Watching The CW

Tuesday: Ronnie is back! Anyone else feel like Veronica Mars has been on hiatus for years rather than weeks? All new episode with our heroine Veronica getting mixed up in a drive-by shooting, trying to solve a hate crime and to top it all off her fake IDs come back to haunt her.

Wednesday: Finally it is the “go sees” over at Tyra-land (aka America’s Next Top Model) and the CW blurb says that one girl asks to keep the clothes. I wonder who that could be…

Thursday: Supernatural has their “what if” episode with Dean transported to an alternate reality where he and Sam are discontented from each other because they no longer hunt all things supernatural. Oh, and their mother isn’t dead! Meanwhile, Smallville goes even further back with a 1940s themed fantasy episode.

Good times ahead!

The CW, Veronica Mars, America’s Next Top Model, Tyra, ANTM, Smallville, Supernatural

The best way to enjoy Supernatural (other such genre shows) is to buy into their universe; don’t worry about exactly how Dean and Sam are going to get out of the tricky situation they have got themselves into. I guess my message is don’t over think it, don’t pick holes just sit back and enjoy this well crafted show.

The Winchester brothers find themselves having to get arrested and sent to a detention center to investigate a ghost that is killing inmates and guards alike. This is a favor for friend of their father who got him out of a jam and Dean feels obligated to step in and help. Plus does it matter who the victims of the ghost are or what space is being haunted? They have a man on the inside so their escape is solid but things get hairy when their mortal nemesis FBI agent Hendrickson breezes into town to make sure that the charges stick and that the oh-so-dangerous twosome are extradited to Milwaukee. Luckily their public defender sees more to their actions than their rap sheets indicate.

The ghost was a vigilantly nurse who had continued dispensing her justice into the next life. She did latch onto Dean and I am wondering if she sensed more than the credit card theft. In the Bloody Mary themed episode from last season it is hinted at that something had once gone wrong on a hunting trip and Dean had been culpable. I hope this is explored as it is always nice to get a dark, serious Dean episode to counterbalance the jovial Teflon ones.

Of course Dean and Sam escape to salt ‘n’ burn the bones of the nurse, but this time the episode leaves them in even more trouble. Escapees who will need to hide even deeper (and by the looks of next weeks promo they will be hiding in an alternate reality).

It was scary how Dean adapted perfectly in the prison environment (likes the food, wins smokes as currency and is able to spout classic film references for all prison situations); Sam a little more uncomfortable as the “new fish” and seemed equally freaked out by Dean’s ease. I also liked how their second meeting with Hendrickson mirrored the first - both times trapped in a building. The question is will Hendrickson buy into what they do for a living or will he have to see it for himself first?

Finally, very much it enjoyed it ending with Rooster by Alice in Chains and the title was a nod to Johnny Cash.

The CW, Supernatural, Folsom Prison Blues, Alice in Chains, Rooster, Johnny Cash

Is there anyone else out there who is as curious as me as to how Dean and Sam plan to get out of prison once they complete their ghost hunting mission? I have a feeling that FBI agent Hendrickson isn’t going to be as understanding as Linda Blair’s cop.

Here’s the promo from YouTube for tonight’s episode:

And for those Smallville fans out there here’s the promo for Nemesis:

The CW, Supernatural, Smallville, YouTube, Linda Blair

Tonight’s America’s Next Top Model is new-ish. It is a rehash of the last few weeks and a collection of the best bits of the girls who are left in the house. They do promise some “never-before-seen-scenes” - hmmm. How many times have we all be taken in by that? You sit through fifty odd minutes of old footage only to be given a few extra scenes… Me, jaded and bitter? I think I’ll watch last week’s Smallville instead.

If you are interested Jael’s ANTM close-up interview can be found over at The CW.

The CW, America’s Next Top Model, ANMT, Smallville, Jael

Welcome to ‘No News is Good News Tuesday’. Yup, you’ve guessed it another week of speculating about the fate of Veronica Mars has gone past. There was a piece last week on AintItCool about how Ms Mars fell into the “Gone or nearly dead category” but TV Guide’s Ausiello Report declares that the “FBI pitch is not dead”.

I have my fingers AND toes crossed because I would be happy with any variation of the Veronica Mars universe in order to get another season.

The CW, sweeps, Veronica Mars, AintItCool, Ausiello, TV Guide

Tuesday: The Pussy Cat Doll Will be chosen.

Wednesday: It is recap night over at America’s Next Top Model.

Thursday: The Winchester brothers end up in prison on a ghost hunt (and you know getting out is always harder than getting in), and in Smallville Lex and Clark spend some quality time together.

The CW, Pussy Cat Dolls, America’s Next Top Model, ANTM, Smallville, Supernatural

Dean and Sam head to Hollywood to investigate a mysterious death on a set of a horror film. The first “murder” turns out to have been faked by the studios to drum up viral buzz for a so-so sequel but then, of course, real ghosts turn up. This episode was kinda kooky and confusing (but in a good way). We had to try and get our minds around:

- The fake film (Hell Hazers 2) within the show (complete with a spoof trailer)
- Real horror within the horror film
- The film’s director being “McG” (will need to check the credits to see if that was the real McG since they cut in his real films with the spoof titles during the trailer)
- The legit ghosts are bumping off people associated with the movie in the manner in which they originally died
- Real Latin spirit summoning chants woven into the movie script, and the actors (and the ghosts) are the tools of the original writer - Walter.
- Mirroring the kids in the movie being in peril in the spooky cabin with Dean, Sam and producer guy ending up in the same cabin fighting ghosts
- Talk about art imitating life, we have Winchester ending ending up as the ending of the film (hunting ghost through a camera phone).

Overall this was a strong light hearted episode. Love how star struck Dean was with all the genre actors, the free food and how he took to being undercover as a PA like a duck to water once he found out what a PA was.

- “What’s a PA?”
- “Think they are kinda like slaves.”

There was the in joke about the “weather being practically Canadian” when Supernatural is filmed in Vancouver, and the brothers walking off into a drizzly fake sunset!

The CW, Supernatural, Gary Cole, McG, Vancouver, Hell Hazers 2

Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund

April 16, 2007, will be remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of the Virginia Tech community and the world beyond.

To remember and honor the victims of those tragic events, the university has established the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to aid in the healing process and generate financial support.

The fund will be used to cover expenses including but not limited to:

• Grief counseling
• Memorials
• Communication expenses
• Comfort expenses
• Incidental needs

If you plan to give, please click the link below:

And then there were 6. From memory Brittnay, Natasha, Dionne, Renee, Jael and er… er Jaslene. How could I forget her; once so bright she is now fading from view.

The girls have all been really strong up until now, but when you throw Australian lingo and jet lag into the mix you get a more entertaining show. Viva Australia. I am getting ahead of myself…

One of the old girls, April, came back to give the new batch some tips on interviewing. Bring on the roll play exercise: Renee and Natasha went head to head, but the claws came out for Jael and Dionne.

11 minutes in the girls are off to Sydney. It is tastefully announced with Tyra in roo costume and of course a real roo in the background. For the challenge the gals are going to put their interview skills to the test in Oz and the winner’s piece will air on the Tyra show!

Straight off the plane, the girls are forced to meet with the lovely Erika Heynatz (the original host of Australia’s Next Top Model) in what looks like the airport car park. They are off to interview poor unsuspecting members of the public using Aussie slang. I think it is safe to say that there were some very confused wannabe interviewers unable to distinguish between “thongs” and “knackered”.

With barely a moment for the girls to catch their breath in their new digs they are whisked off to the “outback” to film a Cover Girl advert and put on an Aussie accent. Oohhh most of the girls have thick accents (Russian, Spanish, New York), and it was not pretty on the ears. I don’t care what any of the judges said none of them came close, but IMO the best of the worst phony Aussie accents was Renee.

It turns out that Brittany has problems with her short term memory, and this caused her to be in the final two with Jael, but it was Jael who went home.

I feel cheated that there was no photo shoot. Perhaps next week we can have a photo shoot with crocodiles!

The CW, America’s Next Top Model, ANTM, Tyra Banks, Australia, Erika Heynatz

I don’t have much more to add from Monday other than I hope they move the action to Australia early on in tonight’s show. When you move the girls out of their comfort zone it does tend to shake things up, and by shaking things up I of course mean they get a little more dramatic.

There is an interview with Whitney over at the CW and a long interview with Tyra in the Observer.

My un-scientific morning guess is that it will be Jael and Renee in the final two this evening. Who do you think will be cut?

The CW, America’s Next Top Model, ANTM, Tyra

It feels like an eternity since Miss Mars went on hiatus, but she will return in two weeks time. In the meantime SpoilerFix has the low down on her returning May 1st episode. It is wittily entitled ‘Un-American Graffiti’ and has Veronica investigating a Middle Eastern restaurant that keeps being vandalized with… er… un-American graffiti! Also, all those fake IDs that Veronica has been churning out might come back to haunt her and Keith. I like that there is now an uneasy juxtaposition between Sheriff Keith and his daughter who is more comfy operating on the wrong side of the law.

The CW, SpoilerFix, Veronic Mars

Put your foot down on the gas we can drive straight out of repeats-ville as there are new episodes ahead!

This Wednesday America’s Next Top Model finally leaves these shores and heads down under so that the final six girls can have an Australian adventure. Please let there be go-sees this week or a really tough photo shoot whilst the girls are jet lagged and disorientated.

Thursday we have Lynda Carter (yes, that Lynda Carter) guest starring in Smallville as Chloe’s mother. Who it turns out has powers of her own and I am sure that one of the Luther’s will be interested in her. Things get silly with the Winchester brothers in the first new episode in a MONTH with ‘Hollywood Babylon’. Dean and Sam will be getting into trouble on the set of a haunted horror film.

The CW, America’s Next Top Model, ANTM, Smallville, Lynda Carter, Wonder Woman, Supernatural, Hollywood Babylon, Progeny

Still stuck in repeats-ville on Thursday night but only a week to go before fresh episodes of Supernatural and Smallville. Hurrah.

We’re not even out of April (or into May) yet reports of the CW fall season are slowly trickling through the popular press. TV Guide.com has so far highlighted a sitcom Eight Days a Week (a group of over-worked assistants, in their 20s and set in NYC - channeling the Devil Wears Prada) and a drama Hell on Earth (re-incarnation - mean, rich girl reborn as a poor girl). Kevin Smith’s website is reporting that he is filming his pilot for the CW as we speak - now that is something to look forward to!

The CW, repeats, Smallville, Supernatural, TV Guide, Kevin Smith, Fall 2007

Last night was Dionne’s show hands down. She may not have won the acting challenge but she aced the photo shoot despite her misgivings and being uncomfortable in the situation. Best of all was her honest reaction to her sister’s attempt to braid her daughter’s hair. Classic. I really hope she makes.

As I have said before the episodes get stronger as the girls numbers dwindle, and they of course up their game to stay in. After confession time last week the girls (and viewers at home) are left wondering how genuine Renee is in the house. She blows hot and cold, but is that part of her master plan to win? Modifying her behavior to stay in the competition, and if she is is there anything wrong with that? It is after all a competition. How does it go… all’s fair in love, war and modeling? Any way Renee won the the acting challenge and she really knows how to bring on the tears when needed. Of course the real acting challenge was to look satisfied when the prize was a tee. But the powers that be had punked the winners Renee and her chosen companion Dionne got their families to come spend an afternoon with them. Great for them not so great for Natasha who seemed to take it as a personal slur that she did not miss her baby as much as Dionne and Renee. Aaargggh, Natasha it was a prize. Chill and stop stropping the look does not suit you.

The photo shoot was as surreal as I thought it would be, but it was nice to see America’s Next Top Model alumni. Jael and Whitney were the final two, and Whitney went home. I think Jael may be being kept around to see how she fairs in castings. I know that it is mean but aren’t you curious? She is either going to bomb or blow the other girls away… only time will tell.

Hopefully now Brittnay is weave-less she will quit complaining, Natasha will quit crying and J. Alexander will quit with the ruffles.

The CW, America’s Next Top Model, ANTM, Tyra Banks, J. Alexander

Beginning to loose steam with ANTM… They’d better get to the overseas episodes soon.

Not sure how many girls we are down to something like six or seven, and tonight will be the “acting” episode. Our gals will be getting some acting tips from Tia Mowry & Efren Ramirez. For the photo shoot it will be a trip down memory lane as the girls will recreate the most scandalous moments from previous cycles and they will be joined by past competitors. Is it just me or is that surreal.

Who do you think will go home and what do you think they will do with Britney’s weave?

An interview with Sarah can be found on the CW.

The CW, America’s Next Top Model, ANTM, Tyra, Tia Mowry, Efren Ramirez