The Small Screen Podcast, Episode 34: Not-So-Sneak Previews

"The Small Screen Podcast" is back for Episode 34. Since the wave of the future is airing pilots before shows actually premiere, Kristal and I talked about the first episodes of The Mindy Project, The New Normal and Ben & Kate. We also got in our weekly Grimm shout-out as well as covered a lot of news. Check out the episode breakdown to avoid any possible spoilers.

Episode Breakdown:

Intros: Start - 1:11

TV News: 1:12 - 38:57

• Remembering Michael Clarke Duncan: 1:12 - 8:26
• The Office ending after Season 9: 8:27 - 13:19
• Abby Elliott to How I Met Your Mother: 13:20 - 15:45
• Saturday Night Live books first hosts: 15:46 - 19:53
• Shawn Ryan's Beverly Hills Cop, Last Resort & Terriers: 19:54 - 31:29
• ABC greenlights S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot from Joss Whedon: 31:30 - 38:44

What We're Watching: 38:58 - 1:05:23

• The Mindy Project: 38:58 - 45:15
• The New Normal: 45:16 - 51:06
• Ben & Kate: 51:07 - 55:57
• Grimm: 55:58 - 1:05:23 

What We're Looking Forward To: 1:05:23 - 1:08:58

• College football: 1:05:23 - 1:07:55
• The Vampire Diaries: 1:07:56 - 1:08:58

Closing: 1:08:59 - End

Check out the episode below, or download it over at iTunes:


For more, follow us on Twitter:
Kristal: @kristal_bailey
Marcos: @poppas2cents
Screen Invasion: @screeninvasion
Invasion Radio: @invasionradio

News: THE FINDER's Michael Clarke Duncan Dead at 54

Very rarely do I eulogize famous people who have left us, but I felt the need to after I learned that The Finder's Michael Clarke Duncan passed away today at the young age of 54.

Obviously, it's sad any time someone dies suddenly and before their time, but this one was a little sadder as a fan of Duncan's work. He'll always be remembered for his award-nominated role in The Green Mile, but he proved that he was more than just a gentle giant. As the only person who will readily admit that he liked Daredevil, I was excited when he was cast as the Kingpin, not only because I enjoyed his work but because it was proof that the roles should go to the right performer regardless of skin color.

As for television, I'll remember Duncan's guest starring role on Chuck, but he'll probably always be associated with FOX's The Finder, which also left us too soon. As Leo Knox, Duncan was the perfect sidekick to Geoff Stults' Walter Sherman, and together they were an example of how great chemistry between two leads can make almost anything enjoyable. That's not to say that The Finder wasn't good on its own, it was one of my favorite new shows of last season, but you cannot deny that he was a major contributing factor to its success.

Oddly enough, it's almost fitting that The Finder lasted only one season because I doubt it would have been able to continue after the passing of Duncan. That's not meant to be insensitive, rather a testament to the great work he did and how he could never be replaced. Much like how Psych would not work without Dulé Hill, The Finder would not work without Michael Clarke Duncan.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and fans of Michael Clarke Duncan. You will be missed, and you will always be the Kingpin to me.

News: BONES Getting the Spin-Off Treatment

Out of all of the shows on network TV today, the one I wouldn't have thought would be spin-off worthy is Bones, but here we are. News broke that Michael Clarke Duncan has been cast as the main character's partner, and we should be getting a backdoor pilot later this season.

From what I can tell, the premise is about his man named Walter Sherman who is a a tracker known as the Locator. I don't know enough about the source material with the exception that it's a series of novels written by Richard Greener. To me, the most interesting fact about the project is how this spin-off is apparently going to be about a character not originally from the Temperance Brennan universe (book not TV). Then again, I've never read Katy Reichs' books either, so I don't know how many of the TV show characters are actually a part of her series. Either way, having two related TV shows based on two different novel series seems odd, but I guess it could work.

Back to the actual show. I'm not against a Bones spin-off, but I just never watched the show and thought that it needed to expand its world. Also, this series has a stale and unnecessary feel to it, but that might have more to do with the fact that the parent show has lost some luster. I'm just glad their basing it on new characters rather than having Hodgins and Angela move to Europe or something. Although, I wouldn't be opposed to Booth and Sweets starting up their own private investigation business, and Booth can end up being a vampire...oh wait.

I don't want to badmouth this project too much because it might actually be a decent show, and it could revitalize Bones as well. Plus, Michael Clarke Duncan is one of my favorite actors, so it'll be nice seeing him on my TV screen week in and week out.