight as it pertains to the very company that employs them.

Either way, Jay Leno came out on the losing end, with Conan O'Brien, David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel all taking veiled and not-so-veiled (as you can see by Kimmel's protruding chin, above) jabs during last night's round robin.

O'Brien kept it the most professional, making lighter, funny digs at Leno's expense, but none that came across as too personal. He saved a bit of restrained anger for the network itself, at one point snidely telling guest Tom Brokaw to stop referring to NBC during a personal story he was trying to tell. For the most part, it was self-deprecating -- as you'd expect of ol' Coco -- with O'Brien weighing his options and potential unemployment in the coming days. Here's a "Deal or No Deal"-style bit with Howie Mandel that sums up the evening's sentiments nicely.

Letterman, on the other hand, was involved in a particularly vicious tug-of-war for Johnny Carson's old "Tonight Show" seat, leading to his new home and show at CBS. Obviously, that story has been covered to death, particularly during HBO's "The Late Shift" movie in 1996. So needless to say, Letterman and Leno have some shaky history, which led to some funny advice for "Big Jaw" Jay and Carson "Pluto" Daly. Oh, there was also a bit of gloating.

Finally, Kimmel took up the torch for Conan (perhaps inadvertently) by not only mocking Leno's slight lisp, but dressing up in character for the entire show. During the monologue (which went much longer than the following clip), you could sense that the audience thought Kimmel would drop the shtick after awhile. But he kept going -- earning laughs by continually repeating flat, unfunny jokes, engaging the band leader in cheeseball-style comedy and mimicking Leno's "did you hear about this one?" segue approach. Kimmel also returned from the commercial break with a "Headlines" parody.

Again, Kimmel kept up this scathing routine for the entire show, even when first guest Chevy Chase (interestingly, a cast member of NBC's "Community") sat down. Chase showed up in a red Conan wig to play along, but seemed to want to abandon the bit after awhile and engage in a real interview. Either that, or he just didn't know how to keep responding, because while not contentious, there was certainly an awkwardness that permeated the exchange. That's probably Kimmel's fault since he was still trying to be Leno, but also attempting to ask real questions about Chase's new show and career. One of Kimmel's many deficiencies as perhaps the worst late night host on air, and perhaps a case of taking the Leno joke too far.

So, what did you think of everything? Have any opinions on Conan and Leno going forward? Leave us a comment!

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Commercial Interruption: Conan the Destroyer

2010-01-12T11:48:00.011-06:00

Sometimes there’s just too much breaking news for one Channel Surfing blogger to handle. That's when we need to sit back, relax and indulge in some friendly back-and-forth (via email, of course — we don't actually like to speak to one another in person). And with that, bloggers Thomas Rozwadowski and Malavika Jagannathan are ready to dig into NBC's dirty late night laundry.

Earlier today, Conan O'Brien rejected NBC's plans to move "The Tonight Show" to 11:05 p.m. in order to accommodate Jay Leno's return to late night. In a statement, O'Brien said he hopes that NBC can "resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work." O'Brien further stated that, "Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over 'The Tonight Show' in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 (10:30 CST) is impossible without both.

"But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my 'Tonight Show' in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule."

Thomas: And here I thought Sarah Palin's debut on "The O'Reilly Factor" or the premiere of "American Idol" was going to be the big TV news of the day.

It's been an eventful week for television, with the sordid mess at NBC getting decidedly more acidic with each passing hour. Both Leno and O'Brien took shots at the peacock during their telecasts last night -- and let's just get this out there, I'm an O'Brien supporter, not a Leno fan -- so for my money, only one of the two came across as legitimately sincere in his spite and anger.

Now, I acknowledge that Leno appears to have been a team player through all of this -- or at least that's what Paul Reiser says. Apparently the Jay-dogg didn't want to retire, but fell on the sword so NBC could keep Conan in the "Tonight" slot. Now that his 9 p.m. show is done -- you know, that comedy spectacular with more crappy, recycled jokes than a "Pull My Finger" convention -- it looks like he's the prized pony and Conan is left playing second fiddle again. Only this time, all of late night is screwed up because Conan, even though he'd maintain the "Tonight" throne, would immediately have to follow Leno's half-hour show with all the A-listers and promos "The Jay Leno Show" already received these past few months.

So maybe Leno isn't as wishy-washy as Brett Favre, but he hasn't exactly been Conan's biggest supporter, either.

And that brings us to today. Conan has rejected NBC's plans for a move, citing the importance of maintaining "The Tonight Show's' enduring legacy in late night annals. Honestly, I could care less about the integrity of the show. Leaving NBC will be the best move (maybe not financially in the short term) that Conan could make. This is a network that's spinning and spinning in an attempt to solve its financial woes. So in the process of trying to make everyone happy for the sake of "revolutionizing" prime time, no one's happy -- and that likely includes Leno even though Mr. "I'd Take the 'Tonight Show' Back in a Heartbeat" will likely assume his familiar, boring role and get the same ratings he always did. None of this appears personal with Conan, but I can't be certain of that.

Look, Conan's comedy couldn't be more different than Leno's. He was never going to keep the old codger crowd (who apparently watches late night programming, go figure) that Leno maintained. "The Tonight Show" banner was proving to be a burden with Leno still soundly in the picture. Conan will be better off starting fresh and enjoying the resources of a network that fully supports something different after 10 p.m. -- whatever and wherever that is.

MJ, what do you think about the news?

Malavika: I, too, was never a Leno fan, so I'm coming from a place of bias. But even if you were a Leno fan, imagine how this feels if you are in Conan's shoes for the past few years. Here's a job you've been priming for, but the guy who has it just will not GO AWAY even though he's past his prime.

Sure, Leno took one for the team when he quit. But instead of retiring to some island and wooing the natives with his pointy chin, Leno was there five nights a week in a vapid, low-cost production that was but a mere ripoff of his previous show. Moreover, it was killing NBC, who just didn't have the cojones to figure it out until news organizations across the country started complaining that Leno's 9 p.m. program was killing the ratings for their 10 p.m. newscast (I doubt our area NBC station was one of them, but I digress) and their morning newscast.

And now that NBC has finally woken up to their shortsighted decision, Leno wants his old job back?

Conan absolutely did the right thing. His style of comedy and loyal viewers will follow him wherever he goes, and, frankly, it's a good thing it's not on NBC anymore. He needs a network or a station willing to let him be Conan -- funny, insane, often bizarre -- and he's better off without that peacock around his neck.

Let Leno take back "The Tonight Show." I won't be watching it either way.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com, Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com

David Simon's next project has a trailer

2010-01-11T16:02:00.007-06:00

It's David Simon. Creator of "The Wire." Respect the title.

Because we haven't mentioned it on Channel Surfing before, "Treme" (Tra-MAY) is Simon's new HBO drama set against the unique New Orleans backdrop of second-line parades, brass bands and Mardi Gras Indians. According to NOLA.com (which has covered the series development extensively), the show is bringing with it "tens of millions of dollars in spending, dozens of jobs and national exposure for the city's music and culture." "Treme" will debut in April.

The series' first-season story begins several weeks after Hurricane Katrina and follows its characters -- based on real-life models Kermit Ruffins, Donald Harrison Jr. and Davis Rogan, among others -- at least through the first Mardi Gras after Katrina. Each subsequent season of the series advances the story one year further from the storm.

Cast members include John Goodman, Wendell Pierce (Bunk from "The Wire"), Clarke Peters (Lester Freamon from "The Wire"), Khandi Alexander ("The Corner") and Steve Zahn ("That Thing You Do!"). Elvis Costello is also said to have an early cameo.

At the National Press Club luncheon last year, Simon said of "Treme":

"It's not a crime show. It's about people trying to find their way home and reconstitute their lives in a city that was very ill-treated in the wake of the storm, and I don't just mean the immediate wake, but in all the years that have followed. The national response to what has gone on in New Orleans is an embarrassment."

Boy, I wish I could afford HBO again ...

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Crisis averted: "Lost" won't be pre-empted

2010-01-08T14:49:00.005-06:00

No harm, no foul, "Lost" fans. Desmond must have turned the fail-safe key.

From the Associated Press:

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says he doesn't foresee a scenario in which President Barack Obama's State of the Union address will fall on Feb. 2, the same night "Lost's" final season debuts.

The State of the Union is traditionally held at the end of January, but there have been rumors that the White House could move the speech to early February in hopes of having a health care bill in hand.

Gibbs says a date for the address will be announced soon.

Also: On his Twitter account, "Lost" co-creator Damon Lindelof claimed victory, tweeting, "Okay. So Obama didn't technically 'back down.' He leveraged Carlton and I to do something on the show. Two words. MORE FROGURT."

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Wanna be S-M-R-T? Let life lessons from 'The Simpsons' be your guide

2010-01-08T14:26:00.003-06:00

This article originally ran in the Green Bay Press-Gazette prior to "The Simpsons Movie" being released in 2007. In honor of the show's 450th episode airing Sunday on Fox, we thought it would serve as an appropriate Channel Surfing salute to Matt Groening's continued genius.

To be perfectly honest, longtime "Simpsons" fans didn't need a big-budget movie to seal their devotion to Matt Groening's four-fingered universe.

After 18 years — and more specifically, an unparalleled run of brilliance during Seasons 1 through 8 — this weekend's expected box office smash is akin to the release of a band's "Greatest Hits" album.

You've invested the time. You recall the special moments. And while an extended push of the play button is worth the anticipation, it's the cherry on top of what has already been a star-studded career.

In the Springfieldian spirit of celebration — and nothing more than the opinion of a longtime fan who has used "Simpsons" quotes far too often as e-mail subject lines — here are 10 unforgettable lessons from the show's golden era.

"Homer at the Bat"

Quick synopsis: Montgomery Burns turns into Springfield's version of George Steinbrenner upon hiring major league players to secure a winning bet in the nuclear power plant softball league. The move reduces Homer and his "Wonderbat" to benchwarmer status — at least until the big leaguers start experiencing odd misfortune on their way to the ballpark.

Instantly memorable because of ... Ken Griffey Jr.'s gigantism brought on by an overdose of nerve tonic.

Quotable: Bart: "You make me sick, Homer. You're the one who told me I could do anything if I just put my mind to it!" Homer: "Well, now that you're a little bit older, I can tell you that's a crock! No matter how good you are at something, there's always about a million people better than you." Bart: "Gotcha. Can't win, don't try."

Real life lesson: Loyalty should always trump greed. Even if you've bet a million dollars on a sporting event and Roger Clemens is available to pitch.

"Mr. Plow"

Quick synopsis: With his car totaled, Homer visits the auto show and purchases a snow plow as a means of secondary income. Having gained respect in the community — all aided by a delightfully redundant TV jingle — Homer is riding high until best friend Barney steals his thunder as the rival "Plow King."

Instantly memorable because of ... "Call Mr. Plow, that's my name, that name again is Mr. Plow!"

Quotable: Actor Adam West tries to convince Bart and Lisa that he's the "real" Batman. "Back in my day, we didn't need molded bodysuits. (Taps his chest.) Pure. West."

Real life lesson: Friends are always better than enemies, even in the cutthroat snow plow industry.

"I Love Lisa"

Quick synopsis: Ralph Wiggum's finest hour, but not before problems arise when Lisa gives the chronic nose-picker a pity Valentine's Day card. Smitten with his new "girlfriend," Ralph's announcement to the world forces normally polite Lisa to break his heart during Krusty the Clown's anniversary show. Ralph channels his embarrassment into a mesmerizing performance as George Washington in the school play.

Instantly memorable because of ... Lisa's valentine to Ralph, a card with a little train that says, "I-Choo-Choo-Choose You."

Quotable: "Someone's gotten to you, you deceitful cow!" — master thespian Rex after Miss Hoover gives Ralph the part of Washington, thanks to meddling from his police chief dad.

Real life lesson: Dry those tears. Spite is the driving force for all great art.

"Homer's Barbershop Quartet"

Quick synopsis: At a flea market, Bart and Lisa discover the lost Be-Sharps album, recorded by Homer and his barbershop quartet during the summer of 1985. The group's meteoric rise to the top is recounted by Homer — with Beatles references and a cameo by George Harrison — leading to the ultimate payoff, a rooftop reunion at Moe's Tavern.

Instantly memorable because of ... the Be-Sharps name, "witty at first ... but less funny each time you hear it."

Quotable: "Eh, it's been done" — an unimpressed Harrison after driving past the Be-Sharps rooftop performance.

Real life lesson: Fame is fleeting. Be-Sharps funny foam lasts forever.

"Homer Goes to College"

Quick synopsis: When Homer causes a nuclear meltdown, he's forced to attend Springfield University to keep his job. Problem is, Homer's vision of college life has been molded by cheesy 80s comedies like "School of Hard Knockers," leading to nothing but disruption for a group of naïve nerds and a "crusty old dean."

Instantly memorable because of ... "Curly, straight. Curly, straight."

Quotable: "Dad, nerds are nothing to fear. In fact, they've done some pretty memorable things. Some nerds of note include popcorn magnate Orville Redenbacher, rock star David Byrne and Supreme Court justice David Souter." — Lisa

Real life lesson: A balance can be struck between studying and "partying down." But never, ever mess with mascot pigs that have powerful ex-Presidents for friends.

"Rosebud"

Quick synopsis: Even the Ramones can't cheer up Mr. Burns, who during a birthday blowout becomes wistful for his childhood teddy bear, Bobo. When Bart goes to the Kwik-E-Mart to buy a bag of ice, he finds Burns' long-lost compatriot inside. Now in baby Maggie's possession, Burns does his best to wrestle Bobo away from her, leaving Homer to grapple with the choice of lifelong riches or his daughter's happiness.

Instantly memorable because of ... Bobo's historic journey upon leaving Burns' possession, which includes brief stops with Charles Lindbergh, Adolf Hitler and members of a North Pole expedition.

Quotable: "Oooh, a head bag! Those are chock full of (long pause) heady goodness." — Apu

Real life lesson: Choosing your daughter's smile over a large sum of money? Good. Eating 64 slices of American cheese in one sitting? Not good.

"Deep Space Homer"

Quick synopsis: In an effort to ramp up public interest in the space program, NASA embarks on a search to find the perfect "blue-collar slob" for launch day. Homer beats Barney by default and nearly gets Buzz Aldrin killed when potato chips and ants (which appear as giants during a TV camera close-up) dangerously clog the instrument panel during their mission.

Instantly memorable because of ... the inanimate carbon rod, which ensures the astronauts' survival by securing the door hatch after Homer breaks the handle. The rod later makes the cover of Time magazine ("In Rod We Trust") and receives its own parade.

Quotable: "One thing is for certain; there is no stopping them. The ants will soon be here. And I for one, welcome our new insect overlords," — TV anchor Kent Brockman while making a pitch to help the ants round up humans to "toil in their underground sugar caves"

Real life lesson: Be happy with who you are, accolades or not. We can't all be heroes like the inanimate carbon rod.

"The Boy Who Knew Too Much"

Quick synopsis: Bart forges an excuse note in order to ditch school, causing a suspicious Principal Skinner to stay hot on his trail. The chase leads Bart to filthy rich Freddy Quimby's birthday party, where our favorite spiky-haired troublemaker becomes the lone witness to an altercation between the spoiled socialite and a waiter who has a funny way of saying "chowder."

Instantly memorable because of ... Bart's moral dilemma ("a sissy boy who's too scared to come forward") perfectly captured in an episode of "Dirty Harry"-esque cop show, "McGarnagle"

Quotable: "Well, Marge, it was horrible. Everyone was against me in that jury room. But I stood by the courage of my convictions and I prevailed. And that's why we had Chinese food for lunch." — Homer

Real life lesson: No matter your accent, always pronounce the word "chowder" correctly when around someone from Massachusetts.

"Sideshow Bob Roberts"

Quick synopsis: Rush Limbaugh clone Birch Barlow enlists cunning convict Sideshow Bob to run for mayor and stave off the "Dumbocrats." After receiving a pardon due to media manipulation, Bob uses his new powers to squash arch-nemesis Bart, who is busy trying to prove voter fraud while saving his own hide.

Instantly memorable because of ... Sideshow Bob's political ad proclaiming, "Mayor Quimby supports revolving door prisons. Mayor Quimby even released Sideshow Bob — a man twice convicted of attempted murder. Can you trust a man like Mayor Quimby? Vote Sideshow Bob for mayor."

Quotable: "And the results are in. For Sideshow Bob, 100 percent. For Joe Quimby, 1 percent. And we remind you, there is a 1 percent margin of error." — Kent Brockman

Real life lesson: Corrupt politicians always get their comeuppance. Or not.

"Who Shot Burns? — Part One and Two"

Quick synopsis: A perfectly executed parody of the classic "Who Shot J.R.?" cliffhanger from "Dallas" (sprinkled with coy O.J. trial references) that infiltrated pop culture with its mass marketed guessing game in 1995. Universally loathed Mr. Burns finally pushes Springfield too far, leaving several town suspects, but only one shooter. Like taking candy from a baby, right?

Instantly memorable because of ... the entire plot arc, a brilliant "Whodunnit?" that even managed to call Mambo king Tito Puente into question.

Quotable: "DNA, positive ID — those won't hold up in any court. Run, Dad!" — Bart

Real life lesson: Only two kinds of people are immune from the justice system. Babies and celebrities with high priced lawyers.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Would Obama dare mess with the "Lost" premiere?

2010-01-07T15:40:00.006-06:00

And you thought Sawyer was upset when Locke's dad revealed that his con helped kill little James Ford's ma and pa?

The Internet is rampant with irate speculation that President Obama may be pushing his State of the Union address back to Feb. 2 -- a direct conflict with ABC's three-hour premiere of "Lost: The Final Flippin' Season."

And of course, the only way to channel that kind of Jack Shephard-like pill-and-booze fueled anger is to ... (yawn) start a Facebook group.

According to the AP, Facebook fans have already rallied as a unit called “Americans Against the State of the Union on the Same Night as LOST". Let the angry comments commence! (For the record, AATSOTUOTSNAL makes for a clunky acronym.)

Really though, this whole controversy might be a false alarm -- you know, kinda like when everyone thought Locke was dead, but then he really wasn't dead, but actually, he was dead and just re-incarnated in a host body as the dude who eventually convinced Ben to stab Jacob. Yeah ... just like that.

Still, this potential Obama switcheroo at the cost of "Lost" sounds like something those dirty Others would concoct. Then again, the AP is reporting that the White House has yet to confirm when Obama will actually speak, though TV Guide is saying only two dates are still in play -- Jan. 26 or Feb. 2.

Also, an ABC spokesman wouldn’t confirm whether the network would consider moving the "Lost" premiere, but it would seem pretty radical to not air the State of the Union address, no matter how much "Lost" promotion has already been done (and how much unnecessary standing and clapping takes place during that colossal snore-fest).

If Obama wants Feb. 2 -- and after all, he is our socialist dictator -- then Feb. 9 seems a likely destination for our favorite island dwellers to start grapplin' with that whole bomb detonation headache.

Honestly though, if the Prez does decide that he wants to talk about health care, mid-term elections and other non-important stuff on Feb. 2, well, he better just hope I don't hand-feed him to the smoke monster, or at the very least, sick Sayid Jarrah: Bad-Ass Interrogator on his trail (for the record, if any Secret Service members are reading this, that's not an actual threat. If it's construed as such, well, fellow "Lost" die-hard Adam Reinhard made me write it.)

Seriously, Obama. Do the right thing. Pre-empt "American Idol" on Jan. 26 instead.

Don't think I won't vote for Mitt Romney in 2012.

Photo credit: MTV.com

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Wisconsin CW holding viewing party for new show

2010-01-07T14:19:00.004-06:00

Here's the lowdown: The CW has a new show called "Life Unexpected," which, as you can tell from the preview above, kinda looks lame. But, disclaimer, I am a bitter, senile old man who only watches "60 Minutes," and even then I turn it off before that smart-alec punk Andy Rooney comes on. So these CW teen dramas with their slacker dads and their implied premarital sex and their insistence that radio DJs can actually be cool, good-looking people is probably just not my taste.

But, if it looks like something you'd enjoy, you should know that Wisconsin's CW is throwing a little party to celebrate the show's debut, because that's something TV stations do sometimes, but mostly never. There will be prizes, though! And free posters! And maybe the stars of the show will be there, and they'll bring pizza!*

Here's what Jeff Bartel, the CW's promotions manager, has to say in the station's news release: "Life UneXpected is a great show -- it's got heart, humor, and great writing & acting. I'm so excited to offer you this chance to experience it for yourself, especially in a fantastic venue like the Club at Tom, Dick & Harry's!"

And this is how he describes the show: "After spending her life bouncing from one foster family to another, 15-year-old Lux has decided to become an emancipated minor. Her journey through the legal maze leads Lux to her biological father, 30-something Nate "Baze" Bazile, who lives like an aging frat-boy and is astonished to learn he has a daughter. Lux is equally astonished to learn that her mother is Cate Cassidy, a star on local radio, along with her boyfriend, Ryan Thomas. When a judge grants temporary custody of Lux to Baze and Cate, they agree to make a belated attempt to give Lux the family she deserves."

Me again. Seriously, who names a kid Lux?

The party is Tuesday at 7 p.m., at Tom, Dick and Harry's in Ashwaubenon. Admission is free. Or you can join me at the retirement home where I live because I'm old, and we can watch "60 Minutes." Up to you.

* The stars of the show will not be there, and therefore will not bring pizza. Prizes and posters, though, most definitely.

-- Adam Reinhard, areinhard@greenbaypressgazette.com

Do we really want 3D TV?

2010-01-06T15:40:00.000-06:00

Hey, did you like that "Avatar" movie? Wasn't it cool with those big blue Thundercat things and the chick everybody hated from "Lost" flying a helicopter, all in glorificous 3-D so real it was practically knocking over your $30 bucket of popcorn? Didn't you just love those pinchy glasses you had to wear, and the massive headache you had when the three-hour non-stop explosions and gunfire were all done? Didn't you say to yourself, "Now if only I could have a similar experience watching 'Wheel of Fortune' at home."

The technology gods heard you, and if this week's International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is any indication, they are working overtime to make 2010 the year America finally gets 3D TV. According to the Las Vegas Sun, 3D television sets are one of the must-see items at the annual trade show, with several leading manufacturers even expected to announce release dates and pricing information. (Spoiler alert: EXPENSIVE.)

Broadcasters are starting to get into the act, too. ESPN announced this week it would be launching a new network, ESPN 3D, in June, and would air at least 85 live sporting events (fingers crossed for World Series of Poker in 3D). And the Discovery Channel is looking to team up with Sony and IMAX to launch a full-time 3D channel sometime in 2011.

Admittedly, those two networks are a perfect fit for the new technology. How great would it be to watch a Packers game at home, and feel like you're right there on the field? Aaron Rodgers is calling plays, to you! You may as well be running those routes with Donald Driver! Go, Rudy, go! Why, you'd be so popular with your 3D TV, and your 3D ESPN, and your 3D snack tray, that everybody on the block will want to come over to your house to watch the game!

And wear 3D glasses. That you will have to buy. FOR EVERYBODY.

Remember when I said this was going to be expensive?

Yes, if you want to jump aboard this 3D TV train, be prepared to pay out the caboose. That new 52-inch HDTV you bought yourself for Christmas? Hope it looks good in your bedroom, because you'll need to buy a whole new, 3D-ready set, which will likely cost around $2,000. And those glasses? Anywhere from $50-$100 a pop. You'll probably have to get a special cable box put in, too. Not to mention all the Advil you're going to want to stock up on, thanks to those lovely 3D-induced headaches, see above.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the idea of 3D entertainment. I actually liked the depth and scope it added to movies like "Avatar" and "Up." (I didn't like the extra $2 ticket surcharge, but whatever.) I just don't think it's necessary. See, we humans have this little thing called "imagination," which we can utilize (for free!) to look at a 2D photo or movie and immerse ourselves in it. Is it worth thousands of dollars to bypass that innate ability, just to sit around wearing dorky glasses in our living rooms?

Maybe. I mean, it does sound pretty cool, right? But then again, I thought the same thing about Virtual Boy...

What do you think about 3D TV? Would you spend money on it? Let us know. And for some further reading on the topic, check out this New York Times article, and this article from KansasCity.com.

-- Adam Reinhard, areinhard@greenbaypressgazette.com

"The Daily Show" Senior British Correspondent John Oliver's new show

2010-01-06T13:08:00.007-06:00

With the departure of Ed Helms, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Rob Corddry and other "Daily Show" correspondents to bigger and brighter things, it was only time before the show's most recent shining star would get his own show.

Anyone who has watched John Oliver -- aka "The Daily Show" Senior British Correspondent -- over the last three years knows how hilarious he is. Between his accent, his comic timing and his ability to ask the most bizarre questions to important people with a perfectly straight face, Oliver is the best Transatlantic import to hit the New World since "The Office." (Plus, as he admits in this interview with NPR, people assume he knows what he's talking about because of his British accent).

His new show isn't a show as much as a half-hour stand-up special where he hosts some of his favorite comedians, including names like Eugene Mirman, Brian Posehn, Janeane Garofalo, Marc Maron, Kristen Schaal and Paul F. Tompkins. But you can expect plenty of Oliver and visits from other "Daily Show" staples. This video of Oliver and ex-"Daily Show" correspondent Rob Riggle, for example, previewing the show is probably an indicator of what's to come:

Jokes.com

John Oliver and Rob Riggle - Elvis' Birthday

comedians.comedycentral.com

Joke of the Day

Stand-Up Comedy

Free Online Games

"John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show" premieres this Friday at 10 p.m. on Comedy Central.

-- Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com

Cure the post-holiday blues with new episodes and returning shows

2010-01-04T12:25:00.005-06:00

Alas, the holidays are over.

Sad as that might be -- and after two straight three-day weekends, it's practically tragic in my world -- there is a silver lining. Luckily our favorite shows are also back at work. Starting this week and next, many shows come back with new episodes or start new seasons. This includes ratings juggernauts like -- ugh -- "American Idol" and personal Channel Surfing favorites like "Project Runway" and "Lost."

Mo Ryan of the Chicago Tribune has a nice roundup in her column today, which is where I liberally borrowed much of this information. But here are the biggies:

Tonight: "Heroes" returns with a double episode at 7 p.m. on NBC, "The Bachelor" at 7 p.m. on ABC (Channel Surfing Note: Tune into the BCS: Fiesta Bowl instead... Go Horned Frogs!)

Jan. 5: "The Biggest Loser" at 7 p.m. on NBC, "Law and Order: SVU" at 8 p.m. on NBC, "The Good Wife" at 9 p.m. on CBS

Jan 6: New episodes of ABC's comedy lineup ("The Middle," "Modern Family," "Cougar Town") at 7 p.m., "Ugly Betty" at 9 p.m. on ABC

Jan 7: "30 Rock" at 8:30 p.m. on NBC

Jan 10: "Chuck" at 8 p.m. on NBC

Jan 11: "House" on Fox at 7 p.m.

Jan 12: "American Idol" at 7 p.m. on Fox

Jan 14: "Project Runway" at 9 p.m. on Lifetime

Jan 17: "24" at 8 p.m. on Fox

Jan 25: "Damages" at 9 p.m. on F/X

Feb. 2: "Lost" (insert girlish squeals from Tom and Adam here) at 8 p.m. on ABC

What are you most looking forward to?

--Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com

Ring in the New Year with "Law and Order"

2009-12-31T15:08:00.005-06:00

It is a truth universally acknowledged that no New Year's Weekend is complete without a "Law and Order" marathon on television.

TNT will be showing a string of episodes of the classic criminal procedural on Sunday morning, so sit back, relax and watch Jerry Orbach solve crimes one wisecrack at a time. The "Best Week Ever" blog has a great post about the "3 Universal Truths of Law and Order" that should not be missed by any fan, including how to predict who will be responsible for the crime (hint: any pseudo recognizable guest star is the obvious guilty party and if they've arrested someone with 40 minutes still to go in the episode, it's always the wrong person).

Here are a few more universal truths about the long-running show, which is addictive in its predictability and yet always intriguing. This includes episodes I've previously seen.

1. If someone confesses to the crime, they're usually doing it to protect the real killer -- often the child or spouse of the person confessing.

2. Rich, powerful people are always crooks. This is especially true if they're the head of any corporation.

3. The person who is most helpful to the cops -- often the bartender/bystander/landlord/waitress -- always knows more than they're telling you. You'll probably talk to them again.

4. If there's a crook the cops have trouble arresting, it usually means that person is an undercover cop/federal marshall/FBI agent.

5. Jack McCoy will never turn down a chance to make a case about the Constitution. Never.

See you in 2010, everyone!

--Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com

Commercial Interruption: Baby mama drama

2009-12-31T14:01:00.006-06:00

Sometimes there’s just too much television for one Channel Surfing blogger to handle. That's when we need a break to sit back, relax and indulge in some friendly back-and-forth (via email, of course — we don't actually like to speak to one another in person). Bloggers Kelly McBride and Malavika Jagannathan are admittedly hooked on MTV’s “Teen Mom,” the sequel series to “16 and Pregnant.” The reality series shows the good — but mostly the bad — of teen parenting. But can it lead today’s amorous teens to think twice?

Kelly: OK, I admit it. From the time a chance trip around the dial found me watching MTV’s “16 and Pregnant,” I was hooked. I’m pretty sure I saw every episode, including the reunion show. Judge if you must and then let’s move on.

What I expected with "16 and Pregnant" was a glamorized account of teen pregnancy and motherhood, the sort of story that shows a fight or two with the baby daddy but ultimately ends up depicting the picture-perfect teenage family. And while there was a bit of that in some of the hour-long stories, I was surprised at the healthy dose of reality the show often was able to deliver (no pun intended). Moving onto “16’s” sequel series, “Teen Mom,” the day-to-day realities of young motherhood — or in one case, the absence thereof following adoption — are delivered in a starker, even more direct fashion.

The show follows the stories of four teens whose lives were interrupted by unintended pregnancy. Maci is working to raise her young son while dealing with emotionally absent boyfriend Ryan and trying to come to terms with being left behind when her friends leave for college.

Amber is raising her daughter while trying to get her GED and constantly fighting with fiancée Gary.

Farrah’s baby daddy never even enters the picture, and she tries unsuccessfully to date as guy after guy realizes they’re not ready to step into the father role. In the show’s most wrenching storyline, Catelynn and Tyler made the impossible choice to give their daughter up for adoption, and now must endure constant ridicule from parents who disagreed with their decision.

Another day in paradise, it isn’t.

I’ve found myself really rooting for these couples (well, the moms, anyway), especially Catelynn and Tyler, who are infinitely wiser and more mature than their stupid, scuzzy parents. The teens and their stories seem real, much more so than much of MTV’s reality fare (or reality TV in general). Malavika, what is it about this show that makes it so addictive? And perhaps more importantly, do you think it will actually resonate with teens and make them think twice about their actions?

Malavika: I'm hardly a reality TV aficionado, but MTV's "16 and Pregnant" and its successor "Teen Mom" have become staples in my weekly viewing. MTV is all about voyeuristic television, but "Teen Mom" is illuminating without being intrusive. As much as I liked the movie "Juno," it's not exactly an accurate picture of teenage pregnancy. With teen pregnancy rates increasing in many states, it's a timely and fairly realistic portrait of teenage momhood.

Although I suspect in some ways there are teens itching to get pregnant in order to land their own MTV show -- probably the same teens who would have done so because it was trendy -- the show does not whitewash the realities of being a teenage parent. All of them, except for Farrah, have matured in their perspective of motherhood and the unexpected changes it's made to their lives.

Farrah, who in the last few episodes has attempted to enter the dating scene, is probably the least mature of the four moms featured on the show. Partially, she's lucky enough to have a family that doesn't mind watching her baby while she gallivants around town, but so far, all her dating attempts have failed. Instead of learning from the experience, she continues to head down the same path, while ignoring the advice from her overbearing mother and sister about focusing on her child and not herself.

Arguably the most heartwrenching storyline has been the one of Catelynn and Tyler -- who I misjudged initially in "16 and Pregnant" -- but who show an intense amount of maturity for their age. Not only do they choose to give their baby up for adoption against their parents' wishes, but they continue to deal with their unsupportive parents months after they make their decision.

Tyler is practically estranged from his father, Butch, over the adoption, but they both are confident that the difficult decision was for the best.

Saying an MTV show will slow down the teenage birth rate is sort of like saying "Just Say No" was a successful anti-drug campaign, but, who knows, maybe a couple of minds will at least be swayed by watching this program. And that's probably a success in and of itself. Other than Tyler, though, there are few mature guys depicted on the show -- both Gary and Ryan are pretty much children, while Farrah's list of potential boyfriends is pretty lame. Is that sending a good message about teenage dads?

Kelly: A good message? Maybe not. But it’s perhaps a realistic one. To be fair, I don’t know any teenage baby daddies, but perhaps seeing these guys behave as they do will make teen girls think twice about the ol’ happily-ever-after scenario. I’m sure there are some good teen dads out there, but probably just as many — if not more — who act like some of the yahoos on the show. I agree that “Teen Mom” can’t change the teen birthrate, but I think you’re right in that it could make a girl (or guy) or two think twice. And even if it doesn’t, it’s still a pretty decent show.

-- Kelly McBride, kmcbride@greenbaypressgazette.com and Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com

"Best TV Show of the Decade" voting ends tomorrow

2009-12-30T17:27:00.003-06:00

The Press-Gazette’s “Best TV Show of the Decade” contest completes its online voting tomorrow. Overall, we've received more than 1,000 votes both print and online, so there’s plenty of tallying yet to do before we reveal a winner next month.

Here's how the Top 10 plays out based on overall ballot votes:

1. “American Idol”
2. “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”
3. “House”
4. “The Office” (UK and US)
5. “Survivor”
6. “The Sopranos”
7. “The Amazing Race”
8. “24”
9. “Lost”
10. “How I Met Your Mother”

Though “Idol” earned the most votes from the online ballot, we’ll be giving weighted points to shows selected by readers as their ultimate favorite (which we asked in a separate question). So "Idol" may have won the popular vote, but don't assume it's the grand winner just yet!

Here’s a sample of voters’ favorites with reasons why:

“The West Wing”: “It made the process of the federal government accessible to everyone.”

“The Sopranos”: “It took the best of all the old great mobster movies and rolled it into a weekly series.”

“Lost”: “You can watch the show and try to figure out all the angles or you can just sit back and wait for it to happen. Either way, you feel you’ve gotten your full hour’s worth.”

“Desperate Housewives”: “It takes me away from the reality of my life but allows some reality of real life to still unfold.”

“Fringe”: “Because it is the most intelligent and witty science-fiction show out there.’’Keep your reality shows, play-it-again comedies and been-there-done-that dramas. This show is something completely fresh.”

“Scrubs”: “It had every emotion in the show. I laughed, cried, got mad, and I smile every time JD has one of his fantasies!”

“Rescue Me”: “It dealt with how people lived and did their jobs after being impacted by 9/11.”

“24”: “One never knows what Jack will come up with next, and it is really a commentary on many things actually happening.”

“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”: “Any time you can mock news but become more credible than the people reporting the real news is incredible.”

“Battlestar Galactica”: “Explored very nuanced moral and cultural issues without being preachy.’’

"SpongeBob SquarePants": "Who couldn't love someone who wants every day to be the best day EVER!"

“The Wire”: “No other show ever created has taught me so much about socio-economics while being incredibly entertaining.”

“Gilmore Girls”: “Always funny, entertaining and heartwarming.”

“Dexter”: “To create a show where you actually root for a serial killer takes the work of great writers and amazing actors.”

"The Office": "A very original show with dialogue that can make me laugh until I cry!"

“Deadwood”: “It was unlike any western ever on TV. Ian McShane was brilliant.”

"Family Guy": "Because it incorporates so much pop culture from EVERY decade, and the humor is non stop. Why is it not on the list?"

“Entourage”: “It is the ultimate guy show. Rude, brash and absolutely hilarious, I think every guy can relate to a character on the show.”

“Six Feet Under”: “It was one of the first shows to use dark humor in an entertaining way.”

"American Idol": "I love being a part of the decision and seeing people make a success out of their life. Plus, I can listen to their music on the radio so the show doesn't end after the winner is announced."

"Sex and the City": "The first show to honestly show relationships and how they work."

“Mad Men”: “There isn't a more complex cast of characters profiled more patiently anywhere on television.”

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Time Warner could get out-Foxed again

2009-12-30T15:37:00.004-06:00

Remember that dispute a little over a year ago with WLUK and Time Warner Cable -- you know, the one that sent Green Bay Packers fans scurrying to Wal-Mart for cheap antennas like they were Tickle Me Elmo dolls?

Then there was the heavily threatened Viacom blackout of 2009 that resulted in Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and MTV almost getting yanked off TW boxes before the New Year started.

Well, Time Warner is at it again, this time with the Fox Network over broadcast fees. However, as a Press-Gazette story stated today, Northeastern Wisconsin customers won't miss out on Sunday's Packers season finale against the Arizona Cardinals or the Jan. 12 return of "American Idol."

Time Warner Cable reps said the ongoing dispute doesn't involve many popular Fox channels including Fox News, Fox Sports Wisconsin and regular Fox programming available through WLUK. Instead, the affected Fox channels include FX, Fuel, Speed, Fox Reality, Fox Soccer and Fox Sports Espanol -- and let's face it, other than "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" (which is done for the season), who the heck watches those stations?

Anyway, if a new deal isn't reached by midnight, Time Warner customers will lose those extras, but initial reports made it seem much, much worse.

The AP also reported earlier today that Fox refused to accept Time Warner Cable’s offer to carry its broadcast signal while the fee dispute continues. Chase Carey, chief operating officer of Fox owner News Corp., told staff in a memo that a signal interruption was likely when the current deal over fees expires at midnight, halting service to millions of viewers.

Fox argues it needs to be paid more for broadcast signals that are retransmitted to subscribers of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.

-- Channel Surfing

'Dunham' is done: No second season for dummy and his puppets

2009-12-30T11:02:00.002-06:00

Just when I thought Christmas was over, Comedy Central drops this big, bright package in my lap, as if to say "We've saved the best for last!"

The network, which never met a lowest common denominator it didn't pander to, announced yesterday it would not be renewing the putrid "Jeff Dunham Show" for a second season. This after the ventriloquist "comedian's" debut episode (only a scant few months ago) garnered the largest audience for a show's premiere in Comedy Central's history.

It would be easy to dismiss the network's quick 180 on the show as a simple admission that it is the most vile, unfunny, insulting half hour of television ever conceived. But c'mon -- this is the network that also gave us four seasons of "Crank Yankers."

Yes, it was universally panned by critics, and has landed on nearly every year-end "worst of" list. And yes, viewership did drop from the 5.6 million of its debut to an average 1.8 million of recent episodes, but that's still more than watch "The Daily Show." Comedy Central obviously had an incentive to keep this show on the air in spite of the fact that it's not funny, and the word "comedy" is in their name.

Just chalk this one up as one of the great mysteries of TV. Or do like me, and treasure for the Christmas miracle it is.

-- Adam Reinhard, areinhard@greenbaypressgazette.com

Talking "Amazing Race" with Flight Time and Big Easy

2009-12-29T11:36:00.003-06:00

With the Harlem Globetrotters arriving for a Resch Center show tomorrow, Channel Surfing was able to talk shop with Herb “Flight Time” Lang and Nathaniel “Big Easy” Lofton before the holidays. Both proved why they were fan favorites on the show by graciously answering questions about their time on CBS' "The Amazing Race" -- they finished fourth -- and how their role with the Globetrotters has changed post-reality television.

No offense, Green Bay. But when Herb “Flight Time” Lang and Nathaniel “Big Easy” Lofton arrive in town Wednesday with their Harlem Globetrotters teammates, they’ll probably be wishing they were still on the warm and sandy Dubai leg of “The Amazing Race.”

“Hey, I got there last year around the same time. Like a foot and a half of snow,” said Lang, the Globetrotters’ resident ball-handling wizard and reality TV junkie.

“So I know what’s going on. I think I’m ready for it.”

As their name suggests, the Globetrotters rack up plenty of frequent-flier miles crisscrossing from country to country for shows. But this time, Lang and Lofton arrive in the frigid Midwest with an even thicker travelogue thanks to their finish in the final four of Season 15 of the Emmy Award-winning reality competition.

The CBS show — which zips from Vietnam to United Arab Emirates to Estonia in a matter of days — features various challenges aimed at mentally and physically exhausting its competitors as they race around the world for a $1 million prize. As expected, the game’s twists and turns can put even the most athletically imposing team on its back — something the Globetrotters learned during a brutal roadblock in Prague, Czech Republic.

In that episode, a competitor from each team was required to unscramble a set of letters and spell “Franz” — a reference to novelist Franz Kafka — before receiving a clue. Unable to figure out the puzzle, Lofton chose to accept a four-hour non-completion penalty, leading to the Globetrotters’ elimination.

“You know, it wasn’t that painful to watch again. Well, maybe a little bit,” Lofton said, laughing.

Though it looked like a snap decision on TV, Lofton said he was stuck in a room for three hours, unable to crack the code without any breaks. Frustrating as it was, Lang never thought to chastise his teammate for blowing the mission.

“That’s just who we are,” Lang said. “I mean, how could I be mad at him? Of course, I wanted to make it to the next round, but we had two first-place finishes before that. Won two vacations. Some teams in the race didn’t win anything. So without him, we wouldn’t have made it that far anyway. There was no way I was going to put unnecessary pressure on him. No way.”

Added Lofton: “All we wanted to do was have fun. We weren’t going to get caught up in bickering and yelling at each other, that sort of thing. When you have the camera on you 24-7, you have no choice but to be yourself. And we’re naturally good friends, entertainers, so I hope people were able to see that come across.”

Appreciation for the Globetrotters’ rare display of reality show restraint has continued to follow them post-”Race.” Fans have written e-mails and comments on the Globetrotters’ Web site letting both know that their patience and understanding is being used as a teaching tool in schools and at home.

Even better, “Race” watchers who didn’t previously have any interest in basketball are now coming to arenas to share in the unique Globetrotters-fan bond, Lang said.

“I know a lot of people were disappointed when we lost, but we’ve received so many positive thoughts about how kids look up to us and we’re being used as role models for teamwork,” he said. “They say, ‘What would Flight Time and Big Easy do?’ Honestly, that’s even more rewarding than winning a million dollars.”

Saying that with a straight face might not sound plausible. Then again, as Globetrotters who earn a paycheck traveling the world, Lang and Lofton are just happy to still be playing basketball after stellar college careers.

Displaced by Hurricane Katrina, Lofton was asked to try out for the Globetrotters after attending a charity show in his temporary home of Houston. The five-year vet — appropriately nicknamed “Big Easy” after his New Orleans hometown — played his college ball at Southeastern Louisiana.

Lang, a conference scoring champ at Centenary College in Shreveport, La., turned up on the Globetrotters’ radar after his win at the National Association of Basketball Coaches slam dunk contest during the 1998 Final Four.

The 11-year vet said it’s still hard to believe that he’s part of a Globetrotters lineage that includes legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Meadowlark Lemon and Curly Neal.

“In 84 years, there have been right around 400 total Globetrotters. That’s not a whole lot of players over 84 years,” Lang said. “So to carry on that tradition and to be ambassadors of goodwill in the United States is something special. We’re the home team in any country we go to. No other team can say that.”

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Channel Surfing's Best of 2009

2009-12-24T14:40:00.009-06:00

David Letterman issued a mea culpa. Kanye West bumrushed Taylor Swift. The Gosselins finally called it quits.

Beyond the TV headlines that help sell gossip rags, there was plenty of good ol’ fashioned writing and acting to absorb in 2009.

Being good couch potatoes, the Press-Gazette’s Channel Surfing bloggers didn’t stray far from the hypnotic glow of their TV sets. Here’s how they’ll remember the year.

Favorite drama

“Breaking Bad” – A strike-shortened first season set the table nicely. But Season 2 of “Breaking Bad” took Walt White’s delusion as a chemistry teacher-turned meth dealer to the next level by forcing him to confront the darkest consequences imaginable. Aaron Paul’s inspired turn as Jesse added much needed emotional layers to the show – a viewer investment capped by Walt coldly watching as his friend’s heroin-addled girlfriend choked to death before his eyes. – Thomas Rozwadowski

“Mad Men” – Season 3 of “Mad Men” started off slowly, but built to a crescendo that hopefully silenced even its harshest critics. Between Joan’s vase-throwing revenge on hubby Greg to the Don-Betty confrontation over his past life, “Mad Men” danced between the lines of flawlessness all season as it prepared for its dramatic conclusion. The intertwining of the season’s final episodes with the JFK assassination — and various business shenanigans at Sterling Cooper — left us happy and sad, crushed yet hopeful. Everything a good drama should do. -- Malavika Jagannathan

“Lost” – How can I explain how good "Lost" was in its fifth and penultimate season to anyone who's either stopped watching it or (gasp!) never even seen an episode? Well, I can't, and I won't try. Because "Lost" is a show that rewards the faithful by being the most engrossing, exciting, marvelous TV series currently on the air. With the new year comes the last season of this singularly remarkable show, and twelve months from now, you will see it again on this list. -- Adam Reinhard

Favorite comedy

"Flight of the Conchords" -- I can't help but feel reeeeeeeeeeeeejected like Murray Hewitt following the official announcement that "Flight of the Conchords" is indeed over. Though the Season 2 finale wasn't billed as a series ender, fans knew Bret and Jemaine's return to New Zealand likely meant their hapless New York City exploits were over. But I can't help it. I've still got hurt feelings ... I'VE GOT HURT FEELINGS ... ahem. Thankfully, Season 2 of the groundbreaking HBO comedy brought out some of the parody duo's best material and visuals -- "Fashion is Danger," "Carol Brown," and the aforementioned "Hurt Feelings" -- not to mention hilarious bits on epileptic dogs and Art Garfunkel. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to talk Mel down from the ledge. -- Thomas Rozwadowski

“Community” – Love Tina Fey and “30 Rock” as I do, it’s Joel McHale and the kooky cast of “Community” that've given me the most belly-aching laughs this year. McHale and his study group of fellow misfits at Greendale Community College -- including a revived Chevy Chase in his best comedic role to date -- are a ridiculous bunch. The freshman NBC show has a great balance of “Scrubs”-like feigned seriousness and wacky premises — and like “Scrubs,” our erstwhile hero (McHale) learns a good lesson each time about life. Secondary characters like Ken Jeong’s Senor Chang and John Oliver’s Professor Duncan are merely the cherry on top of this absurdly delightful sundae. -- Malavika Jagannathan

“Better Off Ted,” “Parks and Recreation” (tie) – The little shows that could. “Parks’’ started life as a poor “Office’’ clone in its first season, but hit the ground running last fall on a creative high. “Ted,’’ on the other hand, seemed like one of those brilliant shows that no one would watch, leading to quick cancellation. Luckily ABC saw fit to bring it back for a second go-round, and it’s only gotten funnier. -- Adam Reinhard

Favorite new show

“Modern Family” – ABC’s Emmy-nominated hit has something most smart comedies don’t strive for these days. Heart. Fresh, funny and not the least bit mean spirited, “Modern” doesn’t try to be anything but a great comedy that all ages and walks of life can enjoy. And seriously, how awesome is Manny? – Thomas Rozwadowski

"Community" -- Praised for its warmth as much as its humor, ABC's "Modern Family" appears to be getting all the buzz as TV's new Savior of the Sitcom. But for my money, NBC's "Community" has it beat on both counts. Sure, it plays the ironic detachment card often, thanks to its lead character (Joel McHale), a smarmy lawyer forced to attend community college after getting suspended. But the assorted losers and dropouts who comprise his study group resemble more of a true family unit than almost anything else on TV. -- Adam Reinhard

“The Vampire Diaries” -- "Diaries" isn’t exactly brainy fare, but it’s got that mix of romance, mystery, suspense and hot teens to make it a raging success. And, oddly enough, it’s the only new show I felt I couldn’t afford to miss each week. Maybe I am just a tween at heart, but “Vampire Diaries” definitely sank its fangs into me this fall. Best new show, maybe not, but definitely my favorite. -- Malavika Jagannathan

Favorite character

Joan Holloway, “Mad Men” – She’s the brilliant everywoman stuck under the misogynistic thumb of the male-dominated ‘60s. Yet while Peggy Olson typifies the rise to come for the modern working woman, Joan is the straw that truly stirs the drink (And on "Mad Men," they drink a lot). The only moment better than her triumphant return as office savior during the finale’s frenetic dash from Sterling Cooper? Why, cracking her detestable husband over the head with a vase, of course. – Thomas Rozwadowski

Alicia Florrick, “The Good Wife” – My two favorite characters in 2009 were both women, both wives, and both dealing with marital issues. But after much internal debate, the win goes to Alicia Florrick over my favorite desperate housewife, Betty Draper of “Mad Men.” The feisty Florrick, played to perfection by Julianna Margulies, is a heady combination of smarts and vulnerability on the new CBS drama that focuses on life after a sex scandal derails her politico hubby. True, it’s another one-case-per-episode lawyer show, but Florrick is captivating as she reflects but doesn’t copy the true-life experiences of wives like Dina McGreevey or Silda Spitzer. Plus, she’s got a great wardrobe and some killer calves to boot. -- Malavika Jagannathan

Abed Nadir, "Community" -- In a show stuffed with amazing character actors, Danny Pudi stands out as Abed, an amateur filmmaker with Asperger's syndrome. With probably the best deadpan since Keaton, Abed relates to every situation through a pop culture reference, for instance --"I thought you were like Bill Murray in any of his films, but you're more like Michael Douglas in any of his films." And hands down the funniest storyline of any show this season was when Abed not only dressed up like Batman for Halloween, but aped Christian Bale's strained voicework throughout the episode. Abed's the man. -- Adam Reinhard

Best “No F'n Way!’’ moment

The return of Zack Morris on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” – For a “Saved by the Bell” nostalgia buff, nothing beat Mark-Paul Gosselaar adopting his preppy persona while gripping a sneaker-size cell phone as Fallon geeked out with obscure trivia from the cheesy teen sitcom. B-ba-b-ba-b-ba-b, go Bayside! – Thomas Rozwadowski

Carrie Prejean’s outburst on “Larry King Live” – Sorry, but nothing tops ex-beauty queen Prejean accusing everyone’s favorite TV grandpa of being inappropriate when he asked a softball question about why she decided to settle with the Miss California pageant. When King stopped his line of questioning to take a call, Prejean took off her mike and threatened to walk off the stage. Ultimately, she stayed, and King continued to look flabbergasted. And so did we. -- Malavika Jagannathan

Most disappointing show

“Glee” – Jane Lynch’s antics kept me watching in the early-going, but after a while, the singing got a bit … how shall I put it … on my nerves. Popular as it might be, “Glee” could have been “Election” with a musical twist, but instead degraded into irritating and ludicrous territory one Journey song at a time. -- Malavika Jagannathan (sentiments echoed by Thomas Rozwadowski)

“Flash Forward” – No matter how hard they try, TV execs have yet to recreate the magic of “Lost.’’ “Flash Forward’’ seemed like it would be a valiant effort, even copying its sister show’s penchant for jumping around in time. But it lacks a firm rooting in basic humanity, leaning too far into all things mysterious and science-y, making for less-than-compelling viewing. -- Adam Reinhard

Favorite obsession

Seeing Brett Favre fail -- I'm not gonna lie. I watch Minnesota Vikings games about as obsessively as I do Packers games now. Yet while I've been forced to concede that my hometown team lost two games convincingly and Favre played lights out while sticking it to his old white-haired boss, I can't wait for the playoffs to start so I can see if the karma gods truly have my back. Now, that's not to say that I want Captain Audible to get injured or anything. But if Julius Peppers wants to jump on Favre and ride him into the turf like he's a rickety mechanical bull, that's just fine with me. Also, I'd like to see Brad Childress cry after Favre dresses him down on the sidelines -- preferably as the ol' gunslinger tries to defend a game-crippling interception in the fourth quarter of a divisional playoff game. Fingers crossed. -- Thomas Rozwadowski

"Top Chef" --“Top Chef” continues to rule my world. In 2009, we got a double-dose of Bravo’s cooking show with “Top Chef: Masters” airing over the summer, followed by the regular show’s best season of chefs so far. "Masters" was great because it pitted successful chefs against each other, for charity no less, and viewers got a peek into some of the greatest culinary minds in modern America (Rick Bayless, I love you). “Top Chef” continues to prove that real competition can win in the kitchen and in reality. -- Malavika Jagannathan

"The Guild" -- Our concept of what is and isn't television has gotten increasingly fuzzy, and it doesn't help when a web series like "The Guild" can be funnier and more original than half the shows on TV. But this wacky comedy about a group of strangers who are drawn together by the massive multi-player online video game for which they share an addiction is consistently inventive, well-acted, and hilarious. It recently wrapped its third season, and even a non-gamer like me is hungry for more. -- Adam Reinhard

Most tired storyline

Jay Leno's continued presence -- We get it, NBC. Jay Leno is on five nights a week and is stealing all the A-listers that no longer get funneled to Conan O'Brien's chair on the new "Tonight Show." ENOUGH WITH THE PROMOS! While national TV critics painstakingly attempt to dissect the Leno experiment in terms of ratings success and failure, I only care about what it means for the future of original programming, not to mention O'Brien's lost thunder as an NBC afterthought. Nice job, peacock. -- Thomas Rozwadowski

Cancer storyline on "Brothers and Sisters" -- I know it's cancer, so I shouldn’t be so cavalier about it, but it’s kind of, well, a downer. Every good primetime soap opera needs a medical drama to spice it up, but this one is especially boring because no one cares if Kitty Walker McCallister (Calista Flockhart) has cancer. She was far more interesting while attempting to start an affair in the park with a fellow dad than she is when trying to choose between chemotherapy treatments. Life is depressing as is, but television shouldn’t have to be. Cure her and be done with it! -- Malavika Jagannathan

The car crash -- It's time to put the kibosh on TV car crashes. From "Mad Men" to "Brothers and Sisters" to freaking "Gossip Girl," plots that feature sudden auto wrecks got out of control this year. The worst part is, the crashes aren't even that serious, and no one is ever badly hurt. They only serve to advance the story. Note to TV producers: If you're going to use this trite cliche, at least do us the courtesy of bumping somebody off. -- Adam Reinhard

Hopes for 2010

“Lost” goes out with a bang – An even more important question than whether “Lost’s” series finale can possibly satisfy its fans: Will viewers be able to function in normal society after wasting every free moment theorizing about this glorious show for the past five years? – Thomas Rozwadowski

World Cup fever -- There’s really only one sporting event I care about next year — the 2010 World Cup. And ESPN’s newfound respect for the sport everyone else in the world cares about has me hopeful that we lonely soccer/futbol fans won’t just be watching retooled international feeds at 3 a.m. like in previous years. For next year’s event, the network actually plans to produce all of its World Cup content with a substantial ground crew in South Africa and offer nightly post-game shows. GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!! -- Malavika Jagannathan

Keep the comedy coming – Just look at the list: “The Office,’’ “How I Met Your Mother,’’ “Big Bang Theory,’’ “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “30 Rock,” “Parks and Recreation,’’ “Better Off Ted’’ and promising newbies like “Cougar Town,’’ “The Middle,” “Community” and “Modern Family.’’ That’s 11 solid sitcoms looking forward. Hopefully, 2010 can keep the funny going. -- Adam Reinhard

Christmas -- a time of peace, love and television

2009-12-24T10:00:00.007-06:00

Right about the time you get sick of your family or drunk on egg nog -- or, heck, both -- is probably the best time to park yourself in front of the boob tube and indulge in a little miracle we call television.

Here's a guide to some of the lovely holiday-themed programming you can use as an excuse to slip away from the fam for a few blessed solitary hours, or, if you actually like them, make it a family event.

Tonight, Dec. 24

A Christmas Story -- TBS will air its 24-hour marathon of this heartwarming tale about young Ralphie and his quest for his Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Watch it, or you'll shoot your eye out. Runs for 24 hours from 7 p.m. tonight on TBS.

It's a Wonderful Life -- Even the Scroogiest among us can adore this classic story of holiday spirit and redemption. Watch Jimmy Stewart at his everyday-hero best and let's all hope we have guardian angels like Clarence watching over us. 7 p.m. on NBC

White Christmas -- Though the movie starts off in Europe during World War II and follows Army buddies played by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye in their post-war life as musical producers, it culminates in the holiday season with these simple, but prolific words: "May your days be merry and bright; and may all your Christmases be white." 7 p.m. on AMC with repeats until midnight.

Meet Me In St. Louis -- DVR this Judy Garland classic tonight and watch it tomorrow. Often overlooked in the holiday movie pantheon, the story of a turn-of-the-century family in St. Louis who has to leave their hometown is nostalgic without being schmaltzy. True, it's a musical, but listening to Garland sing the original version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is enough to grow your heart three sizes. Midnight on Turner Classic Movies.

Christmas Day, Dec. 25

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation -- Hang out with the Griswolds. It'll make you feel better about your own family. Just don't let your cat watch the scene with the Christmas tree. Starts at 5:30 a.m. on AMC with repeats throughout the day.

Bad Santa -- Billy Bob Thornton's drunk, foul-mouthed Santa is not exactly the man you imagined in your childhood, but that's exactly why it's refreshing in a line-up of happy-go-lucky holiday fare. Plus, the movie starts off in a bar in Milwaukee. Spike TV will air the movie all day.

Elf -- Will Ferrell's turn as Buddy the elf, a human adopted by Santa Claus, should be ludicrous, but it was actually kind of sweet in this 2003 flick. With an awesome cast -- Zooey Deschanel, James Caan and Bob Newhart, to name a few -- this is one of those new holiday classics that displays a lot of heart. USA Network will show the movie uncut and commercial free at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Variety has a great list of all the other marathons on television tomorrow, in case you want something non-holiday related.

Happy Holidays, everyone, from your friends at Channel Surfing!

-- Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com

Channel Surfing also wishes it was Christmas today ...

2009-12-23T10:25:00.007-06:00

Looking for a rockin' Christmas tune to wipe the floor with your mom's favorite Andy Williams or Perry Como standard?

Earlier this year, Julian Casablancas released an awesome version of 'Saturday Night Live" novelty number, "I Wish It Was Christmas Today." And while promoting his solo album on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" this week, the Strokes frontman cranked up the Christmas cheer alongside Fallon, Horatio Sanz and the Roots.

Now, this Channel Surfing blogger hasn't paid much attention to "SNL's" non-Sarah Palin related shenanigans over the past decade, but I do have a soft spot for Fallon and Co.'s Christmas ditty.

It's clever. It's catchy. It has Tracy Morgan in a Christmas sweater.

Either way, the song is now a full-fledged classic thanks to Casabalancas giving it the kind of snarl even a grumpy ol' atheist would appreciate this Christ-birthing season. And Fallon, for all the negativity he receives for not being as cool as Conan O'Brien, has done some very funny things in 2009 (which we'll be glad to remind you of when our Best of 2009 list is revealed tomorrow).

Enjoy both the new and original versions. Since it's not Christmas yet (sigh), we'll now get back to work.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com

Obligatory update: "Best TV Show of the Decade" contest trends

2009-12-19T12:27:00.001-06:00

Well, even a grumpy Simon Cowell would approve of Channel Surfing’s “Best TV Show of the Decade’’ contest results so far.

With more than 500 votes from print and online, here are the front-runners:

1. “American Idol’’
2. “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’’
3. “House”
4. “The Office” (US and UK)
5. “24’’
6. “The Sopranos’’
7. “How I Met Your Mother’’
8. “Desperate Housewives’’
9. “Lost’’
10. “Survivor’’

Breaking down the data: Voter tendencies show an obvious preference for network TV -- not a huge surprise considering Green Bay has long been considered behind when it comes to being a technologically-savvy community. That would appear to extend to our desire (or perhaps willingness) to place an emphasis on cable TV. The one premium cable show that does appear, "The Sopranos," has been on DVD long enough for viewers to have played catch-up without purchasing HBO.

One of the biggest surprises -- at least to this Channel Surfer -- is the strong push by "How I Met Your Mother." A relative newbie by sitcom standards, the show continues to get a swell of votes, even making a push for the Top 5. Didn't realize it was that popular.

Also, in case you're curious, other shows hovering just below the Top 10 barrier -- "The Amazing Race," "Sex and the City," "Scrubs" and yes, "SpongeBob SquarePants." Shows that are performing better than expected (by my account) -- "Dexter," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and "Arrested Development." Disappointments thus far -- "The Wire," "Mad Men" and "30 Rock."

Not happy with reader picks? Remember to head to www.greenbayhub.com and give your favorite show a boost. You can vote once a day online until Dec. 31 for a shot at our random drawing for an $850 La-Z-Boy recliner and food certificates from Coaches Corner and Rosati’s Pizza.

Thanks to everyone for voting so far. And check back next week with an update on write-in votes, along with reader comments on shows we missed.

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com