SyFy jumps in at 10 with the season premiere of “Sanctuary,” the Amanda Tapping post-Stargate project. DIY Network premieres “Kitchen Impossible” at 10, and we can’t forget “Dog Whisperer” at 9 p.m. on NatGeo.

The only big finale this weekend is MTV’s “Making His Band” at 9 p.m.

On Monday, you can expect premieres of “Little People, Big World,” on TLC at 8 p.m., “100 Mile Challenge” on Planet Green at 9 p.m., and “Gone Too Far” on MTV at 10.

Southland is D E D dead, even though it never was officially alive. NBC pulled the plug on the drama before its anticipated season debut on October 23. No reason has been given, and six episodes were already finished and ready to air.

Southland was going to be aired on Fridays at 9 p.m., which has been a dead zone for television lately, with Dollhouse dying there.

ABC has ordered the full seasons of “Modern Family,” “Cougar Town” and “The Middle.”

The three shows have done well in the ratings, but no news has been announced on the Kelsey Grammer comeback “Hank” or the new show “Eastwick.”

Showtime announced a new webisode about Dexter called “Dexter: Early Cuts.” The series will premiere on October 25 on sho.com.

CBS may be bringing back “Hawaii Five-O” with a plot commitment for a revival of the series, written by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and CSI: New York executive producer Peter Lenkov. The original ran from 1968-1990.

Finally, Ellen Page is working with HBO to both write and produce a new comedy series called “Stich N’ Bitch” about two cool girls who move from New York to Los Angeles to try and become artists — and kind of artists. Page is working with actresses Alia Shawkat and Sean Tillmann, both of whom stared with her in “Whip It.”

“I’m just not one of those people that can sort of watch everything happen and be off in La La Land daydreaming about something else,” Barrymore said in her recent interview with Blast while she was in Boston.

She explained shy she has finally taken her seat in the director’s chair after a lifetime of acting and 15 years of producing. “I wanted to do it when I felt like I was really ready and really understood how filmmaking works on every single level that I possibly could.”

Whip It, in theaters October 2, stars Ellen Page as a Texas teenager who finds an outlet from her loathed life of pageantry in the world of women’s roller derby.

Barrymore took a risk in choosing a movie about a relatively unknown sport — that even she knew almost nothing about — as her directorial debut.

“I love to see girls do what boys do, especially not male bash while they do it,” she said.

Barrymore said it was important to her to create a movie that encourages women and girls to go after their goals. “Take from your inspirations, but don’t imitate them. Become your own individual,” she said.

Clearly she has no problem inspiring women, herself. “And still (directing is) the biggest challenge and, you know, it’s gonna knock you sideways on a daily basis no matter how prepared you think you are,” she said.

And boy was she prepared. Barrymore, along with Page and co-stars Kristen Wiig and Juliette Lewis, spent painstaking hours learning to skate and getting in shape for their many rides around the rink.

“You bond and you injure yourself together and cheer each other on to get it right or to celebrate when you learn a new trick,” Barrymore said.

Now she’s practically a pro. Though her role in the movie, as badass derby girl Smashlee Simpson, is fairly small, it’s obvious that she sank her teeth into her role as both actress and director, taking it upon herself to learn everything she possibly could about roller derby. “The game is real, the girls are amazing,” she said. “They’re these great little tribes. There’s great competitiveness and capability and athleticism.”

Another reason she was drawn to the sport was its propensity to include people from all walks of life. “I also think that it’s a very welcoming sport in that you can be any age or size or ethnicity or economical background and it’s a very come one come all, open hearted sport and party and I like that.”

Derby certainly does look like a party, with an always excited crowd and hot girls in tiny outfits swearing at each other and getting in fights. But did Barrymore portray roller derby realistically? “The only intention I had was to celebrate it and allow people to be let in on something if they don’t know about it and celebrate the people who are involved in it,” she said. “I honored the derby world entirely.”

As for the critics? “You can’t please everybody so you’ve gotta get over that, like, as soon as you come out of the womb,” she said.

No she can’t please everybody, but she can sure try. And try. “I’m sort of surprised when people go, like, ‘why did you want to direct’ or ‘do you think you’ll direct again.’ I’m like, ‘Do you know me?’ I’m film obsessed. I do nothing but work. I wish I had more of a social life,” admits the workaholic.

Barrymore is unabashedly proud of her movie, but modest in a decidedly un-Hollywood way. “I think you don’t have to be a certain age or gender in order to be a storyteller. I think you have to risk being personal and exposing yourself and investing in your characters and driving great performances out of people,” she said.

She is also proud of the real-life derby girls who are able to kick-ass on and off the rink. “What these girls do is have these great little alter egos and they’re one thing by day and another thing by night,” she said.

So does Barrymore have an alter ego? If you remember her stripping on Lettermen’s desk and partying all night long, you may think so. But in reality, Barrymore has grown into an inspiring woman.

“’Be your own hero’ is the tag of our movie and that’s a big theme for me in life,” she said. “I just think you have to be your own little hero.”

The two are promoting “Whip It,” a roller derby flick.

“Gigglingly pressed thigh-to-thigh, the roller girls spend the afternoon discussing everything from their Vegas trip to the sexiness of black socks,” the article reads.

During the photo shoot:

Drew: “On the movie, we’d do our costume fittings together and just talk about how to be comfortable with your body. I’d basically chase her around and say, ‘If you don’t mind doing this scene in your underwear—and keep those black socks on—I’d love it.’ That’s more real: When you spend the night with girlfriends, you’re going to wake up in your undies and socks.”

Ellen: That was cut from the movie, though, wasn’t it?

Drew: It was, it was. But also in the locker room wearing those tiny little outfits. Ellen has such a beautiful body, and I personally battled with my own body image for years. I used to tell myself, You can’t wear anything sleeveless or strapless. And all of a sudden I was like, What if I just didn’t send such negative messages to my brain and said, wear it and enjoy it? And now I’m more comfortable in clothes than ever.

Ellen: That openness. It’s so sexy.

Drew: She was in her frickin’ bra with an open jacket and hot-pink shorts, skating around the rink with red lips and …

Ellen: I was having a really good time.

Drew: … and she was sexy as a mother … a feral creature. It was great.

Holy sexiness, Batman.

Then again, we guys always knew that all girls are like this with their best friends.

Want more? Go buy the magazine.

8:28 p.m. Regis Philbin appears to be teetering on the edge of senility. He just said hello to “Xavier Bardem,” sitting in the front row of the Kodak. Let the show begin!

8:23 p.m. Recently-turned-21-year-old Ellen Page is adorable and gracious. She seems truly thrilled and honored to be at the ceremony. Or maybe she’s just happy the Barbara Walters interview is over.

8:20 p.m. Psycho alert! The AP has a story up with the headline “Gary Busey harasses stars on red carpet.” He is totally going to be the talk of tinseltown tomorrow. I’m surprised if they even let him into the ceremony.

8:15 p.m. Helen Mirren looks GREAT (another red dress). I’m always amazed at how softspoken and shy Daniel Day-Lewis is in real life. ABC just reminded Amy Adams that she’ll be singing in front of a billion people; she momentarily looked like she was about to vomit. And good God, Regis Philbin is now interviewing 84-year-old “bleacher fan”/starwatcher Sarah Golden. She and Gary Busey would make a good couple.

8:05 p.m. I’m not sure if it’s because English isn’t her first language, but Marion Cotillard seems to me to be sort of vapid in every interview she does. ABC is going through a revolving door of nominees (and Miley Cyrus, ugh) now in the final half hour before the show starts. Laura Linney looks great; Javier Bardem is there with his mother.

7:59 p.m.: Low point of the evening: Ryan Seacrest just gave Katherine Heigl a plate emblazoned with his mug as a housewarming gift.

7:55 p.m.: Aww! “Enchanted” co-stars Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams just had a brief reunion on the carpet. “How nervous are you?” Dempsey asked Adams, who will be singing one of the nominated songs from the film. Moments later, Dempsey’s wife strangely described their infant twins as “juicy and delicious.”

7:51 p.m.: Casey Affleck and his wife look duly unimpressed with Ryan Seacrest, who eventually shooed them away in favor of Hillary Swank. The former Oscar winner also looks like she wants to die talking to him. Katherine Heigl is the latest actress to be wearing red and looks stunning. She’s definitely destined to play Marilyn Monroe in a biopic one of these days.

7:49 p.m.: It seems like red is the “in” color this year. Anne Hathaway, Ruby Dee, Julie Christie and Miley Cyrus all match the carpet. Mmm, Johnny Depp just arrived with glasses and short hair. And Ellen Page, in a dress! She looks uncomfortable. Colin Farrell’s date is his mother.

7:39 p.m.: Ryan Seacrest continues to make an ass of himself, first making fun of Marion Cotillard’s French accent and then forcing her to do an American one. But compared to Joey Fatone, who inexplicably breaks into high-octave song every few minutes (example: “Here’s another one of the nomin-EEEESSS!”), he looks like Brian Williams. Tilda Swinton just admitted she’s never seen the ceremony, even on TV. Interesting.

7:36 p.m.: Breaking: Cameron Diaz did not get Drew Barrymore a birthday present. (Why is she here?)

7:30 p.m.: Barbara Walters is talking to Ellen Page like the actress is 5 years old. Page is giving a great, articulate interview and Walters looks confused (her comment on the Moldy Peaches’ performance on The View: “I don’t get it.”) Walters lobbed a softball sexuality question at Page, who managed to dodge the bullet. Now Walters is forcing Page to sing and play guitar while she looks on like a scary grandmother. And now she’s singing along. God help us all. Back to the carpet.

7:25 p.m.: EVERYONE is talking about Gary Busey. He’s like the drunk guy who does embarassing karaoke and hits on interns at your office party. Ryan Seacrest just admitted he had never met Busey before and commented on Jennifer Garner’s look of sheer terror.

7:17 p.m.: Ryan Seacrest literally just cornered Jennifer Garner and Laura Linney to awkwardly interrupt what looked like a very pleasant conversation. Now Gary Busey (?!?!) just barged in and mauled both of them. They both look horrified and are running away, much to the dismay of Seacrest, who’s still getting jostled by Busey. (”I have no idea how to explain what’s happening on the red carpet right now … Jennifer Garner’s never coming back to red carpet again.”)

7:10 p.m.: Amy Adams is the first celebrity who looks genuinely excited to see Ryan Seacrest. But not anymore … he just took her tiny, empty purse and began modeling it.

7:06 p.m.: There’s been a lot of commentary that tonight is the first public appearance George Clooney has made with girlfriend Sarah Larson. She looks bored, and slightly miffed at Lisa Rinna’s unabashed fawning over her man. Apparently it’s pouring in L.A., but of course the red carpet is under a tent. Jennifer Garner just ran in under an umbrella.

7:02 p.m.: Good lord, Patrick Dempsey is GORGEOUS. I’m glad Barbara is doing some sort of Hannah Montana nonsense so I can pay attention to McDreamy on E! Ryan Seacrest apparently agrees with me, by the way. (”Wow, your eyes are so blue. They’re magical.” Seriously.)

7 p.m.: Barbara Walters’ Oscar pre-show special is starting on ABC, competing with red carpet coverage on E! and TV Guide. Henceforth, witness channel flipping become an art.

6:56 p.m.: Teen nominee Saoirse Ronan (”Atonement”) is being escorted by her father, who incidentally is only about three inches taller than she is. She seems like an Irish Dakota Fanning.

6:53 p.m.: Presenter Anne Hathaway talking about trying not to fall down the stairs. She’s definnitely one of the fashion “hits” of the night so far, as is Patrick Dempsy – yowza. Ryan Seacrest unfortunately balked at Hathaway’s date’s foreign-sounding name. Ruby Dee looks classy as well.

6:50 p.m.: ABC just teased an interview with “Best Actress nominee Laura Linley.” Hmm, never heard of her.

6:47 p.m.: “Juno” star Jason Bateman on George Clooney’s hair: “It’s amazing how real it looks, isn’t it?” And now he’s talking about a possible “Arrested Development” movie!!!! That’s it. For me, the rest of the night is inconsequential.

6:30 p.m.: Thank God things are finally getting interesting. Amy Ryan and George Clooney just arrived and both look great. (Not together). Ryan appears genuinely excited and overwhelmed, but seems appalled that Ryan Seacrest just forced her to fake-punch him so E! could try out sound effects (sigh). Anybody else find it jarring to hear her speak without a Dawchestah accent after nailing it in “Gone Baby Gone”?

6:21 p.m.: “I drink your soy shake?” Lisa and Joey’s parodies of the Best Picture nominees are getting old FAST. E! is doing a Britney Spears update. Lisa Rinna is talking to two Italian men nominated for Best Live Action short and has about as much of an idea who they are as I do.

6:16 p.m.: I have to admit, one of my favorite parts of award show pre-shows is watching the cable anchors fumble their way through questions, especially when they’re talking to celebrities (or about movies) they clearly know nothing about. Like, for instance, Lisa Rinna blanking on “MPAA” when talking to President Dan Glickman just now. Whoops.

6:01 p.m.: Jon Stewart looks fairly relaxed and not at all nervous, talking to E! in a t-shirt during show rehearsals. Also, the “Most Unbearable” Award is a toss-up between Ryan Seacrest and TVGuide’s Joey Fatone and Lisa Rinna, trying to kill time while they wait for the A-, B- and C-listers to start showing up.

5:33 p.m.: E! = class. Quote of the night so far, during a discussion about knocked-up celebs: “Jessica Alba, of course, uh, pregnant and not married. But this is Hollywood, so it’s okay!”

5:15 p.m.: Okay, E!’s “True Hollywood Story” of Leah, the “Real Girl” (a.k.a. Blow-up doll) from “Lars and the Real Girl” is pretty amusing. Meanwhile, over at TVGuide, you can practically hear crickets chirping as the anchors try to fill airtime in between infomercials.

5:01 p.m.: Hello, Blast readers! Tonight I’ll be taking you through Hollywood’s annual love-fest to itself, the Academy Awards. The TV Guide channel has been doing coverage since 2:30 this afternoon and let me tell you, as I type this three-and-a-half hours before the show begins, the coverage of the empty tents and vacant red carpet is absolutely riveting.

I’ll be flitting between TVGuide, E! and ABC for pre-Oscar coverage, so stick around!

Juno MacGruff (Ellen Page) is a promiscuous high school girl who wants to try sex and decides to do so with her best friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera). Her trial ends up in an unexpected pregnancy and a need to mature fast to decide between having an abortion or a baby. Juno opts to give the child up for adoption.

The process of interviewing parents is entertaining since Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman play the young materialistic couple considered for the position effectively. Garner passes off great as a busy cosmopolitan and Bateman’s free spirited personality shows the truth about couples not always being on the same page.

Another interesting relationship is that of Juno’s parents. As she tells her folks of the pregnancy and grows larger in size, audiences can see where this teen gets her dry sense of humor about her situation. Juno’s parents are unsurprised and understanding, to the point of admitting that having sex was probably not Paulie’s idea. Allison Janney and J.K. Simmons play parents that are concerned but in a way clueless and vulnerable.

Overall the film portrays the preoccupying issue many teens have to deal with, with optimism and authenticity; without making audiences think that sex and its consequences are easy to handle.

Page’s performance is exemplary, truly showing that her success in Hard Candy was not just beginner’s luck. As a director Jason Reitman’s sophomore production worked well with the script of ex-stripper Cody Diablo. Diablo’s life experiences probably helped write a witty script that made for a great film. Rated PG-13 this is the last must-see movie of the year.