FRED Entertainment

Tag: Weeds

  • TV Or Not TV: 8/16 – 8/22

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    After last year’s season finale of WEEDS I was both concerned and excited for the return of the show for another season. With the sheer force of a cricket mallet it would have been near criminal for the show not to return but where it goes could be a crime as well.

    When WEEDS first came out the show was interesting and compelling. Seeing widowed NANCY BOTWIN trying to deal with the recent loss of her husband and turning to the sale of marijuana to make ends meet was a fascinating dynamic. Seeing this struggling now single mother with two young boys and trying to appear to have a normal life in the face of the difficulties of being a small time drug dealer played out really well and kept you coming back week after week. This all came to a head, however, in the end of the third season when the suburban community went up in flames and the show changed forever.

    When you look at the show as a whole the hardest part to deal with, for me, is the way that NANCY has chosen to live her life and repeatedly makes the wrong decisions. In many ways, as a viewer and a parent, it is frustrating to see her constantly jeopardize the lives of her family and friends. I suppose, however, that NANCY keeps making these bad decisions because she’s always been able to get herself out of trouble and hasn’t really suffered any serious consequences yet, even though last season certainly provided the strongest examples of near sever consequences. Maybe when the show reaches its conclusion we’ll see the consequences play out completely.

    In the sixth season opener we get the tying up of the stories that were put into play in the season finale as it picks up right from there. We get to see ALANIS MORISSETTE at least one more time and we also see the BOTWIN’s band together after parting ways. When I viewed the first episode I actually hadn’t seen the season six trailer available at the official SHOWTIME website but it didn’t take seeing the trailer to tell that they were once again trying to set the series up for another change. I don’t know if this is because the show’s creative team feel the Ren Mar/Mexico story line has played out or not but I’m more than happy for another change. Whatever the change is, however, they had better get DOUG and DEAN back in to the mix as well since these characters help provide a lot of comic relief that can be needed in NANCY’s world where the story can get pretty dark at any moment.

    If you have SHOWTIME than you’ll be able to enjoy the season premiere of WEEDS at 10:00 PM on Monday, August 16th.

    I have to admit that right now TV is so bleak I’m only willing to put the effort into telling you one thing each day that might be worth watching (or definitely avoiding). I may make an exception or two but here’s what I’ve got folks.

    MONDAY

    SHO – 10:00 PM: In case you didn’t notice above I think WEEDS is still worth the watch.

    TUESDAY

    FOX – 8:00 PM: I looked and I looked. Seriously, it’s a crap night of television. Two hours of GLEE repeats really are the best I can find to offer until WAREHOUSE 13 comes on SYFY later.

    WEDNESDAY

    CBS – 8:00 PM: OK, only people that actually watch BIG BROTHER will care about tonight because a certain annoying girl from Vegas gets back in the House and we’ll probably see it tonight.

    FOOD – 8:00 PM: OK, having never been to one of those LA food trucks I might consider watching tonight’s THE GREAT FOOD TRUCK RACE.

    THURSDAY

    FOOD – 8:00 PM: Who’s birght idea was it to give one of those TV animal experts a cooking show? I don’t know how EXTREME CUISINE WITH JEFF CORWIN couldn’t be kind of creepy or gross since he’s usually telling us why the animals are cool instead of delicious.

    FRIDAY

    SYFY – 9:00 PM: There were only two real choices for viewing tonight and since I couldn’t stand the constantly shirtless Mathew MacConaughey in FOOL’S GOLD on TBS I have to go with my current Friday Night favorite: EUREKA.

    IFC – 10:00 PM: If you’ve been waiting for something new from THE KIDS IN THE HALL then tonight is your night as their new miniseries THE KIDS IN THE HALL:DEATH COMES TO TOWN premieres.

    SATURDAY

    SYFY – 9:00 PM: LAKE PLACID 3 airs tonight. I wasn’t even aware there was a LAKE PLACID 2. With it being on SYFY though we just know it has to be a quality film.

    BBC AMERICA – 9:00 PM: Having already seen the entire second season of BEING HUMAN I have to tell you now that if you haven’t watched the show get your hands on the first season and get caught up some how. The final episode of this season is a humdinger.

    SUNDAY

    DISC – 9:00 PM: That’s it, I’m throwing in the towel. After I watch BIG BROTHER on CBS at 8:00 PM I’ll be watching a MYTHBUSTERS repeat until TRUE BLOOD is on. Man TV sucks right now!

  • Contest Round-Up: 2010-01-13

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    Welcome to our weekly round-up of featured giveaways here at FRED. Every Wednesday, we’ll present a new clutch of DVDs, books, and other cool stuff you can take a shot at winning. All you have to do is click on the graphics below to be taken to their respective contest pages. And good luck!

    In conjunction with Sideshow Collectibles, we’re giving away a SHE-HULK Premium Format Figure.

    In conjunction with Shout Factory, we’re giving away five (5) copies of KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS on DVD.

    In conjunction with Shout Factory, we’re giving away three (3) copies of THIRTYSOMETHING: SEASON 2 on DVD.

    In conjunction with Lionsgate, we’re giving away three (3) copies of GAMER on DVD.

    In conjunction with Lionsgate, we’re giving away three (3) copies of WEEDS: SEASON 5 on DVD.

    In conjunction with Lionsgate, we’re giving away three (3) copies of SMOKIN’ ACES 2: ASSASSINS’ BALL on DVD, plus SMOKIN’ ACES water bottles.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of RETURN TO CRANFORD and one (1) grand prize copy of THE CRANFORD COLLECTION on DVD.

    In conjunction with Warner Bros. Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of DALLAS: SEASON 12 on DVD.

    In conjunction with Warner Bros. Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of THE WALTONS MOVIE COLLECTION on DVD.

    In conjunction with It Books, we’re giving away five (5) copies of HEADS ON AND WE SHOOT: THE MAKING OF WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE.

    In conjunction with Cartoon Network, we’re giving away three (3) copies of BAKUGAN: VOLUME 6 on DVD.

  • Win WEEDS: SEASON 5 on DVD!

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    In conjunction with Lionsgate, we’re giving away three (3) copies of WEEDS: SEASON 5 on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, January 27th.

    CLOSED! THANKS FOR ENTERING!

    Official Rules

    No member of FRED Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, January 27th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • TV Or Not TV: 7/6 – 7/12

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    Welcome to TV or Not TV where I’m giddy for the return of Big Brother.

    Every year around the 4th of July CBS conducts their televised social experiment when they lock 13 people into  the Big Brother house, which is actually a large house built inside of a CBS sound stage complete with an open back yard. Every wall is lined with two way mirrors and the house is equipped with over 28 cameras and 60 microphones dedicated to one thing: capturing a contained societies human drama. The people locked in this house will only have each other to talk to, scheme with, and plot against for the rest of the summer as they try every week to avoid being “evicted” and being the last person standing to win $250,000.

    With each passing year the producers of Big Brother try to up the ante on the show by coming up with clever ideas and twists. This year, however, I think all the attention on water boarding in the news put the producers and house designers into a stalag frame of mind. There is one room in the Big Brother house that contestants (here-to referred to as House Guests) will compete to stay out of and after seeing preview pictures I can understand why. The beds consist of a one inch thick piece of padding, what looks like an in-flight airline blanket, and a slightly than standard pillow. This is a room that all of the House Guests will be competing to stay out of. If the motivation of the discomfort of the room isn’t enough to motivate them they will also be given the treat of only being able to use a shower with only cold water.

    The next bedroom that is a step up from this one is hardly what I would call an upgrade. The room itself has a “pool” theme so the walls and floor are covered in pool tiles and the bed settings are made from inflatable pillows with inflatable pool raft comforters. Nothing says a good night of sleep like sticking to your pillow and blanket! There is, however, one regular bedroom with regular beds so don’t think that they are making all 13 of their House Guests suffer.

    The great thing about this show is that as time passes and the regular social graces fall to the way side the drama unravels on television three nights a week. Every Thursday and Sunday Night at 8 PM and Tuesday night at 9 you can see how the editors of this show cut together the natural drama and play it up to an entertaining extreme that I revel in every year. I can’t explain why I enjoy the show as much as I do but I come back every year.

    Sigh-Fi

    This week you will also notice a change in the network that some of the suggested shows are airing on. On July 7th the Sci-Fi network will try to shed some of it’s Star Trek perception by switching the name of the network to SyFy. Even though the name is pronounced the same they are hoping that this change in name will allow them to branch out more in public perception and offer a wider range of shows that still target the same audience. It’s confusing to say the least but as long as the programming gets better than I’ll ride it out.

    Now let’s take a look at what TV has to offer us to try to conquer the summer time blues.

    MONDAY

    TLC – 7:00 PM: If you haven’t caught the other cake shop show Cake Boss then tonight you can watch 8 episodes tonight. Don’t get confused though as episodes 1 through 6 are aired in reverse order. Someone must have been hopped up on sugar when they planned tonight’s schedule.

    VH1 – 10:00 PM: Having run out of decades to love and news of the week to lampoon the only thing that seems to be left is to debate useless topics on The Great Debate.

    SHO – 10:00 PM: Alanis Morissette joins the cast of Weeds for a brief stint as Nancy’s obstetrician.

    TUESDAY

    NBC – 8:00 PM: 8 families travel the US while doing clever and entertaining competitions at both popular and obscure landmarks seeking to be the last family standing to win a dream prize in The Great American Road Trip.

    ABC FAMILY – 8:00 PM: If this TV show named after and inspired by the movie 10 Things I Hate About You is a success I’ll look forward to the FOX re-imagining of She’s All That.

    SYFY – 9:00 PM: The X-Files meets Friday the 13th: The TV Series with the SyFy original series Warehouse 13. If you can get around the new network name the pilot is very entertaining.

    WEDNESDAY

    ABC – 8:00 PM: Nothing says love and support than couples traversing the obstacle course of shame and pain on Wipeout.

    TLC – 9:00 PM: Were you able to keep down dinner after last week’s episode of Monsters Inside Me last week? Organism outbreaks challenges you again this week.

    NBC – 10:00 PM: I’m still not sure what to think of The Philanthropist so I’m going to have to watch this week as well to make up my mind. I’ll let you know next week what I think.

    THURSDAY

    NBC – 8:30 PM: I’m not one to really recommend a repeat but tonight’s re-air of The Office is classic for me with the pure ineptness that Jim and Dwight show

    CBS – 9:00 PM: As mentioned above at length Big Brother premieres to fill the void of summer television. Bring on the Chen-Bot!

    FRIDAY

    THE N – 8:30 PM: A group of  hopefuls try to reach their dreams by starting on the Hollywood ladder in The Assistants.

    SYFY – 9:00 PM: The quirky high-tech show Eureka returns for another 13 episodes tonight as former Sheriff Carter meets his robotic replacement.

    SATURDAY

    CBS – 9:00 PM: Tonight you can finally learn who has been committing the wedding from hell murders with the series finale of Harpers Island.

    HALLMARK – 9:00 PM: I don’t usually watch the Hallmark channel but not since the 1980 TV film The Girl, the Gold Watch and Everything I think TV has been mising a  three part title movie. Because of this I may just watch The Gambler, the Girl and the Gunslinger.

    SUNDAY

    LIFETIME – 9:00 PM: Heaven Can Wait meets Now and Again as a shallow, skinny model wannabe gets bounced back down from the pearly gates into the plus side body of a lawyer in Drop Dead Diva.

    HBO – 10:300 PM: Entourage is back for a brand new season. Vince is in demand again, Turtle is dating Meadow Soprano and Drama is… well… I’m sure he’s about to get mad or start yelling about something by 10 minutes in.

    – Will Wilkins is experiencing technical difficulties. Please stand by.