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'The Office' boss: No return for Steve Carell
Photo credit: NBC
Steve Carell returning to "The Office" for one last big - messy - goodbye? (The hour finale is May 16.) Don't bet on it: Asked again in a recent conference call about the possible return of Michael Scott for just one last time, Greg Daniels - one of the show-runners who turned this into a classic - said, and I paraphrase: No.
"Steve...didn't want to overshadow the ending that the other characters deserved after all these years..."
And so that's that. No Carell.
Just another one of those Games that Producers Play - to mute anticipation and that when it does happen, the barn doors blow off? (A cliche Dwight would approve of, by the way.)
Sure, but doubtful: Daniels is one of the straightest shooters in the business, and I believe him on this. (And of course, also always reserve the right to completely forget what I just wrote if Carell does turn up.) Another reason is that a Scott/Carell return would change the entire tenor of the finale, making it the Michael Scott hour. He is arguably too big a personality, certainly the defining one over seven seasons, and bringing him back for a final romp - if only to sit on stage and chat about the good old days at Dunder (Daniels confirmed that the finale will indeed be a reunion - somewhat reminiscent of the British version "Office's" Christmas two-parter, in which the camera crews caught up with the gang three years later) - would conceivably swamp everyone else.
Still, let's all admit the obvioius: It's disappointing. Michael, one more time? The prospect is irresistable, but apparently not to be. (Oh yes, in case you're wondering, the finale - which could air 65-70 minutes, thanks to a petition by Officetally.com - has already been taped.)
Report: 'The Office' will do a reunion finale
Photo credit: Steve Carell of "The Office" (Getty Images)
"The Office" - ending May 16 and with it a big piece of NBC comedey history - will embrace a "Survivor"-like "reunion" finale, according to a report in the New York Times. No many other details but the report does indicate that there is one instance during the blow-out when it could conceivably be possible that Steve Carell's Michael Scott will also turn up from his married life in Denver.
And as fans read this, they have to ask: How could he not? After all, it would hardly be a reunion special without Michael so let's just go ahead and report it right now: Michael will be here,)
Now, what would a reunion special be like? I'm thinking it would be more along the lines of a "Real World" reunion because a "Survivor" reunion wouldn't specifically work in this context since an actual game didn't unfold within the framework of Dunder Mifflin but rather a long and inscrutible sociological experiment.
Maria Shriver returns to NBC News as a 'special anchor'
Maria Shriver, who left NBC News in 2004 after she took a more visible role as "first lady" in her then-husband Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration as GOP governor of California, has officially come home: NBC announced a little while ago that she has rejoined the network as a "special anchor" focusing on women's issues.
In a statement, Shriver — who spent a decade at...
Read more »They're back: 'All My Children,' 'One Life to Live'
Back from the beyond . . . two soaps living in their own soap opera . . . reborn, revived, re-some-other-word: ""All My Children" and "One Life to Live" began again Monday morning and they're online now. Easiest access at Hulu.
What do I think of the reanimated (aah, that was the other word) versions? From what I've seen, they look just fine to me: The same old bodice-rippers...
Read more »Kate McKinnon does Ellen on 'Ellen'
Kate McKinnon -- or as we fondly refer to her around these yar parts, Sea Cliff's own Kate McKinnon -- was on "Ellen" yesterday and of course, you know why: To do her Ellen impression, which is pretty much right-on-the-money. Got a lot of mileage out of it on "Saturday Night Live" and a little more Wednesday.
Anyway, if you missed:
North Dakota anchor gets Letterman, 'GMA' treatment
Photo credit: A.J. Clemente fired for using profanity on air.
Fame may last 15 minutes, but A.J. Clemente is guaranteed at least 15 seconds. You know who he is - how could you not in a web-based culture? He's the expletive-uttering-in-the-first-second-of-his-new-gig anchor ...(hey, if A.J. can't get work as a TV personality, they're still hiring in the oil fields of North Dakota and the pay's better.) "GMA's" overview from this morning...
CBS previews its series' finales
Photo credit: Handout
This is nice, serioulsy: CBS has put out this video that pretty much previews the whole primetime finale shebang. Message to CBS: Please make this a regular habit, and while you're at it, a preview reel of series premieres and special mid-season episodes would be much appreciated too. And my thanks in advance....By the way, this is not the WHOLE shebang - a few series are missing, like "Two Broke Girls" and I don't think I saw "The Big Bang Theory," but maybe I was in a hurry. Still, I like this...
Take a look...
'Kesha: My Crazy Beautiful Life' premieres on MTV
Photo credit: Getty Images
What kind of TV blog would this be if it didn't warn you...err, tell you about Ke$ha's new much-hyped documentary series that begins Tuesday on MTV titles "Ke$ha: My Crazy Beautiful Life?" MTV at 11?
Not much of a TV blog, that's what.
But really, watching this trailer makes me worried about the longterm mental health and stability of Ke$ha. Too much booze, too much partying, too much everything - as this trailer indicates - equals "not good in the long run." (Ask Lindsay ...) Meanwhile, consider this a slight departure, ironically enough, for MTV -- a series based on a pop music figure, for a change.
'Mad Men' recap: The best lines from Sunday's 'To Have and To Hold'
Photo credit: AMC
So let's talk "To Have and To Hold," the third episode of "Mad Men's" sixth season and judging by the Twittersphere reaction two days later, the least liked episode so far. Which more than anything proves the downside of crowdsourcing opinions — they can be wrong, everywhere, instantly.
"To Have and To Hold" was this season's best episode. It was a pure pleasure...
Read more »'Dexter' will wrap after the eighth season, Showtime says
Photo credit: AP
One of the enduring mysteries in TV now has a final answer: "Dexter" will end, after next season, its eighth. (And believe me, there was a time when it looked as if "Dex" would go on forever -- or until every last monster, serial killer and evildoer in South Florida was dispatched by the blood-splatter specialist with a secret ... )
The eighth and final season begins June 30 at 9 p.m.
"'Dexter' is a landmark franchise for our network, and we cannot wait to unveil the conclusion of this series, as we know it, to the millions of passionate fans who have supported the show season after season," said David Nevins, president of entertainment of Showtime Networks Inc. "We'd like to thank Michael, Jennifer and 'Dexter 's' indomitable cast, executive producers, writers and crew for eight incredible seasons."
