Pop Culture Roundup, June 24

Want to skip directly to the Supernatural stuff? Here you go.

The Golden Age of Hipper Than Thou CD Fetishization Begins Now
Remember when our parent all claimed records were way better than CDs? Now, we can tell our kids that CDs are way better than these silly digital files.

An Industry Split in the Comcast/NBC Universal Deal
The Director’s Guild of America and the Writer’s Guild of America have diverging viewpoints on whether the Comcast/NBC Universal merger is a good idea. Both sides have valid points, but I can’t help but think too much consolidation is a bad thing. I mean, I still can’t get Comcast Sports NW in the northwest unless I subscribe to Comcast cable, so I can’t help but think that putting Comcast in charge of NBC will eventually mean less access to NBC on other cable/satellite providers.

Your Ex-Boyfriend, Pop Culture, and You
This blogger started watching True Blood with her ex, and kept the show after she dumped him. What about you: what new tastes did you pick up from your exes, and which things can you never watch or listen to again?

Television Review: Memphis Beat
It was nice to see Earl back on the screen, even though Earl looked weird in a sport coat. And, yes, I am implying that Jason Lee’s new character needs a little work before it is distinct from Earl, other than the different look. Did you watch Memphis Beat? If so, did you like it? I’m not sold yet, but I’m also finding myself much more discriminating about my television shows these days.

Sage Professor Blends Pop Culture and Academia
Why did they not have classes like this when I was in college? I mean, I took some great classes, such as Media Theory and Criticisim and Women, Minorities, and the Media. And my State and Local Politics class somehow got co-opted into All Malcom X, All the Time (the movie came out that term). But, I never got to take a class where I could discuss current popular literature, let alone anything with sci fi, fantasy, or supernatural elements.

TV Review: The Gates
I finally caught an episode of Pretty Little Liars, but I missed The Gates this week. I am going to have to get more comfortable watching my TV shows online, because nothing seems to work with my schedule, and I know it’s just going to get worse after the baby is born. Anyway, I know our loyal reader Katie was not blown away by the gates, but I’d love to know what the rest of you thought of it. Or if you even bothered to watch yet another vamp show.

Amanda Bynes: Is Her Retirement Real?
So, this is the weirdest story of this week. Who retires on Twitter?

True Blood Stars Maintain Their Sexy Reputations
Ryan Kwanten is releasing a sex guide, and Alexander Skarsgard will star in Battleship. When I first heard about Battleship, I decided that Hollywood was much too desperate for new ideas. But, if Eric Northman is there, so am I.

Supernatural News

The Winchester Brothers Get Animated in Alleged Supernatural Concept Art
I like the Sam concepts, but Dean doesn’t quite work for me. But, I’m not really the target, as I’m not a big anime fan.

Supernatural Lead Actors Voicing Two Episodes of Anime Adaptation
More on the anime show. Everything is so up in the air with these details that it is hard to know what it true. But, I think it would be great of the boys provided their voice talent–good for the anime series, and good for the boys’ earning power.

Early Look: Supernatural Season 5 Blu Ray and DVD
Looks like there will be some fun special features on the disc set. Are you going to replace your older DVD sets with the new Blu-ray editions as they are released? Or will you just keep them and switch to Blu-ray with this season?

Also, there are some spoilers coming out, so visit the spoilers page if you want to know.

Like

Unlike

Related Posts:

• Pop Culture Roundup, June 17
• Pop Culture Roundup, June 13
• Pop Culture Roundup, May 27
• Pop Culture Curmudgeon, May 21. Special Upfronts Edition.
• Pop Culture Roundup, May 13

Pop Culture Curmudgeon, May 21. Special Upfronts Edition.

A day late, but I hope not a dollar short. I postponed this week’s roundup so I could take the time to find all of the upfronts info and preview videos I could.

• Upfronts News
• Other TV Stories
• Supernatural

Upfronts News

NBC
Schedule

Previews

CBS
Schedule

Previews:

• Mike & Molly
• Hawaii Five-0
• The Defenders
• @#$% My Dad Says
• Blue Bloods

ABC
Schedule

Updates

Previews:

• No Ordinary Family
• Detroit 1-8-7
• Better Together
• The Whole Truth
• My Generation
• Secret Millionaire
• Body of Proof

CW
Schedule

Previews:

• Hellcats
• Nikita

Fox
Schedule

Previews:

• Running Wilde
• Lonestar
• Raising Hope

Other TV Stories

Will Hulu Be the Death of TV?
A look at the effect Hulu may have on the networks. I think the day will come that we watch our shows direct from the studios, but it will be a long time.

More Americans Are Paying for Television
See, the death of cable television isn’t as imminent as some of us might hope.

Supernatural

Supernatural Episode Recap: Two Minutes to Midnight
Karla Petersen’s take on the season finale. It was very emotional, and if it had actually been the season finale, I would have cried through the whole thing. Because I knew it wasn’t the end, though, I found it a little heavy-handed and manipulative. And, it all seemed to come together too easily.

Supernatural: Super-serious
A fan’s take on the finale and the plans for season six.

Supernatural Season Finale Recap: Nothing Ever Really Ends, Does It?
The Entertainment Weekly take on the episode.

Supernatural Finale Justifies Our Lovefor an Absent God
And, Mo Ryan’s review.

CW Stars Jensen Ackles and Danneel Harris Tie the Knot
People reports on the Ackles-Harris wedding. I wish the happy couple all the best.

CW Stars Jensen Ackles and Danneel Harris Tie the Knot
People reports on the Ackles-Harris wedding. I wish the happy couple all the best.

CW Moves Supernatural to Fridays for Fall
We’ll be watching our show one day later next season. How do you feel about the shift? I’m okay with it because it frees up the extremely full Thursday at 9 slot. Perhaps I’ll actually watch The Office again.

Like

Unlike

Related Posts:

• Upfronts Preview: What Will the 2010-2011 TV Season Bring?
• Pop Culture Roundup, January 28
• Pop Culture Roundup, January 21
• Pop Culture Roundup, June 24
• Some of Our Favorites Return

Upfronts Preview: What Will the 2010-2011 TV Season Bring?

I love upfronts. I am always excited to see which shows will return in the coming year and what new shows the fall season will bring. I read upfront previews as soon as I get notification of their posting.

The major networks have their upfronts next week. So, check here and Twitter for info about the pickups and drops.

• ABC: May 18. I’ll be looking for something to fill the midweek doldrums. I can’t keep watching 90210 forever, right? I’m also interested in how they replace Lost.
• CBS: May 19. I’m only marginally interested in this, mainly because I don’t watch a lot of shows on CBS. Hubby is all about Hawaii Five-Oh remake, but I really only care if How I Met Your Mother will return.
• CW: May 20. Will the CW replace it’s ailing scripted series with more reality crap? I hope not. I’d love to see them honor the W in their name and bring back the types of shows that made the WB awesome. Life Unexpected had that potential, but it hasn’t lived up to it so far. I’m not sure Nikita will be the show that will make me love the CW like I loved the WB.
• Fox: May 17. Again, not really that interested. I watch Glee, but nothing else Fox offers appeals to me. Besides, if I like it, they’ll cancel it unceremoniously because it doesn’t live up to the ratings of American Idol. (I know this won’t happen for a long time, but I’d love to see them dump the long-past-its-prime karaoke competition.)
• NBC: May 17. NBC is the network I care about. Will they bring back Chuck? It looks good (according to Ausiello), but I don’t want to assume the best and be shattered by the worst. Will they have anything else interesting to watch? Love Bites and Outsourced have potential, but I’m waiting to see more on them and the other pickups before I make my decisions about which shows to watch.

Of course, I’d also love to see the networks realize that sometimes shorter seasons mean better shows that people care about watching. I don’t think a six-episode season is quite enough, but 13 has proven to be good for the creative development of a show. Look at Glee. The first 13 episodes of the season were focused and interesting, even though the show had that stupid fake pregnancy storyline. I still enjoy the show, but the episodes after the first 13 have meandered a little and haven’t been as good.

And, here’s a good discussion of the actual purpose of the upfronts (to sell advertising) and the outlook for this year.

What are your hopes and dreams for the 2010-2011 TV season?

Like

Unlike

Related Posts:

• Pop Culture Curmudgeon, May 21. Special Upfronts Edition.
• Some of Our Favorites Return
• Pop Culture Roundup, January 28
• Most Exciting Upfronts News
• Dollhouse Renewed?

Pop Culture Roundup, January 21

• The Biz
• TV News
• Supernatural
• Random Stuff

The Biz

Thinking Outside the Box: Web TVs Skirt Cable Giants
I can’t wait until we choose exactly what we want to watch, when we want to watch it without having to subscribe to a bunch of worthless channels. I mean, really, The Military Channel? No thank you, but to get E! and Style, I have to get that one, too.

Why the Broadcast Networks Can’t Take the Summer Off
Seems the big 4 are tired of being left in the dust by the cable nets every summer. This year (again), they are promising to do better. Find out how and why they can’t afford to fail at broadcasting watchable summer programming this time.

Studios Even More Afraid of Unsolicited Scripts
Combine a litigious society with a bunch of execs whose business model is shifting under their feet. What do you get? Overwhelming fear. According to this article, the slush pile may be at an end in TV and movies.

Can’t Hollywood Swing for the Fences?
An interesting look at the lack of black voices in filmmaking.

TV News

Viewers Abandon Heroes in Drove: Can It Be Saved?
The real question is, “should it be saved?”

Rob Estes Leaving: Harry Wilson Will Be Written Out
90210 is losing another of the grown-ups. Rob Estes apparently didn’t get what he wanted from the CW brass in his contract negotiations and is leaving the show. Will Annie become even more annoying now that she will be a product of a broken home? And will granny still let them live in her crazy mansion?

Tom Shales on the Villains in the Leno-O’Brien Fiasco at NBC
This morning, it was announced that NBC is paying Conan $32.5 million and giving his staff severance of nearly $7 million to get him off the Tonight Show. In this piece from earlier this week, Shales rips the NBC executives to shreds in this opinion piece. Great reading!

Supernatural

Supernatural: The Devil Went Down to Carthage
Here’s a link to the Zap2it recap of the last new episode. For me, it’s all about refreshing my memory about what happened way back in November so that I’m not too lost tonight.

5.10 Abandon All Hope
The Supernatural Wiki has all sorts of resources to help you get caught up and ready for tonight.

Preview of 05.11 “Sam Interrupted”
Our friends at Buddy TV help us get caught up and give a few sneak previews of what is going on tonight.

Supernatural Countdown No. 14: The Family Business
A funny look at the top 10 “happy” events on Supernatural. It’s not all gloom and doom for our Winchester boys.

Looking for spoilers? Here’s what I know.

Random Stuff

Golden Globes Stunner Sophie Loren’s Tips for Ageless Beauty
Sophie Loren is proof positive that women can age gracefully, if they accept it instead of fighting it. That doesn’t mean you should just shlump through your life because you’re gonna get old anyway. But, you can take care of your body and your skin, take pride in yourself, and dress appropriately rather than going under the knife.

Let me know what you think of the new link format. Thanks!

Like

Unlike

Related Posts:

• Pop Culture Curmudgeon, May 21. Special Upfronts Edition.
• Pop Culture Roundup, June 24
• Pop Culture Roundup, March 11
• It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
• Pop Culture Roundup, June 13

Some of Our Favorites Return

By now, you’ve probably heard the news that Lauren Graham is joining the cast of NBC’s Parenthood.

You may also have heard that Matthew Perry is coming back to network television with a show for ABC and Amy Sherman-Palladino is writing a series for HBO.

I was happy to see Jenna Elfman, Courteney Cox, and Dan Byrd back on TV this fall, even though I’m not watching Accidentally on Purpose and Cougar Town is a DVR-only show.

What actors do you want to see back on TV?

Like

Unlike

Related Posts:

• Upfronts Preview: What Will the 2010-2011 TV Season Bring?
• Pop Culture Curmudgeon, May 21. Special Upfronts Edition.
• Still No Word about Chuck
• A New Landscape for Television?
• Pop Culture Roundup, June 24

Interesting Developments in the #savechuck World

Nikki Finke of the amazing Deadline Hollywood Daily posted some interesting scoop on the behind-the-scenes wrangling about Chuck.

Follow Nikki on Twitter to get the latest Hollywood reports.

Like

Unlike

Related Posts:

• Still No Word about Chuck
• Pop Culture Roundup, June 24
• Pop Culture Curmudgeon, May 21. Special Upfronts Edition.
• Upfronts Preview: What Will the 2010-2011 TV Season Bring?
• Countdown to New Shows: Spring 2010

Still No Word about Chuck

I just don’t know what to do with the folks at NBC. They announced their fall line-up today, but they didn’t announce whether any of their bubble shows were included in the line-up.

Read more about it.

Like

Unlike

Related Posts:

• Upfronts Preview: What Will the 2010-2011 TV Season Bring?
• Some of Our Favorites Return
• Did You Get Chucked Last Night?
• My Fall TV Viewing Schedule
• Most Exciting Upfronts News

Problems for Parks and Recreation

The news series by the creators of The Office, Parks and Recreation, has apparently not wowed the consumers testers. Nikki Finke has posted excerpts from the focus group report at Deadline Hollywood Daily. The showrunners have their work cut out for them.

Like

Unlike

Related Posts:

• Pop Culture Roundup, June 24
• Pop Culture Curmudgeon, May 21. Special Upfronts Edition.
• Upfronts Preview: What Will the 2010-2011 TV Season Bring?
• Pop Culture Roundup, January 21
• Some of Our Favorites Return

A New Landscape for Television?

NBC is all over the press talking about its “revolutionary” approach to selling advertising and scheduling shows. I’m interested in a year-round programming schedule, but I’m wondering what will happen to the back end, the reruns and syndication deals.

Here’s a good story on the topic: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/20/business/media/20adco.html?ref=television

I will say that I don’t hate the occasional rerun–in fact, I’m a huge supporter of rerunning a series in order to build excitement for the next season, refresh regular viewers, and potentially draw in new viewers. That’s how I got into Twin Peaks. I missed the first couple episodes, then I didn’t find any reason to start watching a serial midway. Then, they replayed all of S1 right before S2 began. I was hooked five minutes into the pilot. If David Lynch and Mark Frost had any idea how to handle the show after Laura Palmer’s murder was solved, I would have remained a loyal viewer for years to come. Sadly, that wasn’t the case, but those first 16 episodes were TV gold that I never would have seen without reruns.

If NBC moves to year-round staggered programming, will they push all reruns online? If so, then the high residuals for the creatives will go away. What effect would lack of network television reruns have on syndication deals? Will the line between computers and television be blurred even more, killing syndication once any potential viewer can watch shows off the Internet?

I guess my point is that we live in interesting times for the entertainment biz. What do you think of NBC’s ideas? What effect will this have on the business of television? On you and your viewing habits?

Updated to add this link: http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/02/20/nbc-to-stream-classic-series/ Looks like NBC is not only killing syndication, but also DVD sales. Do creatives earn residuals on old content streamed online?

Like

Unlike

Related Posts:

• Upfronts Preview: What Will the 2010-2011 TV Season Bring?
• Some of Our Favorites Return
• Still No Word about Chuck
• Pop Culture Roundup, June 24
• Pop Culture Roundup, June 3