The New Improved TV GuIde

I started receiving TV GuIde magazine recently. What a difference compared to the old TV Guide we used to get when I was a kid! This is more of an Entertainment package combined with your list of movies and general programming. It features a star or stars on the cover each week.They will then give you a thorough piece on that particular star or stars. It offers all the inside information on the latest new shows popping up with great photos to whet your appetite for them.

There's an area called The Watercooler where you can get tidbits on the hottest bits and pieces of star information like the fact that when Beck took the field in LA for the Galaxy's, the first time he actually only played for 16 minutes .

You get behind the scenes news (Breaking News), a Hot list, Cheers and Jeers, Is It Just Me? and more.

The Hot list features a daily list of what the new Season arrivals and finales are My issue featured 21 of the "Shows You've Gotta See!".

Breaking News is just that, the up to date information on who is leaving who is new or just a little gossip, casting news or what's been revamped on your favorite shows.

It takes me a few days to actually read through each new issue and I find myself rereading and saving the issues. You really get big bang for your buck. It runs about 79 pages with what feels like only a few ads tucked in. Each issue covers one weeks worth of programming

With wonderful photos the magazine takes you behind the scenes on some of the top shows. In Emmy news, in one issue, they gave you the scoop on all the nominees. There is so much inside information in each of the sections, bits and pieces you'd never find ordinarily that this makes the magazine a really good read not just a guide to programming.

Cheers and Jeers deals with who flopped (i.e. Victoria Beckham) and who is knocking them dead again. Again, readers can contribute to this area.

Each issue features a star and what the latest news is about them. They do this through an interview with the person and in asides they add little pieces of information called Fun Facts about the star or stars.

If you're still a Survivor follower the August issue gave you the break down of each player. They give you a nice run down on each Survivor player with pictures and the following issues update you on the challengers, losers and plays being made both sides.

Then, if you're a soap opera fan you can get Soap News in the back of the magazine, your horoscope and then a crossword and Sudoku puzzle on the last page.

Along with all this you get 36 pages of listings , movies, four star movie highlights, reviews and highlights of your favorite shows as well.It offers great pictures, great aarticles, super reviews and a lot of very interesting information. It also offers information on the latest programs offered on DVD.

If the TV Guide magazine isn't enough for you they also offer TVGuide.com/listings where you can print out a 24 a day listing and printable channel line ups as well as look up your favorite shows or stars., TV Guide network a 24/7 cable network and you can also go to TV Guides data base and check out the plots, credits and reviews for 40,000 or more movies. They really have it all covered. It is 8" x 10 1/2". It costs $2.49 a week or you can subscribe for $15.96 (28 issues). If you pay with a credit card right now you get 36 issues for this price or $.57 a copy. That's a deal.

The "You Tell Us" is the area where you can read letters commenting on shows written by the people who read TV GuIde. Go to www.tvguide.com for more information