Category: Television
Posted by Mekeisha Madden Toby (The Detroit News) on Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 5:22 AMPBS' 'Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City' is a start
An improved infrastructure is the heart of Detroit's comeback.
That was the prevailing message in the fascinating, but sometimes plodding documentary special "Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City," which aired Monday night on PBS.
As a native, it pained me to see the international image of Detroit's urban decay, Michigan Central Station.
But, I guess that's because the truth hurts and the truth is Detroit could really use a viable light-rail line and other smart methods of public transportation.
The question is when will these things come? But sadly, not even PBS knows the answer to that.
Category: Super Bowl XLIV
Posted by Mekeisha Madden Toby (The Detroit News) on Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 5:00 AMCars.com needs a lady's touch
Cars.com has some of the best Super Bowl ads.
Last year, the spot was about a guy who was so confident, he performed surgery with an ink pen at a classical music concert.
This year's confident guy helped a tiger give birth in the wild. Both guys are too scared to buy cars without full knowledge, so both guys turn to, you guessed it, Cars.com.
But what about confident women who want to buy cars but have cold feet? Has Cars.com heard of them?
Humph. I'm just saying.
Category: DVDs
Posted by Mekeisha Madden Toby (The Detroit News) on Fri, Feb 5, 2010 at 1:40 AMSecond season of 'thirtysomething' more relevant than ever
Michael and Elliot lose their advertising firm and have to find jobs. Hope loses her baby and Melissa loses Gary to Susannah.
Yup, "thirtysomething: The Complete Second Season" (Shout! Factory, $59.97) was all about loss and still holds up and holds true some 20 years after it first aired.
So, you like the "thirtysomething"?
Prove your love by emailing me two paragraphs on how you think the seminal drama still holds up at mmadden@detnews.com and win, you guessed it, the second season on DVD. Please include your name, age and address.
But act fast. There is only one set.
Category: Award-show buzz
Posted by Mekeisha Madden Toby (The Detroit News) on Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 12:21 PMOscar noms feel familiar
After watching Mo'Nique win a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award, I wish I could say that I was shocked that she was nominated for an Oscar ... but I'm not.
The only thing that would shock me at this point would be if she doesn't win in March.
The same goes for Sandra Bullock, Jeff Bridges and Christoph Waltz.
As for those 10 best picture noms, some of the titles were a stretch.
"Up"? Really? And "District 9"? Humph!
Anyway, here's my video of Mo'Nique backstage at the Golden Globes. Enjoy.
Category: TCA Press Tour
Posted by Mekeisha Madden Toby (The Detroit News) on Mon, Feb 1, 2010 at 4:27 AMElmore Leonard short story inspires new FX drama
FX's latest lawman drama "Justified" is a testosterone-fueled ride into crime fighting in the south.
The show, which debuts in March, is inspired by an Elmore Leonard short story, "Fire in the Hole."
Leonard, who lives in Metro Detroit, talked to The Detroit News and other publications in January about "Justified" at the TCA press tour. Leonard, 84, is also one of the show's executive producers.
Category: Television
Posted by Mekeisha Madden Toby (The Detroit News) on Mon, Jan 25, 2010 at 7:23 PM'Big Love' is making big moves this season
The developing relationships between Alby (Matt Ross) and the big-shot lawyer guy and Margene (Ginnifer goodwin) and Ben (Douglas Smith) are definitely making the fourth and current season of "Big Love" worth the watch.
Needless to say, we already know neither hookup will end well.
Throw in the juicy release of season three on DVD (HBO, $59.99) and Chloe Sevigny's Golden Globe win last week for her work on the show, and "Big Love" is positively white hot right now.
Hoping to tap into Sevigny's heat -- she plays Nicki, in case you don't watch -- a reporter backstage at the Golden Globes actually asked her if she would comment on Tiger Woods' infidelities because her show is about polygamous marriage.
Thankfully, Sevigny, 35, didn' bite.
If you haven't watched the show in a while, the third-season DVD set is a wonderful way to catch up. It even includes a nifty feature called "Their Stories So Far" that allows each character to talk to fans and viewers to tell them the latest.
"Big Love" airs 9 p.m. Sundays on HBO.
Category: TCA Press Tour
Posted by Mekeisha Madden Toby (The Detroit News) on Sat, Jan 23, 2010 at 6:12 AMThom Filicia is a Style guru
Talking to Thom Filicia is better than watching a marathon of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy."
I had the pleasure when Filicia (a former "QEFTSG" star) attended a Comcast party last week where he plugged his new show "Tacky House."
The series, which debuts on the Style network in the spring, will give Filicia a chance to remodel homes for those with limited taste.
Filicia will also continue to host the Style network show "Dress My Nest."
When asked how the Style network and his former network Bravo compare, he said between bites of sushi "Bravo was a fledgling network when we started 'Queer Eye' and now Bravo is this big deal. Style is in its infancy now and I have to say I like being a part of that just like I enjoyed being a part of Bravo back then."
Our chat, which took place last Friday at the Langham in Pasadena, Calif., ended with me asking Filicia what he thought about the wallpaper and him telling me how textured wallpaper adds depth to a room. Sweet.
Catch the next episode of "Dress My Nest" when it airs 4 p.m. Thursday on the Style network.
Category: Television
Posted by Mekeisha Madden Toby (The Detroit News) on Thu, Jan 21, 2010 at 4:53 AMStarz opens eyes with 'Spartacus' party
To celebrate the launch of its sexy, new action epic, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," Starz threw a screening party at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles' Westwood neighborhood.
The event, which took place last Thursday, was great because it gave the show the big-screen treatment it deserves and allowed actors and fans to mingle.
That was cool until I saw Manu Bennett, who plays Crixus on the show. Having seen all of his, uhm, business on the screen, it was a little disconcerting to see him clothed and social.
Let's just say I had a hard time looking Mr. Bennett in the eye.
At least he was friendly. Sadly, my interaction with actress Krysten Ritter (AMC's "Breaking Bad") was anything but.
Ritter, 28, and her manager walked in the party a little later than everyone and quickly proceeded to turn off a heat lamp my guest and I were standing near to stay warm.
Wow.
So, I walked over to the manager and asked him to turn it back on. "Oh you were using that?" he asked.
"Yup," I said. "That's why we're standing here."
And that's when Ritter said "Oh, that's why you're standing over here?"
Huh? Are you kidding me? And to think, I liked this woman on "Breaking Bad." Now she's going to be co-starring on Starz's dark comedy "Gravity," which debuts this spring.
For her sake, I hope the show has more grace and tact than she had at the "Spartacus" party.
"Spartacus: Blood and Sand" debuts 10 p.m. Friday on Starz.
Category: TCA Press Tour
Posted by Mekeisha Madden Toby (The Detroit News) on Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 2:26 AMPBS anchors TCA day with music
PBS will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Rounder Records, the indie lable that specializes in blues and blugrass.
On Wednesday, TV critics were treated to a preview of the concert special PBS will air in March with a performance from Mary Chapin Carpenter.
Here's a taste:
Category: TCA Press Tour
Posted by Mekeisha Madden Toby (The Detroit News) on Sat, Jan 16, 2010 at 11:08 PMABC is controversy free these days
ABC's TCA day was nothing short of lackluster.
After announcing that "Lost" isn't coming back with any spinoffs or anything like that (is that really news?), ABC's top boss, Stephen McPherson, told critics in Pasadena, Calif., that "Dancing with the Stars" will have fewer contestants.
He also announced Tuesday that the network is picking up comedies "The Middle," "Modern Family" and "Cougar Town" for second seasons.
Good news for fans but not what anyone would call shocking news.
Not to be flip, but after hearing that Jay Leno was returning to late night on Sunday and on Monday that Simon Cowell is leaving "American Idol" in a few months, ABC's lack of news was glaring.
Add the fact that ABC didn't have a party where reporters could interview network talent, and ABC's press event was little more than a yawn.
Perhaps this is why Nicole Ari Parker, who is co-starring in the new ABC law drama "The Deep End" yelled out "But I do want to say that I play his wife on the show, and Billy (costar Billy Zane) does have very big cajones."
Ugh! Sad.
