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Friday highlights: Weddings and winners

November 20th, 2009, 9:38 am by The Watcher

The winnerSome recommended viewing from tonight’s prime-time schedule:

They do: TLC trots out another new reality series in its quest to find the next “What Not to Wear.” This time we get “Happily Ever Faster,” which details the comings and goings at a Las Vegas wedding chapel. Sounds like it could be fun. Once, anyway. It begins at 10.

If you missed it: What a nice moment to see Irina Shabayeva burst into tears upon winning “Project Runway” Thursday night. We picked Mean-a Irina to win it all, and felt better about it after seeing her not be nasty for a few seconds. If you missed the finale, it repeats tonight at 10 on Lifetime.

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Posted in: Project Runway • TV: Reality shows • The Watcher • | 2 Comments »

‘Real Housewives’ Watchalong: Dull on the rocks

November 20th, 2009, 2:08 am by The Watcher

housewives_lead

Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends. Or maybe it just seems that way. Once again The Watcher will bull his way through an entire episode of “The Real Housewives of Orange County” so you don’t have to.

Previews indicate this will be one of most boring outings on record. The Watcher is tempted to eschew his usual hard liquor accompaniment in favor of caffeine. Or DDT.

But that’s the coward’s way out. We must gather our courage and soldier ahead.

***

Last week on “RHOC”: Fighting and whining prevailed. Tonight, no doubt, will be considerably different.

We notice that Alexis does not yet merit a spot in the “RHOC” credits sequence. Of course, she hasn’t been drunk or fought with another Housewife yet, so she hasn’t earned one.

The episode opens in the familiar Orange County community of Scottsdale, Ariz. We watch an SUV pull into the – get this – Hotel Valley Ho, a place the producers could not possibly have picked accidentally.

Gretchen and Slade emerge from the car, Slade now sporting the subtitle “Gretchen’s boyfriend,” and check into the Valley Ho. I may never tire of typing “Valley Ho.”

And why are we in Scottsdale, you ask? Gretchen is here to see her girlfriend Kelly. Oh, Kelly. I completely forgot she lived there. It all makes perfect sense now.

If you have a paper bag or wastebasket nearby, please grab it, because we are about to launch a vomit-inducing sequence detailing how much Gretchen and Slade are in love and how genuine their relationship is and not completely faked for TV or for the now-broke Slade to grab hold of some of Gretchen’s inheritance from her dead fiancé, Jeff.

Gretchen anticipates our skepticism: “If I had to fall in love with anybody, why did it have to be Slade Smiley, right?” Right.

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Posted in: Real Housewives • TV: Reality shows • The Watcher | 5 Comments »

‘Survivor: Samoa’: More fun at Tribal Council

November 20th, 2009, 1:22 am by The Watcher

Laura hits the roadRocket scientist John calculated the correct answer when he complained about his alliance mates’ lack of “analytical ability” during Thursday’s episode of “Survivor: Samoa.”

In other words, they aren’t too bright.

And so the ex-Galu alliance lost another member to crafty Russell and his former-Foa Foa pals. At a dramatic Tribal Council, the first vote ended in a 5-5 tie between Laura and Natalie. In the re-vote, John switched his ballot to Laura, and finished off his Galu alliance in the process.

John calculated that it would be better to end up in sixth place rather than take a 50-50 shot at regaining control of the game at a 1-in-8 risk of ending in 10th place.

Too much math? It was for the rocket scientist.

Of course, John is still in the game, and anything can happen - like Russell and pals coasting to the finish, with a Hidden Immunity Idol in hand and a huge advantage in strategic thinking.

The core Galuvians remaining - Dave, Monica and Brett - need a miracle to survive the next three TCs. Then John will.

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Posted in: Survivor • TV: Reality shows • The Watcher • • | 4 Comments »

Thursday highlights: The important stuff

November 19th, 2009, 11:45 am by The Watcher

Jurors 1 and 2Some interesting offering from tonight’s prime-time schedule:

One winner: “Project Runway” concludes its sixth season tonight. The three finalists - Irina, Althea and Carol Hannah - show their lines at New York Fashion Week (filmed in February) and the judges select a winner. The Watcher’s money is on Irina. 10 p.m. on Lifetime. And don’t forget to vote in our poll!

One loser: The Hidden Immunity Idol is back up for grabs on “Survivor: Samoa.” Want to bet Russell finds it? Someone who doesn’t find it will be voted out of the merged tribe tonight and take the third seat in the jury box. 8 p.m. on CBS.

Six, um … Our local favorites, “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” are back for another hour of drinking, fighting and other assorted intellectual endeavors. 10 p.m. on Bravo. The Register’s Richard Chang previews the action.

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Posted in: Project Runway • Real Housewives • Survivor • TV: Reality shows • The Watcher • | Post a Comment »

Poll: Who wins ‘Project Runway’?

November 18th, 2009, 8:55 am by The Watcher

Althea, Carol Hannah, Irina

The most important event of the TV week happens Thursday, when we - or Heidi Klum, actually - crown the winner of season six of “Project Runway.”

The Watcher hasn’t been too happy with the season in general - the first since the show migrated to Lifetime from Bravo - but weak “Project Runway” is still better than most television.

And the season should end with a worthy winner - as long as it’s not Carol Hannah Whitfield.

The other finalists - Irina Shabeyeva and Althea Harper - were the strongest competitors all season. Carol Hannah was steady - her record was as good as Althea’s - but her work was uninspiring. Her two challenge wins came less because she excelled than because the others failed.

But perhaps you disagree. Either way, it’s time to express your opinion. Who is your choice for champion?

*

Who wins 'Project Runway'?
View Results

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Posted in: Project Runway • TV: Reality shows • The Watcher • • • | 2 Comments »

Wednesday highlights: Tired chefs, bad songs

November 18th, 2009, 8:29 am by The Watcher

Jennifer - Dead chef walking?Interesting bits from tonight’s prime-time schedule:

Cooking without gas: The once-obvious final four of “Top Chef” appears obvious no more. The Voltaggio Brothers and Kevin Gillespie still look like locks, but former Iron Chef Jennifer Carroll seems to have rusted out. Does she go home tonight, or will she limp along for one more week? We find out at 10 on Bravo. (A special note to fans of “Top Chef” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm”: The restaurant featured in last Sunday’s episode of “Curb,” L.A. Farm in Santa Monica, is run by former “Top Chef” contestant Stefan Richter.

Wish I hadn’t looked: One of the high points of the Watcher’s week is peeking at the list of songs we’ll be hearing on the upcoming episode of “Glee.” Imagine my glee at seeing that two of tonight’s numbers rank among history’s worst: “(You’re) Having My Baby” and “Endless Love.” I don’t care to hear either, even if sung by Lea Michelle. We’ll hope the rest of the episode is better. 9 on Fox.

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Posted in: TV: Reality shows • TV: Scripted shows • The Watcher • Top Chef • | 2 Comments »

Tuesday highlights: Heroes and villains

November 17th, 2009, 8:39 am by The Watcher

Heather LocklearSome interesting items from tonight’s TV schedule:

The villain: Amanda’s back! Heather Locklear returns to her most famous role as the evil Amanda Woodward on the revival of “Melrose Place.” When we last saw Amanda, she had faked her own death to escape murder charges and fled to a tropical island refuge. Tonight’s two big questions: How do the writers undo all that? And will Heather be enough of  a draw to save this sinking series? Stay tuned. 9 p.m. on the CW.

The hero: After landing on the moon in 1969, Neil Armstrong became an increasingly reclusive figure. British journalist Andrew Smith attempts to profile the American hero in “Being Neil Armstrong.” 8 p.m. on BBC America.

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Posted in: TV: Reality shows • TV: Scripted shows • The Watcher • • • | Post a Comment »

Monday highlights: Beginnings and near endings

November 16th, 2009, 10:20 am by The Watcher

Some highlights from the evening’s schedule:

Jean-Cristophe NovelliJust beginning: At 10 p.m Bravo launches “Chef Academy,” starring French/English cooking sensation Jean-Cristophe Novelli. The show follows Novelli as he comes to Los Angeles to launch a cooking school with nine aspiring chefs as his students. It sounds like “Hell’s Kitchen” where everyone gets to stay.

Almost done: “Dancing With the Stars” begins its semifinal week on ABC at 8. We’re down to four couples, and the Watcher figures Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel have about a 1 percent chance of competing next week.

Posted in: Dancing With the Stars • TV: Reality shows • The Watcher • • • | Post a Comment »

‘Amazing Race’: Bogged down in Estonia

November 16th, 2009, 9:55 am by The Watcher

What is a candlebra?For a few minutes Sunday night, I thought “The Amazing Race” would finish the season without Nate “Big Easy” Lofton, who seemed to be sinking irretrievably into the bogs of Estonia.

And it was a good metaphor for the season, which seems to be sinking into a bog of boring Detours. The teams finished the bog Detour in pretty much the same order in which they arrived, with no hope of catching Megan & Cheyne and no hope at all for Matt & Gary.

And don’t even get me started on the 15-hour wait for the ferry from Stockholm to Tallin. There may have been production reasons for it, but to the viewer that layover made no sense. Why not just start the teams mid-morning or early afternoon?

The Roadblock was a little better, although all of the teams were able to decipher the blank scroll in reasonable time. (Any time you’re confronted with invisible ink, your first instinct should be to heat the paper. Just be careful not to set it on fire.)

It’s too bad, because we are left with an excellent final four: Megan & Cheyne are strong; Meghan is one of the most impressively athletic women we’ve seen on the show. Flight Time & Big Easy are one of the most fun and likeable teams ever; Sam & Dan’s brotherly feuding is entertaining; and Brian & Ericka seem perpetually doomed but keep scratching to stay in the game.

Posted in: Amazing Race • TV: Reality shows • The Watcher | 4 Comments »

Friday highlights: Time to compete

November 13th, 2009, 11:59 am by The Watcher

Such a nice boyWhat do you want to do Marty? I don’t know, what do you want to do?

The classic 1955 Oscar winner “Marty” is on MGM-HD tonight, if you get it, but otherwise it’s a typically slow Friday night. Some highlights:

Bridal battle: TLC unwraps “Battle of the Wedding Planners,” a series that pits three wedding planners against each other in a bid to win one couple’s business. Sounds like HGTV’s “Designers Challenge” for the bridal crowd. It premieres at 10 p.m.

Sports galore: The Watcher doesn’t typically recommend sports viewing, but tonight offers an unusual number of interesting matchups. In college football, it’s West Virgina vs. Cincinnati on ESPN2 at 5 p.m. The NBA offers the Lakers at the Nuggets, on both ESPN and KCAL beginning at 7:30. Then there is the MLS playoffs, with the Galaxy hosting Houston in the Western Conference finals. Play on!

Posted in: TV: Reality shows • The Watcher • | Post a Comment »

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