Cannes Film Festival 2013

'Cougar Town' - 'A One Story Town': The kiss the girl gambit

Half the 'Scrubs' cast reunites, and the rest of the episode's terrific, too

<p>Christa Miller and Sarah Chalke reunited on "Cougar Town."</p>

Christa Miller and Sarah Chalke reunited on "Cougar Town."

Credit: ABC

A review of tonight's "Cougar Town" coming up just as soon as part of my fantasy involves bragging...

Review: Ashley Judd is a mother looking for her son in ABC's 'Missing'

New action drama is "Taken" tweaked for ABC's upscale female demo

  • Critic's Rating B-
  • Readers' Rating C-
<p>Ashley Judd emotes a lot in "Missing."</p>

Ashley Judd emotes a lot in "Missing."

Credit: ABC
It's been more than a year since FOX debuted "The Chicago Code," which was the most recent show in an unfortunate but amusing tradition of shows promoted relentlessly with the same shouted line in every promo. Before Jennifer Beals was asked, incredulously, "You think you can change how things get done IN CHICAGO?!?!," Ron Silver tried to warn his daughter in "Skin" that "His father is THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY!," while the first "House" promos had House complaining to Cuddy, "You're risking A PATIENT'S LIFE!" Many of these shows have been good, but it's just too easy to remember the one loud quote that the promo department drilled into our brains.
 
There weren't any fall shows with ad campaigns that were so quotable, so I'm glad that ABC is finally picking up the mantle with "Missing," the new action drama (debuting Thursday night at 8 p.m.) that's summed up in every commercial by Ashley Judd barking out the line, "I am not CIA! I am A MOTHER! LOOKING FOR HER SON!"

'Smash' - 'Chemistry': Roid rage

Ivy turns to performance enhancers, Karen plays a bar mitzvah and Michael pursues Julia

<p>Megan Hilty as Ivy in "Smash."</p>

Megan Hilty as Ivy in "Smash."

Credit: NBC

A review of last night's "Smash" coming up just as soon as bismuth is my favorite element...

Firewall & Iceberg Podcast, episode 119: 'Community,' 'Missing,' 'The Walking Dead' & more

Dan and Alan also check in on "Justified" and the "Parenthood" finale

Firewall & Iceberg Podcast, episode 119: 'Community,' 'Missing,' 'The Walking Dead' & more

The

It's Monday, which means you get a brand-new, hour-plus edition of the Firewall & Iceberg Podcast, in which we talk a bit about the return of "Community," discuss Ashley Judd's new ABC drama "Missing" and catch up with recent episodes of "The Walking Dead," "Justified" and "Parenthood" (whose finale we would have discussed last week had we been less groggy).

The line-up: 

"Community" (00:02:03 - 00:11:25)
"Missing" (00:11:25 - 00:21:40)
"Parenthood" (00:21:40 - 00:37:25)
"Justified" (00:37:25 - 00:47:00)
Listener Mail: Last week's "Awake" twist and stuff (00:47:20 - 00:51:25)
Listener Mail: Funny dramas (00:51:30 - 00:56:30)
Listener Mail: Coach on "New Girl" (00:56:30 - 00:59:15)
"Walking Dead" (00:59:50 - 01:11:00)
 
As always, you can subscribe to The Firewall & Iceberg Podcast over at the iTunes Store, where you can also rate us and comment on us. Or you can always follow our RSS Feed, download the MP3 file or stream it on Dan's blog.
 
And as always, feel free to e-mail us questions for the podcast.

Showtime's 'Homeland' & 'Dexter' to return in September

Terrorists and serial killers best beware, now that the dramas have season premiere dates

<p>Damian Lewis and Claire Danes in "Homeland."</p>

Damian Lewis and Claire Danes in "Homeland."

Credit: Showtime

Because the most recent season of "Dexterand the first season of "Homelandboth premiered on Showtime in September of 2011, the assumption was that both shows would return around the same time of year in 2012. And that assumption was correct, as Showtime has announced that both series will return on Sunday, September 30, with "Dexter" again at 9 and "Homeland" again at 10.

The announcement's a bit earlier than usual for this sort of thing, but it's also confirming the obvious, so it's not earth-shaking news, either. Everyone knows, for instance, that HBO will air "Boardwalk Empire" again in the fall, but it's not official yet.

I stopped watching "Dexter" a few episodes into last season — then was amused to see how the entire Internet seemed to figure out the "shocking" twist many, many, many episodes before the "Dexter" writers expected anyone to — but I loved "Homeland" season 1 (and was a big fan of the finale, which I know some of you weren't) and am very much looking forward to seeing what happens next.

'The Good Wife' - 'Long Way Home': Yes, sir, that's my baby

Guest stars Dylan Baker and Morena Baccarin clash, while Alicia has a real estate problem

<p>Morena Baccarin guest-starred on last night's "The Good Wife."</p>

Morena Baccarin guest-starred on last night's "The Good Wife."

Credit: CBS

A review of last night's "The Good Wifecoming up just as soon as we split the check...

Watch: The 'Community' PaleyFest panel

Singing! Dancing! Oscars! And Britta!

<p>There was lots of laughter at the "Community" PaleyFest panel..</p>

There was lots of laughter at the "Community" PaleyFest panel..

Credit: NBC

The Hulu archive of the "CommunityPaleyFest panel that I moderated has gone up earlier than expected. If you didn't get to attend in New York or LA, or to watch the Livestream feed, you can see it now, embedded below.

'Luck' - 'Episode 7': Ashtrays to ashtrays

Most gambles fail to pay off, and syntax becomes a big problem

<p>Michael Gambon in "Luck."</p>

Michael Gambon in "Luck."

Credit: HBO

A review of tonight's "Luck" coming up just as soon as I watch my barn get put on the Facebook...

'The Walking Dead' - 'Better Angels': What a Shane

Tensions rise and new discovers are made in the season's penultimate hour

<p>Jon Bernthal as Shane on "The Walking Dead."</p>

Jon Bernthal as Shane on "The Walking Dead."

Credit: AMC

A review of tonight's "The Walking Dead" coming up just as soon as the couch and I become old friends...

Review: 'Bob's Burgers' cooks up more weird family fun for season 2

Quirky animated comedy deftly mixes the bizarre with the sweet

  • Critic's Rating B+
  • Readers' Rating A-
<p>"Bob's Burgers."</p>

"Bob's Burgers."

Credit: FOX
I wasn't sure what to make of "Bob's Burgers" when it debuted last spring. Where FOX had been content for a while to let its Sunday animated lineup be dominated by "The Simpsons," "Family Guy" and related series, here was an idiosyncratic cartoon not involving Matt Groening or Seth MacFarlane, but created by Loren Bouchard, whose last show for network television was "Home Movies," which UPN canceled after 5 episodes back in 1999. (Adult Swim later picked it up and produced several more seasons.) It had Bouchard regular H. Jon Benjamin in the title role as struggling burger chef and family man Bob, presiding over one of the more eccentric brood of kids I'd seen on TV in a while, including hormonally confused adolescent Tina (Dan Mintz), amoral schemer Louise (Kristen Schaal) and loudly incompetent Gene (Eugene Mirman).  

Get Instant Alerts on What's Alan Watching

Recent Activity on Facebook
Most Popular on Facebook
Top Stories From Around the Web