MyNameIsEarl
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Scrubs on iTunes?
As several readers have pointed out, the latest episodes of Scrubs (which started its final *sniff* season last week) are available on iTunes. But how can that be, Scrubs airs on NBC? Yes, yes - but thanks to the magic of large media conglomerates, Scrubs is not actually an NBC show. Scrubs is owned/produced by Disney (which owns ABC), via their Touchstone Television division ABC Television division, meaning they are not part of the NBC Universal contract with iTunes. This is why it took so long for Scrubs to appear on iTunes in the first place (fellow Scrubs fans will remember how mad we were at iTunes/ABC over this issue). Now, in this final seventh season, things become a bit more complicated; NBC now shares profits with Scrubs (before they didn't get anything from syndication or DVD sales), as a condition for renewal, and you can watch full episodes on NBC's website (which you could not do before), but this is still an ABC show in terms of iTunes arrangements. It is my understanding that iTunes contracts are with the studios that produce the shows, not the networks that air the shows - which is not always the same thing. For example, NBC Universal owns/produces the show House, which airs on FOX. Thus, the current season of House in unavailable on iTunes. Conversely, FOX owns/produces My Name is Earl, for NBC, and like Scrubs, current episodes are available on iTunes. Weirdly enough, Ugly Betty, which is now also fully owned by NBC (because the chairman and head of programming for NBC is the owner of Reveille, which produces Ugly Betty and The Office, among others) does have its new episodes on iTunes - only because I assume they signed an agreement with Apple before NBC bought the company. Of course, if the WGA does indeed strike, not much of this will matter anyway, because none of our new shows will be on TV or iTunes for us to watch. This concludes today's lesson in Television Business in the Digital Age.
HDTV Listings for November 1, 2007
What we're watching: More NBA action on TNT, but we'll be watching an hour-long episode of My Name is Earl on NBC. Also keep an eye out for the tail end of a Heroes marathon (what, you don't have the HD DVDs already?) and the premiere of a new show, Test Drive, at 8 p.m. on Mojo HD.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
NBC looks to resurrect Must-See TV with all HD lineup
NBC is shuffling its lineup and to make Thursday a "Must-see TV" night again, it is pairing two of our favorite HD comedies My Name is Earl and The Office, with returning -- and now HDTV-ready -- series Scrubs, and new show 30 Rock. There's also some show called E.R. at 10 p.m. but does anyone really watch that anymore? 30 Rock moves to Thursdays beginning November 16th as it joins with Earl and The Office in super-sized 40-minute episodes, but the block trule comes together on the 30th with the arrival of Scrubs in the 9 p.m. slot. That seems like a pretty powerful lineup to us, but it remains to be seen if easter eggs, emo hipster doctors and a british comedy transplant can bring back memories of the Seinfeld / Friends lineup of yesteryear.[Via TV Squad]
HDTV Listings for September 28, 2006
What we're watching: The Office and My Name is Earl of course, although Shark (a.k.a. court-House) gets attention as well. ABC is premiering all-new series Ugly Betty at 8 before Grey's Anatomy and Six Degrees. The CW checks in as they kick off new seasons of Smallville and Supernatural. ESPN-HD has SEC football on tap for tonight as Auburn faces South Carolina while ESPN2-HD features the Orioles vs.Yankees.Our traditional high definition listings continue below.
HDTV Listings for September 21, 2006
What we're watching: All-new tonight is the series premiere of Shark on CBS, featuring James Woods as a defense attourney turned prosecutor who doesn't lose his underhanded style of winning cases after switching sides. Our old friend Grey's Anatomy steps into its new night on ABC, first with a series recap and then the season premiere at 9, followed by new series Six Degrees. NBC brings back My Name is Earl, The Office and E.R. for another season, we'll keep our eyes peeled for more easter eggs, you've gotta figure there will be one sooner or later. Damon Wayans' The Underground is new tonight on Showtime, no word on if it's any funnier, while college football lights up ESPN HD as Virginia takes on Georgia Tech.Our traditional high definition listings continue below.
HDTV Listings for May 11, 2006 - DVR ALERT
What we're watching: Just making sure everyone is aware, two of our high definition mainstays, My Name is Earl and The Office are doing things a bit differently tonight for their season finales. Instead of slotting a rerun in the place of the now-departed Four Kings, Will & Grace, Earl and Office will all be 40 minutes long, shifting the start time earlier by ten minutes for the latter two. Please adjust your DVRs -- and your lives -- accordingly.Also ending their season tonight are Smallville, Everybody Hates Chris, Love Inc., Eve and Cuts.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
Ethan Suplee of My Name is Earl interview @ TV Squad
A star from one of our favorite shows took a minute to talk to our friends over at TV Squad about the show and how it feels to have the weight of saving NBC on your shoulders. Ethan Suplee plays Randy on My Name is Earl and was the one holding the sign in the first HDTV easter egg. He also talks about some additional content that may be on the (HD?) DVD release.The season finale of Earl is tonight, hopefully we'll get at least one more high definition easter egg out of them to tide us over until the second season.
Where are all the My Name is Earl easter eggs?
Earl. Where're you been buddy? There hasn't been any HD Easter Eggs lately. Sure, new episodes have been far and few between but give us something. Most of us had already forgot that there was these little treats for your HD viewers till I stumbled across our original post. Ok, sweeps is coming up real soon and we need to see one of these famous HD Easter Eggs. Suggestion? Have an episodes in a school or computer lab and have our blog up on one of the computers so only us HD viewers could see it. Cool?Previous My Name is Earl HD Easter Eggs HD Rocks Vote for high def Blind Recording HD Draft
HDTV Listings for March 30, 2006
What we're watching: With "unmissable" new episodes of My Name is Earl and The Office tonight on NBC, plus Mr. 81 points a.k.a. Kobe Bryant on TNT-HD taking on the World Chumps Champs, San Antonio (Go Pistons), this is a packed night of high definition viewing. Even with all that, we'll find time to check out the amateurs during the NIT Championship on ESPN and Shrek 2 at 9 p.m. on HBO.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
Another HD Easter Egg courtesy of Earl
Another one! This is starting to become a regular feature on My Name is Earl. This one comes in the form of a sticky note on the beer tap in the Crab Shack that says "HD Draft" (huge image - slow load times) It happened about 3/4 of the way through the episode when Filo goes to meet Joy at the Crab Shack. It actually was on the screen a few times unlike the last ones that came and went. Reader Scott M was quick with this one. He sent us a tip while all of us were enjoying The Office. I have to admit that I missed this one; in fact, I have missed all of them. Oh well, I am sure there will be more. Did anyone else notice this one?Past My Name is Earl Easter Eggs. HD Rocks Vote for high def Blind Recording
Is Lost challenging My Name is Earl for king of the easter eggs?
While we were watching last weeks Earl for Easter Eggs (I didn't notice any), maybe we should have been checking another one of our favorite high definition shows more closely, Lost. Luckily TV Squad is more than willing to dissect each frame looking for clues about the survivors, the mysterious island they are on and the Dharma Initiative. After careful (re)viewing they noticed a date in the future on an X-ray shown during Jack's flashback. A mistake/red herring or something more? Additionally, during that episode some viewers could see the makeup covering Jack's tattoo, wonder why that is. Maybe they should have called our friends at Numeric Proof or they wanted us to notice. I can't call it, but rest assured, I'll be going over Grey's Anatomy tonight with a fine toothed comb.
Group HDTV stations or integrate them
Appalled. Simply appalled. I came home last night after a long day at work only to find my significant other watching SDTV! We are not talking about the Style Channel or TLC here, but rather My Name is Earl on the SD NBC feed. After a verbal lashing about how much the HDTV and cable costs, we came to the root of the problem. She was simply browsing through the stations and came upon My Name is Earl. Sure, she knew the difference between HD and SD but the high-def stations are out of 'surfing' range way up in the 220's and she didn't make it up there yet.It 's cool that they group all the high definition stations together, but it would be nice to have them by their counterparts. Kind of like OTA broadcasts. You have the normal ABC station then right next is the high-def ABC station with a 'point' one beside it. I, for one, would like to see this as an option for cable/satilite. Put the HD ABC next to the normal ABC and the same with ESPN. Would you rather have all the high definition stations together or rather integrate them into the normal lineup?
HDTV Listings for January 19, 2006
What we're watching: I don't know what NBC's Thursday night lineup is doing for their overall ratings, but it's definitely a boon for HDTV watchers. NBC may attribute The Office's higher ratings to iPod downloads but I say keep lining it up with the easter-egg packed My Name is Earl (btw, keep an eye out tonight, the name of the epsiode is "Stole P's HD Cart", so you know they're going to be up to something), and you can't possibly do better for 1080i humor.From 8 to 10 p.m. I know what channel I'll be watching, although we'll also check out ABC's new show Crumbs, not to mention new episodes of CSI and Everybody Hates Chris. Those Snapstream guys may be on to something with that 11 tuner DVR. After the jump is our traditional listing of HD programs throughout the night.
Jan 5: What's on HDTV today
What we're watching: It's a very very good night for HD, unless you're into sports, but seriously, I don't know if I'm recovered from THE VINCE YOUNG SPECTACULAR I witnessed last night, great great game. Tonight I'll be checking for the debut of NBC's new Thursday night "Must-see TV" lineup, mixing our favorite HD show, My Name is Earl, with The Office, Will & Grace, and the debut of Four Kings, all in HD (but Scrubs isn't, Lord, why hast thou forsaken me?)If you can possibly bring yourself to watch more sports action, after a triple-double last night against the Bucks, Lebron &Co. are back in action against the Rockets on TNT at 8 . After the jump is our traditional listing of HD programs throughout the night.
