Alex Trebek On Perpetual Peace And 28 Seasons Of
'Jeopardy!'

post from TV on HuffingtonPost.com on 30 April 2012 11:41:00 AM. © TV on HuffingtonPost.com

If 6,300 episodes of ?Jeopardy!? count as scientific data, human beings can be classified as a cordial and sedate species, partial to demure wardrobes and simple haircuts. Each human displays a rigorous grasp of general knowledge and possesses both a typical occupation and a single succinct-yet-charming anecdote that defines his or her life. They enjoy using their knowledge to win modest amounts of money, three at a time, Monday through Friday, on a soundstage in Culver City, Calif.

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New Videos from old ABDC competitors: Lawrence
Kao (Kaba Modern), Instant Noodles, Hype 5-0, Street Kingdom

post from Blogging America's Best Dance Crew on 30 April 2012 11:38:00 AM. © Blogging America's Best Dance Crew

[...]

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Janet Turley: Mad Men Season Five -- A Rough
Start

post from TV on HuffingtonPost.com on 30 April 2012 11:34:10 AM. © TV on HuffingtonPost.com

Last night's episode was the most compelling of the season; provocative without being tawdry. Bookended from Sally's POV, we see the little girl not only thrust into the adult world of dirty deeds [walking in on Roger (her "date") getting head from Megan's mother] but also that the lies start young (saying Mother Francis broke her ankle by tripping over Baby Gene's toy when the culprit was the phone cord stretched into the Sally's room). Additionally, Abe pops the question of "let's move in together" to Peggy's hidden disappointment, and then her mother chews her out for living in sin. Innocence is shed, disappointing and confusing both young and old.

Mad Men -- welcome back from what's been amateur hour at SCDP. I'm not talking about the copywriters, campaigns or maiden voyages on an acid trip. I'm talking about the series writers.

For four years, I've looked forward to Sunday nights and delighted in Roger Sterling's quips and Don Draper's antiheroic heroism. Yet, much of Season Five has left me... underwhelmed. Upon reading many of Season Five's glowing reviews, I thought -- Mad Men -- it's not you, it's me.

Then I reached out to friends and strangers and I realized I wasn't alone. One friend said the season premiere felt like "the actors were trying to remember their characters." I also had the pleasure of meeting someone who used to work on the show and all he could say was that Season Five was "boring."

Starting with the premiere -- Pete Campbell, who had finally grown into a man during Season Four, replaced his trademark simmering and plotting with whining and yelling, and if that wasn't enough, a slapstick crash into a support beam. The classically stoic Joan cried in Layne's office. Megan threw Don a birthday party just to be an attention whore (and that "Zou Bisou Bisou" felt like pure promotion for the actress at the price of storytelling). Peggy bitched about work (nothing new) but instead of marching through it, lobbed passive aggressive zingers at the fiesta. Then Don ran to his room and pouted that a party should never have been thrown in the first place. Between the close up of the Kevin's baby ass and Pete's temper tantrums, the premiere was an episode about a bunch of babies.

In addition, the show has lost its knack for subtle symbolism and parallels. For example, Episode Four's fixation on death opens with Pete watching the driver's ed "death-in-the-passenger-seat" film reel. Later, he's showing Ken Cosgrove his new record player and the brilliant part of this scene is the angle from which it's shot -- with the top open and the men gazing in, it seems like they're looking into a casket. But then the not-so-smart was Pete saying a "body could fit in it". Guys -- we got it already.

Throw in Fat Betty stuffing her face to "You Are Sixteen Going on Seventeen" (the little girl motif previously an undertone) and my beloved show has become as poignant as a made-for-TV movie.

The civil rights movement and the escalation of Vietnam are worthy of better storytelling than this.

Maybe it's just been a long, slow road to redemption. Last week's episode was one of the more entertaining of the season, but only because Roger took LSD and because of the wackiness that ensued. It was both hilarious and heartbreaking (from Bert Cooper on the dollar bill to Roger's confession that he just doesn't like Jane anymore). For me, it was sweet relief -- finally, a main character wasn't whining!

Roger's trip aside, the episode was an overwrought drag. Don was a chauvinistic jerk to Megan (both cried) and Peggy had a sh*tty day being a sh*tty girlfriend to Abe.

The characters weren't known for their likability but were a delightful train wreck in seasons past.

The relationships that we build with extended or episodic storytelling -- such as my favorite TV shows -- when they're great, I mourn their completion. It's like slowing down near the end of a captivating book just to make it last longer or putting off watching the series finale because the experience of being enrapt has been so fulfilling.

Alas, this particular relationship is one where the significant other has gone from dazzling to vapid. It's given me a wandering eye towards other programs and I've begun to stray.

Mad Men -- it's not me, it's you.

Anyone else feel the same? Looking forward to your comments.

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TV Ratings: 'GCB' Rebounds for ABC Win, 'Good
Wife' Goes South With Finale

post from Hollywood Reporter - Live Feed on 30 April 2012 11:34:00 AM. © Hollywood Reporter - Live Feed

Michael O'Connell
With a mostly steady "Once Upon a Time," ABC tops the night among viewers 18-49, as several series tumble.

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-good-wife-amazing-race-317997

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Primetime Highlights - April 30 - 'The Voice',
'Castle', 'Smash'

post from Danielle Turchiano's feed on 30 April 2012 11:31:37 AM. © Danielle Turchiano's feed

For Monday, April 30th 2012 LA TV Insider Examiner recommends: The Voice (NBC, 8pm) – “Live, Semifinal Performances” – We’re down to just two team members left from Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, Adam Levine...

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Kris Allen's Surprise Santa Monica Show Shut Down
By Police

post from Hollywood Reporter - Live Feed on 30 April 2012 11:26:13 AM. © Hollywood Reporter - Live Feed

Michele Amabile Angermiller
The season eight champ performed a mixture of originals and covers by Katy Perry, Rihanna and Justin Timberlake as he promoted his forthcoming CD, "Thank You Camellia."

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'Celebrity Apprentice' Star On Hugging Lisa
Lampanelli (EXCLUSIVE)

post from TV on HuffingtonPost.com on 30 April 2012 11:25:41 AM. © TV on HuffingtonPost.com

After weeks of battling comedian Lisa Lampanelli in (and out of) the boardroom, former Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza was eliminated on last night's episode.

We called up the Venezuelan beauty to get her thoughts on her final episode of "The Celebrity Apprentice," her highly publicized feud with the irreverent comedian, and the very awkward hug she shared with Lisa at the very end of the episode.

Now that you've had a chance to watch your final episode of ?The Celebrity Apprentice," what did you think?
I'm very happy. I'm on my couch right now hanging out with my friend who's here from Venezuela and we're celebrating! I'm happy I did {the show}. I'm very proud of my work and most important, I did what I went to the show to do?to raise money for my charity. It was a great opportunity!

Were you surprised when "The Donald" fired you?
To be honest, I didn't think I was going to go so long. I was {competing} against people who have been working in their career for as long as I've been alive. I think it was just my time?

At the very end of last night's episode, it was a bit shocking to see you and Lisa Lampanelli hug it out, especially after all of the drama you had with her on the show.
{Laughs}. It was a weird thing to do.

When she leaned in and hugged you, did it surprise you that she said: ?You're a good person.?
Well, she has been someone who expresses how much her mood changes and how quickly. So I think that was just another mood change she had. Being on {"The Celebrity Apprentice"} was an interesting job for me?I've never worked with somebody that was so volatile. And you know, she could be my mom! Like, I was actually surprised that she behaved that way.

Why do you think she acted that way towards you?
You know, I think it's going to remain a mystery. I would like her to answer that question. I treated her with as much respect as other people and probably with the respect that she never gave me as well.

Would you say you were portrayed accurately on the show?
Yes, completely. There was no behavior of mine that I did that wasn't shown the way it was on TV. I understand that at the end of the day, I'm Miss Universe 2008 and people will always stereotype me that way. And I need to fight harder because of it.

After Lisa said racist things about you a few weeks ago, you released a statement to the press. Why was that something you felt you had to do?
It was mean and insulting. And racial slurs have been used for so long to hold people down. The United States is so full of diversity that at this point we should celebrate it, instead of using it to put people down. At that point, she wasn't talking about me, she was talking about thousands of people: my mom, my dad, my sister, my family.

CHECK OUT THIS SLIDESHOW OF LATINOS ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

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Secret Circle - Fooled By The Rocks That They Got

Traitor : Still searching for those crystals. With a very special guest appearance.

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Game of Thrones "The Ghost of Harrenhal": What
We're Still Talking About

There's a major game-changer on this week's Game of Thrones, as the many kings of Westeros continue to prepare for the next battle. Melisandre's recent birth has some major consequences and even Bran becomes part of rallying the troops. Things also take an interesting turn for Arya, and Catelyn makes an unexpected alliance.

Despite one major plot point, this episode isn't my favorite; it seems like we may have hit a bit of a midseason lull, but we're getting set up for a lot of impending action. To recap the moments that did make an impression, just

Did Renly just get killed by the rubber man from American Horror Story? After Ned's death, I know I should be prepared for anything when it comes to this show, but I was still shocked to see Renly Baratheon meet his maker so quickly. I was all ready for a big brother-on-brother showdown between him and Stannis, but Melisandre's creepy black death monster takes on the form of a shadowy man and stabs him within the first few minutes of the episode. Something about the moment just felt sort of anticlimactic to me, but maybe it's because I didn't think I'd have to deal with deadly smoke monsters after Lost ended.
Arya learns the power of three. Arya - I mean Arry - I mean Arya - is in a bit of a pickle right now, what with Tywin Lannister breathing down her neck and asking her hard-hitting questions and all. However, she does fall into a place of power with Jaqen H'ghar, the prisoner whom she rescued a few episodes back. Now that he's back in civilization, he's ready to repay his debt, and to the third power. Arya basically gets to name three people she wants dead and Jaqen promises to make it happen. Her first victim is the "tickler," the local torturer around town. Now the question is: who will she choose next?
Dany gets a decent proposal. Dany's only been in Quarth for a few days, but she's already freshly scrubbed, braided, and back to her khaleesi self. She's ready to move forward with her plans to take the iron throne, too, though we'll have to wait and see at what cost. Xaro Xhoan Daxos wastes no time making her an offer to help her with her goal, if she's willing to marry him. It seems like a legitimate power move to me, though Jorah feels differently about the situation. Is Dany ready to move on from her sun and stars, or will she be unwilling to share the power?
Catelyn and Brienne combine their girl power. Catelyn's been a bit of a wayward sheep this season, doing her best to make peace between the Baratheons, bring her girls home, and keep Robb at bay. She hasn't been able to make much of a difference just yet, and she ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time when Renly is attacked. Brienne is also part of the situation, and it doesn't take long before all of Westeros is linking their names with Renly's death. I was happy to see them make an alliance, since these are two of the most loyal and true characters on the show, so it's a bond we can actually believe in. Something tells me it won't be long before Cat may require Brienne's protection.

What'd you think of this week's episode? Are you looking forward to seeing Jon take on some responsibilities as ranger? Who do you think is next on Arya's list?

Photo courtesy of HBO

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GREYS ANATOMY First Look: Migration

Think the recent scoop surrounding a “huge cliffhanger” and a “shell-shocked[...]

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