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HOLIDAY COUCH POTATO GUIDE: Starz Does The '80's; Current at Burning Man; We Are All New Orleans

Here in the Bay Area, we're trapped in our neighborhoods this Labor Day. The Bay Bridge is undergoing some serious earthquake retrofitting. The only direct route from the east bay into San Francisco is closed - yes, closed! - for the duration of the holiday.

Traffic is being funneled instead through Marin onto the Golden Gate Bridge. CHP just announced that they're on the prowl with their new, super-fancy laser detectors (in lieu of the old radar detectors) and. .Let's just say Marin's 101 freeway roads won't exactly be user-friendly this weekend.

So we're staying home.

But this is Marin, so vegging at home is a pretty wonderful thing. We're picking up some local organics at Farmer's Market, kicking' back with a bottle of Holdredge Pinot Noir, and booting up the 42 in. plasma.

If you're similarly cribbin', here's a guide to what's airing on cable over the weekend.

Love Shack Baaaaaay-beeeee! It's 80's weekend on Starz. Back by popular demand Starz Encore's third annual big 80's marathon returns, beginning at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) on Friday, Aug. 31.

Hosted by one of the original MTV VJs, Alan Hunter, "Big 80s Weekend" will feature 48 '80s movies, a look at classic '80s pop culture with trivia, news, movie videos, and more - including interviews with '80s rockers Ted Nugent, Bret Michaels, and others.

Sci Fi Channel will run the six most popular Stargate SG-1 episodes based on their Internet polling. The "Viewer's Choice Marathon" airs Friday, August 31, beginning at 4p ET. A ten episode Dead Like Me marathon begins Monday, September 3 starting at 8a.m. ET

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE WEEKEND GUIDE

Buy Stephen Colbert's Cast!

As Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert says, "unless you've been on the moon" you know he broke his wrist recently while cavorting on the set of The Colbert Report.

Colbert has gleefully milked the little accident for material. He's dedicated himself to raising America's awareness about "wrist violence" in segments called "Wrist Watch," and hawking "WristStrong" bracelets (a parody of Lance Armstrong's Lifestrong). His orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Gerry Vizone, has made several appearances on the show.

Vizone typically saunters on stage Vince McMahon WWF-style to strobe lights, confetti and an over-the-top intro by Colbert:

"The master of the metacarpals! The Raja of the radius!....Can you smellllalalalala what the doc is healing!? Let's get ready to rehab!!!!!"

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE STORY (and for the Tony Snow/Colbert pic.)

Fact Patrol: USA Net Claims They're #1

It's the Fact Patrol!

Two days ago, a press release landed in my email box from USA Network. First off, when the email opened I was faced with this GI-NORMOUS USA Network logo - like, not kidding here - a super-sized 144 pt. font.

At the bottom, in small letters, the network declared, "USA STILL ON TOP."

After Disney's record-shattering week, led by the 17.2 million stampede to High School Musical 2, here's what USA Network is claiming.

(I don't know about y'all but...whatever the folks at USA Net. are smokin', can I have some? It must be some damn fine herb!)

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE STORY!

Stargate's Chris Judge, 24's Brad Turner Partner for Rage of Angels (2)

CLICK HERE TO READ PART ONE OF THIS POST

PART TWO below:

Aside from Turner's association, Judge said several times that another key selling point for the project is the participation of Michael Shanks (Stargate SG-1's Dr. Daniel Jackson) as Lucifer. “We’re walking into a network with two guys from the longest running scifi show in history whose show is still making product,” he pointed out.

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Stargate's Chris Judge, 24's Brad Turner Partner for Rage of Angels

Stargate SG-1 co-star Christopher Judge has teamed up with the Emmy-winning producer/director of 24's, Brad Turner, to develop Rage of Angels, a drama that tracks the earthly adventures of the angel Gabriel and his nemesis Lucifer. MGM, the studio that wholly owns the Stargate franchise, is behind the two-hour, back door pilot

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HBO's Big Love Moves to Sundays; Where's Deadwood?

Now that HBO's John from Cincinnati, the aimless David Milch surf drama, is going the way of Davy Jones' Locker, Big Love moves into the Sunday 9 p.m. slot for the last two episodes of its Sophomore season.

The move will further confuse viewers who were forced to adjust to a new Monday night time slot after HBO bumped the series from its Sunday perch.

HBO cancelled Deadwood to allow Milch to focus on JfC, a decision that will live in infamy.

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Entourage: Thinly Veiled Mary J. Blige Infomercial

There was a time when Sunday was Entourage night. Forget the DVR. We watched it live. The next day neighbors dissected the latest episode, hilariously comparing their favorite scenes.

Entourage is deliciously naughty. The boys smoke a lot of dope. Sometimes they use a bong and sometimes they roll their own. I've never seen them wear seatbelts. They're bad, bad role models and that's why we love them.

Unfortunately, the forward momentum has slowed this season, the series' fourth. Some Sundays I actually forgot to watch or set the DVR and found myself playing catchup on on-demand, a sure sign that my interest was waning.

Two Sundays ago, the series hit a low point when a Mary J. Blige cameo was written as a thinly veiled infomercial for the singer.

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SCI FI Makes It Official: Paul McGillion Returns to Stargate Atlantis

In a press release distributed this morning, SCI FI Channel made it official: Paul McGillion, the actor who captured fan hearts as the compassionate Scot on Stargate Atlantis, will reprise his role for a fourth season, two episode arc. McGillion's character, Dr. Carson Beckett, was abruptly offed in an explosion during a third season episode titled "Sunday."

The series’ fourth season launches Friday, September 28 at 10pm ET/PT.

This isn't the first tiime that Stargate producers have nixed a favorite doc., however. Fans are still stinging from the death of another well-liked Stargate physician, SG-1's Dr. Janet Frasier (Teryl Rothery). Beckett's demise touched off an on-going and well-organized protest headquartered at savecarsonbeckett.com

But this is Stargate and anything's possible.

Anyone with an Internet connection has known for months that McGillion was set to appear in at least two fourth season episodes. But fans want more. They've been lobbying SCI FI and the producers to have McGillion permanently reinstated for season five.

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Comic-Con Overview: Torchwood, Spike, MGM's Charlie Cohen, Stargate, More

Comic-Con overview written for this week's Multichannel book. Contains some information (Stargate in particular) not included in my blog.

CLICK HERE TO READ IT ON THE WEB

MGM Resurrects Dead Like Me

MGM Studios just finished wrapping a Dead Like Me direct to DVD movie, revealed MGM's Senior Executive Vice President Finance and Corporate Development Charlie Cohen during a chat at the SCI FI Channel/Entertainment Weekly Comic-Con party.

Cohen, who oversees the studio’s new Home Entertainment Productions division along with the studio’s Stargate franchise, said the movie would be released in "about a year." He also discussed cast changes and said the studio is "open" to producing more movies and even bringing the series back for another television run.

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