WBNX Blog http://www.wbnx.com/blog WBNX Blog Fri, Jul 03 2009 17:47:23 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 en hourly 1 © jmcgaha@wbnx.com () jmcgaha@wbnx.com() WBNX Blog jmcgaha@wbnx.com No no http://www.wbnx.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg WBNX Blog http://www.wbnx.com/blog 144 144 Sarah Chalke dishes on Scrubs star ‘tangents’ http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/07/03/sarah-chalke-dishes-on-scrubs-star-%e2%80%98tangents%e2%80%99/ http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/07/03/sarah-chalke-dishes-on-scrubs-star-%e2%80%98tangents%e2%80%99/#comments Fri, Jul 03 2009 admin http://www.wbnx.com/blog/?p=1280 Sarah ChalkeOne of TV’s most-loved female comedy stars of the past decade, Sarah Chalke is keenly aware of the talent she’s been surrounded with.  Case in point: the Scrubs janitor.  “Neil Flynn is one of the funniest people I’ve ever worked with,” she tells Starry Constellation.   Flynn is such a master of improv, “it’s to the point where the scriptwriters will just write his line, and then in black it will say, ‘Or whatever Neil says.’  He goes off on these unbelievably hysterical tangents, where if you’re doing a scene with him it’s really hard not to break.”  American audiences met the Ontario native as “Becky #2″ on Roseanne, when she replaced college-bound Lecy Goranson for the final 70 episodes.  “I would sit there in awe of Roseanne, Laurie Metcalf and John Goodman, and just kind of watch what they would do with the script from the Monday table read until Thursday tape night.”  The audience roared at their first scene together when Roseanne quipped, “You look different.”  Sarah later costarred in a pre-SNL Andy Samberg web series, The ‘Bu, a Malibu parody of The O.C. But to most viewers, she’s Dr. Elliot Reid, an eight-year role that Scrubs bosses have kept fresh with various curve balls.  “Sometimes if your line was like ‘I told you so,’ Bill Lawrence would come up to you and say, ‘Okay, instead of saying ‘I told you so,’ just make it a song and dance instead.’  It’s the best job I’ve had.”

Scrubs /  Weeknights this Fall on WBNX
]]> http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/07/03/sarah-chalke-dishes-on-scrubs-star-%e2%80%98tangents%e2%80%99/feed/ Critics call new series ‘smart, old school WB’ http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/07/01/critics-call-new-series-%e2%80%98smart-old-school-wb%e2%80%99/ http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/07/01/critics-call-new-series-%e2%80%98smart-old-school-wb%e2%80%99/#comments Wed, Jul 01 2009 admin http://www.wbnx.com/blog/?p=1272 Life UneXpectedThis past week, two of the TV industry’s trusted websites offered reviews on the new CW dramedy, Life UneXpected.  And?  “Quite possibly the most unexpected new treat of the season,” says TVaddict.com.  “Not only a new kind of family, but a welcome one,” referring to a 15-year-old foster child reuniting with her immature birth parents—who haven’t seen each other since their one night stand in high school.  “Consider this series a lock for a slot on (our) coveted ‘can’t miss’ list.”  The Futon Critic goes further, praising the first episode as “old school WB in the best possible way.  ‘Life’ may be both the sappiest and smartest show to come out of The CW to date.  It all begins with the collective awesomeness that is Britt Robertson, Kristoffer Polaha, Shiri Appleby and Kerr Smith.  Effortlessly charming, stunningly empathetic and an all-around joy to watch…it’s a surprisingly poignant tale about love and forgiveness, a wonderfully adult take on your typical quarterlife crisis.”  The extended trailer became an instant favorite among WBNX staff members, as well.  Gilmore Girls-meets-Juno is how the network summarizes the story—the first 2009 pilot ordered by The CW.  Took awhile for the title to evolve, from Light Years to LUX to Parental Discretion Advised and, finally, Life UneXpected.  But from all accounts, this is one family show that’ll live up to its name.

Life UneXpected  /  New Series: 2009-10
]]> http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/07/01/critics-call-new-series-%e2%80%98smart-old-school-wb%e2%80%99/feed/ Eye-Candy Alert: Three major roles are filled http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/30/eye-candy-alert-three-major-roles-are-filled/ http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/30/eye-candy-alert-three-major-roles-are-filled/#comments Tue, Jun 30 2009 admin http://www.wbnx.com/blog/?p=1267 Jana Kramer, Mark Pellegrino, Trevor Donovan

With cameras ready to roll on most fall series, The CW infused three dramas with another dynamic character.  Drop-dead gorgeous Jana Kramer is “Alexis,” the new face of Brooke’s ‘Clothes Over Bros’ fashion line on One Tree Hill.  The model is described as an adrenaline-junkie diva who’s used to getting her way.  Fans of 90210 are familiar with Jana’s mean-girl snark as Portia, queen of Naomi’s uppity cliquesters.  Trending even further toward evil, Mark Pellegrino will play the devil himself throughout next season on Supernatural.  You may recall that Sam unknowingly released him from the pit in last month’s finale.  Mark seems to fit well into mysterious roles—he was recently introduced as the seemingly-immortal Jacob on Lost.  And finally, Trevor Donovan creates quite a stir at West Beverly High as “Teddy,” a Clooney-esque charmer with a secret past, Hollywood lineage, and mad tennis skills.  Often compared to a young Brad Pitt looks-wise, Trevor has been a much sought-after model for swimsuits and men’s briefs, in addition to his acting work on Days of Our Lives.  Excited about all the fresh CW talent?

One Tree Hill / Monday 8pm
90210 / Tuesday 8pm
Supernatural / Thursday 9pm
]]> http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/30/eye-candy-alert-three-major-roles-are-filled/feed/ Wow! Casting directors have been busy at CW http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/26/wow-casting-directors-have-been-busy-at-cw/ http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/26/wow-casting-directors-have-been-busy-at-cw/#comments Sat, Jun 27 2009 admin http://www.wbnx.com/blog/?p=1260 Callum BlueThere’s no shortage of great roles at The CW, and casting directors have been working overtime to fill out the series rosters with regulars and guest-stars.  Below are some of the recent announcements, in case you missed them.  And we’re still awaiting news on three major characters: the devil on Supernatural, new heartthrob Teddy on 90210, and wild model Alexis on One Tree Hill.

  • MELROSE PLACE: Josie Bissett reprises her role as Jane Andrews Mancini, the sibling of diabolical Sydney (Laura Leighton).  Thomas Calabro (Michael) is the ex-husband of both sisters—twisted!  He and Laura are series regulars.
    Series Premiere:  Tue., Sep. 8
  • AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL: Reality star Kim Kardashian is signed as a guest-judge for Cycle 13, which features contestants all 5-foot-7 and under.
    Season Premiere:  Wed., Sep. 9
  • SUPERNATURAL: Remember Sam’s girlfriend, Jessica, who died on the ceiling in the series pilot?  Adrianne Palicki returns for an episode this fall.  Rob Benedict (Chuck the prophet) and Julie McNiven (Anna the angel) are also back to help the Winchesters in their new war with the underworld.
    Season Premiere:  Thu., Sep. 10
  • ONE TREE HILL: Robert Buckley (Lipstick Jungle) will play Nathan’s sports agent, Clayton.  And newcomer Shantel VanSanten (The Final Destination) moves to the stump as Haley’s sister, Quinn.  Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice drops by as himself in an early episode.
    Season Premiere:  Mon., Sep. 14
  • GOSSIP GIRL: Joanna Garcia (Megan on Privileged) is the new love-interest for Nate.  And Chris Riggi has his own secret agenda, returning as the supposedly-dead-but-really-alive offspring of Lily and Rufus.  Who will be cast as Serena’s long-lost father?
    Season Premiere:  Mon., Sep. 14
  • THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE: Corbin Bleu (HSM) was originally slated to appear in the first episode, but he’s wisely been upped to series regular.  Corbin is the wingman to fellow model roomie and resident party-machine Jordan Woolley.
    Series Premiere:  Wed., Sep. 16
  • SMALLVILLE: Callum Blue (The Tudors), pictured, has been cast as General Zod, the Kryptonian military leader sentenced to the Phantom Zone for his crimes.  The legendary DC Comics villain found an escape in the season finale, and he’ll be trouble all year.  Brian Austin Green (BH: 90210) will be introduced as Daily Planet reporter John Corben, alias Metallo—a cyborg villain powered by the green rock.  Both Metallo and Zod make their debut to kick off the new night.
    Season Premiere:  Fri., Sep. 25
]]> http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/26/wow-casting-directors-have-been-busy-at-cw/feed/ Guide to CW series DVD release dates & extras http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/23/guide-to-cw-series-dvd-release-dates-extras/ http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/23/guide-to-cw-series-dvd-release-dates-extras/#comments Tue, Jun 23 2009 admin http://www.wbnx.com/blog/?p=1256 Summer’s the time when fans look forward to their favorite TV shows arriving on DVD. Seven CW series have disc releases over the next ten weeks, so we’ve compiled a convenient list of dates and extras included in the box-sets. All are available for pre-order at amazon.com.

  • 90210: Season 1 release on Aug. 11. Includes cast commentaries on select episodes, plus behind-the-scenes featurettes about the show’s music, fashion, sets and more.
  • Gossip Girl: Season 2 release on Aug. 18. Includes nearly four hours of special features, such as unaired scenes, a gag reel, the ‘Chasing Dorota’ webisodes, and a downloadable audio-book of Gossip Girl: You Know You Love Me, read by Christina Ricci.
  • Everybody Hates Chris: Season 4 release on Aug. 18. The comedy’s final season set will include commentary by creator Chris Rock, deleted scenes, featurettes and bloopers.
  • Smallville: Season 8 release on Aug. 25. Available on DVD and Blu-ray. Bonus material includes cast and creator commentaries, unaired scenes, and two featurettes, Doomsday: The Making of a Monster, and Director’s Chair: Calling the Shots with Allison Mack.
  • One Tree Hill: Season 6 release on Aug. 25. In addition to the unaired scenes and gag reel, the set includes commentary on two episodes by series creator Mark Schwahn and key cast members; and featurettes on recreating the 1940s (for episode 11); playing the new sport of SlamBall; shadowing first-time directors Chad Michael Murray, Bethany Joy Galeotti and James Lafferty; and guest singers discussing the role of music in the series, with a spotlight on the USO concert (episode 10).
  • Supernatural: Season 4 release on Sep. 1. Available on DVD and Blu-ray. Anticipation is always great for this series’ gag reel—those guys just have fun at work, period. It will be accompanied by extended/unaired scenes, commentary on three key episodes by exec producers and writers, and a featurette on The Mythologies of Supernatural.
  • The Game: Season 1 release on Sept. 1. This popular dramedy just completed its third and final campaign, and the show finally comes to DVD with all 21 episodes of its freshman year, plus the sixth-season episode of Girlfriends which served as a back-door pilot for The Game spinoff.
  • Reaper: Both seasons are currently available on DVD.
]]> http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/23/guide-to-cw-series-dvd-release-dates-extras/feed/ Mentor theatre event to link fans with OTH star http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/18/mentor-theatre-event-to-link-fans-with-oth-star/ http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/18/mentor-theatre-event-to-link-fans-with-oth-star/#comments Thu, Jun 18 2009 admin http://www.wbnx.com/blog/?p=1246 The NarrowsA first-ever live nationwide simulcast will give moviegoers the chance to interact with cast members of The Narrows, a coming-of-age mobster drama premiering Friday.  WBNX stars Sophia Bush (Brooke on One Tree Hill) and Vincent D’Onofrio (Det. Goran on Law & Order: Criminal Intent) will be joined by Kevin Zegers for a Q&A session immediately following the opening night 9pm showing.  Locally, The Narrows debuts exclusively at the Great Lakes Mall Atlas 16 theatre in Mentor, and tickets for the event are now available.  Based on Tim McLoughlin’s riveting novel, Heart of the Old Country, the film follows a young man whose college dreams lack funding…until he meets up with a Brooklyn kingpin.  As the teenager’s dangerous involvement in small-time crime escalates, the story races with suspense, romance, loyalty and murder.  Fans will be able to text their questions to the actors in real-time, or you can submit questions in advance by clicking here. 

One Tree Hill / Monday 9pm
Law & Order: Criminal Intent / Weeknights 4am
]]> http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/18/mentor-theatre-event-to-link-fans-with-oth-star/feed/ Have you voted for our Teen Choice nominees? http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/17/have-you-voted-for-our-teen-choice-nominees/ http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/17/have-you-voted-for-our-teen-choice-nominees/#comments Wed, Jun 17 2009 admin http://www.wbnx.com/blog/?p=1236 Gossip GirlWBNX stars and series garnered 34 nominations when the 11th annual Teen Choice Awards released its first wave of categories this week.  A glaring omission for the second straight year is Supernatural—coming off arguably its best season—which was again edged out for a nod as Best Drama by the cancelled Terminator, and for Drama Actor by Dustin Milligan, who was axed from 90210.  So there are flaws in the system.  However, 25 primetime CW nominees is impressive, led by 10 for Gossip Girl, six for 90210, five for Smallville, and three for America’s Next Top Model.  Gossip Girl racked up more nominations than any other show on television, and continues to be one of the most-viewed series online, in addition to its devoted Monday night audience.  Fans between the ages of 13-19 can now vote daily for their Teen Choice favorites by clicking here.  Winners will be announced August 10.

]]> http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/17/have-you-voted-for-our-teen-choice-nominees/feed/ Could CW find ‘dreamy’ doctors in Cleveland? http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/12/could-cw-find-%e2%80%98dreamy%e2%80%99-doctors-in-cleveland/ http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/12/could-cw-find-%e2%80%98dreamy%e2%80%99-doctors-in-cleveland/#comments Fri, Jun 12 2009 admin http://www.wbnx.com/blog/?p=1229 ScrubsEver since word leaked online that The CW was scouting hospitals to shoot a real-life medical series in the same vein as, say, Grey’s Anatomy…we’ve wondered: Why not Cleveland?  Surely our physicians are just as dreamy and steamy.  And besides that, Cleveland docs rock!  Not to mention, we’re the unofficial epicenter of all things medical—have you ever counted how many hospitals populate the North Coast?  The clinic has treated celebrity patients ranging from Oprah, Liza and LeBron…to Robin Williams, Bob Dole and Prince Charles; and other regional facilities include the training tie-ins sought.  The network’s casting notice talks of documenting “the extraordinary experience of emergency medicine residents at a world-class hospital,” E! Online reports.  The series would follow residents at the crossroads of completing their education, while faced with life-and-death pressures on the medical frontlines.  It’s a given that some of the young doctors will have romantic issues and other sorts of personal drama.  The show sounds very similar to last year’s Austin Golden Hour pilot with Justin Hartley and Cassidy Freeman, but maybe the concept works better with realism.  And if our local ER suggestion doesn’t pan out, don’t fret: we’ve got Scrubs to keep you in stitches (yes, we said it) this fall on WBNX.

Scrubs / Weeknights this Fall
]]> http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/12/could-cw-find-%e2%80%98dreamy%e2%80%99-doctors-in-cleveland/feed/ Guess which CW rookie is called ‘a joy to watch’ http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/11/guess-which-cw-rookie-is-called-%e2%80%98a-joy-to-watch%e2%80%99/ http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/11/guess-which-cw-rookie-is-called-%e2%80%98a-joy-to-watch%e2%80%99/#comments Thu, Jun 11 2009 admin http://www.wbnx.com/blog/?p=1222 The Beautiful LifeWe called this one nearly three months ago, but it’s nice to see impartial reviews confirming our early assessment of The CW’s new fall companion to Top Model.  “Expertly cast and brimming with chemistry, The Beautiful Life is a flat-out joy to watch,” raves Brian Ford Sullivan of The Futon Critic, one of the web’s most-respected television resources.  “Sara Paxton and Ben Hollingsworth have an undeniable spark that permeates the entire show, one that somehow manages to capture the ‘lightning in a bottle’ that is being young and discovering the world.”  The pilot episode taps not only the obvious dark side of the runway, “but also the simple concept that the modeling profession operates on a fleeting whim, that there’s no rhyme or reason to it.  It’s an intoxicating premise,” the critic muses.  Melrose Place and The Vampire Diaries have stolen most of the headlines, but series creator Ashton Kutcher’s latest foray may well be the best cast, top-to-bottom, and the network’s sleeper hit.  We marveled at the star power in earlier postings, here and here; and Sullivan himself notes that modeling icons Elle Macpherson and Mischa Barton “both bring a fun, meta edge to the proceedings that complements our (newcomer) heroes’ journeys.”  Another reviewer was amazed at the script, “which could be above everything the network has done these last years.”  Talk about it!

The Beautiful Life  /  Wednesdays this Fall
]]> http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/11/guess-which-cw-rookie-is-called-%e2%80%98a-joy-to-watch%e2%80%99/feed/ The play won 10 Tonys; see the movie on WBNX http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/10/the-play-won-10-tonys-see-the-movie-on-wbnx/ http://www.wbnx.com/blog/2009/06/10/the-play-won-10-tonys-see-the-movie-on-wbnx/#comments Wed, Jun 10 2009 admin http://www.wbnx.com/blog/?p=1217 Jamie Bell in Billy ElliotBroadway bestowed its highest honors on Billy Elliot Sunday night, with the musical winning ten Tony Awards, after a record-tying 15 nominations.  The acclaimed stage play is derived from the film released in 2000, a critical darling named among the year’s Ten Best by dozens of media outlets.  WBNX viewers can see the heartwarming movie twice this month, Saturday, June 20 at 4pm and Sunday, June 28 at noon.  The story centers around an 11-year-old boy, played by Jamie Bell, whose tough coal mining family pushes him into the boxing ring.  But young Billy is instead drawn to an all-girls ballet class, where his hidden star potential is developed by Oscar-nominee Julie Walters.  Producers of the film auditioned over 2,000 young actors for the role before finding Jamie, whose own life mirrored the struggles of the title character.  Having studied dance since early childhood—and suffering the inevitable teasing from school boys—Jamie was prepared for his first movie performance, and is now regarded as one of Hollywood’s most talented up-and-comers.  The Movie Fanatic site ranks him at #3 on its list of Hottest Young Actors, ahead of even Twilight sensation Robert Pattinson.  Described as magical, uplifting and exuberant, Billy Elliot was tailor-made for the theatre stage, but the triumphant original film is one you won’t want to miss.

Billy Elliot / June 20, 4pm & June 28, 12pm
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