Toronto Mike

Television

Total 456 Posts

Six Feet Under

One of my favourite shows of all time returns tonight.  "Six Feet Under" begins it's final season in about ten minutes. Every time I start thinking television is crap I think about "Six Feet Under" and "The Sopranos", two shows that truly are too good for TV.
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CSI-less Streak Ending?

Recently, I listed the top ten rated television shows in the USA and commented on whether I watch or not.  I mentioned I had never seen an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond or CSI, but I threatened to watch the final Raymond next week out of morbid curiosity. As it
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Arresting Developments

While I enjoy the Canada-Russia game on TSN, with Canada jumping out to a satisfying 3-0 lead, I'm learning the best show you're not watching may very well return next season. I'm continuously raving about "Arrested Development" because it's a jewel of a comedy in a steaming, heaping pile of
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Top 10 Shows

I was just looking at a list of the 10 most watched prime-time shows for the week ended Sunday, according to Nielsen Media Research.  It's an American list, but I suspect the Canadian top ten is fairly similar.  I noticed I don't watch very many shows in the top ten.
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The Trailer Park

"Trailer Park Boys" is a rare example of a successful Canadian television series.  It's entering its fifth season and today they announced they will be filming a movie this summer.  The executive producer for this flick will be none other than the key note speaker at my university graduation, Mr.
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Unbearable

Now that James is asleep, I feel safe sharing this concern with you.  The boy seems to be obsessed with bears. Here are a few of the television shows he enjoys: Bear in the Big Blue House, Little Bear, Corduroy and The Berenstain Bears.  They all have a common theme.
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Is This It?

Tomorrow night is the second season finale of "Arrested Development".  It's also likely the series finale.  "Arrested Development" ranks 118th this season to date in the United States and had its order shortened from 22 to 18 episodes.  Despite overwhelming critical acclaim, five Emmys and my support, ratings matter most
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The New VR

I've poked fun at The New VR before.  For over a decade this station out of Barrie has been calling itself new.  The statute of limitations on "new" ran out a long, long time ago. Apparently, parent company CHUM Television has grown tired of the New VR jokes.  They plan
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Hate Jones

Here in Canada, we get the E! pre-Oscar show on StarTV.  This is a two hour program before the telecast begins where you see what the stars are wearing and other shallow stuff like that.  Taryn and I have always rather enjoyed this guilty pleasure but this is no longer
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Leno or Letterman?

Americans, it seems, are either Leno or Letterman fans, much like they're either Republican or Democrat.  It's an easy way to find out what kind of person you're dealing with.  The answer to this Leno or Letterman question reveals a great deal about your subject. I'm not the world's biggest
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Mike Logan Returns

I watch a lot of "Law & Order", in fact, I used to watch every episode over and over again when I had more free time.  Detective Mike Logan was always my favourite character and I considered him the heart of the original series. Chris Noth will return permanently to
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They Weren't All Happy Days

Last night I caught some of the "Happy Days" 30th anniversary special.  There was a time in the early 80s when "Happy Days" was one of my favourite shows.  It was on every afternoon and I thought it was the next best thing to "The Dukes of Hazzard". Watching the
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What I'm Watching Tonight

There are a couple of programs I'm looking forward to watching tonight. First, at 20:30 EST on CTV, it's the first of Kevin Smith's three-episode story arc on "Degrassi: The Next Generation".  A love triangle between Joey, Caitlin and Smith?  Cool... Then, at 21:00 EST on CBC, I'm
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Death on the Staircase

CBC Newsworld recently aired the eight hour documentary "Death on the Staircase" over a period of six nights.  We taped the entire series and were riveted for every minute of these eight hours.  Jean-Xavier de Lestrade had complete access to the primary players and minute details of this murder mystery
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Uncancelled and Blogging

Over a year ago I celebrated the uncancellation of Family Guy.  It's a damn funny show and it will be back on Fox sometime this spring. If you're a fan, there's a Family Guy Blog maintained by the producers of the show promising "exclusive looks at script pages, guest stars,
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No See The OC

Taryn is watching "The OC" right now in our bedroom.  She recently discovered this show and now watches it each Thursday night.  Both of my brothers watch this program religiously and even my mom has started watching.  Those in my little circle are huge fans of this teen drama that
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Vince Neil Swears

Stop the presses.  During the live New Year's Eve broadcast of "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno", Motley Crue rocker Vince Neil turned to bandmate Tommy Lee and said, "Happy fucking New Year, Tommy!" East coast viewers watching NBC after midnight heard the F-bomb in its entirety.  Pray for their
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Chicken and Stuffing and Pie, Oh My!

Debuting on Global tonight is "The Jane Show", a Canadian sitcom starring Teresa Pavlinek. Check out this picture of Teresa Pavlinek looking her best.  Does she look at all familiar to you?  Around these parts, she will forever be known as Swiss Chalet's "Chicken and stuffing and pie, oh my!
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Appointment Viewing

Remember appointment viewing?  That's when you actually work your schedules around being in front of the television at a certain time on a certain day of the week to watch a particular program.  For me, there's only one hour of the week I consider appointment viewing and that's Sunday nights
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Greatest TV Characters

Bravo has listed their 100 greatest TV characters.  Here are their top ten. Archie BunkerRalph KramdenLucy RicardoThe FonzHomer SimpsonSeinfeld CastLt. ColumboMary RichardsCapt. James T. KirkTony SopranoIt's an okay list I suppose, but it's a cop out grouping the four primary Seinfeld characters together at #6.  Make a choice!  It's nice
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