Oklahoma cowboys Jet and Cord McCoy last after first episode of ‘Amazing Race’
Making their second appearance on CBS’ “Amazing Race” in two years, Oklahoma cowboys Jet and Cord McCoy had a dismal start as the last-place team at the conclusion of the premiere episode of “Amazing Race: Unfinished Business” Sunday night. Fortunately for the cowboys, none of the teams were eliminated in the first episode.
After starting the race at a wind farm in Palm Springs, Calif., the McCoys were one of the first teams to solve the first riddle and earn a spot on the first flight to Sydney, Australia. However, because of a medical emergency on their flight, the plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Honolulu, putting them behind the second flight.
From there things went downhill for the cowboys from Ada who finished runner-up in Season 16 last year. Missing a ferry, they were the last team to reach Oceanworld and search for a compass that would have to be decoded. Jet wasn’t excited about doning scuba gear to find the clue under water among sharks and a gigantic sting ray. “I’m from Oklahoma,” Jet said. “I don’t do water. I don’t even take baths.”
The decoding part went poorly for Jet. He failed in his first two attempts and was still trying to decode the message, “I am between the devil and the deep blue sea,” when the episode ended. “I have no idea what I’m doing,” Jet said.
The father-daughter team of Gary and Mallory Ervin of Kentucky were the first to reach the pit stop on the beach and earn an express pass.
New drama “Breakout Kings” to premiere March 6 on A&E
“Breakout Kings,” a new A&E drama series from “Prison Break” writers/producers Matt Olmstead and Nick Santora is set to debut at 9 p.m. March 6.
The show follows an unconventional partnership between the U.S. Marshals’ office and a group of convicts as they work to catch fugitives on the run, according to an A&E news release.
Veteran U.S. Marshals Charlie Duchamp (Laz Alonso Avatar, “Fast and the Furious 4: Fast & Furious”) and Ray Zancanelli (Domenick Lombardozzi, “The Wire”) form a special task force made up of the three most elusive convicts Ray ever captured: Lloyd Lowery (Jimmi Simpson, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), a former child prodigy and behaviorist/psychiatric expert who excels in psychoanalysis; Shea Daniels (Malcolm Goodwin, “American Gangster”), an ex-gang member who knows how to work the system in prison and on the street as well; and Erica Reed (Serinda Swan, “Tron: Legacy”), an expert tracker who learned her trade from her bounty hunter father.
Assisting Charlie, Ray and this group of former fugitives in catching current ones is Julianne Simms (Brooke Nevin, “The Comebacks”), a civilian who helps filter information, tips and data for the group.
The former fugitives get closer to earning their own freedom with each criminal they apprehend, but the test will be if they are able to wait for their reward or if they’ll try to make a break for it and go on the run themselves.
“Breakout Kings” is a production of Fox 21 and Chernin Entertainment.
Matt Olmstead and Nick Santora are creators, writers and executive producers with Peter Chernin, Katherine Pope and Gavin Hood also serving as executive producers.
2010 a year filled with gifts for TV fans
Evangeline Lilly and Matthew Fox of "Lost" - ABC Photo by Mario Perez
Now that Christmas is almost upon us, I’ve made a few notes about some
of the gifts bestowed upon TV fans this past year:
Though it was sad for such an entertaining, maddening, theory-provoking,
compelling series to end, the finale of “Lost” was unbelievably
emotional and moving, particularly Matthew Fox’s performance in his role as conflicted leader Jack Shephard. Overall, I don’t know that any show has piqued the imagination like this one and the indelible castaway characters will be greatly missed.
Another series that challenges the mind, “Fringe” was especially
demanding of viewers as they watched the third season begin this fall
with Olivia (Anna Torv) stuck in the sci-fi drama’s alternate universe
and that world’s Olivia taking her place in ours. My only small
complaint, though, is that I hope more scenes featuring Walter (John
Noble) will be upcoming in 2011. He adds warmth and humor to the
fascinating, strange and bizarre events that occur in this show’s story lines.
“The Good Wife” hasn’t missed a beat in its second season, continuing
its solid story lines centering on attorney Alicia Florrick (Julianna
Margulies) and her complicated relationships with her husband Peter
(Chris Noth)and old friend/boss Will (Josh Charles)as well as the
intriguing cases she works on. Extra kudos for Michael J. Fox’s
wonderful guest starring performance.
“Dexter” had a tough assignment in its fifth season, following up after
its fourth season’s jaw-dropping conclusion in 2009. But as every season
has been so far, the writing’s held up, always going in unexpected yet
satisfying directions. Michael C. Hall contributed as always as well in
making this past season and its finale thrilling and poignant – no easy
feat for a show about a serial killer.
The updated version of “Hawaii Five-0″ brought action and humor in its debut in the
fall 2010 season. This show has just the right ingredients to take your
mind off your busy day, relax and enjoy the scenery of Hawaii, the fun
rapport between Steve McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) and Danny “Danno”
Williams (Scott Caan) and watch the 5-0 team catch the bad guys in
sometimes unorthodox, but pretty much always successful, ways. Remaking
shows often doesn’t work, but this one clicks on every level.
A&E scored a home run this summer with its new drama “The Glades.” Jim Longworth
(Matt Passmore), a Chicago police detective who has relocated to Florida, is a
completely endearing character – smart, sarcastic, ingenious and
hilarious, and this is another series with interesting and sharp
writing. There is also great chemistry between Passmore and Kiele
Sanchez, who plays Longworth’s romantic interest Callie, a nurse and a single-mom who is estranged from her prison inmate husband.
“The Walking Dead” only had a six-episode first season on AMC, but it
couldn’t have packed more into them – this series has everything:
suspense, gore, action scenes, quiet, tender moments, compassion, love,
empathy, bravery, dignity – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Though it’s centered on a zombie apocalypse-affected world, this show is
much more than a horror fest.
There were a couple of lumps of coal in viewers’ stockings worth
mentioning in 2010, however.
ABC’s “Skating With the Stars” seemed to be a good idea and was hyped to
be comparable to “Dancing With the Stars,” but ended up being quite the
dud. The only point of it seemed to be holding your breath and hoping
the competitors didn’t fall – or if you’re
not-so-sportsmanlike-inclined, laughing when there were spills on the
ice.
And then there’s the cancellation of shows before they’re really given a
fair chance to build up a following. 2010′s fall season featured one of
the most egregious of these incidents when Fox’s “Lone Star” was given
the boot after only two episodes, despite receiving critical praise.
Would it have had a better chance on a cable network – probably. Too
bad one of them hasn’t picked it up.
– Meilssa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Anna Torv in "Fringe" - Fox Photo by Michael Courtney
From left, Scott Caan and Alex O'Loughlin in "Hawaii Five-0" - CBS Photo by Neil Jacobs
Actor displays heart in A&E reality series “Teach: Tony Danza”
Tony Danza - A&E Photo by Andrew Eccles
Education is a major issue these days and I think everyone understands how valuable good teachers are.
Actor Tony Danza decided to give teaching a try last year at Northeast High School in Philadelphia and it was filmed for the seven-episode, one-hour A&E reality show “Teach: Tony Danza.”
He taught a 10th grade English class with 26 students in back-to-back 45-minute periods.
Now Danza has a degree in history education and had wanted to teach before his acting career got started, so this doesn’t just seem to be something he chose to do out of the blue.
He talks briefly at the beginning of the series about being accused by the media of doing the show as a boost to his entertainment livelihood, but from what I’ve seen on “Teach: Tony Danza,” he appears to be sincere in wanting to try and make a difference.
Danza had guidance in the classroom by teaching coach David Cohn and the school’s principal Linda Carroll makes it clear that she won’t let him continue teaching if he’s not cutting it.
Danza displays lots of emotion, makes mistakes and the students also share their views on what they think of his teaching skills.
This series presents a good example of what it’s like to be a teacher and how the main ingredients of a good teacher are compassion and the desire to help make someone be the best that they can be.
“Teach: Tony Danza” premieres at 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 1 on A&E.
– Melissa Hayer
“The Glades” picked up for second season
Matt Passmore of "The Glades" - A&E Photo
A&E Network has announced in a news release it has renewed “The Glades” for a second season.
“The Glades” stars Australian actor Matt Passmore (“McLeod’s Daughters”) as Jim Longworth, a Chicago homicide detective forced to relocate to the fictional town of Palm Glade, Florida where the devoted golfer ends up being busier solving murders than he had planned.
Cast members also include Kiele Sanchez (“Lost”), Carlos Gómez (“Shark”) and Michelle Hurd (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
Season two of the series will begin pre-production later this year on thirteen new episodes scheduled to premiere in 2011.
“The Glades” currently airs at 9 p.m. Sundays on A&E.
A&E Network to air world television premiere of “The September Issue”
Vogue editor Anna Wintour - AP Photo
“The September Issue” will be making its world television debut at 9 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 25 on the A&E Network, according to an A&E news release.
“The September Issue” is a Sundance Award-winning documentary following Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine, and her team of editors through the inner workings of the magazine as the staff assembles their celebrated annual issue in 2007.
The 2007 issue of Vogue reached an audience of thirteen million people and weighed over four pounds.
The documentary takes viewers through behind-the-scenes looks at Fashion Week, to Europe, on photo shoots and reshoots, as well as into closed-door staff meetings.
“Steven Seagal Lawman” returns to A&E Oct. 6
Steven Seagal - A&E Network Photo
Reality series “Steven Seagal Lawman” begins its second season on the A&E Network with back-to-back episodes beginning at 9 p.m. on Oct. 6, according to an A&E news release.
The show follows action movie star Steven Seagal’s life in law enforcement in Jefferson Parrish, La..
Viewers of each thirty-minute show of the eight-episode season will ride shotgun with Seagal and his team of officers responding to crimes-in-progress, including police chases, drug busts, highway accidents and more.
Seagal’s personal life will also be in the spotlight with off-duty scenes involving his wife and new son, his philanthropic efforts and his expertise in weaponry and martial arts training.
A&E Network greenlights non-scripted pilot “The Explained” featuring Oklahoman
Producer/director Doug Liman - AP Photo
A&E Network has given the greenlight to a documentary pilot from producer/director Doug Liman (“The Bourne Ultimatum, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”), according to an A&E news release.
“The Unexplained” will focus on strange phenomena and paranormal experiences and will be executive producer Liman’s first foray into non-scripted television.
Possible topics for these first-person accounts include past life regressions, hauntings, near-death and out-of-body experiences.
The pilot features a five-year-old boy from rural Oklahoma telling his mother extensive details about his past life.
The boy says he lived in Hollywood during the 1930s, claiming he was wealthy and was friends with people like Rita Hayworth.
After she hears these details from her son about an era he should know nothing about, the mother checks out some library books about early Hollywood.
When she shows the books to her son, he pauses on a page with a black and white film still without a caption and points to a man in the picture and screams, “That’s me! You found me mommy! That’s me, and that’s George!”
The man he was pointing at was an actor and “George” ends up being George Raft in the 1932 movie “Night After Night.”
The story follows the family’s journey to understand what they believe to be their son’s previous life identity.
Tony Danza featured in new A&E reality series
Tony Danza at Northeast High School in Philadelpha, Pa. - A&E Photo
Tony Danza will be featured in a new reality series, “Teach: Tony Danza,” which will premiere Friday, Oct. 1 at 9 p.m on the A&E Network.
The seven-episode one-hour series follows the experiences of the actor as a first-year teacher at Philadelphia’s Northeast High School.
Danza taught an English class for tenth-graders, with 26 students in back-to-back 45-minute periods.
Danza received a degree in History Education before his acting career began.
“Teaching is something I always wanted to do. Getting the opportunity to do it at Northeast High School and seeing the difference a teacher can make was really a dream come true,” Danza said in a press release from A&E Network.
“I hope the series shows what it’s actually like to be a teacher in a public school in America, and shines a light on some of the problems facing us all as we try to educate our children. I also hope it might inspire other people to think about how they might help.”
In addition to teaching, Danza also helped with the football team, the band and the debate team, as well as with fundraising for the school.
“The Glades” premiere is A&E Network’s most-watched original drama series
Matt Passmore of "The Glades" - A&E Network Photo
“The Glades” premiere on Sunday, July 11 at 9 p.m. brought in a record-breaking 3.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched original drama series broadcast in A&E Network’s history, according to Nielsen Fast Nationals ratings.
“The Glades,” also well-received by critics, delivered a record 1.4 million viewers in the key 25-54 demographic and 1.2 million viewers in the 18-49 demographic.
“We are very encouraged by the response that ‘The Glades’ has received from the press and our viewers,” Bob DeBitetto, president and general manager of A&E and BIO Channel, said in an A&E news release. “The fact that the series was able to break through in a crowded summer landscape against heavy competition is a testament to the quality of the show and the incredible talent and performance of the show’s lead Matt Passmore.”
“The Glades” stars Australian actor Matt Passmore (“McLeod’s Daughters”) as Jim Longworth, a Chicago homicide detective forced to relocate to the fictional town of Palm Glade, Florida where the devoted golfer ends up being busier solving murders than he had planned.
Cast members also include Kiele Sanchez (“Lost”), Carlos Gómez (“Shark”) and Michelle Hurd (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
New episodes of “The Glades” will be airing Sundays at 9 p.m. on A&E.
