Lost: Oh, My Papa!

I don’t know if you’ve noticed this… but if you have been following Lost for the last four seasons, you must have sensed that a considerable amount of stories run around one central theme; one that involved deep underlying issues with their fathers. 

Consider the following:

JACK’s dad was an alcoholic. He and his father never really had a close relationship, but for some reason, Jack also ends up becoming a surgeon like his father. Christian Shephard was his mentor, but their relationship is often marred with professional and personal issues.

KATE killed her biological father, Wayne Janssen. For years, he thought he was her step-dad and has even made sexual advances towards her.  The father she has come to know, Sam Austen, serves in the army and Kate hasn’t heard from him in a long time.

SAWYER’s father murdered his mother out of jealously and then committed suicide thereafter. And for years Sawyer was out to find the man who was the cause of this tragedy.  He only know this man by the name which he now carries (Sawyer). Growing up, Sawyer became a problem child and was often into conning people. Just like the man he is looking for.

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Dr. Tancredi back on Prison Break. Head intact with body.

As you may recall, actress Sarah Wayne Callies’ character on Prison Break was killed off last season. The official story was that she wanted to focus on her newborn. But speculations were louder and supposedly, Sarah left because of a contact dispute and had to be fired off the show. Whether or not that’s true, in the series, Sara’s death came by way of chopping her pretty head off.

Today, though…as news about Prison Break’s fourth and possible fifth season has been confirmed, producers are toying with the idea that it may be time to re-attach Sara’s head and give Michael the surprise of his life. 

"Initially when we realized that we never actually saw the character get killed, we just had that knowledge in our back pocket and moved forward with the narrative as we intended. Which was: she’s out of the picture, Michael’s [feeling guilty] and Lincoln is freaking out because if they did that to her, they could do that to his son. It really gave us a real push for the season…"

Now, to be truthful, I haven’t been watching this show since I finally realized it has stopped making sense. And that was around three quarters of Season 2. But Sara and Michael shippers would sure be glad to know that in the TV world, it isn’t "till death do us part" but rather, it’s "till the next contract negotiations".

But you know who they should really bring back though? Abruzzi! Bring back Abruzzi and then I will really have to play catch up on this program.

Source: TV Guide 

Five New TV Shows You Should Be Watching NOW

…Or at least before your regular favorites come back in a couple of weeks!

LIPSTICK JUNGLE: I have to admit I hated the first two episodes. Ha-a-a-ted it! I though this show was an embarrassment to women everywhere. The characters are moneyed and powerful, yet oh-so-superficial! Or so I thought…. For whatever reason, I stayed with this show. Week after week I’d watch it. My guilty pleasure, maybe?  But I did a complete 180 degree by the fourth episode. Suddenly, it became a lot interesting. Suddenly, the women — Nico, Victory and Wendy — had character depth. Suddenly, I can relate to all of them. 

Based on a book written by Candace Bushnell (Sex and the City) and originally set to run for seven episodes, six more script orders are underway.

ELI STONE: The lead actor is my first reason for watching Eli Stone. He is brilliant! I’m all the more amazed he’s Angelina Jolie’s ex-British husband.

As for the show, it kinda reminded me of Ally McBeal in many ways.

Eli Stone has hallucinations brought about by his aneurysm. In every episode, he’d have hallucinations, some of it involving his co-workers singing. In the middle of work, he’d experience it, leaving his co-workers wondering if he has gone crazy. Working as a lawyer who defends greedy clients, Eli suddenly experiences an epiphany and now believes that his hallucinations have a mystical, religious purpose.

To be honest though, I get so lost in the goofiness of its stories, especially when the singing begins. But it’s still worth checking out. And just like Lipstick Jungle, additional episodes have been ordered for this series.

MISS GUIDED: If Becki Newton of Ugly Betty wasn’t so great at playing Amanda, Judy Greer would have to the next big choice to play the role. I mean, she’s adorable, but she’s also great at playing the bitch.

After being gone for a few years on TV (her last TV show was with Arrested Development, wasn’t it?), Judy is back in a comedy about a high school guidance counsellor working at her former school. 

There has only been about three-four episodes so far, but based on it, I could say — thank god Judy is back on TV! Critics seem to like her new show as well. Chris Parnell of Saturday Night Live is also in the cast. And he is hilarious.

GREEK: Well, this program isn’t exactly new because it ran sometime last year. But I don’t see it being discussed enough in fan sites, so I guess not too many people are aware of how much entertaining it is. Last year’s episodes were kind of like watching Legally Blonde. It stereotypically created a caricature of Frat Boys and Sorority Sisters. This year, Greek returns to continue with their first season run. And from the looks of it, college life seem a bit tougher now.

 
LOST: Okay, I cheated. This isn’t a exactly new show. But its current season (fourth) is definitely a MUST WATCH.  I do admit, the show continues to torture me weekly… because my mind can only handle so much theories! But to be fair Lost has been answering some of our questions with satisfaction.  Some things have become clearer and I like that not everything is revealed right away (because then my brain would explode!). The one episode you shouldn’t miss? (Like don’t even try to blink!) EPISODE 5 - THE CONSTANT. 

If you’re a hard core Lost fan, then maybe you’d be very interested with this site. It has ALL the answers. I’m not saying it’s the right one, but I so buy that theory! I’ve been following this for over a month and it still continues to amaze me.

What’s going to happen when your favorite shows return? SPOILER ALERT!

First, take note of the schedules of the return of your favorite shows here. Have you been counting the days till new episodes return or has this just been me doing this? My phone’s calendar is all marked. It’s set on alarm. I’m almost shy to write that out in the open, but what the heck…I’m a TV addict. It made me feel really sad seeing all those empty drives and DVR spaces. They’ve been quite empty for a long while now. But it won’t be long. TV is back!

And what’s going to happen when theses shows return? What’s there to expect?

Spoilers after the cut…

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Idol Top 11: You almost stood to earn $100,000

Evidently, according to USA Today, a placer on American Idol could earn as much as $100,00 after being edged out of the competition. Contestants have to commit to one year of singing and performing with Idol productions (19E and Fremantle) even after the show is over. They would have to be binded by a contract that would require them to join the Idol Tour, a series of concerts across America.

As a short term gig, the money’s not pretty bad, eh? As a budding musician, it’s a good place to start, I guess.

Unfortunately, not every placer gets to go. The Idol Tour only takes the first ten placers.  So, that means…if you’ve been the eleventh person booted out, it would have to suck to be you. That’s $100,000 guaranteed earning down the drain.

So, today we’re looking back at the unlucky (or lucky?0 eleventh placers in season’s past. What have they been doing after Idol? I’ll start with Season 3, since in the Philippines, we got to watch our very first American Idol during the third season.

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It has been four years, how you doin?

Have you been wondering what your favorite Friends are up to these days?

I’ve been watching some episodes during the Holy Week break…despite my mom telling me and my 10 year old (who I’ve turned into a Friends junkie!) we shouldn’t be laughing so much. Can’t help it. I love these people. And I loved their show! And in the spirit of the season, I did mourn when I read David Schwimmer’s recent interview. He said that the last time he saw all six of them together was in 2004, when their series ended. 

Aww.

But going back to the question…are you wondering where they are now? Read along and let’s catch up on the Friends…

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Who dares sue Oprah? Well, if you’re hungry for publicity because your show is failing…

Two people actually.

The first lawsuit has to do with Oprah’s new TV show, Big Give.  If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a reality TV series where Oprah gives 10 people loads of money and are asked to travel around the world with a mission of helping other people. Every week, one of them goes home, and since I don’t watch the program at all…I wouldn’t have any clue for what reason. Do they fail the task so they’re told to leave? Do they get voted off? Were they tempted to steal the money? In the end, though, one of the 10 chosen may also get to go home with $1million.

The "helping other people" part is a noble idea, alright. But apparently, not an original idea. A woman is suing the 56th richest person in the world (according to Forbes Magazine in 2006) because Oprah and her Harpo Production allegedly stole the very same concept! In 2005, Darlene Tracy pitched the very same idea to Harpo and caller her show The Philanthropist.  In 2006, she tried to get a judge’s order to stop the show from going on air. The lawsuit is currently on appeal.

But, wait a minute… if the dispute has been going on since 2006, why was it so widely picked up in newswires all about the same time the other day? I’m not kidding — news about the lawsuit all jumped in my newsfeeds in a synchoronized manner. So, you know what I smell from this? P-U-B-L-I-C-I-T-Y! Oprah’s Big Give has been widely criticized for being a pretentious TV program that serves no purpose but only to glorify the former Daytime Talkshow Queen. And its viewership is dropping.

So, there you go.

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Same Zip Code, Different Residents

In the early 90’s, Beverly Hills 90210 was the trend-setting youth drama series young kids watched. It ran for ten seasons but had to fold when make-up could no longer cover the fact that the cast members were 18 years old going on 65. (Was botox already around then?). Even so, 90210 was a corny teen drama series most people my age can’t deny loving once before.  Yeah, it was our guilty pleasure.

Eight years later and the show is coming back. Only it’s not in its exact same form.

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TV Boyfriend: Damian Lewis

DAMIAN LEWIS
British Actor

Best known for his role as Maj. Richard Winters in the HBO series Band of Brothers.  Currently stars on NBC’s crime series, Life as Lt. Charlie Crews.

Like him for…

• his confidence and screen presence.
• his take on the roles given to him in that he "becomes" the character.
• his red, red hair.
• his mesmerizing green eyes.

Video 1 is Damian on Band of Brothers
Video 2 is Damian on Life

Catch Damian Lewis this Friday, March 21, on Maxxx (Sky Cable Channel) along with the other actors on the Emmy Award Winning series, Band Of Brothers. The cable channel is airing a 10 hour marathon, beginning 12 PM.

Watch Life on NBC or Star World Tuesdays 9 PM, Sky Cable. 

How Ted Bumped Into Mother

Last night on How I Met Your Mother, Ted and Barney were at a bar celebrating St. Patrick’s day with loads of beer and girls. In the voice-over, Ted would say "Mother" was also in that bar, but they both wouldn’t know about it until years later.

In that party though, Ted accidentally bumps into a woman and apologizes to her.  The scene was rather pointless but so clearly and obviously highlighted. The "woman" is credited in the closing as  Nicole Muirbrook Wagner, who has no other acting credits to her name yet.

Those not following the news so much (and have a better social life outside the boob tube and couch) would probably conclude it so….she’s Mother. 

Now, I refuse to believe she bagged that role. No offense, I’m sure she’s going to land better roles as she builds a TV career; but wouldn’t it be more fitting if they get someone more familiar to viewers to play "Mother"? It’s gonna be one demanding role, eventually, perhaps a bigger role than any of the five present characters…

But as this is TV, actors playing one character can be changed all the time (see Ross’ lesbian wife Carol on Friends).

I’m just relieved Mother isn’t last night’s actual guest star, Vanessa Manillo.