MSN TV Blog - TV Buzz

Manipulation goes both ways as Ryan tries to assert himself with his sister

By Miss Sarah Jo Jul 14, 2011 9:19PM
"Why do I put up with you?" - Ryan


It is not really clear if "Wilfred" is just trying to be a gross, wacky comedy or if it has something deeper on its mind. Every episode so far has incorporated a "life lesson" of sorts, taught to the wide-eyed Ryan by the scabrous, foul-mouthed, pompous Wilfred. But is the cure for Ryan's alleged character flaws worth the humiliation and anxiety that Wilfred puts him through every time? More specifically to "Acceptance", does Ryan rescuing Wilfred from another most-likely fabricated crisis relate in any meaningful way to his standing up to his nagging sister?

Dorian Brown made the most of her first significant screen time, nicely balancing the obnoxious facets of Kristin's personality ("Laughing hurts, too.") and her genuine concern for her slacker brother.  Ed Helms had considerably less to do, as the purported "dog molesterer" with a repulsive penchant for peanut butter perversion.  Strangely, with each elaborate lie or set-up that Wilfred perpetuates on adorable little Ryan, Jason Gann gets more appealing and funny. Maybe silly comedy is enough for now.

  • "This is a guilt burrito."
  • True observations:  Pugs do have that ugly/cute thing going on.
  • The tags are really the best part of every episode; Ryan's Pavlovian response to the gurgling sound of the soda was priceless.
 

Who else will be returning to Salem?

By MSN TV Jul 13, 2011 8:15PM

Alison Sweeney (Sami) tweeted this photo of herself with Patrick Muldoon (Austin) and Christie Clark (Carrie) a few months ago.By Deanna Barnert

Special to MSN TV

 

The new regime of "Days of our Lives" will have old storylines wrapped in time for the back to school season and fans are getting teasers galore from co-headwriter Marlene McPherson, who confirms the return of Carrie and Austin, just in time for a "huge" and "grand" Salem shindig.


Bing: Watch clips and episodes of 'Days of our Lives'

 

"Wrapping up old storylines air August 19, " Marlene McPherson tweeted. "So exciting. But the best is yet to come - our new stories! Huge party with many surprises the week of September 26, with a special episode on September 23! You are all invited! We promise you won't be disappointed!"


Bing: More about Patrick Muldoon

 

While it won't air for a few months, "Days" has been talking about the "grand event" since the executive producer shakeup last month and the cast and crew have already kicked off the festivities onset.

 

"The big event is taping now," McPherson tweeted today, July 13, 2011. "Old friends and new are all here! Get ready for big emotion, romance and fun! It's a brand new DOOL!"

Two of those old friends are returning faves Christie Clark (Carrie) and Patrick Muldoon (Austin). "The news is out! Carrie and Austin are back!" McPherson confirmed. 


Earlier today Muldoon tweeted: "So great to see Ali  and Christie. Kristian Alfonso (Hope) just said 'welcome home.' I think I'm getting emotional. Hahaha. Ok it's ON! Let's Rock this!"


Drake Hogestyn (John), Deidre Hall (Marlena) and Matthew Ashford (Jack) are also likely to make an appearance at the soiree, as they all return on September 26.


Meanwhile, rumors are circulating that Ivan G'Vera is also back onset as Vivian's dutiful sidekick Ivan (1992 to 2000). If he is in fact taping right now, the timing certainly intrigues. Louise Sorel's Viv will likely be planning one last scheme before she blows out of town.

 

Where better to strike than at this big party?


Update: Based on a new tweet from Peter Reckell (Bo), it seems there could be even more returns in store. "The shows are going to be amazing!" he posted. "Wait 'til you see who is coming back!"

 

The fearful foursome bury their prime suspect -- and learn that the killer is still out there

By Sona Charaipotra Jul 12, 2011 11:25PM
Photo courtesy ABC Family
Last week on "Pretty Little Liars," our fearful foursome finally found their man Ian -- who they suspected killed their friend Alison. But they found him dead. So he may be out of their long, luscious locks, but they've still got a bigger problem -- their "Gossip Girl" from the grave pal A. And it turns out that Ian had been dead for more than a week. So was the suicide note/confession a set-up? Sure seems like it. 
 

Here's what the girls got up to this week: 

Hanna's mom is on edge about the recent discovery, but Hanna's more stressed about Caleb's hovering. He's still hoping they can maybe get back together. But she can't resist getting involved again when she finds out he's being taken advantage of by his foster mom. So she confronts the foster mom, Janet, threatening to sick the firm of Dolce, Gabbana & Liebowitz on her ass. Later, he brings her Chinese food to thank her, and they make out. Can you say on-again?   

Spencer insists that her parents give Ian a proper funeral, despite their reluctance. Things are weird in the Hastings house, given the circumstances, but Spencer tries to apologize to her pregnant sister -- and Ian's widow -- Melissa. The girls attend the funeral, but Spencer says she's done obsessing about A's antics. "Nothing we ever do is ever going to bring Alison back," she tells Emily. "And I need to focus on keeping the people who are still here close." Later, Melissa tells Spencer that the baby is a girl and that she's sorry about choosing Ian over her own sister. But then Ian's phone rings -- and Spencer's the one who has it, so Melissa thinks Spencer's the one who's been texting her all this time. "I will never forgive you for this," she says, smashing the phone against the wall. 

Aria and Ezra are getting cozy in his university office when his ex-fiance Jackie walks in on them -- and says they should come out about their relationship already, since he's not her teacher anymore. Later, Aria opens the door to find Alison's brother Jason standing there. Turns out he's bringing Aria's trouble-making kid brother, Mike, home because he tried to break into Jason's house. Turns out Mike's been breaking and entering many homes. A habit he picked up out of boredom? Not buying it. Later, at the funeral, Aria calls Ezra out on bailing on the whole coming-out-as-a-couple thing. Then she spies Jason, sitting on a bench at the cemetery, looking forlorn. He confesses that he doesn't remember anything from the night Ali died -- and feels horribly guilty.    

Emily goes to pick up a package at the local postal shop after getting a threatening text from A. She recognizes the desk clerk, Logan Reed, as someone A paid off to deliver something to the girls before. Could he have information she needs? Emily examines the suicide note -- handily uploaded to her iPad, and discovers that every sentence is a previous text from A. "That means that A wrote that suicide note," she tells the girls. "We need more answers." She goes to question Logan, who tells her he never met Ian at all -- a woman hired him to make the delivery. Later, we see super-shady Officer Garrett paying the kid off -- and calling Jenna to say he's done the deed. 

Emily gets another text from A, about the shortest distance being the long way around or something like that, and realizes the package she received was a map of the cemetery grounds. So she and the girls go to the cemetery after hours, in the dark, alone. Smart move, ladies. Anyway, they find Alison's grave -- and suddenly, the same video of the night of Ali's death is playing again. Only this time, they see the end: Ali's not dead! That means she was still alive when Ian left her -- and he was never the killer at all. Tun tun tun...
 

Jabot Cosmetics breaks the fourth wall

By MSN TV Jul 12, 2011 2:03PM

'The Young and the Restless'/CBS

By Deanna Barnert
Special to MSN TV

After 20 years of onscreen product development, "The Young and the Restless" is bringing fictional Jabot Cosmetics to the real world, with a little help from "The Talk," Genoa City locals Peter Bergman (Jack) and Tracey Bregman (Lauren) are heading to "The Talk", on Thursday, July 14, 2011 to dish on the "new" cosmetic and skincare line with hosts Leah Remini and Holly Robinson. Then, on the Thursday July 28 episode of "The Young and the Restless," local characters Jack and Lauren visit "The Talk" to launch Jabot's new product; while Jabot takes the real world by storm.

Bing: Watch clips and episodes of 'Young and the Restless'

"We'll bring more eyes to 'The Talk' and I think it's a way to be part of the daytime family," "The Talk" exec producer John Redmann says of the crossover. "We have so much respect for what they do and to be able to include that on our show is a huge opportunity for us."
"One hand helps the other," adds Tracey Bregman, the face of Jabot in both Genoa City and the real world. "What I'm hoping is that Jabot will reach an audience that hasn't found daytime, because we need to help daytime any time we can. The launch also pays homage to [show creator] Bill Bell and his original idea of Jabot. Diehard fans are going to feel they own a piece of 'The Young and the Restless.'"

Bing:
Watch clips and episodes of 'The Talk'

"I'm just having a great time with it," she continues. "The soft launch we did [in June], we sold out our Red Carpet Collection in forty minutes. There is a frenzy for product now. You should see on the [chat] boards! "

After months of wearing Jabot on the sly, Bregman couldn't wait to dish her new fave products on HSN and she can't wait to get to the "The Talk."

"This is something I love, makeup and skin care," Bregman reveals. "I've tried everything on the market. There are a lot of amazing Jabot products to talk about. Our moisturizers great and there's something called the Five Star Serum that's made with the cactus pectin that's tremendous. The whole cactus pectin thing that's been on the 'Young and The Restless' is revolutionary and amazing.

While Bregman is at ease pitching Jabot Cosmetics, she had to keep herself in check for Lauren's run on the "The Talk," which airs on "The Young and the Restless" later this month, but has already been shot.

"I had to remember this isn't Tracey, who's been in front of an audience," Bregman shares. "Lauren would be like, 'Oh my god! This is so cool!' I had to change it up a little."
With Leah Remini and Holly Robinson asking some inflammatory questions and springing a surprise guest on Jack and Lauren, the Genoa City run will also get a bit scandalous. 
Lauren has managed to stay out of Newman/Jabot cosmetic wars over the years, but as a Newman board member and the new face of Jabot, she's could find herself in the crossfire. If that doesn't cause drama with her husband Michael, perhaps touring around with Jack might. They did, after all, have a "hot time" back when they were college kids.
Bregman has no idea what's in store, but wouldn't complain if her new gig stirred up some martial drama onscreen. "One would only hope," she sighs. "I would love that!"
Find out more about Jabot Cosmetics and Skin Care by tuning into "The Talk", on Thursday, July 14, 2011, but don't forget to circle back to see the ladies of "The Talk" on "The Young and the Restless" on July 28. Then, catch the 5-hour Jabot launch on HSN that same day, with prices ranging between $15 and $45.

"The Young and the Restless" and "The Talk" air weekdays on CBS.


 

'Harry Potter,' Taylor Swift and summer's primetime stars come to daytime

By MSN TV Jul 11, 2011 1:44PM
'Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows Part 2'/Warner Bros.By Deanna Barnert
Special to MSN TV


Here's the lowdown on which daytime shows will be hanging out with the "Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2" stars, Glenn Close, Angie Harmon, Ted Danson, Denis Leary, Lisa Kudrow, Kyra Sedgwick, Roseanne Barr, Margaret Cho, Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Vanessa Minnillo, Joss Stone and more during the week of July 11-15, 2011. Plus, Chris Brown and Colbie Caillat rock daytime!

Bing: Watch clips and episode of 'Young and the Restless'

Stay tuned for the story on Tracey Bregman & Peter Bergman's "The Young and the Restless" crossover with "The Talk," which starts this week.

"Live with Regis and Kelly"
Monday: Kyra Sedgwick, Rupert Grint
Tuesday: Emma Watson
Wednesday: Glenn Close, Blake Shelton
Thursday: Daniel Radcliffe, Joss Stone
Friday: Lisa Kudrow, Tom Felton, Scott Conant

"The View"
Monday: Angie Harmon, Ryan Smith
Tuesday: Laura Ingraham, Denis Leary, guest co-host Bethenny Frankel
Wednesday: Margaret Cho, Billy Ray Cyrus
Thursday: Roseanne Barr, guest co-host S.E. Cupp
Friday: Seth Green

"The Rachael Ray Show"
Monday: Non celebrity show
Tuesday: Taylor Swift
Wednesday: Non celebrity show
Thursday: Ted Danson
Friday: Vanessa Minnillo

"The Talk"
Monday: Piers Morgan, Anna Deavere Smith
Tuesday: Cedric The Entertainer
Wednesday: Nigel Lythgoe
Thursday: Tim Daly, Tracey Bregman, Peter Bergman
Friday: Rita Moreno; Johnathon Schaech

"Today"
Monday: Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Rosie Pope ("Pregnant In Heels"), Colbie Caillat performs in studio
Tuesday:  Non celebrity show
Wednesday: Jeff Lewis ("Flipping Out"), Diane Farr
Thursday: Daniel Radcliffe
Friday: Ryan Seacrest, Chris Brown performs. 

"The Ellen Degeneres Show"
(repeats)

"The Gayle King Show"
(repeats)


 

Here's what you need to know to get by at the water cooler

By Sona Charaipotra Jul 11, 2011 11:24AM
Photo courtesy HBOMissed last night's "True Blood"? Don't have HBO? Well, here are the nine most important plot points you need to know to keep up at the water cooler. 
 
 
Badass bloodsucker Eric has lost his memory. He knows he's a vampire, but not much else. Except, of course, for that coven of necromancers that did some weird witchy thing to him to erase his memory. He runs into Snooki -- uh, Sookie -- and she says she'll help him out, as long as he doesn't keep thinking she's his dinner. Eric sans the badass-behavior is actually kind of charming, in an odd way. Sookie calls Pam, who begs Sookie to keep Eric close to protect him. Sookie says she will -- as long as Pam pays her! 

Lafayette, Jesus and Tara are still with the coven. And they're super-worried about Eric attacking again. Back at Merlotte's, Tara asks Sookie to beg Eric to forgive Lafayette, who disappears a few minutes later. Pam's got him -- but Jesus and Tara rescue him and tell Pam to trust them, because they may amongst the only people who can help Eric get his memory back.   

Jason Stackhouse, still stuck in the clutches of the were-panthers, is recovering from were-panther voodoo, because apparently they're trying to turn him into one of them. His were-girlfriend Crystal cryptically thanks him for "all you've done and all you're gonna do," while her icky brother/lover promises not kill him -- until they've gotten what they want out of him. Which, apparently, is lots and lots of were-panther cubs, once he's turned. 

Bill Compton, as the new king of Louisiana, is using a poor vamp caught feeding on camera (in a YouTube video, no less) as a scapegoat. His vamp junior, Jessica, pays him a visit to tell him that she's been having problems with Hoyt. Bill advises her to talk to Hoyt openly about how she's been feeling. Later, Bill meets up with Ms. Portia Bellefleur, the town lawyer whom he's recently become friendly with. She eloquently tells him that she wants to hook up. He says he could never love her. She can deal with it. But later, when they're going at it, he won't bite her.  

When Jessica gets home, Hoyt is super-worried about her ... because there are people there trying to kill vampires. She confesses that she'd been with another guy that night, but that she'd only bitten him. No sex. He's still livid and threatens to leave her. And then, despite clearly feeling conflicted about it, she compels him to forget the whole conversation. He's under her spell again, telling her he's the luckiest man on Earth to be with her. And this uber-creepy doll that they keep trying to throw out (like, dump into the lake, even) just keeps reappearing. So later, Jessica gifts the hideous thing to Arlene's devil baby. 

Sam finds Sheriff Andy Bellefleur in the Merlotte's parking lot, high on V. And he's being super-belligerent, to the point of pulling a gun on Sam. Later, Sam offers Tara a shot of tequila, then says he's hurt that she left town -- for a year -- when he confessed that he was shifter. "I was traumatized," she tells him. "But I'm good." He seems interested in hooking up, but she tells him she's seeing somebody. 

Sam's brother, Tommy, is still crashing with Hoyt's mom, pretending to be mentally challenged. But when a natural gas speculator shows up at their door, he shows he's not challenged at all. He goes to Sam to tell him he can split the cash, but Sam tells him to 'fess up or else!

Sookie visits Alcide in Shreveport. He's really glad to see her, considering that he thought she was dead. She asks if he'd take care of Eric Northman. Then she finds out that Alcide is still with his druggie ex, Debbie, who's apparently now clean and has found God. Or something. Sookie, uncomfortable with Deb's presence, high-tails it out of there. After all, Deb did try to kill her. But Alcide is worried about Sookie, especially when he finds out Eric's been crashing at her house. 

Sookie comes home to find Eric MIA. And soon she may be, too. Her fairy godmother, Claudine, has come for her. But before she can take her, Eric attacks, draining her until she's merely dust. "Sorry," he says, later, seemly truly abashed. Uh oh. 
 

Conflict arises between Tami and Eric and Tim works through his confusion in the penultimate episode.

By Miss Sarah Jo Jul 9, 2011 12:45AM
"Life's harder when you really love someone." – Tyra Colette


The heart of "Friday Night Lights" has always been the Taylor marriage; a strong, happy marriage where both people are kind, decent, and loving. But that doesn't mean they haven't had their share of bad times, and tonight we might have witnessed their lowest point.  The combination of Eric's anxiety over the possible demise of the Lions, and his well-documented general stubbornness made him act as badly towards his wife as we have ever seen him act. And the edge in Tami's voice on that final "Congratulations, Eric" made it obvious she felt the same.


Making it even more frustrating is the fact that Coach is putting his wife's happiness at risk for the return of the Dillon Panthers. At the end of season three, he was pushed out of his beloved coaching job in a nasty and ugly way, and his first year as the Lions coached was marked by many humiliating encounters with the loathsome Panther boosters (the fact that the show has basically jettisoned any follow-up on J.D. McCoy and his father is one of the more regrettable shortcuts in this season's writing). But it goes farther back than that; remember the "For Sale" signs on the Taylors' front lawn after the first Panther loss? Remember the sleazy recruitment tactics for Ray "Voodoo" Tatum?  Eric is so focused on stinging demise of his new team to see just who he is getting (back) into bed with in the long run. Hopefully, this will have a more positive ending next week.


The first beginnings of positivity for Tim Riggins are shining through, thanks to the return of the long legs and no-bull attitude of one Miss Tyra Collette. It may seem like just a dim memory, but Tyra and Tim were a pretty hot and heavy couple at the beginning of the show and have remained friends and stayed involved in each other's lives throughout the subsequent Landry/Lila affairs.  Tyra has always had the most tangled relationship with Dillon, considering her dysfunctional family, her contempt for football and that traumatic assault that resulted in the unfortunate Season Two Plotline That Shall Not Be Spoken Of.  But she is also a caring and smart woman, and it rang completely true that she would reconnect with #33, as well as remind him that no matter how bitter he feels, his brother Billy believed in him when nobody else did. Tyra can do more in two words ("Alaska, Tim?") than Billy can with all his sputtering inarticulateness, and it seems pretty sure that she'll convince our wayward Texan good old boy to stick around.


With only one more episode left, "Friday Night Lights" continues to spring emotional beats on us that resonate back over the last four years. Grandma Saracen's toe tapping on the worn carpet, Tyra sleepily cuddling with Tim in the warm morning sunlight, the Lion boys boozing it up on the field late at night and talking about the State championship– all of these moments directly duplicate or mirror scenes from the first season. "Texas Whatever" even used Tony Lucca's cover of "Devil Town", which is the unofficial theme song for most fans.  All of this draws us deeper into our connection with this extraordinary show, and makes it even harder to say our final good-byes.

  • Thank goodness Julie went back to school and seems to be back in the swing of things. And it was nice to be reminded of her friendship with Tyra as well.
  • Burst into tears moment #1: "You are going to be the star quarterback of the Dillon Panthers next year. And you are going to shine." Eric Taylor doesn't do a lot of hugging, but when he does, it really counts.
  • Poor, sweet Luke. The idea that no one has been looking out for this boy's future is quite depressing, and once again, Tim Riggins of all people has the best advice for him. However, I fear it is too late for Luke to simply "move on."
  • Stacey Oristano continues to kill it as Mindy Riggins, particularly in her breakdown in their bed over the impending arrival of twins.
  • Directed by Kyle Chandler. Nice job.
  • Laugh out loud moment #1: The mention of Buddy's controversial "Jumbotron" as a reason for keeping the Panther program.
  • Billy practicing speeches is never not funny.
  • "Tim Riggins, what the hell is going on with you?"
  • Burst into tears moment #2: Matt's homecoming. "Did you tell your Daddy you're home?" Heartbreaking.
  • You guys! Hastings Ruckle...was also present.
  • "Everything one could wish for. Everything."
 

Barbara and the ladies ask the hard-hitting questions

By MSN TV Jul 8, 2011 2:56PM
By Deanna Barnert
Special to MSN TV

Barbara Walters and "The View" crew have done it again. On the heels of talking tough with Paris Hilton last month, the ladies didn't go easy on yesterday's young celebutante guest, Bristol Palin. Unlike Paris, however, "The Dancing with the Stars" alum and daughter of Sarah Palin had no trouble speaking for herself on "The View."

Bing: Watch clips and episodes of 'The View'

Bristol Palin is making the rounds to promote her book Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far, and on Thursday, she proved she's not afraid of "The View" crew. During her visit, the ladies asked tough questions and like her mother Sarah Palin, Bristol spoke her mind, for better or worse.

There was a bit of chit chat and a few coos over baby Tripp, who was in the audience, before Barbara Walters got right into talking sex with Bristol Palin. "You talk about the night you lost your virginity. You say you were on a camping trip with friends and you drank too much and that Levi [Johnston] stole your virginity," Walters posed. "Did you not consent to having intercourse with him?"

Bing: More about Bristol Palin

Palin kept her cool, countering, "I'm not accusing him of date rape or anything with that. I just used that analogy of losing your virginity. That's why it's called losing your virginity."'

"It must not have been okay, because you kept on having sex with him, yeah?" quipped Waters. 

After revealing she was actually under 17 years old for that landmark, Palin admitted, "We did it that one night and then I Just figured, 'If I did it once, I guess it's okay to do it again,' because I had already broken my moral code."

After more sex talk, Elizabeth Hasselbeck and Sheri Shepperd grilled Palin about how she dropped the pregnancy bombshell on her mom in the midst of the 2008 presidential campaign, as well as how things really went between Johnson and her family after that, since Palin's story differs from her exes.

Palin didn't go so far as to call Johnson a dead beat dad, but may as well have! Then, she spoke to Whoopi Goldberg's question about how she deals with all the flack she gets from the media.

It seemed there wasn't any question Palin wasn't willing to answer, from abortion to her renewed abstinence to her time on "Dancing with the Stars", but she did hedge on one subjects:  When her mother Sarah Palin's potential White House run. She also treaded lightly in talking about the McCain family and her experiences on the campaign trail with them, though word is she not as easy on them in her book.

"The View" airs weekdays on ABC.

 

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Deanna Barnert

Deanna Barnert | Los Angeles, Calif.

Entertainment journalist Deanna "TVDeeva" Barnert visits sets, interviews industry players and critiques the final product. Buzz's daytime TV queen covers it all for MSN TV, but loves her sitcoms, soaps and any juicy drama that doesn't call itself Reality TV.