Match Airing! Another Reason to Send Our Love to Solar's ETC

If you're from countries outside the United States, the legal avenue of viewing your fave TV shows is to wait for your local channels to pick them up, and air them locally, which more often than not, results to a delay of one whole season or a couple of episodes. The other route for avid viewers is to rely on Megavideo or by downloading them via torrents. Often the reason is that people already watched the previous season, so they want to be as updated as the people in the U.S. The challenge then is to air episodes as close as possible to when the show goes live in the U.S, so these channels don't lose viewership.

A couple of years ago, Studio 23 brought us Fresh U.S. Episodes (FUSE), where the delay was only a week or an episode. The consensus was that it was an amazing step towards lessening the wait, but ultimately it was still delayed. And then last year, Solar Entertainment revolutionized S23's F.U.S.E. by way of airing Glee via satellite. In other words, the delay was mere hours! In fact for the downloaders, this would become the easier route, since it freed up storage space, wait time for the download for slow connections, and predictable viewing times!

This year, Solar Entertainment pushes the boundaries again via the shows airing on ETC. Apart from Glee, they've added E! News, the Daily Ten, TMZ, and The Vampire Diaries to this same day airing scheme. Aptly called, "Match Airing," I'm pretty sure this is a welcome relief for avid TV viewers and a definite step forward towards a "smaller TV world."

Good job ETC and Solar Entertainment! You definitely love your viewers!

EDIT 8/24: I forgot they're also airing Gossip Girl on the same day! :)
EDIT 8/26: And of course, I forgot to add America's Next Top Model, How I Met Your Mother, and Hellcats. (That last one surprised me a bit, since it's new and the buzz driving it is Ashley Tisdale cheerleading. The trailer did look good though!)

TV Guide: ABS-CBN and GMA Are Moving Around Old Shows and Premiering New Shows

There seems to be a wave of changes in the programming of ABS-CBN and GMA. Have you noticed the noontime block of ABS-CBN? They've pushed Showtime to a later time to accommodate a pseudo new entry, Kapamilya Blockbusters, and considerable shortened Pilipinas Win Na Win. So now, we have an 11:45 - 3:00 of Showtime and PWNW to battle it out with Eat Bulaga. They also moved Banana Split to an earlier slot, just right after Simply KC. It seems to me, they're still looking for this show's audience, but can't seem to kill it.

The network has also premiered its new Primetime Bida offering with Cristine Reyes's Kristine, which looks amazing by the way. In the coming weeks, Agua Bendita will be replaced by the kantaserye Sarah Geronimo-starrer Idol. Imortal, on the other hand, seems to be pushed back. By the looks of it, the earliest it can see light would be once Momay ends, and if Noah is bumped off to the pre-TV Patrol slot. (I've been hearing lots of good things from those who are part of the cast. It seems like it really is connected to Angel Locsin's previous teleserye, Lobo. I'll talk about that more once more buzz comes my way.)

GMA, on the other hand, will be introducing a new game show in the next couple of weeks. The show is Asar Talo Pero Laging Panalo and will be hosted by Edu Manzano, who formerly helmed the Game KNB slot that Showtime now occupies. From what I've read about the show, it seems like it's lifting some of the traits from the game show Distraction.We'll also be treated to a new season of Survivor Philippines, which will feature celebrities instead of regular people. They're also building up Glaiza de Castro, as a lead, with her new show, Grazilda, already in production and scheduled to start airing in October.

All in all, the latter half of 2010 seems to be heavier for both networks. As for TV5? They've been ramping up original content, as well. In fact, I caught a promo spot of a new show starring Ryan Agoncillo, as a crossdresser. It's title is Lady Dada.

The Week in Review: Farewell and Welcome the New Shows; Kris Aquino Tells All

From across the seas to our shores, no TV news is left unturned. Just the exact amount of crazy will be served. Anyway, this week's been pretty busy with Comic-con and all the goodies that came with it. I'm sure I'll be able to blog more about it, once I've digested all the news on my feed. Or I could do another highlight piece, just like this one! There's a LOT, I tell you!

Aside from that, we've been pretty much hearing more casting coups, and in this part of the world, more of both the most hated and crowd favorite, Kris Aquino. Of course, let's not leave the previews for next week unpublished.

• American Idol News: Ellen is leaving. Kara got fired. And what's this talk about J.Lo and Steven Tyler being snagged as the new judges? I doubt the last one is true.
• Kris Aquino returns to Manila and faces the intrigues. It wouldn't be Kris at all to scrimp on the details and do it in private, so she tells all to Boy Abunda and to the whole world.
• From the cryfest end of Wowowee to the beginning of Pilipinas Win na Win, which for at least a day was Pilipinas FTW.
• Friends-lovers rejoice! Jennifer Aniston and BFF IRL Courtney Cox will reunite in Cougar Town. After four years out of the picture, Matt LeBlanc is returning to our TV sets!
• Glee doesn't seem too shy about adding new cast members, and bringing the favorites back. Kristin Dos Santos of E! Online dishes on "who's in and who's out."
• If you haven't caught the teaser of Dexter's fifth season, then you seriously need to make time for it! This trailer is AWESOME.
• And while we wait for the new season, let's enjoy the summer fare and get excited for what awaits us this week. Pretty Little Liars is in for The Perfect Storm and the girls are ever more insecure of the ties that bind them together. Looks like there's trouble brewing inside The Gates and maybe we'll get to see what the "rules" say about killing inside the village. Annie's stuck in Zurich with a Mossad agent in next week's Covert Affairs. There seems to be some friction again between Neal and Peter in next week's White Collar.
• Lastly, let me sneak one in for Rubicon. Matt Roush of TV Guide asks, "Can a show be too intelligent?" His sluggish is my idea of letting it boil and simmer, so you get closer to the perfect end product.

Sarah Geronimo Stars in a New Kapamilya Show

With Agua Bendita and Rubi wrapping up in the coming weeks, ABS-CBN is banking on their new shows to continue their ratings leadership. One of the new shows has Sarah Geronimo as the lead and is set to replace Agua Bendita's spot

According to initial reports, the new show will be a musical and carry the title, "Idol." The network will pair the Popstar Princess with Coco Martin and Sam Milby. As to who she'll end up with in the show, it has yet to be revealed.

The two men have proven themselves to be quite established in the primetime slot. Coco Martin traces his mainstream success to Tayong Dalawa, and has not looked back. Sam Milby, on the other hand, starred in the adaptation of the Koreanovela, "Only You" and currently plays the lead in "Impostor."

Sarah Geronimo's last teleserye with ABS-CBN was in 2007's "Pangarap na Bituin," where she played Emerald Gomez of the Jewel Sisters. The teleserye also banked on her singing prowess.

This should be quite interesting, especially since the network has had previous successes in staging musically-oriented dramas, which starred the singer. Will this perform better than GMA's Diva?

James Tupper Moves to Grey's Seattle Grace Hospital

From Dr. Chris Sands in NBC's short-lived nurse drama, Mercy, to trauma counselor Andrew Perkins in Grey's Anatomy, James Tupper is set to appear in at least 2 episodes of the series. After the craziness of the season finale, it would've been surprising, if everything went back to normal. Shonda Rimes seems to have zeroed in on using therapist to move the story along. I can't forget the time, Meredith was talking about her attempt to kill herself, and of course, there was Cristina and Owen working out their relationship with the same therapist.

Come to think of it, isn't it odd that they're not using Amy Madigan's Dr. Wyatt again? Or it could be because she's also traumatized, since she presumably was inside Seattle Grace Hospital, as well! I'm sure this is a good excuse as any to add another good-looking guy to guest star in the show. I wonder though, if he'll do some therapy on the side, if you know what I mean.

In any case, I'll be tuning in to Grey's Anatomy, when it premieres this fall!

Dolph Lundgren joins 'Chuck'

Dolph Lundgren is slated to join the geekiest (and the coolest) show, Chuck! Josh Schwartz, the executive producer of the show, tweeted that Lundgren will be in the season premiere of the show, and will "try and 'break' Chuck Bartowski."

Lundgren gained popularity in the action genre. He played He-Man in the live-action version of the 80's hit cartoon show, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. He's also part of the Universal Soldier franchise.

If you haven't heard yet, Lundgren with the other iconic action stars are part of Stallone-directed film, The Expendables. Which action stars, you ask? Well, there's Sly, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Gov. Schwarzenneger, and a ton of other elite fighters! Check out its IMDB page, I'm sure you'll get a kick out of the casting!

While Olivia's Out, Amber Tamblyn Can Play Doctor with House

 Amber Tamblyn, who starred in Joan of Arcadia and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, is joining Hugh Laurie in House M.D. SPOILER: Highlight at your own risk! The last season ended with Olivia Wilde's Thirteen announcing she was leaving the team. Actually, in real life, Wilde will be filming Cowboys and Aliens, a movie with Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. According to reports, she'll be playing a med student and will temporarily be part of the best diagnostics team in the business for a multi-episode arc. I'm sure the newcomer will find House a handful.

So how far can the new girl stand House? Thoughts?

The Vampire Diaries Trio are Cover Stars for TV Guide's Special Comic-Con 2010 Magazine

Ian Somerhalder, Nina Dobrev, and Paul Wesley of CW hit The Vampire Diaries, are on the special cover of TV Guide Magazine for this year's Comic-Con. The trio will be joining executive producers Kevin Williamson, Julie Plec, among others in Comic-Con 2010 in the San Diego Convention Center on July 24.

The cover actually has four versions. SciFiCool.com previewed the version for Fringe. The other two shows are The Big Bang Theory, and Smallville.

Warner Bros. TV Group (WBTVG) teamed up with TV Guide for this special edition of the magazine. It will be distributed for the duration of Comic-Con 2010 and will be available exclusively at the WB Booth. Aside from the four featured series, the magazine also dishes on Chuck, V, Supernatural, True Blood, and other shows WB is involved in.

I've added the other versions of the cover after the jump.

Comic-Con 2010 Nears

In what would be the Mecca of geekdom (and I put that in the most positive light, mind you!), Comic-Con 2010 is set to start on July 21 in the San Diego Convention Center. I'm sure everyone has at one point in their life stumbled on the odd side of this convention. It's been covered in recent movies and even TV shows, featuring geeks and dorks donning their favorite character's costume. I remember Psych had an episode featuring George Takei of Star Trek fame. (Because everyone knows Star Trek and Star Wars are probably the biggest geek franchises out there! LOL) But over the years, this convention has grown to include not only the comic book lovers, but has included promotions for new (and old) television shows, video games, and upcoming movies. In other words, this is the event to be in, if I haven't stressed that enough.

(Read more about the Comic-Con schedule after the jump)

There's a New Guy in Mystic Falls

Mystic Falls just added another looker in their already attractive cast. Taylor Kinney, who played Glenn Morrison in Trauma, will be visiting on of my favorite new shows, The Vampire Diaries, as Mason Lockwood. If that last name sounds familiar, it's because he'll be playing the younger brother of Mayor Lockwood. Julie Plec, one of the executive producers of the show, describes him as the cool uncle [of Michael Trevino's Tyler] and Ausiello adds, "Mason is sexy and athletic (duh) and possesses an easygoing charm." It'll be interesting how Uncle Mason will guide Tyler, in this new phase in his life.

On a side note, the casting team did a really good job with this family! They could totally pass off as father, brother, and uncle.

We'll all get to see this new character in the season premiere of The Vampire Diaries on September 9 on the CW.

Dexter's Back in the House

(Photo from IMDB.com)

According to the interview done by the people at E! Online, production for Dexter's fifth season has started. Jennifer Carpenter, who plays Deb Morgan and real life wife of Michael C. Hall, shares her thoughts about their first day back:

We've had our first read through and people will be pleasantly surprised. We read the first episode, and it doesn't feel like a job anymore. It's just really exciting.

And of course, the most important question is if her husband is well now. For all those who don't know yet, Hall had a bout with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and underwent treatment for the said cancer.

We've said it over and over that he's in complete remission just so people will stop worrying, but still people come up to him asking, "Are you okay?"

Jennifer Carpenter and Michael C. Hall at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards. (Photo from IMDB.com)

A quote from Julie Benz and some other casting news after the jump!

Quick on the Scene: Glee Season 2 Updates from Showrunner Ryan Murphy and Some Others

Matthew Morrison and Mark Salling perform "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (Photo from IMDB.com)

In Ryan Murphy's recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, he talks about some of the things to expect from sophomore season of breakout new show, Glee.

on Kurt Hummel's Boyfriend:

"I just want him to be an everyday dude, and I want him to be sort of struggling (with his sexuality) and Kurt helps him deal with it and in the process they fall for each other."

on Musical Tributes a la the Madonna Episode:

"The Madonna episode was so popular, I think I'm gonna do two tribute episodes - one in the fall and one in the spring - and we're figuring out who those artists are."

The girls donning Lady Gaga-esque outfits while watching the guys perform Kiss (Photo from IMDB.com)

More juicy quotes and news about Glee after the jump!