Copyright 2008 The New York Sun Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:05:06 -0400 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Television :: Stories from The New York Sun http://www.nysun.com/television istoll@nysun.com (Ira Stoll) webmaster@nysun.com en-us BRENDAN BERNHARD http://www.nysun.com/arts/i-am-man-hear-me-out/86368/ Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST It's not often I find myself pondering the duration of an episode of a television series, and whether or not it's the correct length, but the 30-minute doses in which the story of Showtime's "Californication" are doled out have always struck me as being just right. With only half an hour to move the narrative along, scenes are generally kept on a tight leash and points are made quickly. There are no dead spots or meandering passages. Instead, each episode is crammed with quips, confrontations... GRADY HENDRIX http://www.nysun.com/arts/first-among-equals-peeks-into-thatchers-england/85873/ Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST It's not difficult to feel completely overwhelmed by television shows on DVD. On the one hand, they offer deeper, richer, and often more entertaining experiences than most movies, primarily because they're stretched over multiple episodes and even seasons, allowing for more complex plots and characters. On the other hand, these giant boxes crammed with discs stack up on your shelves like unfinished homework, a succession of seasons and series you'll never watch: "The Wire," "The Sopranos,"... BRENDAN BERNHARD http://www.nysun.com/arts/house-the-doctor-will-scold-you-now/85872/ Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST So Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) is back for a fifth season of "House," limp and Vicodin addiction intact, relationship with Dr. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard), the Watson to his Holmes, very much on the ropes. Last season's finale, in which a drunken House inadvertently played a role in the death of Wilson's girlfriend, Amber, left fans of one of the best and most popular shows on television scratching their heads as to how the two men could possibly reconcile. If you thought House might... BRENDAN BERNHARD http://www.nysun.com/arts/hbos-true-blood-love-bites/85218/ Fri, 5 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST If you're going to make a television show about vampires, it had better be very scary or a hell of a lot of fun. "True Blood," the new HBO series helmed by Alan Ball, who created HBO's "Six Feet Under" and won an Oscar for his screenplay to "American Beauty," certainly has its chilling moments, but its primary goal is unabashed entertainment, and in that it succeeds fabulously. If you want to see vampires treated in a self-consciously "arty" fashion, there's always "New Amsterdam" on Fox. Good... BRENDAN BERNHARD http://www.nysun.com/arts/sons-of-anarchy-mob-mentality/84970/ Tue, 2 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Think of the new FX series, "Sons of Anarchy," as a kind of Mafia on Motorbikes — which does sound better than "The Sopranos on Skates." The creation of writer Kurt Sutter, a veteran of FX's pulse-pounding police drama "The Shield," and with a pilot episode directed by "Sopranos" alumnus Allen Coulter, "Sons of Anarchy" plunges us into the world of an outlaw biker club in the town of Charming (pop. 17,000), near Oakland, Calif. Despite running guns, blowing things up, and killing people, the... GABRIELLE BIRKNER http://www.nysun.com/arts/90210-leave-your-morals-with-the-maid/84967/ Tue, 2 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Note: Correction appended. The teen drama "90210," which makes its premiere tonight on the CW Network, features a premise that may sound familiar to those who came of age in the 1990s: A brother and sister experience culture shock when their family moves to a famously posh Los Angeles suburb from a middle-class Midwestern community. Like its forebear, the iconic "Beverly Hills, 90210," which went off the air in 2000 following a 10-year run on Fox, the new series showcases the mostly wealthy... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/arts/michael-phelps-to-present-at-mtv-awards/84850/ Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST He does comedy, writes books, and mixes it up with the hottest stars in music and Hollywood. With all this, who needs swimming? Certainly not Michael Phelps — not anymore, at least. But as a presenter at the 2008 Video Music Awards, all that fresh Olympic bling will certainly help. The swimmer, who took home a record-breaking eight gold medals from the Beijing Games, joins Miley Cyrus, Scarlett Johansson, Lindsay Lohan, and Ciara as presenters at the September 7 VMAs telecast from Los Angeles... ALLEN BARRA http://www.nysun.com/arts/a-bronx-tale/84567/ Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST Many a highbrow raised a brow high last year when the critic Clive James, in his book "Cultural Amnesia," included just three movie actors among his selections of the most significant cultural figures of the century. They were Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields, and ... Tony Curtis. That's right. Not Brando or Olivier or even John Wayne, but the Jewish kid from the Bronx, Bernie Schwartz — the guy who wore a dress in his most popular movie and whose most famous line in a film can't be recited without... BRENDAN BERNHARD http://www.nysun.com/arts/gavin-stacey-love-and-lust-in-an-english-manner/84568/ Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST "Gavin & Stacey," the new, sitcom-ish series that makes its premiere tonight on BBC America, has been enjoying some advance buzz because, like "The Office" before it, NBC has picked it up for an American makeover. Don't expect a program of the caliber of the BBC's "The Office," however, let alone an actor as immediately compelling as Ricky Gervais, who created it. But "Gavin & Stacey" — a cult hit in Britain and a surprise winner of two prestigious BAFTA awards — does grow on you, particularly... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/arts/heather-locklear-booked-for-dui/86738/ Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Heather Locklear was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance in the upscale Santa Barbara area, authorities said Sunday. Ms. Locklear, 47, was pulled over by a California Highway Patrol officer Saturday afternoon after a resident reported seeing the actress leaving a parking lot and "driving erratically," patrol spokesman Tom Marshall said. The officer noticed Locklear's car parked on a state highway and blocking a lane in Montecito, a wealthy community... BRENDAN BERNHARD http://www.nysun.com/arts/nbcs-life-chuck-its-all-in-your-head/86633/ Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Fans of quirky police procedurals will welcome the return on Monday of NBC's "Life," starring the nifty British actor Damian Lewis as Charlie Crews, the Los Angeles detective with a love for exotic fruit, an oddly caressing voice, a fiery sunburst of clipped ginger hair, an eerily unpredictable smile, and a taste for Zen philosophy developed during a lengthy stint in jail for a crime he did not commit. Flush with a $15 million settlement, Crews is a two-track detective: There's whatever case... LYNN ELBER http://www.nysun.com/arts/damages-samantha-who-players-are-early-emmy/86288/ Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST LOS ANGELES — The sleek '60s drama "Mad Men" made Emmy history today as the first basic-cable show to win a top series award, while the sitcom "30 Rock" and its stars Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin also emerged as winners. "We're all so very grateful to have jobs in this turkey-burger economy," Ms. Fey said after accepting the best comedy series trophy for her satire about a late-night TV show. Glenn Close of "Damages" and Bryan Cranston of "Breaking Bad" captured drama acting trophies. "This is the... PIA CATTON http://www.nysun.com/arts/color-safe-at-the-emmy-awards/86290/ Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Gowns in bold colors came down the red carpet as celebrities arrived at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards. Brooke Shields found a supremely flattering shade of magenta. Mariska Hargitay projected confidence in a marigold gown by Carolina Herrera. In a seafoam-green strapless gown by Calvin Klein, Cynthia Nixon appeared every bit the serious, talented professional she is. Mary-Louise Parker looked ready for fun in a bright blue spaghetti-strap gown... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/arts/lights-set-to-go-out-on-trl/85983/ Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Start the countdown clock on MTV's countdown era: "Total Request Live" will soon shut down after 10 years on the air. The music video show will conclude in a two-hour special on a Saturday afternoon in November, Dave Sirulnick, executive producer of "TRL," said Monday. He stressed that the show wasn't ending for good, but felt that now was the right time to give it a break after an unprecedented run on the cable music channel. "We want to close this era of 'TRL' in a big celebratory way, and 10... Staff Reporter of the Sun http://www.nysun.com/arts/amy-poehler-to-depart-snl/85981/ Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Amy Poehler is leaving "Saturday Night Live" after this season in order to concentrate on family, E! News reported Tuesday. The actress and comedian, who is expecting her first child with "Arrested Development" star Will Arnett, was thought to be departing the long-running NBC program after this season, but no timetable had been announced. NBC confirmed Tuesday that Ms. Poehler would not return after breaking for maternity leave in a few weeks. She has an untitled mockumentary-style show in the... BRENDAN BERNHARD http://www.nysun.com/arts/television-is-back-on-track/85967/ Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST While programming for the spring 2008 television season was full of delays and changes due to the writer's strike, this fall's crop of new series is arriving on time. Two of the best new shows — "Fringe" and "True Blood" — are already underway, but there is plenty more to come. Quite a number of shows are either imports or adaptations of programs that first saw the dim light of evening abroad. But don't worry: They're still not as good as our homegrown versions. One import may be a cult hit... S. JAMES SNYDER http://www.nysun.com/arts/museum-of-the-moving-image-offers-a-history/85684/ Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Turn on the television, flip through the cable news channels, and you're certain to see it: political pundits poring over the complexities and nuances of a politician's communications campaign. In an era when analysis of the news far surpasses the time spent on actually reporting it, no speech, advertisement, or poll goes unnoticed, or unscrutinized. Consider Senator Clinton's "3 a.m." TV ad, or Senator McCain's attempt to compare his election opponent with such starlets as Paris Hilton and... BRENDAN BERNHARD http://www.nysun.com/arts/fringe-jj-abrams-goes-far-out/85403/ Tue, 9 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST It's better than "Alias" and less confusing than the aptly named "Lost." With "Fringe," a new series making its premiere tonight at 8 p.m. on Fox with an ambitious $10 million, 95-minute pilot, the outrageously prolific writer-director-producer J.J. Abrams has created a compelling "X-Files"-style whodunit in which both the who and whatever they've done are seemingly beyond comprehension. The title refers not to cute Beatles-era haircuts but to the far verges of science — teleportation, mind... ERICA ORDEN http://www.nysun.com/arts/rachel-zoes-study-in-self-promotion/85394/ Tue, 9 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Rachel Zoe is famous — in certain circles — for many things, but transparency is not one of them. A celebrity fashion stylist, Ms. Zoe is known for her client list, which has included just about every pretty young thing in Hollywood — Lindsay Lohan, Mischa Barton, Keira Knightley, Joy Bryant, and, most auspiciously, Nicole Richie. Ms. Zoe is known for her fees, which can reportedly top $6,000 a day. And she is known for earning those fees by placing said starlets in a signature mix of Grecian... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/arts/colbert-dna-headed-into-space/85386/ Tue, 9 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Should this world ever cease to exist, Stephen Colbert will live on. The comedian's DNA will be digitized and sent to the International Space Station, Comedy Central announced Monday. In October, a video game designer, Richard Garriott, will travel to the station and deposit Mr. Colbert's genes for an "Immortality Drive." "I am thrilled to have my DNA shot into space, as this brings me one step closer to my lifelong dream of being the baby at the end of 2001," Mr. Colbert said in a statement... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/arts/gary-coleman-in-traffic-altercation/85300/ Mon, 8 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Authorities in Utah say a truck driven by actor Gary Coleman hit a man on his foot after the two argued in a bowling alley. Police Lieutenant Bill Wright says Mr. Coleman and Colt Rushton argued over pictures Mr. Rushton was taking inside the bowling alley in the town of Payson, Utah. Mr. Wright says Mr. Coleman was backing out of a parking spot after midnight Saturday when he hit Mr. Rushton. Police say it is unclear whether Mr. Coleman hit the man on purpose. Police didn't issue any citations... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/arts/letterman-talks-retiremennt-lenos-leaving-nbc/85111/ Wed, 3 Sep 2008 07:53:51 EST LOS ANGELES — David Letterman wants to stick with CBS' "Late Show" through his contract — and maybe longer — as his rival, Jay Leno, prepares to surrender the "Tonight" reins next year. "The way I feel now, I would like to go beyond 2010, not much beyond, but you know, enough to go beyond. You always like to be able to excuse yourself on your own terms," Mr. Letterman said in an interview in Rolling Stone magazine. "If the network is happy with that, great. If they wanna make a change in 2010... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/arts/idol-adds-fourth-judge-kara-dioguardi/84556/ Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST Scoot over, Simon Cowell. "American Idol" is adding a fourth critic to its panel of judges. Grammy-nominated songwriter Kara DioGuardi will sit alongside Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson when the eighth season of "American Idol" premieres in January, the Fox network said Monday. "For the past seven seasons, Paula has had to endure the experience of being the only woman at the judges' table," Mike Darnell, the president of alternative programming at Fox, said in a statement. "With Kara by... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/arts/nbc-bets-on-post-olympics-phelps/84375/ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST Trying to keep the Michael Phelps glow, NBC has agreed to televise next year's World Swimming Championships from Rome, along with the 2009, 2010, and 2011 national championships. The deal, announced Thursday, is NBC's latest attempt to ride the wake of the Olympic golden boy's race to history. In large part because of Mr. Phelps's successful attempt to win eight gold medals in Beijing, NBC Universal's Olympic telecasts have been a ratings success. NBC has been advertising its own DVD of Phelps... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/arts/fishburne-set-to-join-csi/84104/ Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" has solved the mystery of who will replace departing star William Petersen: It's Laurence Fishburne. Mr. Fishburne, an Emmy and Tony winner, will be introduced in the ninth episode of the upcoming 10th season, the network told the Associated Press on Monday. He'll play a forensics scientist with a secret. The air date for Mr. Petersen's final episode has yet to be determined but will be early next year. Mr. Petersen has been with the series since it made its... OLIVER SCHWANER-ALBRIGHT http://www.nysun.com/arts/architecture-school-rebuilding-new-orleans/84110/ Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST Tomorrow night the Sundance Channel will air the first episode of "Architecture School," a six-part miniseries that follows the undergraduates at Tulane University's URBANbuild program as they design and construct a house in a blighted New Orleans neighborhood. It's a winning idea, part "Real World," part "Paper Chase," but with cantilevers and concrete trucks. But ultimately the series is more "This Old House" than "Fountainhead," and fixates on the "build" part of design-build, fashionably... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/arts/degeneres-and-de-rossi-wed/84020/ Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST In the biggest celebrity union since California legalized same-sex marriage, Ellen DeGeneres, 50, and Portia de Rossi, 35, wed Saturday night in an intimate ceremony at their Beverly Hills home, People and Us magazines reported. After the California Supreme Court's ruling in May, the talk-show host announced that she and Ms. de Rossi would wed after four years together... BRENDAN BERNHARD http://www.nysun.com/arts/clowns-and-stars-at-the-five-ring-circus/83633/ Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST "Fatigue makes cowards of us all," Vince Lombardi once said, and the mere thought of having to watch Bob Costas's Bambi eyes grow ever larger in his enthusiastically fact-crammed skull for two weeks straight had pretty much left me limp and exhausted, afraid even to turn on the TV before "The Games of the XXIX Olympiad" (otherwise known as "the 2008 Olympics") had begun. But television critics are made of sterner stuff than (for example) florists, so I dutifully raised my carcass from the couch... FRAZIER MOORE http://www.nysun.com/arts/actor-comedian-and-exasperated-dad-mac-dies-at-50/83531/ Sat, 9 Aug 2008 20:53:49 EST Bernie Mac blended style, authority and a touch of self-aware bluster to make audiences laugh as well as connect with him. For Mac, who died Saturday at age 50, it was a winning mix, delivering him from a poor childhood to stardom as a standup comedian, in films including the casino heist caper "Ocean's Eleven" and his acclaimed sitcom "The Bernie Mac Show." Though his comedy drew on tough experiences as a black man, he had mainstream appeal — befitting inspiration he found in a wide range of... BRENDAN BERNHARD http://www.nysun.com/arts/a-world-operating-in-the-red/83157/ Tue, 5 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST "At night Chinamen jump / on Asia with a thump," the poet Frank O'Hara wrote in the early 1950s, and continued, "while in our willful way / we, in secret, play / affectionate games / and bruise our knees / like China's shoes." For a wacky avant-garde poem more than half a century old, that's not a bad summation of "China Inside Out: Bob Woodruff Reports," ABC's thoroughly prosaic, factual, and sober documentary, which airs tomorrow at 10 p.m., just two days before the start of the Olympics in... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/arts/appeals-court-allows-new-dvr-rollout/83175/ Tue, 5 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST A federal appeals court in Manhattan has overturned a ruling that blocked a Cablevision Systems Corp. rollout of a next-generation digital video recorder service. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed Monday that a lower court judge misapplied copyright law to Cablevision's remote-storage DVR. The case has been closely watched in the industry as cable companies increasingly offer digital video recording services to their customers. DVRs let cable subscribers record TV programs without... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/arts/mark-whitaker-succeeds-russert-at-nbc-bureau/82830/ Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Mark Whitaker has been named to replace Tim Russert as head of NBC News's Washington Bureau. The former Newsweek editor, who joined NBC last year as senior vice president of news, will assume many of the off-camera duties held by Russert, who died of a heart attack in June. As bureau chief, Mr. Whitaker will be in charge of "Meet the Press," as well as NBC News's election and political coverage. He also will make occasional appearances as an on-air analyst, the network said in its announcement... Staff Reporter of the Sun http://www.nysun.com/arts/wire-actor-slams-emmys/82745/ Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Seth Gilliam of HBO's "The Wire" lashed out at the Emmy Awards on the BBC today, criticizing voters for giving his show only one nomination this year. In an interview on BBC 5 Live, the actor said that his series "deals with inner-city civil servants, and the Emmys would rather fantasize about lawyers and romance." "The Wire," which had its premiere in 2002 and finished its final season amid great critical applause in March, explored life on both sides of the drug trade, branching out in later... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/arts/extreme-makeover-house-faces-foreclosure/82746/ Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST More than 1,800 people showed up to help ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" team demolish a family's decrepit home and replace it with a sparkling, four-bedroom mini-mansion in 2005. Three years later, the reality TV show's most ambitious project at the time has become one of the latest victims of the foreclosure crisis. After the Harper family used the two-story home as collateral for a $450,000 loan, it's set to go to auction on the steps of the Clayton County Courthouse on August 5. The... BRENDAN BERNHARD http://www.nysun.com/arts/mccain-and-obama-court-the-television-vote/82768/ Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST When Senator Obama stepped away from the podium after delivering an extraordinarily poised speech before 200,000 people in Berlin on Thursday, the airy idealism of his oratory, along with the luminous beauty of the scene and the princely demeanor of the man himself, was enough to lead the ordinary viewer to wonder if he might be watching a virtual reality game in which an avatar goes to Europe as a presidential candidate, draws an enormous crowd, and dissolves decades of anti-American sentiment... BRENDAN BERNHARD http://www.nysun.com/arts/elite-athletes-how-the-best-beat-the-rest/82610/ Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST With "the Games of the XXIX Olympiad" (as Bob Costas would say) looming ever larger on the horizon, a new documentary, "Elite Athletes," provides a welcome measure of insight into what it takes to become the kind of athletic powerhouse soon to cavort 'neath Beijing's temporarily de-polluted skies. The documentary makes its premiere on Friday at 8 p.m. on the cable channel Treasure HD and over the Internet (on which much of the Olympics will be shown, so you may as well get used to it), at... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/arts/russell-brand-to-host-mtvs-video-music-awards/82612/ Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Russell Brand To Host Video Music Awards MTV is staking its brand on a lesser-known one: Russell Brand. The British actor and comedian will host this year's Video Music Awards, set to air live from Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles on September 7, MTV told the Associated Press yesterday. Mr. Brand recently co-starred in the Judd Apatow-produced comedy "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and the Reese Witherspoon-produced fairy tale "Penelope." He is currently filming the Adam Sandler comedy... BRENDAN BERNHARD http://www.nysun.com/arts/mad-men-return-after-a-five-martini-lunch/82351/ Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST The new season of AMC's "Mad Men," which makes its premiere at 10 p.m. on Sunday, comes with a special request that critics not give away the "pivotal storyline moments" in the first two episodes, and allow the audience to discover them for themselves. That's presuming they can find them, of course. One of the retro charms of the first season of "Mad Men" was that it moved at the stately pace of someone returning to work from a five-martini lunch, and that continues to be the case this year, as... Bloomberg News http://www.nysun.com/arts/court-wardrobe-malfunction-should-not-cost-cbs/82305/ Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST CBS Corp. shouldn't be held liable for the split-second exposure of singer Janet Jackson's breast by another performer during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, a federal court ruled, tossing out a $550,000 indecency fine. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission's policy in determining indecency was "arbitrary and capricious" as applied to CBS, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Philadelphia ruled Monday. The network said viewers got a glimpse of Ms. Jackson's breast for 9/16ths of a second in... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/arts/ebert-roeper-call-it-quits/82313/ Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST The Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert says he's cutting ties with the television show that he and the late Gene Siskel made famous. In an e-mail to the Associated Press yesterday, Mr. Ebert said Disney-ABC Domestic Television had decided to take the show "in a new direction" and he won't be associated with it. His announcement came a day after the Chicago Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper said he was leaving the nationally syndicated "At the Movies With Ebert & Roeper." Mr. Roeper said... NICHOLAS WAPSHOTT http://www.nysun.com/arts/looking-at-churchill-with-loving-eyes/82282/ Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST When Celia Sandys was born in 1943, her grandfather, Winston Churchill, was at the peak of his powers. He had been prime minister for three years. The Nazi invasion had been postponed indefinitely after the Battle of Britain, and Churchill had finally persuaded President Franklin Roosevelt to join the war. The overwhelming might of the American forces and materiel being assembled in Britain in preparation for D-Day the following year meant it was only a matter of time before Hitler would be... Staff Reporter of the Sun http://www.nysun.com/arts/tv-critics-hail-mad-men/82223/ Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST The acclaimed AMC drama "Mad Men" dominated the Television Critics Association awards show Saturday night, Variety reported Sunday. The series won honors for best program, best new program, and best drama. Less than a week after picking up 16 Emmy nominations, "Mad Men" became the first AMC program to win TCA awards. It was also the first basic cable show to be nominated for an Emmy. NBC's "30 Rock" delivered a strong performance as well, winning the award for best comedy series; star Tina Fey... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/arts/basic-cable-breaks-into-emmy-noms/82118/ Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST "Mad Men," AMC's sleek drama set in the advertising world circa 1960, and FX's legal thriller "Damages" made Emmy nominations history Thursday as the first basic cable programs to gain best-series nods. The HBO historical drama "John Adams" was the overall front-runner with 23 bids, including a lead-actor nomination for Paul Giamatti's turn as one of America's Founding Fathers. "30 Rock," last year's best-comedy Emmy winner, was the top nominee among sitcoms with 17 bids. "Mad Men" was the... BRENDAN BERNHARD http://www.nysun.com/arts/heidi-fleiss-dreams-of-a-brothel/82139/ Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST From "b----es to birds" — that would be the crude but accurate summation of Heidi Fleiss's journey from being Hollywood's "Madam to the Stars" to a reclusive collector of macaws, African gray parrots, cockatoos, and other brilliantly plumed creatures in the arid scrubland of Nevada. Furthermore, the words are her own. If Nick Broomfield's 1995 BBC documentary, "Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam," memorably exposed Hollywood's putrid underbelly, then the new HBO documentary "Heidi Fleiss: The... LYNN ELBER http://www.nysun.com/arts/mad-men-damages-get-emmys-best-series-nod/82107/ Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:05:44 EST LOS ANGELES — Basic cable TV looked more like a pop-culture bargain today as AMC's "Mad Men" and FX's "Damages" snared historic best-series Emmy nominations, while stars from cable's less glamorous channels also made a splash in major acting categories. Meanwhile, premium channel HBO and broadcast networks saw their share of awards glory erode. RELATED: The Complete List of 2008 Primetime Emmy Award Nominees. In the lead drama actor category, four of the six nominees were stars of cable shows... BRENDAN BERNHARD http://www.nysun.com/arts/the-cleaner-invokes-a-higher-power/81864/ Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Who says the sun always shines in Los Angeles? In "The Cleaner," a new series on A&E beginning Tuesday at 10 p.m., the streets are wet, the neighborhoods downscale, and the prevailing atmosphere more reminiscent of the cold junkie dawns of a William Burroughs novel than the glossy, bright-eyed metropolis usually depicted in television shows set in Los Angeles not named "The Shield." The subject matter of "The Cleaner" is grim: addiction. Not just to drugs or alcohol, but to sex, gambling, and... BRENDAN BERNHARD http://www.nysun.com/arts/generation-kill-introducing-the-latest-generation/81653/ Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST You may not be interested in war, but HBO is interested in you. "Generation Kill," an ambitious seven-part miniseries beginning Sunday at 9 p.m., rubs the viewer's face smack into the first weeks of the invasion of Iraq. The series re-enacts the journey of a colorfully foul-mouthed group of Marines in under-armored Humvees as they push through the desert toward Baghdad, meeting sporadic resistance and occasional smiles from the locals along the way. "Salaam aleikum, vote Republican," Sgt. Brad... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/arts/actors-union-reaches-deal-with-studios/81483/ Tue, 8 Jul 2008 21:59:59 EST LOS ANGELES — Members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have ratified a new contract with Hollywood studios that boosts payments for actors whose work appears on the Internet. Aftrasaid in results disclosed today that 62.4% of voting members approved the three-year deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The vote comes amid fierce opposition by the rival Screen Actors Guild, the last major Hollywood union still negotiating with the studios for... BRENDAN BERNHARD http://www.nysun.com/arts/burn-notice-firearms-and-foreplay/81380/ Tue, 8 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Matthew Weiner, the creator of AMC's "Mad Men," may have been last summer's most critically acclaimed television auteur, but it was another Matthew, 36-year-old Matt Nix, who came up with the summer's biggest and most neatly conceived new cable show. If nothing else, his USA series, "Burn Notice," lit a fuse to "Mad Men" in terms of viewership: 2.9 million Americans tuned in to it weekly, compared with the 900,000 who made it over to AMC to catch up with "Mad Men" and its painstaking... ERICA ORDEN http://www.nysun.com/arts/back-to-the-spotlight/81117/ Wed, 2 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST If there is one thing about which the acquaintances of painter Chuck Connelly can agree, it is that Mr. Connelly is his own worst enemy. A successful and prolific artist in the 1980s, Mr. Connelly had a hotshot dealer, Annina Nosei. He had soon-to-be-idolized colleagues, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Julian Schnabel. And the press saw the potential of his Neo-Expressionist work: "Chuck Connelly is one of a number of promising artists intent on making ambitious paintings," the New York Times wrote in...