Here’s the transcript from my June 18 live chat. Note the amendment to my completely incorrect answer on “Burn Notice.” And if you’re inspired to ask a question or make a comment of your own, CLICK HERE to post in advance for next week’s chat.

Talk TV with Gail
Join Post-Dispatch television critic Gail Pennington for a live discussion about everything TV-related.
Thursday, June 18, 2009

Gail: Hi, everybody. It’s 107 degrees outside (well, it feels like that) and you’re apparently feeling sluggish — not that many questions today. Of course, those I do have are superb. But if you’re lurking out there, please jump in.

——————————————————————————–

ptz: A & E cancelled “The Beast”. I liked the first season and had hoped for a second one. What is “Drop Dead Diva” on Lifetime about? Is “More to Love”
on FOX about plus-size women? Thanks
Gail: Neither ratings nor reviews for “The Beast” were very good. It didn’t get much buzz; in fact, you’re the first person who’s ever said “The Beast” to me (well, in this context) as far as I can recall. A&E officially canceled it this week. You’d have to think Patrick Swayze’s health was a factor, but nobody’s saying that.

“Drop Dead Diva” is a comedy drama about a model who’s killed in a car accident and jumps into the body of a “brilliant, thoughtful, plus-size attorney.” Also on the plus-size front is Fox’s “More to Love,” a dating series from Mike Fleiss (”The Bachelor”) featuring people the size and shape of real Americans. Model Emme is host.

——————————————————————————–

Mel: Hello Gail,
I was talking to a friend this weekend and she told me I need to watch ‘Castle.’ Do you know anything about it? And, do you know where I can catch episodes? ABC does not offer them and Hulu does not have it on their lineup?

One more thing, a couple of weeks ago someone said their DVR was picking up new episodes of ‘Pushing Daisies,’ and you had mentioned ABC is starting to show new episoded of cancelled shows that had just a few more episoded to air. I believe ‘Dirty, Sexy, Money’ was included in this list? Is there any set schedule? Are they just dumping one show at a time?

Thanks for all your TV insight!
Gail: “Castle” was renewed for fall but isn’t on ABC’s schedule at the moment. It’s the one with Nathan Fillion as a thriller writer who works with the police. I thought it was fine but kind of ordinary.

ABC just finished burning off “Pushing Daisies” on Saturdays. “Eli Stone” begins this week, and then “Dirty Sexy Money” on July 18.

——————————————————————————–

Gram: On So you Think you Can Dance, how can we STOP these 8 or 9 commercials between each dance before we turn to another channel and just watch Thursday night for the winners and a sample of their dances and costumes. The commercials are driving us all nuts. Telephones are ringing between dances to discuss what just happened. Non of us are watching the commercials…….
Gail: “So You Think You Can Dance” is the top-rated non-sports show on TV this summer. It gets huge ratings, so Fox is unlikely to change anything about it. I think talking to your friends during commercials is a good solution if the long breaks annoy you. I watch almost nothing live; I record even awards shows (especially awards shows?) on the DVR and watch on a delay.

——————————————————————————–

Beth: Will that funny Tracy Ullman show where she played all the characters be back on Showtime?
Gail: Yes, Showtime has ordered another season of “State of the Union” for sometime in 2010. I used to think she was funnier than I do now. Not a big fan of elaborate makeup to turn someone into someone else for a comedy bit.

——————————————————————————–

DL: I enjoyed your article in Sunday’s PD about the TV nurses, but I think you missed the best ever. I’m talking about Dana Delaney as nurse Colleen McMurphy on “China Beach” from 1988 to 1991. It was a great show and she was one of the best characters in it.
Gail: I don’t know what I was doing from 1988-91, but it wasn’t watching “China Beach.” I know (at least, I’ve heard) it was a great show, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen an episode. I’ll accept your opinion that Dana Delaney was good on it, though.

——————————————————————————–

Gabe Hartwig: I’m a week or so behind on my “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ addiction. But I saw a TLC promo today with some serious-sounding music, a bunch of sappy footage and words to the effect of “Jon and Kate will make a Very Big Announcement.”

Do you smell a D-I-V-O-R-C-E? Or maybe they’re just getting a pony?
Gail: Oh, do I have a show for you. Tonight (Thursday, July 18), E! has “Jon & Kate: Separate Lives,” which promises to “delve behind the headlines for the real story.” This is billed as a news special, so you know whatever they report will be all true. Also promised: “Exclusive interviews from witnesses in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.” Witnesses!

The big announcement, meanwhile, is due Monday on TLC. Kate’s been quoted as calling it “life changing” and saying she hopes it will “bring each of us some peace.”

——————————————————————————–

Frontman: Gail, Any idea why KSDK persist in pre-empting the “vote-off” episodes of “I’m A Celebrity?” They pre-empted it the very first week — which I thought had something to do with the whole Speidi-debacle and how they expected it would offend some delicate sensibilities — and then the re-broadcast time (DAYS later???? in the middle of the night??? only HOURS before the next episode????) was fouled up as well. (My Tivo was NOT happy.) I see from the on-line schedules that they are doing it again tonight, and I can only ask WHY??? And are they going to have a reliable re-broadcast date this time?
Gail: No issues of content were involved in either preemption. It’s just money. KSDK is doing it to run paid programming for which they get all the revenue. I can’t imagine why that time slot was chosen not once but twice unless it was done months ago, before the brilliant program people at KSDK knew a serialized show with a voting component would air there. I watched the make-up episode on MTV on Sunday afternoon rather than trying to find it in the middle of the night, and I’ll do that again. This time, though, it’s actually interesting to see which two get eliminated, so maybe catch it on Hulu. I’m not sure how quickly it goes up there, though.

——————————————————————————–

Steve M.: I think KSDK goofed last night.They said they were they would have a “Moms Like Me/paid local informercial” at 7 pm,but the grapics showed it was to be broadcast today(Thursday).Either way it would pre-empt an episoid of NBC’s “I’m A Third Rate Celebrity On A Junky Relaity Show”.Right??
Gail: Right. It’s tonight. But I think calling those people “third-rate” celebrities is unfair. Lou Diamond Phillips and John Salley are at least second rate. The rest don’t really rate at all.

——————————————————————————–

StellarPenmanship: what is going on with Southland? Renewed for next year? I think it is one of the best shows on TV. What’s your take?
Gail: Yes, renewed for fall, although ratings really plunged after the premiere. If I want to watch a cop show, I’ll watch it — but I’d rather have seen “The Unusuals” survive.

——————————————————————————–

garricks: Gail,

Do you have any scoopage on Julie Chen and the new season of Big Brother? Any houseguest bios yet?
Gail: Not a peep from CBS yet about “Big Brother” except the premiere date, July 9. I think it may be most interesting to see what kind of designer maternity clothes Julie Chen comes up with now that she’s expecting a little Les Moonves in the fall.

——————————————————————————–

Mike K.: I thought Burn Notice on USA was coming back this summer. Its the best show on TV!
Gail: “Burn Notice” ***is already back.*** (This is where I was wrong.) I have a complete summer-TV calendar up on Tube Talk (www.stltoday.com/tubetalk) that I’m updating once a week with premiere and season premiere dates. Clip and save — er, print and save.
——————————————————————————–

Virginia: I have been a fan of Mad Men ever since you suggested watching it a couple of years ago. Are we going to have it on for another season and if so when does it start? I appreciate the advice you give in your column about what is worth watching!
Gail: Aug. 16 on AMC. Thanks for reading my columns, but also keep an eye on Tube Talk, because that’s where all the latest TV news goes up while it’s still fresh.
——————————————————————————–

Meghan: Gail,
Thanks for the chats! I just started watching Mad Men on Itunes and am almost done with season 1. Please tell me season 2 is just as good. Also when does season 3 start?
Gail: Season 2 is great, maybe a little darker — not that there’s anything wrong with that. I’m fascinated with these people. But if you’re not finished with Season 1, you still have a big surprise coming. Check back in after you get it.
——————————————————————————–

Jake: Gail,
I have heard rumors that Shannon, Charlie, and Juliett have all been contacted to appear in season 6 of Lost. Can you confirm or deny this?
Gail: By Shannon, I think you mean Claire, right? They have confirmed officially that Claire will return as a series regular, and that we’ll be surprised at how she comes back. Elizabeth Mitchell will appear as Juliet, although I don’t think as a regular. (Mitchell has a new show, “V,” on ABC for fall.) I can’t recall what I’ve heard about Charlie, although I don’t much frequent spoiler sites because I don’t like spoilage.

——————————————————————————–

garricks: Sorry, it’s too hot to think today. I can’t come up with any good questions, so I’ll just ask you to say “Hi!” to Oliver for me. Oh, and if you have a pool, I’ll be glad to swim in it for you!
Gail: Bad Oliver has started taking Equal packets from the sugar bowl, carrying them into the living room and opening them. Artificial sweetener can’t be good for cats or carpet.
No pool, but if my basement floods again, I’ll let you know.

——————————————————————————–

Keebs88: I was wondering if you had seen the new show “Nurse Jackie” and what did you think of it?
Gail: I love “Nurse Jackie”; gave it four stars in my review that ran in the paper and on Tube Talk.

——————————————————————————–

chowchow93: Gail:
Have you heard anything about Big Bro and if so, will Showtime do another season of Big Brother at night. I know, pretty sad question. Ms. Excitement here. I even laugh at Wipeout and wondered how I could have missed the Japanese game show last season
Gail: Did you watch “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” last night and see the lawyer from St. Louis? I’ll be talking to him after he’s eliminated.
I’m pretty sure all the pieces will be in place for the new “Big Brother” season. There’s something about a summer show that airs almost every night that I find very soothing, in a naptime kind of way. I think that’s why I’ve kept up with “I’m a Celebrity.”

——————————————————————————–

ugottabkiddinme: Gail, any info on Eureka??
Gail: “Eureka” is July 10 on “SyFy.” I wasn’t ignoring you; I just had to go to my Summer TV Calendar on Tube Talk (ahem) to get the date. I’ll have a column in Sunday A&E about science-fiction TV, by the way.

——————————————————————————–

JB: Has there been any news on another season of The Girls Next Door on E!? I know everyone was signed to do another one, but with the 3 girls all breaking up with Hef, I’m not sure how that would work.
Gail: Hefner has promised a Season 6. They can always get new girls. He will.

——————————————————————————–

Matt B: Did I make the cut off….

GP; You’re forced to make a choice and you have to choose one; Would you rather watch “Kath and Kim” or “I’m a celebrity gmoh!”?

MB
Gail: Yeah, I’m going long because I was late starting. Again.

I truly have been watching “I’m a Celebrity.” Once Speidi left, it’s been kind of sweet. The producers have them do little craft projects and have scavenger hunts and get slimed. Nickelodeon should air it next year.

Bad sitcoms make me run out of the room screaming.
——————————————————————————–

Cole Train: Hi Gail. This kind of crosses the TV/web/movie world but since you’re hard up for questions, have you heard anything about there being a new Dr. Horrible’s sing-a-long blog series of episodes? I’m assuming based on the popularity of the webisodes (and with NPH being at the height of his popularity) that if it comes back someone will try to make some more money Joss Whedon’s baby. Thanks.
Gail: Everybody involved says there will be a “Dr. Horrible” sequel when Joss gets around to writing it and everybody who did it the first time is free to make it. Nathan Fillion and Neil Patrick Harris are busy, as you say. As is Joss.
By the way, after I asked for questions, I got a ton, so thanks, guys.
——————————————————————————–

Melanie: When a show switches networks, like Scrubs did last year and Medium is doing this fall, can the new network show older episodes? Or are they only buying the right to air new episodes?
Gail: The repeats are usually owned by the studios, and the studios make the deal with the new network. There may be some window in which repeats can’t air, though. It would depend on the contracts.
——————————————————————————–

fevredream: Please figure out a way to save The Unusuals. It’s the best new show on TV.
Gail: You be in charge of that. I thought it was good, too, but it’s over.
——————————————————————————–

jim63129: Is Monk coming back for a final season?
Gail: The final season begins Aug. 7. It may be split in two, as “Monk” seasons usually are.
——————————————————————————–

Gail: Have to cut it off now, folks. Thanks for scrounging your minds for questions; it was fun. See you back here next Thursday, and I’ll have the transcript up ASAP on Tube Talk.

——————————————————————————–