Fall TV

Because I know you were waiting with baited breath, here are the brilliant programs I'm watching this fall:

• Heroes: Not as good as last season, but hopefully I'll at least be able to keep up with it. Plus, Milo Ventimiglia is HOT.
• Prison Break: Finally caught up with this show. And they're back in jail. Hopefully they break out again.
• Nip/Tuck: The show got a facelift when Christian & Shawn moved to LA. Well they had to do something after cancelling Dirt
• Scrubs: It's the last season, I have to watch.
• Private Practice: The show is slowly growing on me. If Taye Diggs would just take his shirt off, I'd be hooked.
• Project Runway: Determined to FINALLY keep up with this show.
• Sarah Silverman Program: She's back, and as offensive as ever.
• Gossip Girl: Located and shot in my neighborhood, this is the next OC I've been waiting for. Now if they would just cast me as a series regular, we'd be in business.
• Grey's Anatomy: Will Izzie and George stay together or won't they? I don't know, but whatever the outcome, I hope it ends with Meredith dying a slow, painful death.
• Ugly Betty: Best show ever!
• The Office: Finally catching on to this one, it can get so awkward it's painful to watch. But I do anyway.
• Desperate Housewives: Haven't watched this show in two years, yet I can still follow it? Brilliant writing or trashy soap drama? My guess is a little bit of both.
• Brothers & Sisters: My favorite of them all, if they would just make it a little less depressing!

PATTI LUPONE?!

Has anyone else realized that Patti Lupone was the mother on Life Goes On??!!??

Grey's Anatomy vs. Private Practice--Which Was Worse?

Ooooh, Grey’s Anatomy is gonna be weird this season. With the interns now the head honchos, George re-doing his residency, and a whole new slew of cast members (where was I when they were holding auditions?), the show has majorly changed—and hopefully not for the worse.
In the season premiere, not a whole lot went on…George complained about and made up excuses for not passing his exam, Meredith and Derek attempted to negotiate their relationship (what else is new?), Callie struggled as the new Chief of Surgery (with no help from Bailey), and Izzie saved a deer. Big woop.
The only saving grace of the episode came at the very end, when George showed up on Izzie’s doorstep and uttered the words, “I love you too.” God, pull my heart out and operate it, why doncha? My desire for George and Izzie to be together (which is weird for T.R. and Katherine since they’re besties) almost overshadows the fact that George is going to break Callie’s heart. My prediction: Callie will make George’s life a living hell, George & Izzie will struggle to maintain their relationship with Callie lurking, their status as student and boss, and not to mention their friends, and things will get really awkward when they break up. Isn’t this supposed to be a medical show?
Then there’s Private Practice, Kate Walsh’s spinoff from Grey’s. Either Shonda Rimes thought Walsh had the strongest character on the show or everyone was sick of hearing about the Derek-Meredith-Addison triangle. Regardless, and it pains me to say this because of my love for Taye Diggs, Audra McDonald and Tim Daly, the result is a cheap imitation of Grey’s that manages to pin itself up against a wall, limited by its very source material. I’m talking family planning, people. It is clear from the pilot that all of the medical story lines (as well as undercutting angsty character plots) are going to center around children, family, birth. Doesn’t that severly limit the material for the show? Call me crazy, but I think a spin-off is already limiting in its source material, and Private Practice is managing to do so even more. We’ll see how successful this show is. At least ABC was smart enough to put it on a different night from Grey’s, although it could possibly use the ratings boost that come from the Ugly Betty-Grey’s Anatomy powerhouse.

2007 Emmy's Recap

Since most of America decided to watch FOOTBALL instead of the Emmy’s (it happens once a year people, would it kill you to watch it?), let me sum the evening up…I got most of the categories wrong (apparently my mind is more in tune with Tony voters than Emmy voters. Who knew? Everyone, that’s who). The show was the first ever to be presented ‘in the round’ (arena-style, with audiences on all sides of the stage). They mae it seem like they were going to be rotating the angle that the awards were presented, but they failed to do so, making the cast of Ugly Betty not so honored ‘just to be nominated.’ In case you’re not one of the tens of people who watched the show, allow me to sum up the ceremony through the awards (the important ones, that is):

Best Drama: Sopranos (would have been a bit humiliating if Heroes beat them out after that tribute starring the 2nd national touring company of Jersey Boys, eh? I didn’t know what was cheesier, the look that Jarrod Spector (Frankie Valli) gave Drew Gehling (Bob Gaudio) towards the finale, or the four members of the Soprano family’s grand entrance through the floor at the end)

Best Comedy: 30 Rock (The next day I added the first season of this show to my Blockbuster Online queue. Just because Tina Fey thanked the “dozens and dozens of fans who watch this show” in her speech).

Best Leading Actor (Drama): James Spader, Boston Legal (Yeah, if I played the same role for 10 years on two different series, I’d bet I’d be a good actor, too.)
Best Leading Actress (Drama): Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters (I’m over the moon that she won. The producers of the awards, however, who had to censor her politically charged rant during her acceptance speech, were not so ecstatic.)

Best Leading Actor (Comedy): Ricky Gervais, Extras (I thought he was in The Riches, which just goes to show how much I know about the actor and the television show. But, like 30 Rock, it is now in my Blockbuster queue).

Best Leading Actress (Comedy): America Ferrera, Ugly Betty (she’s amazing and I love her in every way. She deserved the award tenfold, and if you don’t watch this show you need to start!)

Best Supporting Actor (Drama): Terry O’Quinn, Lost (I think of his acting like I thought of his neon pink silk shirt and black sequined tie…cheesy and over-the-top. But it’s about time someone from the show was recognized, even if I thought it should be Michael Emerson, who plays Ben.)

Best Supporting Actress (Drama): Katherine Heigl, Grey’s Anatomy (Don’t know who I could have thought otherwise, this underdog of Grey’s just became a major leading lady!)

Best Supporting Actor (Comedy): Jeremy Piven, Entourage (I guess he’s good on the show, but I still feel like he doesn’t have to try too hard to pull off ‘sleazy’ on the show.)

Best Supporting Actress (Comedy): Jamie Pressley, My Name Is Earl (She thanked her boyfriend for the gift of her son. Because he’s, (said in a faint, exasperated whisper) “the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” I’m just glad the camera pulled away before they both ripped off their clothes and gave the audience the show they’d been waiting for all evening).

Helen Mirren (who I swear rolls out of bed and she wins an award for it) won Best Actress in a miniseries (which I didn’t even know she did), and some guy from Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee who gave a boring speech won the Actor award for the same category.

But perhaps the biggest award of the night was that for Hoakiest Host of an Awards Show, which was given to Ryan Seacrest by, well, everyone but him. Fueled by jokes about his sexuality (and his past with Terri Hatcher) that only he thought were funny, his failed attempts at singing, goofy costumes that nobody thought were funny, and lackluster jokes earned him the prestigious award. “Seacrest Out,” indeed.

2007 Emmy Predictions

Here are my official predictions for the 2007 Emmy's!

Best Drama Series:
Boston Legal
Grey's Anatomy
House
Heroes
Sopranos

What Will Win: Sopranos
What Should Win: Heroes

While I'm not 100% positive, I'm pretty sure that Sopranos has one best series at least once in its run. And while it is custom and nice manners to grant an exiting show one last win, Heroes was the breakout show of the season. We'll see which direction the voters go.

Best Comedy Series:
Entourage
The Office
30 Rock
Two and a Half Men
Ugly Betty

Who Will Win: 30 Rock
Who Should Win: Ugly Betty

I'm a bit biased here because I've never watched 30 Rock, but I think it is the "intellectual" favorite of the season so I wouldn't be surprised if it took the prize. But Ugly Betty has the total package and is such an endearing show. It is so deserving of tons of awards, and this one would be the icing on the cake.

Best Leading Actor in a Drama:
James Gandolfini (Sopranos)
Hugh Laurie (House)
Denis Leary (Rescue Me)
James Spader (Boston Legal)
Kiefer Sutherland (24)

Who Will Win: James Gandolfini
Who Should Win: James Gandolfini

He deserves it.

Best Leading Actress in a Drama:
Patricia Arquette (Medium)
Minnie Driver (The Riches)
Edie Falco (Sopranos)
Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters)
Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU)

Who Will Win: Edie Falco
Who Should Win: Sally Field

Edie Falco went through a lot with her last season of the show, including overcoming cancer, causing the show to postpone the taping of its final season. As the matriarch of The Sopranos, she dealt with her fair share of drama in the show, and many voters may want to give her this last send-off. But anyone who has seen Sally Field in Brothers & Sisters will know the feeling of having their helt melt from her performance every week.

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama:
William Shatner (Boston Legal)
T.R. Knight (Grey's Anatomy)
Masi Oka (Heroes)
Terry O'Quinn (Lost)
Michael Emerson (Lost)
Michael Imperioli (Sopranos)

Who Will Win: Michael Emerson
Who Should Win: Michael Emerson

Everyone in this category could take the prize, but Michael Emerson as Ben on Lost is so above and beyond the best part of that show it is not even funny. I hope they recognize him for turning the show around and transforming a tiny guest starring role into a series regular and completely changing the course of show.

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama:
Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters)
Sandra Oh (Grey's Anatomy)
Chandra Wilson (Grey's Anatomy)
Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy)
Lorraine Bracco (Sopranos)
Aida Torturro (Sopranos)

Who Will Win: Lorraine Bracco
Who Should Win: Katherine Heigl

Bracco plays Tony's psychiatrist on The Sopranos, and from what I understand she greatly carried along the story and character development in the show. But Heigl's plot tracks influenced Grey's immensely this season, and her performances flourished on the show. She is greatly deserving of the award, but her rookie status among the other nominees could play against her.

Best Leading Actor in a Comedy
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Steve Carrell (The Office)
Ricky Gervais (The Riches)
Tony Shalhoub (Monk)
Charlie Sheen (Two and a Half Men)

Who Will Win: Alec Baldwin
Who Should Win: Steve Carrell

I know he's won before, but Carrell is a comedic genius who carries the show and whose performances and creativity stretch far beyond the TV world. That said, since it is a TV awards ceremony, Alec Baldwin's buzz is deafening, and I believe he will be recognized for his contribution to the success of 30 Rock.

Best Leading Actress in a Comedy:
American Ferrera (Ugly Betty)
Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives)
Julia Louis-Dreyfuss (New Adventures of Old Christine)
Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds)

Who Will Win: Tina Fey
Who Should Win: America Ferrera

Tina Fey's creative credits and acting chops on 30 Rock should earn her her first award. But nothing compares to Ferrera's Betty. She carries the show and she deserves more recognition than a Golden Globe. I guess it doesn't have to be this year, but boy should it.

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy:
Jeremy Piven (Entourage)
Kevin Dillon (Entourage)
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
Rainn Wilson (The Office)
Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men)

Who will win: Rainn Wilson
Who Should Win: Rainn Wilson

I'm a bit confused as to why Jon Cryer gets a supporting credit and Charlie Sheen gets a leading credit, but I don't think he's going to win so whatever. Rainn Wilson compliments Steve Carrell wonderfully, and his neurotic character has developed so much since the show's inception. It's time for his prize.

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Jamie Pressley (My Name Is Earl)
Jenna Fischer (The Office)
Conchata Ferrell (Two and a Half Men)
Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty)
Elizabeth Perkins (Weeds)

Who Will Win: Jamie Pressley
Who Should Win: Elizabeth Perkins

Jamie Pressley has a had a big year, and she continues to be a strong leading player in the show. Perkins' character on Weeds is amazing and deserves an award, but the show's controversial material might stand in her way.

Mission: Man Band is my mission to not watch

I was kind of excited about the prospect of this reality show on VH1: Four D-Listed former boy band members getting a second chance at a(nother) big break. I watched two episodes of this show, and I was left with nothing but a squirming feeling that came from being annoyed and uncomfortable, not the other kind of squirming I usually get when I think about Jeff Timmons or boy bands in general.

First off, in true boy band form (a la O-Town), they all live in a house together. In Miami. Tough life. Secondly, they have this annoying Manager hired by the network that they call Miss Kate. She pretty much does not do anything other than cause drama within the group and screw up her job, and their future at forming a successful 'man band.'

Then there are the guys. Each legends in their own right (pop music speaking), but within the show they are portrayed as washed up has beens with tons of talent but a tarnished reputation and very few chances of rising to the top like their former band mates who have already taken off (JT, Nick Lachey, etc.).

Bryan Abrams used to be in Color Me Badd, but then the band broke up and nobody has heard much from any of them since. To be perfectly honest, I am not familiar with Color Me Badd or any of its bandmates, so Abrams is kind of lost on me here. He has an amazing voice that shines through in his new group's mediocre-at-best musical performances. Other than that, his role on the show comprises of having a paranoid wife who is paranoid that he is going to fall into the galivanting, womanizing ways of some of his fellow bandmates.

You may not recognize this guy because you can't see the top of his head. Imagine the top of a pineapple sitting on top of this guy's head, and you may suddenly recognize him as Chris Kirkpatrick from *NSync. Since being one of the two members to fade into the background of the most popular boy band of the 90's, Chris started a new group (that failed), as well as voiced a cartoon character and launched an ugly clothing line. On the show, he serves as the ringleader of the group (which is funny because of his *NSync status as the one singing the high harmonies in the background), and pretty much makes rude comments about women and argues incessantly with Miss Kate. Oh yeah, and also being the most annoying one on the show.

Ah, Jeff Timmons. The sweet sounding hunk of a crooner who founded the hottest boyband to come out of the '90's, 98 Degrees. Ah, 98 Degrees. Put Jeff Timmons and Nick & Drew Lachey together and I don't care what happens, I'll salivate. But after Nick's solo career "took off" (and by that I mean since Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica), Jeff struggled to get ahead with his own solo career. Throw in the fact that he's married and has a daughter, and an incident with a DUI in Florida a few years ago, and the poor guy had a few rough years. On the show, of course he shows off his impressively strong vocals, but other than that he just complains about how embarrassing it is to be on a show where they kind of make fools of themselves and he doesn't want to fail with the band. He's kind of the whiny paranoid one on the show. He's Tonya from The Real World: Chicago, if you will.



Rich Korbin was in LFO. Apparently he likes girls that wear Abercrombie & Fitch. He'd take 'em if he had one wish. The group kind of disappeared after only one album (and I think it was for the best, don't you?). Rich was the rapper of the group, and he carries this over into the new group. Other than lukewarm 'skillz,' he also brings a chauvanistic pig quality to the show that rivals Chris's, as well as the emotional. He's a leukemia survivor and frequently brings it up, if for nothing else than to get the ladies's attention.

So far they've had two appearances in Miami nightclubs, crooning tunes with hot female backup dancers who do all the work for them. Their music sounds exactly like something that might be created by their former groups, leaving them looking awkward and their image tired and tainted. Better luck next time guys. Oh, I hope there won't be a next time...

Britney does Vegas...sorta

I am not ashamed to admit that I have Britney's Live From Las Vegas show on DVD. Not the trashy one where she masturbates onstage that was shown on Showtime. I have the classy HBO concert on DVD. When she was big (but not overweight). And hot (but not passing out).

Now she has done Vegas in a different way...attempting to turn her career back around and stage her big comeback by opening the MTV VMA's.

Her appearance was doomed from the start. I don't really understand what MTV was going for, but they basically had some of today's biggest artists making fun of her on the side while she was performing. Not only was this distracting, but also not a good sign of what the performance was ACTUALLY like, not just how it played on television.

Everyone is saying she looked fat in her skimpy outfit. She did not look fat. She looked healthy and normal. But unfortunately for Britney, that meants looking overweight.

And um, I thought her dancers were good.

Isaiah Washington: Homophobe or Contradition Addict?

I'd say both.

Isaiah Washington recently did an interview with Larry King where he finally 'came clean' to America about what really happened on the set of Grey's Anatomy. If you ask me, his story only got dirtier.

The saddest thing about this whole ordeal is not that T.R. Knight was outed by the gossip surrounding the situation, but that he contradicted himself and his previous excuses/stories on MULTIPLE occasions during the interview.

By coming on Larry King and changing his story YET again, Washington is only fanning the fire of deception, scandal, and gossip surrounding his firing from the show, and his tarnished reputation as a homophobe with anger management issues!

Ok, check out these ridiculous highlights of the interview. Although he "loves Patrick Dempsey," Washington throws him under the bus on MULTIPLE occasions, blaming him for being late to the set and raising his voice at Washington and instigating their entire argument. Isaiah, the definition of professionalism and purity (because he didn't, you know, utter a homophobic slur not once but TWICE, no), claims that the first time he used the f-word he was referring to himself (and let me point out here that uttering "faggot" in a way that is not directed toward a homosexual is almost as bad), and is baffled as to how T.R. Knight came in to the picture at all. Apparently, in Isaiah's book, "faggot" does not refer to homosexuals negatively, but rather means someone who is weak and disrespected. Well, if that's the case, then I think he is one!

So he calls Dempsey unprofessional and Knight a liar, and he is the victim. And he didn't want to turn the situation into a race issue, but then refers to Chanda Rimes (creator) as an African American woman who fell into the trap of the studio execs. Um, how is that not a race issue?

I'll give this to the man: He had his side of the story down very clearly. But when King would throw a curve ball (the few that he ever does throw), Washington faltered and his true colors came through again. Referring to his stint in rehab and PSA for GLAAD as media stunts wished upon by Disney and ABC, and delivering vague answers to questions such as "Why is it acceptable to use the f-word at all, in any context?" only weaken his argument and his attempt to redeem his reputation.

He may be an amazing actor, and he may have been misrepresented and not entirely to blame for the way the situation turned out, but to place the blame on the blow-up on Patrick Dempsey, and to say that T.R. Knight should have been fired for his misrepresented behavior instead of him is just disgusting to me. And by attempting to clear his name and point fingers to other people involved, Washington is only dwelling on the subject and is not doing what he should be doing, which is lay low for a while and try to make a comeback in a few years. He and Mel Gibson should get together and talk things out. In a controlled environment. With no booze. And they should both be on time.

Real World: Reunited, Drama Still Intact

MTV is currently airing The Real World Reunited: Las Vegas. The entire cast has their antics taped as they spend two weeks back in the same suite where they were for 4 months. Hate to say it, but things are pretty much the same. Arissa's still a bitch. Frank is still stupid. Trishelle is still a drama queen glam girl. Alton & Irulan are still fighting. Steven is still inarticulate.

The only change is that Brynn, that cute 20 year old go-go dancer, is now married with two kids. She looks good, her hubby looks even better, and her kids are the cutest things in the world. But where's the drama?? She breast feeds and burps. Boring.

Seriously though, I can't stand these people. I couldn't stand them then, can't stand them now. Frank is looking to make up for lost time in Vegas and get blacked out drunk and sleep with a different girl every night. These words actually came out of his mouth on the last episode:

• "That's what you do--get drunk in a bar, make out with an ugly girl and forget her name the next day."
• "If we never see each other again, you have a great ass."

Hard to believe half these people went to grad school. Check out the before and after:

DO any of them look that different??

Audra McDonald's medical issues

Audra McDonald has replaced Merrin Dungey in Kate Walsh's Grey's Anatomy spinoff, Private Practice. I have mixed feelings about this because while I am in LOVE with Audra, Merrin Dungey is so fun and amazing. I loved her in Alias, and yes I will admit it, Summerland. Hopefully she backed out because she got a better offer...they should have canned Chris Lowell as the 'hot' secretary who surfs on his lunch breaks (upon second look, not that hot). I guess now I will actually have to watch this show. I have to support every theater star who gets a gig on TV (even if it means watching an awful FOX fake sitcom starring Parker Posey and Michael Arden...as a straight man. I'm not kidding).

I have grown to hate this guy...

Isaiah Washington is now speaking out about being fired from Grey's Anatomy and is blaming T.R. Knight for blowing the situation out of proportion and insinuating that the homophobic slur Washington used to describe him was uttered in a derogatory manner.

Washington admits that he used the term during a disagreement with co-star Patrick Dempsey, but that he apologized and everyone went back to work. He claims he was not fired for making derogatory slurs, and claims he is not angry, but disappointed rather.

I think it's pretty safe to assume if you're considering filing a lawsuit, you're angry. He is trying to clear his name, but I feel he is only hurting his career more by dwelling on the subject. He has said in past interviews that he has multiple offers pending, so why doesn't he lay low for a few months and take some of those people up on his offer? Is he trying to get back on the show?

He also said in this interview that ABC fired the wrong guy. Is that because he is going to fight back, or was there someone else who got fired in his place? I don't care what his intentions were in using the word the first time (and apologizing apparently didn't do enough, because he uttered the slur again a few weeks later at the Golden Globes on national television), or even the second time, there is a certain conduct that is acceptable in the workplace. I think it's interesting that everyone on that show refers to their roles as a 'job.' Well if that's how Washington wants to look at it, he should be fired for even uttering the word, and having a disagreement with Dempsey. Word!

Why Washington was fired from Grey's

From http://www.cnn.com:

Starring on one of TV's hottest series is an actor's dream, and Isaiah Washington fought hard to keep his role as Dr. Preston Burke on "Grey's Anatomy."
But after twice using an anti-gay slur, Washington was doomed to lose the biggest role of his career because of timing, a track record of volatile behavior and pressure within the industry.
While series creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes wept when she got on the phone last Thursday to tell Washington he was out, the decision was a coolly calculated move by Rhimes' bosses at the network and ABC Television Studios.
His "pattern of behavior" represented a potential liability that was too much risk for the Walt Disney Co.-owned companies, a source close to the production said. The source was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The operation to remove Washington, 43, was quick and neat. The studio declined to exercise his contract option for another season -- Washington would have earned about $2.7 million in salary -- and he was dumped shortly after the May finale.
With Dr. Burke conveniently written out of the show in the last episode, the move had to have been planned for some time.
The decision was made by executives including ABC Studios President Mark Pedowitz, ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson and Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. ABC and the studio declined comment this week, but Washington said he was "saddened" by the outcome.
"I can only apologize so many times. I can only accept so much responsibility," he told EW.com in an interview published Wednesday. "... Isaiah will go on and do what I love to do. And I have to go about the business of letting people know what's written about me is not the truth." (Read Washington's side of the story)
Gay rights leader Neil G. Giuliano said Washington was caught up in changing attitudes toward anti-gay vitriol -- the same backlash felt by Ann Coulter after she derided John Edwards with the same f-word Washington employed.
"All of this is crescendoing, with people saying, 'Enough is enough,' " said Giuliano, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
Hollywood's image as an unbiased haven for gays is overstated, Giuliano said. But he did field outraged calls from producers, writers and actors -- both gay and straight -- after Washington's remarks. Giuliano said he told the callers to make waves at the networks, and "I have good reason to believe most of those folks, who are not shy, made their feelings known."
One black gay activist sees the lobbying far differently. Jasmyne Cannick, a friend of Washington's, said the case reflected a division between Hollywood's powerful white gays and lesbians and those who are minorities.
"The ones calling for (Washington's) head are what I refer to as the gay Mafia," Cannick said.
There may have been more behind the decision than intolerant language. Bryan Birge, who was working as a costumer in 1997 on the police drama "High Incident," said Washington erupted in anger on the set and then grabbed him after Birge asked him to remove a magazine from his pocket for an upcoming scene.
"It was bizarre," Birge told The Associated Press. "The guy is less than easy to be around."
Washington, a Houston native who served in the Air Force, had campaigned vigorously to redeem his image. He apologized publicly, to his colleagues and to GLAAD. He filmed a public service announcement for GLAAD and the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network. He made a publicly announced donation to a favorite cause, help for the African nation of Sierra Leone.
"We did everything that was asked of us" by ABC, said his publicist, Howard Bragman.
Washington was undone by a spat last October with co-star Patrick Dempsey in which he used the epithet to refer to fellow cast member T.R. Knight. Washington issued a public apology for his behavior and "unfortunate" use of words, and media attention waned.
But in January, Washington reignited the furor during a backstage interview at the Golden Globes in which he denied having used the slur, then uttered it again.
Gay rights groups that had demanded Washington apologize say they didn't seek his firing and gained nothing by it. Those who might have jumped to his defense, whether co-stars or those taking interest in the plight of a black actor, were silent or measured in their remarks.
"If he's being let go because of that incident, I'm not sure the punishment fits the crime," said Vic Bullock, executive director of the Hollywood bureau of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The NAACP has asked ABC for "further clarity," Bullock said.
Tavis Smiley, the national TV and radio talk-show host and author, said Washington's words cut too deep.
"As a society we are still grappling with the notion of forgiveness and redemption," Smiley said in an e-mailed comment. "What this incident shows us, not unlike the Don Imus matter, is there is some pain so deep, that an apology, no matter how sincere, just doesn't suffice."

I find it very interesting that Washington seems to be making himself out to be the victim here, saying "I can only apologize so many times, I can only go on and accept so much responsibility." It is a true judgment of his character to see that he said these things, leading me to believe that the only reason he apologized, went to therapy, and released the PSA with GLAAD is because he was trying to keep his job, not because he acknowledged he had a problem. He'll be missing that $2.7 million paycheck, no doubt.

Isaiah (finally) gets the boot!

Isaiah Washington was officially released from his contract with Grey's Anatomy on Friday. The actor was informed by the show's creator that his contract would not be renewed. The speculation is that he was fired for his behavior, particularly surrounding his controversial homophobic slurs about co-star T.R. Knight

I think this is a long time coming. In fact, I think the writers purposefully had to leave his and T.R. Knight's plotlines open because the studio knew they would have to deal with this issue sooner or later, and chose to finish out the season instead of nipping it in the bud. On the show, Washington's Dr. Burke left his fiancee at the altar and disappeared with most of his possessions. Meanwhile, Knight's George O'Malley failed his intern exam, and now must decide whether or not to repeat his entire intern year.

It was also announced last week that Knight will be returning to the show next season.

Washington and his 'people' are criticizing the studio's decision to let him go even after Washington entered rehab, issued a public apology, and released PSA's for GLAAD. So, what, if he had gotten fired on the spot, he wouldn't have gone through all that? What a testament to his true character.

In a statement released by Washington's rep.'s, he says, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it any more." Don't quite know what he is referring to, but I'm so glad his anger-management rehab is paying off.

Looking at the larger picture, especially with all this "special celebrity treatment" crap going on with Paris Hilton and the like, if Washington was to behave the way he has in any other corporate environment, he would have been fired long ago. He should be thankful that they kept him around this long, and instead of lashing out at ABC, should be looking at ways to revive his career, although I'm not sure it's possible at this point.

T.R. Knight still not sure of his fate on Grey's

An article from http://www.tvsquad.com, thanks to my dear Nora:

At the end of the Grey's Anatomy season finale, many fans wondered if T.R. Knight, who plays George, would be returning to the show comes next season. Without spoiling it too much for those who still haven't watched the finale, George's future is left open-ended.

Gossip columnists like TV Guide's Michael Ausiello and E!'s Kristin Veitch have been leaking out information about George's future. Question is are those spoilers right? Especially when T.R. Knight claims that he still doesn't know what his future on the show is?

USA Today reports that while at a charity event, T.R. Knight revealed that he had yet to be told what would happen to George. The actor added: "It's all kind of in flux right now."

At the event, some of the other Grey's stars talked about Knight and Isaiah Washington's future on the show (Burke's future is also unclear at the end of the finale). Sara Ramirez, who plays George's wife on the hit series, said that it was an interesting choice the writers made to end the series with no clear path for both men. James Pickens Jr. likes how the finale ended as it gives fans something to look forward to when season four begins.

On the other hand, Justin Chambers claims that it would be a bad idea to not have both men return. "We need them," adds the actor. Does Grey's Anatomy really need T.R. Knight and Isaiah Washington? The show would certainly survive without them. The show could actually do best without Washington, who has brought loads of bad press to the series due to his behavior.

It's more than likely that T.R. Knight returns to the series. He may already know it. Shonda Rhimes, the show's creator, hates spoilers and it wouldn't be the first time a cast member is told to say s/he doesn't know something when s/he actually does. Rumblings say that Washington's future on the show is rather blurry.What's you take on this? Should George return?

Um, YES HE SHOULD! Aside from my adoration of T.R., George's plotline with Callie has become one of the more popular one's on the show, not to mention one of the most bearable. I merely groan every time something happens between George and Callie, rather than my violent dry heaving with Meredith and Derek. And as much as I hate the idea of new interns, George as a repeat intern could bridge the gap between the generations of doctors. Or, assuming they are going to try to introduce a bunch of new characters on the show, they could have George go to wherever it was he was accepted admission, and introduce more peeps over there. Oh wait, he was accepted as a doctor, wasn't he? Hmm. Well, I still think he should stay. He could just walk in and out of the shot the entire hour and I would still be happy!

Season of finales

I have finally watched (most of) the season finales in my queue, and I feel confident enough to try some witty banter...

Grey's Anatomy~ OMG, how much does this show play with my heart strings? The characters I love may leave. The characters I hate are not only not leaving, but have their sisters joining the show. That's right, I'm talking about Meredith. If you were to tell me three years ago that I would become obsessed with a show where the main character reminds you of everything you hate about Renee Zelwegger, I would have told you to shut the front door. But low and behold, I am not only obsessed with the show, but I can't allow myself to eat during it. Not because I need to keep my attention on the action at all times, but because seeing Ellen Pompeo on the television makes me want to upchuck! And now her sister is coming into the picture. Grrreat. Apparently killing off her mother and step-mother, and having her father disown her isn't enough action for her. It truly is a Grey affair on that show.

I thought the plotline with the stranded climbers was particularly poignant (is the show really that predictable, or am I just getting smarter when it comes to television? The connections between the principals and guest stars are sometimes so obvious it brings on the same feelings of nausea as the character/actress mentioned above). And if George leaves the show, I am going to not only strike Grey's Anatomy, but ABC as a network (but now that Callie has been promoted to Chief of Surgery, I think he'll stick around). And I don't love Kate Walsh as half of the people in the country who are dead obsessed with her, I would much rather have her stick around than introduce a bunch of new interns to stir up even more drama (I think we're donig fine with the recent graduates, thank you ABC). And I hope that when Sandra Oh said, "He's gone," referring to Isaiah Washington, it means he left the show. It would make me extremely happy. Here's hoping they get their shit together over there this summer. Nobody asked for Grey's Anatomy: The New Class, but the way things are going, the ratings in the coming seasons may reflect the drop between Saved by the Bell and SBTB: The New Class. Huh, that joke sounded funnier in my head...

Ugly Betty~ Even though I don't like the elements of the telenovella they have been working in to this show (cue cheesy music), I cannot get enough of this show. Maybe it's America Ferrera. Maybe it's Ana Ortiz. Or Eric Mabius. Or Michael Urie. Or Becki Newton. Or Vanessa Williams (no, it's definitely not her). Or, dare I say it, all of the above? I only hope that Daniel and Alexis Meade are alright...bitch had it coming to her, though. I just hope it wasn't some excuse for Rebecca Romijn to get a nose job, 'cause girlfriend looks good! John Stamos, eat your heart out! The Betty/Henry plotline frustrates me to no end (is it just me, or is he probably really hot in real life?), I hope that Henry's cell phone works in Alberqueque or Santa Fe or wherever he went. But I have a feeling Betty will most likely put it off for a while, what with her sisters fiancee and baby-daddy being killed and all. He did die, right? I mean, he's not going to come back as Santina in two seasons?

Brothers & Sisters~ There is something about this show that kills me every time. I laugh, I cry, I feel like I am the honorary 37th member of the family. Maybe I see a lot of their relationship in my relationship with my family (Sally Field based her character on my mother, I don't know if you knew that. Who does that make me, though? Calista Flockhart? Oh lord.). Maybe it's just brilliant television (on the other hand, if I were Calista Flockhart, I would be marrying Rob Lowe as a California State Senator on the show, and Harrison Ford in real life. Things could be worse). Whatever the reason, I love it all. The cast, the characters, the relationships, the plot. It is such a fresh show, and I'm just glad I was turned on to it. The plotline with Justin going back to Iraq is heartbreaking (not as heartbreaking as that guy from Alias's baby dying) and all too poignant for what is going on in the world today (the show does an awesome job of working in current events...*ahem* WICKED *ahem*). But as brilliant as this show is, I would allow a brief moment of cheese and unrealistic plot twists so they can keep Dave Annable on the show. And if they are not going to keep Eric Winter with Matthew Rhys, can they at least bring back Jason Lewis? Does anybody even know what I'm talking about?

The Bachelor: Officer And A Gentleman~ I'm sorry. I failed with my commentary on The Bachelor. It's just one of those shows that doesn't catch my interest until the very end, and then if I get busy or, say, travel across the country for 10 days, I lose two weeks and before you know it, the show is over. Well, Officer Andy picked the last girl I would have picked for him to end up with (I thought for sure he was going to go for "Bevin the Blonde," but I guess she was just a LITTLE too desperate for him. Hell, she was desperate enough for her own season of The Bachelorette!). I think the only thing he could have seen in Tessa was the fact that she mumbles almost as bad as he does...they are probably the only two people in the world who can understand each other? And Andy hit the nail on the head when he brought the three finalists to Pearl Harbor for a romantic date. Nothing says romance to me like giving up the lei he just gave me to the girls to throw it in the water in rememberance of the victims ("Black Tears"=depressing, not sexy).

In poor Bevin's defense, she was definitely given the short end of the stick. She had the second meeting with the parents (so she was forced to compete with what they already thought about Tessa), and the first final date (so she wasn't the last thing on Andy's mind). She really put herself out there and ended up losing to the girl who could only tell Andy her true feelings through a letter and a dinky photo collage during their last date, and whose biggest compliment to him was, "I freakin' love you!"

Did an episode ever go by where Andy didn't take his shirt off? Not that I'm complaining, but he had a scary body!!

To give you an idea of just how ridiculous Andy and Tessa will be together, here is a transcript of their first encounter:
T: "I have a joke for you: 'Two muffins are put into the oven. One muffin turns to the other muffin and says, "It's hot in here!" And the other muffin screams, "Holy cow! A talking muffin!"'
A: Are we those two muffins?

I'm still trying to figure that one out.

An Officer and...a Gentleman?

I've watched the Bachelor before...but never before this season, appropriately titled "Officer And A Gentleman," have I realized how ridiculous it all is.

Dr. Andy is down to his top 4 girls...two blondes, two darker skinned brunettes. Go figure. That allows us to pick the better of each! The girls took him home to meet their friends and families. PERFECT episode for me to start watching!!

Yeah, he's probably one of the best looking Bachelors the show has seen. Yeah, he's in the navy, is a doctor, and lives in Hawaii. Yeah, he is extremely cordial and polite, sincere and charismatic. But these chicks talk about Andy as "the perfect man." Um, do I need to remind you that you're on a reality television show? Sure, he's the 'perfect guy,' if that 'perfect guy' goes on a national television show exploiting himself and the contestants, allowing cameras to capture all of the physical and emotional connections he makes with women as he 'falls in love' with at least four of them. I have a new word for Dr. Andy to add to his medical dictionary: M-O-N-O-G-A-M-Y. Last time I checked, monogamy is a characteristic on most people's list of a perfect mate.

So on to the girls. There is this girl, Bevin. First of all, what kind of a name is Bevin? That was probably Andy's first question for her parents when he met them, but they had to edit it out for time. Aside from her name, this girl is the clear front runner in my opinion. She is gorgeous, she knows what she wants, and she wants ANDY! They have the strongest connection, and best of all, she lives in Palo Alto. Don't know what that has to do with anything, just thought it was neat. There's just one snag with this girl...she waited until the top 4 to tell him that she is divorced. Andy said he understood and is glad she had that experience to teach her what she wanted in a marriage, but is he overlooking the fact that Bevin waited so long to tell him? She probably claims it was because it "never came up." If you ask me, it's more like, "I'm feel threatened by the 23-year old on the show and I don't want anything to taint my perfect score with this guy."

Then there are two other girls I didn't really care about. One of them is 27 and still lives at home. That's all I remember. The other girl grew up in D.C. and Andy was concerned about her commitment to him and the show. Word got out that she went on the show because the thought it was fun. When Andy confronted her sister and best friend about it, they said "Yeah, well, like, she did it at first because it would be fun but then, like, she, like, started to actually like you." Nice.

Then there's Amber. Oh, Amber. She's a 23-year old teacher who lives in Sugarland, Texas (just sounds like there are gumdrops lining the streets, doesn't it? Gun flavored gumdrops, but gumdrops all the same). She has a bad relationship with her family, so she had Andy see her school and meet her students (what kind of a teacher makes out with the guy she is trying to win over in the school parking lot and on the playground?), then took her back home to have dinner with her roommate ("Wait, so you like are in the navy and a doctor? Wow, that's awesome!")and her puppy (who peed on the carpet during dinner). Then her aunt surprised her after dinner, and they all bonded over a few bottles of wine. This is what I want to know: How could she get out of work for so long? Granted the show probably only tapes for a month or so, but then if she wins there's secrecy and publicity obligations. I can just picture the request for a substitute teacher in my head...

Then, when Andy and Amber (those names together make me want to gag) were going from school to dinner, they showed her sitting on his lap, with the seatbelt dangling in the background. GREAT example for the kiddies, Amber! And when she was talking to her aunt about feeling inferior to the other girls because of her rough family life, she said, 'So Andy gets to meet three amazing families, and then he comes her and meets my 23-year old roommate and you. And, like, are you enough?' And how does the aunt respond? 'Um...I think so?' Priceless.

Needless to say, Amber was eliminated from the competition (yes, let's remember it is a COMPETITION). And after the cheesiness of the rose ceremony (all thanks to Mark Burnett for his "Andy, ladies, there is one rose left," that never gets old...thanks Mark, we got it the first season), Andy sent Amber on her way because she is too young. "But not in maturity, only in age, and you said in the hot tub the first night we met that age doesn't matter," cried Amber. Well, Amber, unfortunately it doesn't help that you went hot tubbing with him the first night you met, and in the limo on your way out you said 'freakin' about 7 times. Better luck in Sugarland, I suppose.

Oh, and don't forget to buckle up.

Addison's Anatomy?

What the hell did I just watch? That was not a Grey's Anatomy 2-hour special event; That was a ploy for ABC to plug Kate Walsh's new spinoff.

Seriously. What happened on Grey's this week can be summed up in 3 short (but gramatically complete and correct) sentences: Burke and Yang compromise over their marriage plans. Izzy and George's relationship escalates. Meredith's father's girlfriend dies (girlfriend, wife?). That's it.

Then there's the set up for Addison's spinoff. All of a sudden we meet 3 new characters from her past, along with 4 other regular actors for the new show.

Let me get my frustrations with the episode off my chest first. It was all a ploy for ABC to set up this new spinoff, see how well it would work on screen, and prepare Kate Walsh for a transfer over from Seattle Grace to the least realistic medical center in the world. And it is located in Los Angeles. Now, I thought Beverly Hills, 90210 and Melrose Place was a major unrealistic portrayal of life in Los Angeles (and The OC is another story completely), but now they try to throw a medical practice into the mix, and it all goes to hell. There is drama over questioning a baby's father, a failed marriage, a hot male secretary, and a bunch of beautiful doctors who never seem to dress appropriately for work. The office seems more like a social scene than a place of business.

Then what better place for Addison to move than to this brothel of sexual tension and conflict?

It seems very far fetched. Not that I won't watch it...if it is written by the same team for Grey's Anatomy, there is no way the show could not succeed. I don't think it could be as successful as Grey's because of the controversy surrounding the show, Kate Walsh leaving Grey's, and the general animocity viewer's may take toward a spinoff...the belief that nothing could be as good as the original.

But when was the last time we saw a decent spinoff? I'm not talking The Hills, The Bachelorette, or even House Hunters: International (ok, that last one may be a bit far fetched). Seriously, though, spinoffs can be successful, but have there been any that are just as successful, or more successful, than the original? I can't think of any. And it has been a while since there was a genuine spinoff that wasn't reality based, so it seems like there is potential for this to catch the eye of many people.

While it may not have the originality of a brand new series, Private Practice has one of the most loveable characters from one of the most popular series on air, starting a brand new life in a new city. It has characters who are already familiar with a lead, and this episode set up a great basis for a new series with plenty of drama to go around.

And how can you argue with the stellar cast? Kate Walsh, Taye Diggs (yum! score 1), Tim Daly (yum!, The Nine, score 2), Merrin Dungey (Alias, Summerland, score 3), Amy Brenneman (Judging Amy, score 4), Chris Lowell (yum! Life As We Know It, score 4). And that's just the principal cast. In this episode (is it wrong to consider is a pilot?), am I wrong for thinking that David Anders (Sark from Alias) was a featured role?

I'm sure the show will center more around the drama between characters than the medical issues that a larger hospital like Seattle Grace can better master, but hey, I'll watch it!

Rosie's View

Rosie O'Donnell announced today that she is leaving her position as moderator on The View in mid-June when her initial contract with the show expires. Apparently, she was unable to reach an agreement on a contract renewal with ABC. Despite her leaving the show, creator, producer, and fellow co-host Barbara Walters says they are leaving on good terms.

Too bad. As much as I think she can be a heinous bitch at times (and look how sweet she looks in this picture...there is a certain sense of fire underneath her smile though, isn't there?), I was quite enjoying her comeback to TV. And the increase in Broadway performances she brought to The View.

She should create a new form of The Rosie O'Donnell Show...one where she doesn't have to be so sappy sweet. I think she ruined that image of herself after the show ended. She's really great with talk shows, though. I'd like to see her make a full comeback.