News post

Well, it's been a while. I don't know if you missed me of not, but I'm back.

We might as well start today with the ridiculous news that ABC has ordered up a game show on a skyscraper. If the contestant gets an answer wrong, the money they would have won flies off the building to the street below. The show is currently titled Downfall.

I feel like this one ought to be an April Fool's joke, but apparently Lucasfilm Animation is going to make an animated Star Wars comedy series by the creators of Robot Chicken.

Fox recently announced that this is going to be the final series of 24. I gave up on it after a couple weeks this year. It was just too terrible to keep watching, even for laughs.

The production team behind The Wire has a new series starting on HBO Sunday called Treme. It's set in post-Katrina New Orleans and features John Goodman.

NBC recently renewed three reality/game shows. So yeah, they're going back to quality scripted programming.

The Lost finale is scheduled for May 23. That's a Sunday for those of you playing at home. Jimmy Kimmel is going to do a one-hour special after the finale.

S. Epatha Merkerson is leaving Law & Order after 16 years.

Have I mentioned that in addition to all the other TV "reboots" we've already talked about NBC is bringing back The Rockford Files?

Critically acclaimed first season sitcom Modern Family ran a 22 minute long ad for the iPad last week.

The Peabody awards were announced this week. The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Glee among others were recognized. I adore Craig's talk show. It's unlike any other show out there. Speaking of which, Glee returns after many many months away on April 13.

ABC has renewed Castle for a third season. Castle is another show I'm really enjoying these days. It's good silly fun.

I went back and forth about whether I was going to mention this one or not, but Sarah Palin has signed with TLC (which is part of Discovery) to air a 10 part "documentary" called Sarah Palin's Alaska. This is in no way an endorsement.

At the Movies, the show started by Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel 30 years ago has finally been canceled.

Christian Slater is o-fer in TV series. He's had two canceled in two years. Heading for a potential third strike, he's signed on to a Fox pilot.

Christiane Amanpour is taking over hosting duties on ABC's This Week. That was for you mom and dad.

The Addams Family musical recently premiered on Broadway.

Versus and Comcast appear to be over their pissing match, bringing the NHL back to DirecTV at long last.

Conan O'Brien is going on a national tour. Last I checked it sold out almost immediately everywhere. So, um, sorry for the late notice.

Mattel is creating a line of Mad Men Barbie and Ken dolls.

The big screen version of Rome is looking more like it's going to get made.

Fringe received a 22-episode third season pickup. Yay! This is one of the best shows you're not watching. Sometimes it's too creepy gross for me but the rest of the time it's riveting television. If you want to get caught up, check out http://www.fox.com/fringe/101/

Tiger Woods is staging his return to golf this week at The Masters.

Two more reboots being floated that we decidedly don't need: Real Genius and House Party. And a third: Private Benjamin.

They're making a movie out of Freakonomics? For reals?

There's a third Harold and Kumar movie in the works called A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas.

Will Smith has apparently signed on for two, count 'em two, Independence Day sequels.

The Peter Jackson led The Hobbit is being delayed again. Now it looks like if they actually manage to make the movie we won't see it until 2012.

Bryan Singer, the director responsible for the first two excellent X-Men moves has had to drop out as the director of the upcoming X-Men: First Class. I would have liked to have seen him direct this one. Darn.

Scream 4 is a go with the original director of Scream and much of the original cast.

There's another live action Popeye apparently being discussed.

John Malkovitch and Frances McDormand have both signed on to...Transformers 3. I'm appalled.

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (a.k.a. Wall Street 2) has been bumped from an April release to September.

Sorry that after such a long absence that's all I've got for you. I'll be back soon with more.

Comments

[Rob J Jensen]

Yeah!  Thanks for the update.

Big screen Rome?  Huh.  I think I might prefer a few more small screen seasons -- like a remake of I CLAVDIVS, but continuing in the style of Rome (and by that, I of course mean all the gratuitous sex and violence).  

[C]

That reminds me. I think it's been long enough now to finally watch I CLAVDIVS.

[djensen]

Do the Mad Men Ken dolls come with cocktails, or maybe a bar set?

[C]

Not that I can tell. It's a great idea, though. Here's the pic that was going around: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_w9QgHP4SB2E/S6BHRshAA3I/AAAAAAAANqA/0eRjGdd-u2w/s800/MAD-MEN-BARBIE-DOLLS.jpg

[djensen]

You'd think they might have bothered to put a little meat on Joan's bones.  Ugh.

[Byrne]

So good to have you back. Fringe is currently my most guilty pleasure. Caprica is a P.O.S. And "Treme?" I want HBO again. 

There are rumors also of a new BSG spin-off. SyFy can't let the franchise die. 

Finally - what's your verdict/take on V and Stargate Universe?