Picks of Week: Three Reality Big Ones

My Pick of the Week is usually the show that I would absolutely not miss myself, so I want to remind you guys so you won’t miss it either…

But this week there are three shows I absolutely will not miss. And they are all in the world of reality…

My Picks of the Week are “The Real Housewives of New Jersey Reunion Special Part One,” “Top Chef: D.C.” and the season finale of “Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch.”

Bravo reunions are always quite a show, but the “New Jersey” version is going to be off the hook. Here’s the official description from the Bravo press release:

“Tune in on Monday, August 30th at 10 p.m. ET/PT and Monday, September 6th at 9 p.m. ET/PT for the two part reunion special that will leave everyone speechless – including the Housewives. From sex tapes to court cases to financial woes, Bravo’s Andy Cohen hosts a Real Housewives reunion two part special that is one for the record books. Caroline, Teresa, Danielle and Jacqueline leave it all out on the table for one final sit-down and even Andy isn’t sure if he’s going to make it out of this one unscathed.”

After seeing the commercials all week, I can’t wait to find out what Danielle says to get Teresa to scream, “Don’t break up my family!” like a crazy person…

Part one of the reunion airs Monday, August 30th at 10 p.m. on Bravo. Please note that if you’re taping, it will run until 11:15 p.m…

It’s a big week for “Top Chef.” First, the Emmy. And now, it’s down to the top five on “Top Chef: DC.” But that’s not why I’m so psyched about this one. I can sum that up in one word—Bourdain. That’s right. Anthony Bourdain is FINALLY back as a guest judge. He has been sorely missed these past two years as Toby Young attempted to take his place—and failed miserably.

“Top Chef: DC” airs Wednesday, September 1st at 10 p.m. on Bravo…

I need to confess that I have developed a huge crush on Chad Ochocinco thanks to his reality show. I’ve always been a huge fan and have the jersey to prove it, but now it’s so much more than that.

And after he FINALLY did the right thing and eliminated Tara? That just made me love him more….

Now, it’s down to Rubi and Brittany. I think Rubi has it in the bag because she’s been Chad’s number one since day one. But I honestly believe that he has more in common with Brittany.

But I guess the real question is whether Chad is still with his choice and how his fans will react to her. Bengals fans adore Chad so she could be in for a real Jessica Simpson-Tony Romo thing here. Personally, I think Brittany could handle that much better. But I guess we’ll see…

The season finale of “Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch” airs Sunday, September 5th at 9 p.m. on VH1…

Photo Credits: Andrei Jackamets/Bravo, David Giesbrecht/Bravo, & 51 Minds/VH1

The Emmys: How Did Jimmy Do?

I think you guys could tell I really wasn’t into the Emmys at all this year.

So why after watching them tonight am I so jazzed? Because it was actually a good show with some good moments and a host that totally proved himself worthy of the job…

Even though the opening number was basically an homage to “Glee”—a show I am completely over—it was pretty cute and gave NBC a great chance to spotlight some of their stars including the always adorable Joel McHale. And it was funny to watch McHale and John Hamm attempt to do the choreography. Thumbs up to Jimmy and his writers for cooking it up…

But Jimmy wasn’t done as he came swinging right out of the gate with a jab right to the jaw of NBC as he did a pretty funny joke about the late night fiasco. And the director was right on the button as he cut immediately to Conan O’Brien, who clearly didn’t want to be on camera…

Note to TBS: Please make Conan shave that hideous beard before he starts his show in November...

Then Jimmy took advantage of the show’s new format of splitting up the categories—which worked pretty well—and did musical intros for each one featuring stars from each category. It was clever and moved the show along at a great pace…

Not everything Jimmy did worked. His idea to let people on Twitter suggest presenter intros bombed, but that was one of his few miscues. Even his song parody tribute to “24,” “Lost” and “Law & Order” worked, although I still don’t know why he poured out that bottle during the “L&O” song…

And kudos to the producers for recognizing both “24” and “L&O”…

Kudos also to the producers for eliminating the senseless montages and instead giving us good ones that gave us a real look at the nominated shows. But did they have to include the final moments from “24”? You know it made me tear up again…

The “In Memoriam” segment was also good, but using a live singer always makes things a little awkward since people aren’t as inclined to clap for people…

If you read my column in Thursday’s “Herald-Dispatch,” you know I had a wishlist of things I wanted to see tonight. And some of my wishes actually came true:

Jim Parsons won the Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series…

“Glee” lost Outstanding Comedy Series…

And the big one. “Top Chef” took home Outstanding Reality-Competition Program. My throat still hurts from all the screaming I did for that one. But no, I have no idea why Padma looked so disheveled. And no, I have no idea why she couldn’t keep her mouth shut on the stage. But I don’t care. I’m just so happy that the show that deserved to win did…

So what did you guys think? Were you happy with the results? And what about Jimmy Fallon?

Post a comment and get us started…

Photo Credits: Paul Drinkwater/NBC & Trae Patton/NBC

I Am PUMPED!!!

I'm not live blogging the Emmys this year, but I had to jump in and say...

WAY TO GO, "TOP CHEF"!!!

"Top Chef: Las Vegas" was the best reality show on TV last season--maybe even the best show period. It absolutely deserved the Emmy.

I'll have more to say about the Emmys when they conclude tonight...

Will ABC Feature Some Dirty "Dancing"?

Monday night during “Bachelor Pad,” ABC will announce the new contestants for this fall’s edition of “Dancing With the Stars.”

But E! Online has a list of people they say they’ve confirmed and it’s pretty interesting…

On the list are Bristol Palin, Margaret Cho, Jennifer Grey, Rick Fox, Michael Bolton, Audrina Patridge, The Situation, David Hasselhoff, Brandy and Florence Henderson.

But if the website is right and Grey is getting paired with Derek Hough, I’ve got to think they’re the early favorites.

“Bachelor Pad” airs Monday, August 30th at 8 p.m. on ABC…

Your First Look at the "Real Housewives of New Jersey" Reunion

Tonight, Caroline and Danielle go one-on-one on “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” season finale.

But that is apparently going to be nothing compared to the reunion that starts next week…

When I tried to get a preview of the reunion from Andy Cohen last week, I was told he was on vacation. I’d say he earned it.

Check out the preview here…

Jamie Oliver--and Kathy Griffin--React to the "Revolution" Win on Twitter

On his Twitter page, Jamie Oliver has posted some pictures of the crew and Huntingtonians as he celebrates the show’s Emmy win. You can check that out here.

Also on Twitter, Kathy Griffin is heating up her page with comments about the “Revolution” win not only because her show lost, but also because Ryan Seacrest, one of the show’s executive producers, is her sworn enemy. You can follow that discussion here, but be warned. Not all of her language is clean, as usual…

The Schmemmys Prove Me Wrong

A one-two combination of a high school football game and a driving rainstorm completely distracted me from tonight’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

But if you’ve visited the Herald-Dispatch homepage, you know that “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution” did win the Emmy for Outstanding Reality Program.

And yes, I admit. I am shocked. I really didn’t think that the series premiere could compete with the emotional drama of “Undercover Boss” or “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.” Maybe the voters were impressed with Jamie’s mission.

Congratulations also to Betty White, who did take home the Emmy for Guest Actress in a Comedy for “Saturday Night Live” and Neil Patrick Harris, who took home two Emmys—one for Guest Actor in a Comedy for “Glee” and one for hosting the Tonys. Wouldn’t it be cool if he could make it three for three next Sunday?

And a BIG congratulations to my friend, Sean Callery, who won for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series for the series finale of “24.”

You can read the entire list of winners here.

Pick of the Week: The Showdown We've Been Waiting For

The show that has become my summer obsession comes to a close this week, so it has to be my Pick…

My Pick of the Week is the season finale of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”

Here is the description from the official Bravo press release:

“The ladies are back in the Garden State and are determined to get Danielle out of their lives for good. An emotional dinner at Teresa’s leads to a commitment from Caroline and an invitation that Danielle cannot refuse. The showdown that everyone was waiting for finally takes place - Caroline and Danielle face off, but this time there are no books, no family, no distractions and nowhere to run.”

That’s right. A Caroline and Danielle face-off. What could possibly be better?

Now granted, the previews I’ve seen make it look a little staged. But does that matter? The fact that it’s happening is what’s important.

The season finale of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” airs Monday, August 23rd at 10 p.m. on Bravo…

Photo Credit: Virginia Sherwood/Bravo

More From Joshua Harto: "It's a difficult job"

In Tuesday’s “Herald-Dispatch,” you saw my story about Huntington native, Joshua Harto, who co-created the TNT drama, “Memphis Beat,” with his wife, Liz W. Garcia.

But Harto shared more with me about the creation of the show…

As writers and executive producers, Harto and his wife put in long hours to make sure everything goes right. “You’re on set every day, all day long,” Harto said. “You have your hands in everything. It’s a difficult job. The sort that requires a lot of attention to detail.”

But Harto has enjoyed the experience—especially since he gets to share it with his wife. “It’s wonderful. You have to fight a lot of battles to achieve your goals. It’s nice to have somebody on your side,” he said. “I can’t imagine doing this any other way.”

The two met when Harto appeared on an episode of “Cold Case,” where Garcia was a writer. “[‘Beat’] was just an idea we had over dinner one night,” Harto said. “It’s romantic to create something out of nothing together.”

Harto and Garcia really wanted to make a cop show that was more like “Hill Street Blues” and less like “CSI.” “We wanted it to be more about character. And we really wanted a special place to locate it,” Harto said.

That special place turned out to be Memphis. “It’s a city with two faces,” Harto said. “It has a quirky side, but it also has a dark, haunted side. It’s the perfect place to set the show.”

In addition to Jason Lee, the cast boasts Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress, Alfre Woodard. How did Harto get such big names in front of the camera? “We promised the actors that this wouldn’t be a normal cop show. The same thing every week gets boring,” Harto said. “We promised new and exciting things every week. Now we have an obligation to make that the case.”

The season finale of “Memphis Beat” airs Tuesday, August 24th at 10 p.m. on TNT…

Photo Credit: TNT

"Melissa and Joey": Why Can't I Resist?

When a friend of mine read my column in the “Herald-Dispatch” a few weeks back, she had only one comment…

“’Melissa and Joey.’ Do we really need that?”

No, we probably don’t. But I’m glad we’re getting it…

Tonight, “Melissa and Joey,” the new sitcom starting Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence premieres on ABC Family. I don’t know what it is about these two together that I can't resist, but I can't. Yes, the story is familiar. Yes, the comedy can be a little stale. But these two are so adorable, I’m willing to look over all that.

Now if only one of them would destroy that unbelievably annoying laugh track, then it would work even better…

“Melissa and Joey” premieres tonight with back-to-back episodes at 8 p.m. on ABC Family…

The Hoff Takes the Hot Seat

Comedy Central roasts are always wild, but this could very well be the craziest one ever…

This Sunday, Comedy Central will roast David Hasselhoff.

As if that wasn’t wild enough, Seth MacFarlane will serve as the roast master. He’ll be joined by roasters Pamela Anderson, Whitney Cummings, Greg Giraldo, Gilbert Gottfried, George Hamilton, Hulk Hogan, Lisa Lampanelli, Jeffrey Ross and Jerry Springer.

See what I mean about wild?

Just be warned that the language on these things is usually pretty salty…

“The Comedy Central Roast of David Hasselhoff” will air Sunday, August 15th at 10 p.m. on Comedy Central…

Photo Credit: Ian White/Comedy Central

So Who Did America Think Could "Dance"?

Congratulations to Lauren Froderman for winning “So You Think You Can Dance.”

The 18-year-old contemporary jazz dancer from Phoenix won $250,000 and will be featured on the cover of “Dance Spirit” magazine. She will also be the first dancer featured as an athlete in Gatorade print and online ads.

In the official press release, Lauren said, “I cannot even believe how amazing this journey has been! I feel so blessed, and am so grateful to my family, friends and fans. Thank you for believing in me and naming me America’s Favorite Dancer. This is truly a dream come true. Thank you, America, it was an honor dancing for you!”

You guys know I don’t watch “Dance” so I’ll leave it up to you to tell me if this was the right decision or not…

By the way, the “SYTYCD” tour kicks off September 19th in New Orleans…

Photo Credit: Frank Micelotta/FOX

Dora, Dora, Dora, the Explorer!

So in my “Herald-Dispatch” column today, I’m not sure I made it clear that I had actually spoken with the voice of Dora the Explorer, 14-year-old Caitlin Sanchez.

Maybe that’s because I was subconsciously afraid to admit that I giggled like a schoolgirl when she called me by name in her Dora voice…

You can read my interview with Caitlin here.

There’s no doubt that this weekend is a big one for Dora as Saturday marks the 10th anniversary of her first adventure—which, by the way, was getting a baby bluebird home to its mother. Nickelodeon is marking the occasion Sunday by airing “Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure,” an hour-long special (which is already available on DVD), in which Dora and Boots try to find their way out of a magic storybook so they can get home for Dora’s birthday party. But they have to watch out for a witch, played by Rosie Perez. John Leguizamo and Hector Elizondo also guest star.

The special finds a clever way to celebrate Dora’s anniversary by having Dora “remember her friends” to help her get out of the book. That lets us see some of the many friends Dora has met along the way in her 10 years.

After the special, it’s the adorable 12-minute documentary, “Dora: The Girl Heard ‘Round the World” that gives you insight into how “Dora” is made. Especially interesting is the discussion about the long pauses Dora takes. I’ve always wondered if kids really respond to them and the answer is yes, as you’ll see in the documentary.

“Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure” airs Sunday, August 15th at 8 p.m., followed by “Dora: The Girl Heard ‘Round the World” at 9 p.m. on Nickelodeon…

In the meantime, here are some other interesting facts about Dora from the fine folks at Nickelodeon:

The first Spanish word Dora taught was azul, which means blue…

Every episode of “Dora the Explorer” is screened by at least 75 preschoolers before it airs on TV…

Approximately 300 people work on “Dora” and it takes over a year to produce a single episode of the show…

“Dora” can be seen in 151 markets and is heard in 30 languages. Dora teaches Spanish in the U.S., UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland, but teaches English in every other market around the world.

The number three is the show’s “magic number.” According to Chris Gifford, creator and executive producer, “Preschoolers can digest and remember information in threes. There are three locations on the Map, and we say, ‘Swiper, no swiping’ three times”…

Dora’s teaching goes beyond the TV show as parents can go to http://www.dorabeyondthebackpack.com/ for access to resources and learning activities to help their children prepare for school…

Photo Credit: Nickelodeon. Copyright Viacom International. All Rights Reserved.

A Super Bowl-Winning Coach Joins "Survivor"

I thought it was a joke, but it is not…

Jimmy Johnson, the Super Bowl-winning former coach of the Dallas Cowboys, will compete on the newest edition of “Survivor.”

“Survivor: Nicaragua” will feature a contest of old vs. young as one tribe will be made up of people over 40 and the other tribe of people 30 and younger.

Jimmy is a “Survivor” super fan who has tried to do “Survivor” twice before (according to E! Online). And for the record, he is not leaving FOX…

“Survivor: Nicaragua” premieres Wednesday, September 15th at 8 p.m. on CBS…

Photo Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS

Bravo's Big Night

My apologies for running so behind this week and not telling all of you sooner about Bravo’s big night tonight…

At 9, it’s the event we wait all season for on “Top Chef”—Restaurant Wars. The “D.C.” season has been a little blah, but I have a feeling that will all change tonight. Especially since this picture from tonight’s episode shows Alex, Tiffany, Angelo and Ed on a team together. You know that’s going to be interesting—especially since I’m pretty sure that Alex did steal Ed’s pea puree a few weeks back.

“Top Chef” airs tonight at 9…

Then, it’s the season finale of “Work of Art: The Next Great Artist.” This has been a good one for Bravo—a little racy at times, but always entertaining. And tonight, we find out the winner.

Last week the judges completely shocked me by keeping Peregrine and eliminating Nicole, so who knows what they’re going to do for the finale as we see the final collections of Peregrine, Miles and Abdi. I’m totally rooting for Miles because I think he’s cool—even though I don’t really understand his art.

Executive Producer Sarah Jessica Parker will also be on hand to view the final collections…

The season finale of “Work of Art: The Next Great Artist” will air tonight at 10 on Bravo…

Photos Credit: David Giesbrecht/Bravo

"America's" Gets Its Susan Boyle Moment

It’s the clip everyone is talking about…

Last night, “America’s Got Talent” had its very own Susan Boyle moment when 10-year-old opera singer, Jackie Evancho, took the stage.

You can see the moment here.



Even if Jackie doesn’t make the semifinals tonight, she’s already made a name for herself. According to NBC News, she’s been invited to sing at Carnegie Hall.

And you know Simon Cowell is drawing up a contract for her now…

“America’s Got Talent” airs at 9 tonight on NBC…

"Flipping Out" Review: Is Something Missing?

I think you guys know I adore Jeff Lewis. And “Flipping Out” is one of my favorite shows.

But there’s just something missing in the season four premiere. Or maybe I should say someone…

If you’re new to this one, “Out” follows house flipper/designer Jeff Lewis and the crew that is crazy enough to put up with his OCD ways and his constant flip outs over the smallest little things. There’s Jenni, his loyal executive assistant; Sarah and Trace, his design associates; Jett, his house assistant; and Zoila, his long-suffering maid.

In the premiere, Jeff has fully embraced his design business and it is booming as he bounces back and forth from client to client. He spars with Jenni over her mistakes and what Jeff views as a lack of focus. He spars with Sarah over her ditziness. And he spars with Zoila over…well, everything. He even goes so far as to consider cutting his staff to streamline the business.

What’s missing in the premiere is Jeff’s humanity. And that’s because Ryan (Jeff’s former business partner) is nowhere to be found. Fans hoping for some kind of reunion during the offseason after that ugly reunion show argument will be sorely disappointed. And without Ryan to balance Jeff, the show seems to be missing something—something I hope it finds soon.

However, as much as I miss Ryan, I do have to say I still believe he was guilty of what Jeff accused him of and the premiere only helps strengthen that belief.

And as long as we still have Zoila, who even gets her own on-camera confessionals this year, I think the show will be okay…

“Flipping Out” premieres Tuesday, August 10th at 9 p.m. on Bravo…

Photo Credit: Tommy Garcia/Bravo

"Real Housewives of D.C.": Maybe It's Just Not That Exciting

I have to be honest and tell you that I just can’t get excited about “The Real Housewives of D.C.”


Maybe it’s because I watched the premiere over a month ago. Maybe it’s because I’m getting tired of the constant promos and hearing “Are you going to the White House tonight?” “Yes!” every 15 minutes. Maybe it’s because I’ve been watching too much of the New Jersey “Housewives.”

Or maybe it’s just not that exciting…

“D.C.” follows five movers and shakers in the D.C. community—or at least they think they’re movers and shakers. Mary spent summers with the Kennedys and is the granddaughter of radio and TV personality Arthur Godfrey. Stacie is a successful real estate agent. Lynda owns a successful modeling agency. Cat is a British import whose only real claim to fame is that she’s married to a White House photographer.

And then there’s Michaele. She’s the founder (along with her husband) of America’s Polo Cup. But you probably know her better as the White House gatecrasher (also along with her husband).

All “Housewives” shows have a central witch that stirs everything up. For “D.C.” that appears to be Cat, who gets into a ridiculous political discussion with the other ladies that President Bush is a better man than President Obama because Bush RSVPed to her wedding and Obama didn’t. As Stacie says, “Hello! He’s running a country.” And then there’s Cat’s slightly racist comments about hair salons and Tyra Banks. But all of that is more ridiculous than dramatic, or even entertaining.

There’s also the usual cattiness, most of it aimed squarely at Michaele as Lynda questions her credentials as a real D.C. bigwig. In fact, whether the show means to or not, the spotlight is put squarely on Michaele as we wait for the big moment when she puts on her red sari and heads to the White House.

Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait quite a while before we see that moment because it occurred when filming was almost over. But in all honesty, I’m not sure the show can sustain our interest until then…

“The Real Housewives of D.C.” premieres Thursday, August 5th at 9 p.m. on Bravo…

Photo (L-R): Cat, Stacie, Mary, Lynda, and Michaele. Credit: Bravo

Collinsworth on T.O. Signing: "As Bold a Move As I Have Ever Seen the Bengals Make"

Can you believe it’s football season already? Me neither…

This weekend marks the return of NBC Sunday Night Football as my beloved Cincinnati Bengals take on the Dallas Cowboys in the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.

Now granted, this is only preseason, but all eyes are going to be on the Bengals’ newest acquisition, Terrell Owens. So I couldn’t resist finding out what Cris Collinsworth, who will be doing the game with Al Michaels, thought about the move.

And the fine folks at NBC Sports were kind enough to ask him for me…

Here’s what he had to say:

“Sometimes when teams get good they start to look for the final piece of the puzzle and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t…It’s about as bold a move as I have ever seen the Bengals make to try to put together a team that can win a world championship…The fans in Cincinnati were a little stunned when Mike Brown signed Terrell Owens, and they are still celebrating. As much as they are celebrating him as a player, more than that they are cheering the organization for such a bold stroke in making a real effort to try to win a Super Bowl.”

As usual, I totally agree. And I truly hope this one falls in the “sometimes it works” column. For the record, I am withholding judgment until I see T.O. on the field…

“NBC Sunday Night Football” with the Bengals and the Cowboys kicks off Sunday, August 8th at 8 p.m. on NBC…

My Favorite Guilty Pleasure Wraps Up Another Season

The season finale of my favorite guilty pleasure came up on me so quickly I wasn’t prepared.

This has been a very solid season of “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List,” highlighted by Kathy’s crusade against “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and all of the adventures with her beloved mother, Maggie. Even the staged episode with Levi Johnston was a good one.

And then there was last week’s emotional shocker of Kathy’s beloved dog dying, which was really hard to watch.

But tonight it all comes to an end as Kathy takes part in a talent show at her mother’s retirement home. And she’s getting help from Cloris Leachman and Kristin Chenoweth.

The season finale of “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” airs Tuesday, August 3rd at the earlier time of 9 p.m. on Bravo…

Photo Credit: Jaimie Trueblood/Bravo

"The Rachel Zoe Project" Review: Will You Die?

When it comes to Bravo shows, I’ve generally considered “The Rachel Zoe Project” to be the most boring…

We see her and her team picking out outfits for big celebrities. But then when it comes time for the big moment, we only see them drive up to gates because none of the celebrities participate. And you can only watch people fret over FedEx packages so many times.

About the only real drama came from the bad attitude of Taylor, Rachel’s right-hand woman. So when I heard that Taylor was no longer with the company, I figured the show was completely sunk.

But after watching the premiere, I’m thinking I could be wrong…

Sure, there are still some pretty boring things, but at least this time we see the actual celebrity involved. In this case, it’s Demi Moore on a wild photo shoot with a giraffe. But even she can’t make Rachel obsessing over Chanel exciting.

No, the real teeth of the episode comes from none other than Taylor and why she left the company. I don’t want to give what little information we get away, so I’ll just say it’s pretty juicy. And Rachel’s reaction? Even better.

My only concern is that when the Taylor story fades away the show will sink just as I feared. I guess we’ll all need to Stay Tuned to find out…

“The Rachel Zoe Project” premieres August 3rd at 10 p.m. on Bravo…

Photo Credit: Douglas Friedman/Bravo