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    'Parks and Recreation' Boss Mike Schur on the Eventful Finale & Season 4

    by Joel Keller, posted May 20th 2011 10:00AM
    Parks and Recreation cast for season 3Last night's 'Parks and Recreation' season finale was a game-changer for the show. Something big happened to every major character in the last act of the last episode, setting up a Season 4 that will have a lot going on.

    Both in my recap and in my colleague Mo Ryan's assessment, we bring up those changes and speculate what that might mean for the show coming out of a successful third season -- one that placed the series among the best on television.

    Executive producer Mike Schur had a "go big or go home" attitude about the finale, especially because he and his staff wrote it in a vacuum. As most fans know, all 16 episodes were shot before the first one aired, so he had time to perfect them all.

    "I had months to edit the episodes and really hone them. It was like a control freak's dream," he told AOL TV.

    In a wide-ranging interview, Mike talked about the finale, how he plans to address the changes in Season 4, his thoughts on the Ron Swanson turkey burger and his joy at being able to use a former Indiana Pacer as a recurring character.

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    Jimmy Fallon Imagines Charlie Sheen's New Prank Show: 'Sheen'd' (VIDEO)

    by Jason Hughes, posted May 20th 2011 6:49AM
    Jimmy Fallon as Charlie Sheen, 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'Now that he's been officially replaced by Ashton Kutcher on 'Two and a Half Men,' Jimmy Fallon knows exactly what Charlie Sheen's next move should be. He showed us on 'Late Night' (Weeknights, 12:37AM on NBC) by taking his Charlie Sheen impression into Ashton Kutcher's back yard.

    If Kutcher is taking Sheen's show, then Sheen should just take Kutcher's. So that's exactly what Fallon had him do in a parody of 'Punk'd.'

    This time, it's Charlie Sheen doing the punking, and this time you don't get 'Punk'd,' you get Sheen'd.' Oh, and because it's Charlie Sheen, none of it makes any sense at all.

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    Jack Black Was Too Scared to Cuddle a Baby Panda (VIDEO)

    by Jason Hughes, posted May 20th 2011 4:06AM
    Jack Black, 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'It was confession time on 'The Tonight Show' (Weeknights, 11:35PM ET on NBC) for Jack Black. The voice of 'Kung Fu Panda' had a promotional opportunity to hold a baby panda bear.

    "I've heard stories that if you hold a baby panda in your arms that you achieve inner peace," he said. "So I was pretty psyched about it."

    Unfortunately, the veterinarian that was there to help with this seemed intent on freaking him out as much as she possibly could. First she told him simply that they don't like to be touched. Then she showed him a scar on her face.

    "Do you see this scar here? They have claws, very sharp claws. They're bears!" she said, according to Black.

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    'Parks and Recreation' Season 3, Episodes 15 and 16 (Season Finale) Recap

    by Joel Keller, posted May 20th 2011 3:00AM
    'Parks and Recreaton' - 'Li'l Sebastian'['Parks and Recreation' - 'The Bubble'/'Li'l Sebastian']

    As much as these two episodes are linked together as a "season finale" (there are even "Part One/Part Two" titles before each episode), the only thing that really links the two is the story of Leslie and Ben and the lengths they're going to in order to keep their relationship a secret.

    Let's just say that they're not doing a very good job of it. Leslie, usually someone who's good coming up with ideas, can only think of ones where someone leaves the country. And Ben is so smitten with Leslie that he can't help but smooch and tickle her in very public places. Leslie loves being in "the bubble" of a new relationship, but she knows that under these conditions, it's not going to last long.

    But before we get to the many stories we saw in these episodes, let's talk about the last seven minutes of the finale. It was a humdinger, wasn't it?

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    Why 'Parks and Recreation' Is One of TV's Top Shows (& Some Season Finale Questions)

    by Maureen Ryan, posted May 19th 2011 11:00PM
    ['Parks and Recreation' - 'The Bubble' and 'Li'l Sebastian']

    This is not information that calls for a spoiler alert, but seven months from now, I'm sure 'Parks and Recreation' will be on my Top 10 Shows of 2011 list.

    The show has not only increased its breadth in enormously pleasing ways -- Pawnee is now populated by the most hilarious cast of secondary and tertiary characters on television -- but it also skillfully gave depth to all its core characters, especially Leslie Knope. If you haven't thrilled to the warmth and sweetness Amy Poehler gave Leslie over the last few months then, damn it, you're not human.

    But it's because Leslie's emotional life has become so real and believable that I have one or two misgivings about where the show has taken her and where it may be headed next season.

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    Who is Catherine Tate? Why We Think She'd Be Great on 'The Office'

    by Chris Harnick, posted May 19th 2011 1:00PM
    Catherine TateChances are, Catherine Tate isn't a household name in your home ... yet.

    However, reports indicate the English actress is the frontrunner to join NBC's 'The Office' as the new boss.

    Tate will make her 'Office' debut on tonight's one-hour season finale (Thurs., May 19, 9PM ET). She's one of many famous faces -- including Ray Romano, Warren Buffett, Jim Carrey, Will Arnett, Ricky Gervais and James Spader -- vying for the job vacated by Steve Carell's Michael Scott.

    Yep, that's a lot of big names, so why is Tate right for the job? Simple: She's pretty damn funny.

    The star of her own series, 'The Catherine Tate Show,' Tate has won several BAFTAs and was nominated for an International Emmy.

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    6 Things to Know About the 'Parks & Recreation' Finale, Plus an Exclusive Clip

    by Maureen Ryan, posted May 19th 2011 10:30AM
    Before 'Parks and Recreation' unleashes its hour-long season finale at 10PM ET Thursday, we're bringing you one last exclusive clip from the extended version of 'Li'l Sebastian,' the second of the two episodes that serve as the NBC comedy's season 3 swan song.

    After the clip, check out a few non-spoilery hints about what will transpire in 'The Bubble' and 'Li'l Sebastian,' the final episodes of the wonderful third season of the NBC drama.

    And don't forget to check back here after the finale airs: Joel Keller will have a recap, and I'll also post my thoughts on the end of 'Parks and Rec's' third season.

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    Cut Skit From Ed Helms' 'SNL' Gig Makes it onto 'The Tonight Show' (VIDEO)

    by Jason Hughes, posted May 19th 2011 5:48AM
    Ed Helms & Taran Killam, 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'Fans of 'Saturday Night Live' know that not every sketch makes it onto the live show. Several are cut even just before they go to air, having survived through the dress rehearsal.

    Because of this, there is tape of most of these cut sketches, and 'The Tonight Show' (Weeknights, 11:35PM ET on NBC) had one from the most recent episode, hosted by Ed Helms.

    While the final product was an uneven mix of funny moments and awkward sketches, it's hard to say which category this new sketch would have fallen into. The idea of a compilation of songs to deter kids from having sex on prom night is filled with comic potential.

    Helms and Taran Killam were great on the vocals, and the bit of song they performed as the Buchanan Brothers was certainly disturbing enough to turn off all of us, but could it have sustained a full sketch? We actually think it could have.

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    A Murder Victim's Daughter Starts Shooting Inside the Precinct on 'SVU' (VIDEO)

    by Jason Hughes, posted May 19th 2011 4:09AM
    'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'Somebody was asleep at the front desk of the police station this week on 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' (Wed., 10PM ET on NBC). Otherwise, how would the daughter of their murder victim have made it all the way up to the holding cells and the desks of the offices with a loaded gun?

    Under the pretense of wanting to see the man who had killed her mother, Jenna was allowed up to see the detectives, and in so doing got to see him. Something seemed a little bit off, but even Det. Benson couldn't have anticipated that this sweet-looking teenage girl would erupt into anguished violence.

    Then, to seal her own fate, when Det. Stabler had her so close to putting her own gun down, her mother's killer -- already shot -- had to egg her on. "You b****," he said. "I should have killed you with your mother."

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    Paul Lieberstein of 'The Office' on Steve Carell's Exit & the Star-Studded Season Finale

    by Joel Keller, posted May 18th 2011 12:00PM
    On the seventh season finale of 'The Office' (Thurs., May 19, 9PM ET on NBC), it feels like everyone on the planet is coming to Dunder Mifflin Scranton to interview for Michael Scott's old job. Jim Carrey, Ray Romano, Warren Buffett, Ricky Gervais, Will Arnett, James Spader and Catherine Tate will all be appearing in the episode as possible replacements.
    'The Office' - 'Search Committee'
    But, as NBC Entertainment president Bob Greenblatt said during the network's upfront presentation, they won't reveal who the new boss is until next season. Still, with the departure of Steve Carell and the guessing game about who might be the new boss, it's been an interesting season for 'The Office,' one that's seen the writers meet the challenge some weeks and miss it others.

    Paul Liberstein, who's best known for playing hapless HR rep Toby, is also the showrunner of 'The Office.' He talked to AOL TV about the challenges of Season 7, Carell's farewell episode and where the show goes from here.

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    James Durbin Joins Randy Jackson and Jimmy Fallon on a Journey Song (VIDEO)

    by Jason Hughes, posted May 18th 2011 6:49AM
    Randy Jackson & James Durbin, 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'When Jimmy Fallon had Randy Jackson on 'Late Night' (Weeknights, 12:37AM ET on NBC), it was all fine and dandy to talk about 'American Idol' and all of that. But what would be really fun would be to jam with Jackson on a Journey track.

    To make it more memorable, Jackson invited a friend along to help Fallon with the singing. And it's someone his 'Idol' fans would recognize right away.

    Fresh off his surprise elimination from the singing competition, James Durbin lit up the 'Late Night' stage and proved he doesn't need any title from a reality show to prove that he has amazing chops.

    While their harmonies may have been a little strange, it was a lot of fun seeing Jackson playing bass on a song from his old band's catalog, and Fallon and Durbin were clearly having a lot of fun sharing the vocals. It was certainly a fun and memorable moment.

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    Ryan Seacrest Used to Co-Host a Show With a Chimpanzee, Leno Has Footage (VIDEO)

    by Jason Hughes, posted May 18th 2011 6:04AM
    Ryan Seacrest, 'The Tonight Show'Jay Leno is having a lot of fun lately dredging up old television footage that he can use to embarrass his guests on 'The Tonight Show' (Weeknights, 11:35PM on NBC). His latest victim was Ryan Seacrest.

    As everyone knows by now, Seacrest is working toward becoming the king of all media, but even a king has to start somewhere. One of his earliest forays into television hosting was a show on the old Family Channel called 'Wild Animal Games.'

    When asked about the footage, Seacrest joked, "I've gotten rid of all of it. I've hired a lot of people to get rid of it."

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    'The Biggest Loser: Couples' Season 11, Episode 20 Recap

    by Jason Hughes, posted May 18th 2011 5:40AM
    Final Four, 'The Biggest Loser: Couples 4'['The Biggest Loser: Couples' - 'Week Twenty']

    "I want to say I can't believe it. But that's not true, because I CAN!" -- Hannah

    Four entered this final week on The Biggest Loser campus and ... well, four people walked out. Couldn't we have had a two-hour makeover episode and shortened this penultimate installment to a single hour?

    There may have been two challenges, a weigh-in and trips home for all four contestants, but it still felt like there was just so much padding. I felt like I could probably go ahead and do laundry or cook dinner while the episode was running and still not really miss anything.

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    Cee Lo Green Chooses the Underdog in the Second Battle Round of 'The Voice' (VIDEO)

    by Jason Hughes, posted May 18th 2011 2:11AM
    Nakia, 'The Voice'The Battle Rounds continued this week on 'The Voice' (Tue., 10PM ET on NBC), with each of the four coaches presenting another duet to the audience. From each duet they chose a winner to continue in the competition, and they eliminated another singer.

    !!SPOILER ALERT!!

    Cee Lo Green pitted smooth R&B singer Tje Austin against soulful crooner Nakia on Ne-Yo's 'Closer.' It was a hard-fought battle and both singers sounded fantastic, but Nakia's passionate intonation just carred more weight than Austin's smooth tones.

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    Which Two Finalists Guaranteed Their Spot in 'The Biggest Loser' Finale? (VIDEO)

    by Jason Hughes, posted May 18th 2011 12:48AM
    'The Biggest Loser'The penultimate episode of 'The Biggest Loser' (Tue., 8PM ET on NBC) always seems to drag as there are only four contestants left, no one gets eliminated, and we've still got two hours to fill. But there are heartwarming moments, and this is a pretty special Final Four.

    Jay is the comeback kid, who's decided he must have nine lives. He's been eliminated once, saved from elimination a second time and is still hanging in there. Then there's Irene, who lost her partner in the first week of the competition.

    They're joined by sisters Hannah and Olivia, who nobody gave a shot at making it this far in the beginning. That they did it together is even more impressive. This week's weigh-in determines the top two, who are guaranteed a shot at the $250,000 prize in the finale. The bottom two plead their case to America and hope for a vote to put them in the Top Three.

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