loading...
SizzleTV by Mark Stone
The fantastic cast of Dragon's Den (photo: CBC)
Tonight is the debut of the fourth season of the successful CBC reality show (did I just use the words successful, reality show and CBC in succession?) Dragon’s Den. Tonight we find out whether too much Den can really be too much of a good thing, After Shark Tank last night (which features two Dragon’s Den stars, Kevin O’Leary and Robert Herjavic), will a dose of Dragon’s Den tonight be overkill? I doubt it. Dragon’s Den/Shark Tank is probably the very best hour of reality television; yeah I said it – it’s even better than Survivor or Hell’s Kitchen. Did you see Shark Tank last night? I love how Kevin and Robert consistently tried to outbid and outdo each other. These guys are reality gold, and although they don’t need the money, they should get whatever they want if the question of salary ever comes up. The Den heats up on CBC at 8, but if you want to see it in HD you’ll have to watch at 5 pm.
Over to the American networks. On ABC, before Cougar Town and Modern Family, the alphabet network begins its night of programming with a new comedy starring Frasier’s Kelsey Grammar called Hank. Although I got to see the pilots for most new shows, this was one I wasn’t given the opportunity to see beforehand. Which, according to almost every single TV critic, is lucky for me. Because Hank is apparently the very worst of this year’s crop of new shows. My buddy Daniel Fienberg at Hitfix in Los Angeles probably watches more TV than anyone I know, and I his often look to him when I need a trusted opinion. His views on Hank? “There are several thousand YouTube videos involving talented kittens and amorous pandas that are also better than that show.” Even fans of the Frasier star will have a difficult time laughing at this one. I’m guessing it will be gone before Halloween. Then again, America’s love for bad ABC comedies has surprised me before – look at the success of According to Jim.
Following Hank is another new show called The Middle. What an appropriate title for a show that airs in between the apparently dreadful Hank and the solid comedy of Modern Family and Cougar Town. Starring Everybody Loves Raymond’s Patricia Heaton, I’m told this new comedy is cute and family friendly, and most resembles Malcolm In The Middle. If that’s what floats your boat, you may want to check it out, but I would suggest watching Dragon’s Den on CBC instead and then turn to ABC for Modern Family and Cougar Town.
Another ‘Don’t Miss’ on TV tonight is the return of Kristen Chenoweth to network television. Cheno (who was so awesome as Olive Snook on Pushing Daisies, and has an Emmy to prove it) shows up on tonight’s episode of Glee as a friend of Will, who is brought in to give the glee club more of an edge. The previews look great and we’re probably in for another great episode of the show. For a program about singing in a Glee club, the comedy is pretty edgy. I can’t recommend the show enough – if the singing bugs you, get over it and give it another chance.
Zap2it’s Korbi Ghosh interviewed Glee’s resident Dick-ensian Mark Salling who plays Puck, and the guy is pretty funny. Take a look:
TV tidbit of the day: Survivor Samoa not affected by Tsunami. According to E! Online, the massive tsunami caused by an earthquake that hit Samoa yesterday has not affected the production or airing of the latest Survivor season. Production of the current season had cleared out of the area long ago.
But did you know that the following season, rumored to be a special “All Stars: Heroes vs. Villains” version of the show, is also taking place in the area? Thankfully, none of the cast or crew of the show’s 20th season was harmed. The 19th and 20th seasons were filmed back to back, and casts from both seasons have already left.
