Friday, October 22, 2010

Dysfunctional is the New Normal

Even if the 2010 fall television schedule have not had any break-out hits, I must say that FOX’s Raising Hope and CBS’$#*! My Dad Says is by far the best new comedies of the fall season. Why are these comedies the best out of all the new series? I would have to say it’s because they are all about dysfunctional families. While they may be dysfunctional, it showcases how they are still a family, and will do anything for one another.


Raising Hope Cast Pic
Photo Credit: FOX Television Network

Raising Hope is a family comedy from the mind of My Name Is Earl creator Greg Garica. So, you already know that it is going to be off the wall.   Jimmy Chance is a 23-year-old who life’s is going nowhere. But, Jimmy’s life takes a drastic turn after a one night stand with Lucy: a wanted felon. Months later, Jimmy visits Lucy in prison, where he discovers that she has given birth to a baby daughter. When Jimmy brings home his daughter, his family is less than happy about the new addition to the family.

What I like most about the series is that, while the family has its problem, their hearts are always in the right place. Raising Hope was the first series of the season to be picked up for a full season. The series stars Lucas Neff, Garret Dillahunt, Martha Plimpton, Shannon Woodward, and Cloris Leachman.  This is one comedy that will have you laughing out loud throughout the entire episode. Raising Hope airs Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. on FOX.


Photo Gallery: $#*! My Dad Says
Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Television

My other favorite new series of the fall season is $#*! My Dad Says.  I almost missed out on this hilarious new series because I not a fan of William Shatner. But, being a fan of Nicole Sullivan (Rita Rocks), I had to tune it.  From the moment I watched the first episode, I knew I was hooked. The series is from the minds behind Will & Grace, David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, and based on the popular Twitter feed by Justin Halpern. 

Shatner plays Ed Goodson, a 72-year-old divorced (three times) father of two adult sons, Henry and Vince. Ed is not your typically father or 72-year-old. Ed is a forthright and opinionated person, who has no problem expressing his unsolicited and wildly politically incorrect observations to just about anyone who will listen to him.

While Ed like to pretend he does not have a soft spot in him, he shows it when he agrees to let his son, Henry, move back home after he loses his job and cannot pay his rent. But, he never lets him forget that he is a freeloader.  The series stars William Shatner, Jonathan Sadowski, Will Sasso and Nicole Sullivan. $#*! My Dad Says airs Thursday nights at 7:30 p.m. on CBS.

These two comedies have something that other comedies on television lack. They are actually funny.  If there is one thing that can be agreed upon, it is that dysfunction is the new normal when it comes to a television family.

Written by:  Aaron Wallis

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Is Pink Expecting?

31-year-old pop sensation, Pink, might very well have a bun in the oven.  Rumors started flying after the Sun published a photo of a possibly-pregnant Pink with husband, Carey Hart. She posted a message on her twitter account leading people to believe she is expecting.  While she spent her career “working blue,” singing about topics ranging from drug abuse to domestic problems, one cannot help but wonder how this kid will turn out. 
Celebrity kids are not too messed up in the head, are they?  Angelina Jolie is the daughter of celebrity, Jon Voight, and she turned out okay…right?  I mean, once you disregard her childhood cutting habits, unusual adoption practices and her allowing her young children to collect knives.  Pink may not be as eccentric, but the potential is there.

Written by:  Thomas Sullinger

What a Diva?

Mariah Carey fell on stage during her concert in Singapore. Apparently her heels were just too high. She tried to cover up the stumble by saying it was what she wanted to do, but from the reaction of her dancers it was obvious that that was not a planned dance move. 
So as she rolled on the stage humiliating herself and probably all of her producers her inner “diva” came out. Carey called for someone to come out on stage and take her shoes off. As she belittled her stylist by saying “she is a darling dear” Carey kept on singing. 
This was not Carey’s first “diva” moment on stage or her fist stumble. Last year during her show in New York City on New Year’s Eve she called for someone to bring her lipstick and fluff her hair on stage. 
In November while on the Jay Leno Show she fell while coming on stage. Now to me it seems that either Carey needs to wear flats or lay off whatever she is having before these shows. Not to mention that she needs to leave the “diva” moments at home with her child, I mean husband. Really how old is Nick Cannon?

Written by: Chantel Moseby

Here we go again!

First the Gosselin family, now, the Masche family, these days no realtiy T.V. family is safe.  That right!  The couple from Raising Sextuplets calls it splits! The father got arrested for allegedly going off on his wife and father-in-law. He thought he had a lot on his plate until his wife filed for separation on Sept.17.
This is not the same thing as filing for a divorce. I think that if she is serious about being angry with him over this then she just needs to go ahead and file for divorce. She is wasting her time and wasting everyone else’s by only filing for separation. What is that anyways? Filing for separation…I didn’t even know that was an option. I thought you were either married or divorced…not “legally” separated.
According to eonline “The paperwork was submitted to Yayapi County Superior Court in Arizona less than a week after Bryan got himself nearly tasered and charged with, threatening domestic violence against his significant other and her dad in front of his reality TV starring brood”.


Written by: Lauren Harrison

Photo: TLC

Second Chance at Love

Brad Womack from The Bachelor's 11th season will indeed get a second shot at love on the resurgent ABC series' upcoming 15th season.

According to ABC, Womack has undergone "intensive therapy" and has been on a "quite painful journey of self-awareness." During the show's 11th season, Womack decided not to proposal to either Jenni Croft or DeAnna Pappas.
According to an article on eonline, when asked, why are you coming back for more? Brad said he believes it can work and he doesn’t care what people think. He said, “So here are 25 to 30 women that I never, ever would meet in regular life, and I'm clearly doing something wrong. I'm still single. So why not?”

I don’t think this guy should get another chance. If he screwed up last time, why won’t he screw up this time? It’s not going to be any easier than season 11. In fact, I think it will be harder because he’s going to have so much pressure to do it right this time. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gives up half way through the show.

Written by: Thomas Fancher

Photo: ABC Television

Friday, September 24, 2010

Mike & Molly Review



The new CBS series Mike & Molly did not live up to the laugh-out loud-expectations I have come to count on from a series produced by Chuck Lorre, as series such as The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men led me to look for nothing but laughs from Mike & Molly.

However, with Mike & Molly it seems the show focused too much on the fat jokes and almost every attempt at humor revolved around endless barbs about the obese. At times the series did have a laugh or two. But, was it enough to keep viewers coming back? I mean, how long will a series be able to last when the whole premise is about making fun of overweight people? My hope for the series is that it will branch out with more interesting and funnier storylines.

What I liked most about the series was the lead character of Molly (Melissa McCarthy), her family – which consisted of her mother and sister – and well, that’s about it.

Mike & Molly, a series set in Chicago, is about a police officer and a fourth grade teacher who finds love at their Overeaters Anonymous meeting. While they may have found love at their Overeaters Anonymous meeting, Mike and Molly must deal with criticism and constant jokes from his partner, her attractive sister, her mother, and a Senegalese waiter at the cops’ favorite restaurant.

The series stars Billy Gardell (My Name is Earl), Melissa McCarthy (Gilmore Girls), Katy Mixon (Four Christmases), Swoosie Kurtz (Pushing Daisies), and Reno Wilson (Blind Justice).

I have yet to decide if I will delete Mike & Molly from my DVR schedule. I will at least give it a few more episodes to see if there is any potential in the series before I give up all hope on the series.

Mike & Molly airs Mondays at 8:30 p.m. on CBS.

Written by: Aaron Wallis
Photo Credit: CBS Television Network

Friday, April 2, 2010

Meagan's Musings

Considering we missed last week because of spring break, I thought I would call this segment: In Case You Missed It. Here goes. In Case You Missed It: We found out there may be truth to the best actress curse. Sandra Bullock may have taken home the Oscar for best actress, but almost two weeks later we found out that her bad boy hubs Jesse James has been having multiple affairs with some, well, interesting ladies. The one we have heard the most about is Michelle “Bombshell” McGee. Yes, that is “Bombshell”. Seriously, Jesse? You choose her over your wife Sandra Bullock?! Moving on, In Case You Missed It: Dancing with the Stars premiered last week. Surprisingly, Kate Gosselin lacked not only dancing skills but personality as well. Actually I hate to say it but it isn’t much of a surprise, mainly because she didn’t have her ex Jon there to blame everything on. One person who certainly did not lack personality was Pamela Anderson. I suppose she does have some experience in dancing though. Well, honestly, she has experience in looking like a hot mess too and she did for the show too. In Case You Missed It: Reggie Bush and Kim Kardashian called it quits, again. They are pretty much the epitome of the on again/ off again couple. What I find interesting is the reason for the break up this time around. According to Reggie, he just can’t handle all of the cameras from the reality show intruding in his life. Hmmm, so I guess it’s up to Kim, fame or yo man? And finally, In Case You Missed it (and in this case I hope you did): Justin Beiber, or the Beibs as we like to call him, performed on the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. All the teeny boppers were screaming about how awesome he was but for some reason the Beibs thought he could rap part of the song, and trust me it was terrible. Sorry Beibs, leave it up to Ludacris next time.


***** Be sure to tune in to Take 15 next week. We are having a special All Guys show. It will be the manliest man show ever!*****