The Charleston Gazette - TV

Smash not one but has potential to be decent

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:06:04 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- At first, I didnt have strong feelings either way about "Smash," NBCs making-of-a-Broadway-show drama that debuts at 10 p.m. Monday. However, any interest I might have developed turned to irritati...

Saying a sad goodbye to Chuck

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:29:09 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Friday is going to be a very sad night for me. I already know Ill need to have the Kleenex ready because tears are a certainty. Thats because at 8 p.m. the two-hour series finale of "Chuck" begins on NBC...

Lock up Monday nights with Alcatraz

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:56:30 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- I never really got into "Alias" and I didnt watch "Lost," but I might become a J.J. Abrams devotee yet, thanks to "Alcatraz." The two-hour premiere got things off to a strong start...

From laughs to thrills: five new shows debut this week

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:00:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- This week, Ill be playing musical shows on my DVR, adding some to the mix and subtracting others. Im excited to be adding back "30 Rock," which was delayed until midseason due to Ti...

The Idiot Boxs Best of 2011

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:00:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Id intended to get this Best of 2011 list in last week when it was, you know, still 2011. That didnt work out, though, so here now, I give you my picks for the best shows, characte...

Win ABC Family swag!

(Staff reports) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:52:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Tune in to this weeks new episodes of all four ABC Family shows to find the answers to these questions. Then, submit them to flipside@wvgazette.com or mail them to FlipSide, Charleston Gazett...

ABC Family spices up the new year with winter premieres

flipside@wvgazette.com (Morgan Thomas, Valley High School) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:01:48 -0500

Tune In WHAT: "Pretty Little Liars," "The Lying Game," "Switched at Birth" and "Jane By Design"WHEN: "Pretty Little Liars," 8 p.m. and "The Lying Game...

A multitude of marathons for the New Year

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:19:29 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- I was going to use this week to reflect on the years best shows, characters and actors, but that, combined with all the New Years-related goodies, would have left you reading this column until, well, the new year, so Ive put the &q...

Character gift guide 2011: pretend presents for pretend people

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:12:07 -0500

Christmas is on Sunday, and Ive bought everything on my real list. Now all thats left is to shop for the fictional favorites on my annual character gift guide. Leslie Knope, "Parks and Recreation": Campaign t-shirts. Now that ...

Ravenswood High wins $10K in national Glee contest

(Travis Crum) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:17:48 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Joyce Pitchford said spirits were lifted in a community suffering from economic strain after her Ravenswood High School choir students collected $10,000 Thursday from a national online voting competition. Pitchfords choral group won w...

Reality show seeks couples with troubled marriages

(Staff reports) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:00:10 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- If youre a married couple that wants to spice up your love life and arent afraid to share this with the nation, then Oxygen might be looking for you. The TV network is seeking "smart, sassy, funny (maybe a little self-depreca...

Over-the-top American Horror Story wraps 1st season

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:05:25 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- "American Horror Story" ends its first season at 10 p.m. Wednesday on FX. The ghostly horror tale was created by Ryan Murphy, best known for "Glee," but also the man behind the twisted plastic s...

TV segment shot at Heritage Farm airs Monday

sjbusse@gmail.com (Sara Busse) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:00:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The popular History Channel show "American Pickers" will air a segment at 9 p.m. Monday filmed at the Heritage Farm Museum and Village in Huntington. Mike Perry, founder of the museum, said the cast and crew of the sho...

Holiday hiatuses and specials galore

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:00:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Theres no getting around it -- the holidays are upon us. We were already being hit with Christmas movies and cartoon specials before Thanksgiving even rolled around, but...

A heaping helping of TV thanks (and marathons)

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:45:18 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In keeping with the theme of the day, Ill take this Thursdays column to give thanks for my TV. Not my actual TV set, per se, although I am thankful for that, but more for some of the things about TV for which I am grateful. ...

W.Va. teens Buck Wild in new MTV show

(Kate White) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:45:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- MTV hopes a new "reality" show set in West Virginia will find "Jersey Shore" success, but state officials arent on board with the idea. "Buck Wild" will star a group of friends and recent high school gra...

Where have all the TV pets gone.

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:33:08 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- My brain works in mysterious ways. For instance, as I was snuggling with one of my dogs earlier this week, a random thought popped into my head: where have all the TV pets gone. Think about it. How many current primetim...

Well-made family fun returns to TV

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:38:04 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In case you havent noticed, Im really enjoying most of the new comedies this season. Besides all of the network ones I watch, Ive also gotten into BETs "Reed Between the Lines." Airing back-to-back episo...

Making a Glee-ful noise

kathryng@wvgazette.com (Kathryn Gregory) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:48:41 -0400

RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. -- Joyce Pitchford said her high school choir students feel like the "Landau of Ravenswood." "If he can do it, then so can we," the musical director of 38 years at the school said Friday. Pitchfords chor...

Theres fairytale fun in Once Upon a Time

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:01:44 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Its usually not surprising when several variations on a theme premiere each season. Multiple crime and law shows are expected, and it wouldnt be network TV without romantic and ensemble comedies. However, I was surprised ...

2 W.Va. high schools in Glee contest for music programs

(Staff reports) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:13:46 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Two West Virginia high school choral departments are competing in the "Glee Give A Note Contest," and time is running out to vote for them. The schools, Bridgeport and Ravenswood high schools, are competing with hundreds o...

Even with gorier zombies, story still rules Walking Dead

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:04:07 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Season two of AMCs "The Walking Dead" is off to such a strong start numbers-wise that the network announced a renewal for season three after just two episodes. Its also off to a strong start in terms of...

Comedies kicking butt this season

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:38:59 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With last Fridays cancellation of "Charlies Angels," both the comedy and drama genres are down two new shows each on the networks this fall. To date, theyve also had similar premiere numbers, with nine ...

5 questions with Biz Markie of Yo Gabba Gabba!

lynch@wvgazette.com (Bill Lynch) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:48:35 -0400

WANT TO GO. "Yo Gabba Gabba. Live!" WHERE: Charleston Municipal Auditorium WHEN: 3 and 6 p.m. Friday TICKETS: $26 and $36 INFO: 800-745-3000 or Mountaineer Food Bank is one of 15 locations nationwide chosen to host a community screening of "Sesame Streets" newest primetime special, ...

Hurricane man vies to win Conan contest

lynch@wvgazette.com (Bill Lynch) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:44:45 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Whitney Hess of Hurricane is still waiting to find out if hell be going on vacation this week. Hes one of four finalists in the running to rent Conan OBriens studio. A few ...

Playboy Club gets bunny ears clipped; what will be next.

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:48:19 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Thanks to NBC, I can now clear a little room off my DVR. On Tuesday, it made the first cancellation of the season with "The Playboy Club." (Its replaced by episodes of "Prime Suspect" until Brian ...

Eden Sher is the girl in The Middle

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:26:50 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Last weeks season premiere of "The Middle," which kicks off ABCs Wednesday night comedy block, marked the shows second largest overall audience to date, despite stiff competition from Foxs new "The X Factor" and CBS...

Up All Night the standout of new sitcoms so far

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:38:17 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The networks are giving us a little break from the new stuff this week. The only new show premiering is CBS sitcom "How to Be a Gentleman" at 8:30 p.m. Thursday. The odd couple comedy, based on John Bridges b...

9 shows, 7 days: a look at this weeks fall premieres

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:05:42 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Theres a whooooole lot of new stuff hitting your screens this week, so without further ado, heres a look at what youll find premiering in the next seven days:

Logan salutes Landau

(Travis Crum) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:54:07 -0400

LOGAN, W.Va. -- Eight-year-old Sammi Kazee stood in the rain and waited for Landau Eugene Murphy Jr.s parade to pass by Wednesday afternoon. Sammi said she voted at least 100 times every round for Murphy to win on the NBC s...

Bunnies, broke girls and more debut this week

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:52:10 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- This week, the fall season kicks into high gear with a premiere and a return Thursday, and the bulk of the networks debuts, both seasonal and series, beginning Monday. Heres a look at the seven new series premiering between now and Wed...

Logans Landau Murphy wins Americas Got Talent

(Travis Crum) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 21:57:41 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. will soon go from singing while washing cars in Logan County to his own headlining show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. And hell be getting there $1 million richer. Murphy, 37, of Logan, won ...

W.Va. theater show going national on RFD TV

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:26:32 -0400

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- A country music and variety show that has entertained tens of thousands of West Virginia tourists during the past four years is about to get a national audience.In January, the cable network RFD TV will begin airing 30-...

Tomblin asks for Murphy votes; viewing parties set

(Staff, wire reports) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:22:46 -0400

LOGAN, W.Va. -- State Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin Jr. is asking for West Virginians votes in the governors race next month. On Tuesday night, hes also asking residents to vote for another West Virginia resident. Logans Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. is com...

Fall is here -- at least on TV

( ) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 21:05:51 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Although its the week of the 19th that the fall season really starts in force, youll find a few new shows on the schedule beginning this week. Two premiere on the CW, and two have early premieres on NBC. The ones on the CW are...

Logans Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. in Americas Got Talent final four

( ) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 22:16:53 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- On Wednesday night, Logans Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. took one step closer to the finish line on NBCs "

Landau: I cant let nothin stop me

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:02:01 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Its been a great summer for Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. Ever since his "Amy Robinson on Logans Landau West Virginia native Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. made it among the final 10 contestants on NBCs TV show "Americas Got Talent" Wednesday...

Dark anniversary: 9/11 at 10 years distant

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:41:05 -0400

NEW YORK -- Television viewers who want to immerse themselves in memories of the Sept. 11 al-Qaida terrorist attacks as the 10th anniversary approaches will have a staggering number of choices, and on the day itself, broadcast and cable ne...

How will Real Housewives handle husbands suicide.

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:43:38 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Reality TV fans, how much is your favorite show worth to you. How about a life. On Aug. 15, just weeks before the premiere of season two of Bravos "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," Russell Armstr...

WOWK-TVs move to Charleston may create jobs, owner says

ericeyre@wvgazette.com (Eric Eyre) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:21:12 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- WOWK-TVs decision to move most of its staff out of Huntington and consolidate operations in Charleston wont lead to any job cuts, said Bray Cary, who heads the company that owns the television station.

Lackluster new summer shows a bummer

( ) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:41:15 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The number of new reality shows this summer has dwarfed the number of new scripted shows, but there still has been a fair number of dramas and comedies debut. So why havent I written much about them. Well, honestly, I cant fi...

Quality vs. quantity: the two very different ways to run a show

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:32:03 -0400

"Desperate Housewives" and "Breaking Bad" have both been in the news recently regarding their final seasons. At the beginning of the month, news outlets were reporting on contentious negot...

Emmys need a dramedy category

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:10:58 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- When you look at the numbers, its easy to say the Emmys dont need any more categories. After all, they already have 93. Looking at content, though, Im becoming more inclined to agree with the folks wh...

Logans Landau Eugene Murphy wows in Americas Got Talent quarterfinal; heads to semifinals

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 21:45:07 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Things just keep getting better for Logans Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. He performed Frank Sinatras

Infotainment roundup: casting, cancellations, renewals and more

flipside@wvgazette.com (Amy Robinson) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 19:21:39 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- This week I have an infotainment round-up for you on some of the bigger headlines in TV news recently. If you regularly surf entertainment news sites, you might already know some of this stuff, but for everyone else, Im scourin...