Rueben’s Ramblings

What makes a web series a success? If the web series, now weekly TV series, Sanctuary is any example, its success lies in a devoted fan base, its creator Damian Kindler (the man behind Stargate SGI-1 and Stargate Atlantis), fantastical CGI-enhanced scenes and elaborate storylines and a cast that includes Amanda Tapping, Robin Dunne, Ryan Robbins and Christopher Heyerdahl. You …

For about eight years now, I have been a member of the Paley Center for Media (formerly known as the Museum of Television and Radio). Back in 1975, one of the most powerful men in the television industry, William S. Paley, founded an organization to collect, preserve and interpret television and radio programming and to make these programs available to …

What is up with fall TV this year? Or more to the point, what is up with the new programs this fall? Each of the major networks introduced their normal pre-requisite amount of new dramas over the course of the last month or so. But, have any of them performed well? Three of them have already been canceled after airing …

Every fall new TV shows debut on all of the major networks; some succeed, some fail and some fall in middle. This TV season very few new shows have succeeded so far – although the remake of Hawaii Five-0 and Blue Bloods, both on CBS, have performed well enough that the network is touting them as the top two new …

In just a little over two weeks, Halloween will arrive with all its gore and horror; its tricks and treats. One specific treat for which I am anticipating is the Third Annual Halloween Screening of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog and The Guild (Season Three) Charity Event conducted by Whedonopolis. What is Whedonopolis, you ask? They are a subsidiary of Fandom …

This past Sunday a couple friends and I had the opportunity to attend a special screening of the first new episode of Caprica since its mid-season finale back in March. The screening, which included appearances by cast members – Alessandra Torresani, Sasha Roiz and Esai Morales as well as Executive Producers Ron Moore, David Eick, Jane Espenson and Kevin Murphy …

It’s that time of year again: Fall. And while Southern California – where I have been living for the past 10 years – seems to be experiencing (what is hoped to be) a short pout of a summer heat wave, it’s hard to believe that it’s the end of September already with Halloween only a little over a month away …

Every September the new fall TV season easily provides any couch potato (or the even the regular viewer) with an overload of shows to watch. And, this fall is no different. There will be the returning favorites as well as all those new shows that will try to capture the attention of viewers. Whether these new shows catch on with …

A few weeks ago, I was out with some friends, attending the free screening of the upcoming movie “Easy A”. While waiting in line, we talked about different television-related subjects, which is actually a typical topic when I’m out with friends. One of those topics was “show killers”. Except this wasn’t an examination of actors who play murderers or the …

For a number of years now, the Paley Center for Media – both in New York and Beverly Hills – have held their annual “Fall TV Preview Parties,” hosting a special night dedicated to each of the major networks. Each night’s parties includes airings of several pilots for new and/or returning shows on the networks as well as visits by …