TV News and Reviews

The big TV news buzzing around is that ABC picked up a comedy pilot entitled Let It Go, starring Lauren Graham as a self-help guru on TV who can’t follow her own advice when her boyfriend breaks up with her. Critics seems excited, but quite frankly another plot involving a woman acting crazy and stupid doesn’t exactly appeal to me. So many woman-centric comedies that I adored always ended up scaring me off when they slowly turned the woman into an idiot. I like Lauren Graham and she’s saying that it’s going to be something of a dark comedy, so perhaps there will be some sort of wicked charm that makes it worth watching. But I’m not holding my breath.

A drama pilot for CBS that looks interesting is entitled Back (which is a nightmare for trying to do a Google search on it, let me tell you). The story centers on a man who disappears during the 9/11 attacks only to resurface eight years later to try and reintegrate into a world that’s completely changed. This sounds like it has some great dramatic potential, but I think Mandy Bierly of Entertainment Weekly sums up the issues nicely:

“Interesting. Do I want to know why and to where he disappeared? Yes. Do I want it to be a season-long mystery, which is never solved because the show gets canceled? No. Also, I’m 50-50 on the title.”

I agree wholeheartedly. These serial dramas are a tough sell these days, considering how many of them get canceled and you’re left on a cliffhanger every time. Funny how I was just talking about the vicious cycle of not watching shows that we fear will be canceled.

You can get the hard data on all the new pilots that got picked up at Variety.com, and see them rated by EWs Popwatch.

**Lauren Graham photo from The Bonnie Hunt Show, October 6, 2008, c2008 Bob & Alice Productions, Warner Bros., NBC

For an afternoon TV highlight we had Dave Sanderson, survivor of US Airways Flight #1549, on The Bonnie Hunt Show. It was terrifying listening to him recount the experience being on the plane as the engine near his window burst into flames. He remained calm at first, but when the pilot told the passengers to “Brace for impact,” Sanderson thought it was all over for them. It was positively chilling, imagining yourself in that same situation. But despite the terror of those moments, Sanderson was one of the last people off of the plane, hanging back in order to help the other passengers exit the plane. He said he’d been raised to consider others before himself, and to do the right thing.

It may just be inexperience as a host, but Bonnie Hunt tends to interrupt her guests too much, but I think in this case she was feeling overwhelmed. Sanderson was an interesting personality, on the one hand very noble and devoutly religious, but on the other he came across as very cool and almost detached. Bonnie kept trying to get him to express something emotional, asking if he held anyone’s hand as they crashed or if he thought of his family. He said that he’d gotten into the “correct” crash position and didn’t want to be tied to anyone. He also said he put his wallet on himself so his body could be identified. These are not the sorts of things you typically hear in survivor stories and Bonnie was stunned. I’m wondering if he has a military background, because his responses seemed to be on that formal, military order.

In any case, he expressed extreme gratitude to the pilot and all the boats that came immediately to the scene to help. He said that everyone had a hero that day, because so many people stepped up to help, including two men on a ferry boat that hauled him out of the water and to safety. I’m glad that Bonnie Hunt had Dave Sanderson as a guest, to share his story and provide a role model and positive example for all those watching. You can see pics and get more information at The Bonnie Hunt Show website .

You may not know this, but Brian Williams–intellectual, articulate anchor of NBCs Nightly News–is hilariously funny. I first discovered this startling fact when he appeared on Saturday Night Live, complete with an appearance on the beloved Bronx Beat “show” with Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph. Behind the news desk or reporting in the field, Brian Williams is all business. But on sketch shows and talk shows, his intellect shines with wit and delightful jabs at the absurd.

Since her show began, Bonnie Hunt has been dropping hints about her crush on Brian Williams. After an appearance wherein Sesame Street puppet Elmo teased her about her fangirling, Brian Williams sent Bonnie Hunt a letter. She read segments on the air, including the line that Brian Williams was disappointed that she had confided in Elmo, since “we all know Elmo is a terrible gossip”.

Watch Bonnie giggle as they discuss Brian Williams’ cover shot for AARP magazine (Click takes you to Bonnie Hunt site):

Today’s show started with a hilarious backstage scene, where Brian Williams’ wife and Bonnie had a friendly chat. Bonnie asssured Mrs. Williams that her whole “crush” on Brian Williams was just a bit for the show, and Mrs. Williams said she was fine with it and all was well. Then Bonnie dropped a folder on the floor with “Bonnie Loves Brian” scrawled all over it, with hearts and arrows and the whole teenage crush bit. Mrs. Williams did a hilarious job of looking horrified as Bonnie blushed profusely and stumbled away to do her show.

Both Bonnie Hunt and Brian Williams took turns praising his wife during the interview for her on-the-spot acting skills. Apparently the Williams’ daughter is breaking into the improv business and it was clear where she got her talents from. Of course Bonnie pointed out that Brian Williams is no slouch when it comes to snappy comebacks either.

The best part about Brian Williams that came through on the show is that he has an old school gentlemanly style about him. He has a good work ethic, cares about his family and friends, is never jaded about the world events that he’s witnessed, and is truly grateful for the opportunities he’s received. He and his wife donated $5000 to the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center that Bonnie Hunt is involved with, in addition to bringing press passes from election night to donate for the charity auction. Bonnie teared up with emotion at his generosity, and claimed that she loved him even more than ever.

The whole show was just a lot of fun, with Brian and Bonnie making jokes, trying to make each other blush, while Mrs. Williams mockingly gave them the “I’m watching you” gesture from her place in the audience. The crowning treat was Bonnie presenting Brian Williams with his favorite Cinnabons, which they ate wedding style by locking their arms together before taking simultaneous bites of pastry.

Bonnie Hunt’s show gets better every day, and like Rosie in the old days, the program has a lot of heart. It’s a bright spot in daytime entertainment, with crazy stories of Bonnie’s family and acting life, relaxed and enjoyable interviews with her guests, and goofy pet videos, quizzes for the audience, and a dating game featuring her own staff. I notice the longer she’s been on the air, the more famous her guests have become, so it’s apparent the celebrity world is finding her as intriguing as we the audience do.

The Bonnie Hunt Show airs every weekday. Check the schedule on the Bonnie Hunt website for showtimes in your area.