David Kronke was appointed Mayor of Television after a bloodless coup in 2000. Since then, he has improved infrastructure, championed greater educational opportunities and fought for reforms that have utterly erased corruption and incompetence from the television industry. Since Mr. Kronke has ascended to power, Television is a far better place. TV at a theater near you: The Paley Festival
Believe it or not, there’s still some Television out there that has yet to be duly honored. Which is where the 25th Annual William S. Paley Television Festival comes in. It has announced its 2008 schedule, and a whole lot of them are worth attending. All shows, featuring a screening along with casts and creators in person to discuss their series, begin at 7 p.m. at the ArcLight.
Friday, March 14: “Elvis ’68 Comeback Special,” 40th Anniversary Celebration. His biggest comeback, of course, came when he died. Priscilla Presley is among the participants.
Saturday, March 15. “Pushing Daisies.” It was the best new show of the season until the season ceased to exist. Just don’t get too close to Lee Pace if you’ve ever been brought back from the dead.
Monday, March 17: The Comedy World of Judd Apatow and Friends. In which Apatow recalls his many abuses at the hands of heartless TV executives (who abruptly cancelled his classic shows “The Ben Stiller Show,” “Freaks and Geeks” and “Undeclared”), which forced him to be content to become film’s reigning comedy genius.
Tuesday, March 18: “Chuck.” The world-saving geek finally gets some love, if not from Yvonne Strahovski.
Wednesday, March 19: “Friday Night Lights.” Honor it now, before it’s cancelled.
Thursday, March 20: “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” reunion. If you’re allergic to genuflecting geeks, you might want to steer clear of Sunset and Vine on this evening.
Friday, March 21: “Dancing with the Stars.” Well, they all can’t be gems. At least they’re not honoring “Mind of Mencia.”
Saturday, March 22: “Gossip Girl.” If something’s a guilty pleasure, doesn’t that mean you don’t want other people to know you watch? In which case, who’s going to show up for this, and out themselves as fans?
Monday, March 24: “Damages.” Glenn Close and Ted Danson explain how they were able to so convincingly play such thoroughly evil characters.
Tuesday, March 25: “Dirty Sexy Money.” “‘Dirty Sexy Money’ is an American television series created by Craig Wright, who also serves as executive producer alongside Greg Berlanti, Bryan Singer, Matthew Gross, Peter Horton and Josh Reims, with Melissa Berman producing. Horton also directed the pilot. Produced by ABC Studios, Bad Hat Harry Productions, Berlanti Television and Gross Entertainment. It aired in the US on Wednesday nights at 10:01PM Eastern/9:01PM Central.” Boy, Wikipedia can make anything sound boring.
Wednesday, March 26: “Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union.” A Paley Fest first: A premiere before the show even airs, of Ullman’s new Showtime sketch series. So you’ll just sort of have to take it on faith that you’ll like it.
Thursday, March 27: “Mad Men.” Did we mention this was the best show of 2007? Well, within the past week, that is?
OK, so now here’s the bad news. They’ve jacked the ticket prices up this year, to $50 and $35 per event for Paley Center members and $60 and $45 per event for non-members (if you pay the higher fee, you don’t have to wear a blindfold). Tickets go on sale for Paley Center members on Thursday and for everyone else on Sunday. Tickets at TicketWeb.com or call (866) 468-3399. More information – well, “more” only if you consider this to resemble information – is available at PaleyCenter.org or (310) 786-1010.
This has been a Public Service Message from the Mayor of Television, who will take a generous tax deduction for his time spent crafting and posting this entry.