PRIVATE PRACTICE Recasting News….NO!!

Now this one is really bumming me out. Ausiello has just learned that Merrin Dungey, who played Addison’s best friend in the pilot episode of PRIVATE PRACTICE, is being replaced with Broadway actress Audra McDonald. WHAT?! Nooo…I was so excited to have Merrin Dungey back on TV. We haven’t seen much of her since ALIAS ended, and I think she’s great. I happen to be a huge fan of Audra McDonald, but I can’t see how she is right for this role. I just don’t see it.

Bye Francie. I hope we see you soon!

BIONIC WOMAN Recasting News

Word on the street is that a major role in the upcoming NBC drama BIONIC WOMAN is being recast.  Mae Whitman (Arrested Development) played Becca, the deaf sister of the Jamie, the lead character in the pilot.  But Ausiello is now reporting that Whitman is out and they are looking for someone to take on the role of Becca.  Rumor has it that Becca might not be deaf by the time the pilot hits the air in the fall.

I’m ok with this change.  I actually thought Becca was one of my least favorite parts of an otherwise incredible pilot.

Goodbye STUDIO 60

A few brief words on the passing of STUDIO 60.

I was one of the few people that truly enjoyed STUDIO 60 right from the start. I remember reading the pilot script the summer before it aired and I thought it was brilliant. I waited, I watched, I got involved in the show and then slowly watch its deterioration from great TV to whatever was last night’s series finale.

I’m not going to pretend to know exactly what happened with Studio 60. But from my perspective, as a fan, I have to think that it had something to do with how uneven and wildly self indulgent it often was. In hindsight, I never really knew what the show was about. In the extraordinary first episode I thought it was about the politics and happenings behind the scenes on an SNL’esque show. Being the lover of all things TV that I am, I thought this show was tailor made for me. But that brilliance quickly faded and the show seemed to evolve into a drama that was more about the love lives of the people that ran the show.

Studio 60 was heavy handed - to a fault. Although I often agreed with Sorkin’s POV on political and social matters,  it sometimes felt like he was preaching from the top of a 20 story soapbox. If I were taken aback by it, I can only imagine how others that didn’t share similar viewpoints enjoyed (or didn’t enjoy as the case probably was) the show.

Had the show remained a curtains pulled back commentary on the inner workings of TV, I think it could have been successful. But whether it be Sorkin’s ego, his lack of vision or the network’s interference that influenced the outcome, Studio 60 never lived up to its potential. There were moments of genius, but it wasn’t consistent enough to keep an audience engaged.

Better luck next time Sorkin. Looking forward to seeing you soon Bradley Whitford and Matthew Perry. And Nate Corrdry…I will miss you the most.

Excited for Fall TV?

In the coming weeks, GiveMeMyRemote.com will be sharing our take on all the new shows coming to TV this Fall. How many will make it past the first 2 weeks? Will any of these shows be the next Grey’s Anatomy or Lost? It’s anyone’s guess.

Since I know GMMR readers are all TV connoisseurs, I’m interested to see which Fall shows you are most excited about seeing based on the early buzz. Take a few seconds and partake in the poll below. You don’t have to pick just one show, but only picks the shows you are truly excited for.

Feel free to leave a comment and tell us why you’re excited about a particular show. And if there are shows in the list that you’ve never heard of, let us know that too.

Who Was Voted Off SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE?

Looking to find out who went home on tonight’s SYTYCD? Check out the results from tonight’s show here: Who Went Home on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE? (July 23, 2009)

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And you thought there was drama last night on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE! Tonight was very interesting as two couples I didn’t expect to see in the bottom three were dancing for their lives.

But first up was the group number choreographed by Tyce D’Orio. Tyce really loves infusing his dances with an African influence and tonight it was brilliantly done to a piece from the stage show of The Lion King. I wasn’t sure if I was going to love it at first, but I’ve watched it a few times now and I think it was brilliant. And am I crazy or was Cedric not in the routine? I looked for him each time I watched it but had no luck finding him.

Jessi Peralta is out of this hospital and back on the stage. As she didn’t perform last night, she is dancing for her life tonight (their unfortunate words not mine). Then again, about her solo Jessi said she planned on “killing it” so…But before she could put her heart on the line (that was all mine and bad) she and Pasha got to perform the Cha Cha they missed last night (watch it here). Let me tell ya, they were smokin’. We certainly got an abbreviated version of the dance last night with Pasha and guest-dancer Melanie. Jessi and Pasha were sexin’ it up on the stage.

Then it was time to send some people home. As Cat brought the couples to the stage in groups of two, Lacey & Kameron, Dominic & Sabra, Hok & Jaimie and Cedric & Shauna were told they were…safe. Yes, Cedric was safe (seems that speech last night was quite effective).

With those couples safe it left Danny & Anya, Jesus & Sara, Jessi, and Neil & Lauren dancing for their lives.

Each performed their 30 second routines, and based on the solos alone, I would send Anya or Lauren (they both sucked) and Neil home (I’m going to duck for cover now). But am I right?

Going home tonight are…

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THE OFFICE Thursday on Give Me My Remote

A little OFFICE Thursday to keep us happy today. If you have any suggestions for next week’s installment (trivia, games, contests, etc), leave a comment and let me know. I am so looking forward to watching my Dunder Mifflinites tonight.

The Office - Office Olympics, Booze Cruise and The Secret
Tonight we’ve got another OFFICE marathon, and this time we get to see three of the best episodes of S2. So excited!! Tonight’s episodes are hosted by John Krasinski with a little help from his OFFICE and LICENSE TO WED co-stars Angela Kinsey and Brian Baumgartner. Mindy Kaling also stars in the movie and I wish she were hosting tonight as well because I love me some Kelly Kapoor.

The Big Winners…
So it’s OFFICE Thursday. What to do, what to do. First let me say that I was SO impressed with how many of you got the correct answers to last week’s mini-Office Olympics. Some of those questions were tough. I listed all the names of the winners in a hat and Heather B of San Diego, CA was the big winner. Heather chose a Flonkerton hoodie from the GMMR store. And in other contest news, I am happy to announce that Laura R. was are big winner in the GMMR/Steve Almighty giveaway. Laura will receive S1 & S2 of THE OFFICE on DVD as well as The 40 Year-Old Virgin.

Summer Fun Word Find…
No big prize for this week’s game, but you will get a virtual pat on the back for a job well done. There are 20 “Office-related” words or phrases hidden below. All the words are in a straight line, but the direction is up for grabs. If you need any help leave a comment and I’ll give you a hint.

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Jason Dohring in MOONLIGHT

Talk about starting the day off right. I’ve just learned that former VERONICA MARS star Jason Dohring has just landed himself a role on CBS’s new vampire-drama MOONLIGHT.

In MOONLIGHT, Alex O’Loughlin stars as a private investigator who happens to be a vampire. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dohring will play ancient vampire Josef. He replaces 60-year-old Rade Serbedzija, who played the part in the pilot presentation before the character was reconceptualized as a young, mischievous hedge-fund trader.

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