ABC, with its diverse new shows, has made Shonda Rhimes the heart and soul of the entire network
Rhimes” DNA is all over ABC”s new shows, even the ones she”s not involved with. A lot of the new ABC shows either have non-white male leads, and/or diverse casts and/or non-white male executive producers. PLUS: ABC is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to diversity, judging ABC”s new fall shows, and why does ABC continue using terrible titles?
An appreciation of “Trophy Wife,” a more complex version of “Modern Family”
The ABC comedy exits tonight having eclipsed “Modern Family” in portraying the politics of a complex family, says Eliana Dockterman. “To its credit, 'Trophy Wife” directly confronted the complications of divorce that Modern Family often ignores-and did so without vilifying the exes,” she explains. PLUS: The creators talk about ending “Trophy Wife,” and the entire cast made “Trophy Wife” great.
George R.R. Martin”s writes his books on his DOS computer
The “Game of Thrones” honcho has one computer for the internet, and a DOS machine for his Wordstar 4.0 program. PLUS: 4th “GoT” beer revealed, and Super Mario Bros. meets “GoT.”
Don Draper to meet Rip Van Winkle in new Sundance drama
“Crack in the Sky” will revolve around a Don Draper-like man who falls asleep in 1962 and wakes up in 2012.
Why Louis CK got it wrong in the “Fat Girl” speech he wrote for Sarah Baker
As Willa Paskin points out, “A woman as confident and comfortable as Vanessa would not, I don”t think, imagine herself as the victim of her weight and blame guys like Louie as entirely as her speech suggests. As a guilt trip, her speech is perfect; as a character exploration, it”s a little bit too much of a guilt trip. Vanessa”s teachable moment, and the episode more largely, is as scathing to Louie as possible. But it”s also condescending to Vanessa: I mean, if all Vanessa wanted in life was to hold hands with a nice guy, a girl as cool as she is could do just that.” PLUS: Louis CK pulled his punches and his speech was condescending, Louis CK finally destroyed his “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” fantasy, at least he started a necessary conversation, why do overweight men rank higher than overweight women, and what about men who love “Big Beautiful Women”?
Claim: “The Biggest Loser” refused to show fat people getting into relationships
Season 3″s Kai Hibbard reveals “5 Details They Cut from My Season,” and writes: “'The Biggest Loser' had romantic subplots that would build throughout the season, (like any other reality show), but the producers and editors made sure to Jim & Pam that sh*t as slowly as possible. Those ‘relationships' weren't allowed to bloom until both partners were skinny enough that their kisses were safe for a presumably very shallow audience that knows love only as something bedazzled on the butts of pretty girls' pink sweatpants.”
“Frasier” ended its 11-year run 10 years ago tonight
Why is the 10th anniversary of the end of “Frasier” receiving less attention than the 10th anniversary of the end of “Friends”?
Steve Carell tonight debuts his new “Riot” improv game show
“I have no idea what I”m getting myself into,” he says of the Fox show that he”s filming along with his “Office” co-star Andy Buckley.
Jim Parsons: I thought I was auditioning for a Chuck Woolery show, not for Chuck Lorre
“The Big Bang Theory” star tells Letterman he was confused as to why Woolery would have his own show.
In praise of “Fargo”s” Martin Freeman, and his “understated facial guitar solo of abjection”
For Freeman, the former star of the original “Office,” “Reaction shots have long been his foremost weapon,” says Chris DeVille. “He pioneered the bemused camera-mugging that John Krasinski rode to a comfortable living Stateside, and his perplexed head-cocks are the Picassos of the form. But on ‘Fargo,' he's reaching a new pinnacle of pitiful.”
Danny Strong came up with Fox's “Empire” while driving
The “Buffy” and “Gilmore Girl” alum says: “I was literally driving in my car and I thought, I wonder if you could do King Lear in a hip hop empire. I literally was like: King Lear. Hip hop Empire and then my next thought was, 'I should call Lee Daniels.””
Roseanne Barr detailed more sexism on “Roseanne” after her former writer Norm Macdonald defended her
Macdonald called Roseanne “a true feminist in a world of false ones” and “a genius who is being wasted.” Roseanne responded, saying: “They hate me because I have ideas.” PLUS: Is Norm Macdonald a comedian who doesn”t do comedy?
Carson Daly gets that “Voice” fans, especially West Coasters, don”t like the Twitter Save
“I love the Twitter Save,” he says, “but there”s definitely been some backlash. I see it online – maybe more because I”m from L.A., and the West Coast still doesn”t have a clear grip on how they can participate.”
“Bachelorette” Andi Dorfman: “I was devastated” when I found out about bachelor Eric Hill's death
“I had just seen him,” she says. “He was a member of our cast and we had an inherent bond. The (other contestants) shared that bond too. It was shocking and devastating to all of us and it's still a tough thing that we're going through.” PLUS: See photos of the new “Bachelorette” bachelors.
Juan Pablo won”t watch “The Bachelorette” season
Why? Juan Pablo tweeted that he “”will CALL Andi to get her VERSION.” PLUS: Juan Pablo blamed for St. Louis Cardinals losing, and Jimmy Kimmel jokes that ABC won”t have another non-white “Bachelor” after Juan Pablo.
Comedy Central passes on “The Chris Gethard Show”
The comedian”s public access show won”t be making its way to cable.
Sweet TV moms are being replaced by “TV momsters”
The June Cleaver type of TV mother has given way to Norma Bates, Gemma Teller Morrow, and even Gillian Darmody.
Bill Paxton had a great time on “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” but he”s not ready for a full-time return to TV
“To take on a whole series does not interest me,” he says. “I mean I had a great experience doing the five seasons as the male lead in 'Big Love.' That was a great experience. I”m glad I have done it, but I just don”t feel like I have the stamina to try to do that again. it”s just an experience I”ve had, I enjoyed it. I like jumping around now.”
Ben Feldman: That”s how I”m really like on the “Mad Men” set
“That”s just – that”s just how I am on set,” he says. “High-anxiety, sweaty, freaking out. It”s just my process. It”s not an evolution.” PLUS: Feldman was at an NBC Upfronts party Sunday when he started receiving all these nipple-related texts.
What to expect from “The Originals” season finale
“There is going to be a point of critical mass,” says Daniel Gillies. “I do think that he”s going to reach a breaking point of sorts. And when he does, I think that it could be a really frightening thing to watch.”
Check out Giada De Laurentiis” 1st-ever restaurant
The Food Network star is opening a restaurant for the first time. “Giada” opens in Las Vegas on May 28.
Carson, Letterman and Stewart all had early failures when they had their own “The (fill in the name) Show”
Here”s recalling the early struggles of “The Johnny Carson Show,” “The David Letterman Show” and “The Jon Stewart Show.”
Elisabeth Moss beat out Danica McKellar, and 8 other revelations from “The West Wing” oral history
Also, Rob Lowe had to audition while Moira Kelly didn”t.
“Frontline” tonight tackles the “United States of Secrets”
Tonight”s episode delves into the NSA”s vast data collection operation.