TV poll

Should MTV Just Change Its Name Already?
Poll

Should MTV Just Change Its Name Already?

On Tuesday, MTV execs announced that they are renewing some shows, like Teen Cribs and Is She Really Going Out With Him?, and picking up a bunch of new series as well, like "the Ashton Kutcher-produced American Idiots, the scripted comedy Hard Times and an untitled comedy/variety project starring Rob Hoffman."
by


On Tuesday, MTV execs announced that they are renewing some shows, like Teen Cribs and Is She Really Going Out With Him?, and picking up a bunch of new series as well, like "the Ashton Kutcher-produced American Idiots, the scripted comedy Hard Times and an untitled comedy/variety project starring Rob Hoffman."

Perhaps I'm dating myself here, but I recall when MTV, or "Music Television," was a network devoted to a lot of music-related things. Doing a word search for "music" in this article about MTV's next season brought up exactly one result, when the word is used to describe one of the reality show members as a "hip music executive."

Everyone knows MTV has lacked actual music for a long time now. Should the network just change the name already?

Did You Watch the First Season of Survivor?
TV

Did You Watch the First Season of Survivor?

All this news about Richard Hatch trying to participate in a 10th anniversary edition of Survivor to help pay back the money he owes the IRS has me reminiscing about Survivor's first season in 2000.
by

All this news about Richard Hatch trying to participate in a 10th anniversary edition of Survivor to help pay back the money he owes the IRS has me reminiscing about Survivor's first season in 2000. Hatch was the winner (or, survivor, I guess) of the show's inaugural season, and I can clearly remember how tense I was during those final few episodes before he won. Of course, I didn't have any kind of DVR back then, so I would race home every week in order to tune into this crazy and (at the time) intense reality show. Until then, I'd never seen anything like it, and I was so addicted.

After that first season, my interest in Survivor waned and now I don't watch it at all, but I will never forget how excited I was about that series, once upon a time.

Did you also tune in every week when Survivor first began? Or did you get hooked later? Or never?

Source

With Neil Patrick Harris as Host, Are You More Likely to Watch the Emmys?
TV

With Neil Patrick Harris as Host, Are You More Likely to Watch the Emmys?

It's official: Neil Patrick Harris will host this year's Emmys!
by


It's official: Neil Patrick Harris will host this year's Emmys! He was definitely high on my list of stars who would make good hosts and to my delight, he was rumored to be hosting the Emmys soon after his stint as host at the Tony Awards. He seems comfortable hosting and he obviously has such charming stage presence. His reaction to the news about hosting the Emmys is pretty hilarious:

"After having had such a hoot hosting the Tonys, I was thrilled to get the call about the prime-time Emmys," said Harris, adding that he looks forward to "adding my own voice" to the ceremony: "But which voice to choose? I'm torn between gangsta, foppish Brit, and robot. Really proud of my robot. We'll see what happens on the night."

I have much respect for anyone who uses the words "gangsta, foppish Brit, and robot" in one sentence.

When the rumors were swirling, some of you mentioned that you'd now tune in to watch the Emmys on TV. Would you have watched it otherwise? Does this make you more inclined to check out the ceremony on Sept. 20?

Do You Watch Fireworks on TV?
TV

Do You Watch Fireworks on TV?

It's the Fourth of July!
by

It's the Fourth of July! Time for sparklers, barbecues, and, for most of us, fireworks! Surely you'll go see live fireworks if possible, but what if it's not possible? Or what if you're feeling lazy? Would you tune into a fireworks show on TV? Or just skip the whole sheBANG (get it?!)?

Do You Want to See More Superman Stories?
TV

Do You Want to See More Superman Stories?

Last week there came news that Callum Blue has joined the cast of Smallville in the role of the villainous General Zod.
by


Last week there came news that Callum Blue has joined the cast of Smallville in the role of the villainous General Zod. Blue will play the young version of Superman's future arch-nemesis in the upcoming ninth season. Not long after this news broke, rumors started circulating about a possible Smallville movie (on TV) slated for Dec. 2010, which would act as a platform for a Smallville spinoff series.

It remains to be seen whether there's any truth to these rumors at all, though it all certainly seems plausible. But after nine years of this show, plus things like Bryan Singer's 2006 movie Superman Returns, should there be a Smallville movie? Is there no end to interesting stories about Superman? Or do you think we're pretty much done with the man of steel?

Photo courtesy of The CW

Jon and Kate Gosselin
Poll

Divorcing on TV: Did Jon and Kate Take Things Too Far?

It's no surprise Jon and Kate's marriage is dunzo to anyone who's been in a grocery checkout line over the past month.
by

It's no surprise Jon and Kate's marriage is dunzo to anyone who's been in a grocery checkout line over the past month. Even if you've never seen one minute of their TLC reality show, the tabloid narrative is clear: these people are no longer together.

So, I shouldn't have been surprised, but when I watched them announce on their show last night that they are separating, I was still shocked that they would actually keep the cameras rolling as their marriage crumbles. Divorce is just so painful and personal, and it seems cynical to turn a family crisis into a "special one-hour episode." The show is going on hiatus but will likely be back on Aug. 3, and will presumably continue documenting this family's troubles before our eyes.

Does it make sense that Jon and Kate used the show to come out with the truth, since they've come this far anyway? Or is divorcing on TV taking things too far?

Could Gossip Girl Work on the Big Screen?
TV

Could Gossip Girl Work on the Big Screen?

It's becoming more common these days to take a popular TV show with a built-in fan base and develop it for the big screen.
by


It's becoming more common these days to take a popular TV show with a built-in fan base and develop it for the big screen. It worked well for Sex and the City, and some people think that it would be similarly successful for Gossip Girl. Even Leighton Meester says so: "A Gossip Girl movie could be compared to a Sex and the City-type of movie. I think that would be kind of hot."

Both stories are set around the lives of rich and fabulous Manhattanites, but Gossip Girl is so over-the-top outrageous sometimes, I have to wonder how they would up the ante for a longer, big-screen version.

Could you see Gossip Girl working on the big screen? Or is this a purely small-screen delight?

Photos courtesy of The CW

Heigl on Grey's For Another Season: Yay? Or Ugh?
TV

Heigl on Grey's For Another Season: Yay? Or Ugh?

Many of you voted to keep Izzie alive on
by

Many of you voted to keep Izzie alive on Grey's Anatomy so perhaps you'll be pleased to learn that Katherine Heigl will apparently return to the show next season. Then again, the majority of votes also went to Izzie in this poll about which original Grey's character you would ditch. Though this answers one of my questions about the next season, I still feel a little worn out — I was preparing for her to die and now she's staying on? Huh.

Is this good news? Do you want another season of Grey's with Izzie (and apparently without George)? Or do you think she should just leave the show already?

Photo copyright 2009 ABC, Inc.

Do You Want to See Four More Hours of New Jersey's Housewives?
TV

Do You Want to See Four More Hours of New Jersey's Housewives?

The last "table-flipping" dinner of The Real Housewives of New Jersey was so juicy, Bravo plans to stretch unaired footage from the series into four more hours.
by

The last "table-flipping" dinner of The Real Housewives of New Jersey was so juicy, Bravo plans to stretch unaired footage from the series into four more hours. So, more screeching, more temper tantrums, and probably more discussion about everyone's "buhbees."

One hour will be devoted to just the footage from That Dinner that didn't make it into the finale. Then there will be an extended two-part reunion that will air next Tuesday and Thursday. And finally, "Bravo has found enough editing-room clippings . . . to paste together a fourth and final extra hour subtitled 'The Lost Footage.' This one is scheduled for Thursday, July 9."

I thought the finale on Tuesday night was a solid — albeit tense and frightening — way to end the short season of Real Housewives, and while I don't feel the need to see more of these ladies, I probably will watch all this extra footage.

What do you think? Was the finale enough (or too much)? Or will you tune in for every last drop of Real Housewives insanity?

Photos courtesy of Bravo

Are You Happy With the Dancing With the Stars Winner?
Poll

Are You Happy With the Dancing With the Stars Winner?

This season's Dancing With the Stars winner is Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson!
by


This season's Dancing With the Stars winner is Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson! At the age of 17, Johnson is the show's youngest competitor and she just barely beat actor Gilles Marini and his partner Cheryl Burke for the mirror ball trophy.

The competition was fierce indeed — right down to the last minute. Johnson and her partner Mark Ballas edged out Marini, "the front-runner and judges' favorite, by less than one percent of the viewers' votes."

Less than one percent! Wow. So who were you rooting for? Are you glad the mirror trophy is now in Johnson's hot little hands? Or did you want Gilles (or Melissa!) to win?

Photo copyright 2009 ABC, Inc.