http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/david_hiltbrand RSS Feed for Inq Col David Hiltbrand en-us Sun, 27 May 2012 15:57:06 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/david_hiltbrand/20120526__lsquo_Dave_on_Demand_rsquo___Shuffling_deckchairs_on__lsquo_X_Factor_rsquo___Clay_loses_again__Unseen_and_forgotten.html The fun never stops, folks. During the broadcast of American Idol’s season finale, Ryan Seacrest announced the cities and dates for next season’s auditions. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/david_hiltbrand/20120527_Hatfields_and_McCoys_blast_away_in_mini-series__an_iconic_feud_come_to_cable.html Cable’s History is pulling out all the stops for this lapidary retelling of one of our country’s most renowned internecine struggles.Hatfields & McCoys gets a fulsome miniseries treatment (showing over three consecutive nights, beginning Memorial Day), star power (Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton play the antagonistic patriarchs), and an unprecedented promotional campaign (on TV, at cineplexes, even at the Floyd Mayweather–Miguel Cotto fight earlier this month). All this for some violent hillbillies who simply could not get along. Because down in their neck of the Appalachians, there really wasn’t much to squabble over except pride. The challenge for History is to give this nasty family feud an epic spin. The result plays out like The Godfather with squirrel rifles. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/david_hiltbrand/20120523_Phillip_Phillips_wins__lsquo_American_Idol_rsquo_.html Phillip Phillips, the 21-year-old from Leesburg, Ga., was anointed the winner of the 11th season of American Idol on Wednesday night. A fan and judges’ favorite, the easy-going singer sailed through the competition, never landing among the weekly bottom three. By way of contrast, Jessica Sanchez, the 16-year-old from Chula Vista, Calif., whom Phillips prevailed over in the finals, was actually eliminated by viewer votes more than a month ago but was brought back by the judges. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/david_hiltbrand/20120524_Author_Craig_Johnson_lives_his_cowboy_dream.html Growing up, Craig Johnson had the kind of romantic aspirations we all do. He wanted to be a cowboy. And he wanted to be a writer. Most of us end up forfeiting these types of daydreams to life’s harsher demands. Johnson held onto his. Both of them. Even found a way to make them sustain each other. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/david_hiltbrand/20120520_Big_TV_networks_announce_new_fall_schedules__mdash__and_assume_defensive_positions.html In an annual rite known as Upfront Week, NBC, Fox, ABC, CBS, and the CW just presented their lineups for the 2012-13 TV season to advertisers in New York. The ceremonies took place in some of the city’s most august concert Halls (Carnegie, Avery Fisher, Radio City Music) over four days. The broadcast companies introduced only 20 new series for the fall (down from 27 last season). NBC led the pack with six new shows. Fox and the CW had half that many. Like it or not, an awful lot of familiar faces will be returning in the fall. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/david_hiltbrand/20120516_CBS_new_fall_lineup__Subtle__savvy_changes__while_staying_a_proven_course.html CBS, or, as it likes to call itself, “America’s Most-Watched Network,” is already holding a strong hand as the 2012-13 TV season draws to a close. On Wednesday, the network revealed some subtle but significant moves to improve its advantage at its Upfront Presentation to advertisers at Carnegie Hall in New York — an annual ceremony that this year saw LL Cool J rapping with opera singer Danielle de Niese and New York Giants QB Eli Manning brandishing the Lombardi Trophy. (CBS carries the Super Bowl next season.) Back to the schedule: Through judicious addition (three new dramas and a sitcom), subtraction (the cancellation of CSI: Miami, NYC 22, Unforgettable, Rob and A Gifted Man), and some deft switching around (reconfiguring its comedy blocs on Monday and Thursday), CBS has tightened its lineup while, for the most part, maintaining stability. It returns a hefty 19 series in prime time. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/david_hiltbrand/20120515_ABC_rsquo_s_new_fall_season__It_rsquo_ll_be_hard_to_change_the_channel.html Looking at the fall schedules announced so far by the networks, you may well be wondering: Where have all the dramas gone? ABC has them, adding three strong ones in September, with three more waiting in the wings. In other news, Dancing with the Stars will for the first time feature an all-star edition, with fan favorites from the previous 14 rounds returning. The network will roll out only one new sitcom in September, one in November, and two more in January. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/david_hiltbrand/20120515_Fox_fall_schedule__A_modest_harvest__with_a_degree_of_Kevin_Bacon.html Fox announced its fall lineup on Monday with great fanfare and minimal changes. The presentation at the Beacon Theater in New York began with a video of the cast from New Girl interviewing prospective additional roommates — everyone from Fringe’s Walter Bishop to the Rubber Man from FX’s American Horror Story. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/david_hiltbrand/20120515_NBC_schedule_doesn_rsquo_t_really_change_much.html NBC can take a joke. That much is clear looking at the lineup it announced Monday morning for the 2012-13 season. The network’s new schedule is remarkably sitcom-saturated. And considering that NBC is mired in fourth place in the ratings, surprisingly static. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/david_hiltbrand/20120512__ldquo_Mad_Men_rsquo_s_rdquo__Jessica_Pare_a_best_actress_nominee__Only_if_you_like_travesty_.html I’d be the first to admit that I watch and think entirely too much about television. But that doesn’t mean that I understand it. Case in point: AMC’s intention to put Mad Men’s Jessica Pare up for the outstanding-lead-actress category in a drama at this year’s Emmys.