Happy Birthday, Will Sasso
May 24, 2009 — Will Sasso,
who played Carl Monari on “Less Than Perfect” (2003-06 on ABC), turns 34 today.
He played various characters on “MADtv” (1997-2004 on Fox).
His first acting role was as a character in the 1991 TV series “Neon Rider.” He was 16.
Best wishes to Willl and everybody who shares this special day with him.
–Penny TV
ABC dedicates a site to the songs from its shows
ABC is making it as easy as 1-2-3 to
locate and listen to music featured on network shows.
Now open online is the ABC Music Lounge. Go to www.ABC.com to find everything about the artists featured on ABC’s primetime schedule.
The site also has a streaming radio station programmed with more than 12 hours of music featured on ABC shows such as “Brothers & Sisters,” “Castle,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice,” “Scrubs” and “Ugly Betty.”
Visitors to the ABC Music Lounge will also get a glimpse of ABC’s music future, as the radio station will showcase new music picked by series producers, music supervisors and others involved in the music selection process for shows.
Also, find out why certain songs were chosen for specific scenes through interviews with those who make the call. And take a peek at the celebrity playlists of ABC actors and featured musical artists.
–Penny TV
Happy Birthday, Kelly Monaco
May 23, 2009 — Kelly Marie Monaco, who plays Samantha “Sam” McCall on “General Hospital” (2003-09 on ABC), turns 33 today.
She played Livvie on “Port Charles” (2002-03 ).
Her first acting role was as Girl flying kite in a 1997 episode of “Baywatch” (episode titled “Diabolique”). She was 21.
Best wishes to Kelly and everybody who shares this special day with her.
–Penny TV
Pictured at right: Kelly Monaco arrives at the Leather & Lace Super Bowl XLI party Friday night, Feb. 2, 2007, in the South Beach section of Miami Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
TV Preview Podcast: ‘Mental’
"Mental" stars Chris Vance and Annabella Sciorra (Fox 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 Fox series “Mental” premiering at 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 26.
To hear her discussion with Don P. Brown, features copy editor for The Oklahoman, click here
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Turner Classic Movies Remembers World War I With Special Memorial Day Tribute
World War I served as the setting for some great films, and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will air five of such films on Memorial Day (May 25).
TCM’s Memorial Day movie marathon will also include 31 other films that pay tribute to soldiers who put their lives on the line in the name of freedom. The 72-hour event gets under way at 5 a.m. Saturday, and Monday’s special WWI tribute will be co-hosted by Robert Osborne (“The Essentials”) and Eli Paul (vice president of the National World War I Museum in Kansas City).
–Penny TV
TCM’s tribute to WWI heroes features:
7 p.m. – “Sergeant York” (1941): Gary Cooper took home an Oscar for his performance in this true story of a young pacifist who is drafted into the service and becomes one of the war’s greatest heroes. Walter Brennan, Joan Leslie and June Lockhart co-star, with Howard Hawks directing.
9:30 p.m. — “The Dawn Patrol” (1938): Errol Flynn and David Niven play pilot buddies in France during the war in this tale of wartime camaraderie. Basil Rathbone co-stars as the rigid officer forced to send the young recruits into aerial dogfights.
11:30 p.m. — “The Fighting 69th” (1940): Extraordinary action, sentimental drama and a good dose of comedy make this one of James Cagney’s most memorable films. The exciting story, which follows the famed Irish regiment, also stars Pat O’Brien and George Brent.
1:15 a.m. — “The Big Parade” (1925): Considered to be among the best World War I films ever made, this epic silent film from director King Vidor stars John Gilbert as a clean-shaven soldier whose eyes are opened to the horrors of war. Renee Adoree and Hobart Bosworth co-star.
3:30 a.m. — “The Lost Patrol” (1934): John Ford directed this sterling account of a British military squad lost in the Mesopotamian desert and facing constant threat from the locals. Victor McLaglen takes the lead role that his brother, actor Cyril McLaglen, played in a 1929 silent version. Boris Karloff turns in an outstanding performance as a religious fanatic, and Max Steiner provides a memorable score.
Remainder of TCM’s Memorial Day weekend schedule:
Saturday, May 23
5 a.m. — “Wings of the Navy” (1939)
6:30 a.m. — “Air Force” (1943)
8:45 a.m. — “Task Force” (1949)
10:45 a.m. — “Flying Tigers” (1942)
12:30 p.m. — ‘Back to Bataan” (1945)
2:15 p.m. — “Pride of the Marines” (1945)
4:30 p.m. — “They Were Expendable” (1945)
7 p.m. — “Battleground” (1949)
9:15 p.m. — “A Walk in the Sun” (1946)
11:15 p.m. — “The Fighting Sullivans” (1944)
1:15 a.m. — “Objective, Burma!” (1945)
3:45 a.m. — “The Story of G.I. Joe” (1945)
Sunday, May 24
5:45 a.m. — “Destination Tokyo” (1943)
8 a.m. — “Submarine Command” (1951)
9:30 a.m. — “We Dive at Dawn” (1943)
11:15 a.m. — “Operation Crossbow” (1965)
1:30 p.m. — “Where Eagles Dare” (1969)
4:15 p.m. — “The Bridge on the River Kwai” (1957)
7 p.m. — “Above and Beyond” (1952)
9:15 p.m. — “The Dam Busters” (1955)
11:30 p.m. — “A Sailor-Made Man” (1921)
12:20 a.m. — “Shoulder Arms” (1918)
1 a.m. — “Ballad of a Soldier” (1959)
2:45 a.m. — “The Fighting Seabees” (1944)
Monday, May 25
4:30 a.m. — “Action in the North” (1943)
6:45 a.m. — “Sahara” (1943)
8:30 a.m. — “Hell is for Heroes” (1962)
10 a.m. — “Men of the Fighting Lady” (1954)
11:30 a.m. — “The Devil’s Brigade” (1968)
1:45 p.m. — “The Dirty Dozen” (1967)
4:30 p.m. — “Kelly’s Heroes” (1970)
The CW announces 2009-10 fall schedule (and midseason plans, too)
"The Vampire Diaries" stars Ian Somerhalder as Daman, Nina Dobrev as Elena and Paul Wesley as Stefan (The CW Photo).
No more “Reaper” on The CW
come fall, but word is the series may live on in syndication.
Other big news from Thursday’s announcement of The CW 2009-10 fall schedule is that a new updated version of “Melrose Place” will debut, along with “The Vampire Diaries” which is based on a series of best-selling books.
Here’s a list of shows that will and won’t return to The CW in fall, as well as info on new ones to look forward to in fall and spring.
••Will Return: America’s Next Top Model, Gossip Girl, 90210, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Supernatural.
••Won’t Return: 4Real, Everybody Hates Chris, The Game, Easy Money, In Harm’s Way, Privileged, 13 Fear is Real, Reaper, Stylista, Valentine.
••Spring/Summer Premieres: Blonde Charity Mafia (July 14), Hitched of Ditched (May 27).
NEW SHOWS
••“Melrose Place” (fall): In an elegant Spanish-style apartment building in the trendy Melrose neighborhood of Los Angeles, a diverse group of 20-somethings have formed a close-knit surrogate family. Sydney Andrews (Laura Leighton, the original “Melrose Place”) is the landlady, still beautiful at 40, and a central figure in the lives of all her tenants. Also stars Shaun Sipos (“Shark”), Thomas Calabro (“Melrose Place”), Katie Cassidy (“Supernatural”), Colin Egglesfield (“All My Children”), Ashlee Simpson-Wentz (“7th Heaven”).
••“The Beautiful Life” (fall): The life of a high-fashion model appears glamorous and sexy, but as every new model quickly learns, behind the beautiful facade is a world of insecurity and cutthroat competition. Stars Sara Paxton (“Last House on the Left”), Benjamin Hollingsworth (“The Line”), Mischa Barton (“The O.C.”), Elle Macpherson (“Friends”), Corbin Bleu (“High School Musical 2”).
••“The Vampire Diaries” (fall): Four months after the tragic car accident that killed their parents, 17-year-old Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev, “DeGrassi: The Next Generation”) and her 15-year-old brother, Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen, “Everwood”) are still trying to cope with their grief and move on with their lives. As the school year begins, Elena and her friends are fascinated by a handsome and mysterious new student, Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley, “Army Wives”), who turns out to be a centuries-old vampire.
••“Parental Discretion Advised” (midseason): After spending all of her 15 years bouncing from one foster family to another in Portland, Oregon, Lux (Britt Robertson, “Swingtown”) has decided it’s time to take control of her life and become an emancipated minor. Also stars Kristoffer Polaha (“Mad Men”), Shiri Appleby (“E.R.”), Kerr Smith (“Eli Stone”).
The CW’s 2009-10 fall schedule
••Monday: 7 p.m., “Gossip Girl”; 8 p.m., “One Tree Hill.”
••Tuesday: 7 p.m., “90210″; 8 p.m., “Melrose Place.”
••Wednesday: 7 p.m., “America’s Next Top Model”; 8 p.m., “The Beautiful Life.”
••Thursday: 7 p.m., “The Vampire Diaries”; 8 p.m. “Supernatural.”
••Friday: 7 p.m., “Smallville”; 8 p.m., “America’s Next Top Model” (encore).
Note: The CW’s 2010 midseason schedule includes the debut of “Parental Discretion Advised.”
–Penny TV
Top 25 Guest Stars on TV Shows airing May 24-30, 2009
Conan O'Brien (NBC Photo)
Friday is when The Oklahoman posts a list of the top guest stars (and all the premieres and finales, see separate blog) appearing on TV next week.
And here are 25 celebrities making special TV appearances the week of May 24.
If a well-known personality was missed, feel free to add his or her name in the comments section to help make this list a complete and accurate source for TV watchers everywhere.
GUEST STARS
••Gary Dell Abate (“Baba Booey” from “The Howard Stern Show”) on “Don’t Forget the Lyrics,” 7 p.m. Friday on Fox.
••Jessica Alba (“Fantastic Four”) on “The Office,” 9 p.m. Thursday on NBC.
••Nikki Aycox (“Over There”) on “Supernatural,” 8 p.m. Thursday on CW.
••Allyce Beasley (“Moonlighting”) on “Medium,” 9 p.m. Monday on NBC.
••Richard Benjamin (“Henry Poole Is Here”) on “Pushing Daisies,” 9 p.m. Saturday on ABC.
••Mayim Bialik (“Blossom”) on “What Not to Wear,” 8 p.m. Friday on TLC.
••Jack Black (“School of Rock”) on “The Office,” 9 p.m. Thursday on NBC.
••Ewen Bremner (“Trainspotting”) on “My Name Is Earl,” 7 p.m. Thursday on NBC.
••Melinda Clarke (“The O.C.”) on “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” 8 p.m. Thursday on CBS.
••Billy Crystal (“Tooth Fairy”) on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” 10:35 p.m. Thursday on NBC.
••Mel Gibson (“Edge of Darkness”) on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” 10:35 p.m. Monday on NBC.
••Sara Gilbert (“Roseanne”) on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on NBC.
••Jane Lynch (“Glee”) on “Criminal Minds,” 9 p.m. Wednesday on CBS.
••Ken Marino (“Party Down”) on “Reaper,” 7 p.m. Tuesday on CW.
••Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray) on “Don’t Forget the Lyrics,” 7 p.m. Friday on Fox.
••Breckin Meyer (“Married to the Kellys”) on “House,” 7 p.m. Monday on Fox.
••Cesar Millan (“The Dog Whisperer”) on “Bones,” 8 p.m. Monday on Fox.
••Conan O’Brien (“Late Night With Conan O’Brien”) on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” 10:35 p.m. Friday on NBC.
••Lionel Richie (Grammy winner) on “Good Morning America,” 7 a.m. Friday on ABC.
••Tequan Richmond (“Everybody Hates Chris”) on “NUMB3RS,” 7 p.m. Saturday on CBS.
••Arnold Schwarzenegger (“Terminator”) on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” 10:35 p.m. Tuesday on NBC.
••George Segal (“Just Shoot Me!”) on “Pushing Daisies,” 9 p.m. Saturday on ABC.
••Taylor Swift (“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”) on “Today,” 7 a.m. Friday on NBC.
••Wanda Sykes (“The New Adventures of Old Christine”) on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” 10:35 p.m. Wednesday on NBC.
••Justin Timberlake (Grammy winner) on “Saturday Night Live,” 10:29 p.m. Saturday on NBC.
NOTE: Times are CST (for EST, add one hour)
12 TV Premieres and Finales airing May 24-30
Chris Vance: "Mental" (CBS Photo)
Friday is when The Oklahoman posts a list of all the premieres and finales (and all the guest stars, see separate blog) coming up on TV next week.
And here are the shows beginning and ending the week of May 24.
If one was missed, the network did not issue a press release about it. But feel free to add it in the comments section to help make this list a complete and accurate source for TV watchers everywhere.
BEGINNINGS
••“Mas Sabe el Diable,” 7 p.m. Monday on Telemundo (series premiere).
••“Intervention,” 8 p.m. Monday on A&E (seventh-season premiere).
••“Jon & Kate Plus 8.” 8 p.m. Monday on TLC (fifth-season premiere).
••“Cake Boss,” 9 p.m. Monday on TLC (series premiere).
••“Obsessed,” 9 p.m. Monday on A&E (series premiere).
••“Here Come the Newlyweds,” 9:02 p.m. Monday on ABC (series premiere).
••“Hitched or Ditched,” 8 p.m. Tuesday on CW (series premiere).
••“Man Caves,” 8 p.m. Tuesday on DIY (third-season premiere).
••“Mental,” 8 p.m. Tuesday on Fox (series premiere).
••“Science of the Movies,” 8 p.m. Tuesday on Science Channel (series premiere).
••“The Little Couple,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on TLC (series premiere).
••“Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood,” 9 p.m. Tuesday on Oxygen (fourth-season premiere).
“Beautiful People,” 9:30 p.m. Tuesday on Logo (series premiere).
“Wipeout,” 7 p.m. Wednesday on ABC (second-season premiere).
“The Goode Family,” 8 p.m. Wednesday on ABC (series premiere).
“Your Worst Animal Nightmares,” 8 p.m. Wednesday on Animal Planet (series premiere).
“Tattoo Highway,” 9 p.m. Wednesday on A&E (series premiere).
“Nature’s Most Amazing Events,” 7 p.m. Friday on Discovery (first two installments of 6-part series).
“What Not to Wear,” 8 p.m. Friday on TLC (seventh-season premiere).
ENDINGS
••“In Treatment,” 9 p.m. Monday on HBO (second-season finale).
••“Reaper,” 7 p.m. Tuesday on CW (second-season finale).
••“Ladette to Lady,” 7 p.m. Friday on Sundance (third-season finale).
••“The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” 10:35 p.m. Friday on NBC (series finale).
NOTE: Times are CST (for EST, add one hour)
Happy Birthday, Ginnifer Goodwin
May 22, 2009 — Jennifer Michelle
Goodwin, who plays Margene Heffman on “Big Love” (Season 3 episodes encore June 7 and 14 on HBO2), turns 31 today.
She played Diane Snyder on “Ed” (2001-04 on NBC).
Her first acting role was as Erica in a 2001 episosde of “Law & Order” (episode titled “Myths of Fingerprints”). She was 23.
Best wishes to Ginnifer and everybody who shares this special day with her.
–Penny TV
Pictured at right: Ginnifer Goodwin arrives at the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Courage in Journalism Awards, Thursday Oct. 16, 2008, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)
The Oklahoman’s American Idol Chatter Podcast — Season 8 winner announced
Ryan Seacrest announces the Season 8 winner of "American Idol" (Fox Photo).
More than 100 million votes were cast by America to determine the Season 8 winner of “American Idol.” Host Ryan Seacrest did not announce how many votes Kris Allen beat Adam Lambert by, but word is that it was by a sizeable margin.
NewsOK’s Idol Chatter host Yvette Walker was surprised by the results initially. She reflects back on the two-hour finale with two of The Oklahoman’s “American Idol” fans, Lillie-Beth Brinkman and Brian Sargent.
Click here to listen to their “Idol Chatter.”
P.S. — Last season, Ryan Seacrest announced that Tulsa resident David Cook beat David Archuleta by 12 million votes.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
