Hot in Cleveland Fires Up TV Land Ratings

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, Cable, Ratings,

TV Land’s much-marketed comedy series, Hot in Cleveland, burned up the cable network’s ratings during its Wednesday night premiere.

The pilot episode scored 4.75 million viewers for the channel, making it the most-watched broadcast in TV Land history.

Hot in Cleveland is an ensemble comedy starring Wendie Malick, Jane Leeves, Valerie Bertinelli and Betty White. It airs on TV Land on Wednesdays at 10:30 pm EST.

Read More | Entertainment Weekly

Review: Hot in Cleveland a Little Lukewarm

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, Cable, Gossip, Video,

TV Land’s highly-promoted comedy, Hot in Cleveland, premiered Wednesday night. The series has Betty White‘s huge popularity, three more very respectable female comedy stars, and a gigantic marketing budget behind it. But did it deliver true TV heat?

The opening scene of the pilot introduced viewers to three great-looking, stylish women: Wendie Malick’s Victoria Chase, a former daytime TV star; Jane Leeves as Joy Scroggs, the “eyebrow queen of Beverly Hills” and Valerie Bertinelli’s Melanie Moretti, book author.

The sequence began with a series of predictable, female-oriented jokes - age and looks, mainly - but Wendie Malick’s delivery made the scene more believable. The setup: three best friends going to Paris together for a couple of weeks of fun. They traded quips until Melanie (Bertinelli) had an unfortunate run-in on the airplane with her ex-husband, on his way to Paris with his new fiancée. More melodrama ensued when the plane ride became increasingly turbulent. As they began careening toward certain death, Victoria vowed to stop being vain, Melanie to stop being afraid and Joy to stop complaining. The plane landed safely in Cleveland, and that’s when the show really began.

Click to continue reading Review: Hot in Cleveland a Little Lukewarm

Preview S**t My Dad Says Series

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, CBS, Video,

Since most of our shows have ended for the season (or simply for good), it’s time to start taking a look at what is heading our way this fall.

If you have a Twitter account, chances are you’re already one of the 1.3 million followers of the “S**t My Dad Says” feed (yes, I know that’s not actually how it’s spelled). If so, you’re probably been asking the same thing I have: “How the heck is CBS going to turn this into a television series?”

Well - now we (kinda) know.

Click to continue reading Preview S**t My Dad Says Series

Read More | The Futon Critic

Ashley Tisdale Signs on to New CW Pilot

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, The CW, Gossip,

High School Musical’s Ashley Tisdale will be making the move from cable to network this fall. According to reports from the CW camp, the Disney actress will be joining a new pilot in the fall.

The drama series will center on competitive college cheerleading, a Bring It On-esque weekly named Hellcats. It’s one of many new dramas the CW will be trying out for the fall season.

New Pilot to Feature a Trio of Idol Castoffs

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Comedy, Music, Reality, Video,

Former American Idol contestants Kristen MacNamara, Nick Mitchell (aka Normund Gentle) and Tatiana Del Toro have united to form the new reality series Takin Over Hollywood, which already sounds like a smash hit. Tatiana Del Toro, the drama queen with the giggle from Season 8? Just give me a channel and I’m there.

A new YouTube video has premiered which shows a trailer for the series. All three contestants perform the opening number. Kristen, now billed as K-MAC, will be featured as she pursues her career as a singer. Normund will work on his comedy, and Tati (Del Toro) hopes to become a successful actress.

Read More | My Idol News

TV Talk: Spike Orders Tiger Woods-Esque Show, Octomom Heads to The View

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, Daytime, Drama, Late Night, Prime Time, Specials, Talk Shows, ABC, Cable, NBC, Syndication, Saturday Night Live, Gossip, News,

-Spike TV has ordered a pilot about a golfer (John Schneider) and his sex-crazed caddy…named Tiger. It’s not known who’ll play John’s buddy in Back Nine.

-Tina Fey’s admits her Saturday Night Live hosting gig this April will likely include a Sarah Palin sketch. At least there’ll be one funny part that night.

-Nadya Suleman will be leaving her babies behind to co-host The View next Wednesday. The noise may send the Octomom running back home.

-Meanwhile, Barbara Walters has decided that her upcoming Oscars special will be her last. Having to keep ten Best Film names straight is more than she can handle.

-Stewart Bailey, a former co-executive producer on the Daily Show, is now in charge of helping Last Call with Carson Daly. It’s a shame to see talent like that wasted.

Melrose Place Premieres with a Shriek: Review

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Drama, Prime Time, The CW, Editorial, Gossip, Video,

The CW’s premiere of Melrose Place, the new version, did everything it was supposed to do…even if it did rely upon a few shopworn plot ideas to do it. There was much less shock factor and much more slick appeal than what was to be expected. But at the end of the episode, enough loose ends were left hanging to keep audiences coming back for more.

To sum it up, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz’s acting was bad, Sydney’s part was pretty small and the blonde girl? Completely unlikable so far - but definitely a diva worth hating.

Click to continue reading Melrose Place Premieres with a Shriek: Review

South Park Pilot Available Online

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Animation, Comedy, Cable, Internet,

Twelve years after South Park hit the airwaves, we are getting a rare opportunity to see the episode that started it all.

For a limited time, SouthParkStudios.com will be streaming the original pilot that launched the iconic Comedy Central series. The entirely handmade episode - it’s amazing what you can do with construction paper! - was hand-animated primarily by Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

The video, which was the basis for “Cartman Gets An Anal Probe,” will contain an additional four minutes of footage not seen in the series premiere.

Every other episode from the comedy’s 13 seasons can already be viewed via South Park’s website.

Read More | Futon Critic

Will ABC Family’s Pilot Make It?

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Drama, Prime Time, Sports, ABC, Cable, Gossip, Video,

ABC Family used the sweet spot behind Secret Life to premiere its new family drama, Make It or Break It, Monday night. This gymnastics-focused series details the life of young gymnasts attending a special Olympics training facility.

Three females led the first scene: Payson Keeler (Ayla Kell), who never looks too far ahead; Kaylie Cruz (Josie Loren), who can’t wait to pig out after the competition is over, and Lauren Tanner (Cassie Scerbo), who wants to enjoy a jet setter’s life.

Soon, the Coach was talking seriously of their future, saying that only three would go on to the top. New gymnast Emily then made her appearance, shaking up the top three set of girls who were introduced earlier.

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Reviewing FOX’s Fall: A Glee-ful Premiere?

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Comedy, Music, Prime Time, FOX, Gossip, Video,

Glee will feature rather prominently on FOX’s fall schedule, appearing in the coveted spot right behind the So You Think You Can Dance results show. The network is throwing every promotional trick they can muster at the series, with the early post-Idol premiere serving as the biggest treat in the campaign.

So, was it worth the hour of programming?

The opening was promising enough: fast-paced, flashing scenes at a sunny high school. An energetic, cheerleader-heavy intro ended with the coach’s angry face and witty one-liner - perfectly setting the tone for the rest of the episode.

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Read More | FOX