DHep #203 - Reality TV

In this episode we talk about everyones favorite..... Reality TV! armpit of society or savior of sanity?

The Simpsons. . .nuff sed

The longest running comedy in the history of television, the longest running animation in the history of television, the largest amount of shows in the history of television and Pop Culture icons, “The Simpson” is returning for both a 25th and 26th season.   There were some stiff negotiations with cast and crew but FOX has locked in the deal and American’s  favorite ultra-disfuncsional family is still going strong and looks like it will keep going until everyone involved in the show’s making draws their last breath – and even that might not mean it will end.  You go, Homer.

Welcome to Fantasy Prime-Time. . . Indeed

This is a bit of old news but needs to be mentioned:  Once Upon A Time, the biggest surprise hit from last season is returning for a second season.  Not only has it been one of ABC’s biggest successes, boasting 13 Million viewers, its getting a lot of buzz because no one expected a show about fairy tale characters living in the real world to be so huge with audiences.   Also, strong out the gate rating performer, Grimm, is coming back for more fairy tale in the real world mayhem as NBC has picked it up for a 2nd season.  Let’s hope TV execs get the message and see that there’s a market for shows like this – after all the CW Network can’t possibly corner the marker in all the urban fantasy – even though so far they have.

100 Castles

Not only is ABC’s hit show Castle returning for another season, during this fifth season it’s going to hit it’s 100th episode, a number that not only says a lot about how strong a show it’s been for ABC in the Monday prime-time rating but put it in a lock of eventual syndication.   According the Hollywood Reporter, TNT has already slapped down the bucks to get this show on their schedule.  Looks like Nathan Fillion is still going to be too busy to get to that Firefly return certain fans keep wishing for.  (Is anyone but me surprise the Brown Coats haven’t launched a Kickstarter campaign over that one?)

Scandal for Felix

Three times Olympic gold medal winner and record beating track star Alyson Felix said in an interview that while training she mainline the Kerry Washington political drama Scandal.   This prompted the show’s creator Shonda Rhimes to invite the beauty and bubbly gold metal winner to the set of the current shooting for the upcoming 2nd season of the show.   This is not saying if the track star will be making a guest appearance (her admitted goal is to become a school teacher) but not only being a 3 times gold medal winner, 2 times silver medal winner and part of the relay team that broke the speed record which until the London Olympic stayed unbeaten since 1985 she is very photogenic and like most of USA’s gold winners she is currently a media darling – so her making an appearance on the show is not out of the question.  (Don’t be surprised if you find a certain “flying squirrel” popping up in places as well.)

Galactic Gunn

James Gunn is in talk to direct Marvel Studios upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy.  James Gunn has already got some action/comedy stuff under his belt, such as last years “Super” with Ellen Page and Rainn Wilson, the 2008 remake of Slither, and a couple of under the radar TV pilots.  He’s best known for his writing efforts on the Dawn of the Dead remake, the upcoming anime style zombie horror video game Lollypop Chainsaw and the two Scooby Doo movies

A Date With the Avengers 2

The date is set for the next installment of the record breaking super hero special effects fest, The Avengers 3, and it’s May 1, 2015.  Following its last patter Marvel plans to upcoming six films to be the lead in to the summer action movie.  While a lot of people are wondering how Ant-Man or Guardians of the Galaxy will fare in all of this, them being unknown properties by the general public and all – we at the hideout will remind those nay-sayers that this was said about Iron Man, Thor and Captain America – so chill out and wait and see.