Author: SuburBint

The best thing about this week’s episode was the commercial for Sleeping Dogs, coming soon to a home video game console near you! “You’re a cop. I am an undercover cop. The rules are different.” The episode starts about five minutes before the end of last week’s episode, so we get to relive the overwhelming [...]

Friday, July 20 It’s National Lollipop Day! I’ve heard that Sees Candy stores are giving away free lollipops today in honor of this important national holiday. 20/20 (ABC 9pm) The hourlong broadcast includes insightful interviews with notable figures from the worlds of news, politics and entertainment, hosted by Elizabeth Vargas and Chris Cuomo. A revolving [...]

Thursday, July 19 The Great Fire of Rome began on this date in the year 64 A.D. While the actual cause still remains a mystery, historians can agree that Nero did not “fiddle while Rome burned” as he was in Antium, approximately 30 miles away. Duets (ABC 8pm) After a final performance from contestants and [...]

Wednesday, July 18 Kristen Bell, the most adorable actress on the face of the planet, turns 32 today. Here’s hoping her boyfriend didn’t rent another sloth for her birthday party! (Or maybe here’s hoping he did. The results were epic. As is this autotune video.) Big Brother (CBS 8pm) Contestants compete in the veto competition. [...]

Tuesday, July 17 Disneyland opened on this date in 1955. I can’t snark on that, I freaking love Disneyland. Hell’s Kitchen (Fox 8pm) The remaining contestants have a chance to impress chef Ramsay when they create items for the dinner menu. They will, however, squander that chance in an epic way. I’m sincerely hoping at [...]

Guess who’s NOT coming to dinner?

Monday, July 16 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera Die Entführung aus dem Serail, better known as Il Seraglio, debuted on this date in 1782. Now I want to watch Amadeus for the 50th time. What can I say, I’ve always had a soft spot for Salieri. The Bachelorette (ABC 8pm) The Men Tell All: Memorable bachelors [...]

Saturday, July 14 Happy Bastille Day, or as the French call it, “La Fête Nationale” or “le quatorze juillet.” So drink some wine, eat some brie on a fresh baguette, and sing “La Marseillaise.” The Firm (NBC 10pm) Finale: A new enemy threatens Ray and Tammy’s wedding; Mitch makes a stunning discovery as Patrick Walker’s [...]

Friday, July 13 When I pulled up the zap2it.com TV listings page, just like I always do when writing this column, this is what I was met with. Even after refreshing the page. Twice. And it’s Friday the 13th. You may begin hearing the Twilight Zone music in your brain now. Deadliest Catch (The Discovery [...]

Thursday, July 11 July 12, 1843, is generally accepted by historians as the date on which Joseph Smith received his official “revelation” regarding the doctrine of plural marriage for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Apparently, when this revelation was read to Joseph’s first wife, Emma, she “did not believe a word [...]

Wednesday, July 11 Legendary baseball player Babe Ruth began his career in Major League Baseball as a starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox on this date in 1914. Dogs in the City (CBS 8pm) Finale: Justin and actress Edie Falco renovate an animal shelter; an aggressive dog who was once attacked; an anxious dog [...]

Tuesday, July 10 On this date in 1553, Lady Jane Grey assumed rule as the Queen of England. Although named as successor to the throne by the previous monarch, Edward IV, Jane was deposed after a mere nine days as queen due to a convoluted series of political/religious plots that had been put into play [...]

Monday, July 9 During the Boxer Rebellion, the Governor of Shangxi Province ordered the execution of 45 Christian missionaries and church members, including their children, on this date in 1900. As many of you know, Angel, Spike, Darla and Drusilla took full advantage of the ensuing chaos, snacking on many of the victims, and Spike [...]

Saturday, July 7 On this date in 1456, Joan of Arc was acquitted in a posthumous retrial. Way to go, Catholic Church. NYC 22 (CBS 8pm, 9pm) Yoda remembers his rookie days when a paroled drug lord from the ’80s starts looking for revenge on the people who got him put away; Tonya and Kenny [...]

Friday, July 6 On this date in 1885, Louis Pasteur gave the first successful rabies vaccine to Joseph Meister, a nine year old boy who had been bitten by a rabid dog. Meister grew up to become the caretaker for the Pasteur Institute until he killed himself in 1940 due to despair over the Nazi [...]

Thursday, July 5 On this date in 1996, Dolly the sheep, the first mammal to be successfully cloned, was born. She was named Dolly because the cell from which her DNA was extracted came from a mammary gland, and the scientists involved “couldn’t think of a more impressive pair of glands than Dolly Parton’s.” That’s [...]

Tuesday, July 3 The oldest newspaper still in print in Norway was first published on this date in 1767. Originally called Kongelig allene privilegerede Trondheims Adresse-Contoirs Efterretninger, it now goes by the name Adresseavisen, and is the paper that published the highly controversial cartoon that was supposed by many to be a caricature of the [...]

Monday, July 2 WalMart turns fifty today, as the very first WalMart store opened on this date in 1962. Freaking WalMart. The Bachelorette (ABC 8pm) Emily visits Arie, Chris, Jef and Sean in their hometowns. I can’t wait for her to meet all of Jef’s really good male friends. With whom he plays sports ball. [...]

Saturday, June 30 On this date in 1882, the remarkably odd and delusional Charles Guiteau was hanged for the assassination of President James Garfield. He believed that this act was necessary for the future health and stability of the United States, and in his trial he even claimed that, while it was his hand holding [...]

Friday, June 29 On this date in 1974, Mikhail Baryshnikov defected from the USSR to Canada. Had Canada known of his eventual guest star stint on Sex and the City, they probably would have shipped his ass back to Mother Russia. After all, even Canadians draw the line somewhere. My Babysitter’s a Vampire (The Disney [...]

It’s all fun and games until somebody loses an ear.

Wednesday, June 27 On this date in 1358 the Republic of Dubrovnik was official declared no longer subject to the rule of Venice and although it was taken under Hungary’s protection, it became a primarily autonomous city-state, until being conquered by Napoleon Bonaparte four hundred fifty years later. Challenge: say “Republic of Dubrovnik” five times [...]

Tuesday, June 26 The Cyclone at Coney Island, the world’s most famous wooden rollercoaster, opened on this date in 1927. It is both an official New York City landmark and a National Historic Landmark. US Olympic Trials (NBC 8pm) Swimming: Live from Omaha, Nebraska They’re holding them in Omaha so that Michael Phelps can chow [...]

Monday, June 25 Our favorite foul-mouthed, cranky-pants, world-traveling, hyper-critical chef, writer, and TV personality, Anthony Bourdain turns fifty-six today. The Bachelorette (ABC 8pm) The group travels to Prague; Emily must decide which men get to take her home to meet their families; Emily addresses Arie’s past relationship with one of the show’s producers. Reality show [...]

This show is completely ludicrous, I feel.

Saturday, June 23 On this date in 1532, Henry VIII and the French king François I signed a secret treaty allying their countries against Charles V of Spain. This was followed by a great deal of cable nudity. Ivory Wars (The Discovery Channel 8pm) With the rise in ivory poaching, Africa’s wild elephants are in [...]

They’re baaaaaack…!

Friday, June 22 This was adopted as the official flag of Sweden in 1906. This fact is about 46 times more interesting than anything on television tonight. Deadliest Catch (The Discovery Channel 8pm) Social Reload: No Exit I know what all of those words mean individually, but couldn’t begin to explain what this episode might [...]

Thursday, June 21 On June 21, 1948, Columbia Records unveiled the first LP record, completely changing the music industry. Before LPs, records could only contain about 5 minutes of music per side, requiring music to be released in actual albums, a book containing several records with generally only two songs (or two movements for classical [...]

Wednesday, June 20 On this date in 1893, Lizzie Borden was acquitted of the brutal hatchet murders of her father and stepmother. While there have been many speculations over the years as to whether or not she was actually guilty, and many other suspects have been hypothesized, you have to admit that Ms. Borden is [...]

Tuesday, June 19 The very first Garfield comic strip was published on this date in 1978. Maybe it’s just because I’m used to what they look like now, but the original Jon and Garfield aren’t anything to write home about.  Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC 8pm) Actor Mark Wahlberg; actress Mila Kunis. I didn’t realize Jimmy [...]

Monday, June 8 On this date in 1873, Susan B Anthony was fined $100 for attempting to vote in the 1972 presidential election. She looks pretty pissed about it. The Bachelorette (ABC 8pm) The group travels to Dubrovnik, Croatia; the men hope Emily’s one-on-one time with Ryan will allow her to see through his facade; [...]

Saturday, June 9 Donald Duck debuted in The Wise Little Hen on this date in 1934. Stanley Cup Final (NBC 8pm) Game 5. From Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. If only Charlie Sheen could have waited for one more game before getting locked out on a smoke break. Stephen Hawking’s Grand Design (The Discovery Channel [...]

Friday, June 8 Joan Rivers turns 79 today. In another 100 years, she will look like this:  Wild Wild West (VH1 6:30pm) Secret agent James T. West and his partner fight evil inventor Dr. Loveless who plans to assassinate President Grant. I actually saw this in the theater. On purpose. Twice. House (Fox 8pm) An [...]

Thursday, June 7 Silent film legend Mary Pickford made her screen debut on this date in 1909, in the film The Violin Maker of Cremona. She was sixteen years old at the time. Duets (ABC 8pm) The music superstars perform inspirational songs with their duet partners; a contestant is eliminated. I happen to find The [...]

Wednesday, June 6 The Chicago “L” made its first for-profit trip on this date in 1892, carrying 30 people from the 39th Street station to the Congress Street Terminal. It now carries an average of 700,000 people every weekday, another 700,000 over the weekend, and the annual ridership for 2011 was over 220 million people. [...]

Tuesday, June 5 On this date in 1956, Elvis Presley scandalized the world with his “provocative” hip movements while performing “Hound Dog” on the Milton Berle show. America’s Got Talent (NBC 8pm) Auditions continue in Austin, Texas. Tell us more! Hell’s Kitchen (Fox 8pm) The teams face a challenge and a dinner service; a contestant [...]

Monday, June 4 On June 4, 1989, the Chinese “People’s Liberation Army” cleared Tiananmen Square of the thousands of protesters who had gathered to speak out against the oppression of China’s Communist government and the grossly disparate lifestyles of the Chinese people and government officials. There is no official death toll from that date, but [...]

June 2 The Marquis de Sade was born on this date in 1740. Apparently television programmers across the globe are celebrating his birthday by airing absolutely abysmal shows this evening in order to torture us for their own pleasure. So let’s move on, shall we? June 3 Ernest Lawrence Thayer’s poem “Casey at the Bat” [...]