The Ray is weak this week, I’m afraid to say. Shows are dropping off the radar left and right as other favorites go to sleep for summer’s hibernation or are perhaps sadly laid to rest forever more (let it not be true, my sweet sweet Project Greenlight).
Therefore, I give you a short and hopefully sweet C Ray Fray this week.
Obey the Ray… just take some time to enjoy the sunshine every now and again, kids.
Overall take on the week:
Best show on television: Lost by a wide margin now that Project Greenlight has sailed off to the Bygone Sea of Television Greatness
Upper-tier shows: The Shield, The Contender
Insulting my pride: The Apprentice (see below for details)
On the air, off the radar: Alias (Wife was apparently too disgruntled to make report this week)
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Sunday
The Contender - NBC
We’re coming near the end of this pugilistic competition, and I feel like I’ve come to know the fighters pretty well and have some kind of emotional stake (good or bad) with each of the final four. That’s a credit to the producers, who have shown us enough about these fighters and their lives to make us care. Of course, the cheese factor is nudged up beyond my liking from time-to-time, but overall I love this show and dearly hope that NBC brings it back despite its disappointing ratings.
This episode managed to produce a rematch between Alfonso Gomez and Peter Manfredo. At stake: winner heads to Las Vegas and a chance to fight for $1 million, loser heads home.
Good stuff.
I’ve come to admire and like each of the two fighters, which made it difficult to pick a guy to root for. However, as the seven-round match began (upping the ante from the five-round bouts from earlier fights) I had to admit to myself that Manfredo was my guy. He’s got an integrity to him and a New England charm (he and his family hail from Rhode Island) that lends him a quiet charisma.
That said, I thought going in that Gomez – a rugged bulldog of a fighter – had a slight edge over the less aggressive Manfredo.
It turned out to be a great fight, with wild swings in momentum that have become a staple of The Contender’s matches. Going into the seventh and final round, it was obvious that the match was tied up three rounds per fighter. Basically, it would come down to who wanted it more in the final three minutes. Manfredo “manned up,” as the saying goes, and proved a great deal to everyone watching, and to himself.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Eric Berlin
Calling all C Ray Fray fans...
Cathode Ray Fray will be back next week. A trip to Texas will render me Rayless and Internet-less for four or five days.
But fear not! The Ray will be Obeyed again soon...
2 - Bennett
Eric, Despite best intentions, I got distracted Tuesday night and missed the Contender's final episode....
Who won?
3 - Chris Beaumont
NOOO!! Don't abondon us! I need my fix!
Anyway, I wanted you to know I just saw a commercial advertising Veronica Mars reruns for the summer, not sure when they start. Bu if possible, I'd recommend you check some of them out and see what you've been missing.
Also, my column will probably be up late again. I also checked next weeks listings and I think all I am watching is wrestling! all the finale's are through and the summer seasons haven't started yet, so TWTW will be slim for a week or two.
ENjoy your time away!!
4 - Eric Berlin
Bennett -- Sergio "Latin Snake" Mora defeated Manfredo. Not a great fight but a good one to end. Both fighters were good athletes and top-notch people by all indications, though Mora did get his curse on a little bit (during the fight!) with Manfredo's corner.
Chris -- What time / channel is Mars on? Sounds like a great way for me to fill the summer gap and catch on with a good show leading up to Season Two this autumn.
5 - Eric Berlin
Oh, and Chris: Thanks for your encouragement regarding the Fray! I'm still trying to figure out how to work the column for the sparse summer months. Any and all suggestions much appreciated.
6 - Chris Beaumont
VM is on UPN, it's normal slot was Tuesday's at 9, so I believe they will be sticking with that. I would believe it wills tart up in the next week or two. If I see a start date I will let you know.
My column will slowly expand as some summer shows start. Fox has one called THe Inside that I plan on checking out and Sci-Fi usually has a new season of stuff in June or July with the Stargate shows and the new Battlestar Galactica. Outside of that, I am not sure how my column will get filled, perhaps I will add some comments about the network schedules for the next season?
7 - Eric Berlin
Thanks Chris... this info may compel me to figure out what channel UPN is on my TV!
FX has several shows that the C Ray Fray will focus upon (Rescue Me, 30 Days, etc.). I don't get Sci-Fi, but never really watched it in the days I had it, which is kind of weird, because I'm a sci-fi fan in general. Has it improved of late?
For the summer, I'm toying around with adding my thoughts about the TV shows I'm watching on DVD. For example, Carnivale Season One and The Sopranos, Season Five.
8 - Chris Beaumont
Not a bad idea....
Sci-Fi Fridays are good, the occasional Sat Nite movie is decent, that's about it though.
Oh yeah, Rescue Me, I loved the first season. Maybe if there are new Monk episodes.
Do you know what happened to Dead Zone? did that get cancelled?
9 - Eric Berlin
The first season of The Dead Zone was amazing. The second was very good, and then I kind of lost track of where it is and what the status is.
I dug this up at TiVo Community, so it looks like there's a new season starting up very soon:
The Bad Girl's Guide, UPN, 24 May, 9:30PM (ET)
Dancing with the Stars starts June 1st on ABC (9/8c).
Hit Me Baby One More Time (NBC 9:00 PM 8 CENTRAL 6/2)
The Comback (HBO, 6/5)
Entourage (HBO, 6/5)
The 4,400 (USA, 6/5)
Six Feet Under (HBO, 6/6)
Fire Me Please (CBS June 7 at 9PM ET/PT)
The Inside (Fox, 6/8)
The Real Gilligan's Island (TBS 6/8)
Reno911! (Comedy Central, 6/9)
Into The West (TNT 6/10)
The Dead Zone (USA, 6/12)
The Closer (TNT, 6/13)
30 Days (FX, 6/15)
Rescue Me (FX, 6/21)
Empire (ABC, 6/28)
Big Brother (CBS, 7/7)
Monk - July 8th
Rock Star (CBS July 11 at 9PM ET/PT)
Tripping the Rift (Sci-Fi, 7/27)
Stargate SG1/Atlantis (7/15)
Battlestar Galactica (SciFi, 7/15)
Over There (FX, 7/22)
The Law Firm (NBC 7/28)
Wanted (TNT, 7/31)
Weeds (Showtime, 8/10)
The Cell (Showtime, August)
Starved (FX, August)
Nip/Tuck (FX, September)
10 - Chris Beaumont
Very cool, I'm going to have to plug a few of them shows ino my watch list!
11 - Eric Berlin
Let's keep each other updated and reminded -- I've got this creeping feeling that I'm going to program the DVR and miss a bunch of premieres!
12 - Chris Beaumont
Hey Eric, I found this list:
Returning Shows:
Al Franken Show (Sundance) June 6
Average Joe: The Joes Strike Back (NBC) June 21
Battlestar Galactica (SciFi) July 15
Big Brother 6 (CBS) July 7
Blow Out 2 (Bravo) June 7
Celebrity Fit Club (VH1) July 10
Celebrity Poker Showdown (Bravo) Aug. 18
Dead Zone, The (USA) June 12
Entourage (HBO) June 5
The 4400 (USA) June 5
Ghost Hunters (SciFi) July 27
Kenny Vs. Spenny (GSN) July 11
Laguna Beach (MTV) July 25
Lingo (GSN) Aug. 1
Missing (Lifetime) June 12
Monk (USA) July 8
Pimp My Ride (MTV) June 26
Punk’d (MTV) June 26
Real Gilligan’s Island 2 (TBS) June 8
Real World 16: Austin (MTV) June 21
Reno 911! (CC) June 14
Rescue Me (FX) June 21
Six Feet Under (HBO) June 6
Stargate SG1 (SciFi) July 15
Stargate: Atlantis (SciFi) July 15
Strong Medicine (Lifetime) June 12
Summerland (WB) June 13
Tripping the Rift (SciFi) July 27
Ultimate Fighter 2 (Spike) Aug. 22
Viva La Bam (MTV) June 26
New Shows:
Andy Milonakis Show (MTV) June 26
Anything to Win (GSN) Aug. 14
Ballbreakers (GSN) July 18
Barbershop (Showtime) Aug. 10
Battle of the Network Reality Stars (Bravo) Aug. 10
Beach Girls (Lifetime) July 31
Beauty and the Geek (WB) June 1
Being Bobby Brown (Bravo) June 30
Brat Camp (ABC) July 13
Cattle Drive (E!) Aug. 7
Closer, The (TNT) June 13
Comeback, The (HBO) June 5
Criss Angel: Mindfreak (A&E) July 20
Cut, The (CBS) June 9
Dancing With The Stars (ABC) June 1
Empire (ABC) June 28
Extreme Dodgeball (GSN) July 19
Fight For Fame (E!) June 5
Fire Me Please (CBS) June 7
Girls Next Door (E!) Aug. 7
Hidden Howie (Bravo) Aug. 18
Hit Me Baby One More Time (NBC)
Hogan Knows Best (VH1) July 10
I Want To Be A Hilton (NBC) June 21
Inked (A&E) July 20
Inside, The (Fox) June 8
Into The West (TNT) June 10
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (Bravo) Aug. 3
Law Firm (NBC) July 28
Master Blasters (SciFi)
Meet Mr. Mom (NBC) Aug. 2
Mind of Mencia (CC) July 7
Minding the Store (TBS) July 17
Over There (FX) July 27
Party at the Palms (E!) June 15
Poker Royale: Comedians Vs. Pros (GSN) July 8
Princes of Malibu (Fox) July 10
Rock Star: INXS (CBS) July 11
Scholar, The (ABC) June 6
Situation: Comedy (Bravo) Aug. 2
So You Think You Can Dance (Fox) July 20
Sports Kids Moms & Dads (Bravo) June 1
Stella (CC) June 28
Super Agent (Spike) July 22
30 Days (FX) June 15
Tommy Lee Goes To College (NBC) Aug. 16
Venus & Serena (ABC Family) July 21
Wanted (TNT) July 31
Weeds (Showtime) Aug. 10
Weekends at the DL (CC) July 29
Welcome to the Neighborhood (ABC) July 10
Wild’n’Out (MTV) July 13
Wildfire (ABC Family) June 20
13 - Eric Berlin
Chris -- You must be a mindreader. I've been fretting looking for a list like this over the last few days.
See how the Ray can bend your very mind!
Cheers,
EB
14 - Eric Berlin
I have no idea what Master Blasters is about, but any show that harkens to Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome must, but its very nature, be magnificent.
15 - Eric Berlin
I have no idea what Master Blasters is about, but any show that harkens to Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome must, but its very nature, be magnificent.
16 - Chris Beaumont
That's like the one with no start date either... weird.
Too bad Mad Max 4 fell through...
17 - Eric Berlin
Perhaps MM 4 busted a deal and therefore was compelled to face the wheel.
18 - Chris Beaumont
Ha! You bring a smile to my face.
I believe it had something to do with terrorist activity near where they were going to shoot.
19 - Eric Berlin
Are you serious regarding the terrorist activity? What was the location?
20 - Chris Beaumont
I don't remember the details, but yeah. It was somewhere in Africa that was set to be used. I think they were just weeks from shooting when warnings of probelms were coming up. Not sure if it was terrorist, or war-type activity.
21 - Chris Beaumont
Hey Eric,
Veronica Mars is starting it's summer reruns next Tuesday on UPN at 9.
I'd recommend you check it out!
And don't forget Into the West tomorrow night and The Dead Zone/4400 combo on Sunday!
22 - Eric Berlin
Awesome, Chris, thanks!
Rescue Me begins next week, I believe.
I taped The Inside but haven't watched it yet. Did you catch it?
23 - Chris Beaumont
Taped but haven't watched it yet...
I am looking forward to it though....
24 - Eric Berlin
Realized on the way into work that I can't watch Into the West because I don't get TNT... damn!
25 - Eric Berlin
Chris -- Just caught the first ep of Veronica Mars. You're right -- it's really good, and I'm looking forward to catching up with it over the summer. The premise works much better when you see the thing rather than just reading about it, I found. And the dude from Just Shoot Me is in it too -- I like that guy.