SueTube – Let’s talk TV with critic Susan Young

ABC’s World News Tonight anchor Bob Woodruff checked out of the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland this morning and will be continuing his recovery at a private facility in the New York area.

It’s expected that he’ll go home to continue his rehabilitation as an out-patient after that.

This good news reflects Bob’s continued progress in all
respects,” says ABC News President David Westin. “Bob is up and about, regularly talking and joking with (wife) Lee, the children, other family members and – yes – watching the news. He continues to show just how strong and determined he is.

That said, Westin says, Woodruff still has months of further recuperation.

All of us need to help Bob and Lee with this process by respecting their privacy,” Westin says. “For now, Bob will be devoting his full strength and energy to his family; later we will focus on getting him back to work on his schedule.

If there are major developments, Westin says, they will be reported. But in the meantime, the family will be given some rest from media attention.

Let’s leave them alone and give them the chance to be a family again,” Westin says. “Let them tell us when they want us to reach out.”

Get ready for your close-up.

USA networks have launched an online search for the No. 1 character in the country _ and in return you get fame and prizes…but mostly prizes.

The Show Us Your Character Contest begins March 20 and ends April 28. Enter online at www.showusyourcharacter.com and get wacky with it. Of course, this is all just a subtle ruse to launch USA’s version of My Space. Once you get on the site, you’ll be encouraged to upload videos and pictures as well as create detailed character profiles.

Oh, yeah. Don’t forget about the contest. Fame seekers need to demonstrate why they are unique through talents, personalities, style…we could go on, but really, what’s the point?

All submissions will be reviewed by a casting agency that will whittle the field down to 30 finalists. The Grand Prize winner will be selected by a panel of NBC suits. There will also be a Viewers Choice Award.

The Grand Prize winner will be seen in a national on-air campaign on USA Network; featured on the silver screen in AMC, Cinemark and Regal Entertainment Group’s FirstLook movie pre-show and will get an exclusive Web series of his or her own, which will live on showusyourcharacter.com.

In addition, the lucky person to earn this distinction will receive a MAC G5 Quadcore Desktop with 30″ HD screen and a Sony HVR professional HD camcorder with which to create webisode greatness.

The First Prize Winner receives a Sony DCR DVD Camcorder, with an Apple Video iPod going to the Runner-Up.

The Viewer’s Choice character will win $1,000 cash.

Go, my Webbies. Bare your souls for the chance to win a fabulous prize.

Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon heats up the New York fire department this summer on FX’s “Rescue Me.”

Rescue indeed.

For three episodes in the upcoming season, Sarandon plays hottie Franco’s (Daniel Sunjata) latest flame, who happens to be a rich successful older woman.

Sarandon’s character Alicia seduces Franco by teaching him that an older woman is exactly what he needs in the second episode of season three.

Currently in production, season three of “Rescue Me,” which stars Denis Leary premieres in early summer.

The Bay Area lost its only “American Idol” rep on Thursday when it was revealed that Jose “Sway” Penala was voted off the show.

The judges on Wednesday did a thumbs down on his performance. The viewers obviously agreed

More than 42 million votes cast after Tuesday and Wednesday

The Bay Area lost its only “American Idol” rep on Thursday when it was revealed that Jose “Sway” Penala was voted off the show.

The judges on Wednesday did a thumbs down on his performance. The viewers obviously agreed

More than 42 million votes cast after Tuesday and Wednesday

The tip-off that Barry Bonds new reality series was a go should have been seeing the San Francisco Giants slugger dressed as Paula Abdul during a recent photo op.

He’s fun. He’s frivolous. It’s Bonds like you’ve never seen him before.

That man knows how to dress up a reality show.

Yes, it’s true.

A weekly half-hour series has begun filming during Spring training and Bonds is the star. The series chronicles Bonds’ pursuit to reach the milestones set by Babe Ruth (most home runs by a left-handed hitter) and Hank Aaron, the all-time home run leader, according to the press release.

Interesting, given Bonds’ recent statements that he doesn’t care a whit about breaking any records.

Currently, Bonds has 708 home runs, just six behind Babe Ruth’s 714 and 47 behind Aaron’s 755.

“It was over ten years ago when (series producer) Mike Tollin interviewed me for the Hank Aaron documentary,” said Bonds in a statement. “And I said at the time that no one will ever get close to 755. At the age of 42 to finally have a chance to catch legends like Babe and Hank is really a mind-blowing honor. This is a project that we’re both passionate about and feel we have the opportunity to capture a unique behind-the-scenes experience that fans will be able to enjoy each week.”

The television documentary series will debut with a one-hour special Tuesday, April 4 on ESPN2 and then will be aired weekly on ESPN Tuesdays beginning April 11.

Tollin and his production partner Brian Robbins currently have such shows on the air as “Smallville” and “Crumbs.”

“We’ve known Barry for over ten years now and this seems like the perfect time to reveal the many sides of his life that the world never sees, ” Tollin said.

Robbins added that “He’s never been more eager for a season to start or more comfortable with himself.”

We figured that out when we saw him in a dress.

At a time when ABC news is dealing with the Iraqi attack that left anchor Bob Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt critically injured, there’s finally some good news.

“World News Tonight” co-anchor Elizabeth Vargas and her husband, singer-songwriter Marc Cohn, are expecting their second child in late summer.

Vargas and Cohn have a son Zachary, 3, and Cohn has two children from a previous marriage Max, 14, and Emily 11.

“This is joyous news for Marc and our family,” Vargas said. “At the same time, our immediate concern remains with Bob [Woodruff], [wife] Lee, and the entire Woodruff family as we hope and pray for continuing good news about his recovery.”

“I told Elizabeth that during such a difficult time for all of us, it’s good to get such wonderful, life-affirming news,” said ABC News President David Weston.

Vargas, who also co-anchors the ABC newsmagazine “20/20,” will continue to anchor both broadcasts through late summer.

Vargas, 43, and Woodruff, 44, debuted as co-anchors of ABC News’ evening newscast in January 2006. Woodruff is currently being treated at Bethesda Medical Center for injuries he sustained during an IED attack in Iraq on Jan. 29.

Diane Sawyer and Charles Gibson will continue to fill in for Woodruff until the end of February as he recovers. When the timetable for Woodruff’s recovery becomes clearer in the coming weeks, ABC News will announce further interim plans for substitution on the broadcast.

ABC News President David Westin sent the following update on Bob Woodruff and Doug Vogt to his ABC News colleagues Wednesday, Feb. 8:

“Both Bob and Doug continue to make progress on their different roads to recovery. Yesterday Doug moved into an outpatient facility at Bethesda Medical Center where he will stay in the coming weeks. He is still under the treatment of the doctors there, but this is a positive step on his road to recovery.
Bob is also making progress. The doctors are keeping him sedated for now to help with the healing of his various injuries. They do adjust the levels of his sedation from time to time, and they have been pleased with how he responds even with somewhat lowered sedation.
This remains a long process, but I will continue to let you know when there are important developments.”

“The Sopranos” are back.

The sixth season kicks off at 9 p.m. on March 12, with 12 episodes airing this year and the final eight presented in 2007.

According to the HBO press release, new challenges abound for Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) as his life grows increasingly complicated. Now that he and Carmela (Edie Falco) are back together, they must face the reality that their kids are no longer children, but not yet grown. And with Johnny Sack (Vincent Curatola) in prison, the always-tense relations between the New Jersey and New York families are strained even further.

Returning this season are Lorraine Bracco as therapist Dr. Jennifer Melfi, Michael Imperioli as Tony’s nephew Christopher Moltisanti, and Dominic Chianese as Uncle Junior.

Also returning to the series are regulars Robert Iler as Anthony Soprano, Jr., Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Meadow Soprano, Tony Sirico as Paulie Walnuts, and Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante.

Aida Turturro, who plays Tony’s sister Janice, will return to the show as a series regular, as will Steven R. Schirripa as Bobby “Bacala” Baccalieri and John Ventimiglia as Artie Bucco.

Guest stars for the sixth season include Jerry Adler (“In Her Shoes”), Tim Daly (“Wings”), Frankie Valli (Four Seasons lead singer), Hal Holbrook (“Men of Honor”), Ben Kingsley (“House of Sand and Fog”), Julianna Margulies (“ER”), Treach (“First Time Felon”), Ron Leibman (“Garden State”), Elizabeth Bracco (“Analyze This”) and Lord Jamar (“Oz”).

In the premiere episode, Tony ponders an associate’s retirement request, and shares a recent windfall with Carmela. Junior takes Tony on a backyard treasure hunt; Hesh (Adler) seeks restitution for a wrong perpetrated on his son-in-law.

March 19 episode: Tony suffers from a case of mistaken identity during a west coast business trip. Written by creator David Chase.

March 26 episode: Silvio divides the spoils from Paulie’s latest score, and heads off a territorial impasse between Bobby and Vito (Joe Gannascoli). Carmela turns to an unexpected source for help with AJ and Christopher turns to an old writing acquaintance, JT Dolan (Tim Daly), for help in a new venture.

Fox tests out the late-night waters with the new series “Talk Show with Spike Feresten” this fall.

The series is set to air from midnight to 12:30 a.m. Saturdays, following the sketch comedy series “MADtv.”

The half-hour show combines traditional elements of the talk show format with “bold and irreverent comedy sketches.” Hosted by Emmy-nominated writer Spike Feresten (“Seinfeld,” “The Late Show with David Letterman”), the show will have guests deliver the monologue and participate in comedy sketches. Additionally, the show includes field pieces, mock commercials and pop-culture parodies.