TVSquad

(S01E05) NBC's website says that writer Richard Chizmar's first big project with his writing partner Jonathan Schaech is an adaptation of Stephen King's From A Buick 8. Then, they say that Jonathan Schaech's first big project with his writing partner Richard Chizmar is an adaptation of Stephen King's Black House. I'm not horribly familiar with either of them, though they've written for Masters of Horror and Heroes, nor the director Stuard Gordon (Re-Animator). Yes, that means I've never seen Re-Animator.

I am familiar with Elisabeth Moss who played the female rookie officer, though more for her work on Mad Men than The West Wing. She's one of those girls who isn't classically beautiful and because of that can play both the pretty girl when done up and the mousy girl when needed. For this installment she is cast in the latter role and put opposite the towering Stephen R. Hart as a serial killer named "The Eater." He doesn't even have to be anything more than his 6'11" in height and he's scary as all hell, but with the teeth and make-up added here, he's downright terrifying.

Richard told you earlier this year that The Weather Channel was for sale. Now it looks like recent rumors that NBC was going to be the one to buy the TV network are true. Reuters says that the deal should be closed in the next few days, and the reported price is between $3 billion and $4 billion.

If you haven't noticed, weather is the most important part of a newscast now. I was just talking to my roommate about this yesterday. Every single local newscast opens with news about the weather. Not just tornadoes and hurricanes, but bad rain storms that might pop up later in the day (wow, rainstorms in the summer - shocking!). Weather is the lead story (death, war, and the election can wait), the follow-up story, and the actual weather segment halfway through the show is given another good 7 or 8 minutes.

(S03E03) "A complete and utter waste of time." - Piers to 41-year-old country western line dancer Corky

This week on America's Got Talent we saw acts from Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta. As usual, some acts were bad, some were good, and some were touching. However, this time around we were treated to some really weird acts such as the one displayed in the picture above. How do people come up with these ideas is beyond me. But one thing is for sure, they help make the show entertaining and unpredictable.

Here are the weekly ratings, by number of viewers.

Yes, NBC had four shows in the top 20 this week, but it took the summer and reality and/or reality game shows to get there, including America's Got Talent, The Baby Borrowers, and Celebrity Family Feud. ABC's new game shows, Wipeout and I Survived A Japanese Game Show, both made the top ten.

I'm surprised Hell's Kitchen isn't higher. #14 is great, I just thought it would do better during the summer (though it does well on its night). 60 Minutes' repackaged repeat segments continue to do well too.

1. America's Got Talent (NBC)
2. Wipeout (ABC)
3. 60 Minutes (CBS)

It looks like NBC thinks they have something worth giving a little more love to. Already airing in the cushy post-The Office slot when it premieres October 9th, now NBC has upped the order to thirteen on Molly Shannon and Selma Blair's Kath & Kim. In an era where shows can be yanked after one airing and episode commitments can never grow beyond six, this is a good sign for a new series.

K&K just finished filming their first episode, which tells me that someone must have liked what they saw. Personally, I think Molly Shannon is incredibly funny, in the right situation. Some of her bits on Saturday Night Live were classically brilliant while others were not so much. But her turn on Pushing Daisies last season was nothing short of brilliant. Blair, however, has a more limited TV resume, though she's done some awesome work in film. I'm guessing, based on her more dramatic background, that she's being set up as the straight (wo)man to Shannon's wackiness.

One thing you have to say about the powers that be at Desperate Housewives, they're really great with casting. Great looking guys, beautiful women, quirky character actors; we've seen them all on Wisteria Lane and usually they leave a lasting impression.

The latest name to check in to Desperate Housewives is Neal McDonough. He'll be appearing in the new season and Hollywood Reporter is wondering how he'd do with Nicolette Sheridan's character, Edie Britt. Is that wondering or playing matchmaker? How do we know that Marc Cherry isn't setting him up as a mystery man from Bree's past? Cherry is nothing if not inventive, so good luck trying to anticipate his plotlines!

You know how people say stuff like "if CBS cancels Moonlight, I'm never watching that stupid network again!"? I think those proclamations are usually silly, but I might be in that group if the following happens: CBS replacing David Letterman with Jay Leno.

That's one of the options listed in this handy Hollywood Reporter guide to what Leno will do after his stint on NBC is over in 2009. The other options are going to ABC at 11:35, going to FOX at 11:35, a syndicated show with Sony, he stays at NBC and does some other primetime show, he takes over for Larry King on CNN, or he goes back to doing standup full-time. Taking over for Letterman would happen if (and when - he could extend his contract) Letterman retires in 2010.

The title says it all. According to the blog of The Office co-creator Ricky Gervais, Steve Carell has signed on to play Michael Scott for three more seasons.

Gervais follows up the announcement by saying "He is the hardest working man in Hollywood and the harder he works the better it is for me. I mean... well done Steve you are wonderful."

Gervais also mentions "We are also working on a spinoff series of The American Office but I can't tell you anything about that yet."

Hot off the news that NBC ordered sixteen new episodes of the show, Law and Order: CI has added Jeff Goldblum to the cast. And that means Chris Noth is out.

Goldblum will share lead duties with Vincent D'Onofrio on the USA Network show (new episodes air Sunday nights), and I'm not sure which actor is going to out-act the other. Both Goldblum and D'Onofrio are both well known for their rather quirky and/or intense acting styles. D'Onofrio does intense and explosive well, while Goldblum does strange and quiet well. No word on why Noth left.

Here are the weekly TV ratings, by number of viewers.

A little behind the scenes info about the making of this post. When I started to type the #16 entry, my eye drifted to the #17 entry and I actually started to type Are You Smarter Than The Bachelorette? Which got me thinking that we could probably create other TV shows from this list, if the networks are looking for new ideas. How about America's Got Bones? Two and Half 60 Million? CSI: So You Think You Can Dance?

1. NBA Finals - Game 6 (ABC)
2. America's Got Talent (NBC)

When Lipstick Jungle comes back for the new season on Wednesday, September 24, we already know that Wendy's life will be impacted by the appearance of her challenging, iconic mother Joyce, played by television great Mary Tyler Moore.

Now comes news via E! Online that things will be getting more complicated for the Lipstick Jungle with the addition of two more name stars; Latino talents Carlos Ponce and Rosie Perez are both booked for guest roles.

(S03E02) "I have shoes older than you but I'd like to try you on!" - Sharon to 23-year-old Joseph, an Elvis impersonator.

The second episode of America's Got Talent auditions brought more great acts and more terrible performances. This week, we were treated to 15 complete acts that ranged from singing to magic (see picture) not forgetting impersonators and Drumtazia! Oh, and, unless I'm mistaken, we also saw the judges give 3 Xs to someone who finished in 4th place in another talent competition! More on that at the end of my review.

Alfre Woodard has an exciting new role on the upcoming NBC drama My Own Worst Enemy. The Emmy winner is set to play Christian Slater's boss in the spy series, which premieres this fall. If you followed TV Squad's coverage of the upfronts, you already know that the drama focuses on a man (Slater) living two different lives: the life of an ordinary suburban father named Henry and the life of a spy named Edward.

Woodard's character, Mavis Heller, is Edward's "tough and astute boss" at headquarters. Like Edward, Mavis is leading a double life as well. Her alter ego, Helen, will be a part of Henry's suburban existence. My Own Worst Enemy premieres on Monday, September 29.

NBC has a new reality series called The Baby Borrowers. When I attended NBC / Universal's Summer Press Event, I got to hear about it and meet some of the cast (two of whom are pictured to the right, Alicea and Cory). I also picked up the few first episodes and watched them this week.

The show is a social experiment where teens are put on the fast track to adulthood as they have to run a household and care for children in different stages of life.

There's been speculation about who will replace Tim Russert on NBC's Meet the Press. David Gregory, Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews and Katie Couric were a few of the rumored possibilities. Jovie Baclayon of E! Online reports that Tom Brokaw will be temporarily replacing the tragically-lost news anchor. NBC announced today that the former Nightly News anchor and South Dakota native would take over moderating responsibilities on Sunday mornings. He will guide discussions through the November presidential elections.

Steve Capus, NBC News President, made this statement about Brokaw's decision to step in: "To have someone of Tom's stature step up and dedicate himself to ensuring its ongoing success is not only a testament to his loyalty to Tim, but his enduring commitment to NBC News and our viewers."

After 21 years helming the program, Tom Brokaw retired from NBC Nightly News in 2004.

Tim Russert died of a heart attack last week on June 13th. He was 58.

[via Yahoo TV]