It looks like Courtney Cox is bringing in the big guns for her new show, “Dirt.”

“Friends” darling Jennifer Aniston will play a lesbian in her guest stint of FX’s “Dirt” and share a kiss with Dirt star Courteney Cox, confirms “Dirt” producer Matthew Carnahan. The former Friends co-stars, who are best friends in real life, play bitter enemies and rival tabloid editors on the March 27 season finale.

Source

This will probably be a ratings grabber, as I’m sure they intended it to be. However, it is transparently one. Having Jennifer Aniston on the show is one thing, but a lesbian kiss? That seems almost too obviously a plea for more viewers. I was interested when I heard they were going to write a character for Aniston, but it seems like the easy way out to make her a lesbian with a kiss to share with Cox. I think they are both talented enough to sustain successful careers without such a publicity stunt.

Of course, no one asked me my opinion.

It turns out the hoopla concerning who will win the ratings battle for last night was pointless. Never once did I consider a third-party victory because the two shows would split the popular vote. “Two and a Half Men” took home the gold in the battle of Monday night’s viewers.

The comedy attracted 16.1 million viewers Monday. “Heroes” averaged 14.8 million for the hour while “24″ gripped 14.4 million. In terms of 18-to-49 viewers — the count that advertisers care about — “Heroes” was out out in front, followed by “24,” then “Two and a Half Men.”

It was actually a pretty decent showing for all of them, but I’m certain Charlie Sheen is happy to hear the news this morning. Who is it that keeps saying the sitcom is dead? Last night it was the sitcom that won the ratings war between two high-dollar dramas.

Do you have a TiVo? A cable company provided DVR? Are you wishing you had one in anticipation of the Monday night (January 22nd) match-up between 24 and Heroes?

There have been notable ratings battles in the past, with the original probably being Survivor v/s Friends on a Thursday night back when NBC cornered the Must See TV market. Friends lost that battle paving the way for newcomers to challenge juggernauts in the years following.

The most recent ratings time-slot battle was earlier this year and it was between the two powerhouses CSI and Grey’s Anatomy. Grey’s ended up winning that battle surprising TV execs, critics, and commentators everywhere. However, this battle didn’t seem to hurt either show terribly as both seem to still get around 20 million viewers a night. This seems to show that there is not much of an overlap between fans of the two shows. It appears that viewers liked one or the other, eliminating the choice between the two. (I’m a CSI fan, myself.)

All of that said - Monday’s battle may prove to be a good one. It seems, according to other commentators in the field, that there could be much more of an overlap between the viewers between 24 and Heroes. My husband and I are prime examples as we are extreme fans of both. According to Zap2It, the ratings are close going into the battle:

Here are the numbers: Heroes is averaging 15.3 million viewers a week and a 6.8 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic. Over its first four hours, 24 is about the same: 15.7 million viewers and a 6.0 in the demo.

I guess we’ll see. I know that my TiVos (both of them) and my DVR (dual-tuner) get a lot of work this time of year as it is - so Monday night will be no different in my home. I am simply glad I don’t have to choose. But if I did - I’m afraid Heroes would win out.

Here are the videos of the segments that aired yesterday when O’Reilly and Colbert went on each other’s perspective programs.

I love how Colbert stroked O’Reilly’s ego the entire time, he probably had to go throw up after the interview.

Here are the awards from last night’s Golden Globes given to TV shows and stars:

Best Television Series - Drama Grey’s Anatomy

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama Hugh Laurie – House

Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy Ugly Betty

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy America Ferrera – Ugly Betty

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television Elizabeth I

Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television Helen Mirren – Elizabeth I

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Jeremy
Irons – Elizabeth I

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Bill Nighy – Gideon’s Daughter

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Emily Blunt – Gideon’s Daughter

Here are some pictures of the winners from last night’s awards:

I find this clip humorous for so many reasons. I love the CSI franchise. The original (Las Vegas) is my favorite, of course, but I also TiVo CSI:NY. CSI:Miami, however, is not something I’ll even casually watch. Something about David Caruso and his constant removal of his sunglasses, usually accompanied by some outrageously staged one-liner, drives me batty. This YouTube clip shows a montage of those Caruso moments that frames how hilariously hideous those performances are.

And yes, I’m well aware of the fact that Gil Grissom (William L. Petersen) and Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise) deliver the same type of canned one-liners, but something about their delivery feels a little less like a sketch comedy routine that is making fun of procedural dramas. When I see David Caruso deliver his lines, I tend to brace myself for an appearance from Amy Poehler playing the part of Emily Procter’s character in a mock of the show itself. I’m always disappointed to realize it’s the real deal and that David Caruso is actually trying to be serious. And failing miserably.

[tags]CSI, CSI:Miami, David Caruso[/tags]

Great news!

Bill O’Reilly and Stephen Colbert are going to trade appearances on each other’s shows.

I’ve been waiting a long time for this. I can’t wait to see how Colbert handles O’Reilly.

O’Reilly was quoted as saying:

“I’m really looking forward to speaking to a man who owes his entire career to me.”

Colbert’s response:

“I look forward to the evening. It is an honor to speak face-to-face with a broadcasting legend, and I feel the same way about Mr. O’Reilly.”

This truly will be a showdown for the ages. Personally I think that Colbert will come out on top on this one. O’Reilly seems to have gone the route of yelling and screaming at everyone so they can’t get a word in edge-wise. While Colbert is a master of sarcasm and satire, and I think he’ll make O’Reilly look like a moron just like Jon Stewart did to Tucker Carlson on Hardball.

Seeing Ellen DeGeneres win the “Funny Female Star” trophy on the People’s Choice Awards last night was enough to make me happy. She has been one of my favorites since long before the show, Ellen was ever on. Having her win the Talk Show Host award was just icing on the cake.

Most years I feel very left out of the loop during the PCAs because very rarely do they ever choose what I like. Which I usually attribute to my tastes not following popular vote. However, besides Ellen, several of my favorites walked away with Awards last night. I love that “The Class” won Best New Comedy, but I’m surprised “My Name is Earl” didn’t win the Comedy trophy. I don’t watch the show but just about everyone I know does - so I was shocked.

I’m glad “Heroes” won best New Drama, I think it is so brilliant for so many reasons. It deserves all of the alcolades it receives. However, it’s too bad “Grey’s Anatomy” won in the Best Drama category. I still can’t quite get into that show. It amazes me how popular it is. I was really pulling for “House” in that category.

Here is the complete list:

MOVIES:
# Female star: Jennifer Aniston
# Male star: Johnny Depp
# Leading lady: Cameron Diaz
# Leading man: Vince Vaughn
# Female action star: Halle Berry
# Male action star: Johnny Depp
# On-screen matchup: Johnny Depp & Keira Knightley
# Movie: “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
# Movie drama: “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”
# Movie comedy: “Click”
# Family movie: “Cars”

MUSIC:
# Female singer: Carrie Underwood
# Male singer: Kenny Chesney
# Group: Nickelback
# R&B song: “SexyBack” by Justin Timberlake
# Hip-hop song: “Shake That” by Eminem
# Pop song: “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira
# Country song: “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood
# Rock song: “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” by Bon Jovi
# Song from a movie: “Life is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts from “Cars”
# Remake: “Life is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts

TELEVISION:
# Comedy: “Two and a Half Men”
# Animated comedy: “The Simpsons”
# Drama: “Grey’s Anatomy”
# Competition/Reality show: “American Idol”
# New Comedy: “The Class”
# New Drama: “Heroes”
# Female star: Eva Longoria
# Male star: Patrick Dempsey
# Talk show host: Ellen DeGeneres

OTHER:
# Funny female star: Ellen DeGeneres
# Funny male star: Robin Williams

What do you think? Did the shows you enjoy win or lose? Or were they even nominated to begin with?

I’m going to go out on a limb and say TV is getting too good.

I say this because it seems like every other week I’m reading about an “amazing show� or “the best new show of the year� then I end up checking out said shows, and realize that all the hype and hoopla was completely right.

What is my problem with this? Well, it’s ruining my social life. Most my week nights are dedicated to one TV show or another. I have 24 and Prison Break on Mondays. Lost on Wednesdays. The Office and Earl on Thursdays. The Simpsons and Family Guy on Sundays, it’s almost exhaustive.

I recently found Dexter. All the talk and praise for this show, I just had to check it out…now I’m hooked. Hours of my days just getting eaten away one episode at a time. I don’t even dare to check out The Wire or Weeds for fear I’ll get hooked on them also. My social life is dying so that my TV life can live. It’s like I have two separate personalities.

Real-life Man: This personality thinks that TV is a complete and utter waste of time. Something that people waste their time doing. It’s not a hobby meant for the intelligent. Not a hobby at all, rather a waste of ones time.

He sees no redeeming value and curses TV Man when TV takes up Real-life man’s social life.

TV Man/Blogger: This personality wants to stay on top of everything popular in the television department. Striving to be the hippest of the hip. Just when he thinks he’s got a handle on things, BAM! Five more shows come out, 2 are worth watching, and usually he becomes addicted to him. Technology has helped him out a bit, with DVR’s and MP3 players that can now hold entire television episodes. But, it’s still not enough.

Plots, Characters, and cheesy theme songs are the life blood of TV Man. The sun hurts his eyes and damages his fragile white skin. He would rather sit at home watching show after show, continuously seeking that ever elusive state of “being caught up on all TV.�

After the battles are fought and wars are waged, it seems that time and time again TV Man comes out on top. Not because TV really is the most important thing in the universe, but because TV Man makes Real-life Man money. That’s right, cold hard cash from watching TV and writing about it. Money will always win out.

Now, if you’ll excuse me I have to get back to Dexter.

House comes back from the mid-season hiatus tomorrow, January 9th. Hugh Laurie has been nominated for both Golden Globe and SAG awards, which is fantastic news for him and the show. On top of that, there are two interesting stories coming out about House and it’s stars.

House stars engaged
Dr. Cameron (Jennifer Morrison) and Dr. Chase (Jesse Spencer), who met filming House are have announced their engagement. Considering the success House has had it’s sophomore year, this can only be icing on the cake in their lives.

Dave Matthews Guests on House

In the episode, set to air in March, Matthews will play a savant who was hit by a bus when he was 10. The accident affected his mental development but suddenly gave him the ability to play the piano flawlessly despite never having taken a lesson.

I find this exciting since I’ve been a Dave Matthews fan since long before his “Crash” album. I also thought he did a great job in Because of Winn-Dixie, proving he does have some skills in front of a camera. This will be an interesting episode and I wonder if he and Hugh Laurie jammed at all together during their downtime. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall if they did.

Hank Stuever from the Washington Post wrote a great article about What’s In and Out for 2007. It’s a great list that covers everything from fashion (Tillman jerseys are “In”) to fandom (Crazy “Deadwood” fans are “Out”). The lists also categorizes certain TV Shows.

Some shows on the “In” side of the list are:

• “How I Met Your Mother”
• “Ugly Betty”
• “Cheetah Girls”
• “Dancing With the Stars”
• “Heroes”

Shows on the “Out” side of the list are:

• “America’s Next Top Model”
• “Laguna Beach”
• “Left Behind”
• “Seinfeld” reruns
• “Battlestar Galactica”

Who? You’re asking. Well, Michael Cera is the actor who played George Michael in Arrested Development. He’s a very talented actor, and extremely funny.

Over on TV Squad I was pointed to a YouTube video that Cera made, which was a spoof of the video that Aleksey Vayner made. Who is Alekset Vayner? Well, it seems he’s some sort of pathological liar. Yet he’s been interviewed and talked about in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

I still have no idea who the guy really is. Take a look at a Wiki made about him. I must have missed this whole hoopla, but from what the guy has claimed he has done, it makes his video, posted below all that more hilarious.
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Thinking ahead, towards this New Year I can’t help but make some resolutions. Not necessarily huge life changing resolutions, but resolutions in watching and writing about TV. Come to think of it, as a TV blogger, these may be more life changing than I think.

First thing I resolve to do is not to watch one second of American Idol. Sure, I admit that the first few auditions with the insane people that think for some reason they are good singers are pretty funny. But, then I think about how it’s all staged, from beginning to end. The horrible people are put on TV to fail. You think they actually audition EVERYONE? When they pan out and show thousands of people sitting in a football stadium, you think Simon would sit through everyone of those auditions? NO. Now, this may be old and already known news, but it’s something that really bothers me about American Idol. Not to mention that last year it was huge! It was bigger than huge, it was gi-normous! It owned the ratings and the water cooler conversations. Everyone had their favorite. Loads of people pulling for a man who looked like he could’ve been the grandpa of any other contestant. Then it’s over, Taylor Hicks wins, and the ONLY thing I saw him do after that was a few cheesy Ford commercials.
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