Lisa Kudrow in Web Therapy

I've heard of Web Therapy, but I simply don't have the time or the internet speed to watch it (seriously - the internet's been so crappy in this part of the world...). But I love the show's premise - a therapist with limited patience for other people's problems? 

But I did manage to watch the above episode just this once. Quite funny.

Anyhow, if you're not already watching this, you should give it a try.

The NCIS:LA-Hawaii Five-0 crossover? Underwhelming

When I first heard about the NCIS:LA and Hawaii Five-0 crossing paths in an episode of Hawaii Five-0 a few months ago, I thought it should be pretty interesting - as in, it's pretty common for different shows by the same creator to cross into each other's worlds all the time, like the CSI franchises, the David E. Kelley courtroom dramas, as well as perhaps the Law & Order series. But two totally different shows created by different people crossing over like this? REALLY?!

It just turns out that it was just Daniela Ruah's character on NCIS: LA, Kensi Blye making the appearance for her lip reading skills. She was probably on screen for three minutes top, while she was lip reading the video of the meeting between the late Governor Jameson, the deceased elder McGarrett and Wo Fat. It was a "blink and you'll miss it" kind of thing. I thought she would be around longer than she did, that's all. I would call it anything else BUT a "crossover" in the conventional TV terms.

At least the episode "confirms" that Steve knows Sam Hanna in the Navy SEALs - perhaps to set up another "crossover" in the future? 

The only consolation half the audience (at least) got was the few minutes of shirtless Alex O' Loughlin in the beginning and the end of the episode.

Related articles

• 'NCIS: LA,' 'Hawaii Five-0′ to have crossover episode (insidetv.ew.com)
• Alex O'Loughlin's Shirtless Boxing On 'Hawaii Five-0′ [PHOTOS] (socialitelife.com)

Matthew Gray Gubler and Aldo, F/W 2011/12

Walked past an Aldo store and I saw this (or some other picture) in the store window. I thought I was seeing things, so I had to look it up for myself. 

Took it from here

So it turns out that Matthew Gray Gubler (MGG) and British model Lily Donaldson are the faces of Aldo's Fall/Winter Collection for 2011/2012. I'm not one to like commercials, but I thought this one was pretty cute. It does help that the song used in this ad is pretty catchy, and I found out that it's called Can't Stop Thinking About It by The Dirtbombs. Cool song :)

I'm not a huge fan of Aldo or MGG per se, but I thought it was an interesting side of MGG outside of Criminal Minds (in case anyone was wondering why I'm talking about this here).

Cone Drone Episode 3 - Gym Rat

Was supposed to post this last week, but I forgot. Here it is!

Here's a hilarious Cone Drone video available on the Team Coco YouTube channel called "Gym Rat", where Conan sends the Cone Drone to the gym to work out on his behalf because he's too busy to do it himself.

But of course, you can't trust a drone to do a man's work, and the Drone gets into trouble at the gym. Find out how - click on the video below to watch. It's so ridiculous, you must watch it. 

Radiohead-vaganza!

I was so happy that Radiohead were scheduled to appear on Saturday Night Live and also my favourite of the Stewart/Colbert tag team (sorry, Stewart) on Comedy Central, The Colbert Report for an unprecedented hour long show in the latter's history. If there is a reason for a half-hour show to go an hour long, Radiohead  would be a pretty good reason. They can not be contained in 22 minutes. 

Personally, I can't tell the difference the extra drum set made in both appearances, but it was nice to see that the second drummer (Clive Deamer) in the SNL promo shots and also in the interview with Colbert.

Love the sign-off performance of The National Anthem and also the online-only performance of Codex (also my favourite track off The King of Limbs), which you must watch.

NCIS Video Game Trailer

First there's the CSI game, now there's an NCIS game. Check out the trailer...

Much as I like the show, but as I don't play video games to start with, chances of me playing this game is pretty slim. But it looks like you get to be someone from the show, so that's got to be fun, right?

House, Hawaii Five-O and The Mentalist - What Do They Have in Common This Fall?

I was just thinking this the other night (which I had to write down before I could go back to sleep again), and I just realised that several returning shows this fall start with the protagonist(s) being in jail, with the new teaser promos to show for it. 

Here's the fourth season teaser of The Mentalist, where Simon Baker's character Patrick Jane was arrested and is incarcerated for killing Red John (jury's still out on that) in last season's finale. I have no idea how he'll get out of it, seeing as Lisbon and the rest are still suspended (why?)...

In the second season teaser of Hawaii Five-O, Five-O was disbanded and went to heck with the arrests of Kono and McGarrett for (allegedly) killing the last governor, and Danno finally having the opportunity to leave the big island and have his family back in one fell swoop last season. There is footage of McGarrett in jail. Another LOST alum is back in Hawaii for this, but I have no idea how he'll be a part of getting the group back together.

And of course, House MD with House in jail early the next season for driving his car into Cuddy's house and endangering its occupants LAST season. I seriously have no idea how the team is going to function with House in jail and presumably can't do the teleconference calls they've been doing lately from the big house.

Another thing they all have in common is that the protagonists are also NOT AMERICAN: Hugh Laurie is (still) English; Simon Baker and Alex O' Loughlin are Australian.

What do these shows have against their non-American protagonists anyway? I'm kidding, but still.

If anyone else can think of any other shows in this vein, let me know.

Revenge

I was looking forward to ABC's new fall show, Revenge, starring Emily Van Camp and then the pilot was already leaked online (don't ask me where) a couple of weeks before its September 21 premiere. I don't know whether it was a deliberate move by the network (which has got to be, how else can you can get buzz for a new fall show?) and or it's just some rough cut of the pilot. But what I saw seemed legit enough.

The show is loosely based on Alexandre Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo, which I didn't even think of until I read that somewhere else, D'OH!!

Copy from the ABC site...

Wealth, beauty and status define the people in this town, but one woman is willing to destroy everyone for the sake of revenge.

Emily Thorne (Emily Van Camp) is new to the Hamptons. She's met some of her wealthy neighbors, has made a few new friends and seemingly blends into the town. But something is a little odd about a young girl living in a wealthy town all on her own, and the truth is that Emily isn't exactly new to the neighborhood. In fact, this was once her old neighborhood, until something bad happened that ruined her family and their reputation. Now Emily is back, and she's returned to right some of those wrongs in the best way she knows how – with a vengeance.

At first glance, it reminded me of CBS's Harper's Island, and I think this can probably only last for a season tops, assuming that she manages to avenge her father before it ends or gets cancelled.

I hope the show answers these questions with time...

• How'd she get her money? The thing with Emily Van Camp is that she's too youthful looking to pass off as someone who's WORKED for her (presumed) millions and could only have gotten it through inheritance.
• Will Victoria Grayson (the baddie, played by Madeleine Stowe) find out who Emily actually is before Emily's vengeance can be exacted?
• Why is Nolan Ross (the guy who actually knew who she was) even THERE to begin with?
• If James Tupper replaced Marc Blucas as Amanda's father (so it says on Wikipedia...), would they fix that in the flashback footage?
• I'm not sure that living next door to your vengeance end game is at all a good idea, but that's just me.

I might keep watching this only because I'm a sucker for revenge plots and I want to know the answers to those questions and many more.

RIP, Uncle Frank

I haven't been watching Jimmy Kimmel Live for a while since I don't get the show on pay TV anymore and YouTube made it hard for people in certain geographical locations to watch the clips awhile ago, but that's been lifted recently, so I can catch up on clips again.

Here was the show's tribute to the late Uncle Frank, show security guard and on air "talent" (and apparently, Jimmy's real-life uncle) when he passed away a couple of weeks ago.

Related articles

• Jimmy Kimmel Gives Emotional Tribute to His Late Uncle Frank (VIDEO) (aoltv.com)

House Season 8 Promo [VIDEO]

I don't know about anyone else, but I think House, MD has finally jumped the shark, based on this promo video, where he's in prison for driving a car into Cuddy's house last season.

I say Hugh Laurie should have put the kibosh on the show at least a couple of seasons ago, and leave while the going was good. 

I am not sure where the season will be headed if House is in prison and they're bringing in new doctors to the diagnostics team. Frankly, I am not sure whether to actually spend time watching or to just read the recaps afterwards.

Oh well.

Franklin & Bash - 2011's Boston Legal?

Finally found the time over the weekend to watch the brand new lawyer show on TNT, Franklin & Bash starring Breckin Meyer and Mark-Paul Gosselaar (MPG). The first season is only 10 episodes, so it wasn't all that hard to catch up.

The gist of the show is that two young crazy lawyers, Jared Franklin (Meyer) and Peter Bash (Gosselaar) who got hired by the eccentric name partner of a famous law firm (Infeld Daniels), Stanton Infeld (played by Malcolm McDowell) to shake things up after watching their court theatrics to win a case. Does the description sound vaguely familiar to anyone? Anyone? 

If you guessed Boston Legal, points to you...! Sadly, no prizes. 

I've not seen MPG in a show since Saved by the Bell. And I've only ever seen Breckin Meyer in the live action Garfield movies and perhaps heard his voice on Robot Chicken. That's about it for me. You would think that MPG would be the obvious choice for the crazier, worse womaniser than Meyer, but no. It's hard shifting that gear to see Breckin Meyer as the crazy one.

Things I like about Franklin & Bash

• Because it's on cable, the language that they get away with is... woah. Okay, I haven't heard anyone being called "scrotum face" or "dickwad" on TV for awhile. 
• Flash of bare ass in the pilot episode - not that I care, it's just something worth mentioning.
• It is a little funny and kind of filled the hole that Boston Legal left.
• The tee shirts that Kumail Nanjiani's agoraphobe character wears are hilarious.
• "Bro bono"

It is a legal dramedy for the dude set.

All Star Cycle of America's Next Top Model

Until The CW announced it recently, I had been wondering when they were going to do an all-star season of America's Next Top Model after 16 cycles. It was just a matter of time... and they had enough crazy contestants to pick from.

I can't help but wonder: aren't some of these women just too old for the modelling industry? You'll see what I mean when you see who's coming back for another shot at Top Model glory: 

Name: Shannon Stewart
Age: 27
Age you were the first time you were on ANTM: 18 (Cycle 1)

(Ah, the one who didn't want to pose nude. Let's see about that)

Name: Camille McDonald
Age: 33
Age you were the first time you were on ANTM: 26 (Cycle 2)
(Another one that did not want to pose nude. Right)

Name: Brittany Brower
Age: 29
Age you were the first time you were on ANTM: 22 (Cycle 4)
(Who?)

Name: Lisa D’Amato
Age: 30
Age you were the first time you were on ANTM: 24 (Cycle 5)
(Ah, the crazy drunk one) 

Name: Bre Scullark
Age: 26
Age you were the first time you were on ANTM: 19 (Cycle 5)
(Granola bar chick)

Name: Bianca Golden
Age: 22
Age you were the first time you were on ANTM: 18 (Cycle 9)

Name: Dominique Reighard
Age: 27
Age you were the first time you were on ANTM: 23 (Cycle 10)

Name: Isis King
Age: 25
Age you were the first time you were on ANTM: 22 (Cycle 11)
(The trans model. Should be interesting)

Name: Sheena Sakai
Age: 24
Age you were the first time you were on ANTM: 21 (cycle 11)

Name: Allison Harvard
Age: 23
Age you were the first time you were on ANTM: 20 (cycle 12)
(The one with the HUGE EYES; wouldn't mind if she made it further than she did on her cycle)

Name: Laura Kirkpatrick
Age: 22
Age you were the first time you were on ANTM: 19 (Cycle 13)
(Who?)

Name: Angelea Preston
Age: 25
Age you were the first time you were on ANTM: 22 (Cycle 14)
(Her? Interesting...)

Name: Kayla Ferrel
Age: 20
Age you were the first time you were on ANTM: 19 (Cycle 15)
(Ah, the lesbian. This is going to be interesting, the interaction with the uber religious ones)

Name: Alexandria Everett
Age: 22
Age you were the first time you were on ANTM: 21 (Cycle 16)
(Just when we thought we have seen the last of her, she's back?! WHY??!!)

Hmm... there are a couple of "I refuse to pose nude" contestants, which is going to be interesting since a nude photoshoot of some sort has been a show staple for a while now. Will they suck it up and do it or not? There's also several crazy ones (or edited to look as such on the show), which is also interesting. They seem to be going for most "memorable" (using the term mildly and loosely) contestants of their cycle. I remember most of them, but the rest I had to look up.

They also don't have space for everyone from each cycle as there's no one from Cycles 3 and 6 to 8. At least there's no winners season, that would make some interesting television - the best of the best cycle.

Project Runway's All Star Season

There comes a time in a reality competition show's lifespan where it needs a quick jumpstart, which comes in the form of an "all-star" season, which brings back the show's lovable losers...err, contestants from the past for another shot at the main prize which they didn't get the first time for some reason or another.

It has been announced that there'll be an all-star season of Project Runway, minus Heidi, Michael, Nina and Tim.... which is refreshing, I guess. I don't know. We'll have to see how that plays out. Instead, those roles will be taken up by Angela Lindvall as the All-Star host, Isaac Mizrahi, Georgina Chapman as judges with Marie Claire editor Joanna Coles taking on the mentor role. But at least it's a proper full season and not like some of the other ones where they played for charity or whatever.

That said, who's actually coming back? Well...

• Austin Scarlett: (New York, NY) Season 1, Fourth Place
• Kara Janx: (New York, NY) Season 2, Fourth Place
• Elisa Jimenez: (New York, NY) Season 4, Tenth Place
• Rami Kashou: (Los Angeles, CA) Season 4, Runner-up
• Sweet P/Kathleen Vaughn: (Pasadena, CA) Season 4, Fifth Place
• Jerell Scott: (New York, NY) Season 5, Fourth Place
• Kenley Collins: (Brooklyn, NY) Season 5, Second Runner-up
• Gordana Gehlhausen: (San Diego, CA) Season 6, Fourth Place
• Anthony Williams: Season 7, Fifth Place
• Mila Hermanovski: (Los Angeles, CA) Season 7, Second Runner-up
• April Johnston: (Savannah, GA) Season 8, Fifth Place
• Michael Costello: (Palm Springs, CA) Season 8, Fourth Place
• Mondo Guerra: (Denver, CO) Season 8, Runner-up

There's some crazy ones (if you've been following the show all these years, you know who I'm referring to), and I'm not just talking about design sense and personal taste. I'm glad that it's not the more obvious ones, like Daniel Vosovic or Santino. I'm also glad the winners are not on the list. But they could easily save that for another time, I think?

We all know that they'll be running this ad nauseum once it airs, but what are they competing for? 

"Prizes include an exclusive designer’s boutique in select Neiman Marcus stores and on NeimanMarcus.com, $100,000 dollars in technology and office space to help grow their business from HP and Intel, $100,000 cash from L’Oreal Paris, a feature spread in Marie Claire, for which he or she will serve as a guest editor for one year, and a sewing and embroidery studio provided by Brother International." 

Whether it is enough reason to come back for another shot, I don't know - but it must be for them to come back, no?

Related articles

• Here Are The Folks You'll See On Project Runway All Stars [Project Runway] (jezebel.com)

What I Think Will Happen in the New Season of The Good Wife

Here's a list of things I think will happen on the third season of The Good Wife, coming back in the fall. All the items sound pretty obvious, so I hope I'm wrong, or else I would be a little disappointed. That, or I seriously watch way too much TV.

• The Florricks will finally divorce. As much as they would like to do it quietly, but word will get out.
• Will-licia (dibs on the shipper name for Will and Alicia!) did actually hook up and their time in the expensive hotel room in the season two finale will be found out and be used against her by Peter at some point in the season.
• The Florrick kids will resent Will.
• Cary and Mr Big... errr, Peter will make life really hard for Alicia; Cary in the professional sense and Peter both professionally and personally.
• Alicia and Kalinda will eventually make up.

Major Crimes, The Closer spinoff

I don't know what took me so long to find out that TNT did order a spinoff of The Closer, with Mary McDonnell reprising her role as Capt Raydor, called Major Crimes, next year after the series finale of The Closer.

Frankly, I'm not sure if anyone would actually watch it as Mary McDonnell's character is seen as a villain of sorts on The Closer. Out of all the characters on the show to create a spinoff for, she's on the bottom of my list. I don't think I can see her in this, either.

So if Major Crimes is also set in the LAPD, how is it going to be any different from The Closer again, exactly? Wouldn't it be basically the same show minus Brenda Leigh Johnson? Are the other guys in the Major Crimes division staying? 

I might give Major Crimes a go if Flovenza was still in. It is still a-ways to go.

Related articles

• Mary McDonnell on 'The Closer' spin-off: 'It would be foolish ... to try to recreate such an iconic character' - EXCLUSIVE (insidetv.ew.com)

Napoleon Dynamite - The Animated Series

If you've seen a little movie called Napoleon Dynamite and have worn a Vote for Pedro shirt at some point, you might be glad to know that there will be an ANIMATED series on FOX in 2012. 

I have no idea what took so long for this to happen, but I think it just might work. Another bonus is that the original movie cast are also voicing their respective characters. Yay!

Here's a teaser trailer...

Creators/Executive Producers: Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess, Mike Scully

Voice Cast: Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite, Aaron Ruell as Kip, Efren Ramirez as Pedro, Tina Majorino as Deb, Sandy Martin as Grandma, Jon Gries as Uncle Rico, Diedrich Bader as Rex


Based on the hit film, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE is an animated series that follows the continuing adventures of America's most awesome awkward teenager and his quirky family and friends as they struggle to navigate small-town life in rural Idaho.

The original cast from the film -- Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Jon Gries and Diedrich Bader -- will voice their characters in the series, and many new characters will be added along the way.

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (Heder) is a 16-year-old boy convinced -- for no apparent reason -- that he is destined for greatness and blessed with unlimited "sweet abilities." He spends his days practicing ninja moves, drawing ligers, soul dancing and bragging about his "girlfriend in Oklahoma" whom nobody has ever seen. Napoleon's brother, KIP (Ruell), is an unemployed 32-year-old who lives at home and believes he would be an amazing catch for any girl who would respond to his online come-ons. The Dynamite brothers live with GRANDMA (Martin), a crusty woman who can often be found four-wheeling with her lady friends at the local sand dunes.

Napoleon's allies include PEDRO (Ramirez), his unflappable best friend who has recently been elected class president; and DEB (Majorino), an incredibly sweet girl who sees the good in Napoleon and dreams of someday being his wife. Napoleon's UNCLE RICO (Gries) lives out of an orange custom van, where he obsesses over his botched high school football career and dreams up ways to become rich and famous. Then there's REX KWON DO (Bader), a self-proclaimed martial-arts master who runs the local dojo.

Guest voices in the debut season include Jennifer Coolidge ("American Pie," "Legally Blonde"), Sam Rockwell ("Choke") and Jemaine Clement ("Flight of the Conchords").

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE is a 20th Century Fox Television production. The series is created and executive-produced by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess ("Napoleon Dynamite," "Nacho Libre"), along with Emmy Award-winning writer/producer Mike Scully (THE SIMPSONS, "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Parks & Recreation"). The animation house is Rough Draft Studios ("Futurama," "The Simpsons Movie").

Watch Rocco's Dinner Party to Meet Rocco

If you're a fan of Rocco DiSpirito and have been following his TV career, you would know that he's got a new show on Bravo called Rocco's Dinner Party.

To celebrate Rocco's Dinner Party, there is a "Watch and Win" competition on Facebook where one winner and their guest will get to meet Rocco himself and also to assist him during the NYC Food & Wine Festival in October. Prizes include a round trip airfare for two, two nights hotel stay in New York, and not forgetting tickets to the festival itself.

To participate, just tune in to Rocco's Dinner Party on Wednesday nights 10PM ET/9C, and answer three weekly questions about the episode in question. The more questions you answer, the higher the chances of winning! The contest goes live July 20th.

To find out more about the contest, click here.

Sadly, for legal reasons, the Watch and Win contest is for US residents only.

Ted Danson on CSI?

REALLY?

Okay, that is one bit of casting news I did not expect. That might have more to do with me not having seen him in a more dramatic role like, EVER. I haven't really seen him on TV since Cheers and Becker, and yes I know he was on Damages.

Other news sources are saying that he'll be replacing Laurence Fishburne, but his character will be as the new grave yard shift supervisor, which most fans will know is what Marg Helgenberger's character Catharine Willows been doing since Grissom left, who is also on her way out.

Man, I really thought George Eads would be the new supervisor after Catharine - seriously. Huh. That sucks.

Related articles

• Fishburne not going back to CSI (mytv-rants.blogspot.com)
• 'CSI' Season 12 Casts Ted Danson To Replace Laurence Fishburne (screenrant.com)

The Mentalist and ANZ

Okay, I know full well that Simon Baker is an Australian actor who happens to make a living (at the moment) playing an American on an American TV show (The Mentalist), which he does reasonably well. (Even you have to admit, no actual American man would actually ACT like Patrick Jane in real life). 

But Patrick Jane, spokesperson for an Australian bank? Seriously? At least Simon Baker had some of his actual Aussie accent in the Samsung TV ads (debatable), but he's in full Mentalist get up in these ads - American acent and all - Does he know something we don't? Is The Mentalist coming to an end? Is that why he's doing this? Wouldn't ANZ need permission from the show's big wigs to use the Patrick Jane character in this manner?

Here's a few of those TV spots.

 From using the Samsung phone in the Samsung ad to an iPhone in this ad? Ouch.

 Does anyone else think the use of different accents in this spot a little weird? Where are they supposed to be - America, or Australia? It's so non-specific.

 Am I the only one who thinks the whole thing is a little odd? The video below thinks so too, haha.

Adios, Good Eats

I don't know how it took me so long to find out that my favourite long-running Food Network show, Good Eats, has come to an end 249 episodes and (about) 12 years later. Never mind that I only discovered the show myself only five years ago, but I believe I caught up since then. 

This does explain why they can confidently only put out 3 Good Eats books (Early Years, Middle Years and Later Years), the last instalment due out in a few months. 

But to be fair to Alton Brown - he has been doing the show for over 10 years and with him so busy with other stuff like Iron Chef America and what not, he might need to move on. Besides, Good Eats reruns will be on the Food Network forever. 

Goodbye, Good Eats - it's been great knowing ya. 

*off to buy the books now*