Category Archives: Television

Childrens Hospital renewed for third season

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Actress Malin Akerman hinted at it a while back and now it’s official.  Cartoon Network has ordered a third season of Rob Corddry’s web series-turned-TV show Childrens Hospital.  The hilarious ensemble cast, including Malin Akerman, Lake Bell, Erinn Hayes, Rob Huebel, Ken Marino, Megan Mullally and Henry Winkler, are expected to return when the third season picks up sometime next year.  Childrens Hospital airs Sunday nights at midnight on Adult Swim.  The season 2 finale is slated to air this November.

[Via IGN; TVGuide]

Fan-made title sequence for The Walking Dead will blow you away

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Check out this utterly brilliant piece of art created by Daniel Kanemoto, a long-time fan of Robert Kirkman’s graphic novel The Walking Dead.  In his spare time, talented graphic designer Kanemoto used After Effects to combine Charlie Adlard and Tony Moore’s The Walking Dead artwork and music from Eels (the track is called “Fresh Blood”, how fitting) to create an animated spec title sequence for the upcoming AMC adaptation.  You certainly do not have to be a fan of Kirkman’s work to truly appreciate what Kanemoto has done here.

He says: “Just so there’s no confusion, I’m not affiliated with the production in any way — I’m simply a huge fan of both Frank Darabont and Robert Kirkman, and this is my attempt at creating a cinematic introduction to one of the all time great “continuing stories of survival horror.””

Word got out about Kanemoto’s masterpiece when Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof tweeted about it (“We are arriving at that unique moment in time where the term “fan-made” becomes moot. This is extraordinary.”) and blogger Cory Doctorow posted it on BoingBoing.  The video reached an even wider audience when EW’s Jeff Jensen interviewed Kanemoto to discover his inspiration for the spec.  You can read said interview here.

Now I am oh-so-interested to see if the editors and animators of the upcoming show can out-perform Kanemoto’s fan-made title sequence.  We shall find out when The Walking Dead premieres October 31 at 10PM on AMC.

[Via @DamonLindelof; Vimeo]

The Max Weinberg 7 is no more

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When you tune into the premiere of Conan on November 8, don’t expect to see Max Weinberg and the Max Weinberg 7 stage left.  The famed Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band drummer will not be joining Conan’s move to TBS for reasons undisclosed.  Guitarist and keyboardist Jimmy Vivino will be taking over as bandleader.  You will recognize him since he’s been part of the Late Night and the short-lived The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien house band for some time now.  James Wormworth, the barefoot drummer who would take Weinberg’s place when he’d be absent and on tour with Springsteen, will permanently become the new drummer.  Max Weinberg, it’s been a real pleasure.

[Via NYTimes; RiverfrontTimes]

NBC CEO Jeff Zucker to leave his post when Comcast takes over

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Last December it was announced that Comcast would supercede General Electric to become NBC Universal’s controlling parent company.  Last week brought news that NBC Universal President and CEO Jeff Zucker will be leaving his post when the merger is finalized later this year.  “Now, it is clear to me that this is the right decision for me and for the company, said Zucker.  Comcast will be a great new steward, just as GE has been, and they deserve the chance to implement their own vision.”  Unfortunately Zucker will not be remembered for much success in the NBC Entertainment division.  NBC is currently in fourth place (behind CBS, FOX, and ABC) in overall network ratings and who can forget last year’s terrible decision to axe Conan, give Jay Leno is own show, and wipe out regular primetime programming in the process.  NBC needs new leadership and vision if it wants to play catchup with the other networks.  I’m glad Zucker (publically, at least) sees it this way.

[Via CNN]

Animation Domination premieres tonight on FOX

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Need your animation fix?  The Simpsons (8pm), The Cleveland Show (8:30pm), and Family Guy (9pm) premiere tonight (9/26) on FOX!

In “Elementary School Musical”, Lisa goes to performing arts camp where she meets friends (voiced by Glee‘s Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, and Amber Riley) and artsy counselors (Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords).  The 22nd season of The Simpsons will be jam packed with guest voices.

In “Harder, Better, Faster, Browner”, Cleveland helps struggling rapper Kenny (aka Kanye) West by encouraging him to record a new hit single.  Get a taste of “Be-Cleve in Yourself” here.  The episode also packs other Kanye references including a humorous nod to the Swift incident and a montage backed by Late Registration‘s “Touch the Sky.”

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The one-hour Family Guy premiere “And Then There Were Fewer” plays out like a cinematic murder-mystery in a case of whodunit.  James Woods invites virtually all of Quohag to his ominous mansion where all the light drama unfolds.  Fun fact: Family Guy has finally gone HD this season!

Glance at the premiere stills above, and get ready for three hours of animation domination tonight on FOX.  (American Dad fans–your show premieres next Sunday, October 3).

[Via IGN, here, here & here; FOX]

American Idol judges panel announced: J. Lo, Steven Tyler & Randy Jackson

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Don’t act so surprised.  After weeks of rampant speculation, FOX offically annouced the new panel of judges to be featured in American Idol season 10.  They are Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, and Randy “the dawg” Jackson.  Joining the new slate of judges is Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records; he will serve as an in-house mentor for the contestants.

Says Jenny from the block: “For nine years I’ve enjoyed watching artists compete to get a meaningful chance to achieve their dreams.  I know from my own experience how hard it is to succeed, and I’m looking forward to discovering and nurturing that spirit in the many American Idol contestants I look forward to meeting this year.”

Tyler, former frontman of Aerosmith, told fans of the show: “I’ve been on tour for most of my life in a band with four guys who judge me every day. Sometimes it hurt, but it only made me stronger.  I want to give everybody a little love before I decide who goes home heartbroken.  If you don’t like what I say, don’t get mad, get better.  I’m ready to bring some rock to this ‘roller’ coaster and show these kids if they have the dream, the talent and the drive, they will be the next American Idol.”

If you were hoping series creator Nigel Lythgoe would find a true Simon Cowell replacement, you will be sorely disappointed.  “I don’t know whether there will be a replacement,” Randy Jackson said. “We all have our moments of toughness and nurturing and sweetness.”  J. Lo added, “I believe in tough love but I don’t think I can ever be cruel to another artist.  There are definitely better ways to say things.”  Oh fooey.  American Idol returns January 2011.

[Via IGN; EW]

Jump into interactive 8-Bit Glee

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Glee just got 8-bit’d.  From The Station and Doctor Octoroc, the guy who brought us Dr. Horrible in 8-bits, comes a new YouTube interactive game starring your favorite Glee club New Directions.  You’ll recognize the music, the characters, and the locations in this Pokemon-style video collection.  Once you watch this first video all the way through, you will be prompted at the end to choose where to go next.  Mash play and give it a go!

[Via NYMag]

HBO renews Boardwalk Empire for a second season

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A mere two days after its smashing series premiere, HBO has renewed the Scorsese/Winter production Boardwalk Empire for a second season.  The debut of the Prohibition-era drama averaged 4.8 million viewers, making it HBO’s most watched premiere since 2004’s Deadwood.  Says Michael Lombardo, President of HBO Programming: “All the ingredients aligned for this one, from Mark Wahlberg and Steve Levinson’s initial pitch, to Martin Scorsese’s enormous contributions as director and executive producer, to the genius of Terry Winter and the expertise of Tim Van Patten, to a stellar cast led by Steve Buscemi.  The response from the media and our viewers has been nothing short of amazing.”

Boardwalk Empire airs Sunday nights at 9PM on HBO.

[Via EW]

J.J. Abrams pitching Locke/Linus buddy cop show [Update: It’s official: NBC picks it up!] [Update 2: Postponed]

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Read that headline again.  Now again.  J.J. Abrams, creator of Lost, is hoping to bring together Terry O’Quinn and Michael Emerson (aka Lost‘s John Locke & Benjamin Linus) for a new series.  O’Quinn and Emerson would play former black-ops agents in the comedic drama tentitively titled Odd Jobs.  News first broke about a potential reuniting of Lost‘s brightest stars back in February when O’Quinn told TV Guide about “a TNT-type show that would pair him back up with…Michael Emerson as suburban hit men juggling family issues.”  Much time has passed, and now things are starting to heat up again.  Plans to make this show a reality are very real.  NYMag reports that Abrams and collaborators Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec (Alias, Mission: Impossible 4) are pitching Odd Jobs to a handful of TV networks.  All I can say is that if these plans do result in a Locke/Linus buddy cop show, the world will be a better place for it.

Update: According to Deadline, this thing is happening!!  After shopping around Odd Jobs (working title) to various networks, NBC came out on top with the winning bid.  It was a nailbiter between former Lost home ABC and NBC, but in the end the Peacock nabbed it.  It’s official: The one hour long drama will star the fantastic Terry O’Quinn alongside Lost-mate Michael Emerson.  J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, Josh Appelbaum, and Andre Nemec will serve as executive producers; the latter two are also penning the pilot script.  Warner Bros. TV, with Abrams’ Bad Robot, are backing the project.  Deadline reports that the show has a put-pilot commitment, meaning NBC will air the pilot and likely followup by picking up the series granting it a 13 to 20-something episode season.  The show will join Undercovers as the second Abrams production on NBC by *fingers crossed* next fall.

Update 2 (3/10): Development of the show has been postponed. In the meantime, you can catch Emerson and O’Quinn in new pilots this fall–CBS’s Person of Interest and ABC’s Hallelujah Hawaii Five-0. (Hallelujah is being retooled for Fall 2012.)

[Via NYMag; Deadline]

Community is going animated for the Christmas special [Update: “Twittersode” to precede the premiere]

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Series creator Dan Harmon is ready to take Community to a whole ‘nother level, quite literally in fact.  Season 2’s Chistmas episode is going to be entirely stop motion animated, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer-style.  Earlier this summer Harmon shared his excitement over the possibily of making such a unique episode.  “It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do but, I never anticipated having the ability to do it,” he told NYMag.  “Jeff Gaspin at NBC woke up one morning and thought Community should do an animated episode.  I was like, ‘Well, that’s weird, because that’s the kind of stuff I’m usually suggesting and guys like him veto.”

Upon hearing news of the holiday surprise, a number of the cast members also couldn’t contain their enthusiasm for it.  “It is so hard for me not to tell everybody I know about it,” says Danny Pudi (Abed). “The minute we read that script, I was over-the-moon excited.  It’s like that Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer special that you see every Christmas. But in true Community fashion, it’s also a little subversive and a little dark.”  Alison Brie (Annie) said, “When I found out, I fell in love with the show all over again!”  Star Joel McHale (Jeff) revealed, “I can confirm that we are not yellow [ie. The Simpsons], and we do not have a talking dog [ie. Family Guy] in the episode.  But all your favorite Greendalians will be going animated.”

Can you imagine an animated Senor Chang and Starburns?  It’s going to be great.  In related news, you should know that Community also has planned a top-secret, big budget Halloween special featuring–you guessed it–zombies!  “Knowing too much about this particular plot would ruin it, but I promise it’s an awesome, one-off crazy conceptual episode with plot points and effects that are more familiar to horror film fans than our show’s fans,” says Harmon.

Community returns Thursday (9/23) at 8PM on NBC.

Update: Starting at 7PM ET (one hour prior to the season premiere) the main characters of the show will communicate with one another in a conversation using Twitter.  This “Twittersode” is being described as a “prequel” scene to the premiere ep.  According to EW,  “they’ll make arrangements for their first meet-up of the year, as well as preparations for their first class, Anthropology 101.”  A class we all know will be led by the one and only Betty White.  You have two options to watch the prequel convo go down: (1) Head over to www.nbc.com/CommunityTwittersode or (2) follow the Community gang on Twitter and watch it happen live in your Twitter feed.  Hop after the break to find all the characters’ Twitter handles.  (Mind you these are Twitter accounts for the fictional show characters, not the actual actors’ Twitter names.)  Happy tweeting!

[Via EW, here, here & here] Continue reading Community is going animated for the Christmas special [Update: “Twittersode” to precede the premiere] →