One of TV's rising stars is about to get a little bit higher (not that way, Cheech).
'Parks & Recreation' star and comedian Aziz Ansari will host the next 'MTV Movie Awards' broadcast, which will air live on June 6 from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, Calif.
Some say it's the right choice at the right time since his comedy star is hotter than ever thanks to his primetime appearances and the buzz he has earned from his latest comedy special. I like to think it's MTV's way of apologizing for giving 'Human Giant' the run-around.
It's not many weeks where there is a DVD set released that I'll definitely buy (most weeks I'm lucky enough to avoid spending money on DVDs), but this is one of those weeks. 'Mad Men' is one of those shows that I'll buy the DVD for no question. In fact, when they release the inevitable 'Complete Series' in a few years (two years? five? seven?), I'm going to buy that, too, even if I'm already buying the individual season sets.
I can't say I'm too interested in season 10 of '7th Heaven' though.
Jerry Springer has signed to do a new game show on GSN called 'Baggage.' It's described as "an non-dating dating show for non-single singles," which I think means it's about married couples who engage in orgies. OK, maybe I'm wrong about that, but I have no idea what the set-up of the show will be.
I'm happy that this show doesn't involve people throwing chairs each other or women sleeping with their grandfathers, but couldn't Springer have just done a normal, regular, traditional game show? Why does it have to have this dating/reality show vibe, this..."ick" factor? (Hey, there's a title for a game show.)
The best part of the BuzzerBlog story above is that it says that GSN is bringing back both 'Card Sharks' and 'Million Dollar Password' to the network next month.
Last November we told you that TV Guide Channel had bought the rights to run repeats of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm.' Wait, how the heck are they going to show a comedy like 'Curb,' one filled with expletives, on a basic cable channel guide like TV Guide (notice how I used "heck" instead of "hell" - oh wait...damn)? I still don't know how they're going to do that -- I'm assuming lots of bleeps and blurring of mouths -- but we do know that the episodes will run for one hour instead of 30 minutes.
The New York Times reports that the episodes will air complete on TV Guide, and in every episode there will also be a seven to ten minute panel discussion of the episode hosted by co-star Susie Essman, who I assume will swear less than she does in the episodes. The panel will be made up of other celebrities, writers, and, as Essman says, "sports figures, intellectuals, and rabbis."
Seven to ten minutes? I think they should go a little bit longer than that, especially if they get some funny people to comment on the episodes or argue with each other.
As you can tell from Jason's weekly Sundays with Seth wrap-ups, Seth MacFarlane is taking over the media. He's even doing animated ads. Here's one for Priceline that features William Shatner fighting William Shatner.
Personally I think the live-action Priceline ads are funnier (live-action Shatner is funnier than cartoon voice Shatner - besides, the live action ads are cartoonish already), but the little comedy short that follows is amusing (probably because I love dogs).
[via AdFreak]
Some actors were just born to play bad guys, and Robert Knepper is one of the best. He terrorized the prisoners on 'Prison Break', manipulated the heroes on 'Heroes', and now he's gunning for the troubled Destiny crew on 'Stargate Universe'.
Knepper has been cast as a villain on the second season of 'SGU'. He's landed the role Simeon, a key member of a dangerous group of space pirates called the Lucian Alliance. Our pals at Gateworld have snagged some 'SGU' casting docs that say Simeon will come into serious conflict with Robert Carlyle's character, Dr. Rush, which will culminate in a tense standoff between the two.
Knepper's 'Heroes' baddie Samuel Sullivan might've flamed out at the end of last season, but he was still the best thing about that show all year. I can't wait to see him (and his soul patch) face off against Carlyle on 'SGU'.
Remember to head back to TV Squad next week for a review of the 'SGU' mid-season premiere, "Space," airing April 2 on Syfy.
I've never understood the animosity that Andy Rooney attracts by a certain segment of the TV viewing population. Take his segment on last night's '60 Minutes' (video after the jump). He talked about the jobless rate and the jobs that are available now and how maybe - just maybe - we need more plumbers and other people who actually do something more than we need, well, people who do my job.
This isn't a new stance by Rooney. He's been saying the same thing for years. Rooney just turned 91 years old so he's earned the right to repeat things if he wants. But I know that Rooney has talked about this before because, well, I've actually read what Rooney has written over the years. Most people who dislike Rooney know him for only one thing, his weekly segments on '60 Minutes.'
But the guy has been a journalist since World War II and has written several books and a weekly column for decades, but the people who find him "unfunny" or "irrelevant" only know him from the CBS show.
In season two of 'Breaking Bad,' viewers saw Anna Gunn's character of Skyler White go from long-suffering wife of cancer-patient-slash-meth-maker Walter White to a person who is starting to have her own moral dilemmas.
But right at the start of the third season, Skyler's world gets turned upside down. I can't say more without spoiling things, which is why I postponed posting the interview I did with Anna Gunn in January until after the season three premiere aired. Gunn and I talk about the first episode bombshell and how her character reacted. We also talk about what might be in store for Skyler and son Walt Jr. (RJ MItte) in season three.
Our friends at AOL TV also spoke to Gunn recently, if you want to find out more about what's in store for Skyler.
(WARNING: Spoilers of the season three premiere are ahead!)
Recasting 'Doctor Who' must be like recasting James Bond: you have to get it right or serious fans will be really irritated. Here's a look at the new Doctor (Matt Smith) in action. The new season starts Saturday, April 17 on BBC America. You probably can't tell a lot from just a trailer, but what do you think?
One of TV's rising stars is about to get a little bit higher (not that way, Cheech). 
Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.
Last November we told you that 
Some actors were just born to play bad guys, and Robert Knepper is one of the best. He terrorized the prisoners on 
I've never understood the animosity that Andy Rooney attracts by a certain segment of the TV viewing population. Take his segment on last night's 
In season two of 'Breaking Bad,' viewers saw Anna Gunn's character of Skyler White go from long-suffering wife of cancer-patient-slash-meth-maker Walter White to a person who is starting to have her own moral dilemmas.
Here's tonight's TV lineup (all times Eastern).
Anna Gunn on the 'Breaking Bad' Bombshell
The TV Squad Podcast: New Shows, Conan Tour, 'Breaking Bad' and More!
'Breaking Bad' Tidbits from Cranston, Paul and Odenkirk
