Scrubs 2.0 Promo Poster - Season 9 Premieres Tuesday, Dec 1st on ABC

The Blot’s been pretty mum on Scrubs Season 9 for a couple of reasons, but mainly because I have no idea how to feel about it. While it’s great ABC renewed the show for a ninth season, Scrubs returns with a brand new look and pretty much a brand new cast. With John C. McGinley’s Dr. Cox and Donald Faison’s Dr. Turk as the only remaining central characters from the show’s stellar zany cast, the focus of the show shifts to three new medical students attending Winston University and interning at Sacred Heart.


While Zach Braff’s J.D. will still appear in a handful of episodes, the show will now be narrated by Kerry Bishe’s Lucy Bennett, a new medical student at Winston University, which is a pretty significant change if I do say so myself. I am relieved to hear Sarah Chalke’s Dr. Elliot Reid, Sam Lloyd’s Ted Buckland and Robert Maschino’s The Todd will be appearing sporadically throughout Scrubs’ ninth season, but I’m worried the show won’t have the same rhythm and feel it once did, especially with Scrubs creator and show runner Bill Lawrence focusing much of his attention on his new ABC comedy, Cougar Town.


I will say, even with all my reservations I am still elated to have Scrubs returning for another season. While I’d prefer to watch the Janitor roaming the halls of Sacred Heart, I’ll take Scrubs 2.0 any day over the alternative (i.e. a Scrubs-less world). Joining Scrubs as series regulars this season is previously recurring cast member Eliza Coupe (former intern turned student advisor Denise Mahoney aka Jo), and newcomers Michael Mosley and Dave Franco as new medical students.


Scrubs Season 9 premieres on ABC tomorrow night, Tuesday, December 1st, at 8/9c.

The Lonely Island - Incredibad

The second release The Blot has been dying to get his hands on comes from the sketch comedy troupe The Lonely Island. The Blot’s been obsessed with The Lonely Island ever since I first found out about them back in 2005. At that time a relative unknown named Andy Samberg had just joined the cast of Saturday Night Live while his comedy partners, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer, had been added to the show’s writing staff.


I wanted to find out more about these guys and stumbled upon The Lonely Island website. The rest of that afternoon Aly and I watched way too many video clips on their site like Awesometown, a failed FOX pilot, and The ‘Bu, a prime time teen drama spoof that co-starred Scrubs’ Sarah Chalke. I thought Samberg, Jorma and Akiva (also known as The Dudes) were hilarious, but their comedy style isn’t for everyone. I think if Aly never had to see another episode of The ‘Bu she’d die a happy woman.

Since joining SNL, The Dudes have exploded. Their SNL Digital Shorts have become internet sensations and they have even started to appear in movie (Hot Rod, I Love You, Man and Land of the Lost). But it’s their debut album Incredibad that has The Blot really excited. The album collects all of their extremely catchy and popular SNL Digital Short songs, including their first breakout hit “Lazy Sunday” featuring Chris Parnel, the Justin Timberlake assisted “Dick in a Box,” and their newest hit song “Jizz In My Pants.”


The Blot would probably buy a CD of just their Digital Short songs, but they’ve taken it one step further by writing all new material and collaborating with legitimate artists. You’ve gotta love when you a couple of comedians can convince Norah Jones and T-Pain to perform on a silly album like Incredibad. The double disk release includes one CD and one DVD, which features many of their SNL music videos and some all new content. I haven’t heard a lot of the new material, but I’m sure it’s going to be funny.

If you’re interested in finding out more about The Lonely Island and their new album check out this great interview Pitchfork did with the sketch comedy group a few months back. The Lonely Island’s new album Incredibad hit stores today, Tuesday, February 10, 2009.

Incredibad Track List
01. Who Said We're Wack
02. Santana DVX ft E-40
03. Jizz in My Pants
04. I'm on a Boat ft T-Pain
05. Sax Man ft Jack Black
06. Lazy Sunday ft Chris Parnell
07. Normal Guy (interlude)
08. Boombox ft Julian Casablancas
09. Shrooms (interlude)
10. Like a Boss
11. We Like Sportz
12. Dream Girl ft Norah Jones
13. Ras Trent
14. Dick in a Box ft Justin Timberlake
15. The Old Saloon (interlude)
16. Punch You in the Jeans
17. Space Olympics
18. Natalie's Rap ft Natalie Portman
19. Incredibad

Neil Patrick Harris Speaks Out On HIMYM's Stunt Casting

Who knew Neil Patrick Harris read The Blot Says…? NPH gave an interview to the Associated Press yesterday and was quoted in saying “I worry that if they start Will and Grace-ing us too much, that the show will suffer.” (link) Now where have I read that one before? Regardless I’m glad to see there’s someone on the cast of How I Met Your Mother that feels the same way I do.


Harris also stated that unfortunately he’s “in the minority that our show does not need stunt casting in order to succeed.” (link) I’m interpreting that to mean there is a lot more stunt casting in the works. With appearances by Enrique Iglesias, Mandy Moore, Britney Spears and Sarah Chalke already in the can this season and upcoming appearances by James Van Der Beek and Alan Thicke in the highly anticipated Robin Sparkles episode, I don’t see how the could possibly do any more stunt casting than they already have.

Harris also stated that “we’re all really proud of the content of the show. I mean, viewership is not our game. It’s the network and the studio’s game, you know. It’s the promotion department’s game. We wish we weren’t opposite an awkward reality dancing competition, but we have no say about that.” (link) I’m glad Harris is speaking out and standing up for the show because he is 100% right. I really loved the quote about the “awkward reality dancing competition,” I started laughing out loud when I read it.


It’s a real shame the executive producers are messing with the show’s chemistry for a small increase in viewership. Longterm this stunt casting is really not in the show’s best interest. When the interview turned to storylines on the show, Harris was asked who might be the secret slanderer running Barney’s reputation introduced last episode to which NPH replied, “No telling, but based on the stunt casting we've done in the past I'm guessing Tara Reid." (link) How funny was that response? It sounds like the show has at least one unhappy cast member, and an important one at that. Hopefully the show’s creators will realize what a gold mine they have with the cast already in place and that with the right promotion the show can still greatly improve its ratings.


In other news, contrary to previous reports it sounds like Sarah Chalke will be able to clear some time on her schedule to make a return visit to How I Met Your Mother. According to Michael Ausiello “Sarah Chalke is in advanced talks to reprise her role as Ted’s possible future wife” for a few more episodes this season. (link) Chalke’s return is one instance of stunt casting I can live with. Hopefully Doogie is ok with it it too, because the one character HIMYM can ill afford to lose is Mr. Barney Stinson…suit up!

Will Sarah Chalke Be Joining How I Met Your Mother Next Season?

According to a source who spoke to MSNBC’s Courtney Hazlett it is a real possibility. Hazlett wrote on MSNBC’s The Scoop that “producers were very, very happy with her.” (link) The source even went on to say that there is “definitely interest” in the Scrubs star returning as Ted Mosby’s dermatologist/love interest this season. (link) While Sarah Chalke will obviously not be able to return to HIMYM regularly this season due to her currently filming 18 new episodes of Scrubs for next season, Hazlett’s source added they “wouldn’t rule anything out.” (link)


With the obviously great on screen chemistry between Chalke’s Stella and Josh Radner’s Ted it seems like a no brainer to bring Chalke back as a cast member next year. Wouldn’t her reappearance in the season finale combined with the big reveal that she is Ted’s future wife be a great way to end the season? Plus, Chalke has already shown her ability to shine in a talented ensemble cast with her work on Scrubs, so her addition to How I Met Your Mother should be seamless.

How I Met Your Mother’s Impending Renewal and Britney Spears' Impact

I guess its true what they say, you can’t keep a good show down. With Britney Spears much hyped appearance last Monday, CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother achieved its highest ratings ever. According to The Hollywood Reporter “the second week of strong Mother ratings (10.6 million viewers, 4.5 rating for adults 18-49/12 share) assures the one-time bubble comedy will be renewed for the fall. Mother was the fourth highest rated show of the evening and CBS won the night.” (link) For its two weeks back HIMYM has now scored a rating of 9.7 million, 4.3/11 in its first week and now obtained a rating of 10.6 million, 4.5/12 this week. (link)


You know what this means? As of their first two weeks back on the air from the Writers strike imposed hiatus, How I Met Your Mother has beaten The Big Bang Theory in the ratings both weeks. In its first week back The Big Bang Theory scored a rating of 9.1 million, 3.7/11 and in its second week its ratings actually fell to 8.6 million, 3.4/10.


I would say this proves my theory that it was the 30 minute later time slot which accounts for The Big Bang Theory’s higher ratings over HIMYM earlier in the year, except for one thing. According to the Nielsen Ratings, all of CBS’ Monday night “comedies dropped slightly from their post-strike returns last week.” (link) All except for How I Met Your Mother that is. Obviously this has something to do with Ms. Spears appearance, but it also says something to the show’s popularity and fans' reactions to its bubble status. After a few more weeks of new shows I’d be interested in seeing how The Big Bang Theory and HIMYM’s ratings now compare to the ratings of that same time slot pre-Writers strike. Only then will we be able to see which show truly is more popular.


As for this week’s episode “Ten Sessions” with guest stars Britney Spears and Sarah Chalke I have mixed emotions. While it seems Spears’ stunt casting did help ratings, her character didn’t really bring much to the show. Britney didn’t come off badly Monday night and the show definitely wasn't a train wreck, but she also seemed to just be playing her old crazy self. Plus, I’m not quite sure that role really needed a celebrity in it. Did she really bring anything special to the episode? Not only that, but her name alone over shadowed the appearance of Sarah Chalke who was absolutely fantastic.


Also, the episode wasn’t really that funny and most of the main cast seemed pushed to the sidelines until the end when everything was tied together. But I have to say, the scenes between Ted and Sarah Chalke’s dermatologist Stella were really, really great. There was instant chemistry between the two and it made me almost glad Alicia Silverstone ended up dropping out of the role. It’s just unfortunate Chalke won’t be able to return to the show this season. Hopefully Scrubs’ imminent demise will mean future appearances for Chalke on HIMYM.


The biggest debate on the internet now is whether or not Stella/Sarah Chalke is Ted’s future wife and the mother of Ted’s children. I’m going to go with no since that plan was scrapped once Silverstone dropped out of the role and because Stella’s character already has a daughter. That isn’t to say it couldn’t happen and that the daughter in the show’s opening segments to whom future Ted is telling all of his stories to isn't Stella’s biological daughter and Ted’s adopted daughter. This debate brings up the question of which of Ted’s future children is older, the boy or girl? Because if it’s the boy I think that dispels the thought that Stella is Ted’s future wife. I guess with 6 episodes left and the rumor still circulation that we will meet the mother of How I Met Your Mother this season, we’ll know soon enough if Sarah Chalke is the mother or not.

Britney Spears, Alicia Silverstone and Sarah Chalke to Guest Star on How I Met Your Mother (Plus Scrubs News)

Wow, its been a huge news week for How I Met Your Mother as the show tries to make a major push in the ratings to ensure its renewal for next year. Bringing in all this star power has been known to backfire in the past, as many viewers were turned off from NBC’s Will & Grace as it became so guest star heavy. I think there is definitely some potential backlash to having the paparazzi’s favorite target Britney Spears showing up in an episode. I don’t know if this is a major “get” for HIMYM or not, but it will definitely draw lots of attention by the media and hopefully some new viewers looking for the next big Britney screw up.

Originally it was being reported that Alicia Silverstone (Clueless) had been cast as Josh Radnor’s Ted’s dermatologist and love interest for a multi-episode arc. (link) Michael Ausiello even went so far as to hypothozie that he thinks Silverstone could possibly be the mother in How I Met Your Mother, just in case these were the last few episodes of the season. (link)

Then it was leaked that Britney Spears would appear in one of Silverstone’s episodes as an employee of the doctor’s. E! reported that Spears would star as “Abby, a girl who works in Ted’s doctor’s office” and is described as “sweet and friendly and scattered and a little nerdy – a female Michael Cera.” (link) Ok, that description is so all over the place it actually might work for Britney in that she doesn’t have to act, just show up as her crazy, all over the place self. The Blot was nervous as this point because over the past year Britney has come off as a pariah and seems to poison everything she’s involved in. The only thing worse would have been if HIMYM cast Lindsay Lohan for a guest role.

Then news came today that there is already a big Spears backlash that is evidently changing the future plans for How I Met Your Mother. Today Ausiello is reporting that Alicia Silverstone has dropped out from her multi-episode arc as Ted’s doctor and lover. (link) The reason Silverstone dropped out of the role is “because her reps (understandably) feared she would be overshadowed by Spears” who would be playing her assistant in the doctor’s office. (link) The role of dermatologist will now be played by Scrubs’ Sarah Chalke, but the multi-episode love affair is now being scraped because of Chalke’s schedule. And so it now seems the opportunity for all of us to finally meet Ted’s future wife this season has been scrapped, all because of little Miss Britney Spears. There is a silver lining as Ausiello reports there are still “big plans for Silverstone” and the show intends “to creat another character for her” in the future. (link)

In other exciting Sarah Chalke news, it is being reported in this week’s Ask Ausiello that the reason why Chalke can only appear in one episode of How I Met Your Mother is that the cast and crew of Scrubs “are due back on the set the week of March 24th to being production on an 18-episode final season to air on ABC.” (link) Now how exciting is that!?!