Posts Tagged ‘Prime Time’

It’s That Time of Year – Fall TV Is Back!

I love this time of year and it’s not because I dislike summer.  It’s because I love fall TV!  The new fall TV shows and my returning favorites are like my version of a new school year.  Last night I was going through my cable guide setting up my DVR recordings making sure I didn’t miss one.  I monopolize every single box to make sure that I always have something to watch.  And, when Glee first debuted, I DVR’ed it but later deleted them because I was running out of space and regretted once I discovered how great a show it was.  I am making sure never to make that mistake again.

So, now that I have hyped up how excited I am for fall TV, you are probably dying to know what is on my watch list.  Don’t lie, I know you are.

Mondays

  • Gossip Girl
  • Dancing with the Stars
  • Lone Star
  • Chuck
  • The Event
  • Little People, Big World (So sad that it is the last season!

Tuesday

  • The Good Wife
  • Life Unexpected
  • Glee
  • Running Wilde
  • Parenthood

Wednesday

  • Better with You
  • Modern Family
  • Cougar Town
  • Hellcats
  • Lie to Me
  • Hell’s Kitchen
  • South Park

Thursday

  • My Generation
  • S#*! My Dad Says
  • Outsourced
  • The Apprentice
  • The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Friday

  • Outlaw

Sunday

  • Undercover Boss

What are you looking forward to watching this fall?

The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards, Live August 29

To me, Sunday night is my Super Bowl night.  I’ve always loved TV, TV history, and watching the Emmys is one of my favorite award shows.  I can pass on the Oscars, the Golden Globes, the SAGs, etc.  Let me watch the award show for us true TV fans – the Emmys!

The Emmys will air this Sunday, August 29th on ABC.  Here’s where you can tune in:

Chicago City, Chicagoland and Michigan customers: Channel 7 for ABC; channel
200 for ABC HD
Cleveland customers: Channel 5 for ABC; channel 200 for ABC HD
Columbus customers: Channel 6 for ABC; channel 206 for ABC HD
Evansville customers: Channel 11 for ABC; Channel 811 for ABC HD

Here is just a quick glimpse of who’s up for nomination in some of the top categories.  For a full list of all of the nominees, click here.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory • CBS
Larry David as Himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm • HBO
Matthew Morrison as Will Schuester on Glee • FOX
Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk on Monk • USA
Steve Carell as Michael Scott on The Office • NBC
Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock • NBC

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Bryan Cranston as Walter White on Breaking Bad • AMC
Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan on Dexter • Showtime
Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor on Friday Night Lights
Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House on House • FOX
Matthew Fox as Jack Shephard on Lost • ABC
Jon Hamm as Don Draper on Mad Men • AMC

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Lea Michele as Rachel Berry on Glee • FOX
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell on The New Adventures Of Old Christine • CBS
Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton on Nurse Jackie • Showtime
Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope on Parks And Recreation • NBC
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon on 30 Rock • NBC
Toni Collette as Tara Gregson on United States Of Tara • Showtime

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson on The Closer • TNT
Glenn Close as Patty Hewes on Damages • FX Networks
Connie Britton as Tami Taylor on Friday Night Lights
Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick on The Good Wife • CBS
Mariska Hargitay as Det. Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit • NBC
January Jones as Betty Draper on Mad Men • AMC

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel on Glee • FOX
Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother • CBS
Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell on Modern Family • ABC
Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker on Modern Family • ABC
Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy on Modern Family • ABC
Jon Cryer as Alan Harper on Two And A Half Men • CBS

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad • AMC
Martin Short as Leonard Winstone on Damages • FX Networks
Terry O’Quinn as John Locke on Lost • ABC
Michael Emerson as Ben Linus on Lost • ABC
John Slattery as Roger Sterling on Mad Men • AMC
Andre Braugher as Owen on Men Of A Certain Age • TNT

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester on Glee • FOX
Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy on Modern Family • ABC
Sofia Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on Modern Family • ABC
Kristen Wiig as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live • NBC
Jane Krakowski as Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock • NBC
Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper on Two And A Half Men • CBS

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Sharon Gless as Madeline Westen on Burn Notice • USA
Rose Byrne as Ellen Parsons on Damages • FX Networks
Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma on The Good Wife • CBS
Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart on The Good Wife • CBS
Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris on Mad Men • AMC
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson on Mad Men • AMC

Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program
Phil Keoghan as Host on The Amazing Race • CBS
Ryan Seacrest as Host on American Idol • FOX
Tom Bergeron as Host on Dancing With The Stars • ABC
Heidi Klum as Host on Project Runway • Lifetime
Jeff Probst as Host on Survivor • CBS

Outstanding Comedy Series
Curb Your Enthusiasm • HBO
Glee • FOX
Modern Family • ABC
Nurse Jackie • Showtime
The Office • NBC
30 Rock • NBC

Outstanding Drama Series
Breaking Bad • AMC
Dexter • Showtime
The Good Wife • CBS
Lost • ABC
Mad Men • AMC
True Blood • HBO

The Hype Known as NBA Free Agency 2010

I am sure like many of you, the hype of what we can call the 2010 NBA Free Agency is way overrated.  I was over the whole LeBron and friends before it even started.  Here in Chicago where basketball in the ’90’s reigned supreme, ruined me for what we call the game today.  Back when Jordan, Magic, Larry, Charles and others played, you didn’t want to be on the same team as your buddy.  You wanted to compete against one another for bragging rights of who had the better team.

On top of all of this, there was a one hour special for him to announce his decision.  Seriously?!  Why does one individual who has been hyped for so long to be one of the best players to come along and hasn’t done anything yet, deserve all this attention?  Bottom line is money.  He and Chris Bosh will ride on the coat tails of DeWayne Wade, who’s already won a championship, to try to get another one or two.  The best part about all of this is that all the other teams in the league are going to be ready to take them on.  At the end of the day, your skills on the basketball court should speak for you, not your agent, your PR team or those other individuals who see the dollar signs.  With all this hype comes pressure and while they may not feel it now, they will for sure be feeling it when the season starts.

In Chicago, we know that you need a super star to jump start your team but you also need supporting players who will have your back no matter what.  Maybe LeBron didn’t want to come because he couldn’t live up to our already storied history.

On the Radar for Summer TV

As we all know, the pickings for good summertime TV are slim.  For me, TV during the summertime is about relaxing after a long work day.  This summer TV season I have mixed feelings.  While some shows are already meeting my entertainment needs, others I just wonder how they made the cut.  Let me tell you what I am watching so far.

Hell’s Kitchen (Fox) - I have been a huge fan of Chef Gordon Ramsey’s since the first season.  I love how he doesn’t mess around or mince words.  I find it funny that after six seasons, contestants still have issues with cooking Risotto, Scallops and some of the other staple products he is known for.  Will Chef Ramsey find success with his upcoming show MasterChefs?

So You Think You Can Dance (Fox) – Another show I have been a fan of since the first season is SYTYCD.  I love watching dancing shows and this show is no exception.  Last year it was overkill with the show not only in the summer but also the fall.  However, this year, they mixed it up with a new format that added some much needed zest to the show.  They brought back some of our favorite past contestants to team up with the top 11.  I am really loving the show this season!

Next Food Network Star (Food Network)- The Next Food Network Star was a late addition to my summertime viewing.  I started watching the show last season and was hooked from the start.  These chefs are actually competing for their very own show on Food Network which has some of the biggest stars in the industry such as Rachel Ray, Bobby Flay and Paula Dean.  I really like the challenges because they force the competitors to think outside of their box and really push to discover who they are as a potential food star.  If you love cooking, this is a great show to watch.

Design Star (HGTV) – For all aspiring interior designers, this is the show for you.  The format of the show is similar to the Next Food Network Star which puts together professional designers into an intense competition to win their own TV show on HGTV.  I love watching Design Star because of the great ideas that come out of the challenges and just to see how you can create something with very little.  Last year’s winner Antonio really set the bar high for this year’s contestants.

Well, there you have it, my must watch summer TV list.  I would love to hear what’s on yours.

More of what’s new on cable TV this Summer

In continuing my previous article, here is more information about upcoming new cable TV shows this Summer.

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Comedy Central
Channel 39 in Illinois
Channel 29 in Cleveland and Evansville
Channel 27 in Columbus

Russell Simmons Presents Stand-Up at The El-Rey – premieres July 11 @ 11 PM
Hosted by JB Smoove, Russell Simmons presents stand-up comedy from the El-Rey Theater.

New Sitcom starring Horatio Sanz and Chris Parnell – August
At this time, Comedy Central doesn’t have a title for this new sitcom about a young man who doesn’t let anything get in the way of his dreams.  Even if that means losing his job and moving back in with his parents and sleeping on their couch.
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Channel 48 in Illinois, Michigan, Cleveland, Columbus

Mr. and Mrs. Hawke – premieres in July
A former Special Forces survival expert and his wife, a TV journalist, take on some of the most remote and forbidding places around the world, which challenges their survival skills and their marriage.

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Channel 44 in Illinois
Channel 26 in Michigan
Channel 47 in Cleveland
Channel 24 in Columbus
Channel 50 in Evansville

Den Brother – Premier date is to be determined by Disney Channel
This movie is about a teen hockey star, who has to swallow his pride and lead his younger sister’s Bumble Bee Troop.

Camp Rock 2: The Final JamPremier date is to be determined by Disney Channel
The Jonas Brothers star in this movie where friends return to Camp Rock for another summer of music and fun. But a rival camp places Camp Rock in jeopardy.

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DIY Network
Channel 300 in Illinois, Michigan, Cleveland and Columbus
Channel 210 in Evansville

Run My Renovation – premieres August 19 @ 10:30 PM
This is sure to be an interesting show. It’s the first home renovation show where online users are in charge of another homeowner’s space.

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Food Network

Channel 69 in Chicago City
Channel 65 in Chicagoland
Channel 42 in Michigan
Channel 38 in Cleveland and Columbus
Channel 43 in Evansville

Kid in a Candy Store – launch date in July, still to be determined by Food Network
Adam Gertler, a previous contestant on Food’s Next Food Network Star, travels to bakeries, food carts, restaurants and candy factories searching for the nation’s sweetest and most innovative treats.

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Channel 55 in Illinois
Channel 40 in Michigan
Channel 39 in Cleveland, Columbus and Evansville

Color Splash Miami – premieres July 3 @ 10:30PM
David Bromstead, winner of HGTV’s Design Star, transforms ordinary rooms using cues from architecture and the pulse of Miami.

Candice Tells All – premieres September 4 @ 8 PM
Candice Olsen shares the secrets of timeless design principles and fundamentals.

All American Handyman – premieres September 5 @ 10 PM
Competing for the title of All-American Handyman is ten non-professional handy men and women.

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Channel 30 in Illinois
Channel 27 in Michigan
Channel 26 in Cleveland
Channel 25 in Columbus
Channel 19 in Evansville

The Perfect Student – premieres in September
A spoiled and beautiful high-school student always gets what she wants.  And this time, her sights are set on her math teacher.

The 19th Wife – premieres in September
This movie is based on David Ebershoff’s best-seller, The 19th Wife.  It looks at the secret world of polygamy when a Fundamentalist LDS member is accused of killing her husband.
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Planet Green
Channel 307 in Illinois, Detroit, Cleveland and Columbus
Channel 206 in Evansville

No Impact Man – premieres in August
This documentary follows a family as they trade their comfortable New York lifestyle for a life that leaves as little environmental impact as possible.

Around the World in 90 Minutes – July 18 @ 9 PM
This speical telsl the story of what happens around the globe during a 90-minute voyage through a series of high def images broadcast from thousands of miles away.

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Speed
Channel 90 in Illinois (85 without a receiver)
Channel 70 in Michigan and Columbus
Channel 43 in Cleveland
Channel 33 in Evansville

Intersections – premieres July 21 @ 10 PM
Each episode of this series will take two seemingly different speed machines and compare the similarities and offers a look at the people who operate them.

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Syfy
Channel 45 in Illinois and Michigan
Channel 44 in Cleveland and Columbus
Channel 20 in Evansville

Haven – premieres July 9 @ 10PM
This series follows FBI agent Audrey Parker, played by Emily Rose, who arrives in the small town of Haven, Maine to solve the murder of a local ex-con. This series is based on Stephen King’s novella The Colorado Kid.
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TLC
Channel 63 in Chicago City
Channel 25 in Chicagoland
Channel 37 in Michigan
Channel 40 in Cleveland
Channel 42 in Columbus
Channel 41 in Evansville

Carpio Family Project - premiere date still to be determined TLC
A follow-up to the TLC speical Multitude of Multiples, this series will follow the Carpios.  The Carpios are a family living in New York City who have an 8 year old and 18-month old sextuplets.  Talk about dirty diapers!

Twist of Kate – premiere date still to be determined TLC
Kate Gosselin is traveling around the country to see how other people juggle work, family life and the many challenges life throws at them.

And even more Kate Gosselin is on TLC with Kate Plus 8 starting in June.  These limited specials will follow Kate and her eight children on new adventures.

Homemade Millionare – premiere date still to be determined by TLC
Kelly Ripa teams up with TLC and HSN to see if she can help make women’s dreams come true.  These women are aspiring entrepreneurs asking for help and advice on marketing, manufacturing and distributing their inventions.

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USA Network
Channel 29 in Chicago City
Channel 26 in Chicagoland
Channel 13 in Michigan and Cleveland
Channel 12 in Columbus
Channel 17 in Evansville

Covert Affairs – premieres in July
A young CIA trainee is thrust into the inner sanctum of the agency when she is unexpectedly promoted to field operative.

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These are just some of the new cable TV shows coming out soon.  This should be enough to keep your WOW! DVR busy!