Reality TV: Gift guide

Monday, December 17, 2007
By Kara A. Medalis

Happy holidays, Reality TV readers! As a special yuletide treat, I’m offering you my top 10 holiday gifts for
reality TV fans.

“Protect the Sanctity of Reality TV Marriages” bumper sticker I’m guessing Trista & Ryan and Rob & Amber don’t have these stickers plastered on their bumpers. As I sit here re-watching the controversial finale of this season’s “The Bachelor” (can you believe Brad picked neither girl?!) I find this sticker hilarious. It’s the perfect stocking stuffer for every reality TV fan, and is available at BumperArt.com for $2.50 to $4.95, depending on the size of the sticker. Visit the site and search for “reality TV.”

“The Biggest Loser Workout: Power Sculpt” and “The Biggest Loser Workout: Cardio Max” DVDs Work out with “Loser” trainers Jillian Michaels, Bob Harper and Kim Lyons as they lead you through routines adapted from NBC’s hit show. Hopefully their regimens aren’t as grueling as the ones they put the show’s contestants through, although if the trainers are as inspiring as they are on “Loser,” these DVDs are sure to be a hit. Each DVD is 50 minutes. These titles will be released Tuesday and retail for $14.98 each, but discounts are available at Amazon.com and Target.com.
“Survivor” buffs, collector’s editions one and two Outwit, outplay and outlast, and proudly sport the colors of the merged tribe buffs from the first 10 seasons of “Survivor.” Each edition comes with a 20-inch, heavy duty, cardboard totem pole in case you’d rather display the colorful buffs than wear them. Each edition costs $59.95 and is available at cbsstore.com.

Jordin Sparks’ self-titled debut CD

Jordin’s album hit the Nielsen/SoundScan chart at No. 10 — the lowest debut entry for any “American Idol”
winner. The disc sold only 119,000 copies during its first week out, which is also the lowest debut for an “Idol”
winner. But I say let’s give the season six winner a chance. At age 17, she’s one of the most charming “Idol”
winners to date. Her first single, “Tattoo,” is catchy. The CD retails for $18.98, but I’ve found it for less at
major retailers, such as Amazon.com, Target and Wal-Mart.

“Run’s House: The Complete Seasons 1 & 2″ DVD

Follow the adventures of rap legend Reverend Run and his lovable family in this reality sitcom. Run’s five kids
and many little dogs provide hours of family-friendly entertainment. Think “The Osbournes,” but replace the
cursing with faith and love. From Russy’s GameBoy anger management issues to Vanessa’s budding acting
career to Justine’s loss of her newborn, “Run’s House” is funny, emotional, real and touching. The DVD set
retails for $29.99 at shop.mtv.com.

Clothes and accessories seen on “The Real Housewives of Orange County”

Ever catch an episode of “Real Housewives” and wonder how you could get your hands on a blouse like Jeana’s or jewels like Vicki’s? Bravo Shop now offers the chance for you to dress like the “Housewives.” Want the Josie Natori Rose Parfait Camisole Jeana wore on the Nov. 20 episode (303)? Bravo Shop will send you to Saks Fifth Avenue’s online store to purchase it for $140. Or how about the Adina Large Signature Circle Earrings Vicki wore on the same episode? Bravo links to Punk Mascara online so you can have them for $99.  Visit seenon.com/television/bravo/ for more information.

A piece from the Lauren Conrad collection

Sticking with the reality TV clothing theme, why not a dress or scarf designed by LC of MTV’s “The Hills”?  The Teen Vogue intern is now a full-fledged fashion designer, and her moderately priced duds are comfortablelooking but chic. Check out the short, sexy and drapey Audrina Dress, which is named for Lauren’s BFF, roommate and fellow star of “The Hills.” The machine-washable dress is available in navy blue, black, ivory and burgundy and retails for $150. Looking for something more affordable? How about the sweet Dolly Print Scarf recently featured in Seventeen magazine. It’s 100 percent cotton and retails for $25. Check out shoplaurenconrad.com to see LC’s full collection.

Travelocity Roaming Gnome

Take home the trademark mascot of CBS’ “The Amazing Race” and pack him in your suitcase before your next travel adventure. The classic gnome in his blue shirt and red cone hat is available, but the Las Vegas (in an Elvis Presley costume), Mexico (complete with a Mexican hat and maracas) and Hawaii (dressed in a grass skirt and lei) versions are pretty festive. The 8-inch gnomes weigh 2.5 pounds each and retail for $24.95. The official, 18-inch Roaming Gnome seen on the show retails for $69.99. Visit cbsstore.com.

TiVo HD

Forget that pesky DVR box, which only acts as a glorified VCR for your HDTV. TiVo is smarter, friendlierand easier to use than a DVR, and now, TiVo offers an HD version of its box. Plus, with TiVo HD, you can record two HD channels at once, while watching another recorded show. You can also download movies from the Internet directly to your TiVo HD; search for broadband TV, music and photos; schedule your TiVo HD to record online; and share home movies. The TiVo HD records up to 20 hours in HD, or 180 hours in standard definition. The new TiVo HD retails for $299 and is available at tivo.com.

Coming up

“Clash of the Choirs,” a four-night event, starting tonight at 8 on NBC.

“Duel,” a six-night event, starting tonight at 8 on ABC.

“The Celebrity Apprentice,” Jan 3., 9 p.m., NBC.

“American Gladiators,” Jan. 6, 9 p.m., NBC.

“Bruno vs. Carrie Ann,” Jan. 7, 8 p.m., ABC.

“American Idol,” Jan. 15, 8 p.m., Fox.

“Make Me a Supermodel,” January, Bravo.

From Bobbleheads To Boxed Sets, The Web Has Plenty To Fill TV Fans’ Stockings

By WALT BELCHER, The Tampa Tribune
Published: December 10, 2007

Christmas shopping for the couch potato on your list can be as easy as clicking the mouse on your computer.  Online you can find boxed sets of TV shows, books about TV shows and some offbeat collectibles from your favorite spud’s favorite show.

Just about every network has an online store where shoppers can stock up on stocking stuffers.  At the NBC Universal Store, for example, a hot item for fans of “The Office” is the $24 talking Michael Scott bobblehead.  It has six of his catchphrases, including “That’s what she said” and “I like waking up to the smell of bacon. Sue me.”

Other choice “Office” items include Dunder-Mifflin T-shirts and the Dundee Award, with six interchangeable placards including “The Whitest Sneakers.”  Also at nbcuniversalstore.com, one can purchase Sci-Fi Channel items such as
the Frak coffee mug from “Battlestar Galactica” and a Flash Gordon T-shirt. Or how about a “Law & Order: SVU” sweatshirt or a “Monk” bobblehead?

Over at foxshop.seenon.com, there’s a little Jack Bauer statue for $24.95 (he’s pointing a gun) and the “Official CTU Operations Manual” for $19.95.  For “Prison Break” fans, there’s a $13.95 Fox River Penitentiary coffee mug. And
there are dozens of items from “The Simpsons,” including the Homer Talking Can Cooler for $9.95. It has a recording of Homer saying: “Moe, give me a beer!’”

On abctvstore.com there’s a Denny Crane bobblehead (from “Boston Legal”) that says “Denny Crane” over and over and over.  The $125.95 “Grey’s Anatomy Ultimate Value Basket” includes sweatshirts, Tshirts, soundtracks, a mug, a Seattle Grace clipboard and more.  Serious “Desperate Housewives” devotees might like a complete set of dolls based on the ladies of Wisteria Lane. For a mere $550 you can own 16-inch-high replicas of Bree, Gabrielle, Lynette, Susan and Edie.

At CBSstore.com you can pick up a steel “CSI” thermos for $16 or a $69.95

Travelocity Traveling Gnome (from “The Amazing Race”).

At the Warner Bros. Store ( www.wbtvshop.com) they still have “Gilmore Girls” items including a $13.95 cappuccino mug and the Kirk’s Town Tours T-shirt.

TV BOOKS:

Just about every TV show, current and past, has a book devoted to it. Among the new tomes this season are four intriguing fan guides from ECW Press, publishers of books about entertainment, culture and writing. All can be
found at discounted prices on Amazon.com:

•”Finding Lost – Season Three: The Unofficial Guide,” by Nikki Stafford, should
help jog the memory before the series comes off that long hiatus.

•”Frak You!: The Ultimate Unauthorized Guide to Battlestar Galactica,” by Jo
Storm, takes a detailed look at the first three seasons.

•”The House That Hugh Laurie Built: An Unauthorized Biography and Episode
Guide,” by Paul Challen, tells you everything you ever wanted to know about
“House” and its star.

•”Saving the World: A Guide to Heroes,” by Lynnette Porter, David Lavery and
Hillary Robson, is an attempt to sort out the many mysteries of the show.

BOXED SETS:

Just about every TV show is out on DVD, but the must-have boxed set is “Seinfeld the Complete Series” ($284). This 32-disc set contains all of the episodes plus bonus goodies such as deleted scenes, commentaries, bloopers and behind-the-scenes information. Others:

•”Everybody Loves Raymond: The Complete Series” ($279.99) has 210 episodes of “Raymond” on 44 discs, along with commentaries from cast and crew.

•”Twin Peaks: Definitive Gold Box Edition” ($108.99) is a blast from the past that is still fascinating to watch. David Lynch’s surreal small-town murder mystery has
been remastered under Lynch’s supervision.

•”Gilmore Girls: The Complete Series” ($258). It seems like only yesterday we were strolling through Stars Hollow with Lorelai and Rory. This is like we never left.

Delivery Agent Named Exclusive Online Retailer for CBS

Dec 8, 2007
License! Global Weekly E-news

CBS signed an agreement for an exclusive online retail partnership with Delivery Agent, a leader in shopping-enabled entertainment for television shows, motion pictures, sports, and music videos. Delivery Agent will make it possible for fans of CBS’s popular daytime, primetime, and late-night series to easily find and purchase exclusive fan gear as well as products worn or used by their favorite characters. Official fan gear now available at www.cbsstore.com includes show-branded apparel, toys and games, gift items, and DVDs.

San Francisco’s SeenON, a site that sell clothes and accessories featured in television shows like “Grey’s Anatomy,” is teaming up with CBS.

That means viewers watching “How I Met Your Mother” will be able to go on the site to purchase jewerly, jackets, pants and other products used on the set of the show. (Barney, played by Neil Patrick Harris, doesn’t seem to be much of a trendsetter so far. As of yet, the only item tagged with his name is a set up vintage martini glasses). Other participating shows include “CSI,” “Amazing Race” and “Survivor: China.”  SeenON partners with television networks, Hollywood studios and celebrities to collect information on costumes and props, then finds where
they are being sold online. Fans interested in the Puma jacket Marshall wore on in an episode of “How I Met Your Mother” can identify and find it through SeenOn.