TV with MeeVee

Family Friendly Programming Awards - Not Bad, Actually

Too often "family-friendly" is a TV code word for "lame crap for the kids." But nearly a decade ago a group of major advertisers put their money where their mouthes were and funded the Family Friendly Programming Forum, which provides seed money for the development of family friendly TV scripts. The show gets on the air, the fund gets reimbursed. Simple as that. And the results have been pretty good, including "Gilmore Girls," "Friday Night Lights" and "Everybody Hates Chris." Separately, the group promotes the annual Family Television Awards, which were handed out Wednesday night in Hollywood, with the ceremony to be televised Dec. 27 on CW.

Now, you're not going to find "The Wire" or "Weeds" here (and ironically you won't find any CW shows either). But the winners mostly demonstrate that the Forum has been true to its word, making inclusive, family-friendly shows that regularly defy the "lame crap for kids" stereotype by being at least halfway decent and often very good. (This year, not surprisingly, it's Fox that brings the average down.) This year's winners are:

Comedy - "Ugly Betty," ABC
Drama - "Heroes," NBC
Actor - Zac Efron ("High School Musical 2," ABC Family)
Actor - Kyle Chandler ("Friday Night Lights," NBC)
Actress - America Ferrera ("Ugly Betty," ABC, pictured)
Miniseries or Special - "Planet Earth" BBC/Discovery
Movie Musical - "High School Musical 2," ABC Family
New Series - "Pushing Daisies," ABC
Cable Series - "Kyle XY," ABC Family
Reality - "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?" Fox
Favorite Newcomer - Zachary Levi ("Chuck," NBC)

Morning Links Festival Returns To Fenway Park For Game 6

• Rundown on "America's Next Top Model" and acrophobia. (BuzzSugar)
• Worrying about "30 Rock" going all "Will & Grace" with the guest stars. (TiFaux)
• Daily Show's new web site includes a complete archive, how cool is that? (BuzzSugar)
• The annoying husband/father on "Gilmore Girls" is going to be a boyfriend for Addison on "Private Practice." (TV Guide) Just saying "Private Practice" already makes me yawn, though.
• A roundup of season orders and airdates (or in the case of "New Amsterdam," lack of airdates). (E! Online)

Your Minimum Daily Requirement Of Morning Links

• Who won "Big Brother 8?" Who cares! Well, actually, Give Me My Remote Does. Let's just say the choice was hilariously appropriate. (GMMR)
• Pictures and spoilers from the season premiere of "Friday Night Lights." (Televisionista)
• "The Office" spoilers and pix. (GMMR)
• Are "Heroes" co-stars Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere dating? She just turned 18 and he's what? (Televisionista)
• "Gilmore Girls" star Lauren Graham inks a big development deal with NBC. (TV Squad)
• Molly Shannon signs for a multi-ep stint on "Pushing Daisies" as the owner of a saltwater taffy shop across the street from the Pie Hole. (Ausiello)

"Gilmore Girls" TV movie wrapup?

Our friends at BuzzSugar   that "Gilmore Girls" creator Amy Sherman-Palladino is mulling a TV movie to wrap up the show - and they say it will depend on cast availability more than anything. Sherman-Palladino was definitely the "Gilmore" auteur, and there was a noticeable dropoff in quality during the final season just ended on CW, no doubt because she wasn't involved.

Tonight's Picks: Tuesday, May 15

Gilmore Girls -- Bon Voyage
Say goodbye to the Gilmore Girls! In the series finale, Rory gets a job as a journalist, and Luke organizes the whole town to give her a graduation party. Take your last chance to see Rory, Lorelei, Luke, Lane, and all the rest of the Stars Hollow gang.

American Idol -- 3 Finalists Remain!
It's the showdown before the finale, and three singers are duking it out for the top place in America's heart. The themes are judges' choice, contestant's choice, and Clive Davis's choice. Blake Lewis, Jordin Sparks, and Melinda Doolittle perform.

Dancing with the Stars -- Round Nine
In the semifinals, things are getting hot, hot, hot! The four remaining couples get a chance to perform their favorite dances again, but with all-new music and choreography. 

Tonight's Picks: Tuesday, May 8

American Idol -- Top 4 Perform Live!
The Top Four belt it out to win America's heart and the big prize. Will someone crack under the pressure? God, we can only hope so -- nobody likes grace under pressure. The theme is BeeGees songs, so break out your platforms and your bell-bottoms and get ready for a little disco fever!

Dancing with the Stars -- 8th Round Results
Results from the Latin and Ballroom competition on Monday. Also, Nelly Furtado performs "All Good Things" and "I'm Like a Bird"; Maksim Chmerkovskiy has a dance-off with his with brother Val. As if this weren't enough, Jimmy Kimmel also teaches us all how to waltz. Will the fun never stop?

Gilmore Girls -- Unto the Breach
Rory and Paris graduate! At the big graduation party, Lorelai and Chris figure out if they can stand each other anymore, and Logan proposes to Rory. Will there be wedding bells for the junior Lorelai?

Gilmore Girls Is Officially Done, But Will Live On Syndication For Decades

We've been hearing the rumors for a while, but The CW announced today that Gilmore Girls will be no more. The show had a good run, delivering snappy banter for a full seven seasons. Luckily, fans will be able to catch reruns until the end of time.

Get the details on Gilmore Girls' cancellation at BuzzSugar >>

Tonight's Picks: Tuesday, April 17

Gilmore Girls -- Hay Bale Maze
Stars Hollow prepares for the annual Spring Fling Festival, and Rory brings Logan home to see where she grew up.  Yet is that tension we sense?  Indeed -- Logan and Lorelai are giving off all kinds of bad vibes.

Dancing with the Stars -- Fifth Round Results
After last night's rousing sambas and rumbas, it's anyone's guess as to whom America will say adios.  Will another gorgeous woman be kicked off the stage, or will the boys finally have a moment bathing in the red light?

Living Lahaina -- Series Premiere
Where on earth is reality better than in gorgeous Hawaii?  Nowhere, and that's precisely why this brand new series has landed there.  A group of drifters teach tourists to surf by day and party by night.  Oh, the trials of island life!

Tonight's Picks: Tuesday, Feb. 27

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? -- Series Premiere
Get ready for some Jeopardy! Teen Edition-caliber action! Watch contestants battle brain-teasers in categories including math, geography, and social studies. Jeff Foxworthy takes a (much-appreciated) break from making fun of rednecks to host.

American Idol
We're down to the final 20 contestants this week! Tonight, the 10 remaining men strut their stuff for the judges, and endure the insults that come with the territory.

Gilmore Girls -- Will You Be My Lorelai Gilmore?
Rory ditches her baby shower planning duties on her mother to interview with the New York Times. Lorelai plays peacemaker between Lane and Mrs. Kim, who are arguing about how to raise the twins.

Tonight's Picks: Tuesday, Feb. 6

House -- Needle in a Haystack
Damn, just what parents need to make their teenagers miserable: A 16-year-old suffers respiratory arrest while making out with his girlfriend, and the doctors can't figure out what's wrong.

NCIS -- Blowback
A captured arms dealer offers up the name of a top competitor who is selling the Navy's encrypted satellite system to the highest bidder. Will our team catch him time? Does Mark Harmon have unnaturally beautiful hair?

Gilmore Girls -- I'd Rather Be in Philadelphia
It's all about the lengths to which one goes for a loved one, when Lorelai, Rory, and Emily wait at the hospital for news of Richard's condition. While Logan goes the helicopter route, Luke -- Luke?? -- ends up running errands for Emily -- Emily??

Nova -- Forgotten Genius
Nova makes organic chemist Percy Julian look interesting with archival footage, remarks from family and friends, and dramatic reenactments featuring Tony-winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson.

Tonight's Picks: Tuesday, Jan. 30

Gilmore Girls -- To Whom It May Concern
Rory tries to make nice with Lucy when they return to Yale after winter break, but Paris has other plans. Luke and Anna have a date in court.

Boston Legal -- Dumping Bella
Ah, that Denny Crane. Things get complicated in the romance department when his current Designing Woman (the fabulous Delta Burke) finds herself the target of animal-rights activists, who are being represented by her daughter -- and Denny's diminutive ex-girlfriend -- Bethany.

House -- One Day, One Room
Shock me. House acts odder than normal while attending to clinic duty assigned by Cuddy. Things get even stranger when a rape victim demands that House talk to her.

Tonight's Picks: Tuesday, Jan. 23

Good Morning America
The Oscar nominations are announced. Boy, do you think The Queen stands a chance?

American Idol
Be on the look out for more bush babies as the awful auditions continue in Memphis. Expect to see plenty of Carrie Underwood wannabes, and even more pitiful delusions of grandeur.

Gilmore Girls -- Santa's Secret Stuff
It's a little late for Christmas, but it's the first one Rory, Lorelai and Christopher spend as a family, so I suppose we'll forgive them this once. Rory returns from London and the festivities commence.

Veronica Mars -- Show Me the Monkey
Veronica and Mac get their monkey on as they search for a missing primate by joining an on-campus animal-rights group. Meanwhile, Mindy asks Keith to investigate her husband's death because she believes he was murdered.

 

Golden Globe Awards Coverage: Ugly Ducklings Shine

Ah, the swan. No, I'm not talking about the surprisingly brutal fowl, or the creepy reality show of years past. I'm talking about that elusive creature that transforms herself from an onscreen ugly duckling into a gorgeous, well-styled swan on the night of an awards show.

Television has a tendency to show only the prettiest of the pretty. There are, however, those rare beauties who follow Charlize's Theron's lead, disguising their loveliness in search of fame -- playing characters that are a bit, shall we say, stylistically challenged. At awards shows, these swans typically discard the unflattering trappings of their roles in favor of letting their light shine. And shine it does.

Continue reading at MeeVee's Golden Globes Goto Guide...

Weekend Picks: Dec. 22-24

A Home for the Holidays
Rod Stewart, Five for Fighting, John Legend and AI's Katharine McPhee come together to perform in this eighth annual event to raise awareness of adoption.

Justice -- Christmas Party
Tom helps Luther defend a college student (Krysten Ritter) accused of murder, and Ron takes control when a baby is abandoned at the office Christmas party.

Monk -- Mr. Monk and the Secret Santa
Monk goes undercover as Santa Claus -- a very clean, obsessive-compulsive Santa -- after a policeman dies from drinking poison wine meant for Capt. Stottlemeyer.

MeeVee Exclusive! Interview with Veronica Mars/Gilmore Girls Star Krysten Ritter

You may not know Krysten Ritter’s name, but you definitely know her face -- especially if you’re a 14-year-old girl. Her unique look and comic timing make her the ultimate scene stealer in just about every show she guest stars on. After playing pivotal characters on Veronica Mars and Gilmore Girls, Ritter is now taking on the role of Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher’s daughter on the Fox sitcom, ‘Til Death. Managing Editor Marjorie Kase caught up with Krysten while she was on break in New York.

Dec. 14: Nicole Richie Facing Jail, Larry the Cable Guy is Animated, Heidi Klum Talks Babies

*Grey's Anatomy is golden with Globe nominations [GMMR]
*Comedy Central keeps Larry the Cable Guy animated [The Futon Critic]
*Project Runway's Heidi Klum talks babies [The Hollywood Gossip]
*Simple Life star facing jail [ICPIN]
*Erik sheds 214 pounds to claim Biggest Loser title [Reality Blurred]
*Gilmore Girls creator returns to comedic roots [Televisionary]

 

GMMR: Gilmore Girls -- "Merry Fisticuffs"

Gilmore Girls
Title: “Merry Fisticuffs”
Original Airdate: 12/5/06
Okay everyone, you’ve seen the previews, you can see the name of the episode and if you’ve read my recaps at all you know I‘ve been waiting for this. It’s the Luke & Christopher Showdown of 2006! Lets see if we can finish the year off with a bang or at least some satisfying man on man action.

GMMR: Gilmore Girls -- "Knit, People, Knit"

Gilmore Girls
Title: “Knit, People, Knit!”
Original airdate: 11/28/2006

It’s Friday night dinner at maison Gilmore and they’re sitting around holding champagne glasses. Richard is making a toast to the new couple but Lorelai is eyeing the present in front of her. It’s very long and slim, so I’m guessing it’s not a house like they were planning for her and Luke. Totally should have married him Lor. Anyway they finally let her open it and the look on her face is priceless, and we get to see its an etching called “Wolfgirl” I know art is subjective and all…but that is hideous. Chris and Lorelai pretend to like it which makes Emily happy, since she didn’t know what to get with a lack of registry and all. Emily also shares that they found out the happy couple was married via their answering machine. Yes folks, she left them a freaking voice message. Emily even plays it for everyone, again and again.

GMMR: Gilmore Girls -- "Gilmore without the Gilmore is…like…Gil-less"

Title: “Introducing Lorelai Planetarium”
Original Airedate: 11/21/06
This week's episode of Gilmore Girls begins early in the morning and Lorelai is on the phone leaving Rory a message to please call her, STASAP (Sooner Than As Soon As Possible). She wants to see Rory that very day and man does she seem anxious. Chris hands over coffee and insists Rory will call her when she wakes up. In the living room Chris starts talking of ways to redecorate the house, something about waterfalls, reclining chairs and giant flat screen TV’s.

GMMR: Gilmore Girls -- Whole Lotta Shakeups Goin' On

 

Lorelai and Christopher are getting ready to head to the airport in the latest episode of Gilmore Girls. Paris here we come! Gigi, child out of wedlock # 2 for Chris, is looking A LOT older then when we saw her last. Either way Lor is explaining how great Paris is to Gigi, while Chris is trying to carry their luggage. Lorelai seems confused as to what time their plane is leaving, and Chris keeps side stepping the question. It’s not till they’re in the car ready to go that we find out that the plane doesn’t take off for another 3 hours. Oh Chris, you’re so sneaky.

GMMR: Gilmore Girls -- ‘S Wonderful, ‘S Marvelous

Sometimes I wonder if Lauren Graham gets paid per word, and if so, why is she even working right now when she could be bathing in her money.  How does this woman memorize her dialogue? There’s so much and it’s so fast.  But I love it. And I love this show.  I’m more into Gilmore Girls this season than ever before. I think it’s the one-two punch of GG and Veronica Mars...thanks CW.  Now if you could only dump those insulting Aerie girls commercials…seriously…we HATE them.

Tonight's Picks: Tuesday, Oct. 17

VH1 Hip Hop Honors
Ice-T hosts the third annual event. Honorees include Wu Tang Clan; Afrika Bambaataa; Russell Simmons; MC Lyte; Rakim; Beastie Boys; Ice Cube; and Eazy-E.

Gilmore Girls - 'S Wonderful, `S Marvelous
Lorelai and Christopher start dating, and Christopher's romantic gestures are making it hard for Lorelai to take their relationship slowly; Rory covers an art show for the paper and makes some new friends.

Nip/Tuck - Burt Landau
Liz needs a kidney after collapsing at work, and Dawn Budge (Rosie O'Donnell) returns to McNamara/Troy after being "earjacked" by thieves who stole her earrings. Burt Landau (Larry Hagman) needs reconstructive surgery, too, after suffering a stroke.