Parking Wars is a docu-reality series that may be hidden in the plethora of channels available these days, but it's worth the search. Featuring the cities of Philadelphia (PPA) and Detroit, Parking Wars tells the story of the ticket givers, booters, and the PPA branch where people come to pay their tickets and get their imprisoned cars out.
In Detroit, booters Courtney and Sonjia hit the streets of Detroit in the early morning, which according to them is the prime time to boot cars. Using their high-tech laptop, which scans licenses as they pass cars, they get a hit outside a residential home. And this is where the show goes so right. Out comes conspiracy theorist and daughter-in-law of the car's owner to spout her opinion on this outrageous situation. In her words, "they [Detroit] got a lot of nerve to come over her and boot us over some bad tickets." She goes on to comment that for centuries people have been making up laws because they could, and all we can do is follow them. Wow. Of course the car's owner has to come by and throw cold water on the situation, saying," It's not worth the anger." Party pooper.
But not everyone can be so cool headed. Again in Detroit, there is a very special Parking Violation Officer who goes by the name of Ponytail. And yes it is because he has a glorious ponytail flowing behind him. His ponytail is only slightly outdone by his humbling and humorous manner of dealing with his "fame." In an earlier episode he gave a thirty dollar ticket stating because his signature is on that ticket, it would be worth thirty thousand dollars in a few years. God love him. This episode he is met with citizens who can't read signs. One unfortunate owner gets a No Standing ticket and even though there is a sign clearly in front of where she parked, she remained firm in the belief that she didn’t violate any laws. Also disgusted by the fine, she countered with "maybe I can send it to Obama and get a stimulus plan." Great. Another thing Obama has to fix.
But irate citizens are par for the course. This was the case, when Detroit Parking Officer Robert came upon a commercial trailer that was illegally parked on a residential street (which,by the way, carries a hefty $100 fine). Robert had finished with ticket, when this gem of a man came up and started an endless stream of expletives. Just like a person in a traffic jam who honks his horn to move a line of cars; this tactic didn't solve anything at all. But, Robert dealt with the owner very calmly and eventually he stomped off and promised he would call the county to dispute this unrighteous ticket.
At the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) a lesson was learned. That lesson: don't let other people drive your car. Case in point: A father drove his son's car without a license, got pulled over and subsequently the car was impounded. With a family like this who needs enemies. But the family was quite entertaining, finding humor in the situation ("don't leave you're keys on the dining room table"). At the end, the son got stuck with many charges. Tags: $85. Traffic court: $75. Parking: $5. Three unpaid parking tickets: $237. Spending five hours trying to get your car out of lock-up and realizing you know better than your father: Priceless.
So, have I enticed you into watching this series? I assure you, the confrontations only get better with each episode. Parking Wars truly makes you feel sorry for the ticket givers who are only doing their jobs. Of course, the next time I get a parking ticket, it's totally their fault!
Watch back-to-back episodes of Parking Wars Tuesdays starting at 10 pm on A&E.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Biggest Loser Play by Play
In last night's Biggest Loser, the teams of two became teams of six. Host Alison Sweeney informed the partners that they would now become the Black Team and the Blue Team. But wait, there's more. In keeping with the show's game format, they would have a chance to play a temptation game that would give one of them power to divide up the teams and choose the team trainer. And with this we get the reemergence, or rather continuance of Tracy as the Campus Villain.
Challenges: Every season there are temptation challenges. These can range from money prizes to having power on how the game is played. Last night the temptation was to have power in dividing the teams up. Everyone decided to participate except for one. The temptation game was set up like a wheel of fortune with silver platters. A player could land on a one thousand dollar prize, a delicious but dangerous cut of chocolate cake or the coveted power play ticket. Now, watching the first few contestants get the junk food platters was difficult. I would have gladly eaten those delectable treats for them, until Alison had to go and reveal their calories. One thousand calories for the cake smothered in chocolate icing?! Yikes. Anyway, after the first few people went it was time for Tracy to spin the wheel. If you haven't watched the show before, Tracy has been given the power once before and not only burned bridges, but torched them. So everyone was holding their collective breaths while the wheel is spinning. Is it wrong that I hoped Tracy would get the power play ticket? The drama would be better than a soap opera. Tracy, by the way did get the ticket, much to everyone's chagrin. I really don't understand the contestants this season. Do they not realize they are on a reality show? Tracy's choices in the past may not be popular or even ethical, but at least she's playing the game.
And now the bridges are ashes. Tracy did what every good villain/game player would do. She broke up teammates who had formed a real bond over the past five weeks to suit her own needs. Most notably Liz and Danny and Dina and Rudy.
The second challenge of the night had a prize attached to it. Whoever won would get video messages from their loved ones back home. Game on! I don't know who makes up the challenges, but this person must have some affinity for the Egyptian era. One of the contestants had to lay on a platform, while the remaining four flanked them on either side, carrying the contestant heavy platform across rocky terrain and mud pits. I was sweating just watching it. Through it all, the stronger Blue Team (with no help from Tracy, who was sidelined from a continuing injury) won.
Drama-Rama: This show wouldn't be a ratings juggernaut if not for the drama that takes place outside the challenges. When Tracy separated Liz from partner Danny, she set loose a conniving spirit that would not be quailed lightly. Liz decided that Tracy must go, so she made herself an asset by exercising like a mad woman. Of course, karma doesn't look too kindly on this, as she fell while running on the treadmill. Jillian responded to this by saying, "what happens when a southern woman gets mad?" Liz threw back, "she gets even." Alright then. It's nice to see that the competitive fire has finally been lite under these contestants.
Dina struggled with her own drama,as she faced her greatest threat...a stool. She must jump on it, which doesn't seem like a big deal. Just jump right? Apparently it's not as easy as it looks. So, the stool became a metaphor for believing in yourself, achieving something, and destroying fear.By the end of the show she still hasn't beaten the stool, but she's getting closer.
Weigh-in : It's all a numbers game now. Pounds lost count, but it's the percent of weight loss that really matters. The Blue Team was first: Tracy lost 7lbs (silence from the usually clap enthusiastic crowd), Allen and Rebecca also lost 7lbs each, Rudy dropped 8lbs, and Liz dropped 8lbs. With 2.56 percent of weight loss, the Black Team needed to lose more than 45lbs. First up Abby who lost a respectable 5lbs, Dina and Amanda both lost 6lbs each, Danny lost 10lbs, and Daniel dropped 11lbs. Then there was Shay. She has never had big numbers, but this week she dropped a whopping 16lbs, winning it for the Black Team. It was thrilling to watch the underdogs take the win.
The deliberation process was next. Who from the Blue Team will say goodbye? Okay, so the most logical answer would be to vote of Tracy, right? No one likes any of the decisions she's made, there's too many knifes in backs, etc, etc. But, then Coach Mo fell on the proverbial sword, telling his teammates he's the weaker player and therefore should be voted off. And the other teammates kept to his wishes. He was voted off, but we see in an update that at home he has lost a total of 76lbs! Can't beat a happy outcome.
The Aww moments: Although I said this is a game, there is a heart to this show, and that heart is the generosity that the contestants (save Tracy) show each other. When the Blue Team won the videos from home challenge, Rebecca decided to give Dina (Black Team) her tape. Even when Dina gave back the tape, saying she wants to win it herself, I couldn't help but feel touched at the unselfishness Rebecca showed. And then the waterworks really started flowing when Liz brought Danny down to watch the video with her, but instead it was his family tape. Take a note Tracy: playing the game doesn't always mean you have to be evil.
Biggest Loser airs Tuesday at 8 pm on NBC.
Challenges: Every season there are temptation challenges. These can range from money prizes to having power on how the game is played. Last night the temptation was to have power in dividing the teams up. Everyone decided to participate except for one. The temptation game was set up like a wheel of fortune with silver platters. A player could land on a one thousand dollar prize, a delicious but dangerous cut of chocolate cake or the coveted power play ticket. Now, watching the first few contestants get the junk food platters was difficult. I would have gladly eaten those delectable treats for them, until Alison had to go and reveal their calories. One thousand calories for the cake smothered in chocolate icing?! Yikes. Anyway, after the first few people went it was time for Tracy to spin the wheel. If you haven't watched the show before, Tracy has been given the power once before and not only burned bridges, but torched them. So everyone was holding their collective breaths while the wheel is spinning. Is it wrong that I hoped Tracy would get the power play ticket? The drama would be better than a soap opera. Tracy, by the way did get the ticket, much to everyone's chagrin. I really don't understand the contestants this season. Do they not realize they are on a reality show? Tracy's choices in the past may not be popular or even ethical, but at least she's playing the game.
And now the bridges are ashes. Tracy did what every good villain/game player would do. She broke up teammates who had formed a real bond over the past five weeks to suit her own needs. Most notably Liz and Danny and Dina and Rudy.
The second challenge of the night had a prize attached to it. Whoever won would get video messages from their loved ones back home. Game on! I don't know who makes up the challenges, but this person must have some affinity for the Egyptian era. One of the contestants had to lay on a platform, while the remaining four flanked them on either side, carrying the contestant heavy platform across rocky terrain and mud pits. I was sweating just watching it. Through it all, the stronger Blue Team (with no help from Tracy, who was sidelined from a continuing injury) won.
Drama-Rama: This show wouldn't be a ratings juggernaut if not for the drama that takes place outside the challenges. When Tracy separated Liz from partner Danny, she set loose a conniving spirit that would not be quailed lightly. Liz decided that Tracy must go, so she made herself an asset by exercising like a mad woman. Of course, karma doesn't look too kindly on this, as she fell while running on the treadmill. Jillian responded to this by saying, "what happens when a southern woman gets mad?" Liz threw back, "she gets even." Alright then. It's nice to see that the competitive fire has finally been lite under these contestants.
Dina struggled with her own drama,as she faced her greatest threat...a stool. She must jump on it, which doesn't seem like a big deal. Just jump right? Apparently it's not as easy as it looks. So, the stool became a metaphor for believing in yourself, achieving something, and destroying fear.By the end of the show she still hasn't beaten the stool, but she's getting closer.
Weigh-in : It's all a numbers game now. Pounds lost count, but it's the percent of weight loss that really matters. The Blue Team was first: Tracy lost 7lbs (silence from the usually clap enthusiastic crowd), Allen and Rebecca also lost 7lbs each, Rudy dropped 8lbs, and Liz dropped 8lbs. With 2.56 percent of weight loss, the Black Team needed to lose more than 45lbs. First up Abby who lost a respectable 5lbs, Dina and Amanda both lost 6lbs each, Danny lost 10lbs, and Daniel dropped 11lbs. Then there was Shay. She has never had big numbers, but this week she dropped a whopping 16lbs, winning it for the Black Team. It was thrilling to watch the underdogs take the win.
The deliberation process was next. Who from the Blue Team will say goodbye? Okay, so the most logical answer would be to vote of Tracy, right? No one likes any of the decisions she's made, there's too many knifes in backs, etc, etc. But, then Coach Mo fell on the proverbial sword, telling his teammates he's the weaker player and therefore should be voted off. And the other teammates kept to his wishes. He was voted off, but we see in an update that at home he has lost a total of 76lbs! Can't beat a happy outcome.
The Aww moments: Although I said this is a game, there is a heart to this show, and that heart is the generosity that the contestants (save Tracy) show each other. When the Blue Team won the videos from home challenge, Rebecca decided to give Dina (Black Team) her tape. Even when Dina gave back the tape, saying she wants to win it herself, I couldn't help but feel touched at the unselfishness Rebecca showed. And then the waterworks really started flowing when Liz brought Danny down to watch the video with her, but instead it was his family tape. Take a note Tracy: playing the game doesn't always mean you have to be evil.
Biggest Loser airs Tuesday at 8 pm on NBC.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Lauren Graham Returns to Television!
Made official last week, Lauren Graham is returning to television in the NBC series, Parenthood. The role was previously held by Maura Tierney, but she had to drop out due to ongoing breast cancer treatment.
Lauren Graham is most known as fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore on the WB/CW series Gilmore Girls, a role that made her a household name. This time around, Graham will be playing single mother,Sarah Braverman, who has a less than impressive ex-husband, and two children who are not thriving in their current environment. Strapped for any real solutions to her problems, Sarah travels back home moving in with her parents at the age of thirty-eight.
Parenthood is a series inspired by the movie of the same name. Ron Howard, who directed the original movie and Brian Grazer, who produced it, are serving as executive producers on the t.v series adaptation. The ensemble cast includes Craig T. Nelson, Dax Shepard, Erika Christensen, and Peter Krause.
The only reason I was interested in this series was because I have such fond memories of it as a kid (of course I had no idea the object I thought was a candle was really a vibrator and the whole kid shooting from a clock tower went way over my head). But now I have even more reason to add this show on my Tivo season pass with the hiring of Lauren Graham. I'm sure fans of Lorelai Gilmore will definitely tune into this midseason show.
Lauren Graham is most known as fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore on the WB/CW series Gilmore Girls, a role that made her a household name. This time around, Graham will be playing single mother,Sarah Braverman, who has a less than impressive ex-husband, and two children who are not thriving in their current environment. Strapped for any real solutions to her problems, Sarah travels back home moving in with her parents at the age of thirty-eight.
Parenthood is a series inspired by the movie of the same name. Ron Howard, who directed the original movie and Brian Grazer, who produced it, are serving as executive producers on the t.v series adaptation. The ensemble cast includes Craig T. Nelson, Dax Shepard, Erika Christensen, and Peter Krause.
The only reason I was interested in this series was because I have such fond memories of it as a kid (of course I had no idea the object I thought was a candle was really a vibrator and the whole kid shooting from a clock tower went way over my head). But now I have even more reason to add this show on my Tivo season pass with the hiring of Lauren Graham. I'm sure fans of Lorelai Gilmore will definitely tune into this midseason show.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Glee: A show even non-musical people can get behind
In past posts, I've made my love of Glee well known. But this week's episode was truly amazing. I found myself in the beginning actually slapping my knee at the remarks Sue Sylvester (cheerleading coach extraordinaire) made throughout the entire show, especially when witnessing Will and Emma's lunch break conversation ("I'm trying desperately to ignore the treacly sweet inanity of your asinine conversation, but I've got bile in my mouth and will hold my tongue no longer"). Jane Lynch better be up on the Emmy award announcement screen next year, or I will cry foul.
This week Sue's schemes to bring down the Glee club were taking to a new level, as she switched tactics. Instead of bringing the club down from the inside, she would take down the man himself. Noticing the connection between Emma and Will, she heads over to Will's apartment and informs Will's wife Terri of her observation. The plan is this: get Terri a job as school nurse so that she can keep an eye out on her husband, resulting in a awkward situation for all parties involved. Here we get to see Terri in her true desperation, and it was glorious. Now, I'm not exactly a Terri fan (team Emma all the way!) but to see her playing into Sue's plans, unaware of the puppet strings, couldn’t help but feel a tad sorry for her. But that all ended when her misguided suggestion of giving the kids pseudoephedrine was reveled (more on that later).
Let's face it, nobody likes a homewrecker. But obsessive compulsive Emma is so lovable compared to desperate and self-centered Terri (who's pretending to be pregnant and taking Quinn's baby to claim as her own); it's hard not to pick Emma. And let me tell you, the sexual tension between Will and Emma was in great form last night. In the teachers' lounge, as Will is trying to figure out how to get the kids motivated, Emma discovers Will has mustard on his "cute Kirk Douglas chin dimple." Prompted by Will, she takes her plastic lunch lady gloved hand and wipes the mustard away. So cute! Their unrequited love takes a turn when Terri convinces Ken, Emma's boyfriend (and I say that in the loosest meaning of the word), to propose to her. In the end Emma accepts his proposal, which is so sad. I really wish she would stop being so soft-spoken and stand up for herself. Take charge, girl!
The glee kids are in an epic battle of the sexes singing competition this episode. They had to create a mash-up of songs and the winner got to pick the song for sectionals. The boys performed an excellent version of Bon Jovi's "It's my life" and Ushers "My Confession," while the girls sang Beyonce's "Halo" and "Walking on Sunshine." Both great performances, but unfortunately they were enhanced by Terri's vitamin regiment. These "vitamins" were actually the aforementioned pseudoephedrine pills that Terri thought were safe because their "over the counter...right next to the candy." Oh,Lord. Anyway, in the end the principal finds out and Will's leadership is called into question. Will must now have a co-chair and I bet you can't guess who it is. Well, if you guessed Sue Sylvester, you get a gold star!
If this episode is any indication of what the rest of the series will be, I'm all in. It's refreshing to see such talented writers and actors on network television.
Just because I love Sue's isms so much here are other gems:
Commenting on motivating children, "they need to be terrified. It's like mother's milk to them."
And, writing in her journal about her morning, she states, "tried to make a smoothie out of beef bones, breaking my blender."
This week Sue's schemes to bring down the Glee club were taking to a new level, as she switched tactics. Instead of bringing the club down from the inside, she would take down the man himself. Noticing the connection between Emma and Will, she heads over to Will's apartment and informs Will's wife Terri of her observation. The plan is this: get Terri a job as school nurse so that she can keep an eye out on her husband, resulting in a awkward situation for all parties involved. Here we get to see Terri in her true desperation, and it was glorious. Now, I'm not exactly a Terri fan (team Emma all the way!) but to see her playing into Sue's plans, unaware of the puppet strings, couldn’t help but feel a tad sorry for her. But that all ended when her misguided suggestion of giving the kids pseudoephedrine was reveled (more on that later).
Let's face it, nobody likes a homewrecker. But obsessive compulsive Emma is so lovable compared to desperate and self-centered Terri (who's pretending to be pregnant and taking Quinn's baby to claim as her own); it's hard not to pick Emma. And let me tell you, the sexual tension between Will and Emma was in great form last night. In the teachers' lounge, as Will is trying to figure out how to get the kids motivated, Emma discovers Will has mustard on his "cute Kirk Douglas chin dimple." Prompted by Will, she takes her plastic lunch lady gloved hand and wipes the mustard away. So cute! Their unrequited love takes a turn when Terri convinces Ken, Emma's boyfriend (and I say that in the loosest meaning of the word), to propose to her. In the end Emma accepts his proposal, which is so sad. I really wish she would stop being so soft-spoken and stand up for herself. Take charge, girl!
The glee kids are in an epic battle of the sexes singing competition this episode. They had to create a mash-up of songs and the winner got to pick the song for sectionals. The boys performed an excellent version of Bon Jovi's "It's my life" and Ushers "My Confession," while the girls sang Beyonce's "Halo" and "Walking on Sunshine." Both great performances, but unfortunately they were enhanced by Terri's vitamin regiment. These "vitamins" were actually the aforementioned pseudoephedrine pills that Terri thought were safe because their "over the counter...right next to the candy." Oh,Lord. Anyway, in the end the principal finds out and Will's leadership is called into question. Will must now have a co-chair and I bet you can't guess who it is. Well, if you guessed Sue Sylvester, you get a gold star!
If this episode is any indication of what the rest of the series will be, I'm all in. It's refreshing to see such talented writers and actors on network television.
Just because I love Sue's isms so much here are other gems:
Commenting on motivating children, "they need to be terrified. It's like mother's milk to them."
And, writing in her journal about her morning, she states, "tried to make a smoothie out of beef bones, breaking my blender."
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Fall Season Reviewed
Now that most of the new shows have premiered, it's time for a progress report. Last month I picked the top five new series that I felt were worth your time, now I'll tell you if I was wrong or not...
Flash Forward: Let's face it; this show was almost a shoe-in. It has so many things going for it; most notably it has a great cast. Joseph Fiennes, a theater and movie star, seems as though the small screen is where he should have been all along. If you haven't seen the show yet, the premise is basically this: For two minutes and seventeen seconds, everyone in the world blackout. During these blackouts, most people saw six months into their future. Joseph Fiennes, plays Mark Benford, an agent who leads a team in what their calling the Mosaic project. Their basically trying to compile what everyone saw during the blackout in order to figure out why this event happened. It's a show that has been likened to Lost, in that it's a serial show and not a procedural. Bottomline: I was right! It garnered 12 million viewers the first week out, and the second episode only fell to 10 million. Also it is doing very well in the much sought after 18-49 demo.
Glee: An off-beat comedy about a high school glee club was a chancy call for Fox, especially since predecessor Arrested Development didn't far very well in the long run, but Fox has taken a giant leap and renewed Glee for a full season! The great musical numbers, nearly all revamps of classic modern songs, is surely a big reason this show has seen such great numbers. Last week(9/30) it picked up 7.32 million viewers. And according to tvbythenumbers.com, its 18-49 demo went up a couple notches, also. Bottomline: This is a series that I hope will be much loved for many seasons to come. Also, they will be coming out with a soundtrack of all the musical numbers performed on the show, sometime next year I'm guessing. Can't wait!
Modern Family: This is definitely a comedy for people who love the Office and even Parks and Recreations. It's a mockumentry, that follows three families who are dealing with daily struggles and what being a modern parent is. I didn't really love this show. It's very clever, but sometimes that doesn't always translate to tons of laughs. I like to laugh out loud, that's why I love the show that follows it, Cougartown. It's about a woman (Courtney Cox-Arquette) who gets divorce and has to go through the dating scene all over again. Bottomline: Modern Family is definitely not going away. It has 9.9 million viewers following it and it's one that I'm positive will be on the awards docket next year.
Lie to me/ Dollhouse: These two shows were midseason replacements last year, but with only half a season shown, I thought that they should have some consideration in this new fall season. Lie to me is still a great drama about a man who is a human lie detector and unorthodox to boot. It's sort of like House, but he's not quite the misanthrope House is. And it's getting okay numbers. Its audience actually grew from last weeks numbers (7.7 million) to 8.12 million viewers. Dollhouse on the other hand is doing terrible in the numbers. It had only 2.1 million viewers last week(10/2). Compare that with a show in the same time slot, like Medium, which garnered 7.7 million viewers, and it doesn't look to good for the Joss Whedon helmed series. Bottomline: Lie to me's future looks promising, while Dollhouse looks like a goner. It's unfortunate and I can't put my finger on why it's doing so poorly.
Eastwick: There's nothing so decadent like a good guilty pleasure. Eastwick provides viewers with an escape from reality they sorely need these days. Viewers get an hour to put aside their troubles and just enjoy a primetime soap opera. The series features Rebecca Romaijn, Lindsey Price and Jamie Ray Newman, as three different women who discover magical talents, friendship and along the way unexpected danger. Even in the rough 10 O'clock spot, it seems to be keeping up good numbers. Of course it's only up against CSI: NY and Jay Leno. Last week (9/30) it had 6.62 million viewers, which doesn't seem like great numbers compared to CSI:NY's 12 million, but it doesn't have the CSI franchise backing it either. Bottomline: I'm glad I put this on my top five list, because it's turning out to be a really fun show to watch. Its lasting power is still up to the powers that be, but I hope it stays around for awhile.
Flash Forward: Let's face it; this show was almost a shoe-in. It has so many things going for it; most notably it has a great cast. Joseph Fiennes, a theater and movie star, seems as though the small screen is where he should have been all along. If you haven't seen the show yet, the premise is basically this: For two minutes and seventeen seconds, everyone in the world blackout. During these blackouts, most people saw six months into their future. Joseph Fiennes, plays Mark Benford, an agent who leads a team in what their calling the Mosaic project. Their basically trying to compile what everyone saw during the blackout in order to figure out why this event happened. It's a show that has been likened to Lost, in that it's a serial show and not a procedural. Bottomline: I was right! It garnered 12 million viewers the first week out, and the second episode only fell to 10 million. Also it is doing very well in the much sought after 18-49 demo.
Glee: An off-beat comedy about a high school glee club was a chancy call for Fox, especially since predecessor Arrested Development didn't far very well in the long run, but Fox has taken a giant leap and renewed Glee for a full season! The great musical numbers, nearly all revamps of classic modern songs, is surely a big reason this show has seen such great numbers. Last week(9/30) it picked up 7.32 million viewers. And according to tvbythenumbers.com, its 18-49 demo went up a couple notches, also. Bottomline: This is a series that I hope will be much loved for many seasons to come. Also, they will be coming out with a soundtrack of all the musical numbers performed on the show, sometime next year I'm guessing. Can't wait!
Modern Family: This is definitely a comedy for people who love the Office and even Parks and Recreations. It's a mockumentry, that follows three families who are dealing with daily struggles and what being a modern parent is. I didn't really love this show. It's very clever, but sometimes that doesn't always translate to tons of laughs. I like to laugh out loud, that's why I love the show that follows it, Cougartown. It's about a woman (Courtney Cox-Arquette) who gets divorce and has to go through the dating scene all over again. Bottomline: Modern Family is definitely not going away. It has 9.9 million viewers following it and it's one that I'm positive will be on the awards docket next year.
Lie to me/ Dollhouse: These two shows were midseason replacements last year, but with only half a season shown, I thought that they should have some consideration in this new fall season. Lie to me is still a great drama about a man who is a human lie detector and unorthodox to boot. It's sort of like House, but he's not quite the misanthrope House is. And it's getting okay numbers. Its audience actually grew from last weeks numbers (7.7 million) to 8.12 million viewers. Dollhouse on the other hand is doing terrible in the numbers. It had only 2.1 million viewers last week(10/2). Compare that with a show in the same time slot, like Medium, which garnered 7.7 million viewers, and it doesn't look to good for the Joss Whedon helmed series. Bottomline: Lie to me's future looks promising, while Dollhouse looks like a goner. It's unfortunate and I can't put my finger on why it's doing so poorly.
Eastwick: There's nothing so decadent like a good guilty pleasure. Eastwick provides viewers with an escape from reality they sorely need these days. Viewers get an hour to put aside their troubles and just enjoy a primetime soap opera. The series features Rebecca Romaijn, Lindsey Price and Jamie Ray Newman, as three different women who discover magical talents, friendship and along the way unexpected danger. Even in the rough 10 O'clock spot, it seems to be keeping up good numbers. Of course it's only up against CSI: NY and Jay Leno. Last week (9/30) it had 6.62 million viewers, which doesn't seem like great numbers compared to CSI:NY's 12 million, but it doesn't have the CSI franchise backing it either. Bottomline: I'm glad I put this on my top five list, because it's turning out to be a really fun show to watch. Its lasting power is still up to the powers that be, but I hope it stays around for awhile.
Monday, October 5, 2009
"Drop Dead Diva" in a Flash
Last night's episode of Drop Dead Diva was all about moving on and accepting that people change and that you yourself can change. The love triangle(square if you count new love interest Travis) of Kim, Grayson, and Jane changes structure and we get a little of the Deb Jane used to be with her new case.
A great television episode will always parallel the main characters drama with the cases they are handling. You see this in Grey's Anatomy, House, and even Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This week Diva paralleled Grayson's inability to move on from Deb with his pro-bono case. He's representing an older woman, whose house is about to be destroyed by a major corporation. Not wanting to part with the house that she shared with her soul mate, she has Grayson, and eventually Kim (who only joins the case to log some pro-bono hours in order to become partner) do anything to stop the razing of her beloved house. The parallel represented here is Grayson's reluctance to allow Kim to sleep-over at the home that he and Deb shared once. There's a sentimentality to the memories he shared with his soul mate that interferes with him moving on. Although this show can be a little silly at times, with this story we get to see the heart of the series, which is where to we go when everything we know changes? How do we move on and become another version of ourselves, one separate from our lost loves? In the end, Kim decides that Grayson isn't ready to move on,and their love comes to an end.
Of course, the show couldn't be all serious. At the end, it's reveled that the older woman doesn't want them to destroy her house, not because of sentimentality, but because she offed her husband twenty years back and buried him under the floor boards. But, she had a good reason;he was just getting on her nerves. We've all felt that way...right?
Continuing the comedy, Jane gets a case defending her idol, model Christie Talbot, who is charged with killing her millionaire husband. Here's another case where Jane's past as Deb gives her insight into a client. It's a credit to the show's writers;how well they have combined both Jane's new lawyer speak with Deb's personality. When she tells the prosecutor, "you're just harassing her because she's fabulous," Deb's personality shines through in the most wonderfully way.
We get another example of how fabulously silly this show can be, when Jane solves the case with a lipstick being the smoking gun. The model's deceased husband was sporting a lipstick kiss on his neck, but the lipstick didn't match up with what Christie would ever wear. A fashion don't that leads to being acquitted of all charges.
What's most enjoyable about this show is that it doesn't take its self too seriously. But don't misunderstand, underneath this guilty pleasure is a wonderfully written show about new beginnings.
Next week it's Drop Dead Diva's season finale. In the previews, Jane and Grayson share a kiss and Paula Abdul returns as a judge. Now, last time Jane and Grayson kissed it was in a dream, so I can't help but wondered if this kiss is also a fantasy.
A great television episode will always parallel the main characters drama with the cases they are handling. You see this in Grey's Anatomy, House, and even Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This week Diva paralleled Grayson's inability to move on from Deb with his pro-bono case. He's representing an older woman, whose house is about to be destroyed by a major corporation. Not wanting to part with the house that she shared with her soul mate, she has Grayson, and eventually Kim (who only joins the case to log some pro-bono hours in order to become partner) do anything to stop the razing of her beloved house. The parallel represented here is Grayson's reluctance to allow Kim to sleep-over at the home that he and Deb shared once. There's a sentimentality to the memories he shared with his soul mate that interferes with him moving on. Although this show can be a little silly at times, with this story we get to see the heart of the series, which is where to we go when everything we know changes? How do we move on and become another version of ourselves, one separate from our lost loves? In the end, Kim decides that Grayson isn't ready to move on,and their love comes to an end.
Of course, the show couldn't be all serious. At the end, it's reveled that the older woman doesn't want them to destroy her house, not because of sentimentality, but because she offed her husband twenty years back and buried him under the floor boards. But, she had a good reason;he was just getting on her nerves. We've all felt that way...right?
Continuing the comedy, Jane gets a case defending her idol, model Christie Talbot, who is charged with killing her millionaire husband. Here's another case where Jane's past as Deb gives her insight into a client. It's a credit to the show's writers;how well they have combined both Jane's new lawyer speak with Deb's personality. When she tells the prosecutor, "you're just harassing her because she's fabulous," Deb's personality shines through in the most wonderfully way.
We get another example of how fabulously silly this show can be, when Jane solves the case with a lipstick being the smoking gun. The model's deceased husband was sporting a lipstick kiss on his neck, but the lipstick didn't match up with what Christie would ever wear. A fashion don't that leads to being acquitted of all charges.
What's most enjoyable about this show is that it doesn't take its self too seriously. But don't misunderstand, underneath this guilty pleasure is a wonderfully written show about new beginnings.
Next week it's Drop Dead Diva's season finale. In the previews, Jane and Grayson share a kiss and Paula Abdul returns as a judge. Now, last time Jane and Grayson kissed it was in a dream, so I can't help but wondered if this kiss is also a fantasy.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Vincent D’Onofrio leaving Criminal Intent
After eight seasons, Vincent D’Onofrio will be leaving Law and Order: Criminal Intent at the beginning of season nine in a two-part episode. The Criminal Intent reins will then be past to Jeff Goldblum, who took over for Chris Noth this past season.
D’Onofrio explains his departure, “I have always been, and have always viewed myself, as a character actor, and the great opportunity that Dick [Wolf] presented to me to develop the Goren character on Criminal Intent was successful beyond my wildest expectations. After eight seasons, and with the addition of Jeff Goldblum, now is the perfect time for me to explore other acting opportunities and I leave the show knowing it is in great hands with Jeff.” (more information at Aussiello files, EW.com)
Premiering in 2001, D’Onofrio starred as lead detective Robert Goren with partner Alex Eames (Kathryn Erbe). In 2005, after D’Onofrio suffered from exhaustion on set, the series was split up, alternating episodes with new cast member Chris Noth.
D’Onofrio won’t be the only one to exit the series. Kathryn Erbe will also be leaving, along with Eric Bogosian, who portrays Captain Ross. Julianne Nicholson (Detective Wheeler) left late last season because of her impending motherhood. She will be replaced by Saffron Burrows.
I’ve been a Criminal Intent fan ever since I happened past the show, during one of my channel changing binges. I stayed, in large part, because of D’Onofrio and his portrayal of Bobby Goren. Goren is this big powerhouse of a man, who uses psychology to manipulate criminals into confessing. Vincent does it so well that you can’t peel your eyes away from the TV set. Ever since they decide to alternate episodes between Noth and D’Onofrio, and eventually Jeff Golblum, I always missed seeing Goren and Eames every week. Although Goldblum is great at what he does, Criminal Intent is Vincent D’Onofrio.
In a statement, D’Onofrio says, “For all my loyal CI fans, I wouldn’t be surprised if Goren pops up from time to time.” Isn’t that like taking candy away from a baby, giving it back, and then taking it away again? It’s just a little cruel, in my opinion. But, on the other hand, we would be given a little fix of D’Onofrio. Just enough to tide us fans over until his next project.
The new season will premiere next year in late spring.
D’Onofrio explains his departure, “I have always been, and have always viewed myself, as a character actor, and the great opportunity that Dick [Wolf] presented to me to develop the Goren character on Criminal Intent was successful beyond my wildest expectations. After eight seasons, and with the addition of Jeff Goldblum, now is the perfect time for me to explore other acting opportunities and I leave the show knowing it is in great hands with Jeff.” (more information at Aussiello files, EW.com)
Premiering in 2001, D’Onofrio starred as lead detective Robert Goren with partner Alex Eames (Kathryn Erbe). In 2005, after D’Onofrio suffered from exhaustion on set, the series was split up, alternating episodes with new cast member Chris Noth.
D’Onofrio won’t be the only one to exit the series. Kathryn Erbe will also be leaving, along with Eric Bogosian, who portrays Captain Ross. Julianne Nicholson (Detective Wheeler) left late last season because of her impending motherhood. She will be replaced by Saffron Burrows.
I’ve been a Criminal Intent fan ever since I happened past the show, during one of my channel changing binges. I stayed, in large part, because of D’Onofrio and his portrayal of Bobby Goren. Goren is this big powerhouse of a man, who uses psychology to manipulate criminals into confessing. Vincent does it so well that you can’t peel your eyes away from the TV set. Ever since they decide to alternate episodes between Noth and D’Onofrio, and eventually Jeff Golblum, I always missed seeing Goren and Eames every week. Although Goldblum is great at what he does, Criminal Intent is Vincent D’Onofrio.
In a statement, D’Onofrio says, “For all my loyal CI fans, I wouldn’t be surprised if Goren pops up from time to time.” Isn’t that like taking candy away from a baby, giving it back, and then taking it away again? It’s just a little cruel, in my opinion. But, on the other hand, we would be given a little fix of D’Onofrio. Just enough to tide us fans over until his next project.
The new season will premiere next year in late spring.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Eastwick Review
Eastwick, ABC’s female-driven drama, premiered last night in the rough 10 o’clock spot. Based on John Updike’s book, Witches of Eastwick, this new series is about three women who are looking for something more in there lives. We open to the idyllic town of Eastwick, a state fair is playing out and Roxie (Rebecca Romjin), Kat(Jamie Ray Newman), and Joanna (Lindsay Price) happen upon three half dollar coins. Taking these coins to the town wishing well (what town doesn’t have this?) they make their respective wishes. Soon after they forge a fast friendship and discover magical talents they never knew they had. Because of these wishes, and before they come upon their talents, a mysterious man arrives in town and starts buying up the town and entering the lives of these three women.
Roxie: Labeled the “town slut,” Roxie does what and who she wants. She’s a wild child who has tried many careers and has finally landed on being a sculptress. A proprietor of her own art studio, she struggles to make ends meet, but doesn’t seem to believe that this will last for long. She has a daughter, Mia, who she treats more as a friend, telling her to rebel and teasing her when she gets her first hickey. This backfires, when Mia almost gets raped at the end of the show. Roxie’s love life is something of legend in the town of Eastwick. Her husband has died and everyone seems to believe that she killed him. For right now, she seems mildly content bedding a man half her age. Her wish: To meet someone who really gets her, who comes to town all mysterious and dangerous, buys all her artwork and makes passionate love to her on Egyptian cotton sheets. That’s a wish I can get behind. Her powers:premonition.
Kat: Kat is a wife and mother of five. She has been with her husband since she was eighteen (the first time she got pregnant) and lives a life that no one would envy. Her husband is the basic cliché lazy good–for-nothing man who you really want to see get a good kick in the pants or maybe something much worse. I thought she was the only character that really showed any depth, someone I really wanted to root for. Her wish: for something to change. Her power: she has the power of Mother Nature. Examples, she literally makes the earth move and unwittingly makes a bolt of lightning strike her dead beat husband in the chest.
Joanna: Joanna is a self-proclaimed pushover. She can’t summon the courage to pitch a huge story to her boss and says wildly inappropriate things to her office crush, Will (telling him about her vibrator was extremely hard to watch, but funny). Her wish: to be able to speak up and get what she wants. Her power: Hypnosis. She can look at a man (it only works on men) and make him do whatever she wants. Perfect for someone who can’t seem to get anything she wants.
This series is struggling to find a balance between light and dark. The light comedy part they have down, it’s the dark, evil part that’s a real problem. They have a ten o’clock spot, which means they can say and do things that series in the eight or nine o’clock series can’t. What I want to see is more depth in the characters and their backgrounds. The mysterious stranger, Daryl, is the one that is orchestrating these ladies interest in their new powers, but I can’t take him seriously with that voice of his. He sounds like the movie trailer guy, and somehow I can’t enjoy the evilness he’s supposed to be embodying with that voice.
The series premiere got a respectable 9.3 million viewers last night and was second in the coveted 18-49 demographic. I predict this number will go down next week. It’s just not that strong of a show.
Roxie: Labeled the “town slut,” Roxie does what and who she wants. She’s a wild child who has tried many careers and has finally landed on being a sculptress. A proprietor of her own art studio, she struggles to make ends meet, but doesn’t seem to believe that this will last for long. She has a daughter, Mia, who she treats more as a friend, telling her to rebel and teasing her when she gets her first hickey. This backfires, when Mia almost gets raped at the end of the show. Roxie’s love life is something of legend in the town of Eastwick. Her husband has died and everyone seems to believe that she killed him. For right now, she seems mildly content bedding a man half her age. Her wish: To meet someone who really gets her, who comes to town all mysterious and dangerous, buys all her artwork and makes passionate love to her on Egyptian cotton sheets. That’s a wish I can get behind. Her powers:premonition.
Kat: Kat is a wife and mother of five. She has been with her husband since she was eighteen (the first time she got pregnant) and lives a life that no one would envy. Her husband is the basic cliché lazy good–for-nothing man who you really want to see get a good kick in the pants or maybe something much worse. I thought she was the only character that really showed any depth, someone I really wanted to root for. Her wish: for something to change. Her power: she has the power of Mother Nature. Examples, she literally makes the earth move and unwittingly makes a bolt of lightning strike her dead beat husband in the chest.
Joanna: Joanna is a self-proclaimed pushover. She can’t summon the courage to pitch a huge story to her boss and says wildly inappropriate things to her office crush, Will (telling him about her vibrator was extremely hard to watch, but funny). Her wish: to be able to speak up and get what she wants. Her power: Hypnosis. She can look at a man (it only works on men) and make him do whatever she wants. Perfect for someone who can’t seem to get anything she wants.
This series is struggling to find a balance between light and dark. The light comedy part they have down, it’s the dark, evil part that’s a real problem. They have a ten o’clock spot, which means they can say and do things that series in the eight or nine o’clock series can’t. What I want to see is more depth in the characters and their backgrounds. The mysterious stranger, Daryl, is the one that is orchestrating these ladies interest in their new powers, but I can’t take him seriously with that voice of his. He sounds like the movie trailer guy, and somehow I can’t enjoy the evilness he’s supposed to be embodying with that voice.
The series premiere got a respectable 9.3 million viewers last night and was second in the coveted 18-49 demographic. I predict this number will go down next week. It’s just not that strong of a show.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The Good Wife Review
The Good Wife is CBS’ new legal drama featuring Julianna Margulies as the wife of State Attorney, Peter Florrick (played by Chris Noth). Continuing the tradition of politicians being rather dodgy characters, he has his own political and sexual scandal, humiliating his wife and family and landing in prison. Thirteen years after leaving the courtroom and supporting her husband’s career, Alicia Florrick re-enters the workforce, starting as a junior associate at her longtime friend’s prominent Chicago law firm. She must fight to show she has what it takes to swim with the sharks and that she is more than just a politician’s jilted wife.
I’m not a big fan of the legal drama. The courtroom fodder and excessive use of legalese always reminded me of a classroom. I could hear the words coming out of the professor’s mouth-but it never interested me enough to absorb anything. That’s why I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed every minute of this show. Julianna Marguiles portrayal of Alicia Floorick, was a big part of that love. Marguiles has a hard job to do, she has to play a humiliated woman, but not come across as a victim. She has to be likable to the audience, someone we want to root for and she does this in spades.
Okay enough of the Julianna love, there were other characters that rounded off this great new series. Christine Baranski portrays Diane Lockhart, a partner in the firm, who likes to think of herself as a fighter in the woman’s movement (“men can be lazy, woman can’t”). As Alicia starts breaking through her case, discovering new evidence (with a helpful hint from her prison-bound husband), Diane’s attitude quickly changes. I expect the claws will definitely come out as these two continue working together. Matt Czuchry, plays Cary Agos, another junior associate, who views the workplace as competition, especially since he and Alicia are vying for the same spot. I think a well placed kick in the pants is due for this ego-driven lawyer. Finally, it seems the designated sidekick role has gone to Archie Panjabi, who plays Kalinda, the firm’s in-house investigator. She’s a feisty one, and I’m hoping that isn’t all she is, because they can get quite boring after awhile. And on a personal note, I’d just like to express my glee at the fact that Grams from Dawson’s Creek, is playing Alicia’s over-bearing, critical mother-in-law. Maybe she’ll learn a little bit of humility like Grams did on the Creek.
All in all, I think audiences will love this drama. It’s not only a legal drama, but also part investigative procedural. Fans of Law and Order and The Practice will surely find a home here. The only problem I can see is it’s time slot, ten o’clock is rough for any show, especially a newbie. But, it did draw in 13.7 million viewers last night and it’s looking to be the best new show in that slot so far, so maybe there’s hope.
I’m not a big fan of the legal drama. The courtroom fodder and excessive use of legalese always reminded me of a classroom. I could hear the words coming out of the professor’s mouth-but it never interested me enough to absorb anything. That’s why I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed every minute of this show. Julianna Marguiles portrayal of Alicia Floorick, was a big part of that love. Marguiles has a hard job to do, she has to play a humiliated woman, but not come across as a victim. She has to be likable to the audience, someone we want to root for and she does this in spades.
Okay enough of the Julianna love, there were other characters that rounded off this great new series. Christine Baranski portrays Diane Lockhart, a partner in the firm, who likes to think of herself as a fighter in the woman’s movement (“men can be lazy, woman can’t”). As Alicia starts breaking through her case, discovering new evidence (with a helpful hint from her prison-bound husband), Diane’s attitude quickly changes. I expect the claws will definitely come out as these two continue working together. Matt Czuchry, plays Cary Agos, another junior associate, who views the workplace as competition, especially since he and Alicia are vying for the same spot. I think a well placed kick in the pants is due for this ego-driven lawyer. Finally, it seems the designated sidekick role has gone to Archie Panjabi, who plays Kalinda, the firm’s in-house investigator. She’s a feisty one, and I’m hoping that isn’t all she is, because they can get quite boring after awhile. And on a personal note, I’d just like to express my glee at the fact that Grams from Dawson’s Creek, is playing Alicia’s over-bearing, critical mother-in-law. Maybe she’ll learn a little bit of humility like Grams did on the Creek.
All in all, I think audiences will love this drama. It’s not only a legal drama, but also part investigative procedural. Fans of Law and Order and The Practice will surely find a home here. The only problem I can see is it’s time slot, ten o’clock is rough for any show, especially a newbie. But, it did draw in 13.7 million viewers last night and it’s looking to be the best new show in that slot so far, so maybe there’s hope.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
The Emmy's: Actually Watchable?
Wow. The Emmy awards and amazing broadcasting don't usually occupy the same sentence, but Neil Patrick Harris managed to bring them together. From the opening musical number to the obligatory Paula Abdul and Kayne West jokes, Harris hosted a truly entertaining awards ceremony. Even Dr.Horrible made an appearance!
There were a few upsets, notably Toni Collette snatching the Lead Actress Emmy away from past winner Tina Fey. Neil Patrick Harris seemed a shoe-in for supporting actor in a comedy series, but that went to Jon Cryer (seriously?). But, my favorite winner of the night had to be Kristen Chenoweth. Nominated for playing Olive Snook in the late great Pushing Daisies, she could not have been a more gracious winner. She spoke of being unemployed now, and I just have to say- someone please scoop this funny lady up and give her a show (and watched her when she guest stars on Glee this season!).
The night's most coveted awards, Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Drama Series, went to 30 Rock and Mad Men respectively.
Congratulations to all the winners, and to all the non-winners, I'm sure it was an honor just to be nominated.
Listed below in bold are the winners of the drama and comedy categories.
Outstanding Comedy Series
Entourage
Family Guy
Flight of the Concords
How I Met Your Mother
The Office
30 Rock
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Jemaine Clement, Flight of the Concords
Tony Shaloub, Monk
Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory
Steve Carell, The Office
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program
Toni Collette, United States of Tara
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Supporting Actor in Comedy Series
Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock
Jack McBrayer, 30 Rock
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met your Mother
Rainn Wilson, The Office
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Kristen Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty
Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds
Outstanding Best Drama
Big Love
Breaking Bad
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (begrudgingly I bold this, Hugh Laurie was robbed!)
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Hugh Laurie, House
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Simon Baker, The Mentalist
Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters
Glenn Close, Damages
Mariska Hargitay, SVU
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
William Shatner, Boston Legal
Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
William Hurt, Damages
Michael Emerson, Lost
John Slattery, Mad Men
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Cherry Jones, 24
Rose Byrne, Damages
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment
Hope Davis, In Treatment
There were a few upsets, notably Toni Collette snatching the Lead Actress Emmy away from past winner Tina Fey. Neil Patrick Harris seemed a shoe-in for supporting actor in a comedy series, but that went to Jon Cryer (seriously?). But, my favorite winner of the night had to be Kristen Chenoweth. Nominated for playing Olive Snook in the late great Pushing Daisies, she could not have been a more gracious winner. She spoke of being unemployed now, and I just have to say- someone please scoop this funny lady up and give her a show (and watched her when she guest stars on Glee this season!).
The night's most coveted awards, Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Drama Series, went to 30 Rock and Mad Men respectively.
Congratulations to all the winners, and to all the non-winners, I'm sure it was an honor just to be nominated.
Listed below in bold are the winners of the drama and comedy categories.
Outstanding Comedy Series
Entourage
Family Guy
Flight of the Concords
How I Met Your Mother
The Office
30 Rock
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Jemaine Clement, Flight of the Concords
Tony Shaloub, Monk
Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory
Steve Carell, The Office
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program
Toni Collette, United States of Tara
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Supporting Actor in Comedy Series
Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock
Jack McBrayer, 30 Rock
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met your Mother
Rainn Wilson, The Office
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Kristen Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty
Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds
Outstanding Best Drama
Big Love
Breaking Bad
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (begrudgingly I bold this, Hugh Laurie was robbed!)
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Hugh Laurie, House
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Simon Baker, The Mentalist
Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters
Glenn Close, Damages
Mariska Hargitay, SVU
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
William Shatner, Boston Legal
Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
William Hurt, Damages
Michael Emerson, Lost
John Slattery, Mad Men
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Cherry Jones, 24
Rose Byrne, Damages
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment
Hope Davis, In Treatment
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Bones in a Flash (advice: don't read this if you haven't seen last nights episode)
Last season’s cliffhanger of Booth not knowing who Bones was, had fans wondering what the next season would bring. What fans got was a thrilling episode that explored Booth trying to gain normalcy, the reciting of three little words Bones-Booth fans have been dying to here, and of course there was a case.
Case Recap Angela’s psychic (played by the incredible Cyndi Lauper) reveals that there are skeletons under a fountain. Angela works her computer regeneration magic on one of the skulls, and discovers that it looks exactly like her psychic. I cringed at this revelation, hoping against hope it wasn’t her twin. Hart Hansen (Bones creator) did not disappoint-it was in fact her sister. See, a while back they joined a cult called the Harbinger of a New Day, which was headed by a guy named Fargood. It was all about creating an underwater utopia for people who suffered from MCS, which basically means their allergic to the world. Sounds very promising.
Investigating a bit further, a physician who used to work for the cult is found. He of course paints himself as an innocent player in this game. When the squints (long lost term for Brennan’s team I just had to bring back) find out that the followers of this cult were being feed anti-freeze, which mimics MCS symptoms and insures Fargood keeps getting funds from his trusting followers. Bones goes to the physician’s workplace to tell him their findings. Booth, in the meantime, is visiting the psychic who leads Booth to believe Bones is in trouble (it’s all in the cards). Bones in fact is getting into a duel with the good doctor and his smaller than small scalpel. It’s amazing how threatening a tiny scalpel can be. Bones gets stab and Booth shoots, with scary accuracy, the bad guy.
Brennan and Booth bring in the leader, Fargood, for questioning and boy is this guy good. He’s the kind of smug criminal that makes you want to smack him a while. Or maybe upend the table, pull his chair to face you and…okay I’ve watch too many cop shows. Concluding the case, Fargood can’t be convicted on the murder charges, not enough evidence, but he is charged with a slew of federal crimes. So basically justice was served, kind of.
Booth and Bones Will these two kids ever get together? Not anytime soon it seems. Coming back from a coma, amnesia and an identity crisis, Booth is just trying to get things back to normal. From the start of the episode, we can see that he is just a bit different, notably his missing cocky belt buckle and multi-colored striped socks. He has simply forgotten this part of himself, but the one thing he has discovered is that he is in love with Bones. He tells Cam and even Sweets finds out, but they both warn him not to reveal it to Bones, if he is not truly sure this is the real him loving her. It might ruin her forever. Well, in spite of that he says the three words that fans have been waiting four seasons to hear, he tells Bones he loves her. Of course, it can’t be that easy. His doubts get the best of him and he says that he loves her professionally. Ugh. The only upside of this disappointment is when the psychic tells Booth it all works out eventually. Yeah! At least Hart is continuing with the lovely relationship that he has built in Bones and Booth.
All in all, this was a great premiere. Hart really knows what the heart of the show is-Bones and Booth. Their partnership, love, and care for each other. What makes them perfect is that their each others ying and yang. Bones is the rationally one who as a reverence for human life and Booth is all instinct and heart. This is why we watch. This is why we come back week after week.
Case Recap Angela’s psychic (played by the incredible Cyndi Lauper) reveals that there are skeletons under a fountain. Angela works her computer regeneration magic on one of the skulls, and discovers that it looks exactly like her psychic. I cringed at this revelation, hoping against hope it wasn’t her twin. Hart Hansen (Bones creator) did not disappoint-it was in fact her sister. See, a while back they joined a cult called the Harbinger of a New Day, which was headed by a guy named Fargood. It was all about creating an underwater utopia for people who suffered from MCS, which basically means their allergic to the world. Sounds very promising.
Investigating a bit further, a physician who used to work for the cult is found. He of course paints himself as an innocent player in this game. When the squints (long lost term for Brennan’s team I just had to bring back) find out that the followers of this cult were being feed anti-freeze, which mimics MCS symptoms and insures Fargood keeps getting funds from his trusting followers. Bones goes to the physician’s workplace to tell him their findings. Booth, in the meantime, is visiting the psychic who leads Booth to believe Bones is in trouble (it’s all in the cards). Bones in fact is getting into a duel with the good doctor and his smaller than small scalpel. It’s amazing how threatening a tiny scalpel can be. Bones gets stab and Booth shoots, with scary accuracy, the bad guy.
Brennan and Booth bring in the leader, Fargood, for questioning and boy is this guy good. He’s the kind of smug criminal that makes you want to smack him a while. Or maybe upend the table, pull his chair to face you and…okay I’ve watch too many cop shows. Concluding the case, Fargood can’t be convicted on the murder charges, not enough evidence, but he is charged with a slew of federal crimes. So basically justice was served, kind of.
Booth and Bones Will these two kids ever get together? Not anytime soon it seems. Coming back from a coma, amnesia and an identity crisis, Booth is just trying to get things back to normal. From the start of the episode, we can see that he is just a bit different, notably his missing cocky belt buckle and multi-colored striped socks. He has simply forgotten this part of himself, but the one thing he has discovered is that he is in love with Bones. He tells Cam and even Sweets finds out, but they both warn him not to reveal it to Bones, if he is not truly sure this is the real him loving her. It might ruin her forever. Well, in spite of that he says the three words that fans have been waiting four seasons to hear, he tells Bones he loves her. Of course, it can’t be that easy. His doubts get the best of him and he says that he loves her professionally. Ugh. The only upside of this disappointment is when the psychic tells Booth it all works out eventually. Yeah! At least Hart is continuing with the lovely relationship that he has built in Bones and Booth.
All in all, this was a great premiere. Hart really knows what the heart of the show is-Bones and Booth. Their partnership, love, and care for each other. What makes them perfect is that their each others ying and yang. Bones is the rationally one who as a reverence for human life and Booth is all instinct and heart. This is why we watch. This is why we come back week after week.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Grievence of the Week: Excessive Commercial Breaks
In this economy, I understand the need for advertisement, especially for those shows that are expensive to make. But does there have to be so damn many of them? Seriously, I could get a snack and eat it, floss, brush my teeth, wash my face, and still the commercial would still be going. Commercials are now five to six minutes long, and that’s not counting the product placements we see during the actual show.
Last year, two of Fox’s shows, Dollhouse and Fringe, were presented with limited commercial breaks. Both shows only had sixty to ninety-second breaks, which made the shows much easier to get into, especially for me, who changes the channel during breaks and then forgets what she was just watching!
Here’s another thing that “grinds my gears” (quote from Peter Griffin, thank you very much), the fact that advertisers and Nielsen ratings, more or less, decide the fate of a show. “Pushing Daisies” is a prime example of this. It was an expensive show to produce and because the archaic Nielsen ratings showed it wasn’t getting many viewers, it was canned. The Nielsen’s take a sample audience, compile electronically what they watch and have them write a diary of their television preferences. It seems archaic because, the TV media has expanded to the Internet and also DVR’s.
Television shows that are popular on DVR get no attention, because the consumer can just zap through the commercials without a second look. The truth is, if a viewer really wanted to see a commercial, they would stop and watch it. These numbers shouldn’t be ignored just because the advertiser’s dollars aren’t being well spent.
It’s frustrating to me, a scripted show lover, that the all mighty dollar is more important than keeping quality television on the air. So here’s my proposal: base your decision on canning a show on whether it’s good or not, stop with the incessant commercials, and do in-show advertising like they did back when commercials first began. More importantly, less commercials means viewers will be less tempted to reach for the remote and change to another station.
Last year, two of Fox’s shows, Dollhouse and Fringe, were presented with limited commercial breaks. Both shows only had sixty to ninety-second breaks, which made the shows much easier to get into, especially for me, who changes the channel during breaks and then forgets what she was just watching!
Here’s another thing that “grinds my gears” (quote from Peter Griffin, thank you very much), the fact that advertisers and Nielsen ratings, more or less, decide the fate of a show. “Pushing Daisies” is a prime example of this. It was an expensive show to produce and because the archaic Nielsen ratings showed it wasn’t getting many viewers, it was canned. The Nielsen’s take a sample audience, compile electronically what they watch and have them write a diary of their television preferences. It seems archaic because, the TV media has expanded to the Internet and also DVR’s.
Television shows that are popular on DVR get no attention, because the consumer can just zap through the commercials without a second look. The truth is, if a viewer really wanted to see a commercial, they would stop and watch it. These numbers shouldn’t be ignored just because the advertiser’s dollars aren’t being well spent.
It’s frustrating to me, a scripted show lover, that the all mighty dollar is more important than keeping quality television on the air. So here’s my proposal: base your decision on canning a show on whether it’s good or not, stop with the incessant commercials, and do in-show advertising like they did back when commercials first began. More importantly, less commercials means viewers will be less tempted to reach for the remote and change to another station.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Grey's Preview
Just saw the first five minutes of Grey’s Anatomy’s season opener (courtesy of E!online) and I’m gripped. In the opening scene, we see George on the surgical table, unrecognizable, while Derek stands at his open skull, trying to save him. At the same time, we see Izzie fighting for her life and suddenly opening her eyes just as George flatlines. Callie starts hyperventilating, while she sees George’s life slip away, while Alex breathes a sigh of relief. It’s definitely a bittersweet moment, one that makes this episode so heartbreakingly hard to watch. In the next scene, we see the girl George saved run up to Mark and Lexi and ask who George is, that George is John Doe. Running to the OR, Lexi sees the patient and says, “That’s not George…he’s tall…that’s not George.” What?!
This is why I love Grey’s so much, their ability to grip you, even when you know he’s a goner. I will definitely be watching with a big box of Kleenex by my side.
Grey’s Anatomy premieres Thursday, September 24th at 9pm. It’s a two hour episode, so don’t forget to set your DVR’s!
This is why I love Grey’s so much, their ability to grip you, even when you know he’s a goner. I will definitely be watching with a big box of Kleenex by my side.
Grey’s Anatomy premieres Thursday, September 24th at 9pm. It’s a two hour episode, so don’t forget to set your DVR’s!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Vampire Diaries Review (Spoilers!)
Watch out Twilight, there’s a new vampire series in town.
Vampire Diaries, based on L.J Smith’s young adult series, is set in Mystic Falls, a few months after, heroine, Elena’s parents die in a car crash that left her the sole survivor. Her younger brother is a drug dealer and her best friend is a maybe psychic, and then there’s an ex-boyfriend who still holds a flame for her. But, let’s face it, this isn’t really about her, it’s all about Stefan. Stefan is a vampire who comes back to Mystic Falls, where he was raised a century ago, to follow Elena whose doppelganger, Catherine, was a girl from Stefan’s past. We don’t really know much about Catherine, but one can assume she was a very important part of his past. His troubling past doesn’t stay far for long, as we come upon his brother, Damon early in the episode. They haven’t seen each other for fifteen years, and it seems no love is lost between these two. Maybe one of strongest characters in the show, Damon is wicked evil. Unlike Stefan, who has given up feasting off humans, Damon is still killing humans for his survival and pleasure. He comes to ruin his brother’s life, which why not, right? At a bonfire both Elena and Stefan are attending, Damon puts his plan to action almost killing Vicki (who happens to be Elena’s ex-boyfriend’s sister). The killer line from the whole episode is when she says, in a strained voice, “Vampire.”
What surprised me most about last night’s episode is that I didn’t care for it. I loved Dawson’s Creek, falling in love with Kevin Williamson’s quick wit and melodrama. But, there’s just something missing. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m no longer fourteen years old and going through my “teen angst” period. Or maybe it’s because the sappy emo music in the background is a little grating and the acting isn’t top notch. The story has its ups and downs, seemingly “borrowing” certain aspects of different vampire myths (Stefan has to be invited in (Buffy, anyone?), the ring he has to wear in order to not burst into flames in the sun (anyone remember Angel?). But, I think they will find their stride in the coming episodes, especially if they feature Damon more. I’m willing to give it another chance, if only because of my stubborn, don’t-want-to-be-wrong nature.
Apparently, though, nobody else shared my disappointment, because Vampire Diaries received the highest ratings of a new show on the CW network, with 4.84 million viewers. I can hear the fan girls organizing their clubs already.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Glee's here!
Words cannot express the joy I felt when the clock finally read nine o’clock. It was time for Glee! The most anticipated show, in my opinion, of the season had reached its premiere and I was reeling. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint.
From the teenage love triangle to the hilariously villainous, Sue Sylvester, the episode was packed full of comedy, drama, and even romance. It’s like watching a Broadway musical, and for someone who has never had the privilege to see one in person, it was wonderful.
Here are some of the many highlights from tonight’s episode:
Rachel and Finn finally share that kiss that was teased in the promos. But it seemed as though the kiss was a little, uh um, premature, as to where they are in their relationship.
Quinn, Finn’s girlfriend, upon seeing Rachel’s fascination with him, decides to join the club. Sue Sylvester, the powerful and conniving cheerleading coach, upon hearing this constructs a plan that will serve her goal of seeing the destruction of the glee club. Not surprisingly, Sue tells her (and two other cheerleaders) that they will be her spies. Although all Quinn is concerned with is keeping her boyfriend.
Will’s wife, Terri, goes to the “baby doctor” and discovers that she is not pregnant, only having a hysterical pregnancy. But, not willing to give up the idea of having that perfect family, she decides to not tell her husband, which I’m sure will have no backlash.
Will has to become a janitor in order to afford the grand foyer his “pregnant” wife so desperately wants. Emma, who has an unrequited love crush on Will, passes by the classroom he is cleaning and, in true obsessive compulsive fashion, helps him clean up. Which all leads to a moment in which it seems entirely possible that we will see these two end up together later in the series.
The cruelty a crush can bring is shown, as Ken, who is interested in Emma, but is met by her ridiculous excuses, sees how close she and Will are becoming. He insists on telling her that she will never find anyone who will treat her better than he, nobody single that is. Stricken by his hard truth, Emma relents and agrees to a date at Tulipooloza (I just had to add that, because I think Tulip Time should consider changing its name to this!)
And last, but not least, there was the singing. Nothing makes me happier than hearing a powerful voice, belt out with such a conviction, that goose bumps run ramped on my arms. Mercedes and Will give us a rendition of “Gold Digger” that rivals Kayne West (that I’m sure he would be less than pleased with hearing). “Push it” by Salt N’ Pepa, was also featured, which was so shocking, I couldn’t help but blush a bit at their sexually explicit dancing.
The ratings for last night’s episode were slightly down from the summer premiere (7.3 million compared to 9.6 million for the pilot), but compared to most new shows it did great. I’m confident that it will be able to hold its audience, if it continues with the entertaining storylines, offbeat humor, and fabulous music.
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