Tis the season that television lovers hate. That is when they find out which of their favorite Broadcast shows will be back and which one won’t be. For me, I fall in to the latter category and today several shows fell in to it too.
Over at ABC, the good news is that Modern Family will be back for not one but two more seasons. Which should be its last two, hopefully. Creativity wise it has been going down hill for while. Then we have American Idol’s first causality. Even though Last Man Standing does better than most of ABC’s other comedies and it airs on Friday nights, ABC cancelled the show after 6 seasons. But don’t worry Black-ish will be back for another season as if it wasn’t going to be.
CBS was quiet, while its sister station The CW renewed iZombie and The Originals for a fourth season. I am getting brains on the grill in honor of the pickup. Maybe awards shows will finally start to recognize Rose McIver who is the most underrated actress. While I wait to announce the new shows until next week, I have to tell you Dynasty is coming back and I am preparing to love to hate it every week.
Fox made my day because they picked up The Last Man on Earth for another season, so we will find out what Baby Phil Tandy Miller is going to look like. Will it have eyebrows and half a hair of head. Don’t send out the Bat signal because they also renewed Gotham is coming back too.
NBC was very vocal. They picked up Chicago Fire, Chicago PD and Chicago Med, but have not announced what they are going to with Chicago Justice. They did tell us that Timeless’ time is up. They also said that Jennifer Hudson is joining Miley Cyrus, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton on The Voice. On a positive note, she won’t be on the American Idol reboot.
In case you were wondering why I have a song from Jesus Christ Superstar at the top of my post, that is because it is getting the live treatment this Easter on NBC. I am hoping they cast Josh Groban as Jesus, Vanessa Hudgens as Mary Magdalene and I can’t believe I am saying this but Taylor Hicks as Pontius Pilate. Who do you want to cast in the lead roles?
Last week, ABC announced that British comedian Tommy Maitland is going to host The Gong Show and we were like who? Then yesterday, the game show’s Executive Producer Will Arnett was filling in as host on Jimmy Kimmel Live and he introduced us to his find.
When I saw him on the show, I thought his face looked more plastic than the people on Botched and Dr Miami. It wasn’t only that, I didn’t particularly like his humor. Therefore, I was wondering what the hell ABC was thinking.
So when I woke up this morning, I decided to see who he was. That is why I saw a lot of people are speculating that he is Mike Meyers in disguise. Then I watched the interview and I heard Austin Powers’ voice coming through. Yeah, baby! In conclusion, I also think it is the Love Guru, do you too?
What do I think of his alter ego hosting the show that premieres on June 22nd? I would rather they put a paper bag on his head and say that the Unknown Comic was the MC. To me this is a gimmick they didn’t need. It would do well on its own and doesn’t need this. Plus, what’s the point of having Mike Meyers host the show and not have Mike Meyers do it? Could you imagine the ratings if they just did that. It is not like Maitland is established as Tony Clifton was to Andy Kaufman, so I don’t think people will like it. And like Clifton, he is not likable.
This is as wacky of an idea as when the late Chuck Barris, who created and hosted the original version, claimed he was a CIA Assassin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4jzJ5hYy7k
Ever since Dirty Dancing came out almost 30 years ago, everyone who saw it fell in love with it. The timeless film has been attracting new fans every time a parent shares their favorite movie with their kids who then share it with their friends who then share it with someone else and so on. In other words, it is perfect the way it is.
Or so we thought. ABC has other thoughts on that and remade the classic to air on May 24th. Nobody puts baby in the corner, but someone should put this remake there. It might be good, but that promo is no Patrick Swayze/Jennifer Grey lift. When will Hollywood learn, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! See Fox’s Rocky Horror Picture Show that lived up to two of the words in the title.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik2DsG6pUhw
Do you love Shark Tank, but wish they only did toys? That is what The Toy Box on ABC at 8p tonight is all about, but with a twist!
Each week, 5 inventors pitch their toys to 3 judges to see if they will advance to the next round. Those judges are Dylan Candy’s creator Dylan Lauren, toy critic Jim Silver and Pixar Animation Studios’ creative director of Consumer Products, Jen Yan. After looking at their inventions, they decide if they should move on the toy box or go home to play with their toy.
What is the toy box? The business people who have moved on, face their toughest critics. Four judges, who are children, and they know what makes a toy work and what doesn’t. They are Aalyrah Caldwell, Noah Ritter, Sophia Grace Brownlee and Toby Grey. They might be in school, but they mean business. They ask the masterminds questions and then play with the toys before they deliberate who moves on.
Each episode, one person advances to the final round. The winner of that round gets their product produced by Mattel Toys. Something that they have given up their homes and children’s education to do. It is crazy how far these people have gone to make their dream a reality.
Toys like a soccer ball that opens up into other balls, a doll that talks in 3 languages, a ballerina doll that you can pose like one, 2 different takes on pinatas and many more toys that make you feel like a child again. On that note, this fast paced competition show is hosted by Modern Family’s Eric Stonesteet who is forever a child.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89w-7ZTern4
Do you love court shows and wish you could be on the jury? With You the Jury that debuts on Fox tonight at 9p you get to do just that.
Each week a a plaintiff pleads their case and their lawyers will question them and the person they are suing. After both sides have presented their cases and all their evidence has been heard, it is time for closing arguments. Unlike a real trial, the people involved in the case give them. Then it is up for you to decide who wins and who loses.
It sounds like a great idea on paper, but the modern day set makes it all seem cold. It feels more like Who Want to Be A Millionaire than You The Jury. That and Judge Jeanine Pirro is awful as the host because she is stiffer than a gavel. Plus, her voice is like nails on a chalkboard.
My verdict is guilty as charged. It’s a good idea turned bad.
ABC finally released some photos from the much anticipated Dirty Dancing remake and do you think you will have the time of your life watching it on May 24th?
The telemovie that stars Abigail Breslin and Colt Prattes as the roles that were originated by Jennifer Grey and the late Patrick Swayze seems to have captured some of the original 1987 film’s feel, but I still don’t think it needed to be remade. There was just something about it that made it feel special on its own, I don’t see why it needs to be retold.
Especially, since it was the chemistry between Swayaze and Grey that made it what it was. Now that he is no longer with us, I don’t think anyone will be able to recreate it. It is perfect just the way it is.
Will I watch? Of course, but I will be bitching about it until the credits role.
On a positive note, at least Debra Messing and Sarah Hyland truly look like they belong in the Catskills back in the ’60s.
