Over the last two years Food Network's Alton Brown has taken to America's roads less traveled in the Feasting on Asphalt series in order to find the little known jewels that were left behind as the Interstates began to rule the country. Along the way, Alton and his crew dined on alligator, various pieces of pig that are not normally consumed by the general public, sweet bread sandwiches, and lots and lots of doughnuts. Now, filled with fried dough and cow brains, Alton has decided to get off of his motorcycle and see what other delicacies are out there in warm waters of the Caribbean.
Alton Brown jumps off the asphalt and into the water in new series
Continue reading Alton Brown jumps off the asphalt and into the water in new series
Body in Numbers comes to Discovery
Discovery Health will be showing a four-part series about the human body this September. Body in Numbers will show viewers how the body functions throughout the day and how it adapts and reacts to things humans do. From the press release, the show sounds like it will be a lot of astounding statistics. The surface area of the lungs is about the size of a tennis court. And the fastest sneeze was clocked at 100 miles per hour (those are some fast boogies). So, if you're into cool graphics and interesting facts or just like learning about the human body, this sounds like it could be for you. However, as I read the press release, I couldn't help but wish that Discovery Health got the kid from Jerry Maguire to narrate the program.
Body in Numbers premieres Wednesday September 3rd at 8 p.m. ET / PT and will continue every Wednesday night in September.
Discovery gets set for a Da Vinci series
When I saw the headline that Discovery Channel was working on a Da Vinci series, my first thought was that they were finally dipping their toes in the scripted drama pool. Because, really, there's some mileage to be had with a show about Da Vinci, don't ya think? And with other cable channels having success in the fiction department, it doesn't seem an unreasonable idea for Discovery to join the fray.
Alas, that's not what we have here. It's still a pretty good idea though. A team has been assembled and they will be tasked with taking the original designs of Da Vinci and building them with modern tools to see if they really work. The team will be comprised of a rocket scientist, a special effects expert, and an in-the-garage inventor. The show is tentatively titled Doing Da Vinci, but I suspect that will change. Somewhere in the development process someone is going to point out that, "It might mean something different than what you think it means."
Andy DeHart, Shark Week expert: The TV Squad Interview
Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Andy DeHart, a shark expert who currently works at the National Aquarium in Washington, D.C. Dehart talked to me about his first experience with sharks (when he was five!), about his interest in conservation of the species, and about Shark Week, Discovery's annual documentary series (in its 21st year this summer). Other than Big Brother, Shark Week is the only reason I turn on the TV in the summer. I was pretty excited to talk to him about this year's event.
Continue reading Andy DeHart, Shark Week expert: The TV Squad Interview
Hopkins: Are you watching?
I watched Hopkins this week for the first time. It's a six-part documentary from ABC that delves into the lives of the real-life doctors who work at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, as well as the patients who come through its doors. It's reality TV at its grittiest and most heartbreaking, in some cases. When I first heard about the show, it sounded like an interesting premise -- learn about the doctors and caregivers who work at this medical center I've heard about all my life. When not performing medical miracles, they're just regular people. And from what I gathered watching Episode 4 this week, the hospital pretty much takes over their lives, leaving little time or energy for the outside world and relationships.
Continue reading Hopkins: Are you watching?
Billy Crystal named host of Make 'Em Laugh
Thirteen/WNET and Ghost Light films named Billy Crystal host of the new documentary series Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America. The six-hour documentary, which will air in January 2009, will explore the tropes of American comedy and chronicle its evolution. The comedian will appear in the opening of each episode and introduce viewers to the funniest moments in American entertainment. Some of the comedic talents that will be featured include: Charlie Chaplin, Jack Benny, Abbott & Costello, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Sid Caesar, Anne Beatts, Woody Allen, Larry Wilmore, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Richard Lewis, Jon Stewart, and Chris Rock.
Continue reading Billy Crystal named host of Make 'Em Laugh
Ken Burns new doc series for PBS
America's preeminent documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, the guy that made the Civil War must-see viewing, is hard at work on a new project. PBS will broadcast Ken Burns' The National Parks: America's Best Idea in Fall 2009. In 12-hours, divided over six episodes, Burns will explore the places like Yellowstone, the Smoky Mountains, Yosemite, Mount Rushmore, et al, as well as the people who were instrumental in the creation of these landmarks. Like who? Start with Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir. In the Ken Burns style, you can be sure to learn things about the parks that you never knew, stuff that were not in the tour books from the AAA.
Continue reading Ken Burns new doc series for PBS
Animal Planet, Discovery, TLC, and HBO - TCA Report
I attended the TCA Cable Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton yesterday where I learned about the following shows: Whale Wars on Animal Planet
Secrets of the Dinosaur Mummy on Discovery
Ashley Paige: Bikini or Bust on TLC
Ricky Gervais Comedy Special on HBO
Little Britain, USA on HBO
Generation Kill on HBO
And there's more. Believe me, there's more.
Okay, you've got whale pirates, mummies, bikinis, Ricky Gervais, vampires, and Marines. Unfortunately, none of those shows combine all six of those things / people. After the jump, find out about these new shows and the people who make them...
Gallery: TCA Cable Tour
_thumbnail.jpg "Captain Paul Watson looks at a map.")
_thumbnail.jpg "The Captain of the Sea Shepherd")
_thumbnail.jpg "Captain Watson at the wheel.")
_thumbnail.jpg "A Japanese whaling ship")
_thumbnail.jpg "The Sea Shepherd")
Continue reading Animal Planet, Discovery, TLC, and HBO - TCA Report
Made and True Life are back
MTV's documentary series Made and True Life are back with all new episodes next weekend. The network will air two new episodes of True Life and four new episodes of Made. The episodes will air in an afternoon programming block on July 20th from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET. I think I'm mostly likely to watch Made: Model, airing at 3 p.m. ET. The show will turn Adam Stewart, a hippie kid with long hair, into a male model. He'll work with experts on his appearance for five weeks leading up to a senior class fashion show. There he'll compete with the other So-Cal hotties for a modeling contract. But here's why I'm interested. Russell Simmons and Pete Wentz will guest star on the episode and give Adam some advice. Why them? I guess Russell Simmons is okay; that guy could give advice on how to be successful in any industry. And he does own Phat Farm. But Pete Wentz? Did I miss something?
I put a full description of the new shows after the jump.
Continue reading Made and True Life are back
A history of reality television (part one): The Beginning - VIDEOS
Love it, hate it, or feel indifferent about it, reality television is a staple of American television. It has been since The Real World and Road Rules premiered on MTV back in the 1990s, which started a chain reaction in the broadcast world. Eventually, the network and cable landscapes would be full of shows like Survivor, American Idol, Trading Spaces, and Big Brother. Since then, a season hasn't gone by without a show that emulated those shows, or any of the hundreds of other reality shows that were spurred by these originators.
So, what happened? How could we television viewers have lived with scripted fare for decades without a whiff of "reality" except for what was shown on the network news each night? Well, technically we didn't. Reality programming was there, except it wasn't called "reality programming" at the time. In addition, it was placed amidst a slew of scripted programming so it was considered a rarity. Nevertheless, these show were there and they were the impetus for some of the reality shows that we see today.
So where did reality programming begin? Actually, it didn't begin on television at all, but on the radio.
Gallery: Reality TV History: The Beginning
Continue reading A history of reality television (part one): The Beginning - VIDEOS
30 Days: Life on an Indian Reservation (season finale)
(S03E06) After two weeks of hard core issues, it's nice to take a break and get an episode that isn't quite so divisive. I was hoping that this final 30 Days would be like the season premiere in that it showed me some things I wasn't aware of.
Growing up in Arizona, I went to school with quite a few Native Americans. I remember my friend Dave King would always make jokes about how I (the white man) took everything from him. It was all in good fun but it was one of the things that made me sensitive to the plight of the Native Americans. Now, as an adult, I always vote in favor of keeping the Native American casinos exempt from paying state taxes. Maybe it has more to do with feeling guilty but, that's how I roll.
Continue reading 30 Days: Life on an Indian Reservation (season finale)
History stacks deck with 9/11, WWII stories
The cable network History -- formerly known as the History Channel (it'll always be the History Channel to me) -- has a couple of projects in the works, one of which will likely fuel both sides of the political debate as election time nears. "102 Minutes That Changed the World" is a piece on 9/11, culling footage from pros and amateurs, including two terrified New York University seniors in a high-rise dorm just blocks from the World Trade Center. They started shooting the smoking North Tower after it was hit by the first plane, then captured the second plane hitting the South Tower.
The 102-minute piece will premiere without commercials at 9 p.m. on Sept. 11. Done in "real time" format, it'll feature footage from more than 100 sources, pieced together in chronological order, without narration, to provide what History is calling a "seamless historical record of that day."
Continue reading History stacks deck with 9/11, WWII stories
The Crocodile Hunter's daughter gets her own doll
The late Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin's daughter will be getting her own doll. Bindi Irwin stars in Bindi the Jungle Girl on the Discovery Channel, a more child-friendly version of her father's show.The rubber doll will cost $15 to $20 with a portion going to efforts to breed endangered species and rescue animals. The doll will come with accessories including binoculars, a camera and other outback gear, as well as a cockatoo, wombat and python.
The talking version of the doll will speak catchphrases including "Crikey! Let's go help wildlife," and "You can make the world a better place." The doll is being developed by Wild Republic, a division of K&M International Inc., based in Twinsburg, Ohio who also marketed the Steve Irwin doll shortly after his death.
I am somewhat torn about this news. On one hand, her fame (of which this is a part) seems mildly exploitative due to the tragedy of her father's passing. On the other hand, a girl has to eat.
TLC has a new docu-series
TLC has a new docu-series (that's a fancy name for "reality show") called Must Love Kids. On this show, TLC will follow three moms as they enter the daunting world of dating as a single mother. The three mothers who currently balance their careers and raising their children will step out of their comfort zones to date and maybe even find a lifelong partner. Not so sure about this show. According to the press release, "With an estimated 10.4 million single mothers in the U.S., these three single moms will undoubtedly inspire others to take the initiative and focus on their own happiness." I don't like the assumption here. All single moms are miserable and don't focus on their own happiness? Therefore, all single moms need to learn to be happy so they can secure another mate? Maybe I'm being too harsh though. I generally like TLC's programming. (I changed dinner reservations once while vacationing in Hawaii with my husband because American Choppers wasn't over yet.)
What do you think? Would you watch this show?
Must Love Kids premieres July 15th at 9:00 p.m. ET / PT on TLC.
30 Days: Gun Nation
(S03E04) I have never been a fan of guns. Sure, I enjoy movies where gun violence plays a major part. I've always held a fondness for Dirty Harry and the few times I held a gun, I definitely thought it was cool. All that being said, I don't know if I could ever shoot a gun at another living being. I don't really care to find out.
What I would like to know is if there is some way that responsible Americans can enjoy hunting and feel protected while at the same time, psychos won't be able to walk onto the playground of my daughter's school and shoot innocent children. This was an episode I was really looking forward to.
Spoilers Anonymous
Why I now embrace Ghost Whisperer and look forward to that big twist
The kinder, gentler Halloween monsters of children's television - VIDEOS
