TV with MeeVee

Afternoon "Only Five More Hours Till Jason Goes Buh-Bye" Links

• "American Idol's" Tuesday night ratings were down more than 3 million viewers from the week before - apparently a bunch of people just decided that Paula's judging screwup was the last straw? (TV By The Numbers)
• "Life On Mars" is the pilot that just won't die. Last year's plan to remake the BBC hit has turned into an actual pilot, but... (BuzzSugar)
• A private-eye spinoff for "House?" (TV Guide)
• "Monk" and "Psych" go back to cable. (Buddy TV)
• GLAAD is in favor of the gay marriage on "Brothers & Sisters." Who knew? (Buddy TV)

Morning Links: We Love Paula Twice As Much

There's yet another explanation for Paula's Tuesday night "American Idol" screwup - the rehearsal thing, as we guessed. But what I really like is that the New York Times felt the need to look into the controversy. In other "news"...

• CBS overlord criticizes crap CBS bosses are airing. Love that! (Hollywood Reporter)
• HBO's "Flight of the Conchords" lands at #3 on the pop chart. (Reuters)
• Hector Elizondo will replace the late Stanley Kamel as the shrink on "Monk." (E! Online)
• Actors union negotiations are looking bad. Uh oh. (Deadline Hollywood Daily)
• Like your print edition of TV Guide? Better make like Frank Costanza and start saving them. (DHD)
• TV biz should stop whining? (NYT)
• A look ahead to tomorrow's "Lost." (Buddy TV)
• Some minor hints about the future of "The Office." (E! Online)

Lunchtime Links, Side of Fries

• "Battlestar Galactica" fans love "Battlestar Galactica," true, but there aren't that many of them. (TV By The Numbers)
• Crappy ratings for "Monk" and "Psych," too, in their move to broadcast. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Talking to Barry Watson of "Samantha Who?" (BuzzSugar)
• Deconstructing the TV Guide cover with "The Office." (Give Me My Remote)
• "Friday Night Lights" deal with DirecTV the new template for series survival? (NY Times)

Tony Shaloub Centers His Tie

"Monk" actor Tony Shaloub really can't get away from his title character, the obsessive-compulsive detective. Sure, he's been in a ton of other stuff - a hundred and some episodes of "Wings," for one thing - but these days he's always spotted looking kind of nervous and apologetic, just like Detective Monk.

Is he that deeply in character? Does he do this all the time or just for photo ops? Let's just make sure that tie is perfectly centered...

"Monk" Talk With Tony Shalhoub And Howie Mandel

"Monk" has its season premiere on USA Friday night, and the tale of the lovable obsessive compulsive detective played by Tony Shalhoub gets a twist with a guest performance by Howie Mandel (right) as a cult leader. The twisty part is that "Deal Or No Deal" host Mandel is, in real life, seriously afflicted with obsessive compulsive disorder. And the network offered Mandel and Shalhoub as a joint interview - perhaps in part because the show will start airing on NBC in March, one more side effect of the writers strike.

I was initially unenthusiastic - I think the late-era Mandel look is frankly just creepy - but it turned out to be a pretty interesting and often funny conference call.

Question: So Howie, were you a big fan of the show prior to you guest staring on it?
Howie Mandel: Absolutely. I have been watching it for years and a big fan of Tony's, a big fan of the shows. And I actually think of it as more of a self-help show for me and entertainment but first and foremost self-help.  It makes me feel very not alone in the world. He portrays what I live inside.

Question: I know that you're playing a cult leader in your episode. So did you do any brushing up on like famous cults or anything like that?
Howie Mandel: No, I found out I was playing it two weeks prior to the taping. So I actually joined a cult.