regarding recording television

i'm sure they'll go on

DEAD LIKE ME has been cancelled.

i don't think there was a lot of support for this show. there was some. i liked it, but if faced with a list of five shows that should survive i can't say this is one i'd pick. (and i just made up that number five. i have no insight into the programming decisions at showtime.)

Upcoming Recordings 12/14 - 12/18

I wanted to start writing this saying that I’d just watched two episodes of Bravo’s SIGNIFICANT OTHERS. Instead, I sat down at the computer after watching HUFF.

Alex recently purchased the Neko Case live album, THE TIGERS HAVE SPOKEN. I heard it the first time last weekend while playing poker with friends. It’s been sitting on the coffee table since then, just staring up at me, begging to be heard again. I’m not one to write a year end music list, but I’ve got to say that the Neko Case show I saw this summer at Southpaw was one of the year’s music highlights for me. This album is damn good and worth adding to your holiday lists.

Like last week, a lot of shows this week seem to be in rerun mode. I’m okay with that as tomorrow is trivia night (and I still feel like I overdosed on television this fall. But maybe I’m thinking of Russell (the Oliver Platt character in HUFF) snorting too much heroin in the backseat of a limousine earlier tonight. I’m telling you, this Musketeer’s performance is one of the reasons to watch HUFF (no matter what Mitch says). I mean, c’mon, Oliver Platt was the voice of Luther in SSX TRICKY.

Here are a few shows airing this week. It’s unlikely that all of them are on your radar.

TUESDAY (14 Dec)

HENRY’S FILM CORNER (IFC, 5:15am) – Henry Rollins talks about movies or interviews people. I’m really going to have to check the website to find out. It has something to do with the “subculture” blah blah blah. I think I read a brief description of this show in Time Out New York and they had issues with the fact that Hank has done so much TV before and fails so miserably here.

WEDNESDAY (15 Dec)

WORLD POKER TOUR (Travel, 9pm) – World Poker Tour action gets underway again, but I think this is just a special episode. It’s the “Ladies of Poker Night 2.”

THURSDAY (16 Dec)

TATTOOED TEARS (Trio, 12am) – Before he got all up in the business of the Hollywood Madam and Courtney Love, Nick Broomfield was making this 1978 documentary about a California detention center for young people.

FRIDAY (17 Dec)
AUSTIN CITY LIMITS (WNET, 12am) – I think Mitch and Dan are the only two people who check out this TV blog on a regular basis. As it turns out, they’re both Elvis Costello fans. I feel like I should’ve let them know when he appeared on BREAKFAST WITH THE ARTS a few weeks ago. In attempt to make up for that, please allow this to serve as notice that one of their favorite performers will be on television tonight (well, Thursday night, actually). I think this originally aired a month ago, but in case you missed it, it’s on again.

SATURDAY (18 Dec)

A WORLD OF ART: WORKS IN PROGRESS (WNYE, 2am) – Bill Viola, the noted videomaker is profiled during this thirty minute show. I have no idea what to expect. No idea at all. The program was made in 1997 and is part of PBS’ educational legacy. It should be a nice change of pace – it’s the kind of thing I wish Ovation would actually air on a frequent basis.

b.p.

if i could have a dvr filled with episodes of mtv's hidden-camera reality show BOILING POINTS i would be the happiest boy in the world. there's something about the show i can't stay away from. whenever i flip past and it's on, i stop. if it's an episode i haven't seen before, i watch the entire episode. during thanksgiving while i was in virginiai stayed up late too many nights in a row watching fresh episodes of BOILING POINTS. i feel like i should be offended and outraged, but i'm not! i'm addicted. with my interest last night in WIFE SWAP and now my admission of loving BOILING POINTS, i think i've quickly moved into lowest common denominator territory. i'm going to check out JUDGE JUDY in a few minutes and i'll get back to you.

wife swap on abc

i'm currently watching WIFE SWAP on abc (wednesdays @ 10pm) and it is blowing my mind. i've never seen the show and i'm so frustrated that it has commercials. i can't get enough of this episode (for future reference - it's the aguirre/ray swap). dallas "punk rock" wife visits the family of "moral, upstanding" south carolina family, and vice versa. it's crazy. did anyone see this????

long way round

right now you should point all recording devices to LONG WAY ROUND. it's the show now airing on bravo (thursdays @ 8pm) with ewan mcgregor and charley boorman (director john boorman's son) traveling across the world on motorcycles. it's a relaxing, thinking man's AMAZING RACE (but only sort of). i've only seen one episode (the one from a week and a half ago) and i'm totally captivated. during commercials i couldn't press the fast forward button fast enough.

two more things worth mentioning:
on saturday afternoon i watched PROJECT RUNWAY, also on bravo (wednesday @ 10pm). it wasn't too bad. it's like every other reality show but so far the casting seems pretty good. it's one of those shows that you might want to record this week because everything else seems like a rerun.

i'm currently watching THE BIG IDEA WITH DONNY DEUTSCH. his first guest tonight was lake bell of BOSTON LEGAL. you may remember her as the bartender friend from MISS MATCH (which i loved). donny is great with interviewing guests. i know i say this every three months, but he seems to genuinely enjoy his role as tv host. it's the most amazing thing to watch. i also like that he usually has guests who are B and C level celebrities - the folks you might not normally see on television (or that i don't normally see because i don't watch too many talk shows). the interview with lake bell was great. she was relaxed. they traded some funny stories. it almost made me want to sample another episode of BOSTON LEGAL. i am in awe that there is no fan site for her. do people not do that any more?