CSI:Miami

CSI:Miami is a spin off from the series CSI:Crime Scene Investigation. It is a crime drama that follows the members of the Miami-Dade police force who use the forensic evidence from crime scenes to solve cases.

I have always loved crime shows, but CSI is always a little more interesting. It shows you the science of things like fingerprints and gunshot residue. After the team analyzes the crime scene, they bring all the evidence back to their high-tech laboratory with many fancy machines to help them crack the case.

The bad part about that show is the acting. Most people will tell you they cannot watch the show because of the "red-headed guy." This is true. Horatio, played by David Caruso, is the boss of the squad. He always has to have the last word before a commercial break and it's always something dumb.

CSI:Miami is in its 7th season and airs new episodes Mondays on CBS. Also watch the other crime scene shows including CSI: New York and CSI:Crime Scene Investigation. To find out more about this show and possibly the other spin offs click HERE!

Who Wants to Be a Millionare?

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, or simply Millionaire, is a trivia game show in which contestants answer questions in an attempt to win one million dollars.

Millionaire, hosted by Meredith Vieira, features questions from various subjects. The questions always start off easy, but get harder as the show progresses. The first question is always something like 'Fill in the blank. Row row row your boat gently down the...' Surprisingly there have been three contestants in Millionaire history to leave with no money. That is pretty sad. It is also pretty rare that a person actually wins the million. I have only witnessed it once.

Recently, I watched an episode with a guest host filling in for Meredith. Cat Deely, host of So You Think You Can Dance, took over for Meredith and had an interesting effect on the contestants. She has a very heavy English accent, so after a while every single contestant would start to talk with an accent until they caught themselves. It was really funny. She filled in all week and every day if I listened really hard, I could hear them start talking in an English accent.

The show has made some major changes for this season. They have brought in a timer so that people don't sit there forever deciding which lifeline to use. They have also made some changes to the lifelines. Instead of fifty fifty, contestants are given what is called the 'double dip'. They can choose one answer, and if that answer is wrong they get to choose again. Even though it has almost the exact effect of the fifty fifty it's still handy.

Millionaire is on everyday at 5 p.m. on the WB network. To learn more about the contestants, the questions, and play an online game of Millionaire click HERE!

The Soup

The Soup is a talk show that focuses on various moments in television and pop culture for the week. It screens series of clips from various shows that they can derive something funny or ironic out of.

The host, Joel Mchale, gives his thoughts after every scene. I think that the clips are much funnier than the things they write for him. If there was just a show with clips of people doing and saying stupid things, I would be happy.

The Soup is broken down into several segments: Chat Stew features clips from various talk shows. Chicks, Man features news about female celebrities. Reality Show Clip Time features clips from various reality shows. Let's Take Some E! is all about the shows featured on E! channel. The Clip of the Week is the final scene, and is considered the best clip from television from the week.

I think my favorite segment is the one with reality shows. It amazes me how stupid people get when they are trying to win something. I think if I ever watched more than a minute of one of those MTV reality shows, my brain would melt. That is the good thing about this show. It shows you everything you need to know.

The Soup airs on Fridays on E! network at 9 o'clock. To learn more about the show, watch videos, and get your "condensed soup" for the day click HERE!

Chopped

Chopped is a the newest cooking competition on Food Network. Each show, four chefs face off in a series of three challenges: appetizer, entree, and desert. One chef is eliminated or "chopped" after each challenge leaving one winner to receive $10, 000.

It sounds like another boring cooking challenge show, and it really is. The entertaining part about the show is the challenges. The chefs have to make their meals with secret ingredients chosen for them. Although it sounds a lot like Iron Chef, which is also on Food Network, it puts a different spin on it. They choose ingredients that are not usually used with each other. Hey, make me an appetizer with an ostrich egg, cinnamon, a baguette, and soy sauce.

Judges for the show include celebrity chefs, restaurateurs, and food and wine journalists. The host of the show is Ted Allen, the second most annoying person on Food Network, next to Rachael Ray.

Tune in Tuesdays at 9 pm to Food Network for the latest episodes of Chopped. To learn more about the show, the finalists, and their winning dishes click HERE.

Burn Notice

Burn Notice is the story of Michael Weston, ex- covert operative who has been 'burned' and is now stranded in his hometown of Miami. He has been identified as an untrustworthy and dangerous agent.

Now, he uses his unique set of skills to help people who are in unusual dilemmas, while searching to find who was behind his 'burning'. Along with his friends Fiona and Sam, they describe in great detail how to deal with tricky situations, like how to take down five guys with guns and you have nothing but your hands. Yeah, that will come in handy someday.

It's fun to follow his story. He keeps getting closer and closer to the people who 'burned' him. Of course, he has been beaten up, shot at, and nearly blown up, but apparently he thinks it is worth it.

The season 2 finale of Burn Notice airs on Thursday on USA. To learn more about the show, its characters, and catch up on past episodes visit the website below.

http://www.usanetwork.com/series/burnnotice/

The Celebrity Apprentice

The Celebrity Apprentice, hosted by Donald Trump, is back for another season on NBC. This "ultimate job interview" conducts a job talent search for a person to head one of Trump's companies.

The show features a variety of somewhat interesting tasks in which the contestants must complete in order to prove who is more business and economically savvy, like making and selling bad cupcakes. The contestants of the celebrity edition are basically just people who were famous at one time and are now bored. The most important part of the show are the far-fetched and obviously staged arguments between contestants.

Celebrity contestants this season include Heisman Trophy winner, Herschel Walker, comedian, Joan Rivers, reality TV star, Khloe Kardashian, comedian, Tom Green, Deal or No Deal model, Claudia Jordan, and many more. Wow, sounds like a lot of tough competition. I can't wait to see who wins.

"You're fired!" The Celebrity Apprentice season premiere airs on Sunday, March 1st on NBC. To learn more about the contestants, the challenges and catch up on past seasons visit NBC.com.

http://www.nbc.com/the-celebrity-apprentice/

ABC and FOX New Shows for Spring

NBC isn't the only network with a multitude of new shows. FOX and ABC have a few new shows as well.

FOX looks forward to the release of Dollhouse, the dramatic thriller about a secret organization of people who's personalities are cleared in order to imprint any number of new traits. The series, created by Eliza Dushku, premiered on February 13th. FOX has also premiered the new series Lie to Me. This show is about a team of people who decide if people are lying or not. It sounds pretty interesting but don't they have machines for that?

ABC will also release two new shows in March. Cupid is a story of a man who helps people find their soul mate. I feel like I have heard this storyline before. Oh yeah, I have, way too many times. Cupid is definitely not on my list of shows to watch. The other show, Castle, is the story of a mystery writer who is called in by the NYPD to help solve a murder based on one of his books. This story also seems vaguely familiar, but still interesting, because I do love mysteries. I am wondering, however, how they can make a whole series out of one murder.

Watch for Dollhouse on Fridays and Lie to Me on Wednesdays on FOX. The premieres of Cupid and Castle are coming to ABC this March. To learn more about the shows visit these websites.

http://www.fox.com/dollhouse/

http://www.fox.com/lietome/

http://abc.go.com/primetime/castle/index?pn=index

http://abc.go.com/primetime/cupid/index?pn=index

NBC's New Shows for Spring

As the winter season begins to wrap up, the major TV networks announce the new shows for Spring. NBC has many returning shows, as well as four new shows in primetime.

NBC has been busy with four new shows in the primetime line up. First, with the final episode of ER, comes another John Wells production. Southland is a police drama about a group of LAPD police officers. Next, is the highly anticipated (not by me) Kings. The show follows a modern day monarchy. I'm not particularly excited about either of these shows. I guess if I always have liked to watch cop shows, but if Southland is anything like ER it will be all about drama. As for Kings, I have seen a few commercials for it, but I cant really tell what it is going to be about.

The next show, is a 'mockumentary' staring one of the funniest people in television, Amy Poehler. Parks and Recreation follows a government bureaucrat in the recreation department of a small town. The show is produced by the people who make The Office, so you know its going to be funny. The last show is a culinary reality show, starring Chef Marco Pierre White. The Chopping Block challenges aspiring chefs, and the winner will receive 250,000 dollars to start their own restaurant. I am excited about both shows, because I think Amy Poehler is hilarious from her reoccurring roles on SNL. As for The Chopping Block, I am hoping it will be good. I know there are a lot of cooking shows out there, and a lot of them are the same exact show.

To find out more about these shows, their air dates, and the rest of the Spring primetime line up go to NBC.com.

http://www.nbc.com/Primetime/

Kitchen Nightmares

Kitchen Nightmares is a reality series in which the British chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay helps struggling restaurants. Its like the culinary boot camp for some unsatisfactory restaurants.

There are some really bad restaurants out there, but once Gordon Ramsay gets a hold of them, they wont be bad for long. When Ramsay sees something he doesn't like he says something about -- and its not a polite suggestion, it is a earsplitting command. He deals with how the food is cooked, if it is presented in the right way, and if the menu is diverse enough. You give him a problem, he will fix it.

You don't want to get on his bad side, because he can belt it out. If you make him mad, he will yell at you. I think the reason he gets so mad is because the chefs that he deals with are so proud of their restaurants and when he offers them criticism, they don't want to hear it. But he always gets the job done. He has saved many restaurants from going out of business because of the work he has done.

Check out Kitchen Nightmares on FOX on Thursday nights at 8 o'clock. For more information about the show, the restaurants Ramsay has made over, and watch videos to catch up go to FOX.com.

http://www.fox.com/kitchennightmares/

Changes in the Late Night Circuit

NBC's series of late night talk shows are seeing some major changes. The Late Night with Conan O'Brien will welcome its new host, Jimmy Fallon. He is best known for his work on Saturday Night Live, and he has also appeared in several hit movies. Now he is taking over Late Night, starting March 2 with The Roots house band. I am very excited for this change, but not so much because Jimmy Fallon is taking over, but because Conan is taking over The Tonight Show. I am rarely able to stay awake for Conan but I think he is hilarious, so now I can watch him at the earlier time.

The Late Night franchise started with David Letterman back in 1982, which was later taken over by O'Brien in 1993. Letterman moved to CBS and created my other favorite late night talk show, The Late Show with David Letterman. Traditionally, these late night talk shows consist of celebrity guests, stand-up comedy by the host, musical guests, and lots of jokes. It's a perfect way to keep up with news, celebrity stories, and today's music.

To see how Jimmy Fallon does tune in to NBC on March 2nd at 11:37 pm. To learn more about Late Night, its new host and house band, and future guests go to NBC.com.

http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/

Law and Order

Law and Order is the longest running primetime drama on American television. This crime drama illustrates the day to day tasks of New York City detectives, police officers, medical examiners, and district attorneys.

The shows follows a pretty specific format. The first part is dedicated to the investigation of a certain crime. The second part is for the prosecution of whoever committed the crime. I think I always found the first part more interesting, because I could always try to guess what would happen next. When it comes to the second part its pretty much just if the offender will get away with their crimes or not. I do, however, enjoy the interrogations and the drama-filled atmosphere of the courtrooms.

When I watch Law and Order it sure makes me want to become a detective because it looks like so much fun. They just keep finding small clues and those lead to other clues until they figure it out. It must be a good feeling to crack a really exciting case.

Law and Order can be watched on NBC. To learn more about the show, watch full episodes, and learn what is coming up next for the show visit nbc.com.

http://www.nbc.com/Law_and_Order/

The Daily Show

The Daily Show, hosted by Jon Stewart, deals with the latest news stories, political figures, and media coverage. It is, in a way, a mock news program. They put smart, comedic viewpoints on the most recent news.

The beginning of the show offers a recent streamline of news with a comedic spin. They show videos of political leaders that are cut off at clever points to make them sound unintelligent or mistaken. They show videos of other news stations with takes on events that may not be as sharp. The comments that Jon Stewart make after the videos can usually make me laugh, as long as I understand what he is talking about.

Then, he welcomes one of the many correspondents for the show including Samantha Bee, Jason Jones, John Oliver, Aasif Mandvi, and Wyatt Cenac. These people are called in to discuss certain issues or something that has to do with their particular field of expertise. These comedic performers do a good job at making the informative part of the show seem really funny. After that, there is a guest, and the show gets pretty serious with not as many jokes.

Whenever you watch the news, most of the stories are negative and depressing. When you watch The Daily show, they make the news interesting and humorous. If it weren't for shows like The Daily show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien I probably would probably be completely clueless about what is going on in the world.

The Daily Show is on Comedy Central. To watch full episodes of The Daily Show, read more about the corespondents, and recent news stories visit the website below.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/

Deal or No Deal

Deal or No Deal is a reality game show in which contestants play for a chance to win one million dollars. The show, hosted by Howie Mandel, has had only 2 million dollar winner in its 4 seasons. It is a game of luck and taking risks.

The game revolves around twenty-six cases that contain dollar amounts ranging from one million to a penny. At the beginning of the show, contestants are asked to pick one of the cases that they believe is carrying the million dollar amount. Then, the contestants are asked to select from the remaining cases one at a time to be taken out of play. The smaller the amount the better, because it gives them a better chance at the million or at least a higher amount. After so many cases are taken out the contestant gets an offer from the banker. The bankers job is to send the player away with the least amount of money possible. The contestant can either choose to take the offer or continue eliminating cases.

Deal or No Deal is a very exciting show. Sometimes I find myself screaming at the TV telling the contestants what I would do if I was in their position. The people that come on that show are crazy sometimes and they regret it. Its really sad when the player could either win one million dollars or one dollar and gets the dollar in the end. Its also very sad when they don't get the million and have to settle for half a million. That is very disappointing (not really).

Deal or No Deal airs on NBC network on Fridays. To learn more about the show, watch videos, and play the Deal or No Deal game visit nbc.com.

http://www.nbc.com/Deal_or_No_Deal/

The 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

The 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were held on January 25 at the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles, California. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is a labor union that represent thousands of film and television actors around the world. The awards are presented to recognize outstanding performances of the guild's members.

The movies that stood out include Doubt with five nominations, Milk with three nominations, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with three nominations. Unfortunately, I didn't see any of these movies, so the movie portion didn't really interest me. In fact, the only movie I did see out of any movie nominated was The Dark Knight. It was Slumdog Millionaire that walked away with the best ensemble cast.

I took more interest in the television portion. 30 Rock seemed unstoppable with three nominations and three wins. Other shows with multiple nominations included Boston Legal, John Adams, Mad Men, and The Closer. House also had two nominations and a win for Hugh Laurie. The Office, Dexter, and Entourage also had two nominations, but walked away empty handed. I would have thought the best ensemble cast award would have gone to the cast of The Office, but apparently it was 30 Rock's year to win everything, and they deserve it.

The awards were broadcasted on TBS and TNT. To read more about the history of the awards, read acceptances speeches, and view a full list of nominees and winners you can visit any one of these websites.

http://www.sagawards.org/

http://www.tbs.com/shows/sagawards/

http://www.sag.org/

30 Rock

30 Rock is a series about a live sketch comedy and its writers, cast, and crew. This comedy series, created by Tina Fey, goes behind the scenes of The Girlie Show or TGS with Tracy Jordan. The show's name comes from the building in New York City, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where the NBC studios are located.

Fey portrays the sarcastic, quick- witted, overworked Liz Lemon. This character is said to be a fictionalized version of Fey herself, seeing as she was the head writer for Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 1999 to 2006. Other characters from the show include the dim-witted, attention seeking star of TGS, Jenna Marone, and the other star, unpredictable and insane, Tracy Jordan. Also, there is the controlling, successful corporate businessman in charge of east coast television programming (meaning TGS) and microwave oven programming, Jack Donaghy, and the young, enthusiastic NBC page, Kenneth.

30 Rock has received numerous awards, including five Golden Globe Awards and nine Primetime Emmy Awards. It is currently in its third season with new episodes on Thursdays on NBC. To watch full episodes and learn more about the show visit NBC.com.

http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock/

What Do I Think? The first episode I watched of 30 Rock was an episode from the third season, and I was only watching it because it was on after The Office. What I didn't know is that I was watching the funniest show on television. The humor in the show is quick, smart, and almost hard to keep up with. The characters are outrageous and the conflicts that they cause in studio 6h are ridiculously funny. 30 Rock is one of my favorite shows on TV.

Top Chef

Top Chef is a reality cooking show in which many talented chefs compete in various culinary challenges. These chefs come from across the country for a chance to prove their unique talents, skill, and expertise. The show is shot in one location each season. They have competed in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, and New York.

The competitors participate in two challenges each episode -- a quickfire challenge and an elimination challenge. The winner of the quickfire challenge secures immunity from the next challenge (meaning they cannot be voted off). The elimination challenge is much more important, because it decides who stays and who goes. One chef is asked to leave each week with the show's famous parting line -- "Please pack your knives and go."

The show's judges include noted chef and restaurateur, Tom Collichio, cookbook author and actress, Padma Lakshmi, food critic, Gail Simmons, and many more renowned people in the food and wine industry.

Top Chef is currently in its fifth season with new episodes airing Wednesday nights on Bravo network. For more information on this and all the seasons visit Top Chef's official website where you can read contestant bios, catch up on past seasons, and much more.
http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/index.php


What Do I Think? Top Chef is a great cooking show. It is a lot of fun watching the chefs come up with amazing recipes and peculiar combinations. Most of the time I feel like the food they make is food I would never even attempt to eat, but it is still enjoyable to watch the competition and their remarkable techniques.

House, M.D.

Welcome to What's on TV. My blog is about the good and bad, the comedies and thrillers, the hits and misses in television.

The first show I would like to talk about is House, M.D. This medical drama, created by David Shore, is about the unfeeling, sarcastic medical genius Dr. Gregory House. Dr. House is the boss of a team of medical diagnosticians. Their job is to figure out what is wrong with patients that come into the hospital with symptoms that no one else can diagnose. The medical cases that come through the Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital are captivating, remarkable, and sometimes down right bizarre.

Dr. House's character, played by British actor Hugh Laurie, is constantly getting himself into trouble because of his spiteful attitude towards his patients, his team, and especially his boss Dr. Lisa Cuddy. House's personality issues aren't the only defect he has. His damaged leg, due to a misdiagnosis, forces him to walk with a cane making him even more cranky -- especially when he is off his meds.

The show is in the middle of its fifth season with all new episodes on Monday nights on FOX network. Watch full episodes of House, M.D at Fox.com.
http://www.fox.com/house/



What Do I Think? The characters in this show are excellent and the storyline is smart, imaginative, and thought provoking. It is an all around good show. I give it a A.