Live! with Kelly, Saturday Night Live, and Seinfeld

Is 'Live!' missing Regis?

Personally, I found Regis Philbin a little irritating, and his banter with Kelly more obnoxious than cute. The running gag that he was the old guy who wasn't technologically savvy was getting a little tired.

Because of that, I'm not sad to see him go. I find Kelly Ripa less annoying, and better versed in popular culture. Since 'Live!' is really a pop culture, celebrity-obsessed show that's what is really important. Regis just didn't have that knowledge.

On a recent 'Saturday Night Live' they performed a skit that does an excellent job of highlighting the current issue that 'Live!' does have--who is going to replace Regis? While Kelly could probably do an excellent job by herself, the show's dynamic has always been based on the quirky relationship between its hosts. And the show has always been relatively successful. I doubt they have any desire to test the rocky waters of a single-host talk show (Ellen Degeneres kind of has that market covered). So, who will become Kelly's new co-host? Some of the recent temporary celebrity co-hosts have been better than others, but none of them are going to abandon their acting jobs to take a permanent position.

What do you think will happen? Who should become Kelly Ripa's new co-host?

 Evidence of a bad celebrity co-host? Jerry Seinfeld. I appreciate his comedy but he made the interviews all about himself, and didn't give the guests they were actually interviewing a chance to contribute.

Nathan Fillion on 'Live! with Kelly' 11/25/11

On Friday, November 25th Nathan Fillion of 'Castle' appeared on 'Live! with Kelly' (the new version of 'Live! with Regis and Kelly). He was interviewed by Kelly and Jerry O'Connell. Watch the interview here:

Great Thanksgiving-themed Episodes

This post should really be entitled, "Great 'Friends' Thanksgiving-themed Episodes" because, in all honesty, that's what it is.

Watching the 'Friends' Thanksgiving day episodes always get me in the perfect mood for the holidays, so I recommend you watch each one of them. In order. Come on, you have an entire night before it's time to start frantically preparing turkey, right?

Season 1: "The One Where Underdog Got Away" (S1Ep9)

Season 2: "The One with the List" (S2Ep8)
Season 3: "The One with the Football (S3Ep9)
Season 4: "The One with Chandler in a Box" (S4Ep8)
Season 5: "The One with All the Thanksgivings" (S5Ep8)
Season 6: "The One Where Ross Got High" (S6Ep8)
Season 7: "The One Where Chandler Doesn't Like Dogs" (S7Ep8)
Season 8: "The One with the Rumor" (S8Ep9)
Season 9: "The One with Rachel's Other Sister" (S9Ep8)

Season 10: "The One with the Late Thanksgiving" (S10Ep8)

'Rizzoli & Isles' Returns!

As a Thanksgiving gift for you all, 'Rizzoli & Isles' is returning this coming Monday (11/28).

How excited are you? This excited?

HIMYM: Will Robin and Kevin break up? When?

Will Robin and Kevin break up? Yes. Mainly because they have to. In a contractually obligated sort of way.

Kal Penn, who plays Kevin on 'How I Met Your Mother', signed on for an eight-episode arc. That's not to say he won't be invited back in the future, but it seems unlikely that he'll commit to another long arc.

Remember when Penn first appeared on 'HIMYM'? It was in the fourth episode of the current season, "The Stinson Missile Crisis" (S7Ep4). He has appeared in almost every single episode since then*, for a total of six episodes. So, by the power of math (and Penn's contract) that means Kevin will only be sticking around for two more episodes.

So, does it matter if Kevin is the baby's father? Okay. Yes. It matters a little bit. But will potential parenthood mean that Kevin will be sticking around? I doubt it. Especially since Penn is currently developing a new workplace comedy for NBC. Why settle for guest starring roles when you can be the next Tina Fey?

*Kal Penn did not appear in "The Slutty Pumpkin Returns" (S7Ep8) or "The Rebound Girl" (S7Ep11)

Lets Talk About: Zooey Deschanel

Okay, as many of you know I have been annoyed by Zooey Deschanel in the past. And no, I'm not talking about her as a person. I don't know her, and I'm not about to trash someone I've never met. I've been annoyed by many of the characters she plays, and by aspects of her celebrity persona.

Despite what I once said about 'New Girl', I have to admit that the show is improving. I still don't think it's comedic genius, but when you hold it up next to other new shows it looks pretty darn good. Jess is still a little bit too doe-eyed, little-girl attired, cutesy hipster for me but she's starting to have an actual personality, so I'm more okay with it. Plus, I actually laughed out loud during parts of "Thanksgiving" (S1Ep6) so I have to concede something.

Jake Johnson is the real reason why I'm enjoying the show more. He does a great job of making the character of Nick seem like a real guy. While Schmidt (Max Greenfield) and Winston (Lamorne Morris) are more caricatures (and no, I'm not blaming the actors, but the writing, and maybe even the necessity of plot), Nick is like a real guy who could be hanging around in an apartment. Also, Johnson and Deschanel have great chemistry, which I'm sure will eventually be used by the showrunners in some sort of plot twist. Whether it is a Ross/Rachel scenario, or an actual long-term relationship remains to be seen (though my best guess is they'll use the 'Friends' trope).

My admiration for Zooey Deschanel has also increased because I'm secretly (Guess it's out of the bag now, huh?) obsessed with her band, 'She and Him'. Plus, I think the way that she dealt with Abby Elliott's impression of her on 'Saturday Night Live' was classy.

Plus, I finally get how to defrost a turkey

'HIMYM': "Tick Tick Tick" and "The Rebound Girl" reviewed

'How I Met Your Mother' has really been pulling on our heart strings recently. It's almost as though they've decided to switch genres.

Spoilers from episode airing Nov. 21st, 2011 

Last week's episode "Tick Tick Tick..." (S7Ep10) was the most depressing episode of 'HIMYM' that I have ever seen. It opened with Barney and Robin in bed together, both grappling with the fact that they'd cheated on their significant others. Throughout the episode they discussed what this meant to them: Were they destined to be together? Was it all a big mistake? By the end of the episode Barney had ended his first ever serious relationship (on the very day he was supposed to meet her parents!) and wanted to get together with Robin. Robin, despite initially agreeing, had a change of heart when her boyfriend said "I love you" for the first time. The episode ended with the series' saddest scene ever: Barney removing rose petals from Robin's bed, and blowing out candles that he had set up all over her room, before she came home. The other story line, featuring Ted and Marshall high at a concert and a pregnant Lily craving nachos was not enough to distract from the pain.

It's unclear how much time in the 'HIMYM' world passed between last week's episode and the one that aired tonight...but I'm hoping for a couple of weeks at least. If you saw it you'll probably guess why.

"The Rebound Girl" (S7Ep11) featured a lonely Ted and a still emotionally distraught Barney. They drunkenly decided that it would be a good idea to adopt a baby and raise her together. This storyline continued throughout the episode--with Barney being the one to insist that it really was a good idea, and that he really did want a baby. Robin, meanwhile, was the center of the other storyline. She was devastated when Lily and Marshall told her that they were going to move to Long Island to the house that Lily's grandparents had given them. Her anxiety was present throughout the episode, and I think most viewers assumed it was because she felt that everything was changing...including her friendship with Barney, which had presumably been damaged when she rejected him and stayed with her boyfriend. Despite Robin's anxiety and Barney's obsessive behavior  this was a much, much funnier episode than last week's. The jokes about Lily and Marshall's tiny apartment, the running gag that Robin couldn't turn around without breaking a lamp, and the appearance of a real-live baby helped to liven the mood.

Midway though the episode a distraught Robin locked herself into the bathroom at the Long Island house, declaring that she would not come out until Marshall and Lily promised not to move. Although she refused to open the door, she did end up opening the bathroom window numerous times to receive a cheese plate, have a conversation through the window with Marshall, and finally to let Barney climb through. He cautiously asked her if they could still be friends (leaving us to wonder, how much time had passed since last week's episode? Was this the first time they had seen each other since she chose her boyfriend over him?), and then proceed to tell her about the baby plan, leaving out the part where it was all his idea, and placing the 'blame' on Ted. Robin finally said something that explained her odd behavior throughout the episode: "I'm pregnant".

So, seriously, how much time has passed? Is it possible that Barney is the father? And if he isn't the father will Robin's current boyfriend want a baby? Based on Barney's behavior throughout the episode it's pretty clear that he would have no problem raising another man's child as his own and that he is still in love with Robin.

And, finally, was anyone else bothered by the similarities between Brennan's declaration to Booth at the end of last season of 'Bones' and this episode's ending?
 
On 'Bones': Brennan, "I'm pregnant. And you're the father." Cut to black.
On 'HIMYM': Robin, "I'm pregnant." Cut to black.

Ahh mid-season hiatus, you will be the death of me. Hopefully we'll find out what happens when new episodes start airing on December 5th. But, knowing how much 'HIMYM' likes to drag out storylines (who is the mother? And who is Barney marrying?) I'm wondering how long it will take before the writers choose to tell us anything about Robin's pregnancy.

Back when Hannigan & Smulders were really pregnant. Boy, this storyline would been easier then...

Nathan Fillion: Twitter, New York, & Interviews

Apparently Nathan Fillion's twitter is useful!

Fillion announced yesterday that he was traveling to New York to attend premieres and promote his show ('Castle') on morning shows:

NathanFillion Nathan Fillion

What's that, NY? You miss me? You wanna do what? Premieres and morning shows? I'm in!

Unfortunately Fillion didn't announce which morning shows...but that's okay, because I did the research for you.

On Friday (11/25), otherwise known as the day after Thanksgiving, Fillion will be making an appearance on 'Live with Regis and Kelly!'. Which, weirdly, will no longer have Regis (his final show is 11/18).

Thanks to the commenter who pointed out that Fillion will also be appearing on 'Good Morning America' on Monday (Nov. 21st). The show airs on ABC  and begins at 7 am.

I'm not sure what else he's appearing on, since he doesn't appear to be on any late night show schedules. If you have an idea, be sure to let me know!

Now, I assumed that since 'Castle' wasn't filming (how ever would they film without Fillion?!) that meant that Stana Katic would also be doing interviews. And I was right. Here's Katic on 'The Talk' (first airing 11/17):

FOX shows on Hulu: Questionable Marketing

Hulu is many things: a way to watch free shows, an introduction to plot-points you may have missed during your busy week, and a marketing tool for TV networks and cable companies.

Hulu allows viewers to experience television's newest shows even if they missed them the first time. It's a way to suck in new viewers, or maintain current viewers, by allowing them to catch-up. It's also a way to reduce illegal downloads of shows, while still retaining some financial advantage (after all, we all know Hulu advertises).

Several of the networks are using Hulu in the best way possible: they are releasing shows within 24-hours of their air date. This allows those of us with work, with children, with busy lives, to catch-up when we miss an episode. Many of us would like to watch our favorite shows live but we can't, and Hulu is a legal alternative. Releasing a new episode within 24 (or even 48) hours gives viewers an opportunity to find time in their lives to watch the episode they missed before it is time for the next new episode to air. This increases the likelihood that they will watch the next episode live. Which is, presumably, the ultimate goal of the networks: to have the maximum number of viewers.

FOX is currently making a big mistake. While their new episodes do appear on Hulu almost immediately after airing, they are only available to Hulu Plus members (those people who pay a fee to access Hulu content). These episodes do eventually appear for free, but not until after the next new episode has aired. For many of FOX's shows this is doing more harm than good.

For instance, last week I missed an episode of 'House', a show that I often choose to watch live. I knew that 'House' aired on Mondays on FOX, so I went on Hulu Sunday night to catch-up. Because 'House' is largely plot-driven, missing an episode can be confusing. The previous week's episode of 'House' was still only available to Hulu Plus members--a full six days after airing. Guess when it did become free and available? This morning. After the newest episode of 'House' had aired. Guess who didn't watch 'House' live last night?

Sure I could continue to watch things a week behind, and as a viewer I wouldn't be too upset. But as a network FOX should be. I could easily become one less viewer who's watching their TV show live. And of course there's the separate issue: if content isn't available for free on Hulu there are plenty of other sites where a viewer can easily watch a show they missed. Everyone knows that. And using those sites is definitely not financially beneficial to the networks.

I just double-checked to make sure this wasn't a flux. It isn't. New Girl aired last Tuesday and it still isn't available for free on Hulu Plus. There's a new episode premiering tonight.