The TV Chick

Throughout this week and next I will be posting a lot of advance reviews and fall previews. However, I realize I have not compiled a handy list for all to see. My one DVR (yes sadly, I only have one DVR) is already JAM PACKED, but I will also be relying on On Demand to watch some shows the day after. The pack of new shows is not quite as impressive as it was last season (um, hello Modern Family and Glee) but there are a few good ones that stand out. So, without further ado, here is what I am watching this fall! (And what you should probably skip out on…)

Continue reading “2010 FALL SEASON: What I’ll Be Watching/DVR-ing/On-Demand-ing and What To Skip” »

First of all, I wanted to say, it’s been a little over a year since I started this site and I have met some of the most wonderful people. I am so thankful for all the readers out there who have made it so worthwhile. I have spoken to some amazing people, had some amazing opportunities, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next. Tomorrow, I leave for Comic Con in San Diego. Despite it’s monicker, Comic Con is actually a huge arts and entertainment convention. There are many great TV panels (my schedule is packed), so I wanted to give you an idea of what panels and press rooms I will be attending. If you have questions for the cast or producers of these shows, you can leave me a comment, email, or reply on twitter.

* Panels marked with an asterisk are ones where I will also be doing press interviews

• White Collar *
• Dexter *
• True Blood
• Glee *
• V *
• The Cape *
• The Vampire Diaries *
• Chuck *
• The Big Bang Theory
• The Walking Dead

I can’t wait!

There’s a little bit of a lull in news lately, but I’m excited that my favorite shows will be back on TV soon. However, it got me thinking: one of my favorite shows in particular has not been renewed yet, and there are quite a few more that are at risk for another season. Here are the ones I am thinking about, and feel free to weigh in with any shows which you are eagerly awaiting pickup orders for.

• Life Unexpected: If you read this site at all, you know how much I adore this show. I truly believe it represents a new age in CW television — returning to its quality roots from the days of Gilmore Girls and Dawson’s Creek. Each week, it continues to get better and delve deeper into some truly amazing, real, refreshing and genuine characters. I will be so sad if it only gets one season. Given the fact that it seems to be consistently beating several other CW shows that have already been guaranteed another season, I see no reason why the CW shouldn’t pick this up. Although I can never get into Dawn Ostroff’s head (I would love to, though) so I really have no idea.
• Parenthood: While only four episodes of this new NBC drama have aired, I can already say I am hooked. The show has a wonderful cast, with a powerhouse creative team behind them. Lauren Graham is one of my favorite actresses and it is such a joy to see her back on television. I’d love to see more from this show, so I hope that NBC does the right thing and picks it up.
• V: Only four episodes of this show have aired, and more are to come next week. I think it was a weird move on ABC’s part to have such a huge hiatus, but it did make me waiting and eager to see more. Even though V was essentially done before, I think this show is innovative and the acting is great. I want to know more about the Vs, and I don’t know if everything can be resolved in one season. I think there’s a pretty decent chance this show will get renewed though.
• Southland: There was a huge campaign to save Southland once it was dropped from NBC. TNT came to the rescue and has been running a fantastic promotional campaign. They are currently airing the 6 already filmed episodes from season 2, but the ratings aren’t that great. I think it’s a really good, and gritty show that deserves another chance. TNT tends to get behind good shows so I hope that they will look past the ratings and pick it up, but I feel like it could go either way.
• Chuck: This show probably isn’t as much on the bubble as others, but it took a big Subway sandwich campaign at the end of last season for Chuck to return for some more kick-ass spy action. It has a cult following, all of whom (myself included) would be very disappointed if this show wasn’t given a 4th season. There’s so much great writing and hilariousness that it really deserves more episodes.
• Flash Forward: The pilot of this show was one of my favorites last fall. However, it quickly went down hill from there. I gave it a few episodes and then it just kept piling up on my DVR, and I would let it get deleted. I feel like there were too many characters, too much going on, and not enough direction. Lost is a show that has probably just as much crazyness going on but I care about all the characters and their fate, whereas in Flash Forward, I don’t really. The show came back last week and many watched but I can’t really get behind it. Even the original showrunner left, and during a first season of a show, this is not a very good sign. For me, I could take or leave this show but for those enjoying it, if it improves with the new staff, perhaps ABC will give it a chance.

What do you think should/should not get renewed? Are there any that I missed that you want to see come back? Weigh in!

Chuck is off to a fantastic start this season. It is full of big guest stars, interesting story lines, the Intersect 2.0, and Captain Awesome finding out Chuck’s secret. Captain Awesome has always been a favorite character of mine, simply because it’s clear that there is much more than meets the eye. When he has to essentially become a spy in an hour or less, he is able to handle whatever Chuck throws at him (even if it’s not done with the utmost of grace, and results in a lot of hilarity). Chuck is a show that has it all, and I’m excited to see what new surprises the creators have in store for us this season. I recently had the chance to chat with Ryan McPartlin (Captain Awesome) ab0ut his significant role this season, his character’s relationship with Ellie, his dream guest stars, and that time George Clooney wandered onto their set.

Your character Captain Awesome/Awesome has really taken on a significant role this season. What has that been like for you?
It’s been cool. The end of last season, Captain Awesome was brought into the spy world, you know everybody was making a really big deal of it, well let’s see the third season and see where it goes, and then what they did with it — I’m really impressed with all of the writers, and I’m really impressed with the fact that they didn’t kill Captain Awesome in the spy world, because that would have been a bad thing.

Yeah.
(laughs) That’s the risk though that you run with dealing with the likes of Angie Harmon. She could shoot you in the face at any time. So yeah it was great, it was fun, there’s always more for me to do but we have such a good supporting cast that it’s just fun to see everybody get more involved–see all these back stories come to light a little bit.

Absolutely. And Awesome was the first person to find out about Chuck’s secret. Why do you think he was the first person to find out?
Oh, Vik [Lester Patel] just brought me some lunch here. Lester is right next to me, eating right now. Maybe you want to ask him too (laughs). He said no, he has to go change. He’s gotta get out of his Jeffster outfit right now. I’m sorry, what was your question again?

Why do you think Awesome was the first person to find out about Chuck’s secret?
I just don’t think the audience saw it coming. And I thought it was good, really fun — you would think that his best friend would find out or his sister or somebody else. So I don’t think the audience saw that I was the one– it just made sense though because of course Captain Awesome would want to get into the spy world first and jump right in without any training or without any I don’t know, spy training. And let’s just be honest, it’s more fun to have Captain Awesome in there (laughs) because I can bring the fun in. It’s a funny character and I have a good time with him.

Will we see him getting more involved in Chuck’s world as the season goes on?
As the season goes on, I mean to be honest, I think they wrote it, got really excited by it but then are like “Oh, now what do we do?” which is what happens with most shows. No, they probably have a good arc planned out, but the thing is you can’t have him be really good at it yet. I’m kind of carrying the torch from the first season, and this season, I’m kind of like what Chuck was in the first season where he was balancing the spy world with the home world and now the audience is going to see that through Captain Awesome’s eyes. So, yeah I think it’s going to evolve. Not in the same way as it did for Chuck, but there’s some chatter going on right now about what’s going to happen at the end of the season, and it sounds like it’s going to be just as big and exciting as the end of season 2.

Read more…

Chuck is back! No more Mr. Nice Spy!! I had mentioned earlier that I was sort of a casual Chuck viewer, but this season is not to miss. I am a Chuck convert, and I’m so excited for the return! When last we left Chuck, he suddenly had new powers (due to the Intersect 2.0), he and Sarah were in love, and all seemed pretty good in Bartowski-world.

The season premiere picks up where they left off. Chuck Bartowski is trying to embrace his new role as a spy. He is slowly grasping his new powers with the Intersect 2.0, and suddenly knows kung fu, how to play musical instruments, and get out of the stickiest situations. But what makes Chuck the character we adore, is not his Intersect powers. At heart, Chuck is still that lovable nerd from Buy More who is head over heels for Sarah. And it’s those things that make Chuck who he is, that can interfere with his ability to perform as a spy. If he can’t flash (Intersect 2.0 lingo that means to gain the information to do those aforementioned crazy things), he risks failing at a mission. And he can’t flash when he gets nervous or upset or scared or shows any sort of emotions. And let’s face it, if you are at risk of being beat up, you probably would get scared too.

Read more…

I have to admit, I was an on/off again Chuck viewer…until now. I loved the show but it was more of a watch on the DVR later kind of deal, instead of a can’t miss. It had been in danger of cancellation several times, maybe because of people like me? But when I received the screener for the first 5 episodes, I was thrilled to dig in. I am now a total Chuck convert, a member of the Nerd Herd, a fan of Jeffster, a lover of all things Dr. Awesome…you name it. (I’m sorry if I ever doubted you, Chuck! Never again!) The third season is full of great plot lines (Intersect 2.0 action), the continuing love drama between Sarah and Chuck, and bringing true meaning to the new show slogan “No More Mr. Nice Spy.”

On Sunday, I will be posting my advance review of the 3rd season premiere, but I thought in the meantime, you might enjoy a behind-the-scenes video preview of the upcoming season.

[vodpod id=Groupvideo.4408452&w=425&h=350&fv=deepLinkID%3D1190421%26overridevideoControls%3Dcontrols%2Fcontrols_nbc_gray.swf%26overrideRandom%3D669182923351%26overridevolume%3D50%26passAlong_baseLocation%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fvideo.nbc.com%2Fembed%2Fplayer_3-x%2F%26playerID%3Dscet_main_videoPlayer%26passAlong_configID%3D16004%26autoStartOnEmbed%3Dnull]

Be sure to check back on Sunday, January 10th for my advance review of the 3rd season premiere. Also, you really should be watching Chuck. It’s fantastic. Tune in on Sunday at 9 pm on NBC, and then again on Monday at 8 pm. It’s a two hour Chuck premiere event!