Fancast: Inside TV

We're always interested in knowing (and seeing) how our users watch TV. That includes service men and women watching from the war in Iraq. Last week we heard that Fox was previewing its new pilot of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles for America’s service personnel stationed overseas. We were curious about that setup. They screened it yesterday afternoon in Iraq over the American Forces Network, and then they graciously sent us some exclusive photos of members of the 65th Public Affairs Operations Center, Massachusetts / Rhode Island National Guard watching from soldier quarters in the Green Zone in Baghdad. More photos later. But good for Fox, good for the AFN.

Perhaps the combination of the writers strike and a faltering economy has TV viewers hungry for substance and paying attention not just to reality TV but to reality in general. Last Monday's Democratic Presidential Debate on CNN Monday scored the highest ratings of any cable-carried debate in television history. (Wolf Blitzer did a nice job, too.) The previous record was CNN and You Tube's November 28 Republican party debate. The next debate scheduled will air on MSNBC tomorrow night beginning at 9 PM with all of the Republican candidates in tow - minus Fred Thompson who dropped out yesterday. We may have to put these on our must DVR list.

Maureen McCormick, the former Marcia Brady and winner of Celebrity FIt Club season five, co-stars on CMT's new series "Gone Country." Her list:

Five Favorite TV Series

1. I Love Lucy: The title says it all. I watched it as a kid. It brings back happy memories.
2. Boston Legal: I love the bizarre characters. It's inspired, unpredictable, and fun.
3. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: I loved it when it first came out. It was so intense.
4. The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd: Blair Brown was wonderful. The show was a grown-up That Girl.
5. Six Feet Under: Very dark, very funny. That's my taste.

The Best Show She's Never Seen

Sex and the City: I felt like I was too old for the show. But I've heard it's amazing.

If You Want To Learn About TV, Wach...

All in the Family: It's classic.

Having created the C.S.I. franchise, whose shows are watched by between 50 and 70 million people a week, Anthony Zuiker, 39, is arguably the most successful producer-writer in television today. The Las Vegas resident talked to us about the TV shows he watches. Here's his list:

Five shows he can't live without:

1. Project Runway. I’m a complete addict. Seriously. I’m fascinated that these designers can make beautiful garments out of nothing.
2. Survivor. For me, it’s the perfect tv show. It’s the judge and jruy of how life is. It’s a test of character, of the strengths of a human being, and usually the best player wins.
3. The Sopranos. The characters are so rich. It’s a different perspective on how to tell a mob drama. I couldn’t get enough.
4. Twilght Zone. Rod Serling and his philosophy of creativity and what he did in his time was phenomenal. He simply told great stories from top to bottom.
5. American Idol. I find myself being engaged by kids who are looking for the dream like I was looking for the dream. I find it fascinating to watch people under pressure.

What’s the best show you have never seen?

The Wire. I know it’s great, but I’ve never seen it. Probably because it’s a cop drama and if I ingest any more cops and drama my head my explode.

The best series to watch if you want to learn how to make TV?

The Sopranos. I think the writing is so second-to-none. It’s off-center and the unexpected happens a lot. That finale was gutsy. It broke every rule of television and left everything up to your imagination. About two hours after the screen went black, I said to myself I hope David Chase is in a log cabin drinking some expensive cognac and allowing himself to appreciate that he had turned out a truly fine body of work.

NBC’s ultimate paternal boast-fest is about to get started. Hosted by former MTV Sports
jock Dan Cortese, tonight’s series premiere of the reality competition show My Dad is Better Than Your Dad gets underway. Each episode features four teams, comprised of one dad and one child, competing against each other for a chance at a $50,000 prize. While we were hoping for a “Who can change channels on the remote control faster” challenge, show creator Jon Hotchkiss (Penn & Teller Bullshit!) and host Cortese filled us in on some more fun and realistic details of the game.

Jon Hotchkiss:
We have a game called Alphabet Soup where we built giant soup bowls that are 12 feet in diameter and each one holds 1000 gallons of green goo. So there’s four of these on the stage. The dads have to climb into this bowl of giant - of green goo and then they have to find letters that are buried at the bottom, and bring them out to their kids who put them up on a big chalkboard. And then unscramble the letters to spell a word. Only, there’s a lot of slipping and sliding because the goo is well, sticky and slimy. We have another game that we call the Human Dartboard where kids get to fly across the stage attached to a harness and stick arrows onto a giant Velcro wall. And it’s one of - going to be one of our signature pieces. It’s just really magnificent. The kids are having such a great time and the dads are, you know, the dads pull their kids back. The kids fly across the stage and everyone just seems to love it.

Dan Cortese on the “Human Dartboard”:
The set itself, is basically a suburban cul-de-sac on steroids. And in that game, these kids are - when he says they’re flying across the stage, they are. They’re about 15 feet up in the air hooked to a bungee harness. And their dads are the ones that are tossing them across the stage, in the air, into this giant Velcro wall. We like to say it’s the largest Velcro wall on the planet.

Last January, the Discovery Channel's Mythbusters celebrated its 100th episode by taking on TV's ultimate resourceful agent of problem-solving: MacGyver, and tonight that episode re-airs with hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman testing several seemingly impossible, but trademark MacGyver solutions, such as blasting through a wall using only a gram of pure sodium. The guys also examine how long it really takes to pick a lock, develop film using only kitchen liquids, and build a compass from scratch. If decoding the secrets of Richard Dean Anderson's alter ego strikes you as sacrilege, then click here and watch your favorite MacGyver episodes on Fancast.

The season is about how far individuals and institutions and society in general can go on a lie. And if you think that theme is hyperbolic and that lies as big as manufactured serial killers and hyped newspaper copies are too big and too outrageous to sustain themselves, I'd simply point to this ugly mess of a war we are in, why we are in it, what was printed and broadcast and declared by the nation's elite and its top media outlets. You look at Iraq and how we got there and McNulty and Templeton are pikers by comparison. The season is about the chasm between perception and reality in American life and how we are increasingly without the tools that allow us to recognize our true problems, much less begin to solve them. Everybody goes crazy? Who? McNulty? Freamon? They quit playing by the rules in a rigged game. That's almost a form of sanity, self-destructive as it might turn out to be.

-- David Simon, creator of HBO's The Wire to Newsweek on the show's fifth and final season.

Tomorrow night marks the series premiere of this Ian Ziering-hosted series that pairs ten professional dancers with one of their (presumably) uncoordinated parents for a shot at $100,000. Catch this clip of an awkward dress rehearsal with pro Heather and her lead-footed father Stephen.

After five seasons, HBO’s critically praised, and often publicly overlooked gritty crime and police drama The Wire will air it’s final episode this Sunday night. Take an in depth look at some of the actors who have given life to their television persona's and helped build the authentic world of this thought-provoking show.

Watch all of the Out Of Character Interviews, including one with a lively Gbenga Akinnagbe who plays the morose Chris Partlow, right here.

Paul Giamatti stars as John Adams in the upcoming HBO miniseries of the same name, which chronicles the life and times of the second President of the United States. Check out the fascinating making of video, including interviews with Executive Producer Tom Hanks, right here.

Ricki Lake has been busy showing off her newly svelte bod lately and has also been super busy with her upcoming projects. Her documentary, The Business of Being Born, about her experience with home birthing, has been garnering amazing interest. The film, coming out on DVD on May 6 through Warner Brothers, is such a hit that she's writing a book to follow it up, due out in early 2009. She very quickly talked to us about what she's watching on TV, before she hurried off to finish off winning some dough for charity at the Celebrity World Poker Tournament.

Favorites of all time:
1. The Ricki Lake Show because it made me rich!
2. The Brady Bunch
3. Little House on the Prairie, while I was growing up.
4. American Idol-- God, we love American Idol at my house.
5. Nip/Tuck

Best show she's never seen:
Lost: I’m embarrassed to say…because I missed the first season. I’m usually a season behind…like The Sopranos I caught up second season. That’s what usually happens to me. I also hear House is like unbelievable, and I haven’t seen that.

.:FULL EPISODES:.

The Riches: The Last Temptation Of Wayne – Watch the first episode of the currently-airing second season; Dahlia and the kids get out of dodge when news real Doug Rich’s life comes back to haunt them.

The Moment Of Truth: Episode Five – 26-year-old New York hair salon assistant and wife Lauren Cleri has been news fodder for weeks after owning up to some shocking betrayals on this controversial episode.

Sliders: Pilot - Before Jerry O’Connell became Mr. Rebecca Romjin, he starred in this popular sci-fi series about a grad student who accidentally opens up a wormhole into a parallel universe.

.:MOVIES OF THE DAY:.

Some Like It Hot - Watch the full-length classic which The American Film Institute called the best comedy in the history of film, which means it can't live up to that hype. However, it's one of the legendary Billy Wilder's best films, it stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in drag, and Marilyn Monroe lights up the screen, even in black and white.

Leatherheads – Check out the trailer for this upcoming romantic pigskin comedy, as well as interviews with star and Director George Clooney.

Season four of Battlestar Galactica touches down on TV tomorrow night at 9 PM on the Sci Fi channel. Here are three ways to prepare for the other worldly event:

1) Read The Chicago Tribune's in-depth and thought-provoking interview with Executive Producer Ron D. Moore.

2) Learn from Salon's list of Everything You Wanted To Know About Battlestar But Were Afraid To Ask, a comprehensive guide to all things BG.

3) Catch Up on full episodes from the past three seasons, as well as full episodes of the original series that started it all here on Fancast.

In this week's New Yorker, dance critic Joan Acocella takes a step in a different direction with an audio review of ABC's insanely popular - 20 million viewers-strong - series, Dancing With The Stars. Highlights? Acocella calls kicked-off magic-man Penn Jillette "not a very good dancer at all", and claims that the men on the show "go through all of this homosexual anxiety business, where they wonder whether dancing challenges their status as heterosexuals."

Listen to the full audio clip right here, and then watch video interviews with the twinkle-toed stars themselves here.

Christopher Walken can be known for having a pretty unusual speech pattern. So what happens when a whole fictional family of Walken's get together for dinner? This ridiculously hilarious SNL sketch, is what happens.

Now that his new show Secret Talents of the Stars has been axed, the Partridge Family alum Danny Bonaduce is likely to have a lot more time on his hands to check out what's on the boob tube. Fancast spoke to him for our Watching TV feature. Here's his list.

All Time Favorite TV Series:
1) The Dick Van Dyke Show: This is the reason we moved to California...so my father could write for it.
2) Barney Miller: Best written comedy on television.
3) Johnny Carson: Because as terribly as I have failed, I modeled my career after him.
4) Friends: Because I agree with Ross, "they were on a break."
5) 60 Minutes: I host a talk radio show and I have to steal from somewhere.

Best Show Never Seen:
American Idol: Any show that can make Clay Aiken a star must be amazing. It's just not for me.

Must-See Show:
To Catch A Predator: Because I have the 2 main ingredients: children and a computer. It is mandatory watching for my 13 year old daughter to help keep her safe.

Although Mya only got to tap her way to TV one time on Secret Talents of the Stars before it was canceled, the sexy songstress is still Ridin' high preparing for the upcoming summer 2008 release of her new album "Liberation." Fancast found out what she's making time for on TV:

All Time Favorite TV Series:
1. Family Guy: I LOVE Comedy
2. Mad TV: MISS SWAN!! Hahaha
3. Saturday Night Live: DEBBIE DOWNER!!! Hahaha
4. Dennis The Menace: Used to be my favorite cartoon!
5. The Dog Whisperer: I watch this show with my mom!

Best Series Never Seen:
1. Entourage: I am always traveling, and still haven't gotten the chance to see it, but I'm dying to!
2. The Boondocks: I haven't seen it yet, but from what I hear its already going to be one of my favorite shows

Must-See Show:
1. Family Guy: It will give you an ab workout without going to the gym- it's full of laughs!

Tax day, schmax day. Watch the hilarious tax-related videos in this list and laugh away that ginormous check you owe the government.

In Living Color: Red Foxx For Hire: 1990 tax tips from "Red" himself. Tip #1: "Pay them."

Saturday Night Live: H&L Brock 3: John Belushi wants to be your accountant. Why? Reason #5 "We have close ties to the underworld."

Family Guy: Audit: Peter's tax refund is better than he could have expected...he's getting an Audi! Wait, that's an audit.

The Simpsons: Taxcheat The Clown: Bart gets Krusty to commit tax fraud.

Ashton Kutcher yukked it up for his third Saturday Night Live hosting gig this past weekend. Check out the Punk'd creator's hysterical monologue where he discusses the role of a TV Producer, and be on the lookout for a cameo by a certain lady love.

She was voted "Queen of the Internet" from 1996-1999. She's been downloaded over 58 million times worldwide, and has made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. Since her talents on Secret Talents of the Stars will no longer be showcased on TV, what kind of talent does the former Extra co-host and one-time "Barker Beauty" Cindy Margolis appreciate watching on TV? Fancast found out:

All Time Favorite TV Series:

1) Seinfeld: The best comedy of all time with the greatest characters. I used to be a lot like Elaine...it was frightening!
2) The Wire: The most intelligent insightful show of our time. Incredibly vivid storytelling while covering a wide variety of complex social issues.
3) Two and a Half Men: Charlie Sheen is hysterical and subject matter is always funny.
4) NCIS: Three reasons...Mark Harmon....Mark Harmon..and.....Mark Harmon!!
5) Law & Order: (all of them) Best cop show ever and adding Jeremy Sisto was brilliant!

Best Series Never Seen:
The New Adventures of Old Christine: I haven't seen it, but I hear it's very funny. I loved Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine and now people tell me that I am a lot like Christine. It's on my TiVo and I can't wait to watch it!

Can't Get Enough Of:
Dexter: Michael C. Hall is great as is the rest of the cast. Any show that makes you not only root for a serial killer but feel sympathetic for him is pretty unique.

OMG, Gossip Girl is BACK tonight (as if you didn't already know!) and it is juicier than ever. Here are three ways to get prepped for "The Blair Bitch Project."

1) Watch clips and previews from the new episode, including the OMG ads that have been ruffling a few feathers as of late.

2) Read NYMag's The Genuis Of Gossip Girl feature which dissects "How a wunderkind producer, seven tabloid-ready stars, an army of bloggers, and a nation of texting tweenagers are changing the way we watch television."

3) Rock Out to all the music featured on the show, broken down by episode, on the GG fansite.

Daisy De La Hoya talked to us last week on the eve of the last episode of Rock of Love 2. Last night the gals were at it again with catfights and hair pulling (particularly from large-and-in-charge past contestant, Heather) at the Rock of Love 2 Reunion Show. But, what's Daisy watching on TV?

All Time Favorite TV Series:
1. Criss Angel: One reason is because he's extremely hot. And the other reason is I think he's a very inspiring person, and I love that show. He's not only just into magic, but he has a message of inspiration behind it.
2. Paranormal State: It's a show about ghost hunting. I'm huge into ghosts and the paranormal and stuff like that. It's a huge part of my life. It's very fascinating to me.
3. UFO Hunters: I'm huge into UFO's and it's a cool show.
4. America's Next Top Model: one of my favorites. I love watching the photo shoots, the fashion, when they travel to different countries. I think it's really cool.
5. Friends: The cast is an amazing group of talented actors, very funny.

Best Series Never Seen:
Intervention--I don't watch a lot of TV so I can't watch it. It's basically where a lot of people get together and work out their personal problems. I love the show but I don't get to watch a lot.

Can't Get Enough Of:
Rock of Love 2--It think it was an awesome show and I felt honored to be part of a show that was so awesome.

New Yorker Adam Roberts knows a thing or two about good grub, as the "Amateur Gourmet" host of the Food Network's weekly food insider web show The FN Dish. Something he's no amateur at? Watching television. Here's his list:

All Time Favorite Shows:
1) Roseanne: I don't think Roseanne gets enough credit for being one of the greatest shows of all time. The early seasons--when the Conner's struggled to make ends meet and Roseanne juggled two jobs and three kids--are some of the most riveting hours of television you will ever watch. The genius is how the show juggles comedy and drama. I remember growing up watching Roseanne and loving the way she used humor to get through life's hardest situations; a tactic I employ regularly.
2) Freaks and Geeks: I never saw this show when it was on the air; I bought it on DVD and sat and watched the whole first (and only) season straight through in just a few days. Then I grabbed my friend Lisa and watched it straight through again with her. Years later, I did it with my roommate Diana and boyfriend Craig. I love it that much. Yes, it's easy to say I love it because I was a freak AND a geek in high school; but, again, like Roseanne there's so much humor and heart. I just love that combo.
3) The Sopranos: It's obvious, but no show ever got under my skin like The Sopranos. There are moments from that show that were so jarring, so upsetting, I feel like they are actual traumatic events from my past. Some day I'll be in psychoanalysis and I'll start talking about that time I was whacked for ratting to the Feds and realize that wasn't me at all. Sometimes it feels like it was, though.
4) Wheel of Fortune: Laugh, if you will, but there's a reason it's lasted 25 years (or is it 30 years?) It's a compelling game show with a brilliant dramatic structure: it all builds to this one final challenge--you stand there, after R S T L N and E are revealed, and you can only choose three consonants and a vowel. What will you choose? Why isn't Vanna moving? You mean... I have to solve the puzzle with just one letter? Oh, the horror!
5) Tie: Project Runway / Top Chef. Any show that puts a bunch of deeply talented people together in a room and tells them to exercise their talent and have their work judged by their heroes and idols is a great show in my book. And the characters on these shows are unforgettable.

Best Show Never Seen:
The Wire: Though we JUST started watching it on DVD. But literally three days ago. So I think it still counts.

Must See Show:
America's Funniest Home Videos: I know, I know, like Wheel of Fortune you might roll your eyes; but if you Tivo it and fast forward past the host's yammering comedy, you'll seem some very real, very funny videos from all across America. We just saw a cat fall into a fish tank. It was hilarious!

Norm MacDonald, the original gangster SNL Weekend Update anchor who shared the screen with Chris Farley and talked a bit about him on the new Chris Farley biography, is back on the comedy circuit doing standup. "I’m somewhere every week, but I can’t remember the exact dates," he said. "It would take me a full five minutes to tell you that." MacDonald told us he loves TV and watches 16 hours a day. Here's his list

All Time Favorite Shows:
1. Fawlty Towers is my favorite because it’s the funniest one.
2. The British version of The Office is my second favorite because that’s the second funniest.
3. The Honeymooners because that’s the best American sitcom.
4. Sargeant Bilco or You’ll Never Get Rich because that’s the best show.
5. I never really thought it through past number 4…

The Best Show He's Never Seen
The Sopranos: I’ve never seen the show. It kept going but I didn’t want to see it in the middle.

Most Under-Rated Show:
Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew: I love that show. Listen, I’ll be honest, I’ve auditioned for that show over and over again. I don’t know how much goddamn Oxycontin you have to eat to be on that thing. And, I really like Jeff Conway…I think he’s the most explosive performer on TV today.

[watch MacDonald-related videos]

House: (Fox, 9 PM) After three agonizingly long months of reruns, Dr. Sourpuss is back, and what's he griping about tonight? A patient being too nice. Yep, apparently in House's warped mind being a nice person is indicative of a terminal illness. But could he actually be on to something?

High School Confidential: (WE, 10 PM) The Confidential chapter closes with tonight's series finale. Now what high school drama are you going to watch? Never fear, Gossip Girl is here to save the day.

Gossip Girl: (CW, 8 PM) Watch out, Serena: Georgina Sparks (Michelle Trachtenberg) is in town to wreak some havoc, and porn and champagne are the least of your problems.

Deal Or No Deal: (NBC, 8 PM) May the force be with contestants on tonight's Star Wars themed Deal. And yes, Princess Leia aka Carrie Fisher is in the house.

The Hills: (MTV, 10 PM) Lauren, Audrina and Lo move into their new home and throw a party. Duh! What else would they do? Drama unfolds though when a certain, ahem, uninvited guest - hint: his name rhymes with Bustin - shows up. Also, could this be the beginning (again) of more than a beautiful friendship between Lauren and Stephen?

Happy Days without Mrs. Cunningham would be like a day without sun. A night without the moon. A beach without sand. You get the point. And while she might be most memorable for her role as the doting housewife, what you might not know is Marion Ross has been acting on TV since her first role on Life With Father back in 1953, and continues to lend her voice and talent to popular shows like Family Guy, and the upcoming film Superhero Movie, where she claims to have "the biggest fart scene since Blazing Saddles." And, if that's not enough, she's being featured in TV's All-Time Funniest: A Paley Center for Media Special (premiering May 9 on ABC). All of the above just begs the question: what is this icon actually watching on TV these days? Fancast found out.

All Time Favorite Shows

1. Brothers & Sisters: I really make an effort to watch this show.
2. Gilmore Girls : I really like a good story.
3. Seinfeld: Of course! You can't beat that.
4. Happy Days: I love watching it, it doesn't irk me a bit to watch it now. We did 255 episodes and I think to myself 'I don't remember these at all', so it's fun to watch and revisit something.
5. The Mary Tyler Moore Show: I just love it.

Best Show Never Seen
Lost: I've never seen it! I have to watch a lot of basketball because of Paul. But I'm an independent woman and I root for whoever I like! I said 'I like Allen Iverson, I care about him, I feel like I've met him.'

Most Underrated Show
Monk: I really like it but it does rate well, so I guess it is valued!

Behind every great chef is often another great chef. It's the case with Gordon Ramsay of Fox's hit Hell's Kitchen, who enjoys the extraordinary calm and skill of sous chef Scott Leibfried, whose ability as a motivator can be seen on this video. Fancast also has the latest full episodes of Hell's Kitchen for those who like the heat. We asked Leibfried what shows he likes and watches when he's not in the kitchen. Here's his list:

All-Time Favorite Shows:

1. MASH – I loved that it was about a rough time in history, yet they also made light of it. IIt had humor, heart, and a bite.
2. Seinfeld – I liked that it took comedy and humor and did it completely clean, without any foul language or gestures.
3. NYPD Blue – I’m a big fan of cop shows. The diversity and the characters of the show portrayed a solid image of the NY PD.
4. Entourage – It’s a bunch of young guys taking a huge chance, moving to Hollywood. It’s a show about risk taking. And who doesn’t want to be a member of their group?
5. Two And A Half Men – I’ve always been a huge fan of Charlie Sheen. I’ve loved to be able to live his life for a short period of time.

Best Show He's Never Seen:

24 – I’ve been told repeatedly that it’s one of the best shows ever. But Sci Fi was never one of my choices. I regret that I’ve never seen.

The Show He Thinks Is Most Underrated:

Deadliest Catch – I love this show and similar ones. It’s probably because it’s food related, but also because you get to see where the food comes from. When people see where the food comes from, they can appreciate it more.

On last week's Office, Stanley let Michael have it. Leslie David Baker, who plays Stanley, says he's often allowed to improvise such scenes. "They let me go, and I'm always surprised at what comes out of Stanley's mouth," he says. Off camera, he's a fan of Steve Carrell and says the cast tries hard to make Carrell laugh. "It feels good when we get him," says Baker, 50, a former city administrator in Chicago. Baker professes a fondness for fine living and good TV. Here's his list of shows:

All-Time Favorite Shows

1. Grey’s Anatomy – It’s well-written. If I could do any other show, that would be it.
2. All In The Family – It was ground-breaking. It was everything a lot of sitcoms have since become. Norman Lear really hit it with that one.
3. Law & Order – I love it. Dick Wolf is incredible. The cast that I’ve met are very nice people, too.
4. The Wild Wild West – When I was growing up, I never missed that show. I sat on a grocery box in front of the TV.
5. Julia – With Diahann Carroll. It was another ground-breaking and often overlooked series. But excellent.

Best Show He’s Never Seen

The Office (British Version) – When we first started out I didn’t want to see it because I didn’t want to try to emulate what was being done. And then it became a thing. Ricky Gervais would say, have you seen my show yet? I haven’t seen it yet. And now here it is season 4 and I recently said, “You know, I’ve got to sit down and watch this.”

Most Underrated Show

Reading Rainbow – Think of how many people it’s helped teach to read and the worlds that opens up.

"It’s odd that I’ve done so much comedy, because I don’t consider myself a comic actor at all," says Johnny Galecki, one of the stars on the stellar CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory and former Roseanne alum. "I just kind of try to play things for the reality, and try to play it with a character, with some honesty and then let the situations around the character be funny." [Watch Galecki at work on these full episodes of The Big Bang Theory.] As for what he watches and likes on TV, here's his list:

Favorite Shows:

1. All in the Family: The writing and the performances just changed the face of television, and changed maybe even the culture at the time. It was absolutely genius.
2. I Love Lucy: There was something about those performances, those sitcoms that just rang so true of theater. It was just these little teleplays, you know, and there was a live audience. There just happens to be four cameras in the middle.
3. The Sopranos: That show is just art.
4. Welcome Back, Kotter: I haven’t watched them for a long time. But if memory serves it was just such a fun energy to that and it was just pure energy.
5. Taxi: I watched probably every episode of Taxi before we started here, because I loved that ensemble and that writing, how specific each of those characters were.

Best Show He’s Never Seen:

30 Rock: I hear incredible things about it, and how much I would love it. But I haven’t caught up on it yet, shamefully.

Most Underrated Show:

Extras: There’s no smoke and mirrors. It’s just great writing and honest performances. [watch a video explaining the series}

[Check out more photos of Galecki.]

Now that gay marriage is legal in California, the wedding bug is catching more than just Ellen and Portia, it's got Star Trek's George Takei as well! In his blog Takei shared that his "dream" can now become a reality. After living with his partner of 21 years, Brad Altman, the two "can now married. We are overjoyed." What's next? "the delicious dilemma of deciding where, when and how we will be married." Well at least it no longer has to be in a galaxy far, far away.

Actor Kunal Nayyar made a splash in Hollywood playing physicist Koothrappali on the series The Big Bang Theory, which debuted on CBS in 2007. Watch him in action in this clip, and then read what Nayyar likes to watch on TV. Here's his list:

All-Time Favorite Shows:

1. Friends: My favorite show.
2. Scrubs: I love the show. It’s excellent in every way.
3. Entourage: What’s there to say? It's "Entourage."
4. Rome: A series that lives up to the hype; maybe better.
5. Two and a Half Men: No, I'm not saying that because of Chuck Lorre. I really do like it.

Best Series Never Seen:

Derek & Simon: Simon Helberg wrote it and was in it. It was a pilot HBO had bought it, and they wanted to put it on the air. But it never materialized. You can see it on a website.

Most Underrated Series:

Scrubs: I have always loved Scrubs. I think it is one of the smartest, greatest shows written. People knock it all the time. It has been on the air seven, eight years.

Last night Kaley Cuoco's successful CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory wrapped its first season. She recently sat with Fancast an enlightening interview about what it's like to work with her hilarious co-stars, and she also let us in on what she's watching on TV. Here's her list.

Favorite Shows:

1. Three’s Company: John Ritter, John Ritter, John Ritter
2. Taxi: That got me through Charmed. Actually my mom bought me all the DVD’s to Taxi. I was like I’m never going to watch this. Like this is about a cab? And I love every episode. It was like the best gift she could have given me.
3. I Love Lucy: In fact, there are moments where I feel like I want to be Lucy. Like I love when her eyes go big and I love that she did all that physical comedy. I mean, that’s just hilarious.
4. The Office: I pee in my pants. I was watching on Tivo last night. I was just dying. It can’t be more uncomfortable to watch. I have to watch it alone. Because I’m uncomfortable with what’s going on. If anyone is watching I’m feeling so awkward like this is awful, this is awful.
5. Friends: is to me one of the best shows of our time ever. The greatest cast, the greatest chemistry, they all were hilarious. And I loved her on it. I feel like her character got better and better and better. I mean, that’s a female who is doing fantastic in comedy. I love that, you know.

Best Show She’s Never Seen:

Lock Up: It's on CNBC, and I can’t watch it because I’m terrified, so I have to have somebody watch it with me or I have to watch it during the day, even though they’re locked up. It’s insane. It’s a reality show about prisoners. It’s so screwed up. And I told my mom and she like stared at me like I was crazy. Why were are you watching? It is so interesting to me.

Most Underrated Show:
I Love Lucy: For me. Because being a female, you know, and loving comedy, she really sets the bar. I think of her all the t