TV with MeeVee

Press Tour: First peek at Edie Falco's Showtime series

Showtime execs just screened a trailer for the upcoming Edie Falco series, a dramedy tentatively titled "Nurse Jackie." She's an RN in an inner city New York hospital whose mantra seems to be, "Make me good, God, but not yet." She shorts some kind of dope to keep the pain of her bad back at bay - shades of "House" - and occasionally takes unilateral action to right a wrong.

Falco, in case you've forgotten, won three Emmys playing Carmela on "The Sopranos." Showtime Entertainment President Robert Greenblatt said she was eager to get into another TV role after the end of "The Sopranos" and every network courted her, but Showtime was in the early stages of developing the nurse show and that caught her attention.

In truth, the three-minute (+/-) clip that they showed us didn't look all that different than "House" or an edgy episode of "ER," except for the occasional four-letter word. So I asked Greenblatt what will make "Nurse Jackie" unique when the show premieres next spring.

"It's fundamentally about who she is as a character," he said. "The flawed character is something that is at the heart of all our shows," he said. "This (show) isn't the most high-concept idea, but I don't think I've seen anything quite like this. This is not case-driven, this is not the medical (emergency) of the week. ... It's very much about her home life. It's a different take on a medical show, based on an iconic character, played by a great actress."

"The Sopranos" Want Your Wallet

You can have all six - or was that seven? - seasons of "The Sopranos" in a nifty gift set, but you'll pay a steep price for getting in that deep  with everyone's favorite New Jersey mob family. The 30-disc boxed set will run you a cool $399.99 when it comes out on Nov. 11. Individual seasons are already available for $60 each from HBO, but the box will include an interview with David Chase conducted by Alec Baldwin plus the three previously released "Music from the Sopranos" DVDs put together by Chase.

Also included are two featurettes with cast members reminiscing about favorite scenes over dinner. But one guy is missing - the ever-elusive James Gandolfini. We all know he's press shy. Maybe he thought this was hype. Or maybe they didn't wanna pay him. But a cast featurette without Tony Soprano himself seems like pretty thin arrabiata sauce.

Sex And The What, Now?

I don't know, maybe it's the inner guy inside my outer guy, but I never warmed up to "Sex and the City" the TV series, and I couldn't care less about "Sex," the movie. All weekend the newscasts were filled with stupid features telling us that lots of women were going to see the movie! And dressing up! And drinking Cosmos! They're supposed to be a girlie drink, but I actually kind of liked a well-made Cosmo until this weekend. Now I'll never have one again. Especially after hearing that the "Sex" movie knocked Indiana Jones out of the top spot at the box office. That's just wrong.

But anyway, this is a television blog, and I'm here to tell you that Kim Cattrall reportedly has signed for an HBO series pilot, "Sensitive Skin," about a middle-aged New York mom who "rediscovers her sexuality" and mulls changing her life. It's actually a remake of a British series, which starred former Bond girl and "AbFab" star Joanna Lumley. Cattrall actually seems a pretty good stateside analog. The good news: The showrunners are Mitchell Burgess and Robin Green, who were heavily involved in "The Sopranos." The bad news: It's about a middle-aged New York mom who "rediscovers her sexuality" and mulls changing her life.

Morning Reading: Actors Strike? Jonas Brothers? God?

• AFTRA's trying to cut a deal with AMPTP before the producers' group sits down with SAG. And time is running out. In other words, we're a tick closer to an actors strike. Great. (AP)
• The A&E remake of "The Andromeda Strain" mildly sucked, but it drew the second-best ratings in A&E's history. (TV By The Numbers)
• A whole book about religion according to Ned Flanders (right). By "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening. Seriously. (WSJ)
• Jonas' Brothers next album set for release in August. Squeeee! (E! Online)
• James Gandolfini puts Tony Soprano's bathrobe on the block for charity. (AP)

A few quick news bites

• Fox scored big with "House" last night, which was second overall in the ratings (behind "Dancing with the Stars") and tops in the 18-49 demo advertisers love. (TV By The Numbers)
• "American Idol" returns with the final three tonight, but Fox can't be too thrilled with last week's numbers. And despite the excellent backstabbing that went on, CBS' "Survivor" finale on Sunday didn't even make the top 10. (AP)
• "The Sopranos" on iTunes. For a price, of course. (Reuters)
• A spoilerrific report on Gary Dourdan's final "CSI" appearance until after rehab on Thursday. (Buddy TV)
• "The Office" last week had the biggest DVR audience seen so far - a whopping 43.4% ratings increase from "live viewing only" to "live + 7 days." (TV By The Numbers)

See you for the American Idol liveblog in a couple of hours!

Monday Links: Stuff We Couldn't Make Up

• HBO has pissed off Hell's Angels founder Sonny Barger. To whom did this seem like a good idea? (Hollywood Reporter)
• Tim Allen's web avatar is even scarier than he is. Seriously, look at this thing. (TV Squad)
• Global warming has been stopped in its tracks. Iraq is a utopia of religious understanding and nonviolence. Everyone in Africa has enough to eat. And so President George W. Bush will appear on tonight's episode of "Deal Or No Deal." OMFG.
• A new "High School Musical" game is out for Nintendo. It's like the third or fourth game based on the movies. Who knew. (BuddyTV)
• In possibly the greatest misuse of a new technology since the atom bomb, "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider" will soon broadcast in HD. (Broadcasting & Cable)
• Pellicano trial testimony connects former Hollywood heavy Mike Ovitz to threat against Anita Busch. Sorta. Kinda. (Deadline Hollywood Daily)
• Cuba will soon air "Grey's Anatomy" and "The Sopranos." They already have "House," "Friends" and "Everybody Loves Raymond." Somebody wanna explain how the studios get around the embargo there? (Reuters)

"The Wire" And "The Sopranos" Go Eco-Friendly?

I don't think this is an April Fool's joke: HBO has launched an "eco-friendly" version of their accessories and tchotchkes store. It includes such wonderful ways to treat the earth right as a "Sopranos" mousepad (left, made of recycled rubber) or a "Sex And The City" reusable dry-cleaning bag.

Of course, if you actually cared about the earth you'd stop dry-cleaning as much, but while you're pretending to care, having a SATC-logo dry-cleaning bag is probably close enough, right?

Morning Reading

• "The Wire" ends. (Buddy TV)
• Showtime is parting ways with its lesbian lovers. (Hollywood Reporter)
• "Sopranos" movie? Not so much. (AP)
• Did I mention "The Wire" ended? (NY Times)
• "Dirt" still stains. (TV Squad)
• Rumors of a "Terminator" that won't die. Ironic, no? (TV Squad)
• Oh, and by the way, "The Wire" ended. (TGTV)

TV's Death Log

Looking back over today's posts, we've been doing a lot of hating. So let's just say I loved Dan's look back at the Year In Death on TV over at TiFaux.

Mind you, I don't agree with it all - he is totally wrong to put Tony Soprano's fade to black as the worst death of the year. As Dan rightly notes, former "Jeopardy" champion Bob Harris has done a pretty good job of proving the guy in the Members Only jacket whacked Tony, no question. But as freaked as I was initially when the screen went black without gunplay or explanation, I now think - brilliant. See for yourself...

But hey that's what a good year-end list does, it gets you talking. And Dan and co. were right to acknowledge the semi-hilarious-yet-oddly-tragic death of dope dealer U-Turn on "Weeds," Charlie's mind-blowing last moments on "Lost" and especially the boy-that-Foley-artist-should-get-a-special-Emmy death of Phil Leotardo on "The Sopranos."

If you don't know what a Foley artist is, read this, then watch this NSFW clip with the sound turned up:

Morning reading

Hollywood is easing into the holiday vacation season, but perhaps because of the many uncertainties associated with the writers strike, the news keeps a-comin'.

• Explaining schedule changes for the debuts of "Celebrity Apprentice" and "Cashmere Mafia." (TV Decoder)
• Fans think Tila Tequila blew her chance at happiness by playing it straight. (Buddy TV)
• "The Dead Zone" is. And so are the "4400." (TV Guide and Hollywood Reporter)
• The guy suing David Chase for some "Sopranos" cash got whacked by the jury. Which is a good thing because TV bloggers are getting low on mob metaphors for the case. (E! Online)

"Sopranos" Suit: Don't Stop Believin' They Owe Me

"The Sopranos" creator David Chase had to testify today in a case that I can't believe actually got to trial. A former prosecutor and "aspiring screenwriter" named Robert Baer is suing because he says helped Chase create the show and never got his. Neither side disputes that Baer introduced Chase to a few people when he was researching the show - they say "experts," but I figure that means cops and crooks. Baer apparently declined Chase's offers of payment at the time, but says Chase promised to "take care of him" later. Chase presumably rolls his eyes and thinks wistfully about how Tony Soprano would have taken care of this guy.

Morning Non-Strike Reading: "Showgirls" tie-in!

• Elizabeth Berkley, star of the beloved bomb "Showgirls" (right), is joining the "CSI: Miami" cast for multiple episodes as the ex-wife of David Caruso's Horatio Cane. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Just when you thought "Dancing With The Stars" couldn't get any more deliciously cheesy, they bring Celine Dion in for tonight's final performance show. Go Marie!!! (AP)
• Missed this last week, but it look like "Life" could be dead. (TV Decoder)
• "The Sopranos" fade to black hasn't cut into HBO subscriber numbers, contrary to expectations. But I think that just means people are lazy. (Hollywood Reporter)
• It took joining the post-apocalyptic series "Jericho" to get this actress watching the news. (Buddy TV)

The "Sopranos" Ending That Just Won't Die

Cynthia Littleton has a piece today with yet one more explanation of the much-discussed "Sopranos" ending: It was a commentary on the Iraq war. The title, "Made In America" referred to the fact that the war was made here, that the "made men" of crime families and wealthy Americans in general "have it made" and can grow complacent, while the war is fought in their interest by the poor.

I guess. Why not? Or it could be about unicorns and rainbows. You could read anything you want into it.

MeeVee Video Top 5: Emmy Awards

The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards have come and gone. Now that all the congratulation speeches are over and all the pseudo tears have dried up, it's time for our pampered stars to get back to work. For those of you out there aching for their favorite shows to return, now is the best time of year for television. The dog days of summer television are over and both new and old shows are beginning to premiere.

This week Video Top 5 is highlighting five shows that received a serious surplus of nominations at this years Emmy's. We have clips from Grey's Anatomy, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, and The Sopranos. Also featured this week are full episodes of 30 Rock and video interviews with the successful series The Starter Wife. Finally, we have a bizarre montage of doctored clips for our YouTube Clip of the Week.

Emmys: Predictions and Liveblog Plans

First, a reminder that I will be taking on the most awesome feat of channel-flippin'-bloggin' in the history of mankind on Sunday night, when the Emmys hit Fox at 8 p.m.

Secondly, a recap of my Emmy picks, the better for you to mock and revile me in the comments on Sunday night...

Best Supporting Actor In A Comedy: This should be a race between Neil Patrick Harris as the sparkplug of "How I Met Your Mother" or Rainn Wilson's insane Dwight on "The Office." If "The Office" rocks, it could be Wilson. But something tells me this is Harris' year.

Best Supporting Actress In A Comedy: I think the real competition here is between Elizabeth Perkins as the imperious, often soused suburban queen Celia on "Weeds" and Jenna Fischer's fantastic but quite subtle performance as Pam on "The Office." Fischer and John Krasinski as Jim are the sane heart of the "Office" madhouse, and he wasn't even nominated, so maybe this is Perkins' year. But I'm hoping Fischer wins. Call it a vote for romance.

2007 Emmy Predictions Part 4: Drama Series

Four of the five nominees in this category have a chance to win this year, and I'm not sure I can make any meaningful prediction about which one it will be. But dammit, that's not going to stop me from trying! And frankly, most people who make these predictions, about the Emmys in particular, are talking out of  their ass. Sheer merit is only one of many factors that go into deciding who takes home the little statuettes, with other and perhaps more important ones including changes in the judging process, Hollywood politics, high-school style popularity issues and perceived momentum. So let's roll the dice! Here are the nominees...

ABC's "Boston Legal" could be renamed "No Chance" for the
purposes of this post. Audiences are moving away from the David E. Kelley school of high-stakes wackiness. There are some fine moments here, especially when James Spader and William Shatner are sitting out on the deck, philosophising over drinks and cigars. But you're not going to see them on the podium at the end of the night. And there are better shows that weren't even nominated - "Rescue Me" is just one that comes to mind, so don't cry for Kelley and company.

TV That Will Scar You: HBO's "Alive Day Memories"

The most searing, scarring, difficult, rewarding piece of television you are likely to see anytime soon debuts on HBO Sunday night. "Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq" is a deceptively simple production. On a darkened stage, young, horribly wounded Army and Marine veterans of the Iraq war sit and talk one-to-one about their experiences to "Sopranos" star James Gandolfini. The actor is often silent, sitting nearly with his back to the camera, saying only as many words as needed, in most cases, to keep the vets talking. But the effect is devastating.

These soldiers were victims of IEDs and other awful weapons. And they all perhaps would have died on the battlefield but for the miracles of combat medicine. The soldiers all know their "Alive Day," the day they didn't die, as a second birthday. But that does not mean their second lives are easy. Sgt. Bryan Anderson lost both legs above the knee, and his left hand. Cpl. Jonathan Bartlett, 22, bilateral amputation of lower extremities. First Lt. Dawn Halfaker (above), 27, right arm and shoulder amputated. Lance Cpl. Michael Jernigan (pictured after the jump), 28, lost both eyes and much of his skull - his brain is now cradled by titanium mesh. And on and on it goes. The horror of war made flesh. And yet these young people are brave, laughing as often as they weep, far more patriotic than they are cynical. As much as "Alive Day Memories" might turn you against this war, its main effect is to make you question the sanity of all wars.

Gandolfini had already visited the troops when he was asked to join the HBO project. "I went to Iraq because I was playing this tough guy on TV and I guess I wanted to go meet a few real ones or something like that," an uneasy and self-effacing Gandolfini said at a press tour event for the film. "I was angry about the lack of attention that was being paid." 

And The Post Doesn't Disappoint...

Although the Michael Imperioli story didn't make the front page, the headline was worth waiting for:

IT'S A BADA-BOOM

"Sopranos" Star Gets Bombed: Some Days You Can Hardly Wait For Tomorrow's NY Post

A pipe bomb exploded early this morning on a ledge by the entrance to a Manhattan theater studio owned by "The Sopranos" star Michael Imperioli. A mob message? Or just someone pissed off by the "fade to black?" At this point, no clues. But given that his character, the late Christopher Moltisanti, was always trying to blend show business and funny business, ya gotta wonder. You also know the Post is going to find a pithier way to say it than "Life Imitating Art?"

2007 Emmy Predictions, Part 1: Comedy Acting

The 2007 Primetime Emmy Awards will be handed out Sept. 16 in Los Angeles, live on Fox, in a ceremony hosted by Ryan Seacrest. And it seems like now is a good time to get our predictions in the major categories on the record, before fall premieres clog our bandwidth next week. Four days, 10 categories, and absolutely nothing at stake except our honor: Write your own joke. Today, we consider the four comedy-acting categories.

Best Supporting Actor In A Comedy nominees: Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama and Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold on HBO's "Entourage"; Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother"; Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute on NBC's "The Office"; Jon Cryer as Alan Harper on CBS' "Two And A Half Men."

MeeVee's take: Dillon's nod is frankly a surprise. Piven won last year and could repeat, but "Entourage" has slipped a bit. "Two And A Half Men" is TV's highest-rated comedy and Emmy loves hits, but this should come down to a race between Harris as the sparkplug of "Mother" or Wilson's insane Dwight. If "The Office" rocks, it could be  Wilson. But something tells me this is Harris'  year.

Talking About "The Sopranos" Fade To Black, At The TCA Awards

The critics were articulate and funny in presenting two trophies to "The Sopranos" at last night's TCA Awards. "Sopranos" creator David Chase (below, with Robert Iler) thanked a long list of people but was otherwise a man of few, funny words. Here are the highlights:

Molly Willow of the Columbus Dispatch, presenting the award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama: After eight years of some of the best writing and performances ever on on television (we) love the show so much, we didn’t want to see it end. And as it turned out, we didn’t. (Laughter.) ... In this, its final season, we enjoyed everything from discourse on Yeats to the proper rules of monopoly, and had one final excuse to convince our editors to put in the paper the words Big Pussy. (Laughter.) ... After nine episodes and perhaps television's best squish sound effect with an SUV tire, we had no idea what was coming next, and I guess we still don’t, but it doesn’t matter. I don’t think any of us has ever so enjoyed being left in the dark.

Chase, accepting the award:  Here's another clue for you all/The walrus was Paulie.(Laughter.)

Alan Sepinwall of the New Jersey Star Ledger, presenting the Heritage Award: Come for the whacking, stay for the discussion of family, religion, success, aging, death and the corruption of the American Dream. It is a classic by the standards of any medium.

Chase, to Sepinwall: You're from New Jersey, I'm from New Jersey, would you explain to these people it is possible, in fact likely, to be sitting in a restaurant in New Jersey and have everything just stop.(Laughter.)

Chase again, on the ending: When I went to Stanford University Graduate Film School, 23 years old,  and I went and saw "Planet of the Apes" with my wife, and when the movie was over, I said, 'Wow, so they had a Statue of Liberty too!' (Laughter.) So that's what you're up against.
 

"Sopranos" Parenting Tips: So Funny, Yet So Wrong

This short but hilarious post from TV Squad outlines "Five Child Rearing Tips I Learned from the Sopranos Finale," beginning with Don't let your children park their SUV in the forest. Of course, Livia's tips might be different.

Hillary Clinton In "Sopranos" Spoof

Sales of Journey singles have skyrocketed since The Sopranos finale, and Hillary Clinton seems to have jumped on the bandwagon for both the band and the show, with this new campaign spot:

But it's worse. Much worse. Yes, she's still put herself in the position of Carmela Soprano, but she's ended up with a genuinely terrible campaign song: "You And I" by melismatic Canadian singer and embarrassment to humanity Celine Dion.

"Sopranos" Update: You Knew This Was Coming

TMZ reports that fans won't stop downloading Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" after the song was featured in the controversial final scene of the "Sopranos" finale. The song was up 482% and hit #1 on the iTunes rock chart.

Even The Sopranos Had No Idea How "The Sopranos" Would End

"The Sopranos" creator David Chase hasn't been willing to comment on the "fade to black" ending, but everyone else in the world has. Now James Gandolfini, who plays Tony Soprano, has added his two cents: he's got no more clue than anyone else.

OK, we get it: the ending is ambiguous. Now, if David Chase would only explain the one correct interpretation, we could all get some rest.

Last Word On The "Sopranos" Finale, Maybe

We'll give it to our friend Tim Goodman of the SF Chronicle and the Bastard Machine blog, who has a long, impassioned and funny screed about this week's debate over the "Sopranos" finale. He is, of course, entirely wrong about which of the two plausible answers is correct. The abruptness of the cut to black makes it very clear to me that Tony got whacked - and the identity and motives of the shooters matter no more than the indictment issues Tim dismisses for the "life goes on" side. But he gets everything else just about right.

"Lost" Fans, Don't Stop Believing

Three days after "The Sopranos" created a huge watercooler moment with its controversial ending, the producers of "Lost" on ABC told an industry gathering that fans don't have to worry about their show going out on a similarly unresolved note when it ends in Spring 2010. "We will not be ending with a blackout," said Carlton Cuse. No word on whether a Journey song will be involved, however. (I'd lobby for bringing back Mama Cass, "Make Your Own Kind Of Music," anyway.)

If "The Sopranos" Were On A Major Network...

Veteran TV comedy writer Ken Levine has a funny take on what the "Sopranos" finale would have been like if it were on ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox. "Meadow should drive a Ford because that’s who is sponsoring. She should have no trouble parallel parking because Fords are easy to parallel park." The comments continue the debate over the ending. ... Meanwhile, blogger Max Silvestri has remixed the "Sopranos" finale's final scene to make it more, um, satisfying.

More "Sopranos" Finale Blather: Ratings Update!

Sunday's "Sopranos" finale on HBO was the second most-watched show on television last week. Not on cable. On television. Even though HBO is only available in 30 million homes, compared to 111 million for the broadcast channels.The AP reports that "The Sopranos" finale drew 11.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen, topped only by the season premiere of NBC's "America's Got Talent," with 13 million. Fuggedabout it!

"Sopranos" Finale Winner: Journey

You had to know this was going to happen. The AP reports that "The songwriters of Journey's power ballad 'Don't Stop Believin' ' were 'jumping up and down' when they learned a few weeks ago it had been licensed for use in the final episode of 'The Sopranos.'" But they even managed to keep it secret from their families until they watched the show. And in fact the very last words heard on the show were Perry singing, "Don't stop-" before the controversial cut-to-black ending. Jonathan Cain, Steve Perry and Neal Schon might make a buck or two from the song's inclusion.

"The Sopranos" Finale: W! T! F!

I- I- I- I'm almost speechless. Maybe in the morning, a more reasoned response. But after eight years, "The Sopranos" went out with a whimper. Or was the bang silent???

On the surface, all was good. Tony and the fam meeting for dinner at an old-school restaurant. Tony played Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" on the juke. Carmela joined him in a booth, then A.J. too. Meadow had a little trouble parallel parking. There were a couple of strange dudes in the restaurant, who Tony noticed out of the corner of his eye. One of them passed pretty close, then headed for the can. Journey still playing. Time somehow standing still. Meadow came in the restaurant door. The bell jingled. Tony looked up -

Cut to black screen and silence.

W! T! F!

Did anybody else think the cable had gone out, just for a second?

MeeVee Video Top 5: Father's Day Special--The Sopranos, Two and a Half Men

MeeVee Video Top 5: Father's Day Special--Sopranos, Two and a Half Men, and more

"It's not easy to juggle a pregnant wife and a troubled child, but somehow I managed to squeeze in 8 hours of TV a day." - Homer Simpson

"Dad", "Pop", "Father", "Guy-who-eats-all-the-leftovers-late-at-night". Call him what you want, but he'll always be the one who gave you half your DNA. He's half to blame for your crooked nose or your bad vision. It's true he may enjoy hanging out with his golf buddies on a Sunday afternoon more than throwing ball with you in the backyard or giving a half-assed performance of enthusiasm at your tea party. He hogs the TV remote, has worse gas than your aging dog, and is a lock-in for embarrassing you on school field trips. But with all that said, he loves you unconditionally. And for that you have to give him a Hallmark card every year. Happy Father's Day!

This week on Video Top 5, we salute fathers out there (even dead beat dads!). (God)father Tony Soprano and the rest of the cast of The Sopranos call it quits after 6 heart-pounding seasons. We have full episodes available for Two and a Half Men. For all you football fanatics, see Sunday Night Football's Video Preview. Watch outtakes, "best of" moments, and much more from the Teutul Family on American Choppers.

Finally, what Father's Day would be complete without a lovely Paris Hilton music video spoof?

 

How Realistic Is Dr. Melfi On "The Sopranos?"

The water-cooler talk in your office might be about The Sopranos, but what are mental-health professionals saying about last week's epsiode, where Dr. Melfi abruptly terminated Tony Soprano's therapy?   Starpulse interviews several psychiatrists to find out.