I just wanted to somehow mark the fact that I believe that ten years ago today, Tara, Sarah, and Dave launched Television Without Pity (which was then called Mighty Big TV). They had done Dawson’s Wrap for a year prior, and decided to branch out and cover more shows. I was fortunate enough that they asked me to write the Real World recaps (continuing what I’d been doing on the time on my own site during the Hawaii season), and I’ve been writing and moderating forums for the site continuously ever since.

I have gone on to write over 900 pieces for the site (including two that were published today) on a total of 50 different shows. The site has provided me with income when I was only working part time at my day job, and allowed me to go back to part time when I decided full time wasn’t letting me have the work/life balance I needed.

But besides all that, writing for the site has helped me make lifelong friends, and made me proud of the accomplishment of all of the people I’ve met through the site. A lot of my fellow recappers have gone on to write professionally in various industries, not to mention the millions of laughs they have brought me from reading their recaps.

Just about every entertainment site does recaps of television shows now, and there are many forums out there to discuss your favorite shows, but few have been doing it for ten solid years. I know Tara and Sarah and Dave went through some really lean times, and put a lot of their own blood, sweat, and tears (and money) into keeping the site going even when it looked like it wasn’t possible — remember the Internet bust years earlier this decade? While none of them are affiliated with the site anymore, and I know they will all go on to do bigger and better things, I hope that they all take pride in having created a site that has been hugely influential and provided entertainment to millions of readers over the years.

Wow. Who would’ve thought that my stupid musings about Colin and Amaya would lead to this?

According to Variety, the Friday Night Lights renewal is not quite a done deal yet, but should be announced today. But mostly I had to post so that I could include this FREAKING AWESOME photo of (I assume) Billy and Mandy’s wedding. I mean, spoiler alert, but it’s not like you didn’t know they were getting married and that Tyra and Rigs would be in it, and that it would be awesome. Love this show.

The New York Times ran an oral history on ER, something EW already did, and this one is just as short and kind of unsatisfying, although there was some information that was new to me, especially about some of the later (meaning only eight years ago instead of fourteen) additions like Maura Tierney and Linda Cardellini. Plus, I can’t not read an oral history. I just dig that format for some reason.

A couple of things that stuck out — John Stamos claimed that, by the time he joined the show, he had never seen an episode before. BULLSHIT. It was the number one show in the country for many seasons. It got a lot of press. He works in the industry. It’s syndicated for Christ’s sake. I believe that he wasn’t a regular viewer, but had never seen an episode? Stamos, please.

Second, Noah Wyle says that he thought Carter was a Shakespearean character, a nobleman slumming it up amongst the dirty common man. That explains so much about how he chose to be.

And third, Clooney, pay Benrubi the sawbuck you owe him. Dude could use the cash. Those Parker Lewis Can’t Lose residuals aren’t paying the rent (although my favorite Benrubi role was as teen Dan on Roseanne, just because it was PERFECT casting. Opposite Sara Rue as teen Roseanne. Why do I remember that? I don’t know.)

Why is Sandy from Survivor talking about her “eraser nipples” in People? And why did I just read it? And why am I about to throw up? Look, I’m all about loving your body at any age, but I don’t need the details!

Wondering where the big February sweeps stunts were this year? Did you know that they moved sweeps to March? Well, they did! Make sure you don’t miss any big sweep events and download Your March 2009 TV Calendar.

PS I know I haven’t been updating as much here lately — friend me on Facebook (mention my blog in your request in case I don’t know your name) or follow my Twitter account if you want more frequent updates. But I will try to post here a bit when I find something really interesting.

No Eric Nies, You Were Not Almost Batman – Reality TV – Videogum

I wrote a Twitter about this the other day, but it bears repeating. Eric Nies claims that he was almost cast as Robin in the Val Kilmer Batman movie, but was told that he couldn’t have the role because he would outshine Kilmer on the screen. ERIC NIES! THE GRIND! The best part was the other people on the show listening to this bullshit with straight faces. Also, in an earlier episode, Nies revealed that the secret to his shiny hair is that he rinses it with his own urine. How could I make this up? I almost wish this show had more episodes just to see what dumb shit Nies is going to pop off about next.

No, not because there’s an all new Kath & Kim. Watch this preview for The Office. Why is Creed so creepy? What is Dwight Andy supposed to be? A Thundercat? One of the cats from Cats? Is that another attempt to win back Angela’s heart? Hopefully all these questions and more will be answered Thursday night.

Edit: Saw this commercial on my big TV instead of a tiny computer screen and realized that’s Andy in the cat costume, not Dwight. That makes a lot more sense, but also really increases my desire to see Dwight’s costume.

Alan Sepinwall reports that My Boys got renewed for a third season. I thought the first sesaon was hilarious (especially the 2nd half) and the second season was just okay. They really need to lure Trouty back for an episode, even though Johnny Galecki has his own sitcom now. Anyway, the new season won’t air until summer 2009.

‘ll put it after the cut in case you really don’t want to know, but The Amazing Race 13 starts Sunday night and they’ve released a map showing all the pit stops and how far they will travel. I don’t mind this sort of spoiler because the only spoilers to me are who finishes first and last in each leg, and who wins overall. And I love maps. Click the map itself for a larger version. (more…)

People at work actually ask me what I’m watching each night of the week, like I’m some sort of television oracle who can tell them what shows will be good or not. Obviously, that’s not the case, since so many shows I watch end up cancelled after one season, somtimes less than that. But in case you’re interested, with an assist from Laurel’s Fall 2008 Schedule Grid, here is my viewing/recording schedule for the fall. Keep in mind that some shows have to be watched/recorded due to weecapping duties, not by my choice! Also, we have a dual-tuner DVR so I can record two things at once.

Monday:

Dancing with the Stars (weecapping)

How I Met Your Mother

Samantha Who?

The Hills (weecapping)

If it weren’t for stupid DWTS, I would watch/record both Chuck and Gossip Girl, but I’m going to have to watch those online or something the next day, or Gossip Girl repeats on Sunday nights. Once DWTS is over, those two shows will slot into the rotation somehow. But I don’t want to give up weecapping it because it’s super easy due to all the filler. Also, I might watch My Own Worst Enemy at 10 for a few weeks because I like Christian Slater, but it looks pretty dumb. And at midseason, Dollhouse and 24 might get mixed in somehow. Monday night looks like a tough night.

Tuesday

90210

DWTS (weecapping)

Fringe

Law & Order: SVU

Fringe is pretty bad, but I keep watching it for the Pacey factor, and also hoping that it will get better. But so far, it’s not very good so that show might get dropped. Also on Tuesdays, I usually watch Mad Men on demand, because our local cable has that show in HD on demand, but we don’t get AMC in HD regularly. So I have to wait until Monday or Tuesday to watch it. I really like Greek, but it never fits into my schedule so I try to keep an eye out for a marathon on a weekend and catch up. I’m really behind though. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to avoid spoilers for that show.

Wednesday

ANTM

New Adventures of Old Christine

Private Practice

Project Runway

Dirty Sexy Money

Top Design

I might drop Private Practice if it doesn’t get better this season, but I like the cast so I keep giving it another chance. Once Project Runway and Top Design are over, presumably Top Chef will start back up and I’m recapping that since Keckler bowed out. I also sometimes watch Lipstick Jungle. Yes, I’m the one. I can’t help it. That one dude looks just like a young Scott Speedman. I just FF through all the other parts and watch his scenes, mostly. Wow, I’m sounding like a pervy old lady. I do actually watch the show; it’s pretty to look at even if it’s not very good.

Thursday

Survivor

My Name is Earl

The Office

SNL Thursday Night/30 Rock

Grey’s Anatomy

ER

Yes, I’m the one that still watches ER. I’ve seen every episode of all eleventy-million seasons and I feel weirdly obligated to see it out. And allegedly, this is the last season. I’ll probably record Kath & Kim for the first few episodes, just so see how horrible it is.

Friday

The Soup

Best Week Ever

Nothing else, until Friday Night Lights starts airing in February.

Saturday

Saturday Night Live, but I usually don’t watch it until Sunday.

Sunday

The Amazing Race

Desperate Housewives

True Blood

Brothers & Sisters

Entourage

I gave up on Desperate Housewives for a while, but I moderate the forums so it’s good to sort of know what’s going on for that. True Blood is sort of terrible, and yet somehow engaging.

So that’s the schedule. I also record some shows when I remember, like Real World/Road Rules Challenge, or some terrible thing on VH1, and I might try out some new shows here and there if they start getting good buzz or I hear good things. I realize that’s a hell of a lot of television, but like I said, a lot of those shows I record because it doesn’t cost anything and if they’re boring or stupid, I might just stop watching halfway through and delete it. So now you know, if you even cared in the first place.