Samantha Who?- For a show that I found to be so delightful in its first season, I'm surprised at how much it has gone downhill in Season 2. Granted, there have only been 3 episodes, and 3 not-very-funny episodes do not a Sophomore Slump make. But I was caught off guard by how little I was laughing because when I first started watching it last year, I was cracking up all the time, and I thought it was all due to the comedic talents of the actors. I mean no offense to the writers, but this show has never been very deep
in meaning, nor mind-blowingly witty. So I assumed, "Hey, you put Christina Applegate, Jean Smart, Jennifer Esposito, et al, in a show together, and BAM! instant funny." Those actors are still themselves- they still deliver their lines the same way and interact with each other the same way- but the material they have been given changed. Here's hoping they get it back.
Private Practice- A profound waste of Kate Walsh's talents. We were promised by Shonda that this show would cut down on the soapy drama in the characters' lives and instead focus on the medical cases. That's what makes Grey's so good and enticing- the doctors are responding to the medical situations that they face and learning from their patients. There's always drama in their lives, but it's secondary to the people they help everyday. Well, there is no visible transformation going on in Private Practice. There have been a couple intriguing, but not fascinating, medical crises to deal with- pregnant woman (played by Amy Acker, who is moving to me in whatever role she plays) induces labor at 6 months because the blood from the baby's umbilical cord is the only thing that will cure her dying 7-yr. old son; newlyweds come to Addison for help in getting pregnant and discover that they are brother and sister- and there is still too much ridiculous drama going on with the doctors themselves that I won't even try to explain.
I know from a critical standpoint that I should stop watching this
show immediately. Except I really like Kate Walsh. And Amy Brenneman. And I think this man is adorable ---->.
And I think this man is one
<---------- of the hottest guys on television (Don't judge me, I have a thing for older guys). Anyways! The point is, I'm having a hard time letting go. So maybe this one can stay on my slate as a guilty pleasure until it becomes too unbearable to watch (like Gossip Girl, which I decided to let go about midway through the third episode this season).
Pushing Daisies- It's been 1 year, 1 month, 3 days, and 7 hours since I fell in love with the Pie Maker and his friends. Bryan Fuller has a quirky magic that never gets old. You can see it when
you watch the tragically short series, Wonderfalls, just as you can see it in Pushing Daisies. I'm so happy that it is part of my life, although perhaps not for much longer- ratings have dropped this season, just as they have with many other shows that went off the air because of the Writers' Strike last Fall. It took so long for Chuck, Pushing Daisies, and others to return that millions of viewers had already forgotten about them and moved on (and, let me say, shame on those people!!!). So, yeah, PD needs people to tune in, or it will get the axe from ABC. And that would be an absolute crime.
My favorite episode this season was "Bad Habits." Olive had been staying in a convent (where she, of course, would go out to the hills and sing). One of her fellow nuns fell from the bell tower and died, so Ned, Emerson, and Chuck, went undercover to prove that the nun had not committed suicide. Their findings unraveled a scandal involving the convent's truffle business. I was also a big fan of the most recent episode, "Dim Sum Lose Some," in which the group investigated the murder of the owner of the local Chinese restaurant. Not only do I greatly enjoy the disguises, but they played poker with food! Betting with soy beans, it was a game of 5-dish draw (a full house of shrimp dumplings and beef pot stickers!). We saw the return of the controlling dog trainer, Simone, who has quite a way with Emerson. Also, Ned, with Chuck's
encouragement, decided he was ready to confront his past (when Ned was 9, his father left him at boarding school and never saw him again)- he met his brothers, and they had a cute group hug. Ned: I'm glad Dad got so fun and creative with naming after I left. 'Goodbye, Ned. Hello, Mercutio and Ribald.'
Chuck: Maurice and Ralston!
Friday Night Lights- I often view FNL as the "Little Show that Could." Watch an interview with Kyle Chandler or Connie Britton, and you will forget that Coach Taylor and his wife, Tami, are fictional characters. Listen to someone talk about how filming works in Austin, Texas: they don't use any fake sets; they shoot their scenes in a single take; even though they have a script, the actors often improvise. All of these things contribute to a feeling of naturalism and authenticity that is unparalleled on television. Like, for serious, it's realer than a reality show.
FNL had a lot of people fighting for it last year when it was in serious danger of being canceled. NBC worked out a deal whereby Season 3 is airing this Fall on DirectTV, and then the episodes will be shown on NBC beginning in January. It's not very convenient, but I take my FNL how I can get it. Plus, I don't technically have to wait thanks to the wonders of SurfTheChannel. After seeing 5 episodes so far, I couldn't be more thrilled. It's as if Season 2 never happened. They have returned to the purity of heart that they had in their freshman season.
There have been a few significant changes-
1) Tami is the new principal of Dillon High School. She is struggling with the lack of funding for teachers, supplies, and building repairs, especially when she looks at the privileged lifestyle of the football team. She is also struggling with an often angst-y teenage daughter.
2) Matt Saracen has been replaced as QB1 (in his Senior year! such an injustice...) by a Freshman wonder boy, JD McCoy. To Coach's credit, he resisted the change as long as he could. JD's parents were pushy and annoying and kept trying to persuade him to play their son. He wanted to stick with Matt because Matt was his quarterback. He had won a State Championship with Matt, and they knew each other. But after Matt lost a crucial game, and the people of Dillon stuck a dozen "For Sale" signs in his front yard, he could not deny that this talented new kid might be better for the team. Plus, while I feel sorry for Matt, he and Julie are insanely close to getting back together. That couple = so freakin' adorable. He'll be okay.
3) Jason Street (Scott Porter) and Smash Williams (Gaius Charles) are on the way out. We love them, they were great characters, but they graduated. They are not the type of young men who would stay in Dillon forever. Each of them has a very special sendoff, worthy of their amazing character. Coach worked hard in his free time to help Smash get back into shape after his injury and to get into college. A couple weeks ago, Smash had a fantastic tryout and made it as a walk-on at Texas A&M. Jason Street is now the father of a little boy. He desperately wants to prove to his baby mama that he can provide for a family. Pretty soon, I gather, the 3 of them will be moving somewhere that Street can start fresh.
4) Lyla and Riggins are trying the whole relationship thing. She definitely brings out the best in that boy. He's not perfect, but he is crazy in love with her and would do anything for her.
The Office- In my view, Season 5 has been characterized by highs and lows. In contrast, Seasons 2 and 3 were consistently hilarious- "The Dundies," "Office Olympics," "The Fire," "The Client,"
"Christmas Party," "The Injury," Dwight's Speech," "Conflict Resolution," "Casino Night," "Gay Witch Hunt," "The Convict," "Traveling Salesmen," "The Return," "Ben Franklin," "Business School," "The Negotiation," "Safety Training," "Women's Appreciation," "Beach Games." I mean, look at those! That's 2 years of some of the most well-written stuff out there! There were very few disappointing episodes during that time. Season 4, on the other hand, was mostly disappointing, with a few stand-out episodes of greatness ("Money," "Chair Model," "Goodbye Toby"). This year, I think, has been equal parts hilarious and 'eh'.High points:
-"Weight Loss"- At last, the moment we've been waiting years for, Jim proposes. We get a glimpse of the awkward but sweet chemistry between Michael and Holly (played by the
endearing Amy Ryan). Angela and Dwight have been continuing their affair amidst Andy's preparations for his and Angela's wedding ("I have a nice comforter and several cozy pillows. I usually read a chapter of a book, and it's lights out by 8:30... That's how I sleep at night"). Kelly goes to extreme measures to slim down for the company weight loss competition.
Kelly: I swallowed a tapeworm last night. It's going to grow up to 3 feet inside of me and then it eats all my food so that I don't get fat. And then after 3 months I take some medicine and then I pass it. Creed sold it to me. It's from Mexico. Creed: ...That wasn't a tapeworm.
-"Crime Aid"- Michael and Holly get distracted by the excitement of their relationship and leave the building unlocked, allowing everyone's stuff to get stolen. Michael decides to hold an auction, including a hug from Phyllis; Creed ("That's all-inclusive"); going out for a beer with Darryl and the warehouse guys right now; and imaginary Bruce Springsteen tickets. Phyllis gives Dwight advice about Angela ("She introduced me to so many things: pasteurized milk, sheets, monotheism, presents on your birthday, preventative medicine").
Grey's Anatomy- I think I came to an understanding about Grey's at the end of last season. If I don't hold it to lofty expectations, I don't get frustrated. That way, I can enjoy watching it for a purely entertainment value. Season 5 has featured several things:
-The (somewhat) stable relationship between Derek and Meredith. They're together. Now we're seeing the everyday problems associated with that.
-My favorite new friendship, Callie and Sloan. They laugh together, they have sex together, end of story.
-The introduction of polarizing trauma surgeon, Dr. Owen Hunt. McDreamy and McSteamy hate him because he acts like he's still in the desert patching up injured soldiers in the most quick and dirty ways possible. Cristina
thinks he's hot because he stapled his own leg wound without anesthesia.
-One surgery, in particular, that was very awesome. A domino transplant surgery. 12 patients- 6 donors, 6 recipients- that all had to go through with the surgery or the rest would drop out because this sick guy's son gave his kidney to this lady whose sister gave her kidney to this guy whose wife gave her kidney to this guy, and so on. Since it's Grey's Anatomy, there was drama that almost ruined everything, but it all worked out in the end and was quite touching, I thought.
-A particularly funny set of scenes in the dermatology section of the hospital where the doctors get massages in their free time and pour fruity drinks for people and rub each other with lotion constantly. Cristina, Izzie, and Meredith, become entranced by that simple kind of lifestyle they can't even imagine.
-Cristina's interactions with her interns never fail to make me laugh.
Deciding which intern to donate to George now that he is a resident- "I think I'll keep Lexipedia. She remembers many things. And she bathes, which is more than I can say for stinky 2 over there. Yeah, you smell."
Operating on pigs for trauma training- "Hey, no cute names! They're not pets, they're subjects. It's not our job to get all affectionate, it's our job to keep them alive. So I don't want to hear Wilbur or Babe. If you want to call them something, call them sausage. Or prosciutto."
There concludes my summary of what's been going on in television these past 2 months. In addition to Gossip Girl, I scrapped Ugly Betty from my schedule because I didn't care anymore. It was fun while it lasted, but they lost everything I used to like about the show. My next post will be about the new shows I put through my trial run to see if I would pick them up. One was victorious, one was a failure.
A taste of FNL- The Season 1 intro, which has some great clips from the show that give me chills
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