Here's the transcript from my latest live chat, which took place at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 15. Next week's chat is already scheduled, so go to www.stltoday.com/chat to post questions and comments in advance, then come back at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 22, to follow along live if you can.
Gail: Hello? Hello? Anybody out there? I hope so, because my advance question list is very light today. So if you're lurking, please jump in. Meanwhile, I'll get started.
wgmartin: Hi, again! Following up last week: I get cable access only when I'm at my neighbor's and I don't want to fill up his DVR with what I'm interested in so that's why I don't record but instead use "On Demand". In any case, I just checked again today (July 14) and HBO/Charter *still* has only the first two season 3 episodes of "True Blood" in "On Demand". No episodes of TBS's "Neighbors From Hell" and no new episode of SyFy's "Warehouse 13" there either. No response from Charter to my email about it, either.
Gail: When I checked last night, the first four episodes of "True Blood" were all up on HBO On Demand. I don't know what arrangements TBS and Syfy have with Charter about their shows. The networks decide which episodes to offer On Demand, and that's why you don't see CBS, and also why some shows offer only the pilot or a couple of episodes and others offer every episode.
I'm sympathetic to your issues, because I know not everybody can afford cable. But cable TV isn't a public service, and if you're not a subscriber, I wonder why you feel Charter owes you anything, even a response to an email. That didn't sound sympathetic at all, did it? But maybe you should explore other options, such as watching online, buying episodes from iTunes or waiting for the DVD set to come out and renting it.
M Byrne: Do you think a la carte option for cable channels is closer in coming to fruition? With the ever increasing cost for cable/satellite...whatever, I get a bunch of channels I don't watch (the same complaint as millions of other folks). If the shows I do watch are now available online for free or for a minimal charge...why the heck should I keep paying for cable? I've come close to cancelling it, getting rabbit ears. Whatever I don't get via the antenna, I'll watch it on the internet. Anyway, less TV should be a good thing, right?
Gail: I don't think there will ever be an a la carte option for cable/satellite. To make that work, cable/satellite companies would have to charge so much for each channel that you'd probably end of paying as much in the long run. I could see us going to an all On Demand TV universe, where programs would be put up on some big server and we'd watch the ones we wanted via a computer box attached to the TV. The catch is that these would have to have as many commercials as now, or more, because something has to pay to make the programs, and that's expensive.
I think there'd be plenty to watch if you dropped cable and just watched the broadcast networks, but you'd need a DVR (there are computer plug-ins that turn the computer into one) to get everything you wanted. Can't just get rabbit ears, though. You'll need a strong rooftop antenna to pull in all the digital signals well. I personally don't enjoy watching TV via the Internet. (Buffering, buffering.) Some experiences are OK; others are lousy. But if you do, go for it. But less TV is never a good thing!
Ted Rodgers: What's going on with Vinnie on "Entourage"? Is there some big event coming up? Is the parachute not going to open, or what? Without giving up spoilers, can you tell me where the show is headed?
Gail: We were talking about that in my office yesterday. I think he either had a head injury in the movie stunt or is now hooked on the pills they gave him, and that's going to be the ongoing storyline. I haven't seen more than you have, by the way.
Djsaali: I want to participate in this live discussion but this is my first time. I don't see anything printed nor hear anything. What am I doing wrong?
Gail: Keep refreshing and you'll see the questions and answers. But if you can't see this, I don't know how to help you.
wizard fan: Is it true that Selena Gomez is leaving “Wizards of Waverly Place”? If so, why?
Gail: She's all grown up now, I guess, and ready to be a rock star/movie star. Cute girl, and I know we all wish her success.
Bob: Was the Speed channels program "Wrecked " canceled? It was a show following a Chicago family towing company. One time I had heard new shows were supposed to begin in March, but that never happened.
Gail: I had honestly never heard of that show, but no episodes appear on speedtv.com, so you could be right that it's been dropped.
M Byrne: "The Good Guys" on Fox really seems to be getting the push by the network. Since it started airing, I think I've come across it 2 or 3 times in the same week. Is Fox really trying to find the proper night or is just due to a lack of other programming? From what I've watched of the show, it does look funny.
One can only imagine if Fox had been this deliberate with finding a time slot for "Arrested Development" during summer reruns to help it find an audience. Just finished watching all 3 seasons of "AD" on DVD and I've come to the conclustion that the world needed more of Franklin Delano Bluth.
Gail: I loved "Arrested Development" too, but give Fox a little credit -- the show ran three seasons and 53 episodes despite never having a large audience, and Fox did move it to several time slots to try to improve ratings. (At the time, the network was accused of trying to kill it by doing that.) The phenomenon of running a show more than once in a week ("The Good Guys" has aired just twice, with a repeat on Friday) was very rare. Did you watch "Arrested Development" at the time? If not, you were part of the problem! And I certainly did everything I could, even threatening to come over to people's houses and change the channel.
Gabe Hartwig: Chirp. Chirp.
Gail: Meow.
Ted Rodgers: What happens on the "Bones" pilot. Is it a year in the future? Does everyone return?
Gail: You are not going to get any spoilers out of me, mister. At least not till Fox sends out the episode.
Bert: Hey Gail- I hear some good things about the new Fox show, LoneStar. Have you had a chance to preview? Looks like one of the few new ones I'll give a try.
Gail: I like "Lone Star" -- Fox has decided the title is two words, with a space -- quite a bit. Reminds me a little of a "Dallas" updated to today. Jimmy Wolk, who starred in that movie about the St. Louis guy with Tourette's syndrome, is the lead, a white-collar crook who's defrauding oil investors and also doing some personal scheming. Do sample it. By the way, in Sunday's A&E section, I have a first look at the fall schedule, what's promising and what potential conflicts will arise.
E.S.P.: I am looking forward to Pillars of the Earth on Starz, at it is one of my favorite books. Have you seen or heard anything about whether it's a good interpretation?
Gail: I haven't read the Ken Follett novel -- about the building of a cathedral in 12th-century England -- but I'd like to. So take my comments on Starz' "Pillars of the Earth" with that in mind, but I think it's wonderful. Rufus Sewell is great as Tom, the protagonist. I'll have a full review in Friday's GO! section.
Trisha: My husband and I sampled "Rizzoli and Isles" this week and found the premiere episode less gory and graphic than you apparently did. Should we brace ourselves for more in future episodes?
And on a (somewhat) related topic -- I know Michael C. Hall has been battling cancer, so that's probably pushed back the air date for the next season of "Dexter" (a much gorier show, thanks to its home on Showtime). Any ballpark guess on when the next season will start?
Gail: I just doing think a show that poses as being about a female friendship needs to show people being tortured and throats cut and whatnot. If you like it, though, enjoy. Ratings were OK. I haven't seen a second episode and hope it doesn't continue to be so "Silence of the Lambs"y. A movie I loved, by the way.
"Dexter" returns Sept. 26 on Showtime. Michael C. Hall says he's fine, and I'll see him week after next in Los Angeles.
Stephanie: Hi Gail,
What happened with U-Verse and the company that owns A&E and WE? I'm so not switching to U-Verse if I can't see Mad Men.
Gail: It's AMC, not A&E, that airs "Mad Men" and is in the dispute with U-verse. Also WE and the Independent Film Channel. The distribution contract was supposed to expire at 11 p.m. St. Louis time last night, but so far, the channels haven't been pulled. I blame both sides in this, as usual. Rainbow Media (which owns the three channels) wants U-verse to pay more to carry the channels; AT&T (U-verse parent) says it needs to hold the line to keep costs down for customers.
Chris: I watched Covert Affairs on USA and thought it was borderline unwatchable. Maybe I go back to Alias as a comparison too often with these shows. Coyote Ugly is the last thing I remember the lead actress in. Speaking of unwatchable, I think Next Food Network Star is horrible. I want them to kick everyone off and start over (that's why I continue to watch the trainwreck). C'mon fall shows already! The Closer premiere was good.
P.S. I love the Twitter feed, but some of us just follow on Twitter, not post. I'm not ready to take the stage yet!
Gail: You know what? I wasn't writing about "Covert Affairs" and never got around to watching it. I know some people liked it and ratings were good; maybe it depends on whether you like Piper Perabo or not. I do enjoy "Next Food Network Star," and I'd watch some of them do their own show. That's where they got Guy Fieri and Adam Gertler, who are both stars now.
I wrote yesterday on Twitter that it made me mad that someone (a TV writer) had started following me but blocked her own feed so I couldn't even see who she was. I didn't mean people who just want to read what I write but don't want to tweet themselves. That's fine. Everybody thought I was talking about them.
M Byrne: Is "The Middle" not a good enough show or did they get robbed when it came to the Emmy nominations? Even the kids on that show deserve supporting nominations - especially the kid who plays Brick. The writing also! A child named Brick?!?! Classic.
Gail: I love "The Middle" and think it's underrated, probably because it's overshadowed by "Modern Family." Atticus Shaffer, who plays Brick, is my favorite kid on TV.
Barbara: Do you think the dispute between U-Verse and Rainbow Media will be resolved in time for the July 25 premier of Mad Men?
Gail: My bet would be yes. These things are about money and almost always get resolved at the last minute, although the last minute has kind of passed.
E.S.P.: Look forward to reading your review. I love reading your articles -- but this is the first time I have asked a question. Read Pillars!
Gail: I'll try, but it's almost 1,000 pages long!
Thanks for joining the chat. Come back next week.
lsrubin: Hi, Gail, I love your work, but wanted to say that the proofreader in me has to tip you off! Julianna Margulies' character is not Florek, it's Florrick. Why am I unable to stop myself from worrying about trivial stuff like this? I can't help it-- maybe there's a 12-step program for me!
Your fan,
Leah Rubin
Gail: You are right, and neither my editor nor I (we both like "The Good Wife," too) caught that. There isn't much proofreading in the world of newspapering these days, but that wasn't a proofreading mistake, just a mistake.
April Lindsey: I thought I heard about a show similar to The Tudors on another cable station or maybe it was similar to Rome. Just trying to find something good to watch till fall.
Gail: You're talking about Starz' "The Pillars of the Earth," which we've been discussing here. Check Friday's GO! for my review.
frankie: I've always liked Sela Ward. Hearing that she's joining a show I don't watch, CSI, makes me wonder: Has "Sisters" ever been released on DVD?
Gail: "CSI: NY," the most dour of the "CSI" franchise. But it has lots of fans.
No, apparently "Sisters" has never been released on DVD. Either there are license issues or somebody thinks it wouldn't sell.
Janelle: I was just wondering if there was any word on Southland?
Gail: TNT picked up "Southland" for a third season back in April. New episodes are due in January.
Sher: I finally watched the ER finale (don't ask) - Is Noah Wiley coming back to TV or did I dream this?
Gail: Really? Was it on the DVR all this time?
Noah Wyle is the lead in a new TNT series from Steven Spielberg; it's science fiction. Don't know when it premieres offhand.
Josh: Any comments on Tuesday's episode of Dealiest Catch? I was half torn between it maybe showing to much but the hour special afterwards changed my opinion.
Gail: I thought the producers and editors did a lovely job of depicting the death of Capt. Phil Harris without making it too manipulative. It was really very moving.
April Lindsey: Please, please spill some Mad Men beans. Honestly, we won't tell. Just a little hint?
Gail: Here's what I can tell you: It's a very Don-centric episode. Some time has passed (I won't say how much) and the new agency is up and running. So is Betty's new life. Don starts out one way in the episode and ends up another way. Jon Hamm is very handsome.
Jay: I see that NBC just announced their fall schedule, as did Fox and ABC last week. Am I wrong or are the networks announcing fall schedules earlier than usual?
Maybe my timing is off on this too, and I know the budget has been tight, but will you be attending the TCA Summer Press Tour? I always look forward to your first hand reports on what we can expect from the networks.
Gail: No, this is about the time they always announce their fall premiere dates. Not much suspense; premiere week is Sept. 20, and almost everything debuts or returns then except CW shows, which go earlier.
I'll be writing from press tour beginning Monday, July 26. Keep an eye on my blog -- www.stltoday.com/tubetalk -- for many daily updates from a jam-packed schedule, and also follow me on Twitter (Twitter.com/gailpennington) if you don't already. One of the first things on the agenda is a set visit to J.J. Abrams' "Undercovers," which I love, so I'm looking forward to that.
Gail: That's all for today, friends. Thanks for jumping in with the questions and comments after I put out my plea and making it a fun-filled chat after all. See you back here next week, same time, and I'll have the transcript up on Tube Talk shortly.
