Tuned In
Tuned In+Uncategorized | 1338 days ago

Corporate Press Release Theater: Pack Your Penknives and Go

By James Poniewozik

Who among us does not have fond memories of American Juniors, Fox’s effort to make a kiddie version of American Idol? Oh, you don’t? And you? And you? Well, you may want to skip this one, then: NEW YORK – June 10, 2008 – Bravo announced today the development of its new creative competition series [...]

Tuned In
Tuned In+1338 days ago

Tomorrow's Controversy Today

By James Poniewozik

So I was watching a screener of Camp Rock, Disney Channel’s upcoming Jonas Brothers movie—and you think this job isn’t work?—when I saw something that gave me pause. The three boy-bandmates are conferring in an early scene, and Kevin Jonas (below left) has his innocent American neck swaddled in… could it be… a black and [...]

Tuned In
Tuned In+Uncategorized | 1338 days ago

A Second First Look At: In Plain Sight

By James Poniewozik

McCormack as witness-protector Shannon. / USA Network Photo: Lewis Jacobs USA network never sent me an advance screener of In Plain Sight, its new summer drama about U.S. marshal Mary Shannon (Mary McCormack), who’s assigned to guard people in the witness-protection program. So like a Henry Hill hiding in the suburbs at the end of [...]

Tuned In
Tuned In+1338 days ago

On a Roll-bermann!

By James Poniewozik

Last month, I special-commented on how Keith Olbermann’s increasingly frequent and impassioned Special Comments were in danger of becoming less, well, special. (Others begged to differ.) Fortunately for Olbermann, he doesn’t listen to my unsolicited programming advice. Last week, reports the New York Times’ Brian Stelter, Countdown overtook nemesis The O’Reilly Factor in 25-to-54-year-old viewers [...]

Tuned In
Tuned In+Uncategorized | 1338 days ago

The Morning After: Hoop Dreams

By James Poniewozik

The last time I really paid much attention to pro basketball was in my school days in the ’80s, when it seemed like the Lakers were always playing the Celtics in the finals. Good to see nothing’s changed! As a non-sports fan, I tend to look at TV sports the same way—broadcasting a game is [...]