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This Week on TV (11/26-12/2)

Notes from the Underbelly

 

MONDAY (11/26)

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Censoring the Emmys

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Award Shows, FOX, Editorial, Gossip,

Emmy  The 2007 Emmy Awards aren’t about everything that was seen, but everything not seen…and heard. Kathy Griffin’s speech was censored by E! when she made some off-color jokes about the Christian religion, but even FOX got button-friendly when the live telecast aired Sunday night. For viewers, it probably looked like little more than a glitch, but it was actually censorship rearing its head. Sally Field, who accepted her award for her role on Brothers and Sisters, was interrupted mid-speech by music, then began again. For a few seconds, cameras cut away from Field and showed an odd view of lighting fixtures while no sound poured forth from TV speakers. This was not a mistake. Ray Romano and were also censored during the broadcast, which aired with a few seconds’ delay for just such events.

FOX execs say the three acts of censorship were for language and nothing more, but Sally Field’s impassioned anti-war speech might have provoked concerns about more than bad language for FOX, a network well-known for its conservative newscasts. Romano was edited for talking about an upcoming FOX show, and a camera shot of Heigl was cut when she muttered an expletive, though not near any microphones. Expletives are one thing, but opinions, jokes, and even plot-spoilers shouldn’t be censored – not by FOX, cable stations, or in fact anyone else.

Read More | AOL News

Censors Edit Kathy Griffin Emmy Speech

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Award Shows, Reality, Cable, Gossip, Spoilers,

Kathy Griffin’s Emmy acceptance speech, which was taped, will be edited before it airs on the upcoming E! channel broadcast. E! will show the taped portion of the Emmys on Saturday, though the prime time Emmys will be broadcast live on FOX Sunday night. In a Monday statement, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences called Griffin’s remarks “offensive” and said they would not be part of the E! telecast. Here’s what Griffin said: “A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus.” She then held up her word and announced, “This award is my god now!” Religious critics are already calling Griffin’s words a “hate speech” and “blasphemous.” 

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Read More | E! Online

Reality Recap - The Best & Worst of June

Celebrity Fit Club

Now that we’ve said goodbye to June and its 30 days of weddings, trips to the beach, and the slow, crippling realization that it’s still a long, long time until comes back, why don’t we take a few minutes and look back at the best and worst of June reality TV?  Nope, that was a rhetorical question.  Yes, I know, there are lots of reasons not to look back, and yet I’m going to do it anyway.

Oh, and it doesn’t really fit here because it’s not a reality show, but Flight of the Conchords on HBO is pretty hilarious.  I don’t really have enough to say about it to write a full column, obviously, but it’s definitely worth checking out.  Okay, here we go…

Click to continue reading Reality Recap - The Best & Worst of June


Summer Reality Part 3: Everything’s Coming Up Roses

My Super Sweet SixteenHaving been so negative for a few weeks, I thought I would take this week to be all about accentuating the positive, being a gigantic cheerleader for summer reality shows.  Like Poison so sagely warned us, though, all of these roses will have a few thorns, but I’ll try to get past them.  Oh, and Poison also taught us that you can unashamedly rhyme the words “tonight” and “all night” (because that’s when they wanted action and satisfaction, respectively).  Here are some of the reality shows I’ve been watching and why you should join me.

Click to continue reading Summer Reality Part 3: Everything’s Coming Up Roses


Summer Reality: Part Two

Top Chef

Because everything’s hotter in the summer ... whatever that means.

Another week, another boatload of new and returning reality shows.  Here are some thoughts:

As I type I’m watching The Next Best Thing, so you can tell just how into the show I am.  So, evidently, this show is about finding the greatest celebrity impersonator.  You know how everybody’s been saying that we need a new great celebrity impersonator?  Oh, wait, nobody’s been saying that at all.  The last time we had a celebrity impersonator on tv it was ... wait, don’t tell me ... oh, I remember.  It was Rich Little at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner.  It was, well, just as excruciatingly awful as this show.

There was just a montage of Frank Sinatra impersonators on the show, that’s how bad it is.  Ooh, and someone just said, “I make part of my living as a Gloria Estefan impersonator.”  Evidently 0% equals a “part.”  (Okay, I had a much ruder joke in here before that seemed far less mean when I was annoyed by watching this show.  It’s gone now because, evidently, I have a desperate need to be liked.  Or at least not hated. Apologies.)

It seems to be that we’re scraping the bottom of the barrel on competitive reality shows.  Yes, networks, the world needs more singers, fashion designers, chefs, and supermodels.  But I don’t know if we need more Rich Littles and Bret Ratners (haven’t seen On The Lot, not planning to).

Actually, I do know.  We don’t.

Click to continue reading Summer Reality: Part Two


Could Roseanne Replace Rosie?

Rosie O'DonnellAfter Rosie O’Donnell’s announcement that she’ll be leaving The View, the rumor mills were buzzing about possible replacements. Potential candidates mentioned include Kathy Griffin, Joan Rivers, and Connie Chung, among others. Looks like we have a front runner though with Roseanne Barr, with many speculating that her outspoken demeanor would fill the void nicely. Roseanne responded to the gossip, saying, “I would love the chance to do that… I think I would do a real good job. I’d stir up some real good controversy.” I’m willing to bet after the dust settles when Rosie leaves that the producers (and head Viewmaster Barbara Walters) may just want to steer clear of controversy for awhile. After all, O’Donnell provided more than her fair share of that.

Read More | E! Online

Bravo’s ‘D-List’ Renewed

Kathy Griffin Huh, who woulda thunk it? Kathy Griffin’s unscripted series, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List has been renewed for a third season. Bravo has ordered six episodes of the third season, set to begin in 2007. Seems the life of a D-lister is pretty engaging stuff, as the show has earned an Emmy nomination. Frances Berwick, Executive Vice President, Programming and Production, Bravo said of the renewal news, “Kathy’s unique style of comedy is brilliantly showcased with this series, and the new season will continue to show her D-List life in hilarious Technicolor, and her daily struggle to move up the celebrity food chain.” Her assistant Jessica, as well as her parents, John and Maggie Griffin, will also make appearances. The question remains—will Griffin ever rise in the ranks out of D-List status? Tune in to find out!

Read More | ComingSoon.net

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