Oprah's little helpers move on
Paige Wiser: If Oprah is the center of the universe -- and we have no reason to doubt she is -- then she's not just shutting down a show. She's shaking up the cosmos. After all, she's responsible for launching a series of stars, comets and dwarf planets that are out there now on their own. What's next for those in Oprah's orbit?
Paige Wiser: If Oprah is the center of the universe -- and we have no reason to doubt she is -- then she's not just shutting down a show. She's shaking up the cosmos. After all, she's responsible for launching a series of stars, comets and dwarf planets that are out there now on their own. What's next for those in Oprah's orbit?
'Project Runway' sheds edge, feel the softness
Paige Wiser: 'Project Runway" has officially gone from catty, cult Bravo series to pop culture phenomenon. In just the last few weeks, it's been mentioned on "Desperate Housewives," and "Ugly Betty's" little brother gushed, "This is my 'Project Runway' moment, and I'm going to make it work!" As its audience has grown more mainstream, so has its tone. The show's sixth season jumped to Lifetime, and filming moved to L.A. The result has been a warmer, fuzzier "Project Runway."
Paige Wiser: 'Project Runway" has officially gone from catty, cult Bravo series to pop culture phenomenon. In just the last few weeks, it's been mentioned on "Desperate Housewives," and "Ugly Betty's" little brother gushed, "This is my 'Project Runway' moment, and I'm going to make it work!" As its audience has grown more mainstream, so has its tone. The show's sixth season jumped to Lifetime, and filming moved to L.A. The result has been a warmer, fuzzier "Project Runway."
TV critic needed escape from 'The Prisoner'
If you have a desire to be disoriented for six hours or like the feel of being hit over the head repeatedly, AMC's remake of the groundbreaking 1960s series “The Prisoner” might be for you.
If you have a desire to be disoriented for six hours or like the feel of being hit over the head repeatedly, AMC's remake of the groundbreaking 1960s series “The Prisoner” might be for you.
Erin has no tears over 'Model' exit
Paige Wiser: Tyra Banks dismissed Spring Grove's Erin Wagner, 18, from "America's Next Top Model" on Wednesday's episode -- but at least she had company. Jennifer An, 23, was eliminated from the final four as well. "I've just been on the phone with Jen for about an hour," says Erin, who's back home with her family now.
Paige Wiser: Tyra Banks dismissed Spring Grove's Erin Wagner, 18, from "America's Next Top Model" on Wednesday's episode -- but at least she had company. Jennifer An, 23, was eliminated from the final four as well. "I've just been on the phone with Jen for about an hour," says Erin, who's back home with her family now.
Good girl gone brat on 'America's Next Top Model'
Paige Wiser: Now that "America's Next Top Model" is in its 13th cycle, there are only so many ways to keep the concept fresh. Making the girls pose as circus animals? Done. Including a transgendered beauty named Isis? Done. Shaving the models' heads? Done to death. So this time around, Tyra Banks lowered her standards. Literally. Only candidates 5-foot-7 and shorter were allowed to audition, whereas most runway models are 5-foot-10 or statuesque-er.
Paige Wiser: Now that "America's Next Top Model" is in its 13th cycle, there are only so many ways to keep the concept fresh. Making the girls pose as circus animals? Done. Including a transgendered beauty named Isis? Done. Shaving the models' heads? Done to death. So this time around, Tyra Banks lowered her standards. Literally. Only candidates 5-foot-7 and shorter were allowed to audition, whereas most runway models are 5-foot-10 or statuesque-er.
Not so 'Good' with details
Paige Wiser: It's one of the hazards of TV viewing: Police watch cop shows and complain that they're not accurate. Critics pick apart reality shows for not being real. And Chicagoans watch "The Good Wife" to look for Midwestern mistakes. Co-creator Michelle King says our city was chosen as the setting for CBS' Tuesday night hit because it made sense for Julianna Margulies' character -- not because any of the producers had personal experience here.
Paige Wiser: It's one of the hazards of TV viewing: Police watch cop shows and complain that they're not accurate. Critics pick apart reality shows for not being real. And Chicagoans watch "The Good Wife" to look for Midwestern mistakes. Co-creator Michelle King says our city was chosen as the setting for CBS' Tuesday night hit because it made sense for Julianna Margulies' character -- not because any of the producers had personal experience here.
Ring-a-ding ding returns happily to 'Mad Men'
Paige Wiser: President Kennedy has been assassinated, and Don Draper's family is evaporating as his wife flies to Reno, Nev., for a quickie divorce. But Sunday's "Mad Men" season finale ended on an unmistakably hopeful note, thanks to America's favorite pastime.
Paige Wiser: President Kennedy has been assassinated, and Don Draper's family is evaporating as his wife flies to Reno, Nev., for a quickie divorce. But Sunday's "Mad Men" season finale ended on an unmistakably hopeful note, thanks to America's favorite pastime.
Confident Lopez gets a little tacky in debut
“The revolution begins right now!” announced George Lopez on the first installment of his late-night talk show. Lopez is determined to be different. The show opened with a tight shot of two go-go dancers writhing, and a crowd of 400 that refused to sit down. It looked like the kind of nightclub that doesn’t have a bouncer, with the name “Lopez” emblazoned in some sort of glowing yellow demon font. Lopez, in a suit, was overdressed for his own show.
“The revolution begins right now!” announced George Lopez on the first installment of his late-night talk show. Lopez is determined to be different. The show opened with a tight shot of two go-go dancers writhing, and a crowd of 400 that refused to sit down. It looked like the kind of nightclub that doesn’t have a bouncer, with the name “Lopez” emblazoned in some sort of glowing yellow demon font. Lopez, in a suit, was overdressed for his own show.
On talk show, Sykes has wrong target in her sights
Paige Wiser: I am not Wanda Sykes' biggest fan -- I find the "New Adventures of Old Christine" co-star to be too shrill and self-congratulatory to watch for long. Comedy doesn't require a side of smirk. And unfortunately, the bulk of the first night of her new talk show was devoted to stand-up that was relentlessly political.
Paige Wiser: I am not Wanda Sykes' biggest fan -- I find the "New Adventures of Old Christine" co-star to be too shrill and self-congratulatory to watch for long. Comedy doesn't require a side of smirk. And unfortunately, the bulk of the first night of her new talk show was devoted to stand-up that was relentlessly political.
Getting away with murder
Ann Rule has become the gold standard of true crime writing for a generation that would say, "Truman Capote who?" It's understandable, considering he merely wrote In Cold Blood, while Rule has gotten inside the heads of killers in 31 books.
Nerds increase peace on Nick's animated series
Paige Wiser: One of the most heartening trends in TV has been the ascent of the nerd. Once upon a time, Screech and Urkel were banished to the fringes, trotted out periodically for mocking. But with the mainstream acceptance of such shows as "Ugly Betty," "The Big Bang Theory" and "Glee," dorks are finally demanding equal rights.
Paige Wiser: One of the most heartening trends in TV has been the ascent of the nerd. Once upon a time, Screech and Urkel were banished to the fringes, trotted out periodically for mocking. But with the mainstream acceptance of such shows as "Ugly Betty," "The Big Bang Theory" and "Glee," dorks are finally demanding equal rights.
Life after rehab for salon
Paige Wiser: For the second season opener of "Tabatha's Salon Takeover," the celebrity hairstylist cut and ran for Chicago. A concerned -- and anonymous -- citizen had nominated the Orbit Salon, 3481 N. Clark, for rehabilitation, so Tabatha Coffey packed her all-black wardrobe and tough love for the trip. "It was a really emotional episode for me, and it was a really emotional episode for everyone else," says Tabatha.
Paige Wiser: For the second season opener of "Tabatha's Salon Takeover," the celebrity hairstylist cut and ran for Chicago. A concerned -- and anonymous -- citizen had nominated the Orbit Salon, 3481 N. Clark, for rehabilitation, so Tabatha Coffey packed her all-black wardrobe and tough love for the trip. "It was a really emotional episode for me, and it was a really emotional episode for everyone else," says Tabatha.
As designers, they make great dancers
In week seven producers added a new task for the stars: Design their partner's costumes. The results ranged from trashy to tacky, but it was a welcome distraction from watching the judges contradict each other.
In week seven producers added a new task for the stars: Design their partner's costumes. The results ranged from trashy to tacky, but it was a welcome distraction from watching the judges contradict each other.
Not all the concepts are alien on 'V' remake
Paige Wiser: One thing you can say about sci-fi fans: They're not stupid. Each TV show comes with its own history, mythology, rules, science and literary allusions -- sometimes it even has its own language. How do you say "My brain hurts" in Klingon? Now "V" is arriving on ABC, and it comes with plenty of baggage. Let the obsessing begin.
Paige Wiser: One thing you can say about sci-fi fans: They're not stupid. Each TV show comes with its own history, mythology, rules, science and literary allusions -- sometimes it even has its own language. How do you say "My brain hurts" in Klingon? Now "V" is arriving on ABC, and it comes with plenty of baggage. Let the obsessing begin.
'League' fulfills comedy fantasies
Paige Wiser: Have you been despondent since 2003's "Old School" came out, longing for the kind of aging-frat-boy humor that will make you snort beer out your nose? Well, this buddy sitcom's for you. It's supposed to be set in Chicago, although the actors are suspiciously trim, their wives uniformly hot.
Paige Wiser: Have you been despondent since 2003's "Old School" came out, longing for the kind of aging-frat-boy humor that will make you snort beer out your nose? Well, this buddy sitcom's for you. It's supposed to be set in Chicago, although the actors are suspiciously trim, their wives uniformly hot.
Group number on 'Dancing With Stars'
We were promised there would be violence, as the dancers trash-talked about body-checking each other before the competitive group mambo began Monday night. Alas, it didn't come to that.
We were promised there would be violence, as the dancers trash-talked about body-checking each other before the competitive group mambo began Monday night. Alas, it didn't come to that.
