LIVE: The TV Blog

LIVE: The TV Blog

Drama Mama: Needing 'Rescue'

July 29, 2010 , ι Tiffany Wendeln Connors

Fins in the water warn Mama to skip the Discovery Channel this week to avoid the soulless creatures that haunt her nightmares. Instead, she’ll get chummy with the sharks that haunt TV’s dramatic... Read on

“Rescue Me” (Tuesday, 10 p.m., FX)If you, like most of us, have fallen away from “Rescue Me” after tiring of last season’s dark, meandering abyss, you can start tuning in again--because the most dysfunctional fire house in the city can only go up from here. Watching Colleen spiral downward this season in much the same way as her alcoholic dad has been only mildly upsetting up until this week—mostly because Tommy’s daughter still seems like a minor character among this strong ensemble.
	 
 
	 
But as Tommy pieced together the previous night’s daddy-daughter bender, the rising panic among his crew was palpable as he tracked his missing daughter in an episode that felt more like a focused “CSI” than the aimless wandering of recent episodes. Tommy could excuse himself for his son’s death, but his guilt over Colleen’s disappearance might finally break the booze spell. And next week promises to bring back the two characters who have been the bright spots of the past two seasons: the lovely Maura Tierney and Peter Gallagher as the less-than-saintly priest.

“The Vampire Diaries” (Thursday, 8 p.m., The CW)Make your first bite of the bloodsucking-for-teens series worthwhile with this rerun. It features flashbacks that explain the vampy history of the Salvatore family as well as the origins of Stefan and Damon’s rivalry.

“Freaks & Geeks” (Friday, 11 p.m., IFC)If you missed this hilarious, heartfelt drama during its first go-round in 1999, you weren’t alone. It only lasted one glorious season, but the cult fave introduced us to James Franco, Jason Segel and Seth Rogen as high school misfits. There are worse ways to spend a Friday night than tuning in for this critical darling’s IFC premiere.

“Being Human” (Saturday, 9 p.m., BBC America)Last week’s second season opener presented us with a meaner, angrier werewolf; a happier, funnier ghost; and the same dark, tortured vampire. But if you’re at all into the supernatural, check out this British import, which is less the trite tortured-vamp-romance and more a buddy-freak show. And now the housemates have to deal with the werewolf’s new live-in girlfriend, whom he accidentally turned into a fellow holwer.

“Rubicon” (Sunday, 8 p.m., AMC)Combine the quiet patience of “The Conversation” with the paranoia of “A Beautiful Mind” and the foreboding danger of “Serpico.” If you’ve missed the multiple opportunities to check out the sneak peek of this conspiracy-fueled thriller, you can catch up with the official two-hour series premiere Sunday. If AMC’s other series—“Breaking Bad” and “Mad Men”—are any indication, the slooow start to this series is just allowing us to immerse ourselves completely in this creepy, incredibly brown-and-gray world of intrigue.

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Newest 'Shore' member drops a bomb

July 28, 2010 , ι Anthony Sulla-Heffinger

Forget about Jager bombs, the newest member of the “Jersey Shore” is all about dropping a different kind of bomb -- and she's in some hot water because of it. A video on TMZ.com shows Deena Cortese,... Read on

Forget about Jager bombs, the newest member of the “Jersey Shore” is all about dropping a different kind of bomb -- and she's in some hot water because of it.
	 
A video on TMZ.comshows Deena Cortese, who has been filming in Seaside Heights for the show’s third season, ranting about guys -- and, at one point in the nearly two-minute tirade, she's heard dropping the N-word.
	 
In the video, which was reportedly taken as part of a MySpace video blog in 2008, Cortese airs her grievances with some males she knows and warns them that her and her female friends are “gonna play you out n***a.”

splash news

Cortese then goes on to ridicule the same guys who “go around hitting it and quitting it,” asking “Who do you think you are?”
	 
In the two-year-old clip, Cortese lets the camera know that she is a “reborn Virgin Mary,” that “this sugar is not for free anymore,” and that you need a “golden ticket to get into these drawers.”
	 
This new video confirms Cortese’s own claim that she is a “Bad Ass Brunette.”
	 
Pictures of Cortese with Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Jenni “Jwoww” Farley surfaced earlier in the week, fueling rumors that she will be replacing the much-maligned Angelina Pivarnick, who was not asked back for the show’s third season.
	 
Cortese is a native of New Egypt, N.J., and the former cheerleader has reportedly been friends with “Shore” castmember “Snooki” for a couple of years.
	 
“They’ve known each other for a couple of years, Snooki’s a sweetheart... I’d say they’re pretty close,” Cortese’s mother, Joann, told Radaronline.com
	 
MTV said that Cortese will appear in several episodes of the show’s third season, but she isn’t a “permanent” cast member.

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Meet the newest cast member of ‘Jersey Shore’

July 26, 2010 , ι Anthony Sulla-Heffinger

It looks like there will be another guidette joining the ranks of JWoww, Snooki and Sammi for season three of MTV’s hit reality show “Jersey Shore.”The new mystery guidette, photographed and... Read on

It looks like there will be another guidette joining the ranks of JWoww, Snooki and Sammi for season three of MTV’s hit reality show “Jersey Shore.”
	 
The new mystery guidette,
	 photographedand
	 identified by RadarOnline.com, goes by the name of Deena Nicole on her Facebook page and was seen filming with Snooki and JWoww over the weekend in Seaside Heights.
	 
RadarOnline.com also reported Deena is a friend of Snooki and, although she was a little shy at first, she later opened up.
	 
“I got the feeling she wasn’t used to all the attention yet, but she warmed up as the day progressed,” the source told RadarOnline.com.
	 
If Deena is the newest member of the “Jersey Shore” family, she should have no problem fitting in with the rest of the outrageous cast. She was seen with her newfound friends guzzling booze out of a beer bong and, according to her Facebook page, she loves dancing and music -- particularly techno and house.
	 
In addition to her interests, she also posted to her Facebook page before heading to Seaside for filming.
	 
“All I need is beats, my broads, and booze. F*ck the men. Let’s drink to us,” Deena posted on her Facebook page just days before she began filming with her new GTL buddies.
	 
It would not be outrageous to assume that MTV has cast Deena as the eighth cast member for the third season, as original “Shore” personality Angelina Pivarnick was booted from the show after a tumultuous two-season run.

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Drama Mama: What the Kids Are Watching

July 23, 2010 , ι Tiffany Wendeln Connors

Mama’s schoolgirl crush on Don Draper left her feeling nostalgic for her long-ago days as a teenager. So she decided to check in on what dramas the young people are watching these days. “The Secret... Read on

“The Secret Life of the American Teenager” (Monday, 8 p.m., ABC Family)Mama’s favorite part of this show is the whiny adult contingent: Molly Ringwald, Mark Derwin, Jennifer Coolidge, Bobby Bacala (aka Steven R. Schirripa) and Rose from “Lost” (L. Scott Caldwell). Minus a bunch of knocked-up teens Mama didn’t care that much about, the show is great for parents who want to feel like they’re watching a teen drama cast with people their age.

“Huge” (Monday, 9 p.m., ABC Family)Mama has a theory: The unbelievably attractive kids who don’t immediately get a shot on the big screen end up in TV shows that force them either to display their growing pains as they become decent actors or die lonely deaths on forgotten series. If, however, you are not among the hottest kids and still want to make it in show biz, you actually have to work on your acting skills before you get a show. As a result, kids that appear in heartwarming shows like “Huge” have the acting chops and engaging personalities because they weren’t born size negative-4. This weight-loss camp for teens tackles problems that any kid could relate to, no matter what the scales may tell them. Plots deal with kids who don’t fit in, and what kid hasn’t felt like that at some point in a long, tortuous school career? It’s movie night this week at Camp Victory: Will sweet and dorky Ian finally hook up with queen bee Amber, or can Will finally let her guard down and tell Ian how she feels? See? Totally typical teen stuff, no matter what your weight, delivered by likable characters.

“Degrassi: The Next Generation” (Monday – Thursday, 9 p.m., Teen Nick)The 10th season of this teen stalwart kicked off last week, with a new episode every Monday through Thursday (plus a Friday rerun marathon), resulting in an impressive 48 episodes. The thing that makes this low-budget show better than most teen dramas--and probably a big contributor to its longevity--is that the teens look and act like kids you see in real life. The girls have braces, the boys don’t flex Abercrombie & Fitch muscles, and the teens go to, shockingly enough, school. And after a few years, a class graduates and you get a whole new set of faces—four this season—with the faculty being the only continuous cast members. So the students don’t begin looking like they should be the parents of their own teens.

“Homeless: The Motel Kids of Orange County” (Monday, 9 p.m., HBO)Concerned that your little tweens have been enviously ogling the Pretty Little Liars clothes or complaining too much that Camp Victory is sooo much better than their summer plans? Sit them in front of the TV for this documentary to help them appreciate what they have. But be warned: Grab the entire box of tissues before watching the darker, more tragic stories of Orange County, featuring kids who reside in run-down motels with their working poor parents. If this show doesn’t break your kids’ hearts, consider trading them in for new ones, because yours are broken.

“Pretty Little Liars” (Tuesday, 8 p.m., ABC Family)If you deleted the scenery—typically the school—you might mistake this supernatural-slanted show for an adult series. The girls are so overdressed and made up , they look more like the “Desperate Housewives” than teens--OK, maybe not THAT old, but at least as old as any “Gossip Girl” castoff. Even the girls’ soapy storylines sound like something out of an adult drama: a lesbian romance, an affair with her sister’s fiancé and blackmail by their dead ring leader. Let’s just hope that the arrival of Alison’s brother for her memorial, along with the return of hottie-but-evil Detective Wilden, can shake up this poor little rich girls’ clique.

“Make It or Break It” (Tuesday, 9 p.m., ABC Family)Of all the shows Mama watched this week, this one seems to have the lowest stakes, which makes the hyper-dramatic moments feel that much more artificial. But Mama was pleasantly surprised to find out the underlying message of the tumbling drama encourages female strength, hard work and determination as opposed to just being pretty girls dancing around on floor mats—even if the stunts are performed by stunt double gymnasts.

“Friday Night Lights” (Friday, 8 p.m., NBC)Sure, Mama’s probably just fooling herself when she thinks that kids are watching “Friday Night Lights,” but it IS technically about high school football, so let’s pretend that there are teens out there cheering for Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton’s long-overdue Emmy nominations. The penultimate episode is upon us this Friday, which means our favorite coach and principal—oh yeah, and all the students—are prepping for the showdown between the dueling Dillons.

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Before the 'Shore'

July 22, 2010 , ι By ANTHONY SULLA-HEFFINGER

Ever wonder what everyone’s favorite guidos and guidettes were like before their lives were taken over by fist-pumping, hair gel and tanning beds?MTV will answer that question for you this Saturday... Read on

Ever wonder what everyone’s favorite guidos and guidettes were like before their lives were taken over by fist-pumping, hair gel and tanning beds?
	 
MTV will answer that question for you this Saturday as they air a "Jersey Shore" version of the show "When I Was 17."
	 
The show will feature the teen versions of current "Shore" cast members Jenni "JWoww" Farley, Paul "DJ Pauly D" DelVecchio and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino.
	 
As it turns out, the stars haven’t changed much over the years,
	 especially Situation, who was still up to his prankster antics when prom, varsity sports and chem lab ruled his life.
	 
In a clip featured on MTV.com, Situation describes his elaborate plan to pull off a senior prank involving some critters from the local pet shop.
	 
Sitch and a few of his pals released white mice during lunch period at school, creating chaos among his fellow students.
	 
"People were screaming, There was mices everywhere. It was insane. Mayhem," Situation said as he laughed.
	 
As for Pauly D and JWoww,
	 we’ll let the photos do the talking.
	 
"When I Was 17: Jersey Shore Edition," airs on MTV this Saturday at 11 a.m. and the season premiere of the "Jersey Shore" airs July 29th at 10 p.m.

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Drama Mama: Miniseries back to 'Earth'

July 16, 2010 , ι Tiffany Wendeln Connors

Just one more week until Mama’s boyfriend returns with a new season of “Mad Men.” Until then, there’s plenty of TV to keep her company. “Leverage” (Sunday, 9 p.m., TNT) When the gang infiltrates... Read on

Just one more week until Mama’s boyfriend returns with a new season of “Mad Men.” Until then, there’s plenty of TV to keep her company.

“Leverage”(Sunday, 9 p.m., TNT) When the gang infiltrates the country & western music world, cutie Christian Kane will get a chance to show off his vocal chops as his character is thrust into the spotlight. And as a musical bonus, Papa Kent/Bo Duke John Schneider guest stars. With all this music, Mama’s holding out hope that Timothy Hutton will reprise his singalong rendition of “Sweet Caroline.”

“Childrens Hospital”(Sunday, 10:30 p.m., Adult Swim) Mama has seen more than her fill of medical dramas, so she was excited to check out this 15-minute hospital drama spoof. Rob Corddry, Megan Mullally and Ed Helms are among the comics skewering “ER,” “House,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and any number of other doctor show that take themselves waaay too seriously.

“The Pillars of the Earth”(Friday, 10 p.m., Starz) Mama can fondly recall plenty of summer nights back in the ’80s that she spent watching some of the great TV miniseries. There was something about ending a day at the beach in the cool air-conditioned comfort with a TV show that you knew was just a summer romance. Starz has revived the old-school miniseries with its tumultuous “The Pillars of Earth,” which lasts just six weeks, kicking off with a two-hour premiere. Besides starring Mama’s favorite gravelly voiced bad ass, Ian McShane, “Pillars” reaches way back with the history of King Henry—the first one—to bring us an heir-to-the-throne story that Mama can’t already recite. It’s big, it’s over the top and it’s the perfect summer treat.

“Being Human”(Saturday, 10 p.m., BBC America) If there just aren’t enough vampires and werewolves in your life, BBC America ups the imaginary person quotient with a ghost in the mix of 20-something misfits running from the evil humans who want to destroy them or perform science experiments on them. Catch the 75-minute second-season premiere after the season finale of “Doctor Who.”

Whoa, Daddy:Not that Mama had any plans to allow her young daughter to watch “True Blood,” but last week’s episode convinced her that no one’s daughter, no matter the age, should be allowed to watch this sadistic cry for help. Besides the rape, torture, disfiguring, murder and hints of bestiality inflicted against women in one episode, Bill broke up with Sookie over the phone. What kind of monster does that?

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'Shore's' Angelina getting the boot -- again?

July 15, 2010 , ι Anthony Sulla-Heffinger

The cast of the "Jersey Shore" will reportedly lose one Guidette for the second half of Season Two.According to an exclusive report from Radaronline.com, Angelina "Jolie" Pivarnick will not be... Read on

The cast of the "Jersey Shore" will reportedly lose one Guidette for the second half of Season Two.
	 
According to
	 an exclusive reportfrom
	 Radaronline.com, Angelina "Jolie" Pivarnick will not be returning to Seaside Heights with the rest of her tanned and toned brethren to film the second half of the show's latest season.

Jerritt Clark/WireImage.com

Sources told Radar that the self-proclaimed "Kim Kardashian of Staten Island" is "done" -- in other words, she will not be returning to Seaside Heights with the rest of the cast in the coming weeks.
	 
When asked about Pivarnick's removal from the show, her rep Bryan Konoski didn't confirm nor deny the report.
	 
“Angelina cannot confirm nor deny those rumors at this time. However, it is possible that she may not return to complete the filming of the second half of Season 2 of the Jersey Shore. Decisions are being made at this time,” Konoski said in a statement.
	 
This wouldn't be the first time Pivarnick has been absent from the show -- she left during the show's breakthrough first season and reportedly left the show's Miami location weeks before filming wrapped for the first half of the second season.
	 
Pivarnick made headlines recently due to disputes with designer Indashio over missing dresses (which were since returned) and over a monetary quarrel with her former publicist Sibrena Stowe.
	 
Whether or not Angelina returns, the new season of "Jersey Shore" airs on MTV July 29th.

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Drama Mama: Arresting TV

July 15, 2010 , ι Tiffany Wendeln Connors

Accompanying the usual cacophony of mindless reality shows that invades TV every summer are some new police dramas. Mama weeds out which ones are worth your time and which ones should be granted the... Read on

“The Bridge”(Saturday, 8 p.m., CBS) The former Chief of “Battlestar Galactica” Aaron Douglas gets his shot at leading man as the moral leader of a Toronto police union. This meaty drama, with its shaky cameras, corrupt cops and twisting plots, reminds Mama of “The Shield” in a good way and hopes that it can survive the sad-sack Saturday timeslot.

“The Glades”(Sunday, 10 p.m., A&E) Combine the rebellious Raylan Givens of “Justified” with the sardonic Michael Westen of “Burn Notice” and you get the smarmy but charming Jim Longworth. The murder mystery is set in the new Vegas for cop shows, Florida, and portrays the Sunshine State as a backwater Podunk filled with bumbling bumpkins, alligators and tourists. So they nail it.

“The Good Guys”(Monday, 9 p.m., Fox) This over-the-top show, which held the promise of exploring a cop out of time, isn’t even attempting to be a drama any longer now that they’ve transformed Bradley Whitford’s character into a cartoon.

“Rizzoli & Isles”(Monday, 10 p.m., TNT) Mama’s all for a couple of strong female leads who aren’t afraid to tackle big cases sans any knights in shining armored vehicles. But as much as she tries, it’s impossible for Mama to believe that the sultry Angie Harmon can be butch enough to play Cagney or Lacey. And watching these super models solve murders in four-inch heels makes Mama’s feet hurt.

“Covert Affairs”(Tuesday, 10 p.m., USA) It’s obvious that this spy thriller comes from the minds who brought us “The Bourne” trilogy. If you’re looking for a summer escape, you could do worse than this “Alias” heir that liberates its heroine from the confines of police, or in this case CIA, headquarters and marks the triumphant return of Mama’s “O.C” boyfriend, Peter Gallagher.

“Memphis Beat”(Tuesday, 10 p.m., TNT) There’s a game Mama likes to play with these police procedurals: Pause the scene and predict the next line. She scored a 70 percent on this show. If you could fast forward through the exposition dialogue and positively predictable scene setters, you’d be treated to the charming and engaging Jason Lee. Sure, the show would only be 20 minutes long, but it’d be an entertaining 20 minutes. If you can hang on long enough to get to Lee crooning an Elvis hit, it’s worth your wait.

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'Shore' star in war of words over 'stolen' dress

July 04, 2010 , ι By ANTHONY SULLA-HEFFINGER

It's been a rough week for "Jersey Shore" guidette Angelina "Jolie" Pivarnick.The star of MTV's hit reality show has found herself in a war of words with fashion designer Indashio, who is claiming... Read on

It's been a rough week for "Jersey Shore" guidette Angelina "Jolie" Pivarnick.
	 
The star of MTV's hit reality show has found herself in a war of words with fashion designer Indashio, who is claiming she is trying to steal the dresses he lent to her for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards.
	 
Pivarnick, who spoke
	 exclusively with Radaronline.com, claims that she is not trying to steal Indashio's garments, but rather that she is waiting to have the entire collection in her possession before returning them to the designer.
	 
Pivarnick was concerned with the way the dress fit and had reps for MTV carry a spare one in case the original one ripped on the red carpet.
	 
“When I tried on the dresses, they didn’t fit well and they weren’t sewn properly," she said. "As I walked down the red carpet, sequins fell off! I was worried the dress might fall apart." Pivarnick told Radaronline.com.
	 
According to her, “The missing dress is part of the problem,” and she plans on returning the gowns as soon as she gets them all together.
	 
Pivarnick also said that her reputation is taking a beating with these allegations, and that all she wanted to do was give a designer some publicity.
	 
“I really was hoping to get some publicity for the designer, which I did - I shouted his name out numerous times on the red carpet. And in return, I’m accused of stealing!” Pivarnick said.
	 
She had even received offers from bigger name designers such as Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci, but kept her promise to Indashio and wore his line.
	 
These allegations come just days after it was reported that Pivarnick was dropped by her publicist, Sibrena Stowe, based on claims that she owes the publicist money for services rendered and that "She parties all the time, she says she has family problems, then bbms (blackberry messages) everyone that she is drunk at the [Jersey] Shore."

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Drama Mama: Sci-fi Fourth of July

July 02, 2010 , ι Tiffany Wendeln Connors

It's the Fourth of July, so anyone who’s anyone is out enjoying fireworks, spending time with their families and partying with friends. Who’s left watching TV? Well, Syfy has a whole list of premieres, so you do the math. Mama’s with you—she’s allergic to sunlight, so she's taking a peek at some of the pasty-white offerings:

“The Greatest American Hero” (Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 a.m., Syfy)Celebrate America with its greatest hero, who hasn’t been seen on national TV since he got canned in 1983. The cult classic, which starred William Katt, Robert Cult and Connie Selleca, only lasted three seasons, so you’ll pretty much see every single episode of the show while everyone else is enjoying the barbecue. Mama will bet that you won’t be able to get the catchy theme song out of your head for a week.

“Persons Unknown” (Monday, 8 p.m., NBC)The only non-Syfy sci-fi show in the running this week is this George Orwellian mystery. The gang discovers a new woman, who is violently unhappy to be among this group of increasingly unlikable characters. Perhaps she’s just not a fan of shaky, dark lighting, which Mama finds distractingly annoying about this wannabe horror film.

“Warehouse 13” (Tuesday, Syfy)If “CSI” was run by a bunch of sci-fi geeks, you’d get this show. And although their super-scientific black-and-white transponders that they use to communicate would have been pretty cool in 1990, now it just looks like these guys forgot to stand on line for the iPod 4.

“Eureka” (Friday, 9 p.m., Syfy)“Battlestar Galactica” fans can rejoice at the return of James Callis, aka Gaius Blatar, who is now a regular on this quirky conspiracy-fueled series that kicks off its fourth season. Personally, Mama had always thought Callis could’ve made the leap from sci-fi to a “House”-like vehicle, but as long as he’s back, she’s happy. And we’ll get to see him wield his considerable charm when he develops a romantic interest in Allison, which also ought to put him in Sherriff Jack’s crosshairs.

“Haven” (Friday, 10 p.m., Syfy) Based on a Stephen King novella, this drama kicks off with an FBI agent investigating a murder in a town filled with misfits who have supernatural abilities. Maybe they could challenge the residents of “Smallville” to a Laff-A-Lympics style competition.