Hey you guuuyyyss ... "The Electric Company" is returning?! Gawker reports that taping on the revamped children's series will begin in Washington Heights and the Lower East Side this week.
David Byrne is turning the Great Hall of the Battery Maritime Building into one huge musical instrument. The temporary installation, called Playing the Building, will make music from the devices installed within the building's architecture and plumbing. It opens later this month.
N*E*R*D will be at the Billionaire Boys Club flagship store on Tuesday from 4-6PM, signing their BBC/N*E*R*D shirt before their performance at Madison Square Garden, supporting Kanye West.
Rappers Remy Ma and Papoose plan to marry today at Rikers Island, the Daily News reports. Remy Ma is currently incarcerated for her role in a 2007 shooting. She is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow.
Though it might feel like TV just came back (it did!) it's already finale season.
"Cold Case" and "Family Guy" have said goodbye for the summer. "30 Rock" and "Scrubs" sign off tonight (in the case of "Scrubs," forever — at least on that network). And there will be hearts broken, final roses given out and fortunes won next week when "Survivor," "America's Next Top Model," "Beauty and the Geek" and "The Bachelor" all crown their champs.
It's been a strange season of stops and starts, but letting go of our favorite shows is still a big deal.
Here is a list of the five finales we will be watching ... and why we're not sad to say "so long."
4."How I Met Your Mother" (5/19) Britney Spears is actually a good comedic actress. Wait, she's on the week before? Oh. Well, we still look forward to Neil Patrick magic.
3. "The Office" (5/15) We expect an engagement, but even if that doesn't happen, it's time for a reboot.
2. "Lost" (5/29) We'll need the summer to decode everything we've seen this season.
1. "American Idol" (5/21) Every year, someone proclaims that this is the worstseasonever, but we're starting to believe it this time.
Who will stand in the final three? Ryan Seacrest says nearly 51 million votes were cast. This crucial elimination show promises heartbreak and total devastation. Plus performances by Maroon 5 and Bo Bice.
And now, the group sing! "Reeling in the Years"? Really? Nice wordy pick for a group that clearly has some issues keeping lyrics straight. So how did they do, anyway? I was afraid to watch. Hey, it's Judge Judy!
Wow, it's already time to start separating the winners from the loser.
David Archuleta ... really wants to stop answering questions. Come ON, Ryan. Of course he is safe.
Before there are more verdicts, let's go on a trip with the Idols. This mainly consists of a fancy plane, a napping Jason, autographs, flashes, crazy fans, dolphins, David Cook's first manicure, "Love" and more autographs.
David Cook ... is on the receiving end of some Seacrest torture. And makes the final three.
Syesha Mercado and Jason Cook, come on out. There is an elimination-announcement fakeout. I'm almost fooled.
The Idols dress as matadors and sing a terrible version of "Ring of Fire." Sorry, that's been done.
Oh no. It's the phone calls from America segment. A Pittsburgh fan tries to hook up with Cook. A little girl asks a good question about overcoming challenges. Yay! No one answers it well. Boo! Simon Cowell sycophants demand that he be knighted, or at least star as James Bond. When will it end?
Maroon 5 performs, and Adam Levine tries to scare the contestants out of pursuing a career in music.
Bo Bice (or Bob Ice) takes the stage and needs a witness, apparently. He also does his part to frighten the "Idol" four.
And now, the greatest moment in "American Idol" history: Jason Castro, while suffering through Ryan Seacrest's comments about how terrible he was, says, "Somebody told me that I shot the Tambourine Man yesterday." That happened at 9:54PM, for your records.
On that note, America has decided that ... Syesha ... you're in the top three.
Jason has been dumped. His reaction? "It's been a pleasure." The best so-long reel in "Idol" history rolls, Ryan asks if Jason's relieved and he says, "A little. There's three songs next week. I don't know what I would've done."
Just when we think we will miss this fantastically entertaining man too much to go on, he reprises "I Shot the Sheriff" and makes the breakup much easier to take.
"American Idol" is down to the final four. "Tonight, you must vote," Ryan Seacrest insists. He doesn't say what will happen if you don't, but since I didn't pick up the phone, I keep looking skyward for falling meteorites.
This week, songs from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. Five hundred songs! With all of those choices, you've got to wonder what some of these people were thinking.
Did you miss the show? Catch up right here with all eight performances (two each!), plus The Monitor's Three-Word Verdict and choice comments from the judges.
1.
David Cook: "Hungry Like the Wolf" Three-word verdict: Learn the words! Paula says: "Your 'Hungry Like the Wolves' has left me with a big appetite."
Randy says: "You're showing the heat late in the competition when you need it."
3.
Jason Castro: "I Shot the Sheriff" Three-word verdict: Oh no. No. Simon says: "That was like a first round audition massacre."
4.
David Archuleta: "Stand By Me" Three-word verdict: Learn the melody! Simon says: "In the grand scheme of things, I am going to call that the best performance so far."
5.
David Cook: "Baba O'Reilly" Three-word verdict: Our Lady Who. Paula says: "I'm really humbled to sit here and watch your soul."
6.
Syesha Mercado: "A Change Is Gonna Come" Three-word verdict: Really bad arrangement. Paula says: "Welcome to your dream, Syesha. This is it for you."
7.
Jason Castro: "Mr. Tambourine Man" Three-word verdict: Total fiasco averted. Simon says: "Jason, I'd pack your suitcase."
8.
David Archuleta: "Love Me Tender"
Three-word verdict: Oh so gentle. Randy says: "You were so tender. You caressed each word."
Can Jason Castro recover from this mess? Now that Syesha has finally won over Simon Cowell, is she in for that long-threatened dismissal? Is there any way in the world that either David won't be in the final three? Share your reactions and predictions!
It's official, The Monitor has puppy fever. And we're seven, eight, nine months away from the next Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show? Oh no. This will not do.
Thankfully, CBS is bringing us "The Greatest American Dog" this summer. That's right, a reality show full of four-legged bundles of joy. It premieres July 10 — only 10 weeks away!
Ratings, shmatings. "Idol" viewers called in 45 million votes last night, Ryan Seacrest would like you to know. But first, a Neil Diamond tribute. Finally "Cracklin' Rosie" and "Song Sung Blue," by your "American Idol" final five. Well, at least now we know why they didn't do these when it counted. Yikes.
Ryan wants to take this moment to refute the gossip he's heard about Paula Abdul. "She's a part of our family and we love her." Uh, what? The only rumors I read were that the show is fixed or she has magical powers of future sight. Oh, or that she's a little loopy. But, come on, that's nothing new. Ryan's statement makes it sound like she's leaving the show or something. Seacrest, chill.
And now, the eliminations. (Yeah, right. We all know this is an hour show).
Jason Castro ... you're not leaving!
David Archuleta ... we love watching you squirm, but of course you are safe!
David Cook ... is totally blaming Paula if he's out. But he isn't!
Syesha Mercado and Brooke White, you are left in the bottom two. And there's 34 minutes left for you to sweat it out.
No such luck. But is Natasha Bedingfield really singing? It sounds very good. Of course she loves David Archuleta. I guess you have to be there to really appreciate how adorable he is.
Oh no! It's the question-and-answer part. Someone asks if Randy and Paula will make more videos together. Why? A woman who kissed Simon Cowell 37 years ago calls in to reminisce. He's so embarrassed he covers his face. So do we! Aww.
And now it's time to cover our ears as the "Idol" five sing "Catch the Wind" for Ford. No no no.
Neil Diamond, come on down! You're singing "Pretty Amazing Grace." Yes, it was pretty amazing. "What a gig," he says. "I get dressed up. People clap. I sing." The man is a national treasure.
Wow, that was so delightful that it slipped my mind that someone must go. And that someone is ... Brooke. Uh oh, the crying. I forgot about the crying! In her final song, she tries one last time to get the band to restart. Sorry, sister. Thosedays are over:
Brooke, we hate to see you go out like this, but you have taught us all a great lesson: Don't talk so much, and don't sing "I'm a Believer" in shiny bell-bottoms. We thank you, and we will miss you.
"American Idol" ratings are down, but we're still watching. After all, it's Neil Diamond week! The Monitor expects to hear some "Cracklin' Rosie," a little "Love on the Rocks," maybe a taste of "Play Me." Surely no one would be foolish enough to attempt "Sweet Caroline" or "I'm a Believer."
Oh, how wrong we can be.
Despite the questionable choices, Neil Diamond is a real cheerleader for these contestants. "Every artist needs encouragement," he says. What a champion. Less impressive were producers, who decided to make the contestants each perform one song without judging. Then, upon completion of the second song, the judges spoke. Way to confuse Paula Abdul.
Did you miss the show? You can catch up right here, with one performance from each "Idol" (we picked the better of the two to spare you) our Three-Word Verdicts (10 songs, 10 verdicts!) and our favorite comment from the judges.
1.
Jason Castro: A. "Forever In Blue Jeans" B. "September Morn" Three-word verdict: A. That's nice enough. B. He's so sincere. Simon says: "I don't know who this person is. Sorry!"
2.
David Cook: A. "I'm Alive" B. "All I Really Need Is You"
Three-word verdict: A. Bring back Phantom! B. Much better, mostly.
Paula says: "I feel like I'm already looking at the American Idol."
3.
Brooke White: A. "I'm a Believer" B. "I Am, I Said" Three-word verdict: A. Really? I'm incredulous. B. Not a nightmare. Simon says: "It wasn't incredible, but it was a million times better than the first song."
4.
David Archuleta: A. "Sweet Caroline" B. "America" Three-word verdict: A. Don't do that. B. Very theme park. Paula says: "I love you. You're brilliant. Have fun."
5.
Syesha Mercado: A. "Hello Again" B."Thank the Lord for the Night Time"
Three-word verdict: A. Technically fine. Boring. B. Jukebox musical Diamond. Simon says: "You're a good actress/singer. I think, however, you may be in trouble tonight."
Why would David Cook revert to that terrible hairdo? Why would Brooke White sing "I'm a Believer" (especially after this) and then say "no, it wasn't!" when Simon called it "a nightmare"? Why must I cry? Um, I mean, is Simon right about Syesha's trouble? Will Jason get a chance to get back to his mellow-dude roots? Is David Archuleta's singing smile grating on anyone else? Tell me something good.
Sure, it's TV Week, but a person can't live on small-screen entertainments alone. Lucky for devoted television fans, it isn't too hard to find your favorites at the movie theater.
Tina Fey ("30 Rock") and Amy Poehler ("Saturday Night Live") face off with Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother") for your box-office dollars as "Baby Mama" and "Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay" hit theaters today (or Wednesday night, if you got to see the former at at the Tribeca Film Festival).
In the battle of two of TVs great comedic characters, Barney (no, not that one) vs. Liz Lemon, who will come out on top?
Who really cares? It looks like there are a lot of laughs in store whether you go with "Baby Mama" or "Harold & Kumar," and with rain in the forecast, who says you have to pick just one?
Interview magazine puts its foot down in a dress-code memo leaked to Gawker that includes one it's-about-time line: "Tights are not permitted at any time as a substitute for pants." Is there any way to make that the dress code for the world? Just asking.
Burning question of the week: Is Blake Lively's dog the cutest thing ever?
The Monitor highly recommends hightailing it to the ocean whenever possible, especially with
so
many beach options in this great city. But if you can't make it to the shore, at least enjoy this
Brighton Beach/Coney Island video, courtesy of The Gowanus Lounge.
Are you lost when it comes to "Lost?" Of course there is always something I'm lost with on the show, but rather than spending several days listing all of my unanswered questions, I'm listing the most important unanswered questions about "Lost"'s looks into the future.
Remember, the last episodes were taking us into flash-forward mode with all of the Oceanic Six survivors. So in ascending order of importance, I give you the Top 10 Unanswered Questions About "Lost" Flash-Forwards:
On "American Idol" 's latest elimination show, the final six become the final five. But not fast enough!
First, your Idols (hey, Ryan Seacrest said it, not me) continue to salute Andrew Lloyd Webber with a group performance of "All I Ask of You." It's not good.
And now the news. Yay! No, not that news. The tour. July 1-September 13. 10 Idols. 49 cities. OK, fine.
Finally, we're about to ... talk with Andrew Lloyd Webber. Really? He thinks Brooke blew it. He is baffled by Jason. He's forced to make up Simon/Paula romance theme song titles. Bless.
And then ... the Idols become comic book characters and sing "Tainted Love" to sell cars. This looked pretty cool, but it didn't sound great.
You know what comes next. Meet the President and First Lady? Bingo!
Now we're talking: David Cook and David Archuleta, step on stage to learn your fate. Is the finale happening now? Will one of these two really go home? No, they are both safe. Of course.
We're itching to find out which of the remaining four are in the bottom two, but first we're dragged to Broadway, the home of many an ex-Idol. Tamyra Gray is in "Rent" and looks good. Clay Aiken is in "Spamalot" and looks old.
Sit tight, potential "Idol" losers. Let's listen to Leona Lewis. Singing "Beat It"? No, that's just how "Bleeding Love" begins, apparently.
Syesha Mercado and Brooke White, get out here so we can toss one of you in the bottom two. Syesha said she likes pretending to be someone else. Brooke says she knows that she talks back too much. Um, yeah. Ryan points out that the judges loved Syesha's performance and that Brooke choked. Brooke is safe. She apologizes to Syesha. See, she's talking again.
Carly Smithson and Jason Castro, you're on. Carly says she's having fun from here on out. We'll see about that. Jason says he doesn't want to sing right now. Ryan notes that Carly was wonderful and Jason was a train wreck. Can you see where this is going? Why yes, Jason is safe.
Carly sings "Superstar" again. Syesha sings "One Rock and Roll Too Many" again.
Ryan says, "It's time to put these two lovely ladies out of their misery." (Whoa. What kind of an elimination is this?)
Roommates Carly and Syesha have a hug-a-thon, and then Carly is really chipper about getting the boot. We feel bad about covering our ears when she screamed allthosetimes. Simon feels bad about liking her at all: "I apologize for giving you a compliment last night. Kiss of death."
Carly, Ryan will miss you (he said so). And yes, so will we.
Next up, Neil Diamond week. We've got dibs on "You Don't Bring Me Flowers."
Hey, remember that time Whitney Houston was on "Silver Spoons," and she sang in the nightclub to Dexter, except she changed the words to "Saving All My Love for You" to make it more family friendly? We do.
Sure, you see them on Letterman, Leno, Kimmel, "Idol" and "SNL," but once in a while, musicians will put on a show where you least expect them. In honor of TV Week and Concerts day, we present the Top 10 Unconventional Musical Guest Appearances.
3. The Who on "The Simpsons" (Sorry, no video. Add to the list.)
2. Whitney Houston on "Silver Spoons"
1. Davy Jones on "The Brady Bunch"
Did the Flaming Lips on "90210" blow your mind back in the day? Did you realize that "iCarly" was following a long tradition of bands on sitcoms? What's your favorite musical TV moment? Let us know.
It's Andrew Lloyd Webber week, which promises to be totally all weird. It's also Earth Day, and Ryan Seacrest announces that the "Idol" finale will be a green-powered affair. And you thought "Idol Gives Back" would be your only chance to feel good about watching this show.
OK, so "Idol" can be do good. But can it do musical theater? Who came out of his/her shell? Who said, "I didn't know a cat was singing it." Who stopped the show (literally, and not in a good way)? Who did a surprisingly spot-on Michael Crawford impersonation, mask not included?
If you don't know the answers, don't worry. Here's every performance, plus our Three-Word Verdict and favorite comment from the judges.
1.
Syesha Mercado: "One Rock and Roll Too Many" (Starlight Express) Three-word verdict: That's her best Simon says: "You showed mases of personality, which we haven't seen before."
2.
Jason Castro: "Memory" (Cats) Three-word verdict: Oh Sandy, baby!
Simon says: "It came over as a young guy being forced by your mum and dad to sing a song at a wedding you didn't want to sing."
3.
Brooke White: "You Must Love Me" (Evita) Three-word verdict: No do-overs! Simon says: "This is why I love live TV, it was so dramatic!"
4.
David Archuleta: "Think of Me" (The Phantom of the Opera) Three-word verdict: Lite-FM ready. Randy says: "Dude, it was the bomb. This boy's the one to beat!"
5.
Carly Smithson: "Superstar" (Jesus Christ Superstar) Three-word verdict: More yelling? Enough! Simon says: "It got a little shouty in the middle."
6.
David Cook: "Music of the Night" (The Phantom of the Opera) Three-word verdict: Straight up now?! Paula says: "You have a beautiful instrument."
Is David Cook a huge "Phantom" fan, or is The Nickelback of the Opera just too tough to pull off? Did you think for a second that Carly would really pick a song that didn't feature shouting? Should we be concerned that it was way too easy to get through on Jason Castro's vote line last night (so we've heard). Who's going home? Who should go home? What Andrew Lloyd Webber song would you attempt? Tell us all about it.
By this time next week, pretty much every show that's going to come back this season will have returned. That's a lot of long-awaited TV. Since we're so super excited that we can't think of much else, The Monitor presents TV Week.
You may have already read about "Friday Night Lights" in some TV critic's list of "The Best Shows You're Not Watching" or heard about its awards and nominations from the Writer's Guild and American Film Institute. So instead of reiterating the praises of the experts, The Monitor has compiled a list of the top five fan recommendations for Friday Night Lights, in honor of today's Season Two DVD release, from forums, message boards and comment threads.
"Last night I put in my Season 1 dvd and ended up watching the first four episodes, sitting in my bed, wiping tears away occasionally. No matter how many times I watch these episodes, they still take my breath away." — angiekins at TelevisionWithoutPity.com
"This show owns me. From the first moment with Lorraine telling Matt that she "liked (her) Jimmy Deans tender" to the last shot of Smash breaking down in the locker room, this show grabbed me by the throat and never let go. I'm not a praying woman, but I'd gladly learn to pray if I thought it'd have any impact at all on the writer's strike. This is what good television looks like — and more importantly — this is what good television feels like."
— skeskali at TelevisionWithoutPity.com
By this time next week, pretty much every show that's going to come back this season will have returned. That's a lot of long-awaited TV. Since we're so super excited that we can't think of much else, The Monitor presents TV Week.
Between the the network sites (and the non-networksites) there isn't a thing that you can't catch up with online. Right? Um, not exactly. The Monitor presents three things we haven't been able to watch on demand. (And, no, we're not getting over it.)
"Fast Times" the 1986 TV series
Does this pale in a pathetic comparison to the movie? Probably, but I'd like to see it now to judge for myself. Plus you know people want to see more Patrick Dempsey.
"Freaks and Geeks" original "Noshing and Moshing" end montage.
Why must I bust out an old eBay-ed VHS tape every time I
Hey, we
love Dean Martin, but imagine "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" over it's a whole new show.
"VD gets around" PSA No, not this one. Not even close.
"Clancy T. Bachleratt and Jackie Snad Sing Songs about Spaceships, Toddlers,
Model T. Cars & Jars of Beer." This might just be the most ridiculous "SNL" skit ever, but it gets no love on NBC.com or Hulu. Why oh why?
Do you watch most of your TV online or none at all? Is there something that you just can't find? Have you solved one of these TV mysteries? Tell us about it?
Tonight the return of TV marches on with an all-new "Smallville." Unfortunately, The Monitor hasn't caught an all-new "Smallville" since season one. (It was good. We just lost touch.) So instead we're considering a trip down TiVo lane in an effort to catch up on "Grey's Anatomy," which returns next week.
Oh, "Grey's Anatomy." There was a time when we'd watch it live because we couldn't be a minute
behind. Now unwatched episodes have been collecting dust all season on the DVR.
We don't think we're the only ones whose interest in the show has waned. We did a little digging and it looks like most of it can be traced back to the Ferry Crash three-episode arc, February 8-22, 2007. Take a look at what we found:
BFC (Before Ferry Crash)
What a strong, emotional episode. Can you feel it building? Just like last year, we're starting to see the writing tighten and the stories become more focused as we make the turn into February. (TV Squad, February 2, 2007)
Loved this one guys, what about you? Of course I say that about pretty much every one of them, don’t I? (Watching Grey's Anatomy, February 2, 2007)
I still triple checked my DVR to make sure it was recording. (TV Cocktail)
I thought this episode was amazing. ... I think the show is totally back on track. (Television Without Pity boards, January 25. 2007)
AFC (After Ferry Crash)
"Grey's Anatomy" didn't just jump the shark, it jumped the whole ocean ... (Blogging Stocks, February 23, 2007)
I'll still love the show and watch every week, but I do think this was the wrong direction to go in - the whole Meredith drowning bit was a bad idea. (Watching Grey's Anatomy)
I'm really sorry I'm being so cynical this week, folks, but this episode was a big disappointment for me. (TV Squad)
I [bleep] hate this show. HATE. THIS. SHOW. (Television Without Pity forum post February 22, 2007)
Can "Grey's" bounce back? We think so. Will it? That's tough to say. Is it worth devoting a weekend to catching up? Tell us what you think.
This week brought in a season-high 36 million votes, says Ryan Seacrest. But someone got the fewest. Who will go home? Wouldn't we like to know. Instead, let's watch the "Idol" contestants do weird choreography while destroying the devastating "One Sweet Day."
Don't make me suffer this alone:
And now, the results!
Jason Castro ... form a group to the left.
Oh no. They are going to do the painful "join the group you think you belong with" thing with the seventh contestant. I hate this part.
David Cook ... goes right.
Carly Smithson ... turns left.
Kristy Lee Cook ... takes a right.
You know what's creepy? "Idol" contestants hanging by strings singing "I Want to Break Free." Is this really an effective way to sell cars?
So that's David Cook, Kristy Lee and Brooke in one group. And Jason, Carly and Syesha in another. But wait, let's have David Cook and Syesha trade places. Yes, that's better. (Is it?)
Before we make David Archuleta pick a side (yuck!), it's America Grills "Idol" time. Callers get Simon to say that the first record he bought, at age 10, was Paula Abdul's "Straight Up." That's funny! Paula Abdul says "Forever Your Girl" is totally not her song for Simon. That's obvious! David Cook is single. That's, um, good to know?
Mariah Carey sings "Bye Bye," and she's wearing a short, black number with cut-out detailing. Whoa.
So, David Archuleta. (Ugh. Ugh! This is the worst!) Do you belong with Jason, Carly and David Cook, or with Brooke, Syesha and Kristy Lee? Young Mr. Archuleta pulls the Melinda Doolittle move and sits between the two groups rather than pick one. Good boy.
Of course, he's in the group with David, Jason ... and Carly? Syesha, Brooke and Kristy Lee hold on to each other and wait for the news.
Syesha ... is safe.
One tall blonde must go.
Randy says: "I don't know, man. I can't call this one." Paula says: "Every one of you are very, very special." Simon says: "No surprises. Maybe, Kristy, your time is up this week, sweetheart."
Brooke ... is safe.
America finally hands Kristy Lee her walking papers after one of her better performances of the season. She sends us off by singing right in front of, and to, Simon. He's mortified. It's delightful.
Thanks for the last laugh, Kristy Lee. We will miss you.
It's Mariah Carey week (the woman is everywhere)! So much for the judges' "Don't try to sing songs made for big voices" warnings.
What did we learn from this episode? Mariah is a very nice lady. David Archuleta is going to perform the heck out of whatever schmaltzy finale song America picks. And someone is a crybaby. (OK, maybe not that last one. Instead, someone is moved to tears by the judges' praise. It's kind of sweet.)
Too busy waiting in line at the post office to tune in? Here's every performance, plus our Three-Word Verdict and favorite Randy/Paula/Simon comment.
1.
David Archuleta: "When You Believe" Three-word verdict: He really believes. Randy says: "You can sing anything."
2.
Carly Smithson: "Without You" Three-word verdict: Without melody. Yikes.
Paula says: "You have to trust yourself."
3.
Syesha Mercado: "Vanishing" Three-word verdict: Good, then screamy. Paula says: "You're smart that you picked a song that not all people know."
4.
Brooke White: "Hero" Three-word verdict: Lost at sea. Paula says: "Every ounce of you is totally authentic to who you are."
5.
Kristy Lee Cook: "Forever" Three-word verdict: That was nice. Randy says: "I'm like blown away."
