Nothing's On

Why is there nothing on TV? I like to relax and unwind in front of the TV. After a long day, I like to fix a drink, a snack and escape to the land of reality, scripted dramas, TV movies, soaps and sitcoms. However, lately, I'm finding nothing on. I flip through my 100+ channels and even the OnDemand selections, and there's nothing on! How frustrating.

Maybe the writers' strike has something to do with the constant repeats and stale television movies. Maybe fall will bring on a slew of new, interesting shows. Maybe I'll be stressed out trying to figure out what shows to watch 'cause so many good ones overlap.

Sigh.

A girl can only hope; I guess.

I Love Money: The Entertainer Misses the Point

On Sunday's, "I Love Money," the Entertainer becomes team captain and ends up with the power to nominate three people from the opposite team to go home. He ends up voting off one of the stronger opponents, but for a while there, he had viewers scratching their heads.

Instead of nominating three strong players and thinking strategically, Entertainer obviously voted based on emotion. Let's see. He nominated Heather because she's an alleged trouble maker. He nominated Heat because the Entertainer considers him romantic competition. No one really knows why he nominated Mr. Boston, who made himself throw up to prove he's the weakest guy on his team.

I think Entertainer missed the fact that eliminations are a time to get rid of those who threaten his chance at $250,000. His decision to nominate Mr. Boston and Heather may come back to haunt him at some point.

What do you think?

I won't comment on the weird kissing challenge, but I do think Chance should go home next.

Who's playing the game the best? Should Entertainer be team captain again? Who would you kiss for $250,000? On second thought, don't answer that last question. LOL.

Is Degrassi Too De-Grown Up?

I'm a "Degrassi" fan from the '80s. Back then, I was the same age as Spike, Joey and Snake, who are all now parents on the show. When "Degrassi: The Next Generation" started, it followed the lives of the original characters' kids, who were just entering junior high. Now, those "kids" are on their way to college. They've lived through a school shooting, rape, cyber stalkers, several eating disorders, cancer, homophobia, alcoholism and drug use ... and that was all in the first episode!

So, now that the students are off to college, I can only imagine what the subject matter will turn to. What I wonder is whether the show is still kid friendly. It airs at 8 p.m., but would I want my kid watching shows with such grown-up storylines? I guess the creators would argue that it's the real world for some teens. That's a scary thought, and if I were a parent, I'd slip in a VHS of "Mary Poppins" during a commercial break. What's wrong with a little dose of TV fantasy?

What do you think? Have you seen the show? Are today's teen shows too grown up, or are they dealing with important, real-life issues?

I Love Money: I Love Manipulation?

I wasn't planning to do a weekly blog for "I Love Money," but after last night's display, I feel compelled.

What was presented was probably one of the greatest examples of manipulation ever seen on the tube.

After being deemed the weakest links on their team and having their team members throw them into the elimination pool, Pumkin and Toastee lie and scheme to stay on the show. It was shameful, or at least, it would be ... if these women had any shame.

Pumkin lies about an eating disorder, and Toastee fakes a sprained ankle. Their strategy? The two wanted to seem as weak as possible, so the opposing team would keep them in the game. It worked, but how low do you go? Yes, $250,000 was on the line, but Nibblz took the high road. She was also up for elimination, but she didn't lie. She didn't kiss up. She didn't sell herself short.

Was that the right way to go? She's at home, while her two team members still have a shot at a quarter of a million dollars. What would you have done? Did the gruesome twosome go too far, or were they simply playing the game?

Baldwin Hills

BET's reality-drama show "Baldwin Hills" returned for season two this week. A lot of the old cast members are gone. I wouldn't have minded seeing more Garnette and Willie, but other than those two, few will be missed. Plus, the new girls on the show more than make up for the ones that were lost.

Lor'Rena and Aunjel are among the new girls on the show. These two sisters are crazy. They're in high school, but they have degrees in trifling. Lor'Rena's out to take a man from his girlfriend, and her older sister is coaching from the sidelines. Lor'Rena is as aggressive as Mike Tyson was vicious (in his glory days), and she doesn't seem to get that.

You've got to see it to believe it.

My question: When did young girls become so aggressive? Is that the norm? Where are these teens' parents!?

Have you watched the show? If so, what do you think.

America's Next Top Model on Menopause

TV Land isn't too big on original programming, but "She's Got the Look" was a good attempt. It wasn't a show with an unheard of concept. It was basically, "America's Next Top Model" for mature women. I liked it.

Women, 35 and above, competed for a modeling contract. It was kind of dry, but it showed women with strong minds and bodies doing their thing. You don't see that in reality TV too often.

Most of the contestants were likable. Eboni, a dark complexioned lesbian, had some identity issues, but for the most part, all the women were well-adjusted. Initially, I was routing for Hope, but just when she started to get a little cocky, she was eliminated. So, my second choice took the prize.

The 45-year-old winner of the show is also a mother of five. Congrats.

Did you watch? Would you watch? Do you think there's a shortage of older women on TV? Should there be a great presence, or would that mean low ratings for the networks?

I Love Money

VH1 knows how to milk it for all it's worth. They've built franchises of their celebreality shows and turned the participants into household names ... well, some households, definitely not all.

Anyway, "I Love Money" premiered Sunday night. This show brings together the former contestants of "Rock of Love," Flavor of Love" and "I Love New York."

The show is similar to the "Real World/Road Rules" challenges where teams are competing for money. In the first episode, team leaders were determined and the group was divided into the Gold and Green teams.

Also, in the first episode, Midget Mac -- a reject from "I Love New York" -- was eliminated. As his name suggests, he's a little person. However, his big pride was his downfall. The hopefuls were required to wear bikinis and enter a chamber to collect as much cash as possible. Mac refused to wear the outfit, and his display of "sportsmanship" sent him home.

Did you watch? Should Midget Mac have been sent home? Chance failed to participate, as well. Why is he still around? Are you tired of these so-called celebrities yet? Talk about it.

Baby Borrowers

Wow. Have you seen NBC's new show, "Baby Borrowers?" It takes about five teenage couples, puts each in a house in a cul de sac, and then, the couples have to take care of strangers' babies.

It's an experiment. I guess the purpose is to convince the teens that they're not ready for parenthood.

In the first episode, at least two of the teens are ready to end things. One girl, refuses to wear the Pregnant Belly provided. She cries and refuses to leave the house with it on. Yeah, who wouldn't want THAT for a mother. Another girl shows no patience and does not feed the baby for which she's caring. Then, when the mother intervenes (The real parents are viewing this all from a close location.), she gets an attitude and decides not to care for the baby at all.

That was episode one. I'm sure there are more breakdowns to come. I wonder if any of the couples will decide they really are ready for children.

I'm in my 30s, and the show's pretty much convinced me to never procreate.

Did you see it? What did you think? Is this a dangerous experiment? Would you allow your teen to do this? Would you offer up your child for the show?

Summer '08 TV Premieres

I'm assuming it's because of the writers' strike, but the number of TV premieres this summer is comparable to what you'd see in the Fall. I can't wait! LOL.

There are the usual summer shows coming, like "Psych," "Monk," "Degrassi: The Next Generation," etc... However, there's also a new season of "Project Runway" and "Run's House."

Among the returning favorites, there are the new versions of old series. Two of note: "90210" and "Gong Show."

Last fall, "Knight Rider" and "Bionic Woman" were on the schedule.

What's up with all the remakes of old series? Are networks hoping nostalgic viewers will tune in? Are they hoping that using the name of a once-successful series will help trick old fans into thinking it's the same show? Maybe network execs are just tapped out of ideas and looking through old files for show ideas.

I don't know the reason for the resurrections, but only time -- and viewers -- will tell if they're successful, but if history is any indication, they won't be.

When "Fantasy Island" returned, the ratings were low, and the same goes for last season's "Knight Rider," which won't be returning.

So, you'd think networks would stop trying to use old series' names for new programs, but they keep trying.

What do you think? Will it work? Does it attract viewers who fondly remember the original series? Will you tune in?