The very best spinner's Pilot Males In The Office Models Out Cast

EXCLUSIVE: James Lesure (Mr. Sunshine), Michael Cassidy (Fortunate) and Adam Busch (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) are actually cast opposite Danny Marserson inside the The very best spinner's half-hour pilot Males In The Office, a multi-camera sitcom created by Breckin Meyer. The project, in the new the new sony Pictures TV and Jamie Tarses studio-based Fanfare, is certainly an ensemble multi-camera comedy that explores bromance, sexcapades and office adventures of four pals who focus on a novel. It concentrates on Milo (Masterson), a enjoyable guy recently left by his girlfriend who enlists the assistance of his 3 pals (Lesure, Cassidy, Busch) to reboot his manhood. Busch is to apply the Glick Agency and Benderspink.

TV Rankings: 'Terra Nova' Launches Decently, '2 Broke Girls' Dips 37%

FOX Fox's large-budget adventure series, Terra Nova, first showed on tv Monday, posting respectable amounts because of its two-hour launch. Terra Nova (9 million total audiences, 3. rating in grown ups 18-49 demographic), executive created by Steven Spielberg, did decently, facing heavy competition on CBS and ABC. The ambitious drama enhanced Fox's average by 25 % from last season within the key demo, however the high-concept series is with an uphill climb to ascertain if it may grow its audience in the second week. CBS' 2 . 5 Males required an expected dive because of its second episode, drawing 20 million and posting a 7.2 rating, passing on the simple victory on Monday evening. The relaxation from the CBS comedies, save for that premiere of Mike & Molly (14 million, 4.9) enhancing 26 % from this past year's launch, dipped using their season premieres. Generate An Income Met Your Mother (10.six million, 4.4) was lower 6 percent, 2 Broke Women (11.six million, 4.5) -- in the period of time premiere -- saw an expected 37 percent dip. Hawaii Five- (11.a million, 3.3) was relatively steady at 10 p.m. CBS capped the evening within the demo, calculating a 4.6. NBC's The Playboy Club ongoing to sink, shedding another 19 percent in the second week to attract 3.8 million along with a 1.3. The Sing-Off (4.4 million, 1.7) didn't help Playboy either, striking a set lower in the demo. ABC's Dwts (16 million, 3.3) was its cheapest-ranked performance show up to now, while Castle (11.9 million, 2.9) was lower 9 % within the demo, the second a stable second in the period of time behind Hawaii Five-. The CW's Gossip Girl (1.4 million, .8) came back because of its fifth season, enhancing 22 percent in one of the grown ups 18-34 demo in the season closer. Rachel Bilson's Hart of Dixie (1.8 million, .8) released following a veteran Josh Schwartz cleaning soap, building upon its lead-in as a whole audiences by 29 perent. Dixie broadened its audience within the other half hour (1.7 million versus. 1.9 million) and also the 18-49 demo (.7 versus. .8). Particularly, Univision's Teresa beat The Sing-Off in among grown ups 18-49 and Gossip Girl at 8 p.m. having a 1.8 rating, as the network's La Fuerza del Destino capped the 2nd hour from the Sing-Off and Hart of Dixie having a 2.. Possibly more telling is Univision's Don Francisco Presenta posting exactly the same 1.3 rating because the battling Playboy Club (1.3). CBS - 4.6 · Generate An Income Met Your Mother: 10.six million, 4.4 · 2 Broke Women: 11.six million, 4.5 · Two & One Half Males: 20 million, 7.2 · Mike & Molly (P): 14 million, 4.9 · Hawaii Five-: 11.a million, 3.3 ABC - 3.1 · Dwts: 16 million, 3.3 · Castle: 11.9 million, 2.9 Fox - 3. · Terra Nova (P): 9 million, 3. NBC - 1.5 · The Sing-Off: 4.4 million, 1.7 · The Playboy Club: 3.8 million, 1.3 The CW - .8 · Gossip Girl (P): 1.4 million, .8 · Hart of Dixie (P): 1.8 million, .8 TV Rankings

The Glee Project Casting For Season 2

Margot Robbie ABC's Pan Am enjoyed a smooth if not soaring takeoff with 10.87 million aboard, scoring a 3.1 rating among 18-to-49-year-olds to land second place against CSI: Miami's 10th season premiere. The CBS procedural managed to snare 9.98 million and a 2.2 rating in the industry-prized demo - down 31 percent from a year earlier and the series' worst autumn premiere - while of course NBC's Sunday Night Football won the final hour of prime time - and the entire night. The game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts scored 16.74 million fans (7.0 demo rating) while averaging 17.97 million (7.2) overall. Meet Pan Am's flight crew The 1960s drama about stewardesses improved on its time slot predecessor, Brothers & Sisters, by 7 percent in the demo and built on the audience of Desperate Housewives' final season premiere, which lured 9.78 million viewers and a 3.1 demo rating at 9/8c - beating the 2.2 for The Good Wife's Season 3 premiere. The CBS show, which grabbed 10.50 million people, declined by 12 percent in the demo compared with its Season 2 start, when it aired Tuesdays at 10/9c. While the numbers were skewed by a football overrun on CBS, the ratings also looked bad for the network at 8/7c, when the preliminary Nielsens showed that while the start of Amazing Race's 19th edition was a solid second in the hour with 10.52 million people, the 3.0 demo marked a 21 percent decrease against last fall. Fall Preview: Get scoop on your favorite returning shows The ninth-season opener of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - featuring first lady Michelle Obama - invited in 7.09 million (1.8) over two hours. From 8 to 10 on Fox, the animation block got under way with mixed results: the Season 23 premiere of The Simpsons - the longest-running scripted show in TV history - attracted 7.91 million viewers (3.8 demo rating, up 3 percent vs. last fall); the third season of The Cleveland Show debuted with 6.02 million (3.1, even); Family Guy's 11th-season premiere started off at 7.63 million (4.1, down 9 percent) and the Season 7 kickoff of American Dad! netted 5.72 million (3.0, even).

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Obama in Hollywood

Leader Obama returns to La again today for 2 late-mid-day and early evening Hollywood-centric 2012 fund-raisers that once more are raising concerns of hurry-hour traffic snarls. Obama is scheduled to look in an event at home of Blues, where tickets start at $250 per person and also the selection includes B.o.B, the Gay Men's Chorus, Adam 12 and "Modern Family" star Jesse Tyler Ferguson. He'll follow that event having a high-dollar event at Fig & Olive on Melrose Place, with tickets at $17,900 per person. West Hollywood city authorities happen to be delivering out notices to citizens warning them of possible street closures, but as continues to be the situation with Obama's previous visits, the key Service keeps details about motorcade routes carefully guarded. Nonetheless, the town is closing parks and city offices early awaiting bottlenecks, plus some schools were likely to finish your day early to prevent the traffic. Obama's last fund-raising swing in April, when he made an appearance at late-mid-day and early-evening occasions at The new sony Galleries and also the Brentwood eatery Tavern, was drawn served by relatively couple of complications. A trip in August 2010 had caught many individuals unawares as major arterial blood vessels like Olympic Boulevard were closed at hurry hour. The leader continues to be on a bit of a fund-raising tear to replace with an inactive period within the summer time, because he wrangled with Republicans on the deal to boost the country's debt ceiling. His occasions will also provide him an opportunity to attempt to energize his Hollywood base of support, as some figures like Robert Redford and Matt Damon have expressed disappointment on issues such as the atmosphere and education. Given that it's still early and there's no Republican nominee, it is not easy to gauge at this time the effect on fund-raising within an industry that's been probably the most loyal bases of support for Dems. Hollywood sources have led $6.8 million to Dems this cycle, to $2.7 million to Republicans, a split of 71% to 29%, based on the Center for Responsive Politics. Jeffrey Katzenberg and Michael Lynton are among Obama's campaign bundlers, and Harvey Weinstein located a fund-raiser for him in August. Katzenberg, Steve Bing and J.J. Abrams happen to be among large contributor giving to independent expenditure groups supporting Dems the coming year. Obama themself has acknowledged frustration, which is expected that in the looks on Monday he'll have a more populist tone and highlight the variations with Republicans on issues like jobs and taxes. Contact Ted Manley at ted.manley@variety.com

'Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' Trailer Gets The 'Muppets' Treatment

by Dionne Buxton Disney has been on a binge with the publicity of the new "Muppets" movie, previously poking fun at "The Hangover 2" with "The Fuzzy Pack" and "Green Lantern" through "Being Green." Now, the haywire marketing extravaganza continues with a new trailer called "The Pig with the Froggy Tattoo," toying around with -- you guessed it -- David Fincher's "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." This upbeat trailer is oozing with celebrity appearances from the likes of Chris Cooper, Neil Patrick Harris, and Sarah Silverman to name a few. And its packed with random scenes and intrepid blinking text that takes jabs not just at the "Dragon Tattoo" trailer, but at their own use of parodies to publicize the movie. The "Muppets" team even went the extra mile in writing their own soundtrack for the trailer that sends you on an adrenaline rush as soon as you press play. But, of course, in true gentleman-like form, they had to include the writer of the catchy song in his two second (maybe one) theatrical debut. The entire trailer is a thrilling rollercoaster that literally makes your heart beat a tad too fast. It sends you in a scene by scene tornado full of action, love and comedy that at the end has you wondering what just happened in the last minute of your life. Oh, and did we mention singing dancing, and blatant cross promotion? Yeah, plenty of that. The movie, which is set for release on November 23, is in true fashion to the rest of this action packed series. Of course theres a hero, a bad guy, and most importantly the diva herself, Miss Piggie. Tell us what you think of the latest trailer for "The Muppets" in the comments section and on Twitter!

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Geek Love: Spurlock Cuddles Fans With 'Comic-Con'

TORONTO (AP) Morgan Spurlock visited a convention in Hillcrest couple of years ago and situated his people brainiacs and fans, similar to he's.The director of "Super Size Me" found Comic-Disadvantage this kind of mecca for fans of comics, superheroes together with other areas of geek culture he felt compelled to produce a movie in regards to the place."Comic-Disadvantage Episode IV: A Fan's Hope," playing within the Toronto Worldwide Film Festival, can be a love song for the fans who journey every year to mix utilizing their kind and people constantly telling themselves that next season, they'll ensure it is there themselves.Spurlock, who had been elevated reading through through comics and idolizing Marvel Comics mastermind Stan Lee, first visited some-day convention in summer season 2009 to recruit fans of "The Simpsons" for just about any 20th anniversary special he was making in regards to the animated TV series.Drawing 130,000 people yearly many in elaborate costumes as favorite superheroes, movie idols and video-game figures Comic-Disadvantage is how for fans to buy rare comics, have the latest figures, preview footage of Hollywood's next blockbusters and basically hang utilizing their peers."I'm there watching this going, 'This might be the best factor I've come across. That is amazing. This is often a movie,'" Spurlock mentioned inside an interview in the last weekend following a Toronto festival premiere of "Comic-Disadvantage." ''Later on your evening comes about when I met Stan Lee inside a party and kind of just gushed to Stan, telling him simply how much he changed my existence just like a kid. Which he mentioned, 'We should produce a movie together. We have to produce a documentary about Comic-Disadvantage.'"Standing nearby was a realtor who also feel it may be beneficial, telling Spurlock he should talk to a person he'd going to town every day later. Spurlock was getting breakfast the next morning with "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" creator Joss Whedon, too as with a perfect storm of geekdom, their documentary was off and running.Lee and Whedon signed on as executive producers, and so they grew to become an associate of a lot of filmmakers, authors, stars and artists to supply on-camera findings about the requirement for Comic-Disadvantage, incorporated within this Kevin Cruz, Guillermo del Toro, Eli Roth, Seth Rogen and Seth Eco-friendly.Shooting before and throughout this year's convention, Spurlock also had film deckie's following Comic-Disadvantage commoners. The cast includes a team creating elaborate costumes to compete inside the event's annual masquerade a comic vendor getting an in-depth vault of rare books to promote artists wanting to destroy into comics together with an admirer who met his girlfriend there this past year and staged an endearing marriage proposal before thousands of entertaining fans.Spurlock required to sell his idea just a little to Comic-Disadvantage planners. His Academy Award-nominated debut documentary "Super Size Me" did several concerning the fast-food industry as Spurlock chronicled his physical and emotional recession living on only Carl's junior food for just about any month.Comic-Disadvantage overseers, who had no time before allowed anybody to produce a documentary in regards to the event, worried he might perform exactly the same on their behalf, opening convention fans around the ridicule they face in everyday existence because of their desire for nerdy things."We are incredibly protective of people people, to make sure that Comic-Disadvantage might be a safe atmosphere for people to go over their passions, their love. Which he mentioned he desired to give consideration to that particular,Inch mentioned Comic-Disadvantage representative David Glanzer. "He offered us about it. We mentioned yes, kind of closed our eyes, and wanted for the most effective. ... And Morgan did an admirable job in showing it for which it's. In my opinion Morgan could show an insider's take a look at Comic-Disadvantage that's never proven before."Since Spurlock shot to fame with "Super Size Me," he's been unable to visit occasions for instance Comic-Disadvantage without needing to be mobbed by fans themselves. He did be capable of go undercover for any little at Comic-Disadvantage the 2009 This summer time, though, due to an indication from his 4-year-old boy.After Spurlock made a decision to think about his boy along for the convention, he shown the boy a comic-Disadvantage book he'd created just like a companion for the documentary. His boy seen the pictures of fans in costumes and told his father he preferred to become Batman."After which it he goes, 'No, you might be Batman, which i would be Softball softball bat Boy,'" Spurlock mentioned. "There' was the very next day buying costumes online, after which it here' am at Comic-Disadvantage inside our Batman costumes, available the floor. It absolutely was awesome. It absolutely was an very proud moment just like a father."Copyright 2011 Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Japan's Pia fest reveals lineup

Tokyo, japan, japan -- The Pia Film Festival, Japan's leading launchpad for youthful directorial talent for 33 years, features its line-up. Screening competing will probably be 17 photos from 602 published. Four are actually selected for other fests: Kashou Iizuka's "Our Future" and Yoshihiro Nagano's "Entertainment" will take part in the arrival Vancouver Film Festival's Dragons and Tigers section Hitoshi Kitagawa's "Damn Existence" and Ryu Morioka's "Tominaga Park" are situated for your Busan Film Festival, which starts March. 6. Serving concerning the jury for your competition will probably be producer Shuji Abe, helmer Shinya Tsukamoto, helmer Takahisa Zeze and thesp Kaho Minami. Also concerning the sked are two classics by Ernst Lubitsch and Mikio Naruse's 1934 quiet "Street Without Finish" additionally to panel occasions featuring helmers Kazuhiko Hasegawa, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Shinya Tsukamoto and Shunji Iwai. Fest unspools Sept. 20 to 30 at Tokyo's National Film Center. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

VIDEO: Companies Air 9/11 Tribute Commercials

Empire State of Mind (Part II) 9/11 Tribute Among the many tributes for the 10th anniversary of 9/11, State Farm recently debuted a tribute directed by Spike Lee. In the video, nearly 150 schoolchildren sing "Empire State of Mind," as they visit several firehouses. The montage, which also spotlights the new memorial, ends with "Never forgotten. Forever Grateful." Verizon's spot showcases the Statue of Liberty set to Josh Groban's "The Prayer." The end reads "In tribute to those we lost" and "In gratitude to those who served." Budweiser also updated their tribute commercial, adding 1 World Trade Center under construction in the background.

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9/11 Anniversary: The way the Music Business Was Influenced

Like almost all types of entertainment, the background music industry both felt the impact from the 9/11 terrorist attacks making its very own.our editor recommendsSeptember 11 News Coverage Collected in Internet ArchiveCyndi Lauper Flubs National Anthem at 9/11 U.S. Open Semi-Finals (Video) September 11, 2001 would be a Tuesday, your day when music stores typically receive new releases, and many large game titles were on deck, includingJay-Z'sThe Blueprint.A few days following the terrorist attacks, music sales dropped 5%, as the New You are able to metropolitan area experienced a 16.2% decline, based on Nielsen SoundScan (worth observing: six days earlier, N Sync's Celebrityalbum offered an astounding 1.8 million models its first week out). But soon after that, music would play a huge role along the way of grieving and healing and also the eventual go back to normalcy. Because the world takes note of the occasions of about ten years ago, The Hollywood Reporterruns lower the way the music community was affected and just how it responded. &bull A lot more than 165 tunes are banned: Inside a memorandum delivered to 100s of Obvious Funnel-operated stations, a lot more than 165 tunes were listed as "lyrically questionable." In the beginning, radio stations conglomerate refused the presence of such a listing, but after industry insider site Hits Daily Double released it, a clarification is made: the tunes were much more of an indicator than an outright prohibit. One of the tunes about the reported list: AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds Done Cheap" and "Highway to Hell," Alien Ant Farm's cover of Smooth Criminal, Neil Diamond's "America," Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," Foo Martial artists "Learn how to Fly," Billy Joel's "Just the Good Die Youthful," Judas Priest's "Some Heads are Gonna Roll," Dork Matthews Band's "Crash Into Me," Queen's "A different one Bites the Dust," R.E.M.'s "It's the Finish around the globe As You May Know It," and Drowning Pool's "Physiques." The Beatles "Each Day within the Existence," "Lucy on the horizon with Diamonds," "Doctor-la-di, Doctor-la-da," and "Ticket to Ride" were also temporarily considered to stay in poor taste. STORY:9/11 TV: 5 Special offers Worth Watching &bull The Strokes, Dork Matthews remove sensitive tracks using their albums: RCA Records was the place to find The Strokes and Dork Mathews Band, both artists who required it upon themselves to get rid of tunes with sensitive subject material, considering the current tragedies. For That Strokes, it had been the track "New You are able to City Cops" from their debut album Is It, which repeated the chorus, "New You are able to City cops / They ain't too wise." For Matthews, it had been "Once the World Finishes" in the album Everyday. &bull Tours are postponed and benefit concerts organized: Terrorism fears triggered many tours to cancel or postpone shows, including U2, Madonna, Aerosmith, Britney Warrior spears and Jesse Jackson, who later cancelled the whole European leg of her All For You Personally trek stating issues of safety. The Latin Grammy Honours, scheduled for that evening of Sept. 11, and annual music conference CMJ Music Festival, that was because of start on Sept. 13, also needed to be rescheduled. However the music community soon banded together to assist sufferers from the attacks, taking part within the September 21 telethon America: A Tribute to Heroes, which elevated $150 million for U . s . Way and featured performances by Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Question, U2, Belief Hill, Wyclef Jean, Alicia Secrets, Bon Jovi and Dixie Chicks. Per month afterwards October 20, Jay-Z, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Billy Joel, David Bowie, Future's Child yet others required happens at Madison Square Garden for any star-studded benefit concert. Within the crowd were making it through people from the New You are able to police and fire departments along with other emergency services and groups of individuals wiped out within the attacks. STORY:9/11 Anniversary: The Touching Story Behind Showtime's New Paul McCartney Documentary In December, a compilation of performances in the Concert for brand new You are able to City was launched with arises from the 2-Compact disc set visiting the Robin Hood Relief Fund, which assisted lower-earnings New Yorkers and groups of save employees impacted by the terrorist attacks. Visit a clip below. &bull Tunes are inspired by 9/11: Albums by Jay-Z (The Blueprint), Bob Dylan (Love and Thievery) and Mariah Carey (Glitter) counseled me scheduled for release tomorrow, however they wouldn't be the soundtrack to September 11. Rather, tunes like Springsteen's "Increasing,Inch launched the next This summer, and Alan Jackson's "Where Had You Been (Once the World Stopped Turning)," recorded two several weeks following the attacks, were born, supplying restored expect healing. An exciting-star version of Marvin Gaye's classic "What's HappeningInch featuring Bono, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez and Gwen Stefanialso joined together, but possibly most poignant were formerly launched tunes that required on new meaning -- like Five For Fighting's 2000 hit "Superman" and Enrique Iglesias' "Hero," which showed up at stores on September 3, 2001. STORY:Fox, NBC and Cinemax Won't Air 9/11 Special offers on Sunday &bull The background music business suffers its share of casualties: On September 11, Backstreet Boys set contractor Daniel John Lee was on American Air carriers flight 11, headed from Boston to La, where his wife was because of give birth. Former Wally Disney consumer items svp Carolyn Beug seemed to be on that plane, which may go to the North Tower. Jane Simpkin, an associate of ASCAP's Northeast music certification team, would be a passenger on the flight that go to the South Tower, while Matthew O'Mahony, the husband of then-Island Def Jam svp of publicity Lauren Murphy along with a trader at Cantor Fitzgerald, is at its northern border Tower, as was Michael Andrews, the brother of then-Billboard circulation director Jeanne Jamin. Through the finish of September 2001, the background music industry had collected a lot more than $170 million to assist groups of 9/11 sufferers. With confirming by Sophie Schillaci Related Subjects Elton John Jay-Z Mariah Carey Billy Joel Bruce Springsteen 9/11

'Glee' DVD Maker Gives to Music Education

NEW You'll be able to (AP) Producer in the "Glee" Digital video disks is giving $millions of to school arts programs nationwide.twentieth Century Fox Entertainment introduced the donation Friday, saying it'll make use of the nation's Association for Music Education to obtain the money to schools. The business states 73 schools can get grants or loans or financial loans different from $10,000 to $50,000.Fox's popular series is devoted to some greater school singing group.Qualified high schools are increasingly being asked for to submit videos about why their schools deserve a grant. You will notice a public election to winnow your competitors and education association government bodies could make the best election.20th Century Fox is delivering a DVD and Blu-ray in the "Glee" second season inside a couple of days.Copyright laws and regulations 2011 Connected Press. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Ricky Gervais To Live-Snark Golden Globes

Wow, this would be appointment listening. But presumably it could happen only if he doesn’t host again. From Ricky Gervais’ blog: What do you think of this? A live 3 hour podcast during The Golden Globes. Me and a few chums (like Louis CK, Chris Rock, Karl Pilkington, John Stewart, Larry David popping in and out) doing our own alternative commentary. People at home can have the telly on with the sound down listening to us online say things that no broadcaster could get away with. No one could do a fucking thing. The biggest live webcast ever? Who knows? Who cares? What’s fun is the shit we might come out with. No money. No sponsor. No guide lines. Fuck me I can’t wait. Maybe I’ll do a non-broadcast practice with The Emmys to see if it works. I’ll let you know. [AND LATER ...] Wow. I’ve opened a can of worms. Or Pandora’s box. Or released the Kraken maybe? I’ve had an amazing response to yesterday’s blog entry. Not only was the idea received well, but we’ve had offers of sponsorship, technical support and a bunch of comedians up for it. I don’t want people to think that this is some sort of anti-establishment stunt. It’s not. Anymore than deciding to do a podcast in 2005 was. It’s about new horizons, new technologies and artistic freedom. Fun basically. Although, if I actually do it, it will show people how tame my official hosting was last year. I still can’t quite understand how anyone would think I overstepped the mark, was cruel, or pushed any boundaries of taste and decency. It was a network friendly gentle ribbing of the industry. Nothing more. I didn’t even dress as Hitler in the end. Anyway. I’m looking into it. Might not happen. I might not even be available. Who knows, I might be at The Golden Globes. (awkward silence.) The funny thing is, everyone who tunes in to the live webcast will also have to be watching the actual show on NBC. I could still be helping their ratings. Ha ha. I hadn’t thought this through. Maybe they should sponsor me? (awkward silence… slightly longer than the last one… slowly fade to black.)

Ask Matt: The Office, Fall TV, Rizzoli, Big C, Torchwood and More!

James Spader Send questions to askmatt@tvguidemagazine.com and follow me on Twitter! Question: Love your column, here is my question: With the exit of Steve Carell (and the last two to three seasons of The Office being very uneven), do you really think that adding James Spader to the cast will improve it? I re-watched the series from the beginning over this summer and one of the things that I noticed missing from the last few seasons is how the show went from a comedy about the office place to a comedy about characters in and outside of the office. While I like the actors, many of the characters (looking at you, Meredith) are now just caricatures; with Steve Carell leaving, I thought it would give the show a last chance to reboot, but hearing that James Spader joined the cast, my excitement has waned. Do you think that James Spader can help this show rekindle its former glory? - Larry S Matt Roush: Well, he certainly can't do it alone. I haven't seen any of the new season yet, so won't pre-judge except to say that I'm of the camp that wishes The Office had taken Michael Scott's exit as a cue for a natural and relatively graceful ending. But the show still anchors NBC's not-quite-hit-comedy lineup, so NBC can't afford to shed it just yet. I still get a kick out of many of the Dunder Mifflin folks - even Meredith, though as with most of them, a little goes a long way - and consider this an ensemble show at its best. So if James Spader's character shakes things up in a funny way - unlike how Will Ferrell's ill-conceived character soured the mix last season - it will be seen as a plus. I'm hopeful he'll bring a new and twisted comic energy to the workplace. But I'm more curious how the rest of the office dynamics will play out, because if I don't enjoy what's happening with the rest of them, Spader's eccentricities alone won't be enough. Want more Matt Roush? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now! Question: Each year at about this time, I remove from the DVR schedule those shows that were canceled and start plugging in a couple of new ones that I might like. This year I can't find one worth adding. I've got ABC trying to mimic the success CBS had by rebooting a '70s show (Charlie's Angels), two shows that are trying to rip off Mad Men (The Playboy Club and Pan Am), two dramas in Prime Suspect - which NBC will cancel as soon as the suits realize that it isn't a reality show or singing contest - and Unforgettable, which looks ... well, forgettable; a show where the lead talks toa ghost (in case you were missing Medium and Ghost Whisperer) and a show that looks like Jurassic Park meets Avatar and my guess is will be canceled by Thanksgiving - giving us all reason for thanks. Then there are the comedies, which to me look quite tragic. Of all the shows, I might be able to drum up some interest for Person of Interest because J.J. Abrams does some good things, and Last Man Standing because I'm a Tim Allen fan, but other than that I don't see a keeper in the bunch. At least last year I was interested in stuff like Chicago Code, Hawaii Five-0, No Ordinary Family and *&%$ My Dad Says (OK, I was really wrong on that last one). I think I would rather dedicate my DVR space to reruns of The Unit than this dreck. So I guess my question is: is it just me or is this season's new crop really stretching for any sort of ... what's the word I'm looking for here ... quality? Are the network suits so lazy as to just green-light filler shows with the feeling "eh, we just need something for a couple of weeks until we can slot in the hot new reality show 8 Fools Singing for Cash and Has-Been Actors Grasping for Press?" - Chip Matt Roush: Whew. I understand the cynicism here, especially coming off a season as disappointing as last year's, but don't really ascribe to it. (For more information on the new network shows and my individual take on them, TV Guide Magazine's Fall Preview issue is out this week. Don't miss it.) Back to the question: There's a big risk in judging shows by premise and promos alone. You might just be surprised this season, especially by the comedies (New Girl in particular, but ABC's Suburgatory and CBS' Two Broke Girls have their appeal). And by the time we get to midseason, where many of the more interesting risks and potential creative breakthroughs are lying in wait, things should get much more interesting. Even so, this fall is an improvement over a year ago, when it looked like almost no one was even trying. For instance, Person of Interest does attempt something new with the classic CBS procedural, and even A Gifted Man (the requisite CBS ghost show) is elevated by an incredible cast. I'm not entirely sold on the season's two fairy-tale inspired fantasies (ABC's Once Upon a Time and NBC's horror mystery Grimm), but I'm glad the effort is being made, and especially with Time, I'm curious to see where it's going. And TV hasn't seen a big-ticket big-budget broad-appeal item like Fox's time-travel family adventure-with-dinosaurs Terra Nova for some time, so while I wish the writing and acting on that one were on a higher level, I'm encouraged that it at least feels like an "event." And while there's no question the style of Mad Men inspired Pan Am and The Playboy Club, these are much broader (no pun intended) entertainments - they'd have to be to survive - and the escapism of Pan Am I find especially infectious. As is always the case, there are a number of "what are they thinking?" calamities, but to approach the new season as if it's all a wash before it even begins is both unfair and probably (hopefully) off base. Question: I am seriously beginning to wonder if we are seeing the beginning of the end of broadcast TV as an entertainment medium. ABC is trying a new Charlie's Angels this fall, CBS is going to try and redo Bewitched in a year, and now comes word that NBC wants to give The Munsters yet another fresh spin. Have they officially run out of truly new ideas for TV shows after about 60 years of this medium's existence? It looks that way to me. Micky Dolenz of The Monkees (hmmm...will they try to redo THAT one next?) said back in 1971 that TV's future one day would be as a news-info medium only, and that entertainment will just be in cassette form (well, DVD anyway). Could his prophecy be finally coming true after 40 years? - David Matt Roush: First: Micky Dolenz as media prophet of doom? Why not? Second: A news-only medium? Hardly. The real danger, I suppose, is that unscripted "reality" programming will push scripted shows further into the margins, but it's hardly a hopeless situation, even if TV, much like the movie business (which is even worse), keeps toying with remakes that are so easy and fun to mock. The new Charlie's Angels is unquestionably one of the fall's worst "new" shows, but never underestimate the audience's desire for formula served on a splashy, sexy platter. Network TV as a mass medium turns back to classic titles from time to time in hopes that familiarity will breed something other than contempt. Sadly, re-imagining (as in the case of Syfy's brilliant Battlestar Galactica redo) rarely occurs. Question: I am sure you have noticed how illogical certain plot developments are in many series. For example, in the Rizzoli & Isles episode a few weeks ago when they were frantically looking for a fellow detectives' daughter who had been abducted, Jane and her partner charge out of the station when they have located the suspect's car only to pull up to the site with Jane sipping a cup of coffee. Are we to believe that they stopped in route? Also so many shows have visitors show up unannounced in squad rooms, lawyer's offices, etc. while today a pizza delivery guy cannot gain access anywhere. Or like in Franklin & Bash when the managing partner was arrested and both F&B were unaware the next day until they received a phone call. In this era of Blackberries, Google alerts, IMs, etc., it is ridiculous for them not to have known. It's not that these are continuity errors rather, just illogical plot devices. Is this a current phenomenon and have you commented on it? Thanks - I truly enjoy your observations. - Bruce Matt Roush: I hope you enjoy this one. Because if you're going to hold the shows you watch to that kind of logical high standard - and the coffee moment does sound like a continuity problem (if she wasn't carrying coffee out of the precinct) - might I suggest you raise the bar in terms of the shows you watch? These particular TNT shows are more cartoon than drama, and while I suppose there's fun to be had in feeling superior to the ham-fisted type of storytelling they engage in, if it's going to frustrate you, look elsewhere (like FX and AMC). That said, clumsy plot devices are nothing new. Given the speed and volume at which TV is made, I'm usually surprised there isn't more of it. But you're hardly alone in noticing. Read on. Question: I have watched Rizzoli & Isles until last month's "Brown Eyed Girl" episode. The ME examines the dead girl without protective clothing and with her own hair hanging down in the kid's face. Then the police team does a major raid on the suspect's home and no one is wearing a bulletproof vest. Could they at least make the effort to show a little reality like The Closer and all the other decent cop shows? This piece of fluff does not even deserve airtime in my opinion. - Joan Matt Roush: Even by the loose standards of TV's many formula crime dramas, Rizzoli & Isles tends to get my eyes rolling at an alarmingly fast clip. The Closer isn't exactly subtle, but there's really no comparison between the shows when it comes to ensemble strength and especially in the writing. I can only explain Rizzoli's success by noting the inescapable star charisma and chemistry of its two leads. Question: I know that you're not a huge fan, but I absolutely adore Showtime's The Big C. I am elated that it has been renewed for a third season, but confused why, after two 13-episode seasons, it only received an order for 10 episodes. Do you think this is a sign that the show is coming to an end? Obviously, for creative reasons, the show cannot go on forever. But since each TV season of the show takes place in the next (summer, fall, winter, etc) season, feasibly it could go on for more than three years. I think and hope that this show has a lot of life left in it. Before it ends up like Weeds, played out and overstaying its welcome. Should I be concerned that one of my favorite shows is ending? - Ryan Matt Roush: My hunch (and that's all it is) is that since each season of The Big C is structured around a season of the year, Showtime will give the series four seasons to come full circle and then that will be it. But then, who'd have guessed Weeds would go on this long, so who knows? The reduced episode order is most likely an economic or business or scheduling decision (as opposed to creative), because shows get more expensive to produce by the season, and whatever show they're planning to pair Big C with next year may also get a 10-episode order. I suppose it's natural to wonder about the life expectancy of this show more than most, but I'm always puzzled when news of a renewal is greeted by more worries that it's actually the beginning of the end. Question: Do you know the name of a show that is about to start? It is about a doctor who talks with a friend who is already dead. I am guessing that he will talk with ghosts in a hospital. I saw the promo for the show only once on TV. Where will it will be showing? - Ana Matt Roush: I have a feeling you'll be seeing many more ads for CBS' A Gifted Man (the show you're asking about) before it premieres later this month, Fridays at 8/7c, starting Sept. 23. And to clarify the premise, this doctor is a brilliant surgeon (played by Patrick Wilson) who only sees one ghost - for now - that of his ex-wife (Jennifer Ehle), a former clinic doctor who tries to inspire him to use his gifts for the greater good, not just for his own self-interest. The cast, including Justified's Margo Martindale as the doc's right hand, is incredible. But I'm left for now still wondering how the show will balance the medical and the mystical. Question: Honestly, could this Breaking Bad season be any better than it is now? Not since the last seasons of The Shield have I been so impatient waiting for next week to come to see the next episode and what will happen. Everything is spinning out of control this season and I absolutely love it as a fan. The twists and turns keep coming and coming, and now I am more afraid for Walt then I have ever been. Could Jesse turn to the "Dark Side" with Gus and Co. and kill Walt? Jesse looks like he has some dark demons inside him and does not know where to turn. Does Hank get to close to the "true" Heisenberg and Walt will need to take matters in his own hands? So many questions and once you think you believe what will happen, it goes in the complete opposite direction, phenomenal! -Mike Matt Roush: Every so often, an unqualified rave is the perfect tonic - and given the skeptical tone of so much of this week's column, happy to share this one. And this came in before Sunday night's riveting "Hermanos" episode, which gave Giancarlo Esposito his best moments yet as the chilling "Gus," whose flashback to his violent first encounter with the Mexican cartel was beyond chilling. (And how unnerving was the scene of Hank and Walt in the restaurant's parking lot, as Mike silently parked alongside them, freaking Walt out - not that he could show it to his gung-ho brother-in-law). What an outstanding season - and on a completely different track, if you missed Sunday's "Mister Softee" episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, that was an absolute classic. TV didn't take Labor Day weekend off, so if you did, some catching up is in order. Question: First I want to thank you so much for defending Fringe in last week's column with the following comment: "It's still alive because Fox sees the value in a buzz-worthy cult series, fabulously executed, that doesn't need to attract huge numbers to prove its worth on a very problematic night." While I wish Fox would have seen fit to renew Human Target as well, I am so glad they gave Fringe the opportunity for another season. I wouldn't be surprised if it were the final season, and I would be okay (but not happy) with that as long as they provide enough notice so that the show can come to a satisfactory ending for its fans. Fringe is one of the few shows, along with The Good Wife, that I view as appointment TV. I think it is nice that Fox recognizes that not all shows have to be the same and allows something for its more science-fiction oriented fans. I guess my question here is about Torchwood. The Miracle Day season is the only one I have seen, although I ordered season 1 on DVD. Assuming I like season 1, do you think it is more worthwhile to order season 2 or just go for Children of Earth? I was a little hesitant with that because of some things I read. Is it necessary to see everything in order (obviously I am not with Miracle Day) to understand what is going on, or will Children of Earth make sense without season 2? - Faye Matt Roush: See how you feel after season 1, but I think you'll want to experience the whole series. Children of Earth can probably be enjoyed on its own, it's that good, but the nature of loss - a constant in the world of Torchwood, a theme that carries on into Miracle Day - becomes even more evident if you watch it all. I'm glad this latest season didn't sour you on the show. If this were my first taste of Torchwood, I'm not sure I'd be gearing up for more. I screened this Friday's finale over the Labor Day weekend, and all I'll say for now is "better luck next time," if there is a next time. Question: Matt, I've drawn a blank! Who is "Wemma" on Glee??? - Larry Matt Roush: Bless your heart. Because one of my personal and professional bugaboos is this kind of "fan-speak." For those like Larry who don't engage in this sort of fan "shipper" shorthand, this is how a part of the Glee fan base refers to the couple of Will and Emma. (Get it? Wemma.) And did I ever get abuse last week from members of the "Wemma" camp for scoffing at that - though I took the rest of the question (about Matthew Morrison's status on Glee) seriously. And despite my "whatever" last week (which if it offended I'm sorry), of course I root for these two. While I find the couple to be awfully precious at times, how can you not given the alternative. Will's ogre of an ex-wife is one of the least appealing characters this series has ever produced, and Emma's marriage to John Stamos was one of the least convincing or coherent subplots of last season. Since the subject has come up, I'd just like to note that in doing this column I strive neither to pander to fans nor to insult them. But while analyzing arcs of relationships on series like Glee and Grey's Anatomy and Bones and scores of other shows is fair game for critical discussion, it's hard for me to take it seriously when fans use words like "Wemma" or "Calzona" (for Callie and Arizona) or "Huddy" (for House and Cuddy) to feed their obsession. Just consider this a footnote in the "Ask Matt 101" handbook. Question: Can you explain the rationale behind the DVD release dates for TV shows? Case in point, I was turned on to Modern Family by a friend this past summer. I bought the Season 1 DVDs, and very much enjoyed the show. I would like to watch the second season before the third season begins airing this fall, but I can't. That is because the second season will not be released on DVD until September 20, the DAY BEFORE the third season starts! Why wait so long to release it? Why not a month earlier for people like me who need to catch up before the next season starts? Is there an actual reason? It seems to alienate potential TV viewers this way. I can DVR the third season until I have time to watch the second, but I would prefer to watch the show the night it airs, and I can't see why the studio/network wouldn't want that too for the ratings. - Jason Matt Roush: In this case, and is often the case, the Modern Family release date is timed for maximum promotional and marketing value to call attention to the immediate premiere of the third season. Your complaint makes sense to me that the impact would be just as valid if the street date were a few weeks ahead of the actual premiere. But honestly, Modern Family doesn't have to be enjoyed sequentially. Which is one of its pluses (though some critics who prefer all shows to be built around arcs of ongoing character development may disagree), and which is why the late release of this series on DVD is less problematic, even to late-blooming fans. My advice: Get the second season, and watch the episodes as you can, while enjoying the third. Shouldn't take that long to catch up, and just be glad you've finally discovered TV's finest current comedy. That's all for now. Keep sending your comments and questions to askmatt@tvguidemagazine.com, and in the meantime, follow me on Twitter! Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

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