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TV Tonight: Stand Up to Cancer

BuzzSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:30:35 -0700

Sometimes it might seem as though my heart is made of snark, but really, when celebrities get together to raise money for a good cause, I just have to stand in awe of their power. That's why I'm curious to see tonight's Stand Up to Cancer telethon, which will be broadcast on ABC, CBS, NBC, and E! starting at 8 p.m. EDT.

The one-hour special brings together celebrities and journalists to raise awareness about cancer and money to fight it. More than 60 stars have signed on, including Jessica Alba, Ellen DeGeneres, Keanu Reeves, Carrie Underwood, Scarlett Johansson, America Ferrera, Meryl Streep, Forest Whitaker, and Christina Applegate, who will talk about her own experience battling breast cancer. The news anchors from the three major networks will also chip in, presenting facts about cancer and talking about the latest advances.

Among the major events is the debut of the video for the single "Just Stand Up," a collaboration between Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow, Beyonce, Miley Cyrus, and others. People who call in during the show to pledge have a chance of talking to one of the celebrities as they answer phones. Many of the stars have filmed public service announcements trying to spread the word about the special and the Stand Up To Cancer organization, so to watch a couple of those — including one from The Daily Show — just

TV Tonight: America's Next Top Model, the 11th Cycle!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:30:59 -0700

America's Next Top Model returns tonight for ~~season~~ cycle 11, which is funny, because I don't even feel like Tyra and her band of merry Jays were off my TV for that long. Did you miss them?

Regardless, ANTM is back, and so to prepare myself for the manic energy of this modeling show, I dug up some clips and reacquainted myself with Ms. Banks. And oh my gosh, is she full of craziness still. In the first clip, she's actually chasing a young contestant from Alaska around the judging room pretending to be a moose. The noises she makes are . . . I just . . . wow. You really just have to watch it. Also, be sure to note Jay Manuel's new hairstyle and let me know your initial reaction (did you flinch like I did?).

In the second clip Tyra talks us through her impressions of some of the new faces we'll meet tonight. She describes one model as too pretty and that it's their job on ANTM to give her that "ugly top model pretty and take away that pretty pretty." She also points out that one model has "that ghostly face, like that scary face" and that another has "got a Victoria's Secret runway model look."

Are you ready to re-enter this bonkers world of posing and Tyra-isms? To check out the previews for yourself,

TV Tonight: Two Favorites Return

BuzzSugar — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:01:23 -0700

I'm not sure how wise it really is to launch a new season of a TV show on Labor Day. Will people be at home on the couch, or will they biting into some corn on the cob at a barbecue somewhere? The CW and Fox are both hoping it'll be the couch, as both Gossip Girl and Prison Break return for new seasons tonight. (After a toll-paying stunt, TNT's Raising the Bar also premieres tonight, and One Tree Hill starts its sixth season.)

What more is there to say, really, about the Gossip Girl premiere? We've seen the photos, the clips, and even the first five minutes. And yet, I'm sure there will be a surprise or two in tonight's episode, which finds the crew wrapping up a steamy Summer in the Hamptons. Meanwhile, Prison Break has its two-hour premiere, which finds Michael in LA investigating Sara's death — which, of course, may be a little more complex than what we first thought. Also, Sona has burned to the ground, and some of our Break-ers are now unaccounted for.

Will you be watching either show tonight? In case you're just getting caught up, you can watch a quick summary of the first season of Gossip Girl and another of the first three years of Prison Break if you

TV Tonight (and Today!): Greek

BuzzSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:30:58 -0700

Oh yes, it's time. Fall is quickly approaching, schools are in session, and my beloved Greek is on the air again!

The show returns to ABC Family for its second season tonight, on a new night and time: 9 p.m., following The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Secret Life has spent the Summer pulling in the highest ratings in ABC Family's history, and I hope its popularity translates to some big numbers for Greek, which (sorry, Molly Ringwald) I think is better-written and better-acted by far.

I've seen the season premiere, and while I wouldn't dream of spoiling anything, I will say that it's a completely delightful episode that answers a few of the questions from the Spring Break-themed finale and delivers a few new cliffhangers of its own. The setting is the annual Greek Week Olympics, which brings out the competitiveness in our Cyprus-Rhodes kids: Casey sees another chance to prove she deserves to be ZBZ president for real, and Rusty and Calvin struggle to stay neutral while their houses are yet again competing against each other. But the plot summary is only the slightest hint of what makes the episode good; you'll have to catch all the one-liners and shocking moments for yourself tonight.

If you're home today and looking to catch up on Greek, you're in luck: ABC Family will be airing nine episodes from the first season back-to-back starting at 11 a.m. EDT and PDT. Meanwhile, to watch a promo, just

TV Tonight: The Black List on HBO

BuzzSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:30:07 -0700

Back at Sundance, the documentary The Black List, Vol. 1 was getting glowing praise from all those who were lucky enough to make it into a screening. HBO had already nabbed the rights to show the film, and tonight, it makes its broadcast premiere.

The film is a series of 22 short portraits of renowned figures from sports, politics, business, government, and the arts talking about race and the role it has played in their lives and work. Among the interviewees: Keenen Ivory Wayans, Toni Morrison, Chris Rock, Serena Williams, National Urban League President Marc Morial, and many more. NPR host and journalist Elvis Mitchell conducted the interviews, but he's never seen or heard in the film; instead, the camera stays trained on the subjects as they speak their stories one by one.

The best way to get a feel for the film before its 9 p.m. premiere is to watch a few clips from the portraits, so to see a making-of promo and excerpts from the interviews with Chris Rock and Serena Williams, just

HBO Documentary Tonight: Helen Thomas, in Her Own Words

BuzzSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:34:22 -0700

"You might incur some wrath from the powers that be, but so what?" — Helen Thomas

Helen Thomas has had the unique experience of covering every president since JFK from the front row of the Beltway press corps. She began the tradition of ending each presidential press conferences with a signature "Thank you, Mr. President." Fittingly, this is the title of a documentary about her career that will premiere on HBO tonight.

Thomas first came to my attention as that feisty lady asking President Bush some seriously tough questions about the war in Iraq. I also fondly remember her participation in the controversial Stephen Colbert bit at the 2006 White House Correspondence dinner in which he jokingly referred to her as "Doubting Thomas."

When I heard HBO and Rory Kennedy (daughter of Bobby Kennedy) were doing a documentary on her life, I pried the screener DVD from my friend Citizen's hands (though she later asked me for my take) and hunkered down to learn about being a woman in a male-dominated field, how the heck she earned that position in the first place, the toughest questions she ever asked a president, her perspective on journalism today, etc. To see what I thought of the doc and to view a trailer,

TV Tonight: The Hills

BuzzSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:45:00 -0700

It's that time of year again. Another set of eyerolls, meaningful stares, and semi-contrived situations. Another heap of friend breakups, nightclub-hopping, and drama. Another season of The Hills on MTV.

As always, the trailer for the show makes things look pretty darn exciting (even though so often nothing ever really happens); we're promised jail time, Whitney in NYC, and more struggles between Lauren and Audrina. This time around, I've been pretty fascinated with the media reaction to the show: Entertainment Weekly gave Lauren Conrad the cover for a story about how different her life is from what we see on TV; Time said the whole show is staggeringly beautiful; and some other critics have admitted utter bafflement about the show's popularity.

So, let's talk about The Hills. Will you be watching tonight? Are you hooked on the show, and, if so, why? If you avoid it, what turns you off about it? To watch the preview and add your thoughts in the comments, just

TV Tonight: Roasting Bob Saget

BuzzSugar — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:00:44 -0700

What do you get when a raunchy, dirty, frequently inappropriate TV event meets one of the raunchiest, dirtiest, most inappropriate comedians of a generation? Awesomeness — and a stomach that aches with pain from too much laughter. And that's why I'm not-so-secretly looking forward to tonight's roast of Bob Saget on Comedy Central.

If you haven't heard yet, Bob Saget is a major dirty perv of a comedian. His shtick can be uncomfortable, but I've seen him do it live, and it's mostly pretty funny. He has the kind of mouth my grandmother would wash out with soap. It's hilariously strange given what a clean-cut father figure he was to those of us who grew up watching him as Danny Tanner on Full House, the role that made him a household name.

Anyone on Full House is a pretty easy target for a roast like this because the show was so wholesome. However, news spread this week that some off-color jokes about the Olsen twins may have crossed the line (Saget himself said those jokes went a little too far). But that tiny controversy aside (and, really, what roast worth watching doesn't stir up controversy?) the whole thing looks pretty hysterical.

Tonight's show will also be a bit of a twofer as "roast master" John Stamos does not escape ridicule either, as you can see in some of the preview clips I've gathered. The roast airs tonight at 10 p.m. EDT and PDT. To see the clips, including an absolutely wonderful bit from the legendary Cloris Leachman that literally made me spit my drink out in laughter,

This Weekend's TV: Skins

BuzzSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:38:56 -0700

Gossip Girl encountered its fair share of criticism about its sex, drugs, and other vaguely inappropriate content when it premiered last Fall. But frankly, the Upper East Siders have nothing on the cast of Skins, the British show that premieres Sunday on BBC America. This show takes the limits of American TV and stomps all over them — and that's even without the edited-out language and nudity.

Skins, which just wrapped up its second season in the UK, is the rare show about teenagers that's actually written by people who remember well enough what it was like to be one: The show's writing staff has an average age of 22. The main character is Tony (played by Nicholas Hoult, aka the little kid from About a Boy — just try to get your mind around that one), the hottest and most popular guy in town; he, of course, has a gorgeous girlfriend, Michelle, to go along with his status. And then there's Sid, Tony's nerdy friend, who enlists Tony's help in losing his virginity in the first episode and somehow ends up buying a large quantity of weed. Sid's maybe the most relatable character of the bunch, but the one I loved the most in the first episode was Cassie, a spacey, anorexic, drug-addled beauty who thinks everything in the world is beautiful — except, possibly, for herself.

My UK friends told me the show builds slowly but deserves all its buzz (and acclaim, including a prize at this year's Rose d'Or festival) by the end. The first episode left me wanting another, so it's a good thing that Sunday's BBC America premiere will have two episodes back to back starting at 9 p.m. EDT and PDT. To watch the US preview — and then the original UK preview, which looks oddly like an Abercrombie ad with more drugs and puking and is probably NSFW — just

TV Tonight: America's Best Dance Crew

BuzzSugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 06:30:00 -0700

Man, I would be so much more excited about tonight's showdown on America's Best Dance Crew if Fanny Pak were still in the competition. I admit I was somewhat of an erratic viewer of ABDC this Summer, but week in and week out, the thing that kept me coming back (or at least watching the old episodes I'd TiVo'd) was the Pak. And yet somehow, my favorite crew headed home last week, a combination of viewer votes and tough judging. Sigh.

Still, I'm trying to get myself pumped up for tonight's final battle between SoReal Cru and Super Cr3w (the winner will be revealed next week). On paper, this would seem like SoReal's competition to lose: They've never once appeared in the bottom two, even though the judges haven't always been on their side. But I like Super Cr3w, a group of b-boys who've shown their versatility. And I'm glad that being down to two crews — and getting rid of the insanely long pauses before eliminations — will mean a lot more dancing in this showdown.

Anyone else still watching this Teen Choice Award-winning show? Fellow Fanny Pak fans, how are you coping? And did any of this season's crews hold a candle to the JabbaWockeeZ? To watch routines from both remaining crews (warning: the videos play automatically, so be prepared!), just

TV Tonight: The Olympics Kick Off

BuzzSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:30:22 -0700

Today, the eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year of the millennium, the 2008 Olympics kick off in Beijing. Or rather, they've already kicked off: The opening ceremonies began at 8:08 p.m. locally — which is 8:08 a.m. on the East Coast.

Still, in just a few hours, we'll get to see the ceremonies for ourselves, as NBC will carry a tape-delayed version of the ceremonies starting at 7:30 p.m. EDT and PDT. Details of the spectacle have been closely guarded — even more so after a South Korean news station briefly leaked footage online — but here are a few of the things that are known about the ceremony:

It will take place in China's new national stadium, otherwise known as the Bird's Nest, that gorgeous building pictured above.
British singer Sarah Brightman will sing a duet with China's Liu Huan. The song is reported to be some sort of Olympic theme commissioned for the occasion.
There will be a fireworks display that's expected to include upwards of 30,000 firework shells.
The 90-minute show, which will take place before the athletes march in, will feature 14,000 performers and depict 5,000 years of Chinese history.
The 5,000 athletes are expected to take about 90 minutes to march in — and after this week's Project Runway, I can't wait to see their national costumes!
The method of how the torch will be lit is still a secret, but this report has several of the rumors, including that the flame will somehow float in the air above the stadium.

Are you excited, brimming with national pride, and ready to root for various athletic feats for the next two weeks? Or are the Olympics just one big snooze to you?

Source

TV Tonight: Mad Men Returns

BuzzSugar — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 08:00:46 -0700

Although Mad Men seems like the most-talked about show on television right now, that wasn't always the case. In fact, even despite early critical acclaim, the show flew under most people's radars during its inaugural season last Summer on AMC. Slowly but surely, the time capsule straight out of the '60s gained a following — one that apparently included a lot of Emmy voters. Now, as we approach the super-hyped second season opener, there is no question that Mad Men has arrived. Starting tonight, the spotlight is aimed hot and bright at creator Matthew Weiner and his cast to see if the show can continue to deliver the goods in its sophomore year.

To see where Mad Men has been and where it might be going tonight,

TV Tonight: Project Runway

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:30:48 -0700

It's sew time! Project Runway's barely been gone long enough for me to miss it, and yet I'm finally feeling the excitement about the show's fifth season.

It helps now that we've been able to see the contestants and, in Fab's case, even pick a few favorites. And, of course, there's the little issue of it possibly being the show's final season on Bravo before the big move to Lifetime. I wouldn't miss that for the world (hey, it could be the end of Runway as we know it), and so even if Christian Siriano's catchphrases are still ringing in my head, I suppose I can get on with the business of a new season.

That business, not terribly surprisingly, appears to involve the contestants being caught off-guard by Tim Gunn, who awakens them early in the morning — or is it still technically night? — for their first challenge in the video below. (For a peek at the designers working away at Parsons after learning of the challenge, head over here.) Don't forget Runway's on at a new time tonight, at 9 p.m. EDT and PDT. You can check out the sneak peek, and tell me your hopes for the new season, if you

TV Tonight: The Closer and Saving Grace

BuzzSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:15:53 -0700

A while ago, I speculated that TNT was becoming the official network of strong women. Tonight, two of the shows that have made it that way return for new seasons: The Closer begins its fourth season at 9 p.m. EDT and PDT, while Saving Grace starts its second immediately after.

The Closer has been a standout for several years now and spent last season shattering cable ratings records (many of which it already owned). The show has also earned wide acclaim for Kyra Sedwick as the no-holds-barred interrogator Brenda Leigh Johnson, who's practically a fixture in the Emmy and Golden Globe nominations these days. When this season begins, wildfires are tearing through Los Angeles, and Brenda is there to unleash her fury on anyone who seems to have done wrong.

Meanwhile, Saving Grace starts season two with Holly Hunter's Grace continuing to come to terms with her past — which seems to be darker and more haunted at every turn. Hunter spoke with reporters last week, including yours truly, and I'll be bringing you some of her comments later today. For now, though, you can get a sneak peek of the new episodes of The Closer and a quick recap of the first season of Saving Grace if you

TV Tonight: Generation Kiill

BuzzSugar — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:00:23 -0700

In a Summer where HBO is lacking any of its signature series, the network's hopes must be sky-high for Generation Kill. The seven-episode miniseries from The Wire's David Simon and Ed Burns premieres Sunday night, and from the early reviews, it seems like it's everything I'd expect from a Simon/Burns project.

What that means: On the plus side, it's well-written, in-depth, and revealing. This review called it "rewarding in its complexity," not unlike The Wire. That, of course, comes with an inherent minus: The series is complex and not always easy to watch — or even tell who's who, especially in the first episode or two.

Personally, I'm planning to watch with a glossary, a chain of command chart, and a map at the ready; they're all available over here. Even if it is confusing at first, I have confidence that it will pay off in the end. (Also, special note for Wire fans: James Ransone, who played Ziggy in season two, has a major role.)

Will you be tuning in? To watch a preview (which has some profanity; you've been warned) and a "making of" video, just

TV Tonight: Burn Notice

BuzzSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:30:18 -0700

Mad Men has the critical buzz, but Burn Notice — another cable show entering its second season — had the viewers last Summer. The USA series brought in 4 million viewers for its premiere and stayed close to that level all season, jumping up to 5 million viewers when DVR-watching was factored in. That's pretty striking for a cable show.

Tonight, Burn Notice is back, with Jeffrey Donovan once again helming things as Michael Westin, a former spy who was "burned" (or fired) and has set out on a mission to find out who ended his spying career — and why. The show's Miami setting is perfect for a sizzling Summer series, and it has Bruce Campbell. What's not to love? Plus, to make things even hotter for season two, the first episode features an appearance by Battlestar Galactica's Tricia Helfer.

If you didn't see the first season, the whole thing is up on USA's site. Will you be watching when the show starts tonight? You can watch a promo for the second season and one of Donovan's funny "Ask a Spy" videos if you

TV Tonight: The Office, Earl, and Gladiators Play the Feud

BuzzSugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:34:55 -0700

Tonight, NBC is airing the one episode of Celebrity Family Feud that I've truly been waiting for. The casts of two great NBC comedies — plus a third show, which I suppose could be considered a comedy depending on how you feel about people in spandex racing against other people in spandex — will face off in an epic feud.

The episode will have several rounds, and of them, I'm most excited about the accountants of The Office taking on the American Gladiators (who are, naturally, in costume). There's something inherently funny about Al Roker crying out "Kate! Venom! Let's play the Feud!" Add in some whooping whistles from Wolf (still my favorite Gladiator) and a brave Phyllis challenging him to an arm-wrestling battle, and we've got quite the show on our hands.

NBC has a couple of preview clips for the episode; they give away the scores at different points — but not the winner — so if you'd like to remain pure and unspoiled, you might not want to watch them yet. On the other hand, if you really just want to see what answer Creed gives for things people practice doing in a sexy way, just

TV Tonight: Big Love, From the Beginning

BuzzSugar — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 11:00:57 -0700

HBO was kind enough to fill the Big Love-sized hole in my heart with a recap video a few weeks back. But if you'd rather catch up on the show's first two seasons the old-fashioned way, it will be possible starting tonight.

HBO2 will air one episode from the series in order for the next 24 Saturdays, starting at 8 p.m. EDT/PDT tonight. It's the first time I can remember that HBO has shown the series in its entirety, and it's a great opportunity to meet the Henricksons if you've yet to make their acquaintance.

If you've never seen Big Love, I've got a promo for the first season; just

TV Tonight: Shear Genius

BuzzSugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:15:08 -0700

I surprised myself last year by really coming to love Shear Genius, Bravo's Project Runway knockoff about hair stylists. I'd been expecting to find the competition just more of the same, but all it took was one haircut with hedge clippers and one contestant named Dr. Boogie to get me hooked.

Tonight, the show is back for a second season, and I'm curious to see if Bravo's managed to recapture the offbeat magic of season one. Unlike the network's Top Design, which is getting a total makeover for its second season, Shear Genius has brought its principal people back for another round, including host Jaclyn Smith and mentor Rene Fris. It remains to be seen if any of the new contestants can top the antics of the scrubs-wearing Dr. Boogie, but Oshun (who's styled hair for NBC's ridiculous soap Passions) and Paulo (whose salon's name is Ego Mechanix) seem like early favorites to bring some drama.

Will Shear Genius make the cut (yuk yuk) for your viewing schedule? To watch a clip from the first episode, just

TV Tonight: I Love the New Millennium

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:30:10 -0700

Apparently, VH1 is so smitten with the pop culture touchstones and trainwrecks of the past eight years, the network couldn't wait to talk about them. Tonight, VH1 debuts I Love the New Millennium, the latest in its series of I Love the [Insert Decade Here] specials — despite the fact that this decade is still far from over.

The odd timing is no problem for VH1's team of comedians and culture mavens, who will be turning their lovingly sarcastic eye on everything from the "Thong Song" to Big Mouth Billy Bass. I Love the New Millennium will showcase two years from the decade each night from tonight through Thursday, going all the way back — as the network put it — to "a time when Brad Pitt was happily married to Jennifer Aniston." VH1 has called on its typical I Love the . . . team, including comedians Michael Ian Black and Lonny Ross, to do the job, with an assist from a couple of dozen folks who have benefited (or suffered) from the whims of the new millennium firsthand: Shaggy, Kat Von D, even Jenna Von Oy!

It strikes me as a little soon for VH1 to be so reflective; I think some of the most absurd and memorable pop culture moments only get better with time, as we saw with I Love the '80s. Still, it's really never too soon for me to listen to VH1 personalities snark about trucker hats. Are there any particular culture milestones you hope make an appearance in this week's specials? And will you be watching? To check out a clip of a rant about Fear Factor, just

TV Tonight: Weeds

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:45:29 -0700

Weeds is starting its fourth season tonight by burning the show's whole premise to the ground. This is definitely not the same show where latte-sipping Nancy Botwin got into small-time drug slinging to hold on to her lifestyle after her husband's death. All of that is gone now: the luxury, the lattes, and even the relatively innocent Nancy who just happened to get caught up in something way over her head.

I know many of you are just catching up on earlier seasons, so I'll save any discussion of the specifics of season four — I've seen the first two episodes — till after the jump. If you're ready for a few details on the new season, just

TV Tonight: The D-List and the A-List on Bravo

BuzzSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:30:14 -0700

Tonight brings a double dose of Kathy Griffin to our TVs, as she first launches another season of celebrity bottom-feeding with the premiere of My Life on the D-List on Bravo, then rockets to the top of the heap to host the network's first-annual A-List Awards.

I've said it before: Griffin is a love-her or hate-her kind of comedian, and as one who trends more toward love, I'm totally looking forward to the fourth season of D-List. This season will find her opening the Oprah-inspired Kathy Griffin Leadership Academy and officiating at a wedding, among other things — and, come on, you've got to be a little curious about how that ceremony turned out.

The A-List Awards themselves, meanwhile, sound like a fantastic train-wreck — anything with a Real Housewives catfight and an absurdly rambling Lauren Hutton can't be that classy. But hey, at least it'll be a chance to see our favorite Top Chefs — and Ted Allen! — all dressed up, right? And I'm intrigued by the news of a charity fashion show from the Project Runway peeps.

The night kicks off with the Tim Gunn-hosted red carpet show at 8:30 p.m. EDT and PDT, followed by the D-List premiere and then A-List Awards. Will you be tuning in for any of it? To see a preview from Griffin's A-List opening number and a scene from the D-List premiere, just

TV Tonight: So You Think You Can Dance

BuzzSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:30:49 -0700

Annnnnd we're officially back, folks! After a couple of weeks of auditions, So You Think You Can Dance finally gets to the good stuff tonight. The top 20 dancers will be paired up and put to the test in a variety of styles, fighting to make an impression on viewers and survive through the first elimination on Thursday night.

My love for this show is well-known, but I particularly look forward to the episode that showcases the top 20 for the first time. One of the wildest things about SYTYCD is that it challenges the contestants to master dance in many forms, not just the ones they like. What will freestyler Twitch do if he ends up on the tough end of a Latin routine? Could ballerina Rayven Armijo turn in a convincing hip-hop performance, if asked?

Plus, this will be our first chance to see the dancers paired off — which is another one of the little things that I think this show does right. The contestants are forced to interact with each other every week, and watching the way they laugh or support each other or throw fits in the studio goes a long way toward establishing who "America's favorite dancer" will be.

Who's tuning in with me tonight? Remember, you can meet all of the top 20 over here.

Photo courtesy of Fox

TV Tonight: The Greek Finale

BuzzSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:30:27 -0700

OK, confession time: Greek has gone from a guilty pleasure of mine to something bordering on obsession. I love to hate (and not just sort of dislike, but hate) Rebecca, I'm wary of Frannie, I love-love-love Ashleigh and I get a kick out of every time Casey goes "Yay!" in that forced-enthusiasm way she has. I have a huge crush on Cappie (while also understanding the frustrations of actually dating guys like him), I think Evan is smug and manipulative, Rusty is endearing and Dale is hands-down one of the funniest and most well-realized characters on TV right now. Finally, I love that ABC Family features a gay character — a gay frat boy, no less — and actually gives Calvin some meaty storylines (as opposed to watering him down to a depressing stereotype). I genuinely crave Greek episodes. It's entirely possible that I will TiVo tonight's episode and watch a few minutes per day this week, just to make it last. See what I mean about obsession? Right. Moving on. . .

You might've guessed that I'm saddened by tonight's season finale. Titled "Spring Broke," the synopsis is as follows: "The gang hits the beach for Spring break! Casey leaves all her emotional baggage back at school for some fun in the sun. While Rusty realizes that the beach bum lifestyle isn't for him and reunites with old friends on his way back to CRU."

Are you as hooked on this show as I am? Maybe just a little bit? To check out a featurette with the adorable Amber Stevens (who plays Ashleigh) giving a tour of the Spring break beach set, as well as see a preview of the episode, just

TV Tonight: Army Wives Season 2 Premiere

BuzzSugar — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 10:30:54 -0700

I know I've made my love for Army Wives known, so I won't continue to expound on the numerous ways this Lifetime show surprises me. Sure, it dips into the ordinary melodramatic territory that seems to be Lifetime's specialty, but it also touches on some important issues and often makes for riveting TV. The cliffhanger from the first season, when a bomber finds his way to the women's favorite watering hole — especially set to an eerie, slowed-down version of "Goodbye, Stranger" — left me literally holding my breath.

In tonight's season premiere, the women (and Roland) deal with the aftermath of this bombing as we discover what, exactly, went on that day in the bar. You can watch the first four minutes or so of the episode (which is already getting me right in the feelings) here.

Also, random fact: Senators Barack Obama and John McCain have publicly voiced their appreciation for this show. You can see their videos via that same link above, or just click here.

To see the Season 2 promo,

TV Today: America's Best Dance Crew

BuzzSugar — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:30:44 -0700

With one Summer dance show — So You Think You Can Dance — having just selected its finalists earlier this week, let's turn our attention to another that's just getting its casting off the ground: MTV's America's Best Dance Crew.

The show is now in its second season, kicking off today with a casting special at 2 p.m. EDT and PDT. Maybe it's just because there are naturally so many more people performing in a dance crew, but this show seems to have a special kind of energy that none of the other dance shows can match.

The show will regularly air on Thursdays at 10, but today's special is a good chance to get a look at the crews that will be contending for the title. If you missed the first season, you can watch all the action on MTV's site. Meanwhile, to watch a promo for the show featuring the first-season winners, Jabbawockeez, as well as some footage of a battle breaking out on the scene of the LA auditions, just

TV Tonight: Fear Itself

BuzzSugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:37:48 -0700

Making a horror series to the standards of network television can't be an easy task — but NBC has put some of the genre's best on the case. Fear Itself, the network's horror anthology series, premieres tonight, with the directors of films such as American Psycho and Bride of Chucky taking turns creating spooky one-hour episodes for the next 13 Thursdays.

There's nothing overly gory about these episodes — in part because that kind of thing would never make it past broadcast censors but also because the producers (who also did Showtime's Masters of Horror) thought that those R-rated elements had been pushed as far as they could go in films and on cable. The result is a series that's reaching for a more psychological sort of horror — spooky, not gross.

Tonight's first episode, "The Sacrifice," is a pretty straightforward take on the genre. Four fugitives — including one played by Jesse Plemons, Landry of Friday Night Lights — turn up at a cabin in the middle of nowhere. At first it seems like a safe, comfortable place (stocked with beautiful women, no less), but of course it's anything but. The story isn't terribly complex (it could be a slightly more adult take on something from Are You Afraid of the Dark?), but it's well-directed by Breck Eisner, who's currently remaking The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the acting is sufficiently creepy. For more on the series and to see a preview, just

TV Tonight: 30 Days

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:30:55 -0700

Whether you love him or hate him, you have to admit that Morgan Spurlock knows how to provoke — on screens both big and small. The third season of the Super Size Me director's TV show, 30 Days, premieres tonight on FX, full of new perspective-changing assignments for people who want to spend a month seeing how someone else lives.

Spurlock's first guinea pig is himself: In tonight's episode, he returns to his West Virgina hometown to work for 30 days in a coal mine — a job back in the news recently after several tragic accidents over the past few years. Spurlock assumes the duties of a rookie miner (mostly grunt work including shoveling coal and hauling equipment) while living with his supervisor and using his days off to talk with industry executives, environmentalists, and family members of workers who died in mine explosions. Later episodes this season will find a former NFL player spending 30 days in a wheelchair, an anti-gun activist moving in with a family of sharpshooters, and a hunter spending a month among a group of vegan PETA employees.

I've been impressed with this show in seasons past, and I find it fascinating to see what lessons the participants learn — or don't — by the time their month is up. Will you be tuning in to the show (10 p.m. EDT and PDT)? To check out a preview for the season, just

TV Tonight (With Sneak Peek Video Clips!): The Lost Season Finale

BuzzSugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:15:46 -0700

I'm honestly having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that Lost is coming to an end for another season. And as desperately curious I am to find out some answers to the bazillions of questions brought up in this show over the season (just like every season), there's a part of me that wants to prolong the anticipation!

Well, OK, not really. Especially after seeing some teaser clips for tonight's finale (or, final two parts of the three-part finale, whatever), I just know it's going to be juicy and tense and chock-full of all the Lost craziness this season has awesomely delivered.

The basic plot description for tonight's finale: "The face-off between the survivors and the freighter people continues, and the Oceanic Six find themselves closer to rescue."

After the jump you can check out two great clips. In one, Kate and Ben are unexpectedly caught in a crazy jungle shootout with Keamy and his goons. In the other, Locke and Jack have a typical reason vs. faith argument regarding the island and whether or not it is full of miracles. To watch the videos and tell me what you think,

Tonight on ABC: Goodbye (For Now) to Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty

BuzzSugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 13:00:52 -0700

Friends, the time has come. Just when it felt like we got our Thursday night television back after the strike, it's ending again with tonight's season finales of both Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty.

In the case of Grey's, I'm kinda glad to see this season put out of its misery. The show tends to have really great runs of interesting story lines, but something tells me the writers' strike had a major impact (understandably) on the show getting its mojo back. I've said before that I just don't care about Derek's relationship with Rose because she's just . . . annoying. Hopefully tonight's episode will finally deliver and leave us wanting more.

Ugly Betty, on the other hand, did not skip a beat upon returning, and the show just gets better and better with each episode. Of course, the Gio-Betty-Henry love triangle is compelling. Not to mention the fact that Wilhelmina and Marc are back — along with Amanda — which adds up to a lot of laughs. Call me a sap, but I think the show continues to do a great job of unleashing outlandish plot lines and then reeling itself back in for some genuinely touching moments.

Tonight is a biggie as it looks like Henry returns with a big question to ask Betty, plus there are guest stars galore including Lindsay Lohan and Naomi Campbell. I'm very excited — nay, giddy! — for this one.

To check out a preview clip from each show and weigh in on which finale you're looking forward to the most,

TV Tonight: So You Think You Can Dance

BuzzSugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:45:06 -0700

There seems to be a neverending barrage of dance shows on TV right now. There's the good (Dancing With the Stars), the bad (Step It Up and Dance), and the ugly (Your Mama Don't Dance). And even though you guys seemed pretty evenly split about the dance show trend, the show that the majority of you were most excited about was So You Think You Can Dance. I completely agree.

Tonight kicks off Season 4 of the show, and from the looks of the preview, this season will be good. Host Cat Deeley (who looks a little like she could be Blake Lively's sister, no?) promises that this year packs "more thrills, more spills, and more talent than any other show on TV." Quite the mighty claim. Tonight, expect the usual American Idol-esque antics during the audition process where the show will focus on the amazingly good and the awesomely bad. From there, the best dancers will get a ticket for the next round of auditions in Las Vegas. I know I'll be tuning in, how about you?

To see a preview reel from this season of So You Think You Can Dance,

TV Tonight: The Reaper Season Finale

BuzzSugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:04:54 -0700

Well, the silver lining around this season finale cloud is that Reaper is definitely getting another season on the CW! This is excellent news, and maybe the summer will provide folks with some time to catch up on the first season of this bizarrely funny, fantastical show.

It feels like just yesterday I was super skeptical about the premise of this show (a bounty hunter for the devil? He uses a vaccuum? What?) and then quickly won over by the quirky humor and lovable cast when I viewed the pilot. I'm thrilled to know that it will live again on the CW for another season.

As for tonight's finale, titled "Cancun," here's the description: "The demons target Sam (Bret Harrison) when they fear he may pose a greater threat to their rebellion than the Devil (Ray Wise) himself. A treacherous trap is set, bringing surprising allies to Sam's side and leading to shocking revelations that could have explosive implications for his future. Meanwhile, Sock (Tyler Labine) falls for a demon (guest star Cindy Sampson)."

You can see a video clip of Sock being devilishly seduced, along with the regular CW preview for tonight's episode if you

TV Tonight: The Season Finale of House, Part 2

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:33:20 -0700

After the eerie, mysterious first episode of the two-part season finale of House, I am more than ready to find out what the heck's going on for real here. Many of you were pleased with last week's Part One of the finale, so hopefully tonight's will be just as gripping, and a satisfying way to sign off for the House-less summer.

According to the description for tonight's episode, "House remains inhibited by injuries sustained from a bus accident that has also left a victim rapidly deteriorating from a mysterious condition. Clues inside House's head hold the key to a patient's condition, and House's friendship with Wilson is tested beyond limits as murky memories from the bus accident the night before threaten to change their lives forever." The preview for tonight already gives me chills. To check it out for yourself before tuning in tonight at 9:00,

TV Tonight: The Desperate Housewives Season Finale

BuzzSugar — Sun, 18 May 2008 13:30:35 -0700

OK, after seeing the sneak peeks for tonight's season finale of Desperate Housewives, I officially cannot wait for this two-hour event. Seriously. Sometimes the show can be pretty hit-or-miss, but lately it's been consistently hitting and tonight promises more of the same.

After the jump you can check out two sneak previews for tonight's finale. In one, Katherine and Bree pleasantly trade party planning ideas while calmly shooting off rounds at the firing range (it's such the perfect combo of dark and funny). In the other, Gaby helps an undercover police guy bug Ellie's room — but finds herself in a sticky situation when Ellie unexpectedly returns (the last line of that one is the best). Elsewhere in the episode, the women meet Susan's new baby (hence the photo above), Lynette is accused of child abuse and, apparently, "Susan realizes she will soon lose someone she loves."

Wowza. Check back tomorrow for my rundown so we can discuss. Until then, you can watch the sneak peeks if you

TV Tonight: One-Hour Finale of The Office, "Goodbye, Toby"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:30:22 -0700

Awww, tear! As much as I think The Office hasn't been quite as glorious this season as it has in the past, I'm still going to miss it when it's gone. I'm also just itching to see tonight's one-hour finale because what if something big happens (like a you-know-what from Jim)?! Tonight already promises a sad farewell (the title of the episode is "Goodbye, Toby") and a special guest star (the Oscar-nominated Amy Ryan of Gone Baby Gone, pictured).

The episode description is this: "It's Toby's goodbye party at Dunder Mifflin and Michael demands a huge celebration that matches the joy in his heart. Angela, sick of Michael's unreasonable last minute demands, refuses, and Michael turns to Phyllis to take over the party planning committee. Meanwhile, Dwight and Meredith haze the new HR woman, Holly (Amy Ryan)."

One of the promos claims there will be "surprises right down to the very last second." Aaah! Cheesy as it may sound, I've already got butterflies in my stomach. What about you? What are your hopes and dreams for tonight's Season Four finale?

To see a preview and discuss,

TV Tonight: How I Met Your Mother Gets Britney Back

BuzzSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:31:27 -0700

After Britney Spears made her first appearance on How I Met Your Mother last month, show star Neil Patrick Harris got into a kind of media kerfuffle over whether he did or did not say he wanted to keep guest stars like Britney off the show. So I'm finding it a little amusing that when Brit returns to the show tonight, she seems to be spending most of her scenes with Harris.

Britney is back to reprise her role as Abby, the receptionist in Ted's dermatologist's office. As we now know, Ted and Stella have been dating — and raising all sorts of speculation that she's the mother — but Abby isn't faring quite so well. Not only did she have to watch Ted, who she believes might be the love of her life, run off with her boss, but she also suffered the indignity of sleeping with Barney and then never hearing from him again. (You and half the women in New York, Abby.) When the two meet again, though, they bond over their shared hatred of Ted and decide to show off like a couple — even showing up at the bar in matching baby-blue sweaters.

This episode looks like it will feature more of Britney than the two-line snippets we got last time. Do you think you'll be tuning in? Britney's last appearance brought in about a million extra viewers, and though the series is expected to be renewed at Wednesday's CBS upfronts regardless, it would still be nice to have another good showing. To check out some scenes from tonight's episode, just

TV Tonight: Scrubs and 30 Rock Sign Off for the Season

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 07:30:01 -0700

It seems like just yesterday we were getting our TV shows back, and tonight, a couple of them are leaving us already. Scrubs and 30 Rock have the first finales of this screwy May sweeps period, and both episodes look like they're not to be missed.

First off, Scrubs. It's a curious case right now, anyway, as this should have been the show's series, not season, finale. NBC didn't want to renew the show for another year, and it seemed doomed to end without a proper finale — until ABC, which produces the show, stepped in and said it wanted to air another season itself. The announcement hasn't been officially made yet, but it's expected to come at next week's upfronts. In any case, the show is bidding its farewell to the NBC Thursday night lineup with a blockbuster episode playing homage to The Princess Bride, with some sets and costumes that must have blown the show's budget for a month.

Then, on 30 Rock, Liz Lemon might be pregnant! Well, Floyd and Dennis have both been in town recently . . . Also, Jack officially leaves GE for DC, where he finds things aren't quite what they expected. I'm most excited for the guest stars in this episode, which include Edie Falco reprising her role as CC and Matthew Broderick playing a character named Cooter. It was funny just typing that.

To check out a promo for the two finales — plus new episodes of My Name is Earl and The Office, which have their finales next week — just

TV Tonight: Guest Stars Galore on ABC

BuzzSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 08:30:07 -0700

ABC brought back its Thursday lineup a week ago, but it's tonight that two of the network's shows — Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy — are really making their presence felt. Both have great guest stars lined up to build some momentum as we roll toward the all-too-soon season finales.

First up, Ugly Betty hosts Project Runway's famously faux-hawked, famously satired fourth-season winner, Christian Siriano. The designer appears as himself, a hot new designer whom the Mode staff is trying to woo for a fashion spread — complete with designs that ProjRun fans will likely recognize from his collection. Runway judge Nina Garcia will appear as well.

But the one I'm really excited for is the return of Kate Walsh as Addison on Grey's. I thought Addie lost most of her sparkle, charm, and cojones when she moved down the West Coast to that Private Practice of hers, and I hope that her return to Seattle Grace puts her kickass side back in the spotlight. (Hey, maybe the writers will remember how to do that, and then apply it to PP when it returns in the Fall.) Oh yeah, and Elizabeth Reaser (Rebecca/Jane Doe/Ava) is back to deliver some news to Alex — but I'm too fixated on what fun Addison antics will ensue to give that much thought.

Want to check out clips with tonight's guest stars? Just

TV Tonight: House

BuzzSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:30:58 -0700

Over the past couple of weeks, we've seen incompetent bosses, self-absorbed medical residents, sex-crazed high schoolers, and even some devil's bounty hunters return to the small screen. But if there's one character whose return I've been anticipating most eagerly, it's the crankypants Dr. House. Tonight, House returns — now in its new Monday night slot — to deliver his standard dose of bitter sarcasm.

House went through a pretty radical transformation in the Fall, so just to make sure we're all on the same page, here's a quick rundown of what's going on. House's old team is no more; they're all still at PPH, but only Foreman is working directly with House. The new team consists of plastic surgeon Taub, bumbling fool Kutner, and mysterious Thirteen. The runner-up for making the team was Amber, aka Cutthroat B*tch, who managed to get the better of House anyway by dating Wilson. When we last left things, House was trying to figure out whether Amber was looking for romance, a job, or both.

And that's where things pick up tonight, with House and Amber each vying for a little bit of Wilson's time. The three of them have some of the best chemistry on the show right now, so I'm eager to see them all sharing the screen again. Meanwhile, the patient of the week is a guy House thinks is just too nice for his own good, which should be fun; after all, is there a personality trait House likes less than niceness? To check out a couple of clips from the episode, just

TV Tonight: Grey's Anatomy (and, Um, Everything Else)

BuzzSugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:30:27 -0700

Look! Look at What to TiVo! You know what word isn't there? Repeat. At long last, it feels like a normal Thursday, full of my favorite comedies and soapy dramas. Welcome back, television!

Tonight really belongs to ABC, which premieres its dream-team lineup of Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, and Lost for the first time. I've already checked in with Betty and the cast's awesome video podcast, and compared to the other shows, I haven't been missing Lost for quite as long. So that leaves our friends at Seattle Grace to spotlight on this night of new, new, new TV.

When things pick up, it's six weeks after we last checked in with Seattle's finest. That means Derek and Rose have been dating for six weeks, Callie and Cristina have managed to live together for a while without killing each other, and Lexie and George are now roommates in a squalid new place. This episode finds the residents competing in some sort of surgical contest judged by Bailey, while Callie forges a friendship with Erica Hahn (countdown to Cristina explosion: 3, 2, 1 . . . ).

Shonda Rhimes has let a few things slip about what's coming up — the brief return of Addison, some developments with Meredith and Derek — and I'm ready to kick things off tonight. What about you? To check out some clips, just

TV Tonight: Reaper

BuzzSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:30:56 -0700

One night after Gossip Girl steamed up our TV sets, a very different CW show also returns to the air. Reaper is back — and if trying to figure out when the show was airing has seemed like time slot roulette for the past couple of months, then the best news is that it's right home where it started: Tuesdays at 9 p.m.

The show still has five new episodes left, and tonight's sounds like a good one. For one thing, it guest-stars Michael Ian Black and Ken Marino again. For another thing, it involves their characters trying to set a trap for the Devil. Now, I'm just guessing here, but that sounds like a wildly bad idea. There's also a romantic subplot involving Sock trying to win Josie back, which doesn't seem like the easiest task ever (though possibly easier than outsmarting the Devil). Oh, and there are some developments in the Sam/Andi relationship, some of which you can see previewed in the video clips below.

The CW hasn't renewed Reaper for another season yet, and TV Guide recently placed its odds for survival at a four out of 10. Want to boost that? Tune in tonight. To check out a couple of previews of the episode, just

TV Tonight: Gossip Girl

BuzzSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 05:30:16 -0700

Tonight, there's a new Queen B in town — and her name starts with J. Gossip Girl returns from its strike-induced break with the first of five new episodes, which find a disgraced Blair ceding control of her Upper East Side minions to the rising star from Brooklyn, Jenny Humphrey.

We've already heard quite a lot about what's to come over the next few weeks: More Bad Serena, the arrival of Michelle Trachtenberg as Georgina Sparks, a potential wedding, and the possible outing of one of our characters. Tonight's episode, "The Blair B*tch Project," sees Blair tentatively returning to school after her public, pregnancy scare-related scandal — but at least she has Serena by her side. Serena has issues of her own to deal with, though, not least of which is adjusting to living with her new future stepbrother, Chuck Bass.

The CW has been trying to drum up interest in these episodes, what with a salacious ad campaign and the end of free online streaming. Will it work? I guess we'll find out tonight. You can check out a couple of preview clips for the episode if you

TV Tonight: Brothers & Sisters

BuzzSugar — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 07:30:36 -0700

Brothers & Sisters hasn't been gone as long as some of the other shows that went off the air during the strike — we spoiled fans of the Walker family got to see an original episode in February, after all. But when the show went off the air, it seemed like a lot of big things were about to happen, so I'm frankly relieved that it's finally returning.

While I'm excited about many of the upcoming developments in the B&S universe, I'm a little worried about others — particularly the dynamic the writers have been setting up with Rebecca and Justin, though they recently assured E! that the resolution will be better than viewers imagine. (For some reason, I have shades of Shonda Rhimes promising Grey's Anatomy viewers that she wasn't following the rules of TV right before bringing Meredith back from the dead — once bitten, twice shy?)

On the other hand, I've been loving most of the other Walker siblings' stories — especially the ever-lovable Kevin and his dating issues. (There are plenty of juicy spoilers out there about where his story might be going, and while I won't mention them here, well, go here and scroll down.) Plus, watching matriarch Nora Walker wade into romance again has been a great argument for showcasing interesting, complex middle-aged characters in primetime. That sounds like it will continue tonight, as Nora reacts to a life-altering offer from Isaac.

Which Walker stories are you digging most this season? To check out a sneak peek from tonight's episode, plus a recap of the series narrated by Rebecca, just

TV Tonight: The Office

BuzzSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:30:15 -0700

As good as it was to see The Office crew on TV last week, I did wish that the first episode back had been set in, well, the actual office. Luckily, it seems that I'll be getting my fix this week with a Dunder-Mifflin-centric episode.

Apparently, someone's been encroaching on the office's parking spaces, and Kevin and Andy team up for a siege to win them back. That doesn't go over so well with the bosses of the other five businesses that share Dunder-Mifflin's office park, though. And where's Michael, you ask? Well, he's distracted — apparently after his falling-out with Jan, he's become obsessed with a woman modeling a chair in an office-supply catalog. As we've seen a few times now, Michael on the prowl can be hilariously terrifying, so I'm curious to see how this one works out for him. Oh, and there's some cute Pam-and-Jim hand-holding, at least according to NBC's promo.

Are you excited to see The Office get back to its roots? To check out a couple of promos for tonight — one for just The Office, one for all four NBC comedies — just

TV Tonight: The Real World Turns 20

BuzzSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:30:06 -0700

Think fast: Which Real World was your first? Mine was the San Francisco season, the show's third, with the consciousness-raising storylines of HIV-positive Pedro and the attention-grabbing antics of troublemaker Puck. That season got me hooked on the show, which I followed regularly for the next decade or so, watching as group after group of attractive 20-somethings moved into an immaculately decorated house together to "stop being polite and start getting real."

Tonight, the 20th edition of The Real World premieres on MTV. It's strange to think how different television has become since the series first took the air in 1992. I'm sure there were reality series before The Real World, but the show's influence is unmistakable in so many of today's shows — notably anything that puts strangers in a house together just to watch what happens.

For the longest time, there seemed to be something pure in The Real World — like the people had chosen to do the show more for the experience and less for the exposure. But recent seasons have seemed less honest and more like all the other reality shows the series spawned, with cast members seeming to have great aspirations of Hollywood fame. So it's oddly appropriate that for its 20th season, The Real World is blatantly going Hollywood. Every member of the cast aspires to work in entertainment, whether as an actor, a model, a reporter, or a singer. On the one hand, that could make the made-up drama even more annoying, since it's clear everyone wants to get noticed; on the other hand, at least they're being honest about it.

Will you be checking out this milestone season of The Real World? To watch a preview, just