Sit Ubu, Sit … Good Pajiba
The Daily Trade Round-Up / The TV Whore
May 7, 2008
Trade News | May 7, 2008 | Comments (81)
Well thank the Gods! CBS finally has a host for the upcoming “Greatest American Dog.” He’s some zoologist named Jarod Miller. For those who don’t recall, this fine show will feature dog owners — and their dogs, naturally — living together and competing against each other in dog-training type events. It premieres on July 10, one glorious day before my birthday. It’s only taken me 32 years to finally get a truly worthy birthday gift!
I never saw “Everwood,” so I can’t speak to this being a good thing, a bad thing, or just a thing, but Tom Amandes (who played some sort of doctor on that show, I gather) has signed on for an ABC pilot. “This Might Hurt” is about a doctor (way to stretch yourself, Tom) running a practice with his son. The pilot also stars Missi Pyle, playing a man-hating OB-GYN. It’s too early to tell whether the show will live up to its title, but given the crap that’s been spewing forth from the networks these days, the odds are decidedly in favor of this show, in fact, hurting.
Showtime apparently digs its latest little show, “Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union.” While the show’s first run is still going on, the network has already ordered up seven more episodes to air next year. I must confess that I fell asleep halfway through the first episode, which wound up putting the show squarely in my “ain’t watching it” pile, but I’ve heard that there is enough funny in any given episode to make it worthwhile. Plus, it’s Tracey Ullman, and TV is ever-so-slightly better just for her being on it … although I think any goodness created by that will be squarely canceled out by “Greatest American Dog.”
Good news/meh news on some movie actresses heading into TV pilots. On the good news side, Catherine O’Hara is quite possibly going to join Rob Thomas’ “Good Behaviour” the sounds-kinda-like “The Riches” story of a criminal family going straight when Papa Criminal goes to the clink. O’Hara can certainly bring the funny, and Thomas can certainly write some snark, so this could be a great pairing if it pans out. Meanwhile, the meh news involves Andie MacDowell joining ABC’s “Prince of Motor City.” Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve never been a fan of MacDowell. She’s not a bad actress, per se, but there’s something about her that just bugs the hell out of me. Not that I can’t get over her presence — Groundhog Day and Short Cuts are two favorites — but I’d rather not have to try to get past her at all, if you know what I mean. In the show, a “Hamlet-inspired drama set in the auto industry,” MacDowell will be playing the mother of a recent Harvard grad who’s coming home to run his family’s business. Which means that her character is, presumably, married to his uncle. And unless that uncle managed to kill her original hubby by perfecting the perfect murder after reliving the same day for years upon years, I’m not sure I’m all that interested.
I watched a few episodes of ABC’s “Men in Trees” and thought it was cute enough for what it was. So I imagine it has at least some fans, and I’m sorry to tell those of you digging the show that word is that it won’t be on ABC’s soon-to-be-announced schedule. The good news, at least, is that the producers suspected that this could be all she wrote, so they prepared a series-finale ending, giving fans a one-assumes happy send-off. Another show I quit early on, also despite it not being bad for what it was, is Sci Fi’s “Eureka.” Those of you still following that show will be happy to hear, however, that a third season is dropping at the end of July, with a hefty 21 new episodes. I just hope it’s not airing at the same time as “Greatest American Dog” because it won’t stand a chance of getting any viewers against that blockbuster.
So we’ve got our first announced (I think this is the first one, anyways) cast member for “Caprica,” the upcoming prequel to “Battlestar Galactica.” Paula Malcomson, who played everyone’s favorite whore Trixie (“Deadwood”) has been announced as the show’s female lead. Am I the only one who would love love love to see Ian McShane join the show, even if Swearengen’s verbiage would have to be toned down? Yeah, I didn’t think so. But anyway, Malcomson is slated to play a surgeon who is also working as a double agent. A double agent for who or what? Time will tell although.
In other former-HBO casting news, Tristan Wilds has joined the CW’s “Beverly Hills OU812” whatever-they’re-going-to-call-it, as an adopted son of the family what moves from the midwest to the BH. You might remember Wilds as Michael on the last two seasons of “The Wire” and, if you’re like me, you’re hoping he unleashes some corner justice to the Beverly Hills teens. Because I don’t know anything, really, about this show, but I know — we all know — that there are going to be some annoying-ass teens. Oh, and we also know that while Jason Priestley has said he would be open to popping up on the show, he hasn’t been asked. Come on CW, give Priestley some love.
Holy hell! I’ve already been very excited about the upcoming US release of “Spaced” on DVD, but now I’m downright giddy. The release will have commentaries from, among others, Patton Oswalt, Matt Stone and Kevin Smith. I could probably do without Quentin Tarantino and Diablo Cody, although I’ll reserve judgment. But still — Patton Oswalt discussing an episode of “Spaced?” …I think I just stained the wall on the other side of my office.
Mini-mini comment diversion for those familiar with “Spaced” — I have my own guesses, but what episode do you think each of the above-mentioned will commentate on?
“I’m not familiar with this ‘Spaced’ you speak of,” you’re saying? Well then you’re going to kiss the next 24 minutes of your life goodbye as you watch the first episode:
Seth Freilich is Pajiba’s television editor. He’s currently listening to the Season Four “Battlestar Galactica” podcasts, which Sci Fi has finally started posting. Frakking hell does he love that show.
Comments
Posted by: twig at May 7, 2008 8:35 AM
Yeah, I wish I could take the intellectual high road but I could watch Dock Dogs (dog has toy, toy thrown into water, dog runs off dock to catch toy, lands in water) for eons without pause. Watching happy dogs be happy is a necessary panacea to the rest of my life.
Spaced. Finally I can find out what you region-free DVD player bastards are on about. Maybe they'll release Black Books someday too.