Happy Birthday, Kate Jackson
Oct. 29, 2008 — Lucy Kate Jackson, who played Sabrina Duncan on “Charlie’s Angels” (1976-79 on ABC), turns 60 today.
Her most recent TV role was as Ambassador Elizabeth Prentiss on “Criminal Minds” (2007 episode titled “Honor Among Thieves”).
Her first acting role was as Daphne Harridge on “Dark Shadows” in 1971. She was 23.
Best wishes to Kate and everybody who shares this special day with her.
–Penny TV
Tulsa citizens on truTV
truTV’s “Most Daring” series features ordinary people in extraordinary danger. And Wednesday’s (Oct. 29) episode will feature Tulsans in heart-pounding moments caught on tape.
Clips included in the new episode titled “Fighting Back 2″ airing at 7 p.m. show several outraged citizens of Tulsa defending themselves and others around them.
There’s a gusty shopper taking on a gunman trying to rob a grocery store, a vigilante confronting a bully in a park and baristas responding to an unruly customer.
Interviews with those who fought back will air along with the video footage.
–Penny TV
Happy Birthday, Trista Rehn
Oct. 28, 2008 — Trista Nicole Rehn, who was “The Bachelorette” (2003 on ABC), turns 36 today.
Her wedding to Ryan Sutter aired on ABC in December 2003. She gave birth to baby boy (Maxwell Alston Sutter) in July 2007, and she announced on Oct. 14 that she is expecting her second child in spring.
Trista was the first celebrity to be voted off “Dancing With the Stars” during Season 1.
Best wishes to Trista and everybody who shares this special day with her.
–Penny TV
(ABC Photo at right features Trista Rehn in a 2002 promotional file photo).
Pick People’s Choice nominees
Several artists with Oklahoma ties are on the initial ballot for the 2009 People’s Choice Awards. Some good one aren’t, though, and it’s not too late to nominate them.
By becoming a member of People’s Choice, you can help determine the nominees for the 2009 event. But hurry. Nominations end Tuesday (Oct. 28). So go to www.pcavote.com/pca/ to become a People’s Choice member (membership is free) and make your picks.
The official 2009 People’s Choice Awards ballot will be released Nov. 10, and that is when the public can vote for their favorites.
As a People’s Choice member, I nominated Carrie Underwood for favorite female artist and favorite star age 35 and under, Rascal Flatts for favorite group and Holly Hunter for favorite TV Drama Diva.
“Pushing Daisies” star Kristin Chenoweth from Broken Arrow wasn’t among the choices for favorite female TV star, so I entered her name as a nominee. Same with “American Idol” winner David Cook from Tulsa, who made my ballot as favorite male artist.
The week of Nov. 10, I will return to People’s Choice online to vote for my favorites. All members who do so will be eligible to win a trip to the 2009 People’s Choice Awards.
The 35th annual People’s Choice Awards will be held Jan. 7 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
–Penny TV
Great news for Grammy fans
Nominations for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards will be announced live at 8 p.m. Dec. 3 on CBS. And in grand Grammy tradition, the announcements will be accompanied by a live concert.
Past Grammy winners will perform during the special “The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! — Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night” that will be broadcast from Nokia Theatre L.A. Live. Tickets to to event go on sale today (Oct. 27) at all Ticketmaster outlets (www.ticketmaster.com).
Of course, not all the nominees will be announced. That would take longer than an hour, as there are 200-plus Grammy categories. But producers of the special promise to reveal nominees in at least six categories.
The 51st Annual Grammy Awards will take place Feb. 8. For even more information about The Recording Academy that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers, go to www.grammy.com/.
–Penny TV
Happy Birthday, Robert Picardo
Oct. 27, 2008 — Robert Picardo, who played The Doctor on “Star Trek: Voyager” (1995-2001 on UPN), turns 55 today.
His most recent TV role is as Richard Woosley on “Stargate: Atlantis” (8 p.m. Fridays on SCI FI Channel).
His first acting role was in the 1975 Oscar-nominated short film “Doubletalk.” He was 22.
Best wishes to Robert and everybody who shares this special day with him.
–Penny TV
(SCI FI Channel Photo at right features Robert Picardoas Richard Woosley on “Stargate Atlantis”)
Funny festival returns for fourth season
Need a good laugh? Go to Las Vegas Nov. 20-22. That’s when TBS will present a “Very Funny” festival.
The Comedy Festival returns to tinsel town for the fourth consecutive year, and more than 70 comedy performances will take place over three days. Last year, TBS aired three prime-time specials for the event: “Ellen’s Really Big Show,” “Blue Collar Comedy: The Next Generation” and “Frank Caliendo: All Over the Place.”
One special is already being planned. Tracy Morgan (“30 Rock”) is hosting the comedy showcase “Laffapalooza!” on Nov. 22, and the show will be taped for a special TBS airing at 10 p.m. Nov. 30.
TBS will televise more specials from the festival, including “Ellen’s Even Bigger Really Big Show” (being taped Nov. 20 for broadcast Nov. 29) and a celebrity roast of Cheech and Chong (being taped Nov. 21 for broadcast at a later date).
But so much more will be available only to those who attend. So get your tickets –either for individual shows or package deals — by calling 877-TCF-FEST or by going online to www.thecomedyfestival.com/.
Here’s the festival lineup (schedule updates are available at www.thecomedyfestival.com):
◊Thursday, Nov. 20: Ellen’s Even Bigger Really Big Show (The Colosseum), Katt Williams (The Colosseum), Josh Blue and Ralphie May from Last Comic Standing (The Palace), Breuer Unleashed (Palace Ballroom), Joan Rivers Hosts Comedivas, with Kate Clinton, Suzanne Westenhoefer and Jim David (Augustus Ballroom), Triple Threat Comedy with Jamie Kennedy, Mitch Fatel and Danny Bhoy (Augustus Ballroom).
◊Friday, Nov. 21: Jerry Seinfeld (The Colosseum), Dane Cook (The Colosseum), Cheech and Chong Roast (Palace Ballroom), David Alan Grier (Palace Ballroom), Down & Dirty: Jim Norton, Robert Kelly and Russ Meneve (Augustus Ballroom), The Kids in the Hall (Augustus Ballroom), Russell Peters & Friends (Augustus Ballroom).
◊Saturday, Nov. 22: Jerry Seinfeld (The Colosseum), Jeff Dunham (The Colosseum), Laffapalooza! Hosted by Tracy Morgan (Palace Ballroom), Andrew Dice Clay (Palace Ballroom),
Dave Attell (The Palace), John Oliver and Friends (Augustus Ballroom), Caliente Comedy – Starring Gabriel Iglesias, Pablo Francisco, Anjelah Johnson (Augustus Ballroom), Mike Epps (Augustus Ballroom).
–Penny TV
Happy Birthday, Lauren Tewes
Oct. 26, 2008 — Cynthia Lauren Tewes, who played Cruise Director Julie McCoy on “The Love Boat” (1977-84 on ABC), turns 54 today.
She was dismissed from her role after the show’s seventh season because of substance abuse problems. But she returned to play Julie McCoy in a 1998 episode of “The Love Boat: The Next Wave” and in a 1997 episode of “Martin.”
Her first acting role was as Jill Redfield on “Family” (1977 episode titled “Miror, Mirror on the Wall”). She was 23.
Best wishes to Lauren and everybody who shares this special day with her.
–Penny TV
Bunch of Bradys play “Trivial Pursuit”
Marcia is missing, but the other “Brady Bunch” siblings — Greg, Peter, Bobby, Jan and Cindy — will be playing “Trivial Pursuit: America Plays!” the week of Nov. 10.
Technically, Peter (Christopher Knight, that is) will be hosting the show. That’s been Knight’s gig since the nationally-syndicated game show based on the popular board game began Sept. 22.
Barry Williams (Greg), Mike Lookinland (Bobby), Eve Plumb (Jan) and Susan Olsen (Cindy) will take turns serving as captains for “America’s Team.” They will represent the viewers at home who submit questions used on the show.
“Brady Week” culminates on Nov. 14 with a Brady competition.
To submit questions for “Trivial Pursuit,” go to www.tpamericaplays.com/. For every question the in-studio constants answer correctly, the winnings go into the “Studio Bank.” But if “America’s Team” has more money in its bank after three rounds, all the viewers who submitted questions that day get the cash.
–Penny TV
TV Talk: Oct. 26-Nov. 1
The Oklahoman’s TV Talk personalities Penny Soldan and Heather Warlick tape a weekly video for Newsok.tv that highlights upcoming TV programs worth watching.
They’re not fast talkers, but just in case you didn’t catch all the information for a show of interest, here is their script for the week of Oct. 26:
P: Hi, I’m Penny Soldan, this is Heather Warlick and this is TV Talk, The Oklahoman’s weekly countdown of the Top 10 programs worth watching — or at least setting the DVR or VCR for.
H: There are more than 100 reasons to watch No. 10. And Bravo will countdown those reasons from 3 to 10 p.m. Friday when it airs “100 Scariest Moments” and “Even Scarier Movie Moments.”
P: Our No. 9 pick will feature some real scary moments, as in real, not scripted. “Ghost Hunters Live” will air live from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday on SCI FI, and the TAPS team led by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson will be investigating paranormal events at Fort Delaware.
H: After a night of scary moments, relax with two new movies premiering Saturday and tying for No. 8 on our list. There’s “Center Stage: Turn It Up” at 7 p.m. on Oxygen, which is a sequel to the 2000 theatrical release. And “Archangel” at 7 p.m. on ION is a three-hour mystery movie starring the new James Bond, Daniel Craig.
P: Coming in an No. 7 are two new reality programs. “Coolio’s Rules” at 9 p.m. Tuesday on Oxygen follows the hip-hop star as he returns from life on the road and tries to get his family life in order. And “Shaken Not Stirred” at 8 p.m. Wednesday on My Network TV is the first in a series of specials that combine the old-school roast with edgy nighttime talk.
H: No. 6 is the British version of a popular American reality competition series. It is “Gladiators” and begins at 3 p.m. Saturday on BBC America. It features 12 new Gladiators who rule the arena and control the fate of the contenders.
P: No. 5 are five guest stars making appearances on five primetime shows. See Jamie-Lynn Sigler at 9 p.m. Sunday on HBO’s “Entourage,” Tony Hale at 7 p.m. Monday on NBC’s “Chuck,” Betty White at 9:02 p.m. Monday on ABC’s “Boston Legal,” Lauren Conrad at 8 p.m. Tuesday on ABC Family’s “Greek” and Ralph Macchio at 7 p.m. Thursday on ABC’s “Ugly Betty.”
H: “Lisa Williams: Voices From the Other Side” is No. 4. The English clairvoyant returns with a new five-episode special programming event airing at 10 a.m. Monday through Friday on Lifetime. In each episode, Williams will do one-on-one readings in a studio and impromptu meetings with people on the street.
P: No. 3 is “Legend of the Seeker,” a new syndicated fantasy series. It kicks off with a 2-hour premiere at 5 p.m. Saturday on KOKH-25 and follows the extraordinary travels of a woodsman who must stop a ruthless tyrant from unleashing an ancient evil.
H: No. 2 is the second-season finale of “Mad Men” at 9 p.m. Sunday on AMC. The series that is set at New York City’s Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency in the 1960s, won the Emmy for best drama series for its first season.
P: And No. 1, if you don’t count the Saturday’s college football games pitting the OU Sooners against Nebraska at 7 p.m. on either ABC or ESPN and the OSU Cowboys against Iowa State at 2:30 p.m. on ABC, is “30 Rock.”
H: “30 Rock” won the Emmy for best comedy series for its first and second seasons, and the show’s third season opens at 8:31 p.m. Thursday on NBC. Casady High School graduate Megan Mullally, a two-time Emmy winner herself for “Will & Grace,” will guest star in the season premiere.
P: That’s a wrap for this week. For even more TV choices, consult TV Week in Sunday’s Oklahoman or go online to newsok.com/TV. For TV Talk, I’m Penny, this is Heather, thanks for your time.
