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Savage Love and Other Television Minutia

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under TV Reviews | Comments (31)



dan savage.jpg

Let’s start your Tuesday morning with crappy television news, how about it? Is anybody enthusiastic about anything on the Fall network schedule besides “Glee”? Hell, I don’t even remember what else the networks are rolling out. Clearly, the summer schedule hasn’t been a big enough draw to attract audiences to the fall promos. We could be in for a long, cancellation heavy Fall ‘09.

Two shows that won’t be getting the axe early on are VH1’s “I Love Money 3” and “Megan Wants a Millionare.” The shows were pulled from their schedule after Ryan Jenkins committed suicide after he became a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife, Jasmine Fiore. who was found stuffed in a suitcase, minus her fingers and teeth (her body had to be identified by her breast-implant serial numbers). How did I miss this? Seriously: I think I need to step away from “Doctor Who” episodes and turn on the television for a few minutes. But then again, knowing that “Big Brother” and ABC’s “Shark Tank” are leading the ratings this summer, maybe it’s best I limit my television viewing to “Mad Men,” “Psych,” and the occasional baseball game.

In fact, I have no idea who Ryan Jenkins or Jasmine Fiore are, nor do I know who Megan of “Megan Wants a Millionare” fame is. I don’t even really understand Ryan Jenkins’ associations with either show. But good for VH1 for canceling them. Now, if they could just cancel every other show on their channel and show some fucking adult-alternative and Kelly Clarkson videos, maybe someone would watch the station. (Do they still have iterations of “I Love the 80s” on? I don’t think I’ve seen VH1 in a couple of years.)

Elsewhere, MTV is developing a U.S. version of the U.K. teen drama “Skins,” which I’m only familiar with because Seth reviewed the UK version a couple of weeks ago. The UK creator, Bryan Elsley, will serve as exec producer of the new show, which will be set in Baltimore. I hope the teens don’t have any run ins with Jimmy McNulty, although it would instantly make the show a cajillion times better.

What else? TLC is renewing “The Little Couple,” a reality show about a couple of newlyweds who are under four feet tall. That’s a show? On TV? Jesus Christ. Apparently, it’s one of TLC’s big hits, along with “Jon and Kate Plus 8” “Cake Boss,” and “Police Women of Broward County.” That sounds like a prime candidate for one of Michael Murray’s trash TV reviews.

I am familiar with “Project Runway.” In fact, I blessedly slept through it the other night while Mrs. Pajiba-hyphenate basked in its glow. Good news for “Runway” fans: It was not only the biggest premiere draw in Lifetime’s history, but it beat Bravo’s fourth-season premiere by 32 percent. It was also the biggest premiere for any reality show on cable in 2009.

Finally, the sole bit of TV news I can muster a give-a-shit about: HBO is mulling the idea of airing a show based on “Savage Love,” the sex advice column from Dan Savage. Who is awesome. Taping of the show begins this week.









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Comments

Not firsting because I actually read the thing before I posted.

Anyone hoping we don't see any real live santorum?

Posted by: Mr. Tusks at August 25, 2009 9:08 AM

The Pacific comes out Spring 2010 and Lost returns around January 2010.

Fall is for football and hockey... I'm OK with crappy television.

Posted by: Colin at August 25, 2009 9:09 AM

HOLY CRAP FIRST.

Posted by: Mr. Tusks at August 25, 2009 9:09 AM

They're already starting a new season of So You Think You Can Dance in September. Despite the shrill shrieking of Mary Murphy, that show is watchable because it features people with real talent and the choreography gets pretty dang amazing. Plus the goofballs in the first episodes are highly entertaining, much more so than those on AI who are nothing more than the local idiots trying to get on TV with a costume and a gimmick.

Posted by: Whorish Mouth at August 25, 2009 9:30 AM

Can't imagine an american version of Skins. It's pretty hit and miss but it's quintessentially British. American teen shows (at least ones I've seen) tend to be more escapist.

Who knows, maybe it'll surprise me like the Office did way back when.

Posted by: Katue at August 25, 2009 9:31 AM

Jesus.

Anyway, "Cake Boss" is a good show. They make crazy cakes and they're Italian. It's 30 minutes and you get to see icing and "chawclait" being prodigiously slathered onto a replica of the Tower of Pisa, a burning building, a fire breathing tiki head, and of course, a male strip club dance floor complete with male strippers.

Posted by: Kballs at August 25, 2009 9:31 AM

Personally, I like Ace of Cakes better than Cake Boss. I get annoyed with all the bickering and the way the Cake Boss guy says "fon-dawnt".
On Ace of Cakes they fight less and make awesome cakes. Although it irritates me how no one pulls their hair back.

PS, can we stop referring to these idiots as reality "stars"? Most of them are not stars in any way, shape or form. Those are the reality "tards". And I mean that in the least PC sense possible.

Posted by: Whorish Mouth at August 25, 2009 9:58 AM

If you say 'first' do you win a prize? Cos otherwise what's the point?

Posted by: Carrie at August 25, 2009 9:58 AM

I'm hoping for good things with Flash Forward and V,, and my steady diet includes Curb Your Enthusiasm and Dexter.

Posted by: Cindy at August 25, 2009 10:05 AM

Countdown to the made for TV movie "Reality Kills: The Ryan Jenkins Story."

They IDed her through her breast implants? Wow. That's the problem with these plastic Barbie dolls. You have to remove EVERYTHING with a serial number on it. Actually, I kinda wonder what she looked like before all the plastic surgery, because she was kinda freaky looking.

Posted by: BWeaves at August 25, 2009 10:07 AM

This is why I stick with my regulars, like "House," "Lost," and BBCA. Monday and Thursday nights are for football.

Posted by: Nicole at August 25, 2009 10:08 AM

I was one of those people watching Project Runway, just to see if it changed significantly from when it ran on Bravo.

It didn't. I don't know if it was a network change or what, but the premier's "Very Special Moment with Tim Gunn", giving the former meth addict a little pep talk, was kinda weird. I don't watch PR to see people achieve their dreams. I watch it to see the fashion train wrecks.

Posted by: Wednesday at August 25, 2009 10:25 AM

Other then Glee, and maybe Flash Forward, the only thing I am looking forward to is the KITH murder mystery deal. I figure the KITH thing can only go two ways, one its so good it rolls your socks up and down, or two so terrible we all have to pretend it never happened like Beverely Hills Chihuahua. Either way I will be amused.

Posted by: Jadashay at August 25, 2009 10:42 AM

Please do not be joking with this Dan Savage news. I am beside myself with joy.

Posted by: Caspar at August 25, 2009 11:31 AM

Hey BWeaves, you're not kidding about the freaky looking.

She is sort-of-local, so they've been running updates frequently, and they showed pictures of her, and discussed how she was found mutilated, and I thought, ugh, that is so nasty.

Then I found out that those were the before pictures.

Posted by: Drake at August 25, 2009 12:23 PM

I know how they can make an amazing American Skins.
1. Get all of the original cast (preferably from Season 1 and 2).
2. Put them somewhere exotic like... Bristol (UK).
3. Follow their trials and tribulations as they go through an English Sixth-Form.
4. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Posted by: Squeeziee at August 25, 2009 1:03 PM

Was Undressed not already the "American version" of skins?

Posted by: Eep at August 25, 2009 1:32 PM

Mark my words, people, you will ALL be raving about "Community" shortly after it premieres.


Posted by: Spender at August 25, 2009 2:02 PM

Drake: You're aware you're joking about a woman who was beaten to death and had her teeth/fingers removed - right?

Posted by: samantha t at August 25, 2009 2:16 PM

When you say there's not much in the upcoming fall season to be enthusiatic about, I assume you're just talking about *new* series, as otherwise I'd have to start reeling off great returning shows like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. As for new series, there are few others to be excited about, like Community, Flash Forward and V.

Posted by: Sissnitz at August 25, 2009 2:56 PM

Is anybody enthusiastic about anything on the Fall network schedule besides “Glee”?
---
House in rehab looks even badasser.

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy), at August 25, 2009 2:57 PM

May I comment on 'First'? To begin, I would respectfully submit that this website has a strong regard for insightful, topical and/or amusing musings, rants, posits, slights and references.

It is a very slippery slope from 'first?' that leads directly to l33t speak, 'lame', 'gaaaay' and flaming, incoherent drivel. Please resist the urge. I know - faced with an empty canvas it is hard to paint the first stroke. But if you can't resist temptation, and yet you still have nothing to say - please provide a WTF moment instead.

In fact, let's use Dan Savage's 'campsite rules' here - leave the space in better shape, and far more experienced and lubed up than it was before you got here.

Posted by: replica at August 25, 2009 3:00 PM

Love SYTYCD, can't get enough of it. Dance , Monkeys, DANCE!

Glee looks promising, as does Community, but a great pilot does not a hit show make.

Lost, House, and Castle, all just around the corner. I finally caught up with all I missed last season, and now have a computer/ISP fast enough to view episodes online efficiently. I work 6 evenings/week until 9-10, so if it isn't on cable with lots of repeat airings, interwebs for me!

I would venture a guess that the Project Runway viewership was way up due in large part to the fact that Lifetime is a basic cable network and Bravo isn't. They increased their audience by a shitload just by making that switch. Really smart move.

Doctor Who starts up again soon (Yay!) as does Robin Hood on BBCA. Top Gear season 7 kicked off this week. The new season of Skins needs to step up, Effy is the only character than even comes close to the caliber of the previous cast IMHO.


I am SOOOO over the TLC obsession with babies, multiple babies, small people and their (sometimes multiple) babies, and the entire genre of reality family drama voyeurism. Come on people, Enough already! Other than Gene Simmons: Family Jewels (A&E), I really can't stand to watch any of it. I am a little in love with Nick Simmons though. Even though I am old enough to be his wiser, more experienced lover...

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at August 25, 2009 3:01 PM

Can I say for the record that I'm glad VH1 did the decent thing and canceled the 2 awful shows that murderer was on. Too bad they weren't so decent when they decided that Megan was watchable. Ugh.
I'd rather watch my dog poo in a strapped on plastic bag.

Posted by: Whorish Mouth at August 25, 2009 3:26 PM

Drake: You're aware you're joking about a woman who was beaten to death and had her teeth/fingers removed - right?

Posted by: samantha t at August 25, 2009 2:16 PM

I'm with Samantha on this one.
Regardless of the woman's station in life, no one deserves to be brutally murdered and violence against women is especially heinous. There's no humor to be found in a tragic situation.

Posted by: Spender at August 25, 2009 3:35 PM

FIRST!

Yee-haw mother-f'rs

Posted by: L.O.V.E. at August 25, 2009 5:02 PM

Dammit. In the seven hours it took me to read this post 25 people got in before me. I'll be faster to "FIRST" next time, bitches.

Posted by: L.O.V.E. at August 25, 2009 5:05 PM

Lindsey + e, I also have a little crush on the much younger Nick Simmons. He's adorable. Though I haven't really actually watched the show at all. And I am also excited about SYTYCD having another season right away. although I'm nervous about overload. On the other hand, it's SYTYCD, so probably not going to happen. But where are you that Bravo isn't part of basic cable? They're both in the same package (broadcast basic) where I am.

Also, House does look intriguing with the rehab thing going on. And I'm interested in Community, and super psyched for Glee.

Finally, gaaaaaaay.

Posted by: Anna von Beaverplatz at August 25, 2009 7:06 PM

Dan Savage is a genius. That is an amazingly good idea for a TV show.

That is all.

Posted by: Daniel Hall at August 25, 2009 7:30 PM

Oh, yeah! House in rehab, House in rehab, la-la-la-la-la. That's going to be fun stuff!

Drake: Please don't.

Leslie:

You are in my thoughts today, as I am sure is the case for the rest of this community. I was touched by your words and warmed by your candor. In response, I send you back all of my own warmest regards and wish for you the greatest peace and blessings in the years to come. I believe that you have a great spirit and great strength, and those qualities--though hard-won-- will always support you and reside.

Joy in the future, and be well.

With Affection,
-M.M.M.

Posted by: Jo 'Mama' Besser at August 25, 2009 8:49 PM

AvB:

Expanded basic here (Portland OR) does not include Bravo. I am guilty of projecting my shitty cable on the rest of you though, my apologies.

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at August 26, 2009 4:53 AM


















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