SEINFELD RETURNS TO NBC
Since NBC can’t possibly build a time machine to travel back to the heyday of FRIENDS, SEINFELD and Must See TV — they’ve decided to do the next best thing — sign Jerry Seinfeld. Seinfeld has signed on to play himself in 30 ROCK’S season premiere. “I was thrilled to be asked to guest star on NBC’s hit comedy 30 ROCK,” Seinfeld says in a statement. “I think it’s going to be so refreshing for me to be playing myself in a show that has nothing to do with neurotic, dysfunctional New York characters.”
THE APPRENTICE
According to an NBC press release, “NBC has renewed THE APPRENTICE for mid-season with a creative twist.” Creative! More like desperate. Is it not clear to anyone but this TV Addict that the ultimate kiss of death for any reality show is the use of the words ‘celebrity version?’ Mark the date on your calendar folks, THE APPRENTICE has officially jumped the shark. Unless of course the celebrities include The Donald, Rosie, Isaiah and T.R. Knight. Then and only then will this TV Addict be tuning in.
MONDAY NIGHT: THE NEW MUST SEE TV
In a surprise announcement, NBC President Ben Silverman announced that Josh Schwartz’s action-dramedy-hybrid CHUCK would lead off Monday night followed by HEROES and JOURNEYMAN. Having seen the pilot, this TV Addict will attest to the fact that NBC’s confidence in CHUCK is not misplaced. Josh Schwartz’s follow up to THE OC looks to be a definite hit come fall 2007.
That said, Holy TIVO Batman! CHUCK, HEROES, JOURNEYMAN, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, NEW CHRISTINE, 24, PRISON BREAK, ALIENS IN AMERICA, EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS, WEEDS, DEXTER, CALIFORNICATION. When did Monday night become the new Thursday?
After managing to survive six years of near-death experiences, Jack Bauer’s finally met his match. The evil executives at FOX television. (Okay, so evil’s a bit of stretch, but we are afterall talking about the suits that cancelled FIREFLY, DRIVE, WONDERFALLS, ANDY RICHTER… the list goes on)
According to reports, the seventh season of 24 has been delayed after executives at FOX put the kibosh on the proposed story arc, which included a number of episodes to be shot in Africa. Reports TVGuide’s Michael Ausiello:
Although a 20th Century Fox spokesperson declined to comment, 24’s expert scowler, Mary Lynn Rajskub, confirms that the clock for Day 7 has been reset. “I don’t know what’s going on over there, but they’re going crazy,” says the scene-stealer, who only learned last week that Chloe would even be returning. “We usually start [back up] at the end of July, and I don’t think we’re starting until a couple of weeks into August now. It’s kind of exciting, because I think [the postponement] means that they’re really having to dig in there and come up with new stuff.”
With that in mind, we at theTVaddict.com thought it only fair to lend Jack Bauer and the creative team of 24 a hand in their hour of need (Lord knows Bauer’s saved our skin enough times). After six years of saving the world from evil-doers, endless CTU moles and creepy government agents, is there anything interesting left for Jack Bauer to do? Seriously, we have no idea, but we’re confident the readers of theTVaddict.com do. Post away with your ideas for season seven story arcs. And remember, there’s no such thing as a bad idea — unless they include Kim Bauer and a cougar.
Lucky for fans of THE SIMPSONS, theTVaddict has a mole inside Springfield’s Counter Truancy Unit (CTU). While intel’s still a bit fuzzy, one thing is clear — school bullies Dolph, Kearney and Jimbo are threteaning to unleash a stink bomb at the school’s bake sale on May 20th.
theTVaddict’s also learned that CTU members Bart and Lisa have beefed up security in an effort to stop the ‘Springfield Three’. Jack Bauer and Chloe O’Brian (guest voices Keifer Sutherland and Mary Lynn Rajsku) have arrived in Springfield to lend a hand. Be sure to tune in to THE SIMPSONS 400th episode on Sunday May 20 (8-9PM FOX) to find out what happens.
Fans of 24 know that when the country is in jeopardy, Jack Bauer will do whatever it takes to save the day. The hero tortures enemies of the state as often as President Bush mangles the English language. But if the FCC has its way, everyone’s favorite CTU agent may soon go soft, and gorefests such as CSI and CRIMINAL MINDS may find themselves having to take a “less is more” approach to violence. The FCC - which already regulates profanities and sexual content on the airwaves — is petitioning Congress for the authority to levy fines against networks which air programs deemed overly violent. Apparently, the squeaky wheel - aka parents who refuse to take responsibility for their children’s viewing habits, as well as people who want to control not only what they watch but what you watch as well - may just get the grease after all.
Speaking to the folks at The Hollywood Reporter, Jonathan Rintels, executive director of the Center For Creative Voices In Media, raised several valid points. “What this is is government control of creative content, and we have a real problem with that. Will it count on news or reality programming? What about sports? In hockey, will it count when the gloves come off? How about documentaries? Or will it only count on scripted TV?”
But as the people whom this would most directly impact, we at theTVaddict.com are curious to know what you think. Remember, this isn’t necessarily a question of whether or not some shows have gotten too violent, but rather whether or not the government should decide what viewers can and can not see. Is it the government’s responsibility to “protect” us from violent programming, or should people be allowed the freedom to choose to watch - or not watch - what they want? Is this an example of proactive government or censorship? We know you’ve got opinions… so let’s hear ‘em!
I thought last season may have been an aberration, a one time thing. But this season the same thing’s happening. I’m simply not looking forward to watching new episodes of 24. Gone is the excitement, the anticipation, the surprise. Watching 24 has become more of a chore — something I do just so I can fit in, be cool, keep up my self-proclaimed status as an official ‘TV addict.’ But honestly, it’s time to end this charade. I can’t keep faking it any longer. I’m just going to come clean and say it — I’m bored with 24.
The unfortunate reality is that even though it tries to shock us at every turn, 24 has simply become too formulaic. Each season starting with season two follows the exact same predictable path. There are new members of CTU (who won’t all survive the season), a random family in peril and an angry villain who generally has some vague connection to none other then (wait for it…) Jack Bauer!
Sounds exciting right? Well by the midway point of the season, here’s what invariably happens: One member of CTU will die (generally a semi-regular who was added to the cast last season and is important enough to be in the credits, but not so important that we’ll really care). The ‘family in peril’ story will be wrapped up within the first few episodes, with a good 75% of the family surviving and at least one family member dead. And finally, the villain who Jack will go to any lengths to defeat will either be killed only to reveal that he was just working for ‘the man,’ or that he was just a diversion for an even worse problem that Jack will have to solve in the final half of the season.
Don’t get me wrong, 24 is an entertaining ride with some of the finest production values on TV. But this Monday at 9PM you’ll find me watching HEREOS on NBC knowing full well that when the clock runs down on 24 — Jack will be victorious once again.
And the winner is…. the cast of HEROES! In their first head-to-head showdown HEROES averaged 14.8 million viewers versus 14.4 million for 24. Sadly, TWO AND A HALF MEN actually won the night with 16.1 million viewers proving once again that the majority of the television viewing audience doesn’t know the meaning of ‘funny’. (See the cancellation of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT and GROSSE POINT for further proof of this theory).
For five days and four hours, Jack Bauer has endured the death of his wife, a drug addiction, endless terrorist threats, countless torture sessions and most recently a nuclear explosion (all with apparently no bathroom breaks).
Tonight at 9PM, he’ll face his most challenging opponent yet…. a five foot one inch Japanese Star Trek nerd named Hiro! What will you be watching tonight at 9PM: FOX’S 24 or NBC’S HEROES. Take the poll (see right sidebar)
[Needless to say, this post contains spoilers, so if you haven’t watched the premiere, stop reading now!]
How was that for non-stop edge-of-your-seat-jaw-dropping-excitement? Bet you didn’t see that end coming! I certainly didn’t, but when you think about it — it makes total sense. Jack’s been through five really (really) horrible days. Why on earth would he once again return to CTU and risk his life for a country that’s put him in harms way on countless occasions. Finally detonating a nuclear bomb — after numerous ‘almost detonations’ raised the stakes — giving Jack (and us as viewers) no choice but to come back for another day.
Which naturally begs the question, with 24 off to such a fantastic start, and the return of freshman hit HEROES, what show will you be watching come 9PM on Monday?
Missed the first four hours, you can downlad them on iTunes by clicking here.
[Attention Spoiler-phobes, the following article contains mild-spoilers with regards to the upcoming sixth season of 24 — you’ve been warned!]
Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in.
Truth be told, I was ready to wash my hands of 24 this year. With HEROES now airing opposite Jack Bauer, and my recent discovery that CBS comedies (with the exception of TWO AND A HALF MEN) are actually funny, there is simply too much great TV on Monday nights and not enough space on my PVR. For five years I’ve watched Jack Bauer predictably save the world from every terrorist threat imaginable. Did I really need to do it again?
The short answer is yes. After getting a sneak peak of the first four episode of the new season, I’m once again hooked on 24 and am counting down the days until episode five airs. (So long to that New Years resolution to actually get a life!)
That my friends, is the genius of 24. Even though we know Jack Bauer is indestructible, and that the world will invariably be saved within twenty-four hours (albeit with a few surprise deaths and explosions along the way), no show on TV does heart-stopping edge of your seat excitement like 24.
Thankfully, the new season does not disappoint. 6AM — 7AM (the season premiere) literally starts off with a bang — when a crowded bus explodes at the hands of a suicide bomber. We quickly learn via FOXNews (holy corporate synergy Batman!) that America has fallen victim to a deadly string of suicide attacks, with no end in sight. Luckily for President Palmer (no, not THAT President Palmer) President Wayne Palmer — David’s younger brother, the terrorists responsible for these attacks are willing to put a stop to them — assuming they get something in return. And that something, is actually a someone, and you don’t need to have Chloe’s superior intellect to decipher who that someone is!
Fans of 24 know that when the country is in jeopardy, Jack Bauer will do whatever it takes to save the day. The hero tortures enemies of the state as often as President Bush mangles the English language. But if the FCC has its way, everyone’s favorite CTU agent may soon go soft, and gorefests such as CSI and CRIMINAL MINDS may find themselves having to take a “less is more” approach to violence. The FCC - which already regulates profanities and sexual content on the airwaves — is petitioning Congress for the authority to levy fines against networks which air programs deemed overly violent. Apparently, the squeaky wheel - aka parents who refuse to take responsibility for their children’s viewing habits, as well as people who want to control not only what they watch but what you watch as well - may just get the grease after all.
How was that for non-stop edge-of-your-seat-jaw-dropping-excitement? Bet you didn’t see that end coming! I certainly didn’t, but when you think about it — it makes total sense. Jack’s been through five really (really) horrible days. Why on earth would he once again return to CTU and risk his life for a country that’s put him in harms way on countless occasions. Finally detonating a nuclear bomb — after numerous ‘almost detonations’ raised the stakes — giving Jack (and us as viewers) no choice but to come back for another day. 
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