Category Archives: Television

iPad on TV: Colbert, Letterman, Fallon, Modern Family

Hilarity, Technology, Television, Video, , , , , , ,

With the iPad’s release one day away, the little slate of magic is making its rounds not only with tech reviewers but also on TV.

 

Apple fanboy Stephen Colbert chops some vegetables with it.

David Letterman licks it.

Modern Family’s Phil Dunphey really, really wants it.  (And if you have a single funny bone in your body you’ll watch the entire episode right here.)

Tonight Engadget’s Joshua Topolsky handled it with Jimmy Fallon.  And the audience was WOWED by the iBooks app.  Look after the break for part 2.

Oh, and ABC got to spend some time with the iPad and intervied a couple app developers.  Check that out after the break. Continue reading iPad on TV: Colbert, Letterman, Fallon, Modern Family →

Need Lost post-finale plans? Here they are.

News, Television, , , ,

On Sunday, May 23 the series finale of Lost called “The End” will air at 9PM on ABC (following a one hour recap special at 8PM).  When it’s over, your local news will air for about half an hour and then at 11:35PM a special edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live will air called Jimmy Kimmel Live: Aloha to Lost.  The one hour special will include an analysis of the finale, with appearences by executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse and interviews with a number of casts members.  Jimmy Kimmel is a huge Lost fan, so you can definitely expect him to bring the goods.  I mean, you’re going to need something to do while you’re sobbing all your sorrows away.

[Via EW-AusielloFiles]

ThinkGeek’s Dharma Initiative Alarm Clock & iPad Arcade Cabinet available today!

Images, News, Technology, Television, Video, , , ,

The dudes at the online shop ThinkGeek bring us the Dharma Initiative Alarm Clock.  Our Dharma Initiative Alarm Clock is conveniently programmable to go off only once every 24 hours, and at a time convenient to you.  But if you don’t get the numbers right before you see the hieroglyphs, there’s no guaranteeing what will happen.  All you gotta do is type in the numbers 4 18 15 16 23 42 to stop an electromagnetic cataclysm…er, turn off the alarm.  It requires 2 x AAA batteries and comes with a 23-year warranty, “or until your house implodes.”  Now that’s some extra motivation to get up in the morning, now ain’t it?  Only $49.99.  Check out the video below to see it in action.

The fellas at ThinkGeek asked themselves, “How cool would it be to slide your iPad into a desktop-sized arcade cabinet and rock it old school with some Pac-Man or Space Invaders?”  Enter the iCade, an iPad arcade cabinet.  It’s simple, really.  Slide your iPad into the built-in docking cradle, plug in the included 10-watt USB power adapter for extra power, and load up a classic arcade game using the iCade app (available in the App Store on iPad launch day).  The handcrafted wooden cabinet somehow stuffs 2.1 Dolby speakers and a subwoofer!  Look in the gallery below for some game screenshots.  Future iPad buyers, get your iCade today for $149.99.

[Via ThinkGeek, here & here]

AMC to bring ‘The Walking Dead’ to life on the small screen

Comics, News, Television, ,

I can see you comic book fans sitting up in your seats!  AMC announced today a new show based on Robert Kirkman’s “The Walking Dead” highly acclaimed comic book series about a world run by zombies.  An initial six-episode run will debut this October.  It will be written and directed by Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption) and executive produced by Gale Ann Hurd (The Terminator, Aliens, The Incredible Hulk), Charles Eglee (The Shield, Dexter), and Kirkman.  Here’s AMC’s description of the series:

The Walking Dead tells the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home. The comic goes on to explore the challenges of life in a world overrun by zombies who take a toll on the survivors, and sometimes the interpersonal conflicts present a greater danger to their continuing survival than the zombies that roam the country. Over time, the characters are changed by the constant exposure to death and some grow willing to do anything to survive.

Lead characters Rick and Lori have yet to be cast, but Rick’s partner has been chosen: Jon Bernthal (The Pacific) will play Shane.

[Via NYTBlog; IGN]

Glee nationwide casting call is taking submissions today

News, Television, , , ,

Fellow Gleeks, listen here: The Glee nationwide casting call for Season 2 is taking submissions starting today!  Do you think you have what it takes to act, sing, and dance alongside the likes of Rachel (Lea Michele) and Finn (Cory Monteith)?  The creators behind Glee are looking for new cast members for Season 2 and they’ve created a MySpace page where you can upload a video submission.  Auditions are open to professionals and amateurs between the ages of 16-26.  Submissions can be performed a ccapella or with a single instrument.  Videos should be around 5 minutes in length, including an introduction and the performance, and are limited to one person.  Sorry Acafellas.  The casting call runs from today (3/30) to April 26.  Here’s the setlist (of which you must choose one song from):

“And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” Dreamgirls
“Don’t Rain On My Parade” Barbra Streisand
“Gold Digger” (Radio Version) Kayne West
“Hate On Me” Jill Scott
“Rehab” Amy Winehouse
“ Keep Holding On” Avril Lavigne
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” The Rolling Stones
“Lean On Me” Bill Withers
“Can’t Fight This Feeling” REO Speedwagon
“True Colors” Phil Collins

But don’t take it from me; Matthew Moorison has the scoop in the video above!

[Via EW-PopWatch]

ABC renews Castle

News, Television, , , ,

ABC’s hit crime/comedy show Castle starring Nathon Fillion and Stana Katic has just been renewed for a 22-episode third season!  The show is doing extremely well these days so news of a renewal does not come to much surprise, only excitement.  This past Monday’s episode (the second part of the Dana Delany “event”) attracted huge numbers for the show, 14.5 million viewers to be precise.  That’s the largest audience the show has on record.  Ausiello reports that this high viewership “gave ABC its best scripted performance in the time-slot in 14 years.”  Way to go, Castle!

[Via EW-AusielloFiles]

The clock stops on 24, this final season will lead into the feature film

News, Television, , ,

The day I thought would never come is here.  It’s official: 24 Season 8, the season that’s currently airing now, will be the final season for the show.  Over the past few weeks there have been whispers that the 24 creative team would jump ship from FOX to NBC in order to salvage a ninth season.  With star Keifer Sutherland’s contract running up this year, along with other members of the production team, it would have been an extremely expensive ordeal to bring the show back again.  With ratings lower than usual and the narrative becoming somewhat stale after eight seasons on the air, 24 has decided to call it quits after this season.

Says Sutherland (who plays Jack Bauer): “The writers are producing the equivalent of 12 films a year, which is unheard of, and [executive producer] Howard felt to do a ninth would be potentially damaging.  We both felt strongly that there has been a demand and an interest in a 24 film, which would be a two-hour representation of a 24-hour day, so we felt it was time to move in that direction.”

And that brings us to the 24 feature film that’s in the works.  It’s happening people, so there’s no need to bring out the tissues just yet.  20th Century Fox is backing the movie, with Billy Ray (State of Play) writing the screenplay.  Says Sutherland on how the series finale will tie into the movie: “We wanted to create a definitive end for Jack Bauer.  Since we do have the intention to make the feature film, it would lead into that and certainly set that up.”  In fact, since a 24 movie loses the restrictions of the story unfolding in real time, the creative juices must be flowing for Sutherland and co.  “Something we’ve dealt with in the series is how the crisis always has to come to us because we don’t have time to move anywhere in a real time world,” Sutherland adds.  “In a two-hour (movie) representation of the 24 world, planes, trains, and automobiles all of a sudden become a factor because you are not required to go scene by scene in real time. That’s something I can say I am very excited about.”  Hell yeah, me too!

But as far as the series finale is concerned, Howard Gordon and Sutherland are contemplating either a happy or tragic ending for Jack Bauer.  “We go to a very definitive, very complex place.”  I am a long time 24 fan; hell, I’ve been watching this show for eight years now.  As sad as this news may seem, think of it like this:  How many bad days can Jack Bauer experience?  I mean, we don’t want him to die or anything… It’s time for Jack Bauer (and us) to finally receive closure.

Sutherland released this official statement of gratitude: “This has been the role of a lifetime, and I will never be able to fully express my appreciation to everyone who made it possible. While the end of the series is bittersweet, we always wanted 24 to finish on a high note, so the decision to make the eighth season our last was one we all agreed upon. This feels like the culmination of all our efforts from the writers to the actors to our fantastic crew and everyone at Fox. Looking ahead to the future, Howard Gordon and I are excited about the opportunity to create the feature film version of 24. But when all is said and done, it is the loyal worldwide fan base that made it possible for me to have the experience of playing the role of Jack Bauer, and for that I am eternally grateful.”

Executive producer and showrunner Howard Gordon followed up: “Kiefer and I have loved every minute of making 24, but we all believe that now is the right time to call it a day.  I echo his sentiments of gratitude toward the show’s amazing creative team, as well as the studio and network who have always believed in us and shown us unbelievable support.”

Need more proof?  24’s Mary Lynn Rajskuub (Chloe O’Brien) tweets: “Just found out we got the word officially. This is 24’s last season.”  Executive producer and off-and-on director Jon Cassar shared this tweet: “News from the 24 set,the crew has been told that 24 has come to an end. There will b no season 9. Its been a great run, thanx all 4 watching.”

[Via EW, here & here; IGN]

The name of the final episode of LOST is…

News, Television, , ,

The End.

Well, at least it’s orignal.  All joking aside, it’s definitely short and sweet and fitting for the mind-bending finale to one of the best shows of all time.  Says exec producer Damon Lindelof: “I think we couldn’t probably make a more clear statement as to the fact that we are bringing our story to a close.”  Well said.  But I can’t help but agree with ScreenRant‘s Ross Miller when he says he was hoping for the title to be “It Only Ends Once” (as said by Jacob to The Man in Black in the opening scene of the season 5 finale).  So now we have two clues about series finale ep: it’s called “The End” & water will somehow be a major player in the events to come.

[Via THR]

Fringe: The Musical

News, Television,

During a Glee-themed week of musical programming in May, FOX is airing an musically-inspired episode of Fringe.  How odd, I know!  The creepy and the fantastical will turn even freakier in the episode titled “Overture” that will feature series regulars Agent Dunham (Anna Torv), Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson), Agent Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole), Nina Sharp (Blair Brown), and even Broyles (Lance Reddick) break out into song and dance.  No, this isn’t a peek into the alternate universe where all our characters live as professional singers and dancers.  The characters will cover popular songs that will play out in a Walter Bishop hallucination.

Says musically trained Farnsworth (Nicole): “When I first read that, I thought, ‘How are they going to pull this off? This is really weird.’ And it makes complete sense within the story. It’s essentially Walter kind of manifesting his idea. He’s trying to get his mind off of, you know, what’s going on because he’s just waiting to see what’s going to go on with Peter. And essentially he’s kind of created this little world in his head. And so everything is super-symbolic so all the characters embody the qualities that he notices about them the most, which is really neat. And it happens in the 1940s. Everybody’s in 1940s dress, but they still have cell phones and stuff. So it’s just his brain, because he’s telling a story to someone. Sort of like a bedtime story to help ease his anxiety. So we get to sing in it.”

What’s interesting is that Sharp (Brown) and Broyles (Reddick) come from musical theater backgrounds.  Says Reddick: “…everyone was kind of freaked out about the singing.  For me, it was like having to play the piano at the same time; that freaked me out a little bit. But, yeah, it was fun. For me, what was more fun was actually being able to play completely to the character.”

As strange as this all sounds, it might just work.  If Buffy can pull it off, so can the Bishops & Company.

[Via SciFiWire]