Shaq VS

This summer competition show is actually really entertaining. In a society where it seems athletes only spit out cliches during post game press conferences(i.e. "we gotta take it one game at a time") or give scripted mea culpa speeches ala Mike Vick, Shaq VS shows the Diesel just hanging out and having fun with the other star athletes. Last night I say Shaq take on Ben Rothlesberger first in a game of HORSE and then in a 7 on 7 football game. The interactions between Big Ben and Shaq were awkward at times but it was refreshing to see them acting like two guys just hanging out. They didn't pretend to be the best of friends they just played the games and had some uncomfortable moments an conversations. Shaq has a great sense of humor and it really comes through in this unscripted show. I have seen him over the years on talk shows and he always is vastly more interesting than the average athlete. I also like the fact that neither Shaq nor Big Ben are trying to sell a product, promote a new album, or whatever the impetus behind most "surprise" celebrity appearances on reality shows. Overall this show is an entertaining way to spend an hour even for the casual sports fan.

Top Chefs

Rick Bayless wins Top Chef Masters. He is a damn good chef. He forces you to look beyond Chipotle and Chi Chi's and really embrace true Mexican food. Hubert Keller is a great chef too but he's a little old school with his dishes. Too many mousses. Overall Top Chef Masters was a mistake that I pray Bravo does not bring back. If I never see Kelly Choi again, it won't be too soon.

As for the new season of Top Chef Las Vegas, HOW THE HELL DO YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CHEF FROM NEW YORK? I hate New York, but c'mon, the best chefs are in New York and to have three chefs from Atalanta and one from New York, who is not even an executive chef...The producers are trying too hard to be different, but unlike American Idol where a singer is a singer and can be great no matter where he/she is from, if a chef has never worked in New York, or I might argue Las Vegas now, they are not really a "top" chef. I like the brazen L.A. guys so far and the one woman who worked for Eric Ripert. Good to have Padma, Tom and Gail back. I hope the absence of Toby in the first episode lasts for the whole season. He was supposed to be the Simon Cowell of that show, but really showed little respect for the food and cared more about shoehorning in his catchphrases. It felt very scripted with Toby and it might as well have been the Real Housewives.

Govenor Mike

I like to watch Mike Huckabee's show "Huckabee," Sunday nights at 11 on Fox News Channel. I don't know for sure if that's the original air time, but it's really a great show to fall asleep to. Most of Huckabee is filled with his views of evangelical Christian right wing politics. But, the last ten minutes or so he does a jam session with a musical guest or in some cases the guest from the show. Huck slaps on the old bass and jams with his house band and a guest. It makes you kinda wish this guy, and not boring old McCain got the nomination. For one thing he would have nominated Ace Freehly or Les Claypool for VP. He's a bit nutty in his views but this is one of the best talking head shows on TV. I think what makes it great is that Huck is so unpolished. He looks nervous at all times except when he's keepin the rhythm. Great show.

Random Summer Thoughts

Summer kinda stinks for TV. It is the opportunity for the networks to try out these reality shows and game shows. The one show I discovered this summer is Wipeout. It is just funny to watch people fall off stuff and hit their heads. Nothing makes me laugh more than minor concussions. Host John Anderson(winner of ESPN "Dreamjob 1") and John Henson("Talk Soup") add some funny commentary, but this show could have no voice over and still be pretty entertaining.

Paula is out on American Idol. Rumor is that she wanted 20 million a year. I guess they raised the price of prescription drugs. No way is she worth more than Ryan Seacrest. He recently signed for 15 million a year and is worth every penny. He is the conductor that keeps the show running. Paula makes a ridiculous comment a few times a season but mostly she just repeats what the other judges say first. The four judge format was a mistake and this corrects the mistake. I think Cara will be much more comfortable this year and a bigger part of the show overall.

I hate Zoey Deschanel. She was the guest celebrity judge on Top Chef Masters this week and revealed that she is a vegan who is gluten and soy intolerant. Obviously she has no business being on that show. She can't eat at a restaurant without being a pain the the ass for the staff and chef. I know reality shows are merely a conduit for "stars" to plug their latest project, but she is a moron. I hate this show so much.

Entourage, pretty damn good this season, but E's girlfriend is annoying and looks like the long lost Olsen triplet.

Good to see that the ratings for the return of John and Kate plus 8 were down significantly this week. They are horrible people who do horrible things. This week the kids were begging Kate to go camping. Kate then struggled to build and tent to show how independent she is without John. Right after this scene they go to commercial and it is revealed that the main sponsor for this episode is Coleman sporting goods....holy crap. Later in their staged campfire they decide to be a great family who makes s'mores, with the assistance of Production Assistants as any family would do. They conveniently have the ingredients on a tray with a Hershey's bar smack in the middle. The first commercial after this scene, you guessed it. I get that product placement is a part of post-tivo televisoin, but on this show, it comes across as petty and desperate.

Can't wait for the fall.....