William Albert “Billy” Burke (born November 25, 1966) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Charlie Swan in the 2008 film Twilight and as Gary Matheson in the second season of 24.

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Burke was born in Bellingham, Washington. His television credits include roles in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (in the episode “Second Skin”), Party of Five, Gilmore Girls, Karen Sisco, Fringe, Monk and The Closer (Season 4, episode 13, “Power of Attorney” playing the attorney Phillip Stroh). He also plays Detective Eric Box in the movie Untraceable.

His motion picture credits include Jane Austen’s Mafia!, Along Came a Spider, Final Jeopardy, Flashpoint and Ladder 49. His upcoming film credits include The Fallen, Forfeit, Fracture and Retirement. He also appeared in Feast of Love (2007), co-starring Selma Blair and Morgan Freeman. In 2008, Burke appeared in Twilight, based on the best-selling novel by Stephenie Meyer, playing the role of Charlie Swan.  He also plays Bobby’s brother Jack on the show My Boys. Burke reprised his role as Charlie Swan in Twilight’s sequel, New Moon.

Burke is one of the “famous faces” on the online poker website Hollywood Poker, which is run in conjunction with Ongame Network.

So Donny took it — mirror ball and all! He’s the Dancing With The Stars champ and was said to be “numb”, while Mya, about whom they said the trophy “was hers to lose” on account of her “astonishing dance scores” was reportedly “disappointed”.  Well bravo,  Donny, and my guess is Mya — especially given her stellar work on the dance floor this year — will have many happy days (and performances to come).  Same with Kelly O., who still has the vote (and adoration) of millions.  Now…let’s move into some holiday fare.  With Thanksgiving upon us, everyone’s probably going to be spending lots of time at the table or in front of the TV.  And so now let’s take a trip over to the basic cable realm, where fans of USA’s Burn Notice have good reason to be delighted — the show, starring Jeffrey Donovan and Gabrielle Anwar, has  been picked up for a fourth season.  Which got me thinking about basic cable in general, and how much good stuff is seemingly right under our noses.  And while we spend a great deal of time talking about the premium cable shows like Weeds, Dexter, Nurse Jackie, Entourage, Big Love, Californication etc…today I’d love to know where you all weigh in on some of  basic cable’s original series. Now since there are several of them that people love, I’m just going to throw out a few shows to see how everyone feels about that netherworld between networks and cable. You’ll notice I’m leaving out Breaking Bad, Monk White Collar and others — but that’s just because we’ll be talking about them next week.  So here goes…voice your choice in today’s featured poll and tell us which of these cable original series is your favorite? (and while you’re at it, have a fantastic Thanksgiving!)

1) Mad Men

2) Burn Notice

3) Damages

4) The Closer

Mi sono rivisto le prime due serie di “the closer” telefilm poliziesco intelligente ed avvincente. Potrei rivedermi la terza ma alcuni episodi li so a memoria.
Per chi non lo conoscesse “the closer” è un telefilm americano che narra le storie della prima squadra omicidi della polizia di Los Angeles il cui capo è una donna, bella ma soprattutto intelligente (interpretata da Kyra Sedgwick).
Il telefilm, con passione e (magari poca) azione tocca argomenti attuali e delicati come la solitudine degli anziani, le passioni amorose (ovviamente) ma anche il terrorismo, le dinamiche interne ad un gruppo di poliziotti, il razzismo e le bande giovanili…
Il telefilm è un prezioso esempio di equilibrio tra indagine, azione, ironia e passione. I personaggi sono caratterizzati molto bene dai singoli poliziotti ai parenti di Brenda.
Memorabili gli episodi l’intrusa, servire il re, omicidio a luci rosse, proteggere e servire.
Insomma voglio la quarta serie (in chiaro, su mya c’è già stata, pare)… sono in crisi di astinenza.
Per chi non lo conosce The Closer su Wikipedia

Mucho hemos estado esperando en España para tener una reunión de estas características, y por fin parece que nuestras suplicas se han cumplido. Entre los días 19 y 22 de noviembre arranca en Madrid lo que se ha llamado el “I Festival de Series Madrid 09”.

Digital + junto a Canal + y mucho de los canales de pago (AXN, Calle 13, FOX, Paramount Comedy, Sci fi y TNT) son los encargados de poner en marcha este festival que tendrá lugar en el Circulo de Bellas Artes de Madrid (calle Alcalá 42).

Con el lema “loco por las series” nace este festival, cuyo fin es crear un espacio de encuentro con lo mejor de la pequeña pantalla. Nace como referente para futuros certámenes de público general y más profesional en este sector concreto. Entre las actividades que se llevaran a cabo destacan el visionado de series internacional, talleres, debates, mesas redondas, invitados nacionales e internacionales de series televisivas. Todo ello amenizado con espacios dedicados y decorados de series, así como concursos y premios, y una tienda especializada donde adquirir objetos de tus series favoritas.

Entre las series de estreno que podremos ver estos cuatro días destacan “V”, “Trauma”, “Warehouse 13” o la nueva serie de Courteney Cox (Mónica en “Friends”) “Courgan Town”. Pero también contaremos con las nuevas temporadas de “Mad Men” (3º), “True Blood” o en español Sangre Fresca (2º), “Breaking Bad” (2º), “The Closer” (5º), “Heroes” (4º), “Being Erica” (2º) o “Los Tudor” (3º). Completaran el espectáculo de producciones, o maratones de series como “The Beast” (La bestia) o la nueva serie estrella “Flash Forward”.

No sé cómo les saldrá este primer festival dedicado al mundo de las series, pero siendo como soy un gran aficionado a ello, al menos me dejare caer por este emblemático lugar que seguro que tiene mucho que percibir. ¿Alguien más se anima?

The Closer: The Complete Fourth Season

An offbeat personality, a tough-as-nails approach and a track record as one of the country’s leading investigators: These are just a few of the traits exhibited by Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson. For the Atlanta transplant heading up the Priority Homicide Division of the Los Angeles Police Department, her position on this elite detective squad, which handles high-profile cases of a sensitive nature, is a tenuous balancing act. She faces antagonistic roadblocks, even from her own peers within the department, and must manage a team that remains wary of her unconventional style.

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“Excellent and explosive season”
Kyra Sedqwick is not only interesting, but slightly annoying (in a good way) in her role as Brenda Leigh Johnson. In one scene she can give us a performance full of drama lightened by the quirkiness of her character.

Season 4 of The Closer was excellent. It was full of change and of very good and well written episodes. The team came under fire from the press for what is and what is not called Priority Homicide. This leads to a major restructuring of the squad and a very interesting turn of events thanks to Brenda’s quick thinking. The squad had to deal with their own problems: interpersonal relationships (Daniels and Gabriel) and one of them has to deal the loss of a loved one. Brenda’s parents came for an episode and put Brenda and Fritz’ relationship in the limelight. Just when are they going to get married?!

Brenda and Fritz also had to deal with moving to a new (temporary) place and with their relationship. The episodes of the closer were excellent coming to a rather explosive and great season finale.

“The Closer Just Keeps Getting Better and Better!!”
I have been an avid fan of this television show since the first episode of the first season. I have purchased all previous seasons. I noticed that with the beginning of season four an upgrade had been made with regards to the writing, plots, and characterizations of the shows regulars. (We still don’t know Provenza’s first name…) The most rewarding thing for me is that everything about the show improved in a very dramatic way. I love watching all the previous seasons’ shows over and over again, but I anticipate that season four will be equally great especially without all the commercials! Kyra Sedgwick is the tasty bait for this show, but every other actor on the set is a joy to behold. I applaud the writers and the directors for bringing out everyone’s best!!!!

“Love it!”
We love The Closer…but missed several episodes. Watching this ‘in order’

really helps us learn more about the interaction of the characters…and

where their lives are headed.

We love it!
See all detials of The Closer: The Complete Fourth Season

Hoje, 11 de novembro, temos a volta de Top Design para uma segunda temporada no canal Sony, as nove horas da noite. Ao mesmo tempo, temos a série One Tree Hill,  com o episódio Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe as nove horas na FOX. Também ao mesmo tempo temos o episódio Walking Back the Cat de The Closer no canal Space e a reprise do episódio You Don’t Know Jack de Eureka no Sci Fi.

Um pouco mais tarde, temos Trauma com o episódio All’s Fair no Warner Channel e Glee na FOX com o episódio Showmance. Ainda as dez temos Desperate Housewives na Sony com o episódio Nice Is Different Than Good. E para fechar a noite teremos Three Rives no Universal Channel com o episódio Good Intentions.

“Hey, Irish, let’s make the world a better place!”

Watching the Notre Dame game this weekend, I was taken aback by the university’s advertising. Why? Because it’s good. Not awards show material, but solid. The campaign answers to the tagline: We are the fighting Irish. But instead of playing up the famous football team and the college’s illustrious all-American history, ND chooses a more enlightened interpretation to the line and, in turn, toward marketing their campus. Notre Dame is fighting for the environment, fighting for a healthy global economy, and fighting for the rights of handicapped athletes.

Normally, the obligatory commercial for each school playing in a televised game is just that: obligatory. Typically, we see students bent over their textbooks in the library or gallivanting across their picturesque campus. Often the propaganda intersperses famous alumni and iconic buildings. These are the motifs most often associated with college advertising. The approach is understandable, given budget constraints and financial priorities.

It’s not that Notre Dame avoids these elements in the construction of their advertising; it’s how they put them together. Most are well written, well produced and, in their own way, powerful.

Lest you think I’m a Notre Dame alum or fan, I’m not. Basically, I grew up hating Notre Dame and its goody-goody reputation. The fact that they always won drove me and countless others crazy. The fact that they have been losing of late mostly makes me happy, as it does my brother, Daniel who went to USC. I say mostly because my great friend, John Coveny (writer/producer: The Closer & Trust Me) is a Notre Dame alumnus. For his sake I want the team competitive. Sort of.

Regardless of one’s fandom, we have to give props to Notre Dame’s advertising campaign, especially the long form commercials. They portray ND as enlightened, world class and compassionate.

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A menos de una semana de haber sido cancelada por NBC, el excelente drama policial Southland podría haber encontrado su nuevo hogar en el canal de cable TNT.

El show, que tuvo modestos pero sólidos ratings, fue considerado como demasiado “adulto” (traducción para bien escrita e inteligente) por una cadena que va en caída libre y se decidió cancelarlo el día anterior al estreno de su segunda temporada y con seis episodios aún sin estrenar.

TNT, que ha cosechado éxitos  con el drama policial The Closer, parecería el lugar ideal para la serie ya que podría ofrecerle la libertad creativa necesaria como para permitirle continuar desarrollando su trama sin interferencias provocadas por el miedo a la realidad.

Personalmente espero que Southland logre la difícil transición ya que es una de las mejores series que he visto en mucho tiempo, tanto por sus actuaciones como por sus historias.

Here’s the art for the uniforms the Gamecocks will be wearing on Nov. 14th vs. Florida:

Tune into “Inside the Roost” tonight on 107.5 FM as host Derek Scott and Athletics Director Eric Hyman discuss issues related to Gamecock Athletics from Staybridges Suites on Huger Street in Columbia. Tonight’s guests will be head men’s basketball coach Darrin Horn and South Carolina’s all-time leader in sacks (until his record was broken mid-season by Eric Norwood) Andrew Provence.

If you’ve got a question you’d like to ask anyone on the show, send an e-mail to roost@ispsports.com, call locally at 404-6100 or 1-866-667-1075. You can also submit your question in the comments section of this post and we’ll get it over.

Our women’s soccer team hits the road this weekend to begin their toughest stretch of the season. The Gamecocks face No. 23 Georgia on Friday night and then travel to Knoxville on Sunday to play the Lady Vols. Here’s some great facts about the team:

• South Carolina is the only team in the nation that has not trailed in a game this season.
• Mollie Patton leads the NCAA in every goalkeeper category with 11 shutouts, a 0.14 goals against average and a .956 save percentage.
• Carolina has a 33-3 goal differential this season, and 14 different players have scored at least one goal for USC.

NCAA.com ran a feature on Patton today - read it here.

Also, don’t forget to keep voting for senior Blakely Mattern for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS award. You can vote by clicking here or texting “W6″ to 74567.

Em atitude inusitada – e precipitada – a NBC cancelou na semana passada o cop show ‘Southland’, criado por John Wells, famoso produtor executivo de ‘ER’ e criador de séries como ‘Smith’, ‘Angel Street’ e ‘Presidio Med’.

Não, a segunda temporada da série não foi ao ar. A emissora cancelou o programa antes mesmo da exibição de sua nova season premiere. Por quê?

Bom, cancelar uma série antes mesmo de sua estreia, ja tendo gravado episódios é absolutamente incomum. Principalmente pelos gastos que a emissora já teve com a produção – e não são baixos. Seis episódios já haviam sido produzidos e a volta da série só iria ao ar no dia 23 de outubro. No lugar da série, a NBC já está exibindo ‘Dateline’.

Jay Leno fez uma piada em seu programa (que é exibido na NBC) que fala bastante do atual momento do canal: “Os números da NBC não estão bons. Na verdade, a emissora cancelou a série ‘Southland’ antes mesmo dela ir ao ar. Daqui a pouco vão cancelar os programas antes mesmo dos roteiristas pensarem neles”.

Envolver Leno no assunto é no mínimo curioso, já que o ‘The Jay Leno Show’ vai ao ar todos os dias, às 22h. É o único talk show da TV norte-americana que é exibido todos os dias. Então reflita: se Leno fosse exibido apenas uma vez na semana, abriria espaço para quatro horas de programação. Reflita novamente: seria Leno o culpado indireto pelo cancelamento de ‘Southland’?

A decisão da NBC deixou a produção do seriado furiosa, inclusive Wells, que em nota oficial ao The Hollywood Reporter, disse estar extremamente chateado e lamenta que uma emissora que já abriu séries de tanto sucesso, tome este tipo de decisão precipitada hoje em dia. O produtor ainda confirma que está procurando uma nova casa para sua cria.

A NBC demorou, mas também se pronunciou, alegando que a produção era muito sombria e pesada para a TV aberta. Não era. Não mais que várias outras que são exibidas em outros canais. Mas é verdade que os executivos do canal já assistiram aos episódios da nova temporada e nós não.

Talvez ‘Southland’ jamais fosse um hit, já que desde a estreia de sua primeira temporada, a audiência só caiu. Mas a NBC não vive bons dias, não é de hoje, e séries da casa como ‘Mercy’ e ‘Trauma’ estão na boca do cancelamento. Quem sabe, se não fossem mais pacientes, não teriam um grande trunfo para exibir, por exemplo, nas noites de sexta-feira, predominantemente dominadas pela CBS.

Quanto a nova casa que Wells cita, a TNT seria o destino. A escolha é óbvia, já que o canal a cabo possui laços com a Warner Bros. TV, que produzia o seriado. De alguns anos para cá a TNT fez fama exibindo boas séries policias, como ‘The Closer’,  campeã de crítica e audiência.

Tanto o produtor como a emissora alegam que as conversas para que a série migre para o cabo, estão avançadas. Agora é esperar para ver o que acontece. E não duvidem que se a série continuar, pode ter mais audiência no cabo do que Leno tem na TV aberta.

Os fãs de “The Closer” poderão acompanhar a partir de hoje às 21h os episódios da quinta temporada da série que estréia no canal Space em sua versão dublada em português. A temporada é composta de 12 episódios que já foram exibidos nos EUA, mas que ainda não têm previsão de lançamento em DVD no Brasil.

Esta temporada explora o dia-a-dia do casamento de Brenda, bem como sua relação com os pais e sua sobrinha que chegam para uma visita. A menina é interpretada pela filha da atriz, Sosie Bacon. Também tem participação especial de Mary McDonnell, de “Battlestar Galactica”, que aparece nos episódios 3 e 7. Outros atores convidados são Tom Skerritt (na foto à esquerda), de “Picket Fences”; Cynthia Watros, de “The Drew Carey Show” e vista em “Lost”; Bruce Davison, de “Knight Rider”, entre outras séries; Xander Berkeley, de “24 Horas”; entre outros atores.

* Texto publicado originalmente no blog “TV séries”.

Muitas cenas de ação, um pouco de romance (tá, quase nada de romance), atores bons e uma história interessante – a princípio. Quando assisti ao trailer de Gamer e vi todos esses ingredientes que fazem, para mim, um filme ser bom, fiquei doida para assistir.

A história do filme é até meio clichê. No futuro, K. Castle (Michael C. Hall) cria um jogo online no qual os jogadores controlam vidas reais (que na verdade são prisioneiros no corredor da morte que, se conseguirem um determinado número de vitórias, são libertados). É aí que entra Kable (Gerard Butler), um “personagem” desse jogo que é quase invencível e está prestes a ser o único a conseguir a tal liberdade.

No começo, estava achando ótimo. Mas me parece que o roteiro deixou a desejar lá pela metade do filme, e a história se perdeu. Alguns detalhes podiam ser melhor explicados, e nesses momentos a platéia fica “como?” ou “não entendi…”. As explicações foram muito jogadas em cima do espectador, e quando você está finalmente processando o que aconteceu, o filme acaba.

Gamer tem, sim, uma história bizarra. Mas Mandando Bala, por exemplo,  também tinha e me agradou bastante. A sorte dos diretores (os mesmos de Adrenalina, que por acaso é ótimo) foi ter ótimos atores em cena. Gerard Butler estava muito bom no papel de injustiçado, e Michael C. Hall (o Dexter !!!)  simplesmente perfeito como um psicopata (porque será?). Kyra Sedgwick (da série The Closer) também está no elenco, mas achei o papel meio apagado, apesar de ter me surpreendido. Acertaram também na trilha sonora, com Marilyn Manson e sua Sweet Dreams.

Ainda acho que trilhas sonoras com grandes clássicos podem salvar qualquer filme (assim como Nirvana, Mötley Crüe, AC/DC, Motörhead salvaram Mandando Bala).

Trailer de Gamer:

If you’re in Columbia on Friday, you’ve got a couple different options to entertain yourself with Gamecock sports:

At 1 p.m., the Gamecock swimming and diving team has its first home meet of the season against Kentucky at 1 p.m. at the Blatt P.E. Center (Click here for directions).  The first 150 fans will receive a free t-shirt and pizza.  Here’s a message from Head Coach McGee Moody:

The women’s soccer team, currently ranked No. 7 in the country, faces Auburn at 7 p.m. at Stone Stadium.  The game is “Kick for the Cure” night as all fans are encouraged to wear pink to support breast cancer awareness.  Fans can receive a free pink t-shirt with a donation.  Friday night is also Senior Night as the team’s seven seniors, the winningest senior class in program history, will be honored prior to the match.

Tickets are still available for Saturday’s game vs. Kentucky at 12:30 p.m. Visit GamecocksOnline.com or call 800-4SC-FANS.  If you’re not going to make it to Columbia, the game will be televised on Fox Sports Net.

DVR Life was rather wow-ed by frosh cop-drama Southland late last season.  We were even more wow-ed when NBC renewed the series for a second season.  If you happened to have missed the first season, it’s rather short so I’d suggest you get caught up in the coming weeks.  I mean, when was the last time a police-based drama really wow-ed you?  Outside of The Closer I can’t think of many recent ones.

The second season of Southland premieres Friday October 23rd at 8pm on NBC.

Several of you have e-mailed me to ask what exactly happened Saturday night regarding the power outage at Williams-Brice Stadium.  I spoke with our Associate AD for Facilities and Operations Jeff Davis and here is the full e-mail response:

The power outage was caused by an  SCE&G (utilities provider) fuse link (fuse) that went bad or (melted down) over time, due to the power load and demand to operate the stadium.  This outage caused the stadium to have what is called “single phase power”.  There are three phases or lines of power that are supplied to the transformer substation at WBS; when one of the three lines were lost, there were only two lines of power in operation.

The stadium has what is called a DELTA connection that allows power to back feed to line that was lost.  This prevented the stadium from having a total power outage; the outage primarily affected half of the west side of the stadium inclusive of all elevators, concourse and interior lighting, air conditioning systems, ESPN TV production power and the in-house video production studio.

A fuse link melt down versus a fuse link blow out (which is loud boom & fuse hanging down) takes longer to diagnose or determine, the extent of the power problem.  SCE&G technicians who are on-site for each home game along with University High Voltage and electrical personnel, after trouble shooting and responding to multiple calls that were being received, determined the extent of the problem; SCE&G then replaced the damaged fuse link (fuse) and restored power in less than one hour from the first sign of problems.

Because the stadium was operating on two lines of power, there were numerous breakers that had tripped and had to be reset in multiple electrical rooms;  for lighting throughout the affected areas, for the west side elevators, for air conditioning systems,  the ESPN TV production power and in-house video production etc.  (Normally, TV will bring generators to operate their production and satellite units-this production was smaller and did not, utilizing the stadium or house power).  (Breaker reset) This process is methodical and is not a quick fix.  This total reset of breakers was complete just before half-time of the game.

On Tuesday, SCE&G will change out the three fuses that supply the main power to the stadium (an upgrade from 150 amps to 200 amp fuses)  The University High Voltage and Electrical departments will also upgrade the six secondary power fuses from 100 amps to 150 amp fuses. This upgrade will safely regulate the power and prevent future overloads from occurring.

Ready for another Saturday night at Williams-Brice!

If you haven’t made plans for Friday night yet, you should get to the Volleyball Competition Facility at 6 p.m. when the Gamecocks take on Tennessee.  Friday night is the annual “Dig for the Cure” match so make sure you’re wearing pink.  You can also get a free pink shirt with a donation in support of breast cancer research.  Proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

For tonight, don’t forget Coach Spurrier will be at Wild Wing in the Vista tonight for Carolina Calls from 7 to 8 p.m. on 107.5 FM. Listen live or watch live on the WIS webcast.

Athletics Director Eric Hyman was in Dallas at annual meetings this week for the Division I-A Athletic Directors Association, fulfilling his duties as president of the organization. He told me today that many athletic directors from around the country came up to him to tell him how impressed they were with our fans as well as our stadium after seeing us play on Thursday night.  According to Hyman, the atmosphere the fans created at the game definitely got some rave reviews. It’s great to hear praise like that coming from the leaders in college athletics.

Here’s some links to enjoy as you wind down this evening:

• The Sporting News puts the Gamecocks in at No. 38 on their top 50 teams in men’s hoops. Four other SEC teams made the list (Kentucky No.2; Mississippi State No. 10; Tennessee No. 12; Vandy No. 35.
• Chris Low – “Despite the youth, Gamecocks “D” rolling along.”
• Ron Morris talks about how the first four games of the season show the potential for this year’s team.

Check out this video that explains how coverage of SEC football is dramatically increased by the conference’s new television deal:

Here’s another fact for you related to television – for the week of September 21-27, South Carolina’s game against Ole Miss was the 2nd highest rated program on a cable television network.  No. 1 was the Monday Night Football game between the Colts and Dolphins with an audience of nearly 14 million.  Almost 5 million households watched the Gamecocks beat the Rebels Thursday.

• ESPN’s Chris Low has us at No. 6 in this week’s SEC Power Rankings.
• The State’s Seth Emerson takes a detailed look at the AP Poll and why the Gamecocks didn’t get in this week.
• Sporting News’ Matt Hayes rates us as the 5th best team in the SEC and lists us as his “Rising” team:

Seriously, how in the world did Georgia score 41 points on this stout Gamecocks defense? If QB Stephen Garcia keeps improving, South Carolina is a dangerous team for both Alabama (Oct. 17) and Florida (Nov. 14).