07.02.2009 2:20 pm
Couldn’t make today’s TV chat? Here’s what you missed
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Here’s the transcript from the July 2 TV chat. The July 9 chat is already scheduled, so if questions and comments occur to you as you read this, go on over and post them.
Gail: Hi, everybody. At my desk early today (round of applause for Gail, please) and ready to chat. As luck would have it, I already have a lot of good questions, but not too many for you to jump in if you’re lurking out there. So let’s get started.
Anne: What has happened to Monica Adams, traffic reporter for KTVI? I haven’t seen her on TV in over a week and the morning anchors aren’t saying she’s “off today”.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Gail: TV stations want you to think of their on-air personalities like family. But if Cousin Joe or Aunt Esther disappeared, you might find out why. Not so with your “TV family,” where members disappear without notice or explanation. (They don’t tell me, either.) No wonder people get worried, or just curious, when someone they’re used to seeing is absent. I just hope people call the TV stations if I suddenly disappear.
In any case, KTVI says Monica Adams has been on vacation. Apparently she was on the air today.
In any case, KTVI says Monica Adams has been on vacation. Apparently she was on the air today.
kikki2570: This preemption for paid commercial programming on our local stations is truly getting ridiculous. Today (Tuesday, June 30) it was Regis and Kelly that was taken off for a one-hour Time Life Record program. I thought that maybe I was on Channel 3, but no such luck. On the KMOV website for today it still noted Regis & Kelly. I realize that this is not a life or death issue, but we get enough commercials on tv. The entire program shouldn’t be one — and we should be able to expect the programming that was scheduled and that should be there. This is getting very old and very annoying. All it does is drive viewers to other stations, so I don’t see how the station doing the preempting benefits.
Gail: You omitted the worst part of that preemption: Anderson Cooper was co-hosting! My DVR also thought “Regis & Kelly” was airing; the least KMOV could do is get its listings — including the listings, as you point out, on its own website — correct.
But again, the reason stations preempt a show is so they can sell the time slot for an ad and keep all the money.
But again, the reason stations preempt a show is so they can sell the time slot for an ad and keep all the money.
SF: Apparently channel 4 has dropped Regis Philbin, as of today, June 29th. Although the age group that Regis appealed to was not the big-spenders that all advertisers love, the “big spenders” are all at work during the hour that Regis was on.
Gail: That’s not completely true. “Regis & Kelly” was back Wednesday and today. However, I wouldn’t be too surprised by more preemptions in the near future. That’s because KMOV is dropping “Regis & Kelly” after like 100 years. (I know!) The good news is that KPLR (Channel 11) is picking it up and will keep it at 9 a.m. weekdays. The move takes place in August.
Ryan: Hi Gail. Great work. Did you see the Game Show Network’s first ever award show? It was pretty weak but I didn’t see our own Shandi Finnessey there. Can you give us an update on her?
Also, do you think there will be Lost movies in the same vein as the Star Trek movies that came out once the show ended? I very much hope so.
Thanks.
Gail: I somehow missed the GSN Awards. Used to watch that channel a lot, but as cable channels do, it evolved in a direction I didn’t enjoy. And when you stop watching a cable channel much, you miss all the promos for new stuff, and it kind of drops off your radar.
As for Shandi, she left GSN in 2007. The last credit I see for her on IMDB.com is “Yappy Broads,” a talk show listed as being in production.
As for Shandi, she left GSN in 2007. The last credit I see for her on IMDB.com is “Yappy Broads,” a talk show listed as being in production.
The Soap Goddess: I just wanted to say thanks for the “Shows that should be on your Radar” blog post every week. Although I usually glance at your daily recommendations, I often cannot get home to program the DVR before they start (I know I should have some sort of remote way of doing that).
Anyway, just wanted to say thanks as I find it very useful.
Gail: Thanks. I started posting those because I thought folks would find them useful for just that reason. It’s surprised me that some people have posted really negative comments saying they don’t understand the feature, that I should just stop doing it or that I always pick horrible stuff. I say, if they’re not helpful to you, just don’t read them. What I try to pick are shows that are new, that you might have heard about but forgotten, that are interesting in one way or another. But things “on your radar” aren’t necessarily recommendations. Tornadoes are on radar, after all, and you run from them. I just give the info; you guys make the decision to watch or not to watch.
suzyjax: Any news on when the Primetime Emmy nominations are announced?
Gail: The Emmy nominations are July 16. Best Emmy news of the week is that Neil Patrick Harris is in final negotiations to host. He’d be perfect. Loved him at the Tonys and will love him at the Emmys even more. The ceremony is Sept. 20.
majigail: Ok Gail, the terrorists have gotten creative. They decide, gun to your head, that you MUST watch the show of one of VH1’s celebreality dating shows’ cast offs. Do you watch New York who dated Flavor Flav do jobs voted for her to do by the public, Daisy who dated Bret Michaels try to find a new boyfriend from a cast made of man boys from the land of misfit toys, or The Entertainer who dated New York do something yet to be specified in order to move out of his parent’s basement?
Gail: OK, I actually watched one of these shows recently: “Daisy of Love.” I watched not with gun to my head but with my mouth hanging open. Love your description of the “man boys from the land of misfit toys,” but you fail to mention that they’re named things like 12 Pack and Six Gauge and Big Rig. And what’s the matter with this girl? I call her a girl, not woman, because of the baby voice and pigtails. Is she playing dumb or does she really have that few brain cells? I hope that does it for the terrorists, because I’m not going back there till they make me.
Kel105: Hi Gail -
Any word on when or if The Riches is coming back? I miss it!
Kel
Gail: Ooh, Kel. Sorry. “The Riches” was canceled.
Bert: Hi Gail, besides Fringe, my favorite new show is Sons of Anarchy on FX. Any word on when that will premiere?
Gail: I didn’t get a Tube Talk post up yet, but FX has announced a couple of fall premiere dates, and “Sons of Anarchy” returns Sept. 8. By the way, Drea de Matteo (Meadow Adriana on “The Sopranos”), who played Wendy, won’t be back. She’s joining the cast of “Desperate Housewives.”
suzyjax: One more Primetime Emmy-related question: Any truth to the rumor that Neil Patrick Harris might be this years host?
Gail: Hey, I answered that before you even asked it. TV ESP!
Kerry: When you posted NBC fall premier dates on Tube Talk, you omitted Chuck. What’s up with that? I thought Chuck was renewed.
Gail: NBC didn’t include “Chuck” in its announcement of fall premiere dates because “Chuck” (saved at the last minute in a deal with Subway) isn’t due back until March. (Yes, eight months from now.) NBC plans to hold it back until after the Winter Olympics. But the plan could always change depending on the network’s needs.
Lynn: Is it possible for you to find out if Somali Pirate Takedown that was on The Discovery Channel will be repeating? Or where I might see it? I missed it, and hoping that they might be showing it again, and someone suggested that you are the person to help me find it - if that is possible. Heard that it was also on the Military Channel, but I don’t get that channel. Thanks so much - enjoy your articles in the Post.
Gail: I saw your question while I was still at home and asked my DVR, which didn’t find any airings of “Somali Pirate Takedown: The Real Story” in the next two weeks. But everything on cable is repeated, so you’ll just have to keep an eye out. You also might check the Discovery Channel’s website for advance listings.
MPK: Gail - I would never had thought that you would join the low standard group!!!!!!! In Monday’s paper at 9 p.m. on Oxygen. (I will not name the title - very offensive.) No wonder our Country has lost respect from around the world. Too bad you are joining that group.
Gail: The title of the show that scandalized MPK is “Dance Your Ass Off.” It’s a weight loss and dancing competition on Oxygen, so the title is literal. I didn’t name it, but I also don’t think it’s offensive. That’s in the mind of the beholder, of course. But if I’d written “Dance Your A** Off,” would that have been any better to someone who was already offended?
cairo96: If Regis & Kelly is moving to KPLR at 9am, what does that mean for the Bonnie Hunt Show? Really enjoy her a whole lot more than R&K.
Gail: I know “Bonnie Hunt” is staying. I’m not positive of her new time period, but I think it may be 1 p.m.
Gabe Hartwig: I wanted so desperately to hear you on KMOX last week, but their website streamed commercials instead of your live inverview. What’d you have to say about Farrah?
Gail: So there I was on KMOX, telling the fill-in hosts that I was baffled by the huge amount of media attention for Farrah Fawcett’s death — it was expected, and I honestly didn’t think she’d had such a big and influential career. Then, when I was finished I refreshed Twitter and saw the first word that Michael Jackson had been rushed to the hospital. Talk about media attention!
The Soap Goddess: Gail, I hope this isn’t too personal, but what’s the most interesting thing you got in the mail this week?
Gail: I got Ken Burns’ entire “National Parks” series from PBS, although it doesn’t arrive until September. It’s epic.
In the same mail, I got the season premiere of “Hell’s Kitchen,” July 21 on Fox, and I was kind of more excited about that one.
Oh, and at home, I got a letter from my employer informing me of how to COBRA health insurance. I really, really hope I won’t need to know that.
Some weeks, the mail is more exciting than others. There was the week I got the inflated chair, for example. Let’s make this a regular feature, shall we?
In the same mail, I got the season premiere of “Hell’s Kitchen,” July 21 on Fox, and I was kind of more excited about that one.
Oh, and at home, I got a letter from my employer informing me of how to COBRA health insurance. I really, really hope I won’t need to know that.
Some weeks, the mail is more exciting than others. There was the week I got the inflated chair, for example. Let’s make this a regular feature, shall we?
Gail: I’m really shocked that nobody wants to know what I know about “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” by the way.
Kirk: We really enjoyed the series “Flashpoint”. It was something different from the run-of-the-mill law enforcement shows. But it seems to have been canceled. Was viewership really that low or was there another reason for the show being canceled? Any chance another network will pick it up??
Gail: “Flashpoint” is a Canadian series. It’s still in production in Canada, and CBS might pick up more episodes for next summer, depending on what else they have.
suzyjax: I know I asked this before, but will you be going to LA soon for the Television Critics meeting/gathering? As a poor but ardent television fan, I must live my vacation vicariously through this trip.
If it’s soon, can you give us any hints on any big events?
Gail: Well, I finally have good news for you. My trip to Los Angeles for the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour is on. I go July 30, and I’ll be out there for 10 days, arriving in time for HBO and continuing through the broadcast networks. So far, I know we’ll be doing lots of set visits. My TV critic colleagues will finally get to go to “The Office,” where you’ll recall I already went as a guest of Phyllis. We’re also going to “Medium,” “NCIS: LA,” “Chuck,” “Bones,” back to “Dollhouse,” “Southland” and some I’m probably forgetting. Phyllis and I are also planning to do some antiquing if I have a spare minute. And the TCA Awards (Aug. 1) will be a highlight as always. I’ll be Twittering like crazy from out there, so if you’re not already following me on Twitter, get on board at Twitter.com/gailpennington.
Gail: That’s it for today, folks. Now, buy those briquettes and get ready for the barbecue. See you back here next week, and the transcript will be up on Tube Talk in moments.
