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TV Junkie: A Quick Convo With 2011 Spirit Awards Host Joel McHale; Oscar Weekend
Weekend Edition
Joel McHale will be hosting the 2011 Independent Spirit Awards (Saturday, 10pm on IFC)
We're big fans of Joel McHale and have been enjoying his stand-up, his performance as Jeff Winger on NBC's "Community" (last night's episode was excellent BTW), and his long-standing hosting gig on E!'s "The Soup" (tonight at 10pm). We've paid him a visiton set at "The Soup," talked to him at last year's PaleyFest "Community" night, and had the chance to speak to him as he prepares for tomorrow's hosting of the Film Independent Spirit Awards which will broadcast on IFC at 10pm. We covered the Spirit Awards last year when it was held at Nokia Live but this year the show returns to the Santa Monica beach, where it belongs. We'll be watching as we're convinced that McHale's hosting of the Spirit Awards will be more entertaining than the Oscars.The TV Junkie: I wanted to ask how rehearsals have been going and how the material has been coming about. Are you writing it? Are you writing it with other people? What is the process like in preparation for this weekend? Which I'm really looking forward to, by the way.
Joel McHale: Oh, right on, well, hopefully, you won't be disappointed, but don't be surprised if you are [Laughs]. Let's see, I have hired friends of mine who are writers. One of them is a "Soup" writer, the other are two former "Soup" writers. And then the other is a writer that I have worked with for many years who right now is actually writing for NBC.
So we've had a few meetings and we pitched jokes back and forth. We actually had a meeting. We got together yesterday and I read what we had. The good problem is that we have to cut more than... - you always want to have more material than be stretching for it. We also shot a sketch yesterday and I don't want to reveal too much about that. There's no rehearsals until... there's a rehearsal Thursday and a rehearsal Friday. So we can't actually get into the venue - the tent is not even set up or it's now just set up. So you can't really see what the room is like until Thursday. And then, of course, when we have the real rehearsal with the lights and all that stuff.
Other than watching all the movies and trying to find good jokes and original jokes off that, that's kind of the process. So we'll see how it all goes.
The TV Junkie: Thanks for the insight, because we're unaware whether now you have a chance to stand up at a podium and repitch the jokes back to everybody and see what makes it or not.
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Joel McHale: Yes, that will be very - yes, you'll know really quick. Yes, even in rehearsal, it's great because you can find out what sucks.
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You can watch the Film Independent Spirit Awards live arrivals webcast online starting at 11:30am on Saturday, February 26th leading up to the awards programming at 10pm on IFC. The 2 1�?�2 hour pre�?show, powered by Livestream, will feature multi�? camera/multi-host coverage including nominee interviews, expert commentary as well as fan�?generated questions and comments for hosts to ask the celebrities in attendance. Viewers can submit questions and watch the full webcast at Livestream.
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Watch for our Oscars predictions post and cocktails list tomorrow!
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The TV Junkie Must-Watch Plan: Tonight - "Fringe," "The Soup," "Fashion Police," "Comedy Central Presents," Fallon (Jason Sudeikis, actress Amber Heard, chef Cyril Renaud). Saturday - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, 2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Sunday - "Live From The Red Carpet," The 83rd Annual Academy Awards, "Californication," "Shameless," "Big Love"
Tonight
9:00pm Fringe Fox - Revisiting an intense period in the lives of the Bishops and Olivia.
9:55pm Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Starz - Season Finale. The Bitter End Batiatus seeks vengeance for all that has befallen him; the opening of the new arena promises a spectacle of combat and blood.
10:00pm The Soup E! - Lots of crazy stuff, in addition to Charlie Sheen, have happened this week, and we will trust Joel McHale and company to tear it up.
10:00pm Bar Karma Current - A hospital patient is summoned during a surgical procedure.
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10:00pm Onion News Network IFC - After America suffers a cyber attack, Brooke Alvarez interviews top U.S. officials via satellite.
10:00pm Blue Bloods CBS - A young girl is murdered at a debutante ball; Nicky rides along with Danny as he investigates.
10:30pm Portlandia IFC - The Mayor turns to Fred and Carrie to help him put together a big league baseball team. Heather Graham guest stars.
10:30pm Fashion Police E! - With, seemingly, the entire world preparing for this Sunday's Oscars, we wonder what Joan Rivers and friends will do.
11:00pm Comedy Central Presents Comedy Central - Comics Kyle Kinane and Matt Fulchiron are showcased.
11:35pm Late Show With David Letterman CBS - Actor Matthew Morrison; comic Jeff Altman; Jessica Lea Mayfield performs.
11:35pm The Tonight Show With Jay Leno NBC - Actress Emily Blunt; 12-year-old movie critic Jackson Murphy.
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12:35am The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson CBS - TV host Phil Keoghan.
12:35am Late Night With Jimmy Fallon NBC - Actor Jason Sudeikis; actress Amber Heard; chef Cyril Renaud.
Saturday
7:00pm One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest TCM - (1975) Mental patients follow Randle P. McMurphy (Jack Nicholson), the social-misfit hero of Ken Kesey's novel
10:00pm 2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards IFC - The 2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards hosted by Joel McHale
Sunday
11:00am Countdown to the Red Carpet E! - Celebrating the Academy Awards.
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2:00pm On the Red Carpet at the Oscars ABC - A preview of the Academy Awards includes interviews with nominees and presenters.
2:00pm Academy Awards Red Carpet Countdown TV Guide - Live countdown from the most glamorous red carpet in Hollywood.
3:00pm Live From the Red Carpet E! - The 2011 Academy Awards Coverage of the Academy Awards.
3:00pm Academy Awards Red Carpet With Chris Harrison TV Guide - Chris Harrison speaks with the Academy Award nominees. Includes commentary from Tabatha Coffey of Tabatha's Salon Takeover, supermodel Paulina Porizkova and designer Nick Verreos.
4:00pm Oscars Red Carpet Live ABC - Guests arrive for the 83rd-annual Academy Awards ceremony.
5:30pm The 83rd Annual Academy Awards ABC - Honors for achievements in film take place at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles; James Franco and Anne Hathaway host.
8:30pm On the Red Carpet at the Oscars ABC - Randolph Duke, Mondo Guerra, Roshumba Williams and Michelle Tuzee discuss Oscar night fashions; Marc Brown and Russ Leatherman talk about the big winners; George Pennacchio, Rachel Smith and Chris Balish cover Hollywood's after-Oscar parties.
9:00pm Californication Showtime - Hank takes a gig rewriting dialogue; Marcy tells Stu she is pregnant.
9:00pm Big Love HBO - Bill believes a wedding will help reseal his commitment to his wives; Nicki takes full advantage of her special day; Alby makes a power play
9:00pm E! After Party E! - 2011 Academy Awards Highlights from the Academy Awards.
9:00pm Masterpiece Classic PBS/KOCE - Any Human Heart As Logan enters his 60s, he finds new projects before retiring in France.
10:00pm Shameless Showtime - Sheila worries when Frank gives up drinking; Fiona scrambles to earn money; Lip meets with a college professor.
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