J.R.'s Television Thoughts for Your Everyday Life

Goodbye for now

2010-02-21T23:47:00.002-06:00

Hello, dear readers! I am currently transitioning to a new blog over at Monsters & Critics. Whether you are a new or returning visitor here, please continue reading over there. I promise I will be posting much more frequently because I want this to be like my practice run for a real career as a television critic. I might post here every once in a while if I feel like I have a lot of words to say about something that might not be particularly relevant to my new blog (which is called The TV Cricket, by the way). I would also love to have you all follow me on my new Twitter account, @theTVcricket. Thanks so much to all of you!

My Top Ten Shows of 2009

2009-12-16T00:14:00.009-06:00

As the year is coming to a close, many websites are touting their "Best of the Year/Decade" lists, and I've read enough of them to know that the best list is always your own list. Looking back on the countless hours of television that I've watched and how much I loved certain things for very different reasons, I can see why critics spend weeks on their lists - they're lots of fun to compile because you get to re-experience all the wonderful stories, but you get into serious debates with yourself, constantly second guessing and rearranging.

After so many changes of heart, you finally have to accept that it's impossible to get it perfectly right. I'm pretty happy with mine. I left off some shows that I love because they either didn't have great seasons this year, or because they are new and I don't feel like I've seen enough episodes to judge yet. Then there are a few that I left off because I haven't seen them yet--after reading the lists of my favorite tv critics, Maureen Ryan from the Chicago Tribune and Alan Sepinwall from the Star-Ledger, I have now moved Torchwood and Parks & Recreation up to the front of the line on things I need to watch.

10) Bones- Giving Booth a brain tumor and a coma dream in which he was married to Brennan gave a new burst of life to this show. Before that, things had fallen into a bit of a lull in which the interactions between the two main characters had become a cycle of life lessons. Now, however, their relationship has become the central focus of the show because Booth is keenly aware and dealing with his love for his partner on a daily basis, just as she is reaching a place where she is starting to realize her love for him. Someone could make a montage of all the emotion you can see in Booth's eyes when he looks at Bones--it would be the most romantic thing ever.

9) The Office- I love these characters so much after 5 years of awkwardness, hilarity, and sweetness, that I will continue watching for a long time. I recognize that the constrained setting means that storylines will be constrained as well and not always be at the same quality level as they once were. But the end of Season 5 was absolutely brilliant, interesting, and funny, as Michael, Pam, and Ryan formed the Michael Scott Paper Company. The beginning of Season 6 has had its ups and downs, but those Spring episodes remain one of my favorite parts of the entire show.

8) Mad Men- Season 3 was the year I fell in love with this show. I had always appreciated the exceptional writing, acting, and vision, but it was more of a fascination with what the characters would do than a deep desire to find out. Beginning with "Guy Walks into an Advertising Agency," all of that changed. With the finale "Shut the Door. Have a Seat," my obsession was sealed.

7) Chuck- Sure, I sometimes get annoyed with Chuck for not manning up. But at the end of the day, this is probably the show I have enjoyed the most over the past couple of years. It's well-made and fun, when it usually seems to be one or the other. After the Season 2 finale--"Guys...I know kung fu."--I knew what a wasted opportunity it would have been if the show didn't return. Luckily, I never had to deal with that. The show was renewed for a third season, which begins in January, and I rejoice.

6) Sons of Anarchy- The premise itself was intriguing enough to make me watch Season 1. Motorcycle club that serves as "The Law" in the small town of Charming, CA. Young man gains a new perspective on life when his son is born and he discovers his dead father's memoirs. All very loosely based on Hamlet. It was pretty great, especially in later episodes. Then Season 2 premiered in September, and I was excited to have something to watch on Tuesday nights. Little did I know that the end of the season premiere would shake me up and leave me in an emotional knot for the next 3 months. I've already written about how mind-numbingly amazing Katey Sagal was. It's worth repeating. She was incomparable.

5) Dollhouse- Aside from the final 3 episodes airing in January 2010, this show's life began and ended this year. It took a little while to find its footing, but it did--just as I knew it would--and it has since developed into as smart and engaging a show as Joss Whedon has ever done. We got to know the Actives (Echo, Sierra, Victor), the Clients (various), and the Dollhouse (Adelle, Topher, Boyd, Ballard, et al). Nothing was as simple as who was right and who was wrong. What this show presented was the idea that, no matter what heights technology reaches, you can't erase a soul.

4) Friday Night Lights- With its return to form in Season 3, fans have learned to forget that the abysmal second season ever happened. In 2009, FNL regained its clear eyes and full heart, and just as the saying goes, it couldn't lose. Tami became the principal at Dillon High School, Julie realized what a fool she had been for letting Matt go, Riggins had the

first healthy relationship of his life with the first girl he had ever loved--Lyla, and Coach Taylor had to deal with an even more annoying booster than Buddy Garrity--Joe McCoe, father of gifted freshman quarterback, JD. One of those limits of making a tv show that deals with high school is that you have to figure out the exact ages of your characters, and then acknowledge that you will have to let some of them go, no matter how talented they are. With "Hello, Goodbye," and "New York, New York," FNL gave beautiful sendoffs to Smash Williams and Jason Street. Then with the finale, a show-changing thing happened when Eric was fired from the Panthers and offered the head coaching position at the newly-redistricted East Dillon Lions. Season 4 would be no longer see our beloved coach at a well-established program, with funds and talent in abundance. Everyone loves a good underdog story. Friday Night Lights itself is one such story.

3) Battlestar Galactica- With the series concluding in March of this year, BSG had a lot of ground to cover in the ten episodes of Season 4.5. Who was the Final Cylon? Where would the fleet go now that their dream of Earth had been shattered by the discovery of a radioactive wasteland? What the heck was wrong with Starbuck? All of these questions, and more, were addressed, if not fully answered (but really, nobody wanted that--it would have taken away all the mystery). The highlights of the end of one of the greatest tv masterpieces of all time: 1) The Zarek-Gaeda coup. This is when characters were tested and true loyalties revealed. I loved seeing Starbuck and Apollo jump into action for Adama. 2) The Cylon history lesson in "No Exit." 3) The deterioration of Galactica, concurrent with the decreasing health of Laura Roslin. The performances of Mary McDonnell and Edward James Olmos were tragic and deeply moving. 4) The gathering of the fleet in "Daybreak." There's a line. Pick your side.

2) LOST- Every episode of Season 5 was full of momentum and tension. It took a while to get used to the time traveling, but after "316" (the episode in which Jack, Kate, Hurley, Sayid, Sun, and Ben returned to the island), it was clear that LOST was approaching its end. We knew that the show was no longer about getting off the island. The Oceanic 6 had come back, each for different reasons, but knowing that it was where they belonged. With the season finale and the possible "RESET" that happened when Juliet hit the bomb, people are concerned that all the character development over the past 5 years will mean nothing if she changed time and made it so that Oceanic 815 never crashes. That won't happen. Without having seen more than a couple of intriguing alternate reality commercials and some cryptic hints from EPs Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, I feel confident that 2010 will bring a phenomenal conclusion to one of the most complicated, but rewarding, viewing experiences I have ever had, and will ever have.

1) True Blood- So much of this year was about True Blood for me. Because of this show, I got some really great opportunities that have brought me closer to my dream of being an entertainment journalist. I got to interview Charlaine Harris twice. I started writing for my first website, and now True Blood has become part of my daily routine. I love the characters and the story. I think the cast, crew, and writers have managed to create something that's bizarre, funny, scary, emotional--and completely addicting.

Upcoming posts:

-Six Feet Under. I finished the fifth and final season about 2 months ago, but I haven't written about it yet, which is probably a good thing. It was kind of a soul-draining experience that I can only now talk about with any real sense of clarity.

-New Year's Resolutions, by which I mean the shows that I will watch in 2010.

Greatest TV Relationships, Part II

2009-12-08T17:33:00.009-06:00

I've written before about my favorite couples on television, but this is a slightly modified list. I wrote it for my newspaper, so I tried to pick a variety of couples, and excluded a few that I personally love but aren't necessarily the best choices for a list of the greats.

"A few weeks ago, The Office cordially invited us to the wedding of Jim Halpert & Pam Beesly. Of all the romantic relationships that have been portrayed on television, few are as genuine or as full of love as the one between the adorable salesman and the soft-spoken receptionist. The phrase “made for each other,” which is perhaps overused, definitely applies to Jim and Pam.

Currently in its sixth season on NBC, The Office has been building to this point from the beginning. Remembering the sweet journey that brought Jim and Pam to getting married, the groom himself put it best in his rehearsal dinner speech: “Four years ago, I was just a guy, who had a crush on a girl, who had a boyfriend. And I had to do the hardest thing that I’ve ever had to do, which was just to wait. Don’t get me wrong—I flirted with her. For a really long time, that’s all I had. Little moments with a girl who saw me as a friend. And, a lot of people told me I was crazy to wait this long for a date with a girl I work with, but I think, even then I knew that…I was waiting for my wife.”

In thinking back over the relationship between Jim and Pam, I started to make a mental list of the best television couples. Then I wrote the list down. Here it is:

Eric and Tami Taylor, played by Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights. In a show so real that it transcends television, these two have a marriage that is a true partnership. Sure, they have arguments and struggles—over money, over raising their teenage daughter, over problems at work—but you never doubt that they will get through it together, with honesty and love. You need only watch the Season 1 finale, “State” to understand why the Taylors are included on this list.

Buffy Summers and Angel, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They were a human/vampire couple before it was cool to be a human/vampire couple. In fact, they resisted their relationship until they were powerless to stop it. She was the Slayer, the Chosen One whose life mission was to fight the forces of evil, and he was one such force of evil. But he had been cursed with a soul. He was a vampire tormented by all his monstrous acts, seeking redemption by helping those in need. Buffy and Angel faced demons and apocalypses on a daily basis, and that was the easy stuff for them. The obstacles: he lost his soul, she had to send him to a hell dimension, he moved away because he could never give her a normal life, she died for a few months… Viewers saw the depth of their love by how much pain they felt over each other, but what’s more—viewers saw their love was eternal because, in the midst of their messed up lives, being together brought them the greatest happiness they had ever known, or ever would know.

Sydney Bristow and Michael Vaughn, played by Jennifer Garner and Michael Vartan, Alias. When a double agent falls in love with her CIA handler, things are never going to be easy. It took more than a year of unresolved sexual tension for these spies to finally come together. They had the cutest relationship ever, only to have their joy stolen away by an enemy terrorist organization. Don’t you just hate it when that happens?! Sydney was abducted, and her death was faked. Two years later, she awakened with no memory of what happened to her, expecting to return to the comforting embrace of her boyfriend, only to find that Vaughn had married someone else in her absence. Of course, his wife turned out to be a traitor to America, and they killed her. When Sydney and Vaughn did resume their relationship, they were a more world-weary couple with all their new baggage, but they did not allow it to harden them. Their love was as strong as ever, and they went on to find peace in marriage and in a son and daughter.

Lorelai Gilmore and Luke Danes, played by Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson, Gilmore Girls. For the first four seasons of this show, the timing was never right for them. One would have feelings for the other, one would be in a relationship with someone else, one would do something that created major tension in their friendship. It took a self-help book and decisive action to make them wake up and realize that they were in love. Annoying plot contrivances in later seasons drove them apart for a little while, but the whole world could see that the Luke and Lorelai relationship would last when they were eventually reunited.

Veronica Mars and Logan Echolls, played by Kristen Bell and Jason Dohring, Veronica Mars. They hated each other at first, but somehow, in spite of themselves, they became friends and developed an undeniable attraction. Logan could be immature and overprotective, and Veronica had some serious trust issues. They still make this list because they brought out the best in each other, and their love was strong enough to keep them connected even when they were broken up. They have some fundamental character flaws that keep them apart, but they’re still young and have the capacity to change. The show has been cancelled for a couple of years now, but fans continue to hold out hope that in the continuing fictional world, these two will end up together.

Temperance “Bones” Brennan and Seeley Booth, played by Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz, Bones. The non-couple couple of the list because it’s only a matter of time before they get together and live happily ever after. Theirs is a partnership in which completely opposite personalities complement each other to make an effective crime-solving team. She’s a brilliant forensic anthropologist who can tell you everything about a set of bones but lacks social skills with people who are alive. He’s an alpha male FBI agent with an innate talent at reading people. Booth and Bones have grown so much as human beings because of their work together. They have risked their lives numerous times to save the other, and demonstrated that they value their partnership more than anything. They might not be in a romantic relationship (yet!), but their chemistry is magical, and their love is no less than if they were an actual couple.

Chandler Bing and Monica Gellar, played by Matthew Perry and Courtney Cox Arquette, Friends. Ross and Rachel are considered to be the great classic couple in all of sitcom history, possibly in all of television history. Over the course of 10 seasons, those two were either on, off, or in a transition period. But in a far more nuanced storyline, Monica and Chandler became the stable couple of the show. A woman with OCD and a man with a fear of commitment, who were never more than friends, hooked up at a wedding and never looked back."

Epic Post

2009-12-04T00:00:00.012-06:00

Apologies for my absence over these last few months! I know it was deeply upsetting to my readers--all 3 of you (Hi, Mom/Claire/Tina)--not to have me rambling about my television obsessions. Well, you asked for it - and now you're gonna get it! (Nobody "asked" for it in the literal, out-loud sense, but hypothetically speaking...whatever! You're gonna get it whether you want it or not!)

True Blood- Waiting for Season 3 has been very painful. To cope, I have rewatched Seasons 1 & 2 approximately 47 times. Also, I am still writing for TrueBloodNet.com, so I am not in complete withdrawal from the show. The actors returned to work last week, and news has been coming out about casting for new characters. I'm excited when I read these because it gives me things to speculate about instead of just freaking out over the unknown, like what the hell happened to Bill?!?!?!?!?!

Mad Men- Season 3 was outstanding, especially the second half. Normally MM is subtle, and viewers can glean from small moments of character interactions what the 1960s were like in terms of gender roles and social norms. Well, with "Guy Walks into an Advertising Agency" (S3, episode 6), a secretary ran over someone's foot with a John Deere lawnmower, and things never slowed down from there. Don had an affair with Sally's school teacher. Sal got fired. Joan smashed a vase over her jerk husband's head. Don secured an account with Conrad Hilton for his hotel chain. JFK was assassinated. Betty discovered Don's secret drawer, and all the lies upon which their marriage was based came crashing down. She ended up leaving him for a man she barely knew. As if that weren't enough, PPL, the British company that bought Sterling Cooper at the end of Season 2, was preparing to sell the agency to a rival ad firm. Rather than let that happen, Don joined together with Roger Sterling, Bert Cooper, and Lane Pryce to start their own firm. The finale was probably my favorite episode to date. Written and directed by executive producer Matthew Weiner (new television genius who joins the ranks of "People whose work I would watch no matter what"), "Shut the door. Have a seat" featured Don and his new partners trying to persuade certain employees to join them. Before any of this could happen, Don had to put aside his differences with Roger and admit that he needed Roger's people skills/client relationships or they would never have enough money to operate. From there, they got Pete Campbell through flattery--Head of Accounts. They got Harry Crane by saying 'join us or we'll lock you in the storage closet'--Head of Television Media. And they got Peggy Olson as their Copy Writer because Don was finally willing to tell her how much he valued her work and needed her help. "What if I say no? You'll never speak to me again." "No. I will spend the rest of my life trying to hire you." My favorite acquisition for Sterling, Cooper, Draper & Pryce--Joan as Office Manager. She's the one who will keep things running smoothly. She may be a glorified secretary, but it's a lovely truth to realize that without Joan, those guys would be completely lost. They set up shop in a hotel suite for the time being, and Season 4 will be about this new business. I am looking forward to Mad Men more than I ever have before.

Dexter- Season 4 has been pretty mediocre in my opinion. On the list of things that interest me: 1) John Lithgow as the Trinity Killer. He has repeated the same pattern of kills in cities across the US for 30 years. Each death represents a member of his family. So creepy, but so fascinating. 2) Seeing Dexter adjust to marriage and fatherhood has been interesting insofar as I was curious to see how he would indulge his "Dark Passenger" when he had a family to take care of. It hasn't presented any major obstacles. 3) I was glad to see Keith Carradine return as FBI Special Agent Frank Lundy, but he was killed when he got too close to discovering the true identity of Trinity. 4) Jennifer Carpenter's performance in the aftermath of Lundy's death was stellar. I have come to expect greatness from Michael C. Hall, and that greatness always overshadows the supporting cast. In the episode "Dirty Harry," I don't even remember what happened to Dexter, but Debra's emotional breakdown at losing the man she loved left a deep impression on me. Unfortunately, the list of things I care nothing about is much longer: 1) Angel's relationship with LaGuerta. 2) Anything having to do with Quinn. 3) Rita's flirtation with her neighbor. 4) Ghost Harry's useless advice. I really like James Remar, but his character has become superfluous. I understand that he is there to function as a sounding board for his son's killer thoughts, but he no longer brings about important character developments for Dexter like he used to. 5) Trinity's home life. I find it highly unbelievable that Arthur Miller would be able to keep up the elaborate act of being a deacon at his church, a volunteer house builder, and a devoted father and husband, when he is so crazy and has an explosive temper. I also find it highly unbelievable that there have never been any security cameras at his kill sights that would get him caught. Seriously, he beat one dude to death in an office, and another time he kidnapped a kid from an arcade. If that happened in real life, he would never make it as a serial killer eluding capture for decades. 6) The fact that Dexter killed his first truly innocent man. He broke The Code. He didn't check his facts enough, and it ended up costing a man his life. Perhaps I would feel more strongly about this if Dexter did, but it hasn't even phased him. So overall, not a great season for me. Although there was a big twist last week that shocked me, and I hope to see more surprises in the final two episodes.

Sons of Anarchy- I wrote about SOA in the newspaper article I posted on here a couple weeks ago, so I'm going to abstain from writing anything more right now. With Season 2, it became one of my favorite currently airing shows, and I fully believe it has the potential to become one of my favorites ever. For that reason, I am going to devote an entire post to it soon, in which I will talk about the implications of the finale and why this cast (especially Katey Sagal) is doing some of the best acting around.

How I Met Your Mother- Only halfway through the fifth season, and they have already ended the Barney-Robin relationship. If it never reemerges, that's going to be very disappointing. My favorite episodes this season have been "Duel Citizenship," (in which Barney spends the entire half-hour making fun of Canada, and Ted, Marshall, and Lily take a roadtrip that highlights the ways that friendships change when someone becomes super couple-y) and "Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap," (in which Marshall unites the group with the 4th slap of the infamous slap bet). I have high expectations for the latter half of Season 5 because of the special 100th episode (a musical edition!!! NPH + music = yay!), and because I am hoping that Ted makes some significant progress in finding the Mother, now that we know he is a professor at her school.

The Big Bang Theory- I went back and watched all the episodes of this show for a couple of reasons. Because I needed more comedy in my tv-watching schedule, and because I am unashamedly a huge geek. All the Battlestar Galactica and comic book references fill me with joy, as do the super-smart, socially awkward boys because they remind me of my own guy friends. I am basically obsessed with Sheldon, played by Jim Parsons. Now that Leonard and Penny are in a relationship, the story is kinda secondary, but that doesn't bother me in this show. The characters are well-developed, well-written, and make me laugh on a consistent basis.

Castle- Nathan Fillion is still being his charming self and making this show one of the highlights of my week. Season 2 has been just as fun as the first, and I was so pleased that ABC ordered the back 9 episodes, increasing it to a full season. The chemistry between Castle and Beckett remains as engaging as ever, and the father-daughter relationship between Castle and Alexis is so adorable and strong that I don't feel like I'm exaggerating to compare it to Veronica and Keith Mars (which, if you've seen VMars, you know is high praise).

Dollhouse- Like SOA, I can't do justice to DH in one paragraph. There are only 8 episodes left in Season 2, and then this little series about the Active that could will be gone forever. Joss Whedon has made it pretty clear that he's not leaving it open-ended for a movie or comic book continuation. So I am appreciating every moment that's left, and continuing to marvel at the spectacular abilities of the writers/directors/actors. More praise to come in an upcoming post.

The Office- Season 6 has been kinda hit-or-miss for me. Episodes like "The Lover" and "Murder" had me rolling on the ground in fits of laughter, while episodes like "Mafia" and "Scott's Tots" had me sitting on the couch feeling confused and uncomfortable. I like new receptionist Erin--I think her eagerness to please Michael is a funny contrast to the way we saw Pam act for 4 years, and I enjoy watching Andy try to ask her out. I like seeing Jim as co-manager with Michael because it wouldn't have made sense for him to go on avoiding work as a salesman and playing pranks on Dwight forever. He has a wife now, with a baby on the way, so his ambition and sense of responsibility has kicked in. He thought the job would be easy because he had seen a fool like Michael do it for so long, but it has presented more obstacles than he expected. For one, Dwight keeps trying to plot to remove him. Another problem is the impending financial collapse of Dunder-Mifflin. Nobody knows if or when they are going bankrupt, so a good solution is to play a murder mystery theatre game to keep everyone's mind off of it. Hilarious. For the rest of this season, I would like to see more of the supporting characters (especially Kelly, Angela, Oscar, Andy, Erin, Creed), AND PLEASE BRING BACK DARRYL (Craig Robinson).

Bones- Season 5 has focused on Booth readjusting to life after having surgery to remove his brain tumor. He's forgotten things about himself, like his garish socks and "cocky" belt buckle, and the fact that he hates clowns. He also lost skills he once had, like how to do his own plumbing and how to shoot a gun with accuracy. But more importantly, he has been affected by the memory of his coma dream. He emerged from it completely in love with Brennan. When Cam and Sweets found out, they told him: Don't tell her unless he's sure because she will never recover if he breaks her heart. The rotating interns continue to be a source of comedy sometimes and annoyance at other times. I only like Wendell, Mr. Nigel-Murray, and Fisher. I can't stand the rest. I don't want Angela to be with Wendell even though I think he's a sweetheart. She needs to get back with Hodgins yesterday. They belong together! The Christmas episode, "The Goop on the Girl," promises to be wonderful. It has a lot to live up to since the Season 3 mistletoe kiss, but with Zooey Deschanel guest-starring as Brennan's cousin, Ryan O'Neal guest-starring as Brennan's dad, and Booth stripping down to his boxers (his clothing is evidence, it has to be done!), I feel certain I will find plenty to enjoy.

Friday Night Lights- Season 4 is knocking it out of the park. Or, should I say, scoring touchdowns (Hehehe......puns used to be the highest form of humor). Coach Taylor and some former Dillon Panthers like Landry find themselves stuck at the rundown East Dillon High School after redistricting divided the town into, essentially, the haves and the have-nots. Tami has stayed on as the principal at West Dillon, but she is no better off than her husband. After she sent the Panther's star player, Luke, to East, Joe McCoy and the boosters were none to happy with her. Football fans are calling in to sports radio to complain about her. They see her as the enemy, and it's tough to see a character I love be so hurt by the hateful things being said about her. She was only doing her job. Meanwhile, Eric is trying to build a new football program with the Lions. They lack discipline and experience, and it will be a while before they win a game, but they have some true talent in RB Luke and another new character, Vince. Offensively, defensively, the boy can do it all. I thought it would be awhile before I felt loyalty to this new team, but it only took a few episodes for me to get the Lion pride. It helped that Panther QB J.D. McCoy has transformed into a total jackass. Life without Lyla and Tyra has been strange, but they aren't gone forever. Soon, we will be losing Matt Saracen, too, and his sendoff has been even more emotional than the touching goodbyes for Jason Streete and Smash Williams. Matt's father was killed in Iraq, and Zach Gilford gave a performance that has many critics calling for his Emmy nomination next year. It felt completely real to the experience of losing someone, and stayed true to his character.

Grey's Anatomy- This season has been hectic and overdramatic, but what else is new? I'm still really into the Owen-Cristina relationship, and I think that merging Seattle Grace with Mercy West Hospital has shaken things up in an interesting way. Sure, I dislike some of the new doctors, but the conflict created by the situation has felt organic. We knew in Season 5 that economic difficulties were plaguing Seattle Grace, so this solution that Chief Webber came up with to keep his job made a lot of sense. It also allowed Shonda Rhimes to deal with her actors' conflicts (Ellen Pompeo's maternity leave, Katherine Heigl's time off to work on a movie), by adding new characters without sacrificing screen time for the people we know. McDreamy hasn't had any major storylines this season, but at least Patrick Dempsey has remained a solid presence. Honestly, I don't really care what he does, as long as he's there for me to look at. He's pretty. My favorite characters have been the same for a couple of years now. Lexie, Mark, Owen, and Cristina. I just think that those actors--Chyler Leigh, Eric Dane, Kevin McKidd, and Sandra Oh--are giving really dynamic performances that keep me invested. It's by no means one of my favorite shows anymore like it was in Seasons 1 & 2, but I can't let it go yet. Sadly, the same cannot be said for Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters, which have become casualties of their own ridiculousness.

As for my new shows--V, The Good Wife, Modern Family, and FlashForward--(all of which I wrote about recently), they are going on the Christmas hiatus along with the rest of the television shows. The issue here is that the networks are scheduling their 2010 returns for strange times. I am referring to V and FlashForward, both of which ABC doesn't intend to bring back until March. That seems almost like a death sentence to me! How can they expect a new show to retain whatever audience it has managed to establish thus far in its first season, when they are not putting it on the air again for 3 or 4 months? I find it hard to imagine that either V or FlashForward will get renewed for a Season 2 with that poor placement. It would be a shame to lose both sci-fi newbies. Although, Glee is getting pushed off, too, with FOX keeping the second half of Season 1 until April, and I feel pretty confident that it will survive. I guess nobody knows at this point what will happen. At least Modern Family and The Good Wife appear to be performing well for ABC and CBS, respectively, and will be coming back with new episodes in January.

I AM SO EXCITED FOR MY MIDSEASON PREMIERES, LOST, CHUCK, CAPRICA, AND BURN NOTICE!!!<--See, I couldn't help myself but to write in all capital letters, so you know how excited I am! Chuck Season 3 begins on January 10th; Burn Notice Season 3, Part II, on January 21st; Caprica Season 1 on January 22nd; and LOST Season 6 on February 2nd. I predict awesomeness from each of them. Obviously, I haven't seen Caprica before (except for the pilot/movie), but with Jane Espenson writing it and a foundation in BSG lore, how can it go wrong?

I don't know why, and I'm certainly not complaining, but TNT will also have a few new episodes for their original series over the next couple of months. The Closer airs for 3 weeks, starting December 7th, during which time Beau Bridges and Mary McDonnell will be guest starring. I've got my fingers crossed for my prediction to come true, which is that Brenda and Fritz will adopt a child. I am always astounded by how patient and loving that man is--he so deserves to be a father! Leverage has several more Season 2 episodes to air, starting on January 13th. This show is another recent acquisition of mine, and one that I am drawn to because I like heist stories and playful banter. Timothy Hutton leads the cast as Nate, "The Mastermind" of the vigilante team, which also includes Parker ("The Thief"), Sophie ("The Grifter"), Hardison ("The Hacker"), and Eliot ("The Hitter"). They do con jobs to help people who can't help themselves. It's like Burn Notice combined with Ocean's 11. Lots of fun.

Glorious New Shows of Fall 2009

2009-11-17T20:06:00.008-06:00

When I was deciding what to write for my college newspaper this week, I mostly wanted to spend the entire article mourning the cancellation of Dollhouse. This is the first time I've had to endure the loss of a show that I truly loved, that I thought had a lot more story to tell. (Note: This statement only applies because I didn't watch the my other tragically-cancelled favorites--Firefly, Veronica Mars--as they aired). But, while I am still sad about this, even more I am glad to have been able to enjoy it as long as I did. I am grateful for every single episode, and as always, I always look forward to whatever projects the people of the Whedonverse do, so now I get to add Enver Gojak, Dichen Lachman, Miracle Laurie, and Fran Kranz to that wonderful group. So I didn't spend my article ranting about Dollhouse, but instead took a happier tone and celebrated the great shows added to my viewing list this fall season.

In the ever-changing world of television, you might wake up one morning and a new show has become the talk of the watercooler. More often than not, however, shows have to fight to establish themselves with an audience. So far this fall, networks have already cancelled those series that never really made it out of the gate, like ABC’s Eastwick and Hank. It requires a challenging balance of broad appeal and intriguing, multi-layered characters to make viewers want more.

This fall has been a pleasant surprise, with a handful of memorable new shows that probably have many seasons in their future, as well as several shows in their second season that have managed to overcome the dreaded “Sophomore Slump.” The best freshman series have been spread pretty evenly across the major networks, and come from a diverse range of genres.

CBS has been very popular on the procedural front. The spinoff of the very successful NCIS, featuring Mark Harmon as the sarcastic team leader of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, is NCIS: Los Angeles. Starring Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J, the new show, which follows its parent show on Tuesday nights, is able to retain much of the audience, and is doing a good job of finding its own sense of humor while appealing to procedural-loving Americans. Also on Tuesday night is the solid new law drama, The Good Wife. Julianna Margulies stars as a woman in the aftermath of her politician husband’s public affair and corruption charges. In her best role since playing Nurse Carol Hathaway for 6 years on ER, she exudes intelligence and empathy as rookie lawyer Alicia Florrick.

V follows the same setup as the 1980’s sci-fi show on which it is based—an alien race called “The Visitors” arrives on Earth and seeks an exchange of water (to them a valuable resource) for technological and medical advances. After the masterpiece that was the reimagined Battlestar Galactica, I will never judge a sci-fi show as cheesy without first giving it a chance. After only a couple of episodes, V has not disappointed. LOST’s Elizabeth Mitchell stars as an FBI agent who is rightly skeptical of the V, led by the ethereal Morena Baccarin of Firefly fame. They claim that they are “of peace, always,” but their intentions are thrown into a new light when it is revealed that a group of Visitors have been living on Earth for years under assumed identities. Presumably, they have sought to infiltrate the human race in preparation for some master plan of destruction upon the arrival of their species.ABC is continuing to offer quality sci-fi/fantasy fare with FlashForward and V. Both are definite products of a post-LOST era, in which television is becoming highly less episodic in favor of serialized shows that develop over season-long arcs through intricate character development and slowly unraveling mysteries. FlashForward, with an ensemble cast that includes Joseph Fiennes, Sonya Walger, John Cho, Gabrielle Union, and Courtney B. Vance, tells the story of a world in panic after every person blacked out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds and witnessed their lives 6 months in the future. Observing people’s different responses to the event would be an interesting enough psychological study, but add to it that the flashforwards aren’t necessarily set in stone and the possibility that a couple of enigmatic, evasive individuals might have caused the blackout, and you have a pretty compelling drama.

In perhaps the most unexpected development of the fall, ABC also has some great comedy programming. The Wednesday night lineup contains a block of half-hour comedies—Modern Family, The Middle, and Cougar Town. All have their own merits, and a respectably sized viewership. Modern Family, in particular, has been outstanding. Starring Julie Bowen (Ed, LOST) and Married…With Children’s Ed O’Neill, the show follows the same documentary style filming made popular by The Office, this time on the wisdom of parenting. Modern Family is a wonderful combination of laugh-out-loud funny, smart, and endearing,

NBC’s Community, with Chevy Chase and Joel McHale, has also become a fan-favorite, focusing on a quirky group of students at a community college. Although the peacock network doesn’t really have any other noteworthy new shows, Parks and Recreation has been gaining momentum in its second round of episodes, after an uneven freshman season. Amy Poehler, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, and Rashida Jones are taking that show to new levels of hilarity, as they continue to tell stories about local government through the lens of the Department of Parks and Recreation of Pawnee, Indiana.

Keeping in tune with the current crazy-hotness of vampires, The CW has found favor with Twilight and True Blood fans in The Vampire Diaries, based on a series of books by L.J. Smith. The young cast is led by Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, and Ian Somerhalder, who portray the strong-willed human girl (of course) and the vampire brothers.

While the next series might not have the most viewers, it has without a doubt the most devoted new fan following. FOX’s Glee has flashy musical numbers, adolescent hormones mixed with sweet emotion, and a unique, if inconsistent, sense of humor. From the creative vision of Ryan Murphy (going from Nip/Tuck to Glee is not exactly the straightest of lines), this series showcases the talent of musical theater superstars like Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, and Amber Riley. It is the dry wit of comedienne Jane Lynch as cheerleader coach Sue Sylvester that usually redeems even the shaky episodes. Plus, Glee has been so widely embraced by the Hollywood and Broadway communities that they are also able to bring in a shining presence like Kristin Chenoweth, or in future episodes, director Joss Whedon and Spring Awakening star Jonathan Groff.

Another gem of the fall season has been FX’s Sons of Anarchy. Although technically in its second year, this show has seen a rebirth, surging into the pantheon of great television. SOA follows a motorcycle club in the small town of Charming, CA, and, odd as it may seem, is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Charlie Hunnam (Green Street Hooligans) plays Jax Teller, the impetuous young VP of the Sons, whose outlook on life is changed by the birth of his son and the discovery of his dead father’s journal. Jax’s stepfather, Clay Morrow, is the club’s hard-headed president, skillfully portrayed by Hellboy’s Ron Perlman. Katey Sagal plays Gemma, the matriarch of the Sons. In Season 1, she had a toughness to rival any of the tatted, bike-riding criminals, but a brutal attack in the Season 2 premiere left her broken and vulnerable. Sagal’s real-life husband, Kurt Sutter, is the creator and executive producer for SOA—the man knows how to tell a story. Another memorable performance comes from Maggie Siff (Mad Men), as Jax’s rekindled love, Tara. Overall, a great cast and a fascinating glimpse into the hierarchical dynamics of an MC. Because it airs on cable instead of one of the major networks, this drama has short 13-episode seasons instead of the normal 22, so it feels okay to talk about this one as a relatively new show.

All of the above-mentioned shows are worth checking out. There is some high-quality television being made right now, and these new series are rising to the challenge.

True Blood: A Case for Team Bill

2009-08-18T11:00:00.011-05:00

In my last entry, I discussed the craziness that has been going on in Season 2 of True Blood, including my frustration as I watch the inevitable tide coming in on the Sookie/Eric relationship. Now, I was told in writing for TrueBloodNet that we are neutral on the Team Eric-Team Bill issue. Everyone has their own preferences, of course, and there are often polls or discussions about why people like one or the other. But we cannot take sides inour articles or anything like that. We try to be positive, not critical. And that's a good model to go by even here, I think.

So. Why is Bill Compton the best choice for Sookie? The #1 reason can be found in Season 1, Episode 12, "You'll Be the Death of Me." Sookie is being chased through the woods by a serial killer, more afraid for her life than she has ever been. Bill, sensing her danger, leaves the safety of his underground sleeping room to go to her. He doesn't care that he will endure unbearable pain and probably die. He may not even make it far enough to stop Rene from attacking her. But he has to try. Completely self-sacrificing--a sign of the depth of his love for her.

Another sign: Season 1, Episode 6, "Cold Ground." Sookie runs to Bill's house. He is being so sweet to her. But, unable to control the reflex, his fangs come out. He hides his face in shame, thinking she will be afraid of him or disgusted by him. But she holds his head with her hands and kisses him. I love that moment.

Next, look at how Sookie and Bill have changed each other's lives. When Bill arrived on the scene at Merlotte's, Sookie was just a waitress. She had spent her entire life in Bon Temps, burdened with a telepathic ability that she never wanted. Most of the people around her thought she was crazy. Even her friends didn't understand her. (Dawn: "Well...honey...didn't you just know already?" Sookie: "I am NOT a psychic!!!") Her family loved her but rarely talked about this crucial part of who she was. And then she got to know Bill, and she couldn't hear his thoughts. She was intrigued by him but, most of all, relieved for the peace and quiet. And he made her feel like she was special and valuable. Here was this handsome vampire who had lived for 173 years, and he wanted to be

with her. "You are entirely different. And the beauty, and the tragedy, of it is that you don't know just how different you are." He comforted her when the most important person in her life died. He protected her when another vampire tried to kill her, in spite of the consequences he faced from his own kind. Sookie had found someone who she could be herself with, who could make her feel completely safe, and who could teach her so many things about the world. Then, for Bill: Sookie brought him back to his humanity. He had lived in the mid-19th century, fought in the Civil War, and been turned into a vampire before he could return home to the wife and children that he loved. For the first 50 years of his new life, he traveled as the companion of his Maker, Lorena, killing humans with animalistic cruelty. He separated himself from her because he couldn't stand to inflict pain like that anymore. He spent the next 75 years alone, interacting with humans only when he glamoured someone to feed on their blood for sustenance. Until he met Sookie. She was young and beautiful and spoke her mind.

She saved his life. She thought that he--a vampire--was worth saving. There was something different about her... The situation reversed the next night when he had to save HER life. He gave her his blood to heal her, knowing that it would form a lifelong connection between them. The more time they spent together, the more he cared about her. The first time he sensed her in danger, he woke up thinking she was being strangled in her bedroom. But the sun had not set yet, so he couldn't go to her. He lay there in agony until it was safe, and then he rushed to her side, only to discover it had been a dream. Later, when he sensed her in danger, she was being chased by someone who would kill her. And Bill didn't care that it was broad daylight. He went to her anyway. Thankfully, he healed, and she was so happy to have him back. He was a "boyfriend." He was in love with her. Sometimes, his vampire side got the better of him, and he did things that he shouldn't. But she forgave him. Because, by some miracle, she loved him, too.

So that's it--my reasons for loving Bill and Sookie together, as much as I can put them into words. I'm not going to bash Eric or Alexander Skarsgard. Eric is a fascinating character--he's a freaking Viking! And Alex does a wonderful job with him. I think he adds a lot to the story.

But when I see people on message boards bashing Bill/Stephen for being boring or annoying or unattractive, I'm disappointed that they would have that kind of attitude. We all love the show, obviously. Some of us are going to like certain things better than others or wish something were a little different. But, in all honesty, whatever Alan Ball comes up with is going to be better than whatever any of us could think of. And I truly believe that more of the book fans are getting to a place where they can appreciate the differences between the show and the books. Both are fun and entertaining. So let's just enjoy True Blood for what it is, and the Sookie Stackhouse series for what it is, without applying preconceived notions from one to the other. True Blood Bill has not shown himself to be a jerk like Book Bill. Stephen Moyer has developed his character in a different way. He has made Bill more of a gentleman and more protective of Sookie, so that the relationship between Bill and Sookie has been much more loving. So even if future events will change this and Sookie begins to gravitate towards Eric, let's not rush this part. Sookie and Bill are still together and in love. Eric isn't going anywhere. But Team Bill is not ready to give up yet (naked Eric dream scenes aside...).

Summer Endings, New Beginnings

2009-08-13T23:16:00.012-05:00

I feel guilty for ignoring my blog for the entire month of July. I just haven't made time for it. I've been sleeping/working/traveling/actually watching television, but not writing. I will be back in full force, though, because a lot of my shows are about to kick off their new seasons. I've already made a calendar of premiere dates! (Really. I do that kind of thing.)

When I'm at school, I watch most of my tv alone. I hope that doesn't sound like a pity party because it's not! I like having that time to myself. I've always got a few projects going with some of my friends, as well as weekly tv dates to watch Chuck or The Office or whatever. But I spend more time watching by myself, whether it be old favorite episodes or new stuff for my own television education (Learning is a lifelong process. I wonder if I will ever make it through my "Shows to Watch" list...?)

This summer, however, I have been less self-indulgent. I'm still not finished with Six Feet Under because I wasn't willing to watch even an episode every day. Almost all of what I've watched has been time spent with my family and friends.

So that's it for the explanation part of this post. Here's what I've been watching. But first! My Emmy dream ballot, as previously promised. I didn't choose 6 for each category because I know there are deserving shows out there that I have yet to see (Breaking Bad, In Treatment, etc.), so I leave slots open for them. A star indicates a place where the dream was a reality on the nominations list.

BEST DRAMA SERIES

Battlestar Galactica

*Lost

*Mad Men

True Blood

*Dexter

BEST COMEDY SERIES

*The Office

*How I Met Your Mother

Chuck

*Flight of the Conchords

The Big Bang Theory

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA

Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights

Jeffrey Donovan, Burn Notice

*Michael C. Hall, Dexter

Edward James Olmos, Battlestar Galactica

*Jon Hamm, Mad Men

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Mary McDonnell, Battlestar Galactica

Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights

*Elizabeth Moss, Mad Men

Anna Paquin, True Blood

*Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY

*Steve Carell, The Office

Zachary Levi, Chuck

*Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies

Ken Marino, Party Down

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Anna Friel, Pushing Daisies

Yvonne Strahovski, Chuck

*Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA

*Michael Emerson, Lost

Josh Holloway, Lost

*John Slattery, Mad Men

Michael Hogan, Battlestar Galactica

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Elizabeth Mitchell, Lost

Christina Hendricks, Mad Men

Katee Sackhoff, Battlestar Galactica

Katherine Heigl, Grey's Anatomy

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY

*Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother

*Rainn Wilson, The Office

John Krasinski, The Office

Chi McBride, Pushing Daisies

Adam Baldwin, Chuck

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Jenna Fischer, The Office

Cobie Smulders, How I Met Your Mother

Jane Lynch, Party Down

*Kristen Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies

A few notes:

-It is truly pathetic that the Academy cannot bring itself to nominate genre shows like Battlestar Galactica. They are closing themselves off to some of the greatest work in television.

-I will probably end up watching the awards ceremony, if only to see Neil Patrick Harris as the host. With Jeremy Piven out of the running, I feel pretty confident that he will finally win for his portrayal of Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother. Also, I like Michael Emerson's chances. Ben is a badass.

-As long as Two and a Half Men is still getting nominated for anything, the Emmys lacks all credibility as a serious merit system.

-I realize that 30 Rock is better than I give it credit for- and I hope that one day I change my mind- but I just don't like it. So that's why I don't include it.

-The most criminal omissions on this list- Mary McDonnell as Laura Roslin. Connie Britton as Tami Taylor. Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet Burke. Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse. Where is the love for these stunning actresses?

So You Think You Can Dance- This was a special time for me, my mom, and my sister every week. We watched certain dances over and over ("Calle Ocho"! "Hush, Hush"! "Mad"!), voting hundreds of times for our favorites: Ade, Brandon, Janette, Jeanine, and Kayla. By the Top 8, we were all united behind one dancer- Jeanine. And she won!! Very fun and exciting. And now we don't have to wait until next summer to see more entertainment provided by those rockin' judges/choreographers/dancers/towering British hosts

named Cat Deeley. Season 6 premieres at the beginning of September. From what Adam Shankman has been tweeting about the auditions, it seems like we will be seeing insane amounts of talent.

Burn Notice- The first half of Season 3 concluded with an intense episode for Fiona. After fighting for several weeks with Michael over his dogged efforts to clear his burn notice and get back into the intelligence community, Fiona decided that she couldn't stay in Miami anymore. But an enemy from her past in Ireland came to hunt her down. Michael realized what was most important to him when Fiona's life was in danger. There were many touching moments between the two of them, without them explicitly stating their feelings (which would, of course, change the very nature of their relationship). So this does not imply that Michael is no longer trying to be a spy, but I think he will not be willing to do so "whatever the cost," as his attitude has been up to this point. This season has contained some of the best episodes of the entire show, although I don't think it has overall been as good as Season 2 and the Management/Carla storyline. The Detective Paxson investigation into Michael's activities never posed an effective threat and, as a result, was not a real source of conflict for him. After that situation went away, the rest of the episodes contained only small elements of forward plot movement, with Michael trying to find contacts in the spy business who could help him get back in. The cliffhanger involved the death of his main contact, so that should provide some momentum when Season 3 resumes in January.

The Closer- Episodes so far have been consistent but not extraordinary. I'm not unhappy with them, I just haven't found any standouts. Brenda's grieving over her cat lasted too long. From there, things have shifted to a new houseguest for Brenda and Fritz: her teenage niece, Charlie, who had become too difficult for her parents and grandparents to deal with. Played by Kyra Sedgwick's own daughter, Sosie Bacon, Charlie is bringing out Brenda's maternal instincts. She needs to have a baby already!! Fritz would be such a good daddy. I'm looking forward to an episode that touches my heart. One always comes. Maybe it will be the one that brings back creepy lawyer rapist. I've never seen Brenda as terrified of someone as she is of him, even crazy woman burner, Billy Kroelig.

Nurse Jackie- With only 1 episode remaining in Season 1 (actually, 2 have yet to air, but for some reason, Showtime OnDemand puts up the next week's episode), I officially like this show. Moral ambiguity fascinates me (see: Dexter) because it explores people's complex motivations. Jackie Peyton is a nurse who cares for her patients. After all her years at that job, she still gets emotionally invested. She will do anything necessary to work the system to help her patients. At times, this means doing something illegal. Jackie is deeply concerned for her family. She is also deeply concerned for her boyfriend, Eddie. And for her drug habit. My absolute favorite aspect of this show, and what sets it apart from any other hospital show I have seen, is that it always manages to find the humor in a very serious world. Hospitals are centers of pain, tragedy, and misfortune. But these people do not allow themselves to be darkened by it. They work within it and maintain their optimism. Nurse Jackie is a drama. Yet, I am constantly laughing. Like when Dr. O'Hara steals Zoe's stethoscope and finds great amusement in watching the timid nursing student try to get it back. Like when Jackie's adorable daughter Fiona (played by Daisy Tahan) says ANYTHING. Like when the sweet and oblivious Zoe tries to hug Jackie. Like when bureaucratic administrator Ms. Akalitus grows attached to an abandoned baby and then pretends that the baby is dead when the irresponsible parents try to reclaim their child. Like when Peter Facinelli's Dr. Cooper acts like a little boy (which is all the time). Good show. I'm looking forward to seeing how they do a season finale next week.

True Blood- Saving the best for last! An awesome development: I have started writing for the True Blood fansite, www.truebloodnet.com, as a contributor of news articles related to the show and the people involved with it. The show itself is 8 episodes in to Season 2, and it just keeps getting crazier and better with each week. Sookie and Bill traveled to Dallas at Eric's behest to find out what happened to the Sheriff of Area 9, Godric.

There they met with the Dallas vampire-cowboys, who were convinced that the Fellowship of the Sun Church was responsible. Stan, the leader of the nest in Godric's absence, wanted to go into the church, guns a-blazin'. (Isabel: "Vampire-hating church annihilated. Wonder who did it? Brilliant.") Sookie offered to go to the FOTS posing as someone interested in joining their congregation. She would listen in on people's thoughts and discover the truth about Godric. Isabel knew how worried Bill was about Sookie's safety, so she sent her own human, Hugo, to accompany Sookie on her undercover mission. Problem was-

Steve Newlin knew exactly who Sookie was when she got there, so he locked her in the basement. And Bill sensed that she was in danger. But he couldn't get to her because stupid Eric summoned Bill's Maker, Lorena, to keep him occupied so that he could save Sookie himself. Just as she was about to be attacked by one of Newlin's goons, Godric stepped in to protect her. Then Eric came to Godric (his Maker, from the Viking period), who instructed him to get Sookie out. Newlin was arming his people for a war, which very nearly happened when Bill finally got away from Lorena and made it to the church, followed closely by Stan and the other Dallas vampires. But Godric kept the peace. They all returned to Godric's lair, where Lorena confronted Sookie (Cat fight! It made me very happy to see Sookie get so defensive about her man. Go Team Bill!), Jason apologized to Bill and Sookie for being such an idiot, and Luke from the FOTS brought in a bomb of silver chains and tiny wooden stakes...To be continued after the next episode.

Meanwhile, Jessica made a love connection ever with Hoyt Fortenberry. Too

cute for words!

Maryann has been exercising a powerful control over the citizens of Bon Temps. Wild parties that turn into drunken orgies with demonic black eyes and lots of violence. She is cra-azy. Tara and Eggs are unable to resist her influence, even though they both feel suspicious about the circumstances in which they find themselves. Wake up, morons!

Maryann has a strange fixation on Sam. Like, she wants to eat his heart. She used shapeshifter Daphne to seduce him and then killed her when she was unable to deliver her prey. Sam is definitely going to start fighting back soon! And so is Sookie, when she gets back from her trip and learns what has been going on in her town.

In other True Blood news, Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin are engaged! I am so excited and happy for them. Sookie and Bill 4-eva, no matter what Eric does! I'm not ready for them to break up on the show, even though I know that's where things are headed because stupid Charlaine Harris made Bill a stupid jerk in the books and made Sookie start jumping from man to man like a big stupid ho. I'm speaking out of anger... I love this show.

My television schedule for the fall:

SUNDAY- Desperate Housewives, Mad Men, Brothers & Sisters, Dexter

MONDAY- House, Heroes, How I Met Your Mother, Castle

TUESDAY- Sons of Anarchy

WEDNESDAY- So You Think You Can Dance

THURSDAY- Bones, The Office, Grey's Anatomy, So You Think You Can Dance results show

FRIDAY- Dollhouse

New shows I will be checking out:

Flash Forward on ABC, Community on NBC, Glee on Fox

Summer Musings

2009-06-24T01:15:00.005-05:00

After moving into our new house, Charter decided to make my life wonderful by adding HBO, Showtime, and the other premium movie channels to our cable subscription. This has meant that: a) I can watch True Blood when it originally airs instead of on Surf the Channel a day later, and b) I have access to On-Demand. I have definitely been using this newfound power of mine. In the past week, I watched all the episodes of the new Edie Falco drama, Nurse Jackie; the entire first season of Dexter; and random episodes of Sex and the City, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Party Down. No commercials, just quality television at the press of a button. Magic.

This summer is project time for me.

1) Mom, Claire, and I are halfway through Season 2 of Bones. We girls love us some Seeley Booth.

2) Claire and I are a couple of episodes in to Season 2 of Dexter. She resisted it at first, but now she can't deny that she is intrigued by the show. This is only my second time to watch all the episodes, and I am constantly blown away by Michael C. Hall and how he makes Dexter grow from beginning of S1 to end of S3.

3) My friend Camille and I are working our way through LOST. We started at about episode 2.18 because she had watched those last year but never finished. I think it's a good idea for me to return to the earlier episodes because I see details that I haven't thought about in a while. It gives some perspective to the events of Seasons 4 and 5.

4) And for my own television project, I have started watching Six Feet Under with my friend Will. It is so good- hauntingly beautiful and morbidly funny. The characters are seriously messed up. Frances Conroy is possibly one of my top 5 favorite actresses now. And Alan Ball has definitely joined the pantheon of my television gods.

In addition, I've been keeping up with my regular summer programming, plus a couple extras.

The Closer- The first few episodes have been sad ones. Kitty died, and Brenda was very upset. It seems that marriage has awakened her more emotional side. Now, though, she needs to move past it and give Fritz something to do besides take the cat to the vet! Episode 3 gave Corey Reynolds time to shine when his character, Sgt. Gabriel, shot an unarmed kid while pursuing a murderer. As a result, he was being investigated by a police captain from another department, played by the magnificent Mary McDonnell. She and Brenda engaged in a tug-of-war cat fight for the entire episode that kept me on the edge of my seat. I hope to see more of McDonnell this season! What I need from this show now is a light-hearted episode that features more Lt. Provenza. I want to laugh.

Burn Notice- Michael Westen is no longer bound by chains to "The Management" that burned him, but that means he is also no longer protected by them. So this season began with Michael's arrest. He is being watched and scrutinized by an annoying and inconvenient detective played by Moon Bloodgood. Meanwhile, he is trying to get his spy life back because nothing is standing in his way. This causes some tension with Fi because she wants him to be content with the life they've made for themselves these past couple of years. The standout episode of the season so far was a Collateral-esque thriller that saw the return of clever arms dealer Brennen (played by Jay Karnes) who picked Michael up in a car and said, "Steal this stuff for me today or I will kill your brother, Nate." Michael always breaks out his smartest stuff when his friends and family are in danger, like the Cantenna that used a hanger, some metal washers, and a potato chip can to hack into the bluetooth of Brennen's cell phone.

So You Think You Can Dance- Such a fun show. I fell in love with it last summer, and I'm still enjoying it immensely this season. Granted, there is no "Joshua and Katee" couple that I was instantly attached to and voted for every week. But the format of this show is perfect. It's why I bend my no-reality-tv-shall-ever-pollute-my-brain rule. The choreographers, the dancers, the judges- they're all so entertaining. At this point, I'm rooting for Brandon/Janette and Ade/Melissa.

Nurse Jackie- I've only seen 4 episodes so far, which is too soon to make a solid judgment, but I will say that I instantly got a Mad Men vibe from this show, which bodes well for it. Just like Don Draper in the pilot episode when we got to see the enigmatic man spend a day at work, visit a woman in her NYC apartment, and then drive home to a wife and kids that we didn't see coming, Jackie did almost the exact same thing. She's a tough lady. Yet she has an addiction to pain killers. She is morally ambiguous. She turns a dead kid into an organ donor to save lives. She sleeps with her hospital boyfriend and

then goes home to her adorable daughters and loving husband. Hmmmm.... As for the supporting cast, they are funny and wonderful and pretty much unknowns to me, which I kinda like. The only one I'm familiar with is Peter Facinelli who plays Dr. Cooper. He's adorable.

True Blood- Ahhh, now on to my addiction. The season premiere, "Nothing but the Blood," jumped right back in where we left off. With a foot hanging out of Andy Bellefleur's car. We all feared it would be Lafayette. That's what happens in the book. But Alan Ball cast the entire season in surprise when the foot was revealed to belong to someone else (Miss Jeanette who performed Tara's exorcism). Lafayette is being held as a prisoner by Eric in the basement of Fangtasia because of what happened to Eddie. Bill and Sookie are adjusting to life with Jessica. Jason has joined the inner circle of the Fellowship of the Sun. And Tara is still living with Maryann, whose intentions are very suspect. I could go on and on, believe me, but for now I think I'll just list some of my favorite quotes so far:

"Is there blood in my hair? Pam's going to kill me." -Eric

"We also recycle in this house. TruBlood and other glass items go in the blue container, and paper products go in the white container." -Bill

"Make me a vampire. I'm already a person of poor moral character, so I can hit the ground running." -Lafayette

"I cannot, and I will not, lose you. For all the ways I have dismayed, aggrieved, or failed you, I swear, I will atone. But I am not sorry. I refuse to apologize for what you have awakened in me. You are my miracle, Sookie. For the first time in a hundred and forty years, I've felt something I thought had been lost to me forever. I love you. And for that I shall never feel sorry." -Bill

In my next post, I will take the ballot for the Emmys and make my dream nominations list. If the majority of my picks match with the actual nominations released next month, I might reconsider my boycott. Stay tuned.

One-track mind

2009-06-09T09:55:00.005-05:00

Here's what I've been thinking about lately:

TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE

BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE BLOOD TRUE

So, yeah. That's pretty much it. I find it sorta difficult to explain what makes my obsession with this show different from my other shows. Obviously, I don't hold it to the same standards as LOST. Nor do I think it changed my life like Buffy. But, at the same time, I can't remember the last time I was this consumed with

excitement for a new season of something. I watched Season 1 online in January just because I was bored at school one afternoon. At first I thought it was a little ridiculous. But I watched all 12 episodes quickly. There was no doubt I was entertained. Then, in March, I decided to watch Season 1 again. And for the last couple of months, I have been True Blood-crazy. I bought the DVDs, rewatched all the eps again with my sister, then watched all the eps that had commentary. I have scoured the Internet for interviews, news, pictures, and promo clips. Season 2 is premiering in less than a week, and I feel like I have to force myself to keep busy just to make the time pass until I can see the new episode. And it is slightly confusing to me because I have no grand delusions about the show. For some reason, I am completely captivated by a telepathic waitress, her vampire boyfriend, and the world in which they live. I think I love it because it's fun, and that's all there is to it. That's why Alan Ball says he wanted to create True Blood in the first place. Stephen Moyer has gone from being someone I was barely even aware of (saw him a couple of summers ago in The Starter Wife, which I didn't even like) to someone I vote for about 50 times in a "Who's the hottest vampire?" contest because I feel so strongly that he should beat Robert Pattinson. I love Vampire Bill. And I do feel like Moyer's real-life relationship with co-star Anna Paquin adds something to the show. It makes it easy for me to become immersed in the story because I know that the love between Sookie and Bill is reality and not fantasy. Plus, my disdain for Twilight aside, vampires are hot. It's the whole biting thing :)

Cliffhangers, and other updates

2009-05-19T19:28:00.005-05:00

So, I am now happily settled back at home. All my shows have abandoned me, but I also have a few returns to look forward to. At this point, True Blood is the one I am dying for. HBO keeps releasing these freakin' promos that are just driving me crazy (in a good way). Plus, after reading Living Dead in Dallas, the second book in the Southern Vampire series on which the show is based, I am anxious to see how different Alan Ball will make Season 2. I know a lot of fans who would disagree with me (some of those people over at www.truebloodnet.com are even more obsessed than I am), but I like the show better. This is not usually the case for me- in general, the book beats the adaptation any day. But Alan Ball is simply a better storyteller. And the actors make those characters so compelling. And, I can't help it, I love Stephen Moyer's Vampire Bill, so reading about that complete jerk version of Bill in the books hurts my heart. And I do not accept it. So here's hoping that Alan Ball will take some major creative liberties. Staying true to the spirit of Charlaine Harris' work is a good thing, but allowing oneself to be confined by an already-established story instead of exploring new possibilities would be boring. June 14th cannot get here fast enough...

Also returning soon is Burn Notice on June 4th. The adventures of Michael Westen and Co. are always entertaining, so that will be nice to have again. I don't exactly know when The Closer premieres Season 5, but I assume it will be some time in July. And Mad Men, unfortunately, got into production rather late and does not come back until late August. This is lame. The most pressing matters will be the future of Sterling Cooper, or rather, Don Draper's future with the company, given the merger and new leadership. And, more importantly, the fact that Betty is pregnant with a child neither she nor Don wanted. Season 2 took a bit of a time leap from the conclusion of Season 1, so I wonder how much time will have passed to the beginning of Season 3.

So You Think You Can Dance is about to start. I have very strong negative feelings towards reality tv in general, but this is one of my few exceptions. It is so much fun, and I hope I will find a dancer this season who I can love as much as Joshua from last year. Having the guy you vote for every week end up winning is so exciting. Is it too much to ask for that to happen every season???

Network upfronts have been going on the past couple of weeks. As a result, I have been glued to the Twitter app on my iPhone to see what Ausiello had to report. Here are some of the crucial things: 1) Chuck was renewed. Season 3 will have 13 episodes, airing midseason on NBC. Reduced budget might mean less time with the filler characters like Lester, Jeff, and the rest of the Buy More peeps. Honestly, I don't think this will affect the show that much. I'm just so excited at the prospect of the new and improved Chuck. And NBC and Subway made some big, multi-faceted deal about sponsorship of the show, so it seems like buying that $5 footlong did make a difference!! 2) Dollhouse was renewed. Season 2 will have 13 episodes, airing midseason on FOX. Reduced budget might mean....I don't really know what, but with the high quality writing, I doubt the money thing will affect them that much. I think FOX would have been foolish not to give Joss, Eliza et al the opportunity to explore their story further. And I would just like to point out that I was totally right about both of these shows getting renewed even when tv critics said they didn't have much of a chance. And now those people justify the renewals with the same reasons I have been saying all along (re: FOX, Firefly, Eliza, Joss, etc.). So.... there. 3) Castle was renewed. I am greatly pleased. This show was a delightful addition to my slate and I would have been sad to lose it. Nathan was so adorable and tweeted that he didn't know what to do with himself because his shows never get a 2nd season.

Those are the major announcements. None of my shows were casualties!! I can't remember the last time that was the case. Upfronts was also a time for network people to speak out for some of the shows, which provided interesting insights (Kevin Reilly on House- unbelievable things in store; Steve MacPherson on LOST- S6 will have "some of the best writing ever"). There was a bit of schedule rearranging. Bones will now be paired with Fringe on Thursdays. If I do end up going into entertainment journalism, I think upfronts would be a really fun event to attend. I love montages and other presentation stuff about shows I love! And even about shows I don't really care about.

On to the major stuff: season finales. This year featured a mixed batch. Top honors go to LOST for literally going out with a bang. The hydrogen bomb exploded and the possibilities for Season 6 are endless. I mean, it's pretty clear to me that time was changed. Otherwise, Jack, Kate, Sawyer, and all the 1977 Losties would be dead and there would be no show to come back to. Really, the question now is HOW was time changed? With Jacob now dead, killed by Ben at the urging of evil, possessed Locke, will everyone's lives be different? Flashbacks saw Jacob showing up at key events in several characters' past. Will that alter history? Will the plane still end up crashing? Season 6 is basically going to be the fulfillment of my entire existence. Questions will be answered! Finality will be achieved! Of course, some questions will remain, but I don't mind- LOST wouldn't be the same if there weren't an air of mystery to it. My primary concern is what characters might return (*fingers crossed* Charlie!!!). And, to a lesser extent, but I acknowledge that I still care a lot, whether Kate ends up with Jack or Sawyer. My money has always been on Sawyer, and not just because he is my favorite character. I think they belong together.

The finales of Dollhouse and The Office were really good, too. The reveal that Dr. Saunders was actually a Doll blew my mind. Mostly, it was a deeply profound episode that explored things like the soul and identity. I was really proud of myself for predicting, way back after the very first episode, that Ballard was going to become involved with the Dollhouse. Seems like he's going to be working for DeWitt in some capacity. And then on The Office, there was a company picnic that reunited Michael with Holly. I love them together. Their performance, "Slumdunder Mifflinaire" tanked, but I was enjoying every second. And then Michael went and talked about them being "one of those couples with a long story," and my heart just melted. Dwight's intensity about the volleyball tournament was terrific. And, oh yeah, Pam was pregnant. Jim was in shock and overcome with emotion. Can't wait to see what happens next year.

In the middle of the finale pack would go Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters. With DH, I think the standard was set too high by last year's 5-year leap forward. I just can't bring myself to care that much about who Mike married. I did like the whole thing about Lynette being pregnant. That was funny. Everybody else's stories were pretty amusing. It was an alright episode. B&S was the same. The whole fam went to Mexico. I teared up in the last scene with Nora and Tommy. That was well-acted, and a nice send-off for Balthazar Getty. I adored Kevin per usual. Kitty was still bugging me, right up to the point where she chased after Robert to stop him from leaving. She didn't get to the helicopter in time, but it gives me hope that not all is lost for them next season.

And then, I am sad to say, I was a bit disappointed by Bones and How I Met Your Mother. A coma dream. A not-very-compelling murder story that told me nothing about any of the characters. They're loyal. I already knew that. Then, Booth wakes up and has amnesia. Hmmm... Intrigues me for next season. But beyond that, the episode was a dud. And then a silly little episode about Ted's 31st birthday. Not nearly as epic as previous season finales. The Barney-Robin stuff was kind of ridiculous. I wasn't expecting a definitive development between the 2 of them, but I expected something that would evoke emotion in me on the same level as Barney's sweet longing for Robin all season. And as for Ted and the mother, we found out where he first comes into close proximity to her. So at least that's something. But I'd say that "Right Place Right Time" was the peak of this season.

So that wraps everything up. I have occasionally mentioned a few shows that are on my "Intent to Watch" list. This summer is about working through that list. Projects I have going at the moment: 1) Getting my family hooked on Bones. We have watched 7 episodes in Season 1 so far. It's about to start into the greatness. Also, Claire and I have 3 episodes left in Firefly. That's a quick one to get through, with only 14 episodes total, but she's definitely a new Browncoat. 2) Get some of my friends hooked on stuff. I'm going to start watching LOST from the beginning again (for, like, the 4th time) with someone. 3) Watch shows I've never seen before. The Big Bang Theory. The Wire. Prison Break. 4) Watch shows I've fallen behind on/haven't ever watched all the way through. Fringe. 24. House. Sons of Anarchy.

The Chuck-Bones-Heroes-Office-Housewives-Lost-andmore Post

2009-05-01T15:37:00.010-05:00

So, I have sucked at updating this thing the last couple of weeks. I blame stupid school for giving me so much work to do. Only 8 more days, though! Can't wait to get out of here and be my carefree, tv-watching self all the time. Lots of important stuff has been happening with my shows in the past couple of weeks. It as, after all, Sweeps time. Here's a rundown of the chaotic happenings, from Wisteria Lane and the Buy More, to Seattle Grace and the Island:

Desperate Housewives- Okay, admission: my interest in DH has been dwindling. This has happened before, and somehow Marc Cherry always manages to pull me back in. With an interesting new character like Katherine Mayfair. With a game-changing finale like the 5-year leap forward. I have reached the point where I don't mind occasionally missing an episode and then just reading the recap to find out what went on. But we're getting down to the last few episodes when everything gets resolved, which I always enjoy seeing, even when it's one of the lamer conclusions (a la Alfre Woodard's storyline). The Dave Williams mystery has been slow-building with so few twists that I anticipate a let-down in the finale. Oh well, what can I say, I'm attached to the characters, and it would take something major for me to give up on them entirely- although I readily concede that I was much happier with the "7 seasons and we're done" plan than the announcement a few months ago that they are probably extending it to 9 because so many people still watch it (but they might stop watching if you drag things out!!). Anyways, that's enough ranting from me. Here's what's up: Lynette is working for Carlos, which has created some stress in her relationship with Tom. I have always liked her better interacting as a wife than as a mom. It's just funnier because she gets too intense and serious in matters involving her kids- see: threatening to kill a man for Porter. So Carlos is back at his high-paying executive position, but he and Gaby have both made an effort not to revert to their former selfish behavior. Gaby likes being glamorous again, yet she is also a mother and knows what it means to care for others above herself. Katherine has been kinda isolated from the girls lately because she seems to be all about her relationship with Mike- a relationship that bores me to tears. I get that he likes the stability and lack of drama, basically the antithesis of Susan, but there is no chemistry. Dave has been plotting revenge against Mike (whether he was going to kill Katherine, or MJ, or Susan, who knows) because of the car crash that killed his wife and daughter. Now he knows that Susan was driving and will be turning his attentions to her. Edie found out what he was up to and was devastated. For a minute there, it looked like he was going to strangle her, but he let her go. She got in her car and drove away as fast as she could, in the process of calling someone to inform them of her discovery when she had to swerve to avoid hitting someone, ran into a telephone pole, which fell and electrocuted her when she stepped into a puddle of water (the episode with the girls sharing never-seen stories of Edie's positive impact on their lives was very touching). The person who ran out into the middle of the road and caused her crash was none other than idiotic, kleptomaniac Orson. I used to like him so much! And now they've turned him into a pathetic joke. Bree has been dealing with all his issues for a while, but she seems ready to divorce him, with Karl Mayer as her lawyer and new love interest. Richard Burgi will be fun to see again- he always makes things interesting.

Brothers & Sisters- Sadly, I have all but given up on B & S. My love for the Walker family has faded because they have changed into people I don't really like or respect. Except for Kevin. I once thought he was whiny, and now he is my favorite character. So I am still somewhat interested in what happens to everyone. There is a real chance that I will drop it after this season, depending on the finale. The whole situation with Ryan has been way less important than they built it up to be. Plus, I don't like him because he's got a real "creep" vibe coming off him. I was unaffected by Rebecca and Justin's breakup. I like both characters, but I thought they had more chemistry in Season 2 before they were together. Sarah has been pretty funny lately (temp accountant/volunteer firefighter in the storage room, that's all I'm gonna say). I like that she is back at Ojai. Holly is still being manipulative, but what else is new. Tommy is gone, and I am glad. I didn't even mind that they got rid of him in a ridiculous surfing-in-Mexico-possibly-joining-a-cult way. And because of all the difficulties that caused for Julia, she took Elizabeth to Seattle where she got a teaching position. Watching Nora say goodbye to her granddaughter, and Kevin to his daughter, was heartbreaking. Matthew Rhys! You are amazing! And, finally, that brings me to Kitty. Oh, Kitty. I don't even know you anymore. Robert is still the same man he's always been, but now she just feels differently about his character traits (e.g., ambition). Oh, fiddle dee dee, it's only marriage! Having an emotional affair is clearly the way to go. And I'm putting this one on the B & S writers. They already addressed this issue with Sarah, but at least she was torn up about it. So Sarah is in the position to give Kitty advice, says, "Stop going to the damn park," and instead Kitty kisses him. Even though Robert had just found out about Alec and she could see how much she had hurt him. I'm furious about this. I would be even if I didn't really love Robert. This stuff better get fixed or I'm out of here.

Chuck- Has been wonderful in every way I could possibly think of. We found out that Chuck's dad (Scott Bakula from Quantum Leap) was Orion, the man who had built the Intersect. He got kidnapped by FULCRUM and Sarah went rogue to help Chuck rescue him. Casey had to hunt them down but ended up working with them because they're his team. Awwwwww. So Chuck's dad was forced by his captors (Chevy Chase as a bad guy was jarring at first, but he did a really good job) to build a new Intersect computer. When Chuck, Sarah, and Casey got there, the program was activated, and the images removed the Intersect from Chuck's head. He was finally free, and felt like an enormous weight had been lifted off him. Then he had to get his dad back to Burbank in time for Ellie's wedding. The finale started out with Chuck and Casey quitting at the Buy More. Then General Beckman invited Chuck to be part of the new Intersect project, but he declined. He was going to do normal-guy stuff. So Sarah and Bryce were assigned as partners again, and Casey went off to join his Marine Special Forces unit. At the wedding, Chuck was sad to learn about Sarah leaving. He went into the reception area to drink some wine and found FULCRUM agents there. They wanted the new Intersect computer or they would kill Ellie. Chuck called Casey, and Marines parachuted in, shot the place up, and took Chevy Chase prisoner. Except the wedding was ruined because Chuck needed Morgan to create a diversion so he got Jeff and Lester to get up in front of the church and sing "Mr. Roboto." And they set off fireworks which set off the sprinklers. So Ellie was very mad at Chuck. But he used his government paycheck to organize a wedding on the beach. It was beautiful, and then there was a reception back in their courtyard. Chuck and Sarah were dancing, and she was just about to tell him that she wasn't going to leave him, when Chuck's dad told them that the agent who had come to bring Bryce to the Intersect was not CIA. Because as it turns out, one of Casey's Marine buddies was a traitor. Not FULCRUM, but some other bad agency. So, even though his job as the Intersect was done, Chuck went with Sarah and Casey to find Bryce and stop the new enemy from getting the computer. Sarah and Casey got pinned down while fighting, but Chuck got to the Intersect room where Bryce was. He had been shot, and he died. As Chuck was about to destroy the computer, he thought back on what had happened to him since all this Intersect stuff had started and realized he wasn't a normal guy anymore. He uploaded the new program into his head and then sent a power surge through it. So when the bad guys finally got into the room, bringing Sarah and Casey in handcuffs, they were mad. But before they could hurt anyone. Chuck flashed. With Kung Fu skills. And he took every single one of the agents down. About 6 of them. Casey and Sarah looked on in shock. And when it was done, and Chuck saw what he had done, he said, "Guys, I know Kung Fu."

How I Met Your Mother- This has the been the season of pointlessness. Not that I haven't enjoyed most of it ("The Naked Man," "The Stinsons," "Murtaugh"). But, if you think about it, Lily and Marshall have had nothing important happen to them. Marshall has had a few amusing storylines at work. Ted has made

no progress whatsoever in his quest for "The Mother." He lost his job and opened his own architecture firm, but that's it. Barney has been the best character by far all year because we have gotten to see him deal with his love for Robin. The finale will certainly be some sort of big moment with the 2 of them, but I tell ya, I am going to be very frustrated if we don't have a Ted revelation, too.

Heroes- Volume 4, "Fugitives," came to a close this week. Nathan and Peter fought Sylar. Nathan got his throat cut. But then HRG and Mama Petrelli devised a plan- Matt Parkman could alter Sylar's mind to erase Gabriel and replace him with Nathan's memories, personality, etc. I am intrigued to see the ramifications of this in Volume 5, "Redemption." Parkman had serious reservations about doing that. Now will he return to Janice and his baby racked with guilt over using his powers to do something so manipulative? And some remnants of Sylar surely remain within Nathan (I was relieved to hear that Zachary Quinto was not leaving the show). And now there is a new Company, which, in the spirit of the original group, will work to hide the truth about people with abilities. Hiro and Ando (or, "The Crimson Arc,"

as he wants to be called) are returning to Japan. It seems like everyone- Claire, Peter, Mohinder, and the rest- are going to try to return to a normal life. But I think after everything they've been through this season, they will be there for each other when danger inevitably comes knocking again.

Castle- More than I ever thought I would, I am loving this show. I knew I might keep watching it for Nathan Fillion and justify it to myself, but I honestly expected it to be pointless and cheesy. But it has packed an emotional punch. The cases are unusual and interesting. And character development has actually been a priority! Castle and Beckett's relationship as partners has grown, much to her chagrin. I loved seeing her confide in him about her mother's death when she was younger, and how the person who did it was never caught. Then later, he secretly started studying the case file. My favorite episode was called "Home Is Where the Heart Stops," in which a wealthy NY society woman is killed for her jewelry and then stuffed inside her safe. Castle took Beckett to a benefit so that they could look for suspects (they both looked ah-mazing, he wore a tux and she wore a dress he sent to her with a card that read, "Bippity boppity boo" hahahaha). And then when they figured out who the murderer was and went to arrest him, Castle had to stay in the car (he played with the comm radio and pretended like he was a cop, "This dirtbag's all mine"--So cute!), and then the bad guy was trying to make a getaway and tried to steal the car. Castle wrestled around with him, got punched in the eye, and then Beckett took him down. "Go ahead, I need the practice." ABC must renew this show!!

Rescue Me- Usually about 5 or 6 episodes in to a new season of Rescue Me, I have to stop watching for a while and then catch up later because the level of testosterone becomes a little too much for me to handle. You'd think I would be de-sensitized by now, but it is still jarring to me to hear those firehouse conversations. Season 5 has been easier for me to manage. Mike, Sean, and Franco are opening a bar together with Mike's inheritance money. Tommy passed his psychiatric review because the doctor wanted revenge on the chief, who is a total jerk. Janet is dating a wheelchair-bound man named Dwight (played by Michael J. Fox), and his conversations with Tommy have been hysterical. They almost came to blows at one point, until Tommy realized what his condition was. Colleen is dating Black Shawn, who took a while to work up the courage to tell Tommy. Shortly thereafter, Tommy had a conversation with his eldest daughter about the importance of "test driving" a car before you buy it. I went into a slight state of shock when I tried to imagine my own dad having that conversation with me. One storyline that has been driving this season has been the presence of a French reporter. She is writing a coffee table book on 9/11, and her conversations with each of the guys has been very revealing. Lou, Franco, Tommy, Mike, the Chief- they all present unique perspectives on the event, and, ultimately, I think that's what Rescue Me is about.

LOST- Ever since that most wonderful of episodes, "316," the Losties have been in 2 separate times.

2007: The Ajira flight crashed on Hydra island. Ben, Locke, and Sun returned to the main island. Resurrected Locke has some inexplicable new knowledge about his destiny and the island. Sun is following him because she wants to find Jin. Ben is following him because... well, who knows what Ben is up to. He went to face judgment with Smokey and was allowed to live. But Alex appeared to him and said that had to go with Locke and do whatever he said. Frank is still with the survivors from the plane. But that group has plans of their own. They've got guns, and they are taking over. "What lies in the shadow of the statue?" Creepy...

1977: Jack, Kate, and Hurley are the new Dharma recruits. Sawyer, Juliet, Miles, and Jin have adapted pretty well to their new life, but their peaceful existence is over. After Kate and Sawyer took Young Ben to the Hostiles, one of the security guys saw the video and was going to turn them in when Sawyer knocked him out and tied him up in the closet. Fans had their suspicions confirmed in the episode, "Some Like It Hoth," when Miles told Hurley that Dr. Chang was his dad. We got a glimpse of the Swan station being constructed. Then came the episode, "The Variable," which set into motion the chaos that will carry through until the finale in 2 weeks. Daniel Faraday returned from doing research in Ann Arbor. He told Jack that his mother (Ms. Hawking) had been wrong. Their destiny was not to return to the island. He made Miles take him to the Orchid station, where he tried to tell Dr. Chang that he had to evacuate everyone from the island. He told him that he was from the future and that Miles was his son. Then, he got Kate and Jack to take him to the Hostiles so that he could speak to his mother. Meanwhile, Sawyer knew that their time in Dharmaville was over. He, Juliet, Miles, and Hurley packed up their stuff to leave, but their actions had already been discovered and they were caught before they could get away. We saw Daniel explain to Jack and Kate that maybe the future can be changed, that free will makes it possible to alter destiny, and that maybe if they could negate the electromagnetic energy in the Swan station then Oceanic flight 815 would never crash on the island. Then Daniel walked into the camp of the Others, pointed his gun at Richard Alpert, and demanded to speak to Eloise. She shot him. He looked up into her eyes and said, "You knew this would happen and you sent me here anyway." So in the flashbacks, we had seen a mother pushing her son to use his mind to do extraordinary things, never allowing him to lose focus. There was inner conflict etched into her face. She already knew what had happened in her past, in Daniel's future. She would kill her own son. But his revelation about "the variables" being able to change all the laws of quantum mechanics that he had believed for so long meant that the elderly Ms. Hawking, the one in the present day, no longer knew what would happen. Her son had set so many things moving, allowing change to occur, that the future was now unclear to her. Oh yeah, and Charles Widmore is Daniel's father. Doc Jensen talks in his columns about how Season 4 mirrored Season 3, Season 5 mirrors Season 2, and Season 6 will mirror Season 1. I think his theory may be right: I think when time changes, 815 will still crash on the Island, and they will all be right back where they started. Maybe even in the exact way that Doc predicts, with Charlie saying, "Guys, where are we?" Oh my gosh, if Dominic Monaghan came back, I would be so excited. Another theory that I think will be correct (this one from my dear friend Will): the "Adam and Eve" skeletons in the cave, lying next to the black and white marbles, will be Rose and Bernard. They must have gone back to the 1970s, too, because of all the flashes, and then they just made a life for themselves in the jungle. After the finale, when I have had some time to think about everything and what the implications will be in the last season, I'm going to post a summation of my own theories (before I read Doc's). It will be fun to have them recorded, and then next year be able to come back to them and see when I'm right (but probably more often, how very wrong I am).

Bones- There have been lots of new Bones episodes over the last few weeks, and that has suited me just fine. Stand-outs were the episode with a murder in the world of death metal. Stephen Fry returned as Dr. Gordon Wyatt, offering insights to Sweets on his book and on Booth and Brennan, and to Booth and Brennan on Dr. Sweets. They really have become like his family, and I think that's awesome. Also, the episode with the murder of a Japanese girl who turned out to be the sister of one of Booth's detective friends. Brennan has been making an effort to be better at understanding people, better at empathizing with them, and better at realizing what she wants to change about her own life. And not that it had any really important insights, but the episode in which they went to the funeral of a man who had worked at the Jeffersonian led them to investigate his murder. By stealing his body from the coffin. It was like a slapstick comedy, reminiscent of Bringing Up Baby or something. Other significant happenings: Cam adopted a teenage girl. The girl's father was murdered, and Cam had once lived with him and been like a mother to the girl when she was about 6-yrs. old. Angela and Roxie broke up, and per Sweets' recommendation, she is trying celibacy for a while to learn how to connect to people on a deeper level. Coming up in the last few episodes: Brennan asks Booth to father her child. Whoa. And the finale is going to be awesome, and I can't wait to see Zach and Brennan's dad again!!!

The Office- I have loved the last several episodes. They have been hilarious as usual, but they have also been steadily moving the plot along. Michael quit at Dunder-Miflin because he could not adjust to Charles Miner's management style. In a very Jerry Maguire moment, Pam left with him because she could not stay in a job that bored her so much and filled her life with no meaning or inspiration. Ryan joined them, and they became "The Michael Scott Paper Company." Their office was in a storage closet down the hall from Dunder-Miflin. The 3 of them had a grand old time, throwing cheese puffs into each other's mouths, making 5 am deliveries, stealing clients from their former co-workers. And Dunder-Miflin was feeling the loss of business. David Wallace came down from corporate to visit and decided that the best option was to buy Michael's company. Instead, Michael, Pam, and Ryan decided that they wanted to return to their old jobs, except with Pam as a salesman instead of a receptionist. I expected everyone to be happy that Michael was back. Except, of course, Kelly and Angela who fought for Charles' attentions. Stanley wouldn't be forced to stop working on his crossword puzzles and be assigned the role of "Productivity Czar." Jim would no longer be treated like an idiot. I didn't know how Dwight would react because his loyalty transferred to Charles, and he and Michael entered a very competitive mindset with each other. But in this week's episode, "Casual Friday," Andy, Stanley, Phyllis, and Dwight were demanding their clients back. They felt like Michael had betrayed them, telling them that they were all a family and then when he left, hurting their work. And Michael was upsetting everyone by favoring Pam and Ryan, acting like they were an exclusive group and creating a photo collage of "Memories." I liked everyone being back together again. And I liked that everyone had their own moments of brilliance, with some of the focus returning to Toby, Creed, Meredith, etc. So I look forward to seeing what the rest of the season has in store, especially knowing that one of those things will be the return of Holly.

Grey's Anatomy- After almost strangling Cristina in bed, Owen is in therapy to help him deal with his Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Thatcher came back, and Lexie got to introduce Mark to him. Bailey is still working towards a fellowship in Pediatrics. Alex is being very sweet taking care of Izzie. George, with encouragement from Owen, is starting to focus on trauma surgery. Derek proposed to Meredith in the elevator. Izzie has been planning the wedding to keep her mind off her cancer treatment. She's going a little crazy, but she keeps playing the "Cancer Card" to get everyone to do what she wants. There was a scene a couple weeks ago that I laughed so hard, I had to pause the television until I could pull myself together. Meredith was talking to Derek about how all the dresses Izzie was making her try on were ridiculous, and if they didn't do something about it, Derek would be wearing a morning coat and she would be "walking down the aisle to 'Wind Beneath My Freakin' Wings.' " So Derek went into talk to Izzie, she broke down crying, he came out with a serious look on his face and said to Meredith, "Apparently a morning coat is non-negotiable. And we need to make time to take ballroom dance lessons." Next week will be the 100th episode. Denny will be back, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan said in an interview that he believes it is for the last time.

Dollhouse- The anticipation has been building for us to finally meet Alpha. The last 2 episodes are going to be LEGEN- -wait for it--DARY. Ballard has been suspended from duty, but he is still searching for the Dollhouse, guided by someone on the inside (Alpha?) who has sent him messages via Echo one time and November one time. I still can't get over the Mellie-being-a-sleeper-active thing! Dominic was revealed to be an NSA agent. They sent him to "the attic," which was truly disturbing to see. Boyd has replaced him as Head of Security, but he has had a difficult time letting go of Echo. He still wants to protect her. She has a new handler now, but I want to see her interact with Boyd. Even though she has been re-programmed, I believe she will innately trust him. I like how Adelle has started showing some more of her humanity. The episode in which she and Topher were affected by a drug and displayed "Band Candy"-esque teenage behavior was very funny. And then we discovered that it was, in fact, she who continued to use the services of Victor for the "Miss Lonely Hearts" mission under the guise of being an old lady in need of some cougar lovin'. But we saw Victor become "Roger," a dapper young British fellow who gave Adelle a chance for emotional escape. I felt sorry for her. Also, I would like to see more of Dr. Saunders- what happened to her and what's going on inside her head.

I also want to say a word (or several words) about the possible cancellations of Chuck andDollhouse. Obviously, I'm worried about them, but I truly feel optimistic. With Pushing Daisies, I knew it would get cut. Same with Veronica Mars. I think my hope is justified for Chuck and Dollhouse. The campaign to save Chuck has been so well-organized and passionate that I think NBC can't possibly ignore it. And I did my part to join the effort: bought the Season 1 DVD's; let a friend borrow them so that she could get hooked (which, of course, she did); wrote about the show on my blog/Facebook/Twitter; watched new episodes when they aired on Monday nights; re-watched episodes on NBC.com; and went to Subway on finale day and bought a $5 footlong- all to save my favorite geek. Yes, NBC already deserves some credit for keeping Friday Night Lights alive despite the small ratings. But, seriously, Chuck HAS to get a 3rd season. The season finale this week was so freakin' amazing and opened up possibilities that I could not be more excited to see play out. I read an interview with Josh Schwartz in which he talked about the amount of support he has been getting from the network, so I am liking Chuck's chances. And Dollhouse's, too. Okay, here is where I am in the minority. My favorite writer at EW, Doc Jensen, says Dollhouse has "very long odds against it." Ken Tucker said that the most recent episode "felt as though the show was presiding over its own funeral. It gets better week after week, while there seems less and less hope of it surviving." Michael Ausiello wrote in AA that, "as far as a second season goes, I don't have any solid evidence to back this up (aside from those anemic ratings), but I'd say it's a long shot." None of the peeps I read have agreed with me. But, for some reason, I think Dollhouse will get a second season. Maybe not another one after that, but at least one more. What basis do I have for saying this, besides a feeling? Well, look at the show's origins: FOX made a contract with Eliza Dushku because they wanted her to do some projects for them. Eliza was able to pull Joss Whedon in to helm the show. The same Joss Whedon with a still-painful history with FOX (*tear* Firefly). The same Joss Whedon with one of the most loyal, obsessive fan bases in television- and I'm not just saying that because I'm one of them. So the fact that he was willing to work with FOX again indicates that they do have an interest in his particular brand of creativity and serialized storytelling. There must be some sort of mutual respect going on behind the scenes between Whedon and the network execs. Deciding after only 13 episodes to dismiss this show, which has only begun to develop into the potentially mind-blowing awesomeness that it could be is just foolish!! I know, I know, this is the same network of American Idol, Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?, Don't Forget the Lyrics, 'Til Death, and other shows that make me cringe to think about (Moment of Truth, anyone?). But, FOX is also the network of Bones, House, and Fringe. So that's the best that I can explain my optimism. All that being said, I know that business sometimes gets in the way. I will be absolutely devastated to lose either one of these.

Some rambling

2009-04-13T16:42:00.008-05:00

This another article I just wrote for my college newspaper. Per my sister's request, I am posting it here. Once again I had trouble staying within my word limit...

Cancelled!

Oh, what a cruel business television can be. Every year as the television season comes to an end, shows with actual merit get axed by the networks because, unfortunately, a show with "merit" does not always mean a show with "viewers." The injustice is that new shows often must pander to the masses if they want to stay on the air, thus stifling originality. If a show's creator and writers are unwilling to do this, they might actually produce something great, which doesn't necessarily have mass popular appeal and the ability to attract a wide audience. As a result, the network will view that show as not financially viable, mutter some nonsense about wanting to go in a new creative direction with their programming, and add another reality show about fat people dating (see: new FOX show, More to Love).

Granted, the sword falls on shows that deserve to disappear as well as those that don't. I know very few people who were sad to say goodbye to Lipstick Jungle, Moonlight, or Back to You. And I know even fewer who even remember the horribly painful Viva Laughlin, a crime musical set in a Nevada casino--it was yanked from the CBS schedule after 2 episodes. When a network gets rid of a show that deserves to continue, however, devoted fans become outraged. A few years ago, people started launching campaigns for their favorite shows when news indicated that they were in danger of being cancelled. They do this because, sometimes, it actually works. In 2007, CBS decided not to order a second season of Jericho. Fans started sending nuts in the mail to CBS studios, an homage to something that happens in a Season 1 episode. After CBS received about 40,000 pounds of nuts, they changed their minds about a second season and asked people to stop mailing them nuts.

Another one that has been able to survive despite ratings never being very high is Friday Night Lights, the show about high school football in Texas. It features some of the most realistic and inspiring acting, writing, and producing being done right now. Filmed in Austin, TX, the actors of Friday Night Lights have well-written scripts to follow, but they often improvise their scenes based on what flows naturally between their characters. They don't do rehearsals or use constructed sets or block out every movement. As a viewer, you forget that you're watching a television show because it seems so real--just normal human beings experiencing normal things and reacting in ways that we can all understand and relate to.

NBC could have made a purely business decision and cancelled Friday Night Lights after Season 1 or 2 because of its small audience. But, because it's so good, critics love it, as do the fans, many of whom are in the entertainment industry themselves. When it was being considered for renewal, people sent plastic "Save FNL" footballs to NBC, in addition to donating thousands of dollars to a charity connected to the show. For Season 3, NBC made a deal with DirecTV that would keep Friday Night Lights on the air. It was recently announced that this deal was renewed for a fourth and fifth season.

But these are exceptions to the rule. In most cases, fans can write letters and sign petitions until they are blue in the face, but that is not going to stop studio executives from canceling a show. A notable example is Veronica Mars, the show featuring Kristen Bell as a witty teenage private investigator who solved small cases for her fellow students in addition to big crimes in her town. The CW waited until the last minute to decide not to order Season 4, resulting in a frustrating and unsatisfying conclusion. Another example is Pushing Daisies, from the whimsical imagination of creator Bryan Fuller (the follow-up to his equally unique Wonderfalls, also cancelled before it had a chance to prove itself). Pushing Daisies is about a pie-maker named Ned (Lee Pace) who has the ability to bring things back to life with the touch of his finger. After growing up with this gift, he has learned certain rules that come with it, one being that if he revives something and then touches it again, it will be dead forever. So when Ned's childhood sweetheart is murdered, he goes to see her body in the funeral parlor and can't help himself--he touches her, knowing that he will always love her but can never touch her again.

Among the rest of the taken-too-soon shows, there are some whose cancellation still hurts the fans who loved them, such as Judd Apatow's clever, short-lived series Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared. Joss Whedon's sci-fi western, Firefly, remains one of the greatest travesties ever committed by the FOX network, which did not even allow its final episodes to air so that people could have closure to the first and only season. FOX's mistake is clear, given that even now, 5 years later, it has a cult following of people known as Browncoats who gather for conventions around the country on a regular basis.

A show does not need to have a small number of episodes to be considered "cancelled too early." Sometimes it's just when the people who make a show want to get one more season to finish their story but are denied. Gilmore Girls is one such show. It had 7 seasons, which is a pretty long time, but executive producer Daniel Palladino wanted to conclude with the eighth season and without that opportunity could not bring the plotlines to a satisfying end. As someone who loves television and watches a lot of it, my greatest wish is always that a showrunner gets to decide when is the right time to stop. For Ricky Gervais' British comedy Extras, it was only 2 seasons. Ronald D. Moore decided upon 4 seasons for Battlestar Galactica. Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse announced a couple of year ago that they had mapped out LOST to finish after its sixth season in 2010. In each of these instances, the producers knew how long they could create good stories and, with permission from their networks, were given that control. The result is a set of episodes that represent a complete history of the characters and the world in which they live. Like the Harry Potter books, you can return to those shows on DVD and rewatch them from the very beginning, knowing that there is an ending--no ambiguity, no abrupt stop. Unfortunately, networks are rarely inclined to give that much power to a show's producers. They make their decisions based on Nielsen ratings and advertising revenue.

There is a ray of light for those who want to find shows with the creative freedom and potential to become true genius: the recent rise in original programming from cable channels. The same things can be said for all of those channels--they give their shows time to grow. The fear of being axed is not constantly looming over their heads. The results? FX's Rescue Me, the show from Denis Leary about post-9/11 firefighters in New York City; TNT's The Closer, starring Kyra Sedgwick as an LAPD Chief with Southern manners and a twang who specializes in getting criminals to confess; USA's Burn Notice, about a former spy who was fired and got trapped in Miami, where he helps people fix their fraud/kidnapping/extortion problems while he searches for the people who made him lose his job; AMC's Mad Men, Matthew Weiner's show about advertising executive Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and life in New York in the 1950's. These examples are representative of what cable has to offer--and that doesn't even get into premium channels HBO and Showtime that produce shows like The Sopranos, Dexter, Big Love, True Blood, and Weeds, that push the boundaries in what television can portray.

Every one of these shows is completely original and fascinating. They are all critically-acclaimed and award-winning. The reason--their showrunners are given free rein to follow their vision and have intricate characters and stories that evolve over time. Were these same shows produced by one of the networks instead, they would feel pressure to make their early episodes flashy so that they could instantly draw in many millions of viewers. Gone would be the slow development and subtlety of these cable shows. Networks definitely have a few quality shows to offer, but they could take a lesson in creative practices from the cable channels, or perhaps just take themselves out of the strictly business mindset as they have on those certain occasions. They may find that they achieve a legacy of consistent greatness that will outlast a few Nielsen numbers and money from some 30-second commercials.

A Good Week

2009-04-04T11:19:00.006-05:00

I was very happy with my shows this week. They were laying the foundations for May sweeps storylines and that means very exciting things are about to occur.

Chuck is finally moving forward. A couple of weeks ago, Chuck's search for Orion, the man who had built the Intersect, ended. Unfortunately, the dude died. But he did leave behind some information for Chuck and told him to study it so that he would know how to get the Intersect out of his head when the time came (Chuck taped the diagrams to the pages of an issue of Ex Machina. I was very pleased). Then this latest episode focused more on the Sarah-Chuck relationship, which, I admit, has been wearing on me this season. It's the same old tale: Sarah and Chuck have a moment of closeness. Then one of three things happens: Bryce Larkin shows up; Sarah pushes Chuck away; or Chuck decides he needs to break up with Sarah so that he can stop lying to himself and find a real relationship and have a normal life and get the Intersect out of his head and blah blah blah. As much as I love Chuck, he has been kind of annoying me lately. I wish he would stop being such a wuss. I often find myself yelling at my television, "Toughen up. Learn how to withstand some torture. Learn how to use a gun. Or at least be able to defend yourself without Sarah and Casey having to rescue you every time." There's a reason that Sarah was so attracted to MI-6 Agent Cole Barker (played by Jonathan Cake)- he was a real man. Chuck certainly exhibits admirable qualities when his friends or family are in danger, but he is also very whiny sometimes. I think the last couple of episodes have shown that Chuck is starting to take control of his life to some extent. He knows what he wants and he's going after it. And this week, the Sarah-Chuck relationship ventured into some new territory, which was very refreshing. General Beckman sent an agent to determine whether Sarah and Chuck's feelings for each other were hindering her job as his handler. Played by Tricia Helfer, Agent Forrest was very hardened (and very much Casey's type), but in the end, Chuck convinced the General that Sarah was so good at protecting him because they cared about each other. And Casey agreed. When Sarah thought she was never going to see Chuck again, she found his father for him so that he could keep his promise to Ellie and get their dad to come to her wedding. At the end of the episode, Sarah went with Chuck to see his dad, and that's where we pick up on Monday.

Wednesday's episode of LOST, entitled "Whatever Happened, Happened," was very emotional. Through Kate's flashbacks, we learned that Sawyer had asked her to take care of his daughter, Clementine, before he jumped out of the helicopter last season. She followed through on that promise. She found Cassidy, and they became very good friends. Kate told her the truth about everything they had been through. It was clear that she needed someone to talk to besides Jack. Cassidy provided some insight into what Kate had gone through- Sawyer jumped out of the helicopter because he was terrified of what would happen when they got back to the real world; Kate was so determined to raise Aaron because she had a broken heart and she needed that love in her life. Flashbacks also revealed what happened the night that Ben met with everyone on the dock and then Kate showed up at Jack's apartment. She stopped at a supermarket because Aaron was thirsty. Then she got distracted, and when she turned around, Aaron was gone. She frantically searched for him before finding him with a woman who, from behind, looked exactly like Claire. She then took Aaron to the hotel where Ms. Littleton was staying and explained everything to her. Kate then said that she was going back to the island so that she could find Claire. Leaving the little boy with his grandmother, Kate said goodbye to him while he slept. Evangeline Lilly was incredibly moving in this scene, and I hope Kate carries this emotion with her for the rest of the series. Back on the island, our Losties were under house arrest so that Sawyer could make sure nobody suspected them for lighting the Dharma van on fire and letting Sayid out of his cage. Miles and Hurley had a very amusing conversation about the rules of time travel- one of those times where the writers know the audience has questions about something confusing and creates a scene where the characters have the same questions. Little Ben was bleeding out from his gunshot wound, and Juliet needed a surgeon to help her repair the damage. Jack refused. No longer take-action guy, Jack is now let-the-island-do-what-it-wants guy! Kate went to see how she could help. Juliet knew that his only chance for surviving would be to take him to the Hostiles. Kate drove off in a Dharma van to the sonic fence, at which point Sawyer caught up with her, not to stop her but to help her. He called her Freckles for the first time since she got back :) He carried Ben through the jungle, Kate told him about Clementine, and then the Others found them and took them to Richard. He took Ben into Smokey's Temple, saying that he healing him would cause him to lose his innocence and become one of them forever. Kate and Sawyer knew what that would mean- they had seen what the manipulative grown-up Ben had done- but they were going to do everything they could to save Little Ben's life because he was just a boy. Come on and get back together, you too! Juliet needs to leave the picture. I feel bad saying that because I like Elizabeth Mitchell, but she has been cast in a new show. I hope it's as a series regular because Kate and Sawyer are meant to be together.

The series finale of Life on Mars aired after LOST. It tied everything together in a very satisfying way, and the resolution was a big surprise. I'm so glad that Executive Producers Scott Rosenberg and Josh Applebaum were given enough advanced notice from ABC to make Season 1 a complete story (even though I think they should have renewed it for a second season because it's better than most of their programming anyways). After everything he had been through, the mysterious phone calls and the tiny robots and the hallucinations, 1973 Sam decided to stop trying to get back to 2008 and stay right where he was. He realized that he was in love with Annie. Then, all of a sudden, he woke up- not in 2008, but in 2035. He was an astronaut who had just landed on Mars. Annie, Chris, and Ray were all there, too. Everything had been a glitch in the dream sequence that he was programmed to have until their spacecraft landed. And the best moment of all was when Harvey Keitel climbed out of his bed and we found out that he was actually Sam's father. "Whatever strange place you find yourself in, make that your home."

The Most Valuable Players in Television

2009-03-30T17:02:00.023-05:00

I have been noticing that certain actors continue to pop up in my favorite shows (what excellent taste they have in choosing their work!). Whether they play a main character in something, or just frequently appear as a guest star, I think they deserve some recognition:

Amy Acker- Most importantly, she played Winifred Burkle ("Fred") on Angel. Just a brainy Texan girl who got sucked into a vortex to another world, went a little crazy, and then joined Angel's demon-fighting crew. She holds the honor of making me cry more than any character I've ever seen. Her death in the Season 5 episode, "A Hole in the World," absolutely broke my heart. Wesley was destroyed, and so was I. Luckily, Amy got to stay on the show as the ancient god Illyria, who pretty much just used the characters as her playthings, but when she changed her appearance to look like Fred in order to comfort Wesley as he was dying, I wept all over again. After Angel, Amy showed off her bad side as Kelly Peyton in Season 5 of Alias. Ooooohh, she was mean. Then she made an appearance in an episode of How I Met Your Mother. Currently, she is playing the quiet, damaged Dr. Saunders on Dollhouse. Looking at her body of work, Amy Acker is clearly someone with amazing range. (P.S.- her first acting credit: 3 episodes of Wishbone. That is so cool.)

Adam Baldwin- I fell in love with him as Jayne on Firefly. Then I saw him on Day Break, the short-lived, Groundhog Day-meets-cop mystery show starring Taye Diggs. Then Chuck came on, with Baldwin playing John Casey the Ronald Reagan-lovin', tough guy who, along with Sarah, protects Chuck and the government secrets in his head. Last year, when I watched the entire series of Angel, he had a recurring role in Season 5 as the Senior Partner liaison at Wolfram & Hart. And, finally, several months ago as I was watching Bones, he guest-starred in one of my favorite episodes, "Two Bodies in the Lab." The man is definitely an MVP in my book.

Greg Grunberg- It's almost not fair to include him because, as the best friend of JJ Abrams since childhood, he has appeared in every JJ project. So that means I have liked him since Felicity as Sean, the lovable guy with very bad inventions. Then he played Vaughn's best friend, Agent Weiss, on Alias. They started using him a lot more in Season 3 when Sydney came back from her missing 2 years. She and Weiss became friends and went on missions together. Then he started dating her half-sister Nadia in Season 4 which was very cute. Grunberg then had a small role as the pilot of Oceanic 815 in LOST. He died a very gruesome death in about 20 seconds. Finally, he stepped outside of JJ's world as the telepathic Matt Parkman on Heroes. He is one of the only characters on that show who I have always seen as good. He doesn't always make the best decisions, but he always tries to do the right thing. That's more than I can say for anyone else.

Tricia Helfer- Besides an episode of CSI in 2002 and a couple of obscure independent movies, Tricia Helfer's first credit was Battlestar Galactica as the Cylon vixen, Number Six. Not too shabby, if you ask me. What puts her on this list is her stint as Michael's manipulative boss, Carla, in Season 2 of Burn Notice (although, we won't be seeing her anymore since Fiona used a sniper rifle on her in the finale), as well as her guest-starring role on tonight's episode of Chuck as an agent who tries to move in on Sarah's territory.

Zeljko Ivanek- This guy's IMDb page looks like it could be as long as Jack Nicholson's. His television credits include major roles in 24, Oz, Damages (for which he won an Emmy in 2008), and the current season of Heroes. That's not even getting into shows I like in which he appeared in 1 or 2 episodes: the John Adams miniseries, LOST, Bones, True Blood, House, Big Love, Crossing Jordan, and The West Wing. He is definitely doing something right.

Anne Dudek- In addition to her recurring roles on Mad Men (as Betty's gossiping friend, Francine), Big Love, and House (as Cutthroat B.), she was also a memorable guest-star on How I Met Your Mother as Ted's former girlfriend with whom he reconnects. When he breaks up with her on her birthday for the second time, she pummels him with her Krav Maga skillz. She appeared in several other shows, such as Bones, Judging Amy, Six Feet Under, Desperate Housewives, Charmed, and Psych.

Michelle Forbes- She had a big role in Season 2 of 24 (and she didn't even die! The recurring characters always die! Nobody is safe except for Jack and Chloe). Then she was in an episode of Alias, followed by a short but important role in Battlestar Galactica as the horrible Admiral Cain of the Pegasus. She has also had parts on Prison Break and In Treatment (neither of which I watch yet, but I plan on getting to them soon), and most recently I saw her in an episode of LOST and as the mysterious Maryann in True Blood, who I have read will play prominently into Season 2. She brings a certain intensity to every single thing I've seen her in. Very talented.

Dean Winters- I came to know him as the not-very-nice brother, Johnny, of the not-very-nice Tommy Gavin (Denis Leary) on Rescue Me. Johnny was the cop to Tommy's firefighter. He became a bigger character in Season 3 when he started sleeping with Tommy's estranged wife, Janet, causing an understandable rift between the brothers. In addition, Winters was a series regular on Oz and has had a recurring role on Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. He also played Jason O'Mara's crook father in Life on Mars. And he was in one episode of Sex and the City as Carrie's "buddy."

Patrick Fischler- I had seen him in random things before I actually noticed him as the total jackass comedian, Jimmy Barrett, on Mad Men. He is also currently on LOST as Phil, one of Sawyer's security underlings- though I'm not sure how much longer he'll be around because Sawyer has taken him prisoner because he knows about Sawyer and Kate taking Young Ben to the Hostiles! He has also guest-starred in Pushing Daisies, Burn Notice, Bones, Angel (in one of my favorite episodes no less, "The Magic Bullet") , Veronica Mars, Drive, Monk, The West Wing, and Charmed.

Tony Hale- Not only is he an alumnus of Samford University from my hometown of Birmingham, AL, but he steals every scene he's in, whether it's as Buster, the "special" member of the Bluth family; Emmett, the no-nonsense Assistant Manager at the Buy More on Chuck; or the brain doctor hitting on amnesiac Christina Applegate on Samantha Who?

Mark Pellegrino- Abusive, drug-addicted ex-husband to Rita on Dexter. Thug on Burn Notice. Thug on Chuck. A couple episodes on Prison Break- probably a thug there, as well. But a couple of days ago, the surprising news that he would have an important part to play at the end of this season of LOST. Maybe he will be playing a thug, but I don't know. Something tells me we will see a new layer to this guy.

Swoosie Kurtz- She was Chuck's grumbling, one-eyed Aunt Lily on the whimsical Pushing Daisies. That was sadly (and wrongly) cancelled after only 2 seasons, so when creator Bryan Fuller returned to the producing staff of Heroes, he brought her in to do the episode that he was writing. She also guest-starred in an episode of Desperate Housewives recently, and she played John Locke's less than ideal mother on LOST a couple years ago.

********Ok, so I have tried to highlight some of the lesser-known actors who have made an impression on me. But this list would not be complete without a mention of these all-stars:

Alyson Hannigan- First and foremost, she stands out as Willow in Buffy. She's right up there with Wesley (a.k.a., Alexis Densiof, who in real life be her baby daddy!) and Cordelia in terms of character growth. Then, she had her recurring role on Veronica Mars as the attention-hungry Trina Echolls, followed by a starring role on How I Met Your Mother as Lily--kindergarden teacher and half of one of the cutest relationships ever, along with Jason Segel as Marshall. I heart Lilypad and Marshmallow. Those are three very different shows, and Hannigan plays them all wonderfully.

Mary McDonnell- Also from BSG, her Laura Roslin was one of the most complicated television characters I have ever seen. She evoked a lot of different emotions in me throughout the 4 seasons--love, hatred, frustration, pity, admiration--but my favorite thing about her will always be the care with which she kept the survival count on the whiteboard in her office of Colonial One. Before the Cylon attack, she was the Secretary of Education, and then suddenly, she had to step up and become Madam President. The lives of the human race were in her hands. I didn't always agree with her decisions, but the point is that she was making them, that she was handling the situation. Since filming the finale, McDonnell has already had a recurring role in Grey's Anatomy as a cardio surgeon with Asperger's Syndrome, and she is set to play a police captain who clashes with Brenda in The Closer.

Kyle Chandler- I adore this man. It's a freakin' crime that he hasn't gotten any awards for playing Coach Eric Taylor on Friday Night Lights. I mean, I'm neither a boy nor a football player and even I'm inspired by his locker room speeches and the way he guides those kids. He also had 4 very memorable episodes as "Bomb Squad Guy" on Grey's Anatomy. And way back in the days of PAXtv, I remember watching him on the show Early Edition. He starred as a guy who gets the next day's newspaper delivered to his door by an orange cat, and he becomes a begrudging hero who tries to help people by preventing bad things from happening.

Nathan Fillion- I adore this man, too. He was Captain Malcolm Reynolds on Firefly. The thing that I love most about Mal is how protective he is of his crew. It is so endearing. Nathan also came in at the end of Season 7 of Buffy as the wicked preacher Caleb who worked for the First. Then he had a show called Drive that was cancelled after only a few episodes. I've actually heard good things about it- not that I'm surprised, given that it was created by Tim Minear- so I plan on watching/enjoying this show at some point. And that brings us to now, with him starring as the childish but still endearing and intelligent novelist on Castle. I am happy to say that after 4 episodes, I am very pleased and liking it quite a bit. I don't think I'm just saying that because Nathan is in it. It's probably too early to tell, but so far I think Castle is very entertaining and interesting.

Note: Almost every single one of these people has appeared in episodes of ER, Law & Order, and CSI. Frankly, all actors have appeared in them. I wonder if there's some sort of obligation in the acting community to help those shows cast for the thousands of episodes they do.

Amy Acker, scene from Angel

Endings

2009-03-22T22:57:00.012-05:00

I spent Spring Break at the beach with my family and, on Friday night, watched the final episode of Battlestar Galactica with my dad. When the final scene faded away into the credits (yeah, Ronald D. Moore!), I laid my head down and said, "That show was the closest to perfect of any in my life." To which my dad replied, "You must have never seen Bonanza." ................

Galactica split off from the fleet with a group of volunteers to go on a mission to rescue Hera from the Cylon Colony. A firefight ensued. Apollo, Starbuck, Helo, Athena, and a group of Rebel Cylon Centurions went to find Hera. Boomer made another monumental decision and brought Hera to them (she owed the Old Man), and then Athena shot her. Hera got away from her parents and started running, bringing the dreams of the Opera House

into play for the final time, with Roslin, Athena, Caprica Six, and Baltar all playing their roles. Baltar and Six brought her into the CIC of Galactica, where Admiral Adama and the Final Five were waiting. Cavil got hold of her and put a gun to her head, until Tigh offered to give him the secret to Cylon resurrection if he would release Hera and stop chasing the humans forever. It was Baltar's speech about angels and divine power that finally got Cavil to agree. To download the information about resurrection, Tigh, Ellen, Tory, Tyrol, and Anders each had to contribute part of the equation. They stuck their hands into the hybrid pool that Anders was hooked up to

and saw flashes of each other's memories. Including Tory's murder of Cally. Tyrol stopped the process when he pulled his hand out of the water and strangled Tory. The Cylons called "foul" and started attacking again. Admiral Adama told Starbuck to jump them out of there. They all knew that Galactica was collapsing in on herself and had one jump left, so wherever they went was where they would stay. Starbuck played the magic song, "All Along the Watchtower," on the FTL keyboard, and away they went. She had brought them to a planet. The new "Earth." The human fleet joined them there, and settlement began. The happiest endings went to the family- Helo, Athena, and Hera- and, surprisingly but beautifully, Baltar and Caprica Six, and Ellen and Tigh. They went off on their own to build their homes. Tyrol, fittingly, said that he had found an uninhabited area of Highlands where he was going live. Admiral Adama knew that Laura was fading away, so he said goodbye to his son, Apollo, and his honorary daughter, Starbuck, and took Laura away in a Raptor to find a place to build the cabin they had talked about back on New Caprica. She died while they were flying over a lake. He found a place on a hilltop and buried her. Presumably, he was going to build a cabin there and live out the rest of his days. Apollo decided that, now that the fighting and the search for a home had ended, he wasn't just going to settle down. He would explore the planet- climb mountains, swim oceans. And Starbuck disappeared. She said her destiny was complete, and she was just gone. This is open to interpretation, but I like to think that Baltar and Leoben were right about her when they said she was an angel. Flash forward 150,000 years, and this primitive Earth has become our Earth. Modern-day New York City. Head-Caprica Six and Head-Baltar are walking the streets, discussing the discovery of "Mitochondrial Eve" (aka, Hera), and the advancements in robotics. This has all happened before, but it doesn't necessarily have to happen the same

way.

My other shows are entering the home stretch now. I am really excited to see what they have in store. Desperate Housewives is nearing the big finish and the conclusion of the Dave Williams storyline. Edie found out everything last week but she got electrocuted before she could tell anyone. Hmmm...a bit contrived. I'm not loving it right now, but last season's finale was pleasantly surprising so maybe the same could be said for this one. Chuck is seriously starting to escalate. Getting the Intersect out of his head is now a real possibility for Chuck, and he is working hard to find out how. Also, Ellie and Awesome's wedding will be soon which means MORE BRUCE BOXLEITNER!! LOST is, as always, full of shocking twists every week, and with only 7 episodes left, I hope my mind will continue to be blown as we approach the finale, entitled "The Incident." Dollhouse just hit the halfway mark for Season 1, with 6 episodes remaining. Several mysteries have been established while new ones are constantly being introduced (just how I like it, shows that get me hooked and don't let go), and basically everyone should be watching this show because it's awesome.

P.S.- I went back and watched the episode of The Office that I missed for Grey's Anatomy. It ended up being my favorite episode of the season, go figure. They have had a run of good episodes over the past month or so, but this one really stood out to me. The title of the episode was "New Boss," and Michael was having some issues adjusting to the guy who took the position that Jan and Ryan previously held. Played by Idris Elba of The Wire (Seriously, I've got to watch The Wire. I think I'll start this week.), Charles Miner does not stand for Michael's antics, he thinks Jim is a slacker, and he has a powerful effect on Kelly and Angela- "I could see our kids facing obstacles being half-black and half-Indian, but it's so worth it, you guys."

This is non-tv-related, but I just finished watching The Parent Trap. It was the best way I could think of to honor Natasha Richardson, to return to the first thing I saw her in, back when I was 10-years old. I teared up when she comes gliding down the stairs at the beginning to hug Lindsay Lohan. It really made me think about how much we value actors. They become part of our lives when we watch them in movies and television and on the stage- we relate to the characters they portray, they evoke emotions within us, and we hold onto the experience of watching them just as we do our own memories. We may not know the actors personally, but how to explain our feelings of sadness when one of them passes away? A fundamental part of this life is connecting with people, and of the best actors, it can certainly be said that we connect to them in a powerful way. We love them, as much as we can, for simply doing what they do, for showing us truths that make us think about life and the world. For Liam Neeson and his sons, and all of Natasha's family and friends, I pray that they would have comfort and peace.

A Few Thoughts

2009-03-19T21:55:00.005-05:00

Aided by the fact that I had watched about 15 Booth/Brennan shipper videos this week, I was looking forward to tonight's Bones episode like crazy. And the payoff was A-MAZING. Granted, the case was a little predictable. I thought it was the chiropractor the second we saw him. But I was still hanging on every moment of this episode. Angela and Roxy broke up (Finally! That little homewrecker was standing in the way of my darling Hodgins being with the woman who is so clearly meant for him). Case in point: he consoled Angela with some wonderful storage closet lovin'. Now, I know they won't get back together/get married/have brilliant, artistic babies right away, but they're on the road. Time to rebuild their relationship one adorable moment at a time.

We also met a new intern tonight- nerdy but sweet Muslim guy. I am still enjoying the rotation of interns. I like certain things about each of them. Random fact guy is hilarious, as is depressed emo guy. And the blonde one is cute. I think we're due for another annoying-girl-that-nobody-likes episode, especially since she has been dating Sweets for a while and we need to see how things have progressed. I would say that I think showrunner Hart Hanson needs to pick a permanent intern, but I guess we all agree with Dr. Brennan that nobody could replace Zach. Why even try? Speaking of whom, I could not be more thrilled by the news that Eric Millegan and Ryan O'Neal will be reprising their roles as Zach and Max in the season finale.

And, most importantly, tonight's episode laid the foundation for potential procreating between Booth and Bones. The news that the two of them were going to end up in bed together this season was announced many months ago. As tv-scoopers like Ausiello and Kristen have been finding out the details of this future encounter, we have learned that Bones starts thinking that she wants a child. And, logically speaking, Booth is a good genetic match for her because of their complementary traits. Well, I am of course excited to see all of this play out, and tonight was the beginning. The murder victim was a high school girl who had gotten pregnant. Most of the girls on her volleyball team had also gotten pregnant. They all had a vision in which they were free from the pressures of parents, school, and boys. By combining their money, they could simply find a house somewhere and raise their kids together. One kid in particular helped several of the girls achieve this dream. Played by Spencer Breslin, this boy thought he was scoring big because he had gotten 4 of the girls pregnant and didn't have to do anything else. So at the end of the episode, Bones and Booth are having a drink and talking about the responsibilities of parenthood. Booth realized that he needed to have a guy talk with the baby daddy and tell him that he has to be a man and take care of his children or he will be a loser his entire life (the conversation actually came off much sweeter). Meanwhile, Bones stood outside watching her wonderful, heroic partner, and you could see in her eyes that she realized something about him.

I must admit that, after Bones was over, I made a conscious decision to watch the new episode of Grey's Anatomy instead of The Office. I know, it's shameful. But...I really wanted to see the face transplant surgery that Sloan was doing. And, quite honestly, I am really into the storylines right now.

The series finale of Battlestar Galactica airs tomorrow, following episode 6 of Dollhouse, which is the one that Joss said will blow us away. Echo and Ballard come face-to-face for the first time! I'm so anxious I can hardly wait! And BSG, don't even get me started. It has been one frakking hell of a ride.

My Compliments to...

2009-03-12T22:10:00.009-05:00

-Jeffrey Donovan, for his phenomenal performance in the Season 2 finale of Burn Notice, in particular, the last couple of scenes, on the boat with Victor and then in the helicopter with the guy responsible for blacklisting him.

-Matthew Rhys, for being the standout in the great 2-hour episode of Brothers & Sisters. There was powerful acting all around, but Kevin's scenes brought me to tears.

-Neil Patrick Harris, who is currently carrying How I Met Your Mother on his very funny shoulders.

-Edward James Olmos and everyone at Battlestar Galactica for creating the closest thing I have ever seen to a perfect series. In this last set of episodes, Admiral Adama has been a man with a broken heart- broken over the loss of Earth as a home for his people, over the betrayal of members of his crew, over the inevitable death over his beloved ship, Galactica, and his beloved woman, Laura Roslin- and Olmos has made me feel it all with him. My loyalty to "The Old Man" will never end.

-Jason O'Mara. Even though Life on Mars was not renewed for a second season, he did some amazing work on that show. I hope to see a lot more of him in the future, including a recurrence of his role on The Closer. I love me an especially twisted killer who can match wits with Brenda.

-The entire cast and crew of LOST. I probably sound like a broken record heaping praise on this show (I'm not biased, I promise, even though it's totes my fave), but Season 5 has been packed full of emotion, intricate island history, mind-blowing sci-fi, and just plain fantastic storytelling. The last 3 episodes especially, "316,"

"The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham," and "LaFleur," have rocked the house. Special props go to Matthew Fox for making "316" one of the best episodes I've ever seen, Terry O'Quinn for making Locke more interesting than ever, and Josh Holloway and Elizabeth Mitchell for portraying this new relationship that I thought I would hate but actually have to admit that I love. I don't know if I'll ever let go of my attachment to the hotness that is Kate with Sawyer, but Juliet has such a calming effect on him that is so sweet. And, of course, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse always get the props for being television geniuses. Speaking of which....

-Joss Whedon and Co. for giving me my new obsession, Dollhouse, which is getting better with every episode.

-Conan O'Brien, for giving me something amazing to look forward to in June. I will actually start watching The Tonight Show for the host instead of just watching interviews with people that I like.

-Ellen Pompeo, for making me like Meredith Grey again for the first time since Season 1 or 2. She is now coming across as mature instead of whiny and annoying.

-David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel. Not for anything specific, I just love them all the time. Same goes for Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton. Got some good news this week regarding Friday Night Lights, and I couldn't be happier.

And in other news, I am making a mental list of which shows I need to put on the short list to watch as soon as possible:

The rest of Season 1 of Life on Mars; A second chance for Season 1 of Fringe (apparently it has gotten reaaaaally good; The Big Bang Theory; House; Prison Break

Love.

2009-02-26T17:24:00.004-06:00

"Is 3 years long enough to stop lovin' somebody?"

Things that are awesome (or not)

2009-02-22T23:49:00.016-06:00

AWESOME:

-The fact that Dollhouse had an even better second episode than its first. For me, a large part of this was the development of the relationship between Echo and Langdon. Sooooo sweet. Handler is to Active as Watcher is to Slayer. The fact that they were reminding me of the Buffy-Giles relationship was great because I have always been very emotionally attached to that kind of bond.

-Watching Hugh Jackman's opening act from the Oscars. Over, and over, and over again.

-Just having LOST in my life, period. Last week's episode, "316," blew me away. I think I would probably put it in my Top 10. First of all, I am a sucker for the reunion scenes/moments (see: "Collision" and "One of Us"). Also, I would never in my wildest dreams have expected Jack and

Co. to return to the island so soon. And the circumstances of their return set up so many intriguing flashbacks. There's a reason why I am obsessed with this show, and Season 5 is justifying that.

-Battlestar Galactica. Ellen is back, and the fates of the humans and Cylons are uncertain but I have complete faith that the conclusion will be satisfying in every way I have imagined.

-The hope that the best Grey's relationships (Owen/Cristina, Mark/Lexie) will continue to progress with sufficient cuteness.

-Rewatching Buffy.

LAME:

-Having to wait 3 weeks for the next new episode of Bones. What is up with that?! I need it NOW.

-Even entertaining the notion (and from what I've been reading, the definite possibility) that Robert will die on Brothers & Sisters. Sadly, that will be the nail in the coffin of that show for me.

-Misleading promos for The Closer season finale that make me worry that Brenda and Fritz will not go through with the wedding. That's just cruel.

-Waiting. I miss Mad Men, True Blood, and Dexter...

-Shows that I love having a run of episodes that use old material and don't move the story forward. I'm talking to you, Chuck and Burn Notice. I still watch, I still enjoy, but I'm not currently anxious about the state of affairs. In television, anxiety is a good thing because of the sweet relief that comes after everything works out! It's not a question of "if" but "when" these shows will get back on track.

-Bad comedy. I would rather be blind than be forced to watch any of the following shows: Kath & Kim, According to Jim, Rules of Engagement (my love for Patrick Warburton notwithstanding), Two and a Half Men, Gary Unmarried, or 'Til Death. Also Scrubs, but I know a lot of people like it. I don't deny that it is probably a genuinely funny, well-written show, but I just can't stand Zach Braff at all.

-Reality tv. Still pervasive. Still soul-sucking. One of the things I look forward to the most in my life is the day when people stop watching American Idol and it gets canceled and never mentioned again. And an entire season of 2-hour episodes of The Bachelor? That's pathetic. America's Next Top Model Cycle 83? Good grief... (Obviously, this sweeping generalization does not include So You Think You Can Dance, which I personally love, or a few others that are not bad, like Project Runway and Top Chef.)

SOMETHING THAT WILL PROBABLY BE LAME BUT THAT I WISH WOULD BE AWESOME:

-Castle. I heart Nathan Fillion. There is no getting around it. I will be watching Castle when it premieres in March. But... I just don't have a good feeling about it. I hope to be proven wrong.

Dollhouse

2009-02-16T15:46:00.007-06:00

I wrote an article for my college newspaper about Dollhouse, the new show from Joss Whedon, which aired its first episode last Friday night. Unfortunately, when I get going about television in general (and Joss' shows in particular), it's difficult for me to stop writing. The result: 1,600 words where 600-800 were asked for. I understood that I was going to have to cut it down, and it would break my heart. So here it is, in its entirety: my take on Dollhouse.

Enter the Dollhouse

"Nothing is what it appears to be." These are the first words uttered in the new series from Joss Whedon, Dollhouse. Even after you know the show's premise, there are layers of meaning to uncover and understand.

Anyone who has ever seen a Whedon show, whether it be Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, or even just the 45-minute internet musical series, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, will be used to his style: what happens on the surface may seem fantastic in the sci-fi geek sense of the word, but the truth of the message is an intimate study of the human experience. And this is all done in a way that is full of Whedon's characteristic wit and imbued with Classical storytelling themes. When it comes down to it, his shows are all about good versus evil, and the moral gray area in between. Dollhouse is no exception. The story is about a secret company that will fulfill people's deepest desires with the use of Actives--human beings who reached a place in their lives where they became willing to sign themselves over to "helping others." Calling them "volunteers," however, is a bit of a stretch because, from what I could sense of Echo, the words "actions have consequences," as they pertained to her when they were said in the first scene, meant "go to jail" or "start a new life where your past actions mean nothing." Of course, they could not fully comprehend what they were agreeing to because it would have seemed unfathomable that their personalities were going to be completely deleted, leaving them with no history and no identity. They have become, in effect, "dolls" who can be imprinted with a new personality every time they are hired out to a client. They can fulfill any need and possess any skill to satisfy that client. At the end, their experiences are erased from their minds, and they return to their everyday lives of contentment and emptiness in the Dollhouse.

On the logistical front, production difficulties have plagued Dollhouse from early on. Delays and rewrites were announced several months ago, which is never a good sign for a show that you are excited about. FOX relegated Dollhouse to a Friday night timeslot (basically a big announcement that they had little faith in it to attract an audience). The only upside of this is that their expectations are probably not too high, so even if ratings are not stellar, they might keep it around for a while. The pilot episode pulled in about 4.5 million viewers--a respectable number under the circumstances.

I think Dollhouse will be safe for at least this 13-episode first season and a pickup for Season 2. Beyond that, its numbers, critic reactions, and fan response will determine its fate. Why do I feel so sure about its survival at present? Because "Save Dollhouse" campaigns were started by Whedon fans about a year ago. Because in 2002, Whedon had a show on FOX called Firefly about a band of rebel outlaws trying to survive in space (it has since become a cult favorite, complete with its own nationwide events called "Browncoat Conventions," and the 2005 sequel film, Serenity). Firefly was canceled after only a handful of episodes. It was such a cold-blooded act on the part of the network that Whedon has not worked with FOX again until now when the people that made that decision have been replaced. Replaced by people who know that Joss Whedon is one of THE creative geniuses of television. That he brings out the best in other creative geniuses like actors Eliza Dushku and Amy Acker and writers Jane Espenson and Tim Minear who have worked with him for years and are working with him now on Dollhouse. And that if they cancel Dollhouse before it has had a good, long run of episodes, all those responsible at FOX will be trampled by a stampede of Whedon fans.

In the pilot episode, "Ghost," the Active Echo, played by Eliza Dushku (Faith of Buffy/Angel) becomes a hostage negotiator for a man whose daughter has been kidnapped. Dushku is a very strong actress and, as a self-described ADD person, this role is perfect for her because it allows her to explore new characters every week. At the same time, she has to develop Echo as a character. This is obviously a difficult task since an Active, by definition, has no "character" to speak of. Nevertheless, even in the first episode, there were a couple of indicators that her character will evolve in very subtle ways. For starters, she had a single, brief flash of a memory that was accidentally not removed (or that was, but she remembered it anyway). In addition, Echo showed an innate curiosity. She wants to understand the people around her, not just live a meaningless existence in the Dollhouse. She also seems to be seeking the approval (beyond a simple robotic obedience) of the people she comes in contact with--like even though she has no recollection of her former life and whatever pushed her so far to the edge of the cliff that she saw no other option than to sign her life away, she wants to be redeemed.

Other characters introduced were Langdon, a former law enforcement agent who now works as a handler for the Actives. He watches from afar while they are on missions to ensure their safety and their ignorance about the jobs they are performing. Topher is the techie of the operation--the guy who handles the computers and the mind-wiping process. Adelle DeWitt is the person in charge. She's British, she's cold, and she's controlling. In the future, we are sure to learn more about the person beneath the perfectly posed exterior. But now she just gives me chills. Finally, FBI agent Paul Ballard (portrayed by Tahmoh Penikett, the stalwart moral compass of Battlestar Galactica) is the man in charge of the investigation to find the Dollhouse. He was only in a couple of scenes in the first episode, but his desperation is already apparent. Whether he wants to free Actives from their state of servitude, to bring to justice those responsible for creating the whole system, or to do something else entirely, I do not yet know, but I could potentially foresee him ending up like Langron--someone who becomes involved in the process and serves as a force of good. A protector of the dolls. A person genuinely concerned with helping people. I could be reading too much into all of thise, having seen only an hour of the show so far. However, I feel pretty confident in saying that I know Joss Whedon;s work very well. It is a primary contributor to my love of television. It's the kind of television that I can (and have) discuss with people and theorize over for hours. What I understand already is enough to keep me watching Dollhouse because Whedon payoffs are the best kind. They hit you like a ton of emotional bricks, making you feel like you are bursting with happiness, and destroyed by perpetual sadness, all at the same time.

Most of the reviews for Dollhouse so far have been mediocre, calling it "imperfect but intriguing," or saying that Echo's ever-changing personalities will make it hard for people to become invested in her story. The pilot episode did have a few forced plot constructions in it--Topher conveniently explaining to Langdon (but more to us) about how the imprinting process worked when the latter had probably been working there long enough to know that stuff; one of the kidnappers just happening to be part of Echo's imprinted identity's past, leading to new obstables and revelations that would not have been there otherwise. That seems unimportant to me, given that it was still a great first episode that definitely leaves one yearning for more. The review in the New York Times claimed that Dollhouse was not compelling, that the universe created thus far is "thin and bland," and Echo is "presumably so named because she can only repeat her programmers' words." Really, New York Times columnist? You think that's why? You don't think that she is just named Echo because, like her fellow Actives Sierra and Victor, she was assigned a name from the NATO standard alphabet? That could give the Dollhouse a possible military connection. Or it could just be a simple, clinical system of nomenclature. OR, if you broaden your thinking for a moment, this Active in particular could be called Echo because of the story recorded in Ovid's Metamorphoses about Echo and Narcissus. She was a pretty nymph who was cursed by the jealous goddess, Juno, to only be able to mimic what others have said. She has no free will. She is trapped in her mind with her thoughts and no words to express them, which becomes even more painful when she falls in love with the perfectly beautiful Narcissus. That perspective could lend a little more depth to the name "Echo" than just the fact that "she can only repeat her programmers' words."

So, as for me, I'll be watching intently every week. I have accepted that the first few episodes will be very self-contained with only a tiny dose of complicated serialized stuff. That is to be expected in the beginning. They needz to bring in the viewerz. But, straight from interviews with Eliza Dushku and Joss Whedon, episode 6 is where everything starts unraveling. And I can't wait.

A Brief History of EVERYTHING (By which I mean, the last few weeks)

2009-02-13T18:23:00.014-06:00

Okay, so this was a super stressful week of classes, and more is still to come next week. That means that today and tomorrow are all about giving the ol' brain a little downtime. But I have a lot of catching up to do on my blog. My solution: delivering my thoughts to you in incomplete sentences, which is probably not what my shows deserve because they have been stellar the past few weeks. Props.

In alphabetical order so as not to show favorites (even though LOST is by far my #1)-

Battlestar Galactica-

Frakking with my mind. 2 intense weeks in a row when Gaeta (whom I loathe with every ounce of my being) staged a takeover of Galactica with the help of Tom Zarek. Things starting to slow back down as we learn more about the history of the "Final Five" Cylons. This past episode was all about the background that, having been revealed, brings the entire series into a new clarity. The EW recap by resident BSG expert Marc Bernadin sums it up perfectly:

"It was as if some hidden vault of information opened up in front of me, kind of like the Ark of the Covenant, and by the end of the hour, it melted my face off... And there were so many little touches. Anders' pre-op ramblings ('All the forgotten faces, all the forgotten children, we speak a forgotten language. The mind is its own place. The Hell of Heaven.'); Ellen the Machine Goddess offering Boomer the apple of knowledge; Roslin passing the mantle of leadership to Lee; Tigh laying his head on Caprica-Six's swelling belly. At the end of the day, you know why I loved this episode so much? Because I earned it. We all did. All of us who've been watching, faithfully, from the very beginning. It was like finally getting to the 'mystery solved' speech in a Sherlock Holmes yarn. We've put in the time, and now here's our reward. Now we know the truth behind the Cylons but knowing is half the battle."

Bones-

Follow-up to Season 2 milestone, "Aliens in a Spaceship." Booth escaped with the help of a ghost, a young soldier he fought alongside. Bones swooped in to save him. Creepy Gravedigger (turned out to be a woman, who saw that coming?) taken down with the help of Little Booth, Jared. Not as emotionally gripping as its predecessor but still great. Nothing beats the beginning of Angela-Hodgins love. Or the Booth-running-and-digging-Bones-out-of-the-dirt scene.

Burn Notice- Moving kinda slowly right now. Not that I have a problem with that because there is lots of Michael-Fiona cuteness. I am looking forward to some intense action going down between Michael and Carla soon. And I read something about finally finding out WHO burned him?

Chuck-

Post-Super Bowl episode in 3D. Except only barely so as not to exclude people without 3D glasses. Kind of a disappointment on that front. Awesome on the guest star front, though. Dominic Monaghan as a rock star being hunted by terrorists.

The Closer- Wedding of Brenda and Fritz happening soon. Lots of good episodes since it came back in January. Sanchez dealing with the fallout of his gunshot wound. Provenza being his awesome self. Last week had another Billy Kroelig-type creepy bad guy who got away with multiple rapes and a murder. Gives me chills but hope to see him again. Next week has Amy Sedaris as Fritz's sister.... Sweet!

Desperate Housewives-

Eh. Lynette continues to wear me down with her dismal storyline. Bree has nothing interesting going on. Gaby is trying to get her old self back- complete with excessive amounts of money and a hot body- but realizing that she should leave some of her less attractive former personality traits behind (we'll see how long that lasts). Susan is ridiculous. She doesn't deserve to get Mike back. Dave's masterplan seems to be at a standstill.

Friday Night Lights-

The DirecTV run ended, leaving us with no assurance that there would be a Season 4. If there isn't my heart will be broken, especially since Season 3 was spectacular in every way. Perfect exits for Street and Smash. Matt/Julie and Tyra/Landry reunited.

Life wasn't all happiness, though because JD's father was the worst kind of scum and got Coach Taylor fired. The Dillon school board offered him the position at the about-to-reopen East Dillon as the Head Coach of the Lions. Whoa. Switching my loyalties away from the Panthers will be a difficult adjustment, for me and all the characters on the show. Which is why there needs to be a Season 4 so that we can see what happens next.

Grey's Anatomy-

Lots of dramatic buildup to a Meredith-Derek proposal. Private Practice crossover didn't do much for me because I hadn't been watching Private Practice and neither knew nor cared who Archer was. Mark has definitely become a better man thanks to Lexie's influence, and their flirting is adorable. Owen-Cristina interactions have me hooked. Don't care about anybody else.

Heroes-

My once-great love for Nathan and HRG has disappeared almost entirely. Hoping some hidden layers are there that I don't see. Sylar as a mentor to a young boy is twisted but fascinating. Rest of the heroes are having to band together to hide from the Hunter/stop Nathan from this hypocritical persecution.

How I Met Your Mother-

Has lost a little of its magic from previous seasons. I might retract my judgment in retrospect, but I'm just not enjoying these episodes as much as I used to. Funny aspects remain (almost all revolving around Barney), but not with the same mixture of humor and sweetness.

LOST-

People on the island- Sawyer, Juliet, Daniel, Charlotte, Miles, and Locke- have been flashing through time. Good opportunities for us to learn more about the island's history as we have seen the period when the Dharma Initiative was active. Returned to events we have already witnessed- Claire giving birth to Aaron; pillar of black smoke. Desmond working in the hatch.

Rousseau arriving with her team, pregnant with Alex. Jin came back after floating in the water on a piece of wreckage. Charlotte died from time-travel sickness. Desmond and Penny are married and living on a boat with their son, whom they named Charlie (*tear*). Faraday came to Desmond in the hatch and told him that the on-island people needed his help. In the present-day, Desmond woke up and remembered that it had happened all those years before. Now looking for Daniel's mother=Mrs. Hawking=First name, Eloise, so potentially the same person as the young Ellie who is part of Richard Alpert's band of "hostiles" (along with a young Charles Widmore). Ben trying to get the Oceanic Six back to the island. What he will gain from getting them back, I don't know... Jack is fully on-board because he has finally come to accept that his destiny lies on the Island. Kate is angry. She wants to keep Aaron away, but she should come around soon because she will follow Jack to the end of the world. Sun is willing to go back because Ben gave her proof that Jin is still alive (How will Jin react when his wife brings his baby girl, Ji-Yeon, to that place?). Hurley is in prison. Sayid is the biggest holdout because he resents Ben for making him kill people. I can't wait to see the reunion between the 2 groups.

The Office-

Post-Super Bowl episode, "Stress Relief," definitely full of moments of high hilarity. Overall, not the greatest episode ever (I still argue that "Money" has been the only hour-long to successfully maintain a great story that is consistently funny). Favorite parts were with Andy, thinking that Pam & Jim were really insightful about the movie they were all watching together, even though they were talking about something completely different. 2-part episode, "Lecture Circuit," was awkwardly wonderful. Michael and Pam traveling to other Dunder-Miflin branches. The hope of a Holly Flax reappearance was dangled and then snatched away. Soon, my friends. Soon. Back in the Scranton office, Jim and Dwight trying to function as the party planning committee. Angela licked her cat.

Burn Notice, etc.

2009-01-27T23:01:00.013-06:00

Last week, I watched the first season and a half of Burn Notice in time for the midseason premiere on Thursday night. By that point, I was way hooked on this fun and exciting show about a spy named Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) who has been "burned," which means that he not only lost his job but is also stuck in Miami so that the government can keep an eye on him. He doesn't know who put out the burn notice on him--or why--but he is determined to find out. And until he does, he makes his living doing odd jobs to help people who have been wronged and cheated. This often involves him going undercover and making nifty gadgets out of toothpaste and cell phones. Michael is like the hotter version of MacGyver. He has some help with his work from an old spy buddy of his, played by the incomparable Bruce Campbell. Sam preys on wealthy divorcees and widows, but he's got a good heart. He and Michael have saved each other's lives on more than one occasion. Also in the mix is one of Michael's ex-girlfriends, Fiona. She likes any excuse to shoot/beat someone, but her devotion to Michael is clear. It looks like that will be paying off for her very soon because, as much as Michael says they were never good together, the chemistry and tension between them has been building for some time. Michael's mother and brother live in Miami, too, providing many uncomfortable moments for Michael but showing another side to his character.

Season 2 features the loveliest of the Cylons, Tricia Helfer, as part of a powerful organization that basically controls Michael's life right now. She is his handler, sending him on mysterious errands. He plays along to protect his friends and family, in addition to helping him find out the truth about his burn notice.

Other stuff:

Bones returned last week with double episodes of awesomeness. The circus episode, "Double Trouble in the Panhandle," was so joyous because Booth and Bones went undercover as knife-throwers named Buck and Wanda Moosejaw. Best moments: When Booth was doing their act in front of the crowd and he was so nervous about hitting Bones but she kept making him aim at smaller and smaller targets. When Booth drove a motorcycle with Bones in the sidecar!!!! It doesn't really get any better. The second episode indulged David Boreanaz's

love of hockey. The case itself was not very intriguing (the guy confessed at the end without putting up a fight at all!) But at the end, Booth takes Bones ice skating and they hold hands and he says he would never let her fall... :) Next Thursday's episode sees the return of the Gravedigger, with Booth as the victim this time. I predict that my heart will stop at least once and that tears will be in abundant supply.

In my next post, I will recap the thoroughly amazing time-traveling extravaganza that is the beginning of Season 5 of LOST.

Also, does anyone have any suggestions for what my next new show should be? It can be currently airing or not. I'm thinking The Wire, House, or Six Feet Under. Hmm...decisions, decisions.

The Beginning of the End: Battlestar Galactica

2009-01-17T12:10:00.003-06:00

It's been a very long time since the fleet's hopes (and ours) were shattered by the revelation that Earth was not the Promised Land. For 3 years, Galactica has been searching the galaxies far and wide to find a home for the remaining 40,000 survivors. They have endured Cylon oppression, personal loss, political upheaval, and everything else imaginable, but they knew that everything would be okay once they found Earth. At first, most people didn't even believe in the prophecies that told about the lost planet of the 13th tribe. But President Roslin's faith was unwavering. And soon everyone believed.

So where do they go from here? In the case of last night's Season 4.5 premiere, many have simply given up. Dee left the desolate planet, sobbing, but once back on Galactica seemed like she was optimistic. She had a heart-to-heart with Lee, they enjoyed a fun night together, Lt. Gaeda noted that she was "glowing," and then she shot herself. I have not felt such a physical and emotional upheaval in a long time. After that, everything just seemed to be crumbling. President Roslin burned her book of prophecy one page at a time. She skipped her cancer treatment and couldn't have cared less. Admiral Adama was walking down the halls of the ship as his crew was fighting and crashing around him. When Laura shut him out, he got very drunk and tried to enrage Tigh so that he would shoot him. Death would have been a welcome presence on Galactica, and that was more shocking to me than the truth about Earth.

The Cylons were having an alternate experience than the humans. They lingered on Earth because, looking around the wreckage, they were having flashbacks to their previous lives.

2000 years before. On Earth. It would seem that the 13th tribe was made up of Cylons because the remains found, although they appeared to be human bones, were later confirmed by Baltar to be Cylons. No human bodies found anywhere.

Except for 1. Starbuck went off on her own search for the source of some signal, accompanied by Leoben, and started finding pieces of her Viper. Then she found the cockpit with a body in it. Completely charred, but with some leftover blonde hair. And around the neck, her pilot tag and wedding ring. She made a huge bonfire and burned what was left of the body, perhaps afraid of the implications if someone else found it. Then she would surely be thought to be the Final Cylon. I haven't entertained the possibility of Starbuck being the Final Cylon for a long time. I was positive that she wasn't, even after she came back in the brand new Viper. I admit, last night, I started to have my doubts. But then Tigh walked out into the sea, contemplating the idea of letting the tide carry him away, and he stopped, because he had a flashback. Ellen was there. On Earth 2000 years before as the nuclear attack was happening, she told him not to worry because they would be reborn together.

So the big reveal happened. I'm not sure how I feel about it at this point. On the one hand, I trust Ronald D. Moore unconditionally. He has never disappointed me before. This is probably the closest thing to a perfect show that I will ever see. And yet, I can't understand what the implications are of Ellen being the 5th. When we saw at the end of Season 3 that Anders, Tyrol, Tigh, and Tory, were Cylons, that was a huge deal because they were all intimately connected to the fleet. Now that we know Ellen is one, it explains some things about her character and actions, perhaps, but who will this matter to except for Saul? That has not been determined, so I withhold my judgment until everything plays out. I have a feeling it will be bigger than I expect. With Battlestar Galactica, it always is.

----In other news, shows are just starting to come back, so I don't have a lot to report on. But I would just like to mention how stellar the first episodes of The Office and Grey's Anatomy were. In The Office, Michael (of course) was the one to tell Andy about Angela's affair with Dwight. So the 2 guys (of course) decided to have a duel. My favorite moment was when Oscar realized that Dwight and Angela had engaged in their "activities" on his desk. And Grey's was just really enjoyable this week, I'm sure due to the presence of Derek's mom, the awesome Tyne Daly. Izzie was trying to help Meredith be bright and bubbly (result: "alarmingly high ponytail"), but Mer eventually came clean and said, "Look, mom's don't like me. I'm not a cheerful person. I'm someone who feels sorry for serial killers." And this was all it took for Mrs. Shepherd to know that she was the right girl for her son. Sloan told her about his relationship with the 24-year old Lexie ("the one with the juice box"), and she assessed the situation for him, asking Lexie if she was "a good girl." Meredith and Cristina aren't on friendly terms, but we know they still care, especially when Cristina tells Meredith that her ponytail looks ridiculous. And in other Cristina news, her interactions with Hunt this week were especially awesome. He asked her on a date. She asked him what his best surgery was. He showed up to her apartment drunk and took a shower with all his clothes on. Soaking wet, he told her that about his best surgery on a soldier with holes in his body that he saved but the guy later killed himself. So she got into the shower with him. With all her clothes on.

Next week: LOST + Bones + more Battlestar = much rejoicing

True Blood

2009-01-10T15:49:00.008-06:00

A couple of months ago, I was talking to my sister on the phone, and I asked her if she had completed any television marathons since she got to college. She said that, yes, she had watched the entire first season of True Blood in a week. I was like, "Claire, that's only, like, 10 episodes! That's not a marathon!" To which she responded, "Shut up, it was 12 episodes!" Then I laughed at her.

Anyways, she told me that I just had to watch this show. I thought to myself, "Hmm, Alan Ball is the creator of Six Feet Under. This is a good sign. But it's a show about vampires. So it can't possibly be as good as Buffy. Plus, I just finished reading Twilight at my sister's recommendation, and that made me want to gag the entire time." Well, I was really bored one night and wanting to watch something new, so I decided to start True Blood and, in the process, show my little sister how a television marathon is done. 2 days and 12 episodes later, I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed the show. It is very strange at times- exorcisms, people getting high on "V juice" (vampire blood)- but it keeps things interesting.

True Blood takes place in a world where vampires not only exist, but they are out in the open. They can go into a bar and order a bottle of O-negative that comes in the form of a synthetic blood drink called Tru Blood. On the news, political pundits argue about the merits of a "Vampire Rights Amendment." The story follows the life of Sookie Stackhouse (played by Anna Paquin), a waitress in Bon Temps, Louisiana, who is burdened by the ability to hear other people's thoughts. Then she meets a vampire named Bill (played by Stephen Moyer), and he is mysterious, as all the good vampires are, and introduces her to an entirely different lifestyle that fascinates her. She takes refuge in the fact that she cannot hear his thoughts. But Bon Temps is not as open-minded as Sookie. Season 1 revolves around the murders of people who associate with vampires, and Sookie becomes involved in investigating because the police and most of the people in the town believe that her brother, Jason, is the killer.

Paquin is a fantastic actress. I love her as Rogue in X-Men, but I would say her portrayal of Sookie is the best performance I've ever seen her give. She did win an Oscar for The Piano, but she was just a little girl and has matured so much since then. The most moving scene of Season 1: Sookie eating her grandmother's pecan pie after her funeral.

Episode 5, "Sparks Fly Out," and episode 8, "The Fourth Man in the Fire," were my favorites. In the former, Bill does a favor for Sookie's grandmother by coming to speak about his experiences as a Confederate soldier to her Descendants of the Glorious Dead group. In the latter, Sookie goes with Bill to the vampire bar Fangtasia ("There was a time when puns were the highest form of humor") to help a high-ranking vampire with her telepathic skillz, which leads to Bill taking extreme measures to protect her life.

It is interesting to see what aspects of vampire lore a show/book/movie uses and which ones they dismiss. In Buffy, vampires can be killed by a wooden stake in the heart, by setting them on fire, or by cutting off their heads, all of which will cause them to turn into dust; they are repelled by crucifixes and holy water; they have to be invited before they can enter a mortal's home; they have no reflection in a mirror; and they burst into flames in sunlight. In True Blood, vampires are killed by a wooden stake through the heart or by setting them on fire, both of which cause them to become a disgusting geyser of blood and guts; the mirror/crucifix/holy water factors are all rumors vampires made up to help them if they ever needed to prove that they weren't, in fact, vampires; they also have to be invited before they can enter a mortal's home; and sunlight drains them of their energy until they are barbequed. (Another Buffy-True Blood comparison: at one point, Bill is telling Sookie about how vampires can persuade humans to bend to their will by "glamouring" them, and she wants him to try it on her. He stares deep into her eyes for several seconds, slow music playing in the background, and says, "Sookie, can you feel my influence?" I just laughed and shook my head and thought about how Angel would NEVER say something like that. Bill is hot in his own way, but c'mon. Seriously. Angel is so the superior vampire.)

I'll be looking forward to Season 2 this summer.

The Joy of the Season: How I Met Your Mother, Dexter, and other stuff

2008-12-24T13:28:00.010-06:00

Happy Christmas Eve! I have been taking this time during the hiatus to: 1 watch a new show (and hopefully another guilt-free one before I return to school/have classes that give me work that I will probably not do anyways because I am always watching television), and 2- prepare for the inevitable emotional toll that Season 5 of LOST and Season 4.5 of Battlestar Galactica will take on me. Based on the way things were left in my other shows, here's what I'm anticipating the most:1) Pushing Daisies- There are only 3 episodes left, and rumor has it that they will all be aired back- to-back one night in January. And instead of the original cliffhanger ending for the final episode, Bryan Fuller did some reshoots and work in post-production to make a satisfying conclusion. Thanks, dude!

2) Friday Night Lights- NBC did not order more than 13 episodes for Season 3. This means there are 2 more to air on DirecTV in January, and then the entire season will be replayed on NBC. We are in the same position as we were last year- we really don't know whether NBC will pick it up for Season 4. DirecTV is happy with the way it performed for them this Fall, but who knows what NBC thinks about it. Their decision is supposed to be announced in mid-January. In the meantime, I am trying not to worry and enjoy the end to this wonderful season, in which the Dillon Panthers are heading to state, Billy Riggins and Mindy Collette are getting married, and the future of all the characters will be revealed (colleges, relationships, etc.). Texas forever.

3) The Office- When will Andy find out the truth that Phyllis revealed to the office at the Moroccan Christmas party? When will Jim and Pam finally get married? What will stand in Angela's way of getting an annulment from Dwight? These are the questions that I have. Mostly I'm just excited for the hour-long, post-Super Bowl, Jack Black-filled episode that promises to be an Office masterpiece.

4) Chuck- Fulcrum continues to hunt for the Intersect. They arranged an elaborate scheme in the Christmas episode to find out about Chuck. And he found out just how far Sarah would go to protect him. It obviously scared him, but I think it will be an important part of their future development. I am looking forward to the Ellie-Awesome wedding (which I am sure will bring the return of Bruce Boxleitnere and more Scarecrow and Mrs. King nostalgia for me), and to as much John Casey as I can get.

5) Desperate Housewives- Even though we are no longer wondering why Dave Williams is on Wisteria Lane (his wife and daughter were killed in the car accident that led to Mike and Susan's divorce), I can't wait to see how his plan unfolds. He is clearly intending to make Mike feel the same pain that he did, which puts Susan and M.J. in certain danger, but I am more interested in the implications this will have for Mike and Susan's future. Seeing them hold hands at the bowling alley, I couldn't help but realize that I still care about their crazy rollercoaster of a relationship over this show's 5 seasons. Bree and Edie are on the backburner right now. Lynette's got a pretty intense storyline at present, but it doesn't intrigue me in the slightest (I think it's the consequence of the ridiculous extremes to which her character has been taken. They've completely lost the nuanced mix of humor and tragedy that she had in Season 1, which is an unfortunate waste of Felicity Huffman's talents). Carlos' sight has been restored which promises to create a lot of interesting situations for him and Gaby.

6) Bones- The first half of Season 4 went out with a dud that didn't really leave one pondering and craving the show over the month-long break. I'm absolutely positive, however, that it will hit its stride soon. I read that the Gravedigger will resurface soon. And this is the preview for the next episode, airing January 15th: "The death of female conjoined twins who worked in the circus is investigated. The investigation leads Brennan and Booth to go undercover as a Canadian knife-throwing act, and also causes Booth to come face-to-face with a clown." That just makes me smile :)

7) Heroes- I'm kind of confused as to how I feel about Heroes right now. This ambiguity, of course, keeps me curious enough to tune in every week, but there are times when I feel like I might abandon it for good. Some episodes are really great ("The Butterfly Effect," "Dying of the Light") and I get excited and think the show is back to Season 1-caliber, and then something happens that just ruins everything (e.g. Nathan suddenly becoming a bad guy who has turned on Peter and Claire and everyone; Hiro losing his awesome control of space and time; Sylar displaying hidden layers to his character and then becoming completely 1-dimensional again and killing Kristen Bell!). Good news: I haven't given up yet, so I remain hopeful. Especially with the confirmation that Bryan Fuller will be moving from my darling Pushing Daisies back to the Heroes writing team. Character development, here we come!

Quick news:

-This Fall, I said farewell to Gossip Girl and Private Practice. Sure, I sometimes have pangs of missing Chuck Bass and Tim Daly. But I think, ultimately, I'm better off for keeping my standards high. This is not to say I think people who do watch those shows have low standards. That would be hypocritical of me, considering I did watch many episodes of both. I just can't be a good, critical tv-watcher when I watch shows like LOST right after I've finished an episode of Private Practice.

-I got behind on Life on Mars, but hearing that the show has continued to gather momentum is motivating me to catch up.

-Brothers & Sisters has sort of fallen to the wayside. I've watched a few episodes without being impressed by what has happened this season. This is not to say I have abandoned it completely- I will read recaps and watch those episodes that seem compelling. I will say this: Steven Weber came back for 1 episode and his chemistry with Rachel Griffiths could not be any hotter. The executive producers should seriously consider making him a recurring character again.

Dexter Season 3- Dexter's relationship with Miguel Prado came to a head when both men had exhausted every possible option to gain control over the other. Our serial killer champion had the benefit of experience after years of living by a code and always accomplishing his goals, in spite of Miguel's power in society as the Assistant District Attorney. In the second to last episode, Dexter understood that Miguel fit into Harry's Code because he had killed an innocent person and would probably do it again if he had the chance. So, he choked the life out of his former friend, whose dying words were: "This isn't over." The truth was that it basically was over. The final episode saw Deb finally receive her much-deserved Detective shield and the last-minute details of Dexter and Rita's wedding fall into place. The only lingering problem that Miguel posed for Dexter was when George King kidnapped him and tried to skin him for information about Freebo's whereabouts. That lasted about 4 minutes before Dexter escaped and broke King's neck. Then, the wedding, and happily ever after! Some people in the online community were disappointed by the normalcy of the finale, but I can appreciate some normalcy after the intensity of this season. Besides which, it was an unexpected way to end things, and to be surprised is what I always expect from this show (if that oxymoron makes sense). And Season 4 will be father time for Dex. Killing people + babies = only awesome on Dexter.

Lastly, a few words on my new acquisition: How I Met Your Mother. By some unique formula, this show manages to be a hilarious sitcom all about friends living in New York (not unique), in addition to a fun and mysterious puzzle that is slowly pieced together (very unique). A father in the year 2030 is telling his 2 kids all about what his life was like as he became the person who married their mother and had them. The main character is Ted, played by Josh Radnor, who I had never even heard of before. I truly do like him, but I must admit that my heart was stolen

by Alyson Hannigan's Lily, Jason Segel's Marshall, and especially Neil Patrick Harris' Barney. He has taught his friends so much about the importance of suiting up, the art of being a wingman, and how to make things legen...wait for it...dary!

My favorite episodes:

1) "Swarley"

Season 2, Episode 7- Barney gets a new name and the gang has lots of fun with it. "Hey, there's a call for Swarls Barkley."

2) "Slapsgiving"

Season 3, Episode 9- Slap #3, my personal favorite, because it is followed by a special song to commemorate the occasion.

3) "World's Greatest Couple"

Season 2, Episode 5- Barney lets Lily stay in his apartment and finds that a fake wife is good for getting rid of one-night stands. Marshall adjusts to single life in a couples-oriented world by going to brunch and the theatre with one of his guy friends.

4) "Slap Bet"

Season 2, Episode 9- We learn about Robin's secret past as a teenage Canadian popstar, and the slap bet begins.

5) "How I Met Everyone Else"

Season 3, Episode 5- Ted's crazy new girlfriend, and reminiscing about the first time they all met.

6) "Intervention"

Season 4, Episode 4- The group decides they should hold lots of interventions because they are so good at them- to get Lily to stop using a fake British accent, to get Ted to stop pronouncing words strangely, to get Barney to stop doing magic tricks, and then an intervention to stop doing interventions.

7) "The Bracket"

Season 3, Episode 14- A review of all the women Barney has slept with and who would have the greatest reason for hating him.

8) "Showdown"

Season 2, Episode 20- Barney goes on The Price Is Right because his mother told him when he was young that Bob Barker was his dad. Lily and Marshall try spending their nights apart before the wedding, but they end up sneaking to a hotel to spoon because they miss each other so much.

9) "The Return of the Shirt"

Season 1, Episode 4- Ted thinks he ought to try again with one of his old girlfriends, but he realizes she's not the One. So he breaks up with her on her birthday. For the second time. Barney gives Robin money to make a fool of herself on the air when she's reporting stories on the news.

10) "The Limo"

Season 1, Episode 11- Ted tries to plan the perfect New Years Eve. A line-up of 5 parties, and meeting not-Moby.

Scene from the end of "Slapsgiving"

Robin Sparkles' hit song

An Update on the Frenzy That Is November Sweeps

2008-11-27T22:04:00.010-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving, all! As always, I am incredibly thankful for my television shows and how they continue to bring such great joy to my life. Everything has started to wind down as the end of November draws near. Sweeps have been going on for the past few weeks, which has meant more pivotal storylines, and now the shows are in the process of airing their last episodes until January- the month which will signal not only the return of all of these Fall shows, but also the premieres of Season 5 of LOST, Season 4.5 of Battlestar Galactica, Season 7 of 24 (I remain hopeful for the upcoming season, especially based on this exciting promo, but Jack Bauer could be decidedly less badass after the disaster that was Season 6), and Season 1 of Dollhouse.

Friday Night Lights concluded with Episode 8, "New York, New York," in which Riggins took Jason Street to New York so that he could try to find a job as a sports agent and reunite with his son and girlfriend. Knowing that his "6," his best friend in the world, was leaving Dillon for a new life brought tears to Tim's eyes, which brought tears to mine. Jason's last words to him: "Texas forever." The same words Tim said to him back in Season 1, Episode 1, back when all that mattered was football. Things have changed so much, bringing us to these young men- one of whom has become a fully functioning paralytic with a baby boy and woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with, and the other of whom who is in his first mature relationship with a girl he loves and has colleges trying to recruit him. I am very much looking forward to seeing what the future holds for the Panthers

when FNL comes back in January.

Also finished is Bones, which ended on a not-very-spectacular note, with the episode, "The Bone That Blew." Even though the murder case was unremarkable, it was nice to see Ryan O'Neal again, who Dr. Saroyan hired to be a

science teacher for kids at the Jeffersonian. Bones came up with many reasons why she wanted him to be fired (which Sweets tried to psycho-analyze, of course), but when it came down to it, she said he could stay because she could see how much it mattered to Booth that Parker have smart people around him who could inspire him to learn things.

Heroes has had a run of very good episodes. We've had glimpses into the past, especially the Petrelli family. Sylar has quickly become the coolest character. He and Elle make for a fun team to watch. Hiro and Ando are using the wisdom of comic books to help them on their quest. Peter and Nathan have gone off to find the Haitian, who might be the only person with the power to stop Arthur Petrelli from taking over the world with the power serum that he has acquired. Except the eclipse has taken everyone's powers away, which has had the greatest effect on Claire, who was shot by Elle and is feeling pain that she never thought she would have again. So you know HRG is out for revenge on Sylar and his electric lady friend.

Chuck has been causing me no small amount of anxiety over my favorite geek and the return of his former girlfriend, Jill (played by Jordana Brewster). How quickly he forgot about his love for Sarah! But, of course, Jill turned out to be evil, Chuck realized that his trust was misplaced, and now things are back to fake-relationship normal. Next week, we meet Captain Awesome's parents, and I recently discovered that his father is played by Bruce Boxleitner! Lee Stetson, formerly of Scarecrow and Mrs. King, my first tv love.

Desperate Housewives went with their token, seasonal disaster. A fire, oh no! The only thing valuable that we learned from that was that Dave Williams' plan involves Mike. Revenge about something related to his time in prison, perhaps. Susan is back with Jackson, which I'm really curious about because of the aforementioned Gale Harold accident. Katherine is sleeping with Mike, which I think is lame because, as Bree perfectly put it, women don't do that to each other. Gaby has been dealing with a rich old lady who wants to control the Solis family with her money. I saw a preview in which a doctor told Carlos that his sight may be restored and Gaby doesn't want him to open his eyes and see her diminished attractiveness, which I am very intrigued to see.

Dexter rocked my world with this past episode. I thought I had pegged Miguel Prado (Jimmy Smits), and then I had the rug pulled out from under me. Dexter feels very betrayed, which cannot end well for the instigator of that betrayal... The wedding is fast approaching. Deb has been working tirelessly on the Skinner case was driven to solve it out of desperation when her new boyfriend, Anton, was taken and about to be killed. Do I see a shield coming her way? Harry has become incorporated into the story in a new way- Dexter no longer remembers the lessons of his father in flashback form, he envisions him in fantasy form as a sounding board for ideas in his head.

The Office. Pam is back so she and Jim can have happy in-love moments again. That's the only thing important to mention.

Grey's Anatomy has understandably been weirding people out with its Izzie-Denny love story. I am slightly ashamed to say that I have enjoyed it, but I admit that I'll take Jeffrey Dean Morgan in whatever way I can get him. There was some drama with the interns performing surgeries on each other to learn the procedures. Cristina and Dr. Hunt are slowly but sweetly being drawn together.

And, finally, I'd like to take this opportunity to honor Pushing Daisies, which is definitely at an end. Such a beautiful, heartfelt little show that presented love in a unique way that will never be replicated. I will miss the Private Investigator and Digby and adorable Olive Snook, but most of all I will miss the Piemaker and the way he loved the girl named Chuck. I hear the 13th and final episode concludes with frustrating ambiguity, but thanks to showrunner Bryan Fuller, we have the reassurance of satisfaction with a possible comic book series and feature film.

I'm not quite sure what my next tv plans are. Obviously I'll watch the last episodes of everything before the December break kicks in fully. I'm sure I will watch 1 or 2 new shows. Most likely The Wire and something else. My sister is pushing me to watch True Blood, but I don't know if I can resist comparing it to my already beloved vampire show. We'll see. 'Tis the season, for enjoying new television shows and all sorts of wonderful things.

Bones

2008-11-18T14:13:00.009-06:00

I do have a few friends that have watched Bones from the beginning. Every single one of them is a Buffy fan, so I thought, "They're only watching it because David Boreanaz is in it. Who needs another procedural?" Then I became a Buffy fan and knew that I would have to watch it to see as much of that charming man as I could. I mean, have you seen him? ---------------->

Anyways, I put it on my list of "Shows to watch," which you'd think was pretty short, given how freakin' much I've already seen, but it's not... (about 20 shows to go, and always growing). Once I was finished with episode 3, "A Boy in the Tree," Bones had already exceeded all the expectations I had for it. It's funny and smart and sweet and ridiculous. The cases are never boring, although they are admittedly sometimes difficult to stomach- the man dissolving in the tub of lye, the woman smeared along an elevator shaft, many people that have had larvae crawling all over them! My favorite aspect of the show is, of course, the relationship between Bones and Booth. Anyone would say that. But, unlike most, I am perfectly content with the way things are. They are partners who have complete trust and would do anything for each other. There is definitely love there, but it doesn't have to be romantic to be special. Everything I see on the internet from fans is about wanting them to finally be together. But, if you watch the progression of things throughout the 3 and a half seasons, Booth and Bones each have different romantic interests coming and going- their partnership is the only constant. There have been little moments, as well as huge ones, that show how important they are to each other. Some of the best:

-When she made him mac & cheese

-When he gave her a Christmas tree

-When she was buried alive and he wouldn't give up until he found her and he ran to where she was and dug her out of the ground with his bare hands

-When they hug (every time)

-When he blocked her from a bullet

-When he allowed himself to be tortured because he needed to give her time to find him

Sure, their kiss under the mistletoe was fantastic. Would I be happy if they fell in love Absolutely. And the way they deny that they have feelings for each other leads me to believe that it will probably happen eventually. But I'm okay with what they have now. I would never want their partnership to be ruined if they slept together too soon or something like that. The important thing is how they have grown as individuals because of their working together. Bones is still socially awkward- much too rational and direct (which, by the way, Emily Deschanel plays perfectly- my favorite example being the one with the midget from the State Department, "See, even you don't want to hurt his tiny feelings...If a regular-sized person tried to intimidate you, you'd threaten to kick him through the window. But because in his case, it's an actual, physical possibility..."). Booth has softened her up by teaching her about the parts of the human experience that she can't understand from bones. He's still brash and instinct-driven, but she has made him appreciate the intellectual side of things.

As for romance, I am 100% in support of Angela (Michaela Conlin) and Hodgins (TJ Thyne). They care about each other so much, and I really hope they get back together soon. The rest of the supporting cast is great, too. I do miss Zach (Eric Millegan) because his awkwardness was hilarious (Zach: Sometime when you're not busy, I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about sexual positions. Booth: If you even try, I will take out my gun and shoot you between the eyes). I have to concede, though, that I was spoiled on his involvement with the Gormagon killer in Season 3. As a result, I never let myself get very attached to him. I wish that I had not accidentally seen that secret online before I started watching because the impact would have been significantly more powerful. I used to be annoyed by Tamara Taylor's character, Dr. Camille Saroyan. She came in at the beginning of Season 2 and acted like she owned the place. I didn't like her relationship with Booth, either. Now, though, she has been fully integrated into the group, and I've started to really like her. This season has given her the opportunity to provide some comic relief as we see her interacting with all the interns coming through the Jeffersonian. My favorite was the tall emo guy ("You're bringing me down, Eeyore"). I think Ryan O'Neal has done a wonderful job as Bones' con man father, Max Keenan. He comes in and out of the story, always managing to provide an interesting perspective on Bones' character.

The best development in the show, since the end of Season 2, has been the psychiatrist element, starting with Stephen Fry in a recurring role and then bringing in John Francis Daley as a series regular. Putting Bones and Booth in "Partners Therapy" makes for very amusing moments with Dr. Sweets, who also helps on some of their cases with criminal profiling. In addition to being adorable, Sweets studies their relationship, talks them through their issues, and is able to say some of the things we, the audience, are thinking about our 2 beloved characters-

Sweets: Are you normally this protective of him, Dr. Brennan?

Bones: We are partners. Our lives depend on being protective of each other.

Sweets: And you feel the same way, Agent Booth?

Booth: Sweets, I can only hope that one day you know what a real partnership is.

My favorite episodes:

1) "Aliens in a Spaceship," 2.09- Bones and Hodgins get buried alive by the Gravedigger.

2) "The Man in the Fallout Shelter," 1.09- The Jeffersonian team is quarantined over

Christmas.

3) "The Girl in the Fridge," 1.08- Bones is an expert witness for the prosecution and has to show her humanity, not her intelligence, to convict a murdering, sex fetish couple.

4) "The Baby in the Bough," 3.12- Bones and Booth take care of Andy, a baby who swallowed evidence. (Awesome moment when the baby starts crying and Bones gets him to laugh by waving her fingers around saying, "Dancing phalanges!")

5) "The Wannabe in the Weeds," 3.14- Booth gets a stalker who tries to shoot Bones.

6) "Two Bodies in the Lab," 1.15- Booth gets hurt by a bomb meant to kill Bones. While he is in the hospital, she gets kidnapped and almost killed, but Booth saves her. At the end, she cancels a date to hang out with him in the hospital.

7) "The Woman in the Sand," 2.08- Booth and Bones go to Las Vegas where they uncover a series of organized crime murders. Booth goes undercover as a boxer to find out who is responsible.

8) "The Boy in the Shroud," 2.03- The death of a teenage boy reveals some harsh truths about

the foster care system and Bones' past.

9) "The Widow's Son in the Windshield," 3.01- With Zach gone off to Iraq, Bones doesn't seem to want to work with Booth anymore, but a new cannibalistic killer is introduced, which requires them to talk through things and reaffirm the value of their partnership.

10) "The He in the She," 4.07- Bones and Booth investigate the murder of a transsexual, once a male televangelist preacher with a wife and son who became a female preacher of an small church that welcomed everyone from criminals to homosexuals. This episode had a hilarious Cam + intern moment-

Vincent: Triangular pubis, no evidence of a ventral arc. The pelvic bone speaks, it says, "I be male."

Cam: The pelvic bone can say whatever it wants to say, this part here says female.

Vincent: What part's that?

Cam: It's called a vagina.

"Aliens in a Spaceship" video

One of MANY fan vids about these 2. I like this one a lot because the song isn't too sappy, plus it includes most of the amazing clips I could think of

Fringe & Life on Mars

2008-11-12T23:38:00.007-06:00

I'm sorry it's been a quiet week from me- I have been enjoying another one of those intense marathons that consumes my time and thoughts, to the point that I can't really even think about any other show. I have to keep watching until I finish, even if it means missing a show or 2 and having to catch up later on my DVR. It's totally worth it, though, because I find that these connections I make with new shows are the reasons that my love for television continues to grow. I fully realize that shows are meant to be watched incrementally- one week at a time and with frustrating commercial breaks every 10-15 minutes- and I can see the value in that. Things have time to sink in, and you are forced to reflect and speculate as you wait the 7 days required to bring you to the next part of the story. I've met people who feel like it is too late for them to watch LOST because they weren't there in the beginning and trying to watch all 4 seasons would be a very difficult undertaking. But the benefit of a marathon is that you dedicate part of your life to this show and come out on the other side having experienced this whole other world of characters and their stories. So for the past 6 days, I have been in the world of Bones, only coming up for air to go to work. That meant that tonight, I got to watch my first episode on FOX with all the regular Bones-watchers. It was very exciting, and I have much to say about the show in my next post, but the purpose of this entry is to talk about new Fall shows.

Few will disagree with me, I think, when I say that the slate has not been very impressive. Not very many things were picked up, and of the ones that were, I only paid attention to a couple (I try to pretend like all the awful new comedies and reality shows don't exist because it makes me lose a little faith in humanity). I was interested in the much-hyped new show from J.J. Abrams, Fringe, and the remake of the British cop drama, Life on Mars. Much to my surprise, the results were the opposite of what I anticipated. I had doubts about how good Life on Mars would be because, in spite of the fact that I found the premise fascinating, the network saw the pilot and picked it up. However, they called for a makeover of the show several months ago- this meant new casting and new writing, which does not inspire a lot of hope. Just like when the release date of a movie keeps getting pushed back, you think it must be really bad if

they don't want people to see it yet. Well, I had always heard positive things about the British version, so I watched the pilot to get a feel for it. A modern-day cop named Sam Tyler gets hit by a car and wakes up in the 1970's in different clothes. He tries to wake himself up, but nothing works. He's still a cop. Everyone thinks he's crazy because he talks about the future. Occasionally he hears the sounds of a heart monitor. If he is in a coma, and everything around him is all happening in his sub-conscious, he doesn't know how to escape. He does the only thing he can- his job- hoping that something will show him why he is in 1973. I decided to go ahead and watch the American version, if only to compare it to the UK pilot and to see Harvey Keitel and Jason O'Mara and Michael Imperioli. I put it to my "5 episode test"- in my experience, I have been able to tell whether or not I am attached to a new show in 5 episodes or less. Sometimes I'll think a show is well-made or unique, but I have to get that feeling in my gut that lets me know that I care what happens to the characters. Life on Mars passed that test in episode 3, "My Maharishi Is Bigger than Your Maharishi," when Sam solves the murder of a Vietnam veteran who had realized that he was gay while he was overseas. He had a relationship with one of his fellow soldiers, and when they returned home, he wanted to stop living a lie and come clean to his wife and son. The other soldier killed him. Sam intended to tell the victim's wife the truth, but the son came into the room to hear why his father had been killed. Sam looked at the little boy and said that it was because of his bravery and honor that he had died. "Sometimes the most intolerant among us are also the most afraid." I also loved the next episode where Sam came into contact with his mother and had to protect her from a very powerful crook. Harvey Keitel, who plays Sam's boss, gave a great performance in that episode as a man whose life is being changed for the better by Sam's presence in 1973.

So Life on Mars caught me off guard in a good way. Fringe, on the other hand, turned out to be a surprising disappointment. As angry as I still am at J.J. about Alias, I will not deny that his visionary storytelling greatly appeals to me. I would not want to miss out on something just because I resent the way he dropped Sydney Bristow. After watching 5 episodes of Fringe, I am sad to see that he compromised his style because of network demands. What J.J. does well is serialized storytelling- characters evolve, events occur that have repercussions later.

Everything is connected, so that the viewer is required to stick with the show week after week, but the payoff is worth it. Well, I'm sure FOX said something along the lines of, "We want each episode to be self-contained so that the audience can watch anytime and understand what's going on." This is a valid wish, for just another procedural, but Fringe could have been more. Instead it's a boring and forgettable hour of television. The paranormal cases dealt with are not all that unusual and attention-grabbing. A man who controls machines and accidentally kills a bunch of people in an elevator crash. Brian K. Vaughan's Ex Machina comic book does it better. A silver cylinder appears at the site of an explosion and someone who can read minds kills anyone associated with it. A strange man with no eyebrows is introduced as "The Observer" of all these weird events. I was drawn in a bit by episode 2, "The Same Old Story," in which a woman gets pregnant, delivers her baby within minutes, and shortly after that, the newborn has aged 80 years and died. I will say this for it- the pilot was classic J.J. Granted, this meant that I totally called the ending (having Olivia's lover turn out to have a secret agenda that makes him the enemy of the FBI was so Alias Season 1 with Syd and Noah, a.k.a., "The Snowman"), but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It was also the only episode in which Anna Torv seemed to express any emotion whatsoever. I don't see how you can go from Keri Russell, to Jennifer Garner (and even to Evangeline Lilly, although I barely want to give any credit to J.J. for LOST because I feel like the props should go to Damon, who stays with his

projects), to Anna Torv. She gives a very uninvolved performance. She loses the man she loves and doesn't appear to grieve, so why should I? Joshua Jackson's character is charismatic, but I attribute that to his own personality, not to the material he is given. John Noble is funny at times as the insane, but brilliant, scientist who helps solve the cases. Mostly, though, he is just over-the-top and nonsensical. The writers clearly try to attract people's interest with "The Pattern," but that's just a ploy to make them believe that everything is connected in this show just as in all of J.J.'s other shows. I gave it a shot, but I was unimpressed.

Next time, Bones!

The ULTIMATE Post, Part 2

2008-11-04T16:29:00.021-06:00

Okay, I'm back for the second round! At first, I thought I was a little weak, having to split my catch-up post into 2 parts, but then I realized that I had been working on that first one for about 4 hours... One more thing before I get started- Happy Election Day! I'm just glad it's finally here so that, whatever the outcome, the new administration can get to work trying to help our country (and the world- because after seeing firsthand how much Europeans care about who our President is, I know that America's actions affect everybody). And tonight, I will not even mind that Tuesday is a boring night, television-wise, because I will be watching my favorite news anchor, Brit Hume, doing commentary on the vote returns. Love that man.

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

The ULTIMATE Post, Part 1

2008-11-01T12:43:00.023-05:00

Hello, wonderful readers! It has been exactly 1 week since I returned from my European adventure. I feel well-rested after 3 months of exhaustion (totally worth it, though). In addition to lots of sleep, I have been steadily making my way through all the television that I missed while I was gone. I finished with all my shows a couple days ago and have since turned my attention to the new Fall shows that I have heard good things about. Almost done with those, so that post will come soon. By the time Sunday night rolls around, I will be just like every other tv-viewer again: watching shows one episode at a time and having to wait an entire week before the stories continue. To tell you the truth, I'm looking forward to it. It gives structure and normality to my life to be back on my tv schedule. I'm not even kidding, most of the time when I was traveling in Europe, I didn't even know what day it was.So here begins my quick (but remarkably thorough and poignant, of course!) recap of everything that went down over the past 3 months.

The Closer- This show has really started gaining in popularity and critical acclaim. It is for this reason, I'm sure, that the network ordered a bigger season and decided to split it into 2 halves of 10 episodes each. What they had been doing since Season 2 was showing 13 episodes in the Summer and then a 2-hour special finale in December. I loved this setup and thought it

worked really well. This new arrangement, though, means that we get more episodes, which can only be a good thing. So the first part of Season 4 aired from July to September. I would say that my favorite episodes were:

1) "Time Bomb," episode 10- They seriously stepped it up for the mid-season finale. The body of a teenager is found, which leads to the uncovering of a terrorist plot involving the dead boy and one of his friends at school. Brenda seems to have figured out everything, but as she is tying up a loose end, she realizes that a third boy was involved and that he was about to launch an attack on the mall. Her team goes into action to stop him, and Sanchez is shot while acting as a human shield for Lt. Provenza.

2) "Dial M for Provenza," episode 5- Lt. Provenza goes undercover and is hired by a woman (played by Jennifer Coolidge) to kill her husband. The evidence gets stolen, and hilarity ensues.

3) "Sudden Death," episode 7- Heartbreaking. Sanchez's younger brother is killed, so it becomes a very personal case that Brenda and the squad are determined to solve.

4) "Controlled Burn," episode 1- For the reasons that I mentioned in my previous post, mainly Jason O'Mara's return as Billy Kroelig.

5) "Split Ends," episode 8- The death of a hairdresser in Hollywood. I liked this one a lot because Brenda's parents were visiting, pressing Brenda and Fritz to set a date for the wedding and start having kids.

Mad Men- Season 2 presented interesting journeys for all the characters, and slowly but surely, the past was unraveled. We got to learned what Peggy went through in the hospital after she had her baby. We met another person connected to Don's former life as Dick Whitman. We saw some of what Betty's family life had been when she had to return home to see her father after he had a stroke. Pete's humanity was developed more, through his interactions with his wife, Trudy, and their attempts to get pregnant, as well as through his father's death in a plane crash (on an airline that Sterling Cooper represented). My favorite episodes:

1) "The Mountain King," episode 12- Don is AWOL from Sterling Cooper after his business trip to California. He stays there for a few weeks with an old friend, Anna Draper (the wife of the real Don Draper), remembering all the things he missed from his life and trying to decide what is most important when he returns to New York.

2) "Meditations in an Emergency," episode 13- Betty finds out that she's pregnant. Don finally comes home. Peggy tells Pete that he got her pregnant and that she gave the child up for adoption. The future of Sterling Cooper and its employees is uncertain after a merger.

3) "Six Month Leave," episode 9- Everyone is dealing with the news that Marilyn Monroe committed suicide. We see once again what kindred spirits Don and Peggy are.

-I thought this season was great, but I didn't love the first half of the season because Don's affair with Bobbie was very jarring for me. Don Draper is a fascinating man, but I like him the most when he's being honorable- which, to me, always seems to be when he's with his family- or when he's being brilliant- which happens when he's working on an ad campaign. I do not like him when he is having affairs.

Desperate Housewives-

The 5-year leap forward has created an abundance of material for them to address this year in Season 5, some of it good and some of it bad. I don't enjoy this season as much as I did Season 4, and certainly not as much as Season 1 (still one of the best stand-alone seasons of television that I've ever had the pleasure of watching). Nevertheless, I am invested enough in these characters' lives to continue watching, and I have found some of it to be very interesting. These are the current stories of each housewife:Susan- She and Mike are recently divorced. They broke up because, one night as they were driving to dinner for their anniversary, they got into a collision that killed the woman and child in the other car. Susan's guilt caused her and Mike to fight until they just couldn't be together anymore. Upset over the failure of her marriage to the man who was undoubtedly the love of her life, she began sleeping with the guy who was painting her house, Jackson (played by Gale Harold). At first, they both just wanted a physical relationship, but his feelings for her began to grow. When he broached the subject of his moving in, she refused. He realized that even though he loved her, she never wanted to be with him long-term, so he left. (This may or may not be the last we will see of Jackson, but it is for the time being because the actor was recently in a motorcycle accident and suffered severe injuries.) Meanwhile, Mike is still in the picture for M.J., his and Susan's adorable 5-year old son. In the last episode we saw, he began renting Mary Alice Young's old house right across the street from Susan so that he could be closer to his kid.

Bree- This woman has been through more than any of her friends, from Rex's death, to her alcoholism, to the terrible things her children have done. In flashbacks, we have seen that Orson went to prison for 3 years so Bree would forgive him for what he did to Mike. While he was gone, Danielle returned. She had gotten her life together and married a lawyer, and she took Benjamin away. Things really couldn't get worse for her. So, for some balance in Bree's life, Marc Cherry has improved her situation substantially. She runs a successful catering business with Katherine. She just released a cook book. Her son, Andrew, is working as her manager. Orson served his time in jail and has returned home. On the surface, everything seems to be great, but, up-close, her seemingly perfect life has many problems (Isn't that what this show is about, after all?). Her success has made her friends jealous. Katherine, in particular, resents her because they were supposed to be partners but Bree has gotten all the credit. Orson is mad that she didn't fight harder to keep Benjamin.

Lynette- Zzzzz. Oh, I'm sorry, what was I saying? Perhaps how bored I have been with

Lynette's story this season? Honestly, I don't understand how they could let Felicity Huffman go from having the best and most complicated arc in Season 1 that let her explore all the nuances of a "desperate housewife," to this snooze fest. Lynette's experiences in seasons 2-4 were intensely dramatic, bordering on ridiculous. Tom discovered that he had a daughter named Kayla from a one-night stand before they met. Kayla's mom died in a hostage situation at the local supermarket, during which Lynette was also shot, so Kayla had to come live with them. Kayla turned out to be a demon child that hated Lynette and pretended that she had been abused so that Lynette would get taken away. Tom decided to leave the advertising business and open a pizza parlor. Lynette quit her job, too, so she could help him run it. They hired a cook for the restaurant, and Lynette sort of fell in love with him. Lynette got cancer. A tornado demolished her house. It's just too much! But the alternative has been to make her story irrelevant. Oh no, her teenage sons get wild sometimes. Oh no, her husband is going through a mid-life crisis. Blah.

Gaby- And the winner of the "Housewife with the story I am not annoyed or bored with" award is...Gabrielle Solis! What a fantastic idea to take the stunningly beautiful woman who was all about the material things in life and to turn her into a mother, now too tired to worry about her appearance. We have gotten to see a whole new side of her, as she takes care of her 2 daughters and Carlos with more love than we knew she possessed. She hasn't completely changed, though. Upset that she was losing her social status, she and Carlos crashed a party at the country club. Bringing her blind husband in through the service entrance because she hadn't told him that they were not really invited, she wanted enough people to see her there so that they thought she was still somebody, but she stayed too long and Carlos was thrown out by security. We saw last week that Gaby's period was late. She was getting angry, and her daughter Juanita asked her why: "Mommy has a friend who visits her every month, and she's late. And that's bad because she's the one who assures me that you won't get a baby brother or sister. Mommy really misses her friend, and Mommy's going to be sad if she doesn't show up soon. Now go downstairs and play, Mommy has some praying to do." At the end of the episode, Carlos told her that he was hoping they would have a baby boy. After seeing how much Gaby has grown as a person, I hope that happens, too.

-Unfortunately, Nicollette Sheridan and Dana Delany have been vastly underused this season. Edie returned to Wisteria Lane after her expulsion 5 years ago because her new husband insisted that she mend her relationships with her former friends- and bringing her back seemed to be just an excuse to introduce him. This husband, Dave Williams (played by Neal McDonough), is our obligatory dose of creepy this season. All we know about him is that he recently got out of a mental institution because he has rage issues. He puts on the air of a very calm guy who wants to assist everyone on the road to self-improvement, but he has released his irrational anger a couple times. We don't know why he wants so badly to be on Wisteria Lane, but he has a plan that somehow involves being in a band with Tom and Mike. Katherine has not had anything to do this season except to resent Bree. It's so tragic- I want more Dana Delany!

Brothers & Sisters- I am sad to say that I have not been drawn in by Season 3. It's the kind of thing where I will watch it if I have time, but if I miss it, I probably will just read the recap the next day. Kitty and Robert are in the process of adopting a child. Justin and Rebecca are in the early stages of their relationship. Kevin has quit his job at his law firm because he wanted to make partner but his bosses were having issues

with the fact that he's gay. Sarah quit Ojai and is now adjusting to being a stay-at-home mom. Saul quit, too. The entire Walker family is curious about Ryan, but we haven't met him yet. (They're saving him for November sweeps, of course.) Whatever...

Dexter- The best aspect of this show is still (and will forever be) Michael C. Hall. Nobody except Dexter has anything particularly interesting

going on. Deb still wants to get her Detective badge. Some cop girl keeps trying to get her to spy on one of her fellow officers. She keeps denying that she will ever be a rat. Angel made Sergeant. Masuka wants more respect. Nothing of consequence for any of them, really. Dexter, on the other hand, is dealing with something huge- he's going to be a father. This took a long time for him to come to terms with. How could a man with no emotions help raise a child and teach him/her anything about life in this world? But he's sticking by Rita and preparing himself for the responsibility because, in spite of his sociopathic nature, he knows that he is not completely bad man. He would do anything for Rita and Cody and Astor and his future son or daughter. He even proposed to Rita and is getting ready to join his new family in a new house, knowing that he will have to sacrifice the freedom and independence he has always possessed. On the "Dark Passenger" side of things, Dexter accidentally killed a man in the premiere who got in the way of getting his intended victim. This man turned out to be Oscar Prado, the younger brother of Sheriff Ramon Prado and Assistant District Attorney Miguel Prado. Miguel (played by Jimmy Smits) has remarkably become the closest thing Dexter has ever had to a best friend. The crazy thing is that he understands who Dexter is- he does not know that Dexter killed his brother, but he knows that he brings bad people to justice- and believes that he is doing good. I wish that there were more interesting storylines for the supporting characters, but I guess you can't ask for everything.

Chuck- I am absolutely loving Season 2 of Chuck.

It is my probably my favorite show at the moment because, somehow, they have gotten me to the point where I am in love with every single character and care so much about what they are going through. All the episodes have been as enjoyable as the last, not to mention an impressive list of guest stars, from Nicole Ritchie and Ben Savage in "Chuck vs. the Cougars," to Michael Clarke Duncan in "Chuck vs. the First Date" and Michael Strahan of the NY Giants in "Chuck vs. the Break-Up." I don't know how long he will be staying for, but Tony Hale (Buster from Arrested Development) was introduced last week as the new Assistant Manager at the Buy More. He is hi-larious. If I had to pick, I would say my favorite episode thus far has been "Chuck vs. the Seduction," in which Melinda Clarke from The O.C. played a

woman called "The Black Widow," whom Chuck was supposed to seduce. A suave, older gentleman agent came in to help Chuck on his romance tactics. Everything this season has been building towards a way to get the Intersect out of Chuck's head, even though we know that once that happens, Casey has been assigned to kill Chuck because he knows too much of the government's secrets.

(In other Josh Schwartz news, I have abandoned his other show, the ever-trendy Gossip Girl. I just can't take anymore of the ludicrous web of relationships and teen angst and the struggles of that unfortunate life on the glamorous Upper East Side. I do miss Chuck Bass, though, so I read the weekly recaps to see how much tension there can be between him and Blair.)

Heroes- Welcome back to the show I became addicted to in its spectacular first season! Everything has been turned upside down: there is a formula for a drug that gives abilities to non-heroes. Mohinder has taken it and is now quite powerful, and evil. Mr. Petrelli was revealed to be the top villain- he steals people's powers. For Adam Monroe, this meant that he disintegrated from his supernaturally long life (Farewell, David Anders! It was nice while we had you!). Peter Petrelli is now powerless. Sylar appears to have had a change of heart after discovering that he is actually a Petrelli. With this newfound family, he has started trying suppress his hunger for understanding and power and has (almost) stopped killing. He has been working for the Company as HRG's partner, hunting down people with dangerous abilities. As much as I love HRG, he keeps trying to kill Sylar, refusing to trust that he, or anyone else, might have changed. This has begun to make Claire doubt her father (I have disagreed with some of his decisions, as well, but he reminds me too much of Spy Daddy to make me question his motives- those kinds of dads always want to protect their daughters first and foremost). As for Sylar, I would say that I think this change of heart is all an act to acquire even more powers, but Peter went to the future and Sylar was a sweet, loving father of a little boy. I don't know what's going on with Claire. In the future, she was a cold-hearted killer. Her disillusionment is happening gradually. Ali Larter has lived on, but not as Niki- she is her sister (separated at birth) and has the ability to freeze things. Nathan survived being shot (by Future Peter, as it turned out) and believes that he was saved by God. He is now serving the people as the Junior Senator from New York. Matt Parkman, usually a moral compass, is now a bit of a wuss. He went on a spirit walk in Africa and saw his future in which he was the father of a baby girl and was married to the speedster, Daphne. In the present day, though, she is a

villain working for Mr. Petrelli, and Parkman wants so badly to get to that happy future that he is allowing her to trick him into thinking she has changed her ways. Wake up, Parkman! With everything that's gone on, it's hard to distinguish between who is good and who is bad, a line that Heroes has always blurred, especially in this, its Villains chapter. The only person I have faith in is Hiro, who is still trying to pursue his destiny as a hero who saves the world.

-The coolest thing about this season: we finally learned Mrs. Petrelli's power! She dreams the future. That is awesome.

Coming soon: my take on Samantha Who?, Pushing Daisies, Private Practice, Friday Night Lights, The Office, and Grey's Anatomy

Cheers! from England

2008-09-11T04:26:00.004-05:00

I'm currently procrastinating in my room here at Lincoln College, Oxford, and thinking about all the shows that are about to start back up (or have already started) that I wish I could be watching. Don't get me wrong, I have loved my trip so far. I have been to Edinburgh, Scotland; Dublin, Ireland; Cardiff, Wales; and all over England. And next Saturday I'll be leaving for a tour of France, Italy, Germany, and Belgium. I know that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. But I can't just not think about the start of the television season.

Anyways, in case you were wondering, here is what I would be watching if I were back in the US:
Sundays-
Desperate Housewives, 8 PM on ABC, premieres Sept. 28
Brothers & Sisters, 9 PM on ABC, premieres Sept. 28
DVR- Dexter, airs 8 PM on Showtime, premieres Sept. 28

Mondays-
Chuck, 7 PM on NBC, premieres Sept. 29
Heroes, 8 PM on NBC, premieres Sept. 22
DVR- Samantha Who?, 8:30 PM on ABC, premieres Oct. 6

Tuesdays-
Fringe, 8 PM on FOX, premiered Sept. 9

Wednesdays-
Private Practice, 7 PM on ABC, premieres Oct. 1
Pushing Daisies, 8 PM on ABC, premieres Oct. 1
DVR- Friday Night Lights, 8 PM on DirecTV, premieres Oct. 1

Thursdays-
The Office, 8 PM on NBC, premieres Sept. 25
DVR- Grey's Anatomy, 8 PM on ABC, premieres Sept. 25

I will be so excited to watch everything that I've missed when I get home at the end of October, but, I'm telling you right now, I will be watching The Office premiere on my computer over here. It's always interesting to me which shows I am most eager to see after the Summer hiatus, and this year, The Office takes it. Followed very closely by Chuck. So I will be in Beaune, France, on the 25th, and I don't care if I have to sit for hours in a McDonald's using the Wi-Fi, I'm going to figure out a way to watch that first episode.

Mad Men Season 2 Premiere

2008-07-29T01:28:00.004-05:00

Mad Men picked up 2 years after where the first season ended, which could have been very frustrating/confusing. The episode was, on the contrary, a thoughtful look into the characters' lives and the ways in which they (and the world) have changed. Peggy has become a copy writer. She's clearly proud of her accomplishments and her ability to break free from the secretary cycle, yet her male coworkers continue to treat her with the same disrespect. That much of the world has remained unchanged- women are still less intelligent and less important than the biggest moron among men. Speaking of Pete Campbell, he seems to be trying to actually take care of his wife now. I mean, he hasn't stopped being a petulant child, but he appears to have settled into a comfortable life as a husband. Don is beginning to realize that he is getting older. Not only does he feel it in his body, but he feels it at Sterling Cooper, too. He gets pressured into looking for younger writers to bring a fresh voice to the ad campaigns.

Meanwhile, Betty has taken up horseback riding lessons... She's found a few more people to talk to so she doesn't have to share her feelings with a little boy. Her relationship with Don has become more like what she thought she wanted, but problems have arisen that make her think about what she really wants.

Not a very lively premiere, but that was just fine with me. I enjoyed the pensive feel to the episode, even if I didn't find out what the deal is with Peggy's baby or witness any office drama.

**Well, this will be my last entry for a while. In 12 hours, I will be on a flight to Scotland to begin 3 months of study in Europe. I'm not sure how I'll adjust to the lack of television in my life, but I look forward to an amazing experience full of beautiful things to see outside the small screen (I've heard that it exists, this world away from t.v. Hmmm.... Curious). When I get back, you can be sure that I will work through everything I missed and let you know my insightful thoughts. Until then, happy viewing!

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

2008-07-22T19:38:00.004-05:00

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog was certainly the most entertaining internet super-villain musical I've ever seen. And that's saying something!

This endeavor was undertaken by Joss with a couple things in mind. He came up with it during the writers' strike to show people and the networks how much you could do through the internetz medium. He also wanted to have control over the entire process so that he could make it as silly and fun as possible. Dr. Horrible was written by Joss, his brothers (Jed and Zack), and Jed's fiancee (Maurissa Tancheroen). The majority of the crew was made up of people Joss has worked with over the years. 2 of the 3 lead actors were Whedon alums- Firefly's Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Nathan Fillion, and Buffy's Potential Slayer "Vi," Felicia Day. The only newbie was Neil Patrick Harris, who ended up being the heart of the show (in my opinion). My favorite story that Joss has told in all the interviews for Dr. Horrible was about his phone call to Neil asking him to play Dr. Horrible. Apparently he was really nervous about it, but Neil said yes before he had even finished the question. Joss then proceeded to get defensive about it, saying, "No, no, it's really going to be good..." And Neil was like, "I already said yes!"

The show was released in 3 acts, each one about 13 minutes long. They came out on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday of last week and were available for viewing on the internet until Sunday. Joss said he planned it that way so that it would be like a special event that people would have to watch during the allotted window. Well, surprisingly to him but not to me, so many people showed up to the event on Tuesday that www.drhorrible.com crashed. After a few hours and a message of gratitude, the site was up and running again on a server that could handle the stampede of Whedon fans. I read that there were about 1,000 hits per second. The top 3 television episodes on iTunes for the past 3 days have been Acts I, II, and III. Needless to say, people love it. There has already been a flood of questions to Joss about whether he would do a sequel or a movie.

About the actual show itself: I (obviously) loved it. My favorite songs were "My Freeze Ray" and "My Eyes." Neil's voice is absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed seeing Nathan play the cheesy "hero," Captain Hammer, and his singing pleasantly surprised me. Felicia's Penny was absolutely heart-breaking. The cameos from Buffy/Angel writers were AWESOME. I get so excited when those brilliant people get screen time. David Fury and Marti Noxon got to show off their voices again after the Buffy musical episode, "Once More with Feeling," as newscasters. Doug Petrie made an appearance at the end of Act III, as did Drew Goddard as "Fake Thomas Jefferson" in the Evil League of Evil. That's just the greatest thing ever.

Dr. Horrible was something quite unique. Not just because it was the first of its kind, but because I don't think the result could ever be replicated. I'm sure that others will try and find that they can't create the same excitement or viewership. Joss Whedon has a devoted fanbase unlike any other I've ever seen, and I think the reason is because he wants the cult following. He embraces the obsessiveness that his work inspires in people because that's how he is about things that he loves, too.

And possibly my favorite news ever: For the DVD extras, Joss is writing a freakin' musical commentary. I can't say enough how he is basically the coolest guy on the planet.

Audio for "My Eyes." (The only reason I feel okay in putting this up is because I already bought all 3 acts on iTunes and will buy the DVD when it comes out...Don't get mad at me, Joss!)

The Closer Season 4 Premiere

2008-07-19T18:13:00.005-05:00

My beloved summer show has finally come back to me. And what a glorious reunion it was.

The greatest part about The Closer is that it always leaves me craving more. That's why it's so difficult to only have 13 episodes in a season- it's only around for 3 months before it's gone again. Luckily, for the past 2 years they have been doing 2-hour specials in December. Because they have so long to work on them, these episodes tend to be the best.

Anyways, Monday night's episode was great. Brenda had to find out whether a forest fire that killed 3 people was an act of arson. This provided an opportunity for the wonderfully creepy Billy Kroelig to return. Played by Jason O'Mara, Kroelig likes to soak young women in alcohol and set them on fire- and he's never been caught. He is the only murderer who has ever been able to get to Brenda. Whenever he's around, you can just see the tension in her body and the fear in her eyes. Perhaps it's because he's the only criminal who she hasn't been able to catch, the only one who might be smarter than our brilliant Chief Johnson. In the premiere, he didn't even start the fire (that was done by a firefighter played by Charmed's Leo Krause), but that was irrelevant. Maybe for the first time ever, I didn't care who had committed the murder. Kroelig absolutely gave me chills when he took Brenda to the place where the fire started and said that he could still smell the burning flesh.

As for the rest of the season, I hope to see some good storylines for the supporting characters, especially Chief Pope (J.K. Simmons), Sergeant Gabriel (Corey Reynolds), and Lieutenant Provenza (G.W. Bailey). Also, I can't wait to see Frances Sternhagen and Barry Corbin again. As Brenda's parents, Willie Ray and Clay Johnson, they are absolutely perfect. I think they're coming back for 4 episodes. Maybe Brenda and Fritz will finally move into their new house and/or get married...?

Saying Bye to the Emmys

2008-07-17T21:16:00.003-05:00

Feel free to disregard my previous post about how I still care about the Emmys. I no longer do, and here are the reasons why:

1) Mary McDonnell was not nominated for Battlestar. Those Academy voters are lame Sci-Fi haters. Well, guess what, Academy?! I hate you!

2) Two and a Half Men got 7 nominations.

3) Marcia Cross got snubbed. Again.

4) The lack of Friday Night Lights anywhere on this list makes me sick. Kyle Chandler was overlooked, and yet 3-time winner James Spader was nominated. Okay, first of all, I still don't think Boston Legal should be in the Drama category. And secondly, we get the message. Why don't you marry James Spader if you love him so much?!

I wish the best of luck to Michael Emerson, Kyra Sedgwick, Rainn Wilson, and everyone from John Adams. If winning this award is important to you guys, I hope you get it. As for me, I am shunning the Emmys forever. (Shunning...It's an Amish technique. It's like slapping someone with silence.)

For anyone who cares to see the list of nominees, here it is:

COMEDY SERIES
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
The Office
30 Rock
Two and a Half Men

ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men

ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Rainn Wilson, The Office

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Jean Smart, Samantha Who?
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty

GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Will Arnett, 30 Rock
Shelley Berman, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Steve Buscemi, 30 Rock
Tim Conway, 30 Rock
Rip Torn, 30 Rock

GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Polly Bergen, Desperate Housewives
Edie Falco, 30 Rock
Carrie Fisher, 30 Rock
Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives
Sarah Silverman, Monk
Elaine Stritch, 30 Rock

DRAMA SERIES
Boston Legal
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men

ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
James Spader, Boston Legal

ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Glenn Close, Damages
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Ted Danson, Damages
Michael Emerson, Lost
Zeljko Ivanek, Damages
William Shatner, Boston Legal
John Slattery, Mad Men

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Candice Bergen, Boston Legal
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy

GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Charles Durning, Rescue Me
Robert Morse, Mad Men
Oliver Platt, Nip/Tuck
Stanley Tucci, ER
Glynn Turman, In Treatment
Robin Williams, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Ellen Burstyn, Big Love
Diahann Carroll, Grey's Anatomy
Sharon Gless, Nip/Tuck
Anjelica Huston, Medium
Cynthia Nixon, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

MINISERIES
The Andromeda Strain
Cranford
John Adams
Tin Man

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Bernard and Doris
Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter
A Raisin In The Sun
Recount

ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Ralph Fiennes, Bernard And Doris
Ricky Gervais, Extras
Paul Giamatti, John Adams
Kevin Spacey, Recount
Tom Wilkinson, Recount

ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE
Judi Dench, Cranford
Catherine Keener, An American Crime
Laura Linney, John Adams
Phylicia Rashad, A Raisin in the Sun
Susan Sarandon, Bernard And Doris

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Bob Balaban, Recount
Stephen Dillane, John Adams
Denis Leary, Recount
David Morse, John Adams
Tom Wilkinson, John Adams

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Eileen Atkins, Cranford
Laura Dern, Recount
Ashley Jensen, Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
Audra McDonald, A Raisin in the Sun
Alfre Woodard, Pictures Of Hollis Woods

My Inner Struggle: E! Online's Kristin vs. EW's Michael Ausiello

2008-07-11T17:39:00.008-05:00

This post will seem insignificant to people who don't understand why it matters which television journalist I read. Well, let me tell you- it's a big deal! I have my sites that I go to daily to see what is up in the tv world. First and foremost, I check out EW.com. Entertainment Weekly is pretty much the embodiment of everything that I love. Sure, I have a subscription to the magazine. Couldn't I just wait until my mail comes on Friday and read all the articles and news there? WRONG. The website includes 1) awesome little video interviews/previews/etc., 2) recaps of my shows (yes, I already watched them myself, but that's not the point! I like to see what other people think! That's the whole point of this blog entry!), and 3) useless entertainment tidbits that don't make it into the magazine but that I enjoy nonetheless.

Next, I head on over to Whedonesque.com where I can find out any information regarding anyone in the whole Whedon-verse. Seriously, it's insane how on top of things people are over there. Whenever Joss, or somebody involved with Buffy/Angel/Firefly/Astonishing X-Men, has the slightest activity in their life, it gets linked. Or if somebody mentions any of the above in an article, linked. As I have learned these past few months, becoming a fan of Whedon's works is a lifelong experience.

Finally, I peruse Watch with Kristin at E! Online. She has been my primary source of tv scoop for the past 3 years or so. Her relationships with actors and show runners are incredible, so she gets to go on all these super sweet set visits. She puts out a "Spoiler Chat" where she answers fan questions about casting and upcoming storylines, which I have been reading weekly for a long time.

Well, here comes my dilemma: Michael Ausiello, who used to write the tv scoop over at TV Guide.com, has moved to EW. I never used to read him because he is Kristin's "frenemy," as she calls him. They are each other's competition, and I like to be loyal to my peeps. A couple years ago, I did read his column one time just to see what he was like, but I found his attitude to be obnoxious. Now, however, he has become a big part of what I read everyday at EW. He and Kristin report the same things, and I now find his attitude hilarious and his writing superior. This, by itself, wouldn't be enough to make me switch, but in the past 6 months or so, I have found myself increasingly frustrated with Kristin's attention to ridiculous shows. I know that she genuinely loves LOST, The Office, and many of the other shows that I love. But, she also pays a ridiculous amount of attention to shows like One Tree Hill. I get that her readers want coverage. Give them scoop, but don't showcase a lame teenage soap opera with no redeeming qualities! Ausiello, on the other hand, will criticize/ignore awful television, no matter what his readers think. In this case, I feel like I ought to be open-minded and willing to accept that my needs might have changed, rather than trying to be stubbornly loyal to a column that I don't enjoy very much anymore. That is not to say that I won't ever see what's new on "Watch with Kristin" or whether she has any awesome new interviews. But I think my official source for tv news is going to be http://ausiellofiles.ew.com

I have included below (as the first videos ever to be embedded in my blog!) the first installment of "Ausiello TV," as well as one of my favorite "Watch with Kristin" shows.

Just for the record: I'm writing a seemingly pointless blog post like this one because I head to Europe in 18 days. I've only got a couple more entries left to do before I go, and I know how much I (and you!) will miss this blog while I'm gone. So I want to get in as much as I can before J.R.'s Television Thoughts for Your Everyday Life takes a 3-month hiatus. Anyways, that's the reason...

The Bachelorette + So You Think You Can Dance

2008-07-08T23:01:00.013-05:00

Oh, reality television- you are the one thing that can humble me from my occasional tv snobbery. Example: ME "I can't believe you watch that show. Why don't you get some standards?" MY SISTER "Hey, how was The Bachelorette last night?" ME "Point taken." But, for reals, without this stuff that has zero importance in my life and offers no valuable insights into anything except how INSANE people can be, I would be completely adrift with nothing to watch on a weekly basis. Waiting for stuff to return is hard. Especially when your summer shows don't start up until summer's almost over! (You know who you are, The Closer and Mad Men with your ridiculous premiere dates of July 14th and 27th.) What am I supposed to do for the entire month of June? Have a life that doesn't revolve around television?! That's a ludicrous suggestion...

I watched The Bachelorette these past 2 months because I was in the habit after the glory days that were The Bachelor: London Calling. I didn't know who DeAnna was because I hadn't watched Brad's season, but I did enjoy the Trista and Ryan season of The Bachelorette so I thought I'd give this one a try. I kinda wish I hadn't, though, because it resulted in disappointment and heartache for me on more than one occasion! For starters, I was very attached to Brian, the high school football coach from Texas. He was manly, which was a big plus, and he also seemed to be very kind and mature. I saw a lot of potential with him (for myself, but for DeAnna, too, if she had just given him a chance!). Then there was Graham... What is there to say? He was gorgeous. She had more chemistry with him than...something with a lot of chemistry. She let him go after the hometown dates with the last 4 guys. He gave her a letter when they said goodbye. I don't know what it said. I don't want to know what it said. Somehow, that would make everything that they went through mean less. Once it was down to Jason and Jesse, I hoped she would pick Jason, the single dad from Seattle. Instead, she accepted the proposal from the snowboarder who says "rad" way too often. The makings of a long-lasting, adult relationship, I'm sure... Honestly, I don't know how I survived DeAnna's constant crying and emotional outbreaks and repeated speeches about knowing what they went through and wanting them to open up and blah blah blah. I think it just got to the point where I had to watch it because I needed to know what happened to these people. In hindsight, neither DeAnna nor any of the guys filled the void in my life left by the charming Brit, Matt Grant. I think I can safely say that I have been cured of my fascination with this type of show and will never watch it again.

I can't say the same for So You Think You Can Dance because that show is great. I watched a little bit of Season 2 and thought Benji was the most amazing dancer I had ever seen. Season 4 has been equally as amazing and exciting. It's dancing in the purest form: all the contestants are so talented, and they just get better every week. The judges are interesting- granted, Mary Murphy is a hysterical crazy lady, but at least she knows what she's talking about. Nigel Lythgoe is the token British guy. He's harsh, but that just makes his praise worth more. And he does a great Michael Caine impression! The guest judges are choreographers, which makes them awesome. My favorite couple in the beginning was Kherington and Twitch because I loved their energy. They're not the best dancers in the group, but I have fun watching their routines. I still like them, but their spot as my number 1 couple has been taken by Katee and Joshua. Like, whoa. They are simply phenomenal. Their Hip Hop routine was deep and beautiful, their Broadway routine rocked my face off, their Samba was, like, the hottest thing I've ever seen, and their Mia Michaels-choreographed Contemporary routine was way cool. I mean, I didn't really understand it, but there were some freaking sweet moves in there!

SYTYCD is the one reality show that I am not ashamed to watch and will continue to enjoy for years to come.

Joshua & Katee- Samba

Joshua & Katee- Broadway

Joshua & Katee- Bollywood

Joshua- Solo

John Adams

2008-07-03T19:35:00.006-05:00

Fittingly, I spent the past week watching the 7-episode HBO miniseries, John Adams. Paul Giamatti starred as the Founding Father who worked tirelessly to secure liberty for this nation and then spent the greater part of his life ensuring that liberty would be maintained for future generations. Among the last words of the finale are these: "Oh, Posterity, you will never know how much it cost us to preserve your freedom. I hope that you will make a good use of it." There were moments like this throughout the series that made me reflect on how much I freakin' love America
(See: Picture ----->).

The episodes each chronicled important chapters in Adams' life: his defense of the British soldiers after the Boston massacre, his role as a Massachusetts delegate in the first Continental Congress, his time as Minister to France and England, his term as the 2nd President of the United States, and, finally, his quiet later years on his farm, Peacefield. Giamatti was stellar as the brilliant yet flawed Adams, but I was most taken in by the character of Abigail Adams and Laura Linney's portrayal of her. I had no idea of the role that she played in her husband's life- with her strength and intelligence, she advised and supported him in everything that he did, and it is certainly because of her that he was such a spectacular individual.

In addition to inspiring patriotism in every fiber of my being, I marveled at the beauty of this series. Their attention to detail in recreating 18th century America and Europe was incredible. From the costumes to the sets, everything was perfect (And I have that on good authority: David McCullough, the historian who wrote the book on which the series was based, said that in the "Making of" featurette). My absolute favorite part, though, was that they didn't try to romanticize anything. At the end of the first episode, a man gets tarred and feathered in the streets of Boston. The people, too, were shown as they realistically were. Benjamin Franklin was a crackpot as well as a genius. Thomas Jefferson made many mistakes in his life full of distinction and legacies. The Founding Fathers were great men, but they were men. Their judgment was not infallible, and still they managed to establish a nation of freedom and justice that his lasted for more than two centuries under the Constitution that they wrote. We've had problems and been forced to adapt, but the fundamental ideas, for which they sacrificed so much, remain constant.

This series was television at its finest- television that transcends art and make-believe and becomes a window. In this case, it was a window into the most crucial period in our nation's history. Happy Independence Day, people.

Hoping for the Best: The 2008 Emmy Awards

2008-06-28T13:07:00.008-05:00

In spite of last year's pathetic excuse for Emmys, I cannot help but care about the outcomes this year. It would take at least one more year of glaring omissions from the nominations and ridiculous results for the winners to make me stop placing any value in the most prestigious award show for my favorite medium. Every year, I enjoy watching the Oscars, the Golden Globes, and the Screen Actors' Guild Awards, but the greatest hope I have for my beloved television shows/actors/writers/producers/etc., is that they be recognized for their achievements by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. For some reason, those awards hold the most weight. So even though the 2007 Emmys were the most disgraceful spectacle I have ever beheld, I anxiously await the Fall, knowing that not every one of my favorites will end up winning but hoping that excellence will be championed.

One sign that perhaps my hope is not futile: the press release from the ATAS this week revealing their shortlists for the Best Comedy and Drama categories. Obviously this is not the final list of nominees - these will be whittled down to 5- but for the first time ever, it looks like The Wire might have a shot at winning. The critically-acclaimed HBO show throws a spotlight on a group of Baltimore cops trying to infiltrate a drug ring, as well as the criminals on the other side, addressing social and economic issues in the process. After its fifth and final season wrapped up in March, Emmy finally seems to be taking notice (the only other nomination to date for the show was one for Best Writing in 2005). I feel a little silly at the moment... I haven't even watched The Wire yet (it's on my list!), but here I am passionately ranting about its merits. I just strongly believe that the Emmys should reward high-quality work, and this list of finalists for the 2 biggest categories seems like a good sign to me that the awards show this year could get back on track.

TOP 10 COMEDY SERIES FINALISTS
"Curb Your Enthusiasm" ("The Bat Mitzvah")
"Entourage" ("The Day F***ers")
"Family Guy" ("Padre de Famila")
"Flight of the Conchords" ("Sally Returns")
"The Office" ("Local Ad")
"Pushing Daisies" ("Pie-lette")
"30 Rock" ("Cooter")
"Two and a Half Men" ("Rough Night in Hump Junction")
"Ugly Betty" ("Something Wicked This Way Comes")
"Weeds" ("Go").

[I actually did not love the "Local Ad" episode. I didn't think it was nearly as funny as "Chair Model." "Something Wicked This Way Comes" was a good episode in an overall not so good season of Ugly Betty. I'd be thrilled with a win for either Weeds or Flight of the Conchords. Or Pushing Daisies, obviously, but I don't think it's got much of a chance for a shortened first season.]

TOP 10 DRAMA SERIES FINALISTS
"Boston Legal" ("The Court Supreme")
"Damages" (Pilot)
"Dexter" ("The Dark Defender")
"Friday Night Lights" ("Leave No One Behind")
"Grey’s Anatomy" ("Freedom, Parts 1 and 2")
"House" ("Frozen")
"Lost" ("The Constant")
"Mad Men" (Pilot, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes")
"The Tudors" (#205)
"The Wire" (Series finale, "30")

[Although I would be pleased if The Wire took this one, "The Constant" was the most beautifully written episode of LOST possibly ever. And seeing as that's my favorite show on tv right now, I hope they can add another award to the one they earned for the first season.]

TOP 10 BEST DRAMA ACTOR FINALISTS
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment ("Paul and Gina: Week 4")
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights ("Last Day of Summer")
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad ("Pilot")
Patrick Dempsey, Grey's Anatomy ("Freedom, Parts 1 & 2")
Michael C. Hall, Dexter ("There's Something About Harry")
Jon Hamm, Mad Men ("The Wheel")
Eddie Izzard, The Riches ("Last Temptation of Wayne")
Hugh Laurie, House ("House's Head")
Denis Leary, Rescue Me ("Babyface")
James Spader, Boston Legal ("The Court Supreme")

[Note: These are all very talented men, but, I'm sorry, no one deserves this award more than Michael C. Hall. That's not my opinion, that's a fact.]

TOP 10 BEST DRAMA ACTRESS FINALISTS
Patricia Arquette, Medium ( "Aftertaste")
Glenn Close, Damages ("Pilot")
Minnie Driver, The Riches ("Dead Calm")
Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters ("History Repeating")
Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit ("Undercover")
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace ("Tacos, Tulips, Duck and Spices")
Elizabeth Moss, Mad Men ("The Hobo Code")
Mary McDonnell, Battlestar Galactica ("Faith")
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer ("Manhunt")
Jeanne Tripplehorn, Big Love ("Take Me As I Am")

[OHMYGOSH! It's about time they took notice of McDonnell's depth and amazing-ness. "Faith" was an absolutely mind-blowing episode and showcased her ability like never before. I can't imagine them overlooking her performance, even though I thought "Manhunt" was the best episode of The Closer that I had ever seen.]

TOP 10 BEST SUPPORTING DRAMA ACTOR FINALISTS
Naveen Andrews, Lost ("The Economist")
Bruce Dern, Big Love ("Good Guys and Bad Guys")
Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal ("Roe vs. Wade, The Musical")
Ted Danson, Damages ("Jesus, Mary and Joe Cocker")
Michael Emerson, Lost ("The Shape of Things to Come")
Zeljko Ivanek, Damages ("I Hate These People")
T.R. Knight, Grey's Anatomy ("Freedom, Parts 1 & 2")
William Shatner, Boston Legal ("Mad About You")
John Slattery, Mad Men ( "Long Weekend")
Blair Underwood, In Treatment ("Alex: Week 6")
Jake Weber, Medium ("Wicked Game, Part 1")

[And the Emmy goes to...Michael Emerson. (Anything else would be a crime against mankind.)]

TOP 11 (?) BEST SUPPORTING DRAMA ACTRESS FINALISTS
Jane Alexander, Tell Me You Love Me (Episode 10)
Candice Bergen, Boston Legal ("The Mighty Rogues")
Rose Byrne, Damages ("Because I Know Patty")
Jill Clayburgh, Dirty Sexy Money ("The Watch")
Sharon Gless, Burn Notice ("Identity")
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers and Sisters ("Domestic Issues")
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men ("Babylon")
S. Epatha Merkerson, Law and Order ("Bottomless")
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy ("The Becoming")
Dianne Wiest, "In Treatment" ("Paul and Gina: Week ?")
Chandra Wilson, "Grey's Anatomy" ("Lay Your Hands on Me")

[Nothing really to say about this one... I have no contenders in this race.]

TOP 7 BEST COMEDY ACTOR FINALISTS (3 have yet to be decided, which probably means that the 5 nominees will come from these 7 guys)
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock ("Rosemary's Baby")
Steve Carell, The Office ("Goodbye, Toby")
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm ("The Bat Mitzvah")
David Duchovny, Californication ("The Last Waltz")
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies ("Pie-lette")
Tony Shalhoub, Monk ("Mr. Monk and the Naked Man")
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men ("Is There a Mrs. Waffles?")

[I'm completely biased- I think Steve Carell is the funniest person alive- but I still think this one belongs to him.]

TOP 10 BEST COMEDY ACTRESS FINALISTS
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who? ("The Restraining Order")
Marcia Cross, Desperate Housewives ("Now You Know")
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty ("Odor in the Court")
Tina Fey, 30 Rock ("Sandwich Day")
Anna Friel, Pushing Daisies ("Bitter Sweets")
Felicity Huffman, Desperate Housewives ("Now I Know, Don't Be Scared")
Eva Longoria Parker, Desperate Housewives ("In Buddy's Eyes")
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, New Adventures of Old Christine ("One and a Half Men")
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds ("Bill Sussman")
Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program ("Bored of the Rings")

[Hmm... This is a tough one. Anna Friel is adorable as the Pie Maker's darling, Chuck. But, Christina Applegate is outstanding as the amnesiac, Samantha Newly. Or, Marcia Cross, whose Bree has become by far the most interesting housewife on Wisteria Lane. I'd be pleased with any of those three.]

TOP 10 BEST SUPPORTING COMEDY ACTOR FINALISTS
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men ("Meander to Your Dander")
Kevin Dillon, Entourage ("The Dream Team")
Justin Kirk, Weeds ("Bill Sussman")
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother ("The Goat")
John Krasinski, The Office ("Branch Wars")
Jack McBrayer, 30 Rock ("Episode 210")
Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock ("Secrets and Lies")
Jeremy Piven, Entourage ("The Day F***ers")
Fred Willard, Back to You ("Cradle to Grave")
Rainn Wilson, The Office ("Money")

[As much as I looooooove John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson excelled in "Money." Dwight hosting Jim and Pam at Schrute Farms was the most hilarious, enjoyable Office experience of Season 4. Nevertheless, I am aware that the competition here is intense- especially from the 2 Entourage boys, the 2 30 Rock boys, and HIMYM's Harris. As long as that damn Jeremy Piven doesn't win again, I'll survive. Alright! We get it! Ari Gold is hilarious! Can we move on, please?]

TOP 10 BEST SUPPORTING COMEDY ACTRESS FINALISTS
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies ("Girth")
Conchata Ferrell, Two and a Half Men ("Fish in a Drawer")
Jenna Fischer, The Office ("Fun Run")
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock ("The Collection")
Judith Light, Ugly Betty ("I See Me, ICU")
Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds ("Risk")
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live ("Tina Fey")
Jean Smart, Samantha Who? ("The Girlfriend")
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men ("Media Room Slash Dungeon")
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty ("Bananas for Betty")

[Chenoweth's Olive Snook is a unique comedic character that certainly merits the award, but I doubt it will be hers. I am pretty much against Two and a Half Men on principle, so I'm hoping for a win for either Jean Smart or Jane Krakowski.]

TOP 11 GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES FINALISTS
Polly Bergen, Desperate Housewives ("Distant Past")
Edie Falco, 30 Rock ("Episode 210")
Vivica A. Fox, Curb Your Enthusiasm ("The Rat Dog")
Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives ("Welcome to Kanagawa")
Annie Potts, Ugly Betty ("Zero Worship")
Carrie Fisher, 30 Rock ("Rosemary's Baby")
Shirley Knight, Desperate Housewives ("If There's Anything I Can't Stand")
Jane Lynch, Two and a Half Men ("Rough Night in Hump Junction")
Amy Ryan, The Office ("Goodbye Toby")
Sarah Silverman, Monk ("Mr. Monk and His Biggest Fan")
Elaine Stritch, 30 Rock ("LudaChristmas")

[Both Falco and Ryan rocked (and, hopefully, will continue to rock on 30 Rock and The Office), but Silverman's one episode on Monk was memorable and ginormously funny.]

TOP 10 GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES FINALISTS
Keith Carradine, Dexter ("Morning Comes")
Charles Durning, Rescue Me ("Yaz")
Danny Glover, Brothers and Sisters ("The Feast of Epiphany")
Robert Morse, Mad Men ("Nixon vs. Kennedy")
Peter O'Toole, The Tudors ("Episode 208")
Oliver Platt, Nip/Tuck ("Carly Summers")
Peter Riegert, Damages ("Do You Regret What We Did?")
Stanley Tucci, E.R. ("The War Comes Home")
Glynn Turman, In Treatment ("Alex: Week 8")
Robin Williams, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit ("Authority")

[I've got no clue here, really. If I had to guess, I'd say either Charlie Durning or Peter O'Toole because, you know... they're super old.]

Angel

2008-06-27T16:27:00.006-05:00

When I decided to watch Buffy from the beginning, there was never a doubt in my mind that I would watch Angel, too. If you're going to commit to something, you've got to do it all the way - even if that commitment meant watching 254 episodes of television, by far my greatest undertaking ever. I think my assumption about Angel was that it would just be an extension of Buffy. I knew I would enjoy it because I love the character of Angel pretty much more than life itself. But, at the same time, a Buffy show without Giles and Willow and Xander (and Buffy, too - she's kind of important) is not Buffy at all. I realized that this is the wrong attitude to take because Angel is a very different show. It's similar in that it has Joss Whedon's Midas touch, and sometimes the stories would crossover, but Angel was wonderful in its own right. It dealt more with redemption, what it means to be a hero, and choice - how our choices define us, and how they always have consequences.
My Top 10 Favorite Episodes:
1) "The Magic Bullet" (written by Jeffrey Bell), episode 4.19- Fred is the only one who has seen Jasmine's true form, so she works to break the spell that her friends are under before free will disappears from the world.
2) "A Hole in the World" (written by Joss Whedon), episode 5.15- Angel and Spike travel to England to try to save Fred from a virus that is working through her body to make way for the ancient demon, Illyria.
3) "I Will Remember You" (written by David Greenwalt & Jeannine Renshaw), episode 1.08- Buffy comes to L.A., and a demon attacks that turns Angel human. They spend one happy day together before Angel sacrifices his humanity to continue the good fight.
4) "Not Fade Away" (written by Joss Whedon & Jeffrey Bell), episode 5.22- Angel and the gang prepare for war against Wolfram & Hart's "Senior Partners." Understanding that some of them will probably die, everyone lives their perfect last day.
5) "Through the Looking Glass" (written by Tim Minear), episode 2.21- Cordelia serves as princess of Pylea while Wesley, Gunn, and Lorne try to find a portal back to L.A. "Numfar, do the dance of joy!"
6) "Orpheus" (written by Mere Smith), episode 4.15- With Faith and Angelus in comas after their great battle, Willow comes to help Wesley, Fred, Lorne, and Gunn restore Angel's soul while possessed Cordelia seeks to undermine their efforts.
7) "Lullaby" (written by Tim Minear), episode 3.09- Angel tries to protect Darla and his unborn son from their old enemy, Holtz, as well as various other evil forces.
8) "You're Welcome" (written by David Fury), episode 5.12- Cordelia awakens from her coma to help Angel one last time against Lindsey who is trying to summon a demon that will destroy Angel.
9) "Disharmony" (written by David Fury), episode 2.17- Cordelia gets a visit from her high school friend, Harmony, as the Angel Investigations team looks into a vampire cult.
10) "Sense and Sensitivity" (written by Tim Minear), episode 1.06- The normally brooding Angel gets infected by a sensitivity stick courtesy of Wolfram & Hart that forces him to share all his feelings.

Spike fights Puppet Angel