Happy Birthday, Jason Segel
Jan. 18, 2009 – Jason Jordan Segel, who plays Marshall Eriksen on “How I Met Your Mother” (7:30 p.m. Mondays on CBS), turns 29 today.
He played Nick Andopolis on “Freaks and Geeks” (18 episodes in 1999-2000).
His first acting role was as Watermelon Guy in the 1998 movie “Can’t Hardly Wait.” He was 18.
Best wishes to Jason and everybody who shares this special day with him.
–Penny TV
Pictured at right: Jason Segel is photographed at his home in Los Angeles, April 5, 2008. Segel, best known for his television shows “Freaks and Geeks” and ” How I Meet Your Mother”, is staring in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” a movie he also wrote. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas).
TV Talk: Jan. 18-24
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 Jan. 18:
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: No. 10 is “Miss America Live” at 7 p.m. Saturday on TLC. Kelsey Cartwright of Collinsville will represent Oklahoma at the 84th annual event live from the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Nevada. Mario Lopez will host the pageant.
P: “The Powerpuff Girls Rule” is No. 9 our list. This new animated special airs at 7 p.m. Monday on Cartoon Network. But fans will want to tune in beginning at 5 a.m. Monday for ”The Powerpuff Girls” 14-hour marathon.
H: No. 8 is “Gone Country” at 7 p.m. Saturday on CMT. Singer John Rich from Big & Rich returns as host of this series that brings together celebrities hoping to create a hit country music single. Contenders for Season 3 include Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner, The Monkees drummer Micky Dolenz and “American Idol” alum Justin Guarini.
P: Three Sunday premieres share the No. 7 spot on out list. “Big Love” returns for its third season at 8 p.m. on HBO. “The L Word” begins its sixth and final season at 8 p.m. on Showtime. And “Secret Diary of a Call Girl” starts its second season at 9:30 p.m. on Showtime.
H: Also on Sunday is the series premiere of “United States of Tara,” which is our No. 6 pick. It airs at 9 p.m. on Showtime and stars Toni Collette from “Little Miss Sunshine.” She plays a wife and mother who has several alternate personalities, including a promiscuous teenager, a happy homemaker and a biker dude.
P: No. 5 are five guest stars making appearance on four primetime shows. Jolene Blalock from “Enterprise” will be on “10 Items or Less” at 10 p.m. Tuesday on TBS. And appearing on Thursday’s episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” at 8 p.m. on ABC will be Jessica Capshaw from “The Practice” and Eric Stoltz from “Chicago Hope.”
H: Also on Thursday, Courtney B. Vance from “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” will appear with his wife Angela Bassett on “ER” at 9:01 p.m. on NBC. And Teri Polo from “Meet the Parents” will be on “Ghost Whisperer” at 7 p.m. Friday on CBS.
P: No. 4 is “Prayers for Bobby,” a new Lifetime movie premiering at 8 p.m. Saturday. Sigourney Weaver stars as an extremely religious wife and mother who becomes an advocate for gay rights after the suicide of her gay son. It is based on a true story.
H: Tuesday’s coverage of the Presidential Inauguration comes in at No. 3 on Penny’s list and No. 1 on mine. It begins at 9 a.m. on ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox News and at 10 a.m. on PBS. Tuesday evening, ABC will also air “The Neighborhood Inaugural Ball” at 7 p.m., PBS will profile Barack Obama at 8 p.m. on “Frontline” and CBS will air the special “Dream Big Dream: The Inauguration” at 8 p.m.
P: No. 2 is the new Fox series “Lie to Me.” It premieres at 8:02 p.m. Wednesday and stars Tim Roth as Dr. Cal Lightman, the foremost deception expert in the country. He oversees a private agency hired to expose the truth behind the lies.
H: And No. 1, if you don’t count the Presidential Inauguration or the University of Oklahoma women’s basketball game against Texas A&M at 3 p.m. Sunday on Fox Sports Oklahoma, is “Lost.”
P: The show’s fifth season premieres at 8 p.m. Wednesday on ABC. But tune in at 7 p.m. for the “Lost Clip Show” that will take an in-depth look at the mysteries of the island, its inhabitants and the Oceanic 6.
H: 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.
Share a Grammy moment with Katy Perry
Singer Katy Perry has been talking about her upcoming Grammy moment in CBS spots. In case you haven’t heard, she wants everyone out there to sing along with her when she performs her nominated song “I Kissed a Girl.”
This is the third “My Grammy Moment” contest being conducted by CBS.com, and several fans will get the opportunity to vitually share the stage with Perry at The 51st Annual Grammy Awards, airing live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 8.
To be considered for the honor, go to www.CBS.com/grammys and upload a 30- to 60-second video of yourself singing along to a portion of Perry’s song “I Kissed a Girl.” Participants must be at least 18 years old, and videos must be submitted by Jan. 22.
Fans will be asked to vote for their favorite, and the most popular videos will be shown during Perry’s performance at the Grammys. The top vote-getter also gets $5,000.
“I am very excited to be a first-time Grammy nominee and new Recording Academy member this year, and even more thrilled to perform on music’s biggest stage in February,” Perry said in a CBS press release. “I’d love to share my first Grammy experience with all my fans, so I encourage you to submit your videos now!”
Musicians taking part in previous “My Grammy Moment” contests were Justin Timberlake and Foo Fighters.
–Penny TV
Happy Birthday, Zooey Deschanel
Jan. 17, 2009 – Zooey Claire Deschanel, who played DG in the Sci Fi Channel original miniseries on “Tin Man,” turns 29 today.
She played Kat on the Showtime series “Weeds” (four episodes in 2006-07).
Her first acting role was as Elena on “Veronica’s Closet” (1998 episode titled “Veronica’s Fun and Pirates Are Crazy”). She was 18.
Best wishes to Zooey and everybody who shares this special day with her.
–Penny TV
Pictured at right: Zooey Deschanel attends the presentation of the movie “Yes Man” in Rome, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Sandro Pace).
Note about “The Note”
This just in from Hallmark Channel:
When pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III got on the PA and announced to the passengers of US Airways flight 1549 to “brace for impact,” Bill Elkin knew he only had a minute to act, yet knew exactly what to do. “I took out a business card and wrote a quick note to my family and shoved it in my pocket because … I didn’t know how much longer we had,” he recalls. The note, intended for his mother and sister, was a simple yet powerful “I love you.”
In 2007, in a case of art imitating life, Hallmark Channel asked viewers ‘if you only had a moment, what would you write?’ when it presented “The Note,” the story of a newspaper columnist who finds a similar note that has survived a plane crash, and sets out on a journey to deliver the note to its intended recipient. The poignant film, starring Genie Francis and Ted McGinley, became the network’s highest-rated program of the year.
On Jan 31, Hallmark Channel presents a special encore of “The Note” at 6 p.m., followed by the world premiere of its sequel, “The Note II: Taking a Chance on Love” at 8 p.m.
Pictured above: Genie Francis and TedMcGinley are a columnist and reporter who try to seek to uncover the story behind a heartfelt note that survives a deadly place crash.
HBO’s inaugural celebration is free
Sunday’s must-see TV event is HBO’s “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial.” And you don’t have to subscribe to HBO to see it.
The 90-minute celebration will air live at 1:30 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 18) on a open signal so that Americans across the country with access to cable or satellite television can see the event for free. Cox cable customers in Oklahoma City can watch the celebration on channel 7.
President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden will both attend the event in Washington D.C., which is free and open to the public.
Scheduled performers include Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Jon Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, Bettye LaVette, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Pete Seeger, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, U2, will.i.am and Stevie Wonder.
Among those scheduled to read historical passages during the concert are Jack Black, Steve Carell, Rosario Dawson, Jamie Foxx, Tom Hanks, Ashley Judd, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah, Kal Penn, Laura Linney, Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker and Tiger Woods.
–Penny TV
Cool Cribs of teen stars featured on MTV countdown
The Hanson brothers aren’t teens anymore, but the pop rock band members from Tulsa still might make the “Cribs Celeb Teens Countdown” premiering at 11 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 17) on MTV.
Miranda Cosgrove (“iCarly”) will host the two-hour special that counts down the top 12 teen homes in “Cribs” history. MTV did mention a few stars that made the list — Teddy Geiger (“Love Monkey”), snowboarder Shaun White, singers AJ & Aly, rapper Bow Wow and Omarion (“You Got Served”) — and a photo of Hanson accompanied the press release.
Following the countdown, MTV will air a special “Teen Cribs” episode that spotlights ordinary teens living in extraordinary homes, as well as a new “Cribs: Celebrity Teen Edition: that takes viewers inside the homes of Ryan Sheckler (‘Life of Ryan”), Keke Palmer (“True Jackson, VP”) and Josh Hutcherson (“Firehouse Dog”).
–Penny TV
Program Planner: Jan. 18-24
Sunday’s Oklahoman, which includes TV Week, hits the newsstands in the Oklahoma City area on Saturday afternoon. And it arrives at the doorstep (or hopefully nearby) early Sunday morning.
But for those who can’t wait to begin planning the upcoming week around the best TV has to offer, here is a sneak peek at programs worth watching the week of Jan. 18:
SUNDAY, JAN. 18
◊“America’s Next Top Model Obsessed” (10 a.m. on Oxygen): In addition to airing a 12-hour marathon of the most current season, this programming block will include vignettes featuring past contestants and judges.
◊“Another Cinderella Story” (7 p.m. on ABC Family): This high-energy, comedic twist on the classic fairy tale stars Selena Gomez (“Wizards of Waverly Place”) as downtrodden teen Mary Santiago, Drew Seeley (“High School Musical” concert tour) as pop idol Joey Parker and Jane Lynch (“Talladega Nights”) as Dominique, Mary’s evil legal guardian.
◊“Big Love” (8 p.m. on HBO): In the face of a do-it-yourself market and a crackdown on polygamists, Bill wants to protect his growing family and his chain of Home Plus superstores by diversifying his business operations and building neighborhood goodwill. And as if his life wasn’t complicated enough already, he wants to take a fourth wife.
◊“Desperate Housewives” (8 p.m. on ABC): In the show’s 100th episode, neighborhood handyman Eli Scruggs (Beau Bridges, “Stargate SG-1”) dies, and all the women reminisce about how he touched their lives — from helping Gabrielle (Eva Longoria Parker) make friends when she was new to Wisteria Lane to lending a hand to an overwhelmed Lynette (Felicity Huffman).
◊“Flight of the Conchords” (9 p.m. on HBO): In the show’s second season, transplanted New Zealanders Jemaine and Bret resort to a variety of unconventional strategies in an attempt to jump-start their lives and music careers.
◊“The L Word” (8 p.m. on Showtime): A major character is dead, and the show’s final season will be devoted to flashbacks of the events leading up to the tragedy.
◊“Masterpiece Classic” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): This new adaptation of Emily Bronte’s novel “Wuthering Heights” stars Tom Hardy (‘‘Marie Antoinette”) as Heathcliff, the foundling who is taken in by a wealthy family and falls in love with his adoptive sister, Cathy (Charlotte Riley).
◊“Oklahoma High School Sports Express” (11 p.m. on KOKH-25): This locally-produced sports show hosted by Van Shea Iven will feature plays of the year from football and highlights from several basketball tournaments.
◊“State of Creativity” (9:30 p.m. on OETA-13): The premiere episode of this documentary series focuses on Kyle Bratcher, 7, from Midwest City and his battle against radiation necrosis, a devastating consequence of cancer treatments performed to save his life.
◊“United States of Tara” (9 p.m. on Showtime): Tony Collette (“Little Miss Sunshine”) plays the title character, a wife and mother who has several alternate personalities, including a promiscuous teenage girl, a happy homemaker and a biker dude.
◊“We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial” (6 p.m. on HBO): Scheduled performers for the event that kicks off the inaugural opening festivities are Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder.
◊The University of Oklahoma takes on Texas A&M in women’s basketball action airing live at 3 p.m. on FSOK.
MONDAY, JAN. 19
◊“The American Future: A History by Simon Schama” (7 p.m. today and Tuesday on BBC America): This four-part series shot against the backdrop of the U.S. presidential campaign features historian Simon Schama traveling throughout America to dig deep into the conflicts of its history to understand just what is at stake right now. Schama is a Professor of Art History and History at Columbia University.
◊“CSI: NY” marathon (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday on SPIKE): It’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and SPIKE celebrates with 10 back-to-back episodes of the CBS crime drama.
◊“Look Around You” (12 a.m. on Cartoon Network): This British comedy series offers parodies of educational programs of the ‘70s and early ‘80s. Series creators Robert Popper and Peter Serafinowicz start in the show and perform the music for the series.
◊“The Powerpuff Girls Rule!!!” (7 p.m. on Cartoon Network): This new half-hour animated special follows super-powered sisters Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup as they take to the skies once more for their biggest battle yet. Craig McCracken, who created the Emmy-winning series “The Powerpuff Girls,” selected his favorite episodes for a 14-hour marathon airing from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
◊“Paranormal State” (9 p.m. on A&E): Ryan Buell, the director and founder of the Paranormal Research Society (PRS), returns for a third season of this real-life series. He and his group of Penn State University students delve into other worlds to solve a variety of cases.
◊“The Story of India” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): Michael Wood’s “10,000-year epic” concludes with the coming of Islam to the Indian subcontinent and the time of the British occupation of India.
◊“Will Work For Food” (7:30 p.m. on Food Network): Adam Gertner, who was a finalist on Season 4 of “The Next Food Network Star,” pairs his comedic timing with an adventurous spirit in this new series.
TUESDAY, JAN. 20
◊“10 Items of Less” (10 p.m. on TBS): Paramount rejects Leslie’s idea of holding a Star Trek convention at Greens & Grains, so he decides to hold a Star Trok convention instead. And when Jolene Blalock from “Enterprise” shows up for her celebrity appearance, an exploding refrigerator compressor traps her in the store.
◊“Frontline” (8 p.m. on OETA-13): On the night of Barack Obama’s historic inauguration, the series examines the rich personal and political biography of the 44th president of the United States.
◊“The Neighborhood Inaugural Ball” (7 p.m. on ABC): This event airing live from the Washington Convention Center will include the President and First Lady’s first dance of the night and performances by various recording artists.
◊“Nova” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): The new installment titled “The Big Energy Gamble” looks at what’s being done to reduce California’s greenhouse gas emissions back to 1990 levels. Actor and environmental activist Ed Begley Jr. and ‘‘Science Guy” Bill Nye are among the commentators.
◊Presidential Inauguration 2009 (9 a.m. on ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox News, 10 a.m. on PBS): Barack Obama takes the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
◊TCM Birthday Tribute: Patricia Neal was born on this day in 1926, and TCM celebrates by airing seven of her films, including 1949′s “John Loves Mary” (8:30 a.m.) and 1968′s “The Subject was Roses” (4:30 p.m.).
◊Norman takes on Westmoore in high school basketball action airing live at 6 p.m. on Cox.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21
◊“Criminal Minds” (8 p.m. on CBS): The Behavioral Analysis Unit becomes involved in the case of a family working together to abduct young women. Tim Matheson (“The West Wing”) directs the episode.
◊“Lie to Me” (8:02 p.m. on Fox)(Fox Photo of cast above): This new series stars Tim Roth as superobservant Dr. Cal Lightman, who works with law enforcement. His specialty is lie detecting; he can spot a fib a mile away, and this skill is in demand from more than just the police.
◊“Lost Clip Show” (7 p.m. on ABC): This special will take an in-depth look at the mysteries of the island, its inhabitants, the Oceanic 6, outside influences such as Charles Widmore, and also delve into some of the questions that have been answered, and others that still remain a mystery. The show’s fifth season premieres at 8 p.m.
◊Oklahoma State University takes on Missouri in men’s basketball action airing live at 8 p.m. on KOCB-34.
◊The University of Oklahoma takes on Nebraska in men’s basketball action airing live at 8 p.m. on ESPNU.
◊The University of Oklahoma takes on Colorado in women’s basketball action airing live at 8 p.m. on Cox.
THURSDAY, JAN. 22
◊The 2009 Academy Awards Nominations (7:30 a.m. on ABC, NBC, CBS, E!): Nominations for the 81st annual Academy Awards will be announced. Oscars will be handed out at the awards ceremony airing live Feb. 22 on ABC.
◊“Grey’s Anatomy” (8 p.m. on ABC): As time runs out for Bailey’s young patient, Meredith fights to grant a death row inmate’s wish to donate his organs to the boy. Jessica Capshaw (“The Practice”) and Eric Stoltz (“Mask”) guest star.
◊“Living With rhe Tribe” (10 p.m. on Travel): In Season 3, explorers Mark Anstice and Oliver Steeds travel to the Peruvian Amazon to experience life with the remote Machigenga.
◊“The This Old House Hour” (7 p.m. on OETA-13): A Brooklyn brownstone built in 1904 is the show’s latest renovation project. The building used to be a rooming house and will be transformed into a three-family home. Designer Carole Freehauf joins the team for this project.
◊Winter X Games (8 p.m. on ESPN): Coverage of the 13th annual sporting event begins with finals in snowmobiling, SuperPipe skiing and snowboarding. ESPN and ABC will televise 15 hours of live high-definition programming through Jan. 25.
FRIDAY, JAN. 23
◊“Friday Night Lights” (8 p.m. on NBC): Smash struggles with his confidence on the field as Coach Taylor preps him for college tryouts.
◊“Ghost Whisperer” (7 p.m. on CBS): Series star Jennifer Love Hewitt (Melinda Gordon) makes her directorial debut with this episode, in which Melinda confronts a crisis that grips the whole town — the unearthing of a grave that leads to a mass haunting.
◊“Supernanny” (8 p.m. on ABC): Jo Frost handles two sets of twins at once for the first time when she returns to the United Kingdom on a mission to save a family on the brink.
◊“Wolverine and the X-Men” (7 p.m. Friday on Nicktoons, channel 153 on Cox Digital Cable, 178 on Dish Network): This new animated series based on Marvel Comic’s popular Super Heroes follows Wolverine as he reunites the X-Men in an attempt to save the world.
◊Edmond Memorial takes on Edmond North in high school basketball action airing live at 6 p.m. on Cox.
SATURDAY, JAN. 24
◊“The Diplomat” (6 p.m. on ION): This four-hour miniseries inspired by actual events stars Dougray Scott as Ian Porter, a disillusioned British diplomat who is believed to be doing business with a Russian arms and drugs trafficker. When he refuses to cooperate with Scotland Yard, suspicions mount and Porter must try to complete his secret mission before warring intelligence agencies and incompetent police forces cause irreparable damage to worldwide security.
◊“Gone Country” (7 p.m. on CMT): Singer John Rich (Big & Rich) returns as host of this series that brings together celebrities hoping to create a hit country music single. Contenders for Season 3 are Rock and Roll Hall of Famer George Clinton, Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner; actress Taylor Dayne (“Rude Awakening”), The Monkees drummer Micky Dolenz, percussionist Sheila E., actor Richard Grieco (“Booker”) and “American Idol” alum Justin Guarini.
◊“Miss America Live” (7 p.m. on TLC): Mario Lopez (“The Bold and the Beautiful”) will host the 84th annual event live from the Planet Holllywood Resort and Casino in Nevada. Representing Oklahoma will be Kelsey Cartwright of Collinsville.
◊“Prayers for Bobby” (8 p.m. on Lifetime): Sigourney Weaver plays a devout mother who can’t accept her son’s homosexuality and urges him to get more involved in the church. Eventually the young man is overcome with depression and commits suicide, and his guilt-ridden mother reaches out to the gay and lesbian community and becomes a gay rights activist.
◊Oklahoma State University takes on Texas A&M in women’s basketball action airing live at 6 p.m. on KOCB-34.
◊Oklahoma State University takes on Nebraska in men’s basketball action airing live at 3 p.m. on KOCB-34.
◊The University of Oklahoma takes on Baylor in men’s basketball action airing live at 3 p.m. on ESPNU.
◊Games from the Jenks Basketball Tournament will air live at 7 p.m. on Cox.
–Penny TV
TV Preview Podcast: ‘United States of Tara’
(Showtime Photo)
Each week, The Oklahoman TV Editor Penny Soldan hosts an audio podcast discussing an upcoming TV premiere.
This week’s premiere is the new Showtime original series “United States of Tara” starring Toni Collette and John Corbett.
To hear her discussion with Melissa Hayer, assistant news research for The Oklahoman, click here
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Happy Birthday, Debbie Allen
Jan. 16, 2009 – Deborrah Kaye Allen, who played Lydia Grant on “Fame” (1982-87 syndicated series), turns 59 today.
Her most recent TV work is directing episodes of “Everybody Hates Chris” (10 episodes from 2006-08).
Her first acting role was as Diana Buchanan on “Good Times” (two episodes in 1976). She was 26.
Best wishes to Debbie and everybody who shares this special day with her.
–Penny TV
Pictured at right: Debbie Allen and her sister Phylicia Rashad arrive for the world premiere of “The Manchurian Candidate” in New York, Monday, July 19, 2004. (AP Photo/Louis Lanzano).
