Thoughts From the Couch

And The Winner Is ...

The winner in this year's So You Think You Can Dance was finally announced last night at the end of two hour special episode that included performances by all the dancers. They performed both their past personal favorites, and the judges picked their favorites as well. It came down to four, but it ended up being between the two men in the competition, Travis Wall and Benji Schwimmer.

In the final moments of the show, Benji was announced victorious. For winning, he receives a SUV, $100,000 and a spot in Celine Dion's stage show in Las Vegas, A New Day. Celine congratulated Benji personally via tape. The fun isn't done yet though. The top ten will be headed to a city near you as part of a tour. Check for dates here.

Prime Time Ratings 8/16/06

The summer is coming to an end. FOX starts releasing its fall season on Monday, so that means tonight we will see the end of So You Think You Can Dance. The winner will be announced on a two hour finale tonight with special performances by Ciara and Fergie.

Over on NBC, America's Got Talent airs the first part of its season finale, and the starts are coming out there as well. How many will tune in? We'll have to find out next week.

For now here is the shows that made the top ten last week. Make sure to check back here for the final results of So You Think You Can Dance and my review site for a full recap.

1. CSI: Miami (CBS)
2. Two and a Half Men (CBS)
3. So You Think You Can Dance - Weds (FOX)
4. CSI (CBS)
5. America's Got Talent (NBC)
6. 60 Minutes (CBS)
7. Without A Trace - Sun (CBS)
8. Without A Trace (CBS)
9. CSI: NY (CBS)
10. NFL Exhibition: Washington vs. Cincinnati (NBC)

So You Think You Can Dance Tour Dates Announced!

If you can't get enough of So You Think You Can Dance, well there is still hope for you. The season will end tomorrow night, but the dancers are heading to a city near you as part of a tour. This is the first time the dancers have headed out. American Idol contestants end up going out every year. Now its dance's turn. Check out the dates below for a city near you!

Tues 12-Sep Seattle, WA Paramount Theatre
Wed 13-Sep Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzner Hall
Fri 15-Sep Oakland, CA Paramount Theatre
Sat 16-Sep Universal City, CA Gibson Amphitheatre
Sun 17-Sep Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theater
Tues 19-Sep Denver, CO Lecture Hall
Thurs 21-Sep St. Louis, MO Fabulous Fox Theatre
Fri 22-Sep Chicago, IL Rosemont Theatre
Sat 23-Sep Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee Theater
Sun 24-Sep Minneapolis, MN Historic Orpheum Theatre
Tues 26-Sep Detroit, MI Masonic Temple Theatre
Wed 27-Sep Cincinnati, OH Procter & Gamble Hall at the Aronoff Center
Fri 29-Sep Cleveland, OH State Theater
Sat 30-Sep Buffalo, NY Shea's Performing Arts Center
Sun 1-Oct Mashantucket, CT Foxwoods Resort Casino
Tues 3-Oct Newark, NJ New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Wed 4-Oct New York, NY The Theater at MSG
Fri 6-Oct Philadelphia, PA Academy of Music
Sat 7-Oct Boston, MA Wang Center for the Perf Arts
Sun 8-Oct Albany, NY Palace Theatre
Tues 10-Oct Washington, DC DAR Constitution Hall
Wed 11-Oct Charlotte, NC Ovens Auditorium
Thurs 12-Oct Duluth, GA Arena at Gwinnett Center
Sat 14-Oct Miami, FL Jackie Gleason Theatre
Sun 15-Oct Tampa, FL Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

Dancing With The Stars 3 Competitors Announced

Yesterday morning bright and early, the eleven dancers set to take the dance floor in the third season of the surprise dance competition show hit were announced. This time we have eleven celebrities set to partner up with professionals to win the coveted mirror ball trophy when the series premieres on September 12th.

Set to join in the fun this time around are Jerry Springer, Vivica A. Fox, Emmit Smith, Harry Hamlin, Mario “A.C. Slater” Lopez, Tucker Carlson, Joseph Lawrence, Sara Evans, Willa Ford, Monique Coleman, and Shanna Moakler.

Lisa Rinna joins the cast again this season as co-host. She lost in the second season. This time around her husband is jumping into things on the competition side. The series has moved from its spot on Thursday and Friday to Tuesday and Wednesday nights next month.

DVD News & Releases 8/15/06

Another Tuesday, and this means we have some all new DVD's heading onto store shelves. Two that immediately caught my eye on the television front are the first seasons of Rome and Surface. We know this was the first and only season for Surface, but you never know if sales end up taking off maybe something can happen to bring the show back. Stranger things have happened. I think the series might be a perfect addition to the sci-fi channel. On the movie front, there isn't much to write home about. We have two major releases with Scary Movie 4 and Robin Williams' latest comedy RV being released.

As far as sales numbers go, V For Vendetta came out on top on both the sales and rentals charts for the week ending August 6th. It out sold The Shaggy Dog by a two to one margin. Check out for a full list of releases below.

August 15

3rd Rock from the Sun Season 5
Duchess of Duke Street II, The (mini-series) The Duchess of Duke Street II
Flying Nun, The The Complete 2nd Season
Full House The Complete 4th Season
Hardcastle and McCormick Complete 2nd Season
Hogan's Heroes The Complete 4th Season
Hong Kong Phooey The Complete Series
Jeffersons, The The Complete 5th Season
Magilla Gorilla The Complete Series
Masters of Horror Jenifer (Dario Argento)
Remington Steele Seasons 4 & 5
Rome The Complete 1st Season
Simpsons, The The Complete 8th Season (Maggie Head), The Complete 8th Season (Regular)
Surface The Complete 1st Season
Weird Al Show, The The Complete Series

Scary Movie 4 (PG-13)
RV (PG)

FOX To Offer Downloads

A new service by FOX called Direct2Drive will allow downloaders to download hit movies and television series from FOX. In October, movies such as X-men: The Last Stand and Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties will be available on the service for $20 dollars. As for television shows to hit the service, hits such as 24 and Prison Break will be available for $1.99. This is the same price as people would pay for downloading via iTunes.

At The Movies 8/14/06

Will Ferrell and his comedic take on Nascar, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, topped the box office again this past weekend. Many were surprised to see the movie come out on top again. Many suspected that World Trade Center would take this weekend's top prize.

The Oliver Stone film came in third for the weekend by earning $19 million. Another shocker this past weekend is just how well the new dance movie, Step Up, did. Friday's numbers had it coming out on top, but the movie came in second for the weekend with $21 million in earnings.

This weekend we have a number of new releases preparing to hit theaters. The one that stands out the most to me is the most hyped movie of the summer, Snakes on a Plane, starring Samuel L. Jackson. I have no plans to see the movie personally, but I know many are waiting the release of this movie.

Will the movie live up to its hype or will it fizzle out at the box office when it hits theaters this Friday? We'll have to wait and see. Check out this coming weekend's releases and the top ten from the weekend past below.

1 Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Weekend gross: $23 M
2 Step Up
Weekend gross: $21 M
3 World Trade Center
Weekend gross: $19 M
4 Barnyard
Weekend gross: $10.1 M
5 Pulse
Weekend gross: $8.5 M
6 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Weekend gross: $7.2 M
7 Zoom
Weekend gross: $4.6 M
7 The Descent
Weekend gross: $4.6 M
9 Miami Vice
Weekend gross: $4.5 M
10 Monster House
Weekend gross: $3.3 M

August 18
Accepted
Boy's Briefs 4
Factotum
Fakers
The Illusionist
Material Girls
My First Wedding
Poster Boy
The Pusher Trilogy
Snakes On A Plane

Jack Black To Host

Nominations for the MTV Music Awards went out last month, and now we know who will be hosting the event later on this month. MTV has picked actor Jack Black to host the awards when they take place on August 31st. This year the awards will return to New York City's Radio City Music Hall after last year's troubles with hurricanes hitting the Florida coast.

Rocky BeFore The Season Even Starts

ABC has been putting a lot into one new drama set to premiere next month, Brothers and Sisters. It marks the return of Ally McBeal's Calista Flockhart return to television. Casting changes happened soon after the pilot was shot marking the addition of Sally Field to the series.

Now it appears Marti Noxon has left the series as her spot of executive producer and show runner. Production will continue, but this doesn't sound that good for the series. Last season, Commander in Chief was plagued by similar problems, and that series ended up canceled. Will the same happen to Brothers and Sisters?

So You Think You Can Dance Finale!

We all have a little under a week to find out who will win, but you can let us know who you think should win now. I have a poll up in my forum now. Go vote here! The poll is open to everyone, so even guests can post, but you might consider joining the forum once you see what is happening over there! Just check it out!

Make Your Voice Heard!

So we were all just a bit unhappy with how the Emmy nominations ended up this year. Some of your favorites might have gotten lost in the shuffle. Personally, I was surprised to not see Ellen Pompeo nominated for her role on Grey's Anatomy. Another shocking omission this year is Lost. Yes, we know this past season wasn't good as the first, but we did have some highlights and performances that stood out.

In a year, when a series or its actor can be nominated or even win an award and still get the ax, it is time to let your voice be heard. Who would you want to win if you were in control of the awards? Well, now you can find out because here at Media Village you have a voice. Between now and September 5th at 3pm, you have a chance to enter your vote in the Media Village TV Fan Awards. Winners will be announced on September. Go here to vote now!

The Barkers Split

What is it with MTV? Is the network a curse for newlywed couples? It is starting to look that way. First, Nick and Jessica divorced. Then Carmen and Dave filed for divorce, and now the latest news is that Travis Barker has filed for divorce from his wife Shanna on Tuesday. People was the first to break the news.

Travis Barker is known as the drummer for Blink-182, and Shanna is a former Miss USA and actress. The couple married in 2004, and they have two children, a son and a daughter. They were seen on MTV starting in April 2005 in Meet the Barkers.

Things had been rocky for them lately, so this didn't come as a surprise. I really do think there should be some type of memo out now: Do not do a newlywed show on MTV. You'll be divorced within two years.

ABC Moves Ugly Betty

In a surprising pre-season move, ABC has moved one of its new freshman series from its Friday night time slot at 8/7c to the same time slot on Thursday night. Now Ugly Betty starring America Ferrera will be the series that leads into ABC hit drama, Grey's Anatomy, which is starting its third season in the all new Thursday time slot.

In its original time slot, Ugly Betty would have gone against CBS hit Ghost Whisperer, which is entering its sophomore season when it premieres next month. The two comedies, Big Day and Notes From The Underbelly, originally slated for the hour before Grey's Anatomy will premiere in one of the time slots vacated by Dancing With The Stars when it ends its third season.

Dancing With The Stars will premiere on September 12th, while Grey's Anatomy makes its return on September 21st, more than likely after the debut of Ugly Betty.

Prime Time Ratings 8/9/06

NBC scored big this past week with pre-season football kicking into high gear. The season starts officially next month, but things are already getting started with two pre-season games reaching the top ten. America's Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance also stayed in the top ten this week as they are both nearing their ends.

So You Think You Can Dance will air the first part of their finale tonight with the four final remaining dancers going head to head for America's vote. Next week, we will learn who will win and be crowned America's favorite dancer. The competition is wide open at this point, and it is anyone's game. My favorite two are Heidi and Benji. They are both extremely talent, and they caught my eye almost from the very beginning. Make sure to check my review site later on tonight for a full recap of tonight's show!

1. CSI: Miami, CBS, 7.7/13
2. Without a Trace, CBS, 7.3/13
3. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, 6.8/11
3. (tie) NBC NFL Pre-season Football, NBC, 6.8/12
5. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 6.7/11
6. America's Got Talent, NBC, 6.5/11
7. NBC NFL Pre-season Pre-Game, NBC, 6.4/12
7. (tie) Without a Trace (Sunday), CBS, 6.4/11
9. 60 Minutes, CBS, 6.3/12
10. So You Think Can Dance (Wednesday), Fox, 6.0/10

Skating While Pregnant

Kristy Swanson has announced to people that she is pregnant with Lloyd Eisler's baby. The couple won this year's Skating With Celebrity reality competition on FOX. The two were partners and began dating in December. The coupling caused controversy because at the time Eisler was waiting the birth of his child with his wife. The two separated in November, and Swanson began dating him soon after. The couple are expecting the birth in the month's ahead. They wanted to wait until Swanson was passed her first trimester before making any official announcement.