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On TV: Whitney Houston tributes planned

brookecain — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:58:29 -0500

Networks are scrambling to put together tributes to Whitney Houston. Here are a few I've seen so far (will update as I run across others -- but if you know of some, add them in the comments section):

Tonight
Dateline: NBC (7 p.m., NBC) - Lester Holt will host a one-hour special edition of "Dateline" looking at Whitney's life.
Grammy Awards (8 p.m., CBS) - Jennifer Hudson, Chaka Khan and others will perform a tribute to Houston during tonight's Grammy show.

Monday
106 & Park (6 p.m., BET) - A a special three-hour episode of “106 & Park” focusing on Whitney's life and music.
The Bodyguard (8 p.m., Lifetime) - Whitney's 1992 romantic drama starring Kevin Costner.
Whitney Houston: Death of a Diva (9:30 p.m., VH1) - Another special looking at the life and death of Whitney Houston.

New documentary shows rare MLK assassination footage

brookecain — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:00:00 -0500

The Smithsonian Channel debuts a new documentary tonight on the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that includes rare footage of the days leading up to the iconic Civil Rights leader's murder in Memphis in April 1968.

"MLK: The Assassination Tapes" relies solely on archival films, photographs and recordings from television and radio news coverage, as well as audio recordings of local police scrambling to secure the Lorraine Hotel minutes after King's shooting was reported.

The documentary uses what Smithsonian describes as "recently rediscovered footage" from the Special Collections Division at The University of Memphis, chronologically presented for a powerfully immersive effect. Much of the archival footage has not been seen by the public since it was first gathered in 1968.

The special debuts tonight at 9 on Smithsonian Channel and repeats at midnight, then again Monday at 8 p.m.

Smithsonian Channel is on Time Warner Cable digital channel 1264; DirecTV 565 and 1565; DISH Network on 288; and AT&T U-Verse 118 and 1118.

If you don't have access to Smithsonian Channel, you can watch the film free online starting today through SmithsonianChannel.com or by using Smithsonian Channel's apps for iPhone, Android and Nook.

Read more here: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/tv/home#storylink=cpy

What to Watch on Sunday: Grammys, zombies, comic books

brookecain — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:30:00 -0500

Grammy Awards (8pm, CBS) - LL Cool J hosts the 54th annual music event from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Kanye West leads all nominations with seven. Scheduled to perform: Adele, Paul McCartney, Coldplay, Rihanna, Foo Fighters, Taylor Swift, the Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, Tony Bennett, Carrie Underwood and many others. Our own David Menconi will be live-blogging the event and tracking how our local nominees do.

The Walking Dead (9pm, AMC) - The second season resumes in the aftermath of the bloodbath (wait, do zombies bleed?) at the barn. Rick tries to restore order and a devastated Hershel turns to the bottle for solace. Some new characters are introduced tonight, including a shady traveler played by Michael Raymond James ("Terriers," "True Blood"). James' scenes have the feel of a tense, classic Western. He's a welcome addition to the show. Can we swap him for Lori?

Downton Abbey (9pm, UNC-TV) - The Spanish flu sweeps through the household infecting Cora, Lavinia and Mr. Carson.

Desperate Housewives (9pm, ABC) - Susan is shocked when Julie returns home very pregnant, and Bree's drinking and lust continues unabated.

Luck (9pm, HBO) - Jerry pursues a deal to buy the horse that Renzo lost to Mulligan while also talking to Escalante about training it. I've been on the fence about this show, and reports that horses are being injured and euthanized during production haven't helped me.

Comic Book Men (10pm, AMC) - A new series that looks at life in and around a New Jersey comic book store opens with manager Walt challenging the staff to a sales competition at a flea market.

House of Lies (10pm, Showtime) - Marty takes on Roscoe's school after his son is slapped with sexual harassment charges for kissing another boy.

Documentary spotlights African American pilots

brookecain — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:00:00 -0500

There's another good Smithsonian Channel documentary this weekend, this one spotlighting African American pioneers in aviation.

"Black Wings" tells the stories of black aviators -- from barnstormers to war fighters -- who broke the racial barriers that for many years kept black Americans from pursuing their dreams of flying.

The documentary tells the story of the Tuskegee Red-Tail Angels, the first African American pilots to train for combat during World War II (the Red-Tails are also the subject of a new George Lucas film).

Bessie Coleman (left), the first African American woman with a pilot's license, is also profiled. In the 1920s, no one in the United States would train a black woman to fly, so Coleman earned enough money to travel to France and train there. She returned to American and became a barnstorming stunt pilot.

For more stories like these, tune in to "Black Wings" on Saturday, February 11 at 9 p.m. or Thursday February 16 at 8 p.m.

Smithsonian Channel is on Time Warner Cable digital channel 1264, DirecTV 565 and 1565, and AT&T U-Verse 118 and 1118.

What to Watch on Saturday: Hallmark's 'Cupid' and Zooey D on SNL

brookecain — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:30:00 -0500

Cupid (8pm, Hallmark) - A new Hallmark movie in which a talk show host (Joely Fisher) receives a visit from a mysterious love expert (Jamie Kennedy) who promises he'll reveal her true love to her if she first helps other couples find each other. Her matchmaking doesn't go well and she starts to question her task.

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (8pm, ABC) - From 1975, an animated Peanuts special in which Charlie Brown keeps vigil by the mailbox, waiting for a Valentine. In a 2002 special that follows, the gang searches for the meaning of love.

America's Most Wanted (8pm, Fox) - In this "Crimes of Passion" special broadcast, a fugitive from Texas wanted for murdering his wife with chainsaws and a Pennsylvania man who murdered his wife in 2005. Happy Valentines Day!

Parking Wars (9pm, A&E) - Season six opens in Detroit and Providence, Rhode Island.

Saturday Night Live (11:29pm, NBC) - Zooey Deschanel ("New Girl") hosts and the music guest is Karmin.

What to Watch on Friday: Another NC case on Animal Planet hoarding show

brookecain — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:30:00 -0500

Who Do You Think You Are (8pm, NBC) - Marisa Tomei (left) explores her roots and focuses on a possible family murder. Her quest takes her to Italy to uncover the truth about the alleged slaying of her great-grandfather.

Shark Tank (8pm, ABC) - A new guest shark tonight: QVC personality and inventor Lori Greiner, who holds over 110 patents. Before the panel tonight: a towel designed for modesty while changing out of a bathing suit, a cake mix for dogs, and an update on a class-notes sharing site for college students.

Nikita (8pm, CW) - Nikita tries to save her mentor from being killed by Percy in his attempt to take control of Division. Meanwhile, Amanda tells Alex it is time for her to take back Zetrov.

Grimm (9pm, NBC) - A trail of homicides puts Nick and Hank in pursuit of a deadly heartbreaker.

Blue Bloods (10pm, CBS) - A wealthy woman dies of an apparent heart attack, but her eccentric daughter claims she received a message from God that the death was actually a murder.

Confessions: Animal Hoarding (10pm, Animal Planet) - Featured tonight, a North Carolina woman with 30+ cats and a recidivist hoarder (not from North Carolina!) who secretly keeps dogs in a junkyard. Read more about the North Carolina case, in which the Wake County SPCA assisted in the removal and placement of the animals involved. Cats Winslow and Winny from this show still need a home!

Michael Feinstein's American Songbook: Lost and Found (10pm, UNC-TV) - Feinstein sets out to authenticate a previously unknown song by one of the giants of American popular music. He also convinces Broadway composer Jerry Herman to share one of his previously unknown tunes. Tony Award-winner Christine Ebersole also appears.

Scotty gets another nomination and another gold record

togburn — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:37:45 -0500

Scotty McCreery, the reigning "American Idol" from Garner, has received a double dose of good news: he now has a second gold single and he's up for a second country music award.

"The Trouble With Girls," the second single from Scotty's album, "Clear As Day," was just certified as a gold record, meaning more than 500,000 copies shipped. Scotty's first single, "I Love You This Big," also went gold. The CD has reached both gold and platinum status. A platinum album has sold at least 1 million copies.

Scotty also learned that he is a nominee for New Artist of the Year at the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. He'll be competing against two other young male country singers -- Brantley Gilbert and Hunter Hayes. The awards will be telecast live from Las Vegas on April 1.

The nominees were selected from a combination of fan votes and members of the Academy of Country Music. Likewise, the winner will be picked by both fans and voting members. Fans will be able to vote online from noon March 19 through 5 p.m. April 1 at www.VoteACM.com

"It's gonna be a tight race," Scotty tweeted to fans today.

In December, Scotty was named New Artist at the American Country Awards. That honor also was selected by fans.

The 18-year-old Garner High School senior continues to keep a packed schedule. On Sunday, he'll perform at halftime at the Hoops 4 Hope game and breast cancer awareness event at N.C. State University. The 5 p.m. game is sold out.

And this spring, he'll be the headliner of the Friday night concert at the North Carolina Azalea Festival in Wilmington. Tickets for the April 13 concert can be ordered at www.ncazaleafestival.org

What to Watch on Thursday: Strange romance on a one-hour '30 Rock'

brookecain — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:30:00 -0500

The Vampire Diaries (8pm, CW) - Elena attends a formal ball at Klaus' newly renovated mansion and learns of a horrifying plan that could lead to numerous deaths.

30 Rock (8pm, NBC) - In a one-hour dose of "30 Rock," Liz and Criss (James Marsden, left) decide to celebrate Valentine's Day but must first purchase a new dining table. Also, Jack spends time with his mother-in-law, Jenna anticipates her first live performance on "America's Kidz Got Singing," and Lutz seeks a special person to share the holiday with.

Grey's Anatomy (9pm, ABC) - It's also Valentine's Day over on "Grey's," where Lexie and Mark are babysitting for both Meredith and Derek and Callie and Arizona. Also, the ER fills with sick and/or broken romantics.

The Finder (9pm, Fox) - Walter helps an amateur magician look for his assistant, who vanished after a disappearing act, but the trail also leads to a counterfeit operation.

The Mentalist (10pm, CBS) - Jane hurries to prove a murder suspect is not guilty while the case is deliberated by a jury. Also, Cho realizes his informant may have crossed a line while trying to assist him.

What to Watch on Wednesday: Go deep inside 'Raccoon Nation'

brookecain — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:30:00 -0500

Nature: Raccoon Nation (8pm, UNC-TV) - A look at urban raccoons, which are commonplace in big cities like Toronto, New York and Chicago. Night-vision cameras and radio collars provide a glimpse of the raccoon lifestyle, and there's also a look at the damage the critters have done in Japan, where they were imported as pets during the 1970s. Includes comments from a biologist who believes city life is making raccoons even smarter (they will rule us one day!). I know they can be destructive, but man, how adorable are they???

Person to Person (8pm, CBS) - In this revival of CBS's iconic primetime interview show, Charlie Rose and Lara Logan, both of the new "CBS This Morning" (which is very good, by the way), interview newsmakers in their homes and workplaces. Tonight's interviews are with George Clooney, Warren Buffett, and Jon Bon Jovi.

American Idol (8pm, Fox) - The Hollywood Round begins. Finally.

Modern Family (9pm, ABC) - Phil's preoccupation with a business opportunity blinds him to his new partner's inappropriate behavior around Claire.

Duke at North Carolina (9pm, WRAL) - You may not have heard anything about this, but it's happening. If you miss your normal CBS shows, WRAL will air "Criminal Minds" at 2 a.m. and "CSI: NY" at 3 a.m., which is a little different from their normal rebroadcast schedule.

Revenge (10pm, ABC) - Birdies tell me some pivotal stuff goes down tonight, so pay attention. It may have something to do with the visit from Conrad's father, played by William Devane. Or it may not.

L&O: SVU (10pm, NBC) - Harry Connick Jr. is back. That is all.

'Bachelor' Brief: Chapel Hill in, Charlotte out

brookecain — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:08:59 -0500

Confession: I didn't even watch "The Bachelor" last night (too many DVR conflicts now that "The Voice" is back!) but I did monitor the situation in Panama so that I could report to other slackers that Blakeley Shea, the Charlotte/Rutherfordton contestant, was eliminated in last night's show.

Blakeley (left) ended up as one-half of the dreaded two-on-one date last night, which means two women leave for the date and only one woman returns. Reports indicate the date included Latin dancing and a weird "scrapbook of feelings" (made by a weepy Blakeley). Let's face it. Even a "VIP Waitress" from holy Charlotte cannot pull off a stalkery move like that, and Blakeley was dismissed. Blakeley was livid and stormed out in tears without speaking to bachelor Ben Flajnik.

In other local developments, Emily O'Brien, the Duke grad and UNC-Ch PhD student, tried to make amends with evil Courtney. There has been serious friction between the two ever since Emily (twice!) complained to Ben about Courtney being rude and insincere (she totally is, but she also loves to get naked around Ben so she's not going anywhere anytime soon).

Courtney accepted Emily's apology but also told her she will never forgive or respect her and they will never be friends. Courtney: classy as ever.

Three women exited last night: Blakeley, Jamie and Casey S.

So we're down to five now. Next week, Belize!

What to Watch on Tuesday: A creepy 'River' and an 'Unforgettable' Jane Curtin

brookecain — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:30:00 -0500

NCIS (8pm, CBS) - In the show's 200th episode, Gibbs (Mark Harmon) questions choices he's made when he stares down the barrel of a gun at a local diner.

The River (9pm, ABC) - In this two-hour series premiere, a TV explorer goes missing in the Amazon and his wife, who believes he's still alive, sets out with her son (Joe Anderson, right) and a documentary film crew to find him. It has a creepy "Paranormal Activity" vibe. Read my full review of "The River" premiere.

New Girl (9pm, Fox) - Jess goes against Nick's wishes when she makes it her mission to befriend the loft's landlord, who is notoriously cranky. But in doing so, Jess inadvertently jeopardizes their living situation.

Raising Hope (9:30pm, Fox) - Burt, stressed out during tax season, blurts out a hurtful insult about Virginia's career, so she starts a new business as a tarot-card reader.

Unforgettable (10pm, CBS) - A serial killer with knowledge of Carrie's memory skills taunts her and the police department as his list of victims grows. Emmy Award-winning actress Jane Curtin ("Saturday Night Live," "3rd Rock from the Sun") joins the cast tonight as a high-level inspector in the NYPD who until recently was running the Medical Examiner's office in Manhattan.

Parenthood (10pm, NBC) - Mark and Sarah consider having a baby, and Amber lands a promotion she worries she's not qualified for (do not trust that politician, Amber!!!).

Southland (10pm, TNT) - Sammy cares for a dog after accidentally shooting it and Lydia and Ruben investigate the murder of a good Samaritan. Also, Ben and Lydia both brave monumental life changes.

Justified (10pm, FX) - A daring prison escape puts Raylan on the trail of two old foes, while Boyd confronts a traitor in his inner circle.

There's even more good stuff than normal happening at 10 p.m. now, so don't forget the DVR time-shifting strategies we discussed before.

'The River' on ABC is one spooky trip

brookecain — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0500

ABC has gone pretty darn creepy with their newest drama offering.

"The River," which has a two-hour debut tonight at 9, follows a group of fools (I believe that's the technical term) as they search the Amazon for a celebrity naturalist who, along with his entire crew, has been missing in the jungle for six months.

The search for Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood), the popular star of the "Undiscovered Country" series, quickly turns into a creepy, supernatural nightmare for everyone involved.

The expedition is led by Cole's wife Tess (Leslie Hope) and son Lincoln (Joe Anderson), who are accompanied by another film crew headed by Cole's sketchy ex-producer Clark (Paul Blackthorne). The network has agreed to fund the search for Cole only if the family allows the cameras full access. Also in the mix: the resourceful daughter of a missing cameraman, a bodyguard, a native mechanic, and the mechanic's medium daughter.

Filmed in Puerto Rico and Hawaii, the story is told from the shaky perspective of film crews and security cameras in present time, through recent "found footage" and through older footage shot by Cole on his many travels. The effect is very "Paranormal Activity" meets "Blair Witch Project," both in tone and subject matter (note: Steven Spielberg and Oren Peli of "Paranormal Activity" are both executive producers).

A million times the search party should turn back -- and are explicitly "told" to do so in a million different ways, both subtle and outright. But no matter what horror they encounter, Cole's wife refuses to turn back (there's always one in every horror story). And even only two hours in, I can tell you not everyone makes it out alive.

It's what I'd call "light horror" -- sometimes suprisingly graphic for network television, but nowhere near the violence you'd get on cable. They've struck a nice balance here -- a good story with plenty of black magic spooky, but without a nauseating amount of slasher gore.

"The River" debuts tonight at 9pm on ABC.

NBC needs tonight's new debut to be a 'Smash' hit

brookecain — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:00:00 -0500

Can "Smash" save NBC? Well, it certainly can't hurt. And the Peacock needs this one. Bad.

Here's the nutshell version of tonight's big series debut (10 p.m.), in case you've missed the nine million promotional spots NBC has been pushing for weeks (but considering how few people actually watch NBC, maybe the pilot isn't as overexposed as many believe?):

"Smash" is a musical drama about a group of Broadway producers attempting to stage an original show about the life of Marilyn Monroe. It has a great cast (Debra Messing, Angelica Huston, Katharine McPhee), great original music, and lavish choreography.

Even for the most casual theater fans, "Smash" is an intoxicating insider's look at putting on a Broadway show, from the first spark of an idea through financing and casting, all the way to opening night.

Messing and Christian Borle play the successful writing team behind "Marilyn" (and they are tons of fun to watch) and Huston is the show's powerful producer.

But the focus of the show, at least early on, will be the battle over who gets to don the blonde wig and play Marilyn.

McPhee, a runner-up on "American Idol," plays a waitress and aspiring actress whose main competition for the lead is an experienced chorus girl, played by Megan Hilty ("Wicked"). Hilty seems like a natural for the part, but there's something about McPhee...

The comparisons to Fox's "Glee" are inevitable, but in my opinion, there's really no comparison here at all. "Smash" is "Glee" without the schlock and silliness. It's "Glee" with an actual plot and with characters and situations based in reality. There are no mash-ups! Let's face it. "Glee" was a fun fling but isn't it time we all grew up and settled down into a mature musical-drama relationship? I think "Smash" is The One.

(Full disclosure: I really liked the first season of "Glee" but then lost interest so completely and suddenly that I still have a little bit of whiplash.)

Other terrific signs that "Smash" will be good enough to at least maybe take the Peacock off life support: among the show's producers are heavyweights like Steven Spielberg and Marc Shaiman, and it was developed by team responsible for the film versions of "Chicago" (one of my all-time favorites) and "Hairspray."

I've only seen the first episode of "Smash" (the same one that has been streaming on the NBC website, so there's a decent chance you've seen it yourself already), but what I've seen intrigues me and I'll definitely be tuning in for more.

"Smash" debuts tonight at 10 p.m.

Duke student competes for $100,000 in 'Jeopardy!' College Championship

brookecain — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:30:00 -0500

Duke senior Greer Mackebee, 22, will compete for the $100,000 grand prize in the “Jeopardy!” College Championship tonight. Mackebee, pictured here with "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek, is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee. "Jeopardy!" airs locally at 7 p.m. on WTVD.

Photo courtesy of Jeopardy Productions, Inc.

What to Watch on Monday: Is this NBC's comeback night?

brookecain — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:30:00 -0500

The Voice (8pm, NBC) - 'The Voice' follows their post-Super Bowl debut with a two-hour episode containing more blind auditions. Coaches Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton at left.

House (8pm, Fox) - Following a violent incident involving a patient, House and the team are placed under review by the neurology chief.

The Bachelor (8pm, ABC) - The remaining women (both North Carolina women are still in the mix, but something tells me that changes tonight!) visit Panama, and hopefully, Emily from Chapel Hill can stop talking about Courtney for five seconds.

Alcatraz (9pm, Fox) - We've only seen prisoners up to now, but tonight an old guard resurfaces and encounters an old acquaintance.

Hart of Dixie (9pm, CW) - Tonight's Valentine's dance episode features a performance by Raleigh native Tift Merritt.

Smash (10pm, NBC) - This much-hyped debut of NBC's (much better!) answer to "Glee" follows a group of professional adult people staging a Broadway show. In tonight's debut, a writing duo come up with the idea to base a musical on Marilyn Monroe, and an experienced chorus girl competes against a promising newcomer. It has a great cast, which includes Debra Messing, Angelica Huston and Katharine McPhee. Here's my full review.

Lost Girl (10pm, Syfy) - Bo protects a human woman after a fury tries to hire Bo to kill her husband's mistress.

Puppy Bowl is Super viewing today

brookecain — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 09:00:00 -0500

If you're looking for a cuter, more relaxing alternative to tonight's big Super Bowl matchup, we humbly suggest the annual "Puppy Bowl" on Animal Planet.

This is the eighth year Animal Planet has aired the Puppy Bowl (sponsored by Petfinder.com) and it gets a little grander each year. Kitten cheerleaders were introduced for a Bissell Kitty Half-Time Show two years ago, and this year we get for the first time, pig pep squad antics before the game.

If you're a social media hound, Meep the Bird (aka @meepthebird) will be tweeting updates throughout the event.

The human presence comes from animal advocate and TV correspondent Jill Rappaport, who provides sideline analysis and game commentary.

All of the animals featured come from animal shelters and rescues across the country. If you're interested in adopting these or other adorable pets, check out petfinder.com.

"Puppy Bowl VIII" begins at 3 p.m. on Animal Planet and runs till 5. But it will repeat on a loop all day long.

Check out more adorable photos below.

What to Watch on Sunday: Super Bowl or Super Downton Abbey?

brookecain — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:30:00 -0500

Super Bowl XLVI (6pm, NBC) - As if you didn't know: New England Patriots vs. the New York Giants in Indianapolis. Madonna performs at halftime. Someone convince me to pull for their team and I will. If football isn't your thing, and you've already seen all the great commercials leaked online, there's always the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet.

60 Minutes Presents: Three Remarkable Women (8pm, CBS) - Morley Safer profiles Meryl Streep, Anna Wintour, and Dolly Parton.

Downton Abbey (9pm, UNC-TV) - In episode 5, the household prepares for the war's end and the family looks forward to having a private home again -- unless cousin Isobel (Penelope Wilton pictured with Elizabeth McGovern) has her way. Also, in a remarkably "soapy" twist, a wounded officer makes a startling claim that could alter the Downton succession plan.

Luck (9pm, HBO) - In the second episode of the series (which has already been renewed for another season by HBO), Ace (Dustin Hoffman) meets with his parole officer and starts to line up potential investors as a public face for his next big venture. Also, Walter finds a seasoned jockey for his prized thoroughbred, much to Rosie's dismay.

Shameless (9pm, Showtime) - When Eddie Jackson's body turns up, Frank thinks he should be in line to claim his pension and insurance benefits.

The Voice (10:30pm-ish, NBC) - Season 2 debuts after all the Super Bowl hoopla, so the 10:30pm start time is fluid. Tonight is the first night of blind auditions, during which coaches Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton begin choosing 12 vocalists for their respective teams.

OtherScreen app brings real-time interactive trivia to TV watching

brookecain — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:00:00 -0500

Here's something you might want to check out during Sunday's Super Bowl game, especially if you're a fan of the trivia contests popular at sports bars.

A Charlotte start-up has created an interactive iPhone app (there's also a web interface) called OtherScreen that lets you answer trivia questions and interact with other viewers while watching TV shows that typically draw a lot of social media participation -- shows like "American Idol," "The Bachelor," "The Voice," "The Grammys" and sporting events (national and local).

The app was developed by Chris Halligan, Garth Moulton and Andrew Gertig, who won an NC Idea technology grant for their idea last summer.

I gave it a try earlier this week during an episode of "American Idol," and I have to admit I got sucked into it pretty quickly. And I didn't do too badly, especially considering it was my only time watching "Idol" this season. The questions are pretty fun -- anything ranging from "Where did Ryan Seacrest attend college?" to "Do you think Randy will say 'dawg' or 'dude' next?" or "Will someone cry before the next commercial?"

So, often you're just guessing, but then sometimes they ask you what is the name of the major newspaper in Portland (the "American Idol" host city last week) and you feel like the king of the world because you just know that mess. Yes! Oregonian! I may not know where Faith Evans was born, but I know newspapers!

There's no real prize for the winner, but as Halligan points out, "the glory of victory is sweet." Plus, what's wrong with playing for fun? And it is fun.

So if you're like me and almost always have your nose in some kind of device -- following Twitter or Facebook or whatever -- during a TV show, check it out and see if you like it. I'd love to hear your comments.

Right now you can play on the web or on your iPhone. An app for Android is expected in the coming months. This short video also explains how it works.

Among the "Secrets of Eden" is that it's a bad film

adriennj — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:35:00 -0500

During "Secrets of Eden" (8 tonight, Lifetime), there's a special effect that happens whenever star John Stamos thinks back to a past episode. The figures enter the scene in slow motion before the action comes to life.

That's how I felt watching this film; it was a slow, dull slog through a slug of a film. And the action never comes to life.

Stamos plays Pastor Stephen Drew, a beloved small-town minister in Vermont who becomes a murder suspect after a member of his church Alice Hayward (Sonya Salomaa) is found dead a few feet away from her husband, who is dead too, from a bullet in the head. Their deaths leaves daughter Kate (Samantha Munro) an orphan.

At first, Drew is seen as a helpful comforting servant, but that changes when Detective Catherine Benicasa (Anna Gunn) finds Alice's journal, and discovers the pastor is not all that he seems.

I'm trying to preserve some of the secrets in "Secrets of Eden," but what you don't guess in five minutes you won't care about. I'll give the filmmakers this: It's quite a skill to make a murder mystery that doesn't have a shred of tension.

And then there are the performances. Salomaa has a nice charm about her, but nearly everyone else is unconvincing in their roles. I'd like to meet the person who said, "We need someone to play the small-town minister. Get me Stamos!" so I can shake them. Stamos rewards that original thought by looking like he's working hard to repress his smirk. There's one scene where he's counseling someone and the best he can do is purse his lips. I know he's a better actor than this. Gunn plays it so straight, she's rigid. This movie is inert; it's as dead as the two bodies that launch the story.

"Secrets of Eden" is paradise lost.

What to Watch on Saturday: NFL honors and great late night music

brookecain — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:30:00 -0500

My Cat From Hell (8pm, Animal Planet) - Jackson Galaxy helps a woman whose cat attacks her roommate every chance it gets. I say, maybe the cat knows something she doesn't know. Also, some newlyweds move into a new house and then their cats suddenly no longer get along.

NFL Honors (9pm, NBC) - In advance of this weekend's Super Bowl, the NFL salutes its top players and plays in Indianapolis. Host Alec Baldwin is joined by celebrities and NFL stars, and awards are presented to NFL MVP, Coach of the Year, and the Walter Payton Man of the Year.

Pit Boss (9pm, Animal Planet) - The rescue of a severely abused pit bull turns dangerous for Shorty and Sebastian when the dog is frightened.

Saturday Night Live (11:29pm, NBC) - Channing Tatum hosts. Despite that fact, I will tune in for the musical guest Bon Iver.

Austin City Limits (Midnight, UNC-TV) - Wilco performs from their 2011 album "The Whole Love."