Network News & Reviews

Fair is fair -- and Couric strove to be just that

Ed Bark — 2008-07-23T09:15:17-05:00

By ED BARK Barack Obama's Middle East odyssey, with the three major broadcast news anchors in tow, has irked John McCain to the point where his campaign is firing back with a video titled "Obama Love." ...Obama has "indicated by his failure to acknowledge the success of the surge that he would rather lose a war than lose a campaign," he said in what likely will be a resonating sound bite.

Leno's lame duck clock officially ticking to finish line (updated)

Ed Bark — 2008-07-21T15:20:08-05:00

Leno, who succeeded Johnny Carson on May 25, 1992, agreed to the move several years ago. He since has stepped up his ridicule of NBC's ongoing programming problems while at the same time becoming late night's hottest property for whatever network wins a likely bidding war to get him. ...Poehler's former running mate on SNL, Tina Fey, stepped into prime-time two seasons ago with 30 Rock, which last week received the most single-season Emmy nominations of any comedy series in history.

Heidi Heidi Heidi ho'

Ed Bark — 2008-07-21T15:19:25-05:00

The former "Hollywood Madam," who served a 37-month sentence for "pandering" until her release in September 1999, is the focus of HBO's notably stuporous Heidi Fleiss: The Would-Be Madam of Crystal. ...Filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, earlier responsible for the likes of Inside Deep Throat and The Eyes of Tammy Faye, follow a none-too-steady Fleiss on her quest to establish a thriving "Stud Farm" on 60 acres of property that she managed to buy dirt cheap.

Elder acting Brolin turns 68 before Barbra Streisand's eyes

Ed Bark — 2008-07-18T09:10:16-05:00

He broke in as Robert Young's sawbones sidekick on ABC's Marcus Welby, M.D before starring in the same network's Hotel as no-nonsense manager Peter McDermott. Brolin later stepped into the role of an inept, laughable Ronald Reagan in the controversial 2003 miniseries The Reagans, which was made for CBS and then dumped on sister network Showtime after an outcry on Fox News Channel among others.

30 Rock, Mad Men, John Adams set the pace for prime-time Emmys

Ed Bark — 2008-07-17T08:03:34-05:00

30 Rock sent a single season record for comedy nods, Mad Men led the drama series contenders and HBO as usual dominated the movie and miniseries categories in nominations announced Thursday for the 60th annual prime-time Emmy Awards. ...A new Emmy category, "Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program," is populated by Tom Bergeron (the likely winner for ABC's Dancing with the Stars); Heidi Klum (Bravo's Project Runway); Howie Mandel (NBC's Deal or No Deal); Jeff Probst (CBS' Survivor) and Ryan Seacrest (Fox's American Idol).

Comedy Central fires up a putrid new Gong Show, then saves face with Reality Bites Back

Ed Bark — 2008-07-16T17:26:50-05:00

New Comedy Central jobs for Dave Attell and Michael Ian Black By ED BARK All involved with Comedy Central's reinvention of The Gong Show could find themselves knockin' on heaven's door someday. ...The thing premieres at 9 p.m. (central), with Attell and judges Steve Schirripa, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and Brian Posehn (wow, what star power) kicking things off with an aging female impersonator who sings about her "cute, hot pussy" while cradling a short-haired cat on a leash.

Hopefully he won't grow up. But Will Ferrell's not getting any younger

Ed Bark — 2008-07-16T11:28:27-05:00

By ED BARK Former Saturday Night Live MVP Will Ferrell takes a crack at being 41 on Wednesday, July 16th. ...Here's a clip of Ferrell in classic dumb-down as a big-buckled Dubya attempting to grasp the issue of "global warmings."

D-FW one of four markets testing new Wendy Williams show. Damn the luck

Ed Bark — 2008-07-14T15:22:18-05:00

In D-FW it's supplanting the canceled Montel Williams Show at 11 a.m. weekdays for the rest of this month and next. ...At one point, a discombobulated Williams couldn't come up with the name of an exceedingly familiar face whose framed picture adorns a controversial cover of The New Yorker next to centerpiece caricatures of Barack and Michelle Obama as fist-bumping terrorists.

TNT's women of distinction return in new seasons of The Closer and Saving Grace

Ed Bark — 2008-07-14T06:54:19-05:00

The fourth season opener finds high-strung, sweets-craving deputy police chief Brenda Johnson (Sedgwick) and her charges in pursuit of a possible arsonist whose dirty work may be connected to a flash of Southern California wildfires. ...Over on Saving Grace, dissipated and borderline emaciated Oklahoma City police detective Grace Hanadarko (Hunter) ended last season with a gun pointed at the head of Patrick "Satan" Murphy (guest star Rene Auberjonois), the priest who repeatedly molested her as a child.

Generation Kill (or be killed) --in Iraq

Ed Bark — 2008-07-11T14:52:53-05:00

Actors Alexander Skarsgard, James Ransone of Generation Kill Premiering: Sunday, July 13 at 8 p.m. central and continuing through Aug. 24 on HBO Starring: Alexander Skarsgard, James Ransone, Lee Tergesen, Stark Sands, Billy Lush, Jon Huertas, Chance Kelly, Neal Jones and many more Written and produced by: David Simon, Ed Burns Directed by: Susanna White, Simon Cellan Jones ...Col. Stephen "The Godfather" Ferrando (center) calls the shots. Into their midst comes Rolling Stone's Evan Wright (Lee Tergeson), who oddly enough often seems out of place even when he's supposed to seem so.

CBS' Flashpoint not your typical summertime dim bulb

Ed Bark — 2008-07-11T12:00:26-05:00

Premiering: Friday, July 11th, at 9 p.m. (central) on CBS Starring: Enrico Colantoni, Hugh Dillon, Amy Jo Johnson, David Paetkau, Michael Cram, Sergio Di Zio, ruth Marshall, Philip akin, Lisa Marcos, Mark Taylor Created by: Mark Ellis, Stephanie Morgenstern ...For now at least, Lane is a very intriguing head case, Parker's a sturdy team leader, Jules Callaghan (Amy Jo Johnson) knows she's cute and Sam Braddock (David Paetkau) has the assignment of hunky newcomer.

Ted Danson/Hellboy; Hellboy/Ted Danson

Ed Bark — 2008-07-11T07:39:54-05:00

OK, that's Ron Perlman in red face for Hellboy II: The Golden Army, opening Friday (July 11th). But Ted Danson clearly is tailor-made for the role.

Burn Notice back up and running

Ed Bark — 2008-07-10T07:27:07-05:00

This is drama with a bounce in its step, following the formulas of Monk, Psych and The Starter Wife, which now is being turned into a series. ...USA will air nine new episodes of Burn Notice on Thursdays before taking a break and returning with seven more in January.

The Office punches in early -- with four new "webisodes"

Ed Bark — 2008-07-09T11:30:17-05:00

Brian Baumgartner's dim Kevin Malone fronts new Office "webisode." What runs for 8 minutes, 30 seconds, is without Steve Carell and makes No. ..."I think it sort of changed the way everybody was looking at online (material) and what the networks were making performers and writers do in terms of additional content .

Ted Koppel and Discovery rechristen China "The People's Republic of Capitalism"

Ed Bark — 2008-07-08T15:37:59-05:00

A still intrepid Ted Koppel discovers that it's tough to make a clean break after digging deep for dirt in a Chongqing coal mine. Premiering: Wednesday, July 9th at 9 p.m. (central) and continuing at the same hour through Saturday on the Discovery Channel Anchored and reported by: Ted Koppel Produced by: Ted Koppel and Tom Bettag ...For four nights and as many hours, Koppel and his longtime producing partner, Tom Bettag, examine in depth what's become of Chongqing, China, a southwestern industrial megaplex with a population of 13.5 million and growing.

The Peacock plucks another cable property

Ed Bark — 2008-07-07T06:54:28-05:00

The Weather Channel is its latest acquisition, with NBC Universal president and CEO Jeff Zucker delivering another dollop of network-speak in a statement released Sunday. ...Under NBC Universal ownership since 2002, Bravo has been shorn of any art house ambitions and become home to a glut of gut-level reality series ranging from the bad (The It Factor) to the ugly (Being Bobby Brown) to the pretty good Project Runway).

Geraldo Rivera: Born on the Fourth of July and now Medicare-ready

Ed Bark — 2008-07-03T09:46:24-05:00

It seems, though, that he's been with us forever and a day, stalking bad guys, regularly making an ass of himself and sometimes exorcising his evil twin -- during a respectable CNBC period. ...But Rivera is still right in proclaiming that The Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults was and likely always will be the most-watched syndicated program in TV history.

Read a good Lost book lately?

Ed Bark — 2008-07-02T12:19:12-05:00

But executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse figure you'll enrich yourself, if not them, by reading a few of the hard- and soft bounds pictured or mentioned during the series. ...Let's start right now: "In these times of ours, though concerning the exact year there is no need to be precise, a boat of dirty and disreputable appearance, with two figures in it, floated on the Thames, between Southwark Bridge which is of iron, and London Bridge which is of stone, as an autumn evening was closing in .

Dan Aykroyd blows in at 56

Ed Bark — 2008-06-30T22:19:36-05:00

Aykroyd has persevered, opening a string of House of Blues clubs, nabbing an Oscar nomination for 1989's Driving Miss Daisy and starring as Episcopal minister Mike Weber in the sub-dreadful 1997 ABC sitcom Soul Man. But of course we'd rather remember The Blues Brothers, birthed on SNL and well-served in a big-screen feature that included performances by Aretha Franklin and late greats James Brown, Ray Charles and Cab Calloway.

Spike TV's low-overhead Factory punches in and works a funny shift

Ed Bark — 2008-06-27T15:01:29-05:00

Factory hounds Gus, Gary, Smitty and Chase Premiering: Sunday, June 29th at 9 p.m. (central) on Spike TV Starring: Mitch Rouse, Michael Coleman, Jay Leggett, David Pasquesi, Mark Beltzman, Rick Hall, Christopher Allen Nelson, Eliza Coyle, Tracy Foley Produced and directed by: Mitch Rouse ...From there it's quickly open season on his job, with pals Gary (Mitch Rouse), Gus (Jay Leggett), Smitty (David Pasquesi) and Chase (Michael Coleman) all in the running.

Ross Perot: 78 RPMs

Ed Bark — 2008-06-27T11:44:56-05:00

By ED BARK Dallas billionaire Ross Perot, who turned the 1992 presidential race on its and his ears, makes it to his 78th birthday on Friday, June 27th. Perot's much-parodied brand of belligerent, pie chart politics got him 19 percent of the vote in a three-way match with victor Bill Clinton and President George H.W.

Gray area: Not much separates fictional Grey's Anatomy from real-life Hopkins

Ed Bark — 2008-06-25T14:11:21-05:00

Replete with originally composed music and a soap-ish storyline tied to a hunky resident's troubled marriage, Hopkins is an ABC News production aimed at those who supposedly won't sit still for one of those unadorned, old time religion news docs. ...Hopkins, premiering Thursday, presented in high-definition and scheduled to run for six weeks, mixes state-of-the-art medicine with the out-of-hospital angst of cardiothoracic surgeon Brian Bethea.

Survey says: Celebrity Family Feud is kinda cringe-worthy

Ed Bark — 2008-06-23T16:17:03-05:00

It's the Rivers clan vs. Ice T's posse during opening night play. Premiering: Tuesday, June 24th at 7 p.m. (central) on NBC Hosted by: Al Roker, with 24 celebrity family teams Produced by: Gaby Johnston, Toby Gorman ...NBC has moved Celebrity Family Feud up a week from its original premiere date to take on the premiere of ABC's Wipeout, which leads into the network's unveiling of I Survived A Japanese Game Show.

Brokaw will take Meet the Press through presidential election

Ed Bark — 2008-06-22T10:04:10-05:00

By ED BARK NBC has named Tom Brokaw as moderator of Meet the Press through this fall's presidential election. ...In an accompanying press release, NBC News president Steve Capus said of Brokaw and Meet the Press: "To have someone of Tom's stature step up and dedicate himself to ensuring its ongoing success is not only a testament to his loyalty to Tim, but his enduring commitment to NBC News and our viewers."

Atom TV segues from web to wee hour on Comedy Central

Ed Bark — 2008-06-20T14:10:19-05:00

Atom TV's Benny, Escaped Convict and Jim Carrey's Fire Marshall Bill By ED BARK It's easy to envision an early Jim Carrey's flammable Fire Marshall Bill incubating on Atom.com before matriculating to 1990's first season of Fox's In Living Color. ...Comedy Central's Atom TV, premiering Monday, June 23rd -- technically Tuesday, June 24th -- gets a 1 a.m. (central time) slot to strut a collection of comedy shorts that originated on the now one decade old Web site.

Parts still working: Lindsay Wagner's odometer moves to 59

Ed Bark — 2008-06-20T12:08:03-05:00

By ED BARK Still crush-able, TV's original Bionic Woman, Lindsay Wagner, jogs to the 59 year mark on Sunday, June 22nd. ...That's still a marathon compared to last fall's new version on NBC, which lasted for just half of a strike-pocked season before the Peacock canceled it.

Picky Picky (Vol. 15)

Ed Bark — 2008-06-19T12:25:26-05:00

***Moore first came to prominence as Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show before putting her stamp on the even greater Mary Tyler Moore Show. ...***Walters trailblazed as both the Today show's first female host and on ABC in partnership with a sour Harry Reasoner as the first woman to co-anchor a network evening newscast.

Fabric softener: Michelle Obama guest hosts The View

Ed Bark — 2008-06-18T17:34:14-05:00

The gabfest's grande dame, Barbara Walters, displayed the front page article -- "After Attacks, Michelle Obama Looks for a New Introduction" -- after the wife of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama sat down and immediately said with a big smile, "I have to be greeted properly. ...Impeccable in a flattering black-and-white print dress, Michelle even praised First Lady Laura Bush for defending her hotly debated comments at a Wisconsin campaign rally where she said, "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country."

West Texas awl bidness gets reality check on truTV's Black Gold

Ed Bark — 2008-06-18T06:44:13-05:00

Peanut the "Worm," bossman Gerald and the dirty work they do. Premiering: Wednesday, June 18th at 9 p.m. (central) on truTV Starring: Three competing teams of oil drillin' West Texas roughnecks Produced and narrated by: Thom Beers ...Texas Gold is pretty good at detailing the costs -- up to $60,000 for a "high-end" drill bit -- and the risks to oilmen Mike LaMonica and Autry Stephens, who are bankrolling the three rigs during their journeys to the center of the earth.

Katie gets slapstick-y on own youtube channel

Ed Bark — 2008-06-17T12:13:57-05:00

Still, it's a game effort, on Couric's part at least, to "humanize" herself in the eyes of those who see -- or don't see -- that side of her on the Evening News. ...In the latest weekly Nielsens (June 9-13), the Evening News averaged 5.74 million viewers in again running far behind the NBC Nightly News (7.98 million) and ABC's World News (7.50 million).

Showtime's Secret Diary of a Call Girl neither takes off -- or takes off

Ed Bark — 2008-06-16T11:29:20-05:00

Billie Piper precariously straddles two worlds as Belle/Hannah. Premiering: Monday, June 16th at 9:30 p.m. (central) on Showtime Starring: Billie Piper, Cherie Lunghi, Iddo Goldberg, Toyah Willcox, Stuart Organ Created by: Lucy Prebble ...We learn that she doesn't drink on the job, uses men's deodorant but not perfume, has a friend, Ben (Iddo Goldberg), who's apparently clueless about her profession and has "never been a very good girlfriend in real life."

Carvey's still got a little somethin' somethin'

Ed Bark — 2008-06-13T14:34:10-05:00

His Saturday, June 14th HBO special (9 p.m. central and repeated throughout June) returns him to the living after a bungled heart surgery and a desire to spend more time with his family kept him mostly out of public view for the past decade. ...Thankfully, Carvey doesn't dust off that relic, but eventually gets around to an array of politician impressions, including both George Bushes, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Ross Perot, Dick Cheney, Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Hillary and sexism. Couric and Matthews. Showing and telling

Ed Bark — 2008-06-13T11:28:46-05:00

In much-criticized comments after Clinton's New Hampshire primary victory, Matthews said on the network's Morning Joe program that she wouldn't be a senator from New York or a candidate for president if her husband hadn't "messed around." ...

A commentary on Fox News Channel's history of not commenting

Ed Bark — 2008-06-12T14:33:25-05:00

FNC averaged 1.703 million viewers in prime-time for that eventful political week, with CNN close behind at 1.418 million and long-downtrodden MSNBC making a little noise with an average of 1.016 million. ...In both instances, FNC's numbers are up from a comparable week one year ago (June 4-10, 2007), when it averaged 1.564 million viewers in prime-time and 897,000 for the total programming day.

Still clutch: Marvelous Marv Albert shoots a 67

Ed Bark — 2008-06-12T07:08:27-05:00

By ED BARK Toupee firmly in place and sex scandals presumably behind him, golden-voiced Marv Albert turns 67 on Thursday, June 12th. ...Here's his timeless setup of Game 5 of the 1997 Bulls-Jazz showdown, in which he draws the battle lines between Game 4 hero John Stockton and emperor Michael Jordan.

Funny business: Bill Engvall cut his comedy teeth in Dallas before taking a bite out of big time

Ed Bark — 2008-06-11T17:50:11-05:00

Their nuclear family comedy series, returning for a second season Thursday (8 p.m. central) on TBS, is the only one of its kind unless you're counting Fox's cartoon Simpsons. ...That's a nice-sized hit by basic cable standards, giving the 50-year-old star another comfortable hammock in addition to his standup comedy act and recurring appearances with Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy on "Blue Collar Comedy" tours.

Fox's Dance finalists include six feet from North Texas

Ed Bark — 2008-06-10T13:12:49-05:00

Dance finalists Comfort Fedoke, Joshua Allen, Chelsea Traille By ED BARK Uniquely named Comfort Fedoke of Carrollton is stepping into Fox's So You Think You Can Dance as one of the summertime reality hit's 20 finalists. ... Bill & Star of Flint, TX and mug shots of the dozen furry finalists ***There's also a Texas dog/human duo in CBS' upcoming Greatest American Dog, scheduled to premiere on Thursday, July 10th.

Swingtown flops around in a sea of sex, drugs and dreary characters

Ed Bark — 2008-06-05T09:42:12-05:00

Sex at the deep end: Tom and Trina Decker have an "open" marriage. Premiering: Thursday, June 5th at 9 p.m. (central) on CBS Starring: Grant Show, Lana Parrilla, Molly Parker, Jack Davenport, Miriam Shor, Josh Hopkins, Shanna Collins Produced by: Mike Kelley, Alan Poul ..."Saturday in the park, every day's the Fourth of July" plays on Bruce Miller's convertible radio as he and wife, Susan (Jack Davenport, Molly Parker), leave their old neighborhood behind with a holiday block party in progress.

Dennis the non-Menace

Ed Bark — 2008-06-04T11:01:49-05:00

By ED BARK TV icon Dennis Weaver, who died on Feb. 24, 2006, would have been 84 on Wednesday, June 4. ...Here's the great, wheel-spinnin', one-minute trailer from Duel, with Weaver braving both a malevolent semi-truck driver and a rattle snake bite.

Chill in the air: Fear Itself registers on 'ooh scary' meter

Ed Bark — 2008-06-04T08:51:53-05:00

Nasty neck wounds abound in first two episodes of Fear Itself. Premiering: Thursday, June 5th at 9 p.m. (central) on NBC Starring: Various thespians in weekly suspense/horror anthology tales Created by: Mick Garris ...Dark, brooding and graphic within broadcast network confines, the first two episodes have a nice tingle to 'em. Each hour is helmed by a different director, with Breck Eisner (Creature from the Black Lagoon) and Brad Anderson (The Machinist) taking charge of the first two.

Model Ts? Women 35-and-over strike poses in She's Got the Look

Ed Bark — 2008-06-03T15:11:51-05:00

Robes gallery: The 10 finalists of TV Land's She's Got the Look include 40-year-old Dallas auditioner Roxanne Ford (3rd from left). Premiering: Wednesday, June 4th at 9 p.m. (central) on TV Land Hosted by: Kim Alexis, with judges Sean Patterson, Beverly Johnson and Robert Verdi scrutinizing 10 prospective superstar models between the ages of 35 and 63. ...Davis is by far the oldest and indeed the pluckiest of 10 elder stateswoman -- by conventional modeling standards -- chosen as finalists in TV Land's She's Got the Look.

What were the odds? TV wild man Chuck Barris turns 79

Ed Bark — 2008-06-03T11:12:13-05:00

By ED BARK Somehow still standing, legendary game show creator and host Chuck Barris turns 79 on Tuesday, June 3rd. ...Here's a clip from his last episode of The Gong Show, which NBC canceled on July 21, 1978 after recurring battles with the host over the show's less than rarefied content.

"The Beav" hits 60.

Ed Bark — 2008-06-02T05:15:56-05:00

In fact, I remember a night in the mid-1980s when yours truly and some less than sober TV critic friends dialed up Mathers' hotel room at the Arizona Biltmore during CBS' portion of network TV's annual summer "press tour." It was well past midnight, and we wondered whether he'd do an interview with us on a moment's notice rather than make us all get up for a scheduled mid-morning session tied to the new movie Still the Beaver.

Found: another inspired Lost spoof

Ed Bark — 2008-05-30T15:18:38-05:00

Lest we all take Lost way too seriously, here's the latest action figure parody of the show from the Fine Bros., Benny and Rafi. This one's titled Indiana Jones & the Mystery of the Lost Island.

Warning: this look at Lost's season finale discusses major plot points in case you haven't seen it yet

Ed Bark — 2008-05-30T06:38:05-05:00

Jack stands over Locke box; Kate and Aaron. ABC photos By ED BARK Can the island's recuperative powers -- whatever they are and wherever it is now -- serve to resurrect a presumably dead John Locke? ...A still distraught Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox), whose ridiculous, glued-on jet black beard got a facelift for later scenes, broke into a mortuary to get another look at what turned out to be Locke/Bentham (Terry O'Quinn) reposing in a coffin.

Souped-up Password returns: Uma/Oprah; egg/yolk

Ed Bark — 2008-05-29T12:36:57-05:00

Celeb player Neil Patrick Harris fists up as host Regis Philbin claps. Premiering: Sunday, June 1st at 7 p.m. (central) on CBS Hosted by:Regis Philbin with opening night celebrity players Neil Patrick Harris and Rachael Ray Produced by: Vin Rubino ...Back then, during the show's breathtaking "Lightning Round," commoners and their celebrity partners could amass a swingin' sum of $250 if they connected in one minute's time on all five words given to them.

Back to basics: 2007-08's big winners recall TV's formative years

Ed Bark — 2008-05-28T17:10:45-05:00

Rounding out the top 10 were ABC's Desperate Housewives (17.3 million); Fox's House (16.2 million); CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (16.1 million) and NBC's Sunday Night Football (15.9 million). ...18-to-49-YEAR-OLDS Fox --- 4.97 million (4.89) ABC -- 3.48 million (4.25) CBS -- 3.43 million (4.51) NBC -- 3.26 million (3.76) Univision -- 1.98 million (2.05) The CW -- 1.19 million (1.59)

Same old story: McCain's age his overriding issue on late night monologues

Ed Bark — 2008-05-27T08:56:55-05:00

Otherwise you risk letting your opponent -- in this case, Letterman -- define you as "the guy at the hardware story who makes the keys, the guy who can't stop talking about how well his tomatoes are doing, the guy who goes into town for turpentine ....

HBO's Recount expertly paints by the numbers

Ed Bark — 2008-05-23T08:44:23-05:00

Laura Dern has the right makeup as flighty Katherine Harris. By ED BARK Let's get this out of the way first. ... Leary, Spacey and Wilkinson deftly drive the action in Recount. Spacey is solid in the film's top-of-the-marquee role.

Idol finale ratings inch upward

Ed Bark — 2008-05-22T17:46:34-05:00

By ED BARK American Idol's Season 7 finale Wednesday drew 31.7 million viewers nationally, up a notch from the 30.8 million for 2007's closer. ...The first Idol finale (2002), in which Kelly Clarkson of Burleson, TX defeated curly-topped Justin Guarini, pulled in 22.8 million viewers.

Idol: Do you smell what the Cook's rockin'?

Ed Bark — 2008-05-22T06:18:15-05:00

The two-hour extravaganza reunited the show's top 12 finalists and included appearances by ZZ Top (with whom Cook performed "Sharp-Dressed Man"), Donna Summer, Seal, Bryan Adams, Graham Nash, One Republic, Mike Myers (in costume to crassly promote his new film The Love Guru), Jimmy Kimmel, previous Idol champs Carrie Underwood and Jordin Sparks, and most notably, George Michael. ... Crass and class: Mike Myers and country queen Carrie Underwood. Post-finale, Fox4 devoted the entire first half-hour of its 9 p.m. local newscast to Idol chatter and highlights.

Simon/Davids: Idol rings out the 2007-'08 TV season with its seventh coronation

Ed Bark — 2008-05-21T10:18:33-05:00

Idol's previous six champs have a checkered record, with inaugural winner Kelly Clarkson reigning as the show's biggest star until being eclipsed in the past year by fourth season queen Carrie Underwood. ...Alas, he's become Idol's resident non-person of late, shuffled to the bottom of the deck while that season's fourth-place finisher, Chris Daughtry, lights up the charts.

Fox adds a couple for fall, puts 24 in play with two-hour prequel

Ed Bark — 2008-05-15T11:25:22-05:00

Fox executives also confirmed that they'll be tinkering with American Idol during the off-season after a ratings downturn for its seventh edition, which climaxes Wednesday with a showdown between the show's King Davids -- Archuleta and Cook. ...Fox's tentative January plans include removing two fall returnees -- Prison Break, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles -- and replacing them on Monday nights with 24 and the new Dollhouse from Buffy, the Vampire Slayer maestro Joss Whedon.

Laughter still an option on CBS

Ed Bark — 2008-05-14T09:08:36-05:00

New comedies Project Gary and Worst Week are coming to CBS. By ED BARK CBS is going cuckoo for comedy, at least compared to its two longest standing rivals. ...ABC's announced autumn look is without any new comedies, and just one overall -- the returning Samantha Who? NBC, which unfurled a 52-week schedule in early April, has four comedies set for fall, including lone newcomer Kath & Kim.

CW adds three new fall series while outsourcing Sunday

Ed Bark — 2008-05-13T18:11:22-05:00

Presenting the nubile cast of The CW's Surviving the Filthy Rich. By ED BARK The CW, ink-a-dink-a-doo of the five English language broadcast networks, nonetheless will have one more new fall series than ABC. ...Not in CW's current plans are Beauty and the Geek, Girlfriends, Aliens in America and Friday Night Smackdown!, whose producers couldn't reach a new deal with the network.

ABC's "new" fall season -- more or less

Ed Bark — 2008-05-13T09:04:43-05:00

Jason O'Mara of Life on Mars and midseason's The Goode Family. By ED BARK No big-time broadcast network has ever stood this pat. ...They'll have a chance to win an array of prizes packed into a semi-truck, but first must answer trivia questions "based directly on their lives, each other and articles found in and around their home."

Jimmy gets the job

Ed Bark — 2008-05-12T11:48:06-05:00

By ED BARK Long-rumored to be Conan O'Brien's replacement on NBC's Late Night talk show, Saturday Night Live alum Jimmy Fallon officially got the gig Monday. He's the hand-picked choice of SNL creator Lorne Michaels, who also tabbed a then virtually unknown O'Brien to replace David Letterman when he jumped to CBS in 1993.

Idol: Evicted Jason Castro seems glad all over

Ed Bark — 2008-05-08T06:58:25-05:00

Rockwall's hardly sad Jason Castro (left) says goodbye to Idol grind. By ED BARK Rockwall's Jason Castro got sent home Wednesday night after becoming the first finalist to openly plead American Idol fatigue. ...Castro had greased his skids with recent comments in Entertainment Weekly, where he admitted to struggling with Neil Diamond's songs the previous week and not really caring all that much how his performance fared.

Babs and Oprah: two queen bees spoonin' the honey

Ed Bark — 2008-05-07T09:41:29-05:00

Copies of Walters' Audition assuredly are already flying off bookstore shelves, in no small part because the most potent bookseller in the land -- Oprah Winfrey -- ordered her viewers at show's end to "Go get it." ...Yes, they definitely got the job done during a genuinely intriguing hour in which Walters decorously dished about Star Jones, Rosie O'Donnell, Donald Trump, her mentally challenged sister, Jackie and most important of all, her two-year affair in the mid-1970s with then U.S. Sen. Edward W.

That's my boy: Son's troubled presidency burnishes his father's

Ed Bark — 2008-05-05T16:48:25-05:00

It is in large part rehabilitative, though, with critics far outnumbered by admirers, including Barbara Bush, their son, Jeb, and their only daughter, Doro Bush Koch in new interviews for this film. ...But a souring economy and Bush's "Read My Lips, No New Taxes" pledge at the 1992 Republican National Convention would quickly undermine his bid for a second term. Says biographer Timothy Naftali, "He never connected with the American people .

Idol: Burbling Brooke's out, Rockwall's Castro in Final Four

Ed Bark — 2008-05-01T03:38:57-05:00

Brooke White goes home while Rockwall's Jason Castro strums on. By ED BARK Relentlessly needy Brooke White sobbed her way through Neil Diamond's "I Am . ..."Just for the record, the rumors are not true (about Abdul)," said host Ryan Seacrest, apparently referring to a report that she may have been a bit tipsier than usual.

New series review: Farmer Wants a Wife (The CW)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-30T10:45:11-05:00

Farmer Matt's suitors include Dallas-bred Brooke, cradling big pail. Premiering: Wednesday, April 30th at 8 p.m. (central) on The CW Starring: Missouri farmer Matt and 10 citified milk-diggers, including nanny Brooke from Dallas Produced by: Adam Cohen, Cara Tapper, Joanna Vernetti ...Farmer Matt has the charisma of skim milk, whether on a backyard "date" with lucky Christa ("I've had an absolute pleasure with you tonight," he tells her) or detailing the rules of a chicken-chasing competition that ends in a "coop off" between two women battling for opening night immunity.

Boy, the balls of some U.S. Supreme Court justices

Ed Bark — 2008-04-24T12:56:48-05:00

The U.S. Supreme Court decision that gave George W. Bush the 2000 presidential election over Al Gore is a tiresome, irksome topic to him, justice Antonin Scalia says on Sunday's 60 Minutes.

Idol: No thanks for the Memory, but Rockwall's Castro climbs another rung

Ed Bark — 2008-04-23T21:28:41-05:00

In and out: Rockwall's Jason Castro outlasts tatooed Carly Smithson. By ED BARK He'd probably like to forget his Tuesday night performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Memory." ..."It came over as a young guy being forced by your mum and dad to sing a song at a wedding that you didn't want to sing," said Cowell.

Showtime makes it a threesome for The Tudors

Ed Bark — 2008-04-22T15:30:02-05:00

Showtime has picked up a third season its critically praised The Tudors, with plans to keep Henry VIII's marriages coming until he reaches his historical max. "The Tudors is now a fixture for us at Showtime and we're on our way to completing the entire saga of all six wives of Henry VIII," network entertainment president Robert Greenblatt says.

"In honor of the WWE, you can call me 'Hillrod.' "

Ed Bark — 2008-04-22T08:30:03-05:00

That's because the three senators battling to succeed him were all appearing on WWE's Monday Night Raw, otherwise populated by the likes of Umaga the Samoan Bulldozer, Hardcore Holly, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Super Crazy and The Undertaker. ...Over on USA network's Raw, also owned by NBC Universal, the three presidential candidates stooped to conquer another potential voting block -- the mostly young males who avidly watch the show's ring fakery, comedy, babe-a-licious "divas" and big-time bloodletting during pay-per-view events.

Spring Snow at CNN

Ed Bark — 2008-04-21T17:05:43-05:00

By ED BARK Former White House press secretary and high-profile Fox News Channel analyst Tony Snow has joined CNN as a conservative commentator, the network announced Monday. ..."The big challenge in 2008 is to develop deep, creative and aggressive analysis of both political parties, their candidates and campaigns," Snow said in a statement.

Let's play two

Ed Bark — 2008-04-21T07:34:28-05:00

It takes the field on Monday at 8 p.m. on KERA-TV (Channel 13) as part of a doubleheader that also includes Roberto Clemente at 9 p.m. under the umbrella of PBS' long-playing American Experience series. ...It's good to have all of this history in a tidy, one-hour documentary that might be just enough to spur a few trips to the Cats' home field, rebuilt on the same hallowed grounds as the old one.

ABC debate brings Dems into sharper focus on both issues and gaffes

Ed Bark — 2008-04-17T09:33:13-05:00

Furthermore, during the debate's first 52 minutes, they "dwelled entirely on specious and gossipy trivia that already has been hashed and rehashed, in the hope of getting the candidates to claw at one another over disputes that are no longer news." ...That's a far better course than rolling over and playing dead with a question on the order of, "Senators, for those who haven't heard it yet, could you please detail at any length you please your proposals to achieve national health care for all Americans?"

Idol: Kristy Lee Cook(ed); Castro now in Final 6

Ed Bark — 2008-04-17T07:41:41-05:00

C-notes: Cook out, but Rockwall's Jason Castro still in on Idol. By ED BARK Likable Kristy Lee "Nine Lives" Cook couldn't withstand yet another Bottom 3 tightrope walk on Wednesday's latest American Idol vote-off. ...Cook, 24, said goodbye by sitting next to judge Simon Cowell, her biggest tormenter, and singing, "Those days of love all gone, our time is through" from Mariah Carey's "Forever."

A coupla cursin' weathermen

Ed Bark — 2008-04-15T10:11:00-05:00

NBC5's mild-mannered David Finfrock presumably would never salt his language with f-bombs after blowing a line on camera.... Check out this riotous 1-minute clip, in which the rat-a-tat industrial strength cursing is beautifully edited in mid-word.

Ha! The pathetic spectacle of Chris Matthews

Ed Bark — 2008-04-14T07:23:49-05:00

Writer Mark Leibovich's all-you-can-eat buffet also deals with Matthews' on- and off-air womanizing, incessant name-dropping, rampant redundancy and the dislike that some of his more prominent NBC colleagues seem to have for him. ...

Tell a friend: VH1's telenovela competition is juice-a-licious

Ed Bark — 2008-04-11T15:52:02-05:00

Havin' a heat wave: Jenn and Alexcy of VH1's Viva Hollywood! Title: Viva Hollywood! Premiering: Sunday, April 13 at 9:30 p.m. (central) on VH1 Starring: A dozen would-be telenovela stars Hosted by: Carlos Ponce, Maria Conchita Alonso Produced by: Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, Danny Salles ...Which means that it doesn't -- not even for a minute -- as 12 flesh-baring, egocentric "hot mamis" and "hot papis" convene at the show's "Casa De Locos" in hopes of mastering the "7 Deadly Sins of Telenovelas" in pursuit of mucho dinero ($100 grand) and a "breakout role" on one of Telemundo's upcoming sudsers.

Johns out while Jason's stock rises

Ed Bark — 2008-04-10T20:40:42-05:00

Ouster of Michael Johns (left) gives Jason Castro a smoother road. By ED BARK Bat leadoff on American Idol and your chances of hitting a home run with judges are maybe one in 100. ...Thursday's vote-off, delayed a night by Wednesday's Idol Gives Back special, also made room for several previously announced celebrities who instead were missing in action.

30 Rock returns to roll the dicey

Ed Bark — 2008-04-10T14:08:50-05:00

By ED BARK Google "MILF" and you'll quickly understand why NBC is playing with fire on Thursday's post-strike return of its Peabody-winning 30 Rock. ...Donaghy wants her to write for a spinoff starring DeBORah, but Lemon views MILF Island as "kind of lowest common denominator," given that one of the competitions has the women eating bugs to win tampons.

One is the loneliest number

Ed Bark — 2008-04-10T12:30:30-05:00

Figure skater Sasha Cohen won't get to cavort and contort anymore. By ED BARK The show won't go on. ...***In another CBS development, Dan Rather's multi-million dollar "Memogate" lawsuit against the network mostly has been thrown out of court by a New York State Supreme Court judge.

"I think we're dead. Time is going by really really really really slow."

Ed Bark — 2008-04-09T08:58:17-05:00

A Dearborn, Michigan cop succumbed to a higher calling when he confiscated marijuana from suspects and then baked it in brownies that he shared with his wife.... So is the off-camera snort from a Fox station anchor.

DVD review: John, Paul, Tom & Ringo (Shout! Factory)

Ed Bark — 2008-04-08T12:19:21-05:00

Factory's latest vintage DVD release, John, Paul, Tom & Ringo, is mainly worth having for Snyder's now historic one-on-one with Lennon, who later was joined by his immigration attorney, Leon Wildes. ...The host also quizzes Lennon about rock groupies, his current musical tastes, the heavily-publicized "bed-in" with wife Yoko Ono ("We were just promoting peace like you promote any product") and life in New York City as one of the most famous and deified celebrities in the land.

Seeing stars: Mega-watt Idol Gives Back ranks as season's biggest celebrity-fest

Ed Bark — 2008-04-08T11:16:03-05:00

Miley Cyrus and Brad Pitt on pre-taped Idol Gives Back special. By ED BARK Add the three major party presidential candidates to Wednesday's Idol Gives Back, now expanded to two-and-a-half hours with an early start at 6:30 p.m. (central). ...This year they're shooting for $100 million on behalf of The Children's Defense Fund; The Children's Health Fund; The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; Make It Right; Malaria No More; and Save the Children's U.S. Programs.

Last blasts for 'Frakkies'

Ed Bark — 2008-04-04T14:44:17-05:00

It returns for its fourth and final season Friday (9 p.m. central), with sinister Cylons still standing in the way of a return home for Admiral William Adama (Edward James Olmos), President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) and assorted underlings aboard the good ship Galactica. ...Suffice it to say -- or say it to suffice -- there's a pretty showy space battle between the good guys and the Cylons, who then suddenly retreat to the puzzlement of Adama.

Idol: Eight is enough, and Jason Castro is one of 'em

Ed Bark — 2008-04-02T23:42:52-05:00

Ramiele Malubay's out while Rockwall's Jason Castro plays on. By ED BARK Another lashing from judge Simon Cowell didn't deter Rockwall's Jason Castro from making American Idol's Elite Eight Wednesday. The 21-year-old also dodged a second consecutive trip to the Fox show's so-called silver "Stools of Shame, reserved weekly for the Bottom Three vote-getters.

New series review: Bingo America (GSN)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-28T14:48:19-05:00

Premiering: Monday, March 31st at 6 p.m. (central) on GSN and airing each weeknight at that hour Hosted by: Patrick Duffy with ball holder Crystal Wallasch Produced by: Andrew Glassman ...In an opening episode sent for review, though, he doesn't flex any of the quick wit he's shown as both a talk show guest and on Bill Maher's now defunct Politically Incorrect.

New series review: Tracey Ullman's State of the Union (Showtime)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-28T12:38:05-05:00

Tongue untied: Tracey Ullman tries on Helen Mirren, etc. Premiering: Sunday, March 30th at 9 p.m. (central) on Showtime Starring: Tracey Ullman Produced by: Tracey Ullman, Allan McKeown ...Ullman also portrays an undocumented Bangladesh woman working three menial jobs in Manhattan; a dutiful Nebraska housewife with "restless leg syndrome"; a Latina morning anchor with an exaggerated way of introducing herself; and a Middle Eastern pharmacist who's being robbed at her workplace.

All lathered up anew: Showtime's The Tudors still cleans up nicely as a hot-blooded, post-medieval soap

Ed Bark — 2008-03-27T14:04:50-05:00

Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn are a tough matchup for Pope Paul III. Premiering: Sunday, March 30th at 8 p.m. (central) on Showtime Starring: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Natalie Dormer, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Jeremy Northam, Peter O'Toole, Nick Dunning, James Frain, Henry Cavill, David Alpay, Hans Matheson Created and written by: Michael Hirst By ED BARK Showtime's Henry VIII remains thin and thinner-skinned in the person of Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

Idol: Nine remain after Chikezie sings his last

Ed Bark — 2008-03-27T01:21:27-05:00

Chikezie's out; Rockwall's Jason Castro survives a scare. By ED BARK Rockwall's sleepy-time Jason Castro survived another beating from the judges, but first had to sweat it out in American Idol's Bottom Three during Wednesday's latest vote-off. ...Chikezie's previous night's rendition of Luther Vandross' "If Only For One Night" had been deemed "very cheesy" and unoriginal by judge Simon Cowell.

South Park from ground zero to now

Ed Bark — 2008-03-25T12:29:04-05:00

Click on the video below and thrill to the first documented killings of Kenny -- at least far as I can tell -- on the first episode of the first season of Comedy Central's South Park. A big selection of clips and an array of full episodes are available for free viewing on the new SouthParkStudios.com.

Render all things unto Idol

Ed Bark — 2008-03-21T12:18:42-05:00

American Idol's Final 10 and Lost's Hurley. Fox, ABC photos By ED BARK It's really not fair, is it? ...In prime-time's two key measurements -- total viewers and 18-to-49-year-olds -- last week's two editions of Idol more than doubled the audience for their closest competitor.

Idol: Rockwall kid in Top 10 while resident rocker goes home

Ed Bark — 2008-03-19T22:06:18-05:00

Out and still in: rocker Amanda Overmyer, Rockwall's Jason Castro. By ED BARK American Idol cemented its top 10 and post-competition road show field Wednesday with the somewhat unexpected vote-off of rough-hewn Amanda Overmyer. ...The former failed MCA Records artist, who used to be Carly Hennessy, remains on her second voyage of "discovery" after her previous label reportedly spent $2.2 million trying to make her a star.

New series review: I Know My Kid's A Star (VH1)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-19T14:13:46-05:00

Danny Bonaduce before and after; Devon and Kevin of Rockwall Premiering: Thursday, March 20th at 9 p.m. (central) on VH1 Starring: Danny Bonaduce and 10 "Hollywood-crazed parent/child teams," including Devon and Kevin of Rockwall, TX Produced by: Danny and Gretchen Bonaduce By ED BARK Ridiculous when it's not being reprehensible, VH1's eight-episode I Know My Kid's A Star reeks of exploitation, Danny Bonaduce, an execrable mom named Rocky and a kid spewing vomit in the early going.

The long and winding 12 Miles of Bad Road

Ed Bark — 2008-03-18T14:47:50-05:00

It's no particular surprise to Harry Thomason and Linda Bloodworth that HBO leaked word Monday night of its decision not to air their broad but often very funny series about a Dallas realtor and her dysfunctional brood. ..."12 Miles represents the seemingly broad, but heavily researched and authentic world of Dallas billionaires, who think nothing of paying a million dollars for a Hannah Montana appearance at a child's birthday party, dispatching a private jet to England to deliver dry rub barbecue to Prince Charles or giving a trip to the moon as a wedding present.

New series review: Miss Guided (ABC)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-17T14:31:58-05:00

Dallasite Brooke Burns and star Judy Greer of Miss Guided. ABC photo Premiering: Tuesday, March 18th, at 9:32 p.m. (central) on ABC. Then moves to Thursdays at 7 p.m. with back-to-back episodes Starring: Judy Greer, Brooke Burns, Kristoffer Polasha, Chris Parnell, Earl Billings Produced by: Caroline Williams, Ashton Kutcher, Jason Goldberg, Todd Holland, Karey Burke, Mark Hudis

HBO's Adams family is a revolutionary concept

Ed Bark — 2008-03-14T11:05:32-05:00

Cold comfort: John and Abigail Adams kept their fires burning. Premiering: Sunday, March 16th, 7 p.m. (central) with a second episode from 8:10 to 9:45 p.m. Continuing on Sundays at 8 p.m. through April 30th Starring: Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, David Morse, Stephen Dillane, Zeljko Ivanek, Danny Huston, Justin Theroux, Guy Henry, Rufus Sewell, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Sarah Polley Produced by: Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman Directed by: Tom Hooper ...Its first two chapters, premiering Sunday, March 16th and running from 7 to 9:45 p.m. (central), accentuate the title character's unbending will and enduring love of his devoted, yet strong-willed wife.

New series review: The Return of Jezebel James (Fox)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-13T11:26:04-05:00

At least the Fox artwork is nice for The Return of Jezebel James. Premiering: Friday, March 14th at 7 p.m. (central) with back-to-back episodes on Fox Starring: Parker Posey, Lauren Ambrose, Scott Cohen, Michael Arden, Ron McLarty, Jack Carpenter Produced by: Amy Sherman-Palladino, Daniel Palladino By ED BARK Initially slotted for a post-American Idol launch, Fox's The Return of Jezebel James instead gets sent to the network's Friday night outhouse.

Idol: Latest evictee not grinning, not baring it.

Ed Bark — 2008-03-12T21:24:39-05:00

Rockwall's Jason Castro survives; not so David Hernandez. By ED BARK His recent past probably didn't help him, but neither did Tuesday's overwrought performance of Lennon-McCartney's "I Saw Her Standing There." ...Jim Carrey earlier showed up in an elephant costume to promote 20th Century Fox's upcoming Horton Hears a Who! And former Idol runnerup Katharine McPhee performed Lennon-McCartney's "Something" while accompanied by pianist David Foster.

New series review: Lewis Black's Root of All Evil (Comedy Central)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-11T15:30:13-05:00

In Lewis Black's Root of All Evil, premiering Wednesday on Comedy Central, he's mostly a judge who's not even as snarly as Judy. ...But next Wednesday's edition is better, with the returning Giraldo assailing Viagra with the logical argument that "when I sit on my grandpa's knee, I want to be sure it's his knee."

New series review: Canterbury's Law (Fox)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-07T09:26:13-06:00

Elizabeth Canterbury (Julianna Margulies) lays into another witness. Premiering: Monday, March 10th at 7 p.m. (central) on Fox Starring: Julianna Margulies, Ben Shenkman, Trieste Kelly Dunn, Keith Robinson, Aidan Quinn, Terry Kinney, James McCaffrey Produced by: Denis Leary, Jim Serpico, Walon Green, Dave Erickson By ED BARK Fox is swimming in Shark-infested waters here, and yes, that's an intended reference to the James Wood-led CBS courtroom series.

Lone Star? A single Texan remains in Idol's Final 12

Ed Bark — 2008-03-06T20:41:10-06:00

In and out: Rockwall's Jason Castro and Houston's Kady Malloy. By ED BARK A lone Texan still stands among American Idol's Final 12 after Thursday's herd-trimming left Houston's Kady Malloy on the cutting room floor. Jason Castro, 20, of Rockwall (but born in Dallas, raised in Rowlett) rode Tuesday night's rave reviews to the hit Fox show's promised land.

New series review: High School reunion (TV Land)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-05T12:31:30-06:00

Pearce's "Kat The Lesbian," then and now. Photos from TV Land Premiering: Wednesday, March 5 at 9 p.m. (central) on TV Land Starring: 14 graduates from J.J. ...Just trying to sink to the level of TV Land's High School Reunion, which turns out to be not all that bad a level in which to sink.

New series review: New Amsterdam (Fox)

Ed Bark — 2008-03-03T15:16:22-06:00

By ED BARK Four hundred is the new thirtysomething on Fox's New Amsterdam, whose ageless hero has got a lot more living to do unless he finds true love. ...Slotted for last fall until getting bumped by Don't Forget the Lyrics!, the show takes a very serious approach to both its weekly murder mysteries and unfolding mythology.

Worm turns on Big Apple's Good Day

Ed Bark — 2008-03-02T17:45:16-06:00

New York's version of Fox's Good Day recently spilled some bad blood between a war-weary old-timer and an anchor who tried to smack him down. It takes about a minute to get to the juice, but you won't be disappointed.

New series review: Oprah's Big Give (ABC)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-29T14:35:50-06:00

Premiering: Sunday, March 2nd, 8 p.m. (central) on ABC Starring: Oprah Winfrey (more or less) and a gaggle of judges and contestants Produced by: Oprah Winfrey By ED BARK It's already been pretty firmly established that Oprah Winfrey doesn't give anything away without all of us poor saps hearing about it.

News series review: Unhitched (Fox)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-29T13:14:44-06:00

It's not exactly Frasier when your comedy opens with a newly divorced guy in his 30s encountering a date who has a pet monkey and wants him to go ape with her -- literally. ...His best pals, forming something of a Seinfeld-esque quartet, are ill-kempt Tommy (Johnny Sneed), refined Kate (Rashida Jones) and the still socially awkward Dr. Freddy Sahgal (Shaun Majumder).

One Tex out, two graduate to Idol's sweet 16

Ed Bark — 2008-02-28T20:22:29-06:00

By ED BARK Dubbed dull and ordinary for two weeks running by arbiter Simon Cowell, wobbly American Idol hopeful Jason Yeager of Grand Prairie took a knockout punch on Thursday's second vote-off show. ...Jason Castro, 20, of Rockwall and Houston's Kady Malloy, 18, survived to be among Idol's final 16, although the latter earlier was left dangling next to Whitaker as one of the show's lower vote-getters.

Live from Ohio -- Hillary tells only half the SNL story

Ed Bark — 2008-02-26T23:13:31-06:00

"If anybody saw Saturday Night Live, maybe we should ask Barack if he's comfortable and needs another pillow," she then jabbed, drawing a few unfriendly murmurs from an otherwise mostly mute audience at Cleveland State University. ...

New series review: quarterlife (NBC)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-26T16:04:44-06:00

The quarterlife orbit also includes young filmmakers Danny and Jed (David Walton, Scott Michael Foster), bust-thrusting bartender/actress Lisa (Maite Schwartz), lovelorn Debra (Michelle Lombardo) and so-called "geek extraordinaire Danny (Kevin Christy), who easily is the least fleshed-out in Tuesday's opener. ...quarterlife excels because it speaks the language, hits the nerve spots and gets at the essence of what it's like to love/like someone who feels the same way not about you, but your closest friend.

ABC's Raisin In the Sun fullfills any and all grape expectations

Ed Bark — 2008-02-25T13:31:00-06:00

This is a business, after all, and the big broadcasters seldom are in any mood to "give back" anymore with productions that simply aspire to be great without any anticipated big payoff at the Nielsen box office. ...Rashad, so familiar to audiences as Clair Huxtable from The Cosby Show, is especially unforgettable as a nurturing but no-nonsense matriarch whose late husband's life insurance policy will be netting the family a $10,000 windfall.

Stewart shines as Oscar host on a night when most of the winners are great unknowns

Ed Bark — 2008-02-24T23:53:37-06:00

"All I can say is thank God for teen pregnancy," Stewart said after referencing the year's "slate of psychopathic killer movies (No Country For Old Men, There Will Be Blood, Sweeney Todd)." ... "Best Song" winners Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova; overseas quartet Daniel Day-Lewis, Tilda Swinton, Marion Cotillard, Javier Bardem. None of the winning speeches will go in a time capsule.

Championing Joe Louis

Ed Bark — 2008-02-23T11:59:38-06:00

The 75-minute film premieres on Saturday, Feb. 23rd at 7 p.m. (central) as something of an under-card to the following heavyweight title bout between two tongue-twisting white hulks -- Wladimir Klitschko and Sultan Ibragimov. ...After a humiliating defeat at the hands of Rocky Marciano, who would never lose a fight, Louis turned to wrestling, product endorsements, casino-greeting and just about anything else to pay off his debts to the government.

CNN's Obama-Clinton Texas throwdown puts her one step closer to throwing in the towel

Ed Bark — 2008-02-21T22:29:41-06:00

By ED BARK There's ample talk -- by TV pundits at least -- about how Hillary Clinton may have saved the day by humanizing herself in the final minute of Thursday night's CNN/Univision debate from Austin. ...She later had a bad moment, even drawing some boos on the subject of Obama's alleged "plagiarizing" of words used in an earlier speech by Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick, who's also a national co-chairman of his campaign.

Idol's three Texans punch tickets to next round

Ed Bark — 2008-02-21T21:47:33-06:00

By ED BARK Two of the three had taken a lashing from Simon Cowell, but none felt the sharper sting of eviction on American Idol's first viewer vote-off. Jason Castro, 20, of Rockwall, Jason Yeager, 28, of Grand Prairie, and Kady Malloy, 18, of Houston survived the winnowing of 24 contestants to 20 during Thursday night's typically prolonged nail-biter.

Two Jasons from North Texas at opposite ends of Idol's teeter totter

Ed Bark — 2008-02-19T21:35:44-06:00

Grand Prairie's Jason Yeager and Rockwall's Jason Castro on Idol. By ED BARK Maybe the American Idol audience has gotten old enough over the years to actually be in tune with Jason Yeager's treacly rendition of "Moon River" on Tuesday's male-only performance show. If not, the 28-year-old Huckleberry Friend from Grand Prairie might well be a goner when fans of the Fox mega-hit trim the field from 24 to 20 on the first results show Thursday.

Dancing ready to floor it with another dozen

Ed Bark — 2008-02-18T20:53:46-06:00

Hop to it: Kristi Yamaguchi, Priscilla Presley and Adam Carolla By ED BARK Sixty-two-year-old Priscilla Presley hopes to get all shook up when Dancing with the Stars returns for its sixth edition next month. ...Here's the rest of an eclectic and pretty intriguing field, which includes two former champion women athletes and a current member of the Miami Dolphins unless new GM Bill Parcells wants to cut him, too:

Starter Kit: PBS' American Experience chronicles the first famous Carson

Ed Bark — 2008-02-18T11:16:05-06:00

Christopher "Kit" Carson never learned to read and was mostly unaware of what the media of his day had done to him. ...PBS' remedial Kit Carson, an American Experience film premiering Monday (9 p.m. on KERA in Dallas), depicts its storied subject as a heroic yet flawed frontiersman whose biggest fault was blindly following orders.

Stars and bars: Prison Break ends its third and likely last season

Ed Bark — 2008-02-17T20:54:11-06:00

Monday's third season finale (7 p.m. central) caps a strike-shortened, 13-episode run that again finds brothers Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) and Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) on the outside looking in. They're on the lam anew, which frankly is getting pretty lam-brained for all concerned. ...There's talk of Fox opting for a women-in-prison series next season -- in which case the plot might not matter much if at all.

Idol goes with two Jasons from North Texas, and so far it's no horror film

Ed Bark — 2008-02-13T20:34:16-06:00

At least three notable ones, I'd say, with the closest call resulting in a no-go for bespectacled Buddy Holly lookalike Kyle Ensley, a junior at Oklahoma State who auditioned in Dallas. ...Leming looks like a cross between Davy Jones and Peter Noone, and has more than a bit of a British accent tossed in. He turned on the faucet works after getting bounced on a close call.

Blast from the past: Jericho rides again

Ed Bark — 2008-02-12T08:34:51-06:00

Ashley Scott gives some sugar to Skeet Ulrich on the second season premiere of CBS' Jericho. By ED BARK Not exactly back by popular demand -- but backed by a self-avowed group of uncrackable nuts -- Jericho returns Tuesday night in search of converts. ...This time it's for keeps, with CBS very unlikely to yield a second time to fan pressure if the show can't govern itself in the Nielsen ratings.

Bigger underdogs than the Giants -- which means there's always hope

Ed Bark — 2008-02-08T10:02:10-06:00

Star running back Brian "Smash" Williams (Gaius Charles) hasn't always pleased demanding coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler). By ED BARK Critical acclaim remains high for NBC's Friday Night Lights, which won a prestigious Peabody Award last year. ...There's a fair chance the walkout will come to an end next week, which would give Lights a chance to gear up for a handful of new episodes before the TV season officially ends in May.

New series review: Lipstick Jungle (NBC)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-06T18:38:17-06:00

The women of Lipstick Jungle and sassy creator Candace Bushnell Premiering: Thursday, Feb. 7, at 9 p.m. (central) on NBC Starring: Brooke Shields, Kim Raver, Lindsay Price, Andrew McCarthy, Paul Blackhorne, Robert Buckley Created by: Candace Bushnell ...Jungle is drawn from the novel by Candace Bushnell, who once collaborated with Cashmere Mafia maestro Darren Star on HBO's Sex and the City.

New series review: Welcome to the Captain (CBS)

Ed Bark — 2008-02-04T13:43:01-06:00

Jeffrey Tambor (middle) yearns to get lucky with Raquel Welch. Premiering: Monday, Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m. (central) on CBS Starring: Fran Kranz, Chris Klein, Jeffrey Tambor, Raquel Welch, Al Madrigal, Joanna Garcia Produced by: John Hamburg, Andrew Reich, Ted Cohen ...So you'll have to laugh entirely on your own at a show that aims to be in the vein of Arrested Development and also has one of that late, great comedy's crazier cast members in Jeffrey Tambor.

Hill and Dave: Together again for the 9th time

Ed Bark — 2008-02-03T15:20:18-06:00

Hillary will do Dave on "Super Tuesday" eve. By ED BARK Hillary Clinton is smart to be with David Letterman on the night before the "Super Tuesday" primaries have a big say in who will get the Democratic presidential nomination. ...Look for Tuesday's network morning shows and the cable news channels to be amply stocked with excerpts from whatever she comes up with in her pre-primary joust with Letterman.

Made-for-TV movie review: Bridal Fever (Hallmark Channel)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-31T16:47:45-06:00

By ED BARK Somehow this movie slipped past Lifetime and also likely will evade reviews from all but a handful of male TV critics. ...Roth, otherwise much harder-edged as Tommy Gavin's estranged wife on Rescue Me, flexes a million dollar smile and a figure that works very well from all angles.

Hey, Jericho nuts

Ed Bark — 2008-01-30T17:38:41-06:00

Jericho's second season, even though it's only a seven-episode "arc" for now, is coming to CBS on Feb. 12th. Here's a link to a fun clip of the network's 100 reasons to watch.

New series review: Eli Stone (ABC)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-30T08:59:55-06:00

Thursday's premiere begins in a snowy Himalayan village, where a few sight gags hit the spot before the show shifts back in time to the San Francisco law firm headed by imperious Jordan Wethersby (Victor Garber), whose beauteous daughter, Taylor (Natasha Henstridge), is engaged to Eli. ...Eli also has a saucy assistant named Patti (Loretta Devine in scenery-chewing mode) and a Chinese acupuncturist, Dr. Chen (James Saito), who fakes an Oriental accent but otherwise serves as something of a Master Po or Kan to a current-day "Grasshopper."

At a loss with Lost

Ed Bark — 2008-01-29T12:06:58-06:00

Left to right are -- wait a minute, that's way too much work. By ED BARK The fourth season's first two episodes of Lost arrived in the mail this week. ...It's probably safe to say they're in color, have spoken words and represent one-quarter of eight episodes that were completed before the writers' strike kicked in. There were supposed to be a total of 16 this season.

Class act: Sunday's star-studded Screen Actors Guild Awards show how it could/should be done

Ed Bark — 2008-01-28T09:59:17-06:00

HBO's The Sopranos got a big sendoff at Sunday night's SAG awards. By ED BARK Blessed with a free non-picketing pass from the striking Writers Guild of America, the in-solidary Screen Actors Guild put on a glitzy, star-drenched show Sunday night without making an undue spectacle of itself. ... Office politics didn't keep The Office from winning best ensemble. The SAG show, which never sagged, also was graced by a career achievement award for Charles Durning, who has survived both Hollywood and World War II's D-Day.

New series review: In Treatment (HBO)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-25T12:11:58-06:00

Continuing on weeknights at the same hour Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Diane Wiest, Blair Underwood, Josh Charles, Embeth Davidtz, Melissa George, Mia Wasikowska, Michelle Forbes Produced by: Rodrigo Garcia, Hagai Levi, Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg ...And In Treatment's opening night head case, a self-absorbed young anesthesiologist named Laura (Melissa George), is easily the worst foot forward in a series that dramatically improves the very next night with the entrance of Blair Underwood as a combative Navy pilot.

Fox crushes life out of competitors in runaway week

Ed Bark — 2008-01-23T17:29:03-06:00

By ED BARK Paced by the one-two punch of American Idol and the biggest NFC championship audience in 13 years, Fox played Goliath in the latest ratings week while rival networks shot themselves in the foot with their slingshots. ...CBS remains a slight favorite to retain its full-season crown in the total viewers race, with Fox continuing to close in as the season goes on. Among 18-to-49-year-olds, though, it'll be Fox in a trot.

Liar liar, should Fox burn in hellfire?

Ed Bark — 2008-01-22T14:20:57-06:00

By ED BARK Here's a basic, bare bones query for Fox entertainment chairman Peter Liguori: "In your heart of hearts, are you proud to have The Moment of Truth on your network? This is, after all, the big-money game show that deploys lie detectors in tandem with questions such as, "While at your current job, have you ever touched a female co-worker inappropriately?"

Dwindling supplies of scripted series put the major broadcast networks in various states of disrepair

Ed Bark — 2008-01-21T10:25:07-06:00

Running on empty: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Grey's Anatomy are both out of new episodes as the Feb. "sweeps" nears. By ED BARK Negotiators for striking writers and major studios are set to meet again this week in hopes of ending a walkout that began on Nov. ...But even with a quick resolution, it will be at least until spring before new episodes are ready to roll on established hits such as ABC's Grey's Anatomy and CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

"Documusical" review: High School Musical: The Music In You (Disney Channel)

Ed Bark — 2008-01-18T13:34:11-06:00

By ED BARK Originally earmarked for last fall, Disney Channel's Fort Worth-based High School Musical: The Music In You finally arrives late and comes up short. ... Ann Hunter and Julia Worthington are Disney's stage mothers. Ann Hunter and Julia Worthington, respectively the theatre arts directors at Arlington and Western Heights, are the maestros behind the joint effort.

American Idol: Back to the drawling board

Ed Bark — 2008-01-17T05:49:20-06:00

But he was too good/bad to pass up, and his performance of the supposedly self-written "We're Brothers Forever" had Jackson and judge Paula Abdul dancing along with him while Cowell no doubt correctly predicted, "I have a horrible feeling it's going to be a hit." ... A Texas-sized crowd gathered outside Texas Stadium in "Texas-sized temperatures" for first-round Idol auditions last August. The Dallas auditions bracingly lacked the 'tude and bleeped profanity spewed by the city of Brotherly Love.

Idol re-flexes, but loses some muscle tone

Ed Bark — 2008-01-16T11:52:02-06:00

Tuesday night's two-hour premiere of the show's seventh season drew 33.4 million viewers nationally to rank as the season's most-watched entertainment program to date. ...The seventh season opener ranked just fourth on the show's all-time list, behind the aforementioned sixth edition, Season 5 (35.5 million viewers) and Season 4 (33.6 million viewers).

Network News & Reviews

Fair is fair -- and Couric strove to be just that

Leno's lame duck clock officially ticking to finish line (updated)

Heidi Heidi Heidi ho'

Elder acting Brolin turns 68 before Barbra Streisand's eyes

<i>30 Rock, Mad Men, John Adams</i> set the pace for prime-time Emmys

Comedy Central fires up a putrid new <i>Gong Show</i>, then saves face with <i>Reality Bites Back</i>

Hopefully he won't grow up. But Will Ferrell's not getting any younger

D-FW one of four markets testing new Wendy Williams show. Damn the luck

TNT's women of distinction return in new seasons of <i>The Closer</i> and <i>Saving Grace</i>

<i>Generation Kill</i> (or be killed) --in Iraq

CBS' <i>Flashpoint</i> not your typical summertime dim bulb

Ted Danson/Hellboy; Hellboy/Ted Danson

<i>Burn Notice</i> back up and running

<i>The Office</i> punches in early -- with four new "webisodes"

Ted Koppel and Discovery rechristen China "The People's Republic of Capitalism"

The Peacock plucks another cable property

Geraldo Rivera: Born on the Fourth of July and now Medicare-ready

Read a good <i>Lost</i> book lately?

Dan Aykroyd blows in at 56

Spike TV's low-overhead <i>Factory</i> punches in and works a funny shift

Ross Perot: 78 RPMs

Gray area: Not much separates fictional <i>Grey's Anatomy</i> from real-life <i>Hopkins</i>

Survey says: <i>Celebrity Family Feud</i> is kinda cringe-worthy

Brokaw will take <i>Meet the Press</i> through presidential election

<i>Atom TV</i> segues from web to wee hour on Comedy Central

Parts still working: Lindsay Wagner's odometer moves to 59

Picky Picky (Vol. 15)

Fabric softener: Michelle Obama guest hosts <i>The View</i>

West Texas awl bidness gets reality check on truTV's <i>Black Gold</i>

Katie gets slapstick-y on own youtube channel

Showtime's <i>Secret Diary of a Call Girl</i> neither takes off -- or takes off

Carvey's still got a little somethin' somethin'

Hillary and sexism. Couric and Matthews. Showing and telling

A commentary on Fox News Channel's history of not commenting

Still clutch: Marvelous Marv Albert shoots a 67

Funny business: Bill Engvall cut his comedy teeth in Dallas before taking a bite out of big time

Fox's <i>Dance</i> finalists include six feet from North Texas

<i>Swingtown</i> flops around in a sea of sex, drugs and dreary characters

Dennis the non-Menace

Chill in the air: <i>Fear Itself</i> registers on 'ooh scary' meter

Model Ts? Women 35-and-over strike poses in <i>She's Got the Look</i>

What were the odds? TV wild man Chuck Barris turns 79

"The Beav" hits 60.

Found: another inspired <i>Lost</i> spoof

Warning: this look at <i>Lost</i>'s season finale discusses major plot points in case you haven't seen it yet

Souped-up <i>Password</i> returns: Uma/Oprah; egg/yolk

Back to basics: 2007-08's big winners recall TV's formative years

Same old story: McCain's age his overriding issue on late night monologues

HBO's <i>Recount</i> expertly paints by the numbers

<i>Idol</i> finale ratings inch upward

<i>Idol</i>: Do you smell what the Cook's rockin'?

Simon/Davids: <i>Idol</i> rings out the 2007-'08 TV season with its seventh coronation

Fox adds a couple for fall, puts <i>24</i> in play with two-hour prequel

Laughter still an option on CBS

CW adds three new fall series while outsourcing Sunday

ABC's "new" fall season -- more or less

Jimmy gets the job

<i>Idol</i>: Evicted Jason Castro seems glad all over

Babs and Oprah: two queen bees spoonin' the honey

That's my boy: Son's troubled presidency burnishes his father's

<i>Idol</i>: Burbling Brooke's out, Rockwall's Castro in Final Four

New series review: <i>Farmer Wants a Wife</i> (The CW)

Boy, the balls of some U.S. Supreme Court justices

<i>Idol</i>: No thanks for the <i>Memory</i>, but Rockwall's Castro climbs another rung

Showtime makes it a threesome for <i>The Tudors</i>