By Missy Lee   Wed, Jan 28, 2009

Some 20 years ago televangelist Jimmy Swaggert cried on national TV as he proclaimed, “Forgive me Father for I have sinned against thee” for being caught with a prostitute in a seedy motel. At almost the same time, Jim Baker of the ill-fated Praise the Lord (PTL Club) ministry, and fellow televangelist, also had a sin to confess; the defrocking of a young Jessica Hahn, also in a seedy motel room.

Since the mid-80's several high-profile celebrities/personalities/politicians have suffered their fair share of sinful behavior, often played out in very public ways. Kobe Bryant was accused and arrested for rape in a Colorado hotel room only to later have the charges dropped. Sportscaster Marv Albert suffered the humiliation of the world finding out he likes to wear women's panties and has a fetish for biting.

Former Rep. Mark Foley was forced to resign his Congressional seat after sexually explicit same sex instant messages with a Page were made public. And in an odd twist, his successor was also snared in a sex scandal. There was former senator and presidential candidate John Edwards affair with a campaign staffer. And of course, there was the whole Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky affair.

If these events teach us anything, it ought to be that you will be caught. Especially if you are high-profile. Or if you stand in a mega-church pulpit Sunday after Sunday preaching against homosexuality, as Ted Haggard did.

Once upon a time, Ted Haggard had it all: prosperity, a doting wife, five kids and a ministry that reached 30 million followers. The larger-than-life founder and pastor of Colorado’s New Life Church and president of the National Association of Evangelicals, Haggard was one of the most formidable forces in America’s Christian evangelical movement.

But in 2006, it all fell apart. Pastor Ted admitted to “sexual immorality” and buying methamphetamines from a male prostitute, which abruptly ended his career, sending him and his family into free-fall. The bombshell not only rocked the ministry, but everyone who knew him – especially his wife and five children.

A film by Alexandra Pelosi (HBO’s Emmy^®-winning “Journeys with George”), THE TRIALS OF TED HAGGARD takes an intimate look at the life and hard times of the sullied ex-minister when it debuts tonight at 8:00-8:45 p.m. ET/PT, exclusively on HBO. The film tells a cautionary tale of appearance versus reality, showing how one of the most powerful leaders of the Christian right was banished by his own church.

Three years ago, while making her documentary “Friends of God:  A Road Trip with Alexandra Pelosi,” the filmmaker befriended Haggard, at the time the picture of spiritual and physical health. In THE TRIALS OF TED HAGGARD, Pelosi meets up with Haggard after the New Life Church has given him one year’s severance pay to leave Colorado and undergo a full “spiritual restoration.”

With little money and few options, Ted, his wife Gayle and their children stay in comfortable “safe houses” provided by friends in Arizona. Though his two sons seem happy enough with their living situation, Ted admits the family is “miserable” over his reversal of fortune. Gayle is equally troubled, saying, “I was not aware of the depth of struggle that was going on internally in him. I stuck with him because I love him…to restore honor to our children, the best thing I could do is help restore honor to their father.”

As a first step to regain that honor, Haggard does something very ordinary: He looks for a job. Under the terms of his agreement with New Life, he is forbidden from finding work in a church. Since his BA in English Bible is, in Haggard’s words, “worthless in the secular world,” his prospects are limited. Struggling to obtain work, Haggard experiences many firsts, from applying to work as an online admissions counselor for the University of Phoenix, to selling insurance door-to-door. “This is incredible, because I’m 51 years old and I have never interviewed for a job in my life,” he tells Pelosi.

During one of her many visits with Haggard, Pelosi notes that his fall was particularly galling to Evangelicals, given the pastor’s longtime condemnation of homosexuality. Admits Haggard, “I have struggled and continue to struggle from time to time with same-sex attraction,” adding, “Even though I’m a sinner, even though I’m weak, God’s best plan for human beings is for men and women to unite together. And children’s best opportunity to grow up in a healthy way is to grow up in the home with their biological parents.”

After the pool of “safe houses” runs dry, the family is forced to check into a series of cheap motels. He continues to pursue spiritual restoration, and attends a local church, sitting near the back to avoid being recognized.

Haggard told Oprah Winfrey on Wednesday that he does not consider himself gay, but heterosexual with homosexual attachments.

“I think I am still naïve,” he says. “I still see the best in people, and I’m still heartbroken when people don’t see the best in me.”

Did Haggard see the best in those he railed against-homosexuals? Does he ever see the irony of what brought about his downfall? Does he “get” that the very church he founded, based upon the Christian principals of forgiveness, have turned their back on him?

Is he really that naïve?

By Missy Lee   Mon, Jan 26, 2009

Set against the backdrop of the high-pressure world of advertising, TRUST ME focuses on Mason (McCormack) and Conner (Cavanagh), a pair of ad men whose strong creative partnership has served the firm of Rothman Greene & Mohr extremely well over the years.  Mason, an art director, is a responsible, workaholic family man with a beautiful wife, Erin (Clarke), two children and an undying loyalty to the brands he helps sell.  By contrast, his writing partner, Conner (Cavanagh), is a single, impulsive copywriter with the attention span of a teenager.  Their yin-yang relationship is put to the test when Mason is named a creative director of the agency, making him Conner’s boss.  The series follows the changing dynamics between the two friends, who are better together than they are apart.

Also working in the same creative group is new hire Sarah Krajicek-Hunter (Potter), an award-winning copywriter whose forceful personality has a tendency to rub people the wrong way.  Hector (Arend) and Tom (Damus) are a junior creative team with untraditional ideas that don’t always sit well with their new boss.  The entire team is supervised by Tony Mink (Dunne), a man who lives and dies by the advertising business but has a growing sense his days in this young person’s business may be numbered.

TRUST ME follows these memorable characters as they try to navigate the waters of inter-office politics, personality conflicts, easily bruised egos, professional jealousies and unreasonable client demands.

TRUST ME was created by Hunt Baldwin and John Coveny, who have a combined total of over 20 years of experience in the advertising world having worked for J. Walter Thompson and Leo Burnett Advertising in Chicago. Baldwin and Coveny are also co-executive producers on TNT’s THE CLOSER.

By Missy Lee   Fri, Jan 16, 2009

“Are you ready for Friday night?” With that one question Kyle Chandler who stars in the NBC drama Friday Night Lights as Coach Eric Taylor, launches the shows third season tonight. The third season first aired on DirecTV in October and went for 13 straight weeks.

Chandler, who is coming off a big screen turn as Kathy Bates assistant John Driscoll in the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still, which premiered in December says he was thrilled to return to his small screen role as Coach Taylor.

When asked about doing a shortened season, Chandler replied, “I don’t see anything in what we’re doing this year as a negative at all, absolutely everything is a positive. I really feel like it’s a new show.”

This season Friday Night Lights went back on location in Austin, Texas which Chandler described as “very laid back and cool. The whole city is incredible and the greatest compliment we get from the residents is when they say ‘thank you’ for representing us so well.”

What Chandler did not like about shooting in Austin was being away from his wife and two daughters. The family spent time shuffling to and from Austin on weekends, which Chandler admits was hard and a lot of work.

One thing he did enjoy was that this time he actually lived in the city. “I’ll be living in the city so I can actually walk out my apartment door and be a part of the city. It has so much to offer. It’s a wonderful place.”

High school football seasons are 10 games long with usually a three game playoff situation. Chandler says that each week will encompass or at least reference a game leading up to the season finale. It looks like the Panther’s are making the playoffs this year.

Chandler who played a year-and-a-half of high school football could relate to when his TV team won the championship. His high school football team won the state championship the first year he played.

“I remember when we won on the show and could directly correlate to when I was a kid and we won that state championship. Although I didn’t play (he says in practice he played every position but during games he was literally a bench warmer), man that was the roughest summer of my life. My ear lobes were sore after that first practice.”

When asked if his team received a championship ring he replied, “No, jackets with patches.”

Chandler, whose family lived in Loganville, GA from the time he was 11 through his college years, has fond memories of the place “where he grew-up.”

“I learned how to hunt and fish and explore the outdoors down in Georgia. It was a very peaceful time in my life and it’s a beautiful state. I went to the University of Georgia, which is a wonderful place to go to school and a beautiful town.”

Chandler says he recently returned to Athens with his wife for a visit. “We stayed in town and I got to share a lot of the things I did there.”
 Asked how it had changed since he was a student he replied, “I noticed a lot of places were just gone and new places had opened up. I did miss out on going to the Varsity. I didn’t get anything to eat at the Varsity. But the Taco Stand is still there!”

He admits to not keeping up with this past season of Georgia football explaining, “I’ve got my daughter in horse, the other one’s in soccer, there’s four different camps going on. I’m a driver. I drive from here to there and from there to here. I don’t even have time to watch much TV!”

He admits that with Sag braced for a possible strike, things are quiet but as soon as “all that gets resolved” he expects “to hear a spark and then a large explosion.”

As for fans of the show he says “The number one thing they always ask me, ‘Is the show coming back?’ and when I tell them yes, they are always happy.”

Catch the new season of Friday Night Lights starting tonight on NBC at 9:00pm and for the next 13 weeks.

By Missy Lee   Wed, Jan 21, 2009

With an all new “Let me tell you a story...” BURN NOTICE returns for its second season continuation with seven all new episodes tonight at 10/9c on USA.

This season, the uber cool and super sexy Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) has been forced to work for the very people who burned him. In the second season continuation, he wakes up after the explosion at his apartment (where we last left off), alive but shaken.

Whoever tried to kill him also killed Carla's sniper and jeopardized her operation. Furious, Carla (Tricia Helfer "Battlestar Galactica"), Michael's new handler and a known ruthless operative, wants the bomber caught, but Michael sees the bomber as his chance to get a leg up on her and ultimately find out who is pulling the strings.

Meanwhile, with the help of Sam (Bruce Campbell), Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) and even his mother (Sharon Gless)on occasion, he continues helping ordinary people with their extraordinary problems, which never seem to get any easier.

Also remaining to be seen is what, if anything will happen between Michael and Fiona. The on-again-off-again duo started the season most definitely off, but as the first part of the season drew to a close, the sexual tension had returned along with a few wistful and longing looks.

In addition to Helfer and Shanks, guest stars this winter include NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin and John Mahoney ("Frasier").

Continuing with their stellar online presence the BURN NOTICE site is really heating up with the newest version of "BURN NOTICE Covert Ops," an alternate reality experience for fans, in which they can hone their spy skills and solve weekly challenges.

Michael Westen returns for "Ask a Spy," where he answers all your spy-related questions and gives instructional videos on how a spy would handle everyday situations. Fans can play the all new game, "See It Like a Spy," where they are given a set of tools or household items and are challenged to combine them to build a specified gadget.

And as always, viewers can stream full episodes, read weekly writer commentary with creator Matt Nix and get all new show trivia.

Log on and check it out at USA.

By Missy Lee   Sun, Jan 18, 2009

On Tuesday, January 20 at 8:00 p.m.*, Nick Cannon will host YES WE WILL! BET'S INAUGURATION CELEBRATION, a one-hour special commemorating the massive voter turnout and what African Americans are committed to doing in order to implement the change initiated by Barack Obama's presidency. This televised event will feature incredible performances by Chicago's own Common and Grammy Award-nominated Jazmine Sullivan and live shots from BET's Inaugural Ball, and will take a look back at the election and the significant campaign that led the way to America's first Black president.

BET Networks will host its first-ever Inaugural Ball on Tuesday, January 20 at the Mandarin Oriental hotel, with a special performance by Wyclef Jean. The Ball will be in support of the opportunities facing our next generation of national and local leaders and highlight what all Americans can do to improve the lives of children and youth in this country. To support these efforts, the Ball will be held in partnership with America's Promise Alliance, the nation's largest non-profit alliance dedicated to the well-being of children and youth founded by General Colin and Alma Powell, who will both be present at the Ball to speak about this historic opportunity to make young people a national priority. Additionally, BET's Ball will support two institutions that are committed to the education and advancement of today's youth in Washington, D.C. -- Dunbar High School and the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

"This is a weekend we'll all remember for the rest of our lives, in honor of a historic achievement many of us never dreamed would happen in our lifetimes," said Debra L. Lee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BET Networks. "We're so excited about everything we have planned to celebrate President-elect Obama's hugely significant and meaningful Inauguration, and we're thrilled that we'll have so many wonderful friends joining us, including General and Mrs. Powell."

"On this historic weekend -- as we welcome our new President and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. -- Americans have a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to ensure that our priorities reflect what makes this nation unique and exceptional, and that is our children," said Alma J. Powell, chair, America's Promise Alliance. "We're excited to partner with a dedicated organization like BET to raise awareness of the tireless efforts underway to make this nation a place where all our young people can succeed. When several thousand teenagers drop out of school each day, and millions more are without health care, we know we must do better and indeed we will."

For more on BET Networks' 2009 Inauguration coverage, please visit www.bet.com/beheard.

By Tracy Aiken   Sun, Feb 01, 2009

It is Super Bowl Sunday (Super Bowl XLIII if you are not aware).  Every team dreams of being part of the Super Bowl.  Now I do enjoy the game but really what I want to see today are the commercials.  NBC did sell out all of the commercial time but not all of the commercials should have made it to the air.  

Go Daddy - their commercials have to be continued online as they don’t meet decency standards for television.  The guy eating Doritos making items like a woman’s clothes blow off, or for a ATM machine to spit out free money and when a cop shows up a Doritos crunch makes the cop disappear.  Now I’m sure I’m reading too much into this but what kind of message is this sending to kids who are watching the game.  Do anything you want...and yes, the Doritos guy did end up getting hit by a bus when he runs out of Doritos but maybe this is a metaphor for the situation we find ourselves in with the economy.  Do what you want, don’t worry about consequences and live beyond your means.

What about the Bud Light spot that has the two guys sitting on a deck next to a ski slope and one of the guys draws a jump and a skier uses it to make a great jump.  Then he draws a pine tree in the middle of a run for a skier to run into and because of the obstacle the skier then hits a picnic table.  This is just in poor taste both because the guys sitting on the deck but at the end of the spot the guy that drew the tree has two broken arms.  Doesn’t Bud Light realize that when you run into a tree you can be killed but also, that violence isn’t the answer.  Yes, this is shown during a football game but the difference is that the men playing the game are professionals and they have to follow rules.

These commercials that are in poor taste seem to be infiltrating the game more and more.  This year’s game isn’t unique, it has been happening for the last few years.  From the first half only three spots are memorable and ones I’ll be talking about.

1. Firestone: Taters (Love the angry Mrs. Potato Head eyes)
2. Budweiser: Clydesdales Stick
3. Budweiser: Clydesdale Circus

There were more enjoyable commercials during the second half of the game and ones done with more creativity and taste.

That doesn’t mean everything was a winner, though.  The award for most annoying spot should go to CareerBuilder.com.  It ran a spot about hating your job.  Now at one point or another, all of us have felt this, but in this spot it was repeated, over and over and over again.  Winner of most annoying hands down.

GE (who owns NBC) aired two very creative spots and both having to do with clean energy.  Both of these spots were well done and really with an audience the size of the one that watches the Super Bowl - why not promote clean energy and get that message out to the masses?

My favorite spot of the second half was the Coca-Cola spot where all of the bugs worked together to take the sleeping man’s Coke.  I think this was the most creative spot of the Super Bowl.

The spots that air during the Super Bowl should be the best of the best.  They are being shown during the championship game, so why wouldn’t you want your best out there to match the game and impress a huge audience.

One of my dogs (Cole, a 70lb Boxer mix) watched the game with me and had some definite opinions on the commercials.  During the Toyota Faces spot he barked the entire time.  I don’t know if it was something with the music in the background of the spot or what it was but he didn’t care for it at all - four paws down.  His favorite spots had the Clydesdales in them.  Every time he saw one of the horses he sat up a little straighter and paid closer attention.  If there was one that he liked the best it was Budweiser: Clydesdales/Generations. 

I have to agree with Cole, those Clydesdales get me every time!

 To watch any of the Super Bowl spots you may have missed, go to hulu.

By Anna Fugazzi   Sun, Jan 25, 2009

Click here.

By Anna Fugazzi   Sun, Jan 25, 2009

The new two-disc DVD features hours of captivating bonus material, including the all-new “Mary Poppins: From Page to Stage”, a fascinating documentary that takes audiences behind the scenes for an exclusive look at the making of the Tony Award winning musical produced with Cameron Mackintosh, and “Step in Time,” a never-before-filmed musical number performed by the original Broadway cast—also downloadable as an MP3 audio file. Bonus materials also include the ultimate "behind-the-scenes" movie documentary and reminiscences of the film’s stars and legendary composers Richard Sherman and Robert Sherman.

With its revolutionary blend of live action and pioneering Disney animation, Mary Poppins became an instant hit and was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar®. The film stars the incomparable Dame Julie Andrews, who won the 1965 Best Actress Academy Award for her film debut, and Dick Van Dyke as Bert, the dancing chimney sweep.

“The Sherman Brothers” (Bed Knobs and Broomsticks, The Jungle Book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) received Oscars for Best Song ("Chim Chim Cher-ee"), and Best Score, which includes such unforgettable numbers as "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," “Sister Suffragette," "The Life I Lead," "The Perfect Nanny," "A Spoonful of Sugar," "Jolly Holiday," "Stay Awake," "I Love To Laugh," "Feed the Birds," "The Fidelity Fiduciary Bank," “Step in Time" and "Let's Go Fly a Kite."

Based on the popular children's stories by P.L. Travers, Mary Poppins has won the hearts of generations of kids and their parents with its enchanting tale of a magical nanny who changes the lives of two rowdy but neglected kids with determination, discipline and “Just a Spoonful of Sugar.” Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) takes Jane and Michael Banks (Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber) on magical, musical outings including a play date with adorable animated penguins, a race through the country side on merry-go-round horses and a trip across the rooftops of London on a stairway made of smoke—and always gets them home in time for dinner! With her foolproof mixture of good manners and unpredictable fun, Mary not only introduces order to the chaotic Banks household, but brings the whole family together in the process.

By Jonah Tarleton   Thu, Jan 22, 2009

By Anna Fugazzi   Thu, Jan 22, 2009

You may remember him best for Fantasy Island , but Ricardo Montalban was around long before that magical island. TCM pays tribute to his long and storied career this Friday.

The collection features musical pairings with Esther Williams in Fiesta (1947) and Neptune’s Daughter (1949), as well as dramatic roles in Border Incident (1949) and Battleground (1949).

The following is the complete schedule for TCM’s Jan. 23 tribute to Ricardo Montalban:

7:30 a.m. Fiesta (1947) – In his first leading role, Montalban plays a young man whose parents want him to become a toreador, but he is more interested in music. Esther Williams and Cyd Charisse also star in this musical shot on location in Mexico.

9:30 a.m. Neptune’s Daughter (1949) – Once again teaming with Esther Williams, Montalban plays a millionaire playboy trying to win the affections of a bathing suit designer. This colorful musical features the Oscar®-winning song “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”

11:15 a.m. Latin Lovers (1953) – Montalban vies for the affections of a wealthy heiress played by Lana Turner in this lush, tropical musical directed by Mervyn LeRoy.

1 p.m. Border Incident (1949) – This early look at the issue of illegal immigration features Montalban and George Murphy in a tense story of agents out to stop a ring smuggling Mexicans across the border.

2:30 p.m. Battleground (1949) – Montalban gives an outstanding performance as a Mexican-American soldier fighting in Germany during the Battle of the Bulge. Van Johnson and John Hodiak co-star.

4:30 p.m. Across the Wide Missouri (1951) – This pioneer epic starring Clark Gable, Montalban plays a young Indian war chief out to prevent a band of pioneers from reaching their destination. John Hodiak co-stars.

6 p.m. The Singing Nun (1966) – In this true story, Montalban plays a warm-hearted priest who helps a guitar-strumming Belgian nun spread her music to the world. Debbie Reynolds stars, along with Greer Garson, Agnes Moorehead and Chad Everett.

More information is available at tcm.com.

By Missy Lee  

MTV today announced it will exclusively air Kanye West, Kid Rock and Fall Out Boy's performances globally as they headline the official Youth Inaugural Ball, where MTV is anchoring "Be the Change: Live from the Inaugural." Grammy award-winning artist Usher and Rosario Dawson, whose organization Voto Latino helped mobilize the youth vote, will be on hand as MTV Guest Correspondents reporting live from the Youth Inaugural Ball. They will join MTV News Correspondent Sway Calloway to capture all of the night's action, including President Obama's remarks as he addresses young people across the globe and calls on them to be the change and continue to engage in national and community service. Tobey Maguire, actor and chair of the ServiceNation ambassador council, will also be among the thousands of young people celebrating the inauguration and youth service from the Youth Inaugural Ball.

MTV and ServiceNation announced "Be the Change: Live from the Inaugural" -- celebrating the massive youth voter turnout in the 2008 Presidential Election and an active commitment from America's youth to impart social change through volunteer service -- earlier this week. The show will feature footage from service activities around the country on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, including a look at Usher working alongside 200 young people to makeover Simon Elementary School in Washington D.C. Additionally, "Be the Change: Live from the Inaugural" will highlight young people imparting change real-time through major service projects being completed in New Orleans, Washington D.C., and in Kenya.

Through MTV's global network in 162 countries in 33 languages, more than 1.5 billion young people around the world will be able to witness this historic event. The program, which will take place at the Hilton Washington in Washington DC, airs live on MTV in the United States on January 20, 2009 at 10 PM ET/ 7PM PT. The event will also be carried live on many of the international MTV channels including MTV Italy, MTV Germany, MTV Spain, MTV France, MTV Canada, MTV Baltic, MTV Romania, MTV Brazil, MTV Portugal, MTV Indonesia, MTV Turkey, MTV Russia and MTV Greece. MTV channels that will air the show following the initial broadcast include Africa, the UK, Arabia, Latin America, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

In addition to airing "Be the Change: Live from the Inaugural," MTV, its 24-hour college network mtvU, MTV2, MTV Tr3s, MTV Jams, MTV Hits, MTV.com and MTV 44 1/2, the high definition screen located in Times Square, will carry President-elect Obama's oath of office and remarks live at approximately 12:00 pm ET. This marks the first time any of the MTV channels have carried a presidential inaugural address. Additionally, mtvU and MTV.com will carry the full inauguration ceremony live beginning at 11:30 am ET.

By Missy Lee   Sun, Jan 18, 2009

Men and women alike, sit down, get comfortable in your favorite silk nightgown, sexy pumps and attitude - and watch the original documentary "Starz Inside: Ladies or Gentlemen," a history of cross-dressing in films, produced by acclaimed filmmaker John Landis. The special, airing at 10:00 p.m. (et/pt), is hosted by television personality RuPaul.

Starz Inside: Ladies or Gentlemen, inspired by Jean-Louis Ginibre's critically acclaimed book, takes a revealing look at some of the most daring and outrageous cross-dressing performances in Hollywood history, the Wayans Brothers (White Chicks), Tim Curry (The Rocky Horror Picture Show), Jack Lemmon/Tony Curtis (Some Like It Hot), Dustin Hoffman (Tootsie), Johnny Depp (Ed Wood), Anthony Perkins (Psycho), the iconic Hairspray, Mrs. Doubtfire, and many more.

In movies, men dress in women's clothing in order to save their skin, to hide a secret, to get the girl, to get the girl's angora sweater, and in the late actor Divine's case, to get the man. Martin Lawrence, John Leguizamo, Jackie Chan, Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, Sean Connery, Jerry Lewis, Gene Hackman, Tom Hanks, Gwyneth Paltrow and countless other cross-thespians have donned women's or men's clothing in a role.

Those appearing in Starz Inside: Ladies or Gentlemen include actors Tony Curtis, Tim Curry, Henry Gibson, directors John Landis, John Waters, author Camille Paglia, columnist Michael Musto and others. Starz Inside, hosted by renowned film critic and author Richard Roeper, examines people, trends, and culture in movie entertainment.

By Anna Fugazzi   Fri, Jan 23, 2009

By Jonah Tarleton   Fri, Jan 23, 2009

As if the beleaguered Dallas Cowboys needed any more distractions, Michael Irvin along with Spike network has announced a reality show to win a spot on the Cowboy’s training camp roster.

Irvin said the show will take 12 aspiring football players, six receivers and six defensive backs from the ‘coulda, woulda, shoulda’ school of hard knocks and let them compete, ala American Idol, for the coveted 80-man training camp roster.

And yes, team owner Jerry Jones will be one of the judges among other personalities from the world of football.

The reality series was created by Irvin and his company, Playmaker Productions. Irvin, a Hall of Fame receiver, said contestants are being selected by football ability as well as their back stories.

We all know the guy who coulda been a college star, woulda been a grid iron great and shoulda done great things in life if only his football career had been allowed to develop. Now it appears he may just get the chane, albeit for only a week, to play with the big boys.

By Missy Lee   Fri, Jan 16, 2009

TeeVconomics

By Missy Lee   Tue, Jan 06, 2009

Barney Miller: The Complete Third Season makes its DVD debut March 17 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.  The Emmy Award® winning classic ABC comedy series stars Hal Linden (TV’s “Search for Tomorrow,” The Other Woman) as everyone’s favorite cop, along with a top-notch ensemble featuring Abe Vigoda (The Godfather), Emmy Award® nominee Max Gail (TV’s “Sons & Daughters”), Emmy Award® nominee Ron Glass (TV’s “Firefly”), Jack Soo (Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Green Berets), James Gregory (The Manchurian Candidate), Ron Carey (History of the World: Part I) and Emmy Award® nominee Steve Landesberg (TV’s “Head Case”).  Watch all 22 memorable episodes on your own schedule, in a three disc set available for $29.95 SRP.

Barney Miller premiered January 23, 1975 on ABC.  During its eight successful seasons, Barney Miller was nominated for 32 Emmy Awards®, winning three -- Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing in a Comedy or Comedy-Variety or Music Series.

SYNOPSIS

This season, the trials and tribulations continue at New York City’s 12^th Precinct in Greenwich Village.  The detectives are quarantined at the police station with a hooker, a man thinks he’s a werewolf and wreaks havoc in a park, Fish (Vigoda) goes undercover, and everyone on the squad except Barney (Linden) gets high from hash-laced brownies baked by Wojo’s (Gail) new girlfriend.

 BROADCAST YEAR: 1976 - 1977 (ABC)

DVD Special Features Include:

·        Full Screen Presentations

·        Audio: English

·        Closed Captioned

Barney Miller: The Complete Third Season Episodes Include:

 Evacuation

Quarantine - Part I

Quarantine - Part II

Bus Stop

The Election

Werewolf

Recluse

Non-Involvement

Power Failure

Christmas Story

Hash

Smog Alert

Community Relations

Rand Report

Fire ‘77

The Abduction

The Sex Surrogate

Moonlighting

Asylum

Group Home

Strike - Part I

Strike - Part II

Barney Miller: The Complete Third Season has a run time of approximately 553 minutes is not rated. 

By Missy Lee   Mon, Jan 05, 2009

 Married…With Children, the show that puts the “fun” in dysfunctional, is back on DVD with The Complete Tenth Season March 17 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.  The three-disc set features all 26 episodes of the top-rated iconic comedy series’ next-to-last season, starring the always irreverent and politically incorrect Bundys -- Ed O’Neill (TV’s “John from Cincinnati”), Katey Sagal (TV’s “8 Simple Rules”), Christina Applegate (TV’s “Samantha Who?”), and David Faustino (National Lampoon’s Pucked).  The DVD will be available for $39.95 SRP.

 Guest stars this season include Emmy Award® winner Tim Conway (TV’s “Carol Burnett & Company”), Golden Globe® nominee Alan Thicke (TV’s “Growing Pains”), sports star Terry Bradshaw, Academy Award® nominee Pat Morita (1984, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, The Karate Kid), Emmy Award® nominee Don Novello (TV’s “Saturday Night Live”), Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers), Shannon Tweed (TV’s “Gene Simmons: Family Jewels”), Nicole Eggert (TV’s “Baywatch Hawaii”) and David Garrison (TV’s “It’s your Move”). 

Married … with Children premiered on FOX April 5, 1987, and lasted for 267 episodes over 11 seasons.  The series was nominated for a total of seven Golden Globes® and seven Emmy Awards®, including Best Actor and Best Actress nominations for Ed O’Neill and Katey Sagal.

SYNOPSIS

This season, Peg’s (Sagal) mother moves in after leaving Peg’s father. Al (O’Neill) can’t build a doghouse in peace, sex distracts Bud (Faustino) from studying, and Al pressures Kelly (Applegate) into entering a bikini contest for the $100,000 prize.

BROADCAST YEAR: 1995 - 1996 (FOX) 

DVD Special Features Include:

·        Full Screen Presentations

·        Audio: English (Stereo)

·        Bonus Previews

·        Closed Captioned

 Married…With Children: The Complete Tenth Season Episodes Include:

 Guess Who’s Coming to Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

A Shoe Room with a View

Requiem for a Dead Briard

Reverend Al

How Bleen Was My Kelly

The Weaker Sex

Flight of the Bumble Bee

Blonde & Blonder

The Two That Got Away

Dud Bowl II

Bearly Men

Love Conquers Al

I Can’t Believe It’s Butter

The Hood, the Bud and the Kelly (Part I)

The Hood, the Bud and the Kelly (Part II)

Calendar Girl

The Agony and the Extra C

Spring Break (Part I)

Spring Break (Part II)

Turning Japanese

Al Goes to the Dogs

Enemies

Bud Hits the Books

Kiss of the Coffee Woman

Torch Song Duet

The Joke’s on Al

By Missy Lee   Sun, Jan 04, 2009

The Story of David, an inspirational saga of the famed Biblical ruler of Israel and his journey to redemption, will be released for the first time on DVD March 3 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.  Originally aired in two parts on ABC-TV, the film stars Timothy Bottoms (Johnny Got His Gun) as King David; and Academy Award® nominee Anthony Quayle (1969, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Anne of the Thousand Days) with Keith Michell (TV’s “The Six Wives of Henry VIII”) and Jane Seymour (TV’s “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman”) as Bathsheba.  The Story of David will be available for $14.94 SRP.  

Emmy Award® winners Alex Segal (1966, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Drama, TV’s “Death of a Salesman”) and David Lowell Rich (1978, Outstanding Directing in a Special Program – Drama or Comedy, TV’s “The Defection of Simas Kudirka”) direct the script written by Emmy Award® winner Ernest Kinoy (1977, Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series, TV’s “Roots”).

Filmed on location in Israel and Spain, this legendary saga of passion and forbidden love begins with the teenage David’s (Bottoms) famous battle against the giant Goliath and ends with the King’s (Michell) romance with Bathsheba (Seymour) and his struggles to preserve his kingdom.

DVD Special Features Include:

• Digitally Mastered Audio and Video

• Full Screen Presentation

• Audio: English

• Subtitles: English, French

• Bonus Previews

• Closed Captioned

Broadcast Year: April 9 & 11, 1976 (ABC)

The Story of David has a run time of approximately 191 minutes and is not rated. Artwork is available at www.SPHEPUBLICITY.COM. Visit Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on the Web at www.SonyPictures.com.

 “Academy Award^®” and “Oscar^®” are the registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

“Emmy^®” is a registered trademark of ATAS/NATAS.

By Missy Lee   Sat, Jan 03, 2009

 Just Shoot Me: The Complete Third Season makes its fashionable return to DVD February 24 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The Emmy^® Award and Golden Globe^® nominated NBC series, with its always on-target, sometimes off-beat humor, features a top-notch ensemble cast lead by Golden Globe®-nominee David Spade (TV’s “Rules of Engagement”), Golden Globe®-nominee Laura San Giacomo (Pretty Woman), Academy Award®-nominee George Segal (1966, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), Emmy® Award-nominee Wendi Malick (TV’s “Dream On”) and Enrico Colantoni (TV’s “Veronica Mars”). The three-disc set which contains all 25 episodes of the third season will be available for $39.95 SRP.

Created by acclaimed writer/producer Steven Levitan (TV’s “The Larry Sanders Show,” “Wings”) and executive produced by Bernie Brillstein (TV’s “NewsRadio,” The Replacement Killers) and Brad Grey (TV’s “NewsRadio,” The Wedding Singer), Just Shoot Me ran for seven seasons on NBC. During its run, the series was nominated for six Emmy Awards® including Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series and seven Golden Globe® Awards including Best Comedy TV Series.

Just Shoot Me made its television debut in 1997 on NBC. The series centers on hot-tempered journalist Maya Gallo (San Giacomo) who finds herself working for her rich father Jack Gallo (Segal) at his fashion magazine Blush. This is far from an ideal situation as Jack has not exactly been a devoted parent, plus he is now married to one of Maya’s former classmates. At Blush, Maya must deal with a headstrong staff that includes neurotic ex-model fashion editor Nina Van Horn (Malick), lecherous in-house photographer Elliot DeMauro (Colantoni) and her father’s power-hungry assistant Dennis Finch (Spade). Though she is often subverted by her colleagues, Maya remains committed to making the magazine into something of which she can be proud.

Top guests during the third season included Emmy® Award nominee Steve Carell (TV’s “The Office”, Get Smart), Rebecca Romijin (TV’s “Ugly Betty”), French Stewart (TV’s “3^rd Rock from the Sun”), Mark Hamill (Star Wars: Episodes IV-VI), Fred Willard (Wall-E, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy), major league baseball player Steve Garvey, Tyra Banks (TV’s “The Tyra Banks Show”) and Emmy® Award winner Kelsey Grammer (TV’s “Frasier,” Swing Vote).

SYNOPSIS

The wit and sarcasm continue to fly fast and furious this season from the wacky staff at Blush Magazine: Finch hooks up with Jack’s nanny and the whole thing is caught on the nanny cam; Jack bets Donald Trump about weight loss; Nina gets into a catfight with a former rival model; Maya hooks up again with her first love and Elliot strikes out twice with Tyra Banks.

DVD Special Features Include:

·        Full Screen Presentations

·        Audio: English (Stereo)

·        Bonus Previews

·        Closed Captioned

Just Shoot Me: The Complete Third Season Episodes Include:

What the Teddy Bear Saw

Steamed

The Mask

Funny Girl

Two Girls for Every Boy

The Withholder

Puppetmaster

The List

How Nina Got her Goove Back

How the Finch Stole Christmas

Slow Donnie

A Spy in the House of Me

Lies & Dolls

Nina Sees Red Part I

Nina Sees Red Part II

Hostess to Murder

Toy Story

Miss Pretty

Maya’s Nude Photos

And the Femmy Goes To…

Softball

Shaking Private Trainer

Nina’s Choice

The Odd Couple, Part I

The Odd Couple, Part II

BROADCAST YEAR: 1998-1999 (NBC)