All politics aside, this was too funny not to pass along.  I’m a big fan of clever user generated videos.

All credit to SeriouslyOMG.com for turning me on to this video.

So close yet so far. Once again that all to familiar phrase was appropriate today as I was thisclose to the #1 guy on my ‘Must Meet List’, Mr. Neil Patrick Harris. Yes, NPH and I were in the same place at the same time but didn’t meet. It’s almost cruel.

Earlier today my Pops and I headed down to Foxboro, MA for the season opener of the New England Patriots. And while it’s just too raw to talk about my feelings watching Tom Brady limp off the field in the first quarter (seriously I don’t want to talk about it), I will tell you how cool it was to see Neil Patrick Harris kind of up close.

Sadly the iPhone doesn’t zoom in so the pics aren’t all the great. But that’s him. Right on the field chatting it up with Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Neil and other CBS stars (including Jeff Probst) were in town for last night’s opening of the CBS Scene - a new state of the art dinner & entertainment complex at Gillette Stadium.

While on the field Neil was busy taking plenty of pics including snapshots of the cheerleaders (huh?) as well as the Patriots players running on to the field. They must have been some crazy good pictures (feel free to share them, Neil).

Neil Patrick Harris may have eluded me once again, but we will meet. Oh yes, it will happen.

P.S. A friend of mine that spent a little time with Neil this weekend said he was very nice. Always good to hear.

If you’ve ever listened to our TV Talk Podcast then you know that Dan from Ducky Does TV and I often, but not always, have similar thoughts on the TV we watch.  Our mutual love for TV is what brought us together in the first place so many moons ago. And so it’s no big surprise that Dan and I both fell in love with CBS’s summer show, SWINGTOWN.

It wasn’t always bell bottoms and feather hair for me.  The show started off a little rough and it took a few episodes until it found solid ground, but when it did it surpassed all my expectations and proved to be a funny, poignant and heartwarming/breaking show featuring some truly incredible acting.

I’m sorry that SWINGTOWN fell victim to my lackadaisical summer of blogging.  I should have written about it more.  It deserved it.

The show is over and it’s not looking likely for a second season.  But today Ducky sent off the show in fine fashion by looking back at what turned out to be a truly wonderful TV experience. I’ll let him do the talking for both of us.

Friday night’s finale of CBS’s surprisingly amazing SWINGTOWN made me cry my eyes out on more than one occasion. There was this overwhelming sadness watching what was probably the final hour of a show that deserved so much more attention than it received.

Swingtown surpassed it’s randy premise and proved to be a show about change on the cusp of the bicentennial and it only got better as the summer went on. No longer was it about Grant Show in the shortest shorts possible bedding every Trina, Susan and Farrah, it was about relationships, family and women on the verge of independence at an important time in American history.

(continue reading: Was the Summer of ‘76 Swingtown’s Last?)

It’s been so long since we’ve seen ENTOURAGE that I almost had to Wikipedia it up just to remember just what the heck was happening since the last time these boys were rollin’.  But all it took was a few seconds of watching the new season to remember just where we left off.  Although it took me until the second episode before I even cared.

Previously on ENTOURAGE…
Vince risked it all for “Medellin” - his over the top biopic of Pablo Escobar - but the risk didn’t pay off.  The premiere screening at Cannes left the crowd booing and Vince and Eric without an offer.  Oh and a really pissed off Ari (but that’s nothing new).  We were left wondering if “Medellin” was just a blip on the radar for Vinnie Chase or a sign of dark times ahead.

Life after Medellin…
When Season 5 of ENTOURAGE returns tonight at 10pm on HBO we see Vinnie doing what he does best - which is, um, not someting we should be talking about here on the PG-13 version of GMMR. It seems Vin and Turtle have gone off the grid and have been living life large in Mexico. Booze, women and beach - the boys are happy. But it seems they are the only ones that are.  Eric and Ari are dealing with the reality of “Medellin” being a colossal flop, and that the once rising start of Vincent Chase is quickly fading. Things pick up when Ari gets a call from a director that thinks Vince would be perfect for his new role, but trying to get the boy off the beach is a whole other matter. Eric puts it all on the line to get his friend to return to Hollywood only to get burned once again.

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It’s back….Yes, Fall TV season is here once again and it couldn’t come a minute too soon.  With the months we lost because of last year’s strike and then of course the long summer months, I don’t know about you but I’m ready for some good ‘ol TV.

I miss my television friends and can’t wait to find out just what they’ve been up to since we last saw them.  And then there’s all the new kids to meet.  Which will be new lifelong mates and which will be transferred - never to be heard from again?

Over the course of the week, I’m going to be breaking down each night of the week to talk about the shows I’m most looking forward to and which ones we’ll be talking about here on GiveMeMyRemote.com.  There’s so much TV and so little space on my DVRs.  What’s a girl to do?  Get help, that’s what.  Yup, this season you’re going to hear from a few new peeps here on GMMR.  I can’t wait to introduce you to the new GMMR team.  It’s because of them that GMMR will be able to cover a lot more TV this season. And that’s not all. In the coming months GiveMeMyRemote.com will be getting a much needed Extreme Makeover: Blog Edition face lift.  It’s a new season, we might as well try out a few new things around here too, right?

Before we take a look at the Fall ‘08 TV grids, I just want to say THANK YOU to each and everyone of you that visit the site.  It means nothing without all of you and I’m so greatful to you for sticking with me, especially over the past few months when it’s been been quieter than usual around here.  I’m excited for things to get back to normal (and by normal I mean me staring at a TV for hours on end every night).  And remember, when all is said and done it’s YOU that makes GMMR my favorite little TV community, so keep your comments coming and tell your friends to come join in the discussion.

Ok enough of the blah, blah, blah…let’s start figuring out our new TV lineup (at least for the immediate future).  I’ve put together a primetime grid for every night of the week featuring the top networks.  Remember, this is just a snapshot of the Fall lineup so mid-season replacements and the like we’ll get to later.  But if there are any big shows I forgot, definitely leave me a comment and I’ll add them.

The show that someone on Team GMMR will be covering are denoted by our new mascot: (naming contest coming soon)

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Hey Neilsen recently polled  some of the top TV critics and bloggers (their words not mine) to rate the new shows for the fall season which have started to debut this week.  Listed are some of our comments and the average rating (out of 5.0) from 29 critics around the web….including me!

Here’s a few of the shows we looked at, but you can check them all out here: http://www.heynielsen.com/callout/fall_previews.html?friend=falltv

90210
WHAT: Drama
WHEN: September 2 (The CW)
WHO: Lori Loughlin, Annie Mills

TV BLOGGER SCORE:
3.0/5.0
“I’ll watch only for Degrassi alum Shanae Grimes and Jessica Walters but really? I’m secretly hoping it will crash and burn, though now that I’ve said that, it’s going to be a hit.” — Tapeworthy

Fringe
WHAT: Sci-fi / Drama
WHEN: September 9 (FOX)
WHO: Joshua Jackson, and the creator of ‘Lost’

TV BLOGGER SCORE:
4.3/5.0
“The pilot of FRINGE was really interesting and I’m intrigued to see where future episodes take us. Plus, I’m all about any show that brings Pacey back to the small screen. ” — Give Me My Remote

Priviledged
WHAT: Comedy / Drama
WHEN: September 9 (CW)
WHO: Producers of ‘Gossip Girls’ and ‘Gilmore Girls’

TV BLOGGER SCORE:
2.6/5.0
“This tale of an outsider trying her best to survive in the world of the wealthy is the only new CW show that’s sparked my interest and I hope that it lives up to my expectations.” — Ramblings Of A TV Whore

The Mentalist
WHAT: Drama
WHEN: September 23 (CBS)
WHO: Simon Baker

TV BLOGGER SCORE:
3.0/5.0
“Sure it’s a little like USA’s Psych but this is much darker and really, is it wrong to want to see some man-candy like Simon Baker on my tube every week? Hardly! ” — Ducky Does TV

Now this just makes me happy!  Ausiello is reporting that GOSSIP GIRL stars Blake Lively and Leighton Meester will guest in an upcoming episode of 30 ROCK.  The twosome are slated to play schoolmates of Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) in a flashback to her high school years.  Genius!

30 ROCK seems to land the best guest stars, but I’ll take Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf over Seinfeld, Aniston, and Schwimmer any day!

For more on the kinda-crossover that is slated to air during November sweeps, visit The Ausiello Files.

BONES is back! Did you like the episode? Since there were two cases, I’m going to separate this review into two sections, and each section will have its own parameters, like last season. The Case, The Squints, and B+B.

Case #1: The American Heiress, Portia Frampton
Booth and Brennan are teamed up with lothario Dr. Wexler from Oxford and stiff upper lipper, Scotland Yard Inspector Cate Pritchard. B+B like their counterparts, but it seems Wex and Pritch aren’t too fond of one another. Portia Frampton, daughter of an American, was found at the bottom of the Thames River. I actually thought this case played out pretty well. Suspects included the father, the dad’s girlfriend, and Portia’s boyfriend, an heir to dukedom. His family was rather ‘crusty’ as Booth would say, didn’t you think? Obviously Booth finds them annoying and tries to annoy them more. I like that. Turns out the duke has a few dirty secrets, and I found it annoying when at the end, no one really knew for sure exactly what happened. One thing I know was not cool. Portia was preggers with the baby of the son of her father? Yikes….
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This weekend GiveMeMyRemote.com will be looking at the new Fall TV season and sharing just what our TV schedule will look like…well, until at least shows start tanking and we drop them from our TiVo. But in preparation for the crazy amount of TV coming your way over the course of the next month, I’ve been trying to get a little ahead of the game.  I’ve already seen the return of some of our fave shows and just wanted to pass along the word that it’s ALL good news.

Of course I’ll be delving into each of these shows (and more) over the next week or so but here’s a little Thursday morning tease for ya….

You’ve already seen the Season 2 premiere of GOSSIP GIRL.  Based on the comments here at GMMR you all seemed to love it.  If you were a fan of last week’s episode then you’re going to love what’s in store for our Upper East Siders.  I’m three episodes into the new season and things just keep getting better and better.  Drama is the order of the day as the kids leave the Hamptons and head back to Manhattan.  But why is Chuck Bass talking in a British accent?  I’ll never tell..ok I will but not until next week.

Fans of HOUSE are in for some big changes when the new season returns later in the month.  Has HOUSE’s arrogant ways finally caught up with him? He’ll say no, but then again he doesn’t find himself all that arrogant to begin with.  But ask Wilson and you might hear a whole other story.  And wil this be the season that I actually start to like Dr. Cuddy?  I consulted the Magic 8 ball and it said “Outlook not so good” - uh oh.

It’s never a dull day for Chuck Bartowski, and never a boring episode of CHUCK.  If you thought Chuck’s life as the government Intersect was nuts before then just wait until you see what’s up for Chuck, Sara, Casey and the rest of the clan this season.  Chuck may have just been a guy working at the Buy More, but when he embraces his inner spy he surprises everyone…especially himself. CHUCK’s got a lot of great stars this season, but I’m not sure if any will be better than John Laroquette who shows up in episode two. Brilliant! If you’re already a fan you’re going to love the new season.  If you’ve never watched before - believe the hype and tune in for the new eps in a couple of weeks.

More teases coming your way soon…

More season and series premieres tonight.  It’s like Christmas if Christmas ran new TV shows and not reruns of old sappy Christmas movies.

America’s Next Top Model | 8pm on The CW | Season Premiere
The 11th season begins in Los Angeles with 30 would-be models being trimmed to 14 finalists and one of the contestants revealing that she is transgender. The 14 ladies move into a house and participate in their first photo shoot.

Bones | 8pm on Fox | 2-hour Season Premiere
The fourth season begins with Brennan and Booth lecturing to their respective peers in London, but their trip is extended after they’re drawn into the investigation of the murder of a wealthy American’s daughter.

Sons of Anarchy | 10pm on FX | Series Premiere
A drama about the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original (Samcro), whose members try to protect their town from drug dealers and developers while running guns themselves. In the opener, a rival club destroys Samcro’s illegal-arms warehouse. Meanwhile, there’s a medical emergency involving the newborn son of Samcro leader Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam). .  [GMMR:I was very disappointed not to have found the time to watch the screener of this show when it first arrived.  But I wanted to let you know that a lot of my other TV blogger friends were really digging it.  I’m going to check it out tonight for sure, and I hope you will too.]