I'm not kidding with the radio show, people

So, I'm hosting Geekerati next Monday night at 7 PM Pacific time. Our topic is "Treasure or Trash?" as we'll discuss those cinematic, comic, tv, and other media wonders which might be considered either depending on the person. If you'd like to post a list of your treasures or trash, do it here and I'll read it on air, giving you due credit of course. If you only have your screenname and not a real one, well that's what I'm using, so be sure to tell me if you want credit as you or as your phantom internet you.

We'll also be GIVING AWAY -- That's right, FREE one copy of each of the hosts top treasure pick, most likely a DVD, comic or book. All you need to do to be elligible for this giveaway is 1 of 2 things:

1. Post a treasure/trash item here (I also refer to these as no-guilt pleasures of a questionable nature) and leave your email/name/some form of contact info. If you don't want to be public about your treasure, you can email it to me at the address in the sidebar. (And it would be nice if you could give us a listen...you know, for the stats).

2. Call in to our show live on Monday night with your treasure/trash and you'll be elligible. If we have more than 3 people, we'll be drawing randomly for winners.

So, tell your friends, your neighbors, or your enemies if you are so inclined. We'd like to see a spike in our listernship this week.

Oh and if you think we suck, feel free to email me that comment.

Final note: if you are an industry type person who wants to talk about a project that would appeal to a geek audience, drop me a line as we are looking for future guests for our show. Topic suggestions are also welcome.

You guys are the best. But you knew this.

Starting from scratch

I know you've been there. You're working on an idea, you've even got it vaguely sketched out in your head. It's a BIG IDEA, and it's daunting. And then you try to cobble it together quickly so you can get some feedback, figure out if you are going in the right direction...

...and you confuse everyone. They barely get it. It's frustrating.

That's where I am right now on the new pilot I'm writing. For some reason, I can't just write a simple little cop show or maybe a nice dramedy. No, I have to go EPIC. It has to be ginormous scope, and little me trying to rein it in, tackle it to the ground and make it do my bidding. I went through hell and back with the last one, and this one looks like it is going to be the same process. The only good news is I went through the wringer once, so at least I know what to expect.

Oh, and by the way this is the *third* pilot idea I've started in a month. The first one wasn't working, the second one was too similar to someone else's, so now here I am, third idea. I was saving this one back because I felt like I needed more time to envision it before putting it on paper.

Looks like I was right. Another high concept idea, comin' right up.

Burn Notice gets another season

I already reported the 'Saving Grace' news, now comes word that 'Burn Notice' is getting 13 more episodes.

Link: Cablers pick up more 'Burn,' 'Grace'

Article: Consumers spend more time with paid media

Mad Pulp Bastard, this story is for you.

From the AP:

A study finds that U.S. consumers are increasingly shifting their attention away from traditional, advertising-supported media in favor of paid entertainment such as video games, the Internet and cable TV.
From 2001 to 2006, the average amount of time spent by the typical consumer on paid media has jumped 19.8 percent, according to a report released Tuesday by Veronis Suhler Stevenson, a media investment firm.

Over the same period, overall time spent with traditional, or ad- supported media such as broadcast television, radio and newspapers declined 6.3 percent, the study found. The researchers said they expect the trend to continue over the next several years.

As of 2006, ad-supported media still had a 53.8 percent share of the total amount of time people spent with media, versus 46.2 percent on for-pay media, which include the Internet, cable and satellite TV, movies seen in theaters, books and recorded music.

At the same time, the study found that the total amount of time spent on all types of media actually declined slightly last year for the first time since 1997, dipping 0.5 percent to an annual total of 3,530 hours.

Leo Kivijarv, vice president of research at PQ Media, a media research consulting firm that worked on the report, said the slight decline came after several years of growth amid rapid adoption of new kinds of hardware and services such as high-speed Internet connections, satellite TV and digital video recorders.

With many of those services now already purchased by those who want them, Kivijarv said that time spent with media had reached a saturation point.

Also, researchers found that users generally spent less time with online media than they did with traditional media such as newspapers. Since people are online more often, that's resulted in an overall decline in total time spent consuming all media.

You just know this will be on the show

From FoxNews:

For the first time in "American Idol" history, a contestant went into labor while waiting with 13,500 hopefuls for her chance to become the next singing superstar.

On Monday, nine months' pregnant Antoria Gillon arrived at Texas Stadium with hopes of becoming the next "American Idol. However, as the time of her audition approached, she realized she was in labor.

Determined not to miss her shot at fame, Gillon sang her heart out while in the midst of severe contractions.

After completing the audition, she was taken to the Medical Center at Lancaster, where she gave birth to a healthy son — whom she named Jamil Labarron Idol McCowan.

Baby Idol arrived early Tuesday morning and weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces.

Ack! Jane's sharing my brain again!

Lady Jane ponders putting a Brit's dialog in the proper British spelling of words.

I actually did this with my House spec. I was rather pleased with myself. I doubt anyone has noticed. :(

Saving Grace gets 15 more episodes

TNT's press release, below:

TNT’s Critically Acclaimed Hit Series SAVING GRACE Spreads Its Wings Wider as Network Orders 15 Additional Episodes

Provocative New Drama Stars Academy Award® Winner Holly Hunter Series Claims Top Spot as Ad-Supported Cable’s #1 New Series Launch for the Year to Date Among Viewers and Households

TNT’s provocative, critically acclaimed series SAVING GRACE, starring Oscar® winner Holly Hunter, is set to fly ever higher as the network orders an additional 15 episodes, according to an announcement today by Michael Wright, senior vice president in charge of the Content Creation Group for TNT, TBS and TCM. The series launched July 23 with ad-supported cable’s biggest audience for a new series premiere for the year to date. It airs Mondays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), following THE CLOSER. SAVING GRACE comes to TNT from Fox Television Studios and creator Nancy Miller (Any Day Now), who wrote the pilot and is also executive-producing with Gary A. Randall (A Little Thing Called Murder) and Artie Mandelburg (Leaving L.A.). Hunter also serves as producer.

“SAVING GRACE is wholly original, thought-provoking show with a dynamic, gut-wrenching performance by one of Hollywood’s top actresses at its center,” said Wright. “We’re thrilled at the response to the show and happy that it has connected with its audience. And we’re proud to be extending the run of this exciting new series as it continues to build on its success.”

SAVING GRACE stars Hunter as Grace Hanadarko, an intense and cynical Oklahoma City police detective. Despite being at the top of her field, Grace lives life hard, fast and on the edge. Wicked-smart and tough, she hits bottom one night when she slams into a pedestrian while she is driving drunk. Horrified at the realization of what she’s done, Grace uncharacteristically asks for help and receives it in the form of an unconventional angel named Earl. The journey for both of them will not be an easy one. For Grace, it will bring up life’s most complicated issues. Each episode of SAVING GRACE revolves around a specific case that the detectives are trying to solve, while delving deeper into the characters’ lives. Leon Rippy (Deadwood), Kenneth Johnson (The Shield), Bailey Chase (Las Vegas), Bokeem Woodbine (The Big Hit) and Laura San Giacomo (Just Shoot Me) co-star.

SAVING GRACE premiered July 23 to more than 6.4 million viewers and 4.8 million households, flying to the top of the charts as ad-supported cable’s #1 new series premiere for the year to date, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. The debut episode also joined the list of ad-supported cable’s Top 3 series premieres of all time in household delivery. To date, SAVING GRACE is averaging 5.5 million viewers.

Turner Network Television (TNT), television’s destination for drama and one of cable’s top-rated networks, offers original movies and series, including the acclaimed detective drama The Closer, starring Golden Globeâ winner and Emmy® and Screen Actors Guild Awardsâ nominee Kyra Sedgwick; Saving Grace, a provactive new drama starring Oscar® winner Holly Hunter; and the epic television event The Company, executive-produced by Ridley Scott and starring Chris O’Donnell, Michael Keaton and Alfred Molina. TNT is also home to powerful one-hour dramas, such as Without a Trace, Law & Order, Las Vegas, Cold Case, ER, Charmed and Judging Amy; broadcast premiere movies; compelling prime-time specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA. TNT is also available in high-definition.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and a leading provider of programming for the television industry.

Fun with search terms

I love when strange searches hit my site. Always fun. Sadly, doesn't happen as much as I'd like. I'm sure Brett gets cooler searches because he puts the weirdest tags on his posts. Usually searches for '[blank] show cancelled' are the norm here.

Today I got TWO odd requests...first up, apparently Scott Gardenhour has something going on, because there were no less than 6 google searches for him hitting my page. Scott, you owe me money.

Second was even better-- "jack bauer insurance". I don't know if the person is trying to find out *if* Jack Bauer has insurance, or if he is a coincidentally named insurance agent, or maybe it's a new brand of insurance (When you need to save the world in 24 hours, be sure you carry Jack Bauer Life Insurance! Accidental Death and Dismemberment not available in all states).

"Dammit! I forgot to pay my premium!!"

Listen to Geekerati Radio tonight...please?

I'm trying to make this easier for people to find. Every Monday night, other geeks and me talk about geeky things in a geeky way. You know you wanna hear that. And we very often give away stuff!! C'mon! What isn't to love about free stuff??

Never miss another episode -- subscribe!



Listen right now! And of course there's "extended radio time" on the podcast.

Curses! I've been tagged!

Julie tagged me specifically for a 'ten things you don't know about me' meme. Usually I ignore any of them which say 'I tag you all in general if you haven't done this' because, frankly, I don't like being lumped in with the mob. But Julie must know this, and in her super-sneaky fashion she called me out. Bitch.

Okay, so ten things you may (but hopefully don't) know about me...

1. My sister and I share the same birthday 3 years apart. Yes, I realize some of you already know this. Sue me.

2. In my youth, I collected postcards. There was a time when I didn't travel much, and I craved seeing postcards from exotic locales. I also almost religiously bought a postcard, no matter where we visited. I finally quit around high school, when I figured out it was kind of lame. I also collected stamps for awhile.

3. You can still find usenet posts I made and IRC logs that mention me dating back to 1993.

4. In high school and college, I competed on speech teams. In high school I primarily did acting competitions, in college I used to enter "pentathalon" competions, for which I did Extemporaneous speaking, Impromptu speaking (yes, they are different), Informative speaking, Persuasive speaking, Rhetorical Criticism and Dramatic Duet acting. I'd always drop my weakest one for the Pentath. I went to Nationals one year for Persuasive speech and for Dramatic Duet acting.

5. When I was six years old, I won best costume in the Pumpkin Princess Pageant in Morton, Illinois, pumpkin capital of the world. My grandmother made me a saloon girl costume for the western themed festival. My sister won the same award two years later for her Little Bo Peep costume.

6. I can write backwards and upside down. (and I'm left handed) This is how I used to write notes to my best friend in high school. We also had our own heiroglypic code we used for notes.

7. I once had to fetch a newspaper for Gene Siskel. I was working on a radio program in Orlando on which he was a guest, and they needed a paper to look up the film listings. I went out in the rain to get one from a machine. I think of all famous people I have personally met, this is the only one I met who died not long after.

8. I once sang backup on a demo CD for a songwriter in Orlando. I sang lead on one song.

9. I have a lot of scars. If you read my right knee, left elbow and left knee in that order, my scars spell "OIL".

10. This tenth thing...well, I'm going to be cryptic. There's some...'stuff' happening. Good stuff. Very very good stuff. But I'm far from a point where I can talk about it. I promise that when the time comes, I will have quite a story to tell. So for now this continues to be 'something you don't know about me.' But you will know. You will know.

Summer Series Showing Success

Don't you love alliteration??

So, "The Closer" got renewed by TNT for a 4th season today.

ABC Family ordered the back 10 episodes for "Greek" to air TBD.

News looks positive (so far) for "Saving Grace" and "Burn Notice".

I guess I need to start a new friggin' Watch List.

Updates from the Con

I'm doing live updates from the convention. Follow me in the sidebar with my Twitter account.

It's crazy here. That sums up a lot.

Twitter now enabled

I've set up a Twitter account so I can report on the happenings at Comic-con in real time.

If you want to follow me at the site, look for 'TeelaJBrown'.

Fun begins tomorrow!

My new movieweb column

is up. Chit chat about summer tv. I also have a review of "The Bill Engvall" show up. I laughed a few times, so I will probably tune in to see if the show really finds its legs.

Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

It's Emmy Time.

'Friday Night Lights' doesn't make the cut (boo!)

But Minnie Driver of FX 'The Riches' does (really?) Connie Britton is robbed!

More thoughts later. I have to get to work.

Update: Just saw the writing categories. Wow.

The best 'Lost' episode of the year made it...and BSG gets a nom! (HUGE!)...and three Sopranos episodes. No House. No 24. No Heroes. No Friday Night Lights. No CSI (the finale was really good).

And Boston Legal gets a nom for drama this year?? I mean, it's a good show, but... *sigh*

NBC Press release - fall premiere dates and schedule changes

(I'll be creating the new watch list very soon!)

NBC SHOWCASES FALL PRIMETIME ENTERTAINMENT SERIES BEGINNING WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 24

New Drama "Chuck" Kicks Off Mondays (8-9 p.m. ET) and "Deal or No Deal" Shifts to Fridays (8-9 p.m. ET) Leading into "Friday Night Lights" (9-10 p.m. ET) Followed by "Las Vegas" (10-11 p.m. ET)

"The Biggest Loser" Expands to 90 Minutes on Tuesdays and Shares the Night with Summer Hit "The Singing Bee," New Addition to Fall Lineup

One-hour Episodes of "My Name Is Earl" (8-9 p.m. ET) and "The Office" (9-10 p.m. ET) Premiere on Thursday, September 27

BURBANK – July 16, 2007 – NBC launches its season premieres the week of September 24. The network will adjust its schedule by moving the new comedic spy thriller "Chuck" to Mondays (8-9 p.m. ET) – followed by switching the popular Monday version of "Deal or No Deal" to Fridays (8-9 p.m. ET), and shifting "Friday Night Lights" to an earlier new time of 9-10 p.m. (ET) and " Las Vegas" to 10-11 p.m. (ET).

In addition, NBC will expand "The Biggest Loser" to 90 minutes on Tuesdays (8-9:30 p.m. ET) and will have a special two-hour premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 11. Summer's newest hit, "The Singing Bee" (which premiered earlier this month), will have its Fall premiere on Tuesday, September 25 (9:30-10 p.m. ET).

NBC's premiere week will also feature one-hour episodes each of "My Name Is Earl" (8-9 p.m. ET) and "The Office" (9-10 p.m. ET) on Thursday, September 27 and a two-hour episode premiere of "Las Vegas" on Friday, September 28 (9-11 p.m. ET).

The announcements were made by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, and Marc Graboff, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.

"We can't wait for the new season to begin and we believe that these programming changes will allow for a powerhouse Monday night with 'Chuck,' 'Heroes' and 'Journeyman,'" said Silverman. "On Tuesdays, the 90-minute 'The Biggest Loser' has always performed well and will fit perfectly with our new summer hit 'The Singing Bee.' On Fridays, we can hammock 'Friday Night Lights' between two proven hits – 'Deal or No Deal' and 'Las Vegas,' with new cast member Tom Selleck."

Said Graboff: "We like that we can start our season off strong with hour-long episodes of such comedy favorites as 'Earl' and 'The Office.' Coupled with the dynamo of 'Sunday Night Football,' we will have a very potent fall lineup and these schedule adjustments will only make us stronger."

All of NBC's primetime entertainment series will bow during the week of September 24 with the exception of "The Biggest Loser" (Tuesday, September 11), "30 Rock" (Thursday, October 4), "Friday Night Lights" (Friday, October 5) and "Scrubs" (Thursday, October 25).

In addition, "Deal or No Deal" will premiere on Monday, September 17 (8-9 p.m. ET) -- one final time in its previously announced day and time before moving to Fridays (8-9 p.m. ET) on September 28.

Likewise, "Friday Night Lights" was previously scheduled for Fridays (10-11 p.m. ET) and "Las Vegas" (9-10 p.m. ET) on the same night before swapping time periods.

On September 24, NBC tees up its new season on Mondays (8-9 p.m. ET) with "Chuck," a new hour-long series from executive producer Josh Schwartz ("The O.C.") and executive producer-director McG ("Charlie's Angels," "We Are Marshall"), who deliver a comedic spy thriller about Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi, "Less Than Perfect") -- a computer geek who is catapulted into a new career as the government's most vital secret agent. Then comes the much-anticipated second-season debut of "Heroes" (9-10 p.m. ET) as the epic ensemble drama centers on several ordinary people who possess extraordinary abilities.

Monday, September 24 will also serve as the premiere of the new drama "Journeyman" (10-11 p.m. ET). From Emmy Award-winning writer-producer Kevin Falls ("The West Wing") and Emmy Award-winning director-producer Alex Graves ("The West Wing"), "Journeyman" is a romantic mystery-drama about Dan Vasser (Kevin McKidd, "Rome"), a San Francisco newspaper
reporter and family man who inexplicably begins to travel through time and change people's lives.

Tuesdays mark the beginning of a new season of "The Biggest Loser" (8-10 p.m. ET) starting September 11 as the popular competitive weight-loss series boasts a few new twists. "The Singing Bee," introduced earlier this month, is hosted by Joey Fatone (*NSYNC) as it challenges contestants to not only sing a song – but compels them to sing the words
correctly. The variety-competition series will join the fall lineup on September 25.

The perennial favorite "Deal or No Deal" (8-9 p.m.) jump-starts Wednesdays beginning September 25 with host Howie Mandel, whose provocative series title question: "Deal – or no deal?" – has become a national catchphrase. The new "Bionic Woman" (9-10 p.m. ET) stars Michelle Ryan ("EastEnders") as a young woman whose life is radically altered and empowered after a car crash as it debuts on September 25. Also on the same night, the new drama "Life" (10-11 p.m. ET) features a complex police detective (Damian Lewis, "Band of Brothers") who's given a second chance on the force after serving years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.

"My Name Is Earl" (8-9 p.m. ET) and the Emmy Award-winning "The Office" (9-10 p.m. ET) will break out of the gate in a big way on Thursday, September 27 as each premieres with an hour-long episode. The 14th season debut of "ER" follows (10-11 p.m. ET).

The two-hour premiere of "Las Vegas" (9-11 p.m. ET) will follow the new Friday-night "Deal or No Deal" (8-9 p.m. ET) on September 28.

As it did during last fall, "Football Night in America" (7-8 p.m. ET) and "Sunday Night Football" (8-11 p.m. ET) will dominate on autumn Sundays.

Catching up

If it's Monday, I must be on Geekerati Radio at 7 PM PDT (in about 30 minutes from now)

Why not give us a listen? We're giving dvds away tonight! Details for tonight's show from Christian's blog Cinerati:

Have you ever wondered, "what's so special about DVD special editions?" Well the geeks at Geekerati Radio will be discussing that very question tonight at 7pm Pacific. Joining the Geeks will be film critic David Chute who will be discussing his commentary tracks on KING BOXER and ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN. Chute was joined by Quentin Tarantino in his commentary on KING BOXER.

Come and join in on the conversation, you might even walk away with a free copy of a movie.



Found out today that the short film I co-wrote with my friend Bernie for the 48 Hour Film Festival made the 'Best of L.A.' screening! If you are interested in seeing it and the other 15 films, here are the details for the screening:

"Best of Los Angeles 48HFP"
Screening and Awards Ceremony
Saturday, July 21, 8:30 p.m.
Fine Arts Theatre
8556 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Note: We've made arrangements for $2.00 parking in the basement of the
Flynt building on Wilshire and La Cienega.

Here are the Best Films of Los Angeles 2007:
"Asian Arrow 4: Back from Sheboygan" by All Together Now
"Buddy System" by Genesis Films
"Breakdown" by Tri-County Lawnbowling Association
"Chips" by Zip Quink
"Cookie De Mayo" by Cultural Detritus
"A Homecoming" by The TCS
"Life After Life" by Tickle Party
"Limbo" by Time Lapse Productions
"The Lunch" by Team Plaid
"Mickey & Mike" by Bucks Boys
"Project 96B" by Soapbox
"Serial Dating" by Wilcox Films <--- WE ROCK!! YAY US!!!
"Til Death Does His Part" by White Maria
"Trust" by Jeffrogee
"World Domination for Beginners" by Biscuits & Gravy
"Writers Do It Alone" by Rabid Manatees

I've really started work on a new pilot spec now. And the other pilot is 'out there'. More news when it happens...

Summer TV

A few really great articles about TV over at Variety today.

In particular, read this one about the embarrassment of riches in cable, but how the strategies could mean a lot of good shows ending up on the trash heap, due to too much competition in the summer. TNT, TBS and USA have always been pretty similar -- now it's downright impossible to tell the nets apart (at least for me).

Cloverfield

The viral marketing begins.

Hollywood Reporter article

More news and speculations (and links)

Keep an eye on this one...

Is Nathan a 'Desperate' Housewife, er husband?

Dana Delaney and Nathan Fillion are in talks to join the cast of "Desperate Houswives" next season.

This, by the way, may be the ONLY news which would make me watch the show. *sigh*