Okay..NOW I'm into Big Brother 11.. And here is My Blog on BB for Today

It took awhile, as it does every season, to really sink my teeth into the new Big Brother season. At first it's really hard to keep track of who is who (note to CBS, you should caption your show with the names of the people in the house as you have them on screen at least for the first week). Then, when trying to read those joker updates it can really get confusing. One thing I did know for sure from the onset was that I do not like Jessie (but that's because we all know him from previous season). Yeah, he's nice to look out but the minute that boy opens his mouth he turns ugly.

That brings me to Russel. I do not like him either. Him and Jessie are like one and the same. They think they rule the roost, but I don't believe they really have the brains to. And, speaking of brains, that "dork" guy Ronnie made a really lame brain move. I mean come on dude, only you and three other people besides Russel and Jessie who knew of the entire backdoor Braden thing and they were ; Lydia (the one that was going to be saved) and Natalie ( a loyal Athlete team member) so as soon as Russel found out that Braden was clued into the plan who did you think they were going to blame? It was extremely obvious and extremely stupid for him to expose himself. It's not as if the information getting to Braden was going to change anything.. He only revealed his hand and exposed his double agent status for no good reason. Not so brainy if you ask me.

I like Lydia and Jeff. Jeff is a hotty on the athletes team but totally not a testosterone jerk like Russel and Jessie. Jeff, by the way, is much better looking than Russel and Jessie combined. Russel and Jessie, however, are already ganging up on Jeff for no good reason other than he doesn't sit around and talk smack like a meathead and is rather playing what I think is a smart game. He is nice to the others in the house and isn't coming off as the bully meathead like the other two on his team. By the way, Russel, the problem was not that Jeff didn't know how to spell "technotronics" but rather he couldn't find an "h". You want to pick on someone for misspelling a word you should look to your boy Jessie who mixed up the o and the u in continuously and while he had all the letters, he spelled it wrong. (insert eye roll). Like I said.. Meathead.

As for the girls, the brainy neuro scientist chick seems pretty nice (Michelle) but maybe too nice. She could easily end up a floater. Again I like Lydia, especially since she managed to get Jessie and Russel to do what she wanted (her off the block and deflected to Braden who is now on the block) . She's a clever girl. Chima is a whiner so I'm not much liking her. Laura I'm not much of a fan of. By the way Laura, your comment " I can't help it if I have big boobs" was a little ..no a lot.. stupid. Those things are more fake than a $5 Gucci Bag from China Town honey, so you did have a lot to do with the enormous size of your knockers, which you now seem to think is the reason you feel no one likes you. I don't like chicks who say they are pretty and that's why no one likes them. I know it can be true in some cases, but give me a break. It may have a lot more to do with your attitude than what you look like or the size of your knockers.

As far as Casey , Jordon and Kevin are concerned I haven't quite yet formed an opinion. They haven't been very dominate or have made any moves, so to speak, in the game to really judge them just yet. Braden, for some reason, just rubs me the wrong way. Not how he talks or anything, but there is something about him and the way he looks that just irks me. I know it's wrong to judge someone on that basis, but it's just the first impression. I wonder if we'll get a chance to know him any better, as it was looking like yesterday he will be the first house guest sent packing.

Now that I've got every one straight in my head, the fun is really going to begin. Feel free to chime in and add your opinions of the house guests!

Maura Tierney speaks out on health

Maura Tierney speaks out on health

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I had written earlier about the production of 'Parenthood' being pushed to September because of Tierny's health. I suppose the ominous wording led us all to believe the worst (I did) and so she had released a statement about what issue she was having.

And.. I must say, when I heard she was undergoing some sort of medical evaluation my mind did go to breast cancer. She I almost even said that in my blog, but didn't want to even utter the words because it really could have been anything. She doesn't know if she has it, but she has discovered a lump that she says requires surgery.

I hope that she is well and that it turns out not to be cancer.

'Parenthood' pushed Back, Grey's Anatomy of Space Aug 2nd, Summer of the Diasaster Mini Series

A few months back I blogged about 'Parenthood', the new NBC drama based on the 1989 movie. Production had to be pushed back to start in September because of an illness Maura Tierney (Amy Lockhart, ER) is undergoing evaluation for. 'Mercy', the medical drama about first responders ,originally scheduled for a mid season premiere, is being pushed up and will begin where 'Parenthood' was set to premiere. By the way, both series looked awesome and I am eagerly waiting in anticipation. This "medical evaluation" she is undergoing sounds pretty serious. Of course they would not elaborate further (nor should they have to, it's her business). Let's hope that she is okay. Let's also hope that this show isn't cursed somehow. Apparently production on the pilot was shut down when the VP of drama at NBC died on the set. EEK!

Okay, so I mentioned a few weeks back about the Grey's Anatomy of space coming to ABC.

'Defying Gravity' is set to premiere on August 2nd with a two hour slot with it's regular slot set for Sunday's at 10pm. It has an international ensemble cast led by Ron Livingston. Premise of the show is a story about 8 astronauts from 5 different countries on a 6 year mission through the solar system. While the series takes place in the near future, there will be flashbacks to the astronauts grueling training in the series past. ABC picked up 13 episodes. I'm eagerly anticipating this series and I sure do hope it fairs better than many of the other new shows that started this summer (Philanthropist, The Listener, etc.). I've put the commercial promo on the sidebar, so watch and enjoy. I'm sure most of you are catching it on the tube now.

Did anyone else notice that there are an onslaught of disaster mini-series or movies on TV this summer? First we had 'Impact' , this past weekend 'Meteor' premiered and coming soon is 'The Storm'. I do believe there was also one about an earthquake on this summer too. What is up with that? Okay, it's fiction, but do we not have enough real disaster with the economy? Perhaps the network thought we might focus on fictional cataclysmic life ending disasters to help us appreciate the fact that while the economy stinks (on a global scale) at least it's not as bad as possible extinction. Just a thought.

I am on a vacation visiting my mother. Normally on such a trip I would coordinate what shows I watch and she watches so that I don't fill up my DVRs with shows I'll watch with my mom. I was both lazy and busy (more busy than lazy I promise) to actually sit down and do that. I certainly hope that I don't miss anything. It's so hard to keep all the shows on and coming straight (I am interested in checking out Dating in the Dark on the 20th). I recorded 'Kings' and 'Eli Stone' on Saturday that I didn't get to watch before I left. I hope that they don't get deleted as space is needed (note to self.. and heck to all of you too.. make sure that you mark the series or the recorded episode as manually delete, rather than as space is needed). I'm regretting not organizing my DVR before I left.

I am trying to get into Big Brother 11, and the start of the season is always hard because you don't know the houseguests yet (I can't keep all the names straight). I'm a little lost because if you watch it on After Dark, they are far behind where the show actually started. I was so very confused when I turned on the first installment of After Dark after the premier episode because so much had happened between then and what I was watching on After Dark it was confusing. I think the best way to keep up with Big Bro and the televised episodes is to read the Jokers Update. I will say one thing though, the houseguests waisted no time in game playing. Right out the gate the alliance making and whispering began. Once I get that all squared away in my brain, I'll be sure to blog and have an opinion on the show. That's a promise.

Big Brother 11 is Under Way - H.S Clique Theme.

And so it begins! The 11th Season of Big Brother has begun.

The first episode is always weird to watch because you really don't know any of the house guests and you haven't figured out who you like or don't like. You can't really tell too much from that episode. Honestly, watching it without the feeds and Showtime After Dark you really do miss a lot. Fortunately for me, my mom subscribes to the feed and we both have Showtime After Dark. As I type this I am watching last nights first installment. It is going to be hard to keep up with that on the DVR since it's 3 hours long and on every night. But what is great is that it's one of those things where you can work and half pay attention to (like right now). You also miss the dirty stuff, like people running around in their underwear and PJ's.. and guys... at least two of the girls are wearing lingerie around the house. Then there is always that weird toned Big Brother voice reprimanding the house guests with "please do not cover up your mike" or "house guests, you are not allowed to talk about production". It's funny and weird.

I was rooting for the Popular Clique last night because I would like to have seen Jessica come back. I liked her and since her game was kind of messed up by the America's Player (LOVED that concept, btw) I thought she should get another chance. Yeah..Jesse is nice eye candy for sure, but I remember him being so cocky and full of himself. I knew so many guys like that in my single days and no matter how "hot" they are, when they open their mouth they are so ugly!.

What about this years theme, High School cliques? That should prove interesting . The season where they paired off singles in the house (with one secret couple) I was not really so thrilled with (that was the bonus season put because of the writers strike. It felt thrown together). The best was the America's Player theme. We'll have to see how this one plays out.

Beyond the H.S cliques (Popular, Jocks, Geeks and Off Beats) I have so far identified the "tokens"; the gay guy, the muscle good looking guys, the quiet less attractive but nice guy, token black person, the older mom or dad type. I have yet to identify the bible thumper, if there is even one in the house. I also wonder who might end up pairing off.

By the way, I totally would have been in the in the offbeat clique. I was a drama club member, in the chorus and had a very eclectic mix of friends (both upper and lower classmen). I wouldn't have traded my clique for popular at all. Ah.. and that atomic wedgie.. hell my underwear creeps up on me already so I totally could have held on forever!

FYI.. the episode opened at 6.68M viewers up by 290,000 viewers from last years premiere.

My MJ Memorial Blog 31M People Watched.. WOW.. Robin Williams Self Destructs, Great American Road Trip Apparently Not So Great

Oh have I have neglected my blog as of late. I've been a little busy. Let's face it anyways, there isn't too much to write about. Summer TV has been kind of lagging a bit.

This is unbelievable, but according to Nielsen 31 M people watched the MJ Memorial. It was kind of hard to miss as it dominated just about all the major channels. What kind of amazes me more is that it was on in the middle of the day. Don't these people have jobs? Yeah, I know.. pot meet kettle. But I WAS working while I was watching. I'm lucky like that. I had commented on my Facebook that I don't ever remember, in my lifetime, such a memorial for a "celebrity" in either music or movies that had such an elaborate and public memorial with the acception of Presidents and of course Princess Diana and the Pope. In total 19 networks carried the memorial vs between 7 and 8 that carried the Presidents' , Princess Di and Pope funerals. However, that 31M number does fall short of Reagan (35M) and Princess Di (33M) viewers. But those are just the U.S numbers. BBC estimated that 1B people worldwide watched (they estimated 2.5B for Princess Di). In Germany , according to THR's live Feed, 20M or a 1/4 of the population watched it (obviously it was on during their evening viewing hours).

I did watch most of it. I honestly forgot it was on as I had the movie 'The Beach' with Leonardo DiCaprio playing as I was working and forgot the time. I missed the first 45 minutes, I believe. From what I watched, my favorite eulogy came from Brooke Shields. Watching her was like watching just a regular person talking about another regular person, if you know what I mean. It kind of gave you a glimpse of MJ as just a regular guy. Of course the most heart wrenching portion came at the end when his daughter spoke.

The MJ memorial also sparked a lot of debate amongst my Facebook friends about why we were paying so much attention on MJ. I can see their point. I mean there was never such a memorial for the likes of Elvis. I wonder if it is because we are just in a media obsessed era, or if MJ just had a much further reach than Elvis. I will say, however, that it is now getting ridiculous. While cooking and doing some other chores I happened to have the TV on ET and Inside Edition. Since the day he died that is ALL they have talked about on their shows. Every day they analyze and disect every minor detail of everything. It's actually bordering on obsessive and is kind of getting nauseating.

Well.. okay so enough already about MJ. I've said my little piece. It is really sad, however, but life goes on.. and so does TV.

I DVR'd Great American Road Trip but haven't watched it yet. Didn't do so well in the ratings. Big surprise. It seems not much is this summer season. That will all change, however, when the ultimate summer favorite 'Big Brother' returns. Very excited about that! 'Dating in the Dark' is coming soon and I will watch that to see just how ridiculous it gets and to laugh at it, of course.

This is pretty cool. One of my favorite comedians, Robin Williams, will be doing a solo stand up show for HBO this December called 'Weapons of Self Destruction'. Yeah! The man is hysterical! Can't wait!

Well all, I must go. I have a lot of DVR to watch including Saving Grace, Hawthorne, SYTYCD, America's Got Talent, The Cleaner ( I started watching and like it, so I've added it to my DVR season pass). I have to watch all of it before I leave on my trip Sunday , otherwise my DVR will fill up too fast and won't record.EEK! Fortunately for me my mom and I like most of the same shows and so we'll watch them together while I'm visiting. She too has two DVR's! Could our love for TV be genetic (and our obsession with the DVR for that matter)? Maybe. I should ask my brother ( a geneticist) to look for such a gene. Maybe he can get published with that study! I know that finding a cure for cancer and other genetic type disease is more important, but it would be interesting don't you think?

So Much for the Philanthropist, 'SYTYCD' to face off with 'DWTS' This Fall, Did I meet an Idol Auditioner Today?

I blogged last week that the 'Philanthropist' looked to be the better of the scripted network shows out this summer. Well, so much for that. In week 1 it opened with a modest 5.7M viewers. This week it lost 1.4M viewers and 21% among adults 18-49 and it managed to retain only 47% out of the 'America's Got Talent' lead in. OUCH. Doesn't look like the 'Philanthropist' is really going to be a winner after all. Oh well.

As we have seen , the networks are giving us new scripted shows in the summer months, but apparently they are doing so half ...well you know. Nothing they seem to be throwing is sticking.

Speaking of sticking, it appears as if 'I Survived A Japanese Game Show' is losing in the ratings too. It was fourth place in it's hour with only 3.83M viewers. Ah.. the show was okay. The BEST one , hands down, is 'Wipeout'. Always leaves me in hysterics and is doing pretty solidly in the ratings. Thank goodness. I definitely want it to return next summer. It's what I look forward to in Summer TV, along with "So You Think You Can Dance' and 'Big Brother'.

'Superstars' on ABC isn't fairing so well in the ratings either. The season winners are 'So You Think You Can Dance' and 'America's Got Talent'.

I find it very interesting that 'So You Think You Can Dance' will be competing this fall with 'Dancing with the Stars'. I wonder what prompted fox to temp such a dual. Now me, I prefer 'So You Think' to 'Dancing' , simply because I like the competition of real dancers breaking through. I never really got into 'Dancing With the Stars'. I'm probably one of the few who haven't. It's okay, but ballroom is not much my thing. I much more prefer the styles put forth in 'So You Think'. I absolutely love the hip hop and contemporary styles the best and certain choreographers in particular like Shane Sparks and Mia Micheals (she is my ULTIMATE favorite choreographer). It's the American Idol of the dancing world. I admire how beautifully they dance, a talent I wish I had (although I wouldn't trade my talent as a singer for dancing. I would love to have them both). But I think I know how someone who hears me sing feels when they say they wish they could sing, because I do wish I could dance. It leaves me in awe. Oddly enough, I noticed at least two contenders from SYTYCD showing up as the professional part of the partnerships on DWTS. I worry though, if SYTYCD will hold up in the ratings against DWTS and it makes me a little worried for the shows future if they do not perform well in the ratings this fall. Sometimes too much of a good thing is not so good and it might be best to keep us waiting in anticipation for the next summer installment. I will be watching SYTYCD this fall, I just hope all the current viewers, and then some, tune in as well.

And speaking of 'American Idol' I could swear that today, while sitting in a Wendy's in Whitehall PA I saw one of the bad audition chicks from the show, Alexis Cohen. I mean she looked just like her. I was laughing to myself, but wouldn't dare ask her if it was her. God forbid it wasn't and I would have insulted a perfect stranger, assuming that she would even know what I was asking. Turns out she is from Philadelphia and it just might have been her. Pretty funny and just thought I would share.