Tag: "tv"

So You Think You Can Dance Get Fit DVD - With Giveaway

Dance Your Way to a Sculpted Body with All-New So You Think You Can Dance Get Fit DVDs Arriving July 21, 2009

Your Favorite Dancers, Stephen “Twitch” Boss, Dmitry Chaplin, Courtney Galiano, Lauren Gottlieb, Katee Shean and Travis Wall, Show You How to Get Fit and Have Fun

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE GET FIT
Available to own: July 21, 2009
Price: $16.99 U.S. each
Runtime: 109 minutes (Tone and Groove)
116 minutes (Cardio Funk)
U.S. Rating: Not Rated
Canadian Rating: G

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – You’ve seen exactly what they can do on the wildly popular show “So You Think You Can Dance.” Now six of the hottest dancers from past seasons will show viewers how to get in top shape with the release of two brand new fitness DVDs on July 21: SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE GET FIT: Tone and Groove and SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE GET FIT: Cardio Funk. With nearly 20 million watching each week “So You Think You Can Dance” is a pop culture sensation entering into its fifth season on air. For the first time ever, fans can tone and sculpt their bodies by moving along with the incredible dancers from the show as they demonstrate easy-to-follow routines in a variety of dance genres.

In Tone and Groove viewers can flex and condition their muscles with Stephen “Twitch” Boss as he takes them through a Hip Hop routine, tighten their abs with Dmitry Chaplin through the Cha Cha and then stretch it out with Katee Shean doing Jazz. Cardio Funk turns up the heat as Courtney Galiano puts viewers through their paces on the Disco floor, Travis Wall gets hearts pumping in a Contemporary routine and Lauren Gottlieb’s Hip Hop dance works up a sweat. With over 90 minutes of calorie-burning and body-sculpting moves, each DVD also includes a warm-up and cool down session, a bonus workout, behind-the-scenes interviews with the dancers and more. The DVDs arrive just in time for the highly-anticipated finale of Season Five and will be available for the suggested retail price of $16.99 each.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE GET FIT: Tone and Groove and SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE GET FIT: Cardio Funk are each presented in widescreen with Dolby Digital English Stereo sound. The following details each disc:

Tone and Groove:
o Introduction
o Warm-Up
o Workouts:
o Hip Hop - Twitch
o Jazz - Katee
o Cha Cha - Dmitry
o Tone and Groove Bonus Workout
o Cool Down
Bonus Features:
o Interview with executive producer Nigel Lythgoe
o Interview with Twitch
o Interview with Katee
o Interview with Dmitry

Cardio Funk:
o Introduction
o Warm-Up
o Workouts
o Hip Hop - Lauren
o Contemporary - Travis
o Disco - Courtney
o Cardio Funk Bonus Workout
o Cool Down

Bonus Features:
o Interview with executive producer Nigel Lythgoe
o Interview with Lauren
o Interview with Travis
o Interview with Courtney

WIN IT!

TWO winners will each receive the Cardio Funk DVD and the Tone And Groove DVD.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter visit leave me a comment on this post telling me which part of the DVD you think you might enjoy the most.

BONUS ENTRIES

1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed. (sidebar)
1 - Follow me on Twitter (sidebar) AND leave your Twitter name here.
1 - Friend me on Facebook (sidebar)
1 - Friend me using Google Friend Connect. (sidebar)
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati (sidebar) AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please, NO PO Boxes. This contest will end on Wednesday 01/27/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Jan 18, 2010 | 94 comments | View Post

Suggestions For Bedroom Paint Color

Through the generosity of a friend we’ll be getting a new bedroom set very soon. It’s not new but it’s new for us. It marks the first time we will have a complete set of bedroom furniture. Until now we’ve had a piece of this and a piece of that, all items we’ve gotten from family, friends and freecycle. The set is nice and has dressers and end tables. I’m hoping to get the room painted in between emptying the old furniture and bringing in the new. Then all we’d need to make the room complete is a flat screen tv, maybe a nice new Samsung. We’ve always had white walls and I’m thinking of adding a little color. What color do you suggest for a bedroom?

Nov 15, 2009 | 8 comments | View Post

Book Review - Accidentally on Purpose by Mary Pols

accidentally on purpose book cover

Last month I was lucky enough to score an advance copy of the premiere episode of the new CBS series Accidentally On Purpose. I enjoyed the show tremendously and have added it to my DVR season pass list. When I was offered the opportunity to review the book that the series was based on I couldn’t pass it up.

From the back cover - At thirty-nine, movie critic Mary Pols knew she wanted to have a baby. But never-not in a million years-on her own. When she finds herself unexpectedly expecting, she plunges into the greatest adventure of her life. With humor, insight, and compelling honesty, Pols reveals what it means to compromise in the name of love and to find joy in an accidental life, suddenly brimming with purpose.

The book Accidentally on Purpose: The True Tale of a Happy Single Mother is the true story of author Mary Pols. I thought the book would be the same as the series but it is not. That’s not to say it’s better or worse, it’s just to say that it’s different. Mary is still a film critic approaching middle age that has had numerous failed relationships. Throughout the book Mary writes in detail of her feelings. I think she was insecure about who she was. Mary has a one night stand with Matt, a man ten years younger, and gets pregnant. The two decide to try to have a good relationship and raise the child together. Matt is unemployed and far less than ambitious, two things that really bother Mary. He’s also not romantically interested in her. Eventually baby boy Dolan is born and both Mary and Matt embark on the next path in the journey of life. I enjoyed how personal she was in her story of getting to know Matt the man child and later semi-single parenting an infant. The book is full of emotion that she conveys very well. The reader can actually feel when Mary is angry, frustrated and sad. It was interesting to read how she came to terms with her relationship with Matt.

Many of the stories in this book are universal and you’ll find yourself nodding your head because you’ve been in similar situations. Mothers of all backgrounds will find this real life story interesting and want to add it to their collection.

A special thanks to Role Mommy for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

Oct 14, 2009 | 3 comments | View Post

A Look At The Medium Season Six Premiere On CBS

I’ve gotten a peek at yet another season premiere. This time the series isn’t new, although it is moving to a new channel. I’m talking about The Medium.

From the CBS website - MEDIUM is a drama inspired by the real-life story of research medium Allison Dubois, an extraordinary young wife and mother who, since childhood, has struggled to make sense of her dreams and visions of dead people. Emmy Award winner Patricia Arquette stars as Dubois, a strong-willed, devoted young wife and mother of three girls who has gradually come to grips with her extraordinary ability to talk to dead people, see current events and the future through her dreams and read people’s thoughts. Dubois works as a consultant to District Attorney Manuel Devalos, using her psychic abilities to solve violent and horrifying crimes that baffle Phoenix police and others within the criminal justice system. Assisting her crime-solving endeavors is Detective Lee Scanlon, her longtime ally in the local police department. Meanwhile, at home, Dubois’ husband Joe, an aerospace engineer, is a supportive husband and father who is also busy launching his own scientific engineering company. Their daughters, Ariel, Bridgette and Marie all seem to have inherited their mother’s abilities to varying, expanding degrees. Last season, after experiencing headaches and other symptoms, Allison was diagnosed with a brain tumor, but after she postpones her surgery, she suffers a stroke and is in a coma.

After watching the season six premiere of The Medium I can understand why CBS chose to pick up the show after NBC canceled it. The show is very interesting. Allison’s gift is mysterious and powerful. Most people would say she’s crazy. Fortunately for some of the people she dreams about, she’s not crazy. She accepts her dreams as fact and visions of things to come and does what she can to change the outcome and avoid tragedy. How will her life and dreams be affected by her decision to postpone surgery? Allison’s decision to postpone surgery until Castillo was caught may well have saved her family’s life but will it kill her? Tune in to CBS for the Season Six premiere on Friday, September 25, 2009, at 9:00.

Thanks to Role Mommy for the sneak peek at the premiere.

Sep 08, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

Three Rivers - A Peek At A New Medical Drama On CBS

three rivers pic

Have you heard of the new CBS television series called Three Rivers? I hadn’t until yesterday but I’m glad I found out about it because it looks pretty interesting. Three Rivers is a new medical drama. Now I’ve only had a three minute look at a clip online but from what I see it’s not just any medical drama. Besides entertain, this drama may have the ability to make people think about something real - organ donation.

Three Rivers is set at a hospital in Pittsburgh and focuses on an organ transplant team. The show will weave three perspectives together - the donor, the recipient and the surgical team. The surgical team is led by Andy Yablonski (Alex O’Loughlin) and includes Dr Miranda Foster (Katherine Moennig), Dr. David Lee (Daniel Henney), Ryan Abbott (Christopher J. Hanke), Dr. Sophia Jordon (Alfre Woodard) and Pam Acosta (Justina Machado). This team gives patients a second chance at life but sometimes their job isn’t easy. They have to work against time, nature and sometimes their own patients to get their jobs done.

Take a look at the clip that caught my interest.

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So what do you think? Does Three Rivers look interesting to you? Are you an organ donor? Will you be watching CBS on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009 at 9/8c? I will be.

Sep 06, 2009 | 3 comments | View Post

CBS Series Premiere Of The Good Wife - It’s Better Than Good

the good wife pic

The fall tv season is almost upon us. I’m always on the hunt for great new shows because my favorites keep getting canceled or ending. Plus I have this quirk where I have issues watching shows that have already started - I’m convinced that I don’t know how who got where and why they do what they do. Know what I mean? So yeah, I like to check out new shows. The shows that I like I add to my DVR season pass so I don’t miss them. Recently I got the opportunity to preview a brand new show that will be airing on CBS called The Good Wife.

From CBS - THE GOOD WIFE is a drama starring Emmy Award winner Julianna Margulies as a wife and mother who boldly assumes full responsibility for her family and re-enters the workforce after her husband’s very public sex and political corruption scandal lands him in jail. Pushing aside the betrayal and crushing public humiliation caused by her husband Peter (Chris Noth), Alicia Florrick (Margulies) starts over by pursuing her original career as a defense attorney. As a junior associate at a prestigious Chicago law firm, she joins her longtime friend, former law school classmate and firm partner Will Gardner (Josh Charles), who is interested to see how Alicia will perform after 13 years out of the courtroom. Alicia is grateful the firm’s top litigator, Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski), offers to mentor her but discovers the offer has conditions and realizes she’s going to need to succeed on her own merit. Alicia’s main competition among the firm’s 20-something new recruits is Cary (Matt Czuchry), a recent Harvard grad who is affable on the surface, but will use any means to ensure that he, not Alicia, secures the one full-time associate position that’s available. Fortunately, Alicia finds an ally in Kalinda (Archie Panjabi), the firm’s tough in-house investigator. Gaining confidence every day, Alicia transforms herself from embarrassed politician’s scorned wife to resilient career woman, especially for the sake of providing a stable home for her children, 14-year-old Zach (Graham Phillips) and 13-year-old Grace (Makenzie Vega). For the first time in years, Alicia trades in her identity as the “good wife” and takes charge of her own destiny. Tony Scott, Ridley Scott, Robert King, Michelle King, Dee Johnson and David Zucker are the executive producers for CBS Television Studios.

It’s great to see Juliana Margulies back on television. I always found her portrayal of a nurse on ER to be believable and I wasn’t sure what I’d think of her in a legal drama. I loved her in her role as Alicia Florrick and thought she played it very convincingly. Her character is strong willed, both in facing public feelings about her husband’s behavior and in the courtroom fighting for her client. The whole cast of characters seems to work well together.

The hour long premiere episode that I watched flowed smoothly and flew by quickly. I find that the shows I like best are always over quickly, because the plot and story is put together so well that you’re interested and don’t notice the time. I like that this is a legal drama but it puts a good deal of focus on the personal lives of the characters. It will be interesting to watch Alicia’s character grow as she regains confidence in the courtroom, and to see what happens if her husband is released from prison. I’m curious to see where the relation ship with her friend Will goes, as well as learning more about what happened when Kalinda used to work for her husband.

The Good Wife looks like it’s going to be great stuff. The series premiere will air on CBS on Tuesdays at 10 ET/PT and premieres on September 22nd.

This peek might get your curiosity aroused. (Heads up - somewhat racy video.)

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Sep 06, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

Preview of CBS New Series Accidentally On Purpose

Accidentally On Purpose group picture

I was recently treated to a preview a new comedy coming to CBS called Accidentally On Purpose.

The series premiere of Accidentally On Purpose has the character of single film critic Billie (Jenna Elfman) not over the fact that her boss James (Grant Show) broke up with her. She’d wanted to be serious and he hadn’t. She goes out for a night with her best friend Olivia (Ashley Jensen), and her younger sister Abby (Lennon Parham), and when she sees her boss with someone else she decides to hook up with another guy. She has a one night stand with a young chef named Zack (Jon Foster) and finds herself pregnant. She comes to realize she wants the baby and decides to include Zack in both her and the baby’s life. She invites Zack to move in but makes it clear she only wants to be friends.

I watched this show with RB. We both thought the show was funny, although not hysterical. It will be interesting to watch Billie and Zack’s relationship evolve as the pregnancy continues. With her boss having expressed interest in getting back together and being serious it will be interesting to see if this turns into a love triangle or if all parties find other people to date. Will Zack grow up? Will Zack’s friends totally trash Billie’s house every time they’re over?

Accidentally on Purpose premieres on CBS, Monday, Sept. 21 8:30pm ET/PT.

Sep 06, 2009 | 2 comments | View Post

Sonny With A Chance: Sonny’s Big Break DVD Review And Giveaway

Sonny with a Chance: Sonny’s Big Break

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

Own it on August 25, 2009
Rated: ‘TV-G’
Run time: 90 minutes

Sonny With A Chance is an original Disney series. Sonny (Demi Lovato) is a talented young girl from Wisconsin that gets to live out her dream of being in show business. Her family takes her to Hollywood to be a cast member of the hit teen show “So Random”. Once on the set she gets to meet kids like Tawni (Tiffani Thornton), Nico (Brandon Mychal Smith), Grady (Doug Brochu) and Zora(Allisyn Ashley Arm) that she’s watched herself and who have inspired her. It doesn’t take her long to discover that even stars are insecure, not everyone welcomes her with open arms and that life in show business isn’t always easy.

The DVD contains the never before seen World Premiere Episode “Sonny In The Middle”, as well as bonus features including Backstage Disney – Demi Lovato Audition Tape and a Bonus Short – “Mackenzie Falls – Season Finale Cliffhanger” – an all original online series starring Sterling Knight.

Here’s a peek at the show.

WIN IT!

One winner will receive a copy of the Sonny With A Chance: Sonny’s Big Break DVD.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post telling me what you’d do if you had a talented child offered a job in Hollywood.

BONUS ENTRIES - LOTS OF THEM!

1 - Sign up for my newsletter. (in sidebar)
1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed. (top of page)
1 - Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name here.
1 - Tweet this giveaway.
1 - Friend me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/valmg
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog.
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Friday 08/28/09 at 5:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone! Members of my own family are not eligible to win but are still welcome to leave a comment.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Aug 23, 2009 | 56 comments | View Post

Pushing Daisies Season 2 DVD Review

PUSHING DAISIES SEASON 2 - BUY IT ON BLU-RAY and DVD - AVAILABLE JULY 21, 2009

If you’re old like me (I’m 43), you remember when Crayola crayon boxes had a lot less crayons. And you also remember that when a new color crayon was added to the box you oohed and aahed at the amazing color. years later I found myrlf doing it again when the television show Pushing Daisies was introduced.

I decided to watch the season one premiere of Pushing Daisies for the amazing color that I saw in the commercials. I remained a regular viewer of the show not only for the imagery but for the acting and writing. I thought the cast fit extraordinarily well together. I found a lot of humor in the show - in the writing, the performances, the sarcasm and the innuendo. Even the way the narrator (Jim Dale) spoke the date including time and seconds was corny enough to make you laugh.

The main character Ned the pie maker (Lee Pace), had the ability to bring the dead back to life by touching them once. If he touched the dead person a second time they were once again dead. Ned partners with Emerson Cod (Chi McBride), a private detective, to solve mysteries by briefly waking the dead to ask about the circumstances surrounding their death. When Ned brings back his childhood sweetheart Charlotte (Chuck, portrayed by Anna Friel) he loves her so much that he is not willing to let her die again. Rather, they have a relationship with no direct physical contact. Chuck’s spinster Aunts Vivian (Ellen Greene) and Lily (Swoosie Kurtz) eat pies from The Pie Hole regularly but have no idea their niece is alive. Meanwhile Olive Snook (Kristin Chenoweth), who works for Ned and is crazy about him, suffers the pain of loving someone who loves another.

Each week’s episode was filled with a new mystery and new questions. Season 2 had a strong focus on the characters’ past and their family secrets and mysteries. Will Ned ever realize that Olive loves him? What will we learn a out Ned’s father? What about chuck’s father, now back from the dead? Will Chuck ever learn that her aunt is her mother? What about Ned’s half brothers?

Season 2 contains 13 episodes and four featurettes:

The Master Pie Maker - a look at the creation of the show
From Oven to Table - a look at carrying out the scripts
Secret Sweet Ingredients - a look at the show’s music from composer Jim Dooley
Add a Little Magic - a look at the show’s visual effects

It’s totally beyond me how a show that was nominated for 12 Emmys and won 3 including Best Directing for a Comedy Series could be cancelled so soon in the game. Pushing Daisies will be missed by its fans, myself being one of them. If you’re a fan of Pushing Daisies then this DVD is a must for your collection.

Take a peek at one of the Season 2 episodes.

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Check out the official site www.http://warnervideo.com/pushingdaisiesdvd/ to learn more about Season 2, browse the photo gallery or download wallpapers.

Get the inside scoop on WB movie & DVD releases! www.wbreelnews.com

Aug 07, 2009 | 3 comments | View Post

Calling All Saving Grace Fans - Season 2 DVD Set Giveaway

Surprise! It’s like a pop quiz only better. A while back I reviewed the Season 3 premiere of Saving Grace and really liked it. If you’re a fan or would like to become a fan then you’ll love this giveaway. If you’re not a fan yet, tune in to TNT on Tuesdays at 10 pm and check it out.

WIN IT!

One winner will receive a set consisting of a Saving Grace Season 2 DVD and tee.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post telling me why you like the show Saving Grace or why you’d like to win this.

BONUS ENTRIES - LOTS OF THEM!

1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed.
1 - Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name here.
1 - Tweet this giveaway.
1 - Friend me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/valmg
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog.
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Thursday 07/30/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone! Members of my own family are not eligible to win but are still welcome to leave a comment.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Jul 24, 2009 | 37 comments | View Post

ER Complete Season 11 DVD Review

Television shows are a bit like dating. You find a show that’s interesting. You fall in love. You have a relationship, which hopefully lasts for many years. After the relationship has grown old or ended some of the memories may not be quite as clear as they once were. Thank goodness for DVDs. After fifteen years, the television show ER came to an end in April 2009. We watched ER almost every week since the middle of the second season and I’ve now forgotten more than I remember. This past week, on July 14, Warner Brothers Home Video released ER: The Complete Eleventh Season on DVD.

“An aquarium worker with a live shark latched onto him…a blind woman and her guide companion (a miniature horse!)…a college boy with an arrow in his gut (his fraternity brothers were aiming for the apple on his head). Gunshot victims. Homeless children. Cardiac cases. So many patients, so little time.”

Season 11 of ER was on from 2004 to 2005. Regular cast members included Noah Wyle, Maura Tierney, Mekhi Phifer, Goran Visnjic, Sherry Stringfield, Ming-Na, Parminder Nagra, Linda Cardellini, Shane West, Scott Grimes and Laura Innes. The season a lot of groundwork and did a lot of character development for future seasons. Abby and Neela graduated and become doctors. Sam and Luka decide to live together. Dr Morris becomes Chief Resident. A new staff member comes on board – Dr Ray Barnett. Several doctors leave the ER - Dr Chen moves to China after ending her father’s life, Dr Corday leaves after performing an illegal operation and Dr Carter moves to Africa.

We loved watching Dr Morris start to come into his own. What a long way both the actor and the character came! We thought the character was much improved from years before when he was smoking a joint while the helicopter crashed. We found Ray Barnett’s struggle to be both a physician and a doctor humorous. The standout episode of the season is “Time Of Death”, which features Ray Liotta as dying alcoholic Charlie Metcalf . The episode is about the last 43 minutes of Charlie’s life and is filmed in real time. Other notable guest stars in this season include Red Buttons, Danny Glover, Cynthia Nixon, Francis Fisher and Sharif Atkins.

ER: The Complete Eleventh Season is a six disc set that includes all 22 episodes of the season plus some unaired scenes under a section called “Outpatient Outtakes”. This set is an ideal addition to the collection of long time fans and folks who tuned in after that season as well as those who might have stopped watching for a while.

You can learn more about this DVD and previous seasons by visiting the official site www.ertv.com.

You can get a look right here.

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ER fans, I’d love to hear what your favorite character or moment from the show was.

Jul 20, 2009 | 2 comments | View Post

A Peek At Season 3 Of The Bill Engvall Show

TBS recently invited me to preview the new season of The Bill Engvall Show. I’m not sure how it is I’d never seen it before, since in its first season in 2007, it set records as ad-supported cable’s #1 original sitcom of all time among adults 25-54. Last season, it averaged 2.6 million viewers and ranked as ad-supported cable’s #1 show in its time period among adults 18-49. Although I wasn’t familiar with him, my husband RB knew who he was and had seen a couple of episodes of his show previously. I accepted the invitation because I thought it would be fun to check out a new show and spend some time hanging out with RB.

The Bill Engvall Show stars Bill Engvall in the role of a family counselor. The other main adult characters include his wife Susan (Nancy Travis) and his friend Paul (Tim Meadows). He has three teen children on the show - a daughter and two sons. The daughter Lauren (Jennifer Lawrence) is a high school girl who thinks she should be treated like an adult. The middle son Trent (Graham Patrick Martin) prefers skateboarding and video games to education, which is very obvious by his blunders when speaking. The youngest son Bryan (Skyler Gisondo) is brilliant and as the know it all seems to have the answer for everything.

I was able to preview two episodes from season three. In “Give Me A Break” the Engvalls are finding themselves having to cut back on needless spending because of the economy. The first item on the chopping block is the expensive spring break he’d promised his teenage daughter. While trying to figure out how to afford the trip or tell Lauren she can’t go the secret that Trent’s baby pictures have all been lost comes out. In “You Decide” Bill decides that he wants to make some of the decisions in the marriage so he announces that he will buy the bedspread that they need. In the mean time, the Engvall’s neighbor is hot tubbing in the nude and Trent is over his head participating in a mock UN delegation in order to impress a girl.

We enjoyed both of the episodes that we watched. I liked that this show had many moments that ran truer to life than many of today’s television offerings. Viewers see siblings taking little jabs at each other, just as they do in real life, but then showing that they really care for each other. Husband and wife engage in the perpetual game of who really wears the pants in the family, as is common in many houses.

The third season of The Bill Engvall Show premieres on TBS this Saturday, July 18th at 9 p.m. (ET/PT).

Take a peek at the show yourself.

Jul 13, 2009 | 2 comments | View Post

Raising The Bar No Child’s Left Behind On TNT

I remember when I was about fifteen and dating my Mom would tease me, telling me she was going to show boys I brought home my baby pictures. Sounds innocent, right? It was. The pictures were of me as a baby, naked on my belly on a little rug. I always begged her not to show them to the boys because I didn’t want to be embarrassed by a boy seeing my behind. In reality the picture was no big deal. I recall many of my friends telling me their parents had similar pictures. It was the thing back then. Anyway. I’ve seen the picture, there’s nothing sexual about it. In fact, my Mom asked me a month or so ago if she could put it on her blog. I told her yes and it’s still there. I didn’t give the picture another thought until I previewed this week’s episode of Raising The Bar.

Raising The Bar’s “No Child’s Left Behind” will air tonight, Monday June 29 at 10 pm est. In this episode a father is arrested when a photo he took of his young son in the bathtub winds up on a child pornography site. Jerry finds himself representing a client who does not feel sorry and won’t accept a plea because he feels nothing wrong. I won’t tell you the outcome of the case, it’s better if you watch the whole thing yourself.

As a parent and a blogger I felt this episode of Raising The Bar hit very close to home. It definitely provided food for thought. It also provided for some open conversation between RB, our 13 year old TJ and myself. We all felt that the father (the defendant) was not guilty. RB and I agreed that if we had taken a photo of our child in a similar situation we would not publicize it. TJ felt that a nude photo is inappropriate until the subject is old enough to answer for themselves if they want it taken. We all felt that the system should definitely go after the people who purposely posted the picture on the porn site, not the father even though he took the picture. The father only took the picture because he saw it as a way to capture his son’s joy. If we start censoring our photos aren’t we censoring our memories in a way?

Take a peek at tonight’s episode and decide for yourself.

Please tune in tonight to TNT and watch this episode of Raising The Bar. It will provide you some important food for thought. I would love to hear your thoughts on sharing personal family photos on the internet. What photos do you think are inappropriate? Should parents that share photos should be considered guilty if their photos fall into the wrong hands. If you were a member of the Raising The Bar jury would you have voted innocent or guilty?

Jun 29, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

Saving Grace Season 3 Premiere

Recently I was invited to preview the season premiere of the TNT series Saving Grace. I accepted because I’d heard a couple of people I know mention it and I wanted to check it out. I’d never watched the show and knew nothing about it so for me this was more like a series premiere then a season premiere.

“TNT’s bold series SAVING GRACE is set to return for a third season Tuesday, June 16, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT). Academy Award® winner Holly Hunter stars as gutsy Oklahoma City Police Det. Grace Hanadarko, a woman who holds nothing back, whether on the job or in her personal life. Hunter’s acclaimed performance has earned the actress two consecutive Screen Actors Guild Award® nominations. She is joined in the series by an ensemble cast that includes Leon Rippy (Deadwood), Kenneth Johnson (The Shield), Bailey Chase (Las Vegas), Gregory Cruz (Criminal Minds), Yaani King (The Prince & Me) and Dylan Minnette (Prison Break), with Lorraine Toussaint (Any Day Now) and Laura San Giacomo (Just Shoot Me).”

Saving Grace stars Academy Award winner Holly Hunter as Oklahoma City Police detective Grace Hanadarko. Grace has an angel named Earl (Rippy),who is trying to save Grace (from herself) and get her to embrace God. Noone else can see Earl, and she discusses him with noone except her friend and coworker Rhetta (San Giacomo). Grace is having a relationship with newly divorced fellow officer Ham (Johnson), who has a fear or birds that his coworkers often use against him for their enjoyment.

In the season 3 premiere, We’re Already Here, Grace launches her own search for Neely, a drug addicted woman who also sees angels. Ham and Neely are both injured when a police officer is killed and a domestic terrorist plot is uncovered.

The second episode of season 3, “What Would You Do?,” finds an angel Matthew competing with Earl to get Grace to accept God. Grace weighs the decision of whether to accept Matthew’s offer of anything she wants in return for accepting God while investigating a series of home invasions, one of which includes a rape and murder.

Hubby was able to watch these with me and we both enjoyed them. We’d both really enjoy seeing the first two seasons in order to better understand the storyline. The two episodes we saw were wonderful by themselves but I feel like I’d appreciate them even more if I understood the backstory. This is one of those times that a past season box set would be most helpful.

The first season of Saving Grace on TNT, ranked as one of ad-supported cable’s top new series of 2007, averaging 4.7 million viewers. The show’s second season averaged 4 million viewers and ranked as ad-supported cable’s #1 entertainment program in its timeslot among adults 25-54, viewers and households. Saving Grace was created by Nancy Miller (Any Day Now). The third season of Saving Grace premieres tonight (Tuesday, June 16) on TNT at 10 pm ET/PT.

Here’s a look at the beginning of Season 3.

Jun 16, 2009 | 2 comments | View Post

HawthoRNe - Preview Of New TNT Series

With many of the tv shows that I regularly watch having come to an end of being on summer vacation I’ve been wondering what I’d watch. I received the opportunity to preview the series premiere for TNT’s new medical drama HawthoRNe.

The main character of the series is Christina Hawthorne (Jada Pinkett Smith), chief nursing officer for Richmond Trinity Hospital. Joining Pinkett Smith is Michael Vartan (Alias) as Dr. Tom Wakefield, the oncologist who treated Christina’s husband and who serves as director of medicine for the hospital. The cast also includes Suleka Mathew (Men in Trees) as Bobbie Jackson, a fellow nurse and one of Hawthorne’s best friends; David Julian Hirsh (Lovebites) as Ray Stein, a nurse struggling with being accepted in a female-dominated profession; Christina Moore (90210) as Candy Sullivan, a nurse with a unique sense of duty; and Hannah Hodson (TNT’s The Ron Clark Story) as Camille, Hawthorne’s daughter. In addition, special guest star Joanna Cassidy (Six Feet Under) portrays Amanda, Hawthorne’s mother-in-law, who also happens to be a member of the hospital board.

Despite her personal problems, including the death of her husband, Hawthorne remains passionate about her job, her staff and her patients. The show opens on the first anniversary of her husband’s death. She puts her grief aside to rush in to the hospital in the middle of the night in order to try and prevent her patient (also her husband’s best friend) David. Her determination actually gets her arrested. And that’s only the beginning of her day! Treatment provided by a member of her staff is questioned. She is fair and lets it be known that the doctor involved should also be punished. A homeless woman she has befriended brings in a very sick newborn. This situation and causing disagreement with a fellow staff member who wants to call in the authorities.

When I heard about the show I wasn’t sure I’d like it but as it turns out I enjoyed watching the pilot very much. The show didn’t have that “new show” feel to it, where you wonder what happened to who and what the thinking was behind that. I like the show doesn’t focus only on medicine and doesn’t only have scenes in the hospital. I’m hoping that the episodes that follow are as well written and well acted as the pilot. If it turns out they are then I’ll be adding this show to my Tivo Season Pass list.

HawthoRNe premieres tonight (Tuesday, June 16) on TNT at 9 pm ET/PT.

You can catch a peek here.