Ear on TV: Week of 12.14.09: Jason Segel & Dracula

This Tuesday marks the 1000th episode for Craig Ferguson as host of The Late Late Show, and to celebrate the occasion the musical guest is actor Jason Segel singing "Dracula's Lament" from last year's comedy hit Forgetting Sarah Marshall (scroll down for a refresher video).

To make things even more interesting Segel will be operating Dracula the puppet and will be backed the L.A. indie rock band The Broken West. Throw in an appearance by fellow Sarah Marshall star (and frequent Late Late Show guest) Kristen Bell along with Wavy the crocodile puppet acting as host and you've got the makings of appointment television. (The kids are still into vampires, right?)

Segel, for his part, has been busy musically speaking. Besides his occasional foray into musical performance on How I Met Your Mother, Segel has been working on new Muppets movie and is rumored to be writing some music for the Get Him to the Greek, the sequel to Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Then there's his appearance last month, humorously using a Swell Season concert as a dating service. It appeared to at least work on Lindsay Lohan, so there's that.


While Ferguson is celebrating his 1000th episode, the experimental daytime talk (and tweet) show It's On with Alexa Chung is getting the plug pulled by MTV after only one full season. What started out as a one hour pop culture variety show hosted by British model Alexa Chung was retooled as a 30-minute show when it came back for it's second season back in October. Its last week kicks off with the soulful Robin Thicke (Monday), but unfortunately ends with (an) All Time Low. Probably not the best way to go out, but I predict we haven't seen the last of the dynamic (and, dare I say, twig-legged) Alexa Chung.

Elsewhere, Spectacle brings back the Johnny Cash-style guitar pull again, this time with singer/songwriters Neko Case, Ron Sexsmith, Jesse Winchester and Sheryl Crow. (Which of these is not like the other?) If you saw the season two premiere with U2's Bono and The Edge, you'll be struck this time by how little time Costello has to spend with each artist in comparison. Poor Neko Case looks lost half the time, with nothing much to do for most the hour -- except threaten to use her brightly colored tambourine.

Finally, you may notice that Snoop Dogg is everywhere this week in support of his new album Malice 'N Wonderland. He starts the week on The Colbert Report (Monday), chats with the ladies of The View (Tuesday) and ends the week in the wee hours with Carson Daly. All the while, he's in your car, helping you get to your destination as the voice of your GPS navigation system. I told you... Snoop Dogg is EVERYWHERE:


Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, December 14
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Wolfmother (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Alicia Keys
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Colbert Report: Snoop Dogg
FOX: Lopez Tonight: 50 Cent
MTV: It's On With Alexa Chung: Robin Thicke
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Chevelle
Tuesday, December 15
ABC: The View: Snoop Dogg
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Jason Segel & his puppet Dracula, the Broken West
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: Norah Jones
IFC: Dinner With the Band: MEN
Wednesday, December 16
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Norah Jones
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Health
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Raekwon
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Gossip
SUNDANCE: Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...: Elvis Costello, Neko Case, Jesse Winchester, Ron Sexsmith, Sheryl Crow
Thursday, December 17
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Matisyahu
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Big Pink
MTV: It's On With Alexa Chung: All Time Low (FINAL SHOW EVER)
NBC: The Jay Leno Show: Mary J. Blige
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Boyz II Men reunion
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Kenna, Franz Ferdinand
Friday, December 18
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Mary J. Blige
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Baroness
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: Foreigner
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Ronnie Spector
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Snoop Dogg
SUNDANCE: Sigur Ros: Heima: Sigur Ros
Saturday, December 19
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Muse
Sunday, December 20
TNT: Christmas in Washington: Mary J. Blige, Neil Diamond, Sugarland