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ABC’s New Friday Night Line-up Hopes to Recapture its TGIF Ratings

          

Back in the 1950’s up until the 1980’s, Friday night was THE night for television. ABC aired shows like “The Brady Bunch”, “The Flintstones”, and “Leave It To Beaver”, all which are now considered classics in their own right. Then, the 80’s came. All networks had trouble getting shows to pull in a large amount of viewers on a night that had become synonymous with social activity and being outside the house. ABC needed something to make them stand out.

So, in the late 80’s, the ABC team (specifically Jim Janicek) created a family friendly comedy block on Friday nights. Usually consisting of 4 half-hour sitcoms, these shows encouraged families to sit around the TV and relax after a long work/school week. During the 1989-1990 season, they started officially branding it as TGIF.

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TRON Uprising Art

If you find yourself at San Diego Comic-Con this year be sure to check out the amazing TRON Uprising art of artist Albeto Mielgo. He’ll be signing it with character designer Rob Valley. More beautiful TRON art on Mielgo’s blog.

ABC’s The Glass House – New Twist on Reality TV for Disney

One of my favorite novels by science fiction author Charlie Stross is “GlassHouse.” The concept is that participants volunteer to live an experiment where the rules reward certain behavior and punish others. Stross takes it to new levels that deal with the very concepts of… Read More »ABC’s The Glass House – New Twist on Reality TV for Disney

Revenge: The Season Finale (Reckoning)

I think I’ve mentioned this before but my husband measures how much I enjoyed an episode of Revenge by the amount of yelling I do from the other room. Not surprising, I let out quite a few shrieks and non-publishable phrases during this week’s season finale.

So I decided to divide this episode into moments that provided the biggest “whoa” factor for me.

1. Emily and Daniel broke off their engagement. That’s right, she gave the ring back. In the middle of the season I was pretty sure Emily was surprised that she actually had feelings for a Grayson. But then he was accused of murder, got the crap beat out of him in jail, found out about his dad’s secret doings and decided he needs to carry on the Grayson name. Daniel certainly changed his tune over a season from wanting nothing to do with his family to becoming the epitome of a Grayson. It makes me hate him. (I’m still holding out hope that he’s concocting his own revenge plan.) When Ashley lets it slip that something happened between Jack and Emily, Emily doesn’t even try to cover it up when Daniel asks her about it. She tells him he’s changed, they both have, and she hands back the ring.

Victoria’s reaction: “I knew your future with Daniel was as empty as that box. Best of luck with your new endeavor.”

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Disney to Develop Golden Oak Ranch into High Tech Studio

Ever since filming a few episodes of Spin and Marty back in the day, the Walt Disney Company has worked on a piece of property, once a cattle ranch, and now known as the Golden Oak Ranch out near the Santa Clarita Valley. If you’ve… Read More »Disney to Develop Golden Oak Ranch into High Tech Studio

Duets – Can it Capture American Idol Audience?

Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles and Robin Thicke

Duets with Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles and Robin Thicke

The television ratings juggernaut that is “American Idol” ends tonight. ABC is hoping its new music series, “Duets,” can capture some of that magic with a one-of-a-kind singing competition that kicks off on Thursday night. Hosted by Quddus (who?) and staring four of the music music industry’s biggest stars — Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles and Robin Thicke – the show looks to fall somewhere between “The Voice” and idol..

Clarkson, Legend, Nettles and Thicke will set out on individual journeys across America looking for undiscovered talent worthy of being their duet partners, ultimately each choosing two singers as partners. Together Superstars and partners take the stage each week and perform in front of a live studio audience. In the end, only one duet will be at the top of the charts, and the winning partner will receive a recording contract with Hollywood Records.

I’ll admit I’m intrigued, although I’m not sure how the format will work. I like that Kelly Clarkson and John Legend are participating. That lends some credibility. Not so sure about the Dance Fever thing in the background of the photos. Will you be watching?

Duets premiers on ABC Thursday May 24th at 8PM ET/PT.

A video preview is below the jump:

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Revenge: Grief

My Revenge viewing buddy described this week’s episode as: “omg omg omg holy sh*t”.

After finally catching the episode on Thursday, I can only agree.

Unlike last week’s yawner, this episode started with a crying Emily digging a grave. Since this show is nothing like it seems, we could only guess who the grave was for.

Operation White Haired Guy is in full swing and Emily and Daniel’s wedding has now turned into a full-blown publicity stunt ala Ashley’s “brilliant” brainstorms.

It’s no surprise Emily is more into uncovering the whereabouts of this white-haired man (WHM) than discussing table linens and the most minute details of the next “royal wedding”. (Oh, I wish I made that up. Ashley called it that, quick to remind Emily that Daniel is the royalty.)

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ABC New Fall Series Preview – Nashville

ABC had a few misses with its most recent batch of fall series (PanAm, The River). I remember being excited about both of those shows last year this time, alas they failed to live up to their promise. As I continue to look at the… Read More »ABC New Fall Series Preview – Nashville