Browsing Tag

Fall TV

Fall TV Preview

Fall TV preview

-Here are my picks for the 10 fall shows to watch. (I really wanted to just type “The Flash” ten times, but apparently that’s “lazy writing” or some sh*t.)

-Speaking of TV shows, here’s a new trailer for The Affair, one of the best reviewed new TV shows to come out this fall. No word yet if we’re getting it in Canada (though it stars Joshua Jackson, so it’s our national duty to find a way to watch it regardless). [Update: The Movie Network just announced they’ll air it starting Oct. 12]

-Will George Clooney be a married man come Sept. 12?

-More proof that Charlize Theron and Sean Penn are a match made in grumpy heaven: she says young people have “no fuckin’ concept about wisdom.”

Justin Bieber is under investigation for attempted robbery at a Dave & Buster’s. It’s terrible and all, but also kind of cute that that’s where he takes Selena Gomez on dates.

-I love that Robin Wright didn’t even try to hide her disdain when she lost at the Emmys last night.

Sofia Vergara has blasted critics who said her Emmy pedestal moment was sexiest. (Actually, she singled out just one critic in particular, which is bizarre.)

Aaron Paul’s acceptance speech at the Emmys caused his wife’s “Kind Campaign” website to crash. (It’s back up if you want to check it out.)

-On last night’s red carpet, Kristen Wiig and Sarah Silverman proved that you want them on your trivia team.

-Whoa. Are Natasha Lyonne and Fred Armisen dating?

-I can never fit Midnight Madness screenings into my film fest schedule, but I’m almost tempted to with What We Do in the Shadows. It looks HILARIOUS.

-This video of Michael Rooker “Grooting” behind Dave Bautista might just be my favourite thing on the internet right now.

-I’ve had this exact conversation about Gilmore Girls many, many times.

-Further proof that Hollywood has run out of ideas: a Full House revival may be in the works.

Josh Charles makes a big life decision in the new trailer for Bird People. This got raves in Cannes.

-A new Gone Girl teaser debuted during the Emmys, and it’s intense!

Fall TV Preview: Lightning Round

(From top left) Nashville, 666 Park Avenue, Beauty and the Beast, Save Me, Made in Jersey, Carrie Diaries
(From top left) Nashville, 666 Park Avenue, Beauty and the Beast, Save Me, Made in Jersey, Carrie Diaries

Now that TIFF is winding down, I’ll be resuming my regular blogging soon. Be sure to check out @jen_mcdonnell and MSN.ca for all my TIFF updates – including my review of Smashed.  (And no, Aaron Paul didn’t show up to the premiere, which is odd since he was spotted all over Toronto in the days leading up to it. Guess he had to head back to L.A. early? I don’t know how he’s ever going to fall in love with me if this keeps up…)

In the meantime, my BFF Nicole and I have been IM’ing about the buzziest fall TV shows. Check out our previous conversations about ElementaryThe Mindy ProjectLast ResortThe New Normal and Arrow. Today, we wrap up by tackling the rest.

Jen: So out of five shows we talked about, I’m probably going to give every one except Elementary a shot. Oh man, I can already hear my PVR groaning.
Nicole: I’m in for Mindy, Elementary and Arrow for sure. The others are on probation. Scott Speedman better spend a lot of time shirtless in Last Resort
Jen: I’m already starting the ‘Shirtless Scotty’ letter-writing campaign.
Nicole: You mean re-starting?
Jen: Ha – you got me.
Nicole: I’m looking forward to 666 Park Avenue as well. I love Vanessa Williams.
Jen: Yeah, it looks intriguing. I’m not sure I can handle another horror TV show, though.
Nicole: What? It’s a horror? I just thought they lived on Park Ave! Damn. I don’t watch horrors.
Jen: Dude, it’s about a Park Ave building that’s haunted.
Nicole: Oh. I’m not in. I thought they just did mean things to poor people.
Jen: Vanessa Williams and Terry O’Quinn play landlords trying to lure young couples to live in their scary, haunted place – I think. I haven’t watched the first episode yet.
Nicole: I thought that a stereotypical Park Avenue couple who behave like typical rich people would actually turn out to be the devil. Someone should make THAT show.
Jen: Also, keep an eye out for Nashville. The pilot for that one charmed the hell out of me. I’m also (embarrassingly) going to give Beauty and the Beast a shot. I didn’t hate the first episode.
Nicole: I’ll give Beauty and the Beast a few more episodes, but that pilot was cringe-y!
Jen: It was cringe-y but in the best CW way. It had bad acting, ridiculous casting (Kristin Kreuk as a dectective – ha!), but an amazing soundtrack and great chemistry.
Nicole: I like the back story, but not really buying the Kristin Kruek cop bit at all.
Jen: Agreed! Also, they need to make the Beast look actually, you know, beastly.
Nicole: The Beast is not scary enough! Totally.
Jen: Any other shows you’ve seen you want to give a quick shout-out to?
Nicole: Well, not much of a shout-out, but Made in Jersey is a non-starter.
Jen: That’s my pick for the first show to get canned.
Nicole: I love, love, love lawyer shows, but that was the worst!
Jen: I also think Mob Doctor is DOA, even though it costars Zach Gilford. I love Saracen, but no.
Nicole: Haven’t watched, no interest.
Jen: There are a lot of really strong mid-season shows (The Following, Save Me, Carrie Diaries), so I’m hoping a lot of these crappy shows will disappear quickly to make room for the good stuff. And yes, I just admitted that I liked The Carrie Diaries pilot. Deal with it.
Nicole: Carrie Diaries is totally happening. Patricia Fields better be styling it.
Jen: I don’t know who’s styling it, but the costumes are on point! And the girl who plays Young Carrie is great.
Nicole: I thought the Carrie Diaries book was adorable. Very Footloose. Save Me is a no-go for me, though. I only got through half before I turned it off.
Jen: It’s a comedy about a woman who hits her head and begins hearing voices (possibly God’s), so might be a little too on the nose, with its star Anne Heche being a former crazy and all.
Nicole: Maybe I just don’t like Anne Heche? I mean, I used to like her on Another World.
Jen: In any case, it looks like we have some heavy duty TV watching in store for us this fall.
Nicole: Indeed.
Jen: Happy couch potato-ing!

Fall TV Preview: Arrow

Katie Cassidy and Stephen Amell in The CW's Arrow.
Katie Cassidy and Stephen Amell in The CW’s Arrow.

(I’m still up to my eyeballs in TIFF, so regular blogging won’t resume until the end of the week. Be sure to check out @jen_mcdonnell and MSN.ca for all my TIFF updates. In the meantime, my BFF Nicole and I have been IM’ing about the five buzziest fall TV shows. Check out our previous conversations about ElementaryThe Mindy ProjectLast Resort and The New Normal. Today we tackle our final new series: Arrow!)

Premieres: Wed, Oct. 10 @ 8 p.m. on The CW and CTV Two

Up Against: Survivor, Animal Practice, Guys with Kids, X Factor

Premise: After being left for dead on a deserted island for five years, former billionaire bad boy Oliver Queen is rescued. But his time on the island (and a conversation he had with his father as their yacht was sinking), altered his outlook on life. Upon his return to Starling City, he adopts a heroic alterego named Arrow to avenge the wrongs of his family and hunt down those involved in his father’s conspiracy.

Our Take:

Jen: I’m embarrassed to admit I like this because it means I’ll be watching yet another CW show, but I think this one’s going to be a hit.
Nicole: I liked this, too. I think Stephen Amell is great and I like that Katie Cassidy is playing his love interest.
Jen: Yes! Finally, she’s found a show that works for her.
Nicole: It’s an age-appropriate role. Not too old like Melrose Place, not too young like Gossip Girl. I just wish they’d dress her a bit better, but maybe that will improve.
Jen: I know nothing about the comic book this show is based on (Green Arrow), but apparently her character (Lauren Lance) eventually adopts her own heroic alterego called Black Canary.
Nicole: Also, this guy actually kills people!
Jen: Yeah, that’s a different twist. I like the flashbacks to his time on the island, and I really, really like the casting. Susanna Thompson from Once and Again is great as his mom and Willa Holland plays his sister. (Although am I the only one weirded out by their chemistry?)
Nicole: The brother/sister chemistry? Just you, weirdo.
Jen: Ha – figures.
Nicole: I like the family setup, too. Plus, I really cannot get enough of the real-life superhero angle. I think this one will be in my rotation and hopefully given the comic book origins, I can get my boyfriend into it as well.
Jen: For sure. It’s very dude-friendly (even though it’s a CW show). The main character is a Bruce Wayne-like playboy douche by day and a secret hero by night.
Nicole: It’s exactly like Batman – no super powers, just a lot of accessories. No wonder I like the show!
Jen: And no stupid Christian Bale voice. Bonus points for that.