Tag Archives: Television

Jan 13 2013

Jessica Lange’s ‘Surprising’ Success on ‘American Horror Story’

Jessica Lange’s ‘Surprising’ Success on ‘American Horror Story’ – and Why She Doesn’t Watch It | TheWrap TV.

On Friday night I got caught up on AHS: Asylum watching the latest two episodes: Name Game and Spilt Milk. You don’t have to go back and refresh your memory with AHS. It’s one of those shows that stays with you. By the time I sat down with my cup of cocoa, the chiweenie walked and fed and burrowing under his afghan, the DVR remote in hand, I was all set to see the progression of Lana, Kit, Grace and Pepper, and of course, Sister Jude.

I was not at all prepared for the music video of the day room at the sanitarium doing “The Name Game” and sat there with my mouth open briefly till I was laughing loudly. It was so unexpected and so hysterical. I guess Ryan Murphy (creator of Glee) just couldn’t help himself. But it was soooo delightful. See for yourself:

The link at the top is quite a lengthy interview with Jessica Lange talking about her past, present and future film and TV work, from King Kong to American Horror Story (season 3). Yes, it’s already been confirmed there will be a season 3 and Ms. Lange has signed on for it.

No telling who else might make the crossover from season 1 & 2 to season 3 . I certainly wasn’t expecting to see Dylan McDermott in this season and then he shows up in several episodes, including Spilt Milk. I never cared for him in Dark Blue or some of his other TV work, but he’s great as a killer (oops, did I say too  much?).

Nov 21 2012

Holiday Programming – Get a Free Download

Kids bothering you while you’re trying to bake holiday cookies? Have they been out of school too long and Christmas is still a week away?

Do you need to know how many more times A Christmas Story is on before you actually sit down and watch it with the family?

When did they say the Royal Pains wedding special was on?

Are you looking for a comprehensive guide to all (or at least most) of the holiday programming? Just go to Facebook and find Channel Guide Magazine. Once there, you’ll see a button like the one above. Click on it and you’ll be taken to a link to download your Free Holiday TV Calendar. No frills, just holiday programming from Sunday, Nov. 18 through Tuesday, Dec. 25.

This handy 2-page calendar is just what you need to get everyone towing the line in your house this holiday season.

Go now and while you’re there you can examine the benefits a subscription to Channel Guide Magazine has to offer.

Oct 12 2012

Free Halloween TV Calendar from Channel Guide Magazine

Want to know what’s on Halloween this month? Just go to Facebook and find Channel Guide Magazine. When you “Like” Channel Guide Magazine, you’ll be taken to a link to download your Free Halloween TV Calendar.

This 30-page calendar is arranged alphabetically and by day, so you can look up your favorite movie by title and in the listing it will tell you what day(s) its on. Or you can look at a specific date and see what’s coming on.

Scary good, huh?

There’s also some great features like Horror Remakes, Horror Movies Based Off Video Games, ShocKING Trivia about Stephen King, Real-Life Horror Stories Profiled in “A Haunting,” and more.

Go now and while you’re there you can examine the other benefits a subscription to Channel Guide Magazine has to offer.

Sep 27 2012

IMDb | Road to the Emmys | 2012 Primetime Emmy Award Nominations

IMDb | Road to the Emmys | 2012 Primetime Emmy Award Nominations.

Sep 18 2012

Sunday’s Copper was La Tempête in a Bottle

Tom Weston-Jones stars as Detective Kevin Corcoran on BBC America’s “Copper” Sundays, 10pm ET

Driving home in the rain last night, my mood lightened some when I realized I had a new episode of Copper waiting for me on my HD DVR. It was episode 5, which means we’re at the midpoint. I can tell from the comments on the website (bbcamerica.com/copper) that people are hoping it gets picked up for a second season (I’m definitely in that group).

I’m amazed by some of the comments of viewers that they can’t hear it or that it’s filmed too dark. I can think of only a handful of reasons why those television viewers are having problems. 1) they are watching it on an old television set; 2) they are watching it on a new television set without additional speakers; 3) they have the right set-up and always have surround sound on and do not know how to turn it off and/or adjust it.

For those who leave comments that it’s filmed too dark – come on people – read your television manual. Learn how to operate one of the most expensive pieces of equipment that you own (next to your car). There are different (automatic) settings you can experiment with.

Try it – please – but don’t comment about it on the website of a television show likes it’s their friggin’ fault! Now, on to important matters.

I love, love, love shows that make you feel like you’re not being … denied (for lack of a better word). FX’s Justified made me feel like that. Watching Copper, when the first commercial came, about 14 minutes into the TV Hour, I was overjoyed knowing I had at least 45 more minutes (including commercials).

In my first post about Copper I made an error when I said it was WRITTEN by Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana. Those two gentlemen are executive producers. I apologize. While I was tuttuling around the site this morning I found this little nugget of information: Copper’s series premiere delivered BBC America’s highest-rated telecast ever in Live +7 Day on Sunday, August 19. From what I understand about television numbers lingo, that’s nothing to be ashamed about.

If you still need a little shove, here it is:

Sep 14 2012

Welcome TV Watchers …

and Baby Boomers. Did you notice that during the recent Super Bowl the advertisers didn’t bother to talk to you? Which is a big mistake, according to Laurie Edwards-Tate, of Communities at WashingtonTimes.com.

Edwards-Tate notes “baby boomers born between 1946-1964 represent 26.3% of the country’s total population but control a third of all consumer spending – a whooping $2.1 trillion in annual buying power” as defined by the MetLife Mature Market Institute. According to Tate, that represents  more than 16x the buying power of Generation X (those born between 1965-1976) and Generation Y (1977-present).

My purpose for starting this blog is to provide you with information on quality television programming — it has nothing to do with advertising. Trust me, if the advertisers aren’t interested in talking to you, then the television programmers aren’t either. Especially, it seems lately, the major networks. Thank goodness there are many cable networks that are interested in providing quality television to ADULTS who are intelligent thinkers.

Let me warn you up front that you might not agree with how I define quality television. I was born in 1954. Smack dab in the middle of the “baby boomer” years. Comedy to me was Carol Burnett. There’s not a situation comedy show on TV now that I can stomach, so you won’t see me commenting on any.

I should also tell you that I’m watching my quality programs on a flat-screen television beamed into my living room by one of the best satellite services in the country. I have two DVRs (one is an HD DVR) so I rarely miss an episode of anything.

I won’t be summarizing shows or “spoiling” them. I will be commenting on how good writing, excellent character development, quality casting and superior acting all come together to entertain and engage us.