Topic: Television

What We Watched

'Bates Motel' Is One Seriously Weird Show

A&E

The third episode of A&E's new thriller series Bates Motel aired last night and, man, is that show weird. A less affected Twin Peaks? An Oregon-based, incest-twinged Stephen King story?

By Eric Randall

Jun 13, 2012

Entire Issue of New York Magazine Might Become a TV Show

We've heard of single stories getting the Hollywood treatment, but this is unusual: An entire issue of New York Magazine devoted to scandals in the city, has been optioned for a possible television series by Sony Pictures Television, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Comments | 1,519 Views

By Eric Randall

Jun 12, 2012

Comment of the Day

'I No Longer Watch American TV'

The Atlantic Wire's Richard Lawson put forward several theories Tuesday for the American television watcher's recent fit of anglophilia, but none of them were quite so bluntly stated as the theory of our featured commenter, HFgm: British TV is better.

Comments | 805 Views

By Jen Doll

Jun 12, 2012

'House Hunters' Is a Lie. So What?

Allow me to discourse about my guilty pleasure for a few moments. It is the long-running HGTV series, House Hunters. People say it's a lie. I say, who cares?

Comments | 21,131 Views

By Jen Doll

Jun 11, 2012

Mad Women: In a Gray Cloud

In the last episode of a season in which we saw Lane's suicide, Peggy leaving the agency, Joan sleeping with someone to ensure the Jaguar win (and a partnership for herself), Sally hitting puberty (literally), and Betty in Weight Watchers, our main man has a toothache.

Comments | 3,004 Views

By Richard Lawson

Jun 8, 2012

A Summer TV (and Drinking) Guide

Well, it's only June but Game of Thrones has already laid down its sword and Mad Men will once again close its offices this Sunday, but fear not. Richard Lawson has picks for what to watch, and, because it's summer, a drink pairing for each show.

Comments | 4,483 Views

By Richard Lawson

Jun 5, 2012

What It's Like to Learn Your TV Character's Going to Die

Of course it's very exciting for us viewers when a major character dies on a television show (or it's sad? Sure, sometimes it's sad), but for the actor involved it must kinda feel like, "Oh, well, I just got fired." Though usually official word from the set is that everything was fine and copacetic.

Comments | 3,957 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

May 14, 2012

The DVR Is Finally Killing TV

The DVR has been around for years now, but it's time to officially call it a TV killer as both The New York Times' old school and new school media reporters have discovered its magic.

Comments | 1,632 Views

By Richard Lawson

May 10, 2012

Cable Comes to the Rescue of 'Cougar Town' (and Good T.V.)

Word comes in today that TBS, already the noble shelter of NBC-banished Conan O'Brien, has decided to pick up the ailing cult-favorite comedy Cougar Town from ABC for a fourth season, which will air next year. "Hooray!" fans of wine comedy the nation over exclaim. In fact this is cause for celebration for everybody who watches TV, not solely Cougarheads.

Comments | 1,552 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Apr 20, 2012

Today in Research

A Paper Thin TV; Anti Tobacco Ads Work

Discovered: A paper thin TV, anti-tobacco ads work, seat belt laws work, and socializing is good for humanity. 

Comments | 2,143 Views

Cocktail Crossfire

Cocktail Crossfire: Is Too Much Good Sunday TV an Actual Problem?

In Today's New York TimesBrian Stelter uncovers a burgeoning problem in American living rooms: Too much good Sunday night TV. But is this quality television overload a real problem? 

 

Comments | 1,787 Views

By Jen Doll

Apr 16, 2012

Mad Women: Horrors of Domesticity and the Return of Pete Campbell

Sunday's Mad Men brought us a return of the Pete Campbell we all know and used to despise. And it was somewhat beauteous, in a horrors-of-domesticity sort of way. 

 

Comments | 2,586 Views

By Richard Lawson

Apr 10, 2012

The (Very Near) Future of Television

The happy news comes today that HBO has officially renewed their successful fantasy series Game of Thrones for a third season. Gods be good! Seems like lots of shows are getting renewed right now. Let's take a look at what we'll be watching next TV season.

Comments | 13,377 Views

By Ray Gustini

Apr 9, 2012

What the Tweet?

Big Hats, Eye Candy, and Doomsday Dates

After a day of staring at Twitter, we're sharing our favorite tweets that made no sense

Comments | 446 Views

YouTube and Yahoo Want Women Viewers

As they look to take a huge bite out of traditional TV’s nearly $50 billion in annual advertising spending over the next two years, big digital video companies Yahoo and YouTube are taking particular aim at the women’s lifestyle programming segment.

Comments | 690 Views

By Jen Doll

Mar 21, 2012

The Hunger Games vs. Mad Men Face-Off: Can You Handle the Anticipation?

Which of these are we more excited about, and why? If we could only see one (which is fortunately not the case), which would it be? We've broken down some key factors in this investigation.

Comments | 828 Views

By Richard Lawson

Mar 14, 2012

A Midseason's Night Dream: The Spring TV Preview

Though the weather might be turning nice, we know that what you still really want to do is stay indoors and sit on the couch. With that in mind, let's take a look at the television shows that could occupy your time until summer forces you out of the house.

Comments | 5,518 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Mar 12, 2012

The Future of Streaming Video Looks Like TV Reruns

Internet companies look to old television formulas as they create original content for the Web.

Comments | 1,552 Views

By Richard Lawson

Mar 6, 2012

The Network Dramas Flew Too Close to the Sun

Fox has gone and canceled their big dinotopia familytime show Terra Nova. It seems to be yet another example of the slow and painful death of our old hour-long swear-free friend, the network drama.

Comments | 1,240 Views

By Richard Lawson

Feb 21, 2012

Talking About TV Is Maybe Ruining TV

The latest debate amongst internet TV nerds is a'raging about whether the big beautiful serialized show format kind of ruined TV. But for me? I take one thing away from all of this: We really need to stop taking TV so damn seriously.

Comments | 3,966 Views

By Ray Gustini

Feb 1, 2012

Bill Belichick Is a Charmer; HBO Puts Mayweather-Pacquiao on the Clock

The New York Knicks reportedly will fire coach Mike D'Antoni right before the Super Bowl and hope nobody notices, a unique baseball bauble is missing, and baseball's new-fangled playoff format is going to have to wait a year.

Comments | 1,538 Views

By Richard Lawson

Jan 26, 2012

The Dwight Schrute Show and Other Bad Spin-Off Ideas

The Office might be getting a spin-off. But, what the hell, spin away, everyone! In fact, don't stop there. There is so much spin-off potential all over TV! Here are some ideas.

Comments | 9,630 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Jan 12, 2012

The Smart TV Fallacy

Though Smart TVs are the rage at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, calling a TV smart doesn't make it worth buying.

Comments | 9,311 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Jan 9, 2012

Chart of the Day

Netflix Still Dominates Online TV Consumption

We already knew a lot of people still watch Netflix streaming, but  the latest Nielsen research  finds that they watch it a lot more than other, freer sites.

Comments | 4,558 Views

By Richard Lawson

Jan 5, 2012

Some Words of Warning About 'Downton Abbey'

Take it from those that have seen it: There's a right and a wrong way to watch season two of Downton Abbey.

Comments | 41,054 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Jan 5, 2012

Media Puts Keith Olbermann and Current on Break-Up Watch

It's unclear what will come of the recently publicized spat between Keith Olbermann and Current, but all signs point to a reckoning.

Comments | 2,540 Views

By Richard Lawson

Jan 4, 2012

The Future of Celebrity Reality Shows

Celebrity Wife Swap, Celebrity Apprentice, and the new Rachael Ray/Guy Fieri celebrity cook-off show all indicate that celebrity versions of reality shows are here to stay. So here some more.

Comments | 2,660 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Jan 4, 2012

Edith and Carolyn Were the Stars of CNN's Coverage Last Night

The best TV moment from last night's coverage of the Iowa caucus was a late night phone appearance by two ladies who were dragooned into service to count votes for CNN in the middle of the night.

Comments | 1,553 Views

By Richard Lawson

Jan 2, 2012

The Most Promising Midseason TV Shows

The happiest part of the calendar flipping over to January is that it means new television will soon be flickering on our screens.

Comments | 4,089 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 1, 2012

The End of the World Means Big T.V. Ratings

This is a bit macabre, but the ratings for ABC's annual "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" are at their highest in years when the world is predicted to end. 

Comments | 2,821 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Dec 27, 2011

Why Smart Consumers Skip TVs in Favor of Tablets

Unimpressed by the shiniest TV technological innovations, consumers aren't jumping to buy the latest models, which has pushed set prices down, making it all the better for shoppers.

Comments | 2,137 Views

No, Ron Paul Is Not Being Ignored By The Media

There's nothing Texas Rep. Ron Paul's legions of fans hate more than what they see as the media's constant oversight of their hero.

Comments | 2,586 Views

By Richard Lawson

Dec 12, 2011

The Year's Best

The Best Television of 2011

Television seems to become more of a true art form with each passing year, and 2011 continued the trend with bold, ambitious storytelling and bitingly smart writing. Here are our picks for the best (and some of the worst) TV this year. 

Comments | 11,938 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Dec 12, 2011

Christian Group Manufactures Controversy Over a Muslim Reality Show

A Christian family group has called for a boycott of advertisers supporting a reality TV show about American Muslims, leading others to call for a boycott of the advertisers who caved to the pressure.

Comments | 8,695 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Dec 7, 2011

Harry Morgan Has Died

The 96-year-old actor actor who played the stern-faced Col. Potter on M*A*S*H passed away in his Los Angeles home on Wednesday morning.

Comments | 737 Views

By Richard Lawson

Dec 1, 2011

What We Watched

The Agony of DVR Defeat

We'd love to talk about all the fun stuff that happened on TV last night, but we can't. Because our DVR hates us.

Comments | 1,912 Views

By Richard Lawson

Nov 30, 2011

What We Watched

What We Really Watch on TV

Today we sing the praises of some typically unsung TV heroes.

Comments | 3,145 Views

By Richard Lawson

Nov 28, 2011

What We Watched

The Night of a Thousand Holy S--ts

Whoaaa. Last night's television offerings gave us three grim twists or surprises that jarred us out of our holiday stupor. Let's take a look at each one.

Comments | 4,263 Views

By Richard Lawson

Nov 17, 2011

'The Munsters' and Five Other Dark TV Remakes

The Munsters is being remade as a serious hour-long drama. What other old sitcoms can we revive in dramatic fashion? 

Comments | 8,639 Views

By Richard Lawson

Nov 17, 2011

What We Watched

'Law & Order SVU': Savior of Lost Actors

TV's most sex crime-centric show does a really good job at casting. Let's celebrate that. 

Comments | 4,813 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Nov 16, 2011

Ricky Gervais to Host Golden Globes Again

Obviously the Hollywood Foreign Press wasn't as offended by Ricky Gervais as they said they were, since they're picking him to host January's Golden Globes award ceremony.

Comments | 517 Views

By Richard Lawson

Nov 16, 2011

When Fans Attack

Diehard fans are everywhere. Of TV shows, books, movies -- all manner of cultural product. That's fine: we're all DVR season pass-sporting fans of something. But why is a certain group so darn aggressive?

Comments | 5,178 Views

By Richard Lawson

Nov 16, 2011

What We Watched

The Simple Delights of 'Ringer'

Ringer has found its sense of humor, its inner silliness, and has thus become an enjoyable Tuesday treat.

Comments | 2,237 Views

By Richard Lawson

Nov 14, 2011

What We Watched

'The Walking Dead' Finally Starts to Trot

We're glad that the heretofore listless season of The Walking Dead got interesting last night. 

Comments | 3,793 Views

By Richard Lawson

Nov 11, 2011

What We Watched

Admit It: You Watch 'The Vampire Diaries'

Let's imagine a scenario in which maybe, just maybe, you watch a certain television program about vampires and their diaries.

Comments | 5,857 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Nov 10, 2011

Rick Perry Laughs Away the Pain with David Letterman

Rick Perry offered the "Top 10 Rick Perry Excuses" for his "oops" moment in Wednesday's debate on The Late Show with David Letterman Thursday.

Comments | 3,182 Views

By Richard Lawson

Nov 10, 2011

What We Watched

'American Horror Story' Goes Too Far

Today we're looking at an unpleasantly unsettling scene on FX's American Horror Story. Spoilers abound, so proceed with caution.

Comments | 102,934 Views

By Richard Lawson

Nov 9, 2011

What We Watched

'Glee' Gives Good Loving

Last night saw the unveiling of a "controversial," sex-filled episode of Glee that wound up being pretty darn good. 

Comments | 4,742 Views

By Richard Lawson

Nov 8, 2011

The Call Sheet

Welcome Back, Jennie Garth

Jennie Garth is heading back to TV, Britney Spears' manager has a strange new client, and Regis announces his send-off guests.

Comments | 3,104 Views

By Richard Lawson

Nov 8, 2011

Ten Actors Who Deserve Their Own Shows

HBO just passed on Téa Leoni's new show, which is a shame. She, and these nine other actors, deserve their own show.

Comments | 6,204 Views

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