TV Squad http://www.tvsquad.com TV Squad http://www.tvsquad.com/media/feedlogo.gif TV Squad http://www.tvsquad.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Is Canadian Doctor Who house bigger on the inside?http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/18/is-canadian-doctor-who-house-bigger-on-the-inside/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/18/is-canadian-doctor-who-house-bigger-on-the-inside/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/18/is-canadian-doctor-who-house-bigger-on-the-inside/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A house in Canada ia perfect for Doctor Who fans.If you happen to be house shopping in the Brantford, Ontario area of Canada -- and if you're a British sci-fi fan -- I've found the perfect ivy-covered drive-by cutie for you.

A house listed on Point2Homes.com features some indoor improvement found previously only on the planet Gallifrey. If you take some time to watch the photo montage of the house's interior, you see a Tardis (left) in the living room and a Dalek patrolling the hallways.

Obviously, the current residents are huge Doctor Who fans -- unless most Canadians keep evil robotic killers in their home. I have no idea what the cuddly snow creatures to the north do with their free time -- besides crowding up against the U.S. border for warmth.

A closer inspection of the housing listing doesn't make it clear if the alien artifacts come with the jacuzzi, but I doubt you get the whole package with your down payment. But, if the Tardis is part of the deal, you can travel 30 years into the future when the mortgage is paid already off and move in for free.

 

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]]>DalekDaleksDoctor WhoDoctorWhofor saleFor Sale By OwnerForSaleForSaleByOwnerhousehousing marketHousingMarketTARDISJohn Scott LewinskiWed, 18 Nov 2009 16:08:00 ESTNew Doctor Who DVD features new CG-enhanced episodehttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/18/new-doctor-who-dvd-features-new-cg-enhanced-episode/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/18/new-doctor-who-dvd-features-new-cg-enhanced-episode/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/18/new-doctor-who-dvd-features-new-cg-enhanced-episode/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Doctor Who: Enlightenment features a feature length version of the episode with new effects.Many sci-fi fans wonder what classic Doctor Who might look like if the BBC bosses of the '70s and '80s could have budgeted more than £6 per episode for visual effects.

A new Who DVD set from BBC Video features a specially remastered episode that offers you just that experience.

Doctor Who: "The Black Guardian Trilogy" serves up a trio of 1983 Who episodes featuring Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor in a life and death struggle against a supernatural evil force.

A team of restoration and digital effects artists took the final episode of that trilogy ("Enlightenment" -- a well-written, high-concept adventure featuring a simulated sailing race in deep space) and laid in 21st Century CG visuals.

Continue reading New Doctor Who DVD features new CG-enhanced episode

 

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]]>bbcbbc americaBbcAmericaDoctor WhoDoctorWhodvddvdsenlightenmentPeter DavisonPeterDavisonThe DoctorTheDoctorJohn Scott LewinskiWed, 18 Nov 2009 15:02:00 ESTReview: The Prisoner - Part One: Arrivalhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/15/review-the-prisoner-part-one-arrival/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/15/review-the-prisoner-part-one-arrival/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/15/review-the-prisoner-part-one-arrival/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Prisoner
(E01) I can't help but feel tempted to compare this to the Patrick McGoohan classic from the '60s, but that wouldn't be fair. Attitudes, technologies and even our expectations of TV programming have changed so much in the intervening time. And yet, as an homage to the original, there are many elements to this new AMC mini-series that nod back to the classic paranoia suspense saga.

While The Village has been updated to be a much larger and more vibrant desert oasis (think kitschy Las Vegas) than the original's sleepy seaside villas, it's still as much an enigma, even in this first hour. And while Jim Caviezel doesn't command the role of Number 6 as powerfully as McGoohan, really who could? So I give him a pass, and enjoy him for what he brings, and try not to hear McGoohan's booming defiance when Caviezel shouts: "I am not a number! I am a free man!"

Continue reading Review: The Prisoner - Part One: Arrival

 

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]]>amchayley atwellHayleyAtwellian mckellanIanMckellanitvjames caviezelJamesCaviezeljamie campbell bowerJamieCampbellBowerlennie jamesLennieJamespatrick mcgoohanPatrickMcgoohanruth wilsonRuthWilsonthe prisonerThePrisonerJason HughesSun, 15 Nov 2009 22:00:00 ESTBritish comic claims TV ad ripped him offhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/12/british-comic-claims-tv-ad-ripped-him-off/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/12/british-comic-claims-tv-ad-ripped-him-off/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/12/british-comic-claims-tv-ad-ripped-him-off/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If Mad Men is any indication of what its like to work in the real advertising world, then the writing process alone must cause more migraines than swimming in radioactive sewage.

That's still no excuse for stealing material, if that is in fact the case with this British ad. UK comic Micky Flanagan claims an ad agency stole a joke from his act for a phone service commercial and is a stone's throw away from filing a lawsuit. Punchline Magazine posted videos of the joke and the ad. Is this just a coincidence or is the ad pulling a Carlos Mencia?

First, listen to Flanagan's joke...



And now, watch the ad, which is after the jump.

Continue reading British comic claims TV ad ripped him off

 

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]]>118advertisementadvertisementsbritish televisionbritish TVBritishTelevisionBritishTvcarlos menciaCarlosMenciacommercialsjoke stealingJokeStealingmad menMadMenmicky flanaganMickyFlanaganDanny GallagherThu, 12 Nov 2009 19:02:00 ESTUnderground Toys materializes TV sci-fi swag for the holidayshttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/11/underground-toys-materializes-tv-sci-fi-swag-for-the-holidays/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/11/underground-toys-materializes-tv-sci-fi-swag-for-the-holidays/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/11/underground-toys-materializes-tv-sci-fi-swag-for-the-holidays/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The radio controlled Davros toy is out to conquer Christmas.Do Daleks wear jingle bells? Probably not. But the creator of Doctor Who's deadliest enemies is in stateside toy stores to celebrate the holiday season with the human species he's tried to kill off more than once.

His arrival is very timely when you consider it's November and time for pundits like me to start sending some gift ideas your way.

Since I'm more than comfortable shilling for the geek contingent, the good folks at Underground Toys sent the evil scientist (right) over for a visit. Though he's a bit of a grump -- the 12" high, radio controlled Davros should keep any Who fan entertained. The only question I have is whether he'll end up in the fans of kids or their sci-fi fan parents.

Continue reading Underground Toys materializes TV sci-fi swag for the holidays

 

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]]>ChristmasDalekDaleksDavrosDoctor Whodoctor who toysDoctorWhoDoctorWhoToysgiftgiftstoysundergroundunderground toysUndergroundToysJohn Scott LewinskiWed, 11 Nov 2009 10:03:00 ESTThe voice of Oprah rules over all 'Life' on Earthhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/09/the-voice-of-oprah-rules-over-all-life-on-earth/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/09/the-voice-of-oprah-rules-over-all-life-on-earth/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/09/the-voice-of-oprah-rules-over-all-life-on-earth/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Oprah Winfrey (not the lizard) is narrating BBC's Life.Oprah Winfrey is all over the news these days as she fires up her new network and considers moving her talk show from Chicago to Los Angeles.

Now, we get to listen to her narrate the epic BBC nature series, Life. Subtitled by the BBC with, "The Definitive Exploration of the Adaptability and Diversity of Life on Earth," the eleven-part series examines evolution and the behaviors that animals devised to live, thrive and survive. Discovery Channel is bringing it your way in March after Oprah vocalizes a bit.

I know the BBC has done this sort of thing before. In fact, no one does it better. But this time around, they're using state-of-the-art high-definition filming techniques.

But why is Oprah necessary? I have nothing particularly against the woman. Despite her massive media pull, I manage to more or less steer clear of her estrogen fest. But, the BBC production comes pre-narrated with world-famous naturalist, Sir David Attenborough. Is over-dubbing necessary?

Continue reading The voice of Oprah rules over all 'Life' on Earth

 

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]]>bbclifenatureoprahoprah winfreyOprah Winfrey NetworkOprah Winfrey ShowOprahWinfreyOprahWinfreyNetworkOprahWinfreyShowSir David AttenboroughSirDavidAttenboroughJohn Scott LewinskiMon, 09 Nov 2009 15:01:00 ESTBBC's legendary EastEnders soap goes onlinehttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/08/bbcs-legendary-eastenders-soap-goes-online/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/08/bbcs-legendary-eastenders-soap-goes-online/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/11/08/bbcs-legendary-eastenders-soap-goes-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Eastenders is going online with a new web soap opera.Think of the most popular American daytime soap. Then, multiply that by a factor of 10. That's the ongoing craze known as the BBC's immortal EastEnders. Premiering in 1985, the working-class melodrama remains one of the U.K.'s highest-rated series.

Now, EastEnders is set to kick off its own web spinoff series next year. According to a Beeb press release, the online BBC Vision Multiplatform commissioned EastEnders: E20 to go live in January, 2010.

In addition to taking advantage of TV's online evolution, the web series will help to celebrated the EastEnders 25th anniversary.

Now, the question is if anyone in Hollywood can catch on to moves like these and adapt more successful U.S. shows into big name web series. Shows like 24 tried brief web dalliances, but nothing this ambitious has yet to take flight from American networks.

Continue reading BBC's legendary EastEnders soap goes online

 

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]]>bbcbbc americaBbcAmericaeastendersonlineonline videoOnlineVideosoapsoap operasoap operasSoapOperaSoapOperasweb seriesWebSeriesJohn Scott LewinskiSun, 08 Nov 2009 10:30:00 ESTFinally, a Simon Cowell vote we can all (cough) get behindhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/27/finally-a-simon-cowell-vote-we-can-all-cough-get-behind/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/27/finally-a-simon-cowell-vote-we-can-all-cough-get-behind/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/27/finally-a-simon-cowell-vote-we-can-all-cough-get-behind/#commentsFiled under: , ,

American Idol and Britain's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell might have shown some unfair misgivings about Susan Boyle before she proved her musical worth to the universe, but here's a preconception that even Paula Abdul would support.

Mr. Methane, a familiar guest to fans of The Howard Stern Show, is the world's only (thank Holy Christ) performing flatulist and he took a turn at the mic on Britain's Got Talent. Anyone want to guess if he made it through to the final round? If you guessed wrong, please get out of the gene pool and take a shower immediately.

 

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]]>amanda holdenAmandaHoldenBritains Got TalentBritainsGotTalentflatulanceflatulencemr. methaneMr.Methanemusical flatulenceMusicalFlatulencePiers MorganPiersMorgansimon cowellSimon CowelllSimonCowellSimonCowelllthings you cant unseeThingsYouCantUnseeDanny GallagherTue, 27 Oct 2009 20:35:00 ESTWhat does James May and three million Legos have in common?http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/24/what-does-james-may-and-three-million-legos-have-in-common/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/24/what-does-james-may-and-three-million-legos-have-in-common/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/24/what-does-james-may-and-three-million-legos-have-in-common/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As I scoured Google Images for a picture to accompany my Lego reality show post, pictures of James May's mop-topped mug kept popping up in my browser. What possibly could the Top Gear presenter have in common with the classic kids' toy that has caused a million foot fatalities? If you've ever stepped on one barefoot, especially the one peg bricks, you know how close to death it actually feels.

It turns out he lived in a whole house made out of them for our amusement. The Lego house was one of many projects for James May's Toy Stories, a series of projects designed to show kids that the classic toys of yesteryear can be just as cool as their newfangled video games and iPods.



This particular story does have an unhappy ending. The producers tried to sell the house to the Lego company for one of their theme parks, but the cost of transporting the house was too much. So they had to tear it down.

 

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]]>bbcjames mayjames may lego housejames maysjames mays toy storiesJamesMayJamesMayLegoHouseJamesMaysJamesMaysToyStorieslego houseLegoHouselegostop gearTopGearDanny GallagherSat, 24 Oct 2009 20:25:00 ESTReview: Black Adder Remastered, Fawlty Towers Remasteredhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/21/review-black-adder-remastered-fawlty-towers-remastered/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/21/review-black-adder-remastered-fawlty-towers-remastered/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/21/review-black-adder-remastered-fawlty-towers-remastered/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Black Adder Remastered box setWhen I was a kid, I remember seeing episodes of a couple of strange British shows on my local PBS affiliate in Rochester, NY. I never caught them regularly, not even sure when they aired, but I remember one of them was a peculiar little period piece with some funny gags, and a storyline I never completely grasped.

I learned later this first show was the classic Blackadder series with Rowan Atkinson, and the reason the storylines never made sense from show to show is that there are four seasons of the show, all taking place in a different historical period. I saw them out of order, and mostly caught the first season.

Watching the new Black Adder Remastered - The Ultimate Edition DVD set from BBC America (video and audio both remastered), it's clear the best way to watch Blackadder is to at least watch each series in order. And if you can watch the whole run in order, so much the better. From the first series set in the Dark Ages to the last set in World War I (Blackadder Goes Forth), Atkinson's character, Blackadder, remains a scheming coward. But he changes, too.

Continue reading Review: Black Adder Remastered, Fawlty Towers Remastered

 

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]]>blackadderconnie boothConnieBoothfawlty towersFawltyTowershugh laurieHughLauriejim broadbentJimBroadbentjohn cleeaseJohnCleeasemiranda richardsonMirandaRichardsonrowan atkinsonRowanAtkinsonstephen fryStephenFrytim mcinnernyTimMcinnernytony robinsonTonyRobinsonNick ZainoWed, 21 Oct 2009 15:03:00 ESTA totally irrelevant list of (somewhat) obscure Monty Python sketches I likehttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/16/a-totally-irrelevant-list-of-somewhat-obscure-monty-python-ske/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/16/a-totally-irrelevant-list-of-somewhat-obscure-monty-python-ske/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/16/a-totally-irrelevant-list-of-somewhat-obscure-monty-python-ske/#commentsFiled under: , ,

John Cleese of Monty Python, Live at the Hollywood BowlGiven the level of Python geekery out there, I'm not sure any Monty Python sketch is truly obscure. But there are plenty of gems past the more celebrated Fish-Slapping, Dead Parrot, and Argument Clinic sketches you see most often.

Since the Python reunion was broadcast yesterday, IFC starts "Monty Python Midnights" tonight with The Holy Grail, and starts airing the six-part documentary Monty Python: Almost the Truth: The Lawyer's Cut on Sunday, I thought it would be a good time to toss my own bit of nostalgia on the building heap this week.

I'm sure any list could be nitpicked to death with so much to choose from, but these are a few of my favorite less talked about Python sketches, starting with one from the troupe's great concert film, Live at the Hollywood Bowl.

Continue reading A totally irrelevant list of (somewhat) obscure Monty Python sketches I like

 

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]]>almost the truthAlmostTheTruthifclive at the hollywood bowlLiveAtTheHollywoodBowlmonty pythonmonty pythons flying circusMontyPythonMontyPythonsFlyingCircusthe lawyers cutTheLawyersCutNick ZainoFri, 16 Oct 2009 13:31:00 ESTOriginal anime TV series Astro Boy evolves into movie, gamehttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/14/original-anime-tv-series-astro-boy-evolves-into-movie-game/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/14/original-anime-tv-series-astro-boy-evolves-into-movie-game/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/14/original-anime-tv-series-astro-boy-evolves-into-movie-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Astro Boy posterBefore Speed Racer offered an anime slant to Saturday morning cartoons in the 1970s, and before G-Force or Voltron made kids rush home from school in the 1980s, there was Astro Boy.

Widely considered the original manga comic, Astro Boy was conceived and written by the recognized pioneer of the genre, Osamu Tezuka in 1952.

From the franchise's diminutive launch pad, the endless chain TV anime franchises took flight. Without Tezuka's creation, there's no Lupin III, no Golgo 13, no Ghost in the Machine, no Cowboy Bebop, etc. The strange thing is, some of those TV shows from different eras pack more U.S. pop culture recognition than the franchise that set the table.

Continue reading Original anime TV series Astro Boy evolves into movie, game

 

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]]>astro boyastro boy movie photosastro boy trailerAstroBoyAstroBoyMoviePhotosAstroBoyTrailerosamu tezukaosamu tezulaosamu-tezukaOsamuTezukaOsamuTezulaspeed racerSpeedRacervoltronJohn Scott LewinskiWed, 14 Oct 2009 08:04:00 ESTMonty Python reuniting this weekhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/13/monty-python-reuniting-this-week/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/13/monty-python-reuniting-this-week/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/13/monty-python-reuniting-this-week/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Monty Python's 40th anniversaryThe founding members of one of the most groundbreaking comedy troupes and TV shows of all time are reuniting this week. And you're invited.

Monty Python's 40th anniversary reunion at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City will be broadcast at IFC.com and Pythonline.com. Both sites will host the event at 9 p.m. Eastern.

This latest reunion marks their first appearance together in public since their memorable reunion show at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colo. Watch it or you're no fun anymore.

 

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]]>ifcifc.commonty pythonmonty pythons 40th anniversarymonty pythons flying circusMontyPythonMontyPythons40thAnniversaryMontyPythonsFlyingCircuspythonline.comDanny GallagherTue, 13 Oct 2009 19:34:00 ESTLast Chance to See: When a man loves a parrot on TVhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/13/last-chance-to-see-when-a-man-loves-a-parrot-on-tv/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/13/last-chance-to-see-when-a-man-loves-a-parrot-on-tv/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/13/last-chance-to-see-when-a-man-loves-a-parrot-on-tv/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Kakapo is an endangered parrot featured on BBC2's Last Chance to See.That's a Kakapo over there. It's an endangered species of flightless parrot. We'll get to him in a second. But I wanted to point out that this is, in fact, the first time a Kakapo has appeared at TV Squad.

This year is the 30th anniversary of Douglas Adams' classic TV, radio and book series, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. As part of the celebration, BBC2 TV sent Stephen Fry and zoologist Mark Carwardine off to visit the endangered species Adams searched for in another of his books, Last Chance to See.

Adams documented his growing passion for preserving fading species in the book. And BBC2 sent Fry and Carwardine out into the world to document how those species (like the Kakapo) were fairing.

You'll be able to discover the results when the show crosses the Atlantic in the coming weeks after its U.K. run. But, for now, the TV series spawned one of the web's hottest viral videos.

Continue reading Last Chance to See: When a man loves a parrot on TV

 

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]]>douglas adamsDouglasAdamshitchhikers guide to the galaxyHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxyKakapolaat chance to seeLaatChanceToSeeStephen FryStephenFryThe Hitchhikers Guide to the GalaxyTheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxyJohn Scott LewinskiTue, 13 Oct 2009 19:02:00 ESTHitchhiker's Guide turns 30 todayhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/12/hitchhikers-guide-turns-30-today/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/12/hitchhikers-guide-turns-30-today/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/12/hitchhikers-guide-turns-30-today/#commentsFiled under: ,

One of the Earth's most beloved books and mini-series celebrated a big birthday today.

Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was first published 30 years ago today. The wildly imaginative and funny science-fiction novel spawned four more books, a radio series, a text based video game and a cult classic British mini-series. It also spawned a big budget Hollywood remake that shall not been mentioned again in this post, so there.

In honor of this momentous day for sci-fi humor geekdom, here is the iconic opening of the original BBC mini-series originally aired in 1981. Pour yourself a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster and enjoy.

 

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]]>bbcbbc radioBbcRadiodont panicDontPanicdouglas adamsDouglasAdamsthe hitchhikers guide to the galaxyTheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxyDanny GallagherMon, 12 Oct 2009 20:02:00 ESTTop Gear's Richard Hammond insists those rednecks were the real McCoyshttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/07/top-gears-richard-hammond-insists-those-rednecks-were-the-real/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/07/top-gears-richard-hammond-insists-those-rednecks-were-the-real/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/07/top-gears-richard-hammond-insists-those-rednecks-were-the-real/#commentsFiled under: ,

Richard Hammond's infamous pickup truck on the American Road Trip episode of Top GearEvery Top Gear fan remembers the little excursion that Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond took through the southeastern corridor and the very warm reception they received in rural Alabama.

For those of you who haven't seen that episode or still can't grasp the concept of sarcasm, you can watch the whole thing here. The long and the short of it is the challenge ended at a backwoods gas station where a group of nearby hillbillies attacked their cars and the crew's vans with rocks, sticks and just about anything their beer stained hands could grab without the need of an opposable thumb.

Hammond wrote in his new memoir Or Is That Just Me? that fans constantly ask him if those rednecks were the genuine article or "just made up for the telly." Hammond not only insisted in an excerpt from the book printed in The Times that they were real people, but they also gave him one of the biggest scares of his life.

 

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]]>alabamajames mayJamesMayjeremy clarksonJeremyClarksonman love rules okManLoveRulesOkmemoiror is that just meOrIsThatJustMerednecksrichard hammondRichardHammondtop geartop gear american road tripTopGearTopGearAmericanRoadTripDanny GallagherWed, 07 Oct 2009 20:05:00 ESTWant to smell like Simon Cowell?http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/07/want-to-smell-like-simon-cowell/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/07/want-to-smell-like-simon-cowell/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/07/want-to-smell-like-simon-cowell/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Simon CowellIf you've ever wanted to smell exactly like America's most hated man (please get some kind of psychiatric help immediately), now's your chance.

Simon Cowell, the American Idol and X-Factor judge, will have his own brand of cologne along with the rest of the X-Factor judges, Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole.

A specific release date hasn't been picked, although it's said they will hit the stores by Christmas. It also looks as though they will only be released in the United Kingdom. And America wept.

 

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]]>american idolAmericanIdolcheryl coleCherylColecolognedanniidannii minoguedanniiminoguelouis walshLouisWalshsimon cowellsimon cowelllSimonCowellSimonCowelllx-factorDanny GallagherWed, 07 Oct 2009 11:02:00 ESTHave some Spam in honor of Monty Python's 40th anniversaryhttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/05/have-some-spam-in-honor-of-monty-pythons-40th-anniversary/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/05/have-some-spam-in-honor-of-monty-pythons-40th-anniversary/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/10/05/have-some-spam-in-honor-of-monty-pythons-40th-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Monty Python's 40th anniversaryOne of the world' most quotable and iconic comedy shows made its television debut 40 years ago today.

Monty Python's Flying Circus first appeared on British television on Oct. 5, 1969, a show that branched into four feature length films, launched the careers of six very funny dudes and inspired millions of countless nerds to quote their most famous lines to death (myself included).

I'm sure everyone with a working set of eyes and a television set remembers the first time they saw Monty Python. What's your earliest memory of the show and more importantly, did it include any images of nude ladies?

 

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]]>eric idleEricIdlegraham chapmanGrahamChapmanjohn cleeseJohnCleesemichael palinMichaelPalinmonty pythonmonty python and the holy grailmonty pythons flying circusmonty pythons life of brianMontyPythonMontyPythonAndTheHolyGrailMontyPythonsFlyingCircusMontyPythonsLifeOfBrianterry gilliamterry jonesTerryGilliamTerryJonesDanny GallagherMon, 05 Oct 2009 20:09:00 ESTTop Gear's Jeremy Clarkson: 1950-1988http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/09/30/top-gears-jeremy-clarson-1950-1988/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/09/30/top-gears-jeremy-clarson-1950-1988/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/09/30/top-gears-jeremy-clarson-1950-1988/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Top Gear's Jeremy ClarksonSome tragic news has been discovered in the winding and weaving tunnels of the YouTube archives: Jeremy Clarkson died in 1988.

A British TV program (or is that programme?) about TV called TV Offal (pronounced "awful") broke the sad news that the Top Gear car curmudgeon and TV presenter passed away while filming one of his infamous car reviews. The show reported that Clarkson died in a car accident due to driver inattention. Just think, if the accident had happened now, his blimp-like ego could have acted as an impromptu airbag and saved his life.

The show's faux-obituary paid a not-so-loving tribute to the car show star by remembering his extremely mixed metaphors, teenage testosterone fueled attitude and inability to let the 1970's go. TV Squad would like to offer our deepest condolences to his family members who existed more than 20 years ago.

 

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]]>jeremy clarksonJeremyClarksontop gearTopGeartv offalTvOffalDanny GallagherWed, 30 Sep 2009 19:28:00 ESTBritish game show The Cube is far from squarehttp://www.tvsquad.com/2009/09/15/british-game-show-the-cube-is-far-from-square/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/09/15/british-game-show-the-cube-is-far-from-square/http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/09/15/british-game-show-the-cube-is-far-from-square/#commentsFiled under: ,

ITV's The Cube
Normally I wouldn't do a post about a show that's hard for us Yanks to see, but this game show addition to the Brit's ITV Network merits special attention because it shows just how far ahead of the curve they are when it comes to kicking our asses on television.

The Cube sounds like an ordinary, run-of-the-mill challenge game show, designed to humiliate people on national television by making them look stupid for not being able to complete menial tasks for cash and/or prizes. That's because on the surface, it looks like every single game show you've ever seen since executives realized that crushing the human spirit on live television would score them lets of cash and/or prizes.

But when you watch an entire episode, its stylish look and dark feeling matched with the complexity of the game's concept make for an hour of television that sucks you in and never lets you go for a second. Compare that to just about every recent American game show that pushes you away and makes you run as far as you can from your TV set.

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]]>game showGameShowitvitv hdItvHdphillip schofieldPhillipSchofieldthe bodythe cubeTheBodyTheCubeDanny GallagherTue, 15 Sep 2009 11:02:00 EST