Christina Applegate is cancer-free
Today, the star of ABC's Samantha Who? was on Good Morning, America to explain what's happening with her, and Christina declared that she is now cancer-free. "Absolutely 100 percent clear and clean. It did not spread. They got everything out, so I'm definitely not going to die from breast cancer."
In an exclusive, candid interview, she revealed that three weeks ago she had a double mastectomy to remove all traces of breast cancer. She will have reconstructive surgery over the next eight months to replace her breasts.
I really admire Christina Applegate. I've liked her a lot on Samantha Who?, but to do what she did today makes me like her even more. She didn't have to face the media and talk about her cancer. It takes courage to share your story.
And having a positive diagnosis, to be able to say you're cancer-free, doesn't make it any easier to talk about the fear you face when you were told that you have cancer and must undergo a difficult surgery or chemotherapy or radiation.
Continue reading Christina Applegate is cancer-free
TV Squad presents the 2008-09 fall schedule
It's coming. The table is set, the players are on the field, the sails are raised, and the pretty maids are all in a row. Of course, I speak of the 2008-09 television schedule. In just a few short weeks viewers will be able to dine on a number of favorite and new dishes that are being served by the networks as well as the increasing number of cable channels who are delving into original programming.
While other fall seasons have come and gone with nary a whimper, this season may be different. Due to the prolonged Writers Strike many shows ended their seasons quite early. Programs like Life, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, and Heroes haven't aired original episodes since the end of 2007. Heck, there hasn't been a new episode of The Shield since June of last year! So, the beginning of the 2008-09 season will be a second chance for some of these shows, particularly the ones that premiered last season, to show their worth to fans and the networks.
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Christina Applegate suffering from breast cancer
The news comes just weeks after Applegate earned an Emmy nomination for her work as an amnesiac trying to undo her past misdeeds on Samantha Who?. In addition to continuing to work on her series, Applegate is also scheduled to appear on the Stand Up To Cancer telethon on September 5th. The telethon, which will be simultaneously aired on CBS, NBC and ABC, will also feature Meryl Streep, Sally Field and Jennifer Aniston, among others.
Since the cancer was detected early through a doctor-ordered MRI and Applegate is continuing her work schedule, hopefully the cancer will be easily beat. Here's to a full and speedy recovery.
Supporting comedy actor and actress finalists
Here come two more lists of the ten actors and actresses that are finalists for Emmy nominations in the supporting comedy categories. As with the other awards, there are some surprises on the list, and some notable omissions. For the ladies, the headline is that last year's winner, Jaime Pressly (My Name Is Earl), didn't make the cut. Surprise finalists include Conchata Ferrell (Two And A Half Men) and Amy Poehler (Saturday Night Live). I don't mind seeing Conchata on the list because she is consistently funny on the show, but I don't know that there is enough to her role for her to actually garner a nomination when you consider the competition.
On the other side of the coin, the defending champ, Jeremy Piven (Entourage), is back. None of the boys over at SNL managed to make the leap from Variety to Comedy that Poehler did.
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Sarah Silverman: best comedy actress?
As the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences tries to whittle the submissions down to actual nominees, it's interesting to take a look at who has made it to the semifinals. It's not a nomination, but it's one step away. Today comes word of the finalists for best comedy actress and best supporting drama actor. There are some surprises.
Chief among those for me is Sarah Silverman. I honestly hadn't even considered her in the running. I'm not much of a fan, but I do like that she is being considered for the simple fact that the base the nominees are drawn from can always use some expansion. And if she is the most surprising inclusion, the most surprising snub just might be Teri Hatcher. Eva Longoria, Marcia Cross, and Felicity Huffman all made the cut, but not Hatcher. Ouch. The rest of the finalists, and the supporting actors from a drama, after the jump.
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Mary-Kate Olsen joins Samantha Who?
The 22-year-old actress will appear in one episode of the good-versus-evil series starring Christina Applegate this fall. Right now, there are no plans to have the actress return for more episodes.
Slight spoilers about Mary-Kate's role on SW? coming up!
Continue reading Mary-Kate Olsen joins Samantha Who?
Jean Smart: The TV Squad interview
The two-time Emmy winner (for guesting on Frasier), is likely to win an Emmy nomination, which I discussed with her recently. But what about her other TV work. Here's some thoughts about 24, Designing Women and other TV memories. And find out what she thinks is the best show ever on television!
Allison Waldman: What are your memories from playing Charlene Frazier on Designing Women?
Jean Smart: There are so many. Of course, meeting my husband (Richard Gilliland). I met him on the fifth episode and we hadn't even been on the air yet. I remember the chemistry that we all had together, which was so much fun. When my character got married on the show, I found out I was pregnant, so I got it in just under the wire. Charlene was a good Baptist girl, she couldn't be pregnant without being married.
Continue reading Jean Smart: The TV Squad interview
James Tupper joins Samantha Who?
Slight spoilers about the role coming up!
Continue reading James Tupper joins Samantha Who?
Tony Hale gets recurring roles on Samantha Who? and Chuck
I'm pretty sure neither role will be as funny as Hale's turn as Buster, the hook-handed soldier / mama's boy that was always one of my favorite AD characters. But, hey, an actor's gotta work, and Hale picked two pretty good shows to work on. By the way, right at the top of Hale's IMDb profile are some of the sweetest words I've read all month: "Arrested Development (2009) (announced) .... Byron 'Buster' Bluth"
[via Pop Candy]
Samantha Who?: The Birthday (season finale)
(S01E15) "It's my birthday?" - Sam
Even if it wasn't an earth-shattering or intense episode, Samantha Who?'s season finale was satisfying. The episode wrapped up the Chloe/Todd relationship, clarified where Sam and Todd stand, and gave Sam another clean slate (she got the first one after when she woke up from the coma with amnesia). It also marked the first time that all series regulars shared a scene together.
Continue reading Samantha Who?: The Birthday (season finale)
Send an ABC e-card for Mother's Day
The cards are one part of a "Guide to Motherhood" page on ABC's website. You can watch clips from ABC's hit shows based on four motherhood themes: New Moms, Nesting, Words of Wisdom, and Letting Go. It's an amusing way to look back at some of the unconventional approaches to parenting taken in the last season.
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Samantha Who?: The Affair
(S01E14) "My mother is having an affair." - Samantha
How fun is it to watch the Newlys interact? I enjoyed this week's episode because it mainly focused on the weird trio that Samantha forms with her parents. Those of you who've been reading my Samantha Who? reviews regularly know how my I love Regina because of her snarky lines and craziness. After "The Affair," Howard is definitely growing on me.
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It's finale time again! No, really.
Holy frik! We've only just started to embrace the return of our shows after a shortened strike season. Now, they are almost over. In the next few weeks all of our network favorites will say good-bye for the summer to be replaced with reality shows, reality game shows, reality soap operas, and Regis on primetime (again).
Needless to say, I'm a bit depressed. As I am sure you are as well. But, we will do our duty and press on. Thusly, we here at the sprawling lakefront offices of TV Squad (you choose the lakefront) have compiled list of when your favorite, and not so favorite, shows will be saying good-bye for their summer vacation. As usual, taking the fickleness of the networks, these times and days can change at a moment's notices. We will try to update you of those changes as quickly as our little fingers can type it out.
So, with a leaden heart, here are your season and series finales.
Continue reading It's finale time again! No, really.
Gossip Girl cast among People's most beautiful
Gossip Girl is getting a lot of exposure these days. A week after the OMFG scandal, the cast of Gossip Girl has made People magazine's list of the most beautiful people of 2008. No argument here. Eye candy is one of the main reasons why I love the show. My only complaint is that Matthew Settle and Kelly Rutherford were left out. Rufus Humphrey and Lily van der Woodsen are currently two of the hottest parents on TV.
Other familiar TV faces made the list, including: Desperate Housewives' Eva Longoria Parker and Marcia Cross, Sarah Silverman, Ugly Betty executive producer Salma Hayek, Kristen Bell, Christina Applegate, Dancing With The Stars' Carrie Ann Inaba and Jason Taylor, Vanessa Hudgens, Mad Men's Christina Hendricks, and Minka Kelly from Friday Night Lights.
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Samantha Who?: The Gallery Show
(S01E13) "I can get a guy by tomorrow." - Samantha
This line may not have been the funniest one of the episode but it had major implications for both Sam and Todd. What if she hadn't been able to find a date for the gallery show? What if she found a guy who turned out to be prince charming and not a mugger? Those two possibilities could have totally changed the ending of the episode, meaning that Todd could still be thinking of Chloe instead of Sam. Luckily for us, Sam found Jerry O'Connell, who was trying to get in his car using a hanger since his Carpoolers friends left him on the curb, and he turned out to not be the guy for our Sam.