Christmas In My Home and Heart by Robin McGraw (a J!-ENT Book Review)

For family’s who want to start their own Christmas tradition, have their own elaborate Christmas party or just creative ideas to share the holiday season with family and friends, you can’t go wrong with Robin McGraw’s “Christmas In My Home and Heart”.

TITLE: Christmas in My Home and Heart

BY: Robin McGraw

PUBLISHER: Thomas Nelson

PAGE COUNT: 116

In the midst of a busy and sometimes hectic holiday season, stop with me to celebrate the heart of Christmas.  The rejoicing, baking, giving and joyous laughter filling a home – all these make for cherished memories.

I’d like to share what we do to capture the true meaning of the Christmas season in our home.  On these pages you will find:

• Our family’s favorite traditions
• Delicious and easy recipes
• Steps to help you prioritize and plan ahead for the holidays
• Ways to extend Christmas joy to others
• Parties with a friendly flair
  

New York Times Bestselling author Robin McGraw (wife of TV personality Phil McGraw aka “Dr. Phil”) who has written books such as “Inside My Heart”, “What’s Age Got to Do With It?” and “Robin McGraw’s Complete Makeover Guide” returned with personal book titled “Christmas In My Home and Heart”.

The book features Robin McGraw talking about how she and her family celebrate Christmas but also for those who want to learn really good tips from throwing a Christmas Party to how not to stress out when planning one, readers can enjoy the various tips but also recipes that McGraw shares.

The chapters in “Christmas In My Home and Heart” are:

• Christmas In My Home – Creating memories and celebrating the season
• Christmas In My Neighborhood – Creating and spreading hospitality
• Christmas In My Thoughts – Cherishing memories with loved ones
• Christmas In My Service to Others – Reaching Out to Others in Need
• Christmas In My Heart – Drawing Near to God

But one of the biggest selling points of the book which many have enjoyed are the beautiful full color photos of Christmas at the McGraw home.  I know some people may wonder if this book is for them because the McGraw family is obviously of a higher financial status.  But Robin McGraw talks about how she celebrated Christmas from their tiny little apartment with Phil but also her passionate about the holidays today.

If anything, the book is for everyone who wants to have a special Christmas and how decorating can be a fun, yearly family event but also how one can start their own family Christmas and build upon year after year.

And for me, that was what brought my attention to this book because personally, my personal family Christmas memories were back when my grandmother was alive and she always made Christmas and the mother of December so exciting, vibrant and I can easily remember the big tree, the ornaments, the decorations and most of all, the big parties she would host.  Granted, our parties were not as elaborate as Bergman’s “Fanny and Alexander” or anything like that but those were one of the best memories of my life and unfortunately, when she passed away…our Christmas family tradition ended.

But now that my wife has interest of doing something special for Christmas, especially with our child and having some sort of tradition, I felt that with Christmas coming up, I need some perspective, we need some inspiration and what better than to check out “Christmas in My Home and Heart”.

Overall, I felt that Robin McGraw has a lot of great advice for building that family tradition for the Christmas holiday.  Granted, we may not be anywhere close to where McGraw’s family or even my grandmother’s nice Christmas set-up but it’s all about creating your own memories and building it.  Making it memorable not for ourselves but the family and people we share Christmas with.

If you’re in a similar position or someone that is looking for a book on creative ideas, organization or planning for the holidays, definitely give “Christmas In My Home and Heart” by Robin McGraw a try.

 

OISHINBO A la Carte – The Joy of Rice (a J!-ENT Manga Review)

The award winning manga that has captured the attention of Japanese readers since 1983 and is still ongoing today.  ‘OISHINBO A la Carte – The Joy of Rice” is another enjoyable release and features more on Japan’s rich history of rice and its importance to the people of Japan.   Highly recommended!

Image courtesy of © Tetsu KARIYA and Akira HANASAKI.  All Rights Reserved.

MANGA TITLE: OISHINBO A la Carte – The Joy of Rice

STORY AND ART BY: Story by Tetsu Kariya, Art by Akihara Hanasaki

FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: Shogakukan, Inc.

PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ Media, LLC

RATED: T for Teen

Released: November 2009

As part of the celebrations for its 100th anniversary, the publishers of the Tozai News have commissioned the creation of the “Ultimate Menu”, a model meal embodying the pinnacle of Japanese cuisine.  This all-important task has been entrusted to journalist Yamaoka Shiro, an inveterate cynic who possesses zero initiative – but also an incredibly refined palate and an encyclopedic knowledge of food.

Each volume of Oishinbo follows Yamaoka and his colleagues through another adventure of their quest for the Ultimate Menu.  Now, the highlights from the hundred-plus volume series have been selected and compiled into A la Carte Editions: bite-sized chunks of story arranged by subject that add up to a full-course manga meal!

In this volume of Oishinbo, Yamaoka and company look into the single most essential food in Japanese cuisine: rice.  Cultivated for millenia, a staple meal in itself and the basis of countless other dishes, rice is an important component not only of the Japanese kitchen but also of Japanese culture.  When Yamaoka is asked by Tozai’s head chef for help coming up with a new rice dish, what starts out as a simple culinary request rapidly grows into a disquisition into the past, present and future of Japan’s food culture.

The long running manga “Oishinbo” (which means “The Gourmet”) is a popular best-selling manga series published by Shogakukan which has been ongoing since 1983.  The series have sold 1.2 million copies per volume annually and have sold more than 100 million volumes as of Jan. 2009.

Written by Tetsu Kariya and art by Akira Hanasaki, the series has won multiple awards and has had a successful anime TV series run from 1988 through 1992.  And now the series is being released in the United States from Viz Media through their Viz Signature.   Because there have been so many volumes, Viz has selected chapters from the popular manga and will separate each volume release by cuisine topic.

So, far the following manga been released:

• Oishinbo A la Carte – The making of food, beverages and utensils
• Oishinbo – Sake
• Oishinbo A la Carte – Ramen & Gyoza
• Oishinbo A la Carte – Fish, Sushi and Sashimi
• Oishinbo A la Carte – Vegetables

“Oishinbo” revolves around the employees of the newspaper Tozai News with its employees commissioned to create the “Ultimate Menu”, a model meal that embodies the pinnacle of Japanese cuisine.  Both Shiro Yamaoka and Yuko Kurita are in charge of the project and throughout each chapter, the series is broken down to several types of dishes or food related items and how each dish is created.

Meanwhile, his father, who Shiro has had an estranged relationship for years after his mother’s death, the world renown founder and director of prestigious Gourmet Club and Japanese pottery creator, Kaibara Yuzan heads the “Supreme Menu” for a rival newspaper. So, both Shiro and his father are known to butt heads many times.  With Kaibara looking at his son as a person with a lacking knowledge of cuisine but Shiro, never to stand down against his father, proving that he knows more than his father thinks.

The characters featured in “OISHINBO” are:

Shiro Yamaoka – A journalist for Tozai News who knows his food and how things are created but he is estranged from his father, a prominent artist and founder and director of the Gourmet Club.  He despises his father because of the death of his mother.  Yamaoka was trained from a young age by his father, Kaibara.

Kaibara Yuzan – The father of Shiro Yamaoka is a prominent artist and founder and director of the Gourmet Club.  Because of his prominent stature, all restaurants fear him and thus feel the need to create perfect food for him.  Estranged from his son Shiro and despises him for destroying all of his paintings and pottery worth tens or hundreds of million yen.  A man widely revered for his sense of taste and feared for his ferocious temper.    He heads the “Supreme Menu” project for Teito Times, rival paper to the Tozai News that his son works for.

Yuko Kurita – Knowledgeable about food and partner of Shiro.  She learns a lot from him.

Daizo Ohara – Publisher of Tozai News

Hideo Tanimura – Director of Tozai News Art & Culture Department

Tomio Tomii - Deputy Director working under Tanimura

Tojin Toyama - A legendary ceramicist and gourmet

Mantaro Kyogoku – A wealthy businessman and gourmet

Seiiichi Okaboshi – Chef/owner of a sushi shop and Shiro’s local hangout

Tokuo Nakugawa – The head chef for Gourmet Club

For this latest volume of “OISHINBO A la Carte”, the stories are broken up in chapters that relate to rice.  Here is a spoiler-less summary of each chapter:

1. Recipe: Scallop Rice - Featured in one of the stories of this volume, a recipe featuring photos (in color) of how to prepare scallop rice.
2. FIRST COURSE – A Remarkable Mediocrity - An earlier story featuring Kyogoku Mantaro (The wealthy businessman), as Tozai news tries to get the millionaire to lend his Renoir for the Impressionist Art Exhibition through food but accidentally offending him.  Can Yamaoka win him back?
3. SECOND COURSE – Brown Rice vs. White Rice (Part One) - A group of the judo women’s team must incorporate brown rice into their diet but they dislike it.
4. SECOND COURSE – Brown Rice vs. White Rice (Part Two) -  Yamaoka must show Takeko Miyamoto, supervisor of the Buiku Women’s College Judo Team of why their version of brown rice is not good.
5. THIRD COURSE – LIVE RICE – Yamaoka try to help Arakawa-san how to cook rice (using a rice mill) to please her boyfriend’s mother.
6. FOURTH COURSE – Companions of Rice – Yamaoka must convince the deputy prime minister why they should not import rice to Japan.
7. FIFTH COURSE – The Matsutake Rice of the Sea – Mantaro has a bet with his friend/rival on who can cook the best Matsutake rice but something bad happens to his friend.
8. Oishinbo Day-by-Day – Tetsuya Kariya talks about the act of eating rice and comparisons of Japan, Chinese and South Korea when it comes to eating certain food with rice.
9. SIXTH COURSE – No Mixing – Tozai News chef and employees want to include mixed rice into the menu but the publisher Oharo Daizo is against it.
10. SEVENTH COURSE – The Season for Oysters - Yamaoka must prove to his boss why oysters are better in the Summer and also learning of scallops with rice.
11. EIGHTH COURSE – Rice Ball Match (Part One) – The Ultimate Menu (Tozai News) challenges the Supreme Menu (Teito Times)  in a rice ball competition.
12. EIGHTH COURSE – Rice Ball Match (Part Two) – The Ultimate Menu (Tozai News) showcases their rice ball recipes to the judges.
13. EIGHTH COURSE – Rice Ball Match (Part Three) – The Supreme Menu (Teito Times) showcases their rice ball to the judges.

Also, included at the end of the main chapters is a “Notes on the Text” which explains certain panels and meaning of certain Japanese words.

I absolutely love “OISHINBO A la Carte”.  Any fans of Japanese cuisine can also read this manga and just be amazed of how enjoyable, how witty, how smart each story is written.  Not only are the readers engrossed by the characters, especially the rivalry between Shiro and his father Kaibara Yuzan, you really learn about the Japanese perspective of cuisine and also preparation.

With “OISHINBO A la Carte – The Joy of Rice”, this latest volume is quite interesting as in previous volumes, there was more focus on competitions between Tozai News (Ultimate Menu) versus Teito Times (Supreme Menu).  But in this volume, with rice being so important in the Japanese diet, there is more focus on the history of rice in Japan and its importance.  We get to learn about Yamaoka and Japanese who worry about importation of rice, we learn about the differences between short-grain and long-grain rice and also how the environment is hurting certain ingredients that Japanese loved with rice but is now becoming rare in today’s society.

The latest volume of “Oishinbo A la Carte” was once again enjoyable.  Just to remind everyone that because the manga series has been around since 1983, there was just no way the complete series could be released in the US.  So, Viz Media chose to separate each volume based on a food item/ingredient or beverage.  So, you do miss out on the romantic storyline but nevertheless, the focus is on the food and for the most part, each volume is informative, educational and also very enjoyable to read.

Overall, each volume of “OISHINBO A la Carte” has been magnificent and this latest volume is just as enjoyable as the previous releases.  Highly recommended!

 

JO DEE MESSINA, ROD STEWART, ROB THOMAS AND THE MUPPETS JOIN THE STAR-STUDDED LINEUP FOR “CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER”

ALREADY SCHEDULED TO APPEAR DURING THIS YEAR’S HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR ARE MICHAEL BUBLÉ, ARETHA FRANKLIN, ALICIA KEYS, BARRY MANILOW, THE ROOTS, SHAKIRA, TAYLOR SCHILLING (NBC’S “MERCY”), JAMES TUPPER (NBC’S “MERCY”) AND BRIAN WILLIAMS (“NBC NIGHTLY NEWS”)
THEY WILL ALL JOIN IN THE HOLIDAY FUN TO LIGHT UP THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS CHRISTMAS TREE FOR NBC’S 12TH ANNUAL ‘CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER’ SPECIAL ON DECEMBER 2 (8-9 P.M. ET/PT)

Jane Krakowski (“30 Rock”) and Zachary Levi (“Chuck”) To Co-Host

NBC Universal and The Arbor Day Foundation Team Up to Add More Green to the 77th Annual Live Holiday Celebration with an Interactive Viewer Experience

NEW YORK – November 30, 2009 – Jo Dee Messina, Rod Stewart, Rob Thomas, Stefania Fernandez (Miss Universe), Stormi Bree Henley (Miss Teen USA), and The Muppets will join NBC’s star-studded lineup for the 12th annual “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” special on Wednesday, December 2 (8pm-9pmET). This dazzling display of musical talent and the lighting of the world’s most famous Christmas tree during the “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” telecast will be co-hosted by NBC stars Jane Krakowski (“30 Rock”) and Zachary Levi (“Chuck”) and broadcast in high definition. This holiday tree lighting celebration will also feature Michael Bubl?, Aretha Franklin, Jose Feliciano, Alicia Keys, Barry Manilow, The Roots, Shakira, and The Radio City Rockettes performing a mix of current hits and holiday classics from beautifully ornamented stages around Rockefeller Center in New York City.

José Feliciano is a world-renowned performer who is often cited as the first Latin Artist to cross over into the English music market, opening doors for other Latin musicians who now feature prominently in the American music landscape. Born blind to humble beginnings in Lares, Puerto Rico and raised right here in New York City, Feliciano taught himself to play and today is hailed by many critics as the world’s “greatest living guitarist.” Jos? has garnered over forty-five Gold and Platinum records, and been recognized by his musical peers with seven Grammy Awards. Feliciano is also a proud recipient of both Billboard’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” and the Kennedy Center’s Hispanic Heritage Lifetime Achievement Award. Jos?’s timeless Christmas classic Feliz Navidad is now the most broadcast holiday song at radio across America each year, and has just been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Jo Dee Messina is an award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist that has given her heart and soul to find success. She’s had 9 #1 country singles, has been honored by The Country Music Association, The Academy of Country Music and The Grammy Awards and was the first female country artist to score three multiple-week #1 songs from the same album. She debuted in 1996 with the single “Heads Carolina, Tails California”. Her album was certified Gold by the RIAA. With four huge radio hits, her second album I’m Alright was certified double platinum and she won the CMA’s Horizon Award in 1999. The follow-up album, “Burn”, was certified platinum, and her self-titled debut was eventually certified gold. She also scored an adult contemporary hit with “Bring on the Rain,” with McGraw on harmonies. In addition to headlining concerts, she also toured with Vince Gill, George Strait and the Judds’ reunion tour. Her fame also led to television roles on Touched by an Angel and Nash Bridges. In January 2010, Jo Dee is scheduled to release the single, “That’s God” in advance of her upcoming fifth studio album, Unmistakable set for a Spring release.

Grammy Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Rod Stewart has just released Soulbook (J Records), a collection of classic Sixties/Seventies-era soul favorites, all newly recorded by the quintessential “blue eyed soul” singer of our generation. Rod Stewart possesses one of the most distinctive and interpretive voices in music — his Grammy-Award winning recordings of the Great American Songbook have sold over 19 million albums and is the biggest selling ongoing series of new music recordings in history. Soulbook is a loving tribute to a glorious period in pop history- it features his renditions of such immortal songs as “Love Train,” “It’s The Same Old Song,” “Tracks of My Tears.” and features two superstar duets “You Make Me Feel Brand New” with Mary J.Blige and “Let It Be Me” with Jennifer Hudson. With an estimated 250 million in album and single sales, Stewart is also one of the most successful performers of all time. His last six studio albums for J Records have all debuted Top 5 on the Billboard Album chart.

Superstar singer and songwriter Rob Thomas is known for leading the alternative rock band Matchbox Twenty, as well as a high-profile solo music career. Thomas is the recipient of multiple Grammy Awards, has sold over 80 million albums worldwide and has collaborated with noted musical talents such as Carlos Santana, Willie Nelson, Marc Anthony and Mick Jagger. Matchbox Twenty exploded onto the music scene with the 1996 with the 12 time platinum album Yourself or Someone Like You, which boasted five U.S. hit singles. Thomas pursued a solo career in 2005 with the release of “…Something to Be” which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200. It was an immediate success, featuring the hit singles, “Lonely No More”, “This Is How a Heartbreaks” and “Ever The Same”. In July, Thomas released his acclaimed second solo album, cradlesong, which has spawned the hit songs, “Her Diamonds” and “Someday”.

Appearing on television almost every day since the 1960s, the Muppets were created by Jim Henson in the 1950s and have become a cultural phenomenon. Featured in television shows such as Sesame Street, The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock, not to mention numerous feature films, the Muppets have solidified their place in the realm of pop culture. The Muppets’ most recent television special was A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa. With a new Disney movie in the works, the future only looks brighter for our Muppet friends.

This year, NBC Universal through its “Green is Universal” initiative, is happy to work with the Arbor Day Foundation to “Text For Your Tree.” Every half hour throughout the national broadcast viewers will be prompted to text NBCU to have a tree planted on their behalf. The trees will be planted by the Arbor Day Foundation, and underwritten by their partners. Additionally, the “Text For Your Tree” promotion will be extended online with an interactive site on both arborday.org and greenisuniversal.com sites. This partnership is expected to drive awareness for the environment and the Arbor Day Foundation – and help to get up to 500,000 trees planted.

The tradition of the Rockefeller Christmas tree dates back to the Great Depression. First erected in 1933, the tree was decked with 700 lights and placed in front of the then eight-month-old RCA Building, now the GE Building. The Christmas tree gathering was enhanced in 1936 with the opening of the Rockefeller Plaza outdoor ice-skating rink. NBC-TV televised the first tree lighting in 1951 on “The Kate Smith Show” and as part of the nationwide “Howdy Doody” television show from 1953-55.

Prior to the network special, WNBC, NBC’s New York flagship station, and some other NBC stations will broadcast an additional live hour of the special (7-8 p.m. ET). Special appearances by Jose Feliciano and The Roots will be during the local hour only. “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” is produced by Brad Lachman Productions with Lachman serving as executive producer. Bill Bracken is producer.

 

THE NBC AGENCY ANNOUNCES CONSOLIDATION OF WEST COAST CREATIVE TEAM UNDER JIM VESCERA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, NBC ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING

REORGANIZATION INCLUDES ADVANCEMENT OF DAVE DORE TO A NEW ROLE AS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, NBC ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING AND LORENZO DE GUTTADAURO TO SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, BRAND CREATIVE, NBC ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – November 30, 2009 – The NBC Agency announced today a consolidation of the Agency’s West Coast Creative Team under the leadership of Jim Vescera, Executive Vice President, Creative Director, NBC Entertainment. The reorganization, which combines the on-air promotion and off-air advertising/digital teams into one creative group, includes the advancement of Dave Dor? to a new role as Senior Vice President, Creative Director, NBC Entertainment Marketing. Dor? will work closely with John-David Currey, the Senior Vice President, Creative Director, NBC Entertainment Marketing responsible for leading the On-Air Promotion team. The Agency also announced the promotion of Lorenzo de Guttadauro to Senior Vice President, Brand Creative, NBC Entertainment. The announcements were made today by Adam Stotsky, President of Marketing, NBC Entertainment, to whom Vescera reports.

“The way consumers experience our content is rapidly changing and this creates new marketing and promotional opportunities. Jim Vescera’s experience, dedication and disposition make him uniquely qualified to lead the charge. Jim has a proven capacity to build and lead teams of creative people against a singular vision,” said Stotsky.

“Dave Dor? and John-David Currey’s combined experience and proven capabilities are invaluable as we work toward one strategic vision across all media in our marketing campaigns. With Lorenzo de Guttadauro’s vital skills and assets added to the mix, we have three multi-talented, versatile and progressive leaders that will help to keep The NBC Agency at the top of its game,” said Vescera.

Dor? becomes Senior Vice President, Creative Director, NBC Entertainment for The NBC Agency. In the position, he will be responsible for all launch and ongoing print and off-air advertisement for NBC’s entertainment programming. Previously, Dor? served as Vice President, Special Projects for The NBC Agency. He was responsible for working on overall network creative branding and program promotion efforts and was the Creative Director for “Sunday Night Football”

Throughout his career, Dor? has conceived, produced and directed many award-winning campaigns for NBC, including for “Sunday Night Football,” “Knight Rider,” “The Apprentice,” “Chuck” and “My Name Is Earl.” He has also created successful short pieces for NBC’s Web ventures, including “Deal Model Theater.” Prior to joining The NBC Agency, Dor? directed the pilot for BBC-TV’s “Scoobs,” as well as campaigns and specials for ABC, Fox, Warner Bros., USA Network, Bravo, Nickelodeon, The WB and many others. Previously, Dor? was a Director, and later Vice President of Marketing at The WB, where he helped build both the Primetime and Kids’ Networks from the ground up.

Before moving to Los Angeles, Dor? produced and directed three seasons of live Major League Baseball television broadcasts and served as Director of Promotion and Production at WCIU-TV, Chicago and KSMO-TV Kansas City. He has received numerous Emmys and advertising awards from PROMAX, the Chicago Festivals, the New York Festivals, and more. Dor? lives in Studio City with his wife and three daughters.

De Guttadauro, now promoted to Senior Vice President, Brand Strategy, The NBC Agency, will supervise the strengthening of the NBC network brand across all platforms. He will also lead On-Air promotional efforts as Creative Director for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Earlier, de Guttadauro was promoted to Vice President, Brand Strategy in 2008, a newly created position at the time. In this role, he worked to increase brand awareness and strength in all promotional areas. He also oversaw the on-air promotional efforts as the Creative Director for the 2008 Summer Olympics

De Guttadauro joined The NBC Agency after a seven-year stint as Vice President of Brand Creative and Promotion for USA Network. Prior to his years there, he served as Senior Art Director for the National Football League from 1999-2000 and Art Director for Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide from 1994-98. De Guttadauro graduated from the University of Missouri with Bachelor of Arts degrees in journalism and political science.

Continuing in their existing roles are Ron Hayes Senior Vice President and Creative Director, Special Projects for NBC On-Air Promotion, and Larry Hart, Senior Vice President, who all round out Vescera’s team.

 

JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE RATINGS (WK OF 11/16)

Fringe Ratings Report: ABC Late-Night Programming Week of November 16, 2009 Turning in Some of its Strongest Results of the Season, ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel” Outdraws NBC’s “Fallon” by a Best-Ever 39% in Total Viewers ABC’s “JKL” Draws More Viewers than “Fallon” for the 9th Week Running, Leading by 26% for the Season and by 34% for the 2009 November Sweep With Guests Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner and Death Cab for Cutie, “JKL” Marks its Most-Watched Friday in Over 6 Months

Weekly National Ratings: For the week of November 16, 2009, ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” drew its 2nd-biggest audience (1.76 million) and equaled its highest-rated week among Adults 18-49 (0.6 rating/719,000) since season-premiere week 8 weeks ago – w/o 9/21/09. * During the week, ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” outdrew NBC’s “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” by a best-ever 39% in Total Viewers (1.76 million vs. 1.27 million), bettering the NBC late night program in viewers for the 9th consecutive week, all 9 weeks during the 2009-10 TV season.  Season to date, “JKL” is attracting 26% more overall viewers than NBC’s “Fallon” (1.72 million vs. 1.37 million).  With just 3 nights left to be counted, “Kimmel” leads “Fallon” by an even bigger margin of 34% during the 2009 November Sweep (1.74 million vs. 1.30 million) * On Friday (11/20/09), featuring guests Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner and Death Cab for Cutie, “JKL” drew its biggest audience on the evening in more than 6 months (since 5/15/09) and its 2nd-largest audience on any night this season. Source:  NTI, National Live + Same Day Program Ratings, week of 11/16/09, or as dated.  Season-to-date averages based on Most Current Ratings.  2009-10 TV Season (9/21 – 11/22/09)

 

ABC TELEVISION NETWORK CELEBRATES HOLIDAY TRADITIONS WITH THE ANIMATED CLASSIC, “A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS,” TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15

Another PEANUTS Special, “Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales,” Based on
the Works of Charles Schulz, to Air with the Emmy-Winning Classic

The ABC Television Network will celebrate the joy of the holidays with the classic animated Christmas-themed PEANUTS special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” created by late cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, airing TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET)). The hour will also include a series of Christmas-themed animated stories entitled “Charlie Brown Christmas Tales,” based on Schulz’s work, in which each of the beloved PEANUTS characters – Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy and Sally – star in his or her own charming animated vignette. (Rebroadcast: OAD: 12/7/04)

Note: This program was originally scheduled for Dec. 8. It now replaces the episodes of “Modern Family” and “The Middle” which had been scheduled for this hour.

In the digitally-remastered 1965 special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that he sees everywhere during the Christmas season. Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas pageant, and Charlie Brown accepts, but it proves to be a frustrating struggle. When an attempt to restore the proper spirit with a forlorn little fir Christmas tree fails, Charlie Brown needs Linus’ help to learn what the real meaning of Christmas is.

Starring an unlikely round-headed hero and a unique cast of young characters wiser and wittier than their years, Charles Schulz’s PEANUTS is not just the best-known, most-loved comic strip ever created, but a true global phenomenon. The PEANUTS characters are featured in 2200 newspapers, in classic television specials and on re-mastered DVDs, on stage, in hundreds of books and across the Internet. They have inspired every kind of consumer product from T-shirts to toothbrushes. And while translated into 25 languages, PEANUTS has introduced a vocabulary all its own: “Good grief!,” “security blanket,” “Happiness is…,” “You blockhead!” As PEANUTS approaches its 60th anniversary in 2010, “Good ol’ Charlie Brown” and his inseparable gang remain as fresh and vital as ever.

Over the past four decades, the library of PEANUTS animation has received five Emmy and two Peabody Awards. It has also received one Academy Award nomination, three Grammy nominations and fifteen additional Emmy nominations.

The cast of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” includes Peter Robbins (Charlie Brown), Christopher Shea as (Linus), Tracy Stratford (Lucy), Chris Doran (Schroeder) and Sally Dryer (Violet).

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” was executive-produced by Lee Mendelson and created and written by Charles M. Schulz. Bill Melendez is the producer and director, and Vince Guaraldi is the music composer.

This program carries a TV-G parental guideline and airs with Spanish audio via SAP.

 

UPCOMING GUESTS ON “THE LATE LATE SHOW with CRAIG FERGUSON” ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

(Monday through Friday, 12:37-1:37 AM, ET/PT,

Following Broadcasts of the “Late Show with David Letterman”)

(*Denotes changes and/or additions to previous schedule (n) Denotes new broadcast)

Monday, Nov. 30                     Actor Michael Sheen (n)

Tuesday, Dec. 1                       Comedian/actor Joel McHale; music by The Swell Season (n)

Wednesday, Dec. 2                  Author and musical director of CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman” Paul Shaffer; actress Shohreh Aghdashloo (n)

Thursday, Dec. 3                      Comedian/actor George Lopez (n)

Friday, Dec. 4                          Actress Emily Blunt (n)

*Monday, Dec. 7                   Musician Wayne Newton; actress Shirley Manson (n)

*Tuesday, Dec. 8                   Actor Michael Clarke Duncan; actress Gillian Jacobs (n)

*Wednesday, Dec. 9              Actor Morgan Freeman; music by Overtone (n)

*Thursday, Dec. 10                Host Howie Mandel; actress Paula Marshall from the CBS comedy series “Gary Unmarried” (n)

*Friday, Dec. 11                     Actor Jim Parsons from the CBS comedy series “The Big Bang Theory”; music by They Might Be Giants (n)

On the Web: www.cbs.com/latenight/latelate/

RATING: TV-14-D (Rating may change on day of broadcast due to specific subject matter.)

 

UPCOMING GUESTS ON THE “LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN” ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Monday through Friday, 11:35 PM-12:37 AM, ET/PT

(*Denotes changes and/or additions to previous schedule)

(n) Denotes new broadcast)

Monday, Nov. 30                     Actor Tom Hanks; musical guest Weezer; a Top Ten List presented by Cincinnati Bengals star Chad Ochocinco

Tuesday, Dec. 1                       Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus from the CBS comedy series “The New Adventures of Old Christine”; chef Guy Fieri; musical guest Carrie Underwood; a Top Ten List presented by New York City Marathon winner Meb Keflezighi

Wednesday, Dec. 2                  Kid Scientists; actress Amanda Peet; musical guests The Cribs

Thursday, Dec. 3                      Actress Tina Fey; sportscaster Chris “Mad Dog” Russo; musical guest Mika

Friday, Dec. 4                          Former Vice President/author Al Gore; musical guest Brad Paisley; a Top Ten List sung by musician Michael Bublé

*Monday, Dec. 7                   Actor/comedian Ray Romano; actress Anna Kendrick (n)

*Tuesday, Dec. 8                   Journalist Barbara Walters; musical guests Blackroc (n)

Wednesday, Dec. 9                  Actress Rachel Weisz; pet massage expert Maryjean Ballner; musical guest Rob Thomas (n)

*Thursday, Dec. 10                Actress Kate Hudson; space expert Dr. James Hansen; musical guest Tori Amos (n)

*Friday, Dec. 11                     Actress Kyra Sedgwick; comedian Brian Scott McFadden; musical guest Joe Perry (n)

*Monday, Dec. 14                 Actor Hugh Grant; actress Zoe Saldana; musical guest Alicia Keys (n)

RATING: TV-PG (Rating may change on day of broadcast due to specific subject matter.)

Official CBS Web site:  http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/

 

Damages: The Complete Second Season has moved to January 19, 2010 and will be available for $39.95 SRP

CULVER CITY, CALIF. (November 30, 2009) – FX’s award-winning legal thriller series returns to DVD when Sony Pictures Home Entertainment releases Damages: The Complete Second Season on January 19.  Two-time Emmy® winner Glenn Close leads an all-star cast that includes Ted Danson (TV’s “Becker”), Rose Byrne (Marie Antoinette), Tate Donovan (Good Night & Good Luck), and Academy Award winner William Hurt (Kiss of the Spider Woman).  This season, Academy Award® winner Marcia Gay Harden (Pollock) and Timothy Olyphant (TV’s “Deadwood”) also join the cast.  Damages: The Complete Second Season arrives on DVD in a three-disc set which boasts all new bonus features including commentary with the cast members and creators, deleted scenes, a look back at Seasons 1 and 2 and an in-depth look behind the characters that make up this compelling drama.  The DVD set will be available for $39.95 SRP.

Following last season’s legal battle and unprecedented victory over CEO billionaire Arthur Frobisher (Danson), Patty Hewes (Close) has the legal world at her feet. Just as she’s pondering her next move, Daniel Purcell (Hurt), a man from Patty’s mysterious past, storms back into her life, catapulting Patty into a new legal challenge. What starts as a domestic murder case escalates into the highest reaches of government as Patty unearths a vast conspiracy. At the same time, Ellen (Byrne), Patty’s once ambitious protégée, is on a mission to take down Patty. Ellen has agreed to act as an informant for the FBI, assisting them in their criminal investigation of Patty and the firm. As Patty unravels the mystery surrounding Purcell, she must also negotiate the perilous minefield both inside and outside her office.

Damages made its network debut on July 24, 2007.  In its second season, the critically acclaimed drama series averaged 1.4 million viewers and received seven Emmy® nominations, with Close receiving her second Emmy® for her performance as Patty Hewes.  The first season won three Emmy® Awards and received another four nominations.

Damages: The Complete Season Season episodes include:

I Lied, Too
Burn It, Shred It, I Don’t Care
I Knew Your Pig
Hey! Mr. Pibb!
I Agree, It Wasn’t Funny
A Pretty Girl in a Leotard
New York Sucks
They Had to Tweeze That Out of My Kidney
You Got Your Prom Date Pregnant
Uh Oh, Out Come the Skeletons
London, Of Course
Look What He Dug Up This Time
Trust Me

DVD Special Features Include:
·         Cast and Crew Commentaries on select episodes with Glenn Glose, Ted Danson, Rose Byrne, Timothy Olyphant, Tate Donovan and Writers/Creators Todd A. Kessler, Daniel Zelman, Glenn Kessler
·         Deleted Scenes
·         Season 1 Recap: A look back at Season 1’s defining moments
·         Season Two: Post Mortem: The creators of the show take a look back at Season 2
·         7 Character Profiles:  The actors discuss the nature of their characters and the storylines that involve them.
·         Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital
·         Subtitles: Spanish
·         Closed Captioned

Broadcast Year:        FX 2009

Damages: The Complete Second Season has a run time of approximately 559 minutes and is not rated.

 

SERIOUS MOONLIGHT opens in theaters this Friday, Dec. 4th!!!

Louise (Meg Ryan), a high-powered Manhattan lawyer, is touched when she arrives for the weekend to her family’s upstate getaway to find it strewn with rose petals by her husband of 13 years, Ian (Timothy Hutton). Unfortunately . . . Ian is not expecting Louise, rather his much younger girlfriend (Kristen Bell). In fact, he’s actually in the process of writing Louise a letter explaining his intention to leave her for good. An oddly cool Louise has other plans. She takes Ian captive, refusing to release him until he commits to working on their marriage together. When Ian’s impatient mistress shows up, not to mention an opportunistic gardener (Justin Long), things start to get seriously complicated. Not merely a war of the sexes, SERIOUS MOONLIGHT is a story of a war of the wills as Ian tries to talk his way out of the situation.

Directed by Cheryl Hines (Waitress, Curb Your Enthusiasm) from a screenplay by Adrienne Shelly (Waitress), the film stars Meg Ryan, Timothy Hutton, Kristen Bell and Justin Long. Screenplay by Adrienne Shelly. Produced by Andy Ostroy and Michael Roiff. A Night & Day Pictures and All for A Films production.

San Francisco, CA: Opera Plaza Cinemas 4
Santa Ana, CA: South Coast Village 3
West Hollywood, CA: Sunset 5
Frontenac, MO: Plaza Frontenac Cinema
New York, NY: Village East Cinemas
Philadelphia, PA: Ritz at the Bourse

For a list of other play dates, visit: http://www.magpictures.com/dates.aspx?id=c499585f-6048-402f-946a-271c052c4b8e

“Remember the Meg Ryan from When Harry Met Sally, and Sleepless in Seattle? This Meg Ryan is better!  Funny and visceral, the film exudes charm and humor.” – David Blaustein, ABC News Radio

 

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