Tom Comi | 3/23 | Channel Guide Magazine

Chef Gordon Ramsay shows gentler side on FOX’s “Kitchen Nightmares”

October 26, 2012 | By Tom Comi
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There’s an old saying that warns you to get out of the kitchen if you can’t handle the heat, but that’s exactly where the best scenes take place in the vastly entertaining Kitchen Nightmares. Kicking off the show’s 5th season tonight of Kitchen Nightmares at 8pm ET, we get to see many facets of Gordon Ramsay’s personality as he tries to rescue flailing restaurants from going under. Those just expecting to see the abrasive, hot-tempered chef are better off tuning into Hell’s Kitchen, because here we occasionally get glimpses of his rarely-seen compassionate side. There’s not a lot of reality [...]

If Mitt Romney fires Big Bird, he has other TV options

October 5, 2012 | By Tom Comi
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If Mitt Romney fires Big Bird, the lovable Sesame Street character has other TV options. (Photo via Mashable) Presidential candidate Mitt Romney ruffled feathers during this week’s debate when he said he will cut funding to PBS if elected, leaving many Sesame Street fans across the country wondering what would happen to the beloved characters they grew up with – especially Big Bird, whom Romney mentioned by name. Regardless of whether it’s Romney or President Obama residing in the White House next year, we think this controversy has raised our feathery friend’s star power exponentially. In fact, we would be [...]

Mark Cuban “Shark Tank” exclusive: new season features more fights, intensity

September 14, 2012 | By Tom Comi
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ABC’s Shark Tank would obviously not be successful without the creative and not-so-creative inventions showcased every week, but one particular shark has been lurking in the water for some time and plans to emerge to give the show some much-needed bite. Of course we are referring to the affable yet downright cutthroat Mark Cuban, the billionaire owner of the NBA franchise Dallas Mavericks and chairman of AXS TV (in addition to countless other ventures). Cuban has emerged as a star on Shark Tank (season premiere tonight at 8pmET), and much of that has to do with how he engages with [...]

With election season in full gear, “SNL” returns to NBC at perfect time

September 13, 2012 | By Tom Comi
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Some might argue that Saturday Night Live isn’t as funny as it was many years ago, but what isn’t up for debate is that this weekend’s season premiere — thanks to politics and cast changes — is one of the most heavily anticipated in a very, long time. With the presidential race swinging into full gear, no other show on television has its finger on the pulse more than SNL (Saturday, 11:30pm ET). Host Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy, Ted) and musical guest Frank Ocean will kick off the show’s 38th season, and most of the buzz centers around the two [...]

CBS Sports Network features Arkansas Razorbacks

August 29, 2012 | By Tom Comi
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You could probably base a soap opera around what has transpired with the Arkansas football program earlier this year, but most Razorback fans would much rather look forward to the upcoming season rather than dwelling on the past. Thanks to CBS Sports Network, College Football Confidential: Arkansas does just that. Premiering tonight at 7pm ET, the seven-part series will offer a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most talked-about teams for the upcoming season. And the best part is that the conversation will revolve around what is taking place on the field and not the chaos that took place when [...]

Showtime’s “Episodes” needs some tweaks heading into season 3

August 28, 2012 | By Tom Comi
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There’s was a scene in Sunday’s season 2 finale of Episodes in which a writer reveals that his pilot about an English couple coming to America to do a sitcom is picked up. The show would revolve around the couple having to produce their struggling series despite going through an uncomfortable divorce. Sounds pretty lame, huh? Regretfully, that fictitious premise is exactly what we got from Showtime’s sophomore campaign of Episodes. Although still funny and worth watching at times, the ludicrous plots made one of my favorite TV programs unwatchable more often than not. And the real shame is it [...]

Golf’s FedExCup tees of with the Barclays on Golf Channel, CBS

August 22, 2012 | By Tom Comi
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The beauty of the FedExCup Playoffs is it brings the best golfers in the world together in a format similar to college basketball’s NCAA Tournament. The main difference, of course, is that there is a $10 million prize for the last golfer standing and another $25 million to split amongst the other competitors. Yeah, you could say there’s a lot on the line. The top 123 ranked golfers will convene in Farmingdale, New York, Thursday for the first round of the four-tournament event. The Barclay’s is the first of the four tournaments, and only those ranked in the top 100 on [...]

Five ways to fix “American Idol”

August 21, 2012 | By Tom Comi
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American Idol is not only close to jumping the shark, it is getting dangerously close to getting eaten by it. And with the show changing judges quicker than Simon Cowell can put away a carton of cigarettes, it would be wise for FOX to revamp the competition immediately. FOX had a good thing going back in the day when the only three judges were Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul. Fearing that viewers were getting tired of the trio, executives made the ill-fated decision to replace Abdul with Kara DioGuardi and then add Ellen DeGeneres to the mix. The four-panel [...]

PGA Championship Preview: Tournament will have a European feel

August 9, 2012 | By Tom Comi
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If some of the European golfers participating in this week’s PGA Championship appear to feel at home on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina, it’s probably because it plays much more like something you’d find on the other side of the pond. With the way the course is designed, 10 holes run alongside the Atlantic Ocean and are subjected to inconsistent winds. In fact, it’s said that a player’s club selection on the par-3, 17th hole can range anywhere from a 7-iron to a 3-wood depending on the direction and gusts of the wind. RELATED: 2012 PGA [...]

Disney’s “Code 9″ allows kids to punk their parents

August 3, 2012 | By Tom Comi
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Parents, your worst nightmare has officially arrived. With all of the prank shows on TV nowadays, it was only a matter of time before some network came up with a opportunity for kids to embarrass their folks nationally. And thanks to Disney Channel, that nightmare comes in the form of Code 9 (tonight, 7:30pm ET). I knew something was askew last week when my kids (ages 9 and 7) told me I had to sit down and watch “this cool new show” with them. They thought the idea of children making their mom and dad look silly was the funniest thing [...]