Lots of news today:
Bad news for Frank Caliendo: Veteran NFL announcer John Madden announced his retirement this morning. He’ll be missed, as he’s pretty much the voice of football for a generation. I thought his work had slipped a bit in recent years, and his cliche “booms” got a little old, but for a lot of years he was the best there was. From detailing the 3-4 defense to telestrating poorly-run pass routes to gushing over a great block, he was a terrific explainer of the game. Oddly enough, Madden’s lasting legacy might be his bestselling, self-titled football video game franchise. (For the record, the annual “Madden” series will continue for years to come.) Chris Collinsworth will take Madden’s spot in the announcing booth, which I think is an excellent choice. Collinsworth knows his stuff and is opinionated enough to speak his mind.
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Good news for “Amazing Race” fans — host Phil Keoghan tweeted today that the show has been renewed for another season. Not a huge surprise, since it’s finally becoming a ratings hit. But nice news to hear nonetheless.
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Joss Whedon admits the odds of “Dollhouse” being renewed are “not very good.” And here’s a crazy story that’ll drive “Dollhouse” fans (all three of you) nuts: The Chron’s Tim Goodman says there’s a 13th episode that’ll provide closure to the season/series, but Fox won’t air it. Honestly, this is exactly why I didn’t bother watching it. I’m sick of networks yanking the chain on viewers. If it’s good, I’ll wait for the DVD.
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Earlier in the week I had a list of great actresses who I’d like to see more of on TV. Here’s one I totally didn’t expect: Jennifer Jason Leigh is coming to “Weeds.” That’s an amazing catch for the show.
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That didn’t take long: The complete set of “Battlestar Galactica” is being released on DVD on July 28. All four seasons, plus the “Razor” movie and all the webisodes. It’s nowhere near my birthday and it’s a long way from Christmas, but if anyone is looking for a good gift for me. . . .
