There’s been some question as to whether Lost would be making the hi-def jump, with rumors surfacing of a Bluray set a while back, which were denied by Disney.  The studio has confirmed now that Season 3 of Lostwill be coming to Bluray on December 11.  Here’s the cover art:

I am really getting sick of this HD-DVD/Bluray format war.  Last season’s two greatest shows, Heroes and Lost are entering the hi-def market this year, but on separate formats.  I’ve got an HD-DVD player, so Heroes is foregone conclusion.  I hate that, if I want to enjoy both in the best format, I’d have to drop another several hundred bucks on a different player.  Incredibly frustrating for me…incredibly good news for PS3 owners.

Can you believe that we’ve only had one major casting announcement for 24?  The production has been hitting some delays, but you would think that there would be more news from that front.

Anywho, it’s confirmed that Janeane Garofalo will be joining the ranks of 24 next year.  She will be playing “a government agent who is part of the team investigating the crisis befalling Jack Bauer and Co.”

Could this be another indication of the changes that are coming to 24?  Garofalo is pretty much known for her comedic roles…will she be the one changing to fit the more somber tones of the show, or will the show itself be brightening up a bit?  I’m not sure either alternative really fits 24.

(Source: TVGuide)

The slew of shows making the jump to high definition continues with Battlestar Galactica.

On December 4, Battlestar Galactica - Season 1 will make it’s HD-DVD debut.  The set will retail for $99.98.  Full list of extras after the jump.

(Source: TV Shows on DVD) Read the rest of this entry »

Last week, the rumors were flying when Veronica Mars‘ Kristen Bell was alleged to be joining the ranks of Lost, and then announced that she would not be, citing scheduling issues.

Over the weekend, Variety broke the news that Bell will be taking on a role in the new season of Heroes.  Starting in October, we will see her in the role of Elle, “a sexy, mysterious young lady who has ties to the supposed death of Peter, H.R.G.’s past and the future of Claire.”  Her first act on-screen will be commiting a serious crime, though her true allegience will be unclear.

It’s been a rough few months for 24.

This past season drew the rage of many fans by recycling old storylines and really just being all-around boring.  Then, then producers tried to mix up the formula by moving it at least in-part to Africa, but were shot down by FOX, who cited financial reasons.

Now, the show has hit another delay.  Production was set to begin on August 27, but has been bumped back again to September 10, only four months before the season premiere.

I’m still holding out hope that these delays mean that they are striving to create the best possible show, but I’m starting to have a nagging fear that they may just be fumbling to make the show work in a new format.

(Source: Zap2It)

If you live in Los Angeles, on Thursday, August 16 you can check out a public screening of my favorite upcoming show, Pushing Daisies (read my review here).

The showing will take place at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, CA tomorrow at 8:00 p.m.

From the article at AICN:

Bryan Fuller, who created “Daisies” (he also created “Dead Like Me” and “Wonderfalls” and wrote some of the best episodes of “Heroes” last season), will be on hand to introduce, as will “Men in Black” director Barry Sonnenfeld, who helmed the pilot.

If you’re in the area, check it out.  I think you’ll enjoy it.

Jericho had its nuts…Veronica Mars had its Mars bars.  Fans of good television seem to always find creative ways to attempt to resurrect their dying shows.

John from Cincinnati bored the snot out of me.  Man, I tried to enjoy it, but it was a snoozefest.  When HBO announced on Monday that it would not renew John from Cincinnati, all 184 of the show’s viewers revolted.  One such revolt resulted in this petition…and I quote:

HBO, DONT CANCEL JOHN FROM CINCINNATI 

HBO, DONT BE A S*!T HEAL!!!! STOP TEASING US WITH INNOVATIVE TELEVISION THAT YOU ARE JUST GOING TO TAKE AWAY FROM US TOO SOON!!!!! DONT CANCEL JOHN FROM CINCINATTI!!!!! AND WHILE YOUR BEING STUPID, FINISH DEADWOOD!!!!! thanks.

Nothing works better in a petition than cursing at and insulting the petitionee in an appeal that uses not one, not two, but twenty exclamation points (including the s*!t) as the extent of punctuation…and then asking for one more small favor there at the end.  Brilliant work, guys.

Chapter 46
Golden Handshake
Severance Pay
Part 4 of 4

The search for Fusor took a deadly new turn.  Both Haram and Claude realize their assumptions about the killer have led them down the wrong path.  But now Fusor has turned the tables and directed her lethal powers onto Haram…

Click here to catch up: 1, 2 and 3.

Fusor is drawing all the life out of Haram.  She tells him, “Rollo was my cute distraction.  He kept you off my scent for years.  But you wouldn’t leave well enough alone.  You made Rollo nervous.  Which made him a lot less cute.  Now be quiet and die.”

Meanwhile, Claude is reaching for a nearby branch.  Fusor hears him, but when she turns to look, he is gone.  He has turned invisible, and, hidden from her view, he hurls the debris at her, nailing her right in the temple.

Haram struggles to his feet, and Claude pleads with him to help free him so they can apprehend Fusor.  Ignoring him, Haram approaches Fusor.  “Think you should know what it feels like,” he says, grabbing her hands and placing them on her own face, “havin’ your whole life sucked away from you…”  With that, she dissolves into a cloud of dust.

Claude chastises Haram, saying that they were supposed to take Fusor in alive.  Haram doesn’t care…he is done with the company.  Claude pleads with him to wait…to give him some time to find a suitable replacement.  They agree that Haram will give Claude six months.

A little bit later, Claude is entering the Primatech offices.  He comments to the receptionist that his partner seems to be late, and asks if he has arrived.  With that, she introduces him to his new partner, Noah Bennet.  Claude is angry that Haram broke his promise, but before he can protest the receptionist opens the door for him, saying “I’m afraid that won’t be possible, Claude.  He’s retired.  Now hurry in.  Mr. Thompson is waiting for you both…”

The End

The easter egg this week is a behind the scenes shot of Masi Oka as Hiro.

My TV viewing schedule lives and dies by my DVR.  I very rarely watch anything live since I’m usually not even in front of the television until well after all the networks have finished their primetime runs.  I think the concept of traditional television viewing is going to be drastically different in the coming years, and the changes we are witnessing now will shape our habits in the future.  So the ways that networks are confronting the problems that advertisers face in regards to DVR viewings really appeal to me.

Later this year, Time Warner Cable will be introducing a new service called “Look Back”.  This enables viewers to rewind or start over any program they have recorded.  And it’s offered completely free. 

The service is not without limitations, though.  Viewers are not allowed to fast forward through commercials, which I have no problem with.  I’ve already seen several in the blogosphere up in arms about how this is taking away a huge draw of the DVR, but this isn’t designed for those consumers.  This is designed for the casual TV viewer. 

Also, the viewer only has through midnight the day of the showing to watch the program before it’s lost.  This, I’m not such a fan of.  If the viewer is still going to be “slaved” to the commercials, why should it matter if they watch it a day or two later?  The ad is still getting watched.  I wish they would expand this viewing time out a little bit.

The service will launch for South Carolina customers in October, and will branch out from there.

(Image and Story Source: New York Times)

Friday we told you that Ausiello was reporting that Veronica Mars‘ star Kristen Bell was in talks with ABC to take on a role in the new season of Lost.

Ausiello confirmed over the weekend that it’s untrue.  She was approached by the network, but she turned it down.  Rumor on the skreet is that she’s wanting to keep her options open to take over the lead role in Broadway’s Legally Blonde this February.