BuddyTV writer and editor John Kubicek is a featured commentator on Baltimore's WBAL morning radio program hosted by David Durian every Tuesday at 8:40am EST.

-Beauty and the Geek premieres tonight at 8pm on the CW with a special two-hour premiere. The big, interesting twist is that one of the pairs will be an attractive but not so intelligent guy paired with a geeky girl. The show frequently bills itself as a “social experiment,” and this should add a little excitement to that sociological pursuit.

-Survivor premieres its 15th season Thursday night at 8pm on CBS, and it's the first American TV production ever filmed in China. This durable reality show staple that coined the concept of an alliance will likely stay on top with the lush scenery and majestic beauty of it's latest location.

-The controversy surrounding the treatment of children on the new CBS reality series Kid Nation, premiering Wednesday at 8pm, should help it in the ratings. All press is good press, and whether you're tuning in to see if the show exploits these children, or if it's a positive, life-altering experience for them, there isn't a more buzzed about new show this season.

-At the Emmys, The Sopranos took home the Outstanding Drama Series Emmy, but didn't win any of the acting awards, even though if had five nominees in all four major acting categories. BuddyTV's TV and Emmy expert John Kubicek broke it down, explaining that voters most likely felt they'd recognized the accomplishments of the actors on the show enough. After all, James Gandolfini and Edie Falco, the stars who play Tony and Carmela Soprano, already had three Emmys apiece for their work.

-Ryan Seacrest's performance as Emmy host was OK, but nothing special. Typically hosts are comedians, and Seacrest just kind of kept the show going without adding a whole lot of excitement. The big problem is FOX's reliance on American Idol as its flagship. Even though it only airs in the spring, FOX tries to squeeze everything they can from it, and Seacrests's overexposure is evidence. Kubicek suggested that a better hosting choice would've been the outside-the-box choice of House star Hugh Laurie, a dramatic actor who has proven himself capable of comedy with his awards show appearances and hosting stint on Saturday Night Live.

-The Emmy telecast was the second lowest rated Emmys in history, owing to several factors. The production itself was flawed, with sound mishaps, heavy censorship, and a theater-in-the-round that result in half the audience only seeing winners' backsides the whole evening. The other reason” NBC's Sunday Night Football, which dominated the ratings.


Tune into WBAL in Baltimore every Tuesday at 8:40am EST to David Durian and the Morning Team for more television insights from BuddyTV's John Kubicek. If you're not in the Baltimore area, you can always check BuddyTV.com for a recap of the broadcast, or visit WBAL.com to stream a live feed of the station.\

(Image courtesy of the CW)