tag:www.coffeerooms.com,2010-08-09:/ontv//15 2011-05-09T18:19:37Z Everything on TV, scripted shows, reality programs, we're trying to keep up with the new and the old, the good and the bad Movable Type Pro 4.34-en tag:www.coffeerooms.com,2011:/ontv//15.3712 2011-05-09T17:13:27Z 2011-05-09T18:19:37Z

On Hallmark Channel tonight, "Goodnight for Justice" starring Luke Perry and Lara Gilchrist, directed by Jason Priestly. What makes "Goodnight for Justice" worth a peek down the old gunsight is Perry's convincing everyman portrayal. Goodnight's excessive imbibing, chasing "floozies" and waxing cynical about lawyers is comedic and lovable, but by the same token he's got an off-the-scale sense of justice that makes his character heroic and admirable.

Annie Reviewed for Coffeerooms by Mike Jefferson

Worn down by booze and haunted by the murder of his parents, Judge John Goodnight (a surprisingly solid Luke Perry) is sent to an untamed territory in Wyoming by his influential stepmother, who recognizes his need for a lifestyle change. A stickler for the law with a dislike for lawyers, Goodnight dispenses frontier justice, traveling solo from one primitive manure-spattered town to the next. Along the way, he encounters Kate Ramsey, who's being accosted by two Neanderthal highwaymen with bad teeth. With a burst of lead, Goodnight says goodbye to the bad men. (By the looks of these two negative I.Q. throwbacks it's likely they would have shot themselves anyway.) A grateful and talkative Kate strikes up a friendship with Goodnight as they make their way to the town of Crooked Stick - and Goodnight's destiny.

There's nothing new here. If you've ever seen an episode of "Bonanza" or western movie classics like "High Noon" or "The Unforgiven" then you'll quickly recognize "Goodnight for Justice" as the story of a man with morals who has everything he owns in two saddlebags verses a villain with no morals and unlimited resources. What makes "Goodnight for Justice" worth a peek down the old gunsight is Luke Perry's convincing everyman portrayal. Goodnight's excessive imbibing, chasing "floozies" and waxing cynical about lawyers is comedic and lovable, but by the same token he's got an off-the-scale sense of justice that makes his character heroic and admirable.

At the core of "Goodnight for Justice" is John Justice's quest for vengeance. Twenty years ago, a wagon carrying him, his father, mother, paragon of justice judge Shaw and his wife Rebecca was ambushed. Everyone but John and Rebecca was killed by a man who was shot in the leg by his father. In a show of old west machismo, the killer spotted John hiding in the brush but allowed him to live. Now, as circuit judge for an area that includes Crooked Stick, John runs afoul of Dan Reed, a land baron who ruthlessly rules the town by dispensing his own brand of the law - and Reed happens to walk with a distinct limp.

When Goodnight rules that a band of Indians that crossed Reed's land (and were beaten and imprisoned for thirty days for doing it) are innocent, Reed promises the judge he'll never leave town alive, setting up the inevitable clash between good and evil.

Every oater needs a dimpled damsel in distress who bats her eyes and that thankless role falls to Lara Gilchrist, who plays talkative Kate Ramsey. Although Ramsey's Kate finds herself in a stereotypical position - kidnapped in order to get Goodnight to release Reed from jail - she's also given better moments that define her, such as showing spunky defiance of Reed as an advocate for the Indians or her playful I-know-what-I-want-and-how-to-get-it pursuit of Goodnight. Gilchrist is a lively, lovely trooper in the tradition of tough but humorous and lady-like pioneer women played by Virginia Mayo or Barbara Stanwyck.

Winston Rekert's long pursued Frank LeGrange babbles like a western version of "Apocalypse Now's" Colonel Kurtz. His erudite dialogue is incongruous with his character's kill-for-fun legacy, even if he's had twenty years to get some schoolin'. The main villain, Dan Reed, is a generic megalomaniac who believes he can do as he pleases because he owns most of the town. In a lesser actors hands, Dan Reed would be a stereotypical, moustache-twirling Porterhouse shoveling threat to society, but through his steely, menacing expressions and intimidating attitude Ron Lea gives Reed's single mindedness a believable edge.   

"Goodnight for Justice" was made for TV, specifically The Hallmark Channel, so there's no corsets getting popped or bad guys getting popped in the head. There's very little bloodletting, (looks like they used the same bottle of ketchup for the entire length of the movie) so you can sit there with your eight-year old son or daughter without fear of nudity, gore or unnecessary F-bombs.

There are welcome moments of comedy (some a little forced) such as Judge Goodnight presiding over a case to decide whether a reed-thin husband or one ton wife has bathtub rights; but the script is balanced by the scurrilous case of a smug Klu Klux Klan member getting away with murder because of a lack of evidence. (But don't worry, kids. Goodnight manages to exact a measure of non-legal justice for the lynched victim.)

Good Extras

"Goodnight for Justice" extras include interviews with stars Luke Perry, Lara Gilchrist and director Jason Priestley, who waxes sentimentally about his long-time friendship with Perry: "Luke and I have great shorthand." Priestly also points out that "Goodnight for Justice" was shot on the set of "Bordertown," a gritty Canadian western TV series that ran from 1989-91.

Gilchrist is bubby and charming, happy to be there, although slightly taken aback by the weight of her costumes: "Wearing a corset is insane." Perry, who developed the project, get the most screen time, commenting on the cast's diversity and Reed's unwavering hatred of the Indians. Perry also gives his take on the uncomfortable period costumes.

"Goodnight for Justice" isn't an instant classic western like "Tombstone." It's more like one of the westerns that starred Randolph Scott, a capable, tall-in-the-saddle stoic hero, whose films didn't warrant Oscars but were still entertaining. If you put "Justice" in your DVD player, you can sit back and relax, 'cause you'll be in for a pretty good night of viewin', pardner.
]]> tag:www.coffeerooms.com,2010:/ontv//15.3416 2010-11-18T17:58:39Z 2010-11-18T22:07:30Z

Jimmy/Neil Young doing a soulful rendition of "Whip My Hair" with a little help from The Boss. Jimmy Has become must DVR at the least. Priceless.

Annie ]]> tag:www.coffeerooms.com,2010:/ontv//15.3417 2010-11-18T15:34:28Z 2010-11-18T18:56:21Z

In A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Snoopy and Woodstock prepare toast and popcorn for their holiday dinner. As time runs low and work piles up, I may use this as the template for us next week. And it's Red John episode on Mentalist tonight.

Annie In A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Snoopy and Woodstock prepare toast and popcorn for their holiday dinner. As time runs low and work piles up, I may use this as the template for us next week. And it's Red John episode on Mentalist tonight.

8:00 PM
ABC - A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
CBS - The Big Bang Theory
FOX - Bones
NBC -  Community
CW - Vampire Diaries (Repeat)
ESPN - College Football: UCLA at Washington (New time slot)

8:30 PM
CBS - S#*! My Dad Says
NBC - 30 Rock


9:00 PM
ABC - Grey's Anatomy
CBS - CSI
FOX - Fringe
NBC - The Office
Bravo - Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (repeat)
Lifetime - The Fairy Jobmother
The CW - Nikita (Repeat)

9:30 PM
NBC -   Outsourced

10:00 PM
ABC - Private Practice
CBS - The Mentalist
NBC - The Apprentice
Bravo - Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Discovery - Ghost Lab
FX - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
MTV - Pranked
SyFy - Fact or Faked
USA - Burn Notice
]]> tag:www.coffeerooms.com,2010:/ontv//15.3413 2010-11-17T19:30:12Z 2010-11-17T22:05:01Z

Spoiler alert - Ryan Reynolds is People Magazine's sexiest man of the year. Now that you know, you'll be free to watch "Terriers" at 10. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.

Annie Spoiler alert - Ryan Reynolds is People Magazine's sexiest man  of the year. Now that you know, you'll be free to watch "Terriers" at 10. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.

PS - If you are voting for Bristol Palin on DWtS, please stop. You've had your fun, now let someone who can actually dance win the big prize.

8:00 PM
ABC - The Middle
CBS - Survivor
FOX - Human Target Season 2 Premiere
NBC - Undercovers
CW - America's Next Top Model
 
8:30 PM
ABC - Better With You

9:00 PM
ABC - Modern Family
CBS - Criminal Minds
NBC - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
PBS - Circus (Series Finale)
CW - Hellcats
BBCA - I'll Do Anything
Syfy - Ghost Hunters
Showtime - Inside The NFL

9:31 PM
ABC - Cougar Town

10:00 PM
ABC - Special - 25 Years of Sexy: People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive
CBS - Defenders
NBC - Law & Order: Los Angeles
BRAVO - Top Chef Just Dessert
FX - Terriers
Travel - Food Wars
Showtime - Inside NASCAR
TLC - Tons of Love
USA - Psych
]]> tag:www.coffeerooms.com,2010:/ontv//15.3379 2010-11-16T17:28:04Z 2010-11-16T18:36:28Z

Gwyneth Paltrow guests on "Glee" tonight, playing substitute Holly Holliday while Mr. Shue is ill. I'm pretty sure everyone has heard that she'll be singing, too. Meanwhile, Bristol P is on the bottom on DWtS, but will the audience vote to keep her around again?

Annie Guest stars for tonight include Gwyneth Paltrow as a substitute teacher  on Glee and Miranda Cosgrove as a pop star accused of murder on The Good Wife.

8:00 PM
ABC - No Ordinary Family
CBS - NCIS
FOX - Glee
NBC - The Biggest Loser
PBS - Nova: Secrets of Stonehenge
CW - One Tree Hill

9:00 PM
ABC - Dancing With the Stars
CBS - NCIS: Los Angeles
FOX - Raising Hope 
HBO - In Treatment: Jesse
PBS - Frontline: Law & Disorder (Repeat)
CW - Life Unexpected
BRAVO - Millionaire Matchmaker
DISCOVERY - Dirty Jobs
SYFY - Stargate Universe
TLC - 19 Kids & Counting 

9:30 PM
FOX - Running Wilde
HBO - In Treatment: Adele
IFC - 360 Sessions: Jay Sean

10:00 PM
ABC - Detroit 187
CBS - The Good Wife
NBC - Parenthood
PBS - Independent Lens: Lost Sparrow
BRAVO - Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection
FX - Sons of Anarchy
DISCOVERY - Auction Kings
OXYGEN - Running Russel Simmons
TLC - The Little Couple]]> tag:www.coffeerooms.com,2010:/ontv//15.3378 2010-11-15T13:54:19Z 2010-11-15T16:21:30Z

More guest stars than you can shake a stick at tonight; Nicole Scherzinger, Rob Riggle, Richard Chamberlain, Summer Glau, Hal Holbrook, Lyle Lovett, Lance Henricksen and Amber Tamblyn. What will America be watching? Probably the 90-minute semi-finals of Dancing With the Stars. Will Bristol make it to the final three?

Annie Week 3 of Sweeps piles on more guest stars. Tonight, Robin Sparkles is back on "HIMYM", with her former costar, Jessica Glitter (Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger). Rob Riggle, Richard Chamberlain and Summer Glau are on "Chuck". Hal Holbrook is on "The Event". "Castle" has Lyle Lovett and Lance Henricksen And Amber Tamblyn continues her arc on "House".

8:00 PM
ABC - Dancing With The Stars
CBS - How I Met Your Mother
Fox - House
NBC - Chuck
CW - 90210
Cartoon - Adventure Time With Finn And Jake


8:30 PM
CBS - Rules Of Engagement
ESPN - Monday Night Football: Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins

9:00 PM
CBS - Two And A Half Men
Fox - Lie to Me
NBC - The Event
CW - Gossip Girl
HBO - In Treatment: Sunil
BBCA - Top Gear
Bravo - Real Housewives of Atlanta
Food - The Best Thing I Ever Ate
ID - Hardcover Mysteries: Linda Fairstein
TLC - Cake Boss

9:30 PM
CBS - Mike & Molly
HBO - In Treatment: Francis

10:00 PM
ABC - Castle
CBS - Hawaii Five-0
NBC - Chase
A&E - Hoarders
History - Pawn Stars
MTV - The World Of Jenks
NatGeo - Strike Force
Showtime - Weeds (Season Finale)

10:30 PM
Showtime - The Big C (Season Finale)]]> tag:www.coffeerooms.com,2010:/ontv//15.3377 2010-11-09T17:31:49Z 2010-11-09T17:54:05Z

Decisions, decisions... TV is getting really crowded with sweeps "inspiring" the programming. Tuesdays at 10 are impossible. The Good Wife is great TV and tonight, Michael J. Fox guests. But I love Detroit 187 and its ratings aren't that great. Plus everyone tells me I should try Parenthood. And Sons of Anarchy. To finish it all off, guilty pleasure Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection premieres... at 10... with Iman.

Annie "Nova" goes to the dogs tonight with "Dogs Decoded". How smart are they and what makes them such good companions? "Glee" has special guests John Stamos and Barry Bostwick and a show about controlling one's urges. Michael J Fox goes up against Alicia on "The Good Wife". The 10 o'clock hour is officially impossible. Can't you programmers spread the wealth around a little?

8:00 PM
ABC - No Ordinary Family
CBS - NCIS
FOX - Glee
NBC - The Biggest Loser
PBS - Nova: Dogs Decoded
CW - One Tree Hill

9:00 PM
ABC - Dancing With the Stars
CBS - NCIS: Los Angeles
FOX - Raising Hope 
HBO - In Treatment: Jesse
PBS - Frontline: The Spill
CW - Life Unexpected
IFC - 360 Sessions: Editors
BRAVO - Millionaire Matchmaker
DISCOVERY - Dirty Jobs
SYFY - Stargate Universe
TLC - 19 Kids & Counting 

9:30 PM
FOX - Running Wilde
HBO - In Treatment: Adele

10:00 PM
ABC - Detroit 187
CBS - The Good Wife
NBC - Parenthood
PBS - Independent Lens: Art & Copy
BRAVO - Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection
FX - Sons of Anarchy
DISCOVERY - The Colony
OXYGEN - House of Glam
TLC - The Little Couple
]]> tag:www.coffeerooms.com,2010:/ontv//15.3374 2010-11-08T19:00:19Z 2010-11-08T19:12:49Z

Finally! He's back tonight at 11 PM on TBS. It's Conan. And Andy. Together again. Will the show be different? Better? Guests this week include Seth Rogan, Jack White and Jon Hamm (on Wednesday)

Annie TBS, tonight at 11 PM.
After almost 10 months of darkness, Conan O'Brien returns to late night TV with his longtime sidekick, Andy Richter, and Jimmy Vivino leading The Basic Cable Band. Seth Rogen and Lea Michele are among the first guests. Jack White performs. ]]> tag:www.coffeerooms.com,2010:/ontv//15.3376 2010-11-08T15:36:51Z 2010-11-08T19:39:01Z

Most fans were hoping for at least one more year, but fearing the end of the show, NBC announced on Monday that it is renewing its daytime soap, "Days of Our Lives," for two more years.

Annie Ken Corday, executive producer of "Days of Our Lives", got the call last Friday and said he broke down in tears. The call was from Jeff Zucker, congratulations Corday on getting a new contract with NBC that goes to September 2013, with an option for another year if the show maintains its popularity. ]]> tag:www.coffeerooms.com,2010:/ontv//15.3368 2010-11-04T17:31:47Z 2010-11-08T04:29:22Z

"The Fairy Jobmother" starts tonight on Lifetime. I'm guessing there will be happy endings for the couples shown, so maybe the secret to a job hunt if to have a film crew at all of your interviews. "Fringe" and "Bones" are back, now that baseball is over.

Annie "The Fairy Jobmother" is a new show on Lifetime, taking over the Project Runway slot starting tonight. Hayley Taylor is an ex-hairdresser turned job coach, but is really more of a life coach. While telling  an unemployed couple how to find work, she adds in how to keep house & raise kids while helping them with interview outfits. Lots of other options tonight, including the return of "Fringe" if you'd rather forget about the unemployment rate for the evening.


8:00 PM
ABC - Grey's Anatomy (repeat of last week's episode)
CBS - The Big Bang Theory
FOX - Bones
NBC -  Community
CW - Vampire Diaries

8:30 PM
CBS - S#*! My Dad Says
NBC - 30 Rock


9:00 PM
ABC - Grey's Anatomy
CBS - CSI
FOX - Fringe
NBC - The Office
Bravo - Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (repeat)
Lifetime - The Fairy Jobmother
The CW - Nikita

9:30 PM
NBC -   Outsourced

10:00 PM
ABC - Private Practice
CBS - The Mentalist
NBC - The Apprentice
Bravo - Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Discovery - Ghost Lab
FX - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
MTV - Pranked (Season 3 Premiere)
SyFy - Fact or Faked]]> tag:www.coffeerooms.com,2010:/ontv//15.3365 2010-11-03T14:38:19Z 2010-11-03T15:05:26Z

ABC has dropped "The Whole Truth" from the schedule until December. Which really means they think their sweeps ratings have a better chance with specials about celebrity plastic surgery and 25 years of sexy from People Magazine. Tonight, its "All Access Nashville".

Annie Have you been watching "The Whole Truth"? ABC has pulled it from the schedule for sweeps, but it will be back in December. It's hanging by a thread, as is Terriers, which is sad because it's a lot of fun in a Veronica Mars/Rockford Files sort of way. Donal Logue alone is worth the hour of your time, but he's surrounded with other good actors and some great writing.  Please give it a try tonight at 10 on FX.

8:00 PM
ABC - The Middle
CBS - Survivor
FOX - Hell's Kitchen (repeat)
NBC - Undercovers
CW - America's Next Top Model
 
8:30 PM
ABC - Better With You

9:00 PM
ABC - Modern Family
CBS - Criminal Minds
NBC - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Repeat)
CW - Hellcats
BBCA - I'll Do Anything
Syfy - Ghost Hunters
Showtime - Inside The NFL

9:31 PM
ABC - Cougar Town

10:00 PM
ABC - Special - All Access Nashville with Robin Roberts
CBS - Defenders
NBC - Law & Order: Los Angeles
BRAVO - Top Chef Just Dessert
FX - Terriers
Travel - Food Wars
Showtime - Inside NASCAR
TLC - LA Ink
TV Land - Harry Loves Lisa
]]> tag:www.coffeerooms.com,2010:/ontv//15.3363 2010-11-01T14:18:29Z 2010-11-01T17:05:48Z

"Unfortunately, despite its obvious quality, 'Caprica' has not been able to build the audience necessary to justify a second season." SyFy cancels Caprica but green-lights "Blood and Chrome", a different sort of BSG prequel.

Annie From the SyFy press release:

The remaining first run episodes of "Caprica" -- airing Tuesdays at 10/9c -- will be removed from the schedule as of next Tuesday, November 2. These final five episodes of the season will be re-scheduled to air at a to-be-announced time in the first quarter of 2011, and will conclude the run of the series.

So, the show is stopped dead for now, will come back some time in 2011 with the 5 remaining episodes and leave us with a cliff hanger that will never be resolved. Meanwhile, SyFy has green-lit anther "Battlestar Galactica" prequel, this time with more action, called "Blood and Chrome"
]]> tag:www.coffeerooms.com,2010:/ontv//15.3362 2010-11-01T12:04:12Z 2010-11-01T12:57:01Z

Wreck Chasers: Tow Truck Battles. Yes, this is a real show that premieres tonight, not one that Jack Donaghy created on "30 Rock". My guess is that most viewers will stick with "Dancing with the Stars", the show that is by far the most watched (except for football) this season...

Annie We will watch anything; tonight, Discovery premieres its new show, Wreck Chasers. From the press release: "Philadelphia is the only city in the United States that allows 'wreck chasing,' a multi-million dollar business in which tow truck drivers compete to claim wrecks and collect cash." I think I'll stick with Chuck.

8:00 PM
ABC - Dancing With The Stars
CBS - How I Met Your Mother
Fox - World Series Game 5 Giants/Rangers
NBC - Chuck
CW - 90210
Cartoon - Adventure Time With Finn And Jake
DSC - Wreck Chasers: Tow Truck Battles (Series Premiere)
Style - Giuliana & Bill

8:30 PM
CBS - Rules Of Engagement
ESPN - Monday Night Football: Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts

9:00 PM
CBS - Two And A Half Men
NBC - SNL Special: The Women of SNL (2 hour special)
CW - Gossip Girl
HBO - In Treatment: Sunil
BBCA - Top Gear
Bravo - Real Housewives of Atlanta
Food - The Best Thing I Ever Ate
ID - Hardcover Mysteries: Linda Fairstein
TLC - Cake Boss

9:30 PM
CBS - Mike & Molly
HBO - In Treatment: Francis

10:00 PM
ABC - Castle
CBS - Hawaii Five-0
A&E - Hoarders
History - Pawn Stars
MTV - The World Of Jenks
NatGeo - Man-made Disasters (Special)
Showtime - Weeds

10:30 PM
Showtime - The Big C

]]> tag:www.coffeerooms.com,2010:/ontv//15.3360 2010-10-28T14:29:13Z 2010-10-28T15:50:17Z

Game 2 of the World Series tonight, plus It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and Scared Shrekless. "No Bones", "Fringe" or "30 Rock". I'll be glued to the Project: Runway finale. Mondo, Mondo, Mondo!

Annie Project: Runway ends tonight with a 2 hour episode. Will it be Mondo, Gretchen or Andy? I'm such a Mondo fan that I can't imagine anyone else winning. Ever since he used GIANT hounds-tooth with stripes and made me fall in love with the results, I haven't had any doubt about who deserve the win. GO, Mondo!

7:30 Fox - World Series Game 2 Rangers at Giants

8:00 PM
ABC -  It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
CBS -  The Big Bang Theory
NBC -  Scared Shrekless

8:30 PM
CBS -   S#*! My Dad Says
NBC -   Community (special time)


9:00 PM
ABC -   Grey's Anatomy
CBS -   CSI
NBC -   The Office

Bravo - Real Housewives of DC
Lifetime - Project: Runway- 2 hour Finale
The CW - Nikita

9:30 PM
NBC -   Outsourced

10:00 PM
ABC -   Private Practice
CBS -   The Mentalist
NBC -   The Apprentice
Discovery - Ghost Lab- Lizzie Borden
FX - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
History - Stan Lee's Superhumans
MTV - Jersey Shore- Reunion Special
SyFy - Fact or Faked (Season 2 Premiere)
]]> tag:www.coffeerooms.com,2010:/ontv//15.3359 2010-10-27T12:53:53Z 2010-10-27T14:01:09Z

Game 1 of the World Series is tonight, Rangers at Giants. Not your cup of tea? Then how about a new series on BBCA that has hundreds of hopeful actors competing for the lead roles in "Oliver!"? It's called "I'd Do Anything"...

Annie The World Series begins tonight. Texas Rangers at San Francisco Giants. What this means to your TiVo is reruns. Fox will be showing the games and it looks like NBC won't be trying to compete. BBCA has the premiere of "I'd Do Anything", described as hundreds of aspiring stage actors attending open casting calls in London for the lead roles in Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End revival of "Oliver!". Sounds like lots of singing, dancing and heartbreak... and Food, glorious food...

7:30 PM
Fox - Baseball World Series - Game 1

8:00 PM
ABC - The Middle
CBS - Survivor
NBC - Undercovers
CW - America's Next Top Model
 
8:30 PM
ABC - Better With You

9:00 PM
ABC - Modern Family
CBS - Criminal Minds
NBC - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Repeat)
CW - Hellcats
BBCA - I'll Do Anything
Syfy - Ghost Hunters
Showtime - Inside The NFL

9:31 PM
ABC - Cougar Town

10:00 PM
ABC - The Whole Truth
CBS - Defenders
NBC - Law & Order: Los Angeles (Repeat)

BRAVO - Top Chef Just Dessert
Style - Clean House
Travel - Food Wars
Showtime - Inside NASCAR
TLC - LA Ink
TV Land - She's Got The Look
FX - Terriers
Bravo - Top Chef Just Desserts]]>