I'm not a big reality TV fan, but being a major sports fan I decided to to watch a few episodes of ESPN's "Bound for Glory", a reality show about about high school football. The basic premise is you take a sad sack high school football team, bring in a dynamic head coach and get the once prominant program on track. Of course "Bound for Glory" hired Dick Butkus as the head coach, so the combination should make for great TV right? Not exactly. The whole fiasco just feels like a three-ring circus that's more focused on making a show at the kids expense.
According to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review there were problems with the reality show that escalated when the production wrapped up before the end of the football season:
While Butkus' abrupt departure prompted furor in Western Pennsylvania high school football circles, it was met with a shrug by Montour's players, coaches and administrators.
"We found out four weeks into the season that he wasn't going to be there for the whole season. It wasn't a big shock to us," Montour junior Bryce Pfeuffer said. "I figured, even if he wasn't getting paid, he might stay with us. I guess we weren't that important to him."
To make matters worse, the team went 1-7 for the season. The strange part is that the high school had actually hired a proven coach before Butkus got there:
With Butkus gone, Lou Cerro regained complete control of the team he was hired in February to coach. Cerro led Seton-La Salle to two WPIAL Class AA championships in three years, but he took on the title of "assistant head coach" for the sake of the show.
I really love the quote from the school superintendent:
"This probably would have not gone as smoothly as it did had we not had a coach of the ilk of Lou Cerro," Montour superintendent Dr. Joseph Findley said. "He's not interested in creating his own personal mystique. Lou's main focus is developing the kids."
Hmm. Go hire a good coach, demote him, and then bring in a circus side-show to get the team back on track and then say that the reason everything didn't blow up too bad was because of the coach in the shadows. Yep, sounds like reality TV!
Convert TiVo to Video iPod Format with TVHarmony's AutoPilot
If you've got a TiVo and one of them new fangled iPod Video players, you'll want to check out TVHarmony's AutoPilot. According to PVRWire.com:
TVHarmony.com has released a new version of its AutoPilot software that supports converting TiVo-recorded shows into a format that's compatible with the new video iPod. It also works with Palm devices that can view video.
The software automatically transfers, converts and stores your TV programming. You can select shows to be downloaded automatically, in the middle of the night if you like, and process the transfers into popular formats. AutoPilot keeps track of the shows you've already downloaded so you can transfer an entire TV series without duplicates.
The cool thing is it's free software, so be sure to AutoPilot out.
The four-game sweep by the Chicago White Sox produced the lowest TV ratings for a World Series.
The Series, seen on Fox, attracted an average of 11.1 percent of the 110.2 million U.S. households with televisions, according to Nielsen Media Research Inc.
That was down 30 percent from last year, when the Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals for their first championship since 1918, one year after the White Sox's previous title.
The news is kind of surprising when you figure it was the Astro's first series and Chicago's first in eons. I assume when Clemens got hurt a lot of people gave up on the Astros (I was kinda' in that mindset too). Hopefully we'll see Clemens get another shot at it next year.
Did you notice there seems to be no Cubs fan left? It looks like they all defected to the ChiSox camp (let the hate-mail begin!).
Got an HDTV? Did you know you can get your local major network's HDTV signal for free? All you'll need to do is install an outdoor antenna. CNET.com has a nice 6 part tutorial with video that shows you how to buy and set up an antenna for your HDTV and it starts:
If you have an HDTV with a built-in digital tuner, you can get high-def programming without paying a dime in monthly subscription fees to the local cable or satellite megaconglomerate. You can also enjoy free over-the-air high-def broadcasts if you have an HDTV-ready television connected to an external high-def tuner, such as the Humax HFA100.
All you need, so the story goes, is to connect an antenna. Free high-def programming is explained in depth here, but in short, you can receive high-def broadcasts from the major networks--ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and PBS--over the air in most areas of the country today.
Programming the 30 Second Skip Function on TiVo Series 1, Series 2, and DirectTivo
Since we posted the tutorial about programming the 30 second skip on the Motorola DVR, we thought we'd show you how to program TiVo with the 30 second skip. So for all of our wonderful readers, here are the steps for programming the 30 second skip feature on the TiVo Series 1, Series 2, and DirectTivo.
While watching a recording, press
Select
Play
Select
30
Select
Try out the skip by pressing the "advance" button on your remote. It should skip through the recording by 30-second jumps.
If you've successfully entered the code, you'll hear three "dings" in succession to inform you that you've successfully enabled the 30 second skip.
Power outages and software updates will require you to re-enable the 30 second skip feature, so keep these codes handy
Nielsen Media Research Top 10- Broadcast Primetime- Week of Oct. 17-23, 2005
BROADCAST PRIMETIME- Week of Oct. 17-23, 2005
Rank*
Program
Network
Household Rating**
Total Viewers***
1
CSI
CBS
17.7
19,517,000
2
Desperate Housewives
ABC
15.9
17,506,000
3
Without a Trace
CBS
13.4
14,788,000
4
Lost
ABC
12.7
13,974,000
5
Grey's
Anatomy
ABC
12.1
13,340,000
6
CSI:
Miami
CBS
11.9
13,085,000
7
NCIS
CBS
11.6
12,763,000
8
Fox
World Series Game 2
FOX
11.1
12,190,000
9
Commander
In Chief
ABC
10.7
11,836,000
10
60
Minutes
CBS
10.6
11,723,000
*Rank is based on U.S. Household Rating % from Nielsen Media Research's National People Meter Sample
**A household Rating is the estimate of the size of a television audience relative to the total universe, expressed as a percentage.
As of September 20, 2004, there are an estimated 109.6 million television households in the U.S. A single national household ratings point represents 1%, or 1,096,000 households.
***Total viewers includes all persons over the age of two.
Used with permission:
Nielsen Media Research, Inc. The Information contained herein is the copyrighted property of Nielsen Media Research, Inc. Unauthorized use of this copyrighted material is expressly prohibited. All Rights Reserved.
If you're looking to start moving those old VHS tapes to DVD, you'll want to check out the JVC DVD Recorder / Hi-Fi VHS VCR Combo Deal at Woot:
Note: These units are refurbished and the deal ends at midnight or when they sell out. Better move fast!
Features:
DVD:
Playable Formats: DVD-Video, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R, CD, VCD, CD-R/RW, MP3/JPEG Digital Still (CD-R/RW)
Recordable Formats: DVD-RAM, DVD-RW (VR and Video Formats), DVD-R
Digital Direct Progressive Scan Output (for Film Source)
Super MPEG Encode Pre-Processor: Time Base Corrector, Frame Synchronizer and Motion Active Noise Reduction
Super MPEG Post-Processor: Block Noise Reduction Circuit, Color DigiPure and Hadamard Noise Reduction System
8-Hour DVD Recording
Library Database DVD Navigation
DVD Navigation with Animated Thumbnail (DVD-RAM/DVD-RW VR Format)
HD versus HD-ready probably causes the most confusion for television buyers. Here is a breakdown from HP.com:
HD, or integrated HD, means that all of the equipment needed to accept and reproduce high definition content is provided on a television right out of the box. HD-ready, on the other hand, means that the television is capable of displaying HD content, but a separate HD tuner/receiver is required to convert on-air and cable/satellite signals to higher resolutions.
An HD-ready TV is probably sufficient for most buyers since almost every cable and satellite company offer HD tuner boxes now. So the next time you're HDTV shopping, you'll know what it means when the display says HD-ready.
In reality, most of us buy a TV by what we can afford, not necessarily by features. CNET.com has a really nice TV buying guide that breaks down these price ranges:
CrazyAboutTV.com: Great Resources for Couch Potatoes
Looking for information and trivia about your favorite TV show? Be sure to check out CrazyAboutTV.com. It's amazing how many listings they have on their site. The listing contain all kinds of information about a show like:
If you're still recording from your TV to a VCR, I'm here to gently nudge you
into the wonderful world of DVD recorders. Just a few short years ago, a
stand-alone DVD recorder would have cost you between $400 to $800, much higher
than the typical consumer was willing to spend. Just like most technologies
though, we've seen the prices drop dramatically into the $150 to $400 range.
Today, we're talking about Pioneer's newest entry level DVD Recorder, the
DVR-233. The $199 DVR-233 is no slouch when it comes to DVD recorders but was
specifically designed with the new user in mind. As you can see from the
following images, the DVR-233 is standard size with the basic AV connections on
the back and AV input connections on the front.
Programming the 30 Second Skip Function on Your Motorola 6400 Series DVR
I've always been envious of TiVo and ReplayTV users and their ability to zip through commercials (recorded shows only) with a 30 second skip button. If you're not familiar with the 30 second skip, it's just like it sounds. You push a button while watching a recorded program and you'll skip ahead 30 seconds. During commercials, whacking on the skip button 3 or 4 times is much faster and easier than the fast forward button.
Well if you're a cable customer that uses a Motorola DCT6400 series DVR, you should be able to program a 30 second skip on your remote too. I say should because it may depend on what cable company you use but in most cases, the skip codes should work. In this tutorial we'll show you what remote you need and how to program the 30 second skip feature on a few different remotes.
Let's start with the remotes that can and cannot be programmed. If you have the new dual tuner (DCT6412) box, you probably have the DRC800 remote pictured below.
How Have DVRs and TiVo Changed Your Viewing Habits?
So I've gotten several emails reminding me that I haven't updated my HBO's "Extras" quote of the week lately. I apologize and have a confession to make. I watch a lot of TV but I'm always behind and about the only shows I watch live are sports. My viewing habits have really changed since I got a DVR. There's nothing sweeter than watching TV shows on my terms.
So I've got 3 "Extras" on the DVR which I'll try to watch this week and then do an update. How do use your DVR? You can also leave a comment if you'd like:
Court TV and John Waters: How Weird Can it Really Get?
There's some weird stuff on television, but I guess Court TV thinks we need something really wacky. You say a half-hour series about true-crime domestic murder mysteries isn't that weird? What if I tould you the host was John Waters? Yep, I had had the same expression. According to the The Detroit News:
Taking a half-step from real courtrooms to "Law and Order"-style dramas, Court TV plans to air a new half-hour series this winter about true-crime domestic murder mysteries hosted by iconoclastic film director John Waters.
The series, called "Til Death Do Us Part," will focus on a single spousal murder in each episode, beginning with a reenactment of the wedding. Waters will serve as the "groom reaper," walking the viewer through each story.
"It has a little bit of irony to it, especially to start at the wedding," said Marc Juris, Court TV's general manager of programming and marketing. "Every bad marriage does have a happy wedding."
What's next? Geraldo's special on Yellow Journalism?
It's amazing the things you learn when you're goofing off working. I recently came across B.J. Novak's blog on TVGuide.com. B.J. plays Ryan the temp on the American version of "The Office". What I didn't realize is that he was also one of the writers on the show. In fact, several of the actors on "The Office" serve dual roles as writers according to B.J.'s blog:
One unique thing about our show is that we have a lot of writer-actors, including me, Paul Lieberstein (Toby) and Mindy Kaling (Kelly). And a lot of our main cast members are writers in "real life," including Steve, who cowrote his movie, The 40 Year Old Virgin; and John, who just adapted a novel. Jenna [Fischer, Pam] and Rainn are both married to successful writers. Rainn also writes poetry, but I read it and it sucked.
We start a batch of episodes with a handful of comedy writers, always in jeans and sneakers (except for Mindy Kaling, the Beyonce of our writers' room, who is typically all blinged out), procrastinating and trying to make each other laugh with story ideas. (By procrastinating, I really mean procrastinating, as in painting chopsticks to resemble Harry Potter wands.) Then we narrow it down to the stories that are the most interesting, funny and realistic, and we start outlining those ideas as a group. Each writer is then assigned one script idea and goes off to write a first draft. Sounds simple, right? Think again. Still sounds simple, even after you thought again? Fair enough.
While the American version may not be as good as the British version of "The Office, I still think it's still one of the best shows on TV. What's great is that as executive producers, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant stuck to the same formula that made the BBC version so popular. Instead of handing the show over to a bunch of "just" writers, they got talent that could really control the direction of the show with their writing and acting skills. It definitely makes "The Office" a must watch show.
Nielsen Media Research Top 10- Broadcast Primetime- Week of Oct. 10-16, 2005
BROADCAST PRIMETIME- Week of Oct. 10-16, 2005
Rank
Program
Network
Household Rating
Total Viewers
1
CSI
CBS
17.4
19,156,000
2
Desperate Housewives
ABC
16.1
17,690,000
3
Without a Trace
CBS
13.4
14,744,000
4
Lost
ABC
12.8
14,114,000
5
Grey's
Anatomy
ABC
12.2
13,405,000
6
CSI:
Miami
CBS
11.9
13,159,000
7
NCIS
CBS
10.9
11,982,000
8
Commander
In Chief
ABC
10.8
11,875,000
9
Survivor:
Guatemala
CBS
10.5
11,549,000
10
60
Minutes
CBS
10.3
11,330,000
Used with permission:
Nielsen Media Research, Inc. The Information contained herein is the
copyrighted property of Nielsen Media Research, Inc. Unauthorized use of this
copyrighted material is expressly prohibited. All Rights Reserved.
Plasma TV Fireplace - A Great Way to Hide That Ugly Plasma TV in a Beautiful Faux Fixture
I guess if you're the type who doesn't want your plasma TV to always be out in the open, you can hide it in your fireplace. Yep, you can invest some big dough in the Plasma TV Fireplace from Picture House. According to Mavromatic.com:
It’s an interesting idea, but they don’t have me sold… there’s something not right about spending that much on a Plasma, then putting it inside a fake fireplace. I think putting the fireplace inside the plasma is more geek acceptable. As for pricing on one of these handcrafted faux fireplaces, you’ll need to contact Picture House directly, but to give you a rough idea, the NAPOLI model has a list price of £5256 (or $9,228.21 US), less display. The whole kit includes the cabinet or fireplace, the ‘super thin’ lift mechanism, infrared remote control and installation instructions.
Although there's not a real flame, there is a "heater" built-in which is kind of scary. So what does a melting plasma screen smell like?
The Classé CDP-300 - The World's Most Beautiful $6500, 35lb DVD Player
I'm just enough of a dreamer (that means fool in French) to still believe I might have enough change in the couch cushions to get the Samsung TV we talked about the other day. If I dig really hard, I might be able to also get one of the most beautiful DVD players I've ever seen. The Classé CDP-300 sports a metal case, touch-screen, and will only set you back $6,500. According to Engadget:
As the first model in the Delta series, the CDP-300 hints at good things to come from this lineup, with 1080p upconverting via HDMI, XLR balanced outputs, component RGBHV, a touchscreen display, and the usual assortment of regular component video, S-video, composite, digital coax, and optical hookups. One nice feature of the touchscreen is that it also serves as a video preview monitor, so you can view and control DVD-Audio discs without powering-up your main display.
TV Walker Flash - TV Tuner and USB Flash All-In-One
Lately, portable TV has been creating quite a buzz. While there's several technologies to make television portable, I've got to say I'm intrigued by the "TV Walker Flash" device from Lifeview. It's pretty much a TV tuner built into a USB flash drive. According to Lifeview:
By incorporating flash memory, the TV Walker Flash do much more than store your files – you can record digital TV directly to the onboard storage and play it back on any computer! The drivers and application are preloaded on the unit, giving you a truly portable TV solution – simply plug it in to any computer and install the necessary files on the spot, no CD or downloads required! With its amazing functionality, ultra portable size and classy looks, you’ll want to take it everywhere!
The TV Walker Flash comes in 1GB/2GB/4GB sizes. There's no details on price or availabilty, but we'll keep you posted.
Editor's Note: Steven over at DTVFacts.com posted a comment about a point we failed to mention:
Alas, it's for DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting)-- it won't pick up U.S. TV broadcasts.
Yep, no luck with analog broadcasts. Thanks Steven.
There seems to be a lot of "insider" blogs coming out lately, especially from large companies and the entertainment industry. CBS.com is jumping on the bandwagon according to Yahoo News:
Corey Miller, executive story editor for "CSI: Miami," tells viewers how an episode goes from initial idea to final cut as he shares his perspective. James Van Praagh, co-executive producer of "Ghost Whisperer," is extending his online presence with a blog that provides information about the show, augmented by news relevant to the spirit world. And contestants from previous seasons comment on events during "Survivor: Guatemala."
There also seems to be an influx of "mock" blogs like this one from CBS:
Each show's blog is designed to reflect and extend the tone of the program. For example, the writers of freshman comedy "How I Met Your Mother" are creating Barney's Blog, using the voice of the character played by Neil Patrick Harris.
So I went to check out Barney's Blog. How freakin' lame. The first thing they need to do is get rid of the full page advertisments between "fake" blog posts. If you're going to have a "mock" blog, how about putting a little effort into it like Darth Vader did on his blog.
Looking to enhance your color settings on your TV? You might want to check out the SpyderTV. The $250 device claims to calibrate your color settings on about any TV:
Have you ever noticed that all the TVs in a retail showroom look different and wondered which one was right? If any? Have you ever tried to adjust your TV settings to get a better picture and never quite gotten it right? SpyderTV takes the guesswork out of improving your TV picture. It doesn’t rely on the human eye, which is subjective. Instead it uses the Spyder, a scientific colorimeter that replaces the human eye. SpyderTV will:
Allow you to see your favorite shows and movies just as the director intended.
Increase the realism of your programs by extending highlight and shadow detail.
Enhance your TVs dark images for better visibility — If you’re a gamer you will really love this benefit.
Improve your overall viewing experience and give you the satisfaction of knowing that your TV has the optimum settings for your set-up.
The way it works is:
The Datacolor SpyderTV colorimeter and software deliver an easy-to-use solution for optimizing any TV for a better viewing experience. SpyderTV scientifically measures contrast, brightness, color, tint, and color temperature presets on your TV and helps you make the necessary adjustments to dramatically improve your picture quality. SpyderTV supports Plasma, RPTV, DLP, LCD and CRT TVs.
The SpyderTV sensor is attached to your laptop or desktop computer using a USB cable, and then attaches to the front of your TV screen. Then the sensor analyzes the test patterns on the DVD. Based on the information it sees, the software running on your computer instructs you how to adjust your settings accurately without any guesswork. The SpyderTV is like an electronic "eye" that makes scientific measurements and tells you how to make the right adjustments that would be impossible to make with the human eye alone.
If you use the SpyderTV, let us know what you think.
Opening the door to a new revenue stream for television content, the Walt Disney Co. said on Wednesday it will begin offering next-day digital downloads of its biggest ABC prime time hits for $1.99 per episode.
The article continues:
As part of that collaboration, commercial free episodes of two of U.S. television's highest rated shows -- ABC's "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" -- will be available for download from Apple's iTunes online music store a day after their network broadcast. Last season's episodes will be available for download immediately.
Viewers will then be able to watch the shows at their leisure on the new video playing iPods and newly upgraded iMac computers unveiled by Apple on Wednesday.
It's not going to be long till television viewing is completely portable (at a cost of course!).
When Reality TV Makes a Bigger Mess of Reality
Continue reading: 
We've been very busy bloggers this past week. One of our blogs TV Snob has been very very busy. They've found some very cool stuff to enhance your TV experience including: 
