http://www.metro.usen-us Some shows have it easy — one look at Joan Holloway wiggling across the office, and you’re a “Mad Men” fan for life. But what if you’re one of the many spin-offs, supernatural dramas or crime shows that debuted this fall? How do you wiggle and hook an audience? Some clever strategies are behind the front-runners — and lacking in the others.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/20/07/4538-82/index.xml It’s disarming to meet a knight in Chuck Taylors. It’s also highly appropriate for Sir Ian McKellen to dress so casual-cool for our interview as he promotes “The Prisoner,” a brilliant new miniseries that manipulates appearance and perception while deftly delving into themes of paranoia in a seemingly civilized, but truly authoritarian, society.  http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/13/03/1803-82/index.xml David Letterman. Jay Leno. Conan O’Brien. Jimmy Fallon. Craig Ferguson. Jimmy Kimmel. All funny. All men. All straight. And all white. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/06/05/5155-82/index.xml Humans don’t seem to have any problem with space invaders. In fact, considering the success of “District 9,” we seem to love the idea of a bunch of aliens hovering giant spaceships over our major cities. That’s exactly what the team behind “V” is banking on.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/02/00/0644-77/index.xml Aside from the odd film role, Calista Flockhart stepped out of the limelight after wrapping up “Ally McBeal” in 2002 to focus on raising her son, Liam. Then, three years ago, Liam started elementary school and Flockhart went back to work, joining the cast of another network drama, “Brothers and Sisters.” Though happily a part of the ensemble until now, Flockhart finds herself front and center once again as the new season of the ABC series focuses on her character Kitty’s battle with cancer. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/30/08/3655-82/index.xml As ABC’s new hit series “FlashForward” has unfolded its mystery, the folks behind the show have kept one of their highest profile cast members a not-so-secret secret. But this week that all changes, as Dominic Monaghan — previously of “Lord of the Rings”  and ABC’s other puzzler, “Lost” — finally comes out of the shadows. We spoke with Monaghan about taking on another series.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/28/20/2431-82/index.xml In his second year on the Fox sci-fi hit “Fringe,” Joshua Jackson is feeling pretty much at home. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the filming of the series has moved to Vancouver, the town where he grew up.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/22/09/4705-82/index.xml Five years after her character on “The Sopranos” was killed off, Drea de Matteo finds herself returning to television to tangle with a group possibly more dangerous than the mafia: the women of “Desperate Housewives.” http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/20/07/5923-82/index.xml Jamie Oliver wants you to put down the takeout menus and toss the frozen enchiladas. Tonight, you’re cooking dinner.  http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/16/04/1120-82/index.xml “Monty Python: Almost the Truth (the Lawyer’s Cut)” — the six-part retrospective celebrating 40 years of silly walks and odes to lumberjacks by the irreverent comedy troupe — is reverential and revelatory, celebratory and silly. But the one thing filmmakers Bill Jones (son of Python Terry Jones) and Ben Tillman didn’t want their documentary to be is, as Jones says, “ass-kissing.”http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/16/02/1517-82/index.xml What is going on scheduling-wise with “Nip/Tuck” is almost as confusing as the show’s plot points, some of which have been (but were not limited to): A story arc about high-end hookers who steal kidneys; a serial killer with no sex-organs whose accomplice was his sister and possible lover; and more demented love stories than a Hallmark store full of cutesy Valentine’s could make up for. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/14/05/0059-82/index.xml Six seasons in the making, the holy union of Jim Halpert and Pam Beesley finally takes place on tonight’s episode of “The Office.” The bride and her “Office”-mates share their excitement about the impending ceremony, and talk about the effects Jim and Pam’s marriage will have on Dunder Mifflin.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/08/06/0320-82/index.xml Marking 30 years as the “The Worldwide Leader in Sports,” ESPN celebrates its anniversary with a new series featuring 30 sports documentaries by leading filmmakers. “30 for 30” kicks off tonight with “Friday Night Lights” auteur Peter Berg’s “Kings Ransom,” a look at Aug. 9, 1988, one of the most shocking days in NHL (and Canadian) history: when Wayne Gretzky was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/05/22/0931-82/index.xml No doubt Kitchen Stadium is a cool place to call your office, but we’ve got to hand it to the contestants on Season 2 of “The Next Iron Chef” — they’re working hard for the privilege. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/02/04/4735-82/index.xml You’re not going to find the Cleavers on prime time in 2009. OK, so maybe Ward, June, Wally and the Beav are playing out moral lessons in reruns. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/09/30/05/3916-82/index.xml It’s no surprise that most celebrity reality show contestants aren’t at the top of their game. But while this season of “Dancing With the Stars” has the expected former teen idols (Donny Osmond), retired teen witches (Melissa Joan Hart), and no longer super models (Kathy Ireland) covered, the show also has its share of contestants with criminal records.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/09/28/00/0126-77/index.xml Even the most hard-core urbanite will be taken with awe while watching “Ken Burns’ The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” — if not because of the purple mountain majesties, then definitely due to the master filmmaker’s eloquence.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/09/25/06/0342-82/index.xml There’s little room for laughs in many aspects of life in 2009, which is why humor’s impact on popular culture is more powerful than ever. We spoke with some top brains in the biz to find out what is shaping this cornerstone of modern entertainment.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/09/25/05/3337-82/index.xml Premonitions aren’t all they’re cracked up to be — especially when every human on the planet simultaneously blacks out for exactly two minutes and 17 seconds and catches a glimpse into their futures. http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/09/24/06/0922-82/index.xml Emmy debuted a new look last night, a much-needed makeover in the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ 61st year of celebrating excellence in the medium. The change was prompted by a number of spectacular failures at last year’s awards, including handing the emcee duties over to the lackluster quintet of nominees for outstanding reality show host. Namely, however, the Academy needed to rebound from last year’s ratings — the broadcast drew the lowest number of viewers in the program’s history.http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/09/21/05/4533-82/index.xml