Monday, September 24, 2012

FOX Fall TV 2012-2013 Quick Reaction



The Mindy Project- Tune Out!
Did not laugh but once. Since I'm not a fan of Mindy's or 'The Office'. I figured it was not meant for me to like this one either.

Ben and Kate- Turn Off! 
I found this show to be over the top, and just plain old painful to watch. The only character I did take a liken to was Lucy Punch (BJ). The kid is cute, of course.

The Mob Doctor- Different. I enjoyed it. Fast paced drama with a darker mod back story. Tune in!

The Following- (Midseason) Will post quick thoughts at a later date.



  • Turn Off- Skip it.
  • Tune In- Watch it LIVE.
  • Tune Out- DVR it

'New Girl's Zooey Deschanel Talks Season 2 (Interview)



                                    Recently I had the pleasure of chatting with the the FOX comedy star. Talking about what is in store for the second season . 'New Girl'  will have it's second  season premiere on Tuesday September 25 with two new episodes at 8e/7c then another at it's regular time at 9e/8c only on FOX.

                                   Question(Part 1of 2):I just wanted to ask you—you’re so funny in this show.  Has comedy always come easy to you or is it something you’ve had to work out with?

                                    Zooey:  I think comedy’s just about being interested in comedy and what makes people laugh and experimenting.  I’ve always loved making people laugh and that was in school I a lot of times would play the comic relief character.  So, it’s different patterns; something that always pops up.  But, I did drama, too.  I sort of consider myself a comedic actress, not a comedienne.  I think it’s different.  You know I’m not a stand-up or anything.  But, playing into comedic situations is sort of where, I think, my strength lies.

                                    Question: I want also to ask, I read that Rob Reiner and Jamie Lee Curtis are going to be playing your parents.  Can you talk a little bit about that?

                                    Zooey: Yes.  I’m really excited, you know. I heard at the beginning of the season that we had talked about maybe having Jess’ parents come in last year, but it didn’t happen.  Then, this year, before even the season started, we talked about the fact that they were going to introduce Jess’ parents in the Thanksgiving episode.  So, we talked about a bunch of people and these were just beyond my wildest dreams.  They’re people that I think would be just so perfect.  I can’t wait to start shooting with them.

                                   Question: To check on that last question, I was just wondering.  Your mother’s an actress who a lot people are aware, especially from Twin Peaks.  But, did anybody ever talk on her and her interest of possibly coming on the show as your mother?

Zooey: No, no there wasn’t. I would love to work with my mom, but I think you would want to keep things a little bit more imaginative.  If I were to work with my mom, I probably would not want her to play my mom.  That would get too real....

                    Question: The last season was very much about the transition of Jess, getting over her ex, and saving up....  How much are we going to see of this losing her teaching job following her this year.

                     Question: Losing the teaching job in the season premiere.  How much of that is going to follow you and be the arc for Jess at the beginning of the season?

                      Zooey:  You know she’s been looking for a job for a little while and so they’re throwing out different jobs.  It definitely affects her life pretty deeply because this is something she’s wanted to do her entire life and considered teaching to be her calling.  So, it definitely is a blow to her.  But, I like how Jess is sort of open to new things and although she’s upset about it, she throws herself into to trying to find a new job and is pretty positive about things, which is a quality I like in the character.

                              Question: I’m wondering what new shows are you looking                                            forward  to watching this year?
        
                               Zooey: I’m looking forward to this whole Tuesday night lineup.  I’m very excited about Ben and Kate and Mindy Project, along with us and Raising Hope.  I think it’s pretty exciting that they built a night with us.  There are a lot of great shows.  I’ve seen the pilots of those shows and I think they’re really terrific.  I think it’s just an exciting time to be working in comedy on TV.

                 Question:  I was wondering do you have a speech prepared in case your name is called on Emmy Sunday and who would you rehearse it with?

                      Zooey:  I don’t have a speech.  I have a one in seven chance of making a speech and I’ve been just nervous.  So, I haven’t written anything.  We work crazy hours so I keep putting off writing something.  But, I’m sure I’ll throw something together.  There are so many amazing people in the category.  I feel like I have a one in seven chance.  Long story short, I haven’t written anything and therefore I have not rehearsed anything.

                     Question: I’m just curious—there’s this character who shares this apartment with all these guys and it’s kind of a quirky thing.  Do you have anything like that in your real life that you can compare to the TV show?  Or, do you have any friends like that or did you ever have to have funny roommates?

                       Zooey: I never had funny roommates really.  I’ve always had a lot of guy friends, so I love the camaraderie between Jess and the guys.  So it’s, I think, nice to have.  I have a lot of girlfriends, too, but I think it’s important to have guy friends because it sort of provides a different perspective.  I really like that relationship.


                    Question: I actually was going to bring up the same point that you just made about how the male-female relationships on the show are really great to watch because they’re really platonic and they seem to represent kind of a more modern understanding of relationships between men and women.  But, I also like the emphasis on diversity that the show has.  Could you speak a little bit to that because you guys clearly have different ethnicities playing in the show that it’s all very natural?

                        Zooey: Yes.The thing is I know that was like one thing that was important to our exec producers and also to Fox that our show be diverse and that it’s not diverse in a way where we’re making a big deal out of the diversity.  It’s just friends.  I think to speak to what we were talking to before about the relationships between men and women; the diversity is also nobody makes a big deal out of.  It’s just more of an intermingling; it’s just more modern relationships.  You see more and more on TV this happening.  I think it’s speaks to you more like a modern sensibility because that’s the way people are now.


                 Question:  I always remember that funny little snippet of a scene when Jess is teaching the Mr. Monogamy class.  I always thought it would be kind of funny to see what kind of things she might put in a dating advice column.

                       Zooey: You might want to ask another question because it’s not like this is a question I could answer just off the top of my head right now.

                   Question: Okay. Well, then can you talk a little bit about the writers have said a lot there’s a worry about getting Nick and Jess together too soon.  Do you think that that’s a problem?  Do you think—?

                       Zooey: There’s no danger of that happening.  They’re not getting together anytime soon.  I think that they’re not ready for each other and nobody is going to push them together.  So, I think Nick and Jess have a great chemistry and I work really well with Jake Johnson.  I think it’s nice the sort of love-hate-but love relationship they have.  They’re not going to throw them together or anything soon.  They might tease it out.

                       Question: I was wondering how hard is it to work with the guys without cracking up, especially Max?

                        Zooey:  I don’t really ever crack up.  That’s my job because I’m an actor.  We’re in the situation and it’s not really about.  They’re all funny, but we’re all just for our jobs and we’re all professionals.  So, it’s not really like we’re all just laughing all the time.  It’s, again, especially it’s pretty basic acting, not cracking up.  Sometimes we’re laughing.  We make each other laugh.  And, they’re all funny.  It’s not like Max is funnier than Lamorne and Jake.  They’re all really funny.  I just want to say that.

                        Question: There was an evolution of your character from the beginning of the first season to the end, where they kind of mellowed you out in terms, correct me if I’m wrong, but in terms of the quirkiness of the character.  Was that something that you encouraged or is that something that was just a very natural evolution?

                      Zooey:  Well, this is a natural evolution, but it was two things.  One, at the beginning of last year, I always said this, “She’s not going to always be in the same heightened state that she is in the pilot because in that situation she’s just gone through a crisis.”  Now, if it were a movie, you might just see her in slice of her life.  But, it’s a TV show so they stretch it out.

                                    You see somebody in a lot of different situations and she gets confident, more confident and changes and she bawls and grows up and a lot of things over the season.  She is just like how somebody in a crazy heightened sense of reality.  I always thought of the show as we were aiming for reality.  Now, we have silly situations that sometimes throw our life into some broader stuff.  But, ultimately, I’m always grounding in reality.

                                    Here’s the other thing is I’m watching every week and seeing what’s working.  I’m using my own sensibilities to inform how I play the character.  So, if I think something seems like too much, the next time we do something like that I’m going to pull it back a little bit, you know.  I think all of us are doing that.

                                    The writers and the actors are going for what works best because sometimes on the day you don’t always know how to play something, but the fact that we’ve done however many episodes and I’ve been looking at them and seeing what works that’s going to inform how I play it.  I have a sort of shorthand for my character and I know what’s working and what’s not working.  I think that’s one of the privileges of doing television is the ability to evaluate my own performance and try to improve upon my own....

                        Question: The Mindy Project starring your friend, Mindy Cowling.  How would you feel about a cross-over episode between the shows?  Do you think that Jess and Mindy would be friends in real life?

                      Zooey:  I do. I think that would be really fun, actually. 
                                   That’s a good idea.  I like that idea.

                      Question: You have a lot of amazing guest stars coming up in Season  Two.One that people have been asking about is will your friend Joseph Gordon-Levitt ever come on?  Who would you like him to play?  Who would you imagine him in relation to Jess?

                        Zooey: I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about that.  I don’t know that he would.  He’s kind of like a movie star.  I don’t know if he would do it.  I don’t know if he has time.  So, I don’t know.

                     Question:  Zooey, I’ll ask you about The Simpsons.  What was the experience like?  Has it been in the works for a while?  Just generally, what was it like?  Are you a fan of the show going back?

                      Zooey: Yes, I’ve been a huge fan of the show since I was like ten years old and really exciting.  I did an episode four years ago or something; four or five years ago, and it was really fun then.  But, I had to record it.  I was working in Philadelphia and I had to record it out there.  So, I didn’t get to see all the people read or record with any of the actors.  So, this time, I got to record with Nancy and that was really exciting.  I got to sing some songs and I actually got to write two songs for them.  So, one for this episode and one for the next I’m on.  That was super exciting.  I don’t know—it was kind of dream come true.  It’s been an amazing experience and I’m a huge fan of everyone over there.  It’s been nothing but fun.

                    Question: How would you describe your personal style?  The next part of my question is have you ever been able to take any items home from the fashion closet or have you ever worn anything of your own on the show?

                      Zooey:  I would describe my personal style as feminine.  Then, with the show I’m not allowed to take wardrobe home.  That’s Fox ….  I do sometimes buy stuff that I have tried on with our costume designer or worn on the show.  Separately, I’ll go on-line and buy it.  But, I have actually worn my own stuff on the show a couple of times.  Last year, there was something I wore when I went out to dinner with Liz, the show creator, and she liked the shorts I wore, so I wore them on the show.  Actually last week I wore a dress that was mine.  So, a few times I’ll wear my own stuff.

                    Question: Obviously you’ve  found yourself having great success on TV, movies, and music.  Which one of those outlets do you enjoy most?

                       Zooey: I like them all for different reasons.  I think it’s important to do a lot of different things.  These are all really exciting, fun jobs.  You don’t want to stop appreciating them because of the grind.  So, I think it’s really important to have, at least for me, different things that I enjoy doing.  They all play different roles in making me feel creatively satisfied.  I really like the collaboration of doing movies and television.  But, I like the sort of solitary work of doing music.  I love live performance, too.  So, it’s all really great.


                                 Question: Your co-star, Max Greenfield recently said in an interview, he joked around that you guys have this whole pre-Emmy beauty routine worked out, which I though was hilarious.  But, I do want to know is your style on Emmy night going to be similar to your vintage style that you...last year and do you have any pre-Emmy beauty routines.

                              Zooey: To your first question, in my style, I can’t change my sensibilities.  So, you’ll see.  I think it’s really a great job, so I’m excited.  Pre-Emmy beauty—we work crazy hours and I try to keep things as low key as possible because it makes me less nervous.  I try to just have a good time, basically, while getting ready because otherwise it’s like it’s silly to get too upset about anything because the whole thing is supposed to be fun.  It’s a treat that we’re all getting appreciated.  It should be something that we enjoy.  So, if you’re not enjoying it, then what are you doing?  So, I never freaked out to much about the fashion or the hair or the make-up.  It’s supposed to be fun, not work.  It’s fun.


                                   Question: I was just wondering—I know that eventually, hopefully, Nick and Jess will get together.  But, I was wondering if there was going to be any romantic detours with the other roommates, either Schmidt or Winston?

                                   Zooey: I don’t think so.

                                   Question:  No?

                                    Zooey: I’m going to say no.

                                    Question:  A solid no?

                                    Zooey: I’m going to say no.


                                          **Conference Call**





ABC's Fall TV Reaction (Mini) Review 2012-13




666 Park Avenue- Tune In!
I liked this show. It has the potential to be a hit for ABC. It's a mix of 'Melrose Place' (based in NYC) but  with a sci-fiction twist!

The Neighbors- Turn Off!
Nothing special here. The humor was very similar to that of 'Third Rock from The Sun'. Doubtful I will change my mind about this show.

Malibu Country- Turn Off!  I found it painful to watch yet another Reba-ish sitcom. Not funny. It tried way too hard to be funny.

Family Tools- Turn Off!
It was just plan old unfunny television at it's best worst here. I did however--enjoy a brief cameo by comedian Jo Koy.

How To Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life)- Tune Out!
I am a fan of Sarah Chalke (Scrubs) her character here is a tad annoying. It has a few chuckles, if nothing else is on. Give it a shot.


Nashville- Tune Out! (Mixed feelings)
Watchable, just not my type of show. I like both of the female leads (Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere). A plus if you like your drama that is a little bit country. I will watch it, just going to let my DVR do all the work.

Last Resort- 


  • Tune In= Watch LIVE 
  • Tune Out= DVR/TiVo worthy
  • Turn Off=Don't bother watching

Thursday, September 20, 2012

'The Vampire Diaries' Season 4 First Look (Video)

Thanks to the folks over at the CW and Facebook. Here is the EPIC (If I don't say so myself) first look at the fourth season trailer for "The Vampire Diaries"  the new season starts Thursday October 11 at 8e/7c.


CBS Fall 2012-13 Quick Reaction



Partners- Tune In!
Yes, there is nothing new here. Not ground-breaking laughter. Stereotyped, cliches laughs here. I'm a fan of Will and Grace (same producers). So yes, I did laugh watching the pilot.



Elementary- Tune In!
By far my favorite of the CBS pilots. I enjoyed the chemistry between Lucy Liu and Jonny Lee Miller. Highly recommend watching, even if your not a Sherlock Holmes fan


Made in Jersey- Tune Out!
Watchable. Nothing really stood out for me. Just another "Jersey" girl trying to climb the lawyer ladder.


Vegas- Turn Off!
Vegas back in the 50's. Mobsters, showgirls and Vegas bright lights. I was bored. Great actors are casted here Dennis Quaid, Carrie-Anne Moss, Michael Chiklis.

*Tune In- Watch it!
*Tune Out- DVR it!
*Turn Off- Skip it.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Win 'Gossip Girl' The Complete Fifth Season!**CLOSED**

***CONTEST OVER***


ENTER TO WIN!!!! The Complete Fifth Season of "Gossip Girl"!


                                                       

Everyone’s favorite socialites are back to their wicked ways in this scandalous Season Five. Suntanned Serena has found the perfect summer job in Los Angeles when Chuck and Nate pay her a visit. Back on the Upper East Side, Blair is still dealing with the impossible choice between Prince Louis and Chuck, and Dan’s world is suddenly shattered when he discovers that someone has gone behind his back and found an editor to anonymously publish one of his stories. Finally, the surprise return of Serena’s cousin Charlie threatens to destroy the Van der Woodsen family from within. Watch out, Upper East Siders, this season nobody’s safe and everybody’s going to be sorry!                                     

                                     
Cast:
Blake Lively

Leighton Meester
Penn Badgley
Chace Crawford
Ed Westwick
Kaylee Defer
Kelly Rutherford
Matthew Settle

                               

ALL 24 Episodes, Special Feature including...
• Gossip Girl Turns 100: The milestone event sparks a journey through the seasons including interviews old and new plus juicy dish on the Gossip Girl experience. • 5 Years of Iconic Style: In this 15-minute featurettes, cast and crew reveal their favorite fashion moments from all 5 seasons.
• Unaired Scenes
• Gag Reel


Subtitles:Spanish, French, Korean,Portuguese
Chinese,Thai, English SDH
Sound: Dolby Digital Surround 5.1- English
Stereo 2.0-Portuguese 


How To Win: Tweet  me @Devoted2TV telling me who is your favorite 'Gossip Girl' character and why. Don't forget to use the hashtag #GGS5DVD. Winner will be picked at random and announced on Twitter!

Contest Deadline is Sunday, September 30, 2012 at  11:59pm EST.
US resident only please. ONLY one entry per person/per twitter account. 

Good Luck!



Win "The Mentalist' The Complete Fourth Season!**CLOSED**

CONTEST ENDED!!!!
ENTER TO WIN!! "The Complete 4th Season of "The Mentalist"


Red John is dead. Or is he?Following last season’s shocking finale, Patrick Jane returns for season four of The Mentalist, which will be released on DVD September 18, 2012 from Warner Home Video. Averaging nearly 15 million weekly viewers and returning for a fifth season on CBS this fall in its new Sunday 10/9c time period, The Mentalist continues to be a solid hit among fans. 

The Mentalist: The Complete Fourth Season stars Emmy® and Golden Globe nominee Simon Baker as Patrick Jane, the California Bureau of Investigation consultant and former faux-psychic obsessed with finding Red John, the serial killer who murdered his family. This hit procedural combines crime-solving twists with wry humor that celebrates mind over matter. The series also stars Robin Tunney, Tim Kang, Owain Yeoman and Amanda Righetti.

In the fourth season, Patrick learns the true price of revenge and deals with the fallout from his actions of the previous season. The rest of the CBI team – Agents Teresa Lisbon, Kimball Cho, Wayne Rigsby and Grace Van Pelt – find themselves involved in circumstances, both personal and professional, with equally serious consequences. With a new boss and new perplexing cases, the unconventional Patrick Jane continues to use his razor-sharp skills of observation and psychological manipulation to bypass the system and solve the toughest crimes – in his own inimitable way.

The Mentalist was created by Bruno Heller (HBO’s Rome), who executive produces along with Chris Long (Criminal Minds), Tom Szentgyorgyi (Lie to Me), Ashley Gable (Crossing Jordan) and Daniel Cerone (Dexter). The series is produced by Warner Bros. Television.

           


SPECIAL FEATURES
 California Bureau of Investigation (CBI): Behind the Badge
The strength of The Mentalist is reflected in the pains taken by the producers, cast and crew to create the “appearance of reality” when it comes to the police procedures  involving the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI).  Find out how the actors and writers engage law enforcement consultants to teach them how to make each episode as engaging and realistic as possible. 



                                    ALL 24 EPISODES

Scarlet Ribbons
Little Red Book
Pretty Red Balloon
Ring Around the Rosie
Blood and Sand
Where in the World is Carmine O'Brien?
Blinking Red Light
Pink Tops
The Redshirt
Fugue in Red
Always Bet on Red
My Bloody Valentine
Red is the New Black
At First Blush
War of the Roses
His Thoughts Were Red Thoughts
Cheap Burgundy
Ruddy Cheeks
Pink Champagne On Ice
Something's Rotten In Redmund
Ruby Slippers
So Long, and Thanks For All The Red Snapper
Red Rover, Red Rover
The Crimson Hat


Dolby Digital Surround Sound 5.1
Stereo 2.0 Portuguese
5 DVD's
Languages:  English (5.1), Portuguese
Subtitles: ESDH, Brazilian Portuguese, French, Thai, Spanish, Chinese
Aspect Ratio: 16 x 9
Approximate running time: Feature - 1032 minutes. 

Release Date: September 18, 2012


How To Enter:  Tweet me the following statement:

"I Want to win The Mentalist Season 4 on DVD" Using the hashtag #MentalistGiveaway. Yup, just that easy. Hurry contest ends soon!

Must live in the US please. Must be 18 yrs or older to enter. Please only ONE entry per person/per twitter account. The winner will be picked at random and announced on Twitter!
Deadline to enter is Monday October 1st, 2012. Midnight EST.

Good Luck!










Saturday, September 8, 2012

Change IS good.

Hey there,

Just wanted to post a quick note on the changes coming to my blog. I will NO longer be posting so much TV news. I will try to only do such if it's within my personal interest. I will focus more on TV on DVD, latest movies out on DVD/Blu Ray, TV recaps and the occasional advance movie review. I will soon be adding giveaways and interview content. I feel as though it's time to change over from what you can find on any other website. Thanks for checking out my blog, please stay tuned for more.