Soap Chat - TV Shows Lounge http://www.soapchat.net/ Chat about TV shows past, present and future. en Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:52:26 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.soapchat.net/images/misc/rss.png Soap Chat - TV Shows Lounge http://www.soapchat.net/ <![CDATA["Jum the Shark" explained.]]> http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?198114-quot-Jum-the-Shark-quot-explained.&goto=newpost Sat, 04 Sep 2010 07:17:18 GMT
God, I hated Happy Days! I liked the first few seasons of Laverne & Shirley, but HATED Mork & Mindy.

But....this has to be the worst spinoff (show) EVER to be shown in TV - f*cking BARF!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZqOSdo7nRY



http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/happy-days-writer-breaks-silence-show-did-not-jump-the-shark--1513
]]> TV Shows Lounge TJames03 http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?198114-quot-Jum-the-Shark-quot-explained. Friday Night Lights http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?198099-Friday-Night-Lights&goto=newpost Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:10:33 GMT I'm sure we have a thread for this already, but eff it. I couldn't find it on a search so...

I've been watching the first season on Netflix and I have to say, I'm pretty "meh" so far. I didn't quite expect the show to live up to the book, which is probably one of the greatest non-fiction books ever written about 20th century America, but the spirit of the book is so far from this show that it's just kind of sad. The book was about the underlying class and racial warfare in a city primarily driven by the exploits of a high school football team whose players literally got away with anything. The show is The OC with some really rad direction and pretentious of being more meaningful than it is.

The first episode is brilliant, but the plotting slowly unravels as the season goes along. Some characters, like Julie, change so much from episode to episode that it's kind of hard to really care about them. The acting, on the other hand, is superb. Almost every character feels pretty fleshed out and I must give the writer's credit for making them so complicated. Jason is inherently likable, even though midway through the season he suddenly becomes a horrible prick who makes a bevy of bad decisions. Tyra's development is just stunning. And the dialogue between Eric and Tammi never feels forced, which is just fantastic. Matt Saracen is a brilliantly awkward character, even though that can be slightly annoying.

The plots are mostly "meh"... literally nothing on the show, aside from the high school football motif, hasn't been done on another teen soap to similar effect. But the football angle and the direction along with the fleshing out of the characters really make the old standbys like drug experimentation, throwing a party, good girl gone bad! and OMG affair between rivals parents! seem fresh. But I don't know if that justifies the massive praise this show gets... you'd think it was reinventing the genre, not just rehashing the greatest hits with some above average writing and direction. I mean, Sunny talks about how emotional this show is and yet I'm at the end of season one and I'm not really emotionally invested in any of them. Maybe it's something wrong with me, but all I can see are well written genre conventions and a few real standouts. Feel free to explain what I'm missing.

Summation: I like the show in the same way I like The OC... it's a nice bit of teen soapiness with the requisite mix of melodrama and comedy. But I wish they'd called Varsity Blues, because it could never live up to it's name. That would require a show on the level of The Wire. It doesn't help that Matt Saracen is so obviously Mike Winchell or that Riggins is blatantly Don Billingsley... because, as well rounded as they are, those characters can never match the reality that was those people's lives. And don't even get me started on the lack of a Boobie Miles-inspired character. I don't know, maybe I'm putting too much on the show's shoulders, but if you don't want the comparisons then don't use the name. ]]> TV Shows Lounge Garrison http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?198099-Friday-Night-Lights Fawlty Towers http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?198090-Fawlty-Towers&goto=newpost Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:20:50 GMT I LOVE old vintage movies and tv shows and Fawlty Towers is one of my favourite old comedy series :mrG

I think it totally rocked and it's a shame there weren't many episodes made :o

We always used to have movie night on weekends when I was younger and all my brothers lived at home (and sometimes still do!) and whenever we watched comedy it was usually always a Fawlty Towers episode (l)

BASSSIILL!! lol ]]> TV Shows Lounge MrsSuperman93 http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?198090-Fawlty-Towers Friday Night Lights is coming to ABC Family http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?198064-Friday-Night-Lights-is-coming-to-ABC-Family&goto=newpost Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:58:28 GMT Hey everyone, I’m so excited to tell you about the ABC Family premiere of Friday Night Lights!! I work with the network, and we can’t wait until its Season 1 kick-off on Tuesday, September 7 at 6/5c. After that, you can continue watching all the Dillon High School drama and super-hot cast from the beginning, weeknights at 6/5c only on ABC Family. Let me know if you’ll be watching and I can fill you in on anything you need to know! ]]> TV Shows Lounge ABCFamily http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?198064-Friday-Night-Lights-is-coming-to-ABC-Family <![CDATA[Corrie's RAY FEARON is coming to the stage!]]> http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?198047-Corrie-s-RAY-FEARON-is-coming-to-the-stage!&goto=newpost Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:39:32 GMT I am really excited to see former Corrie star, Ray Fearon tread the boards at the Trafalgar Studios at the end of next month. He’s appearing in a Donmar Warehouse production of LOWER NINTH. Can’t wait to see him again! ]]> TV Shows Lounge JOLLY http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?198047-Corrie-s-RAY-FEARON-is-coming-to-the-stage! Just for fun - which do you prefer.................................... http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197963-Just-for-fun-which-do-you-prefer....................................&goto=newpost Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:00:36 GMT Which do you prefer - (feel free to miss out the ones you've never seen or heard of lol)

My choices are in bold!
  1. UK soaps : Coronation Street or Eastenders
  2. Australian soaps: Neighbours or Home & Away
  3. American Glitz: Dallas or Dynasty
  4. American Reality: American Idol or America's Got Talent
  5. UK reality: Big Brother or I'm a Celeb get me out of Here
  6. Ricky Gervais: The Office or Extras
  7. Simon Templar: Roger Moore or Ian Ogilvy
  8. Euston films: The Professionals or The Sweeney
  9. James Bond: Sean Connery or Roger Moore
  10. Crime Scene: NCIS or CSI
  11. CSI: CSI Miami or CSI New York
  12. UK Dancing: Strictly Come Dancing or Dancing On Ice
  13. UK Talk: Graham Norton or Jonathan Ross
  14. US Mystery: Columbo or Murder She Wrote
  15. UK Sci Fi: Dr Who or Blake Seven
  16. X Factor: Danni Minogue or Sharon Osborne
  17. UK Hosptial drama : Casualty or Holby City
  18. Prisoner titles: The Prisoner (starring Patrick McGoohan) or Prisoner cell Block H
  19. Kids TV: Magpie or Blue Peter
  20. Saturday Morning: Tiswas or Swap Shop
]]> TV Shows Lounge Englishboy http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197963-Just-for-fun-which-do-you-prefer.................................... The very worst audio commentary ever recorded http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197857-The-very-worst-audio-commentary-ever-recorded&goto=newpost Sat, 21 Aug 2010 02:53:29 GMT I guess it's like bad poetry . It hurts . Physically.

I'm a huge FARSCAPE fan but someone please stop Claudia Black from ever recording a DVD commentary ever again , I feel like I've lost ten years of my life .

Perhaps the greatest outing for Scape is a glorious little season 2 episode called Crackers Dont Matter , it's a firm fan favourite and I was really looking forward to the commentary.

Sadly I now need to take a paracetamol extra. Claudia Black and the director talk endlessly about their personal process to working and jerk off in a luvvy fest so nauseating I nearly threw up over my balcony into the river Thames like an 18th century whore .

At no point at all ever do they discuss the episode. Ever . Or ever refer to anything of interest to do with the episode. As much as I greatly admire Blacks generally brilliant performance as everyones favourite Peacekeeper Aeryn Sun , I have no interest whatsoever in hearing her drone on about her personal acting process because it's totally utterly boring .

Only actors think anyone's interested in every thing they do and how they do it , boring luvvy actors going on and on about how generous they are and how they needed a moment before this take .

There's only one actor I could listen to talk about her personal process and that's Joan Van Ark because it's the Church of her Work and she's a legend . But my god fans of Farscape want discussion around the show ! Jesus .

For the love of god please do not attempt to listen to this hour of hell .

It all goes wrong from the get go when , instead of paying homage to the episode and referring to it in context as a fan favourite , Black says " So Ian can I ask you a question ?" , " yes " , " how do you know when an actor is" zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
asleep Claudia ? Well you won't know because you'll be too busy talking about your process . ]]> TV Shows Lounge sunshineboyuk http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197857-The-very-worst-audio-commentary-ever-recorded My Family http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197856-My-Family&goto=newpost Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:15:59 GMT O.M.G this has got to be the funniest program EVER!!

I'm sooooooooooooo happy there's a new series on and I totally LOVE it :mrG

Robert Lindsay and Zoe Wannamaker have perfect chemistry and make me laugh so much, the entire cast are awesome :sheep: ]]> TV Shows Lounge MrsSuperman93 http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197856-My-Family Rich Man, Poor Man http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197792-Rich-Man-Poor-Man&goto=newpost Tue, 17 Aug 2010 06:26:05 GMT I remember everyone in the neighborhood tuning in for this in the 70s, but I missed it. Am wondering if it's worth buying on dvd now that it's being released in September. I always enjoyed Peter Strauss and a young Nick Nolte is in it as well. Does anyone remember it? ]]> TV Shows Lounge minx http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197792-Rich-Man-Poor-Man <![CDATA[Who Are TV's Top Earners]]> http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197681-Who-Are-TV-s-Top-Earners&goto=newpost Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:37:16 GMT http://www.tvguide.com/News/Top-TV-Earners-1021717.aspx

Who Are TV's Top Earners?

If you're an actor who lands a lead role on a TV series, you can count on a big payday. But it won't be as big as it used to be.

Network and studio executives tell TV Guide Magazine they've adopted a get-tough policy on salaries for stars of the new fall shows. While the salary for a lead has been $150,000 to $200,000 per episode in recent years, most deals for stars of new series were between $75,000 and $125,000. "No one broke the bank on anything this year," says one former studio head.

A case in point is a negotiation with a veteran film actor who for years has been coveted by several networks to do series TV. He was in discussions for a lead role in one of the new dramas that made the fall schedule. His asking price was $250,000. The network and the studio said no way. When the actor refused to go below $200,000, the network and studio moved on and hired someone else.

Why the hard line? The broadcast networks have been in a cost-cutting mode since ad revenues were hard-hit by the recession. While the ad market is recovering, they are also coping with a changing long-term financial picture as DVR playback and online viewing have greatly diminished the ratings on the second network run of shows, once the source of windfall profits.

There is an effort to keep talent costs down on their veteran hits as well. ABC's Brothers & Sisters, which once had four actors earning $150,000 or more per episode, will lose Rob Lowe and have only 18 episodes next season instead of the typical 22. Some regulars will appear in fewer episodes. Marg Helgenberger's new deal with CSI also calls for her to have a lighter workload next season and helps to trim the show's budget in the face of declining ratings.

If a show is on the rise, it's a different story. The stars of The Big Bang Theory—Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco—all currently make well under $100,000 per episode. Their bank accounts are about to benefit from the show's rise to the top of Nielsen rankings among viewers in the 18 to 49 age group and a successful sale into syndication. "I think they'll give an extra year to their studio, Warner Bros., in exchange for each of them getting $150,000 to $200,000 an episode," says one network executive. "They'll get bumps from there and could get up to $300,000 an episode. If it's a hit show, you start paying."

Additional reporting by William Keck and Michael Schneider

The top earners, by category:

Drama (per episode)

Hugh Laurie (House) $400,000+
Christopher Meloni & Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU) $395,000 (each)
David Caruso (CSI: Miami) $375,000
Marg Helgenberger (CSI) $375,000
Mark Harmon (NCIS) $375,000
Laurence Fishburne (CSI) $350,000
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) $350,000
Denis Leary (Rescue Me) $350,000
Gary Sinise (CSI: NY ) $275,000
Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy) $250,000
David Boreanaz (Bones) $200,000
Jeffrey Donovan (Burn Notice) $200,000
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife ) $175,000
Dana Delany (Body of Proof ) $150,000
Lauren Graham (Parenthood) $150,000
Jada Pinkett Smith (HawthoRNe) $150,000
Jimmy Smits (Outlaw) $150,000
LL Cool J (NCIS: Los Angeles) $125,000
Chris O'Donnell (NCIS: Los Angeles) $125,000
Mark Feuerstein (Royal Pains) $125,000
Jason Lee (Memphis Beat) $125,000
Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds) $125,000
Tom Selleck (Blue Bloods) $125,000
Michael Weatherly (NCIS) $125,000
Matt Bomer (White Collar) $100,000
Nathan Fillion (Castle) $100,000
Thomas Gibson (Criminal Minds) $100,000
Jon Hamm (Mad Men) $100,000
Cole Hauser (Chase) $100,000
Alex O'Loughlin (Hawaii Five-0) $100,000
Timothy Olyphant (Justified ) $100,000
Scott Caan (Hawaii Five-0) $80,000
Angie Harmon (Rizzoli & Isles) $75,000
Anna Paquin (True Blood) $75,000
Blair Underwood (The Event) $75,000
Zachary Levi (Chuck) $60,000
Ian Somerhalder (The Vampire Diaries) $40,000
Shailene Woodley (The Secret Life of the American Teenager) $40,000
Ashley Tisdale (Hellcats) $30,000

Late Night/Talk Syndication (per year)

Oprah Winfrey $315 million
Judge Judy Sheindlin $45 million
David Letterman (The Late Show) $28 million
Jay Leno (The Tonight Show) $25 million
Conan O'Brien (The Conan O'Brien Show) $10 million
Ellen DeGeneres (The Ellen DeGeneres Show) $8 million
Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live) $6 million
Chelsea Handler (Chelsea Lately) $3.5 million
George Lopez (Lopez Tonight) $3.5 million

Reality (per year)

Ryan Seacrest (American Idol) $15 million
Joel McHale (The Soup) $2 million
Piers Morgan (America's Got Talent) $2 million
Kate Gosselin (Kate Plus 8) $250,000 per episode
Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi (Jersey Shore) $30,000 per episode

Comedy (per episode)

Charlie Sheen (Two and a Half Men) $1.25 million
Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men) $550,000
Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives) $400,000
Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives) $400,000
Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives) $400,000
Eva Longoria Parker (Desperate Housewives) $400,000
Dan Castellaneta (The Simpsons) $400,000
Julie Kavner (The Simpsons) $400,000
Tina Fey (30 Rock) $350,000
Jeremy Piven (Entourage) $350,000
Steve Carell (The Office) $297,000
Angus T. Jones (Two and a Half Men) $250,000
David Duchovny (Californication) $200,000
Kevin Dillon (Entourage) $200,000
Adrian Grenier (Entourage) $200,000
Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly) $180,000
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie) $175,000
William Shatner ($#*! My Dad Says) $150,000
David Spade (Rules of Engagement) $150,000
Ed O'Neill (Modern Family) $100,000
Patrick Warburton (Rules of Engagement) $85,000
Betty White (Hot in Cleveland) $75,000
Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory) $60,000
Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory) $60,000
Ty Burrell (Modern Family) $50,000
Jane Lynch (Glee) $50,000
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) $40,000
Matthew Morrison (Glee) $30,000
Selena Gomez (Wizards of Waverly Place) $30,000
Dylan and Cole Sprouse (The Suite Life of Zack and Cody) $20,000 (each)
Rico Rodriguez (Modern Family) $15,000

News (per year)

Matt Lauer (Today) $16 million +
Katie Couric (CBS) $15 million
Brian Williams (NBC) $12.5 million
Diane Sawyer (ABC) $12 million
Meredith Vieira (Today) $11 million
Bill O'Reilly (Fox News) $10 million
George Stephanopoulos (ABC) $8 million
Keith Olbermann (MSNBC) $7 million
Shepard Smith (Fox News) $7 million
Wolf Blitzer (CNN) $3 million
Christiane Amanpour (ABC) $2 million
Lawrence O'Donnell (MSNBC) $2 million
Eliot Spitzer (CNN) $500,000


Very interesting read; seems like American folks aren't the only ones to be hit with the recession. lol The trend of posting shows online via network websites/Hulu makes it convenient for viewers who can't make time to watch live, but does indeed diminish revenue ad sales - not as many people are watching.

What struck me the most was Sheen's beyond huge payday of $1.25 million per episode; earlier this year, the guy was willing to walk away because he wasn't satisfied with the $$$$$. I don't watch his show, and am not his biggest fan, but it's interesting that while other actors may be settling for what they consider lower pay, he's still riding high on the hog. lol ]]> TV Shows Lounge Scarlett http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197681-Who-Are-TV-s-Top-Earners Paranormal shows? http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197637-Paranormal-shows&goto=newpost Mon, 09 Aug 2010 01:12:07 GMT Which paranormal shows, if any, do you watch? I personally watch (and like) all of the above, Ghost Adventures and Paranormal State being my favorite. Which paranormal shows, if any, do you watch?

I personally watch (and like) all of the above, Ghost Adventures and Paranormal State being my favorite. ]]> TV Shows Lounge Melanie http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197637-Paranormal-shows Jane Badler back in V http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197626-Jane-Badler-back-in-V&goto=newpost Sun, 08 Aug 2010 09:03:52 GMT Jane Badler is back in V, as Anna's mother - Diana.

I hope she is nastier than her daughter.

I hope she brings her mind bending machine with her. ]]> TV Shows Lounge Pamela http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197626-Jane-Badler-back-in-V Covert Affairs http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197577-Covert-Affairs&goto=newpost Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:21:11 GMT Hey guys! I'm here from the USA network and wanted to know how you are liking our newest show, Covert Affairs, so far.. Did you watch last night? What do you think about Oded Fehr's addition? ]]> TV Shows Lounge USANetwork http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197577-Covert-Affairs New member here: fadingrockstar http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197524-New-member-here-fadingrockstar&goto=newpost Sun, 01 Aug 2010 22:26:31 GMT Just a quick post to introduce myself to the forum. Looking forward to many posts! Just a quick post to introduce myself to the forum. Looking forward to many posts! ]]> TV Shows Lounge fadingrockstar http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197524-New-member-here-fadingrockstar <![CDATA[Amish: World's squarest teenagers]]> http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197520-Amish-World-s-squarest-teenagers&goto=newpost Sun, 01 Aug 2010 20:10:32 GMT Has anyone else been watching this great show on C4 Five Amish teenagers leave their closed communities in the American mid-West for the very first time, to travel to Britain on an extraordinary cultural exchange Its very intersting to compare and contrast both lifestyles - The Amish teens... Has anyone else been watching this great show on C4

Five Amish teenagers leave their closed communities in the American mid-West for the very first time, to travel to Britain on an extraordinary cultural exchange

Its very intersting to compare and contrast both lifestyles - The Amish teens were very open to their new experinces and I look forwards to the next episode

I once went to Lancaster County, Penn and found it so hard to believe that it was still USA in the 2000s, Time seems to have passed them by but in many respects it seemed a far more peaceful and innocent time with few of the problems associated with 20/21st century living. ]]> TV Shows Lounge Barbara Fan http://www.soapchat.net/showthread.php?197520-Amish-World-s-squarest-teenagers