In the Final Season of The Mentalist

As confirmed by cast member Tim Kang, the upcoming season of The Mentalist will be its last..

This is our 7th and final season. Looking at the scripts now, it's so fun and such a great season!
— Tim Kang (@Tim__Kang) September 14, 2014

Quite frankly, I felt that the show was on thin ice once the Red John angle was done and dusted. I suppose it was nice for fans to see how life is treating Jane and the former CBI gang post Red John. Dismantling the CBI at the end of the fifth season in a way kind of addressed some people's complaints that CBI is a non-existent agency, so okay. An entire season of Jane causing havoc at the FBI office in Texas was pretty entertaining. 

I know people are into the Jisbon 'ship, but I really wasn't expecting it to HAPPEN at the end of the 6th season (I was with Cho on that one: "I don't see it"). I suppose this last season would be the one to explore that. Oh, so many questions...!!

I wonder if Rigsby and Van Pelt would make an appearance in this final season. I don't care one way or the other. 

I hope Cho doesn't die this season. 

I've been okay with this show being over for a couple of seasons now. I hope they go out with a bang (figuratively, not literally). 

If nothing else, this show will be in syndication ad infinitum since their 100th episode milestone has come and gone. 

Related articles

• 9 Memorable Jisbon Moments on The Mentalist: From Killing to Kissing

Things on TV to say goodbye to before/in 2015

I know it's a little early because it's still August, but if people start brainstorming the year's best of lists ahead of time, why can't I? It's a mix of things on TV that will definitely be gone as we get into 2015. 

1. The current incarnation of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson as we know it.
2. "Stephen Colbert" and The Colbert Report 
3. The Late Show with David Letterman
4. Let's face it, this next season of The Mentalist is probably going to be the last season.
5. I'll be darned if Franklin & Bash makes it another season. (That's for another blog post)
6. I'll also be darned if Fred Armisen is still The 8G Band's band leader on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
7. Mad Men
8. True Blood

What else am I missing? Let me know... 

Last Comic Standing

I sat through the entire summer season of NBC's resurrected and rejigged Last Comic Standing. I would've blogged about it sooner, but I wanted to see how the season played out first. Overall, I like parts of it, but other parts could be improved. 

First of all: Was I the only one that noticed the edit Rod Man was getting LONG BEFORE they made him this season's winner? I felt it was damn obvious and you know that he'll make it far in the competition whether you liked him or not. I can't fathom a guess as to what kind of show he'll be making with NBC with his development deal portion of his winnings. Personally, I would've been fine with any other finalist winning, but oh well.

Second: JB Smoove - not my favourite host. But that's just me, nothing against the guy. 

I don't know how many Americans know who Russell Peters before this season of Last Comic Standing. But nothing against him being a judge next to Roseanne and Keenen Ivory Wayans. 

What I liked:

• The initial rounds being invitational and not for any Tom, Dick and Harry aspiring comics that aren't already working comics. Some of the initial 100 I've seen do their 5 minutes on the talk show circuit.
• There's no public vote, which was I think how Felipe Esparza won the previous season even though I never found the guy particularly funny to begin with anyway. 

It's renewed for another season. So let's see how that goes. 

Things I Will Miss About The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Inspired from this GIF-laden Buzzfeed listicle, 23 Reasons Craig Ferguson Is The Best Host Of "The Late Late Show", but from perspective of a (really) long time viewer of the show, and I can't be arsed to add the GIFs and images. 

1. Oh how I miss the puppets. You can relive those moments cos you can get them here :P
2. His hilarious impersonations: Michael Caine in Space, Sean Connery, JK Rowling (which I'm glad he hasn't done since he claims to be a fan of the Harry Potter series), Aquaman, and of course... Prince Charles. 
3. The old man rants, especially about the show's presumed low budget, crappy old studio (which leaked).
4. For such a "low budget" show, they sure got a lot of money to do a week's worth of shows in places like Scotland and France :P
5. The numerous catchphrases: "It's a great day for America", ASS MÖDE... long list.
6. When Secretariat only danced in and out of studio... and the audience doing the dance along with Craig. 
7. The musical cold opens, half of which I'm surprised that they got rights to.
8. The cray cray "maps" 
9. The drinking game would kill you, if you actually play it... or drink something light, like Shandy :P

Anything I'm leaving out? Let me know in the comments.

Related articles

• Why I Will Miss Craig Ferguson As The Host Of The Late Late Show

Jennifer Love Hewitt on Criminal Minds? Really?!

Well, they found another brunette to fill the missing brunette hole on Criminal Minds after the departure of other brunettes before her in the long running show. 

The announcement made about Jennifer Love Hewitt joining Criminal Minds as a series regular in the upcoming season certainly made a lot of waves, especially among the CM fanbase. Perhaps it was just me. There'll be a whole load of jokes of talking to ghosts and happy ending massages amongst fans for sure. But I'll refrain from making those myself. I don't know how she will be, as part of a huge cast, after being the lead on Ghost Whisperer and The Client List. The last ensemble role anyone could remember her in was Party of Five? 

According to the news outlets, her character is Kate Callahan, a "seasoned undercover agent whose work landed her a position with the BAU". 

Here is my question as a fan of the show: If her character is a longtime undercover agent, so unless they release the part where it says that she's also did some profiling or just really astute about human psychology, she'll be joining the BAU in what capacity? 

Like the changing of colours in the fall, I can't wait to see the change in the huge cast photo at the end of the opening sequence in the new season.

Related articles

• Jennifer Love Hewitt joins 'Criminal Minds' as series regular
• Jennifer Love Hewitt Joins 'Criminal Minds' Cast

New CSI spinoff

I remembered reading awhile back that the CSI producers were attempting to launch another spinoff (after the cancellation of both CSI: Miami and CSI: NY) and who was going to be in it, but I had probably glossed over when the backdoor pilot was actually airing. 

So it was an interesting surprise to see Patricia Arquette show up as FBI cyber psychologist Agent Avery Ryan. Like a lot of backdoor pilots, they show us what she does, her team (which, if picked up, have no idea will be the same people or if recasting will happen), and her methods. I'm not sure if the monologue she did about what she does was necessary, but I'll let it slide. And also don't get me started on the jurisdiction issues. 

If the show gets picked up, it'll be a first for the CSI franchise to have a lady at the helm and for a show not to be about forensics, but cybercrimes. 

Which begs the questions: Will this or the NCIS New Orleans spinoff ever get picked up? Or even both? 

Farewell, Late Night Douche

The news some of us have dreaded has come to pass: Craig Ferguson stepping down as host of The Late Late Show after 10 years. Am I sad? Yes. Only read the headlines in the morning and had not seen the show yet, but watching the actual on-air announcement doesn't lessen the sting.

To be fair, his recent 2 year contract extension is almost up and he (probably) decided not to renew. I really didn't think his decision to step down was because he didn't get The Late Show (he's getting paid for not being picked) as his schtick and material probably won't pass muster at 11.30 anyway. And if you watch the show long enough, you can sort of tell that he really doesn't give a shit even more than usual in the last few years anyway, even with the move to the new studio and little upgrades like a podium for Geoff and a stable for the fake horse. I suppose after over 10 years of shit happening to you on air (the leaky roof, no lights, not being able to air the Doctor Who cold open live, etc), enough is enough.

And it's not like he's dying or anything, but he does have other projects to focus on. Celebrity Name Game, anyone?

If it's any consolation, we have until December (and not til summer, as initially rumoured) to savour what's left of the late night douche, so.. 

Related articles

• A guide to Craig Ferguson's weirdest traditions you'll never see on late-night TV again after this year
• Craig Ferguson says 'Late Late Show' exit was in works for a while

Questions about the Colbert Transition to The Late Show

So Letterman announced his retirement a week ago (which really was just a matter of time), and after many articles and listicles as to who would take over, they announced the successor to The Late Show, and yes, it's yet another middle-aged white guy. If you thought it wouldn't be the case, you were sadly mistaken. Even I knew that wouldn't be the case.

(To anyone who put Seth Meyers on their list - what the fuck. Dude's still cutting his teeth on NBC, he wouldn't jump ship so soon!)

Of course to some people, it would've been obvious for Craig to move up an hour, but no Prince of Wales clause (term I saw someplace) for him. But with his contract ending pretty soon, fans like myself should wonder/worry if he would renew or leave.

But good on Stephen Colbert. Really. From basic cable to a major network? Major coup for him and CBS. As someone who saw The Colbert Report the same fall it went on the air all those years ago (almost 10 years - woah!) as a transfer student in America. So yes, I have sentimental value for The Colbert Report. 

Although Vulture came up with some pretty good questions about the transition here, I also have my own (which everyone else must be wondering): 

1. Will he be Stephen Colbert or "Stephen Colbert", the character he's been playing on TV for almost a decade now? 
2. Will he have to rejig The Late Show to his liking, or will he get some of his bits or segments from The Report?
3. While this means that he wouldn't have to move too far, would he be staying put in his current studio, or would he be based in the Ed Sullivan Theater?
4. Band or no band? He's been, for the most part, a one-man show over on Comedy Central. Or maybe, like Craig, go bandless? Or will he "inherit" Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra (that is, if they stayed put)?
5. What will happen to the people who are currently working on The Late Show? Will Colbert be bringing his crew over? 
6. Who's taking over Colbert's slot on Comedy Central? Because I don't think you can move The Daily Show up half hour..

Related articles

• David Letterman to Retire From 'Late Show' in 2015
• Stephen Colbert Replaces David Letterman as 'The Late Show' Host on CBS

Thoughts while watching Late Night with Seth Meyers

I had been curious excited about Seth Meyers taking over Late Night since it was announced. Well okay, maybe it might have something to do with how he's easier on the eye (for me) than Fallon. Damn those dimples.

Tried not to watch too many sneak peak videos beforehand, but yes, I did know that Fred Armisen would be his in-house band leader. Talk about SNL nepotism. 

• The Thank You Notes cold open was an appropriate reference (and deference) to Fallon and his Late Night reign.  
• I could get used to the logo and title sequence.
• Was it just me, or was he a little shouty during the erm, monologue? Weekend Update shouty. The jokes were still funny, don't get me wrong. Love the anecdote about his wife. 
• Well, someone made do without curtains. Rice paper sliding doors, really? At least it's a change from velvet curtains or faux city view... just saying. 
• Is it just me, or is his desk and guest chairs are a bit erm, small? Maybe I'm used to seeing plusher chairs on the other shows. After years of not seeing his feet on SNL, you can now see them with the new desk, haha. 
• The humour bits (Venn diagram and Costas Vision) was a little meh. 
• Them getting the vice president was not a bad.. 
• Didn't know the desk figurine was that of Stefon.. (Really?!)

Sucker that I am for dimples, will keep watching. Will you?

Related articles

• Seth Meyers Debuts as Late Night Host: Grade Him!

Thoughts watching the second season of The Taste (ABC)

Second season finale of The Taste is coming!

It was sad to hear that Malarkey wasn't continuing on the show and replaced by Marcus Samuelsson as fourth mentor and judge, but whatever it takes to make things exciting. 

• At least this year the judges are taking more time to decide instead of going by snap judgment followed by bitter regret after meeting the person who made the spoon. The double-edged sword that is blind tasting. 
• The mentor's personalised trailers where they meet their teams at the start of the day is a charming touch. Show got more money now. 
• Having the guest judge serve as mentor in the individual challenge for the winners of the team challenge is also not a bad idea. 
• They've tweaked things around a little bit: Losing mentor having to send their weakest link home right after the team challenge is pretty brutal, but also to great effect when Nigella loses half her team in one episode early on when they lost both team and solo challenges.
• At least the judges table is only on a slightly higher level than the cooking area than the first season, so there isn't any weird door and elevator footage like they did last season? 
• Of course they want the home cook to be in the finale. But also sad that Nigella and Marcus are already out of the competition before the finale.
• Who wants crazy dragon lady Marina to take the title? 

Thoughts while watching the recent Golden Globes

• The only way you get the references in Tina and Amy's monologue is if you paid attention to the news or the Internet for the last couple of weeks. They may be timely, but I don't know about classic.
• There was no way Coldplay would beat U2 for the category they were nominated in. I'm a Coldplay fan, but I'm also a realist. But it explains why Chris Martin was there as he doesn't normally appear with the wife in public.. 
• There's also no way that Cate Blanchett looks like that with just SK-II... is she still the global ambassador? 
• All the pregnant ladies this year. Not that there weren't any in previous years, I'm just saying.
• Props to Emma Thompson for not giving a damn. 
• No idea why Kate Beckinsale was presenting with Diddy and Usher. Anyone?
• Michael Sheen and his kid - so cute. Too bad Masters of Sex didn't win any awards that night.
• Was kind of hoping James Spader won his category for The Blacklist, just to see if he would show up, let alone say anything. 
• Wasn't there a few times where there were MISTER Golden Globe or something? Had to like how Kevin and Kyra introduced their daughter Sosie as the year's Miss Golden Globe. Didn't need the Tina and Amy sketch that time. 
• Fallon and McCarthy bit? Not funny.
• The vagina joke was hilarious. 

About the Project Runway All Stars finale...

Was I the only one that's a tad disgruntled that Seth Aaron won AGAIN?! Poor Korto - runner up AGAIN.

Project Runway's been on the air so long they definitely have a large enough pool of contestants for more All Stars seasons, if not at least a couple more. 

I do wonder if they'll stick to Alyssa as host next season or if they'll draw another name out of the velvet button bag.. LOL

If that happens... they need more Swatch (Mood Fabric's store dog), like STAT.

Really Brief TV Rants

It's been ages I know, but I've been busy watching TV to bitch about what's going on on it. Here we go...

• Alyssa Milano as new Project Runway All Stars host? They go through hosts like Lady Gaga goes through crazy outfits.
• So sad that yet another white chick won Top Model. It would've been an interesting surprise had either of the guys won. But was so amused when her catwalk crew was so surprised that they won $1000 each, haha.
• I can't be the only one that's a little disappointed about the long time coming Red John reveal on The Mentalist. Even Jane said so too. 
• Anyone else liking The Blacklist? I can't be the only one watching it for James Spader...
• Jonathan Rhys Meyers is one heck of a sexy vampire... the American accent I could do without.
• Seriously didn't need to see videos of Brian the dog's death now. I get it - they killed him off.
• RIP, King and Maxwell. Rebecca Romijn is out of a job... again. Actually, so's her husband I think...

ANTM 2.0

ANTM, just when I thought I never have to watch you ever again, you finally bring in GUYS to compete with the ladies. Oh you so cruel. 

Not that I mind that erm, "twist" in the competition personally. I mean, they probably should've played that card a cycle or two ago. I'm kinda hoping the old ice cream man that Tyra found makes it further than it's edited to look. 

I thought the makeover was going to be dramafree dull until they brought in the waxer for the manscaping. Watching those guys wince from having their legs waxed was a funny sight to behold. 

I'm not sure having Tyra insert herself even more this cycle, being there doing makeup for them on the weekly shoots on top of the picking, judging, mentoring and... I forgot something. I know I'm missing something. I know it's her TV baby and all, but really... this is reality competition helicopter parenting, as far as I'm concerned.

As long they keep the ridonk out (I never want to see, hear or have to type "Pot Ledom" EVER AGAIN), I'm in for this cycle.

Related articles

• 19 Important Lessons from 'America's Next Top Model'
• 'America's Next Top Model' Makeovers: 'The Guy Who Gets a Weave' Before And After (PHOTOS)

Random thoughts - Project Runway Season 12

Season 12 of Project Runway starts this week - is anyone still watching?

• Puppies falling from the sky?! Is that guy dumb or what?
• Guy who won the week's unconventional material challenge reminds me of Kiefer Sutherland - if he was a bearded ginger :P
• There's something a little wrong with the Russian dude. Okay, him and the guy from Wisconsin. 
• Guy from Wisconsin needs to just get off the TV screen already.
• Sustainability? Really?
• I feel bad for the guy's poor model - no shoes, hair or makeup. Don't blame her for crying.
• Either the judges closed one eye/did not notice about the vagina flash on the runway, or anything they said about it got cut out. I say it's the latter.
• No complaints about the new rules they've implemented this season. 
• I like how Tim is more involved besides mentoring - he now gets a front row seat to the runway shows instead of being (I imagine) backstage. How can you hate on the Tim Gunn Save? Really?! 

Related articles

• Tim Gunn Becomes More Powerful in Project Runway Season 12

King & Maxwell

When they announced the show King & Maxwell last year, which is a TV adaptation of David Baldacci's King & Maxwell series of books, which are about two former Secret Service agents turned PIs, I wasn't against it or anything. What raised my eyebrow was Jon Tenney being Sean King. If you're a fan of The Closer and Major Crimes, you know that he plays FBI agent/Brenda's husband Fritz Howard. Him playing another character on a different show on the same network was going to take some getting used to.

I personally didn't know about the books and I don't think I want to go delve into the source material now. It's created by current NCIS: LA showrunner and former producer of NCIS, Shane Brennan.

Having already seen the pilot, my first impression so far that it's a cross between Warehouse 13 and Moonlighting. So while I see why people say it's like Bones and Castle, but that's not quite how I see it; they're not strictly about PIs - they're with cops and federal agents.

The pilot is not bad, but it's not mind blowingly great. What I did like was the proper-length animated opening sequence tells the individual story of how they got to be PIs, but not so much how they met since they weren't in the Service at the same time. But I'm hoping it'll get better with time. I also read that Rebecca Romijn's husband Jerry O' Connell would be making an appearance on the show later.

What is anyone else's thoughts on the show (if you've seen the pilot)?

Leno, Fallon and Meyers, NBC Late Night

Finally got round to caring about the NBC late night shuffle: apparently Leno's quitting The Tonight Show (for good this time?), with Fallon taking over, which might mean that the show would go to New York so Fallon and his crew don't have to move across the country and SNL's Seth Meyers is taking over Late Night. All that happening next February. I think I got it straight, yes?

I haven't been watching The Tonight Show all that much ever since Late Night took over on CNBC on weekends. But whenever I do get to watch episodes on TV, I only watch for some of the easier to digest segments like Thank You Notes and the monologue. I really don't care for the audience participation made up game shows which quite frankly, make little sense to me. I think regular viewing of The Late Late Show has spoilt me rotten for other shows.

Seth Meyers holds up the Weekend Update desk alright (but I find the guests they bring on annoying), but the Late Night desk? I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see.

Related articles

• Seth Meyers to replace Jimmy Fallon late at night
• Seth Meyers named as 'Late Night' host

Thoughts on the Hannibal pilot

• Hugh Dancy is attending the Hugh Laurie school of five o' clock shadow and pretty convincing American accent. 
• It may be violent and gory but definitely not as gross as some of the corpses on Bones... you know what I'm talking about.
• Mads Mikkelsen gets to keep his European accent as Dr Lecter. How convenient. 
• I hope that's animal lung he's chopping up, but it's a little too huge...?
• I wonder if the sausage was animal or human... noticed that he didn't touch the sausage, haha.
• Filmed in Ontario? Oh man... I thought the weather was a little too sunny for Minnesota :P I keed, I keed!
• Season preview seemed interesting - Eddie Izzard! Gillian Anderson (with long hair)! Holy cow!

Related articles

• 11 Reasons To Watch NBC's Hannibal

Not offended by The Jeselnik Offensive

Saw the first few episodes of The Jeselnik Offensive, and well... there's a reason why it's The Jeselnik OFFENSIVE, because nothing seems to be off limits to the guy. AIDS, cancer, necrophilia... the list of "oh-oh!" topics are at least a mile long and he's touched on most of them. All because of that freedom of speech thing. It must be great to be American :P

The show's format is still okay, I guess, but to me, running a little similar to Brand X with Russell Brand and Kathy Griffin's show, both of those supposedly "live". But that's for another time.

I've seen and heard other things over the years that offended me more than anything that's ever been said on the show, so I still find it pretty entertaining. Jeselnik saying those things himself is one thing, but having other comedians come on the show (as part of the "panel"; kinda wish he stop saying the word "panel" so much :P) and say stuff the rest of us are thinking? Wow.

So if you're easily offended... don't watch this. Find something else to watch. The title of the show is self-explanatory.

Fashion Star is back!

Fashion Star is back on NBC with some tweaks, namely the host swap out (from Elle Macpherson to Louise Roe), Express replacing H&M as one of the retail buyers and also the format (designers handpicked by the mentors to be in their "teams", yada yada). Not to mention the way bigger and posher runway - they got money now...

I've only ever seen Louise Roe from her guest stints on Fashion Police, but I think she'll be fine.

I personally am not familiar with Express, but it's similar (enough?) to H&M, yes? Can't even access the site right now - either it's overloaded or it got hacked :P

I forgot how much fun watching this show is; mostly because the clothes that come down this runway is meant to be accessible to the hoi polloi and trying to be avant garde at the same time. It's too bad I watch alone or else I'd make a drinking game out of whether any of them get bought (at all), or by whom. 

I've come to realise that it's not hard to tell which items might appeal to which store (which might be what the designers intended, maybe...?) - Saks tend to go with the expensive-looking items, Express the accessible ones and Macy's... a toss up between the two poles.

Because I'm such a sucker, I'll keep tuning in.

Related articles

• 'Fashion Star' Season 2 Premiere Preview: The Biggest Buy in Show's History