Tuesday, July 17, 2007

The sound of silence

From the tour blog: attempting to recreate funny moments involving Damian Lewis, Adam Arkin and the cast of "SNL."

Also, column links from the last two days: a cable round-up from Monday, including some comments from the "Tell Me You Love Me" people; and today's expanded version of the Ben Silverman story.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Alan, the cable round-up link isn't working.

I heard on the morning gossip report on KROQ that Patinkin pulled a no-show at the first rehearsal for the new season, and that's when TPTB decided they'd had enough of his antics.

Alan Sepinwall said...

Thanks, Dez. Fixed.

Anonymous said...

Chicago Hope was successful?

Eric Fingerhut said...

I just find it mind-boggling that NBC would actually change its fall schedule based on one airing of a game show in the middle of the summer. Granted, it got good ratings, but they weren't exactly in American Idol territory ( and the show was pretty bad, to boot.) This reminds me of when Last Comic Standing got decent numbers in the summer and they quickly came up with a fall version, only to see it crash and burn so badly that the final episode was shunted off to the Web. I won't be surprised if Singing Bee doesn't make it past October.

Alan Sepinwall said...

Eric, I don't disagree, but I'm also not complaining, as Silverman said later in the day that the "Deal or No Deal" to Friday move -- the last, best hope for "Friday Night Lights" -- happened entirely because of "Singing Bee."

Unknown said...

Alan,
what an embarrasment of riches! I can't keep up with all the wall-to-wall Sepinwall!
"Singing Bee" is a genius concept, but the first episode was pretty poorly executed. I expected it to be way funnier. Where are the great misquoted lyrics, a la "the girl with collitis goes by"?

Mac said...

What's the SNL cast situation? Maya Rudolph is (judging from the last episode) no longer in the cast; is she being replaced?

Alan Sepinwall said...

As I mention in the tour blog, Maya's not sure if she's coming back, though Lorne said he wants her to. (If nothing else, she's the best in-house candidate to play Obama.) Everyone else from the current cast is returning, and they're going to hold auditions in August to add one or two featured players.

Abbie said...

Woo on the Extras special! Woo!

SJ said...

As much as I didn't like Studio 60, I'd watch that any day over SNL.

God that show is awful...Lorne should just retire. The only good stuff wasn't even from the SNL writers (that Andy Samberg group).

Taleena said...

Alan, is there any word about the HBO/Alan Ball show True Blood with Anna Panquin? IMDB still lists it for the Fall but I have seen no further mention of it.