Allison Waldman
- http://www.barbrafile.com
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Was Great Sports TV
When it comes to competition and sports on television, the fare of late has been leaving fans wanting something better. Last weekend, the Daytona 500 -- the Super Bowl of NASCAR -- suffered in the ratings because of a pothole on the track that resulted in nearly two hours of delays. The NBA also served up their All-Star weekend of festivities; they were a major dud, especially the Slam Dunk contest that used to be one of the best exhibitions in sports. And the Vancouver Olympics? So far, so dull.However, there was one very exciting competition on television and it aired over the last two nights -- the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Live from Madison Square Garden, the dog show was one of the purest contests I've seen on TV in a long time. It was exciting and tension-filled, especially last night between 10:30 and 11:00 p.m. when the judge started to evaluate the best in show candidates.
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Changes Coming For Oscar's Best Song Nominees
In recent years, the songs nominated at the Oscars have not been particularly memorable or worth the time during the broadcast to waste on music that nobody remembers after walking out of the multiplex. This year, ironically, there is at least one very good song that was going to be an Oscar highlight, assuming the producers convinced Jeff Bridges to sing 'The Weary Kind' from 'Crazy Heart' during the March 7th broadcast. That's not going to happen now.New Oscar producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic have decided to drop the Best Song performances, according Entertainment Weekly. Instead of singers -- either from the movie or good enough to sing the songs from the movies -- we're going to see a montage of images from the picture with the soundtrack recording.
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It's Official: 'All My Children's' David Canary Retires
Only yesterday, the word began circulating that David Canary was leaving 'All My Children,' exiting the soap after 27 years. He was saying goodbye to the dual role of Adam and Stuart Chandler, a part that had been very good to him, earning him five Daytime Emmy awards. Today, ABC sent out a press release and issued the official story. David Canary was decided to retire from 'All My Children.' He will stop shooting in March, but will still be seen on the show through April 2010. And with David's departure, the character of Adam Chandler will be checking out, too. There will be a power struggle in Chandler Industries caused by his absence, likely with JR, Scott and Annie going at it.
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Maxim-um Penny as 'Big Bang Theory' Star Does Photo Shoot
It doesn't take a rocket scientist -- let alone the brainiacs on 'The Big Bang Theory' -- to recognize that the girl next door is a beautiful woman. Magazine editors have seen it, too, and 'Big Bang Theory's' Kaley Cuoco has been featured in Maxim magazine. That's right, Penny's in Maxim. These photos, which aren't too shocking or revealing, just very sexy and suggestive -- the full set is here -- do fall into the category of cheesecake. Perfect for an actress/waitress working at The Cheesecake Factory, right?
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Oprah's Oops Moment with Drew Brees
Oh, my. This is embarrassing... for Oprah. Apparently, she didn't see New Orleans Saints quarterback and Super Bowl MVP ever before in her life. How else can you explain what happened when Drew Brees was a guest on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'? Before we go to the tape, a few thoughts. First, what does it say about the staff research on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' that something as big as Drew Brees' birthmark, clearly visible on his right cheek didn't make it into the notes?
Nobody ran a little tape on the guy? There were no football cards or an 8x10 glossy? It makes you think that somebody simply handed Oprah a set of cards and said, "Here you go. His team won the Super Bowl. He throws the ball. Go get him, O."
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'Men of a Certain Age' - 'How To Be An All-Star' Recap
(S01E09) There's nothing particularly unique or extraordinary about the lives of Joe and Terry and Owen, the guys of 'Men of a Certain Age.' But the very fact that the situations and circumstances are normal makes how their characters react all the more interesting.
A lot happened in this episode, even though it wasn't big, dramatic stuff like you might expect. No, it was small moments, little things that didn't seem like much, but oh, what a blast in the storytelling. With the last episode of the season airing next week, this was one hell of a lead up to the big finish.
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David Canary Is Leaving 'All My Children'
One of the biggest stars of daytime, David Canary, has chosen not to renew his contract with 'All My Children,' in large part because of the soap's relocation to Los Angeles according to Soap Opera Network. ABC hasn't confirmed the information, but the creator of 'All My Children,' Agnes Nixon, did. And prior to her confirmation, David Canary's daughter Tweeted about it to David's fans.David Canary has been on 'All My Children' as Adam and Stuart Chandler since 1983, winning five Daytime Emmys (out of eleven nominations), and he's a fantastic actor. The roles of Adam and Stuart have been integral to the show, even after it was revealed that Adam was responsible for shooting – and killing – Stuart last year.
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What Shows are On the Bubble?
If you read Brad's take on The Hollywood Reporter list of endangered TV shows, you might be surprised that the 'experts' have some weak rated shows coming back for another season. THR puts 'Community' in the safe category, giving it a 90% chance of renewal. It also put 'Chuck' in the 90% category.
Joe Adalian wrote about bubble shows on The Wrap, and he has 'Chuck' slam-dunking another renewal out of NBC. The surprises on his list was a death blow for 'Gary Unmarried' and 'Rules of Engagement.'
Really? That's not a certainty considering that 'Rules' hasn't even aired yet. It did well in the ratings last spring, enough to be a midseason renewal. And 'Gary' has performed on par with 'The New Adventures of Old Christine,' which has a good shot at being renewed.
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'The Hurt Locker' Director Kathryn Bigelow to Direct HBO Pilot
A few weeks from now, March 7th to be exact, Kathryn Bigelow may be the first woman to ever win the Academy Award for Best Director. The odds are in her favor, especially after winning the DGA competition. Therefore, the announcement that Bigelow will direct the HBO pilot, 'The Miraculous Year,' is a coup for the cable net. 'The Miraculous Year' is the story of a Broadway composer who's popular and successful, but self-destructive, and how he views his eccentric family. Screenwriter John Logan is doing the script, and he's also executive producing with Lydia Pilcher. Logan has worked with HBO before on another show business oriented project, 'RKO 281' which told the story of Orson Welles' battle to create 'Citizen Kane.'
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Jerry Seinfeld Gets Madonna for 'The Marriage Ref'
This is rich. One of the celebrity judges on Jerry Seinfeld's new reality show, 'The Marriage Ref' will be Madonna. That's right. Madonna. How funny is that? For advice on dancing or pop sings or shocking the public or even cone-shaped bras, Madonna would be the authority to go to. However, is she really the person you'd go to for marital advice?Still, it's a big time booking for Seinfeld's new show. She's a star. And when you consider that Alec Baldwin is another choice for marriage judge, the requirement for appearing on the show is not personal success with marital relations. Lately, Alec Baldwin has been the poster boy for how not to handle joint custody of a child post-divorce!
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TV 101: 'American Idol' and the TV Truth Gap
'Human Target's' Chi McBride Misses 'Pushing Daisies'
What Shows are On the Bubble?
