This week we’re giving away another new release, Deadliest Catch Season Five. This is, of course, the same top-rated and Emmy Award winning series that starred Phil Harris, who passed away earlier this year. Travel the Bering Sea with the captains: Keith Colburn, Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand, Sig Hansen, and Phil Harris. Narrated by Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs, this is one series you don’t want to miss out on. Here’s what Amazon.com has to say about this DVD set:

• Actors: Mike Rowe, Keith Colburn, Phil Harris, Sig Hansen, Andy Hillstrand
• Writers: Larry Law
• Producers: Alex Meade, Benjamin Beatie, Brandon Clayton, Brian Knappmiller, Dean Ollins
• Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Number of discs: 5
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Discovery Channel
• DVD Release Date: March 30, 2010
• Run Time: 588 minutes

Here’s how to enter:

The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

(Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. US and Canada residents only. The winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends on Tuesday, 4/7/10, at 5:00 p.m., PST. Winners will be notified via e-mail and announced here on the blog.)

This new release is already ranked at #11 in Amazon’s Movies & TV category, and with the show’s popularity, there’s no doubt why.  This is the complete third season of Mad Men on a set of four DVDs.  You can’t go wrong with a show that’s won two Golden Globes for Best TV Drama.  Here’s the details on this set from Amazon.com’s listing:

• Actors: Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones, Christina Hendricks
• Directors: Matthew Weiner
• Writers: Robin Veith, Christopher Manley
• Format: AC-3, Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 4
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Lionsgate Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: March 23, 2010
• Run Time: 611 minutes

Here’s how to enter:

The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

(Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. US and Canada residents only. The winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends on Tuesday, 3/30/10, at 5:00 p.m., PST. Winners will be notified via e-mail and announced here on the blog.)

Culp was probably best known for his role in I Spy, but he also appeared in the 1980s hit, The Greatest American Hero, with William Katt.  Culp’s acting debut took place in a 1953 episode of You Are There.  He went on to appear in several guest-centric shows of the era, to include Kraft Television Theatre, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, General Electric Theater, and others.  Of course, it was his role as Kelly Robinson on I Spy that really made Culp a household name.  More recently, Culp has starred as Warren Whelan, one of Debra’s parents, in Everybody Loves Raymond.

Katherine Heigl, the actress who plays Dr. Izzie Stephens on Grey’s Anatomy, experienced a classic wardrobe malfunction during her acceptance speech at the ShoWest Awards.  The award was for Female Star of the Year and was given last week in Las Vegas.  As soon as the strap on her dress broke, the emcee, Billy Bush, helped Heigl out by holding the strap up from behind and over her shoulder.  Of course, it wasn’t without a second thought, as he revealed on his Twitter account:

I fought some adolescent instincts. HahaRT @thebikinichef: @billybush: at least she had you to help her. Can you imagine?!

Apparently there may have been a precursor to the incident behind the scenes, when Heigl had her interview with E! Online (see the clip above).  At the end of the interview you can see that something on her dress pops and she goes on, saying that she thinks all is well.  Obviously, as the later incident showed, all was not well.

Afterwards, Heigl was able to temporarily repair the damage to her dress with a safety pin.  And now that you know that Billy Bush had some adolescent thoughts just as he made the decision to help Heigl’s on-stage mishap, watch the video again and closely check out his expression.  Oh yeah, he was holding back all right.  Too bad this wasn’t a live show.  If it had been we might have some actual video of the event instead of photos only.

(Editor’s Note: Congratulations go out to commenter #44, Deb, who has won this week’s giveaway.  Please check your e-mail for instructions on how to claim your prize.)

This week we’re giving away a DVD set from one of the top cult shows of all time, Mystery Science Theater 3000.  Popularized for taking some of the worst of sci-fi’s B-movies and overlaying them with commentary and the bottom-of-the-screen silhouette shapes of the host and his robot companions, this show is truly epic.  To prove it, the newest release, Mystery Science Theater 3000: XVII is the seventeenth (yes, aren’t you glad I can read Roman numerals?) such collection to hit the shelves of video stores everywhere!  Here’s what Amazon.com has to say about this great set:

• Actors: Joel Hodgson, Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy, Bill Corbett
• Directors: Kevin Murphy
• Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1
• Number of discs: 4
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Shout! Factory
• DVD Release Date: March 16, 2010
• Run Time: 400 minutes
• Films Include: The Crawling Eye, The Beatniks, The Final Sacrifice & Blood Waters Of Dr. Z

Bonus Features:

• The Crawling Eye Special Introduction By Joel Hodgson
• Mystery Science Theater Hours Wraps On The Beatniks
• Brand-New Interview With star of The Final Sacrifice Bruce J. Mitchell
• The Main Event: Crow Vs. Crow At Dragon Con 09
• Blood Waters Of Dr. Z Photo Gallery
• Original Trailers & Promos

Here’s how to enter:

The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

(Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. US and Canada residents only. The winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends on Tuesday, 3/23/10, at 5:00 p.m., PST. Winners will be notified via e-mail and announced here on the blog.)

Peter Graves was born as Peter Aurness, and was the brother of James Arness (who changed the spelling of their last name), the gunslinging sheriff in the longest-running western of all time, Gunsmoke.  During his childhood, Graves participated in both sports and music, playing the saxophone.  By the time he was in high school, Graves had worked his way into radio as an announcer at WMIN in Minnesota.  He did a two year stint in the Air Force, followed up by attending the University of Minnesota, where he studied drama.

Following his time at the University of Minnesota, Graves was off to Hollywood to make his way in the entertainment business, and make it he did.  His credited debut role was in Rogue River in 1951, followed up by a role in Fort Defiance the same year.  His television debut took place as a guest during a regular show that featured different stories each week, known as The Chevron Theatre.  His first major role in television, however, was as Jim Newton in the western series Fury, from 1955 to 1960.

Graves real mark on the entertainment world wouldn’t be recognized until years later.  However, it was in 1967 that he began the role of James Phelps in the hit series, Mission: Impossible.  This series would last for seven years, spawn another series over 15 years after its demise, and generate a movie series for the franchise as well.  This, of course, is Graves’ most recognizable role.

Graves is survived by his wife of 59 years, Joan Endress and three children and six grandchildren.  We leave you with a clip from the show that made him famous.  RIP Peter Graves.

(Editor’s Note: Congratulations to Paul B, who left the winning comment, number 42, as determined using Random.org.  Be sure and check your e-mail for directions on how to get your prize.)

Nothing like a late-night blog posts to get your blood flowing! Or maybe this will be the first post you see in the morning? Either way, we’ve got a great giveaway this week with the complete first season of Scarecrow and Mrs. King. In this classic from the 1980s we get introduced to a housewife (Kate Jackson) who ends up getting recruited into the spy business and ends up with an agent code-named Scarecrow (Bruce Boxleitner). If you’ve never seen this show before, you owe it to yourself to check it out (see the embedded video below) and enter this contest!  If you’re a long-time fan, then you already know what a great addition this set would make to your DVD collection.  Here’s what Amazon.com has to say about the set:

• Actors: Kate Jackson, Bruce Boxleitner, Beverly Garland, Mel Stewart, Martha Smith
• Directors: Kate Jackson, Cliff Bole, Burt Brinckerhoff, Dennis C. Duckwall, James Frawley
• Format: Full Screen, Color, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 1.0)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 5
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: March 9, 2010
• Run Time: 966 minutes

Here’s how to enter:

The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

(Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. US and Canada residents only. The winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends on Tuesday, 3/16/10, at 5:00 p.m., PST. Winners will be notified via e-mail and announced here on the blog.)

The Bachelor‘s Jake Pavelka and his new sweetheart Vienna Girardi appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, spilling the beans about their relationship.  Apparently Jake was attempting to steel himself against love at first sight so he would give all of the girls a chance.  However, it seems that after Tenley failed to make the cut, Vienna fell right into place.  According to the couple, they actually hooked up prior to the whole incident with Vienna sneaking about in the middle of the night with a lantern trying to find Jake’s tent.  Ellen pointed out that the editing of the show made Vienna out to be a crazy woman.  While not specifically saying so (she did say she wasn’t allowed to talk about it), you get the impression that editing plays a large role in generating the hype of the show.  If I didn’t know better, I would think we were talking about the evening news!

During the interview the couple revealed that they had been sneaking around for three months prior to the end of the show, despite this being against the rules!  Ellen then went on to ask Jake about his upcoming competition on Dancing with The Stars, which he said he was ready for.  Well, only time will tell if the couple has found true love and whether or not Jake’s dancing can hold up against the competition.

(Editor’s Note: Congratulations to Deb K, with comment # 124, who is this week’s winner.  Be sure and check your e-mail for instructions on how to claim your prize.)

This week we’re going to change things up a bit.  We’ve had a great response over the past month or so with our DVD giveaways, but even more popular are the gift cards we’ve given away.  So this week we’re going to give away something we thing is even better: a subscription service.  Yes, the title is right … we’re going to give away a three month Netflix gift subscription to this week’s lucky winner.  In case you’ve never heard of them (yeah, right) here is what Netflix has to offer:

• Get DVDs by mail, or stream your favorite shows to your PC, Mac or TV using a Neflix ready device
• No limits on streaming – watch as much as you want, when you want to
• Netflix features new releases, classics and TV episodes, new and old
• Check out two DVDs at a time and exchange them as often as you want
• Free and fast delivery, usually about one business day
• Each DVD comes with a prepaid envelope to return it when you’re done

So what are you waiting for?

Here’s how to enter:

The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

(Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. This offer is available to US residents only, and is subject to the Netflix Gift Subscription Terms. The winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, 3/10/10, at 12:00 noon PST. Winners will be notified via e-mail and announced here on the blog.)

After it all was said and done, Jay Leno took back the show he gave to Conan, and Conan took $40 million from NBC. To be honest, I think Conan got the better end of the deal.  Screw NBC – everyone knows they’re going down the toilet anyway.  Between what they paid for the Olympics and their ratings, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I think it’s only a matter of time before they either go lights out or change venues.  You can bet Comcast is rethinking their deal.

As for Conan? Well, he’s not staying completely silent.  News has spread fast today that he is now on Twitter.  Yes, it’s a real, verified, Conan O’Brien Twitter account.  He’s only got one tweet at the time of this post, but to me his bio says it all:

I had a show. Then I had a different show. Now I have a Twitter account.

(Editor’s Note: Congratulations go out to Lance Pearson and comment #116, who was selected by using Random.org as this week’s winner.  Be sure and check your e-mail for instructions on how to claim your prize.)

This week we’re giving away a DVD set that you won’t want to miss out on! If you’ve ever seen the classic courtroom comedy Night Court, then you know this is a true gem from one of television’s greatest comedy shows.  Follow the antics of the accused and the abused as they get put through the justice system of one Judge Harry Stone (played by Harry Anderson), with the help of the baliff (Richard Moll) and district attorney (John Larroquette).  Here’s what Amazon has to say on the details of the Night Court: The Complete Third Season collection:

• Actors: Harry Anderson, Markie Post, John Larroquette, Charles Robinson, Richard Moll
• Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Subtitles: English, French
• Region: Region 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: February 23, 2010
• Run Time: 526 minutes

Here’s how to enter:

The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

(Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. US and Canada residents only. The winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, 3/03/10, at 12:00 noon PST. Winners will be notified via e-mail and announced here on the blog.)

Last night on 60 Minutes Leslie Stahl reported on a new technology game-changer in the green energy field.  It’s called the Bloom Box and is produced by Bloom Energy and is spearheaded by a rocket engineer who worked with NASA on a previous Mars mission plan that ended up getting scrapped.  K.R. Sridhar, a scientist from India, has developed what he claims is a unique type of fuel cell that can use oxygen, natural gas and other cheap fuel alternatives to create wireless electrical power.  Yes, you read that right – wireless.

I have to admit that I’ve been investigating alternative energy sources for over a decade myself and have seen many quacks out there trying to pawn off some phony piece of crap to an unsuspecting base of “investors” (aka common folks they wanted to rip off).  However, this time around it is different.  Sridhar has managed to get his investment capital from none other than John Doerr from Kleiner Perkins.  Doerr has some very significant successes under his belt when it comes to picking the right companies to invest in, from Amazon to Google.  All of his picks haven’t been successes, but his track record and the fact that they gave an initial $100 million (plus) in capital to Bloom Energy was enough to make me sit up and pay attention.

I guess the real clincher to me was when I found out they already have big name companies testing the product in a real business environment.  The companies first customer? Google.  Need I say more?  The Bloom Energy website says that they are launching this Wednesday.  I don’t know what that means, but I do know this … if they have an IPO anytime soon, you can count me in.  I’m sold.

(Editor’s Note: Congratulations go to Rosanne, who was our winner this week with comment # 24, as chosen by Random.org. Check your e-mail for information on how to claim your prize.)

This week we’re going to do our second gift card giveaway and this one is from Amazon.com. As you probably already know, Amazon has literally thousands of DVDs for purchase from all of your favorite TV shows. In addition, many shows are available for a rental or one-time purchase price, which can then be downloaded onto your computer’s hard drive. With Amazon’s discount prices off of most store retail prices, this gift card will help get your next video collection started or finish off the last one in your current collection.

Here’s how to enter:

The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

(Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. US and Canada residents only. The winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, 2/24/10, at 12:00 noon PST. Winners will be notified via e-mail and announced here on the blog.)

(Editor’s Note: Congratulations to Ky2here who is our winner for this week as picked by Random.org. Check your e-mail for information on how to claim your DVD set.)

This week’s giveaway is JAG (Judge Advocate General): The Final Season. Join Harmon “Harm” Rabb, Jr. (David James Elliott) and Sarah “Mac” MacKenzie (Catherine Bell) as they travel the world searching for the truth in military cases of murder, treason and terrorism.

• Actors: David James Elliott, Chuck Carrington, John M. Jackson, Patrick Labyorteaux, Scott Lawrence
• Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1
• Number of discs: 5
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Paramount
• DVD Release Date: February 9, 2010
• Run Time: 969 minutes

Here’s how to enter:

The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

(Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. US and Canada residents only. The winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, 2/17/10, at 12:00 noon PST. Winners will be notified via e-mail and announced here on the blog.)

(Editor’s Note: Congratulations to Erma, whose comment was chosen using Random.org as our winner for this week’s giveaway. Check your e-mail for directions on how to claim your prize!)

A few weeks ago I promised we would be trying different things as giveaways for our Wednesday Wildcards. Well, this week marks the first one. And what are we giving away this week? Nothing other than a very cool $30 iTunes gift card! I know it’s a bit late in the day to announce this, but it’s still Wednesday, so it still counts, right?

Of course, as you probably know if you own an iPhone or iPod Touch, you can download your favorite TV shows directly from the App store. Some current shows even have season passes, which provide discounts based on the fact that you want to see the whole season. You can see some current TV offerings in the image above.  However, there are no strings attached – you can spend your iTunes gift card in any way you want.

So don’t miss out on this one, get your entries in, and know that next week someone is going to be doing some iTunes shopping!

Here’s how to enter:

The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

(Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. US and Canada residents only. The winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, 2/10/10, at 12:00 noon PST. Winners will be notified via e-mail and announced here on the blog.)

Excerpts of the President’s State of the Union Address:

We face big and difficult challenges. And what the American people hope – what they deserve – is for all of us, Democrats and Republicans, to work through our differences; to overcome the numbing weight of our politics. For while the people who sent us here have different backgrounds and different stories and different beliefs, the anxieties they face are the same. The aspirations they hold are shared. A job that pays the bill. A chance to get ahead. Most of all, the ability to give their children a better life.

You know what else they share? They share a stubborn resilience in the face of adversity. After one of the most difficult years in our history, they remain busy building cars and teaching kids; starting businesses and going back to school. They are coaching little league and helping their neighbors. As one woman wrote to me, “We are strained but hopeful, struggling but encouraged.”

It is because of this spirit – this great decency and great strength – that I have never been more hopeful about America’s future than I am tonight. Despite our hardships, our union is strong. We do not give up. We do not quit. We don’t allow fear or division to break our spirit. In this new decade, it’s time the American people get a government that matches their decency; that embodies their strength. And tonight, I’d like to talk about how together, we can deliver on that promise.

…

By the time I’m finished speaking tonight, more Americans will have lost their health insurance. Millions will lose it this year. Our deficit will grow. Premiums will go up. Co-pays will go up. Patients will be denied the care they need. Small business owners will continue to drop coverage altogether. I will not walk away from these Americans. And neither should the people in this chamber.

…

Rather than fight the same tired battles that have dominated Washington for decades, it’s time for something new. Let’s try common sense. Let’s invest in our people without leaving them a mountain of debt. Let’s meet our responsibility to the people who sent us here.

To do that, we have to recognize that we face more than a deficit of dollars right now. We face a deficit of trust – deep and corrosive doubts about how Washington works that have been growing for years. To close that credibility gap we must take action on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue to end the outsized influence of lobbyists; to do our work openly; and to give our people the government they deserve.

That’s what I came to Washington to do. That’s why – for the first time in history – my Administration posts our White House visitors online. And that’s why we’ve excluded lobbyists from policy-making jobs or seats on federal boards and commissions.

But we cannot stop there. It’s time to require lobbyists to disclose each contact they make on behalf of a client with my Administration or Congress. And it’s time to put strict limits on the contributions that lobbyists give to candidates for federal office. Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests – including foreign companies – to spend without limit in our elections. Well I don’t think American elections should be bankrolled by America’s most powerful interests, and worse, by foreign entities. They should be decided by the American people, and that’s why I’m urging Democrats and Republicans to pass a bill that helps to right this wrong.

I’m also calling on Congress to continue down the path of earmark reform. You have trimmed some of this spending and embraced some meaningful change. But restoring the public trust demands more. For example, some members of Congress post some earmark requests online. Tonight, I’m calling on Congress to publish all earmark requests on a single website before there’s a vote so that the American people can see how their money is being spent.

(Editor’s Note: Full text of the President’s speech will be provided as soon as it is available to us.)

(Editor’s Note: Congratulations go out to Monique Rizzo, who was picked by Random.org since she was our 124th commenter on this blog post! Be sure and check your e-mail for information on how to claim your prize.)

This week’s new television DVD releases takes us back quite a ways to a classic show from my own childhood. The Waltons first aired in the fall of 1972 and ran for nine years, ending its 1930s tale of the Walton family in 1981. These made-for-TV reunion movies are set in the 1940s and 1960s, showing the family growing up and the children becoming adults all on their own.  If you are a fan of this classic series, you won’t want to miss out on this collection.  If you are a newcomer to the show, all I can say is that this was one of the best prime-time family shows of the 1970s and it truly is a classic you will want to see.  Here’s what Amazon.com has to say about The Waltons Movie Collection DVD set:

• Actors: John Walmsley, Eric Scott, Earl Jr. Hamner, Richard Thomas
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 1.0)
• Subtitles: English, French
• Region: Region 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: January 26, 2010
• Run Time: 562 minutes

Here’s how to enter:

The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

(Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. US and Canada residents only. The winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, 2/3/10, at 12:00 noon PST. Winners will be notified via e-mail and announced here on the blog.)

(Editor’s Note: Congratulation go out to Lily Kwan, who was commenter #131. Check your e-mail Lily for instructions on how to claim your prize.)

Weeds, … they’re everywhere. Oh, wait, that’s not what this show is about, silly! This Showtime original series is still going strong after five years of delving into the life of a housewife who becomes a pot dealer to make ends meet. In anticipation of the upcoming season premiere, Showtime has released Weeds: Season Five on DVD this week. Check out what Amazon.com has to say about this release and then be sure and take advantage of all five methods of entering into the drawing…

Actors: Mary-Louise Parker, Elizabeth Perkins, Kevin Nealon, Hunter Parrish, Alexander Gould
Format: AC-3, Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Region: Region 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number of discs: 1
Rating: Unrated
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: January 19, 2010
Run Time: 30 minutes

Here’s how to enter:

The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

(Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. US and Canada residents only. The winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, 1/27/10, at 12:00 noon PST. Winners will be notified via e-mail and announced here on the blog.)

#10 – Religious figures in food will become such a hot item that The Home Shopping Network will begin to sell items like the “Jesus Cheeto” and the “Virgin Mary Toast” during their on-air broadcasts. This will, in turn, bring more Republican conservatives to the network, which we all know spend more anyway.

#9 – LOST will exploit the time loop created by Juliet setting off the hydrogen bomb and take the characters into an alternate universe where ABC actually leads in the ratings. Okay, maybe that’s not much of a stretch, but if five seasons of LOST plot lines are wiped out, I do predict there will be some seriously pissed off fans.

#8 – Reality TV will continue its current downward spiral. The television viewing masses cravings for violence and sex will ultimately lead to two new shows: Bar Fights of America and Sex on the Couch.  Well, these titles were inspired by actual events in current reality television shows, so you never can tell.

#7 – 3D television sets will begin to spread across America, but early adopters may be disappointed.  Unlike HD where the technology was ready to roll out to the masses, this 3D thing is still full of holes. Don’t expect to sit back in your living room and view your TV as another version of Madden’s All Star Whatever game.  Although a few networks (including ESPN) are making a commitment here, I just don’t see it going viral in 2010.

#6 – At least one female singer will appear drunk, half naked and flashing private things in an award ceremony.  It has happened so many times in the past, I can’t even keep up with it any more. Seriously, can’t a guy revel in the thought of another such incident?

#5 – Free online television streams will begin to go the way of the dinosaur.  We all love them, but there is no way that current advertising models can support Hulu.com and other streaming video sites that offer free services currently.  By the end of 2010 I predict that not only will Hulu be charging for online streaming video, but so will every major network from CBS to Syfy. Just remember you heard it here first. Go torrents! (Okay, that last part really was a joke.)

#4 – Shows that will thrive this year include newcomers such as Glee! and Caprica, with continued success for reality staples such as American Idol, The Biggest Loser and Survivor.

#3 – Shows that will dive this year will include worn out shows such as CSI, Law & Order and 24. Hey, I can wish, can’t I? Other shows to spiral this year will include Heroes, Fringe and FlashForward.  As much as I like them, I just don’t see it happening.

#2 – Fans will continue to rally around shows that the majority of people don’t watch, which network executives will therefore never renew, despite excellent writing and substance to the show.  Moral of the story here is that the majority of people don’t know a good TV show if they see one.

#1 – Between the late-night talk show wars and the upcoming Olympic games, NBC will lose so much money that even Comcast won’t want to close the deal.  NBC will file for bankruptcy and one of America’s longest running networks will sign off the air.  After all, the idea behind the game of ‘hot potato’ is not to get caught with the potato when it’s time is up, right?  Speaking of NBC, I just had the inspiration for a new reality TV show.  It could be called Extreme Makeover: Network Edition. I think it will take an extreme makeover for NBC to stand a chance in pulling out of this nosedive.

So what do you think? Where do you see television headed in 2010? Share your thoughts on my list, or share your own.  I want to hear what you have to say.

(Editor’s Note: Using Random.org to pick our winner, comment number 160 belongs to Gordon. Congratulations! Be sure and check your e-mail inbox for a message on how to claim your prize.)

D’oh! It’s time once again for our Wednesday Giveaway and this week we’re giving away a DVD set that’s sure to get your attention. Last week The Simpsons celebrated a 20th anniversary special in 3D and this week they’ve released The Simpsons: The Complete Twentieth Season DVD set.  Here’s what Amazon.com has to say about this special season’s DVD set:

• Actors: Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Julie Kavner, Yeardley Smith
• Format: AC-3, Animated, Box set, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1
• Number of discs: 4
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• DVD Release Date: January 12, 2010
• Run Time: 482 minutes

Here’s how to enter:

The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

(Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. US and Canada residents only. The winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, 1/20/10, at 12:00 noon PST. Winners will be notified via e-mail and announced here on the blog.)

You see, early on it was established that Agent Charlie Francis was Olivia Dunham’s closest internal agent confidant after her partner was killed in the first episode. However, as the series progressed, Agent Francis actually became the victim of a shape-shifting body “snatcher” from a parallel universe, which left the real Charlie Francis for dead.  The impersonator was a big part of several episodes as we tried to piece together exactly who he was and more importantly, who he worked for.  In the end, the Fringe team discovered the impostor, killed him and discovered Agent Francis’ body.

So after the winter hiatus, millions of viewers tuned in last night with high hopes to the next installment of our Fringe fix. Overall the show was great and had all the elements we’ve come to love: a singular plot to be resolved in said episode, the appearance of ‘The Observer’, the over-arcing theme of paranormal activity and Walter’s previous experiments.  The only thing missing was some attachment to Massive Dynamic, the company run by the mysterious William Bell.

So what was the deal with Charlie Francis appearing in this episode?  Apparently this episode was actually filmed for last season, and for some reason was not aired at that time. Say what? Yeah, you read that right.  Whoever the numskull at the network was that made this decision really blew it.  This totally negated all the cohesiveness and the timeline that the show has been building on for two years now. In retrospect, I think this carries with it a certain foreboding for the show.  I won’t tell you my exact thoughts, but you can read them later this week when I post my very own top ten predictions for television in 2010.

(Editor’s Note: Using Random.org to pick our winning entry, congratulations go out to Dave, who contributed comment #102 for this week’s contest.  An e-mail has been sent with instructions on how to claim your prize.)

Just in time to help you catch up before the premiere of Chuck season three this weekend, Chuck: The Complete Second Season has been released on DVD. But before you go out and spend your own hard-earned money, why not take a chance and enter our contest to win a free copy of the DVD set? Check out what Amazon.com has to say about this new release:

• Actors: Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, Joshua Gomez, Sarah Lancaster, Adam Baldwin
• Format: AC-3, Box set, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
• Region: Region 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 6
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Warner
• DVD Release Date: January 5, 2010
• Run Time: 585 minutes

Here’s how to enter:

The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

(Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. US and Canada residents only. The winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, 1/13/10, at 12:00 noon PST. Winners will be notified via e-mail and announced here on the blog.)

(Congratulations to JosiahsMommy who posted our fourth comment here on the blog! Using Random.org you have been selected as this week’s winner.  Check your inbox for an e-mail detailing how to claim your DVDs.)

This week we’re catering to your craving for more of FOX’s hit new show, Glee.  While the show may be in between seasons at the moment, this week’s new DVD releases contains Glee, Vol. One: Road to Sectionals. So get on the ball, review the many ways to enter, and get your entries in for your chance to win this newly released DVD! Here’s what Amazon.com has to say about this release:

• Actors: Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch
• Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1
• Number of discs: 4
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• DVD Release Date: December 29, 2009
• Run Time: 580 minutes

Here’s how to enter:

The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

(Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. US and Canada residents only. The winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, 1/6/10, at 12:00 noon PST. Winners will be notified via e-mail and announced here on the blog.)

(Editor’s Note: Entries and comments for this giveaway have now closed. Using Random.org to generate the winning number, this week’s winner is Pasco, our third commenter. Congratulations to Pasco! An e-mail has been sent with instructions on how to claim your prize.)

For our final giveaway of 2009 we’re going for the classic (said with tongue firmly planted in cheek) Family Guy special, Something Something Something Dark Side. Okay, so George Lucas’ version is the real classic, but what the heck. In this retelling of the story from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, all of the characters are replaced by animated counterparts from the hit television series, The Family Guy. The evil Darth Vader (played by Stewie, of course) is trying to hunt down the hero, Luke Skywalker (played by Chris). Luke’s mentors are non other than Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Herbert, lol) and Yoda (played by Carl). Luke’s uh … sister, Princess Leia is none other than Lois (okay, is that kind of creepy or what?), who’s real hero is Han Solo (Peter … okay, maybe that one makes sense). All-in-all it’s a great adaptation of the classic film that’s sure to leave you in stitches. Here’s what Amazon.com has to say about the release that comes out today:

• Actors: Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Mila Kunis
• Format: AC-3, Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• DVD Release Date: December 22, 2009
• Run Time: 44 minutes

Here’s how to enter:

The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

(Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. US and Canada residents only. The winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, 12/30/09, at 12:00 noon PST. Winners will be notified via e-mail and announced on the blog.)

(Note: The comments for this post are now closed. Congratulations go out to Kaitlin, who posted our second comment. Using Random.org, the number two comment was chosen as the winner.)

This week we’re giving away The Tudors: The Complete Third Season DVD set. This Showtime series, produced in Ireland, was based on the reign of Henry VIII and named after the Tudor dynasty. The show was well received, initially outperforming both Dexter and Weeds in the ratings. This DVD set was released yesterday, and here’s the scoop from Amazon.com:

• Actors: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Henry Cavill, James Frain
• Format: AC-3, Box set, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Showtime / Paramount
• DVD Release Date: December 15, 2009
• Run Time: 413 minutes

Here’s how to enter:

The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

(Note: Please use a valid e-mail address. US and Canada residents only. The winner will be chosen randomly. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, 12/23/09, at 12:00 noon PST. Winners will be notified via e-mail and announced on the blog.)