HOUSE: The Down Low

In my younger years, I had a difficult time forging genuine friendships with males. Absent the pride of athletic achievements or the brashness of alpha male status, I had a difficult time finding common ground with other hormone-driven dudes. In the absence of male bonding, I turned to my favorite TV shows for instructions. When I wanted to learn how to open up about heartbreak and loss, Dawson & Pacey were there. If my colleagues at work did not share my ambition or enthusiasm, I turned to Josh & Sam on The West Wing. My platonic proxys were not a miracle solution. They did, however, give me hope that men could serve as a support system for one another.

Gregory House & James Wilson are not presented to House viewers with syrupy music and heartfelt overtones. On the contrary, this best friendship is loaded with the kind of intellectual clashes, social awkwardness, and jealousy that is recognizable in everyday life. Left in the capable hands of Hugh Laurie and Robert Sean Leonard, the House/Wilson relationship remains the cornerstone of Fox’s most popular drama.

With all due respect to Ethan Embry, whose literary pursuit of Jennifer Love Hewitt in” Can’t Hardly Wait” was robbed in the 1998 Teen Choice Awards, I am making the creative decision to ignore his contributions to this episode. Embry is a fine actor, with a list of credits on IMDB that any working actor would love to have. But let’s be honest. When House & Wilson spend an hour fighting over a woman and fighting off rumors about their sexuality, it is perfectly acceptable to say, “Thanks Ethan, I’ll rent Donnie Brasco next week in tribute to you.”

Unit 3B was occupied by Sasha Alexander, first introduced to me as the temptress of the Witter family, Pacey’s older sister Gretchen on Dawson’s Creek. In a piece of breaking news MSNBC has not reported, she does not appear to have aged since 2001. In addition to her stunning beauty, Alexander brought charm and energy to the role of Nora, object of Wilson and House’s affections. By infusing Nora with an open mind and a gregarious flare, co-writers Sara Hess and Liz Friedman created a character that I hope will return in future episodes. Is it time for Wilson to court his future fourth bride? I choose to remain optimistic.

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Chuck vs. the Angel de la Muerte

I’m sorry, but as far as nicknames go, you don’t get much more bad ass than Angel de la Muerte. Then again you don’t get much more bad ass than John Casey, so I suppose it’s fitting.

Last night international espionage became a family affair when Devon found himself a little too close for comfort on one of Chuck’s missions. For me, one of the most important moments of all of last season was when Devon learned of Chuck’s life as a spy. Still in the dark about all the details, especially the Intersect, Devon has built up a fantasy world in which Chuck is out there saving the world on a daily basis. He’s not that far off from the truth, but before he became part of the action himself, I’m not sure Devon fully understood the life threatening circumstances Chuck found himself in pretty much every time he got out of the car. Devon just thought his life was….awesome. Chuck being dropped off by helicopters on a somewhat daily basis didn’t do anything to assuage Devon’s fantasies.

As I said during last night’s live chat, Chuck Bartowski has the world’s most sophisticated computer embedded within his brain, yet the most unbelievable part about Chuck for me is Ellie complaining that the spark had dwindled a bit since she and Devon got married.  Do you not have eyes, sister friend? How Ellie could go one night without sparks is beyond comprehension. But such are the ways of married life (or so I’m told). Both Devon and Ellie feel the need for a little excitement in their lives. Be careful what you wish for.

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Five CHUCK Spoilers from Schwartz & Fedak

Chuck creators Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak stopped by GiveMeMyRemote.com last night to talk directly to Chuck fans. Over 500 people attended the chat and submitted over 800 questions for the 30 minute Q&A. The chat was a lot of fun and we can’t thank them enough. Next time maybe we can snag Zac Levi? Hmmm.

But what did we learn from the guys behind all things Chuck? Here are just 5 nuggets of intel about events unfolding this season straight from the keyboard of Schwedak (their portmanteau, not mine). Needless to say…SPOILER ALERT!

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FRINGE: Unearthed

I cannot believe that an entire month has gone by since I last posted something for Fringe! Let’s just say that something “suddenly came up” which caused me to miss the final two episodes of ’09. That, in addition to regular holiday madness, kept me from getting caught up until just last week. I’m definitely sorry to have missed hearing your thoughts on “Grey Matters”. It was by far one of my favorite episodes to date. Poor Walter and his stolen brain tissue!!! Feel free to discuss it below, but for now, let’s focus on tonight’s episode, “Unearthed”.

Welcome Back, Charlie
The plot involved a 17-year-old girl who comes out of a coma, only to be possessed by the spirit of a murder victim who is seeking vengeance against his wife (since she contracted his killer). I saw “The Exorcist” at much too young of an age and to say that I was completely terrified by it is an understatement. I’ve always found vomit spewing/head spinning/man talking little Linda Blair to be more frightening than Freddy Krueger, Jason, and Mike Myers combined. This possessed chick was no Linda Blair, but she was pretty darn creepy. Thankfully, with the help of Team Fringe, she was restored to a nice normal hormonal teenage girl by the end of the episode. It was a solid episode, complete with the nice balance of funny moments, gross moments, and eerie moments that we’ve come to expect.

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Conan O’Brien Addresses His Job Opportunities

Bravo to Conan O’Brien. Faced with being screwed by NBC and their adoration of all things Leno, Conan addressed the late night rumors as well as some potential future career moves during his opening monologue last night.  Bravo! P.S. I would totally watch ‘Redwolf Village’.

AMERICAN IDOL Returns Tonight

Tonight marks the return of American Idol. Can you believe it was almost a decade ago that we crowned Kelly Clarkson the first winner? I can’t put my iPod on shuffle without hearing the voices of the ghosts of Idol past – Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Kris Allen, David Cook, Adam Lambert, Sanjaya Malaker, Carmen Rasmusen, Haley Scarnato (ok, that list got a little away from me there).

The return of Idol means a fond farewell to easy, breezy Tuesday/Wednesday night TV. Talk about a time suck. A time suck that I would never miss, of course, but a time suck all the same. I’m on the record about hating these early audition episodes. Well, at least the cringe worthy ones. But I’m holding out hope for some talented singers tonight. If nothing else these audition shows will give us some really fun guest judges including Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris.

If you’re new to GMMR, then know that once the real competition starts, we’ll be talking about each and every performance show and live blogging the results show. I hope you’ll pencil us in as you’re go to place to talk Idol.

Are you ready for a little Idol?

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES: You Gotta Get a Gimick

Hey everyone, I hope you had a great week! Sunday’s episode of Desperate Housewives built on the resolutions of the plane crash and paved the way for what’s to come during the second half of the season.

After talking to her priest, Bree decides that the only way she can atone for her affair with the now deceased Karl is to talk care of Orson now that Orson is paralyzed. Orson, however, has other ideas and becomes a border in Karen’s house until Bree basically kidnaps him and forces him to live with her. By the end of the episode, Orson has decided that the best way to punish Bree is to make her his servant; this obviously won’t end well. I have a feeling that Orson and Bree are still headed for divorce.

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Behind-the-Scenes of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER’s Musical Number

Perhaps it’s an overused adjective but last night’s HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER musical number was in fact legendary. Neil Patrick Harris and his co-stars offered a performance worthy of Broadway.

I’ve been listening to “Nothing Suits Me Like a Suit” on repeat since I bought it last night.
Click here to buy it on .

Now check out just what it took to bring that musical to life as we go behind-the-scenes of the making of the 100th episode performance.

For a discussion on the 100th episode of HIMYM, click here: It’s Time to Suit Up for HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER’s 100th Episode
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The Good Wife | 10pm on CBS

When a high school quarterback dies after overdosing on painkillers, Alicia represents the doctor who prescribed the medication; Alicia deals with bad news at home and gives Peter information that makes his blood boil.

Tonight’s TV Spotlight…Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Tuesday used to be a relatively easy night of TV…that is until Idol came back and frakked it all up. I wish I knew how to quit you, Idol. But I can’t, and as such my Tuesday night TV line-up just got a bit more crowded.

Check out some highlights of tonight’s TV schedule and tell us what YOU are most excited to watch tonight.

American Idol | 8pm on Fox | Season Premiere
“Boston Auditions”
The audition process begins in Boston, as hopefuls line up for the chance to perform for the judges. [GMMR: Well, if they are going to kick off the show anywhere, it might as well be in my home town. If I remember correctly, it rained baked beans, tea, and Red Sox players that day.]

Better Off Ted | 8:30pm on ABC
“The Impertence of Communicationizing”
The staff use profanity after they receive a memo from the company with a typographical error. Meanwhile, Veronica wonders if her promotion was meant for someone else. Walter Palmer: Chris Parnell. Janet: Patricia Belcher.

Scrubs | 9pm on ABC
“Our Stuff Gets Real”
J.D. and Elliot face the reality of parenthood. Meanwhile, Lucy must come to terms with the risks of operating on real people.

Better Off Ted | 9:30pm on ABC
“The Long and Winding High Road”
Veronica tries to get the upper hand when a rival at work comes up with a project similar to the one Ted’s team has been working on.

The Biggest Loser | 8pm on NBC
“Balance Challenge”
Dr. Huizenga delivers sobering news to the contestants; the contestants compete in a balance challenge over a pool; Jillian Michaels encourages a contestant to face one of her biggest fears.

(More of tonight’s TV spotlight after the jump)

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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Moving Back to the Summer!

This just in from Fox TCA session: SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE will be moving back to the Summer. Can I get an AMEN?!

Do you know what this means? More weekly viewing parties for me and my friends…oh and the return of the SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE podcast over at TheTVTalkPodcast.com!

Simon Cowell Out at IDOL; In at THE X FACTOR

The rumors that have been swirling for quite some time now were confirmed by Fox earlier today. This season of American Idol, premiering tomorrow night, will indeed be Simon Cowell’s last. But if you’re a fan of Cowell, don’t fret. The surly judge will be back on Fox in the Fall of 2011 as judge an Executive Producer of The X Factor, a British talent show which Cowell created and launched in the U.K. back in 2004. The X Factor is best known in the U.S. for launching the career of pop star, Leona Lewis.

“I’m thrilled that we have put a date on the launch of the U.S. version of THE X FACTOR, and delighted to be continuing to work with FOX,” said Cowell. “We have a fantastic relationship, a great team and are all very excited about this.”

As for the future of American Idol, I wouldn’t worry about that show going away anytime soon. Even without Cowell it will still be a hit. Perhaps not as massive as it is now, as the show has seen a decline in ratings, but it’s not picking at the bottom of the barrel and won’t be for quite some time. Fox Entertainment President, Kevin Reilly, confirmed today that new Idol host Ellen DeGeneres was only kidding when she commented in last week’s Entertainment Weekly that she would leave the show if Simon left. DeGeneres has signed on to be an Idol judge for the next five seasons.

Will you still watch American Idol after Simon leaves? Will his appearance make you more likely to watch The X Factor? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

GLEE Returns for Second Season & a Reality Show

In not so shocking, but still exciting news, Fox announced today that Glee has been picked up for a second season. The vocal stylings of McKinley High’s New Directions will live to sing another day.

“We’ve loved GLEE ever since it was a pilot script, so it’s been an incredible thrill to watch the show take root and see audiences embrace these characters in such a huge way this season,” said Fox Entertainment President, Kevin Reilly. “The show is a true and rare gem in television. We couldn’t be more proud of what Ryan Murphy and the GLEE team have created so far, and can’t wait to see what they come up with for Season Two.”

And if you’re anything like me, and spent countless hours in your car singing duets with Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison (seriously, Matthew & I are glorious on ‘Endless Love’) or any other the other GLEEkers then perhaps you’d like your shot at being on the show. Fox is holding open auditions to fill two new roles on Season 2 of Glee. Now’s your chance to show the world (and those pesky Vocal Adrenaline kids) what you’ve got!

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Live CHUCK Chat with Josh Schwartz & Chris Fedak

UPDATE: Just got word the CHUCK co-creators Josh Schwartz & Chris Fedak will be joining us here for a LIVE chat tonight, right before tonight’s episode of CHUCK. So join us at 7pm EST (4pm PST) and chat live with Josh and Chris.  Then stick around for a live chat with other CHUCK fans during tonight’s episode.

I’ll be opening up the chat around 6pm  so I can start logging questions. Start thinking now. Use the box below to set up a reminder for yourself. Be sure to tell your fellow CHUCK fans.

Nothing like kicking back and watching one of your favorite shows with friends. We had a lot of fun during our Chuck chats last season and people asked for more this year. Ask and ye shall receive.

Be sure to enter your email address below to set a reminder for yourself. See you on Monday!

Will you be joining us? Let your fellow CHUCK fans know about our chat by tweeting: “Live #CHUCK chat w/ Josh Schwartz & Chris Fedak Monday at 7pm EST. RSVP today at GMMR: http://tinyurl.com/yhdq8ar”

It’s Time to Suit Up for How I Met Your Mother’s 100th Episode

Remember the first few seasons of How I Met Your Mother, when fans waited with baited breath to hear whether or not our show was coming back? Then remember when Britney Spears made a guest appearance and seemingly forever turned the tide of the ratings? (For the record the only credit I give Britney for her horrible performance was for bringing in new eyeballs. The show was already fantastic by that point in time.)

All this to say, CONGRATS to the cast, crew and creative team of How I Met Your Mother for making it to their 100th episode tonight. If I had my way tonight’s episode would have been an hour long, but as the Glee kids tell me….you can’t always get what you want.  But what we will get is a fantastic and dare I say legendary musical performance courtesy of Neil Patrick Harris. We’ll also get Tim Gunn. Oh yes, he makes it work tonight.

The musical number which ends the show is Broadway caliber and the stage production is beyond what you would expect from a half hour sitcom. It’s so good that I’ve been asking around to see if I’ll be able to get the tine on iTunes after the episode airs (fingers crossed!).

But Barney’s musical extravaganza is not the only noteworthy part of this grand episode. For those of you who are interested, we’ll learn more about the future mother of Ted’s children than we ever had before. Ted will actually be in her apartment, touch her things (no, not those things…I mean her belongings) and everything. And what is guest star Rachel Bilson’s role in Ted’s love life? You’ll have to watch and see.

The 100th episode is great treat for any How I Met Your Mother fan. This one’s a keeper.

Check out a few shots of tonight’s epic musical number. And be sure to check back tomorrow for a behind-the-scenes look at tonight’s big musical number. (I was going to post it today but I don’t want to spoil any of you who haven’t yet seen the musical performance yet.)

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